Well written by a highly intelligent person who somehow still understands how to relate to ...
340098
This book encompasses everything from scientific accuracy to the deepest levels of faith. It was a 'page-turner' from the beginning. Well written by a highly intelligent person who somehow still understands how to relate to common laity.
3779334
Well written by someone who knows the country, people and culture from a prospective of one who has lived there.
2129466
The author is a gifted writer and I admire her persistence with her subject and her eagerness to connect the mystery of the letters to people.
3746730
Such a knowlegeable man. Yet able to write so that the layperson can  understand and enjoy the infor mation. T
4829493
I only recently discovered the works of John Norman (2010) and have been reading everything I can get my hands on. This book (and the following 33 (counting also Norman Invasions (2009))) proves that intelligent writing that doesn't fear social or political censorship can be popular with millions of readers. I think, however, that nothing can describe or recommend this book (series of books) better than the Authors own words which I will post here;

I do not regard the Gorean books as controversial, as they are based, for the most part, on history, anthropology, biology, psychology, and such. It is true, of course, that certain ideologies, and certain competitive ambitions, are more likely to prosper if certain facts are overlooked, ignored, or denied. I think one should accept human nature, and the profound, wonderful differences amongst human beings, sexual and otherwise, for what they are, and then worry about putting together a world in which humanity might flourish, rather than be lied to, threatened, coerced, sickened, and stunted. To be sure, this is a value judgment. Some people doubtless prefer a culture that is a penitentiary, assuming they are, or expect to be, the guards and wardens.
(The Gorean books) are written for adults, highly intelligent, highly sexed adults, of both sexes. Similarly, the Gorean books are not simply adventure fantasy, but intellectual, philosophical, and psychological novels. Also, some of them certainly have elements of sensuous romance. The Gorean books are their own country, their own world, not a part of someone elses country, or someone elses world. They are not out, for example, to think up the 673rd variation off genetic engineering, denounce capitalism, woo antimenite editrices, or such.
I am in favor of people being safe, healthy, happy, fulfilled, and so on. What makes people safe, healthy, happy, and fulfilled? That probably depends on the individuals involved. I think the test of life consequences is important here. I have no objection to individuals involving themselves in safe, healthy, happy, fulfilling Gorean relationships. Master/Slave sex, for example, can be emotionally and physically rewarding for both partners. I am not in favor of cruelty, to a slave no more than to any other animal. The slave is to be cherished, and know herself the belonging of her master. She exists to love and serve her master. She is not to be abused, but enjoyed. In the collar there are many rewards. The Gorean relation has nothing to do with hurting people. If it is not beautiful, it is not Gorean.
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1361281
Having been a longtime fan of Anderson Cooper, the TV anchorman,I had been curious for some time about the human side of this rather reclusive individual. Dispatches From The Edge demystifies him beautifully. Even in writing he still seems to be a very private human being who gives us just enough about his personal journey to want to see more. He does not share his life as a gay man in America but we do see and feel his pain over the loss of his father and his very tragic loss of his brother. I found it quite incredible that here is a man who was raised not wanting for much, if anything, that wants to expose himself not to the idols of high society among whom he was raised, but rather to the poor, the unfortunate, the needy, the oppressed. He relates beautifully to these people while still protecting the privacy of his personal pain. He comes across as the type of person whom would make the ideal conversationalist over a cup of hot coffee on a cold winter night. He has been criticized for prodding too much into the personal lives of people but that is what he does best and he does it not only in a most professional manner, but in a very humanely one as well. He leaves me wanting to get to know him better but he too has a right to his privacy. Maybe one day we will be privy to the whole Anderson Cooper story. I am sure there is much more to know.
4818412
A highly ethical and intelligent human being.  May he continue to influence our s ociety and be appreciated for his contributions.
2406900
Not only can she succeed in what has been called the toughest occupation, she's intelligent, thoughtful and can write clearly and precisely.  An interesting narrative on a swordboat captain's life.
1931166
I ended up reading this book in a couple of sittings. It's a quick and easy read, but still intelligently written. I agree with the reviews that said the stories are in sort of a prose poem style. I am not much of a poetry reader, but this did not detract from my enjoyment whatsoever. It's obvious the author has significant scientific knowledge (not suprising considering his occupation) and it was interesting how he incorporated it throughout the book. Many of the stories showed real insight into the "human condition". I will absolutely recommend this book to the other readers in my life.
160163
Such wonderful writing. Certainly I appreciated learning about Haiti, and about building, but what makes the book special is the author, and how he take those subjects and uses them as a prism to understand himself and the world. He has a style and approach that make me want to read whatever he chooses to write about. There's information, to be sure, but the richness is in Paul Fallon's insights and confusions and struggles and soul.
2812114
This is probably one of the most intelligent explanations for this complex character I've read so far.  It takes the Old Testament and places this person in the context of the time with Eli and Samuel, but not how we normally hear about these people and the spiritual state of the Isrealites.  He explains things so carefully in a spiritual way that God's abandoning the Tabernacle at Shiloh finally makes sense to me.  The plague when the Isrealites looked into the Ark of the Testimony also makes sense.  It is very well written by a godly man and is worth the effort to read.  I just wish I had found it earlier and read it sooner than I have, since many questions I have had have been put in context and answered.  His other books are well worth reading... at least the ones I've read so far, but I intend to read more of them.  Unfortunately, they are readily available only in Kindle, but the Kindle versions are easily navigable in the format of the ones I've bought so far.  It is hard to buy the book to give away in Kindle format, when the written copies are unavailable.
1676574
Shirley Elias is a talented and intelligent author.  The book is an autobiography in poetry.  The title is descriptive of its scope and its depth.  Her knowledge of the psyche is clearly informed by her professional and personal history.  Her personal development is well described and represents a woman of her generation, traveling through the sexual revolutions with wit and consciousness.  This book is both profound and entertaining.
4797504
Well written by one who sees the big picture, as well as the minutiae.
1766314
Ms. Paris writes with the immediacy of a novelist and the analytical qualities of a philosopher.  She is clearly enormously intelligent, well-read, introspective, synthetic in the best sense, and probing.  I would not call her analysis of the experiences of memory and history optimistic; on many levels, it is starkly cynical.  I would call it fascinating and deep, not only from the many interviews she did but from the background research that informs them.  Her treatments of Germany, Japan, South Africa, the United States, the Balkans, and the issues of UN tribunals and international criminal jurisprudence are balanced, percipient, and compelling.  She is a voice for dogged determination in the process of incrementally improving our species and its approach to conflict, against the culture of silence and looking the other way, against atrocity with impunity. Read her.  Find motivation in her stories.  Then act as best you can to further a better and different world.  Humanity is, and always will be, a work in progress.  Ms. Paris contributes mightily to an appreciation of the costs, tradeoffs, and nuances that entails.
2155447
This book was an intellectual feast. I learned so much about how both modern and ancient thinkers can help us understand and successfully navigate this age of absurdity. As I began reading it, I was so impressed by his ability to craft such smart, well-written sentences that I thought to myself, "Surely he cannot maintain this level of writing throughout the book?" And yet, he did. The entire book is written on a level I can only hope to achieve with my own writing one day. Furthermore, Foley's writing was also occasionally laugh-out-loud funny, which is exactly what I need in this age of absurdity.
1087777
Everyone is aware of the problems facing the world of course, but I am always interested in other people take on the world around us and especially the observations of people from countries outside of the United States.  This author is very articulate as he explores his feelings about the world's people and cultures and where he fits into the world.  He has a lot of great points about the stupid things that people do and I wish that more people had his common sense views.  It was difficult at times to read about the harsher experiences in his life, but that made this memoir more personable and engaging.  I enjoyed his writing style, which was friendly and informative.
4786920
This eight week diary is written by an extremely intelligent woman who is using her wits to survive under terrible circumstances. I found her writing to be informative and detailed and full of insight. This is no easy task when living under constant threat of sexual violence from the Russian troops as well as the constant threat of hunger and disease for poor sanitation and crowded living conditions. The diary fully explores what happens to a conquered people when the invading armies enter the city. It is to the credit of the author that she shows how this was not just a personal tragedy but a collective tragedy as over 100,000 German women were raped by the Russian troops that occupied Berlin. It is not a moral choice but a survival tactic to attach to a high ranking Russian officer to avoid daily group rape. Knowing the history of World War II, and knowing the terrible actions of the Germans, this book will provide the reader with mixed emotions. One is left with the impression that we all our guilty, that we all can commit terrible acts given the correct social pressures and orders from authority. I found it hard to put the book down each evening to go to sleep since the author keeps the reader transfixed by her efforts to survive under terrible post-war conditions.  I would certainly recommend the book highly.  The author's exploration into the relationship between men and women under times of brutal suppression was fascinating and was so very true. A German man finds his wife has been gang raped while he was fighting the war. He kills her by shooting her in the back while she is washing dishes and then kills himself. This simple example gives you a flavor of the tensions and misery experienced by the vanquished Germans. This book honestly looks at the sexual aspects of war and how violence against women may be seen as the spoils of war for the winning troops. There is much here that makes the reader feel hopeless and depressed at the human condition yet there is also hope and resiliency and this keeps the reader engaged page after page. I think it is an incredible document worthy of wide readership.