Future Books

One of the best books out there for people like me who are 'food challenged'. I have a myriad of health problems from indoor to outdoor, chemicals to foods...and when I found this book it was a real blessing. They cover everything. The recipes are awesome, the helpful guides are something everyone should carry around and get to know. A must for everyone who wants to better their knowledge and health. ;)

Overwhelmed by how to eat with food allergies? This book takes an easy, straight forward approach to buying, cooking and eating for a food allergy-free diet. Not everyone has the same food allergies, so these folks have substitutions right with each recipe. No need to second guess or hunt through other books trying to figure out what would work instead. They don't focus just on the major allergies (wheat, sugar, dairy, corn, soy, yeast). They cover a wide range of allergies. And their recipes are good. There's also a section that explains what food substitutes are out there and how to prepare them. For example, instead of wheat, there is oat, barley, rye, kamut, spelt, amaranth, teff, quinoa, etc.

Filled with action, excitement, virtual reality worlds, corrupt government, I could not put this book down. It is well written with unexpected twists and turns.

This book makes you think - what if? What if the middle class is systematically impoverished by high taxes and low wages? What if wealthy people dominate every aspect of society, including the government? Will such a system last for long? Not according to this book! I don't want to give away the story, so suffice it to say there is a helluva lot of action and edge-of-your-seat suspense. I couldn't put this one down!

Allen's translation and take on the Pyramid Texts is both profound and a wonderful read. Rather than just dry translation Allen uses the English language the way it was meant to be used. I would highly recommend this book to any student of Egypt. This is the source material combined with the translations of Faulkner and Budge among others one can gain a comprehensive insight into ancient Egypt from various view points without a lot of the "New Age" hoopla that surrounds so many recent publications concerning Ancient Egypt.

As psychologist I recommend this book. It boosts self-confidence and places the individual in the centre of the universe and nature. We can find ourselves in this book. It's the proto Bible if we see gods as principles. We see here that all teachings of Moses and Jesus are Egyptian too, besides G'd given or according to nature. The content is so powerful that it even can create worldpeace. Pyramids are 'good news books'.

Orrell's work on the science of prediction begins with a review of humanity's historical quest to predict the future. From the Oracle of Delphi to astrology to modern scientific modeling of climate systems and stock markets, Orrell looks at predictive models from the point of view of a mathematician. This is a "must read" for anyone interested in climate change, market systems analysis, and health care predictions.

Apollo's Arrow: The Science of Prediction and the Future of Everything

This is the best, clearest explanation of the implication for useful predictions in areas governed by power law (as opposed to Normal) statistical distributions I've come across so far. It is intelligible without being patronizing. It manages to explain complex concepts without resorting to mind-boggling lists of arcane mathematical expressions, and as an added bonus it is laced with a fine, dry humor. David Orrell is, IMHO, the obvious intellectual successor to the late, great, Isaac Asimov.

This book is one of the finest catalogs of an architect's work that I have ever seen. Jammed full of pictures, sketches, diagrams, CAD graphics, renderings and a DETAILED write-up by Adrian Smith for each project. This book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone interested in high-rise design. I used this book as a reference for a high-rise design studio in Architecture graduate school and I don't know that I've ever had a more valuable resource!

This guy had changed the skylines of many cities, and has given a new definition to the idea of "super tall". If skyscrapers are what you are into, this is a must have in your library.

When I first saw "The Ark to the Future", I was impressed by the clever packaging and design of the product. I also enjoyed the well written booklet and the bold colorful illustrations and photos. But what really intrigued me most was the focus on family- the family of past, present and future. It is truly a way to preserve the family history and the flavor of family today fo future generations.

"The Ark to the Future" contains a real metal time capsule, instruction booklet, postcards, stickers, memory album and a family tree poster. The poster inspires us to trace our family heritage and is a must for anyone interested in geneology. The booklet guides us through preparing memorabilia for the capsule, as well as creating a family memory album. It is something every member of the family can help create- and there is no right or wrong way. When finished it is stored in a safe place for as many years as you determine. What a wonderful way to preserve a part of family today for future generations, and give them something they can truly cherish. A true gift to the future!

I received my Ark in the mail a few days ago and was thrilled. The Ark was impressive from the moment I opened the box. Detailed like an actual time capsule, I find the design to be fun and very unique. The directions are easy to follow, precise and thorough. Congratulations to the authors...they captured the essence of family life and the importance of geneology in a fabulous new product. My twelve year old daughter can't wait to get started on the family tree. The stickers, inside materials and packaging are colorful, fun and exciting. I've never seen any memory book so creatively inspired. I'm going to purchase several more for holiday gifts. A must for the new millenium. I truly believe it's a project all families will enjoy doing together.

I highly recommend this fascinating, well thought-out interpretation of the psychoneurological basis for mankind's propensity for "future-casting," that often maligned and deeply misunderstood function popularized as ESP.

I came across Loye's works back in the 80's working at a leading-edge spiritual bookstore in the midwest where I worked as clerk and resident psychic. I realize Dr. Loye changed some details from his first book as he discovered new data and updated findings. Even then I couldn't put this wonderfully informational and objective look at the mind/matter conundrum--and I loved this version even better than the previous edition.

You see, I too learned a lot since reading The Sphinx and the Rainbow, having read brilliantly insightful dissertations by fearless free- thinkers like Fred A. Wolf, Paul Pietsch, Karl Pribrim and Michael Talbot, among others. That's where I began to understand fully what David Loye talks about when he describes the holographic properties of the universe and its relationship to the brain/mind matrix.

As a professional psychic, teacher, investigator and writer for the past forty years, I heartily recommend this book to all who want to really learn something useful about how the brain's perceives and acts on in the feedback loop of data it recieves to predict the future. Be ready for a deep, profound read that will, no doubt, leave the deepest skeptics rubbing their devilish advocate horns.

Nahu Lanham
Author of: UFOs: GOD FROM INNER SPACE

An Arrow Through Chaos is really about prediction, but even if this is not your cup of tea, it is an excellent book on the brain and the workings of the mind. If you are interested in the mind in all its glory, this is an intriguing read. I was particularly impressed that this book draws from almost numerous relevant scientific and philosophical disciplines to provide a balanced view.

The explanation of the left, right, frontal brain interaction is fascinating and makes sense. And where does the mind actually reside? The idea of the holographic mind is wonderful too. This alone makes the book worth the cost. It is interesting how it seems that science is just now considering the same conclusions that the ancient spiritual and philosophical thinkers taught all those years ago.

As a lay person, this is not a particularly easy read at times; grasping scientific concepts is not always possible at first pass for me, however it is worth the effort, and the kind of book that gets you thinking, and keeps you thinking about the topics covered.

Then there were a few surprises too. Although I am fascinated by chaos theory (indeed it was this that attracted me in the first place), I had never seen this theory as the death-knell of predictability or free will. If anything, it was a light bulb moment for me - the missing piece of the puzzle. I saw it as a shining light actually proving the possibility of prediction. You just have to know (or perceive) enough of the possibilities involved. But then, as I say, I am no physicist.

There is one area I would have liked to see explored, since they seem to be related: the connection between prediction and manifestation.

All in all, highly recommended.

We've been giving Véronique Vienne's "Art of..." books as presents for a lot of occasions, but this one's our new favorite: we like it because it's perfect for both the future mother AND father; fathers are given their due in this book! (which must be unique in books about pregnancy). The text is Vienne's usual funny, apt, sometimes surprising advice; and the pictures are better than ever: there's one of two little girls dancing which is worth the price of the book; another, of a kids' party, shows one child watching on as another seems to be doing the twist--the look on the face of the first is enough to make anyone want to go out and make babies. So, if your kids aren't getting around to propagating as fast as you'd like, perhaps you should give them this book now. Who says you have to wait till someone gets pregnant?

I found this book to be both entertaining and inspiring. This book is NOT a scientific textbook on birth and childhood. Instead, it tries to convey what it's like to be a parent from an emotional point of view. It's all about bonding with your child and being there for her. It's a fun book but also wise. I'd recommend this as a present for friends' baby showers--particularly if your friend is really stressed out by the thought of becoming a mom!

Imaginative and serious is how I would describe this man's art, two words which rarely dance with each other in the realm of science fiction art these days.

This isn't the usual science fiction art you see; it is more based on the realistically possible than the utterly impossible (exceptions being a few paintings for Star Trek and such), lying somewhere in between the strange imagery of Wayne Barlowe and the illustrations of space shuttles and planets from your childhood school textbooks.

This includes various murals for NASA, science conventions, Disney's EPCOT, and even a church. Also included are some of his concept sketches and cover art for Arthur C. Clarke's 2001: Space Odyssey. While his art isn't as detailed as that of, for example, Frank Frazetta's or Richard Corben's--some of McCall's paintings seem almost possible to file under "impressionism"--he proves more imagination and dedication to the genre than either of the other two forementioned talents combined.

What I like most about Robert McCall's science fiction art is, as stated earlier, it being closer to what's actually possible, while still retaining the imaginative aspects. It only makes me eager for a future which will probably come decades after my generation becomes as old as our parents, one we will never live but our children might. Another plus is the introductory paragraphs by Ray Bradbury, basically interesting musings and anecdotes about Robert McCall and science/science fiction in general.

Excuse me while I go to the moon...

Robert McCall is a dreamer and space explorer--not on a space craft in a spacesuit but on canvas with acrylics. McCall was the first officially appointed artist to record space endeavors for NASA. (To see the cover, please click on the title and go to the product page.)

As the introduction points out, "The dawning of the space age was as profound an event as the European discovery of the Americas..." (1). McCall documented the first few years with his 16' x 72' mural located in the Johnson/NASA Space Center in Houston (as in "Houston, we have a problem" fame), entitled "Opening the Space Frontier--the Next Giant Step", 1979. It is a collage of the events of the first two decades, beginning with the first manned space flight through the space shuttle missions of the 1970's and '80's and looks ahead to permanently manned space stations.

The painting that will bring your heart into your throat is "First Men on the Moon," 7' x 9' oil on canvas. It depicts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin standing on the moon, holding the American flag, the space shuttle in the background and a half-lit Earth in the sky. A magnificent painting!

Remember the date June 17, 1975? McCall records this event on canvas: the
the joining in orbit of the U.S. Apollo and the Soviet Soyuz during an historical lull in the Cold War.

Two more events depicted by McCall as official pictorial historian are these: "Hail Columbia, April 12, 1981," marking America's return to space after half a decade of groundwork. Against a sky of a giant muted flag showing three red stripes and two stars, rises the Columbia--a stirring patriot celebration of a monumental achievement. The next page shows the Columbia landing on a runway of red and white stripes with a star-spangled sky above. McCall says of the two events: "What struck me was the contrast between the sound and the fury of Columbia's launch and the utter calm and quiet of the landing." It truly is amazing to see that he painted these exact descriptions into these works of art.

In Part Two he records the projected and eventual explorations of the Moon and Mars. Related but different, a famous painting is this one: "2001," 48" x 31" and located in the National Air and Space Museum. Yes, you are right, the painting was done for the movie, "2001, Space Odyssey." Another reviewer calls the paintings in this section "science fiction," obviously accurate, but I am still claiming "space art," because many of the "events" he paints have uncannily happened.

Part Three is a compilation of paintings of what he deems possible on Earth in the future, a celebration of what man can do with technology and his own humanity. This is a very optimistic collection. Part Four is his dream section where he allows his imagination free roam. He sees that we will defeat gravity to build cities in the sky.

Part Five is truly visionary. The last painting in the book--"Gloria in Excelsis Deo," 12' x 22' acrylic on canvas, was commissioned by the Valley Presbyterian Church, Paradise, Arizona, for its choir practice room. The painting is awe-inspiring and shows the merger of the secular and the spiritual. It is a breath-taking combination.

I happen to have this autographed copy because Robert McCall came to my hometown for an exhibit of his works at a local university, an exhibit celebrating the publication of the book. What the book does is to nationally recognize that McCall's name is indelibly linked with space exploration. Once you have seen his glorious, great paintings, they and McCall will be indelibly imprinted into your heart and mind. Highly recommended.

Very rare do I acquire or read books that are designed to provide a myriad of latest DEGEST (demographic, economic, government, environmental, social & technological) perspectives about Asia &/or the world in general.

Obsolescence is one prime factor.

In keeping abreast of such specific information, I normally go for my regularly updated diet from Straits Times' economic analyses/political commentaries/business insights pages, supplemented by watching those timely broadcasts from Channel News Asia, as well as CNN. I read occasionally the Business Times.

A good case in point is the recent two transcripts (in the Straits Times) of MM Lee Kuan Yew's dialogue with 200 diplomats & academics during his visit to the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London last week.

The only occasional deviation from my self-imposed rule is that I would sometimes acquire or read books that paint probable long-term DEGEST scenarios by global futurists, like 'The Extreme Future: The Top Trends That Will Reshape the World for the Next 5, 10, and 20 Years', by James Canton.

I have recently made an exception - partly attracted by the intriguing title, & partly, by the offer of a 20% store discount - by acquiring a copy of 'Asia Future Shock: Business Crisis & Opportunity in the Coming Years', by Michael Backman.

In the first instance, the author's credentials & track record in churning out earlier books in the genre seem impeccable to me.

Upon perusal, I am glad that the book has given me a quick & pretty comprehensive coverage of the region, particularly China, India, the two Koreas, Vietnam, Burma, & snippets of stuff about Singapore, Malaysia & Indonesia.

Frankly speaking, I have been quite captivated by the story of the author's search of a school in London for his son in the Introduction. I thought that was a pretty smart way to start off his book.

I am rather pleased to add that his resultant remark about the aptness of his book as ". . . a tool for small boys & girls, or at least their parents" is valid.

As an avid reader, I certainly have enjoyed reading the whole stuff in the book, especially about the risks & opportunities in the coming years, in one single collection.

There are 25 chapters, each offering a quick roundup of strategic insights, with suggestions for business strategists & scenario developers. Each chapter is also prefaced with a brief preamble with staggering statistics to tease reader's attention.

For me, the analyses are seemingly broad-based, but nonetheless, considering the size of the Asian region under coverage, the information given is adequate enough to give, in particular business readers, a good solid brush about the impact of China, India & the rest of Asia.

Not surprisingly, I haved noted that much of the author's sources have been international newspapers & broadcasted news. The Economist Intelligence Unit has also been cited as a source. During my corporate days, published reports from the latter were my regular intellectual companions.

This is another book I would keep at my bedside at least for the moment.

This short book offers a concise, comprehensive survey of political, economic and social opportunities and challenges in Asia. Michael Backman does a solid job of aggregating information about the most important countries in this vast region, especially information that challenges conventional wisdom. At a time when numerous books prophesy China's unstoppable ascent, getAbstract recommends this refreshingly frank look at an alternative future - a future of problems in China so daunting as to seem almost insoluble. Asia's future, it seems, will be at least as complex and difficult as its past.