Jerry's bookshelf: all en-US Thu, 07 Dec 2023 09:21:04 -0800 60 Jerry's bookshelf: all 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[The Tenant of Wildfell Hall: Filibooks Classics (Illustrated)]]> 28811918
The novel is told as a series of letters from Gilbert Markham to his friend and brother-in-law descripting the circumstances leading to his meeting his wife.

The novel was instantly and remarkably successful when it was first published.]]> 150 Anne Brontë Jerry 5 fiction 3.97 1848 The Tenant of Wildfell Hall: Filibooks Classics (Illustrated)
author: Anne Brontë
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.97
book published: 1848
rating: 5
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date added: 2023/12/07
shelves: fiction
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This is one of the best books I've ever read, and I've read a lot. Also BBC Video did a decent TV drama on this though they flipped the ending around from that of the book; not sure which ending I like best.
]]> The Beast 3244471 207 A.E. van Vogt 0881848832 Jerry 5 science-fiction 3.44 1943 The Beast
author: A.E. van Vogt
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.44
book published: 1943
rating: 5
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date added: 2023/08/01
shelves: science-fiction
review:

]]> The Weapon Shops of Isher 358902 191 A.E. van Vogt 0671431293 Jerry 5 science-fiction 3.97 1951 The Weapon Shops of Isher
author: A.E. van Vogt
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.97
book published: 1951
rating: 5
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date added: 2023/08/01
shelves: science-fiction
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]]> Haunted 19482397
He can run but he cannot hide. Nigel's past has come back to haunt him. The truth is, his past has never left him... it follows him without remorse, catching him at every turn. There is no escape.

Regret, guilt, nightmares, despair... these fill his every waking hour and disturb his sleepless nights.

Take a trip inside Nigel's mind, in this dark, psychological thriller with a paranormal twist.]]> 198 Maria Savva Jerry 0 fiction 4.00 2012 Haunted
author: Maria Savva
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2012
rating: 0
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date added: 2022/04/13
shelves: fiction
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]]> <![CDATA[The Safety Factor: Beyond Perfection]]> 27204706 264 Jerry Travis 1439270228 Jerry 0 0.0 2010 The Safety Factor: Beyond Perfection
author: Jerry Travis
name: Jerry
average rating: 0.0
book published: 2010
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[Transfinite: The Essential A. E. Van Vogt]]> 546445

13 � The Man in the Labyrinth � essay by Joe Rico
15 � Alfred E. van Vogt � essay by Hal Clement
19 � Black Destroyer � [Space Beagle] � (1939) � novelette by A. E. van Vogt
47 � The Monster � (1948) � shortstory by A. E. van Vogt (variant of Resurrection)
63 � Film Library � (1946) � novelette by A. E. van Vogt
81 � Enchanted Village � (1950) � shortstory by A. E. van Vogt
93 � Asylum � (1942) � novella by A. E. van Vogt
135 � Vault of the Beast � (1940) � novelette by A. E. van Vogt
155 � The Ghost � (1942) � novelette by A. E. van Vogt
185 � The Rull � [Rull] � (1948) � novelette by A. E. van Vogt
207 � Recruiting Station � (1942) � novella by A. E. van Vogt (variant of Masters of Time)
277 � A Can of Paint � (1944) � shortstory by A. E. van Vogt
289 � The Search � (1943) � novelette by A. E. van Vogt
315 � Dear Pen Pal � (1949) � shortstory by A. E. van Vogt
321 � The Harmonizer � (1944) � shortstory by A. E. van Vogt
329 � The Great Judge � (1948) � shortstory by A. E. van Vogt
333 � Far Centaurus � (1944) � shortstory by A. E. van Vogt
351 � Secret Unattainable � (1942) � novella by A. E. van Vogt
389 � Future Perfect � (1973) � shortstory by A. E. van Vogt
409 � The Great Engine � [Pendrake] � (1943) � novelette by A. E. van Vogt
437 � Dormant � (1948) � shortstory by A. E. van Vogt
451 � The Sound � [Rull] � (1949) � novelette by A. E. van Vogt
471 � The Rulers � (1944) � shortstory by A. E. van Vogt
487 � Final Command � (1949) � shortstory by A. E. van Vogt
505 � War of Nerves � [Space Beagle] � (1950) � novelette by A. E. van Vogt
523 � Don't Hold Your Breath � (1973) � shortstory by A. E. van Vogt
541 � Discord in Scarlet � [Space Beagle] � (1939) � novelette by A. E. van Vogt
573 � Afterword (Transfinite: The Essential A. E. van Vogt) � essay by Rick Katze]]> 576 A.E. van Vogt 1886778345 Jerry 5 3.95 2003 Transfinite: The Essential A. E. Van Vogt
author: A.E. van Vogt
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2003
rating: 5
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]]> <![CDATA[The Roswell UFO Crash: What They Don't Want You to Know]]> 540180
New witnesses! New evidence! A shocking conclusion!

Did an extraterrestrial spacecraft really crash in the New Mexico desert in 1947? Were alien bodies found...and, if so, was there a secret autopsy? Are the recent Art Bell revelations true?

For fifty years the mysteries of Roswell have tantalized the public. Now UFO and paranormal researcher Kal K. Korff reveals the real story. Through his exclusive access to military records, previously classified material, and real eyewitnesses, he explodes the lies and lays bare the truth. The result is a revelation powerful enough to change public opinion forever! Find out

The actual objects found at the crash site--including real-life photos
New, disturbing information about Roswell eyewitness Maj. Jesse Marcel
The original "flying disc" newspaper story, reprinted in its entirety...and who "killed" it
The startling analysis of "spacecraft" fragments sent anonymously to Art Bell
Aliens at Were bodies found? Did any survive? What experts now say about the autopsy film
The real Air Force cover-up...the whole truth for the first time!]]> 352 Kal K. Korff 0440236134 Jerry 0 outside-the-box, to-read 3.23 1997 The Roswell UFO Crash: What They Don't Want You to Know
author: Kal K. Korff
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.23
book published: 1997
rating: 0
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date added: 2018/01/27
shelves: outside-the-box, to-read
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]]> Alien Agenda 910628 Alien Agenda: Investigating the Extraterrestrial Presence Among Us is the silk thread leading the way through the maze of UFO literature into the heart of the UFO controversy. While he begins with the premise that the existence of UFOs cannot be denied, Jim Marrs (author of Crossfire, the mother of all John F. Kennedy assassination conspiracy books) boldly strides into the battle over what UFOs are and why they are here. Marrs's investigative skills are invaluable in this re-examination of questions that have been overlooked, unaddressed, or unsatisfactorily resolved.]]> 704 Jim Marrs 0061096865 Jerry 0 3.82 1997 Alien Agenda
author: Jim Marrs
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.82
book published: 1997
rating: 0
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date added: 2018/01/27
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]]> <![CDATA[Rule by Secrecy: The Hidden History that Connects the Trilateral Commission, the Freemasons & the Great Pyramids]]> 301801 A question of conspiracy; Rule by the few; A view from the few--
Modern secret societies. The Trilateral Commission; Council on Foreign Relations; Bilderbergers; Rockefellers; Morgans; Rothschilds; Secrets of money & the Federal Reserve System; Empire building; The Royal Institute of Internat'l Affairs: round tables; Rhodes & Ruskin; Skull & Bones; Tax-exempt foundations & alphabet agencies; It's news to us; Commentary
--The fingerprints of conspiracy. Report from Iron Mountain; Persian Gulf; Who pays the tab?; Vietnam; JFK opposed globalists; All the way with LBJ; Trading with the enemy; Korea; Rise of the Nazi cult; Theosophists, Thulists & other cultists; The Leader arrives; Hitler's support group; Hitler's fortune turns; Japan against the wall; WWII; Business as usual; WWI; A stimulus for war; The Russian Revolution; The rise of communism; Commentary
--Rebellion & revolution. War between the States; Secret society agitation; Preemptive strikes; The Anti-Masonic movement; The French Revolution; Jacobins & Jacobites; Sir Francis Bacon & the New Atlantis; The American Revolution; The Illuminati; Freemasonry; Count Saint-Germain & other magicians; Masonic plots; Freemasonry vs Christianity; Rosicrucians; Commentary
--Elder secret societies. Knights Templar; Assassins; Templar bankers & builders; Cathars; The Albigensian Crusade; The Templars' demise; The Priory of Sion; Merovingians; A far-reaching web; Commentary
--Ancient mysteries. The road to Rome; The Cabala; Ancient secrets & mysteries; Was there more to Moses?; All roads lead to Sumer; The Anunnaki; Floods & wars; Commentary]]> 480 Jim Marrs 0060931841 Jerry 0 3.97 2000 Rule by Secrecy: The Hidden History that Connects the Trilateral Commission, the Freemasons & the Great Pyramids
author: Jim Marrs
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2000
rating: 0
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date added: 2018/01/27
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]]> <![CDATA[The Stars, Like Dust (Galactic Empire, #1)]]> 41822
He soon discovers that, many light-years away, his father, the highly respected Rancher of Widemos, has been murdered. Stunned, grief-stricken, and outraged, Biron is determined to uncover the reasons behind his father’s death, and becomes entangled in an intricate saga of rebellion, political intrigue, and espionage.

The mystery takes him deep into space where he finds himself in a relentless struggle with the power-mad despots of Tyrann. Now it is not just a case of life or death for Biron, but a question of freedom for the galaxy.]]> 293 Isaac Asimov 0553293435 Jerry 5 3.74 1951 The Stars, Like Dust (Galactic Empire, #1)
author: Isaac Asimov
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.74
book published: 1951
rating: 5
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]]> <![CDATA[Oppenheimer: Portrait of an Enigma]]> 628846 238 Jeremy Bernstein 1566636663 Jerry 4 3.75 2004 Oppenheimer: Portrait of an Enigma
author: Jeremy Bernstein
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2004
rating: 4
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date added: 2018/01/27
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]]> <![CDATA[Brotherhood of the Bomb: The Tangled Lives and Loyalties of Robert Oppenheimer, Ernest Lawrence, and Edward Teller]]> 325359 480 Gregg Herken 080506589X Jerry 3 3.86 2002 Brotherhood of the Bomb: The Tangled Lives and Loyalties of Robert Oppenheimer, Ernest Lawrence, and Edward Teller
author: Gregg Herken
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2002
rating: 3
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date added: 2018/01/27
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]]> J. Robert Oppenheimer: A Life 905417 individual, offering rare insights into both. It is his unique double perspective that makes his work so valuable.
Now Abraham Pais offers an illuminating portrait of another eminent colleague, J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the most charismatic and enigmatic figures of modern physics. Pais introduces us to a precocious youth who sped through Harvard in three years, made signal contributions to quantum
mechanics while in his twenties, and was instrumental in the growth of American physics in the decade before the Second World War, almost single-handedly putting American physics on the map. Pais paints a revealing portrait of Oppenheimer's life in Los Alamos, where in twenty remarkable, feverish
months, under his inspired leadership, the first atomic bomb was designed and built, a success that made Oppenheimer America's most famous scientist. Pais, who was his next-door neighbor for many years, describes Oppenheimer's long tenure as Director of the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton,
but also shows how Oppenheimer's intensity and arrogance won him powerful enemies, who would ultimately make him one of the principal victims of the Red Scare of the 1950s.
Told with compassion and deep insight, J. Robert Oppenheimer is the most comprehensive biography of the great physicist available. It is Abraham Pais's final work, completed after his death by Robert P. Crease, an acclaimed historian of science in his own right.]]> 400 Abraham Pais 0195166736 Jerry 3 4.40 2006 J. Robert Oppenheimer: A Life
author: Abraham Pais
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.40
book published: 2006
rating: 3
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]]> The Mothman Prophecies 567682 West Virginia, 1966. For thirteen months the town of Point Pleasant is gripped by a real-life nightmare that culminates in a tragedy that makes headlines around the world. Strange occurrences and sightings, including a bizarre winged apparition that becomes known as the Mothman, trouble this ordinary American community. Mysterious lights are seen moving across the sky. Domestic animals are found slaughtered and mutilated. And journalist John Keel, arriving to investigate the freakish events, soon finds himself an integral part of an eerie and unfathomable mystery...
]]> 272 John A. Keel 0765341972 Jerry 0 3.51 1975 The Mothman Prophecies
author: John A. Keel
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.51
book published: 1975
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[Alice in Wonderland-Complete Summary & Analysis]]> 20522762 Alice in Wonderland

Biography of the author

Introduction

Brief summary of "Alice in Wonderland"

Characters

Themes

Chapter wise summary & analysis ( all chapters)

]]> Raja Sharma Jerry 5 5.00 2008 Alice in Wonderland-Complete Summary & Analysis
author: Raja Sharma
name: Jerry
average rating: 5.00
book published: 2008
rating: 5
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]]> Signs of Child Sexual Abuse 6634970 32 Jane F. Gilgun Jerry 5 4.00 2009 Signs of Child Sexual Abuse
author: Jane F. Gilgun
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2009
rating: 5
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date added: 2018/01/27
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]]> <![CDATA[The Art of Nautical Illustration: A Visual Tribute to the Achievements of the Classic Marine Illustrators]]> 8740111 192 Michael E. Leek 1577150325 Jerry 4 3.33 1991 The Art of Nautical Illustration: A Visual Tribute to the Achievements of the Classic Marine Illustrators
author: Michael E. Leek
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.33
book published: 1991
rating: 4
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date added: 2018/01/27
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]]> Here All Along 19938281 131 Lori Newman Jerry 4 3.00 2009 Here All Along
author: Lori Newman
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2009
rating: 4
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]]> The Darkest Child 331260
But Tangy Mae has been selected to be part of the first integrated class at a nearby white high school. She has a chance to change her life, but can she break from Rozelle's grasp without ruinous--even fatal--consequences?]]> 400 Delores Phillips 1569473781 Jerry 0 psychology, to-read 4.39 2004 The Darkest Child
author: Delores Phillips
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2004
rating: 0
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date added: 2018/01/27
shelves: psychology, to-read
review:

]]> The Price of Innocence 7283746
It is the tender story of Suzette Camille Rousseau, a young woman in late 19th century Paris, who makes a difficult journey from innocence to maturity. After losing a sheltered life with her father, Suzette is thrown into the harsh reality of poverty, struggling as a homeless woman on the streets of Paris. In order to survive, she faces difficult choices that offer little hope of redemption.

Her journey takes her from the charities of St. Vincent de Paul, to a local laundry house where she toils endlessly in filth and squalor. To her surprise, one of her customers is the Chabanais, the most famous brothel in France that only caters to aristocrats. Like a fly drawn to a spider's web, the mistress of the brothel entices Suzette into a world of opulence, comfort, and beauty, but there is a price to pay -- her innocence. Succumbing to a life of prostitution, she meets a handsome English Lord who saves her from the unthinkable.

The author transports her readers back to another time and place, weaving facts of 19th century life throughout the story. The Price of Innocence sets the stage for book two in the series, The Price of Deception, due for release in late summer 2011.]]> 284 Vicki Hopkins 1441597697 Jerry 0 psychology, to-read 3.32 2009 The Price of Innocence
author: Vicki Hopkins
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.32
book published: 2009
rating: 0
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date added: 2018/01/27
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]]> <![CDATA[May Sarton: Selected Letters, 1916-1954]]> 941718
Fittingly, an early letter thanks parents for books. Later we enter the world of the theater, then years rich with study, travel, teaching, and the discipline of craft. Sarton's deep anguish as World War II approaches pervades many letters, but readers will also encounter the things that gave Sarton her love of flowers, her affection for animals, her celebration of beauty in all its guises.

As Sarton divides her time between America and Europe, in an era when ocean voyages were the norm, illustrious acquaintances and intimates are introduced, among them Eva Le Gallienne, Elizabeth Bowen, Virginia Woolf, Muriel Rukeyser, Julian and Juliette Huxley, and Louise Bogan. Always, Sarton's voice is clear and courageous, startlingly candid about her passions, her moods, and her vulnerabilities. Her words, seeming as fresh as when they were written, stand against the backdrop of the crucial events of the century as she invites old and new readers into her personal world. 50 photographs]]> 415 Susan Sherman 0393039544 Jerry 0 history, currently-reading 4.09 1997 May Sarton: Selected Letters, 1916-1954
author: Susan Sherman
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.09
book published: 1997
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[The Principia : Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy]]> 231083 Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, known familiarly as the Principia, Isaac Newton laid out in mathematical terms the principles of time, force, and motion that have guided the development of modern physical science. Even after more than three centuries and the revolutions of Einsteinian relativity and quantum mechanics, Newtonian physics continues to account for many of the phenomena of the observed world, and Newtonian celestial dynamics is used to determine the orbits of our space vehicles.
This completely new translation, the first in 270 years, is based on the third (1726) edition, the final revised version approved by Newton; it includes extracts from the earlier editions, corrects errors found in earlier versions, and replaces archaic English with contemporary prose and up-to-date mathematical forms.
Newton's principles describe acceleration, deceleration, and inertial movement; fluid dynamics; and the motions of the earth, moon, planets, and comets. A great work in itself, the Principia also revolutionized the methods of scientific investigation. It set forth the fundamental three laws of motion and the law of universal gravity, the physical principles that account for the Copernican system of the world as emended by Kepler, thus effectively ending controversy concerning the Copernican planetary system.
The illuminating Guide to the Principia by I. Bernard Cohen, along with his and Anne Whitman's translation, will make this preeminent work truly accessible for today's scientists, scholars, and students.]]> 974 Isaac Newton 0520088174 Jerry 0 4.22 1687 The Principia : Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy
author: Isaac Newton
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.22
book published: 1687
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[The Age of Reason (Samizdat Edition with Active Table of Contents), improved 4/2/2011]]> 6345410 220 Thomas Paine Jerry 0 history, currently-reading 4.36 1794 The Age of Reason (Samizdat Edition with Active Table of Contents), improved 4/2/2011
author: Thomas Paine
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.36
book published: 1794
rating: 0
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date added: 2018/01/27
shelves: history, currently-reading
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]]> <![CDATA[Harnessing The Wheelwork Of Nature: Tesla's Science of Energy]]> 810005 288 Thomas F. Valone 1931882045 Jerry 0 4.00 2002 Harnessing The Wheelwork Of Nature: Tesla's Science of Energy
author: Thomas F. Valone
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2002
rating: 0
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date added: 2018/01/27
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]]> <![CDATA[Alternate Currents Of High Potential And High Frequency]]> 9237227 176 Nikola Tesla 1603862722 Jerry 0 3.62 1896 Alternate Currents Of High Potential And High Frequency
author: Nikola Tesla
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.62
book published: 1896
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court]]> 11203747 258 Mark Twain Jerry 0 fiction, to-read 3.98 1889 A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
author: Mark Twain
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.98
book published: 1889
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[The Brontë Sisters: The Complete Novels]]> 848676 892 Anne Brontë 190491974X Jerry 0 fiction, currently-reading 4.38 1899 The Brontë Sisters: The Complete Novels
author: Anne Brontë
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.38
book published: 1899
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[Anne Bronte: Ultimate Collection (Timeless Classics Book 3)]]> 19166285 908 Anne Brontë Jerry 0 fiction, currently-reading 5.00 Anne Bronte: Ultimate Collection (Timeless Classics Book 3)
author: Anne Brontë
name: Jerry
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[The Complete Poems of Anne Bronte]]> 31246597 82 Anne Brontë 1420944762 Jerry 4 3.79 1971 The Complete Poems of Anne Bronte
author: Anne Brontë
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.79
book published: 1971
rating: 4
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Interesting poetry but her novels are much better, especially The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.
]]> Agnes Grey 24498537
* Just as accessible and enjoyable for today's modern readers as it would have been when first published over 150 years ago, the novel is one of the great works of English literature and continues to be widely read throughout the world.

* This meticulous digital edition from Heritage Illustrated Publishing is a faithful reproduction of the original text.]]> 0 Anne Brontë Jerry 4 4.09 1847 Agnes Grey
author: Anne Brontë
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.09
book published: 1847
rating: 4
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Interesting tale of what it's really like to be a governess. Some of this material was used to describe Anne Bronte's actual experiences in the five episode TV video "The Brontes of Haworth" distributed by acornmedia.com, which is a very interesting documentary/drama of the Bronte family.
]]> The Professor 15753697 219 Charlotte Brontë Jerry 0 fiction, currently-reading 3.69 1857 The Professor
author: Charlotte Brontë
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.69
book published: 1857
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[On Light and Other High Frequency]]> 19279044 88 Nikola Tesla Jerry 0 4.04 2005 On Light and Other High Frequency
author: Nikola Tesla
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2005
rating: 0
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]]> Unfinished Portrait 149222 284 Mary Westmacott 0006499465 Jerry 0 currently-reading, psychology 3.48 1934 Unfinished Portrait
author: Mary Westmacott
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.48
book published: 1934
rating: 0
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]]> The Nikola Tesla Treasury 18884820 670 Nikola Tesla Jerry 0 outside-the-box, to-read 4.17 2007 The Nikola Tesla Treasury
author: Nikola Tesla
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2007
rating: 0
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]]> Jane Eyre (Illustrated) 19015972 Orphaned as a child, Jane has felt an outcast her whole young life. Her courage is tested once again when she arrives at Thornfield Hall, where she has been hired by the brooding, proud Edward Rochester to care for his ward Adèle. Jane finds herself drawn to his troubled yet kind spirit. She falls in love. Hard.

But there is a terrifying secret inside the gloomy, forbidding Thornfield Hall. Is Rochester hiding from Jane? Will Jane be left heartbroken and exiled once again?

]]> 702 Charlotte Brontë Jerry 4 fiction 4.58 1847 Jane Eyre (Illustrated)
author: Charlotte Brontë
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.58
book published: 1847
rating: 4
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]]> Tesla : The Lost Inventions 128531 36 George Trinkaus 0970961820 Jerry 0 4.10 1988 Tesla : The Lost Inventions
author: George Trinkaus
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.10
book published: 1988
rating: 0
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]]> <![CDATA[The Problem of Increasing Human Energy]]> 14415856 60 Nikola Tesla 1467934712 Jerry 5 4.58 1900 The Problem of Increasing Human Energy
author: Nikola Tesla
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.58
book published: 1900
rating: 5
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Wow, what a mind. When human civilization was just starting to impact the natural world, Tesla was already worrying about problems like what happens when all the fertilizers run out, like the natural ammonium nitrate deposits in Chile, which took millions of years to form. Just like oil, once they're gone, they're gone. As the population increases and these unrenewable resources run out, we'll be left with a huge population without any means of supporting it. Tesla was not only pointing this out, but was already working out the solutions at a time when nobody else seemed to know or care.
]]> Set Your Phaser to Stun... 19608903 Hypothesis, which demonstrates beyond a reasonable doubt that we are being visited by extraterrestrial Beings from another World. This story involves two
unrelated cases of abduction. The first case is the well known Betty and Barney Hill case that was published in The Interrupted Journey in 1961, and
Captured in 2007. The second case involves a married couple named Kay and Erik Wilson whose experiences were published in The Alien Jigsaw in 1993 and its accompanying Researcher’s Supplement in 1994. Information from both of these cases have been merged together to prove that the star map that Betty Hill drew was not only real, but it was actually Earth based.

The Wilson case proved to be the key in unlocking the door. Like Betty
Hill, once again, a brave soul had the courage to ask the Beings where they
come from; and as a result of this unique one on one conversation between
Erik Wilson and a Grey, without realizing it, he was given major clues to find
their home world. Set Your Phaser To Stun! reveals that Betty’s star map
is real and the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis has been purposely skewed to
deceive the public. When Carl Sagan involved himself in this dispute many
years ago, he claimed Betty’s star map only showed meaningless random dots, which were not specific points of reference for any known stars. This book proves that Sagan was wrong and was involved in what some people claim to be scientific misconduct relating to the UFO subject. The stars that Betty Hill drew of the star map she was shown in 1961 are anything but random.

Set Your Phaser To Stun! takes a fresh new look at the Betty and Barney
Hill case and examines previous interpretations of the star map, with
particular emphasis on Marjorie Fish’s Zeta Reticuli Interpretation. This new
research, which began in the year 2000, uncovers the fact that some of our
closest neighborhood stars are linked in a network of trade and exploration by
a highly advanced extraterrestrial civilization that is less than 50 light
years away from us. The real shock is the location of Sol, our sun, and the
role humans play in the aliens� agenda.

For far too long the establishment has systematically denied the
Extraterrestrial Hypothesis has any substance. This opinionated stance has been based on the urgent need to control the dissemination of news that they feared would ultimately damage the fabric of our society should it be released. An extreme political drama of the highest order has been blocking disclosure.
The Military Industrial Complex has been unwilling to relinquish control
to civilian authorities and there is a grave fear that disclosure will have
a severe, negative impact on our Religious Institutions worldwide. They
fear allowing the public access to information which would severely challenge
the traditional belief that humanity is unique and has a special
relationship to God. The official position on this subject is based upon the idea
that society is not prepared to handle the psychological impact of the
knowledge that we are not alone in the universe. They have even gone so far as resorting to scientific misconduct because they are deeply afraid of possible societal upheaval.

Fortunately, in May of 2008, a remarkable turn of events occurred within
the Catholic Church when astronomer Father Gabriel Funes wrote in the
Vatican Newspaper that “intelligent beings created by God could exist in outer
space.]]> 468 Steve Pearse 1450751385 Jerry 0 outside-the-box 3.00 2011 Set Your Phaser to Stun...
author: Steve Pearse
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.00
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2018/01/27
shelves: outside-the-box
review:

]]> Paradise Lost 11058727 146 John Milton Jerry 0 4.02 1667 Paradise Lost
author: John Milton
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.02
book published: 1667
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2018/01/27
shelves: currently-reading, outside-the-box
review:

]]> Book of Enoch 19050698
The older sections (mainly in the Book of the Watchers) are estimated to date from about 300 BC, and the latest part (Book of Parables) probably was composed at the end of the 1st century BC.

It is wholly extant only in the Ge'ez language, with Aramaic fragments from the Dead Sea Scrolls and a few Greek and Latin fragments. The original language was either Aramaic or Hebrew; E. Isaac suggests that the Book of Enoch, like the Book of Daniel, was composed partially in Aramaic and partially in Hebrew.

A short section of 1 Enoch (1 En 1:9) is quoted in the New Testament (Letter of Jude 1:14-15), and is there attributed to "Enoch the Seventh from Adam" (1 En 60:8). It is argued that all the writers of the New Testament were familiar with it and were influenced by it in thought and diction.]]> 115 Enoch Jerry 0 outside-the-box 4.30 -300 Book of Enoch
author: Enoch
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.30
book published: -300
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2018/01/27
shelves: outside-the-box
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Oracle Database 10g: The Complete Reference (Osborne ORACLE Press Series)]]> 185464 1369 Kevin Loney 0072253517 Jerry 5 computing 3.71 2004 Oracle Database 10g: The Complete Reference (Osborne ORACLE Press Series)
author: Kevin Loney
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.71
book published: 2004
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2018/01/27
shelves: computing
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Oracle Database 10g Performance Tuning Tips & Techniques (Oracle Press)]]> 1874275 967 Richard Niemiec 0072263059 Jerry 5 computing 4.00 2007 Oracle Database 10g Performance Tuning Tips & Techniques (Oracle Press)
author: Richard Niemiec
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2007
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2018/01/27
shelves: computing
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The God Theory: Universes, Zero-point Fields, and What's Behind It All]]> 6568684 176 Bernard Haisch Jerry 0 outside-the-box, to-read 3.68 2009 The God Theory: Universes, Zero-point Fields, and What's Behind It All
author: Bernard Haisch
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.68
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2018/01/27
shelves: outside-the-box, to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass]]> 24213
When Alice sees a white rabbit take a watch out of its waistcoat pocket she decides to follow it, and a sequence of most unusual events is set in motion. This mini book contains the entire topsy-turvy stories of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, accompanied by practical notes and Martina Pelouso's memorable full-colour illustrations.]]> 239 Lewis Carroll Jerry 0 fiction 4.07 1871 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass
author: Lewis Carroll
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.07
book published: 1871
rating: 0
read at: 2018/01/27
date added: 2018/01/27
shelves: fiction
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde]]> 8137056 92 Robert Louis Stevenson Jerry 0 3.96 1886 The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
author: Robert Louis Stevenson
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.96
book published: 1886
rating: 0
read at: 2018/01/27
date added: 2018/01/27
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Antigravity Propulsion (The Underground Knowledge Series, #2)]]> 24292535
'ANTIGRAVITY PROPULSION: Human or Alien Technologies?' is a far-reaching exploration into the UFO phenomenon that covers all possible scenarios and discounts nothing.

Written by novelists, filmmakers and independent researchers James Morcan & Lance Morcan, with a foreword by advanced interstellar propulsion systems expert Grant Hayman and an afterword by leading scientist and space industry veteran Dr. Takaaki Musha, one of the great enigmas of all time is examined with equal doses of open-mindedness and skepticism.

This book includes never-before-mentioned accounts of popular UFO topics like Area 51, Roswell and alien abduction claims, as well as tackling less reported subjects such as Nazi and Japanese antigravity experiments and even rarer theories involving quantum physics and lost civilizations of the ancients.

What do all the sightings of UFO’s around the world reveal? Who is covering up the existence of these strange craft in our skies? And are the technologies manmade or extraterrestrial in origin?

Forget what you think you already know and prepare to be surprised.

For those searching for the truth about these exotic technologies and wanting to know why they are being concealed from the public, ANTIGRAVITY PROPULSION is a must read.]]> 111 James Morcan Jerry 0 to-read 3.86 2015 Antigravity Propulsion (The Underground Knowledge Series, #2)
author: James Morcan
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2018/01/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Organic Chemistry 3051992 1279 McGraw-Hill Education 0070281505 Jerry 4 science-and-mathematics 4.00 1959 Organic Chemistry
author: McGraw-Hill Education
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.00
book published: 1959
rating: 4
read at:
date added: 2017/08/07
shelves: science-and-mathematics
review:

]]> The Complete Novels 1907785 Now in Penguin Classics - a treasure trove of Jane Austen's novels

Few novelists have conveyed the subtleties and nuances of their own social milieu with the wit and insight of Jane Austen. Here in one volume are her seven great novels: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, and Lady Susan. Through her vivacious and spirited heroines and their circle, Austen vividly portrays English middle-class life as the eighteenth century came to a close and the nineteenth century began. Each of the novels is a love story and a story about marriage—marriage for love, for financial security, for social status. But they are not romances; ironic, comic, and wise, they are masterly evocations of the society Jane Austen observed. This beautiful volume covers the literary career of one of England’s finest prose stylists of any century.]]> 1103 Jane Austen 0517210363 Jerry 0 currently-reading, fiction 4.89 1981 The Complete Novels
author: Jane Austen
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.89
book published: 1981
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/09/18
shelves: currently-reading, fiction
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Chemical Technicians' Ready Reference Handbook]]> 3934239 third edition from 1990 . 889 Gershon J. Shugar 007057183X Jerry 5 science-and-mathematics 5.00 1981 Chemical Technicians' Ready Reference Handbook
author: Gershon J. Shugar
name: Jerry
average rating: 5.00
book published: 1981
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2014/07/24
shelves: science-and-mathematics
review:

]]> 24/Die Geheimnisvolle Insel 6611413 434 Jules Verne Jerry 5 science-fiction 3.89 1874 24/Die Geheimnisvolle Insel
author: Jules Verne
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.89
book published: 1874
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2014/05/01
shelves: science-fiction
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Freak: The True Story of an Insecurity Addict]]> 10469361 248 Rebecca O'Donnell 1450280269 Jerry 0 to-read 4.50 2011 Freak: The True Story of an Insecurity Addict
author: Rebecca O'Donnell
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2013/11/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Seven Ideas that Shook the Universe, 2nd Edition]]> 1119852 169 Nathan Spielberg 0471306061 Jerry 5 science-and-mathematics 3.95 1985 Seven Ideas that Shook the Universe, 2nd Edition
author: Nathan Spielberg
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.95
book published: 1985
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2013/10/22
shelves: science-and-mathematics
review:

]]> Advanced Calculus 2975684 774 Angus E. Taylor 0536005877 Jerry 3 science-and-mathematics 3.50 1955 Advanced Calculus
author: Angus E. Taylor
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.50
book published: 1955
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2012/10/12
shelves: science-and-mathematics
review:

]]> A Life Less Lost 7480636 224 K.B. Walker 1872955320 Jerry 0 to-read 4.30 2009 A Life Less Lost
author: K.B. Walker
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2012/01/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Forces of Nature 3209912 184 Paul C.W. Davies 0521313929 Jerry 0 4.27 1979 Forces of Nature
author: Paul C.W. Davies
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.27
book published: 1979
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2012/01/29
shelves: to-read, science-and-mathematics
review:

]]> <![CDATA[How to Solve It: A New Aspect of Mathematical Method]]> 6571918 279 G. Pólya Jerry 5 science-and-mathematics 3.76 1944 How to Solve It: A New Aspect of Mathematical Method
author: G. Pólya
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.76
book published: 1944
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2011/04/12
shelves: science-and-mathematics
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Last Pharaoh: Mubarak and the Uncertain Future of Egypt in the Obama Age]]> 6662913 438 Aladdin Elaasar 0615300707 Jerry 0 to-read 4.48 2008 The Last Pharaoh: Mubarak and the Uncertain Future of Egypt in the Obama Age
author: Aladdin Elaasar
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2011/03/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Fusion 10176320 Book by Savva, Maria 124 Maria Savva 0956410138 Jerry 5
Like the first two collections, the stories in this book have plenty of twists, turns, original ideas and Twilight Zone like endings � starting from the very first story (Only time can divide us). Some of the stories are even creepy, such as “A vicious cycle� or “Justice for Ernie� � not exactly the type of thing you might want to read late at night just before bed. But most of the stories deal with the myriad forms of love and their inextricable connections to loyalty and betrayal. In this regard, Savva’s scope is so wide and varied that I never knew what aspect of love she was going to tackle next. It’s all there, everything from the mundane (Make hay while the sun shines) to the bizarre (Till death do us part).

Many of the stories have strong psychological underpinnings, such as “There but for the grace of God�, “The last time he saw her�, and probably my favorite, “Hope springs eternal�. All are true to life and can be quite informative (as well as entertaining), especially for young adult readers. To the young, many of these situations where love runs amuck may seem incredible, but they happen every day in communities all over the world. I was reminded of where I grew up more than once reading this book. They are part of the human experience. Still, love is occasionally triumphant, as it is in some of these stories."
]]> 4.64 2011 Fusion
author: Maria Savva
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.64
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2011/01/30
shelves:
review:
This is Maria Savva’s third short story collection (the first two being Pieces of a Rainbow and Love and Loyalty(and Other Tales)). I’ve read all three and was trying to come up with comparisons between them, and finally couldn’t conclude which one is better. They’re all unique and fascinating reads, each containing stories I will remember the rest of my life. Neither of these collections are a first book, Savva already having several novels (three published and one unpublished) before the release of these collections.

Like the first two collections, the stories in this book have plenty of twists, turns, original ideas and Twilight Zone like endings � starting from the very first story (Only time can divide us). Some of the stories are even creepy, such as “A vicious cycle� or “Justice for Ernie� � not exactly the type of thing you might want to read late at night just before bed. But most of the stories deal with the myriad forms of love and their inextricable connections to loyalty and betrayal. In this regard, Savva’s scope is so wide and varied that I never knew what aspect of love she was going to tackle next. It’s all there, everything from the mundane (Make hay while the sun shines) to the bizarre (Till death do us part).

Many of the stories have strong psychological underpinnings, such as “There but for the grace of God�, “The last time he saw her�, and probably my favorite, “Hope springs eternal�. All are true to life and can be quite informative (as well as entertaining), especially for young adult readers. To the young, many of these situations where love runs amuck may seem incredible, but they happen every day in communities all over the world. I was reminded of where I grew up more than once reading this book. They are part of the human experience. Still, love is occasionally triumphant, as it is in some of these stories."

]]> From the Earth to the Moon 32827 136 Jules Verne 1598184547 Jerry 5 science-fiction 3.80 1865 From the Earth to the Moon
author: Jules Verne
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.80
book published: 1865
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2010/09/11
shelves: science-fiction
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Conversations With God: An Uncommon Dialogue, Book 3]]> 15018 264 Neale Donald Walsch 1571741038 Jerry 0 4.22 1996 Conversations With God: An Uncommon Dialogue, Book 3
author: Neale Donald Walsch
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.22
book published: 1996
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2010/08/06
shelves: currently-reading, outside-the-box
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Conversations With God: An Uncommon Dialogue, Book 2]]> 15019 263 Neale Donald Walsch 1571740562 Jerry 4 outside-the-box 4.14 1996 Conversations With God: An Uncommon Dialogue, Book 2
author: Neale Donald Walsch
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.14
book published: 1996
rating: 4
read at: 2009/09/01
date added: 2010/08/06
shelves: outside-the-box
review:
A good discussion of politics, the world as it ought to be and how we may be able to get there. As in the first book, there are a few things that are a little difficult to swallow, but not many.
]]> Second Chances 8530245 Book by Savva, Maria 188 Maria Savva 095641012X Jerry 5
The story starts with a runaway wife, taking her children with her from England to Australia, half way around the world. Is there any hope for this marriage? Can anything possibly save it? And if so, what will it take? Maria Savva answers these questions in a back and forth, almost life and death epic struggle throughout the entire novel. At first, the husband wants reconciliation and tracks her down. However, in doing so he uncovers a deep and dark secret his wife has been keeping from him. He’s humiliated and begins to wonder if he wants her back at all. And what about the children? He loves them dearly. Maybe he can get them back without the wife?

As in all her books, Savva’s true to life fiction provides us with a wealth of psychologically sound human behavior, which we can all draw upon in our daily lives. She is a solicitor working in London and her background in family law certainly shines through in this story. Nevertheless, it’s an entertaining and non-technical read, full of a wide range of curious human interactions, which her work is becoming noted for.]]> 4.49 2010 Second Chances
author: Maria Savva
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.49
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2010/07/15
shelves:
review:
Second Chances is a story about the strength of love and its weaknesses, all the things that can undermine and destroy it, such as: economic pressures, entitlement, dishonesty, misunderstanding, deception, selfishness, needs (physical, mental and spiritual) not being fulfilled, and so on. It’s especially timely for this severe economic downturn we all find ourselves in today. With so many physical demands on us from the outside, the needs of family life can easily suffer.

The story starts with a runaway wife, taking her children with her from England to Australia, half way around the world. Is there any hope for this marriage? Can anything possibly save it? And if so, what will it take? Maria Savva answers these questions in a back and forth, almost life and death epic struggle throughout the entire novel. At first, the husband wants reconciliation and tracks her down. However, in doing so he uncovers a deep and dark secret his wife has been keeping from him. He’s humiliated and begins to wonder if he wants her back at all. And what about the children? He loves them dearly. Maybe he can get them back without the wife?

As in all her books, Savva’s true to life fiction provides us with a wealth of psychologically sound human behavior, which we can all draw upon in our daily lives. She is a solicitor working in London and her background in family law certainly shines through in this story. Nevertheless, it’s an entertaining and non-technical read, full of a wide range of curious human interactions, which her work is becoming noted for.
]]> <![CDATA[Love and Loyalty (and Other Tales)]]> 8098422 Book by Savva, Maria 154 Maria Savva 0956410111 Jerry 5 Pieces of a Rainbow, you won’t be disappointed. And for those who haven’t, I’d recommend reading both. Here you’ll find fascinating but all too real tales of human relationships, which Savva pushes to the extreme in many cases (such as: “Out of the Cauldron, Into the Fire�).

Many of the stories have a Twilight Zone like twist at the end, which I’ve come to love about Savva’s writing. The story “Mannequin� reminded me of the Twilight Zone episode “The After Hours�. Though Savva’s plot has little to do with the latter, it still gives you the same creepy feeling of being alone in a department store late at night, where the mannequins might somehow be alive!

I suspect that many of Savva’s readers are women, but us men should be reading her as well, especially young men. When it comes to love, many men (young and old) are particularly dense. Women tend to be very indirect in expressing their love interests. This theme is brought out by the story: “The Course of True Love� (in this collection). It reminded me of an experience back in my college days. A beautiful woman friend of mine invited me over to her dormitory room. Her roommate was out and in the course of our conservation she suggested we trade backrubs. So we did that, talked a little more and I left. It never occurred to me, at the time, that she might have wanted something more. After all, from my point of view, if she’d wanted more, wouldn’t she have said something?

For a young man, it can be very difficult to determine what it is that a woman really wants. And it can be frightening to take the initiative, when the signals a woman sends out can be so subtle. A good young man certainly doesn’t want to end up being accused of rape. So, how does one learn what women really think? I can’t think of a better way than to read Maria Savva’s stories!
]]> 4.79 2010 Love and Loyalty (and Other Tales)
author: Maria Savva
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.79
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2010/07/15
shelves:
review:
What a wonderful collection of new short stories from Maria Savva! For those who’ve read and enjoyed her first collection, Pieces of a Rainbow, you won’t be disappointed. And for those who haven’t, I’d recommend reading both. Here you’ll find fascinating but all too real tales of human relationships, which Savva pushes to the extreme in many cases (such as: “Out of the Cauldron, Into the Fire�).

Many of the stories have a Twilight Zone like twist at the end, which I’ve come to love about Savva’s writing. The story “Mannequin� reminded me of the Twilight Zone episode “The After Hours�. Though Savva’s plot has little to do with the latter, it still gives you the same creepy feeling of being alone in a department store late at night, where the mannequins might somehow be alive!

I suspect that many of Savva’s readers are women, but us men should be reading her as well, especially young men. When it comes to love, many men (young and old) are particularly dense. Women tend to be very indirect in expressing their love interests. This theme is brought out by the story: “The Course of True Love� (in this collection). It reminded me of an experience back in my college days. A beautiful woman friend of mine invited me over to her dormitory room. Her roommate was out and in the course of our conservation she suggested we trade backrubs. So we did that, talked a little more and I left. It never occurred to me, at the time, that she might have wanted something more. After all, from my point of view, if she’d wanted more, wouldn’t she have said something?

For a young man, it can be very difficult to determine what it is that a woman really wants. And it can be frightening to take the initiative, when the signals a woman sends out can be so subtle. A good young man certainly doesn’t want to end up being accused of rape. So, how does one learn what women really think? I can’t think of a better way than to read Maria Savva’s stories!

]]> Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider 7225322 Author Beth Rider's second vampire novel has hit number one and she is flying high on her new-found fame. But at a fated book signing that runs late into the night, Beth is confronted by an evil she'd only experienced in nightmares. Jack Dawn, a supernatural monster belonging to an ancient race of bloodthirsty immortals known as the Rakum, vows to track down and kill the young writer because of the vile redemptive message her book is bringing his people.

The Rakum have spread evil among mankind since the Beginning, growing in strength and influence with every passing century. A respected Elder among his brethren, Jack recognizes the novel's destructive potential and his duty to destroy her before the book's promises annihilate his Kind. His method of subduing the novelist is an ancient punishment perpetrated against humans who bring them the ultimate displeasure; Jack marks her as a Rabbit. By forcing her to ingest his poisonous blood, Beth's body now regenerates endlessly and she is set free to be tracked by his hungry brethren. The plan? His people will torture her, slowly, night after night, until she goes insane. Marking her was easy - now Jack only has to sit back and wait for the Rakum to do their worst.

Jack's proselyte Michael Stone was brought up from his youth to be strong, sensible and oftentimes, brutal. But at one hundred and thirty, Michael is old enough to appreciate the quiet and ordered life he'd carved out for himself over the years. Aware that his Elder has marked a human for death, Michael is on the lookout as he leaves work late one night. When he stumbles upon the beautiful and apparently innocent Beth Rider, he is instantly smitten, despite the fact that a few seconds later he realizes that she is the target of his Elder's fury. Puzzled by Jack's unreasonable condemnation, Michael takes it upon himself to protect the lovely author from the limitless lust of his brethren.

Rakum grunt Javier - Millier was never one to question the Fathers nor doubt the word of the Elders but after reading a curiously odd vampire novel, he begins to doubt the understood deity of his race. Soon identified by Jack Dawn as a traitor, Javier goes on the run with Elder Roman and a mortal with a personal hidden agenda. They also are in pursuit of the book's author, although their intentions are quite dissimilar from those of their brethren.

Facing the most terrifying trial of her life against creatures known only in fables, one simple woman will unintentionally threaten the very existence of a powerful and accursed people. In the climactic mêlée, it is a race to the death, or if Beth has her way, a race to the life-of every Rakum who makes the choice.]]> 354 Ellen C. Maze 1432751018 Jerry 5 fiction
There is, as far as I know, some original theology contained in this book. I’ve had a life-long interest in the various forms of religion and find little that surprises me these days. Yet Maze managed to surprise me a number of times. And these aren’t things that she’s just making up out of thin air. She is able to back up her rather unorthodox assertions from scriptural texts. As a person who’s always on the lookout for new insights and deeper understanding, I found the ideas she presents as entertaining as the story itself.

And the story is entertaining. Maze is an accomplished storyteller. It was a joy to read her work. The story is captivating, well written, and moves along at a rapid pace. There are almost always two (or more) story lines going at once, yet the flow switching between them is smooth, with consistency and chronological correctness. I never found myself confused as to what was going on. Her language is descriptive, but not overly so (as is often the case with many modern novels), focusing more on the story than the setting, and yet the setting is by no means neglected. I’m looking forward to reading the RABBIT sequel!
]]> 4.23 2009 Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider
author: Ellen C. Maze
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2010/07/12
date added: 2010/07/13
shelves: fiction
review:
This is no ordinary “vampire� story. The world of Ellen Maze’s Rakum is well thought out and has a real-life feel to it. In this book you don’t have to take the world of vampires “on faith�, as some oddity of nature that just happens to exist for no particular reason. Throughout the book, Maze builds a much more rational world, complete with a history of how these “abominations� came into being, and an evolving future for them as well. I put “abominations� in quotes because her vampire characters are not the typical one-dimensional stereotype we’re all so familiar with, but are as varied as any group of “people�, if you can call them that. There’s even a unique and more believable method of reproduction, which seems to be rooted more in genetics than mysticism, making the Rakum more of a separate race than a disease. (Classical vampire reproduction reminds me too much of rabies.)

There is, as far as I know, some original theology contained in this book. I’ve had a life-long interest in the various forms of religion and find little that surprises me these days. Yet Maze managed to surprise me a number of times. And these aren’t things that she’s just making up out of thin air. She is able to back up her rather unorthodox assertions from scriptural texts. As a person who’s always on the lookout for new insights and deeper understanding, I found the ideas she presents as entertaining as the story itself.

And the story is entertaining. Maze is an accomplished storyteller. It was a joy to read her work. The story is captivating, well written, and moves along at a rapid pace. There are almost always two (or more) story lines going at once, yet the flow switching between them is smooth, with consistency and chronological correctness. I never found myself confused as to what was going on. Her language is descriptive, but not overly so (as is often the case with many modern novels), focusing more on the story than the setting, and yet the setting is by no means neglected. I’m looking forward to reading the RABBIT sequel!

]]> A Star Curiously Singing 7146180 308 Kerry Nietz 0982104987 Jerry 0 to-read 4.23 2009 A Star Curiously Singing
author: Kerry Nietz
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2010/07/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Gateway (Heechee Saga, #1) 218427
When prospector Robinette Broadhead went out to Gateway on the Heechee spacecraft, he decided he would know which was the right mission to make him his fortune. Three missions later, now famous and permanently rich, Rob Broadhead has to face what happened to him and what he has become... in a journey into himself as perilous and even more horrifying than the nightmare trip through the interstellar void that he drove himself to take!]]> 278 Frederik Pohl 0345475836 Jerry 0 to-read 4.07 1977 Gateway (Heechee Saga, #1)
author: Frederik Pohl
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.07
book published: 1977
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2010/06/03
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Memoirs From the Asylum 8044097 190 Kenneth Weene Jerry 0 to-read 4.26 2010 Memoirs From the Asylum
author: Kenneth Weene
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2010/06/02
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The picture book of quantum mechanics]]> 3841501 320 Siegmund Brandt 0471817767 Jerry 5 science-and-mathematics 5.00 1985 The picture book of quantum mechanics
author: Siegmund Brandt
name: Jerry
average rating: 5.00
book published: 1985
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2010/05/08
shelves: science-and-mathematics
review:

]]> The Machinery of Life 4039072 140 David S. Goodsell 0387978461 Jerry 3 science-and-mathematics 3.60 1992 The Machinery of Life
author: David S. Goodsell
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.60
book published: 1992
rating: 3
read at:
date added: 2010/05/08
shelves: science-and-mathematics
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Gestalt Therapy Now - Theory Techniques Applications]]> 3598440 380 0140806725 Jerry 0 to-read 5.00 1970 Gestalt Therapy Now - Theory Techniques Applications
author: Joen Fagan and Irma Lee Shepherd (Editors)
name: Jerry
average rating: 5.00
book published: 1970
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2010/05/07
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Seer Out of Season: The Life Of Edgar Cayce]]> 1453585
Millions worldwide have turned to the writings of Edgar Cayce for advice on holistic medicine and spiritual growth. Hailed as the father of the New Age movement, his works have been translated into dizens of languages, and he has received outpourings of acclaim from individuals, doctors, and spiritual leaders around the globe.

A Seer out of Season...

Drawing from his experience as Cayce's longtime associate, Dr. Harmon Bro has written the first-ever full-length biography of the gifted spiritualist. Long awaited by followers and skeptics alike, this definitive, intimate account tells the story of how an enigmatic Kentucky farm boy with no formal education became the soft-spoken seer who inspired so many. It is also the story of a man hounded by disbelievers who again and again branded him a charlatan--only to walk away stunned by his power.]]> 481 Harmon Hartzell Bro 0312959885 Jerry 5 outside-the-box
The book covers Cayce's triumphs as well as his defeats. It's no propaganda writing. For instance, the reasons for the failure of the Cayce hospital are clearly laid out, in all their human ugliness. One of the reasons the hospital failed is that the doctors couldn't stay out of the nurse's beds. Another reason was that his own readings were telling him to go ahead, right before the economic collapse of the 1930's. This despite the fact the reading were telling his clients to get out of the stock market. It's things like this that has the author still scratching his head 50 years later.

The view presented is balanced, showing both the incredible supernatural accomplishments, as well as the flaws in the man himself. Another example. One of the shortest readings recorded was on the health of Cayce himself, which went basically like this: "You didn't listen to what was suggested last time, so goodbye!"

This is somewhat of a scholarly work, though I didn't have much trouble (this is not my area of expertise), and should be suitable for the lay reader. There's one section where Bro spends a great deal of time trying to "pigeonhole" Cayce (was he a seer, prophet, judge, or what?) in modern theology, which I read but could have skipped without loss, as far as I'm concerned anyway. Nevertheless, it's a great and mind-expanding read which I'd recommend to anyone past their teens (and a college education would probably help).
]]> 4.07 1990 A Seer Out of Season: The Life Of Edgar Cayce
author: Harmon Hartzell Bro
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.07
book published: 1990
rating: 5
read at: 2000/04/15
date added: 2010/04/17
shelves: outside-the-box
review:
This was a very well done exposé on the life of Edgar Cayce. Forget "There is a River". If you really want to know the good, bad and ugly of this man's most unusual life, read this book. It was written by a man who was there, working side by side with Cayce for an entire year (doing his doctoral thesis). The book was written with 50 years of retrospection, by a man still struggling to understand what on earth happened.

The book covers Cayce's triumphs as well as his defeats. It's no propaganda writing. For instance, the reasons for the failure of the Cayce hospital are clearly laid out, in all their human ugliness. One of the reasons the hospital failed is that the doctors couldn't stay out of the nurse's beds. Another reason was that his own readings were telling him to go ahead, right before the economic collapse of the 1930's. This despite the fact the reading were telling his clients to get out of the stock market. It's things like this that has the author still scratching his head 50 years later.

The view presented is balanced, showing both the incredible supernatural accomplishments, as well as the flaws in the man himself. Another example. One of the shortest readings recorded was on the health of Cayce himself, which went basically like this: "You didn't listen to what was suggested last time, so goodbye!"

This is somewhat of a scholarly work, though I didn't have much trouble (this is not my area of expertise), and should be suitable for the lay reader. There's one section where Bro spends a great deal of time trying to "pigeonhole" Cayce (was he a seer, prophet, judge, or what?) in modern theology, which I read but could have skipped without loss, as far as I'm concerned anyway. Nevertheless, it's a great and mind-expanding read which I'd recommend to anyone past their teens (and a college education would probably help).

]]> <![CDATA[The Infinite Instant (The Usurpers, #1)]]> 4791488 Danielle L. Parker Jerry 4
The story is told from the first person perspective of Minuet James, a Class A paranormal, the highest level of psychic ability a person may posses and still be legal. Minuet fears that she is becoming a loathsome Class X, a paranormal with death dealing abilities. No "X" had ever been able to control such power, automatically making them an enemy of the state. And Minuet's fears are not unfounded. She believes she's already used the deadly X power once, a fact that she's desperately trying to hide, not just from the world, but from herself as well (at least the ramifications of it).

I enjoyed Minuet’s humanity as she struggles with her identity, and how her developing powers are changing it. Tough as nails as everyone else on the outside, she’s quite vulnerable on the inside. She’s lost her friends, relatives and even her fiancé to a catastrophic event that killed millions, and still haunts her even in her dreams. She needs to heal, but she’s been thrust into world-shaking events with some of the most powerful men in the world, as humanity tries to deal with a looming first-contact situation with an alien race of unknown intentions.

What will become of Minuet James? Will she be able to exonerate herself from a frame-up designed to control her? Can she learn to control the X power, or will she become public enemy number one, like all of her predecessors? Will she even be able to live with herself, if she uses her X power to kill? And yet, she may have to do exactly that, just to stay alive�

I absolutely loved the social commentary and philosophizing that runs all through this book, but especially in the last few chapters. This is definitely a mind-expanding work, written by one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever come across.

The storyline is interesting, and well thought out. My only complaint, and this is purely a personal thing, is the writing style. I found it a little over-descriptive for my tastes. Now, that’s just me. I know there are a tremendous number of people out there, the majority no doubt, that will absolutely love it. This is the reason why I’m giving the book a four-star instead of a five-star rating. I’ve been privileged to take a look at the first seven chapters of the sequel, and it’s absolutely topnotch, a true five-star work in the making. No sloughing-off going on with this sequel (tentatively called “The Nihilistic Mirror�).]]> 4.00 2008 The Infinite Instant (The Usurpers, #1)
author: Danielle L. Parker
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2008
rating: 4
read at: 2010/04/14
date added: 2010/04/17
shelves:
review:
This was an interesting read. The futuristic atmosphere of an Earth with advanced technology coexisting within a civilization unraveling at its very seams I found reminiscent of the Harrison Ford movie "Blade Runner". Everything is dark and dingy, unmaintained, with entire districts of cities falling into ruin. The people, hard as rocks on the outside, are often of questionable merit on the inside. Just about every human vice imaginable has been legalized, and this is no more apparent anywhere than in Las Vegas, where most of the story takes place.

The story is told from the first person perspective of Minuet James, a Class A paranormal, the highest level of psychic ability a person may posses and still be legal. Minuet fears that she is becoming a loathsome Class X, a paranormal with death dealing abilities. No "X" had ever been able to control such power, automatically making them an enemy of the state. And Minuet's fears are not unfounded. She believes she's already used the deadly X power once, a fact that she's desperately trying to hide, not just from the world, but from herself as well (at least the ramifications of it).

I enjoyed Minuet’s humanity as she struggles with her identity, and how her developing powers are changing it. Tough as nails as everyone else on the outside, she’s quite vulnerable on the inside. She’s lost her friends, relatives and even her fiancé to a catastrophic event that killed millions, and still haunts her even in her dreams. She needs to heal, but she’s been thrust into world-shaking events with some of the most powerful men in the world, as humanity tries to deal with a looming first-contact situation with an alien race of unknown intentions.

What will become of Minuet James? Will she be able to exonerate herself from a frame-up designed to control her? Can she learn to control the X power, or will she become public enemy number one, like all of her predecessors? Will she even be able to live with herself, if she uses her X power to kill? And yet, she may have to do exactly that, just to stay alive�

I absolutely loved the social commentary and philosophizing that runs all through this book, but especially in the last few chapters. This is definitely a mind-expanding work, written by one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever come across.

The storyline is interesting, and well thought out. My only complaint, and this is purely a personal thing, is the writing style. I found it a little over-descriptive for my tastes. Now, that’s just me. I know there are a tremendous number of people out there, the majority no doubt, that will absolutely love it. This is the reason why I’m giving the book a four-star instead of a five-star rating. I’ve been privileged to take a look at the first seven chapters of the sequel, and it’s absolutely topnotch, a true five-star work in the making. No sloughing-off going on with this sequel (tentatively called “The Nihilistic Mirror�).
]]> <![CDATA[Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss]]> 132810 Motherless Daughters explores the myriad ways that losing a mother can affect almost every aspect and passage of a woman's life. First published a decade ago, it is still the book that motherless daughters of all ages look to for understanding and comfort and that they press into each other's hands. Building on interviews with hundreds of mother-loss survivors, this life-affirming book is now newly expanded to reflect the author's personal experience with the continued legacy of mother loss; now married and a mother of young children herself, Edelman better understands how the effects of mother loss change over time and in light of new relationships. A work of stunning courage and honesty, Motherless Daughters is a must read for the millions of women whose mothers have gone, but whose need for healing, mourning, and mothering remains. It is a timeless classic.]]> 390 Hope Edelman 0738210269 Jerry 5 psychology
Young children who are abandoned by their mothers, say if a mother runs off with another man leaving her children behind, suffer just as much as if their mother had died. The young child may not even understand the difference. All they know is that their mother is gone. So this book is for those struggling adults who have lost a mother this way too.

This is a wonderful book. However, if you're prone to depression and don't have this particular issue to deal with, don't read this book. It can be very depressing. On the other hand, if you have experienced the loss of a mother at a young age, you should find this book very helpful, a guide towards understand yourself. Though written for women, it can also be useful for men who lost their mother at a young age, and indeed, the book does bring up that angle.
]]> 4.29 1994 Motherless Daughters: The Legacy of Loss
author: Hope Edelman
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.29
book published: 1994
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2010/04/07
shelves: psychology
review:
Our culture does a lousy job of preparing people for the situation where a mother dies leaving behind young children. It is far more acknowledged that the father might die, rather than the mother. In fact, it's not really anticipated that the young mother might die at all. Daughters who lose their mothers at a tender age may often wonder if something is wrong with them and may have difficulties with their identity, depression and intimate relationships for the rest of their life.

Young children who are abandoned by their mothers, say if a mother runs off with another man leaving her children behind, suffer just as much as if their mother had died. The young child may not even understand the difference. All they know is that their mother is gone. So this book is for those struggling adults who have lost a mother this way too.

This is a wonderful book. However, if you're prone to depression and don't have this particular issue to deal with, don't read this book. It can be very depressing. On the other hand, if you have experienced the loss of a mother at a young age, you should find this book very helpful, a guide towards understand yourself. Though written for women, it can also be useful for men who lost their mother at a young age, and indeed, the book does bring up that angle.

]]> <![CDATA[Principles of Psychophysiology]]> 6941469 0 Richard A. Sternbach 0126672504 Jerry 5 psychology 5.00 Principles of Psychophysiology
author: Richard A. Sternbach
name: Jerry
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2010/04/07
shelves: psychology
review:
This is an excellent book, one of my favorite psychology books of all time. Whenever I get sick, the lessons from this book go around and around in my head. Psychosomatic illnesses are triggered when three separate factors conspire together. On page 146 it's put this way: If (Individual Response Stereotypy) and (Inadequate Homeostatic Restraints) and (Exposure to Activating Situations) Then (Psychosomatic Episodes). Unfortunately, you have to read the previous 145 pages to understand what that means, but it's definitely worth it.
]]> Human Sexuality (5th Edition) 1806427 William H. Masters 0673467856 Jerry 1 psychology
There was another "experiment" that showed there was no limit to the number of orgasms that a woman may experience in a short period of time. They proved this by hooking a woman up the an EEG and having a whole host of guys come in, one at a time, and have sex with her. Again, there was no consideration that their results might be a little skewed and not representative of women as a whole. Indeed, what kind of woman would agree to such an arrangement? Not your average Jane, I would think.]]> 3.81 1985 Human Sexuality (5th Edition)
author: William H. Masters
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.81
book published: 1985
rating: 1
read at: 1973/01/01
date added: 2010/04/07
shelves: psychology
review:
This book was a waste of time. Though it's widely regarded as a definitive text and still used in college level human sexuality classes, I found it to be full of errors. For instance, it plainly states, based on experimental results in the laboratory, that men always have their orgasm before the woman. It never occurred to them that the artificial environment of a laboratory, or the fact that the men were having sex with the woman for the very first time, might be tainting their results (duh!)

There was another "experiment" that showed there was no limit to the number of orgasms that a woman may experience in a short period of time. They proved this by hooking a woman up the an EEG and having a whole host of guys come in, one at a time, and have sex with her. Again, there was no consideration that their results might be a little skewed and not representative of women as a whole. Indeed, what kind of woman would agree to such an arrangement? Not your average Jane, I would think.
]]> <![CDATA[A Psychological Approach to Abnormal Behavior]]> 7994784 688 Leonard P. Ullmann Jerry 5 psychology 5.00 A Psychological Approach to Abnormal Behavior
author: Leonard P. Ullmann
name: Jerry
average rating: 5.00
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 1974/01/01
date added: 2010/04/07
shelves: psychology
review:
It's been quite a while since I read this book, but just picking it up and thumbing through brings back a lot of things still in my mind. There are things in this book that stay with you forever. I especially remember the cross-cultural approach of the book, as what is called abnormal behavior in one culture may be generally accepted behavior in another.
]]> <![CDATA[Child Sexual Abuse: From Harsh Realities to Hope]]> 6634967
Survivors, family members and friends of the families will find their experiences reflected in these pages. The actual words of people directly involved challenge myths and misunderstandings.

The stories are difficult to hear. This is an old problem. It is time to put aside our reluctance to hear such stories. Avoidance protects perpetrators, allows child sexual abuse to go on, and isolates survivors who often feel blamed and shamed. For public policy and prevention programs to be responsive to the issues that child sexual abuse creates, we need an informed public. Humane responses depend upon accurate understandings.
]]> 297 Jane F. Gilgun Jerry 5 psychology
Many people's attitudes towards child sexual abuse are like those of an alcoholic's codependent. You don't have to look very far to see examples of abuse, even within your own extended family. Within the extended families of my wife and myself, I know of four definite cases of child sexual abuse, and suspect there may be others. Two of these cases were repeated many times against the same children over a period of years. If you don't know of any cases within your own extended family, you most likely know of such cases among your friends. How is it that something that's so prevalent in our society, has become so unspeakable?

Indeed, murder is much more openly spoken of and one might argue is even treated more lightly. This places a child who becomes victimized by a sexual abuser into quite a dilemma. Suddenly, they've been shoved into a "space" where they feel they've violated multiple social taboos, taboos so severe it's as if they've become involved with something even worse than murder. It's impossible for a child (or even an adult in many cases) to cope with this, without suffering severe trauma. They simply don't have the mental, emotional or physical resources to do so. And they don't have reliable information on the subject either, because it is so taboo.

Though coerced into these situations, the child is there when the violation(s) occur. They realize they've become involved in a sexual encounter, which is socially taboo in our society even among adults, but especially for children. If a family member or close friend of the family is involved (which is usually the case), they've also become involved in incest, an even worse taboo. And if the same sex is involved, they've become involved in homosexuality. A child would probably feel more at ease to let someone know what has happened to them, if they had become involved in a murder. Perpetrators typically understand the power these taboos give them, and turn it against their victims.

Jane Gilgun disbands many traditional myths about abuse in her book, "Shame, Blame, and Child Sexual Abuse". She is an expert in the area and has been publishing articles on the subject since at least 1988 (see "Scholarly Publications" at the end of the book). She holds a Ph.D., teaches at the University of Minnesota and is a licensed social worker. Her book is based on decades of real life experience with survivors of childhood sexual abuse, as well as the perpetrators of those crimes. She is eminently qualified to write this book.

The book is relatively easy to read, designed for the average reader (as opposed to scholarly writings on the subject). It provides a thorough examination of child sexual abuse and all its ramifications, complete with prevention strategies, identification "earmarks" for both victims and perpetrators, and suggested therapies for when abuse does occur. References to additional materials are found at the end of most of the latter chapters of the book, specific to the topic of the chapter.

Criticisms? There always has to be criticisms, or people won't believe a "glowing review". In reading the book, I found more typos than I would have cared for. About halfway through I started making notes on my Kindle, and hope I can get these back to the author for a future revision. However, it's easy to figure out her intent, it's just a bit of a nuisance. And I did have to look up just a few of the words she used, an easy task using the built-in dictionary on the Kindle.

Other than that, the book is an excellent treatise on the subject of child sexual abuse, and should be required reading for every person on the planet. That may sound extreme, but it would certainly help spell out the demise of this hideous social ill. Information is power.

11/28/2009
I've since been informed that Jane Gilgun has uploaded an updated version of her book, taking care of those pesky typos. So I now heartily endorse this book, without any reservations whatsoever. It will also be coming out as a printed book in early 2010 (paperback or hardcover, I don't know which).

4/7/2010
This book is now in print and can be ordered from either Amazon.com or Lulu.com.]]> 4.29 2009 Child Sexual Abuse: From Harsh Realities to Hope
author: Jane F. Gilgun
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2009/08/01
date added: 2010/04/07
shelves: psychology
review:
Why is child sexual abuse so prevalent in our society? How can a single person abuse, quite literally, hundreds of children over a 40-year period before getting caught? What is it about our culture that makes it possible for perpetrators of this crime, which causes so much damage to the very fabric of our civilization, to flourish? The answers in this book will surprise you. Many people, by holding to deep-rooted traditions on the subject, actually contribute to an environment that protects perpetrators, all the while believing that they are doing "their part" to prevent it. Isn't it time for this subject to be brought out into the open, so that humanity may take a giant leap forward?

Many people's attitudes towards child sexual abuse are like those of an alcoholic's codependent. You don't have to look very far to see examples of abuse, even within your own extended family. Within the extended families of my wife and myself, I know of four definite cases of child sexual abuse, and suspect there may be others. Two of these cases were repeated many times against the same children over a period of years. If you don't know of any cases within your own extended family, you most likely know of such cases among your friends. How is it that something that's so prevalent in our society, has become so unspeakable?

Indeed, murder is much more openly spoken of and one might argue is even treated more lightly. This places a child who becomes victimized by a sexual abuser into quite a dilemma. Suddenly, they've been shoved into a "space" where they feel they've violated multiple social taboos, taboos so severe it's as if they've become involved with something even worse than murder. It's impossible for a child (or even an adult in many cases) to cope with this, without suffering severe trauma. They simply don't have the mental, emotional or physical resources to do so. And they don't have reliable information on the subject either, because it is so taboo.

Though coerced into these situations, the child is there when the violation(s) occur. They realize they've become involved in a sexual encounter, which is socially taboo in our society even among adults, but especially for children. If a family member or close friend of the family is involved (which is usually the case), they've also become involved in incest, an even worse taboo. And if the same sex is involved, they've become involved in homosexuality. A child would probably feel more at ease to let someone know what has happened to them, if they had become involved in a murder. Perpetrators typically understand the power these taboos give them, and turn it against their victims.

Jane Gilgun disbands many traditional myths about abuse in her book, "Shame, Blame, and Child Sexual Abuse". She is an expert in the area and has been publishing articles on the subject since at least 1988 (see "Scholarly Publications" at the end of the book). She holds a Ph.D., teaches at the University of Minnesota and is a licensed social worker. Her book is based on decades of real life experience with survivors of childhood sexual abuse, as well as the perpetrators of those crimes. She is eminently qualified to write this book.

The book is relatively easy to read, designed for the average reader (as opposed to scholarly writings on the subject). It provides a thorough examination of child sexual abuse and all its ramifications, complete with prevention strategies, identification "earmarks" for both victims and perpetrators, and suggested therapies for when abuse does occur. References to additional materials are found at the end of most of the latter chapters of the book, specific to the topic of the chapter.

Criticisms? There always has to be criticisms, or people won't believe a "glowing review". In reading the book, I found more typos than I would have cared for. About halfway through I started making notes on my Kindle, and hope I can get these back to the author for a future revision. However, it's easy to figure out her intent, it's just a bit of a nuisance. And I did have to look up just a few of the words she used, an easy task using the built-in dictionary on the Kindle.

Other than that, the book is an excellent treatise on the subject of child sexual abuse, and should be required reading for every person on the planet. That may sound extreme, but it would certainly help spell out the demise of this hideous social ill. Information is power.

11/28/2009
I've since been informed that Jane Gilgun has uploaded an updated version of her book, taking care of those pesky typos. So I now heartily endorse this book, without any reservations whatsoever. It will also be coming out as a printed book in early 2010 (paperback or hardcover, I don't know which).

4/7/2010
This book is now in print and can be ordered from either Amazon.com or Lulu.com.
]]> <![CDATA[Frigidity in Woman in Relation to Her Love Life, 2 Vols]]> 7140064 304 Wilhelm Stekel 0871408430 Jerry 5 psychology 4.11 1926 Frigidity in Woman in Relation to Her Love Life, 2 Vols
author: Wilhelm Stekel
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.11
book published: 1926
rating: 5
read at: 1973/12/01
date added: 2010/04/07
shelves: psychology
review:
I'll probably receive a lot of flack for this, but I learned more about women reading these two volumes than anywhere else. If nothing else, the nearly one hundred clinical case studies are difficult to argue with. There is also a very interesting observation of the world and where is was headed, written in the middle of WWII (1943) at the end of Volume II. This is a true must-read, for both women and men.
]]> Okay 6341204 132 Katherine Marple 1438216440 Jerry 0 to-read 3.94 2008 Okay
author: Katherine Marple
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2010/04/06
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Left in His Closet 7705563 289 Mary Krome 1615661530 Jerry 0 to-read 4.09 2010 Left in His Closet
author: Mary Krome
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2010/04/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Coincidences 3359010 208 Maria Savva 1857765664 Jerry 5 fiction
One of the things I found interesting about this book is that there's no antagonist in the classical sense. All the characters involved have some depth of moral character, and no doubt would view themselves as "good" people. Nevertheless, they create a situation that turns Alice's life into a living hell. Their lies, justified in their own minds to "protect" her, only serve to disillusion and shake Alice's confidence in all her relationships as she slowly discovers the truth about herself. Like pealing away the layers of an onion, what will Alice find underneath it all? Will she even be able to deal with the reality of who and what she is, when she finally gets to the core? And will there be any silver lining to her investigations, or would she been better off to listen to her mother and never have started down this path in the first place?

This unusual work shows how people, though they may mean well, can create a web of duplicity that traps both themselves and all those around them. I admired Maria's honesty about how people think, and are constantly manipulating the truth to produce some desired effect. It's so automatic and fundamental to human nature that we may not even realize it as we're doing it. And more importantly, she shows how those "short-term gains" often come back to bite us, even if it takes many years. Maria's insight into human relationships is both entertaining and educational.

I found Maria's descriptions of the anguish Alice goes through to be so realistic it has lead me to question whether she has experienced these things herself, or through someone close to her. Alice's anxiety, self-doubt, wishful thinking and at times even her evasion of the obvious is very engaging. This is a down to earth and a very human story.

After reading this book, I'm going to have to read Maria Savva's next and more popular work, "A Time to Tell." I realize that most readers will have read that book first. I'm sure those who enjoyed "A Time to Tell" will enjoy "Coincidences" as well.]]> 3.78 2001 Coincidences
author: Maria Savva
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2001
rating: 5
read at: 2009/04/19
date added: 2010/03/06
shelves: fiction
review:
"Coincidences" is a very interesting and thought provoking story centering around a young woman's search for her identity. Alice begins by merely trying, against the objections of her mother, to locate her father. He had abandoned them both when she was a baby. An old and haunting faded photograph of her smiling father holding her in his arms is one of the few bits of information she begins with. Little does she know her endeavor will lead her down a road of layer upon layer of deception and deceit. Just about when she thinks she knows who she is, she discovers a whole new realm of hidden truths.

One of the things I found interesting about this book is that there's no antagonist in the classical sense. All the characters involved have some depth of moral character, and no doubt would view themselves as "good" people. Nevertheless, they create a situation that turns Alice's life into a living hell. Their lies, justified in their own minds to "protect" her, only serve to disillusion and shake Alice's confidence in all her relationships as she slowly discovers the truth about herself. Like pealing away the layers of an onion, what will Alice find underneath it all? Will she even be able to deal with the reality of who and what she is, when she finally gets to the core? And will there be any silver lining to her investigations, or would she been better off to listen to her mother and never have started down this path in the first place?

This unusual work shows how people, though they may mean well, can create a web of duplicity that traps both themselves and all those around them. I admired Maria's honesty about how people think, and are constantly manipulating the truth to produce some desired effect. It's so automatic and fundamental to human nature that we may not even realize it as we're doing it. And more importantly, she shows how those "short-term gains" often come back to bite us, even if it takes many years. Maria's insight into human relationships is both entertaining and educational.

I found Maria's descriptions of the anguish Alice goes through to be so realistic it has lead me to question whether she has experienced these things herself, or through someone close to her. Alice's anxiety, self-doubt, wishful thinking and at times even her evasion of the obvious is very engaging. This is a down to earth and a very human story.

After reading this book, I'm going to have to read Maria Savva's next and more popular work, "A Time to Tell." I realize that most readers will have read that book first. I'm sure those who enjoyed "A Time to Tell" will enjoy "Coincidences" as well.
]]> A Time to Tell 3359011 298 Maria Savva 1905621272 Jerry 5 fiction
Within the pages of "A Time to Tell", intertwined with a compelling story, is the stark reality of domestic violence. From time to time, I do a little psychological counseling for people who either can't afford or won't go to see a professional counselor, and I can't think of a better way to educate them about the psychology of mental and physical abuse, than to read this book. Presented, as it is, in the context of an engaging novel, it's much more likely to be read and comprehended than dry pamphlets, self-help or psychological textbooks.

Quite frankly, as a writer myself I'm a bit envious of Maria Savva's storytelling and writing ability. The last ten chapters build steadily towards the story's climax and the book got very difficult to put down. Her use of foreshadowing is blatantly obvious in some places, and skillfully subtle in others, providing a real life feel to the story. (Sometimes we know what's coming, and other times we get totally blindsided.) For instance, Gloria's self-righteous meddling in her sister's affairs turns out to be at the root of many of Cara's problems. In later life, Gloria realizes she has a lot to be forgiven for and does patch a few things up with Cara. Yet we're left with the feeling that she hasn't quite come clean, though we have no idea what she still might be holding back. All gets revealed in the end, but not by Gloria. I thought revealing a little, but not too much, skillfully accomplished this, so that the story develops naturally towards its surprising conclusion.

I love stories like this where you can learn things of practical value, while you're being recreationally entertained. This is not fantasy, which does provide escapism, but leaves you ill equipped to deal with the real world. Books like this should be required reading for graduation from high schools everywhere, and on the reading list of anyone who wants to live in a better world. ]]> 3.75 2006 A Time to Tell
author: Maria Savva
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at: 2009/05/24
date added: 2010/03/06
shelves: fiction
review:
After reading this book, I ordered two more! I've already got a person in mind to send one of the extras to, and the other I'll keep around for the future. (I almost always keep a copy of anything I've read, for reference.)

Within the pages of "A Time to Tell", intertwined with a compelling story, is the stark reality of domestic violence. From time to time, I do a little psychological counseling for people who either can't afford or won't go to see a professional counselor, and I can't think of a better way to educate them about the psychology of mental and physical abuse, than to read this book. Presented, as it is, in the context of an engaging novel, it's much more likely to be read and comprehended than dry pamphlets, self-help or psychological textbooks.

Quite frankly, as a writer myself I'm a bit envious of Maria Savva's storytelling and writing ability. The last ten chapters build steadily towards the story's climax and the book got very difficult to put down. Her use of foreshadowing is blatantly obvious in some places, and skillfully subtle in others, providing a real life feel to the story. (Sometimes we know what's coming, and other times we get totally blindsided.) For instance, Gloria's self-righteous meddling in her sister's affairs turns out to be at the root of many of Cara's problems. In later life, Gloria realizes she has a lot to be forgiven for and does patch a few things up with Cara. Yet we're left with the feeling that she hasn't quite come clean, though we have no idea what she still might be holding back. All gets revealed in the end, but not by Gloria. I thought revealing a little, but not too much, skillfully accomplished this, so that the story develops naturally towards its surprising conclusion.

I love stories like this where you can learn things of practical value, while you're being recreationally entertained. This is not fantasy, which does provide escapism, but leaves you ill equipped to deal with the real world. Books like this should be required reading for graduation from high schools everywhere, and on the reading list of anyone who wants to live in a better world.
]]> PurposeFull You 7146296 52 1449547699 Jerry 5 3.65 2009 PurposeFull You
author: Shalonda "Treasure" Williams-Lynard
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.65
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2010/03/03
shelves:
review:
An interesting and inspirational read. There's some good practical suggestions here for taking control of your life. It's a little more than suggestions, maybe "plan" would be a better word. There's actually a little workbook in the back to help bolster self-esteem.
]]> The Bum Magnet 6584460 She's a savvy, successful real-estate agent with a quick wit, a low tolerance for BS, a gorgeous size-14 body, and a thirst for top shelf vodka. Despite her dream house, luxury car, and appetite for life's best--like fine dining and hot men--she seems to have her own special talent for attracting players. Why do all of her ex-lovers belong in the Losers Hall of Fame?
There was Lamar, the hazel-eyed Adonis who sowed more wild oats than Quaker. . . Sean, an expert at juggling relationships . . . Marcus, whose lips wandered as often as his eyes . . . and others, too. But just as Rissey swears off sex and vows to dump her emotional baggage, she meets house-hunting client Dwayne Gibson. There's no way she can resist his seductive smile and rock-hard body. . . . Will Dwayne turn out to be the biggest bum of them all? Or will this time be different?]]> 351 K.L. Brady 1451613709 Jerry 4
Though a little foreshadowing was done, which indicated Charisse was at least thinking about getting herself together, that quickly dissipated as she continued to jump in and out of beds all over town, feeding the egos of her "bums" (if not creating a few new ones in the process). Admittedly, some of these were only recollections of "boyfriends past", but it kept me wondering how she managed to escape some dreaded disease. However, the payoff finally comes in the last third of the book, where she finally starts dealing with the psychological ramifications of a breach of trust experienced from a close male family member (cousin). The details of the incident are a little sketchy, but they're not really needed for the advancement of the plot, though it did leave me scratching my head a bit.

The ending was a little too quick and simplistic for me. Though Brady does hit on the main points of someone recovering from psychological trauma, it all happened a little too fast. Often, recovery takes many years, if it's ever achieved at all. I would have rather seen the first two-thirds of the book compressed into just the first few chapters, with the rest of the book dealing with her recovery. But hey, that's just me. I'm sure others will see it differently. Nevertheless, Charisse does learn her lesson, making up for her past deeds and providing a palatable ending for the book.

I've also read (most of) the memoir "High on Arrival" by Mackenzie Phillips. It has a similar feel of mistakes being made over and over again, but without the humor. About 2/3 the way through, at the end of chapter 22, I quit reading it as there was no indication that Mackenzie wouldn't keep making mistakes for the remainder of the book. In fact, if you read that last long paragraph at the end of chapter 22, you'll see why. I gave that book three stars, as it does have some historical merit. This book was better than that, so I've given "The Bum Magnet" four.]]> 3.87 2009 The Bum Magnet
author: K.L. Brady
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at: 2010/03/03
date added: 2010/03/03
shelves:
review:
It took me a long time to read this book. I have a "bad habit" of reading many books at the same time and switching back and forth depending on how I'm feeling at the moment. Women may appreciate the book more than men. For the first 2/3 of the book, it was painful for me to watch Charisse, the main character, make the same mistakes over and over again. It could have been monotonous, if it wasn't for Brady's great sense of humor. She had me laughing out loud many times. For example, here's a quote I came across in the first two chapters: "I'd pore through my journals at bedtime to help recollect the nightmares of boyfriends past." All in all, I consider the book a good read. If you're a guy who's always treated women with honesty and respect, you'll need a strong stomach.

Though a little foreshadowing was done, which indicated Charisse was at least thinking about getting herself together, that quickly dissipated as she continued to jump in and out of beds all over town, feeding the egos of her "bums" (if not creating a few new ones in the process). Admittedly, some of these were only recollections of "boyfriends past", but it kept me wondering how she managed to escape some dreaded disease. However, the payoff finally comes in the last third of the book, where she finally starts dealing with the psychological ramifications of a breach of trust experienced from a close male family member (cousin). The details of the incident are a little sketchy, but they're not really needed for the advancement of the plot, though it did leave me scratching my head a bit.

The ending was a little too quick and simplistic for me. Though Brady does hit on the main points of someone recovering from psychological trauma, it all happened a little too fast. Often, recovery takes many years, if it's ever achieved at all. I would have rather seen the first two-thirds of the book compressed into just the first few chapters, with the rest of the book dealing with her recovery. But hey, that's just me. I'm sure others will see it differently. Nevertheless, Charisse does learn her lesson, making up for her past deeds and providing a palatable ending for the book.

I've also read (most of) the memoir "High on Arrival" by Mackenzie Phillips. It has a similar feel of mistakes being made over and over again, but without the humor. About 2/3 the way through, at the end of chapter 22, I quit reading it as there was no indication that Mackenzie wouldn't keep making mistakes for the remainder of the book. In fact, if you read that last long paragraph at the end of chapter 22, you'll see why. I gave that book three stars, as it does have some historical merit. This book was better than that, so I've given "The Bum Magnet" four.
]]> Jonathan Livingston Seagull 71728
Jonathan Livingston Seagull is no ordinary bird. He believes it is every gull's right to fly, to reach the ultimate freedom of challenge and discovery, finding his greatest reward in teaching younger gulls the joy of flight and the power of dreams. The special 20th anniversary release of this spiritual classic!]]> 112 Richard Bach 0743278909 Jerry 5 3.87 1970 Jonathan Livingston Seagull
author: Richard Bach
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.87
book published: 1970
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2010/02/26
shelves:
review:
An excellent book about being yourself in a world where that's very hard to do.
]]> <![CDATA[Anti-Gravity and the World Grid (Lost Science (Adventures Unlimited Press))]]> 259498 267 David Hatcher Childress 0932813038 Jerry 0
Tibetan Sound Levitation Of Large Stones Witnessed By Scientist

Excerpt from 'Anti-gravity and the World Grid' edited by D.H.Childress, ch.8, Acoustic levitation of stones by Bruce Cathie, pp. 213-217

A New Zealand scientist recently gave me an intriguing extract from an article published in a German magazine, relating to a demonstration of levitation in Tibet. After obtaining a translation by a German journalist, in English, I was amazed at the information contained in the story, and was surprised that the article had slipped through the suppression net which tends to keep such knowledge from leaking out to the public.

All the similar types of stories that I had read up until now were generally devoid of specific information necessary to prove the veracity of the account. In this case a full set of geometric measurements were taken, and I discovered, to my great delight, that when they were converted to their equivalent geodetic measures, relating to grid harmonics the values gave a direct association with those in the unified harmonic equations published in my earlier works.

The following extracts are translations taken from the German article: 'We know from the priests of the far east that they were able to lift heavy boulders up high mountains with the help of groups of various sounds...the knowledge of the various vibrations in the audio range demonstrates to a scientist of physics that a vibrating and condensed sound field can nullify the power of gravitation. Swedish engineer Olaf Alexanderson wrote about this phenomenon in the publication, Implosion No. 13.

The following report is based on observations which were made only 20 years ago in Tibet. I have this report from civil engineer and flight manager, Henry Kjelson, a friend of mine. He later on included this report in his book, The Lost Techniques. This is his report.

A Swedish doctor, Dr. Jarl, a friend of Kjelsons, studied at Oxford. During those times he became friends with a young Tibetan student. A couple of years later, it was 1939, Dr. Jarl made a journey to Egypt for the English Scientific Society. There he was seen by a messenger of his Tibetan friend, and urgently requested to come to Tibet to treat a high Lama.

After Dr. Jarl got the leave he followed the messenger and arrived after a long journey by plane and Yak caravans, at the monastery, where the old Lama and his friend who was now holding a high position were now living.

Dr. Jarl stayed there for some time, and because of his friendship with the Tibetans he learned a lot of things that other foreigners had no chance to hear about or observe.

One day his friend took him to a place in the neighbourhood of the monastery and showed him a sloping meadow which was surrounded in the north west by high cliffs. In one of the rock walls, at a height of about 250 metres was a big hole which looked like the entrance to a cave.

In front of this hole there was a platform on which the monks were building a rock wall. The only access to this platform was from the top of the cliff and the monks lowered themselves down with the help of ropes.

In the middle of the meadow, about 250 metres from the cliff, was a polished slab of rock with a bowl like cavity in the centre. The bowl had a diameter of one metre and a depth of 15 centimetres. A block of stone was manoeuvred into this cavity by Yak oxen. The block was one metre wide and one and one half metres long. Then 19 musical instruments were set in an arc of 90 degrees at a distance of 63 metres from the stone slab.

The radius of 63 metres was measured out accurately. The musical instruments consisted of 13 drums and 6 trumpets.(Ragdons) Eight drums had a cross-section of one metre, and a length of one and one half metres. Four drums were medium size with a cross-section of 0.7 metre and a length of one metre. The only small drum had a cross-section of 0.2 metres and a length of 0.3 metres. All the trumpets were the same size.

They had a length of 3.12 metres and an opening of 0.3 metres. The big drums and all the trumpets were fixed on mounts which could be adjusted with staffs in the direction of the slab of stone. The big drums were made of 1mm thick sheet iron, and had a weight of 150kg. They were built in five sections. All the drums were open at one end, while the other end had a bottom of metal, on which the monks beat with big leather clubs. Behind each instrument was a row of monks.

When the stone was in position the monk behind the small drum gave a signal to start the concert. The small drum had a very sharp sound, and could be heard even with the other instruments making a terrible din. All the monks were singing and chanting a prayer, slowly increasing the tempo of this unbelievable noise. During the first four minutes nothing happened, then as the speed of the drumming, and the noise, increased, the big stone block started to rock and sway, and suddenly it took off into the air with an increasing speed in the direction of the platform in front of the cave hole 250 metres high. After three minutes of ascent it landed on the platform.

Continuously they brought new blocks to the meadow, and the monks using this method, transported 5 to 6 blocks per hour on a parabolic flight track approximately 500 metres long and 250 metres high. From time to time a stone split, and the monks moved the split stones away. Quite an unbelievable task.

Dr. Jarl knew about the hurling of the stones. Tibetan experts like Linaver, Spalding and Huc had spoken about it, but they had never seen it. So Dr. Jarl was the first foreigner who had the opportunity to see this remarkable spectacle. Because he had the opinion in the beginning that he was the victim of mass-psychosis he made two films of the incident. The films showed exactly the same things that he had witnessed.

The English Society for which Dr. Jarl was working confiscated the two films and declared them classified. They will not be released until 1990. This action is rather hard to explain, or understand.: End of trans.'

The fact that the films were immediately classified is not very hard to understand once the given measurements are transposed into their geometric equivalents. It then becomes evident that the monks in Tibet are fully conversant with the laws governing the structure of matter, which the scientists in the modern day western world are now frantically exploring. It appears, from the calculations, that the prayers being chanted by the monks did not have any direct bearing on the fact that the stones were levitated from the ground.

The reaction was not initiated by the religious fervour of the group, but by the superior scientific knowledge held by the high priests. The secret is in the geometric placement of the musical instruments in relation to the stones to be levitated, and the harmonic tuning of the drums and trumpets. The combined loud chanting of the priests using their voices at a certain pitch and rhythm most probably adds to the combined effect, but the subject matter of the chant, I believe, would be of no consequence.

The sound waves being generated by the combination were directed in such a way that an anti-gravitational effect was created at the centre of focus (position of the stones) and around the periphery, or the arc, of a third of a circle through which the stones moved.

If we analyse the diagram published with the original article, then compare it with the modified diagram, we become aware of the following coordinates, and the implications, when compared with my previously published works.

The distance between the stone block and the central pivot of the drum supports is shown as 63 metres. The large drums were said to be one and one half metres long, so the distance from the block to the rear face of each drum could be close to 63.75 metres considering that the pivot point would be near the centre of balance.

My theoretical analysis, by calculator, indicates that the exact distance would be 63.7079 metres for the optimum harmonic reaction. By mathematical conversion we find that this value is equal to 206.2648062 geodetic feet, which is harmonically equal to the length of the earths radius in seconds of arc (relative to the earths surface) 206264.8062. This also leads us to the following associations:

(206.2648062 x 2) = 412.5296124 This number squared = 170180.68 which is the theoretical harmonic of mass at the earths surface.

The four rows of monks standing behind the instruments in a quarter circle added to the production of sound by their loud chanting and must be taken in to account in regards to the geometric pattern. If we assume that they were standing approximately two feet apart, we can add a calculated value of 8.08865 geodetic feet to the radius of the complete group. This gives a maximum radius of: 214.3534583 geodetic feet.

The circumference of a complete circle with this radius would be: 1346.822499 geodetic feet.

Which is a half harmonic of 2693.645 (unified field)

The distance from the stone block to a calculated point within the cliff face and the height of the ledge on the cliff face from ground level is given as 250 metres. If we can now imagine that the raised stone blocks pass through a quarter arc of a circle during their flight from ground level to the hole in the cliff face, then the pivot point of the radius would be coincident with this position.

The theoretical radius was found to be: 249.8767262 metres which very closely approximates the estimate. This converts to 809.016999 geodetic feet. The diameter of the full circle would therefore be: 1618.034 geodetic feet.

A circle with this diameter has a circumference of 5083.203728 units, which can be divided into three even lengths of 1694.4 It therefore appears that the levitated blocks, once resonated to a certain frequency, would tend to carry out a flight path that is coincident to one third of a circle. The spacial distance being equivalent to the mass harmonic at the center of a light field, 1694443.

The instruments used by the group, in theory, would also have been tuned to produce harmonic wave forms associated with the unified fields. The given measurements are in rounded off parts of a metre but in practice some slight variations from these measurements would be expected in order to create the appropriate resonating cavities within the instruments

The geometric arrangement, and the number of instruments in the group would also be a most important factor.

If the given measurement for each type of drum is modified fractionally and converted to its geometric equivalent an interesting value for the cubic capacity is evident.

The large drums:

1.517201563 metres long, 1.000721361 metres wide = 58.94627524 geodetic inches long, 38.88 geodetic inches wide = 69984 cubic inches capacity = 40.5 cubic geodetic feet capacity.

Therefore the cubic capacity for eight drums = 324 cubic geodetic feet This harmonic value is built into the world grid and is equal to half the harmonic 648.

The medium size drums:

1.000721361 metres long, 0.695189635 metres wide = 38.88 geodetic inches long, 27.00948944 geodetic inches wide = 22276.59899 cubic geodetic inches capacity = 12.89155034 cubic geodetic feet capacity.

Therefore the cubic capacity for four drums: = 51.56620136 cubic geodetic feet

14.97414932 centimetres = 5.895334377 inches = 5.817764187 geodetic inches = 0.484813682 geodetic feet

As the dish-shape was focused upward towards the stone block to be levitated it would be expected that some type of reaction would take place which had an effect on the mass. The geometric shape of the cavity does seem to be engineered in such a way the projected frequency vortex causes a reciprocal reaction to the mass harmonic of each block. The reciprocal of 0.484813682 = 2.062648055 Twice this value: = 4.12529611 The square of this value: = 17.018068 (the harmonic of mass at the earth's surface.17018068

I believe that there is not much doubt that the Tibetans had possession of the secrets relating to the geometric structure of matter, and the methods of manipulating the harmonic values, but if we can grasp the mathematical theory behind the incident, and extend the application, then an even more fascinating idea presents itself.
]]> 3.78 1987 Anti-Gravity and the World Grid (Lost Science (Adventures Unlimited Press))
author: David Hatcher Childress
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.78
book published: 1987
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2010/02/13
shelves: outside-the-box, currently-reading
review:
There is a very interesting article in this book on page 211 called: "Acoustic Levitation of Stones". It's not the first time I've heard of the concept, but it's certainly the most detailed one and includes several diagrams. Here's an excerpt of the text (permission is given for free use of the material in the book):

Tibetan Sound Levitation Of Large Stones Witnessed By Scientist

Excerpt from 'Anti-gravity and the World Grid' edited by D.H.Childress, ch.8, Acoustic levitation of stones by Bruce Cathie, pp. 213-217

A New Zealand scientist recently gave me an intriguing extract from an article published in a German magazine, relating to a demonstration of levitation in Tibet. After obtaining a translation by a German journalist, in English, I was amazed at the information contained in the story, and was surprised that the article had slipped through the suppression net which tends to keep such knowledge from leaking out to the public.

All the similar types of stories that I had read up until now were generally devoid of specific information necessary to prove the veracity of the account. In this case a full set of geometric measurements were taken, and I discovered, to my great delight, that when they were converted to their equivalent geodetic measures, relating to grid harmonics the values gave a direct association with those in the unified harmonic equations published in my earlier works.

The following extracts are translations taken from the German article: 'We know from the priests of the far east that they were able to lift heavy boulders up high mountains with the help of groups of various sounds...the knowledge of the various vibrations in the audio range demonstrates to a scientist of physics that a vibrating and condensed sound field can nullify the power of gravitation. Swedish engineer Olaf Alexanderson wrote about this phenomenon in the publication, Implosion No. 13.

The following report is based on observations which were made only 20 years ago in Tibet. I have this report from civil engineer and flight manager, Henry Kjelson, a friend of mine. He later on included this report in his book, The Lost Techniques. This is his report.

A Swedish doctor, Dr. Jarl, a friend of Kjelsons, studied at Oxford. During those times he became friends with a young Tibetan student. A couple of years later, it was 1939, Dr. Jarl made a journey to Egypt for the English Scientific Society. There he was seen by a messenger of his Tibetan friend, and urgently requested to come to Tibet to treat a high Lama.

After Dr. Jarl got the leave he followed the messenger and arrived after a long journey by plane and Yak caravans, at the monastery, where the old Lama and his friend who was now holding a high position were now living.

Dr. Jarl stayed there for some time, and because of his friendship with the Tibetans he learned a lot of things that other foreigners had no chance to hear about or observe.

One day his friend took him to a place in the neighbourhood of the monastery and showed him a sloping meadow which was surrounded in the north west by high cliffs. In one of the rock walls, at a height of about 250 metres was a big hole which looked like the entrance to a cave.

In front of this hole there was a platform on which the monks were building a rock wall. The only access to this platform was from the top of the cliff and the monks lowered themselves down with the help of ropes.

In the middle of the meadow, about 250 metres from the cliff, was a polished slab of rock with a bowl like cavity in the centre. The bowl had a diameter of one metre and a depth of 15 centimetres. A block of stone was manoeuvred into this cavity by Yak oxen. The block was one metre wide and one and one half metres long. Then 19 musical instruments were set in an arc of 90 degrees at a distance of 63 metres from the stone slab.

The radius of 63 metres was measured out accurately. The musical instruments consisted of 13 drums and 6 trumpets.(Ragdons) Eight drums had a cross-section of one metre, and a length of one and one half metres. Four drums were medium size with a cross-section of 0.7 metre and a length of one metre. The only small drum had a cross-section of 0.2 metres and a length of 0.3 metres. All the trumpets were the same size.

They had a length of 3.12 metres and an opening of 0.3 metres. The big drums and all the trumpets were fixed on mounts which could be adjusted with staffs in the direction of the slab of stone. The big drums were made of 1mm thick sheet iron, and had a weight of 150kg. They were built in five sections. All the drums were open at one end, while the other end had a bottom of metal, on which the monks beat with big leather clubs. Behind each instrument was a row of monks.

When the stone was in position the monk behind the small drum gave a signal to start the concert. The small drum had a very sharp sound, and could be heard even with the other instruments making a terrible din. All the monks were singing and chanting a prayer, slowly increasing the tempo of this unbelievable noise. During the first four minutes nothing happened, then as the speed of the drumming, and the noise, increased, the big stone block started to rock and sway, and suddenly it took off into the air with an increasing speed in the direction of the platform in front of the cave hole 250 metres high. After three minutes of ascent it landed on the platform.

Continuously they brought new blocks to the meadow, and the monks using this method, transported 5 to 6 blocks per hour on a parabolic flight track approximately 500 metres long and 250 metres high. From time to time a stone split, and the monks moved the split stones away. Quite an unbelievable task.

Dr. Jarl knew about the hurling of the stones. Tibetan experts like Linaver, Spalding and Huc had spoken about it, but they had never seen it. So Dr. Jarl was the first foreigner who had the opportunity to see this remarkable spectacle. Because he had the opinion in the beginning that he was the victim of mass-psychosis he made two films of the incident. The films showed exactly the same things that he had witnessed.

The English Society for which Dr. Jarl was working confiscated the two films and declared them classified. They will not be released until 1990. This action is rather hard to explain, or understand.: End of trans.'

The fact that the films were immediately classified is not very hard to understand once the given measurements are transposed into their geometric equivalents. It then becomes evident that the monks in Tibet are fully conversant with the laws governing the structure of matter, which the scientists in the modern day western world are now frantically exploring. It appears, from the calculations, that the prayers being chanted by the monks did not have any direct bearing on the fact that the stones were levitated from the ground.

The reaction was not initiated by the religious fervour of the group, but by the superior scientific knowledge held by the high priests. The secret is in the geometric placement of the musical instruments in relation to the stones to be levitated, and the harmonic tuning of the drums and trumpets. The combined loud chanting of the priests using their voices at a certain pitch and rhythm most probably adds to the combined effect, but the subject matter of the chant, I believe, would be of no consequence.

The sound waves being generated by the combination were directed in such a way that an anti-gravitational effect was created at the centre of focus (position of the stones) and around the periphery, or the arc, of a third of a circle through which the stones moved.

If we analyse the diagram published with the original article, then compare it with the modified diagram, we become aware of the following coordinates, and the implications, when compared with my previously published works.

The distance between the stone block and the central pivot of the drum supports is shown as 63 metres. The large drums were said to be one and one half metres long, so the distance from the block to the rear face of each drum could be close to 63.75 metres considering that the pivot point would be near the centre of balance.

My theoretical analysis, by calculator, indicates that the exact distance would be 63.7079 metres for the optimum harmonic reaction. By mathematical conversion we find that this value is equal to 206.2648062 geodetic feet, which is harmonically equal to the length of the earths radius in seconds of arc (relative to the earths surface) 206264.8062. This also leads us to the following associations:

(206.2648062 x 2) = 412.5296124 This number squared = 170180.68 which is the theoretical harmonic of mass at the earths surface.

The four rows of monks standing behind the instruments in a quarter circle added to the production of sound by their loud chanting and must be taken in to account in regards to the geometric pattern. If we assume that they were standing approximately two feet apart, we can add a calculated value of 8.08865 geodetic feet to the radius of the complete group. This gives a maximum radius of: 214.3534583 geodetic feet.

The circumference of a complete circle with this radius would be: 1346.822499 geodetic feet.

Which is a half harmonic of 2693.645 (unified field)

The distance from the stone block to a calculated point within the cliff face and the height of the ledge on the cliff face from ground level is given as 250 metres. If we can now imagine that the raised stone blocks pass through a quarter arc of a circle during their flight from ground level to the hole in the cliff face, then the pivot point of the radius would be coincident with this position.

The theoretical radius was found to be: 249.8767262 metres which very closely approximates the estimate. This converts to 809.016999 geodetic feet. The diameter of the full circle would therefore be: 1618.034 geodetic feet.

A circle with this diameter has a circumference of 5083.203728 units, which can be divided into three even lengths of 1694.4 It therefore appears that the levitated blocks, once resonated to a certain frequency, would tend to carry out a flight path that is coincident to one third of a circle. The spacial distance being equivalent to the mass harmonic at the center of a light field, 1694443.

The instruments used by the group, in theory, would also have been tuned to produce harmonic wave forms associated with the unified fields. The given measurements are in rounded off parts of a metre but in practice some slight variations from these measurements would be expected in order to create the appropriate resonating cavities within the instruments

The geometric arrangement, and the number of instruments in the group would also be a most important factor.

If the given measurement for each type of drum is modified fractionally and converted to its geometric equivalent an interesting value for the cubic capacity is evident.

The large drums:

1.517201563 metres long, 1.000721361 metres wide = 58.94627524 geodetic inches long, 38.88 geodetic inches wide = 69984 cubic inches capacity = 40.5 cubic geodetic feet capacity.

Therefore the cubic capacity for eight drums = 324 cubic geodetic feet This harmonic value is built into the world grid and is equal to half the harmonic 648.

The medium size drums:

1.000721361 metres long, 0.695189635 metres wide = 38.88 geodetic inches long, 27.00948944 geodetic inches wide = 22276.59899 cubic geodetic inches capacity = 12.89155034 cubic geodetic feet capacity.

Therefore the cubic capacity for four drums: = 51.56620136 cubic geodetic feet

14.97414932 centimetres = 5.895334377 inches = 5.817764187 geodetic inches = 0.484813682 geodetic feet

As the dish-shape was focused upward towards the stone block to be levitated it would be expected that some type of reaction would take place which had an effect on the mass. The geometric shape of the cavity does seem to be engineered in such a way the projected frequency vortex causes a reciprocal reaction to the mass harmonic of each block. The reciprocal of 0.484813682 = 2.062648055 Twice this value: = 4.12529611 The square of this value: = 17.018068 (the harmonic of mass at the earth's surface.17018068

I believe that there is not much doubt that the Tibetans had possession of the secrets relating to the geometric structure of matter, and the methods of manipulating the harmonic values, but if we can grasp the mathematical theory behind the incident, and extend the application, then an even more fascinating idea presents itself.

]]> <![CDATA[Children of God (The Sparrow, #2)]]> 16948 The Sparrow, took us on a journey to a distant planet and into the center of the human soul. A critically acclaimed bestseller, The Sparrow was chosen as one of Entertainment Weekly's Ten Best Books of the Year, a finalist for the Book-of-the-Month Club's First Fiction Prize and the winner of the James M. Tiptree Memorial Award. Now, in Children of God, Russell further establishes herself as one of the most innovative, entertaining and philosophically provocative novelists writing today.

The only member of the original mission to the planet Rakhat to return to Earth, Father Emilio Sandoz has barely begun to recover from his ordeal when the Society of Jesus calls upon him for help in preparing for another mission to Alpha Centauri. Despite his objections and fear, he cannot escape his past or the future.

Old friends, new discoveries and difficult questions await Emilio as he struggles for inner peace and understanding in a moral universe whose boundaries now extend beyond the solar system and whose future lies with children born in a faraway place.

Strikingly original, richly plotted, replete with memorable characters and filled with humanity and humor, Children of God is an unforgettable and uplifting novel that is a potent successor to The Sparrow and a startlingly imaginative adventure for newcomers to Mary Doria Russell’s special literary magic.]]> 451 Mary Doria Russell 044900483X Jerry 0 to-read 4.07 1998 Children of God (The Sparrow, #2)
author: Mary Doria Russell
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.07
book published: 1998
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2010/02/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> The Sparrow (The Sparrow, #1) 334176 419 Mary Doria Russell 0449912558 Jerry 0 to-read 4.13 1996 The Sparrow (The Sparrow, #1)
author: Mary Doria Russell
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.13
book published: 1996
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2010/02/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> How to Write a Screenplay 7648085 from Beginning to End!

This complete instructional manual will give you a ten-step building block process to get you motivated, keep you on track, and will ultimately propel you to create the first draft of your screenplay. It is designed for beginners and intermediate writers. Each building block is divided into three categories of lessons and comprehension, testing, and assignments. Every assignment will build on the previous one to give you a solid, structured foundation that will ultimately become your screenplay. Watching movies and reading scripts are a fun part of the process. This book is designed to be interactive, enjoyable, and will give you results. Why not start writing your screenplay today?]]> 127 Jennifer Chase Jerry 0 to-read 4.80 2009 How to Write a Screenplay
author: Jennifer Chase
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.80
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2010/01/27
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Safety Factor: The Cost of War (Volume 2)]]> 7632094 230 Jerry Travis 1439269033 Jerry 5 4.50 2009 The Safety Factor: The Cost of War (Volume 2)
author: Jerry Travis
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2010/01/23
shelves:
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Safety Factor - The Use of Power (Volume 1)]]> 7162585
Not only is Lady Farrell’s marriage thwarted, but she and her companions also have to learn how to deal with the changes in politics, technology, philosophy, religion, and just about every other area of human endeavor. Ellen, who has fallen in love with the captain of the ill-fated sailing ship, has to find a way to cope with his loss. And as for Maria, will she ever be able to escape the shadows of her past?]]> 168 Jerry Travis Jerry 5
In the book, “Shame, Blame, and Child Sexual Abuse� by Jane F. Gilgun, Ph.D., LICSW and a professor at University of Minnesota’s School of Social Work, is a case study of a man who molested thousands of little girls over a period of nearly fifty years before getting caught. These occurrences all happened within a 25-mile radius of where he lived. How is such a thing even possible in our society?

Another case study in that same book describes a mother whose son molested his daughter. Even after the son confessed to his crime, the mother refused to believe it and excommunicated her own granddaughter, blaming her and the authorities of conspiracy because she believed her own son could never do such a thing. The more respectable and influential a person is, the less likely their abuses will ever be reported, or even if they are, the less likely they will be believed. This coupled with the human tendency towards denial gives perpetrators tremendous power to commit their crimes in our society.

Which do you think is worse, cold-blooded murder, or child sexual abuse? Which one do you think happens more often? The answers to these questions should be obvious. And yet, what do our children constantly see on TV? From a child’s point of view, wouldn’t it be easier for them to conclude that murder is more socially acceptable than becoming involved in something such as incest, even if they are forced? It’s little wonder that many abused children never do tell what has happened to them, even throughout their entire life.

The Safety Factor series explores the thoughts and feelings of a girl who has been sexually abused, and her long road to recovery. Perpetrators of these crimes typically fail to relate to the damage that they’re doing, rationalizing that it’s OK because it doesn’t show up on their victim’s body as physical abuse does. They may even fool themselves into thinking that the child “wanted it�. To help keep these things from happening, everyone needs to know just what the effects of sexual abuse really are.

Another thing many people don’t realize is that severe emotional damage may linger for years after the abuse has stopped, often lasting for the rest of the survivor’s life. But it doesn’t have to be this way. So the approach of this book is twofold. First of all, to help prevent abuse in the first place, and secondly, to give hope and some practical information to those who have suffered abuse.

The bane of sexual abuse isn’t the only theme running through The Safety Factor series, though. Not by any means. A little while ago I got into an online discussion with a man who is a teacher of mathematics and science, of which I know a little something as well. I encountered him on a blog dedicated to faith and spirituality. He was trying to convince those there that they were ignorant fools to have faith in God (in slightly nicer words than that, but only slightly). I pointed out to him that all of science is based on mathematics, and even the mathematicians themselves have shown that mathematics is inconsistent within itself. I was somewhat surprised at the reaction I got from him, which was much like the reaction he was getting from the religionists, though the latter were considerably nicer about it.

If you don’t believe me about the fallibility of mathematics, take a look at this 1985 PBS show on You Tube. I’d recommend watching the whole 8-part thing starting here:



But if you’re in a hurry, here are the relevant portions:



and



Our society tends to portray science as some infallible god, whose very theories are facts beyond dispute. Seldom is the public presented with views to the contrary. The truth of the matter is that our modern (western) view of the world is largely based on 17th century thinking, with little but minor tweaks being made since then. Very few people realize this, but a good source on the subject is Butterfield’s book: The Origins of Modern Science. Starting The Safety Factor series out as a historical fiction novel at the beginning of the 18th century is one way of introducing the reader to the actual history of our scientific views.

Can I take credit for these “unusual� ways of looking at our universe? No, certainly not. Early on in my life, I had total faith in science much like the teacher mentioned above. During my college education I was fortunate enough to have a string of very good professors who shocked me out of my fallacious understanding. Dr. Brown, my astronomy professor, who taught me (among other things) that scientific theories are merely models of the world around us; that a model is not the same thing as what it represents; and that we should always be on the lookout for better models that more accurately predict reality. Dr. Vauter, my physics and cosmology professor, really threw me for a loop when he made the statement (in private) that, “Science is a religion, complete with doctrines, taboos, excommunications and so forth.� Dr. Albert C. Leisenring, professor of mathematics under whom I studied for an entire year learning Computability and Graph theories, introduced me to Bertrand Russell, Alfred Whitehead and Kurt Godel concerning the contradictions and limitations of mathematics mentioned above. And Rob Showman, one of my early professional mentors, who taught me that, “It’s never too late to start over again from scratch.�

Though all of this is common knowledge in these “ivory tower� areas of the human experience, they are certainly not common knowledge to the public as a whole. Another of the heavy-duty themes running through The Safety Factor series is a laypersons exposition into some of these ideas, and beyond, in the true spirit of science fiction. For instance, is the scientist who believes in the mathematical concept of infinity really any different from the person who believes in God? Or even more fundamentally, might the scientist’s concept of infinity actually be the same thing as belief in God, just labeled with different names so people can fuss and argue with each other about it? And what would happen if the concept of infinity were taken away from both science and God?

If you look at how most people view God, you’re almost immediately forced into two extreme viewpoints (ignoring agnostics, who don’t care anyway): either God doesn’t exist at all, or God is the be-all and end-all of everything in existence. There are serious problems with either one of these extremes, as philosophers and the clergy have been arguing about for millennia. Science can take us all the way back to the first few nanoseconds of the Big Bang, then things fall apart because nobody knows what happened “before� then, which is a problem if God=zero. On the other hand, if God is infinite, that is God must include everything that exists, then God of necessity must include every single atom and person (as in New Age “philosophy�, i.e. we are God) that exists in the universe, and even all evil to boot.

While I was in college, I was also fortunate enough to be able to study psychology in addition to my other studies. Whenever I see something as bipolar as how people view God, alarm bells go off in my head! Not only do people in general tend to adhere one of these two extreme viewpoints concerning God, but even a single person may flip back and forth from one “pole� to the other throughout their lifetime. If you think of these two extreme views as opposite ends on a number line, with zero on one end and infinity on the other, you might well ask, “What about all the space in-between?�

When faced with two extremes, isn’t reality usually somewhere in the middle? Someone who suffers from bipolar disorder is not considered normal or cured when they are at either end of the spectrum, even when at the end of extreme well-being and joy. What is desirable is to be somewhere in the middle, where balance between the extremes prevails. Is it possible to view God in this way, as somewhere in the middle between zero and all-everything? Is it possible that God exists, but is not infinite in the mathematical or religious sense? Ah, this is another thought that’s explored in great detail throughout The Safety Factor series.

Then there is the story itself. I’ve wrapped up all of this and much more in a story that can stand on its own two feet. So if you don’t care about the sociology, psychology, science and mathematics, just enjoy the story as an entity in itself. It’s more or less a modernized, adult version of “Alice in Wonderland�, having a charm all of its own. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading it!]]> 4.33 The Safety Factor - The Use of Power (Volume 1)
author: Jerry Travis
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.33
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2010/01/10
shelves:
review:
When I showed a draft of this book to Sheila Pfeiffer, who became one of my editors, she said, “Why would you even want to write a book that talks about child sexual abuse?� That’s a good question. She thought it was pointless to write such a book, that men (and unfortunately a few women as well) in positions of power to perpetrate such acts are seldom exposed, let alone sufficiently restricted by society so that they don’t repeat offend.

In the book, “Shame, Blame, and Child Sexual Abuse� by Jane F. Gilgun, Ph.D., LICSW and a professor at University of Minnesota’s School of Social Work, is a case study of a man who molested thousands of little girls over a period of nearly fifty years before getting caught. These occurrences all happened within a 25-mile radius of where he lived. How is such a thing even possible in our society?

Another case study in that same book describes a mother whose son molested his daughter. Even after the son confessed to his crime, the mother refused to believe it and excommunicated her own granddaughter, blaming her and the authorities of conspiracy because she believed her own son could never do such a thing. The more respectable and influential a person is, the less likely their abuses will ever be reported, or even if they are, the less likely they will be believed. This coupled with the human tendency towards denial gives perpetrators tremendous power to commit their crimes in our society.

Which do you think is worse, cold-blooded murder, or child sexual abuse? Which one do you think happens more often? The answers to these questions should be obvious. And yet, what do our children constantly see on TV? From a child’s point of view, wouldn’t it be easier for them to conclude that murder is more socially acceptable than becoming involved in something such as incest, even if they are forced? It’s little wonder that many abused children never do tell what has happened to them, even throughout their entire life.

The Safety Factor series explores the thoughts and feelings of a girl who has been sexually abused, and her long road to recovery. Perpetrators of these crimes typically fail to relate to the damage that they’re doing, rationalizing that it’s OK because it doesn’t show up on their victim’s body as physical abuse does. They may even fool themselves into thinking that the child “wanted it�. To help keep these things from happening, everyone needs to know just what the effects of sexual abuse really are.

Another thing many people don’t realize is that severe emotional damage may linger for years after the abuse has stopped, often lasting for the rest of the survivor’s life. But it doesn’t have to be this way. So the approach of this book is twofold. First of all, to help prevent abuse in the first place, and secondly, to give hope and some practical information to those who have suffered abuse.

The bane of sexual abuse isn’t the only theme running through The Safety Factor series, though. Not by any means. A little while ago I got into an online discussion with a man who is a teacher of mathematics and science, of which I know a little something as well. I encountered him on a blog dedicated to faith and spirituality. He was trying to convince those there that they were ignorant fools to have faith in God (in slightly nicer words than that, but only slightly). I pointed out to him that all of science is based on mathematics, and even the mathematicians themselves have shown that mathematics is inconsistent within itself. I was somewhat surprised at the reaction I got from him, which was much like the reaction he was getting from the religionists, though the latter were considerably nicer about it.

If you don’t believe me about the fallibility of mathematics, take a look at this 1985 PBS show on You Tube. I’d recommend watching the whole 8-part thing starting here:



But if you’re in a hurry, here are the relevant portions:



and



Our society tends to portray science as some infallible god, whose very theories are facts beyond dispute. Seldom is the public presented with views to the contrary. The truth of the matter is that our modern (western) view of the world is largely based on 17th century thinking, with little but minor tweaks being made since then. Very few people realize this, but a good source on the subject is Butterfield’s book: The Origins of Modern Science. Starting The Safety Factor series out as a historical fiction novel at the beginning of the 18th century is one way of introducing the reader to the actual history of our scientific views.

Can I take credit for these “unusual� ways of looking at our universe? No, certainly not. Early on in my life, I had total faith in science much like the teacher mentioned above. During my college education I was fortunate enough to have a string of very good professors who shocked me out of my fallacious understanding. Dr. Brown, my astronomy professor, who taught me (among other things) that scientific theories are merely models of the world around us; that a model is not the same thing as what it represents; and that we should always be on the lookout for better models that more accurately predict reality. Dr. Vauter, my physics and cosmology professor, really threw me for a loop when he made the statement (in private) that, “Science is a religion, complete with doctrines, taboos, excommunications and so forth.� Dr. Albert C. Leisenring, professor of mathematics under whom I studied for an entire year learning Computability and Graph theories, introduced me to Bertrand Russell, Alfred Whitehead and Kurt Godel concerning the contradictions and limitations of mathematics mentioned above. And Rob Showman, one of my early professional mentors, who taught me that, “It’s never too late to start over again from scratch.�

Though all of this is common knowledge in these “ivory tower� areas of the human experience, they are certainly not common knowledge to the public as a whole. Another of the heavy-duty themes running through The Safety Factor series is a laypersons exposition into some of these ideas, and beyond, in the true spirit of science fiction. For instance, is the scientist who believes in the mathematical concept of infinity really any different from the person who believes in God? Or even more fundamentally, might the scientist’s concept of infinity actually be the same thing as belief in God, just labeled with different names so people can fuss and argue with each other about it? And what would happen if the concept of infinity were taken away from both science and God?

If you look at how most people view God, you’re almost immediately forced into two extreme viewpoints (ignoring agnostics, who don’t care anyway): either God doesn’t exist at all, or God is the be-all and end-all of everything in existence. There are serious problems with either one of these extremes, as philosophers and the clergy have been arguing about for millennia. Science can take us all the way back to the first few nanoseconds of the Big Bang, then things fall apart because nobody knows what happened “before� then, which is a problem if God=zero. On the other hand, if God is infinite, that is God must include everything that exists, then God of necessity must include every single atom and person (as in New Age “philosophy�, i.e. we are God) that exists in the universe, and even all evil to boot.

While I was in college, I was also fortunate enough to be able to study psychology in addition to my other studies. Whenever I see something as bipolar as how people view God, alarm bells go off in my head! Not only do people in general tend to adhere one of these two extreme viewpoints concerning God, but even a single person may flip back and forth from one “pole� to the other throughout their lifetime. If you think of these two extreme views as opposite ends on a number line, with zero on one end and infinity on the other, you might well ask, “What about all the space in-between?�

When faced with two extremes, isn’t reality usually somewhere in the middle? Someone who suffers from bipolar disorder is not considered normal or cured when they are at either end of the spectrum, even when at the end of extreme well-being and joy. What is desirable is to be somewhere in the middle, where balance between the extremes prevails. Is it possible to view God in this way, as somewhere in the middle between zero and all-everything? Is it possible that God exists, but is not infinite in the mathematical or religious sense? Ah, this is another thought that’s explored in great detail throughout The Safety Factor series.

Then there is the story itself. I’ve wrapped up all of this and much more in a story that can stand on its own two feet. So if you don’t care about the sociology, psychology, science and mathematics, just enjoy the story as an entity in itself. It’s more or less a modernized, adult version of “Alice in Wonderland�, having a charm all of its own. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading it!
]]> <![CDATA[The Safety Factor - The Use of Power (Volume 1)]]> 7215652
Not only is Lady Farrell’s marriage thwarted, but she and her companions also have to learn how to deal with the changes in politics, technology, philosophy, religion, and just about every other area of human endeavor. Ellen, who has fallen in love with the captain of the ill-fated sailing ship, has to find a way to cope with his loss. And as for Maria, will she ever be able to escape the shadows of her past?]]> 159 Jerry Travis Jerry 5
In the book, “Shame, Blame, and Child Sexual Abuse� by Jane F. Gilgun, Ph.D., LICSW and a professor at University of Minnesota’s School of Social Work, is a case study of a man who molested thousands of little girls over a period of nearly fifty years before getting caught. These occurrences all happened within a 25-mile radius of where he lived. How is such a thing even possible in our society?

Another case study in that same book describes a mother whose son molested his daughter. Even after the son confessed to his crime, the mother refused to believe it and excommunicated her own granddaughter, blaming her and the authorities of conspiracy because she believed her own son could never do such a thing. The more respectable and influential a person is, the less likely their abuses will ever be reported, or even if they are, the less likely they will be believed. This coupled with the human tendency towards denial gives perpetrators tremendous power to commit their crimes in our society.

Which do you think is worse, cold-blooded murder, or child sexual abuse? Which one do you think happens more often? The answers to these questions should be obvious. And yet, what do our children constantly see on TV? From a child’s point of view, wouldn’t it be easier for them to conclude that murder is more socially acceptable than becoming involved in something such as incest, even if they are forced? It’s little wonder that many abused children never do tell what has happened to them, even throughout their entire life.

The Safety Factor series explores the thoughts and feelings of a girl who has been sexually abused, and her long road to recovery. Perpetrators of these crimes typically fail to relate to the damage that they’re doing, rationalizing that it’s OK because it doesn’t show up on their victim’s body as physical abuse does. They may even fool themselves into thinking that the child “wanted it�. To help keep these things from happening, everyone needs to know just what the effects of sexual abuse really are.

Another thing many people don’t realize is that severe emotional damage may linger for years after the abuse has stopped, often lasting for the rest of the survivor’s life. But it doesn’t have to be this way. So the approach of this book is twofold. First of all, to help prevent abuse in the first place, and secondly, to give hope and some practical information to those who have suffered abuse.

The bane of sexual abuse isn’t the only theme running through The Safety Factor series, though. Not by any means. A little while ago I got into an online discussion with a man who is a teacher of mathematics and science, of which I know a little something as well. I encountered him on a blog dedicated to faith and spirituality. He was trying to convince those there that they were ignorant fools to have faith in God (in slightly nicer words than that, but only slightly). I pointed out to him that all of science is based on mathematics, and even the mathematicians themselves have shown that mathematics is inconsistent within itself. I was somewhat surprised at the reaction I got from him, which was much like the reaction he was getting from the religionists, though the latter were considerably nicer about it.

If you don’t believe me about the fallibility of mathematics, take a look at this 1985 PBS show on You Tube. I’d recommend watching the whole 8-part thing starting here:



But if you’re in a hurry, here are the relevant portions:



and



Our society tends to portray science as some infallible god, whose very theories are facts beyond dispute. Seldom is the public presented with views to the contrary. The truth of the matter is that our modern (western) view of the world is largely based on 17th century thinking, with little but minor tweaks being made since then. Very few people realize this, but a good source on the subject is Butterfield’s book: The Origins of Modern Science. Starting The Safety Factor series out as a historical fiction novel at the beginning of the 18th century is one way of introducing the reader to the actual history of our scientific views.

Can I take credit for these “unusual� ways of looking at our universe? No, certainly not. Early on in my life, I had total faith in science much like the teacher mentioned above. During my college education I was fortunate enough to have a string of very good professors who shocked me out of my fallacious understanding. Dr. Brown, my astronomy professor, who taught me (among other things) that scientific theories are merely models of the world around us; that a model is not the same thing as what it represents; and that we should always be on the lookout for better models that more accurately predict reality. Dr. Vauter, my physics and cosmology professor, really threw me for a loop when he made the statement (in private) that, “Science is a religion, complete with doctrines, taboos, excommunications and so forth.� Dr. Albert C. Leisenring, professor of mathematics under whom I studied for an entire year learning Computability and Graph theories, introduced me to Bertrand Russell, Alfred Whitehead and Kurt Godel concerning the contradictions and limitations of mathematics mentioned above. And Rob Showman, one of my early professional mentors, who taught me that, “It’s never too late to start over again from scratch.�

Though all of this is common knowledge in these “ivory tower� areas of the human experience, they are certainly not common knowledge to the public as a whole. Another of the heavy-duty themes running through The Safety Factor series is a laypersons exposition into some of these ideas, and beyond, in the true spirit of science fiction. For instance, is the scientist who believes in the mathematical concept of infinity really any different from the person who believes in God? Or even more fundamentally, might the scientist’s concept of infinity actually be the same thing as belief in God, just labeled with different names so people can fuss and argue with each other about it? And what would happen if the concept of infinity were taken away from both science and God?

If you look at how most people view God, you’re almost immediately forced into two extreme viewpoints (ignoring agnostics, who don’t care anyway): either God doesn’t exist at all, or God is the be-all and end-all of everything in existence. There are serious problems with either one of these extremes, as philosophers and the clergy have been arguing about for millennia. Science can take us all the way back to the first few nanoseconds of the Big Bang, then things fall apart because nobody knows what happened “before� then, which is a problem if God=zero. On the other hand, if God is infinite, that is God must include everything that exists, then God of necessity must include every single atom and person (as in New Age “philosophy�, i.e. we are God) that exists in the universe, and even all evil to boot.

While I was in college, I was also fortunate enough to be able to study psychology in addition to my other studies. Whenever I see something as bipolar as how people view God, alarm bells go off in my head! Not only do people in general tend to adhere one of these two extreme viewpoints concerning God, but even a single person may flip back and forth from one “pole� to the other throughout their lifetime. If you think of these two extreme views as opposite ends on a number line, with zero on one end and infinity on the other, you might well ask, “What about all the space in-between?�

When faced with two extremes, isn’t reality usually somewhere in the middle? Someone who suffers from bipolar disorder is not considered normal or cured when they are at either end of the spectrum, even when at the end of extreme well-being and joy. What is desirable is to be somewhere in the middle, where balance between the extremes prevails. Is it possible to view God in this way, as somewhere in the middle between zero and all-everything? Is it possible that God exists, but is not infinite in the mathematical or religious sense? Ah, this is another thought that’s explored in great detail throughout The Safety Factor series.

Then there is the story itself. I’ve wrapped up all of this and much more in a story that can stand on its own two feet. So if you don’t care about the sociology, psychology, science and mathematics, just enjoy the story as an entity in itself. It’s more or less a modernized, adult version of “Alice in Wonderland�, having a charm all of its own. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading it!]]> 3.82 The Safety Factor - The Use of Power (Volume 1)
author: Jerry Travis
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.82
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2010/01/10
shelves:
review:
When I showed a draft of this book to Sheila Pfeiffer, who became one of my editors, she said, “Why would you even want to write a book that talks about child sexual abuse?� That’s a good question. She thought it was pointless to write such a book, that men (and unfortunately a few women as well) in positions of power to perpetrate such acts are seldom exposed, let alone sufficiently restricted by society so that they don’t repeat offend.

In the book, “Shame, Blame, and Child Sexual Abuse� by Jane F. Gilgun, Ph.D., LICSW and a professor at University of Minnesota’s School of Social Work, is a case study of a man who molested thousands of little girls over a period of nearly fifty years before getting caught. These occurrences all happened within a 25-mile radius of where he lived. How is such a thing even possible in our society?

Another case study in that same book describes a mother whose son molested his daughter. Even after the son confessed to his crime, the mother refused to believe it and excommunicated her own granddaughter, blaming her and the authorities of conspiracy because she believed her own son could never do such a thing. The more respectable and influential a person is, the less likely their abuses will ever be reported, or even if they are, the less likely they will be believed. This coupled with the human tendency towards denial gives perpetrators tremendous power to commit their crimes in our society.

Which do you think is worse, cold-blooded murder, or child sexual abuse? Which one do you think happens more often? The answers to these questions should be obvious. And yet, what do our children constantly see on TV? From a child’s point of view, wouldn’t it be easier for them to conclude that murder is more socially acceptable than becoming involved in something such as incest, even if they are forced? It’s little wonder that many abused children never do tell what has happened to them, even throughout their entire life.

The Safety Factor series explores the thoughts and feelings of a girl who has been sexually abused, and her long road to recovery. Perpetrators of these crimes typically fail to relate to the damage that they’re doing, rationalizing that it’s OK because it doesn’t show up on their victim’s body as physical abuse does. They may even fool themselves into thinking that the child “wanted it�. To help keep these things from happening, everyone needs to know just what the effects of sexual abuse really are.

Another thing many people don’t realize is that severe emotional damage may linger for years after the abuse has stopped, often lasting for the rest of the survivor’s life. But it doesn’t have to be this way. So the approach of this book is twofold. First of all, to help prevent abuse in the first place, and secondly, to give hope and some practical information to those who have suffered abuse.

The bane of sexual abuse isn’t the only theme running through The Safety Factor series, though. Not by any means. A little while ago I got into an online discussion with a man who is a teacher of mathematics and science, of which I know a little something as well. I encountered him on a blog dedicated to faith and spirituality. He was trying to convince those there that they were ignorant fools to have faith in God (in slightly nicer words than that, but only slightly). I pointed out to him that all of science is based on mathematics, and even the mathematicians themselves have shown that mathematics is inconsistent within itself. I was somewhat surprised at the reaction I got from him, which was much like the reaction he was getting from the religionists, though the latter were considerably nicer about it.

If you don’t believe me about the fallibility of mathematics, take a look at this 1985 PBS show on You Tube. I’d recommend watching the whole 8-part thing starting here:



But if you’re in a hurry, here are the relevant portions:



and



Our society tends to portray science as some infallible god, whose very theories are facts beyond dispute. Seldom is the public presented with views to the contrary. The truth of the matter is that our modern (western) view of the world is largely based on 17th century thinking, with little but minor tweaks being made since then. Very few people realize this, but a good source on the subject is Butterfield’s book: The Origins of Modern Science. Starting The Safety Factor series out as a historical fiction novel at the beginning of the 18th century is one way of introducing the reader to the actual history of our scientific views.

Can I take credit for these “unusual� ways of looking at our universe? No, certainly not. Early on in my life, I had total faith in science much like the teacher mentioned above. During my college education I was fortunate enough to have a string of very good professors who shocked me out of my fallacious understanding. Dr. Brown, my astronomy professor, who taught me (among other things) that scientific theories are merely models of the world around us; that a model is not the same thing as what it represents; and that we should always be on the lookout for better models that more accurately predict reality. Dr. Vauter, my physics and cosmology professor, really threw me for a loop when he made the statement (in private) that, “Science is a religion, complete with doctrines, taboos, excommunications and so forth.� Dr. Albert C. Leisenring, professor of mathematics under whom I studied for an entire year learning Computability and Graph theories, introduced me to Bertrand Russell, Alfred Whitehead and Kurt Godel concerning the contradictions and limitations of mathematics mentioned above. And Rob Showman, one of my early professional mentors, who taught me that, “It’s never too late to start over again from scratch.�

Though all of this is common knowledge in these “ivory tower� areas of the human experience, they are certainly not common knowledge to the public as a whole. Another of the heavy-duty themes running through The Safety Factor series is a laypersons exposition into some of these ideas, and beyond, in the true spirit of science fiction. For instance, is the scientist who believes in the mathematical concept of infinity really any different from the person who believes in God? Or even more fundamentally, might the scientist’s concept of infinity actually be the same thing as belief in God, just labeled with different names so people can fuss and argue with each other about it? And what would happen if the concept of infinity were taken away from both science and God?

If you look at how most people view God, you’re almost immediately forced into two extreme viewpoints (ignoring agnostics, who don’t care anyway): either God doesn’t exist at all, or God is the be-all and end-all of everything in existence. There are serious problems with either one of these extremes, as philosophers and the clergy have been arguing about for millennia. Science can take us all the way back to the first few nanoseconds of the Big Bang, then things fall apart because nobody knows what happened “before� then, which is a problem if God=zero. On the other hand, if God is infinite, that is God must include everything that exists, then God of necessity must include every single atom and person (as in New Age “philosophy�, i.e. we are God) that exists in the universe, and even all evil to boot.

While I was in college, I was also fortunate enough to be able to study psychology in addition to my other studies. Whenever I see something as bipolar as how people view God, alarm bells go off in my head! Not only do people in general tend to adhere one of these two extreme viewpoints concerning God, but even a single person may flip back and forth from one “pole� to the other throughout their lifetime. If you think of these two extreme views as opposite ends on a number line, with zero on one end and infinity on the other, you might well ask, “What about all the space in-between?�

When faced with two extremes, isn’t reality usually somewhere in the middle? Someone who suffers from bipolar disorder is not considered normal or cured when they are at either end of the spectrum, even when at the end of extreme well-being and joy. What is desirable is to be somewhere in the middle, where balance between the extremes prevails. Is it possible to view God in this way, as somewhere in the middle between zero and all-everything? Is it possible that God exists, but is not infinite in the mathematical or religious sense? Ah, this is another thought that’s explored in great detail throughout The Safety Factor series.

Then there is the story itself. I’ve wrapped up all of this and much more in a story that can stand on its own two feet. So if you don’t care about the sociology, psychology, science and mathematics, just enjoy the story as an entity in itself. It’s more or less a modernized, adult version of “Alice in Wonderland�, having a charm all of its own. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading it!
]]> <![CDATA[A Heart's Thoughts: Love Walk Meditations Series]]> 7130229 104 Shalonda Treasure Williams 1442189657 Jerry 0 to-read 4.32 2009 A Heart's Thoughts: Love Walk Meditations Series
author: Shalonda Treasure Williams
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2009
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2010/01/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Love Walk Meditations: Back to the Basics]]> 1930192 77 Shalonda Williams 1424180619 Jerry 0 to-read 4.71 2007 Love Walk Meditations: Back to the Basics
author: Shalonda Williams
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.71
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2010/01/04
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> High on Arrival 6791142 292 Mackenzie Phillips 143915385X Jerry 3
These books are the first ones for each author. Being a survivor of sexual abuse myself, I’m typically for any book that brings this horrific subject into the public realm. How else can such things be dealt with? Pretending that such things don’t happen, or that they always happen to someone else conveniently outside our families, doesn’t seem to work very well. So, I was really enthused when Phillips’s book came out. I watched the Oprah interview (and one or two of the others) and ordered her book.

In my opinion, Mackenzie Phillips is still in “pretend mode�. Her continual justifications of her father’s actions and affirmations of her love for him really grew tiresome. At this point I can’t even imagine that Phillips will be able to stay away from drugs. Let’s face it, she’s only been “clean� long enough to write the book (with the aid of coauthor Hilary Liftin � and even that didn’t help much). Phillips last arrest for drug possession was only a little over a year ago:



Problems like Phillips has don’t get fixed in a year. Her message seems to be:

1). If you’re in an abusive situation, continue in it until your perpetrator dies.
2). Once that happens try to see if you can fix what’s left of you, but only after you get thrown into jail for possession.
3). Continue to justify your perpetrator by saying things like; “he wasn’t a monster�, “he was a tortured man� (so that gives him the right to torture others?), “he was on drugs� (a “good� excuse for anything), “he was a musical genius� (why would that make a difference?), “I had and have profound love and respect for him�, etc., etc., etc.
4). Then use your celebrity status to ram these ideas down the public’s throat.

I quit reading Phillips’s book on page 188, after a quite lengthy paragraph of these (and more) justifications. This is why I don’t think Phillips has made it very far down the road to recovery. I certainly hope that I’m wrong, I really do. I’d like to see her begin to lead a normal life, in the real world. But all this has got me wondering what it is that Mackenzie Phillips really does love.

It’s a shame that books like “High on Arrival� are given so much attention, while books like “Musical Chairs� linger in the background. Maybe our society should take a hard look within itself, as each and every individual should (addict or not), to preserve sanity?

In Jen Knox’s book, I can at least visualize her permanent recovery. It’s very difficult for those who have suffered from addiction and post-traumatic stress syndrome to fully recover and stay that way. Does anyone who suffers trauma ever really “fully� recover? Nevertheless, we can learn to lead normal lives, and find a degree of joy. “Musical Chairs� takes us down the path of much more typical roads to addiction and recovery, that almost anyone (even celebrities) should be able to relate to. Jen Knox’s ability to express herself as she goes through major events in her life, in both thought and feeling, is absolutely top notch. I found this especially true of her feelings (where Philips’s seem to be permanently blocked by drugs).

Jen Knox leads us through of a very honest and frank portrayal of her past. I admire her courage to take ownership of her past actions, let alone share them with the rest of the world. I’m sure her example will be truly beneficial to anyone who may read her work. (Phillips, on the other hand, keeps speaking as if it was another person who was doing these things, not her, as if she suffers from a split personality � which may be the case.)

If you're into the nitty-gritty of some celebrities' lives, then this is not a bad book. Phillips does a very good job of describing, at least in left-brained detail, her aberrant ways and remorse for all the bad decisions she's made in her life. It's interesting reading for that alone (and hence the three star rating). But if you're looking for an inspirational book to encourage those who have gone down the same path towards the road to recovery, you'd be better served by looking elsewhere.]]> 3.78 2009 High on Arrival
author: Mackenzie Phillips
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.78
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at: 2009/12/31
date added: 2010/01/02
shelves:
review:
While I was reading Mackenzie Phillips’s, “High on Arrival�, I also happened to be reading Jen Knox memoir, “Musical Chairs�. This gave me a comparative perspective on the two books. If you haven’t already read “High on Arrival�, my advice would be don’t bother and read “Musical Chairs� instead. Jen Knox’s book is what Mackenzie Phillips’s book should have been.

These books are the first ones for each author. Being a survivor of sexual abuse myself, I’m typically for any book that brings this horrific subject into the public realm. How else can such things be dealt with? Pretending that such things don’t happen, or that they always happen to someone else conveniently outside our families, doesn’t seem to work very well. So, I was really enthused when Phillips’s book came out. I watched the Oprah interview (and one or two of the others) and ordered her book.

In my opinion, Mackenzie Phillips is still in “pretend mode�. Her continual justifications of her father’s actions and affirmations of her love for him really grew tiresome. At this point I can’t even imagine that Phillips will be able to stay away from drugs. Let’s face it, she’s only been “clean� long enough to write the book (with the aid of coauthor Hilary Liftin � and even that didn’t help much). Phillips last arrest for drug possession was only a little over a year ago:



Problems like Phillips has don’t get fixed in a year. Her message seems to be:

1). If you’re in an abusive situation, continue in it until your perpetrator dies.
2). Once that happens try to see if you can fix what’s left of you, but only after you get thrown into jail for possession.
3). Continue to justify your perpetrator by saying things like; “he wasn’t a monster�, “he was a tortured man� (so that gives him the right to torture others?), “he was on drugs� (a “good� excuse for anything), “he was a musical genius� (why would that make a difference?), “I had and have profound love and respect for him�, etc., etc., etc.
4). Then use your celebrity status to ram these ideas down the public’s throat.

I quit reading Phillips’s book on page 188, after a quite lengthy paragraph of these (and more) justifications. This is why I don’t think Phillips has made it very far down the road to recovery. I certainly hope that I’m wrong, I really do. I’d like to see her begin to lead a normal life, in the real world. But all this has got me wondering what it is that Mackenzie Phillips really does love.

It’s a shame that books like “High on Arrival� are given so much attention, while books like “Musical Chairs� linger in the background. Maybe our society should take a hard look within itself, as each and every individual should (addict or not), to preserve sanity?

In Jen Knox’s book, I can at least visualize her permanent recovery. It’s very difficult for those who have suffered from addiction and post-traumatic stress syndrome to fully recover and stay that way. Does anyone who suffers trauma ever really “fully� recover? Nevertheless, we can learn to lead normal lives, and find a degree of joy. “Musical Chairs� takes us down the path of much more typical roads to addiction and recovery, that almost anyone (even celebrities) should be able to relate to. Jen Knox’s ability to express herself as she goes through major events in her life, in both thought and feeling, is absolutely top notch. I found this especially true of her feelings (where Philips’s seem to be permanently blocked by drugs).

Jen Knox leads us through of a very honest and frank portrayal of her past. I admire her courage to take ownership of her past actions, let alone share them with the rest of the world. I’m sure her example will be truly beneficial to anyone who may read her work. (Phillips, on the other hand, keeps speaking as if it was another person who was doing these things, not her, as if she suffers from a split personality � which may be the case.)

If you're into the nitty-gritty of some celebrities' lives, then this is not a bad book. Phillips does a very good job of describing, at least in left-brained detail, her aberrant ways and remorse for all the bad decisions she's made in her life. It's interesting reading for that alone (and hence the three star rating). But if you're looking for an inspirational book to encourage those who have gone down the same path towards the road to recovery, you'd be better served by looking elsewhere.
]]> Musical Chairs 6901097 176 Jennifer Knox Jerry 5
These books are the first ones for each author. Being a survivor of sexual abuse myself, I’m typically for any book that brings this horrific subject into the public realm. How else can such things be dealt with? Pretending that such things don’t happen, or that they always happen to someone else conveniently outside our families, doesn’t seem to work very well. So, I was really enthused when Phillips’s book came out. I watched the Oprah interview (and one or two of the others) and ordered her book.

In my opinion, Mackenzie Phillips is still in “pretend mode�. Her continual justifications of her father’s actions and affirmations of her love for him really grew tiresome. At this point I can’t even imagine that Phillips will be able to stay away from drugs. Let’s face it, she’s only been “clean� long enough to write the book (with the aid of coauthor Hilary Liftin � and even that didn’t help much). Phillips last arrest for drug possession was only a little over a year ago:



Problems like Phillips has don’t get fixed in a year. Her message seems to be:

1). If you’re in an abusive situation, continue in it until your perpetrator dies.
2). Once that happens try to see if you can fix what’s left of you, but only after you get thrown into jail for possession.
3). Continue to justify your perpetrator by saying things like; “he wasn’t a monster�, “he was a tortured man� (so that gives him the right to torture others?), “he was on drugs� (a “good� excuse for anything), “he was a musical genius� (as if that makes a difference?), “I had and have profound love and respect for him�, etc., etc., etc.
4). Then use your celebrity status to ram these ideas down the public’s throat.

I quit reading Phillips’s book on page 188, after a quite lengthy paragraph of these (and more) justifications. This is why I don’t think Phillips had made it very far down the road to recovery. I certainly hope that I’m wrong, I really do. I’d like to see her begin to lead a normal life, in the real world. But all this has got me wondering what it is that Mackenzie Phillips really does love.

It’s a shame that books like “High on Arrival� are given so much attention, while books like “Musical Chairs� linger in the background. Maybe our society should take a hard look within itself, as each and every individual should (addict or not), to preserve sanity?

In Jen Knox’s book, I can at least visualize her permanent recovery. It’s very difficult for those who have suffered from addiction and post-traumatic stress syndrome to fully recover and stay that way. Does anyone who suffers trauma ever really “fully� recover? Nevertheless, we can learn to lead normal lives, and find a degree of joy. “Musical Chairs� takes us down the path of much more typical roads to addiction and recovery, that almost anyone (even celebrities) should be able to relate to. Jen Knox’s ability to express herself as she goes through major events in her life, in both thought and feeling, is absolutely top notch. I found this especially true of her feelings (where Philips’s seem to be permanently blocked by drugs).

Jen Knox leads us through of a very honest and frank portrayal of her past. I admire her courage to take ownership of her past actions, let alone share them with the rest of the world. I’m sure her example will be truly beneficial to anyone who may read her work. (Phillips, on the other hand, keeps speaking as if it was another person who was doing these things, not her, as if she suffers from a split personality � which may be true.)

Though many women will read this book, they are not the only ones who should. If you’re a man, haven’t you wondered what goes through a strip-dancer’s mind, what REALLY goes through her mind and what she’s feeling while performing? Then you should read this book as well. It will give you quite a surprise (unless you’re already well acquainted with the psychology). Though this is only one woman’s experience, I believe it to be more typical than atypical of what women in this situation think and feel.

Criticisms? Jen Knox book isn’t perfect. There are some things I would like to have seen more fully fleshed out. For instance, what the meaning of her grandmother’s reoccurring delusion is. However, this is a memoir, not fiction. Reality seldom tires up all those loose ends of our lives. There are a few typos in the book; I think I counted about ten. Every book has typos, and as an author myself, I know how nearly impossible it is to get rid of them all. In one place there seems to be a sentence or two missing. But none of these cosmetic things are enough to distract from the story, or to affect my rating.]]> 4.15 2009 Musical Chairs
author: Jennifer Knox
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.15
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2009/12/31
date added: 2010/01/01
shelves:
review:
While I was reading Jen Knox memoir, “Musical Chairs�, I also happened to be reading Mackenzie Phillips’s, “High on Arrival�. This gave me a comparative perspective on the two books. If you haven’t already read “High on Arrival�, my advice would be don’t bother and read “Musical Chairs� instead. Jen Knox’s book is what Mackenzie Phillips’s book should have been.

These books are the first ones for each author. Being a survivor of sexual abuse myself, I’m typically for any book that brings this horrific subject into the public realm. How else can such things be dealt with? Pretending that such things don’t happen, or that they always happen to someone else conveniently outside our families, doesn’t seem to work very well. So, I was really enthused when Phillips’s book came out. I watched the Oprah interview (and one or two of the others) and ordered her book.

In my opinion, Mackenzie Phillips is still in “pretend mode�. Her continual justifications of her father’s actions and affirmations of her love for him really grew tiresome. At this point I can’t even imagine that Phillips will be able to stay away from drugs. Let’s face it, she’s only been “clean� long enough to write the book (with the aid of coauthor Hilary Liftin � and even that didn’t help much). Phillips last arrest for drug possession was only a little over a year ago:



Problems like Phillips has don’t get fixed in a year. Her message seems to be:

1). If you’re in an abusive situation, continue in it until your perpetrator dies.
2). Once that happens try to see if you can fix what’s left of you, but only after you get thrown into jail for possession.
3). Continue to justify your perpetrator by saying things like; “he wasn’t a monster�, “he was a tortured man� (so that gives him the right to torture others?), “he was on drugs� (a “good� excuse for anything), “he was a musical genius� (as if that makes a difference?), “I had and have profound love and respect for him�, etc., etc., etc.
4). Then use your celebrity status to ram these ideas down the public’s throat.

I quit reading Phillips’s book on page 188, after a quite lengthy paragraph of these (and more) justifications. This is why I don’t think Phillips had made it very far down the road to recovery. I certainly hope that I’m wrong, I really do. I’d like to see her begin to lead a normal life, in the real world. But all this has got me wondering what it is that Mackenzie Phillips really does love.

It’s a shame that books like “High on Arrival� are given so much attention, while books like “Musical Chairs� linger in the background. Maybe our society should take a hard look within itself, as each and every individual should (addict or not), to preserve sanity?

In Jen Knox’s book, I can at least visualize her permanent recovery. It’s very difficult for those who have suffered from addiction and post-traumatic stress syndrome to fully recover and stay that way. Does anyone who suffers trauma ever really “fully� recover? Nevertheless, we can learn to lead normal lives, and find a degree of joy. “Musical Chairs� takes us down the path of much more typical roads to addiction and recovery, that almost anyone (even celebrities) should be able to relate to. Jen Knox’s ability to express herself as she goes through major events in her life, in both thought and feeling, is absolutely top notch. I found this especially true of her feelings (where Philips’s seem to be permanently blocked by drugs).

Jen Knox leads us through of a very honest and frank portrayal of her past. I admire her courage to take ownership of her past actions, let alone share them with the rest of the world. I’m sure her example will be truly beneficial to anyone who may read her work. (Phillips, on the other hand, keeps speaking as if it was another person who was doing these things, not her, as if she suffers from a split personality � which may be true.)

Though many women will read this book, they are not the only ones who should. If you’re a man, haven’t you wondered what goes through a strip-dancer’s mind, what REALLY goes through her mind and what she’s feeling while performing? Then you should read this book as well. It will give you quite a surprise (unless you’re already well acquainted with the psychology). Though this is only one woman’s experience, I believe it to be more typical than atypical of what women in this situation think and feel.

Criticisms? Jen Knox book isn’t perfect. There are some things I would like to have seen more fully fleshed out. For instance, what the meaning of her grandmother’s reoccurring delusion is. However, this is a memoir, not fiction. Reality seldom tires up all those loose ends of our lives. There are a few typos in the book; I think I counted about ten. Every book has typos, and as an author myself, I know how nearly impossible it is to get rid of them all. In one place there seems to be a sentence or two missing. But none of these cosmetic things are enough to distract from the story, or to affect my rating.
]]> <![CDATA[King by Right of Blood and Might]]> 6828163 316 Anna L. Walls 1434368661 Jerry 0 to-read 4.05 2008 King by Right of Blood and Might
author: Anna L. Walls
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.05
book published: 2008
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2009/12/26
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Final Theory: Rethinking Our Scientific Legacy]]> 479398 424 Mark McCutcheon 1581126018 Jerry 0 currently-reading 3.34 2002 The Final Theory: Rethinking Our Scientific Legacy
author: Mark McCutcheon
name: Jerry
average rating: 3.34
book published: 2002
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2009/12/24
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Universities Asleep at the Switch: A Fresh Look at Quantum Physics]]> 231735 196 Daniel P. Fitzpatrick 1588321770 Jerry 0 to-read 4.12 2006 Universities Asleep at the Switch: A Fresh Look at Quantum Physics
author: Daniel P. Fitzpatrick
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.12
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2009/12/20
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> Here All Along 7159932 Here All Along is one woman's struggle to leave an abusive marriage, twice. Her struggle through the court system in hopes of finding someone to help protect her and her daughters from her ex-husbands who refused to let go. Her fight to obtain and keep her restraining order three years in a row and finally learning who she could count on to protect her and her children.
Here All Along is an inspirational story of one woman's fight for freedom, her desire to protect her children and finding the strength to believe in herself.]]> 130 Lori Osterman 1617520012 Jerry 5
Sharing the details of her life was obviously painful for the author, but that pain comes across to us as well, in a powerful way. We feel her fear and confusion as the two men, who once professed that they loved her, join forces to do everything they can to destroy her sense of value, being loved and self-esteem � her very soul.

The latter half of the book mostly deals with her court battles. I thought this area might be boring. It turned out to be anything but. Astonishingly, Newman's skillful way of expressing herself continued to draw me into her plight, more so than I would have thought possible.

This book deals with a very poignant social issue. There are laws to protect people from physical and sexual abuse. Even so, they can be difficult to enforce and have various degrees of success protecting those who need it. However, there really are no laws, to speak of, that protect one from psychological abuse.

As psychological pain may be just as real and painful as physical pain, psychological abuse may be just as devastating as physical abuse. And yet, how can one escape from psychological abuse in a world that treats this social ill so lightly? That's what Newman's book is all about and why she has written it. This book is not only educational, but a very entertaining read as well. It certainly held my attention.

Newman’s book is also a warning for young women to be very careful about whom they entrust their hearts to. On the surface, there may appear to be very little difference between a “charismatic� individual and a narcissistic one. Indeed, people who have spent so much time polishing and refining the external expression of themselves, their “façade�, may be doing so to hide some very unpleasant things beneath it. And, of course, in the intimacy of marriage, this façade can’t be maintained for long.

A NOTE ABOUT THE KINDLE VERSION: I purchased this book as an ebook. In fact, if it weren’t for the Kindle Store's sampling feature, I probably wouldn't have decided to read it at all. On a topic like this, I was afraid that the book might just be someone's vengeful "spouting off" against their ex-husbands. We've all seen people like this, both male and female, who by lying to themselves and others try to pull everything around them, including the social institutions such as the justice system, into their own warped view of "reality". The sample convinced me that this was not the case with Newman.

There are two such individuals in the book, but they turn out to be her ex-husbands, not her. It is this very fact that empowers the justice system to work in Newman's favor. I'm often amazed that these sorts of people don't recognize that the very institutions they are trying to manipulate have to deal with people like them every day. I guess it all goes to show that you should never underestimate the ego of a narcissist! It is this very ego that the judges recognize, leading to the narcissist’s downfall. Nevertheless, this weakness may be very difficult for someone “under their spell� to recognize, and Newman provides many practical examples of how to break free from their influence.

The Kindle version has a few issues, but nothing that hindered my reading experience. The Table of Contents is inappropriately “wrapped� (it looks OK if you switch to “landscape� or the smallest available font on the Kindle 2), and occasionally you run into two words that have been joined together without a space between them. I recognize both of these aberrations as artifacts of the program(s) that converted the book into the Kindle format. Still, these are very little things and I certainly wouldn’t want to steer anyone away from the ebook on that basis. I’ve noticed there an earlier Kindle version (by a few days) of the book (same title and author) in the Kindle store. I don’t know what the difference is, but it’s probably better to purchase the later version (this version).
]]> 4.43 2009 Here All Along
author: Lori Osterman
name: Jerry
average rating: 4.43
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2009/12/17
date added: 2009/12/18
shelves:
review:
It's been said that what makes a truly great author is honesty. An author needs to be honest with their topic, honest with their characters, and above all, honest with themselves. Lori Newman excels in all three of these areas.

Sharing the details of her life was obviously painful for the author, but that pain comes across to us as well, in a powerful way. We feel her fear and confusion as the two men, who once professed that they loved her, join forces to do everything they can to destroy her sense of value, being loved and self-esteem � her very soul.

The latter half of the book mostly deals with her court battles. I thought this area might be boring. It turned out to be anything but. Astonishingly, Newman's skillful way of expressing herself continued to draw me into her plight, more so than I would have thought possible.

This book deals with a very poignant social issue. There are laws to protect people from physical and sexual abuse. Even so, they can be difficult to enforce and have various degrees of success protecting those who need it. However, there really are no laws, to speak of, that protect one from psychological abuse.

As psychological pain may be just as real and painful as physical pain, psychological abuse may be just as devastating as physical abuse. And yet, how can one escape from psychological abuse in a world that treats this social ill so lightly? That's what Newman's book is all about and why she has written it. This book is not only educational, but a very entertaining read as well. It certainly held my attention.

Newman’s book is also a warning for young women to be very careful about whom they entrust their hearts to. On the surface, there may appear to be very little difference between a “charismatic� individual and a narcissistic one. Indeed, people who have spent so much time polishing and refining the external expression of themselves, their “façade�, may be doing so to hide some very unpleasant things beneath it. And, of course, in the intimacy of marriage, this façade can’t be maintained for long.

A NOTE ABOUT THE KINDLE VERSION: I purchased this book as an ebook. In fact, if it weren’t for the Kindle Store's sampling feature, I probably wouldn't have decided to read it at all. On a topic like this, I was afraid that the book might just be someone's vengeful "spouting off" against their ex-husbands. We've all seen people like this, both male and female, who by lying to themselves and others try to pull everything around them, including the social institutions such as the justice system, into their own warped view of "reality". The sample convinced me that this was not the case with Newman.

There are two such individuals in the book, but they turn out to be her ex-husbands, not her. It is this very fact that empowers the justice system to work in Newman's favor. I'm often amazed that these sorts of people don't recognize that the very institutions they are trying to manipulate have to deal with people like them every day. I guess it all goes to show that you should never underestimate the ego of a narcissist! It is this very ego that the judges recognize, leading to the narcissist’s downfall. Nevertheless, this weakness may be very difficult for someone “under their spell� to recognize, and Newman provides many practical examples of how to break free from their influence.

The Kindle version has a few issues, but nothing that hindered my reading experience. The Table of Contents is inappropriately “wrapped� (it looks OK if you switch to “landscape� or the smallest available font on the Kindle 2), and occasionally you run into two words that have been joined together without a space between them. I recognize both of these aberrations as artifacts of the program(s) that converted the book into the Kindle format. Still, these are very little things and I certainly wouldn’t want to steer anyone away from the ebook on that basis. I’ve noticed there an earlier Kindle version (by a few days) of the book (same title and author) in the Kindle store. I don’t know what the difference is, but it’s probably better to purchase the later version (this version).

]]>