I picked this off the bookshelf at a bookshop and it is certainly one of the better books I have come across to help oneself work out onefs soul purpose in life. This slim volume doesnft go into specifics of which path to follow, but through various exercises and examples of other people, leads you to discover what are your strengths and weaknesses. Using this as a base and through meditation and further exercises you can find what feels right for you. It does not necessarily mean finding the perfect job, but finding something in your life that fulfils you. One point that is not often dealt with by other similar books is that finding meaning in our own lives should not be self-centered: we should also include some form of service to others. Most of all, finding fulfillment does not mean we must all be high achievers and have some visible form of success. We can each find meaning and fulfillment in our lives by living our soulfs purpose, which is unique to each and everyone and which in turn complements that of those around us.

Excellent book. I am a graduate student in neuroscience, and am currently using this book as a text for a course. All of the chapters (papers) are very well written by experts in the field, yet at the same time are very easy to understand with only basic neuroscience/biological knowledge. Although it's not my area, I believe synaptic plasticity will explode with implications and explanations for psychological phenomena.

My pastor gave me this book for my 40th birthday, and he could hardly have chosen better. While Charles's old-fashioned writing style makes for some tough reading (you really have to FOCUS on every sentence!), it's worth the effort. This is a book of enormous truth and wisdom, its pages simply dripping with sweet words of grace and spiritual nourishment. Charles's opening chapter on pride, his reflections on grace and conscience, and on the worthiness of Christ's sacrifice, are foundational, without parallel, simply life-changing. At times I felt like I was only now beginning to understand the true Christian life. Outside of the Bible, this is one of the few books I've read that really made me LOVE GOD MORE. And what higher compliment could be paid to a work of Christian literature? Highly recommended.

Written by the late Richard L. Purdy (1904-1990) and edited by Charles P.C. Pettit (Assistant County Librarian, Oxfordshire County Council, England), the Oak Knoll Press edition of Thomas Hardy: A Bibliographical Study is a meticulous, scholarly, modern-day update of the original 1954 edition which catalogues and references material published about the life and work of Thomas Hardy. From identifying and correcting errors in the first publication to adding five decades of new information, Thomas Hardy is the definitive and highly recommended guide and catalogue to references regarding Hardy and the scholarship associated with the canon of his literary achievements.

Anyone even remotely interested in folklore, folk music, or American history should get this book. It contains over 400 rhymes (some with music) collected in the early 1900s by Thomas W. Talley, a black chemistry professor from Tennessee. Most of the rhymes are American, but there are a few from Africa, Jamaica, and elsewhere.

This alone would be worth the price of admission, but this edition also contains a new essay on the work, plus an updated bibliography and index, plus the original introduction by Thomas W. Talley (an excellent 50-page essay which covers performance practice and even details of instrument construction), plus additional rhymes and music that didn't make it into the original edition.

Great to page idly through or to read cover-to-cover, this book would be a fantastic addition to anyone's collection.

Aptly edited by the collective efforts of T.M. Charles-Edwards, Morfydd M. Owen, and Paul Russell, The Welsh King And His Court is a massive compendium of essays filled with meticulous discourse of the Welsh royal household and the governmental roles of those officers charged with upkeep of horses, sleeping quarters, meals, etc. Primary source texts are presented in English translation, and the essays are written at a college reading level. The Welsh King And His Court is a scholarly text that combines deep thought with multi-level analysis of historical politics. An intriguing and recommended historical study, with a very helpful glossary, abbreviation list and index.

Summary: This 5th edition of The World Atlas of Golf belongs in the library of every golfer who wants to appreciate more of the game's rich history . . . and have a Walter Mittyish look at courses that will probably never be seen in person. Over 70 courses get the deluxe treatment of looking at the course layout, the score card, and an in-depth evaluation of the most famous holes. Thorough essays recount the history of the course, including the most memorable golf moments there. Beautiful color photographs capture the holes, and famous historic shots share the winning and losing. Afficionados will appreciate the pin-point descriptions of how to play the world's most demanding holes. The book also boasts a brief gazetteer of over 100 courses providing a one-third page thumbnail sketch of their layout and history. The book also boasts excellent, brief essays on the development of golf course design.

Review: This book will appeal to those who have played these wonderful courses and want to relive the experience, those who wish to know more about the rich history of the world's most challenging holes, and those who are curious about why golfers everywhere rave about certain holes and courses. The material is so rich and detailed that any golf fan could happily spend days with this book and just scratch its surface. A fan could easily extend enjoyment of the book by getting videos of famous championships to see the live action that is captured here in photographs and essays.

The courses are selected from around the world, but are primarily from Europe and the United States. Reflecting the game's heritage, the courses examined start with those in Scotland and proceed from there throughout the British Isles and Eire. From there, you transfer to the European mainland. Next, you go the North America. Asia, Africa, and South America are your final stops.

Naturally, the courses include such standards as St. Andrews's Old Course, Royal Troon, Carnoustie, Royal Dornoch, Muirfield, Turnberry, Loch Lomond, Royal Liverpool, Royal Birkdale, Ballybunion, Valderrama, Shinnecock Hills, Augusta National, Cypress Point, Pebble Beach, Oakmont, Baltusrol, The Country Club, Olympic, Winged Foot, Pinehurst No. 2, Seminole, Merion, Pine Valley, Medinah, Oakland Hills, Dorado Beach and the Mid Ocean in Bermuda. But you will also get exposed to courses that you may not know as well like Sotogrande in Spain and Banff in Canada.

As an example of the hole-by-hole analysis, the book early on looks at the famous 17th on the Old Course at St. Andrews. A hotel cuts off the right side of the hole of this tough par four, also referred to as the Road Hole. In 1995, John Daly won the British Open there in part by hitting a tremendous drive around the hotel and into the fairway. He was able to hit onto the green from there with a 7 iron. The book shows the outline of the hotel, where Daly's ball went, and where most players shoot. Naturally, this looks easy on paper. When I tried the same thing with my drive, my ball went just a bit too far right and disappeared into an area near the foundation of the hotel, out of bounds. I came away much more impressed with Daly's feat.

With the knowledge this atlas can give you, you will find yourself able to take on challenges that great golfers have lived up to before you. You may not match them (and probably won't), but you will enjoy the feeling of trying on the challenging swings of the greats. It'll be a great thrill when you do!

After you finish enjoying this book a few times, think about where else in life you would enjoy reliving great moments of those who have gone before. How can you use those experiences to inspire you to try more, accomplish more, and have more fulfillment in everything you do?

"Take dead aim."

I'm not a big fan of the "true crime" genre. I did love Vincent Bugliosi's Helter Skelter, but don't care for Ann Rule's books or their ilk. Serpentine is an exception. Like other reviewers here, I came across this book about 20 years ago and I still have vivid recollections of it. Sobhraj is a kind of Ted Bundy with a bit more style and class. Thompson does a fine job in conveying Sobhraj's seductive qualities. He also is adept in his description of settings. Sobhraj may be thought of as the only jet-setter mass-murderer. I didn't realize until reading over these reviews that he had been released from prison already. That really is diconcerting, for he is about as amoral as Hannibal Lecter. I can't believe he was allowed back into society. I would recommend this book to those who like true crime stories and to those who just like an engaging, easy read. The book moves along at great pace. If you bring it along on a vacation to Sri Lanka or Thailand or Paris, etc., you may want to keep an eye out for Sobhraj. I wouldn't get too chummy if I were you.

I am a lover of true crime books. From the slick little "penny dreadfuls" to Roughead and other Victorian favorites. This book started this fascination lo these twenty years ago. The story of Charles Sobrajh (one of his many names) is interesting. Starting with the beginnings of a youth psychopath and the various attempts to alternately save and destroy him, to his compelling life of crime. The exotic locales and subsequent happenings speak to an earlier age, when people and international borders were much more free. However, this also caused them to become victimized; in many cases duped, drugged robbed murdered by this charming criminal. But I didn't dislike Sobrajh, is a strange way I found myself thinking that he would be able to get away with his crimes. I wonder about his whereabouts even today. the story of this true life Tom Ripley is a must for the serious true crime reader.

This is my favorite true crime book ever. The author brings cohesion to the dizzying array of events of the book's subject. So amazing it reads like fiction.

This book truly explains how best practices can be applied to any organization that wants to increase customer satisfaction and revenues. It does this with case studies of some of the leading companies in the world. Enjoyable reading and easy to follow.

No it doesn't take major working capital to build a successful marketing machine. It does require a focus on the details that are important to your customers. Before you squander working capital on fancy advertising campaigns, read this book. Then you will learn that spending your money on product formulation, service and support are the cornerstones to successful marketing. This book provides exceptional real world examples of how to grow a business by focusing on customer service solutions.

The books quotes numerous examples. That's what the book is all about.

Readers may use these as foundation point for implementing best practises in their own companies. Different companies have different situations.

These ideas motivate one to perform well, often to surge ahead of the competition. Gives you the adrenaline pump to come out with the best.

The importance of value-chain is emphasized by quoting examples of companies such as Lexus which managed continuity of service despite problems in plants of its suppliers.

Readers have to be cautioned that this book is not a panacea to customer-service problems.

Customer Service is not a mere toll-free number. A reader will realise this and much more by reading this book.

Most biographers like their subjects, and that is likely the case with Charles Martin and his subject, Tom McGuire. Still, Martin presents a generally well balanced view of our second leading ace of all time, and one comes away with a sense of a very complex young man with lots of "background" going on in his mind as he goes off to war. Martin tends to downplay McGuire's prickly personality, but does acknowledge that many felt that Mac could be difficult. More importantly, we come to understand more WHY Mac was sometimes difficult -- as noted previously, there was lots of baggage there. I highly recommend this book for aviation fans and those who are interested in what made one of our lesser known, but of first magnitude, heroes tick. If the definition of a well written book includes a)wanting to meet the subject, b) wanting to meet the author, and c) wanting the author to turn to another subject you are interested in, then The Last Great Ace qualifies on all counts.

Prior to reading this book I had some knowledge of Major Tom McGuire, but this book allowed me to "peel" back the layers of what made up the Man, the husband and the Pilot. The book methodically took me through his early life, flight school and into the Pacific Theater where we find this skilled pilot in the cockpit of his P-38 Lightning "Puddgy." Unlike some books written about famous fighter pilots of the WWII era you will be treated to a look at his friendship with flying legend Charles Lindburg, letters to his wife, recollections from his crew chief and his relationship with Americas Ace of Aces "Dick" Bong.

The author also takes into account the day to day life on the airbase(s), meetings with Generals and of course his aerial battles with the Japanese. Well balanced, insightful, this is a great book about a Medal of Honor recipient, I hope you enjoy it.

There is only one word to describe this book; TREMENDOUS! Author Charles A. Martin has written a masterpiece of aviation history. In this book, the reader is given insight into the life of Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. who would end up as America's number two all-time ace with thirty eight confirmed (and many more unconfirmed) victories. This book does a superior job of giving the reader insight into McGuire's life. The first half of the book deals with McGuire from a young age until he entered flight training. Some of the other reviewers of this book thought that the first half was a waste; I highly disagree. Mr. Martin gives us insight into Tommy's youth and his upbringing, which in the end ultimately resulted in the kind of pilot and leader of men he turned out to be. His upbringing had a major impact on the type of commander he was, and I applaud Mr. Martin for including the early years of McGuire's life. Too often, biographers just concentrate on a specific area of a person's life. I'm glad that I found out what type of person Tommy McGuire was when he was younger. It's easy to see from his childhood how he grew to become such an effective leader.

The second half of the book deals with the actual combat life of Tommy. From August 1943 until his untimely death on January 7, 1945, Major McGuire compiled a record which most fighter pilots only dream about. He shot down thirty eight enemy aircraft; second only to his rival and friend Dick Bong's forty. He also grew to be a highly respected leader, tactician, teacher, and friend. Tommy was a fiery individual in combat, but he was a true friend to his comrades in every sense of the word and he always looked out for the well-being of everyone in his squadron.

I've read dozens of books about the Pacific war, but this book rates as one of my all-time favorites. This is a true classic of aviation history. Read it and discover the life of a true American hero.