In the interest of full disclosure, I know Dr. Francis "Nat" Natali, the author of "Dancing with Power." I met him 30 years ago, when he showed up at my house just as my wife and I were sitting down to breakfast. He was accompanied by one of the most striking women I had ever seen in person, a statuesque, olive-skinned, dark-haired beauty a little taller than Nat. He looked to be in his early thirties, she about ten years younger.
Nat quickly and politely explained why they had come. It seems he, a very successful but dissatisfied engineer, as he later explained, had been on one of his many peregrinations alone (described in the book), when he met my wife's father, Dan. Dan, too, was a kind of dissatisfied seeker, a gentleman in his middle fifties who had taken the last of his inheritance and bought a commercial salmon fishing boat.
Nat and Dan met in a fishing port somewhere on the northern California coast. They were both unusual people among the salmon fishermen, in that they were well educated. In fact, Nat approached Dan on hearing him speak, thinking, "He sure doesn't talk like a fisherman." Their ensuing conversation ended with Dan inviting Nat to visit him in Saratoga, California, where Dan lived in a little cabin on his ancestral land. My wife and I lived in "the big house" on the same land.
So Nat and his wife had come to our door that morning looking for Dan. Dan wasn't at home, so we invited them in to share our breakfast with us.
We were immediately taken with both of them. My wife, truth to tell, was a bit threatened by Nat's wife's beauty and was not inclined to pursue the friendship further. But I prevailed and, in any event, she and I parted company a few years later. I stayed in touch with Nat over the years, sometimes frequently, sometimes infrequently.
What I can say here is that his book is an agonizingly true and beautifully told account of the the adulthood of a man who would not settle for anything less than the ever-elusive "life that made sense." Watching his outwardly enviable life unfold, as I did, I eventually saw that he was constantly peeling away layers -- financial, interpersonal, psychological -- in which the world had somehow wrapped him, at first unnoticed, later against his will.
This book is an account of what he learned in that process. One rarely gets the opportunity to look inside the mind of a person who starts with nothing, eventually has it all, including two children by his beautiful wife, then jettisons most of it piece by piece as he keeps looking for the "life that makes sense."
Does he find it?
Read the book.

DANCING WITH POWER is the tale of a 'Zenith Warrior' written with great clarity and soul searching. A must for anyone on the 'path'.

This is a tale of a 'Zenith' Warrior written with great clarity and soul searching. Easy to read. Full of positive energy. A must for anyone on the 'path'.

I had not even heard of Enid Blyton until an aunt in Australia sent me a copy of 'Five Go Down To The Sea'. That would have been about 1955 and I was immediately captivated by Enid's pure sense of mood and adventure.
I must have re-read the book a half-dozen times in just a few weeks and got to know farmer Penruthlan, Yan, The Barnies and Clopper the horse as if they were real friends of my very own.
I relived that adventure again when I got to read a chapter or two aloud each night to my two sons when they were toddlers. They, too, were enthralled with the story. And I truly believe that the noble actions of Julian, Dick, George, Anne and Timmy helped to mould my sons' lives, as they did mine.
Even now, at the 'grand old age' of 57, I am not ashamed to admit that, seeking escape from this troubled world, I have read Five Go Down To The Sea again, by myself.
Now, I can't wait to have grandchildren, so I can read the book to them at bed-time...unless my sons beat me to it, of course!

when i was a kid of 7 or 8 my mom got me interested in books by Enid Blyton, like Famous Five, Secret Seven, and those Adventure series. I just loved famous five and in fact have read all 21 of their regular books. In addition to that i also read their special editions, around 10 . These books are so addictive, once my father even told me u shouldnt read that much , u're studies might get affected, or i'll weaken my eyesight! haha! but in reality these really capture the imagination of a young kid and i highly recommend them to any kids new to reading novels

I could not put it down once I started reading it. After I finished reading the book, I felt sad. I have read the book two times in two days!

Let me begin this review with a quote from this outstanding book by author Francis Frangipane,
"Those who would find God, find time"
If you are a Christian who is truly seeking more of the indwelling of the one you serve this is the book for you.

The author pulls no punches in this work as he shares with you the way to a deeper walk with God. He explains that in drawing closer to God, you will be exposing your own heart and the motives therein, something some of us may not be ready to see.

He speaks of repentance, faking Christianity, overcoming idols and shaking free from the many things that have us in bondage. My favorite part of this great book was Chapter 15, "Holiness Is A Tree Ripe With Fruit." Here the author makes you face your very existence as a Christian by the words of the Bible, "The tree is known by its fruit." Talk about cutting to the quick. Just how much fruit are we bearing, or are we afraid to know?

This is a book that will make you search your heart and study your walk with God. Just how much are you willing to put on the cross and how much of His likeness are you willing to become? This book will challenge every Christian who reads the words between its pages.

This read was great! Highly Recommended!

Francis describes the wonder of God's holiness from His throne to our lives. This book goes beyond the do's and the don'ts of being holy as he is holy. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what the biblical and historical writers meant about living a holy life before God. Holiness, Truth and the Presence of God are the deep desires of the Christian, this book describes these elements with clear biblical integrity.

I rate this book at the top along with all the others, because we as christians need every help we can get from our fellow saints. This book makes me feel wanting more of God. I feel as though my pass sinful life is a waste of time to think about when i ponder the awesome glory and power yet to come. I fell more one with God. Every christian should feel convicted by the words of this book (but not condemmed). In doing this we change the wicked strongholds of our minds and we let God,himsel,fthrough. Soon we will walk on water, cast out demonds, the lame walk, and even command a tree to wither and die. We will make druning people raise to the surface of the water, and much, much more... We will see angels on a scale we never saw before, and most importantly, the visible and audible glory of God- i mean it! So if you are looking for holiness, you are not too late. If you want to be in this Revalation power get this book. (Do you know how close we are to this prophecy- in Daniel 11:20 in the bible, is about Osama Bin Laden: Do you see it? look at it constantly andd closely).

As a pre-med major hoping to work in Third World Countries, this book speaks straight to my heart. Bentivegna is brilliant and completely honest about the suffering in Haiti. I found myself laughing in earnest at his awkward culture shock and horrified by the people that came to him for help. He has a heart of gold and a mind to match; his spirit and humanity are revealed to the public and I am in awe of his character. Bentivegna is a man I would have loved to meet and work alongside of in Haiti and his book is a testament of his work. I recommend this for anyone and everyone. It is wildly intellectual without seeming dull. It is shocking, grotesque and painful, but very true. I have seen Haiti with my eyes and he speaks from the heart with real clarity.

"Neglected and Abused" is a must read for anyone going to Haiti as a medical volunteer (or anyone going to Haiti for any reason). I was captivated by Dr. Joe's tales of medicine in a country with so few resources. I have been going to Haiti as a medical missionary for two years now and I found this book to be an excellent account of the medical situation in Haiti. I think this book would be a wise read for anyone planning a trip to give you an idea of what you are about to face. Dr. Joe's experience took place in the late 1980's before the embargo and the subsequent further deterioration of the health situation in Haiti. Keep that in mind when you read this book - things are worse now.

I am not Haitian, but I have been to Haiti many times and the book seems to present a very realistic picture of the people and problems in Haiti. Dr. Bentivegna simply tells it like it is--he realizes that problems like malnutrition, unsanitary water, and lack of vaccination programs and birth control compound any doctor's best efforts to provide medical care to the poor in Haiti. He does not hide his frustration as he encounters these things and others as his year in Haiti progresses. Along these lines, he states in the epilogue: "The problems that initially seemed so easy to solve became infinitely complex the better I understood them" (p. 161).

The title of the last chapter in the book is "Questions Without Answers," and includes story upon story of ethical dilemmas he encountered in Haiti (which are so different from the dilemmas encountered in 1st-world medicine), and how he chose to act in these situations. They illustrate how gray the lines can be, and how he had to, as he says, "play God" in Haiti. He also points out the problems that occur when people and groups attempt to impliment short-term solutions to long-term problems. It's very eye-opening.

In the midst of this, it is obvious that Dr. Bentivegna loves and respects the Haitian people, and that he is torn by their plight. Sadly, though this book was written more than a decade ago, it might as well have been written last month. We can only hope and pray that Aristide's leadership will bring infrastructural changes and economic development to Haiti in the coming years. It is only these things, as Bentivegna notes, that will provide long-term change in Haiti.

I borrowed the book from the local library and after reading the first few pages, I knew I was going throught the same stuff as the main charactor. I proceeded to bye the book from Amazon.com's Marketplace and am very happy with their service. But through that transaction, I realised that the book is still being printed in London by the publisher Faber and Faber. So you can still get a new copy...Good Luck!

I picked up this book from a Greek Store in Astoria, NY since it was not avilable here at Amazon. This is not a book which can be red by all us materialistic humans of today. I spent many sleepless nights thinking on how to approach " ftoxia" or poorness and how to hamble myself without humilition.

An incredible book; do not read it if you do not fasten your seatbelt. It will move you.

I have to agree with previous reviewers it is a shame that this wonderful book is out of print. I first read this book about 6 years ago. I picked it up on impulse at a library, having already had a slight interest in St. Francis. I don't consider myself terribly religious but this book touched me like no other. I found myself crying throughout the book, not from sadness, but with the total unconditional love/agape that Francis felt for all beings. It left me feeling this way for a whole month afterwards. All of this aside this is a great book. Told from a very human viewpoint: 'Brother Leo' a wandering beggar who befriends Francis before his transformation from rich young man to saint.

I like the way the photos illustrate each story. The text flows around, between, and inside some of the art on the pages. In one story, the words roll down the side of the page following the path of the pictured snowball. The stories, photos and layout are all lots of fun.

This book surprised me with its subtle yet powerful stories. Each story - about 4 pages long - reads like a fairy tale even though the events described are true. The good messages are expertly framed within an entertaining context. I highly recommend this book.

I like this book. As a coach, I teach my players teamwork, responsibility, hard work and all the other things that build character. This book tells those kind of stories. I am also the father of two young girls and I enjoy reading these stories to them every night. This books a winner.

Volume IV of the Lymond Chronicles shows a marked improvement from the somewhat draggy Pawn In Frankincense, if not quite climbing the storytelling heights of the first three episodes.

Ringed Castle spins two riveting tales, Lymond's attempted remaking of Ivan the Terrible's Russia and Philippa's rise into the upper reaches of the English Royal Court. Vivid supporting characters abound: explorer Diccon Chancellor, chess afficiando Tsar Ivan, astrologer John Dee, and Margaret Lennox, Elizabethan femme fatale. The evocation of the Kremlin is gorgeously detailed, as are Lymond & company's adventures in Russia's unforgiving winter and the heartstopping voyage back to England -- Dunnett's uncanny ability to recreate the exotic past with such force you feel yourself there is in full flower. The book's first two thirds are excellent.

But as in the previous volume, Ringed Castle starts to feel like work down the backstretch. Dunnett's authorial sleight of hand in hiding much of Lymond's viewpoint until the final pages begins to frustrate in its familiarity, this ruse particulary trying given the ongoing story regarding his mysterious parentage.

One hopes for less of this in the final volume...

Most reviews of the Lymond series focus on Francis Crawford of Lymond, the enigmatic, often-tortured central character around whom all the other characters revolve. This isn't surprising because he is the central player on the stage. But my favorite character is Philippa, not just because she is genuinely good, but because whenever she enters a scene, it simply begins to sparkle.

Dorothy Dunnett obviously feels a great love for Philpipa because she gives her the best lines and gave her a marvelous sense of humor. She is a wonderful character, both funny and wise. But her greatest attribute is her strong moral character, her desire to do the right thing. In the prior novel, her desire to save Lymond's son caused to her to risk everything--not everyone would become a member of a harem in an effort to save a life. In Ringed Castle, her desire to reconcile Lymond with his family causes her to place herself at great risk.

With regard to Ringed Castle, I didn't find it as consistently compelling as Pawn in Frankincense, but it is still a wonderful book, particularly the haunting and tragic voyage back to England and the last 100 pages at the English court.

I have a tinge of sadness in the realization that I have only one more installment to see how it all ends, to see if Philippa can ultimately tame Lymond.

Luckily, this series is so strong on many levels I can look forward to many productive and enjoyable re-readings.

This book has less action in it than the preceeding novels in this series, but even so, more action than most. We see our hero making his way in an 15 Century Russia. As each book goes by I find that I have difficulty maintaining a liking for this man. He is extremely hard and bitter, and appears to have no loyalties to friendship while he tries to make his point. Even so, I find I still have to keep reading because these books are so powerful. In this book Lymond falls in love, but in true Lymond fashion, feels that he can't share this with anyone, let alone his lady love. I await with much trepidation the final installment in this series in order to find out if Lymond bears any human characteristics or not.

A book of substance. "Collecting Old Maps" really deals with the subject and is not a watered-down survey of old maps someone thinks we should collect. This book breaks with the old way map books were written and is a refreshing "out of the box" way to look at old map collecting. There is no other book like it and I don't know where else one can get the information that is in here. Very well written, a delight to read and not dumbed-down. There is even some sly humor in here! I agree with the earlier reviews so there is no point in repeating everything they said.

Love the book! Well written and very informative. I agree with the previous reviewers. I thank the autor.

Got this book for Christmas and read the whole thing through. Unlike other map reference books in my collection, I actually read this one cover to cover! It is a remarkable book and the author shares what is a vast knowledge with us in a very unusual and direct way. The illustrations are really great and there are lots of them. Where else, for example, can you learn the names of the different parts of a folding map, with each part illustrated with real examples? Every page seems to have several. It is a big and very beautiful book. I will now go and re-read it.

"Gentle Annie" is the best biography that I've ever read! If you want to get this, don't wait. It's the best for really sensitive people though. It touches people. It also makes them cry a bit, but in a good way. I loved this book.

This is the life story of Annie E., the civil war heroine. It tells of her whole life, starting from a happy 10 year old. She had to grow up heartbreakingly fast when her father became ill. She baked and sold bread and worked as a nurse. When her father died, and her marriage failed, she got a job as a nurse. Then she joined the army, to do what she loved- be a nurse. Of the 20 girls she was recruited with, Annie as the only one left when they went to war. She braved death in the face, caring for soldiers of both armies. She worked among the blood and gunpowder and death, but never once lost her goodness. At the end of the war, she received a medal for bravery.

If you're into war stories and are looking for a differnt view, try this one, the story puts you into the front line of battles and introduces you to real live characters like Abe Lincoln, and the spy who was truly a women Sarah Emma Edmonds. The story takes you to lots of major battles,and shows you the horrors of the Civil War

Having read SWAN'S GRACE, I was a little leary of reading this book but did so at the constant urging of a good reading buddy. I really enjoyed this book and found it much better than its predecessor. Lucas and Alice are both wonderful, but I still had a lot of questions at the end that I won't go into since people reading this review may not have read the book yet. The story grabs you and keeps you interested, I just wondered if everything was "wrapped up" as it could/should have been. Overall, a very good book.

This was a great romance. There were a few predictable parts as with most romances but the ending was not what I expected! Over all the book is really good and I have read it more than once!
I would recomend reading the other two books in the series first so you know who everyone is ect.

A gorgeous piece of work merging a powerful courtroom drama and intrigue with a poignant passion, Linda Francis Lee's NIGHTINGALE'S GATE is sadly overlooked and under-rated by romance fans. The plot centres around grisly serial killings of prostitutes milling around Boston alleys and the victims are marked by an imprint of a nightingale. Lucas Hawthorne, the heart-throb and notorious rake who opens the Nightingale Gentleman's club is the prime suspect. The commonwealth prosecutor, Walker Kendall is determined to send him to the gallows. Grey, his brother has the foresight to engage him Alice Kendall, who is Walker's daughter. She is spurred by her father's lack of confidence in her to win the courtcase.

As investigation continues, more facts are revealed to piece out the puzzle. Linda Francis Lee throws in some delicious red herrings and prime suspects including Alice's father, Clark - her father's protege and prosecuting lawyer, Bradford Hawthorne -Luca's father. The mystery is spine-tingling and dark given the decadence of the Boston underground. Yet the courtroom drama's magentism cannot be compared to the triumph of passion between Alice and Lucas. Lucas is a brooding hero who despite being the owner of the scandalous club, is a man tormented by the loss of his innocence and a former lover. Alice is capable as the female lawyer who shows courage in her job and her righteousness and intelligence is worthy of emulation. The professional relationship is soon overwhelmed by emotions and desire, yet the question of whether Lucas is the killer hangs in the balance.

Nightingale's Gate is Linda Francis Lee's most solid effort so far in the trilogy after Dove's Way and Swan's Grace. It soars with an emotional and heart-rendering finale and the propulsive intrigue is galvanizing and gritty to keep you awake throughout the night. Already selected by Amazon.com's editors as one of the top ten historical romance in 2001, this book is a high-flyer with reviewers. It is a gem waiting to be unearthed by astute readers.