Book Description
Finally, a book for single women who, unsatisfied with living a worldly lifestyle, want to give their lives a new and godly direction. Author Dawn Eden, a Jewish-born rock journalist turned salty Christian blog queen, gives these readers the positive and uplifting message that they've been wanting to hear-that spiritual healing and a renewed outlook await them. Using her own experiences in the New York City singles jungle, she shows women how they too can go from insecurity to purity, and from forlorn to reborn. She tells women who have been around the block how to find their way home.
Among inspirational books for single women,
The Thrill of the Chaste is a pair of hip Ray-Bans in a field of rose-colored glasses. This isn't a book for dainty damsels in lacy white dresses patiently awaiting their handsome prince. This is for real women who need strong, motivational, and deeply moral messages to counter the ones they receive from a superficial, sex-obsessed world.
Customer Reviews:
I needed this book when I was a teen-ager..I'm 79 now........2007-08-23
I cannot believe how dumb I was as a teen-ager. I'm 79 now and after buying and reading one copy, I bought 5 (five) more to give to relatives and friends and clergy who have daughters.
(There was one sentence in the book that I felt was disturbingly graphic, but probably only to males like myself.)
The simple yet haunting question Ms. Eden raises is, "Do you (men) treat females as 'objects' or as real human beings?"
looking for something completely different?.......2007-07-14
This book gives the proper view and definition of chastity. It is written from the perspective of a 30-something woman who was looking for something more satisfying than the Sex in the City lifestyle and found it. It is an encouraging sign, a lampost in the dark world of the "anythng goes" modern hedonistic propaganda. I think this is part of the backlash to the so-called Sexual Revolution of the 1960's we are beginning to see take root. I hope 20-somethings will read it and see the lighted path Ms. Eden shows them.
Coming Clean .......2007-06-08
I read a review of 'The Thrill of the Chaste' in Gilbert magazine some months ago. I didn't immediately buy a copy, but I kept wondering what Dawn Eden had written. When I saw her on the list of speakers at the upcoming Chesterton conference in St. Paul (June 2007), I decided I had to order one and read the book to see what makes this woman tick.
I'm sure I am not in the target demographic - young women - for this book. However, I have things in my past that I also regret. There are two things in life I have found to be painful, renewing, and most definitely worth the price: confession and forgiveness. I mean that in the sense both of confessing one's sins and forgiving others. There is a real sense of restoration, of honest humility, of being cleansed. Reading Thrill of the Chaste was much like that sort of cleansing. I kept thinking that her path, while different from mine, involved the same history of painful mistakes, redemption, and restoration.
As others have said, Dawn Eden manages to be almost excruciatingly honest without wallowing in any sort of sick attention seeking. I've said I find confession cleansing, but I am uncomfortable with publicly proclaimed confession in many cases, especially when it seems intended to draw a crowd. Ms. Eden is of course a very fine writer. The reason her book is excruciating at times is because it is so easy to see that her mistakes have been so much like ours. Sexual temptation of one kind or another seems to be almost universal. Isn't it a bracing blast of fresh air to find an author who does not worship at the altar of political correctness? Doesn't it make us stronger to refuse to buy any longer into the mass media con job that promiscuity is the meaning of life? Dawn's description of hating the obligitory shared breakfast after a one-night stand starkly contrasts the lie with a dose of reality.
I found the book terribly interesting, an excellent read.
Good material to share..........2007-06-01
I picked this book up at the suggestion of a leader in my church and found it to be an interesting read. Recently divorced and tired of dating that goes nowhere, I saw a lot of parallels between my own choices and the writer's. Living chastely is sometimes a tough and lonely road, but the rewards will be great and the writer does a good job in pointing this out. This may very well be a book I give my daughter to read in a few years, to help her understand the different sides of the coin when she is faced with making a chaste decision. I think this is a good book for anyone considering a chaste lifestyle and have already recommended it to a couple of my girlfriends.
A must-read for young women.......2007-03-25
In The Thrill of the Chaste, Dawn Eden provides a much-needed argument against today's "Sex and the City"-centric culture. Drawing upon her own experiences, both good and bad, Eden not only illustrates the hidden dangers of casual sex, she also provides an inspirational take on living a chaste lifestyle and how doing so will benefit oneself and one's relationships. As a 20-something female New Yorker, I found Eden's perspective relevant, refreshing, and extremely valuable.
Eden engages the reader right away with her hip yet eloquent writing. A former player in the casual sex arena that today's society so vehemently promotes, Eden is not shy about revealing her past, nor does she scold those who engage in the behavior that she has since turned from. Rather, she writes in a simple, honest manner that will immediately hit home with female readers who, having tried the "Sex and the City" approach to love and sex, are unsatisfied with the state of their own relationships and are looking for something more.
Eden's witty, often quite funny writing is grounded in her own examples, and her references to pop culture (including, of course, various "Sex and the City" episodes) make her work light and easy to relate to. She shares details about her own sexual past and the relationships that she eventually realized were so damaging, yet she does so tastefully, revealing the truth about her behavior rather than sensationalizing it. She shows first-hand how casual sex is often used in an effort to obtain a committed relationship but almost always winds up doing quite the opposite, preventing meaningful, loving relationships from being established. She clearly demonstrates the harmful effects of such cavalier attitudes toward sex, especially on women, for whom she explains that sex is by nature an intimate act meant to establish an emotional bond.
But Eden does not just limit her discussion of chastity to the pitfalls of premarital sex and the benefits of waiting. She explains how living chastely translates to every aspect of one's life, including one's dress and social activities, and how a chaste lifestyle is beneficial to both singles and married couples, successfully debunking the stereotype that chastity is only practiced by religious fanatics and those with an aversion to sexual activity.
Although Eden is never preachy or accusatory, her Christian (and predominantly Catholic) views and frequent references to Scripture may be hard to swallow for those with no religious beliefs or no desire to question the cult of casual sex. And, while men can certainly benefit from Eden's wisdom, the book's stylishly girly cover and Eden's focus on a female audience may be a turnoff to guys. However, Eden's insights on the dating world, which include an analysis of the online dating scene and valuable tips on how to branch out and meet potential mates, will be appreciated even by those who have not yet been convinced of the chaste way of life - both male and female.
Overall, Eden's book is an enlightening, inspirational read that will hopefully help to make a more conservative, respectful approach to sex and relationships popular once again. I highly recommend this book to women in their 20s and 30s who are looking for more complete and fulfilling relationships. Read The Thrill of the Chaste and share it with your friends, your sisters, and - one day - your daughters. You'll be thrilled you did.
Eden fans may also enjoy Morse's essay, Love Is Justice: An Exploration into Mankind's Fundamental Nature
Customer Reviews:
Know Thyself.......2007-06-21
Thank you, James Hollis, for a book filled with deep insight, humor and compassion. This book is the antidote for the Dr. Phils of the world. It does not offer a single glib panacea for the troubles we all face with our relationships- especially the relationship we have with our own psyches.
The Eden Project deals primarily with romantic relationships; how they begin, the power they hold over us, the work that must be done to create and maintain a balance between self and other. It is deep without being pedantic or opaque. Hollis' writing is concise and very readable. His model is the work of Carl Jung; the outlook and style is contemporary and practical. Where Jung can be difficult to decipher Hollis' meaning is always clear.
The best compliment I can offer is that, after reading and studying The Eden Project, I went out and purchased multiple copies for friends and family. That is not something I've ever done before.
the best treatise on romantic love.......2006-09-26
I ever read.
It explains the Jungian premise by which we project ourselves onto others on a subconscious level, never knowing how little of what seems real is truly real, applied to the realm of romantic love, the search for the Magical Other who will complete us.
Paraphrased in a poem by Persian poet Rumi is the main learning of the book:
"The moment I heard my first love story,
I started looking for you..
..not knowing how blind I was.
Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.
They're in each other all along."
This book can help you understand YOU, it can help you learn and grow. Cause "what we do not know can and does hurt us, and others too".
Cause you have to be ONE WHOLE before you can have a true relationship with another.
An eye-opener.
The soul in search of love.......2006-02-25
How many of us have been convinced that if we could only find The Right One, The Magical Other, our lives would be complete, and we'd have guaranteed happiness for the rest of our lives? Stated so baldly, that sounds sadly impossible ... but we've all bought into it, especially in the first half of life. And we've all suffered the pain of finding out it doesn't quite work that way.
As in all his fine books, James Hollis examines the roots of our needs & desires, and opens our eyes to the buried reasons we so desperately want to believe in The Magical Other. He isn't dismissing or disparaging love, but he is asking us to look more closely at what it really is, and what it really isn't. This is absolutely necessary once we pass through the first glorious rush of lust & infatuation, and everyday life sets in. True love, a lasting & mutually nourishing relationship, requires far more than the beautiful but ephemeral illusions mass-marketed by our culture & fed to us from an early age. It requires both work & a willingness to look at ourselves honestly, something that's much harder than we might think. But the effort is certainly worth it!
Most highly recommended!
Hands down the best book I ever read!!.......2004-06-23
I have read this book a number of times and glean new wisdom every time. It explained every mystery of human relationship that has baffled me for 50 years. The insight I gained helps me understand other people as well as myself in both personal and professional relationships. Hollis can synthesize Jung better than any author or teacher working today, and uses literature and poetry which greatly enriches his writing. All of James Hollis books are exemplarary and I recommend them all. I have been fortunate enough to hear Hollis speak and he is even better in real life. Extremely wise and empathetic. I have also given this book as a gift to many of my friends and colleagues.
I find the previous review very interesting and reveals more to me about the author of the review than this book!!
Overall very good--but..........2004-05-04
This book discusses in a bit greater depth the well-known concept that infatuation is an unrealistic illusion. While this general idea has been popularized by many (including M. Scott Peck in The Road Less Traveled), it's an illusion we are all so vulnerable to, that it's good to be reminded of this irrational dynamic.
The author shows good intelligence, even wisdom, and a reasonably good facility for writing, with an occasional poetic or lyrical flair.
I've given this 4 stars because I think it's intelligent reading and can stimulate us to be more aware of the unconscious forces that drive us in the arena of romantic love.
I do, however, have a few misgivings about the book.
First, the author seems to feel the need to include a sprinkling of words the average reader will not understand. A few examples: "cynosure," "limns," and "oeuvere." This use of either a highly specialized nomenclature or an unnecessary reaching for unusual--and for most people, opaque--terms is a bit annoying. And I restrain myself from analyzing the author's motivations...
Second, the author takes a political jab at those whose religious or political beliefs he disagrees with. He repeats the unoriginal comment that the Moral Majority is neither moral nor a majority, etc...
I happen not to be religious, and I disagree with many of the policies the Moral Majority would support. But I think it's beneath the dignity of the author, and of serious psychological discourse, to include such a subjective, and emotion-based, attack, when the psychological theory the author discusses not only doesn't require this for illustration, but can be easily presented as consistent with any number of religious or socio-political views, including those of the Moral Majority.
Third, although I know that this is part of a series on Jungian studies, I found it a little tiresome for Jung to be quoted or alluded to in many cases where it seemed unnecessary. It almost reminds one of bad theology, wherein every decent idea needs to be shoe-horned back into a vague Bible passage.
Having said all that, I urge you to buy the book and read it. We need all the help we can get in waking up to our unhelpful unsconscious energies. This book can help on that front, and can stimulate personal growth.
Book Description
Here the backdrop of contemporary California becomes fertile ground for Kellerman's riveting tales of murder, mystery, and family ties most sinister and deadly.... Among the first-rate short mysteries in this collection, the brand-new "Garden of Eden" and "Open House" feature the famous sleuthing duo Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus. "Bull's-Eye" introduced Cindy Decker to the crime-fiction world, and "Mr. Barton's Head Case" appears here for the very first time in English. In addition, two rare personal essays allow readers glimpses into Kellerman's private life, revealing her true grit in "Small Miracles" and childhood memories of working in her father's deli in the exquisite "Summer of My Womanhood." Compiled at last in one volume, the seventeen pieces in this book feature new introductions by the author and contribute to a unique, compelling portrait of one of America's top masters of suspense. A must-have collection for all mystery fans, The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights showcases how ordinary everyday experiences can be the genesis of extraordinary tales that unveil the darkest sins and secrets of the human heart.
Customer Reviews:
Faye Kellerman leaves little to the imagination........2007-04-01
Faye Kellerman, is one of the best authors i have read. Her diversity in this book of short stories, shines through impeccibly.
She not only writes about Peter Decker and Rina Lazerus, but other stories, such as a touch on Jack the Ripper, in my opinion!!
She puts such detail, in such a small story, that it's not overwhelming. Like many authors, we are left sitting there after reading, thinking and pondering what we have just read. Sometimes we even have to re-read a passage or two.
But with Faye Kellerman's novels all you have to do, is sit back, read and enjoy!
Terrible, terrible and more terrible.......2007-03-30
I agree with previous reviews and am sorely disappointed in the latest works of the Kellermans in general. Clearly, they've entered a comfort zone...
A somewhat uneven, mixed bag of stories .......2006-12-07
Faye Kellerman's novels of crime and psychological turmoil have earned a permanent spot on my reading shelves, albeit I've noticed a general slide towards a flat, repetitive style in the last few novels. But now she is taking a slightly different turn with this collection of short stories from throughout her career.
Several of her stories feature her most popular characters, those of Peter Decker, and his wife, Rina Lazarus. Others feature historical figures, characters on the edge, and all sorts of human nature. There isn't any sort of linking theme here, just that they are stories by Kellerman, and several either co-written with or inspired by her children or husband. And as usual with short story collections, several are downright creepy, a few are very good, and one or two fall short of the mark.
The Garden of Eden
This one, and the next three, are stories that feature the Deckers, a married, Orthodox Jewish couple that are very real, and good to read about. In this one, Rina and Peter have a problem at home when Rina's indoor gardening starts to get out of hand. Mixed in with this is the death of an elderly friend that has hints of foul-play and a stash of money that is missing. How both problems are resolved is done with Kellerman's deft hand at suspense.
Open House
A dead body turns up in a vacant home, and it's up to Decker and his officers to puzzle out the how and why. It's a sordid little tale of a man who gets caught with his pants down and the girlfriend is getting a little too annoying. While it's a simplistic tale, I was glad to see more of the policemen that Decker gets to work with.
Bull's-eye
This one features Decker's daughter, Cindy, who is a chip off the old block when it comes to solving crimes. This time, the murder is particularly close when one of Cindy's instructors at the police academy is gunned down in front of witnesses. But the question is who and why. Kellerman kept this one from getting too stale by tucking in a twist or two, and it's a good, tight story, perfect for your coffee break.
A Woman of Mystery
This is one of the saddest stories that I've read in a long time. Rina has an encounter with a young, troubled woman without a name or past, and it's a tale that will make all of us wonder how far we should visit the sins of the past onto the future.
The Stalker
For every woman who has been the victim of an abusive relationship, this one is sweet, sweet revenge. While I wouldn't recommend being this drastic, it's certainly soul-satisfying.
Mummy and Jack
Cowritten with her son, Jesse, Kellerman takes on the old Jack the Ripper story, but this time with a twist or two that makes it unique. And actually, it's not too bad.
Bonding
Told in first person, this is a tale to make your blood run cold at a teenage girl who's bored with her life, and decides to make mischief. The body count rises, the sins are unthinkable, and it's one of those stories that makes you wish you didn't read it. Not that it's bad, it's just that horrifying.
Discards
A female private eye takes on a case that looks simple enough -- find a cleaning woman who has vanished over several days, and the employer is concerned. There's always a deeper motive, of course, and this one turns into a question of poverty and morality over a diamond ring.
Tendrils of Love
If this tale doesn't turn you off of internet chat rooms, nothing will. There's all sorts of reasons for a woman to turn up dead in a quiet backwater in Missouri. How it all fits together is the appeal of this one.
Malibu Dog
We all know them. The neighbor with the dog. The monsterous fanged horror of both the canine and human species that has turned your little slice of paradise into an absolute hell. But as with all Kellerman stories this one has a twist.
The Back Page
It's a cute story on an old urban legend, but I found it to be a little too much. Set in a newspaper, it's the story about a reporter who always seems to be first on the spot.
Mr. Barton's Head Case
It's a tale of true love, between a man and his car. This is one of those stories that makes me wish that Kellerman used more humor in her full length novels, as when she does it, she is very good at it indeed. This one was also based on one of the more interesting bits of lore out of the Bible, updated for the modern age.
Holy Water
More humor here about a rabbi who is kidnapped during Purim in a clash of corporate giants. It's a cute tale, and it made me chuckle a bit.
Free Parking
There isn't any crime in this one, just a cozy tale of elderly women and a youngster gathered together for a family ritual of playing Monopoly.
The Luck of the Draw
Kellerman co-wrote this with her daughters for an anthology. It's an ok story, but it's such a painfully 'goody-goody' tale that I had a hard time taking it seriously.
Small Miracles
This one is a recounting of an actual event in Kellerman's life involving her mother and her children. Just a few pages long, it's still a treat.
The Summer of My Womanhood
This one is a story about Kellerman herself, working in the family business. I found it to particularly poignant and wonderful to read. It made wading through all of the other stories worth it to get to this point.
Each story comes with an introduction, where Kellerman talks about what influenced her to write the story, and some of the underlaying themes and ideas. It's a nice touch, and it helps to understand where a writer can get their ideas and topics in both fiction and non-fiction. As a collection showcasing Kellerman's talent, it's not bad, but I would only suggest it to those who are already fans of her work, and it wouldn't make that good of an introduction to her work. For that, I would recommend her earlier Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus novels.
Overall, about four stars. While mystery fans will enjoy it the most, the final stories in the collection are accessable to anyone and are very heartfelt.
Recommended
The Big Question: How Much Of A Kellerman Fan Are You?.......2006-12-02
Not everything written by well-established authors should be published. Never was this truer than when Stephen King came out with From A Buick 8 and the coauthored Colorado Kid.
Faye Kellerman has been delighting readers with her Decker/Lazzarus crime fiction novels for many years now, and most will probably snap up The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights, a mish-mash collection of short stories (and a few inspired by and coauthored with some of Kellerman's close family members).
Short story fans will be as equally delighted and chagrined as Kellerman's fan-base, as this collection runs from quite good to downright terrible. The most notable are the final two stories, "Mummy and Jack" and "Holy Water."
"Mummy and Jack" was a coauthored piece with Kellerman's older son Jesse. Wickedly dark in tone, the story takes the Oedipus complex a bit over the edge and plops us uncomfortably in the middle of adult son Jack's desire to please his mother by any means necessary ...including killing.
"Holy Water," the longest story in the collection, is a hilarious romp via a Rabbi who's hijacked by some prosperous thugs that demand the formula for a rival cola company's soda. Since the Rabbi confirmed the ingredients for kosher reasons, he's on their list of men whom they need to "talk to." But the Rabbi is smarter than the thugs and twists their plans until even the bad guys come around to his way of thinking.
But from here the stories take a serious nosedive. Several of the Decker/Lazzarus stories fall flat or conclude in very ho-hum fashion. One story that focuses on Decker and his now grown daughter who's entering the police field, goes absolutely nowhere while trying to show the strains of the father/daughter relationship during an accidental shooting. Two stories were cowritten by Kellerman's other children and they read, unfortunately, more like poorly put together streams of consciousness.
If it weren't for "Holy Water" and "Mummy and Jack," this collection would be easily forgettable. But the big question: Is it worth the price of purchase just for those two stories? That probably depends on how much of a Faye Kellerman fan you are.
Surprising writing styles.......2006-11-05
Reviewed by Lynn O'Connell for Reader Views (10/06)
Crime and mystery tales, short stories and autobiographical essays are all part of this collection of works by Faye Kellerman. In all, the book contains 17 stories. Four stories, making up more than 100 of the book's 327 pages, feature Kellerman's husband-and-wife duo, Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus, from her full-length novels. And, two of these pieces are published here for the first time. One is the title piece, "The Garden of Eden," which has Lazarus and detective Decker exploring the death of their next-door neighbor. In the other new work, "Open House," Decker and police department colleagues investigate the mysterious death of a woman who was killed and left in the closet of a house for sale. Daughter Cindy makes her first appearance in "Bull's Eye," as a rookie in the police academy.
Two of the short stories are collaborations between Kellerman and her children. "The Luck of the Draw" is co-written with Kellerman's two daughters. "Mummy and Jack," written with son Jesse, is a dark tale reminiscent of Jack the Ripper.
One of my personal favorites in the collection is "Holy Water," which involves the kidnapping of a Rabbi by a soda company in an effort to discover the secret Coca-Cola formula. "Discards," featuring Kellerman's first private detective, Andrea Darling, was another favorite for me. Both tales had some mystery as well as a somewhat light and humorous ending.
The last two works in the book, "Small Miracles" and "Summer of My Womanhood," are autobiographical essays. "Small Miracles" describes Kellerman's successful capture of a mugger, while "Summer of My Womanhood" provides a look into her teen years as she worked in her father's deli.
Other stories include: "The Stalker" and "Bonding," both very dark tales with somewhat disturbing endings; "The Back Page," based on the years-old legend about fillings picking up radio transmissions; and, "A Woman of Mystery," in which Lazarus solves the mystery of a student without memories.
This collection is truly an anthology of works by Kellerman, as it includes stories from numerous genres - not just the crime/mystery stories for which she is best known. The book is also a wonderful way to get to know Kellerman and her writing style.
Each of the stories has a wonderful ending; albeit some are humorous, while others are dark and unsettling. It is amazing to see the range of Kellerman's writing capabilities all together in one book. Each short story has a very short introduction which I found interesting as I tried to put each vignette into perspective as to Kellerman's purpose and the timeframe where it fit in her writing career.
Kellerman fans will probably all enjoy this book, particularly those who are eager for another Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus novel. (The last one came out in 2005.) However, it is important to realize that this collection is not all crime and murder mysteries; fans should read the book as an opportunity to see a new side to Kellerman. I was truly surprised by some of the writing styles, including the personal essays, in the book. The book is a great read for those first-time readers of Kellerman, who then can decide if they want more.
In all, "The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights" held my attention, and each story was a quick read. Some I liked, and some I didn't. But, with such a diverse range of genres represented, every reader is likely to find at least a couple of stories that will leave them wanting more writing from Kellerman.
Book Description
When Ernest Hemingway committed suicide in 1961 he left four unfinished works--A Moveable Feast, Islands in the Stream, The Garden of Eden, and an untitled work on his travels in Africa. The edited versions that have come down to readers and scholars of Hemingway appear as distinct, disjointed texts that fit oddly into his oeuvre. Through extensive literary detective work Burwell has uncovered substantial evidence that Hemingway in fact designed the three published works as a trilogy, what she terms "his own Portrait of the Artist."
Customer Reviews:
Groundbreaking Study.......2005-09-28
This is the only in-depth scholarly work extant on the mass of unfinished books Hemingway left behind in 1961. Besides that, it is fluidly written, thoroughly documented, thoughtfully analyzed, and excellent in all respects.
It matters not whether or not the thesis -- that the posthumous works constitute a loose unified work -- holds up. To state it and explore it, as the author does, is to cast a lot of light on the very complex issue of Hemingway's last works and their difficult manuscripts. No one had even gone as far as to lay the groundwork for such a question before Burwell. Indeed it was doubtless necessary to proceed on some sort of hypothesis to go through these widely divergent manuscripts chronologically, as the author does, and to then present a coherent text of her own regarding her studies.
The author also has a great openness and sympathy for Hemingway and his tortured, insistent aestheticism. It shines through the entire work and raises it to a very rare level in modern literary criticism.
Book Description
Macromedia Flash is an industry standard design application providing rich creative opportunities for designers and developers at all levels of ability and experience. With the recent release of Flash MX 2004, the latest version of this exciting product, Macromedia has yet again upped the standard for integrating video, text, audio, and graphics into immersive, rich experiences for websites, presentations, e-learning, and applications. Flash is now the world’s most pervasive software platform, used by over one million professionals and reaching more than 97% of Internet-enabled desktops worldwide, as well as a wide range of devices.
New Masters of Flash: Volume 3
is both a global showcase and practical tutorial book aimed at working Flash designers who are looking for inspirations and radical techniques. Following on from the phenomenal success of the first two volumes of New Masters of Flash, Volume 3 will bring together the world's most awe-inspiring and innovative Flash designers to share their influences, ideas, and objectives in a series of individual essays, offering a unique insight into the creative professional'’s life. They will take the reader through a step-by-step tutorial explaining in detail how to re-create the interfaces, applications, and effects in Macromedia Flash MX 2004. These are the legendary artists and designers who are expanding the horizons of interactive interface design with Flash.
Customer Reviews:
I can take it or leave it. .......2004-11-13
Well...it's okay but not worth the time I waited for it's release. The first time I heard about Vol. 3 was at the Flash Forward 2004 Conference in San Francisco. I really looked forward to Billy Bussey and Shane's Chapter's but when I read them they did not have the substance I thought it would pack. Shane gave a few nuggets as far as techniques but it was mostly philosophical garbage (as with many other contributors of the book) that could have been left for an autobiography rather than a book that is geared towards actually teaching the customer something. I would say get the book for some decent tidbits but you would probably get more out of the first volume.
not what i thought it was.......2004-10-13
after reading these reviews, I was really excited for my New Maters of Flash vol3 to arrive. I really liked volume 1 when it came out years ago. But I ended up returning this book because I was disappointed. Most of the animation "tricks" here are about character animation - mostly how to use flash's drawing tools to make the characters look 3D, and how to use code to make them move. Being a motion graphics animator, the only things i found which were relevant to me (maybe 3 projects) were frankly somewhat boring and predictable.
If you're an intermediate/advanced flash animator/programmer looking for really clever motion graphics tricks, there may be only 1 or 2 projects of interest here to you.
If you are somewhat of a novice and want to make really cool characters and scenes in flash and become expert with the drawing tools for this type of usage, you will probably get something out of it.
a revolutionary reference.......2004-09-24
If i wasn't better than that, I would keep this book a secret... But i know that the flash world evolves because of the beauty of sharing. I felt that this book was priceless. Each and every author is a living phenomenom. If you are not even interested in flash, this book is still worth your while. The people who wrote this book are truly inspiring and have wonderful insights and theories about design/art/interactiivity... For flash designers: this book is a must. This book describes tricks of the trade as well as must-know actions, animations, drawing techniques. The difference between this book and all the others is that this book is the real deal; meaning, that the world's leading designers are showing you their award winning web sites and take you step by step on how to create them. Not simplistic boxy case studies; but the actual stuff that amazes you when you explore flash kit's winners of the month.-------Priceless
Amazing value, amazing book.......2004-08-20
Even if you never plan to use Flash this is an amazing resource to some really cool sites. The book is full of animations, and explanations of cutting edge Flash projects. Unlike most Friends of Ed, you get a CD with the book. The CD has a menu system to highlight each of the Authors in the book. You get bios, info, and direct links to great sites. If you are into Flash, there is lots of information and ideas to help your work be more creative. You will also see a variety of viewpoints on how to use Flash, and some very personal insights. There are four artists whose work alone would be worth the price of this book. Adam Philips provides a great chapter on lighting, and his website shows a real animation master at work. The Jared Tarbell chapter shows a design project from start to finish on pattern making. Anthony Eden's work is very inspirational, but Olga Bergner's chapter provides lots of information on good character design and again provides lots of details on how he makes Flash magic. These are my favorites, but I am sure you will find your own in this Book and CD. What really makes this book work, is each author has concentrated on the part of Flash they enjoy, and show how they have used Flash to further their own creativity.
Book Description
Suppressed by the early Church fathers who compiled the Bible, these Apocrypal Books have for centuries been shrouded in silence. Now, for the first time in paperbound book, the reader can discover the hidden beauties of the Lost Books. To be found in this volume are the Apostles' Creed, the Psalms and Odes of Solomon, and other Apocrypal writings that have become part of our religious heritage. The story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife, of Adam and Eve, of the girlhood and betrothal of Mary, of the childhood of Jesus, are here in all warmth, intimacy, and humanity of their first telling.
Customer Reviews:
The Lost Books Of The Bible and the Forgotten Books Of Eden.......2007-07-26
I was raised with the King James version of the Bible and have difficulty accepting other translations.I acquired my copy of The Lost Books at a garage sale and I enjoy it so much I ordered one for my grandson. Not only is it great to read from a historical point, it is easy to read.It reads like a very good novel.The chapters are tied together chronologicaly which holds you attention and keeps you reading for hours on end.I have heard of this book all of my life .To finally have a copy is a treasure and a dream come true.
Brethren, you should not be ignorant ........2007-06-08
Human nature dictates that anything new or different to us we tend to reject or fear it.
As a Jesus believing jew, I am well aware that were more biblical writings and books out there. In Judaism,we have the Talmud, Mishnah, Midrash, etc. After doing some research, I come to realize that in the beginning, there were three bibles. The Hebrew Text, The Greek Text, and the Vulgate. Well, Over the centuries a lot of the material that comprises these works have been lost due to time, and church, and governmental politics.
When approaching a modern-day Christian with this book, they would immediately reject it, and possibly go on the defensive. But, once realized that for centuries the church has withheld the information, or if it did not come out of Rome it is heresy. Oh well.
It was bad enough when the Roman Church kept many of this works hidden. But add the Protestant Reformation which did more harm and rejected some of the already accepted books of the bible. Well, that explains why we are so ignorant in the Church.
This book should be a must read for all Christians. The established denominations will not like it, but, if it is all of the inspired word of God that can help me get to heaven, and live a godly life here on earth, then I will read and listen to what God puts in front of me to absorb.
Not what man or the church says.
please don't be led astray by these "lost books".......2007-04-09
a review above quoted "Now I know why. The Gospel of Thomas lays waste to the notion that Jesus was `the only begotten Son of God' and obviates the need for a formalized church when he says, `When your leaders tell you that God is in heaven, say rather, God is within you, and without you."
this thinking is a classic example of eastern mythology, which directly contradicts all that Christianity is about. (i.e. the eastern religions teach that perfection is within, you only need seek it out. e.g. buddism, hinduism, taoism, too many others to name.) If God (or perfection) is already within you, then there is no need for a personal saviour for redemption of sins.
the "Gospel of Thomas" was written hundreds of years after Christ by Gnostics. there are many things is this book which are in direct conflict with the four Gospels of the Bible. If one looks and earnestly seeks, we can see that the four true Gospels do not conflict with one another.
as an excellent review above stated better than I, these books were left out of the Holy Bible not because they were "lost", but because they were not divinely inspired, and because they conflict with the divinely inspired books of the Bible.
i also find the notion of "lost knowledge", or "lost books of the Bible" very exciting. however God provided us all we need in His Holy Bible. please do not be decieved and led down the wrong path by these other books! God Bless.
The rest of the story.............2006-11-10
During my first 50 years on this earth, I often wondered if there wasn't more to the Bible than we were receiving. It always seemed odd that a group of men could decide what should and should not be in the Bible. These additional gospels, letters & stories seem to tie up some loose ends, at least for me. More of Jesus's childhood days are written about as well as a detailed history of Adam and Eve and their descendents and how the "family tree" ties all of the Old Testament together. One must, however, keep an open mind and realize that these stories, like the ones in the Bible, have been handed down from word of mouth throughout the centuries until a method of preserving them was perfected. This book is great for a Bible Study group and will open the eyes of those who have never been, up to now, able to hear this collection of great books before. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in the history of mankind.
What Might Have Been: Apocrypha & Pseudepigrapha.......2006-04-12
A decent collection of books which, for whatever reason, were excluded by the early Church (Catholic) councils from what became the Old Testament and New Testament. Initially published in 1926, each one of the "Lost Books" includes a brief introduction giving background and history. Like the editors of this two-part volume, I do not feel it is necessary to share my opinion of the historicity of these works, each reader can decide for him or herself what is shadow and what is reality, and consider the debate which at one time engulfed some of these books.
This volume is divided into two sections. The first is called "Lost Books of the Bible", and includes works which deal with Jesus & company, and may at one time have been considered part of the New Testament Gospel. Includes are the following 26 "lost" books:
Mary, Protevangelion, I. Infancy, II. Infancy, Christ and Abgarus, Nicodemus, The Apostles' Creed, Laodiceans, Paul and Senica, Paul and Thecla, I. Clement, II. Clement, Barnabus, Ephesians, Magnesians, Trallians, Romans, Philadelphians, Smyrnaeans, Polycarp, Philippians, I. Hermas-Visions, II. Herman-Commands, III. Hermas-Similitudes, Letters of Herod and Pilate, The Last Gospel of Peter
Part the Second is titled "The Forgotten Books of Eden", and includes works which are suited to the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament. They too were excluded by Jewish (and some Christian) councils due to doubts about their age and origins. Includes are the following 20 books:
The First Book of Adam and Eve, The Second Book of Adam and Eve, The Secrets of Enoch, The Psalms of Solomon, The Odes of Solomon, The Letter of Aristeas, The Fourth Book of Maccabees, The Story of Ahikar, The Testament of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Joseph, Benjamin
This affordable book offers a thought provoking read for those with a general interest "outside of the box". While the translations are somewhat dated, they are not difficult to understand.
Customer Reviews:
Not as great as the other works.......2005-11-10
I am a fan of Mark Twain and have read all of his major works: Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, Connecticut Yankee, Prince and the Pauper, etc... and so I was excited to discover this book at my local library. After reading it I realized why it is not as well-known as the other works; it is not as entertaining, endearing, humorous, or heart-wrenching. In short, this book is a collection of several writings. These include Twain's writings on the Bible, and commentaries written by others on Twain's writings on the Bible. The former is not one continuous work, but actually several different works written to parallel different parts of the Bible, primarily the Old Testament. The most notable of these is the story that mocks Genesis. Told from both Adam's and Eve's point of view, it retells the Genesis story and the life of the first humans with a touch of wit, dry humor, sarcasm, and ribaldness. Though funny at times, and probably at the edge of decency when they were first published, the humor and points made in these stories are nothing significant in today's world. All in all an alright edition to the canon on Twain.
Without any doubt this book belongs on everyone's bookshelf........1996-02-08
Marvelous. Compelling. Funny. (How rare to review a new work by Mark Twain!) This book is rare, old scotch with just enough ice. It's a fine, black Connecticut cigar. It's a wide tie with a brave picture on it. It's a moonlit sail on the seas of time, and the distant rasping, drawling voice of God, winking at the human race through his prophet Samuel.
Get it. Read it a little at a time. Hope like hell somebody finds some more papers out there in California that nobody has had the chance at, and that the small minded are at lunch and the office boy leaves them in the outbox and they, too, come to print while yet we live.
No one can possibly get past the mythic Mark Twain to a deeper understanding of the great writer and his later passions without a thorough reading of the Eden stories, and an enjoyment of his darker humor. As an anthology, this book is a delight. But this work includes previously unpublished writings, and so it must be in any Twain lover's library. The author of this book is Clemens himself. The editors have, with appropriate reverence and irreverence, expanded the horizons of our understanding.
Hoorays and war-whoops all round.
Customer Reviews:
Widening the lens of art history.......2000-01-31
Ann Eden Gibson's revelatory book takes a second look at American art history of the mid-to-late 20th century and makes a strong case for a reexamination of artists whose work has been excluded. The importance of artists such as Norman Lewis, Beauford Delany, Hale Woodruff, Charles Alston, Alice Trumbull Mason, Michael West and many others has been marginalized because they were African-American or women or gay or Asian-American. How and why this happened is the subject of Ms. Gibson's clear-eyed and well-reasoned analysis. She writes of social, philosophical, psychological and historical matters which combined to create this widespread rejection in the mainstream art world.
One interesting area of discussion, for example, was the natural ability and inclination of the Outsider to perceive aspects of life in more than one way. This plurality, with its inherent sense of irony and a wider perspective, was the antithesis of the Abstract Expressionists' determined formula for success - to find a style and stick to it. Another fertile subject is that of the Hero, or heroic rebel, as epitomized by Jackson Pollock and idolized by most of the artists within the fold. This uniquely masculine, heterosexual and yes, narrow point of view catapulted certain artists into the limelight and pushed others with a more feminine or delicate or vulnerable approach to the sidelines.
These and other arguments are all beautifully documented by Gibson, and a generous number of color, as well as black-and-white illustrations demonstrate the content and strength of the work of many of these unjustly neglected artists. This probing volume raises as many questions as it answers. Hopefully, this will be only the beginning of a much-needed reassessment of the history of recent American art.
A must read; Dr. Gibson opens our eyes to so many overlooked.......1998-11-05
In Other Politics, Ann Gibson has made me rethink all of what I thought I knew about abstract expressionism. From the
Book Description
For generations, readers of all ages have delighted in the adventures of Robin Hood. The legend of the Prince of Thieves dates back as far as 1200 A.D., and versions of the story have been illustrated by some of the world s most notable artists. The latest entry in Chronicle s Classic Illustrated Edition series, this lavishly illustrated book features over 100 of the best images from the 12th to the 20th centuries, including works by N. C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, Walter Crane, Honor C. Appleton, and Harry Theaker. This gallery of images, combined with E. Charles Vivian s classic version of the tale, is an unforgettable treat.
Customer Reviews:
Robin Hood.......2006-05-22
Robin Hood is a very interesting story that everyone should read. One thing that I liked about this book is that it is an adventure story where people take risks. As soon as one adventure is done, another starts right away, so it is endless adventure until the last page. In the story new things happen every page, which is another thing that I really like about this book. Also I like that Robin and his group help people in need and take from people who are wealthy. Robin Hood is a great book for people of all ages, especially for people who like to read adventure stories or who just like to read.
A PRINCELY TALE.......2003-02-18
Robin Hood
E. Charles Vivian, Compiled by Cooper Edens
The exciting and timeless tale about "the prince of thieves" is more beautiful than ever in this special "Classic Illustrated Edition" title. As with the series' previous titles -- "Peter Pan," "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," "Pinocchio" and "Aesop's Fables" -- "Robin Hood" is illustrated with a virtual best-of variety of color and black-and-white images from a collection of archival sources. There are more than 100 splendid images in all, dating from the 12th to the 20th century and created by artists as diverse as N.C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, Walter Crane and Honor C. Appleton. The range is considerable, the fine-detail of the works is immensely impressive, the art restoration is impeccable, and each antique image is uniquely charming. The lack of a consistent visual style is initially jarring, but quickly it becomes apparent that this inconsistency is the very source of the book's appeal, particularly for retro fans attracted to ye olde graphics. The text itself remains loyal to E. Charles Vivian's classic version of the story -- with most of the content, spelling and grammar intact from the 1906 edition, making this respectful tribute to an old masterpiece worth its weight in gold marks.
Book Description
Hugh Brody crystallizes three decades of studying, learning from, crusading for, and thinking about hunter-gatherers in this profound and provocative book. Contrary to stereotype, he says, it is the farmers and their colonizing descendants—ourselves—who are the true nomads, doomed to the geographical and spiritual restlessness embodied in the story of Genesis. By contrast, the hunters have a deep attachment to the place and ways of their ancestors that stems from an enviable sense, distinctively expressed in thought, word, and act, of being part of the fabric of the natural and spiritual worlds.
Customer Reviews:
Language as culture - not just hunting and gathering.......2007-09-25
This was a great book. I bought it for $.99 at a local bookstore and was pleasantly surprised by the hours of insightful enjoyment I got out of it. This book is not just about hunter-gatherers versus farmers. While it is true, many of the stories relate back to this, it is not the only or even the most important theme of the book. The other side of Eden explores how language is embedded with culture. It describes in a colorful and easy to understand way how language is used to depict everything from one's surroundings to the very values held within society. The commentary was brought to life in the first part of the book, which is essentially a travel memoir into the rarely seen world of the Inuit. While the last third of the book was a bit academic and the summary felt like an overly beaten summary, this is still a great read. I would recommend this book for anyone who finds language fascinating and who is looking for yet another culture to explore.
Skip this book!.......2004-03-08
This author pushes his personal and anthropological views on his reader in a big way. Had this book not been a required text for a class, I would have put it down after the first chapter. This is not a linear book, meaning Brody skips around sometimes over periods of years while recalling his experiences. It is a boring read and Brody is pushy with his ideas, to an almost sickening degree. I wouldn't recommend this book at all.
3 cheers for hunters, 4 groans for farmers.......2002-12-16
I read this book with growing impatience. In a nutshell, what Brody says is: hunters = good!! Farmers = BAD!!! (Hunters, mind you, rely for most of their protein on women's gathering, which Brody relegates to two footnotes. Yeah, women do a lot work, but hey, I'm a man in a man's society, so that doesn't have anything to do with me.)
I was puzzled by Brody's totally ignoring anybody but hunters and farmers, until I read (p236) ¡§There is no intermediate figure, no third term, sitting between God and Satan.¡¨ It seems that in Brody's mind, boxed in by Judeo-Christianity, God = hunters and gatherers, farmers = Satan, and that's the whole story, all cultures are either hunting angels or demonic potato grower. Never mind that for some reason I had labored under the delusion that the early Jews were herders. My Biblical history is weak, and for Brody, that sort of category does not exist.
Brody combines some profound ideas with bizarre notions. Thus (p176) ¡§Perhaps all education has as its objective some form of breaking.¡¨ Anybody not thoroughly indoctrinated in Romantic ideology is sure to scream at this sentence, and think of dozens of refutations. But even if we do accept education as breaking. An eagle chick has to break its shell and lose its baby feathers in order to soar. So?
The author devotes considerable energy to trying to prove that hunter-gatherers are settled, farmers not. I have a friend who is the 82nd recorded generation of his family; the previous 81 were all born in the same farming town (before the Communists took over China). I don't have the exact names and places at hand, but I read about a man in England whose DNA showed him to be descended from a person buried nearby 9,000 years ago. Isn't that enough stability?
Humanity's main dispersion, from Africa to all over everywhere else, was accomplished by hunter-gatherers. Brody tries to get around this by saying the Indians believe their own creation myths, which say they were created in situ.
This is not to deny tension between farmers and hunter-gatherers: it is a problem of how the land is to feed people, a matter of life and death. However, I feel we could justifiably say that our ancestors were not willing to sit back and admire the cultural achievements of hunters because they were scared to death. A farmer plants a seed, tends the crop, and harvests, bringing life. No surprise they were terrified when confronted with people who live by stalking and killing living things, existing by blood and gore. A farmer with a hoe has good reason to be afraid of a hunter with an arrow.
Again and again, Brody indignantly accuses farmers of considering hunting people ¡¥not quite human.¡¦ Well, he also tells us that a hunter is in touch with the animals, visits them, and can come to an understanding with them (p103), and obviously admires their ability to achieve brotherhood with wild beasts, so why shouldn't farmers consider them not quite human? This is hardly their monopoly. Brody tells us that hunting tribes refer to themselves as Humans, implying that others are not quite human. But that's all right, see, because Hunters = good!!
I was shocked on page 198 to see reference to chiefs. What? How could hunters have chiefs? Brody told us over and over how egalitarian they are.
This is not the only contradiction. Hegel is rightly scorned for considering two million Indian lives a worthwhile price for progress (p267), but on the very next page the Spaniards are held to scorn for destroying the Aztecs who practiced human sacrifice, hundreds of thousands of Indian lives ended on bloody altars. Brody cannot bring himself to credit the Spaniards with repugnance at this dreadful religion. Spaniards are farmers, so they must be bad. We conveniently hide in a footnote that the Aztecs were hardly hunter gatherers. Neither were the Incas. Did they fare any better under the Spanish heel?
I do not have space here to examine Brody's muddled arguments thoroughly, and frankly, I got so bored and exasperated that I did not read the last third of the book with extreme care. I think the crux of the matter is stated baldly on page 290: ¡§I felt liberated from the anxious landscapes of middle-class Europe.¡¨ Like a modern Rousseau, Brody discovers a noble savage to save himself from his own anxieties.
It is highly ironic that Brody's glorification of hunters, and thus meat-eating, contributes to the annihilation of the few hunting societies left. Very few readers will go out and hunt seal in the environmental and psychological balance Brody extols. Most will buy their meat. To produce meat for these consumers, big business buys cheap grazing land in Central America, where they chop down the rain forest and displace the Indians.
Brody is to be commended for standing up for the dispossessed, but a greater service would be rendered their cause by a less dogmatic, less absolutist treatise.
A superbly presented, anthropological study.......2002-06-06
The Other Side Of Eden: Hunters, Farmers, And The Shaping Of The World by anthropologist and documentary filmmaker Hugh Brody is a meticulously researched, superbly presented, anthropological study that looks closely at the life of hunter-gatherers in prehistory. Comparing the hunter-gatherers to farmers, Brody persuasively proposes that it was the farmers and colonizers who were the true nomads, whereas the hunter-gatherers adapted a strong attachment and sense of place to their lands. The Other Side Of Eden is a simply fascinating, iconoclastic, thought-provoking, highly recommended study re-examining long-standing anthropological beliefs about the nature of early human life.
a part of everyone's education!.......2001-12-05
Hugh Brody is an anthropologist & documentary filmmaker who has worked and traveled extensively among indigenous peoples. He has spent nearly three decades studying, learning from, crusading for, & thinking about hunter-gatherers, who survive at the margins of the vast, fertile lands occupied by farming peoples & their descendants, now the great majority of the world's population.
That said be ready to take off for faraway places, ideas & behaviors!
The hunters have been all but vanquished, yet in this profound and passionate book, Brody dispels the notion that theirs is a lesser way of life, & reveals the systems of thought, belief, & practice that distinguish them from the farmers.
The hunters' deep attachment to the places & ways of their ancestors stems from an enviable sense that they are part of a web of relationships in the natural & spiritual worlds. Brody's aim is not to elevate one mode of being over another, but to suggest that we move beyond dichotomies & accept that there are various ways of being fully human.
"The Other Side of Eden" is an exciting, generally well-written saga of the dreams & accomplishments of a dying culture, & as such should be part of everyone's education.
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Books Index
Books Home
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Saints Behaving Badly: The Cutthroats, Crooks, Trollops, Con Men, and Devil-Worshippers Who Became Saints
Girls Gone Mild: Young Women Reclaim Self-Respect and Find It's Not Bad to Be Good
Jesus of Nazareth
Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology Of The Body
