Related Subjects: Author Index Reviews Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Book reviews for "Vigness,_Paul_G." sorted by average review score:

Momentum: Letting Love Lead: Simple Practices for Spiritual Living
Published in Hardcover by Mandeville Press (2002)
Authors: John Roger and Paul Kaye
Amazon base price: $13.97
List price: $19.95 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $11.98
Collectible price: $12.71
Buy one from zShops for: $11.98
Average review score:

A complete handbook for living life from the heart!
I am absolutly thrilled with this book. It is jam packed with the best tips and info on how to simply apply Spiritual tools which aren't always easy to get a grasp on. A perfect book for a beginner on a seeking path or an old hand. It is fresh and light and written very clearly and too the point. Its a perfect gift for any one in your life: boss, child, parent or friend...its very helpful and safe for people who might freak out at a book thats TOO "spiritually." I want to give it to everyone...its a real winner. Using your heart to guide you through life...who wouldn't want to learn that?! Thanks to all involved in creating this little gem!

I love John-Roger's books!
It is so exciting! Another book by John-Roger! He has helped me so much in my life and daily living. I highly recommend him. His books are the best on the planet!

I love it! Another book by John-Roger!
John-Roger's books are so great! They have helped me tremendously in my life and daily living. I highly recommend them. They are the best on the planet!


Money Is My Friend
Published in Paperback by Ivy Books (1990)
Authors: Phil Laut and Paul Laut
Amazon base price: $5.99
Used price: $0.79
Collectible price: $2.54
Buy one from zShops for: $1.95
Average review score:

MONEY IS MY MISTRESS
I first read this book in my early twenties when I was a lost soul living on welfare (not a difficult thing to do in this town). The first word that comes to mind is PHENOMENAL.

Money Is My Friend explores the philosophical, psychological and emotional aspects of wealth. The purpose here is to eliminate Poverty Consciousness and replace it with Prosperity Consciousness. Money is a force beyond good and evil, neutral as electricity and powerful enough to rival even the forces of love and war. It is a creation of the human mind. All currency simply consists of symbolic representations of a mental construct that cannot be clearly defined. Therefore, poverty and wealth are merely states of mind which manifest themselves on the physical plane. By altering the contents of your mind you alter the contents of your bank account, so to speak. In order to do this Phil Laut takes us through exercises of self exploration and reprogramming which REALLY WORK. Also, his guidelines for managing money are unsurpassed and he devotes an entire chapter to the art of salesmanship (which should be a basic life skill for everyone). I seriously believe this book should become a standard in High School curriculum.

I am now in my late twenties and well on my way to earning a 6 figure income. This book should have been entitled The Magical Secrets of Wealth Creation.

`Money is My Friend' is indeed my best friend!
I read `Think and Grow Rich' when I was 23, and in the ensuing 25 years had read most of the how-to books on success and wealth (including Magic of Thinking Big, The Greatest Salesman in the World, Spirit of Appollo, The Richest Man in Babylon etc.). However none of them did me any good in improving my financial situation.

So when I came across this gem of a book, it was like a breath of fresh air. For once I found something that did work - for me! While the other books left me feeling guilty (I had not persisted enough, I did believe enough, I had not visualized properly etc.), Money Is My Friend did just the opposite! It explained that there could be hidden mental blocks within my subconscious that caused negative results, and not just the lack of proper application of principles. Furthermore it helped me uncover and clear some of these mental blocks.

The breakthrough came for me when I was on Chapter 4 and reading about `Parental Disapproval Syndrome'. It suddenly flashed upon me just how the tutelage of my parents and my teachers had helped me make the strong subconscious association that MONEY IS EVIL. That was the reason why I found it difficult to attract money.

The affirmations given in this book are wonderful. Within a few months of my writing my first affirmation `My income exceeds my expenses', my financial situation began to improve.

But this book is much more than about money. The ideas in the book may seem controversial at first glance, but are in fact true. Some examples just to whet your appetite: `Financial problems cannot be solved with money!' `All human wealth is created in the human mind!' `Anger is intention contaminated with the idea of helplessness' `My wealth increases daily, whether I'm working, playing or sleeping!'

Read the book before you dismiss or condemn any of the above statements. I can only end with the words of the author `Make a special note to re-read the sections that make you angry, skeptical or afraid!'

I believe you will be glad you did. After 25 years of religiously studying hundreds of books on attaining success and wealth, I think Money is My Friend stands out as the ultimate.

I still buy copies of MIMF to give to my friends.

Money is My Friend
This book is a terriffic book written in easy to understand terms on how to create wealth. It is along the same lines as The Richest Man in Babylon, yet this book has more information and is easier to read. Two thumbs up :-)


The Monster Stick: & Other Appalachian Tall Tales
Published in Paperback by August House Pub (1999)
Authors: Paul Lepp and Bil Lepp
Amazon base price: $9.95
Used price: $5.45
Collectible price: $6.31
Buy one from zShops for: $6.50
Average review score:

A "Gold Star" on the Forehead of West Virginia
Bil Lepp and his brother have put together a collection of new "Tall Tales" that is not to be missed. Not buying this book is akin to bypassing Twain in his day. (O.k.-Maybe that's a little much, but you get the point.) The storytelling is superb, always compelling and surprising, twisting around hysterical subjects and impossible(?) settings. In this day and age you don't get many chances to read a new author with as much talent as Bil has for spewing forth untruths that sound so believable! Take my word for it, this one is a keeper! You won't be disappointed!

I hope Bil and Pauls folks have produced more Lepps
If Mark Twain, John Steinbeck or Ernest Hemingway had been twins we'd be alot better off, but since that didn't happen we need as many W.V. Lepps as they had Waltons.

The Lepps have pieced together a hilarious array of short stories and tall tales that you'll want to share with everyone from your preacher to your parole officer. These stories capture a vanishing part of Americana in a way the old Andy Griffith show did, except that the Lepps lie alot.

Can't wait for them to get a book on tape, but until they do I'm sure glad they wrote this book.

The Monster Stick etc...
This is really a fantastic book. I read a friend's Rev. Regina Spring's that she bought it directly from Rev. Bil ar her course of studies. I am purchasing this book for a Christmas present. I would recommend it to anyone! Funny! I would recommend it to all preachers!


One Man's Leg
Published in Paperback by GreyCore Press (2002)
Author: Paul Martin
Amazon base price: $11.20
List price: $16.00 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $11.15
Buy one from zShops for: $10.40
Average review score:

One Man's Leg
This book is a must-read for anyone that has gone through a tragic event, rough time, or is feeling sorry for themselves. It puts life into perspective and shows that there is always someone worse off than you, no matter how tough things get. It shows that you can laugh at yourself no matter what, and provides insight to the strength of the human spirit.
Paul sets the example that you can accomplish anything that you set your mind to.
Inspirational!!!

Inspirational...
I usually don't get into books like this but I read a review on this one and had to check it out...and I was not disappointed. This is a great book for non-athletes and athletes alike. It really shows how someone can change their lives and become great in whatever they decide to focus their energies on regardless of the barriers in the way.

At times the book seems somewhat self-indulgent...but if it was my book I'd do the same...overall it's a great book and recommend it!

One Man On a Mission
One Man's Leg shows the strength of the human spirit, and the determination of one man in particular. But rather than bludgeon us with a tale of dark adversity and eventual triumph, this book delights in its accessibility and humanity. Paul leads us through his life and evolution with humility and honesty, and writes in a natural prose that inspires genuine identification with him as a person first, and an amputee secondarily.

I heartily recommend this book to anyone at any stage of life, for both a delightful read and a reminder that humans are capable of great things if we only rise to the occasion.


Overcoming Arthritis: How to Relieve Pain and Restore Mobility Through a Unique Tai Chi Program
Published in Paperback by DK Publishing (01 May, 2002)
Authors: Paul Lam and Judith Horstman
Amazon base price: $10.47
List price: $14.95 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $7.33
Buy one from zShops for: $9.94
Average review score:

A family physician reviews the book for a lay audience
"Overcoming Arthritis" is an excellent book for the lay person. It discusses the common types of arthritis, some of the origins of arthritis, and reviews treatments for arthritis. It also describes some of the self-care that people with arthritis can use to minimize the disease process itself and to make their lives more comfortable. The most important part of the book, however, is Dr. Lam's introduction of his "Tai Chi for Arthritis" program. He describes in photos and in words the twelve steps in the form that has been shown to decrease pain and stiffness in people with arthritis and to increase strength and flexibility and a sense of well-being in this same population. The photos are excellent and precisely demonstrate each of the twelve movements. From this book, a person could begin to practice Tai Chi on their own. He also suggests other places where a person might get more information about dealing with arthritis in a pro-active, positive way.
In a world of "how-to" books, I would highly recommend this to all people with arthritis--and to those who have a loved one with arthritis.

overcoming arthritis?!
Overcoming Arthritis is a clear and detailed account of the accepted and non traditional ways of living with a chronic condition.

The book gives a brief discussion of the different strands of the arthritis family, and explains the more common ones in detail. There is not too much medical information; and yet the authors do not talk down to the readers.

As well as complementary therapies and medicine for arthritis, there is a section on herbal remediea and another on diet. The best arthritis diet, it says, is the one that suits your lifestyle and medications the best - so simple!The section on Tai Chi is incredibly detailed. Both pictures and words are used to good effect when describing @Tai Chi for Arthritis@. In fact, as a teacher of this programme, I use this bit with my classes.

The book also shows the variety of ways arthritis can affect your life - it can be anything from a minor nuisance to a life threatening illness.

For people with arthritis, the book is not too heavy or unwieldy to manage. Good clear print, with plenty of relevant illustrations a lso make this a good choice.

If you are only going to buy one book on arthritis, make this the one. I had to review it for an arthritis magazine, and was so impressed, I went out and bought my own!

Overcoming Arthitis by Dr Paul Lam and Judith Horstman
Dr Lam's enthusiam for overcoming this painful condition originates from his own experience of the pain. His determination to teach others to overcome the pain and suffering is projected to the reader with a sense of joy and hope.

This book will be welcomed world wide for its sensitivity and hope. It raises teaching techniques to a new level of clarity with easy to follow directions for people of all nationalities and ages. Beautifully co-authored by the award winning medical journalist, Judith Horstman, the book is brought to life as if Dr Lam is the reader's own doctor, instructing in personal consultation.

Positive proof of Dr Lam's personal success in overcoming the painful condition can be seen in his flexibility and agility in his TAI CHI teaching and demonstration videos.

Books can go to people all over the world, to the furthermost places on earth, as gifts, general reading or study guides. Dr Lam's understanding of arthritic conditions comes also from years of teaching and the answers seem to be there before the questions are asked.

For the quick reader, it is a delightful page turner of information and interesting facts. For sufferers of arthritis and associated conditions who will read, learn and apply what they learn, the information will become a lifestyle of discovery.


Paul On Trial The Book Of Acts As A Defense Of Christianity
Published in Paperback by Nelson Reference (23 March, 2001)
Author: John W. Mauck
Amazon base price: $10.49
List price: $14.99 (that's 30% off!)
Used price: $4.00
Collectible price: $6.00
Buy one from zShops for: $5.00
Average review score:

Interesting Approach to Acts
I read this book about 2 years ago, and am still fascinated by its premise and the well-reasoned approach used to support that premise. Mauck's writing is clear and compelling, and got me thinking about the Book of Acts in a far different way than I ever had before. To the best of my knowledge, there is no other book that treats Acts as a legal document and Mauck's arguments gripped me to read further and revisit the Bible itself in light of this idea.

I am neither a law student nor Bible scholar, just a Christian interested in learning more about my faith. I highly recommend Paul on Trial to anyone who is interested in more fully exploring the early Christian church and Paul's challenges in spreading the Gospel.

Contributes to a deeper understanding of Christianity
I am still reading this book, but want to provide a comment. This book is worth the effort to read,study, and contemplate. I agree with all of the preceding reviews. For me, Mr. Mauck's book is functioning like a good brass or gold polish. It is stripping away the grime and tarnish of twenty centuries as well as my own understanding and appreciation of the Book of Acts, cleaning and polishing it right down to it's original design details and shape. I am now seeing things in Acts and the Gospel Of Luke that either I never was aware of before or have always wondered about but didn't know more. This book is wonderful because in its way, it reveals Christianity as it is, a uniquely radical, powerful phenomenon that is supernaturally guided and fueled, not the pervasive, almost ambient cultural Christianity that we all tend to take for granted, for good or ill.

4 Stars for content plus 1 Star for guts = 5 Stars
I found that this is not a book that can be read quickly, it is more like a text book that I could only take in smaller portions in conjunction with going through ACTS in a small group Bible Study. I would like to know who the people are that are slamming this author, I would really like to know their arugments against his theory, because this is very powerful stuff, Canonization of the Bible speaking...not even Chuck Missler or Hal Lindsey thought of this theory before Mr. Mauck.

I simply can't think of a reason why anyone would doubt his theory that Luke wrote what has become to be known as Acts as a defense of Paul and the earliest Jesus/Gospel followers...and he pulls the book of Luke into the same theory, although the title doesn't mention this fact. At a minimum, Acts should have been titled "Acts of the Holy Spirit", more so than "Acts of the Apostles", as many refer to it. But now after reading this book, Acts should be retitled in all new pressings of Protestant Bibles to more reflect this book's arguments.

This will probably be his only book, unless someone un-earths some new letters or documents in an archeology dig in the middle east that were written for the same trial-type cause. This was a job well-done, by someone who gets it that we worship the Jewish faith fulfilled. God Bless.


Nafanua: Saving the Samoan Rain Forest
Published in Hardcover by W H Freeman & Co (1997)
Author: Paul Alan Cox
Amazon base price: $23.95
Used price: $7.19
Collectible price: $8.47
Average review score:

Not a boring ethnobotanical work
First I must say that I am not saying that ethnobotany is boring. I am just saying it seems boring to me and it might to others, but even if you know nothing of botany and have little interest in it you will find great interest in this book. It is a fascinating narrative and Paul brings you into the Samoan world as well as a palagi really can.

I had a chance to hear Paul Cox speak and he talked about how the rainforest became his mother. The book starts with the death of his mother by cancer. He travels to Samoa to search for a possible cure in the rain forest, his quest however becomes to save the rainforest from the forces of globalization. I think the most compelling issue of this book is the positive and negative aspects of western scholarship when it comes in touch with another land and culture.

Paul is a very good storyteller and makes you want to continue reading.

Important implications for conservation-with-development
This unique and fascinating book by Dr. Cox has important implications for development practitioners and academics interested in political ecology as well as ethnobotanists. The challenges faced by the people of Falealupo village in choosing between preserving their forest or building a school for their children are typical of the environmental trade-offs that many people in developing countries feel compelled to make simply to achieve, by our standards, a minimally acceptable standard of living. The solution presented by Dr. Cox, in which social networks are built such that people willing to invest in the preservation of ecosystems are put into direct contact with those people overseeing these ecosystems (without government or NGO intervention) has important lessons for people interested in promoting "Conservation-with-Development" approaches to economic development. This text also illustrates the complex ways that the human imprint on ecosystems is embedded in power-laden social networks and that change involves contestation and negotiation of power within these networks. This book thus holds important insights for those interested in political ecology. (For those interested in these topics, Dr. Cox's contribution to People, Plants and Justice - Charles Zerner, ed., Cambridge University Press, 2000 - makes an informative companion-piece to Nafanua.)

Finally, as a person who has lived in Samoa for several years as a volunteer teacher and as someone who conducts ecological research there, I find Dr. Cox's presentation of the people of Samoa, shown from a more personalized perspective rather than an academic one, to be open, honest and fair. He avoids falling into the trap of romanticizing or essentializing the people as "ecologically noble savages" that live in perfect harmony with their environment that has become so common in depictions of indigenous peoples in the popular media. When I read the book, I often saw the Samoa that I knew from my own personal experience.

Married to a Hamo (Samoan)
This was an outstanding work. I am a palagi who has been married to a Samoan woman for 9 years and have had extensive dealings with Samoans for 14 years. We visited Western Samoa in 1988, so I have seen the culture first-hand, as well as my state-side exposure with Samoan American organizations. I could almost see myself interacting with the people as he related his accounts... although my 50 or so word Samoan vocabulary can't be compared with the author. He truly captures the essence of Samoa and its people.


Nine from the Ninth
Published in Paperback by Writers Club Press (2002)
Authors: Paul A. Newman, Jack Bick, and Bob Wallace
Amazon base price: $11.95
Average review score:

The American GI's Vietnam: How It Really Was
I happen to be a good friend of one of the three authors but had never known anything about his Vietnam experience. After reading these stories, it is easier to understand why, 30 years later, it might not be something a former U.S. Army Ranger would want to talk about, even with his friends -- or maybe especially with his friends.

Three men, obviously each quite different, recount recollections of their experiences. If all one knows about war -- the vast majority of us who have never seen combat -- that it is Hell, then these stories give us all we need to know about why this is really so.

The authors pull no punches, make no excuses for the surprising level of brutality. Their texts, surprisingly well-written, take us along on their hunter-killer missions, carefully planned lethal traps, sprung on the Mekong Delta's Viet Cong fighters. They are very close to each other, each life depends on the guy next in the six-man column. Some of them don't come back and we wonder now was it worth it?

But it's not all blood-and-guts fighting. (A vivid description of a beheading left me more than light-headed.) We see some very introspective reflections during the quiet moments, an occasional R&R, the usual intra-squad bitching and brawling.

Little wonder that only 365 days in a high-risk combat unit could have such a lasting effect on the participants.

History is still judging if was worth it. This modest but important addition to that assessment makes its own understated but powerful contribution. Definitely worth the price, and then some.

A great memoir of the war in Vietnam!
Most everyone has an impression about the Vietnam War, regardless of how little they really know about it. Unfortunately, the movies by Oliver Stone (Born on the Fourth of July) and others provide the slanted "facts" and distorted perspective that too often define the war for the uninformed. To really understand the war you should first read accounts written by the actual participants and there is no better place to begin than the newly released memoir, NINE FROM THE NINTH.

NINE FROM THE NINTH is not a global perspective of the conflict, but it never pretends that it is. Rather, it is a collection of nine stories taken from the personal remembrances of two former US Army Rangers who served with Company E. of the 75th Infantry Rangers, and a third author, Jack Bick, who volunteered and went on combat operations with Company E as a photographer and writer. For them, combat didn't include the nightly comfort of an air conditioned Officer's Club in Saigon or the relatively safe vantage point of an aircraft 10,000 feet above the jungle. Instead the stories present the personal, close-up views of combat that can only be told by those who have "been and done", and survived.

Jack Bick, accurately observes in "Smart Charlie" that the Vietnam conflict was unique; as opposed to WWII, US leadership wasn't fighting to win, so soldiers generally, including even the elite Ranger's, lacked an overall sense of purpose....their strategic goal became to survive for 365 days, and go home! Along the way, the three authors, Jack Bick, Paul Newman, and Bob Wallace, formed bonds of friendship that outlasted the terror, anger, and hate of combat and survive thirty years later.

Bob Wallace's story of "Staff Sergeant Frost" is a revealing look inside one of the war's most legendary fighting groups, the LRRPs (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols). These six-men, self-contained, voluntary units would deploy for days at a time inside enemy controlled territory to "observe and report". Regardless if an officer was with the LRRPs, it was the senior sergeants like Frost (E-5s and E-6s) that ran the teams. Their reputations were for eating snakes and ravaging the countryside, but the profane and gritty senior noncoms made the teams work, fight, and ultimately survive. As very young soldiers they were called upon to undertake harrowing tasks that brought about sudden maturity. So brutal was the LRRP experience that lasting for three weeks on a team converted a "cherry" into a veteran!

Paul Newman's account of the "Bo Bo Canal" is a gutsy story of the fighting along "a mosquito ridden canal" that ran for 20 miles, and became a "water road" for the VC. Carrying more than 8o pounds of combat equipment the team members would sink so deeply into the mud that walking was often difficult. This uncensored tale isn't for the squeamish but accurately conveys the unavoidable brutality of warfare and how it changed the outlook of the men who survived it.

After Vietnam the three authors left military service and took with them the best and worst of their experiences in Vietnam. The same training and personal skills that helped them survive in combat ultimately helped them succeed in their later careers. Initiative, risk taking, determined individualism and community involvement were common hallmarks as each man became successful in a variety of endeavors.

This is a highly recommended book for anyone interested in real stories of the Vietnam War, and the memoirs of three men who served their country honorably, proudly and well.

Much Better Than Fiction
The real Viet Nam. The people, the land, and the Americans who came from all over the U.S. for reasons even they didn't know. The authors make the war real through their own memories--three American Rangers who spend their days on Long Range Recon Patrols--dumped into Viet Cong territory to bate the enemy. The reader is right there with them, experiencing their fears, their doubts, the complexity of an uncertain war, and the simplicity of young men thrown into chaos. This book has an uncanny way of mixing the routine thoughts and actions of American boys with the terrible brutality of killing--often never knowing if the victems were really the enemy. The authors are men who went off to serve their nation in a killing field of great peril. And returned to three decades of silence before telling their stories. The best book I've read on the American soldier in Viet Nam. This is not gussied-up chest thumping--this is the story of three ordinary men forced to become warriors. You're right there with them on each page.


Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci
Published in Hardcover by Peter Smith Pub (1997)
Authors: Leonardo Da Vinci, Jean-Paul Richter, and Leonardo De Vinci
Amazon base price: $63.75
Average review score:

Excellent insight into Leonardo Da Vinci
Interesting book detailing the life and thoughts of Leonardo Da Vinci. Historical context of the period and biographical information is included. Reading gets a little dry at times. Excellent resource book. Specific topics can be looked up to discover da Vinci's wisdom and insight.

drawing enthusiast, don't buy it
if you are a Da Vinch zealot, you should have it. but, if you need some drawings to study or copy it. don't buy it. the quality of print is not that good, there's a bunch of Da Vinch's memos though...i doubt it's useful for a drawing enthusiast..pretty sure that it's invaluable for people who are studying "Da VinchSTICS".if you are a drwaing enmthusiast you'd better buy da vinch's another drawing books.....

drawing enthusiast...don't buy it
if you are a Da Vinch zealot, you should have it. but, if you need some drawings to study or copy it. don't buy it. the quality of print is not that good, there's a bunch of Da Vinch's memos though...i doubt it's useful for a drawing enthusiast..pretty sure that it's invaluable for people who are studying "Da VinchSTICS".


Pimsleur Language Program: Russian
Published in Audio Cassette by Simon & Schuster (Audio) (1995)
Author: Paul Pimsleur
Amazon base price: $25.00
Used price: $9.88
Average review score:

It works!
It really works, I previously spoke almost no Russian aside from "yes" and "no." But wanted to learn more, so I checked out this set of tapes, and two others at the local library. Guess which one taught me better? No question, this one did. It really teaches you how to speak in an easy way, so with a little practice most people can pick it up. This is a great set of tapes.

O'-cheen hah-rah-sho' (very good)
Yes, the Pimsleur method does work! The eight lessons will give the listener a vocabulary of about 100 words, more than a few useful sentences, the ability to construct their own sentences, correct pronunciation (written Russian is not as phonetic as the books led me to believe), and a strong desire to find out more about this charming language.

Looking forward to using the lessons in Russia!
I'm going on a trip, and these tapes have really given me a base of conversational Russian to use while in the country. I am, however, trying to learn the alphabet on my own. Not all that easy. If you want to be able to communicate and do so quickly, these are the tapes for you.


Related Subjects: Author Index Reviews Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Reviews are from readers at Amazon.com. To add a review, follow the Amazon buy link above.