For a Future to Be Possible: Buddhist Ethics for Everyday Life
Average customer rating: 2 out of 5 stars
  • Find the older editions
 For a Future to Be Possible: Buddhist Ethics for Everyday Life
Thich Nhat Hanh
Manufacturer: Parallax Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Hanh, Thich NhatHanh, Thich Nhat | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Kornfield, JackKornfield, Jack | ( K ) | Authors, A-Z | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Rituals & PracticeRituals & Practice | Buddhism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1888375663

Book Description

The Five Mindfulness Trainings — to not kill, steal, commit adultery, lie, or take intoxicants — are the basic statement of ethics and morality in Buddhism. In this fully revised edition, Zen master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh argues eloquently for their universal applicability in daily situations. Nhat Hanh discusses in depth the value and meaning of each precept, offering insights into the roles that they could play in our changing society. In a world marked by moral and spiritual emptiness, he says, The Five Mindfulness Trainings offer a path to the restoration of meaning and value. The author calls the trainings a “diet for a mindful society” that transcends sectarian boundaries, and he presents simple yet powerful ways that people can come together around them to explore and sustain a sane, compassionate, and healthy way of living.

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Find the older editions.......2007-05-23

There are two older editions of this book, 1993 and 1998. They include responses to the 5 mindfulness trainings by about a dozen contemporary western teachers. For some reason Parallax Press have omitted all but three of these commentaries from the 2007 edition. This is a great book, but for me these commentaries were the best part. In short, don't waste your money on the new edition, find an older one.
Alamo in the Ardennes: The Untold Story of the American Soldiers Who Made the Defense of Bastogne Possible
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • History Buff
  • Finally, recognition for the 28th Division
  • Another gutwrencher
  • Excellent Book
  • Little known action that prepared for the 'saving' of the day
 Alamo in the Ardennes: The Untold Story of the American Soldiers Who Made the Defense of Bastogne Possible
John C. McManus
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0471739057

Book Description

At last, here is a book that tells the full story of the turning point in World War II’s Battle of the Bulge—the story of five crucial days in which small groups of American soldiers, some outnumbered ten to one, slowed the German advance and allowed the Belgian town of Bastogne to be reinforced. Alamo in the Ardennes provides a compelling, day-by-day account of this pivotal moment in America's greatest war.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars History Buff.......2007-09-03

I learned a lot about the men who fought at the beginging of the Battle Of The Bulge that I had not heard about before. This book is a must for anyone who has read other books about the Battle Of The Bulge.

5 out of 5 stars Finally, recognition for the 28th Division.......2007-08-07

As a Pennsylvanian and the son of a member of the 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division, I've long been familiar with the state's National Guard division history in both World Wars. This book is the best I've found to focus on the unit's major role in the Battle of the Bulge. Great details of their valiant stand against overwhelming German forces. With close-up descriptions of what the soldiers experienced, often in their own words, McManus has authored an important work for anyone interested in the face of battle as seen from the foxhole. Very good look at the tactics officers and men utilized to hold back the German attack "at all costs."

5 out of 5 stars Another gutwrencher.......2007-06-18

While I don't usually like books that are entitled "The Untold Story of..., this one actually produces. I have read a of books on WW2, and in particular, on the battle of the bulge. My interest heightened when I found I had a family member who fought in the battle, but who I was unable to talk to about it before he passed.

Though many books have been written on the battle, none seem to really get it all together. Three have been written recently that don't attempt to cover the whole battle, but focus on the events surrounding smaller units, or even individual soldiers, and what the battle was like for them.
These three recent books are "Eleven Days in December", "The Longest Winter", and now "Alamo In The Ardennes. All just great books fully worthy of your time, but Alamo is a little different in that it attempts to give credit to the 28th Division for saving Bastogne, perhaps even more so than that of the 101st Airborne, the unit usually, and correctly, given most of the credit for the epic stand that broke the German offensive.

Read this excellently written book and you might tend to agree that the 28th deserves at least as much credit as the more famous 101st. You will also get probably as close as you ever will, from the written word, to underestanding what it was like for our 19 and 20 year old citizen soldiers caught in one of the most vicious battles of WW2. Were the young men of these divisions part of our greatest generation? Absolutely, they could have written that book themselves.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent Book.......2007-05-29

I bought the book after seeing a story about it the alumni magazine of the university at which the author teaches history. I'm glad I did because it was an excellent book. I've read two other books on World War II including one by Stephen Ambrose and I would rate this one up there with Stephen Ambrose. I would definitely recommend the book.

4 out of 5 stars Little known action that prepared for the 'saving' of the day.......2007-05-26

John McManus is establishing himself as one of the leading scholars in the Second World War genre. With his latest book, "Alamo in the Ardennes: The Untold Story of the American Soldiers Who Made the Defense of Bastogne Possible", McManus scores a solid hit, both in terms of enjoyable and readable prose, and relative to filling a void in the historical literature. Many WWII-oriented books of late have subtitles including the words "The Untold Story..." and too few live up to their own hype. By contrast, McManus' book does in fact tell an otherwise untold (at least as a complete narrative limited to the Bastogne corridor) story. This fact alone makes "Alamo in the Ardennes" worthy of a read by anyone interested in the Battle of the Bulge, since all are familiar with the stand of the 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne - this gallant action is branded in the American psyche - but few likely have a good picture of how American forces already in Belgium slowed the German drive sufficiently to provide enough time for the praised (deserved) 101st to get from their base in Mourmelon, France to the critical crossroads town of Bastogne in order to defend against the eventual siege. In fact, as McManus argues, the actions of the US Army in the Bastogne corridor likely determined that the eventual siege of Bastogne was in fact a siege instead of a Blitz through the region as might have occurred had the Germans reached Bastogne early in strength.

The central characters in "Alamo in the Ardennes" are the combat soldiers of the 28th ('Bloodybucket') Infantry Division, Combat Command Reserve (CCR) of the 9th Armored Division, and Combat Command B (CCB) of the 10th Armored Division. While McManus also integrates information about coordinated actions with smaller unit of the 101st Airborne, most of story is focused on the aforementioned units and their variously attached commands. Topographically the story revolves not so much around Bastogne but the so called 'Bastogne corridor', which McManus defines as roughly the 25 mile front held by the 28th before the German attack - approximately from Lutzkampen on the north to Bettendorf and Reisdorf in the south. This area was extremely important from a tactical standpoint relative to the movement of armored and vehicular traffic, as the roads running west in this region are some of the best in the Ardennes and Eiffel; certainly the quickest and most direct route to Bastogne lead through this area. McManus in now way minimizes actions in other regions of the Ardennes (e.g., northern shoulder actions) or the siege of Bastogne itself, but rather presents a compelling and exciting story that focuses on men and places cites above.

In general the book follows a chronological format, which works well to tell the story McManus wishes to convey. He begins the formal discussion of events with some chronologically mixed views of the Ardennes and actions on the Allied side prior to, and during, the initial German attack phases. This 'preface' chapter places the whole of the "Bastogne corridor' in nice perspective relative to the larger Battle of the Bulge. With the exception of the final 'Postscript' (conclusionary/summary) chapter, McManus devotes each chapter to a single day of action, beginning with 15 December and ending with the 20th, when the formal siege of Bastogne. In chaptering his book in this fashion McManus is able to pull the reader along the events as they unfolded. On a less positive note, focusing material along chronological lines rather than unit or geographical lines makes for often 'choppy' prose that one has to 'think' about a bit sometimes. This criticism could have been lessened considerably had the excellent maps McManus provides been cross-referenced within the text and a greater effort at sectioning within chapters been made. Yet, these are not fatal flaws and the book still conveys an important story in a readable form, that while not necessary impossible to put down, is nonetheless compelling.

In addition to the chapters outlined above McManus also provides ~20 pages of abbreviated TO/OB, personnel and map information that many readers will find useful. McManus' 'Notes' section of the book is extremely thorough and detailed. The one criticism that this reviewer would however have would be that the Notes are not cited in a very useful fashion in the text proper. Large sections of prose with multiple (oft disconnected) references/citations are generally clumped together as single footnotes, making backtracking of McManus' research very difficult. Of course this is a minor criticism unless someone is trying to delve deeper into the topic, in which case this approach will certainly cause some anxiety.

All in all "Alamo in the Ardennes" is a solid and very thoroughly researched book that provides a new vision of the Battle of the Bulge, at least in terms of capturing the importance of the "Bastogne corridor' in the eventual defense of Bastogne by the 101st Airborne. 4.5 stars for academic standard, 4 for general reader accessibility - solid 4 star book.

The Mercifully Brief, Real World Guide to... Raising More Money With Newsletters Than You Ever Thought Possible
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • The Mercifully Brief, Real World Guide to... Raising More Money With Newsletters Than You Ever Thought Possible
  • Terrific
  • Save the Newsletters!
  • Quick, easy read that is full of helpful advice
  • Immediately Usable!
 The Mercifully Brief, Real World Guide to... Raising More Money With Newsletters Than You Ever Thought Possible
Tom Ahern
Manufacturer: Emerson & Church
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1889102075

Book Description

There's a sleeping giant in your midst. One with enormous fundraising potential. And unless your newsletter is bringing in thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars every year, it's time to shake it from its slumber. Today, countless organizations are raising more money with their newsletter than with traditional mail appeals. And after reading Tom Ahern's riveting book, Raising More Money with Newsletters than You Ever Thought Possible, it's easy to understand why. Great newsletters, as distinguished from the mundane ones many of us receive, have so much more going for them. For starters, they deliver real news (not tired features such as "From the Director's Desk'' and "Introducing Our New Staff"). They make the donor feel important. They use emotional triggers to spur action. They're designed in a way to attract both browsers and readers. And they don't depend on dry statistics to make the organization's case. Ahern knows newsletters inside and out. Not only has he written his fair share, but he's analyzed scores of them for other organizations. Moreover, his workshop, "How to Write Great Donor Newsletters," is consistently over-subscribed. So when he speaks - as he does in engaging and eloquent prose- you hang onto his every word. The essence of Raising More Money with Newsletters than You Ever Thought Possible centers around seven fatal flaws, as Ahern calls them. "Almost every donor newsletter I see suffers from at least one of the flaws," he says early in the book. "You would be shocked by how many newsletters suffer from all seven." Along the way to discussing - and dissecting - these fatal flaws, the reader is treated to such chapters as: o Making news out of thin air o What a front page is for o Lower the grade level of your writing o Anecdotes versus stats o How should it look? A proven formula And those are only five of the 45! succinct chapters in this book. Chances are you already have a newsletter, that's the good news. You have the vehicle in place. The even better news is that transforming your newsletter into a substantial money raiser isn't all that difficult. As Ahern himself says, "You don't need a degree in journalism to publish a newsletter that will keep your donors inspired (and generous). You just need a few skills and insights." Read this book. Pick up those skills. And be assured that the ratio of time spent versus gains realized might well be the most cost-effective of your entire career.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars The Mercifully Brief, Real World Guide to... Raising More Money With Newsletters Than You Ever Thought Possible.......2006-08-23

Concisely and sharply written with easy to use advice. Affirmed things that I "knew" but had forgotten about. Used the advice and our newest newsletter has much more "pop" to it. I'll be interested to see if there will be an uptick in donations following its release in a week or so.

4 out of 5 stars Terrific.......2006-07-22

Hi Tom,



Your book Raising More Money With Newsletters Than You Ever Thought Possible is terrific!



I started reading it just after completing a quarterly newsletter. I can't seem to finish your book because I keep running to the computer to "fix up" the thing I had thought was a newsletter. I am reading this on a stay-at-home-day-for-reading and when I'm not at the keyboard I am phoning colleagues with new ideas. They may never let me read again.



I heard you speak at the AFP Congress in Toronto and knew this would be a good book. Thanks for making it even better than that.



Are you changing the world? Maybe not. But you are certain to change newsletter writing!



Julie Kinkaid

5 out of 5 stars Save the Newsletters!.......2006-06-29

This book will save you money and time. It's a quick, fun read, and there are great tips on every page. Moreover, it is research-based, with practical ways of implementing all the ideas. No BS, no wild hairs, just sound, practical advice. It will be "immediately usable," to steal the perfect caption of another reviewer.

This book turned up while I was mulling over creating two different newsletters for two different organizations. My earlier involvements with newsletters were a bit frustrating. Tons and tons of work went into them, but their impact was disappointing, despite some really good content.

Reading this book, I finally understand why my earlier attempts were, well, stinkers. I was using bad models and repeating bad habits so commonl in this industry. Now, I feel that I have the tools to make much more effective marketing pieces. One of my upcoming newsletters is actually going to be a rescue job of a lackluster publication, and this book has helped me to see exactly how to fix it--and to make putting it together a much easier task.

And to steal another idea from an earlier reviewer, I too am going to give this to some people I know, who really need this excellent advice.

The proof is in the pudding, here. Ahern follows his own advice, and his book is totally engaging, convincing, and if he was a non-profit organization rather than an author, I'd send him a check. "Save the Newsletters!" How much is a membership?

Really, get it. It will help all of your writing, not just newsletters. I hope the author writes more, on similar topics, maybe a general book on writing marketing copy. We need more smart, fun, practical, and mercifully brief resources like this one.

5 out of 5 stars Quick, easy read that is full of helpful advice.......2006-06-27

I love this book and have already implemented several recommendations. It is easily worth the purchase price.

5 out of 5 stars Immediately Usable!.......2006-03-18

I couldn't put the book down! I really enjoyed the straightforward approach combined with psychology behind getting your message across! I made notes and gave to our committee!
All Possible Worlds: A History of Geographical Ideas
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • The book every geographer should have.
 All Possible Worlds: A History of Geographical Ideas
Geoffrey J. Martin
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Human GeographyHuman Geography | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0195168704

Book Description

Updated and revised to include theoretical and other developments, bibliographical additions, new photographs and illustrations, and expanded name and subject indexes, the fourth edition of All Possible Worlds: A History of Geographical Ideas is the most complete and comprehensive book of its kind. The text also features a layout and readability that make the material easy to navigate and understand. The book investigates the ways in which the subject of geography has been recognized, perceived, and evaluated, from its early acknowledgment in ancient Greece to its disciplined form in today's world of shared ideas and mass communication. Strong continuities knit the Classical Period to the Age of Exploration, then carry students on through Varenius to Humboldt and Ritter--revealing the emergence of "the new geography" of the Modern Period. The history of American geography--developed in seven of the twenty chapters--is strongly emphasized pursuant to the formal origins of geography in late nineteenth-century Germany, Darwin's theory of evolution, and the Great Surveys of the American West. This treatment is enhanced by chapters concerning parallel histories of geography in Germany, France, Great Britain, Russia (including the USSR and CIS), Canada, Sweden, and Japan-countries that at first contributed to and later borrowed from the body of US geographical thought. All Possible Worlds: A History of Geographical Ideas, Fourth Edition, is ideal for upper-level undergraduate or graduate courses in the history and philosophy of classical, medieval, and modern geographical thought.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The book every geographer should have........2002-12-18

"All Possible Worlds" is an excellent source for the history of geography. The authors cover geography as done by the ancient Greeks, Phoenicians, Muslims, Chinese, Medieval scholars. Portuguese, and all the explorers during the Age of Exploration. They excellent cover how hard it was to discard the wrong ideas of the Greeks. After discussing Humboldt, they then go into the development of geography from 1850 to the present day, which to them was originally in the 1970's, although it has been updated up to 1993. in each of the major countries on the Earth.

A definite book for any true geographer to have.
The Best of All Possible Worlds: Mathematics and Destiny
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Lucid and enchanting
 The Best of All Possible Worlds: Mathematics and Destiny
Ivar Ekeland
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0226199940

Book Description

Optimists believe this is the best of all possible worlds. And pessimists fear that might really be the case. But what is the best of all possible worlds? How do we define it? Is it the world that operates the most efficiently? Or the one in which most people are comfortable and content? Questions such as these have preoccupied philosophers and theologians for ages, but there was a time, during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, when scientists and mathematicians felt they could provide the answer.

This book is their story. Ivar Ekeland here takes the reader on a journey through scientific attempts to envision the best of all possible worlds. He begins with the French physicist Maupertuis, whose least action principle asserted that everything in nature occurs in the way that requires the least possible action. This idea, Ekeland shows, was a pivotal breakthrough in mathematics, because it was the first expression of the concept of optimization, or the creation of systems that are the most efficient or functional. Although the least action principle was later elaborated on and overshadowed by the theories of Leonhard Euler and Gottfried Leibniz, the concept of optimization that emerged from it is an important one that touches virtually every scientific discipline today.

Tracing the profound impact of optimization and the unexpected ways in which it has influenced the study of mathematics, biology, economics, and even politics, Ekeland reveals throughout how the idea of optimization has driven some of our greatest intellectual breakthroughs. The result is a dazzling display of erudition—one that will be essential reading for popular-science buffs and historians of science alike.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Lucid and enchanting.......2007-01-20

Ivar Ekland is one of those people who make you glad to be part of the human race. He writes easily and eloquently and his exposition is direct and without unnecessary embellishment. He proceeds from simple beginnings and then takes the reader on a multi-century tour of the evolution of mathematics as seen through the prism of man's quest to demonstrate the presence of a deus ex machina. The quest, of course, is ultimately futile and it is mathematics that first exposes and then elaborates on that futility. The marvel of Ekland's book is that the necessary fundamental mathematical concepts are presented in such a way as to be intelligible to anyone, and the endeavor itself is presented in an historical context rich with anecdote and unexpected treasures. For example, most people know that Voltaire had Liebnitz in his sights when he created the character of Pangloss in his novel Candide; but how many know (as I did not, before reading Ekland's book) that Leibnitz had been so influenced by Maupertuis' ideas concerning optimization of action? And who would have thought that the development of the calculus of variations necessary to elucidate this supposed god-driven optimisation would in time lead to the inescapable relativity of the Lorenz transformations and hence to Einstein's Special Theory? Thus the irony that the tools developed by man to show god's working in the universe ultimately reveal that there cannot be, in fact, any ghost in the cosmic machine.

So much, so good. The first seven chapters are a wonderful romp through the history of philosophy, metaphysics and mathematics. But it's in the last three chapters that Ekland really excels. Having demonstrated that there is no "best of all possible worlds" driven by the logic of an optimizing deity, he goes on to ask the critical question: how shall societies be organized if there is no super-principle we can count on? The evident absence of a divine guiding hand forces us to concentrate our minds on the urgent issue of human governance, and Ekland explores the resulting complexity with as much aplomb as he elaborated on the history of metaphysics in the book's preceding chapters. Taking in game theory alongside quotations from Guicciardini and moving through Borda to Rawls, Ekland ends on an optimistic note. His message is that if we abandon the false and empty lures of superstition and instead look clearly on what is, not on what people have so often wished would be, we can begin to take steps to design and organize societies that are more equitable and less prone to being dominated by special interest groups than those in which we generally live. Ekland is no Utopian: he knows that people everywhere tend to work to further their own best interests and very often this is necessarily at the expense of others. His optimism results from the awareness that self interest and general good are not inevitably incompatible qualities but can be, under certain social arrangements, made to be mutually advantageous. The last few pages of the book contain Ekland's personal statement of optimism regarding the utility of reason, which is essentially that the alternative is arbitrary superstition. Reason has been highly successful in enabling us to fashion a wide variety of technologies that have made us the dominant animal on Earth; his hope is that a similar application of reason will enable us to see ourselves more clearly for what we are, and thereby become better at designing social institutions that will provide more adequate ways of ensuring general well-being than those we have at present. This optimistic outlook does stand a little uncomfortably in contrast with Ekland's earlier analysis of why social optimization is essentially an impossible task; nevertheless one can't help but admire his humanity and agree that "if not reason, then what?"

The interested reader should perhaps finish Ekland and move immediately to Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations and from there to Hayek's The Constitution of Liberty. After these magnificent flowerings of the human intellect, the dusty and semi-literate ramblings contained in the holy books of long-ago cults can be clearly seen to be the tedious flip-side of human endeavor and worthy of nothing more than benign neglect.
Actual Minds, Possible Worlds (The Jerusalem-Harvard Lectures)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Rounding Out The Picture Of Bruner's Work
 Actual Minds, Possible Worlds (The Jerusalem-Harvard Lectures)
Jerome Bruner
Manufacturer: Harvard University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0674003667

Book Description

In this characteristically graceful and provocative book, Jerome Bruner, one of the principal architects of the cognitive revolution, sets forth nothing less than a new agenda for the study of mind. According to Professor Bruner, cognitive science has set its sights too narrowly on the logical, systematic aspects of mental life--those thought processes we use to solve puzzles, test hypotheses, and advance explanations. There is obviously another side to the mind--a side devoted to the irrepressibly human acts of imagination that allow us to make experience meaningful. This is the side of the mind that leads to good stories, gripping drama, primitive myths and rituals, and plausible historical accounts. Bruner calls it the "narrative mode," and his book makes important advances in the effort to unravel its nature.

Drawing on recent work in literary theory, linguistics, and symbolic anthropology, as well as cognitive and developmental psychology Professor Bruner examines the mental acts that enter into the imaginative creation of possible worlds, and he shows how the activity of imaginary world making undergirds human science, literature, and philosophy, as well as everyday thinking, and even our sense of self.

Over twenty years ago, Jerome Bruner first sketched his ideas about the mind's other side in his justly admired book On Knowing: Essays for the Left Hand. Actual Minds, Possible Worlds can be read as a sequel to this earlier work, but it is a sequel that goes well beyond its predecessor by providing rich examples of just how the mind's narrative mode can be successfully studied. The collective force of these examples points the way toward a more humane and subtle approach to the investigation of how the mind works.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Rounding Out The Picture Of Bruner's Work.......2000-07-10

Reading Bruner is as easy as putting on a wet suit just out of the drier. Many times, he obfuscates his language such that it is a struggle to capture the meaning. And he is an addicted name-dropper.

But he is still worth reading, and this collection adds to the portrait of his thinking, so in that sense, I warmly recommend it. I particularly enjoyed his chapter on Vygotsky's influence on psychology and education--enough so that I will begin to go down that road and pursue some of his books.

What I like most of Bruner's work is his regard for the cultural influences working in tandem with the individual's cognitive self--he respects both aspects.

Whoever heard of putting a wetsuit in a drier?
Zapatistas: Making Another World Possible: Chronicles of Resistance 2000-2006
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • Other reviewer didn't mention "Zapatistas"
  • So disappointed in Ross
 Zapatistas: Making Another World Possible: Chronicles of Resistance 2000-2006
John Ross
Manufacturer: Nation Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1560258748

Book Description

On New Year's Day 1994 a small group of Mayan peasants, led by a charismatic former University Professor, grabbed the attention of the world by taking over San Cristobel, the capitol of Chiapas, Mexico and proclaiming "Basta!" to the prevailing orthodoxy of neo-liberal capitalism that was destroying the infrastructure of the peasant economy. Their cry was heard across the world and in the next decade the Zapatisas became a beacon of hope and a model to hundreds of thousands of activists across the world fighting globalization.

John Ross was there from the beginning, following the Zapatistas on their journey, to the extent that he has been nicknamed "the Willy Loman of the Zapastistas." His first book, Rebellion from the Roots was praised by Alma Guillermoprieto in the New York Review of the Books.

This book chronicles the last six years of the rebellion — a phase where the Zapatistas have been below the media radar in many respects, and a period where Ross argues that the Zapatistas have been "Changing the World Without Taking Power."

Part John Reed, part magic realist poet, Ross reveals the extraordinary events in Chiapas and explores the unique political experiment the Zapastistas have pioneered.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Other reviewer didn't mention "Zapatistas".......2007-03-11

Sometimes I review books I'm not familiar with, including those that I believe make a positive contribution to a worthwhile cause, or those that I feel are serving militarists and/or corporatists.
John Ross' "Zapatistas" certainly falls in the former category. I have read his book "The Annexation of Mexico" and that gave me a much deeper understanding of Mexican history, and interventions by the US and other nations. I also heard Ross speak at a bookstore regarding his earlier book on the Zapatistas, "The War Against Oblivion."
I found him to be well-informed, and a very pleasant person. Not "filled with bile" and so forth as another reviewer suggests. It seems some become filled with bile when the aggression of the Israeli government is criticized. The violence does go both ways between Isrealis and Palestinians, just as it went both ways between Apartheid rulers and black South Africans. Ross' sympathies lie squarely with the Palestinians who are currently experiencing an Apartheid-style oppression. Ross is also clearly (and understandably) sympathetic toward the Zapatistas and other grassroots movements against the economic warfare and cultural colonization of neoliberal economics and state militarism.
He has my support and appreciation for his many important works, including his most recent writings, the subject of which (suffering people of southern Mexico) deserves a much more considerate review than a one-star dismissal.

1 out of 5 stars So disappointed in Ross.......2007-03-05

As respectful and even adoring as he is about the Zapatistas, that's how
hateful he is when speaking of the Israelis. They have done every wrong!
His total bias against Israel and his lack of fairness in not speaking of any wrongs perpetrated against them by the Palestinians - yes it does goes both ways! - makes me wonder about his reporting in general. There is no fairness here and his bile against the Jews made me ill.
Approaching the Possible: The World of Stargate SG-1
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The World Of Stargate SG1 Like Never Before!
  • Follow the episode
  • Long-winded, but a few good ideas
  • Tops for space monkeys
  • Not exactly a "must have"
 Approaching the Possible: The World of Stargate SG-1
Jo Storm
Manufacturer: Ecw Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 155022705X

Book Description

Stargate SG-1 has been a television hit for eight years (an almost unheard-of run in science-fiction television), with a ninth in production, and boasts a devoted and vocal online community. Based on the feature length movie, the series SG-1 is Sci Fi Channel’s highest rated show. It follows the flagship team, designated SG-1, of a secret military base. Transported instantly by a Stargate to distant planets, Colonel Jack O’Neill (MacGyver star Richard Dean Anderson) and his team race to save the galaxy from ruthless enslaving aliens, the Goa’uld. What is it about this show that has made it so popular? What makes it different from other science fiction series on television today? Approaching the Possible: The World of Stargate SG-1 answers these questions and more. It serves as a comprehensive introduction for those who are just starting to watch SG-1 with an episode guide to the series, examining SG-1 season by season. For the long-time viewer, author Jo Storm explores multi-season storylines and character developments. Interesting facts for each episode and numerous sidebars uncover the mythology and science not only of the stories, but of the writing, directing, and special effects used to tell the stories. Exclusive interviews with cast members such as Teryl Rothery, Alex Zahara, and Christopher Judge, and writer Joseph Mallozzi and special effects supervisor James Tichenor, engage the Stargate universe from multiple angles. Including chapters devoted to the franchise as well as the ‘fanchise’ element of the MGM original series, the book showcases the passion this show inspires in its viewers—from real-life scientists to fan fiction writers. Approaching the Possible offers insight into the multiple reasons for the show’s popularity while tackling everything from the mythology of Ancient Egypt to the series’ evolution as a CGI wunderkind. With no other episode guide on the market that covers every season of the series, this book is a must-have addition to any fan’s library.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The World Of Stargate SG1 Like Never Before! .......2007-05-16

This book has absolutely everything! From info on the SG1 characters, to info on the actors, to a complete guide to all the episodes from season 1 to 8. It also has 16 pages of amazing exclusive colour pictures, which is a definite must-see!

It is a must-have for new fans of SG1, because it gives an in-depth look at what the show is really about and also some vital info that will help you to get the maximum enjoyment out of Stargate SG1.

However, seasoned fans should not think that there is nothing for them. I have been a fan of SG1 from the very first season and, by reading the book, I was surprised at how much I didn't know about the show.

The book also gives you background info about the mythology and science involved in making one of the longest, most successful running shows on television and how the show has inspired from regular viewers to real-life scientists.

Exclusive interviews with various cast and crew also gives you a feeling of what goes on behind the scenes of SG1, and each gives their unique take on the show.

In short, everything you ever wanted to know about anything of Stargate SG1 is thrown into a wonderful mix and bound together in a book that is a must-have for anyone who considers themselves part of the Stargate SG1 'fanchise'.

5 out of 5 stars Follow the episode.......2007-03-14

I am a huge Stargate SG1 fan. This book helps you follow the episode and gives you a better understanding of what is happening to the characters.

2 out of 5 stars Long-winded, but a few good ideas.......2007-01-30

This book was written by an academic, and it shows. It's about as much fun reading as a college textbook. Even the title's pretentious. Most of the book is composed of short essays on each episode through season 8. I agreed with only half of the author's opinions. She was particularly harsh with "Birthright" and "Sacrifices" because they didn't sufficiently promote a feminist agenda. The denseness of some of the essays is just exhausting. After criticizing most aspects of a particular episode, the author concludes: "A Hundred Days is built on moments; like a string of pearls, each follows another, each with a different sheen but forming a whole. Ellipsis is a huge factor in the episode--not only in time, but in what remains unsaid. Each moment has significance, and it's on these increments that a story is constructed." Well, OK, then. The author also snarked on Keith Topping's fun "Beyond the Gate" (another unofficial SG-1 episode guide), which was unnecessary. There's an inadequate table of contents and no index, so it's difficult look up a specific episode. After slogging through descriptions rife with terms like "binary opposition," "tropes," "didactic," and "metonymy," I felt the same frustration Jack does when Sam starts to explain her science--just get to the point already.

4 out of 5 stars Tops for space monkeys.......2007-01-23

While there's an attempt to include other material (brief bios of the lead actors, chapters on Stargate's fan following, etc), essentially this is an episode guide covering seasons 1 to 8 of Stargate SG1.

The unauthorised nature of the book is evidenced by the lack of any photos other than publicity stills of the main actors and candid shots taken at conventions. As a result, the illustrations are not a strong point. The text, however, is extensive and rather meatier than is the case in many "episode guide" publications. First and foremost, each episode receives a short critical essay, almost all of which are interesting, germane and erudite. As well as teasing out the themes, the author critiques whatever features of that particular episode have caught her eye; be it the acting, the scriptwriting, the direction, character development, the sociology, the contribution to the Stargate mythology, pop culture references, or even the actors' appearance (hairstyles get a consistent mention!). She's not afraid to slam weaknesses, or to give praise when it's warranted - and she's not above letting her tongue hang out over any notable eye-candy! I didn't always agree with her opinions, but she certainly prompted me to think again about some episodes, plot points and characters that I'd previously taken at face value.

In addition to the essay, each entry includes notes on any myths that inform the episode; interesting facts; the absolute pick of that episode's dialogue; and comment on what marks each episode out from `run of the mill' science fiction television. Although the original US airdate and writing and directing credits are given for each episode, this book doesn't try to give all the `vital statistics' that many other episode guides thrive on. For the most part this doesn't detract, though the extreme brevity of the plot summaries (one or two sentences at most) is not always helpful.

One major niggle; the lack of an index. Storm frequently references other episodes in her critical essays, but only by title. Readers without an absolutely encyclopaedic knowledge of every Stargate episode are going to want to flip back and check out "exactly what episode is that one she's referring to here", but the lack of an index (or even just the inclusion of an episode number with such references) makes this an exercise in extreme frustration.

All in all though, this is a satisfying and entertaining read (though perhaps for dipping into as you watch and rewatch episodes, rather than for reading cover to cover). The author has clearly put considerable thought into her analysis, and the breadth of her research is impressive, yet the style remains accessible.

3 out of 5 stars Not exactly a "must have".......2006-11-10

"Approaching the Possible" is a nice enough episode guide with some detailed, thoughtfully written extra features on the actors, the mythology and the fandom of Stargate. Yet I found myself in constant disagreement with the author's opinions. Episodes that seem to be generally well-received by the fans (such as season three's "Legacy"), she pans, yet episodes that even the most diehard fans scorned (such as season five's "The Tomb"), she praises. The author also makes some unusual selections when picking memorable quotes from each episode, often snubbing funnier, deeper or just plain more familiar lines for less interesting ones. While all the actors are praised at different times, Ms. Storm seems to have a particular fondness for Amanda Tapping; it seems that hardly a review goes by without Storm gushing over a line delivery or facial expression of Ms. Tapping's. The Sam worship gets a little nauseating in its excessiveness. Finally, while the candid color photos in the center of the book are lovely, the small black and white ones scattered throughout the book, almost exclusively taken at conventions, are a bit boring and repetitious.

Knowing now that this will be the last season of Stargate, I'm wishing I'd waited a year or more and purchased an episode guide featuring all ten seasons of Stargate.
Alternatives to Economic Globalization: A Better World Is Possible (BK Currents)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Untangling Globalization
  • Are You a Truth Seaker?
  • Insightful work
  • Making Sense of Globalisation
 Alternatives to Economic Globalization: A Better World Is Possible (BK Currents)

Manufacturer: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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  4. In Defense of Globalization In Defense of Globalization
  5. Making Globalization Work Making Globalization Work

ASIN: 1576753034

Book Description

The culmination of a five-year project by the International Forum on Globalization (IFG), this book presents an inspiring plan for moving toward more sustainable, humanistic models of economic prosperity with an emphasis on citizen democracies, local self-sufficiency, and ecological health. Areas of discussion include the ten core requirements for democratic societies as well as alternative systems of energy, agriculture, and manufacturing. Written by a premier group of 18 thinkers from around the world and edited by best-selling authors John Cavanagh and Jerry Mander, this revised and expanded edition represents the official consensus of the living democracy movement. Delving into the most compelling alternatives to globalization thus far, it features a chart on the effects of globalization and three entirely new chapters on the global balance of power, the media, and what ordinary people can do about globalization.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Untangling Globalization.......2006-10-07

We live in a world dominated by corporate superpowers that have no regard for the long-term welfare of the people, the economy, or the environment. These large transnational firms are reshaping the world and perpetuating a mass homogenization of cultures around the world. Many of the largest conglomerates in the world are American-owned. They export products and images that promote their bottom lines, not the welfare of individual countries or people. They covertly shift billions of dollars between different countries overnight or build retail chains that desecrate local economies. The sheer size and power of these organizations leaves many of us paralyzed with a lingering sense of disempowerment and an inability to imagine effective solutions.

This book offers us concrete answers and a list of actions we can take. The topical chapters allow you to go straight to the information you want and discover both grassroots and legislative solutions. As an additional bonus, a panel of experts in the various fields back up their perspectives with solid facts and figures. This is a indispensable book for any concerned citizen and an engaging read from cover to cover.

5 out of 5 stars Are You a Truth Seaker? .......2006-06-22

Caution: If confronting a nauseating reality is not in your agenda, turn back now. Alternatives to Economic Globalization exposes the consequences of the current corporate driven expansion era. Third world countries, bountiful with natural resources, are being exploited by Corporations. The rules of the globalization game are corruptly favorable to the rich foreigners. If you like to read scholarly books on economics, business, the environment, world injustices, the future, humanity and most importantly the truth, I'd say its worth your money and time.

5 out of 5 stars Insightful work.......2005-12-30

This book addresses many significant problems in the world today (2003-to present) from the vantage point of the capitalist critic. It preaches localization of centralized governments in third world countries as alternatives to the dominating presence of the WTO and ICC. Although these organizations allow impoverished countries to create jobs, in many instances the respective jobs come at the expense of the entire communities' well-being (water privatization). The text ties pollution problems to the need to maintain the economic machine. If you see anything on your TV news source (CNN, FOX News) about WTO protests in large cities, and seem troubled, then read this book. It will explain why the people marching on your TV screen are so angry.

5 out of 5 stars Making Sense of Globalisation.......2005-01-01

Globalisation is one of the most complex and influential movements of our time. Driven by major corporations in the West, it seeks to operate financial and commercial transactions to the benefit of all humans. In practice, there are few winners except the transnational corporations themselves. Having monopolised markets and financial institutions, corporations have also drawn up legal procedures whereby they can bypass even the nation state itself. The effects on poorer countries of the planet are devastating.

The impact of globalisation touches the lives of everybody on planet earth today. We need to be aware of how it works;only then do we stand any real chance of challenging and redirecting its movements. Among the many books on the subject, few are as simply but comprehensively written as the present volume. It provides an excellent overview with some valuable suggestions on how we can work together to create alternative startegies for a more just and equitable world order.
For a Future to Be Possible: Commentaries on the Five Mindfulness Trainings
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent guide to implement precepts into daily life
  • Time Out of Mindfulness
 For a Future to Be Possible: Commentaries on the Five Mindfulness Trainings
Thich Nhat Hanh
Manufacturer: Parallax Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1888375078

Book Description

The Five Mindfulness Trainings—protecting life, acting with generosity, behaving responsibly in sexual relationships, speaking and listening deeply and mindfully, and avoiding substance abuse—are the basic statement of ethics and morality in Buddhism. In For a Future to be Possible, Zen master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh and fourteen prominent co-authors discuss these Five Mindfulness Trainings and offer insights and challenges for how they might play an important role in our personal lives and in society.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Excellent guide to implement precepts into daily life.......2001-09-01

Thich Nhat Hanh has updated the traditional Buddhist precepts in this book. His version goes beyond "do not kill," for example, to be mindful of that we might be killing inadvertently. He makes us aware of the broadness of the precepts and thus encourages us to be more mindful. If we are not mindful, we break the precepts. Therefore, he calls them Mindfulness Trainings. Thay's approach frames the precepts in a way that is helpful in our daily life. He makes them relevant.

5 out of 5 stars Time Out of Mindfulness.......2001-07-10

In a world of deceit, excess, killing, lying and stealing, the present moment works with faith FOR A FUTURE TO BE POSSIBLE by enlightenment from the Buddha, the practice of love and understanding, and ever bigger and greater numbers of communities seeking wisdom, harmony and awareness. Art and meditation send energy into cell nutrition and nervous system health. Mindfulness teaches respect for all life, generosity, responsibility, careful speech and healthy diet for concentration and insight. Nobel Prize winner Thich Nhat Hanh's book is a beautifully reader-friendly steppingstone to THE GOOD HEART by the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, AWAKENING THE BUDDHIST HEART by Lama Surya Das, and LOVINGKINDNESS by Sharon Salzberg.

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