Brown paints engaging and detailed pictures of St. John and Kim Philby. The chapters on St. John are particularly interesting. To judge by Brown's book, the elder Philby led a more colorful, though less notorious life than his son Kim.

Brown ultimately fails to support his charge of treason against St. John Philby. The charge, implicit in the book's title, is never really followed through in the text. St. John, as described by Brown, was an active critic of British policy in Arabia, a gadfly, and ultimately an embittered nuisance. This is not the same as being a traitor, however.

The chapters on Kim contain no new blockbusters, though Brown draws his character deftly. Ultimately more interesting than Kim Philby the man, though, is Kim Philby the phenomenon.

Kim Philby continues to exert a fascination which extends far beyond his actual historical impact. His betrayal, and that of Burgess, MacLean, et al, seem to stand as emblematic of the decay of the English upper classes in the Post WWI period. While Brown does an admirable job painting his portrait of the man, he doesn't dwell on the question of why we still care about this brilliant, vain, aristocratic traitor.

The research was top rate; the writing was superb; the factual underpinnings for everything were uncontravertible, and the subject was fascinating. That said, there exists a political bent here that attempts to skew the reader to have a sense of sympathy for Philby. Skip it, Philby was a treacherous lowlife. Clearly Philby had a communist belief system, that's not in question. The real issue of course is, should your ideological belief system justify treasonous acts? In other words, Philby was placed in a position of trust by the British Government. Does the fact that he had the heart of a communist justify the actions he took on behalf of the Soviets? No. In fact, as demonstrated later in his life, which really isn't explored as much as it should have been, Philby clearly become disenchanted with the communist manifesto.

The bottom line, however, is that this is a great read, well done

I think I can say without exaggeration, this is possibly the most important book of the 20th Century to date, which I have just had the good fortune to read within the last 6 months or so of that century. It illuminates and supplies all the linkages between the titanic struggles for the Middle East among the Great Powers of the Nineteenth Century, and the present hellish landscape that is their legacy. Then it goes on to meticulously study the character of Kim Philby, possibly the most important man of the century and certainly the one who embodies most all the contradictions and ambiguity of it. In the end nobody could penetrate this man's psyche, not the British and Americans whom he betrayed, nor the Russians whom he supposedly served. He remained a mystery wrapped inside an enigma to the end. The book causes one to ponder, how many of the great events of this century, turned on this one man? I can see why Graham Greene was so fond of him, because he is the character Graham Greene was trying to perfect in all his novels...

This book is excellent, but the title is a bit misleading. Let us start by saying that you can't go wrong reading this book. It is a detailed analysis of the book of John, from the New Testament. I must admit that much of the author's commentary brought up ideas I had never considered, or not seen the same way. It will add depth and understanding for anyone trying to understand the mystical style of the book of John.
The reason I only gave this book 4 out of 5 stars is that the title suggests a more detailed treatment, and bonding between the Eastern traditions of Hinduism and yoga, and Christ. Little of the Eastern traditions are mentioned, but those that are mentioned are excellent reflections. I was hungry for a treatment of Christ philosophy from an Hindu Yoga point of view. It was much more geared for the biblical reader, than for the Hindu reader. A little more balance would have been my preference.
Still, a wonderful book to read!

In this book Ravi Ravindra goes through the gospel of John section by section, following each part with commentary. I found his insights very valuable; although I had read John's gospel many times before, Ravindra's reading of it pointed out many insights I would never had caught on my own. I suspect this may be because the author approached the gospel with a "beginner's mind," which is often difficult for those of us raised in a Judaeo-Christian culture. His perspectives on the story of the Samaritan woman at the well were so profound that they pushed my understanding of Jesus' teachings to a new level. As a person who has given up on organized religion, this book was valuable in helping me to go back to what is of value in Christian teachings and draw on it. Ravindra combines his understanding of the Hindu approach to the spiritual path with Christian mysticism in this book. Rather than watering down either tradition, the approach is truly inspiring.

1. "For the first time, a systematic study of the Gospel according to St. John is made by a non-Christian. Dr. Ravindra explores John's twenty-one chapters, one by one, with beautiful and incisive style... Ravindra's commentary is not an intellectual exercise but a heart pilgrimage. He warns us that the 'rational mind is always uneasy about the Spirit which displaces it from the centre of being...' The author shares with us his spiritual journey, using John's Gospel as the structure for his development. The basis of personal experience of the spirit within us is reminiscent of Pascal's Pensees, and, closer to us, Thomas Merton's reflections on Zen Buddhism... Stemming from this are larger, more universal truths; on an otherwise too-familiar text he brings us countless insights, which can only be gained from such a fresh perspective. Throughout the book these nuggets startle and delight... The Yoga of the Christ will be for many readers such a source of light, as the best insights of the Hindu tradition are integrated to better reveal the dynamic elasticity and immense spiritual wealth of John's Gospel." --From The Atlantic Provinces Book Revie

Although small in size, this book covers all the aspects of the lives of birds. Everything from nesting to migration. There's more to birding than just identification, and this book is a good start for that step beyond. Also has good illustrations. Recommended.

Bird Life was the first book about birds that I bought when I began seriously observing the birds in my neighborhood. I have more sophisticated guides to birds now, but I still refer to Bird Life for interesting bits of information that I just wouldn't find in any field guide. At only 4x6 inches in size and 160 pages, Bird Life looks like it was made to put in a pocket and take into the field. But it isn't really a field guide. It is simply the largest collection of information on the most different aspects of bird behavior in the smallest space. A list of the topics the book addresses will show you what I mean by that: bird behavior, preening, how birds sleep, feeding, food storage, social displays, family life, songs and calls, hearing, flight, navigation, longevity, conservation, attracting birds, feeding birds, and making bird feeders from common household items. None of these topics is covered in an exhaustive manner. Bird Life provides an introduction to each of these subjects. It doesn't help much in identifying birds, but helps you to understand their daily lives. The information is general but includes examples of species that engage in specific behaviors. And there are illustrations of bird behaviors and anatomy. As an introduction to birds, this book is tops!

Highly recommended for anyone who has ever encountered a bird! Really. It is easy to read and full of fascinating facts. You don't have to be a "bird person" to enjoy this book. You only risk discovering that your avian neighbors might be more interesting than you realized. Casual birders will find some intriguing info that they may not have read before. Makes a fun and inexpensive stocking stuffer too!

Everyone knows where Becket's bones were from 1170 until 1538 -- in the shrine in Canterbury Cathedral. Chaucer's pilgrims were on their way to see them... In 1538, commissioners of Henry VIII destroyed the shrine and, many assume, Becket's bones as well. But the contemporary accounts are ambiguous at best... In 1888 a shallow grave was discovered in the Cathedral crypt containing bones that seemed to match the description of Becket. They were even arranged in the makeshift casket in a way similar to descriptions of the arrangement of the bones in the shrine. Were these Becket's bones? And if they were, what would be the impact on the English church of the re-discovery of the relics of England's greatest Catholic saint -- one who died defending the authority of the pope? It sounds like a novel, but it is all true. This is a well-written, even handed account with a maximum of scholarship and a minimum of sensationalism (but just enough to keep you interested). Recommended

"The Quest for Becket's Bones" by John Butler. Subtitled: "The Mystery of St. Thomas Becket of Canterbury" . Yale University Press, 1995.

St. Thomas a Becket opposed the actions of his king, Henry II, who "wished" that he was rid of that priest Some of Henry's knights dispatched Thomas in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170. The burial place of St. Thomas a Becket then became a shrine that was the center of centuries of pilgrimages in England. When another Henry, i.e. Henry VIII, decided to break with the Church in Rome, he made St. Thomas Becket an object lesson. On page 117, the author, John Butler, records that Henry VIII viewed Thomas Becket as a "rebel" who fled to France and to the bishop of Rome "...to procure the abrogation of wholesome laws". King Henry VIII ordered the "plucking down " of the pictures of St. Thomas Becket and that Becket would not be considered a saint "...throughout the realm". An example of this pettiness, this meanness, is portrayed on page 118, where the painting of St. Thomas Becket has been scratched out completely. This becomes the central theme of the book: were the Commissioners of Henry VIII so mean as to be able to disinter the bones of St. Thomas Becket and burn them? On page 119, the author quotes that " ...the Pope 'announced the new cruelty and impiety of the King of England, who commanded the body of St Thomas of Canterbury to be burnt and the ashes scattered to the winds". The Commissioner who supposedly ordered the ashes to be fired from a cannon was Thomas Cromwell. Interestingly, the author does not name the Pope, as usually done in historical works; it was Pope Paul III, (reigned from 1534 to 1549). Also interestingly, in this present age of restitution, reparation and restoration, this book makes no mention of the move to restore to Roman Catholics the riches, the land and the churches stolen from Catholics in 1500s.

If the bones were not burnt, were they later discovered (1888) in the place in Canterbury especially identified with Thomas Becket? You will have to read the book to find the answer to that. John Butler has taken historical facts and worked them into a book which reads like a mystery novel. His final chapter is a summary of the possibilities of what happen to the Becket's bones. You, as the reader, can pick the most plausible solution to this mystery.

Having lived in the islands 20 years myself, I certainly understand five-stop shopping. The Caribbean recipes in this books are fresh, exuberant and bursting with exotic island flavor. If you like this book, you'll really love Angela Spenceley's brand new book "A Taste of the Caribbean" filled with hundreds of traditional recipes and the new, exciting Caribbean cuisine. A must for any good cookbook library.

Finally a great recipe book dedicated to the tastes of St John USVI. Normally the Carib recipe books have a drip and drabble from all of the islands. This wonderful book lends itself only to the recipes of St John. All directions are easy to read and easy to duplicate for the novice to the gourmet cook.

Nice thing about this book is that our daughter is marrying there soon and now we know what to get for all of our good friends to take home as a remembrance of the wedding and a remembrance of a lot of paradise.

This book is a good introduction to the contemporary Baudrillard, it is the last step as he leaves behind the last vestiges of Marxism and ventures into something original and "fatal". Contrary to the first reviewer, Baudrillard does not assume an "Essentialist" position (namely, providing necessary and sufficient conditions for 'such and such' to be 'such and such'). Instead he operates between wildly poetic description and (implied) moral condemnation.

This means, mostly, that his comments on meaning and media are striking. It also means (unfortunately) that he provides little in the way of concrete or rigorous argumentation. Thankfully, this is not a problem if we consider the book a collection of inter-related aphorisms. In any case, Baudrillard "the poet" instead of Baudrillard "the theorist" allows us to conceptualize the expanding domain of media technologies in a different way. Whether there actually -is- anything to his claims will have to be shown by someone else.

Since this book has had something of an influence on art criticism, I recommend it (albeit, with strong reservations about its basic claims)to anyone interested in cultural theory, the arts or any sort of contemporary "critical theory".

Break out your dictionary; here is Baudrillard in all his ontogenetic glory. A wildly entertaining if ultimately depressing journey through the end of the millenia; what could be more shocking than to see J.B. bewail the lost hippy ideals of the sixties? Less a postmodernist than an essentialist critic of postmodernism, Baudrilard bwetrays a startling lack of imagination when it comes to technology and apparently views the computer screen as the fourth horseman of a Marxian apocalypse. Imagine if your kvetching grandfather had attended Yale in the '80s.

Sometimes a brilliant thinker as Baudrillard lets his own theories and perspectives confuse what is reality. Even though all the so-called revolutions and liberations have played themselves out, sexual,cybernetic,political,artistic, there are still powers in the world in all the above categories that are shaping the world in their own image. What is globalization? than the structure of the world surrounded with capital,shaped by it directing the poverty and foodchains of the world. I think Baudrillard forgets this, that there still is someone who creates and directs,and manipulates,and politicizes,and innoculates the populace to soften them up for consumption,controlled if possibly.

This collection of essays are brilliant in that Baudrillard knows how to probe beneath the surface of art,of culture, like Madonna, Michael Jackson or current Hollywood, and the politics of Europe,of the demise of communism. He does it within a formant structure,with many levels of meaning spewed out in all directions. He is a virtuoso in that respect.

What structures material reality? what directs it is not probed however with any degree of conviction and I think that is where his focus should be.You needn't be a Marxist to harbor these convictions simply ahumanist concerned with the direction of the world.

This book is rich with updated information on antidepressants. In this sense, perhaps it is a helpful tool for those who are looking for technical information to help treat the debilitating disease of depression. However, it is interesting that when you carefully read between the lines and especially towards the end of the book, the author seems to strongly have his own point of view about drug treatment. He's not too "fond" of it. Which is fine with me... everybody has their own views and even theories regarding depression. So much is yet unknown about the human brain so this is only natural. As one who greatly suffers from this disease, my only concern is if this book is truly objective. (Excuse the repeated words. It occurs through Amazon, and cannot be edited.)

This "little" book (it can be read in a few hours yet consulted as a comprehensive reference tool) is the one own if you must limit yourself to one (and given the abundance of material in print and on-line, it may be wise to have just one reliable resource). It provides user-friendly yet responsible information about all of the SSRI's (Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil) as well as the drugs that preceded them (tricyclics, benzodiazapines) and the more recent antidepressants (Effexor, Remeron, Celexa). Appleton looks at many promising drugs awaiting approval as well as the vast number of touted herbal remedies. The author has no agenda. He provides balanced information about the percentage of consumers who are likely to be helped and to what degree. He also suggests 2 and 3-step drug programs for individuals who are "treatment-resistant." Best of all, the author combines appreciation for the medical efficacy of certain drugs with healthy skepticism and an experienced professional's common-sense.

The book is not very long but offers just the right amount of information and makes for easy reading without all the technical jargon. It gives a very informative background on the various new antidepressants and is a must read for those already on antidepressants who are curious or have concerns about what they are currently taking. What I liked most were the comparisons of the various kinds of new antidepressants as well as the side effects known to each.

I was really impressed by this informative guide book. My boyfriend and I are very much into eco-adventures and we stumbled upon this handy guide book while surfing the web. We loved the website and ordered the book immediately. The best part of the book for us was the fact that the authors were really in touch with the cultural and historic aspects of the island and that while simultaneouly detailing various tours for us to try, they did not tell us everything that we would see. This led for many exciting day trips and adventuring on our own!
This book led us in the right directions, and gave us just enough information to explore the island on our own terms! St. John has so many beautiful beaches and vistas that it was a thrill to discover them along the way when following the information provided by the authors in the motoring tours and by investigating the charming map that was provided. My boyfriend and I had such a wonderful time that we are planning to go back again next year, and we definately wouldn't think of going back without our copy of St. John on Foot and by Car!!!!

A great buy! This pocket-sized guide to St. John contains factual information with spectacular photograps. It's a must have if you're planning a vaction to this island paradise.

Very straightforward introduction to history, culture and natural world of St. John. Lots of color photography, easy to follow walking and motors tours of the island. Full of historical facts. Pulls together under one cover alot of usefull information about beaches, hiking trails, Annaberg Sugar Mill, Cinnamon Bay Nature Trail, etc. Nothing pretentious about this book. A very handy guild for vacationers looking to inhance their island escape with just the right dosage of information.

In its full-sized hardcover edition, "The Mad Dog 100" is just small enough to bring into Yankee Stadium without a backpack. Thus, without having to sneak your bag through security, you can get it into the bleachers and read a full chapter between innings. Or while waiting for Nomar Garciaparra to finish adjusting his shoes and gloves. You could probably finish the entire book by the 7th inning stretch (if not DURING the 7th inning stretch).

"The Mad Dog 100" is the first literary effort by Chris Russo, co-host of New York City's WFAN's popular afternoon call-in program "Mike and the Mad Dog". Russo's been with the station for about 15 years now, so maybe we can assume this book was at least a decade in the making.

The author biography informs us that Mad Dog "also" hosts a program on the "new" YES Network -- which is probably the TV version of the radio program, in which you can watch a fidgety Russo squirm his way through overlong interviews, or the 400-pound Mike Francesa not move a muscle between ad breaks.

The author is Allen St. John, known mostly for his more incisive sports commentary in the Village Voice. I'm going to assume that the topics for "the greatest sports arguments of all time" were listed by Russo, and then written by St. John in Russo's "voice". I mean, in a chapter debating the greatest home-run record of all time (a "chapter" here consuming parts of three pages), Russo talks about researching Roger Maris's 1961 assault on Babe Ruth's 60 HR mark, and being "surprised" to learn that contemporary journalists actually favored the asterisk. I think I was "surprised" to learn that Mad Dog actually DID research. In which library did he spend his late nights, making sure that his non-fiction tome wouldn't betray those audiences who associate the brand name "Mad Dog" with 100% accuracy?

Most of the topics in the book are interesting -- best NBA rivalries, worst trades in sports history; the things you'd actually find yourself debating with your friends or co-workers for about 90 seconds, and 90 seconds is all it takes to read Russo's opinion on the subject. His "analysis" is really basic and you can even assume that some of the "writing" is just taken verbatim from the tapes of old Mad Dog radio programs.

I mean, what were you expecting? Roger Angell? Bill James???

MAD DOG HAS DONE IT! what a great sports book--it is a history lesson and debate all rolled into one great fast reading book! you can read it word for word and can hear it being say is Chris' voice -- If you want a book that will pull you in and wont let ya go this is it! And if you ever debated some of these topics yourself, you might rethink a few after this read! GREAT JOB CHRIS!

You know those great ballpark conversations you have with your Dad, or your brother or your best buddy during a pitching change in the sixth inning? That's what this book is like. Russo collects all those arguments that never quite get resolved between two sports fans. The Dog gives his take. He's smart, and sometimes he's even right-except about the salary cap.
Then it's your turn.
Reading this book (and you won't be able to put it down) is your excuse to pick up the phone and say "Hey, Dad, remember that story you always tell about the tape measure homer that Mickey Mantle hit against Kansas City? Well, I just got this new book and Chris Russo agrees with you that Mickey has more power than anybody. But I've got to still go with Sammy Sosa because..."
So buy the book, and then call home.

This book should be required reading for everyone bitten by the writing bug. Writers take themselves much too seriously anyway, and it's about time they learned to laugh--at themselves, at writing, at the whole game. If this bitter little book of lies can't make them see the absurdity nothing can.

Written by literary agent Madelyne Simone Rovenhauer, with the assistance of D.W. St. John, The Nasty Little Writing Book is a very special guide to writing your own book and getting published - with a dark, satirical twist. Not all of its sometimes cynical advice is meant to be taken literally; many an aspiring or published author will savor a well-earned chuckle from the tongue-in-cheek suggestions. Parody assertions such as that publishers do not remainder books before their time, or that the author bears no responsibility for publicity, are not to be read at face value! At the same time, many insider "dirty little secrets" in the New York dominated publishing industry are exposed for all the world to see, from an expose on sentence sophistry to writing crises as a ploy. Highly recommended as leisure reading for the experienced writer looking to enjoy a good (albeit occassionally rueful) laugh, The Nasty Little Writing Book should be required reading for anyone who aspires to be a "best selling" published author from one of the major publishing houses.

This book pulls no punches. Publishers, agents, writers, editors, readers, fans--they all feel the sting of Rovenhauer's talons in this caustic satire! And how richly they deserve her!

Not for everyone, though. Read this book only if you can handle the truth. If you want feel good dreams stay away--far away. Because truth it may be, but pretty it is not.