Since 1933, the Eranos Conferences have gathered the world's leading scholars of religion and mythology. This set consists of Joseph Campbell's selections of the best papers from that conference. This is Volume 2, "The Mysteries". The fourteen papers include: Paul Masson-Oursel, "The Indian Theories of Redemption in the Frame of the Religions of Salvation" and "The Doctrine of Grace in the Religious Thought of India"; Walter F. Otto, "The Meaning of the Eleusinian Mysteries"; Carl Kerényi, "The Mysteries of the Kabeiroi"; Walter Wili, "The Orphic Mysteries and the Greek Spirit"; Paul Schmitt, "The Ancient Mysteries in the Society of Their Time, Their Transformation and Most Recent Echoes"; Georges Nagel, "The 'Mysteries' of Osiris in Ancient Egypt"; Jean de Manasce, "The Mysteries and the Religion of Iran"; Fritz Meier, "The Mystery of the Ka'ba: Symbol and Reality in Islamic Mysticism"; Max Pulver, "Jesus' Round Dance and Crucifixion According to the Acts of St. John"; Hans Leisegang, "The Mystery of the Serpent"; Julius Baum, "Symbolic Representations of the Eucharist"; Carl Jung, "Transformation Symbolism in the Mass"; and Hugo Rahner, "The Christian Mystery and the Pagan Mysteries."

Since 1933, the Eranos Conferences have gathered the world's leading scholars of religion and mythology. This set consists of Joseph Campbell's selections of the best papers from that conference. This is Volume 4, "Spiritual Disciplines". The twelve papers include: Heinrich Zimmer, "On the Significance of the Indian Tantric Yoga"; Erwin Rouselle, "Spiritual Guidance in Contemporary Taoism"; Theodor-Wilhelm Danzel, "The Psychology of Ancient Mexican Symbolism"; John Laynard, "The Malekulan Journey of the Dead"; Carl Kerényi, "Man and Mask"; Martin Buber, "Symbolic and Sacramental Existence in Judaism"; Friedrich Heiler, "Contemplation in Christian Mysticism"; Maw Pulver, "The Experience of Light in the Gospel of St. John, in the 'Corpus hermeticum', in Gnosticism, and the Eastern Church"; Fritz Meier, "The Spiritual Man in the Persian Poet Attar"; Rudolf Bernoulli, "Spiritual Development as Reflected in Alchemy and Related Disciplines"; Carl Jung, "Dream Symbols of the Individual Process"; and M. C. Cammerloher, "The Position of Art in the Psychology of Our Time".

Since 1933, the Eranos Conferences have gathered the world's leading scholars of religion and mythology. This set consists of Joseph Campbell's selections of the best papers from that conference. This is Volume 3, "Man and Time". The twelve papers include: Erich Neumann, "Art and Time"; Henri-Charles Puech, "Gnosis and Time"; Gilles Quispel, "Time and History in Patristic Christianity"; Louis Massignon, "Time in Islamic Thought"; Henry Corbin, "Cyclical Time in Mazdaism and Ismailism"; Mircea Eliade, "Time and Eternity in Indian Thought"; Carl Jung, "On Synchronicity"; Hellmut Wilhelm, "The Concept of Time in the Book of Changes"; Helmuth Plessner, "On the Relation of Time to Death"; Max Knoll, "Transformations of Science in Our Age"; Adolf Portmann, "Time in the Life of the Organism"; and G. van der Leeuw, "Primordial Time and Final Time."

My 5-year-old loves this book. He enjoys pointing to each thing and saying what it is. He also loves the sillyness. The grouping of objects in categories helps children conceptualize how things are similar and different.

This is one of the best books to trigger people's knowledge of how to learn on their own, and where learning is. More than showing what IS in the museum, Grover shows us that the museum is an artificial, tiny part of the whole wide world, and that we can step out into the sunlight. I had mentioned this book months ago and am glad to see it's still in print, still available to make the lights go on in the minds of children and their parents! ... I whole heartedly recommend this book to anyone teaching a child at home!

This book is a must-own! GROVER AND THE EVERYTHING IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD MUSEUM should win an award! It is hard to believe one can find something this wonderful for 3 bucks!

Grover is so entertaining as we follow him through 1) THE THINGS YOU SEE IN THE SKY ROOM, 2) THE THINGS YOU SEE ON THE GROUND ROOM, 3) THE THINGS YOU SEE ON THE WALL ROOM, 4) THE THINGS YOU SEE UNDER THE WATER ROOM, 5) THE LONG THIN THINGS YOU CAN WRITE WITH ROOM, 6) THE CARROT ROOM, 7) ALL THE VEGETABLES IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD BESIDES CARROTS ROOM, 8) THINGS THAT MAKE SO MUCH NOISE YOU CAN'T THINK ROOM, 9) THE SMALL HALL, 10) THE TALL HALL, 11) THINGS THAT CAN MAKE YOU FALL HALL, 12) THE HALL OF VERY, VERY LIGHT THINGS, 13) THE HALL OF VERY, VERY HEAVY THINGS, 14) THE THINGS THAT CAN TICKLE YOU ROOM, 15) THE THINGS THAT ARE CUTE AND FURRY ROOM where Grover decides to display himself.

I know that all the above sounds like alot of reading but I'll let you in on a little secret: [whispering] it is not everything in the whole wide world! [Ha!] Grover notices this too and says "Where did they put everything else?" He comes to this giant double-door with a sign above it that of course says "EVERYTHING ELSE." "AHA!" says Grover and enters.

This is one of the best, funniest books we own that my daughter and I BOTH enjoy. There are plenty of objects for her to learn and it is great entertainment reading a book with the charming, loveable Grover in it and laughing at all of his antics! Every family should own this book! I wish more books were this funny and entertaining yet a learning experience at the same time! 10 STAR BOOK FOLKS; IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS! BUY IT!

In THE INNER REACHES OF OUTER SPACE Joseph Campbell repeats some of the familiar observations of his earlier works in which he shows how certain mythic motifs can be found buried in all of the world's religious traditions. The similarities may not be easily recognized because the same motifs are usually understood and developed in different ways because of cultural differences. These repetitive motifs are called elementary ideas and in the local forms where they appear in various religions they are known as ethnic or folk ideas. As examples of elementary ideas Campbell offers the concepts of the Promised Land and the Virgin Birth. In writing about the similarities of symbols found in ancient civilizations, Campbell mentions discoveries among such diverse societies as those that existed in the Indus Valley, Mesopotamia, Egypt, China and Ireland.

Because of the great advances in learning which have become accelerated and dramatized by space exploration, Campbell points out that our old gods are either already dead or dying. The big question now is what new mythology will emerge from a modern understanding of a unified planet amidst a vast universe.

The creation of any new mythology will certainly depend in part on the contributions of art because artists will be the ones who will produce the images of the future. Those images will come from our knowledge of a constantly changing and expanding universe. Campbell writes about the connection between art and mythology with conviction, no doubt due to the long-standing influence of his wife, Jean Erdman, a well-known dancer and choreographer.

The most remarkable feature evident in THE INNER REACHES OF OUTER SPACE is the breadth and depth of the author's knowledge and understanding of mythology. Joseph Campbell led an enviable life driven by a singular passion and his writings are the best reflection of that life.

THE INNER REACHES OF OUTER SPACE is one of the books being published by The Joseph Campbell Foundation as part of THE COLLECTED WORKS OF JOSEPH CAMPBELL. I agree with another reviewer that it makes sense to first read THOU ART THAT which is an earlier volume in this series.

Any book by Campbell will usually be loaded with insights. In THE INNER REACHES OF OUTER SPACE one of my favorite chapters deals partially with a discussion of the Infinite and in this segment the author's extensive knowledge of Eastern religions and mythology is most apparent.

After reading this book it is even easier than before to appreciate why Joseph Campbell has managed to acquire such a devoted following.

Especially interesting is the explication of James Joyce's definitions of "proper" and "improper" art.

"Improper art is of two orders: art that excites desire for the represented object, and art that arouses loathing or fear of it. Art that excites desire, Joyce calls pornographic. All advertising art is in this sense pornographic...."

"All improper art, whether pornographic or didactic, thus moves one to action... whereas proper art is static. We speak of esthetic arrest. One is not moved to physical action of any kind, but held in sensational (esthetic) contemplation and enjoyment."

"It is this elevation of mind and, with the mind, the eye, above desire and loathing, desire and fear, that brings the way of art and the artist inot relation to that of the mystic." (pp. 123-4)

Peterson's is the only version of The Lesser Key (Lemegeton) with both scholarly integrity and magical viability.

This is a carefully crafted, scholarly work in a field rife with charlatans.

If you are doing any serious study of Goetic magic this book will single handedly take care of 75% of your work. Peterson has done a phenominal job of referencing and cross referencing manuscripts and terminology. My 1979 issue copy of the Lesser Key is filled with margin notes, slips of paper, drawings and redrawings as I found more and more inconsistancies and questions. I could have spent so much more time practicing rather than chasing down demons in the script if I had had this fantastic work.

It's been a while since I've read a book that I've so thoroughly enjoyed. Mr. Freda gives us a real river cruise as he extends the metaphor beautifully. His style of writing is lucid, striking, to the point, and certainly no nonsense.

Certainly, this is a "coming of age" story and rather brilliantly done. I understand the author is a product of the Defense Department's overseas schools (he graduated from Kubasaki High School in Okinawa in the late '60s). I happened to be a young marine stationed on Okinawa at the time, personally nervous about Viet Nam (as most of us were) and when I picked up "Patience of Rivers" I felt the author had more than represented an era, of course. His book transcends a single concept. This is Mr. Freda's second novel (I've also read his "Suburban Guerillas" and it's also great!) and I can hardly wait for the next one.

This is a fun and engaging book, and an easy, quick, and suspenseful read. The author is an exceptionally gifted writer and good storyteller, who I think does an excellent job of capturing one of the most unforgettable moments in recent time...the late 60's. It is nostalgic without being overly sentimental, and I found the characters to be "real" people with universal qualities that are instantly appealing. The setting takes place in a small rural town, and I especially enjoyed the author's very lush descriptions of the natural beauty of the area, and how he wove this aspect of the story into the overall plot. Anyone who is a sucker for a "first love", coming-of-age story, but perhaps seeking a fresh approach, should read this book.

I was there! Not really, but I feel like I was. The author's feel for this era transported me from dusty West Texas to the foggy, wet Delaware River Valley. I was a little older than Nick, the main character in the book when Woodstock happened, but whispers of it ran through our tight-knit farming community like wind through the corn tassles. We wanted to be there. So the first week in August, 1969, 3 of my friends and I convinced a long-haul trucker to take us "east"! We ended up near New York City, hot, hungry and dirty with no earthly idea how to get to "Woodstock." But the freaks knew. They pointed us north, and with thumbs out, battered cowboy hats and boots and dirty bandannas, we headed for our life-changing experience.
Read this book, Buy this book, love this book, share it with everyone you know over 48! We were ALL there in spirit. We all wanted "out"! We all wanted "in"! We none of us wanted to go to Vietnam but I did. And I took memories of Woodstock with me. Now with this book, the memories of how free and easy it was back then, when all we had to decide was what to eat for supper, where to go dancin' and who to sidle up to was foremost in our innocent minds.
Thank you Joseph Freda, for putting it all into focus for me and for taking me back to a better time and place.-Scott Johnson

Reading this book just makes my mouth water and it has some history of Italy, with references to just about every spice and tasty combinations. Wow, I ran out and bought a soup pot! One downside, making broth, Uh! Although I will say the book offers substituted canned broth I just don't want to throw these wonderful ingredients into anything less! This is a great book for readers too, I loved hearing about the Famularo family!

Not only are the soups tasty and inventive; but they are sensible and nutritious. They require little time and ingredients that are neither exotic, nor hard to find. Most recipe books are loaded with expensive ingredients that necessitate driving 20 miles from your home, and that you use only for one particular recipe. I want recipes that use inexpensive stuff I have on hand, or will have no trouble finding. This book meets those requirements. I read cookbooks like other people read novels, and this is the best cookbook I've ever had. Now that he's conquered the soup pot, Joe needs to move on to pastas and more.

I'm not a cook. But during winter months especially, I do make a few soups to help in the household. And this book is the one I usually use as my guide. I need a recipe. I need recipes that are foolproof. And here is where I get them. Not only does every recipe end in a soup that is edible, but one that is tasty and repeatable. That, with this "cook", is downright miraculous! There is variety here, a learning experience, and in the end a soup that is invariably a tasty success. And I'm not even Italian.

Al Gore might have grown up there had his father been a plumber who moved north for work. Not many St.Albans boys in that neighborhood though. As in none. Gotta wonder if Harrington and Gore don't hook up once in a while what with the wellheeled intellectual Nashville/DC connection. All in all not a bad intro to a forgotten people in a very interesting time and place. I was happy to have stumbled upon it.

This book should be mandatory reading for all high school students in the United States. Poverty is indeed a virtual reality in this book. You cannot help but gain an appreciation for all you have, however little it may be.

Howell utilizes a "hands on " approach to drive home the reality of a very large segment of our society by literally moving in with them and living the life - in spite of peril for one year. Through this approach, he gains the trust of two families, the Shacklefords and the Mosebys, and we are able to move into their homes, travel with them on their drunken runs, and thereby gain an insight from a perspective within that no "text" could ever offer us. I applaud this book and have used it yearly in classes since 1978 with raves from the students.

I take teams of people on international work projects every year. Presently I have a team going to Bosnia. The material presented in this book is insightful, accurate, practical and worth absorbing before working cross culturally. It is well written, very personal and engaging. Hats off to the contributors, authors, editors and publisher. It will get a lot of use.

I am preparing to volunteer in Costa Rica and this book has been an amazing resource for me. It has encouraged me to write out my motivations and expectations for this trip. It has helped me think through how I can be an effective volunteer. Thanks to this book I feel more prepared mentally and emotionally and I feel more aware of what I am getting into.

Thanks for this excellent resource!

This book is a treasure. It is a good book for anyone in the age group of about 18-75 of any ethnicity, religion and socio-economic background. It addresses safety, among other issues, for women travelers. This book includes more than information one could find on the Internet about particular opportunities and organizations in any region of the world. It includes in depth studies as well as information for the person considering volunteering overseas to examine his/her motivations and come up with criteria to apply to choosing an organization as well as a location. In addition, this book discusses issues surrounding language barriers and how to overcome the obstacles as well as use the volunteer opportunity to become fluent in another language. This book makes a wonderful gift.

It's the most complet guide of parrots and raptors publicated in the world.

This has been a great book for reference. It is very organized. I wrote a report about a Scarlet Macaw and it was a big help. I hope bird-lovers everywhere read this book!

My mother bought me this book for my tenth birthday and my appreciation of it has grown each year as I am now twenty. As a child I enjoyed it's fantastic illustrations and as an adult I've used it as a reference in my college research papers. I recomend it highly to anyone of any age with a love for parrots.

It may seem trite to say but this book literally saved my life. After doing tons of research and making many telephone calls, this was the ONLY resource about addiction that covered the topic honestly, compassionately and COMPLETELY. It provided me with the clear, unbiased information I needed about addiction and recovery and helped me make an informed choice about treatment.

It was clear to me from the start that the authors have a very open minded approach, non-judgemental approach to addiction treatment that is unusual and very refreshing. They make it clear that there is no one "correct" way to deal with addiction. Instead they explore the pros and cons of all available treatment methods so that each reader can decide for him or herself, which course of action is appropriate.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who feels that they, a loved one or a friend might have an addiction problem and to anyone who wants honest, up to date information based on scientific research. The authors include many examples of real people (including themselves) which makes this book easy to read and relate to.

This book has changed my life. I knew I needed help, but didn't really know what kind, where to go, who to see, etc. Dr. Volpicelli paves the way for anyone who has an addiction by presenting options that you might never know existed...options that might be right for you. If you think you need help with drug or alcohol abuse, GET THIS BOOK! He offers almost 100 different websites, books, resources etc. in an appendix that is detailed and comprehensive. Dr. Volpicelli and Maia Szalavitz present information and options to the reader with respect and dignity. The book is written in a way where you feel YOU have the ability to choose the treatment that would be right for you. They tell you how to choose treatment that would best match your needs, what criteria to look for, and what to expect as part of your recovery. I think that was the scariest part for me before I read this book...the fear of the unknown. After reading the book, and rereading certain chapters, I felt armed with the knowledge I needed to take that first step. If you're having a love/hate affair with an addiction, and want to get a grip, get this book. It may change your life. For the first time in 10 years I feel there is hope for me and I owe it all to Recovery Options: The Complete Guide.

GLENVIEW, IL -- Addiction Treatment Forum (www.atforum.com) book review; Recovery Options: The Complete Guide; released June 16, 2000 (reviewed by S. Leavitt, PhD, editor, A.T. Forum) -- The 23 chapters and more than 300 pages of this new book by Joseph Volpicelli, MD, PhD and Maia Szalavitz provide a complete overview of psychoactive drugs of abuse and their effects, an in-depth look at the many ways to view alcoholism and other drug addictions, and a review of addiction treatment research, modalities, and pharmacotherapies.

Experienced addiction treatment staff at all levels will find this book to be an excellent review, along with some interesting updated perspectives. It definitely should be required reading for new staff members and trainees.

Volpicelli, associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and senior research scientist at the University of Pennsylvania Addiction Treatment Research Center, was an initial investigator of naltrexone for the treatment of alcoholism. However, his outlook in this book is extremely well-balanced, without lobbying for any particular treatment approach as a "one size fits all" solution. In fact, the "Penn Paradigm," which he advocates, stresses that "it is what the patient considers important, not what the treatment program is pushing, that matters."

Szalavitz, an experienced and well-known journalist specializing in health, science, and drug policy, is savvy to the real world concerns and fears of patients and their loved ones. Her philosophy of treating addiction is "if it helps people, do it," and the underlying posture of the entire book is, "Patients given a menu of treatment options do significantly better than those who are simply told what to do."

Case studies and anecdotes, used liberally throughout, vividly illustrate important principles in the book and make for very interesting reading to hold one's interest. The book is obviously well researched and evidence based, although we would have preferred a more thorough referencing of the sources used.

Then again, the primary audience isn't researchers or healthcare professionals, as denoted by the book's subtitle: How You and Your Loved Ones Can Understand and Treat Alcohol and Other Drug Problems. Volpicelli writes that "to get the best care, patients themselves need to know what to look for -- because many professionals have too much of an attachment to their own ideas of what should work to take into account individual differences."

While that statement might perturb some professionals, most will agree with the authors that educated consumers of addiction treatment make the best patients. The one caveat is that this first-of-its-kind book exploring all treatment options may be challenging reading for some persons and getting the most from it would require a commitment to take more responsibility for one's own treatment success. It may not be for everyone but, as suggested earlier, one size needn't fit all; but this book could help many people.

Recovery Options: The Complete Guide (ISBN 0-471-34575-X, paperback, $15.95) is a Wiley book available at local bookstores or by calling 1-800-225-5945. In Canada, call 1-800-567-4797. Also available at www.amazon.com ($12.76 + shipping) and from other online booksellers.