I bought this book for my parents to take with them on their first trip (50th anniversary) to Hawaii. I've been to Hawaii several times and have had several guide books. I love this one the best. It it easy to read, larger print than some of the guide books, written so that it is entertaining to read. What I love the best is that every page has side bar lists that rank the same things, i.e, most romantic restaurant, restaurants with ocean view, best breakfasts, etc. I came online to re-order myself one (since I keep borrowing my parent's gift back!), only to find that it is out of print. ...

An outstanding overall guide to Hawaii--The best feature is a "quiz" which helps you decide which island(s) you will find most enjoyable. It has general advice on visiting Hawaii, how to get the best deals, etc., followed by a chapter on each of the major islands. It does not cover islands a new visitor is less likely to visit, such as Lanai and Molokai. The specific chapters on each island give useful coverage of major attractions or activities, and very detailed commentary on a limited number of hotels/resorts/B&Bs. I highly recommend the book, but once you have decided to visit, I recommend that you buy specific books covering the island(s) you want to visit. If you want to spend more than a few days on a given island, you will probably want more detailed coverage than given in this book. Despite this, the book is VERY valuable for a first-time visitor who wants to figure out the who, what, where, why and how of a Hawaiian vacation.

Very detailed and extremely helpful. Gives Island by Island details of where to visit and wonderful places to eat. I highlighted so much, you would have thought it was printed on yellow and pink paper!! A very good value and a must before you take your trip to the Islands!

"Ship handling" is something you get a feel for, specific to each vessel. Navigation, on the otherhand, can be learned (and used) by a hermit in the desert. And quite easily with his trusty "Bowditch" by his side. Navigation, as a science, didn't spring up overnight. Like the Aztec calendar, thousands of years of observation went into its development, beginning with the earliest seamen. Today, the New American Practical Navigator reflects those years of patient record. Everyone, from the weekend warrior to the crustiest salt, can find a lesson in its pages. From the latest chapter on Electronic Navigation in 1995's "red book", to the esoteric sights for lunar longitude in the old leather-bound editions of the early 1800's, "Bowditch" gives you no excuse for losing your way.

This book is the only reference one needs for any navigational issue. As a U.S. Naval Officer, I use this book to keep my navigation skills sharp. While it is an "official" publication, it is so useful I decided I needed a copy of my own, and purchased one. When I was instructing midshipmen at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, I routinely used Bowditch as my sourcebook, to ensure I was ready to teach each navigational subject (especially celestial nav). On the occasions where a midshipman asked me a question I could not immediately answer, I invariably found the answer in Bowditch. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

I am a career, surface warfare-qualified Navy officer and believe this to be the best reference in the world for nautical navigation and related matters. Superb.

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT BOOK, IT UNFOLDS THE TRUE HISTORY OF AFRICAN PEOPLE. IT DEALS WITH THE MULTITUDE OF DISTORTION AND HOW AFRICAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WRITTEN OUT OF HISTORY. CAUSE OF SLAVERY, RACISM AND WHITE SUPREMIST PROPAGANDA. HE DEALS WITH ETHIOPIA AND THE ORIGIN OF CIVILIZATION, SHOWING HOW THE FIRST HUMAN BEING ERECTED FROM AFRICA. SO IF AFRICA GAVE BIRTH TO MANKIND THEN IT IS LOGICAL TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT AFRICA GAVE BIRTH TO CIVILIZATION. HE TALKS ABOUT ETHIOPIA, ANCIENT EGYPT, AND NUBIA, GHANA, MALI, SONGHAY, MONOMOTOPA, AND ECT. HE SYSTEMATICAL SHOWS HOW AFRICANS EVEN ENGAGED IN SEA VOYAGES WITH AMPLE PROOF AND EVIDENCE. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT, OBJECTIVE AND WELL ROUNDED BOOK.

This is the most excellent and comprehensive book dealing with African Civilizations as a whole to date. He spans the entire continent, using a time frame that spans to the beginning of civilization, and completely disembowels the Eurocentric view of the black culture.

A textbook-style study which challenges European historians. Details ancient Ethiopia, Egypt, the Moors, West, Central, and Southern Africa. An occasionally difficult, but excellent and comprehensive study. I consider this the foremost work in African history - it is for the serious student. For somewhat less comprehensive, but easier reads, look for J.A. Rogers, Chancellor Williams, Ivan Van Sertima, all whom have produced excellent works.

I finished this book in one day. After starting to read I just couldn't put it down. It was very well written that I actually felt I was there, visualizing every scene. It also was a eye opener for many of us who did not understnad the depths on how colored people were treated back in the days. It also had a positive side where black and white could get along. Reading this book was a great surprise at the outcome. I agree with one of the other posters on this board, this book should be an HBO special. The story line was excellent. In fact so good, I bought 2 books, and plan on buying another for my sister who is in to our black history and culture. If this is the first book for Nathaniel Lumpkin, I am anxioous to read more. I wish him the best!!!!

I've read many novels over my lifetime including "The Catcher In The Rye," by J.D. Salinger, "A Thousand Acres," by Jane Smiley, "The Color Purple," by Alice Walker, "Macbeth," by William Shakespeare, "Your Blues Ain't Like Mine," by Bebe Moore Campbel, "Devil in a Blue Dress, Black Betty, and A Red Death," all three by Walter Mosley, "Roots," by Alex Haley, "Their Eyes Were Watching God," by Zora Neale Hurston and "Beloved," by Toni Morrison. All of which I cherish and loved reading very, very much, in most cases I've read several times. "Wade in the Water," by Nathaniel A. Lumpkin II, is a wonderfully written novel with well defined and developed characters that seem to jump off the pages into your living room. Jeremiah Liggons and Billy Ray Horton come of age during the great depression in a world that's already divided by race, and forge a friendship that must stand the ridicule of racism, murder, deception, betrayal and rape. Family love, loyalty, and God fearing ways are never questioned as Jeremiah's spiritually grounded mother calls forth a heavenly Angel to guide and protect him where ever he goes and whatever he does. This story touched my every emotion including, anger, happiness, sadness and grief. Wade in the Water is Nathaniel A. Lumpkin's debut novel, and it is a fantastic way to come out to the world. He is a writer that's easy to follow and understand, and his passion shines through his character's dialogue which is purposely written with a southern drawl. While reading this novel I could almost smell the Georgia pine trees down by the Ginsburg river, and I could vividly see the bright blue southern skys above as well as the red clay ground below, just as Nathaniel described it. This novel surely ranks up there with some of the other novels I've read and I most definitely recommend it to everyone. I read some of the other readers reviews, and I certainly agree with one reviewer that said "Oprah Winfrey," will LOVE this book. Somebody send her a copy or call her staff.

The title "WADE IN THE WATER," says it all! A really enjoyable read.

Neruda is easily one of the 20th centuries greatest poets. The Heights of Macchu Picchu is an excellent poem (Tarn's translation is a good one). It weakens a bit towards the end, but the first 2/3 of the poems is wonderful stuff. And Robert Pring-Mill prefaces this edition with a great essay that really takes you into the meaning of Neruda's poem.

Pablo Neruda, born in Chile 1904, is one of the greatest Latin American Poets to have lived. The Heights of Macchu Picchu (considered by some to be his finest poem) was inspired by his journey to this famed ruined Peruvian Inca city. These poems take on a progressive journey within both the past of Latin America and the roots of the poet himself.

Lovers and devoted students of poetry will be caught up in Neruda's poetic power, hopefully capturing the quintessence of this great poets mind. Others, like myself, who are occasional readers of poetry, may need to reread his words, but, through the rereading, Neruda's own spirit will descend into you mind.

Pablo Neruda speaks to the heart and struggle of us all, as he writes, "How many times in wintry streets, or in a bus, a boat a dusk,.... in the very lair of human pleasure, have I wanted to pause and look for the eternal, unfathomable truth's filament I'd fingered once in stone, or in the flash of a kiss released." Highly Recommended.

Pablo Neruda must have written a thousand gorgeous and soul-shaking poems on everything from socks to multinational corporations, but in my (limited) experience, this is his most amazing work. He threads together a wide scope of metaphors-- corn, gloves, roses, lightning, streams, autobuses--as he searches through life for meaning and truth. Sounds like a worn-out, pretentious topic? Think again...Neruda doesn't indulge in philosophical navel-gazing, but delves into the most earthy, mundane, yet painful details of life in his quest. He encounters not a simple answer but the revelation of past tragedy, and a role for himself in bringing about the truth of justice. The poem's beauty may not hit like lightning at first--it must be absorbed bit by bit.

Although I must have read Poem 10 (Antigua America, novia sumergida) fifty times, it always sends chills down my spine and sends me thousands of feet high into the Andes. The Heights of Macchu Picchu has comforted me when I felt lonely, helped me write my college essays, and helped me see my future plans as worthwhile instead of idealistic mush. Anyone concerned with the history of Latin America, social justice, nature, or the works of Neruda should read this poem.

I ascertain that this book is exceptionally insightful into human psychology, human fulfillment, and how these matters relate to ethics. I seek to say a few words from my innermost convictions that I hope will cause others to read this book. For note, I finished Honoring the Self about a month ago. Following is a personal anecdote, and following that is an explanation of the relevance it has to the book.

I, presently, am in love with my life. The only significant obstacle I have to fulfillment is my physical health. Depression, for me, is very slight and never lasts longer than a few hours. By any standard, this has not been the norm for most of my life. I am 22, and until about seven months ago most of my life since junior high has been distinguished with either overwhelming depression, or more frequently, intense anger and a general hatred of the human race. The only periods of emotional calm were made possible by anti-self sources of meaning, which permitted me to be ignorant of my fundamental, unconscious, disatisfaction of who I was. Gradually, over the years, since I have never considered any form of unhappiness as my natural state, I thought and thought, and was able to piece together an appropriate model of reality that permitted me to understand my weaknesses, so that I could fix them and attain satisfaction with who I was, rather than to seek fulfillment from some source outside of myself. (Anti-self sources of fulfillment that I used, at one time or another, were New Age/Paranormal phenomenon, video games, the immensity and beauty of the Universe, a sense of superiority derived from the blatant and absurd irrationality of billions of people who serve anti-self sources of meaning that I have been able to avoid, and to some degree the approval of others.)

Still, despite significant progress, I never felt fully content, "deep down". About seven months ago this changed. Because of a particular experience, over the course of about three days my understanding of myself and my relationship to reality increased utterly and indescribably during a life-changing flash of insight. Factual knowledge and existential knowledge assembled into these intuitive mental structures such that I could see connections between things and understand all the same knowledge in a more holistic way. My intuitive understanding of the same things I had understood before changed dramatically.

When this happened, my level of fulfillment, my self confidence, my sense of freedom, my sense of having the ability to achieve any realistic goal no matter how grand, my sense of optimism, reached a state of euphoria. This was no doubt a sense of purpose that few humans ever have the privelage of experiencing. This euphoric state gradually declined over the succeeding three weeks, but since then my emotional resonse to the very essence of my existence has changed forever.

The reason this personal experience is directly relevant to Honoring the Self is because all the psychological and philosophical insights I gained are in this book, written much more elegantly than I presently am able to. Reading it was very much like a refinement in words of ideas I already had realized intuitively. Nathaniel Branden not only describes these ideas, but describes the psychological manner of living necessary so one can eventually understand oneself to a degree that most human beings do not realize is possible. Self-discovery, achieved through pro-self sources of meaning, is the ultimate means to a fulfilling existence.

If I had not had the experience that caused my life-changing flash of insight, but instead had read this book, then my understanding of the same things I understood as a result of that insight would have been an inevitable occurrence, though perhaps less suddenly and with less euphoria. Regardless, within Honoring the Self are the most important ideas regarding human psychology, the most important ideas regarding human emotional fulfillment, indeed, the simplest ideas, written well. I emphatically recommend this book to every member of the human race.

I've bought a lot of copies of this book- the first, twenty years ago, for myself, and the rest for friends.

The message is simple and straightforward, and it's the same one Branden has been repeating for a long time. It's about taking responsibility for your life, and learning to value what's good about yourself. It might change you life.

In the early 90's, after I decided to go on a self-actualization quest, I gratefully discovered Nathaniel Branden.

And I read 9 of his books, within the same year, as I documented everyday, whatever came to my mind.

Recently, I had the pleasure of scanning through those old documents. I am so very happy to have read his books.

Looking back, the most important thing that I believe that I learned, in reading this book, my favorite amongst those that I have read by Branden, requires me to preface this by saying that I grew up in an environment where thinking for yourself was punishable in the worst of ways.

The point in which I picked up Branden's books, and this one in particular was when I told myself that those childhood messages were "junk."

I knew that through reading books there were some answers that I had decided that I couldn't find any other place.

I gained from reading this book, to recognize the difference between what I want and what I need.

That marked a huge step in my life's journey. Because then I had to study what kept me from owning those 2 basic parts of being human.

I learned through reading this book to not only look at my history, but to also explore who everyone in my life was, and who they are now - I became a scientist in a human lab, prepared to own, admit, experience and express my feelings, in the present moment.

And oh did this become comfortable.

Read this book to speak through your authentic voice.
It will require you to be patient with yourself, and to parent yourself in a way that you have never been parented before.

Honor everything about who you are, the "good," "bad," and in between.

Ask youself who gave those labels to you. Then ask youself if those are the labels that fit you now.

You will come to enjoy the journey of being here for the purposes of why you are sent here.

Written in modern English, I was impressed to see the name of Jehovah used well over 300 times.Other modern English versions
have deleted the name completly.

The Living Bible continues to be one of the premier paraphrases in the world of English Bibles today. Unlike other paraphrases (such as the New Living Translation (NLT)), the Living Bible reads much more smoothly, as it was the result of one man's efforts and his one voice. As with other paraphrases, the Living Bible is not truly a translation, but a free interpretation of the actual Scripture text - so essentially, it is a commentary in the form of a Bible. I find it helpful to read from the Living Bible for my devotions, but for serious, in-depth Bible study, I recommend using a much more literal translation, such as the New King James Version (NKJV).

The Living Bible was the work of Kenneth Taylor, who wanted something much more easily understandable for his family than the King James Version (KJV); also, the Living Bible was paraphrased from the American Standard Version (ASV) - not the KJV.

This paraphrase of the Bible did more to help me in my spiritual growth than any Bible I had ever read. When I began to get serious in my Christian walk, I tried to read my Bible like I was supposed to but reading King James Version made me not want to read it all. The Living Bible spoke to me about how God wanted me to live my life in language I could understand. I highly recommend the Living Bible for new Christians who want to grow with God.

A very nice read, with some memorable metaphors, such as the rowboat moving at the speed of a hand moving stealthily toward the swatting of a mosquito. Strangely, I found such throwaway lines the most diverting. Stone's experiences of the places and people he encounters generally fell a bit short of vivid or gripping or perceptive. And why wouldn't he include Laurent de Brunhoff's sketch of Babar plying the oars? Finally, the nitpicking editor in me asks: "plebian"? "miniscule"? Doesn't Broadway Books have a spellchecker?

Being a guy who loves messing around in boats and having traveled overland near many of these places I have been fascinated by his journey. It makes me want to get a canoe, load it with my tent, bag and go. It's a modern version of "The Walk across America" or "Caught on the inside". Part of the reason for only having sketches of the people he met is that on a journey like this one, you don't have time to fully know everyone you meet. Also the book would have been a tome that only the most dedicated would be able to plow through.

Stone presents a unique prospective of American people, values and geography. While the book is about a physical feat, the real story lies with the characters and e challenges. If you've seen America fro a bar, train and plane, you're in for a treat!

Nathaniel Lachenmeyer's The Outsider - A Journey into My Father's Struggle with Madness is a unique book for many reasons. Written from the perspective of a hapless onlooker, it encompasses the full gamut of emotions suffered by the relatives of a person who is mentally ill. Furthermore, in the author's search for rhyme or reason for his father's demise the author eschews political grandstanding or heated rhetorical calls for "something to be done". Instead this is ultimately a book about acceptance - the acceptance of the vaguries of life, of the fact that nothing is guaranteed and ultimately, that sometimes when we face life's challenges we find ourselves incapable of rising to the occasion.

Written, as the title states, about the author's father's struggle with mental illness, the book also details the reaction of his family, his father's colleagues and the people: Social Workers, Caregivers and Cops, who came into contact with his father while he suffered from the illness which inevitably drove him onto the streets. In this the book is refreshingly frank - the author refrains from assigning blame and instead - perhaps as a result of his own lingering guilt over his own inability to deal with his father - examines the difficulty of dealing with a person suffering from mental illness. Lachenmeyer doesn't gloss over the conflicting emotions that people who deal with the mentally ill have, nor does he try to glorify those who are forced onto the streets because of it. Lachenmeyer is instead refreshingly unsparing in his examination of the problems associated with people suffering from mental illness, their impact of their illness on those around them and the questions surrounding how to adequately care for them.

Perhaps one of the most important points made throughout the book is about how so many mentally ill people end up on the street. Lachenmeyer is one of the few writers in this field to acknowledge that the whole concept of "deinstitutionalization", a hold-over from the ethos of the 1960's is largely responsible for the huge number of mentally ill homeless people on the streets today. In this Lachenmeyer definitely takes a chance at losing the part of his audience that is content to blame conservative governments and rapacious landlords for today's state of affairs. Further still, Lachenmeyer is surprisingly accepting of the role of police in dealing with the mentally ill, refraining from charged, politically-motivated commentary and instead accepting that the police too are responsible for, yet ill-equipped to deal with the mentally ill on the streets.

All too often reviewers label a book as "important". This is one of those books that truly is important; it is a sensitive, objective and heartfelt look at the problems surrounding mental illness and those that suffer it. Written with compassion and yet accurate in its analysis this book is an excellent reference source as well as an engaging and thought-provoking read. This book deserves a wide audience as it offers the potential to bring balance and objectivity to the on- going debate over the homeless and the mentally ill.It is definitely a must read for anyone who is even remotely associated with this issue. However, as a story alone it is one not to be missed

Nathanial Lachenmeyer's book was an amazing read. Having a rather new but strong interest in schizophrenia as well as hearing the interview on FreshAir compelled me to buy this book. It opened many new doors for me as far as understanding the disease more. My step-father's brother has the disease. I've always wanted to have at least a small understanding of his behaviour. Thank God I was able to get a hold of this book. Not only does it tell the sad story of a man spinning downward (yet still holding his head high no matter how adverse his environment becomes) but it gives the reader a great understanding of the disease and statistics surrounding it as well. I still cannot get over how he was near death by starvation yet they held his SSI money. And it has to be mentioned when Charles Lachenmeyer was asked if he thought he were mentally ill, he stated that his mental illness was "love of life and humanity". Truly amazing!

This is one of the best books I have read. I have so much respect for the author's ability to explore and map out so eloquently the haunting journey of his schizophrenic father. As another reviewer here pointed out - there needs to be more books like this and there needs to be more attention brought to this book so that more people learn the truth about severe mental illness.

Reading "The Outsider" allows you to enter a world few people understand. This book hits the reader on many different levels of thought and emotion. You are provided an in-depth look at the world of a clearly sophisticated and intelligent man whose illness takes him to the outer realms of society. The book also brings to light how the severely mentally ill are overlooked in our society.

Mostly though, this book represented to me one man's strength and courage to take a close look at his father's illness and openly express his feelings along the way.

Alex Rider has been living with his uncle Ian Rider ever since the death of his parents. When his uncle dies in a car wreck Alex suddenly finds out that his quiet uncle didn't work in a bank after all ' Ian Rider was a spy! Blackmailed into joining the M16, Alex is put through a crash course of SAS training before being sent off on his first mission - a mission that could very well be his last. Alex has been sent in to complete his uncles mission, except he doesn't have Ian's experience or weaponry. Can Alex survive this adventure?

This is one of the best action/adventure books that I have read in a long timeAlex is a great character and he has to deal with the bad guys AND the good guys because the good guys think he is too young to have a gun!!!! I read this book in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down. This is an adventure full of danger and narrow escapes as Alex figures out who the bad guy is and how to stop him.

This is a must read book - as is the sequel Point Blanc. If you enjoyed this book you should also try Malcolm Rose. If youo want to read a book that you will not forget in a hurry then this is it.

This was a very good book. It had lots of adventure. It is about a boy named Alex Rider living with his uncle, Ian Rider. His uncle dies supposedly in a car accident. But Alex finds out that his uncle was murdered. He also finds out that his uncle was a spy for the MI6. Alex is hired to take his uncle's place and complete his last mission. His training will only be two weeks. Will he complete the mission or will he be left behind in the graveyard with his uncle. This is a great book and you should read it.

I thought the book Stormbreaker was great. It was so good I read it twice. Anthony Horwitz is a great author, he writes the best action books. The main characters were Herod Sayle, Alex Rider, and Mr. Grin. The story took place somewhere in England. Alex Rider was my favorite character. My favorite part was when two men were chasing Alex on quads. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes action that keeps you at the edge of your seat till the last page, just make sure you don't fall off.