5 comments about Haunted: The Incredible True Story of a Canadian Family's Experience Living in a Haunted House.

1. As a person who has had the unfortunate history of living in a few haunted houses, I was eager to read this book based on all the great reviews. My expectations weren't met - but were exceeded by this book!
   
   It was very well-written and easy to follow. I picked it up at 7 pm and sat it down at 9 pm - finished! The next morning I gave it to my 11-year old daughter to read and she did the same. (Only it took her a little longer to read - still she didn't put the book down until it was finished).
   
   This story is very believable. Nothing over-the-top about it, in my opinion. Anyone who thinks so hasn't many books on hauntings, as many really hard to believe. This, in my opinion, was believable.
   
   And it had a great ending. Highly recommended!



2. OK, maybe it's all true, but everything seemed a little exagerated or maybe a little bit out of perspective. If some of the things the author said happened,I believe she'd have been out of there, family in tow. Being drawn to a house??? Aren't we all? Haunted or not. Good weekend read if you like this kind of stuff, but I'm skeptical that time hasn't changed some "memories" here to a little warped out of shape.



3. This s a book I will read and read again. I grew up in a haunted house and can share the author's worry and wondering if people may think you are alittle crazy. I just don't know how she could stand to be alone in the house but I truly believe her and her writing is very simple and more like the author is with you and sharing her story.



4. I enjoyed reading it, but if you're looking for something to run chills up your spine, this ain't it. Not very scary and almost monotonus.



5. I love a good true haunted house story and read many books that detail the author's personal experience. This is by far one of the best! Told matter of factly but with personal insight and empathy for these earthbound spirits. I could totally relate to Dorah as her responses to most of her experiences were exactly what mine would have been - fascination instead of terror, humor instead of irritation, research instead of assumption. Their case is understandably difficult to find "answers" for due to the age of their house and it's numerous occupants over the years but in the end I think that's what makes this story so interesting. A terrific read - I highly recommend it!

5 comments about Shut Up, I'm Talking: And Other Diplomacy Lessons I Learned in the Israeli Government--A Memoir.

1. In his Author's Note, Gregory says that he wrote his tale of his failure (he doesn't call it that of course) in the service of the Israeli Government because "sometimes it's the comic details that best reflect the gravity of the larger picture." And he certainly wrote a hilarious, page-turner or a sad book. But it was sad for me at least because it was so obvious that Greg just didn't get it.
   
   For years Greg worked for a country whose people and institutions are in profound transition. (And who are not at all sure they want to transform.) The transition is from a kibbutz-style country, a family; to a bureaucratized state with attendant civil institutions. From a big family where the cab driver gives the Prime Minister advice to a place where autonomous individuals take official rules and the arbitrary hierarchy those rules impose very seriously indeed. For years Greg worked (and even lived) in a place that only has the trappings of a bureaucracy but no actual bureaucracy--and for years he didn't see that.
   
   At one point he tells his fiancée that Israel is a big family. But I never got the sense that he stopped to think what that might entail. In a family, you don't have a bureaucracy or rules. In a family, if a bunch of kids want a treat, they just stampede to the grown-up handing the treats out and the loudest ones get it first. In a family, if you want to get hired you don't follow formal protocol; you call someone. As Greg had to in the end call someone to get his job in the Mission.
   
   But Israel, the state, can't just be a family. Because so much attention is directed at it, it is being forced to change. To become more bureaucratic. More like "a regular country". Or at least its civil institutions are undergoing that transition. It is a profound and painful transition--and one that many Israelis around Greg were not at all sure they wanted. That is why Israelis elected Ariel Sharon, a man renowned for his ability to do backward planning (i.e., decide on the goal he needs and on all the little steps needed to accomplish that goal) and that is why there was such a huge hole when Sharon was no longer there.
   
   But Greg missed all that. He was too busy being frustrated; too busy being too young; too busy falling back on comfortable ideological assumptions. And so he failed to do the job he was hired to do: explain the improvisation-in-transition that is Israel to the rest of the world. The tale of his failure makes for a hilarious book that left me feeling very sad for this nice Jewish boy who takes rules so seriously. And when I finished the last page, I remembered that at the beginning of the book, Greg relates how Ambassador Mekel told him, "You look perfect on paper, so there must be something wrong with you."
   
   There was. Greg was too young.



2. The author, probably because of his youth, shows consistently a superior and patronizing attitude.
   Probably due to his "outsider" point of view, he generalizes and presents negative stereotypes from just a few personal unpleasant incidents.
   If you read it for laughs or to gain some understanding of the complicated situation of the Middle East, you will be disappointed.
   I was.



3. I liked the concept of this book. Take the state of Israel and turn it into a Seinfeld episode. The writing style is rather basic and so flat, that it detracts from the revelations of the narrative. Also, too many lapses in the time line make for a heavily disjointed narrative. You often want to know more about his side trips to South Africa, than his glossed over, day-to-day grind in Tel Aviv.
   Mildly amusing, but would have been a better New Yorker story than an actual book.



4. Levey, Gregory. "Shut Up, I'm Talking and Other Diplomacy Lessons I Learned in the Israeli Government", Free Press, 2008.
   
   A Laugh Riot
   
   Amos Lassen
   
   I do not think that many of us laugh when we think of the inner workings of government agencies but Gregory Levey knows differently. In fact, reading "Shut Up, I'm Talking" explains, in its own way, why the Middle East is so hard to understand.
   Levey was once a speechwriter for the Israeli delegation to the United Nations when he was only 25 years old. He was thrust into a world of foreign ministers, heads of state and American senators and before he knew it he was attending sessions at the U.N. as well as being responsible for the drafting of major statements of the Israeli government. Then he was transferred to Jerusalem to be the speech writer for then prime minister Ariel Sharon,
   I found myself laughing aloud while reading the book and then running to the phone to call a friend and tell it to him. Levey was in Israel for three years during which Arafat died, the intifada continued, Hamas rose to power and Sharon had the stroke that has left him in a coma. He takes us inside the government of Israel and we see how casual the workings are and as well as how the government works behind the scenes.
   As a non-citizen of Israel he sat in the Israeli seat at the United Nations General Assembly and when an important vote came up, he not only had no idea of how to vote but he had virtually no idea of what was being voted on.
   Levey mixes satire and reality to give us the poetical picture and we learn that he became interested in Israel when he came to law school in New York and decided to volunteer for the Israel Defense Forces. He is a Jewish Canadian and since he had time before he was due to report for military service, he applied for an internship at the Israel Mission to the U.N. and it is from that point that the comedy begins.
   If you want to learn about Israeli politics this is not the book for you but if you want to laugh then you are at the right place.



5. ** AUTHOR'S NOTE **
   "As I write this note, things don't look good in the Middle East. I'm not sure when you're reading this, but I assume that things still don't look good in the Middle East, because they never really do."
   -----------------------------------------------------------
   
   The author Gregory Levey at the age of twenty-five-years-old and not even an Israeli citizen found himself sitting alone at the State of Israel's seat at the United Nations General Assembly. An important vote was about to take place, and he not only didn't know which way to vote on the resolution... he didn't even know what the resolution was!
   
   This humorous and almost satirical yet somber situation was all set in motion innocently enough when Greg became bored in his second year of law school. The author being Jewish and a Canadian citizen going to school in New York decided to volunteer to serve in the Israeli army. After he signed up on-line for the army he still had a number of months ahead of him until he had to report to Israel. Unwilling to accept the monotonous months of waiting ahead he decided to apply for an internship at the Israeli Mission to the United Nations. What follows could provide enough fodder for a full season of hilarious sitcom material. As Greg followed up on his application, over and over again, without any positive results, he showed dogged determination and made yet another phone call to yet another person who told him to fax his resume directly to her. After still no response Greg gave up on the whole idea and left for Christmas break.
   
   After he returned to New York in January he got a strange call from a man named Yaron from Israeli security. This led to many, many, phone calls with varying degrees of time between each clandestine call, with questions that ranged from "what side of the street did he live on?" to questions about the Jewish summer camp he attended as a child. Finally an interview was set up with Israeli Ambassador Mekel. The first thing the Ambassador said was: "You look perfect on paper, so there must be something wrong with you." During the interview the Ambassador told Greg there is no internship program but offered him a deputy speechwriter job on a part-time basis, because the regular speechwriter was going to be leaving and if everything went well he could take over fulltime. "Greg accepted the offer, but told him that as a Canadian, he was not eligible to work in the United States. The Ambassador shook his head before he even finished the sentence and said, "I can hire anyone I want. We'll just change your status from student to DIPLOMAT!" "So that was it. From the U.S. State Department's point of view, Greg was going to be an Israeli Diplomat, even though he wasn't an Israeli citizen." Greg had come in the hope of getting an internship and walked out as an Israeli Diplomat.
   
   From there Greg starts writing speeches for Ambassador's in New York and gets noticed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's staff in Israel, and as a favor writes a speech for the Prime Minister. While working in the Mission in New York he takes a vacation in Israel and takes a course in "combat firearms". He subsequently takes another vacation and goes to Israel and takes an "intelligence and counterintelligence" course, and as part of an assignment has to go undercover as "Joey Shmeltz". He then gets invited to come to Israel and work on Prime Minister Sharon's staff. From there on out the author provides a never before seen "outsider's" view of the "inside" of the tumultuous stress that Israeli's face daily as a people and as a nation with a smattering of rye humor along the way.

5 comments about Not the Religious Type: Confessions of a Turncoat Atheist.

1. Pastor Dave breathes a warm, engaging tone into this book. It works well as a conversation with the reader, which is an impressive accomplishment given how thorny a topic he writes about.
   
   Reading this book was a spiritual experience for me. It helped me understand how transformative an experience it can be to surrender to God and devote one's life to the pursuit of goodness.
   
   The problem is that the book fails in its central effort: to convince the reader of the worth and necessity of Christian faith. The reason for the failure is that many of rhetorical devices that Pastor Dave uses do not withstand logical scrutiny.
   
   For example, Dave starts in one section from the assumption that any valid religion should harness the power of surrender to God. He then goes through a laundry list of religions, such as Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam. He decides that only Christianity (and Islam) adovate for surrender. A point in favor of Christianity? Only if you can't spot the obvious fallacy: what about all the possible "religions" that haven't yet been invented? Why count only history's most popular religions? What about Zoroastrianism for example? Jainism? It's unclear how acknowledging the worth of surrender to a higher power necessitates that Jesus of Nazareth was the son of God and that he performed miracles and died for our sins.
   
   Dave's argument against absolute truth and support for relative truth also does nothing to argue for Christianity. Instead it just opens up an existential can of worms that led me to wonder how he can ever be sure of anything.
   
   And so it goes...I'm no closer to being Christian now than when I first read the book. It did make me see more clearly what my own attitude toward religion and spirituality is.



2. This is a book for everyone. Whether a person of faith, or a person who doesn't feel as if they have ever spent time thinking about faith, you will be engaged (as I was) by the insights Dave Schmelzer shares. His perspective of having been an atheist for the first half of his life offers a unique perspective. The faith that Dave Schmelzer talks about isn't about being right/wrong or good/bad, it's about a connection with a communicative Jesus that offers a life that is more "joyful, purposeful, and connected"...something that I definitely can say I'd love to sign up for and have more of.



3. This book is a pleasure to read. Dave Schmelzer used to be a playwright and atheist, and he uses his skills to play out thoughts on the universe, God and happiness. As a now-pastor of a large church in Boston he understands the need to treat with respect those who hold different views from him and lay out his thoughts in easy language and relevance for everyday people.
   
   At the beginning of his book, Dave starts with a theory of Owen Barfield on the progression of human society. Initially, humans were caught up in "Original Participation" where we saw the entire world connected to us, including the gods in the sky and in the bushes. Next, we moved to "non-participation" where we got outside of the world and looked onto is as objective, dispassionate observers. According to Barfield, we will move to a third phase, the "final participation", which merges the first two stages and engages the rationalists with a universe that is personal and active.
   
   Dave builds his argument on this insight: people are much more interested in being "on to something" that is satisfying than ending up in discussion on what is right and wrong (which both his opponents - religious people and skeptical atheists - major on; and for which they pay the price of self-righteousness and sort of a gloomy vibe). Dave adds his insights from pop psychology (M Scott Peck's 4 stages), sociology (bounded vs centered sets), and movie theory (Joseph Campbell's hero myth) to his conversational writing and his many insights into Boston's academic culture.
   
   The strength of this book is in the mix of smart concepts presented in a fun way, paired with a lot of personal stories of how they work and the focus of "being on the something". For Dave, this a shockingly positive and loving God that is accessible and helpful to ordinary people. While smart books in the past (CS Lewis, GK Chesterton) were good in adding perspective and helping to dissect arguments, Dave moves on to propose a life that adds valuable experience to good thoughts. While great books help us see the world in a new light, this 174-page fun-read actually proposes something we can do (not in a self-help 7 step way) and therefore is the best book yet I have read on faith journeys in an intellectual environment.



4. Great reading for just about everyone - believers, unbelievers, with faith, no faith, you name it! Dave's conversational tone is inviting. He is witty, yet quite profound and thought provoking. Like Jesus, Dave offers a non judgmental religious perspective. He successfully depicts a God who is pretty much alive and available to all who simply believe and seek Him.
   After reading this book you will know that following this God is much easier than a lot of religious and preachers impose. (Thank God for such a guilty free, pleasant "religious" perspective for a change!)



5. If you've read any of the last few rounds of atheist books, you'll note one common approach: they're joyless books without any ray of sun. In fact, they're more like amusement parks rides: you strap yourself in, ride the ups and downs, and return to the place you started once it's over. The author remains tirelessly in control.
   
   By contrast, Not the Religious Type is a less of a polemic and more of a conversation starter. It's a book best discussed more than read by one's self. And Schmelzer even chats himself up -- arguing one conclusion for a chapter and then backing up, taking a contrapositive stance, and re-approaching the issue.
   
   It's breezy, accessible, and while it doesn't buttonhole conclusions in a 7 or 21 step fashion, there is course charted in the book that is not merely the playing out of a well-written first chapter. For that reason, perhaps the book is best read with a companion on the journey.

5 comments about True Notebooks: A Writer's Year at Juvenile Hall.

1. I was assigned to read this book for my Honors English 10 class, and I must admitt, I was not too thrilled with this being chosen for me. This is nowhere near my type of book. I like to read suspense and thrillers with the occasional teen books (you have to admitt they're hilarious), so I thought this would either be a waste of time or a major let-down. To my surprise, I loved it!
   
   I figured it had to have somewhat substantial writings done by these kids in juvie, but I never expected them to make such a profound impact on the way I envisioned freedom and justice.
   
   The works that Salzman included that were written by the HROs (high-risk offenders) astonished me.
   
   This book teaches a vital lesson to society and life in general with the only downfall I saw as beimg the kids don't always get that happy ending that you're hoping for, but hey, neither does life all the time...



2. Very easy read, very informative on what its like for these juveniles who are caught up in our legal system. My words for review cannot describe how good of an account this is.



3. Better him than me. I just finished reading this for my third time, which is my typical reaction to a Mark Salzman title. Look up everything he's ever written, read them all, enjoy the movie based on one of his books, and thank me. You just can't go wrong with this guy.
   
   Looking at this book in particular, I devoured it like it was new to my bookshelf. I just couldn't stop myself. I had some work I was supposed to be doing and I just rescheduled. Yeah, it's good to be the boss. Even better to have such a great book to read. It's still a keeper.



4. I taught English to boys in Central Juvenile Hall in LA every day for years. This book refers to conducting a writer's workshop. This book is an interesting slice of life of a selective audience, not a view reflecting the broader population.
   
   About 75-80% of the kids are not able to function above the 4th or 5th grade level. Many are not literate in any language. There are a few who are very articulate. These kids come from all walks of life.
   
   If the purpose was to really communicate the writing of kids who are in juvenile hall, I think this book missed it. If the attempt was to share some writing of a few incarcerated kids who messed up, it is fine.
   
   Of course, everyone wants to work with the responsive one. The saddest were the ones who had done so much glue that they couldn't even remember their birthdays...



5. True Notebooks is an insightful account of Salzman's volunteer experience as a writing instructor for juvenile offenders. It soon becomes apparent that he is as skillful as a teacher (although his instruction methodology for his students is not revealed) as he is a writer. The penetrating essays of his students are riveted with emotions of anxiety, guilt, revenge, remorse and love. Neither Salzman nor his students make excuses for their actions, but they too are challenged with their search for an explanation of their criminal behavior. The nature of the beast is self-analyzed, then exorcised through the newfound elixir of writing.
   
   Interestingly, the spoken language of the inmates is loaded with expletives; every response has one. Yet, expletives do not appear in their written essays!
   
   Salzman writes with such straight-forward, digestable language; it is hard to accept his revealing admission that he struggles greatly as a writer. His struggle is rewarded in the final product.

5 comments about From the Hood to the Hill: A Story of Overcoming.

1. I truly enjoyed this book. It was an excellent read. I highly recommend
   
   this book.



2. This book was great reading. I bought the book after hearing his sermon at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove where he was a guest speaker a couple of years ago.
   The author is not only a great speaker but an excellent writer also. I could not put the book down until I finished the entire book! It was very encouraging! The message I got was to not grow weary of doing the right things and to do it all of the time. Highly recommended.



3. Barry Black in this book show a man that practice what he preach. As I finished the book immediately I want to review the chapter on leadership for I could become a better leader. This is an excellent book for teens to read also.



4. Barry Black, the first African-American and Seventh-day Adventist chaplain of the U.S. Senate, has written a very inspirational work that's not only autobiographical, but just as much motivational. "From the Hood to the Hill" can sometimes even overwhelm the average reader with Chaplain Black's personna of almost near perfection. For myself, when I go to pickup a work that I expect to be strictly an autobiography, I'd rather have that than the many self-help tips along the way. Motivation has its place, but I would have liked to have read more of the man's real life experiences outside of his chaplain/military adventures. And at only a mere 223 pages, our appetites are left wanting more. The motivational book should have fellowed as a second release. Still very much worth reading though.



5. A very inspirational book!! Well written! I don't have words to give enough accolades to Dr. Black's writing. It is an easy read, written as though he is standing before you having a conversation. The reason i said this is a "must read for men" is that my son (who normally only reads books/article related to his career field) actually loaned me his copy. I found it so inspiring that I strongly recommend it for ALL but especially for young men who feel the pressures of "how to make a successful" life in America today.
   I have never written a review before but I feel so strongly about the uplifting benefits of this book that I felt compelled to write this one.

5 comments about 700 Sundays.

1. I read this book a few years ago and passed it around. Recently one of our family members had heart surgery, he is 75. We decided to get this book for him. He loved it. It's an easy read, talks a lot about the Yankees and with all that it's funny (and true)! Great book!!!



2. I saw this book in a BJ's store and thought it looked interesting. So I got it and loved it! Mr. Crystal has always been hilarious and it didn't get shorted in this book! I loved this book so much I brought it down to my dad for him to read and he loved it too! Dad's are special and I thank Mr. Crystal for giving us a little view of his life with his. Awesome work!



3. I received a copy of this book for my birthday from a dear friend, and have since bought two more copies - one to give to another dear friend, the second one for my father. You don't have to be Jewish to appreciate this book (but it doesn't hurt!) Billy is adorable - and such a wonderful son. It made me laugh and warmed my heart. I love him more than ever. A delight from start to finish. And the photos are priceless!



4. Found this at the library, never heard of the broadway show, loved the book. A quick, easy and pleasant read that nonetheless has some very solid moments, and plenty of laughs.
   Crystal is just plain funny, and he can make fun of his oy-so-Jewish family in a million hilarious ways. His Aunt Sheila's phone speech about her lesbian daughter's wedding is by itself worth reading this book for.
   The best surprise for me were the Milt Gabler jazz tales; had no idea Billy was part of the Commodore story. Imagine going to see Shane on a Sunday with Billie Holiday. Unreal.
   Tons of great lines, some very touching and sad moments, and Crystal's unique comedic genius make this a winner.



5. I have read this book three times, and every time I cry, laugh and smile. It is so well written I am now sure I grew up with Billy Crystal. Read this book! You won't regret it.

5 comments about Breaking Free: My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder.

1. This diagnosis is a complete fraud. Not just Mr. Walker's case, but almost all of them. In over 20 years as a therapist I have never seen one legitimate case of MPD/DID. It is a diagnosis created by unethical mental health professionals and claimed by patients with overactive imaginations. Read the book "Creating Hysteria" by Joan Acocella if you want the truth on MPD/DID.



2. This book was very informative. DID is a mental health issue that is not often spoken of in such a positive light. Hershel tells his story in a very intelligent and gripping manner. Please try it for your self.



3. Amazing that the title is My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder. He barely mentioned the DID unless it got him out of hot water. The final chapter of the book was a short explanation of what DID is. You could get this info from the Sidran web site and save the cost of the book. Most of his time was spent either stroking his ego or offering an excuse for all the controversial things he has been involved with.
   
   He claims that the splits in his identity occured because of nightmares and some bullies at school. Yet he was able to find solace in a loving and close christian family. Every DID case I have ever heard of, has suffered through horrendous abuse, usually from primary caregivers. Herschel Walker makes light of these survivors.
   
   Save your money.



4. This book was easy to read and informative. There was no bragging -- just a genuine quest to understand and to share with others his struggles. It was brave to reveal so much of himself in the effort to help others. To me, this book is his greatest victory.



5. Overall, I liked this book. One has to admire Herschel for going public with his diagnosis, one poorly understood by the general public and often associated with severe pathology. That took courage, which the author seems to have in abundance. His writing shows an intelligence not commonly associated with sports, and he gives articulate expression to the various manifestations of his version of DID. A real plus of Walker's account is that he describes an "up" side to this condition, stating clearly for the layperson that it has certain adaptive and self-protecting qualities.
   
   That said, I was left with some questions. While the book seemed forthright and honest, he describes about a dozen different "alters" (formerly called multiple personalities) that he claims have arisen from his being tormented as a fat and stuttering schoolboy--while undoubtedly painful, his schoolyard abuse is hardly the type that normally spawns this fragmented condition. And as a clinical psychologist, I have treated DID patients. A more common presentation than his involves distinct changes in personality including voice, body posture, emotional expression, etc. . . . like you are really seeing different people. He says that his shifts were more subtle, nothing that could be seen externally, more like discrete changes in mental state known only to him at the time. That raises (for me, at least) the issue of whether or not this devoted and highly focused athlete is not simply given to a rather strict compartmentalization of his feelings, a medium that he would admit he is not comfortable with. Even his most personal relationships have suffered from his tendency to be so self-contained. Or perhaps DID is best explained as a "spectrum" disorder, ranging in degree of severity, as we now know autism to be. Who knows?
   
   While he talks about his repeated "thrill-seeking" with Russian roulette, Walker notable leaves out of his story the fact that he several times put a gun to his ex-wife's head. And he glosses over a bit the fact that he had an affair despite his born-again Christian beliefs. When a "tell all" book tells not quite all, you are left wondering what more has been left out.

4 comments about The Lives of Sri Aurobindo.

1. This book is equivalent of "Mother India" by Katherine Mayo- a deliberate attempt thro' highly questionable intellect of a mortal to denigrate one of the tallest Indian Nationalist and exponent of Hinduism of modern times. No wonder, this book is about to be banned in India. In the name of free speech sacred is being invaded by vested interest- extremely shameful.



2. This is a scholarly but very readable biography based on decades of research. Sri Aurobindo (1872-1950) was a major figure in modern Indian history, though he has been neglected and misunderstood. He was a remarkably wide-ranging and original thinker and one of the greatest spiritual philosophers of all time. A Cambridge-educated intellectual turned mystic, he achieved a sweeping synthesis of the thought and vision of East and West. Such a many-sided personality makes unusual demands on a biographer. Heehs has spent most of his life preparing himself to meet these challenges. He succeeds impressively in almost every respect.
   
   The climax of the narrative is reached before the mid-point of the book in the gripping story of Aurobindo's brief but eventful role as one of the leaders of an early phase of the Indian freedom movement, marked by his year in jail and the famous Alipore Bomb Trial. The pace inevitably changes in the second half of the biography as the subject shifts from the tumultuous career of a revolutionary to the life of a yogi, philosopher and spiritual guide. Yet it is here that Sri Aurobindo's full significance emerges. The account of his last forty years, after his withdrawal from politics, includes summaries of his major writings and discussions of his spiritual explorations and realizations.
   
   Sri Aurobindo's life and works are of considerable historical importance and immense intellectual interest even apart from his stature as a mystic. No writer has come anywhere close to Heehs in covering some aspects of his life, such as his political career. But in the end, the most important thing that many readers are likely to gain from the book is a sense of the limitless possibilities of inner transformation and expansion of consciousness to which they themselves can aspire.
   
   In India this book has aroused controversy in certain circles because of a misunderstanding of the author's intention. Heehs has tried to present Sri Aurobindo to Western or Westernized readers who would not have been interested in a more traditional approach. In the later part of his life, Sri Aurobindo became a revered spiritual teacher. As a result, he has followers who demand a devotional approach from anyone who writes about him - even about his early life before he became a yogi - though bhakti (love for the Divine) is only one element of the Integral Yoga he exemplified and taught. Such devotionally minded readers may find that this book does not fulfil their expectations. To others it is highly recommended.



3. As an academic, and a long-time reader of Sri Aurobindo's works, I was thrilled to discover this fine biography. It is high time that such a work be written, one that lends the seriousness to the life and writings of Aurobindo that they deserve. Too much of the literature about him so far has been, at best, hagiographical.
   
   Heehs writes from a deep knowledge of his subject. His rendering of this remarkable man's complex, often conflicted life is tremendously sensitive and at the same time intellectually honest. Aurobindo was a politician, a philosopher, a seer, and a poet. Heehs is a gifted writer, and while his work is scholarly, it is almost a page-turner as he skillfully weaves together Sri Aurobindo's multi-faceted life.
   
   The photographs are marvelous.
   
   All in all, the "Lives" is an important publishing event. Those interested in Indic religions, in the history of India and India's long struggle for independence, in philosophy and yoga,will welcome Heeh's book, and I trust will give it the attention it deserves.
   
   PMG, PhD



4. Touted as an academic biography, this book fails on both expectations: academic and biographical.
   
   It does not stand as a faithful biography because it misses the very things that made Sri Aurobindo a giant of our age. It disregards some of the most important incidents and achievements of Sri Aurobindo's life, and instead overwhelms the reader with irrelevant and peripheral historical information.
   
   The book fares even worse on its claim to scholarship. The author's declared bias to discount anything that exceeds material and sensory data leaves us with the hollow shell of Sri Aurobindo's outermost form. The inner and real Person is forcefully and sometimes crudely discarded leaving the reader with a bitter aftertaste.
   
   All in all, a boring read. The only purpose the book might usefully serve is as a limited database of historical references to Sri Aurobindo's life.

5 comments about Steve & Me.

1. What a guy Steve was, and nobody knew it better than Terri and the children.Terri tells us about the Steve, we all came to know from watching his exciting adventures in the animal world ,played out on our TV screens;better than anyone could;for the simple reason nobody knew and loved him more.
   What a great shock it was to learn about Steve's so untimely death.It happened so quickly and unexpectedly;that those of us who knew him only from watching his unbelievable handling and love of wild animals,that when we heard of his death;we were tempted yo ask ourselves;"was he really for real?"
   In this wonderful book ,Terry opens up to all of us, what a fantastic person Steve was.If we thought we knew him;she shows he was even a much greater person than we realized.
   Steve's unrestrained and unlimited love for animals, and his concern for their threatened futures gave him the strength to carry on and do more for their well being than one could imagine possible for one man.
   When one hears or thinks of Steve ,the scene of him gently holding a small, beautiful but venomous snake in his hand ,in some remote place in the wild,comes to mind. A snake he has never seen before,the locals are terrified of;and Steve lifts it to within a couple if inches of his face.Steve and his newfound "friend" seem to be as one ,without fear on either's part. One also thinks of Terri,a few feet away,watching it all going on,with love,admiration and what must have been a bit of trepidation. Steve, just as easily entertained and amazed us tackling a crocodile or mingling with a herd of wild rhinocerous or staring down a poisonous spider.
   And did he ever enjoy it all; and just as important was his desire to share it with the rest of the world.
   What a terrible loss Steve was to everyone who came to know him;but more importantly what a tremendous loss he was to the world of nature.It seems his life's work was just getting started and we cannot even imagine all the other great things he would have accomplished ,had he been able to continue.No doubt about it,he was a Giant in many ways;and still he was just beginning to accomplish what he dreamed of.
   Steve still managed to accomplish much and his efforts will continue to benefit wildlife beyond anything that could be expected from one person.
   Thanks,so much Terri, for sharing your life and love of Steve with us.



2. Readers looking for Steve Irwin's life story in depth may be disappointed. It is condensed and captured by Terri Irwin, but more as a loving tribute. Their relationship was an unpretentious union built around wildlife conservation. Terri simply explains who the Irwin family is, and what they do best--teaching their children and ours about wildlife. If nothing else, the reader will walk away better understanding what the word passion truly means.



3. This is one of those can't put down books. A book which makes you cry with sadness and happiness, one that makes you laugh and also makes you angry at the injustice to animals and the people trying to protect them.
   
   Whilst we all know what a wonderful guy Steve was with his wildlife conservation and admire and love him for it, this also shows that Terri was equally dedicated.
   
   A beautiful love story, and what a beautiful family! This book made me realize that it really took a special woman to match Steve's vigor for life.
   
   What a unique couple, makes me even the sadder that their love story was cut short and that their two beautiful children do not get to grow up with such an amazing man!



4. Terri Irwin has written a biography and tribute to her soulmate, Steve Irwin. Known to millions all over the world as the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin (along with Terri and their kids and the staff of the Australia Zoo) have inspired millions to care about the environment and animals that have been killed out of ignorance or fear. Contrary to what some reviewers wrote, you do get to know Steve better than you did through the television shows. Terri was actually quite open, sharing many personal stories with the reader in a way that drew you into the narrative. I felt the pain that Steve Irwin felt when he was the subject of the media witch-hunt regarding the "Baby Bob" incident. You laughed along with them, and felt their sorrows and triumphs. The "cult of personality" is too real a force in our world. People spend far too much time concerned with what some singer or athlete or actor says or does. Here is a subject worthy of such notice, and a story well-told. Thanks, mate.



5. Stellar writing by Terri Irwin. She made you feel like
   you were right there with them.

5 comments about Split: A Memoir of Divorce.

1. Suzanne Finnamore tells a story we've all heard before; her husband deserts her and their young son after a few years of marriage for the charms of another woman. So what makes Ms. Finnamore's account any different from the dozens you've heard in your lifetime? For certain, Finnamore's story is a sad one. However, her therapeutic memoir is loaded with hilarious anecdotes, honed by a sharp wit, which will bring a smile to you face and pain to your heart. Of particular interest is her ability to turn a phrase, create an impactful metaphor or simile and, most importantly, tell a compelling story. As I made my way through "Split," I kept thinking how interesting it would be to read her ex-husband's account of the same situation. Hmmm.



2. In her Anger section (Stage II) she says, "The snag about marriage is, it isn't worth the divorce. My new doctrine is, never marry. I won't ever again. It is absolute swill. It's not just my marriage. It's all marriages except a handful. Marriage is a conspiracy from Tiffany's, florists, the diamond industry, and Christian fundamentalists. The only thing good about it is the diamond ring, the wedding gifts, and the honeymoon. A, (the name she gives her son in the book) I could have gotten anywhere. I could have gotten A from a turkey baster and a lovely gay man with a college education and a pleasant disposition. IF ONLY I'D HAD THAT MUCH SENSE AT THE TIME. I'm sending turkey basters to all my single girlfriends, with holly tassels, for Christmas."
   
   In Bargaining (Stage III) she says, "Sorry is the two-dollar bill of words. It's worth something, but in the end it's ridiculous, a souvenir at best."
   
   Section IV: Grief, she says, "Grief, I understand with icy clarity, is simply information I allow myself to know."
   
   And she says this, when wondering what she might say to her son one day when he asks about divorce: "I will say: 'You enter into - well. You enter into a kind of madness. You will make discoveries, not all of them happy. And the surprises are not staggered or regularly spaced, they are coming at you at light-speed, all at once, and you have to continue. You don't get to stop and say, I'll pick this all up in a year or so, when it isn't so difficult or painful or scary. When I'm ready. No no no. You have to go back in daily, until. Until it passes, or something happens to lessen its dark brilliance. you never know when this will be. You just have to keep meeting it. And gradually it disperses, leaving a small tear in your heart. A little hole, an aperture in you, as in a camera lens which, in the right light, can be perceived and accepted as a perspective-enhancing hole.'"
   
   You don't have to be divorced, almost divorced, thinking about divorce, or even know someone getting divorced, to appreciate this book - it's about grief. And aren't we all grieving something, or someone? Or both?



3. In any break-up, especially one precipitted by deception, one would excuse any level of bitterness. Yet, Finnamore manages the difficult balance of anger, humor, hurt and bewilderment. She gives hope to those in the same unfortunate situation.
   
   Plus, I loved imagining the second wife's realization that she snagged a man who will never seemingly stop cheating.



4. I have read every book on this subject (divorce). Although it came out a bit late in the day (decade) for me - or rather for my own divorce - it still provided still needed succor. Funny and beautifully written and studded with sentences you will want to write down. Highly recommended.



5. I left my husband 25 years ago this month, at his request. The child we shared was biologically only his, so I felt he needed to keep the house - and the law figured he needed to keep our daughter. This book - oh, my, it nails it! Every emotion, all the way! I, too, have been blessed - the child was 11 at the time, and my ex allowed me to have joint custody. Today we share a pleasant friendship, chatting occasionally by phone and enjoying family events together. But all those other chapters - I remember them well, and Finnamore couldn't have described them better!
   
   Which, by the way, is another beauty of this book - her great writing style!
   
   If you've been there, if you're there now...if you want to understand what someone you care about is going through - Split is perfect!