All of Tom Brown's books are written on many different levels. As a just-starting-out naturalist, I read most of Brown's books with interest, but the deeper I go into the naturalist's world, the more powerful messages I get between the lines.

The book offers many insights on modern man- most of all, the notion that if one simply lets the world drift by, with all sorts of damage, trouble, etc. being done (mind you, yourself doing none of the actual damage), the message is clear- Why didn't you do something?

Probably the most powerful message in the book is, "There are no small things." To quote Bruce Lee, if you throw a rock into a pond, you get ripples- soon the ripples cross the whole pond. Every action we do has implications, good and bad. Make your impressions positive and beneficial.

For those lucky enough to attend Tom Brown's school, reading any of his books after taking a class- no matter how many times you read them previously- it's like reading an entirely new book. There are countless messages and powerful teachings in The Quest, and I give it my highest recommendation.

Dear Sirs, I hope you reconsider your decision not to publish this review. On October 7, 1998, the NY Times reported on the biggest Ozone Hole yet seen. To quote the article: "Government scientists said today that the gap in the planet's ozone over Antartica was greater than the size of North America and was the largest ever observed." In addition, on August 13, 2000, a frontpage article in the Sunday NY Times reported on how a formerly benign fungus which has been found in the US from time immemorial was suddenly killing millions of acres of oak trees in California. The article ends on a puzzling note with scientist unable to explain why this disease had become so virulent. However, it is well known that UV radiation affects plants earlier than Humans and one documented effect of UV radiation is a weakening of the immune system. It is not a far stretch of the imagination to theorize that UV radiation may be responsible for this latest plant die-off. I hope you give these issues consideration. -----------------------------------------------------------------

Like many people, I used to read the grim newspaper accounts of environmental destruction and wonder what it all meant. Then, in the late 1980s Tom Brown published The Vision and in the final chapter of that book provided the first glimpse into a future most of us want to deny. Now here in The Quest, he lets out all the stops and makes plain for the first time that mankind may very well be doomed.

Brown reveals that as far back as 1962, Grandfather, his Apache Native American Teacher, had warned that the appearance of holes in the sky would mark the beginning of the end of mankind on Earth. Sunlight would become deadly killing everything it touched. Plants would shrivel up and die, crops would fail and starvation would sweep around the world. People would be hunted like deer for food. Many events would foreshadow the appearance of the holes but finally there would be a time of peace. This would mark mankind's last chance to reverse his endless destruction of the Earth. If instead, he concentrated on material gain, all would be lost and the end would come as surely as the Sun rises.

From this beginning, Brown takes us through a series of personal visions wherein he is transported to the future and sees for himself the horrors that await us. In one account, he visits a city where human limbs hang in shop windows and walking skeletons covered with sores roam the streets. Everything reeks with death and Brown watches as a roving band of armed men hunts down an abandoned child, and without remorse, guts and skins him like an animal. Brown makes it clear that this an America city and not some distant third world nation.

Not all the stories deal with the future. Brown relates his own efforts to deny what he knew and avoid taking up his Vision of teaching the ancient tracking and survival skills. At one point, he witnesses a brutal father rob his young son of a promising future. Grandfather then asks Tom what obstacles will stop him from fulfilling his vision ? The question is clearly not meant for Brown alone and foreseeing an excuse many of us will use to deny our share of responsibility Grandfather points to a graveyard and asks 'what will be the measure of your life Grandson? Will it be a lifetime of meaningless toil or one filled with purpose and meaning?'

This is by far Brown's darkest book but how does one sanitize such a horrifying account? There is no science here and those who believe ozone depletion is a figment of some environmentalist's imagination would be better off reading God's Last Offer, by Ed Ayres. Mr. Ayres presents related doomsday scenarios but with the science to back them. To those who are sensitive to the Earth, however Tom Brown's book needs no proof. Its truth is obvious.

The only question left open by Brown is when all this will take place? The question is important because many people will shrug off this account as part of some distant future. Although this book does not provide a timeframe a little reading in the scientific press will. It takes thirty years for CFCs to waft through the atmosphere and reach the ozone layer. If all CFC production ceased today, and it hasn't, we would still face 30 more years of degradation. According to NASA, there is already enough CFCs in the upper atmosphere to blow away 70% of the ozone layer. Take a equal amounts of ozone and CFCs, expose them to ultraviolet radiation and one can easily measure the rate of breakdown. The answer you will find is that we have a mere score and ten years left.

Grandfather made it clear that once the holes appear there would be no physical way to heal the Earth. Indeed, Time Magazine writing in the early 90s said that 'the entire world's fleet of 747s operating around the clock, 365 days of the year' could not replace a fraction of the ozone that has already been lost. But Brown does leave us with a ray of hope: if enough people become aware of what is happening, combined we can achieve what technology cannot. Brown is a great believer in the combined efforts of many people working together. Seldom does he speak of grand heroic acts. Each of us, doing a little, can achieve a lot. Be forewarned that if you read this book you will never be able to look at your children in the same way again. Most of us adults living today will not bear the brunt of this horrible future but our children and grandchildren will. If you read this book and do nothing, the Time of Peace will pass and you too, like Brown, will have to answer the screams of your children as they clutch at you in the grave yelling "YOU KNEW, YOU KNEW! WHY DIDN'T YOU DO SOMETHING?"

This book presents principles of growth that we find common across time and cultures. Highly recommended both as interesting reading material, as well as an opportunity to reconsider values, meaning (and all that other existential stuff) and our own perspectives through a differant path. In recent popular venacular, "getting out of the box" of western culture.

I have studied Reiki and am a Reiki Master. I give this book to all of my Reiki students because it explains Reiki so simply and well. I especially like that it is informative without giving the impression that only the author's opinion of Reiki is important, and also that it sites Reiki's founder, Dr. Mikao Usui. It is clearly a tool to help one further one's understanding of Reiki.

Thank you Frank Arjava Petter for being daring and brave to bring the 'real' version of Dr. Usui's Reiki to the west. I had from the beginning a little difficulty to accept everything which was said about the 'grand-masters' and their likes. And in the past very little facts were given about Dr. Usui and mainly in a kind of fairy story tale. Now I can accept Reiki as I believe Reiki should be: free from major money making and available for all people who truly wish to heal themselves, others and the world. God and Reiki bless us all. B. Müller, Reiki Master, South Africa

I learned the real history and idea of Reik

I was born with a Cataract in 1971 which wasn't removed until I was 7 years old in an out of town hospital (due to the fact that the doctors in my area who were not educated in Cataract surgery in infants.) From birth, I did not have vision in my right eye.

I was introduced to this book by my Ocularist when I received my scleral shell for my eye in 1996. (Yes, yet another doctor in my area that had no idea what he was doing. I lost my during a procedure he performed that was unnecessary.)

This book was helpful to me in understanding how and why I do certain things with one eye. Also, it explains how to compensate for the lack of depth-perception or peripheral vision. It gives a list of famous personalities with monocular vision so don't feel so alone. These people did great things in life with only one eye, for example Theodore Roosevelt, Sandy Duncan, Peter Falk, Guglielmo Marconi, John Milton, Horatio Nelson, and Hilaire Germain Edgar Degas are just a few.

I recommend this book to anyone who knows someone or is a person with one eye. Some may have lost their eye years ago or recently. Either way, it is a help to all.

My 7 year old son lost vision in one eye through a accident. My sister found this book in the public library and it was very helpful to us as parents and for my son. It helped us deal with some of the every day difficulties in the first few months. It also helped us realize that he could continue doing alot of the same activities, with extra precautions of course. I have passed on the name of the book to all the eye specialist we have seen. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has lost vision in one eye or any one dealing directly with a friend or relative who has lost vision in one eye.

In my 18 years in eyecare, I've never come across a better book on monocularity (having only one seeing eye). I've recommended this book to several patients, with wonderful results. My best advice to any person with only one useful eye is two-fold: always wear safety glasses, and get this book! It is full of practical advice that I've passed along to patients, even those who have two good eyes but must wear an eye patch on one for a while. This is grass-roots stuff to help you where you live...driving, dining out, even shaking hands. As an author and editor of eyecare material myself, I'm very particular and picky. But this book is a winner any way you look at it.

The author must have psychic powers and a clear, analytic mind. Oliverio's argument published in 1998 should have been read by U.S. foreign policy makers. She makes a cogent argument for considering the ways in which people and organizations of power use the concept of terror to hid their own uses of terrorism.

Although this book had been recommended to me by first class scholars, I did not read it until this week because I assumed the work would not be relevant after Septermber 11, 2001. The fact is it is more relevant now then ever before. In many ways, I interpret her to be saying that she loves her countries by loves justice more, much as Camus said long ago. Justice, an analysis of the politics of deviance and terrorism, a global perspective, and a beautiful analysis of the role of theater in the political arenas are only a small part of this poignant book.

Oliverio delves deeply into the roots of statecraft and how those roots intertwine with terrorism. Clearly the author finds the musings of an early Austrian, Machiavelli, sadly relevant to the modern scene.

This book is more interesting than the Titanic. The icing is the scholarly tone and the sophisticated literal agility of the Italian author.

I recently read The Prayer of Jabez and asked that my territory be enlarged. It has been as a result of reading this book. It is a blessing and very timely. I have already suggested it to others and have it posted as a featured book on my site. If you have ever wondered how you got over, read this book. It is a personal, heartfelt testimony that challenges readers to answer the call, to put God first.

I first learned of This Far By Faith in a womans magazine. It wasn't released yet but, the title alone made me think "am I putting God first in my everyday living?" Once I purchased the book I could not put it down--it covered all facets of life--reminding me that with faith in God nothing is impossible. I use it as a companion to my Bible and I was led to bless my friend with it and she also loved it! I intend to purchase more copies to give as gifts this holiday to encourage others to always keep the faith! There's so much more that I could say but the most important thing is that it will absolutely impact your life in every way.

I was privileged to receive a copy of this book for my 30th Birthday. I was at a point in my life when I decided to leave my comfort zone and pursue my long-time passions and dreams.

As I began to read the book I quickly decided that this was something I needed to digest slowly. This book was not only a detailed exploration of faith but offered practical and spiritual insight into everyday living. This is a book that I will read repeatedly and each time a different chapter will likely speak to my current experience.

This book was also read by members of a bookclub at my church. The members really loved this book as it inspired them to explore various areas of their lives including friendships and raising children. One member shared how the book was a great conversation starter in public places and another said it was the most useful book she had ever read.

From a discussion of "friendship" to "answering your call," the authors have not only shared their faith journey but offered practical wisdom and spiritual insight that will guide you along your own faith journey.

Very informative and easy to understand especially for a beginner like myself. Explained the different types of games and odds in an an easy to understand language. I felt more education the next time I played the slots.

"Thrifty Gambling", by John G. Brokopp is a wonderfully written treatise on the field of gambling. There are charts, diagrams, statistics, and practical information that will save its readers money and their sanity. Many false premises concerning odds and your chance to win at a given game are laid out and explained. The term "thrifty" is well chosen and defined to give you the best play for your money. Games are defined, explained, and odds spelled out. This is a wonderful book to read and read again, and I bet you'll find your investment in the book will be well paid off with a better understanding of odds and better play for your money.

Edward Vincent editor OakParkJournal.com

I never knew what I was up against when I played slots, but after reading Thrifty Gambling I found out the truth in plain, common sense language. I will still play slots, but thanks to Thrifty Gambling I am now an informed player. They used to be a mystery. Now I feel like I am in control of both the game and the money. Thrifty Gambling has changed the whole way I play and it's all for the better. I have read a lot of gambling books, but never one so informative with good common sense gambling techniques.An awesome, must buy book!

This book has a little bit of everything for Oz fans. It focuses on two of the original characters from The Wizard of Oz (the Tin Man and the Scarecrow), introduces two wonderful new characters (Woot the Wanderer and the Tin Soldier) and reintroduces us to the lovely fairy Polychrome. And even though Dorothy and Ozma don't feature in this book, they do appear in the middle to help the heroes out of trouble. As typical of Baum, this book features a quest, as the Tin Man decides that he must marry the Munchkin girl that he left behind when he became rusted in the forest and eventually rescued by Dorothy and the Scarecrow. And while there is no villain chasing the travelers throughout the story, there is Mrs. Yoop the Giantess who captures them at one point and of course the land of Oz itself which throws them several curveballs, like making them invisible for a stretch.

Because there is no one villain this book doesn't remain as focused as many of Baum's books do, but that is part of its charm. We lazily get to explore the wonders of Oz along with our heroes, enjoying several amazing encounters and slowly learning the true history behind Nick Chopper's transformation from meat person to tin man. Because the plot and therefore the entire tone of this book are so casual, Baum makes it easy to become comfortable with the situations and the characters. Baum once again proves why his Oz books rank right up there with the best of the young adult fantasy books being published today. The Tin Woodman of Oz belongs right up there on your bookshelf with the Harry Potter books and King Fortis the Brave, all wonderful examples of how excellent children's literature can be.

Like all of L. Frank Baum's Oz books, "The Tin Woodman of Oz" has an effortless sense of memorability about it which not all Oz authors have been able to attain. It raises more interesting philosophical problems about identity and the nature of love than do most of the Oz books, and is, like most of Baum's writing, gently humorous and optimistic about the world and human nature. Some of the plot twists in the latter part of the book, which concern the repercussions of Nick Chopper's transformation into a Tin Woodman, may be disturbing for some young readers; but the questions these events raise are fascinating and could lead children into interesting discussions with their parents about what makes a person himself. Books of Wonder's beautiful edition includes all of John R. Neill's illustrations, including the endpapers and the color plates; this is the only one of the "Famous Forty" Oz books to include illustrations of the Wicked Witch of the East, of the Tin Woodman's long-lost love Nimmie Amee, and of the Tin Woodman himself as he appeared when he was a normal "meat" man. All of Baum's books are children's classics, and "The Tin Woodman of Oz" is no exception.

In L. Frank Baum's twelfth Oz adventure, he takes you on a quest through the Land of Oz to answer the most puzzling secret of the Tin Woodman's past: what became of the pretty Munchkin girl who Nick Chopper fell in love with so many years ago?

I have been in the health insurance industry for years. I have seen attempts at national health insurance changes come and go without really understanding why. Now I have a much greater appreciation of the compexities from Govern's book.

I have been involved in the health care sector for some time now but have never viewed the formation of US health policy in the way describe by the author. I find it insightful and adds to my understanding of the topic of health care in the current presidential campaigns.

Working on my thesis on the US healthcare system and some legal issues surrounding it (don't worry; I won't go into it here), I recently discovered this book and must sing its praise.

Dr. Govern's writing style is engaging and he provides here a concrete and strong analysis of his subject.

I recommend to anyone this book for a thorough and thought-provoking look at problem definition and the history of US Health Policy.

It's past time that someone put some thought and effort into a book of this nature. We've had "Science Fiction TV" guides before, and they've uniformly been written by authors whose axes could be heard grinding away throughout as they slagged shows they disliked and drooled over shows they (often unaccountably) were fans of. Mark Phillips and Frank Garcia have done a good job of research and writing here, with few and minor mistakes. The chapter on "Battlestar Galactica," which is accurate and contains a good deal of information, much of it from new interviews done especially for this book, is worth the price of admission alone. If you're a fan of science fiction on TV, this book, in spite of its price, should be on your bookshelf. Very highly recommended.

This book represents the pinnacle in terms of a blend of behind-the-scenes insights and anecdotes combined with basic reference data. The multitude of interviews that went into the text give the material a depth that the more common coverage of sci-fi shows rarely attains. Like other books by McFarland, it's pricey, but I can think of none that give the reader better value for their dollar.

What makes this guide especially fascinating are the numerous candid in-depth interviews with the producers and writers of these shows, giving much insight into the creative process and the trials and tribulations of creating innovative television shows. There are countless behind-the-scenes anecdotes that have, I am sure, never seen print before. I thought I knew a lot about certain shows, but this book contained info that was new to me; and even reading the articles about shows I never watched (and the entries on each show are long and detailed) I could scarcely put the book down. This book serves as a reference, but it is more than that; it has a wealth of fascinating insights into the television industry itself.

If you're not a comics fan- this book will essentially be USELESS for you - but if you are a fan, it will be an invaluable to your collection. Brief reviews cover most of the mainstream comic series put out since the late 30's/early 40's - with particular emphasis covering stuff released in the 80's and early 90's. Brief and entertaining reviews cover the high points and low points of many series - along with recommended issues and creators involved. Reviews are not always positive, but always entertaining ( though I still disagree with their review of Warren Ellis' work on HELLSTORM, but I digress ).
If I had ONE complaint, is that the book covers only up until 1995 for most series released - so an update - which apparently is coming in next year or so- is much needed. Even so - it's still an awesome resource to have.

I happened upon this British softcover in my local comics shop, and was extremely pleased with my discovery. In a lot of ways it's as informative and witty as Robert Christgau's similar music "guides," compiled from his work for the NY Village Voice. The sheer volume of printed material covered by the various reviewers is astounding. I should mention that even though this book originated in the U.K., you'll still find listings for obscure American underground comics: no title is too small to merit a mention.

Listings are alphabetical, generally by the name of the starring character or comic title. Many titles are given a thorough analysis, including the histories of relevant characters and the evolution of specific plotlines. The guide also suggests notable issues for collectors, and lists various collections and/or reprints that appear in separate volumes. While it's obvious to this reader that S&A's reviewers all love comics and aren't afraid to gush the occasional superlative, they are also refreshingly candid when reviewing subpar material. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments just flipping through the book at random.

Though this edition will soon be revised (or so I hear) to include more recent comics, I can heartily recommend this guide to comic fans who appreciate the medium as much as their favorite characters. For readers who have pondered collecting comic titles in the periphery of their usual reading material, this book is a great resource for picking and choosing. Last but not least, it's a great book to have at the ready when you have a little time to indulge yourself in the history of comics.

J

If you're a comic fan, this book is an unbelieveable reference. It's not a book for people buying comics like they were stocks in the faint hopes of trading them in for riches afterwards, WIZARD-ites out there will be SADLY dissapointed if that's what they're looking for. You want an amazing overview of comics from the 40's to ( around ) 1995, entertaining and insightful commentary and views, this is the book for you. A must-have for any collector, or anyone into popular culture. Hoping for a sequel as my copy is dog-eared by this point.