Books

Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live

Average customer rating:

This book is a gift
A Turtle Tracking the North Star
Worth checking out, but stay real....
Tuning in means tuning out
Take with a grain of salt

Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live
Martha Beck
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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Wisdom from Finding Your Own North Star

ASIN: 0812932188
Release Date: 2002-01-29

Amazon.com

Put the telescope away; the North Star mentioned here is a human body, not a heavenly one. And like Polaris, which has guided sailors for centuries, the human body's gut feelings and emotions can help guide a wayward soul back to his or her "essential self." In this absorbing combination of detailed self-awareness exercises and true stories from her own counseling experience (equal parts sobering and hysterically entertaining), Harvard-trained sociologist Martha Beck invites readers to explore their heart's desires and the vast social webs that keep such desires in check. The goal is not to forsake the "social self" and indulge every emotional impulse of the "essential self." Rather, Beck gives readers the tools and the encouragement to achieve maximum happiness by harmonizing these typically divergent voices.

Beck (author of Expecting Adam) admits that repairing a damaged emotional compass and setting out on such a vital journey--which often involves painful realizations and changes--"has all the combined attractions of suicide and childbirth." But the payoff, she concludes, is a love affair with real life. To that end, she walks readers through a lengthy exercise to evaluate their current lifestyle's pleasures and pains, teaches the process of listening to the body for directional cues, describes how to extract "soul shrapnel" (healing all those nasty, self-defeating emotional wounds), and provides an intriguing "Map of Change" to achieve an authentic life. Beck's impressive knowledge, her engaging (if somewhat irreverent) voice, and her ability to parse this scary process into achievable steps make her a new champion in the self-help arena. --Liane Thomas

Book Description

“Explorers depend on the North Star when there are no other landmarks in sight. The same relationship exists between you and your right life, the ultimate realization of your potential for happiness. I believe that a knowledge of that perfect life sits inside you just as the North Star sits in its unaltering spot.”

Martha Beck has helped hundreds of clients find their own North Star, fulfill their potential, and live more joyfully. Now, she shares her step-by-step program that will help you take the exhilarating and frightening journey to your own ideal life. Finding Your Own North Star will teach you how to read your internal compasses, articulate your core desires, identify and repair the unconscious beliefs that may be blocking your progress, nurture your intuition, and cultivate your dreams from the first magical flicker of an idea through the planning and implementation of a more satisfying life. Martha Beck offers thoroughly tested case studies, questionnaires, exercises, and her own trademark wit and wisdom to guide you every step of the way.

Customer Reviews:

This book is a gift.......2007-05-24

This is in response to "working girl" and others comments that this book is about "spin". The concept behind "Finding Your Own North Star" implies that we don't all have the same "dream job". The idea that there are "North Star" businesses is just an example of why we NEED this message. Our society has conditioned us to believe that there are a handful of careers that reap success and happiness. And if you don't qualify for those positions, you are doomed to a medoicre life. This simply is not true. It may be that a person's "dream job" is working in an animal shelter giving love to injured animals. It may be a low paying job, but if it is that person's true path in life, they won't care about that. The joy of life fills the person that is doing what they love. Each and every human being has a purpose on this earth. Every purpose has immeasurable value. The challenge is to look beyond what we are told by society, and find the answers within ourselves. Martha Beck has provided an instruction manual on how to do just that. I hope that you will read the book again. Don't rush through it, but let it sink in. Take some quiet moments to really contemplate the message. Finding your North Star isn't about money. It is about reconnecting to your true self, and letting it guide you in the direction that you were meant to travel.

A Turtle Tracking the North Star.......2007-05-04

Martha Beck - life coach and monthly columnist for "O: Oprah Magazine" - adores turtles. The turtle, after all, embodies much to be admired: a hard, thick shell on the outside, to protect itself from the bumps and bruises of manuevering through life; a very soft and vulnerable inside beneath the resistant carapace; lacking in speed but has a plodding persistence that wins over the hare every time; and, while protecting its head when at rest, is required to stick its neck out in order to move forward. The turtle, Beck points out, is a role model for living successful lives.

Moving ahead in life, turtle-style, is an excellent way to reach our North Stars - that point of light to guide us home like a compass in even the darkest sky. In an easy-to-absorb and enjoyable, often humorous style, Beck explains how so many of us get lost, or get stuck, and fail to achieve our most cherished dreams or any measure of happiness. We are a division of two selves requiring balance: the essential self - our core being that is guided mostly by uninhibited instinct combined with an inner voice of wisdom - with the social self - the part of us that has learned how to play nice with others, function in a diverse society, and, alas, all too often wear masks to hide our more tender and true core selves.

Beck does not advocate turning to one or other self exclusively, both essential and social selves are necessary, but rather finding the healthy balance so that we can remain on the right path toward that North Star. Too much essential self and we become irresponsible members of a civilized society. Too much social self, and we lose touch with our core, sinking into superficiality, losing sight of our dreams, and wearing our masks so long that we forget our own true faces.

Beck illustrates how our physical bodies often are first to let us know, loud and clear, if we only pay attention, that we have veered off the path. A persistent unhappiness is our first clue. Easy enough to recognize. But sometimes our grief is more internalized, less obvious, and so signs of illness, fatigue, boredom, apathy, chronic irritability, all point to a need to check our internal maps. People behaving badly are not so much mean and evil, she says, as in pain. And pain of any kind is a clear signal that we are not doing what we are supposed to be doing, that we have lost touch with our essential, core selves. It's time to listen to the voice inside again, the one belonging to the essential self, for where we have gone wrong.

In fifteen chapters, the author gives plenty of guidance and examples, many quizzes and questions to ponder, much sound advice and clear illustration. Whether the issue at hand is a relationship gone sour or a career gone dull (and one issue often goes hand in hand with another), her common sense guidelines encourage the reader to get back on track again and how to do so. Change, she acknowledges, is uncomfortable. But life IS change, and it is in fact change that keeps us young and vital and alert, much as flexing a muscle keeps it strong. The turtle never gets ahead without stretching its neck out from under that shell first. The bounty and joy of life, however, is always worth it. Dealing with change and the unknown is part of the hero's saga, or quest, in finding the North Star, and no one gets through without encountering their share of obstacles and hurdles and tests. It is the testing, in fact, that makes us into heroes and gives us the tools and know-how we need to go on.

"A willingness to make mistakes and recover from them is absolutely essential," she writes. As is doing a "terrible job" if it is on the path to learning and growth. To sustain oneself through the rough spots, her advice is to keep oneself in the positive, avoid the negative, and that includes the company one keeps (find people who support and encourage you), the kind of recreation one chooses (don't watch a violent movie and expect to feel positive about yourself or others), and how one treats others (don't just take the support, offer it in return to those who are worthy).

"Change hurts," she warns. "...for a person who's stuck in the wrong life, setting out on a North Star quest has all the combined attractions of suicide and childbirth. To complete it, you'll have to kill off the old You and give birth to a different You, someone nobody has ever seen before. Neither side of this process is painless, and they're both scary as hell. I've watched hundreds of folks make dramatic life transformations, and in every case, the person in question experienced alienation, confusion, frustration, and a thousand other forms of acute distress... the eventual payoff was tremendous - cheap at twice the price."

In the end, Beck states, we all manifest our own destinies. Whether we finally reach our personal North Star or not, it is entirely up to each and every one of us. Those of us who are eternal pessimists and live in a mire of negativity will always hone in like magnets on failure and disappointment. Those of us who maintain our North Star focus throughout the expected trials and tribulations of normal living, will claim what we were meant to have: our dreams. Turtles are created to cross the finish line.

Worth checking out, but stay real...........2007-04-07

It's always interesting that honest and critical comments like working girl's often get the fewest "votes" from surfers indicating a review is helpful. People just don't want to hear that side of it...they are lookin' for a little of the ol' soft shoe. Nothing wrong with that - - hey, it's why I'm here! But... I do so with one foot in reality.

Her comment that some of the stories in the book may be "spin" likely has truth. Like rewarding positive reviews, we are mesmerized with the glowing possibilities of triumph over the nine to five grind, versus contemplating the hard reality that most people will still end up working jobs they don't like to make money. Hope simply makes for better copy and more sales.

Look, not ALL people can or will follow their star even if they could find it...someone's still gonna take orders at McDonald's, haul the garbage, answer the phones, install the cable. If all of us were destined for "living the life we were meant to live", nobody would do those jobs!

At day's end, I'm STILL optimistic and looking forward to employing some of the author's suggestions. Meantime, I'm still payin' my dues.

Tuning in means tuning out.......2007-03-16

When you experience a natural inclination to be a certain way ... it is something to pay attention to. We all have a natural flow that is in line with who we are. The challenge is to be true to it. Life often conditions you out of your real self early in childhood and only as an adult can one claim their destiny. Martha Beck uses the analogy of an inner compass for one's life direction called The North Star, to navigate the waters of work and career. One's intellect can override the natural intuition of the heart and Beck's method is a way back to our true instincts. A great book on being more of who you are rather than trying to be what you are not.

Take with a grain of salt.......2007-02-05

I like both this book and Barbara Sher's book "Wishcraft." Both very practical in ONE sense. But I also think they are written by people who know how to spin and market themselves. Funny how they are always their own first client and then go on to market their success in marketing themselves. Good role models for people in sales. I don't think all the stories in this book are true, I think they are spin. I have followed my north star for many years and my income has remained static for ten years and counting, I have only a tiny savings and retirement, I'm still single and I have had to move and change jobs every 2.5 years on average. There is a reason many people don't follow their star, a lot of these "dream jobs" are darn hard to make a living at, only the most talented and most driven can succeed, often at a great personal cost. Sometimes you can have it all, but most of the time you can't. The north star jobs are also the first to get cut when budget axes fall, which is probably why so many of these folks go on to write books and give seminars. "North star" businesses go belly up all the time. My story doesn't make it into these books, and neither do a lot of working class and lower middle class people's because they don't have the luxury or the resources to "find themselves." They never tell you what their success rate is.

Rediscovering Catholicism: Journeying Toward Our Spiritual North Star

Average customer rating:

A great and inspiring book
Rediscovering Catholicism
One of the Books that Brought me Back
Clean, Clear Information
All I can say is...WOW!

Rediscovering Catholicism: Journeying Toward Our Spiritual North Star
Matthew Kelly
Manufacturer: Our Sunday Visitor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1592760120

Book Description

At a time when many people are disillusioned with the Catholic Church, questioning the faith, and filled with doubts about the relevance of Catholicism in the modern world, Matthew Kelly reveals the essence of authentic Catholic spirituality while addressing some of the most important questions we face today as both individuals and as a Church.

Customer Reviews:

A great and inspiring book.......2007-05-12

I thoroughly enjoyed Matthew Kelly's insightful articulation of the beauty of Catholicism. I recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a spiritual jump-start or inspiration/encouragement to truly try and live a Catholic life.

Rediscovering Catholicism.......2007-05-12

I have read several of Matthew Kelly's books, but this one is by far my favorite. I have given this book to friends and gave a copy to a gentleman who was reading it over my shoulder on a plane. This is a book I just like having around me. It helps me to keep in focus my spiritual side.

One of the Books that Brought me Back.......2007-03-16

Matthew Kelly gives a stunning and passionate yet still grounded in reality open to the world perspective and scope on how the ancient religion was never gone but just out of view for a while. Anne Rice returned after 30 years, I did after 15, and many others find their way back to Rome. All roads lead to Rome no matter what side paths you take. God will always forgive and if need be ... there is a Redemptist Order for those lost flock who are now found.

When I needed to navigate to my true soul's north star this was an instrumental book along with my old Catholic bible. The rosary made sense in the inner journey that surrendered my heart back to God and re-established the Catholic church as my compass. Matthew Kelly paints a stunning overview of just why Catholicism matters so intimatley in people's lives.

Just to give you a context of why this book is such a Catholic treasure ... I had not been to confession in 15 years because I had dabbled in New Age spirituality since freshman year at University. I had falsly come to the belief that my precognitive capacity had me in danger with the very church that ended up being my salvation from a secular existence comprised of career-driven, ambition seeking urban professional who only had time for friends, and a second income being a known intuitive and paid consultant on what the future would bring. In truth, my spiritual gifts were meant to raise and build the church ... nothing else.

You see, when a dark night of the soul came upon me it wasn't my tarot decks, my horoscope, my yoga teacher, chakra meditations, affirmations, incense, a secular psychologist, my own trusted and very expensive psychic, and most of all ... my own intuition that brought me back. It was prayer, confession, and books like this that restored my spiritual foundation. Being a Roman Catholic never leaves you ... you can take the girl out of the church but not the church out of the girl.

Clean, Clear Information.......2007-01-22

Great book for 'cradle Catholics' . Answers are given for so many of the questions we had as to Why are we doing this? What does it mean?
This book helped me with understanding our traditions upon returning to the Catholic church.
It has helped me with understanding which part of what I learned was VI and which was VII.
Matthew Kelly makes what can be a VERY complicated subject easy to understand and embrace.

All I can say is...WOW!.......2007-01-05

This book has re-awakened and re-affirmed my direction as a Catholic Christian.

Average customer rating:

Excellent as a Historical Text Book
Not very good...
A very useful beginners guide to American film.
Movie spoiler

American Cinema/American Culture
John Belton
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Study Guide for American Cinema
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ASIN: 007004466X

Book Description

Developed to accompany the Annenberg-funded telecourse American Cinema, and written under the aegis of The New York Center for Visual History, this text offers a fascinating look at the interplay between the movie industry and mass culture in America.

Ideal for film appreciation and film and culture courses found in Cinema Studies, English, History, American Studies, or other departments, American Cinema/American Culture first examines the industry, its narrative conventions, and its cinematographic style.

Following this introduction, students are exposed to the sweep of film history in the U.S. using five genres as the bases for discussion and focusing on the point at which each had the greatest affect on the industry, film aesthetics, and American culture.

Finally, the book concludes with a look at Hollywood post World War II, giving separate chapter coverage to the effects of the Cold War, television, the counterculture of the Sixties, directors from the film school generation, and the trends of the Eighties and Nineties.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent as a Historical Text Book.......2007-03-24

So, I expected this book to be a bit more fun. Unfortunately, the fun element is missing. However, in fairness, the book serves as a thorough textbook for the history of American Cinema and its techniques and various genres. I did enjoy reading about the early studio system and the vast amount of control this oligopoly held. There were some very good critiques and studies of specific films, and a bit about specific actors and actresses. Even a bit about directors. Though packed with information, the book just lacks an entertainment value that it could and should have pulled off based on the subject matter.

The different genres studied include:

Westerns
War Movies
Silent Films
Film Noire
Screwball Comedies

As well as an overall dissertation on Classical Hollywood Style and its various techniques.

Not very good..........2005-03-05

I got this book for a class on the history of cinema. Unfortunately, as the title implies, it only deals with American Cinema. If this is a book for school, check out the class to see if foreign films and film history will be discussed. This book is, again, as the title implies--one-sided. Most of the movies it discusses, gives away crucial plot-points and endings. Some movies that I've been dying to see were ruined in just one or two sentences. This book is also very puffed-up and biased (I don't know any other way of explaining it). Many times throughout the book, Belton seems like James Lipton of "Inside the Actor's Studio", and goes on and on about the greatness of Hollywood, actors, director's, and films with nothing negative to say. It's not at all critical of anything and the author frequently inserts his own interpretation of films into the general text, which I found a little pompous. The book does offer up some interesting facts about the early history and the birth of cinema, but there's something about the way this book was written that makes it hard to stay interested. I think the chapters about film genres exaggerate the importance of some of them, and neglects other genres completely, ie. Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Sci-fi, Animation, Epics, etc. Again, question the instructor and/or look at the class syllabus before siging up if this is the only book for this class. I don't believe this is a comprehensive and unbiased view of cinema and it's history.

A very useful beginners guide to American film........2003-01-08

Years ago I took an intro-level film class at a community college. This was the text for the class. It was accompanied (at least in my class) by a PBS video series that combined film clips with interviews and historical information. Going into the class I had little more than a passing interest in film and film history. But after taking that class, my passion for film has grown exponentially with each year. But back to the book, I really liked this book and highlighted my way from the front cover to the back cover. There are of course limitations to this book. Firstly, it deals only with American films. Secondly, this book barely breaks the 300-page mark - hardly a comprehensive volume. You aren't going to get any information on John Cassavetes here or anything. Now if you have a chance to use this book in conjunction with the PBS films, I think you'll do much better (in fact I think the vids even give a nod to Cassavetes), but even then please note that this material is for an INTRO-level film class, and won't be much good for someone who already knows a fair amount about American film. But with that in mind, the book still has a lot to offer someone looking to introduce themselves to film history.

The first third of the book starts with the birth of film, moves quickly on to the Hollywood studio system, and walks us through the basics of film style (camerawork, lighting, editing, etc.). The second third covers the basics of film genre; there is a chapter about film noir, one on comedies, one on war films, and one on westerns. This second section was particularly useful to me. I could read each chapter, jot down a list of promising titles, hit my local video store, and I was good to go. The third section covers American film after World War II. In this section things seem a little compressed. 110 pages for 50 years of film? A lot is lost on the cutting room floor. But there's lots to dig into all the same. There's a chapter on Hollywood during the McCarthy years (yikes!), one on film's evolution during the emergence of television, a chapter on 1960s counterculture films, one on the film school directors of the 1970s and 1980s, and finally a pretty weak chapter on film in the 1990s. Oh yeah, and at the end of the book there's a handy glossary (in case you're ever stuck on what point-of-view editing is) and a pretty thorough index.

Again, not a book for someone who already has a good feel for film history. But definitely a great resource for someone new to film studies, or for someone who has trouble finding a movie at Blockbuster on Fridays. It did a great job getting me excited about movies, and I imagine its done the same for others.... A good companion to this text (or possibly an all-out replacement of it) is Scorsese's VHS/DVD, "A Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese Through American Movies."

Movie spoiler.......2002-10-08

This would be a great book to read if you have no intention of watching the films discussed within, or if you've already seen them. On quite a few films, it tells the whole plot, in detail, from opening to end credits.

I also don't like the prose of the author, as he excessively uses sentences "in quotations". The writing structure is very formulaic and boring. The "5 paragraph essay" format is good for high school students learning to write, but imagine an entire book written that way. I can only read it for 15 minutes before losing interest.

The book does, however, provide plenty of examples from a variety of films.

This book is a companion piece to the PBS series by the same name. The series is much more interesting. Don't bother with the book. A much better film text is "Film: An Introduction", by William Phillips, ISBN: 0312258968.

The Night Sky 30°-40° (Large; North Latitude)
Average customer rating:

Night Sky

Excellent tool

Star gazing

Best In The Night Sky

telescope accessories

The Night Sky 30°-40° (Large; North Latitude)
David S. Chandler
Manufacturer: David Chandler Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Map

Astronomy | Astronomy | Science | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0961320753

Book Description

The Night Sky is a rotating star finder (planisphere) that allows the user to recognize the constellations for any time of night, any day of the year. The sky appears to rotate (due to the rotation and orbital motion of the earth), so to be successful recognizing the constellations a beginner needs to know which stars are above the horizon at any time.

This is the full-sized version of The Night Sky suitable for the 30°-40° latitude zone (southern half of the US, North Africa, Middle East, etc.). We have versions for the following latitude zones: 50°-60°, 40°-50°, 30°-40°, 20°-30°, and the Southern Hemisphere. We also have pocket-sized versions available for the same latitude zones.

Customer Reviews:

Night Sky.......2007-05-12

The product functions as represented. It was received on time in good condition and I am well pleased

Excellent tool.......2007-03-29

Very well constructed, and easy to use. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in astronomy.

Star gazing.......2007-02-06

Superb product. The prduct is made of sturdy material(plastic?) not like the cardboard one I owned in the past. I love the clear plastic cover which can keep the dew and my fingerprints at bay. The chart itself, in addition, to the constellations locates Messier objects and nebulae.
This is great item to take on a camping trips or just stash in the glove compartment for impromptu stops to see the stars.

Make sure you buy the chart that is at or near the latitude where you live. The USA runs from 30-50 degrees latitude. So if you live at or south of New York and Denver then get the 30-40. If much above that, get the 40-50 degree latitude

Best In The Night Sky.......2007-01-05

After much careful comparing I found this Plainesphere to be the best one out there. Has a back side which is actually useful. I bought 2 as Christmas gifts and were enthusiastically received. Highly recommended.
By the way - also get a Red LED flashlight to go with these to preserve night vision. Amazon has a great small one at a good price.

telescope accessories.......2006-02-24

an excellent aid for viewing the sky and locating interesting bodies in the constellations.

Average customer rating:

Lost on Your Journey
Smart Jane has an A-ha experience
A gift every person deserves...
The North Star brings out the child in all of us....
A book to awaken you to your dreams

The North Star
Peter H. Reynolds
Manufacturer: FableVision Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1891405004

Book Description

The North Star from FableVision Press, is a hardcover book of 120 pages, filled with magical watercolor illustrations and text by Peter Reynolds.

The North Star is the story of a young boy's journey through life. It is an allegory that raises questions about which road we take, and how to seek out our own unique path through life. The magical illustrations and gentle text reveal the empowering wonder of navigating our true potential.

The North Star celebrates the individual. It invites us to rethink curriculum, career choices and other critical life decisions in a way that respects who we really are and our own unique gifts. It has inspired children, teachers, parents and people from all walks of life.

Customer Reviews:

Lost on Your Journey.......2003-08-30

If you are lost on your journey, any part of of your journey, sit down, have a cup of tea, and read The North Star. Take some time to imagine how you and the 'boy' are alike as your 'paths' unfold before you.

It is a book that is meant to be read over and over again. The North Star is a wonderful reminder of how you can control your destiny and life's journey.

Enjoy!

Smart Jane has an A-ha experience.......1999-08-23

Review of The North Star by Peter Reynolds

A True Story

My smart friend Jane read The North Star and said: "It's a dumb book." I looked at her quizzically. I began to notice how straight she sat, how straight she dressed. She had no children. "It's about something very rare," I said. "Something wonderful but all too rare." Now Jane looked at me quizzically. "Unconventional children," I said. Her quizzicality grew. "And that's all of them," I added. Jane's eyes lit up, her jaw dropped a little. She said, "Oh." I started to explain but she is smart and didn't need me to tell -- about children who get those double-messages that appear on almost every page of The North Star, the wooden sign telling you to turn right, then below it a maddening little arrow pointing left. "Girl children get a ton of double-messages. Children in poverty get them, children in privilege. The messages about sex leave no room for homosexuality, for domestic violence, for exploitation. No wonder children grow up feeling lost. Who wouldn't love to read this book to kids everywhere?" "You're so right," said smart Jane. "Why didn't I see it?" "Maybe you've become conventional, Jane. Did you ever find your own North Star?" The quizzicality returned. "In the book the lost boy stops following the conventional signs when he discovers his North Star - surrounded by his very own constellation. That's just his true calling in life, surrounded by all his strengths and talents. It leads him back home: to himself, to an original self." "How wonderful," said smart Jane, tears standing in her eyes. #

William Cleary August 23, l999

A gift every person deserves..........1999-05-29

I'm an "ability focused" disability awareness educator and I've adopted The North Star and its messages into my work with students for the past several years. With its messages of self-acceptance and acceptance of diversity, The North Star has been a natural companion for my own goals of helping students develop a greater appreciation of individual differences and abilities. This is a gift we all deserve, no matter what our age... no matter what obstacles we face in life.

Besides the success I've had with The North Star in the classroom, it also has great meaning to me on a personal level. As someone living with a lifelong respiratory disability, reading The North Star for the first time felt like someone was smiling at me, and nodding... confirming and celebrating the person I am and the unique life I've led, and it made me believe it is the kind of life I want to continue leading.

The North Star brings out the child in all of us...........1998-03-12

I highly suggest firmly embracing your favorite stuffed animal as you read this book...it will be a journey you shall never forget.

A book to awaken you to your dreams.......1998-01-22

This book could very well awaken you, help you find your inner self and redirect you toward your guiding star - your life's work and dream. This book can be the start of a new outlook in life. Read this book and refocus...you may find it touches you like no other book has. It has done this for me.

A Walk through the Heavens: A Guide to Stars and Constellations and their Legends

Average customer rating:

Has correct constellation segment connections unlike Rey's "The Stars: A New Way to See Them"
A Great Learning Guide
Confusing Constellation Relationships - Good Basic Astronomy
An Excellent Primer to the Constellations
This book will lead you to the stars...

A Walk through the Heavens: A Guide to Stars and Constellations and their Legends
Milton D. Heifetz , and Wil Tirion
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Stars: A New Way to See Them
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ASIN: 0521544157

Book Description

A Walk through the Heavens is a beautiful and easy-to-use guide to the constellations of the northern hemisphere. By following the unique simplified maps, readers will be able to easily find and identify the constellations and the stars within them. Ancient myths and legends of the sky are retold, adding to the mystery of the stars. Written for the complete beginner, this practical guide introduces the patterns of the starry skies in a memorable way. No equipment is needed, apart from normal sight and clear skies. Milton D. Heifetz is a clinical professor of neurosurgery at the University of Southern California and visiting professor at Harvard Medical School. This is his first astronomy book. Wil Tirion is the author of numerous sky guides, including The Cambridge Guide to Stars and Planets (1997), The Cambridge Star Atlas (1996), and The Monthly Sky Guide (Cambridge, 2003). Previous Edition Hb (1998): 00-521-62513-0

Customer Reviews:

Has correct constellation segment connections unlike Rey's "The Stars: A New Way to See Them".......2005-09-26

Undoubtedly lots of beginning astronomers will be trying to decide between Rey's book "The Stars: A New Way to See Them" and Heifetz/Tirion's "A Walk Through the Heavens". I just wanted to point out something that could be a deciding factor for some people: "A Walk Through the Heavens" teaches you to find contellations which are drawn using the time-tested line segments between the stars of the constellations. In other words, the connections between the stars in any given constellation are the "traditional" connections. As an astronomy purist, this is the way I prefer to see them.

In contrast, H.A. Rey used his imagination to re-draw the line segments between the stars in his book "The Stars: A New Way to See Them". Put another way, Rey diverges from the accepted norm in that the connections between the stars in any given constellation are drawn differently than the accepted connections. That means if you look at a planisphere or any other observing aid, the constellations' connections will be drawn differently than in Rey's book (but will appear the same as they do in "A Walk Through the Heavens").

That said, some people find Rey's "new way" easier since Rey's constellation connections are more intuitive for some people to grasp. But if you learn from Rey's book then be prepared to re-learn the conventional constellation segments once you graduate to any other astronomical reference.

A Great Learning Guide.......2004-06-05

One of the best, if not the best, book I have found to easily teach you the night sky and how to find and identify the Constellations. I highly recommend this book for anyone that wants to learn the night sky easily and complete. A++++

Confusing Constellation Relationships - Good Basic Astronomy.......2002-09-28

Those who consider this a really good beginners' book must not have seen Hans Rey's classic "Find the Constellations" or "The Stars: A New Way to See Them".
The latter book was "new" generations ago when my now grown children marveled at the heavens using our heavily worn hard copy of "The Stars" with Rey, and is now collecting grubby fingerprints from the frequent use by my grandchildren in our original and several paperback copies.
Part 2 of the Heifetz/Tirion book uses a labored method of originating and extending lines all over the sky from "Star n" of Asterism "m" through several other hard to define positions of far removed stars and further on to numbered or named stars in destination constellations for its "Walk Through the Heavens".
Too complicated for the purpose for beginners.
One could spend all night trying to imagine these lines in the sky while a few minutes with either of the Rey books would have the beginner naming and knowing half a dozen constellations and then star hopping to others.
Parts 1, 3 and 4 save the book. Part 3, the section on Legends of the Heavens, Milky Way, etc. is very good. Part 4, sort of a Misc. chapter has a small collection of good viewing information.
The book is a good buy, but the Rey books are a lot better for learning the constellations for any age group, and only slightly more expensive.
The Time-Life Skywatching/Advanced Skywatching volumes for a few more bucks are a little more advanced but orders of magnitude better for beginning teenagers, adults or advanced elementary schoolers and provide a lot more bang for your buck.

An Excellent Primer to the Constellations.......2002-09-02

This book makes finding constellations in the Northern Hemisphere(the author has a similar book for the Southern Hemisphere)an interesting and successful endeavor. It is not just for youngsters, but for anyone with an interest in learning how to find constellations and the names of the major stars. The diagrams illustrate the relationships between stars and constellations in simple drawings that make it like an easy-to-read roadmap. It builds from the pointer stars of the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) to all the constellations and how to find them. Instead of frustration and doubt you'll feel the exhilaration of discovery.

Besides the stars and their relationships to each other, there is also a "Legends of the Heavens" section that tells the myths and stories of the major constellations. They are fascinating and not limited to children. This book can open up the heavens for anyone who wonders about the stars. It can lay a foundation by simplifying the sky. Once these basics are learned, the universe and hobby of astronomy can be pursued to whatever depth you want. This book is a MUST for anyone wanting to be successful in satisfying their curiosity about the locations of constellations and their relationships to each other.

This book will lead you to the stars..........2001-08-10

...Or at least, it will help you to identify them.

I have always been interested on space. However, I have never taken a single astronomy class, and there is a huge difference between knowing about astronomical objects and identifying them on the sky. I had seen some maps, but they were overwhelming.

This book changed it all. It starts with identifying one constellation, and from there it takes you to many stars. It is a very useful first step.

Book Description

This all-new edition of the popular field guide provides photographs and descriptions of all species and subspecies of snakes of Eastern and Central North America from Texas to Manitoba, to the Eastern seaboard of the continent.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent for home and field use.......2007-04-07

Excellent book for novice and experienced alike. Tons of pertinent, useful information. This is a great book for educating entry level herpers. This is not a typical field book, having far more useful information for each species than most I have used. This is particularly helpful when dealing with similar species. More info on typical habitat, range, size, coloration, diet, etc. makes identification easier. A great addition to any library.

Four months and still waiting . . . ........2005-03-25

In fairness, I haven't even read this book. I ordered it in November, and I never received it. Twice Amazon.com asked for permission to extend the date of delivery of my order. Twice I agreed. The third time I said enough is enough. Forget it. I just got my money back, minus the amount I should have obtained from giving Amazon.com an interest-free four-month loan. Each time I was asked to consent to an extension on the delivery date I was denied an explanation for the delay.

I understand that this is more of an indictment of Amazon.com than it is the book, so it is unfair for me to give it the rating I have assigned it. But I just wanted Amazon.com's customers interested in this book that if you want it, be prepared to WAIT!!! (Or look for the book on bn.com.)

Great Guide!.......2004-01-05

I just bought the 2003 edition of this book, and I must say it is great! The pics are very good! On some of the variable species, there are more than one photo to show you the different forms. The author provides great information on every aspect of the snakes' lives including size, reproduction, prey, habitat, and relative abundance. The book is very easy to read and is a steal at that price for 600 well written pages on North American snakes!- Anthony J. Chodan

Good, accessible guide.......2001-08-29

A very good reference and field guide to snakes from Texas to North Dakota eastwards, aimed at enthusiasts and accessible to the average reader. It builds on Tennant's earlier books on Texas and Florida snakes (which were excellent), and in fact the text of the species accounts is often lifted more or less directly from those books. This makes this book less than original, but the detail -- over 600 pages worth -- is very good. Lots of photos, though each are a little small. This book is thicker, more thorough and generally stronger than the companion western volume (Snakes of North America: Western Region). It also has a good bibliography. One quibble, though -- the range maps often do not extend into Canada (though the Canadian ranges of the relevant snakes are discussed in the text), which reduces the usefulness of this book for Canadian readers. Recommended.

Snakes of North America : Eastern and Central Regions (Field.......2000-08-09

Overall I thought this book was well written, very comprehensive, and quite easy to use. The copy I purchased has a problem with some of the pages being out of order. The Western guide I have has the range maps for the hognoses reversed. These may be a function of the printing company's sloppiness. However, I believe this book is an important addition to any serious amateur or professional herpetologist or budding herpetoculturist.

Average customer rating:

Another Winner from Lorna!
Lorna never disappoints her readers
Good but Forgettable.
very enjoyable
Thoughtful, intriguing, heartfelt friendships

Oh My Stars: A Novel
Lorna Landvik
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons: A Novel

ASIN: 0345472314
Release Date: 2005-04-19

Book Description

I am convinced that at birth the cake is already baked. Nurture is the nuts or frosting, but if you’re a spice cake, you’re a spice cake, and nothing is going to change you into an angel food.

Tall, slender Violet Mathers is growing up in the Great Depression, which could just as well define her state of mind. Abandoned by her mother as a child, mistreated by her father, and teased by her schoolmates (“Hey, Olive Oyl, where’s Popeye?”), the lonely girl finds solace in artistic pursuits. Only when she’s hired by the town’s sole feminist to work the night shift in the local thread factory does Violet come into her name, and bloom. Accepted by her co-workers, the teenager enters the happiest phase of her life, until a terrible accident causes her to retreat once again into her lonely shell.

Realizing that she has only one clear choice, Violet boards a bus heading west to California. But when the bus crashes in North Dakota, it seems that Fate is having another cruel laugh at Violet’s expense. This time though, Violet laughs back. She and her fellow passengers are rescued by two men: Austin Sykes, whom Violet is certain is the blackest man to ever set foot on the North Dakota prairie, and Kjel Hedstrom, who inspires feelings Violet never before has felt. Kjel and Austin are musicians whose sound is like no other, and with pluck, verve, and wit, Violet becomes part of their quest to make a new kind of music together.

Oh My Stars is Lorna Landvik’s most ambitious novel yet, with a cast of characters whose travails and triumphs you’ll long remember. It is a tale of love and hope, bigotry and betrayal, loss and discovery–as Violet, who’s always considered herself a minor character in her own life story, emerges as a heroine you’ll laugh with, cry with, and, most important, cheer for all the way.

Download Description

Praise for Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons

“Highly entertaining . . . almost as hard to put down [as] Mary McCarthy’s The Group.”
–The Seattle Times

“A lively story as delectable as a five-pound box of chocolates . . . a thoroughly engaging chronicle of friendship and the substantive place it holds in women’s lives.”
–Anne LeClaire, author of Leaving Eden

“It is impossible not to get caught up in the lives of the book group members. . . . Landvik’s gift lies in bringing these familiar women to life with insight and humor.”
–The Denver Post

“A guilty pleasure . . . This light, snappy read may be [Landvik’s] best yet.”
–Midwest Living magazine

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Another Winner from Lorna!.......2007-02-13

I was hooked on Ms. Landvik after reading Patti Jane's House of Curl. This is another great read from her. The first chapter was a little hard to get into but I was quickly hooked! And very surprised with the turns the book took. I have to agree with the reviewer's remark about the historical information. I read things I had no idea about! The characters are real and unforgettable. I highly recommend this book.

Lorna never disappoints her readers.......2007-02-09

Once again Lorna Landvik presents a novel that is full of unique and endearing characters. How can we not fall in love with Kjel or want Violet to succeed? In a story that deals with both outer and inner beauty, readers are taken on a road trip that is not only memorable, but life-changing for each of the characters. Landvik's storytelling abilities are unsurpassed. I've enjoyed all of her novels and this one was one of her best. I can't wait until her next release.

Good but Forgettable........2007-01-30

Save this book for a rainy day. The main characters - Violet, Kjel, Austin, and Dallas - are all sympathetic, but slightly underwritten. It was a nice story, but nothing to sink your teeth into. I particularly felt that the author was thinking of what a nice Lifetime movie this would make as she got deeper into the book. How else to explain the immediate transference of love and loyalties following a tragedy befalling one of the characters? (When you read it, see what I mean, and try and tell me that I'm wrong.) The author seemed to run out of plot 3/4 of the way into the book, and cobbled together a hasty ending that not only didn't jibe with the rest of the story. It was a good read, but not satisfying, and completely forgettable 24 hours after reading it.

very enjoyable.......2007-01-22

Don't be put off by the corny title of this book (for me, it gives the impression of a sappy romance) - this book is great. I was pulled in right from the beginning and could not put this book down.

I loved Violet's character and enjoyed seeing her transformation. I loved the other characters as well - the band members, Elwin, the Clamshells, etc. My only (very slight) criticism is that the book got a tad slow for me at the very end but not enough that I wanted to stop reading it.

This is definitely one I will be recommending to my friends and to my reading group.

Thoughtful, intriguing, heartfelt friendships.......2007-01-05

This is a story one should not miss. Lorna Landvik paints her literary canvas with characters of real strength and most certainly does the same in this novel.
The story centers around Violet from childhood through middle age. As you travel with Violet, you feel her pain, her losses, her agony, her grief and her joys, love and strength. You also feel the camaradarie with her friends and newfound family.
This novel is a wonderful expose' of life for those who are without hope, have experienced loss, who experience discrimination and who lived in a period of time in America few of us have experienced.
Wonderful novel, nice read, sweet lessons.

Stars of the First People: Native American Star Myths and Constellations

Average customer rating:

More hopeful than the Greeks: Native American star myths
a well-rounded presentation of North American star lore
Well-written book with information hard to find elsewhere

Stars of the First People: Native American Star Myths and Constellations
Dorcas S. Miller
Manufacturer: Pruett Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Folklore & Mythology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0871088584

Customer Reviews:

More hopeful than the Greeks: Native American star myths.......2005-07-08

Dorcas Miller's book is a gateway into our North American sky. I have already given my first copy to a scout leader. Her organization is superb: sky-watchers can pick a star or constellation and use the reference guide to access all its stories; ethnographers can follow the chapter organization by region and tribe. I will annotate her lists as I add other sources and tales.

Miller starts with the conventional Greek constellations that still map our sky for professional astronomers, providing myth summaries and seasonal sky maps. Her stick figures of these constellations are a delight and I copy their details onto the daily sky charts from the internet.

Both the Greeks and our First Peoples filled their skies with peoples and animals. Only a few identities, such as bear and dog, straddle both hemispheres. Greek heroes and heroines may be banished forever to the sky by the action of the gods as punishment, or placed by a friendly god to protect them from the angered one. Animals and humans are often antagonists. I can't think of a creation myth. The dead didn't go there.

Our First Peoples connection with the sky seems ongoing and personal- get lost and you may wander into it. Die and you may walk up the Milky Way, past guides and obstacles. Suffer and you may find an opening to the sky or a rescuer who will take you into it; you may be homesick, come and go, but finally choose the sky. If you navigate by the stars, why not? It may be a refuge. The myths feel contemporary, the characters often ordinary, and creation feels recent. The animals may be small and hungry, brave or lazy.

Miller provides the myth texts as she finds them, supplementing with discussion and drawings- maps of their known or probable stars and historic diagrams such as rock art that may be relevant. The bibliography is broad. This book will be a good anchor for collecting other North American books coming into print or reprint. `

a well-rounded presentation of North American star lore.......2005-02-18

Curious about the stories that different Native American peoples told about the stars? Dorcas Miller's "Stars of the First People" will go a long way towards satisfying your curiosity. Focusing on the peoples of North America, she has pulled together a robust collection of tales and star lore and grouped them by region. Plentiful sketches, star maps, and charts accompany the text to provide a visual reinforcement of the material contained in the stories.

In addition to the star lore, Dorcas has also included a decent amount of background information on the individual tribes to help the reader better understand the context of the star stories. In the back of the book you'll find an extensive set of notes and bibliographic references for those interested in further reading on this subject.

Don Childrey, author of "STAR TRAILS - Navajo"

Well-written book with information hard to find elsewhere.......2000-05-14

This is one of the most complete set of Native American star legends that I have seen. The author first reviews the standard Greek and Roman myths that have given us our constellation names. For each region of North America, he devotes an entire chapter to star legends from indigenous people that live in that region. At the end of each chapter he lists standard constellations and groups and the Native American legends behind each, and at the end of the book he provides an overall listing. Some interesting similarities come out - for example, the Big Dipper is a bear in standard Greek and Roman and in many Native American myths, and Sirius is a dog or wolf star in standard and in Native American myths. The stories are well written and can be used anywhere where storytelling is called for - for example, to groups of children. For a good summary of Native American myths, look to this volume. I just wish there was a similar compendium of ALL the world's indigenous star myths.

Average customer rating:

nice

Wisdom from Finding Your Own North Star
Martha Beck
Manufacturer: Peter Pauper Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Success | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 159359979X

Customer Reviews:

nice.......2007-04-15

I guess I should have read the fine print... I expected a full sized book, but this was one of those mini-books, very small, and since I expected a larger book, receiving this little thing left me with an initial feeling of disappointment. Not the vendor's fault... mine for ignoring details!

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