How to Be Lovely: The Audrey Hepburn Way of Life

Book Description

A charming guide to finding elegance in every aspect of life, featuring rarely seen photographs and revelations about the actress who perfected gracious living.

Propelled by popular titles such as Swell: A Girl's Guide to the Good Life and Three Black Skirts: All You Need to Survive, the decorum category touts plenty of trendy advice. But no one has demonstrated the power of poise as memorably as Audrey Hepburn, whose enchanting essence on and off the screen has easily withstood the test of time.

Inspired by a beloved icon who balanced sensibility and sex appeal, celebrity and humanitarian efforts with evident ease, How to Be Lovely examines the art of being a woman. More philosophy than biography, Hepburn fans will uncover the deeply thinking, deeply feeling woman who found success on the silver screen, in her own home and in the world at large. Through Hepburn's own words from interviews, what her friends said and behind-the-scenes stories, readers will develop a new outlook on their own careers, love lives, families, wardrobes, finances, health concerns, friendships, and the world at large.

Published to coincide with Audrey Hepburn's would be 75th birthday, How to Be Lovely features an elegant design worthy of the book's namesake. For the millions who continue to delight in Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday, and the woman behind them all, this is the guide to living genuinely with glamour and grace.

Customer Reviews:

I just love this book!!.......2006-11-04

This is such a wonderful book and a staple for how to deal with everyday things that life brings on. Audrey Hepburn was not only beautiful...but very wise. There is so many great quotes in this book...definitely a must read!!

Where have all the LADIES gone?.......2006-05-27

If pop star Pink sings "Where oh where have all the smart people gone, where oh where could they be?"... then this book cries "Where oh where have all the LADIES gone? Where oh where could they be?" If ever there is a role model for a renaissance in being a lady (not to be confused with a bombshell)... it is Audrey. Her grace, aristocratic sophistication, refinement, depth, humanitarian spirit, and genuine posh-like glamour was real as much as it was regal. In a world of cheap bombshell images the statement: that which is least seen is most beautiful is truer than ever. Audrey was an archetype of an era where being a lady was respected and advocated.

The Ultimate Guide to Loveliness, Both Inside and Out........2006-01-11

A lot of people misuse the term "hero." Lots of people think it's an athlete, an actor, or a singer. I regard Audrey Hepburn as my hero and a great role model. She was a rare and unusually timeless beauty with her gamine looks and a gorgeous accent, often mistaken as British, that also belied part of her time in Nazi occupied Holland. With the grace of a dancer and a princess to add to her intoxicating manner of speech, she had consistently excellent taste in clothes, impeccable hairstyles, and an approach to living that more people in this world would do well to adhere to.

Hepburn isn't a hero because of her time on screen; that's just an admirable sort of glamorous display. She fought the resistance as a brave young girl with her mother during WWII, helping the allies escape to freedom. Later in her life, when her career as an actress had more or less played itself out, she took her fame and used it to help give aid to children of third world countries who were starving as she and her fellow Dutchmen had all those years earlier. She was generous, humble, uncomplicated, and beautiful beyond the physical sense. Sure, she chain smoked and was insecure, she had that one crooked tooth and insisted she had a square face, but her physical beauty came from the simple brightness inside of her that was often illuminated by those large, exotic brown eyes. Je ne sais quoi, indeed! Audrey was a woman who knew how to be the consummate woman by keeping her approach to life simple and uncomplicated, yet managing to make people place her on a pedestal of goddess-like status. That is a gift few people possess, but she was able to utilize it with seemingly little work. Melissa Hellstern's book takes several quotes by Hepburn and friends, lots of great b&w photos, and turns them into something of a positive handbook to help women, regardless of any age, learn to possess simple, optimistic, life-affirming class.

Perfect Stocking Stuffer.......2005-12-01

I gave this book to my mom for Mother's Day and haven't stopped hearing how much she likes it. I highly recommend it as the perfect stocking stuffer, especially for the price on Amazon. Just ordered two more for my sisters.

Great transaction.......2005-09-09

The book was as described and received in a timely manner. Thank you!

Average customer rating:

Good excerpts from Hemingway. Not a comprehensive book on the subject of writing
Hemingway Uncensored
Author should be ashamed.
Publisher's tricks
He won the Nobel Prize in Literature for a reason

Ernest Hemingway on Writing

Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway: The Finca Vigia Edition
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ASIN: 0684854295

Amazon.com

"Throughout Ernest Hemingway's career as a writer," says Larry W. Phillips in his introduction to Ernest Hemingway on Writing, "he maintained that it was bad luck to talk about writing." Hemingway seems to have courted bad luck. Phillips has amassed a slender book's worth of Hemingway's reflections on writing, culled from letters, books, interviews, speeches, and an unpublished manuscript. These musings are arranged into topics such as "Advice to Writers," "Working Habits," and "Obscenity" (of which there is plenty here). Sometimes ponderous, other times offhand, these thoughts form a portrait of a man driven to create not solely the best writing he could, but the best writing, period. Hemingway craved exactness, both in his work and in the work of others; he strove to make every word necessary. "Eschew the monumental," he wrote to Maxwell Perkins in 1932. "Shun the Epic. All the guys who can paint great big pictures can paint great small ones." His aim? Mere perfection. "I write one page of masterpiece to ninety one pages of shit," he confided to F. Scott Fitzgerald in 1934. "I try to put the shit in the wastebasket." --Jane Steinberg

Book Description

"Throughout Hemingway's career as a writer, he maintained that it was bad luck to talk about writing -- that it takes off 'whatever butterflies have on their wings and the arrangement of hawk's feathers if you show it or talk about it.'"

Despite this belief, by the end of his life he had done just what he intended not to do. In his novels and stories, in letters to editors, friends, fellow artists, and critics, in interviews and in commissioned articles on the subject, Hemingway wrote often about writing. And he wrote as well and as incisively about the subject as any writer who ever lived....

This book contains Hemingway's reflections on the nature of the writer and on elements of the writer's life, including specific and helpful advice to writers on the craft of writing, work habits, and discipline. The Hemingway personality comes through in general wisdom, wit, humor, and insight, and in his insistence on the integrity of the writer and of the profession itself.

-- From the Preface by Larry W. Phillips

Download Description

"Throughout Hemingway's career as a writer, he maintained that it was bad luck to talk about writing - that it takes off 'whatever butterflies have on their wings and the arrangement of hawk's feathers if you show it or talk about it." Despite this belief, by the end of his life he had done just what he intended not to do. In his novels and stories, in letters to editors, friends, fellow artists, and critics, in interviews and in commissioned articles on the subject, Hemingway wrote often about writing. And he wrote as well and as incisively about the subject as any writer who ever lived... This book contains Hemingway's reflections on the nature of the writer and on elements of the writer's life, including specific and helpful advice to writers on the craft of writing, work habits, and discipline. The Hemingway personality comes through in general wisdom, wit, humor, and insight, and in his insistence on the integrity of the writer and of the profession itself. - From the Preface by Larry W. Phillips

Customer Reviews:

Good excerpts from Hemingway. Not a comprehensive book on the subject of writing.......2007-06-03

I found the book interesting enough for a quick glance, but not fascinating enough to recommend it as a must-have. The book is comprised of excerpts from different sources that deal with the topic of writing. Since Hemingway never wrote extensively on the topic of writing, he considered it bad luck; this is the most thorough book on the subject for Hemingway fans. But BECAUSE Hemingway never wrote much on the subject, the reader has to settle for an incomplete tome on the subject of writing.
In conclusion this is the best book on Hemingway's thoughts on writing, but not a comprehensive book on the subject.

Hemingway Uncensored.......2005-11-15

Eye-opening excerpts from many Hemingway letters to his closest friends, typos and all. Insightful and revealing. A must-have for any Hemingway fan or aspiring writer. Mice: Pick this up at your own peril. This is true Hemingway, he pulls no punches. Such a short read though, regrettably much too short, although the Hemingway gems scattered throughout this sparse booklet are still well worth the price. Being that he never intended this material to be published, it shows his honesty as a writer as much as it reveals in snapshot style, his honesty in how he lived and survived his short, magnificent life. It's editor (Phillips) unwittingly perhaps, might have made Hemingway proud after all. Including not one, but many of the truest sentences you'll ever read.

Author should be ashamed........2005-06-24

This book is little more than sentence fragments and out of context quotations attributed to Ernest Hemingway. This book is not the least bit useful to a person interested in learning to write better. This book is not useful to a person hoping to learn more about the life or character of Ernest Hemingway.

The book is 140 pages, but each page has almost as much white-space as text.

This book is a sham, a scam, a ruse. [...] Or perhaps "assembled" would be a better word. [...]

Save your money. Don't buy this book.

Publisher's tricks.......2004-11-26

This is a review of the product (paperback version), not of the writing, nor of the editor's selections, which are well reviewed by other customers. I bought the book online so I did not get a chance to leaf through it before buying it. Had I been able to do so, I would probably not have bought it. The publisher has used every possible trick to stretch the limited quantity of material over as many pages as possible.

The main culprits are the huge margins. I measured the area of the page, and then the area used for printing the actual content (excluding the chapter and book names at the top and excluding the page number at the bottom) and found only 41% was being used. As a rough comparison, Stephen King's 'On Writing' (paperback version) uses almost 63% of the page.

Then there is the separator between quotations - over two centimeters for each. On pages containing three of them, almost 40% of the content area is taken up by these separators.

The first page of each chapter (there are thirteen chapters in a book of 140 pages) also wastes more space than necessary - 45% to 48% percent of the page is used for the chapter heading.

I could not enjoy this book because I was constantly distracted by the realization that I had bought a very small book dressed up to look much bigger.

He won the Nobel Prize in Literature for a reason.......2003-11-23

Of course, I've read everything he wrote, but I wasn't prepared to get the key information on writing enclosed in this little book. Most people think Hemingway was a rough and tumble guy who wrote in his spare time when he had the urge. Most other times, the legend goes, he was too busy drinking, fishing, or womanizing. This book clearly shows that ain't so. He spent most of his time, the way real writers do: Writing and thinking about writing. Often he would check into a hotel, let everyone know he was there, and then stay somewhere else so as not to be disturbed from his main mission. The gems of informations depicted here come in the form of advice to the Mice (H's term for young student writers) from Y.C. (your correspondent). Did you know, for instance, "Most live writers do not exist. Their fame is created by critics who always need a genius of the season, someone they understand completely and feel safe in praising, but when these fabricated geniuses are dead they will not exist." Or how about this gem: "If an sonofbitch could write he wouldn't have to teach in college." Particulary interesting is Papa's advice to writers about reading. He was of the opinion that most writers write too much and don't read enough. His advice is to master Tolstoi, Flaubert, Mann, Joyce, Fielding, Mark Twain, Stendhal, Dostoevskis, Crane, Kipling, Turgenev, Hudson, James, (on and on so fast you can't write them down, three times that many) before you start writing. Very good advice, I would say. His point being you must first read the literature before you can write literature. This book does omit one piece of advice that H never gave but which he practiced by example. He memorized the King James Bible (cf Moveable Feast) and could recite it by heart. He did this to get down into the very structure of his brain the cadences that express beauty and truth effectively. The secret of his terse style is therefore the secret of clear and simple expression as in that wonderful version of the Bible.

Oxymoronica: Paradoxical Wit & Wisdom From History's Greatest Wordsmiths

Average customer rating:

Wonderfully enlightening
Conversation Starter
I doubt whether there can be a better concise collection of HQ oxymorons
A Tool For Wordsmiths: Mini-Review of "Oxymoronica" by Dr. Mardy Grothe
A little more literature

Oxymoronica: Paradoxical Wit & Wisdom From History's Greatest Wordsmiths
Mardy Grothe
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Quotations | Reference | Subjects | Books

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The Most Brilliant Thoughts of All Time (In Two Lines or Less)
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ASIN: 0060536993
Release Date: 2004-03-02

Book Description

ox-y-mor-on-i-ca (OK-se-mor-ON-uh-ca) noun, plural: Any variety of tantalizing, self-contradictory statements or observations that on the surface appear false or illogical, but at a deeper level are true, often profoundly true. See also oxymoron, paradox.

examples:

"Melancholy is the pleasure of being sad."
Victor Hugo

"To lead the people, walk behind them."
Lao-tzu

"You'd be surprised how much it costs to look this cheap."
Dolly Parton

You won't find the word "oxymoronica" in any dictionary (at least not yet) because Dr. Mardy Grothe introduces it to readers in this delightful collection of 1,400 of the most provocative quotations of all time. From ancient thinkers like Confucius, Aristotle, and Saint Augustine to great writers like Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and G. B. Shaw to modern social observers like Woody Allen and Lily Tomlin, Oxymoronica celebrates the power and beauty of paradoxical thinking. All areas of human activity are explored, including love, sex and romance, politics, the arts, the literary life, and, of course, marriage and family life. The wise and witty observations in this book are as highly entertaining as they are intellectually nourishing and are sure to grab the attention of language lovers everywhere.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderfully enlightening.......2007-07-16

The quotes in this pithy little book are full of wit and wisdom. I have shared many of them with friends and family. It will be worthwhile reading for anyone who cares about words, history and real "rubber-meets-the-road" intelligence.

Conversation Starter.......2006-12-21

My mother bought this for me for Christmas one year...she calls me her little oxymoron. She just means that I love witty uses of language...and this book was perfect for me, because it's full of just that! It's split into 14 different chapters, each one showcasing a different type of oxymoron. This was very helpful, because it's easy to flip to whichever section you're in the mood for. This is a great book to set on your coffee table, because it will be a conversations starter at any gathering.

I love how there were oxymorons that make me giggle:
"Be spontaneous." (think about that one!!)

And ones that were just true and thoughtful:
"To lead the people, walk behind them." - Lao-tzu

A great gift for anyone who enjoys the fun of playing with the English language.

I doubt whether there can be a better concise collection of HQ oxymorons.......2006-08-09

I didnt expect that this handy little green book could contain so many oxymorons in 14 chapters (13 categories). Definitely a very useful and affordable tool in anyone's bookshelf for reference whenever necessary. Highly recommended!

Below please find some of my favorites for your consideration.

Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness. - Chuang Tzu pg 8
Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's own ignorance. - Confucius pg 8
You cant say civilization isnt advancing, in every war they kill you in a new way. - Will Rogers pg 9
I am a man of fixed and unbending principles, the first of which is to be flexible at all times. - Everett Dirksen pg 27
We learn from history that we do not learn from history. - Georg Hegel pg 34
In the act of loving, you arm another person against you. - anonymous pg 53
Women are never stronger than when they arm themselves with their weaknesses. - Marie Du Deffand pg 62
Most women set out to try to change a man, and when they have changed him they do not like him. - Marlene Dietrich pg 62
Deep down, he's shallow. - anonymous pg 147
Common sense is not so common. - Voltaire pg 181
I dont think I am any good. If I thought I was any good, I wouldnt be. - John Betjeman pg 184
I must be cruel only to be kind. - Hamlet pg 198
I can give you a definite perhaps. - Samuel Goldwyn pg 214

A Tool For Wordsmiths: Mini-Review of "Oxymoronica" by Dr. Mardy Grothe.......2006-05-31

I have always found words to be marvelous tools, weapons or playthings - depending on who is wielding them and in what tone of voice. I marvelous at those who have the talent to express time-tested ideas in new and entertaining ways. So, I was delighted to find this little gem, written by Dr. Mardy Grothe: Oxymoronica - Paradoxical Wit and Wisdom from History's Greatest Wordsmiths." This HarperCollins book will be added to my bookshelf of hand reference works.

According to Dr. Grothe's own definition, "oxymoronica" are: "Any variety of tantalizing, self-contradictory statements or observations that on the surface appear false or illogical, but at a deeper level are true, often profoundly true."

The author has been collecting memorable quotations for many years, and out of the tens of thousands in his collection, he chose two hundred pages worth that best represent the art of verbal paradox.

I could share quotations from every page that are worth passing on, but to keep this mini-review from become too "maxi," I will share only a few quotations culled from my favorite authors.

From Dickens - the immortal opening passage to A Tale of Two Cities:

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,
It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,
It was the epoch of believe, it was the epoch of incredulity,
It was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness,
It was the spring of hope, it was the spring of despair,
We had everything before us, we had nothing before us,
We were all going direct to Heaven,
We were all going direct the other way."
(Page 197)

From Dickens Bleak House:

"He is an honorable, obstinate, truthful, high-spirited, intensely prejudiced, perfectly reasonable man."
(Page 205)

From Dostoyevsky's Notes from the Underground:

"In despair there are the most intense enjoyments, especially when one is very acutely conscious of the hopelessness of one's position."

"Man is sometimes extraordinarily, passionately, in love with suffering."
(Page 200)

From Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye:

"As in the case of many misanthropes, his disdain for people led him into a profession designed to serve them."
(Page 201)

From Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard:

"When a lot of remedies are suggested for a disease, that means it can't be cured."
(Page 204)

Joseph Heller, in Catch-22, is a veritable fount of oxymoronic wit and wisdom:

"Even amongst men lacking all distinction he inevitably stood out as a man lacking more distinction than all the rest, and people who met him where always impressed by how unimpressive he was."

"The Texan turned out to be good-natured, generous and likeable. In three days, no one could stand him."

Heller - in Something Happened:

"When I grow up I want to be a little boy."
(Page 207)

From Aldous Huxley in Point Counter Point:

"Several excuses are always less convincing than one."
(Page 208)

Washington Irving in Bracebridge Hall:

"Whenever a man's friends begin to compliment him about looking young, he may be sure that they think he is growing old."
(Page 208)

Edgar Allan Poe in The Purloined Letter:

"The best place to hide anything is in plain view."
(Page 211)

George Bernard Shaw in Man and Superman:

"The most unbearable pain is produced by prolonging the keenest pleasure."

Another Shavian gem, from Heartbreak House:

"The surest way to ruin a man who doesn't know how to handle money is to give him some."
(Page 212)

Finally, Alexander Solzhenitsyn in The First Circle:

"You only have power over people as long as you don't take everything away form them. But when you've robbed a man of everything he's no longer in your power - he's free again."
(Page 212)

This is a book you can read in one sitting, and then will return to again and again for inspiration and delight.

In keeping with the spirit of the book, let me conclude: "This little volume is a quick snack that will feed you for a lifetime!"

Enjoy!

Al

A little more literature.......2006-03-14

This book has a more unique viewpoint than most others of its type, which makes it a bit more interesting. It takes more thought to analyze the entries, so that it serves as a "wake up" medium for emphasis when it accompanies other thoughts that one wants to express.

Viva la Repartee: Clever Comebacks and Witty Retorts from History's Great Wits and Wordsmiths

Average customer rating:

Very entertaining -- and educational!
BE WARNED!
Felicitous, Malicious, Salacious... Delicious!
Viva la Repartee
How I Wish I'd Said That...

Viva la Repartee: Clever Comebacks and Witty Retorts from History's Great Wits and Wordsmiths
Mardy Grothe
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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Oxymoronica: Paradoxical Wit & Wisdom From History's Greatest Wordsmiths
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Phillips' Book of Great Thoughts & Funny Sayings: A Stupendous Collection of Quotes, Quips, Epigrams, Witticisms, and Humorous Comments. For Personal Enjoyment and Ready Reference.

ASIN: 0060789484
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Book Description

Everyone knows the sensation of utter regret that occurs once you've hung up the phone or said your goodbyes, and that perfect turn of phrase or witty remark comes to your mind with absolute clarity much too late. Viva La Repartee pays humble homage to those brilliant and rare responses throughout history that were expressed at the perfect moment and delivered with an aplomb that will have you pumping your fist with sweet satisfaction. From politicians and authors to entertainers and philosophers, Mardy Grothe has assembled the ultimate collection of comebacks, retorts, rejoinders, and banter from some of history's greatest wordsmiths, including Oscar Wilde, Woody Allen, Dorothy Parker, Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Dolly Parton, Albert Einstein, and much more. As entertaining as it is intellectually nourishing, Viva La Repartee is sure to arrest the attention of language lovers everywhere.

Download Description

For most of us, that perfect retort or witty reply often escapes us when we need it most, only to come to mind with perfect clarity when it's too late to be useful. The twentieth-century writer Heywood Broun described this all-too-common phenomenon when he wrote ""Repartee is what we wish we'd said.""

In Viva la Repartee, Dr. Mardy Grothe, author of Oxymoronica, has lovingly assembled a collection of masterfully composed -- and perfectly timed -- replies that have turned the tables on opponents and adversaries. This delightful volume is a celebration of the most impressive retorts, ripostes, rejoinders, comebacks, quips, ad-libs, bon mots, off-the-cuff comments, wisecracks, and other clever remarks ever to come out of the mouths -- and from the pens -- of people throughout history. Touching on all areas of human endeavor, including politics, the arts, literature, sports, relationships, and even the risqué, the book features contributions from Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, Dorothy Parker, Mae West, Groucho Marx, Winston Churchill, Dolly Parton, and scores more.

As entertaining as it is intellectually enriching, Viva la Repartee is sure to capture the attention of language lovers and is the perfect antidote for anyone who's ever thought I wish I'd said that!

Customer Reviews:

Very entertaining -- and educational!.......2006-07-11

Entertaining little book packed full of examples of great comebacks and wit from a variety of different times, different people, and different circumstances. The book is broken down into chapters focusing on a specific type of repartee, such as "Classic Quips," "Laconic Repartee," "Stage & Screen Repartee," and "Inadvertent Repartee" (as well as many others). Some of them made me laugh out loud, and usually those were coming from the same three people: Oscar Wilde, Winston Churchill, and Dorothy Parker. But there were a gazillion I'd never heard of that were pretty hilarious as well. This is an engaging, funny, and educational (really, it is!) book that I enjoyed reading quite a bit. Great for when you only have time for short snatches of reading. I've learned a lot of slammin' comebacks I hope to have a chance to use soon!

My one complaint about the book, though, is that it was missing the best witty laconic (extremely brief) response of all time. During the Battle of the Bulge in WWII, the Germans sent a message to the American army demanding our unconditional surrender, or else we'd be annihilated. General McAuliffe's one word response? "Nuts!" Damn, I just love that one. Recommended!

BE WARNED!.......2006-05-28

Much as overindulgence on bon-bons can lead to deleterious effects, so can feasting on too many bon mots. After staying up late and stuffing myself on the witticisms of George Bernard Shaw, Dorothy Parker, and company, I found myself looking for any angle to slip in a quip. And after reading this amusing and well-researched book, I am loaded with ammo.

Felicitous, Malicious, Salacious... Delicious!.......2006-03-25

This is a wonderful book that introduced me to many great quips and one-liners I had never before heard, even from the legends like Winston Churchill, Dorothy Parker and Mark Twain. Grothe's little proem before each quip gives great context and makes them even more unforgettable.

This is a great gift to give yourself, or - for that matter - to anyone who enjoys dancing, sparring or fencing with that most able of partners, the English language.

Viva la Repartee.......2006-02-28

Amusing book to keep by your favorite reading chair. Something I will pick up and re-read.

How I Wish I'd Said That..........2006-02-26

...or a reasonable facsimile thereof. I ordered this book as a present for my daughter who is in early her forties and is an attorney in family law. I speed-read the book and found it really entertaining. My daughter loved it! I wrote in my dedication, "perhaps you can use a couple of these in court." THAT certainly would add excitement to those court hearings!

The Wisdom of the Desert: Sayings from the Desert Fathers of the Fourth Century (Shambhala Library)

Average customer rating:

Where's the beef?
Inspirational
Illuminating, lively and uniquely humorous
Wisdom for all
A wisdom well warmed

The Wisdom of the Desert: Sayings from the Desert Fathers of the Fourth Century (Shambhala Library)
Thomas Merton
Manufacturer: Shambhala
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Desert Wisdom: Sayings from the Desert Fathers
The Forgotten Desert Mothers: Sayings, Lives, and Stories of Early Christian Women
In the Heart of Desert: The Spiritualilty of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (Treasures of the World's Religions)
The Sayings of the Desert Fathers (Cistercian studies 59)
Wisdom of the Desert (New Directions)

ASIN: 1590300394
Release Date: 2004-11-16

Book Description

In the fourth century, the wildernesses of Egypt and Palestine were inhabited by a strange breed of spiritual nonconformists: the first Christian hermits. Thomas Merton's affection for these "Desert Fathers" shines in this much-loved treasury of their acts and words of wisdom. His free translation from the Latin source Verba Senorium illuminates their radical lives with insight and humor and sets them in close relation to Zen recluses, Hindu renunciants, and all those who have ever fled conventional life in search of higher wisdom.

Customer Reviews:

Where's the beef?.......2007-07-14

A HUGE disappointment. I was expecting some jewels that would give reflection on today's hectic society, found none. Got a good public library? Use their copy first before you buy.

Inspirational.......2007-01-06

As adorable as it is, it's hard to report on it. Merton here captures nearly 150 snippets of life in the desert, stories from the early church hermits. It is entirely narrative, ranging from sentence-long to page-long vignettes about the lives of those who sought to know on the Lord. At first I though I would list the numbers of all the stories that I found significant or inspirational, but soon the list became so long that it was just a senseless string. My copy is now very dog-eared.

Given that, like the narratives of the Bible, there is a clear intention of teaching you something without a clear summary of what was taught, perhaps the best summary is a highlight of the themes that stand out.
Humility seems to be the key virtue of the desert. Removing one's self from the world and society is a way of preventing one's self from being distracted from vanity. All of the promises of earthly life draw one into considerations of personal gain rather than into an honest assessment of one's place before God. Even within the monastery, monks should avoid bragging about themselves or their sacrifices.

Secondarily, but not independently, is a flight from money. The monk is to give away his last two pence so as to be free from worry, savings, and distraction. They live on little food, mostly bread.

Lack of judgment of others is a key value. Repeatedly the stories that Merton has collected warn us that we have no basis on which to evaluate others. Beautifully, the stories lead us to evaluate ourselves without pointing fingers our way. Instead, the monk must excel in forgiveness.

It's not without humorous moments, though subtle. When a monk declares (proudly) that he does not need to work because he is so dedicated to prayer and study of God, the other monks don't call him down at dinner time.

As far as pragmatic application to my ministry, it is rare that I hear the call to humility and self-surrender. As I carry these stories around, they will shape the way I react to others.

I love this book.

Illuminating, lively and uniquely humorous .......2006-02-20

This should be the third review of the book and first of all I must say that the first two by Mcevoy and Messick respectively are great ones with concise description and praise of it. However, I would like to add one more point. The author corrected me, against my previous misperception that monks at that time were dull and serious, that they could be very humorous in preaching the way of God by their very own words and acts. Below please find two of the relatively short stories for your reference.

(A brother told an elder that he wouldnt give up taking revenge) The elder stood up and began to pray in these terms: O God, Thou art no longer necessary to us, and we no longer need Thee to take care of us since, as this brother says, we both can and will avenge ourselves. At this the brother promised to give up his idea of revenge. Pg 68

A devil transformed into an angel of light and said to a brethen: I am the Angel Gabriel, and I have been to thee. But the brother said: Think again - you must have been sent to somebody else. I havent done anything to deserve an angel. Immediately the devil ceased to appear. Pg 120

Of course there are many more insightful passages, like:-

For Scripture says that Abraham was hospitable and God was with him. Elias loved solitary prayer, and God was with him. And David was humble, and God was with him. Therefore whatever you see your soul to desire according to God, do that thing, and you shall keep your heart safe. Pg 33

If, wishing to correct another, you are moved to anger, you gratify your own passion. Do not lose yourself in order to save another. pg 50

If you have a chest full of clothing, and leave it for a long time, the clothing will rot inside it. It is the same with the thoughts in our heart. If we do not carry them out by physical action, after a long while they will spoil and turn bad. Pg 79

One man carries an axe all his life and never cuts down a tree. Another, who knows how to cut, gives a few swings and the tree is down. This axe is discretion. Pg 84

The devil told an abbot: I suffer great violence from you because I cannot overcome you. For see, I do all the things that you do. You fast, and I eat nothing at all. You watch, and I never sleep. But there is one thing alone in which you overcome me....Your humility. Pg 114

One of the elders was asked what was humility, and he said: If you forgive a brother who has injured you before he himself asks pardon. Pg 118

A certain philosopher asked a St. Anthony: How can you be so happy when you are deprived of the consolation of books? Anthony replied: My book is the nature of created things and any time I want to read the words of God the book is before me.

In short, a great spiritual food for thought. Dont miss it.

Wisdom for all.......2005-12-20

No, this is not a book for a `Survivor' wannabe, nor is it a guide for those who dream of crossing the great deserts of the world. But it is a guide of sorts, or more a companion for our pathways in life. This is a new reprinting of a collection of sayings from the desert fathers and mothers of the fourth century.

You might ask, "Who are the desert fathers and mothers, and what written in the fourth century could be of any use to us today?" and they would both be good questions. The desert fathers were people who felt Christianity was losing its way, so they decided to return to a simpler life and went to the desert to seek solitude and god. However to some extent their plan failed; soon people realized these men and women had wisdom and guidance if one could ask them. So some of them developed great followings.

This collection is unique among those I have seen. in that it does not sort the sayings by author, or by subject, but rather it is a random smattering that the reader can meander through in order, or randomly flip open and read whichever one they come across. Merton in his introduction states, "This collection of sayings from the Verba Seniorum is by no means intended as a piece of research scholarship--this book is designed entirely for the reader's interest and edification." I believe it lives up to that goal.

At just under 200 pages, this book is short and sweet. Some of the more obscure sayings have been omitted and what is left is a collection of thoughts, meditations and reflections that can help us examine our lives. A few examples of the wisdom are:

"XLVI
Abbot Pastor said: `If you have a chest full of clothing, and leave it for a long time, the clothing will rot inside it. It is the same with the thoughts in our heart. If we do not carry them out by physical action, after a long while they will spoil and turn bad'."

And

"XLVII
He said, again: `Malice will never drive out malice. But if someone does evil to you, you should do good to him, so that by your good work you may destroy his malice'."
For more, pick up the book and check it out.

A wisdom well warmed.......2005-10-02

Thomas Merton was perhaps the best known monastic of the last century. That he was a Trappist perhaps puts him in the best contemporary context from which to understand the Desert Fathers - the kind of hermit/distance existence that they had does not really exist in the world today (true, there are a few who carry on the tradition in the deserts of Egypt and a few other places, but often even they advise against this becoming a trend in Christian practice again). The Trappists are among those for whom silence and solitude are intentional practices, much like the Desert Fathers.

Merton, a talented writer on matters spiritual, states in the Author's note that his intention was not to produce a new 'edition' by academic standards, or to do any piece of new research. Rather, Merton set out to produce an accessible collection of wisdom sayings that had been contained in the collection 'Verba Seniorum', a Latin text of stories and proverbs handed down from the Desert Fathers and those who knew and wrote about them.

In the fourth century, while Christianity was still struggling as a minority (sometimes a violently oppressed minority) in the Empire, there were those who saw that the greater threat to the new faith was not the imperial officials and their forces, but rather the attractions and lure of the cities. It was very easy to put forth the claim that the world was not a Christian one, and that one would have to renounce the world to live an authentically Christian life - the Desert Fathers tended to do this renunciation in rather dramatic fashion (and, to varying extent, this is what monastics continue to do to this day). This renunciation was true even with official tolerance and imperial imprimatur, for Christianity was still the decided minority.

Merton states that it is a mistake to think that the Desert Fathers were isolationist individuals, however - 'the very fact that they uttered these "words" of advice to one another is proof that they were eminently social.' They sought an equality amongst themselves under God, and were welcoming toward those who sought them for instruction and wisdom.

In this collection, the 'Verba Seniorum' are perhaps the most true to the actual words of the Desert Fathers that we can get. Most writing about them came from people who added literary flourishes and often hagiographic legendary material into the mix; these are much more simple. They are 'the plain, unpretentious reports that went from mouth to mouth in the Coptic tradition before being committed to writing in Syriac, Greek and Latin.'

Over and over again, the Desert Fathers stress love above all. Their love reaches out for tolerance toward others, even as they sometimes seem to be intolerant toward themselves. Perhaps their generosity toward others came from a recognition of the faults of their own and the hope that God will deal more generously with them as they strive to deal generously with others.

'One of the brethren had sinned, and the priest told him to leave the community. So then Abbot Bessarion got up and walked out with him, saying: I too am a sinner!'

This is a wonderful, heartfelt, wise collection. It is not organised according to any overarching theme or systematic theological paradigm, but rather like a collecton of 'quotable quotes', often seemingly random. I often take the book and open it at random, to see what insights I can gain from it that day.

Benjamin Franklin's the Art of Virtue: His Formula for Successful Living

Average customer rating:

Love Ben Franklin
Timeless work
Great Buy
The "Right Way"
Looking for a mental challenge? Look no further.

Benjamin Franklin's the Art of Virtue: His Formula for Successful Living
Benjamin Franklin
Manufacturer: Acorn Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Success | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Ethics & Morality | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0938399101

Book Description

Benjamin Franklin's The Art of Virtue consists of a collection of Franklin's writings organized around his timeless philosophy on such topics as: goal setting and personal achievement, obtaining wealth and preserving health, human relations and family living, religion and morality, aging and dying, and much, much more.

Full of profound insights, delightful humor, quotable quotes, and plenty of common sense; The Art of Virtue provides wonderful reading for both young and old alike.

Customer Reviews:

Love Ben Franklin.......2007-01-24

Great book on Benjamin Franklin's life. This book will make you a better person. Read it and digest it.

Timeless work.......2006-03-29

When you look at the cover and the preface, the book may appear to be written by Benjamin Franklin, but that is somewhat misleading. Sure, the essence of the book comes from the writings of B.F., but the editor of the book has also done a great job of putting a collection of writings by Franklin into an excellent structure.

Twelve virtues are identified answering key questions about the source of happiness, how to attain it, and many other important aspects of life. Each virtue is supported by B.F.'s writings. I especially liked the summaries at the end of each chapter that would emphasize the essential points of the corresponding virtue.

This is a very accessible book, and a great companion for anyone who thinks life should be more than pursuing selfish goals and satisfying petty pleasures.

Perhaps, this work is more useful in understanding B.F.'s wisdom than his autobiography, which is another great classic.

I was slightly confused as to why the book was presented to be merely a book by B.F., given that the editor has contributed quite a bit in terms of organization and explanations. Perhaps to improve the sales?

In any event, this is a great work that, I bet, will improve the perspective of anyone who reads it actively.

Great Buy.......2002-12-05

An inspiring book written by an amazing author. Ok, so he is my dad, but he didn't pay me to say any of this stuff:)

The "Right Way".......2000-10-17

A book like this should be mandatory reading for everyone. Particularly people who represent other people's interests for a living, such as World Leaders, Presidents, Kings, etc., would find it absolutely useful; a kind of constant tool, a compass that keeps them on the right track once and again. This is a book that shows not only Franklin's wit and wisdom, but also his vulnerability, that wonderful human quality, thus making it enchanting and insightful. Buy this book, learn and practice these principles, and enjoy the new breath of fresh air you'll experience in your life.

Looking for a mental challenge? Look no further........2000-04-03

I saw this book one day when I was browsing Franklin Covey planners in the mall. It had been awhile since I read something not business related so I thought I'd give this a shot. I'll be honest when I tell you I enjoy a good read but this book took me about one year to read from beginning to end. The first few chapters weren't too bad but then it got into a section about a debate between two philosophers on the definition of virtue and why one should practice a virtuous life. I've never read anything that mentally straining in my life (my degree is in Mechanical Engineering BTW). I enjoy the arts but that one section took me about a month before I could fully digest what the philosophers were saying in the span of less than 2 pages. This one section proved so enlightening that my head hurt for about 2 days after I had a chance to chew on the content. If you had any doubts that the founding forefathers of this great nation were anything but geniuses, this should dispell any and all myths. I must say that I even had to break out the dictionary for some of the diction used in this book in that it was definitely not your everyday conversational english. If you enjoy mental challenges of a higher level and your mastery of the English language is proficient enough to understand the fine nuances of sentence structure and double, sometimes triple meanings, I would recommend this book. If you're looking for something a little more entertaining and easier on the mind, then definitely look somewhere else. But I will admit, when I did finally complete this book one year later, I actually felt a major sense of accomplishment. I guess that makes me just a little more virtuous?

The Quotable Fulton Sheen: A Topical Compilation of the Wit, Wisdom, and Satire of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

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Great lessons from a wise man and future saint

The Quotable Fulton Sheen: A Topical Compilation of the Wit, Wisdom, and Satire of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Fulton Sheen
Manufacturer: Galilee Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0385262264
Release Date: 1989-10-27

Customer Reviews:

Great lessons from a wise man and future saint.......2007-01-01

This book of Archbishop Fulton Sheen's greatest quotes can provide inspiration and wise counsel to any reader of any age.

Many of his books are out of print and subsequently his works and wisdom are less accessible these days. This book saves some of his greatest thoughts, ideas and observations and delivers them in a quotation format.

This book is very readable. One can pick it up for a few moments or keep reading for an hour and not be disappointed with the time spent.

I'd love for it to be produced on an audio edition.

The Catholic Church and America are blessed and fortunate to claim this man as their citizen. May he be remembered for many centuries to come.

Fulton Sheen pray for us.

Average customer rating:

AMAZING
A different ALI approach
A Useless Book - Save A Tree - Do not Buy This Book!
The Greatest
A Blast from the Past

Ali Rap

Manufacturer: Taschen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on Life's Journey
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Sound and Fury: Two Powerful Lives, One Fateful Friendship

ASIN: 3822851566

Book Description

Before there was hip-hop: from the publisher that brought you the biggest book on Ali, here comes the smallest This book contains over 300 rap rhythms, witticisms, insults, wisecracks, politically incorrect quips, courageous stands and words of inspiration from the mind, heart and soul of the brash young Cassius Clay, as he steadily grew into the magnificent man who is Muhammad Ali. From a narcissistic self-promoter who eventually became a man of enduring spirituality through a journey of formidable tests, Ali has emerged as a true superhero in the annals of American history, and the Worldwide Ambassador of Courage and Conviction. This fresh, first-person book serves as a hilarious and moving hands-on autobiography by Muhammad Ali, the intrepid man of action who spoke in soundbites, all wittily and powerfully visualized by the provocateur graphic designer, George Lois.

Customer Reviews:

AMAZING.......2007-02-25

I am soo happy I bought this! The quotes are awesome but the layout design and pictures are amazing! You can read it through or just flip to random pages and it is just as interesting. There is a caption explaining the circumstances for each quote so even if you know nothing about Ali you'll understand. This is definitely worth the money. GET IT!

A different ALI approach.......2007-02-19

This is a compact book with great graphics with a whole slew of Muhammed's sayings contained within. If you are a collector of Ali stuff , this is a great addition to your library.

A Useless Book - Save A Tree - Do not Buy This Book!.......2007-01-31

There are scores and scores of books written about the greatest athlete of our time, Muhammad Ali. In fact, Ali is the the most written about athlete ever. He has gone from being the most hated man in America in 1967 to the most revered today. Spanning his glory years, authors literally tripped over themselves to explain and reveal the complex and amazing person that is Muhummad Ali. An Ali book collection can easily consume an entire bookcase, afterall, his life and career have been disected by dozens and dozens of writers, from Norman Mailer to Howard Cosell to George Plimpton.

To celebrate Ali's 65th birthday, comes the release of "Ali Rap". Contrary to what other reviewers have written, I find this to be a completely useless book. (I may have spoken too soon labelling it useless, as it may make a good paperweight as it is relatively small in size but thick). I "read" it in one brief sitting and was completely unimpressed. Don't waste your money on this assortment of Ali poems and sayings.

The "book" is a collection of Ali's poems and sayings with pictures that are mostly appropriate to the meaning of the poem or occasion. The pictures are not that special, there being many other much better done Ali photograph books. And the poems are all ones that the Ali fan has heard before. The only unique quality of this book is that the poems are all brought together in one volume.

The price is outrageous in my opinion for something with so little content. Literally, I went through this book in about 30 minutes. There was nothing that intrigued me about it or make me want to read it again. I am hoping to donate it to the library or sell it at a garage sale.

I am a HUGE Ali fan and have read dozens of Ali books and this is clearly the worst of the worst. Avoid it - it will disappoint you if you are looking for something to understand the heart and soul of M. Ali. Instead, buy the DVD Ali Rap - now that will grab your interest. This book is a mere afterthought.

Save a tree - don't buy this book!

Jim 'Konedog" Koenig

The Greatest.......2007-01-29

I bought this book on impulse and love it from the first page. I was born the year Ali fought the "Rumble in the Jungle" and grew up on old clips my dad had on VCR. I was so engrossed in the book that I read it while trying to drive and I almost ran off the road. I doubt Ali was the originator of rap. As I read, it seemed to me that while it appeared he was able to rap at the drop of the hat, I suddenly realized that Ali probably spent hours trying to write this stuff down before quipping it in front of the media. He wanted it to seem natural. One of my all time favorite books. Strongly recommended.

A Blast from the Past.......2007-01-16

I first read about Cassius Clay in Ring Magazine when I was 10 years old and he was a youngster fighting in Louisville, Kentucky. I rooted for him during the 1960 Olympics, and cheered for him throughout his career. This book brought back many memories and reminded me of what a breath of fresh air he was during the sixties. I'm not sure if Ali was the "Father of Rap" as Mr. Lois postulates, but he certainly set the stage for the many colorful athletes who have followed him and tried, unsuccessfully, to match his brash, colorful, and charming use of words. He was one of a kind, and this book reminds us of just how amazing he was.

Speak the Speech!: Shakespeare's Monologues Illuminated

Average customer rating:

So much help...
Unbelievably useful and clear.
simply the best
Great help for even a layman to understand Shakespeare
How An Actor Prepares

Speak the Speech!: Shakespeare's Monologues Illuminated
Rhona Silverbush , and Sami Plotkin
Manufacturer: Faber & Faber
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0571211224

Book Description

The most comprehensive sourcebook of Shakespeare's monologues ever available in one volume.

A detailed guide to approaching Shakespearean text, Speak the Speech! contains everything an actor needs to select and prepare a Shakespeare monologue for classwork, auditions, or performance.

Included herein are over 150 monologues. Each one is placed in context with a brief introduction, is carefully punctuated in the manner that best illustrates its meaning, and is painstakingly and thoroughly annotated. Each is also accompanied by commentary that will spark the actor's imagination by exploring how the interrelationship of meter and the choice of words and sounds yields clues to character and performance. And throughout the book sidebars relate historical, topical, technical, and other useful and entertaining information relevant to the text. In addition, the authors include an overview of poetic and rhetorical elements, brief synopses of all the plays, and a comprehensive index along with other guidelines that will help readers locate the perfect monologue for their needs.

More than just an actor's toolkit, Speak the Speech! is also an entertaining resource that will help demystify Shakespeare's language for the student and theater lover alike.

Customer Reviews:

So much help..........2007-02-13

This book has been so helpful in my auditioning process. THANK YOU FOR PUBLISHING THIS!!

Unbelievably useful and clear........2007-01-21

As a young actor currently studying Shakespeare in an acting conservatory, this book perfectly compliments the tools I am being taught.

It is full of information written in a clear, efficient manner and is never patronizing to the reader. The tone has a lighteness and joy that invites the actor into the world of classical text and removes any stodgy stereotypes that may surround the poet's work.

I recommend this book to any actor who is looking for some less performed Shakespeare monologues and comes equipped with an incredibley useful guide to understanding the plays themselves, as well as what is going on specifically with each monologue.

I would buy it as a gift for all of my acting friends.

Bravo to the authors.

simply the best.......2006-07-02

Simply the best book ever to analyze Shakespeare's monologues: incisive, illuminating, deeply intelligent, always entertaining and sometimes brilliant. Experienced actors as well as those new to the craft will find this immeasurably helpful, and they will have plenty of company. Anyone who appreciates Shakespeare's words and work will find this wonderful book an oasis in a literary desert too often filled with mirages.

Great help for even a layman to understand Shakespeare.......2003-05-11

As a nonactor I'm in the midst of reading this book. Now for the first time I'm completely grasping the prose and verse. In the past I've tried to read Shakespeare cold, with no help, and as a modern English speaker you can pick up some things yes, but this book makes it all, and I mean all clear. We get well over 100 of his greatest monologues, and every unfamiliar word is fully explained, as well as multiple interpretations of the lines.

I recommend this book to students, actors, writers, and layman for it will unleash the magic of the verse. And when it does you can read or see a performance and grasp it all...and there is so much to grasp, and a good play requires a good reader, a good performance, a good audience, and this book will make you one.

How An Actor Prepares.......2002-11-14

Learn the Speech! Actors need tools for their acting toolkit and not a day goes by here at my Writers & Performers Garage in Los Angeles that I don't mention this great new tool. With over 150 monologues, it's an essential for actor preparation. I can't think of any recent book I've read that is more useful for actors working seriously at their craft.

Average customer rating:

Extreme, complex, multi-faceted ... wisdom in sound bites
Excellent, Short Devotionals
Star Pupil Lewis re-introduces his master in "George MacDonald"
Roots
I guess I just don't like anthologies

George MacDonald
C. S. Lewis
Manufacturer: HarperOne
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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Phantastes
The Diary of an Old soul
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ASIN: 0060653191
Release Date: 2001-02-19

Book Description

In this collection selected by C. S. Lewis are 365 selections from MacDonald’s inspiring and challenging writings.

Customer Reviews:

Extreme, complex, multi-faceted ... wisdom in sound bites.......2007-08-22

No wonder CS was drawn to this man's writing! Lewis sorts through MacDonald's body of work to get to real nuggets.

MacDonald packs more theological mind-fodder in one or two sentences than most can pack in a book. There are sound bites that will occupy your thoughts all day.

Excellent, Short Devotionals.......2007-07-16

George MacDonald has a lot of spiritual wisdom; I love short little tidbits of his thinking that I myself can think on. If you like MacDonald (or Lewis) and his books, especially the spiritual aspect, you will love these quotes.

Star Pupil Lewis re-introduces his master in "George MacDonald".......2007-04-26

In CS Lewis' 1945 novel, "The Great Divorce," 19th century fantasy poet/pastor George MacDonald guides Lewis' narrarator on passages between hell (the joyless, fearful "grey city") and heaven. The narrator (by extension, Lewis himself) acknowledges MacDonald's life influence from when, at 16, the then-agnostic Lewis read MacDonald's "Phantasies" and concluded: "Here begins the new life."

MacDonald's influence reaches past Lewis to forebears Lewis Carroll (whom MacDonald mentored through Carroll's writing/publishing "Alice in Wonderland"), James Barrie, and GK Chesterton. Barrie and Chesterton helped co-chair MacDonald's centenary celebration in 1924, and Chesterton later called MacDonald "one of the three or four greatest men of 19th century Britain."

No wonder Lewis prefaces his anthology of MacDonald quotes by calling its compilation "discharging a debt of justice." MacDonald, overlooked in a fantasy literature timeline stretching from Lewis and fellow Inkling J.R.R. Tolkein to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter, shows his wisdom through 365 excerpts from his poems, sermons, and short stories. Each is less than a page-long for easy daily reading.

Referring continually to Lewis' introduction helps while reading his MacDonald selections. Lewis writes, "Nowhere else outside the New Testament have I found terror and comfort so intertwined." It guides MacDonald images of the Good Shepherd's sharp-toothed sheepdogs tracking and returning sinners (quote 149), or being told in bereavement "you must be made miserable that you may wake from your sleep to know that you need God." (quote 223, from a man who lost a wife and daughter during his life). Even misplaced daily items are God's blessing against materialism (81). Lewis built his "Screwtape Letters" concept near completely around quotes 245-247.

"George MacDonald" rewards those consistently referencing it. It captures not only MacDonald's freedom from his Calvinist upbringing, but does so though powerful images of Father and Son, Christ and His faithful. It straddles God's demanding "the last farthing" against sin to man's ability to deny self (159, 300) and see that self as God does (208, 243) before we see Him for what He is. Fear and shame, to MacDonald, are undesirable but acceptable introductions (349, 214, 242), until we know, accept, and obey that deeper love (208, 243).

These are excerpts, nothing more. Even praising MacDonald's vision Lewis admits, "If I were to deal with him as a writer...certainly MacDonald has no place in its first rank - perhaps not even in its second." Indeed, many MacDonald inspired (again, Lewis' beloved "Narnia" series) would take his approach to fantasy as a window into human behavior to wildly popular heights a century after his death. "George MacDonald" is neither biography nor full appreciation. But it reintroduces a key 19th literary/spiritual figure through his star pupil, and is recommended for fans of Lewis and of Christian fiction.

Roots.......2005-09-12

Always interesting to discover the roots of an author's world.

(By the way, Amazon's packaging/quality is 5*.)

I guess I just don't like anthologies.......2005-07-31

This is probably the only book written by C.S. Lewis that I will give less that 4 stars. I think it's great that he wanted to have an anthology of George Macdonald, but it just didn't work. Don't get me wrong, the quotes are great, but it just doesn't really give you an idea of who Goerge MacDonald is, and what his writing is like. Nearly all of the quotations are from his book of sermons, which is not one of his most popular works. If you have heard of George MacDonald and want to check him out, I would reccomend just jumping straight into The Princess and the Goblin or one of his other works. This just isn't the "usual" George MacDonald, and you don't get much of a hint as to what his "fantasies," which are what he is famous for, are like.

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