If you love to read those books on stars who looked beautiful and charming on the outside and brutal alcoholics behind closed doors, you will be sorely disappointed by Audrey Hepburn. Barry Paris's book on the Imph is just astonishing. It begins with her troubled childhood, a father who abandoned her and the World War II stories of her and her home country are tear-jerking. Then her sudden rise to success was only off-set by a set of miscarriages and missed-marriages. Yet her charm and elegance shown through it all. The part that really makes an impact is that last chapters of Hepburns life. Paris's coverage of Hepburn's travels with UNICEF. It was riveting to find out how committed she was to her cause, the extents she would go to help the children, even to her dying days. Barry Paris did an excellent job in collecting facts, interviews, and side stories to make this the best Hepburn book yet.

This is such a tremendous book. Packed with substantial detail...Barry Paris has done his homework. This is the only biography of Audrey Hepburn I've read that feels complete, that has not trivialized or sanitized her life. I left the book feeling as if I'd known her as a person rather than a movie star.

I congratulate Barry Paris on a great biography of Audrey Hepburn.This book deserves at least 6 stars!Before I read the book,I had a lot of respect for Audrey Hepburn-but after reading this book,I have the utmost respect for her and admire her greatly.She was a saint and certainly was an attractive lady.You really have to feel sympathetic and empathetic for her with all the disappointments and hardships she had to confront throughout her life.A lot of people think that movie stars come from well-to-do families and lead charmed lives-not Audrey Hepburn.Her life is of horror,loss of love, and tradegy:(at six years of age, her father left the family leaving her forever heartbroken;she would witness the execution of an uncle and cousin during nazi occupied Holland;later in life,suffer 5 miscarraiges and 2 devastating divorces).There were happy moments of her life, too;film stardom, 2 marriages and two sons.These accounts of her life forged the true and genuine heart that she had. All through her life,Audrey Hepburn was a woman of love, and cared very much for the well being of others-she was not a selfish person.All her life, she helped others before helping herself.These acts of kindness, compassion, and caring was certainly genuine,and Audrey certainly was giving from her heart and soul.In her last years of her life ,she would be an ambassador of UNICEF, helping the children of impoverished nations. This book tells never known things about this selfless lady that thought of others more than herself.Mr.Paris certainly has done a great deal of research(looking at all the acknowlegements and bibliographies in the back of the book should tell you this man went through great lengths).This is a great book written about a real lady with a heart of gold.

Until now, the best-known element of film star Ramon Novarro's life was his gruesome death at the hands of two Hollywood hustlers. However, Andres Soares'meticulously researched new biography resurrects Mr. Novarro from casualty to icon. A matinee idol of the ephermeral silent screen, Mr. Novarro's career is given a persuasive critical appraisal by Mr. Soares who also cracks the socio-political climate of the early days of motion pictures and how the industry came into being. Definitely not a beach-read for those preferring a surface biography of their favorite stars (i.e., "The Brad Pitt Story") this is a must for serious cinema buffs.

Beyond Paradise is an interesting and thoroughly researched biography that will help to re-establish Ramon Novarro's reputation as Hollywood's greatest Mexican-born actor. This is a wonderful portrait of a man whose ambitions - personal, professional and artistic - more often than not went unfulfilled. But what Novarro did achieve was remarkable, and Soares' book is, in its own way, just as remarkable. Through interviews, studio archives, Novarro's personal correspondence and other sources, Soares creates a work that gives the reader as clear a picture as we'll probably ever get of Novarro.

Novarro was a multi-talented performer whose career survived the transition from silent films to talking pictures, although Soares does describe the various factors that contributed to the decline in Novarro's film career as the 1930's progressed.

Soares also describes the relationships between Ramon and his relatives (his earnings and investments financed his parents and siblings for decades) as well as his personal relationships. I don't want to give away too many details, but I was surprised that Soares was able to provide such a clear picture of Novarro's life, considering the actor was gay at a time when such information would have destroyed his career and labeled him as a deviant in the eyes of society.

Novarro's life and brutal murder (Soares interviews both of Novarro's killers) make for compelling reading, so this biography will be of great interest to film buffs in general as well as anyone looking for an interesting biography to read.

Andre Soares is a remarkable biographer with the extraordinary gift of getting to the heart of his subject. Like a skilled portrait painter, he has artfully pulled together the persona of Ramon Novarro, and has expressed it in a beautiful, almost lyrical portrait of a man, his art and his life. Bursting with hard facts and a minimum of schmaltz, Beyond Paradise will satisfy the mind and the heart. I don't think I have ever read a biography that includes all the pertinent facts and still brings the reader so intimately in touch with the subject. Anyone with an interest in knowing more about Ramon Novarro and the silent and early talkie period of cinema will be splendidly pleased with this book.

I'm able to find something I heartily disagree with in every childcare or child discipline book I read. Even in my favorites. But I thought my head was going to fall off I nodded so hard while reading this book. I used to hedge daily on discipline worrying I was "hurting" my kids too much when I had to enforce loss of privileges. This book made me see that all consequences are painful...they are supposed to be. But painful and harmful are not the same thing. Just because my child is temporarily unhappy, that doesn't mean she is permanently scarred. All growth is painful. The flip side to the advice is you should balance your enforcement of consequences with empathy, affection, and support. You are neither your child's enemy nor his friend. You are his parent.

I was able to immediately put the good advice to use right away and my family is so much more peaceful! Boundaries really are good for building character, increasing empathy, and as converse as it may sound, strengthening the relationship between you and your children. The authors are both psychotherapists and devout Christians. I thought the Christian bent might annoy me but the scriptures quoted were used sparingly and only enhanced the eloquence and relevance of the text.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to friends and relatives, Christian and secular. Buy this book and you will walk around thinking "I know which boundaries HIS/HER parents didn't enforce as a child." What an enlightening book!

This is the book you wish your parents had! But you can start today, with your own children. The authors first Boundaries book is my "best" book. It helped me tremenoudly with my own life. And from quality people, here is another book to help you help your kids set the best boundaries for their own life. We can't to it for them, they will make their own mistakes. But we can show them what good decision-making does and allow them to have consequences for their decisions. I can't say enough about this book. I wish I had found it years ago when my oldest two sons were children. You will really equip yourself with this book to be a loving, effective parent.

This book has helped my husband and I to not only be on the same page with our dicipline methods but also to really focus on how our 3 kids behaviors right now in the present will affect their future when they are on their own. It has helped us to set boundaries for them and is also teaching our kids to learn to set firm boundaries on their own with their lives. I had yet to find a book on raising children that is so clear and effective and really guides you through how to be an effective parent for the good of your kids future. I also highly recommend the book "Raising Great Kids" which is by the same authors.

This book is a really good read, but must be read twice due to the intracacies involved, i.e. names, places etc. I recommend you keep a pencil and pad nearby and make a chart for convenience sake. However, sadly, this same thing is probably taking place in locations as well, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, etc. I do think some things were obvious at the time and failed, or ignored, to be followed up, but I guess that's the name of the game. I would strongly suggest it as good reading for anyone interested in this sort of thing.

This book tells the detailed story of how a handful of Lexington socialites organized a crime ring that became a (maybe *the*) major smuggler of cocaine and other drugs into the Eastern United States. Complete with cover-up and contract murders, the author pieces together an intricate story that, before it's over, includes state and federal government officials as well as organized-crime syndicates from all over the country. Also recounted in the book is the life of Ralph Ross, the Kentucky State Policeman and electronic-surveillance expert, whose single-minded perseverance finally brought about the end of the smuggling ring.

It's informative as well as it is entertaining, and I recommend it to all true-crime fans, mafia buffs, conspiracy theorists, and Kentuckians.

One of the best books I have read to date. A definite must read for any Kentuckian or just anyone interested in a good true crime story. You'll be suprised at just how much money and violence was being spread around Lexington from the late 70's through the 80's.

This book made me love drive-ins even more! The photos tell a wonderful story, as does the lively text. It will make you remember a better time.

Don and Susan Sanders have captured the essence of the drive-in movie theatre and packed all of the magic into a really great book. I flipped hamburgers at the now defunct Belknap Drive-in when I was in high school and turning the pages of this time-machine brought back many memories. Forget about multiplex cinemas and theater complexes at the mall. The American Drive-In movie theatre lives!

The best book of its kind, bar none. Photos are excellent, and it is obvious that the authors really know and love their subject. Anyone who has ever spent an evening at the drive-in would love the memories this book evokes. Anyone who never had the opportunity to participate in the golden age of drive-in movies can experience it vicariously through The American Drive-In Movie Theatre. I've given several copies as gifts -- Everyone loves a Drive-In !

Having lived half my life in the US and half in the UK, I was aware of fundamental differences in practices surrounding death and funeral rituals. Mitford's book provides a useful historical context with a biting criticism of the funeral industry's emotional and financial exploitation of the American public. It's baffling that such a consumer-wise nation could have such a huge blind spot when it comes to the one service which we will ALL use at some time. Depressingly, the mega funeral corporations are making their moves into the British and other world wide funeral markets -- with seemingly little opposition. In any case, I just hope I don't expire during my next visit to the US!

"The American Way of Death Revisited" provides a wealth of information, presented in a tactful and witty manner, to prepare anyone for "battle" with the funeral industry in the event of a loved one's death. It is clear and thorough without being ghoulish or flippant.

Read it now before you need it!

Jessica Mitford delivers an excellent work that delves into the business of dealing with the dead (now called "death care"). It is a must read as it is a life event we will all face at some point in our lives and our dealings with loved ones. I know that looking back on when I had to arrange a funeral, I even though it was to be a Jewish funeral and dispensed with ornate coffins and definitely closed coffin, I can see how because I was uninformed I agreed to services that were just not needed, because I was told that it was "the law." I now know quite a bit more about what is fact and what are upselling techniques.

Jessica Mitford does an outstanding job. The update is odd because it is hard to know when the book is referring to the early 1960's or to the late 1990's.

I've read the earlier version, but everyone should read the update. Good practical advice on how to protect yourself as a consumer. Subject matter is great--from the 1885 National Funeral Directors embalming contest, with a $1000 first prize for the best-looking decedent after 60 days, to the wonderful Batesville Burping Casket. It's only too bad that another update can't be arranged in the future via Ouija board broadband with the author!
Seriously, do yourself a favor and get this.

Dave Lowry writes with a clarity that is accessible and moving. In Autumn Lightning, Lowry explores his early interest in the arts of the bugeisha (samurai-in-training). He trains with the ken/katana, and learns much about the world of Japanese Martial Arts.

But this is not simply a martial arts book. What makes it so unique is its easy realationship with the reader. It is like having a discussion with an old friend, and hearing all the wonderful stories that friend has to tell. Lowry expands on his experiences with his neighbor/sensei and relates them both to his life and, by proxy, the life of the reader.

This is a book I loved from cover to cover not just because it bridges certain cultural constraints (which it does with wit and candor), but also because it is a delightful story. Hearing the stories about the author, his sensei, and even his sensei's wife, are inspiring and thoroughly entertaining. If you have any interest in the martial arts, Japanese culture, or just open thinking in general, this book is most certainly going to excite your literary pallete.

Ostensibly the autobiography of an American bugeisha (practitioner of Japanese martial arts, in this case kenjutsu, "sword techniques"), this book is much more as it delves into an easily-read discussion of different bugei (Japanese martial arts), zanshin (the state of "continual mind"), special skills and hidden methods, the precursors of jujutsu, warrior monks, Zen Buddhism, seppuku and much more. Even if you do not practice a martial art, you are likely to find this a fascinating read, and if you do practice a martial art, this book will inspire you no matter what your own art is (I practice eskrima, which has no relation whatsoever to kenjutsu and yet I found many principles in this which I can apply to eskrima).

Out of print for nearly ten years, Shambhala Press makes this masterpiece available to another generation of martial arts students and Westerners who are interested in the Japanese "student-teacher" relationship. As a young teenager, Lowry learned of a "Japanese swordsman" living in the same University town. In the tradition of old Japan when a student seeked an instructor, Lowry stopped by the house every day, asking the woman who answered the door if there was an instructor who would take him as a student. Lowry's persistence paid off and he was "adopted" by Kotaro Sensei (teacher), a master of Yagyu Shinkage-ryu swordsmanship. Lowry instruction was by no means limited to the physical techniques of the sword. As the subtitle implies, Kotaro Sensei transformed this wet-behind-the-ears teenager into an "American Samurai." Lessons learned within and without the dojo (training hall) taught Lowry that a "samurai" has to live ALL aspects of his or her life to a higher standard. While his schoolmates were busy experimenting with drugs and worrying about the Viet Nam war, Lowry's spare time was spent learning honor, respect, courage, virtue and justice through this sacred relationship between Sensei (teacher) and kohei (student). Lowry takes an interesting and very effective approach to the assembly of the book, alternating chapters that chronologically detail his experience and historical anecdotes about the martial arts that reinforce the lessons he learned. Lowry is a true "master of the sword AND pen," his masterful re-telling of his experience almost allows the reader to experience the same struggles and joys he experienced, yet he keeps this writing accessable. This book would be equally valuable to a nine-year old beginning karate student as it is to a 80 year old master of the arts. I have been involved in the martial arts for only ten years, but have read and collected more than 100 books on the subject. If I had only one book to recommend to students of the arts seeking the "definitive text" on what the "teacher-student" experience is SUPPOSED to be, this would be it.

What does Buddhism really mean to young people in a century when the Dalai Lama's image is used to sell computers & "Nirvana" is a rock band?

In his Foreword, Jack Kornfield poses the question: "What if Buddha were born in North America, in our times?"

Sumi Loundon, born into the North American Buddhist culture & coming into her third decade of life, is also asking: "What is being a Buddhist in today's Western world?" As she finds her answers, she also finds she is not alone & so evolved this collection of enchanting, first-person essays from young Buddhists all over this globe.

Like pebbles on a beach, each story is fascinating as the writers tell of their strife & boredom, yearning & bliss, hectic lives & momentary glimpses of spiritual stillness.

For a look at the world through another window where our senses & our monkey minds are engaged as never before, pick up a copy of BLUE JEAN BUDDHA & if you don't get it on the first read - keep it! Then take it down during a particularly hyper-active period in your life & see how others have walked through their chaos into the Buddhic balance & life-affirming consciousness.

Well worth the read! Gave me much about which to think & write!

Since elementary school, I have been raised a serious Buddhist and would often wonder if there were others who shared my life experiences, lifestyle, and worldview. I always wanted to find or else write a book of Buddhism for young people in America. And needless to say, when I stumbled onto Blue Jean Buddha, I was estactic. I was delighted to know there are others out there who share some of my deepest interests and concerns. BJB is definitely a book whose time has come.

Polished, succinct, and effective, the collection of essays in BJB are a true testament about what is happening between the younger generations and spirituality in America.
In a way, I was anxious to see if the book, dealing with pop culture and such, was too much hype, too New-Agey, or lofty. But I was far from being disappointed. It is down-to-earth, and accessible, without sacrificing its profundity.

THE deep and important reflections the editor asks at THE CONCLUSION IS WORTH THE WHOLE PRICE OF THE BOOK. The stories and essay were great, but what mattered most is the way in which the conclusion synthesized inquiry, and emphasized critical thinking about the current and future status of Buddhism here in the West. Sumi Loundon does not purport to know all the answers. And she leaves readers with a feeling that neither do they! I really appreciated the chance to dwell on the rhetorical questions she asks. They are not philosophical or academic neccessarily, but real and practical, which makes them all the more worthwhile.

Anyone interested in American youth, and spirituality at this current time will definitely benefit from reading this book.

As a young, serious Buddhist, I always wondered if there were others who shared my lifestyle and worldview. To my delight, I found that I am not alone. For me personally, "Blue Jean Buddha" is definitely a book whose time has come.
The book is down-to-earth and sincere, full of honest essays about how young people are implementing the Dharma into their lives, personal, public, and professional. It certainly is not New Agey, "too far out", cliche, or irrelevant. (I was anxious about the possibility of BJB being so, but it did not disappoint me!)The book explores the interchanges between Buddhism, Generation X and Y, and American pop culture, among other topics. It has no agenda except to portray Buddhism as it plays itself out, right now.
In many ways, I feel like BJB is a historical snapshot of some of the people who will be among the most influential shapers of Buddhism in the West in the near future. I was happy for this warning!
I definitely appreciated the vast diversity of Buddhist traditions and expressions represented in BJB. As an introduction, the book provides teases and initial glances into Buddhism, and does not purport to be a definitive statement by examining details. There are gaps, because there are still issues in modern Buddhism yet to be debated and/or resolved. But that is the point of BJB, it keeps you thinking, wondering, critically inquiring. I learned a lot from this book and totally recommend it to anyone interested in young people, and the future of Buddhism in the West.
The deep, thoughtful, and important reflections and rhetorical questions offered in THE CONCLUSION is WORTH THE WHOLE PRICE OF THE BOOK ALONE. Editor Sumi Loundon does not pretend to know all the answers, and after reading all these possibilities, I realized I didn't predict the future either! These are fast, exciting times we live in right now, and this is a perfect book to have along for the ride.

I have read books written by Lisa before and enjoyed them but this book surpases them by far. I love the Norwegian history and the language, as it is my own heritage and it reminds me of my Great Grandmother. The tale of the Norwegian immigrants tells the story of more than one family and covers so many difficulties and hardships that the immigrants and so many families faced then and now. The characters come to life and are so intwined with each other, but still each have there own stories. I so appreciate the way the characters rely on God, but are still real people with the tempatations that we face. The learn that God's way is best, but not always the first time. I felt encouraged as I read the book. What a wonderful way to spend a lazy weekend. Thanks for the wonderful new style of writing that you have started in this book, Lisa. The history is great and I can't wait to read the next book.

This book is a joy to read. You become quickly involved with the lives of each of the characters. They are people that you feel you know because they are so realistic. They have strengths and weaknesses and its amazing to see how God works in their lives. Its a story that builds you up as you read along.

Lisa Tawn Bergren at her very best! What an incredible tale of adventure, from Norway's sparkling fjords to the high seas of Cape Horn, to the rocky shores and plains of America in the 1880s. Even with such a panoramic backdrop, THE CAPTAIN'S BRIDE keeps its spyglass trained on the lives of people you'll care about deeply, from first page to last, as they wrestle with the temptations of spirit and flesh we all know too well. It's an old cliche, but I really could NOT put this book down until I hit the last page and THEN I couldn't wait to read the next in the series! Do yourself a favor and buy all three--The Captain's Bride, Deep Harbor, and Midnight Sun--so you won't have to say good-bye to these characters until their stories are fully--and wonderfully--told. I loved all three!

This was definitely a good read, no doubt about it. I'm sort of surprised that other people say it gives insight into the daily lives of the indians though, because I didn't get that at all. More what I got was insights into the way indians generally treated their captives (the ones who ran away and told their stories) and the way things were seen and the life of the settlers maybe (only by how they told the story). The book is all firsthand accounts from escaped captives and is sometimes gruesome but always very interesting. People back then knew how to tell stories.

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An amazing amount of material on the wildlife of North America and, the "wild" lives of American Indians and captured settlers.

The book includes firsthand accounts of Indian life, gruesome conflicts, brutal torture, spectacular escapes, and spirited pursuits. The Indians killed, tortured, and sometimes adopted white settlers. Some were made into slaves, some fully adopted as family members, and other slated for, and escaped sure death.

I was particularly facinated by descriptions of the wildlife. The size and age of trees. The abundance of wild animals--particularly the bears.

I've read this book twice and found every story interesting.

Not often do we get glimses of the past through ordinary people, placed in extra-ordinary situations. Many of these people could not read or write but told their stories which were dutifully recorded. The feeling of authenticity of the stories is strong.

Everyone should read this book to fully understand the capabilites of humans, both in brutality and in kindness and understanding.

An unforgettable book.

This is a short collection of some of the most famous Indian captivity narratives written during the late 18th and 19th centuries when warfare raged between white settlers and the native Indian inhabitants of North America. These narratives are not only interesting and entertaining as drama, but are invaluable to historians and ethnographers as they provide some of the best first-hand accounts of life among the native tribes of the United States at a time when they were being wiped out by white expansion.

These narratives show what life was like as an Indian, including all the blood and horror as well as the genuine kindness and devotion inherent in any human society. You will note that many captivity accounts were in many ways positive experiences for the captives who were adopted into a tribe and treated with the love and respect they would accord any of their own people. Such is the case with men like James Smith who spent five years living with the Ohio Indians along Lake Erie. These tales were popular in their own time for providing an entertaining escape for people who were both fearful yet fascinated by the Indians and their "savage" ways. From these accounts we learn much about Indian lifeways, food, culture, and religion. We also learn of the cruel barbarities that the Indians could inflict on their enemies, as we see in the tale of Dr. John Knight who witnessed the horrific torture and death of Col. William Crawford in 1782, or the daring escape of John Slover, who had spent many years among the Shawnee and Wyandot as a captive and who later escaped and returned to wage war against his former captors, only to be retaken after the Battle of Sandusky. A slow and terrible death awaited any escaped captive who fell back into Indian hands. But what is really interesting is the number of captives who spent many years living, happily in many cases, with the Indians, showing that they were not the totally savage heathens protrayed in many boosk and movies, but a society of human beings who could love and hate as equally as any other.

This is a valuble introduction to a fascinating genere of litereature and is an important part of history that should not be overlooked. To anyone interested in delving deeper into this subject I would also recommend checking out Archibald Loudon's "Indian Narratives" as well as "A History of Jonathan Alder".