AS

This is a masterpiece, a must for all Jesuits and those interested in the religious history of the West, esp. of the Late Middle Ages. Fr. Conwell, a man of immense erudition, weaved such an interesting tapestry based on the 1539 text of The First Sketch of the Institute of the Society of Jesus or Cum ex plurium, using the first three Latin words of a papal document. You get an in-depth understanding of the times and spirit of the first Jesuits through the analysis of the the key-words of the text. There are many gems in the copious footnotes also. E.g., "...According to the accepted system, the clergy prayed, the nobles protected, and the people provided, but down the ages the peasant experience has often been that the clergy preyed, the nobles preyed, and the people prayed and paid..." (p.444) Against the background of so much corruption and immorality in the Church, you get inspired by the author's unravelling of the inner core of the lives and dedication of so many people, Francis, Dominic and the first Jesuits... who responded so totally to the Impelling Spirit. That's a beautiful and apt title. The Spirit is very tangible throughout the book.

Father Joseph Conwell, SJ's work will remain as a classic in the history of Jesuit spirituality for many years to come. This book is the culmination of almost fifteen years of serious scholarship and writing. His hard work shines through very clearly.

The book is concerned with an early Jesuit document known as "Cum Ex Plurium" which was prepared for Pope Paul III in 1539. The document was the the precursor to the "Formula of the Institute," which is the official governing document of the Society of Jesus. The book concerns itself with this early rough draft in a meticulously crafted style by following the meaning of each word or set of terms in their historical context and within the evolution of St. Ignatius' personal history. From the first word to the last, Father Conwell has clearly laid out the evolution of the ideas surrounding the creation of the Jesuits. He also has also drawn inspiration from this document and tries to make the founder's intentions come alive for the reader. Father Conwell peppers this work with sage advice about the discernment of spirits, which is so central to Ignatian spirituality. He points out St. Ignatius' own experience of discernment from reading the movements, making the decision, finding confirmation, readiness for action, movements for further discernment, and taking action (356-358). He also offers little tid-bits of advice for religious and anyone interested in following a spiritual path. These nuggets of insight are well worth the read. The Epilogue is one of the finest writings of hope as well as a challenge for the future of the Jesuits.

"Impelling Spirit" is a must read for anyone interested in the evolution of the spirituality and governance of the Jesuits. It will stand as a classic bench mark for future generations due to its careful scholarship. It looks like a daunting task to read at 400+ pages, but it is well worth the effort. This book would also be one that would prove helpful to anyone interested in more deeply exploring their own religious vocation. I high also highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to find the Spirit that impels him or her. "Agite, igitur: Get moving! Follow the Spirit wherever the Spirit leads you" (421).

For years, my husband suffered from anxiety attacks that hit without warning and were quite debilitating. He sought drug therapy, but as time passed, the attacks became more frequent and severe until one day he went into Bells palsy and anaphylactic shock and found himself in the emergency room surrounded by physicians with no answers.

When he received the older version of this book in 1990, it was a revelation. My husband had been becoming increasingly sensitive to MSG while at the same time unknowingly adding it to his diet. In clear, easy-to read language, the book helped identify sources of MSG. It became clear that it was in virtually everything he was consuming--from breakfast cereals to canned tuna to Coca Cola. We altered his diet drastically, choosing mostly unprocessed whole foods, and the results were incredible. His personality changed as he was no longer on edge. His concentration and memory improved dramatically. He no longer needed drug therapy, and stopped doubting himself as an anxiety-prone person. As an added bonus, he lost weight, increased muscle mass and became generally healthier.

As his allergy continued to be quite severe, we turned to the book frequently to avoid more ER visits, and have been largely successful for the past twelve years. It is hard to imagine how life would have been had we not had this book at our disposal. My husband would have continued to suffer his 'mysterious ailment' until, quite possibly, it took his life.

I cannot recommend this book heartily enough. It should be *required* reading for anyone who even suspects they have "Chinese restaurant syndrome" and recommended reading for just about everyone else. It is incredible that such a small book can make such a big difference.

George Schwartz, M.D. wrote the first edition of In Bad Taste more than ten years ago. Since then "the use of MSG and MSG-containing substances has more than doubled." While some people can use MSG with no adverse effects, many others have severe reactions to it, some of them life-threatening.

Kombu, a seaweed, was first used in Japan as a flavor enhancer. A Japanese doctor isolated the main ingredient--MSG, or monosodium glutamate--and started what has become a million-dollar industry. "MSG is used in processed food, in fast-foods and in Chinese food." It's also found in nearly all canned and frozen foods. It's the "most widely used flavor enhancer in the world."

MSG has been linked to asthma, headaches, and heart irregularities. "Behavioral and physical problems of children, such as incontinence and seizures, as well as attention deficit disorder (ADD), have been diagnosed and successfully treated as MSG disorders."

Those wishing to eliminate MSG from their diets are faced with an almost impossible task. Food preparers are often unaware that they're even using MSG. Labels can be misleading. A label that says "No MSG added" doesn't mean that the food is free of MSG, it simply means that the manufacturer didn't put in additional MSG. MSG goes under many aliases, one of the most common being "hydrolyzed vegetable protein," an additive used to increase the protein content of a wide variety of foods.

Manufacturers also hide MSG as part of "natural flavorings," because it is a natural product. As Dr. Schwartz points out, arsenic is also a natural product--being natural is not the same as being harmless.

Dr. Schwartz describes how MSG works in the body, and lists the symptoms it causes.

He provides several other lists, including the names used to hide MSG, general food sources of MSG, and specific brand names of items known to contain MSG. He also includes a selection of basic recipes to help people reduce their MSG consumption.

Dr. Schwartz says his book will help people learn to identify MSG reactions, and then how to avoid eating it. He adds, "knowing how to avoid this flavor enhancer can dramatically change lives." Readers wishing to understand MSG reactions and avoid using it will find In Bad Taste an invaluable resource.

Sandra I. Smith Reviewer

I read this book every day, and plan to read it every day for the rest of my life. The book contains an insightful quote and a spiritual message for each day of the year. Whether you have a traditional belief in God or a vague understanding of some Higer Power this book will help you focus on the things that make life worthwhile. Each day you are reminded of the things which help to foster peace, love, and understanding and also of those things which will distract us from our goals. I came here to buy this book for all the people I care about, in and out of recovery because I think that it is such a valuable way of staying in touch with the things that are really important.

This book, along with the Big Book and 12x12, has helped me stay focussed on what's most important in my life . . . God, my sobriety and my family. With quotes from wise people of all times, it has helped crystalize all the wonderful things God and AA have given to me. Most importantly, it helps remind me how important it is to remain grateful for this new life I've been given. It lifts the soul almost every morning I read it. Buy it! For you and for those you care about in and outside your program.

Sex therapist and author Wendy Maltz and writer Suzie Boss have combined their talents in this new book about women's sexual fantasies. Together they explore the origins of women's most private thoughts, the most common fantasy roles for women, and how sexual fantasies may function to enhance one's sex life. Wendy Maltz's capacity as one of our country's leading experts with respect to healing from past sexual abuse is also reflected in this book. Chapters on how to recognize fantasy traps and heal or even change unwanted fantasies provide individuals with important insights and tools to alter disturbing fantasies. Finally, the authors offer advice on how to share fantasies with your lover and how to create new fantasies.
I found this book remarkable as it addresses an important issue in a very matter of fact way. Once again, it becomes clear how diverse women's sexualities are. The authors provide a logical framework for different fantasy styles by separating sexual fantasies into two broad categories, 1) scripted fantasies which may contain scripted plots and identifiable characters versus 2) unscripted fantasies with a primary focus on sensations rather that character roles. These two categories are by no means exclusive. In fact, many women draw from both in order to make up their personal fantasies.

Different women have different modes for getting sexually aroused, and while some prefer visual stimulation, others may find that auditory, tactile, olfactory, kinesthetic (related to body movement) or flavor stimuli are important ingredients to trigger sexual arousal. Maltz and Boss conclude: "…Sex therapists have recognized for years that fantasy can be an effective aid in helping women with sexual performance. They have frequently recommended the use of fantasies to boost sexual response, sort of like a vibrator of mind…The beauty of fantasy is that we can tap this wellspring of creativity at any time, in any place, with no one else privy to our thoughts…"

I very much agree that sexual fantasies are private thoughts, which do not necessarily have to be shared with others. For those who choose to share their fantasies with a partner for sexual enrichment, the authors offer sound advice on how to best accomplish this and they provide various guidelines for how to enact fantasies while honoring each other's limits.

In conclusion, I can highly recommend Private Thoughts to anyone, female or male, who wants to learn more about the power of women's sexual fantasies.

For anyone suspicious that Nancy Friday's dated My Secret Garden lacked legitimate research and analysis, this new book is a welcome resource. It gives the reader more than just summaries of women's fantasies--although obviously you cannot write this book without describing them. But this book goes on to show how to use those fantasies.

In The Pirate's Den: My Life As A Secret Agent For Castro is the autobiography of Jorge Masetti, a man who worked as a secret agent for Fidel Castro for twenty years. Bringing the reader a uniquely personal and informative viewpoint from inside the war rooms of the Cuban revolution, In the Pirate's Den is filled with accounts of international intrigue, drug smuggling, counterfeiting U.S. dollars, and international missions for Cuban Intelligence that often extended into war zones. An often dramatic, sometimes horrifying, and always keenly insightful testimony, In The Pirate's Den is unusual, revealing, and highly recommended reading.

This book is required reading for anybody who wishes to understand the truth about Fidel Castro's Cuba and the damage it has done to the United States, Latin America, and the world. The bunglers who convinced John Kennedy (against his instincts)to refrain from removing Castro at all costs while we still could at relatively moderate cost, have the blood of countless thousands on their hands. This "little island" led by a sinister, violent crackpot, has done as much real damage to our interests and to the lives of millions of innocent, decent people, as all our other enemies combined. From 1959 to the present day Castro has been intimately involved in fomenting war, terrorism, and the obstruction of genuine democratic reform in countries the world over. Cuban-backed guerrilla movements, though they wandered into a bloody political and military dead end, did much to rob Latin America of the opportunity for 40 years of political and economic development. Military dictatorships across the continent were provoked time and again by terror campaigns directed from Havana. I could say more, but it will suffice to say I know Cuba well, and this book is true.

Delightful and absorbing account of the life of Edwin Shook (1911-2000), one of the early Mayan archeologists. During Shook's first field work at Uaxactun, the Mayan workers whispered that the archaeolgists must think that the site was important because they had named it Washington after the US capital. The book is full of interesting anecdotes like this one. Shook's life was extremely varied and included work during the second world war as agent X 7 and head of a quinine growing operation. Throughout the book, Shook's good humor and zest for life shine through, although he doesn't mince words in his criticism of administrative bundling and unsympathetic colleagues.

Delightful and absorbing tales from the life of Edwin Shook (1911-2000), who did some of the early fieldwork at many Mayan archeological sites. Shook's first field work was at Uaxactun, the earliest Mayan site known at the time. The Mayan workers at the site whispered that the archeologists must think the site was extremely important because they had named it "Washington" after the US capital. Like this anecdote, the book is filled with good and varied stories, including Shook's work in Guatemala during the second world war as agent X-7 and as head of a project to grow quinine trees. In this "as told to" book Shook's enthusiasm and good humor shine through, although he doesn't mince words in describing the acerbic personalities of some colleagues and directors.

I enjoyed My Life as Polluted Pond Scum because of its humor and adventure. I didn't want to put this book down.There's also a message and an action packed superhero story. The message in this one is, "bloom where your planted". If you enjoy all these things I suggest you pick it up and read it.

Have you ever seen a ghost summoning up a sea monster? Well, Wally Mcdoogle notices a ghost summoning up one in Knox Lake (the most polluted lake in Middletown) on a Water Management Facility screen. Wally goes through more funny disasters than you can ever think of in this book trying to catch who is draining Knox Lake with Middletown right below it! I think this book is great because it's funny and cool! I would recommend this book to 4th through 5th graders. It has 111 pages of super funny Mcdoogle disasters This book is very cool!

This is one of my favorite books in the series. I have 18 of the 20 and i love this book. You never know whether Wally is gonna go in traction or save the day until you read it.

This is a funny book! Wally goes to a ranch and is the clown in rodeo, and learns about revenge. Suprises in store: Music and Sound Effects Guy talk, Wally and Wall Street nearly break up and..........................OPERA STOPS CHOMPING CHIPS! for 1.8 seconds. Worth the wait,McDoogle fans!

I've been a long time fan of Bill Myers ever since I was about 7. I got this when I was about 8 and I was laughing my butt off! It would make a nice gift for younger kids...or even teenagers. I mean, I'm 14 and still enjoy reading books of this series!

Wally McDoogle, hot-air ballonist...Yeah, right! A hilarious story with a message about trusting God.

Este segundo curso sigue dónde termina la primera entrega. Es excelente en cuanto que enseña la correcta pronunciación americana y la construcción de las frases de una forma muy natural e intuitiva. A partir de la lección 9 se añaden unas lecturas en las que se repasan palabras difíciles, de este modo se consigue una unión entre lo hablado y lo escrito.
Sinceramente nunca pensé que fuera tan fácil aprender un idioma sin estar viviendo en el país.
Si tiene un nivel medio de inglés esté método será una buena continuación de lo que ya sabe, pero si tiene los médios económicos yo le aconsejaría que comenzara desde el nivel I. Su pronunciación mejorará sensiblemente y avanzará más rápido por este nivel II.
Preparado especialmente para hispanohablantes este curso intermedio hace que el inglés americano parezca fácil. Aunque se aprenden pocas palabras los resultados que se consiguen con la combinación de éstas son muy amplios.
Sin embargo, si quiere solamente aprender a escribir o leer inglés este no es el método adecuado.

No lo puedo creer, tienen el nivel intermedio también del método Pimsleur para Inglés. Este también se lo compraré a mi esposa (en su cumpleaños). Desde que descubrí el método Pimsleur para aprender idiomas, no hay nada más que me atrae la atención, porque van al punto, sin confusión y con total aclaración del sentido de las palabras y frases sin tener que recurrir a textos.