Imagine trying to capture the richness of an ancient and vast culture at the rate of one short story for each two centuries! Audio Connoisseur has once again demonstrated its unique ability to bring the audio listener something special, fascinating, and different.

These stories are best approached without expectations. Their style and values are not those of western literature, yet they resonate at a deep human level. Romance, honor, betrayal, and societal change are familiar themes, but play out here in unexpected ways.

Lingering images: Runners are sent out to bring back a suspect for questioning. A schoolmaster, huddling in a crowded safe house while armies maneuver outside, wonders whether a demanding employer expects his presence in the classroom. An artist is unwilling to work a lesser medium than jade, though his distinctive style will surely disclose the hiding place in which he and his bride have escaped her vengeful and powerful family.

Reader Charlton Griffin employs only the most subtle nuance of Chinese inflection, using a palette of British accents to convey class relationships of the characters. The convention, familiar to BBC viewers, helps more than it distracts. Music is used sparingly, to set the stage and provide punctuation.

I would have preferred a bit more contextual information as a forward to each of the stories, explaining the region, the style, and clues to historical and sociological references. But that is a minor quibble. Four-and-a-half hours elapse quickly, I always wanted to hear the next side, and I was sorry to reach the end of the last tape. Fortunately, this is only Volume I and the series could go on for years without exhausting the subject material.

Chinese literature is not often recorded, and I was delighted to come across this collection. This series of stories is wonderful from start to finish, and it is a fine representation of 2,000 years of Chinese storytelling. I have in my collection just about every set of recorded Chinese literature produced in the last decade and you can take it from me - this one is easily the best. This edition consists of seven short stories. The Bookworm is a delight and I particularly enjoyed The Jade Goddess. But they're all very, very well written. The narrator in this collection is someone I am not familiar with, but he reads beautifully and does all the voices of the characters. I think he may be one of the best narrators I have ever heard. The music and sound effects are really posh. This is a fantastic recording!!

Very well written and practically laid out. Superior to Novak's, Kistner, or Danforth.

I found Comprehensive Gynecology to be the best text I have read in this field. It is clear and consise yet comprehensively summarizes the current literature on each topic. Each chapter begins with a glossary of terms and ends with an excellent point by point review of key concepts. The text covers basic sciences, comprehensive evaluation of the female, general gynecology, gynecologic oncology, reproductive endocrinology and infertility. The chapters are well organized and include a synopsis of the current literature. I would recommend this text to anyone studing for fellowship exams. I have also read Copeland's Gynecology and in comparison found Comprehensive Gynecology to be superior in organization and readability.

Nowadays, when the East is mentioned, and more specifically, the traditional East, immediately rise almost insurmountable barriers, such the differences of mental physiognomy that characterizes the modern westerners and the orientals. Few know that, only six centuries ago, the Occident had much more points in common that divergences, in relation to the East, because both had ther respective civilizations developed from similar priciples, that is, both respected the natural hierarchy that orders everything, from the highest, that is, the spiritual, until the lowest, the material. René Guénon, in this exemplary book, written with extreme clarity, provides us a "radiography" of the modern Occident and its roots, as no other contemporary author had ever accomplished. In the first part of the work, Guénon, shows the modern western civilization as truly monstrous, because it is the only one that grew exclusively in a material sense; he brings to the light the philosophical deformations, from Renascence, that constituted the roots of this type of "development and progress", words so in fashion and at the same time, so insignificant. The author approaches the limits of the modern science and the most spread prejudices against the East. In the second part are examined the frustrated attempts of approach between the East and the West, as well as how such an objective could be reached through an agreement on certain principles. Guénon approaches the role that the constitution of an elite would carry out in such agreement. The reading of this work provides us with a vision of the whole roots of the modern world, whith a span and a depth rarely found in any other author in any time, turning possible a rigorous evaluation of what represents, in catastrophic terms, the growing global hegemony of the modern western mentality par excellence, that is, the North American mentality. The Institute René Guénon of Traditional Studies (www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/9638) since many years gives a basic course "The Oriental Sight" entirely based in René Guénon's masterly work, whose entrance door can be "East and West". It is also recommended, as a complementation the this reading, "The Crisis of the Modern World", of the same author. Luiz Pontual IRGET.

Hoje em dia, quando se fala de Oriente, e mais especificamente, do Oriente tradicional, imediatamente se erguem barreiras quase intransponíveis, tal a diferença da 'fisionomia mental' que caracteriza os ocidentais modernos e os orientais. Poucos sabem que, há apenas seis séculos, o Ocidente tinha muito mais pontos em comum que divergentes, em relação ao Oriente, pois um e outro tinham suas respectivas civilizações desenvolvidas a partir de princípios semelhantes, isto é, ambos respeitavam a hierarquia natural que ordena todas as coisas, desde o mais elevado, isto é, o espiritual , até o mais baixo, o material. René Guénon, neste livro magistral, escrito com extrema clareza, nos proporciona uma 'radiografia' do Ocidente moderno e suas raízes, como jamais qualquer outro autor contemporâneo havia realizado. Na primeira parte da obra, Guénon , mostra a civilização ocidental moderna como verdadeiramente monstruosa, pois é a única que se desenvolveu num sentido exclusivamente material ; traz à luz as deformações filosóficas, desde a Renascença, que constituíram as raízes deste tipo de "desenvolvimento e progresso", termos tão em moda e ao mesmo tempo, tão insignificantes. O autor aborda os limites da ciência moderna e os preconceitos mais difundidos contra o Oriente. Na segunda parte, são examinadas as tentativas frustradas de aproximação entre o Oriente e Ocidente assim como em que termos tal objetivo poderia ser alcançado, isto é, através de um acordo sobre determinados princípios. Guénon aborda o papel que a constituição de uma elite desempenharia em tal hipótese. A leitura desta obra nos proporciona uma visão de conjunto das raízes do mundo moderno cuja envergadura e profundidade raramente se encontra em qualquer outro autor em qualquer tempo, tornando possível uma avaliação rigorosa do que representa, em termos catastróficos, a crescente hegemonia mundial da mentalidade ocidental moderna por excelência, isto é, a mentalidade norte-americana. O Instituto René Guénon de Estudos Tradicionais ( www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/9638 ) há vários anos vem lecionando seu curso básico "Olhar Oriental" inteiramente fundamentado na obra magistral de René Guénon, cuja porta de entrada pode muito bem ser "Oriente e Ocidente". É recomendada também, como complementação a esta leitura, "A Crise do Mundo Moderno", do mesmo autor.

Luiz Pontual IRGET.

This revised edition of an original 1991 publication in multicultural American fiction provides eleven new authors to join the others profiled in the prior anthology. Add a time line of historical events from 1900 to present times within the context of these short stories and you have a rich blend of multicultural history in fiction which is packed with important authors and works.

Excellent variety of multi-cultural American writing. Offers new materials for thinking about immigration, immigrants' experiences, etc. I've used it in an Introduction to Fiction class at a university with good success.

I could not think of a better title. The book is filled with discourses, I would have loved more but...Many spiritual healings of the heart and the mind can be found.

The book leaves you with one conclusion. You need a Shaykh to follow the path to Allah, you need a madthab to follow Sharia, and you can't use a book for either.

Wonderful!

This is one of the best books I have read about Sufism. The letters was from a master to advice his disciples concerning the sufi path. It is informative and helpful to all who are intrested to step into the spirtual path.

Al-Arabi Ad-Darqawi was follower of the Shadhili order which was founded by the great Shaykh Abu'l Hasan ash-Shadhili.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested to know about the practical way of Sufi path.

The translation is excellent and the authour shows true insight on the subject.

This is a book that should be on the essential reading list for those planning a career in medicine (surgery). It is truly inspiring, and it provides an interesting history of the early years of thoracic surgery, transfusion medicine, and humanitarian committment. I recommend those who have the opportunity to visit the Bethune Peace Hospital in China, about a two hour drive from Beijing. The Bethune Museum there is wonderful.

I remember this story from my mother reading it to me a s a child and again reading it as a highschool student. I gave me hope that one person can make a difference. That we can do things to help people not for fame and fortune but because people need our help and we have the expertise to help ease their pain and suffering.

Norman bethume was such a man and his story needs to be told again and again. I highly recommend it to anyone who values the efforts of individulas and the love of community.

Chester

I came across this book in the 'magic' section of a Tower Books store... (I mention this misplacement to let you know this book is hard to find even when it's in print.) The author devotes the first two or three slim chapters (all the chapters of this book are short but effectively enlightening) to Shakespeare's 'secret' (the structure of his plays as well as practical aspects of his religious art - call it 'alchemy,' but don't let that word turn you away, it's not a book on alchemy in the usual sense that word is used...) Then he devotes the next twelve chapters to twelve of Shakespeare's greatest plays (as well as the most mysterious plays) giving the reader very impressive, revelatory insights as to what these plays are about and what some of the various characters symbolize (for instance how some of the beautiful and charming female characters in the late 'romances' - Cymbeline, Winter's Tale... - represent the Heavenly Realm, etc...) and the general 'undercurrent' of themes that are meant to carry a viewer or reader through a universal drama of darkness to light... Suffice it to say this is not usual academic fare, but it is original and impressive and enlightening and it has the added grace of being concise...

Academics will wince. Many will throw the book down in anger. A few may even write angry letters to the publisher demanding that the book be recalled. After all the work they've done convincing the public that Shakespeare was a Marxist, feminist, proto-Nazi, homosexual, anti- smoker, imperialist here appears (or reappears) a little book suggesting that Shakespeare was just simply an inspired artist creating inspired art suggesting that there's something higher than the fully-accredited human being. This book is a to-the-point revelation of Shakespeare's Work's; justifiably forgettable when you go back to the plays themselves (as all books on Shakespeare should be forgotten when you go back to the plays themselves) but a revelation none-the-less. By itself it's worth all the books on Shakespeare in the New York Public Library; and it's a good aquisition for those interested in the esoteric side of life (what's NOT contained in Horatio's philosophy...).

I raise cows for a living, and this book was one that i felt would be very good for any child to learn about how cows grow, how they are cared for, and the ways that we use cows in the dairy farming industry. I really felt that this was an exceptional book for the field, and i think that any child with an interest in dairy farming would agree.

This book has wonderful life-like pictures of calfs and cows walking, eating and sleeping. The cow ranges from birth to two years old. It is an excellent book for children like mine who are facinated with barn anminals, especially cows!

Great photos showing a fox kit growing up starting as a newborn. Follow them when they are two weeks old, a month old, six weeks, two months and 12 weeks old. Informative story line for preschoolers. This series keeps the attention of little ones and you know they are learning something both as they look at the pictures and hear the story.

I recommend the other books in this series as well. Dorling Kindersley books original publisher of the series, now published by Scholastic, have wonderful details. Each page has a row of small sketches on the top and bottom of the page that show the fox at play at that particular stage, as well as a little photo of a fox on the spine.

Great photos showing a fox kit growing up starting as a newborn. Follow them when they are two weeks old, a month old, six weeks, two months and 12 weeks old. Informative story line for preschoolers. This series keeps the attention of little ones and you know they are learning something both as they look at the pictures and hear the story.

I recommend the other books in this series as well. Dorling Kindersley books original publisher of the series, now published by Scholastic, have wonderful details. Each page has a row of small sketches on the top and bottom of the page that show the fox at play at that particular stage, as well as a little photo of a fox on the spine.

I really liked the way that this was done. Not only was it interestingly written, it included good facts and nice pictures. The use of statistics was not overblown for the common reader, and it really gave a good flavor of the subjects. (I believe in short and sweet reviews)

When I decided to do a term paper on the topic of Chinese American Women, I realized how little researched this particular topic is. I praise Ms. Ling for composing a book on a topic that is so important to so many Chinese Americans, Asian Americans, and everyone who wants to learn something important about Chinese American women. She is very detailed, thorough about her topic and also succinctly lucid. The amount of research that was done to write such a book must have been immense for Surviving on the Gold Mountain is a pure gem of a book. I have learned so much about the forgotten history of Chinese American women in the US. They are often overlooked by historians, especially the collective history of Chinese American women from 1850 to the 1990s. I applaud Ms. Ling for the detailed nature of her history and for her special research on certain important issues such as interracial marriage and the different occupations that Chinese American women have been forced to participate in in the past and in the present as well. This is by far the most comprehensive book published to date on the history of Chinese American women. Every issue one may need to know about the history of Chinese American women from the nineteenth and twentieth century is somehow encapsulated in this wonderfully written book.