I bought this book when my Dad was entering into the final few months of his life and I wanted to go through this final chapter of his life with him in a meaningful way. David Kessler provides information on the needs of the dying in a kind, compassionate and truthful way. I find knowledge to be comforting and grounding. If you do also, this book will be a special gift to yourself.

I bought this book because my mother is dying and I needed to know more. Kessler has a wonderful way of delivering this knowledge. He is thorough in imparting this knowledge and does so with total compassion for the dying and the living. I underscored many passages in this work and especially appreciated someone telling me (chapter 8) what can I expect in the way of physical signs as mom goes through the dying process. This book is very user friendly having a very readable quality. I strongly recommend it!

A must-read for anyone who is experiencing the death of a loved one. This book really helps you understand what your father or mother or other loved one is experiencing, and gives you practical suggestions for how to deal with all the emotions YOU might be experiencing. Beautifully written and easy to read without a bunch of psycho-babble.

Thank you David Kessler.

David Viscott was one of the most insightful practitioners and writers in this arena. I used to listen to him on the radio, and was always impressed by his ability to pinpoint issues. He understood emotions and how to resolve them.

of a book by viscott (or any author) that elaborates on viscott's chapter "the skills for working through hurt"? I thought viscott's book was entirely worth while if only for that chapter and his 11 phrases that can be spoken to someone who has just said something hurtful in order to help diffuse the situation before it festers and turns into resentment and anger. These simple expressions have had a significant effect in my work life.

As a dedicated reader of self help books, Emotionally Free letting go of the past to live in the moment has been the best I have ever read on the subject. Discover your weaknesses and how to cure them, remove obstacles that are in your way for happiness, feel more vital, open and loving, confident. Shape the life you want to live. Identify yourself as one of three types, dependent, controllor, competitive. After being beaten down from family deaths and a break up of a long relationship, I found this book extremely helpful, and wish I could thank Dr. Viscott in person. Well worth the price

This book of essays is one of the finest of its type I have read. They cover a time span from 1968 - 1986, and though most are on mountaineering, one of the best is on white water rafting. Mr. Roberts has divided the book into three sections: Adventures, Profiles and Reflections. I confess I wasn't looking forward to "Reflections." Most climbers are not at their best at "reflecting" on anything. They find it difficult to achieve that fine balance between false modesty and arrogance. Dave Roberts is a happy surprise. He pulls no punches and has a reporter's eye for the absurd. One of the intriguing Reflections, "Boulders and Gunks" compares young climbers in the mid-80's to youngsters of his own era, the late '60's.

In the Adventure section, "Rafting with the BBC" tell us the differences between the actual hair-raising exploit and what you see on the TV-sometimes funny, sometimes maddening. I have read other accounts of sponsorship by the BBC; it must be like finding out your roommate is a strong-minded elephant. "Kilimanjaro: A Third World Adventure" is a perceptive writing of a mountain, not often mentioned by climbers because it is not considered "difficult." Now, to you and me, the thought of climbing Kilimanjaro might be right up there with bull riding, but to climbers, "difficult" is something like K-2. Also, the only way the local government allowed you to climb was with a guide and as part of a group, a somewhat embarrassing outing for a world-class climber.

My favorite Profile "The Mechanical Boy Comes Back," is the story of Hugh Herr, a brilliant, but obsessed 18-year old climber, who with a friend became lost in the New Hampshire mountains and spent three days and three nights in the below zero temperatures. Hugh subsequently lost his leg up to the thigh due to frostbite. His comeback was miraculous. He refused to quit because of his disability and designed various prostheses so he could climb again, which he did with great success. I was so taken with the account, I had to find out what became of Hugh after 1983 when the article was written. Checking out the Internet, I found Hugh is now Dr. Herr, a PhD who is well known in his field and has a business designing prosthetic devices.

This is not just a book for climbing wannabes, or adventure junkies; all the writings stand on their own, are thought provoking and enjoyable.

By chance, I started reading mountaineering literature with this book. I would recommend it to anyone, climber or not. It is the single best book I have found on the subject. Its only rival, in my opinion, is the volume combining Roberts' two memoirs of Alaskan expeditions, "Deborah" and "The Mountain of My Fear."

Roberts' prose is elegant and compact; his essays set an insightful standard to which no other climbing writer has risen. I have read most of them several times, and will read them again. I read other climbing books in the hope that I will find them as powerful as I did this book.

Royal Robbins did not design the book, of course, but he did write the introduction.

Although I purchased this book for myself, I haven't had the opportunity to read it yet. My former pastor borrowed it. He has read it three times, and wept every time he read it. I'm getting ready to order him his own copy so I can have mine back. He says it's a wonderful book.

The first three chapters are worth the price of this book: contrary to the PW review, Dr. J offers fresh insights into the day-by-day, moment-by-moment experience of God in our daily lives. He is very practical - and biblical. Its not the corporate experience that in the end gets us through the day...its the daily grind slammed against a God who can take it all and help us live through it. This is a great book - from an experienced communicator of the Gospel. A wonder of a book for everyone serious about his/her walk with God.

A ripping series of yarns featuring the Australian journalist's encounters on the set of "Cleopatra," interviews with Thatcher, Indira Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and numerous other figures of the c.20th.

Doctor Mercy Hamilton has been looking forward to spending a year at the free clinic in Ciudad Bravo. The people there desperately need the medical care that she can provide. What Mercy did not count on was the wounded man that showed up at her home holding a knife to her throat. The handsome and sexy stranger demanded that she treat his wounds and not report him to the sheriff. Mercy knew because of her oath as a doctor that she would take care of this man. She knew that she should report him to the sheriff, but for some reason she did not want to put Rio in harms way. Besides, Mercy has heard stories about the sheriff, and she is not sure that she trusts the man.

Rio Barrigan knew that the only thing that should matter to him was the job that he promised to do, but he could not seem to get Mercy out of his head. He could not tell her the truth about himself or what he does for a living. The lies and secrets would always be between them. Not only that, but Rio's job was dangerous and he did not want to put Mercy in danger.

Rio and Mercy each have their own reasons for avoiding each other, but the attraction that both felt was stronger than their reasons for staying away. Still, unless they can be honest and trust each other, they will doom their relationship to fail.

This was a very exciting fast paced story. Rio and Mercy are both characters that you can enjoy right from the beginning. Rio and Mercy are perfect for each other, you can feel it in every page as the story progresses, but you can also feel the danger building. If the reader pays attention, than it is easy to see the truth before the author reveals it, but it takes nothing away from the depth of that truth once it is revealed. A very good story, highly recommended.

This book contains the best Pulitzer awarded pictures from its inception since 1942. Most of the photos are in B&W and you begin to realise how much more powerful and appropriate it is to be shot in this medium, as it strips away the epidermi of the scene and reveals the emotional flesh of the moment. Every photo is accompanied with a commentary about how it was made and the situation that exposed the determination, patience and grit of the photographer. And for each year that is chronicled, four thumbnail pics of other events in that year is depicted, to give a sense of the timeline of the situation.

This book makes you want to be a photojournalist.

A Poem at the Right Moment offers a rare chance to take an inside look at culture in south India. The poems are a snapshot of an evolving verbal form of verse called catus. The verses are known and recited with personal modifications by many literate people in south India. They may mention well known poets, such as Kalidasa, but don't necessarily refer to the actual person. Kalidasa may be incanted in a modern setting, or be conversing with another poet from a different time period. Poetry and poets from former times are reinterpreted in the context of today's world in south India, in a form I found very refreshing.

In March 2002, a great piece of sports history closed its doors for the last time...Cole Field House. Home to the University of Maryland Terrapin basketball teams for 47 years, the 2001-2002 season was the last season that Cole would be host some of the greatest college basketball ever played. "Cole Classics" is a wonderful way to journey through the past and remember all the great moments that were visited upon hardwood there. "Cole Classics" remembers all the great games, from Maryland's 'slowdown' victory over #2 South Carolina back in the early 1970's to a stunning overtime victory in 1998 over a #1 North Carolina team just 10 days after getting dismantled by Duke, to 2001's 35-point season finale destruction of a good Virginia team that foreshadowed Maryland's run to the Final Four for the first time in history. In addition to highlighting the great games, "Cole Classics" also remember the great players and coaches who graced the Maryland program through the years.

Published prior to Cole's last season in order to capitalize on the nostalgia and demand for memorabilia of this arena, "Cole Classics" is missing a key element, the final season. In this final year, Maryland added another #1-ranked victim to its count when Maryland hammered Duke 87-73 in the last game to be played by these two teams at Cole. There is probably no other arena in the country that has proven to be a graveyard to as many #1 ranked opponents as Cole. In addition, Maryland finished the season undefeated at home for only the third time in school history. Oh, and there was that little think about a National Championship. This would have been a satisfyingly complete remembrance of Cole if the publishers had waited and the last season had been included. Aside from that omission, however, "Cole Classics" still serves as a marvelous scrapbook at one of the true sports landmarks in college basketball.

The book has a great way of jogging your memory of those great ACC battles from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Each mini-chapter tells the story of the old Maryland stars and big games. The book has lots of great photos and terrific quotes like this one from Derrick Lewis:

"We ran one play all year and we got away with it because Lenny [Bias] played like Superman. He was double-teamed and triple-teamed every night, and they couldn't stop him. I remember asking him, 'How do you do it?' Lenny said, 'If you want it more than they do, they can't stop you. You have to be intense all the time and you won't have a problem.' "

The final chapters bring you up to this year's team by including profiles of Gary Williams, Juan Dixon, and Lonny Baxter. Terp fans will really enjoy it.

Fear the Turtle!

I never missed a home game in 4 years in the ACC. This book brings back the feeling of a game -- the heat, the noise, the raucous fun. Great stories and quotes from players that I'd never heard before, they open up to tell what they loved about the game and the forum and what drove them to win. A quick read, an excellent gift for any fan of the ACC or college basketball. When Cole Field House goes inactive, it'll be a sad day in Maryland (although a happy one in North Carolina!).

This book's contents is approximately 123 pages long, on each page there is anywhere between 2 to 6 sentences. Very short, yet often insightful, tidbits of wisdom on each page. The way I would recommend reading this book, is to not read it all at once. Rather, pick the book up for those times of great doubts, select any page-and read. It's simplicity is it's best quality. Sometimes we can become so lost down the philosophical or intellectual road, that we need a book like this to say: the tree is a tree. But no, there is more to the book then that.

For anyone interested in further reading into Zen, I would recommend The Compass of Zen by Zen Master Seung Sahn. Seung Sahn delves right into the 3 schools, Hinayana, Mahayana, and Zen (the two latter being the same mostly). The reason why I mention Seung Sahn is because I have a lot of admiration for his teaching style-no one compares. But, that said, Shunryu Suzuki's books, especially Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind-are at the very least-insightful.

The following is an example of the sort of page you may come across in this book:

A student, filled with emotion and crying, implored,"Why is there so much suffering?"

Suzuki Roshi replied,"No reason."

Enjoy this book:)

What a pleasure to read this at a time when bookstores are sporting larger and larger "Buddhism and Zen" sections, bursting with dharma-writing. In this slim, handsome volume (sporting the most beautiful photograph of Suzuki-roshi I have seen - like a sunbeam!) long-time students and practitioners recall moments with their teacher who showed, by example, that when you digest spiritual practice - so that how you hang your laundry is the teaching! - then THIS is the real teacher. When one student asks for a translation of one ancient Japanese chant, the roshi waves away an attendant who begins to locate a helpful book and says, "It means love!"

This is not wiseguy, shoot-from-the-hip Zen; nor is it a collection of erudite dharma speeches drawn from ancient scripture. This is a tribute to a true dharma friend and guide, a kind of friend we feel lonely for until we realize he was only showing us who we are.

Yet another stunning book from David Chadwick. Though it resembles a classic koan collection, Chadwick deftly skirts the hazard of presenting a collection of "profound stories". Chadwick's own considerable personality is not in evidence, the tone of the book is always sweetly understated, and the reader is not obligated to grapple with worshipful pretensions to piety. What fun.....