Product Description
9 hour audiobook on 6 cassettes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Complete Episode on DVD
Includes:
Feature Book - How to Make An Apple Pie and See the World
What's Cookin' - LeVar and chef Curtis Aikens in the kitchen
Ice Cream Science - w/ Debbie Herb showing how yogurt and ice cream are made
Review Books ... Read more

Product Description
In Adventure 3 of this book series Tuck and Billie ride the maiden voyage of the Torpedo, the fastest train on earth, for a triumphant reunion with their parents. Soft cover book, audio cassette, battery powered engine (uses one AA battery, not included). For ages 5+ ... Read more

Product Description
The return of Captain Montgomery Scott to the Star Trek universe and his encounter with Captain Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise leads to a stirring adventure. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

One of the best novelizations of a ST episode ever written
The episode of ST:TNG that this is based on is one of my favorites. Scotty is a passenger on the transport ship Jenolen when it encounters a Dyson Sphere. Their engines fail while they are orbiting the sphere and the ship crashes on the outer surface. Scotty and Franklin are the only survivors and with no food or water and help unlikely, Scotty comes up with a unique survival mechanism. He rigs the transporter so that it is in a continuous diagnostic cycle with a refresh mode and then he and Franklin enter it. His hope is that their patterns will be stored in the transporter until help arrives.
The Enterprise is moving through space decades later when it encounters the distress signal from the Jenolen. Even though it is most unlikely that anyone still survives, Captain Picard orders the Enterprise to investigate. When they arrive, an away team boards the crashed Jenolen and Geordi is able to recover Scotty, although Franklin's pattern is lost. Scotty immediately discovers that time and technology have passed him by and he quickly becomes despondent and feels useless.
Captain Picard then asks Geordi if he would accompany Scotty to the Jenolen to extract the data records as the Enterprise crew is having some difficulty with interfacing with the old technology. While Geordi and Scotty are on the Jenolen, the Enterprise is unwillingly pulled into the sphere and the door closes behind them. Faced with the prospect of being marooned, Scotty and Geordi combine their expertise to get the Jenolen flying again and they are able to determine how to get the doors to open again. They then use the shields of the Jenolen to hold them open until the Enterprise can escape. The dialog between Geordi and Scotty while they are repairing the Jenolen is on a par with the best ever to appear in Star Trek.
One of the advantages of novel adaptations of a series episode is that it gives the author an opportunity to flesh out the story and provide more in the way of context. This is also a disadvantage in that the author can provide unnecessary or contrary contextual material. The author does some of the latter, the material about Ensign Kane should have been left out in favor of more about Scotty, specifically what he had done after leaving the Enterprise for good. That would have been much more interesting than the antics of a spoiled child filling the uniform of an Ensign. However, despite that aspect, this book is an excellent page-turning adventure of a character that is one of the most delightful to appear in any of the Star Trek incarnations.

STNG Relics - Scotty comes to the twenty fourth century!
Star Trek The Next Generation "Relics" is the superb novelization of one of the most beloved episodes from the series spectacular sixth season.The story and teleplay, written by Ron Moore deserves a high amount of praise as he found a wonderful way to write a modern STNG episode and bring "Scotty" forward into the twenty fourth century.

The decision to have Star Trek fiction's most prolific author, Michael Jan Friedman, write the novelization of this poignant episode was a perfect one."Relics" is his first novelization of an episode and, as he does with his original stories, he does a marvelous job.

As most novelizations go, the important part is adding a little bit more flavor to an already brilliant episode by bringing forth the characters thoughts and throwing in some "between the scenes on the screen" scenes.All of which, Michael Jan Friedman does with perfection in "Relics."

The cover art for "Relics" is, unfortunately, pretty much the standard fare for Star Trek novels with Scotty and LaForge pictures and the original Enterprise herself, which does add a little bit of "something different" to a Star Trek The Next Generation novel.

From the very first episode of Star Trek The Next Generation in which we saw an aged but still vital, one hundred and forty plus year old Dr. McCoy strolling down the hallways on the Enterprise NCC 1701-D with Data escorting him, many fans were wondering which, if any, characters from The Original Series would be making guest appearances.With the fifth season episode "Unification" and Leonard Nimoy's exceptionally well written and performed return to Star Trek as Spock, the fans of the genre were satiated for the moment but still hungry for more.I still vividly remember the barely containable excitement I experienced upon seeing the preview for the following weeks episode and seeing that James Doohan would be making a guest appearance and he would be bringing Scotty, one of Star Treks most beloved characters, into the twenty fourth century.Now it was time for the "how."

The premise:

Captain Picard and crew are headed to their latest mission when they receive a distress signal from the USS Jenolen which is a ship that has been reported missing for seventy five years.Upon coming out of warp they also encounter gravimetric distortions.As they move in they discover one of the most intriguing objects ever written into one of their episodes, a Dyson's Sphere.The Dyson's Sphere is a real theoretical proposal, proposed by Freeman Dyson in which a civilization could harvest an astronomical amount of resources and build a sphere around a star and live within this sphere.

Captain Picard sends Riker, Worf and LaForge over to the Jenolen and they soon discover that the transporter has been locked into a diagnostic cycle and there's a pattern in the buffer.LaForge runs the cycle through and standing there on the transporter pad is a Starfleet legend in one Captain Montgomery "Scotty" Scott!

As the story progresses, Scotty is suffering the anxiety of feeling obsolete and in the way as he tries to be helpful but only serves to annoy LaForge while he's attempting to carry out the mission given to him by Captain Picard.

What follows from there is not only one of the best episodes ever written and produced for the series but one of the best novelizations written within the Star Trek fiction genre.For those that read Star Trek novels but don't bother too much with the novelizations, they should try this one as Michael Jan Friedman does a superb job with this story and I highly recommend this novel for your Star Trek library!{ssintrepid}

A great book for a great episode
A good book, which follows the episode closely, with some additional scenes. The audio version even features an intorduction and conclusion from Levar Burton. A must for all ST:TNG book fans!

An enjoyable story, if a bit implausible.
This novel is an adaptation of an episode in the "Next Generation" television show. It is well-written, and any flaws in it are not truly the fault of the author, Michael Jan Friedman, but rather of Ron Moore, the writer of the teleplay for the episode it was based on.

My primary objection, perhaps surprisingly, is not the method of justifying (or even the very fact of) the existence of the character of Montgomery Scott nearly a hundred years after the original Star Trek series; I found myself willing and able to suspend disbelief for that concept. No, what I found troubling and implausible was the characterization of Mr. Scott, and his inability to recognize what he knew, and what he didn't, and to avoid being a danger to everyone when let loose in an engine room.

The man was no fool, and perfectly aware that technology had changed while he'd been "away". And he'd plenty of experience examining unfamiliar, superior technology. He'd not have made the stupid mistakes he was portrayed as making. Nor would he have failed to understand that a chief engineer can't be interrupted while on duty. The entire concept, essential to the story, was an insult to the character. Other than that flaw in characterization, the story was good, and it was a pleasure to see Scotty back in action. I just wish that the creator of the story had had more respect for the character.

Thumbs up
A good book. The chemistry between Scott and TNG crew is a wonderful pleasure. ... Read more

Product Description
The companion volume to the ten-part PBS TV series by the team responsible for
The Civil War and Baseball.

Continuing in the tradition of their critically acclaimed works, Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns vividly bring to life the story of the quintessential American music—jazz. Born in the black community of turn-of-the-century New Orleans but played from the beginning by musicians of every color, jazz celebrates all Americans at their best.

Here are the stories of the extraordinary men and women who made the music: Louis Armstrong, the fatherless waif whose unrivaled genius helped turn jazz into a soloist's art and influenced every singer, every instrumentalist who came after him; Duke Ellington, the pampered son of middle-class parents who turned a whole orchestra into his personal instrument, wrote nearly two thousand pieces for it, and captured more of American life than any other composer. Bix Beiderbecke, the doomed cornet prodigy who showed white musicians that they too could make an important contribution to the music; Benny Goodman, theimmigrants' son who learned the clarinet to help feed his family, but who grew up to teach a whole country how to dance; Billie Holiday, whose distinctive style routinely transformed mediocre music into great art; Charlie Parker, who helped lead a musical revolution, only to destroy himself at thirty-four; and Miles Davis, whose search for fresh ways to sound made him the most influential jazz musician of his generation, and then led him to abandon jazz altogether. Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, Dizzy Gillespie, Art Tatum, Count Basie, Dave Brubeck, Artie Shaw, and Ella Fitzgerald are all here; so are Sidney Bechet, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and a host of others.

But Jazz is more than mere biography. The history of the music echoes the history of twentieth-century America. Jazz provided the background for the giddy era that F. Scott Fitzgerald called the Jazz Age. The irresistible pulse of big-band swing lifted the spirits and boosted American morale during the Great Depression and World War II. The virtuosic, demanding style called bebop mirrored the stepped-up pace and dislocation that came with peace. During the Cold War era, jazz served as a propaganda weapon—and forged links with the burgeoning counterculture. The story of jazz encompasses the story of American courtship and show business; the epic growth of great cities—New Orleans and Chicago, Kansas City and New York—and the struggle for civil rights and simple justice that continues into the new millennium.

Visually stunning, with more than five hundred photographs, some never before published, this book, like the music it chronicles, is an exploration—and a celebration—of the American experiment.


From the Hardcover edition.Amazon.com Review
First off, let's get the kudos down: Geoffrey C. Ward and Ken Burns deserve far more than simple gratitude for bringing jazz to the limelight with this lavishly illustrated volume. The book features among its 500-plus pictures many of the previously unseen shots of musicians and venues glimpsed in Burns's 10-part documentary, Jazz. (See our Ken Burns Jazz Store for the lowdown on the series.) Jazz: An Illustrated History follows the film episode by episode, and it's filled with rich historical detail in the early chapters. Like the series, however, the book trails off after a certain point in chronicling jazz's history. It gives background aplenty on early New Orleans music, the migration of jazz up the Mississippi to major urban centers, and the developments of swing and bebop. After bebop, the history gets a bit perfunctory. Dozens of major figures get mere sidebar coverage. Little is said of substance on Latin or Brazilian jazz, European contributions to the music, fusion, or umpteen smaller deviations from the mainstream. There are wonderful essays that highlight elements of jazz culture, particularly Gerald Early's consideration of race and white musicians in jazz and Gary Giddins's five-page essay on avant jazz. And there are fine sidebars as well. But developments during and after the 1960s are dealt with primarily in impressionistic guest essays rather than detail-oriented historical narrative. It is, of course, difficult to capture all jazz history in any single volume. So perhaps this ought to have been called Jazz: A Historical Appreciation, since the hundreds of images certainly create an intense sense of the music's milieu. --Andrew Bartlett ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

For Class
Used in class to accompany the video documentary. Mostly redundant information, but having it physically in front of you is nice for sections with lots of information crammed in.

A good, basic text with a little more
For those who know nothing about jazz but who want to learn, this book is a good introduction.Full of great stories and photographs, it traces the history of the music, mainly through the eyes of two musicians, Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.I like how the authors inter-weaved the storylines of not only Louis and Duke but other musicians as well to show how the music developed and branched off into different styles and genres.

As with most Ken Burns material, the subject is told using race as its home base; jazz is rightly seen as the great desegregator.

Sometimes, though, the effort to find romance gets a little ahead of itself; for example, it's revealed that nearly blind pianist Art Tatum's hearing was so acute that he could tell the denomination of a coin just by the way it sounded when it landed on a counter.Big deal--anyone can do that!

The main beef I have with this book is that Ken Burns and Geoffrey Ward are two non-musicians, and non-jazz people at that. There's nothing necessarily wrong with that, but the result is a book with a lot of facts and very little soul. Some jazz writers contribute well-crafted essays, as does jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, but that's about it.

The reading of the acknowledgments at the end of the book is telling: outside of Marsalis, they did not credit a single jazz musician.Can it really be true that, in a book about the history of jazz, they interviewed only one jazz musician?

They really do in fact do a fine job, but I would have liked to have seen input from more musicians as opposed to critics.

"Jazz, A History of America's Music" - A superb journey of enlightenment of the American greatness that defied its contradiction
"Jazz," by Ward and Burns. In the foreword, Ken Burns cites essayist Gerald Early's quote that "Two thousand years from now, America will be known for three things: the Constitution, baseball, and jazz." And, so it is. This book is a sparkling, gleaming gem. I am a lifelong vocalist and music afficianado, and I tell you unequivocally that Ward and Burns have condensed the story of our need to explosively express ourselves into a digestible whole...America's venomous racism proved trumped by defiance and the will to be human and grow. It is a fascinating story they tell, and against almost unbelievable odds, jazz emerged as a link to all that is irreducibly real and a means of redemption for our errors. Everyone should read and savor this work; it is a triumph. Adisa Ben Achaki, 2009.

JAZZ: A History of American's Music
Ward and Burns have compiled a great deal of research about the origins of Jazz and made it quite interesting by weaving interviews and personal stories of Jazz innovators into the mix.

For instance, Louis Armstrong describes Funky Butt Hall, in Storyville, New Orleans where he grew up."It was a real rough place.You have to take your razor with you `cause you may have to scratch somebody before you leave.The men never put their hats down.They put it on their arm to dance slow with the chick.And nobody better touch it either.After the dance was over, they'd ask did you touch my hat, partner?Yeah!Wop.He'd hit `em in the chops and fight was on."

The pictures are marvelous too.Among them, the authors included Bix Beiderbecke's family portrait in 1904.Bix was probably one or two-years old at the time.There's a photo--actually several pages from the 1914 Ladies' Home Journal with step-by-step pictures of the Vernon Castles teaching the Fox trot to the American public.There's a great 1919 Duke Ellington ad for hiring his `Duke's Serenaders' to play irresistible `jass'.

All in all the book is a great ode to Jazz and its creators.

Great!
prompt shippping during holiday season, book was delivered exactly as description stated. I am very pleased. ... Read more

Product Description
In the author's words, CONVERSATIONS WITH GOD FOR TEENS is, "a look atall the questions that teenagers from every corner of the globe areasking, and the answers that I have received from God in my privatemeditations."Some of these questions, which reflect issues that arepart of everyday life for teenagers, include, "Why can¹t my parentsstay in love and stay married?", "Why wasn't everybody born smart?",and "How do you decide who gets to be famous and who gets to liveregular lives?"To compile questions for this book, Neale DonaldWalsch traveled all over the world to speak with young people in orderto accurately incorporate their unique issues into his personaldialogue with God.The result is, in the words of the author, "one ofthe first books ever to speak to teens from God¹s point of view."Amazon.com Review
Conversations with God for Teens reads like a rap session at a church youth group, where teenagers discuss everything they ever wanted to know about life but were too afraid to ask God. Once again author Neale Donald Walsch acts as the verbal conduit, showing teenagers how easy it is to converse with the divine. After the enormous success of his previous Conversations with God books, Walsch was asked to write a book for teenagers. So he collected questions from teenagers around the world, brought them into his private dialogue with God, and then printed God's answers on the page. So when Claudia, age 16, from Perth, Australia, asks, "Why can't I just have sex with everybody? What's the big deal?", the answer God offers her is: "Nothing you do will ever be okay with everybody. 'Everybody' is a large word. The real question is can you have sex and have it be okay with you?" There's no doubt that the casual question-and-answer format will help make God feel welcoming and accessible to teens. And the introduction by Alanis Morissette raises the "cool" factor considerably. Nonetheless, it's not for all teenagers: older adolescents (17 and older) may find it hokey or manipulative, and preteens (10 to 12) could find some of the questions too mature. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (120)

This Book Has A Very Non-Biblical, Liberal Viewpoint!
Please pay special attention not only to what your kids watch on TV, in movie theaters, on the Internet, and the music they listen to, but also be alert regarding the books they read.

Two particular books are, Conversations with God and Conversations with God for Teens, written by Neale D.. Walsch. They sound harmless enough by their titles alone. The books have been on the New York Times best sellers list for a number of weeks, and they make truth of the statement, "Don't judge a book by its cover or title."

The author purports to answer various questions asked by kids using the "voice of God". However, the "answers" that he gives are not Bible-based and go against the very infallible word of God. For instance (and I paraphrase), when a girl asks the question "Why am I a lesbian?" His answer is that she was 'born that way' because of genetics (just as you were born right-handed, with brown eyes, etc.). Then he tells her to go out and "celebrate" her differences.

Another girls poses the question "I am living with my boyfriend. My parents say that I should marry him because I am living in sin. Should I marry him?"

His reply is, "Who are you sinning against? Not me, because you have done nothing wrong."

Another question asks about God's forgiveness of sin. His reply "I do not forgive anyone because there is nothing to forgive.. There is no such thingas right or wrong and that is what I have been trying to tell everyone, do not judge people. People have chosen to judge one another and this is wrong, because the rule is "'judge not lest ye be judged."
Not only are these books the false doctrine of the devil, but in some instances quote (in error) the Word of God.

And the list goes on. These books (and others like it) are being sold to schoolchildren through (The Scholastic Book Club), and we need to be aware of what is being fed to our children.

Our children are under attack. So I pray that you be sober and vigilant about teaching your children the Word of God, and guarding their exposure to worldly mediums, because our adversary, the devil, roams about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). We know that lions usually hunt for the slowest, weakest and YOUNGEST of its prey.

No Truth Here
You have got to be kidding!! This man knows nothing about God (big G) nor the truth!This book will NEVER be on my library shelf, nor will I recommend it for reading by anyone I know.Blasphemous and totally in error.God's Word certainly does not agree with this poorly written book of lies.

Against God's word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!







Beware of this book!! Oprah is pushing it. It is scary that someone would be bold enough to write a book from God's point of view contrary to His Word. ...


BEWARE!!



If you have children or grandchildren, work with children at church, or you have neighborhood children whose parents you know, please take note of the information below and pass it along to others. Schools are distributing this book to children through the Scholastic Book Club.

The name of the book is Conversations with God.. James Dobson talked about this book twice this week. It is devastating. Parents, churches and Christian schools need to be aware of it. Please pass this information on to church/e-mail addresses, Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, friends.

Please pay special attention not only to what your kids watch on TV, in movie theaters, on the Internet, and the music they listen to, but also be alert regarding the books they read.

Two particular books are, Conversations with God and Conversations with God for Teens, written by Neale D. Walsch. They sound harmless enough by their titles alone. The books have been on the New York Times best sellers list for a number of weeks, and they make truth of the statement, "Don't judge a book by its cover or title."

The author purports to answer various questions asked by kids using the "voice of God". However, the "answers" that he gives are not Bible-based and go against the very infallible word of God. For instance (and I paraphrase), when a girl asks the question "Why am I a lesbian?" His answer is that she was 'born that way' because of genetics (just as you were born right-handed, with brown eyes, etc.). Then he tells her to go out and "celebrate" her differences.

Another girl poses the question "I am living with my boyfriend. My parents say that I should marry him because I am living in sin. Should I marry him?"

His reply is, "Who are you sinning against? Not me, because you have done nothing wrong."

Another question asks about God's forgiveness of sin. His reply "I do not forgive anyone because there is nothing to forgive.. There is no such thing as right or wrong and that is what I have been trying to tell everyone, do not judge people. People have chosen to judge one another and this is wrong, because the rule is "'judge not lest ye be judged."
Not only are these books the false doctrine of the devil, but in some instances quote (in error) the Word of God.

And the list goes on. These books (and others like it) are being sold to schoolchildren through (The Scholastic Book Club), and we need to be aware of what is being fed to our children.

Our children are under attack. So I pray that you be sober and vigilant about teaching your children the Word of God, and guarding their exposure to worldly mediums, because our adversary, the devil, roams about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). We know that lions usually hunt for the slowest, weakest and YOUNGEST of its prey.

Excellent for teens learning their way
First I want to say that I haven't read this book. I have read the series of Conversations with God and those books have changed my entire outlook on life. I'm having my twelve year old daughter read the teen version because I feel that the series would be a little challenging for her but still want her to have the experience and make informed choices on her own. I suggest that parents read at least book 1 of the series before just giving their children this book. Book 1 at least outlines what the message is. I find that the concept isn't for anyone and I get a lot of weird looks when I start explaining it. But I at least want to give my daughter the choice to make up her own mind especially when she thinks that she knows everything.

So Sad
It is so sad that something like this is allowed to be out there for our teenagers.I am a youth group teacher at my church and I am a Christian.There is only one God, and He answers our questions through His Holy Word, the Bible.This book needs to be done away with.It is nothing but deceitful and a lie to all who read it.I am also apalled that Oprah would promote such a book.There is a right and there is a wrong.Our children need to know this. I gave this book one star only because I had to so it would show my review.I actually give it nothing because that is what it is.....nothing. ... Read more

Product Description
Author James Redfield takes readers to the mountains of Tibet in search of the mythical place called Shambhala, otherwise known as Shangri-La. Like his previous bestselling books, Redfield holds the tension between an adventure travel story (in this book, armed Chinese soldiers doggedly pursue him) and divine encounters. Rather than preach his spiritual beliefs, Redfield likes to portray himself as a naive pilgrim, receiving wisdom and insights from the various guides and teachers he meets on his metaphysical journeys. Shambhala is indeed a paradise, just as it was lovingly portrayed in the famous James Hilton novel Lost Horizon. It is also a spiritual utopia, and Redfield takes great pleasure in pondering the possibilities of living in a culture that is entirely "focused on the life process." Residents explain their lifestyle, which has emerged from a completely spiritual culture, including some rather sensible opinions about technology, parenting, and even genetic testing. Meanwhile, Redfield remains the wide-eyed observer. Those who loved the characters, writing style, and epiphanies in The Celestine Prophecy will not be disappointed with Redfield's latest inspirational portrait of a new world order. --Gail HudsonAmazon.com Review
Author James Redfield takes readers to the mountains of Tibetin search of the mythical place called Shambhala, otherwise known asShangri-La. Like his previous bestselling books, Redfield holds thetension between an adventure travel story (in this book, armed Chinesesoldiers doggedly pursue him) and divine encounters. Rather thanpreach his spiritual beliefs, Redfield likes to portray himself as anaive pilgrim, receiving wisdom and insights from the various guidesand teachers he meets on his metaphysical journeys.

Shambhala isindeed a paradise, just as it was lovingly portrayed in the famousJames Hilton novel LostHorizon. It is also a spiritual utopia, and Redfield takesgreat pleasure in pondering the possibilities of living in a culturethat is entirely "focused on the life process." Residents explaintheir lifestyle, which has emerged from a completely spiritualculture, including some rather sensible opinions about technology,parenting, and even genetic testing. Meanwhile, Redfield remains thewide-eyed observer. Those who loved the characters, writing style, andepiphanies in The Celestine Prophecy will not be disappointedwith Redfield's latest inspirational portrait of a new worldorder. --Gail Hudson ... Read more

Customer Reviews (62)

Secret of Shambhala...Insightful!!
I bought this for my fiance and he has devoured it, just as he has the Celestine Prophecy.There are so many deep truths included, looking past the fictional aspect of it. If you want a clue into increasing your spiritual awareness and personal interpersonal skills, go to "the Celestine Prophesy" and "Tenth Insight", then catch this one. Looking forward to the Twelfth Insight!!

The Secret of Shambhala: In Search of the Eleventh Insight
The book arrived in great condition faster than expected and properly wrapped.And of course, I would suggest that anyone use this seller and read this good book.

Love this Series
I only wish there were more volumes written. I have internalized the teachings and was so hungry for this follow-up book. I was not dissappointed at all. Highly recommend to anyone searching for answers.

Check out my newest Thriller - Bound By Birth - by Randall R Wheeler
Bound By Birth

review
This book was excellent! Having read the other books in the "CP" series, I can recommend this book to anyone who is following the series and actively living the message.

Back to Mainstream Religion with a twist
Those who enjoy Redfield always have mixed feelings. The mixture comes from fairly low quality writing with a deep message-- an odd combination indeed. Redfield might argue that this paradox is a link in the "coincidence" chain, attracting some, bypassing others. If you watched the Celestine movie (worth watching), you saw the same thing-- some pretty bad acting coupled with some good messages, particularly about relationships, controlling behaviors, etc. If you prefer hard to soft, a more edged, and much better shot movie on the topic is Besson's (Fifth Element) and Stratham's REVOLVER --a violent and deep exploration of the negative consequences of ego, not for all, but for students of the science of mind-- a real treat, especially if you're a TRANSPORTER fan and don't mind a little jog into the mind and the "game behind the game" ala 13th floor, matrix, etc.

The present volume leaves the iffy and distracting new age detritus of reincarnation and "signs of the end" of the 10th, and gets us back into the enjoyable and important topics of love and harmony with ourself and others. To translate what a Christian or Baha'i perspective might identify with: his idea of coincidences harmonizes with the idea of "confirmations of the Holy Spirit"; his idea of the "unseen energy" is congruent with the perennial idea of grace; his idea of "prayer" coinicides with- well, prayer!

If you got to this book from a link on request prayers dot com, the idea of an expanding network of prayer for the whole planet seen there has more than a fictional edge-- namely, the older Christian idea of a "prayer list." Anyone who has had serious problems, with health, relationships, finances, and who has tried the prayer list concept, knows that the energy he's talking about is far more than just fiction or new age claptrap. Hopefully deeply religious people, whether Islamic, Christian, Bahai, Hindu, Buddhist or Jewish, will take the time to read this-- the principles are truly grounded in many older mystic traditions from every Prophet.

In the end, regardless of how altruistic we are, we judge books like this by relating them to our personal experiences and lives. On that front, it stands the test of time and is as valuable in 2009/2010 as it was a few years ago! Well worth reading-- and not just for the entertainment, diversion or fun-- will truly inspire and may even solve difficult personal dilemmas, situations or problems. If it helps you in a personal way, the grace is there, "by any other name..." ... Read more

Product Description
Compiled from his own words, this history-making autobiography IS Martin Luther King: the mild-mannered, inquisitive child and student who rebelled against segregation; the dedicated young minister who constantly questioned the depths of his faith and the limits of his wisdom; the loving husband and father who sought to balance his family's needs with those of a growing nationwide movement; and the reflective, world-famous leader who was fired by a vision of equality for people everywhere. Relevant and insightful, this Autobiography offers King's seldom discussed views on some of the world's greatest and most controversial figures including John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, Mahatma Gandhi and Richard Nixon. This book brings to life a remarkable man whose thoughts and actions speak to our most burning contemporary issues and still inspire our desires, hopes and dreams.Amazon.com Review
Celebrated Stanford University historian Clayborne Carson isthe director and editor of the Martin Luther King Papers Project; withthousands of King's essays, notes, letters, speeches, and sermons athis disposal, Carson has organized King's writings into a posthumousautobiography. In an early student essay, King prophetically penned:"We cannot have an enlightened democracy with one great group livingin ignorance.... We cannot have a nation orderly and sound with onegroup so ground down and thwarted that it is almost forced intounsocial attitudes and crime." Such statements, made throughout King'scareer, are skillfully woven together into a coherent narrative of thequest for social justice. The autobiography delves, for example, intothe philosophical training King received at Morehouse College, CrozerTheological Seminary, and Boston University, where he consolidated theteachings of Afro-American theologian Benjamin Mays with thephilosophies of Locke, Rousseau, Gandhi, and Thoreau. Through King'svoice, the reader intimately shares in his trials and triumphs,including the Montgomery Boycott, the 1963 "I Have a Dream Speech,"the Selma March, and the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize. In one of his lastspeeches, King reminded his audience that "in the final analysis, Goddoes not judge us by the separate incidents or the separate mistakesthat we make, but by the total bent of our lives." Carson's skillfulediting has created an original argument in King's favor that drawsdirectly from the source, illuminating the circumstances of King'slife without deifying his person. --Eugene Holley Jr. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (50)

Sensational audio production
I wanted to learn more about King and this great work really left me with a feeling of knowing him well. It gave great insight into factors that moulded King, from his childhood to the profound influence of Gandhi, and chronicled the rough and tumble struggle for justice, with its slings and arrows, and also the great men who helped him like JFK and Harry Belafonte.

Clayborne Carson used King's personal papers to piece together an autobiography, that while half biographical, is as true as one could get. There are many fascinating original recordings etc.

I was really pleased with this purchase. It left me feeling both inspired and accurately informed of the historical detail.

Engrossing, inspiring and informative
February is Black History Month, something which--to be totally honest--I'm usually completely unaware of. I'm not just unaware of when Black History Month occurs, but pretty ignorant about Black History in general.

Last week I began reading The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. I had purchased it a while back at the same time that I bought Gandhi's autobiography. I've been following the trail of non-violent thought from the Anabaptists to the Quakers to Leo Tolstoy to Gandhi to Martin Luther King (and points in-between). So MLK was the next stop on my journey. I only discovered last week after getting half-way into the book that February is Black History Month. I learned this by seeing a placard on the side of a bus.

Dr. King's autobiography was not intentionally written by it's subject, in the same way that Gandhi's autobiography was. King was assassinated before he could write this work himself. Instead, his autobiography was assembled by King scholar Clayborne Carson (at the request of Coretta Scott King) by carefully gathering and collating King's public and private writings into a cohesive narrative. Carson did a masterful job, as King's voice and personality consistently shines through. One really has the sense that this is the autobiography King would have written had his life not been cut short.

I had not expected to become so quickly engrossed in this book. Obviously I knew who Martin Luther King was, but this was my first opportunity to really see what an amazing man he was. King was an intellectual giant, yet also an extremely humble and honest man. He was a brilliant theologian and scholar, but consistently chose to identify himself with the lowest of the low in society. He was incredibly, well ... Christian ... in the true sense of the word.

Besides being impacted by the encounter with King as a person, this book is also teaching me about the events of the Civil Rights movement and the various personalities involved. A consternating thought keeps bubbling up in my mind: Why was I never taught about this in public school? The Civil Rights movement was an epic moment in American history and it's effects continue to reverberate--most recently and obviously in the election of Barack Obama. Yet I can't recall being taught about it in school. Perhaps because I grew up in a 99% white community in Colorado it was deemed irrelevant, just as I've typically viewed Black History Month as personally irrelevant.

Now I'm realizing that Black History, from slavery to emancipation to Jim Crow to the Civil Rights movement and beyond is not just "for black people". It is an integral component of American history. Ditto for Native American history. Looking back, I realize how narrow and anglo-centric my public school history education was. I was not given anything approximating a complete picture of American history. And, sadly, neither has my son. I'm going to try to get him to read this book.

I also find myself thinking as I read this book that if I had been an adult during the 1960's, I hope I would have been one of those whites who joined into the Civil Rights movement to offer solidarity and support. I self-flatteringly imagine that I might've trekked to the South and gotten onto the front lines, as so many people of good conscience from all over the country did. But that thought is immediately followed by a more uncomfortable one: Where are people being oppressed today and what am I doing about it?

MLK Brilliant and Consummate Christian
I was overwhelmed by King's christian ethic and his brilliance.This was an outstanding page turner from cover to cover.King showed us what true christianity and commitment are. I recommend it to all.

A must read
The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr. is a must read, especially for the the youth of the 21st century.I have always appreciated the sacrfices Dr. King made to create a better America, as well as a better economical and social status for African Americans.But after reading this book I have a new respect for Dr. King.His strength through out the entire civil rights movement is without a doubt remarkable.His nonviolent strategy was truly a genious way to fight the hands of racism and evil during the times in which he lived in.He used the media to shame the racist who tried to keep all power for themselves and white America.Dr. King was a very intelligent man and I believe he had a deeper understanding of social behavior that was sharper than most.

I have read many autobiographies on extraordinary people in the world, and prior to reading this book Malcolm X's autobiograpghy was my favorite of many.But I now have to say I have two favorite books.Although Malcolm X and Dr. King had different approaches for fighting racism in America, I believe they were both effective because if nothing else they both brought media attention to the issue that was never there before.In this way they made it impossible for America to sit idlely by and do nothing.

I believe this book should be read be everyone because it truly leaves the reader with a deeper appreciation for the struggles of great leaders who shaped the core values of this country.

The best read of the year
It's an inspirational read and clearly establishes King amongst the finest examples of portraying a 'Purpose Driven Life" in recent generations.




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Product Description
The spiritual insights first revealed in "The Celestine Prophecy" swept the world. Now, James Redfield takes a look at just how these insights have affected people's lives. This fascinating nonfiction book reveals the author's inside view of how people are discovering the transcendent in their everyday existence, and how they are interpreting their individual synchronicity to find their destined purpose in life. Simultaneous hardcover release from Warner Books. November publication date. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Celestine Vision on the mark.
Thoughtfullness in both content & approach.Mr. Redfield's books have helped me clear away the mind-junk.

A must have.
If this is the first time you have bought this book or read it you must understand it can change your life and your way of thinking about the world,the people in it and the way things happen around you.
After reading this book and all the others by Mr.Redfield people have noticed my attitude has changed to a passive calm nature( I was considered Bipolar)
My friends come to me for spiritual insight ,I give them a Redfield book.

Insights Straight Up
For those who loved "Celestine Prophecy, the and "The Tenth Insight: Holding the Vision (Celestine Prophecy)", you'll love receiving the insights directly as James Redfield relates his insights to everyday life - to his own experiences and those of others.

A must for a serious James Redfield fan. Also check out "Nexus: A Neo Novel" - a contemporary novel similar to books by James Redfield. You have to read the insights in this book!

Let's hold the vision and share these insightful books with others who can benefit from them

Great Spiritual Philiosophy
All his books are very good.Each has undertones of truth from various cultures, traditions and world philosophies.Do your research into philosophical works. Look inwardlyto your true self personally, journeying and you will see many truths from Mr. Redfield's contributing works toward society.

This book gave me the answers
I have always wondered about the dreams that came true,thinking of people and seeing them same day,being hesitant between two decisions and getting the hint to choose one of them. I have always wondered about the behaviour of people in society and why they behave in the way they do.This book answers these questions and many more.i think you have to be a believer in God to be able to absorb the ideas presented by the auhtor.He takes you in spiritual journeys high up to afterlife and back to before birth and makes you cotemplate the profound ideas in the book.After I finshed reading the book i want to read it again to fully absorb the magnificent ideas presented in it. I strongly advice reading it by those who are wondering about life and our mission in it for the writer emphasises that we are all here on missons for the welfare of humanity. ... Read more

Product Description
In Life Is So Good, George Dawson shares his wisdom and knowledge about survival, joy, people, and the hidden beauty of growing old. Now 101, Dawson has witnessed a century of change. Born in Marshall, Texas, in 1898, he was eight years old when he first left home to live and work on a white family's farm. But from his warm and loving parents Dawson took with him a positive outlook, based on focusing on how much they had rather than how little, the wise observance of others, and common sense. This book captures Dawson's personality, voice, philosophy, and amazing life story. Throughout this story, Life Is So Good shows us as well the history of America itself as seen through his eyes - segregation and race relations in the South, the World Wars, the invention of the automobile and the airplane, the desegregation of baseball, and other historic events. Life Is So Good is an inspiring story for generations to come. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (100)

Amazing book!
What an amazing book! George Dawson was 98 when he learned to read. Richard Glaubman was a writer who wanted to tell his story and it was a great telling! Spanning parts of 2 centuries and the whole of the twentieth, George tells Richard of his life growing up in Texas as a black man during segregation, of traveling the rails as he became a man and of his philosophy of life. Basically that was the Golden Rule. He always treated others well even during extremely difficult periods.

I learned a lot about segregation from this book as I did from THE HELP. I felt shame for the way our nation treated people just because their skin was different from ours. I think the shame is a good feeling to come away with even though George seemed to have no resentment. He is an amzing man! I loved this book!

Life is definitely what YOU make it...and this man made his GOOD.
This wonderful man lived to over 100+ years old, and very thankfully he garnered the attention of a younger man (the co-author) who had heard that he had just learned to read at the age of 98. He sat him down and got him to ponder important times in American & World history over the past century, hoping to hear a first-hand account of what it was like to be alive at the time. While the title might suggest that this is a book about literacy, it's really not.

When Mr. Dawson begins the book it is nothing like I had expected, and probably not what the author thought he would hear, either. Instead of listening to a man describe well-known historical events, he lets us in on the relatively unknown lives that were happening behind the scenes. He had little or no idea what was going on in the world because he couldn't read, certainly did not own a radio or TV and frankly was just doing what he had to do to survive.

The life lessons that were very hard-won by Mr. Dawson are the kind of basic values that have been lost to many. His account is a fabulous reminder of what is truly important in life and how very blessed (and frequently spoiled) we are when compared to those who came before us.

The book traces his life from childhood to adulthood to his senior years with many fascinating tales. Some are heartbreaking, some uplifting, some frightening...but all of them result in vivid life lessons that we should all be sure to hear. His life as a black man faced with a lifetime of prejudice, as well as his revelation that not everyone carries those beliefs, is stunningly real and honest.

I would highly recommend that all young people (actually, anyone of any age) read this so as to more completely understand the advances in lifestyle, race relations and progress in general over the 20th century. It's an inspirational and informative tale that Mr. Dawson shares and I would hope that his story lives on through many more generations.

Great Book!!!
This is definitely one of the best books I have read in a long time. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Life Is So Good
This book has encouraged me to go back to school.If he accomplished what he set out to do,so can I !!!

George Dawson - A Worthy Roll Model For Black or White
For this eighty nine year old reader, Richard Glaubman's portrayal of George Dawson's triumph over predudice and age related depression is an excellent remedy against premature death. The book should be compulsory reading forold-timers stewing in the bitter juices of personal hatred and predudice. My message for them: Read George Dawson's life story to learn how to enjoy a rewarding lifestyle to ninety and beyond!

Al Kayworth, author

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Trafford Books:
Iceman to the Internet

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