I have just finished reading 'The Coming of the Feminine Christ' by Niamh Clune. Its a profound, heady magical, mystical mix of visions, poetry, myth and insight about human relationships, and the need to awaken our hearts and value our feelings as much as our intellects. I particularly like the gut-churning descriptions of the 'psychic dance' between men and women, and the 'negative mother' complex within each of us that makes us sabotage ourselves. The writing is intense and powerful, and I have found it very helpful in thinking about how to have 'right relationships', and be much more aware of how I relate to other people. Its a book to go back to and dip into again and again. I'm organising a reading group with some of my friends so that we can talk about Niamh's book in more depth. Its had a big impact on me.

This astonishing book is a new teaching for the coming age. In it, Niamh Clune shows her spiritual and mental maturity as the spiritual teacher capable of bringing a very difficult message to us all. At last a spiritual book that encourages us to really take note of the shadow side of reality. Paradoxically, this may be our only hope.

Niamh has a special gift indeed, a poet's genius for word-smithing

I hope to encorporate this book into my Introduction to Poetry class this fall. My students are really going to be suprised that poetry can be so fun and yet so damned insightful and relevant. A real tribute to the importance of alternative presses/publishing firms.

As a full professor of English at a major northeastern university, I'm not inclined to be receptive to alternative conceptual paradigms. However, this book forced me to consider the world from a perspective beyond the security of my academic post. To quote from the text, his "words slapped my smug face" and evolved my sense of self in the process.

Opened my eyes to things I never imagined. Rutledge has a powerful style.

I thought that this book was crazy good. I'm a huge fan of poetry and love books that incorparate (sp?) it into their stories. Besides the story were awesome illustrations to add to the story.

If you likes Girl Coming In For A Landing or like other stories written in poerty. Check out:

*Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy and What My mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones
*The Taking of Room 114 and Split Image by Mel Glenn
*After the Death of Anna Gonzalos by Terri Fields

Not since Sandra Cisneros's House on Mango Street have I admired a book of such poetic power as girl coming in for a landing. Unlike Cisneros though, April Halprin Wayland chooses to use poetry as a form rather than poetic short stories to forward her character's travails about the year in the life of a teenage girl. The setting for the book is in and around Los Angeles where the author discusses kissing games, falling in love, the humiliations that is adolescence, and (of course) triumphing in the end. Any time poetry zings across my desk that is so lyrical, fun, beautifully illustrated (by Elaine Clayton) and enchanting as girl coming in for a landing, the I have to let you know about it.

In so few words, Wayland pegs the feelings and experiences of a teenage girl experiencing a crush, heartbreak, success, deflation, and more. It's inspiring and beautiful writing with fascinating illustrations. This is the kind of diary I wish I'd kept. It's the kind of diary I hope my niece (who's getting this as a gift) will keep.

Book has guidelines at the end for keeping your own journal--they're helpful.

In this heart-warming book, Bloomingdale goes through the trials and tribulations of being a parent of twelve children. It is filled with laughter and a lot of memorable elements. Thru it all, however, the book maintains a light comical tone, having a wonderful perspective on parenting, a perspective that needs to be much more spread out in modern society. Her two other books, LIFE IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE MAKING OTHER PLANS and MURPHY MUST HAVE BEEN A MOTHER, I have not read but have read the blurbs, and perceive it is the same type of material. Bloomingdale belongs to the Catholic faith, so you also get that thrown into the play, making for a nice well-rounded book on the comic misadventures of a large family, and it also shows the beauty and wonder of children, albeit it thrown into a comic light. If you see this in a used book store, pick it up if you're wanting a laugh. The title refers to some type of medical procedure to see if a woman is pregnant and involves rabbits; I don't understand it (Aerosmith make reference to it in their song "Sweet Emotion", after Tyler commits fornication with a woman). If you know what exactly the procedure involves, send some mail my way. Buy the book. Very funny.

Teresa Bloomingdale puts a real comic twist on the trials and tribulations of parenthood. If you're looking for a good laugh, look no further.

I first read this book before I had children and then picked it up again after my fourth was born. Mrs. Bloomingdale really mirrors what life in a large family is like ! This book should be required reading for all new mothers !

This story reminded me of my own growing-up years, not in Alaska, but on a reservation, nevertheless. It is a powerful book and reminds me of the strength our people have to survive, despite the odds, and interference of another culture. Velma, thanks for sharing in an honest and sensitive way, and letting us know we were not alone.

Raising Ourselves: A Gwich'in Coming Of Age Story From The Yukon River is the personal testimony of Velma Wallis (a full blooded member of one of the Gwich'in clans that had settled where the Porcupine River flows into the Yukon) on what it was like grow up as a Native American in an Alaska dominated by white teachers, traders, and missionaries. The endless battle against despair, alcoholism, and the loss or forgetting of all the ways that were once practiced permeate this courageous and thoughtful memoir. Raising Ourselves is a welcome, engagingly written, and very highly recommended addition to academic and community library Native American collections.

Velma, once again thank you so much for having the courage to bring your stories to paper. I bought this book because of my love for the Gwich'in people. I knew about the sustinance living and the tents with the stoves, the hunting, the alcoholism and various other things, but this book puts everything I had heard, and more, into the perspective of a complete picture. You get the feeling you know the people involved because she has described her entire family in detail. Drawing us in so close to her inner world, she gives us the sense that we are experiencing a Gwich'in childhood in the village with her. In addition, the tragic stories of the liquor problems in Fort Yukon are heartbreaking. I now have a better understanding why some villages chose to go "dry."
Mostly, Velma's story left me with the lesson: that we all have dysfunctional families in one way or another, and as much as you can love them, sometimes you just have to face that you can't change them. But what you do have the power to do is to look in your heart for what makes you happy and follow your dreams and live out your potential. Only you can do that for yourself. And all you can do for your family really, is to just love them.

This book has a lot of interesting, hard to find information on oil reserves and petroleum geology. Its a must-read for someone interested in the subject of oil depletion. It has some shortcomings though:

1-It has a lot of superfluous stuff. For example, there is an interview with a medical doctor on topics quite remote from oil depetion. It was annoying to find this material in the book. But it was easily avoided.

2-At times, Campbell didnt stick to the topic. He waders off into simplistic philosphical musings about the meaning of oil depletion. It wasnt helpful.

3-An explanation of why oil is only found in special geological formations was not provided. This is a very important aspect to understanding oil depletion.

But all things considered, this is a good book to read if you want to understand how much oil is left in the ground, and how much has already one up in smoke.

The book is based on total cumulative oil production of 1800 billion barrels with peak global production at aprox 10,000,000,000 litres per day in 2001 with a plateau until 2008 and declining until aprox 2100.

Large cities and energy intensive industries such as mining, aircraft, shipping and railways will bear the brunt of declining world oil production from present day global usage of 10,000,000,000 litres per day, declining to around 1,000,000 litres /day in 2080.

The book has extensive production profiles for many regions, but not Australia. It illustrates how Germany's oil production has been in decline from 0.058 Gb/a since the mid 1960's and US oil production has been in decline since the early 1970's peaking at around 9500 kb / day.

An extensive web site is discussed regarding renewable energy.

The rise in human population from 1 billion to 6 billion over the last 100 years is also discussed and the author predicts a decline in human population with declining oil production.

There is a brief discussion in regards to how the temperature rises 33 to 36 deg C for every km decrease in depth and how oil is subsequently cracked into gas at high temperatures, however it doesn't mention at what pressures the cracking would take place or if there is any difference in temperature between 4 km below sea level or 4 km below land.

The book rarely discusses synthetic fertilisers, such as sulphate of ammonia, which need oil or gas as a feedstock to fix nitrogen, etc. Brian Fleays book "The decline of the age of oil" discusses this in greater depth.

There is no discussion of the chemicals that are made from oil such as: Acetylene, rubber, explosives, insecticides, soaps, cosmetics, chewing gum wax, carbon brushes, etc which can be found in an encyclopedia.

However, the book is a very comprehensive discussion of the search for oil and the geological constraints of production.

It is a very comprehensive book which discusses many aspects of oil production that common people would never dream of.

I would have liked to see a production profile for the Australian region.

This book is great. It has a lot of great exercises and advice, and is very supportive. I did find that this book has been written for a narrow audience, a white closeted lesbian in her 30's. This is an audience that I just don't fit into. This book does try to address other audiences such as gay men, but does not handle it well. For those of you who fit into this book's audience, BUY IT! It's a great book. If you don't fit into this audience, you can buy it but might find that you can't relate to it as well.

Are you a homosexual? Then this book will guide you on learning more about yourself. If you are not a homosexual, then it is an amazing opportunity for you to learn that the gay community has a sense of humor too. It makes fun of itself better than anyone else ever can.

Judy helps you confront the fears of coming-out with humour and sound advice. Most of the stuff is quite obvious, but you`ll have to get the basics right however simple and/or foolish the exercises may seem to you. You`ll probably be able to avoid some of the stupid mistakes each and everyone of us seem to make while stepping into gay life on our own, and that alone is well worth the price.

Certainly useful if you are closeted, alone and scared, but also worth a look or two if you have rushed out without getting organized first (as I, and probably many others did!).

I enjoy reading books filled with dire predictions several decades after publication. With the benefit of hindsight the question of why the author was or was not correct is fascinating. I highly recommend this book, as even though the author may have been wrong in certain areas, I feel that many of the themes of the book are relevant today.

Doing very well as an investor doesn't take much intelligence, just a lot of patience and a willingness to ignore fads. At the time Browne's book was first published, gold and silver were laughingstock as investments, and so was anyone who bought them. Thirty years later, we're right back to an instant replay of the Seventies. A long war, government printing money with abandon, stocks taking a beating but equity cheerleaders assuring us we won't have a ten- or fifteen-year bear market again. Browne's book is well-written, but you can save youself the money nowadays by just entering the words 'gold bull market' in your favorite Internet search engine. Paper assets go out of fashion every twenty-five to thirty years, and when they do, gold and silver do spectacularly well. That, in a nutshell, is how to profit from the coming devaluation of the U.S. dollar; sell your dollars for gold and silver, then sit tight and wait. Don't bother telling anyone, you'll just be ridiculed first and reviled later. Just like those who cleaned up by following Browne's counterculture advice when this book was on the bestseller lists in the Disco era.

---AS A SEPARATE BOOK!!!

It's the BEST introduction to economics ever written. I've owned a copy since the early 70's when I was in high school, and I've never beeen fooled by politician's promises ever since.

I've read it several times. Much of the rest of the book is dated so doesn't need to be republished.

If Harry would republish and widely distribute the first 78 pages or so of this book to all high school and college students, the politicians would have a much more difficult time fooling voters with their schemes.

As a student of Ananda Abinou, I know his teachings to be the TRUTH, plain and simple. He can give it to you nifty or grity, intellectually or the [simplified] version, but the ultimate realization is yours and yours alone!

"I'm Not Coming Back" by Ananda Abinou, is one of the most, if not THE most, incredible and informative book 'studies' of the human...being...I have ever experienced. I say 'studies' because I have studied repetitively, its contents. I have drawn great strength from what I have read, and find myself re-accessing various chapters in confirmation of what I have experienced, and as well, what I question within this universe, within myself. I encourage all who seek TRUTH, to experience Ananda Abinou's teachings. In "I'm Not Coming Back", Ananda's words, his voice, speak in the REAL and in the RAW, not prettied up so that the ego is comfortable. Get ready for a real ass-whipping at times. Make room for truth to come through. Often we want something that soothes, strokes and caresses our tender ego. We want to be told that how we act, or act out, is alright because that's how we were raised, or that's how we were taught, or whatever excuse we choose to create for that moment. So careful, if you dare to read this book of truth. Ready yourself. Sometimes, the words ARE hard to read. Not because one doesn't understand, but because one understands all too well and we don't want those words to be about us. It's easier if it's about someone else. Right? Well, hah! Buckle up! Open your mind, let the ego take a rest, jump into your senses and feel. Feel what this phenomenal teacher is sharing with us. ALLOW YOURSELF TO FEEL! Ananda tells it like it is. All can benefit, from the street wise 'yo wassup' homeboys and homegirls, to the highly educated sophisticates, as well as everyone and everything in between, who share this platform of learning... called EARTH.

Thank you Ananda, for your guidance, your realness, your truth and assistance in giving me the tools to find, not just my own truth...but TRUTH ITSELF. Namaste, Christa Victoria

I found this book to be an engaging and somewhat enigmatic explanation of the meaning of life and love according to Ananda Abinou. It addresses so many of the "how's" and "why's" of our existence. I loved the question and answer format. The book allowed me to feel as if I were in the mist of the actual teaching and learning forum. It is so intellectually stimulating. You will want to read it many times. I have and learned from each reading.

This is a book that should be read by anyone that considers themselves to be PRUDENT investors. When people say they are LONG-TERM investors, do they really know what they are saying? What do they mean? Do they realize that a dollar invested today may be worth 1.25 in 6 months -(due to the mania of this market) - but only worth 50 cents in 5 or 10 years? It could likely be worse than that. These mutual funds are being run by young hot shots that have no concept of doing anything but putting "money to work" (buying) due to the massive influx of money pouring in over the years. All reasonable valuation models have been trashed and "investors" have become extremely complacent because it's been so easy to "make" money. Sorry, it's not that easy or realistic! The selling will soon come in waves. Be wise and prepare youself for what will go down in history as the worst bear market ever, followed by a worldwide depression. Best of luck to all! P.S. I also recommend a book called "THE WARNING" by Joseph Granville and "THE GREAT CRASH of 1929" by John Galbraith. The parallels between then and now are too striking to ignore. So don't be one of the mindless herd.................

This book shows a breadth of knowledge and depth of investigation that is rarely offered to the investing public. The fact that the book ends with a chapter on Further Reading indicates that the author respects the intelligence of his readers and is interested in what he is writing. A book of this quality shows by example how much junk is out there, yet the author is modest and always seeks to help the reader, not exhort. I read it after the onset of the two year bear market and in some ways, not all of the predictions have been met yet, making this book still worth your reading. The persistent heavy volume of trading in the QQQs and the recent snap back rally (5/2002)suggest that the public is seeking further punishment and the crisis is not yet matured. I hope the author rewrites it with the current changes in the market in mind: iShares, ETFs, gold and the rediscovery of the emerging market (only a rediscovery to the amnesiac). His style is intelligent and refreshing. You'll need to read it carefully, since some ideas only appear fully developed in a single passage. I couldn't put it down.

I can't understand why this book is listed out of print. Why aren't more people demanding this book? Maybe there aren't enough investors yet who are worried about the safety of their money.

Just recently (Sept 99) a few money market funds ran into a bit of trouble - exactly the kind of trouble described in this book. Are you still assuming that your money market fund is safe and that a fixed NAV of $1 will be maintained?

The book definitely opened up my eyes to other alternatives for places to put money. Because of this book I've rediscovered alternatives like Treasury Bills and savings bonds.

However I did question the author's suggestions for a self-directed portfolio containing municipal bonds and widely held stocks. After the Orange County, California fiasco I would not consider municipal bonds. And I would question the idea of holding the same widely-held stocks that the institutional investors hold.