From Amazon.co.uk
Just as we trace our personal family trees from parents to grandparents and so on back in time, so in The Ancestor's Tale Richard Dawkins traces the ancestry of life. As he is at pains to point out, this is very much our human tale, our ancestry. Surprisingly, it is one that many otherwise literate people are largely unaware of. Hopefully Dawkins's name and well deserved reputation as a best selling writer will introduce them to this wonderful saga.
The Ancestor's Tale takes us from our immediate human ancestors back through what he calls `concestors,' those shared with the apes, monkeys and other mammals and other vertebrates and beyond to the dim and distant microbial beginnings of life some 4 billion years ago. It is a remarkable story which is still very much in the process of being uncovered. And, of course from a scientist of Dawkins stature and reputation we get an insider's knowledge of the most up-to-date science and many of those involved in the research. And, as we have come to expect of Dawkins, it is told with a passionate commitment to scientific veracity and a nose for a good story. Dawkins's knowledge of the vast and wonderful sweep of life's diversity is admirable. Not only does it encompass the most interesting living representatives of so many groups of organisms but also the important and informative fossil ones, many of which have only been found in recent years.
Dawkins sees his journey with its reverse chronology as `cast in the form of an epic pilgrimage from the present to the past [and] all roads lead to the origin of life.' It is, to my mind, a sensible and perfectly acceptable approach although some might complain about going against the grain of evolution. The great benefit for the general reader is that it begins with the more familiar present and the animals nearest and dearest to us—our immediate human ancestors. And then it delves back into the more remote and less familiar past with its droves of lesser known and extinct fossil forms. The whole pilgrimage is divided into 40 tales, each based around a group of organisms and discusses their role in the overall story. Genetic, morphological and fossil evidence is all taken into account and illustrated with a wealth of photos and drawings of living and fossils forms, evolutionary and distributional charts and maps through time, providing a visual compliment and complement to the text. The design also allows Dawkins to make numerous running comments and characteristic asides. There are also numerous references and a good index.-- Douglas Palmer
Book Description
With unparalleled wit, clarity, and intelligence, Richard Dawkins, one of the world's most renowned evolutionary biologists, has introduced countless readers to the wonders of science in works such as The Selfish Gene. Now, in The Ancestor's Tale, Dawkins offers a masterwork: an exhilarating reverse tour through evolution, from present-day humans back to the microbial beginnings of life four billion years ago. Throughout the journey Dawkins spins entertaining, insightful stories and sheds light on topics such as speciation, sexual selection, and extinction. The Ancestor's Tale is at once an essential education in evolutionary theory and a riveting read.
Customer Reviews:
great lesson in evolution.......2007-10-22
This is a great explanation of literally EVERY species on the planet, and how they all evolved, and which groups branched off from where. It's over 600 pages, and it's a VERY technical book - very detailed. I will need to read thru a couple more times to be able to remember the depth of information presented.
In the beginning..........2007-10-05
Over 600 pages, Dawkins traces back our genetic past from human down to Eubacteria. It is a fascinating look at where branches of life broke off onto their own path, and how it all fits together. Rarely dry, Dawkins gives plenty of anecdotes and explanations that make the entire thing very easy to understand. This book is for anyone wanting to know a lot more about Evolution, beyond theory.
Walking backwards towards the whole picture, holes included.......2007-10-02
Dawkins is one of the best non-fiction writers today, whether you always agree with him or not. Here he attempts to give a complete overview of the current state of the science of evolution and evolutionary history. It is sometimes a challenging read, and sometimes the storytelling device of the 'tales' structure makes it even a little confusing.
He does not shy away from pointing out disagreements among scientists and holes in our status of knowledge. Expecting this knowledge to be complete would be misunderstanding the process of science. Claiming that incompleteness means that everything is still out in the open is also false, though of course it remains true that everything is true only until it has been proven untrue...
The book is so large and so much exposed to the changes brought out by current research that one fears the soon to become necessary revision may take up so much of Dawkins' time that he will not be able to write much else in future. Which would be a pity, we need him him for the debates with IDists and creationists.
Evolution Looking Backward.......2007-09-24
I found this an exciting book that was hard to put down, which I cannot often say about a 600-page serious work of scientific reportage. It is even better than Fortey's excellent Natural History of the First Four Billion Years of Life on Earth (1997), which I enjoyed immensely several years ago and still refer to. I believe that The Ancestor's Tale is the first systematic description of our ancestry for the general reader that fully incorporates the results of molecular dating and genetic biology's study of the genome of multiple species. Also, Dawkins is very readable. In this book, he adopts the style of The Canterbury Tales in a journey beginning in the present and moving backward in stages to humanity's common ancestors ("concestors") with other life forms, as each of our more distant cousin forms of life join the journey. After a discussion of early hominids, our closest cousins, the chimpanzees, join about 6 million years ago (mya), and we move on in ever longer jumps as the primates have all joined us by about 63 mya, cats and dogs around 85 mya, birds and reptiles at 330 mya, fish about 440 mya, insects and spiders at 590 mya, sponges at 800 mya, plants at almost 2,000 mya, and on to the first bacteria around 4,000 mya. In all, 39 concestor points are discussed, and at each there are one or more tales to be told by a species in the group. These tales are not just descriptive, but each illustrates some aspect of the science, whether gene splitting, fossil dating, isolation, continental drift, evolution of the eye, etc., etc. The journey finally arrives at "Canterbury," which is the origin of life/heredity. Uncertainties and issues still to be resolved are fully discussed.
A Beguiling Trek Through The Taxonomy And History Of Life That's Led By Richard Dawkins.......2007-09-14
"The Ancestor's Tale: A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution" is a beguiling literary trek through the taxonomy and history of life on Planet Earth; one that's led with ample eloquence by eminent evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. In this vast tome Dawkins has crafted what is indeed the popular scientific equivalent of Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", taking us along a long journey back to the dawn of life itself, approximately 4 billion years ago, via a molecular phylogeny designed by his former undergraduate student Yan Wong. But it's a long, long trek that's quite unlikely to be viewed as tedious by the reader. Here, Dawkins is truly at his most expansive, using this taxonomy to discuss the compelling issues of contemporary evolutionary theory and history, in which he covers everything from genetics, speciation, convergent evolution and mass extinctions to microevolution, sexual selection, biogeography, and the relevance of plate tectonics to past and current biogeographic distributions of organisms. Relying on Wong's intricate molecular phylogeny, Dawkins takes us along to forty branching points - previous geological moments - in that phylogeny, where we meet the "concestor" - the last common ancestor - of all organisms at that very point. It is a quite compelling, often insightful, narrative that Dawkins admits does owe much to Chaucer's legendary "The Canterbury Tales".
Dawkins doesn't hesitate to interrupt the relentless ebb and flow of his narrative in a series of individual "tales", that are designed illustrate some unique trait of a given species, and then, by mere extension, serve as the jumping off point(s) for riveting discussions on some aspect(s) of modern evolutionary biology. A classic example is the section that he devotes to the sauropsids, which consists of lizard-like and dinosaur-like (archosaurs, including birds) reptiles in the chapter entitled "Rendezvous 16". In the first of these tales, "The Galapagos Finch's Tale", Dawkins recounts the decades-long fieldwork of ecologists Peter and Rosemary Grant who have been studying microevolution in the Galapagos Finches. He focuses upon the aftermath of a severe drought in 1977 that led inevitably to sharp declines in the populations of several species, observing that those individuals in the dominant species, Geospiza fortis, who were only 5 percent larger than their peers, were the ones who survived; a classic example of "a small episode of natural selection in action, during a single year." Within the same species, the Grants and their coworkers observed selection pressures resulting not only in larger body size, but also in larger beak size too. In the chapter's next tale, "The Peacock's Tale", Dawkins emphasizes the importance of sexual selection, arguing persuasively that it may have had a role in shaping the course of human evolution, perhaps via preferential selection of females for "smarter" males. That is followed, in turn, by "The Dodo's Tale", in which Dawkins discusses not only the Dodo's extinction, but also the tendency towards flightlessness in bird species inhabiting remote oceanic islands.
While Dawkins has crafted a most compelling narrative in this vast book, "The Ancestor's Tale: A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution", is far from perfect, especially in its depiction of the fossil record. Much to my amazement, he doesn't discuss the existence of long-term stasis in the fossil record, predicted by the theory of punctuated equilibria, which has been substantiated by decades of extensive fieldwork by paleobiologists, ever since the publication of the classic 1972 paper coauthored by noted American paleobiologists Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould (This is a rather peculiar omission since Dawkins has been a staunch critic of punctuated equilibria.). Nor does he discuss, except only in passing, the diverse, radical differences in the compositions of marine faunas during, respectively, the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras, which have been noted for decades due to excellent fieldwork, and more recently, by excellent statistical modeling done by paleontologist Jack Sepkoski and his colleagues at the University of Chicago. And he also misses the important history of predator-prey interactions that form much of coevolution, which has been discussed admirably elsewehere by noted marine ecologist Geerat Vermeij. But, in retrospect, my criticisms of Dawkins' omissions are relatively minor, simply because he has accomplished successfully, the arduous task of making both the taxonomy and history of life a most beguiling tale. Without question, "The Ancestor's Tale: A Pilgrimage to the Dawn of Evolution", should be regarded for a long time as one of the classics of popular evolutionary biology literature.
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- The Really Fun Family Haggadah
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The Really Fun Family Haggadah
Larry Stein
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My Very Own Haggadah
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A Night of Questions: A Passover Haggadah
ASIN: 0966991001 |
Book Description
Useful for both parents and children, this guide to the seder service provides all the Hebrew parts that families desire combined with English text for those needing help in translation. Two versions of the Passover story-one for adults and a brief one for children-are provided. In addition to all of the seder's 14 steps, this Haggadah provides explanations of the Passover traditions, as well as fun multiple-choice questions so families can understand the service better and gain a greater appreciation for its purpose and meaning. Many of the features are designed to encourage discussion among family members, both young and old, which is an important part of the Passover experience.
Customer Reviews:
Disappointing .......2007-03-20
I've been searching for a way to make the seder more engaging and fun for kids -- and I mean little kids, like from toddlerhood until adolescence. For them (and for many adults) the hour or two until dinner is just plain boring -- a whole lot of talking with a smattering of songs, but not really fun songs (think Wiggles). This book had a promising title, good reviews and a colorful cover, but it just doesn't live up to its name. Like so many other "fun" or "family friendly" haggadot, its answer to the boredom is more talking: discussion topics, interesting facts and history, quizzes, etc. Those are all well and good for adults and older kids, but for the wee ones it just makes it drag on longer. It's not particularly well illustrated either -- not in a way that would engage small children while the adults drone on for what seems like an eternity. Young children need physical stimulation (songs with choreographed hand movements they can learn, for instance) and broader and more energetic interactions. In defense of this book, I haven't found an actually really fun haggadah yet and I've been searching for a couple years. Maybe it doesn't exist and I need to make up my own.
The Really Fun Family Haggadah.......2000-04-03
We read the Haggadah over and we think this will be the best year for your seder yet. My childern are 8 and 5. The older one reads hebrew the younger is able to sing the songs. We are looking forward to sharing this new family tradition with extened family and friends.
Customer Reviews:
A great read!.......2007-03-12
I remember seeing this book in my grandparents' home back in the '50's. Always thought it was about Plymouth Rock until I started attending church and found out it was an allegory on the Christian's walk with Christ. I really like the language of this particular book as it makes clear the different stages of the Christian walk. I was not aware of the second part about Christiana, which was thoroughly enjoyable as well. Definitely a keeper.
Please read Bunyan's version, not this one.......2007-03-09
John Bunyan's language is really not in the least bit difficult to understand. His The Pilgrim's Progress IS in "Moden English," so it very misleading to say that you can translate them into "Modern English"; they can only be paraphrased. It's bad enough when people read re-written Shakespeare (ok, awful, in my opinion), but at least they have the excuse that Shakespeare can be difficult. If you're going to take the time to read the whole thing, and not simply a summary, why not read what Bunyan actually wrote? Look at his opening, for example:
"As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I lighted on a certain place, where was a Den. And I laid me down in that place to sleep: And as I slept I dreamed a Dream. I dreamed, and behold I saw a Man clothed with Rags, standing in a certain place..."
As you can see already, his style is unique, but not at all difficult to understand, and certainly easier than the King James Bible for example. Anyone capable of reading the whole length of the Pilgrim's Progress should have very little trouble with it, so what need is there for a substitute? Please read the real thing, preferably with the original spelling and punctuation (though you can surely find modernized versions that still preserve the original diction, if you prefer)! I promise you'll thank me for it later.
My English Teacher's Attempt to Force Christianity Upon Us.......2007-02-12
This is one of the worst books I've ever read in my life. The plot is boring and horribly predictable, the characters are flat, and the story is wholy uninspiring. I've read much better devotional books than this so-called "literature." If you want to be inspired, go read the actual Bible; don't settle for an imitation.
Great Bible Tool.......2007-01-04
Great to use as a supplement to the Bible. It helps to amplify God's Word in a real world practical way.
Not what is depicted with the cover view.......2006-08-17
In searching for this title I found there were 60+ versions out there so I had to rely on both editor and cover pictorials to determine the one I was seeking (which was modern English, full page pictorials, and covering both Christian's and Christiana's journeys). Since I had the one I wanted in hand, I put a lot of faith in the cover visual. What I got was as version without full page pictures, small print and in the older dialect. From what other pilgrims have told me, the modern English version is essential in understanding this work. I donated it to the local library in hopes it will still do good.
Book Description
Jitterbug Perfume is an epic. which is to say, it begins in the forests of ancient Bohemia and doesn't conclude until nine o'clock tonight [Paris time]. It is a saga, as well. A saga must have a hero, and the hero of this one is a janitor with a missing bottle. The bottle is blue, very, very old, and embossed with the image of a goat-horned god. If the liquid in the bottle is actually is the secret essence of the universe, as some folks seem to think, it had better be discovered soon becaused it is leaking and there is only a drop of two left.
Download Description
Jitterbug Perfume is an epic. which is to say, it begins in the forests of ancient Bohemia and doesn't conclude until nine o'clock tonight [Paris time]. It is a saga, as well. A saga must have a hero, and the hero of this one is a janitor with a missing bottle. The bottle is blue, very, very old, and embossed with the image of a goat-horned god. If the liquid in the bottle is actually is the secret essence of the universe, as some folks seem to think, it had better be discovered soon becaused it is leaking and there is only a drop of two left.
Customer Reviews:
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-25
An amusing book. Seems to also explain why American sugar/sweetening tastes worse in coke, etc., the use of beets instead of proper sugar cane!
Anyway, lots of silliness and erotic cravings for sensual indulgence, some shagging and a bit of running around by the god Pan. Not too bad.
One of the greatest modern American writers.......2007-09-18
Still Life With Woodpecker is my favorite Robbins, and this is a close second. If you like the English language at all and if you have any sort of imagination, you simply have to love this guy.
He spins words in dizzying patterns, pulling thoughts and concepts and connections out of thin air like a literary magician. Even when he misses his mark you've got to give him credit for his daring. Not afraid to digress down endless allies of goofiness, Robbins occasionally finds the light at the end of the tunnel and is thrilling at those moments.
The rest of the time his polymath mind teaches you all sorts of things about all sorts of things, while keeping a smile on your face. I still recall this book when I eat beets, even 20 years later.
There's some very real genius in parts of Jitterbug Perfume.
This book will make you think in ways you have never thought before, and learn about your mind in the process; what more can you ask of art?
MUY ULTIMO, DUDE !.......2007-07-16
WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE MOST FASCINATING BOOK THAT I HAVE EVER READ.
BE PREPARED FOR ADVENTURE. COMING FROM THE WORLDS BIGGEST VONNEGUT
FAN, THATS SAYING A LOT. PLEASE DO NOT MISS THIS ONE.
GENE ADDINGTON
Tom Robbins at his BEST........2007-06-23
I am a die hard Tom Robbins fan and this is his best work and my all time favorite book. I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone. Right now I'm re-reading it for the fourth time, its a great story to revisit every once in a while.
Sweeping, Dynamic and Entertaining.......2007-04-28
Tom Robbins shows in "Jitterbug Perfume" that he is the master of language and not afraid to play with the English language. His similes and metaphors are always good for a laugh or gape of awe . .
This book tells the story of a perfume bottle, a man who started as king, became a peasant, then a wanderer and finally an immortal and his journeys, the decline and death of Pan, and various perfumers who are seeking the ultimate fragrance. And let's not forget the unwritten hero of the book - the glorious beet!
The book is full of twists and turns, mostly created by Robbins' creative use of the English language - he bends rules into all sorts of interesting shape. If you are a fan of Robbins, a fan of epic stories, or even a fan of books that are a bit different, you will LOVE this one! Don't miss it!
Book Description
One of the greatest and most ambitious works in English literature, The Canterbury Tales depicts a storytelling competition between pilgrims drawn from all ranks of society.
The tales are as various as the pilgrims themselves, encompassing comedy, pathos, tragedy, and cynicism. The Miller and the Reeve express their mutual antagonism in a pair of comic stories combining sex and trickery; in "The Shipman's Tale," a wife sells her favors to a monk. Others draw on courtly romance and fantasy: the Knight tells of rivals competing for the love of the same woman, and the Squire describes a princess who can speak to birds. In these twenty-four tales, Chaucer displays a dazzling range of literary styles and conjures up a wonderfully vivid picture of medieval life.
Customer Reviews:
A perfect edition.......2007-02-26
This is an unbelievably great edition of The Canterbury Tales. All I wanted was the original, complete version with definitions for archaic words. But the Penguin Classics edition was all I could find, so I got it. It comes with over 500 pages of extras!!! Super-detailed notes, a great glossary, and lots on Chaucer, his times, literary genres, etc., etc. Multiple interpretations are given for parts scholars don't agree on. I can't believe I paid $80 for the Riverside Chaucer in college! ...which I later sold back for much less. This edition blew me away, and it's relatively cheap.
If you haven't read Chaucer and want to read him in old English, it's tough at first, but it gets easier with practice. There are long tales, short tales, noble tales, bawdy tales, etc. If you just want to read a few, there are cheaper paperbacks with just a few. If you want the complete tales but not the essays and things, they exist, but they're more expensive than this edition!
Chaucer Was a Sly Fox.......2007-02-12
Chacuer's Tales have lived on because they address the human condition with keen insight, humor and honesty. Walking to Canterbury by Jerry Ellis is a highly recommended read for those who want to follow the author on a fun walking adventure along the route of the Canterbury Tales. It is easy reading and filled with heart, humor and amazing little known facts about the Middle Ages.
Great inexpensive complete edition of Chaucer.......2006-10-24
Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales (Original-Spelling Edition). Edited by Jill Mann. Penguin Classics, 2005. ISBN 014042234X.
The Canterbury Tales itself needs no review, as Chaucer is universally acknowledged to be the greatest English poet after Shakespeare and Milton. As Chaucer's Prologue explains, the Tales are stories told by pilgrims en route to Canterbury. They range from tales of courtly love to bawdy farce to fable. Chaucer is a storyteller, and it might surprise some modern people just how entertaining a seven-hundred-year-old collection of stories might be.
Unfortunately, the English language has changed since Chaucer's time, making it difficult for modern English readers to enjoy the Canterbury Tales without a bit of work. Chaucer wrote in a dialect of Middle English (ME) which is a direct ancestor of Present Day English (PDE). This relationship makes Chaucer much easier to read than other dialects of ME further removed from PDE, such as that in which the Gawain poet wrote. Chaucer's vocabulary, consisting mainly of words derived from French and Old English, is also easier than the Gawain poet's. With a little concentration, the modern reader will probably find many ME words that looked unintelligible are actually similar to PDE words. (This edition includes a note on "Chaucer's Language" which explains Middle English grammar well, but due to its use of grammatical terminology, it will be helpful only to those who already know what such things as pluperfect and genitive singular mean.) Getting used to Middle English will take time, but it's worth it.
Now for this particular edition. I found it well edited, with glosses at the bottom of each page and detailed endnotes, which occupy about a third of the volume. Very rarely did I have a question that Mann did not address in one place or the other. There is a 140-page glossary which includes (I think) all words glossed. Archaic characters such as thorn are replaced with their modern equivalents; otherwise spelling is unchanged. My only complaint is its bulkiness: at 1254 pages, it's quite fat.
Here's a sample of the Canterbury Tales as edited by Mann:
Whilom, as olde stories tellen us,
Ther was a duc that highte Theseus. 860
Of Atthenes he was lord and governour,
And in his time swich a conqueror
That gretter was ther noon under the sonne.
Ful many a riche contree hadde he wonne,
What with his wisdom and his chivalrye. 865
859 Whilom: once upon a time 860 highte: was called
Here's my prose modernization:Long ago, as old stories tell us, there was a duke that was called Theseus. He was the lord and governor of Athens, and such a conqueror that there was none greater under the sun. He had won many a rich country with his wisdom and chivalry.
Now Chaucer can be more complicated than this, but Mann's glosses almost always make him intelligible to the enterprising reader. Many words are very similar to their modern equivalents: "tellen" = "tell," "ther" = "there," "swich" = "such." The French influence is obvious in such words as "riche" and "duc."
As you can see, glosses are identifiable by line numbers at the bottom of the page, but they are not set off in the text. Line numbers correspond, I believe, to the standard lineation of the Tales.
At about twelve dollars on Amazon, this edition is a bargain. It's complete and cheap. I highly recommend it to those who want to read the actual words that Chaucer wrote.
Worth its weight in gold.......2006-05-30
I bought this Penguin Classics edition of Chaucer last year during a visit to Canterbury. I already owned the modernized edition edited by the late Nevill Coghill, but I figured: Hey, I'm in Canterbury--I have to buy a copy. So I bought this one.
For starters, this is the complete text of the Tales, and it is in the original Middle English. While the language may take a while to get used to (for beginners, especially) it's a blast to read. Another plus for this edition is the heavy, heavy glossing and a really extensive notes section which helped even an experienced reader of Chaucer like myself.
If you're new to Chaucer, or even if you're not, this is the edition to have. It's a paperback, so it's portable, and it's complete. You won't be left wanting an odd tale or two with this book.
Highly recommended.
Average customer rating:
- The Camino - a test of body and character
- Not better than 'The Alchemist'
- Awful awful awful. Just plain awful!!!!
- A Private Journey to Explore Self
- Fascinating...
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The Pilgrimage: A Contemporary Quest for Ancient Wisdom
Paulo Coelho
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ASIN: 006251279X
Release Date: 2000-04-26 |
Book Description
Here Paulo Coelho details his journey across Spain along the legendaryroad of San Tiago, which pilgrims have travelled since Middle Ages. On this contemporary quest, he encounters a Chaucerian variety of mysterious guides and devilish opponents and learns to understand the nature of truth through the simplicity of life. The Pilgrimage holds an important place in Paulo Coelho's literary canon.His first book, it not only paved the way for his phenomenal novel The Alchemist , but it also fully expresses his humanist philosophy and the depth of his unique search for meaning.
Customer Reviews:
The Camino - a test of body and character.......2007-07-21
I read The Pilgrimage by Paulo Coelho soon after completing my own 800 km pilgrimage from St Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago in the north-west of Spain.
Readers who are looking for a factual, chronological, "travel book" of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela will be disappointed. There is only the vaguest chronology in the book. A few towns and important pilgrimage sites are mentioned. There is only a sketchy picture drawn of the terrain and countryside.
But that is quite irrelevant. The Pilgrimage is a much more sophisticated account of the psychological and spiritual aspects of pilgrimage. In fact, the physical vagueness in the book complements the inner struggles of the pilgrim.
The pilgrim in Coelho's book is on a quest for his sword so that he can complete his apprenticeship in the Tradition and be able to perform the deeds of his Master. The quest takes place on the road to Santiago and the pilgrim (with his spiritual guide) encounters magical tests that expand his psychological horizons.
This resonated with me in the sense that the Camino finds the weak points in our bodies and characters and tests them. Reflective pilgrims gain personal insights, and, for many, their lives change in significant ways after completing the Camino. Coelho makes the same points by his use of magic to illustrate the inner transformation of his pilgrim.
The book also includes meditative exercises that the pilgrim performed at critical times on his journey. While some of the exercises are a little unrealistic, such as the Cruelty Exercise of self-mortification, most of them can be performed by anyone, with resulting benefit. I wish I had read the book before my own pilgrimage so I could have done more in this respect.
This was Coelho's first book and it shows to a large extent. It is uneven in quality and lacks the tightness of his later work, such as The Alchemist - which it resembles in its basic structure of an individual's quest for meaning.
Not better than 'The Alchemist'.......2007-07-10
This is the most esoteric work by Coelho. It is easy read and a plesent one. It reminds me a lot of 'Teachings of Don Juan' by Castaneda, although Coelho's novel is rooted in christian religion. If you didn't read Castaneda, you will love this one. If you did, you will like it :)
Awful awful awful. Just plain awful!!!!.......2007-07-05
This book was just painful to finish. Pointless new age pseudo religious drivel. Coelho goes on a Catholic pilgrimage, wrestles with possessed dogs, hangs out with magicians and then dances around in castles pretending to be a knight Templar with his equally loony mates.
This is supermarket spirituality at its very worst. A pointless book unless you are one of those "All organised religion is bad so lets just make it up as you go along"
A Private Journey to Explore Self.......2007-04-05
Although "The Pilgrimage" is not Paulo Coelho's most exalted work, it is still a wonderful plunge into the mystical journey. In this book, he chronicles his own experiences on the road to Santiago de Compostela in the region of Galicia known as Celtic Spain. The journey is rich with allegory reflecting how we must face our own fears in order to engage in what he calls "the good fight". The Pilgrimage is reminiscent of Carlos Castañeda's apprenticeship with his mentor Don Juan. Paulo's guide is the enigmatic Petrus, who teaches him to face his own limitations and to break him from the "modernist" notion that our busy work is more important than exploring our inner world. There is a sweet discovery about the book that brings presence to a wisdom that includes mystical exercises worthy of our attention.
Fascinating..........2007-03-20
To all of you out there, this book really gives you the opportunity to understand Paulo's philosophy of life. It is not strange that he was able to write the Alquimist after this book.
The different RAM Exercises are useful on daily life and it is a good starting point for those of you looking to learn more about who we really are.
Book Description
The story of Holy Week and Easter is brought to life through this rhyming, alphabetical journey. Aimed at children ages 4-8 this book will delight the senses of children and adults alike. Four simple activities and craft ideas bring families together to see the story of Jesus's love through new eyes. A wonderful companion to the previously published A is for Angel (2005), written and illustrated by the same team.
Customer Reviews:
A perfectly, delightful teaching tool........2007-03-29
This is the best Easter book I have found to date! J is for Jesus: An Easter Alphabet and Activity Book is written by Debbie Trafton O'Neal and illustrated by Jan Bryan-Hunt. It clearly teaches children about the Holy Week and the reasons we celebrate Easter without being too complicated, too advanced, too secular or too boring. Readers follow Jesus from the triumphant entry (Palm Sunday) through the last supper, His crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.
Rather than forcing the story into an alphabetical order (as most alphabet books do), the author tells the story first, then highlights words within the sentence that feature the alphabetical sequence. For example, the pages for S and T read: "'Your sins are forgiven,' Jesus said. 'You are free!' Then he died on a cross that was carved from a tree." The words "sins" and "tree" are highlighted, but without distracting from the story.
Filled with bright colors, the illustrations are delightfully unique. They feature people of all ethinicities. In the back of the book, the author gives four crafts parents and kids can do together to create Easter memories.
What I Like: It is important to me to teach our children the honest reason we celebrate Easter without frightening them. Death is not a typical discussion with toddlers, but the truth of Jesus' death and resurrection is crucial doctrine. This book doesn't skimp on the key details. It presents the whole story in a wonderfully, positive way. I like being able to focus on the story with or without the alphabet. The introduction and projects in the back are fabulous. The illustrations are magnificent! I was a little nervous about it being a paperback, but the cover is sturdy, and the pages are glossy, making it easy to clean. As a whole, this book is a perfectly delightful teaching tool.
What I Dislike: While this book is extremely accurate for a children's book, one detail did catch my attention. On the pages for W and X the text reads: "The women ran quickly to find the eleven, explaining that Jesus had gone up to heaven." I understand this fits better with the rhyme and alphabetical sequence, however, Jesus did not immediately go up to heaven. Only after appearing to hundreds of people over a period of weeks did He ascend to heaven.
Overall Rating: Very Good.
Tanya -- Christian Children's Book Review
Perfect Easter book!.......2006-02-13
Easter is a wonderful time! It's a celebration with jelly beans, bunnies, bright baskets filled with green artificial grass and those glorious dyed eggs that children will search for in all the nooks and crannies. But it is truly special because God loves us so much he gave us a special gift.
Debbie Trafton O'Neal has created an Easter book that will help children learn about Holy Week and Easter and learn the alphabet through verse. There are also activities for children and adults to make together: a place mat, table runner, window paintings, banner and diorama.
The illustrations are bold and colorful and just the thing to draw children into the fun of learning.
Armchair Interviews says: J is for Jesus: An Easter Alphabet and Activity Book is a perfect Easter gift for your special child.
Amazon.com
The Holy Man is a delightful pilgrim's tale set in the modern world. Written with wit and verve, it tells the story of a gentle-natured disciple who, in the space of a week, moves from fear and doubt to joyful enlightenment. Anna's teacher is Joe, a wise and patient sage who sees in her the acolyte he has long been seeking. As their relationship grows, she begins to assume his mantle, while he sees her become ever more sure-footed. Watching this relationship unfold is wonderful, and Susan Trott shows uncanny insight into the nature of friendship as well as the interplay between pupil and teacher.
But this novel isn't solely about Anna's progression towards enlightenment, since she doesn't come alone to the holy man's door--she is accompanied by her skeptical husband, Errol, and their two children. They, too, have spiritual journeys to make, and in so doing enrich and instruct both Anna and her mentor. The Holy Man is a charming read and an uplifting one that never veers into the sentimental or trite. --Lucas LoBlack, Amazon.co.uk
Customer Reviews:
A delightful story for all ages.......2007-02-09
I was very impressed with the wisdom shown in this small book. I wish Hollywood film writers would pick up on these nuances of behavior; they could change the world!
A Must Read!.......2007-01-19
I give this book to all my friends for their birthdays. It's an easy read and a must have for anyone on a spiritual path. I only wish the sequel, The Holy Man's Journey, were still in print!
Holy Man Surprises.......2006-10-18
Each month I write a short recommendation for our church newsletter. This book is my choice for November for it is one that will appeal to everyone. The answers from the holy man when I was sure he could not possibly come up with one for that person, delighted me. The best point about this great small book is that it does not focus on any particular religion, but is useful for all of us, including those considered "spiritual" for it leads the reader to recognize no matter how wise a person becomes, we still remain flawed and need such books to help us see this. I am about to purchased another copy for a gift.
Witty & Insightful Short Stories.......2006-04-05
First, I just have to say that I love this book!!!
"The Holy Man" is filled with wonderful, important insights, all woven into a series of witty short-stories that follow the paths of the visitors who have come to see the "holy man", the hermitage monks who live with him, and the "holy man" himself.
Each short-story revolves around a particular insight, and allows the reader to see how various traits & perceptions can play out in our own lives, as well as the lives of our loved ones, and even "strangers"...
A few of the insights I received/remembered from reading "The Holy Man" include:
*Much happiness can be gained by simply treating everyone we meet as a holy person - as we all are from the Divine
*Worry, anger, greed, resentfulness, etc... only eat us up inside, and no good can come from it
*How we view our lives & the events/experiences within it are based on our perceptions, and we can always choose to perceive things in a different way
*We can only control our own perceptions, beliefs, lives - we cannot control others
Overall, I found this book to be an insightful, interesting, fun read, and I would highly recommend it.
over a thousand kiddos can't be wrong..........2005-10-28
I have given this book as a gift more than 100 times now. I often give it to graduates - both high school and college. As a teacher, I've had the opportunity to read this book to over a thousand students. Of course there have been students who didn't get it or who did get it and simply didn't like the book, but most (possibly over 80%) have enjoyed the story and learned something from it. I have also sent this book to people in some sort of trouble - jail or rehab type situations - and the gift has always been received with great enthusiasm. Personally, the book changed my life, as trite as that sounds. I keep hoping Oprah will discover and share it.
Average customer rating:
- Authoritative edition, but overpriced
- A superior edition for scholars and novices alike
- Travelling mercies...
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The Canterbury Tales: Complete
Geoffrey Chaucer , and
Larry D. Benson
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Chaucer, Geoffrey
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Oxford Guides to Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales (Oxford Guides to Chaucer)
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Chaucer: Sources and Background
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The Wife of Bath (Case Studies in Contemporary Criticism)
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The Consolation of Philosophy: Boethius
ASIN: 0395978238 |
Book Description
Based on the definitive Riverside Chaucer, this edition of The Canterbury Tales contains the complete text of all 24 Tales, thoroughly updated scholarship from the past 20 years, and extensive editorial support. This volume is ideal for instructors who want to assign only the Tales and have no need for the complete Chaucer.
An overview briefly outlines the basic plot and main idea of each Tale, while a section on language and versification helps students with pronunciation. Explanatory notes provide information on sources, problematic passages, and critical interpretations. Additional pedagogy includes a glossary, a section on Chaucer's life which traces the author from childhood to his final years, an index of proper names, a general bibliography, and a list of abbreviations.
Customer Reviews:
Authoritative edition, but overpriced.......2006-09-05
Based on the Riverside Chaucer, this edition is the critical text of Chaucer's *Canterbury Tales.* It is accompanied by glosses of the Middle English at the bottom of the page, a useful glossary, and explanatory notes that guide the reader to further criticism. All of the above make it a good trustworthy teaching text as well as a resource for the serious amateur reader who wants to get to know Chaucer's most famous poem in its own language.
The price of the book, however, is a scandal. I teach Chaucer, and I'm embarrassed to assign a flimsy paperback like this to my students, expecting them to pay $55 for it. If perchance someone from Houghton Mifflin ever happens to read this review, please revisit the question of how you price textbooks like this one. Next time around I'm planning to use the Norton Critical edition; it may not have all twenty-four tales (it has fifteen), but the glosses are better, and it also includes a rich offering of primary contexts (Boccaccio, Petrarch, the Romance of the Rose, etc.) and criticism. And it costs less than $15.
A superior edition for scholars and novices alike.......2006-08-30
This edition of the Canterbury Tales, edited by Larry Benson, is superb. It is based on the Riverside Chaucer, Third Edition (also edited by Benson) and is as authoritative as you can get. It's greatest attribute is the presentation of a highly readable text that will be appreciated by scholars and lovers of Chaucer of all levels. It's beautifully glossed, but in an unobtrusive manner that allows the language to sing off the page without any unneccesary interruptions; the copious (and useful) vocab and grammar notes are clearly marked by line and placed below the body text, thus one can read (aloud preferably!) at one's own pace without being constantly interrupted. The placement and economy of the notes also makes for a clear presentation and a great reading text that allows one to approach the Tales at one's own pace. Highly informative and entertaining essays on Chaucer's life, outlining the history and conext in which he lived and wrote, and on the language and versification of the Tales introduce the volume and provide an excellent jumping off point into the them. The latter essay is a decent - albeit brief - introduction to reading and pronounciation of the Middle English that Chaucer employs in the Tales, but it is far from comprehensive in that it confines its survey to just the Tales. Although covering only the most basic elements thereof while paying scant attention to the nuances of inflection and grammar (and, again, variations and specifics of Middle English in general and Chaucer's language in his other works), it is still a great gateway, especially for the novice reader of Chaucer who wishes to engage the author and the work in their original vernacular. And this is really where this edition acheives - it presents a highly readable and accesible version of Chaucer's masterpiece and allows readers of all levels to approach the poem(s) on their own terms, unencumbered by an intrusive or burdensome sholarly apparatus. In other words, one can approach the Tales with just enough context, historically and linguistically, to engage with it in a manner as close to possible as a fluent reader of Middle English would have. And the perfect balance between inspiring the novice reader to venture forth independently and the superior guidance that is readily available with just a quick glance toward the bottom of the page, will undoubtadly improve one's reading and comprehension of Middle English. Scholars of all levels will appreciate and enjoy this edition. Larry Benson (still teaching at Harvard, by the way) is one of the great Chaucerians and has given us one of the best editions of Chaucer available - one that is equally beneficial and interesting to both the student and the layman. The point is, you can't outgrow this one. If anything, you can grow into it. What more could one want?
Travelling mercies..........2005-02-01
In Chaucer's work, 'The Canterbury Tales', perhaps the greatest of English literary works from the period of the language known as Middle English, there is one particular piece that have always stood out for me.
'A Clerk ther was of Oxenford also,'
This is perhaps my favourite character, as when I first read it, it seemed to epitomise what I hoped for in my own life.
'That unto logik hadde longe y-go.
....
For him was lever have at his beddes heed
Twenty bokes, clad in blak or reed,
Of Aristotle and his philosophye,
Than robes riche, of fithele, or gay sautrye,
But al be that he was a philosophre,
Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre,
But al that he mighte of his freendes hente,
On bokes and on lerninge he it spente,
and bisily gan for the soules preye
Of hem that yaf him wherwith to scoleye.
....
...gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche.'
Every now and then I cannot help but re-read this part of the Prologue, for a reminder of what I'm aiming for in my own life.
Chaucer was son of a wine merchant, something near and dear to my heart. Chaucer was well-read, well-phrased, well-mannered, industrious in literary and legal/administrative pursuits, as I trust I will become, if not already so qualified.
As one can see from the above examples, English has changed much over the past 600 years, but not so much as to make these passages unrecognisable. Compare for yourself with a modern translation, and see how much you can decipher.
Chaucer is one of the first great English authors of name; most (but not all) literary output in English prior to this time was anonymous. Living in the 1300s, he held administrative posts of importance under Kings from the time of Edward III to Henry IV. Never one to shrink from spending too much money (he had to reapply for pensions and ask for advances several times in his life) or shying away from controversy (he fell out of and came back into favour several times). When he died, he was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey, in a section on the south side that has since become Poet's Corner, largely due to Chaucer, the first great English poet, having been buried there.
In addition to his magnus opus, 'The Canterbury Tales', a collection of stories with prologue told by pilgrims on their journey to Canterbury (car radios and in-flight movies were rare in those days), Chaucer wrote minor poems to suit various occasions (his first record as poet comes from having written a poem as elegy on the death of John of Gaunt's first wife, Blanche, in 1369), and the major work for which he was noted for 'Troilus and Criseyde', which showed his sense of humour, power of observation and attention to detail, and keen dramatic skills in language. This work is often compared to Dante and Boccaccio, perhaps the most famous poets of the day. 'The Canterbury Tales' is actually intended to be much longer - 120 tales told by 30 pilgrims (two each on the way to Canterbury, and two each returning). As it is, there are only 24 tales plus a prologue - had it been completed, it would be by far the longest poem in the English language.
There is a strong, practical side to Chaucer's writing, sophisticated yet not aloof and removed from the affairs of the world, cultured yet in tune with the better (and more interesting) aspects of the common people, too.
This edition by Larry Benson is designed for those who only want the Canterbury Tales, not the other writings of Chaucer, but want a set of the complete tales and prologue from standard texts. This comes from the Riverside Chaucer, with introductory notes explaining plot, versification, and various issues that might arise in the translation of the tales. The indexes include one for proper names. There is also a timeline showing Chaucer's life that is handy for students.
For those who want the Canterbury Tales in good form, this is a good volume to get.
Average customer rating:
- Living Pilgrim
- An incredible book full of spirituality
- This book is worth more than 5 stars (or may be all the stars in the universe)!!
- The Way of A Pilgrim
- The Pilgrim's journey, our journey to Christ by mystical prayer
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The Way of a Pilgrim
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The Philokalia: The Complete Text (Vol. 1); Compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain and St. Markarios of Corinth
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The Art of Prayer: An Orthodox Anthology
ASIN: 0385468148
Release Date: 1985-06-17 |
Book Description
This classic work of Russian spirituality has charmed countless readers with its tale of a nineteenth-century peasant seeking the truth with simple humility, finding joy and plenty everywhere in life.
Customer Reviews:
Living Pilgrim.......2007-08-05
This is living the pilgrim religion yesterday and today. It's the story of a Russian peasant's search for the secrets of prayer. The real die hards fast until Thanksgiving. This should be required reading for college students.
An incredible book full of spirituality.......2007-05-13
This book was recommended to me by a friend and after reading the sample pages here I felt that I had to have it. The book greatly gave strength to my faith in Christ and I know it has helped many others as well. In fact, this book, as previously mentioned, does deserve more than 5 stars. Reading it through it was like placing myself in the pilgrim's steps and traveling with him throughout the East.
This book is worth more than 5 stars (or may be all the stars in the universe)!!.......2007-03-03
A very simple and easy to read book that gives a powerful message!! A must read for anyone who loves spiritual books..
The Way of A Pilgrim.......2007-02-27
A wonderful booklet on the spiritual life. Highly recommended for a thorough reading. When visiting a Trappist monastery, this was the book which a senior monastic suggested as an introduction to the prayer life.
The Pilgrim's journey, our journey to Christ by mystical prayer.......2006-12-19
Way of a Pilgrim by Walter J. Ciszek, translated by Helen Bacovcin
In J. D. Salinger's short story, "Franny & Zooey" the reader learns of a college co-ed fascinated with the book, "Way of a Pilgrim" by an anonymous Russian author of the 1800's. Here is the very book for us pilgrims.
Page 191 has a glossary of terms.
Page 190 is a brief 10 point directive on how to pray.
You could call this, "Prayer-for-the-rest-of-us"
There are variations on what is called, "The Jesus Prayer". Any method can be effective. They all originate in the practices of the Christians of the first 5 centuries after the appearance of Jesus to meditate or intone brief words, phrases, or prayers. The suggestion is that the "Jesus Prayer" is one of these ancient prayers, derived from the commandment to "pray without ceasing".
The Jesus Prayer is recited thusly:
"Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner."
Or alternatively,
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
The book clarifies the difference between mental analysis of religious issues, and the distinct essence of prayer which is an active experience rather than an intellectual examination. The purpose of all is to move us into prayer of the Lips, to Prayer of the Mind, and finally, to unite all in Prayer of the Heart.
One of the unique encounters early in the book, concerns that between the soldier who has difficulty staying sober merely by studying the Gospels, and the religious man who teaches him how to pray.
This book is a window into the early centuries of Christian spiritual practice. It bypasses a thousand years of theological tradition and the waves of cultural churnings in the intervening centuries to bring us almost close enough to touch the Master's garment. The reader will be introduced into some literature that is mostly unknown, such as the PHILOKALIA.
[Also, see Ignatius Brianchaninov, HESYCHAST ]
There are other prayers that can be effective to transform us. Another common one is that which is attributed to St. Francis of Assissi, the "Peace Prayer" as Catholics refer to it. Actually, scholars have found that this prayer was in use prior to St. Francis. Thus, it has another source; but St. Francis may have taken advantage of that prayer also. It is my feeling, that this prayer can be awkward however, both in learning and recitation. Something of it's original language and rythm may be missing. I have altered it slightly so that it has a specific rythm, and humbly offer it here if someone should wish to employ it. I have found it pleasant to alternate it, at various times, with the "Jesus Prayer".
The Peace Prayer
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace;
That where there is Hatred, let me sew Love,
That where there is Injury, let me sew Pardon,
That where there is Doubt, let me sew Faith,
That where there is Despair, let me sew Hope,
That where there is Darkness, let me sew Light,
That where there is Sadness, let me sew Joy.
Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be Consoled, as to Console.
That I may not so much seek to be Understood, as to Understand.
That I may not so much seek to be Loved, as to Love.
For it is by Pardoning, that we are Pardoned.
It is by Giving that we Receive.
And it is by Dying that we are born into Life Eternal.
(version of the 'Peace Prayer' by Bruce R. Bain)
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- The Cancer Treatment Revolution: How Smart Drugs and Other New Therapies are Renewing Our Hope and Changing the Face of Medicine
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- The Game and the Glory
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