Jack Myers is able to capture an entire universe in a few lines. He does this through amazing metaphors, simple allegories, and perplexing paradoxes. Read Myers. Then read him again.

For several years, Jack Myers has striven to create poetry that is at once more accessible to the contemporary reader or listener and complex enough to satisfy the members of what might be termed "The Deep Readers Club of America." Using what might be the voice of the common man, Myers explores often difficult and contradictory themes through the perspective of suburban life. It's all there: The absurdity of looking for meaning in a world already consumed by consumerism, the paradoxical nature of satisfactions gained too easily, the ridiculousness of becoming an adult with either too much time on your hands or too much comfort to bear. OneOnOne, however, differs slightly from his previous "As Long As You're Happy" and "Blindsided" in that Myers is building on the foundations of everyday vocal inflections for which his poetry is both well-known and admired--in a book long visitation with more spiritual aspects of American life. As usual, Myers is not afraid to see humor in his "chicken scratchings for immortality," and, if anything, it is that humorous quality that resides within the core of his vision that provides the most comfort of all.

Jack Myers has long been one of the best voice poets in America--sort of, as Jonathan Holden pointed out, a poet as stand-up comedian. This very insightful characterization neither undercuts his depth of feeling nor his intellectual range. In this, his latest book, Myers reveals a new area of exploration, one which feels inevitable, one that has been waiting for him all along: Zen Buddhism. This natural growth gives his poems a deeper than ever depth and profundity. Read Myers: his combination of Jewish self-directed humor and, now, zen thought, places him among the best poets writing today.

From Rear Admiral Tom Patterson, Captain of the Jeremiah O'Brien, a Liberty Ship now berthed in San Francisco: "Congratulations on this outstanding document of the German submarine force, their "Happy Times" and their ultimate defeat. I identified with your book from sailing in the North Atlantic and the South Pacific in World War II. The convoys, independent steaming through Mona Pass, sinuous course clocks, gasoline laden tankers all were remembered while reading this excellent, well researched book. I learned a lot I never knew from your book". RADM Thomas J. Patterson, U.S. Maritime Service(Ret)

OIL SLICK is an excellent historical novel on the level of James Michner and Gore Vidal. If you want to get a feel of what it was like in the German WWII submarine service, get a copy of this work. It is also extremely well researched, referenced, and annotated in the volume, giving the story a credibility of nearly factual value. More importantly, it allows a historical perspective which would otherwise take years of research to obtain, which the author has done. Five stars!

This is a good book that has to do with the body. Jack Myers explains in detail, but not boring detail. This book has questions like why do you get a headache if you eat ice cream to fast? And why does pepper make many people sneeze?, why do onions make some people cry? This book has funny and realistic illustrations. And many, many more.

Have you ever been asked a question by a kid, to which you did not know the answer, or weren`t sure how to answer? Anyone who has or works with children will answer, "Yes!" This is an excellent place to find those answers, plus a few more for those questions they have not asked... yet. I even learned a thing or two: like why wheels appear to be rotating backwards, when the vehicle is going forwards. There are colorful illustrations and easy to understand but not over-simplified answers, as well as a helpful index at the end.

Jack Myers is arguably the best poet writing in America today. His metaphors are extravagant and yet his voice always remains conversational. And here we have representative poems selected from books long out of print, as well as a generous sampling of new lyrics, which take his work in surprising zen-like directions. Every bookshelf should have a copy of this brilliant poet's work.

This book help me do my homework all the time.Trust me and buy this book.

Jack Myers who among other things is the poetry mentor for many Texas poets is also a great spiritual author. Human Being is just such a book. Drawing on his own Jewish heritage and combining it with Sufism and Buddism he opens new ways of looking at the world

Poetry doesn't have to be Shakesperian sonnets and school type stuff and so much does NOT "have to depend on the red wheelbarrow".

Poetry does not have to be dry and boring and only read in schools!

This is not fixed verse. This is not about flowers, sunshine, and shiny-happy love. This is not nicities.

This is raw.personal.new.freeverse.

Anyway, I like it and maybe you will too!

I was favorably impressed with the range and diversity of this anthology. I've been looking for a good contemporary poetry text to use in my classes, and this is the one I'll now use.

The best way to engage anyone's interest is to connect information to something that has attracted their attention. In this enjoyable book, Highlights for Children Science Editor, Jack Myers, takes on children's questions about the everyday world around us. Each question and answer take a half to a full page, and are accompanied by lively drawings to improve the reader's interest.

Unless you are a scientist, you're bound to pick up some useful information here. In my case, I didn't know that while aluminum oxidizes it forms a protective coating that stops the oxidation from continuing.

It's challenging to know how technical or how simple to make the answers. For the most part, Myers created a very nice balance.

Here are some of my favorite questions from the book:

"What makes popcorn pop?"

"Since salt is not hot, how does it melt ice and snow?"

"If heat makes things expand and cold makes them contract, why does water expand when you freeze it?"

"If we have two eyes, how come we don't see double?"

"I pushed my finger into a soap bubble but it didn't pop. Why not?"

"How come if you go into the bathroom to sing it sounds better than when you are in the bedroom or anywhere else?"

"If the world is round, wouldn't the people in the southern part be upside down?"

"I've always wondered how the shape of a rainbow is formed."

One of the strengths of this book is that a child can find out an answer for her- or himself, or they can seek out an adult for more explanation. Now with the Internet, either one can go on and find out even more. Having uncovered how much there is to know, it is likely that many will develop a greater interest in science. I wish science were taught this way in schools. Also, a child with a limited imagination may find these questions helpful in stimulating new thoughts.

Overcome your disbelief stalls and the misconception stalls of your children with this helpful book. Discover the irresistible appeal of imaginative questions and their fascinating answers!

Donald Mitchell

Coauthor of The Irresistible Growth Enterprise...