Outstanding perspective of contemporary issues and offers some explanation as to why the human condition is full of strife.

This book is a series of reflections on and examinations of topics ranging from the flora and fauna of Kentucky to studies of grammar by Cassiodorus. This is a later work of Merton's, and what comes across more than anything is his all too human moodiness. At times he seems to despair of the human condition. But then a tremendous hope wells up in him as he sees Christianity reaching out in brotherhood to all men of all faiths and non-faiths. But regardless of his attitude, Merton, as always, maintains the highest standards for fidelity to one's self and to God. His rather caustic critiques of Western culture seem more true today than when he wrote them in the 1960's, as he exposes the moral rationalizations and spiritual hollowness that necessarily accompany a mass culture devoted to materialism and pragmatism. His understanding of the human condition is so clear and so true and so universal, that his writing seems to be speaking to each of us alone, much as a parent might speak to his child. And like a child, our first reaction to his challenging words might be resentment or denial, but in the end, if we reflect and examine, we begin to see his truth-that is, his pointing us to God. I imagine one of Merton's hopes in this book is to move us beyond words and arguments so we might dispense with temporal intellectual distractions and concentrate on what counts-personal salvation.

Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander is Thomas Merton's response to the terror of the world around him, the world he had been raised into, and the world he sought to leave behind as a monk in the back corners of Kentucky. It is a collection of thoughts which had been developing in him from the very beginning of his life. He came to monastic life to retreat from the world. He came to find quiet. And yet he remained more connected to the outside world than most people within that world, and certainly more than anyone behind his monastic walls, even as he wrote and compiled Conjectures itself from his secluded hermitage.

This book is his reaction against the violent century which he was born into and which was born into him. He speaks against issues including such things as the true nature of the monastic relationship with the world (he calls "separation from the world" an illusion); unity/ecumenism; war & violence; false "truths" (particularly what he calls the American myth); technology versus nature, etc.

He calls himself a "bystander" relating to his aloofness as a monk. He calls himself "guilty" in relation to not living up to his responsibility for the outside world. As a monk, he calls himself a contemplative activist. As a collection of "conjectures," it is a compilation of thoughts or pensees grouped together loosely, only slightly tied together by five section titles. Because of this format it is not the easiest thing to read; it is helpful to read topically (a good guide for this can be found in Something of a Rebel by William Shannon). But I would say the experience is worth it. The book is deeply moving and convicting. Merton stands out as an authoritative voice on how Christians, all people in fact, should be aware of the world around them, while they also should not neglect the contemplative life that feeds their love for that world.

There is a short observation Merton gives us in his Conjectures as he witnesses the way of the world around him:
"This morning, before Prime, in the early morning sky, three antiquated monoplanes flew over the monastery with much noise followed by a great heron." (15)

Commenting on this thought, Thomas Moore writes in his introduction to Conjectures:
"Many antiquated machines have come and gone in the time since Merton wrote these lines, an explosion of technology giving the illusion of progress, while Merton himself continues to fly, pulling up the rear, a great silent heron reminding us that the noisy are not necessarily the knowledgeable." (v)

I bought this book because I thought that this book would surprize me with pictures that facinate me and filled with eye candy and interesting ideas or people. What I found was something less "fantastic" but more personal. The book is written from an aspect from a personal perspective of the authors travels. Written from the authors first person impressions and interviews. When I first got the book I flipped through it and didn't find it exciting, I might have forgotten about the book because of the less then fancy impression but I started reading a few chapters here and there and the Author writes about each picture... what was happening when she took the picture, and what it means to the person who created the place of worship. The book turns out to be very well written, amazing "feel good" impression of looking into a personal view of peoples spirituality.

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY says that Holy Personal "is a fascinating, in-depth study of how spirituality can express itself in that most intimate of worlds, the home." John Manikowski for the Berkshire Eagle writes:"beautifully written, lavishly illustrated." In describing Little Rose Chapel he goes on to say-- "Every detail has been carefully planned, created and designed from within a deeply spirited heart, through immense love and with a devotional direction that almost seems fantasy like, but it is real." BOOKLIST says, "Holy Personal honors the presence of the Divine in the midst of life." And Clarissa Pinkola Estes for THE BLOOMSBURY REVIEW writes: "In Holy Personal, two dozen devout souls speak about their handmade sanctuaries, many of which shelter images of Mary and various santos. It is clear water from the artesian well. These site builders symbolize in real time the holiness they feel in their hearts. From a Moonlodge in New Mexico to stupas, from a Sandstone Cathedral to a Garage Chapel, we follow the artistic devotions of those not bound by the doctrinaire, but are instead freshly cut by the thorns of the Mystical Rose, those who can live in the atomic moment of merger with the Divine, who are overflowing with gratitude--this last being one of the holy proofs that Spirit has in fact visited the longing soul. The photographs by Donna DeMari, are worthy of long meditations."

This is a carefully researched and beautifully written book with excellent photography. I recommend it for anyone who has an interest in religion and/or spirituality. Is is truly inspiring.

John Gatto received the "New York State Teacher of the Year " award for 1991. He describes what he feels is happening in the state of education and the changes he feels need to occur. He writes of seven lessons that he believes are taught all over the country. His first lesson is confusion, which means teachers teaching everything out of context. He also talks about the lesson of class position. This is the belief that all students belong in a certain class and the is no space to move from one part of this system to another. The next lesson that he discusses is the issue of indifference, wherein children are led to believe that the only thing they are to believe in is what the teacher teaches. His next lesson is the issue of emotional dependency, meaning that students do not have rights within the walls of the school. His fifth lesson is the intellectual dependency wherein students depend on their teacher to make all the decisions. Provisional self-esteem is also one of these lessons. These means that students are dependent on adults for the way they feel about themselves. Finally he talks about the lesson of one can't hide, meaning that students are constantly under surveillance.   All of these lessons lead to Gatto's total disbelief in state of our educational system. He sees the national curriculum we use as producing paralysis in the educational setting. He sees students being taught how to remain within a caste system and never being given the chance to move out of their placement. He observes students as not being able to find what they are special in or their strong areas. The whole book supports Gatto's beliefs in providing sound evidence of why there needs to be a reform in our educational system. This system needs the student have a choice in their education, designing a self- curriculum that best matches their personal needs not the needs of a nation.

You may be able to read this book in only a few hours but it may just change the way you view public schooling forever. John Taylor Gatto makes a compelling case for eliminating public "schooling" and returning education to the parents were it belongs. In one profound paragraph he neatly sums up the reason public schools don't educate. "The debate about whether we should have a national curriculum is phony. We already have a national curriculum locked up in the seven lessons outlined (Confusion, class position, indifference, emotional dependency, intellectual dependency, provisional self esteem, and one can't hide) such a curriculum produces phisical, moral and intellectual paralysis, and no curriculum of content will be sufficient to reverse its hideous effects. What is currently under disscussion in our national histeria about falling academic performance misses the point. Schools teach exactly what they are intended to teach and they do it well: how to be a good Egyptian and remain in your place in the pyramid." Clearly Mr Gatto knows the difference between "schooling" and real education and how to achieve the latter.()

John Taylor Gatto was an award-winning public school teacher when he wrote much of the text for this book. He reveals the curriculum of public schools nationwide under the headings: Confusion, Class Position, Indifference, Emotional Dependency, Intellectual Dependency, Provisional Self-Esteem, and One Can't Hide. He asserts that the true goal of childhood learning should be to discover some meaning in life...a passion or an enthusiasm that will drive subsequent learning pursuits. Instead, schools cram irrelevant facts into young minds, substituting book-knowledge for self-knowledge. This book explains a lot for anyone who got good grades, went to college, and then didn't have any idea what to do with his life. It's also a wake-up call to parents with school-age children. Do we really want our children to grow up to be good factory workers and do as they're told? Do we really want them to buy into the "Good grades=good jobs" myth? Do we want them to believe that the goal in life is to acquire more and more stuff to fuel consumerism? Or should we give them more reflective, unstructured time in childhood to find out who they are, what they like, and how they can contribute to their communities? Dumbing Us Down is a quick, worthwhile read.

If you have ever been in a situation in life as a result of love and relationships that have left you feeling like the cover picture of this book i.e. a boat navigating stormy waters, then this book is your guide. Many of the real life examples Mr. Moore uses involves married couples, but I, a single woman, still found much needed direction at a time in my life in which "soul" was powerfully exerting itself in my life that left me totally bewildered. His thought provoking and socially nonconforming ideas about marriage and sex, particularly, have given me new hope in pursuing love and relationships again.

IÕm glad that I had grabbed Soul Mates off the shelf along with about four other self-help books that I purchased at the same time.

S/M has helped me understand (or given a new perspective on) all relationships -- from spousal to neighbors to co-workers to friendships and family. Thomas Moore says that we should appreciate the complexities and mysteries that come with all relationships.

S/M doesnÕt offer any concrete step-by-step advice for solving relationship problems. Instead, Mr. Moore explains that every relationship is different and that everyday problems on the surface may have a deeper hidden meaning. And with this in mind, by not immediately relieving ourselves from what it is that is bothering us at the moment we may be able to understand what it is that is really troubling us if we give ourselves the time.

S/M is a great book if you are looking to better yourself, improve existing relationships, and gain insight on all relationships and life in general. I reccomend it and I believe it can help everyone understand themselves and others. --Douglas

Only rarely can I claim to have been touched by a tale, a text, a book, even words so hauntingly beautiful and enduring as those of Thomas Moore as expressed in Soul Mates. Moore's writing ensnares you almost as unpredictably as love itself with a literary insight and philosophical exhiliration that is the ultimate journey with an author. You owe it to your spirit, your heart and your intrinsic self to become a cherished and enlightened part of this psychological nourishment. Moore turns everything you wondered, dreamt and felt about the real experience of human relationships into something as clear and precious as air itself. Gently, yet perceptively, he guides you back to the core and the unique and individual thoughts of your very existence. Moore's Soul Mates may even be the closest you can get to the simple truth of taking a single moment in this life for confronting and embracing yourself and everyone around you. Certainly, this is a book that is the perfect expression of the deep, spiritual force working in and out of our lives, making anything at all-even self-love still possible-again and again. Without pretense, heroics or high-minded words on paper, Soul Mates offers us the non-intrusive space to no longer hide our hearts, our souls and emotional performances beneath the glaring lights of a fast-paced, technologically driven world. Soul Mates may be considered by some to be one of the great texts of our time, but most importantly, it remains true to the sense of what it is to be human and humankind in all its guises and manifestations. Touch this book with both hands and let go only when you want to!.

Annabel Temple (B.A. DPH (Cred)) Christchurch, New Zealand

The book is astonishingly clear and precise about emotionnal abuse. It's painful to realize how horrific a person can be towards another, and yet it's of the upmost importance to be fully aware of it. How else can we protect ourselves from it?

I purchased this book after extricating myself from a relationship with an emotionally unstable man. By the time I left the relationship, I had no self identidy or self esteem; he had sucked the life right out of me. I thought I was going crazy.

Emotional abuse and physical both erode the victims identidy, the only difference being that emotional abuse victims don't wear their scars on the outside. This book explains how the abuser gets inside your head, and the slow steady degradation of self that occurs as a result. I found myself amazed at the author's insights, and vindicated by her words of encouragement and healing. From this book, I learned to spot the warning signs of emotional abuse - in myself, and in my relationships. After reading this book, I don't think I will ever fall into an emotionally abuse relationship again. This book is a must read for anyone who has been in an emotionally abusive relationship, and anyone who suspects they may be.

This book had such a profound effect on my life. It explained things about abuse which I had never considered and it re-affirmed things which I already believed to be true.
The author of the book does an outstanding job conveying a timely and critical message to those who have had their souls stalked by lovers, friends, family or in the work place.
I truly can not recommend this book enough. I guarentee you will learn some frightening and sobering truths about soul stalkers, psycopaths and the personality disordered. It can give you ammunition and insight into how these people operate and think.
In a world filled with those who seek to control and manipulate, this book is a must read!

I think the concept of nourishing ones' inner life is important but might better be found in Thomas Moore's Care of the Soul and the existential concepts in Freedom and Accountability at Work, by Peter Koestenbaum.
In this book Thomas Moore takes us through his spiritual journey which may well be interesting for some and I am sure was cathartic for him. He is also an eloquent writer; to that extent I found merit in his pen and leveraged this inspiration into a few poems myself.

I have been on a long and winding spiritual journey for twelve years. Part of those twelve years I attempted to become a minister in an enormous "red tape" denomination. I finally decided to turn the church loose and find out who God truly is.

Since that time I have been trying to define myself (spiritually). This book has truly been a key to that definition. The key authors that have guided me have been Thomas Merton, Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Thomas Moore, Thomas Keating, and Harold Kushner. Each of the authors have played a major role in my spiritual development.

I recommend the book, "The Soul's Religion: Cultivating a Profoundly Spiritual Way of Life" by Thomas Moore, to anyone truly wanting to discover ways to the "core of life"!

This is a most luminous, magical, lyrical and compassionate book. There is much wisdom contained in 'Soul's Religion' & its more detailed than 'Care of the Soul'. Moore addreses life's crucial questions and meditates upon them with profound, ritualistic rhythm. He is able to translate, so eloquently and poetically, his finely-tuned sensibility with an understanding of decades of theological scholarship. Moore honours history and integrates it into his work with dazzling finesse. Moore reminds us of the artful philosophies of the Renaissance. Encourages us to revel and rejoice in the mystery of the Church. In divine, holy ignorance.
Solomon 6:'Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. He who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for he will find her sitting at his gates'

I have found her in this book.

the author of the marvelous, "care of the soul" writes another soulful blockbuster here in "original self". this is a collection of beautiful meditations on self knowledge, the soul, and the natural spirituality that springs forth when the soul is properly nurtured and listened to. ever the master of the subtle insight, mr moore gently shows us where to look and how to listen. i like reading a section upon rising early in the morning. the writing is beautiful, wise, and makes me want to joyfully be a better person. the book is beautifully made and his message is worth reading and contemplating over and over. he seems to see a depth in the reader that is uncanny. what treasures will he help you uncover? check this one out. its a treasure map and more.

Upon leaving Australia to move to the U.S.A., I weapt when I packed away my extensive library into heavy wooden crates,in an attempt to protect their wisdom, until I could return one day. I only had room to stash a few precious books into my suitcases which were to transport me safely until I arrived at a place where I was ready to rebuild a new library in the new homeland. Thomas Moore's books 'Care of the Soul' and 'Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life' were two of the six I packed. I couldn't imagine life without the nurturing I found within the pages of Thomas Moore's words. They are a pathway back to the safety of the soul when everything seems threatening, changing yet enticing.

I have gifted several copies of his work to friends at appropriate times in their lives when they too needed a constant companion. I lived his words and painted my house in rennaissance colours, played wildly romantic Italian operas, purchased a few antiques to gaze upon their craftsmanship and history and immersed my soul with renewed values around family love and passion for everyday simplicities and sanctuaries. I've lived Thomas Moore's work for several years now and it has made my life rich and rewarding.

I believe it was more than a synchronicity occurence when his recent book "Original Self" came into my life, again, coinciding with a trip to a far off place where I was considering another internal shift. It arrived right at a time when I was entertaining the idea (unfortunately, once again) to sell my soul to do a somewhat souless task. His message was simple but profound, return to my own authenticity and "Original Self" or chance loosing my soul. Since that fortunate time, I have been pouring over his words from this recent masterpiece like a child at play with a deep curiosity of how his writings have affected my life, again, in such a deeply mysterious way. Thomas Moore's books are part of my life and now, thanks to his urgings, my soul. Be assured, whatever he writes about is speaking directly to your soul. I can't imagine how anyone living, after reading his work, not knowing that they have just been touched by a master. But I know it happens to an unfortunate few.

Only read this book should you want to be roused by the intervention of divinely tender words or stirred by deep meditations about life. I suggest you buy his book and see it as part of the magical immersion into soul that Thomas Moore wants for you. You may in fact be able to reignite your passion to overcome the sufferings of your neglected soul and start to recognize the bitter ailments of a soul-less society so desperaely in need of nurturing. Or perhaps not, you may just return home to your "Original self".

Thomas Moore broke the mold when he wrote this one!...Moore took me everywhere inside myself, and drove me to the core of my soul. Everything that i had origionally thought about life, was turned inside out, upside down. But it was as if all these ideas were already seeds in me, yet they had been covered in a lot of petty, crappy, useless things. My soul was watered and i am now a child again. Unlearning all that i have been taught and reviewing all that was origionally in me! THis book was hard to understand at times, but after you read it over and over....it hits you like a brick! I recommend this book to anyone, and everyone.

Having previously read Wrox's Professional ASP Programming, I tried this book, hoping for something of equal merit.

This volume is has some decent material, but is marred by a tendecy to sloppiness.

Firstly, as other reviewers have noted, there are too many authors (count 'em - 16!), which is unnecessary, and leads to inconsistencies in presentation. The book could quite easily have been authored by a single writer. There are only a few chapters that required specialist knowledge.

For example, the early chapters are quite good at advising the reader on PHP settings. Since there's no option explicit in PHP,the author correctly advises the reader to increase their error setting to report unused variables. Later, however, much of the code uses uninitialised variables. This is particularly the case in the chapter on form handling, the approach to which is too crude, and uses form variables directly in code, whereas a better approach would be to capture them and process them using isset(). The isset() function isn't even covered in this chapter,but is used correctly in other chapters.

Secondly, while the converstational tone of Wrox books is often appealing, it can also be a problem at times. The presentation is not always comprehensive enough, and Wrox authors have a tendency to give overly clever examples.

Strangely, there's no reference section. I found some of the explanations sloppy and confusing, especially the section of session variables. (I still can't get the WAP application to work properly.)

Thirdly, the chapter on OO design leaves the reader stranded. After a decent theoretical discussion, the writer informs the reader that there will be no code examples, as the reader now knows enough theory to work an example out for themselves! If I've paid for the book, I don't really want to have it set homework for me.

Fourthly, there are an annoying number of errors in the code. Many of these are corrected in the online errata, but there are quite a few that aren't at present. Furthermore, some of them are not typos, but seem to be the result of misconceptions on the part of the writer. This tends to reinforce the impression that some of the authors are relatively inexperienced.

Lastly, there are a large number of errors in the downloadable code. I suppose supplied code should be seen as a bonus, but it's poor quality control, and greatly adds to the user's annoyance.

I learnt PHP3 from Leon Atkinson's Core PHP programming, but i had to refer to the manual and the list archives for several problems.I came across this book recently from KY's review corner - I have been able to raise my level of PHP knowledge after reading through this book.This book is an asset for Professional PHP developers who can refresh their PHP knowledge with the excellent case studies. For beginners there are several examples throughout the book that will help them understand how to use PHP to create fully featured active sites.This book also has extensive database treatment - using PHP with MySQL,PostgreSQL and ODBC.
It is a must for anyone wanting to use PHP or make the move from PHP3 to PHP4!

Another excellent red book on PHP. I have learned PHP through several books, extensive articles, tutorials, and now Professional PHP4 tops the list of useful PHP literature.
Things that i found really helpful:
•Explanation for all those buggy installation problems
•Handling files on the server's file system, and how to upload files from the web browser
•Sending e-mail and posting new articles with PHP, working with SMTP, POP/IMAP and NNTP
•An exhaustive case study (76 pages!) on building a shopping cart application for mobile phones
•Using PHP as a command line script interpreter
•PHP with XML
This book has a pretty exhaustive view of most topics, and is the ideal book for PHP developers wanting to add professionalism to their web application development. I shall continue using this as a reference for all topics PHP (till I get another red book with photos).

This is a very important book for anyone serious about healing. It is a true, yet gentle reflecting pool, of our own ability to uncover the answers necessary to heal. Reaching into the gentle velvet bag of stones, is a true metaphor for life. I would like to thank both Blum and Loughan for creating such a beautiful way to journey home. A very greatful Native American from the Sioux Nation. J. Grey Eagle

This is one of the most amazing books that I've ever read, without a doubt,THE HEALING RUNES ,HAS PROFOUNDLY CHANGED MY LIFE. Six months ago, I was brutally raped and felt my life would/could never be the same!!! For the first few weeks I was at the rape crisis center EVERY day. Then one day in a group discussion, I asked if anyone could suggest a book or books that might help me in beginning the long journey back. Three women said almost at the same moment---THE HEALING RUNES. I got a cold chill and when the group ended, headed for my local bookstore. From the moment I held it, I felt something from just from holding it. I know it sounds silly, but it's true. Years ago, a friend had given me THE BOOK of RUNES, which I enjoyed for a number of years . At that point in my life I simply felt that I had outgrown it. I tucked it away until the recent event I mentioned earlier, AND THEN OUT OF HEAVEN'S GIFTS, A MOST CHERISHED FRIEND WOULD BECOME A PART OF MY LIFE-----THE ! HEALING RUNES. WHAT AN AMAZING GIFT. WHEN I GOT HOME FROM THE BOOKSTORE I REACHED INTO THE VELVET BAG OF RUNE STONES, AND PICKED THE FIRST OF MANY RUNES THAT WOULD SET ME BACK ON COURSE. I picked the 14th Rune, the Rune of ACCECPTANCE. The first paragraph left me with tears streaming down my face, and the hairs on my arm standing up in profound understanding that this little green book, with it's beautiful stones and passages ,had, without knowing me, hit a bullseye!!!!! The Rune of Acceptance said in the first paragraph, exactly what I needed to hear. "This is a Rune of major blessings, blessings received and blessings bestowed. Acceptance forms the foundation for loving yourself. Before you can rebuild your life, you must come to know the peace that accompanies self-acceptance, for out of that peace arises the willingness and the wisdom to greet each day with a quiet heart." This is most certainly a MUST READ BOOK for anyone going through any form of hea! ling. Healing from emotional, physical, spiritual, or psych! ological pain of ANY KIND. This is a very powerful little book that I take with me everywhere. Thank you both for this pearl of wisdom. I love the strength of the feminine voice, it was long overdue in your Rune series, bless you Susan, and thank you Ralph for bringing such a powerful voice to the Runes to represent all women. ESPECIALLY ME!!!!! BRAVO, IT'S A CONTEMPORARY MASTERPIECE, and a vital part of the lives of almost everyone I know, as I have gifted them all with it. M.K.T.

RUNES

I bought this version of Blum's Rune book (written with Susan Loughan) after owning the first "Book of Runes" for a few years. I now use both in my life. I pick up "The Healing Runes" when I have a particular situation in my life which needs healing. The book takes the same attitude toward runes and the quest of the spiritual warrior. The difference lies in the interpretation of the individual runes.

For example, the rune shaped like an "X" is the rune of "trust" in the "Healing" book. In the original book it is "partnership". The healing book asks you to examine trust in your life and what you can heal around that issue.

I find these runes very useful and enjoy the "recovery" language used by Mr. Blum and Ms. Loughan. There are so many people who are putting their lives back together -- runes can only aid them in the spiritual quest. I have used runes for about 6 years now and always get so much out of them.

Here is the message of "Dark Night Of The Soul": God wants our will more than anything else. To get it, he may allow us to stumble on without any sense of his presence or obtaining any pleasure from our spiritual exercises or even our life. All that will be left us is our decision to continue doing our duty despite not receiving any apparent gain from doing so. According to St. John, this is what pleases God more than anything for then we will serve God solely for Himself and not for any good feelings, sensations, or rewards we might experience by doing so. Whatever the validity of this spiritual approach (and I wonder about the value/point of sanctifying depression in this age of anti-depressants), St. John wrote this detailed book to explore it and did it better than anyone else has ever done. That makes it an important contribution to the literature on spirituality. But it also makes it something that most people will not be able to fathom or have any use for. The hours of daily prayer required by the school of thought that produced this book seem to me excessive and to miss the whole point of the Christian life. Most of us would be driven mad by such intensity-and I don't doubt that some have been. I tend to think that doing our duty is sometimes just work (true) but also sometimes will give a great sense of fulfillment and satisfaction because there are intrinsic rewards that come with being a good worker, spouse, parent, friend, etc. There is little point in getting this book unless you live in a cloister or are planning to do so and only if God is calling you to the depths of contemplative prayer. That leaves out 98% of the human race, including me. This is a dry treatise; admirable without being in the least bit inspiring. It is best left to graduate courses in spirituality or medieval Spanish literature (the poem is reportedly excellent Spanish poetry).

Yes, John of the Cross is hard to read. I have not read all translations, and have it in mind as a project, but I don't expect ever to take a book by him to the beach for a quick, entertaining read.
What John is, and the reason he is still read and studied and, in fact, treasured, is a scientist of prayer. If you are genuinely determined to climb Mt. Carmel, to pray and live your way into God, you need to read and re-read John. Like the Gospels, his work is dense and allusive, and full of layer upon layer of meaning. It is well to read present day authors who write about his work, too. But by no means should you leave him aside in your search for information and inspiration. There is no one else like him. He is the real thing.

review by Janet Knori, author of Awakening in God

St. John of the Cross is truly a superb Saint and Mystic. Through his writings You can see how your own spiritual journey may not always be easy. If you are looking for a book that will not only inform you of the dark night, but also give you a self evaluation of your own life, then this is the book for you. In parts it may seem that St. John is peering into your soul and speaking directly to you. The wonderful thing about this book is that no one will have the same experence of it. Everyone who reads it will read it in light of where they are in their own lives. the reflection and thoughts of this Holy man will force you to look inside yourself to find what you need to do to reach the Ultimate union with God. St John of the Cross...Pray For Us!