5 stars (Brilliant, Insightful.) - For this reader, the most insightful message in the book was the view of behavior (and mental illness) as lying on a continuum. Many of us do not fit the "norm" on the bell curve, yet we continue to thrive and produce in spite of or because of our differences. 5 stars (An Amazing Book) - Having a bipolar disorder is not easy for either the person that has it, or people that are close to that person Kay Jamison took a chance and wrote about her own disorder, without knowing the consequences of what might happen to her job. She did it so others might understand and appreciate what it is like to deal with. I am a professional woman, and considered successful by those who know me. However, it is always a battle, even with medication, to deal with. I have never known what "normal" felt like. I read her book and finally found a kindred spirit, even though I have never had the opportunity to meet her. I have given this book to my husband, my parents and friends. It has helped them, as well as me. I highly recommend it. 5 stars (An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness) - This is a moving account of the author's experience with bipolar disease (or as she prefers, manic-depressive illness). Though Jamison has co-written "the" textbook on the subject, this book is written for lay people, and in that regard is very readable -- no technical jargon -- and full of information that helps one understand the condition. ... Vintage :: Reading Group Guide :: Psychology & Psychiatry & General :: Women college teachers :: Women :: United States :: Specific Groups - General :: Manic-depressive psyc :: An Unquiet Mind - A Memoir of Moods and Madness (Vintage)
5 stars (How Could We Have Not Known This Had Happened?) - A mass murderer with victims possibly numbering in the hundreds in the midst of the World's Fair of Chicago in the early 1900's? A fascinating read. A mostly historical perspective of a huge (almost impossible) undertaking (not just a World's Fair, but an entire self-sustaining city!), with suspense and horror sprinkeled throughout as we learn about the suave, diabolical Dr. Holmes as he lured his unsuspecting, charmed victims to their death. I enjoyed learning about this part of Chicago history. I enjoyed every page! 4 stars (Wondefully Written) - I grew up in Chicago in the 1940's and was always fascinated with Chicago's history, and how it evolved - both struggles and triumphs. My Grandmother was born in the early 1880's. She remembered the "Columbian Exposition" as the most magical thing she had ever experienced. Anyone who has any history in Chicago will love this book. I know it is considered "history," but it is written within a novel's contexts, and is very readable and enjoyable. I hope that Erik Larson will give all of us insight into other historical occurrences as well. 5 stars (Wonderful History lesson) - Such a great way to learn a piece of American History. The book read like fiction, but it was all true! I'm amazed at the amount of time and research that went into this book. It was the monthly book club selection. Great choice!!! ... Vintage :: United States - State & Local - Midwest :: United States - 19th Century&Turn of the Century :: True Crime-Murder - Serial Killers :: Murder - Serial Killers :: Devil In The White City
5 stars (Intriguing and perplexing in equal measure.) - I very much enjoyed reading this book. It is a biographical account of one mans experience as he moves from a position of ignorance towards an understanding of Zen. The bewildering spritual "How to" which seems to have a lot more to do with what you don't do than what you do. The confounding realisation that all effort is false, whereas no effort can lead to superhuman feats of accuracy. It's a magical true story about how a mans confusion and understanding become fused into something of an incomprehensible truth: You don't understand it, but it works. What I enjoyed most about the text is that it gives insipration to Zen learners, something to aim for, so to speak. What I didn't like is that it doesn't really offer insight into how one combines an attitude of no presumed effort with the experience of splitting an arrow-shaft lengthwise from the far side of an unlit warehouse. In other words, the book sufficiently illustrates the effects of success with Zen practice but having read the book the cause still remains a mystery: A relaxed attitude alone will do nothing to improve your golfing average, so how does it work? 5 stars (The effortless flow of our own holy being in harmony with what we are doing ) - I read this book many years. It was J.D. Salinger who brought me to it. And the central idea that he taught from it was the art of 'aiming without aiming'. Or rather how wrong and forced effort which is wholly concentrated on ' result' and 'result' alone (i.e. hitting the bullseye) leads to missing the mark. The great idea of this work is the idea of a kind of practice which leads to effortless effort, to a 'hitting the mark' without aiming , to somehow allowing one's own inner powers to be in harmony with the task one is doing. To let the whole of one's being flow into the activity and with it as one. With this in mind I years ago wrote a small forgotten work 'Zen and the Art of Swimming' . I also practica... Vintage :: Religion & Eastern :: Zen Buddhism :: Philosophy :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Eastern - Zen :: Eastern - General :: Archery And Target Shooting :: Archery :: :: Zen in the Art of Archery (Vintage Spiritual Classics)
