Mike Varhola has done it again. "Fire and Ice," his reference work on the Korean War, follows his very successful guide for writers and historians, "Everyday Life During the Civil War." "Fire and Ice" is a superb reference for teachers, veterans, war gamers, and military enthusiasts. It is an easy read for the armchair historian. Mike has packed his book with a wide variety of comments about international uniforms, unit organizations, the often overlooked naval role, military pay rates, and a section on POWs. He deftly combines his historical observations together with recently uncovered information. His list of Korean War films is most informative. As a retired Army veteran with a tour in Korea (75-76), who now teaches US History in a public high school, I highly recommend this work to my fellow teachers. It will help you bring the conflict to life for your students. For the children of veterans and the citizen, it will help you understand the grime, grit, and horror of war these men and women experienced. Great job, Mike.

Fire & Ice is, indubitably, one of the best books ever written about the 1950-53 conflict in Korea and definitely the best of the last 10 years. As a non-U.S. reader, I am often amused/annoyed at the wholly American slant given to what are, in actuality, international events. Although written by an American, this comprehensive overview of the war avoids this pitfall and contains information on the Commonwealth forces and their role in the war (along with information about the South Korean and other Allied contingents that fought in the conflict). A worthwhile read for anyone interested in the Korean war. Bully!

Having been to Korea and having read a great deal on the subject of this nearly forgotten conflict, I didn't expect much from Fire and Ice. Boy, was I ever wrong! The book is crisp, fast reading and chock full of content. Provides a great read for the expert or the the novice. Lot's of hard to find information makes this a must reference book on the subject. It's all here: on air, land and sea. Units, weapons and tactics of both sides and our UN Allies. Then there is the fun stuff like the review of Korean War flicks. This is the best book I have found on Amazon! Enjoy...

Liddell-Hart has delivered a godsend for military enthusiasts & readers alike,by finely narrating the campaigns & quite convincingly the achievements of this brilliant & great but quite appropriately forgotten general.

One of the greatest crimes of this book is the way the author undermines the greatness of the other three immortals of military antiquity:Alexander,Hannibal & Caesar.Though I would not go into great length to prove this,point by point,I would humbly suggest readers that after reading this book,to please look for other sources on the great generals aforementioned,so one could compare & see things in a much better,clearer,more factual light.I strongly suggest reading Theodore Dodge's books on these men.For if one were to rely on this book as a main source,one would be terribly misguided into believing Scipio as the greatest man & general in history.Which is definitely not the case.When all is summed up,comparing him to his rival,the case paves to this irrefutable fact:Hannibal was the original,innovative master,& Scipo his greatest pupil.

My other criticism,in a more technical term,is the lack of more maps in the book to detail & highlight his campaigns.Maps detailing the maneuveres in the Battle of the Great Plains,the burning of the Carthaginian camps,the battle against Andobales in Spain,The Siege Of Cartagena,etc.,would have made it a more instructive & fulfilling book.

Other than these,I would say that this is the best book on Scipio ever written,a great contribution to humanity in fact,in the sense that it brings to every reader the importance & achievement of a great man who is almost forgotten in the annals of history.And convinces him.And for this alone deserves the highest merit.

Hart's book makes a strong case for the consideration of Scipio Africanus Major as one of the truly great military commanders of history. I have spent a great deal of time reading ancient and military history and have always been annoyed at the lack of information about this historical figure. Plutarch, argueably the greatest biographer ever, when writing his 'Lives' (a comparison of noble greeks and romans) intentionally omitted a description of Scipio and his greek counterpart Epaminondas because he felt they were the supreme examples of their respective societies. When I was fortunate enough to find this title on Amazon, I bought it no questions asked. This book would be a bargain at twice the price. Hart does an excellent job of presenting Scipio's military career and specific engagements in detailed and entertaining fashion. The material will appeal to both the beginning and hardcore military history buff alike. His descriptions of specific tactics as well as examples of Scipio's personal integrity are thoroughlly entertaining. Machiavelli in his classic 'The Prince' described how Scipio attempted to emulate and imitate Cyrus ("the great" - ancient Persian commander). I believe, that Hart has made the case to consider Scipio as greater than not only Napoleon, but Cyrus, Alexander or Ceasar.

A greater than Napoleon? Probably not. But pretty darn good? That much is for certain. Hart writes a gripping biography of a truly remarkable personage.

One of the more noteworthy characteristics of this book lies in its detail. We are given an honest picture of Scipio, as well as his family's military heritage & dedication to Rome. It would appear that he was quite a humanitarian for his day & age. The book also illustrates some of the mind-boggling stupid politics that could interfere with a great general's resolve even way back then.

One thing I did not realize before reading Hart's book was that Scipio himself fought as a junior officer at Cannae. He was one of the precious few Roman soldiers to escape the wrath of Hannibal that day. Lucky for Rome he did....

This is a great book & a must read for any military historian or classical scholar. I would suggest that people read in conjunction with this work Theodore Ayrault Dodge's biography on Hannibal for the "other side" of this conflict. Although Dodge & Hart disagree on several key points, it is still useful to get a view of the story from an alternative angle. Also, for those who enjoy reading about Scipio half as much as I did, I recommend the sections on Gaius and Tiberius Gracchus from Plutarch's "Lives." They were the grandsons of Scipio. Enjoy!

If you ever expect to find that little bistro on Pas. de Clery, or a park on R. du Fouarre, you'll need a detailed map. This is it. This has the stuff that is not on the other tourist maps.

There's a key map (a city map with a numbered grid showing the page numbers of the detail maps that follow for each section of the city). And there's a complete street index.

The 29 detailed city maps are divided into two-page spreads. They're labeled with sights, Metro stops, and establishments.

The bus routes are shaded gray, and the bus numbers are printed in red alongside the streets. I spent some time in Paris and came to love commuting by bus on clear days. If you plan to try it, leave some extra time to figure it all out, it's worth the effort. You'll need more info than is provided here. A current bus map would be a big help in planning your day trips, ...

Metro stops are marked on the street maps, but the metro routes are not shown. There's a small metro map on pages 2-3, followed by some very condensed practical information for tourists. (If you need guidebook information, don't rely solely on this book, get a Michelin.)

The detail maps leave out substantial parts of the 12th, 13th, 15th, 18th and 20th arrondissements. If you want something comprehensive, though not as user-friendly, look for "Paris par Arrondissement - Plan Net" by Editions Ponchet. That guide also has detailed bus routes.

I prefer the book map format over fold-out maps, because it gives me a detailed map, but I don't have to fight with it to get it folded and back into my pocket. Ironically, I did end up folding this book to get it into my back pocket. I wish the form factor were slightly narrower.

Bon Voyage!

I am not an impulse shopper, but I bought this little book when I went to Amazon to buy Rick Steve's Paris guide (also great). It has an amazing amount of information in a small but easy to read format - and this means easy to read for eyes that are not so young anymore. It fits in a pocket and weighs almost nothing. It has a Metro map, of course, but also maps of the city in small sections as you would expect in a really good atlas. You can find Metro stops, bus routes and numbers, small streets, and sights in each area. Because it is so much smaller than a typical atlas, it is easy to take with you and use - on a crowded Metro train for example. Although free maps are easy to come by in Paris, this is worth every nickel. It even has great sightseeing information. A bargain at twice the price.

Middleditch's mapguides are the best I have used (I also have used his London mapguide). The maps are larger in scale than most others, which makes them much easier to use. He indicates bus routes on the maps themselves and includes a larger-than-most Metro map. He gives you everything you need to get around in a compact booklet--no irritating folding and unfolding. His commentary on the museums and sights is informative with a personal touch. I just returned from a week in Paris and feel like I couldn't have done without it. If you purchase only one guide to Paris, make it this one!

Taking the apparent simplicity of a small town murder as its hook, Collins subverts the murder mystery genre in this highly unusual, psychological novel. Signposted with cultural references, we are transported back first to the late seventies, then further back to the fifties, wherein lies the secret to unraveling the plot. The sheer level of detail, both physical and psychological, the mood of the novel is done brilliantly. The Resurrectionists is a form of time travel.
Peppered with a host of surreal characters, from Frank's wife Honey to their two children, Robert Lee and Ernie, we share the foibles and fears of a family. We witness the interplay of nurture vs. nature as the two kids are exposed to the manic wandering and searching of its two main characters. We see life weigh down on the children with such moments of bone chilling realism that it reminded me of seeing people at stores who attack their children, or abuse them. The instinct is to protect them. However, the relationship with the children is far more complex, abuse, love and ultimately acceptance comes through. There are no easy answers in this novel. It's complex, often disorienting, given we are dealing with a narrator who is unreliable, a victim of shock treatment. What makes this novel stand apart are the moments of poignancy, bone chilling realism, and at times horror of real life. It holds no punches. It depicts a side of life and people we are at times wont to turn our backs on.... Highly recommended.

In this dark, twisted tale of hidden secrets and America's secret history, Collins tears assunder our idea of genre, of the crime or the literary novel, and creates a fluid masterpiece that ebbs and flows through the emotional crisis of the book's characters who react against the political landscape of the Cold War and Nixon era.
At the center of the book is a murder, the murder of man on a remote farm in Michigan. The killer awaits arrest, then hangs himself and goes into a coma. So begins the journey of the main character back home to claim the farm of the murdered man. Of course, it's not that simple, and the mired history and psychos of the main character undermine any notion that this is strictly a murder mystery, and so begins one of the most cleverly conceived socio-political novels I've ever read.
The motif of looking for salvation is an example of how rigorously Collins treads his plot and themes throughout the book. He borrows from the Loave and the fish story, Lot's wife etc., secularizing these stories, putting his characters into modern situations, but keeping the essence of the Bibical stories alive. He makes the characters sense of religious loss all the more poignant. The surreal miracle that the narrator, Frank, performs while robbing a man of his life savings, is one of the great moments in the novel. It's such a cinematic moment of revelation that treads the line between what could end up a brutal slaying or a moment of redemption. Creepy stuff...

What Collins has done is taken a strain of gritty realism with its focus on violence, loss, struggle, day-to-day survival, giving us an almost documentary footage rawness of real life. These characters at their worst,are despicable, but at their best the shine with such humanity that we can, if not forgive, at least understand the stain of madness and violence that runs throughout most of the book.
What is so brilliant and unsettling is how when you put the book down, it's then that its undertone of political and social critique resurrects itself. It's like the aftertaste of a fine wine. That the book can live on these two levels, that its very structure and content always plays with the visible and the invisible, with the surface and the buried, is truly remarkable. This is a book to read twice, once for the mystery, the second time to ruminate on just how many things this book addresses.

Truth seems to be at the center of Collins' writing. Truth was in his award-winning novel, The Keepers of Truth, a brilliant twisted tale of murder and mystery in small-town America. When I provisionally read the blurb, I thought, is this previously charted terrain. It's a reason I kept from buying the book until I found it second hand. (Apologies to the author.)
I could not have been further wrong, though The Resurrectionists concerns a murder, and its attenuated mystery, Collins has gone deeper, and created an intriguing and daring novel that charts the sub-conscious mind of a trouble man who witnessed, and was accused of setting the fire which killed his parents when he was five. The psychological trauma, and the narrator's subsequent care under psychiatrists who hypnotized him and his later episodes with shock treatment, create a fragmented and shifting reality, and as others have noted, Collins has deftly utilized the unreliable narrator technique like no other writer I've read. Collins' particular genius is wedding a story, idea and plot element to a literary technique, and here, Collins actually makes his reader experience the profound sense of loss and disorientation his narrator feels throughout the novel, as he moves close to solving the mystery at the heart of the novel - who is the mysterious murder suspect who now lies in a coma at the county hospital after having hung himself after killing the narrator's uncle at the beginning of the novel.
That Collins balances a mystery with a socio-political and psychological deep novel is noteworthy. He has an ability to make apparently simple stuff complicated, for isn't all life complicated at its core. What is misconceiving is how we don't see the ambiguities in life. Collins makes them shimmer. He goes digging in the dirt of the subconscious.
This was in my top two novels of 2002, second only by a hair's breath to, Middlesex.

I've been a long-time Amazon customer and this is the first time I have felt absolutely compelled to write a review. I have a 17 year old son, and I wish I had read this book 5 years ago! The book is written in 3 parts - Part 1 on teens and the issues in their lives, Part 2 on parents, and Part 3 on strategies for dealing with those issues. (He even includes a section on internet obsession - a big issue in our house.) When I finished reading this book, I felt so hopeful. The author provides a guideline for staying sane while dealing with the craziness, and at the same time maintaining a connection with your kids in a way that fosters strength, love, compassion, and most and best of all - mutual respect. Not a small feat, and he does it with a warm sense of humor to top it off. I would have given this book more stars if I could!

This book offers much insight into the teenage mind. Being an average teenager myself, reading this book really helped me understand, well, Me! I was astonished by the wisdom offered by Dr. Bradley. I will warn that this book is for parenting but can be used as a guide for the MATURE teen too. This is a well organized guide to becoming a more educated parent for your teenager! Dr. Bradley helps us see that the parents and the teenagers, are all fighting the same battle, those dreadful Teenage Years. I highly recommend this book. "Yes Your Teen is Crazy" expands and updates one's mind in the scary realm known as the teenager. Buy this book!

Superb! I am the mother of two teenagers and also a professional working with children and teenagers - this book was worth every cent and every second I spent reading it.
I found it very helpful personally, I am already reaping the benefits in my family...
It will also go on my short list of book recommendations for parents of troubled teens.
It is transforming, empowering - and reassuring. Just add a caring parent (even if confused, angry, ineffective - as we all are from time to time).

Just one burning issue - I hate the title which may be fine for parents but is insensitive to teens. I discarded the dust jacket, so all my recently raging teen would see was an innocuous grey cloth binding, as I read the book. Please retool the title for future editions which will surely follow.
And thank you Michael Bradley !!!

This book, War Letters: Extraordinary Correspondence from American Wars, by Andrew Carroll (Editor) is a touching book. With the recent release of the movie Pearl Harbor, the questions that my generation wants to ask the veterans of war are rising out of the ashes once again. Carroll did an excellent job of putting together a collage of soldier's letters which portrays the true emotions of our freedom fighters. Recently having studied many of the wars included in this book, War Letters pulled everything into one book; from the Civil War all the way through Bosnia/Kosovo. The letters in WWI and WWII seemed more hopeful, and 'the great generation' seemed more patriotic. While the soldiers fighting Vietnam had more of a sense of urgency, kind of 'get this over with already' attitude. A common theme with all the letters was they were writing to loved ones, and would claim they would see them soon. Unfortunately, many of these letters were the 'last letters' to the families, some even written on backs of photographs, on scratch paper, or on Hitler's personal stationary. Also, these letters are written a few hours, days, or weeks after the events happened. The soldier has no opportunity to hear what the media said, or how the nation reacted to such a horrific event. They write with their souls, spilling their guts to their families, and shedding their blood for their nation. Granted, having just completed one year of US History helps me understand these events just that much more, but all in all, this book was everything from terrifying to heart warming.

Let me start this review by confessing that I am biased. One of my letters from Vietnam is included in the book. I therefore view the book differently from the average reader.

I also got an advance copy of the book a week before the official release date, and have been able to read it.

Andrew Carroll produced this book by reading through almost 50,000 letters and selected roughly 200 that best show what everyday life in the military - and in war - are like from the viewpoint of the average soldier, sailor, marine, and airman.

Andy was able to get these letters by persuading Dear Abby to publish an appeal in her column on Veteran's Day in 1998. The column urged readers to contribute these letters so that the sacrifices of the writers would not be forgotten. The result was a flood of 50,000 letters - some faded, some muddy, some blood-stained, and one pierced by a bullet. One letter was written on Hitler's personal stationary by an American sergeant who worked in Hitler's personal quarters in Germany just after WW II. What could be a better symbol of justice?

The letter writers' views are very different than the views you will get by reading the memoirs of a general or an admiral. When I was in the Army, there was a wonderful comment that explained life in the Infantry:

"The general gets the glory, The family gets the body, and We get another mission."

Your view of the military - and of war - changes depending on your position in this food chain.

Overcoming an enemy machine gun is an interesting technical problem when you are circling a firefight in a helicopter at 1,000 feet. You take a very different view of the problem when you are so close to the machine gun that your body pulses from the shock wave of the muzzle blast.

These letters were written by soldiers while they were in the military. They are describing events that happened that day, the pervious day, or the previous week. Their memories are very fresh. Their views also are very different from the views that someone might have when writing his memoirs thirty years later. In thirty years the everyday pains, problems, and terrors could very well be forgotten or become humorous.

The book groups these letters by war or police action. There are sections for letters from the Civil War, WW I (the war to end wars), WW II, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and Somolia/Bosnia/Kosovo.

Some things never change. The Civil War letter writers grumble about poor food, tiresome marches, mindless sergeants and incompetent officers. The Vietnam letter writers (myself included) grumbled about the same things.

One anguished letter was from an officer in Vietnam who was torn by his need to hide his opposition to the war for fear of demoralizing his men. At the end of the letter is a brief comment explaining that the officer stepped on a mine and died shortly after writing this letter.

Welcome to life in the military. Welcome to war.

You should read this book if you want to see what life was like and is like in the military and in war.

Let me start this review by confessing that I am biased. One of my letters from Vietnam is included in the book. I therefore view the book differently from the average reader.

I also got an advance copy of the book a week before the official release date, and have been able to read it.

Andrew Carroll produced this book by reading through almost 50,000 letters and selected roughly 200 that best show what everyday life in the military - and in war - are like from the viewpoint of the average soldier, sailor, marine, and airman.

Andy was able to get these letters by persuading Dear Abby to publish an appeal in her column on Veteran's Day in 1998. The column urged readers to contribute these letters so that the sacrifices of the writers would not be forgotten. The result was a flood of 50,000 letters - some faded, some muddy, some blood-stained, and one pierced by a bullet. One letter was written on Hitler's personal stationary by an American sergeant who worked in Hitler's personal quarters in Germany just after WW II. What could be a better symbol of justice?

The letter writers' views are very different than the views you will get by reading the memoirs of a general or an admiral. When I was in the Army, there was a wonderful comment that explained life in the Infantry:

"The general gets the glory, The family gets the body, and We get another mission."

Your view of the military - and of war - changes depending on your position in this food chain.

Overcoming an enemy machine gun is an interesting technical problem when you are circling a firefight in a helicopter at 1,000 feet. You take a very different view of the problem when you are so close to the machine gun that your body pulses from the shock wave of the muzzle blast.

These letters were written by soldiers while they were in the military. They are describing events that happened that day, the pervious day, or the previous week. Their memories are very fresh. Their views also are very different from the views that someone might have when writing his memoirs thirty years later. In thirty years the everyday pains, problems, and terrors could very well be forgotten or become humorous.

The book groups these letters by war or police action. There are sections for letters from the Civil War, WW I (the war to end wars), WW II, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and Somolia/Bosnia/Kosovo.

Some things never change. The Civil War letter writers grumble about poor food, tiresome marches, mindless sergeants and incompetent officers. The Vietnam letter writers (myself included) grumbled about the same things.

One anguished letter was from an officer in Vietnam who was torn by his need to hide his opposition to the war for fear of demoralizing his men. At the end of the letter is a brief comment explaining that the officer stepped on a mine and died shortly after writing this letter.

Welcome to life in the military. Welcome to war.

You should read this book if you want to see what life was like and is like in the military and in war.

This book is an INVALUABLE resource. And I'm not a traditional actor, I'm an opera singer. I had to read this for a class on (what else?) auditioning, and loved it so much that I finished it the first day of class. Shurtleff's 12 Guideposts, carefully applied to just about any performance (I use them for arias, art songs, etc), can help create something nuanced and fascinating. As if the guideposts weren't enough, Shurtleff gives wonderful ideas on the nitty-gritty of auditions (how to present your past experience, what to wear, etc). I just can't say enough good about this book. When I perform an operatic scene that I've run through the 12 guideposts, I get comments like, "You're a great actress! You really have a theatrical flair!" Boy, does that feel good. I'd give this thing six stars if I could. I hate to even tell other people about this book, because then everyone can gain my edge.

This book is a must have for anyone who auditions. It provides helpful suggestions that every actor, professional or amatuer, must know! Micheal Shurtleff address the issues of dress, attitude, persistance, and many others. No matter if you are auditioning for Broadway, Hollywood, or community theatre you must read this book!

People say that this is a book that no actor should be without. I disagree- this is a book that no person involved in drama at all should be without. Drama teacher, actor, writer, director- everybody needs this. It's been said that shortly after this book was first published, a lot of not-so-good actors were getting cast- simply because their auditions were going so well. If you're ever going to be involved in an audition- or just want to learn about it- then you must read this.

The Reading lesson has turned out to be one of the most effective learning lessons I have ever used. I run a preschool-preK and this program has proven to be successful and enjoyable. My youngest reader is 2.5 years old, and yes, they can read. I recommend this program and book to every parent who wishes to give the gift of reading to their child. Its simple and easy.. and your child will love it. All my kids wait for Giggle Bunny every day.
Great awesome product,..worth every dime and more !!!
Rennu Dhillon, Founder Genius Kids/Fremont, Safari Kid/Newark
[...]

When my daughter asked "when can I go to DIsneyland" I always answered "When you can read". She is four years, one month old, and with the help of The Reading Lesson, we're planning to go visit Mickey in a couple of months!

I love the way the book instructs me on how to instruct her. She loves the sense of satisfaction she gets when she learns a new word. The lessons are easy to understand, well paced, and combine activities like circling like sounding letters with practicing the new sounds and words. She also enjoys coloring the pictures after she reads the page.

I'm buying an extra copy for her preschool, so all the kids can have the advantage of The Reading Lesson

I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking to give their child a head start in reading. I purchased the book along with the CD-ROM for my 5 yr. old daughter. She enjoys the reading lesson so much that she reminds me daily, "it's time for the reading lesson". Before purchasing the reading lesson I downloaded the first two lessons (free) from thereadinglesson.com website and my daughter was thrilled that she knew how to read. Prior to the reading lesson my daughter had trouble remembering words and letter sounds. But just after a few lessons she would remember words and sounds easily. We read 3-4 pages a day for maybe 15 minutes. It's been about a month and a half and my daughter is now on lesson eight and reading (words in lesson eight) with minimal help. She also just had her interview for kindergarten and her teacher was amazed at how much she knew. Each lesson begins with brief instructions and tips on reading. I would suggest purchasing the book along with the CD-ROM (not only because it's fun) but the child would learn the correct way to sound out letters. The program is so simple with amazing results!

Through his Youth Specialties publications, previous work in THE DOOR magazine, and other writings, Mike Yaconelli has always tackled issues in very fresh, non-conventional ways. His willingness to challenge us to see things differently has enabled me to continue to believe that God is worth pursuing, even when most Christians were unknowingly persuading me otherwise. The same holds true here in this incredibly powerful book.

If you are tired of hearing the same cliches and thoughtless pragmatism of most current Christian authors (such as "5 Easy Steps to a Happy, Spirit-Filled Life"), let Mike help you rediscover the true nature of what Christianity is intended to be. Mike highlights the importance of doubt, questions, wonder, mystery, passion, honesty, and "wild abandon" to God... themes that are seldom spoken of in Christian circles today but are in desperate need of inclusion. Christians who may have become stale (and boring) in their persuit of God can rediscover the joy and wonder of what drew them to Christ in the first place. And for new or potential Christians who may not be corrupted yet by the current version of happy, quick-fix, Americanized Christianity, here's a chance for you to start on the right foot. Skip the fluffy stuff. Yac is back.

Dangerous Wonder greatly moved me. It expanded my view of God and of his love.

Mike Yaconelli does the almost impossible with this brief, easy to read, book -- he helps us see the God Who is beyond words. He helps us see the love of God which is beyond comprehension. And he challanges us -- me -- to break out of the boxes we put ourselves and our faith in.

This is the best book I've seen on childlike faith and what it looks like to live it out. If you find your faith getting stale, dusty, and, yes, boring, get this book -- now.

Mark Marshall is the author of God Knows What It's Like to be a Teenager.

Through his Youth Specialties publications, previous work in THE DOOR magazine, and other writings, Mike Yaconelli has always tackled issues in very fresh, non-conventional ways. His willingness to challenge us to see things differently has enabled me to continue to believe that God is worth pursuing, even when most Christians were unknowingly persuading me otherwise. The same holds true here in this incredibly powerful book.

If you are tired of hearing the same cliches and thoughtless pragmatism of most current Christian authors (such as "5 Easy Steps to a Happy, Spirit-Filled Life"), let Mike help you rediscover the true nature of what Christianity is intended to be. Mike highlights the importance of doubt, questions, wonder, mystery, passion, honesty, and "wild abandon" to God... themes that are seldom spoken of in Christian circles today but are in desperate need of inclusion. Christians who may have become stale (and boring) in their persuit of God can rediscover the joy and wonder of what drew them to Christ in the first place. And for new or potential Christians who may not be corrupted yet by the current version of happy, quick-fix, Americanized Christianity, here's a chance for you to start on the right foot. Skip the fluffy stuff. Yac is back.

A fantastic book, equally informative, fascinating, and insightful. It serves as a very good introduction to Jung's works, which can at times be heavy reading for non-psychologists. You will be impressed by not only the genius of this man, but captivated by the story of his life. This book should a must read for anyone interested in unravelling some of the mysteries of the psyche.

This is to me the most important book I have ever read in my entire life so far. It has been my companion book for over 25 years now. The first time I read this book was a Brazilian 1975 Edition. A memorable translation. I did the mistake of lending it to someone else and I have never had it back. Then, three years ago, I found that Brazilian Edition and I bought it. I read it over and over, particularly when I needed someone to teach me something really important to my life. Then, I decided to taste the English (American) Translation. I bought this one. I wasn't disappointed. The translation seems to be very carefully done. But although it is a good edition it misses few paragraphs and letters if compared to the Brazilian edition I have. Was this English translation "censored" in any sense ? I doubt that. I simply think the translator just "missed" some pages of the original (in German) edition. I hope one day I will be able and have the opportunity to read the original in German to find out what Jung really meant by writing this monumental book.

Oh, by the way, I have never read any of Jung's "scientific" books. This is by far everything I had to have to face Life and people and myself confidently. Jung is by far the wisest soul of the 20th Century.

By all means, buy this book and read it! You will understand what Life is all about. I would give it 10 stars if I could.

This is a warning to anyone who reads this book. Yes, the book is excellent. Yes, it contains invaluable thoughts from Jung. Yes, it is a must read for any Jungian or anyone else for that matter. However, there is something that should be taken special note of. If, when reading the first few chapters on his early years, you find yourself identifying very closely with his experiences, beware. It is well known that many people experience synchronicities while reading this book. Example: a person may have a dream, and the next day find that very dream explained in the book, wherever that person left off reading the day before. These synchronicities can have a very large effect. If you are one who finds yourself identifying with jung's thoughts and feelings to a high degree, you may experience more than just dreams. The book becomes an integral part of your life. It won't let you skip around or stop reading it for too long. You will be bound to the book to finish it in order. When you reach the 10th and 11th chapters in which he describes his afterlife experiences and thoughts, be extremely careful. You may enter into that same "shadow of the valley of death" while you are reading this part. This is not a book to be taken lightly. It gives you knowledge coupled with experience, not just knowledge. Do not bother opening it unless you want to embark on a serious psychic journey, which will result in increased wisdom and understanding through many unforseen experiences. I highly recommend this book for anyone who DOES want to go through this. I'm glad i did.