Writing and publishing this book required courage, honesty, and trust in the guidance of his Ancestors for Jasper Lee faced opposition and obstacles to sharing the Romani inner world. Having found the book even more enriching on a second reading, I thank him for facing these obstacles and not allowing his culture to be lost.
List price: $15.00 (that's 30% off!)
In 'The Amateur Naturalist', Gerald and wife Lee set out to create the sort of guide for which the much younger Durrell, loose among the wildlife of Corfu, would likely have killed (humanely, though). Broken down by habitats, with coloured illustrations and thoughtful, enjoyable text descriptions, 'The Amateur Naturalist' is a treasure trove for anyone interested in studying the world around them, no matter the part of the world in which they might live. Although you needn't be an actual collector in order to enjoy this book, there is also information on how to begin collecting wild flora and fauna (there is no recommendation, however, on the keeping of snakes in the bath or spiders in matchboxes).
For anyone that knows and loves nature, or would like to know more, this is definitely the book to have.
As a native Mississippian myself, I firmly believe that Joe Lee's witty tale tells more about the inside working of political power and the personal stakes involved in playing the game. Beyond layers of deception surrounding his heroic female lead, Joe Lee uncovers an unfettered human response to career women, love-hate relationships, fright and flight.
Indeed, On the Record is a keeper, and Joe Lee is a writer the publishing industry should keep up with.
This book carries the mystery to its final pages and the success or failure of the main character's efforts remains in doubt right up to the end.
I highly recommend this book and am anxiously awaiting the next!
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I also highly recommend reading "Pointework," also by Schorer, as well as watching the three "Balanchine Essays" videos, where Schorer herself instructs New York City Ballet dancer Merrill Ashley and three students in the areas of Arabesque, Passe and Attitude, and Port de Bras.
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This book covers the technical gung fu as well as the philosophy as seen through Mr. Lee's eyes. One of the all time greatest Martial Artist. The diagrams are in his own hand, with his own thoughts. So read his words himself, and get the info direct!
You will not want to put this book down. And will read it, over and over again.
When the book turns to the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, however, its energy seems to flag. I am sympathetic to the argument that the Second Amendment confers a right on "the people" respectively, i.e. as individuals, "to keep and bear Arms." But Malcolm's argument is undermined, however slightly, when she urges that "[s]ome" i.e., more than one, nascent American state constitutions "included a specific right for an individual to have firearms for his own defence" (p. 150), but quotes and cites, as best I can discern, only the Pennsylvania bill of rights in support (pp. 148, 149). Is there more than one, or not? Another apparent example of waning energy toward the end is the treatment of an argument that "like the Convention Parliament in 1689, the senators [debating drafts of the Second Amendment] rejected a motion to add 'for the common defense' after 'to keep and bear arms.' " (P. 161.) To me, that point seems crucial, but Malcolm does not explore it further, beyond providing a footnoted reference to another source.
Finally, some minor quibbles. Noting the author's regular use of English spelling, I thought she was English until I realized, on reading the penultimate page, that she is an American (p. 176). Perhaps Malcolm was reared and educated in England, but nevertheless her anglicizations are distracting and seem affected. It also seems affected to spell "dissension" archaically as "dissention" (p. 153), and to print "u" as "v" in quoted material, as in "Vs" (Us) (p. 41) or "vpon" (upon) (p. 59). If one is going to do that, why not also ask the typesetter to print quotations with the long "s" that looks similar to the lower-case "f"? (Actually, I wouldn't so much object to that, though it would also come across as affected: at least the long "s" is still an "s," though of archaic form, whereas a "v" is not a "u" at all.) These are, of course, trivial items, but when I encounter them, I think, "Come on, Harvard University Press copy-editors, get with it!"
After all the foregoing griping, it may appear that (1) I am a detail-obsessed curmudgeon of uncommon degree, and (2) I disliked the book. The first point may be true, but the second is not. I look forward to seeing how others eventually build on Malcolm's scholarship.
Few topics of contemporary social, moral, and political debate can provoke as much raw emotion and open hostility as the Second Amendment, particularly in relation to the topic of gun prohibition. This subject routinely causes many well-intentioned people of whatever view to give up all pretense of courtesy and reason in favor of ad hominem attacks on those with whom they disagree. Readers of history professor Joyce Lee Malcolm's To Keep and Bear Arms: The Origins of an Anglo-American Right will find these ugly by-products of the contemporary conflict refreshingly absent. Malcolm clearly keeps her distance from any broad normative judgments about the social utilities or costs of civilian firearms possession, offering instead a sober, scholarly, historical discussion of the Amendment's origins. Meticulously tracing the British history of regulations on firearms ownership from the Middle Ages on, she provides a detailed and illuminating history that includes the English Bill of Rights and, a century later, the American one. Because it is only in this historical context that the Second Amendment's meaning can be fully understood and appreciated, Malcolm's book is essential reading for anyone interested in this complex and controversial subject.
One of my favorite chapters is Psychology and Practice. He covers meditation, practice and practicing for control. The topic, "Practice: Patterns for Progress" is excellent. He breaks down practicing into imitating, internalizing, personalizing and visualizing. It's a great topic of discussion. He also suggests way to keep training interesting, the learning stages of Kenpo, mental progress (great discussion) and motivation.
He covers weapons concepts that are very interesting. Diagram of an attack with a weapon and the diagram of a weapon really eye opening. Also the fundamentals of control with a weapon was a good topic. Two topics in this chapter, Window of Opportunity and Keys to Accomplishment could be used for weapons or empty hands and represent a person that has taken time to study and develop a theory behind the actual process of being confronted and the way to successfully respond.
The other chapter that was also one of my favorites was the one on Principles. In this chapter Mr. Bachman talks about memorization, personal weapons: progression to conversion (making a simple strike sophisticated) and commitment. Two very good areas of discussion in this chapter are the scientific method of Kenpo and Selecting and Creating Opportunity.
His conclusion is a list of Kenpo sayings that he as come up with over the years and a story of one of his Black Belts. I would have to say that this is definitely one of Mr. Bachman's best books. It has something for everyone. From basic to advanced concepts, empty hands to weapons. In my review I only touched on the things that I found most interesting. There is actually a lot of good information that I didn't mention. So I would suggest this Kenpo book to any martial artist that is looking to advanced their studies. As Mr. Bachman says, "An intelligent person answers questions, the wise person asks them". I think Mr. Bachman shows in this book that he is both intelligent by freely sharing his information (I say freely because the cost is so reasonable) and wise by asking you, the practitioner, if your willing to expand your thought process in the many different aspects of the martial arts.
This book will help Japanese Society to enter New Era, October 24, 2000 Reviewer: teruo miyagawa (see more about me) from hiratsuka, kanagawa Japan Deming's TQC(Total Quality Control) and Kanban method were the key for Miracle Japan economy growth after World War Two. Japanese economy were struggling during 1990's decade, one of the reason is to ignore the power of the information structure, and depend upon the old paper information system, which speed cannot catch up with the society change speed. This book will help Japanese Society to enter New Era. Last month, Daiwa Bank's ex-board 11 members were ordered 830 million USD indemnity, because of Daiwa Bank New York officer's fraud. Snow Brand, Mitusbishi Moter, Bridgestone/Firestone, many companies are facing trouble by lacking Total data Quality Management. This book is really help for 21 centure enterprize direction.
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