Truly fascinating. Smith captivated me from the first page on. Stayed up all Friday night reading it. #1 Recommendation.

David and Deborah find love, adventure and horror but you won't want to put the book down once you have picked it up. The ending will suprise you. You will be glad to have spent the time

This is the best book if you want to read something touching, made by a mixture of romance and action. Suggested to those of you who like aircrafts, aivation and similars. You'll find yourself slowing down in reading, just to make is last longer!! READ IT!

I didn't expect the book to be filled with about 80% bible verses and only 20% of what Michael has to share. Nevertheless, I appreciate his frank and honest comments which are definitely encouraging, especially to youths. The selected bible verses are very aptly chosen to serve to encourage any believer. It's almost like a highlight of what the bible has to say about Christian living. It's a good gift to Christians and non-Christians alike.

Michael W. Smith's book Friends are Friends Forever focuses on growing friendships that will glorify God. He uses Scripture throughout the book to back up his opinions and advice with God's Word. Smith tells stories of his own experiences and friendships to encourage Godly relationships among his readers. Excellent gift for a good friend in the Lord.

I've had a lot of ups and downs in my life. I believe that this book has helped me and can help other people. This book is good for encourgment to belivers and non. The book helps you to have a different outlook on life. I thought Michael did very well writing to the youth and others as well.

This is the story of a man and his book.

The man is Michael Servetus. He was a brilliant young Spaniard born into a world of religious upheaval and burgeoning science. Though he would become a well-respected physician who was the first (even before Harvey) to discover pulmonary circulation, he ran into trouble when he passionately espoused anti-Trinitarian beliefs--beliefs deemed heresy not only by the Roman Catholic Church but by important Protestant strongholds as well.

The book is Christianismi Restituto. It was in this book that Servetus argued his unitarian stand and put forth his idea of pulmonary circulation. What was believed to be the last known copy of this book was chained to Servetus' leg as he was burned at the stake in Geneva in 1553. Of course, the book did survive; otherwise, there would be no story to tell and Servetus would be lost to history.

In fact, as we learn through the pages of this wonderful book by the Goldstones, three copies of the book survived and are now extremely valuable. As a book collector, the story of the provenance of the three surviving copies is fascinating in itself. But there is much more of interest here than the story of a book.

Much along the lines of the trend started by Dava Sobel in Longitude, the Goldstones tell the story of a much forgotten but most important moment in history. Amid the background of the development of printing and the beginnings of the Protestant Reformation, we learn of a man who made a huge scientific discovery that was basically forgotten for most of a century and re-discovered by the man who is usually credited with the discovery (Harvey). But, more importantly, we learn of a man who is swept up in the spirit of Protestantism and yet is destroyed by the very forces he helped to create.

In fact, the story of the conflict between Servetus and Calvin is the most fascinating part of this book. In a world where the word "Inquisition" is a staple of criticism against the Roman Catholic church, it is important to be reminded that Protestant churches were often quick to burn those they considered heretics as well. Which makes it even more ironic that one of the three original surviving copies of this heretical book is Calvin's personal copy.

All in all, this is a fascinating book. It is a wonderful history not only of a person but also of an era of upheaval and intellectual ferment. Anyone interested in book collecting, theology or Renaissance history will enjoy this book.

I first learned of "Out of the Flames" from a review written by The Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt in the November/December 2002 isssue of "UUWorld," the magazine of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

McNatt's description of the personal conflict between Michael Servetus and the famous John Calvin and the martyrdom of a heretic at the hands of a Protestant founder intrigued me. As both a member of a UU congregation and a humanities teacher in the public schools, I wanted to learn more about this part of our religious struggle.

The book grabbed my attention right from the prologue, and, except for some detailed and belabored connections near the end, held me. Anyway, I was more interested in first two thirds of the work, the story of Servetus and his conflict with Calvin. The last section of the book follows the history of the surviving books by Servetus after his execution

The life of Servetus and his adventures is portrayed in an exciting fashion, fleshing out the characters, both obscure and famous. The trials and tribulations of this heretic who dared to question the Biblical foundation for the trinity, were captivating. The authors seemed to have a keen sense as to exactly how far they could take me down a path before bringing me back to the main story line, clarifying the importance of what at first may have seemed like an interesting but unimportant detour. With a summarizing statement or a simple declaration, the intrigue was palpable.

I was both saddened and appalled by the intolerance displayed by so many of our religious ancestors. The horrible fate of Servetus seems brought on more by personal enmity than by the disagreement over religious doctrine. But the antitriniatrian position held by Servetus was certainly not popular then and is still widely misunderstood today.

I would strongly recommend this book to all, trinitarians, antitrinitarians and those who are interested in our religious history and are not too apprehensive to encounter some uncomfortable and maybe some unsettling conclusions. To me, this story seems like a very important aspect of Protestant history that was omitted from my Sunday school lessons. I believe this work would make an excellent addition to almost any school or church library. (Our students can use all the support you can give.)

What a fascinating book. It is superbly written and almost impossible to put down. Nonfiction history books that read like bestselling thrillers are hard to find indeed. But that is definitely the case here.

Throughout the ages, how many individuals have markedly changed the world we live in, yet are not found in most history books? The name Michael Servetus is one that should be known by any serious student of Western Civilization, yet sadly his story has been missed by so many historians.

Kudos to the authors for a job well done.

'Medea' by Euripedes is a classic and powerful Greek tragedy that broke all the rules of that time period. Euripedes takes two great figures in Medea and Jason, and uses Iconoclastic techniques brilliantly to make Jason seem stupid and Medea seem like a murderer. It is especially interesting because of the story that you need to understand outside of the play. You will need to know who the gods are and how Medea and Jason got together. Medea is a powerful sorceress, which is a major point in this play. The imagery of the death scenes were VIVIDLY scripted and the gods, who are supposed to represent all that is good and rightous, are also mocked and bashed by Euripedes. Overall, Euripedes defied all and created a tragic masterpiece, I will definately recommend you to read this. Thank you.

This is one of those remarkable plays that feels like it was written just last week. Medea is the daughter of the evil King Aeetes in Colchis -- on the remote, eastern side of the Black Sea. She assists Jason in slaying the serpent that guarded the golden fleece, and fell deeply in love with him. (See Apollonius Rhodius' Argonautica for a fuller treatment of the love episode at Colchis). She even killed her brother, Absrytus, on their way back to Greece.

Medea has one problem, however. Aside from the fact she is a witch, she is a barbarian, a non-Greek. The Greeks used the word "barbaros" to refer to all people who weren't Greek, because if they didn't speak Greek, it just sounded like "bar bar bar" to the Greeks.

So after Jason and Medea settle in together back in Greece, his homeland, he decides that his interests (and Medea's) are better served if he marries the daughter of King Creon of Corinth. Medea gets jealous, poisons the woman, and then kills her two children in revenge.

Medea is an absolutely riveting character, whose tragic problems are those of all woman who have left their homes and families to follow men to foreign lands, only to be scorned by them in the end. The speeches of Jason and Medea are remarkable point-counterpoint presentations which reflect the deep influence of the sophists of Euripides' day. Medea sounds, at times, like a proto-feminist. She is one of the most enduring dramatic creations of all times, revealing with each line the remarkable genius of Euripides, the most modern of the three great Greek tragedians

Every time there is a horrific story in the news about a mother murdering her children, the classic tragedy "Medea" by Euripides is mentioned. However, a close reading of the actual play shows that the point Euripides is trying to make in this drama is not about infanticide, but rather about the way "foreigners" are treated in Greece (this is best seen in the odes of the Chorus of Corinthian Women). The other key component of the play is the psychology of Medea and the way in which she constructs events to help convince herself to do the unspeakable deed and kill the two sons she has borne Jason. There is a very real sense in which Jason is the true villain of the piece and I do not think there is a comparable example in the extant Greek tragedies remain wherein a major mythological hero is made to look as bad as Euripides does in this play.

Another important thing to remember in reading "Medea" is that the basic elements of the story were already known to the Athenian audience that would be watching the play. Consequently, when the fact that Medea is going to kill her children is not a surprise what becomes important are the motivations the playwright presents in telling this version of the story. The audience remembers the story of the Quest for the Golden Fleece and how Medea betrayed her family and her native land to help Jason. In some versions of the story Medea goes so far as to kill her brother, chop up his body, and throw it into the sea so their father, the King of Colchis, must stop his pursuit of the Argo to retrieve the body of his son. However, as a foreigner Medea is not allowed to a true wife to Jason, and when he has the opportunity to improve his fortune by marrying the princess of Corinth, Medea and everything she had done for him are quickly forgotten.

To add insult to injury, Jason assures Medea that his sons will be well treated at the court while the King of Corinth, worried that the sorceress will seek vengeance, banishes her from the land. After securing sanctuary in Athens (certainly an ironic choice given this is where the play is being performed), Medea constructs a rather complex plan. Having coated a cloak with poison, she has her children deliver it to the princess; not only will the princess die when she puts on the cloak (and her father along with her), the complicity of the children in the crime will give her an excuse to justify killing in order to literally save them from the wrath of the Corinthians.

This raises an interest questions: Could Medea have taken the children with her to her exile in Athens? On the one hand I want to answer that obviously, yes, she can; there is certainly room in her dragon-drawn chariot. But given her status as a foreigner, if Jason goes to Athens and demands the return of his children, would he not then have a claim that Medea could not contest? More importantly, is not Medea's ultimate vengeance on Jason that she will hurt him by taking away everything he holds dear, namely his children and his princess bride?

In the final line of the play the Chorus laments: "Many things beyond expectation do the gods fulfill. That which was expected has not been accomplished; for that which was unexpected has god found the way. Such was the end of this story." This last line has also found its way into the conclusion of other dramas by Euripides ("Alcestis," "Bacchae" and "Andromache"), but I have always found it to fit the ending of "Medea" best, so I suspect that is where it originally came from and ended up being appended to those other plays sometime during the last several thousand years. However, the statement is rather disingenuous because one of the rather standard approaches in a play by Euripides is that his characters often deserve their fate. In a very real sense, Euripides provides justification for Medea's monstrous crime and his implicit argument to the Athenian audience is that the punishment fits the crime. However, Athenians would never give up their air of superiority; at least not until foreigners such as the Macedonians and the Romans conquered the self-professed cradle of democracy.

Rabbis Joy Levitt and Michael Strassfeld have spent several years updating the Haggadah of the Reconstructionist movement, which was last revised in 1941. This Haggadah, which sold out of its first printing of 15,000 copies, in just a few weeks, offers more of a narrative story for the Passover seder (more of a story than the rabbinical commentary format that is found in more traditional haggadot). It also offers the family gender neutral language, does not refer to the Hebrews as a "chosen people", has the story of the four children instead of the four sons, and includes new traditions, such as "Miriam's cup."

A Night Of Questions is accessible, hands-on and beautifully illustrated. Written so children can understand, this haggadah is a must-have for every Jewish home.

Hello. If you are looking for a Haggadah that will keep you and your family's attention, including you're kids, then read this and use it this Passover. My kids, Jenny and Roderick, are in LOVE with the amazing haggadah. They love all the colors. Buy this to make you're family happy. It sure did it for me.

An English army Captain is propelled from the beginning of the twentieth century to the latter third only to be confronted with the subtle evil he has unknowingly morally supported all his life. As he is propelled from parallel universe to parallel universe within the Multi-verse he comes to the realization he is but a pawn of some greater force doomed to be crucially instrumental in the destruction of everything he believes in and has defended as a soldier. Unable to take control of his own destiny, he discovers some relief in the secrets of someone who keeps appearing in each world. But is he free? You may have to read the entire series to find out.

Though the readers of Elric may not be satisfied because of the all but total lack of sorcery, "A Nomad of the Time Streams" is a twentieth century Eternal Champion enmeshed in the classic struggle between infinite shades of good and evil, for which Moorcock is famous. Here "Chaos" and "Law" are not named, as in many of his other novels, but they are much more potent because good and evil are subtly hidden within each. This set of stories is a fine contrast to Elric's the end justifies the means and Corum's goody two shoes gets mad.

This book is probably the most science-fictional of the four books in the series I have read thus far, and I'd probably consider it the best. The three tales of Oswald Bastable are rife with ideas and imagination. As usual, here are comments on the individual books:
Warlord of the Air: Great introduction to Bastable. I thought Moorcock in the beginning was him, so it was neat to see Bastable actually show up later. The future of 1973 that he goes to is great on the surface, but dark underneath, and the political arguments are anything but one-sided, highlighting both sides. Oh, and Oswald drops a bomb.

The Land Leviatian: This one reminded me of Heinlein's novel Farnham's Freehold, for some reason. The premise of blacks taking over the world in response to the crimes against them by whites is an interesting study of our world. Still, Bastable still feels lousy for helping to destroy the obviously unrepentant whites. Go figure.

The Steel Tsarr: Longest of the three, and probably the most complex, set in a democratic Russia at war with its Cossacks. Poor Bastable finally gets some peace with the help of Mrs Perrson. And is it me, or is the Steel Tsar a dead ringer for Stalin?

I enjoyed reading about Bastable and hopefully Moorcock will include more about him in the later book in the series. In this one, he mentions that Bastable is mentioned in Warriors at the End of Time, so perhaps he's there. I can't wait

"A Nomad of the Time Streams" is a unique and fun read, somewhere between Rudyard Kipling and H.G Wells. I think the concept alone is worth the price of the book--but of course, Moorcock is a writer of rare excellence and the result ranks with the best books of speculative fiction.

A few months ago, my husband asked if I would have a talk with our two girls about growing up and the birds and bees. As their stepmother (for almost seven years), we are very close, but I was a little nervous about approaching this subject. To my relief, a coworker mentioned the "It's so Amazing" book and then felt compelled to lend me her copy for a few weeks so I could read it with my 9 year old. She'd highly recommended it after using it with her two pre-teenager sons.

Being able to share the experience of reading and talking about this subject together with Maddie (our 9 year old) was actually...a nice experience and now one of my favorite memories. We had quality time together and opened a whole new level of communication based on trust and open communication. I have to admit, I'd made some assumptions about what she may have learned from friends and school, but she knew less than I thought, and I think the timing was great because she was very curious and starting to ask questions like "where do babies really come from?", and "what are (tampons) used for"?

I used the book as a tool for our conversations, following Maddie's interests and curiosities. We read some chapters together, and skipped some others (for now), going at her pace. In our first sitting, she wanted to keep going for almost an hour!

I finally returned the book to my coworker, so am getting around to purchasing our own copy since I know Maddie and her sister will enjoy having it through their pre teen (and teen) years (I know I will).

Since our nine year old son is the result of donor insemination within a two mom family, he is pretty well informed on how a baby is biologically created. All those questions and more were answered in a humorous way in this book. A child can take this book and read a page or a chapter at a time by himself or with his family. It allows him to feel comfortable with the whole factual human sexual process through humor and easy to understand child-text. I would recommend this book to any family that wants their children to understand all types of relationships, families and the unique process of conception and birth.

The best part about this book is the organization; it's easy to skip around and address the speifics that your child has questions about. The beginning parts are a perfect introduction to "How babies are made," and acknowledges all the mixed feelings kids might have on the subject. It's a good book to leave around for your child to "find"; kids have an idea of what they're ready to deal with. (As a 13-year-old, I picked up my parents' copy of "The Joy of Sex" and quickly put it away because I wasn't ready for that!) I like "It's so Amazing" better than "It's Perfectly Normal" (acknowledging that you will need a more advanced book for your older children to "discover"); "Normal" is thorough about anything a preteen could possibly want to know; unfortunately, some of the pertinent info you have to discover by accident while reading other sections of the book. Also, "Normal" equates having a crush with "sexual attraction" - I'm not comfortable with that assumption. Note: "Amazing" is not a sufficient resource for your reaching-puberty boy or girl; you should have a boy-or-girl-specific book for that 9-12 age. I'll be on the lookout for a knockout book for graduates of "It's So Amazing!" Maybe we need a really advanced teenage book that tells it all about contraception, bodies, and sexual risks in a way a 9th grader can relate to - after that it may be too late!

A wonderful story that really brings home the meaning of why we are here, and the search to find happiness. This book really helped me reassess the relationships and experiences in my life and to be grateful for the opportunities they have presented.

Easy to read, but full of messages.

This book made me lauph (hystarically) cry and even rethink some things in my own path. Infact Ive given it to my teenage daughter to read. Its a must have in a home library!

I have read all of the books written by Kryon and Lee Carroll and have found that this one book summarizes everything I have ever read on the topics of spiritual growth and enlightenment. It is a book I give freely to people who cross my path because I think it offers the purest message on God and the meaning of life on this planet. Kryon goes, step-by-step, through the process we all need to take to find our true sense of Joy on this planet. It is though-provoking, funny, and incredibly uplifting. It shows that everything we do, that everything we experience has value in the eyes of God and the Universe. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is seeking to find their own sense of the Truth.

This instructional golf book foucuses on developing the fundamentals of the full swing in 7 easy steps. This is the first golf book (and I've read a few) that demystifies the golf swing. I lowered my score 10 ten strokes in 30 days. It is well worth your money, time and effort.

It's scary but I've read almost all of the well-known golf instruction books, and many of the lesser-known ones as well. This is the best golf swing book I have ever read for the high-handicapper who is looking to bring consistency to his/her swing. This book is not about fades, draws, varying trajectory, or anything else that involves advanced shot-making. But for the beginner, it's clear, common-sense, easy to follow and easy to learn. Info is presented in a way where you can actually learn and build upon the different parts of the swing. Muscle memory is key, along with a sound mental approach. It's all covered here. A solid companion book to this, one that focuses entirely on the mental aspect of the golf game, is Quantum Golf, also available via Amazon.

When I stumbled upon Michael McTeigue's book, I'd just about given up on the game of golf. I had so many swing keys and "positive" thoughts swimming around my head that I'd lost my passion for the game. I felt like a poster child for the frustrated golfer. Well, that's all changed after reading this book.

If you're sick and tired of trying to micro-manage your full swing: right elbow here, left forearm there, head over here, etc., this is a book you must read.

In my case, I literally stopped golfing while I read, understood, and practiced the keys outlined in the book. I would highly recommend that approach.

This is the first golf book I've read that shows you how to develop a full swing with rhythm and timing. Now I swing the club at 75% of my previous effort level and hit the ball 5~10 yards further per club with more accuracy than I can remember. Moreover, I believe that I can "feel" my swing better than I ever have. Oh, and by the way, my handicap is down 8 strokes from a 22 to 14.

Now, just try to wipe the stupid grin off my face as I stand over the ball on a 200 yard Par-3 over water!

Author Anthony J. Alessandra identifies the four basic business personalities: Directors, Socializers, Relaters and Thinkers. As you come to appreciate the strengths of each of these styles, you also learn to put them to use. You will read about the drawbacks of each style and you will see how you can help people overcome them. The book is generally for managers who want to get more out of their employees. The authors include a section on how to apply The Platinum Rule to selling, which makes the book quite useful for anyone in a sales position. We [...] recommend this book to sales or personnel managers, and to other executives who want to understand and motivate people.

Over the years there have been many books written to explore human personality, some by academics and some by laymen. This work stands out among them as a superior learning tool written by two academically trained experts who are also actual practitioners of their messages. It is solid material and a downright good read. Dr.s Tony Alessandra and Michael O¹Connor are the leading authorities alive today on the subject of Behavioral Styles. Alessandra is a professional speaker and trainer who has specialized in the application of behavioral science in the business world. As a former college professor he taught sales and marketing for several years. As an individual he has practiced what he preached. Alessandra spent several successful years in sales and sales management positions and now counts among his closest acquaintances the top thought leaders in the worldwide business community. His experience as a professional speaker to over two thousand audiences shows up in the book, it is very entertaining and motivational.Dr. O¹Connor is the brains behind many works on behavioral style, most notably the Performax materials published by Carlson Learning. His scientific mind and technical training make this a well structured and highly accessible work.The book offers readers immediate insight into their own relationships and their personal behavior patterns. Real world examples are peppered throughout and do a great job of keeping the reader engaged. Examples are well balanced among various life situations and industries. Business people will especially enjoy the practical and entertaining nature of the book.The Platinum Rule addresses a basic human truth: the fact that we are all alike in many ways and we are all different in other ways. If we will take the brief time necessary to notice our differences then we will instantly see how to better connect with each other. The book shows how to easily observe the four most common ³styles² of behavior. It goes on to show you exactly how to deal with each style. Readers will instantly know from their own experiences that the suggestions will work. Once you have read this book, solutions become obvious and tension between people disappears. This is one of the most practical and enjoyable books ever written on this topic.Respectfully submitted by:Jim Cathcart, author of The Acorn Principle, Know Yourself-Grow Yourself, and Relationship Selling. President of the Cathcart Institute, La Jolla, CA. Past president of the National Speakers Association.

The Platinum rule presents an easy to learn and apply system of personality typing based on an individual's social style and interpersonal interaction. This differs from many other systems of personality typing in that it is based primarily on a person's observable behavior and style, rather than on their deeper inner motivations, functions, attitudes, etc. It's a great tool to use in any relationship, business or personal. I use it often and train my staff in the system. It really works and is extremely effective!

Tony Alessandra's work is a more updated, refined, expanded and user friendly version of the work on social styles by David Merrill. A good companion book with more analytical and theoretical information on this work (for all you Thinker types) is Merrill and Reid's "Personal Styles and Effective Performance".