This is a wonderful bedtime story book. My children enjoy having this book read to him every night, so much so that it is becoming a bit tattered. The illustrations are very good and the story holds a little one's attention. It is a calming book for bedtime. I would highly recommend this book.

This book won the Association for Recorded Sound Collections "Best Research in the Field of Recorded Country Music" in 1996. A forthcoming book tentatively titled "ONE FOOT OVER THE LINE: THE MUSICAL LEGACY OF WAYLON JENNINGS" is currently underway.

John Muir is simply the best naturalist writer I have ever read. His writing is clear, descriptive and interesting. I typically don't like this type of writing, but his essays make you hear, see, taste and smell the outdoors. I usually like to experience nature directly, but Muir is the next best thing to being there. A collection of his best works is presented here.

I considered this book my "Bible" getting through some very difficult health problems - ovarian remnant syndrome, allergy to metal clips and staples left during laproscopic procedurins with out my knowledge and requiring an extensive lapa- rotomy for their removal. The book gave my courage to endure some obscure health problems. While reading it, I felt someone had been in the examining room with me videotaping my appointments with doctors. It helped me deal with my doctors and the problems left behind. I would like to find lthe doctor's address and write him and thankhim for writing the book. It should be read by every female before they have any gyn procedure.

This is an excellent book, particularly after you have taken the Zero Balancing Core I workshop. It really should be required reading. I found the writing to be clear, complete and perfectly in line with the information received in the workshop. I've been a practicing massage therapist since 1982 and a massage teacher since 1991. I took my first Zero Balancing workshop in November, 1999 and thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a tremendous amount of information to grasp from a different perspective, and as with any new technique, I felt pretty lost and overwhelmed when the group split up and we were on our own. Luckily, an associate of mine had purchased the book from the instructor and several months later she insisted that I read it. I am so grateful. I have to admit, I wasn't practicing the technique with any regularity and the reasons I took the workshop in the first place were fading. Well, this book has completely revalidated my understanding of this powerful work and I have just ordered my own copy! The information is totally inspiring, mind opening, and reinforcing for anyone serious about perfecting the art of Zero Balancing ... I recommend it highly.

The book is full of great ideas and interesting characters. This is doubly impressive given its age; a lot of old science fiction just doesn't seem original, interesting, or relevant when you're reading it 10, 20, or 50 years after it was originally written. Norstrilia suffers from no such problems. In fact, really only two complaints can be levelled at it, and both of those might just be my opinion.

The first is that Norstrilia takes place in a vast and richly detailed universe that Cordwainer Smith details in a series of short stories. The book relies strongly on this background material, a lot is taken for granted, and very little is explicitly explained. While it is never incomprehensible because of this, I also had the feeling that the reading experience was something less than it should have been because of all the references that were lost on me. Reading Norstrilia has certainly convinced me that I should give Smith's short stories a try, though.

My second complaint is about the ending. I just didn't like it. More than that, it seemed out of character for Rod McBan, and just generally felt too much like the author was forcing the story to go in directions to suit his own ends rather than where it naturally wanted to go. On the one hand, why would the pragmatic McBan settle for a "dream" with his love rather than the real thing? Why does a citizen of Norstrilia, one who has spent his entire life fighting the system, give up so easily when an offworlder argues that he can't stay with C'mell? The realization that C'mell didn't love him wholly seems to come from nowhere (perhaps it is explained in the shorter fiction somewhere) and seems a half-hearted post-hoc rationalization for not being with her. The sudden realization of feelings for the girl back home had no real explanation. Just in general it felt like the author wanted McBan parted from his money, parted from C'mell, and back on Norstrilia away from everything.

(As a side note it would have been interesting, especially given that he is going to live for a thousand years, if we could have seen Rod McBan experiencing the great plan that the Underpeople have the universe. Instead we last seem him only a few decades after we first meet him.)

Despite, the wholly unsatisfying ending, everything leading up to it more than made up for it. Now I just need to get a copy of Cordwainer Smith's short stories.

Cordwainer Smith deserves the widest possible recognition. Perhaps the most highly literary of all science fiction writers before the New Wave of the sixties (and still, for my money, a better read than most of that failed revolutionary literature), Smith's single novel "Norstrilia" is utterly unlike any other science fiction novel. Rod McBan becomes the richest man in the universe through the economic warfare of his inherited computer; the novel largely concerns itself with the need to survive the acquisition of wealth. Funny, poetic, and touching, "Norstrilia" is a bittersweet read, because it starts to show how Smith would have continued the expansion and collation of his future history, the Instrumentality of Mankind. Unfortunately, his early death deprived us of what would have been the most lyrical of all future histories. At least we have his stories, which is where any new reader should start (there's a new collection in print now); much of the emotional resonance of the novel comes from recognizing characters from the shorter works, especially the cat-girl C'mell. When you're done with those shorter glories, then come to "Norstrilia" and experience the longest swim in Smith's pool. You won't regret it!

As another reviewer noted, it is too bad that the complete works of this great man are not fully available. I discovered him quite by accident in an "annual" of short stories. "A Planet Called Shayol" was the only science fiction story I've ever read that brought tears to my eyes; I had to close the book for a while. That doesn't often happen when reading any book, much less science fiction work.

I stongly recommend "Quest of the Three Worlds"; unbelievable that someone could imagine that universe and then write about it so well.

That said, Norstrilia is a rolicking good time book with rich underlying stories-within-stories. Fun, but deep stuff.

Ever seen Star Wars? This is the book that probably had the biggest influence on it. "Doc" Smith is the real father of space opera, and his stories are nothing short of astonishing-- especially since many of them deal with fairly advanced subjects, and yet they were written in the 20s and 30s! This is good, pulpy fun-- you'll have a great time joining our hero, Patrolman Kimball Kinnison, as he joins the ranks of an elite fighing force for peace and justice, the Lensmen, and begins to unfold a galaxy-wide criminal conspiracy that is as old as time itself. Don't expect the complex moral issues of today's science fiction-- the good guys are lily-white and good as gold, and the bad guys are the blackest of the blackhearted. Loads of fun for just about any kind of reader.

This book is believed to be the third in the great Lensman series. It is my opinion that other authors may come close, but, none can or will ever be able to surpass this author's story telling capabilities.

The six Lensman series books I have are: Triplanitary, First Lensman, Galactic Patrol, Gray Lensman, Second Stage Lensman, Children of the Lens.

Also, by this author: The Skylark Series: The Skylark of Space, Skylark Three, Skylark of Valeron, & Skylark DuQuesne.

Single Books: Masters of the Vortex & Subspace Explorers

In all of these books, E.E. "Doc" Smith has been a grandmaster of science fiction story telling.

I read and loved this and the other Lensmen books when I was a boy in the 60's. I still grab one occasionally and read it cover-to-cover.

Note that the main characters in this series are men, who are really MEN (even the aliens). They're unconquerably tough and nauseatingly noble. Most of the women introduced are, well... bimbos, to be blunt. They look ravishing and giggle a lot. And until the last book, the main female character comes to the forefront of her powers through some driving "feminine life force," and not because of her deeds or intelligence. Of course, she's also a "babe," or should I say, a "seven-sector callout."

Still, the books in this series are science fiction classics, the precursors to Star Trek, Star Wars, and all the rest. If you can ignore the blatant downsides I just mentioned, I highly recommend the whole, extremely enjoyable series to everyone. They are a must-read for anyone really interested in scienc! e fiction.

It's hard to rate an anthology. My approach is to rate each individual story. I came out with a ranking of 3.4705882352941176470588235294118. But I find humans have trouble with too much precision, so I'll round it to 3.

Some of the stories are less than equal, as you find in any anthology. I'm not quite sure why Ribbon for Rosie, the story of 7 of 9's trip to the past, won the grand prize. It doesn't seem as we well written, but perhaps because it suffers from now being outside of canon because of STV episodes after '99, when the book was written. Similarly, the DS9 episodes are both pretty thick and difficult to get into- which is a shame, since DS9 has a lot of promise, such as stories about the completely unexplored Gamma quadrant, that was never explored in the series. And while it was nice to see Dr. Taylor again from TVH, the TOS episodes start the book off a bit slow. And Calculated Risk reminds me why Dr. Pulaski left the series, and why there aren't more stories about her.

But on the very positive side, I Am Klingon finally provides a possible answer to that nagging question- where did those foreheads come from? Rand even does am amazing job of tying in all the various episodes that have skirted around this issue, in TOS, TNG, and DS9, as well as providing one answer to what actually happened between Deanna and Worf. One story finally gets to that nagging question- if Wesley was studying with the Traveler in a Native American colony under the Cardassians, doesn't he then become a technical member of the Dominion, and if so, why isn't he helping in the war against the Dominion? And two excellent time travel stories get to some of those questions of, if there is a Department of Temporal Investigations, fixing temporal incursions, how come there are still temporal incursions that have never been fixed? Though the book as a whole isn't as highly rated, I'd definitely recommend it for these hints at possible paradoxi with Star Trek.

And then there are the stories that touched me emotionally. I Am Become Death is a haunting look at Data's life, pre-STN- one with that added twist that can make you cry. I personally very appreciated two STV stories: Touched, for it's etic anthropological look from the perspective of the other, and The Healing Arts, for stressing the importance of empathy, and interpathy, in healing. Reciprocity is TNG story about *very* long wormholes, that is filled with poignancy and a feeling that, truly, All Good Things...

Strange New Worlds II impressed me very much with the quality of the short stories written by Star Trek fans. Some stories continue plots from prior series; a Voyager story is a follow-up to an original series show, while another follows one from The Next Generation. Dr. McCoy makes an appearance in a Next Gen story and a Voyager story, while Chakotay and the EMH both appear in Next Gen stories. Fans of Deep Space Nine will be disappointed, as neither of the stories ostensibly from that series really deals with any of the characters. Only Sisko & Odo are even mentioned. Reg Barclay makes two appearances; so do the Time Cops Dulmer & Lucsly. Lt. Saavik, Dr. Pulaski, & Carol Marcus also appear. To me the best story was Triptych, the second prize winner. A Ribbon for Rosie & I Am Klingon (first & third respectively) are also outstanding. I would recommend this book for any Star Trek fan. It is much more fun to read than Dyson Sphere!

Strange New Worlds II is the second book of fan written Star Trek short stories and there is something for every fan in this one. I found all the stories to be entertaining . One of my favorites was 'Triptych' which concerns the episode "City on the Edge of Forever" The story 'Doctors Three' was a wonderful tale that was appreciated by me as an honor to the late Deforest Kelly. Klingon fans will love 'I am Klingon'. Deep Space Nine only had two entries both being somewhat unusual in presentation. Hopefully there will be more Deep Space Nine stories next year. Though 'A Ribbon of Rosie' was one of my least favorite stories it is a must read if you are a 7 of 9 fan. It provides insight into a young Anika Hansen. I found the style of the story made it a bit difficult to follow so I recommend re-reading 'Rosie' . Strange New Worlds II is a must read for any Star Trek fan.

William James's approach to the varieties of religious experience shows such an incredible understanding and willingness to believe. And compassion. Having had many religious experiences myself, It was the first book I read that seriously studied these mysteries. Making them a whole lot less mysterious to me. James brings in powerful and beautiful excerpts, and quotes for case studies, and shows the reader the spiritual progression of the soul as it moves from Oneness, the Mystical and 'happy soul', through to the Compassionate and 'sick soul' to the martyr, prophet and saint. Anyone who has felt the tug of the Divine Will and the Spirit of Unity will find this book a treasure.

You will not draw the nectar out of this book unless you are aware (the earlier the better) of James' premise that the stronghold of religion lies in individuality. These lectures are not a study of "religion" nor even a study of religious "experiences" in toto, but a study of "individual" religious experience. Singular. It sounds narrow only until you add the other word of the title... "varieties."

Why such an emphasis upon the individual? Because, as James states, the pivot around which the religious life revolves "is the interest of the individual in his private personal destiny." All proper "religion" by such a definition must consist in an individual experiencing connection with that which he considers to be the higher power(s). In fact, at one point James states that "prayer is real religion." And further, "Wherever this interior prayer is lacking, there is no religion; wherever, on the other hand, this prayer rises and stirs the soul, even in the absence of forms or of doctrines, we have living religion." A thought-provoking principle.

You will never appease your hunger by staring at a menu. You have to actually open your mouth and "experience" the eating of some food. Similarly, we can only learn about religious experience by recounting the experiences of those who've done some profound religious eating (so to say). This is James' method. He renounces the ambition to be coercive in his arguments (this is not an apologetic work) and simply focuses on "rehabilitating the element of feeling in religion and subordinating its intellectual part." He does this by the examination of diverse case histories.

And he uses the "extremer examples" because these yield the profounder information. He called these types "theopathic" characters; those who tend to display excess of devotion. His reasoning is thus: "To learn the secrets of any science, we go to expert specialists, even though they may be eccentric persons, and not to commonplace pupils. We combine what they tell us with the rest of our wisdom, and form our final judgment independently."

Concerning this "final judgment" I found the following principle in the lecture entitled "Mysticism" to be particular liberating. As regards the extremely theopathic: "No authority emanates from them which should make it a duty for those who stand outside of them to accept their revelations uncritically." A good word to hide in your heart against the next time some well-intentioned saint feels that their eccentricities should be yours.

To be honest, I found the lecture entitled "Philosophy" to be fairly technical and daunting, but such criticism I charge to my own lack of knowledge in this area rather than to any deficiency in the book itself. Upon closing its covers, I was a satiated bee. The book is total nectar.

Coming from an essentially secular upbringing, I thought religion was something I should learn about as part of a well-rounded liberal arts education. This book helped me to see that religion might also have something to say to me personally (as did Thomas Merton's "Seven Storey Mountain").

"Varieties" is a wonderfully written exploration of the psychology of individual religious experience--whether within or without organized religion--by one of America's greatest philosophers and psychologists. It includes lots of interesting case studies and lots of insight. Major topics: conversion, saintliness, mysticism, and James's illuminating distinction between "healthy-minded" religion and that of the "sick soul." Fun fact: the panicky, melancholic "Frenchman" near the end of the "Sick Soul" section is actually William James. Also noteworthy: this book was an important influence on "Bill W.," co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.

(Another book I highly recommend on the psychology of religion: Gerald May's "Will and Spirit: A Contemplative Psychology.")

this is a comedy only in the sense that the play ends well - ie, noone dies, most everyone is happy. else, there's little humor in this comedy, save for the knave, lucio. like others here have pointed out, this is actually a pretty serious play that takes a pretty hard look at human weakness, particularly lust. there are some fine, impassioned speeches by claudio and his sister, who pleads for his life. worth a read. but don't expect any laughs.

One of Shakespeare's lesser read and lesser performed plays, Measure for Measure profoundly explores the themes of justice and mercy. This exploration compensates for the defects of the play: the unbelievable resolution, the Duke's refusal to interfere early on (which causes pain to the characters), the inconsistency in the application of morality (Isabella considers it wrong for the betrothed Claudio and Juliet to have sex but justifies--and even helps to arrange--it between Angelo and Mariana), and the unexpected suddenness of the Duke's proposal to Isabella. The play seriously weighs the concerns of justice and mercy, and although it ultimately favors mercy, it recognizes the complexity of the issue. How can one practice mercy and yet restrain vice? How can one "hate the sin" yet "love the sinner?" Mercy seems to be the necessary choice over justice because man is too fallen to bear the brunt of justice. "Judge not lest ye be judged. For with what measure you mete," said Christ, "it shall be measured unto you." If you hold a high standard for others (as does Angelo for Claudio) and yet fall short of it yourself, you will be judged by the same standard. Since we seem destined to fall short of righteousness, it is best to practice forgiveness, so that we too may be judged lightly. And yet there is a concern that such practice of forgiveness will lead to a laxity that permits vice to flourish (which is the reason the Duke leaves Angelo in charge in the first place). Though mercy and forgiveness are favored, the arguments in favor of justice are not simply dismissed.

Quote: "Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it?
Why, every fault's condemned ere it be done.
Mine were the very cipher of a function,
To fine the faults whose fine stands in record,
And let go by the actor." (II.ii.38-42)

Measure for Measure is seldom read, and not often performed in the United States. Why? Although many of Shakespeare's plays deal bluntly with sexual issues, Measure for Measure does so in an unusually ugly and disgusting way for Shakespeare. This play is probably best suited for adults, as a result.

I see Measure for Measure as closest to The Merchant of Venice in its themes. Of the two plays, I prefer Measure for Measure for its unremitting look at the arbitrariness of laws, public hypocrisy and private venality, support for virtue, and encouragement of tempering public justice with common sense and mercy.

The play opens with Duke Vincentio turning over his authority to his deputy, Angelo. But while the duke says he is leaving for Poland, he in fact remains in Vienna posing as a friar. Angelo begins meting out justice according to the letter of the law. His first act is to condemn Claudio to death for impregnating Juliet. The two are willing to marry, but Angelo is not interested in finding a solution. In despair, Claudio gets word to his sister, the beautiful Isabella, that he is to be executed and prays that she will beg for mercy. Despite knowing that Isabella is a virgin novice who is about to take her vows, Angelo cruelly offers to release Claudio of Isabella will make herself sexually available to Angelo. The Duke works his influence behind the scenes to help create justice.

Although this play is a "comedy" in Shakespearean terms, the tension throughout is much more like a tragedy. In fact, there are powerful scenes where Shakespeare draws on foolish servants of the law to make his points clear. These serve a similar role of lessening the darkness to that of the gravediggers in Hamlet.

One of the things I like best about Measure for Measure is that the resolution is kept hidden better than in most of the comedies. As a result, the heavy and rising tension is only relieved right at the end. The relief you will feel at the end of act five will be very great, if you are like me.

After you read this play, I suggest that you compare Isabella and Portia. Why did Shakespeare choose two such strong women to be placed at the center of establishing justice? Could it have anything to do with wanting to establish the rightness of the heart? If you think so, reflect that both Isabella and Portia are tough in demanding that what is right be done. After you finish thinking about those two characters, you may also enjoy comparing King Lear and Claudio. What was their fault? What was their salvation? Why? What point is Shakespeare making? Finally, think about Angelo. Is he the norm or the exception in society? What makes someone act like Angelo does here? What is a person naturally going to do in his situation?

Look for fairness in all that you say and do!