4 comments about HO'OPONO.

1. This new edition of the classic book is simply wonderful. As the editor of the Bishop Museum book Na Mo'olelo Lomilomi: The Traditions of Hawaiian Massage and Healing, I look first to the lineage of information provided. This book is based on in-depth interviews with members of the Kame'ekua family of the island of Moloka'i. The author worked as a researcher for the Bishop Museum where she first learned of Kaili'ohe Makaweliweli Kame'ekua, the matriarch of the family. Although traditions vary among the people of different islands, and not all Hawaiians will agree with everything in this book, it beautifully recounts the oral history of this family.
   
   The book has 10 chapters: Time Before Time, Mana, 'Ohana, Kahuna, 'Aumakua, Pono, History and Mythology, Huna, Aloha Is, and 'Imua. It begins with one of the most wonderful stories in Hawaiian tradition, the bowl of light. "Every child born has at birth a bowl of perfect Light. If he tends his Light during his life it will grow in strength and he can do many things..." This parable is a precious teaching that gives us a new way to look at life.
   
   Interwoven with the stories from the family are Pali's personal reminiscences of her life in Hawai'i. My favorites are the ones about her husband, Koko Willis. Koko was 100% menehune, as he liked to say, and "coincidentally" a member of the Kame'ekua 'ohana. Indeed, the story of how they met and eventually married is one "coincidence" after another.
   
   This book is especially important for anyone interested in Huna to learn more about authentic Hawaiian traditions.
   
   Readers of this book will experience a delightful journey to old Hawai'i that will give them new perspectives on how to live their lives in balance.



2. This book helped me to understand more about Hawaiian ancestral roots.
   It os writing in a very sweet way.



3. This book not only gives plenty of history of Hawai`i, and Moloka`i specifically, but it teaches you how to live your life as it should be lived. With aloha, with unconditional love. It teaches respect for the `aina, respect for the moana, respect for kupuna, respect for the keiki, respect for ke akua, for all people and all things. And, more importantly, it teaches respect for your own self.
   
   This book shows how to be what we all should aspire to...pono.
   
   Must reading for EVERYONE.



4. *****
   This book was an outstanding introduction to Hawaiian culture, told through the eyes of the author. It is a personal book, part memoir, and filled with Hawaiian mo`olelo (stories) that describe the true Hawaiian culture. It is more personal than comprehensive, and does indeed discuss "the Hawaiian way", helping me to understand the intricacies of this complex (and, paradoxically simple, too) and precious way of life, and how and why it has conflicted so with the Euro-American way of living. The author does this through personal stories and gentle explanations, showing more than telling, and helping the reader to appreciate the beauty of an exotic and wonderful culture.
   
   The author discusses the concept of mana, the importance of the `ohana to Hawaiians, `aumakua...and popular misunderstandings as well, including much about huna. It is a beautifully illustrated book with simple black-and-white drawings that add beauty and some personal photos as well. Most importantly, it is a Hawaiian book, done in the Hawaiian way (which is non-linear), including genealogy, and most importantly, stories...it was a treasure to read. It includes a glossary for the many unfamiliar Hawaiian words.
   
   Reading this book felt like a privilege. I feel like the author's culture was being shared with me in a vulnerable and gentle way that gave me so much insight and appreciation for her and for the Hawaiian people.
   
   Highly recommended.
   *****

No comments about Hawaii, Wild & Scenic 2009 Deluxe Wall Calendar.

1 comments about Guide to the Magic of Walt Disney World: The Lost Journals.

1. I consider myself a pretty knowledgeable Disney fan, that being said I was hopeful for a new and interesting book of Disney facts. Well, boy did this deliver! The Lost Journal is full of fun facts, hidden Mickey's (some I knew of and some I didn't) and really interesting information about so many of the rides.
   
   It was great to spend the afternoon reading this and remember all the places in the park where the hidden Mickey's might be, and planning our next trip to the parks. I will defiantly have this guide with me as we tour the parks again this summer, in search of all the clues to complete the puzzle in the front of it. This is a great book for kids as well, very easy to read and understand. The size is great and will fit perfectly in our backpack at the park.
   
   I highly recommend this guide for all the Disney fans out there.

4 comments about 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Phoenix, Including Tempe, Scottsdale, and Glendale (60 Hikes - Menasha Ridge) (60 Hikes - Menasha Ridge).

1. The first time I climbed Camelback Mountain via the Echo Canyon trail I came to a new understanding of the word "steep." The trail rises in excess of 1,000 feet per mile and that includes a relatively level section. But Camelback Peak is hardly alone among the rigorous hikes and climbs in the Phoenix area. Many of the trails in the Phoenix Mountains are incredibly steep with no shade and few convenient rest spots. However, they also offer stellar views of the Valley of the Sun and some of the best off season recreation in the western US. They are also covered in detail in Charles Liu's new addition to the '60 Hikes within 60 miles' series from Menasha Ridge Press.
   
   Like other books in the series, this volume has a lot to recommend it. It includes a useful introduction on the basics of hiking and how to use a GPS unit. Hikes are organized by geographical region (within Phoenix, suburbs, and areas to the northeast and northwest, as well as south of the city) and each hike contains key "at-a-glance" information such as distance, elevation, approximate hiking time, and, relatively unique to Phoenix, how many quarts of water you will need if you wish to survive the experience. I might add here that some of the information can be redundant. Under the heading "exposure" virtually every hike lists shade as "none" or "very little." Liu deserves a lot of credit for his careful maps that accompany the trail descriptions. These were recorded by hand-held GPS and plotted onto downloaded topographical maps. Based on the trails I have hiked that are described in this book, these maps are excellent.
   
   In all, this is a great book if you are a Phoenix resident or regular visitor seeking hikes in the off season. (I fall into the latter category.) The author does describe several fairly level paths: the trail in Papago Park and the Bridal Murphy trail, to offset some of the more challenging adventures. For my part, I will use this book to explore the Bradshaw Mountains the next time I visit Phoenix in the warmer months. Liu points out their elevation makes them a nice alternative to the longer drive for Flagstaff if you want to beat the heat. I think it is a safe bet that even seasoned local hikers will find something new in these pages. So get the book and go take a hike (but not during June, July, or August).



2. Have you ever purchased a guide and found yourself wondering if the author actually visited the site, and if he did, why he didn't provide more information? That will not be your experience with this book, 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Phoenix. The author, Charles Liu, gives a wealth of information for each hike with detailed maps, charts showing the elevation gain/loss, key at-a-glance trail info, GPS coordinates, and more. Each trail is described "In Brief" with a sentence or two, then expanded upon in usually 2+ pages of well-written prose, describing every aspect of the hike. Most descriptions also feature a black and white photo of the trail, scenery, or a unique feature of the hike. Each hike's description ends with a paragraph of describing additional nearby activities.
   
   Included in the book's 20+ pages of introductions and prefaces, there are particularly useful lists that make it easy to find the kind of hike one might be looking for. Want a scenic, solitary hike that is 4-6 miles, on a multi-use trail by a stream? Try the Vineyard Trail. Or a 1-3 mile flat dog-friendly trail that is good for viewing wildlife and ends in a swimming hole? Try the Badger Springs Wash Trail. Or a scenic, solitary high-altitude 9+ mile steep hike alongside a stream? Try Reavis Ranch via Rogers Trough Trailhead. Also charted are hikes with scrambling or climbing, those with archaeological ruins, those best for children, hikes best for wildflowers, those for regular workouts and hikes for runners.
   
   The book ends with a short-but-useful appendix section, listing where to locally find hiking supplies, maps, and hiking clubs, and a glossary of both general hiking terms and ones that might be fairly particular to Arizona (like hoodoo and javelina).
   
   My only wish is that the author would have better-covered the areas to the north and west of Phoenix. However, that's not enough of a detraction to warrant less than five stars. I have read and owned many, many guidebooks, and this one surely ranks among the best.
   
   (The cover of my book is different from the one pictured here on Amazon.)



3. What a great book. After just moving to Phoenix from Washington State, I really didn't know where I could hike. This book gave thorough instuctions on each hike, from elevation, distance, all the way down to if there is shade or not. It is extremely well written, and is my bible for whenever I am out. Definitely worth the money.



4. I have used this book over and over. It is a great book for dayhikes, with detailed maps and directions.

1 comments about Meals Worth Stopping for in Florida: Local Restaurants within 10 Miles of the Interstate.

1. Do you enjoy good food? Do you like to "hit the road?" Or do you find yourself traveling for business, errands or other necessity on the interstates and turnpikes of Florida? Maybe you just like a good read? We think you'll find Meals Worth Stopping for in Florida worth picking up and purchasing. We can surely recommend the restaurants we've tried from Floyd's in the north to Cap's, Calypso, Greek Island and others in the south, and the narrative is clever and entertaining even if you never have a chance to stop in any of the restaurants. We only worry that all the intense culinary consumption required of the gourmettes to put this together will deter them from extending their research further north on I95 or west on I10. We're crossing our fingers and engaged in preliminary research. Although we are secure about our objectivity we have to reveal that Nancy Barber, a gourmette and co-author, is one of our nieces. Have a look and enjoy!!!

No comments about Not For Tourists Guide 2009 to Brooklyn (Not for Tourists Guidebook).

5 comments about Along Interstate-75: Local Knowledge, Entertainment And Insider Tips, for Your Drive Between Detroit And the Florida Border. (Along Interstate 75) (Along Interstate 75).

1. If I could give this book 10 stars I would. The amount of detail and information it has is just amazing. Dave Hunter and his wife, Kathy, have made the trip to Florida much more fun and interesting. You can plan ahead for side trips, rest areas, even what gas stations and restaurants are miles down the road. I had an earlier version, but it is a good idea to update every other year as things change so often along I75. Get this great little book and you will learn things, even if you have driven this route all your life, as I have. If you are planning a trip down to Florida via I75, this should be your first purchase



2. A few years ago, when we purchased a vacation home in Florida, friends gave us the I-75 Guide as a gift. How helpful it has been for all this time, as we traveled back and forth twice a year ! It came time to pack it for this spring's trip and it was nowhere to be found. When we reached Florida and it still had not revealed itself, we promptly ordered another one, updated for this year. We have found it extremely useful in passing through large cities (such as Atlanta) with minimal frustration and in locating facilites along the way. Knowing where gas stations, restaurants and motels are - exit by exit- makes it so much easier to plan your stops during the day. It has also been quite accurate in notations about natural phenomena along the way (kudzu vines, weeping rocks, deer sightings, etc.) Sightseeing information is also of interest and value. We have maps and guidebooks from other sources, but still like to have this one in addition. Keep up the good work !



3. This is a great book, it made our return trip from Florida to Michigan just fly by with all of the interesting facts we found along the way. I would definitely recommend this book if you are driving I-75 to Florida.



4. This guide is the best for anyone traveling along I-70. For all of the families traveling with children, it helps you find great stops. Espesially for anyone heading to Disney, it helps make a more relaxing trip when you know ahead where to stop along the way.



5. We are leaving for Florida in a week and we have been reading this book in preparation for the trip. Wow, what great information! I was so impressed I bought one for my father who goes to Florida for the winter.

5 comments about Oddball Wisconsin: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places (Oddball series).

1. Most people when they go on vacation go to national parks like the Grand Canyon or theme parks like Disneyland. How many would go to see the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame with a giant embalmed worm on display? Or how about the world's biggest corkscrew? A serial killer's grave? The author saw these things and more in Wisconsin and compiled them into this book. It's an enjoyable journey through Wisconsin's strange side and is recommended for die-hard road trippers or those interested in America's stranger side.



2. If you have an appetite for the curious or offbeat, this book will fill the bill. I don't have plans to visit all the places and things mentioned in this book, but just sitting and reading it was a hoot. Not just a guide to the oddball, but histories and trivia are included. This is Wisconsin at its best.



3. This is a fun and interesting book about Wisconsin.
   Each chapter, according to areas of the state, gets better and better. I couldn't put it down!



4. This is one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read about my home state--in the midst of so much (generally) endearing weirdness, Jerome Pohlen manages to capture the spirit of this place better than any "Discover Wisconsin" ad campaign I've ever seen.
   
   Pohlen casts a broad swath over the entire state, even above Highway 8 "up nort" (a lot of people tend to forget that we even exist, so it's always refreshing to find someone who hasn't), in search of the strange, the homespun, the downright wacky, even the morbid. And he finds it in spades. Whether you're a local Sconny looking for some ideas for day trips, or an out-of-stater passing through on the way to the Dells, there's something in this book that you'll feel compelled to stop & see. Well, if you're into fiberglass oddities and going somewhere other than Door County, that is.



5. I just returned from a road trip and I love this book. The set-up is extremely easy to follow.
   
   I've lived in Wisconsin all my life and have never really explored it. I came across this book and it helped create an interesting experience on the road. There are towns and sights that I would have (and in some cases have) passed by without noticing.
   
   The only thing that could be better is an updated version of this book. There are a few things that are out of date, but otherwise, if you plan on road tripping in Wisconsin, get this book.

1 comments about Scenic Driving New Mexico, 2nd (Scenic Driving Series).

1. Laurence Parent is a well-known photographer - his photos illustrating this book are superb (wish there were more) and his descriptions of these drives in New Mexico are great...the maps are crude but serviceable. They are better than the very rough ones in his Hiking New Mexico, though...I've driven almost all the routes described and got my money's worth many times over - the book is well-used and always with me on my New Mexico trips.

5 comments about Martin Chuzzlewit (Penguin Classics).

1. If you like Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit is definitely worth the read. Like virtually everything he wrote, this novel is engaging, emotional, and intensely human. It follows a pattern that is bound to seem familiar to those acquainted with Dickens, and has a very Dickensian happy ending; but then, that is what we love about Dickens. There is still something to be said for virtue, and it satisfies our sense of justice when it wins out in the end. That isn't a very modern sentiment, but it is an undeniably good one. This isn't the first book I would recommend for someone wanting to pick up a little Dickens (Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist would probably all come first), but this is worth the read. I give it four stars only because I think it is second-tier Dickens; but second-tier Dickens is still first-rate.



2. Martin Chuzzlewit the elder is dying and all the family has designs on gaining their inheritance. His grandson seems the odds on favorite but young Martin, the grandson has fallen madly in love with the elder Martin's altruistic nurse, Mary Graham. Why the elder Martin finds this terrifying is puzzling. Does he really think Mary's interest in Martin the younger will compromise the quality of her job? Oh, oh...I've done it, I've caught Dickens capturing the foibles of humanity again!!!
   These characters sometimes make me scream. I'd like to be face to face with them, vigourously attempting to argue them out of their other-destructive behavior...Of course it would be totally useless as far as they're concerned, but hopefully cathartic for me.
   The PBS video (6 hours) is how I was introduced to this story. After viewing the video I read the book. Dickens offers a marked contrast to his near contemporary Alexis deTocqueville's. Where Tocqueville saw free association and high community spirit in his Democracy in America, Dickens saw flim-flam and greed everywhere. -As greed and selfishness are big themes in Chuzzlewit, America proved an apt foil. It is said American publishers pirated Dickens work, paying him no royalties, adding fuel to his ire. Other reviewers have commented on Pecksniff , Mrs. Gump, Jonas Chuzzlewit and Tom Pinch. Oh, there are Dickensian characters in this book. The rivalry between Mercy and Charity Pecksniff results in this case, in alarming tragedies of self-centeredness. If there be humor in such goings on, you'll love Montigue Tigg (Tigg Montigue). He is every bit the operator, having much in common with Mr. Merdle of Dicken's Little Dorritt. Rest assured, as Dickens torments the reader with the trials of his characters, this is one of those tales where just desserts are served in the end.



3. because I really think that this is a great work, with only a few minor flaws. I admit that for the first 300 pages or so that I was somewhat unimpressed- it seemed like Dickens wasn't presenting anything different from his other works, but, as someone else mentioned, the pace really picked up the farther I got into it. I ended up spending much of the weekend reading just because I couldn't wait to find out how it ended! The only thing I would say was an issue was the sentimentality that showed up in characters like Tom Pinch and Mary Graham. As others have said, I wouldn't recommend this for one's first Dickens, but it is still a wonderful and enthralling read.



4. Greed and selfishness abound in this long novel originally brought to the 1843-44 reading public through twenty monthly installments. The book did not sell well and is today little known except to Dickens fans. It is well worth a perusal as it:
   1. Exhibits a fascinating cast of characters from the alcohoic nurse Mrs Gamp and her imaginary friend Mrs Harris to the unforgettable Mr. Seth Pecksniff whose hypocritical lifestyle is a gem of descriptive satire by the master Dickens. Pecksniff is an architect seeking to wed his two daughters to rich folks, claim credit for other people' work and cast aside from his office such worthy young gentlemen as Martin Chuzzlewit, John Westlock and the timorous Tom Pinch. Tom and his Ruth are a beautiful example of sibling love and kindness to others in need.
   The book is also an excellent mystery as the evil Jonas Chuzzlewit plots the death of his rich old father; murders a business associate and is finally arrested. Jonas commits suicide by poison orignally intended for his father.
   All's well that ends well is this long serialized work. The section on Martin and his friend Mark Tapley's trip to the USA was inserted by Dickens to raise sluggish sale figures for the monthly installments of the work. Dickens had a keen eye for Yankee foibles from spitting to politics to making a quick buck. Martin and Mark end their journey in the swampy regions of the town of Eden. Only the help of Mr. Bevan a kind American allows them to return to England. Dickens had been disillusioned by the republic of his American cousins in his 1841 tour of the states. He briefly mentions slavery in America and his view is negative. It should also be noted that Dickens found much to find fault with and criticize about his native land of England.
   This is not the first Dickens novel to begin with for there are parts (especially in the first installments) that drag as we learn about old Martin Chuzzlewit's ancestors and his disowning of his grandson Martin the hero of the novel. They will later reconcile in the exciting finish of this racing coach of genius across the broad sweep of the Victorian town and country landscape.
   Charles Dickens was a genius whose words deserve to be read as long as the English language is spoken, celebrated and honored on this globe.
   Great book!



5. To send an abridged recorded book without notifying the customer (see your web site; no mention that I could find) about the abridgement is not the sort of business practice I've come to expect from Amazon. I sent it back, of course, hence a waste of time and money not to mention trust.