Cudos to the Author...Well Done
349479
This was a GREAT read with well-developed characters, a plot that moved quickly and held my interest AND so few grammatical/typographical errors that I was amazed.  I recommend this book and this author without hesitation or reservation.
675257
I do hope In reading this excellent book I have not infringed upon any of the Authors rights. Let me expain. My wife, Claudia, downloaded this book for free on Amzaon Kindle and, although our reading preferences are quite different, she lent me her E reader with the assurance  I would love it. I did! Well written, vibrant characters and the skillful exploration of a subject steeped in controvercy. I am more than happy to highly reccomend this novel novel (no error) and wish it every success.  J. G. Rickards, author of 'Own Goal'.
3282498
This book is quite philosophical ... in a good way.  The author is extremely well read and offers a wealth of perspectives to consider in relation to aesthetics, imagination and design.  Well done.
2771418
Allende is one of my all time favorite authors .  I've read all except Ripper. I especially love the Chilean, historical and spiritual contexts in many of them, the acceptance of forces larger than ourselves.
I enjoyed Maya as a 19 year old character and thought the author did a good job, as usual,  in creating likeable and fascinating characters.  I was surprised that I could stay with a young character but she's wise beyond her years due to life events.  The grandmother, grandfather, and Chilean host (don't want to give anything away!).....all have depth.
It was tough to encounter some of the underworld that we all know exists, but I can do that if an author is able to weave in the truly awesome and wholesome part if the human spirit as well.  Of course, it is the privileged who often are those that escape the downward spiral..privileged with a few loving, resourceful people in their life.  That's true here.
I high
3014961
As a healthcare provider I appreciated his openness and insights...what an excellent writer...grabbed my attention from the beginning to the end...it is among the few books I have read that I didn't want to end.  As I talked about the book at work (and highly recommended it) I found a colleague who had just read it as well.. We agree it should be required reading for those in healthcare.  It touches on an aspect of relationship between physician and patient that needs to be raised to a new level of awareness. I feel as though I "know" Paul and though he is not here to contribute to neuroscience he has made a remarkable impact on the medical field through his book.
2172006
Hello,
I would like to say that this book was very well written and a pleasure to read, I am also very happy to know the writer of this book, and I am very happy that he is doing so well, much appreciated for giving me the chance to read his awesome work, thank you.
2439028
I really loved the authors writing style and the unabashed way he spoke of his struggles in life, not just MMA. I also thought he had some very interesting insights and ideas on violence as a whole that fall not too far from my own views. This was a very refreshing take on a topic written about by quite a few but many of which lack either the experience or the words to truly express what it means to fight. Being from rural southwestern PA myself and a former amateur boxer as well, this book really struck home. Well done! I couldn't recommend this highly enough, especially if youve ever felt that itch that you need to prove yourself in some rugged fashion, namely with your fists.
4870851
I loved this book! I'm not much of a bike tourer, but do like to cycle.  I'm not a gear head, and frankly it took me years to warm up to the cycling culture in my area and I still don't like the prevailing holier than thou attitude of many cyclists.  I've read Lance's books/biographies and those of other professional cyclists with interest but can't, and don't want to, connect to the world view represented in those books--this is a gross generalization, but the narcissism tends to overshadow the storyline.
My point with the above negativity is to juxtapose that sort of book with this one.  Joe Kurmaskie is an excellent writer--he actually is a writer and his books reflect that.  Everything I've read by him has been entertaining and has shared alot about the places he's traveled through and the people he meets.  He also has lots of great bike stories.
And with this newest book we get to learn about his childhood and his wife and his past. When I first received this book as a gift, I actually thought, this will be annoying--a long bike ride with all the crazy antics of what will turn out to be cute, highly gifted and talented children.  Instead, it wasn't, the kids were there, but they were real, and with all of his other books, the stories were more about the personal interactions with interesting people met along the road.
Lastly, Joe has a big heart and it shows in his writing.  He is actively trying to make the world a better place.
I highly recommend all of his books, they are funny and interesting, and deserve a place on the bookshelf of not just bike-enthusiasts but anyone who wants a good story.
4083849
EXCELLENT for feeling like you're "in the situation."

Gutsy author- not afraid to let us inside his head, with weaknesses, indecision, and all.  He's transparent enough to mention  taking condoms on a trip into an area with the virus, and has enough self awareness to convey the sense of irony in that.  Even better, he speaks with candor about his own feelings, fear, etc.

One clue to avoid disappointment: DON'T expect a medical textbook- he's not writing a history of the disease, or trying to explain its propagation to medical students.  Instead, he explains it enough to help us understand where it came from, and how it spread,  but he does it in the context of the larger story- what it's like for some of the people- himself included- who were on the ground helping or reporting.  The DISEASE is not the main point of the book- so for epidemiology, etc, there may be better texts.

However, if you're interested in a first-person account from someone mature and brave enough to talk about their own fear, and to make other people seem "real"- by writing realistically about them, then it's hard for me to imagine packing more into a short book.  I found the book engaging, never boring- nicely written.

It was made all the MORE amazing when I found out, near the end, that the author was in an accident in 2006 that made him unable to write this easily with his own hands.  Must have been a labor of much effort to get it down, in ANY form, but to get it down in such a well-written way makes it all the GREATER an accomplishment, IMO.

I hope he writes other books- on whatever- I bet they'll be interesting, too.
4821527
The author has a unique voice that matches in both person and page  together they thunder. This book might spin your head a bit, but I believe that is by design. Please support and encourage this up-and-coming author in this endeavor . . . you won't regret it.
1504768
Christopher Hitchens is at his best, and the book is very well thought out, as is anything that Christopher Hitchens does. It's not a plea for everyone to become an atheist, but rather a common sense approach regarding the misuse of misinformed religions by misinformed and misguided individuals. His use of the lower case 'g' in the title is to preclude his readers from thinking that he is referring to any particular
god or gods. This book was a 'page turner' for me, as well as making me re-examine some old, previous assumptions. Five stars for sure...!
3656302
I didn't realize that the author was a RUBE (rich urban biker enthusiast) until I read his confession in the Acknowledgments at the end. It appears that he got a lot of help from an  Outlaw M/C where he learned the basics of becoming a"1%er.
  I loved it!  He described the Harley evolution thru the 60's 70''s and 80's (knuckleheads,  panheads but  no shovelheads or evos.
 He even did a way back and threw in a character  styling on my favorite....an Indian Chief no less WOWZA.

  The Outlaws showed him the "shotgun" handle bars, the "fatboy" gas tank, the "gas cap" blade,and the lethal theft prevention toggle switch.  He also learned how to read and interpret tattoos and patches on their "cuts"'.  He had to learn to speak their language so he wouldn't  make huge errors in the way these bad boys (and their slags) talk that talk.

This is my first Hurwitz novel,recommended by another BIKER friend  of mine. I have read just about every "tell all" 1%er book,and  under cover infiltrators BIKER book ever written. Some were good,some were written by candidates for the short bus,  and some were written by bad boys who had ingested substances that had completely erased their cognitive reasoning skills and I believe their manuscript was submitted on a Big Chief. Tablet  written with crayons

That being said. I enjoyed the story enough that I will venture. On with Hurwitz  after all it's the least I can do after imagining what that poor RUBE  went thru  and the price he had to pay "get insider info on OUTLAW Bikers"

 P.S. The account is under my wife's name but I read and authored and will Take the rap for this review.
Thanks  R. Shepherd
4910328
My heartiest congratulations to the author! This is an excellent book and a most valuable contribution to the topic of the "Survival Hypothesis" and "Instrumental Transcommunication". As my habit is regarding valuable technical books, I read the book during 4 consecutive days in four parts, in order to maintain an overall impression of the content, making marks in the margin to re-read certain parts. And there are certainly many sections worth re-reading.

The language is of high literary quality, without being long-winded; in fact it seems that the author could be a successful writer of any fiction book.  Dr. Cardoso's very strong personal involvement in the extraordinary communication is apparent and offers the readers an experience as if they were with her once again reading the descriptions.

Those who are not familiar with ITC will find that Dr Cardoso's book has opened a new door for them to a new dimension and presents consolation at the thought of having to leave the earthy life.

As I see the disposition is practical and wise; first offering the readers background and history; then Dr Cardoso's breath-taking personal experiences and finally very good practical advises to those who, encouraged by the book, decide to start ITC experiment.

Especially impressing is also the fact that Dr Cardoso, having a professional background in other disciplines than technique, still seems to master many complicated technical issues of ITC experiments.

Hopefully, the Dr Cardoso will follow up this book with a second one, although I do understand the huge amount of effort behind such a work.
3563423
The author writes in a style that is clear and easy to develop mental images of the story passages being read.

I am pleased to report that portions of the story generate real excitement for the reader.

Bravo!
3437546
I read an online sample, and immediately connected with the well written, dinamic, engaging style of Chip Ingram. I've listened to his radio program/messages, and read one of his books "Emotions that destroy".

Honestly, just like it happened to the author a while back, on his college years..just like it, this book was speaking to me through Psalm 73. Moreover, what I really appreciate is the author's humility in telling his story to help others. However, at the same time,  I hear the author pointing out to God, and making it clear He will meet us whatever devastating emotions we're dealing with, and speak to us through His Word. This book helped me undersrand that I can always seek God on those moments the raw deals of our lives appear to take the sanity of our minds, and if it'd have been possible, make us throw in the towel.
I thank God for the wisdom, gifts, and talents He gave Chip to wtite this book.
Lisa Vasquez
342666
Hope I meet this guy some day.

I love his writing style. I'm not much of consumer of non-fiction, but Bob's amusing little vignettes are wonderful. Then once your imagination is totally engaged, he slaps you with a concept that challenges the way you do stuff each day. I couldn't have enjoyed it more.

Enjoy!!
664937
I do not know the author. My wife and I saw him promoting his book at a local art gallery. There weren't many people at his table, so it was easy to strike up a conversation with him. We purchased a copy, but frankly, my expectations were not very high given the setting. What I found stunned me. This author is a major talent who is in command of his writing.

The book is very-well crafted, from the sentences to the complete layout. The author uses parallel plots having cliff-hangers so that the book is hard to set down. He slowly develops the characters throughout such that one learns, or has questions answered, providing a renewed freshness to the characters and the story. He provides interesting in-depth detail to subjects such as linguistics and fire investigation. His story reflects relevant social commentary, and his analyses are logical and convincing. He has mastered the difficult technique of providing an interesting and relevant subtext via the thoughts of his characters.

I stated that the book is for the educated reader. It combines the interest of the mystery-thriller with the thought-provoking novel, think of Orwell (and somewhat of James) with Baldacci. This combination is risky because it attempts to combine two separate markets. He succeeds artistically. Let's hope he succeeds commercially and continues.

The criticisms are minor. At his promotion, he mentioned that he could not afford an editor, so one sees little glitches (most commonly two prepositions next to each other). These are easily overlooked given the high-quality of the book. The second criticism is his bio. It makes him look amateurish and, well, simply silly. He needs to understand that his viewpoints should remain in his writing while his bio provides an opportunity to quickly validate his ability for a potential reader. Instead, he blows it off with an anti-Christ nonsense that would leave one with the false impression that he is neither a good writer or a deep thinker (not to mention that such statements would reduce his already small audience). But, given the circumstances that he is new and his book is superb, we can overlook these problems.