Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World

Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World
Average customer rating:

This is one amazing guy

An Amazing Man

Very Good

Awesome

Inspirational

Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World
Tracy Kidder
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0812973011
Release Date: 2004-08-31

Book Description

Tracy Kidder is a winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the author of the bestsellers The Soul of a New Machine, House, Among Schoolchildren, and Home Town. He has been described by the Baltimore Sun as the “master of the non-fiction narrative.” This powerful and inspiring new book shows how one person can make a difference, as Kidder tells the true story of a gifted man who is in love with the world and has set out to do all he can to cure it.

At the center of Mountains Beyond Mountains stands Paul Farmer. Doctor, Harvard professor, renowned infectious-disease specialist, anthropologist, the recipient of a MacArthur “genius” grant, world-class Robin Hood, Farmer was brought up in a bus and on a boat, and in medical school found his life’s calling: to diagnose and cure infectious diseases and to bring the lifesaving tools of modern medicine to those who need them most. This magnificent book shows how radical change can be fostered in situations that seem insurmountable, and it also shows how a meaningful life can be created, as Farmer—brilliant, charismatic, charming, both a leader in international health and a doctor who finds time to make house calls in Boston and the mountains of Haiti—blasts through convention to get results.

Mountains Beyond Mountains takes us from Harvard to Haiti, Peru, Cuba, and Russia as Farmer changes minds and practices through his dedication to the philosophy that "the only real nation is humanity" - a philosophy that is embodied in the small public charity he founded, Partners In Health. He enlists the help of the Gates Foundation, George Soros, the U.N.’s World Health Organization, and others in his quest to cure the world. At the heart of this book is the example of a life based on hope, and on an understanding of the truth of the Haitian proverb “Beyond mountains there are mountains”: as you solve one problem, another problem presents itself, and so you go on and try to solve that one too.

“ Mountains Beyond Mountains unfolds with the force of a gathering revelation,” says Annie Dillard, and Jonathan Harr says, “[Farmer] wants to change the world. Certainly this luminous and powerful book will change the way you see it.”

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

This is one amazing guy.......2007-10-09

I actually listened to this as a book on tape, but bought the book version as a present. In fact, it was recommended to me by another friend. I found it well written and the subject very interesting.

An Amazing Man.......2007-10-04

This book is inspiring but troubling as well. I am a nurse and find his ideas of medicine/poverty to be right on target. Fighting the system is what is hard, he manages to do so at least in his areas of clinical work. His take on poverty and the world economic systems while not new, is seen through the eyes of a scientist and an anthropoligist which gives it a slightly new twist. For anyone interested in a larger world view I would recommend this book. Dr. Farmer is a unique man and his efforts, where ever he is, to change the world's systems is a challenge to us all.

Very Good.......2007-09-25

Although I had to read this book for a mandatory assignment, it was not a labored read. The author writes in a way that allows the reader to continue reading easily and endlessly until the book is finished, or stop whenever the reader needs a break. The story is eye-opening and enlightening while arousing feelings of anger towards the governments overseas conduct with "democracy" and aiding big business. The tale is capturing and the read is light. The only reason it wasn't a five star is because I wasn't very fond of the assignment.

Awesome.......2007-09-15

Kidder's biographical account of the life and work of Dr. Paul Farmer is moving and munumental and reads like a novel---a compliment from me. The determination of one man supported by competent and trusted colleagues is an awesome monument to the power of the human spirit. Also opens American minds and hearts to the povery lying just off our borders in Haiti. Kidder's narrative is superbly told and presented most effectively with a plot line that moves in and out between past and present. Compact, concise and compelling.

Inspirational.......2007-09-05

It's wonderful that one man can turn his passion into something that benefits so many!

The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair: For Road and Mountain Bikes(Expanded and Revised 5th Edition)

Average customer rating:

Just getting started
Not that great
Excellent book
Excellent book!
Too early to tell, but it looks good.

The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair: For Road and Mountain Bikes(Expanded and Revised 5th Edition)
Todd Downs
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Zinn and the Art of Road Bike Maintenance (2nd Edition)

ASIN: 1579548830
Release Date: 2005-02-24

Book Description

This revised, updated, expanded fifth edition is indispensable-with all the latest models, parts, and repair techniques, and terrific money-saving tips to keep any ride in tip-top shapeSince its first publication, Bicycling Magazine's Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair has sold over 400,000 copies. The fifth edition is guaranteed to remain the category killer. This long-overdue update is a must-have for weekend riders and serious cyclists alike. Whether they own the latest model or a classic with thousands of miles on it, beginners and experienced cyclists alike can depend on this book to get their bikes out of the shop faster and keep them on the road longer. They'll discover information on:o Building a dream bike workshopo Disc brakes, both cable-actuated and hydraulico Dialing in front and rear suspension shocks for comfortable rideso The latest crankset and bottom bracket designso Overhauling freewheels and cassettes for peak performanceo Specs on all the latest handlebar and headset sizeso Servicing clipless pedals for maximum safetyWith troubleshooting sections to quickly identify and correct common problems, 450 photographs and 40 drawings to clarify all the step-by-step directions so even the complete neophyte can get repairs right the first time, and Web sites and phone numbers of bicycle and parts manufacturers, this is truly the ultimate bicycle repair and maintenance manual-now better than ever in its fifth edition!

Customer Reviews:

Just getting started.......2007-09-30

Since I've just been getting started riding my bike again, I needed a quick review on keeping my bike in working order. The stuff in this book was laid out nicely and easily accessible even for an old fart like me... It came in really handy this summer as I kept getting flats.

Not that great.......2007-09-18

Pretty lame if you are planning to actually work on your bike opposed to reading about or thinking about doing it. Covers a lot of things in poor detail, so little detail that you could not do it with this book alone. Example: want to install some disk brakes? No way with this book. It also includes info on how to work on really old bikes and outdated equipment. I bet you are dying to know how to work on centerpull road bike brakes which were last made in like 1981! Your're in luck b/c that is covered pretty well. Save your $$ and buy another book.

Excellent book.......2007-09-12

Very useful, complete, lots of pics and understandable for anyone. If you need some help for your bike maintenance that's the book you need.

Excellent book!.......2007-08-14

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to service their own bike. There are many great pictures and it covers a wide variety of bikes.

Too early to tell, but it looks good........2007-08-09

I just received this book recently in the mail from the US, and have not had any need to use it. Without actually testing it out, I can only say that it looks good and has a lot of useful pictures. The price was reasonable, so I can't see why anyone would not want to add it to their repairbook collection.

Average customer rating:

Starts off good, but...
Dull and flat characters
The Abridged version is confusing
Faulkner, McCarthy, Frazier
I dunno, maybe it needs more moons...

Thirteen Moons: A Novel
Charles Frazier
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0375509321
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Book Description

Charles Frazier’s Thirteen Moons is the story of one man’s remarkable life, spanning a century of relentless change. At the age of twelve, an orphan named Will Cooper is given a horse, a key, and a map and is sent on a journey through the wilderness to the edge of the Cherokee Nation, the uncharted white space on the map. Will is a bound boy, obliged to run a remote Indian trading post. As he fulfills his lonesome duty, Will finds a father in Bear, a Cherokee chief, and is adopted by him and his people, developing relationships that ultimately forge Will’s character. All the while, his love of Claire, the enigmatic and captivating charge of volatile and powerful Featherstone, will forever rule Will’s heart.
In a distinct voice filled with both humor and yearning, Will tells of a lifelong search for home, the hunger for fortune and adventure, the rebuilding of a trampled culture, and above all an enduring pursuit of passion. As he comes to realize, “When all else is lost and gone forever, there is yearning. One of the few welcome lessons age teaches is that only desire trumps time."

Will Cooper, in the hands of Charles Frazier, becomes a classic American soul: a man devoted to a place and its people, a woman, and a way of life, all of which are forever just beyond his reach. Thirteen Moons takes us from the uncharted wilderness of an unspoiled continent, across the South, up and down the Mississippi, and to the urban clamor of a raw Washington City. Throughout, Will is swept along as the wild beauty of the nineteenth century gives way to the telephones, automobiles, and encroaching railways of the twentieth. Steeped in history, rich in insight, and filled with moments of sudden beauty, Thirteen Moons is an unforgettable work of fiction by an American master.

PRAISE FOR THIRTEEN MOONS

“Genius.”
–Time

“Gorgeous…Thirteen Moons calls Cold Mountain to mind in its wonder at the natural world; its pacificist undercurrents; its dismay at the dismantling of what matters, and its convication that one love, no matter how tortured and inexplicable, can be life-defining…fascinating…vivid and alive.”
–Newsweek

“Thirteen Moons is rare in many ways and occupies a literary plane of such height that reviewing it is not really salient….Thirteen Moons has the power to inspire great performances from succeeding generations of writers….For those who simply value the literary experience, Thirteen Moons will provide the immense satisfaction of taking a literary journey of magnitude. Whether on a plane, in an office or curled in a window seat, readers who absorb Will's story will find their own lives enriched….Thirteen Moons belongs to the ages.”
–Los Angeles Times

“Thirteen Moons brings this vanished world thrillingly to life…
One of the great Native American, and American stories, and a great gift to all of us, from one of our very best writers.”
« –Kirkus Reviews, starred review «

“There are things so masterful words can’t do them justice. Frazier’s writing falls in that category…With Thirteen Moons, he’s doing important work fillnig in the gaps, helping restore the roots, of our knowledge of our own history.”
–Asheville Citizen-Times

“Fascinating…Reading Thirteen Moons is an intoxicating experience…This is 21st-century literary fiction at its very best.”
–BookPage

“Thirteen Moons is rare in many ways and occupies a literary plane of such height that reviewing it is not really salient….Thirteen Moons has the power to inspire great performances from succeeding generations of writers….For those who simply value the literary experience, Thirteen Moons will provide the immense satisfaction of taking a literary journey of magnitude. Whether on a plane, in an office or curled in a window seat, readers who absorb Will's story will find their own lives enriched….Thirteen Moons belongs to the ages.”
–Los Angeles Times

“Once again, we are in the hands of an assured writer who knows how to bring history to life…Gorgeous.”
–New Orleans Times Picayune

“Magical…the history lesson in Thirteen Moons is fascinating and moving…You will find much to admire and savor in Thirteen Moons.”
–USA Today

“Incredibly powerful.”
–Melissa Block on NPR All Things Considered

“Verdict: A powerhouse second act….a brilliant success…Frazier's second act should convince everyone that he's here to stay. It is a powerful, dramatic, often surprising and memorable novel.”
–Atlanta Journal Constitution

“Thirteen Moons is a boisterous, confident novel that draws from the epic tradition... Frazier is a natural storyteller, and throughout his picaresque tale are grand themes and eulogies”
–Boston Globe

“Warm hearted…Frazier is a remarkably meticulous and tasteful writer… Thirteen Moons is a worthy successor to the first novel
and a highly readable book.”
–Seattle Times

“Fiction of the highest order…Another indelible character. Charles Frazier has a knack for them.”
–Charlotte Observer

“Splendidly written.”
–New York Daily News

“What a story!... Frazier's creation, Will Cooper, is utterly charismatic….Frazier's genius lies in his ability to convey emotions that feel pure and genuine…It was worth the wait.”
–Dayton Daily News

“To Charles Frazier, words are playthings. Like very few other contemporary American novelists, he puts them together in such a way that they can transform an otherwise mundane moment, scene or conversation into one that is transcendent….No sophomore jinx here. Reading a Frazier novel is like listening to a fine symphony. He's a maestro whose pen is his baton, beckoning the best that each sentence has to offer. And just as you wouldn't rush a conductor, you should take the time to savor Frazier’s work, to take in each thought, to relish the turn of phrase or the imagery of a craftsman.”
–Denver Post

“Two for two…Here is a book brimming with vivid, adventurous incident…Charles Frazier set himself a daunting challenge with this book. He set out to write a historical novel that was retrospective and meditative, yet still vibrant and immediate with life. Thirteen Moons succeeds in classy fashion.”
–Raleigh News & Observer

“If current fiction is anything to go by, it’s hard for a novelist to make Santayana's puzzle pieces - lyricism, comedy, tragedy - fit together, as they do in real life and real history. Frazier has done it…Thirteen Moons makes you feel that change that happened so long before our own time, and makes you mourn it.”
–Newsday

“[Thirteen Moons] is superbly entertaining, and it packs enough emotional heft to measure up to most readers’ high expectations.”
–Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Thirteen Moons is a fitting successor to Cold Mountain…fans of Frazier's debut will be cheered to discover that the new book is another compulsively readable work of historical fiction.”
–St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“If there is any doubt that Frazier is an incredibly gifted storyteller - and not just a lucky name or a one-hit wonder - it will be put to rest with the publication of Thirteen Moons. Within 10 pages, this long-awaited new novel bears the reader swiftly out of the waking world into its own imagined universe like nothing else published this year.”
–Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Achingly beautiful descriptions of nature…It’s rich, it’s beautiful.”
–Columbia State

“Forget the sophomore jinx. Frazier demonstrates that Cold Mountain was no one-hit wonder with this fully realized historical novel again set in the South….Again, Frazier shows himself a master of landscape and language, both often fresh and surprising in his telling.
–Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“Thirteen Moons contains achingly beautiful passages of snowfalls, fog-wrapped rivers and moonlit forests. There are ribald and hilarious events, too, including a description of the Cherokee Booger Dance that is a masterpiece of satire. The love affair between Cooper and Claire threads its way through this pseudo-historic epic like a brilliant, scarlet ribbon. There is also a melancholy refrain that celebrates a wondrous time and place that is gone and will never return.”
–Smoky Mountain News

“Once again, we are in the hands of an assured writer who knows how to bring history to life…Gorgeous.”
–New Orleans Times Picayune

“Magical…the history lesson in Thirteen Moons is fascinating and moving…You will find much to admire and savor in Thirteen Moons.”
–USA Today

“Verdict: A powerhouse second act….a brilliant success…Frazier's second act should convince everyone that he's here to stay. It is a powerful, dramatic, often surprising and memorable novel.”
–Atlanta Journal Constitution

“Thirteen Moons is a boisterous, confident novel that draws from the epic tradition... Frazier is a natural ...

Customer Reviews:

Starts off good, but..........2007-10-05

The first half of "Thirteen Moons" soars; the second half sinks. As I got into the story and its lovely language, I was prepared to give it a rating of 8.5 or higher. But it eventually fades into dissolution, ending with a whimper, not a bang. Rob's rating: 8.0 of 10.

See http://www.bluecorncomics.com/13moons.htm for a longer review.

Dull and flat characters.......2007-09-24

I started this book because our book group is reading it. The character is flat and self-absorbed. You get to the point that you don't care what happens to the character because he is so dull. I don't finish it because there was nothing of interest to keep me going.......You feel nothing for the characters... so why read?

The Abridged version is confusing.......2007-09-23

I bought this book as an audio book, abridged.
It was confusing. Stick to the unabridged.

Faulkner, McCarthy, Frazier.......2007-09-19

Thirteen Moons is a pure Masterpiece. I think it should be getting more credit for being one of the greatest American novels ever written. I cannot believe how rounded Will Cooper is as a character. I have never read a book that has a character as real as this. Everything about his life and times, reactions, words, feelings, inner thoughts are absolutely real and consistent. Bear, Featherstone, Claire all come to life so perfectly. I was amazed that anyone found reason to criticize this novel. The metaphors, details and knowledge of the region makes Frazier seem supernatural to me. He was there. It's just weird how well he knows this tale and how real it all is. Perfect writing.

I dunno, maybe it needs more moons..........2007-08-10

Remember when you first picked up Cold Mountain, how the first few pages were, well, boring? Yeah, yeah. Lying around the hospital bed, blind neighbor, looking out the window. It was only a few pages, but it made me put the book down for about 3 months and wonder what the heck everyone was so excited about. Then I picked up the book again, and at last, there was the magic. Inman was on his amazing journey. Ada was surviving, having located Ruby, and their various adventures were compelling and moving and the book flew away with me. Well, Thirteen Moons is that first part of Cold Mountain. The boring part. It never takes off, it never flies, it just stumps forward. One or two interesting passages are lost in a reptitive scenery, lesser journeys, and characters who are either cardboard or cliched. So if you loved this book, go hate me. I'd hate you if you didn't love Cold Mountain. (Gratuitous advice: Forget the Cold Mountain movie. Ada as played by Nicole Kidmann is inane to the point of disability; Ruby, that stalwart little plug of a woman, is played by Renee Zellwegger, who acts as though squinting her eyes is character development; Inman was morphed into a latter-day teenage superhero. Utter
+disappointment.

Average customer rating:

Mystery is gone
The dynamic duo has done it again
darkness could have been darker.........................
Love the series...
Reluctantly hooked by series

The Wheel of Darkness
Douglas Preston , and Lincoln Child
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Deep Storm: A Novel
The Judas Strain: A Novel
The Book of the Dead (Pendergast, Book 7)
Bones to Ashes: A Novel
The Cabinet of Curiosities

ASIN: 0446580287
Release Date: 2007-08-28

Book Description

FBI Special Agent Pendergast is taking a break from work to take Constance on a whirlwind Grand Tour, hoping to give her closure and a sense of the world that she's missed.They head to Tibet, where Pendergast intensively trained in martial arts and spiritual studies. At a remote monastery, they learn that a rare and dangerous artifact the monks have been guarding for generations has been mysteriously stolen.As a favor, Pendergast agrees to track and recover the relic.A twisting trail of bloodshed leads Pendergast and Constance to the maiden voyage of the Britannia, the world's largest and most luxurious ocean liner---and to an Atlantic crossing fraught with terror.

Customer Reviews:

Mystery is gone.......2007-10-17

I liked Pendergast more when I knew less about his past and each book that comes forward now seems to take away the mystery of Aloysius.

The dynamic duo has done it again.......2007-10-16

The dynamic duo has done it again.

In THE WHEEL OF DARKNESS, their eighth supernatural thriller, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child give us another fast-paced, riveting mystery featuring the seemingly unflappable Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast and his young ward Constance Greene, and the elements of the unknown.

The book picks up in the aftermath of THE BOOK OF THE DEAD, with Constance recovering, we suspect, from an aborted pregnancy (the father: Pendergast's villainous younger brother). Constance and the good agent seek solace and solitude through escape. They are drawn to Gsalrig Chongg, a monastery in Tibet, where women historically have not been accepted as students. Recognizing something special about Constance, she becomes the exception to the rule and is welcome by the brotherhood. (Her name, it turns out, translates to "Green Tara," the moniker of the mother of all Buddhas. This revelation forecasts something big to come.)

It is, of course, no coincidence that the stoic agent and his frail ward end up amongst the monks. Instead of moving past the tragedy they had just survived, they find themselves drawn into yet another puzzling and harrowing mystery.

The monks' sacred trust for generations --- the Agozyen --- has been discovered missing during an annual ritual. Guarded daily and accessible by only a single key, its disappearance is mind-boggling. And terrifying. The treasure holds a deadly secret akin to Pandora's box being opened.

The trail of minimal clues leads to Jordan Ambrose, an American rescued and nursed back to health at the monastery when he appeared, half-dead, on the Nepalese border mountain range. Unable to describe the never-seen icon, the monks dispatch Pendergast to bring it back, warning that it is powerful if released and not to be reckoned with.

What ensues is pure Preston-Child magic. The maiden voyage of a transatlantic cruise ship is the terrifying setting of the search for the relic. And what could be more frightening than a claustrophobic ship, with its over-arching sense of being trapped in the middle of the ocean with an unknown, undefinable force preying on and menacing the entire crew and guests? Bodies are reduced to mush, others disappear whole-cloth. Panic sets in, mutiny is threatened and control of the ship is lost, all while Pendergast sets about his methodical unraveling of the mystery of the Agozyen and its all-encompassing powers.

THE WHEEL OF DARKNESS has the classic clash of good versus evil, the inescapable comparison of East versus West, and the unanswerable questions of coincidence versus fate. A surprise at the end will surely delight all fans of Pendergast and Greene, Preston and Child, and will leave us asking ourselves "What's next?" Surely, there has to be more from these two master storytellers!

--- Reviewed by Roberta O'Hara

darkness could have been darker................................2007-10-16

Love Preston & Child. Have read all thier books and have to say that they never disapoint.Cabinet of curiosity is their all time best book.
I love the mystical/spiritual aspect of this new book. I do think that the book could have been a little longer, around 430 pages.
Pandergast was lacking a little action in this book. Still I highly disapprove the one star rating few readers have given to this book. This book was a page turner like their other books. C'mon! these writers are better than koontz, Stephen King etc.I dont know why they don't have more name recognition and movie deals. They are deserving by all means.
Diogenes ! we are waiting for your entry in the next book.

Love the series..........2007-10-15

Thank goodness for Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Their characters are completely unrealistic, the plots are fantasy and, let me just say, BRAVO!! I couldn't be more in love with the Pendergast character and every book where he and his cohorts appear. Easy to read, easy to enjoy and an easy escape from the stress of everyday life. Thanks, guys, for pulling me out of my life for a few hours every day to enjoy another one of Pendergast's adventures. Can't wait for the next one!!

Reluctantly hooked by series.......2007-10-12

At first, although these authors are masterful storytellers, I had a hard time with suspension of disbelief.
Namely, Pendergast as an obvious homage to Sherlock Holmes but supposedly an FBI agent who's independently wealthly and never actually does anything for the FBI, nor is he ever caught up in the bureaucratic red tape that is inherent in working for the Bureau. Come on, even Jack Bower gets fed to the lions by his back-stabbing superiors and co-workers on 24.
That being said, the intricate plotting makes for great reading. I was hooked with Relic and love it when these two authors put their heads together. I wish they would do an outright period mystery featuring Holmes and Watson, though. Something like the Mark Frost series featuring Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the Bossley role of Watson.
The strongest point of this series is that the authors haven't hit the usual brick wall of running out of interesting plots.
For a more visceral and realistic portrayal of sleuths unraveling a deep enigma I suggest Solomon's Key: the CODIS Project. SOLOMON'S KEY THE CODIS PROJECT: A CONSPIRACY THRILLER (Solomon's Key) It features a character named Professor Giovanni who, like Pendergast, is a Thinking Machine detective but comes off as an eccentric and likeable academic type. It features the same exotic locales, cliff hangers, and plot twists that keep you turning the page.

Together on Top of the World: The Remarkable Story of the First Couple to Climb the Fabled Seven Summits

Average customer rating:

REMARKABLE STORY - REMARKABLE COUPLE
If you want to be inspired, buy this book!
A Great Story of Mountains and Love
Not just a climbing story.
An inspiration...

Together on Top of the World: The Remarkable Story of the First Couple to Climb the Fabled Seven Summits
Phil Ershler , Susan Ershler , and Robin Simons
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Essays & Travelogues | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 044657905X

Book Description

On May 16, 2002, Phil and Susan Ershler reached thetop of Mt. Everest and became the first couple in historyto scale the fabled Seven Summits. What madetheir achievement all the more remarkable was that Susanwas not a mountain climber, but a high-poweredFortune - 500 executive who had never hiked or climbeduntil she met Phil at the age of 36. Phil, a professionalmountain guide who was the first American to summitEverest from its treacherous north face, had climbed hiswhole life with Crohn's disease, a chronic, debilitatingillness. Adding to these challenges, just before their finalsummit, Phil was diagnosed with colon cancer, and theresulting surgeries and complications were expected toend his career. This is Susan and Phil's story: a tale oflove set in the mountains, a story of triumphal highsand devastating lows in quest of a seemingly impossibledream.

Customer Reviews:

REMARKABLE STORY - REMARKABLE COUPLE.......2007-09-04

This book was suggested to us as not only a mountaineering story but a story of life's struggles. We weren't disappointed but very humbled. This dual autobiography (each taking turns telling their story) was a fast-paced read, taking us from childhood to mountain top, leaving out nothing. A very intimately detailed sharing of two full lives. Color photographs support the many stories and stages in the Ershler's lives.

If you want to be inspired, buy this book! .......2007-06-11

I read "Together on Top of the World" in 2 nights - I just could not put it down! Incredible story! The best book that I have read in a while and I'm a voracious reader. Certainly one of the best mountaineering books I have ever read, in part, because it is not just another mountaineering book. It deals realistically and holistically with the lives of two inspirational people - their individual histories, their partnership and love. It's about adventure, highs and lows, overcoming life's seeming insurmountable hurdles, success, vision, goals and dreams. Very motivational! This book has got it all!

A Great Story of Mountains and Love.......2007-06-07

Sue and Phil have created a wonderful tale of mountains, challenges and love. Phil one of the greatest guides in the world and guides people up the worlds great mountains. Sue, shortly after meeting Phil catches the mountain bug and sets the goal of climbing the Seven Summits. While you might think he does all the work, Sue ends up inspiring and encouraging Phil as he battles a life long sickness. You will love the great story.

Not just a climbing story........2007-06-07

This book touches all lives not just climbers. It touched all my senses. I laughed, cried, smiled and got angy. I felt like I could relate to it from my own life, of course on a different level. In the end it is a "feel good" story. Even my 84 year old mother loved it!

An inspiration..........2007-05-18

An inspiring story about love, humility, grace, courage ... and mountaineering. Dreams and adversity are a part of living; Phil and Susan show you how to live.

Average customer rating:

A Story of Providence
Thomas
Merton"s Mountain
Coming of Age in Faith
CD is good, but needs an unabridged version.

The Seven Storey Mountain
Thomas Merton
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Religious | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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No Man Is an Island
New Seeds of Contemplation
Thoughts In Solitude
Contemplative Prayer
Spiritual Direction and Meditation

ASIN: 0156010860

Amazon.com

In 1941, a brilliant, good-looking young man decided to give up a promising literary career in New York to enter a monastery in Kentucky, from where he proceeded to become one of the most influential writers of this century. Talk about losing your life in order to find it. Thomas Merton's first book, The Seven Storey Mountain, describes his early doubts, his conversion to a Catholic faith of extreme certainty, and his decision to take life vows as a Trappist. Although his conversionary piety sometimes falls into sticky-sweet abstractions, Merton's autobiographical reflections are mostly wise, humble, and concrete. The best reason to read The Seven Storey Mountain, however, may be the one Merton provided in his introduction to its Japanese translation: "I seek to speak to you, in some way, as your own self. Who can tell what this may mean? I myself do not know, but if you listen, things will be said that are perhaps not written in this book. And this will be due not to me but to the One who lives and speaks in both." --Michael Joseph Gross

Book Description

A modern-day Confessions of Saint Augustine, The Seven Storey Mountain is one of the most influential religious works of the twentieth century. This edition contains an introduction by Merton's editor, Robert Giroux, and a note to the reader by biographer William H. Shannon. It tells of the growing restlessness of a brilliant and passionate young man whose search for peace and faith leads him, at the age of twenty-six, to take vows in one of the most demanding Catholic orders--the Trappist monks. At the Abbey of Gethsemani, "the four walls of my new freedom," Thomas Merton struggles to withdraw from the world, but only after he has fully immersed himself in it. The Seven Storey Mountain has been a favorite of readers ranging from Graham Greene to Claire Booth Luce, Eldridge Cleaver, and Frank McCourt. And, in the half-century since its original publication, this timeless spiritual tome has been published in over twenty languages and has touched millions of lives.

Customer Reviews:

A Story of Providence.......2007-09-27

Few writers of spiritual books ever reach the high literary mark that Thomas Merton sets in The Seven Storey Mountain. At its core, The Seven Storey Mountain is pure memoir. Merton accounts for his life up to the time of writing when he was about 30 years old. Within this account, he places insights on spirituality, and the account on the whole offers a grand lesson on God's providence and mankind's undying need for reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ.

Merton's life story unfolds with tragedy upon tragedy. His mother died from cancer when he was 5 years old, and then less than 12 years later his father died from cancer. Merton was left with a guardian and grandparents who cared for him from arm's length.

Merton's education is vast. He is as well read and learned as any writer of memoir that I have read. Unfortunately, as a teenager his education led him away from God and to an attitude of atheism or agnosticism at times. As he pursues greater education, God pursues him through authors and teachers.

Merton credits William Blake's writings and art with playing a significant role in his salvation. Merton then begins reading a book on Catholic Philosophy that also has a profound impact on his perception of God and the religion. Mostly, Merton credits the intercession of others for his salvation, "Who prayed for me? One day I shall know. But in the economy of God's love, it is through the prayers of other men that these graces are given. It was through the prayers of someone who loved God that I was one day, to be delivered out of that hell where I was already confined without knowing it." (109) Merton takes no credit for his salvation or spiritual growth. He gives all credit to the gracious work of God.

His book illustrates the journey of a young man from enlightened atheism to humble faith in God. Merton's faith and learning are complimentary not contradictory. He shows readers that true enlightenment and learning leads to the ultimate truth, and this truth gives hope not fear, assurance not doubt, and salvation not annihilation.

Merton writes to his readers of this truth he has learned that I think is the message of his book, "And yet now I tell you, you who are now what I once was, unbelievers, it is that Sacrament, and that alone, the Christ living in our midst, and sacrificed by us, and for us and with us, in the clean and perpetual Sacrifice, it is He alone Who holds our world together, and keeps us all from being poured headlong and immediately into the pit of our eternal destruction. And I tell you there is a power that goes forth from that Sacrament, a power of light and truth into the hearts of those who have heard nothing of Him and seem to be incapable of belief." (41)

As expressed in the above quote, Merton's faith is rooted in the Catholic religion. This causes some trouble to me as he exalts Mary the mother of Jesus to a place alongside her son as a mediator and advocate for people. Merton asserts Mary is as responsible for his coming to God as Jesus. At times of trouble, he prays to Mary and a litany of saints for help. He discusses praying for souls in purgatory and wiping out sins through almsgiving. In addition to few slights at Protestant religions, these items may be stumbling blocks to some readers.

Merton reveals a spiritual journey that takes him eventually to his desired home in a Trappist monastery where he, at his Director's urging, continues to write and publish while seeking God in solitude. His is a process engineered by the hand of Providence, as it led his steps and transformed his heart. I think any sincere reader who approaches Merton with an open mind and heart will find insights applicable to him or her at the current time of life.

Thomas.......2007-08-05

I bought this for a 30 year old man who is searching for meaning in his life.

Merton"s Mountain.......2007-07-29

I first read this book in high school, and it is a must for anyone interested in the Roman Catholic spiritual experience. Merton was a convert to Catholicism and later became a Trappist monk. His autobiography was published following WWII. It became a huge best seller and made him internationally famous. By contemporary standards, the book is dated in its post war innocence and preachiness, but still a fantastic read. Why does a man give up everything: sex, money, friendships, education to live as a impoverished medevil monastic. In the 1960s, Merton became a staunch anti-war activist. He died suspiciously in Asia at an international conference on meditation. Some say it was a CIA murder, others a suicide; most likely though an acciental bathtub electrocution. Read his autobiography then his other books and diaries.

Coming of Age in Faith.......2007-07-05

"The Seven Storey Mountain" is a coming of age story in much the same vein as "Catcher in the Rye' but with a tone in the complete opposite direction. A man begins his life on one continent with little knowledge of the Christian faith only to spend most of the rest of his life on another continent taking the strictest vows available in the Catholic church. Thomas Merton's unlikely story is an amazing journey.

The initial chapters of the book which involve Merton's early life tend to move a little slow. Yet when the early chapters are placed in the landscape of the time period, it gives Merton's experience a great sense of authenticity. Throughout the book, Merton is searching for something to define his life. While falling to youthful inhibitions such as alcohol and smoking, Merton lives the American college life. Yet even as he masters the English language, he feels a lack of direction. And even before he spent significant time in the Catholic faith, he felt a calling to the religious life. It was a stuggle, though anything of value is worth struggling to attain.

Gaps in this story may cause some confusion in readers. Merton chose to omit his fathering of a child which may have been wise in the social landscape into which the book was released. The paternity was only mentioned in vague terms. The way in which he mentions it seems to just imply that he was uncertain of his vocation.

Merton is a masterful storyteller and readers should find great enjoyment in this book. The chapters are fast paced and even run parallel to an American historical perspective. In the context of Merton's writings, this may be the most significant one and should be read by all those interested in Merton's writings.

CD is good, but needs an unabridged version........2007-05-22

Only commenting on the audio CD version of SSM. It needs an Unabridged version. This version has been shortened considerably. Also, there should be price consistant with the printed version. CD media is very inexpensive to produce. With an abridged version of the book, I would have expected a better price.

No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks

Average customer rating:

Good Book
An Everest of a Book
Hard to put down
I remain unimpressed
Fun Book

No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks
Ed Viesturs , and David Roberts
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Himalayan Quest: Ed Viesturs on the 8,000-Meter Giants
The Boys of Everest: Chris Bonington and the Tragedy of Climbing's Greatest Generation
Annapurna
High Exposure: An Enduring Passion for Everest and Unforgiving Places
Everest (Large Format)

ASIN: 0767924703
Release Date: 2006-10-17

Book Description

This gripping and triumphant memoir follows a living legend of extreme mountaineering as he makes his assault on history, one 8,000-meter summit at a time.

For eighteen years Ed Viesturs pursued climbing’s holy grail: to stand atop the world’s fourteen 8,000-meter peaks, without the aid of bottled oxygen. But No Shortcuts to the Top is as much about the man who would become the first American to achieve that goal as it is about his stunning quest. As Viesturs recounts the stories of his most harrowing climbs, he reveals a man torn between the flat, safe world he and his loved ones share and the majestic and deadly places where only he can go.

A preternaturally cautious climber who once turned back 300 feet from the top of Everest but who would not shrink from a peak (Annapurna) known to claim the life of one climber for every two who reached its summit, Viesturs lives by an unyielding motto, “Reaching the summit is optional. Getting down is mandatory.” It is with this philosophy that he vividly describes fatal errors in judgment made by his fellow climbers as well as a few of his own close calls and gallant rescues. And, for the first time, he details his own pivotal and heroic role in the 1996 Everest disaster made famous in Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air.

In addition to the raw excitement of Viesturs’s odyssey, No Shortcuts to the Top is leavened with many funny moments revealing the camaraderie between climbers. It is more than the first full account of one of the staggering accomplishments of our time; it is a portrait of a brave and devoted family man and his beliefs that shaped this most perilous and magnificent pursuit.

Customer Reviews:

Good Book.......2007-10-03

I enjoyed the book a lot. I only gave it 4 stars because it starts to ramble a little bit towards the end about his family life which is ok but it doesn't compare to adventuring in the mountains. Its an easy read and there are many sections that you cant stop reading.

An Everest of a Book.......2007-08-19

Ed Viesturs may not hold the title of Most Amazing American Athlete Most People Have Never Heard Of, but he's got to be in the team picture.

In "No Shortcuts to the Top," he comes across as a genuine, thoughtful, focused, kind, determined man. But that's not why I highly recommend it: With the help of David Roberts, Viesturs has also woven a masterful account of his remarkable quest to scale all 14 of the Eight Thousanders--without the aid of supplemental oxygen.

I was awed by the extensive detail that courses throughout the book...seems as if Ed has been taking very good notes for quite some time. It's a pleasure to see that effort--a microcosm of his overall attention to detail and day-to-day discipline--bear fruit in "No Shortcuts to the Top."

I also appreciate that Viesturs doesn't shy away from including elements that don't necessarily reflect perfectly on him. He acknowledges mistakes he's made, and he shares frank personal information that others might have glossed over or sidestepped altogether.

Also, you need not be into mountain climbing to appreciate this book. The most I ever climb is a flight or two of stairs, for example.

Full disclosure: I had the pleasure of speaking with Viesturs by phone a few times before the book's release, as I helped edit a cover story on him for Krakoosh magazine. He's as down-to-earth a guy as someone can be after scaling the world-record heights as he's done.

Hard to put down.......2007-08-13

I really liked this book and am quite sleep-deprived from having finished it in the past day, it's slow-going perhaps because it's so thick with information but I thought it was well written and a great account of the world's highest mountains and climbing them. I just finished a book about the negative aspect of climbing and how hard it is on the climbers' partners to wonder if they're coming back, so it was great knowing about a lot of the climbers Ed has climbed with, and reading the story from the climber's perspective as well - particularly a careful climber who did come back each time (so far). I can't imagine liking a book about climbing much more than this one.

I remain unimpressed.......2007-06-18

I too, like many of the other reviewers here, love reading books about mountaineering and climbing the world's tallest mountains. On the other hand, unlike most of the reviewers here, I feel more critical and demanding when it comes to evaluating the quality of that narration.
Vieturs has undoubtedly achieved one of the most physically impressive feats of our age. This does not mean that his narration of those feats will be anywhere near as impressive. Having a ghost writer doesn't help much. The tone is that of a 20-something year old surfer dude. I was completely turned off by the use of inappropriate colloquialisms and tired clichés: "He shot his wad." Is that the best you can come up with as a writer? I think I physically winced more often reading this book than I have watching some gruesome movies. I know my lip curled in disdain all too often.
The story as a whole feels fractured. And as much as I wanted to be engrossed and immersed in this potentially hypnotic story of testing the limits of human capability, I could never get there. Viesturs and Roberts failed to take me there.
I am sure that people who love reading these kinds of books will still read No Shortcuts to the Top, I know I would have. I just wanted to throw in my two cents about what you should expect when you do so.

Fun Book.......2007-06-10

This is a great book about adventure, success and failure. If you like the mountains and or climbing, you'll love this book.

Average customer rating:

A Real 'Chestnut' - Paints the Appalachian Life with a Blend of Characters
Amazing Language and Weaving of a Story
Nature at its most real and poetic
Nature thrives in this wonderful story
Oh my the misery!!!

Prodigal Summer: A Novel
Barbara Kingsolver
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel (P.S.)
The Bean Trees: A Novel
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ASIN: 0060959037
Release Date: 2001-10-16

Amazon.com

There is no one in contemporary literature quite like Barbara Kingsolver. Her dialogue sparkles with sassy wit and earthy poetry; her descriptions are rooted in daily life but are also on familiar terms with the eternal. With Prodigal Summer, she returns from the Congo to a "wrinkle on the map that lies between farms and wildness." And there, in an isolated pocket of southern Appalachia, she recounts not one but three intricate stories.

Exuberant, lush, riotous--the summer of the novel is "the season of extravagant procreation" in which bullfrogs carelessly lay their jellied masses of eggs in the grass, "apparently confident that their tadpoles would be able to swim through the lawn like little sperms," and in which a woman may learn to "tell time with her skin." It is also the summer in which a family of coyotes moves into the mountains above Zebulon Valley:

The ghost of a creature long extinct was coming in on silent footprints, returning to the place it had once held in the complex anatomy of this forest like a beating heart returned to its body. This is what she believed she would see, if she watched, at this magical juncture: a restoration.

The "she" is Deanna Wolfe, a wildlife biologist observing the coyotes from her isolated aerie--isolated, that is, until the arrival of a young hunter who makes her even more aware of the truth that humans are only an infinitesimal portion in the ecological balance. This truth forms the axis around which the other two narratives revolve: the story of a city girl, entomologist, and new widow and her efforts to find a place for herself; and the story of Garnett Walker and Nannie Rawley, who seem bent on thrashing out the countless intimate lessons of biology as only an irascible traditional farmer and a devotee of organic agriculture can. As Nannie lectures Garnett, "Everything alive is connected to every other by fine, invisible threads. Things you don't see can help you plenty, and things you try to control will often rear back and bite you, and that's the moral of the story."

Structurally, that gossamer web is the story: images, phrases, and events link the narratives, and these echoes are rarely obvious, always serendipitous. Kingsolver is one of those authors for whom the terrifying elegance of nature is both aesthetic wonder and source of a fierce and abiding moral vision. She may have inherited Thoreau's mantle, but she piles up riches of her own making, blending her extravagant narrative gift with benevolent concise humor. She treads the line between the sentimental and the glorious like nobody else in American literature. --Kelly Flynn

Book Description

Barbara Kingsolver's fifth novel is a hymn to wildness that celebrates the prodigal spirit of human nature, and of nature itself. It weaves together three stories of human love within a larger tapestry of lives amid the mountains and farms of southern Appalachia. Over the course of one humid summer, this novel's intriguing protagonists face disparate predicaments but find connections to one another and to the flora and fauna with which they necessarily share a place.

Customer Reviews:

A Real 'Chestnut' - Paints the Appalachian Life with a Blend of Characters.......2007-10-09

After reading the Poisonwood Bible- which I loved- I picked up this novel as the next one to read by the same great author. I was delighted by Kingsolver's description of the three inter-woven stories that blend human nature with mother nature. Kingsolver's compelling storytelling gives the southern Appalachian mountain range center stage for the characters to come to life. I could easily picture the Appalachia forest, the hollows and vales that surround the little community of Egg Creek, and it was a visual delight.

The lives of the characters intertwine with both the topography and the shared family connections that are revealed in due time as the story plays out. It took some time to unravel the many members of Lusa's family, but eventually they came together. I laughed out loud at Nannie Rawley and Garnett- the two bickering old folks who stubbornly fought each others diametric opinions only to find common ground in the end. I can still picture with great amusement of Garnett dragging himself through the muck, thinking he was having a heart attack only to be humiliated by Nanny who informs him that he has a snapping turtle clamped onto his leg as he struggles to get away, with his pride injured.

Yes, I'm sure Ms. Kingsolver had an agenda about how mankind has altered nature and upset the natural balance, but it stuck with me. It made me think just how delicate and easily the chain of wildlife could be disrupted by man's attempt to challenge the innate certainty of what his view of "order" should be. By the end of the book I felt the arch of the story had come full circle to complete the closure of the 3 interwoven stories. I finished the book feeling satisfied and contented.

Then I baked a blackberry pie and started at the beginning again.

Think organic!!!

Amazing Language and Weaving of a Story.......2007-10-04

I have been a fan of Barbara Kingsolver ever since I stumbled across her book "The Bean Trees" in the public library when I was about 15. This book is certainly as amazing as any of her other work I have read.

What I was immediately struck by was the amazing use of language that Kingsolver has. Her masterful use of words slows you down and you want to save them. There is something sexy about the way she describes nature.

Not only is the use of words wonderful, but the writing is clever. Kingsolver uses nature as a backdrop to compare and contrast the various relationships she has created; the various narrators that she uses.

I also enjoyed that we, the readers, know more about the characters than they do. She leaves the characters with their futures waiting and while I would love to know more about them, I was still satisifed with the end.

Terrific Read.

Nature at its most real and poetic.......2007-09-04

Barbara Kingsolver has a way with words, the words that describe nature, give it life, give it a personality of its own. Nature is a main character, a life force, and important lessons are learned from this novel. A lovely read.

Nature thrives in this wonderful story.......2007-08-28

Once I read Barbara Kingsolver's "The Poisonwood Bible", I began reading all her books. The Prodigal Summer was a bit of a let down for me. It was a wonderful story, but I didn't think it was up to her standard. Normally, her characters are well-developed but in this story they just seemed to be lost in the message of organic farming and other environmental issues by the author. These are important subjects and they are told very well as only the biologist writer can do. However, these issues just came across as a bit too patronizing and relationship that I had hoped would develop with the characters just seemed to be fuzzy. Still, the book was an excellent read. There was a bit good humor, an unbelievable insight into the feelings and emotions of women and a priceless education and view of the world of nature. All this rolled up into a wonderful story.

Oh my the misery!!!.......2007-08-19

This book is long, boring and way too verbose!! I read this book for my bookclub and it was torture. I would skip pages, where the author went on and on and on...way too verbose.

This one's worth skipping!!

Average customer rating:

Sierra Backcountry Ranger Requiem
Captured their world
Very Good Book
Randy Morgenson - Gentle Giant
Couldn't pull myself away

The Last Season
Eric Blehm
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Strange Piece of Paradise

ASIN: 0060583002
Release Date: 2006-04-04

Book Description

In the spirit of Jon Krakauer's bestselling Into the Wild, Eric Blehm's The Last Season examines the extraordinary life of legendary backcountry ranger Randy Morgenson and his mysterious disappearance in California's unforgiving Sierra Nevada.

The granite spires of the High Sierra have historically been a refuge of inspiration and adventure for the likes of John Muir and Ansel Adams, as well as for the pioneering rock climbers of the 1960s. But these mountains are as perilous as they are beautiful: here is where the Donner Party was trapped and where scores of unlucky hikers must be rescued every year. The Last Season tells the inspiring, poignant story of Morgenson, who, over the course of twenty-eight summers living alone in this craggy wilderness, became a celebrated ranger in the National Park Service's most adventurous unit. For the solitary, introspective Morgenson, who grew up in Yosemite Valley and as a young man honed his mountaineering skills in the Himalayas, this was more than a job -- it was a calling. He became fiercely devoted to preventing outside forces from encroaching on the wilderness he loved.

But over the years, the isolation Morgenson had once cherished took its toll, and he grew increasingly estranged from his wife and friends. When, at the height of his struggles, he went missing without a trace in Kings Canyon National Park, where he had long patrolled, many suspected suicide or foul play. Morgenson, after all, had once said, "The least I owe these mountains is a body." As one of the Park Service's most intensive search-and-rescue operations unraveled, some wondered if they were searching for a man who did not want to be found.

Destined to become a classic in mountain literature, The Last Season is a work that is as captivating in its writing as it is compelling in its sense of adventure. It is the result of eight years of research by Eric Blehm to uncover the truth about one of the national parks' greatest mysteries. Blehm's reconstruction of a desperate search-and-rescue operation woven with Morgenson's riveting biography takes readers deep into the heart of the High Sierra and into the little-known and much-romanticized world of the backcountry rangers -- revealing in the end the mind and spirit of a complicated, original, and wholly fascinating man.

Customer Reviews:

Sierra Backcountry Ranger Requiem.......2007-09-22

If you have hiked the High Sierras, no doubt you will love this book! It offers a penetrating look at a 28 year veteran back country ranger in the Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park, who disappeared during his last season. Why would anyone spend 28 years as a seasonal, low paid, poorly appreciated back country ranger? Who would put up with living in the isolated back country, on call 24/7? How could such a seasoned veteran simply vanish from the face of the earth? Why did an 8 day search for him, using almost 100 experienced rangers, search and rescue dogs, and multiple helicopters fail to find him? What part did depression over a failing marriage and guilt over an affair with another back country ranger play in his disappearance? Did he commit suicide? Or - - - did the fall out of this depression so cloud his judgement that he made a fatal mistake as he crossed his familiar beloved wilderness? As you may guess, I love the High Sierra and enjoyed this book immensely. Randy Morgenson reminds me a lot of John Muir. I take my well worn hiking and back packing hat off to this man who speaks so eloquently for the WILD! There is a lot of food for thought in this book for those who hike and backpack in the bush, seeking the silence and peace that only can be found there!

Captured their world.......2007-08-25

As a seasonal firefighter and helitack crewman in Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPs from 1977-1980, I encountered some of the backcountry rangers (Randy Morgenson included) on medevacs, re-supply flights, etc. My wife and I still maintain friendships with George Durkee and Paige Meier. Blehm has done an excellent job of describing their world.

Very Good Book.......2007-08-10

Just finished this book, very good. It would have rated 5 stars for me if it was just a wee bit shorter as it did drag just a tad. I usually don't write reviews but I needed to counter some negative reviews in comparison where people contrasted it to "Into the Wild". "Into the Wild" is better written, to be sure. But contrary to some reviewers opinions, this man, Randy Morgenson, was truly someone who's life was "book worthy." The kid in "Into the Wild" basically threw his life away and really never contributed anything to anyone or anything. Randy really helped alot of people and "the land" and his life stood and meant something. I did enjoy Into the Wild, it was compelling, but as far as the main characters, NO comparison. Randy is an inspiration, Cris McCandless was just a lost soul......

Randy Morgenson - Gentle Giant.......2007-08-10

Over the last twenty years I have hiked all or most of the John Muir Trail sixteen times from south to north. Between 1987 and 1996 I had the privilege and honor of getting to know Randy on the trail. His friendly kind face at McClure was always a welcome sight. I would always take a layover day just to be able to spend some time talking to him about wilderness and the incredible beauty of the Sierras. His understanding of the mountains was deep and compelling. He was perhaps one of the most experienced introspective mountaineers the Sierras have ever seen. His knowledge of the High Sierra was tremendous and his humble sincere love of the land truly an inspiration - for such a powerful mountaineer Randy was such a gentle poetic person. This book does a superb job of capturing Randy and his pure love of the High Sierra while at the same time documenting the monolithic effort to find him. Also, having known over the years many of the backcountry rangers involved in the search, and knowing first hand what a close family they are I would also say that the author very deftly weaves into the book the fraternal nature of the search. I highly recommend Eric Blehm's "The Last Season" to anyone that has spent time in the wilderness (especially the Sierras) it reads like a mystery but has a very personal touch. Randy the Range of Light misses you, there is a tear in every thunderstorm, thank you for all the beautiful words.

Couldn't pull myself away.......2007-07-30

Eric Blehm crafted a tale rich in detail and sincerity with The Last Season. While Morgenson's life and his disappearance made for a great mystery ripe for any author to pick, Blehm's attention to the true main character-the high Sierras-gave the story a texture that would have otherwise been lacking. The layers of the story contantly unfolded to reveal a depth that gave the reader pause to contemplate the inherent conflicts. The enormity of the landscape crept up from the pages-it was like traveling through the park each night as I picked up the book. A great read for anyone who appreciates a well written, complicated story-especially the endings.

Average customer rating:

A life changer
Poor and Confusing
The best Gift Ever...
A most remarkable book
Wonderfully thought provoking!

The Invitation
Oriah , and Oriah Mountain Dreamer
Manufacturer: HarperOne
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0062515845
Release Date: 1999-04-21

Amazon.com

One night, after an unsatisfying evening at a party, author Oriah Mountain Dreamer wrote the start of The Invitation. By the light of her streetlight, she began, "It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.... I want to know if you have touched the center of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain...."

Her profound invitation (longer than is written here) became the framework for this wise and inspiring book. Chapter by chapter, the author uses passages from her "Invitation" to welcome readers into a life that is more soul fulfilling and passionate, and has far greater truth and integrity. In a sense, she invites readers to get a life instead of buying into a lifestyle. Each chapter ends with a guided meditation specific to the theme of the chapter, such as "The Joy" and "The Failure."

Despite her suspiciously New Age-sounding name, Oriah Mountain Dreamer is a highly grounded, practical, and honest writer. This fresh and beautifully packaged book is destined for great acclaim in the realm of spiritual inspiration. --Gail Hudson

Book Description

Visionary author Oriah Mountain Dreamer brings to life the wisdom of her beloved Ȯvitation, which has touched hearts everywhere with its fresh and spirited call to live life more deeply, honestly, and well.

Like the inspirations for Robert Fulghum's All I Really Need to Know I learned in Kindergarten, Cherie Carter–Scott's If Life Is a Game, These are the Rules, and Margaret Fishback Power's Footprints, the poem that sparked The Invitation has been embraced around the world, passed along by thousands who have discovered and treasured its message. In this lovely gift book the author speaks from the heart, reflecting on everything from desire to betrayal and offering practical – and often surprising – suggestions for how to live the ecstasy of everyday life, learn to recognise true beauty in ourselves and the world around us, and how to find the sustenance that our spirit longs for.

The poem Invitation has been recited and quoted at countless spiritual conferences, and on network radio by Robert Bly, Jack Kornfield, Angeles Arrien, and many other spiritual leaders.

From the Invitation:

ȴ doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive ...'

Customer Reviews:

A life changer.......2007-03-18

My daughter introduced me to this book - her boyfriend had given it to her. I can't help but think that if more people passed it on like this that it would have a very positive effect in the world. Simplistic, maybe, but the book it full of optimistic ideas and thought provoking meditations that could make a big difference one person at a time.

Poor and Confusing.......2007-01-02

I bought this book for a friend based on the write up and the poem. Since he is away, I read through it and I am so glad I did. I am certainly not giving this as a gift, and I am glad to see that I am not the only who didn't like this book. Basically, I couldn't figure out her point. What is she talking about?

I felt mildly depressed after reading it, and found it to be confusing--it seemed just like a string of anecdotes without any substance.

I'm not sure that this is an invitation to, but sorry, Oriah, I don't accept.

The best Gift Ever..........2006-07-07

I received this book as a gift for my birthday from a friend of mine, and had no clue what to expect when I read it. I sat down and read through it in one sitting and couldn't put it down. I then read it aloud to my boyfriend and my daughter and my son... and I sent excerpts of it to several of my online friends telling them they needed to buy this book. It's touching and emotional - but so powerful and beautifully written. I could not recommend this book enough - it's simply the best gift I've ever been given.

A most remarkable book.......2006-06-29

The Invitation helped me understand how I can enhance my own life when I embrace all of life -- as it is -- not as I want it to be. I have sent copies to my friends, children and grandchildren.

Wonderfully thought provoking!.......2006-05-22

This poem has resonated with me for several years now. I appreciated Mountain Dreamer's honest explanation into what inspired this powerful poem. It is not often that we get such insight into what situations inspire such works of art.

This book was very thought provoking for me, and is valuable in it's ability to encourage self examination and living more truthfully. One of the most engaging and inspirational books I've read.

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