If you're looking for a book on yoga that will plant you firmly at the feet of a guru and introduce you to all the Hindu theosophical accretions that have built up around the asanas over the last two or three millennia, start with Iyengar's _Light on Yoga_. This book isn't it.

But if you're interested in yoga as a form of physical exercise that will help you to inhabit your body (and this planet) comfortably and perhaps occasionally even with a modicum of grace, and you want a no-nonsense book that will show you how to do it without requiring you to do obeisance to a guru full of Profound Insights, look no further. This book _is_ it.

The latter paragraph describes me. In traditional Hindu terms, I'm most definitely a jnana kind of guy (and a pretty iconoclastic one at that). Intellectually, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's _An Idealist View of Life_ comes close to capturing my philosophical outlook (which in my case owes as much to Royce and Bradley as to Shankara). I can muster up some reverence when it's absolutely necessary, but in general I'm about as bhakti as your cat.

And I certainly don't have much patience for the sort of stuff Frank Zappa memorably described as "Cosmik Debris"; the little reverence I _do_ have, I reserve exclusively for the Absolute, not for His/Her/Its self-appointed earthly representatives.

Nevertheless, for the reasons to which I briefly alluded above, I've been practicing yoga, at least on and off, for something over twenty years. And I like this book.

Now, I'm not knocking gurus; if you want one, go get one. (Just please, for your own sake, check them out carefully and stick to the real ones, like Sri Ramana Maharshi. And Iyengar's books are very good if you want that sort of thing.) I'm just saying that if you're like me, this is the yoga book you want. It sets out the asanas in anatomical detail, with photos of not only the right way but also several common _wrong_ ways of doing them. The descriptions are very good and very clear. And if you don't think you can do the "hard" ones right away, don't worry; simpler variants are included.

This is not, in short, a yoga book that will make you feel like a spiritual quitter or a fraud or something if you're just doing it for exercise. You can do as much or as little as you want, and this book will be right there to help you. (There's helpful information on diet and such too, but here again, you can take the parts you can use and leave the rest.)

Andre van Lysebeth wasn't looking for devoted chelas when he wrote this helpful guide. It was first published in the 1970s and it's stood the test of the intervening decades. I'm delighted to find that it's back in print so that I can get a replacement copy.

if you want to learn yoga from a book, then this is the best book you can buy, hands down no questions asked. in fact even if you take yoga there is a good chance that this book is better than the teacher you have. it really is that good. it starts with explanations on the benefits of yoga, the reasons it is so good for you etc. this section is fanatastic and in and of itself would have made the book well worth the price. but then you reach the section where the book describes how to do each pose and this is where things really shine. each pose is broken down to the smallest details. and even better, just about each step of each pose has picture. not only that but the book explains common mistakes made, and there are pictures of the mistakes!!!! in trying the poses, i have yet to run into a question that is not addressed by the text and by a picture. you can really tell that the author knows how to teach yoga. in fact, this isn't just the best yoga book i have read, it is the best exercise book i have read. one word of warning, when you first see each pose you might think, i can never do that. don't worry. the author explains what modifications you can do to make the pose "easier" (and of course there are pictures to show you what to do) and the author explains that patience is the key word. keep gently trying and you will succeed. all in all a must own book

My uncle introduced me to this book when I was 15. 21 years later, after going through many books, I don't find a book parallel to this. - The book is aimed for the westerner who has little time to practice. - No knowledge of yoga previously is required - A series of asanas are outlined in a scientific way to cover most parts of the body, each asanas complementing the previous one - For a book published first in the 70s, this book had the most photographs with ALL steps needing one; Every asana was described with possible mis-steps (with photographs); the side effects one feels if done incorrectly; the benefits; Such descriptions are still not routine in books of Yoga now

All in all, a must for a practitioner and one of the best books; For 21 years I have practiced Yoga thanks to this book. Hailing from India, I found no other book as instructional. A couple of years earlier, I was trying to find this book but it was out of print. I would bring extra copies of it from India and distribute it here. I am glad, the publisher have awoken, they have done a great service.

The sequence in this book consists of just about 10 asanas and a few breathing techniques. This makes it ideal for the practitioner to fold the practise into 30 minutes when there is not much time. A piece of advice - if you are new to yoga it may be a bit challenging to follow the routine. Also I started with this when I was 15 years young!

Its main focus is the physical aspect of Yoga. It covers little on Pranayama though correct breathing is emphasised and outlined for every asana. There is an exclusive chapter on correct Yogic breathing. I remember and quote often an interesting narration in the book where a stressed out man during a visit feels better after breathing correctly for a few minutes.

It won't be the complete or an exhaustive source for a Yoga practitioner. But it serves its purpose to introduce Yoga to the Westerner who is short on time and looks to Yoga as an alternative means for keeping fit and more later.

I won't go too much into the plot, as another reviewer here has done so quite excellently. However, I want to point out that Catseye was published for the Young Adult market and so can be read by both children, young adults and adults. I originally read this novel as a child and it still remains one of my favourite Andre Norton books.

Far, far into mankind's future, when humankind has spread out into the stars from the original planet of Terra and encountered other races...Young Troy Horan is a refugee/displaced person due to war, living the shadow life of an unwanted, non-citizen in the Dipple camp. His world and past life has gone forever and he has no future. The elite and powerbrokers of the galaxy, gathered on the pleasure planet of Korwar, prefer to ignore the unpleasant truth of the Dipple under their noses.

One day, Troy has the unbelievable luck to secure some temporary day work in a luxury pet shop. While there, he stumbles on a mystery that could cost him his life, and he goes on the run with the special sentient luxury pets he has discovered he can communicate with in the petshop.

Who can Troy trust? He and his Terran animal friends hold a dangerous secret, and various interested and powerful parties now set off in pursuit of Troy and his friends as they escape into the highly protected nature wilderness that comprises most of Korwar, and finally into the mysterious, forbidden and sealed ruins of a previous race which existed on Korwar. The ruins are officially sealed for a reason - can the escapees survive their pursuers and what lurks within?

Language and content are appropriate for children/young adults. In addition, the writing and plot is at an extremely high level, appealing to adult readers as well. Some themes are environmentalism, power, war, refugees and animal rights. One of my favourite SF books still, as an adult reader. Also one for cat lovers.

The action of several of Norton's science fiction novels have begun on Korwar, whose people deliberately chose to make the planet a playground for the rich and powerful of the galaxy. Ironically, this is the best possible protection for Korwar from the interstellar corporations represented by those same people - while they often plunder worlds for natural resources, they won't foul their own nest.

Despite their protection, however, Korwar isn't untouched. During the great war between the Council and Confederation governments (its aftermath appears in several books, such as _Dark Piper_), the capital city of Tikil became the site of a refugee camp. After the war, those whose worlds were gone, whether destroyed or traded away at the peace table, had nowhere else to go, so the refugee camp became the Dipple, an unofficial 3rd face of Tikil making an ugly contrast to the expensive haunts of tourists or even the working city of the spaceport and warehouse district. The Dipple is a perennial problem, and _Catseye_ follows Troy Horan, brought to this sterile warren as a youngster from the plains of Norden. There are only three options open to a Dipple-dweller: attempting to join the Thieves' Guild (as Ziantha of _Forerunner Foray_ escaped), signing on as indentured labor for a frontier world (as Niall of _Judgement on Janus_ did), or scraping by without sub-citizenship by competing in the very tight casual labor market, as Horan does. Consequently, while the protagonists of _Forerunner Foray_ and _Judgement on Janus_ also came from the Dipple, Troy Horan's story is the first to concentrate on Tikil and Korwar - the other tales leave the planet early in the story.

On the morning the story opens, Troy has incredible luck - the assigner has a job for someone with "knowledge of animals", and Troy's reply that he has that of a Norden herd rider lands him indefinite employment at Kyger's pet shop, which provides exotic pets as status symbols for the rich. Troy's initial worries about the decade separating him from any contact with animals aren't a problem - his initial work assignment to help retrieve some new acquisitions from the port lengthens when an attempted hijack en route puts a full-time Kyger employee temporarily out of action.

But why would anyone try to hijack a shipment of exotic animals bound for a life as pets - even as pets of the Gentle Fem San duk Var, rich and influential though she is? Delivering a fussel hawk and accompanying its first hunting expedition with a Ranger of Korwar (and giving us our first glimpse not only of Korwar's huge unspoiled nature preserves, but of the mysterious Forerunner ruins of Ruhkarv) leaves him with an impression that Korwar's guardians are taking an unusual interest in what is, after all, only a pet shop. After all, it's not *illegal* to convince credulous rich people that their little darlings can't survive without special diets, available from Kyger's. :)

Then the routine of delivering special pet food to a Sattor Commander's beloved kinkajou is disrupted by murder - and Troy covers the kinkajou's odd behavior with a plausible story for the police. He finds himself wondering just how intelligent these animals are - and whether he should ally himself with Kyger, who may provide a permanent escape from the Dipple, or with a certain cats-eye view of the world.

(Ruhkarv, and the disastrous fate of the last archeological team ever allowed in the place, are mentioned in some of Norton's other works - _Dread Companion_ mentions it in passing, while a Zacathan scholar in _Brother to Shadows_ attempts an experiment with a revised version of the device that brought final disaster to the Ruhkarv team - but _Catseye_ provides more information about Ruhkarv than any other story to date.)

Catseye is set in a plausible post stardrive civilization, with a good portrayal of society's darker side. A young man is forced into the role of hero through his psyonic ability to "talk" to gengineared animal. Around this main theme is woven darker plots: exploitation of the poor, war crimes, debauchery, and government's abusing rights. It is short, sweet, and worth writing about!

Many organizations struggle with the implementation of the balanced scorecard. It is rumoured that about 70% of these projects fail. There are many reasons given for this, like wrong timing, no commitment of the organization, inadequate IT etc. These failures are a shame because, as the book Quest for Balance shows, the use of a good PMS helps organizations obtain better results! So we should concentrate more on the reasons for PMS-failure and the things we can do to make these successful. This book concentrates on the human factors which influence this success. These factors are still too often ignored, probably because humans are so hard to deal with. Based on case study research the author has discovered which factors are the most important, like visible commitment of top management and a firm belief in performance management. Also management styles are discusses. With this book the failure rate of BSC-implementations surely must go down.

Many organizations struggle with the implementation of the balanced scorecard. It is rumoured that about 70% of these projects fail. There are many reasons given for this, like wrong timing, no commitment of the organization, inadequate IT etc. These failures are a shame because, as the book Quest for Balance shows, the use of a good PMS helps organizations obtain better results! So we should concentrate more on the reasons for PMS-failure and the things we can do to make these successful. This book concentrates on the human factors which influence this success. These factors are still too often ignored, probably because humans are so hard to deal with. Based on case study research the author has discovered which factors are the most important, like visible commitment of top management and a firm belief in performance management. Also management styles are discusses. With this book the failure rate of BSC-implementations surely must go down.

Andre de Waal manages to prove the importance of the human element as a critical success factor for using performance management systems (PMS). In this book he gives a clear overview which factors are important and how managers can use them. He uses very interesting case material to support his views. This book is not only for managers that want to set up a new PMS but also for managers that already use a PMS and struggle with it. A book that every manager needs to read and use in practice!

The author must have psychic powers and a clear, analytic mind. Oliverio's argument published in 1998 should have been read by U.S. foreign policy makers. She makes a cogent argument for considering the ways in which people and organizations of power use the concept of terror to hid their own uses of terrorism.

Although this book had been recommended to me by first class scholars, I did not read it until this week because I assumed the work would not be relevant after Septermber 11, 2001. The fact is it is more relevant now then ever before. In many ways, I interpret her to be saying that she loves her countries by loves justice more, much as Camus said long ago. Justice, an analysis of the politics of deviance and terrorism, a global perspective, and a beautiful analysis of the role of theater in the political arenas are only a small part of this poignant book.

Oliverio delves deeply into the roots of statecraft and how those roots intertwine with terrorism. Clearly the author finds the musings of an early Austrian, Machiavelli, sadly relevant to the modern scene.

This book is more interesting than the Titanic. The icing is the scholarly tone and the sophisticated literal agility of the Italian author.

"The Crystal Gryphon" is one of my favorite Witch World novels among the many five-star fantasies in this series by Lifetime Grand Master of Fantasy, Andre Norton (Alice Mary North). Like "Year of the Unicorn," 'Gryphon' takes place in the Dales and wastelands of High Hallack, as opposed to Norton's original Witch World settings of Estcarp and Escore, where Simon Tregarth and his family did battle with out-worlders and evil magic.

The story alternates between Kerovan, lord-heir in Ulmsdale of High Hallack, and Joisan, high-born maid of Ithkrypt in Ithdale of High Hallack, who is wedded to Kerovan by proxy when she is only eight. At first, there are few changes to her life as she will remain with her own kin until of suitable age:

....

It is so easy to get caught up in Norton's fantasy world. She puts her reader right into the midst of the feasting, mayhem, and magic. It's almost like being set down into the midst of a medieval Book of Hours.

Speaking of magic, when Kerovan's mother was about to give birth to him, she was forced to take shelter in a ruin of the mysterious Old Ones. She was rumored to be of the Old Race herself, and Kerovan was born with hooves instead of normal, human feet. His eyes were the color of butter amber.

Kerovan and Joisan grow up separately, having never met although they are married, and then their world is torn asunder by a strange invasion from the sea (see the original Witch World cycle for more detail about these invaders and their crawling, flame-shooting machines). In the Year of the Moss Wife, when Joisan should have gone to Ulmsdale to take up her wifely duties, she instead learns how to wear mail and wield a light sword. She wears a tiny gryphon in a crystal globe under her mail--a gift from her unknown fiancé.

Meanwhile Kerovan has problems of his own. The keep at Ulmsdale is betrayed to the invaders and he must make his way across the war-torn Dales to Joisan, whose own home has been destroyed. When he finally finds her, she mistakes him for one of the mysterious Old Ones because of his physical peculiarities.

How Kerovan and Joisan gradually come to regard each other, and how they attempt to defeat the dark magic that is arrayed against them forms the main story-line of this wonderful, but incomplete fantasy.

There are two sequels to "The Crystal Gryphon" (1972): "Gryphon in Glory" (1981); and "Gryphon's Eyrie" (1984, written with A. C. Crispin). None of Norton's co-authored books are as good as the ones she wrote by herself, but this is a series that is well worth following to the end.

This book, along with the other two 'Gryphon' books, rank as my favorite fantasy books of all time. The worst thing about this whole series is the name 'Witch World'. If you can get by that, you are in for a great time.

I finished reading this book less than a week ago and I couldn't put it down. Anyone that likes a good fiction/fantasy has to read this book. The story was facinating and the characters were great. I can't wait to read the other two books in the series, Gryphon in Glory and Gryphon's Eyrie.

I was expecting this kind of book because I'm now deep into Blaxploitation era, but also curious about Black movements of the 60ies and 70ies. In a way I learned a lot of things. A big deception is Ron O' Neal (aka Priest in "Superfly") isn't there, and the authors could also have gotten Tamara Dobson, James Brown, the late Curtis Mayfield and Willie Hutch. But that's life ! A big book, great value for me

Great book about the 70's black movies. I thought I seen them all but this book talked about movies I did'nt know about but would like to see, if I could just find all the videos! The art work alone is worth the price of the book! If you plan or get invited to a 70's party use this book as a guide to get that true afropicking,bellbottom,platform shoe wearing look.

Without a doubt one of the Baddest Books that i have ever read.this book talks about my Favorite ERA.it explains the importance of these films&Artists.cuz at the time Tinseltown wasn't happening.the Black Artists here&their Films kept the Lights&Power on.this book sheds Light on Many Topics.the Impact of the Images have Lasting Impact.I'M Glad that Many Artists in the book said that they couldn't stand the term Blaxploitation.I Agree.Hollywood is a Business if the films weren't happening&Making Profit they wouldn't be on display.No Impact,no Word of Mouth they wouldn't be Happening.not everything was cool or worth watching but it was the kind of Charge that is needed to Level the Playing Field.it left a Lasting Impression on Me&Countless others.this is a Must have.very Detailed.

Good mix of stories. Some funny, sad, enchanting. I didn't care for TEEL RULES/Mark Krieghbaum or ETERNITY'S GATE/Gary A. Braunbeck, but that's just me. Try it, it's nice to find a fantasy collection where just about all the stories are fine and readable.

Great idea to combine Fantasy & Romance! This is my favorite anthology for either genre to date. Every story is a gem, not one single story could have been omitted. They were all the best I've read since Mercedes Lackey stopped writing about Diana Tregarde Investigations, and Silhouette decided to end the Shadows line of books. I already crave a Dangerous Magic II anthology. Yvonne Jock's story is my favorite, I can certainly identify with a TV junkie with an active imagination! Enough said, this is a must-have for any fantasy or romance fan (or both).

I'm a guy and I wouldn't be caught dead reading a romance novel. But I do like fantasy so I picked this up for that reason. Surprised me that I enjoyed the stories by the romance writers just as much as from the fantasy writers. I figured maybe these were unusual stories, selected because they weren't typical for romance stories, but my girlfriend says no, that this is why she's been trying to get me to read romance stuff for the past couple of years. If the novels are anything like the stories in this anthology, then I'm going to have to start reading romance novels (with a book jacket on them of course.) My favorites in the collection are "Man of her Dreams" (T.Waggoner) and "Nine Tenths" (L.Hayden). How about a "DM2"?

A really absorbing memoir, reminiscent in some ways of Nabokov's "Speak, Memory". Neither sentimental nor self indulgent, clear-eyed, humorous, yet moving and truly interesting. Having lived in Egypt myself around the same time (albeit in Cairo, not Alexandria), I was touched by recognition of places and types: a world "gone with the wind". That is of course very personal, but I believe this book should appeal to any one with a little curiosity about other places, people, times.

Andre Aciman has written a brillant portrait of a doomed and now vanished world .This memoir is filled with melancholy, energy, feeling and true wit.His style is simple, silken and elegant. The truely amazing thing about the book and the reason I could not put it down were the characters.Rich, vivid ,full fleshed very much like Dickens.Very funny very moving . Buy this book now.

Andre Aciman will transport you through time and space to another world -- a richly remembered and captivating world filled with characters whose complexity and humanity charm and enthrall. Unlike many self-absorbed memoirs, the author is more observer than actor, and his descriptions of a vanished time and place and people will fill you with longing and melancholy. A book to be enjoyed and cherished.

This is a pretty good book to start with for new Witch World people ,except that some parts will be confusing ,as they were for me,but that wouldn't have been so if I'd read all of the previous books.This book is very intrugueing ,and very mysterious .I can see why Witch World is considered her best .Norton continues her depth in magic ,which is one of the reasons I adore her work.This book gives a little prologue on what has happened previously ,so readers may understand .I highly reccomend this book!

"'Ware Hawk" weaves a very dark tapestry of Witch World, where Evil comes closer to victory than in any of Norton's other WW novels. It begins several years after the Turning, when the Witches of Estcarp reshaped the mountains between themselves and their enemies. Those who did not flee from the heights when the mountains surged and foamed and changed shape like waves in the ocean, were destroyed. This book is the story of Tirtha, a woman of part-witch blood who hires a Falconer, a soldier whose home was destroyed by the Turning, to guide her over the mountains. She is under a geas to return to her deserted ancestral hold and recover a treasure that was hidden when her family was slain by the enemies of Estcarp. Her journey over-mountain is made even more perilous by a Dark One who is determined to foil Tirtha's quest.

"'Ware Hawk" is a classical Norton confrontation between a determined and seemingly powerless heroine and a sophisticated, all-powerful Dark magician. If you are already a Witch World fan, this book is a 'must read'.

Great story. The character are compelling. A must read. Who said: (Get a copy if you can). I can't say it better.

This book is about the intersection between art and revolutionary politics.In the 1930s the leading figures of the surrealist movement and a few other artists and writers tried to cut out some political space for artists who supported a revolutionary overturn of the system that birthed fascism and world war - capitalism .The same "globalized" capitalism that exists today, and which is marching toward fascism and world war all over again. In the 1930s, there was another challenge for would-be revolutionary artists : the obstacle of the mass
"Communist" parties which betrayed them and workers and farmers around the world in the interests of the "Soviet" bureaucrats headed by Stalin, which same bureaucracy stifled and suffocated all art and creativity inside the USSR.The struggle of those artists, led by Andre Breton and Diego Rivera, and their direct collaboration with the Russian revolutionary leader in exile Leon Trotsky, has rich lessons for those artists of all kinds who are already beginning to reject and revolt against the "globalized" capitalism of today. As well as those who will do so tommorow.

This book will give you a good understanding of the surrealist movement. You will read the artists' writings not only on this subject, but also their views on the important political questions of the day which they understood were tied to cultural questions. A photo display in the book gives you a sampling of surrealist works. There is also an excellent glossary of names that reveals the evolution of the surrealists in later years. You gain an appreciation for the international breadth of the movement. 'What is Surrealism?' is not just for art history students. Anyone wishing to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between art and politics will be fascinated by collection of articles in this book.

Well, what a shock. A totally human, big, fat tome on an art form that I've never enjoyed. Makes understandable and useful for one's own life the surrealists' aim of dissolving the alienating barriers between thought and action, dream and consciousness, art and life. Their appreciation of Freud; their collaboration with communists, with Leon Trotsky; their rejection of fatherland, religion, family - all flowing from their determination to be part of the birth of a new world in which there would be no poets because all would make poetry. Fascinating section of documents including a brief homage to Hopi art, denunciation of Salvador Dali for being pro-fascist, support to the Algerian independence fight. Still don't enjoy the surrealists' work. But do enjoy them now.