Book Description
Born on a Blue Day is a journey into one of the most fascinating minds alive today -- guided by its owner himself. Daniel Tammet sees numbers as shapes, colors, and textures, and he can perform extraordinary calculations in his head. He can learn to speak new languages fluently, from scratch, in a week. In 2004, he memorized and recited more than 22,000 digits of pi, setting a record. He has savant syndrome, an extremely rare condition that gives him almost unimaginable mental powers, much like those portrayed by Dustin Hoffman in the film Rain Man.
Daniel has a compulsive need for order and routine -- he eats the same precise amount of cereal for breakfast every morning and cannot leave the house without counting the number of items of clothing he's wearing. When he gets stressed or is unhappy, he closes his eyes and counts. But in one crucial way Daniel is not at all like the Rain Man: he is virtually unique among people who have sev- ere autistic disorders in that he is capable of living a fully independent life. He has emerged from the "other side" of autism with the ability to function successfully -- he is even able to explain what is happening inside his head.
Born on a Blue Day is a triumphant and uplifting story, starting from early childhood, when Daniel was incapable of making friends and prone to tantrums, to young adulthood, when he learned how to control himself and to live independently, fell in love, experienced a religious conversion to Christianity, and most recently, emerged as a celebrity. The world's leading neuroscientists have been studying Daniel's ability to solve complicated math problems in one fell swoop by seeing shapes rather than making step-by-step calculations. Here he explains how he does it, and how he is able to learn new languages so quickly, simply by absorbing their patterns. Fascinating and inspiring, Born on a Blue Day explores what it's like to be special and gives us an insight into what makes us all human -- our minds.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting view inside an autistic mind.......2007-10-11
I thought this was a really interesting read. The perspective was like no other and while I certainly still could not say I know what it's like to be autistic, I felt that Tammet gave some good insight into his mind and how he thinks and how he views the world.
Excellent.......2007-10-10
As a mother of a child with high functioning Autism I found this book extremely interesting. However, even if I had no direct connection with Autism this book is very good. It is wonderfully written; engaging and quick to read. I appreciate Daniel Tammet sharing his story and highly recommend it to anyone.
Not Terribly Engrossing.......2007-08-07
The introduction for this book, in which Tammet describes his savant skills and his synesthesia, is really the most interesting part, and one wishes that the remainder of the book could have been so. As it is, it is a memoir about a life that, despite the curiosity of his Asperger's syndrome and his talents, is actually rather ordinary.
It is interesting to hear him describe the mental manifestations of his mild autism, but as the book moves on, it actually does not effect his life as much as you'd think. When you see him on television programs, in fact, you would hardly guess the mental stress he undergoes to interact with people.
Until late in the book, no one seems particularly interested in Tammet's outstanding language and math abilities, which seems a shame. The memoir has been produced precisely because he has been discovered, but I can't help but think that a different kind of book would have been a better, more interesting way to learn about Tammet. While his brain is fascinating, his life story isn't nearly so.
Nice book about synesthesia.......2007-08-03
This is a nice first person narrative about synesthesia. I enjoyed reading another person's perspective of synesthetic problem solving by means of spontaneous, intuitive pictures. I know of synesthetes that have had to go through extensive occupational therapy to heal hypersensitivities to light, sound, etc. I wonder how he just got over it at some point.
I rate this book a 5 star because it is rare to find a book about synesthesia written by the people who live it and know it best.
A beautiful book!.......2007-08-01
This is really a beautiful book. I really mean beautiful. Yes it is a great book and a great read, but the difference between this book and other great reads is that this is truly a beautiful book.
The author will take you right into his mind and will show you how he visualizes the world around him. You might think he is a genius, capable of feats we mere mortals are incapable of. For example, he can perform extraordinary math in his head. He can calculate the number Pie (22 divided by 7, or 3.14.....) to more than 22,000 digits in his head! In fact, he holds the world record! Give him any numbers, such as 34,768 multiplied by 67,879, and he'll spit out the answer in an instant, faster than it would take you to enter the digits in a calculator.
How can he calculate so fast? What is his secret? The author, Daniel Tammet, sees numbers as shapes, colors and textures. He also experiences emotions by visualizing numbers. He says, "If a friend says they feel sad or depressed, I picture myself sitting in the dark hollowness of number six to help me experience the same sort of feeling and understand it. If I read in an article that a person felt intimidated by something, I imagine myself standing next to the number nine...By doing this, numbers actually help me get closer to understanding other people (p. 8-9, Hodder 2006, paperback). On page 11, he says, "Some nights, when I'm having difficulty falling asleep, I imagine myself walking around my numerical landscapes. Then I feel safe and happy. I never feel lost, because the prime number shapes acts as signposts." He further adds, "Five is a clap of thunder or the sound of waves crashing against rocks. Thirty-seven is lumpy like porridge, while 89 reminds me of falling snow...The number four is shy and quiet...Prime numbers feel smooth, like pebbles."
The author also knows how to speak 11 languages (he even invented one of his own), and he can speak a language fluently from scratch in a week. He learnt Icelandic in one week during a TV interview in Iceland! He says, "Seeing words in different colors and textures aids my memory for facts and names."
In case you are wondering, Tammet sees days of the week as colors. Wednesday, the day he was born, is `blue'; thus the title of the book, `Born on a Blue Day'.
Is the author a genius?
Daniel Tammet has Savant Syndrome, an extremely rare form of Asperger's that gives him almost unimaginable mental powers, much like the Rain Man (Kim Peek) portrayed by Dustin Hoffman. But he is unique among people who have severe autistic disorders in being able to live a fully independent life. He travels by air alone and visits many countries for interviews, research, and to appear on TV. His first flight abroad was to Lithuania where he worked as a volunteer English teacher. It was there he realized that he could live an independent life. He also traveled to America on his own to film the documentary Brainman.
One reviewer said that statistics recently released placed one out of every 150 births as an autistic child. This is by no means a small number. But not all autistic children have the abilities of Tammet or Peek. It is believed that there might be fewer than 100 worldwide!
So what makes Tammet and Peek different from other autistic people, and particularly us?
Tammet's Savant talents likely resulted with a short bout with epilepsy at the age of 4. Scientists studying Tammet and other Savants believe that something in the brain triggers the Savant abilities. If scientists can pinpoint this trigger, can they make us all into supercomputers? The research into the brain is still ongoing, and I must say, is quite fascinating. A lot of it is explained in this book.
However one should not forget that we too have many abilities that we take for granted, such as our ability to communicate clearly (most autistics don't have this ability); understand each other; cope with our surroundings etc...
This book is an insight into what it is like to be a high-functioning autistic. The author explains his life from birth (as related by his parents) to the present time (2006). Some scenes are very touching, like the death of his cat, the illness of his father, and the loneliness he experienced. Other scenes are really funny, like how he didn't like shaving because he was very sensitive to the sound of the blade on his skin (his boyfriend Neil later shaved for him, and taught him to use an electric shaver which he liked using). In fact, sounds bother him, and he often plugs his ears with his fingers. He also says that he eats exactly 45 grams of porridge for breakfast each morning. How does he know this? Well, he actually measures his porridge!
He sometimes sleepwalks. As a child, his parents always made sure his room was tidy at night, for fear he would stumble on something while sleep walking.
He explains how since an early age he was attracted to males, and how he approached his first crush while in high school. He was politely rejected. He then met his true love through the internet years later. He didn't know how to tell his parents. When he finally mustered the courage and the words to face his parents, he was surprised that they immediately supported him. All they wished for was his happiness. He eventually moved in with his boyfriend Neil. They are still together today.
He explains how difficult it is to love as an autistic, and how autistics view love. There is also a chapter on his views on religion which I found inspiring. He says, "...my moral values are based more on ideas that are logical, make sense to me and that I have thought through carefully, than on the ability to `walk in another person's shoes'. I know to treat each person I meet with kindness and respect, because I believe that each person is unique and created in God's image." (p. 282).
He now joins scientists in exploring his mind. He does not mind being a guinea pig as long as there is a benefit to mankind. Imagine one day we can think like him. Imagine being able to solve any mathematical problem! I think it was Einstein who once said that we only use 5% of our brain. What if we can unlock the other 95% of our brain? Imagine being more powerful in processing information than the fastest computer! This is not a dream. People with Savant Syndrome can do just that. The Rain Man (Peek), for example, memorized over 7,000 books, and is able to retrieve any information with page numbers from any of these books!
I love reading books, and I am proud of my thousand plus book library. Imagine having the power to actually put this library in my mind! It would be like all the books in my library are scanned into my brain, giving me a Google like search within my own brain! Will scientists, with the help of Savants, help unlock the full potential of our brain?
Tammet is now a famous man. He has appeared on several Television shows such as with David Letterman and 60 minutes. Together with his boyfriend Neil they began an internet-based company specializing in teaching languages, which has become extremely successful and popular with millions of hits a month.
This is a beautiful book. You will live through the author his life story from his birth to the present time, and unlike other memoirs and biographies, you will find yourself living inside his mind.
One reviewer put it this way, "Being `normal' is nothing extraordinary. Being born Daniel Tammet was truly extraordinary!"
We are all different, and must all respect and love each other. This was my last thought as I read the last sentences of this book. He says, "Everyone is said to have a perfect moment once in a while, an experience of complete peace and connection, like looking out from the top of the Eiffel Tower or watching a falling star high in the night sky...I imagine these moments as fragments or splinters scattered across a lifetime. If a person could somehow collect them all up and stick them together he would have a perfect hour or even a perfect day. And I think in that hour or day he would be closer to the mystery of what it is to be human. It would be like having a glimpse of heaven." (p. 283-284).
This book will change your outlook on life. Do yourself a favor and read this book, and you'll know the meaning of beautiful!
Book Description
Chicago Stars quarterback Dean Robillard is the luckiest man in the world: a bona-fide sports superstar and the pride of the NFL with a profitable side career as a buff billboard model for End Zone underwear. But life in the glory lane has started to pale, and Dean has set off on a cross-country trip to figure out what's gone wrong. When he hits a lonely stretch of Colorado highway, he spies something that will shake up his gilded life in ways he can't imagine. A young woman . . . dressed in a beaver suit.
Blue Bailey is on a mission to murder her ex. Or at least inflict serious damage. As for the beaver suit she's wearing . . . Is it her fault that life keeps throwing her curveballs? Witness the expensive black sports car pulling up next to her on the highway and the Greek god stepping out of it.
Blue's career as a portrait painter is the perfect job for someone who refuses to stay in one place for very long. She needs a ride, and America's most famous football player has an imposing set of wheels. Now, all she has to do is keep him entertained, off guard, and fully clothed before he figures out exactly how desperate she is.
But Dean isn't the brainless jock she imagines, and Blue—despite her petite stature—is just about the toughest woman Dean has ever met. They're soon heading for his summer home where their already complicated lives and inconvenient attraction to each other will become entangled with a charismatic but aging rock star; a beautiful fifty-two-year-old woman trying to make peace with her rock and roll past; an eleven-year-old who desperately needs a family; and a bitter old woman who hates them all.
As the summer progresses, the wandering portrait artist and the charming football star play a high-stakes game, fighting themselves and each other for a chance to have it all.
Natural Born Charmer is for everyone who's ever thought about leaving their old life in the dust and never looking back. Susan Elizabeth Phillips takes us home again . . . and shows us where love truly lives.
Customer Reviews:
One of her best..........2007-08-31
I am a fan of Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and this book did not disappoint! It was funny, and the characters were, as always, well-developed. This is one of her best books, in my opinion.
Deja Vu.......2007-08-14
I felt like I was reading Heaven, Texas, one of my fav by this author, all over again while reading this. Moreover, Heaven, Texas was a better novel then this book by far. And this is why I felt this book only deserved 3 stars by me.
There was no freshness to this story, it all seemed the same. So beware SEP fans, if you've read her other novels, you'll feel like you wasted your money if you bought the hard cover edition. However, if you've never read other works by this author, you'll enjoy this witty, love story.
Natural Born Charmer.......2007-08-12
Another 10 stars!! If I could give it that rating I would. This is the last in the series *I think* about the "Chicago Stars" football team. I just discovered SEP's series about the fictional team late last year, and promptly devoured each one. They are all on my "keeper shelves"....This story is about Blue & Dean, and in my humble opinion...it was just the perfect story to end things. Blue grew up being shuffled around, due to her mother being a peace activist & her father dying before she was born. I can certainly identify w/that nomadic existence as I had somewhat of a "gypsy" childhood myself, growing up. As for Dean, he was the bastard child of a rockstar & a groupie. Not planned or wanted & basically denied a relationship to said "dad"...which made a definite impression on Dean. He grew up to be a fantastic QB for the "Chicago Stars"...and to see what his son grew up to become, humbles the now aging rock star. I even have some elements of this story in my own life...just not w/famous people. So I enjoyed this theme. Someone not being treated the way they should/yet overcoming/and becoming better for it...is such a great story to me. Underdog wins!! Only now the underdog is now on top!! I want to tell you...the potential next buyer/reader about every juicy, incredibly satisfying detail of this book. But at the same time I don't want to ruin the fun of you discovering these rich, amazing, totally genuine people. Sometimes the characters in SEP's books are so incredible, you feel like you know them. These two fractured people find each other, entertain us, and manage to fall in love at the same time. The cast of various supporting characters were great too. Riley was my mom's favorite! Did I mention she's falling in love w/all of SEP's books too? Please buy this book!! I promise you'll love it as much as I did!!
One of her best.......2007-06-01
I love all her Chicago Stars books and think this is one of the funniest. The dialogue and interaction between Blue and Boo made me laugh out loud. I hated to finish it but will listen to this one on audio and recommend it to all my friends who are avid readers.
thanks susan - keep writing and i'll keep reading.
Trying too hard to be hip.......2007-06-01
I generally enjoy this author, but I am getting tired of the Chicago Stars football team and their stories. If you have read "It Had to Be You" or "This Heart of Mine" you might as well skip this one. It is a retread of the same formula she has used before - with a few new innovations - this time Phillips sprinkles the f-word around pretty liberally. I don't really care to read that and it is not necessary to the story or to the character development. All I can think is that her editor told her she needed to do that to appeal to a younger audience. I have been reading her books for almost 20 years. Guess I'm done now.
Product Description
Roland has incurred the wrath of the evil sorcerer Marten, and must flee his home in Gilead with two of his young friends. But arriving in the supposedly friendly town of Hambry may be no safer, for the dreaded agents of Marten are abroad The Coffin Hunters! Though its not all completely bleak as Roland meets the woman who will become the love of his young life the beautiful Susan Delgado. Plus: Learn more about the land of the Dark Tower with exclusive bonus material!
Customer Reviews:
The Dark Tower #2.......2007-09-15
I'm giving the same review to all the comics in this series. It's too bad that King's epoch is so monumental that this comic serialization represents only a miniscule slice but for an abridgement it is excellent and,in my opinion, they've chosen the best segment. The writing is good, the art work alone is worth the purchase of the series. The insightful essays following each segment were enlightening. The down side was the back-slapping, self-gratification-fest that ended each book. If I felt any need to know how talented each of the contributers felt the others in the group were I'd go on the internet and look it up. I'm paying for a book, not an awards dinner. bg
The Dark Tower Comic 2.......2007-04-24
This was such a cool idea, and the artwork is awesome, but I have one problem with it. I kind of feel slighted that these comics are telling the story of the 4th book. I know that the title is Gunslinger Born but I still really want to get more of the story. Maybe it could have discussed what happened between the events of the 4th and the 1st novel. I was hoping there would be more story to the Dark Tower world, and, as a Tower junkie, I was a little let down.
That said, however, the comic book looks awesome and I can't wait to keep reading.
Average customer rating:
- The perfect baby book
- A lovely, adoption-friendly book.
- Beautiful Book
- Fabulous!
- If you could only buy 1 book for your child, this is it!
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On the Night You Were Born
Nancy Tillman
Manufacturer: Feiwel & Friends
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0312346069
Release Date: 2006-10-17 |
Book Description
On the Night You Were Born is a beautiful and poignant celebration of the birthand worthof every child. Destined to become an enduring classic.
Customer Reviews:
The perfect baby book.......2007-10-19
My mom gave this book to my daughter right after she was born - she's now 2-1/2 and I think we've read it just about every night before bed since she received it. I love it as much as she does. The illustrations are wonderful and the words melt my heart everynight.
A lovely, adoption-friendly book........2007-09-15
I first heard this book at the Mother's Day Tea at my daughter's preschool. When I heard the title, my stomach clenched. Because my daughter is adopted, her birth is an event I had no part in. I initially thought that the selection was a little thoughtless.
I should have had more faith in my daughter's wonderful teacher. As "Miss Ro" read the book, I realized that the story was about the birth of a child is a gift to the world of nature (not to her parents and family as most books treat it). I have since given this book to other new children in my world, and consider it one of the loveliest, most magical books I have read. Every child should feel as though her/his birth has impacted the whole world, as this book suggests.
This book is an excellent addition to any pro-adoption collection.
Beautiful Book.......2007-09-11
This book is so beautifully written and the illustrations were fabulous. It is just as much for adults as it is children. Would make a great baby gift.
Fabulous!.......2007-08-23
This is a beautifully written story explaining the special significance of each child...I cried just reading the first page! I originally bought this for my newborn nephew on the recommendation of a friend and upon reading it instantly ordered several more to keep on hand for gifts.
If you could only buy 1 book for your child, this is it!.......2007-08-23
The minute I first read this book, I knew I had to get a copy for each of my children. Certainly, I would have liked to get it when they were infants, but it hadn't been written. And the feelings their entrances into my life were no less miraculous now than at their births, so I ordered a copy for each of my children, now ages 38, 39 and 40.
Average customer rating:
- Heartbreakingly funny and true for all young immigrants.
- Portrait of an Asian-American as a Young Man
- American Born Chinese
- You're not alone
- American Born Chinese - Book Review
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American Born Chinese
Gene Luen Yang , and
Gene Yang
Manufacturer: First Second
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1596431520
Release Date: 2006-09-05 |
Amazon.com
Indie graphic novelist Gene Yang's intelligent and emotionally challenging American Born Chinese is made up of three individual plotlines: the determined efforts of the Chinese folk hero Monkey King to shed his humble roots and be revered as a god; the struggles faced by Jin Wang, a lonely Asian American middle school student who would do anything to fit in with his white classmates; and the sitcom plight of Danny, an All-American teen so shamed by his Chinese cousin Chin-Kee (a purposefully painful ethnic stereotype) that he is forced to change schools. Each story works well on its own, but Yang engineers a clever convergence of these parallel tales into a powerful climax that destroys the hateful stereotype of Chin-Kee, while leaving both Jin Wang and the Monkey King satisfied and happy to be who they are.
Yang skillfully weaves these affecting, often humorous stories together to create a masterful commentary about race, identity, and self-acceptance that has earned him a spot as a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People. The artwork, rendered in a chromatically cool palette, is crisp and clear, with clean white space around center panels that sharply focuses the reader's attention in on Yang's achingly familiar characters. There isn't an adolescent alive who won't be able to relate to Jin's wish to be someone other than who he is, and his gradual realization that there is no better feeling than being comfortable in your own skin.--Jennifer Hubert
Customer Reviews:
Heartbreakingly funny and true for all young immigrants........2007-10-18
This graphic novel moved me because the story hit a nerve about how it feels to be a young immigrant who longs to belong to the new country. The stories are clever, humerous, and emotionally authentic. Highly recommended read. I want to buy copies of this book to hand out to all the Chinese-American kids who are embarrassed about their Chinese part.
Portrait of an Asian-American as a Young Man.......2007-10-10
This is the first graphic novel I've read (well, I've read many a comic book in my day, but I'm delineating here). Not a bad choice for a first time, as Gene Yang's parable of a Chinese boy in America actually begs for second and third readings. A graphic novel with multiple layers, you ask? In fact, yes.
Separated into sections that will join at the end, AMERICAN BORN CHINESE blends the ancient Chinese fable of the Monkey King with the tale of Jin Wang, the book's protagonist, who happens to be the only Chinese boy trying to fit in to his American school.
A third story, the source of over-the-top humor and under-the-belt stereotypes, chronicles the travails of a popular American high school student named Danny who is beleaguered by his Chinese-born cousin, Chin-Kee. What did Danny ever do to deserve this Eastern nightmare? Why does he have to change schools every year due to the humiliation Chin-Kee rains down on him?
The answers are unexpected but pleasing as parable, fable, and morality tale meet nicely at a place called "The End." Winner of the Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, AMERICAN BORN CHINESE is a satisfying read that can also serve as a substantive discussion piece in the classroom (Grades, say, 7 and up).
You don't have to be part of a minority in a dominant culture to enjoy it. We're ALL "outsiders" in one way or another, and Jin Wang's story will thus speak to each and every one of us.
American Born Chinese.......2007-10-09
American Born Chinese
Gene Luen Yang
Legendary fiction
American Born Chinese is an easy read in comic book form that starts as three different stories and becomes one. The first is a young American boy named Jin Wang, whose parents are Chinese. He is an outcast who does not have many friends. The second story is about his cousin Chin-Kee who lives in China and visits Jin once a year. He is the exaggerated Chinese stereotype: eating cats and peeing in cokes. The third is an old Chinese myth about the monkey king. The monkey king has been embarrassed and tries to be someone he is not.
The legend's moral is: be true to yourself and kind to others. This relates to my life because sometimes at school someone feels they are not liked by a group of people. They will try and become someone they are not to fit in. They will even act mean to others who are not popular. The book points out that to transform like this costs you your soul.
I like the author's writing style because it is different and fun to read. It caught my interest quickly and the pictures gave me a better understanding of the story. I think that in this comic book style of writing the author can better express himself than in any of the more formal writing styles.
I enjoyed this book because it reminds me that I should not be anything but myself. I liked the illustrations because they were very inventive. One of my favorite parts was when the little monkey was wearing the shoes on his ears. I would highly recommend this book to people who like mythology, who like comics, and who love monkeys.
You're not alone.......2007-10-05
A great story for any child (or anyone) feeling alone in a strange and alien world. We've all been in the same situation at some point in our life. We are all different yet not so different.
American Born Chinese - Book Review.......2007-09-21
This book is a book of three tales about a child (Jin Wang), a Monkey King, and a visiting cousin from Japan. During the first part of the of the book you can see that in a new place, times can be difficult. People chose to be stereotypical and treat Jin Way and his friend Wei-Chin Sun like outcasts. The monkey king learns many disciplines over time, making himself become practically invincible. Danny is a normal boy visited by his cousin who starts to ruin Danny's life. As you can see this book is a thrilling graphic novel that will take through the experiences of stereotypes and problems of people and things from another place.
Written by: Austin, Neil, Pascal, Chandler (High Tech Middle Media Arts students)
Book Description
Lively...illuminating. A refreshing example of scholarly detective work.--Kirkus Reviews
Customer Reviews:
Born in Blood - is there any name more suitable?.......2007-10-17
First off - there is a wealth of information here for anyone searching for answers about The Knights Templar. Before reading this book I read "The Knights Templar: The History and Myths of the Legendary Military Order" by Sean Martin. This was a good starting point and a factual book that you can reference to time and time again.
Regarding Born in Blood - I learned a great deal about the Templar's, but also of King Philip of France, Pope Clement V, the Church, different kingdoms and their deceitful way of handling certain matters. If you were a man of power at that time, it seems there were so many factors to take into consideration. Everywhere you looked - someone had intentions of taking over a throne/kingdom (making malicious power plays) etc. There was a never-ending story of people in high places looking to conspire, and scheme against their enemies (and their friends) to achieve specific goals at ANY cost. But, what's great about this book is that the author is very easy to follow, hence, you see these evil plots unravel right before your eyes. NOTE: something can be learned (in a business sense & life in general) from reading these malevolent schemes, for "History always repeats itself".
I found many fascinating facts in this novel like the Papacy's voracious thirst for money, land, political connections, and above all POWER. I have come to realize the Church (just like any other organization) has had their fair share of a dirty past riddled with bodies, and covered in bloodshed. On more than one occasion, you had 2 popes ruling in the same timeframe with both popes conspiring to cause the downfall of the other. I never knew the church had this kind of history...I will definitely be reading more about the ancient "evil papacy" in the months to come.
Then we cover the 2nd part of the book about the Freemasons, their origin, and their behind the scenes life right up to where the book touches on modern day Freemasonry. John J. makes a very believable argument that the Templar organization (so rich, powerful, and politically connected) could reach the goal of: escaping persecution, set forth underground, start a new association and survive for centuries to come. You also read about the "cover-up origin" of Freemasonry and their machinations behind it all. You see their early dealings, and how they came to light. There is also some discussion of a few famous figures of America's early history as well.
Through the trials, and tribulations of this book, you realize that the desire for MORE money and MORE power can never be harnessed. There is NEVER enough for figures of authority, and it is virtually their undoing. I think John J. Robinson is a good author with a very clear writing style. He makes the book enjoyable, and I think he made a very good connection between the 2 organizations (he has made me a believer). This book has also made me very interested in the medieval era. I plan on purchasing a few more books based on the same time period.
Following a trail.......2007-06-27
Scholars doing research on a subject often uncover information the leads to a different path. Most scholars will ignore that information to finish the work they started, but other scholars follow that path to see where it leads. Thus it was for John Robinson, the author of "Born In Blood".
Mr. Robinson doing research about the Peasants' Revolt in England in 1381 uncovered information about the Knights Templar and subsequently their connection with the Freemasons.
Mr. Robinson, who is not a Freemason, took the information he gathered and presented it in a well written book. The facts uncovered and the conclusions reached will get both Masons and non-masons to look at the world's oldest and largest fraternity in a new, more positive, light.
GREAT.......2007-04-10
I am pleased to read another book that is not set to trash history makers but instead to make some sense out of the ignorance of many for the benefit of a true free society.
A Fascinating Read, But............2007-03-18
I have read and re-read this work a couple of times. Robinson writes a fascinating account of the Knights Templar and what may have happened to them after the Order was suppressed. As has been noted in most of the previous reviews, the author writes a good story. My gripe with it, and I say this both as a Master Mason and also as one who majored in History and minored in Bio Sciences in college, where are the footnotes? The references, the research notes to back up his statements? Without this supporting evidence that can be checked by other researchers, the work borders on being largely just speculation. I realize that much of the history of Freemasonry was never written down, and thus opens it up to a lot of speculation about its possible origins. A more recent work, The Secret History of Freemasonry, may actually be closer to the truth of the matter in that the Templars were patrons and financial backers of much of the great cathedrals and fortifications built during the two hundred years of their existence. And thus they would have had extensive connections to the operative masons who built these structures, and some of the refugee knights might have sought refuge within the stone mason guilds. Paul Naudon, the author of this work, backs up his work with numerous references -- something that unfortunately Robinson, now deceased, failed to do. So enjoy Born in Blood, but take it with a grain of salt.
A most plausible view of history.......2007-02-11
Maosn's, of which I am one, have an enigmatic past. In 1717 the United Grand Lodges of England (UGLE) suddenly appeared. Yet Masonic Lodges had existed for a long time. Why go so public that year?
John Robbinson set out to answer a simple question. How could the English Peasant's Revolt of 1318 been so well coordinated and executed in an era parish laws, illiteracy, and servitude? It took him, quite by chance from that revolt to Freemasonry. This book is well researched and well thought out. What he does, and what I find most fascinating, is to use the language of the Knights Templar- French, to support his thesis. Certain words recording in the reports of the uprising are generally ignored because when thought of as English, had no meaning.
His conclusion is fascinating and in a much better class historical writing than Holy Blood Holy Grail. A good read. It could serve as outline for a great epic movie.
While I do not subsribe to the Templar - Masonic School of origins, I do believe that he is correct on the Templar-Peasant Revolt connection.
(I prefer the enlightment - civil society school of thought: see books by Margaret Jacobs Ph.D) .
Product Description
"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed." With those words, millions of readers were introduced to Stephen King's Roland -- an implacable gunslinger in search of the enigmatic Dark Tower, powering his way through a dangerous land filled with ancient technology and deadly magic. Now, in a comic book personally overseen by King himself, Roland's past is revealed! Sumptuously drawn by Jae Lee and Richard Isanove, adapted by long-time Stephen King expert Robin Furth (author of Stephen King's The Dark Tower: A Concordance) and scripted by New York Times Best-seller Peter David, this series delves deep into Roland's origins -- the perfect introduction to this incredibly realized world, while long-time fans will thrill to adventures merely hinted at in the novels. Be there for the very beginning of a modern classic of fantasy literature!
Customer Reviews:
The Dark Tower #1.......2007-09-15
I'm giving the same review to all the comics in this series. It's too bad that King's epoch is so monumental that this comic serialization represents only a miniscule slice but for an abridgement it is excellent and,in my opinion, they've chosen the best segment. The writing is good, the art work alone is worth the purchase of the series. The insightful essays following each segment were enlightening. The down side was the back-slapping, self-gratification-fest that ended each book. If I felt any need to know how talented each of the contributers felt the others in the group were I'd go on the internet and look it up. I'm paying for a book, not an awards dinner. bg
Ka is the wind.......2007-09-09
"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."
Those words opened the first book of Stephen King's "Dark Tower" series, and they open the chilling, richly-drawn "Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born." This opening comic introduces a younger, less cynical Roland, and the harrowing tale of how he became a true gunslinger.
It opens with the gunslinger and the man in black, endlessly pursuing and pursued across the desert, and introduces us to their timeless natures.
Then the comic takes us back many years, to when Roland of Gilead was a teenage boy learning how to be a warrior. He and a bunch of other boys are being tutored by Cort, a bondsman who knows all the fighting tricks, and is supposed to teach them to be gunslingers -- or be exiled forever.
But during his training, he accidentally stumbles on his mother Gabrielle, naked in the wizard Marten's bed. Enraged, Roland goes to Cort and challenges him, taking the ultimate risk so he can become a gunslinger... but it's a lethal battle that will take a terrible sacrifice to win.
"Gunslinger Born" is basically adapted from the flashbacks from Stephen King's "Wizard and Glass," so fans of the book will probably already be acquainted with the tragic story of Roland's past. But it's almost as striking in comic form as in book form.
Part of that comes from Jae Lee and Richard Isanove. A lot of adaptations fall flat ("Anita Blake", anyone?), but their detailed artwork gives vibrant life to the story -- sun-dried fields, ruined buildings, ominously darkened chambers, and faces that seem to be riddled with shadows. There are moments of beauty (the last pages) and others of pure ugliness like Roland's fight with Cort.
But artwork alone doesn't make a comic book good. Robin Furth and Peter David recrafted King's prose for this -- the dialogue is spare and understated, while the narration has an ironic, regretful quality, as if Roland himself were telling the readers of his story. It's even peppered with the language of this postapocalyptic world ("... set your watch and warrant on it.")
And we get to see Roland back when he was a brash young teenager, very different from the grizzled gunslinger at the start. He's strong, brave and honorable, but also very young and impatient. And we get to see other characters from his past -- his careworn father, the malignant Marten, his childhood friends, and his junkieish mother.
The first part of the "Gunslinger Born" comic series is a dark, ominous experience, and a haunting look at this classic anti-hero's past.
amazing.......2007-08-28
the artwork in this comic is amazing. I am really impressed and plan to buy all of them for a collection.
Highly satisfying.......2007-08-23
Any fan of the DARK TOWER epic should add these wonderfully written and illustrated comics to their collection. I can't wait for the next release....
Wow.......2007-06-13
I collected comics as a teenager, and ten years later the reason I am back into it is because of this series! I read the Dark Tower books last year and LOVED it. If you haven't read the 7 novel series, do it! Now!
This comic is EXTREMELY well done. It's obvious those involved really care about this story. The artwork is beautiful. While I do appreciate the background and art sketches they give towards the end of each comic, I would definitely enjoy having more pages devoted to the actual story while keeping all the additional material. If you like the Dark Tower and comics, this is something you will love.
Book Description
Dan Millman presents an entirely new way of understanding life and the forces that shape it. The Life-Purpose System, a modern method of personal growth based on ancient wisdom, had helped thousands of people find new meaning, purpose, and direction in their lives. The Life You Were Born to Live features
the thirty-seven paths of life,
how to determine your life path and the life paths of others,
core issues, inborn talents, and special needs of each path, including health, money, and sexuality,
guidelines for finding a career consistent with your innate drives and abilities,
the hidden dynamics of your relationships,
how to live in harmony with the cycles of life. The Life-Purpose System explores key spiritual lawsuniversal principles specific to each life paththat help you clarify the past, understand the present, and shape the future. It can generate a quantum leap in self-understanding and may even change the course of your life.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting Insights.......2007-10-09
Being a lost soul in the sense that I have no idea what to do with my life, Dan Millman gives some insight into what drives my ambitions, interests, strengths and weaknesses. This is a very interesting book that should be shared with friends and family, not necessarily as a roadmap for one's life, but as a guide to seeing what your life (and others like you) could be. It is also great as a spooky "hey, check this out" item to use with your pals.
Very helpful resource.......2007-10-02
I have used this book for years as an resource for developing great questions for couples who are working through issues or considering marriage - a great conversation starter. I have shared this book with a number of counselor friends in several areas and think it is a source that is helpful for those who think mathematically and for those who think figuratively. Millman guides folks in a way that can open up even more possibilities and when folks are "stuck" with a problem to solve or a life issue to resolve some new thinking modes are helpful and often productive. I think overall folks think it is a fun mode of self exploration.
Great Numerology System.......2007-08-09
I had this as required reading for my Reiki classes and it was Great. Enough said.
Awesome book!.......2007-01-12
Dan Millman has done it again! His common sense approach to living life on life's terms is demonstrated again in this enlightening book, plus a personal look at my life (and yours) and how to make the most of it. His detailed description of the life I was meant to live spoke to me about what I came here to learn, where I am in the spectrum of learning it, and what tools I can use to go further, all in a down-to-earth, non-judgmental way. Some of my friends also enjoyed hearing about their lives, and we could see that much of what was in the book was a true description of the traits of each other. I'd highly recommend this book.
So accurate it's scary.......2007-01-10
This book is fabulous!! It so accurately describes your personality based on the date of your birth. It tells you the positive aspects of your personality, as well as parts that you need to work on to live a happy life. everyone that sees this book is surprised that it so accurately describes them. more than one person has tried to steal this book from me, so i have given out several copies as gifts. and the are such a hit!
Average customer rating:
- Lovely!
- Magical!
- Wonderful gift for first time parents!
- On The Day You Were Born
- Book is AMAZING, CD is so-so
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On the Day You Were Born
Debra Frasier
Manufacturer: Harcourt Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Similar Items:
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On the Night You Were Born
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The Twelve Gifts of Birth
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Goodnight Moon
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Out of the Ocean
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Guess How Much I Love You
ASIN: 0152579958 |
Amazon.com
Inspired by Debra Frasier's enormously popular On the Day You Were Born, this charming photo journal invites families to celebrate the arrival of their loved one into the natural world. A star-spangled blue sky, crossed by a swath of sunshine yellow with gold birds, introduces the reader to "the very first day you arrived." Baby's picture and name go right in the middle of all the cheery yellow. Turn the page: "You were born on the round planet Earth. Was it day, or was it night?" is printed with another space for a picture and a line to write the date and time of birth against the backdrop of more starry sky with that old blue and green globe plopped in the middle and a figure of a child frolicking across the ocean. On another page, the jubilant child dances across a beach: "On the day you were born waves washed the beaches clean for your footprints. How little were your fingers? How tiny were your toes?"
By adding eight photographs and filling in a few details, parents can create a very special journal for their child, rejoicing together in all the natural wonders of the universe. Here is an ideal gift for the new parents with a vibrant connection to nature. --Emilie Coulter
Book Description
In simple words and radiant collages, Debra Frasier celebrates the natural miracles of the earth and extends an exuberant welcome to each member of our human family. Accompanied by a detailed glossary explaining such natural phenomena as gravity, tides, and migration, this is an unforgettable book. “A book filled with reverence for the natural order of the world and the place of the individual in it.”--School Library Journal
Customer Reviews:
Lovely!.......2007-09-05
I got this book because it was on sale and I am so glad that I did. Seeing it now I would definitely pay full price for it.
It is well-made, adorable, and will make a great keepsake to share with our son.
Magical! .......2007-09-03
This is a book I've given as a birthday gift many times - to new arrivals and those celebrating more birthdays as well. The text is simple yet beautiful and the illustrations provide a warm, magical layer of feeling when reading this book. Highly recommended.
Wonderful gift for first time parents!.......2007-08-31
I received this book from a good friend when my baby boy was born (our first). I thought the poetry of birth and the natural world was amazing. And the ending where a circle of loved ones welcomed the new baby whispering "We're so glad you've come," reminded me of all the love our family and friends showed our new baby. I can't read it without tearing up. It's a wonderful reminder that all life is sacred and beautiful.
While the art is tribal, not fluffy, and some of the language is advanced for a developing child, I still love this book. Not every board book should be pastels and one syllable words. But I hope this book will be a keepsake that we can read together and remember what a miracle it was that he was born. I want to foster in him the spirit of this book... that all life is connected and we need to try to live in balance with the environment that sustains our lives.
On The Day You Were Born.......2007-07-27
This is a wonderful book to give to any new child or to the grandparent of a new child. I was given one for our new grandson and immediately bought three to give as gifts. The book is something that can become a family tradition to be read on each child's birthday!
Book is AMAZING, CD is so-so.......2007-05-15
I bought this for my son before he was born, and I read it to him all the time - and never with a dry eye! I always buy it as a baby gift for anyone I know who's having a baby of their own. However, unless you find this set for a good price, I might just get the book. My husband calls the CD "hippie music" and he's right - the music is a little, um, groovy and repetitive. Though if you have a sappy friend, get it - books like this and the Giving Tree always make me cry, and if I can have the CD finish the story for me when I get choked up, so much the better.
Product Description
Young Roland Deschain and friends have fled for the city of Hambry, as their home in Gilead is now too dangerous. But, once there, Roland learns to his horror that he is no safer. Hambry's leaders have switched allegiance and the assassins known as the Big Coffin Hunters have marked Roland and company for death! Plus articles and bonus features galore!
In this comic book series, personally overseen by King himself, Roland's past is revealed! Sumptuously drawn by Jae Lee and Richard Isanove, adapted by long-time Stephen King expert Robin Furth (author of Stephen King's The Dark Tower: A Concordance) and scripted by New York Times Best-seller Peter David, this series delves deep into Roland's origins -- the perfect introduction to this incredibly realized world, while long-time fans will thrill to adventures merely hinted at in the novels.
Customer Reviews:
King's Tower #3.......2007-09-15
I'm giving the same review to all the comics in this series. It's too bad that King's epoch is so monumental that this comic serialization represents only a miniscule slice but for an abridgement it is excellent and,in my opinion, they've chosen the best segment. The writing is good, the art work alone is worth the purchase of the series. The insightful essays following each segment were enlightening. The down side was the back-slapping, self-gratification-fest that ended each book. If I felt any need to know how talented each of the contributers felt the others in the group were I'd go on the internet and look it up. I'm paying for a book, not an awards dinner. bg
The Gunslinger Born 3.......2007-04-27
Great story
Great art work
Cool conversation with King at the end...get this one if you've got the others.
Books:
- Breaking Through
- Breaking Through
- Capitalism and Slavery
- Chinese American Voices: From the Gold Rush to the Present
- Colored People: A Memoir
- Coming of Age in Mississippi
- Crime Novels: American Noir of the 1950s: The Killer Inside Me / The Talented Mr. Ripley / Pick-up / Down There / The Real Cool Killers (Library of America)
- Days of Grace
- Depression: A Stubborn Darkness--Light for the Path (VantagePoint Books)
- Douglas A-1 Skyraider: A Photo Chronicle
Books Index
Books Home
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- Myself and Strangers: A Memoir of Apprenticeship
- Biological Management of Soil Ecosystems for Sustainable Agriculture
Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
Infidel
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A Thousand Splendid Suns
