Indian Books

As a non-specialist, I found this a very readable journey through ancient Chinese philosophy: from the Analects to Xunzi via the Daoists, following the thread of wu-wei or comparable metaphors of relaxed states. I found this book comparable in scope and quality to Chad Hansen's "Daoist Theory of Chinese Thought", although Edward Slingerland does not define himself as a Daoist. His use of the new field of "conceptual metaphor" is remarkable: it says that the basic metaphors in various cultures arise from the body and its movements; like walking, moving (effortlessly, on a Way...) or through simple actions of daily life, like filling a container with water, that triggers the metaphor of the true Self as a container, that is filled with an artificial social self of desires (ego) that to a Daoist must be emptied to allow the Dao to fill the true Self. Incidentally, this also could provide a solid basis for C.G. Jung's cross-cultural archetypes, that are in fact such metaphors; I'm thinking of his studies of metaphors in the I Ching for example (although E. Slingerland does not discuss Jung in his book.)

[We've been trying for 4 months to get Amazon to update the book description (which is several years out of date), to no avail, so direct action (as opposed to effortless action) seemed called for. Below is the actual book jacket description and back cover blurbs. The automated system forced me to rate the book in order to post this, so please ignore the 5 stars....]

This book presents a systematic account of the role of the personal spiritual ideal of wu-wei-literally "no doing," but better rendered as "effortless action"-in early Chinese thought. Edward Slingerland's analysis shows that wu-wei represents the most general of a set of conceptual metaphors having to do with a state of effortless ease and unself-consciousness. This concept of effortlessness, he contends, serves as a common ideal for both Daoist and Confucian thinkers. He also argues that this concept contains within itself a conceptual tension that motivates the development of early Chinese thought: the so-called "paradox of wu-wei" or the question of how one can consciously "try not to try."

Methodologically, this book represents a preliminary attempt to apply the contemporary theory of conceptual metaphor to the study of early Chinese thought. Although the focus is upon early China, both the subject matter and methodology have wider implications. The subject of wu-wei is relevant to anyone interested in later East Asian religious thought or in the so-called "virtue-ethics" tradition in the West. Moreover, the technique of conceptual metaphor analysis-along with the principle of "embodied realism" upon which it is based-provides an exciting new theoretical framework and methodological tool for the study of comparative thought, comparative religion, intellectual history, and even the humanities in general. Part of the purpose of this work is thus to help introduce scholars in the humanities and social sciences to this methodology, and provide an example of how it may be applied to a particular sub-field.

"Slingerland shows that wu-wei is a much richer and more pervasive notion than anyone has ever imagined. His work will convince even the most entrenched skeptic that it is an important and often neglected concern of just about every major religious thinker in early China." -Philip J. Ivanhoe, author of Confucian Moral Self Cultivation and Ethics in the Confucian Tradition

"Edward Slingerland is one of a group of exciting and creative young scholars revolutionizing the study of Chinese history, culture, and religion by applying the recently developed tools of cognitive analysis, especially conceptual metaphor analysis. Effortless Action is a remarkable work that explores the meaning of the crucial concept of wu-wei in a depth never before achievable, showing how Chinese metaphorical thought forms a nexus around this most central of ideas. If you care about China, about its culture, history, and religion, you will find this book extremely enlightening. And if you are a humanist seeking a deeper understanding of culture and history, this book will open up new worlds to you." -George Lakoff, Professor of Linguistics, UC Berkeley

Slingerland is one of several scholars (R. T. Ames, S. Cook, PJ Ivanhoe, E. Molgaard, J. Paper, V. Mair among others) reinvigorating Western scholarship on early Chinese thought. Readers of New Age interpretations steer aware from genuine scholarship, but perhaps they - and other general readers - should take a look at this book as a pathway to expertise on the field. The early texts in question, such as Kongzi's (Confucius') "Analects" and the Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu) are hard to read and interepret. One reason that Slingerland manages to make them accessible is his focus on their central (spiritual) metaphors. As he argues, there is much that is universal in the structure of metaphors from any time or place. As an overview from a spiritual perspective, I strongly recommend this well-organized, thoughtful book.

One does not have to be familiar with the Adirondacks to feel what life might be like there. This book will transport you to these forests, to another dimension, to another world, to a land of mystery and action.

If you want to know if elves exist, what they do, how they think, how they interact with people, you will discover these answers as you encounter The Elves of Loch Fada.

This book was written for youong people, and I am not in that age group, but this adventure took my imigination and mind there again. Even after finishing the book, my mind will sometimes wander back to that wonderful fantasy world.

Though I am an avid reader of suspense, I am glad that this book caught my attention. An excellent read for young readers and for the young at heart. Yes, I will read the sequel.

JCE
Indiana

This book is a transcension of native folk lore of the Adirondak Mountains, with classic well developed fantasy. Perfectly written for all ages, it will keep hardcore fantasy fans tunring page after page, while also riviting those with a local knowledge of the region. There is truly something for everyone here. I recommend it to anyone who is a fantasy fan, a reader of lore, or has ties to the Adirondak mountains.

This book is simply an amazing mix of ancient folklore, modern locale and flavors, and a deep fantasy mix that any avid fantasy fan will immediately identify to. Young and old will find elements to keep the mind flying along on this trip to another place. This novel will strike Adirondak buffs with locations they recognize and have seen, giving them new insight into these places, a perspective only given in local lore long since past. Fantasy fans will find the novel to contain all they are used to, but presented in a way which brings new twists to ancient epic battles of good versus evil.
I highly recommend this book to any and all readers with an Adirondak backround, an interest in ancient lore, and all fantasy fans of any age. Well Done.

The collaborative effort of Emory Dean Keoke (multicultural relations and communications consultant and enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe) and Kay Marie Porterfield (journalist for the "Indian Country Today, the largest Native American owned weekly newspaper in America), Encyclopedia Of American Indian Contributions To The World: 15,000 Years Of Inventions And Innovations is an exciting resource covering the rich and varied histories of Native American tribes and their precontact discoveries and postcontact influences. From the anatomical knowledge of the Mesoamerican cultures at AD 1100; to Native American contributions to agriculture, medicine and pharmacology; to hammocks of forest cultures; to the American Indian influence on Tabasco sauce, and so much more, the Encyclopedia Of American Indian Contributions To The World is an absorbing, 384-page reference offering information and insights into the complexities of Native American cultural history, interaction and social evolution. A highly recommended resource for students of Native American history and culture, the Encyclopedia Of American Indian Contributions To The World is an essential and core addition to academic and community library Native American Studies collections.

This is a very well researched and comprehensive book. It is quite monumental in its scope. To give you an example, I opened the book at random to page 139. One of the listings on this page is Ipecac. Many households know about this medication. It is
usually used to induce vomiting. Children often swallow things they should not. The books goes into some detail about where the plant was first found, how it is refined, and how it came to be used by Europeans. It then lists some sources for further reading.

It also has a great Appendix section. It shows which tribes lived where, including many good maps. The Chronology section lists when different things were discovered or invented by the indigenous people. It also has an appendix which lists the book's
entries by area, by subject and by which tribal group is associated with that item.

I know how long it took me to do the research associated with my book. I can only guess that the authors spent a very long time putting together the material in this book.

EAICW has a plethora of listings and information. EAICW is 384 pages long and measures (in inches): 1.19 x 11.20 x 8.44. It is a BIG book. It would make an excellent addition to any well stocked library.

I highly recommend it.

Published reliable information on Native Americans and their culutral contributions is hard to find. One of these authors is Lakota (Sioux) and has achieved his goal of collecting information to be used by all peoples about the First Americans. This book was first recommended to me by a friend who is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and an acquaintance of Mr. Keoke. I develop and present presentations to both University and Elementary students and often have a dozen or more books piled up to pull together exact references for my presentations. This book accomplishes that same reference task for me plus more. The information and maps in the appendix are much better than many other sources.

Leonard Willoughby's Every Day Tao blends personal observation and tested exercises to reveal tao as a Western seeker. His own struggles are the foundation for his exploration of how Western minds can perceive Tao.

This beautiful book is the best book on Tao I have ever come across. Mr. Willoughby has had experiences with many paths and is able to explain Tao in relation to those paths. He takes us to the Core teachings at the heart of these paths. The story of what led him to Taoism is interesting and informative. I have not found Taoism accessible to my Western mind until I found this treasure of a book. Reading this book is like taking a course in Tao but it opens your heart as well as enlightening your mind. This book is a rare gift Mr. Willoughby has given to the world. It cleared up much confusion about Reality and the Divine for me. It made me feel our connection to the Divine Source is possible, even inevitable. It is a book I will study for a lifetime. Deep and clear and beautiful.

I always run thru the book stores in serarch of interesting readings of the Tao. I ran across this one while looking thru the used and special priced books at Barnes and Noble (I mention them as they published it...).

I found the book to be most interesting. I like the work on the various aspects of Tao, the explanation of Yin and Yang, the Pa Qua, the I Ching, Tai Chi Chuan, Chi Gong and more.

Everyone will find something of interest for them regardless and those sections that don't may be of interest sometime in the future.

The writing is excellant and easy to understand. You can see the relationships with other self_help mantra's as you read the book and most important the relationship to the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu.

Well worth the modest price new and more as a used book in excellant condition.

If you want hardcover you may have to go to barnes and noble but if softcover is ok then make sure you go Amazon (I ain't bein paid for this plug but I have purchased a few thousand dollars worth of books thru Amazon and have had nothing but pleasant experiences).

So.......

Sit like a turtle..
Walk like a Pidgeon...
Sleep like a dog....
Develop "Inner Quiet" for longevity!

The Citizens Voice
December 24, 2007
bjarvis@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2054

To get an idea of Diya Das' relationship with the written word, consider she read the entire "Lord of the Rings" trilogy in fifth grade - and has since reread the series a half-dozen times.

Yet she claims to be a "slow reader."

"My dad used to take me to the library every weekend and I would carry off everything I could. I reached my book limit at one point," Das recalled. "But I never saw the movies for `Lord of the Rings' because they seemed boring by comparison. I watched one for a few minutes at a party but kept waiting for things to happen."

Having skipped eighth grade to reach her senior year at Wyoming Seminary by age 16, Das, who edits the school newspaper, The Opinator, recently tackled the biggest story of her burgeoning career: her own.

Described as one-third history, one-third fiction and one-third autobiography, Das managed to turn a classroom assignment into a 92-page tome: "The Evolution of An Identity: Indian American Immigrants from the Early 20th Century to the Present."

"I never thought I could do it. I saw it as a (school) history project," Das said. "But it's very real; I never intended to make it so real. I didn't want to fabricate my life. Much of it was my own experience and most of the opinions are my own."

Through her protagonist, a young girl who uncovers the American roots of her Indian family tree, Das explores the immigrant journey from the Indian subcontinent to American soil, nicknamed the "turbaned tide."

Das, naturally, was the last to expect her work to be published by Tribute Books, much less convince her to host two book signings in October: the first at Borders in the Viewmont Mall in Scranton, followed by Barnes & Noble on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre. Copies are also available at Amazon.com.

"It's weird signing books. I wasn't expecting so many people and never knew what to say. I didn't want it to be like signing a yearbook with a text message," said Das, who has also published a book of poetry titled, "In Mind."

Born in New Delhi, Das lived in Saskatchewan, Canada, as well as Allentown and Bethlehem, before her parents moved to Luzerne County, where her mother teaches finance at Wilkes University.

"I didn't grow up the same way as my classmates. I've met some people who have never moved in their life," said Das. "And there is no one Indian-American experience, even though everyone tries to group us together. My family isn't as traditional as other Indian families. I usually eat Indian food for dinner but have an American breakfast, like oatmeal and a banana. I've always felt like I'm my own being."

Standing a proud 4 feet 7 inches tall, Das has already racked up a resume that belies her small stature: 2008 National Merit Semi-finalist, Governor's School for the Sciences, Luzerne County Diversity Task Force, United Way Youth Allocations Committee, Lehigh Valley Bengali Association, Indo-American Association of Northeast Pennsylvania and Cum Laude, the honor society for independent schools. She also enjoys figure skating, chorale, violin and piano.

"Putting me in a car at this point is not a good idea when I can barely see over it," Das said with a laugh. "It's a goal to grow a bit taller because it's weird looking up at people, but it's probably weird looking down at people also."

If you're expecting Das to crank out a sequel in the near future, however, the undersized inkslinger has some advice: relax.

"I'm a senior in high school with so much else to do," Das said. "My friends and I have so much else to talk about."

Call Me Sonya Grey

Times Leader, October 28, 2007
by Rebecca Bria

Not many people are able to say they will have graduated from high school and published two books by the age of 16. But Diya Das can.

Das of Wilkes-Barre is a senior at Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School in Kingston. And she's already published "The Evolution of Identity" and "In Mind: A Collection of Poetry."

Das, the daughter of doctors Ratan and Nandita Das, was born in New Delhi, India, and immigrated to Canada at the age of 1 after her father was accepted into the University of Saskatchewan. Das' father took a career path to Florida and then Pennsylvania. After she finished seventh grade, Diya Das moved with her parents to the Wyoming Valley. The young woman was able to enroll in Wyoming Seminary in the ninth grade.

Das' first book, "The Evolution of an Identity," is based on a project she completed for her Seminar in American Studies class, which she took as a junior. With only a few minor revisions, the book is the exact project she handed in for the class. It took Das from December of 2006 to April of 2007 to write. "It was really hard to start writing," she said. Das had about six drafts and kept re-organizing. She also included three separate sections so she would not feel overwhelmed while writing.

Das ended up rewriting her sections many times.

"I'm not quite sure how I did it yet at the end," Das said.

The book is a work of historical fiction that presents the stories of three immigrants from India who make lives for themselves in the United States while trying to maintain their Indian background. Characters in the story look at Indian immigration in the United States from the early 20th century to the present day.

Das focused on three periods of Indian movement to the United States: the Sikhs, the first sizeable group of Indians who immigrated to the United States in San Francisco; the second largest movement of Indian immigration to Chicago during the Cold War; and present day where Das explores how she fits into the Indian community. Das says "Born Confused," a book about an Indian-American teenage girl who feels not Indian enough for the Indians and not American enough for the Americans, helped her write her own book and figure out how she would present her information.

"I was trying to figure out who I was," Das said. "I've kind of figured out I'm not Indian, not American, but Indian-American." She later added, "I'd like people to realize there is no one definition of Indian-American. There's so many ways to be American and Indian."

"In Mind: A Collection of Poetry" is Das' second book, which contains poems she wrote over the last six years. Das has been writing poetry since elementary school and her parents encouraged her to publish them. She refers to "In Mind" as her "poem journal" because many of the poems are reactions to her day. Das says she calls the book "In Mind" because the poems seem to be a conversation in her mind. "I've thought of poems while brushing my teeth and go write them down," Das said. Often Das thinks of poems and never writes them down.

It does not bother Das that she is younger than most of the other students who are seniors. Das says she has friends of all ages and mingles with people in every grade.

Das' favorite subject is math and her current favorite class is British Literature. Das is also taking a biology class at Wilkes University. (She originally wanted to take Advanced Placement Biology at Wyoming Seminary, but her schedule would not allow it. So, Das signed up for a regular college biology class and laboratory at Wilkes.)

Through "In Mind," Das says she can see how her writing style has changed and progressed over the years. She used to focus primarily on rhyming but now just writes. Das finds some of her older poetry to be humorous. "In Mind" is broken down into sections such as "Daydreams & Nightmares."

Recently, Das had two book signings in the area. On Oct. 6 she was at Borders Bookstore near the Viewmont Mall, and on Oct. 13 Das was at Barnes and Noble Bookstore on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre. Published by Tribute Books, both books are available for $9.95 at these bookstores, amazon.com, and tribute-books.com. An Ebook version is also available at tribute-books.com for $4.95.

An active student at Wyoming Seminary, Das is the co-editor in chief of the student newspaper; The Opinator. Das is a member of the Community Service Group and its Executive Committee and organizes the Angel Tree project each year. Additionally, Das performs with the orchestra and chorale, is student leader of the Math Club and participates in local math competitions, and has been nominated for the 2007 Alumni Service Awards. In the summer, Das attended the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences.

In the community, Das has served on the United Way Youth Allocations Committee; the Luzerne County Diversity Task Force, and immigration subcommittee "Community Spirit"; and is a member of the Lehigh Valley Bengali Association and the Indo-American Association of Northeast Pennsylvania.

In her free time, Das likes to figure skate, play the violin and the piano, write poetry and read. Das has also traveled back to India with her parents to visit family. She went once in the second grade and again the summer after her freshman year of high school. Her parents have gone several other times. Das, who is an only child, has seen aunts, uncles, and her numerous cousins while there. In India, Das says great value is placed on extended family.

Das can understand Bengali, one of the 37 dialects in India. Though sometimes accents create a problem for her, it helps both of her parents speak Bengali fluently.

With the end of her high school years quickly approaching, Das is looking into applying to Yale and Stanford universities. Das plans to study math and physics but says she will also take many humanities classes because she likes to read and write. Her favorite categories to read are science fiction and fantasy books.

Das is proud of her books, but she does not want to let them consume her. "After having these published, I'm still a senior in high school," Das said. Das says she has always been more of a reader than a writer, but she may write another book someday. Either way, she says now writing a three- to five-page paper for English class is not so bad.

"After having these published, I'm still a senior in high school."

ndian American Immigrants From The Early 20th Century To The Present

Diya Das

Tribute Books, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-9795045-6-3
5 Stars
"A fictional Family history..."
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com, 4/08

Diya Das immigrated to the United States with her parents when she was only a year old. On a trip to India to visit her family, she became interested in learning about her relatives. She discovered she had distant family in Chicago. Her curiosity led to a class project, which led to her book, The Evolution of An Identity. The story begins in San Francisco, California the early 1900's. The immigrants had a strong work ethic, many times stronger than white Americans did. They put in long hours and labored without ceasing. Desiring independents from the British, they formed Ghadr Party, asserting equality. At this point, the story moves to Chicago, 1980's. The Indians considered they were broadminded but were traditional by American standards. Many that immigrated during this time were professionals. The final venue takes us to New York City, 2005. Prejudice still runs high against the Indian Americans. The Evolution of An Identity is beautifully written. Diya Das shares the history of her family in the form of fiction. I am sure we will be hearing her name again.

The Fast Red Road is the kind of novel that makes you want to write, and drive, and read more of Jones' work. The prose is clear and uninhibited, and never takes itself too seriously. A syllabus in Jones' class at Texas Tech is more entertaining than most books on the bestseller list; his fiction is remarkable.

The Fast Red Road is a wild ride that moves beyond postmodernism into something totally new. This is a fun, fast, read that sticks with you after you are finished. Young authors like Jones give us a reason to be excited about the future of literature.

This is probably the best novel I have ever read. Jones' style in this book is very much akin to Pynchon's in The Crying of Lot 49, except more sonically tasty. The plot jumps out at you in complex imagery that mirrors this linguistic free-for-all (I read this book with more than one dictionary at hand). It's very tough to get a hold of mentally, but, in the end, well worth it. Anyone interested in contemporary fiction does themselves a disservice by not reading this book.

I agree with both previous reviews. Cannot really add anything other than it was completely enjoyable to read and certainly sheds new light on many aspects of how we have viewed and are now viewing the Maya and their spectacular civilzation...so nice toknow that the longer the culture existed the better off the lot of the common people.

There are many books written on the subject of the Maya civilization. What sets

Jeremy Sabloff's book apart from the rest is how he approaches the subject. He refers

to his book as a story, and provides his reader with a very concise overview of the Maya

civilization. The clarity of his text enhances the usefulness of the book, which in turn

broadens the audience from anthropology students to anyone interested in learning

about the Maya. Sabloff sets out his `story' to combine history, theory, methods and

fieldwork and best describes the text in his own preface, an "attempt to explain how

early archaeologists arrived at the `traditional model' of ancient Maya civilization that

was popular in the first half of the century and how fieldwork has given birth to new

discoveries of the Maya." (Sabloff, preface). The text is broken down into six chapters

and in each chapter he uses subheadings to organize his interpretation of the

information and to reveal an accurate knowledge of Maya studies.

Using Maya archaeology as an extended study, Sabloff uses relevant sites

during specific time periods as case studies to examine the area he wishes to describe

to his reader.

The first chapter is entitled `Growth of Modern Scientific Archaeology',almost

beginning were the preface left on in terms of what Sabloff views as the `traditional

model' of early Maya archaeology. This begins with the idea of what stream of

questions the archaeologist should ask. In the `traditional model', Sabloff shows that

the `what' and `where' questions of the past are no longer as relevant as the newly

replaced `why' and `how' shift. It is in this chapter that Sabloff introduces the first of

many different scholars to emphasize each section. Schiffer and Binford are discussed

as well as one of their more popular methodological issues of the past, linked cultural

activities.

The next two chapters give the reader a contrast with the `traditional model' of

ancient civilization and new views of the classic period. With these topics, Sabloff

refers to the findings of Morley and Thompson in chapter two and Willey and

Proskouriakoff in the following section. The way he introduces these scholars is one of

respect. Sabloff does not bash the early ideas of archaeologists (knowing now that the

information is not thorough), he describes their work prior to the archaeological

revolution as successful and that many of their ideas were not wrong, just not

developed enough. With regards to the later of the four scholars, Sabloff explains

Proskouriakoff's remarkable findings from the Usumacinta River sites of Piedras and

Yaxchilan and the breakthrough idea that Maya texts record history. What Sabloff

seems to stress is that with each decade, the scholars and the information they have

gathered help the next generation of archaeologists in their quest to better understand

Maya civilization.

Chapter four evaluates new views of the Pre-classic and Post-classic period.

Sabloff introduces specific case studies such as the areas of Chichen Itza and

Cozumel. By focusing in on these areas, Sabloff is able to convey to his reader an

understanding of what archaeology can accomplish.

The remaining two chapters analyze the emergence of a new model and takes a

look at archaeology under this new modern world. Sabloff highlights the scholars

Webster and Gonlin and their research on the emergence of more distant rural

areas among the Maya subareas.

With each chapter, Sabloff gives the reader a new finding in terms of Maya

civilization. He frequently looks for parallels between ourselves and the Maya which

make this civilization even more real and exciting to the reader. The `story' concludes

with Sabloff asking questions to the reader, and having read the book, the questions

encompass so much information in only a few lines. Sabloff leaves the reader thinking

as well as feeling confident enough to ponder the questions himself.

After the final word has been read, there are ten pages of further readings listed

by chapter, which include everyone mentioned in the book and then some.

`The New Archaeology and the Ancient Maya' is lavishly illustrated with

photographs, site plans and maps all of which are in colour. All of these visual aids in

conjunction with the accurate read, help to summerize this complicated subject with

success. Sabloff hits his target perfectly with how he feels this story should be told,

his story is "to understand the development of a past culture, not find lost arks".

I found this book very informative. It demonstrates how much archaeology and our knowledge of the Maya has changed since the Mayan ruins were first 'discovered' in the 19th century.

The cultural biases of the early archaeoligts now explain many of the 'facts' put forward in early books on this subject. Acutally many of these 'facts' were just guesses, but because they were put forward by prominent people they were taken on face value. Much of the work, especially since the 1960's has disproved or changed out of recognition these early 'facts'.

The last overview book on the Maya I read had them as peace loving people in lovely cities in the jungle, who just "gave it all up for no decent reason". This book completly changed my view on that. It made me realise on how slim a foundation many of the earlier works lay.

I'd reccomend this book to anybody who wants to know how much archaeology has changed - and why what these people have discovered is not only in the past, but also has a bearing on us today..

I found this book by accident in a local bookstore, and was astounded by the beautiful illustrations, as well as impressed by the afterword by a well-respected Karuk individual. The story of the race will captivate younger children, while the pictures will keep their parents entranced.

I'm fond of stories from Native American cultures that attempt to explain the facts of the world. In this story, we learn how Yellow Jackets got their black striping and why fire comes from wood. Coyote is sweet and knowlegable; less of a trickster than he often is, and more caring of the animal community than usual.

The illustrations are beautiful and remind me of Jan Brett's. They have good detail and personalities on the animals faces. My favorite aspect of each animal though, was the token clothing or jewelry. Coyote wears a hat, eagle wears a necklace, fox has earrings. None of the jewelry are blatent but are subtle and understated, appearing as though the animals are comfortable in their adornments.

My highest recommendation on this book is due to the fact that my five-year-old grandson loves the book and asks me to read it over and over to him. The illustrations are very nice and colorful, the book is done with wit and humor and is a fun read.

Fireflies by Rabindranath Tagore is one of the most beautiful books that I have ever read. I am not an expert on Asian literature; so, I cannot give very much background on the poems presented her. What I can say is that every poem in here is a beautiful and is a perfect thought no matter where it came from or who is reading it. This collection by the Nobel Prize winner is made up of fireflies. They are each only three to six lines long and present a single thought. The poems flow together very cohesively. Tagore covers many different subjects. He speaks of innocense, nature, power, bigotry, freedom, death, and love. In short, Tagore writes about life. My favorite was the last:

"Before the end of my journey/may I reach within myself/the one which is the all,/leaving the outer shell/to float away with the drifting multitude/upon the current of chance and change."

I also liked:

"Love is an endless mystery,/for it has nothing else to explain it."

Few books flow as well as this one does. It enlightens the reader through the entire book and will express into words some feelings that all people have (as good poetry should do). Anyone who loved The Prophet by Gibran would love this book as well. It is somewhat forgotten among readers of today (I'm 18, and I guarantee that no other person in my high school has read this), but it should definately not be.

This book speaks directly to the soul. Its poems are concise yet beautifully eloquent. When I read them, I am re-awakened to an inner knowing of beauty and love and creative spirit. I am also reminded of the timelessness and constancy of truth. "Fireflies" is a book to return to again and again.

A friend gave me a copy of this book when I was entering the India X Peace Corps training project in 1964. "To be read in times of stress, but also happiness," it says inside the flyleaf. That just says it all. You don't need to think you enjoy poetry to treasure this book. Tagore captures moment after moment of the human experience, pierces each with an insight of his own and shares it with the reader. In a sense it bears a similarity to those little books of daily prayers or 'thoughts for the day' people used to hand you when they came to the door uninvited to explain to you what you should believe to mold yourself to a nearer model of what they, themselves believed. But it's a lot more than that. Tagore isn't pushy. He soaks in to your conciousness the way water enters a sponge, and he stays there.

I think a copy of this book ought to be by the bedside in every home in America to be read during those times when the weight of our submersion in this reality seems too heavy to bear, or when the joys lift us too high.

Lynn Andrews tells a great story with a liberal sprinkling of Native American wisdom to give it heft and meaning. PLEASE don't make the mistake, as I did, of reading this before reading the first book in the series, Medicine Woman. The latter really sets the stage for all that follows, and the chronology is important in the first two efforts, in my opinion.

Whether or not you read these books as fiction or non-fiction, is not paramount to their strengths. Lynn Andrews is similar to the wonderful Carlos Casteneda, but more accessible, I would venture to say. These works succeed on several levels, and have rightly remained very popular.
Read and enjoy!

In Flight of the Seventh Moon, Lynn Andrews compellingly chronicles her continuing apprenticeship to the Native American shaman Agnes Whistling Elk and her spiritual quest for the ancient wisdom of woman. This companion volume to the highly praised Medicine Woman details the circumstances that urged Lynn Andrews once again to leave her home in southern California and return to Manitoba, where she had first been introduced to Native American lore and the tribal shaman ways.

In the aftermath of all that befell her, culminating in her dramatic recovery of the sacred marriage basket from the powerful sorcerer Red Dog, Lynn discovers that she needs further protection from the treacherous Red Dog. She recognizes also that her safety depends upon the strength and insights that can only come with deeper commitment to the medicine path. Thus, in Flight of the Seventh Moon, we journey with her back to Agnes Whistling Elk and Ruby Plenty Chiefs, under whose guidance she begins her initiation into the teaching of the shields -the ancient path of protection and power handed down from generation to generation of Native American women.

Through a series of visions and ceremonies, Agnes and Ruby led their apprentice to profound new understanding of her womanliness and selfhood. As part of the learning process, Lynn is introduced to Grandmother Walking Stick, "a crystal medicine woman...a warrioress and teacher." Who is the mentor of Agnes Whistling Elk. Central to Lynn's rites of passage is her construction of her own medicine shields. "Learning to make a shield is the process of fitting together the shattered pieces of oneself into a whole. This puzzle becomes a working mandala, a shield that we carry in our everyday life." As she builds her defense against Red Dog's powers, Lynn earns a place in the inner circle of the Sisterhood of the Shields, a secret society of shaman women who follow the most ancient traditions of woman.

In Flight of the Seventh Moon, Lynn Andres perceptively and grippingly describes the competing forces of white and black magic in which she becomes entwined; her growing awareness of her own innate power as a woman, which draws upon the substance of earth and sky; and how she translates her newfound understanding into the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of everyday life. Flight of the Seventh Moon reveals dazzling interior landscapes of mind and heart exploring long-hidden areas of Native American culture and mysticism and sharing with us a process of learning a path of knowledge that leads us toward "balance, wisdom, and a more complete view of truth" too long denied by patriarchal society.

While reading this book in a dark, wooden, cave-like basement apartment, I was mesmerized by this woman's journey into a personal spiritual realm. Discoveries, dangers, and strong ties to surprising teachers wove a fascinating tale. More than just a book - it contains a treasure-map to claim one's own strengths. As soon as I finished, I wanted to begin my "education," and did.