Outstanding book! The story of a "not so perfect" angel and how she ends up announcing the birth of Christ is concise, elegant and delightful! The illustrations are perfect and fit the story. I collect children's books and was thrilled to find this gem!

God works in veiled and mysterious ways often choosing the marginalized, the overlooked, and the simple to do His bidding and His most important works. In Gloria the Christmas Angel, author Scott Asalone captures the true spirit of the season which is all about discovering and celebrating our purpose in life. Anyone, not just children, will appreciate the heart warming classic tale this story will become!

Gloria is a rather klutzy angel who feels unfit and forgotten. But deep down inside herself, Gloria finds the power to believe in herself when no one else does and meets a child born in poverty who turns out to be the son of God. Because she can see beyond appearances, Gloria not only brings the good news to the poor, she also announces that it is the people of poverty who are also God's own children. Gloria: The Christmas Angel is a wonderfully delightful Christmas picturebook story for young readers ages 4 to 8 that is both entertaining and profound.

This book is primarily a lay-person's guide to Ignatian contemplative prayer. However, it can also be read simply as an uplifting book on spirituality and the nature of the relationship between human beings and God. Another reviewer said this book is a "touchstone" and I agree. This book is filled with the love of God and the exercises help point to Christ and to God's infinite grace.

This is a book I have returned to many times, it is a touch stone. There is no hint of pomposity, ego or personal gain from the author. It cuts though the usual surface rhetoric of given answers and assumptions often handed out by the church and in our thinking. It is not about the church it is about God. I would think it would be a value to anyone at any place in their life. This book may upset your way of seeing life. It will challenge your beliefs and assumptions and help to loosen the constricting and sometimes comfortable views we all have about Christ. I find it hard to believe that this unpretentious, insightfully clear and beautiful book is now out of print.

I am indeed surprised that I am the first person to review this book for America. I am a priest in Scotland and wish to recommend this book to everyone, of all faiths and none. Gerry Hughes dispenses with the 'God who punishes', the God who has been portrayed by mainstream religion for centuries, nay millennia, who wouldn't even make a half decent next door neighbour. This is Christianity with depth - and no place for superstition. If you have ever sat in a church listening to a preacher talking nonsense and wanted to challenge his sermon, read this book. Gerry seems to invite people to listen to the biggest pulpit anyone could find, - the pulpit which stands in each person's own heart and conscience. Break free from the shackles of religion by terror and meet the God of Surprises. The big surprise is : You're okay, don't listen to those who would load burdens of guilt on your shoulders, and......... it's okay to question the teachings of people who wear black frocks and white collars. I hope this book becomes a best seller across the pond.

Alice Hoffman has uncovered a forgotten piece of American history and inspired me to begin collecting Indian clubs. Hoffman has written an informative book complete with stunning photographs and personal reflections.

Indian clubs now prized for their sculptural, artistic merits were once a must for every man, women, and child who hoped to obtain physical and spiritual well-being in the late 19th, early 20th century.

It's amazing to learn that Indian clubs were once thought to be an exercise that would stand the test of time. Hoffman has shown they have, not as muscle builders but as a collectible.

If you're interested in learning something new and not afraid of becoming an Indian club collecting addict as I have since reading this book, I suggest you order Indian Clubs today.

Excellent resource for serious collectors and the curious. Photographs are inspirational. Can't wait to start my own collection. Historical information very comprehensive. Good read as well as informative.

A wonderful read...informative.Photographs are ready for framing. Definitely will inspire you to begin to collect Indian clubs. As stated by Gerard Wertkin, Director, Museum of American Folk Art, "(Alice Hoffman) has recovered an all but forgotten subchapter in the history of American sport and, at the same time, helped us appreciate another aspect of American artistic creativity. Hats off to her!" I agree with Mr. Wertkin and the following reviews: Antiques & Auction News, "A colorful exercise in collecting,"..."documents the "life" of this colorful and practical form of exercise...a charming addition to any antiques library." Antique & Collectibles News Service, "Inside Antiques, Good Reading,"..."we love (this) book...a folk art gem." Antiques Review, "The Bookshelf,"..."Superb color photographs...Fascinating archival material." Denver Post, "What's Up,"..."If you're searching for the most unusual art book of the year don't overlook Indian Clubs." Maine Antiques Digest, "Books, Calendars, CD-ROMS,"..."a case for Indian clubs as folk art." The Star Ledger, NJ, "A new life for Indian clubs,"..."new coffee table book...If TV infomercials had been around in their heyday, chances are the physical fitness mavens of the day would have been pitching Indian clubs in the same way abs machines and treadmills are endlessly hawked now."

Professor John A. Murray, editor of many anthologies on nature writing. "Mr. Gormley is the equal of any nature writer publishing today ... epic sweep and grandeur ... beauty and power of ... descriptions." Professor Murray compares the quality of Gormley's writing to that of Melville in MOBY DICK.

"ORCAS OF THE GULF will be a pleasure to anyone who wants to explore the realities of nature. Mr. Gormley's awe and respect for these magnificent whales is shared with us as a small pod of orca pass through the familiar waters off New England. We find ourselves enveloped in the interlocked, interwoven spectrum of the sea; everyday life to the orca, white water drama and magical beauty to Man. Much seems incredible, impossible, even mythical, yet the author has included every available bit of science in his exciting and educational narrative. He takes us a few steps farther than science has yet gone, with common sense and realism, challenging the scientists to discover the full world of the orca. His narrative theories on perception, communication, pod society and chillingly realistic assessment of human impact are most interesting. The values and perceptions expressed in this work are not human, but they may just be the orca's, and we can all learn from that." William W. Rossiter, Vice President, Cetacean Society International.

ORCAS OF THE GULF is a natural history of killer whales in the Gulf of Maine, where orcas visit each summer to hunt bluefin tuna and other prey, including the occasional great whale. The book's narrative focuses on a pod of twelve orcas over a period of ten weeks, from mid-August through October. Everything in the book is based on fact. In its first printing, ORCAS OF THE GULF was voted one of the best popular science books of 1990 by Library Journal. Professor John A. Murray, editor of many anthologies on nature writing, later opined, "Mr. Gormley is the equal of any nature writer publishing today ... epic sweep and grandeur ... beauty and power of ... descriptions." Professor Murray compares the quality of Gormley's writing to that of Melville in MOBY DICK.

"ORCAS OF THE GULF will be a pleasure to anyone who wants to explore the realities of nature. Mr. Gormley's awe and respect for these magnificent whales is shared with us as a small pod of orca pass through the familiar waters off New England. We find ourselves enveloped in the interlocked, interwoven spectrum of the sea; everyday life to the orca, white water drama and magical beauty to Man. Much seems incredible, impossible, even mythical, yet the author has included every available bit of science in his exciting and educational narrative. He takes us a few steps farther than science has yet gone, with common sense and realism, challenging the scientists to discover the full world of the orca. His narrative theories on perception, communication, pod society and chillingly realistic assessment of human impact are most interesting. The values and perceptions expressed in this work are not human, but they may just be the orca's, and we can all learn from that." William W. Rossiter Vice President Cetacean Society International

This is a great book. Even if you can't read the original language, it has a very good English translation. They are fables with a message that are entertaining to read and think about for today's time. But there is another meaning behind these fables (commentary and criticism of the author's period of history). These fables address the political and social issues facing the people in partitioned Poland.

Over 60 fables are presented in this book. Every
parable is first written in the original Polish form
and then the English translation is given. I liked
the fact that I could go back and forth between the
two translations and learn a few words in Polish.
I also enjoyed the many illustrations that were done
by Barbara Swidzinska, but I wish that all of the
fables had been illustrated.

The subject matter is much more complicated than the
titles imply. Here's a sampling of the fables: In the
tale of THE HUMBLE LION, when a king asks his subjects
to speak the truth, it could be a deadly mistake. Or in
FRIENDS, the story of a hare who was a kind and good
friend to all. When the hare needs help, he's given a
lesson in his choice of friends. Finally, with the fable
of THE HERON, THE FISH, AND THE CRAB we all learn
that a traitor eventually gets caught.

As a group, these fables were published after the death
of Ignacy Krasicki in the year 1803. Although, we're
told that many of these pieces were individually
published at an earlier date. Krasicki (1735-1801) was
referred to as "the Prince of Poets" by his contemporaries.
Most of these pieces have political connotations and were
written after the first partition of Poland when the
surrounding countries of Russia, Austria and Prussia
conquered and divided Poland among themselves.

I'ts a pleasure to have this literary work translated for
us by Gerard T. Kapolka. My thanks to him.

"Polish Fables" is a wonderful book with creative stories. I recommend it to people who enjoy creativity

I received this book as a gift from a dear friend who knows just how much I love Ireland. She was right on the mark with "Eyewitness Travel Portrait of Ireland". This book has it all!

It starts out with basic info; finding Ireland on a map, it's history, landscape, wildlife and people. It then moves on to a region by region review of places to visit and the towns/sights to be seen. The book has a ton of information as well as beautiful photographs to give you a feeling of what you'd see. I especially liked that the hardback book I have is bigger and easier to view than it's soft cover counter part. I've seen the smaller version and, even though the information is the same, you lose a lot in trying to see those teeny, tiny pictures. Go for the big one if you have the room! There's not much difference between them in price.

If you plan on going to Ireland I can only suggest you suppliment this book with a guide like Frommer's that give you places to eat and stay as well as all the prices. "Travel Portrait" lists which places have fees but not exact amounts. It also lists which towns have market days, which sights require fees and offer tours, which ones are handicap accessible and what the open and close dates are for most places.

I love this book and you will, too. It is well worth owning!

Essentially a travel guide in a large format, this book makes an exceptional gift for anyone with a hint of Irish blood or an interest in the Emerald Isle. Beautiful images are married to very readable text and interesting sidebars and facts. Printed on glossy, coffee-table-book paper, the pictures really jump out, grab you, and drag into the incredible scenery and history of one of the most spellbinding islands on earth.

In Dorling Kindersley's unique and highly readable style, Protrait of Ireland takes the reader to Ireland through photgraphs and interesting facts. Perfect for all ages, Portrait of Ireland offers snippets of information enabling even the smallest attention span to glean valuable information about Ireland.

This short and clear summary has opened the world of philosophy for me. It offers really a road to understanding.

This continues to be an excellent brief introduction to philosophy

a model of concise clarit

The Lake Erie Campaign was one of the few bright lights during the War of 1812. This succinct, readable book details the challenges and hardships faced by the combatants in what was then a largely unsettled part of North America. I bought mine at the National Historic Site headquarters at Put-In-Bay, South Bass Island, Ohio...and at the time, they had plenty of copies.

This excellent book is the definitive history of this hard-fought, valiant effort by two small fleets fighting each other to the death quite literally in the middle of nowhere, 1813.

Two quickly built naval squadrons, getting men and material for sailor and ships from wherever they could, fought each other to literal annihilation for the loser, and great strategic gains for the victor. Two talented naval officers, Briton Robert H. barclay, and American Oliver Hazard Perry, built their small fleets, manned them with whatever came along (in Perry's case 'a motley set, blacks, soldiers, and boys', including a Marine officer who was given his choice of a court-martial or serving on the northwest frontier-he was later killed in action in the battle, quite gallantly taking his death wound leading his men), and set sail to settle the fate of Lake Erie and its surrounding territory.

The authors tell their tale with wit, verve, and aplomb, from the different characters to the ships and the men that manned them. This volume definitely has the smell of gunpowder about it and is meticulously researched and very well-written. It is highly recommeded both as a valued addition to the literature of the period and a book than can stand on its own.

Skaggs and Altoff have done a terrific job with this almost forgotten piece of North American history. The authors deal not only with the battle itself, but also describe the events that lead to it, and the repercussions of it. The research is meticulous and put forth in a very readable way. This should be required reading for any history buff.

I love this book and, in fact, I'm buying copies to give to friends. The story of the ongoing conversion of the author is an example of the journey of any seeker of God: great awakenings, stumbles, doubts, reassurances, understanding.
The first portion of the book is compelling and hard to put aside. The other chapters, however, are so rich with material from additional sources that I found them best to meditate on, think of as you live your life, and then dip into once again. This is perfect as a devotional for the liturgical seasons of advent and lent.

When I pick up a book on spirituality, that is nearly 600 pages long, I find myself flipping back and forth, counting the number of pages I still have to read (yawn). Having admitted that, I will add that "religion" is probably my first choice when searching for new books. Conversely with this book, I found myself counting the pages to see how many pages were left, because I didn't want it to end. Straub takes us along on his spiritual pilgrimage. In his "Thoughts Scribbled While walking," we can almost chart his spiritual growth (like an ascending line on graph paper). This book will inspire you to follow his lead by pursuing a deeper relationship with God. I was skeptical upon reading his background as a TV/soap writer, but I found it (along with his honesty and humility),to lend credibility to his personal transformation . I have never read a book that inspired me to write the author to tell him how much his writing touched me. This is one author I would like to thank.

This is a book to be savored. As a resident of Southern California, I found his personal observations on the cultural values of Americans right on target. It's too bad this book may never make the N.Y. Times Best Sellers' List, it could change the world.

As St. Francis is a man for all Ages, This book can be read on so many levels. As a straightforward biography of Sts. Francis and Clare it offers a modern no nonsense rendering of the lives of Assisi's greatest progeny. The chapters on Francis and Clare have a spiritual depth that would enhance the formation and understanding of any inquirer into the lives and spiituality of these two great saints.

Straub's honesty and openness in describing his own personal journey from being an atheist to a believer with a special evangelical vocation, the insightful musings of his Pilgrim's Diary, the history of the churches of Assisi all add up to a tour de force. I believe this book will have a great appeal to the general reader in addition to those with a special love for Franciscan and spiritual themes.

Certain parts of the book radiate incandescently. The rule of synergy states that the "whole is greater than the sum of it's parts." And yet, there are so many "parts" in this book that seem to stand alone in excellence at least equal to the power and depth of the whole. The treatment of Francis' timeless elegy to his God's creations, The Canticle of the Creatures, is truly inspired. The poem's majesty is wonderfully underscored by Staub's personal reflections and those the of other writers quoted in praise and awe of St. Francis' spiritually poetic genius. In closing his reflection on the canticle with Fr. Eloi Leclerc's The Language of the Soul's Night, Straub poignantly illustrates how St. Francis was as relevant in elevating souls in the rawest and most dire moments of the twentieth century as he was in the past and, most assuredly, will be in the future.

A specific charism of the Franciscan is to be able to shed the layers of meaningless diversions, vanities and preoccupations that restricts us from either confronting or exposing the truths and essential realities of our lives. Straub is able, in the most literary and articulate fashion, to expose his spiritual (human) doubts and shortcomings as he grapples with the profound search for meaning in his life. His "inner life" is shared with the reader in the most intimate terms without apology or embarrassment. I felt priveleged to become a part of Straub's journey and reveled in the awareness of how much we humans have in common with each other.

It starts the discussion with the familiar metric spaces and the real line and then
shows how convergence can be generalized. From this point, he then shows the
connection to topology. He also provides motivation for the results, exercises,
and historical sketches at the end of every chapter. The writing is unusually
clear.

I'm a graduate student in mathematics and this is one of the few math books I can highly recommend. Topological concepts are made intuitive, so when you get to the formal definitions, they are no surprise, you even expect them. Sometimes it is explained why a 'seemingly obvious solution' doesn't work after all. This really helps you to see WHY things are done the way they are. After reading this book you'll have a good basic understanding of what topology is all about. With this background it should be no problem to tackle more advanced texts on topology.

By the way, I love the 'Extras' in the book. They are little pieces of history or excursions into other parts of mathematics that can be found at the end of each chapter.

This book is an extremely valuable asset to anyone with enthusiasm for mathematics. Using at first only fundemental calculus, the book carefully draws the reader into the scope of the field. The book contains detailed explanation of all terms used in the axioms and theorms presented. It leaves an unambiguous picture of the developed ideas in the reader's mind. I strongly recommend it, (it even has a neat cover!)