Never have I seen anything quite like this. This is the definitive book on creativity. & When you don't create, ahhh, the ills that befall us. We fall into an addictive pattern trying desperatedly to recreate that atonement w/God. Failing that, one either drinks, or does whatever to replicate that feeling one more time. Again & again. This book revealed the essence alcoholism. Why certain people drink or create. Simple as that. I've reread this one @ least 2x now. Enjoy your journey.

This is a unique and courageous book, as heartening to the artist as to the addict in each of us. It is a marvelously distilled meditation on creativity's darkness en route to the light. Leonard has deftly woven literary, spiritual, and psychological treatments of the dark night of the soul into a seamless tapestry, and found precious meaning in some of the most devastating aspects of human experience. For anyone facing their own darkness, this book is a welcome and comforting companion, an inspiring guide, and a very wise friend.

This is actually an appreciation - not a literary review. I am an alcoholic in recovery and have an immense gratitude to Linda for writing this book. In her book I found answers, or rather experiences I could relate to, so similar and fitting to many issues burning and un-explained within me. My daimon has been enriched and my recovery program enhanced as a result of reading her great work. I have become a survivor (witness) to the road less travelled up the ladder out of the Abyss - I am no longer terrified to visit that void of darkness because I understand the burning issues of Creativity and Addiction parallels and inter-relations all that much better for reading her book. I am able, daily, one step at a time, to unshackle myself as a hostage to my addiction and choose to harness my creativity productively as a result of being a student of "Witness to the Fire". And I am a student of her work still, and always will be, due to my acceptance of my powerlessness over my lifelong disease and my need for every tool I can find to keep me healthy and strong. But I have chosen to let My Higher Power guide my daily existence and can therefore cope and be creative once more. Linda's book is constantly next to my bedside along with my "Big Book" and "My Recovery Book" - in daily use during my prayers and meditations. You helped save my life Linda - Thank You. Colin Tatham

The story is told in a personal way: in episodes. It both holds your interest and engages you to share in the thoughts and feelings of the professional military who served in Vietnam. The novel introduces historic struggles for power among the Vietnamese people as a backdrop of activity creating an unforgettable perspective of our forces' departure. Its rare to be entertained and also be presented with a perspective to help clarify your thinking of the war. This books shows how integrity was so strongly tested and yet prevailed in the conduct of many Vietnamese and American officers. A quick read-but with lasting images! The fact that the Naval Officer who is the main character displays such total disregard for his personal safety by infinging on a Marine Officer's relationship with a woman is unrealistic.He'd have been harmed!

I really enjoyed reading this book. Dr. Nelson has certainly contributed a refreshing and enduring perspective to the Vietnam War experience. Starting from his offshore involvement of the Vietnam War to his hands-to-hands combat with the enemy guerrillas deep in the killer forest, Commander Blake Lawrence is a classic American warrior who despite his apathy for the war received and returned the call of duty for democracy with grace and dignity. This book is beautifully written with concrete details of the country, the people, and the thrilling events of Vietnam. After reading the first few pages of the book I found it's difficult to put down as each additional readings lead on to more intrigue and suspense. Even though Blake only served in the war of Vietnam for three years the intensity of characters and the events as told by Dr. Nelson strike a resounding chord in generations of veterans past, present, and future to the conflicting values of society, family, and self that a warrior must endure to survive. I truly recommend this book to all those who want to find out more about the complex struggles for a nation and the sacrifices and ordeals that must be paid for its unending resolution.

The Advisor is not only a fast-paced action novel, it also contains a moving story. I was impressed by the altered views about Vietnam that I had after reading The Advisor. The author clearly knows his history of the country and its people. Overall, I felt that The Advisor was instructive while also an exciting adventure, with memorable characters and action scenes tied to the story--not just thrown in to keep the reader's attention. The book is filled with details that add depth to understanding those tumultuous times,and the clear compassion the author holds for the people who were forced to fight in them. This is fine novel. By all means, read it. You won't feel the same about Vietnam.

In Carl W. Peters: American Scene Painter from Rochester to Rockport, Richard H. Love, with scholarly expertise, tells the story of a pioneer American regionalist whose career developed amid the conflict between modernisn and realism. Not just about Carl Peters, Love's book is rich with stories of American art. His coverage of the art scene in Woodstock and Cape Ann, America's first art colony, is a fascinating contribution to art history. What a place Gloucester must have been in the early twentieth century! John Sloan's description gave unique insight, "there was an artist's shadow beside every cow in Gloucester, and the cows themselves were dying from eating paint-rags."

Carl W. Peters, American Scene Painter from Rochester to Rockport.is the first comprehensive look at the American Scene and mural painter. Art historian, artist, gallery owner, and former media personality Richard Love, a consummate scholar and cultural commentator, contrasts the European-inspired traditions and modern movement with "home-grown" American realism. Throughout the book, Love's extraordinary grasp of American artistic and cultural events enriches the story of Peters' life and art in a marvelous way. We conclude that Peters was a distinctive American artist. This remarkable book, beautiful in design, dense in delineation of all aspects of American culture, and rich in expression will long be the scholarly standard for the life and works of Carl W. Peters, who rose from humble origins on a farm in the Genesee country to become an outstanding painter of the American Scene.

Your book will definetly help students and patrons alike find information on a period of American art that has not been fully covered.

Carl Raswans efforts to publish his writings were met with resistance from many fronts. His Raswan Index was considered by many in the Arabian horse community, to be heresy.
Many detractors were influencial, powerful people. Efforts were , for the most part, successfull to keep his writings from the American market.
While "Drinkers of the Wind" was less controversial, efforts were made to keep this fine history of North African Bedouins off of the market.
A fine and well writing book on this subject, A interesting read
for all.

This book made me feel as though I had been in the desert with the Bedouins...and made me realize the love I have for the horse is as ancient as the desert itself. I was taken by the sincerity of the author and his ability to relate his feelings and keep me interested page after page...this book is a keeper.

Carl Raswan's life among the bedouins gives us an insiders view of the relationship man and horse. Anyone who read and loved the black stallion as a child will appreciate this man's passion: the arabian.

The rabbi who gave this to me is Rabbi Richard K. Rocklin of Temple Beth Tikvah in Greenacres, Florida. He said he gives it to all people who express an interest is converting to Judaism.

I am glad the Rabbi sent me this book because it is very succinct and straightforward. The things I found most helpful about this book are the discussion of the different Jewish holidays and the description of the different movements within Judaism. I found it very interesting to read that there is a difference between "movements" and "denominations." In other words, "Reform" Judaism is not to "Orthadox" Judaism as "Catholic" is to "Baptist." It was interesting for me to learn that while the different movements practice differently, they still accept one another as being Jewish (though they may not always agree on things). It was an interesting eye opener.

I also found it interesting to read that many Jewish people do not literally believe the stories in Torah, the Biblical stories. Perhaps the most eye-opening thing in this book is the fact that Judaism rejects the concept of "Original Sin." Prior to reading this book, I had assumed that Judaism taught Original Sin just as Catholicism does (because, after all, you hear so much about the "Judeo-Christian Tradition"). This book will always be important to me for teaching me that Judaism rejects this concept. I sometimes wonder how different my worldview would have been, and my life thus far, had I not been taught the concept of Original Sin at such a young age. I'm happy to say I am un-learning that concept. I don't believe human beings are inherently sinful, and I'm glad this book showed me that there are others who feel the same way.

This book answered so many of my questions about Jewish life and values. The chapter on what Judaism teaches really opened up a lot of windows for me and the book is filled with good practical information about the basics of Jewish living (such as keeping Shabbat and following the dietary laws). I was glad the author doesn't promote one "type" of Judaism, or one movement over another: he presents the ideological differences & outlines the hallmarks of Jewish life, leaving the reader to make her own choice. About a third of the book discusses Jewish history & I found it helpful to read a breezy but careful synopsis of major trends in Jewish history, without having to plow through something long & complicated.

When the first edition to this book appeared some years ago, I was disappointed. But with the masterful reworking by Rabbi Perkins, this book rises to first place in one-volume introductions available. As a congregational rabbi, I helped over 200 people convert to Judaism. Now, as Dean of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Judaism, I supervise the Miller Introduction to Judaism program. We're always on the prowl for books that are informative, thoughtful, accurate and passionate. Embracing Judaism fits the bill, and we will work hard to get it into the hands of today's seekers, Jewish and non-Jewish. This book makes complex ideas clear, without preaching, distorting, or infantilizing. A wonderful book!

I attended the University of Colorado, Boulder as a graduate student in EE in the mid-1980's . I took Dr. Johnk's classes in Electromagnetics, and was very inspired by him personally. He has some sort of 3-D visualization coprocessor in his brain, and the explanatory drawings he made in class reflected that anatomical curiosity, as do the drawings and explanations in this text book of his. In this book, he has pulled together all the important concepts of engineering electromagnetics. I own a bunch of other books on electromagnetics for use as references, but this one is the one I use consistently. My copy of this book now looks like it was dragged down the road behind a car, just from over-use. Soon I will have to buy a new copy.

I own the first edition of the text. Carl presents the material in a very logical and thoughful manner. I have never been as impressed of a textbook before. It reads well and has amazing hand-drawn figures.
A must have for any electrical engineering student, physicist, or fields fanatic.

I took Carl T.A. Johnk's electromagnetics classes at the University of Colorado back in the early 80's. He inspired my career in microwaves and antennas. His lectures were always instructive and entertaining (if you can believe it for an EM class). His book embodies his colorful and insightful lectures.

DAS

This book, Exporting: A Manager's Guide to the World Market presents the view from a truly universal perspective while making it practical for all businessmen and women involved in the global marketplace. Dr. Nelson has the gift of making sense out of a very complex subject. He treats each chapter in a simple, understandable prose and presents contemporary examples of the governmental documentation required in intenational trade transactions. The business aspect of exporting is summed-up in the strategies of his 'wealth exchange bridge." The manner in which this book is presented offers not only how one should export, but includes the usual missing link-tricks of the trade. These tricks of the trade or tribal knowledge is the cornerstone to Success internationally. Dr. Nelson delivers a captivating one-two punch in hs book's organization. In summary, the most important aspects of the export procss are captured in thirteen simple easy to understand chapters packed with a powefull punch of needed advice and information including six appendices' of invaluable content. It is important reading for the new to export, or students of international business alike. I truly recommend this book and all in the series for anyone thinking of entering the global marketplace today!

This book is aimed at everyone involved in international trade. Particularly useful to managers with small and medium sized manufacturing and service companies growing toward new international challenges. Shows the "do it yourself" approach as well as best intermediary help.

This presentation is by the expert in international trade and should be the first source for practioners or beginners. It covers the subject of exporting from A to Z with lots of tips.

This book is an enlightening first step in understanding a spouse who is driven by perfectionism, anger and control. Reading the book makes you realize it's not their fault -- or yours either. (This does not make their behavior less destructive, but it's easier when you stop blaming them for it.) The person from this type of family does not have the self-awareness to recognize their own destructive impulses, much less develop the skills they need to have healthy relationships. It's like they are pre-programmed to destroy relationships with family and business partners. After reading this book, you realize that you, alone, cannot help your spouse, and if you keep trying to do it alone, you will only become more frustrated and heartbroken. It is a good guideline to begin therapy with a good family counselor, which I believe is the only way to break the cycle.

Shame has a myriad of origins, this book gives an excellentunderstanding of shame and its effect upon our lives. It helps us todifferentiate the important difference between guilt and shame. Shame deeply effects our self esteem as well as how we view others and eventually our success in life. John Bradshaw, who is also an excellent writer, in his book regarding shame mostly limits his approach to those from alcoholic families. In this book, not only is this area covered but many other areas along with the developmental dynamics of shame and shame-based behaviors. Not coming from an alcoholic family I did not understand my own deep feelings of shame until I read this book. I highly recommend it for any persons who wish to understand themselves better on their road to becoming a more complete, self-accepting and healthy person.

The authors do an excellent job of raising awareness of how shame impacts family relationships. Their limited, but well focused use of graphs and case studies allows them to relay a great deal of information to the reader in a concise but very understandable manner.

Very useful, in contrast with the cookbooks on 'mathematical physics' otherwise available. Systematic, with good examples and workable but challenging homework problems (I used this book for years while teaching advanced 'math methods in physics')Where else do you learn about Fuch's theorem? Good, systematic approach to asmptotic expansions, especially evaluation of integrals. Provided examples of deterministic chaotic systems before that subject was in vogue. Best description (as motion in phase space) of torque-free rigid body in free fall. Also good on boundary layer theory. Excellent text!

I have the fortune of having Professor Bender teach the content of this book to me. His dynamic lecturing style, sense of humor, and astounding cleverness are all visible through the text of this book.

If you can't get to Washington University to take a class with him, at least buy the book. His writing style and frequent examples make the most elusive and suble concepts quite clear. I can't wait for his and Orzag's second book to be released!

I learned more mathematics from Bender & Orszag than from any other math book I own. I'm an applied physicist, and as any physicist knows, a sleazy approximation that provides good physical insight into what's going on in some system is far more useful than an unintelligible exact result.

This book covers approximate methods for solving differential and difference equations, asymptotic methods for integrals, and asymptotic and extrapolation methods for sums. There are a great many beautiful plots, and lots of discussion of the actual lore of doing--alternative ways of attacking the same problem, things to watch out for, what sorts of problems a given method is best at.

I think the most valuable parts of this book are the examples and problems, both of which are the best anywhere.

It's really great to see this old friend (first published in 1978) back in print. If you have ugly differential equations or integrals to solve, buy it!

Useful if you don't feel like poring over the Collected Works looking for some of Jung's theorizing on working a dream. You might also check out Jung's Dreams seminar.

Carl Jung says he has analysed more than 2.000 dreams per year, a very impressive number by anyone's standards. In his Dreams book, which a very good collection of many of his dreams experiments, he is after demolishing some Freudian's dreams concepts, mainly the one which asserts that the purpose of dreams is to fulfill infantile sexual wishes repressed in the unconscious, which don't find adequate outlet trough conscious activities.
To add content to this dispute, one has only to have in mind that Jung was a very ardent disciple of Freud in the beginning of his career, but the relationship turned sour after 1914 in the figthing for prestige at the foundation of the Psychanalisys in the beginning of the 20th century.
In Jung's view, dreams are not only wish fulfillers, but they are also compensatory vis-a-vis our daily conscious life. So, the purpose of them is to balance our conscious and unconscious life. So, if life is good, dreams are bad and vice-versa. At the end of his life, Jung said in one of his testimonials that by means of a very representative dream he closed a circle, which meant he got a balanced mental life between unconscious and consciousness.

Also, dreams should be taken not as isolated entities, but rather as a series of concatenated manifestations of the unconscious, something which could be represented by the ancient mandalas (Sanscrit for circle) of many peoples from the ancient world (mayas, hindus, polinesians, etc...), where the ultimate end is to attain a balance mind. Jung's theory of the unconscious is, in my opinion, pretty much more attractive than Freud's, specially in what it regards the timelessness of the unconscious and the unconscious collective.

Reading "Dreams" after reading Freud's "Interpretation of Dreams" is a magnificient experience and the winner is surely the reader, who gets the most of two of the most proeminent and polemical psychanalysts of all times.

About God, Jung said, I don't believe, I know.

As soon as you read 'Dreams', you will have a complete sense of his amazing insights, not only on the subject matter, but on the complete human pysche. And this includes, as I tried to hint at from the very beginning, the very meaning of our existence.

Perhaps there would not be a Jung today, if there had not been a Freud preceding him. But a completely ignorant educated man here says, having read them both, that Jung's proposal is far more clever, ellaborate, comprehensive and convincing.

Jung was a unique scholar, he had a very distinctive ability to blend a lot of knowledge from seemingly unrelated areas of science into pyschology. His biography is an essential starting point to understand how he managed to develop this quality, which I think was key to his original thinking.

'Dreams' is a book of rare brilliance. Thanks to Jung, for providing a 'basis' for all things.