Product Description
The Perfect Stranger Gift Set

What if a stranger knew you better than you know yourself?
In these novellas, experience first-person accounts of two young skeptics who encounter Jesus, and his answers to their most challenging and most personal life questions.


Dinner with a Perfect Stranger
A cynical young businessman, Nick Cominsky, accepts an invitation to dinner with a stranger, thinking it’s a prank. What results is a one-on-one encounter with Jesus–the opportunity of a lifetime–and a conversation that covers everything from world religions and the afterlife to the Bible and life’s purpose.

A Day with a Perfect Stranger
Already concerned about her shaky marriage to a workaholic, devoted mother Mattie Cominsky is dismayed by her husband’s sudden interest in religion. Then an unexpected conversation with a stranger leads her to forever change some of her deepest views about marriage, fulfillment, life, and God. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

both books are good reading
I really enjoyed this book.I read both of them and they were really good.Makes you think.The boxed set was cheaper to get than buying them indiviually.

INSPIRING
THEASE BOOKS GAVE ME AN INSIGHT AND CONFIRMATION ON ALL THE MAIN QUESTIONS I HAD AT WHY OTHER RELIGIONS NOT CHRISTIAN FALL SHORT AND NOT LONG EXPLINATIONS BUT JUST ENOUGHT TO GIVE YOU THE MAIN REASON AND THE REST YOU CAN LOOK UP ON YOUR OWN BUT BESIDES OTHER RELIGIONS THESE TWO BOOKS COVER ALMOST EVERYTHING YOU WONDER ABOUT IN A FORM THATS A STORY SO ITS INTRIGUING AND FUN.

The Perfect Stranger Gift Set
Dinner with a Perfect Stranger: An Invitation Worth Considering and A Day with a Perfect StrangerDinner with a Perfect Stranger asks questions of Jesus that many of us would like to ask, and the answers given are profound.When questioned about other supposed great religions of the world, Jesus explains in detail with historically documented information the difference in those religions and the truth.This is a great little book -- the hardbacked book only 100 pages long -- that gives one much to think about!I highly recommend it!It is also a great tool to use to share Christ with others...A Day with a Perfect Stranger is also a great little book - about 100 pages - and conveys the love and compassion of Jesus.It deals with God wanting relationship with us humans - who were created in his image!I have shared this book with others who loved it also!This is a great book to share the love of Christ with others!I highly recommend it!

Very Enjoyable Reading
I truly enjoyed reading these two books. I was pleased to be able to purchase both as a set. They need to be read together; fast and easy reading.....

I am not religious at all
I am not religious at all, but, a friend of mine is extremely, and she lent me these books swearing I would enjoy them regardless of how I feel about the concept of religion.I have to say, I was impressed.I really enjoyed them, and I bought myself the set as well as my sister.I find myself recommending these too.Its short and a quick read, but honestly, its perfect that way. ... Read more

Product Description
In the future, it’s possible to live forever—but at what cost?
 
A.D. 2088.
 
Missionary daughter Abigail Caldwell emerges from the jungle for the first time in her thirty-four years, the sole survivor of a mysterious disease that killed her village. Abby goes to America, only to discover a nation where Christianity has completely died out. A curious message from her grandfather assigns her a surprising mission: re-introduce the Christian faith in America, no matter how insurmountable the odds.
 
But a larger threat looms. The world's leading artificial intelligence industrialist has perfected a technique for downloading the human brain into a silicon form. Brain transplants have begun, and with them comes the potential of eliminating physical death altogether—but at what expense? 
 
As Abby navigates a society grown more addicted to stimulating the body than nurturing the soul, she and Creighton Daniels, a historian troubled by his father's unexpected death, become unwitting targets of powerful men who will stop at nothing to further their nefarious goals. Hanging in the balance—the spiritual future of all humanity.
 
In this fast-paced thriller, startling near-future science collides with thought-provoking religious themes to create a spell-binding "what-if?" novel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (88)

Powerhouse Plot Premise, Not So Strong on Characters...

Fascinating plot line. It's 2088 and the world has become so enlightened that brains have now become replaceable. Humans can live indefinitely, as soon as the other body parts can be translated into silicon parts, and that technology is just behind the strides made with the brain.

Into this "utopia" throw a woman who was raised by missionaries in a village far away from modernization and one ruled by faith in a God who has been completely replaced by higher intelligence in the rest of the world.

The worlds collide and convictions and passions flare. As does power and fame, politics and agenda.

Like I said, fascinating premise. But the characters ended up falling into stereotypes and into two-dimensional characters that I couldn't grow to care about. If strong characters are a magnet for you, you may struggle with this novel. But if sci-fi, future-world plots are your thing, especially if they are tinged with issues of faith, this might just be the book for you.

Kind of mixed bag
I don't read very many contemporary Christian novels, but I decided to give The Last Christian a try because the premise sounded more interesting and original than much of the religious fiction that's hitting the shelves today. Reading this book turned out to be an experience with some real highs, but just as many low points. Other reviewers have adequately summarized the novel - here is my list of what I found appealing and disagreeable:

Pros:
* A highly original story idea, and mostly well-written. The futuristic technology is believable, and the author manages to explain how things work, without either trying to impress the reader by getting too technical, or making every machine a "black box" that just works.
* Some great impromptu discussions of apologetics and spirituality. The book would have benefited from more of these.
* A compelling contrast of eternal values vs. a culture addicted to personal pleasure. Doesn't fall into the trap that a lot of religious novels do, where God or angels intervene directly all too often.

Cons:
* The book is about 20% longer than it should have been. There are too many predictable plot points which you see coming a mile away, and dragging out their discovery doesn't build suspense, it just makes the story wordy.
* The world of the future isn't advanced enough. I could accept this as a picture of 25-30 years from now, but not 70. Also, no matter how interested we are in finding out about the changes in society, technology, government, the environment, the geopolitical situation, we're just never given enough information to create this world in our minds.
* The one big risk taken in Christian science fiction is dealing with the return of Christ. In this story, Jesus has not returned, and the doctrine of His return is never even mentioned.
* The U.S., which has supposedly outlawed Christianity, doesn't actually seem that hostile to it. And yet the church has disappeared completely. If 2,000 years of church history has shown us anything, it is that in times of opposition and persecution, the church goes underground, and church leaders and individuals will risk their lives and freedom to continue to follow Christ.
* Too many mixed feelings about Abby.As the "last Christian" of the title, who is supposed to restart Christianity in America, you want to sympathize with her. But all too often, she seems completely clueless - about how to communicate the Gospel cross-culturally, about how to live the Christian life, about starting a romantic relationship ...

This is a good effort, and Mr. Gregory is a very talented writer.However, I opened this novel expecting more of a message - about how to stand firm in faith in the midst of opposition, about finding ways to share the Gospel in a totally alien culture, about how the teachings of Christianity will satisfy in ways that high technology and extraordinary devices can't.The book may get the reader started in thinking those thoughts, but it never gets around to finishing the job.

Plot twists mixed with eye-opening Scriptures!
When I received this book to review, I was really skeptical; the title wasn't Biblical, and I just didn't see much hope for its contents.

Am I ever glad I didn't let the title stop me from reading! This is a wonderful book, filled with interesting premises concerning the future, Biblical truths, and practical application all wrapped up in a fast-paced novel.

Set in 2088, the book's main character is Abigail Caldwell, a missionary's daughter who was born in New Guinea. Through events you'll have to read for yourselves, Abigail makes her way to the States - where the trials and adventures really begin.

From self-propelled cars to self-replicating nannites, the book is filled with technology that, because of our current technology, is completely believable. From learning to politics, the changes the author puts forth seem both ordinary and terrifying.

I really don't want to share too much of the plot or the truth and application you'll find in this book; but I really do recommend that you read THE LAST CHRISTIAN. Plot twists, a fast read, and eye-opening Scripture usage will make this a book you won't quickly forget.

The book was provided by the publisher as a review copy. Published at Bookboro Blogspot Com, by Lori Stilger.

don't read even if it is the last book on earth!
This book contains one very important idea about Christian theology, namely that too often missionaries and evangelicals stress the negative side of Christianity while ignoring the positive side. The negative side is the concept of confessing our sins and believing that Jesus had to die as our substitutionary atonement. The positive side is to believe that, once we do this, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us, implanting within us God's very life. This idea is very important and worthwhile, but unfortunately the fictional framework in which it is developed leaves much to be desired.

The book starts off promisingly, drawing us into the adventures of the main character, jungle missionary Abby. The plot seems engrossing and plausible. However, the story line starts to disintegrate as Abby comes to the United States and is forced to confront new fangled technologies. She adapts all too quickly to these gadgets as she makes new friends as well. This is where the book is weakest: the supporting characters are unbelievably shallow and under-developed. I would say that a typical American TV soap opera has more depth of character than the people in this book!

The plot also accelerates in a way that seems as though the author was becoming bored with his own writing and frustrated with all the loose ends his plot had generated. While at first I turned the pages eagerly, towards the end I turned them perfunctorily, thinking I had come too far to stop before the end. However, the bulk of the reading experience became tiresome and dull.

I cannot recommend this book at all. It is not worth the price or the time to read it. Perhaps obtaining it from the library might be worthwhile, but do not pay your hard-earned money for it!

For the essence of the book's message, see this website: [...] and spare yourself the heartache of wading through the soapy waters of this one dimensional parody of Christian science fiction.

Good, but flawed.
Some bottom lines:

1. The artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and technological futurism is handled quite well - i.e. with enough solid scientific basis to make it "science" and enough fantastical vagueness to make it "fiction." There are a few long, convenient speeches, but in general the information is presented in an easy to understand way. With dubious references to Battlestar Galactica in the marketing blurb, it is nice to find that this is an integral part of the story, rather than a bolted-on gimmick.

2. The evangelism - especially in the dialog - is not as bad as most Christian fiction, but still does not quite escape from that "forced" feeling - i.e. that one nice robot is asking nice formulaic questions about Jesus, and another nice robot is giving the nice formulaic answers. To be fair, probably the hardest thing in Christian fiction is to write solid, believable, natural evangelism dialog, and anything short of full-on cringeworthy can be considered a success.

3. The central plot is more artificial than intelligent. It becomes increasingly frustrating to read two characters engage in protracted discussions about meanings and motivations that are glaringly obvious. Apparently, despite having instant access to all the information in the world, people in the future don't watch enough TV to know how all the pieces inevitably fit together. At least one of the characters has the excuse of having lived in the jungle all her life.

4. The internet has been transformed into the Grid. This is almost, but not quite, as bad as calling it the Matrix. Authors really need to stop using clichéd meshy-sounding words with capital letters for this purpose.

5. There's some nice future history explaining the reasons why Christianity dies out in America. All plausible and not too far removed from current events. And credit to the author for slipping in a few pointed fingers at the megachurches and secular social club mentality that somehow passes for "Christianity" even now.

6. The gospel "epiphany" that is the only real reason for the fabricated "mystery" plot to exist is unfortunate - in that it becomes simply the other extreme to the extreme that the author is apparently trying to combat. In other words, in rightly trying to move away from the legalistic, self-help, self-centered "gospel," we are led all the way to a fluffy, inoffensive, sit-back-while-God-does-everything, no-worries style of "gospel." Where the Bible is used directly, there are clearly elements of truth and the actual good news - but these are forced off balance by the author's agenda and the subservient plot.

7. The whole "relationship" angle - i.e. Christian woman character meets non-Christian man character, etc, etc. - is handled less ham-handedly than in most other books of this type and, while not entirely un-cringe-inducing on occasion, is certainly better than expected.

8. The ending. No spoilers here, but "weak" would be not be too strong a word. Stuff comes out of absolutely nowhere - whatever the Christian equivalent of "deus ex machina" is. Other stuff happens for no apparent good reason or purpose other than to avoid any danger of a satisfactory conclusion. Things are wrapped up that make no difference to anyone, and things are left hanging that are presumably intended to be thought-provoking, but aren't.

9. This book does become a page-turner, simply because you will want to find out if the obvious conclusion is really as obvious as you think it is. But calling it "suspense" is a gross dereliction of the English language.

10. Overall, an interesting read for the Christian-tinged futurism. For the plot, not so much. ... Read more

Product Description
You are Invited to a Dinner with Jesus of Nazareth

The mysterious envelope arrives on Nick Cominsky’s desk amid a stack of credit card applications and business-related junk mail. Although his seventy-hour workweek has already eaten into his limited family time, Nick can’t pass up the opportunity to see what kind of plot his colleagues have hatched.

The normally confident, cynical Nick soon finds himself thrown off-balance, drawn into an intriguing conversation with a baffling man who appears to be more than comfortable discussing everything from world religions to the existence of heaven and hell. And this man who calls himself Jesus also seems to know a disturbing amount about Nick’s personal life.

…………..

"You’re bored, Nick. You were made for more than this. You’re worried about God stealing your fun, but you’ve got it backwards.… There’s no adventure like being joined to the Creator of the universe."He leaned back off the table. "And your first mission would be to let him guide you out of the mess you’re in at work."
………….

As the evening progresses, their conversation touches on life, God, meaning, pain, faith, and doubt–and it seems that having Dinner with a Perfect Stranger may change Nick’s life forever.
Amazon.com Review
In Dinner With a Perfect Stranger, David Gregory relates the story of two men sharing a meal. The point of interest is knowing that one man believes he is Jesus. What will the other man think by the time the evening is through? The conversation begins, as one could imagine, scratching the dry hard surface of skepticism and doubt, but gently and persistently goes deeper and deeper, spiraling in from that starting point until they are eventually talking about the true stuff of life; the career drifting off-track, the marriage experiencing its own kind of strain, the life being lived where the philosophical questions of youth have given way to simply coping with modern day-to-day living.

Gregory's book is a refreshing reminder of what evangelical Christianity is at its very best -- a faith enlivened by the personal relationship between the Creator and the created. In the end, evangelical Christians are focused on who Jesus Christ is, and more specifically, who He is to them. Doctrinal stances, theological conundrums, questions about literal or non-literal Biblical interpretation, these are all beside the point for the certain type of Christian whose central focus is the life and person of Jesus.

In the Narnia series, C.S. Lewis touched on some of the core questions of religion, from the Christian viewpoint (is there a hell? What is heaven like, really? How can other religions be wrong, and just one be right?) Taking his cue from Lewis, Gregory does the same, realizing that questions like these come alive when they're in the context of a story, and we can be the third party, watching with interest while they are put on the table and considered. In the end, Gregory's book succeeds because of his willingness to approach interesting, hard questions like these. He is always, undoubtedly, aiming for the heart, but he realizes that to win the heart one must never forget that the mind has to come along for the ride. --Ed Dobeas ... Read more

Customer Reviews (163)

Waste of time
Somebody recommended this book to me, claiming that it would "change my life". After reading this thing I feel a bit insulted by the suggestion that the few deeply flawed arguments it contains would persuade me. The comparison to a Chick Tract is apt, the protagonist is a credulous idiot who is blown away by the most flimsy apologetics, and in the end he "finds god". This, like so many other books of its kind, is not meant to persuade anyone, but to re-enforce the beliefs that a majority its readers already hold. If , like me, you are an atheist looking for a good challenge to your worldview, you needn't bother with this tripe.

A perfect stranger, indeed! This book is a rare treasure...
I started reading this book on Mother's Day at my daughter's church in San Jose. She had volunteered to work the Church Café for one service, so during that service I sat in the lobby, waiting for her. This book caught my eye and I read about half of it before our service commenced.

I told my daughter how much I was enjoying it and about a week later the postman delivered a copy for me...from my thoughtful daughter, of course.

The book opens in Cincinnati, Ohio where Nick Cominsky--a workaholic who doesn't spend much time with his family--is opening an elegant invitation to have dinner at a fine restaurant with Jesus of Nazareth. Thinking it's either a church get-together or his colleagues are playing a trick on him, he dismisses the invitation...for a short while. Then it begins to prey on his mind like a mystery; he debates about going, but finally succumbs.

When he arrives at Milano's, the maitre d' immediately escorts him to a table where a man wearing a blue suit and tie is seated. Imagine his surprise when the normal-looking guy introduces himself as Jesus! (Incidentally, Jesus later admits he doesn't like ties... :-)

Nick remains cynical and is baffled about why the man is pretending to be Jesus. He thinks of leaving at first, but is soon captivated by the man's comfortable, gracious manner and wise words. Another reason he stays is because he can't resist the opportunity to ask some serious religious questions that have bothered him since childhood. He thinks he'll throw "Jesus" off balance by trapping him with some very tough questions. Instead, Jesus answers with all the truth of the Bible and history at his command. He deftly turns the tables on Nick who becomes intrigued by Jesus and the "best conversation of his life."

With skillful use of word, plot and humor, author David Gregory takes the unlikely companions through the full dinner course discussing life, God, meaning, pain, faith, salvation, grace vs. works, world religions, etc. The dinner scene comes alive through Gregory's realistic pauses as the waiter services them at well-paced intervals.

By the time dessert is served and it's time to leave, Nick is completely "taken" with his new friend. When he asks if they'll meet again, Jesus replies, "That's up to you," then asks for his business card and writes a Bible verse on it.

What Nick does when he gets home is the perfect way to end this book...

At only one-hundred pages in length, this is, indeed, a small offering, but it is large in wisdom and truth (from my Christian viewpoint). I highly recommend it to anyone seeking to bring more meaning to your life. This is a treasure that will always remain within reach for the many times I need reassuring of God's plan for my life. I plan to purchase copies for each of my children, as a reminder when life seems overwhelming...

Reviewed by Betty Dravis, June 17, 2010
Author of "Dream Reachers" (with Chase Von) and other books

Title is a great play on words!
This book is indeed about a PERFECT stranger.

Dinner with a Perfect Stranger: An Invitation Worth Consideringwas recommended to me by my massage technician.We have shared with each other books that we have found interesting enough to share with others and this was one that was memorable to her.

I was skeptical when I saw that it was a cute little book.I never expect those to pack much punch.I gave it a shot and was very impressed.

I felt like I was sitting alongside main character, Nick Cominsky and Jesus and eavesdropping on their conversation. I like that author, David Gregory touched on subjects relevant to believers and nonbelievers.

I would recommend this to others and would read other books by David Gregory.

Book, Dinner with a perfect stranger
Although the price was right,I was disappointed that this was a library book and it was stamped and had the library logo cover on it.Never thought that this would happen.I will think twice next time about buying a used book.

Chick Track in Novel Form
I was intrigued by the idea of a conversation with Jesus. I approached the novel knowing that it was work of Christian evangelism, but I was prepared to enjoy it. This sort of thing can be well done, and from the outset I thought it might be. Jesus is introduced as an unassuming, tender, and good-humored man, while Nick is the typical human. Unfortunately, the book's story does not last long: it soon turns into an author tract, and "Nick" becomes nothing more than a sock puppet. "Jesus" does a good job of portraying a superficially cohesive vision of Christianity, but it is one that does not stand to scrutiny. The conversation quickly becomes one-sided and shallow, doing an injustice to both Christianity by rendering it this way and to the many counter-ideas misrepresented as as straw-men.It looked to be a meaty read, but all I found was distasteful gristle. ... Read more

Product Description

Roberts is not reluctant to wax poetic; in fact, some of his prose is downright embarrassing. Throughought the novel, however, all 944 pages of it, every single sentence rings true. He is a tough guy with a tender heart, one capable of what is judged criminal behavior, but a basically decent, intelligent man who would never intentionally hurt anyone, especially anyone he knew. He is a magnet for trouble, a soldier of fortune, a picaresque hero: the rascal who lives by his wits in a corrupt society.His story is irresistible. Stay tuned for the prequel and the sequel.--Valerie Ryan ... Read more

Customer Reviews (405)

Shantaram
Like most of the reviews of this book I have to say that it was probably one of the best books I have ever read. It captures the scenery, people and events with such poignancy that it grips the reader from the very first page. I could not put this down. Even with its 900- odd pages I just had to keep reading and reading. What an amazing story. I cant rate this highly enough. I think most people who read this will want to journey to India to see it for themselves if they havent already been there. It will take a very long time to find a book to equal this in every respect.

EXQUISITE AND BRILLIANT
A read like SHANTARAM doesn't come along very often.Nothing short of fantastic can describe Mr. Robert's epic story.How one creates a fictional tale that is so real, has always amazed me.Gregory David Roberts has done just that.The characters are real...the places are real...and the adventures throughout this wonderful book are so real, you will find yourself taking part in the struggles, and triumphs of every character the author brings to life.Words cannot describe the story in words.(AN OLD EXPRESSION, BUT EVER SO TRUE)Whether you read the book, or listen to it on disc, you will understand exactly what I am talking about.
Exquisite and brilliant are the only two words that come to my mind about the story of SHANTARAM!

Fabulous!
This is my all time favorite novel.When I first saw that it was almost a thousand pages long, I felt somewhat overwhelmed because I am a slow reader.However, from the first page, I was unable to put it down.When I finished it, I was disappointed because I would have liked it to go on forever. The story is semi-autobiographical, takes place in Bombay, and is interesting in every detail.In addition, the prose is beautiful.I understand that it is now required reading in some college level English classes.

An epic!
This book is truly an epic! What can I say, but the words flow on the page and into your mind and make you think. His description of his experiences in India and the people that live there are truly beautiful. His story is sad, yet uplifting. This books shows you the good in people you otherwise would not believe could have any.It shows the struggle of a man that wants to be true, wants to be good, wants to reconcile, wants to love and be loved, and wants to SURVIVE. His story is not to be taken lightly and I felt his struggles every turn of the page. Read this epic story but prepare to be reeled in!

I Read This While in Mumbai
I read this book the first time when I was in Mumbai India and I was staying at the Taj hotel mentioned many times in the book. Much of the story takes place in that general vicinity so I was able to visit the bar that features heavily in the book and other places. I was in India on one of my many business trips there and I had a driver that I had take me around to all of the different places mentioned in the book. It was almost magical.

I loved this book. As someone said in an earlier review it is one of those books that you read and it makes you hunger and crave another book just like it. The bookthat has that much impact.

I went through the slums also featured heavily in the book and got great pictures of things he describes as being there. I visited the area where the lepers hang out and talked to them for awhile. I first read this book in 2004 or 2005ish and I absolutely feel in love with the book. It is always the first book I recommend to people who like the same kinds of books I like.

If you like James Michener, some of Leon Uris' books or Lawrence Sanders this book will have a certain type of feel that you will recognize especially Michener. But it also has a type of rawness that only a man who has truly lived this kind of life can get across.I loved the book and if you read the teasers for the book and it seems interesting I almost can guarantee that this book will not only be a good read but it will have an impact on you.

This book made India a magical place for me and while I admit that I don't always look forward to the 25+ hour travel time to get there I always look forward to discovering more of the kind of India that this book discusses. Enjoy it.

... Read more

Product Description
Business degree in hand, Logan enters the immense Universal Systems building and is hired as an organizational analyst — a trouble-shooter. His job: evaluate the company’s five divisions, each on a separate level and each operating on startlingly unique principles. Which set of principles is successful? Why is most of the company’s profit generated by one tiny division? What is real profit, anyway? And who is the enigmatic executive that Logan ends up reporting to?

Logan engages in a life-changing pursuit for The Next Level–a fascinating parable that will help you answer some of life’s most perplexing and vital questions. Joining Logan in evaluating each level’s approach, you’ll be inspired to consider the big picture of your own life from an entirely different perspective — one thatholds the key to life’s ultimate purpose.No matter where you are now, get ready to embark on your own passionate pursuit of The Next Level.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Next level down
I absolutely loved Dinner with a Perfect Stranger.David's next book in that line, A Day with a Perfect Stranger was like a movie sequel, good but just not as good.This book, The Next Level was like the second sequel, sorry but not very good at all.I thought it was repetitive, drawn out, and not very interesting at all.I was hoping for some kind of redemption at the end, but it just fizzled out.Go back and read Dinner again - you'll get far more out of it.

it was ok but first 2 books better
i read his 1st 2 books which i enjoyed but this 3rd one was not as good as the other 2.....i really enjoyed the 1st book, it was very believable. this one made some good points though.

Disappointing To Me, But Maybe It Works for You
I purchased this because I really enjoyed David Gregory's other books "Dinner with a Perfect Stranger" and "Day with a Perfect Stranger".Unfortunately this one never really grabbed my attention.The premise that Gregory uses is interesting, but I thought that the story got off to a slow start.In the end, the point (having a relationship with Christ) isn't made clear.

If you own a Kindle I suggest that you download a chapter and read it for yourself before buying this.

Quick read, but deeper than you would think
David Gregory, author of Dinner with a Perfect Stranger, weaves a modern parable in which a young man, Logan, is hired directly by a large company's CEO to analyze the problems within each level of the organization. There are five different levels, and when Logan correctly identifies the problem on one level he is promoted to the next.

The five different levels represent five different types of human spirituality. There is no religion spared, from agnostic to fundamentalists. Gregory artfully portrays the pros and cons of every major religion, including Islam, Hinduism, and Evangelical Christianity. I found the level on evangelicals hilarious and enlightening. It was interesting to hear Christian slogans twisted into business terms, and made me realize how often we turn Christianity into just another motivational tool.

Gregory's analysis of what is "profitable" to God is genius. He has woven a masterful tale that is also a quick read. It will make you pause and ponder whether your intentions are your own or for God's purposes.

Originally posted at http://scandaloussanity.blogspot.com

your place in life
Mr. Gregory writes this novel (a spiritual allergory) using Corporate America as his setting. Its interesting how simple to read that it is but how truely complex the ideas are that he wishes the reader to feast on.
As you read along, you get it and see elements of how you felt in a certain position, place etc and then you are renewed because the truth is where you are today is not the end. You can always do better

Cheers,
... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Next level down
I absolutely loved Dinner with a Perfect Stranger.David's next book in that line, A Day with a Perfect Stranger was like a movie sequel, good but just not as good.This book, The Next Level was like the second sequel, sorry but not very good at all.I thought it was repetitive, drawn out, and not very interesting at all.I was hoping for some kind of redemption at the end, but it just fizzled out.Go back and read Dinner again - you'll get far more out of it.

it was ok but first 2 books better
i read his 1st 2 books which i enjoyed but this 3rd one was not as good as the other 2.....i really enjoyed the 1st book, it was very believable. this one made some good points though.

Disappointing To Me, But Maybe It Works for You
I purchased this because I really enjoyed David Gregory's other books "Dinner with a Perfect Stranger" and "Day with a Perfect Stranger".Unfortunately this one never really grabbed my attention.The premise that Gregory uses is interesting, but I thought that the story got off to a slow start.In the end, the point (having a relationship with Christ) isn't made clear.

If you own a Kindle I suggest that you download a chapter and read it for yourself before buying this.

Quick read, but deeper than you would think
David Gregory, author of Dinner with a Perfect Stranger, weaves a modern parable in which a young man, Logan, is hired directly by a large company's CEO to analyze the problems within each level of the organization. There are five different levels, and when Logan correctly identifies the problem on one level he is promoted to the next.

The five different levels represent five different types of human spirituality. There is no religion spared, from agnostic to fundamentalists. Gregory artfully portrays the pros and cons of every major religion, including Islam, Hinduism, and Evangelical Christianity. I found the level on evangelicals hilarious and enlightening. It was interesting to hear Christian slogans twisted into business terms, and made me realize how often we turn Christianity into just another motivational tool.

Gregory's analysis of what is "profitable" to God is genius. He has woven a masterful tale that is also a quick read. It will make you pause and ponder whether your intentions are your own or for God's purposes.

Originally posted at http://scandaloussanity.blogspot.com

your place in life
Mr. Gregory writes this novel (a spiritual allergory) using Corporate America as his setting. Its interesting how simple to read that it is but how truely complex the ideas are that he wishes the reader to feast on.
As you read along, you get it and see elements of how you felt in a certain position, place etc and then you are renewed because the truth is where you are today is not the end. You can always do better

Cheers,
... Read more

Product Description
Ordained as an apostle in 1906, David O. McKay served as president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1951 until his death in 1970. Under his leadership, the church experienced unparalleled growth - nearly tripling in total membership - and becoming a significant presence throughout the world.
The first book to draw upon the David O. McKay Papers at the J. Willard Marriott Library at the University of Utah, in addition to some two hundred interviews conducted by the authors, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism focuses primarily on the years of McKay's presidency. During some of the most turbulent times in American and world history, McKay navigated the church through uncharted waters as it faced the challenges of worldwide growth in an age of communism, the civil rights movement, and ecumenism. Gregory Prince and Robert Wright have compiled a thorough history of the presidency of a much-loved prophet who left a lasting legacy within the LDS Church. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Nuts and bolts of church leadership during McKay's tenure
With chapters on "Correlation" and "The Building Program," this is not a book that will interest everyone. It is not a biography of David O. McKay, per se. It focuses on McKay's two decades as LDS church president. The book is organized topically rather than chronologically, which leads to some repetition and jumping around. The book is based on journals and notes taken by McKay's long-time secretary, Claire Middlemiss. It provides insight into nuts-and-bolts church organizational issues, policies, budgets, etc. I would compare it (to some degree) to Bob Woodward's approach in writing about the Supreme Court in "The Brethren."

Objecctive History? Diaries and Observations from afar?
Claire Middlemiss served as personal secretary to David O. McKay from 1935 until he died in 1970. Shortly after she started working for Elder McKay, she began keeping a diary of his daily activities that eventually ran some forty thousand typescript pages. These diaries form the basis of this book and provide both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness.

Elder McKay apparently did not keep a diary himself.

Its weakness is that David O. McKay is seen through the eyes of Middlemiss, whose vision, arguably, is not always 20/20. Her admiration for her subject is obvious, and her portrait is perhaps more flattering than one would expect from an objective chronicler. In addition to the Middlemiss records, the authors conducted interviews with many individuals who participated in the events recounted. Although they do a fine job in most cases, some interviews with some critical individuals are missing.

If the reader is looking for a conventional biography of President McKay, he or she is in for a disappointment.

Very little is revealed about his personal life and his relationship with members of his family. Instead, the authors have chosen a topical approach with sixteen chapters focused on such topics as free agency and tolerance; blacks, civil rights, and the priesthood; correlation and church administration; the education system; temple building; and politics and the church.

Some may find this approach cumbersome and would have preferred a more chronological format. However, addressing major areas of focus seems to work well overall.

The prophet comes across as a very complex individual who was prepared to address complex issues. For instance, he was upset when Elder Joseph Fielding Smith published Man: His Origin and Destiny and when Bruce R. McConkie published Mormon Doctrine. His concern with the former was that, among other things, the book was not preapproved and that it presented a view on evolution beyond what the Lord had revealed. He also felt that people would have difficulty separating Joseph Fielding Smith, senior apostle, from Joseph Fielding Smith, the author of the book. Elder McConkie's book raised similar concerns, as well as a fundamental question regarding the book's title, President McKay's position being that only the president of the church can declare doctrine.

Prince also discusses the priesthood being withheld from blacks. The prophet's position was that the ban was a matter of policy rather than doctrine, but that the practice was so set that a revelation would be required to change it, and no revelation came to him during his administration.

President McKay's secretary assumed the role of chief of staff, particularly during the latter years, and effectively controlled who had access to the prophet and who did not. Those who did not would often make end runs around Middlemiss through one of the president's sons. It all makes for a most intriguing story.

The book itself is very well crafted and nicely bound. The color plates are beautiful and include seldom seen portraits of David O. McKay, Stephen L Richards, and J. Reuben Clark Jr. by Arnold Friberg.

Reportedly, the authors declined royalties if the University of Utah Press would produce a quality book selling at a reasonable price. Both objectives are met quite nicely.

Great history and biography
This book provides the read with a well researched history of the Church and biography of a wonderful prophet, David O McKay.This book not only informs, but will inspire the read to lead a better life.

David O MacKay and The Rise Of Modern Mormonism
The book is absolutely greatX! So much information that it is hard at times to digest it all. But everything makes perfect sense. I recomend this book to those who have a sincere testimony of the LDS Church.

Great book!!
This is a great book.If you want to learn more about the evolution of Mormonism and get an inside glimpse into the real life of these leaders, you'll love this book! ... Read more

Product Description
The Zuni are a Southwestern people whose origins have long intrigued anthropologists. This volume presents fresh approaches to that question from both anthropological and traditional perspectives, exploring the origins of the tribe and the influences that have affected their way of life. Utilizing macro-regional approaches, it brings together many decades of research in the Zuni and Mogollon areas, incorporating archaeological evidence, environmental data, and linguistic analyses to propose new links among early Southwestern peoples.

The findings reported here postulate the differentiation of the Zuni language at least 7,000 to 8,000 years ago, following the initial peopling of the hemisphere, and both formulate and test the hypothesis that many Mogollon populations were Zunian speakers. Some of the contributions situate Zuni within the developmental context of Southwestern societies from Paleoindian to Mogollon. Others test the Mogollon-Zuni hypothesis by searching for contrasts between these and neighboring peoples and tracing these contrasts through macro-regional analyses of environments, sites, pottery, basketry, and rock art. Several studies of late prehistoric and protohistoric settlement systems in the Zuni area then express more cautious views on the Mogollon connection and present insights from Zuni traditional history and cultural geography. Two internationally known scholars then critique the essays, and the editors present a new research design for pursuing the question of Zuni origins.

By taking stock and synthesizing what is currently known about the origins of the Zuni language and the development of modern Zuni culture, Zuni Origins is the only volume to address this subject with such a breadth of data and interpretations. It will prove invaluable to archaeologists working throughout the North American Southwest as well as to others struggling with issues of ethnicity, migration, incipient agriculture, and linguistic origins. ... Read more

Product Description
This book critically interrogates the work of David Harvey, one of the world’s most influential geographers, and one of its best known Marxists.

• Considers the entire range of Harvey’s oeuvre, from the nature of urbanism to environmental issues.
  
• Written by contributors from across the human sciences, operating with a range of critical theories.
  
• Focuses on key themes in Harvey’s work.
  
• Contains a consolidated bibliography of Harvey’s writings.

Product Description
Today's moms are not the ones you thought you knew!

Did you know that 32 percent of Gen-X moms have tattoos? This is just one of the fun and useful facts you'll find in this new book from the authors of The Great Tween Buying Machine.

From their tattoos to their heavy reliance on the web for information, to their active partnering with their kids, moms today have changed. They aren't the moms you thought you knew. You'll learn how the new relationship between moms and kids affects purchase decisions and how to capture this new market. The days of manufacturing a good kid-focused product and putting some TV advertising behind are growing shorter, but after reading this book, you'll know how to handle this new environment.

Full of illustrations and facts to help you develop new products for the Super Consumer. You will learn:

-- The definition of the Four-Eyed, Four-Legged Consumer (4i4l).

-- How and why parenting has changed.

-- The life stages of the Super Consumer.

-- The motivations of kids and moms as consumers.

-- How the super consumer makes purchase decisions.

-- The size of the 4i4l market.

-- How the kid part of the 4i4l consumer thinks.

-- How to gather insights about the super consumer.

-- Media use by the super consumer, both kids and moms.

-- How to create effective advertising and products for the super consumer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A revealing look at the modern relationship between mom and kid.
The authors have done a great job painting a picture of how the modernmom (of GenX or GenY) has an entirely different perspective on work, child-rearing, and shopping from that of her Boomer parents.

The book discusses how the environment and lifestyle of the new mom influences how they raise their children, and how, in turn, their children influence buying decisions.The main thesis is that most buying decisions are a cooperative process between mom and child, and that marketers must take this into account when designing their campaigns.

Of the several child / mom marketing books I've read during the last few weeks, this one was the most eye-opening.It also feels the most credible, with lots of data-driven conclusions (though about half the facts and figures are not cited).

Targeting the mother-child joint shopper
Married or not, women in the United States wield unparalleled purchasing power, and those who are mothers tend to make their buying decisions after influential input from their children. These families are often stressed out and starved for time, according to mom-and-kid marketing experts Tim Coffey, David Siegel and Greg Livingston. The $1.25-trillion annual mom-and-kid market is booming with new selling opportunities for alert marketers, so the authors explain how to tap into them - though they may downplay the father's role. getAbstract recommends this expert book of proven marketing ideas to advertisers and retailers who want to attract family shoppers.

Great Book, Great Book Store
Excellent book, and the delivery service was way faster than I expected. Definitely I would buy here again.

Marketing to Mom and Kid
I am a researcher and used this book to help me grasp the major issues and themes confronting marketers in understanding how moms make shopping decisions in order to construct a survey for a client.It is an excellent overview of contemporary parenting attitudes, the way mom's shopping behaviors change as their children get older, how different media are used to form opinions and make purchase decisions and so on.This is a huge topic of course, and the book is a very good overview with important and provocative thought starters. It can be read by anyone who is interested in the topic -- you do not have to be a researcher and you can be in the early stages of your career and still get a great deal from it.It is not super deep in any one area, but a great introduction to an increasingly critical topic. ... Read more

Product Description
This work provides a sweeping historical analysis of the political development of Western Europe in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Arguing that the evolution of most Western European nations into liberal democracies, social democracies, or fascist regimes was attributable to a discrete set of social class alliances, the author explores the origins and outcomes of the political development in the individual nations. In Britain, France, and Switzerland, countries with a unified middle class, liberal forces established political hegemony before World War I. By coopting considerable sections of the working class with reforms that weakened union movements, liberals essentially excluded the fragmented working class from the political process, remaining in power throughout the inter-war period. In countries with a strong, cohesive working class and a fractured middle class, Luebbert points out, a liberal solution was impossible. In Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Czechoslovakia, political coalitions of social democrats and the "family peasantry" emerged as a result of the First World War, leading to social democratic governments. In Italy, Spain, and Germany, on the other hand, the urban middle class united with a peasantry hostile to socialism to facilitate the rise of fascism. ... Read more

Product Description
The only known private pupil of the great W.R. Leigh,Gregory Perillo's powerfully dramatic, emotional depictions of NativeAmericans and early settlers, as well as western landscapes andwildlife have made him one of America's leading painters andsculptors.This beautifully illustrated textbook reviews Perillo'sfascinating life (now spanning seven decades), and the evolution ofhis art.Documenting his legitimate place in the lineage of theestablished Masters, Perillo's paintings and sculpture are comparedand constrasted to works of selected deceased artists from the ButlerInstitute of American Art and, to a lesser extent, privatecollections. ... Read more

Product Description
A husband hell-bent on revenge hunts a Wereshark...A Russian mail order bride with a fishy secret...Crabs with a collective consciousness...A vampire who transforms into a Candiru...Zombie piranha...Bait that will have you crawling out of your skin and more. Drawing on horror, humor with a helping of dark fantasy and a touch of deviance, these 19 contemporary stories pay homage to the monsters that lurk in the murky waters of our imaginations. If you thought it was safe to go back in the water...Think Again!Amazon.com Review
Dead Bait is a collection of stories themed around fishing and fish. It's an innocuous premise, promising father-son bonding moments and unusual variants of 'you shoulda seen the one that got away.' But if any of the creatures from Dead Bait got away, you'd be too busy screaming to appreciate your luck. The stories in this anthology manage to be the most ingeniously revolting that I have ever read. The stories range in topic from biochemically mutated parasites that invade the body via the anus ('Test Drive,' by Mike Norris, taking the expression 'ass bandit' to a new level) to fish fellatio ('Something Fishy Is Going On,' by Mark Zirbel, winning hands down as the most whack and enjoyable piece of the entire book), but no matter the premise, each story is a treat--gory, creepy or just plain nuts...Horrorr Web ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Fishing For Humans
After reading the great, instant classic Dead Bait anthology, you'll realize that the claim on the back cover, "If you thought if was safe to go back in the water...Think Again!" is wrong. It's not only not safe to go back in the water, it's not safe to go anywhere near it. And I'm not just talking oceans, lakes, and rivers here. You'll be afraid to go near puddles after the ominous "The Old Man and the Puddle" by Hayden Williams , and after the gut-churning "Crawlies" by David Dunwoody you'll be afraid to go near the toilet. And speaking of "Crawlies", good luck forgetting the creepy water millipedes that star in it anytime soon. The final scene of this story, however, is a prime candidate for repression. If you do choose to stuff its beyond-disgusting imagery into the back of your brain, be aware that it's the equivalent of about 38 bad childhoods. If it festers in your subconscious and partially resurfaces in the future, you'll find yourself committing acts of psychotic depravity that will land you on the FBI's Most Wanted List in a matter of days. And then there's "There's Something Fishy Going On" by Mark Zirbel. Where do I even begin with this masterpiece? Russian mail-order brides, roly-poly fish heads (in Russia, roly-poly fish heads eat you!), mystery vaginas, necrobestiality, serial killers, corpse reanimation...just insane. And brilliant. Moving on, "Blood in the River" by Stephen R. Southard features one of my favorite species in the entire animal kingdom, the candiru. If you're not familiar with candirus, they're pencil-thin catfish indigenous to the Amazon river that are famous for lodging themselves in human urethras. That's worth the price of admission by itself. And Southard combines one with a shape-shifting, human vampire. That's just wrong (but it feels so right). The story immediately following this is the well-plotted, piranha-infested excursion "Piraya" by Tim Curran. After reading these two stories one after the other, you won't be vacationing in South America anytime soon. Speaking of exotic locales, one of the coolest things about this book is its diversity of settings. From Cambodia to New Zealand and others, it's a veritable world tour. Another great thing is that it features a lot of different mythologies from those settings as well. In addition to the stories I've mentioned there are a plethora more, a total of nineteen to be exact, each high-quality tales starring various creatures in strange scenarios. This anthology's a winner, folks. It's fresh, it's original, and it pushes the boundaries of horror and gruesomeness. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Aquatic Life from Hell!!
Severed Press has assembled a nifty little collection of the creepiest, scariest, weirdest and sometimes funniest fish stories you'll ever pick up, and you should pick it up. If you like your stories dark and mean, check out Tim Curran's "Piraya." At the opposite end of the spectrum is Murphy Edwards with his southern fried take on fishing with "Noodlers." This one will have you doubled over laughing one minute and totally freaked the next. Keep your goats and friends away from the giant suck hole! Mike Norris's "Test Drive" puts a new spin on the annoying used car salesman shtick. All roads lead to hell. The only story that I really didn't care much for was "Something Fishy Is Going On" mostly because gross-out horror isn't my cup of joe. It's a strong story and many will find it to their liking. I can't complete this review without a healthy nod to Tjie Tsang for the awesome cover art, which is what first attracted me to this anthology. Tjie has some other pieces that are just as stunning and he has a nack for creepy but stunning sketches and drawings. All in all, this one is well woth the cover price.

Something Stinks Like The Sea
... and it isn't the stories in Dead Bait, although you may never eat seafood ever again after this one.

Like all anthologies, some stories seize you harder than others, but some really twist your manhood or lack thereof with this one.

Something Fishy Is Going On could possibly be one of the most disturbing tales I've ever read, but I'm happy I had the stomach to take it all in.

Great scares, great gross-out, great read.

.
Hits and misses, as with most anthologies.

If you are a fan of this genre the book is for you, but it wont be converting anyone.

Pretty good themed anthology
Dead Bait is an anthology of horror stories centered on fishing and aquatic critters released by Severed Press in 2009.It has no introduction (Unfortunately!I would really have liked to learn how the book came together.), 277 pages of text and a few pages of brief biographies of the authors.For the $14.95 list price (with a discount by Amazon), it is pretty generous as far as small presses go.The attractive cover art is by Tjie Tsang.There is no editor credited with the book; mostly I found production qualities good.I only noticed a few scattered typos.

As I cannot find it elsewhere I am providing the table of contents:

Fox Goes Fission - Ron Leming
Chum Bucket - Eric Hermanson
Test Drive - Mike Norris
Old Man and the Puddle - Hayden Williams
Brunch - James Harris
Crawlies - David Dunwoody
Jungle Rot - Steve Lowe
Under the Boardwalk - Julius James DeAngelus
Noodlers - Murphy Edwards
Grim Adaptations - Aaron A. Polson
Blood in the River - Steven R. Southard
Piraya - Tim Curran
The Hanged Man -Bosley Gravel
Something Fishy is Going On -Mark Zirbel
Topwater - C.J. Killmer
Dawes - Steve Ruthenbeck
Searching for Sea Monsters - Lance Schonberg
Lobster Stew - Gregory L. Norris
Death Roe - Mark Onspaugh

I have a rather specialized interest in horror, Cthulhu mythos fiction, so I go trolling in aquatic themed books to see if I can uncover a hidden gem or two.The first story, Fox Goes Fission was an overlong disorganized mess and almost soured me on the book.However, I persevered and I'm glad I did.For the most part I was entertained and some stories were well written stand outs.Old Man and the Puddle was a very nicely creepy fish story, about a man in Hawaii who finally lands the big one in his favorite fishing hole...alas.Crawlies and Test Drive were somewhat similarly themed, about the unpleasant behavior of invertebrates, and both of them made me squirm!I also enjoyed the reverse fishing story Under the Boardwalk, the Vietnam war themed Jungle Rot, Piraya as as one of several zombie-ish tales in the book and the fish/lycanthropy undercurrents in Blood in the River.I would single out Noodlers, about rednecks and catfish, for outstanding prose.I was awestruck but the horrific lunatic hilarity of Something Fishy is Going On, which defies description.For my own particular taste, I think Chum Bucket fills the bill quite nicely.Mr. Hermanson has had stories in a few Lovecrafttian books and magazine over the years.In fact I could swear I had read Chum Bucket before in some other book, but no matter.It is not overtly Cthulhu mythos but I am happy to interpret it as such.

I think most horror fans will be happy with this book, particularly if you like aquatic themes.I know I was pleased as I idled away a few nights reading.For the amount of stories you get Dead Bait is a bit of a bargain. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

this book couldn't answer my questions
I've been interested in Gregory Bateson, ever since I came into contact with his work when I studied NLP.I'm still intrigued to find out how exactly he approached science, how he thought about doing scientific work.While this book gives the reader an acceptable overview of Gregory Bateson's roots and his life, I was particularly disappointed with the section discussing his life since 1970, the year he gave the Korzybski memorial lecture. In these last 10 years of his live he published "Steps to an ecology of mind" (1972), "Mind and Nature (1977) and "Where Angels fear to Tread".Paradoxally, this author only met Bateson in 1971 and must have more details about these 10 last years, during which Bateson taught at the University of California at Santa Cruz (1972-1979) and influenced a whole generation of students at the Kresge College.These last 10 years of his life only get some 25 pages from this author.In contrast, the history of his family and youth get over 100 pages.Also, for someone who has had the chance to meet Bateson extensively in order to write this biography, we don't learn much about Bateson's real thoughts, motivations.All by all this is a pretty dry book.This book has the merit of existing, yet for me, the author missed some opportunities here.

While I recommend everyone interested in social sciences, communication, anthropology or psychology to read Bateson's books, there isn't much to learn from this book by reading "about Bateson".

Patrick E.C. Merlevede - author of "7 Steps to Emotional intelligence" ... Read more

Product Description
Imagine You Could Afford The World's Best Coach For Your Child...Watch, listen to and feel what it is like as your child blossoms, discovers hidden talents and abilities, and develops an ever-deepening level of self-confidence. Notice how the coach is working. Marvel at the wonderful rapport coach and child share, how learning has become not only enjoyable, but also easier and faster. Well, imagine now you are that coach...Watch, listen to and feel what it is like as you work with your child, doing everything the coach did, and more! And, as you combine the deep love and respect you have for your child with the skills of the world's best coach notice any barriers to achievement simply melting away for both of you as new and exciting possibilities present themselves. Welcome to The Coaching Parent! You hold in your hands the key to becoming your child's personal, inspirational coach. This book provides all the tools and motivation you need to make the best use of the coaching opportunities that arise in your daily interactions with your child.Written for parents, step-parents, guardians, carers and grandparents this books presents you with proven techniques for relating to and helping the children in your care dramatically improve their life chances. Ideal for parents of children from pre-school to teenage years. Contains 45 'Coaching Flash Cards' to copy and use with your children. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

great real life application
I don't have any kids myself, but I found this book helpful as a martial arts instructor of young kids.The focus of this book was for parents with children at home, however, bringing these techniques into classes with kids in all ranges of minds and attitudes was helpful in not only them reaching potential and goals, but myself as well.

Inspirational!
A friend recommended this book to me and as a mother of three children who are all gifted, I was keen to try anything to help them reach their potential. Wow! This book was just what I was looking for. Thanks for the recommendation, and thanks for the great advice. Well worth the read.

One of the best books I've read on how to help your child navigate through life!
My mother in law brought this book home to me from one of her trips abroad. I found it very helpful and very practical. I am the mother of three children ages 20 months to 9 years. I find myself referring back to this book time and time again. The advise is clear and concise and very easy to put into play immediately at home. You won't be disappointed. My children have benefitted in countless ways from their Mom reading this book. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reprint of the catalogue that accompanied a show of Ain's work at UC Santa Barbara in 1980. Ain's oeuvre grew from his early association with Schindler and Neutra before World War Two into one the more interesting bodies of work in the post-war Modernist scene in Southern California. Of special interest are his multi-unit housing schemes, such as Mar Vista Housing for the Advanced Development Company. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

L. Mark Taylor (Kingston, Jamaica)
This is a work of devotion by the late David Gebhard, and others at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), on an important mid-century California Architect. The research on Gregory Ain's career is solid and the booklet lists all of his known buildings & projects and publications on his architecture. The lists show that Ain was a well published architect during his own lifetime and indeed during his more active professional years from the mid thirties to the mid fifties. Yet this remains the only publication on his career and was produced for an exhibition of his work at the UCSB Art Museum in 1980.
The document includes a short essay on Ain and his work and a 2 page note on the importance of his architectural drawings. The photo essay at the end of the booklet shows very dated, fading, period images of the buildings and drawings.
At 95 pages with no contents or index; no specially commissioned photos or drawings, no essays positioning his work with his contemporaries like Harris, Koenig, Soriano etc. and a total absence of colour the work is overpriced at $24. Simply, the work lacks depth but remains a good start on the life work of an almost forgotten mid century Modern California Architect.
Maybe there is not enough material to force a better book devoted to Gregory Ain but a book including other architects of the region and period who have similar problems of lack of documentation (Davidson, Soriano et al) could result in an interesting and viable contribution to the scholarship. ... Read more

Product Description
This brutally honest and powerful book by rock 'n' roll writers and nationally syndicated music columnist David Dodd is a collection of eye-opening interviews with America's foremost musicians and entertainers who have fough addiction. Those interviewed include Steven Tyler, Nils Lofgren, John Hiatt, Mitch Ryder, Eddie Money, Grace Slick, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and others. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Inspiring true stories of recovery
David Dodd has assembled a wide variety of stories to inspire and encourage addicted people to get clean.I was impressed that Twelve Step groups were NOT the focus of every tale, and that the one constant was that each individual made a PERSONAL CHOICE to forego their addiction and live sober.For all the help some people get from 12-Step groups, there are many who don't "relate" to the religiousity.But this book shows that recovery is still possible and worthwhile.The fact that most of these tales are told by celebrities and artists we KNOW only increases their value.Plus, it's nice to know that my gut feeling about Steven Tyler is "on the money" - he truly IS a mensch!!

A wonderful book!
I was attracted to the many well-known names listed on the cover, but once I began reading the book, I was overwhelmed with its passion and solutions. David Dodd has done a remarkable job which is reflected in this collectionof interviews. My favorite part, however, is the introduction to thebook, where the author tells his personal story on how he became sober withthe help of Steven Tyler.His vivid description of the events wereastonishing to me, they were absolutely incredible. This is a wonderfulbook! ... Read more