Stephen Levine was for several years the Director of the Hanuman Foundation Death and Dying Project (wording may not be exactly right). In this capacity, he and his wife, Ondrea, kept their home telephone open 24 hours a day, as a "hotline" for people in catastrophic situations involving death, dying, and extreme grief. The transcripts printed out in this book are nothing short of amazing. They show what is possible, when one's mind has been stilled by meditation (or for an "old soul" like Stephen, but that place is there somewhere in each of us), and one's heart is receptive and in a place of love. Many of us feel embarrassed of frightened by death. Stephen shows that honest, loving acknowledgement of the person's situation is a prerequisite before healing (of attitudes, mainly..physical healing may or may *not* follow, the Levines say) can happen. He goes straight to the heart of callers' situations, including those of a parent whose child was recently murdered, another parent whose child was washed away at sea and the body never found, and of many people who themselves are approaching death. He has the courage to be direct, and the compassion to be gentle (the ability to give a little "tougher love", too, when needed, always appropriate to the person's strength and capacity). And AMAZING transformations follow. Stephen is able to give people a space for their emotions, that they were often not previously able to give themselves. The book shows that it is possible to have a spiritual presence that is "contagious"..that is, that others can derive strength from, and use as a starting point to accept their own situations. Seeing that such usefulness is possible for one human being to develop in himself, any even "moderately caring soul" who reads MEETINGS AT THE EDGE will keep Stephen's example at least in the back of his/her mind until he/she has become able to actualize such compassion and service in his/her own life.

These tapes remind us how deep our relationships are: We are eternal beings moving consciously through the world seeking to find invisible bonds with others reflecting the nature of our love. Thanks, Ondrea and Stephen, for remindings us how sacred and human our relationships can be. -- Samuel Oliver, author of, WHAT THE DYING TEACH US: LESSONS ON LIVING.

The book takes a completely different view of our nation's history from the late 1800's through the late 19000's than the average history text book most of us read in high school. Side bars and tid bits add anecdotal highlights to the information covered in that section or chapter which keep it relevant and interesting. It was very refreshing to see things from the bottom up. i.e. What was happening with this or that wave of immigration that caused the City's and Urban areas to change in this way, that caused the political and religious environment to change in that way, that caused this person to be elected, that caused this law to be passed, that caused this backlash, that led to this conflict, that led to this resolution. Instead of - this war was faught and this official was elected and this country won. It is biased towards labor and labor's role in building this country, so if you want traditional conservative history, this isn't the book for you. But if you like to read some of the stuff they don't tell you in high-school history 101, this is it. I'll never look at labor disputes or the immigration question the same way again. I came away from the book with a greater understanding and retained more of how we got to the 21st century in America from the 19th century.

When I saw this book, I bought it straightaway, because labor history gets short-shrift in American society. I'm sorry to see it's out-of-stock, but am unsurprised.

While this book is fairly mainstream in its orientation, it is very readable and thorough, covering the struggle of working people through the late 1800s to the early 1990s.

I consider this book a good starting point for people interested in working people's history. What makes it especially rich is the narrative flow and personal stories that appear throughout it, and the sidebars with songs and other miscellaneous information. This is the way a history book should be written.

Who Built America? Is an excellent look at US history in the 20th century from the foundation up. The authors provide relevant and insightful information about immigration, the working class, unions, and the political and military events that shaped our country. The events are thoroughly discussed in terms of cause and effect, and followed through with anecdotal side bars and highilights. Because the text follows a contextual historical line, the information is readily understood and retained. Who Built America? was used as the assigned text in a US History class I took. While I read it willingly as assigned in the class, it is a book I have returned to on numerous occasions since. I highly recommend Who Built America? for everyone and anyone who would like to know not just who was elected when, and what wars were fought with whom, but why and how it effects every one of us.

I have come through some very difficult few years of relationship changes in my life. What truly helped me was when I stopped searching in the obvious reltionship help areas and started searching for answers by studying the grieving process. I treat my "dis"-ease as a dying process. And I found the greatest empowerment in reading about terminal illness, and this dying process- ESPECIALLY Stephen Levine's "Who Dies"- Conscious Living, Conscious Dying. By accepting the process of grieving and really embracing it, I walked step by step, looped around, turned inside out, but somehow forward to a new perspective. Stephen's gentle guidance is the most helpful "self"-help (universal-help) book I have come across. Not only is ALL OK- he does not make it sappy, or overwhelming. It is not preachy or self-righteous. I came across it- an old edition- by accident in my small town bookstore, on a day when the tears would not stop. I have used the book not only for my own grieving process, but to understand and let go of one friend's suicide and my other friend's terminal disease. To those struggling, you may find some peaceful moments in Levine's pages. Best wishes.

This is a one of my all time favorite and life changing books. I happened upon it rather accidentally on my mother's shelf when I was trying to remind myself of elizibeth Kubler's Ross's stages of greif model for coming to terms with a loss. I was not experiencing a death of a person per se, more of a loss of my own identity. I was in my medical residency and feeling the weight of responsibility, I was losing some outmoded self within. The text would consistently have a profound impact on my thinking and subsequently my mood, as it would allow me to pay better attention to my thought process in any given moment, and pay attention to how automatic my thoughts are and in some ways following very predictable patterns which I later learned were not fixed but rather changeable.

I read chapter 4 probably 2-3 dozen times, because each sentence, each paragraph carried great power which I could feel as the words lined up next to my own thoughts like training wheels next to a bike. There was a way that my entire thinking process became illuminated while reading the book, and it might last for a day or so and then I'd need to go back and do it all over again.

This book changed my life when I first read it more than 15 years ago. My father died when I was very young and that event left me terrified of death. Then I read "Who Dies?" and realized there was another way to look at death. The book also led me to begin working with people dying and/or grieving. The book is really about life. Live it now, today, because we never know when this precious gift will be over. Thank you, Stephen Levine.

The authors draw upon Hillary Rodham Clinton, George Foreman and former junk bond king Michael Milken as examples of great second acts. How hard can it be if your first act was First Lady, boxing champ or Wall Street insider? These books always lose credibility when they draw upon celebrities as examples, simplistically implying that stardom is within your reach. Even using J.K. Rowling as an example is poor, since that kind of publishing success is a one-in-twenty-million phenom.

If it makes you happy, buy it.

Stephen Pollan draws on his background as lawyer and financial advisor, once again demonstrating that life is the best preparation for a career as a life coach. His book offers the familiar promise, "It's never too late," but with some surprising twists.

The best part of this book is the section on deciding what you want to do with your life. Pollan's exercises are original and would, I believe, help many people to discover their own next step. For instance, Pollan urges readers to review activities that they love -- and also places that draw forth a passionate response. His question, "What need does this passion address?" is extremely helpful and, unfortunately, rarely asked.

Implementation sections are helpful but I would encourage readers to seek supplementary guidance. Pollan suggests that a degree from University of Phoenix may be as helpful, in some cases, as a degree from Harvard. I encourage my own clients to talk to alumni from any school. Some doors will be closed to Phoenix alums, including some adjunct teaching options. On the other hand, a fifty-plus career changer who wants to set up shop as a counselor would do as well with a degree from the fastest, lowest-cost school whose courses are recognized by the state in question.
Still, I would be careful. I have heard first-account accounts of degree programs losing acceptability by accrediting bodies.

Pollan urges readers to omit dates from a resume. If you're using a back-door method to get a job (as you should!) that strategy will work. However, if your resume goes through a human resource department, it will most likely get tossed or you will be asked to submit traditional resume with dates.

Finally, I was disturbed by the grammar errors distributed lavishly through the text. A top publisher should have provided a copy editor! In particular the author writes "I" instead of "me"
("he showed my wife and I...")

Despite these qualms and quibbles, if you're a midlife career changer, you'll find this book more helpful than most. If nothing else, the author is a fine role model.

I've been a huge fan of Stephen Pollan's books, especially 'Live Rich' and 'Die Broke'. In 'Second Acts,' Mr. Pollan provides a framework to identify and pursue your 'next act.' And since life (at least my life) is about an evolution of next acts, I highly recommend this book!

Mr. Pollan coalesces his core thinking into two very useful parts. First, he provides practical exercises and guidance to defining and refining your second act. And second, he gives you the tools to fight the battle to change your life -- a large part of which, as Mr. Pollan points out, rests between your ears! Stephen's advice is not some useless feel-good psychobabble ' his is straightforward and imminently applicable. And it's laced throughout with the humanity, humor, wisdom and grace that defines all of Mr. Pollan's writings.

This book bored both my husband and myself . . . and we're eclectic readers, hard to turn off once we've committed to a book. Levine's earlier work is good, but IMHO by now success has gone to his head. Take a "Marriage Enrichment" course or something, but don't waste your $ on this book.

Of all the relationship books we've seen and used, this one is unique and dear to us.

Once you've got talking techniques and fair fighting methods down, and you've figured out what planet you're from, this book will help you take the next step in relationship. For those of you wishing to go beyond the nuts and bolts of relationship to a transformed way of inter-being, this book is perhaps the most lucid, light-filled, and compassionate description of the steps along the path.

Eminently practical, do-able, and relevant, the Levines outline multiple pathways to a deeper spiritual relationship with your partner - and with yourself. As well, anyone in the process of considering ending a relationship will find healing and hope in the chapter on conscious separation. Those currently unattached will find opportunities for deep learning and healing in preparation for their next relationship.

There is a lifetime of study in this book, or as the Levines say, this is the work of a lifetime. It may take a while to "get it". Persevere: the effort is well worth it! The potential in your relationship is glorious!

This book is a treasure, one that I will return to over time as Life's different lessons surface to challenge me. The authors present the many questions that arise from relationships beautifully, grounding them in the necessary but often-belittled work we must do on ourselves, alone as well as with another. Viewing the relationship entity itself as a third partner, the Beloved, helps in recognizing that we each interact not only with our partner, but also with the energy of partnership as though it were an individual. The chapters can be read either sequentially or separately as their specific energies are needed. In fact, I think the stand-alone nature of the chapters makes the book particularly useful. The meditations also work well whether you do them progressively or return to them as you feel the need for a specific meditation's strengths.

Most importantly, the book focuses on the importance of consciousness at all levels of relationship. The authors manage to make the book germane whether or not the reader is engaged in a relationship at the moment. Those who are in a relationship can use the book to deepen their bond and understand one another. Those leaving a relationship can use it to learn and heal. Anyone can benefit from the familiarity that comes from consciously examining their relationship persona and its impact on interactions with others.

Especially poignant is the chapter on conscious closure of relationship, providing insight and great support when saying goodbye to loved ones, whether the parting occurs through death or a decision to go separate ways. Understanding the importance of forgiveness and the role of ritual in taking affirmative steps towards making peace with partings is empowering. The authors gently address the pain of closure, and provide concrete examples that can help to ease the hurt while opening yourself up to the new beginning birthed by every goodbye.

An excellent book for those already familiar with ASP and looking for a 'working example', step by step. If you know ASP, you won't have any major problems. However, the spartan code explanations can be annoying at times - a little more detail would have been appreciated.

Wouldn't recommend it for learning ASP though, - try Wrox's Beginning ASP 3.0, instead. But, if you're looking to build your first e-commerce site and you know the basics of ASP, give this a try before attempting more advanced books.

I found this book extremely useful for beginning e-commerce. If you have no idea where to start when tackling an e-commerce project, I highly recommend this book. The ideas it provides along with the methods are essential for any project. The book covers essentials such as working with files, creating the shopping cart, working with credit cards, security, using wallets, and even how to set up an SSL connection. The information in this book is without a doubt vital for beginners. I have to say that this is not the best ASP e-commerce programming book in the world, but it will teach you the basics in a clear and quick manner. The examples are real world examples and can be implemented in a basic e-commerce site. (Don't expect to re-create amazon.com through this book.) The reason I give 4 stars to this book is that not all the files for the examples are on the CD. Also, the URL that is listed to see the site online does not exist. Other than that, it's a very useful book.

I had read the SAMS ASP in 24 hours book which was an excellent start to ASP. This book would have been just as good to start with and it is a lot more in-depth. Of course, the focus is e-commerce and you are taken through building an online store. The examples are easy to follow and the text is well presented and easy to understand (especially for people who hate technical books).

If you are looking for an introduction to ASP and have not yet purchased the SAMS 24 hour book, consider this one instead. They do cover a lot of the things that the other book has in it. Towards the back end, they have examples of email forwarding from forms and other bits and pieces that are not directly related to e-commerce, but were the reasons I got the other book.

If you are trying to build a full-blown store online, start here. It won't get any easier than this!

This is a handy book to have on any rehabbers bookshelf. HOWEVER, it better not be the only one. Much of the information it contains is old - much advancement has been made over 25 years of rehabbing animals and even though this book has been "revised and updated" the diets and feeding information seem to have remained the same. For example - baby birds should not be encouraged to drink milk or water. You are more likely to drown them than help them. Baby birds get their water from the food their parents (or rehabber) properly provides. Still, as a resource for splinting and caring for injuries, there is some valuable information. Just be sure to supplement it with some newer publications as well.

This is a great basic book for anyone rehabbing wild birds or mammels. Some things are outdated and you should always seek the advise of someone more experienced in rehabbing for their advise (or a Vet knowlegeable with wildlife)if you aren't sure or contact the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Ass. (NWRA). Always ask yourself, what does it's parents do for it or how does it survive in the wild.I found Practical Wildlife Care, by Les Stoker to be a more indepth, very helpful book to use and add to my ever-growing library

This book is really helpful to me because I am currently taking care of a wild baby bird.I read information on how to feed it,treat any injuries,and the importance of a nest and warmth.The bird is doing really well now.Care of the Wild,Feathered,and Furred also has lots of information on squirrels and other small mammals.

We're all going to die. Levine's book helps us to view life and death from a broader perspective. Levine has spent considerable time working with terminally ill clients. According to him, people on their death bed commonly mourn their unfinished business. Be it unfufilled dreams, broken promises, or unresolved conflicts, life regrets are one of the most troublesome aspects of dying.

Levine's book gave me motivation to begin living each day as if it's my last. It made me consciously aware of the importance of not putting life on hold.

This book also encouraged me to be more accepting and conscious in daily life. Many of us do all we can to avoid pain. Levine believes that accepting and moving through discomfort is actually less painful than tensing up with fear. I believe this applies not only to physical pain, but also mental and emotional discomfort. Many times the events I've resisted and resented the most are the ones that offered the greatest satisfation and personal growth once I got to the other side.

Levine's book made me feel more comfortable with the ideas such as acceptance and humilty. In general, life is simpler and more peaceful when I live in line with these virtues.

250,000 people die each day, like "deciduous leaves piled at the foot of the great tree" (p. 110). This is a wise book about reclaiming "our lives one step at a time" (p. 5) through the practice of dying. "I offer an experiment that amplifies your potential for healing by living the next year as if it were your last" (p. 3), Stephen Levine writes, "a year to live as consciously as possible, a year to finish business, to catch up with our lives, to investigate and deal with our fear of death, to cultivate our true heart and find essential wisdom and joy" (p. 4).

Levine knows death. He is a Buddhist meditation teacher who works with terminal patients. He tells us that we should not wait for a terminal diagnosis, though, "before opening to the potential grace and wonder of this living moment" (p. 17). His book offers several guided meditations on embracing the mystery of death, including "soft-belly" (pp. 32-33), fear (pp. 49-50), "life review" (pp. 82-86), forgiveness (pp. 89-92), gratitude (pp. 96-97), body awareness (pp. 104-5) and "original face" (120-21) meditations. "Trust the process" (p. 63), Levine advises us. "No one can afford to put this work off any longer" (p. 17). In the end, as the book's title makes clear, this is not so much a book about death, but a book about conscious living.

G. Merritt

This powerful book can transform your life. The spiritual techniques suggested are not all new, but Levine writes in a manner that is easily understood and absorbed. Life is more vibrant if one lives each day as if were the last day in your life. Levine advises to live each day in this mode, fully in the present. His book contains numerous suggested spiritual meditations that will diminish one's fear of dying and death while increasing one's joy and appreciation of each new day.
Thank you Stephen for this book.

Before taking my flight to Honolulu from San Francisco, I decided to visit the terminal bookstore and find a book to entertain me during my 5 hour flight. In the sale section was this book "Die Broke: A Radical 4-part Personal Finance Plan." Being open to radical ideas, I decided to purchase it for entertainment purposes.

The book is broken into 2 sections: Section 1 describes the plan in detail. Lots of good information to consider. Again, the key word is consider! I particularly liked the author's view of today's work world (Quit Today!), Pay Cash, & Don't Retire. It all makes sense to me, yet I'm a 28 year old gen'xer that has read quite a few finance planning books out there. Most of the finance books out there in reality do preach "outdated" concepts. Pollan's 4 point plan is indeed refreshing, especially as we enter the new millenium.

The second half addresses various topics such as stocks, mutual funds, insurance, ATM's, debit cards, you name it. Although it was a breeze to read through this section, I was a little disappointed in that it should have been written more in depth as how it relates to the "Die Broke" philosophy, rather than a quick and dirty write-up.

All in all, I'm going to embrace most of his finance plan. All in all, Pollan and Levine are geniuses. Read the book with an open mind. After all, you CHOOSE what you accept to believe in. :)

"Die Broke" is far superior to many much more popular personal finance books. Author Pollan is pragmatic in steering individuals to avoid the "wage slave" trap the vast majority of us bungle our way into. Among many noteworthy observations, Pollan wisely points out how home ownership is not the near-guaranteed money maker it once was. This book is a perfect gift for the college graduate or someone in their mid-20s. Following Pollan's advice empowers someone to be responsive to the real world of declining living standards for most of us and practically no job security. I do feel one is better buying a 3-5 year old Japanese car and keeping it 10 years while Pollan recommends continously leasing new cars. This book is an overlooked gem that deserves the occasional re-reading.

All 4 of Pollan's axioms are so right & on time ! People everywhere are struggling to come up with answers -- but first they need to know what the questions are (by the way, the next book "Live Rich" is essential to get the full picture). In a nutshell, there's 2 ways to make it in this world: (a)the linear income system (12 hours a day, 5 days a week, for an entire lifetime -- continually trying to put a $5 bill where a $50 bill needs to go) or (b)the residual income system (10 years or less, growing ASSETS which in turn create income). Option A is working hard; Option B is working smart. However, for those poor souls who insist on Option A -- being controlled by time, money & circumstance -- rather than Option B... well then the Die Broke plan is their only hope. It's the best overall Option A compromise. In particular, with the painful idea of "it's just a job" .vs. a "fulfilling career" (heresy to a boomer), linear income people are just gonna have to compromise somewhere -- before the stress puts them all in an early grave. We need these Option A lemmings around to pay social security tax so that my retirement-bound in-laws won't come to me 15 years from now looking for a hand-out. Thank you Pollan & company. So very eloquent & so ON !!