Raymond Sokolov has written an extraordinary biography of A.J. Liebling, who was one of the most brilliant and elusive of the "New Yorker" legends. Writing about a writer is hard enough, but writing about this one required not only a thorough knowledge of his work (hard to find, some of his work) but a true ability to enter the man's head, as they say, and tell some of the story from that perch. A. J. Liebling was brilliant and a true connoisseur of all the things he thought were important: food, wine, friendship, writing.

Liebling joined the "New Yorker" in 1935, and wrote for it until his death in 1963. He was hired by Harold Ross and his editor was William Shawn. Both in his personal and his professional realms, Liebling was disordered and off kilter, often battered and turbulent, and generally quite exciting. He did not actually finish high school, but was accepted at Dartmouth, from where he was twice expelled for failure to meet the minimum attendance at chapel, so that he did not finish his studies there, either. But he wrote a great deal at Dartmouth, and at the insistence of his father he enrolled in courses at the Pulitzer School of Journalism at Columbia, where he managed to stay for a couple of years; while at Columbia he was assigned to cover police stories, and this lead him to serve as an assistant to well established newspaper reporters and to learn the mechanics of the trade.

He married three times, lived in France (wrote many "Letters from Paris") and reported World War II in detail (starting in 1939). He participated in the Normandy landings on D day, whence he produced a particularly memorable piece concerning his experiences on a landing craft. He was there when the Allies entered Paris, and this caused him to write afterwards: "For the first time in my life and probably the last, I have lived for a week in a great city where everybody was happy."

Liebling was probably the first to take advantabe of the penumbral area in which fiction and reality are barely discernible from one another, and to exploit it in his writing. Capote followed.

He wrote about writing, too, in his classical "Wayward Press" columns of the "New Yorker." He was, in fact, the first serious critic of the press, a job he clearly relished. In people he gravitated towards the odd, the slightly weird, and the eccentrics who had found niches in life from which they they sometimes prospered, often not: in other words, the low life. In New York and London and Paris he consorted and maintained society with strange people, in relationships that spanned decades. These people thought highly of Liebling and what he stood for; what he stood for contained much decency and a total lack of pretension. He spoke to people by remaining silent and letting them speak, something which appears easy but is not. He wrote about the many things he got to understand from these poeple, using clear, simple prose. He was meticulously accurate in his work, aided in this by a formidable memory which allowed him to quote verbatim hours of conversation, long after it had taken place.

Sokolov's biography of A.J. Liebling is as complete and exacting as no doubt his subject would demand. It contains a bibliography, an index and chapter notes. This is an enhancing book: one feels better after reading it.

This book is VERY in-depth in exposing the various sinful conditions of our hearts and the sins they cause us to commit with our mouths. I thank God for this book and the author. I am amazed at how much insight the author has and I really believe every christian should read this (I really mean that!!). I am only in the 9th chapter (of 12) and I will never be the same! Just since I started reading it my sensitivity has been so heightened to what I say and I can sense a stronger presence of the Lord in my life because of it. I could go on and on but I don't have the space. My personal thanks to the author, Joseph M. Stowell, for being obedient to the Lord in blessing the body of Christ with this book!

I've read the introductory book "The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind" by Joseph Murpy. This expands on it even more on how our prayers get answered by using the 7 seals that was mentioned in reveleations and about reincarnating our spirit (transforming our spirit). This pretty much makes me dwell when we'll be in Heaven what our purpose there will be and on this earth. It's really good... to dwell on positive/holy thoughts/spiritual thoughts whenever I'm feeling down I keep reading this spiritual booklet over and over again and I feel spiritually renewed again.

This small simple book, shows a humble and casual saviour that undertstands human weakness, it also shows that the church has failed in showing grace to sinners, I cried several times throughout reading this book as I realised how much Jesus not only wants to be my friend, but this in spite of my many failings. I am not a catholic, and before reading this I would have thought that Protestant churches were not religious and catholic churches are, both these statements are wrong. Jesus is purely interested in the individual, he accepts us as we are, Girzones simple style makes this easy to read, this book is both simple and profound at the same time, just as Jesus himself is the greatest glory, God himself and and also a humble man all in one. This books shows how Christ treated people and by reading it, the reader can see how the church has fallen way short of what Christ actually taught. "Compassion not sacrifice" Jesus said to the Pharisees to go and learn what that scripture means, that scripture is as relevant today to all denominations, A Portrait of Jesus is a great start.......

I was thrilled with the book A Portrait of Jesus. There have been so many authors that have tried to paint an acurate and readable description of what Jesus might have been like but few have given Him the justice that Girzone does in this book. This book delves into every facet of written scripture to bring out the subtle, as well as the obvious, acts of perpetual love that exuded Jesus's every being. More than a reminiscing of the well known tails of Jesus, this book reaches behind the words and actions to what each encounter must have ment to the lives that were touched by Jesus. Beautifuly written,deep, accurate, and refreshingly simple this book overwhelmed my heart and taught me to look at Jesus's life, and what he was trying to accomplish as a whole, in a new and peaceful light. I highly reccomend it to anyone, Christian or not.

Girzone is truly a master at reminding us of the heart of Jesus teaching. He casts the gospel accounts of Jesus' life in a way that is both inspiring and challenging. This is Girzone's best book since Joshua, and in some ways I think its even better, since he talks directly about Jesus instead of through the fictional stories of the Joshua novels.

Written in the 15th Century and directed towards monks, this is a devotional for Christian living and Monastic life. While noting the time period helps give depth to the historical backdrop of when Thomas was writing this book, it is perhaps more important to know the audience. The intended audience for The Imitation of Christ was monks. This is obvious in the text and it should be kept in mind while reading this work.

This highly influential work has a very simple message: live like Christ. Presented in this book, it is a very strict message. Thomas takes a very strict interpretation of following Christ and the message is very much rooted in the idea of works. It is the actions that one must perform, and not so much the inner state (though he does stress that the inner state is important). This would be a difficult message to take or to give, but again, we must consider the audience: monks living in a monastery. They must live a harsher life and because of their vows, this devotional makes perfect sense.

This can be read as a historical document in Christianity or as a devotional. Either way, one can find great value and and some illumination of the words of Christ through this volume.

Thomas a Kempis was medival monk and priest (1380-1471) who served as chronicler of the monastery at Mt. St. Agnes. During his long life of scholarship, he wrote several biographies of church fathers and a number of devotional works. The "Imitation of Christ" remains his most famous work and the one that has best stood the test of time. Indeed, one of the wonderful things about this work is that it reminds us that the life of the mind is not a creature of the Enlightenment. Even during the so-called Dark Ages there were brilliant scholars with a wide knowledge of both scripture and philosophy. Reflecting its vibrant insight into the human condition, the "Imitation of Christ" remains influential on both sides of the Reformation divide. It reportedly was, for example, one of John Wesley's favorite devotionals.

The "Imitation of Christ" is divided into 4 books, each undertaking a basic theme for development. They are, respectively, the Spiritual Life, the Inner Life, Inward Consolation, and the Blessed Sacrament (i.e., the Eucharist). In turn, each book is sub-divided into numerous chapters, each a page or two long. All of which makes the "Imitation of Christ" a useful book for daily devotionals. One can skip around freely within the book, dipping in as the mood strikes. Yet, I think one is well-served by reading it through at least once. Only then does one see Thomas' thought in its fully-developed form. Do be sure to get a good translation. I am fond of the one by Leo Sherley-Price.

Thomas a Kempis was medival monk and priest (1380-1471) who served as chronicler of the monastery at Mt. St. Agnes. During his long life of scholarship, he wrote several biographies of church fathers and a number of devotional works. The "Imitation of Christ" remains his most famous work and the one that has best stood the test of time. Indeed, one of the wonderful things about this work is that it reminds us that the life of the mind is not a creature of the Enlightenment. Even during the so-called Dark Ages there were brilliant scholars with a wide knowledge of both scripture and philosophy. Reflecting its vibrant insight into the human condition, the "Imitation of Christ" remains influential on both sides of the Reformation divide. It reportedly was, for example, one of John Wesley's favorite devotionals.

The "Imitation of Christ" is divided into 4 books, each undertaking a basic theme for development. They are, respectively, the Spiritual Life, the Inner Life, Inward Consolation, and the Blessed Sacrament (i.e., the Eucharist). In turn, each book is sub-divided into numerous chapters, each a page or two long. All of which makes the "Imitation of Christ" a useful book for daily devotionals. One can skip around freely within the book, dipping in as the mood strikes. Yet, I think one is well-served by reading it through at least once. Only then does one see Thomas' thought in its fully-developed form. Do be sure to get a good translation. I am fond of the one by Leo Sherley-Price.

Joe Pistone is a real American Hero. The former F.B.I agent spent six Years deep undercover as Donnie Brasco, a jewel thief, and infiltrated the Mafia, penetrating it's upper eschalon and bringing their power structure crashing down around their heads, resulting in over 100 convictions...

Pistone, along with Richard Woodley, does a great job of bringing real-life Wiseguys like "Lefty Guns", "Sonny Black", and Tony Mirra to life on the printed page, and even though I know Pisone survived his ordeal (He obviously did- He wrote the book!), I was still constantly worried about him. Any fan of true-crime will love Donnie Brasco!

Before you run out and spend $3 bucks to rent the movie from Blockbuster or Hollywood Video, read this book. It starts off simple enough: an agent sent to infiltrate the Mafia in NY/NJ area in the late 70s. But "Donnie Brasco" is a much more complex novel than some man faking his identity. Joseph Pistone (Donnie Brasco) was forced to use his street wits, common sense, and just plain luck against ruthless killers, thieves, crooks, addicts, and other general degenerates. Pistone was forced to abandon his family (wife and children) for months on end, and be on assignment for the FBI. He made friendships and forged alliances, posing as jewel thief Donnie Brasco in order to ingratiate himself into the inner workings of the Mafia. Brasco became so close to many members of Bonnano families and their wiseguys, that when it came out that Brasco was an FBI agent posing as a wiseguy, many were in disbelief. One Bonnano affiliate in particular, Sonny Black, was fond of Brasco and thought of him as a son. He allegedly said that he had no ill feelings toward Brasco, because he was just doing his job. (Months later, Sonny Black was found murdered in a trunk. His hands had been cut off--a symbol that Mob security had been violated.) Pistone takes the time to explain in such a way without sounding boring or grating. He explains the slang, the situation, the characters as if you were there standing over his shoulder. This has to be one of the best Mafia books out there. Don't sleep on this one.

Joe D. Pistone an FBI agent by the code name Donnie Brasco goes deep down in the mafia's inner circle. This is one of the best mafia books's written. Brasco goes so deep in the Bonnano family with his partner in crime Lefty Guns and how Brasco contributed to bringing down mafia members not only in New York but in Florida and Chicago as well. He also tells how his real family dealt with this. Know Bonnano living in hiding with his wife and childern under different names and a 500,000 dollar contract on his life.

In reading The Emotional Brain I was reminded vividly why I never went very far in any field that required a concentrated attention to minutia. I just don't have the patience for it. The book is a good one, but you really do need to want to learn about most of the primary experimentation that has gone into creating a theory of mind and consciousness. If the outcome of experiments conducted on the brains and behaviors of rats, cats and monkeys is your thing, this is the book for you. If you are even a little impatient and want to "cut to the chase," I'd give it a miss and spend the money on Mapping the Mind by Rita Carter. I chose to read The Emotional Brain because I felt it would teach me a little more about the subject--which it did--and because I thought it was "good for me" to follow up on the details of the subject matter I had found in Carter's book. More readable books like Mapping the Mind can easily lead the unwary down a garden path unless one is well prepared. LeDoux provides that kind of preparedness. It is more in the nature of a textbook than a popular presentation of mind and consciousness.

My only criticism of the textual content is of LeDoux's statement (p. 259), apparently based on observations by Wolpe, that hyperventilation during a panic attack "increases the carbon dioxide in the lungs and blood and results in a variety of unpleasant bodily sensations...." Indeed hyperventilation can and does produce unpleasant bodily sensations. If sustained long enough it can actually cause the subject to faint--and therefore stop the hyperventilation unless it arises from a metabolic condition. It does so, however, by decreasing the blood CO2 and producing an alkalosis.

Ledoux outlines contemporary research related to emotionality from a neuroscientific perspective, yet retains a sense of humanity by exploring the psychological implications of current findings. Evolutionary biology plays a strong role in The Emotional Brain, such that emotional drives, such as fear, are inherited from our prehistoric ancestors, that conscious emotional experience can be reinterpreted as higher-order forms of survival instinct. Exploring anatomical areas in the brain related to emotional experience, such as the amygdala, and how projections from these areas to cortical regions influences behavior, suggest a physiological explanation for temperamental style. Even if you are not studying psychology or neurology, you will find that the contents of this book apply to everyday life and how we interpret emotional experience in general. Thus, I commend this book's scope and its ability to unlock imaginative flights, which will ultimately inspire me to design new research methods to approach unsolved problems.

This book is a long-needed look at how those parts of the brain that mediate emotion, primarily the limbic system and the medial and lateral frontal cortex, affect our behavior, thinking, and our lives. This is a well-written and thoughful account for the intelligent layman about this important topic.

There are excellent discussions of the different limbic system structures as well as the frontal lobes. The sections on the amygdala I thought were especially good, and the discussions of how the frontal lobes and the limbic areas interact in various and important ways is equally good.

Unlike other important areas of science, there are few really accessible books on the brain for the non-specialist, but I've noticed the situation has improved significantly in the last 5 to 10 years. If you liked this book and want to round out your knowledge of the human brain, I can also recommend the following books, all of which are similarly well-regarded and well-written:

1. Descartes' Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain, by Antonio Damasio

2. The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language, by Steven Pinker

3. Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the Mysteries of the Human Mind, by V. S. Ramachandran, Sandra Blakeslee

4. Nature's Mind: The Biological Roots of Thinking, Emotions, Sexuality, Language, and Intelligence, by Michael Gazzaniga

5. How Brains Think: Evolving Intelligences, Then & Now, by William H. Calvin

There are about a half dozen others that I could have added to this list, but I would read these first. In fact, I would start with Gazzaniga's book and then read the others, since his book is more of a general introduction, whereas the others deal more with certain special topics.

If you read these books you'll be in pretty good shape in terms of having at least a basic understanding of current neuroscience. Anyway, good luck and happy reading.

If there was one book I would buy for a new parent, this would be it! Baby Signing is finally getting the attention it deserves and this book truly guides you through the process. It's easy to read, with lots of illustrations and helpful tips. You need to put in some effort and have patience, but I guarantee you, your child will amaze you. Best of all your home will be a better,calmer place! For every sign your child does, there's one less scream and vague pointing , and 2 less fustrated parents. Friends and family couldn't believe our son's "new vocabulary". One bit of extra advice: Don't be afraid to make up your own signs for words you don't know, or are difficult to sign (My son signs Barney by "hugging" himself and blanket is a pat on his cheek). If you know someone expecting, this book along with the extra aids(as well as the book Good Night Moon, a great first book to sign with) would be a great shower or first day home gift!

The video is inspirational. It is so sweet to see infants and toddlers expressing themselves through sign language. You also see that it is not difficult to learn signs and teach them to your children. At the end of the video, all the signs are demonstrated. I found this helpful when I didn't feel the book or chart were clear. We've started signing to our 5-month old even though he may not be able to respond right away. I'm inspired to learn more about ASL as well. I would definitely recommend this kit (video, book, and chart) to all parents.

I'm an American Sign Language Interpreter, and I have a number of Deaf friends who have both Deaf and hearing children; the children without exception were signing with their parents (and with me!) by the age of nine months, and some earlier. I knew if I ever had a child I would sign to him or her, and confer this advantage. I never really thought of trying to sell hearing parents of hearing children on this idea, though, because learning ASL is a major undertaking.

However, I found the contents of this video to be very respectful of the language ASL, while admitting that signs, and not Sign Language, is being taught.

That being said, what is taught here is a very good foundation for learning ASL later. Unlike a lot of "sign language" introductory books, this doesn't focus solely of the semantics of handshapes, but on the idea of whole body language, and the importance of observation in communication. For example, people using this video will pick up facial expressions, and learn to maintain eye-to-eye contact, rather than eye-to-hand.

Also, creativity is stressed over memorizing handshapes, so that the signs are more meaningful for the child. This is very appropriate in that Deaf children of Deaf parents use a lot of "home signs," which are signs unique to that child's or family's usage, are used when a child is very young, and are easier to produce or in some way more meaningful for the child than the "real" sign. Home signs are discarded when a child starts school. At any rate, this is an excellent way for children to begin to be creative and expressive in the way they communicate many YEARS before they will be able to do so with spoken language.

The text is readable-- something a person with a baby can pick up and put down-- you don't need hours of uninterrupted concentration. The video and the reference are child-friendly, so that older children won't be left out.

As long as this remains child centered and communication centered, and doesn't become about rote memorization of signs, this will be a wonderful thing, an odyssey for parents and their babies-- and so much fun! I remember beginning sign language; it is such a joy. I discovered things my body communicated without my realizing it, and I also discovered that I could be much more observant by paying attention to just a few simple things.

Have fun-- so much awaits you!

Having grown up in a small town much like Joyce's Dublin, this book has a special significance for me. I've seen so many people from my town graduating from high school without really understanding that there is an entire world outside the place they grew up and lacking the ambition to go explore it. I fear many of them will spend their lives "getting by" in a job they hate, raising children who will inevitably do the same thing. Joyce's "Dubliners" depicts this cycle with as much complexity and compassion as any author I've read.

In an age where the most publicized fiction tends to be simple-minded and genre-bound, it's refreshing to come across a writer with Joyce's complexity. "Dubliners" is so rich in its intellectual and symbolic atmosphere that many readers may be put off by the overall weight of the prose. The writing is so thick with metaphorical contexts that the literal content of the story occasionally becomes obscured, which can be frustrating for those not used to reading Joyce. Yet, while difficult, "Dubliners" is far from impossible to decipher, and although these stories function well as a whole, they are also more or less self-contained, which makes "Dubliners" easier to get through than Joyce's other works(it's a lot easier to take on a ten page short story than a 600+ page novel like "Ulysses" or "Finnegan's Wake"). For readers who are new to Joyce, this would be a good place to start.

A final note: since this book is old enough to be considered a "classic," there are a plethora of editions available from various publishers. I own the Vintage edition (ISBN: 0679739904). Not only is it a quality printing (not that cheap newspaper ink that rubs off on your fingers), it also contains about a hundred pages of criticism at the end that help shed light on Joyce's often illusive themes. Normally I shun forewards and afterwards (I like to think I've read enough to discover a story's theme on my own), but in the case of Joyce I found that a push in right direction can mean the difference between enjoyment and frustration.

Dubliners is a collection of short stories ranging through chidhood, adolescence and adulthood ending with three public life stories and the grand finale "The Dead" Critics have associated many of the stories to Joyce's personal life as he to became dissillusioned with his home city of Dublin. In each story we find a struggle for escapement from each character with the ever burdening features of alcohol and religion amongst other things trapping the protaganists from breaking out of the Dublin mould. Hopes are often dashed such as those of Eveline and Duffy. Joyce intelligently creates an interplay of senses towards the end of each story which creates an epiphany and a defining moment in the life of each character. Throughout the book the characthers start in the middle of nowhere and end up in the middle of nowhere. The text starts with the phrase: "There was no hope for him this time", which symbolises the book perfectly with paralysis being a continuing theme throughout the text ending in the final component: "The Dead". Overall this is a fascinating insite into how Joyce viewed his birth place. Joyce himself can be viewed in many of the characters including Duffy who found love with Sinico in: "A Painful Case" and felt awkward at her death as he had let her go. A thoroughly enjoyable book where nothing actually happens!

My first encounter with Joyce was an English Lit. course in college, some twenty years ago now. We were assigned to read an anthologized version of "The Dead", and I initially approached it as one does all such reading requirements at that foolish age; however, this particular story ending up affecting me quite unlike anything I had ever read before. Dubliners is a beautifully written collection of thematically inter-related stories involving day to day life in early 20th century Dublin - stories that masterfully evoke what Faulkner described in his Nobel address as being the essential nature of true art: A portrayal of the human heart in conflict with itself. "The Dead" is the final story in the collection, and my favorite. I have re-read it numerous times and am so consumed by it that I'm not even able to provide an objective review. The final pages, from the point where Gabriel and Greta leave the party, to the end of the story, are absolutly stunning; the poetry of the words, the profound humanity represented - defies description. As in the final line of Rilke's "Archaic Torso of Apollo" - You must change your life.

"Your Money or Your Life" is a classic, the kind of book that produces immediate results, and reduces the need to read all the other financial books out there. Offering a specific plan for living low on the material chain, the book is chock full of helpful suggestions.

I read the book quickly, and followed some of the outlined plans for financial mastery. For a month I kept track of every penny I spent and found in the months since that I'm much more concious of what I spend. I have grown to have an aversion to impuslse buying, in part because the book brings home the wastefulness of materialism. I have really cut corners, and gotten rid of a lot
of useless clutter, and feel much better as a result.

Best of all, I have been able to live for almost a year on a third of what I spent when I was in a more fast track job.

Will this book work for anyone? I'm not sure about that, because the simple fact is, some people value possessions over free time. Some people are more than happy to work two jobs if it means being able to buy what they want, and live the lifestyle to which they are accustomed. I can't see the US being overrun with frugality anytime soon. But, for those who wish to live on less-- writers, stay at home moms, artists, or those needing to get out of debt-- this book is flawless.

I have been using many of the principles in the book for years and read the book to 'help back up my thinking'. Then I handed the book to my wife who is deeply in debt (I am out of debt). She is yet to read it but I am hopeful that at least some of it will 'sink in' and she will change her course. You just can't make ends meet by spending $2.00 for a dollar sandwich (interest).

The book is well worth reading and learning from, even if you don't do all the steps it asks you to. Live your life to your OWN satisfaction and leave the JONES alone. There are a lot of JONES' who are bankrupt. Spend money with NEED and VALUE in mind. Let the others mind their own business.

It was a shame that Joe Dominguez died recently. He did live a GOOD life by helping others who needed help and were also willing to listen to his advice. A person must be willing to listen AND learn from the examples of others.

When I read this book I was near the point of desperation (negative net worth and getting worse by the month). Five years later I am debt-free and have saved about 60% of what I will need to retire early.

Have you ever felt that you could really contribute something great to the world if you only had the time to do it, without worrying about earning a living? Or maybe you'd just like to finally learn to play a musical instrument and play in a band. Or volunteer for a great cause. Or be a full-time parent to your children. Or travel. Or work part-time, or at a fulfilling, rewarding job, even though it doesn't pay much. Or just finally be able to throw that dreaded alarm clock in the trash. This book can help make it happen.

The real question is, are your dreams important enough to motivate you to make some changes in your life? If you're happy with your situation and feel you have enough free time and money, then maybe this isn't the book for you. If you're closer to where I was (in debt, feeling trapped in my job and tied to a paycheck) then maybe there's some useful information for you here. Here's what I've done since reading it:

- Got out of debt - Started saving 50% of my income - Sold my house, moved to a houseboat ($1200/mo. less, MUCH more enjoyable living situation) - Doubled my salary - Sold most of my belongings, except the ones I truly enjoyed. - Took up hobbies that had always interested me, but that I'd made no time for (kayaking, cycling, hang gliding)

My goal is early retirement, so I can travel, write, play, or whatever else catches my attention. But early retirement isn't the only reason to read this book. The ideas presented here can make your life easier, more meaningful and more enjoyable. It helps you evaluate your own dreams and desires, and it gives you a way to make them reality.

I didn't choose to follow each step to the letter. For example, my investments are in mutual funds instead of treasury bonds, and I don't track all my expenses every month, although I did that for a while (very enlightening experience to see where the money disappears to). In other words, take from this book that which makes sense to you, but at least give their suggestions careful consideration. Don't expect a magic wand - it takes a lot of effort to change the way we do things and many people are not willing to do that. But if you are ready to put forth some effort to make your life better, this is the book for you.