Erik Jonsson's lively discourse on the sense of direction comprising Inner Navigation, begins with several stories from personal and colleague experience to demonstrate the idea of cognitive maps, then moves into the science realm to explain how such 'maps' work. How humans and animals get lost, navigate, and recover from being lost makes for an intriguing discussion which should interest nonscientists as much as scientists.

If all you were in the market for was an excellent resource book covering fabric surface design, the investment in this book would be more than worth your while, but the bonus found in Yvonne Porcella's "Six Color World" lies in her fabulous quilt and wearable patterns. Leafing through the pages of this instructional art textile book, one will find some of the most creative fabric surface design ideas in print. This book is a celebration of color and image design, and Yvonne is not afraid to explore every possible permutation of the color wheel in her foray into textile surface design. Basic Color Theory and History, Surface Design Technique, Dyeing and Painting Principles, and Image Transfer are thoroughly covered in the first third of Yvonne's well-written and informative text, followed by a sampling of general surface embellishment techniques. The book wraps up with Home Decor, Quilts, and Wearables, along with some very creative Banner ideas. Not for the rank beginner, but for those who are looking to expand their talents and skills in textile and fabric design, as well as venture into the fiber art world, this book promises some stimulating and challenging projects for the experienced quilter and textile designer. Another fabulous book by Yvonne Porcella!

While American bookshelves are burdened with time-management books that few feel they have the time to read, Swedish physicist Bodil Jonsson has written about a totally different subject: new ways to think about, appreciate, and use time. In this European bestseller (newly translated into English), she points out that "time is not something you can resolve once and for all." The book contains the benefits of her twenty years of thinking on the subject, and will give you greater awareness of and ability to make good use of your own time. The book is done in a recursive style to help you see the same issues from many perspectives. Her main point is that you need to carve out time to be a thinking, innovative, caring person from the frantic pursuit of "doing" daily tasks.

The introduction to the ten essays in the book points out that she began by moving beyond just narrowing time down (which is what time management encourages). At this point, she felt just as frantic as the rest of us -- never having enough time to do what she wanted. Next, she "found some more methodological ways of thinking about . . . time and its usage." As the third step, she learned to "describe . . . thoughts about time and . . . living to the fullest in the midst of ongoing time." Finally, she came to "imagine that [she understood] . . . everthing that's important for [one's] . . . relationship to time." Interestingly, she then reports that some unexpected event would occur to make her realize that she needed to go back and think the whole thing through again.

Time Is the Only Thing You Have -- In this essay, she points out the constrast between her grandmother who always had enough time to do what she wanted to do, and the stressed-out modern person who feels she or he does not have enough time. Her point is that "time is the true capital." It can be reallocated for different uses. For important things, "I have plenty of time." Most people will live for 30,000 days. How would you like to spend them? She suggests experiencing "rootlessness in time" so that time becomes "a joy, an eye-opener, an exhortation or a challenge, all depending on your mood." The key is to break your link to measured time, and to focus on time as it is experienced.

Clock Time and Experience Time -- This essay points out that we can "stretch out time" by the way we choose our mood. "How do I gain more experienced time?"

Setup Time -- This essay points out that the time to prepare has a large effect on how a task goes. By compressing preparation time too much, many people experience "set-up time anxiety." She suggests getting off by yourself to think. This may mean taking a train rather than an airplane for a short trip, because the uninterrupted thinking time is longer on the train.

Divided and Undivided Time -- This essay points out that tiny chunks of time cannot be used for many purposes. So restructure your time to have the right amount for what you want to do. For thinking, you need larger blocks than for much individual doing.

Thoughts Take Time -- Using the metaphor of "fast food" versus "slow food" and the qualitative differences, she encourages you to take the linear time needed to explore and develop your thoughts. How much can you think in the time it takes to eat french fries? Perhaps not very much.

Being in the Here and Now -- This essay points out the evils of the interrupting telephone (now carried as a cellular device) to distract you, and the benefits of e-mail and snail mail for giving you control over the moment and your use of time. She suggests that you follow Bertrand Russell's advice and focus on (a) search for knowledge, (b) longing for love, and (c) empathy for those who are suffering. Focus on establishing a "creative environment."

The Pace of Change and the Perception of Time -- She sees the exponential rate of growth in technology as squeezing our ability to relate well to time. It makes time seem to speed up. If we do not become better at taking control of our experience of time, we may be overwhelmed like a lake filled with lily pads or algae.

One of the best essays is Rhythm and Nonrhythm, which points out how activities differ in the ideal time, frequency, and duration for their experience. She also emphasizes the need to be in sync with those you are experiencing the activity with.

Forward and Backward Thoughts explores how to start with the end in mind, to create a path back to the present. This will help you create the future you desire.

Why Are There So Few Poodles? addresses how to expand innovation, and emphasizes the importance of banishing pessimism.

After you finish this thoughtful book, I suggest that you review how you spent the last week. What would you have liked to have spent less time on, and what more of? What can you do differently this week to redress that balance? How can you create more space in your life, and a greater sense of time?

Many people report that it helps to "schedule" unscheduled time. Give it a try!

This survey of the effects of scientific and philosophical research on Swedenborg world views provides insights on Swedenborg's theories and scientific treatises. A history of his ideas and their evolution is provided which provides intriguing links between emerging views of science, philosophy and religion.

a very interesting history book, with a twist.

it beats up the beleif that this century is unique, which makes it unpopular with jehovahs witnesses.

the information is quite easy to follow, but the style lets it down a bit.

a book well worth the effort though. a must for SERIOUS jehovahs witnesses.

The Sign of the Last Days deals with the belief taught in many denominations that the prophecies in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 refer to our generation. The most well known of these groups are the Jehovah's Witnesses. This belief includes the idea that pestilences, famine, earthquakes, war and most social problems took a drastic turn for the worst at about the turn of the last century. The belief implies that things were pretty good until recently, and now things are rapidly going downhill in a handbasket. In some ways this is true, but is this the complete story? After reading this book the reader will be thankful to be alive today, and will count his or her blessings. The authors, both active Christians, do a masterful job evaluating historical trends as related to the concerns usually included in the "Last Days" teaching. For those who love history this book is a fascinating read. And for all Christians it will help you place your faith on an historical basis. For anyone interested in eschatology, the book is a must. The book is also a must for anyone interested in the Jehovah's Witnesses.

The author, Carl Olof Jonsson, sees Billy Graham, Hal Lindsey ("The Late Great Planet Earth"), Jehovah's Witnesses, the Worldwide Church of God, and others as misrepresenting Jesus's eschatalogical discourse in a similar way.

This is surprisingly good reading material for anybody interested in New Testament eschatology.

Jonsson devotes most of the first 200 pages of the book to historical analysis of famines,wars, pestilences, crime, and earthquakes to present a strong case that we live in one of the safest times in history. So, if Jesus really meant that he would return during a particularly dangerous time, we could be sure that he wouldn't come now.

The copious references, charts, and quotations inspire confidence in the material.

Jonsson shifts gears by doing scriptural analysis in a chapter called the "Myth of the Composite Sign" to show a different way Jesus's words can be read without taking liberties with the text. This frees the reader from the assumption he needs to look for a particularly troublesome time.

The last 30 pages or so include interesting appendices, including correspondence with seismologists and a detailed analysis of the Greek word "parousia" to present the case that it has the idiomatic meaning of "coming" in Matthew 24. So students of the Bible are confusing themselves when they insist on the basic meaning of "presence."

The book is underpriced and you will probably want to read it two or three times.

Jonsson cites some authors with unusual views. I was motivated to track down and buy at least one book just from reading his footnotes.

I was expecting more from this book, which I bought for my three-year old ring bearer. The main character is semi-annoying, and the book isn't very interesting. It does give the basics of what goes on at and before a wedding, but I didn't think it explained very much very well, and I didn't think the writing was particularly good, either. And, the main character's name is "Bobby," which seemed annoyingly "typical-kid's-book-character-name."

This book takes the mystery out of the "big day" for young kids, many of whom may have not been to a wedding before. It explains everything from tuxedos and rented shoes to limousines. Illustrations are really beautiful, too. The ring bearer in the story was a bit older than mine, but still relatable. I definitely recommend.

We bought this book as a gift for the ring bearer in our wedding. It helped him out when it came time for the big day. Sending it ahead of time, especially for younger children, give the ring bearer the chance to get over any fears.

The author was the only Iceland ace in WW II, flying the RAF. This book was a bestseller in Iceland, and a long time before the author decided to make a translation, himself, to the British language. In doing so, he took out some parts of the book (like he says in the perface) because they would be a little bit boring to foreign readers. Anyway, it's a good reading, there is some action, good photos, amazing graphic quality of the printing.

DANCING IN THE SKIES is the touching narrative of the only Iceland pilot to fly with RAF in World War II. Serving the customary high numbers of Sqaudrons, he stayed most of the time with 111 Squadron, the famed Treble One. Then, at the end of the War he was transfered to Iceland and soon retired from RAF. Very good style, a real classic. Highly recommended !

THe writer did a great job, talking about his life in RAF during WW II. Life was cheap in those days, with fighter pilots relying in unpressurized, single-engined aircraft, flying them in any kind of weather over the North Sea, the Mediterranean and the Strait of Dover. Great.

Don't waste the money on this book. It's a poor excuse for an attack on Jehovah's Witnesses chronology and sacrifices the Bible to get there. Allow me to explain.

His whole contention is that Jehovah's Witnesses chronology for the neo-Babylonian era is wrong. Jehovah's Witness strongly figure this into their understanding messianic prophecies and Daniel 2:44. He presents much secular evidence to get there.

That part is interesting. But when he tries to reconcile the Bible with secular chronology, he reveals his willingness to sacrifice the Bible in order to achieve his goal of smearing Jehovah's Witnesses.

Read Jeremiah 25:11. That is a definite number. When did it start and end? This book says it started in the year 609, when Nabopolassar was king of Babylon, with the battle of Harran, and SUPPOSEDLY the rise of Babylonian supremacy.

Supposedly that is when the 70 years of Jeremiah 25:11 starts because it is 70 years prior to 539 when Babylon fell.

This is NOT so.

1. The 70 year prophecy was given in King Nebuchadnezzar's FIRST year. According to secular chronology this was 605/4. This is AFTER Nabopolassar died.

2. Jeremiah 25:11 sets the start of the 70 years as a future event FROM the time the prophecy was given.

3. Assyria is not even mentioned in the cup drinking of Jeremiah 25:15-29.

4. Jeremiah 25:15-29 shows that the calamity STARTS with Jerusalem. NOT Assyria.

5. According to the secular chronology that this very book presents, Judah was subjugated to the Egyptians till 605, NOT Babylon. As was most all of Judea.

There is much more, but all this demonstrates that the 70 years could not have started any earlier than 604. No way. In fact a look at ALL the evidence would require the start of the 70 years with the total destruction of Jerusalem which secular chronology does say happened in 587.

Furthermore it proves that Babylonian supremacy over the Assyrians in 609 and Egyptians in 605 before Neb even became king, had nothing to do with it. It is all about Jerusalem as Jeremiah 25:29 clearly states.

Of course from 604 to 539 IS NOT 70 YEARS!

Conclusion:
Either secular chronology is wrong or the Bible is wrong. THEY CANNOT BE RECONCILED. No matter how much persons with motive would like them to.

Spend your money on a good book. Better yet get a free book from Jehovah's Witnesses called "Pay Attention to Daniel's Prophecy" if you are a history/biblical studies buff. Skip this book. This guys has a motive and is willing to sacrifice the Bible to get there.

Signed,
Jeremiah

The Gentile Times Reconsidered is one of the most important books ever written about the Watchtower religious movement. It is must reading for anyone who wants to understand the problems Jehovah's Witnesses are involved in today, a movement originated in the 1870s and now claims over 14 million persons attended their memorial of Christ's death service (a number which indicates their following size). This book, now published in 6 languages, was involved in many thousands of Witnesses leaving the Watchtower, including former governing body member Raymond Franz. Chronology is central to Watchtower teaching, and Jonsson does an excellent job of explaining why. The date 1914, the date The Watchtower teaches Christ returned (his parousia), is derived from their chronology, and is critical to current Watchtower teaching. They teach that Armageddon will happen within the lifetime of the generation that was alive when the 1914 second advent of Christ occurred, but have been repeatedly disappointed (1874, 1925 and 1975 were their three most infamous date prediction failures). As we travel farther and farther from the 1914 date, it becomes increasingly obvious that both the 1914 date and the basic Watchtower chronology are erroneous. Bethel insiders tell me that the Watchtower will soon assign the 1914 date to the same status as the 1874 date, namely on the scrap heap of history. Along with the dropping of 1914 must also come a major change in many other Watchtower doctrines. And I have no doubt that the conclusions of Jonsson's scholarly well researched book will eventually become orthodox Watchtower doctrine.

Broadly researched, meticulously documented, passionately written, The Gentile Times Reconsidered, by Carl Olof Jonsson carefully examines the historical support for the starting date of the Watch Tower Society's 1914 time prophecy.

The 1914 date is critical to the Watch Tower's theology. If you are not familiar with the 1914 prophecy, or dating of Biblical events, keep surfing. If you are, this is the definitive book on the subject. Having studied the topic for about six months on my own, I was delighted to obtain this book, which was out of print for several years. This Third Edition, revised and expanded in 1998, presents new evidence, and tracks recent reinterpretations of 1914 in the Watchtower organization.

The core of the book is 14 corroborating lines of archaeological and astronomical evidence fixing the date for the destruction of Jerusalem. "It is like fastening a painting to a wall with dozens of nails all over it, although but one would suffice." (p. 184) While Jonsson warns the reader that the information is "of a technical nature, accompanied by detailed documentation," I found it fascinating, like the forensic science in a murder mystery.

Having established that date, Jonsson deals with related issues from the Watchtower's time prophecy. He presents several satisfying interpretations of the "70 year" prophecy that harmonize the Bible and history, then critically examines the "Seven Times" of Daniel 4. My attention wandered a little near the end discussing some theological permutations, but overall, this is an excellent book.

a friend in london recommended this book to me. i read it and decided to try the 'gut reaction' program for a week, just to see how i felt about it. i started feeling a difference in my body right away. in the course of 2 months, i lost 15 pounds and felt amazingly healthy and energetic. i plan to re-read the book now that the holidays are over and get back on the program. i highly recommend this book.

Since Bachelier and Einstein's seminal work on brownian motion / diffusive PDE, there has been rich interplay between study of quantum objects (particles / fields / branes) and random walks in various dimensions. The triviality results of constructive field theorists and statistical field theory are two examples of this duality. But in this masterfully written text the authors describe the results, carried out by workers over the last decade, of generalizing the random 1d surface of a walk into higher dimensions where random surfaces take on the task of exploring quantum geometry. The primary subject of the monograph is the space of 2d random surfaces generated through regularization / discretization of the Nambu-Goto path integral from string theory. Exact, approximate, and numerical results are described in detail, with copius margin notes and pointers to the literature. Discussions also cover a host of subjects including (in no particular order): 1. detailed exposition on the 1-d random walk formulation of the path integral of quantum particles, 2. Monte Carlo methods for random triangulations, 3. Topological quantum field theories, 4. Branched polymers, 5. Random matrices, 6. Quantum gravity in 4d, and more. In short, while there is much material here for everyone this text especially faces -- and answers head on -- many of the questions raised by the subject of random surfaces; c.f. Itzykson and Druffie's final chapter of Statistical Field Theory vol II.