In this work, Dominique Zahan offers a composite of African philosophy. Religious rites and socialization in many African societies emphasize discretion, circumspection and stoic endurance of pain. Initiation rites, and other religious ceremonies, also emphasize the need for personal regeneration. Maturation and personal development are understood to involve ongoing transformation. Drawing heavily from post-colonial work, including Zahan's own research among the Bambara around the 1960s, this study is a great introduction to "traditional" African thought.

Similarly interesting studies on the same subject are two works by Edward Geoffrey Parrinder--West African Religion, West African Psychology. Parrinder consulted earlier works on Francophone West Africa (e.g., Louis Tauxier's study of Bambara Religion), but his research focused especially on Anglophone Africa--the Ibo and Yoruba of Nigeria and the Akan of Ghana, for instance. Zahan's work was largely on Francophone Africa; his work is only in English by translation. The contrasts and similarities between the two authors are illuminating.

Informative and well-written, with many excellent photographs. Includes an interesting review of the history and current practices of maple syrup production, and do-it-yourself instructions for anyone interested in making small batches of syrup as a "backyard" activity. Extensive and accurate listing of equipment manufacturers and suppliers, many of whom offer catalogs and take direct orders

the first several stories are much more traditionalistic and common, though they do have some originality to them.. that is, the ideas are wattered down, and the plots are a tad cliche.. soon though, very soon in it, some the third or fourth story, it delves into the delightful realm of mystic horror and nostalgic drama.. fairly recent as well, so you can expect that much of what we find in everyday culture is also present in the present-day tales.. a great deal of fun to read.. personal favorites: chattel, the intersection of anastaisia yeoman (sp) and light, and the tower.. seriously recommended

The book is succinct and doesn't mince words.

I am the author, and will offer a few words about the book. "We Can't Kill Your Mother!" is for the general reader -- no special background or medical expertise necessary. These stories take the reader inside the medical intensive care unit, a major part of every acute care hospital. That's the setting, but the subject is people and their serious (and sometimes strange) afflictions.

The first chapter gives an overview of intensive care rounds and how the MICU operates. Succeeding chapters are devoted to one or two patients and the challenges they present. Like Harold Switek, too ill to leave MICU, too psychotic to stay. And Willie the Yellow Man, whose love affair with alcohol exceeded anything you've ever seen. You'll meet a young socialite hospitalized with rapid onset of total paralysis and wonder -- will she ever hug her kids again? And another woman about to have her baby during a terrifying asthma attack. Then there's the young accountant who slept in a coma -- for six months! Another story relates the strange saga of a man who claimed to be coughing up blood, only that wasn't his real problem.

Every sizable hospital handles the same problems and encounters the same ethical dilemmas as presented by our patients. Like the nursing home patient who is the subject of the title story; she is awake and alert, but can only live connected to a breathing machine. Her daughter demands that the ventilator be disconnected so "mother can die." Can doctors honor such a request? Can they ignore it?

The book contains 23 chapters or "stories"; many of the stories were previously published in magazines.

I enjoyed this book. I am new to mysteries and found this one to be compelling, but I was turned off somewhat by her writing styled. It seemed more like a teen-age romance novel in some ways, especially in some of the description. However, I am anxious to read her second attempt to see if the writing has improved. I think she has great potential.

Well crafted girl detective novel with a unique twist. Beautiful, sexy, former parapsychologist with extrasensory gifts and a private investigator's license is hired by, of all improbable people, a hunk of a California cop. Tom McGowan has a gut feeling that the death of a bright, young law student is not the tragic, but routine traffic accident it seems. PI Elizabeth Chase combines detective work with psychic insights to find out whodunit. Author Lawrence's talent is to make you care about her characters while holding your interest with plot twists. Certainly hope this is just the first of many Dr. Elizabeth Chase mysteries.

P.S. If you find a first hardcover edition of this first Dr. Elizabeth Chase novel, hold on to it. It'll be worth big bucks soon.

Enter Elixabeth Chase a sort of Physic Detective, hired by Cop Tom McGowan to investigate the death of Janice Freeman a one time crush of Tom's. Elizabeth is a very likable character full of self doubt and wry sense of humour, she is hired by Tom to look into the car crash that killed Janice Freeman a very lovely girl that worked for Pacific Properties. Was her death an accident or was it premeditated? this is what Elizabeth is hired to find out. We are introduced to quite a range of characters from Alan Katz Janice's Ex boyfriend to Pia who runs a bikini shop. I look forward to reading all the books in this series because Elizabeth is a very likeable character with a lot of scope to find out more about her personality. Do yourself a favour and read this book and you too will want to read more about Ms Chase.

This is one of the best books I have read on hockey. It is an easy read and believe me, once you pick it up it will be hard to put it down. If you love hockey, this is for you. It is a behind the scenes look at communist times Russia. It really opened my eyes to the hardships these players have to endure to make it in hockey. All along you are able to relate to all the Russian players, and to realize that they are so similar to us Americans!
My son is an aspiring NHL'er and he has agreed to read it. One of his trainers is mentioned in the book. I have read him passages and now we both have the greatest respect for this man. Just reading about what they have to endure, you will know just how privileged we are to live in the States.
I believe you won't be dissapointed if you read this book

Just a great book. Dryden's classic "The Game" is not just about his experiences with the Habs but instead is a sounding board his his feelings on hockey in general, the city of Montreal, and so forth. "From Behind the Red Line" is similar type of book. Its not just a diary of a hockey player in a foreign country. We see the inner workings of russian hockey, get introduced to the Russian people, see how similar and dissimilar we are culturally, and get a little cloak-and-dagger action as star players sneak off to North America under the lure of the NHL and large contracts

A book by a bright young man who happens to play hockey! A fascinating look into the origins of current Russian hockey stars in the NFL and the backward conditions they endured. I hope Tod follows up with another book. Richard Rossiter (rossiter@localnet.com)

90 Days with the Christian Classics is perfectly suited for once a day dosing! For each day there is a portion of the Bible connected to a passage from a Christian author of yesteryear. My only disappointment was some difficulty in identifying the sources cited for each authors. The lives of the authors cited spans over 1000 years, so these are words from history for our age! Pertinent biographical information on the authors is also included briefly. The editors have done well to anchor this work with substantial amounts of Bible excerts. The Bible, which is the best selling book of all time, is truly a treasured echo from history for our age! The hard padded book cover is magnificent and will serve well when readers bring it along on their travels.

The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Casey fans that day,

For their favorite ballad's history was fading fast away.

So when "Casey's Wife" was hard to find, and other poems were worse,

A pallor wreathed the features of the patrons of the verse.

A staggering few gave up the search, leaving there the rest,

With hope that springs eternal, within the human breast.

For they thought if only Gardner would take a careful look,

They'd put their hard-earned money down, if Gardner wrote a book.

But collecting all the parodies was too much work to do;

Mad Magazine had written one; and Grantland Rice wrote two.

And so the stricken multitude might never get to know 'em,

For there seemed but little chance of learning all about the poem.

But Dover publications has a Casey book to read,

With every bit of Casey lore that you will ever need.

To find these old forgotten poems, you need just take a look,

For Gardner, Martin Gardner, has compiled them in a book.

There is fun in Gardner's comments; there is wit from this old sage;

There are reams of careful research, and notes on every page.

So if you click the button, and wait a day or two,

There'll be Casey on your bookshelf, with all the others, too.

...

Oh, somewhere in these fabled lands, the sun is all too dim,

A band is silent somewhere, and somewhere hopes are slim,

And baseball lore is fading, and no one cares a bit,

But there is great joy in Mudville - Martin Gardner's scored a hit!

I am an RT instructor and I chose this book as a text book for my arterial blood gas analysis class. the students found it very difficult to understand and some of the formulas have been abreviated to the point that a novice will have trouble understanding them. This is a very good review for anyone who already has a general understanding of acid base, blood gas and electrolyte interpretation and can clear up some misconceptions, however, this book is not adequate for someone just learning the basics. My students were very unhappy and I wound up not using the text nearly as much as I had planned.

I was given this book when I rotated through the ICU as a 3rd year medical student. I had gone through other training classes that attempted to teach me how to read a blood gas but I never could get it down right. THEN, I read this one...it put things into the proper perspective and taught me what I needed to know when I was reading a blood gas. I highly recommend it!

Get this book and it will be like a breeze to learn blood gases. I have seen many med profesionals from respiratory therapist to interns use this book. There is just one book that is beter on blood gases than this one and its called Blood Gases; applications and noninvasive alternatives(1990---2nd ed out in summer of 2002) but that book is much bigger; you will learn more but need more time. So, if need to learn in a hurry I highly recommend Martin's book.