Inspiration Books

The book is excellent for people who are thinking about locks or who have had locks for years. I have had locks for four years now and I still learned a lot about maintenance and care of my hair. The pictures of the women helped too. One question: Where is the book for the brothers? As a man some things were universal (e.g. - my hair gets in my wife's face when we are having a "love connection"), but some things were just for women (e.g. - wearing different colored scarfs). Thanks for the advice!

I'm so glad I read this book before I loc'd my hair! I assumed that locs would be so easy to maintain...I was wrong. If you want "nice dreads" there is considerable maintenance and care required. I now understand why some locs look beautiful, and others not so much.

It is a really quick, easy read. If you are wondering what it takes to care for locs, I suggest getting this book.

Succinctly written it discusses the maintenance of dreads in a friendly manner. You get the feeling you're listening to a dear friend whose passion and expertise draw you in. A charming book and an excellent read. Buy it. Hug it.

I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read. I am just starting my locs and this book has been helpful with basic how-to-information. The section on hot oil treatments was a little confusing, but the important message is that you will need to find your own way in maintaining healthy locs.

Lonnice Brittenum Bonner writes useful books on natural hair care, and her style is informative and concise. The problem is that her books are too concise for me. Far from expecting a treatise on dreadlocks, I only wanted a comprehensive guide for care and styling of "nice dreads." I found her edicts wanting for elaboration, and her statements (i.e. "...coal tar is a suspected carcinogen) begging for attribution (which agency suspects the coal-tar threat?).

Nitpicking aside, "Nice Dreads" delivers just what its subtitle promises: "Hair Care Basics and Inspiration...." If you are considering locks as part of your hair journey, then there is no other book as engaging, humorous, and full of useful tips as "Nice Dreads." Perhaps Ms. Brittenum Bonner has earned her right to be concise. She already has a loyal following of natural-hair divas and hopefuls. Count me as one.

This is a very inspiration work which helps bring the highly paradoxical and often incomprehensible philosophy of nondualism or Advaita Vedanta down to every day life. Nondual religions like Zen or Hindu Advaita or Dzogchen are perhaps the highest expressions of human religious intelligence, but the teaching that "everything is consciousness" or "any effort to get it takes your further away," or "there is nothing to achieve," can leave the average person (I count myself as one) a bit lost--- especially if you don't have the good fortune to be around a realized nondualist teacher. That's where the book comes in-- in a market flooded with New Age books which often boil down to how use the universe to satisfy your ego wants, this a book that points the way to true satisfaction. It gives good, "practical," if I may use that word, guidance to achieving a state of non-achieving. It's a nice "how to" book for the path in which there is no "how to." It points us to that paradoxical space wherein we must make a total committment to allow things to happen without making any effort. The personal anecdotes sometimes go on a bit too long to make their points, but the author's life and healing are impressive enough to make her approach credible,...actually incredible (in the positive sense of that word, meaning miraculous).

Many of spend our whole lives searching. Perhaps, we are trying to find that something that will make us good enough, perfect, or worthy of love. Still, it seems that the more effort we put into the search, the less we actually seem to find.

What if we already had everything we needed to be whole? What if the entire time we had been searching for just that right job, the perfect spouse, that right dogma, or the ultimate therapist we had already had all the tools we needed. What if we found out that all that energy we spent running away from our feelings, our natural inclinations, and our flaws was actually making our journey more difficult? What if we found out that we could make a change right here and now and for the rest of our lives?

Freedom Is explores these and many other life changing notions. Based upon the popular Journeywork, the author explores effortless being; nonattachment; present-moment awareness, honoring and reverence; emotions, gratitude, love, forgiveness, and enlightenment.

I thought the material in Freedom Is was well presented and approachable. I felt extremely safe in the hands of the author as I began to explore some very personal, deeply hidden, and potentially scary issues. Moreover, after completing the book, I felt strong enough to carry what I had learned into my real life. One thing I do suggest though is that you also purchase the CD that accompanies this book. It will make the meditations and exercises a whole lot easier to accomplish without having to try to create your own.

Brandon Bays' bestseller THE JOURNEY has received much attention, and her latest spiritual growth guide FREEDOM IS: LIBERATING YOUR BOUNDLESS POTENTIAL promises the same, providing an overview of freedom as it relates to daily living. Unlike most titles on the topic it's not about freedom - it's about experiencing the feeling. Chapters provide case histories of master/student interactions and examples and plenty of first-person reflections from the author's own seminars and experiences.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

ASIN:1577316002 Freedom Is: Liberating Your Boundless Potential
This book can truly set you free. Read a chapter at a time, doing the exercise at the end of the chaper, and you will see amazing results. If there was a ten star rating, thats how I would rate it. It is a must own book! Peggy Cashman, Canton, NY

This wonderful book will not provide a quick fix or easy answers. It is a book meant to be read slowly, tasted and savoured - and, if you want to get the most out of it, roll up your sleeves and be prepared to follow the guidance given to discover the things that are really holding you back. Keep it next to your bed. This book gives you the tools (for only whatever you pay for it) that otherwise you'll pay thousands for at Journey Seminars (that said, the Seminars are priceless). If you are not ready to face who you really are (and you're great!) then don't buy this book.

For advanced astrologers only.

I have Kevin Burk's Complete Astrology book and like it quite well. His deft ability to combine astrology, psychology and new age spirituality in plain spoken language is refreshing. I had hoped for more of the same. However, I returned this book because nowhere in the description did it mention that it would be useless in the hands of an amateur astrologer such as myself. Luckily Amazon makes returns painless.

I like the fact that I can easily identify the aspect, look it up and incorporte it into the Chart interpretation. One can definately tell that Kevin Burk is a teacher and a good one at that. He explains that the interpretations are his and not the only valid ones. The goal of the book is to help budding astrologers to acquire building blocks to understand and develope their own understanding and interpretation of the Moon's Node. This is an often misunderstood aspect of Astrology but Kevin Burke rises of the the challenge to promote understanding. This is a added deminision that I can include in my professional chart. Thank you Mr. Burk Namaste!!!!!!1

I generally like Kevin Burks' astrology books (this book and his Understanding the Birth Chart book, especially). I wish these books were available years ago, they would have streamlined my library.

Other node books are pretty good too (Martin Schuman's Karmic Astrology: the Moon's Nodes and Reincarnation and Jan Spiller's Astrology for the Soul instantly comes to mind) but Burk's approach is more practical, more to the point and includes the latest research. The only criticism I have for this book is that I would have liked a 'complete' interpretation of planetary aspects to the nodes, for which all he offered was a brief theoretical description.

I really enjoyed the writng style, the author has a clean, easy style of writing and conveying information. I especially appreciated the wya he broke the node descriptions into the houses they are in. That was a page of the "cookbook" you do not often see and added a new twist on the nodal interpretations.

That said, I wish there had been more of incorporating the nodes into the rest of the chart. Overall, I DO recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about working with the Nodes of the Moon in their astrological chart.

The Nodes are a subject in astrology that is quite difficult to understand. How to delineate these imaginary points and what do they mean ? I hoped to find an answer in this book by Kevin Burk. And partially I got an answer too. In his book, Kevin Burk analyzes the position of the nodes in the signs and houses, giving 144 placements. No other book gives these combinations, so this book is an interesting read. However the interpretations I found mediocre, there are books in other languages that give a much more insightful perspective. And if this should be the ultimate compendium or reference manual about the nodes, I would at least expect a chapter about the nodes in synastrie, a chapter about the nodes in progressions, the difference between the mean and the true node, other planetary nodes, transiting nodes to the natal chart etc... But no, these subjects are totally missing ! Only the transits to the nodes are mentioned in a very short chapter. So no, this is NOT THE guidebook about the nodes but mere a kind of a cookbook about the 144 placements of the nodes. Makes me think that the nodes are indeed quite difficult to grasp...

This is not a review but a correction - the translator should be "Gaffin", not "Graffin"

This thin and razor sharp piece of scholarship is essential to the understanding and defense of true protestant religion. Too many so-called protestants don't know the first thing about "Sola Scriptura." And among the slightly aware, canonicity is a much neglected topic. Get a life and read this book today.

This book is a true delight! Full of the light and magic of the world all around us, Tom Cowan's words are sure to make you think and to move your soul.

Delightful reading - and now we're taking turns reading it aloud to each other in the evening. A very positive book - just what we need right now.

Tom Cowan's Celtic Reflections is a wonderful read. Every chapter contains pearls of wisdom. The book is also written in a way that builds on concepts presented earlier to make the point later in the book. The reflections draw on Celtic traditions and myth, as well as Cowan's personal life. His explanation of spirit and living "in the spirit" was particuarly poignant. I plan read sections again to try to pull out individual practices and meditations. Although they are presented in almost every chapter, I wish there had been a summary or methodology to the techniques that were presented. Overall, though, an excellent book worthy of reading and study, whether you are into Celtic traditions or simply want to experience another way look of seeing the world.

I found "Yearning for the Wind" to be an absolutely inspiring text that gives great insight into the heart of Celtic Theology. Of particular interest to me, and something I hold as a personal belief is the Celtic mystery tradition, going back to the time of Plato, that all created things share in the divine life of the Creator (pp. 56). I believe that the spirit of God is in each of us.

Some may ask how the spirit of the divine can be found in those who are not godly, yet we find this too explained in "Yearning for the Wind" and in Celtic Theology in general. In the text a story is related of two groups of sheep. One group being white and the other being black. From time to time one of the white sheep would wander over to the group of black sheep and would itself turn black. And, later a black sheep would wander into the white flock and would thereafter turn white. I took this to mean that we tend to take on the likeness of those with who we associate. So... when we associate with those lacking an abundance of the divine spirit we ourselves show a lack of this spirit too. Yet, the divine spirit that is in us will grow when given an environment that is nurturing to the spirit.

Along this same line however, we are never completely black, nor are we ever completely white. In "Yearning for the Wind" we see this reflected in the story of the tree, half of which is on fire, the flames blazing up to the top of tree; while the other half of the tree is green, leafy and beautiful. Although not explained in great detail I found the story of the burning tree to be similar to the Chinese theory of yin and yang. Each is the opposite of the other, yet yin flow into yang and yang flows into yin, and at the heart of each is the essence of its own opposite. In each person we can find the rage and flames of the burning half of the Celtic tree and at the same time we can find the shade, and leafy beauty of a tree in the fullness of its bloom.

I believe it is what we do with that that is found within each of us that dictates the course of our lives, and how brightly the spirit of the divine is reflected in us. In Celtic Theology we read the story of Dagda's harp, the music of which affected the soul of man. It is the music of sleep that brings us to that state beyond joy. The Buddhists call it `satori' and the Hindus call it `nirvana', but in each case it is simply realizing the spirit of the divine living within each of us. When we reach a state where we realize that inner divine spirit we can thereafter use that spirit to aid others ~ as with the Celtic songs of healing, which heal those who hear them as well as those who sing them.

We must not think however that Celtic Theology is all mystery and hidden spirit. Those of the Celtic faith are very much in tune with life in this world. We see this reflected in the reply of one of Finn MacCool's men when asked by St. Patrick what had sustained him before the `Gospels'. "The warrior-hunter answered `The truth in our hearts, the strength in our arms, and the promise on our lips'." This clearly summarizes the Celtic Moral Code: "To live from the deep inner knowledge of the heart and soul, to manifest it by physical action, and to be true to one's word." (pp. 83)

Although every religion attempts to offer a code or commandments to guide the moral lives of the faithful, I believe that this Celtic insight into morality says it best. For if a man follows the deep inner knowledge of his heart and soul, does he not draw upon the spirit of the divine that is within us all? And, by drawing upon this inner spirit of the divine a man's physical actions with be brave and right and strong. With strength of spirit, and strength of deed, our word will surely be honorable and true.

Tom Cowan's Yearning of the Wind: Celtic Reflections on Nature is truly wonderful. I imagine that I will reread sections of this book time and time again--each time taking something different with me, each time seeing it from a different perspective. His writing is easy. Flowing from word to word and thought to thought, he takes you on a journey of the soul. It's deceptively simplistic and easy to read--but the depth is tremendous. In a few pages, his words convey universal meanings that strike a chord deep within me.

Cowan writes "Live courageously even though circumstances frighten you. Push through fear, knowing that ultimately nothing can harm your soul."

Wise words from an eloquent man.

This is a great gift book, to show appreciation to an inspirational friend, for a special celebration or any occasion. I saw it, looked at it, put it down and had to go back and buy it. I was not disappointed.

You can't tell from the photo, but this book has a muted UL following the SO. It makes it appear to say "SO HAPPY" from a distance but, upon closer observation, one realizes it says "SOUL HAPPY." It is a great bargain for a nice hardcover book. It is great to pick up & read a random quote when one needs inspiration (or reminding).

This is, by far, my favorite quote book. The colors are beautiful and subdued and the layout is simple: one quote per page spread, the quote on the right-hand page and a small picture and topic heading on the left. Most of the quotes aren't the generic ones I've often encountered in other larger books of quotations. And though there are only 42 quotes in all, what the book lacks in quantity, it definitely makes up in quality.

"Let your soul stand ajar, always ready to welcome the ecstatic experience." ~Emily Dickinson

I actually got this book before Gelb's 'How to Think Like Da Vinci.' It actucally motivated me to get the first book. An EXCELLENT book to have to recharge your creativity batteries. 'Nuff said. Excelent is about as good as it gets.

Leon

This is one of my favorite books. I like it so much, I've sent at least 50 to my customers.

One of the best chapters is about Christopher Columbus, who according to Michael Gelb, may have been America's fisrt salesman!

Lots of good stuff!

Jim Meisenheimer

I thought the short biographies were interesting. I listened to the audio book while I was driving. A sizeable portion of the book was exercises, most of which didn't interest me. A few of them made me think a tiny bit. The good thing this book did do for me, was got me interested in the author's choice of a dream team. It sparked me to do some of my own research with his choices.

I honestly did not intend to buy this book. I wanted to get free shipping and was browsing bargain books. This gold nugget appeared and I decided to give it a shot. When this book arrived, the contents were amazing. The author illustrates through words and exercises how to actually think like many famous geniuses. From Plato to Gandhi to Einstein, you will find someone you can relate to many times over. The exercises are fantastic and get your brain juices going. I highly recommend this.

There are many good books with research based studies on how to improve your IQ or creativity on the market. Unfortunately, this book isn't one of them. Most of the exercises just seemed like silly stuff the author thought up on his own without any testing or research to prove the exercises actually work. For example, in the chapter on Columbus, one of the exercises is to get the tub with your sweetie, splash around and try to chart new waters in your relationship. For another example, the chapter on Plato recommends inviting guests to come to a toga party, dressed as ancient Greeks, and to bring their favorite poems and essays about love. Well, I suppose it is possible that might be a good way to improve a person's creativity, however I suspect a more likely outcome from the toga party idea would be to get someone get kicked off his bowling team, shunned at the next Rotary meeting and removed from any Scout leadership positions.

Instead of this book I would recommend The Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance. It is more of a research based book and written rather formally, but it actually has practical, research based factors on what it takes to make people experts in their fields. Tips from this book include the findings that experts are made and not born (with the exception of some sports) and that expertise is usually associated with years of experience that include deliberate practice (practice with continual feedback).

This is the type of book to keep by your bedside to read a passage or two before bedtime. It is both inspirationally written while offering a relaxing and peaceful appreciation of the beauty around us.

This is a MUST have beautiful, as well as enchanting journal to read! I purchased it for two reasons. I have begun a watercolor class and this book is full of beautiful pictures. So I can try for some similar results after I practice, practice, practice. Secondly, after visiting Gloria, a friend with a georgeous flower garden, I want to start my own small flower garden. This book is full of names of flowers along with their pictures, so I can determine what I like most and where it will grow. Already my gardening and painting friend, Gloria has purchased this book after only glancing through my copy. Now I would like to purchase other titles by Mary Woodin. I have discovered she was also into ceramics, as I am into pottery, maybe we are kindred spirits.

Lovely book, beautiful artwork makes a timely gift.

I received this book as a gift for Christmas and I look at it every day. This is a "must" purchase for anyone who has any interest in a garden of any type. It is wonderful to enjoy lounging in the bathtub, while sipping a cup of tea or just enjoying some quiet time. Give this as a gift to your best friend. Better, get this as a gift to yourself. You deserve this beautiful book.

Very simple book. Easy to understand. Would recommend this book for the beginning watercolorist.

A great book on the technical aspects of extruding. Lots of good photos for ideas and explanations. A good start for anyone into handbuilding or adding flair to their thrown work.

The book has an international cast of artists, photos of ceramics
spanning from Australia to Inge Pedersen in Norway. I became aware of
several renowned European ceramicists. Antonio Cumella, Alessio Tasca, Elina
Brandt-Hanson, Jim Robison. Other artist's work that impressed me was Ken Williams, Jutta Golas, and Jack Sures. Jean and Tom Latka have an excellent body of work apart from each other, but their collaborative work shines superior.
Peter Helm

If you have been waiting for the best book on ceramic extrusion, it is
available now Ceramic Extruding by Jean and Tom Latka successfully answers the question of, "Why are all of those clay extruders rusting on potter's walls?" Their answer is thus: Ceramists, like everyone else, have to be inspired to create beautiful work. This book acts as a magical muse for artists by showing over 300 quality photos of beautiful work by some of the finest international contemporary artists working in the medium today. This book's focus is on the recent emergence of extruded ceramic art as dynamic and surprisingly varied form of creative expression.

"Though the words extrude and extrusion are not ones most people encounter in everyday conversation, we live in a world where we are surrounded by extruded objects. Our brick houses and their tile roofs are made from extruded clay. We shower on extruded tiles, send our smoke and fumes up extruded chimneys and our waste down extruded sewers. From the round O's in your breakfast cereal to the pasta on your dinner plate, extruded objects occupy every conceivable nook and cranny of our lives". Beginning with bricks, Ceramic Extruding details the history of the extruder then demonstrates the ease, as well as the necessity, of using an extruder in one's pottery. The book is organized in a logical manner in order to guide the reader by employing numerous step-by-step instructional methods.
Essentially, Ceramic Extruding is a how-to book and the projects gradually become more advanced. Apart from the photos, another subject that distinguishes this book from other books on the market is its comprehensive theory of extrusion and was the only chapter I had to read twice. It is a difficult subject. The authors give detailed information on why extruders act in the manner in which they do. For instance, I didn't know that clay moves faster down the center of the barrel than clay closer to the walls. This information is useful for artists who want to design their own dies.

Educators take note: As a teacher, I know how it feels to give students a
blank canvas and ask them to be creative. In contrast Ceramic Extruding
shows how to create a limitless supply of foundation material from the
extruder for the student.

The book truly has an international cast of artists, photos of ceramics
spanning from Australia to Inge Pedersen in Norway. I became aware of
several renowned European ceramicists. Antonio Cumella, Alessio Tasca, Elina
Brandt-Hanson, Jim Robison. Other artist's work that impressed me was Ken Williams, Jutta Golas, and Jack Sures. Jean and Tom Latka have an excellent body of work apart from each other, but their collaborative work shines superior.

Everyone has been waiting for the next thing in clay. Well Latka's Flying
Hybrid Extruder and Michael Sherrill's novel extruder/wheel could lead to
the new revolution in clay. The quick release system makes these extruders user friendly. The expansion box is larger than most other machines, and in the case of Flying Hybrid, it out performs slab machines by making slabs faster and more superior. Oddly enough, slab machines compress the clay from the center of the roller to the edges. This creates an unstable molecular structure and cracks result. The clay is evenly compressed in the Vertical Flying Hybrid. An 18"x24" slab is the result when an 8" cylindrical shape 18" long is extruded and sliced lengthwise.

I would like to sum up with a quote from Michael Cohen. "It is important to find a well-made extruder that is adaptable to your needs. As for the
wheel, once you learn how to use it, one question ultimately remains: What are you going to make? After mastering centrifugal force and friction, perhaps it's now time to use gravity and inertia to make a personal statement. Like throwing, it only looks easy."

"Extruding clay takes on a wonderful new meaning when you use the extruder as you would any tool---as one step in the making process, not as an end in itself. The extruder's contribution to the studio can be as profound and influential as the potters wheel --- a slab for the imagination to leap off from". Jean Latka

Two thumbs up! Burn the other extruder books; this is the only one you will ever need.
I am an college art teacher at U.S.C. and find it the best book for my introduction course on the Extruder.
...

Ceramic Extruding: Inspiration & Technique by professional studio artists Tom and Jean Latka, is a thoroughly "user friendly" guide ideal for both aspiring ceramics workers and dedicated hobbyists to the use of a ceramic extruder or pugmill in new and wondrous ways to craft memorable and adventurous artworks in this challenging medium. More than 200 color photographs illustrate the easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions, as well as display possibilities for the finished product. Ceramic Extruding is a highly enjoyable how-to artbook and a strongly recommended addition to any personal, professional, or art school reference collection.

This Krause Publication book, which means it is great, it is about the creative use of the extruder: its history, manufacture and
production contributions and the creative uses being employed by studio clay artists.
Over 300 color photos of creative work by a cast of international artists showing innovative uses for the extruder.
The best book on extrusion.
Andy Ganhal