Every poem in this book is a gem, and the collection made me want to read her complete works. While this is definitely not "religious poetry" of the greeting card variety, it is an expression of a deep spiritual awareness. Oliver's poems often reveal an amazement and wonder at being alive. Poetic skill and heightened awareness are so well-integrated, those who are looking for well-crafted poetry will certainly find it, and those who are looking for an awakening of consciousness may also find that.

Although Oliver's environment, her field of play, is nature, I wouldn't reduce her to a "naturalist poet." Nature is always interpreted and absorbed by her vision. Nature reveals its secrets to her, but they are the secrets of her own soul. In her poetry, nature is the oracle that reveals the human psyche.

But I should include Oliver's own words, because no prose critique can do justice to the intoxicating natural imagery of her poems. In the poem "Peonies", the richness and fertility of nature mirror the same qualities of the imagination:

This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready to break my heart

as the sun rises,

as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers

and they open- pools of lace,

white and pink- and all day the black ants climb over them,

boring their deep and mysterious holes into the curls,

craving the sweet sap,...

The poem ends with a challenge that reverberates through the book. In spite of the sense of death looming sometimes on the edge of the poem (and our lives), sometimes at the center, are we willing to fully experience life?

Do you love this world?

Do you cherish your humble and silky life?

Do you adore the green grass, with its terror beneath?

Do you also hurry, half-dressed and barefoot, into the garden,

and softly,

and exclaiming of their dearness,

fill your arms with the white and pink flowers,

with their honeyed heaviness, their lush trembling,

their eagerness

to be wild and perfect for a moment, before they are

nothing forever?

In a recent interview, poet Jane Hirshfield said: "As a flint holds the spark, each good poem holds a hidden bit of life--knowledge that its reading releases in us and we in it. Poetry returns me to the sense of the infinite possibility that dwells in each particular thing, and also returns me to the flavor and scent and textures of the particular, where the infinite must reside. But Blake put this much better: 'To see a world in a grain of sand/ And a heaven in a wildflower.' Each good poem reopens that gate, reminds us how such seeing is done" ("The Bloomsbury Review," July/August 2001). Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, Mary Oliver, has the gift of writing such poetry, and it is no surprise that this collection of verse won the National Book Award.

I revisited this 1992 collection of NEW AND SELECTED POEMS after reading Oliver's equally stunning THE LEAF AND THE CLOUD. "The dream of my life/ Is to lie down by a slow river/ And stare at the light in the trees," she writes in "Entering the Kingdom;" "To learn something by being nothing/ A little while but the rich/ Lens of attention" (p. 190). In her poetry, Oliver reveals her ability to pay attention to life in a deep way. "I don't know exactly what a prayer is," she writes in "The Summer Day." "I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down/ into the grass, how to kneel in the grass,/ how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,/ which is what I have been doing all day./ Tell me, what else should I have done?/ Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?/ Tell me, what is it you plan to do/ with your one wild and precious life?" (p. 94). In her poetry, Oliver experiences life at the edge of her senses. In "Landscape," she says, "Every morning I walk like this around/ the pond, thinking: if the doors of my heart/ ever close, I am as good as dead" (p. 129).

Much of Oliver's poetry is drawn from nature, where we find God speaking to her of "so many wise and delectable things" through dirt, in "his dog voice/ crow voice,/ frog voice" (pp. 120-21). In "Spring Azures," Oliver writes "In spring the blue azures bow down/ at the edges of shallow puddles/ to drink the black rain water" (p. 8). In "Peonies," she writes, "This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready/ to break my heart/ as the sun rises,/ as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers" (p. 21). In "The Moths," Oliver observes "The wings of the moths catch the sunlight/ and burn/ so brightly" (p. 133). For her, the "Trick of living" is finding Walden "where you are" (p. 239). "Do you love this world," she asks. "Do you cherish your humble and silky life?/ Do you adore the green grass, with its terror beneath?" (p. 22).

I could go on all day praising this book. Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets, and this collection is one of my favorite books of poetry. It offers a radiant introduction to Oliver's verse, and it will also provide a good introduction to the pleasures of reading really good poetry.

G. Merritt

Mary Oliver is living proof that poetry is not something that was invented, rather something that has been present since creation, in us and in nature, waiting to be discovered. And for the last thirty years Mary Oliver has not so much written poetry, but searched for, and discovered, the poetry that has existed in the world all along. It is, of course, much more complicated than that. Oliver's poetry is crafted with delicate, precise language. She lays her words out lazily across the page, often breaking the poem into three or four beat lines, letting a metaphor string out through an entire stanza. It is her imagery, her close observance of the world, that leads to the "ideas" in her poems. There is a moment in nearly all of her poems where the speaker moves from the exterior to the interior, from the water-lily cracking open to the creases in the human heart. What makes her poetry work is that none of this seems forced. It is as if she is taking the reader by the hand and saying, "Look! The sun is rising. Watch it with me for a moment and we'll decide for ourselves why it rises. For certainly, it must have its reasons."

This book is easy to read and it contains MANY good tips and ways to get out of debt. If you are tired of being in debt, this book is for you. Thanks to Mary Hunt for helping me begin my road to financial freedom!

Has worrying about money or paying your bills ever kept you up at night?

Me, too. Until I found this book.

About 7 years ago, our family was suffering from unbelievable money problems. Depressed and confused, I decided to stop by the bookstore and browse the personal finance section. There was only one problem. I didn't have twenty or thirty dollars to buy money management advice. I decided to get Mary's book and could not believe how many great examples and strategies she gave for reducing debt.
By following Mary's instructions, our family quickly began reducing our debt and wiped out almost $ 20,000 of credit card bills within a few years.
Her book is my money "Bible" and like scriptures in a holy work, I have highlighted paragraphs on almost every page that give insights into a subject that had always been beyond my control.

This book saved my marriage and brought me peace.
I highly recommend it. . . to everyone.

Mary Hunt teaches us, with the wisdom of her personal experience, how to turn our financial nightmare into financial ease.Her writing style is concise, educational and entertaining. She teaches how to save, give, plan and rapidly repay debt. And even after we're done with the book and on the path to fiancial ease, she helps us stay there through her monthly newsletter (on-line or in print).This book brought me peace of mind, which positively affected every single area of my life! Thanks, Mary!

Suza Francina, author, The New Yoga for People Over 50, Mayor Pro-Tem from Ojai, California, writes:

"I have been teaching yoga to people of all ages for over 25 years. One of the most common reasons people begin a yoga class is to get rid of their aches and pains. I can say with complete confidence that of all the books I've read on therapeutic exercise for back and neck pain relief, Dr. Schatz book offers by far the most effective, individualized approach to a healthy back.

Back Care Basics goes beyond generic exercises and takes into account each person's special circumstances. It is a lifesaver for people caught in the viscious cycle of pain and fear. I have referred to it countless times creating yoga based exercise programs for people in chronic pain. In fact, almost my entire copy is highlighted or underlined!

If you or someone you love is suffering from back or neck pain, I encourage you to educate yourself by reading this book. I also hope that other health professionals working with people with back problems--chiropractors, massage and physical therapists, acupuncturists,etc., will read this book and leave it in their waiting room. Chiropractors tell me that patients who are practicing yoga rarely have acute back pain and their adjustments hold longer. People with back and neck problems benefit more from other therapies if they practice the gentle yoga program taught in Back Care Basics.

I bought this book soon after it came out and it has been incredibly helpful to me many, many times. Both the diagnostic assessments and the yoga exercises are explained with clear, easy to follow instructions. I especially like the fact that Dr Schatz helps you understand what the exercises are doing for your body. But the best part is that within days, often even hours, of doing the yoga exercises, not only have my back problems improved, but so has my general outlook because I've been able to help myself to have better health. I highly recommend this book and thank Mary Schatz for writing it.

I purchased this book when it was first published, and I still use it today. My first copy was so well used, I recently purchased a new copy (it would be great to have a spiral bound). I've experienced back pain for over 15 years. Doctors suggested surgery, which I declined. I've seen over a dozen chiropractors over the past decade, some seemed to help, some did not. As I do not expect any doctor to "cure" my backpain, neither do I expect this or any book to "cure" it. What I have learned from this book has helped me to help myself. I have improved my posture, greatly reduced my backpain, and have begun taking yoga classes. I'd like to thank the author for writing this very helpful book, and I look forward to any new titles that may be released by Mary Pullig Schatz in the future.

"Life doesn't just happen to us. There is one spectacular moment when it happens for us. It happens to change us somehow, to pick us up just when we're heading in the wrong direction..." And therein lies the magic of THE LAST SLOW DANCE by Mary Gauden Hughes. This talented author captures that searing magical moment on which all of one's destiny hinges, drawing it into every moment of the novel in a lovely musical harmony.

When Mary Livingston enters Michael's life, everything changes. His house becomes a home, his girls happily sharing their days at the supper table. Mary claims she's only passing through, a writer gathering stories, searching for that one special story to tell.

As Mary loves writing, so does Michael McCain loves his music, dreaming of breaking into the big time. When he at last reaches his dream, as successful star Abby Rhodes invites him along to open her shows, Michael must reevaluate his life, his priorities, and his dreams.

THE LAST SLOW DANCE flows with a poetic grace, the language's lyricism mesmerizing the reader. THE LAST SLOW DANCE moves like a great river with hidden currents of meaning below the reflective surface. If you enjoyed James Waller's BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, you'll love THE LAST SLOW DANCE with its positive ending and inspirational message. Very highly recommended.

In this novella the author offers an intimate and close-up portrait of a musician with genuine dreams and a desire to find meaning in his life. As Michael McCain struggles with problems associated with divorce and parenting, he is trying to build a career that will not only enable him to make a living but will also jive with his artistic spark--not an easy task in the often rancorous music industry.

Enter Mary. In a style reminiscent of writing by Nicholas Sparks and Richard Paul Evans, the author's lyrical handling of this simple character's impact on the world sets everything in balance for Michael. With Mary as his center, the truly important things become clear. At the same time, she brings an unexpected twist into his life which creates a heart-thumping race Michael must win in order to keep from losing her forever.

What I want to see next is the movie version of this book . . . and more stories like this one from an author who is destined, most certainly, to create them.

In this novella the author offers an intimate and close-up portrait of a musician with genuine dreams and a desire to find meaning in his life. As Michael McCain struggles with problems associated with divorce and parenting, he is trying to build a career that will not only enable him to make a living but will also jive with his artistic spark--not an easy task in the often rancorous music industry.

Enter Mary. In a style reminiscent of writing by Nicholas Sparks and Richard Paul Evans, the author's lyrical handling of this simple character's impact on the world sets everything in balance for Michael. With Mary as his center, the truly important things become clear. At the same time, she brings an unexpected twist into his life which creates a heart-thumping race Michael must win in order to keep from losing her forever.

What I want to see next is the movie version of this book . . . and more stories like this one from an author who is destined, most certainly, to create them.

My first exposure to Wicked Pigeon Ladies came when my fourth grade teacher read the book to my class. I listened intently as each chapter was read and couldn't wait until the next day's reading period to find out what was going to happen. After the story ended, I continually checked the book out of the school library and read it over and over again. The librarian finally refused to allow me to check the book out again. This book has a terrific story line that I think even our modern-day youth would enjoy. The "time travel" alone should interest many. I remember all the wonderful details Mary Chase gave us including the houses, the wallpaper, the shoes, the carriages and, of course, those wonderfully wicked sisters. I will read this book with my own children -- as soon as I can get a copy of it!

This was a magical story that I remember vividly as a child.
It was read to me by a 5th grade teacher and has remained
one of my favorites throughout the years. As an avid reader and homeschool Mom I am constantly looking for good literature to share with my three children. There is so much that is "empty" and "void" of any value that finding a treasure like this book is very special indeed. Why is it not still in print??? Let's band together and bring it back! Also, does anyone know if Mary Chase is still living? Please read to your children. It will be the best gift you could give them....

I read this book from my fifth grade teacher's reading center, and loved it so much that at the end of the schoolyear, I couldn't bear to part with it, and begged him to let me keep it. No small feat for a relatively shy 10 year old with her first male teacher. Anyway, he let me keep it and I read it till it fell apart. How can this book be out of print? I see some of the garbage my neices are reading, and then you tell me a classic like this is not in print. I would love to have another copy if I can find one, so that my children will be able to enjoy it as I did, and would love to be able to read it again
myself. I can remember the names of all seven sisters..Cleo, Constance, Maude, Sylvia, Lucrece, Mavis & Ingrid. If you are lucky enough to find a copy of this book, buy it and treasure it. It deserves 10 stars..not just five.

The words "compelling" and "accounting" are seldom used in tandem, but there is no other way to describe this call to arms written by former Harvard Business School professor and three accountants at PricewaterhouseCoopers. The book, which is framed as a manifesto for change in the world of corporate reporting, is written in un-accountant-like language bordering on the subversive. It's main message: Traditional corporate reporting practices are inadequate and downright dangerous in the New Economy. They are inadequate because they don't capture the non-financial measures and intangible assets that now drive value. They are dangerous because they force investors to rely too heavily on short-term financial results, thereby contributing to unprecedented volatility in global equity markets. The authors' remedy? Disclosure of more and better information. This new model is presented in such detail that executives could use it as a blueprint in building new corporate reporting regimens. But you needn't be a corporate leader to appreciate the far-reaching implications of this book, which we at getAbstract.com recommend to all professionals as a - yes - compelling analysis of the current practice and evolving future of corporate reporting and its standards, pivotal benchmarks in the global economy.

This is the first book that adresses the critical issue of corporate reporting - which hasn't significantly changed, if not since business entities started to get created in Ancient Mesopotamia, at least since the Great Depression. Yet investing habits have significantly changed. The SEC has brought in much needed changes in the way financial information gets reported, especially the way reports get written, etc. But there has been little movement in the types of information which get reported or new types of analyses that need to get done so shareholders have a better picture of the companies in which they invest.

This book takes us long ways in pushing for such changes. Written by a group of people who know a lot about the topic - unlike most business books, which are typically written by those who know very little, because the ones in the know are too busy working - this sounds the first death knell of corporate reporting as we know it. It is a rather courageous set of arguments that the authors make, coming as it does from an institution, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, which, frankly, has plenty of incentives to maintain the status quo.

I would highly recommend this book to every manager, investor, and student of business. One of the nice aspects of the book is its international breadth, further reinforcing the argument that in today's global realities, the changes ought to be globally driven and required.

The best thing about the book is its rigor. The authors' authority of over their subject matter clearly comes through the book as does their hands-on experience in wrestling with tricky, complex, corporate reporting issues that companies face and shareholders need - issues that under today's requirements are typically not addressed, and therefore, lead to the kinds of deleterious effects that are evident in today's pump-and-dump markets.

Finally, in a world of superficial, shoddy, silly, ghost-written tripe that is published under the guise of management thinking, this book stands as a shining, stellar example of what good management writing is all about: rigor, clarity, and the kind of expansive and aspirational thinking that forces people to want to read a book and ask themselves, "where do I begin?" This book is a much needed call to action on probably the most important managerial, corporate, and financial issue.

The ValueReporting Revolution is one of the best, if not THE best, financial book that I have read in the last few years. Thought provoking and compelling, this book provides a sharp analysis of how and why current corporate reporting systems need to evolve. A must read for both the investing community, who need to understand a company's true value, and the financial community, who report on and create a company's value.

This fun book contains a hundred and one lists organized by number. For example, the chapter known as "Four" includes the following: What are the four voyages of Lemuel Gulliver? What are the four conic sections? What are the four sections of a symphony orchestra? etc.

Chapters are: Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Eighteen, Twenty and Twenty-Four. What makes the book more than just a quiz generator is the lengthy explanatory text, anywhere from three to eighteen pages. These pithy essays entertain and inform, and add greatly to the volume's enjoyment. Some questions are really obscure -- what were the five rivers of the classical underworld, anyway? -- but even the easier ones can leave you scratching your head and cursing your memory. Didn't I used to know allthis stuff? Then, after you knock yourself on the head and shout "Of course!", you will have the pleasure of reading a well-written essay by a co-author or one of a small number of contributors. There is also a fourteen page suggested reading list, organized by subject, that includes music and URLs. Rounded out with a good index, this is very nicely done and lots of fun.

I just finished reading it cover to cover and found it a truly enlightening and FUN read. I have loved these type of books since my first purchase of "An Incomplete Education" many years ago, as well as Charles Panati's books. The format of "What are the Seven Wonders of the World?" lends itself nicely to reading it on short breaks. I was amazed at how much I could learn in so little time. At last, I finally understand the intricate history (and relationships) of all of the Kings and Queens of England - and it was absolutely painless. There's too much good stuff in the book to mention it all here. If you love trivia, or wish to expand your horizons in order to becomes a modern day Leonardo (Da Vinci), this book is for you. I can't wait for the next volume.

Now, please excuse me -I have to keep my audition appointments for "Win Ben Stein's Money" and "Jeopardy"!

This is a wonderful book. Great for all the trivia buffs out there. Seven Wonders is filled with a variety of questions and interesting answers. I would love for the authors to compile another like this one. This one is on my top 10 list of great trivia books. Highly recommended to all.

This book is written much like "RYSC Workbook" in the setting of a parenting class. The main focus is to determine and identify the feelings behind the misbehaviour. To provide support and nurturing by being an "emotional coach" and helping the child in identifying his/her emotions. If all this fails to bring peace, you may suspect "invisible" medical issues, and are encouraged to seek professional help.
I did not disagree with the content of this book, but I feel important areas were either omitted or minimized.
Most of the power struggles described, seemed to be nothing more than typical misunderstandings, where the child has a tangible reason for being oppositional.
To me the main source of power struggles centre primarily on the parent not the child. So many parents are ovrwhelmed and hindered by feelings of guilt associated with maintaining standards and rules. Unable to tolerate their child being unhappy with them, they unwittingly surender their parental authority to the child. This book does not stress enough how insecure and difficult children become when there are insufficient rules and limits on their behaviour. Power struggles become a search for clear boundaries and have absolutely nothing to do with the reasons expressed by the child. They just don't understand why they become so upset over some trivial thing.
The author suggests that if you can determine the childs emotional need behind the power struggle, you should not look at the behaviour as manipulative. Regardless of the circumstances and underlying emotions, when a child tries to change a "No" to a "Yes" it IS manipulation! There is always a reason, manipulation is a two way street and always a mutual avoidance of something.
There is a good section in this book which helps parents to determine sources of stress in a childs life and describes the many medical problems which could be a factor. Also a very informative chapter on temperamental differences and how they relate to discipline.
Overall a good book to read but would strongly recommend reading "The Manipulative Child: How to Regain Control and Raise Resilient, Resourceful, and Independent Kids" and "Setting Limits" for a further understanding of power struggles and more importantly, what to do.

Reading parenting books is practically a secret addiction of mine -- I read about one a month, sometimes more, and have read dozens since my son was born. Barbara Coloroso's Kids Are Worth It!(a great book) has held first place on my favorites list for the last three years, but Mary Kurcinka just knocked her off with Kids, Parents and Power Struggles. This is the best parenting book I've ever read and I highly, highly recommend it. I think the title was a little misleading -- the book wasn't as much about power struggles as it was about learning how to help your kids handle their emotions appropriately. It's also heavily oriented (not surprisingly, from the author of Raising Your Spirited Child) toward understanding your individual child -- his or her needs, temperament,and personality and how those factors affect behavior. The content is great. And the delivery is also wonderful. Kurcinka's writing style is clear, informative, thoughtful -- and fun!

This book is brilliant! It teaches you to empathize rather than chastize your children, and in doing so, they learn to respect you more. I'm not big on self-help books, but this is one that I can whole-heartedly recommend. A friend told me about it and I read it so I wouldn't insult her. And I am so glad I did. I passed it on to my husband, and he really learned a lot from it too. In fact, we learned a lot about each other in the book. I have already ordered The Spirited Child, Mary Kurcinka's other book, and am looking forward to reading it.

This was the textbook for my first advanced math-physics (mathsics) class. While the review of vector calc and other things I already knew was really helpful, I found it just too lacking in good examples and simpler homework problems to learn from it really well. Although I am really glad I own the book, I would rather learn from something that gives examples similar to the homework problems and gives a few lower-level homework problems to get my feet wet and THEN I can jump into the more complicated stuff.

This book covers basic topics(vector analysis, ode, series, multivariable calculus, calculus of variations, Fourier, etc.) in a very original and understandable way. However, my only complaint, it is too classical. It doesn't go into any depth on vector spaces and other math essential to QM. But for the basics it is the best book out there.

To put it quite simply, if you are a physics student, you must own this book. What does this book do for you? Consider this...

In my school, we do not have a mathematical methods course for science, so I decided to take on a math minor to take all the classes neccesary to do physics "right." This included a class on ODEs, Fourier Series & PDEs, Linear Algebra, and Complex Variables. These classes, although helpful, cover a lot of stuff that is not quite useful for understanding physics concepts, often undermining or dampening the stuff that is actually applicable.

What makes this book so great is that it combines all the essential math concepts into one compact, clearly written reference. If I could do it all over again, I would easily rather take a two semester Math Methods course (like they do in many schools) using a book like Boas than take all these obtuse math courses. With this book, it makes it so handy to review previously learned concepts or actually learn poorly presented topics ( for a physicist anyway) in mathematics classes... (Things like Coordinate Transformations, Tensors, Special Functions & PDEs in spherical & cylindrical coordinates, Diagonilzation, the list goes on.....)

Keep this gem handy when doing homework and studying for exams, learning the math tools from this book enables you to concentrate squarely on the physics in your other textbooks... (since mathematical background information, understandably, is often cut short...)

For those U.S. readers who have not read the "The Lymond Series" by Scottish author Dorothy Dunnett, just hang on to your hats. Written in the 1960's, these 6 volume attempts of a young Scot nobleman to regain his good name, save the baby Mary Queen of Scots,keep Scotland out of the clutches of the greedy English crown, and rescue his own baby son held captive by a ruthless enemy in the Turkish capital of Istanbul are historical adventure at its very best. The hero, Francis Crawford of Lymond, is one of the most complex and fascinating studies in modern fiction. The action begins in Scotland and Enland in the first novel, moves to France in the second, Malta and Africa in the third, Africa,Greece and Istanbul in the forth, Russia and a mad czar in the fifth, and back to Scotland in the 6th. I challange a reader to put any of these books down. Extrordinary story lines.

I love Dunnett books because the characters are so well developed, and the plot so intricate yet discernable, I read in awed admiration. I have been fooled by the plot twists so many times, I have now come to expect it, and just smile when I see that I had been totally wrong yet agian. Dunnett has such a profound understanding of history and the human nature of both her characters and readers, that the story lives in my mind stronger than any movie that I have ever seen. I recommend this series to everyone, even if you don't speak French and Latin. It's worth the effort.

QUEEN'S PLAY was the first Lymond book I read--stumbled across it at the public library about 20 years ago. I then had to ransack the rest of Washington,DC's branch libraries to get my hands on the other books in the series, and ever since, Dorothy Dunnett has been my favorite historical fiction writer. She is not for the faint-hearted: you must be literate (in several languages if possible)and well read in history of the period if you are to appreciate the books to the fullest. Or, if you come "cold" to the book, the kind of person for whom a novel opens a door through which you begin to learn about the real contemporary history. Her characters are so well-educated and well-bred that I have no problem picturing them at the various European courts where Mrs. Dunnett places them. Modern politics seem very dull indeed in comparison (Tony Blair vs. Mary Tudor!) Mrs. Dunnett writes a beautiful, lush English--one of my major fantasies is inviting her to tea in ! order to find out if she's anything like one of her creations.