Book Description
In the first hours there was nothing, no fear or sadness, just a black and perfect silence.
Nando Parrado was unconscious for three days before he woke to discover that the plane carrying his rugby team, as well as their family members and supporters, to an exhibition game in Chile had crashed somewhere deep in the Andes. He soon learned that many were dead or dying—among them his own mother and sister. Those who remained were stranded on a lifeless glacier at nearly 12,000 feet above sea level, with no supplies and no means of summoning help. They struggled to endure freezing temperatures, deadly avalanches, and then the devastating news that the search for them had been called off.
As time passed and Nando’s thoughts turned increasingly to his father, who he knew must be consumed with grief, Nando resolved that he must get home or die trying. He would challenge the Andes, even though he was certain the effort would kill him, telling himself that even if he failed he would die that much closer to his father. It was a desperate decision, but it was also his only chance. So Nando, an ordinary young man with no disposition for leadership or heroism, led an expedition up the treacherous slopes of a snow-capped mountain and across forty-five miles of frozen wilderness in an attempt to find help.
Thirty years after the disaster Nando tells his story with remarkable candor and depth of feeling. Miracle in the Andes—a first person account of the crash and its aftermath—is more than a riveting tale of true-life adventure: it is a revealing look at life at the edge of death and a meditation on the limitless redemptive power of love.
Customer Reviews:
EXCELLENT STORY.......2007-09-11
Must read for anyone who has climbed in the mountains and a must not read for anyone going to climb in the snow or fly ain a plane over the Andes. Scary and heroic and entertaining all at the same time. You won't believe the story unless you read it straight from a survivor. Not only a survivor, but THE survivor who walked more than 70 miles with one other person until they reached help. 72 days in the Andes, thats the only fact you need to know to want to open this book and read it.
Easy read that takes no time to read. Highly suggested
Miracle in the Andes.......2007-08-08
An inspirational and rivetting book. Well worth a read to jog you out of everyday mundanity. Maybe you should always take a few blocks of choccy in your carry on luggage!!
"Even in this place, ours lives are worth living".......2007-07-24
Readers will wonder what Nando Parrado has to say that wasn't already said in Piers Paul Read's masterpiece, "Alive." Even Parrado expresses his doubts that he can add something to Read's tale (he says Read told the story "masterfully"). But, behold a new masterpiece: Parrado and co-author Vince Rause have created a stirring, compelling piece of work.
Whereas Read's work is a facts-based recounting of the events, Parrado and Rause put you inside the head of the pivotal protagonist, the survivor most committed to striking out on an expedition. We see his commitment ("I tell myself that each step takes me closer to my father"), his fears, his horror at losing two family members at the crash site. Amazing stuff, shaped into powerful, declarative language by Rause. The text is crisp, sharp and fast moving. Rause captures Parrado's voice.
It's estimated that Parrado and fellow expeditionary Roberto Canessa traveled some 45 miles before running into a peasant herder tending to his flocks. That's 45 of the hardest miles imaginable. So hard, in fact, that the rescuers ask Parrado - as they ready to scale a 13,000 ft peak via helicopter - "Are you sure you understand this map?" They're simply incredulous (rightfully so) that these two had crossed the high Andes on foot ("Impossible!"). But, indeed they had. It's mind-boggling...a trip that has to rank in the annals with Shackleton's journey across the seas in a skiff back to South Georgia.
Alive revisited: Uraguayan rugby teammates struggle seventy-two days to survive a plane crash in the Andes.......2007-06-19
Those who read Alive, published in 1975, probably remember most: plane crash, Andes, cannibalism (not necessarily in that order). Crash survivor Nando Parrado's attempt to revisit the harrowing, desperate situation and retell the story of forty-five people on an intended 3.5 hour trip from Uraguay to Chile that went bad, reads amazingly well. So much so, and seamlessly, that it seems the co-writer, Vince Rause, deserves more than the second billing he was given; his name printed in tiny font below Parrado's on the cover. With a bit of background, excellent descriptions of the goings on up to, during, and after the crash, the fight for survival, a devastating avalanche, and the attempts to hike out, Parrado and Rause have done more than one might expect. Three criticisms: Parrado's contention that he agreed to participate in a hike for help even though he knew it was futile; the awkward though somewhat logical interchangeable use of "my father" and "Seler" (his dad's name); and the word "miracle" used in the title, considering Parrado's account sounds neutral to negative on the concept of religion and divine intervention. His description of the first inkling of a seemingly obvious food source, "My gaze fell on the slowly healing leg wound of a boy lying near me," [page 95] is haunting. Sensational but new (to me), the "meat" consumed by the survivors ultimately included the organs after the supply of muscle was exhausted. Dreams of his father, having lost certain family members during the ordeal, kept him going and the strong spirit of teamwork amongst the close-knit rugby players helped them achieve victory over the overwhelming obstacles they encountered. Sadly, the pilots, reluctant to continue on to the intended destination during a storm which had earlier forced them to land in Argentina, were prodded into their fateful decision by the vacation-hungry fliers and a looming limit on their allowed 24-hours of refuge in the country. One of the best-written books I've read involving an assistant author. Good companion reads: the original - Alive by Piers Paul Read, and Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer.
Inspirational Book.......2007-06-10
This is a book that ranks alongside Cherry-Goddard's 'Worst Journey in the World'. The outline of the story is well-recounted elsewhere, but I found the spiritual angle of the book fascinating. One remarkable thing is that in spite of the awful outcome for many of the passengers and the unbelievable hardship suffered by the others, for some of the survivors their faith was strengthened, for others it was destroyed. The author states that he considers the arbitrary waste of (a devout) life as evidence for the absence of God, at least a God who "sets one religion above another".
Being so close to death has clearly made Nando much more aware of the importance of life and of the love of friends and family. Nando is obviously extremely close to his father who was obviously an inspiration for him. Reading this book is surely a better way of understanding team work than going on a management jolly whether or not it involves white water rafting.
Customer Reviews:
Lonely Planet Trekking in the Patagonian Andes.......2007-01-16
For the last year I've been planning a trip to Chile and Patagonia. This book has helped me plan and organize and decide which areas I want to see. This book has been full of helpful information about all the different treks in this region, the difficulty rating, miles, average days specific trails will take, and great maps. Not only does the book give great info about specific treks, it also gives really great information for newer backpackers, such as a checklist of what you should bring on the trek, what kind of food to bring, how to use a compass, first aid info, etc. (Though you should know these things before you trek around Patagonia.) I give this book 5 stars.
Lonely Planet Rocks.......2007-01-09
I am an avid traveler, hiker and explorer and have found the Lonely Planet guides to be the absolute BEST if your intention is to explore the "ins and outs" of a country without the services of an in-country guide or tour service. They are a valuable tool for the experienced treeker/hiker/tramper and also a great resource for the urban adventurer. Lonely planet pulls their data from a variety of folks- including locals, recent transplants and adventurers- who provide extremely relevant input for the books. I always find their rating of lodging and food accurate~~ low budget is truly low budget and their recommended picks are always clean, comfortable and well situated. I also find their description and maps of hiking/trekking/tramping routes very accurate, although I would still recommend using up-to-date topo maps, GPS or hiring a local certified guide if you are exploring off-piste, mountainous or rugged regions anywhere. There is no replacement for experience and sound judgment in the backcountry. This particular guide book is wonderfully laid out and their advice is keen. Unless you have a solid 3 months of time to adventure in more than one of the regions it is best to pick an area (like the Lakes District) and focus your time in one place. Obviously the Torres Del Paine or Fitz Roy regions see a lot of traffic but the other areas are absolutely fabulous, as well. While other guide books may cater to the "guided tour crowd", I find Lonely Planet caters more to the independent intrepid traveler. Two Thumbs Up. Enjoy your exploring....
amazing hikes, erroneous details.......2004-07-28
This book is a perfect introduction to the wealth of hiking possibilities in patagonia - many of them are still significantly under-used and of equal calibre to the more famous routes. The general information sections are quite good, and give a good feel for what conditions are like both trekking and travelling in general; a good purchase for planning your trip. Where the book falls down is on the actual trekking notes, which are consistently inaccurate, obscenely outdated and sometimes quite misleading (see other reviews). On this front, Cerro Electrico is not safe - however Cerro Electrico Oeste is safely climbable without mountaineering equipment (although crampons are a nice idea) and gives mind-blowing views of the rear of Fitzroy - I think this might be what the author actually had in mind.
The best use of this book is as an introduction/inspiration, then get hold of decent military maps (plentiful in santiago and buenos aires) and local advice (abundant) and go from there. Given that many of the treks require some degree of independence and judgement (especially in snow-bound regions), pretty much any information should be taken with a grain of salt and certainly should be double-checked independantly or at worst against common sense. It is a pity no better alternative exists, but the general information is good and if prepared, leave the fun of route-finding up to yourself.
An Unparallelled Resource.......2004-01-14
Like all Lonely Planet guides, Trekking in Patagonia is very much geared to independent trekkers. Considering how huge Patagonia is, the book covers it pretty thoroughly with a wide range of suggestions, from easy short walks right up to a few week-long ones. The text is strong on practical information like local transportation and accommodation and supplies wide coverage to flora and fauna, which is a real bonus.
Patagonia's five regions are arranged in chapters that go from north to south which the way most foreigners seem to travel. The information is set out very logically, with tables of routes and a small info box at the start of each walk so you know what to expect. I liked the book's simple but correct contoured maps that are given for every trek. Some walkers I met wanted the book to have more day walks but that's a matter of personal preference. I got alot out of my 5 weeks in Patagonia, thanks greatly to this book. Unless you're a complete jerker, you're not going to get lost with this! A warning though, sometimes it's hard slogging that may not suit pampered English hill-walkers.
This book is a veritable encyclopaedia that I found a real companion on the trails constantly taking it out for quick reference. It is indeed an unparallelled resource for trekking in Patagonia, so I'm awarding it 5 stars!
Well-done work.......2003-12-27
I am using the latest (thid ed.) on my second trip to South America. It an indispensable resource with very accurate text and maps which are quite accurate to use even if you you don't have a topo (yeah I know, but maps are not always easy to buy here). The routes carefuly prepared...this new edition has a whole lot of new trails. I'm also finding it up to date. One thing is maybe that the authors could have given better coverage to some areas such as the Pumalin. But this is more than enough material to spend a couple of summers down here anyhow, even if you just go for it! I definitely feel anyone that wants to trek in this region will be sorry if you don't have this book. Enjoy! Feel free to contact me privately for any info.
Ryan
Average customer rating:
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Religion in the Andes
Sabine MacCormack
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
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ASIN: 0691021066 |
Book Description
This volume provides a salutary reminder that the 'New World' was not only encountered and conquered, but also explained, and explained in a way which revealed much about Europe. -Stephen Nugent
Average customer rating:
- Hard to put down
- Snow
- This book needed an editor!
- Good literature for non-fiction, survival adventure readers!
- Excellent - Couldn't put it down!
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Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors (Avon Nonfiction)
Piers Paul Read
Manufacturer: Avon
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 038000321X |
Book Description
On October 12, 1972, a plane carrying a team of young rugby players crashed into the remote, snow-peaked Andes. Out of the forty-five original passengers and crew, only sixteen made it off the mountain alive. For ten excruciating weeks they suffered deprivations beyond imagining, confronting nature head-on at its most furious and inhospitable. And to survive, they were forced to do what would have once been unthinkable ...
This is their story -- one of the most astonishing true adventures of the twentieth century.
Customer Reviews:
Hard to put down.......2007-09-30
This being the first book I've read in a while, I found it easy to get back into reading. The story was a very detailed account of a heart-wrenching experience. I almost felt as if I was in the story itself, although I couldn't imagine what those terrified people went through. This book had a profound effect on me personally.
Snow.......2007-05-28
The book isn't too bad but I have to say that I actually enjoyed the movie more, which I usually don't. Being able to match the actors up to the characters though is making it easier to keep tabs in the book. Not sure I could of survived something like this.
This book needed an editor!.......2007-03-16
This book is about 100 pages too long for my taste. Though the story was very compelling, I felt lost and bored while I was reading through the middle section. I think that a good editor could have helped that situation. One certainly got a sense of the tedium of the young men's lives as they languished on the mountain but the sameness of the details soon became quite tedious to me.
In addition, I think a good editor would have made sure that a book of this nature would have included a chart or list of all the victims and survivors. With so many names to keep track of I became very confused who was who, who had died or survived, and when the deaths occurred. As I read the book I searched the book more than once looking for such a help.
Admittedly I read a First Edition of the book so, perhaps, later printings included such a chart. If not, it needs one.
Good literature for non-fiction, survival adventure readers!.......2007-02-19
I read the book first and then read a lot of its reviews. It was interesting to read, afterwards, the comments of people who didn't particularly care for the book.
If you appreciate the pained lengths that consciencious authors take to accurately describe true life events, then you will appreciate this book. It is evident that the author expended enourmous efforts researching the chronology of this extremely traumatic, harrowing adventure. (So to those who criticize it for a kind of "documentary" style, you are right in this regard. The "read" is much better suited for connoisseurs of non-fiction. It is written in typical but credible "drama in real life" narrative style.) My view is, with all the criticism given, it is notwithstanding very suspensful, vivedly written and captivatingly interesting. Probably the greatest hallmark of Piers Paul Read's account is simply the detail he includes to give you a complete and realistic perspective of the traumatized human psyche in morbedly perilous moments. After you finish reading the book, you really feel like you can appreciate the grit it would take to survive where most would choose to die.
Excellent - Couldn't put it down!.......2007-02-06
This was one of the best books I've read recently. Occassionally, the author throws in a few macabre details which may not be pleasant for some readers; however, it's an incredible story and well worth reading.
Amazon.com
Concise and yet packed with detail, Touching the Void, Joe Simpson's harrowing account of near-death in the Peruvian Andes, is a compact tour de force that wrestles with issues of bravery, friendship, physical endurance, the code of the mountains, and the will to live. Simpson dedicates the book to his climbing partner, Simon Yates, and to "those friends who have gone to the mountains and have not returned." What is it that compels certain individuals to willingly seek out the most inhospitable climate on earth? To risk their lives in an attempt to leave footprints where few or none have gone before? Simpson's vivid narrative of a dangerous climbing expedition will convince even the most die-hard couch potato that such pursuits fall within the realm of the sane. As the author struggles ever higher, readers learn of the mountain's awesome power, the beautiful--and sometimes deadly--sheets of blue glacial ice, and the accomplishment of a successful ascent. And then catastrophe: the second half of Touching the Void sees Simpson at his darkest moment. With a smashed, useless leg, he and his partner must struggle down a near-vertical face--and that's only the beginning of their troubles.
Book Description
"A truly astounding account of suffering and fortitude."
--The Times (London)
Joe Simpson and his climbing partner, Simon Yates, had just reached the top of a 21,000-foot peak in the Andes when disaster struck.Simpson plunged off the vertical face of an ice ledge, breaking his leg. In the hours that followed, darkness fell and a blizzard raged as Yates tried to lower his friend to safety. Finally, Yates was forced to cut the rope, moments before he would have been pulled to his own death.
The next three days were an impossibly grueling ordeal for both men. Yates, certain that Simpson was dead, returned to base camp consumed with grief and guilt over abandoning him. Miraculously, Simpson had survived the fall but, crippled, starving, and severely frostbitten, was trapped in a deep crevasse. Summoning vast reserves of physical and spiritual strength, Simpson hopped, hobbled, and crawled over the cliffs and canyons of the Andes, reaching the base hours before Yates had planned to break camp.
How both men overcame the torments of those harrowing days is an epic tale of fear, suffering, and survival; a poignant testament to unshakable courage and friendship.
"Told with lyrical quality and stunning immediacy, Touching the Void transcends its genre and becomes accessible to readers who have never had any desire to climb a glacier."
--New York Newsday
"A gripping narrative that should excite armchair adventurers everywhere."
--Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Simpson touches a nerve of the mountaineering community and the hearts of others."
--Los Angeles Times
"Riveting, even compulsive reading."
--Minneapolis Star Tribune
Customer Reviews:
Warning: Ice is slippery.......2007-10-02
Perhaps posting this notice on mountains would prevent exactly the type of incident outlined in this book. If one climbs UP an icy lump of rock, falling back DOWN is certainly one possible outcome. And if there are chasms, yes one will fall into them. Haven't we ever dropped a peanut butter sandwich? Goodness. Anyway, we already HAVE the Discovery Channel. There is simply no need for youngsters to get themselves up to this kind of hijinks, particularly on slippery slopes. Why do you think we use that metaphor? How many books of this sort must I read before the Human Race realizes the outdoors were not meant for us. If we were intended to rush about in the open, why would God have invented the Ritz Carlton. If one must go to areas of natural wonder, one should stay in a hotel like a normal person. Scenery is best viewed from the en-suite television. Remember, there is no room service in nature. And while nature is scenic, it is hell on one's vital organs, not to mention manicures. If one truly wishes to risk life and limb, why not do it for a valid REASON, for heaven's sake. Climbing rocks is the kind of challenge that ants and potato bugs must overcome. Not us, darlings. We are not potato bugs. No, no, no! If one is simply determined to undertake some highly threatening physical activity, fine. But at least make it worthwhile for me. Become my surrogate shopper at the Max Azaria BCBG sample sale downtown, or at the annual Fred Segal sale in Santa Monica. You will have all the danger you crave. Immediate decisions and swift actions are imperative, you will be injured, probably killed. All the thrills of outdoor adventure, but with up to 75% off. If you manage to grab me a pair of gray suede Ferragamo pumps, size 8, the ones with the thin leather piping, at Fred's, lunch is on me, name the place.
Oh, about the book? Well, I DID read some of it, except for parts in the beginning, middle and end. The writer just goes on and on about everything. In a nutshell, they climbed up something covered in ice, they fell down. It was cold. Anyhoo, I don't want to give anything away, but the author DID write the book, so there is your big clue as to the outcome.
Ciao darlings.
Amazing story of survival.......2007-08-14
When two hikers, Joe and Simon set off to climb Sula Grande in South America they had no idea how it would turn out. In the course of the descent Joe is lowered over a cliff by mistake in the gathering clouds. His climbing partner is forced to cut the rope in order for himself not to be dragged over, thus ensuring Joe's death. But Joe does not die. He has a brocken leg and is lodged in a crevace. After houre os harrowing attempts to go up he decides to go down.
This book tells the story of his fascinating survival, his tremendous will to live, his thoughts on death and God, and his realization that only he could get himself free.
An amazing story, one of the most extraordinary survival stories, up their with Alive. A great story of the outdoors that rivals Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster. However it may not be quite as good as the documentary on the same story, Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival.
Seth J. Frantzman
BORING BORING BORING.......2007-07-29
i am sorry but i was so disappointed with this book! -i read this book after seeing all the great reviews and i do not understand all the hype- i think the only reason there are so many great reviews is that climbers stick together and have a reverence for eachother so perhaps they don't want to "pan" joe simpson's book- but as far as i am concerned, this book was very poorly written, so slow, so boring, way too technical and such a chore to get through- i didn't understand what all the terms meant and even when looking them up, i still couldn't get a clear picture of what was happening to him- even the photos were of no help- if you are not a climber you will have the same problem- and if you are a climber, you will still find it as i described above less the terminology problems- i didn't find it enjoyable at all- i expected to find it rivetting and interesting and heart wrenching but it was none of the above- and his friend simon yates was so despicable in this book that you just can't believe that joe even talks to him let alone includes his version of events in this book and dedicates the book to him? huh?- it just made no sense- but,
if you do want the greatest true adventure survival story EVER WRITTEN then you ABSOLUTELY MUST read "ADRIFT"- it is BY FAR the greatest true survival story ever written- it is superbly written and you don't have to be a sailor to understand his plight- your heart aches and you feel you are there as he literally drifts across the atlantic in a sinking dinghy for 76 days waiting to be rescued- but he realizes no one is coming to rescue him, so therefore, he must save himself- UNBELIEVABLE- he is an amazing man- now this is an amazing story of survival- i am shocked that touching the void was even put to pen to be honest- this may sound unkind but while i was reading it i kept thinking, "why was a book written about this?" -didn't seem worth writing a book over- (sorry joe- glad you are alive though of course)- i encourage you all to skip this one and read "ADRIFT" instead- UPDATE: i decided to rent the movie "touching the void" from the library to see if the movie made for a more interesting story- well yes it did- it wasn't the best adventure survival movie i have ever seen but it was still infinitely better than the book- and it was nice to see the real joe tell the story- he really lets us into his soul i find and one could see how much this experience has affected him- tears were never far from his eyes- i came away liking the guy- you will not get the same feeling from simon yates, however- if you read his excerpts in the book and watch him in the movie, you will see he is a cold person, a friend you wouldn't want to have- a friend who would leave you to die when you needed him- with friends like that who needs enemies? glad you are safe joe! and i must say it was brave of simon to show his face in the movie- at least he is not denying his role (or lack thereof) in this adventure- to you readers, my advice is to watch the movie over the book-
Touching the void-a touching story.......2007-06-01
Joe Simpson, and Simon Yates are truely admirable and courageous people. The bravery Joe Simpson mantained during his difficult situation is amazing, and an attitude to look up to. His frustration was understandable and the fact he made it was somewhat...a miracle.
Simon Yates was called by many a traitor. He cut the rope when (although he wasn't aware of it) Joe Simpson, alive but not so well, was on the recieving end. People think this is disgraceful but if you watch the film, or read the book you will accept why he did it. You'll also find it took more bravery for him to cut the rope, than stay there in the freezing cold, never living to tell the tale.
The rope is, apparently, a representitive of the bond between the climbers, but really it's just a rope.
Hard to put this book down once started........2007-05-29
This book is well written, very interesting to anyone who has been up on a Mountain in South America or elsewhere. I enjoyed reading this book as a recommendation I had from a British climber on our trip to Cotopaxi in Equador.
Book Description
This wide-ranging survey has established itself as the best single-volume introduction to Andean art and architecture. Now fully revised, it describes the strikingly varied artistic achievements of the Chavín, Paracas, Moche, Chimú, and Inca cultures, among others. Their impressive cities, tall pyramids, shining goldwork, and intricate textiles constitute one of the greatest artistic traditions in history.
For the second edition, Rebecca Stone-Miller has added new material covering the earliest mummification in the world at Chinchorros, wonderful new Moche murals and architectural reconstructions, the latest finds from the Chachapoyas culture, and a greater emphasis on shamanism. Throughout, Stone-Miller demonstrates how the Andean peoples adapted and refined their aesthetic response to an extremely inhospitable environment. 185 illustrations, 35 in color.
Customer Reviews:
Balanced and Astute.......2004-07-08
This book stands out, among many others, for the quality of insight that Rebecca Stone-Miller brings to her study of Andean art. Not content with simple typology and iconography, her account is illuminated by the cultural constants - "duality, reciprocity, hierarchy, and embeddedness in nature" (p. 218) that she finds in the underlying Andean cultures. Art history, in these terms, becomes an exploration of meaning, both of the art that is produced and of the culture that produces it. It's rare to find so much insight in an introductory book; I highly recommend it.
Another strength of the book is the nicely-judged balance of attention that the author pays to the multitude of cultures (including the Chavin, Nasca, Moche, Wari, Tiwanaku, Chimu, and Inca, to name just some) that weave together into the Andean tapestry. The author also provides balanced coverage of all the arts -- metalwork, tapestry, featherwork, stone working, and architecture, in addition to the ever-popular ceramics (pottery).
With so much ground to cover, there are relatively few individual ceramic examples in the book; this unfortunately gives a too-restricted an idea of the range of form, beauty, and variety of Pre-Columbian pottery from South America. I recommend a book such as "Ceramics of Ancient Peru," by Christopher B. Donnan, as a supplement to Rebecca Stone-Miller's study.
A small number of errors have made it through the second edition. For example, the distance from Quito to Santiago is quoted as 3400 miles, rather than the correct 3400 kilometers. A bothersome number of specialized terms were left out of the index. A glossary would have been helpful, and one wishes that more of the photos had been printed in color rather than black and white.
In summary, "Art of the Andes" is a balanced and insightful survey that should appeal to a wide variety of readers. It's the kind of book that doesn't just sit on the shelf after one reading, but gets picked up again, thumbed through, and read more than once.
Excellent historical overview of native Andean art........2000-09-23
This is an excellent overview of native Andean artform the earliest perod through Chavin, Paracas, Nasca, Moche, Tiwanaku, Wari, to Incan. Covers architecture, textiles ,pottery and metallic arts. Looks at the main themes of religious and secular art in these various mediums. Text is accompanied by many black and white photographs, drawings and plans. Some photographs are in colour.
I found this work most interesting for the way it brings out the Andean worldview through the artistic artifacts remaining of those cultures. The work is also reasonably priced and up to date.
Book Description
After 'Hit Man'
The New York Times bestseller Confessions of an Economic Hit Man documents John Perkins’ extraordinary career as a globe-trotting economic hit man. Perkins’ insider’s view leads him to crisis of conscience--to the realization that he must devote himself to work which will foster a world-wide awareness of the sanctity of indigenous peoples, their cultures, and their environments. Perkins’ books demonstrate how the age-old shamanic techniques of some of the world’s most primitive peoples have sparked a revolution in modern concepts about healing, the subconscious, and the powers each of us has to alter individual and communal reality.
Deep in the rain forests and high in the Andes of Ecuador, native shamans teach the age-old technique of dream change, a tradition that has kept the cultures of the Otavalans, Salasacans, and Shuar alive despite centuries of conquest. Now these shamans are turning their wisdom and power to the problem of curing a new kind of illness--that created by the industrial world’s dream of dominating and exploiting nature.
John Perkins tells the story of these remarkable shamans and of the U.S. medical doctors, psychologists, and scientists who have gone with him to learn the techniques of dream change. These shamanic teachings have sparked a revolution in modern concepts about healing, the subconscious, and the powers each of us has to alter individual and communal reality.
Customer Reviews:
A New Way of Viewing the World.......2007-07-06
This book is for those of you who recognize that there is something inherently wrong with the way our society operates. Even if you don't recognize it, this book will shed light on a myriad of problems. We can all learn a few things from indigenous people, and Perkins is a level-headed expert on the subject. Short and easy to follow, this book is a must read!
False and Deceptive -- Doesn't Even Mention Shuar Violence and Head Hunting!.......2007-06-21
This book needs to be labeled fiction and it totally misrepresents the indigenous South Americans about whom he's talking. The native Amazonians he visits have a well-documented history of head hunting and raiding until very recently! These groups survived colonialism because they retreated deep into the rainforest, and because they were extraordinarily violent towards outsiders, other fellow Amazonians, and especially to their own women.
It's insulting that Perkins remakes these indigenous Amazonians into his own hippy, 1960's idealistic view of a nature-loving, dream-centric, egalitarian culture with some special understanding of the world that we can use to remake our own. He neglects to tell anything truthful about the Shuar culture-- and it's tiresome and offensive to have people put their own ideals into some "Wise Indian's" mouth.
The truth is always interesting, and I'm sure Perkins' trippy, drug-induced vision of an eco-friendly imaginary dreamworld could be interesting too. His lie is to conflate the two.
John Perkins is a true teacher.......2007-05-22
I plan to buy ShapeShifting next. This book will change your life and the way you look at things. I know...there are so many books out there that claim to do that as well, but they are nothing compared to this book. Only an intelligent spirital person would read this book, but it is also an easy read. I have the highest respect for John Perkins.
Dreaming it as it is.......2006-07-31
This is a superb rendition of spiritual principles crafted within the context of indigenous cosmology. It reflects broader corollaries that can be assigned to numerous spiritual disciplines world wide and provide a source of inspiration to those who question the nefarious motives of unfettered "development" with all its hideous consequences.
Mr. Perkins utilizes vast personal experience to highlight indigenous wisdom that takes to task our ethnocentric, greed based, industrialized world view that seems designed to ransack planetary resources and exploit the lives of all it can consume. A sad commentary on the foibles of an economic system run amuck, yet, a surprisingly inspirational joy ride through time and space as seen through the eyes of the author.
Highly recommended.
Lacking depth.......2003-05-29
I was very dissapointed by this book. When I bought it I was expecting the book to teach me how to implement shamanic teachings, how to heal, how to dream, how to direct our dreams, how we can change our dream, but instead I read pages and pages of discriptive text. Talks only about Mr. Perkin's travels. It doesn't even give in-depth examples of how people were healed.
Amazon.com
Can reading the newspaper be hazardous to your health? No studies have proven so, but anecdotal evidence indicates that when the health-conscious individual reads too many conflicting articles about what foods should and shouldn't be consumed and which exercises are mandatory or else fraught with risk, that already harassed, overly stressed fitness neophyte may throw in the towel (thereby burning an insufficiently few calories), plop down on the couch, and reach for the remote.
Grabbing The Complete Book of Fitness would be a more rewarding choice. The Editors of Fitness Magazine have done an elegant job of explaining all the terms and conditions related to fitness, summarizing current research, and advising the most healthful paths. The book is divided into four sections: Strength Training, Cardiovascular Training, Diet and Nutrition, and Wellness. Within each chapter, the pertinent topics are arranged in alphabetical order, so Wellness runs from acupressure to yoga, Diet goes from alcohol to weight, and Strength Training covers everything from abdominals to "Weights and Aerobics: Which to Do First." Explaining how consumption of alcohol leads to weight gain (answer: calories from alcohol get burned first, so calories stored as fat are less likely to be needed), which exercises work the buttock muscles (and how to perform them), why eggs make a healthier meal than people have been led to believe, and how to avoid or overcome fatigue and stress, this is a great resource when fitness becomes too complicated to figure. --Stephanie Gold
Book Description
From the expert editors of Fitness magazine, here is everything you need to know about exercise, nutrition, and well-being in one comprehensive volume,
The Complete Book of Fitness. Hundreds of entries are organized alphabetically in four sections:
Strength Training offers effective, illustrated workouts for every muscle group.
Cardiovascular Training includes invaluable information on fat-burning and metabolism.
Diet and Nutrition demystifies eating for health, strength, and athletic performance.
Wellness provides an introduction to alternative therapies and healing, rounding out your total fitness package of mind, body, and spirit.
So whether you want to flatten your abs or firm your thighs, you're looking for a stretching routine or cross-training ideas, you want to carbo-load or unload a few pounds, or if you wish to increase your energy or reduce your stress, finding the answers is literally as easy as A-B-C. Clearly written for the layperson, The Complete Book of Fitness serves as a primer on fitness basics, from biceps to water aerobics, from antioxidants to yoga. Packed with easy-to-access information, it is also a gym bible and can be used to customize a detailed fitness regimen to suit any lifestyle and body type.
This first-of-its-kind fitness encyclopedia is a must-have for every health-conscious household.
Customer Reviews:
Great book for a great price.......2005-09-12
I was a little concerned at first about buying a used book on line and not being able to see the condition of it. I was thoroughly surprised when my book arrived. It looked brand new. My book came in a few short days and was in beautiful condition. I will buy again from this seller!
Fitness Bible.......2005-08-24
This book has EVERYTHING you need to know to be healthy, happy, and most importantly fit. It has great detail (which it not boring nor complicated) that is very thorough. This book is much better than the magazine. I workout off an on maybe 3 times a week and really need motivation to workout. After the first few pages of this book I wanted to work out everyday to my full potential. You don't need a personal trainer to look like a goddess. With the illustrations and chapters in this book. You will have all the tools and motivation to do it yourself. Whether in shape or someone just wanting to better their health it's a definite reference book you want to have in your home library.
Not what you'd expect from the publishers of fitness.......2003-06-02
This book is an A to Z of fitness, in short form. It explains concepts and healthy living principles and is probably good for the uninitiated. It is NOT a program to follow or any sort of guidebook for healty living other than as a lookup reference. If you are looking for a program try SHAPE your life, from the editors of shape magazine.
My Fitness Bible.......2003-02-07
This book has answered so many questions for me. Being overweight it was important for me to understand why I was doing what I was doing and how each change would effect my body. This book helped so much that I lost 80 lbs. I had gained some of this weight back and was getting very discouraged. I pulled this book off the shelf again and reread all the information I needed to motivate me.
Every women wants the answers and know how to speed up their metabolism and want to know what to eat before and after their workouts. Everything is here. Plus, do you know how hard and how long you need to workout to burn fat vs. build muscle or stay burning suger. This book will tell you. I could never say enough about this book!! It makes you understand what you should do and tells you how you can acheive it.
Get the most from your workouts... maybe even enjoy them!.......2002-10-08
There's nothing more frustrating than diligently adhering to a fitness regimen and not getting the results you expected. If this has ever happened to you, you must read this book.
So many times we start with good intentions but bad advice. Or our bodies work differently than we expected them to. Knowledge is very powerful, and it helps you take control of your health and really understand your body. Instead of getting frustrated, blaming yourself, and giving up, get some facts.
Here are just a few of the fitness issues this book resolved for me:
Q: How long do I need to do aerobics to burn fat?
A: (p.160) 15-25 minutes for men, 25-40 for women.
Q: Why aren't my muscles getting big, like men's muscles?
A: (p.147) Women's muscles get denser, not larger.
Q: How often should I strength train?
A: (p.113) Two or three times per week, for 30-60 minutes.
Q: What is this pain I get down my arm during lateral raises?
A: (p.79) Sounds like impingement syndrome, a swelling of the rotator cuffs.
I have yet to approach this book with a question and come away without an answer.
To review the contents briefly, the book is divided into:
Strength Training, including
- Muscle charts
- Exercise guides
- Equipment
- Posture and breathing
Cardiovascular Training, including
- Energy and burning fat
- Stretching and flexibility
- Pregnancy
- Injuries, muscles and ligaments
Diet & Nutrition, including
- Alcohol, caffeine and food additives
- Phytochemicals, minerals and vitamins
- Dieting and digestion
- Fat, protein and carbohydrates
Wellness, including
- Yoga, tai chi and chi kung
- Aromatherapy and homeopathy
- Chinese medicine and ayurveda
- Depression and stress
And much more, of course. Fantastically useful. If you own one fitness book, let this be it. Odds are good that you'll never need another.
Book Description
In 1989, Elizabeth Jenkins was living in San Francisco, working on a doctorate in clinical psychology. Her life seemed full...but she felt empty. Then she traveled to Peru, intending to research Andean healing practices--and found herself taking an unexpected journey, with the guidance of an initiated priest of the Andean Path. This is her story, filled with compelling details of her own initiation in the beautiful but harsh setting of the high Andes--and how the voyage has changed her life.
Customer Reviews:
Hidden gold.......2007-01-17
To those who think Elizabeth's book is just a self-absorbed ego trip, you have missed quite a bit. I have read most every available article and book on Peru and the tradition of the Andean Priests and the Q'ero. Although Elizabeth does bring us a very direct first-hand account which could be interpreted as self-important, I am inclined to conclude that most observers reaching this conclusion has been self-misled. (This book is a memoir by the way, says so on the back cover.)
Of the many books out there on spiritual experiences in general, including writings about the Q'ero in Peru and the Huichol in Mexico, there is a great distinction between a first person story that dwells in the imagination (personal problems, alcholic background, etc.) and one that delivers important details. It is very easy to read a first person story and completely miss the important details. Perhaps it will take someone who has researched the foundations of Andean mysticism for a few years to realize when they are tripping over the nuggets. Elizabeths book has some real gold in it. Gold that has meaning to someone very interested in the subject.
a surpringly enjoyable trip.......2004-08-31
Like Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and The Teachings of Don Juan, Elizabeth Jenkins' first book presents powerful and often unbelievable spiritual experiences under the rubric of nonfiction. Jenkins, a family therapist, acts on an inspiration to go to Cuzco, Peru to learn about the spiritual path of the Incas. She becomes the only white woman admitted to a group that holds seance-like ceremonies; with this group, she has bizarre and eye-opening experiences. She later connects with a better teacher who encourages her to bring several seekers from the U.S. to Peru and collectively work toward reaching higher levels of spiritual consciousness. Is the story meant to be taken as literal truth, or does Jenkins use fictional methods to evoke a sense of wonder analogous to that of mystical experience? If a book does evoke a sense of mystical wonder, does it matter if it's true? Jenkins has succeeded in the difficult task of believably telling an unbelievable story. Initiation can be read as real religion or fantastic fiction; either way, it's a surprisingly enjoyable trip.
Could be worse-- but not by much.......2004-08-01
Look at the Editorial Review up above here... go ahead. In the first sentence you will notice mentioned the, quote, Andean village of Cuzco, Peru. This is as good a place as any to start with why this book should be considered memoir or even fiction, but certainly not a serious guide to a Real spiritual tradition.
Why? Cusco, Peru is a city of 400,000 people, has internet access, credit cards, and also a multi-million dollar tourist industry. (It is the city where I live.) Peru is often considered the Number One tourist destination on Earth. As such, a booming Mystical Tourism industry has sprung up as well, capitalizing on the Western Worlds interest in the oh-so-Mystical Andes. Jenkins describes her experiences with Mystical Tourism, but calls it Mysticism.
So, if you are interested in the genuine article, skip this book. If, instead, you want to read a romanticized account of a foreigner learning the spiritual ways of the Andes, read the Celestine Prophecy. The author of THAT book does us the favor of telling us up front it is Fiction.
I say this with a great deal of love for the authentic and Vanishing spiritual traditions of the Andes and Peru in general.
I say this because I am NOT interested in seeing the flea markets and open-air-markets of Cusco replaced by consumer-capitalist Super Markets-- AND at the same time, I am NOT interested in seeing the Real spiritual traditions of the Andes replaced with user-friendly, mass produced, soul-devoid styrofoam imitations. I am not interested in Spirituality as Entertainment or Presumptuous Self-Involvement.
The author, sadly, perhaps without even realizing it, is promoting just that kind of shift in Peru. I hope readers will have the sense to see through the romanticized illusion. In the end, those who want to do something to promote spirituality in the Andes and in the world-- like the author presumably does-- should consider joining programs to increase the standard of living in this incredibly poor section of the world. While Jenkins and her foundation make money off of the Initiations they perform, Peruvians continue to be dirt poor. Where is the love for the Pachamama and the Apus in that? Where is the mysticism and mystery? Mystery? I would say that it looks rather obvious.
Me and my ego would be a better subtitle.......2003-12-27
I tried to find a title for this review that was less harsh, but there's nothing else for it. I have read the book at least twice, and attended some workshops with another teacher of South American curanderismo, who speaks well of Juan Nunez del Prado. Juan has apprenticed with a true curandero in Peru.
The emphasis on her 'specialness' and references to 'initiated fourth-level priest' on her website speak volumes of where Elizabeth herself is coming from. I contacted some of her 'fourth-level priests' in Europe asking if they knew another healer who lived in the same city they did. They answered back with a short 'no', and goodbye. How much REALLY did they want to help heal others, when they ignored an opportunity to learn about another potential teacher in their backyard?
I agree with another reviewer, this is yet another book by yet another person promoting superficial spiritual tourism. Look at her website and see how many times you find the word 'initiation'.
There is accurate info regarding South American curanderismo, particularly in the second section. My advice if you are seriously interested in helping people with their pain and suffering using Peruvian curanderismo, is to get this book and the one by colleague Joan Parisi Wilcox used (so you aren't putting money in their pockets), ignore the ego, and read for useful information. There is some there.
an american tourist in peru.......2002-03-26
This is a superficial and at times naive account by a yet another starry eyed, eager and willing "shaman's apprentice". Elizabeth Jenkins worked as an English teacher in Cuzco when she met a "fourth level" shaman, Juan Nunez, who showed her around Peru. Juan immediately initiated her into the fourth level herself. The apparent ease and efficiency of this "initiation" process has, if i am allowed to be slightly cynical, allowed Elizabeth and Juan to create a major business catering to those who are looking to get something for nothing. About 20 times a year, Juan initiates yet another group of wide eyed tourists, and both E. and J. lead initiation workshops all over the world, including the US.
This book will be of interest to people who are inclined towards safe "spiritual adventures". I would not recommend it to people who are looking for more resources on shamanic "technology", initiation or peruvian beliefs.
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