Excellent book, I just wish the author's book
928844
Excellent book, I just wish the author's book, "The Liar's Diary" was also available in Kindle format so I can read it too.
612441
I just finished this book and thought it was excellent.  It is very well written, unbiased, fair, detailed and, while long, it is a good read.  While I wish he had not disclosed some of the details he did in the last chapter, "Aftermath", this is a minor complete.  I highly recommend this book.
548485
I  really love this book and the author. I have been a follower of Steve Harvey for years even when he was starring in his own TV show. I also loved him as a comedian with the Kings of Comedy. I tried to get the book when it first came out, but everywhere I went to purchase it they were sold out. I should have bought a new copy when I order it, because this used copy is not really an actual hard copy with Steve face on it. The new book that he has coming out in December, I will be purchasing a new copy of it. I wish one day I could meet Mr. Harvey in person. He is a great writer and he is wonderful on his Radio show. He is keeping it real with his book, and letting us ladies know what is really up with men. I tried to emailed Steve through his radio show, but I guess my email got lost or thrown out, by his Managers or by his other personnell people. So keep up the good work Steve and remember God is not done with you yet!!! (smile) Debra Moore
4090563
It's a great book and I was amazed by the great amount of details the author gives about each and every single step of the process. I don't see myself engaging in such a project any time soon but I got the book because of curiosity triggered by the title.
I appreciate all the effort the author had put into this book and I only have one observation, if the pictures in it would be of a better quality (better lightning, clarity, contrast, composition) they would add great value to the content and present it in a more just way.
548528
Excellent book, could be titled WITNESS WITH QUESTIONS.
2418686
A really great book by an important author. I wish she had the opportunity to finish this book. It was wonderful!
2986831
I would have given 5 stars if only..........the Author had given us even more details about Atwood's flying, inventions and more documentation (patent records, court records, stock market records, etc.) to support his research. It is anyway a great book considering also how difficult it must have been to find material about such an interesting and "slippery" character. Being an aircraft builder myself, I would have also liked to learn more about the process he used in the construction of his "composite" airplanes and if any artifact has survived the inventor. Buy the book, you won't regret it.
1637606
I loved Bly's 'take no prisoners' style of dealing with writing teachers, and writing programs, their strengths and their shortcomings. Her insights about how some aspiring writers can be harmed or have their work stymied in its fragile state by workshops and comments by well-meaning students or teachers, is reassuring. However, I wish she had gone further, for instance, in her chapter addressing the process of first, second, etc. drafts of a manuscript. Her comments about the need to protect the work, and to give it time to develop through multiple drafts is valuable, but I believe it could have been fleshed out further.
2810732
The book is excellent...I've bought several copies to give to friends. Hufford is able to put his finger on so many of the questionable views of God so common in churches. I got so excited I began to follow his blog and podcasts, only to find that 1) I can't stand long podcasts that seem folksy and reveal sarcastic views of opponents and 2) The blog comment threads wandered so far from simple disgruntlement with organized churches that I got tired hearing from folks who had cast off all Christianity in any form. So my advice is, "Read the book but stop there."
1838291
I know the author personally - he is very dynamic, brilliant and on target at all times.  This collection of many of his most important papers is wonderful - full of details, info most people do not know of realize they should - and I can make great use of it in my course!  I just wish it wasn't still necessary to teach what he has included in his Papers...about racism, and continued oppression of People of African descent!
2923906
Really liked the book and it helped me clear up a lot of the murky thinking I have about self-transcendence and spiritual inquiry. It was also wonderful to see Douglas Harding's work mentioned. He was a brilliant man and his work is accessible and presents the most direct way I have found of self-inquiry.

I will echo the most common complaint about the book, which is that the subtitle creates expectations that the book does not fulfill. I expected there to be more instruction -- how to set up a daily meditation practice, for example. And as others have said I wish he expanded on the insights he learned studying Dzogchen.

Much more of the book was devoted to neuroscience than I expected, which might turn some readers off, but I found it absolutely fascinating. I didn't know there was a scientific basis for the claim that "consciousness is empty of self." A great read, I just wish it was longer.
696587
Thanks for the Author of this book. I wanna give this as a gift to my beloved GF - she would be glad to implement the information you have written on this book. Thanks so much!
910219
Great book,  Too bad to hear he's passed on :((
1034845
There is nothing like an author reading her or his own text. The expression, exclamations, pauses, all where it is supposed to be; conveying exactly what the author means. It would have been better however, if the tracks were broken down into chapters. It is easier that way especially if you like to download them on to your i-pod. (Hence I ranked it 4 star and not 5).
The text is phenomenal. I wish it was not abridged. It is true that Karen Armstrong has not adopted the much prevalent anti Muslim rhetoric. Having said that, I really do not think that she portrayed any ethnic or religious group better or worse than the other. She presents historical facts (as factual as history has been recorded)and leads the listener / reader to draw their own conclusion. It unravels a few mysteries behind ongoing unrest in the middle east. Not only it provides us with a better insight in the current conflicts, and also enables us to hypothesize plausible solutions (though none are easy).
2314329
It was an excellent book, one I just couldn't put down.
526352
The book was fabulous, but I really wish he would have gone deeper about his breakup to what happened, and what he did to overcome it, especially  because he wasn't an openly gay man until a few years later. Also, I wish he would have gave more detail and positive or negative feedback about his life, his personal life experiences, and how he managed to find the right inspiration to be the person who he is today. I loved the way he accompanied his story with powerful quotes and deep meaningful poems. Furthermore, I think Its especially hard to purse a career, have a job you strongly dislike (but that you do ifor the money), pay bills, attend college,have a social life, and still be happy. I think today everyone is more busy than ever especially in this new technological era.
1553970
This is a really good book and I am a scoundrel. That's why the book gets "only" four stars.

Let me explain.

The subject of the book is John Newton. Seaman, slave trader, preacher, man of letters and hymn-writer, he's a wonderful subject to write about and John Crotts fulfils his task very well.

He gives us the mechanical aids we need - a time line, and a chronological account of Newton's life (and what a life !)

He gives us a taste of the man, of his loves, of his heart. And John Newton had a big heart that loved above all the grace of God in the gospel. We have a lot to learn from him and John Crotts helps us greatly in a small book.

He gives us an insight into John Newton's output of hymns and letters with analyses of some of the great classics, like 'Glorious things of theee are spoken' and 'How sweet the name of Jesus sounds' (as well as 'Amazing Grace', obviously) He gives us a thematic overview of John Newton's output of letters.

It's a really good book.

But the first phrase annoyed me so much that I almost put it down. 'The inspired sage wrote,'. I thought "Here we go !" and I was right. Later on we learn that Cowper and Newton 'sharpened one another in every way'. I know it's only a question of style, but it would baffle anyone who wasn't pretty well immersed in the Bible and fairly fluent in 'the language of Zion'. Later on reading that Betsy 'even divided his food' baffled me. Whatever does that mean ? I should think it's a Bible allusion, but I don't know which one and my concordance doesn't help.

So four stars. I know it's harsh. I know I am a scoundrel. I know I should be more charitable and big-hearted. I know it's an excellent book. But they're my stars and I'm giving four. (I think John Newton the pastor would laugh and John Newton the poet and writer would approve...)