Anthony Caetano is an excellent writer who has searched the encyclopedia of world literature ...
592827
If you need daily encouragement on your path, please buy this book. Anthony Caetano is an excellent writer who has searched the encyclopedia of world literature to locate quotations and Bible verses which eloquently illustrate his daily passages which are life lessons. As a companion to any 12 step program or a program such as SIMPLE ABUNDANCE, this is an excellent support/commentary which gives you additional nurturing as you work the steps. Even if you are not a member of a Judeo-Christian faith community, this book gives you plenty of daily encouragement. If you are a member of a faith community, this book will allow to find new avenues in which to demonstrate and grow your faith as you walk the steps.
3539788
Im impressed with the amount of research and organizing that Furst put in to complete this book. Upon reading the content, you will begin to notice how all of the readings regarding Jesus, his family members, and lifetime acquaintances are scattered throughout 14,246 of Cayces readings. To search all of Edgars readings for content related only to Jesus must have taken a great deal of time and effort.

Now if you believe that Edgar Cayce was perfect in all of his readings, Gladys Davis was perfect as his stenographer and transcriber, Furst was perfect in writing this book, and his editors were perfect, then you have a good start toward believing Jesus was real and not just a mythological story created to promote love and peace.

If there are any errorssince we are dealing with humans and our human imperfectionsthen some of the content should logically come into question.

The bible itselfin my opinionis a very questionable piece of literature. I believe that many of the bible stories were heavily influenced by alien sightings and interactions. In my research of Cayce and numerous other metaphysical and occult sources, it is my understanding that negative forces also get to have a say through channels, prophets, and writers. The bible, and Edgar Cayce, would not be an exception.

Another interesting view to take while reading this book is this:  John Van Auken, Director of the Edgar Cayce Foundation, does a great job explaining that Cayces readings regarding the Book of Revelations were not about Armageddon and the second coming of Jesus, the Book of Revelations was about opening and/or utilizing the energy centers in the mind and body.

If this is the case, and the bible is not to be taken literally, word for word, fact, or history, then is the story of Jesus to be taken as real? Is it possible that the story of Jesus is really a story and not factual history? I recommend reading the book and making your own conclusions. Ibeing an imperfect humancan only surmise myself what is fact and what is fiction when it comes to Jesus.
4754877
Professor Daniel S. Burt of Wesleyan University has accumulated biographies of 125 influential writers and 100 worthy of honorable mention.  He notes that in the years since this book was originally published he has changed, as humans do, and so has added to the original 100, and changed it upon critically reviewing the original document.  It must be difficult to establish specific criteria to build a work of this kind.  However, in this case, the results show a diverse population of writers from many, many cultures and nations.  My own background includes British and American literature and a smattering of other European works, including a bit of Russian, Turkish, and Greek.  But nothing of Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Indian) South American (Chilean, Argentinean, Colombian, Guatemalan) African (Nigerian) Middle Eastern (Persian, Egyptian) literature ever seemed to come my way.  On the other hand, having been born in the British Commonwealth, books of white South Africans, Canadians and others from Commonwealth countries naturally came my way.  This book represents the wide world, with much to choose from.

The criteria for inclusion in this collection are writer as influence on society, and its structure determined by the rank order of the authors.  First, the question of the extent of a writer's influence is one facet, and second, who has pushed the boundaries of the imagination most importantly?  While I do not understand why Kurt Vonnegut's work is not included here (except as a note on Ralph Ellison) I do understand that individuality, experience and simple choices are effective in selecting candidates.

I have two problems with this work.  First, how can one really compare and rank authors of differing languages and cultures with any hope of accuracy?  Second, this ranking system eliminates any thematic approach, but it is a common approach to dealing with lists: the best dressed, the funniest, the best, etc.  I think I would have preferred a chronological approach based on happenings in various centuries.

This is a book for the bed table to be picked up when wakefulness defies sleep and one wishes to beguile the time until sleep comes, by thinking about another world.  It would be a good companion on a long flight.  The essays are not terribly long, well written and informative, and I found them of great interest and pleasure.
3334112
This anthology of short stories written by accomplished writers from around the globe is a compilation of the diverse experiences that people face in their daily lives. While the stories tug at the heart, the writing is thoughtful and provocative, the cultural insight rich, and the authors do an incredible job of transporting the reader to the various countries around the globe where these stories are set. I do not typically review books on Amazon, but felt the one review of this book is unjust in that it does not speak to the power of the stories or the immense amount of intercultural learning one gets out of reading this text.

As a professor of intercultural and comparative education, I plan to use this anthology in future courses as it speaks to realities that many people within Western cultures are not aware of or have not had exposure to. The stories are targeted and each chapter could serve as a basis for a different topic such as immigration and migration, gender and women's issues, poverty and inequality, and development.

Anyone who enjoys the writing of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Jhumpa Lahiri will get a great deal out of this selection of short stories by them and other writers.
3597298
If you have to read one book by a Brazilian author, my recommendation is - read The Devil to Pay in the Backlands! You can learn a lot about Brazil and its history just by following the captivating story of Riobaldo. The book is not only about history, though, quite the contrary it deals with the universal issues of love, loss, trust, freedom, good and evil.
4269728
I found Conway's book a tour de force, expertly combining the best of fiction writing with enlightening historical facts. Conway's mature and sophisticated writing style was a pleasure and in my opinion, as a lifelong English teacher, done by an accomplished master-craftsman. His past writing career shows through in the way the book is so expertly structured and conceived. It is well researched and his attention to detail and description is uncanny. I am prompted by this book to buy others by him which I presume are as well written and interesting. However, I don't think this book is a good fit for some readers, since Conway's style is reminiscent of Dos Passos and other inventive authors and aimed at a mature reading audience.
1906392
I grew up in Rio de Janeiro as a 1/2 Brazilian. The author's love of Brazil, her love of Brazilian culture and passion, injustice and anger is apparent in the book. All too often books about Other Cultures tend to exoticize the Other and parody or reflect a shallow understanding of the root drives of that Other. (Brasyl by Ian McDonald does this.) Alaya Dawn Johnson's deep compassion and understanding of the brutality, passion, and bright bright optimism of Brazilians reflects my own experience with my birth culture.

The book is classified as YA, but really could be enjoyed by anyone. A brilliant book. I am the richer for reading it, and it truly made me discover anew the vigor of my Brazilian childhood roots. Thank you, Alaya Dawn Johnson!
4507825
This book is absolutely great for people who are interested in the conflicts between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and how the struggles between these two affect the literature produced in the diaspora. It provides you with a historical understanding and with deep and thorough analysis of some literary works produced by writers from the island of Hispaniola. Well written and very easy to read.
2100296
This book is an excellent compilation of the research undertaken by a number of acclaimed fantasy writers, I assume as background material. Although clearly aimed at other writers in this genre, I would recommend it for others, like myself, who are not writers but interested in the practices and creatures of myths and folklore. The book is thorough and detailed in this regard, covering many cultures across the ancient world. These range for example: from the Maori of New Zealand to the Mesoamerican people of Mexico; the ancient Egyptians and the Mughal culture of India.

The chapters on magic and witchcraft contain some fascinating insights but much must be understood as somewhat speculative in comparison to the more factual approach taken to the explanations of mythical creatures which have already a well documented background. Terms are listed and explained which is very useful and the occasional line illustration assists understanding.

As a teacher aiming to establish a historical grounding for the fantasy world and the creatures that appear in children's fiction, I found the book to be very helpful BUT it would be greatly enhanced if containing at least a list of titles for further reference. And more illustrations please!
1148055
Carlos B. Carreiro's book appears to be a true labor of love. With a concise and easy prose he takes the reader through the life and explorations of Henry the Navigator.

When I received this book as part of the Dorrance review team, I literally had no expectations, but after I began reading I found it fascinating. I didn't know much about Henry the Navigator but after reading Carreiro's book, I feel that I have learned as much as I could about the subject.

I found it to be an interesting and informative biography in which Carreiro seems to leave no stone unturned. He explains, for instance, how and why figures like Henry and his father Pedro received their monikers. The book includes a rather large "Selected Bibliography" and even includes a listing of the years and latitudes of places visited by Henry. The book lacks an index.

I received a complimentary copy of Portugal's Golden Years: The Life and Times of Prince Henry "The Navigator" as a member of the Dorrance Publishing Book Review Team. Visit dorrancebookstore to learn how you can become a member of the Book Review Team.
1115055
I read this book translated to the portuguese, here in Brazil. This book is an almost auto-biography of an american and cold warior, the general Vernon A. Walters(1917 - 2002. This general, who died some years ago, wrote many chapters not only from his life, but of World's history. There's even some chapters about the author's life in Brazil.

The cold war is over and Soviet Union is so over as Roman Empire, but the lessons of how to win a battle to World's control are alive in this book.
2482
It is very interesting to learn that the author, Paul Johnson, originally wanted to be an artist, but was warned off by his father, who saw the coming decades being full of frauds. (You may love Picasso, but what about "Piss Christ?")

So Paul decided to become a writer, and made a terrific success at it, from&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Birth-of-the-Modern-World-Society-1815-1830/dp/0060922826/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Birth of the Modern: World Society 1815-1830</a>&nbsp;through&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Modern-Times-Revised-Edition-The-World-from-the-Twenties-to-the-Nineties-Perennial-Classics/dp/0060935502/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Modern Times  Revised Edition: The World from the Twenties to the Nineties (Perennial Classics)</a>.

Yet I suspect that his original passion for art never left him, and he has written an enthralling book on the subject ("No one has surpassed the Egyptians for style").

This wonderful book will make a great companion to&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Story-of-Art/dp/0714832472/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Story of Art</a>.
1261523
I feel like i have been waiting for this book for all of my life.  it has been a slow amount of time to get the Japanese writer Edogawa Rampo translated into English.  One of his collections of short stories have been in print for so many years - yet waiting for another title seemed endless.  Now we have at least three other books by Rampo, and I bought them all this year.

"The Edogawa Rampo Reader" is a much needed over-all look of his career.  The first half of this book is short stories and the second half are essays -mostly regarding the nature of the 'detective' story.  i only found one essay the most interesting and that's "The Horror Of Films" dealing with the nature and history of cinema.  It's a great piece on what was then a new medium.  He wrote it in 1926, and for a short essay it covers a lot of ground.  Basically all to do with being the viewer.

The short stories are all in the creepy mode that I love about Rampo's work.  It includes the story about a man who spends a lot of time in the attic where he spies on people down below, and also commits a murder.  The long introduction by Seth Jacobowitz is pretty perfect in capturing what is so essential about Rampo, his times, and the work itself.  A remarkable writer.
585385
Okot P'Bitek did what most writers dream of doing when he completed this book.  Song of Lawino and Song of Ocol is a fulfiling work of art.  It is poetry in the best sense of the word and is based in Africa in the advent of the revolution to mordernize the continent, it shows the stuggles between the overlaping cultures;tradition(African)and the western(European).
He makes sense of what people dismiss as minute details, and empasis' on the importance of change while still empasising on the the role of tradition in the Afircan society. The book is most humorous and at the same time gives a different point of view on the effects of the european presence in Africa. I have recomeded this book to a lot of my friends
1323976
Ngugi's wa Thiongo's  GLOBALECTICS is another masterful piece from a man that remains to date one of the best literary minds in Africa, and indeed, in the world. In this  pithy book, he makes a case for the reconceptualization of the preeminence of global literature. To paraphrase him, world literature, of which the postcolonial is an integral part, is our common heritage as much as the air  we breathe. Thus, Globalectics becomes the way of reading world literature. According to Ngugi, Globalectics, derived from  the shape of the globe, is the mutual containment of hereness
and thereness in time and place. In his view, globalectical reading means breaking open the prison house of imagination built by theories. This
literary vantage point presupposes that the act of reading becomes  also a process of self-examination. This book delves in into a myriad of other literary concepts, not least of which is the symbiotic relationship that exists between Orature and Literature. This truly is a masterpiece! I will be including it as required reading for the postcolonial literature course that I teach at the University of Indianapolis because I perceive the book to be germane to any course that focuses on postcolonial discourse. I have the  conviction that  all students of postcolonial theory at college level should be given the opportunity to read this fine book. Instructors of postcolonial literature and theory would find this book a potent working tool.

Dr. Peter Wuteh Vakunta, Professor of Francophone Literature and Critical Theory
1217782
After a surreal encounter with a Portuguese woman, and the gift of a mysterious book in Portuguese, Raimund Gregorius, 57-year-old teacher of ancient languages, abandons his profession in Bern and flees to Lisbon.

The Portuguese book consists of notes by a poetic aristocrat, Amadeu de Prado.

Gregorius has always loved the cold immutability of dead languages, but he plunges into sultry Portuguese with the recklessness of a virgin desperate for experience. Happily he's a gifted linguist who can learn a new language in no time.

The story of the Swiss bibliophile unfolds along with the story of Amadeu de Prato, who died over 30 years back. Gregorius becomes obsessed with reconstructing the man's life. This involves emotional encounters with family, friends, girlfriends and members of the Resistance under Salazar. Prato lived life with a white-hot passion in all his many roles - respected doctor, Resistance fighter, seeker and lover.

NIGHT TRAIN TO LISBON could only have been written by a philosophy professor. The narrative encompasses the great questions in life. And there are echoes of Plato, Heidegger and Eastern philosophy in the soul searches of the main characters, who are subject to existential rages and Byronic melancholia.

Is this as brilliant a work as the reviewers quoted by the publisher say? Certainly the book contains some wildly beautiful writing. But for my taste, it goes on too long and wallows a bit in its themes and symbols.

There are four allusions in the book to Georges Simenon, and I wish the author had borrowed some of his terseness. He does seem to be inspired by Simenon's THE MAN WHO WATCHED THE TRAINS GO BY, which is pointedly mentioned. Comparing the two books might be interesting. I've just ordered the Simenon from Amazon.
1277238
AUC Press is a valuable gateway through which readers can explore modern Arabic literature in high-quality translations.

This historical novel is an excellent example. It covers the last two decades of the life of Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406 C.E.), the great Tunisian-born historian and philosopher of history. He is dubbed a polymath, an expert in many disciplines. Ibn Khaldun was trained as an Islamic scholar but his lifelong fascination was with history and with the social sciences that surround it. He was a pioneer in sociology, cultural anthropology and economics.

Himmich's novel begins in Cairo, after Ibn Khaldun has written his great history, and tragically lost his wife and children when their ship went down off the coast of Alexandria. The story covers three phases that steadily build in intensity:

(1) Seven nights spent dictating to his amanuensis, recording his thoughts - and second thoughts - on tyrants, governments, "group solidarity" (one of the greatest evils, he says) and political intrigue;

(2) An unexpected second chance to build a family, when the 60-year-old falls in love, marries again and fathers a child, seeking to balance his new personal life with precarious public service as a religious judge under the dangerous Mamluk sultan Barquq; and

(3) His role with the next sultan, Barquq's 13-year-old son Faraj, in defending Damascus against the Mongol conqueror Tamerlane - and helping to negotiate that city's surrender.

Throughout the novel, we see another side of the great historian: his human frailty in a dizzying maelstrom of political duplicity and violence. Ibn Khaldun, a scholar who disdains tyranny and abuse of power, nevertheless quails before the mighty and heaps sickening flattery upon the mercurial sultans - and later upon all-powerful Tamerlane. Ibn Khaldun finds his own behavior disgusting, but he justifies it as the only way to stay alive, and thereby protect his wife and baby daughter. Sadly, even the stratagems of a polymath sometimes come to naught.