ET Books

The book is arrived about five days the expected arrival day, it's in perfect conditions, good packaging.
It was a very good transaction!

In Act I of Goethe's Faust, the hero broods alone in his chamber and reflects upon the vainness of earthly knowledge and education. He opens a ponderous book of magic and gazes in almost sensual wonder upon the lines and symbols on a diagram of the Macrocosm. Upon waves of ecstasy he gives voice to the passion that since the dawn of consciousness has consumed the student of the mysteries.

The archetype for the book that fired Goethe's imagination (and in his play initiated Faust's memorable career as magus) was in all likelihood a real book - a book that evoked every mystical clich? of the dramatic imagination; a massive and heavily illuminated work of alchemy, astrology, theology, magic, and cabbala which in 1719 dropped like a living culture into the fertile medium of western syncretic thought; a book that for the remainder of the 18th century would revolutionize the Rosicrucian, Masonic, and Hermetic movements throughout Europe; a book with which Goethe, and the brightest stars in the firmament of European esotericism were intimately familiar - Georg von Welling's Opus Mago-cabbalisticum et Theosophicum.

As important as this work seems to be, it has never been translated into English -- until now.

Meticulously translated by Joseph McVeigh, this is a stunning and highly collectable edition of one of the most important book on alchemy ever written.

The tendency to interpret physical change in spiritual terms was part of alchemy from its inception in the ancient world. Beginning in the Middle Ages and well into the 18th century parallels were drawn between alchemical processes and the mysteries of Christianity. The preparation of the philosopher's stone was described in terms of death and resurrection and equated with the death and resurrection of Christ; the constituents of the stone, for example, the salt, sulfur, and mercury of the Paracelsians, were identified with spirit, soul, and body as well as the Trinity. For Georg von Welling the symbols and signs of nature carried deep correspondences with biblical revelation. The religious nature of many alchemical texts makes it difficult at times to distinguish those that describe actual laboratory processes from those employing alchemical language for purely spiritual ends. Nevertheless, there was a clear tendency among "spiritual" alchemists to distinguish themselves from those they disparagingly described as "puffers" or "sooty empirics". The English physician, alchemist, and Rosicrucian sympathizer Robert Fludd dismissed the work of practical alchemists as "chymia vulgaris". Only their imagery and symbolism kept these alchemists in touch with the fire and the furnace.
The upsurge in spiritual alchemy coincided with the breakdown of religious unity during the Reformation. Alchemical symbolism provided an ideal framework for individuals seeking new schemes of salvation both for themselves and the world at large. The books written by Jacob Boehme illustrate how well alchemical symbolism served spiritual and theosophical ends. Boehme's writings fuse alchemical, Paracelsian, hermetic, and kabbalistic themes into a theosophical exhortation to spiritual rebirth.
Much of the spiritual side of western alchemy was rooted in the notion that the world was a battle ground, in which the forces of evil (matter) battled the forces of good (spirit). This idea came from a variety of sources, neoplatonic, kabbalistic, and Christian. Alchemists were sometimes presented as quasi-Gods in their laboratories, as saviors redeeming base matter, equating the philosopher's stone with Christ and identifying themselves with both Although many alchemists were members of the clergy, their ventures into theology affronted a number of orthodox Catholics and Protestants.
Besides writing the book which made him famous Opus Mago-Cabbalisticum et Theosophicum, written in German, von Welling lived an adventurous life, serving as a captain fighting the Turks at Vienna. Briefly appointed a counselor by Frederick I in Berlin, and supervising the salt mines as a metallurgist and mineralogist.
The Opus Mago-Cabbalisticum et Theosophicum seems originally intended to be only about the alchemy of salt, it ended up covering much more. Initially published in 1719, and edited by "S.R." (Sincerus Renatus, a fellow theosopher), the author signed it as Gregorius Anglus Sallwigt. A note in it saya it was finished as early as 1708. This first edition contains only what was to be the first of the three parts of the subsequent versions. The second edition, published in 1729 (after von Welling's death and signed G.A.S), was the first to contain all three parts. Its first part had been edited by S.R. in 1729. The third edition (1735) was later re-edited in 1760 and 1784, and is considered the definitive and complete edition, upon which this Weiser translation is based. It is signed Georg von Welling and edited by C.S.; this stands for Christoph Schutz, a theosopher likewise interested in alchemy. Schütz also wrote the preface and inserted a text of his own on the "Eternal Wisdom".
Nothing is said in the book about either kabbalah or magic. For von Welling, these words are just synonyms for knowledge of Nature and Christian faith, understood in the "gnostic" sense von Welling intends them to have. They serve to designate his purpose of bringing together the "mysteria naturae" and the "mysteria scripturae". For him, Jewish Kabbalah employs 'throughout a misuse of the Divine Names'; but, the other hand, he occasionally praises the Christian Kabbalists. Actually, the Opus Mago-Cabbalisticum et Theosophicum is best understood as a book of spiritual alchemy and Christian theosophy, and for all practical purposes, the terms "kabbala" and "magic" are to be understood here as synonyms of it.
The Opus contains graphic geometrical drawings that have something of a "magical" flavor to them - not surprisingly, since they are meant to convey theosophical notions. Some of these drawings were later reproduced by numerous other authors and added significantly to the fame of the work. These diagrams are photographically reproduced in this edition.
The three parts of the Opus correspond to Paracelsus' "Tria prima", namely salt, sulphur and mercury. The central topics treated are the alchemy of salt, cosmogony, the Lucifer myth, an exegesis of Genesis, and chiliastic/eschatological speculations. Many of the themes of Opus are also borrowed from - Jacob Boehme. First there is the "Urgrund", understood as the ontologically primary reality in and of God, and His creation of the seven Spirits. Furthermore, one finds Boehme's exegesis of the first words of Genesis, the androgyny of Adam, and the myth of the Fall of Lucifer who becomes Satan. Last, but not least, von Welling borrows from Boehme the universalist belief in an "apokatastasis panton": the belief that after the consummation of all things at the end of time, all beings, be they good or evil, will return to God. But unlike Boehme, von Welling does not deal with the theme of the Divine Sophia.
Von Welling offers numerous theosophical interpretations of biblical verses in the light of alchemical concepts. For instance, salt, which is the main term around which most of his speculations revolve, corresponds to Christ; and the process of purification in alchemy is compared to that of Lucifer on the Last Day. This is not a new line of interpretation, since for already over one hundred years, spiritual alchemy - theosophy blended with alchemy - had offered speculations about salt. It was variously and even simultaneously regarded as a substance, a metaphysical principle and a religious metaphor. Von Welling assigns to the three Paracelsian principles (salt, sulphur, mercury) a role that is both celestial and terrestrial. In the wake of such alchemists as Knorr von Rosenroth, and Heinrich Khunrath, Franciscus Mercurius van Helmont, Georg von Welling deals with the "Schamajim", or the original balance between Fire and Water (in Hebrew "Aesch" and "Majim", used here as a symbolic oxymoron). Their separation is due to the Fall. It is more specifically in terms of both cosmology and metallurgy that von Welling is much indebted to F.M. van Helmont's Paradoxal Discourses, concerning the Macrocosm and Microcosm . . . (London 1685; German ed. 1691). Both share the same complex vision of the four elements as related to the planets, and similar cosmosophical views as well. The spirits of the four elements, or "elementals", are the object of a strong interest for von Welling, who deals with them in connection with his exegesis of the creation of the world. The two earlier relevant and important works on nature of the elementals had been Paracelsus' Liber de nymphis, sylphis, pygmaeis et salamandris (written in the 1530s), and Nicolas P.H. Montfaucon de Villars' Le Comte de Gabalis (1670).
Of the theosophical writings of the first half of the century, along with the works of Sincerus Renatus and Hermann Fictuld, the Opus ranks among the more influential. Its reception reached its height in the second half of the 18th century, during which two more editions appeared, in 1760 and 1784. Among the patients to whom the physician Johann Friedrich Metz recommended readings of these kinds was the young Goethe. Metz urged Goethe to immerse himself in von Welling's writings; and in his autobiography, Dichtung and Wahrheit (1811, Book VIII), Goethe even devoted a few pages to the readings that he had made of spiritual alchemical books, and in particular to his personal exegesis of von Welling's Lucifer narrative. There is good evidence that Georg von Welling's Opus was used in Rosicrucian and Masonic lodges in Germany and Russia also later writers on spiritual alchemy often referred to his ideas. Spiritual alchemy proliferated in the 18th century. Alchemical themes and symbols were integrated into Masonic and Roscrucian rituals among such groups as the Asiatic Brethren, the Lodge of the Amis Réunis, the Illumines d'Avignon, and various Rosicrucian orders in Germany. It is good that we have Georg von Welling Opus at last in a vivid and well wrought English translation. To the degree that it quickens our symbolic quest for the true philosophical stone may all those who study it remember Georg von Welling has a biting sense of irony and humor.

If you're thinking of buying this you should know something about yourself or are willing to learn something about yourself. Inner exploration though frightening, is absolutely neccissary for ourselves to evolve. There really isnt anything more to know. This isnt a book to just purchase and sit on the shelf, there must be a reason for having an interest in the subject matter, then if you know what Im speaking of this is essential material.

An excellent resource for Professors looking to assign a core textbook for their undergraduate classes on European Politics or as a supplemental text for Comparative Politics.

The book's great strength rests not ony in its broad scope of countries covered (including a refreshing look at the dynamic region of Central and Eastern Europe), but in its treatment of the most pertinent policy issues in an easily accessible manner for students.

Most importantly, the book offers a solid foundation for engaging students in classroom discussion and debates, which makes the job of the lecturer that much easier and satisfying.

The excerpt I looked at is so light, I'd get eye strain after reading one page. What were they thinking - to save money on ink?!? Good God!

I shall not buy the book, but gave it 5 Stars because a review should be about the book, not about the print.

While this book offers a huge amount of information on each of the countries it covers, it leaves something to be desired: an organized, consistent format. While all of the information I wanted was in the book, I really had to dig around for it- I found the the sections on each country were very dissimilar, so if I found a statistic or fact on one country, I could not simply flip to the same section of another country, I had to read the whole chapter about that country.
All in all, a worthwhile read, but I would suggest taking detailed notes so you remember where each fact came from- an index would have been tremendously helpful here.

This hefty book is a gold mine of information on politics in Europe. The book has a section each for the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Russia and the European Union, and each section has five chapters: The Context of (political entity) Politics, Where is the Power?, Who Has the Power? How is Power Used?, and What is the Future of (political entity) Politics? Plus, each section then finishes up with a list of resources for further reading.

Now, first of all it must be said that this book is a widely used textbook. But, don't let that scare you; it is a very fascinating book. Though not covering every nation in Europe, it does give an excellent overview of the major players. I found the book to be highly informative, giving me a good understanding to how the political framework of each country works, what its limitations are and what its strengths are. And, having been rewritten in 2003, it is very up-to-date, which is a great plus.

Overall, I found this to be an excellent resource. If you are interested in really understanding how politics works in Europe, then you must get this book! I highly recommend it.

Having played in a CoC campaign by one of the authors (Steve Spisak) for several years, I can personally attest to the level of detail and playability of his work. This book is excellent and well thought out, as well as being eminently playable. 5 Stars.

I'm a longtime Cthulhu keeper but new to Ramsey Campbell (other than the material in the rulebook). The first half of the book is devoted to resource material covering magic, monsters and locations in the fictitious Severn Valley (well the Severn Valley itself isn't fictitious of course). The second half is devoted to a campaign of 7 or 8 scenarios. Everything is well written, well thought out and seems very playable. I'm looking forward to running it!

I've waited a long time for this one, and the wait was worth it! It's chock full of scenarios (forming a campaign which you can ignore if you want), and lots of background material on Ramsey Campbell's Severn Valley. I wish there'd been more maps and maybe more info on some of the locations but all in all, this is a COOL package!

It's good to see Chaosium getting back to topnotch books again. This one along with Unseen Masters, represents a "new wave" of Call of Cthulhu - as good or better than any of the stuff released in years.

You can't really go wrong with this package, it's got background resource material for the Goatswood area and a nice bundle of scenarios that look like fun to run (I can't wait to spring some of them on my group! HEH HEH HEH) I don't want to give away any spoilers but there's an S&M club, and the "GUARD" at the club is such a wicked idea not to mention the dude who runs the place. Good to see Ramsey the man himself giving the introduction, read his Silent Children book if you really want to get chills!

The artwork is decent, and lots of it. Plenty of handouts too, which are really important as far as I am concerned. One thing I could do without though is the side illustrations, they take up too much room that could maybe be used for information. But that's a small jibe compared to the value.

This book is an excellent way to learn a bit of Oklahoma history as well as instilling the alphabet. I dofeel it is for older children-but who ever grows up!!!

This book is excellent for a project for our Centennial celebration this year. The curriculum is available from the publisher. Great activities for elementary students.

What a beautiful book about Oklahoma! Being a loyal Oklahoman, I was impressed with the information and history being portrayed in this book. Great for children and adults. Would also be great for History classes.

This book makes me beam with pride to be an Oklahoman! It is filled with relevant facts from what a sooner really is, the oklahoma city bombing, sooner and cowboy football, famous Oklahomans and much more. It I have bought several copies as gifts. It also has trivia questions in the back that follow along with the book; it would make a great educational tool. I highly recommend this to any Oklahoman!

This was the twelfth Simpsons Comics book I've read and, while it's not the best of the dozen, it is still a very funny book and a must for the Simpsons comics connoisseur (you got to love the cover art). Here's what you get:

"Rhymes and Misdemeanors": Martin Prince is in love with Lisa and, when his love is unrequited, they both do battle in the form of poetry readings at a nightclub dissing each other.

"The Great Springfield Frink-Out": A giant mishap occurs at the Frink labs (actually someone put tin foil in the microwave). This event causes everything to be topsy-turvy in
Springfield, for example, Marge is the mayor, Homer is a mobster, Cecil is the celebrity clown, and Bart has ambitions to be as cool as Milhouse.

"Tiger Teen": Fun mock mini mag in the style of those old 16 and Tiger Beat teen magazines of our youth. Of course, this one features Homer's barber shop group Be Sharps ("Homer Answers 40 Intimate Questions"-is that a perfect copy of those teen magazines or what?). There are also a few familiar names of 80s pop stars on the cover ("Cory Hart Takes off his Sunglasses-Exclusive photos!")

"Burnsie on Board": Mr. Burns tries to live out his boyhood dream of being an Olympic skiing gold medalist by enlisting the help of Bart.

"To Live and Diaper in Springfield": To pay for an expensive toilet paper dispenser Homer desires from an extravagant shopping network, Marge starts a daycare center. Her attention to other babies (particularly the one with the single eyebrow) causes Maggie to run away.

"Fan-Tasty Island": Mr. Burns needs a rare toxin to get by the Coalition to Reduce Air Pollution. This toxin can only be found inside a wood carving on a remote island. The perfect cover-up is to send a family to find the treasure-the Simpsons, of course. Very funny comic, but the ending is a little far-fetched.

This was a wonderful book that I enjoyed reading. It contains some hillarious comics that made my stomach hurt from laughing. It is another wonder of the Bongo Comics Group. It is an assential for any true simpsons fan.

If you have read "The Simpsons: A complete guide of our favorite family", And "The Simpsons Forever", you're gonna find this book an exellent one, it answer a lot of questions about all the customes. An if do you like The Simpsons comic, it contains s lot of the best titles of this editions. Definitly you must have it.

For more than ten years "The Simpsons" animated television comedy has been a staple of the American television diet and popular with audiences around the world. Their antics and outrageous tales are also available in full color, comic book formats, the latest being the Titan Books anthology, Simpsons Comics A Go-Go. Here are to be found Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie, and all their friends, neighbors and fellow Springfield denizens in original, ribald, mind-bending, mad-science, alternate world stories that continue to demonstrate Matt Groening's genius for political and social satire, and flair for spoofing the sacred cows of polite society and contemporary culture. Simpsons Comics A Go-Go is "must" reading for all dedicated Simpson fans.

It was much cheaper than my college bookstore and shipping was free. I could have paid less for it if I had gone with one of the independant sellers instead of Amazon directly, but I would have had to pay for shipping. I have enjoyed the book even though it is a text book.

I had been searching through all of the sewing books I could find to learn more about the nature of fabric and fibers...and everything I could possibly want to know was here, and more. Absolutely fascinating. It is a textbook, but was written clearly enough that anyone with an interest in the area can easily understand it. I've been teaching classes to costumers and members of the local American Sewing Guild, who are equally impressed with the knowledge we got from this book.

I use this book as the text for teaching a basic textiles course for sophmores. This text provides a sound foundation for students understanding the textiles and the science foundations that are the base for predicting textile performance. Every line is packed with information; there is no fluff in this book. If you want to understand WHY textiles and textile products perform in specific ways, this is the book to buy.

This was an easy textbook to follow when I took my textiles class. It is very informative and interesting.

As an avid reader - over 150 books per year - thrillers and books with suspense in them are my favorites!! As a long time advocate of the International Thriller Writers website, I LOVED and HIGHLY recommend this anthology.

First of all, it allows you to sample - like a Chinese food menue - different authors. Then, if you like the story, you can search Amazon for additional works by that Author.

I've discovered some new authors this way, and have had HOURS of fun.

Run - do NOT walk - and get this book. I'm certain that you too will find many hours of enjoyment within its covers.

Great read for both old-time thrill readers or anyone new to this genre. Short stories from some of the best "thrill" writers around. Many of the writers use characters that they have developed in their other books. A must read for anyone that enjoys a good "thrill". Thanks to James Patterson (editor) and the International Thriller Writers, Inc. I hope they are willing to put together a Thriller II.

Several mystery/thriller authors have gotten together to form a new professional organization and this book is a first - a thriller anthology. Thirty thriller writers have contributed short stories; James Patterson introduces each author and his/her story.

The settings are varied - France, England, New York, old west and anywhere the writers' imaginations take them. The time periods vary - anywhere from the 1700's to present day. I confess I started a few of the stories and had to skip to the next one. But most are quick reads with a twist at the end. I hope to see another book from the group.

There are a few reasons you should read this book. First, it is likely you will get a taste of the writings of authors you otherwise would not have ever tried.
Second, there are variations here on what defines a "thriller." Don't be prejudiced by your own definition of the term -- read these with an open mind to possibilities.
Third, if your life is as hectic as mine, it is great to be able to dip in for 20 or 30 minutes and enjoying a complete quality story; there are many of them in this collection.
Finally, many reviewers here write about how the collection was weak except for... and then they name the few stories they think were best. Peruse the reviews and you will see they are not all the same few stories... all in all, most of the stories were enjoyed by someone here! Which is to say that the lower ratings are because of TASTE, not QUALITY. Enjoy the breadth, indulge in your favorites, and don't be deterred by the selective ratings of the reviewers here.
A quality anthology -- can't wait for Vol 2!!

This may not be the book with which to start a Vermeer trek. But it is one to savor mid-way on the journey. And it's a fitting coda for the many books on Vermeer published since the wonderful Washington/The Hague exhibition in 1995-1996. Walter Liedtke comprensivley and colorfully provides context for Vermeer's style, technique, and themes. For all his erudition, however, Liedtke doesn't explain Vermeer's genius, which is sui generis. The combination of painterly skill, scientific observation, poetic insight, and musical/theatrical nuance all seem perfectly coordinated in this Delft Master. That Vermeer made rather extensive use of the camera obscura to inform his work is without doubt (see Philip Steadman's Vermeer's Camera), although Liedtke continues even now to insist he did not. Nonetheless, as Liedtke exhaustively details, Vermeer could not have been Vermeer without the cultural milieu in and around The Netherlands in the seventeenth century.

The quality of the hundreds of illustrations included in the book, especially those which reproduce Vermeer's paintings, is extraodinary; the cover reproduction of Vermeer's Art of Painting is alone worth the price of the volume. Note particularly the pairing of The Girl with a Pearl Earring and the Study of a Young Woman (making a good case for pendant status), as well as perhaps the best reproduction ever of The Girl with a Red Hat (although it is somewhat over-sized).

Liedkte also generously provides a trove of bibliographical citations, more than enough to keep scholars busily productive well into the next generation. No serious study of Vermeer can proceed without reference to this book. Yet, it is a good read for anyone with a reasonably sophisticated knowledge of European history of that era, and will reward amatuer art historians of the Baroque period with its pinball-like associations.

Lovers of Vermeer will make this book a centerpiece in their library, returning to it again and again for information, clarification, and, most of all, aesthetic pleasure. Liedtke's opus is the next best thing to visiting the several handfuls of museums in the USA and Europe that hold Vermeer's 36 known works.

Words cannot describe the impact this weighty volume has had on me. From the moment I held it in my trembling hands, I was hooked. The rich, carefully crafted prose is a delight to the eye and the imagination. Its author is undoubtedly a man of breath-taking vision who has reconstructed the 17th-century past with unique skills of research and analysis. His character shines through in every page and the reader cannot help but conjure up in his or her mind a dazzling image of a dark tall handsome curator with beautifully slick and greased black hair, a whiff of moustache, and sparkling gold-rimmed glasses. Every inch a man of learning. I could go on - and I will.

This is a catalogue published in conjunction with the exhibition "Vermeer and the Delft School" held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, from March 8 to May 27, 2001 and The National Gallery, London, from June 20 to September 16, 2001. It is written by Walter Liedtke, Curator in the Department of European Paintings at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York with contributions from eight other art curators and historians. This is a hefty book reflecting this monumental ehibition which includes 15 of the 35 known works attributed to Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) who spent his entire life in Delft. Other prominent 17th Century artists include Pieter de Hooch, Gerard Houckgeest and one of my favorites, Carel Fabritius, who was killed in a munitions explosion in 1654 at the age of 32. The catalogue is 640 pages containing 526 illustrations with 225 colorplates. The quality of the colorplates is good. The history of Delft and the development of "The Delft School" is thoroughly researched. In addition to the artists mentioned there are many beautiful paintings by artists who are relatively unknown. This is a catalogue where the interested reader will spend the rest of his life perusing. There is much to be mined here. The exhibition is worth a journey.

Bravo to Walter Liedtke for his sense of humor, see below. The fact that 17 out of 24 did not understand his subtle comments on himself, he did write most of the book, is testimony as to lack of discernment of those who read these reviews. I have heard his lecture on the exhibition and all he says is absolutely true. Actually, his comments on himself are rather modest.

Like all Eyewhitness books, this one is full of information and great photos. We have a large collection of these books and look forward to enjoying them for years to come.

Good introduction to plants for all those of reading age. Also a good review for those who studied botany too long ago!

The Most interesting thing was that when butterflies are sleeping their proboscus is tucked under their head. The most surprising thing in the book was that rose hips have ten to one hundred times the vitamin C than any other food. Plants is an excellent book. It told alot of interesting information. Anyone would like to read it, for a report or just for fun.
By B. Carlson

This book, like all those in this DK series, contains images that are absolutely captivating to children from preschool upwards--and to adults as well. The images speak volumes about the growth of plants. It's a fascinating and useful reference book for children.

I just got back from my annual trip to Alaska where I found a copy of this guide. It is a great resource at a great price. Anyone planning a wildlife, or nature hiking vacation to the Kenai should look at getting a copy.

I have found most of these places in the last 10 years of travel, but there were some that are now on my "must see next time" list. It's not comprehensive, but it gives more than enough options to productively fill any trip from three days to 6 weeks. Locations range from the Sea Life Center to full day hikes to driving routes. All habitats on the Peninsula are covered (and all Alaskan habitats except Arctic Tundra can be found on the Kenai.) So it can lead you to all Alaskan wildlife except for Musk Ox and Polar Bears.

Nicely laid out, good descriptions, insightful tips, well illustrated, good removeable fold out map provided. Only slightly bad thing, there is no index of target species versus locations, so you need to read through descriptions to find locations for specific species. All in all, a great value and resource for the visiting naturalist.

A reasonably priced, well-written, informative, easy to read guide. Contains directions, what you will see, hints and many other pieces of info related to wildlife viewing on Kenai Peninsula. I'd recommend it for anyone who will be traveling on the Kenai Peninsula, even if you aren't bird watching or looking for specific wildlife. Great format, great pictures. A definite best value for the money. Lots of info about places to stop, sites to see. Good info for a family or for adults.

I had friends visit the Kenai Peninsula for two weeks in July. We used this guide to find 130 bird species and all the major mammals - marine and land. It is cheap, well done, and full of information. My friends took it home as a remainder of why they love Alaska.