Mike Prisuta's book is something that every hockey fan, not just a Spartan fan will enjoy reading. The photography adds greatly to complete this product. We look forward to more sports books from Mike in the future.

Awe Inspiring: The Storied History of Spartan Hockey has captured the spirit and personality of one of the nation's great collegiate programs. This book tells the story of the Spartan hockey program. Mike Prisuta goes beyond the wins and losses and tells us of the special and unique people who have built the Michigan State program as well as the sport of college hockey. The personal stories shared by players and coaches over the years allows the reader to get "inside" the hockey program at Michigan State. This book is a must for anyone who has ever enjoyed college hockey, whether you're a Spartan fan or not.

I have read and pondered the Book of Job many times in my life. But Mike Mason's book goes to the top of my all time list. It is a devotional but so much more. Mason has obviously rubbed shoulders with Joblike suffering, and he has not lost faith. Rather, his faith had been deepened. He has brought a scholarly and devotional blend to his writing. I have been deeply affected and recommend this book to everyone, seeker and believer alike.

Here is a modern 'classic' about the Bible's oldest book, the Book of Job. Job is a 'true classic' in that everybody can relate to the narrative of Job. Mason does an EXCELLENT job of [and according to his forward, he's learned from personal experience] devotionally and practically opening up the eternal issues of doubt, suffering, faith and the human experience. Although it is not meant to be a scholarly commentary, Mason does better than most 'scholarly' commentators with the questions and answers we find in the Biblical narrative of Job. Everybody shares the things Job went through, the important thing is to see that Job [as Mason brings out extremely well] was moved TOWARD God, not away from God in Job's trials and sufferings. As Mason says people reject Jesus but no one rejects Job. And as Job found out you can't reject the Redeemer! Mason's 'Gospel According to Job' is VERY worthwhile reading for pastors, Bible students and any believer seeking a deeper walk with the Lord. With so much PLASTIC Christianity out there, it is great to find some depth. Recommended highly for anyone who faces LIFE. Another largely unknown excellent work on Job is 'Portraits of Perseverance' by Henry Gariepy [Victor Books, 1989]--I don't know if you can find it anywhere but Gariepy [a Salvation Army pastor] does an excellent job of commenting on the Book of Job in short devotional statements, showing Job as a man [like all of us] moved TOWARD God through pain, suffering and trials.

As a marriage and family therapist, I have personally recommended this book to scores of people whether already married or considering it -- even if into an intimate partnership.... the principles apply. Why is this going on? What is happening? Is this normal? This superior book answers a multitude of questions that most people do not even know enough to ask. They just know they are feeling pain, or confusion, or questions. A beautifully written, easy to read, right to the heart of it book for everyone who may even consider falling in love one day.Buy it. Read it. You will be so glad you did.Then pass it on to a friend. Ask that friend to pass it on. Everyone who has ever considered love or marriage will be transformed -- their minds renewed -- through the reading of The Mystery of Marriage by Mason.You will never view intimacy nor marriage with the same eyes again.

There are thousands of books available on how to prepare for marriage, how to improve upon a marriage, or how to affair-proof a marriage. Mason here departs from the crowd and exults in the institution of marriage itself. His perspective is one of reverent awe rather than analytical examination.

Mason ponders the mystery of marriage from several different angles: otherness, love, intimacy, vows, sex, submission and death. His words are readable, yet profound. His book considers the greatest delights of marriage as well as the greatest demands.

I recommend this volume to anyone wanting to get a better understanding of how God has created marriage, and how He manifests His glory and His grand design through it. I have read many other books on marriage, but none with this unique, awe-inspiring approach. This work is a true classic!

Mike Mason's "The Mystery of Marriage" is an inspired and inspiring work, a breathtaking work of prose which reveals the transcendency of marriage, from the physical to the spiritual. Without preaching, Mason tells the story of his stepping away at the last moment from life in a monastery to embrace a life-consuming love in marriage. In a work which is profoundly honest and intimate, we glimpse the spiritual nature of marriage so easily lost in our chaotic world. Mason's openness, honesty and vulnerability, give us a work of incredible love which is beyond human ability to share. I am moved to tears by the love of Christ poured out on these pages.

This is a life-changing book, and I gladly give copies to friends considering marriage.

It's good to see Chaosium getting back to topnotch books again. This one along with Unseen Masters, represents a "new wave" of Call of Cthulhu - as good or better than any of the stuff released in years.

You can't really go wrong with this package, it's got background resource material for the Goatswood area and a nice bundle of scenarios that look like fun to run (I can't wait to spring some of them on my group! HEH HEH HEH) I don't want to give away any spoilers but there's an S&M club, and the "GUARD" at the club is such a wicked idea not to mention the dude who runs the place. Good to see Ramsey the man himself giving the introduction, read his Silent Children book if you really want to get chills!

The artwork is decent, and lots of it. Plenty of handouts too, which are really important as far as I am concerned. One thing I could do without though is the side illustrations, they take up too much room that could maybe be used for information. But that's a small jibe compared to the value.

I'm a longtime Cthulhu keeper but new to Ramsey Campbell (other than the material in the rulebook). The first half of the book is devoted to resource material covering magic, monsters and locations in the fictitious Severn Valley (well the Severn Valley itself isn't fictitious of course). The second half is devoted to a campaign of 7 or 8 scenarios. Everything is well written, well thought out and seems very playable. I'm looking forward to running it!

I've waited a long time for this one, and the wait was worth it! It's chock full of scenarios (forming a campaign which you can ignore if you want), and lots of background material on Ramsey Campbell's Severn Valley. I wish there'd been more maps and maybe more info on some of the locations but all in all, this is a COOL package!

Mike Mason begins his book by stating: "One day in contemplation there came to me the phrase 'the practice of the presence of people.' And with it came this thought - why not take all that I've learned about knowing God through contemplative prayer and apply it to knowing people." Not a bad beginning, but it gravitates toward the bizarre.

His previous book, "The Mystery of Marriage" was a wonderful treatise on marriage, and as he says, he once wanted to become a monk, but he fell in love, and the insights he brought to that topic are far superior than this foray.

He says that this book is a series of reflections, 5 categories compared to the fingers on a hand - 1. People; 2. Self; 3. Presence; 4. Practice; and 5. Friendship. He says that being united to people means overcoming all our fears and judgments so that no sin or imperfection stains our fellowship. Not a bad theory, but it is flawed. We are sin-stained people who need the grace of God, Mike.

He goes on to say that "people reflect the presence of God in the world," based on an experience he had with a woman in whom he saw the "glory of the Lord" on her face. Now maybe that's true, and I don't discount anyone's experience, but to go and come to some other conclusions which are tantamount to heresy is questionable. For instance:

"God's prayer life consists of practicing our presence."
"We gain access to earth by believing in people." He seems to believe that all people are good, in the face of the fact that Jesus has stated that only God is good, and the prophets have stated that the heart is deceitful. He continues in later chapters to say that the practice of the presence of people is the answer to all our problems. (Really, Mike?) Maybe we should inform the President and Sadam Hussein. This is serious stuff, here, apparently.

He interjects quotes from Nelson Mandela, Agnes Sanford, Thomas Merton, Paul Tillich, and Will Rogers, in what is a home-spun theology not based so much on biblical truth, but Brother Lawrence, and at one point, he believes that if Brother Lawrence was alive, he would be writing Mike Mason's book. And what about these gems"

"Intimacy is 'in-to-me-see'".
"Let God be God and He'll let you be you."

He goes on in a number of ways and takes Scripture out of text, in particular James 3:17, in the wisdom passage, and he arrives at the conclusion that "get enough relief happening in your life, and you will fill up with the love of God." Then he goes on to say that "Friendship is the proof of the gospel's pudding." This is heretical, especially in light of 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. He also proclaims that "Hence, in John's gospel, the great commission to the church is not to go the ends of the earth and make disciplies, but to become the house of God by being friends with one another." This is incredibly lunacy.

Then the icing on the cake is as follows:

"Friendship is the message Jesus wanted to preach. Jesus Himself did not accomplish what He did alone. He chose to work with friends. What did Jesus' friends do for Him? I believe they helped Him (as heretical as this may sound) to be more human. After all, humanity was something Jesus learned about as He went along..."

I can't review this anymore, because it is ludicrous!! Maybe Mike has meant well, but he should stick with marriage books, or sink his teeth in the Bible, or get mentored by someone with a grasp of the truth. "Oh, God, may you open the eyes of your child, Mike, and grant he be filled with true wisdom. Amen."

Please...if you get this book, read with the wisdom of above and discernment, and especially compare what you read with the Truth.

This is not a recommended book, and I'm pulling it from our church library.

Every word in this wonderful book rings true. As the song says, "What the world needs now is love, true love; that's the only thing there's just to little of...". This is a book that puts shoe leather to that pretty saying. Want to really understand people? Want to build stronger relationships? Then this is the book for you. The bonus is that Mike Mason is an accomplished writer who chisels every sentence. I have purchased three copies and given them to each of my college-age children. Now I need to get another for myself!

This book does more than challenge us to love the way God intended us to love; it shows us the way. It's easy to love from a distance, in "Practicing the Presence of People", Mike Mason shows us how to love close up. Maybe I needed that lesson; my copy is worn and tattered. Buy this book...no, buy two and give one to a friend!

This book is an excellent summary of provisions for blindchildren and mainsteam education. A good source of information mainlyfor professionals but also for parents who want to know and bit more and get more involved in the education of their children. Well written, not too "heavy" and certainly not boring.

It seems this book was put together in a hurry. Lots of authors contributing to the portions they may understand or use. They don't mention who wrote what but as the reader moves from chapter to chapter, the language and writing style changes dramatically.

I would not recommend this book to others.

To be fair, this is not an easy subject. However, they give a short chapter on XPath, and then thrust you into XSLT. That would not be bad IF, during their weak XSLT explanations they would also explain the XPath in their examples. Not only are the explanations weak, but the writing style of the authors is not clear and intuitive. Don't get me wrong, they do explain them, but not clearly.

I have been reading Wrox books for several years now, I have always learned a lot from them, but I have to say this is the absolute worst Wrox book I have ever read. I would suggest finding a different book.

Sorry Wrox, I normally very much enjoy your books.

I'm a developer currently working on a large-scale multi-platform project, which uses XML and XSL extensively.
The book seems to cover all aspects of XSL in great depth, with plenty of code to illustrate how to apply the techniques the authors introduce.
As a programmer used to more traditional procedural languages, I hadn't realised the paradigm shift that working with XSL entails, but this book has kick-started my enthusiasm for XSL, and has shown me what it can really do. The stylesheets I'm writing now are going down very well at work, and one in particular completes its transformation almost 50 times quicker than the code we had previously (no exageration)!

I'd have to disagree with one of the previous reviewers who says it is concerned solely with MSXML!! Although it does cover this technology in one chapter, this isn't a surprise as the book tries cover all aspects of the XSL field. Most of the book is concerned with platform-agnostic tools and techniques, based on the current W3C standards. We use a lot of java in my company, especially as servlets, and this book was pretty indispensible when I was trying to get my stylesheet to work in tandem with servlets and JSP. The one gripe I have is that the book is rather skimpy on Formatting Objects, and if that's your thing you might be disappointed.
Nevertheless, I'd recommend this book to anyone seriously working with XSL, and although it's not a book for novices, it's an excellent reference that you'll keep coming back to.