Audiobook Books

True (or perhaps trueish) to form, Sedaris will have you laughing out loud at his latest book. My favorite part was about the StadiumPal, external catheter.

Ok, so Some people loved this book, some hated it and as a huge Sedaris fan I fall closer to the "loved it" end of the spectrum. It has been a fun, if twisted summer read and I have laughed out loud several times. OK, the twist? Not as funny as some of his books (I still read Me Talk Pretty One Day anytime I need cheering up or feel like hurting myself laughing) but not quite as twisted as some of his other works, this is perhaps a slightly more mature Sedaris. Still totally worth the read and just a light summer read for those that are not really into chick lit or testosterone driven novels.

By now, David Sedaris is a household name for anyone who listens to "This American Life" on NPR or reads the New Yorker religiously. I first came upon the author when my cousin read me his SantaLand Diaries. Because I do not enjoy being read to aloud, I would look over her shoulder and silently read along (which turned out to be a bit ahead), and then wait for her to get to the punchlines so that I could laugh out loud at the correct moments. The laughing out loud wasn't hard to do, but the waiting for my cousin to get there was. It was the funniest thing I had read in a good long while. I have never heard "This American Life," but I have since read many of his essays, both in his previous works of collected essays and those that have been published in the New Yorker.

WHILE YOU ARE ENGULFED IN FLAMES is Sedaris's sixth book, and it opens with a bang but slowly loses steam until the long essay at the end. "The Smoking Session" chronicles his quest to stop smoking after his mother dies of lung cancer. It starts off in traditional essay fashion and then concludes with diary entries --- dates and all --- for each day he is in Tokyo kicking the habit. Perhaps because addiction is such a powerful and personal topic, this is the funniest, the most intimate and the most human of the essays here.

This is not to say that the others are devoid of humor, intimacy or humanness, for to lack such things would be completely un-Sedaris-like. But in "The Smoking Section," where he reminisces about previously quitting drugs and alcohol, along with the present cigarettes, he is back to being Sedaris at his finest. It is almost as if this small section is the book itself and the rest of the stories are filler --- good on their own but a bit tedious side by side in book format. This may be due to the fact that many were first published elsewhere, thus they lack thematic continuity.

These essays, however, are still worthy of merit. Those that originally appeared in the New Yorker are by far the best of that bunch, and the rest are interesting for anyone already familiar with Sedaris --- for each story is one more puzzle piece into the life of the man we feel we know. Taken as a whole, they bring comedy to everyday life and a narrative to everyday experiences. He writes of his family, his schooldays, his travels, his relationships, and all other phases of life both important and trivial --- and the trivial is made significant by its insight and irony. Sedaris kept journals before becoming a writer in the professional sense of the word, and he has truly turned his personal hobby into a unique literary endeavor that appears effortless and without fault.

In WHEN YOU ARE ENGULFED IN FLAMES, like all previous works of his that I have read, his homosexuality doesn't come into play until the middle of the book. In this way he is a writer who just happens to be gay instead of a "Gay Writer." As a minority writer and an advocate for gay rights, I find it refreshing that his sexuality is treated no differently than that of anyone else. Sedaris writes of his life with his boyfriend Hugh and focuses as much on their day-to-day existence as a couple as on the fact that they are two males in love. He has his coming-out stories and his in-the-closet stories, but all these are treated as no more or no less important than everything else he writes about. The result is literature that can be read by gay males but is not written specifically for gay males, and this seems to create a sense of normalcy that homosexuals of both genders often lack in this hyper homo-aware generation, which is at once friendly and phobic.

Sedaris --- Greek, middle-class, gay, and with his own set of neuroses --- is an individual to whom we can all relate --- if not in specifics, at least in the sense of a self-conscious, second-guessing, blundering and selfish existence. He tries to be nothing other than what he is --- a human being. And for this we can't help but love him.

--- Reviewed by Shannon Luders-Manuel

This collection of short stories is about the only thing, these days, that causes me to laugh out loud. Thanks, I needed that.

In an interview with David Sedaris on the book's website the interviewer asks Mr. Sedaris, "How do you describe yourself as an author to someone who has never read your books before?" Mr. Sedaris answers quite simply, "Do you know what narcissist means?"

I am one of these well-read individuals who have never read a David Sedaris book. I received When in Engulfed in Flames to review around my birthday and knew instinctively I was receiving a gift. I quickly learned two things about this gifted author's books. Number one: be careful about reading them in public because some of his essays will make you laugh out loud so hard you will embarrass yourself. Number two: you don't have to finish this book in one sitting. Savor the writing and read one every few days or simply at your own pace.

I did have to enlist a few friends who are David Sedaris junkies and get a quick update on his family and friends. I knew Amy Sedaris was his sister but didn't know that Hugh was his partner. My friend gave me a quick rundown of his family, where David has been living and a quick analysis of his mother and father. That was all I needed to be instantly hooked and part of an elite group of David Sedaris followers.

There were some essays I found tedious such as "That's Amore." This essay tells the story of the love/hate relationship between David and his elderly neighbor Helen. At 27 pages long, I found myself saying out loud, "I've heard enough." He is so quick witted you want to stop him before he gets unfunny.

The essay in his book that literally brought me to tears was, "The Understudy." Back in the day, parents would go out of town and leave their children with practically strangers. Nowadays we do FBI background checks before leaving a kid with a babysitter while we run to Target. Sedaris describes this experience of being left with a stranger while his parents were on vacation with such humor and absurdity you are left with the sensation of: did that really happen. Yes of course it did and that is why this book is so funny.

Armchair Interviews says: Sly and quiet humor you expect from Sedaris.

I bought this book 4 years ago while visiting Washington, D.C. We had just missed Tim's book signing at Barnes & Noble. I never got around to reading it, but over the past few months moved it to the top of my stack. On June 13, I reached for the book and discovered I had bought an autographed copy. I'll keep it forever. I've finished the book and no words can express what a loss his departure from this earth will mean for all of us. What a countryman!

Great book. At first, I thought it read a little too corny, but then I realized that it could not have been written any differently. Read this book.

What a great book. I'll miss you Mr. Russert.

Joel Simkhai

Tim Russert unexpected death shocked us all. My heart sunk when I heard of this tragedy. The Today show anchors were all very emotional when speaking of their colleague. This speaks volumes for the love of the people who knew him.

He was loved and respected by many friends and fans. He was one of the few political reporters that gave us both sides of the story. When he talked we listened and knew it was a strong and valid opinion to hear.

Merna

Pocket of Pearls: A 30-day pocket workbook to start hearing a softer voice inside of you!

I am deeply saddened by the sudden loss of Tim Russert. Obviously I didnt know him on a personal basis, only through the media. But he made each and every one of us feel he was our best friend. I saw a man who was deeply religious, sweet, good, loving of his country and a great father, husband and friend. You could tell how important family was to him and this book only solidifies the obvious. Warm and touching, it is a great read. Not just for father's, but for everyone. You were bigger then life. Thank you Tim, you will be sorely missed.

This is the best series from Janet Evanovich. I love Stephanie Plum as if she were one of my close friends. I feel all of the people in this series are my friends and I can't wait to find out what they'e up to ever year. Kind of like a Christmas letter that comes once a year. Find out who has done what to whom. If you want to laugh out loud and have tears in your eyes from crying so hard from laughter - please read this series. Also, any book from Janet E is worth the trip.

This is the funniest Plum novel Janet Evanovich has written for a while.

This time, Stephanie is trying to arrest a petty thief called Loretta, but Loretta goes missing and Stephanie ends up having to babysit her teenage son Mario (Zook as he prefers to be called). Zook has the unfortunate habit of spray-painting everything in sight with graffiti, including Morelli's dog. He also infects Grandma Mazur with his passion for a computer game called Minionfire, and soon she and all her friends are playing it.

Meanwhile, Loretta's crazy brother Dom thinks that Morelli is the father of Zook, and he also thinks that there is nine million dollars buried under Morelli's house. There are many other delightful complications in Stephanie's life, and the book made me laugh all the way through. I was surprised to see so many negative reviews of this one, as I think it is the funniest book she has written in a long time.

OK Evanovich started an annoying trend after book 7. Did you noticed after book 7 the series stopped being about a bounty hunter and started being about Stephanie being stalked. This one at least stopped that but there virtually no hysterical side stories about Stephanie catching skips. The sperm in the hair via an animal is done yet AGAIN. It was barely amusing the first time. Lula is just acting stupid. Four books ago Stephanie would've set her straight about a pre-nup. Obviously Tank makes a good salary, it'd be to Lula's disadvantage to have one, yet no one points this out to her.

The book held my interested and the return of Mooner is great, but Evanovich is capable of so much more. Her "between the numbers books" are much better, why? Because they are about what the series should be about, inept Stephanie trying to catch crooks. The joe vs ranger thing is old and stale, you can see how much better the between the number books are because they lack that element

What happened to the once hilariously funny Stephanie Plum? I can't describe how disappointed I am with Fearless Fourteen. I have looked forward to a new Plum novel every June for years and this book is not only not funny, it's totally tasteless. Grandma is not funny, Stephanie is totally apathetic, Joe is raunchy and Ranger is practically nonexistent. Lula has forced herself on Tank with a no one proposed to her engagement. There is really no mystery going on here. The side characters have thoughtless personas I am struggling to keep turning the pages and I don't think I don't feel motivated to finish this book.

I think Evanovich is burned out with this series and it shows. This happens with a long running series, If this writer is tired of her characters, it might not be a bad idea for her to fulfill her contractual obligations by taking on a partner who may do a better job with the characters. She is really shortchanging the fans that have turned her into a rich and famous author.

I am usually stubborn enough to finish a book I am not enjoying, but I think I will skip to the end and forget the middle.

I never thought I would ever say this, but don't waste your money folks, this book is not worth it. This is the last Stephanie Plum novel for me.

I've reviewed the Plum books before, and much of my dissatisfaction in recent years has been over the utter predictability of these novels. This one at least wasn't as predictable.

I find it interesting that many reviewers' complaints focus on the lack of those predictables. I'm GLAD that Ranger isn't as strong a presence here, especially since the little bit he does show up includes a couple of interesting comments (such as one about him not being clear about what he's getting from his "relationship" with Stephanie--I found myself thinking "you go, Ranger. Find someone who wants what you want, not this woman who needs saving more often than not and who basically is a risky proposition, at the very least for your fleet of vehicles").

I really like Morelli here. He's basic, funny, and clearly getting ready to settle down in some way, hopefully with Stephanie.

Although this one wasn't as predictable, it did have exploding things (this time, a briefcase of paperwork, I think) and Stephanie getting "slimed" by said explosion. It had OTHER characters getting stuff in their hair (a monkey, for the most part; a VERY amorous monkey).

The plot was so-so. Nothing terribly interesting.

More monosyllabic characters got introduced, so now Ranger has company.

All in all, it wasn't utterly terrible, but it wasn't great. Kind of. . .average.

I'm with those reviewers who said they weren't going to pay for a hardcover in this series again. I won't, either, unless I can get it on the (really) cheap. Like, $5 or less. Between these and the "between the whatever" books (way too short for the ridiculous prices), I feel ripped off most of the time, especially since my favorite authors do books double this size for the same price, and since those books are so substantial compared to this one.

Adios, Stephanie. See you in the Half Price Books store, preferably on clearance.

Ok, so it may not be Buddhism repackaged, but it definitely is Spiritualism repackaged.

The basic information and the Spiritual Laws reflected are worth knowing, but the book is bland. According the the author, if you don't derive benefit from it, it is the reader's fault. Gee, Echkart, I'm sorry I didn't live up to your expectations.

I wouldn't consider the book a waste of time, but it lacked a fresh perspective to separate it from the pack.

I felt so alive when I kept in the moment I was in. There was so much connection involved in just "Being".

This book has totally changed and transformed my life. I had always felt deep down differently about a lot of things and suddenly it all came together with a sudden whoosh. I would highly recommend this book to anybody who is searching for "meaning" in their life or have issues with depression or general unhappiness with their life.

I have been involved with Buddhist thought and meditation for a few years now and despite the comment of some others, I found a lot of value in Eckhart's Book. Yes, it seemed to me that much of what Eckhart presents is basically Buddhist in nature but, reflecting back to my earlier work with Christianity, I could also say Eckhart's work presents basically Christian views as well. Okay, perhaps not Christianity as it is taught by many churches today, but perhaps as Christ intended it in the first place. Taking this further, if one believes there is a fundamental truth, than all honest seekers of that truth, no matter what religion they begin with, should eventually end up in the same place. Even though my first thougths were similar to some of the reviewers (this is just Buddhism), I soon realized that was my ego trying to fool me into thoughts of superiority and that, in reality, no labels such as Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, etc. actually have any importance of meaning when searching for truth.

Another of my initial thoughts on the book was "Ah, this is Buddhism for Westerners." I think that still applies as Eckhart's book did very much help me better understand some Buddhist concepts that were partially escaping me.

So my advice to everyone no matter what faith you are, calm your egos. Some Buddhists are bound to say "Buddha is better", some Christains, "Christ was God (and Better)", some Jews (Moses and Abraham were better", so on and so forth. But actually such thoughts make no sense as there is nothing to be compared, it isn't a contest, and the label one applies to truth is of no importance.

As far as Eckhart's ego, I really have not sensed much ego here. We must all remember that Eckhart is only human though. Therefore, just as many of the apostles were far from perfect, don't expect Eckhart to be immune to human failings from time to time. I'm not trying to put Eckhart in the class of a prophet, I assure you, and there is no need to do so. All that is important is that you get out of it what you can, if anything.

I agree that Eckhart's teachings are in danger of becoming the next fad wherein yuppees sit around at starbucks exchanging their enlightenment stories but that is a comment about humanity not Eckhart's teachings or ideas. And I also agree that I don't think Oprah has actually experienced much in the way of enlightenment despite how she might act or speak. However, she is doing us a service. Humanity is in need of a chnage of their state of consciousness and this book can help some. I suspect most will consume it with their egos just as humanity has largely done in the past. Only a few will truly engage in the work necessary to change their state of consciousness. It involves a lot of up front sacrifice for most. I am still very much in the struggle. But I think Eckhart's book, "The New Earth" is excellent and well worth the read. If you want to get something out of it you can. If you let your ego say, "This book is an insult to Jesus, God, Buddha, Mohammed, Abraham, Moses, etc., etc., etc.," you can do that to and you'll probably only be angered by the book.

Like always, it's up to you.

First, I am not an easy believer, in anything. I work very hard and could be labeled an aggressive businessman. After having my 2 children I started to see that what led me to the successful life I had was not what was really a successful life. Money, cars, house, travel, all good, but not fullfillment. I first read this book then the law of attractions. I was locked in from the first few pages. Yes, it makes you read slower to think and understand. And you will only like, enjoy, learn, or get something from this book if you have even the slightest readiness in your being to be aware and present with yourself. YES, it is a rehash of many, many, and perhaps all philosophies and religions. Yes, this is a modern retelling and new light shining on those ideas for modern people. If you did not like the book or get it, as Tolle states in the beginning, that is ok, you do not have to. He also does not hide the fact that he is compiling all the worlds many philosophies into what was his own inner awakening.

Simply put, this book changed my life that by many views would not have needed to be changed. My relationship with my wife, children, parents, and everyone...even the stranger in the store ringing up my purchases, all improved ten fold. I do the same work, but with no stress and more success. I live my life and embrace it. So, read this book if you think you would like to learn something about yourself, how you think, and how you can become a better person. A truly happy person. If you dont, why would you want to harm the improvement of another because of your view? It is only the view of you and even if others share it, it is still just that collective view. Others can still enjoy it. After learning from this book and the many others that can help with being more aware, you will smile to yourself when you see, for perhaps the first time, the negativity that holds others in their minds and life, captive.

I read this in 2 days, it is really good. He has done an excellent self review of what values are important to have in personal success. The first 128 pages are a summary and explanation of his excellent lecture online plus further insights. The last pages 129-198 are about "how to live your life" and can be reread and enjoyed many times over. Wonderful insights to personal happiness and good parenting. Great book, keeper for the personal bookshelf. KMRN

This is a great book. I've purchased four to give as gifts and one for myself. I've highlighted my own. Great story of a man and the way he chooses to face his death.

Very moving and insightful with excellent advice for young people and how we should live our lives.

Evern though he is dying, he doesn't dwell on his condition. He focuses on life and uses examples from his life in giving advice on living a good life.

Randy (the author) is to be commended for his energy, drive, and passion for living. His thoughts and advice should be beneficial to anyone seeking to life a better life or to those who like Randy face the unfathomable difficulty of a terminal disease.

Randy's focus on achieving childhood dreams is a great premise for the book and should inspire all of us to (1) identify or reacquaint ourselves with our childhood dreams and (2) live to achieve those dreams.

It is very interesting to compare Randy's philosophy and his approach to the time remaining in his life to the philosophy and approach of someone in a very similar situation but very different background.

A few years ago, I read Chasing Daylight by Gene O'Kelly. Gene was CEO of one of the largest companies in the world when he was diagnosed with his terminal disease (and still at a relatively young age) that would claim his life soon after the diagnosis.

Comparing the philosophy these two men (Gene and Randy) took in approaching the time they knew they had left was very insightful.

Randy comes from the world of academia, very logical, with attention very much centered on the teacher/professor who lectures in front students. Gene's background was in business, more specifically, the corporate world and had achieved top leadership in KPMG on of the leading accounting firms in the world.

Randy's approach focused heavily on leaving a legacy for others and for his children. Much of his book describes preparing for his last lecture and the content that was covered in his lecture.

Gene, among other things, decided to have a "Perfect Moment" (a moment of conversation, reflection, or parting) with each of his friends and family. A "Perfect Moment" was different for each, and usually was something simple. He identified his outer circle of friends and wrote notes or had telephone calls. With close friends, he went for a walk with them or had longer, deeper conversations with them. With family, he planned special outing with each member.

Each of us would most likely take our own unique approach if in their situation. Gene, spending a career building business relationships (including playing a lot of golf) chose to bring a certain type of closure to many of his relationships. Randy chose to leave a legacy using the medium he had come to love (teaching/lecturing). Each approach appropriate to its creator.

Both books are a great read and cause one to reflect on life and how well we are living it.

(4 out of 5 rating is given because in Randy's book there was a large amount of "I, I, I" focus in his writing, and it became somewhat of a distraction. Others may think differently, but that's how it seemed.)

This is an excellent read - I saw the author on TV when he gave the last lecture at the University and there is a lot more substance in the book. it also makes you think long and hard about the legacy that you will leave your children and also is a great example of a fearless person facing the end of his life and putting into words all that he feels improtant to share with the rest of us.
Kudos to the author

I needed something, especially non-religious, to get my mind off of where our country is headed.

A very useful program to help each one of us get in touch with what's real and important. It makes a lot of sense when you think about what John says. And you can't help but relax listening to his voice.

I have been lucky enough to take two Mindfulness courses and they have changed my life. Both were run by excellent course leaders but nothing compares with hearing Mindfulness founder Jon Kabat Zinn discuss the philosophy and methodology behind it. His wit, compassion and way with words themselves make CD1 compulsive listening as well as explaining the reasons for CD2 which are the practices themselves. I cannot recommend this highly enough to anybody who wants to learn about themselves and especially those seeking release from troubled mind states such as anxiety and depression. Buy it- Mindfulness practitioners will tell you honestly that they make no promises to 'fix things' but it might change your life too...

I bought this CD at the recommendation of a social worker. I'm a perfectionist, which frequently leads me to experience anxiety. I've lived this way for 50+ years but it's not healthy. However, it has been the norm for my life. Yes, I've done some counseling over the years, which has been extremely helpful but I constantly battle with trying to do too much, making it all perfect and then dealing with the anxiety that follows.

Although I've tried relaxation techniques in the past, I learned that Jon Kabat-Zinn's information is more than relaxation. It is learning to incorporate "mindfulness" into my busy, waking day. I found the information in this CD to be very informative. I've only listened to the CD two times and will need to repeat several more times to better learn this technique. Kabat-Zinn is the narrator and his voice is excellent as a reader or narrator. I highly recommend this CD, as well as the follow-up CD I am now listening to, "Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Mediation in Everyday Life".

While going through classes to try and grasp this concept I still could not grasp the practice. This CD made things so clear. It is extremely helpful & informative. I appreciate the authors tone and easy to follow language!
I will probably purchase follow up products from this author.

Awesome. Brian has the perfect voice for this kind of thing anyway. The first time I did this one, I went back to where I was floating in the womb. That might sound like BS, but it was my experience and was extremely peaceful. I carried that peace all the next day. This CD is part of a series of 3. I have all 3. I love them all and will be doing reviews on the other two as soon as I get a chance.

Brian is a graduate of Columbia University and Yale Medical School. Part of his private practice is in hypnotic regression therapy. The back of the CD cover states that this CD takes you to a childhood experience, then to in utero memories, then through a doorway to a previous lifetime. I have tried it several times and my conscious mind has not gone past the in utero experience yet. (I zonk out and my subconscious takes over.) With meditation or subliminal programming CDs, I believe that they work on the subconscious level, even if you fall asleep. Even if you think that is baloney, then not only did I have a very peaceful sleep, but felt very peaceful the next day. Given my current stress level at work, that is quite an accomplishment.

I recently attended a conference where Dr. Weiss was a featured speaker, along with John Holland and Candy Diaz. All 3 of them were great. That conference was actually where I bought the 3 CDs, but they are less expensive at Amazon. I continue to be very pleased with the HayHouse authors I have found. Brian Weiss is one of several.

My 15-year old granddaughter wanted to try this out, so I set my little Indigo up with my Bose earphones and this CD. I closed the bedroom door, but kept checking on her. I observed the same intense peace all over her face that I experienced. I also observed that she was experiencing something because of the occassional twitching and eye movement. When we talked, she also remembered only to the floating in the womb experience.

This is the first five star review I've written on something that has put me to sleep on numerous occasions. Dr. Weiss's voice is very soothing and the content, with a few work-arounds, easy to follow. This CD contains two sessions and uses music and ambient ocean sounds which ebb and flow appropriately under his voice. The total runtime is about 60 minutes. Remember that CD's like this are generic sessions. Dr. Weiss can get too wordy at times and/or you may find that you have gone ahead of him and just want him to keep quiet. Your experience needs to be self paced. Use a player with a remote and keep one finger on the pause button. Here is a description of program 1 and some of my reactions to it.


Both programs start with a relaxation and healing exercise. He then says, let your mind journey back in time and go deeper to a count of 10. He tells you to go down a beautiful staircase and again does another count. My mind leads me to a peaceful darkness because of the emphasis on the words "down" and "deeper", but he then describes a garden which is beautiful and light-filled and I have to pause the tape to reorient.

The garden is there to return to if anything upsets you while you do the regressions. He then asks you to go back to a happy moment in childhood. If your childhood was generally painful, I suggest that you pick something ahead of time. I found a dim memory of feeding a baby deer at a roadside park to use here.

Next he goes back to the womb and asks why you picked your parents. Pause the CD and see what comes. He says quite a few things in quick succession here, too much to maintain the previous level of serenity.

Next he asks, "How were you received into the physical world?" In response I had an unusually vivid experience. The staff who delivered me spoke little and seemed coldly efficient. I felt as if no one could relate to me and I was totally on my own. After the session I thought about this and remembered that my mother had been a much feared OB/GYN supervisor at the hospital where I was born. I'm sure they were aware of being judged and watched. This was the most important discovery I had while using this CD. I remembered having these same feelings and situations repeat often in childhood. I recently learned that research indicates that children with traumatic births can suffer numerous psychological issues. I would encourage you to take this part seriously and ask yourself if the treatment you recieved mirrors any later personality traits.

He then asks you to go through a door into your past lives or other dimensions. He describes going through the door in five steps. You may find that your vision runs well ahead of his dialog on this suggestion and need to pause again. He goes through several incarnations. I flashed on two historical settings that were quite detailed. A psychic once told me that I had held powerful governmental positions in several lifetimes (probably why I have no faith in politics now!). In both regression images I was man, one a U.S Governor from the 16 or 17 hundreds and the other a red coated British officer on a horse. Both were fleeting images of historically accurate outfits that I would not have imagined on my own.

He then describes meeting an angel and discussing how to let go of all your problems and negative feelings. The angel gives you a string of pearls, each representing a lifetime. You are told to look at each and see the life represented. The angel then shows you a screen that can broadcast images of your lives. The idea here is to give you several ways to connect with images but the dialog moves very fast and I didn't find it as useful as the earlier exercise. He ends with a meditation on our oneness with the earth that I found a bit too wordy for a meditation. He then wakes you up to a count of 10

The setting for program 2 reminded me a great deal of Jung's near death experience in which he met with a committee who was there to help him process his earthly existence. If you research "Jung and near death" you can find out more about that.

Brian has the perfect voice for this kind of thing. This CD is part of a series of 3. I have all 3. I love them all.

Brian is a graduate of Columbia University and Yale Medical School. Part of his private practice is in hypnotic regression therapy. Brian begins by guiding you into a very relaxing state of consciousness, then into a protective bubble of light, so you feel "safe" enough to let yourself go. He releases your mind from the time/space limitations so you can remember "everything". You then walk down a long staircase to a beautiful peaceful garden where your body goes into a deeper relaxation state so it can heal and rejuvinate. You then see a beautiful building, ascend its steps, and meet a beautiful being (spirit guide), enter the building to receive healing there, in a special room, covered in light reflecting on you through the crystals. You can even adjust/tune the crystals to direct specific colored light beams into specific body parts. This is really quite nice and if you are already familiar with energy concepts/healing with color and crystals/and advanced visualization techniques, this CD will be especially precious to you. This is an excellent treat for your inner and outer self. As you absorb the healing rays, you can ask questions of your guide and review the possible origins of your illness/problem/symptom, etc. (so you can recognize and analyze it/them and then release them). He encourages you to let go of negative emotions of fear/anger/sadness/anxiety/tension/etc. that affect your health and encourages you to feel the positive emotions of peace/love/harmony/joy. You then say goodbye to your guide and return to the garden and rest in a very peaceful state while you kind of set the healing in place. Then you awaken gently.

I usually zonk out and my subconscious takes over.) With meditation or subliminal programming CDs, I believe that they work on the subconscious level, even if you fall asleep. Even if you think that is baloney, then at least I had a very peaceful sleep. What is it the former Bionic Woman says on the Sleep Number Mattress commercials?--"recuperative sleep" or something like that. Sleep really does provide a great opportunity for your mind to help you recognize problems and consider solutions, and also to just shut down and relax. So, if you use this CD for nothing else than a good night's sleep, that alone is worth the price of the CD, especially in these high-stress times. Think of this as a mini-vacation that you can take any time for the cost of lunch or dinner.

There is a second relaxation and meditation experience where you again go deep into la-la land, first by relaxing every cell in your body and relaxing the peacefulness in your heart and filling yourself with a healing light to rid yourself of illness and restoring every cell to its perfect state. Again you go into a protective light bubble and go into a deep state of relaxation where you are beyond the space/time limitations. You return to the garden for healing and peace and go into a journey to your past through a reflective mirror. You move through the mirror to reexperience the past or the future and look for answers for your current lifetime. You are encouraged to just enjoy the experience and not worry about if it is real or not. Of course, Brian brings you back when the experience is over, to feel well rested from your mini-vacation and very peaceful.

You will likely have no problem waking up if there is ever a need to. My experience has been that you are deep enough to completely experience this mini-trip but somehow stay available to the current world if you need to be.

I recently attended a conference where Dr. Weiss was a featured speaker, along with John Holland and Candy Diaz. All 3 of them were great. That conference was actually where I bought the 3 CDs, but they are less expensive at Amazon. I continue to be very pleased with the HayHouse authors I have found. Brian Weiss is one of several.

Found the first (of two) tracks to be nearly identical to the first track of Dr. Weiss' other CD "Spiritual Progress Through Regression"... haven't yet heard the remainder of his series of CDs, but suspect the only difference is in the second track of about 20 minutes.

The CD is very relaxing, though I didn't apparently go 'deep' enough to need to be awakened, and I will listen to it again... but I'm not sure if I would have needed the other discs in the series as the second track didn't offer much different.

This is a good site for great values on what you order. I have all Harry Potter's book and am waiting for additional DVDs as they are released.

Most people, by now, already know about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. You have probably read it or heard about it. My review is going to foucs on the DELUXE EDITION of the book.

In this edition, you are immediately greeted by a cover box that has the same picture art as the front and back of the dust jacket of the standard edition. The actual dust jacket of this edition has a great four panel artist rendition of the trio flying on the dragon after their daring escape from Gringotts.

The actual book itself has a black cover with red embossed lettering on the spine (very spiffy) as opposed to the standard edition which is goldenrod with red embossing.

Inside there is a great color artist drawing (on slick paper) of the scene outside the Malfoy Manor. Quite cool. In the rear of the book is a blown-up version of all 37 chapter title artworks and the lines from the book in which the artist derived the pictures. It really explains what she was thinking and makes the book quite nice.

Now, I bought this when it was priced at the INCREDIBLE price of $13.00 which made it practically a steal. If you can get it on sale, it's worth it for the avid Harry Potter fan. Seeing as none of the text is different, there's no sense in getting this edition unless it's cheap or you just appreciate the artist's wonderful work.

Picked this book up at midnight on the release date, started reading it the same night, and finished it the next day, couldn't put it down I had to know what happened next. J.K. Rowling did such a great job as a writer over the entire series, growing into the role of a writer and maturing as her characters matured. I only wish she would have gone into more details in the epilogue of the book with the secondary characters and what happened with them, but that didn't take away from the 5 stars this book and series deserved. If after a year since the release, and you still haven't read it you better get out there and get a copy.

This was a great finish to an even greater series of books. Not only did the ending book thrill and excite me but it also gave great closure to anyone who followed the series intently. A must read for Potter-fans and non fans alike.

What a series. And to cap it off the way J.K. Rowling did - truly unbelievable.

Harry Potter must set out on a mission with his two friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, to find and destroy Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes, the pieces of soul that are keeping Voldemort immortal. Only after the destruction of the Horcruxes can Voldemort be defeated forever. In the story, Harry faces difficult surroundings, adversity, persecution, tragedy, losses, adventure, bravery, and most importantly, love.

J.K. Rowling has gone to new lengths with this incredible series. You can find pieces of the story littered around all seven of the books. I get excited when I find hints, clues, and pieces of foreshadowing that are later discussed and are essential pieces of the puzzle in the other books. J.K. Rowling is a master at the linking of the story, one which she began writing in 1991 on napkins in the local cafe because of her poverty, to other pieces of the story. She has truly opened up the eyes of all of the doubters and all of the people who once said that such an amazing feat was an impossible task. J.K. Rowling started off with nothing, struggling to live a normal life, sometimes having to go hungry in order to feed her baby daughter. She has become a woman who is the highest grossing author in history.

Most importantly, the Harry Potter series has led hundreds of millions of children to start reading and also gave children, and adults as well, a friend and a comfort in the characters of Harry Potter. It is sad that the Harry Potter series cannot continue, but all good things in life must eventually come to an end. We should all praise the work ethic and efforts of J.K. Rowling, a person who has shown that anything is possible with just a little stroke of magic.