Audiobook Books

Pema Chrodon's work is, as always is an insightful read about human nature and emotions and how we come to term with those emotions. I found the focus on the bodhichitta and the different sayings fascinating as well as enjoying further revelations about Buddhist beliefs and spirituality. All of what she writes is applicable to living life and facing the fears any of us could face.

The only reason this is a four instead of a five is because you can find a lot of what she writes in here, in her other works. It still makes for good reading, but reading one of her works seems to get to heart of all of her writing.

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times (Shambhala Classics)

For people who are looking for a practice guide that will help them understand the process of observation with rigorous acceptance, integrity and compassion of all that which is observed. This is about finding peace through that process because the heart opens as a result. The opening and openness of the heart are at the core of that peace which we seek. Our incessant wanting is only satiated by an open heart. It represents a mature emotional and spiritual approach in understanding what we want and how we gain peace. Perhaps a truly fully open heart receives (perhaps even attracts?) what it wants because it cherishes what is.

Pema Chodron is a treasure for the mind and spirit. Her writing is profound, wise, gentle and humorous. "The Places That Scare You" is a book to help guide anyone, of any faith. It helps us understand how to live life in an open, balanced and fearless way. It is written from a solid Buddhist perspective but is relevant to all humans. When I have difficult moments, I pick up this book and it helps ground me. When a friend if going through a rough patch, I send a copy to them.

I highly recommend this book and all of her publications as well.

I am new on those buddhism staff, so I became to realize that you never end reading and learning from this sort of books.

Altough some terms results difficult to understand to me, It became a valuable source of advice.

I don't usually take the time to write reviews, but this book is just the greatest, and I felt obligated to say something. Every sentence has so much meaning, that I hesitate to underline as I usually do. I might have to highlight or underline the entire book! This book gives good descriptions of the big picture (the ideas), but also practical things that I can do to open my mind and life. I look forward to reading more of Chodron's books.

This is a timeless classic enjoyed again and again. Illustrations are great and the story capivates young & old audiences alike.

This audio book has no read along for kids, a big disappointment!

Paul Galdone's adaptation of The Gingerbread Buy is a wonderful version of the story. It is great for teachers and for families. I use it in my classroom every year with my first grade students.

This is one of the great books for parents to get for their kids bookshelves. I've really enjoy reading this book when I was kid. It's about a childless old couple who got lonely and the old woman decide to bake herself a gingerbread boy, who ran away once done and kept on running from and cow and a horse, but only to end up getting outsmarted and eaten by the fox. A great classic tale and racy read. You even found yourself running along the gingerbread boy as you read this book.

An old woman and an old man have no kids, so the old woman makes a gingerbread boy. When she opens the oven, the gingerbread boy jumps out and runs away. He gets chased by the old woman and old man, a cow, a horse, and some farmers out threshing. Eventually, a fox manages to catch the gingerbread boy through cunning, and the fox eats him up. Some kids may find the story quite scary, and may find the unhappy ending a bit disconcerting. But it's a classic tale and quite engaging. The book has about 1300 words.

Dr. Berding has revolutionized not only the NT Greek learning process, but the ongoing process of retention as well. As a pastor, I have a minimal amount of time to devote to staying fresh in my Greek syntax, but I find the study of the Greek NT to be invaluable in various teaching venues. The paradigmatic songs that Dr. Berding has innovated are immensely useful to my personal endeavor to stay competent in Greek.

I first want to say that I am not connected with the author in any way and am not in his classes. I just downloaded the audio version of this with the accompanying PDF of the guide (thanks to Zondervan's great customer service in pointing me to it!)

1. I have taken overall 6 semesters of Attic and Koine Greek and I still find myself having problems remembering these paradigms. To have another sensory way of learning them is very helpful. The more ways the better! The songs cover most of the harder and most common paradigms. One problem is that sometimes the paradigm behind the songs are hard to follow because of the ordering of the words, but in general, the author has done a great job of making the songs accessible.

2. Having said that these songs are catchy and helpful, learning them is no substitute for spending time with the Greek text. The problem with learning a song is that you have to go through the whole thing to find a form and then you have to know the structure of the paradigm behind the song to locate the words proper form. This can be time consuming. So, this CD will not make you proficient at Greek, it will help get a good basis from which to build. Eventually, one should be able to recognize most of these endings and words without singing the songs.

3. Finally, as for the songs themselves, they are catchy but not the sort of thing you would want to listen to outside of studying. The author made them very passable and helpful by sticking to children songs and songs we are familiar with. By doing so, some musical pleasantness was probably sacrificed.

All in all I would highly recommend this CD/text for anybody who wants to refresh on their Greek paradigms and is sick of just sitting there with their text and drilling paradigms into one's head. Also it is great if one commutes.

I am currently taking my first year of Greek with Dr. Berding, and we have been using a pre-publication version of the songs on this CD and the included charts. I can not imagine learning Greek any other way, and honestly feel bad for those who have.
For someone who is in no way inclined to learning languages or grasping linguistical concepts these songs have made learning Greek possible for me. I've not had to memorize a single paradigm yet I and still parse most any verb you throw my way. These songs will stick in your head forever, and nothing could be more helpful in making your way though verbs than the charts that come with this CD.
Basically if you can sing children's songs then you'll be able to learn Greek.

I'm in Dr. Berding's Greek class and his technique is the way to go. I'm horrible when it comes to learning new languages, but Dr. Berding's technique has allowed me to read a large amount of the New Testament after only two semesters. I would recommend this technique to everyone. Dr. Berding has taught me an ancient, dead, foreign language through music. I barely made it through High School Spanish. I'm tone deaf and have absolutely no beat. If this technique works for a guy who's brother punches him in church because he's singing off key and clapping off beat, it'll work for you.

If you like to listen to a quick information and inspirational, I mean literally quick. This CD is for you! If you like a detail and deep substance materials, you won't like this CD.

First of all, there is only 1 CD in the package, it is hard to try to put a lot of information in 1 CD.

I think, the Unlimited Power 6 tapes/ CDS series that is released by Nightingale Conant company is a lot better than the one that Simons and Schuster. It is too short and Anthony Robbins didn't really go into details on how to apply what he is talking about on this CD.

I still think, Anthony Robbins is a great motivational speaker! He is awesome! He has stories that you and I can relate to.

About this CD, I guess the price is right, the simons and schuster series is a lot cheaper than the Nightingale Conant one. So if you want the generic and cheap version of this CD, buy the Simons and Schuster one.

Tony Robbins is full of good information. He teaches you how to take a normal life, and make it an extraordinary life. I give this book 5 stars!

Tony is hugely sucessful but he's like a tool salesman with no real accomplishmet to show for his tools.

Its as if he were marketing a "new and improved" monkey wrench and his "proof" that it works is that he sold a lot of them. But none of his customers, no matter how enthusiastic, can measurably prove that its any better than the wrench they already have.

There is nothing in this work that one would not ordinarily acquire though common sense, an elementary school education and some life experience. Don't buy this, you have enough junk in your "toolbox" already!

Once again this is a GREAT companion to the text of this book that keeps refreshing you every time you listen. We usually forget many things after we read, so CD programs like "Unlimited Power" remind us through repetition. Anthony Robbins products are a pleasure and push for positive life changes.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book "Unlimited Power". I am reading the book again and I have already successfully used some of the concepts and ideas. This certainly is not a book that you read just once but the insightful and useful information needs to be read again and again until it really sticks. In fact, one benefits a lot by practising what is being suggested say for 3 -4 weeks and see the results for yourself. Then maintain the new useful habit.

Anthony Robbins encapsulates the best personal development strategies and combines it with NLP to create quick change. This book will improve your entire life from reaching goals to rapport with others. "Unlimited Power" gives the utmost concepts on achievement, given by a very successful author, in a clear and easy to understand and follow style. I was very impressed with the ideas and information contained inside it which are very practical and powerful.

However, the book can only provide guidance and it's up to the reader to put into practice the advice and wisdom of this motivational guru.

It is overall an interesting book to read. This book is recommended as it has the potential to highly motivate, stimulate and help you focus your mind on meeting your goals.

This was purchased as a gift. The baby's older brother is enrolled in a Spanish speaking school, even though the parents are of Italian and Jewish heritage. I don't know if they have used the CD, but I suspect they will, and it should be fun for the baby's big brother to provide the opportunity to speak in Spanish as well.

Like the CD's but I wish I had the translation available for what the songs are singing!!

The songs are fun, but the book isn't very helpful. The CD is for several different ages but it isn't divided up in any way. There is a lot of skipping and restarting. I have resorted to just letting the CD play all the way through even though my daughter is only 9 months. She likes the upbeat music!

I speak Spanish fluently, but not being raised speaking Spanish, I did not know any songs to share with my son when he was born. I found this CD, and it has been fantastic! We speak Spanish about 20% of the time at home, but in spite of hearing more English, this is the first CD my son had any interest in at all. He loves De Colores, and the song about the Elefantes especially well.

I am uncertain what another reviewer meant about the CD and the booklet being out of sync, unless that was true in an older version. In ours, the tracks on the CD and in the booklet are both arranged according to age/developmental level. The booklet is extremely helpful because it includes the full lyrics to all the songs, so if there are some parts of the song you don't understand (or if you don't speak Spanish but are prepared to imitate the songs), the lyrics are right there for you to study.

I have about 15 CDs and/or DVDs of songs/rhymes in Spanish, and this is hands down my favorite!

All of the Baby's First Words CDs by Living Language (formerly under the title of Baby's First Steps) are wonderful. Adult native speakers sing songs that are part of the culture from which each language derives and native children say rhymes that are familiar to native children of each language. If you are interested in more than one language, you can buy each different language CD without having any same songs or rhymes repeated because each is unique to the language. We have the Spanish, French, and Italian Cds and love all of them. Each one has 50 tracks that include songs, rhymes, and sayings that are appropriate for any child learning another language. The Spanish one has familiar Spanish songs such as De Colores and Las Mananitas. The French one has songs such as Frere Jacques and A la claire au fontaine. As stated before, only native speakers are on these CDs so the accents are authentic. However, on this Spanish CD, there is no person from Spain that I can hear (I speak Spanish). These are definitely Latin American accents, none from Spain, but the pronunciations are very precise and clear. Everything is annunciated well and the rhymes are spoken more slowly in order for babies and children to learn them well.

I have bought a lot of meditations looking for meditations that I could really use and did not make me feel just plain silly. I love this meditation CD. The meditations are short, but very refreshing. There are a variety to choose from, that I can select based upon my mood or sentiment at the time. His voice is very soothing and evocative. I find that the meditations relax me and are an excellent preparation to a deep and restful sleep.

I have really been enjoying this CD! I put the tracks on my mp3 player, and it's very nice to listen to on hectic subway rides, even if I don't get the full meditative effect at that moment. For real mediation, I also find it to be right on the money for what I am after. As an actor, I have often used guided mediations to warm-up in classes, and the first track, Grounding the Mind, is very similar to what I have done before in different places. I like the familiarity, and the basic approach. Rather than being complex like Qi Gong, it makes meditation accessible, while encouraging one to go further in the meditation practice.

As a very busy person with two careers (at least), I frequently find myself living in the future or the past. The track Being in the Moment was a real eye-opener (or closer!!) for me. The advice on how to bring the meditations into daily life is also very helpful.

Unlike some other narrow-minded reviewers, I couldn't care less where Bodhipaksa was born or that he changed his name. The fact is, he has made an effort to understand a way of thinking that he was NOT born into, which makes it easier for him to relate to other non-Buddhists who are interested in expanding their minds.

I highly recommend this CD for people who want to get started with meditation and lack the time to devote to longer sessions. I also believe that with continued use of the short meditations, one will be able to start finding the time they thought they lacked.

Love this CD because the short segments are calming and focusing in bursts of only a few minutes. Then you can get back to dealing with whatever is coming at you fast - better able to cope.

The CDs by Bodhipaksa are all good, his voice and manner are the most soothing I've found-and I've listened to lots of relaxation and meditation CDs. The Guided Meditations for Busy People CD is particularly useful, providing a way to create a quick mindfulness exercise when you haven't got a lot of time and may otherwise just skip it. It has encouraged me to stop for a moment during the day to restore calmness and peace and then get on with my busy schedule.

Who has time to meditate?

I thought I didn't until I bought this CD, along with Bodhipaksa's Guided Meditations for Stress Reduction. To tell you the truth, I listen to this CD more than the other. I bought both CDs for stress reduction but can only carve out small pockets of time that the meditations on this Guided Meditations for Busy People CD can fill.

Some meditations suit me better than others. I have meditated off and on for years and my practice is geared more toward breath meditation. So those meditations that move in that direction work well for my breathing meditation bias. There are others that seem to have a slight "New Age" bent to them, however within the meditation itself, Bodhipaksa grounds the technique in the psychology of the subconscious, making it believable.

His voice is warm and whispery, his delivery is relaxed and slow paced, and his Scottish accent is unobtrusive and unique, at once. This combination is quite conducive to turning quiet meditations into valuable and well spent relaxation time. It is really quite remarkable that you can give these guided meditations 8 - 10 minutes of your time and become truly transformed from the high-stress person you were before you began listening. Even the 3 minute meditation at the end of the CD can produce amazing results in so short a time.

If you are looking for a way to a high payoff in relaxation and meditation for a small investment of time and effort, this is your relaxation/meditation medication. (I'm sorry to bring such a Western angled practicality to the subtle art of meditation, but such is the world and age in which we live).

Only two types of people have been and will be attracted to reading this book: those who hope it's about one thing and those who know it's about the other. The former belong to the timid, powerless, low-self esteem majority who are simply looking for the ultimate guide to gaining respect and admiration from their peers. The latter belong to the unscrupulous, dare I say sociopathic ever-growing minority whose end goal is to win at everything against everyone by any means. Once the book has been read and fully digested, one of two conclusions will be reached. The first is a sudden awareness of what a perfectly outstanding tool they hold in their hands and the limitless rewards it can afford them. The second is an absolute disgust and horror at what a dangerous volume this is and the malicious behavior it outright encourages. Interestingly, the timid are no always the ones repulsed and the ruthless are not always the ones aroused. The wave can break either way.

Shortly after this book was published, I happened upon it in a bookstore and knew I had to have it. A blaze of energy electrified my body and pounded through the deepest recesses of my mind. I was on fire, I couldn't put it down and yet I knew I could never share it with anyone, the way a child might hide away their favorite toy. In truth I became obsessed. I had to learn and then master every element of every law and take supreme authority over every aspect of my life. Indeed, this book, The 48 Laws of Power, became my bible, the most passionate conquest I had ever sought to undertake.

Within its pages I met with the reflection of every gruesome bully and every merry manipulator I had ever known. Their power was uncanny and yet so mysterious, mostly because I could never fathom how such apparently absent minds could lay so cool yet strike with such venom. It was awe-inspiring, and I had to come to terms with their secrets. The secrets that earned them respect from their enemies and fear from their admirers. The secrets that won them the most buxom women, who always appeared so entranced by even their rudest and most audacious displays. "How could they get away with everything so smoothly?!" I had wondered. "How could they be so desirable?!" I had thought. "HOW?!"

Well...here is how. It is simple.

Some people are given to a heredity and/or an upbringing that nourishes what is commonly considered 'bad' behavior. Certain genes as well as certain parenting styles perpetuate an attitude of unruliness which leads in its purest variety to utter contempt for anyone else's thoughts, feelings, or needs. Their minds develop without a balanced set of experiences, leading them to logically conclude that the information that they did receive must indeed be correct. This is also applicable to those who suffer violence in their youth, even if that violence is not carried out physically. The fact remains that whatever world with which one is presented is accepted as unmitigated truth. 'Bad' behavior is usually viewed by such a person as normal. Thus selfishness, cruelty, and manipulation are seen as strengths, while compassion, kindness and humility are seen as weaknesses.

Surely there are a bevy of other factors that cannot go without mention. High intelligence, a pleasing appearance, a particular talent, et cetra can all act as lauchpads for immorality if similar virtues in others go unrecognized as being equal. This sense of equality is what it all comes down to, in fact. The very idea of power assumes that another cannot or should not be in a position to where the perspectives of both can be viewed as equally valid. On the one end is the person who is possessed by their own image, on the other is the person who believes that they have no intrinsic worth at all. The two feed off of each other in a sadistic/masochistic symbiotic relationship. The point then comes to bear that a person who believes himself powerful only remains so long as the other believes the same thing. Put two people who both see power as the ultimate attainment and you have the setting for the average business affair. From here, only two things can happen. One will cave, allowing the other to dominate, or neither party will cave, effectively precipitating resentment and rage within both. The former leads to a continuation of the cycle, the latter leads to war.

This book is extremely well-researched and exquisitely written, which is why I still give it three stars. But you must beware of your intentions. Buy this book if you don't care about anyone but yourself, and it pleases you to see another man crumble. Do not buy this book if you have even the slightest interest in saving yourself from years of unnecessary struggle. Remember that the wave does break both ways, and you do not know who you may become if you toss your ethics in the wastebasket. Needless to say, I was the timid one who was sick of being overlooked, but in the end, it was this book that I tossed into the wastebasket. Your call.

I'm pretty into morality but I quite like this book. But If you're not weary of someone who recommends deception (as the author does) you deserve to get suckered. Some of the rhetorical techniques he employs include writing in the style of that wise blind guy who knew everything in Kung fu, it doesn't work at all once you've seen an interview with him. Also putting a number (48) in the title makes it sound very scientific, I'd bet he has no idea if there really are exactly 48 laws of power.

Still I would not say all the laws are immoral or even amoral as the blurb claims. Some, such as not hanging around with people who drag you down and "assuming formlessness" are about self defence not predation. You can pick and choose according to your code of ethics or lack thereof.

It probably should have come with a warning. The philosopher Alfred Whitehead said Machiavellian techniques work well for about 15 years. One of the practical problems with deception is reality does actually exist and cannot be kept at bay forever. When it is revealed it could ruin you or an entire economy (as when vast numbers of people lie to get loans).

Still an interesting book not only for the unscrupulous.

Why do you need this power in the first place? Here is a quote from 7 Habits, "Standing near the graves of famous people, we understand all the silly wars in which they fought."

I will not be surprised if this book is used as a required reading in terrorist camps to show the "real Americans". Clearly, it is against democracy, Christianity, and all other values.

Read 7 Habits by Covey instead.

this book is absolutely ridiculous, it was written for the idiot's notion of what they believe power is, and just affirms what the dim witted already suspect; "Use a person until they are no longer valuable to you......" AH HA! says the ignoramus who has just been convinced of the vercity of this childrens book.

Very smart book. Has some very unique and useful tools. I don't agree with everything but I like the book and I will use some parts. I try to treat people as I would have them treat me....The Golden Rule. But with trouble makers or bad people this book can be very helpful.

I just started listening to these CDs. The first two lessons consist of learning how to say: excuse me, do you understand english/vietnamese, are you vietnamese/american, how are you, etc. The lessons do a pretty good job of pointing out the different tones, but there are no visual aids that come with the CDs - for me, this makes learning a little bit more difficult. If you are a visual learner, you will need to get another item or supplement this one with a book or an on-line source.

I heard from friends that Pimsleur was the way to go, so I bought this introductory course and made sure to follow the directions as provided. After the first few days, I didn't feel much progress, but after the first week, I remember making some comment in Vietnamese (to a Vietnamese speaking friend of course), and my friend told me how amazed she was that I sounded Vietnamese. I felt that the best part of Pimsleur is that I learned a lot of grammar with very few words. It was indeed frustrating being unable to interact with the person I'm listening to, but I stuck it out, and even though I don't feel quite fluent in Vietnamese, my Vietnamese friends are impressed.

This is the first time for me to use the Pimsleur method, and I must say that I'm impressed. After going through each lesson twice, I felt I was ready to handle basic conversations on my trip to Vietnam. This was exactly what I needed for my trip. Other methods seem to assume that anyone starting a language has the intention of spending their life mastering it. This one just gives you the basics without any pressure. It works.

After trying three other Vietnamese language courses (the so-so FSI course, the poor Vietnamese for Foreigners course, and the downright execrable Elementary Vietnamese), I was close to despairing of ever learning this language. Figuring I had nothing to lose, I bought this course and finally got the results I have been hoping for. This course includes the first ten lessons of Pimsleur's full-length Vietnamese course, which I definitely intend to buy before my next trip to Vietnam. Using an all-audio method, this brief course taught me a lot that I either was not taught at all, or did not retain from, other Vietnamese courses. And the words and grammar you learn really do stick in your brain effortlessly with this course. My only regret is that I did not try this method first! So if you want to learn Vietnamese, don't make the same mistakes I made. Go with Pimsleur and you won't be sorry!

I listened to part of this before I went to Vietnam, and it did help with pronouncing "thank you, how are you etc". It wasn't really clear/accurate about forms of address (based on age/gender)that the Vietnamese use. I said Kam un Ba (sp?) to a middle aged lady and got laughed at, apparently Ba is for REALLY old ladies(the cd just said "when you are addressing an older lady). I used 'che' with a younger woman (Based on what the cds had said) and was told NO that the correct form is 'em'. Also, I would have been happier starting out with food and money because they are the two most important subjects you will talk about in Vietnam.

Mr. English does a great job of telling the real story, or at least as real as can be known. He also takes some time to set the record straight on some common falacies about the mob. Great book, my 16 year old now reading it.

The book "Havana Nocturne" is a great book. It is well-written and well-documented and well worth the read.

Thoroughly enjoyable read - all the way. He weaves in and out of time, connecting the historical dots. Fascinating, for both newcomers and old-hands at this period of cuban life.

For those familiar with Godfather II, everybody, this is the actual story of what happened with the mob in Havana in the years after World War II and leading up to the Castro revolution. It's an absorbing read, and also reminds us how corrupt our own American government can be in readily recognizing, and supporting, dictators that are doing their bidding.

I'm an older person and remember reading about some of the details of the book when they happened, but this is a broad story and gives lots of inside facts that were not well-known, at least to me.

Knowing how it all came out was not a hindrance at all, but made it all more engrossing to see how Fidel Castro gathered his men and overtook the opposition.

The gambling details of the various casinos was also extremely interesting.

I just loved this book.