Ani Panchen, the only daughter of a Tibetan Cheiftan was looking forward to a life of contemplation after narrowly escaping an arranged marriage. However, after the invasion of Chinese Communist forces & the death of her father, Ani is compelled to carry on the wishes of her father & help lead rebel Tibetans defending their homeland.

For her involvement in the resistance, Ani spends the next 21 years of her life in prison. Living from day to day with the hope that in time she will meet with his Holiness the Dalai Lama. Her courage & spirit to fight & survive are astounding. This is her testimony for all the thousands of political prisoners still being held in Chinese prisons for 'crimes' such as 'waving a Tibetan flag' or shouting for independence.

This book is another blot on China's human rights record. For similar reading try 'Fire under the Snow' by Palden Gyatso.

The story of Ani Pachen resonates with the kind of courage and spiritual certainty that perhaps very few of us our capable, but all of us admire. In contrast to her indomitable strength, the Chinese occupation of Tibet takes on outrageous dimensions -- an ugliness and brutality hard to bear. For one nine-month period during her twenty-one years of imprisonment, Ani Pachen endured a dark, earthen cell slightly larger than her body where she spent her time praying, accomplishing one hundred thousand prostrations devoted to the well-being of all. When released by the Chinese, she took up the cause of a free Tibet in Lhasa, demonstrating against the torture and murder of her people and country, putting herself in the greatest possible peril. Ani Pachen has lived at the very depths of the soul and sorrow of Tibet and emerged triumphant, a woman of compassion and beauty who will inspire all who read her magnificent story.

Sorrow Mountain is both a novel and a woman's life story. As Adelaide Donnelley explains in an afterword, "It is as much narrative as strict biography." Stories of the "life" of Ani Pachen, including her spiritual power to transcend torture and twenty-one years of imprisonment, and to transform destruction into hope, were the BASIS for this remarkable book. Ani Pachen wanted to be a nun, living peacefully and not killing (many Tibetan people have a religious calling); the circumstances of her birth forced her to become a warrior against the Chinese (again, this echoes the history of those of her generation). Captured, imprisoned, and tortured, she preserved her spiritual beliefs and her integrity (again, read the story of many her generation; the difference is that so many did not survive). Ani Pachen survived, made it to Dharamsala, and finally lives a life of meditation and spiritual focus. Thousands of Tibetans have escaped; many of those now live in northern India with His Holiness. The spiritual example they set: certainty of impermanence, compassion, forgiveness, and detachment--works for everyone on the planet. All of this matters.

But there is something more which matters. This book, like the story of its subject, transcends and crosses boundaries: in form, in approach. It is a novel, a spiritual guidebook, a history of Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism. The tone is mythic: "My country was once at the roof of the world, a place where the great spirits lived." The tone is cinematic: "In a darkened corner of my mind, a small patch of green appears. I watch it grow brighter, larger, until a vast green meadow stretches out at my feet. The meadow is dotted with clusters of flowers and is treeless, except for a willow or two." The tone is intensely personal, acutely descriptive: in prison, "The lice were so bad that I could see them crawling all over the heads in front of me. So thick I could sweep them off with my hand and not make a difference in their numbers."

The story is woven of dreams, memories, Buddhist teachings, horrors re-lived or imagined, and above all details that give it taste, sound, texture, and breath. As a work of art, it breaks all prior boundaries and should be studied by all writers who ever consider telling life stories--their own or anyone else's. If there is any drawback to the book, it is only that we cannot know what is Ani Pachen's voice and what is Adelaide Donnelley's. A Buddhist would assure us that the illusion of separation is unimportant, temporary, superficial. A Buddhist would tell us that Ani Pachen's story, and Adelaide Donnelley's storytelling genius, have become one voice for all of us. As the editor of another woman's life story, I come to this book to learn. I look back at my work and see how much trouble I took to leave Mpho Nthunya's voice exactly as it was, to be merely a secretary, taking dictation from her. I tried to keep my white privilege and sensibility out of the way of her African experience and her African ways of seeing. I think that was a good thing to do. But I deeply admire the merging of voices in the Pachen/Donnelley collaboration. It is a miracle to read, to study, to learn from. I am deeply grateful for it.

As ever Scarry delivers a fine story book based on the growing child's everyday world brought the more to life by his inimical illustrations. Full of action and a well developed narrative which children from about 2 can follow verbally and trace with their finger across the page picture-by-picture, this is a book to truly delight adults and youngsters. If you remember Scarry from your own childhood, as many of you will, then those wide eyed smiling animal characters will immediately transport you back to 1968 (the date of the orginal book's publication). Note that this book is the abridged version, but loses nothing for that. We have a very bashed original and also Scarry's marvellous "366 Stories" - a story or poem for everyday of the year ( including Leap Years)...will they ever get round to publishing that great classic??? Enjoy "What Do People Do All Day" - the children will thank you for it in , oh, about 2028.

"What Do People Do All Day" is really a one-of-a-kind book. As a toddler and older child, I was enthralled by Scarry's colorful and highly detailed pictures and his fun characters, and I especially recall the sections on water treatment and electrical power generation. This book, unlike any other, certainly stimulated my early interest in a career. Speaking from experience, a kid can spend hours poring through this book, and he can remember details from it for years. Unfortunately, it seems that a few boneheads at the publisher don't share my exceptional feelings for the book and have abridged it, removing the two sections I have mentioned and more. Shame on them!

I had this book when I was very little and we read it as a bedtime story almost every night. The inner workings of factories and houses was fascinating to me, and I remember enjoying picking out my favorite characters on each page. Lowly Worm and Huckle Cat will always be my favorites.

I've read Dick Biggs' other books, heard him talk, and witnessed the positive change and growth in people from the mentoring program he developed. BURN BRIGHTLY WITHOUT BURNING OUT is his best work. If you like Stephen Covey, Norman Vincent Peale, John Maxwell or Ken Blanchard, this book should appeal to you because it packs powerful but simple ideas of living a better life.

The author uses good illustrative examples in his twenty short and compact chapters that serve as stepping stones in a stairway to happiness and fulfillment in your life. Its messages have solid moral foundations, The book's subtitle, Balancing the Work You Need with the Life You Lead, is a theme carried throughout this fine work, with appeal for adult readers of all ages.

I've given copies of this book to a niece working towards a medical degree, a retired senior military officer friend starting a new executive career and a brother rebuilding his life, in addition to my three grown children.

The book is an easy read, however, its worthy of highlighting and reading again for reinforcement and to pick up additional insights. The book covers a lot of ground in less than 150 short pages and lives up to its title. It's a winner!

For years I've been reading two books monthly on personal development(Well,at least trying real hard to do so!). The first book of each year is most important because it is the foundation upon which the entire year's reading is built. It is imperative, then, that I choose wisely for the year's first read, and this year I could not have chosen better - I selected "Burn Brightly Without Burning Out".

Grounded in a solid spiritual base, "Burn Brightly.." presents 20 powerful insights into leading a more balanced life, and it begins with a wonderful section on determining your purpose for being on the planet. The 20 insights come to life with right-on vignettes and action steps for making them happen in your own life.

"Burn Brightly..." is an easy read, yet a challenging one, for it challenges you to think about your life in a different way. The format is great for travel and it fits very nicely on the night stand as well. You've probably already read your first books of the year, so let me suggest you make "Burn Brightly Without Burning Out" your next one.

They say in five years, you will become the average of the books you have read and the people you have associated with. For two-and-a-half years, I've had the privelege of associating with Dick Biggs as a professional speaker--and now I've been able to read his book. Both have become indispensible resources for me.

Dick is respected among professional speakers for being a man who walks his talk. Reading his latest book, BURN BRIGHTLY WITHOUT BURNING OUT, is almost as good as knowing the man--it will provide very practical assistance if you want to achieve great things in your professional life while building balance into your personal life.

Are you a reader? Then you'll really enjoy this book. Are you working on developing the reading habit? Then this book will get you hooked. If Amazon allowed a SIX-star review, this one would get SEVEN!

My daughter loves this series, and she's only 15 months old! The pop ups are sturdier than you'd expect, but we have used some scotch tape. These books have taught her animals sounds (farmyard) and many other things. I'm sure this one will help with her colors.

I bought this book for my son when he was 18 months old. He fell in love with the vibrant colors and pop-up creatures immediately! At 27 months he still asks for the "parrot" book regularly. We love this book so much we buy them for our friends' children and have completed our set of Snappy Pop-Up books with the other four.

My 10 month old niece enjoys this book at least 3 times a day...and has ever since she was only 3 months old. Although, she has about 25 excellent age-appropriate books, this is her favorite! The pop-up paper is sturdy, and the illustrations are bright, clear and simple.

This is a great book if you want just a field guide with information on the different species of cetaceans. This would be a great book to take "whale watching".

I lead about a dozen pelagic (offshore) birding boat trips each year off the east coast of the U.S. In the process, I became very interested in identifying the whales and dolphins we were seeing. As a result, I needed to find a decent field guide.

This book is the best field guide to cetaceans that I've seen yet. It does an excellent job of presenting known identification criteria as well as pitfalls. The pictures, measurements, and dive sequences provide a quick reference. The more in-depth text provides the further details needed to confirm an ID or sometimes to explain why your view of a specific animal keeps you from making a positive ID.

This is the one cetacean field guide I recommend to trip participants.

This book is extremely useful to both the general reader and to those with a serious interest in cetaceans. The book is well organized for quick reference and beautifully illustrated to aid in species identification in the field. Cetaceans are grouped by family and unique characteristics are clearly defined and illustrated. In addition the book is lightweight and easily carried on a boat trip. Highly recommended.

The first time I read 'The Albigen Papers,' it was a tough read.

It was one of the first philosophic books I ever read on purpose, although I had read other genres prolifically.

Rose takes a black coffee (no sugar) look at religious and philosophic systems. He says to a seeker of truth, "I've been there," and addresses pitfalls on the path, offers yardsticks to judge movements, authors and gurus by, and outlines a common sense approach to discovering the ultimate answer.

The more I revisit 'The Albigen Papers' the more I recognize its value. I recommend it to anyone who's serious.

At the back of the book is a blank verse epic poem the author wrote to describe his enlightenment at age 30.

The subject of Zen has become very popular in the 1990's. Recently there have been many translations of Zen classics and new books by contemporary writers. When Richard Rose wrote this book he was among the first to recognize the value of Zen as a way for the mind to look at itself and as a tool to discover both error and truth. The Albigen Papers is written in comtemporary language that is at once clear and to the point. It attacks and deconstructs much of what we know or think that we know. It is one of those books that once read is not easily forgotten or dismissed. It have the potential to change the way you look at the world or the way you view yourself. The last part of the book is concerned with the truth that Mr. Rose discovered after many years of meditation and study of many different religious systems. He communicates this truth in a way that is both direct and concise. I think that this is one of those few books that has the power to change your life.

The first time that I read The Albigen Papers was like a breath of fresh air. Here is an actual system that can be used to lead one out of the darkness, and into a more aware existance. There are very few books that are available that have the truth of human existance so deeply etched into the words that one is reading. Wonderful

marcinko didn't survive through all he did without knowing how to lead and improve. turns out those same sills that enabled him to war with others have helped him become a success in the business world. all 10 points in this book not only will help you in the business world, but also in your own life.

This book is entertaining and well written. The stories used to illustrate the points made are usually an adventure in themselves. Richard Marcinko practices what he preaches and this book will tell you how to do the same. This is an easy to read guide to being successful and the best book of its' kind I have ever read. This gives the reader the no excuses, no BS way to succeed. Buy this book!

In his first business book, Marcinko showed you how to dig into yourself and find the qualities that make a leader. Having devleoped those qualities, Marcinko now shows you how to go out and engage your opponents in the business world and win! Through a life time of hard won lessons and illustrative stories from business, Marcinko explains what the principle is and then shows you how it can be applied. Whether you have real snipers shooting at you from a distant tree line, or the sleazier kind who try to sabotage your corporate success, Marcinko shows you how to meet them and beat them. You don't do it by sitting at your desk, you do it by treating each day as a battle, in which YOU dictate the rules of engagement. Because the cowards who snipe at you in the office are lacking the one trait you will already have thanks to these books: The character and guts to lay everything on the line to make yourself successful. This book and Marcinko's earlier management tome should make a nice boxed gift set for any manager or aspiring manager.

Richard Côté does it again! "Theodosia Burr Alston: Portrait of a Prodigy," like Côté's "Mary's World: Love, War, and Family Ties in Nineteenth-Century Charleston," gives the reader an intimate look at the life of an early-American aristocrat. Both biographies are tales of strong women living in a man's world. Weaving a tapestry of mystery and intrigue, Richard Côté transports the reader to a bygone era in which love and betrayal are not always what they seem.

Do you think chaotic presidential elections are an aspect only of modern society? Think again. "Theodosia" reveals the bitter struggles -- both personal and political -- of Aaron Burr, Theodosia's father and the third vice president of the United States. After the legal and provoked duel in which Burr fatally wounded Alexander Hamilton, he was villainized, thereby bringing his daughter down into the quagmire with him.

Richard Côté has written the most comprehensive and unbiased biography about this mysterious lady. I found Theodosia to be a thoroughly good yarn that reads more like a contemporary novel than the historical biography that it is. For anyone with an interest in history, or anyone wanting a great read, I highly recommend this book.

Well researched, well written, this book is a great read. Mr. Côté has given us the fascinating story of Aaron Burr's daughter. Multi-lingual, sophisticated and beautiful, Theodosia interacted with some of the greatest personalities of her time. The author refers to her as a prodigy, but she might well also be considered to be a true super woman, molded by an education based on the then-radical concepts of Mary Wollstonecraft. Her father conspired with a foreign power to carve her an empire out of Mexico and part of the young United States. Instead, his plans were crushed.

Even after her mysterious disappearance at sea, Theodosia's mystique lives on, as can be seen by anyone who as ever read a collection of Carolina ghost stories, or taken a tour in Georgetown or Charleston. She is surrounded by a mist of local legends. However, the author has given us a chance to see the real Theodosia, extracted from the nefarious shadow of her infamous father. He gives us, not a legend, nor a dry history, but a portrait of a real woman, with real emotions and concerns. Yet again, his approach is analytical, and where there are unanswered questions or conflicting data, he carefully examines the possible arguments to aid the reader in drawing his or her own conclusions.

I recommend this book to anyone who likes biographies of fascinating people, but also to reading groups (a discussion guide is available). It is also a book for anyone who loves art or a great mystery (The portrait that surfaced after her death is just one example). It is an engaging read that will leave you dreaming about what might have been, lost in admiration for its subject, and trying to unravel its mysteries long after you finish the last page.

I really enjoyed Richard N. Côté's biography Theodosia Burr Alston: Portrait of a Prodigy. Through his use of her letters and other historical documents, Côté has forged a compelling story of Theodosia's life; one that both entertains and educates the reader. It pushes you to question the motives of Theodosia's father, Aaron Burr, who educated his daughter according to the principles of the radical English feminist, Mary Wollstonecraft. He keeps you turning the page for more as you follow Theodosia's intricate and amazing life. For me, who lives in South Carolina, where Theodosia struggled through the last twelve years of her life, it was especially interesting to read about the life of a female intellectual in a time period that was actively opposed to female education. Theodosia proves to be a role model for all women who are looking to succeed in education and knowledge and teaches us that anything is possible despite severe obstacles. Chapter 9, "The Voyage of the Patriot," was of particular interest to me, as it demonstrated what an extraordinary woman Theodosia was. Although frail from recurring health problems and disheartened by both the death of her only son and her father's four-year exile in Europe, Theodosia did not lose hope. She decided to transcend her serious health problems and chose to fulfill her role in life, uphold the values her father had worked so hard to instill in her, and continue on with strength and courage. This is truly a portrait of a noble woman who, despite the many trials she encountered through life, always managed to rise to the occasion.

As a therapist, I found this book to offer useful information and practical support to men and their partners on how to maintain a healthy & satisfying sex life. It is filled with up to date information from the medical side. But it also treats the emotional issues as well. Women will find new ways to understand why & how men experience sexual response. Read it to great benefit. It's an excellent resource.

As a young single male, I found this book to be very informative and educational. This book focuses not only on the treatment, but also on the prevention of sexual problems. Drs. Milsten and Slowinski have truly written a guide to maintaining sexual health. I found that the emphasis placed on the maintenance of a healthy relationship with one's partner as a means to enjoying life-long sexual potency as being particularly helpful. This book is a must read for men of all ages!

I found Milsten and Slowinski's THE SEXUAL MALE very complete, scientifically grounded, and yet wonderfully readable. As a psychologist and sexual therapist, I myself have professionally worked with men and couples with sexual problems for more than 20 yeaars, and find this book to be currently the most useful in addressing erection concerns. I especially value that it is realistic, honest, and positive -- avoiding the "hype" that often accompanies books on sexuality. Excellent book!

This is beautiful poetic recounting is told in a pastiche of dreams, poems, sunlight and shadows, facts and feelings. It has all the information a Brautigan fan could wish for--he never drove a car, fell all over himself laughing at Young Frankenstein, burned all his telephones--and yet I should think it would be helpful for any survivor of parental suicide. Her struggle to get at the why of it is really poignant and universal. I could have done without the morbid details, however, and felt myself getting depressed as I read, but you can't fault her for being totally honest. I am so grateful to Ianthe (now I know why this is the perfect name for a poet's daughter) for writing this book, and believe she will find she has others to write. The big disappointment of this book is the photographs which are mostly of poor quality and not relevant.

Although I began reading You Can't Catch Death with the expectation that it would be about her father, Ianthe Brautigan quickly set me straight; this book is about her. Reading the book provides a fascinating look at her turbulent childhood with a talented, but troubled father. A father who clearly loved his daughter but, just as clearly, didn't quite know what to do with her.

Brautigan the younger is a skilled wordsmith whose first book displays a polish and readability usually associated with more 'seasoned' authors. Whether or not you appreciate Richard Brautigan, after reading this book you will appreciate his daughter.

This is a must read for any fan of Brautigan. Ianthe has put together a book that sheds a very revealing light on her life with her father, her willingnes to cope, his alcoholism, use of his talent and fishing. I enjoyed her comments and insight into the fishing stories, the observations of the scenery, the wilderness and feeling the life of her father's past. Her trip to Eugene, OR is a spiritually challenging and moving portion of the book. Literally following his footsteps, in more ways than one, this book is on a shelf in my library with all of her daddy's first editions. I am proud and thrilled, I'm sure he would be too!