Elephants Books

In her first book of poetry, Claudia Carlson delights, entertains, and impresses. Whether dealing with the ordinary terrors of childhood, as in the "Leaving Your Toys to the Dogs," the adult's attempts to come to terms with parents, as in "Sighting Academics in the Quad" and "Hell-in-the-Box," or the dissolution of a marriage, as in "Tornado Warnings" and "Ode on a Duck Head Umbrella," Carlson brings a fresh eye and a unique wit that inspire the reader to experience these universal topics in a new way. Carlson's imagined versions of historical and literary figures, such as "Picasso's Model" and "Bluebeard's Pre-nup," are also a pleasure to read.

Claudia Carlson's first book of poems is an excellent collection woven together with consistent themes. Though grounded in certain locales such as her childhood home's attic and the Bronx Zoo, her pieces transport you back to similar places in your own past. Carlson is Anne Sexton with a sense of humor. Funny, poignant, and sad moments are all illustrated by clever metaphors that colorfully describe her experiences and make you rethink your own.

Claudia Carlson's poems own enchantment and empathy that lead the reader into familiar territory but with amazingly magical twists of humor, courage, language. Pick them, take them with you, they're essential to this marvelous journey of living.

Claudia Carlson's first collection enchants with wit and bright imagery. Never academic but always informed, the poems lead us down a winding path through a peripatetic childhood into the life of a grownup artist. From The Bees, which describes a small child's frightening first introduction to racism, to Picasso's Model, 1909, which invokes the model's sensuous relationship to the painter, we see the poet-in-progress. Pornos, the Goddess of Hack, is a hilarious evocation of the writer's frustration and temptations; and Bluebeard's Pre-nup is a very funny warning to anyone entering a relationship with deliberately closed eyes. This collection ranges wide, and touches on the whole gamut of human emotion; but I cherish it most for the laughter of recognition when I recognize the human frailties and failings it describes so well.

Subtitled, 'Christianity, Islam, and the Sufis', this important book is the basis of a lecture by Shah at a symposium at Geneva University in 1972. The theme of his contribution was 'Salvation as a Total Surrender to God: An attempt at Dialog between Christians and Muslims. The book demonstrates the commonality of the two religions based upon the unity of experience of the act of surrender and the historic acceptance of higher level practitioners of these religions of the practices and religion of the other. In keeping with the theme of his other books Shah is enormously helpful to those desiring to approach the bases of the religious experience by demonstrating obstacles that stand in the way. Important now, this book will grown in importance in the future as the decay of these religions moves those who can to look for their seed in the experience of the man of knowledge.

Idries Shah wrote this wonderful book that examined the commonalities of Christianity, Islam, and the Sufis. He begins by discussing "ecumenical" which means "belonging to the whole world." The Sufis view of salvation is a "surrender to G-d". The author points out how through cultural inheritance and teaching, people of different faiths receive a distorted view of the other's religion. So one needs to examine personal beliefs and the beliefs of others to understand what surrender to G-d entails.

Muslim teaching acknowledges Jesus was an "al-Sayyed", a Prince or Lord, however they hold that he was fully human who encouraged people to surrender to G-d. The commonality of the two religions is belief in G-d and submission to his will. The author does a historical review of how respective rulers treated someone of a different religion within Christian and Islam domains of rule. The common history of both religions as seekers of truth are explained. According to Shah, it was a Christian monk who first informed the polytheist Arabs that when Mohammed was twelve years old, he was later to become a spiritual teacher.

For many centuries in the past, the writings of Christian and Moslem thinkers were replete with agreement in the fields of politics, science, medicine, and economics. There were many common threads between the cultures. The author acknowledges people reading a subject will find information which matches their own biases, based on narrow experiences. He admonishes, "Currently, in the East and West, there is so much publication and misinformation that only extensive reading will enable the student to form a useful opinion" [p. 64 c. 1974, 1978] These words are even more prophetic 30 years after written, in the post 9-1-1 era. The author realizes there is a tendency for over-generalization as well as the possibility of focusing too narrowly on portions any doctrine. Most importantly, it is necessary to recognize that there are a constellation of concepts built into Arabic words, which if translated from the Quran, will be disturbed or distorted. The mystical experiences of Sufis and Christian saints however seem beyond this cultural conundrum. The Sufi heritage possesses experiential descriptions that hold much promise in bringing the Christian and Islamic cultures together on the basis of commonalites in spiritual and moral grounding.

This book is highly recommended as a means of understanding foundational beliefs of Islam as they relate to Christianity. The author begins the book with the story told by by Rumi over 700 years ago, in which several men touch an elephant and each believes he is describing the whole, as one touches an ear, the other a leg, and another the trunk. For a mere 76 pages, this is a very thought-provoking book. Erika Borsos (erikab93)

Solving life's puzzles isn't as difficult as we make it. Putting the parts together, and getting the "whole picture" isn't easy. This little story reminds us how to try.

The author presents a completely unbiased view of many of the worlds religions and how they have been known to view one another. The interior of the religions philosophy is compared to the actions of the its followers with incredible insight and humor. There are numerous quotations from classical texts as well as contemporary insights from the author and noted specialists in the field of conscious evolution. Don,t miss this book. Truely a great read!!

This is an amazing story of a life long friendship between a man and an elephant and how they saved each other.

I found this book to be a fascinating account of how an African Bull Elephant changed the life of one man - their adventures together are truly amazing. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a heartwarming story of turmoil and redemption.

This is the most amazing story about the 30+ year relationship between Chris (Tippi Hedren's Shambala organization) and Timbo, a five-ton elephant, North America's biggest and oldest African elephant bull...This is a story about life itself, commitment and love of the deepest kind...Both salvation to the other. One of the most heartfelt stories I've ever read that gave me the courage to pursue my true passion in life. The true message- love and dedication, and doing it from your heart.

This book reveals the amazing relationship between a man and his "best friend", Timbo, a gigantic African bull elephant. Through the stunning photographs and the text taken from Chris Gallucci's own diaries, we learn of their deep devotion to each other. It is an almost unimaginable story, but it is totally true and reflects the depth one can achieve in a relationship between the species through hard work, love, and respect. The hand-written notes from Chris' own diary are a joy to see and reflect the genuine man that he is and his total devotion to Timbo. Reading this book is an emotional experience because of the bond created between this extraordinary man and his unique elephant.

Unlike the (brilliant) play and movie of the same name, Frederick Drimmer's "fictional biography" of Joseph Merrick, THE ELEPHANT MAN, aims to tell the subject's true life story, based on accounts of those who knew him. I first read THE ELEPHANT MAN as a teenager in high school. Revisiting the book now as an adult, I find there is little I can add to the apt assessment of the reviewer quoted here on Amazon.com. I'll only repeat that Drimmer, an authority on so-called human oddities and a gifted writer, tells Merrick's sad yet inspiring story tastefully and with drama and interest in every chapter. Merrick's humanity and that of his doctor, Frederick Treves, and his other friends shines through brightly, yet the evils present in British Victorian society are not underplayed. Consequently, THE ELEPHANT MAN reads like both a biography and an entertaining work of fiction, suitable for both young and older adults.

THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ IT IS A TRUE STORY ABOUT A MAN JOSEPH CAREY MERRICK WHO SUFFERED A DISEASE PROTIO-SYNDROM WHICH DISFIGURED HIM. ITS ABOUT HOW HE LIVED AND HOW HE SPENT HIS TIME WITH HIS DOCTOR. THE WHOLE BOOK IS GREAT I FOUND IT VERY INTERESTING AND TOUCHING. BUT IN ALL I WOULD RECOMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE. -RANDY

I was very touched by the story of the Elephant man, who was very deformed and endured many hardships in his childhood and young adult life because of his appearance. His life becomes bearable though in his end years thanks to the kindness of Dr. Fredrick Treves and many other people. If you haven't heard of or read about the Elephant man yet, I recommend this book, Joseph Merrick's story (the Elephant man) is something you won't forget. The terrors he went through and then how incredibly grateful he was for the simplest pleasures after being rescued by Dr. Treves make me see life through new eyes: it is hard to take things for granted. The book also includes photographs of Joseph.

The movie, which I saw when I was 7 was a lie. Tom Norman, his manager in the freak show treated him with great respect and was a portaryed as a monster. He was never stolen from the London Hospital and was not beaten. The movie focused on the bad of his life but not the good. Sir Fredrick Treves (forgiven an misspelling,s, I am only 12) the sugeon that helped him was a great man and help John and brought out the good that most overlooked because of his appearance. He is man i would love to personally meet and this book helped me realize that he was a smart man, a caring man, a loving man....This book would help anyone interested in this subject with it's photos and insight.

While I must reserve my 5-star rating(s) for Walt Whitman and a few others, Kay Ryan definitely has what it takes to put dog-eared volumes of poetry back into the pockets of readers in the U.S. Yes, they're rather short, but then so are most haiku, right? Maybe she has invented the "long haiku" form. If you're on a budget, you might wanna' borrow her work from the library until the new volume of selected pieces comes out. Whatever, read Kay Ryan and let others know you do...

I loved this book. Kay Ryan's poems are very short, but they pack so much ambiguous meaning in a few lines. They're quite unusual among contemporary poetry: epigrammatic, terse, very accessible, almost light verse, but with shadows flickering all around. I give this book to friends who say they "don't get modern poetry" and that modern poetry makes them feel stupid. If you like Stevie Smith or the short verses of Robert Frost, you'll love Elephant Rocks. Here's a short one, called "Silence":

Silence is not snow./ It cannot grow/ deeper. A thousand years/ of it are thinner/ than paper. so/ we must have it/ all wrong/ when we feel trapped/ like mastodons.

Once every couple of generations, an original thinker manages to refresh an art form that had seemed exhausted. Kay Ryan has done this with poetry. Her poems rhyme--but not in the ways and places you expect. They're metrical--but only according to the author's own quirky standard. They're short, tight, and disciplined--and yet they allow language to sprawl and luxuriate. Best of all, they're musical. Not a single one of them bounces along in a stanzaic quatrain the way a traditional lyric would; instead, these poems are densely packed, with beautiful interior rhymes and echoes chiming away in a miniature space.

One final paradox: Although these poems are not confessional (they do not contain personal remembrances, hurts, or hopes), they gradually reveal an intensely individual mind--a lucid, generous, and humorous one.

In my opinion Kay is the best, most beautiful poet working in the English language today. She has quietly reinvented rhyming poetry according to her own peculiar--but very logical--rules. I consider her best poems to be miraculous.

In admiration,

Henry Rathvon

I had to stop reading this book on the bus because it caused me to blubber like a baby! Ms. Ryan's words pour into your soul like water, filling you up and spilling over your face. Seldom does a writer have such a command over both sound and sense--that's what makes her a true poet. And, like the best poetrty, this book should be enjoyed in a quiet, intimate environment, read aloud to the one you love best. An absolutely wonderful book.

This was a truly remarkable story, one that everyone should read. Very well written. If everyone would take charge of their health like this it would be great.

I was very impressed with the author's willingness to keep a very open mind, while also seeming to keep her feet firmly planted on the ground through a balanced approach which embraced both eastern and western medicine. I enjoyed her honesty and relaxed sharing of this personal, and quite challenging, "adventure". She gives hope and a positive outlook to those with any unpredictable disease. This is a wonderfully inspiring book, encouraging faith in oneself and in trusted healers, along with the modeling of staying proactive in the ongoing healing process.

I confirm everything Helen Pollock wrote in her review and would like to add my appreciation for Lynne's candor and honest portrayal of her experiences and how those experiences affected her and the members of her family. How refreshing to know that there are doctors willing to support a patient's desire to explore all avenues of healing modalities. This book is definitely a keeper and one I will definitely give away. It is a messenger of hope to those with illness and a valuable wake-up call for everyone.

Here is a book with a real, live story of how a person, with no previous exposure to meditation, healings, energy, etc., simply responded with openness and curiosity, and without judgment, to one slightly strange event after another, until at the end she found she had traveled to where I think we all want to travel. Her humor is subdued, but easy - she is impressed by her first psychic because her apartment was neat and her bathroom clean. Lynne's receptivity is fair and expansive - kind to "Western" medicine, although she definitely tells it like it is, as she is drawn more and more to the alternatives. And how rare to find no preaching - Lynne merely observes her prejudices as they gently dissolve, but she doesn't tell us what we should be thinking or doing. She has a great heart, but doesn't smother you with it. This is a book I am giving to friends. It is a unique tale of spirit and one person's dedicated journey of hope.

Helen Pollock Please put my email address on this review - hpollock@aol.com

My kids loved this book and now my grandchildren agree. Can't go wrong with anything by Bill Peet.

I grew up on Bill Peet books and I am surprised that I don't hear much about them anymore. I think they are all wonderful. My favorites are: Ella, Buford the Little Bighorn, and The Wump World. They are entertaining stories with wonderful underlying lessons!!

The best lesson in humility a child (or adult) can have. The rhyming text makes the reading fun. This is my favorite of all the Bill Peet books.

I can't believe no one has reviewed this book yet. I was flipping through the Bill Peat collection just because Christmas is drawing near and these books made such a huge impact on my childhood I wanted to now share them with my son. Ella is the classic tale of the underdog making good in the end and I would HIGHLY recommend it (or ANY Bill Peat book) for anyone who enjoys sharing stories of substance with their children.

Pam has written a delightful book with insights about Board, Staff and volunteer interactions. This book is a fabulous introduction to those who want to steer not-for-profits to greater relevancy.

What makes this work even more interesting is Pam's well crafted titles for the elephants she identifies. She, in effect, has created "spin-variation" titles and the writing in general has pizazz.

She has captured the major areas of crisis and challenge in organizations. There is only one area I have found that she has not addressed. It is the tough area that has to do with mental illness. No one really has a model to deal with this elephant.

What do you do if your boss is crazy? This is the case that happens in organizations all over the country. What do you do if an employee, as defined by the DSM, is plainly-speaking nuts. What happens if this employee undermines the boss, attacks stake-holders and clients?

This is an area that is covered certainly in a general way in her book. However, this issue needs detail and the recognition of being an elephant all its own.

Books on nonprofits often tend to be academic and not very useful for us in the trenches. This book is different - it clarified for me why getting things done is so difficult. There are so many doable nuggets, but the one that really hit home was the "vested volunteer elephant." I can't wait to put these ideas into practice!

I'm not sure elephants had to be part of this critical nonprofit management book, but it works ok I guess. I probably would have liked the book better if the author had used some other "convention" to make her book memorable. I think the book is definitely worth a read by members of nonprofit boards and possibly executive directors (CEOs) of nonprofits. I say probably with regard to CEOs because any CEO who knows anything about his or her job already knows everything that is written between the covers of this book.

When I read the front and back cover materials of the book it became apparent quickly that the author is a new management consultant to not-for-profits and this book is her professional "credibility piece" so she can charge a reasonable (if not handsome) consulting fee for her services. I smile when I write this because after reading the book I doubt anyone who can comprehend the book will need to hire the author since the book is very well written.

According to the author nonprofit organizations that are poorly managed suffer from five fundamental obstacles:

1. An unclear vision and mission
2. A detached board - one that does not relate to the organization
3. An incompetent board - one that fails to develop policy and strategy
4. Incompetent CEO, staff, and volunteers - performance is not demanded
5. Too much people-pleasing and not enough "get the job done"

I don't know whether the nonprofit sector is as bad off as the author suggests. My hunch is that it is, but I don't have the evidence to back up what I believe. I think that the author took a bold step by being as negative as she was about the nonprofit sector without providing more statistical data to support where she was coming from in making the general statements that she makes. She could have written the book to say that if a nonprofit suffers from the five obstacles mentioned above, THEN certain steps that she describes could be taken. But she did not write the book that way.

All in all, this is a great book and one that nonprofit management teams (boards and their CEOs) should read and use to improve the way they do their work. Major gift givers should probably read the book as well so they can better evaluate a nonprofit that is seeking a gift from them. 5 stars!

This is one of those rare informational books that is written in a style that makes it enjoyable to read. I'm already finding myself quoting elephant quips at various non-profit functions and committe meetings.
It is also well organized with exhibits and examples that are easily accessed. Every non-profit CEO and board member needs to read this book. It will certainly stay on my bookshelf as a ready reference for tools and solutions.

It has a lot of good information on poaching in North Africa and a lot of other places in the world that elephants were poached at. It really makes you see the world like an elephant as though you were an elephant. it brings out your greatest fantasies about elephants that you would never dream of. This book was just really great.

Incredibly detailed reporting and an easy, conversational writing style make this one of the most rewarding books I have ever read. The author writes of travelling the world, observing human and elephant interactions in dozens of different countries; part travelogue, part eco-primer, and wholly absorbing. And Chadwick makes a convincing case for keeping the African elephant on the endangered species list. This book is perhaps even more important now than when it was published _ only recently CITES (the UN group that makes the endangered species list) decided to allow some southern African countries to sell ivory again. I'd love to see the author's thoughts on these new developments. Anyone concerned with conservation or animal welfare should read this book. Personally, I found Chadwick's work so interesting and educational that after reading it I booked a trip to Africa to see these great beasts _ before the opportunity is gone forever

While Douglas H. Chadwick's extraordinary book is titled "The Fate of the Elephant" and does an incredible job of presenting the decidedly bleak future of this magnificent animal in the face of an incredible human-induced onslaught, it does more than just examine that issue. At its heart, this book is about the fate of the "natural world"; that is, the world as it was/is before it has been shaped by human contact. The explosion in the human population is increasingly reducing and destroying the habitat of not just elephants, but other animal species in general, and Chadwick recognizes this. Chadwick's book is thoroughly researched, decidedly well-written, and a joy to read. As stated by another reviewer, as clear as it is that Chadwick's sympathies lie with the elephant itself, he shows remarkable restraint in not condemning those who make the future of the elephant so bleak. As such, the book makes the reader realize that while it is quite easy to sit in our comfortable homes and condemn those who are forcing these elephants into fewer and fewer numbers, there are real problems and concerns on the other side of the coin as well. Without stealing any of the author's thunder, I would just say that this is easily one of the best books I have ever read, and while my sympathies are definitely on the side of the elephants, this book was a sobering and tremendously informative look at the full scope of the problem that elephants and animal species in general face. Furthermore, the best thing this book did, in my opinion, was force me to really think about humankind, its relationship to the other species on the planet, how certain dominant views of that relationship have led us to the where we are today, and what might need to be done in order to prevent large scale extinctions in this upcoming century (which is where I personally fear we might be headed).

In a mere 475 pages, Douglas Chadwick's The Fate of the Elephant manages to thoroughly cover a range of subjects almost as large as the elephants that serve as its focus. Originally assigned by National Geographic as a piece on "elephants of the world," each chapter in the book opens in a new setting, from the elephant enclosure at an American zoo, to the parts of Africa and Asia where elephants can still be found in the wild. From the workshop of Japanese ivory artisans to a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference in Switzerland, he also journeys to elephantless areas where their presence is still felt.

Knowing a little about man's history with elephants, I assumed-even daresay expected-that at least some parts of the book would be dedicated to the kind of finger-pointing induction of guilt that has come to be seen as a means to inspire action on the part of the general public. Refreshingly, there is none of that to be found here, yet the final emotions that the reader comes away with are no less strong. Chadwick does not trivialize the fact that, for him, writing The Fate of the Elephant was as much a personal exploration of a subject of lifetime interest as a travel adventure undertaken for the sake of National Geographic. His frankly portrayed moments of sheer joy and of utter frustration become highs and lows for the reader as well.

Along these same lines, Chadwick skillfully avoids simplifying those engaged in the struggle over what should be done with elephants into "good guy" and "bad guy" camps. Though having just seen the body of a faceless and bloody young bull elephant lying in the bush, he does not celebrate when reports of killed poachers come across his radio. Likening poaching to the illegal drug trade, he knows that the crises of a burgeoning population have pushed many of those living on the margins into these high-risk jobs, while those orchestrating it all sit out of the way in relative safety. The ever-growing human population also drives habitat degradation, the other main threat to African wildlife. It comes as a shot of realism when Chadwick points out that these days, even Africans have to go to parks and zoos to see African wildlife.

Describing the World War I bolt-action guns with which many park rangers must ridiculously face off against AK-47-toting poachers, Chadwick highlights one of the great challenges to wildlife conservation: economics. Not only does poaching rob resources from local economies, but even legal industries such as tourism pay few monetary returns at the local level. He advocates the need to make conservation economically viable to local people, not just something imposed by the government of the moment.

Chadwick integrates scientific concepts in a subtle way that guarantees that even those simply looking for a good "animal tale" will come away as more knowledgeable armchair naturalists. Judging from the brevity of his bibliography relative to the amount of material packed into the book, this integrated approach may be the same way that Chadwick picked up much of his technical knowledge of elephants-not by purely poring over scientific texts as much as by living alongside some of the best in the field, in the field.

The only missing element in Chadwick's work seems to be information about the time period in which he was in each place. While perhaps intended as a testament to the timeless quality of life spent in elephants' presence, it seemed most peculiar in a book whose message was a sense of urgency, that time was of the utmost importance.

Nik Ranieri has accomplished what few could or will ever do. He is an award winning Disney animation artist who has contributed to classics like Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, and The Emperor's New Groove. What's even better is that Nik has employed his amazing artistic ability for the glory of God.

If you've ever wondered what Disney animation and redemptive content would look like married together then Nik's children's book The Great Elephant should answer your curiosity. The story follows a young mouse named Quinn who goes on a journey in search of "the great elephant." Along the way, Quinn meets a vast assortment of characters who challenge his trust and even a snake that persuades the young mouse to take a "wide road." This being an allegory, we learn that there is more to this "elephant" than meets the eye.

Many allegories are short-sighted and leave very little to the imagination or for further discovery. Ranieri, however, manages to plot the story at a good pace. Our three year old holds on to every word and can practically finish every sentence. The illustrations are what you would expect from a Disney professional and offer more detail than any book on my kid's bookshelves. The Great Elephant lays a great foundation through child-friendly literary eloquence. Your kids will want to read it again and again but it's rare for adults when a children's book doesn't wear thin after repeated readings. I highly recommend this great book, The Great Elephant.

This is a FANTASTIC allegory depicting "the great elephant" as Jesus and a "needing to fly with the wings his parents gave him" mouse named Quinn. My preschooler receieved this book as a gift, and it quickly became one of her favorites at age three. So, while the reading LEVEL may be higher, and preschoolers won't catch everything, the book is well written and exposes preschoolers to higher thinking and great vocabulary.

Quinn is a mouse who faces danger and deception in the jungle. Quinn's adventures nicely serve as an brief and entertaining story teaching children to question ideas outside the truth of The bible and trust Jesus for help as they live through the days of their lives. Brilliantly written and superbly illustrated by Walt Disney animator Nik Ranieri, "The Great Elephant" is an attractive and engaging picturebook allegory that will help young readers prepare for living in a world that constantly teaches ideas that may go against their family's faith and beliefs.

I was pleased to see something like this offered in the current "cookie cutter" marketplace. The author has thoroughly explored some serious issues with beautiful artwork and a well thought-out storyline.

Our daughters (3 and 6) enjoyed the story and its my hope that as they grow older, the story will take on a deeper meaning as their faith matures.

Bravo, Mr. Ranieri!