The Art of Setting Stones: And Other Writings from the Japanese Garden

Book Description

In Japanese gardens, composition follows from placement of the first stone; all elements and plantings become interconnected. These eight essays on Kyoto gardens similarly begin with keen description and build into richly meditative excursions into art, Buddhism, nature, and science. Landscape architect Marc Keane shows how Japanese gardens are both a microcosm of the natural universe and a clear expression of our humanity, mirroring how we think, worship, and organize our lives and communities. Filled with passages of alluring beauty, this is a truly transcendent book about "experiencing" Japanese design.

Marc Peter Keane has lived in Kyoto for 17 years and is author of Japanese Garden Design. He designs residential, company, and temple gardens.

Customer Reviews:

Most enjoyable writing I have found on the Japanese garden.......2006-04-02

The author made Kyoto his home after graduating from Cornell University's department of landscape architecture, first as a research fellow of Kyoto University, and later as a landscape architect and writer. He is currently adjunct professor at the Kyoto University of Art and Design, and splits his time between lecturing and praticing landscape architecture from his offices in Ithaca, New York.

The 8 essays desribe his intimate experience of the Japanese garden and shed light on both the cultural origins as well as the personal meanings he has derived from his years of study and contemplation.

His unique perspective is informed by a deep understanding of the historical context of the gardens combined with an appreciation of the spiritual traditions that have defined their aesthetics.

Each of the essays is introduced by a black clayboard illustration done by the author, adding a visual interpretation to his often deeply philisophical musings, making this book the most enjoyable writing I have found to date on the Japanese garden.

A Leisurely Look at the Spirit of Gardening.......2005-04-22

The Art of Setting Stones is a distillation of Mr. Keane's considerable knowledge and experience of Japanese gardens. Mr. Keane is a successful and sought-after landscape architect by profession, but his writings on Japanese gardens are scholarly yet accessible, informative yet enthralling. He consistently demonstrates a synthesis of profession and intellect, art and soul.

I would caution the reader who seeks mere knowledge on Japanese gardens. For this, the reader is better served by Mr. Keane's other works, Japanese Garden Design and the tremendous translation of the eleventh-century manual, Sakuteiki. The Art of Setting Stones is a collection of loosely-related essays that expound the conceptual, spiritual and philosophical framework for creating gardens. The essays are reflective in nature, poetic in style, and deeply learned in content; they provide a patient reader with several evenings of delightful reading.

The title of this collection, which comes from the Sakuteiki, provides a key to the genesis of Mr. Keane's essays: the act of creating a garden space is ancient and primordial, rooted in our relationship to the very land itself. One of the the terms that the Sakuteiki uses for the act of creating a garden is "ishi-wo tatsu" - literally, "to raise stones." Mr. Keane's insight comes from years of doing just that.

Book Description

"A powerhouse."-PopCultureShock.com

Someone has been using hardened criminals in a deadly experiment, injecting them with cancerous cells that yield catastrophic results. Is this the first stage of some fearsome biological weapon, or something far more sinister? It's up to Detective Jiran Ha of the Hard Crimes Unit to unravel the mystery before innocent people become the target of a mysterious killer.

Book Description

Today's screenwriter must be adept at today's popular yet often complex and unconventional script forms, such as the parallel storytelling of Pulp Fiction and Magnolia, the multiple protagonist narrative of American Beauty, and the complex flashback forms of The Usual Suspects and The Sweet Hereafter. Becoming comfortable with and skilled in such modern script forms is the focus of Screenwriting Updated, which identifies basic parallel structures, clearly explains how and why they work (or fail to work), and establishes the basic principles of their construction. These modern forms are presented in tandem with and in relation to tried-and-true, traditional screenwriting forms, rendering unconventional structures as easily grasped as conventional ones. Unlike any other screenwriting book, Screenwriting Updated combines solid, basic screenwriting craft with a thorough presentation of very contemporary script structures. The result is a unique, wide-ranging, in-depth screenwriting text and do-it-yourself script-doctoring manual suitable for both seasoned and novice writers.

Customer Reviews:

Clear and logical.......2006-09-13

The best book on screenwriting I've seen. It provides a clear and intuitive way of looking at narrative structure where others make structure appear merely arbitrary. In addition it is one of the only books (if not the only book) that deals practically with writing non-linear narrative structures seen in such films as Shine, Memento, and Pulp Fiction.

I'm Grateful For This Book.......2003-07-27

I have seen virtually everything out there and for me this is simply the best of the bunch. Linda Aronson has put so much that is practical into this book, that I am actually grateful to her. More than that, I am a bit in awe of her intelligence and generosity. I have never seen so much excellent advice in one book about the creative process of writing, the interplay of what she calls vertical and lateral thinking. I simply don't have the time to really explain all that is incredible about this book-I'm using it right now to write a radio drama and I have to get back to work. (obviously,the book's advice applies). Check it out-it may speak to you. For me, Linda Aronson is a supremely gifted teacher. Ah, the joys of clarity.

A complete "how to" course in a single volume.......2001-12-14

Award winning screenwriter, playwright, and novelist Linda Aronson draws upon her many years of professional experience and expertise to present Screenwriting Updated: New (And Conventional) Ways Of Writing For The Screen, a singularly useful and "user friendly" compendium of advice, examples, tips, tricks, and techniques on writing scripts for television and film. Sections cover such topics as Getting Ideas, Narrative Structure, and dialogue writing. Sample scenes abound, clearly illustrating various writing principles and rendering the concepts in concrete, unmistakable clarity. A complete "how to" course in a single volume, Screenwriting Updated is very highly recommended for both aspiring and active screenwriters.

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Don Henley - The End of the Innocence
Don Henley
Manufacturer: Warner Bros Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0897241991

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End of Innocence
Don Henley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

General | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
ASIN: 5550713993

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The End of the Innocence
Don Henley
Manufacturer: Geffen Reocrds
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM
ASIN: B000KYNYAY

Book Description

Highly instructive book by a noted authority on the subject analyzes every phase of conjuring, from sleights, devices, misdirection, and controlling audience attention to incorporating patter and the effective use of assistants. Provides recommendations on the use of body language, posture, positioning, and movement. 60 original routines — from simple card tricks to major illusions.

Customer Reviews:

Henning Nelms Magical Masterpiece.......2006-12-27

Magic & Showmanship was recommended by Henry Hay (Author of "The Amateur Magician's Handbook",). You need Hay's book in your magic libray as well as M & S, by H. Nelms. Mr. Nelms teaches tricks, but they are only there to highlight the real secret of performing magic. He teaches you how to act and think like a magician. Of great benefit is his instruction on using a "silent script". He also provides excellent advice on costuming, stage craft, involving the audience and even posture to make your performance memorable. The book is challenging, but worth the effort. If you really care about performing, buy this book.

Expected more.......2006-11-11

I honestly expected more from this book. It's not a bad book, but i found it a little bit boring.

Excellent material on stage craft for magicians.......2005-10-28

To many magicians don't know how to behave on stage properly. This work gives them the tools and ideas they need to be able to learn how to carry themselves on stage like a professional. Not just a professional magician, but a professional actor.

Very important skills for any magician to have and this should be on their reading list.

Tim "Santiago" Converse
Enter a World of Elegant Magic
Santiago's Magic

Review by a Professional Magician of a Very Important Book.......2004-06-21

I have been a professional magician for the better part of 32 years. When I first started into magic full time, this was one of the books that I read and re-read thoroughly. It gave me real insight into how to create a consistent character and how to THINK about magic when I was doing magic.

I fully believe that most people who have purchased this book have never read it. If they had, there would be more really excellent magicians in the world. But you can tell the ones who have read it and who understand it, because their magic is consistent, convincing and natural.

If you want to do good magic, buy this book and read it. It will tell you how to think, speak and act when you are performing. And it will give you some material that is not too difficult, but has very great impact upon an audience. And don't worry about performing that material in front of someone else who has purchased this book. He probably hasn't read it anyway! If he has, he won't tell the secrets!

Bill Palmer, MIMC
Merlin the Magician of the Texas Renaissance Festival

The Bible for Magicians.......2002-12-29

Nelm's Magic and Showmanship is like the Bible for magicians. By that I mean it is the MOST highly praised and the LEAST ACTUALLY READ of any magic book in existence! All magicians pay lip service to it, but I've never met that first one who actually followed the advice given.

Actually, the author does make some very good points. When you do magic, it is like a puzzle to the audience. When they can't figure it out, like any puzzle, they expect to be told the secret, which the magician refuses to do. This causes frustration.

The author's solution to this is to remove the "miraculous" aspects from the performance. For example, instead of doing the cut and restored string routine, you present it as a strong man feat in which a piece of string which has been cut in two cannot be pulled from your fingers. For a stage act, the author suggests doing a comedy routine in which the performer is playing a stereotypical magician, but he is possessed by an African Obeah man, who is causing all of his tricks to turn out wrong. By making it appear that the magician is under the control of someone else, he turns it into a comedy act which eases the audience's resentment at being fooled.

No close up trick should simply be pulled out of the pocket and performed; rather, it should be carefully worked into the conversation before performance. For example, you talk about psychics which segues into talk about a mind reading demonstration that you've been working on, which segues into the performance of a trick, practically without your spectators realizing it.

While I think Nelms' premise is correct, I don't think his solution is very practical for most performances. Certainly a somewhat shy magician would have a very hard time skillfully steering a conversation around to a particular topic so that he could show a related trick. The miraculous aspect cannot be removed from most effects, contrary to what Nelms says.

That said, Nelms does give some excellent tips on staging, timing, posture, making the most of assistants and other important topics. There are also several outstanding effects worked into the book as illustrations of the author's points.

This is a very thought-provoking book--for anybody who actually bothers to read it!

Magic and Showmanship: A Handbook for Conjurers

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Magic and Showmanship: A Handbook for Conjurers
Henning Nelms
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WB5V5G

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Magic and Showmanship: A Handbook for Conjurers
Henning Nelms
Manufacturer: Dover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MAM9ZW

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Magic and Showmanship: A Handbook for Conjurers
Henning Nelms
Manufacturer: Dover Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S1VO24

Product Description

Here is an excellent reference book on first run syndicationthe distribution of programs either made exclusively for non-network play, or of programs intended for network telecasts but ultimately making their debuts in syndication. Bringing together information not easily found, this work covers the classics such as Sea Hunt, Highway Patrol, The Merv Griffin Show and the Muppet Show, as well as such once-popular but now obscure productions as China Smith, Ripcord and The Littlest Hobo. Coverage goes back to 1947 and the book includes a number of series ignored in other works. The first section is an overview of the concept of syndication from its earliest application in the newspaper world to the attempt by Fox Television to become a fourth network. The next four sections each cover ten years of syndication, listing the shows (with full backgroundwho produced them and why, who liked them and why, etc.) alphabetically by title under the following genres: Adventure/Mystery, Childrens, Comedy, Drama, Game/Quiz, Informational, Music/Variety, Religious, Sports, Talk/Interview, Travel/Documentary, Westerns, and Womens.

Book Description

After his martyrdom at the hands of the Gestapo in 1945, Dietrich Bonhoeffer continued his witness in the hearts of Christians around the world. His Letters and Papers from Prison became a prized testimony to Christian faith and courage, read by thousands. Now in Life Together we have Pastor Bonhoeffer's experience of Christian community. This story of a unique fellowship in an underground seminary during the Nazi years reads like one of Paul's letters. It gives practical advice on how life together in Christ can be sustained in families and groups. The role of personal prayer, worship in common, everyday work, and Christian service is treated in simple, almost biblical, words. Life Together is bread for all who are hungry for the real life of Christian fellowship.

Customer Reviews:

Another classic by Bonhoeffer!.......2007-10-09

I encourage anyone who snags a copy of this book to read the introduction of this book because it summarizes who Bonhoeffer was and what he went through - which is very incredible. Just reading the introduction made me curious and open to what was contained in the pages to follow.

In this book Bonhoeffer is addressing life in the Body of Christ, the community of believers. Specifically, in the local body. For what he writes as to the purpose of community and how it should be played out in the lives of believers, every pastor and leader in a church should read this book, because it is a beautiful vision of what it is to live life together.

The third chapter, titled 'The Day Alone' was worth the price of admission to me, on its own. In it he talks about one's personal walk with God, the time alone with God and in his Word and in prayer. It is really challenging, but at the same time encouraging .

If I could, I'd have every Christian read this book and engage the material within. Bonhoeffer came from a situation foreign to most readers today, but most of what he writes is relevant to the modern setting. There were a few things he suggested (well, dictated, as is his style...) which raised my eyebrows. Not necessarily that what he said was biblically wrong, I just didn't quite completely agree with the practical practice he was outlining for a specific point. But that doesn't mean he wasn't making a relevant commentation - and his points are all excellent for believers to engage and think about, for their minds to stew over and then take back to the Word.

So yes, I recommend this greatly. If you're a Christian, read it. If you're not a Christian, this has glimpses of what it means to love Christ and live with his followers and I'd encourage you to consider what is written on these pages. Though if you're curious about what Christianity is, I'd suggest something more along the lines of Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis.

A legitimate classic..........2007-05-29

I have been wanting to read this book for several years, having become increasingly fascinated with the life and thoughts of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. His story is truly remarkable, and this seemed like a good place to start reading his work. I probably had unrealistic expectations, given the language and culture gap between us. Nonetheless, it is a substantial and worthwhile book to read.

The strength of this book is its depth. While only 100+ pages long, it is meaty. Bonhoeffer is full of big ideas with profound implications. He tackles big issues in Christian community, spending inordinate amounts of time discussing topics like confession with great sincerity and significance.

My primary critique of "Life Together" (and this may be partially attributed to translation issues) is that Bonhoeffer seems to be unnecessarily dogmatic on some rather peripheral issues. For instance, he suggests that unison singing is an essential part of Christian worship, somehow equating vocal harmony with disunity. This idea seems like a stretch, at best. More broadly, the chapters "The Day with Others" and "The Day Alone" seem to be almost like Bonhoeffer's Rule, a contemporary and Protestant version of the earlier rules of monastic life. Though filled with great ideas and describing a life that would surely please God, he sets up his schedule as a spiritual necessity, rather than one option among many.

Overall, this book is definitely worth reading. When he gets bogged down in describing the minutiae of life in Christian community, it gets a bit laborious. But when Bonhoeffer focuses on the main ideas of ministry, confession, and communion in the final half of the book, the endurance of this book as a classic becomes evident. I would recommend it to both seasoned and new believers as a way to further develop of understanding of how we should rightly do "life together."

Insightful book into life in the Christian Church.......2007-02-17

I found this book very enlightening. Those small in size, it is not an easy read. Very thought provoking, I found myself studying and pondering it instead of just read through it. Information on the duties of pastors and how much responsiblity is carried out by the pastor was informative. I felt a compelling to empliment some of these teachings into my own personal life. Daily devotions, not new to me, were suggested for the whole family -- which used to be common practice in many Christian homes, was discussed. Confessing ones sins to other Christians vs. a therapists was discussed. Overall I would recommend this book to ones Christian library.

Sanctorum Communio - the "Communion of Saints".......2007-02-07

Life Together

INTRODUCTION:
This has been my "introductory" book to the wonderful writings of this saint, this mystic Dietrich Bonhoeffer. It made a radical change in my spiritual life, specifically it lit up my soul's hidden and unknown yearning for the fellowship of believers on Sunday, the communion of saints, the beautiful and divine liturgy (aka worship service) - something that my beloved Baptist parents criticized, since it was a book other than the Holy Writ that created in me this yearning. For too many years I dabbled in man's philosophies, being next to "the Way," ... at one point believing in Christian spirituality, but not in "organized religion." Brother Dietrich, this saint clarified for me, elucidated, explained and imprinted on my heart the importance of "Sanctorum Communio" - the fellowship of beliviers, the communion of saints. ("Sanctorum Communio: A Theological Study of the Sociology of the Church (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works)" is the title of his PhD dissertation which he finished at 21; see book by Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 1998).

I recently purchased this book for a coworker (Christian brother, who goes to church once in a while) and wrote him "May you always see the church as the Sanctorum Communion, the communion of saints, the ekklesia of God, where we draw strength from one another's company as we worship the Holy Trinity."

EDITION:
This translation is not the most faithful the original language (German). "Life Together and Prayerbook of the Bible (Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works, vol. 5)" offers a better English translation, plus the added bonus of the editors notes with regards to the history and language terms used by Bonhoeffer - not to mention one of his other writings (on the Psalms).

AUTHOR:
The 6th of 8 children intellectual German turn-of-the-20th-century family, Lutheran theologian, a pastor, a renewed child of God, a pacifist, a collaborator, A martyr for Christ at the hands of the Nazis. Today he is remembered, as an inspiration for Christians and non-Christians - a testament to the power of the Gospel lived out in every stage and trial of life. Up there with C.S. Lewis, he seems to be one of the most widely read and known modern Christian writer. For me, he is my favorite theologian (a pragmatist at heart). One whose love to pastor the local parish and lead youth groups did hinder him from contemplatively writing about his struggles and God's "costly Grace" (to use one of his expressions).

CONTENT:
I think THE KEY to understanding and getting more out of this book (and some of the advice that Bonhoeffer offers - section about music), is to know that Bonhoeffer WROTE THIS BOOK IN 1 DAY, in Berlin at his parents house after the Finkenwalde seminary of the Confessing Church had been discovere by the Gestapo and as a consequence of the experienced gained being a professor, teacher, and fellow believer in that isolated community.

Chapters:
1) Community
2) The Day with Others
3) The Day Alone
4) The Ministry
5) Confession and Communion

Chapter 5) is the chapter that I learned the most from since in my Baptist upbringing experience in the church, there was not theological concept of Confession - in contrary to the NT evidence, and Communion was nothing seen as deep as Bonhoeffer explains).

CONCLUSION:
* Do you have a yearning to spend time in the house of God (Psalm 118:24), to be a living stone in the holy temple of God (1 Peter 2:4), to be a "sinner and saint" (using Martin Luther's terminology) as Christ feeds you and you edify your fellow brothers and sisters in "Word and Sacrament" (Lutheran theological phrase) ?
* Do you find church boring, devoid of spirit ?
* Do you seek more from your local church ?

As an answer, I can only say this "Do not ask what the Church can do for you, but ask, plead, contemplate, on what you thru Christ can do for His local church!"

I highly recommend this book for anyone who faces lethargy, disinterest, non-commitment to be actively involved in a local church and thus participate in the Church of God.

True Christian Community.......2007-01-25

Bonhoeffer's "Life Together" is a classic expression of life in the community of believers!

I found my second read of this book to be more helpful in understanding the kind of life that should be celebrated within the sanctorum communio. I believe Bonhoeffer's book holds more meaning and influence in the context of a first-century styled "house church" than any other religious setting. (I use "house church" to separate our thought from the traditonally accepted "institutional church" and the religious systems of man.)

I remember reading this book several years ago when all I knew of church life was from within the institutional confines of religious rigorism. I believe Bonhoeffer's words have more depth and meaning when they are applied and understood within more of a small familial setting. Frankly, I have come to believe it is the only way this kind of community can be achieved. In Bonhoeffer's words, "In the spiritual realm the Spirit governs; in human community, psychological techniques and methods."

I benefited greatly from Bonhoeffer's plea for believers to be thankful for the Christian fellowship in which we have been placed. When we focus on what our community isn't... we hinder God from letting our fellowship grow as it ought. We are bound to one another. We have no choice but to get along and learn to manifest Christ in our midst! Bonhoeffer makes plain that our actions, good or evil, in sight or in secret... effects the body life. This is not theory... it is reality.

The only way this kind of fellowship works is by embracing Christ's love instead of human love. "Human love has little regard for truth... human love cannot love an enemy." I believe this exposes the kind of love that many in the church have settled for. Bonhoeffer's own actions prove we are all capable of settling for human love and justifying our actions to get our way.

Overall, the reader will find Bonhoeffer's book (as his many others) to be Christocentric. The whole purpose of life in the community is to see our Lord manifested and glorified in our presence. In "Life Together," Bonhoeffer successfully pulls away the empty ritual and the religious ceremony to reveal a simple and clear understanding of life in the Body of Christ!

*My only points of disagreement with Bonhoeffer are at those places where his committment to reformed theology come to the surface. I know this about Bonhoeffer and simply move past it to hear his wonderful words of wisdom and insight.

Life Together: The Classic Exploration Of Faith In Community

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Life Together: The Classic Exploration Of Faith In Community
Dietrich (1906-1945) Bonhoeffer
Manufacturer: HarperSanFrancisco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OES69Y

Book Description

William the Conqueror's invasion in 1066 was not the only attack on England that year. On September 25, 1066, less than three weeks before William defeated King Harold II Godwinson at the battle of Hastings, that same Harold had been victorious over his other opponent of 1066, King Haraldr Hardrádi of Norway at the battle of Stamford Bridge. It was an impressive victory, driving an invading army of Norwegians from the earldom of Northumbria; but it was to cost Harold dear. In telling the story of this neglected battle, Kelly DeVries traces the rise and fall of a family of English warlords, the Godwins, as well as that of the equally impressive Norwegian warlord Hardrádi. KELLY DEVRIES is Associate Professor, Department of History, Loyola College in Maryland.

Customer Reviews:

1066: The Third POV.......2007-02-12

1066 was a definitive year in the history of England, perhaps marking the most upheaval and change England has ever seen in a 12-month period. Everyone knows 1066 marked the beginning of the Norman Era, when William the Conqueror landed near Hastings and defeated the last Saxon King, Harold. Everyone also knows that never again would England be successfully invaded and occupied by a foreign force.

But 1066 did not just end Saxon hegemony in England. It also marked the end of the Scandinavian era. Just three weeks before Hastings, Harold destroyed a large force from Norway. The Battle of Stamford Bridge (near York) was not just important because its timing led to (in part) Harold's defeat at Hastings, but because there would never again be a major Scandinavian occupation attempt, after centuries of raids and settlements from Denmark and Norway. Inded the author begins with the premise that in 1066 England was as much Anglo-Scandinavian as it was Anglo-Saxon.

There were three protagonists in 1066, King Harold of England, Duke William of Normandy, and King Harald Hardrada of Norway. Hardrada was the most famous warrior of his age, yet the Norwegian invasion has been much less a subject for scholarship. In part that's because the invasion was overshadowed by the Conqueror, and in part that's because informational sources are even scarcer than they are for Harold and William.

Author Kelly DeVries tries to rectify that with this book, going through the sources in detail and concluding that some of the tales written by Norse historians have been dismissed too easily. In the first half, DeVries offers an valuable biography of Hardrada and well as a biography of King Harold--less valuable if you've read other sources on 1066, which you probably have if you're considering this book. In the second half DeVries offers a careful study of the invasion, including a discussion of Hardrada's motivations and tactics. In more traditional narratives Hardrada's perspective tends to be shunted aside in favor of Tostig's (Tostig was King Harold's treacherous younger brother whose entreaties catalyzed Hardrada's decision to go to war).

This very readable book ends where the Anglo-Scandinavian era ends, with the Battle of Stamford Bridge. For the Battle of Hastings you will have to read elsewhere. Thus, some readers will find this book be an incomplete account of 1066. The only other criticism that can be leveled is that DeVries writes somewhat defensively, with everything painstakingly annotated and footnoted. The citations are a good thing, but it does contribute to the feeling that DeVries is trying hard to be taken seriously--as if the volume is an extension of what was once his PhD dissertation. Still, it's recommended.

The Fall of the Land-Ravenger.......2005-01-10

This volume is probably the best account of the role of the Norwegian Vikings in the events of 1066. The author has examined the Norse sources in great depth. One is left with the sense that the work was done by a professional historian. Yet I would like to raise a few points. The first is that, when all is said and done, there is an awful lot we do not know about the events of 1066. One estimate in the book has the Norse army at about 11,000-12,000 men (this is the smallest figure). Harald left some of his men behind to guard his ships. How many is unknown. As the armies formed for battle the Vikings formed a circular shield-wall. Given an estimate of 6-8,000 Norsemen on the field, the Saxons must have had considerably more. How many? we do not know. How many were Huscarls? Should we label the Saxon army with sharp distinctions, or were there less to choose from between Fyrd and their better-armed brethern? How many archers did the Saxons field? More important, the sagas tell of the Saxons fighting on horseback in the battle of Stamford Bridge. Did they? The author gives us the accounts available. But the author refrains from hypothetical analysis. So he does not really attempt to get to the bottom of this question. In my mind, a book about the Norse invasion of 1066 should attempt to make some educated guesswork. There is no study of the march distance from the Viking camp to the battlefield. No estimate of how long it might have taken to cover the distance. No guess as to how many men might have fit into the battlefield. We do not really know where the battlefield lies to make such guesses, though. There are no photos of the ground in the book. 1,000 years can do much to change topography though. There are no battlefield remains to help us either. So, after reading the book, I am more confused by the battle than ever. It seems clear that the Viking lack of armour was probably the key to their defeat. If the Norsemen had been able to hold longer, then their fellows coming up from the ships might well have turned the tide.Ah well, the fall of the Land-Ravnger in battle was a fitting end to a true-life Conan the Destroyer.

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Very valuable, well-written book

A Must Read

No such thing as reasonable gun control

Worse is Better

Superficial at best

The Seven Myths of Gun Control: Reclaiming the Truth About Guns, Crime, and the Second Amendment
Richard Poe
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Arms Control | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun-Control Laws

The Bias Against Guns: Why Almost Everything You've Heard About Gun Control Is Wrong

The Global War on Your Guns: Inside the UN Plan To Destroy the Bill of Rights

That Every Man Be Armed: The Evolution of a Constitutional Right (Independent Studies in Political Economy)

A Little Handbook on the Second Amendment: What the American aristocracy Does Not Want You to Know.

ASIN: 0761524258
Release Date: 2003-08-26

Book Description

Today, the right to own a gun is under assault like never before. Every time a firearm is used in a high-profile crime, calls for stricter gun regulation—even outright prohibition—are pounded into us by a press that has taken sides. In fact, when it comes to guns, journalists have clearly made up their minds. According to a recent study, television news stories calling for stricter gun laws outnumbered newscasts opposing such laws by a ratio of ten to one. In other words, we are hearing only one side of the story.

This is the other side.

"A blockbuster book every freedom-loving American should read." — Christopher Ruddy, editor, NewsMax.com

In The Seven Myths of Gun Control, award-winning journalist and bestselling author Richard Poe cuts through the blizzard of anti-gun propaganda and uncovers the truth about guns, crime, and freedom. He details the seven most common arguments used by gun prohibitionists, debunking each one with a wealth of statistical and legal data gleaned from top experts in the field of guns and gun rights. You will discover that, contrary to myth, the availability of guns leads to less crime, not more; that guns do not pose a special threat to our children; and that the Second Amendment is as vital to the lives and liberty of modern Americans as it was in frontier times. You will also learn how the current drive to further regulate and even outlaw firearms is a point-blank assault not only on truth but on freedom as well.

Provocative, accessible, and persuasive, The Seven Myths of Gun Control is a thoughtful and invaluable contribution to the national debate about guns.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Very valuable, well-written book.......2007-10-15

I thought that this book was a very valuable read that covers a lot of material on a range of gun control related issues in a surprisingly concise and easy to read style. Definitely worth reading.

A Must Read.......2007-08-13

This book is a must read by all who have a conceal carry permit. You need to know the legalities of what has happened in the past and what you may be facing in the future for those who argue that guns should be outlawed. You would be surprised by reading this book who is trying to take your right to own and carry a gun.

No such thing as reasonable gun control.......2007-05-19

The author chronicles what history has proved, that there is no such thing as reasonable gun control. History is clear on this matter. The author also is quite prophetic in his prenouncements prior to 9/11 and some to which he gave warning has come to pass with the Patriot Act...a necessary read for gun owners and the proponents of liberty.

Worse is Better.......2007-03-19

Outstanding.
I have sent this book to more people than any other book I've read.
I urge folks to start with the Epilogue for it is the best writing I have experienced on a topic that is what I believe at the very core of the current social disorder in America. Our families are broken, boys are not allowed to become men, and men have surrendered their souls.
The issues around gun control are presented so clearly in this book it
is a wonder there is still an issue at all.
Outstanding.

Superficial at best.......2006-03-23

The author uses the same tactics he denigrates when used by others. For instance, in the section on Japan, he has to admit that gun crime is the lowest in the industrialized world, mostly affecting intra-ciminal violence. To mitigate that success, Poe describes the fuedal lord who took away swords in the 16th century and how the police are still the arrogant samurai, as if that's relevant to this modern subject.

Citing a few successful-gun-defense-kills/failure-to-have-a-gun stories always gets the pro-gun crowd excited. No different than when the anti-gun extremists cite their innocent bystander shootings. The absence of large number statistics in this book relegates it to the genre of hype, mostly. The fact is that the US has the highest gun violence is because of the easy access to our huge inventory of firearms. The author never once mentions that felons get many handguns that are stolen from law-abiding suburban homes.

The author's myths are just that, real statistics and the law of large numbers prove Poe wrong. In 2003, there were 163 justifiable private citizen homicides with handguns, but 7701 handgun homicides in total. (See FBI Uniform Crime Report www.fbi.gov/ucr/03cius.htm)

I don't understand why the book has size 24 bold letters for a hundred paragraph headings, maybe it's a sign of statistical weakness. Still, the author cites many sources that could be used for pro-gun research, I gave it two stars for effort.

Customer Reviews:

A Birders Guide To Idaho.......2003-05-16

I found this book very helpful in guiding me to great birding places. I found birds I had always wanted to see with relative ease. It directs you to a spot via highways and mile markers. Not only to view birds, but other hard to find wildlife, such as Mountain Goats at Farragut state park. While visiting Idaho from Wisconsin, I introduced this book to 2 local people who were amazed and took the information of where to purchase their own book. Thanks to all involved in making this book possible. It was a great christmas present to me. You won't be dissappointed to buy this book!!
Terry Lane

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