This book is an awesome example of what Father can do when we as his children believe what he has said.

If you want to read what happens to a life totally opened to be used by God, read this. If you need inspiration by another's example to believe for the for the impossible, no matter what; read this. If you want encouragement to be the most you can be in Christ, read this. If, in the midst of a world that teaches you that God no longer moves as he once did; you want to be used in the power of the Holy Spirit, read this! If you want to be able to beleive for the miraculous, whether in healing, deliverance, salvation, or God's provisions, read this! It does not make you want to be like Wigglesworth. (He would be upset at it's title!) What it does is make you want to be all that you can be to accomplish the most for Jesus.

This underappreciated book was written by a close personal friend of Smith Wigglesworth who received healing as a child under the ministry of another Wigglesworth friend. Hibbert came to the evangelist's attention and enjoyed his fellowship throughout his childhood and formative years of his ministry. Hibbert unveils the handful of secrets of Wigglesworth's power in the Holy Ghost. This plumber turned evangelist learned to read with the Bible as his primer and stubbornly refused to read anything else. He considered feeding his spirit with the Word paramount to feeding the body, and would after dinner insist on reading a chapter aloud from his New Testament or Bible, which never left him, no matter who the company was. He would then take a few minutes for prayer. This is one example of how Wigglesworth, day in and day out, numerous times a day, fed and strengthened his spirit. Along with his ability to slip into the presence of God wherever he might be, his natural, virtual unending flow of prayer with his Heavenly Father, and his daily walk in the perfect love of Christ, this secret propelled Wigglesworth into the vortex of the Holy Ghost. Through these secrets, he became a juggernaut of faith, an apostle for whom Satan was no match. "Ever Increasing Faith" by Wigglesworth and Stanley Frodsham's "Smith Wigglesworth: Apostle of Faith" are also highly recommended.

What is "Blues" ? Albert Murray says the Blues are those evil entities that attack our spirit, threatening to depress it. Blues music is the reaction - the means of which the blues is driven away. Actually it is the means African Americans have used to drive away the blues. There is no essential difference between Robert Johnson, Charly Patton, Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Count Basie or Charlie Parker - the all play the blues. Only their stylistic approach differs.
This book talks about the different ways the blues were being stomped - driven away. Murray objects to the "purists" who limit their definition of blues to those played by rural - unsophisticated musicians (such as Blind lemon Jefferson or Leadbelly). While Murray acknowledges their value, his personal taste leans much more to the Louis Armstrong - Charlie Parker lineage. He concentrates on Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Morton, Young, Ellington, Basie and Parker.
Murray seldom uses the word "Jazz" when relating to the music or the musicians. For him they are all "blues drivers", who provide their public with a stomping ritual that is totally functional. Their innovations are a result of the attempt to fulfill their role, to swing harder, and not necessarilly a result of a personal desire, detached from their public role.
Murray differs from most writers who have written on the subject. He comments on the mainstream critics - criticizing their glorification and condescending tendencies. He does not emphasize the inner divisions among the African Americans, as does Amiri Baraka in "Blues People".
This is a remarkable book, recommanded to all "Blues and Jazz" lovers.

do you ever get the feeling, when reading about jazz, that the writer is missing the point, or defending the music on terms inappropriate to it? albert murray never makes that mistake. what he describes is what you hear and see -- at least it was for me. for him, the blues is a great folk music, and jazz is what more sophisticated artists do with the blues -- an extension and elaboration of the blues that,at its best,brings together myth, storytelling, rhythm and improvisational grace.

he treats jazz as a classic art form, but an art form whose terms aren't the same as, say, european classical music's, or pop's. and he does a great job of spelling out what jazz's elements are. if you respond to his writing, you're likely to find the whole art form of jazz opening up before you, even if you dug it before.

bizarrely, albert murray is sometimes accused of having a "racial agenda" -- see other comments here. i don't understand why. i find his vision of race the most generous and noble i've ever run across, avoiding both antagonism and romanticism. (try his great collection of essays "the omni-americans," and see if it doesn't remind you of whitman in its breadth, humor and beauty.) in his vision, america is and always has been multiracial. that's its glory and strength, not its weakness. you'd be crazy not to dig duke ellington, and crazy not to dig thomas eakins. he's a great teacher, and can get you excited about art, performance, and ideas in the way only the great critics can -- pauline kael, for instance, or kenneth tynan, or matthew arnold.

the title "stomping the blues" refers to murray's contention that the blues -- and that african-american music generally -- isn't simply about moaning low or expressing your despair. it's about being honest about "what a low-down, dirty shame" life is -- and then setting that fact to a beat, moving to that beat, and shaking the blues off, if only for a while. that's the heroism of the blues and of jazz -- they aren't about giving in to the blues, they're about "stomping the blues." charlie parker? it's "dance music for the mind."

fyi, murray was a good friend of ralph ellison's, and fans of "invisible man" and of ellison's essays are almost certain to enjoy murray too. murray is often, and accurately, referred to as the intellectual godfather of the recent neotraditional movement in jazz. he has had a tremendous influence on stanley crouch and wynton marsalis, and his ideas are behind the founding of lincoln center's jazz program.

Albert Murray is the ultimate insider as far as jazz goes, and his knowledgeable observations here prove it. I sometimes wonder about his racial agenda, though.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is seeking growth in their spiritual life. Father Haase has combined the best of St. Francis and Thomas Merton to produce a very helpful, thought-provoking book. Chapter One, "Abba!,Father" talks about God's unconditional love for us. Fr. Haase quotes Merton: "We need to see good in ourselves in order to love ourselves. He(God)does not. He loves us not because we are good, but because He is." This is just an awesome thought!!

Read this book slowly and then read it again. There is so much in this book that I want to remember, that I found myself making notes in my spiritual journal several times during my reading. I now have to find time to read several of Thomas Merton's books that are quoted in this book.

I would also recommend "The Gift of Peace" by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin and "The Practice of the Presence of God with Spiritual Maxims" by Brother Lawrence.

Father Haase uses his life experiences to allow the reader to touch Jesus' words. Profound insights, enlightening. Thank you Father Haase for sharing your life with us.

"Calling on the century-spanning kindred spirits of Francis of Assisi and Thomas Merton as interpreters of the familiar words of the Our Father, Albert Haase takes us home. SWIMMING IN THE SUN brings the warmth, the intimacy, the majesty of our loving God face-to-face with the reader in a wonderful and unforgettable way. Rarely have we judges experienced so much wisdom, beauty and inspiration presented in such a short delightful book. It's very satisfying to go swimming with St. Francis and Thomas Merton with Father Haase as lifeguard."....The Judges of the 1994 Catholic Press Association's Catholic Book Awards, First Place for a First Time Autho

If you're looking for a great place to start learning about Relativity and physics in general, this is it. Even if your math skills have lost their luster it won't be a problem. I recommend reading this first, then if you're having trouble or don't understand a few points, read Einstein's Universe by Nigel Calder.

This is one of the slimmest books that I bought in 2001, bargain priced, and I was sure it could tell me a lot about myself as well as about how Einstein thought. I spent 1964 through 1967 studying the kind of mechanics which Einstein is thought to have expanded into another dimension by making time an axis which allows consideration of systems moving at different speeds. E=mc-squared was a formula that I knew from high school. When I was learning calculus at the University of Michigan in the fall of 1965, it seemed to be the perfect mathematics for expressing what happens to objects in motion. In algebra, the big problem for those of us with a one track mind, capable of being surprised by solutions which didn't actually fit the problem, was solving equations in ways which did not involve a solution that required dividing both sides of an equation by zero. In calculus, major trends were often considered much more important than minor trends when everything was divided by quantities that were so small, they were like numbers approaching zero, and borderline concepts were subject to the kind of ambivalence that makes borderline psychological experiences such a booming field in the area of personality disorders, but the key thing about this book is the attempt to keep an eye on what can be learned from science. I thought that I was picking up what still made sense to me in the U of M introduction to Physics until there was a question on the final exam which asked for a mathematical manipulation of equations to produce the result E = mc-squared. I knew some equations, and wrote a few things down, but I didn't come up with that answer. I think I even looked in the textbook after the test, to see if I had forgotten something which was on one page, but I couldn't find that page. This book has what I should have known then.

The final section of the book, 7. AN ELEMENTARY DERIVATION OF THE EQUIVALENCE OF MASS AND ENERGY, from pages 70 to 73, claims to use the law of conservation of momentum, an expression for the pressure of radiation, and two coordinate systems, one of which is moving rapidly along the direction of the axis of a system which is fixed relative to a body that has equal radiation hitting it from both sides. I doubt if the professor for the Physics class expected me to think of this method of finding that E = mc-squared, and I'm still not sure that I believe this approach proves it. In the still system, the momentums of equal and opposite radiation complexes cancel each other completely, so the amount of energy which might be involved doesn't matter. For the system which is moving, the radiation is assumed to be hitting the body from some angle related to that speed, and the change of momentum added by the component along the axis of motion does not change the speed, so the additional momentum is considered an addition to the mass of the body. The mathematical solution depends on solving equations for the difference in the mass observed for using two different systems, one of which is observing zero momentum, and the other thinking, "We anticipate here the possibility that the mass increased with the absorption of the energy E (this is necessary so that the final result of our consideration be consistent)." I believe Albert Einstein wrote this book, but I still wonder what it is telling us.

einstein, who opened our mind to see beyond was the common man could do, to see beyond what our limited senses told us about our world. the concept of relativity is an eye opener, and what better way to know about it than by reading the works of the man who envisaged the theory. each of the essays in this book are worth the price in itself. a must buy book for every budding physicst!!!

I have enjoyed all of the previous "herb" books and am not usually a fan of short stories. This collection is wonderful, though. and it goes great with a pot or glass of tea, a comfortable chair, and quiet time. I recommend this for your vacation reading list.

Quirky China Bayles, an ex-lawyer from Houston turned herb-shop proprietor and amateur sleuth in quaint Pecan Springs, has certainly had a number of adventures since the series kicked off in the early 1990's. Some of Albert's best novel length tales to date include Chile Death and Love Lies Bleeding. In this collection, readers can find all the humor, herb lore, recipes and fun of a full length mystery in these short stories, originally published online in serial format.
From a missing Khat to the threat of a real-estate mogul buying out a local business, to sinister murder, these short tales pack cozy mystery punch. Easy to read in short gulps, and there are tons of easy recipes and craft ideas included. Great fun!

Fans of the China Bayles mysteries, staring a former lawyer turned herbalist and restaurant owner, have a special treat in store for them this time around. Author Susan Wittig Albert has written a ten-story collection starring the protagonist doing what she does best: solve crimes. Readers are also introduced to her best friend and business partner Ruby Wilcox, who often plays the part of the sidekick and China's beloved husband, former homicide detective Mike McQuaid, who still can't resist taking part in a criminal invitation.

In addition to the stories, each one exciting and fast-paced, the reader is introduced to herbal lore and some mouth-watering meals using herbs found in China's very own garden. The short story format is just as potent as the novel length tales that fans expect from Ms. Albert. For fans this is a treat but for newcomers this is a delightful introduction to one of the more endearing mystery genre characters.

Harriet Klausner

I loved "What's the Matter with Albert?" I bought it as a gift for my 7 year old granddaughter Lauren, who loves to read. Before giving any book to her, I always make sure to read it first, so we can have phone discussions about it. (I am a long-distance grandma and she lives 3000 miles away.) This book was an excellent choice because of the lessons it will teach her.

I loved the way Billy found the courage to face his fears and conquer the challenge of interviewing a genius like Albert Einstein. I liked that it shows that it's okay to daydream, to think about life in a different way than the people around us think, and that if you face your fears, you can accomplish many things in life. There will always be people who feel that because someone thinks "outside of the box" or appears absent-minded, something is wrong with us.

I loved the childlike style of Billy's four questions and that the answers were actually in Einstein's own words. And I thought it was a good lesson to show that Billy was able to do further research and write another story on his own once Albert Einstein 'opened the door' to Billy's quest for knowledge.

This story will teach my granddaughter that our imagination is what makes us unique, that once you take the first step and just do your very best, you can accomplish great things, in spite of your fears.

On a personal level, I think I related to this story because as a child, I always felt "different" and didn't look at things in the same way as other kids did. I was a daydreamer, couldn't concentrate in school and often got into trouble because my mind wandered.

I wish I had been able to read this book when I was young - I'm sure it would have made me feel that it was okay to look at things differently, to ask questions, to always be curious. (I'm a cookbook author today, so I guess I succeeded in spite of myself!)

Thanks to the author for a wonderful book! I also loved the illustrations and the way they were integrated into the story. They remind me of Norman Rockwell's artistic style. Well done!

Norene Gilletz

What a great book! The title and the Norman Rockwell like illustration of Eistein immediately caught my attention. What's The Matter With Albert? Who would have thought that this famous scientist, this amazing genious of the 20th century would have anything the matter with him. I loved the way the author tells us about all the struggles and difficulties the young Albert Einstein had as a student. I always figured the guy sailed through school, and that he likely graduated by age 12 and was then courted by major universities around the world. But no, Albert was asked to leave his school!
I thought this book shared some fascinating facts about Einstein's life in a cute and unintimidating way - a fictional character's (a cub reporter with the Princeton Elementary School News) interview with Albert Einstein. At the end of the interview the young reporter asks Albert four more questions. My favorite, and I hope the author doesn't mind me sharing this one, is "What makes you think up all those great ideas?" I loved Einstein's answer - "I use my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world". There are several great quotes from Einstein in the book.
I bought this book for two of my 8 year old nephews. I hope they will have as much fun reading it as I did and will be encouraged to let their imaginations fly and take them to all sorts of interesting thoughts and places.

In her wonderful new book, WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH ALBERT? A STORY OF ALBERT EINSTEIN, author Frieda Wishinsky brings the Nobel Prize-winning scientist to life for young readers.

Billy, a shy young reporter for the school newspaper goes to interview Einstein to find out what he was like as a child. To his surprise, the great genius had lots of problems when he was a boy. Any child who has ever felt shy, inadequate or less than a star will relate to the young Einstein, who was late to talk, not a star in school, and subject to bursts of bad temper.

Wishinsky's style invites the reader to explore Einstein's world in a variety of interesting ways. These include the text of his final report on Einstein "When he Grew Up," a timeline of the important dates in his life and an excerpt from Billy's notebook, with answers in Einstein's actual words. For example, to the question "Why don't you wear socks?'", Einstein asnwers "When I was young I found out that the big toe always ends up making a hole in the sock. So I stopped wearing socks."

Children will find the man and the story irresistable. Told in clear, engaging prose and dialogue, WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH ALBERT EINSTEIN? will delight all young readers. Jaques Lamontagne's illustrations of Einstein at different periods of his life will round out the familiar image of the frizzy-haired genius.

Frieda Wishinsky has added to the long list of books about Albert Einstein one that truly makes him accessible, and that will be treasured by children of all ages.

This is a wonderful book. We've used it a lot with neighborhood plays. It's great because the book is divided into sections of plays for 2 actors, plays for 3 actors etc. The type-font is large and easy to read. Most plays are only 1-1/2 pages long. I take it with me when I help out in the schools or Sunday school as a back-up in case we run out of things to do and have to keep the kids busy 'til the end.

Our homeschool group used this book successfully last year with a group of 40 kids from 1st through 7th grade. Each play is catergorized by number of players required. We further catergorized the plays by number of lines per part. Harder parts went to older students. The set up for each fable is minimal. The suggested props are things like one chair, a table, etc. Our students worked on these plays for about 20 minutes each meeting and were able to perform 9 plays after about 4 meetings. Since we meet only once a week, simplicity is important.

Leslie Norris's book is excellent. I bought three copies... one for my nieces, one for my aunt, and one for myself! I was fortunate to hear Mr.Norris read the book, as well as read a rough draft he wrote that might soon be another Albert and Lucille story!! For anyone looking for the perfect holiday gift, Albert and the Angels is excellent! The writing is superb and the illustrations are fabulous. This book is HIGHLY recommended.

I have been waiting for this book to arrive for more than two years. Ever since I heard Leslie Norris read it along with his poetry I have waitied and waited for this book to be here so that I could read it at my family Christmas party. Unlike so many other things, my memory did not overshadow the real experience when the book finally arrived. After seeing the illustrations and reading the book for myself, I can forgive the publishers for the many delays I was made to endure. I read with renewed astonishment the wonderful prose of Leslie Norris telling the story of Albert trying to get his mother a special gift for Christmas. I fell in love with children's stories once again.

Once every now and then, a book comes along that you are just dying to share with your friends and family. This is such a book. Norris has a beautiful ear for the way children speak and an amazing imagination to see things the way children must. I say this because it is remarkable how close his words come to the way my own son speaks and plays.

Albert and the Angels makes you believe in a world of magic and inspiration. The words and the illustrations make for a wonderful evening with your children. I cannot praise this book enough, so you will have to see for yourself what I am talking about.

That rarest of combinations -- a first-rate piece of scholarship that's also a first-rate piece of writing. Everything about Terhune that the fan, collector and discoverer or rediscoverer of his marvelous animals stories and other books needs to know.

An absolute necessity for all who love and collect the many books-mainly on dogs-by Terhune. Begins with 16 page biography, and the rest is a detailed bibliography. The author is possibly the leading Terhune scholar and collector.

As a long time Freemason I had always found Albert Pike to be a distant figure with whom I had little in common. Jim Tresner does a great job on making Pike back into a mortal being without destroying his image. In other works attempting to do the same with larger than life figures the result is usually an all out attack on the accomplishments of the subject in question. Not so with this book. Pike the Freemason, Pike the American, and Pike the man come to life and after reading the book one feels cheated at not having known Pike. I have long had a copy of Morals and Dogma which I have hesitated to read but now thanks to Tresner I think I will give it a try.

As the author points out, most Scottish Rite masons are almost afraid to approach the subject of Albert Pike. Many find that his writings, written in the verbose victorian style of the 19th century, are beyond their comprehension. And the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry hasn't helped matters any by turning Pike into an almost mythological figure. As a result, most of us have been overwhelmed by him and have not felt worthy enough to approach the subject of so much awe and mystery. Tresner does an amazing job in showing us all that Pike is indeed approachable. He peels away the mythology and shows us that, while worthy of our respect and admiration, Pike was indeed as human as any of us. Tresner fleshes out this character that has been cast in stone for the last hundred years, thus making both the man and his writings more accessible to us today. Even if you are not a mason and don't know anything about the Scottish Rite, you will still enjoy this look at one of the most amazing figures of the 19th century. He was a lawyer, a civil war general, an author, an explorer, a musician and an early advocate of native American rights. He wrote about philosophy and religion and updated the rituals of the Scottish Rite. It is a shame that more attention hasn't been paid to the amazing life of this individual. This book is very readable, as it is written in down to earth language. The author is not out to impress anybody with multi-syllabic language. He is not a scholar trying to impress other scholars. Neither does he insult your intelligence by writing underneath you. He is a writer who truly admires his subject and will share that admiration with anyone who will spare a few minutes to listen. Besides it's easy to comprehend language, one thing that makes this book so enjoyable is it's layout. Unlike most biographies, which start at the subject's birth and chronologically list his achievements until death, Tresner devotes each chapter to a separate aspect of Pike's life. There is a chapter devoted to his relationship with the American Indians, one devoted to his lifelong pursuit of knowledge in Freemasonry, even one about his collection of pipes. Thus we can truly appreciate not only Pike's incredible achievements but those small character traits and quirks which made him so likable to those who knew him. By learning more about Pike, we learn about ourselves and about the infinite possibilities which life has to offer. It would be very difficult for someone to read this book and not want to start living life to it's absolute fullest as Pike did. Carpe Diem!