The Tao of Pooh

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Is there such thing as a Western Taoist? Benjamin Hoff says there is, and this Taoist's favorite food is honey. Through brilliant and witty dialogue with the beloved Pooh-bear and his companions, the author of this smash bestseller explains with ease and aplomb that rather than being a distant and mysterious concept, Taoism is as near and practical to us as our morning breakfast bowl. Romp through the enchanting world of Winnie-the-Pooh while soaking up invaluable lessons on simplicity and natural living.

Book Description

One of the world's great Taoist masters isn't Chinese, or a venerable philosopher, but is in fact none other than A. A. Milne's effortlessly calm, still, reflective bear Winnie-the-Pooh. While Eeyore frets and Piglet hesitates and Rabbit calculates and Owl pontificates, Pooh just is. And that's the clue to the secret wisdom of the Taoists.

Customer Reviews:

Non Fiction.......2007-09-03

A complete waste of time. I suppose it is a whimsical idea to use Pooh to explain the version of philosophy that you favor. Others might term this exploitative. In fact, there is probably a comic in there somewhere, The Revenge of Pooh, where pragmatic realistic toys with weapons come and kick the stuffing out of wacko writers.

What a great book.......2007-08-27

If you only read two books this year, this and "The Te of Piglet" should be those.

wonderful, insightful book..........2007-08-08

I found this to be a simply delightful read. It was easy to comprehend and get through. Whoever thought that Pooh might one day come back and enlighten me as much as he entertained me as a kid growing up.

Interesting concepts.......2007-08-04

I learned of this book through my truck insurance auto person in Minnesota. He told me of this book and I bought it and thought it had some great insites on life. They were always there but Pooh brings them out in a way that makes me think farther into it. Really good. PSM

Cottelston, Cottelston, Cottelston Pie .......2007-06-29

"What did you think of the book?" "What book?" asked Pooh. "The Tao of Pooh," replied William. "The who of me." "Yeah, that was a chapter. Did you like it?" "How could you not like a book about a bear?" Pooh said proudly. "That was how I felt," William confirmed.

A wonderful little book that not only introduces one to the thoughts of Taoism but also shows you how a clear mind without worry can make your life better. Don't be a Bisy Backson. Pick up this book and sit down and enjoy it. That's the whole point, right?

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Heart of Oak: The Bolitho Novels #27 (The Bolitho Novels)

Average customer rating:

Great book
Should have stopped at #26
Slow read,
Reeman does it again

Heart of Oak: The Bolitho Novels #27 (The Bolitho Novels)
Alexander Kent
Manufacturer: McBooks Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1590131371

Book Description

The newest Bolitho novel focuses on Adam Bolitho who commands a new frigate. Adam and his men must learn to work together with their former enemies, the French, but old hatreds resurface.

Customer Reviews:

Great book.......2007-07-18

Another great book by Alexander Kent. Thanks for sending it in a timely manner. Arrived in great condition.

Should have stopped at #26.......2007-05-14

I have read the entire Bolitho series and have greatly enjoyed most of them. This one, however, I wish I had never bought. It seems as if Kent was trying for more drama instead of a good sea tale. Way too much angst and not enough swashbuckling action. Mr. Kent, quit mucking with the formula and get backing to writing the stories we love!

Slow read,.......2007-04-11

I beleive Heart of Oak falls short of any of the previous Bolitho Novels.

The few ship battle actions are poorly described. Most of the previous novels detail the ship's manuvering, gun actions, and hand to hand combat to leave a feeling of being involved. Also, many of the previous books details shipboard life and the skills needed to sail a man-of-war. This one is poorly done.

Too much print mooning over Adam'love life. I have read all 26 Bolitho Novels, some of them two or three times and the majority are real page turners. This one was not.

Reeman does it again.......2007-04-06

I first started reading the Richard Bolitho books in Boston back in the late 60's as a young Sailor and have been ever addicted since. This latest novel upholds Douglas Reeman's (Alexander Kent's) fine tradition of Nepolianic War era British wooden sailing ships and iron men. Unlike the late Patrick O'Brien's books that tend to ramble on (I have never been able to hold interest in one of his novels), these books are readable and you understand the workings of a man-o-war at sea and in time of battle. His characters are human, you get to know them as old friends, you understand their fallacies and strong points, you share their good times and grieve for the departed. Excellent book Mr. Reeman!

The Cambridge Companion to the Scottish Enlightenment (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy)

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One of the great cultural movements in the world

The Cambridge Companion to the Scottish Enlightenment (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy)

Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0521003237

Book Description

A distinguished team of contributors examines the writings of David Hume, Adam Smith, Thomas Reid, Adam Ferguson, Colin Maclaurin and other Scottish thinkers, in philosophy, natural theology, economics, anthropology, natural science and law. The contributors also relate the Scottish Enlightenment to its historical context and assess its impact and legacy in Europe, America and beyond. The volume is of interest to a wide range of readers in philosophy, theology, literature and the history of ideas.

Download Description

The Cambridge Companion to the Scottish Enlightenment offers a philosophical perspective on an eighteenth-century movement that has been profoundly influential on western culture. A distinguished team of contributors examines the writings of David Hume, Adam Smith, Thomas Reid, Adam Ferguson, Colin Maclaurin and other Scottish thinkers, in fields including philosophy, natural theology, economics, anthropology, natural science and law. In addition, the contributors relate the Scottish Enlightenment to its historical context and assess its impact and legacy in Europe, America and beyond. The result is a comprehensive and accessible volume that illuminates the richness, the intellectual variety and the underlying unity of this important movement. It will be of interest to a wide range of readers in philosophy, theology, literature and the history of ideas.

Customer Reviews:

One of the great cultural movements in the world.......2006-02-21

The editor Alexander Broadie is Professor of Logic and Rhetoric at Glasgow University- a chair once occupied by Adam Smith author of "Wealth of Nations". This book, "The Scottish Enlightenment", written for the general reader, is a great treatise on a most astonishing period of Scottish history during the 18th century. Broadie writes; "that what gave the Scottish Enlightenment its character as a distinct historical movement was the complex set of relations with a group of geniuses and other immensely creative people living in each others intellectual pockets. Broadie and his colleagues write about the leading Scottish luminaries in the fields of science, philosophy, history, economics, and the arts. The ideas of Hume, Smith, Reid, Ferguson, Hutcheson, Kames, Turnbull, and others had an immense influence on the great thinkers of Europe as well as our founding fathers here in America.

The term "Enlightenment" suggests emergence from darkness. There are two essential features of the enlightenment. First, a demand that people think for themselves. You do not take ideas on faith but you inquire study and observe for yourself. Second, social virtue of tolerance of ideas. The state and church cannot punish one for their ideas. This allows literati of men to meet and exchange ideas on a plethora of subjects and to spread these ideas through their writings so that other literati in Europe can comment and react to them. Thinking becomes a civil activity with ideas in the public domain. These men love liberty and are looking to build a better society for humanity. They believe that if morality is about anything it is about - protecting the civilized values vested in society. No wonder these men had a great influence on our founding fathers! The Scottish Enlightenment was Scotland's chief export to America. The consequences for the Scottish Enlightenment were much theorizing about society and social change and the nature of freedom.

If you are truly interested in a classical education put this book on the top of your reading list! I recommend this book for anyone interested in philosophy, history, political science, and history of America's founding era.

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Historical- Not Nautical Fiction
Stand Into Danger
Great naval fiction!
One of the better Royal Navy sea yarn series
Good action yarn

Stand into Danger (The Bolitho Novels)
Alexander Kent
Manufacturer: McBooks Press
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0935526420

Book Description

In 1774, Richard Bolitho is a newly appointed Third Lieutenant, joining the 28-gun frigate Destiny. Dispatched on a secret mission, Destiny and her company face the hazards of conspiracy, treason, and piracy. It is amidst the broadside battles and clashes of swords that Bolitho learns to accept his new responsibilities as a King's officer.

Customer Reviews:

Historical- Not Nautical Fiction.......2006-07-25

If you like historical fiction, especially fairly light fiction, you'll like this book.

If you are a fan of nautical fiction, you will be disappointed. Alexander Kent goes into very little detail about the mechanics of a ship.

Stand Into Danger.......2006-05-27

I've never written a book review before but this novel has truly inspired me to act.

Stand Into Danger is an imposition on the public.

Mr. Kent uses his fairly extensive knowledge of nautical terms and 18th century british naval life to weave a tale of ever devolving complexity in which every plot twist can be anticipated with a yawn or a scratch of the head.

The 18 year old main character is a junior officer who seemingly succeeds at everything from defeating the captain of rival ships (in single combat) to winning the fair lady despite there being more experienced, successful and senior officers at hand.

The cookie-cutter-stereotype cast of characters exist only to make 3rd Lt. Bolitho have someone to interact with when he's not saving the ship. They seem to have no existence beyond this.

Bolitho faces certain death on several occasions only to be inexplicably rescued by a sailor he befriended, time and time again. The plot makes no sense literally or historically and reads more like some mission of 007, ignoring both nautical tradition and british naval hierachy.

While I enjoy suspending disbelief for the sake of a good adventure, I found it impossible to not guess what would happen next at every turn with this book. Mr. Kent just makes it all too obvious. When I reached the climax of the book,I put it down. I found myself unable to continue or care what happened next. There was no suspense and little adventure.

I recommend that you give this series a miss. It simply isn't worth the time.

Great naval fiction!.......2003-12-07

My family physician brought my attention, in the first place, to Patrick O'Brian's series of books about the adventures of Captain Jack Aubrey of the British Navy in the days of wooden ships and iron men.

I was not new to naval fiction. I cut my teeth on Howard Pease's stories of the merchant marine, which inspired me, directly, to ship out at the age of 16 on an 8,000 ton freighter, in the "black gang," as a fireman. Subsequently, I joined the U.S. Navy on my 17th birthday and eventually I built my own ketch-rigged sailboat, the "Wild Goose," and sailed her on the Pacific with my family.

I am somewhat of a connoisseur of naval fiction, especially as it relates to sailing vessels. The late Patrick O'Brian was a master of the genre, and his details of square riggers sailing rig and of life aboard vessels of the late 18th century were unsurpassed. Many of his actions were taken directly from admiralty records.

Alexander Kent is more of a storyteller, and he does not depend so much on detail of the sailing rig. He is more interested in the story, and his stories are superb! He keeps you reading far into the night to see how it comes out. I would read the books through in one setting, if my schedule allowed. My doctor recommewnded this series, also.

Like O'Brian, Kent (a pseudonym) follows the career of a single extraordinary seaman, Richard Bolitho, from Midshipman on to command. Bolitho began his career at the age of twelve, although the series pick him up at 16, a seasoned midshipman, in the first book of the series (which I have reviewed) "Midshipman Bolitho," in which he is assigned to a 74 gun ship of the line, the Gorgon. "Stand into Danger" picks him up as a third lieutenant on the Destiny, a frigate.

There is plenty of action in both stories. I have the third book in the series, now, and have the fourth on order. That should tell how much I like the series.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre, USN (Ret)

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

One of the better Royal Navy sea yarn series.......2002-10-03

My father introduced me to Horatio Hornblower when I was in junior high and I've been a fan of Napoleonic-era sea yarns ever since. C. S. Forester is still the standard against which I measure later creations, and Alexander Kent stands up very well in that regard. I always try to work out a birthdate for the main character in such a series, so I'll have some idea of the future course of his history and what real events he's likely to bump into. Hornblower was born in 1776, Jack Aubrey around 1770 (I think), and Richard Bolitho in 1756 -- which pretty much takes him out of the later Napoleonic period except as a very senior officer (the last book in the series is set in 1806). Things were quite different at that relatively early period as regards press gangs, construction of ships, international politics, and lots of other factors, which adds to the interest. Specifically, Bolitho is eighteen years old and a newly-appointed Third Lieutenant aboard the Destiny, a frigate armed for war during a time of peace, whose captain is frothing to lay hold of a would-be revolutionary hiding out in the Caribbean. Which provides plenty of room for Bolitho to develop his naval and leadership skills, to become infatuated with another man's wife, and acquire friendships that will last a lifetime -- especially with Stockdale, who will later become his cox'n. The prose is workmanlike and the author spends almost as much time delineating the characters of Captain Dumaresq, First Lieutenant Palliser, and Second Lieutenant Rhodes, all of whom are interesting, and which greatly increases the reader's enjoyment.

Good action yarn.......2001-12-27

Now a 3rd Lt. on a small frigate (without our seeing how he stepped up), the attractive Bolitho sails far from the coast of England into the hot and pirate-infested Caribbean of yore, on a secret mission about which his captain is long mum. There's lots of sailing involved, but little hard seamanship evoked in detail. That is one reason I see Kent's novels as pitched to young adult readers. They focus on rip-roaring risks and adventure, and less on development and the texture of naval life under sail. They have an episodic jerky quality to them rather than smooth story-telling. Every now and then Kent will insert into the flow the thoughts of someone besides Bolitho, although the thoughts are about him.

In the course of chasing a variety of pirates, and traitors who have joined them, the story turns into a treasure hunt. Whether or not they find the gold, Bolitho certainly pursues a love on shore and afloat, with all the wonderful hesitations and false starts of a first true love. Bolitho also makes life-long devoted friends and allies among his crew division, although I wish Kent had shown more often how Bolitho accomplishes that rather than often merely announce it as fact. Only his winning of boxer Stockdale--whom Bolitho rescues while serving as the leader of a hated press gang, of all things--is shown in satisfying detail. On the other hand, Bolitho's staunchness, pluck, and luck are clearly shown to win over other officers, and it is enjoyable to see him grow in skill and authority under the fortunate tutelage of his unusually sympathetic superiors. I place Kent's series as wonderful naval adventure books on the third level, after Forester and O'Brian, then others like Pope, Woodman, and Stockwin. These books published by McBooks have a nice look and feel to them.

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Alexander as it might have been...

Greek myths come alive!

Incredible Greek fantasy epic !!

Dark Prince
David Gemmell
Manufacturer: Del Rey
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Lion of Macedon

Lord of the Silver Bow (Troy Trilogy, Book 1)

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Knights of Dark Renown

Ghost King (Stones of Power)

ASIN: 0345494784
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Amazon.com

Reading this sequel to Lion of Macedon is like reading a compressed, accelerated Lord of the Rings crossed with the classic Star Trek episode, "Mirror, Mirror." Preternaturally precocious 4-year-old Alexander is kidnapped by Philippos, a demonic parallel-universe twin of King Philip of Macedon. Philip's strategos (chief general and strategist), Parmenion, and Philip's assassin, Attalus, form an uneasy alliance in order to retrieve Alexander. Passed (by the sorcerer Aristotle) through a portal to Makedones, a world geographically similar to but historically different from their own, they must first find Alexander and then make their way through hostile, enchanted territory inhabited by magical creatures to a rendezvous with Aristotle. But Philip of Macedon isn't the only person who has a twin in this parallel world, and as Parmenion discovers more about Makedones, he finds that the similarities rather than the differences are the most troubling.

There are two stories here. First, Alexander's mystic quest for redemption (carried out by the chosen few) and Parmenion and the Spartans' parallel last-ditch battle (fought with ordinary weapons); then, David Gemmell follows Alexander and Parmenion home. Although they have beaten a horrific demon in Makedones, they have yet to face the demons of Macedon: Alexander's life and soul are at stake in another battle against darkness.

Book Description

The chaos spirit had chosen the child Alexander to be its human host. But Parmenion, most powerful warrior of ancient Greece, had won a small victory over the darkness that sought to rule through Alexander. The boy's soul had not been destroyed by evil, but instead had merged with it -- and now Parmenion aided Alexander in the battle between light and dark that constantly raged within him.
But there was another world, where the creatures of Greece's legends still flourished. There, the chaos spirit already ruled, through a demon king. In this Greece, there was a prophecy that a child of great power, the legendary golden child, would come and restore the fading magic of the land to the creatures of myth. The demon king believed also that devouring the heart of this fabled child would give him immortality. He believed Alexander, with the power of the chaos spirit within him, to be that child. And so he called Alexander into his world . . .
Only Parmenion, guided by the seeress Derae, his lost love from another life, could hope to save Alexander from the demon king. But who could save the young prince from the chaos spirit that threatened to conquer his soul?

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

Alexander as it might have been..........2006-08-03

This is a companion review to Lion of Macedon.
Dark Prince takes us back to the David Gemmell reconstructed world of ancient Greece. There are a whole heap of goings-on that occurred in Lion of Macedon that led to certain events in Dark Prince, but to tell you them would ruin Lion of Macedon for you, so I won't.
Anyway, this is rather a strange book. It retains some of the feel of Lion of Macedon but is completely different in many aspects. A significant portion of the novel is spent in an alternate reality Greece where mythical creatures such as centaurs and minotaurs still roam the Earth. There is also an evil Phillippos of Makedon to contend with.
Alexander is an extraordinary child in many aspects. He has an extreme constitution and a very high intelligence for one supposedly four years old (in the first third of the book). Actually, despite the possession of the Chaos Spirit, I did still struggle to deal with the adult-like conversations and concerns of the toddler Alexander.
The book improved for me greatly when the setting resumed in the Greece we knew from Lion of Macedon.
Still, in all, this novel had what one expects from a David Gemmell. Heaps of battles, the odd love scene, sword fights a-plenty, revenge, betrayals...
If you pick up this novel expecting an historically accurate re-telling of the Alexander myth, then this is not the novel for you. But, if you are looking for a rousing tale of friendship and loyalty set in a similar world to the ancient Greece we know and love, and a familiar David Gemmell world, then you will not be disappointed.
In my opinion, this sequel does not live up to the heights of Lion of Macedon though. However, it had a satisfying ending that tied together loose strings very nicely.

Greek myths come alive!.......1998-03-27

This book was wonderfully written. Gemmel had a wonderful idea with this book of the series. Although I must say, this book is not for young readers. Yet, to others, I must say you need to read this book if you like mythology.

Incredible Greek fantasy epic !!.......1997-09-05

This sequel to The Lion of Macedon takes the great General Parmenion to a mythical Greece, where fantastic creatures of legend and myth still live...satyrs, dryads and centaurs abound. Parmenion must survive in this new land to find his son, Alexander, before the Dark God does. This is an epic struggle where he must save his son and the world, from this horrible evil, and his own heart, over the one true love he thought lost to him forever. A wonderful book for hours of enjoyment! A ten is given overall, the author is able to make you feel powerful emotions with the story and gives you characters that you truly know. Don't miss this book!! Also look for Stones of Power references inside, such as: Pendarric, Fallen King of Atlantis (Aristotle), and the Sipstrassi stones (gold veined with black)

Average customer rating:

The none Richard novels
This is the best series
very slow going
Man of War,#26:The Richard Bolitho Novels
Fills in the 'other' characters

Man of War (The Bolitho Novels)
Alexander Kent
Manufacturer: McBooks Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 159013091X

Book Description

Captain Adam Bolitho, of the 74-gun Athena, sails to the West Indies as flag-captain to Vice-Admiral Sir Graham Bethune, who had been a friend of Adam's uncle, Richard. In the torrid waters of the Caribbean, they take on a renegade foe that knows no honor, offers no quarter, and traffics in human life.

Customer Reviews:

The none Richard novels.......2007-04-12

I am still suffering from Richard withdrawal. I continued with this book and its immediate predecessor to see how other characters tied to Richard would fair. However,I think this is my last read of Kent's books. He ought to go back and write an alternate ending to the novel where Richard was killed off. Then he could have an alternate #25 and #26 etc.. Still this book is a pretty good read for those who can accept Richard having been killed off and Adam now carrying the story.

This is the best series.......2007-01-09

If you are into historic naval fiction, this is the series to read!!

very slow going.......2006-12-26

For some time, I thought Alexander Kent was slipping a bit. His books have become more tedious and soap-opera like in concept and content. In this book, Man of War, the author filled the pages with non-action. The dead hero, Richard Bolitho is never far from the minds of the major characters in the book and so it appears in the mind of the author as well. While the time period was one of peace and hunting slavers seem to be a major letdown from fighting the French, the author could still add some excitment to the story. But instead, we are treated with a lot of talk, a lot of emotional repression and by the book characters. This is a very slow going book where many things are said but very little take place. The author is no longer the same man who wrote the initial books of the series that was filled with swift tale of action, seamanship and interesting characters, good and bad.

This book is still readable and for any Bolitho fan, it should provides several hours of interesting reading regardless of its overall quality. But if a first time reader of Bolitho series start off with this book, such a reader probably won't touch another.

In my humble opinion, the series should have ended with the death of Richard Bolitho since the series as it is, cannot let go of him.

Man of War,#26:The Richard Bolitho Novels.......2006-08-28

The last in the series , just as good as the first ! Hornblower had nothing on the Bolithos.Dare you not to read the whole series!

Fills in the 'other' characters.......2006-05-20

While understanding the comments made by other reviewers, I can not agree on the low ratings. It was nice to have some 'action' with others in the series, i.e. sister Nancy, John and Unis and others.

Not all of the series need be sea battles, in fact it was nice to have some shore duty. Certain things were very obvious, such as the end of Kate, while others were nice to see, i.e. Thomas Herrick showing up and saying John had told him about Richard asking for him at the end.

It would be nice to have some happiness show up, it seems the last few books have been I loss after another. All in all, not as good as some earlier books, but not as bad as some think either.

Midshipman Bolitho (Richard Bolitho Novels/Alexander Kent, No 1)

Average customer rating:

Not quite up to Aubrey or Hornblower but still enjoyable
It's ok...
Midshipman Bolitho
A Mixed Bag
Not nearly as good as the competition

Midshipman Bolitho (Richard Bolitho Novels/Alexander Kent, No 1)
Alexander Kent
Manufacturer: McBooks Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0935526412

Book Description

The year is 1772, and Richard Bolitho is a sixteen-year-old midshipman about to undergo a severe initiation into the game of seamanship. The book follows young Bolitho's adventures as he intercepts and destroys a band of vicious pirates and then is swept away on a dangerous mission through the treacherous stamping ground of smugglers, wreckers, and murderers.

Customer Reviews:

Not quite up to Aubrey or Hornblower but still enjoyable.......2007-05-03

I had some doubts when I began this - a reprinted edition of the first two novels of the Bolitho series - but was able to settle in and enjoy it. No, Kent is not the equal of O'Brian or Forester; the books have neither the lavish wonder of the Aubrey novels nor the spare elegance and more subtle character issues of Hornblower. But they are good workmanlike age-of-sail novels.

In the first, Richard Bolitho is a midshipman aboard a 74-gun man o' war raiding slavers on the West African coast, with battle around what appears to be the infamous slave transshipping island of Goree off Dakar, Senegal, although it is never named. Bolitho's abuse at the hands of an overbearing junior officer who is his superior is reminiscent of the young Hornblower's problems early in that series.

In the second, Bolitho and friend Martyn Dancer are home on Chrismas leave following this mission, at Bolitho's ancestral homestead near Falmouth, when Bolitho's older brother Hugh, now the captain of a tax-revenue cutter, drafts them into a mission against coastal smugglers. Hugh's career is on the ropes because of duels he's fought, and the twists and turns of this adventure threaten not only his career but Richard's.

The nautical detail is good; Kent occasionally works in details that O'Brian somehow missed. I agree with another reviewer who notes he couldn't always visualize the action; Kent's battle descriptions, say, are accurate, say, but he doesn't always spell out clearly the wind's direction, the ships' bearing and relative position.

Bolitho is a bit two-dimensional, as is his friend and comrade Martyn Dancer. Both are in effect well-born fair-haired boys who always land on their feet. There are no significant differences or tensions between them. I'd like to see a few more warts and messier lives. I'll read the next installment and see what happens.

It's ok..........2006-04-04

Many reviewers have pointed out that Hornblower and Aubrey are better written characters and after only book one I am not ready to agree or disagree. This first book, was decent, but not great. If you are just starting these sort of book then read the Horatio Hornblower series first because it is excellent.

The author does a nice job of describing life in the British Navy in the Napleonic period. The balance between trying to paint the picture and keep the story going is challenging, but at this point he's done a good job.

Midshipman Bolitho.......2006-03-01

The book held my attention throughout. Although it didn't provide the detail regarding the mechanics of the actual sailing of a ship that C.F. Forrester did in his "Hornblower" books, this could be viewed as a plus in some ways.

If you are a fan of C.F. Forrester, I would recommend the Bolitho series.

A Mixed Bag.......2004-11-10

This book actually contains two novels. The first one is quite good, but the second one, concerning smugglers, seems to have been written for children. In the second novel the characterizations are thin, and the events are at once incredible and predictable. I can see this as a Walt Disney movie. Even so, I was impressed enough with the first novel to try another book by Kent. I am currently reading Stand Into Danger, the second in the Bolitho series, and it convinces me to stay on board for the rest of the Bolitho novels. At this point I rank Kent below O'Brian, Forester and Woodman. But that's not too bad.

Not nearly as good as the competition.......2004-01-08

This is not nearly as good as the competition.

The grammar is poor. Sentence fragments abound.
The stories are ok, but there is no cleverness to the writing.

For a more literary experience and better stories, in a seafaring vein, try

1) the Horatio Hornblower series by C.S. Forrester
or
2) Master and Commander, by Patrick O'Brien.

Book Description

The remarkable life of Alexander the Great, one of the greatest military geniuses of all time, vividly told by one of the world's leading experts in Greek history. With all the intensity, insight, and narrative drive that made The Spartans such a hit with critics and readers, Paul Cartledge's Alexander the Great: glowingly illuminates the brief but iconic life of Alexander (356-323 BC), king of Macedon, conqueror of the Persian Empire, and founder of a new world order. Cartledge, the distinguished scholar and historian long acknowledged as the leading international authority on ancient Sparta and Greece, brilliantly evokes Alexander's remarkable political and military accomplishments, leads us along the geographical path of his victorious armies, and compellingly charting the tremendous field of this warrior hero's influence. Alexander's legacy has had an astounding impact on military tacticians, scholars, and statesmen—in his own lifetime and in ours. In various countries and at various times he has been seen as hero, holy man, Christian saint, a new Achilles, philosopher, scientist, prophet, and visionary. Cartledge brilliantly explains why and how Alexander is endlessly fascinating, with a view to a better understanding of such fundamental topics as charismatic leadership, imperialism, and Middle Eastern geopolitics.

Customer Reviews:

Alexander.......2007-06-03

Alexander. After 2,328 years who else can be identified by a single name, without a title, and still be almost universally known? Often beloved, or at least highly respected, in the west, almost universally despised in much of the east, very few with knowledge of Alexander have no feelings one way or the other.
Over the years I have read almost every book reasonably available about this remarkable man. Some of these books are highly informative but ponderous in the extreme. Some treat Alexander as the untarnished hero, the darling of the west, while others treat him as a villain and a drunk, unworthy of praise.
It is up to each person to decide who Alexander was or is, but Mr. Cartledge has produced a well-written book, informative, without bias or agenda. It has excellent detail without dragging the reader into the minutea which is of interest only to the professional historian. His discussion covers the noble and the base about this man, whom is, arguably, one of the most important persons in the history of the western and middle-eastern worlds.
Bob

A Good Balanced Book About Alexander.......2007-04-03

This book isn't the definitive biography about Alexander and isn't a fast-reading primer either. It is at once concise and scholarly. Some sections are exhilirating and fun to read and some sections bog down and have you skipping around looking for something more fun to read. As some other reviewers have pointed out, the book jumps around based on themes (Alexander as general, Alexander as statesman, Alexander's early history, Alexander's legacy, the romance of Alexander, etc.), so it doesn't lead you through his life in a chronological order. For that type of reading, I'd recommend Robin Lane Fox's bio which reads like an epic novel and Peter Green's superb seminal bio.

If you already have a good overall grasp of Alexander's history and are looking for another perspective from a renowned scholar in this field, I highly recommend it as another addition to a well-rounded collection of works regarding this great military commander, world conqueror, and profoundly important figure in human history. Cartledge has a very thorough yet concise approach, but his very scholarly background sometimes gets a tad overbearing in some sections that read like academia. But then, some sections read like a modern article and are easy to absorb and relate to from our modern perspectives.

The fascinating thing about Alexander is the timelessness of his achievements and the means he used to attain them. Certainly, like any other human being (especially a young and supremely confident one), he was deeply flawed in many respects, but in the end, there's a good reason why he's called Alexander THE GREAT. You can't help but learn a lot from someone who was as wildly successful as he was in his incredibly ambitious endeavors. The principles of his strategies, tactics, statesmanship, governance, and leadership are all things that we can apply in our daily modern lives. His magnanimity in victory, his chivalry towards the Persian royals, his generosity towards his friends and loyal subjects, his enlightened treatment of women (including the outlawing of rape), his ability to admit his mistakes in public, his goal of fusing different cultures (essentially the first serious attempt in history to marry the cultures of the West and East), and his love for the arts and sciences are other very admirable qualities. It's obvious that he had an insatiable curiosity about any subject matter and a thirst for knowledge and learning.

We can also learn from his faults and mistakes - his delusions of self grandeur, megalomania, obsessiveness, paranoia, alcoholism, stubbornness, recklessness, ruthlessness, etc. Alexander was a man of extreme contradictions and the book examines these contradictions to a good degree. Another fascinating aspect of Alexander is the mythical aura that has followed his name since his death and this aspect is addressed in great detail in this book as well. Was he a noble libertarian who wanted to free mankind from slavery and unite mankind in brotherhood or was he simply a blood-thirsty warlord who massacred the innocents at will and only sought personal glory? Cartledge takes the middle ground and suggests that he was probably a little (or lots) of all of the above.

There are many great books about Alexander and I do think this one belongs in the collection of all the Alexander buffs for those who want to skip around and get Cartledge's credible insights, but the biographies of Robin Lane Fox, Peter Green, Nicholas Hammond, and J.F.C. Fuller are recommended for those who want a more complete overview laid out in a chronological order. Still, this is a very good and welcome work from a noted historian of ancient Greece and is an enjoyable read for the most part. It's one of those books you like to come back to over and over again just to read a certain chapter or sections when you have limited time to read.

Read This First.......2006-10-26

Being a history addict and a Soldier has led me to read everything printed in english on Alexander the Great (nuministic and logistical books included). Some biographers depict him as a shining idealized soldier-king, while others as a drunken despot on a self delusional path to deification. Cartledge balances the historical record with fresh interpretations of events and a common sense test of putting the reader in Alexander's shoes at the moment of each event. This leads to a connection with the man and an understanding of his actions that lacks in most biographies of Alexander. The answer, it seems, is that Alexander was a man like any other before and since; brilliant and flawed, just like the rest of us. If you are going to read your first book on Alexander, or only one book ever, this is the one to pick up.

Good Biography.......2006-10-03

I enjoyed reading "Alexander the Great" by Paul Cartledge, Greek History Professor at Cambridge University. Alexander the Great is among (if not) the greatest soldier in recorded history He achieved stunning military and political success in his short life. The book is structured thematically, which I found interesting and has good illustrations of battle lines, maps, glossary, bibliography, among other things.

The author methodically explores the various fascinating aspects of the brilliant and visionary Alexander the great including his leadership style, his divinity, his conquests and how he related to the various countries that he conquered.

After reading this book, I recommend that you also read "Alexander the Great's Art of Strategy". It is a thoughtful and perceptive book that is a joy to read. Another excellent biography of Alexander the great is "The Nature of Alexander" by Mary Renault.

I recommend "Alexander the Great" to anybody that needs to understand the life and times of Alexander the Great as well as his numerous achievements.

What the movie doesn't tell you..........2006-09-07

An overview of the military conquests of Alexander the Great whose campaigns spread the influence of Greek culture into modern civilization. This is more of the story that wasn't shown in the 2004 movie. Once you learn more of the real Alexander you will truly wonder why Colin Farrell was cast as him.

Average customer rating:

Hoff Sounds Like the Biggest Eeyore of Them All...
Piglet on meds..
take the time to read this one too!
Love It!
Great Read

The Te of Piglet
Benjamin Hoff
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0525934960

Book Description

In The Te of Piglet, a good deal of Taoist wisdom is revealed through the character and actions of A. A. Milne's Piglet. Piglet herein demonstrates a very important principle of Taoism: The Te-a Chinese word meaning Virtue-of the Small.

Customer Reviews:

Hoff Sounds Like the Biggest Eeyore of Them All..........2007-09-18

The Te of Piglet started off innocent enough, why with cute characters and even cuter writing how could this turn out bad? Don't get comfortable just yet! Before I knew it, I was being bombarded by Hoff's complaints about the Western world and its wretched politics. Oh how the West has lost its way--or rather, never knew the way to begin with! This is NOT a spiritually informative book, it is a compilation of Hoff's frustrations with the Western world, in particular, America. He makes it a point to vilify Eeyore who, to my knowledge, was always a lovable, albeit, depressive character. Furthermore, on the one hand, Hoff criticizes China's authoritarian government and on the other, he praises them, saying "these people know something" when referring to the country's tree planting policy. Perhaps it isn't that the Chinese are so wise and forward thinking that they know to instill tree-planting into children's hearts but rather that China has some of the worst desertification problems on this planet and that the Gobi Desert grows by the size of three Englands a year! Don't buy Hoff's political rants either because a few of his opinions are uninformed. Lovers of the Tao of Pooh, be forewarned, this does not deserve to be called its companion book. After I completed the Te of Piglet, I found it hard to take anything from Hoff seriously again. Aside from lacking the spirit of Taoism, the book is just plain disorganized. I am still wondering, "what was the point of all that?"

Piglet on meds.........2007-08-08

I didn't find this book as lovable as Tao of Pooh. Piglet while seemingly an ideal model to learn the Te from there is alot more ranting and raving then the simple lessons from Pooh. Maybe Piglet needs a change in his prescriptions.

take the time to read this one too!.......2007-06-27

Another great book by Benjamin Hoff and a perfect accompaniment to the Tao of Pooh, his first book of these 2. Like the other, I continually buy this book just to find myself gifting it away and then buying another copy for myself so that I can continue to re-read it. Always an inspiration.

Love It!.......2007-05-07

Just finished reading "The Tao of Pooh" and am halfway through this one. As a lover of the Winnie the Pooh books (and children's stories in general) and a more simple, happy way of life, I am thoroughly enjoying this book and highly recommend it to anyone who wants a little help in trying to live life differently, more simply, more easily and, by default, more happily!

Great Read.......2007-03-24

I read the Toah of Pooh years ago so I powered thru this, I am always interested in the outlooks of other spritualities. 5 stars!!!!

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