Product Description
For the first time in trade paperback, the critically acclaimed counterculture manifesto by the wildly popular McKenna. "Deserves to be a modern classic on mind-altering drugs and hallucinogens."--The Washington Post. Photos and illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (59)

Why You Should Take This Seriously: A Message To All The Haters

The following review has special application to those who would seek to dismiss this book out-of-hand once they get an inkling of the controversial positions it describes.My questions and comments to these people are as follows:

Have you read it?Have you read Eisler's "The Chalice And The Blade", the anthropological text upon which McKenna bases much of his argument?Lastly, and most importantly, have you experienced psilocybin (the 5 dried gram dosage recommended by the author)?Have you ever tried to induce a mystical experience with the use of this sacred medicine?If not, then what makes you think you have a leg to stand on?Apparently, this is an experience which you won't even allow to be included in your model of the world.And, yet, did you happen to notice the cultural revolution in civil rights and anti-war sentiment which occurred during America's brief exposure to psychedelics?

Are you at all familiar with shamanism, the oldest form of spiritual practice on the planet?Have you researched the various indigenous societies around the world which have been safely utilizing plant allies for centuries, if not millenia?Are you familiar with their peaceful way of life?They work an average of sixteen hours a day -- they aren't slaves to a fanatical work ethic.They don't promote a way of life which entails the massive waste of human and environmental resources, and the accumulation of untold tons of junk.They never posed a threat to the survival of all animal life on this planet, as we're doing now.They don't live superficial, unreflective, spiritually-bankrupt lives, as the vast majority of Americans do.They wouldn't know the meaning of a "post-modern existential crisis".These people never fell from grace.They're dancing in the Garden of Eden as we speak.That doesn't interest you??

Psychedelics may seem to be a fringe issue, existing in the margins of human experience, but in many cultures, and for thousands of years, they are or have been recognized as a central part of how we establish harmonious conditions within ourselves, between each other, and in the natural world. "It is no measure of health, to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society." (~ Jiddu Krishnamurti)

McKenna traces the history of man from a unique perspective, drawing attention to a previously neglected, yet formidable, dimension of human experience; namely, our relation to the plant kingdom.He illustrates, with the exactness and discipline of a true scholar, how we have co-evolved with certain plant species, and how human consciousness has (and, consequently, how human events have) shifted in relation to the chemicals we have sanctioned.The abiding interest of mankind in experiencing novel tastes and states of consciousness is, for McKenna, something we need to acknowledge and come to terms with, if we are to reach the next stage of evolution.Just as sexuality was demonized and repressed during Victorian times, our culture is demonizing and repressing the natural human urge to experiment with, and to expand, uncommon states of consciousness through the ingesting of psychedelic compounds.

As philosopher Alan Watts wrote in his book "The Joyous Cosmology; Adventures in The Chemistry of Consciousness": "There is no difference in principle between sharpening perception with an external instrument, such as a microscope, and sharpening it with an internal instrument such as one of these... If they are an affront to the dignity of the mind, the microscope is an affront to the dignity of the eye and the telephone to the dignity of the ear."

I suggest you look into the recent study conducted by John's Hopkins University, in which psilocybin was administered to subjects who subsequently rated it among the five most significant and transformative experiences of their lives.Rigorous scientific evidence now exists to support the claim that states of awareness induced by psilocybin are indistinguishable from those experienced by the great saints and mystics of all time.I submit to you that there is nothing more humble than a mushroom, and that nothing is more humbling than finding God in a mushroom. "The fool laughs when he hears the way. If the fool did not laugh, it wouldn't be the way." (~ Lao Tzu) In short, your dismissive scoffing is grossly insufficient to dispute the solid evidence in support of these claims.

McKenna has given us a work, the true importance of which can hardly be overestimated.Like many great visionaries, he did not receive the credit due to him while he was alive.We can only hope that, for the sake of life on this planet, his work will eventually receive the recognition owed to it.Karmically speaking. ;)

Freedom vs. the United States of America
AKA: The Martini Sippers vs. The Marijuana Puffers.
How did that case happen in the land of the free?
It could just as well be argued that our ancient relationship with hallucinogens was the beginning of the end (too much self-reflection, and separation from Gaia existence), but I am with Terrence McKenna (at this point) on the freedom issue (and tax revenue issue). While I have never taken an hallucinogen, it is currently of interest to me (age 50+), hence my reading of this book.
I recommend 'Autism Out Loud' by Anderson.

Food of the Gods
I have listened to several lectures and interviews by and with McKenna but this is the first book by him I have read. With McKenna there are always things I agree with, disagree with, think to myself well maybe and some things I write off as sheer kookery but I always found him and his ideas interesting.

There is a lot I totally or partially disagree with in this. He really pushes his theory that early man injesting Psilocybin mushrooms caused the brain to evolve to a state where man was able to have language, imagination and creativity. I feel like this theory is vaguely possible but extremely sketchy. For one thing I believe the white race is effected differently than non whites by psycheldelics. Plus whites have much more powerful imaginations and the ability to create both in and out of their heads. Before the brainwashed hippy types that read McKennas books start pointing fingers and condemning me for saying this I've read stuff where even these South American Indian shamans that guide white people through Ayhuasca sessions have said they believe that it effects whites differently than other races. I'm also not into how McKenna for a guy that thinks outside the box still blindly accepts the out of Africa theory for the origins of humanity.

McKenna is big on Psilocybin Mushrooms and Ayhuasca/DMT. I have experience with mushrooms but none with Ayhuasca/DMT but I think these can be a gateway but are not the "Tree of Knowledge" as he calls it. He also doesn't promote Cannabis (the true "tree of knowledge" if there is such a thing) enough. He also doesn't condemn hard drugs like Heroin, Cocaine and Methamphetamine enough. I also think he should give a strong caution about heavy psychedelics. People often aren't quite prepared for what they are in for. While I'm not against people using Mushrooms, Peyote or Ayhuasca I also don't think everybody is cut out for using them. These are not casual or party drugs.

All those criticisms aside I did enjoy Food of the Gods. He really nails down the truth on what a brain numbing and dumbing down drug television is and has lots of interesting ideas. Like I said I don't always agree with McKenna but he's always interesting.

Food of the Gods
This book is amazing. It's easy to read and interesting. The anthropological work is easy to understand and seems reliable. It's not hard to put remember the chain of events to re-tell others.

If you are into evolution this is a must!
This book deals with a controversial subject usually left unexplained, the moment primates acquired consciousness and evolved into humans. Remember the movie 2001 Space Odyssey? The moment where the monkeys touch the monolith and jump forward in evolution? Well, this book talks about more or less the same thing, but with mushrooms and other hallucinogens instead of monoliths. I enjoyed every page, and hoped it never end. ... Read more

Product Description
A thoroughly revised edition of the much-sought-after early work by Terence and Dennis McKenna that looks at shamanism, altered states of consciousness, and the organic unity of the King Wen sequence of the I Ching. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Novelty
I find that the lives of the McKenna Brothers is fascinating.The book, the Invisible Landscape, is interesting but lacks flow and better explanation of their notions.For great scientific and philosophic writing, I recommend Guy Murchie's The Seven Mysteries of Life.Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading this book about life, patterns, and novelty.For some reason in our society it is OK to drink whiskey and go to war, but not to take psycho-active plants and alter consciousness the way you might want.Are we a free society?Bill W., co-founder of AA, got depressed and took LSD (it was legal then) with Aldous Huxley.He said it helped him!Pythagorus had a strong belief in numbers and so do the McKenna Brothers.They may have been onto something quite valid about cylces of novel experiences, periods of resonance, and so on.As for Timewave Zero software and the year 2012 being a year to watch, I say, we will see for ourselves soon.It would be difficult to be as dramatic as the year 1945 was when World War II ended and the Atomic Age began.Then again, we are already experiencing ecological and economic disaster now.Read Kevin Phillips on the financial crisis!If you like the subject matter that the Invisible Landscape covers, then buy the book.They quote Whitehead a lot - he was a brilliant thinker.Yes, try this book out, for Gawd's Sakes.

Terence McKenna goes beyond genius
What is truly amazing to me is that Terence McKenna is not more popular than he is. A mind blowing book. Presents a side of Human Culture few realize. Things are not as they seem.

A delight
First of all, both McKennas openly admit that a few of the ideas in this book are slightly outdated.They wrote this when they were very young and inclded many theories they were obviously anxious to test.In my opinion, it does not take anything away from the content.The McKenna brothers are incredible writers and their teamwork is incredible.Dennis's chemical approach to the topic is masterfully blended with Terence's cultural views.

This book goes well beyond recreational use of drugs.This has some very important commentary on the use of our own brains, our evolution, and their relation to spiritual matters.

If you haven't picked it up yet, get a copy of "Food of the Gods" by Terence to go with this.

Three Books In One
I felt when reading this book 14 years ago that it was three books in one: the first comparing shamanism with schizophrenia, the second a chemistry text, and the third a somewhat awkward positioning of a template onto the King Wen sequence of the I Ching. The chemistry stuff was over my head, but I appreciated the fine line drawn between shamanism and schizophrenia. I learned nothing about electronic spin resonance unfortunately despite getting at least a B in high school chemistry.
Having had some struggles with both shamanistic practices and mental illness is part of the daily grind some of us go through and it is the psychiatrist who tries to come up with the magic pills to assist the processes of both.
I have done I Ching divinations in the past using 49 pennies and I am not too sure that we need to look for patterns there. Take it with a grain of salt. Same with any changes in brain chemistry due to what you ingest.

Highly recommended as food for thought!
This book is a difficult read.I felt like it took me awhile to even begin comprehending what the authors were even getting at here.This book is basically a cyberethnopharmacological "totality symbol," built by two brothers feverishly attempting to push the limits of psychedelic description.

For me, the book required supplementation from outside sources to get the most out of it.For instance, the I Ching relationship seems to be a "precursor" to the relatively new field of fractal mathematics.Fractals are often simple, self-referential equations that form structures such as the Koch Snowflake.

I felt the authors' ideas required time, effort and rereads, as the book is not exactly a one night stand.The dense writing is even further complicated when the authors also expect you to be knowledgeable of basic concepts in biology, physics, mathematics, and chemistry.It was sometimes a struggle and often you can't comprehend the ideas "on the spot."They seemed to be pushing the limits of language, mental states, physical states, and with it our traditional boundaries between art and science.Interestingly, the brothers use sound probably as some kind of an enzyme to alter bonding complexes and dramatically alter their brain chemistry.

Haha Are the monkeys headed for the stars?A thought-provoking perspective on evolution!Recommended! ... Read more

Product Description
This mesmerizing, surreal account of the bizarre adventures of Terence McKenna, his brother Dennis, and a small band of their friends, is a wild ride of exotic experience and scientific inquiry. Exploring the Amazon Basin in search of mythical shamanic hallucinogens, they encounter a host of unusual characters -- including a mushroom, a flying saucer, pirate Mantids from outer space, an appearance by James and Nora Joyce in the guise of poultry, and translinguistic matter -- and discover the missing link in the development of human consciousness and language.

Customer Reviews (22)

Wow...
I have to say, I wasn't sure what to expect regarding McKenna's writing talent. However, I was thoroughly impressed...very well-composed and well-written. I pretty much finished the entire book in a single, dreary Saturday afternoon. Very enjoyable!

Cartographer of the Psychedelic & All Its Environs
Travel with McKenna, his brother Dennis, and a motley mix of intrepid twentysomethings (including a psychotic with a pet monkey) into the Amazonian interior in search of fungal enlightenment, UFOs, relief from a mother's death, and butterflies. The prose alone will alter your Alpha waves.I felt as if I'd been to Oz and back.

Good read, you have to be interested in this sort of thing though.
This is another great book from the McKenna's. I wouldn't listen to the people giving this book bad reviews based on things like McKenna's death from brain cancer. Brain cancer is more likely to be caused by food additives like aspartame, high fructose corn syrup, and MSG. The U.S.'s oppressive government has been trying a long time to find legitimate reason to say psychedelics are bad for and the best things that they can come up with are rumors they start that LSD makes your brain bleed on your spine and if you do it seven times your legally insane. Both are completely ridiculous.

They also make the argument that you can go to a Dead show and see all the burnouts and that's all caused by psychedelics. At dead shows however they are burnouts they are not taking mushrooms and ayhuasca in religious shamanic ways. They spending days at a time strung out on psychedelics, uppers, downers, screamers, and laughers. More like Hunter S. Thompson in Fear and Loathing. Not nearly the type of use McKenna tries to promote.

As for the book, I'd say read it. It will help you understand why running around with a swollen ego and worried about your material possessions is not a good way to live your life.

Not All That Glitters is Gold
A Sober minded comment upon the unabashed and nonsensical hero-worship heaped upon irresponsible individuals such as McKenna, who tout psychedelics as some sort of healing panacea when in fact it is for most a tool of narcissism, is desperatly needed. I myself am friends with a few of McKenna's entourage, and for years have been saddened by their fate. Their uncontrolled use of marijuana is especially insidious, as this drug's destructive effect upon daily users is hard to prove because of the slow progression of its effects on cognition and learning: making its damage invisible to one who is convinced by the propaganda that it isnt there. Its use in small amounts upon occasion does render insights through its suppresion of rationality, but it does this at the cost of temporarily suspending various rational abilities. It has rendered a certain anonymous individual, who was once a brilliant and functionally creative philosopher, into a self-serving mentaly handicaped and beligerant failure who lives in filth and rags, far too incoherent to be admired for his "voluntary" poverty. It is hard for people caught up in the novelty of this substance to see what it has done to them, often years must elapse for the consequences to become clear. They think that they themselves are part of a unique sub-culture, when in fact they are part of a childish fad. The jihadist like self-alienation of these people, makes them victim to their own indulgent and narcissistic feelings of persecution, like fundamentalist christians approached by a catholic, their resposes are canned and empty of meaning.

McKenna's pseudoscientific account, which to those in scientific circles is more interesting in terms of its value as a study of the history of apocryphal psychiatric novelties, is a testament to the power of self delusion. As a fellow dabbler in psychadelics, I can bear testament to the tendency for users of this drug to indulge in narciisistic and messianic beliefs, they are never interested in simply truth, rather, their conclusions must always be far reaching and epoch making, because the ecstasies and prolonged "highs" depend for their existence upon megalomaniacal beliefs. See for yourself how McKenna compares himself to copernicus, when in fact he is nothing more than an outmoded and overrated fringe ethnobotanist who has made a bit of money as a result of his literary conceits.
This megalomania is precisly what drove him to overreach the grasp of his dicipline to make archane speculations upon the existence of a particle that could only be recognized by any real scientist as being a literary trope and nothing more! Any coincidental overlapping between the I-ching and his historical timeline could only be the result of the patterns of human behavior recognized by jung and Derrida in historical accounts that are more a product of poetic inspiration than truthful reportage. That a two thousand year old text by a chinese shaman seems to predict historical events is more a testament to the nature of historical revisionism than the "chronon".
For those who think this kind of thinking is not dangerous, just fun, remember the Nazis and their dependance on psuedoscience and Atantis myths to spread their message of hate. Pseudoscience is dangerous, not fun, any distorted view of truth should be ignored, not touted as entertainment when so much more of importance is neglected. This is why the average deadhead spends more time reveling in narcissitic ecstacies than actually working for the benefit of peace and mankind.

Spellbinding
Whether you are a hardcore rational materialist or the flower-power type, Terence McKenna will enchant you for sure.
Anyway you look at True Hallucinations (adventure, intellectual sci-fi or the very tomb of Western science and pinnacle of Western Philosophy... which turns out is not Western at all in the case of the psychedelic experience) this work will change the way you look at everything. Because, well, this is a book about everything - i.e. the essence of our perceptions and experiences as sapient entities.
The experience at La Chorera is the culmination of the meeting with the profound "other" to be continued in his next book "The Invisible Landscape", which is the ultimate death-blow to Western scientific thought.

McKenna is an ethnobotanyst, anthropologist, historian and science philosopher of his own magnitude.

Read all his books but start with "True Hallucinations". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Exactly what I wanted
Right product, arrived as advertised, and in the early part of the time frame. Can't ask for more. Thank you.

Nice
New knowlege and ideas for recovery are such an important part in changing peoples lives.
Aaron Bryant: BSW, CSACAuthor A Synchronous Memoir of Addiction and Recovery

Very helpful
Workbook is very detailed and provides a variety of areas to focus on. It appears to be designed for use while under instruction or guidance rather than for individual self-help.My first thoughts are it would be quite useful for someone who has determined recovery as well as serve as a tool to reference as needed.

For Recovering Addicts
This Workbook for those who have experienced relapses into addiction counts very highly in my work with addicts.Alcohol is my specialty.Those who drink again after a period of abstinence need special help.Just going back to AA Meetings is not really enough.The Workbooks, with a counsellor, provides in-depth work for maintaining sobriety. One cannot do it alone.Just dealing with a sponsor, plus AA Meetings, is not enough.My experience shows that the recovering person make big steps forward with this Wortkbook.

practical skills for staying sober
Mr. Gorski is one of today's leading experts on addiction and recovery, and has authored several books on the subject; as well as appearing in educational videos.This workbook is a valuable tool for those in recovery. ... Read more

Product Description

Stimulating and often startling discussions between three friends, all highly original thinkers: Rupert Sheldrake, controversial biologist, Terence McKenna , psychedelic visionary, and Ralph Abraham , chaos mathematician. Their passion is to break out of paradigms that retard our evolution and to explore new possibilities. Through challenge and synergy they venture where few have gone before, leading their readers on an exciting journey of discovery. Their discussions focus on the evolution of the mind, the role of psychedelics, skepticism, the psychic powers of animals, the structure of time, the life of the heavens, the nature of God, and transformations of consciousness.

Customer Reviews (4)

Awesome Read!! Deep and Insightful Collection of Ideas
This book was definitely worth every penny I paid. The reason I bought the book was because I wanted to read some writings that Terence Mckenna did since I really like his stuff. He as usual provided some deep philosophical theories and insights on topics brought up by these three men in the book. So if you are a Terence fan as well he really shines in this one!

Evolutionary Mind - Profound! - Thank You
I can honestly say this is one of the best books I've ever read, truly mind-expanding, profoundly important in every way. The breadth of knowledge brought to the subjects through the trialogues was awesome. I was first attracted to the book by Terence McKenna, who I love; this was my first exposure to Rupert and Ralph (the combo is great!). For any McKenna fan this book is essential to your collection, full of new material not found in his other works.

Not To Worry...
I had been waiting for someone to come along and put a note up about this recently released book and comment on whether it was essentially just "Chaos, Creativity and Cosmic Consciousness" repackaged.

Finally, I took the plunge and ordered it and I am happy to say that no, it is not the same book as "C, C and C."The chapters in this book feature further talks by the three thinkers at Esalen.

However, I'm pretty sure that the content in both this book and "C, C and C" were included in the original publication "Trialogues at the Edge of the West" - but since that book has been out of print for years, it's unlikely that many would have it.

if you liked 'what the bleep' you'll love this book
What a great read! like a rollorcoaster through a cosmos of meanting, these three great minds explore the dimensions oftrancendental attractors, end-time apocalyptic visions, the psychic powers of animals, the nature of time, God and a letter from the Christian mystic Father Bede Griffiths who was Sheldrake's spritual guide. These famous 'trialogues' recorded at Esalen also reveal a touching portraint of an intellectual friendship grown ripe over the years of testing each others mettle. Also, recommended is Chaos, Creativity and Consciouness by the same authors. ... Read more

Product Description
'I thought you'd do what the common run of slaves normally do, cheating and tricking me because my son's having an affair.'

Terence's comedies have provided plots and characters for comic drama from classical times to the present; the outstanding comic playwright of his generation at Rome, he has influenced authors from Molière and Wycherley to P. G. Wodehouse. Scheming slaves, parasites, prostitutes, pimps, and boastful soldiers populate his plays, which show love triumphing over obstacles of various kinds, and the problems that arise from ignorance, misunderstanding, and prejudice. Although they reflect contemporary tensions in Roman society, their insights into human nature and experience make them timeless in their appeal. Peter Brown's lively new translation does full justice to Terence's style and skill as a dramatist. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Hey, join the party!
Terence is the guy who said "I'm human; nothing human is alien to me." I think that's the most concise and eloquent expression ever of humanistic empathy and tolerance (San Francisco values!). But then, Terence was also reputed to be Nero's favorite dramatist. Go figure! At any rate, I'm glad to see so many other reviewers getting a kick out of Latin literature.If you still remember any high school Latin, you'll find P. Terenti Afri in print, ISBN 0-19-814636-1.

hilarious
Wow. I've read plenty of dramas, but this was my first ancient comedy. My girlfriend and I read this together, and neither one of us expected to enjoy it very much. But to our surprise, within 2 pages we were laughing constantly. We usually pause to talk frequently when we read something together, but this one we read very quickly because the plots and situations engrossed us so much.

If you are looking to read and enjoy something truly classical, I suppose there's no better place to start than this.

I imagine the translator was not too strict, but she did a good job in the spirit that I imagine Terence would want: not too literal, but very enjoyable.

Comedic
This book is one of my favorite textbooks ever.The storylines are interesting, though perhaps not hilarious from a modern standpoint.They do however make excellent fodder for research papers and for a deeper understanding of the ancient world!

timeless classic comedy
Terence's character development is superb.He takes stock characters of past Greek plays and turns them around so that the reader sees that people are not black or white.They are rather gray with good and bad qualities.His stories develop around his characters and in each comedy there is a message that is as timesless as the dialogue and interaction between characters in his plays.I didn't really know what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised with the mastery with which Terence took Greek plays and adapted them for his Roman audience.The editing was good, and I think that there is a little something for all readers in the comedies of Terence.They are timeless classics that draw a quiet smile from the reader rather than an outright laugh. ... Read more

Product Description
Based on the experiences of thousands of successfullyrecovering men and women and written by an acknowledged leader in thefield, this revised Hazelden best-seller presents an action plan forrelapse prevention.Terence Gorski helps readers understand howrecovery works, describing six stages of recovery and offering soundadvice for working through the challenges of each. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Passages through recovery
It is easy to read, and it is very helpful in understanding addiction and recovery.

Gorski's Most Fundamental Contribution
Terence Gorski's outstanding research and publications are well known to most Recovery Specialists. This is his most fundamental contribution. Also check out Empowering Your Sober Self by Martin Nicolaus and [...] for an approach to recovery similar in spirit to what Gorski suggests and not based on behavioral change via religious conversion.

another recovery book
This is simply another recovery book, no better or worse than so many others I have read.

Understanding Relapse
This is a very valuable book for counselors as well as for addicts in recovery, but it is especially helpful for families and loved ones of addicts who just want this to "be over with", even though it isn't and will never be. But there is hope and healing in understanding and in educating oneself, and this book is VERY helpful in understanding, and developing patience toward, the long path away from substance abuse/dependence andtoward a more solid sobriety. There is an understanding in recovery that if you aren't moving forward, you're sliding backwards. This book helps the addict to understand where he/she is along the path of recovery and how to keep moving forward.

Great, for 12 step Information
I found this book useful for the stages of recovery that it explains: Transition, stabilization, early recovery, middle and late recovery.Everything Gorski writes is clear as day, there's certainly no need for a dictionary at any point of this book.If he says a word that might not be understood, he makes sure to explain it.Even your ten year old can read this book, it's almost too straightforward.You can also read it in a day or two, a good quick read.However, it's more targeted towards alcoholism and the twelve steps.The title of the book should be "Recovery from Alcohol, (and other drugs)", which he says about a thousand times in the book, by the way."When it comes to alcohol, and other drugs"; "Due to alchohol, and other drugs", etc.He seldomly mentions weed or cocaine.The only time he mentions the word heroin is on page 55, when he is walking you through denial of your addiction, and uses an example of a person stating "I may have a drinking or drug problem, but I'm not really addicted.I'm not as bad as a heroin addict or skid-row bum".Well, I was a heroin addict.To me this book is targeted for people that have a drinking problem and smoke some bud sometimes, not a junky that has no doubt that they have serious problems due to their drug use.This book is just skimming the surface.I personally learn more about my habit by reading a random William S. Burroughs novel.I'd recommend trying a different book out first if you're more than an alcoholic, even though it's nice to have the stages of recovery at your fingertips.It doesn't hurt reading something new if you learn at least one thing here and there. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great for counselors and clients
Being a mental health counselor, I utilize information learned in in this workbook in education programs for clients and their families.Education is so important in recovery and having a plan for relapse is vital.A great tool for anyone in recovery.

Not what I originally expected but a good tool
This product has been a good compolement to my recovery.I like the thought provoking questions throughout the workbook.

Relapse Prevention Counseling Workbook
The contents of the book was helpful; I'm familiar with Gorski's work.However, the condition in which they arrived was bad.The workbooks looked like they had been put in water and dried out.Unfortunately I was unable to inspect them until the evening of my group.I used them but comments were made about the condition.I won't order from that distributor again.

Excellent workbook
Being in the mental health and substance abuse field for many years, I am always looking for ways to help find that AH HA moment that will start my clients on the road to recovery.I found this workbook and the exercises extremely helpful.Helping others actually look at high risk situations and helping them to think about how to manage them is crucial to recovery.This work book spells it out without searching for the right steps to discovery.It is clear and builds to a logical conclusion.Nicely done!

Good book
Gave as a gift to a coworker who was promoted.He love it because easy to follow exercise for the population he is working with. ... Read more

Product Description
Three of the most original thinkers of our time explore issues that call into question our current views of reality, morality, and the nature of life.*A wide-ranging investigation of the ecology of inner and outer space, the role of chaos theory in the dynamics of human creation, and the rediscovery of traditional wisdom.

In this book of "trialogues," the late psychedelic visionary and shamanologist Terence McKenna, acclaimed biologist and originator of the morphogenetic fields theory Rupert Sheldrake, and mathematician and chaos theory scientist Ralph Abraham explore the relationships between chaos and creativity and their connection to cosmic consciousness. Their observations call into question our current views of reality, morality, and the nature of life in the universe. The authors challenge the reader to the deepest levels of thought with wide-ranging investigations of the ecology of inner and outer space, the role of chaos in the dynamics of human creation, and the resacralization of the world. Among the provocative questions the authors raise are: Is Armageddon a self-fulfilling prophecy? Are we humans the imaginers or the imagined? Are the eternal laws of nature still evolving? What is the connection between physical light and the light of consciousness?

Part ceremony, part old-fashioned intellectual discussion, these trialogues are an invitation to a new understanding of what Jean Houston calls "the dreamscapes of our everyday waking life." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

"Creative Thinking"
I have always respected the open mindedness of all three thinkers and found the material in this book consistent with that as it was far from dogmatic. It inspired me to consider new ways of looking at the old concepts. On the negative side. I think some of the ideas showed a little lack of critical thought. Some of the topics were philosophically based notions and, as that is my field, I felt that it was a little lack of awareness of the problems that have been worked out by some other thinkers(I wish that they would have at least mentioned those ideas then debated the point). Specifically I wish they would have acknowledged the issues that have come up in transpersonal psychology. Overall, I feel most interested in these issues (the evolution of consciousness and mind and critique of the modern post modern views) will enjoy the creative thinking they share. C.J.

Mind blowing
I have read McKenna's other books, The Archaic Revival and The Invisible Landscape, True Hallucinations, and to me, this seems even better! Perhaps McKenna's best book! By page 10 I was flipping out, and it only got better. If you like McKenna, hallucinogens, metaphysics, forward type thinking, if you have ever pondered the mysteries of the universe, you will love this book. Dont mess around! Buy it now! Thank cosmos later.

New Age Pseudoscolarly Psychobabble
The chapters in this book are transcripts of three academics rambling on and on as they speculate about "cosmic consciousness" and how it touches upon existence, science, history, religion, etc.

An example of their fare:
"The chaos revolution now taking place throughout the sciences is a major setback for the forces of law and order, control and dominance.Scientists, the high priests of Marduk, must now accept chaos and replace Tiamat on her rightful throne.This is why I say that chaos is the biggest thing since the wheel.Imagination, creativity and inspiration are all on the upswing.Chaos, Gaia, Eros-arise!"

If you find meaning in statements like this, you will probably love this book.This material reminds me of listening to late-night frat house bull sessions, or someone who's stoned and thinks that his random navel-gazing is actually providing profound insights.It's reminiscient of the psychedelic froth of the 1960's.

I didn't find this worth the time spent reading it.

Lofty-sounding but vacuous
A more appropriate title for this book would be "Three Pretentious Fools Talking About Things They Know Nothing About."The book is composed entirely of vacuous but lofty-sounding rhetoric and New-Age style cosmic speculations, and is remarkable for its almost complete lack of intellectual content.It reminds me of the kind of pseudo-intellectual discussions I used to have in the dorm with my college buddies after we'd each had several beers.

holy trinity?
Three of the most intriguing and revolutionary minds of our time together at last.If you can find the video in which this book is transcribed,it's definitely worth watching as well.it's called Metamorphasis. ... Read more

Product Description

A world-renowned design authority shows how to make the most of every square foot.

Whether motivated by soaring energy costs, smaller families or the desire to live more simply, homeowners are abandoning "McMansions" for smaller housing. In How to Live in Small Spaces, Terence Conran explains that what's paramount to livability is not square footage, but how the space is divided.

In this comprehensive, full color book, Conran tackles the many challenges posed by small spaces. Chapters cover storage, bedrooms, children's rooms, lighting, extension and much more. "Assessing your needs" checklists and "points to consider" sidebars add valuable ideas. The six case studies that conclude the book provide excellent examples of great designs.

The author offers practical advice on exploiting every inch of space through:

• Using fold-down and pull-out features
• Buying slimline appliances
• Installing indoor portholes and windows
• Lessening the impact of furniture
• Using scale and proportion to advantage
• Manipulating color, texture and pattern
• Using screens, partitions and platforms
• Improving circulation paths.

Terence Conran never forgets the challenges posed by small spaces or the ingenuity and compromises required. He shows how easy it is to create a home whose comfort is not dependent on size, but on efficiency and integrity.

Customer Reviews (6)

NO SMALL IDEAS!
I think, in light of all the ridiculously mambo big and cold homes being built today - the ideas in this book are a breath of fresh air. It has very clever storage solutions and design ideas to help your mind wander off a little and dream of interesting ways to utilize every square foot of living space. Most ideas would be a tad pricey to implement...particularly the glass enclosures...but it's a fun springboard book and fun to to sit down with for a very fulfilling read.

Really good!
In my opinion, the book is excellent. I haven't finished reading it yet but up to now it seems very interesting. It is full of useful tips on how to organize your things and to live in a small place. The book is helping me in dealing with a lot of stuff in a place I wish it would be bigger.

W O N ' T.....W O R K.....I N.....M A N H A T T A N
From the cover of this book, (and the pictures inside), it seems this
book was written for people with from 600-1200 square feet of living
space.As many apartments in Manhattan, (and elsewhere), can get as
small as 180 square feet, those in these cramped living spaces would
find little, if any, advice to justify their buying of this book. Also, the text print size is so unnecessairily small that a magnifying glass should be given, gratus, with each copy(!)My suggestions?A companion book, ("Living in VERY Small Spaces"), should be written -- and A LARGER
PRINT SIZE should be in both volumes!

How to live in small spaces
This book has some very valuable information on getting your life ready to live in a smaller more efficent space. It also shows some very good examples to inspire you.

Great Basic Color Education
Though I am not color blind, one would be hard to believe that when it comes to color choices I have made in the past.I knew nothing about color and how colors work with one another.
The first part of this book outlines basic color theory - the primary colors, secondary and tertiary colors and how they work together.The book then goes into how to use color to set different moods or support different themes - for example, what colors to use for an Asian or Mediterreanan look.
I learned a lot - and finally got it through my head that paint is not permanent - if you don't like it - paint it over.With this book in hand, I won't be afraid to try different color combos.This is a great book with lots of ideas! ... Read more

Product Description

Millions of people have transformed their lives by working the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Their success has come from their ability to truly understand these principles and to apply them in their daily lives. Yet for many embarking on the road to recovery, the Steps can seem vague, even confusing.

This practical, no-nonsense guide takes the mystery out of the Twelve Steps, presenting a straightforward explanation of what each step means, as well as examples of how it translates to real life. Written by a certified alcoholism and drug abuse counselor with more than twenty years of experience, it offers a wealth of wisdom, knowledge, and genuine support for anyone in recovery.

Understanding the Twelve Steps features:

Clear, easy-to-understand interpretation of the Twelve Steps -- the vital building blocks of recovery
Checklists that summarize the tasks and objectives of each step
The Twelve Promises -- the positive changes you can expect in your life if you follow the Twelve Steps
What happens at Twelve Step meetings and why it is important to have a sponsor
The experiences, strength, and hope of other recovering people ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Good service on all products order
Right products, arrived as advertised, and in the early part of the time frame. Can't ask for more. Thank you.

Cool
New knowlege and ideas for recovery are such an important part in changing peoples lives.
Aaron Bryant: BSW, CSACAuthorA Synchronous Memoir of Addiction and Recovery

Book Review
This book was a reference source for a class I took last semester, I would definately recommend it for anyone majoring in Substance Abuse Counseling.

Great insight
A great help in working through the 12 steps. Clarifies and expands the ideas of Bill W. Was presented to me by my sponsor when going through the steps, and now I use it with all my sponsees.

absolutely the best author
I think that Terry Gorski is the best author when it comes to recovery books.I have several books on 12-step work, and I always come back to this one has having the most clear, pertinent descriptions. He offers really practical perspectives and he is easy to understand.His writing offers in-depth, down-to-earth concepts that you won't find in other books. My only complaint is that the book focuses on AA, and so all the other 12-step programs seem a bit subordinated. I will also recommend "Getting Love Right", another winner from Gorski. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Insightful
The search for knew ideas regarding addiction treatment are very important and help to assist in the change of many lives.
Aaron Bryant: BSW, CSAC Author A Synchronous Memoir of Addiction and Recovery

Book Review
I found this book to be very helpful in understanding relapse and how to aid persons in the area of relapse prevention. I used this as a reference for my Substance abuse class last semester.

Awesome recovery tool!F
I have been clean and sober for almost 9 years, and have read this book several times. I like it because of the way that it is broken down. It makes a lot of sense to me. Early in recovery, this was something logical that I badly needed, and as my recovery continues, I find myself looking at it again and again. Recently, I have decided to get the workbook as well, and work that with my sponsor.

fast shipping, as described
I recieved this book quickly and it was in condition stated if not better.thanks for great service.

A must have for permanent, quality sobriety.
This is a manual that goes into the warning signs of potential addiction relapse.I get a copy for everyone I sponsor.We have a meeting in my city that goes over this book every week.I think that speaks volumes about the book.I personally liked a few sections that put some of my thoughts/feelings into words where I could not.You won't regret buying this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Essential Bathrooms presents a wide range of options for designing and decorating the bathroom in the modern home.How-to information and inspiring visual examples demonstrate that whatever your requirements, any bathroom can be transformed into a stylish place to retreat. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

One of the few house design books you need
Book store (and Amazon) shelves in the architecture section are filled with coffee table books with large pictures of homes we can never afford to own, or homes that look more like a museum show case than a place where people actually live. This book is different.

It gets you in the right mind set for starting to think about designing your own home. Practical, with lots of images that contain useful suggestions. Start with this book, then buy others.

This edition is a comlete re-write from the version I bought in 2002.

great book
great resource information mostly for UK though (i think)
pictures and ideas are solid i just like to skim thru it for ideas
everything you can imagine related to the home is in there somehow

The Ultimate House Book by Conran et al.
This book is an excellent reference for decorating a private
home.It describes flexible living quarters, work at home and
family quarters. There is a basic budget model, as well as
provision for more elaborate and expensive customizations.
The work contains an extensive materials directory which is
useful for deciding upon the material components and pricing
structure. Both form and function are described in detail.
There are contrasting arguments for employing vulcanized
rubber, plastics and marble. The book is excellent if it is
utilized wisely in connection with planned home designs. ... Read more

Product Description
The ultimate garden design book: a visual delight covering all aspects of working and living in your garden--stunning photographs of gardens from around the world.

The contemporary garden carries a profound connection both to the environment and to the range of activities--relaxing, entertaining, working--that characterize today's lifestyle. A collaboration between a distinguished style setter and a noted garden designer, Outdoors presents the principles of imaginative and innovative landscape design, providing readers with useful knowledge and also with inspiration from diverse sources: history, media, fashion, architecture.

Thematic chapters present a wide variety of successful gardens developed for specific purposes. Formal urban gardens on rooftops are explored, as are free-form rural landscapes, backyards devised to encourage children's imaginations, and spaces planned primarily for al fresco entertaining. Extensively illustrated case studies demonstrate inventive design on a grand scale as well as the creative detailing that sets one garden apart from another. In these sections, professionally designed gardens are explored methodically to reveal techniques behind planning and layout, planting choices, intended uses, and relation to the larger landscape. A special focus on conservation philosophies addresses wildlife, recycling, and water-wise gardening. Also included are a step-by-step guide to planning a garden, advice on selecting and working with a garden designer, and an extensive catalog of plants, with scientific names, foliage and bloom descriptions, and planting suggestions.
The authors engage in a lively dialogue, discussing their personal insight into the early and main influences on their work, how garden design has evolved, its current place in design as a whole, and the journey that it will take throughout the century. Their very different styles provide readers with both practical knowledge and confidence to seek inspiration for their gardens. ... Read more

Product Description
The third edition of Terence Wade’s A Comprehensive Russian Grammar, newly updated and revised, offers the definitive guide to current Russian usage.

• Provides the most complete, accurate and authoritative English language reference grammar of Russian available on the market
• Includes up-to-date material from a wide range of literary and non-literary sources, including Russian government websites
• Features a comprehensive approach to grammar exposition
• Retains the accessible yet comprehensive coverage of the previous edition while adding updated examples and illustrations, as well as insights into several new developments in Russian language usage since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991

Customer Reviews (13)

Good buy
Item bought came promptly and in better condition than I could have bought at a retail store. I was very pleased.

Great for Russian-learners
This answers all of my questions about Russian. Having lived in Russia, but a native English speaker, I sometimes forget grammar exceptions/rules in writing or speaking, and this book leaves no stone unturned. This is great I think if you have gotten beyond the basics of Russian, i.e. past 2nd year in College.

Great Grammar
This grammar is great for anyone in 2nd to 4th year Russian.It's very thorough, gives examples, and is arranged sensibly.Beyond this one, Isachenko's grammar is awesome.I recommend this one for 2nd to 4th year Russian and Isachenko's grammar after that.(You should also check out Jacobson's work on cases at some point).

Comprehensive
I use the Oxford Concise Russian Grammar by Terrence Wade all the time.
This book attempts to cover a lot of ground and it's very commendable that he has assembled so much information from various Russian grammars that are totally written in Russian and presented it for English speakers. You can answer many questions from it and it has many interesting insights into the grammar of Russian.

That said...

He attempts to cover parts of spoken grammar and usage and I wish he hadn't because he is sometimes dead wrong and it mars an otherwise well thought out book. Supposedly it was reviewed by many top academics in Russia but they could not have read it carefully because the mistakes are not typos but gaps in his understanding of Russian, that despite a lifetime of study, are things that every child there understands.

For example, there is the imperative form of the word to eat which he claims is usually replaced by a more polite verb. He's dead wrong and this is something that people say to each other all the time. In the movies I rarely hear the ones he claims people use though it's definitely a word people use and I do sometimes too. This is a mistake that no child in Russia could make. By the age of 2 they know this word because it's what their mother tells them when she wants them to eat. I verified this with my Russian friends. There is a prefixed version of the verb too which is the verb "to finish eating" (yes, in Russian there is a verb for everything) that is very common too. It's what your parents say to you when you try to leave the table before you have finished eating.

I have been to Russia too for vacation and the same comments apply from my experience speaking and hearing people there.

He commendably mentions the alternative imperative verb form in Russian where the infinitive is used but fails to elaborate on this significant item. I have actually never seen this discussed in text books.

Russians often use the infinitive in place of the imperative. I first started to hear it in movies and it was always in a setting where police or military people where giving some kind of order. It's like "I order you to stop" but the just say "to stop". It's common in Russian spoken language to omit anything that can be omitted that would be obvious from the context.

But in real life there on the street, I hear it all the time too.
It's originally from the military but it has filtered into general life.
For example, a little kid was starting to go into the crosswalk and I heard his mother yell this at him.

In Russia as a result of the soviet union, there are three separate sub languages: normal spoken Russian, that spoken by police and military and that from prisons (there were a lot of people in prison) but now it has all filtered into the general spoken language.

Anyway, this is a very deep subject and it's not covered very well in this book.

It'll get you through most of your basic needs
I always have my eyes open for good reference books.

I took four semesters of Russian in a two-year college program, over ten years ago. I still have problems tackling even the basics of the this language's complex verbal system.

This is just what I needed -- a schematic look at the grammar of the Russian language. Its has a detailed index and a comprehensive scope; quick answers can be found easily to anyone who understands the basics of this language.

This is the best guide I've found so far, and I still haven't found anything else to replace it. Please remember, this is not a text book, it is a well-made reference guide to the Russian language. ... Read more

Product Description
Covering over 1000 years of classical philosophy from Homer to Saint Augustine, this accessible, comprehensive study details the major philosophies and philosophers of the period--the Pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Stoicism, Epicureanism, and Neoplatonism. Though the emphasis is on questions of philosophical interest, particularly ethics, the theory of knowledge, philosophy of mind, and philosophical theology, Irwin includes discussions of the literary and historical background to classical philosophy as well as the work of other important thinkers--Greek tragedians, historians, medical writers, and early Christian writers.The most complete one-volume introduction to ancient philosophy available, the book will be an invaluable survey for students of philosophy and classics and general readers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A peculiar and somewhat puzzling book
To be honest, I don't quite know what to do with this book. It is somewhat puzzling to me. It isn't a bad book, but it is a peculiar book indeed. It is the first book in a series on the history of western philosophy, but as it's title Classical Thought suggests, there's more here than just philosophy in a strict sense. And there's nothing wrong with that. However, Irwin leaves out some very important stuff in Greek philosophy, and I wonder whether it was worth sacrificing it to be able to broaden the scope of the book. Was it even a necessary sacrifice?

In the 2nd chapter Irwin deals with Homer, Hesiod and the background, one might say, of Greek thought. As Irwin explains in the 1st chapter (the introduction), the starting point is not completely arbitrary. Homer, after all, had a profound influence on all subsequent Greek thought and even philosophy. On the other hand, Irwin leaves out such prominent figures in Early Greek philosophy as Parmenides (who is mentioned only once in the book, during the discussion of St. Augustin), but instead we get to read about the historian Herodotus. Of course, it is perfectly admissible to include Herodotus in a book on classical thought, but I have doubts about doing it at the expense of Parmenides. Irwin has also omitted most of scepticism, as he himself points out in the introduction. Sextus Empiricus and Pyrrhon (thus written in the book) are each only mentioned once in an endnote. Moreover, Empedocles is not mentioned at all. Is it not peculiar that in a book on classical thought, published in a series on the history of western philosophy, the philosopher Empedocles is nowhere mentioned, but the emperor Nero is mentioned three times? Plato's later thought is not discussed nor is there any discussion of ancient logic in the book.

In my oppinion, this book would have benefited greatly if Irwin had added about 25 pages to it; ten or so on the presocratics, ten or so on the sceptics and maybe five on Plato's later thought. I don't know why the editor of the series should refuse to do so. This book is only 288 pages long, whereas Copenhaver and Schmitt's book on Renaissance philosophy (in the same series) is 464 pages long. But even so, I cannot help feel that this is perhaps not the right book to cover antiquity in a series on the history of western philosophy. Perhaps it should have been a book more on hardcore philosophy.

Having said that, I do admit that this book is lucidly written and inviting. It is easy to read and may be of much use to someone wanting quickly to familiarize himself with ancient thought. But as a first introduction to ancient philosophy proper or for a more thorough discussion of any topic in ancient philosophy (whether Irwin discusses it or not) I would have to recommend another book, e.g. Classical Philosophy by Christopher Shield, The Blackwell Guide to Ancient Philosophy or The Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Philosophy.

Intro to Classical Philosophy
This book is one in a series of small paperbacks printed by Oxford University Press as part of a history of Western Philosophy. This volume (#1)is a survey of classical philosophy beginning with Homer and Hesiod, covering Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle and continuing to St. Augustine. The aim of this book and this series is to offer an introduction to the main philosophical issues and thinkers of this period. I would recommend it as a good start to someone who was completely unfamiliar with the philosophy of this period. For someone who is looking for more information, this book would not be worth buying. If you were looking for more depth than Copleston's History of Philosophy would be better. Another choice might be the Cambridge Companion to Greek and Roman Philosophy. Other than this complaint, I would say that the chapters are clearly written and that the concepts which are discussed are explained in a way that the average reader would be able to understand. Not a bad book to begin with at all! ... Read more

Product Description
Although the Mosin-Nagant rifle was in use for more than sixty years by half the world's military forces, no book in the English language has ever traced its development and identified all its models and variations as manufactured around the world, including in the United States. No provided the part-by-part information needed by the collector and shooter.

This is the first book in English, ever written about the Mosin-Nagant. It identifies every single model manufactured in Russia, France, the United States, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Finland, China and North Korea. Every part is described with all changes and markings, making it possible to identify the national origins of not only the rifle as a whole, but of every part.

Chapters provide a history of its development and use from 1892 to its last manufacture in Hungary and China in the mid-1950s. Then each part is analyzed showing all changes in chronological order. All variations are described from the original rifle to the M1944 carbine with its unique folding bayonet. All Finnish variations are described and a history of the tiny country's relations with its giant next door neighbor is included to show the derivation of Finland's line of Mosin-Nagants.

Sniper rifles from all countries are listed in a separate chapter as is the ammunition produced for the rifle and all accessories issued to the combat soldier. Of great value to the collector is the huge list of markings and codes found on all Mosin-Nagant rifles of whatever national origin, the first ever compiled.

The Mosin-Nagant was one of the earliest small-caliber battle rifles developed in the late 19th century. Its rugged design and construction are borne out by the fact that the only changes ever made to its basic design were to shorten and lighten the rifle as ammunition improved and battle conditions changed. The Mosin-Nagant is without doubt, one of the premier battles rifles of the late 19th and early 20th century and a testament to skill of it Russian designer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Mosin Nagant book for collectors
The book is a must have if you care to research your Mosin Nagant rifle. Its worth its weight in gold to me!

A must for collectors.
This is easily the most useful book ever published on The Mosin Nagant family of rifles.If you're a collector, this book has all the information available on the web and much more.If your a gun show browser like myself, it's a lot more handy to have this book along than your laptop for quick identification purposes.

Looks good
I havent looked at this book in depth but it looks like it will be very useful for collecting Mosin Nagant's.

Excellent
If you have just started collecting this rifle this is one of the best resources you can have.It is easy to understand and full of details.I would highly recommend it.





Jim
NC

The Mosin-Nagant Rifle
A gun collector "must have book". Detailed information on all Mosin Nagant rifle models and accessories. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

wrong book
I stupidly ordered a book that doesn't have the info I was looking for.
Not interested in 'magic mushrooms'.
Can't believe I made such a foolish mistake.

Classic
This book was one of the very first public "teks" in the US.A classic, must-have, for the enthusiast!

Easy to follow and interesting commentary
At this point, this book is for fans of the McKennas. The information inside was made available at a time when other sources could not easily be found for the layman.It is still a viable system, as can be confirmed by comparing to the writings of Paul Stamets.

This book has an easy to follow explanation of the mushroom lifecycle.I think it is a must-have for those that collect the writings of Dennis or Terence McKenna.

the McKenna brothers
In this little "how to" guide to mushroom cultivation the McKenna brothers provide every thing imaginable to set up your own supply of Magic Mushrooms. Also, some insight into why psilocybin use has historically been part of human evolution.

pretty short but nice read
It gives another look at shrooms and growing them. It's pretty nice how the meaning is described; and the illustrations on the cover are pretty trippy on their own. ... Read more

Product Description
Thoroughly revised, updated and expanded.

The first three editions of Night Watch sold more than 600,000 copies, making it the top-selling stargazing guide in the world for the last 20 years. The key feature of this classic title is the section of star charts that are cherished by backyard astronomers everywhere. Each new edition has outsold the previous one because of thorough revisions and additional new material.

Night Watch has been acclaimed as the best general interest introduction to astronomy. The fourth edition has revisions in every chapter, including:- The famous charts, ideal for stargazers using a small telescope or binoculars- A complete update of the equipment section, including computerized telescopes- An enlarged photography section, including how-to instructions for using the new generation of digital cameras for astronomical photography, both with and without a telescope- The tables of future solar and lunar eclipses, planetary conjunctions and planet locations, updated through 2018.

This edition includes for the first time star charts for use in the southern hemisphere. There are also dozens of new photographs throughout the book that show the latest thrilling discoveries made by current space observatories and probes.Amazon.com Review
The third edition of Nightwatch continues its tradition of being the best handbook for the beginning astronomer. Terence Dickinson covers all the problems beginners face, starting with the fact that the night sky does not look the way a modern city-dweller expects. He discusses light pollution, how to choose binoculars and telescopes, how to pronounce the names of stars and constellations, telescope mounts, averted vision, and why the harvest moon looks especially bright. Most of the lovely photographs in the book were taken by amateurs, which gives the section on astrophotography a particularly inspirational gleam.

Dickinson's star charts are very handy, each covering a reasonable field of view and mapping the most interesting amateur objects. He gives good advice for planet watching, which he notes "is one of the few astronomical activities that can be conducted almost as well from the city as from dark rural locations."

Altogether, the watchword for Nightwatch is indeed "practical"--this is a book to be used, not just read. Spiral-bound to lie flat or to fold back undamaged, it's a field guide that pulls its own weight in the field. Author Timothy Ferris says, "Like a good night sky, Nightwatch is clear and wind-free. Try it and see for yourself." --Mary Ellen Curtin ... Read more

Customer Reviews (118)

Awesome!
Got this book a couple of weeks ago.It's very well written in a clear concise easily understood manner.Very good for someone just acquiring an interest in Astronomy and Astrophotography.It hits that delicate balance between too much/too little information.Everything you'll want to know if you're starting out is there.

Awesome Book!
This book is amazing, tons of useful information and the star charts are perfect for the average stargazer.

Finally a decent star map!
I'm not new to astronomy, just new to finding constellations. I bought this book on the recommendation of Mr. Frazer Crane from Astronomy Cast. He said it had some very nice star maps in it and because of the way it was bound could be laid out flat and was easy to see.

Well I concur with the above evaluation 100%. In fact the star maps go beyond all normal star maps in that on the adjacent page there are actual photographs of the night sky so you can reference the star map to the real constellations. Makes it easy! The book is very nicely illustrated and finished. It is comprehensive for the beginning astronomer.Has recommendations on first telescopes and cameras.It also has a pronounciation guide in the back for the stars and constellations and also tells what the name means. There are also planet chart viewing times, and what season is the best viewing time for the object you want to see.

To beginning astronomy students or old salts I think this book belongs in everyone's library. You won't be sorry you bought it.

Dave Proffitt

NightWatch
It won't be the last book on traveling the Universe, but it should be in every stargazers library. I can't tell you how many times I've referred to it, shared it with beginners....just looked at the simple maps. Buy it.

Wonderful first astronomy book!
I would recommend this to any beginning astronomer. It has some wonderful advice on the equipment needed as well as detailed, but understandable maps of the sky. ... Read more