Book Description
Navajo Police Special Investigator Ella Clah has seen a lot of death in the decade since she returned to the Reservation, but nothing quite as bad as a series of violent murders of young Navajo. Something about the crime scene reminds Ella of her days in the FBI, and she calls on Agent Blalock for help. And that's not the only link to Ella's past-clues indicates that Ella's father may have tried to stop this killer before his own murder.Working long hours, desperate to identify and stop the serial killer before he strikes again, Ella manages to squeeze in a few dates with Reverend Bilford Tome. Ella's father was a man of the cloth as well-is Ella following her mother's path, falling for a man whose faith she does not share?
Customer Reviews:
More research, please.......2007-09-20
It is nice that the authors did research the Navajo traditional beliefs. However, since much of the story revolves around a Protestant church, they should have done just a little more research. I'm sure that had they done that, they would have learned that in a Protestant church, you will find an empty cross, not a crucifix, and that members of Protestant churchs do not make the sign of the cross. I would also question some of the terminology used in that Northern NM area. But I'm not quite sure I'm right. I'll have to do some of my own research into the other areas I question.
Another hit starring Ella Clah.......2007-05-21
This is the 12th installment of the series featuring Ella Clah, a Navajo Tribal police office on the reservation near Shiprock, Az. Ella always has her hands full of a murder investigation, plus family and tribal issues to deal with.
The writing by Aimee and David Thurlo is very detailed in the descriptions of the tribal mentality and attitude vs. the White man's way of doing things. Ella is constantly caught between two cultures and two ways of taking care of business.
There are always many suspects that need to be eliminated or investigated. The fact that the FBI has a hand in each investigation only enhances the assistance given to Ella and her fellow offices. It takes everyone involved, Tribal investigators, FBI, the Forensic teams, the CSI teams to solve the murder and bring justice/harmony back to the area.
These are fast-paced novels that give an insight into another area and how things are resolved in non-traditional ways. Although to the characters in the book, their ways are Traditional.
Another Murder in Navajo Country.......2007-05-19
Another story where Ella Clah gets into deep danger. This case, the victim of the murder (a "bathtub drowning") is the daughter of one of Ella's mother's closest friends and the mother of the babysitter for Ella's daughter. Can't get much closer than that without getting into the family itself.
Naturally, there are the protesters who want to stop the construction of a new power plant, the Fierce Ones, religious conflicts and all of the standard people and relationships that seem to be cooperating to keep Ella from solving this case before someone else gets killed.
If you like the Ella Clah series of books by the Thurlos (and I do), then read this one. It is good.
A great airplane book.
Turquoise Girl.......2007-05-13
This was a very good - grab you from the first chapter - type of book. I read it in one day and received great joy from this story.
Turquoise Girl.......2007-05-12
As usual the Thurlo's bring the modern Navajo (Dine) into perspective with the old melding in to give demension to the culture. The mystery was good as well. It is always a pleasure to read characters who have substance and who are so real you want to count them as friends.
Average customer rating:
- The Greatest Adventure of all Time
- Great Eyewitness account
- Amazing first person historical account
- Every mexican and american in the west should read this.
- A great history of Mexico
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The Conquest of New Spain (Penguin Classics)
Bernal Diaz del Castillo
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The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico
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Letters from Mexico
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Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies
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The Four Voyages: Being His Own Log-Book, Letters and Dispatches with Connecting Narratives.. (Penguin Classics)
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Conquest: Cortes, Montezuma, and the Fall of Old Mexico
ASIN: 0140441239 |
Customer Reviews:
The Greatest Adventure of all Time.......2007-05-26
When I first read the 1800 English translation, I could not put it down. Here are the first lines--a real grabbers! "In the year 1514, I left Castile (Spain) in company with Pedro Arias de Avila, who was then appointed governor of Tierra Firma (east Panama)...but afterwards suspicious that his son-in-law had an intention of revolting, he caused him to be beheaded."
Bernal's description of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan is amazing: "To many of us it appeared doubtful whether we were asleep of awake; nor is the manner in which I express myself to be wondered at, for it must be considered, that never yet did man see, hear or dream of anything equal to the spectacle which appeared to our eyes on this day."
And how about this magnificent line: "And now, let who can, tell me, where are men in this world to be found, except ourselves, who would have hazarded such an attempt."
And here is the horrific vision the Spaniards beheld when they climbed to the top of the great Aztec temple-pyramid. Remember that nearby, and looming up like a nightmare, was the stupendous "tzompantli," or skull rack. By careful Spanish count, it contained the grinning remains of 136,000 human beings.
"In this place they had a drum of most enormous size, the head of which was made of the skins of large serpents: this instrument when struck resounded with a noise that could be heard to the distance of two leagues, and so doleful that it deserved to be named the music of the infernal regions; and with their horrible sounding horns and trumpets, their great knives for sacrifice, their human victims, and their blood besprinkled altars, I devoted them, and all their wickedness to God's vengeance, and thought that the time would never arrive, that I should escape from this scene of human butchery, horrible smells, and more detestable sights."
The Conquest takes on a different color when seen through the eyes of the Spanish. Yes, they were greedy and cruel, but the scale of human sacrifice practiced by the Aztecs was beyond imagination. It is said that some twenty thousand people were sacrificed for the dedication of the Temple of the Sun. The Aztec priests worked for hours on end cutting out human hearts. They worked until they collapsed from exhaustion.
Bernal's history is also interesting for another entirely different reason. Joseph Smith (born 1805), the Mormon prophet, came of age during the period of English translations of Spanish histories (Bernal's in 1800 in London, and 1803 in the US, and Clevigero's "History of Mexico" in 1806 in Virginia and 1817 in Philadelphia).
Therefore, the golden splendor of the Spanish conquests of Mexico and Peru was fresh on everyone's mind, especially because the Spanish colony of Florida had become an American state (1821).
Thus, any notion that Americans were unaware of the great civilizations of ancient America is without foundation in real history. Ancient civilizations in America were so on the mind of people that in 1816, Solomon Spaulding wrote a history about a white and dark race in ancient America. His novel, "Manuscript Found," had the white race of mound builders destroyed by a darker-skin race.
Read my review of Robert Silverberg's magnificent book, "The Mound Builders of Ancient America: The Archaeology of a Myth." A must-read for anyone interested in the archaeology and myths about ancient America. Click here: Mound Builders
Great Eyewitness account.......2006-12-28
Diaz was one of the soldiers who accompanied Cortez to invade the Aztec Empire. His account is one of the best we have of the whole affair. It is not written with much bias and was written to discount historical myths after the invasion had taken place. It is very analytical at times and his analysis of what happened is given added authority since he was present at the events. If you want to understand what happened this is a great book to read.
Amazing first person historical account.......2006-02-15
First person historical accounts are generally the best way to read history and have it come alive in the mind of the reader. This book by Bernal Diaz is certainly no exception to that rule. Although Diaz wrote this much later in life, and doubtless his memory was not perfect, it is obvious that the experience of marching with Cortez in the conquest of the Aztec empire left innumerable vivid memories in his mind.
I am very sensitive to the fact that the conquest of the Aztec empire and other native empires in the Americas left a horrific legacy which is still felt dramatically throughout the hemisphere. Despite the fact that in many ways, the conquistadors should not be considered "heroes," I think we still can admire and be awed by their courage and fortitude in the face of unbelievable odds in facing the Aztecs and not only escaping with their lives, but eventually conquering the entire civilization. Diaz brings these events to life better than any history book I ever read, and I highly commend this book to anyone interested in the history of this period, of Mexico, or Latin America in general.
Every mexican and american in the west should read this........2005-09-25
most mexican-pride types haven't hit this book. if they did they would be greatly enlightened by the fact that mexico was not a united nation from campeche to oregon. the aztecs subjugated their neighbors just like the mexico city elite subjugate the common mexican to this day. this is one of the best books i've ever read and if you plan to visit mexico city it is a must-read if you want to have any basic understanding of modern mexico city and mexico in general. read it.
A great history of Mexico.......2005-07-25
This is the classic book on the history of the conquest of Mexico. Bernal Diaz fought on the front lines of Cortez's war, and he reports everything well in this book.
While Diaz may have been a great soldier, he was an awful writer. He wrote this book as he was aging well after he returned home to Spain. In his original edition, there were hundreds of pages of rambling personal attacks against various people in his life. As a result, Penguin has heavily edited this edition -- it's only about half the size of the original. However, the book is greatly improved this way, and Penguin's version is very easy to read and never gets boring.
Of course, Diaz doesn't have many negitive things to say about the Conquest, and he was a true believer in the religious mission of the conquistadors. Diaz essentially makes genocide seem not so bad. Read Bartolome de las Casas' books to balance out some of the propaganda contained in this book.
Book Description
A rising star of the Democratic Party tells the fascinating story of the ways his multicultural heritage and political education have shaped his dreams for America and given him vital lessons in the art of successful negotiating.
Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico, may be the most charismatic figure in the Democratic Party today and one of its best natural politicians whose name isn't Bill Clinton. He is the man Colin Powell has called for advice, and the man George Stephanopoulos once called the Red Adair of diplomacy in homage to his ability to put out international fires. He has been nominated four times for the Nobel Peace Prize and is counted as one of our most knowledgeable politicians on Iraq and Saddam Hussein; on Afghanistan, the Taliban, and Al-Qaeda; on North Korea; on energy policy; on Latin American affairs; on domestic politics; and on Hispanic America.
Richardson's background as the son of an American businessman father and a Mexican mother has offered him an unusual starting point from which to seek a life in public service, but one of his most interesting roles has been that of global troubleshooter. What he has to say about how to negotiate to get what you want shows his true colors: He can be blunt, but charming; tough, but respectful; realistic, but hopeful. Through his work as a hostage negotiator sitting across the table from the likes of Saddam Hussein, Fidel Castro, and many others-as well as his toil on Capitol Hill, in the United Nations, and New Mexico's state government-he has learned the vital importance of preparation: know as much as possible about your adversary; test your partner's truthfulness; know how much you can concede; never lie and always be direct.
Between Worlds is the surprising story of one of our most seasoned and captivating national figures.
Customer Reviews:
Personalizing of History.......2007-09-08
The first part of this book was initially disappointing. The constant "I did this..." or I travelled to ..." sounded like so much puffery - what one might expect in a book by a Presidential candidate. The more I read, however, the more I realized that the "I" was essential to the entire focus of the book. The book brings history alive from the actual events and conversations in order to show that individuals can help make history or at least nudge it in a desirable direction. Historical events can not be viewed in a vaccum. They are most meaningfully understood in the context of the minor details of the events themselves. One that jumps out is Richardson's meeting with Saddam Hussein (regarding the release of two individuals who strayed into Iraq from Kuwait)when Richardson casually crossed his legs and inadvertently showed the soles of his shoes to Saddam. Saddam jumped up and left the room. It turns out that showing the soles of ones shoes to someone in that culture is a real sign of disrespect. The best part of the book is "Richardson's Rules" which he sets forth in anecdotal context throughout the book (with the list summarized at the end). The "Rules" are a great guide for dealing with not only high level political or diplomatic negotiations but also with everyday personal and business relationships. All in all a very enjoyable read for someone who overwhelmingly reads fiction - not non-fiction - and certainly not political books.
What a man! .......2007-09-03
How very fortunate this country is at this time in our history to have someone of this magnitude and calibur seeking the Presidency. His experience and different way of thinking allow hope for a better tomorrow for the US and the world. Good luck to you, Sir. Good luck to us all that you lead us all into a brighter and more peaceful tomorrow.
What Makes Bill Tick.......2007-08-12
Bill Richardson is a rather unimpressive candidate. However, candidates aren't elected - Presidents are. Having said that I can say that I believe Bill Richardson is ready for the Presidency. The question becomes is America ready for Bill Richardson?
The book is about as interesting as Bill Richardson's performances in debate. Clearly, this is a book about Bill's life, by Bill himself. Many of his positions are explained, but it is not comprehensive, and not meant to be. Reading this book will give the impression of what makes Bill tick, so I give credit for writing a successful book. There is no shorting the reader of 360 pages of substance. Personally, I too would like to see more from Richardson, and in fact, this is already happening.
Campaigns for officials that are based on results and performances while in office must have someone touting that record, and this is what Richardson does without much modesty. Between World's describes the position Richardson inherited from birth and the position Richardson has dealt with throughout life. The book moves from his childhood in Mexico to his life in school in New England. Richardson was the one in the middle that learned to relate to everyone. His entry into public service and political office was destiny. When you combine these with love for individuals and an unapologetic stance you have a man with superior credentials as a diplomat.
A portion of the book that could be developed further is "Richardson Rules". Richardson doesn't discuss development and application of his rule set, but presents these as simply his personal rules - I don't know whether as a human being, a public official, a diplomat, or other.
Richardson comes across as result-oriented, fun-loving, but serious. Inspiration here comes from hard work and having done a job well - unfortunately, not great oratories and smooth gestures. Richardson could partially compensate with combinations of brutal honesty and jest. He must continue to rouse voter curiosity with more manufactured "celebrity-in-jest" performances such as the one created for the New Mexico gubanatorial election. It wouldn't be a bad move if Richardson says in debate, frankly, I suck at this. I want to be telling you what I've already achieved as President - not what I would like to achieve.
A Career Politician: The Good & The Bad.......2007-07-11
I had been hearing good things about Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson, so I decided to pick up his autobiography. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of autobiographies or biographies for that matter. Especially, not ones with the sole intent of extolling the author's virtues. So that's why it gets a B-. And I'm just not a huge fan of the writing style that biographies employ. It just gets a little boring and tedious at times. But to be fair, the book gave me a better picture of Bill Richardson than I had before. About half-way through the book, I was seriously thinking about giving him some consideration with my vote. Although I know he'll never get past the big 3 of Edwards, Obama, and Clinton. He grew up in Mexico (born in US) where his mom is Mexican and his father American. He was a senator for the state of New Mexico, the ambassador to the UN that followed Albright, Secretary of Energy for Clinton's second term, and current 2nd term governor for the state of New Mexico. Needless to say, that makes him extremely qualified. And hands down the most qualified of all current presidential candidates. To his credit, he tells it like it is. And for a politician, it doesn't feel like he is full of BS. He has a record for giving his opinion even when it's controversial. And has offended both parties at times, despite being a staunch Democrat. But he's honest. Over and over again he gives examples where he spoke his mind and how it either paid off or got him in trouble. So that I respect. But ultimately, I feel like he's a politician. And a bit of an opportunist. I do believe he has a vision for this country that centers around a better energy policy. Which I totally jive with. Ultimately though, I just feel like he's a politician at heart. And I don't really want a politician in power. I want someone who is not definded as a politician. And I'm well aware of the rarity of that.
Bill Richardson, the book, the lite version.......2007-05-22
I have been interested in Bill Richardson as a potential presidential candidate for some time so I wanted to read his story to get some more information on what he might bring to the Democratic race. So should you read this book to learn about Richardson? Sure but you may be left wanting to know more as I did after finishing it.
This book, true to its subtitle "The Making of an American Life", chronicles Richardson's life, his childhood in Mexico, his high school and college years in the US and the major turning points in his life. The book is very good at this and more interesting than I thought but it does not have much detail of proposals to solve many of the national problems we are facing today. There was a list of highlighted important sayings called "Richardson's List". This I thought might be a list of what he thought would help steer the country to a better position in diplomacy, health care, environment, and the economy but was a synopsis of what he had learned in his career on how to be a successful politician, diplomat and negotiator. Hopefully if his campaign goes well we will have the opportunity to hear more from this very accomplished statesman.
Product Description
The Photographing the Southwest guidebook series is the culmination of over twenty years experience exploring and photographing the natural landmarks of the Southwest. Volume 3 will take you on a remarkable journey of discovery from the vast plains of Northwestern Colorado to the deserts of Southern New Mexico, exploring geological marvels, sand dunes, the alpine scenery of the San Juan and Rocky Mountains with their incredible wildflowers and fall colors, ancient cliff dwellings, old mining towns, Spanish New Mexico, and Indian Pueblos . We also make a short foray into Texas to visit Big Bend National Park.
Customer Reviews:
well done.......2007-08-14
This book is a fabulous guide to photographing the natural sights in Utah. Martres provided specific information on where to be for the best shots and also gives basic photographic advice. While you read, you need to remember what he says at the beginning of the book: he photographs the southwest in autumn due to the heat and light. So, use common sense when Martres says, "early afternoon is the best time to photograph..." If you are there at other times of the year, you'll need to do a little research about when the best light is available.
loved the book and will buy more of his work!
Very accurate!.......2007-06-27
I bought this new book as it came out just in time for my photography journey through the four corners area of Colorado and New Mexico. I've seen some of the same sites before but Martres gave routes I've never known existed or was possible. Hence, I have new photos from angles I've never known I could get.
This book is great and a must-have for photographers in the Southwest area!
Highly recommended.......2007-06-09
I bought all three books from the series Photographing the Southwest by author Laurent Martres. I'm preparing for 2 weeks trip to USA next year. I found these books very useful. All provide very valuable information about the best time and conditions for all the people having passion for taking fotographs at most famous places all over Southwest. Simply must have.
Not as complete as expected.......2007-06-07
I had bought the earlier two volumes in the series. I specifically brought this volume with the hope that it would describe photo areas for the Glenwood Canyon area along route 70 west of Denver. I drove through this area a few weeks ago and it was spectacular. However, there did not appear to be any place to stop on route 70 except at the "No Name" rest stop. I was expecting this book to describe some area but there is no mention of the area. I have seen some nice photography from kayak trips but I'm not able to do this. I had also seen a photo of the "Painted Mine" area near Calhan at the recent Moab Film Symposium but this area also was not mentioned. However, there are so many spectacular areas listed for Colorado, New Mexico, and part of Texas that I will not run out of photo opportunities. Great book for the photos inside and ideas for places to investigate. Howard McPherson
Quality item arrived quickly........2007-03-29
My husband and I were surprised at how promptly "Photographing the Southwest: Volume 3 arrived. It was also packed well and arrived in excellent condition. It is also an excellent source for locations that will make for outstanding photograph oportunities.
Average customer rating:
- Castaneda
- To Carlos, with gratitude
- buy, buy, buy
- Un-Reviewable
- Ambiguous at Best
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Separate Reality
Carlos Castaneda
Manufacturer: Washington Square Press
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Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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The Teachings of Don Juan: A Yaqui Way of Knowledge
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Journey To Ixtlan
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Tales of Power
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Power of Silence
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Fire from Within
ASIN: 0671732498 |
Book Description
"A man of knowledge is free...he has no honor, no dignity, no family, no home, no country, but only life to be lived."
--don Juan
In 1961 a young anthropologist subjected himself to an extraordinary apprenticeship to bring back a fascinating glimpse of a Yaqui Indian's world of "non-ordinary reality" and the difficult and dangerous road a man must travel to become "a man of knowledge." Yet on the bring of that world, challenging to all that we believe, he drew back.
Then in 1968, Carlos Castaneda returned to Mexico, to don Juan and his hallucinogenic drugs, and to a world of experience no man from our Western civilization had ever entered before.
Customer Reviews:
Castaneda.......2007-07-01
Not my favorite of his books but still worth reading it. Mentions many of the discussed topics to follow as Castaneda takes you further on the journey of self-discovery. It opens up a new field as he reaches out with this book. Strays away further from the beaten path of hallucinigens and all and starts to elucidate on the subject matter on hand - sorcery. Be careful, not for the faint of heart.
To Carlos, with gratitude.......2007-06-22
Carlos Castaneda was one of the most controversial writers of the twentieth century. Some in academia branded him a fraud for claiming his stories were biographical rather than fiction, while lauding him as a great novelist for exposing a mass audience to otherwise inaccessible philosophical abstractions they claimed were largely plagiarized. Each of his works is a piece of a larger puzzle, which makes it impossible to critique any one book without addressing the larger context into which it fits.
His first two books, "Teachings of Don Juan" and "A Separate Reality" describe experiences induced by ingesting psychotropic hallucinogenics prepared by a Yaqui Indian shaman from Sonora, Mexico he called don Juan Matus, and accounted for his becoming a guru to a generation seeking short cuts to spiritual enlightenment, as well as his lifelong interest in the relationship between perception and reality, a theme now explored in many popular books on consciousness and quantum physics. Unfortunately, these books remain his best selling works, in spite of Castaneda refuting their importance in his later works. Readers would be best served to skip these and avoid the risk of being turned off to Castaneda and missing the more stimulating works that followed.
His third and fourth works were "Journey to Ixtlan" and "Tales of Power." In Ixtlan he admits to over-estimating the value of his drug experiences, which caused him to overlook the more profound teachings of don Juan which became the focus of future writings. What emerges is a spiritual discipline dating back to the Pre-Colombian Toltec sorcerers of Latin America, culminating with don Juan's departure from our world, effectively ending Castaneda's direct affiliation.
In his fifth and sixth works "Second Ring of Power" and "Eagles Gift" Castaneda suffers strange flashbacks of what seem to be memory fragments of events he is unable to fit into any logical time sequence. In his seventh and eighth works, "Fire From Within" and "Power of Silence," Castaneda succeeds in reconstructing his lost memories, which derive from teachings previously administered by don Juan while Castaneda was in a "heightened" state of awareness.
In books nine and ten, "Art of Dreaming" and "Active Side of Infinity," Castaneda focuses on what he describes as inorganic predators from another dimension, some having the power to imprison humanity in "ordinary reality" so they can feed on the dark emotional energies we produce when succumbing to the negative thoughts they insert into our minds.
In later years several seemingly substantiating works appeared by two of Castaneda's female apprentices, Taisha Abelar and Florinda Donner-Grau. In addition, two scathing exposés were also published by two of his ex-wives. The first, "Magical Journey with Carlos Castaneda" by first wife, Margaret Runyon, offers little corroboration, since her marriage pre-dates the time when the bulk of Castaneda's adventures were claimed to have occurred. While steadfast that Castaneda was a sorcerer, she doubts the existence of don Juan, even claiming authorship of many of the concepts Castaneda ascribed to him.
The second, and more credible work, is "Sorcerer's Apprentice," by well-known writer Amy Wallace, daughter of the late best selling novelist Irving Wallace. Here again, we find little corroboration since the time of the events she describes is well after the period when Castaneda's relationship with don Juan is alleged to occur. What the book does provide is a troubling look inside Castaneda's final years, a picture of descent into what seems sexual addiction and possibly madness, leaving one to wonder if Castaneda was just one cup of cool-aid short of a Jonestown.
Many have asked why I put any stock whatsoever in Castaneda. A story from my autobiography, "The Vortex" may shed some light. A year before Castaneda published his first book I had an experience that would remain a mystery until Castaneda published "Power of Silence" twenty years later.
For a brief time, in my youth, I became a practicing Muslim, meticulously performing the complex prayer ritual five times a day. Then one night, sitting in my car, frustrated and complaining at not being able to find the address of my next sales appointment, something inside me snapped. It was as if some part of me had disconnected from my body and assumed control, lecturing me about my lack of discipline. A profound calm settled over me, rendering me simultaneously detached and engaged. For two days my sales figures soared. It was as if no one could say no to me. On the evening of the second day I decided to put my new state of being to the acid test by visiting my parents. Their behavior was so uncharacteristically supportive I hardly recognized them. It was enough to convince me that I was now living in an altered reality. But by the following morning I had returned to "normal." So distracting had this event been that I completely forgot to perform my Muslim prayers, and in fact, never did so again.
Twenty years later, in a chapter of "Power of Silence" entitled "Place of No Pity" Castaneda describes a very similar experience. In the aftermath of the event don Juan explains that humans are like televisions stuck on a channel called "self-preoccupation," lacking the energy to tune into any of the vast array of other channels available to us. To change channels, he explains, we first need to accumulate energy, by practicing rituals that are deliberate, precise and repetitious. Do this long enough and eventually our stored energy precipitates a shift to a channel where self-importance and self pity become impossible. Once this happens we connect with the force that controls the entire universe, a force don Juan called "intent," and everything can be bent to our will and even more channels can be opened, assuming we remember to keep practicing the rituals that save our energy.
This one realization alone was enough to inspire me to dedicate my autobiography "To Carlos, with gratitude."
Maxwell Austin van Lack, Author of The Vortex: A True Story of Passion and Karma
buy, buy, buy.......2007-06-11
Unless you are a die hard christian who could not ever consider any other possibilities for life except the one in the Bible then this is for you. I loved it you will too.
Un-Reviewable.......2007-05-28
To write a review for this book, positive or negative, is fruitless and futile. For the most part, readers will begin with some sort of inherent bias. Whether you have a predilection for psychedelic drugs or you think the entire premise is a sham, this is not a book that can be reviewed in the standard way.
Whatever you take from this book, regardless of whether that is nothing at all or a newly-inspired way of living, I do think one point must be made. Whether or not don Juan Matus was real or fictional, and whether or not any of Castaneda's experiences are credible, I think one must realize that this book is not a bible. There is present what one may construe as advice for living, but primarily this is a first-hand account of a set of experiences that most likely nobody else has or will come to undergo. I personally think it is beautifully and convincingly written, and I think it would take a truly rare person to replicate any of Castaneda's experiences, real or imagined. Impossible? Perhaps not. But I think that, unfortunately or not, this is brain candy for virtually all readers, and cannot be anything more.
Ambiguous at Best.......2007-01-08
Story of an American anthropologist's 1960s experiences with the possibly fictional Indian shaman "Don Juan Matus." Reads a little like a cross between a research log and ethnopoetry. In their conversations Don Juan constantly challenges Western ideas of knowledge and perception. Carlos can look but he really does not "see." "You don't see, you only look at the surface of things." He tells Carlos that when one "sees," one sees human beings as "fibers of light." When the two discuss accidents, Don Juan says, "No man can control everything around him, but not everything is an unavoidable accident. Life for a warrior is an exercise in strategy." The text is strewn with other examples of magical thinking. Now primitive people do frequently engage in magical thinking, but so do people who have ingested mind altering drugs. We don't know whether we are hearing the actual words and thoughts of a genuine shaman, or the ramblings of a 1960 UCLA anthropology student in a drug induced haze.
If you like 1960s counter-cultural philosophy, you'll love this book. For those more grounded in reality, you find reading it at least frustrating, if not repulsive. One thing, anthropologists, especially the 1960s variety, had a very distorted picture of pre state people. They thought that bands, tribes and chiefdoms were largely peaceful people. We now know the very opposite is true as they existed in an almost constant state of savage warfare. This whole story lacks credibility.
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- The Fire from Within
- Castaneda
- To Carlos, with gratitude
- Forget your self-help books: try this guide to business survival
- Impeccability and the Art of Facing Infinity...
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Fire from Within
Carlos Castaneda
Manufacturer: Washington Square Press
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ASIN: 0671732501 |
Book Description
Each of Carlos Castaneda's books is a brilliant and tantalizing burst of illumination into the depths of our deepest mysteries, like a sudden flash of light, like a burst of lightning over the desert at night, which shows us a world that is both alien and totally familiar -- the landscape of our dreams.
Fire from Within is the author's most brilliant thought-provoking and unusual book, one in which Castaneda, under the tutelage of don Juan and his "disciples," at last constructs, from the teachings of don Juan and his own experiences, a stunning portrait of the "sorcerer's world" that is crystal-clear and dizzying in its implications.
Customer Reviews:
The Fire from Within.......2007-08-01
I have been a fan of Carlos Castanda since his first novel, the teaching of Don Juan. This book is easily to grapse and interesting to learn about the life of a socery of Don Juan. Carlos experience so many vision in the fire from within. Being abstract, Carlos explain to the reader about his appreanticeship with Don Juan. From his hiliarous antic, Don Juan display his experience growing up as a seer. The book is highly recommended for any type of reader.
Castaneda.......2007-07-01
Like all his books. Difficult subject to discuss. People read it to either follow his path or follow for themselves. Either or great book.
To Carlos, with gratitude.......2007-06-22
Carlos Castaneda was one of the most controversial writers of the twentieth century. Some in academia branded him a fraud for claiming his stories were biographical rather than fiction, while lauding him as a great novelist for exposing a mass audience to otherwise inaccessible philosophical abstractions they claimed were largely plagiarized. Each of his works is a piece of a larger puzzle, which makes it impossible to critique any one book without addressing the larger context into which it fits.
His first two books, "Teachings of Don Juan" and "A Separate Reality" describe experiences induced by ingesting psychotropic hallucinogenics prepared by a Yaqui Indian shaman from Sonora, Mexico he called don Juan Matus, and accounted for his becoming a guru to a generation seeking short cuts to spiritual enlightenment, as well as his lifelong interest in the relationship between perception and reality, a theme now explored in many popular books on consciousness and quantum physics. Unfortunately, these books remain his best selling works, in spite of Castaneda refuting their importance in his later works. Readers would be best served to skip these and avoid the risk of being turned off to Castaneda and missing the more stimulating works that followed.
His third and fourth works were "Journey to Ixtlan" and "Tales of Power." In Ixtlan he admits to over-estimating the value of his drug experiences, which caused him to overlook the more profound teachings of don Juan which became the focus of future writings. What emerges is a spiritual discipline dating back to the Pre-Colombian Toltec sorcerers of Latin America, culminating with don Juan's departure from our world, effectively ending Castaneda's direct affiliation.
In his fifth and sixth works "Second Ring of Power" and "Eagles Gift" Castaneda suffers strange flashbacks of what seem to be memory fragments of events he is unable to fit into any logical time sequence. In his seventh and eighth works, "Fire From Within" and "Power of Silence," Castaneda succeeds in reconstructing his lost memories, which derive from teachings previously administered by don Juan while Castaneda was in a "heightened" state of awareness.
In books nine and ten, "Art of Dreaming" and "Active Side of Infinity," Castaneda focuses on what he describes as inorganic predators from another dimension, some having the power to imprison humanity in "ordinary reality" so they can feed on the dark emotional energies we produce when succumbing to the negative thoughts they insert into our minds.
In later years several seemingly substantiating works appeared by two of Castaneda's female apprentices, Taisha Abelar and Florinda Donner-Grau. In addition, two scathing exposés were also published by two of his ex-wives. The first, "Magical Journey with Carlos Castaneda" by first wife, Margaret Runyon, offers little corroboration, since her marriage pre-dates the time when the bulk of Castaneda's adventures were claimed to have occurred. While steadfast that Castaneda was a sorcerer, she doubts the existence of don Juan, even claiming authorship of many of the concepts Castaneda ascribed to him.
The second, and more credible work, is "Sorcerer's Apprentice," by well-known writer Amy Wallace, daughter of the late best selling novelist Irving Wallace. Here again, we find little corroboration since the time of the events she describes is well after the period when Castaneda's relationship with don Juan is alleged to occur. What the book does provide is a troubling look inside Castaneda's final years, a picture of descent into what seems sexual addiction and possibly madness, leaving one to wonder if Castaneda was just one cup of cool-aid short of a Jonestown.
Many have asked why I put any stock whatsoever in Castaneda. A story from my autobiography, "The Vortex" may shed some light. A year before Castaneda published his first book I had an experience that would remain a mystery until Castaneda published "Power of Silence" twenty years later.
For a brief time, in my youth, I became a practicing Muslim, meticulously performing the complex prayer ritual five times a day. Then one night, sitting in my car, frustrated and complaining at not being able to find the address of my next sales appointment, something inside me snapped. It was as if some part of me had disconnected from my body and assumed control, lecturing me about my lack of discipline. A profound calm settled over me, rendering me simultaneously detached and engaged. For two days my sales figures soared. It was as if no one could say no to me. On the evening of the second day I decided to put my new state of being to the acid test by visiting my parents. Their behavior was so uncharacteristically supportive I hardly recognized them. It was enough to convince me that I was now living in an altered reality. But by the following morning I had returned to "normal." So distracting had this event been that I completely forgot to perform my Muslim prayers, and in fact, never did so again.
Twenty years later, in a chapter of "Power of Silence" entitled "Place of No Pity" Castaneda describes a very similar experience. In the aftermath of the event don Juan explains that humans are like televisions stuck on a channel called "self-preoccupation," lacking the energy to tune into any of the vast array of other channels available to us. To change channels, he explains, we first need to accumulate energy, by practicing rituals that are deliberate, precise and repetitious. Do this long enough and eventually our stored energy precipitates a shift to a channel where self-importance and self pity become impossible. Once this happens we connect with the force that controls the entire universe, a force don Juan called "intent," and everything can be bent to our will and even more channels can be opened, assuming we remember to keep practicing the rituals that save our energy.
This one realization alone was enough to inspire me to dedicate my autobiography "To Carlos, with gratitude."
Maxwell Austin van Lack, Author of The Vortex: A True Story of Passion and Karma
Forget your self-help books: try this guide to business survival.......2007-05-10
I am very happy to write a short review of this fabulous book which I hope will peak the interest of potential readers.
"The Fire From Within" has a timeless quality like other great works. Although much controversy surrounded Castenada as an Academic who became a student to don Juan Matus to learn the way of the Toltec seers, you cannot criticize Castenada's priceless images of the interactions between him and his benefactors.
As if the entertainment value is not enough, many of the "principles" within don Juan's teachings have high application in the corporate world and for personal success - believe it or not.
You can't discover this unless you read Castenada for yourself, but it should be clear that developing Unbending Intent; becoming Impeccable and gaining control over our Internal Dialogue and Sobriety can have powerful meaning to anyone hoping to focus their lives in a world where good leadership is hard to find and victims are too many.
I would leave my comments at this except for the debate about whether Castenda's tales are fiction or not. I don't think that it matters. Maybe it is just an extreme coincidence that Castenada's ideas can blossom into usefulness. Take the concept of Self Importance, for example. Anyone in America's corporate workplace has seen individuals self-destruct as a result of an over-inflated ego. How about Petty Tyrants? Isn't there always someone in the company who uses their position to torment weaker members of a group?
And what about the achievers who really pull it off? Can you see how their Unbending Intent, Impeccability and Sobriety, were big factors in their success? Of course!
Roy Cuzner, WorldsTallestAgent, Arizona
Impeccability and the Art of Facing Infinity..........2007-05-01
Castenda gives hints and clues toward and ancient philosophy. Specifically he deal's with "Petty Tyrants" - those who use their position and abilities to enslave or torment others - and teaches the reader the art of facing them without flinching.
It is thought, that if one can do this successfully, repeatedly, he can face anything the universe can throw at him. This is the subtle art of becoming Impeccable.
Also reccomended in the superhero 101 collection is Bouris Mouravieff's Gnosis I, Ouspensky's In Search of the Miraculous, and everything by Georges Gurdjieff.
Fight the Future, Save the World.
Average customer rating:
- Love Cather as I love Cormac McCarthy: time amd place
- Sustaining Life
- Simple, graceful, magnificent
- When Priests Were Revered, Not Reviled [61][89][T]
- Enduring Tale of Faith and the Frontier
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Death Comes for the Archbishop (Vintage Classics)
Willa Cather
Manufacturer: Vintage
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ASIN: 0679728899
Release Date: 1990-06-16 |
Book Description
Willa Cather's best known novel; a narrative that recounts a life lived simply in the silence of the southwestern desert.
Download Description
Bishop Jean Latour and Father Joseph Vaillant are French priests who are sent to the American Southwest region to restructure New Mexico's Catholic diocese. They have been friends since their childhood in France and their mission includes the correction of backsliding priests and the restoration of the Catholic culture. Themes of Indian relations, slavery, heresy, insubordinate clerical conduct, and reclusiveness are presented for Latour's and Vaillant's examination. Latour is dignified and reflective while Vaillant is forthright and optimistic; together they're able to appreciate a simple life in the southwestern desert which has become an oasis of civilization. Latour's commitment to erect a cathedral in the wilderness is realized after nearly forty years of good works in these reverential surroundings. His devotion to his assignment and the wisdom he secures from his inner conflicts are the qualities that sustain him even while his youth drains away. Cather beautifully and powerfully portrays the harmony that results from steadfast purpose. Please Note: This book has been reformatted to be easy to read in true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher. The Microsoft eBook has a contents page linked to the chapter headings for easy navigation. The Adobe eBook has bookmarks at chapter headings and is printable up to two full copies per year. Both versions are text searchable.
Customer Reviews:
Love Cather as I love Cormac McCarthy: time amd place.......2007-09-17
Cormac McCarthy and Willa Cather are two of my favorite authors. Both, to me, tell great stories and develop time and setting in a remarkable way. McCarthy writes about the arid Southwest, and I am familiar with Cather's autobiographical Nebraska novels. Clean, spare, descriptive writing. I like that. I have just read Death Comes to the Archbishop. Just two years ago I spent one month camping with my daughter on the Colorado Plateau. My daughter who grew up in Switzerland had never seen the Southwest. By sheer coincidence we visited much of the places mentioned in the novel. We visited the town Zuni which is just within New Mexico at the Arizona line, most of the Navajo reservation and some of the Hopi reservation, which is ensconced within the Navaho reservation in Northeast Arizona. We peered into the Canyon de Chelly also in Northeast Arizona. I applaud Cather for giving flesh and history to this part of the world. First off, how much do any of us know about the non-"American" history of the Western States? Her description of the impoverished yet devout Mexican's of the mid-1800s is remarkable. To me she captures the awesome beauty and likewise danger of the geographical, arid place: the danger being at times too much and more often too little water. This Cather novel might be too much for high school reading, as the time and place is perhaps somewhat obscure and the pace and nonlinear narrative is not what younger people are familiar with. It is not my favorite Cather novel, yet, but it is a part of the body of work of one of my favorite authors.
Sustaining Life.......2007-09-09
Willa Cather was fascinated with the role that the Catholic church played in the shaping of America, especially among the western settlers and Indians. She drew upon real-life missionary priests for "Death Comes for the Archbishop", a book that is more a series of vignettes than a novel. The religious lives of the two priests, Jean Marie Latour and Joseph Vaillant, are the centerpoint of a narrative that revolves around the land and the cultures of the native tribes.
Both priests from France, Latour and Vaillant are sent to New Mexico to build up the church and to rein in priests who have abused their privilege. Both men are paragons of virtue, while distinctly different in personality and the way they reach out to the native population. Among their many years in the American southwest they must endure the hardships of life that the climate demands, and find a way to respect the Indian traditions while bringing Christianity to the people. Along the way their lives are enriched by the throngs of colorful people they meet (including Kit Carson) and the miraculous stories of faith and survival in that primitive land.
"Death Comes for the Archbishop" is relatively fast-paced, although a little choppy. Cather moves from one account to another with little transition between them. The title is a bit misleading, setting a tone of impending doom that is not present in the book. Through these stories, however; one gains insight into the trying lives of two priests who were following their purpose to serve God. It is a remarkable portrait of faith and endurance, tested time and again only to always make it through the fire.
Simple, graceful, magnificent.......2007-06-22
From the opening pages in Rome, to the closing chapter in New Mexico, this is a novel about how time and place mold us, and how we, in turn, with dedication and love, can mold a place ourselves. It is a rare novel that never draws attention to itself, but meanders with the finality of a river running to a deep water ocean. Omnia mutantar nihil interit as they say. By the time you reach the final pages you'll be able to look back on the life of the Bishop with a clearer understanding of what it means to dedicate one's life to a single moral purpose and how to love a people and a place without judgement, but with hope and discipline.
When Priests Were Revered, Not Reviled [61][89][T].......2007-06-15
Willa Cather was born in 1873, and the majority of the adventures of this book would coincide with the pioneering peers of her parents. The protagonist of this book is French born and American bound priest/Bishop: Father Latour whose adventures occur from the middle 19th century to 1888.
The priesthood was relished and loved in those days. Latour is a calming and placable fellow. He is honest as the day is long. He is, unlike others around him, celibate and obedient to the church - whether its laws be appropriate or not.
The amount of traveling on mules, the hard adventures to other civilizations and cultures, and the torrid natural elements fighting the priests are seemingly insurmountable. But, the priest, who becomes a bishop who later becomes an archbishop, lasts like the Energizer Bunny. He keeps moving, well beyond his retirement years. Having traveled to and fro by the least rapid of transportation modes.
Latour may be outdone by comrade Joseph Valliant - who is called Father Joseph or Father Vaillant in the book. That man, small in size and thin as a rail, never stays put. On order by his comrade, he ventures about in nomadic style preaching to the Indians and Mexicans, delivering sacrament and church baptism and other rites to better their souls. And, in certain passages, the intellectual Latour - who sees Valliant as his closest and best friend - acknowledges his friend's superior constitution and abilities. Each has a strength and weakness. But, overall, the Bishop sees Vaillant as the superior man of the cloth.
I admit this book impressed me in that there is little discussion of women. Instead, it is a tale. A greatly told tale. Of men in a man's world. And, all written by a woman. The ability to cross gender lines always impresses me - like Arthur Golden's "Memoirs of a Geisha", Iris Murdoch's "Under the Net", or even Alexander McCall Smith's "Ladies' Detective Agency" series.
This was one of those books assigned to my parents as required reading. And, I am sure it was read, but with some disrespect to the teacher who made the assignment. Even though Kit Carson is referred to in the book, there is nothing exciting about what he does within the pages to lure the attention of young boys.
Although it is about priests in the virginal new land, this book is without obfuscation, without much symbolism, without most of literature's cute tools. This is a tale, this is allegory, this is fine story telling. Something which was more common in the time that this book was written and something which is unfortunately becoming less common today.
Enduring Tale of Faith and the Frontier.......2007-03-22
Willa Cather's self-described narrative, "Death Comes for the Archbishop" tells the story of the Southwestern U.S. at the middle of the 19th century, and the epic story of two Catholic priests who transformed it. Cather changes style from a traditional novel and tells her story in a detached, biographical manner, yet she manages to capture the aura and beauty of the Southwest and its people.
At the onset of the novel, a French priest is wandering through the desert, lost and dying of thirst. Yet, a "miracle" happens, as he finds a hidden village with an underground water supply and is saved. Although this may be the first miracle for Jean Latour, his life is full of small miracles which help to transform the native Indians and Mexicans into devout Catholics. Indeed, the miracles that Cather describes through a rich tapestry of legends and stories, are those which happen to the poorest and most destitute in the unforgiving desert. Cather seems to imply that one need not be rich and powerful to be a recipient of one of God's countless miracles.
When Latour first arrives in New Mexico in 1850, the Mexicans and Indian converts have corrupted the Catholic teachings, although they are devout. Indeed, hundreds of years have passed since they've had the rigid conformity of the Catholic church, as the priests currently in place are corrupt and sin-ridden. However, though they may not follow strict Catholic doctrine, the Mexicans are devout and ready to be molded by the right priest. It is Valliant and Latour who prove to be the "shepherds" to these "lost sheep" of God.
Throughout the novel, Jean Latour, who eventually becomes an archbishop, is compared with Joseph Valliant, Latour's colleague and (very) close friend. While Latour is stoic and introverted, Valliant is outgoing and confrontational. In fact, Latour believes that Valliant is the better priest, for despite his ailing health, Valliant braves the elements and brings the desert's inhabitants back to God. And even though he may change dioceses often, he is always up to the challenge, even in the outlaw west of Gold rush Colorado in the 1850s and 1860s. Although they may have different styles, both Latour and Valliant prove irreplaceable as their valiant efforts transform the Southwest into a hotbed of Catholic fervor.
Cather's vivid descriptions of the landscape help to bring this novel to life. Sweeping panoramas and mysterious canyons are brought forth in descriptive, imaginative language. The characters are given extra dimension through past antidotes and tales which give them a more personal, humanistic character. Although this may not quite be Cather's best novel, it is still a captivating tale and should not be missed.
Book Description
For us to perceive any of the worlds that exist beside our own, not only do we have to covet them but we need to have sufficient energy to seize them. In this revolutionary book, Carlos Castaneda offers readers the key to this energetic conditioning for the first time, revealing a series of body positions and physical movements that enabled various sorcerers, and their apprentices, to navigate their own sorceric journeys. By sharing this centuries-old wisdom, Carlos Castaneda makes it possible for readers to travel to some of these other realms, which are as real, unique, absolute, and engulfing as our own world. Castaneda offers both a philosophical history of magical passes and an innovative, easy-to-understand instructional format, complete with more than 450 computer-generated illustrations. Written with humor, clarity, and authority, Magical Passes further illuminates the true meaning of sorcery and magic.
Customer Reviews:
the cubic centimeter of luck.......2007-09-10
This is really the question of your personal cubic centimeter of luck - if you will use it or you will hesitate and the moment is over.
If you have read the other books of Carlos Castaneda then you know what it is about, but in the other books there were never mentioned the Magical Passes. This is something that is available thorough this book and dvd-s but mostly thorough the Cleargreen workshops.
The Passes really works but there is no way to write what it means. This is something you should try and then decide whether you want to know about it or not:)
The Passes works for everybody but may not suit to everybody.
At least you can take this book and try at home before to go to seminar. What is also important that in the book is included explanatory materials which are not in the other books.
Take your chance;)
To Carlos, with gratitude.......2007-06-22
Carlos Castaneda was one of the most controversial writers of the twentieth century. Some in academia branded him a fraud for claiming his stories were biographical rather than fiction, while lauding him as a great novelist for exposing a mass audience to otherwise inaccessible philosophical abstractions they claimed were largely plagiarized. Each of his works is a piece of a larger puzzle, which makes it impossible to critique any one book without addressing the larger context into which it fits.
His first two books, "Teachings of Don Juan" and "A Separate Reality" describe experiences induced by ingesting psychotropic hallucinogenics prepared by a Yaqui Indian shaman from Sonora, Mexico he called don Juan Matus, and accounted for his becoming a guru to a generation seeking short cuts to spiritual enlightenment, as well as his lifelong interest in the relationship between perception and reality, a theme now explored in many popular books on consciousness and quantum physics. Unfortunately, these books remain his best selling works, in spite of Castaneda refuting their importance in his later works. Readers would be best served to skip these and avoid the risk of being turned off to Castaneda and missing the more stimulating works that followed.
These included Journey to Ixtlan, Tales of Power, Second Ring of Power, Eagles Gift, Fire From Within, Power of Silence, Art of Dreaming and Active Side of Infinity. In Ixtlan Castaneda admits to grossly over-estimating the value of his early drug experiences, causing him to overlook the more profound teachings of don Juan which became the focus of his future writings. What emerges through the books that followed is a spellbinding exploration of a spiritual path and discipline reputed to date back to the Pre-Colombian Toltec sorcerers of Latin America.
By the 1990's Castaneda's writings were becoming fewer and farther between. It seemed he was finally running out of tales to share with us. As we learn in "Sorcerer's Apprentice," Amy Wallace's scathing expose of her intimate relationship with Castaneda from 1991 until his death in 1998, this was the period when Castaneda opted to exploit his literary fame by launching training seminars called Tensegrity, an architectural term borrowed from Bucky Fuller. Castaneda's rendition of Tensegrity turned out to be a set of ritualistic physical exercises, allegedly called Magical Passes by don Juan, whose purpose was to enable practitioners to collect and store the energy necessary to shift their awareness into the altered states sought by sorcerers. Somewhat suspiciously, the term Magical Passes had never appeared in any of Castaneda's earlier works. Still, Castaneda's final book, an illustrated Tensegrity manual entitled "Magical Passes" was released in 1998, presumably for all of us who couldn't afford to attend his high priced seminars.
Many have asked why I put any stock whatsoever in Castaneda. A story from my autobiography, "The Vortex" may shed some light. A year before Castaneda published his first book I had an experience that would remain a mystery until Castaneda published "Power of Silence" twenty years later.
For a brief time, in my youth, I became a practicing Muslim, meticulously performing the complex prayer ritual five times a day. Then one night, sitting in my car, frustrated and complaining at not being able to find the address of my next sales appointment, something inside me snapped. It was as if some part of me had disconnected from my body and assumed control, lecturing me about my lack of discipline. A profound calm settled over me, rendering me simultaneously detached and engaged. For two days my sales figures soared. It was as if no one could say no to me. On the evening of the second day I decided to put my new state of being to the acid test by visiting my parents. Their behavior was so uncharacteristically supportive I hardly recognized them. It was enough to convince me that I was now living in an altered reality. But by the following morning I had returned to "normal." So distracting had this event been that I completely forgot to perform my Muslim prayers, and in fact, never did so again.
Twenty years later, in a chapter of "Power of Silence" entitled "Place of No Pity" Castaneda describes a very similar experience. In the aftermath of the event don Juan explains that humans are like televisions stuck on a channel called "self-preoccupation," lacking the energy to tune into any of the vast array of other channels available to us. To change channels, he explains, we first need to accumulate energy, by practicing rituals that are deliberate, precise and repetitious. Do this long enough and eventually our stored energy precipitates a shift to a channel where self-importance and self pity become impossible. Once this happens we connect with the force that controls the entire universe, a force don Juan called "intent," and everything can be bent to our will and even more channels can be opened, assuming we remember to keep practicing the rituals that save our energy.
Needless to say, with such a dramatic experience behind me using a ritual of my own choosing I couldn't wait to try out the exercises found in "Magical Passes" as soon as it was released. Within a matter of weeks, however, I concluded that the Passes produced nothing even vaguely similar to what I had experienced decades earlier. Maybe it was just me. Then again, maybe Castaneda knew enough to lay out the general theory as he had done so well in "Power of Silence" but was only grasping at straws when it came to prescribing actual procedures. We'll never know.
And although I cannot in good faith recommend "Magical Passes," the countless clues I managed to uncover in his writings were more than enough to inspire me to dedicate my own autobiography "To Carlos, with gratitude."
Maxwell Austin van Lack, Author of The Vortex: A True Story of Passion and Karma
The Path Impossible to Follow with Magical Passes.......2006-05-01
Very simple. The path of the warrior-seer is impossible to follow without Magical Passes. Now, must these passes come from this book? Not necessarily. Those called to the path, there to acquiesce to the spirit, are often given passes in dreams. However, this book details the basic passes; and once they are begun in a routine of practice, very often more dreams follow detailing extra moves and even new passes not mentioned in the book.
The Practical Wisdom of the Shamans of Ancient Mexico.......2006-03-16
Being a great fan of Carlos Castaneda and the teachings of don Juan, I obviously enjoyed this book. I was intrigued to note the similarities between the physical exercises recommended by the Shamans of Ancient Mexico and those recommended by proponents of Yoga and the Martial Arts; people from widely disparate lineages, and yet all have discovered the power and benefit that can be derived from a very similar style of physical exercise and breathing technique.
For me though, I would suggest that one should have read some of the other works of Carlos Castaneda before the power of this book can be fully appreciated.
Castaneda is a tricky subject.......2004-12-18
This book is basically another approach to the same things Tai Chi and Yoga have already been doing, and in fact the movements are essentially the same most of the time.
Well, by now, we should all be aware that Carlos Castaneda is a creative individual who created his world of Don Juan and the Mexican Shamans himself, and not the esoteric initiate of any super sacred line. This doesnt make the practices he describes less valid. If his words speak to you in a way the other materials did not, then he has succeeded as an author. If he has opened your eyes to a wider world, he has done his job. His language is a fair amount more engaging and open than the more "serious" materials can be, so it is an excellent book for your spiritually minded High Schooler, or new age beginner.
Average customer rating:
- Power of silence and power of intention
- To Carlos, with gratitude
- Power of Silence
- Excellent and Informative
- A Spritual Journey
|
Power of Silence
Carlos Castaneda
Manufacturer: Washington Square Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 067173248X |
Book Description
Millions of readers worldwide have treasured the visionary brilliance of Carlos Castaneda, who first explore the world of the Yaqui Indian sorcerer in The Teachings of don Juan. Now, at last, don Juan returns in The Power of Silence -- wise, infuriating, capable or working miracles and playing practical jokes, but always seeking the wisdom of the warrior.
The Power of Silence is Castaneda's most astonishing book to date -- a brilliant flash of knowledge that illuminates the far reaches of the human mind. Through don Juan's mesmerizing stories, the true meaning of sorcery and magic is finally revealed. Honed in the desert of Sonora, the visions of don Juan give us the vital secrets of belief and self-realization that are transcendental and valid for us all. It is Castaneda's unique genius to show us that all wisdom, strength, and power lie within ourselves -- unleashed with marvelous energy and imaginative force in the teachings of don Juan -- and in the writings of his famous pupil, Carlos Castaneda
Customer Reviews:
Power of silence and power of intention.......2007-09-03
I came to this Castaneda book upon its mention in Wayne Dyer's "The Power of Intention." Reading them together is a unique experience, and one I suggest.
As much as "Silence" is about the typical themes as other reviewers have pointed out, the book has a great deal to say about the power of intention. Cultivating full, unemotional intention ("ruthlessness") causes powerful ability to harness perception. Weak, conflicted intention causes one to be acted upon. There is much more to it, of course, and Castaneda explains in dense detail. You'll find yourself rereading passages at times in order to follow--but the effort is worthwhile.
The book was written 30 years ago, but is an undated, forceful read. If you have any bent toward spirituality, I'd recommend this book to you.
To Carlos, with gratitude.......2007-06-22
Carlos Castaneda was one of the most controversial writers of the twentieth century. Some in academia branded him a fraud for claiming his stories were biographical rather than fiction, while lauding him as a great novelist for exposing a mass audience to otherwise inaccessible philosophical abstractions they claimed were largely plagiarized. Each of his works is a piece of a larger puzzle, which makes it impossible to critique any one book without addressing the larger context into which it fits.
His first two books, "Teachings of Don Juan" and "A Separate Reality" describe experiences induced by ingesting psychotropic hallucinogenics prepared by a Yaqui Indian shaman from Sonora, Mexico he called don Juan Matus, and accounted for his becoming a guru to a generation seeking short cuts to spiritual enlightenment, as well as his lifelong interest in the relationship between perception and reality, a theme now explored in many popular books on consciousness and quantum physics. Unfortunately, these books remain his best selling works, in spite of Castaneda refuting their importance in his later works. Readers would be best served to skip these and avoid the risk of being turned off to Castaneda and missing the more stimulating works that followed.
His third and fourth works were "Journey to Ixtlan" and "Tales of Power." In Ixtlan he admits to over-estimating the value of his drug experiences, which caused him to overlook the more profound teachings of don Juan which became the focus of future writings. What emerges is a spiritual discipline dating back to the Pre-Colombian Toltec sorcerers of Latin America, culminating with don Juan's departure from our world, effectively ending Castaneda's direct affiliation.
In his fifth and sixth works "Second Ring of Power" and "Eagles Gift" Castaneda suffers strange flashbacks of what seem to be memory fragments of events he is unable to fit into any logical time sequence. In his seventh and eighth works, "Fire From Within" and "Power of Silence," Castaneda succeeds in reconstructing his lost memories, which derive from teachings previously administered by don Juan while Castaneda was in a "heightened" state of awareness.
In books nine and ten, "Art of Dreaming" and "Active Side of Infinity," Castaneda focuses on what he describes as inorganic predators from another dimension, some having the power to imprison humanity in "ordinary reality" so they can feed on the dark emotional energies we produce when succumbing to the negative thoughts they insert into our minds.
In later years several seemingly substantiating works appeared by two of Castaneda's female apprentices, Taisha Abelar and Florinda Donner-Grau. In addition, two scathing exposés were also published by two of his ex-wives. The first, "Magical Journey with Carlos Castaneda" by first wife, Margaret Runyon, offers little corroboration, since her marriage pre-dates the time when the bulk of Castaneda's adventures were claimed to have occurred. While steadfast that Castaneda was a sorcerer, she doubts the existence of don Juan, even claiming authorship of many of the concepts Castaneda ascribed to him.
The second, and more credible work, is "Sorcerer's Apprentice," by well-known writer Amy Wallace, daughter of the late best selling novelist Irving Wallace. Here again, we find little corroboration since the time of the events she describes is well after the period when Castaneda's relationship with don Juan is alleged to occur. What the book does provide is a troubling look inside Castaneda's final years, a picture of descent into what seems sexual addiction and possibly madness, leaving one to wonder if Castaneda was just one cup of cool-aid short of a Jonestown.
Many have asked why I put any stock whatsoever in Castaneda. A story from my autobiography, "The Vortex" may shed some light. A year before Castaneda published his first book I had an experience that would remain a mystery until Castaneda published "Power of Silence" twenty years later.
For a brief time, in my youth, I became a practicing Muslim, meticulously performing the complex prayer ritual five times a day. Then one night, sitting in my car, frustrated and complaining at not being able to find the address of my next sales appointment, something inside me snapped. It was as if some part of me had disconnected from my body and assumed control, lecturing me about my lack of discipline. A profound calm settled over me, rendering me simultaneously detached and engaged. For two days my sales figures soared. It was as if no one could say no to me. On the evening of the second day I decided to put my new state of being to the acid test by visiting my parents. Their behavior was so uncharacteristically supportive I hardly recognized them. It was enough to convince me that I was now living in an altered reality. But by the following morning I had returned to "normal." So distracting had this event been that I completely forgot to perform my Muslim prayers, and in fact, never did so again.
Twenty years later, in a chapter of "Power of Silence" entitled "Place of No Pity" Castaneda describes a very similar experience. In the aftermath of the event don Juan explains that humans are like televisions stuck on a channel called "self-preoccupation," lacking the energy to tune into any of the vast array of other channels available to us. To change channels, he explains, we first need to accumulate energy, by practicing rituals that are deliberate, precise and repetitious. Do this long enough and eventually our stored energy precipitates a shift to a channel where self-importance and self pity become impossible. Once this happens we connect with the force that controls the entire universe, a force don Juan called "intent," and everything can be bent to our will and even more channels can be opened, assuming we remember to keep practicing the rituals that save our energy.
This one realization alone was enough to inspire me to dedicate my autobiography "To Carlos, with gratitude."
Maxwell Austin van Lack, Author of The Vortex: A True Story of Passion and Karma
Power of Silence.......2007-04-05
Very "heady" book but what book by Carlos isn't. I would start with "The Teachings of Don Juan; A Yaqui Way of Knowledge ". Be prepared for confusion, doubt and a little fear but these books are great. I began reading them when I was 20. I still love them at 54. They all can be read over and over again.
Excellent and Informative.......2005-12-15
Definitely a wonderful book. For those following the teachings of the other books, this book provides more useful information. The path that Castaneda elucidated is fraught with controvery and extreme views (read the other reviews). I found it useful to read and judge for myself.
What Castaneda wrote about is not fiction however it is a difficult path that very few ever advance upon, thus the angry reviews of those calling Castaneda a fraud due to their own failure. Its also a path that those given to fantasy and believing in their own 'specialness' jump on and thus follow blindly with no lasting gains, making up their experience as they go and making sure others hear about it.
Definitely not a path for everyone but certainly open to sober verification. Also a great book for those looking for a well written and gripping book.
I believe Castaneda's genius as well as his contribution to mankind is yet to be fully appreciated. I am grateful for the gift of his writings and wisdom.
A Spritual Journey.......2005-08-13
Like all of Castaneda's books, "Power of Silence" grips you from the start, and before you know it you've finished the book. I found this one to be interesting because Don Juan talks about his past. He tells Castaneda about how he got started in sorcery, and even gives details about his benefactors past. Crucial details on the path of knowledge.
Amazon.com
If you've ever wondered what crashed into the desert near Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947, this book will give you some startling answers. While the first version was published in hardcover in 1997, Corso provides new evidence for the presence of alien intruders in this pocket paperback edition. Whether or not you believe his contention, the sheer weight of governmental sources and documentation presented by the former Army intelligence officer is not easily dismissed. Once you understand the historical context (in the midst of the Cold War soon after World War II, with Orson Welles having recently inspired panic in citizens with his fictional War of the Worlds radio broadcast), the military deciding to cover up a real-life alien ship becomes more credible. Corso also gives a convincing explanation of why reports were so multi-various and conflicting. Even if you believe the book is utter fiction, it's still a compelling read. --Randall Cohan
Book Description
A landmark expose firmly grounded in fact, The Day After Roswell ends the decades-old controversy surrounding the mysterious crash of an unidentified aircraft at Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947. Backed by documents newly declassified through the Freedom of Information Act, Colonel Philip J. Corso (Ret.), a member of President Eisenhower's National Security Council and former head of the Foreign Technology Desk at the U.S. Army's Research & Development department, has come forward to reveal his personal stewardship of alien artifacts from the Roswell crash. He tells us how he spearheaded the Army's reverse-engineering project that led to today's:
- Integrated circuit chips
- Fiber optics
- Lasers
- Super-tenacity fibers
and "seeded" the Roswell alien technology to giants of American industry.
Laying bare the U.S. government's shocking role in the Roswell incident -- what was found, the cover-up, and how they used alien artifacts to change the course of twentieth-century history -- The Day After Roswell is an extraordinary memoir that not only forces us to reconsider the past, but also our role in the universe.
Download Description
A landmark expose firmly grounded in fact, The Day After Roswell puts a fifty-year-old controversy to rest. Since 1947, the mysterious crash of an unidentified aircraft at Roswell, New Mexico, has fueled a firestorm of speculation and controversy with no conclusive evidence of its extraterrestrial origin - until now. Colonel Philip J. Corso (Ret.), a member of President Eisenhower's National Security Council and former head of the Foreign Technology Desk at the U.S. Army's Research & Development department, has come forward to tell the whole explosive story. Backed by documents newly declassified through the Freedom of Information Act, Colonel Corso reveals for the first time his personal stewardship of alien artifacts from the crash, and discloses the U.S. government's astonishing role in the Roswell incident: what was found, the cover-up, and how these alien artifacts changed the course of twentieth-century history.
Customer Reviews:
Adolescent fantasy that would only fool the educationally-challenged.......2007-10-04
I wouldn't waste a lot of time on this run-of-the-mill alien fantasy, since anyone with a basic familiarity with the history of science will recognize the howling inconsistencies in Corso's claims that he "inserted" advanced alien technology into the R&D mainstream .. and nobody noticed, anywhere. Since the long & tedious history of microchip technology, lasers, masers, fiberoptics, and the rest of Corso's "alien" technology is well-documented in thousands of places, for anyone to study if they wish, this amateurish little book will only fool the scientifically illiterate and the conspiracy groupies who lack the .perseverance to actually take science courses. Unfortunately, there are a lot of those out there ....
An internet search will also reveal Corso's other wild-eyed claims, such as his claims to have met and telepathically communicated with aliens in the desert, or his claims to have seen -- and touched -- flying saucers that appear and disappear magically. Corso's fans don't like to talk about those interviews, but a rational person will consider them along with Corso's other claims.
His purported military experiences don't survive the smell test well, either, for anyone with a fair amount of military experience, especially in the intel or R&D fields. Certainly he held some responsible positions, as many majors and lieutenant colonels, but that doesn't prevent any individual from becoming a fruitcake later in life, or just manufacturing "experiences" to make up for his relative obscurity after he left the military. Some of his claims -- for example, that his foreign technology office was "dissolved" when he & Trudeau left -- are just silly. There were foreign technology offices that exploited captured materiel long after he left, notably at Wright-Pat AFB and other less-known places. I personally sent materiel there as recently as the 80s. I probably don't need to add that the number of people involved in these efforts over the years make the likelihood of Corso's tales nearly zero. Hundreds, probably thousands, of people would have first-hand knowledge of all the "alien" technology, and you can guess the likelihood of this "secret" being kept this long, by that many...not even counting Corso's claims that many other countries & governments had similar "Roswell-type" recoveries and exploitation programs.
One can't help feeling sorry for poor Corso, and wondering just how bleak his later years must have become for him to have found this Great Conspiracy necessary to his emotional well-being. You also can't help liking the guy, and wishing he had found more satisfaction in the really important and valuable work he REALLY did. I salute his service ... but I don't believe a bit of his UFO pipedreams.
Not an interesting read.......2007-09-26
I was so looking forward to this book, but never made it completely though the book. There is so much in the book that is not related to the subject. A lot of background of the author and what he was doing at the time, or what the military or political situation was at the time. I found it boring. A male might find it more interesting, because war stuff is a subject they like.
Cosmic Ego At-Large.......2007-08-07
wow. A new history of the world based on Philip Corso. Just happens to be at the right place at the right time to pry open a crate that contains the remains of an ET? Claims that basically nothing was accomplished with the remnants of a recovered space craft held by the USAF until he was given the "nut file" some 10 years after the crash at Roswell. Only then were scientists and industry leaders organized in a meaningful manner. Wow. Claims that the reason why the USA and USSR possessed 10 times the number of nuclear weapons to destroy the earth was to threaten aliens from thinking they could take over a portion of the planet. And this was a mutually agreed upon decision by the countries. Wow. No discussion of the nuclear fallout that would basically contaminate the entire planet from such a massive detonation?? Claims that he was the real protagonist is pushing JFK to act forcefully against the Soviets in Cuba through a planned leak in the Boston Globe while JFK was in Massachusetts. Wow. Admits that ET's have the technology to travel 4000+ miles per hour in spacecrafts that can stop immediately, move to the front and back of all earthly crafts but somehow now we are on "equal footing" with them because we have military satelites that can destroy their space vehicles, just because Corso says so!! Explain to me how a satelite can somehow outmanuever a craft that can do what Corso and military "experts" claim the UFO's can accomplish?? Wouldn't ALL satelites be super easy targets for such interplanetary space vehicles based on the capabilities that Corso himself describes???? Here is a man who had decided to risk reputation, pension, and life to make a "full disclosure" but didn't take the time to copy one single photo of an ET?? Not one single copy photo of a TOP TOP SECRET REPORT of a EBE or UFO with all the necessary markings of an official military document to corroborate EVEN a part of his incredible claims??? All the while claiming that he had unlimited access to such things for years!!! What did he have to lose by obtaining something, anything for the public to trust him. Instead, he provides us with some sort of intelligence estimate about the possibility of creating a moon based facility. What is so amazing about that considering the fact that we were putting men on the moon????? I can go on and on. Mr. Corso's ego is the real UFO in this story.
A highly credible, retired government official's personal testimony.......2007-08-05
You might have read any of the multitude of books and seen any of the dozens of cable TV specials perporting to present you with the most accurate account of the July 1947 events in New Mexico. Virtually all of them have been written and/or produced by a variety of persons who approached the subject from an outside investigator's point of view.
But that is exactly what makes this amazing book so unique. Indeed, it was written by a man so highly credible as a person of impeccable standing and as one of those who would doubtlessly know the facts behind the legend, that those who remain adamantly fantatical in their disbelief of the events described in great detail herein after reading this man's testimony are left to comfort themselves with the imagined thought that he must surely have been only joking.
Starts off great, then rambles off into............2007-03-06
First of all, let me state, "I belive...in UFOs and alien beings". That being said, I greatly enjoyed the first part of Corso's book; but was greatly disappointed and bored with the second half of the book. The first half of the book details the crash of the UFO at Roswell - the story of the extraterrestials that were found at the site; the autopsies of the beings; how the craft supposedly worked; the debris found at the site. All great reading for the first third/half of the book. He writes very convincingly and well that a craft really did crash. Then, the book takes a turn to describe how much of our technology was developed in part from debris found at the crash site. I'm not so sure about that.
He describes how much of the weapons we have today (anti-missile missles, Star Wars, the circuit chip, for example) were developed by our scientists, and the armed forces based directly from alien technology. But, he also states, that we were already working on some of these items when the craft was found. Corso writes about 20 pages each to describe these developments (therefore, about 120 extra pages!). I found myself wondering what all this has to do with an alien crash at Roswell? He talks about how General MacArthur wanted to develop a moon base for the Army to protect the US against the Russians. Really? It never happened so why spend so much time writing about it. In all the books I've read about MacArthur, I never read that!
I think the only part of Corso's book that made sense was his description of the laser and its use by the aliens regarding cattle mutilation. I have always believed that and his story made sense to me. But, to say that all of the previously described technology was finally developed as preventive weaponry against an alien attack? Hardly.
Unfortunately, it was Corso's rambling about the political scenes and the infighting to get these weapons developed that lost me. I kept thinking, who cares about Nikola Tesla' youth, his writings and experiments; who cares about the development of Star Wars. I thought this book was about Roswell!
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