Derek Watson is one of the only critics who truly understands Bruckner's art. With his intimate knowledge of Bruckner's style, Watson effectively refutes the erroneous arguments of Bruckner's detractors. This biography is compact, but it covers all the important aspects of Bruckner's life and work. It also contains a complete categorized list of Bruckner's compositions and short biographies of important people in Bruckner's life. Any aspiring Brucknerian should not be without this book!

The book "Liszt" is an excellent biography of Franz Liszt, describing his life in detail and explaining historical circumstances very well. Schirmer Books, New York, published it in 1989. With about 200 pages this is a standard length biography. Furthermore, 200 additional pages explain and list his music in detail. This book is more than a biography. It contains the biography itself, describes Liszt's technique and teaching, explains the musical language, lists and describes all of his works by using excerpts from the pieces in separate chapters. Especially for person with musical knowledge this is a highly valuable book. However, even for non-musicians this book is worth to read. The author Derek Watson is a musician himself. Besides being a professional composer and pianist, he wrote biographies about Anton Bruckner and Richard Wagner. Derek Watson does a terrific job in explaining the historical circumstances and complex relationships Liszt was involved in. There are so many important historical and political occurrences necessary to mention that it is not the author's fault that sometimes the book gets confusing. There are passages so full of historical facts, that the reader has to stop and read the passage again. It is even more difficult to read if the reader has no musical or music history knowledge at all, since the author uses musical terms or names of musicians without any explanation. This especially refers to the parts of the book where he analyzes each of his works. Knowledge of the German or French language would be appropriate since many titles, descriptions or terms were left in the original language, which would be French, German or Hungarian. For somebody with musical experience, however, this is a great biography and excellent analysis of his life, oeuvre and theory. Interesting are hundreds of excerpts from letters between Liszt and friends or between people writing about Liszt. This and the incredible amount of historical detail show how much work the author put in this book. He uses excerpts from his work to explain music theory and show the unique about his harmony and technique. This biography is certainly not written for middle schoolers or German exchange students. The author uses very good English that is sometimes hard to understand. Nevertheless, people who are interested in music will like it and know the whole truth about Liszt's mysterious life. This book is highly valuable for everybody interested in music or great composers. The book is obviously written for people with musical knowledge and interest in classical music and music theory. Liszt is a classic example of a musician at that time since he experienced everything an artist is confronted with: Tremendous success or failure, dislike of the work by others, a risky lifestyle and the concern about money. This book will please people with interests in music and will be rejected by people who hate music, history and biographies.

Don't let this book deceive you! Like the Momentus training from which its principles derive, this book is pure New Age psychobabble rooted not in the Bible or Christianity, despite the claims of its authors and the glowing reviews of the deceived, but in the secular humanist-potential movement. This book sums up in print form what the authors inflict on people in the Momentus training (recently changed in name to Breakthrough because of all the bad publicity from the people it's hurt), although it's watered down from what actually goes on in the training. Momentus, in turn, is a watered down version of the Lifespring human-potential training, a first cousin of Werner Erhard's est trainings, with a thin Christian facade used to trick Christians into taking and accepting its decidedly non-Christian teachings. And these teachings have caused physical, emotional and mental damage to countless unwary trainees over the past 10 years.

Killing the Victim appears to be an attempt by the authors, who are also the main trainers of Momentus/Breakthrough, to reach a larger audience (and likely recruit more people for the trainings themselves). (Co-author Pinci was no longer a trainer at last word, having left the parent ministry.) The book is full of New Age concepts and pop-psychology and all too short on scripture. (Which is understandable, as its tenets have no basis in Christian scripture at all.) Telling, too, is the fact that none of the authors even have any professional credentials in any psychological discipline whatsoever--so by what authority do they speak? This book is no more valid to true, beneficial change in anyone's life than if it were written by any other self-proclaimed, untrained "expert" on the subject. It is, in fact, quite dangerous to one's own mental and emotional health should a reader actually try to follow the advice in its pages. And to a Christian, it is absolutely destructive to one's spiritual life and Christian walk.

As noted, however, the main problem with this book lies in its claims to be Christian in origin and tone. If the authors were honest in relating where they got their ideas and concepts rather than attempting to portray them as Christian, this book would be somewhat less objectionable (though not very). At least readers who are Christian and would never consider following humanist psychological or New Age advice would know where the authors are really coming from. Then, if someone really wanted this kind of information and wanted to follow it, they'd know exactly what they were getting. Instead, Killing the Victim actually victimizes its readers--those who are Christians, at least--by giving the false impression that its ideas come from the Bible and scriptural principles instead of humanism and the New Age. This makes Killing the Victim little more than modern-day snake oil.

I urge any potential reader of this book who is Christian and who wants to become a better Christian to avoid it like the black plague. Those who follow its recommendations invariably become more self-oriented rather than God-oriented, as Christian scripture commands. The supposed Christian authors who've endorsed this book obviously have either not truly read it or are themselves so immersed in secular humanist psychology that they're no longer reliable guides to a Christian walk.

I see that, as I write this review, the book isn't currently available. I'd like to think that means that it's permanently out of print and no longer lurking somewhere in bookstores as a time bomb for undiscerning readers. Unfortunately, as the ministry for which its authors work has recently undergone a name change to escape recent exposes of its trainings, it's likely it's simply going to come out later in a new edition with the relevant updates. Don't be fooled! The only victim this book really deals with is the one you'll become by reading it and following what it says. Let he who has ears hear these words.

Note: I gave this book 1 star only because the reviewing form doesn't allow me to give it no stars--or, what would be more appropriate, negative stars.

This is not a book for those who are looking for Jesus to be Mr. Rogers. The authors are honest about their humanity, which made it easier to relate to their journey. They are very insightful, direct and well researched.

The controversy that seems to surround their point of view is deomonstrative of the potency of their message. If the message has power to save it also has equal power to offend those who subscribe to the entitlement mindset. The spiritually flabby Christian will be overworked by reading this, but those who are used to thinking rigorously will be deeply moved and invigorated.

I have given this book to more than 50 people in the past six months. I am reading it for the second time and I look forward to the journey.

Some people say that Breakthrough and GAP are wrong, and that this book's principles are wrong as well. I just completed my GAP training Sunday, and will attend the graduation ceremony this Saturday. I would just like to kindly ask people not to speak against training they know nothing about, based on books they barely read.
GAP is the best thing I have ever attended. Unlike most retreats, the counselor's at GAP allowed you to examine your own life, to see what might be causing problems for you.
Everyone seems to think it is stupid to discuss with a person why they should have been in their seat on time. I don't understand this. Before starting training, every person promises to be in their seat before time is called, and should not be angry when they are held to it. People get mad because counselor's want people to stand when they speak, and not to side-talk with participants during discussions.
You should not make a promise you can't keep. It is as simple as that. You should not make commitments when you have no desire to keep them. And you should not speak out against training you have not attended. If you do, then who is the real victim? The person that realizes the problems in his or her life, or the person that mindlessly repeats the media's biased views?
As for the book, it has helped me and my family alot. When other books would have just quoted scripture, this book (and the gap training) applies them to your life, and asks the questions that no one else asks. Questions such as, "Why is it so hard to keep your promises that you made less than two hours ago?" and "Why do act like it is not a big deal to lie?"
If you go to the training, actually listen to what there is to be said, and really open up to the teaching, then you will not have any bad opinions about GAP, Breakthrough, or this book. If you do, then I will listen to you. Otherwise, quit letting the media put words in your mouth.
If not for the creators of this book and the GAP training, I would be lost right now. They did not tell me what I did wrong, they simply allowed me to examine myself and decide whether I was living my life right. I realized that I had issues with lust, lying, and not being truthful with people. In four days, my entire outlook on life was changed.