In the course of an individuals maturation process, there are certain immutable truths that transcend the [genders] and the generations. Benjamin David has grasped that process and articulated it in such a fashion that any person who has been through, or will go through, these turbulent years, can identify with. In detailing the trials and tribulations of persons whom I can easily recognize, it was refreshing to see that I was not alone in my thoughts-awkward or normal, his characters embody life for a person my age. As each page passes and the characters unfold, it is easy to see a friend, an acquaintance, or even yourself evolving with the story. Truly a delight to read and an enlightening experience. I look forward to more stories from this talented, energetic, realistic and enlightening author.

So This is Wilderness... offers some of the most insightful prose about growing up and learning who we are and what is important to us of any book around. The book's several stories offer characters, situations, and feelings that one can relate to, which is, after all, the hallmark of a great story. David's writing style is unique, inviting, and reflective of the way in which we think about things. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys short and intriguing stories that will undoubtedly strike a chord of nostalgia.

This book was recommended to me by a friend and I want to spread the word. I loved it and I can't wait for Benjamin David's next book.

This book is an excellent explanation for any who are searching for answers to the origin of mankind and how we came to be on earth. It answers the question of the missing link through ET's altering of primate genes to produce a being with a soul. They then waited many thousands of years in order to mate with the 'human' species to bring a more evolved being onto the planet.

A truly great book for anyone beginning to search for meanings...

I have problems with many books which are channelled and also many books purporting to describe the ET agenda. So many seem airy-fairy or unconvincing in some way or other, as if either the author or source is confused.

This book stands out as an exception. While it goes into great detail on which ET civilisations seeded our planet (not of great interest to me, whether accurate or not ) it also provides insight into who is around now, and what they're up to.

It turns out that, not only are there positives and negatives around the planet, (positives the Pleiadeans, negatives the Zeta Reticulian Greys, for example ), but there is another categorisation - whether they come from "third density" worlds like Earth, or higher "fourth" & "fifth density" worlds.

What is most interesting is the description of beings incarnating on Earth who are highly advanced intellectually, but not spiritually. Saddam Hussein is named as one such, and the "good" allows such negatives to persist in order to test us, and further our own growth.

In a similar way there are evidently "fifth density negatives" - highly spiritually evolved, but negative ( a contradiction? ) who are also a great test for the peoples of Earth. Rev Moon & Jim Jones (Jonestown massacre ) are cited here, and I can see Osama bin Laden as the prominent example of a highly spiritual being who nevertheless serves evil, and is a great challenge for the good in the world.

The book actually warns us to use our God-given discrimination when listening to channels, as the bad guys are also channeling. One hallmark of a negative source is their attempt to instil defeatism on Earth - with the notion that we are doomed, either by climatic disasters, or ET colonisation. We are warned against such sources.

Although channelled info is prone to eror ( The inspiring "Starseed Transmissions" predicted the expansion of the Universe as halting & reversing around now - in fact, it's recently been shown to be speeding up! ) this, like Starseed, is definitely a must have for anyone interested in making sense of the ET phenomenon. Full of spiritual wisdom. Buy it while it's still in print.

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If you read only one book on physical extra-terrestrials, this is the book to read. Both the positive and negative visitors are covered. In addition to providing comprehensive information not available from other sources, an overview perspective is included which will be most valuable as events unfold.

This is a top-notch biblical reference and a must-have for your language shelf. Obviously, you don't want to become too dependent on it; but it can certainly get you out of a bind when you are stuck in a corner.

This lexicon makes most sense compared with the others I've studied with, it's got all forms of biblical apearances of each word listed, and is well readable. Its an older (1/2 previous century, from memory) lexicon, which imo means it may well be less fashionable.

The Library of America should be commended for preserving the works of Benjamin Franklin. This is the finest compilation of Franklin's writings still in print.

The book is organized and presented in chronological order. The first section contains Franklin's writings between 1722-1726. This section contains the famous "Silence Dogood" works. The second section consists of writings between 1726-1757. This section contains the "Busy Body" pieces and the writings from the Philadelphia Gazette, amongst other works. The third section consists of writings which date between 1757-1775. The fourth section consists of writings between 1776-1785. The fifth section consists of writings between 1785-1790. And the final two sections are "Poor Richard's Almanack" and "The Autobiography."

Moreover, the sections contain personal letters between Franklin and other notable men such as David Hume, Lord Kames, John Pringle, Benjamin Rush, etc. Also, religious writings, philosophy, political writings and the like are present in this single volume. In fact, there is about 1500 pages of just Franklin's writings. Additionally, in the back of the book, there is a very detailed chronology of Franklin's life describing notable things which occurred between his birth and death.

This is a great text for those who are wanting a very detailed volume of Franklin's writings. However, it is also a great compilation for those who simply want to sit down and get a sample of the works of Franklin to find out what type of man he was, what he believed, what he taught, his sense of humor and the like.

This book has been one of the best investments that I have made in my collection of American Revolutionary (Founders) history. I highly recommend this work.

Many of Benjamin Franklin's biographers follow up their treatments of his life and work with an edited collection of his writings, as if to concede that he is his own best presenter. Any reader interested in Franklin should therefore set the biographies aside for a time and turn first to this superb Library of America compilation of Franklin's writings. Spanning his life from his early humorous writings (penned at the age of 16) to letters he wrote in the last year of his life (at 84), it is the single best, because most comprehensive, introduction to Franklin.

Carl Van Doren ended his classic biography of Franklin by describing him as "a harmonious human multitude." The phrase has become shorthand for those who try to encompass Franklin's activities as printer, journalist, polemicist, political thinker, writer, economist, demographer, scientist (or "natural philosopher" in the 18th-century phrase), lobbyist, diplomat, and sage. More recent Fra! nklin scholars, such as Esmond Wright and Robert Middlekauff, concede his complexity, but doubt the harmony holding together his various interests, activities, priorities, friendships, and hostilities; they also note that Franklin's genial exterior cloaked a massive and implacable egotism and an unsuspected capacity for strong and often bitter emotion.

All these facets of Franklin emerge from this superbly-edited volume. J. A. Leo Lemay, one of the nation's leading scholars of Franklin's life and work, has produced a volume fully worthy of Franklin and the Library of America series; it will be indispensable to all future students of Benjamin Franklin, of colonial and Revolutionary America, and of the foundations of American literature, science, politics, and government. -- Richard B. Bernstein, Adjunct Professor of Law, New York Law School; Daniel M. Lyons Visiting Professor in American History, Brooklyn College/CUNY (1997-1998); Book Review Editor for Constitutional Books,! H-LAW; and Senior Research Fellow, Council on Citizenship ! Education, Russell Sage College.

Benjamin Elkin was a Principal at Roger's School in Chicago and a close friend of my family. "Uncle Ben" retired from teaching about the time I began elementary school, which provided him with the opportunity to visit my classroom at North Shore School on Sheridan Road. He would pass out Brach's butterscotch candies, perform magic tricks, challenge the kids with riddles, and tell tall tales. What a wonderful blessing it was to have an accomplished author visit our classroom (and my home during my younger years).

Of the dozen or so books Benjamin Elkin wrote, The King's Wish ranks among his best. Benjamin Elkin was truly a master storyteller, able to capture a child's attention on Page 1 and hold it until the end of the story. Most of his stories, including the King's Wish, appeal to both young children and beginning readers. This story is filled with wonderful imagery, good guys and bad guys, teamwork concepts, and grand adventure.

The King's Wish is divided into three short chapters. Chapter 1 begins with the King wishing that he could take a short vacation from his busy King's schedule. However, the King is concerned that his three young (teenage) sons are not yet responsible enough to handle the workload while the King is away.

In true Elkin fashion -- many of his stories contain riddles that must be solved -- the King decides to put the three young princes to a King's test. The princes are locked in a room with no apparent way to escape, yet they are told they must find a way out if they are to become kings. Sorry, I won't tell you how they manage to escape; but the princes' ingenuity convinces the King that he can take his long-overdue vacation.

Chapter 2 focuses on the king's vacation. While fishing and camping, the King is accosted by two wiley crooks. But the King, with that awesome red beard, is well loved in his kingdom and a furry friend soon comes to the King's rescue.

In the final chapter, the King awakes early and is getting ready to return from vacation when he notices off in the distance that his kingdom is on fire. How will the good King save his kingdom from burning to the ground? How can he wake the young princes up from their slumber? Its the final riddle of the book and you'll have to read the story to see how it is resolved.

Other stories by Elkin that I strongly recommend: Guillespe and the Guards (runner up for a Caldecott), Such is the Way of the World, the Big Jump (for younger children), the Loudest Noise in the World, Six Foolish Fishermen, Why the Sun Was Late, and Al and the Magic Lamp.

Dr. Doolittle's sermons resonate with the hopes and concerns of modern spiritual consciousness. His ability to combine humor with images from everyday life help to underscore his larger message. A must read for those looking to reawaken their spiritual life.

In The Meaning Of Yiddish, Benjamin Harshav (Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Professor of Hebrew and Comparative Literature at Yale University) has written an impressive work of scholar erudition and insight into the major aspects of the Yiddish language and culture. Professor Harshav reveals where Yiddsh came from and what it has to offer contemporary Jewish culture, even as it is starting to die out with the passing of the generations of ghettoized Eastern Europe Jewry. The Meaning Of Yiddish is an outstanding recommendation for any personal, Temple, or academic Yiddish studies collection.

This treasure trove of classic erotic verse is for those who like their erotica subtle and engrossing. you will not find crude pornoographic passeges here, rather timeless literature which fire the imagination and make the soul desire. The works presented here are rather daring and provocative especially when one takes into account the time they were written. Poetic words come together to give the listener quite the stimulating image and you soon find yourself catching your breath wondering how one got away with writing such a graphic piece. One has to ponder if people of years past were more liberated then we give them credit for.
There is a wide variety of works presented here. Some are mere romantic notions with a touch of passion, others quite graphic and revealing. there are passages on love, sex, infidelity same sex attraction and even on masturbation. I would caution though that one truly has to be a lover of the English word to fully appreciate such a collection of erotic verse. No doubt listneing to such pros and poetry is the best way to enjoy works such as these. It was something else to listen too and very enticing. I found myself even wondering what the readers might look like in the nude for some of them had the sexiest voice. After listening to a few pieces you will find yourself drifting, and undressing strangers around you. It has this effect. it manages to withhold the mystery of sexual pleasure yet allows you to go wild with your imagination. Once you are done listening to this audiobook you will approach a new erotic encounter with a different notion.
This audiobook contains two CD's. A variety of readers both male and female narrate the passages. There are musical interludes throughout the readings adding that much more to the audio production. A must for lovers of poetry, erotica and for those who enjoy audiobooks with a flair. Naxos has done it again.

Deutero-Isaiah occupies a significant place in the cast of Hebrew prophets. He is at once of the same generation of the great exilic prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah, while at the same time a seminal figure for the lesser prophets. His quest to legitimize his message comprises a lyric corpus that poetically alludes to his predecessors. Prof. Sommer successfully examines Deutero-Isaiah's allusive tendencies and places the prohet within a framework of Hebrew prophecy that instructs us as much about the words he spoke as it does about the context of his tradition. This is a must read for any follower of the Old Testament tradition.

I read this book when I was in 6th grade (the main character is about 11 years old). It was always a book I remembered by name even after twenty years! That's quite a long time for a book to leave an impression. Its a great read for ages 10 and up and I would recommend reading it again as an adult.

I read this book when i was in the 3rd grade and i am now going into the 8th. I can barely remember any of it except for what happens in the end. I remember thinking it was the best book I had ever read and being so surprised at the end. I was so sad when it was all over. I recommend this book for anyone.

I read the book when I was in the 5th grade. Just like the other reviewer stated, I too remembered it for the next 20 years. I decided to pick up a copy and reread it about 3 years ago and was so happy to find it in the library of an elementary school I was doing a residency at. I feel any child would certainly enjoy the book and many would find a personal connection with the little girl who is the main character as she is going through some family problems that many children experience. I highly recommend this book to adults as well as children.