Author: Mel Odom
Genre: Fantasy
Baylee Arnvold, the ranger explorer, returns to Waterdeep to investigate the death of his mentor. His search for the killers, who are now pursuing him, takes him across the Realms chasing the secret of an ancient lost library.
Why Buddhism? Westerns in Search of Wisdom
Author: Vicki Mackenzie
Genre: Buddhism
A series of interviews with western practicioners of Buddhism covering what about Buddhism appeals to them and their experiences as Buddhists.
Genre: Buddhism
A series of interviews with western practicioners of Buddhism covering what about Buddhism appeals to them and their experiences as Buddhists.
Buddhist Birth Stories
Author: Thomas William Rhys Davids
Genre: Buddhism
This book is a translation of the Jataka stories from the Pali Canon. They detail how the Buddha was born and attained awakening, as well as stories that he related to his followers about his past lives.
Genre: Buddhism
This book is a translation of the Jataka stories from the Pali Canon. They detail how the Buddha was born and attained awakening, as well as stories that he related to his followers about his past lives.
The Zen Monastic Experience
Author: Robert E Busman Jr.
Genre: Buddhism
This book a nice mix of scholarly work and personal experience. The author spend several years as an ordained monk living in Korea. He discusses his experiences and places them within the context of the Korean Zen Buddhist tradition.
Genre: Buddhism
This book a nice mix of scholarly work and personal experience. The author spend several years as an ordained monk living in Korea. He discusses his experiences and places them within the context of the Korean Zen Buddhist tradition.
How To Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life
Author: Dalai Lama
Genre: Buddhism
Great book. Tries to explain emptiness.
Genre: Buddhism
Great book. Tries to explain emptiness.
The Art of Living: Vipassana Meditation
Author: William Hart
Genre: Buddhism
A book based largely on the taped lectures of S. N. Goenka that are played during the 10 day Vipassana retreats hosted by his organization. (See http://www.dhamma.org for more information on the retreats, I highly recommend one, or more.)
Genre: Buddhism
A book based largely on the taped lectures of S. N. Goenka that are played during the 10 day Vipassana retreats hosted by his organization. (See http://www.dhamma.org for more information on the retreats, I highly recommend one, or more.)
Eldest
Author: Christopher Paolini
Genre: Fantasy
The tale of a boy and his dragon gets more complicated now with Eragon studying with a living dragon rider and his dragon, learning sword play, magic and his duties as rider.
Genre: Fantasy
The tale of a boy and his dragon gets more complicated now with Eragon studying with a living dragon rider and his dragon, learning sword play, magic and his duties as rider.
Entering The Diamond Way
Author: Lama Ole Nydahl
Genre: Buddhism
This is an autobiographical description of the author's experiences and first encounters with Buddhism. About the first half of the book covers his and his wife's life as drug users, dealers and smugglers while studying Buddhism in Nepal. Then they give that up their harmful lifestyle and devote themselves to their studies.
Genre: Buddhism
This is an autobiographical description of the author's experiences and first encounters with Buddhism. About the first half of the book covers his and his wife's life as drug users, dealers and smugglers while studying Buddhism in Nepal. Then they give that up their harmful lifestyle and devote themselves to their studies.
Confessor
Author: Terry Goodkind
Genre: Fantasy
Well, he's finally done it. The series that started with The Wizard's First Rule in 1994 has finally ended. Still good, though not as outstanding as when it started. Maybe I'm not as attracted by it's message of anger as I was when it started. The ending was kind of pat.
Genre: Fantasy
Well, he's finally done it. The series that started with The Wizard's First Rule in 1994 has finally ended. Still good, though not as outstanding as when it started. Maybe I'm not as attracted by it's message of anger as I was when it started. The ending was kind of pat.
The Encyclopedia of Italian Cooking
Author: Reader's Digest Books
Genre: Cooking
Very ... encyclopedic. Quite good actually.
Genre: Cooking
Very ... encyclopedic. Quite good actually.
Spreads, Toppers & Dips
Author: Diane Rozas
Genre: Cooking
Ever since I discovered the wonders of humus, I've wanted more things to dip my bread in. This book satisfies.
Genre: Cooking
Ever since I discovered the wonders of humus, I've wanted more things to dip my bread in. This book satisfies.
A Still Forest Pool: The Insight Meditation of Achaan Chah
Author: Jack Kornfield & Paul Breiter
Genre: Buddhism
A compilation of lectures and talks given by Achaan Chah, a Thai monk in the Forest Tradition.
Genre: Buddhism
A compilation of lectures and talks given by Achaan Chah, a Thai monk in the Forest Tradition.
Insight Meditation: Practical Steps to Ultimate Truth
Author: Achan Sobin S. Namto
Genre: Buddhism
Speaks practically about the practice of Vipassana.
Genre: Buddhism
Speaks practically about the practice of Vipassana.
Culture Shock: Taiwan
Author: Chris Bates and Ling-li Bates
Genre: Travel
The Culture Shock series deal with cultural idosyncrocies of the given country. This book deals with how to politely refuse things (Chinese will offer things three times, you refuse the first 2 offers out of politeness, but relent on the third time), renting apartments, language barriers. Practical stuff. It is not a travel guide though.
Genre: Travel
The Culture Shock series deal with cultural idosyncrocies of the given country. This book deals with how to politely refuse things (Chinese will offer things three times, you refuse the first 2 offers out of politeness, but relent on the third time), renting apartments, language barriers. Practical stuff. It is not a travel guide though.
The Experience of Insight
Author: Joseph Goldstein
Genre: Buddhism
This appears to be a book containing the day by day lectures of a 30 day Vipassana retreat. Very good.
Genre: Buddhism
This appears to be a book containing the day by day lectures of a 30 day Vipassana retreat. Very good.
Blossoms of the Dharma: Living as a Buddhist Nun
Author: Thubten Chodron
Date Finished: Oct 31, 2007
This book is a collection of articles by several Buddhist nuns in different traditions about their experiences training as nuns, or difficulties they have faced living as nuns.
Date Finished: Oct 31, 2007
This book is a collection of articles by several Buddhist nuns in different traditions about their experiences training as nuns, or difficulties they have faced living as nuns.
Journey of Insight Meditation : A Personal Experience of the Buddha's Way
Author: Eric Lerner
Genre: Buddhism
About one man's personal journey of desperation into intense meditation. A fairly clear example of why it's good to go gently, gently.
Genre: Buddhism
About one man's personal journey of desperation into intense meditation. A fairly clear example of why it's good to go gently, gently.
Juggling 1-2-3
Author: Henrik Lind
Genre: Self Help?
So I didn't read this whole book cover to cover, but I browsed through and picked a couple things I'd like to work on. The thing with a juggling book is they can assign you weeks (or months) of work in a single page.
Good book though. Good photos, good descriptions, step by step instructional methods. The first time I tried to learn how to juggle I was given three balls and told to throw them in the air until I could juggle. That was a poor method. Much better to find a good step by step method.
Genre: Self Help?
So I didn't read this whole book cover to cover, but I browsed through and picked a couple things I'd like to work on. The thing with a juggling book is they can assign you weeks (or months) of work in a single page.
Good book though. Good photos, good descriptions, step by step instructional methods. The first time I tried to learn how to juggle I was given three balls and told to throw them in the air until I could juggle. That was a poor method. Much better to find a good step by step method.
Complete Italian Cooking
Author: Sonja Grey
Genre: Cook Book
Date Finished: September 2, 2007
I didn't exactly read the whole book, but I did make a fairly nice dish of Spaghetti alla Carbonara.
Genre: Cook Book
Date Finished: September 2, 2007
I didn't exactly read the whole book, but I did make a fairly nice dish of Spaghetti alla Carbonara.
Song of the Saurials
Author: Kate Novak and Jeff Grub
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: Sunday, September 2, 2007
Re-read. Still good.
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: Sunday, September 2, 2007
Re-read. Still good.
Howl's Moving Castle
Author: Diana Wynd Jones
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: September 2, 2007
As with many of Diana Wynd Jones' books, I never really know what's going on until the end when things are kind of cleared up. It was a good book though. A recommendation from Sophie, my training partner in China last year.
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: September 2, 2007
As with many of Diana Wynd Jones' books, I never really know what's going on until the end when things are kind of cleared up. It was a good book though. A recommendation from Sophie, my training partner in China last year.
Sword Imperatives: Mastering the Kung Fu and Tai Chi Sword
Author: Grandmaster Ju-Rong Wang & Master Wen-Ching Wu
Genre: Martial Arts
Date Finished: September 1, 2007
This book has some basic exercises, the Green Dragon form and the Tai Chi 32 form. To be honest, I was hoping for more basic exercises. Somewhat along the lines of Taiji Sword, Classical Yang Style by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming
Genre: Martial Arts
Date Finished: September 1, 2007
This book has some basic exercises, the Green Dragon form and the Tai Chi 32 form. To be honest, I was hoping for more basic exercises. Somewhat along the lines of Taiji Sword, Classical Yang Style by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming
Kaz the Minitaur
Author:
Genre: Fantasy
Kaz has spent the last 5 years traveling, but the memory of Huma is still strong with him, something he always tries to live up to.
When the Knighthood puts a price on his head, Kaz heads back to Solamnia to find out what is going on.
Genre: Fantasy
Kaz has spent the last 5 years traveling, but the memory of Huma is still strong with him, something he always tries to live up to.
When the Knighthood puts a price on his head, Kaz heads back to Solamnia to find out what is going on.
The Legend of Deathwalker
Author: David Gemmell
Genre: Fantasy
If I remember correctly, the book Druss the Legend covered the life of Druss up to the death of his friend Sieban, however it skipped from shortly after Druss finally found Rowena to the final invasion of Drenai where Sieban died.
This book covers a period after the recovery of Rowena, before finally skipping to a time after Sieban's death to cover the death of Druss.
Druss has always been an interesting character to me. Someone who does right without understanding why, only knowing that it is right. Someone who isn't deterred by the impossible.
Genre: Fantasy
If I remember correctly, the book Druss the Legend covered the life of Druss up to the death of his friend Sieban, however it skipped from shortly after Druss finally found Rowena to the final invasion of Drenai where Sieban died.
This book covers a period after the recovery of Rowena, before finally skipping to a time after Sieban's death to cover the death of Druss.
Druss has always been an interesting character to me. Someone who does right without understanding why, only knowing that it is right. Someone who isn't deterred by the impossible.
Born in Death
Author: J.D. Robb
Genre: Futuristic Detective?
Finished: May 3, 2007
J.D. Robb (a pen name for Nora Roberts) is prolific, that is for sure. This is another installment in an ongoing series starring Eve Dallas. A bit of light reading.
Mavis has her baby in this book, there is a murder (as usual, Eve is a detective in the Homicide division of NYPSD, New York Police and Security Department, after all), a kidnapping, Eve and her husband Roark fight, then make up. However, they do seem to be learning, as it doesn't take them half the book to make up anymore.
Genre: Futuristic Detective?
Finished: May 3, 2007
J.D. Robb (a pen name for Nora Roberts) is prolific, that is for sure. This is another installment in an ongoing series starring Eve Dallas. A bit of light reading.
Mavis has her baby in this book, there is a murder (as usual, Eve is a detective in the Homicide division of NYPSD, New York Police and Security Department, after all), a kidnapping, Eve and her husband Roark fight, then make up. However, they do seem to be learning, as it doesn't take them half the book to make up anymore.
Bloodstone
Author: David Gemmell
Genre: Fantasy
I wanted a nice mental break yesterday, so I re-read the final episode of the Jon Shannow novels. At least, I think it is the final episode. Another great read by David Gemmell. Confusion, chaos, certainty, indecision and death.
Genre: Fantasy
I wanted a nice mental break yesterday, so I re-read the final episode of the Jon Shannow novels. At least, I think it is the final episode. Another great read by David Gemmell. Confusion, chaos, certainty, indecision and death.
Juggling: From Start to Star
Author: Dave, Dorothy and Ben Finnigan
Genre: Hobbies?
An instruction manual that teaches juggling with scarves, balls, clubs and rings, various patterns, as well as devil sticks and diabolo. It seems to be quite a good book, that succinctly describes a variety of techniques.
It doesn't mention how long learning things takes. In a couple of pages they describe 3 ball cascade juggling. That took me 3 weeks. I've been working on clubs for months now.
Note: Apparently Dave Finnigan wrote another book about juggling that is quite biblical in it's scope. Probably a good thing if you have a couple of basic techniques down and are looking to expand your repitoir.
Genre: Hobbies?
An instruction manual that teaches juggling with scarves, balls, clubs and rings, various patterns, as well as devil sticks and diabolo. It seems to be quite a good book, that succinctly describes a variety of techniques.
It doesn't mention how long learning things takes. In a couple of pages they describe 3 ball cascade juggling. That took me 3 weeks. I've been working on clubs for months now.
Note: Apparently Dave Finnigan wrote another book about juggling that is quite biblical in it's scope. Probably a good thing if you have a couple of basic techniques down and are looking to expand your repitoir.
Guitar: An American Life
Author: Tim Brookes
Genre: Who Knows
After finding his guitar broken when it gets home from the airport, the author (with his wife's support and approval) commissions a custom guitar. The book has chapters that talk about the construction of his new guitar and the luthier who is building it, alternating with chapters of general guitar history to pad it out.
Dont' bother.
Genre: Who Knows
After finding his guitar broken when it gets home from the airport, the author (with his wife's support and approval) commissions a custom guitar. The book has chapters that talk about the construction of his new guitar and the luthier who is building it, alternating with chapters of general guitar history to pad it out.
Dont' bother.
The Legend of Huma
Author: Richard A. Knaak
Genre: Fantasy
This was a nice fun read. Huma, a minor, though idealistic, knight, leads the fight against the Dragon Queen.
Reading this book always makes me want to read Kaz the Minitaur.
Genre: Fantasy
This was a nice fun read. Huma, a minor, though idealistic, knight, leads the fight against the Dragon Queen.
Reading this book always makes me want to read Kaz the Minitaur.
Vinas Solamnus
Author: J. Robert King
Genre: Fantasy
There was a point where Solamnia broke away from the old empire. This was the guy, and this was some of his story.
Genre: Fantasy
There was a point where Solamnia broke away from the old empire. This was the guy, and this was some of his story.
Soulforge
Author: Margret Weis
Genre: Fantasy
The story of the early years of Raistlan, the greatest mage who ever lived on Krynn.
Genre: Fantasy
The story of the early years of Raistlan, the greatest mage who ever lived on Krynn.
The Merlin Conspiracy
Author: Diana Wynne Jones
Genre: Children Fantasy
When the Merlin dies and a new one takes over his post, Roddy and Grundo find there is something wrong with him, but no one in the Procession will listen to them.
Genre: Children Fantasy
When the Merlin dies and a new one takes over his post, Roddy and Grundo find there is something wrong with him, but no one in the Procession will listen to them.
The Missing Piece Meets the Big O
Author: Shel Silverstein
Genre: Dharma (Buddhist teachings)
The other perspective. This author is a genius.
Genre: Dharma (Buddhist teachings)
The other perspective. This author is a genius.
The Missing Piece
Author: Shel Silverstein
Genre: Dharma (Buddhist teachings)
This is an amazing book. Really great. Written for children too, so it's great for the whole family.
Genre: Dharma (Buddhist teachings)
This is an amazing book. Really great. Written for children too, so it's great for the whole family.
Seven Bamboo Tablets of the Cloudy Satchel
Author: Deng Ming-Dao
Genre: Spirituality
This is a second book relating the life story of Deng Ming-Dao's Taoist teacher.
Quote:
Water evaporates and becomes clouds. Clouds become rain, sleet or snow. Lakes become ice. But throughout all these changes, water does not lose it's essential nature. Some might say that when water becomes ice, it has 'died.' Or when it evaporates, it has 'died.' But this is absurd. In the same way, death is a mere transformation, not an end.
Genre: Spirituality
This is a second book relating the life story of Deng Ming-Dao's Taoist teacher.
Quote:
Water evaporates and becomes clouds. Clouds become rain, sleet or snow. Lakes become ice. But throughout all these changes, water does not lose it's essential nature. Some might say that when water becomes ice, it has 'died.' Or when it evaporates, it has 'died.' But this is absurd. In the same way, death is a mere transformation, not an end.
Reborn in the West
Author: Viki Mackenzie
Genre: Spirituality
The book is composed of several different stories relating to reincarnation. Lama Yeshi's reincarnation as Lama Osel, a Spanish boy, is covered, as well as several less known reincarnations, and the perspectives of two western training therapists who deal with past-life regression.
Genre: Spirituality
The book is composed of several different stories relating to reincarnation. Lama Yeshi's reincarnation as Lama Osel, a Spanish boy, is covered, as well as several less known reincarnations, and the perspectives of two western training therapists who deal with past-life regression.
The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara: Morgawr
Author: Terry Brooks
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: Tuesday, March 20, 2007
The Druids never truly die do they. Neither do they ever revive. There is just some guy in a long black robe with an abominable ability to express his thoughts verbally.
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: Tuesday, March 20, 2007
The Druids never truly die do they. Neither do they ever revive. There is just some guy in a long black robe with an abominable ability to express his thoughts verbally.
Last Sword of Power
Author: David Gemmell
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: March 18, 2007
This is apparently the second book in the series. I've never seen the first. It kind of ties in with the Jeruselum Man novels, which were great.
Another retelling of the story of Arthur from another perspective. There is over a 1000 years of history between then and now, and Arthur and his court continues to inspire bards everywhere.
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: March 18, 2007
This is apparently the second book in the series. I've never seen the first. It kind of ties in with the Jeruselum Man novels, which were great.
Another retelling of the story of Arthur from another perspective. There is over a 1000 years of history between then and now, and Arthur and his court continues to inspire bards everywhere.
Winter Warriors
Author: David Gemmell
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: March 17, 2007
Another great book by David Gemmell. Why do we do what we do? What happens to warriors when they get old?
Genre: Fantasy
Date Finished: March 17, 2007
Another great book by David Gemmell. Why do we do what we do? What happens to warriors when they get old?
The Power of Passion
Author: Alan Hobson and Jamie Clarke
Genre: Self-inflated autobiographical-ish
Date Finished: March 14, 2007
Relates some of the details of the authors' participation in 2 teams that attempted to climb Everest in 1991 and 1994. By using an oversized font, as well as many side bars (in an even more oversized font) that repeated text from the book, a book long on pages and short on content was made.
In an effort to make the book relate to their business as professional speakers, it is written from a 'life lesson' perspective, with the authors attempting to dig kernels of wisdom out of the experiences related within.
Did the authors learn life lessons from their two failed attempts to climb Everest? I certainly hope so, since the two failed attempts cost 1.5 million in total.
I wonder how many Nepali children 1.5 million could educate?
Genre: Self-inflated autobiographical-ish
Date Finished: March 14, 2007
Relates some of the details of the authors' participation in 2 teams that attempted to climb Everest in 1991 and 1994. By using an oversized font, as well as many side bars (in an even more oversized font) that repeated text from the book, a book long on pages and short on content was made.
In an effort to make the book relate to their business as professional speakers, it is written from a 'life lesson' perspective, with the authors attempting to dig kernels of wisdom out of the experiences related within.
Did the authors learn life lessons from their two failed attempts to climb Everest? I certainly hope so, since the two failed attempts cost 1.5 million in total.
I wonder how many Nepali children 1.5 million could educate?
How to Think Like Leonardo Davinci
Author: Michael J. Gelb
Genre: Artistic Self Help
Date Finished: March 11, 2007
An interesting book with some good looking exercises that I would like to try, but I didn't think this was an outstanding book. Try "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron.
Genre: Artistic Self Help
Date Finished: March 11, 2007
An interesting book with some good looking exercises that I would like to try, but I didn't think this was an outstanding book. Try "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron.
The Dance of 17 Lives
Genre: Buddhism
Author: Mick Brown
I read this book to try and get an understand of who the Karmapa was and how he fits into Tibetan Buddhism. For that purpose, it is useful. It is not a spiritual book, does not cover the teachings. It is partly just the story of the recognition of a reincarnated Buddhist master and his eventual escape from China. The rest is politics and the author's personality.
Author: Mick Brown
I read this book to try and get an understand of who the Karmapa was and how he fits into Tibetan Buddhism. For that purpose, it is useful. It is not a spiritual book, does not cover the teachings. It is partly just the story of the recognition of a reincarnated Buddhist master and his eventual escape from China. The rest is politics and the author's personality.
The Universe In A Single Atom
Author: Dahlie Lama
Genre: Spirituality
This is a sophisticated book to read. The Dahlie Lama talks about his reasoning and how he integrates a scientific and Buddhist world view, as well as the similarities and differences he sees between the philosophies of science and Buddhism.
Genre: Spirituality
This is a sophisticated book to read. The Dahlie Lama talks about his reasoning and how he integrates a scientific and Buddhist world view, as well as the similarities and differences he sees between the philosophies of science and Buddhism.
The Wandering Daoist
Author: Deng Ming-Dao
Genre: Spirituality
This is a fictional account of a boy who enters a Daoist monastery at the age of 9, eventually choosing to stay, become a monk and assume the life of an ascetic. It seems to be based on the life and experiences of the author's teacher, a Daoist and martial artist now living in the United States.
Genre: Spirituality
This is a fictional account of a boy who enters a Daoist monastery at the age of 9, eventually choosing to stay, become a monk and assume the life of an ascetic. It seems to be based on the life and experiences of the author's teacher, a Daoist and martial artist now living in the United States.
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