PAIN AND OTHER PETTY PLOTS TO KEP YOU IN STITCHES is an amazing, visually delicious book. The authors and artist have created a wildly eccentric universe where bizarre is normal. Only with creativity freewheeling at its fastest could these images and stories emerge.

In Pain and Other Petty Plots, Alan Clark has created a masterpiece of biological and psychological dysfunction that will leave the reader's relationships with hospitals forever scarred. Through a stunning array of paintings and stories, some written by collaborators, Clark guides the reader on an unforgettable journey through his sly and cruel mythos about a medical facility staff in the service of pain. Surrealistic torment and human folly serve as the foundation for a unique vision that disturbs while it amuses, and ultimately serves as a warning on the limitless possibilities for self-destruction in all of us.

Perfect company for those long waits in doctor's offices or hospital clinics. A must for ER visits.

-Gerard Houarner, author of THE BEAST THAT WAS MAX; ROAD TO HELL; VISIONS THROUGH A SHATTERED LENS

beautiful, compelling...a great study of one of the most interesting rebel artists of our time. everyone should know who howard finster is!

Fans of the odd and eccentric will find Howard Finster's Paradise Garden fascinating and entertaining. The quality and selection of photographs of the garden is fantastic, and Finster's statments regarding the vision behind his creation are intriguing. This book is definitely worth examining for its unusual scope and content.

This was the first of a baker's dozen of Alan Watts books which I have read in the past year and, looking back over this reading project, I think I like this one best of all, even over Tao the Watercourse Way and some others which so greatly impressed me at the time I read them.

There is no question that Watts was an intellectual giant and this book is evidence of that. The articles are well-researched and presented with clarity and detail. There is more scholarship here than in some of his other books.

I especially liked his extended discussion of Pure Land Buddhism and its relation to Mahayana. Pure gold here!

It was this book also which introduced me to the quote on the omnipresence of God from F.W. Faber (page 227) which has made a great impact on my life. Everything changed from the moment I read that.

If you have read any of my other reviews on his books, you will see that my initial enthusiasm turned eventually to boredom with his predictability, but none of that includes Seeds of Genius. I have read it several times now and have greatly enjoyed it. If I could give it more than 5 stars, I would. I am glad to have been introduced to Alan Watts and Seeds of Genius and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in philosophy and religion, whether or not you agree with his own philosophical stance.

Generally speaking, Alan Watts "did his own thing" with the themes and thoughts of Eastern philosophy, often in such a way that "square" Buddhists and others sought to distance himself from him. In this book, where most of the selections are taken from when he was still in his early twenties, he is seen engaging the ideas of Zen, Taoism, Krishnamurti and other topics, for the first time, in a way that is more orthdox, yet also contains his fresh insights. Also of interest is a section of political writings, since Watts is generally veiwed as apolitical.

I feel that this is the most important book I have ever read in my life. This is only the second Alan Watts book I've read so far, so I'm new to his philosophies. I have to go buy more of his books now. If you only read one book this year, make it this one.

On the one hand, there was very little in this book that I haven't found in other books by Watts, so that was a little disappointing. If you have read many of his works, you might consider skipping this one. On the other hand, I enjoy his writing so much, even though I really don't share his worldview, that I don't mind a re-run. On the third hand, the new material I did find, was very enlightening.

One of the things that I came across here, that I hadn't seen elsewhere, was a discussion on art and music. He had some great quotes: in trying to figure out what some modernist abstraction means, he says, "It always takes the artist to show us the vision, but of course, in the meantime, it is difficult to interpret these things." (pg. 28). He ties that whole discussion into one of my favorite topics, which is pattern, or "li." There was another quote I particularly liked, this time distinguishing between "good" and "bad" music: "Bad music always expresses something other than itself, like the 1812 Overture or the Sunken Cathedral. But good music never refers to anything other than the music. If you ask Bach, "What is your meaning?" he would say, "Listen! That is the meaning." This whole book was filled with essays on meaning and pattern, and I found it a joy to read. Overall, I have really enjoyed all the books I've read in his "The Love of Wisdom Library."

I was very hesitant to order nursery rhymes without seeing the book as many of the newer ones have changed the rhymes. These books have left them in the form I remember learning as a young child which is what I wanted for my grand children. I am very happy with these books.

A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes : Over the Hills and Far Away, Ring-A-Ring O' Roses & A Ding, Dong, Bell -- The hard cover boxed set is a great item for a great value.

The books contain traditional and classic rhymes. The illustrations are what make the books exceptional. They are BEAUTIFUL. I would definately recommend these books over any of the Mother Goose books on the market. I'm buying it again as a gift.

Overall, this book does a great job. It provides many good examples of various categories of term papers that received high marks in college. Also, the book includes comments on each paper. Finally, the book provides good web resources you can use in doing your own term papers such as companies on the internet that provide example term papers on every conceivable topic and have huge easily searchable databases of pre-written example papers [online].

This book, used in conjunction with these web resources is a great way to learn how to write exposition, argument and other types papers on any subject and how to properly cite research documents and other sources used. Following the examples, you should be able to easily learn to write term papers for which college professors will tend to give high marks.

This is quintessential self-help and empowerment that takes you past the sensationalism of today and into the wisdom of the past, ensuring your accomplishments and happiness in the future.

With the added benefit of containing the deft touch of Mark Watts, this is an invaluable text which shall prove edifying and entertaining for years to come.

This book is filled with the wisdom and humor of Alan Watts, and no body does it better.

If you buy one self-help book this year, make this the one!

Funny, funny, funny. What surprised me most was finding out it was based on actual events (meaning that they did go on a camping trip). I enjoy everytime I listen to it.

i found that book is very useful for me. it contains most important things about banking. and i need it.