Reviews (4)

Excellent for boards study
I used this book for my clinical neuro class and it was excellent! It even has some epidemiology and statistics. It's all I used to study for this subject on step 1!

Excellent book nothing could be better!
You really need this book for Usmle as well as med school.Indispensable A book you will refer to over and over again

Behavioral Science book you gotta have
Well, behavioral science is the most important yet difficult part to masterize in the USMLE step 1. That's why a great teacher ( at least they say so ) like B. Fadem thinking of all the world's students, wrote this book.
You cannot ask for more. Written in an enjoyable manner, with high yield facts, review questions on Each Chapter, and a final review exam, concepts definitely get into your hard disk ( or you will have to see your neurologist ). It's a masterpiece worth a place in your shelf, and of course, it's price is insignificant for what you will get.

A++ Great review the potpourri of Behavioral Science!
Great outline review of all the parts that fit under the rubric of 'Behavioral Science' according to the NBME. Prepared me well for the NBME exam, and was a good review tool for class exams in Psychiatry. Highly recommended! Fadem is a great teacher too! ... Read more

Book Description

This book argues that religion can and must be reconciled with science. Combining adaptive and cognitive approaches, it is a comprehensive analysis of religion's evolutionary significance, and its inextricable interdependence with language. It is also a detailed study of religion's main component, ritual, which constructs the conceptions that we take to be religious and therefore central in the making of humanity's adaptation. The text amounts to a manual for effective ritual, illustrated by examples drawn froma range of disciplines. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Not for sissies.
One of the most remarkable things of this book, is that it was written at all. Roy Rappaport (a former boss and good friend of mine) was dying of lung cancer while he writing this book and I think that is reflected in the tone. Although he had begun writing before his diagnosis I think the subject became more personal because of it. "El jefe" (my name for him) was a very religious man, but he didn't proclaim it loudly; it was shown in small ways.

It is difficult to read, but its subject is difficult. I just wish he were still here so I could say to him "What in the world are you trying to say here. You have no verbs in this paragraph!"

disasterous
Being an Anthropology major and have read many anthropological books. This is by far the worst book I have ever had to read. Rappaport rambles on and on in a meaningless train of thought, then three paragraphs later changes his mind on what he was thinking. After reading this book from front to back cover, I will never pick up a Rappaport book again. I would have learned more by watching Sesame Street than this book

"Will influence scholars for many years to come"
"Roy A. Rappaport was one of the most distinguished anthropologists of his generation. What sets this book apart from other anthropoplogical studies of religion is that it is not only "about" religion, but is also a profoundly religious book. The author makes a strong case for what he sees as religion's significance in human evolution and argues passsionately for the reconciliation of religion and science. He suggests that human survival may depend on developing a postmodern science that is thoroughly grounded in ecology. Examining evidence from fields as diverse as history, cybernetics, communication theory, semiotics, ethnography, ecology, philosphy, and comparative religions, Rappaport comes to the conclusion that riual should be the main focus of religious studies because "ritual is the ground where all religion is made." The book provides the fullest analysis of ritual since Emile Durkheim's The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life (1912). It is carefully argued; well reasoned, and precise, and is likely to influence scholars for many years to come. Extensive documentation. Solid bibliography. Highly recommended." Stephen D. Glazier, Professor of Anthropology, University of Nebraska

Major account of ritual nexus between science and religion
This holistic evolutionary account of the ritual foundations of human communication and religion represents a major theoretical formulation by an major anthropologist. ... Read more

Book Description

Now from the author of the best-selling How the Brain Learns comes a new book dealing with special needs students. How the Special Needs Brain Learns helps you turn research on the brain function of students with various learning challenges into practical classroom activities and strategies.

David Sousa shows how the brain processes information and examines both simple and complex learning strategies that can be adapted and taught to your students. The first step for students with learning disabilities is helping them to build self-esteem by teaching them how to work in groups and giving them strategies for engagement and retention. This book focuses on the most common challenges to learning for many students, especially for those who are often the first candidates for special education referral, and emphasizes lifelong independent learning, increased retention, and cognitive flexibility for all.

Sousa builds on the latest brain research to discuss teaching strategies for students challenged by:

• ADHD/ADD
• Speech disabilities
• Reading disabilities
• Writing disabilities
• Math disabilities
• Sleep disorders
• Emotional and behavioral disorders
• Autism
• Asperger’s Syndrome

Today’s classrooms embrace students of all abilities, and Sousa’s latest work provides the most up-to-date information and insight on how to work effectively with each one of them. Offering real strategies for real classrooms, How the Special Needs Brain Learns is an indispensable tool for all educators, school administrators and teachers, staff developers, preservice educators, and even parents who want to better understand the way their children process and retain information.

Reviews (3)

Very Helpful Guide
As a high school teacher with several special education students in my classes, I found this book to be extremely informative. Written in plain language rather than a medical text, it helped me to understand better the problems these students face. The book contains numerous suggestions for activities and techniques that I have tried and they were very effective. I strongly recommend this book for any teacher (and parent)who deals with special needs children.

Not Special Enough
A cursory examination of a number of relatively mild disorders along with a few paragraphs about general instructional methods for each. For a book touting itself as "how the brain works" it contains an embarrassingly basic discussion of brain function, consistent with a high school anatomy and physiology textbook. The chapter on autism, while (finally)addressing a true "special need" would only be new information to a complete neophyte. This book is a disappointment. The title is the only weighty thing about it.

Wonderful Resource for Parents as well as Educators
I have two special needs children and have found this volume indispensable. The material is presented in a concise, clear manner. I cannot recommend it highly enough. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Essential companion to workbook
What makes this book so useful is that it assists the therapist in effectively guiding the client as s/he follows the workbook in dealing with his/her mood disorder. It shows how best to employ the workbook in therapy, help the client set goals, and individualize the exercises. It demonstrates its application not only to individuals but also to groups, brief therapy, and inpatient settings. Under each situational category, it provides a session by session description of the book's integration with therapy. What many therapists may find a boon are sample client-therapist dialogues, tips on engaging clients and maintaining collaboration, troubleshooting guides, and assignment reminders. Because of its flexibility, this cognitive program can be tailored to a range of diagnoses. ... Read more

Book Description

Why do trends in human society sometimes change so suddenly?

The past three years show how quickly cultural shifts can occur, which makes answering the question above all the more urgent. In 1999, we were celebrating our heroes, the stock market had reached unprecedented heights - and many people believed that peace in the Middle East was at hand.

Three years later, the economy is weak, corporate executives are being thrown in jail, bloodletting between Israelis and Palestinians is daily ritual, India is testing missiles, North Korea is threatening the U.S. with nuclear destruction, the U.S. is at war with Iraq, European allies are deserting the U.S., a senator is calling for the resignation of the chairman of the Federal Reserve, and Americans are stocking supplies for terrorist attacks.

What changed? And why?

Is it possible that all of these events flow from the same cause?

Best-selling author Robert Prechter’s new two-book set, Socionomics: The Science of History and Social Prediction, proposes a startlingly fresh answer.

In Socionomics: The Science of History and Social Prediction, Robert Prechter spells a historical correlation between patterned shifts in social mood and their most sensitive register, the stock market. He also presents engaging studies correlating social mood trends to music, sports, corporate culture, peace, war and macroeconomic trends.

The new science of socionomics takes hundreds of popular notions about mass psychology, culture and the stock market and stands them on their heads.

Socionomics: The Science of History and Social Prediction includes a 2nd edition of the book that started it all, The Wave Principle of Human Social Behavior and the New Science of Socionomics as well as his new title, Pioneering Studies in Socionomics, an accessible collection of the essays that founded a new basis for social science.

Together, these books can transform your understanding of how our society works. It will change the way you read the newspaper. It will even show you how to predict news trends months in advance. Learn for yourself the science of social prediction. Order Prechter’s two-book set today. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Only the beginning to a wonderful new science
The previous reviewer really says it all, but I felt I would add to the commentary by posting my own 5 star, because this new boxed set truly deserves it.
As a fellow "Elliottician" for a number of years now I can say with great confidence that (especially for the new reader) Prechter's new boxed set is simply the best study and most complete explanation to "how things really work" that is currently out there. (Until, of course, I publish *my* studies, ha ha, just kidding Bob)
As I've often noted in previous reviews on Elliott Wave, the biggest problem is...most people just don't "get it"... Elliott Wave and is SO MUCH MORE than the financial markets. The fundamental discoveries that govern the Wave Principle and thus the behavior of the financial markets are the very same fundamental forces at work throughout the entire universe! Who cares about making a few bucks in the stupid stock market when, if you have a deep understanding of the Wave Principle, Socionomics, and science in general, you can begin to see how everything around us all ties together to form this awesome grand scheme of life and existance. A deep understanding of Elliott Wave and Fibonacci is the key to opening a whole new world of knowledge, application, and the birth of a new science!
With the publishing of this boxed set, I hope more people can come to realize that the universe is indeed a truly beautiful place and man has a deep intimate connection with it.
This boxed set is only the beginning of the wealth of knowledge that can be mined in this area. You just have to know what to look for, and these books give you an excellent foundation.

Tomorrow's Headlines Today
It's been painfully obvious for over three years that the standard approach of economic forecasters, who examine every newly released government statistic to divine the next lurch of the stock market, has been less than stellar. Almost none of those who today talk about the "technology bubble" actually called for a top in 2000, the recession of 2001 wasn't recognized until it was half a year old, and in spite of a chorus of calls for an incipient recovery it seems plenty of skepticism remains about economic prospects. The reason for this forecasting disconnect is obvious, according to Robert Prechter, Jr.

Prechter's newest title, Socionomics: The Science of History and Social Prediction is a two-book set that offers voluminous support for a revolutionary concept. It reverses the direction of causality that underpins the entirety of orthodox market forecasting with a radical thesis: Instead of the economic statistics leading the market, the market (or more properly the aggregate social mood it measures) determines economic behavior that leads to the statistics.

Though a simple statement, this is heady stuff when its full ramifications are considered. This is exactly what this set does, addressing both theory (Wave Principle of Human Social Behavior, 2nd ed.) and its application (Pioneering Studies in Socionomics, a new work). Its illustrations of this reversal of causality cannot be casually dismissed, nor should they be ignored by anyone who believes timing matters in business, politics, investing, or every other aspect of life.

Socionomics is Prechter's term for the application of Ralph Nelson Elliott's Wave Principle market model to a wider array of social phenomena (see reviews of Elliott Wave Principle). Prechter has taken this principle and, along with colleagues both within and without his Elliott Wave International market forecasting firm, developed it into an early stage science in its own right. Pioneering Studies in Socionomics is a compilation that represents their work, a series of related studies which run from the 1980s and forward to 2002. Most were published as part of Prechter's Elliott Wave Theorist newsletter. Sequential dating of some studies offers a particularly detailed timeline for their conclusions, allowing readers to assess the validity of the observations in retrospect. The result borders on amazing.

Pioneering Studies is quite a departure from Prechter's other recent work, Conquer the Crash. While the latter deals almost exclusively with the financial arena, this latest book leaves the world of finance and ventures out into the wider arena of human endeavor.

Noting that certain social outcomes occur against a backdrop of specific market behaviors, socionomics attempts to make objective forecasts for the kinds of events that should occur as the market and its social mood "Pied Piper" follow their tortuous path through time.

That "torturous path" is where the greater controversy rages. Adherents of Elliott Wave methodology believe that markets follow a fractal pattern and that the market's current position in the wave pattern can often be estimated with a significant level of confidence. Knowing "where you most probably are" gives tremendous guidance in discerning the likeliest path for future market action. Detractors observe that there are always multiple, correct interpretations of where in the pattern the current market resides, so they claim application of the process to forecasting is simply too subjective to be useful.

Prechter's socionomics hypothesis starts with the Wave Principle and so raises two separate questions. Does the stock market reflect aggregate social mood, which precedes and drives social outcomes as varied as fashion, war and peace, economic activity, and even sex, according to socionomics, or are all these social factors dependent upon outside influences like unemployment rates and durable goods orders that can be discerned and used for forecasting in the orthodox method? And even if social mood is the driver of social outcomes, is the social mood patterned and therefore subject to forecast by analyzing the stock indexes, or is the path a "random walk" that precludes accurate forecasting at all?

The answer to the first question, as far as economic forecasting is concerned, can be determined by simply turning to the article titled, "Socionomics in a Nutshell." If a picture is worth a thousand words, the graph found in figure 1 is a picture equal to the sum of all the words uttered each year by economists on TV and in print. It bears a graph of the Dow Jones Industrial Average from the late 1920s to 2000 with shaded bars depicting periods of recession. With one exception (1946, which supports neither case), every recession during the period coincides with or follows a significant decline in the Dow. With this single graph, Prechter shows that asking an economist to forecast the direction of the market using economic statistics is about as silly as asking a passenger to predict how hard the driver will press the accelerator pedal ten seconds in the future by watching the speedometer now. All that is needed is to watch the stock market. If it's rallying, economic expansion will follow, while persistent, larger-scale declines presage economic contraction.

Pioneering Studies addresses topics both light and serious, tracing the connections between the social mood as demonstrated by the stock market with the fortunes of horror films, professional sports, terrorism and war. Events such as 9/11 are addressed in a way that brings coherence to what otherwise looks like chaos.

Anyone who recognizes the value of timing in their endeavors would be wise to consider the message delivered by this latest from Elliott Wave's most articulate exponent. Our times appear to be getting more "interesting," in the sense of the age-old curse (May you live in interesting times) and Prechter's method, thoroughly addressed in this set, offers a unique and useful perspective. This two-volume set should also be the starting point for a broader investigation of socionomics, with an eye toward its establishment as a new field of study in its own right. ... Read more

Book Description

The dean of American philosophers shares his views on methods of training students to think well. His considerations include inductive and deductive logic, interpreting facts, concrete and abstract thinking, the roles of activity, language, and observation, and many other aspects of thought training. This volume is essential reading for teachers and other education professionals.
... Read more

Reviews (2)

Better the second time around.
I had never heard of John Dewey until I took a philosophy class. When I first received the book, I read through it relatively fast. Much of the material went over my head. However, on the second reading it was as if the pages were illuminated. In this book, Mr. Dewey gives his opinion on how we humans learn. It takes every day simple actions, breakes them up into their smallest unit and discusses why we did it that way.

What have I gained from this book? Everytime I do something, I attempt to break it down into its simples being, and determining how this breakdown fosters greater intelligence within myself.

As a text book or a book one wants to learn something from, I give it five stars. For just general reading it will garner 1/2 of a star.

Basic ideas to develop your thinking skills

It is very good to see this book appearing in new editions. This is a classic book about thinking. Dewey studies thought from the psychological and philosophical points of view and derives practical ideas for education.

Reading this book, I was surprised to see the applicability of its contents to my main activity field, which is business management. Today's main effort in business research is toward innovation and learning. Thus, thinking skill is probably the most important resource of any organization.

Dewey's view of thinking is surprisingly consistent and as fresh as any of the new management theories. Just to mention one aspect, he warns about the confusion of mental analysis (looking for the general aspects of an object) with physical analysis (dissection into parts), which leads to study living objects as if they were dead. This is the essence of systems thinking, which is so fashionable today!

The ideas Dewey presents about education are very useful for today's business environment. Business leaders, consultants and scholars should look carefully at his advices! His study of work and play is a great lesson of wisdom.

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone seriosly aiming at world class business performance. ... Read more

Book Description

Using a cultural materialist approach, the sixth edition of Cultural Anthropology furnishes readers with a framework for explaining how the parts of sociocultural systems are interrelated and how they change over time. Described as accessible, engaging well illustrated and comprehensive, this book covers a wide range of Western and nonwestern cultures for analysis and comparison. "Marvin Harris can continue to bring new insights to the field of anthropology and provide ways to inspire readers new to this discipline," writes a long-time user. For anyone interested in learning about cultural anthropology. ... Read more

Book Description

This mid-level book introduces and explains statistical concepts and principles clearly, assuming minimal mathematical sophistication but avoiding a "cookbook" approach. The book also presents a broader outlook on hypothesis testing by including such often-neglected concepts as statistical power, indices and other techniques. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

It is the most understandable statistics book for beginners
I have been using this book in my statistics classes since 1990. It is so easy to understand for undergraduate students. Authors give really good examples to explain some complex subjects of statistics. These examples make the book more readable..

I would recommend this book.
This book was very informative. It explained things clearly and was useful in learning Statistics. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is about the inner sources of spontaneous creation. It is about where art in the widest sense comes from. It is about why we create and what we learn when we do. It is about the flow of unhindered creative energy: the joy of making art in all its varied forms.

Free Play is directed toward people in any field who want to contact, honor, and strengthen their own creative powers. It integrates material from a wide variety of sources among the arts, sciences, and spiritual traditions of humanity. Filled with unusual quotes, amusing and illuminating anecdotes, and original metaphors, it reveals how inspiration arises within us, how that inspiration may be blocked, derailed or obscured by certain unavoidable facts of life, and how finally it can be liberated - how we can be liberated - to speak or sing, write or paint, dance or play, with our own authentic voice.

The whole enterprise of improvisation in life and art, of recovering free play and awakening creativity, is about being true to ourselves and our visions. It brings us into direct, active contact with boundless creative energies that we may not even know we had. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

It blows my mind!
thankyou to mr. nachmanovitch. i treasure this book a great deal. it is one of those books you could read over and over, and each time learn something new or gain a new insight into "something", there are so many topics covered.
i would only read a chapter at a time of this book. i think it is very intensely packed with information, and you must let material sink inside you. to scan the book in a day or two will not do it justice. i enjoyed carrying around with me a chapter for a day, or week for that matter, before advancing to the next chapter. the best way to use this book is to take the things to heart, not just to read them, but put them into action.
i constantly would have to rest the book on my lap, gaze up through my ceiling and just kinda let my mind wander. his use of language is extremely clear and imaginative. i would even get goose bumps after certain paragraphs, especially when he talked about the audience and the performers melting into a cohesive organism.
i am still learning from this book, and i always will. i deeply recommend it to any musician, anyone who loves creativity, or anyone who would just like to know what the heck any of this stuff means. great for the professional or amatuer, musician or not.

A Book For Everyone
Excellent!! It is a book to read many times. Short but deep into what creativity and improvisation really are.

It clearly explains what Creativity is and how to unlock the inner obstructions we have to be more creative in any field we would like to perform.

Do you have a passion? forget about everything, if you can unlock your creativity you will reach a state which is unknown to many.

I highly recommend this book to everyone, no matter what they do.

Deep and satisfying
A feel for the deep insides of creativity, no matter what path you walk in life. Life can be lived as art, and this book shows you how. Every page a blessing.

Passion Unveiled
Reading Free Play is a journey; and as such, it is not an easy one. That is its most enduring reward. When a good friend gave me the book to read in 1993, I doubted what I could possibly gain from it, since I considered myself hopelessly awkward compared to her. Through such a toxic prism, I couldn't make any sense of the book, much less embrace it. It read like one big abstraction, with no relevance to me or my life. After a month of fitful starts and stops, I returned the book to my friend in frustration.

Something about it, though, made me buy my own copy in 1998. I started taking voice lessons for singing early last year, and am preparing for a major performance next week. Two weeks ago, I decided to take another stab at reading Free Play. In doing so, I found my key to appreciating the book, and relishing all it has to offer, from beginning to end. Although Nachmanovitch is a musician, he beautifully expands the idea of Improvisation to include any medium through which we express ourselves, and live.

Some friendly advice: When sitting down to read this book, get rid of all negative thoughts and judgments about yourself. While reading it, think of all the things in life you love to do, regardless of how well you or others think you do them. Whoever you are, and whatever you do, this book will help you discover what creativity is, where it comes from, how we block it, and how we can make it sizzle. If you stick with Free Play, you will get to know what's possible when you conquer fear and self-doubt just long enough to do what you love, for its own sake and on your own terms. Stephen Nachmanovitch has written a labor of love, and encourages us to see and live our lives this way. For that, Free Play is a true classic.

Excellent Overview of a Fascinating Subject
I am currently using sections from this book to teach a course in creativity. It is a superb overview of the subject; both motivational and rich in anecdote about the creative process of high-level artists and scientists. Great for breaking through any blocks you may have and extremely well written as well. ... Read more

Book Description

According to Richard Shavelson, the goal of any good statistics book is for readers not only to learn the meaning of statistical concepts but also to be able to use these concepts to solve problems. This new, revised edition of Statistical Reasoning is written with a two-pronged objective: conceptual and procedural knowledge of statistics. ... Read more

Book Description

Accessible and engaging, this unique book offers strategies for critical and creative thinking and includes many opportunities for practicing these fundamental skills.This book introduces readers to the principles and techniques of critical thinking, taking them step–by–step through the problem–solving process.Emphasizing creative and active thought processes, the author asserts that good thinking isn't merely knowing what not to do; it is knowing what to do.Discussions of how to evaluate ideas and how to question long–held assumptions or biases help readers look at concepts critically.Brief guides to composing, speaking, and logic show readers how to apply the skills that enable them to become clear and creative thinkers. Individuals interested in sharpening their creative and critical thinking skills. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Useful textbook; Popular with students
I have been using Mr. Ruggiero's text, The Art of Thinking, in college writing classes for several years. It has been very useful in introducing ideas about thinking and organization to my students. I use the text and provide several exercises based on readings and real life situations. Many students have told me at the end of the semester that this book is a "keeper." In other words they were not going to sell the book back to the bookstore, but instead were going to keep it for further use in their lives. They particularly liked the section on the creative process as an organizational process, and the section on habits that hinder thinking. They said they found these sections helpful both in their college tasks and in their own personal lives. I plan to continue using this fine book.

The Best Critical Thinking Book Ever Written
I first read this marvelous book while doing the research for my book "Why Didn't I Think of That? - Think the Unthinkable and Achieve Creative Greatness." Anyone serious about improving their thinking capacities simply must read Ruggiero's book. Used as the primary text in many college level critical and creative thinking courses, "The Art of Thinking" covers both basic and advanced concepts using well designed examples and artfully crafted exercises helping readers to learn both easily and completely. At signing events, and after speaking engagements, when readers of my book ask me to recommend other related works, I always place Ruggiero's book at the top of the list.

Great Insights on How "Thinking" Works
This title was the first text book I used in my first ever philosophy class at college some 20 years ago. It really inspired me to start "thinking" about how people think. The flow of the topics and the content successfully aroused my mind and the book actually helped me a lot on ways of thinking even until now. I just want to let everyone know that this title is an excellent read for teenagers to adults alike.

The Art of Thinking: A Guide to Critical and Creative Though
Ruggiero's text is about thinking and writing. For me as a composition instructor in community college, its three major strengths are its promotion of critical reading, its promotion of reflection, and its emphasis on learning by doing.

It makes me think of a saying I copied down so long ago I've forgotten its origin: "Better writers make better thinkers." Actually, I think this text is more about "better thinkers make better writers."

The book is conversational, respectful, helpful, and kind. I like the scenarios presented as examples of thinking principles at the beginning of each chapter. In addition to providing concrete examples of the principles presented in the chapter, they illustrate the principle "Show, don't tell," providing a useful model of effective writing for the students. The sample problems and issues elsewhere in the text are realistic, believable and engaging. They encourage students to think for themselves.

The book attempts to move readers from passive thinking to reflective critical thinking. Its neutral, distant but kindly voice works well to invite students into a world of academic discourse without intimidating them.

Art of Thinking
I am much taken with the approach to thinking as an activity with its own structure, a structure which once articulated can be effectively mapped onto its expressions in writing and speech. One of the things that concerns me very deeply about students, and it's perhaps just a cultural moment (but a long one, with no end in sight) is a presumption of determinism concerning their own ways of thinking. It's visible in the grammatical structures they use to describe current practices: "I'm not much of a reader;" "I need to be entertained to find a book worthwhile" -- they even extend it to the legibility of their handwriting. Ruggiero's assumption that one can modify the nature of one's thinking by a process of examination, insight and will, is bound to be liberating. In fact, it's a time honored principle of western intellectual and spiritual traditions, but not well suited to social constructivist models of cognition and composition in their cruder forms. The advice to "be creative" would be spectacularly useless without the quite accessible, though not at all reductive, inquiry into certain definable features of thought-processes which result in things we generally regard as pretty good creative thinking. The approach of the book overall has both conservative and innovative aspects, and as a totality it gains my respect. It assumes a reasonable tone of authority, and validates the claim by proceeding intelligibly through a jargon-free but theoretically sound account of the various processes we designate by "thinking," and distinguishing purposeful thinking from other kinds of mental activity. With the exception of a few unfortunate tics that have a certain unpleasant, 19th century tang to them ("bad habits" is not a phrase consistent with the overall tone of Ruggiero's book), the text communicates high expectations, and makes the attainment of them attractive to students.

On the whole, the exercises provide a pedagogically useful range for leading students through issues in which their own interests are directly and obviously involved, through analogy and homology to issues of wider cultural import, where the need for their own policy input may seem less urgent, and their own interests less directly involved. A sort of school for citizenship, if it works, and that is certainly among the explicit objectives of my own writing pedagogy. It's a good book for students who need to become comfortable with the idea of themselves as intellectuals, and who are overcoming the sociology of high school, which tends to assign intellectual ambitions to authority and its lackeys, and to have a fairly muddy- headed notion that purposeless consumption is a kind of political expression. I think the book will work best with bright students who have been underchallenged in the past.

The ethos of the book is competent, analytical (but not cold or sterile), not given to a lot of self-discourse. There are hints here and there that the author feels that the language of affect has come to overshadow patterns of reasoning in recent rhetorical history. The order of presentation is not inevitable -- nor does it claim to be -- but rational, and adaptable to a number of pedagogical purposes. It's not meant to be all things for all courses, and some instructors may find that they need compositional matters more explicitly and consistently frontloaded -- but then, they'll want a full-scale reader with a handbook of grammar and usage as well. Since this is the 6th edition, there must be a great many teaches who find this book useful, but I suppose I'm (pleasantly) surprised that a text this challenging finds a consistent niche. ... Read more

Book Description

Finally women can talk about what they used to only dream about....

Forbidden Flowers is Nancy Friday's second collection of sexual fantasies -- and it's even more explicit and outspoken than her original erotic masterpiece, My Secret Garden. The constant refrain from the legions of women across America who read My Secret Garden was, "Thank God I'm not the only one..." who had those wild, exciting erotic thoughts. With Forbidden Flowers, these women can yet again experience the exhilarating freedom that comes with the awareness and acceptance of their sexual selves. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Wonderfully Hot
Let's face it. For most of us, the intellectual aspect of this book and all of Nancy Friday's books on sexual fantasies is not why we read these books. They turn us on. If someone catches us reading them, we can use the excuse that we are interested in social scientific questions about women (and men) and how they think. I think that if not for the social scientific discussions, this book might have been banned in 1973.

The book tries to cover all areas of women's sexual fantasies, so it stands to reason that some parts will squick some readers. I think that it's best not to read it all in one sitting; it will eventually get boring and repetitive. A chapter or two at a time for the first sitting is best. Of course, one will develop a few favorites among all the fantasies, and read them over and over again. I have, but I'm not going to tell which ones. :-)

Men should read this book as well. They're bound to find it as stimulating as women, and it should help them understand women better.

Would Make A Playboy Blush
Nancy Friday asked women from around the world to send in their sexual experiences and fantasies. The result was some of the most provocative reading ever published. If you embarrass easily, this book is not for you. Just about every sexual taboo is mentioned in this book and in great detail. But beyond the fantasies and experiences of these women, are the comments and observations of Nancy Friday herself. This book can be an awakening for any man or woman. An awakening in that, if you have had a certain type of fantasy or experience and feel that you are the only person in the world who has had such, you may learn of others who have had similar ones. Or you may be awakened to fantasies you have never thought of, but after reading the book, find yourself thinking about them, or desiring to do them. I have owned a number of copies of this revealing book only to have different individuals borrow them and never return them. I recall once when I was in a snack bar reading the book, some women noticed it and inquired about its contents. I told them what the book was about and they said, it's very good on my part to be interested in what women think about. They then wanted to read a page, just to see what it was all about. But they didn't end up reading only one page. They kept on reading and reading and reading. I finally had to ask for the book in order to get it back, and half of them were blushing. This isn't a porn book by any means, then again no porn book is even in this ones league!!! For various reasons, I don't own an edition of this book now, but, one reason I don't is that if I did, I know it would only be a short time before someone would want to borrow it, and I'd never see it again. If you enjoy reading about women's real sexual fantasies and experiences, you will want this book.

Don't bother
"My Secret Garden" was far better. Some of the stories read far more like male fantasies of what "dirty girl" fantasies might be. Somehow, this book just left me cold & bored.

Very Disappointing
The basic idea of this book is a good one, that women's sexual fantasies are healthy and normal and something to enjoy. I bought this book hoping to be aroused but was mostly just bored with it. It is just a collection of letters from women who read the first book, My Secret Garden, and are sending in their fantasy for this book. That is fine but each letter is in its entirety and are all basically the same. Example: Dear Nancy, your book changed my life and was great, bla,bla,bla. Next paragraph, let me tell you about myself,(boring) bla,bla,bla. Next paragraph, let me tell you about my fantasy (finally!), then some mostly so-so fantasies (although a few were good) and then another letter--the same thing. Also commentary by Nancy Friday before each chapter and after some letters.(dull and uninteresting to me) Just write some hot fantasies or erotic stories for pure enjoyment!

What every man should know about women
This book is one of the absolute musts for anyone man interested in being a better and more in touch lover. The perspectives it provides are not only informative but stimulate and help to refine the readers sexual fantasies and sexual self concept. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A Different Line of Tack
I first read Rollo May's _Love and Will_ about 30 years ago and the wisdom of his writing has stayed with me since. May wrote before the time that "self help" became a heading on the shelves of a bookstore, in a time when analytical psychotherapy was still popular. Bearing that in mind, the reader will find that what May had to say then is all too true today. Whereas in the past love and will solved the problems of relationship to others, they have now become the problem. In our schizoid world real communication is rare. (The reader might think that May wrote after the advent of the personal computer.)

Now, there are a couple of reasons why I do not offer May's final analysis of the problem. One is that with the advent of "self help" we have shifted from an analytical to a behavioral form of psychotherapy. More than one writer says just do these ten things and you will be happy. The second reason is that the reader might miss May's concept of the daimonic. In it's simplest terms, it means that a person has to have something going on in his/her life.

Read the book. Learn the lesson. Set your own course of actions.

a psychological must-read
Find out here why love and will are so psychologically intertwined....and why a dearth in one means a dearth of the other. In a culture in which deterministic explanations and excuse-making have largely replaced a recognition of personal responsibility and the power of the will, it's no wonder love itself is impoverished. May also offers alternatives to this state of affairs. An excellent book.

May's magnum opus
LOVE AND WILL is probably Rollo May's best book, his magnum opus. It was published in 1969, when May--by then one of the most prominent psychologists on the American scene--was sixty-years old. And, despite its intelligence and psychological sophistication, it became a best-seller. Central to this praiseworthy work are chapters 5 & 6, in which Dr. May introduces (presaging James Hillman) his radical concept of "the daimonic." Any person concerned with the so-called senseless violence so prevalent at the close of the millennium would do well to have a look at these stunning, seminal chapters. Also of interest, especially to psychotherapists, is May's erudite discussion of "intentionality" a little later on. Though May's treatment of some subjects might be slightly dated, there is much here to be strongly recommended, especially for students and other readers who appreciate substantial books such as Ernest Becker's THE DENIAL OF DEATH.

Anyone wishing to truly comprehend love must read this book!
Simply stated, this is the most intelligent book I have ever read. Rollo May goes to extrordinary lengths to dissect the misunderstood concept of love. He traces love from the Greeks to modern day. Each page challenges the reader to rethink his/her superficial understanding of love. The author's case studies from his own psychoanalytic practice provide relevant examples of how the values of modern society have reduced love to a physical act of gratification. Anyone interested in improving themselves as a human being must read this very challenging and thought provoking book.

Not just another book trying to help us help ourselves
Rollo May merges psychology with philosophy to put contemporary views on love, sex and happiness in perspective. With insight that draws upon centuries of great thinkers, May points out some subtle paradoxes that being in love creates. He examines how our intentions often have to be redirected in order to get what we desire, and by that time, we forget what it was that we were after. Love and Will is no self-help book with fluffy answers or advice. It is an attempt to reconcile our emotions with our actions, ambitious as it is illuminating ... Read more

Book Description

This unique book capitalizes on a successful approach of using definitional formulas to emphasize concepts of statistics, rather than rote memorization. This conceptual approach constantly reminds readers of the logic behind what they are learning. Procedures are taught verbally, numerically, and visually, which appeals to a variety of users with different learning styles. Focusing on understanding, the book emphasizes the intuitive, de-emphasizes the mathematical, and explains everything in clear, simple language—with a large number of practice problems. For those trying to master statistics, as well as reading and understanding research articles.

Book Description

This mainstream, concise, four-color physical anthropology text is the best selling text in the brief physical anthropology market. It presents a balanced and thorough introduction to the field of physical anthropology using helpful tables, charts, photo essays, multimedia, and an engaging writing style to bring the study of physical anthropology to life for today's student. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Cutting edge information for counseling children.
Counseling and Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents, Third Edition has been a valuable addition to my personal llibrary. As a graduate student, I am constantly in search of state-of-the-art resources that I feel will enhance my skills once I begin to practice. Every grad. student/novice counselor needs to be aware of the major schools of thought as theory drives practice. This book offers the reader the chance to become familiar with the latest thinking and practice using the seven major approaches to counseling and psychotherapeutic interventions with children and adolescents.

I have used this book many times over in writing research reports and it has served me well. This text is chock-full of useful information; everything from multicultural counseling to ethical issues. I would have liked to see more written on the areas of schizophrenia, and suicide.

Although a bit pricey, this book is valuable as a supplemental or main text for the student, and reference for the novice therapist. ... Read more

Book Description

How do the arts stack up as a major discipline? What is their effect on the brain, learning, and human development? How might schools best implement and assess an arts program?? Eric Jensen answers these questions C and more C in this book. To push for higher standards of learning, many policymakers are eliminating arts programs. To Jensen, that's a mistake.

This book presents the definitive case, based on what we know about the brain and learning, for making arts a core part of the basic curriculum and thoughtfully integrating them into every subject. Separate chapters address musical, visual, and kinesthetic arts in ways that reveal their influence on learning.

What are the effects of a fully implemented arts program? The evidence points to the following:

$ Fewer dropouts $ Higher attendance$ Better team players$ An increased love of learning $ Greater student dignity $ Enhanced creativity $ A more prepared citizen for the workplace of tomorrow $ Greater cultural awareness as a bonus

To Jensen, it's not a matter of choosing, say, the musical arts over the kinesthetic. Rather, ask what kind of art makes sense for what purposes. How much time per day? What kind of music? Should the arts be required? How do we assess arts programs? In answering these real-world questions, Jensen provides dozens of practical, detailed suggestions for incorporating the arts into every classroom. ... Read more

Book Description

Written in a lively, engaging style with many examples to illustrate complex concepts, this text helps readers to understand the influence of intercultural interactions in their own lives. It introduces students to disciplines, including cross-cultural psychology, intercultural communication, and international organizational behavior, that study culture's influence on human behavior. It covers a wide range of topics, such as schooling, work, gender, socialization of children, and health. This solid treatment of basic concepts applicable in the study of all behavior and social sciences lets students see that the study of culture and cultural differences is inherently connected to the other courses they will take throughout their college careers. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Brislin makes it easy
Understanding Culture's Influence (2nd edition) has been my "foundation" book for a college course entitled Diversity In the Workplace.

Dr. Brislin uses an easy to follow format which is loaded with excellent analogies, making complex topics understandable.

My only negative comment would be for the publisher.As this book is used as a text, the selection of print paper was poor.Highlighters bleed through from one page to the next which makes spotting important information difficult on review.

Excelent! Academic but Readable. Suitable as textbook.
Of the many good books on the subject of intercultural communication and psychology, this hits a good balance of readability and academic soundness.Lots of good illustrations.Great text for college interculturalcommunication courses. ... Read more

Book Description

This mainstream, comprehensive cultural anthropology text takes an applied perspective to the study of society's behavior. This application of anthropological knowledge, theory, and methods to the solution of specific societal problems is integrated throughout the text in such a manner that it shows the student what can be done with anthropology today. Applied anthropology, for most of the last decade, has been a major focus for the introductory cultural course. ... Read more

Amazon.com

An accessible introduction to the science of evolutionary psychology and how it explains many aspects of human nature. Unlike many books on the topic,which focus on abstractions like kin selection, this book focuses on Darwinian explanations of why we are the way we are--emotionally and morally. Wright deals particularly well with explaining the reasons for the stereotypical dynamics of the three big "S's:" sex, siblings, and society. ... Read more

Reviews (93)

Fascinating.
This is a fascinating discussion of evolutionary psychology: its concepts; its basis in both human experiments and animal research; and its implications. It is extremely well written: very readable, yet challenging. While the logical basis of evolutionary psychology seems compelling, the human experimental basis is not all that weighty, and I suspect some of the concepts may be dropped or modified. For example, it is hypothesized that self deception grew out of its value in making people more convincing liars; even if true, I doubt this is its only function. Wright distinguishes between the origin of an element of our psychology, and its current role, but is perhaps not sufficiently sensitive to this distinction. Wright devotes several chapters to Darwin's biography, using it to illustrate many of the concepts presented, and thereby annoying many readers. I found these chapters useful, but they are definitely not at the level of the rest of the book, probably oversimplify, and possibly are unfair in some instances. Finally, Wright's concept of determinism is very convincing - unless you have read Evolving the Mind: On the Nature of Matter and the Origin of Consciousness by Cairns-Smith, a very respected scientist, and one I can confidently bet Wright has not read.

One of the best introductions to Evolutionary Psychology
Though a few other books related to Evolutionary Psychology have been written since this, it is still one of the best introductions to the field. It is intelligently written, but not pendantic. Wright discusses many aspects of evolutionary psych. using many examples from the life of Charles Darwin.

Many have criticized this work as a justifying gender inequality, usually as related to male oppression and abuse of females. Wright openly states that he is attempting to explain human behavior from a Darwinian perspective. He argues that this perspective sheds much light on the subject, though he admits is isn't perfect or all inclusive. Wright closes with several behaviors that Evolutionary Psychology can not adequetly explain (most glaringly, homosexuality).

Though many women have been outraged by this work, this book has much to offer for both females and males who read it from a non-ideological perspective. I've read several interviews with Wright and other Evolutionary Psychologists who have stated that by understanding why we (all people) are naturally inclined to behave in certain ways are we better able to control behavioral tendencies that may be detrimental to ourselves and others. When read from this perspective, this book can only help men and women better undertand each other and improve relations between the sexes.

nasty and nice finally explained
For most of my life, I've been trying to understand the reasons behind why we animials behave the way we do.
This book has changed my life. After an extensive and enjoyable study of the text my new understanding on Evolutionary Psychology allows me to accurately conclude scientific explainions for my own emotions, including observed emotions of other animals.
Powerful, confronting and liberating.
Please read.

Mostly highs
Robert Wright is an exponent of the "evolutionary psychology" movement - that is, the notion that our civilization and its institutions, manners, laws, customs and religions are all a part of the evolutionary process. We are the sum of our genes but we are much more than that - the moral animal. We worry about what others think about us, about what we do, about right and wrong and evil and love and good and bad.

Wilson has made similar arguments in his excellent works and this book is a supporting cast member in the long drama of evolutionary science. The book is not technical but it is extremely interesting - discussing such concepts as male, female, sex, family, groups, altruism - all with a focused eye and calm, measured vocabulary. He looks at our reasons for doing what we do, why we like certain people and more importantly, why we dislike others and live life as we do.

One problem common to many books of this type is the almost worshipful homage to Darwin. His thoughts on many subjects are treated as Scripture at times and his life is studied for what he offers in other realms besides natural selection. While Darwin may have brought about a synthesis of scientific thought at the time, it is fair to say that technically he was surpassed long ago. In the end, this is a book about the qualities that make us human and different than other animals on Earth.

Fresh perspective on the complex origins of human nature
The author chooses Darwin to serve as an illustration of the principles of evolutionary psychology, developing a compelling biographical narrative and thereby broadening the appeal of his book. My only quibble is that the final chapters seemed unnecessarily defensive, as if the author imagined that the only readers that would hang on that long would be hecklers. ... Read more