Product Description
Written by an anonymous English monk during the late fourteenth century, The Cloud of Unknowing holds an important place in the history of both Western literature and spirituality.

Though originally intended for a select audience, the work's simple, engaging style has won it widespread popularity since its rediscovery more than a century ago. The Cloud puts forth a method of contemplation that stresses the impotence of the understanding to break through the cloud of unknowing that separates God and humanity. Rather, "it is love alone that can reach God in this life".

In his preface to this volume, Simon Tugwell sums up thechallenge that the author of The Cloud presents us today: "If we wish to follow him, we must be prepared to be taxed to the limit. But if we have the courage and the ability to follow him, we shall not find that our efforts has been in vain." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Helps your prayer
This is a great book which has helped me deepen my prayers.I tried another edition and could get nowhere.This is written in modern english.A word of advice; skim the intoduction and read the Cloud itself to get an overall sense of the book.Then reread the Cloud and all the footnotes before you tackle the introduction. Mortimer Adler said, if you want to own a book you need to read it 3 times.That is certainly the case with this and it is well worth the time.God bless.

The Cloud
what an amazing book of clear cut directions on how to experience The Creator.This anonymous monk continuously stressed experiencing God in all his magnificents, rather than theorizing and debating.He call for all ideas and conceptions to be forgotten/laid aside for a new experience in this excercise. I did not read the introduction i wasn't interested in scholarly opinion. [ "Other men may express different opinions, but experience is a true witness" Ch. XLII pg 201] without experience

Fine study edition of the Cloud
The Cloud of Unknowing is a mystical tract from 14th century England, probably written by a Carthusian monk for a young novice.The work is about contemplative prayer and the mystical union with God through the path of via negativa, or letting go of all concepts, images and ideas of God and creatures and approaching God's bare essence or Being which is veiled in mysterious darkness.

This work is one of the finest works of mystical contemplation ever composed, and contains beautiful advice and wisdom relevant to modern contemplatives.

This edition also contains a valuable introduction to the Cloud which attempts to reconcile the Cloud author's theology with that of Thomism.While the Cloud author knew Thomism, intellectual theology was not so much his concern (though he is clearly aware of it through Thomas, Richard of St Victor, and Denys the Aeropagite) but mystical union with God.This is what makes the work so powerful spiritually, as does the author's obvious deep experience of the spiritual life.

Great book for those already familiar with contemplative prayer
This is an excellent book on contemplative prayer.I wouldn't however recommend it to anyone who hasn't read at least one other book on contemplative prayer.The author's style requires you to read the book very carefully and not jump to conclusions about what he's trying to say.

May all be revealed...
It is perhaps perfectly appropriate that the author of `The Cloud of Unknowing' is himself or herself unknown.This is a spiritual classic, a masterpiece in the real sense of the word.The style of writing is grand, well-versed and perfectly in concert with the subject; the ideas contained are some of the most sublime and inspired pieces of writing ever written in the English language.The book does not subscribe to any particular denominational or institutional framework, making it a piece of art and wisdom available to the whole of Christendom, and even appeals to those outside the formal bounds of Christianity.

In the preface to this edition by the Paulist Press, Simon Tugwell compares this work with C.S. Lewis, Plato, with other Christian mystics and theologians, with good reason.`The Cloud of Unknowing' is part of a chain, influenced by and in turn influencing many other mystical writers.This is not a work of philosophy or apologetics, as the author is not concerned to prove the existence of God or set up any sort of metaphysical framework which must be accepted.The world around us is a given, and God is a given, and our task is to order our attention and love toward God so that it incorporates and includes the reality that is around without distraction.One perhaps hears echoes of this in Tillich's ultimate concern?

One of the things that makes `The Cloud of Unknowing' a popular piece on an ongoing basis is this respect for reality.The author does not require super-human feats of contemplative power; this would be to deny the reality of the creature that we are, as God's creation.Contemplative work must be done in tandem and in cooperation with the rest of our life's needs.The virtuous life is one in accordance with nature (for the most part), making creation a blessing rather than a curse - one can hear echoes of Meister Eckhart here, perhaps; like Eckhart, the author of `The Cloud of Unknowing' also looks not for enlightenment through rational means or higher attainments but through the depths of our souls.There we will find God, for if God is all, then we can certainly not be at the centre, even of ourselves.

This edition of `The Cloud of Unknowing' begins with a scholarly introduction, as do the other volumes in this wonderful series by the Paulist Press.Unlike most other volumes, there is no `author' to highlight in a biography; while there is some virtue in not knowing the author, there has been a great deal of scholarship, both speculating on the identity of the author, and other work looking at the type of person the author would be and influences that might have impacted the author.The introduction gives some good information in this regard, not only with regard to the writer, but also to the one to whom this writing is addressed.The editors give Phyllis Hodgson's conjecture that the intended reader was not a scholar; some have believed that it was intended for a communal audience.

The main point of the writing is the development of prayer and contemplation as a discipline.There are other issues, to be sure, but they always return to this.The attainment of unity with the divine will is all important to the author; one might develop the line from the Lord's Prayer - thy kingdom come, thy will be done - as a mantra for the spirit of this book.This comes through deliberate and intentional choice, and not through artificial ascetic practices (which can be as distracting as enlightening) or intellectual pursuits (which edges toward gnosticism).Part of the development of these realistic practices is the incorporation of the chief virtues of Humility and Charity - the author of the `The Cloud' will go so far as to say that one who has these has all that is needed.Even through this, humankind cannot reach God without God's willing it to be so, and yet God has made the desire known in many ways, scripturally and traditionally, as well as in the natural world, the author of `The Cloud' would maintain.

This is an inspiring book.`The Cloud of Unknowing' itself is a relatively short work, but not one that can be read in short order, for the depth of its meaning and insights derived from it take a long time to be properly processed.Walsh's introduction and Tugwell's preface set a good stage for working with this work, which is rather foreign to most Western readers.May it be revealing to you. ... Read more

Product Description
Build Your World. Invent Your Weapons. Create Your Adventure.
·Tips on navigating the dungeons
·Detailed walkthrough with valuable maps
·Complete training section
·Strategies for fishing, creating a Georama, and using the camera effectively
·Monster stats and tables ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Great Guide
I love this game and this guide help ALOT. If you want a perfect game get this guide!

Old book but Amazon had it for a fair price!!!!!!
this book was in great shape and was everything the seller said. We were not sure if we could find this book. It is approximately 10yrs old. Thank you Amazon and the seller who sold this statagy book.

Dark Cloud 2 has a lot of depth and any help you can get, even imcomplete, is appreciated.
There are very few RPGs that have as much depth as Dark Cloud 2, it is one of those rare PS2 games that realizes the true potential of the PS2.I can't imagine how big a complete guide would have to be for DC2.Even if this guide had only helped me a little I would have been happy, but it helped me a lot.I'm one of those players that don't like to use guides but when I do I want it to hold my hand and walk me through it and this is the only thing that keeps this guide from being 5 stars.

good information
This guide provides me a good strategy on how to progress through different stages, how to beat the boss and also have a pictoric preview of the stages I am going to walk through.This guide also have lists of photo ideas in each area and creature items list. I think this guide is valuable. I will keep it.

Helpful, Inaccurate, Incomplete
This strategy guide is extremely helpful for first time play-through, and as a reference for subsequent play-throughs, but there are a few wild inaccuracies, and some sections seemed to me to be incomplete.It contains detailed charts on fishing, weapons, photo scoops, and inventions that are invaluable and mostly accurate.It's well worth purchasing if you remember to take its information with a grain of salt. ... Read more

Product Description

The Executive’s Strategic Guide to Driving Maximum Business Value from Cloud Services

Cloud services represent a fundamental shift in how individuals, enterprises, and governments conduct business, interact, and use technology. If used effectively, they can increase business agility and focus, simplify capacity planning, and strengthen cost control. Unsurprisingly, however, the cloud also presents risks. In this concise, executive level book, leading experts Archie Reed and Stephen G. Bennett share the insights and guidance decision-makers need to drive maximum value from cloud services--and avoid the pitfalls.

The authors explain what cloud computing is, how it works, who provides cloud services, and how companies are using them. Next, they walk through the entire cloud lifecycle, offering expert guidance on planning, governance, compliance, security, operations, administration, management, and more. You’ll learn how to:

· Assess the opportunities, benefits, and risks of cloud services in your environment

· Use the cloud to improve processes, accelerate system/product delivery, or create entirely new products and businesses

· Approach the cloud strategically (and learn why you should)

· Understand cloud infrastructure, operations, and standards from the decision-maker’s point of view

· Build on existing solution architecture, design practices, and SOA investments

· Ensure appropriate control, monitoring, compliance, and security

· Use IT process standardization to simplify cloud services management

· Define a flexible roadmap that enables multiple projects to move forward in parallel, and can change as the marketplace evolves

Cover illustration by RapidEye /iStockphoto.com

Product Description
This companion workbook to How People Grow helps people work through issues of relationships, maturity, emotional problems, and overall spiritual growth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

How People Grow
The product was received in excellent condition and in a timely manner.
Thank you!

How People Grow Workbook
The workbook was in excellent condition.It was shipped in a timely manner.

great workbook
I used this workbook to facilitate class discussions. Great questions and meditations in here. Good resource if you're wanting to think more about the content of the book

Life-Changing!!
Everyone needs to read this book - I just finished it and it has radically changed the way I view the process of spiritual growth in my life and in the lives of others - IT IS A MUST READ - I can't believe I haven't heard more about it!!

Superb!
This book's practical truths delivered with such love have changed my life. Cloud and Townsend are the two best authors on this subject ever. This book will help you begin to deeply experience change just how our God always wanted it for us. ... Read more

Product Description
What would you do with a second chance at life?

Sarah Talbot thought she’d never see another birthday. But against all odds, she beat the illness that could have killed her, reopened her bedding shop, Cloud Nine, and vowed to make the most of a fresh start that few are given. With Thanksgiving approaching, Sarah charters a small plane to take her to Elk Island, a remote spot off the rugged Maine coast where she spent some of her happiest days and where she hopes to reunite with the two most important people in her life. She arrives on the island with pilot Will Burke, a kindred spirit with whom Sarah forges a bond that will give them the courage to confront the past and have faith in the future…no matter how uncertain.

Once Sarah thought happy endings occurred only in books; now she believes they can happen for anyone. And as she and Will grow closer, and something unexpectedly real blossoms between them, she has him believing it, too. But is believing it enough? Is even love enough? Can real life be lived on cloud nine? In this stunning novel, New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice tells a story you will cherish, peopled with indelible characters whose challenges are your own.Amazon.com Review
Thirty-seven-year-old Sarah Talbot's lengthy battle with cancer forced her to putlife on hold. But a clean bill of health has given her a second chance andshe's not about to take anything for granted. Intent on living life to thefullest, Sarah reopens her bedding shop, aptly named Cloud 9, and plans atrip to Elk Island, a tiny island off the coast of Maine, where herunfeeling father and runaway son wait. Family reconciliation has long beenher heart's desire, and Sarah knows that now is the time to mend familialfences. On the short plane ride to the island, she finds an unexpectedconfidant in pilot Will Burke, whose own personal demons make him theperfect conversation partner--and so much more.As Sarah struggles tocommunicate with the father she left behind and a son troubled by his ownfather's death--and his mother's illness--she takes refuge in the arms ofWill and discovers a love she never thought possible, a love that willsustain the two in this life and beyond. Both beautifully written andwell plotted, Cloud Nine is a moving testament to the eternal power oflove. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (82)

Good read!
A pleasant book.This book is somewhat wordy, but I liked it.She should have leftout parts about the kitten.

Utterly predictable
I tried to finish this book but halfway through I was so annoyed that I had already wasted a few hours on it. As a reader, I could predict what was going to happen in the next 10 pages. There was an unbearable amount of sobbing (not from me, but by the characters in the book) every few pages. The women in the story are all stunningly beautiful of course. Strangers start loving each other inexplicably within a span of a couple of days. I'm sorry but this story hardly reflects reality. I was so looking forward to a quality book but it seemed that Ms. Rice just put SOMETHING on paper.

Boring
I tried and tried to finish this book, but couldn't.The story and characters were so boring, I gave up.

Good story; almost too sad
I have read almost all of Luanne Rice's books, and this is the most heart-wrenching I've read. I loved the characters, although they are very similar to other characters in Rice's other novels. Rice includes the same conflicts with divorce, family ties, and dealing with death and dying as in some of her other novels. But it is a good story of love, friendship, communication, and family. Far better than CRAZY IN LOVE and STONE HEART. I enjoyed DANCE WITH ME, HOME FIRES, and DREAM COUNTRY about as much as this one.

Could have been better
It was a good concept, but the story was over-done. Too dramatic for my tastes...It was more or less satisfying, but not on par with writers like Pam Houston, Jo-Ann Mapson, and Sue Miller. The dialogue was too predictable-every character was a "mold" and expected to react a certin way. The dad who has a chip on his shoulder, the single mom with cancer, the teenagers...it was a nice summer read, and I will probably read others by the author. Those who like chick flicks/romance movies will be the ones who will like this book the best. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
In 1945, Britain was the world's leading designer and builder of aircraft - a world-class achievement that was not mere rhetoric. And what aircraft they were. The sleek Comet, the first jet airliner. The awesome delta-winged Vulcan, an intercontinental bomber that could be thrown about the sky like a fighter. The Hawker Hunter, the most beautiful fighter-jet ever built and the Lightning, which could zoom ten miles above the clouds in a couple of minutes and whose pilots rated flying it as better than sex. How did Britain so lose the plot that today there is not a single aircraft manufacturer of any significance in the country? And what was it like to be alive in that marvellous post-war moment when innovative new British aircraft made their debut, and pilots were the rock stars of the age? James Hamilton-Paterson captures that season of glory in a compelling book that fuses his own memories of being a schoolboy plane spotter with a ruefully realistic history of British decline - its loss of self confidence and power.It is the story of great and charismatic machines and the men who flew them: heroes such as Bill Waterton, Neville Duke, John Derry and Bill Beaumont who took inconceivable risks, so that we could fly without a second thought. ... Read more

Product Description
The Cloudmages fantasy saga continues...

DAW continues the "vividly depicted" (Publishers Weekly) epic series that began with Holder of Lightning. Mage of Clouds: The Cloudmages #2 opens 17 years after the end of Holder of Lightning. Jenna MacEagan has been Banrión since the end of the devastating war with the other Tuatha, and an uneasy peace has held. But now Jenna's daughter Meriel is about to become a pawn in their enemy's bid for power.

In Heir of Stone: The Cloudmages #3, set a generation after Mage of Clouds, the oldest of Meriel's children, Sevei and her twin brother Kayne, have reached adulthood. But their world is about to be turned upside down when all of their widely scattered family are simultaneously attacked. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A good fantasy trilogy for those who are addicted to the genre, as am I
I really enjoyed this trilogy.The story has some refreshing changes to the usual plot you find in most fantasy stories these days.There is political intrigue, the usual power-hungry attempts to be top-dog and the pursuit of the tales heroine, who happens to possess the most powerful trinket in the land.But, the power hungry pursuers are stumbled by their own people, who are also seeking power for themselves, so the plot turns in unexpected ways.The heroine's daughter becomes enmeshed in the politics, becoming the hunted in an interesting turn of events.

Also, there are interesting races of people and animals that play a part in the story in ways that make the trilogy as a whole, and the second installment well worth a read.

Got old fast
The major problem that I had with this book is that Jenna's daughter Meriel, whose point of view makes up a majority of the book, parallels way too close to her mother. She rejects her future, runs around getting into misadventures, falls in love with a guy she isn't attracted to in the beginning, gets into battle, and then her title gets elevated. Sure, there are enough differences for the author to get away with this I guess, but the predictability just ruined it for me.

On the plus side, the action did keep me reading. Maybe there was a little part of me that thought I wouldn't be able to figure out what happened, but halfway through the book I realized that wasn't going to happen, and at that point I had to finish reading anyway. I got even more frustrated when Farrel turned Jenna into a flat character, putting all his effort into Jenna (which was pointless, considering they're very much alike). I just spent 500 pages in the previous book getting to know Jenna, and now she's just, well, blegh. Very disappointed.

The last few chapters are quick-moving considering the amount of action. However, I wouldn't say they were engrossing; they kept my interest up enough to turn the page. All in all I was pretty disappointed in this second book. Holder of Lightning wasn't superb, but I had wanted to continue reading the series. Unfortunately, it was just way too similar to the previous one for me to give a good rating, and I felt there was a lot of room for improvement.

Tremendous fantasy
Jenna's enemies still lurk and are planning the abduction of Jenna's precious daughter Meriel by her Uncle Doyle, whose vow to do no harm to his half-sister ended when their mom died.

Meriel's uncle is obsessed with obtaining the Lamh Shabbala stone that channels all magic.If it means the death of his niece and anyone else so that he gains full power, so be it as he believes he was the one not Jenna who should have been the First Holder.Jenna is stunned as she loves her daughter but fears the price of acceding to the demands of her sibling as there are no guarantees that Meriel will live or that the peace will hold.She also worries about those loyal to her for she remembers what happened to her beloved.

The second book in the "Cloudmages" series, MAGE OF CLOUDS, is a tremendous fantasy due to the dilemma confronting the heroine of the first book.Though the story line focuses much on Meriel's plight, Jenna is the key ingredient as she struggles between the bigger good and her own micro need; either way someone will be hurt by her decision.Meriel is a solid character while her uncle is delightfully villainous.Fans of the first book, the author (in his variety of writing aliases), and fantasy aficionados will greatly value this powerful book that ignores the middle syndrome with a powerful plot and deep cast.

Harriet Klausner

The First Holder's Daughter
Mage of Clouds (2004) is the second novel in the Cloudmages series, following Holder of Lightning. In the previous volume, First Holder Jenna Aoire and the Inishlanders faced the combined clochs of the Tuatha at Dun Kiil. The Creneach came and fought with the Inish, some ripping the gates open.

As the Inish stormed through the gates, Tuatha holders focused on Jenna and hammered her until she was cowering on her knees. She fell back into the Lamh Shabhala and it allowed her to absorb the energy of the clochs being used against her. She forced a settlement upon the Tuatha and Inish alike, but Mac Ard would not accept defeat and forced Jenna to slay him.

After withdrawal of the Tuatha forces, Jenna was chosen as Banrion of Inish Thuaidh. She met her baby brother Doyle for the first time on the tiny isle of Inishduan while returning the body of Mac Ard to her mother Maeve. Prior to his death, Mac Ard had legitimized the child and left him an estate. Jenna saw her mother for the last time as Maeve lit the funeral byre.

In this novel, nearly two decades later, Doyle comes to Dun Kiil Keep to notify Jenna of their mother's death and to warn her that the Tuatha will be coming again. Doyle also tells her that he considers Lamh Shabhala to be his inheritance from his father and that he will be attacking persons near to her if she doesn't voluntarily yield it to him. After he departs, Jenna sends her daughter Meriel to the Order of Inishfeirm for training and to protect her from Doyle and others in the Order of Gabair.

Meriel reacts badly to the news that she is being sent to Inishfeirm and tries to run away with her boyfriend, but is frustrated by Mundy Kirwan, the current Maister of the Order of Inishfeirm. He conducts Meriel back to the island and settles her into the life of an acolyte of the Order. Meriel soon finds her smooth hands becoming rough with the menial labor that is part of such a life.

Meriel has only recently discovered the delight of male companionship. She writes daily letters to her boyfriend, but his one and only reply is terse enough to show his loss of interest. Thady MacCoughlin, a third year student with the Order, shows her around and invites her to slip out for a drink or two at the village tavern. Owaine Geraghty. a Brathair of the Order, seems to show up everywhere she goes. However, the Saimhoir Dhegli, a changeling and possessor of the Salmon of power, is the man/seal that interests her the most.

In this story, Doyle leads an attack on the Order of Inishfeirm and kidnaps Meriel, carrying her off to captivity. Dhegli sees the attack in a vision but arrives too late to avert it. However, he offers to take Owaine to the point where the Meriel was taken ashore and Owaine immediately accepts the offer, for he holds a clochmion that finds things. If he can get close enough, Owaine can follow Meriel and free her. Owaine climbs into a currach with only his clothes and his cloch and is towed over the sea by Dhegli.

This story is a tale of vengeance and greed, fed by old wrongs and slights that cause even more death and destruction. However, one new element has been added to the familiar pattern: Treorai's Heart. This new clochmion was once the life source of the Creneach Treorai. It had been given to Jenna by Treorai himself at the battle of Dun Kiil and the loss of the heartstone caused to the Creneach to collapse into a pile of rock and boulders.

In the hands of Meriel, Treorai's Heart is a healing stone. It has the power to knit broken bones, destroy infections, grow new flesh and mend deranged minds. However, although it can heal others, the cloch cannot heal Meriel herself.

The last volume in this series is Heir of Stone.Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Farrell fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of magic in an ancient celtic milieu.

-Arthur W. Jordin ... Read more

Product Description
Carnegie Medalist Mal Peet and his wife, Elspeth Graham, team up for a captivating, lushly illustrated tale evoking a Chinese legend.

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Tashi lives in a tiny village at the foot of the mountains, below the tea plantations where her mother works. When her mother falls ill, Tashi goes alone to the plantation, hoping to earn money for the doctor. But she is far too small to harvest the tender shoots, and her clumsy efforts anger the cruel Overseer. She is desolate, until — chack-chack-chack! — something extraordinary happens. Inspired by a centuries-old legend of tea-picking monkeys, here is a richly told tale full of vivid characters: the heartless Overseer, the enigmatic Royal Tea Taster, and — far away — an empress with a penchant for tea. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A wonderful find
Sitting down for a morning cup of tea with my husband, I began to open the latest package from Amazon to share with him. "Not more books!" he sighed. I had ordered this one because of its Juan Wijngaard illustrations. Our family has nearly read to pieces our copies of his Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady, so I knew that Cloud Tea Monkeys would be visually exquisite. What I didn't expect was a text that wasexquisite as well. Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham know how to "show not tell":
"The sun had not yet found a way through the mountains, but it was coming; a light the color of lemons was soaking into the sky and painting out the stars."
"The overseer laughed an ugly laugh full of brown teeth."
"His mustache was like a spread of snowy wings."
"Then from under the cloth there came a good deal of sniffing and snuffling: short shallow snuffles and then some long deep sniffs and then the kind of gasping that comes before a sneeze. Then another, longer silence. A hand came out from under the cloth. The fingers clicked again....When Tashi saw his face, the Royal Tea Taster no longer looked stern; he looked like a man who had seen an angel."
We read on. As I finished the story, my husband dabbed his eyes with his napkin,"It's OK, you can keep ordering books."

Uplifting
This book was about the struggles of a Mother and daughter.The daughter saves the day, with the help of her friends.The bok was a presant for a six year old, it was perfect.

A magical story of kind-hearted monkeys, a determined young girl, and the best tea in all the world
Tashi loves following her mother, aunt, and other women from her village to the tea plantation every day, where the older women load young green tea leaves into large baskets for the cruel, demanding plantation overseer. One day, however, Tashi's mother falls ill, and Tashi knows she must find a way to pay for a doctor. She tries to harvest tea herself, but the plants are taller than she is, and she is unable to reach the young leaves the overseer requires. Tashi retreats sadly to her favorite hideout, a rocky enclave full of friendly monkeys. When confides her troubles to the monkeys, they come up with a spectacular way to help her. Thanks to the monkeys, Tashi is able to support herself and her mother for the rest of their lives.

Based on a Himalayan legend about monkeys who pick tea, //Cloud Tea Monkeys// is a story of pluck and sacrifice, duty and ingenuity, and animals who repay human kindness with thanks that go beyond one's wildest imagination.

A great children's book to share
I bought this book to read to my 6-year-old granddaughter. It's a great story! I think she enjoyed it almost as much as I did. A greatbedtime read.

great book to either read to a child or have a child read himself.
I am very happy I bought this book.It is beautifully illustrated and a great story. ... Read more

Product Description
This book helps people understand twelve common false assumptions about Christianity that cripple their faith. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Practical Living
This is a very practical book that addresses everyday living.Many common sayings we hear are put into perspective and the correct biblical context.I found the book very encouraging.And, while we need to be demanding of our selves in our walk, we do not need to beat ourselves up.

A master work!
This book needs to be read by anyone with a crisis of faith...or before!So often our 'reasoning' mind starts to see some odd things that we believe are either taught from the Bible, or in Church.In fact, many of these 12 major 'beliefs' have nothing to do with the Christian religion, but 'seem' to be....these two Dr's do a great job of setting the record straight, so you can see the logic and love in the Bible, and not contradiction.This book needs much more media play, it needs to be read by more people, its well recommended!

12 Christian Beliefs
This was purchased for a church small group. It is very good Christian info, fun to study without becoming overbearing, and so easy to relate to! We love discussing it. The chapter notes at the end of the book make the leader's job easy.

Book Review
Great transaction and product received very quickly and in good condition.Wonderful deal.Thanks

excellent book
This has been one of the best books that I have read.I recently had a very sad experience with a Pastor and his wife.This book has been a God-send. It has helped see things clearly, and gain my freedom. ... Read more

Product Description
In this best-selling, award-winning book, Drs. Cloud andTownsend introduce eight persuasive principles that demonstrate how God entersboth the heart-breaking situation and the life looking for more.

Life is difficult. Life for everyperson on earth is a challenging journey - with or without God. Those whoinvite God to join them on this adventure believe that when bad things happenthey can trust God to be present and work on their behalf.  But just exactly how does He go about thebusiness of helping us when we don't know what to do?  Henry Cloud and John Townsend believe God hasgiven us instructions on how He makes a way for us when we call on Him.  If you follow God's eight principles in thisbook, you can thrive relationally, emotionally, and spiritually.

As clinical psychologists, theauthors deal daily with real people facing real problems, so this book is notjust psychological or biblical theory. It is a life system that captures God's wisdom for coping with our mostdifficult problems.

Customer Reviews (19)

A good place to start
I requested this book from "Book Sneeze" thinking that it would be a guide to discerning God's will in making particular decisions. It isn't that, exactly. It's a guide to finding God's way out of crisis situations in which you feel trapped--things like addiction, serious marital problems, etc. But taking the book on its own terms, it does its job quite well.

As an Orthodox Christian with access to a deep spiritual tradition that goes back 2000 years, I often find contemporary Protestant spiritual advice to be rather shallow. I'm talking about the simplistic attitude of "just trust God and everything will be okay," with the implication that God will take care of it all, with no need for work, suffering, patience, or even commitment on our end. Not so with this book.

The authors of What to Do would probably not disagree with "trust God and everything will be okay" (minus the word "just," you notice). But they would hasten to add that along with trusting God, we have to be ready to do our part. And that part might include taking a hard look at ourselves, repenting of our sins, suffering through their consequences, and making a serious effort to become better people.

Nor is this struggle a just-me-and-Jesus thing. We need other people to help us along the way. These people may include professionals who have the expertise to help us with a particular problem. They will definitely include trusted friends and Christians who are wiser and more experienced in finding God's way.

All this is very Orthodox.

So if you're looking for a concise but very practical guide to calling on God for help in the most difficult situations of your life--or just a guide to living as God would have you live--this little book is a great place to start.

A short but, not so short self-help book
What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do: 8 Principles for Finding God's Way is a short-but not-so-short book designed to help people who are overwhelmed by life. It speaks to addiction and to life situations, especially relationship issues. The book has eight short chapters and some very good bonus material. Cloud and Townsend give solid, clear advice on how to cut through the emotional fog of addiction and relationship problems. That's the short part.

The not-so-short-part is that the authors' clear, solid advice comes in eight overarching principles, nine qualities and characteristics of good company to keep, six tips for leaving the past behind, seven areas to take charge of one's life, nine facets of life that God should lead, and three principles to begin one's journey (with a subset of "ten key reminders" in how to get it all done). I just got overwhelmed. Again.

To be fair, everything Cloud and Townsend say is good. Really good. Their real life illustrations are compelling. Their advice is theologically and psychologically sound. The layout and design of the book are inviting and bring clarity to the overall message. But the eight principles turn into, if I've counted correctly, fifty-four things a person needs to do to gain clarity in their dire situation.

I need a Xanax to finish the review.

Should you buy this book? If you're a counselor and want a good overview of the counseling process in a 134 short pages, you should buy the book. If you're a person who's facing a personal crisis that's overwhelmed by life, start with a good counselor.

Good for new Christians, but disappointing for others
I was happy to read and review this book after receiving a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson Publishers. The aim of this book is to help people find answers to tough questions. The title really says it all: when you're at your wit's end and you're looking for answers, this book offers solutions to help you find your way. The authors tackles tough questions that I identify with, and I hoped to find some great, biblical answers in the pages.
I looked forward to reading a book by these inspiring men, who also penned the Boundaries books. I have to say, I finished the book a little disappointed. Certainly the book is well written and dives right in. The authors provide many colorful examples and stories that are encouraging and interesting. They outline 8 principles that will help readers in their troubles, like pray and seek counsel from wise friends.
I've been a Christian for my entire life, so these are things that I truly believe in and believe they help. But the title was telling me that I would learn what to do when I don't know what to do. I guess I set my expectations too high. It's not that I don't think that seasoned Christians don't need prayer or wise counsel. It's that I think that seasoned Christians have probably already tried this, and yet sometimes we still don't know what to do.
I think this book is certainly useful for all of us facing difficult decisions or rocky times in our lives, but I don't think it delivers on the promise of the title. I would recommend this book to new believers, but probably not to too many others.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Inspirational for those seeking guidance.
In this inspiring book, Dr. Cloud and Dr. Townsend guide you through eight steps which guide you to a better relationship with God.

The eight principles are based upon Bible fundamentals and are simple and straightforward.

The principles begin with the starting journey with God, followed by finding people in your life who will support you in your journey, embracing problems as gifts, and loving God where you are.

I found this to be a easy-to-read book, which I was able to read in an afternoon.The information was very broad and not overly specific. I could see this book being an inspiration to those dealing with a deep problem or seeking strength in life.

As a Christian, I did not find any information in this book to be new.I may read it again if I am faced with a difficult situation. I think it would be an excellent gift for someone in need, and I would choose to give this book instead of an inspirational greeting card.


****Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Great Starting Place for Spiritual Guidance
The book is subtitled "8 Principles for Finding God's Way," so it shouldn't surprise the reader that there are eight chapters. Each deals with one principle for getting through uncertain times. The size of a gift book, this is a quick read. It's almost a pocket guide. This isn't a wordy or academic textbook. The authors teach the principles in simple terms making the content easy to process and apply to life. They use personal examples and illustrations, which makes reading both pleasant and practical, and the bonus material at the end provides guidance on several specific issues.

This book is suitable for giving to friends who are growing in their faith and those who aren't familiar enough with the Bible to know where to seek direction. But I think the more spiritually mature will likely see the 8 principles as more of good review of the biblical concepts they already know.

Some of the authors' statements are a little too simplistic. For example, the authors tell the reader, "All you have to do is ask [God] for answers and he will provide them"(p. 22). For someone unfamiliar with discerning God's voice, the reader might not find it so easy to find the answers God provides. This could have used a lot more explanation.

Overall, this is a useful book. It would make a great graduation gift. I recommend keeping a few copies on hand to give to friends when they are experiencing a difficult decision or a discouraging season in life.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Thomas Nelson Publishers, however, my reviews are always objective and honest.

... Read more

Product Description
An exotic setting and a passionate, forbidden affair make The Clouds Beneath the Sun an irresistible page-turner that is sure to satisfy readers looking for an intelligent blend of history, romance, and intrigue.

Mackenzie Ford (a nom de plume) was introduced to readers in 2009 with the publication of Gifts of War, which was praised in USA Today as “an absorbing, morally complex read.” In a starred review, Library Journal said, “Ford keeps the reader on a knife’s edge as the lies build and the truth is only a word or misstep away. Highly recommended.”

Now Ford takes us to Kenya in 1961. As a small plane carrying Natalie Nelson lands at a remote airstrip in the Serengeti, Natalie knows she’s run just about as far as she can from home. Trained as an archeologist, she accepted an invitation to be included in a famous excavating team, her first opportunity to escape England and the painful memories of her past.

But before she can get her bearings, the dig is surrounded by controversy involving the local Masai people—and murder. Compounding the tension, Eleanor Deacon, friend of the Masai, who is leading the excavating mission, watches a rift grow between her two handsome sons. Natalie’s growing attrac­tion to Jack Deacon soon becomes a passionate affair that turns dangerous when she must give evidence in a trial that could spark even more violence and turmoil.

The startling beauty of the Kenyan setting, the tension of loom­ing social upheaval, and the dizzying highs and crushing lows of a doomed love affair are all captured brilliantly on every page of this extraordinary and utterly unforgettable novel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Bland and tedious
The characters in this book are one dimensional and the story repetitive. I found this book to be boring and tedious.

Murder and the Maasai of the Serengeti
Running from a broken relationship, young Dr. Natalie Nelson, an archaeologist anthropologist arrives in Africa's Serengeti to take part in a dig that is about to discover some important finds that will change what we know of early hominids and their evolution. Excited to be working in Africa with a team of esteemed archaeologists, Natalie soon gets her world turned around when soon after arriving, she is witness to a camp murder and must spend time walking on eggshells and becoming part of a political and messy murder trial that involves the local Maasai people.

Half way through this book I just had to give up. This was so boring to me and I found the story dragging along going nowhere fast. The writing is dry, events lackluster, long passages of text that needed to be edited out due to unimportance to the main story, and the characters beyond childish and petty. I couldn't find anything to help me push on to finish this. I was not interested in the story to the point I had gotten to and felt greatly disappointed because I read and love books on Africa, the Serengeti and I have a high interest in the Maasai tribe. I love archaeology as well and was hoping to get some information on what the area would bring to the surface in regards to artifacts or human remains and hoped an interesting plot would revolve around this. But, it didnt appear it was going to happen, and if it did, the author took her time getting there. For me this book didnt happen and felt the storyline held promise but was poorly executed. When a reader finds themselves skimming out of boredom, ....not a good sign. Sorry folks, I just couldnt finish this one.

Clouds Beneath the Sun
You can find quite an interesting group of people at an archeological dig in Kenya in 1961. This is where Natalie Nelson finds herself as part of a remote dig site in the Serengeti. Things are going great until the team runs into grave robbing and a murder that Natalie becomes a key witness of. But of course, that is not all. Natalie finds herself in a battle between two brothers - a competition that has been around for their entire lives.

I don't think anything I say can really do justice to this book. I feel as I was in Kenya, I felt the heat, I heard the animals, I smelled the Serengeti. There was a lot going on in Kenya in the early 60's and I was able to experience a little bit of all of it by reading this book.

The characters were engaging and dynamic, the setting was beautiful. My only complaint is that the author lingered over the political aspects of what was going on in the country in a way that I didn't understand at first.

4/5

OK historical novel about archaeologists in Kenya in 1960's
I didn't love this novel about a young, beautiful, archaeologist who's just finished her Ph.D. and goes off to Kenya to work with a renowned female archaeologist excavating remains of early humans.Although the descriptions of the African animals and landscape were beautiful, I didn't really bond with any of the characters.Our heroine is so beautiful that everyone at the dig seems to fall in love with her, and she is constantly needing to be recognized by handsome hero Jack when she gets into trouble from both humans and animals alike.The book takes place right at the time when Kenya was about to become independent from Britain, and the conflicts between the white archaeologists and the Masai natives were the most interesting part of the book.Not a bad book, but I was annoyed by the incredibly beautiful heroine who always seemed to be showering and brushing her hair while at the bush camp!(Is that really an accurate portrayal of life on a dig?)

Morally complex picture of 1961 Kenya
Books don't often shock me. I read so much that I seem to be in tune with the narrative flow, I see plot twists coming from miles away, and I'm good at spotting foreshadowing. However, in his second novel, Mackenzie Ford has created a story of such surprising richness that I closed it on the last page, then promptly began thinking if the surprises were fair, if they had been foreshadowed. I had to conclude that I had fair warning of the plot developments all the way through, which makes The Clouds Beneath the Sun all the more extraordinary. In fact, some events were foreshadowed, but I discounted them as impossible to pull off in a realistic fashion. How delighted I was to have been mistaken.

The book opens with Natalie Nelson taking her newly minted Cambridge Ph.D and broken heart to her first dig, in Kenya. Ford (a nom de plume for historian Peter Watson) eases us into the setting with Natalie passing elephants involved in a mourning ritual on the way to the remote camp. I actually had trouble getting into the book at first. An archaeological dig in 1961 Kenya is not an easy setting to evoke, and the "Attention: You Are Now In the 1960s!" details did not feel as effortlessly part of the story as the history and political climate of Kenya. (Examples: that newfangled birth control pill, friends of Natalie's who (gasp) live with men instead of marrying, Natalie's parents utter shock at her disastrous affair with a married man, the publication of Lolita, talk of men going to the moon.) And Natalie's mooning about Dom, her lover, is a bit overdone. However, once I'd made it through the set-up, I could not put this book down. Ford's Kenya is beautiful, vibrant, and complex, so well-drawn that I had no difficulty visualizing it. He lays out the political climate neatly. The moral complexity of the story means that I'm still thinking about the implications.

As Natalie and the others on the dig begin to make extraordinary discoveries in the gorge, she develops relationships with her colleagues. Eleanor, the widow of a celebrated paleontologist, wants to take Natalie under her wing, forcing a confidence that Natalie isn't sure she wants. Eleanor's two sons, Jack and Christopher, vie for her attention, as does Russell, an Australian on the dig. When Richard Sutton, Jr. is found murdered after he and Russell commit an unforgivable act against the Maasai, Natalie is thrust into the center of a political minefield, as the only witness who can implicate one of the Maasai. The tensions between the Maasai and the colonial paleontologists, between blacks and whites (some want a system of apartheid for Kenya, while other groups seek an integrated society, and still others want all the whites ejected), between English law and tribal custom, are absolutely riveting. Jack, having grown up in Africa, is an honorary Maasai, so his insights are invaluable. These are not easy questions posed by Ford, and he doesn't offer easy answers. The pressure on Natalie to refuse to testify in order to diffuse the political situation is not unwarranted, and she herself wavers between doing what is morally right to her, and doing what may be politically and culturally appropriate.

This is a morally complex novel that evokes a realistic picture of 1961 Kenya, of a country divided by race on the brink of independence, and of an impossible choice. I highly recommend it.

FTC Source Disclosure: I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (12)

Book of Clouds
"Book of Clouds" is literary-lite, in the extreme.It is written in a very pedestrian, seventh-grade reading level prose.The story (such as it is)is simplistic and shallow, and almost completely lacking in literary invention.I say almost, because it is not until the end of the novel that the reader encounters the only memorable and imaginative scene in the entire novel - an almost magical scene involving clouds.Considering how highly educated the author is, the book is surprisingly benighted, and as such, only a notch above run-of-the-mill "Chick Lit".This novel is not, I repeat, is not on a par with the likes of such truly literary writers as: Duras, or Elfriede Jelinek, or Nathalie Sarraute.

the poetry of understatement
As much of the press in the UK has noted, this is a highly unusual debut, strikingly different from the rest.
The novel is too layered to describe in a few sentences. It's not simply about a young woman in Berlin.
The language is poetic, nuanced and understated, yet there's a strange wisdom and logic to it all.
I've given this novel to friends without prefacing too much, and just let them see for themselves. It's easier than trying to explain.

Sensitive but frustrating, Aridjis overreaches.
Sometimes you end up reading a book you're not in the mood for. Like Mexican dinner when you're craving Thai, it's just not satisfying, even when it's delicious.

That's how I felt about Book of Clouds by Chloe Aridjis. Though the pacing is a bit slow, it matches the tone perfectly. I read it, dying for something to happen. Anything. In the last chapters, something does happen. I won't tell you what, but I was past caring.

Tatiana, a Mexican expat living in unified Berlin, takes a job typing a noted German historian's dictaphone tapes. Obsessed with Berlin's separate histories during its division, the historian teaches Tatiana about the both halves of the city as she transcribes his notes. Frustrated and intrigued by how little she knows of Berlin's dual identity, Tatiana endeavors to connect to her adopted city and her employer.

An Enthralling Read
Book of Clouds is a novel of remarkable sensitivity, wit, profundity and grace. Chloe Aridjis guides us with poised assurance through the inner landscape of her protagonist, Tatiana, as well as the beguiling strata -- both temporal and spatial -- of Berlin.She writes with intelligence and beauty, limning characters and imagery that linger in the mind. This is an extraordinary and marvelous book, truly the best contemporary novel I have ever read.

Meandering book on thoughts
The book starts of well and with intrigue but gets bogged down.Just doesn't go anyplace and gets boring.I had no empathy or feelings towards the main character; in fact she was starting to really annoy the heck out of me.Book lasted about 60 pages when I put it down. ... Read more

Product Description
This Peterson First guide contains easy-to-understand answers to questions about the weather, such as why the sky is blue, what makes it rain, and what causes rainbows. The book also features 116 color photographs that show how to identify clouds, with explanations of what each cloud type tells about the weather to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Handy little book
I definitely recommend this book as an introduction to weather and clouds. It's inexpensive and small enough to be portable. The illustrations are nice. The text straightforward. It was especially helpful to me spending time on an ornithology project needing weather descriptions, including cloud types, every hour.

Fairly good cloud book
I have seen one other book that I thought did a better job (and can't remember the name of it, unfortunately) but this one is pretty good.It's not too technical (although more so than the other one I saw) and has some good information about clouds and weather.

Wonderful Observations
Vincent Schaefer was an incredible individual. He was a scientist, observer and teacher. His photographs were taken, then developed/printed in his downstairs darkroom in Schenectady, NY. He had great insight into the physical world and could identify and convey its importance. Reader's share his remarkable insight and clarity when they choose one of his books.

When Science IS Art
Everyone should own this wonderful book. The writing is clear and almost poetic and the photos show what's up there. Spirituality is in our minds; the clouds are the metaphor.

Great for beginners!
This is an extremely handy book for making super quick predictions on the skies.Shows all sorts of different cloud formations and what they're bringing with them.Also nice photos of thunderstorms, lightning, etc.Good one to pick up just because. ... Read more

Product Description
Lama Anagarika Govinda was one of the last foreigners to journey through Tibet before the Chinese invasion of 1950. A devoted Buddhist and a spokesman for Tibetan culture, Govinda's luminous and candid account is a spectacular, poetic story of—and a sensitive interpretation of—Tibetan traditions.The Way of the White Clouds is one the twentieth century's classic spiritual autobiographies and an invaluable document about a place and a way of thinking that is virtually defined by its mysteries.

Robert Thurman's perceptive introduction places Govinda's writings in historical context and opens a new door to understanding Tibet, Buddhism, and a man who, Thurman remarks, is "undoubtedly one of the West’s greatest minds of the twentieth century, right up there with Einstein, Heisenberg, Wittgenstein, Solzhenitsyn, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Good book

In my opinion, the book is good for readers who understand buddhism very well.
There are so many hidden messages the author wanted to deliver to the readers.
I have to read the book at the very slow pace in order to get his messages.
For me, it's a good book because I can see Buddhism from the Tibetan point of view.

the Way of the White Clouds
An exquisite chronicle. It is a story that combines journal, travel log, historical detail, and insights into the religious and spiritual landscape before the Chinese invasion. It is a a grand read. The clarity and integrity of the book also render it a valuable reference.

Govinda travels through Sikkim, Central and Western Tibet & Kailash, with emphasis on Tibetan Buddhism teachings and traditions
Kind of an autobiography, Govinda's recount his travels through Sikkim, Central and Western Tibet, relying heavily on Tibetan Buddhism teachings and traditions. Over half of the book deals with his spirituality and learning from his guru. There are 28 pages describing Kailash and the kora - absolutely excellent! He then travels to Tsaparang, describing his stay and the temples in 31 pages.

Eye-opening, inspiring account of Tibet
I have read many books on Tibet but this one provided new insights from an individual who had a unique vantage point on the country and its rich culture. I am grateful this book was written and remains in print!

Among the greatest classics of its kind
Anagarika Govinda's book The Way of the White Clouds is among the most beautiful travel books ever written. It gives a lyrical picture of Tibet before the destruction of virtually everything by the Chinese. Somewhat melodramatic in its descriptive power, Lama Govinda (1898-1985) and his Persian wife, Li Gotami, wrote, drew, and photographed unknown (and often abandoned) temples, met amazing people, and generally coursed in a mystical reverie during their time there. The reader is magically transported with them back to a time when no one in the West knew much, if anything, about Tibet, Tibetans, or its religion. That he might have got some details wrong isn't the point. This is a seminal work in its field (together with Marco Pallis and Alexandra David-Neel). Govinda's writing, and photographs are better than theirs, however. ... Read more

Product Description
Before the end of WWII, Hitler charged a group of his most trusted and brilliant comrades with a mission-educate your progeny and then elevate them to positions of power throughout the world. Steeped in fact, and meticulously researched, Clouds Across the Sun is the story of just one of these children.From Naples, Florida, New York City, and Washington D.C. to Israel and then the killing grounds of Vilnius, Poland (Lithuania) this story is one of great romance, discovery, redemption, and enlightenment as Jotto Wells unravels the intrigue surrounding a plan to take over the government of the United States. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

I am a fan. let me know when her next book is out.
I gave my Mother 'Clouds Across the Sun' for her birthday gift on Rosh Ashona and she read the book within 24 hrs since she could not put it down! This is what my Mother said" I read the book. It was great. She is a very talented writer! I am a fan. Let me know when her next book is out."

Clouds Accross The Sun: Reflections
Full Disclosure: I am a member of the writers group where Ellen developed Clouds Across The Sun.

I have waited a while to write a review. Whether then or now, the review will say what a wonderful book it is.

One of the reasons I have waited to post is because I did not want to implicitly impart a `friends and family' tone to the reviews. Another reason is that I wanted to see if others would be as enthusiastic as I was. Enough reviews are on record that I now feel comfortable adding my voice to the praises that are already in place.

Clouds Across The Sun is an extremely gripping story told in very human and humane terms. It is reminiscent of epics, à la Leon Uris, that recount the post-World War II chapters of the Diaspora. This chapter is especially interesting to us on this side of the Atlantic. It takes place largely in the United States, and takes the readers through a tightly-woven, suspenseful tale of intrigue and conspiracy.

The characters, and there's many of them, are defined very well, and are strong and compelling. None is shy or meek and mild; one finds oneself appealed or repulsed vigorously by them and their stories.

And then, there's the actual writing. Part of Ellen's genius is that she can stop the intrigue and take the reader to another place, a spiritual, almost mystical place. She does it naturally, she does it organically. The tale is not disrupted, it is enhanced. It makes Clouds Across The Sun stand head and shoulders apart and above so many other entries in the suspense/intrigue genre. Many in the genre are a good summer read. This one is much more. It is well-articulated, nuanced, thought-provoking. It will stay with you for a long time.

There are 5 Stars in Ellen Brazer's "Clouds Across The Sun"!
I highly recommend reading "Clouds Across The Sun".

Ellen Brazer's story was so compelling I could not put the book down!I started a few paragraphs in the morning before leaving for work and the characters were so compelling that when I got home from work I finished it!I read it in one day, and if not for work it would have been in one sitting...just fabulous.

I congratulate the author on this fascinating tale, it's amazing characters and extraordinary plot.This is a must read.

Fabulous read!
The author has delivered a "page turner" with excellent plot development, a riveting story and in-depth characters. The story asks an explosive question...What if? What if the tentacles of Hitler have reached far beyond the end of WWII into a sinister plot to take over the government of the United States? I found it hard to put the book down, and when forced to, was always anxious to return to it. An added bonus is that the research is impeccable, and I learned new information about this era in our history which is always exciting. I highly recommend this novel.

This is a bi-gender read!
By this title, I meant I had to share this book with my husband, who rarely seems to enjoy books by female authors. After his reading Clouds Across The Sun, he was extremely complimentary of the Ms Brazer's writing style, her factual references and her character development and I totally agree with him. We both thought this a fast read which we wished had gone on much longer....and both of us cannot wait for her book #3. (My husband will have to buy his own copy so we don't fight over it!) ... Read more

Product Description
They were four exceptional soldiers, a new generation asked to save an army that had been hollowed out after Vietnam. They survived the military's brutal winnowing to reach its top echelon. They became the Army's most influential generals in the crucible of Iraq.

Collectively, their lives tell the story of the Army over the last four decades and illuminate the path it must travel to protect the nation over the next century. Theirs is a story of successes and failures, of ambitions achieved and thwarted, of the responsibilities and perils of command. The careers of this elite quartet show how the most powerful military force in the world entered a major war unprepared, and how the Army, drawing on a reservoir of talent that few thought it possessed, saved itself from crushing defeat against a ruthless, low-tech foe. In The Fourth Star, you'll follow:

•Gen. John Abizaid, one of the Army's most brilliant minds. Fluent in Arabic, he forged an unconventional path in the military to make himself an expert on the Middle East, but this unique background made him skeptical of the war he found himself leading.

•Gen. George Casey Jr., the son of the highest-ranking general to be killed in the Vietnam War. Casey had grown up in the Army and won praise for his common touch and skill as a soldier. He was determined not to repeat the mistakes of Vietnam but would take much of the blame as Iraq collapsed around him.

•Gen. Peter Chiarelli, an emotional, take-charge leader who, more than any other senior officer, felt the sting of the Army's failures in Iraq. He drove his soldiers, the chain of command, and the U.S. government to rethink the occupation plans–yet rarely achieved the results he sought.

•Gen. David Petraeus, a driven soldier-scholar. Determined to reach the Army's summit almost since the day he entered West Point, he sometimes alienated peers with his ambition and competitiveness. When he finally got his chance in Iraq, he–more than anyone–changed the Army's conception of what was possible.

Masterfully written and richly reported, The Fourth Star ranges far beyond today's battlefields, evoking the Army's tumultuous history since Vietnam through these four captivating lives and ultimately revealing a fascinating irony: In an institution that prizes obedience, the most effective warriors are often those who dare to question the prevailing orthodoxy and in doing so redefine the American way of war.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

The Crossroads of the Old and New Army
This review was written as a response to an inquiry by a friend and as such is brief and without any particular editing...

This is book is actually Quite good - "chatty" in some places, as it is clearly not a purely academic piece (and certainly not intended to be one), but it is certainly intellectual in both outlook and its goals.The perspective was interesting, as were the ways in which the various personae involved were cast: Casey comes across as the last of the Old Army; Abizaid as an unwitting (and unwilling?) trailblazer, but not founder of the New Army akin to John the Baptist (in comparison with Jesus); Chiarelli as the enlightened rebel who was nearly destroyed, but managed to fight his way through, though in the end at the cost of his loftier goals; and Petraeus as the truly first officer of the New Army generation, successfully pulling the Army out of its post-Vietnam delusions into the realities of the present.You also get very interesting, though not particularly surprising takes on Rumsfeld, McCain, Wolfowitz, and Powell.Generally the piece confirms many of my suspicions, but in some places the authors depict certain personae in ways I had never considered; for example surprising is the way Bush is cast as the silent leader whocomes across as level-headed and steady-handed.Rice comes across as hyper-intelligent, but sorely out of the loop and hopelessly lost in the quagmire of politics and post-Vietnam policy.

Again, though, in general the depiction of the four generals it follows roughly confirms what I had always suspected.The way the majority of the Army's Officer Corps - especially the General Officers - was depicted (rather reactionary or unwilling to hear criticism from within or below) in the years following Vietnam and leading up to 2003-2007 was unsurprising, as was the way officers following 2007 were depicted.None of what the authors say was in any way a secret, but rather they do a very good job of elucidating it in quite well written text.Chiarelli, surprisingly, comes as the most interesting character, but the narrative of his story (and for that matter the other generals) suffers at the center of the text, and rightly so as the focus shifts to those generals in the positions of most action.I was saddened to see Abizaid disappear off towards the end, but you get the impression Abizaid was an officer ahead of his time whose "time" was really in the lead up to the invasion of Iraq, if not well before that.Iraq is thus (and I believe this is one of the general theses) cast as the cauldron and forge in which the modern U.S. Army has been shaped, with only the strongest in intellect and determination capable of surviving the great changes the institution undergoes - a stark change from the purely war-fighter outlook of the pre-2003/07 Army.

Army Generals/Leadership
The Fourth Star is a very well researched, well written account following the lives of four Army generals through their careers and into the Iraq conflict.Although each had their unique personality and style of leadership, as well as knowledge of the Middle East, each was thrown by our civilian leadership in Washington into an untenable situation in Iraq.And each came to the conclusion that our civilian leadership hasn't a clue of how to repair a centuries old conflict.

A different look at the military
The first class writing allows this book to be absorbed in a long afternoon and evening. While grouping the careers of four outstanding officers obviously called for severe editing, enough of their backgrounds are disclosed to give some understanding of them. One doesn't normally think of four star generals as middle managers, but in fact that's what these men were. The book largely deals with what they faced in Iraq at their level. Their rank in relation to responsibility may result from the overall rank inflation of the all services, but that's another issue. To put their status in imperfect civilian terms, If Bush was the CEO, Rumsfeld was an executive VP. Theater commanders such as Franks were senior VP's and these generals on the ground were like VP's running very large divisions of a multinational. What the authors have achieved is provision of insight into how these individuals dealt with the difficulty of moving a large organization toward a better solution to the problems they faced. The issues of communication, preexisting bias on the part of uppermanagement, its inability to see the actual challenges existing, the inability to get proper, competent staffing in some instances, inflexible home office staff decisions made by those who wished no risks nor attention, organizational rigid adherence to set procedures and practices along with opposition to change if considered radical or original, and so on are all challenges familiar to anyone who has held a major direct responsibility in a very large organization. Despite all of these types of issues, these men struggled on to get order in a chaotic situation. It speaks well of them as well as the army. The story is thorough, fascinating and worth the time of the general reader as well as those interested in military history and military professionals. One side issue is General Petraeus. On the positive side, he appears not to be afraid to seek out those who can give him sound advice. I first read about him in an Atlantic profile when he was a two star commander of the 101st. While I don't think it was the author's intent, the general came across to many readers of the article as something of a buffoon and a joke with his challenges to young paratroopers for push-up competition and so forth. In this book, again it may not have been the authors' design, he appears to be a very cold, calculating army politician with a bullet proof resume who never gets his hands dirty and plays the media and the Washington power structure like a banjo. Let's hope he's more than that and we all wish him success in his Afghanistan assignment. I highly recommend this book.

An excellent modern history of the U.S. Army
This book is a biography of the Iraq war's leading Generals. But more than that, in following these men's careers the book gives a very readable overview of the modern U.S. Army from the post Vietnam "hollow" Army, through the Cold War build up and the following force cuts and the Gulf War through the 90s and finally the war in Iraq. This overview gives a good perspective and background to the constraints and strengths of the Army as it faced the crucible of Iraq, and raises important questions about the future of the force. The men and women of the U.S. Army have proven that they can learn on the fly and change, that they can be a nimble, quick-thinking, situationally aware force.

It remains to be seen if the senior most Generals and policy-makers will ensure that the lessons learned stick with the force as an institution by guaranteeing real and permanent structural changes to reflect the cultural changes that have already happened, or if the hard-won wisdom of today's junior and mid-level officers and NCOs is forgotten in favor of political considerations. It is also not yet clear what the impact of nearly a decade of hard combat will be. Some have warned of the Army reaching a "breaking point" after two many individuals doing repeated combat tours.

I served two tours in Iraq, but as an enlisted soldier, my view of the war was necessarily very narrow. I enjoyed the book, as it gave me an idea of the wider picture of what was going on in Iraq.

Five Stars for The Fourth Star
Five Stars for The Fourth Star

A favorite quote from Jim Rohn is "I found that when I changed my philosophy, everything changed for me." The Fourth Star by David Cloud and Greg Jaffe is a story of the US Army in pursuit of an enduring philosophy for the conflicts of today and the potential conflicts of tomorrow.

The book is both an organizational and a personal history told from the perspective of four Army Officers who become Four Star Generals. The four officers are Gen John Abizad, Gen George Casey, Jr., Gen Peter Chiarelli and Gen David Petraeus. Each of these officers plays a key role in the wars with Iraq.

The story of these officers provides significant insights into our national security needs. In some respects, the book reminds this reader of William Manchester's The Glory and the Dream. Manchester's outstanding book is a history of the United States from 1932 to 1972. One of the best qualities of Manchester's book is the perspective offered. In other words, the book takes the following approach to the story it tells: This is what America saw at a particular point in time. America, therefore, did the following. Looking back at the results of that decision, America decided she had made a mistake. America then decided to do this to avoid repeating that mistake.

Cloud and Jaffe offer much the same approach as Manchester.

The four officers written about each entered an Army traumatized by Vietnam and trying to rebuild itself. Each entered the Army after the traumatization, so none had any responsibility for the circumstances they found on their arrival. One, however was profoundly affected by Vietnam in that his father, George Casey, Sr., was a General Officer killed in Vietnam.

The four entered an Army determined to put Vietnam behind them. Using 1973's Arab-Israeli Yom Kippur conflict as a model, the Army strove to get back to the kind of conflict it had excelled in. That kind of conflict was the potential for conflict with the Soviet Union over control of Western Europe (the kind of conflict envisioned by Tom Clancy in Red Storm Rising.)

This modernization effort results in much of the equipment used today being introduced into the Army's inventory, such as the Abrams Tank and Bradley Fighting Vehicle System. The winning of the Canadian Army Trophy competition in Tank Gunnery (with the heavy involvement of Chiarelli) signifies that technological superiority has been achieved. Rising along with the equipment is the Powell Doctrine, which states the criteria for how America is to be committed to war.

As the book describes, the First Gulf War with its victory over Iraq validates the Powell Doctrine in the same way the Canadian Army Trophy competition had validated the equipment. As the story shows, however, part of the reason the Powell Doctrine looked so good was the avoidance of trying to go to Baghdad and overthrow Saddam Hussein.

The second Gulf War put the Powell Doctrine to the test and found it wanting in the time after the Iraqi Army was defeated. The book details how little was remembered of counterinsurgency fighting in the US Army. This was largely a deliberate forgetting. As a result (according to the book), troops were not effective in this kind of battle.

The book tells the story of the efforts of these four officers to fight and win in highly unfavorable circumstances. Part of winning involved changing the Army's philosophy toward fighting while in the process of fighting. The book is highly illuminating in that respect.

Another fascinating aspect of the book is the four officers' relationship with the national civilian command authority (The President and the Secretary of Defense). This is one of the best accounts to be found describing the relationship in a long term conflict with Unified Command Structure mandated by the Goldwater-Nichols Act.

Other insights you will gain from reading this book include:

* George Bush, in his desire not to micromanage his generals, failed to properly supervise his Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld.
* The failure to provide adequate numbers of troops at the outset, as well as the desire to minimize casualties, enabled the insurgency in Iraq to take root.
* The troops who were present were not used properly to quash sectarian violence.
* The Army, despite its best efforts, still has great difficulty in accepting and rewarding innovative thinking from its lowest ranking officers.

Perhaps most noteworthy of all, reading this book will show the average American how grateful this nation should be for the professionalism, courage and dedication of the Officers described in this book and those who serve under them.

On a personal note, I should add that I was a career Army officer. I began my service before these four officers began theirs and finished while they continued to serve. I found the story told of these men and the US Army to be very much the story I lived for much of my life, which made the story that much more compelling for me.






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Product Description
Now in paperback: From the winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, the best-selling book-length poem selected for the Best American Poetry annual in both 1999 and 2000.

With piercing clarity and craftsmanship, Mary Oliver has fashioned an unforgettable poem of questioning and discovery, about what is observable and what is not, about what passes and what persists. As the new U.S. Poet Laureate, Stanley Kunitz, has said: "Mary Oliver's poetry is fine and deep; it reads like a blessing. Her special gift is to connect us with our sources in the natural world, its beauties and terrors and mysteries and consolations." The Boston Globe has called Mary Oliver "a great poet...she is amazed but not blinded." And the Miami Herald has said: "The gift of Oliver's poetry is that she communicates the beauty she finds in the world and makes it unforgettable." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Sheer Joy
To read Mary Oliver's The Leaf and the Cloud is to be swept up in a journey that is both intimate and universal at the same time. At once describing, with breathtaking lucidity, the epic beauty and staggering complexity of nature, then suddenly referring to her own humanity with poignant inquisitions, Oliver traverses internal and external environments in an elegant interplay that is, quite simply, addictive.
Not just a "Nature Poet" or "Neo-Romantic", Oliver moves beyond poetry that merely observes nature or draws quaint metaphors from its form, to a new level that celebrates humanity and nature as two parts of an indefinable, mysterious and ultimately beautiful whole.
Their is so much joy in the way in which Oliver describes the world that it is contagious, and you will forever view your surroundings differently as a result of reading this book. It isn't just her exquisite grasp of nature that makes this book so pleasurable, however, it is also the way in which she unravels her own character and story within the natural environment that makes you keep turning the pages.
This was my first encounter with Oliver's work, but certainly not the last. Highly recommended.

The Kiss of Complicity
In this poem, Mary Oliver walks us through the journey of life and calls
on us to pay attention and see, smell and hear.She asks death to "unstring
my bones,let me be not one thing but all things..."

In these days of violence and blaming of actions on past grievances, Oliver
says of her dead parents,
"I give them-one, two, three, four- the kiss of courtesy
of sweet thanks,
of anger, of good luck in the deep earth.
May they sleep well.May they soften.

But I will not give them the kiss of complicity.
I will not give them the responsibility for my life."

Powerful, strong words.

Sublime Poet
Mary Oliver is a magnificent, aware voice, speaking in a deep, almost spiritual way. She transforms daily life, a drive, a walk, a look across the fields, into magical, sensitive,moments of awe.

Mary Oliver: Living American Legend
Few works stand across generations lighting the best American writers. Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, and Mary Oliver's The Leaf and The Cloud, are two. The difference is that Oliver is alive and working today. I rejoice in her bravery to write the real work, that because it is real, lush, sensual, and drives deep into an open reader's soul like the tendrils of exuberant vines, will likely endure for future generations as long as humans do. Remember that Whitman wasn't completely embraced in his era either, and many opinion makers expecting whatever they were expecting, turned on him as did James Harlan, Secretary of the Interior, after the Civil War.

The best advice is to form your own opinion. Borrow a copy of Mary Oliver's The Leaf and The Cloud, read it. If you respond to it as I have, you will be buying your own copy of a living American legend.

High quality poetry
Mary Oliver is amazing.I read this book because it was recommended by my English Lit. prof., and then I loved it and had to go out and buy it.Mary Oliver literally wrote the book on free verse poetry (see, "The Poetry Handbook" by the same author).The way the words flow is beautiful.Even if you don't really like modern poetry, I think you'll fall in love with this long poem. ... Read more

Product Description

"What's he doing back in town?"

With his black leather jacket, Patrick Rivers looks every inch the bad boy the townsfolk believe him to be. Ten years ago, he left Loomis, Louisiana, under a cloud of suspicion. Back to settle his stepfather's estate, Patrick knows he isn't welcome and can't wait to leave. Until Shelby Mason gives him a reason to stay. Because Shelby knows a secret...and someone in Loomis will do anything to keep her quiet.

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Customer Reviews (4)

Page-turner !!!
I loved this book! Excellent suspense!
If you like tales of mystery and romance don't miss this one!
The whole series is great!

A Cloud of Suspicion without a trace
I loved this book from the very first page, It kept wanting me to turn to the next page but when I got to the last page it didn't tell me who was after Shelby Mason, she was in such danger all the way through the book. One of her best friends Leah had gone missing after Leah's husband got killed, she ever left her little daughter with her brother.Then Patrick came back to Loomis, he had been accused of rape 10 years before but was not found guilty.The town still thought he was guilty.It is so good, got to go to town now and get the other book to tell me who done it.

Totally Enthralled
Don't miss this excellent read. A Cloud of Suspicion is written with such vivid clarity, that I was happily lost in its edge-of your-seat yet tender romantic suspense. Patricia Davids' heroine and hero, Shelby and Patrick, are so real and their dilemmas so well suited to who they are, that I found myself totally enthralled.

A great addition to the Without a Trace series
A Cloud of Suspicion is a great addition to the Without a Trace series. Patrick Rivers is the perfect bad-boy hero and it's fun watching Shelby, the town librarian, bring him around to the good-guy side. Although the main mystery remains unsolved in this book, it's still an excellent read.
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Product Description
Now in paperback, this award-winning book from Drs. Cloud and Townsend introduces eight persuasive principles that demonstrate how God enters both the heart-breaking situation and the life looking for more. These principles are then applied to readers' lives so that their relationships will be better, they'll have more control over their lives, and their spiritual hunger will be satisfied. "God Will Make a Way" is more than a remarkably helpful book. It is a reality-tested life system that captures God's wisdom for coping with our most difficult problems - from dating and marriage to sex, conflict, parenting, fear, addictions, anger, depression and weight loss. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Best of times
these are very hard times for some, and to get a written account of hope and support is truly needed

Good tips
This book has a lot of practical tips.I have felt stuck in some areas and am working through this book with a friend.I think it will help.

Excellent Book, Great Authors
This book contains all the essentials needed in order to begin and maintain a close relationship with God and those we come in close contact with on a daily basis. I would recommend everyone to read this book. I have purchased an additional copy for my best friend to read as well.

Excellent Help
I find this book so helpful, so well written and insightful into the challenges that life presents us in all its many facets, that I have bought it and had it shipped to my children and two other persons. The book covers a myriad of situations in life. I recommend it to anybody and everybody highly.

Great Book
I loved this book and believed that God did bring this book to me.Very helpful and inspiring to read.Definitely recommend. ... Read more