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American novelist and short-story writer, poet, translator, classical music composer, and filmscorer Paul Bowles has lived as an expatriate for more than 40 years in the North African nation of Morocco, a country that reaches into the vast and inhospitable Sahara Desert. The desert is itself a character in
The Sheltering Sky, the most famous of Bowles' books, which is about three young Americans of the postwar generation who go on a walkabout into Northern Africa's own arid heart of darkness. In the process, the veneer of their lives is peeled back under the author's psychological inquiry.
Book Description
When The Sheltering Sky was first published in 1949, it established Paul Bowles as one of the most singular and promising writers of the postwar generation. Its startlingly original vision has withstood the test of time and confirmed Tennessee Williams's early estimation: "The Sheltering Sky alone of the books that I have . . . read by American authors appears to bear the spiritual imprint of recent history in the western world." In this classic work of psychological terror, Bowles examines the ways in which Americans apprehend an alien culture and the ways in which their incomprehension destroys them.
The story of three worldly young travelers Port Moresby, his wife, Kit, and their friend, Tunner--adrift in the cities and deserts of North Africa after World War II, The Sheltering Sky is merciless in its evocation of the emotional dislocation induced by a foreign setting. As the Americans embark on an ill-fated journey through desolate terrain, they are pushed to the limits of human reason and intelligence by the unfathomable emptiness and impassive cruelty of the desert. Along the way, they encounter a host of enigmatic characters whose inarticulate strangeness seals the travelers off even more completely from the culture in which they are traveling, causing their fierce attachments to one another to unravel.
This special fiftieth anniversary commemorative edition of Bowles's unforgettable first novel includes the original New York Times review by Tennessee Williams and a preface the author wrote for his first novel before he died in 1999.
Customer Reviews:
The Enveloping Indifference.......2006-08-15
A part of me hates to pass judgment upon a book I don't like or which doesn't interest me, because it reflects my own tastes and nothing else. And yet I write Amazon reviews to warn other people who might be like me and want to give new things (books, music, etc.) a try and I just want to give them my opinion on the item as a former newcomer to it.
I am a Burroughs fan and Burroughs moved to Tangier, North Africa mostly because of Paul Bowles and his novels (all of which, I understand, are set in Tangier.) Burroughs had nothing but praise for Paul Bowles' novels. Intrigued after all these years of hearing the praise, I decided to finally give Bowles a try.
I think that I may have likely made the wrong decision in buying & reading THE SHELTERING SKY first... His later novels, especially THE SPIDER'S HOUSE, have gotten more praise & acclaim (even from Burroughs) than this one. But still, I read a synopsis of the novel and it looked appealing: a writer in a strange land having estranged, strained relations with his wife. I felt right away that I could relate to such a situation and that it would be a good novel to read; as a young man in high school I felt like a stranger in a strange land and I had a serious, steady girlfriend of more than 4 years, and my meteoric rise as a young, compulsive writer of "autobiographical fiction" coincided with the disintegration of my relationship to this girl.
But, alas, reading this book I felt no such empathy with any of the characters. Really, I am just not worldly, and this might be the reason. But in any case I simply could not relate to these expatriates of the '40s.
But the main problem I have with the book has to be the writing itself; Burroughs has suggested that the aim of a writer is to "evoke clear images with his writing." An obvious conclusion -- in my opinion THE DEFINITIVE GOAL OF WRITING -- but which I think Paul Bowles fails at in this novel; I had a hard time 'seeing' the action of the first 50 pages, which is as far as I got into it before I had to set it down for good in disinterest. Truth is the novel didn't really interest me from the start; the first page has some nice sentences, but other than those the book failed to capture my interest.
Again, it may be my own fault as a reader for not getting into this book -- I'm not an avid reader of books these days and haven't been one for years now, mostly just going back and re-reading old favorites for kicks and to pass time -- but I sure hope his later novels are better than this one, or I am inclined to suggest the man's reputation as an excellent writer is unfounded.
Because of THE SHELTERING SKY, I am extremely reluctant to read his later novels, and his short stories, etc. for fear of wasting more money.
Depressingly Blissful.......2006-07-30
Like some other reviewers, I read "The Sheltering Sky" while in Morocco. Specifically, I read it while serving in Peace Corps on the border of Morocco and Algeria at the onset of another blistering Saharan summer. Having experienced a near-death illness that confined me to a mat on the floor in a sweltering concrete room the previous summer not far from the setting of the book, I identified strongly with the main character's predicament. It also sent me into a mental funk for the next few days dreading the coming months of 105+ heat in what was essentially a concrete oven of an apartment. That is just how impressive Paul Bowles' book is. Bowles spent the last half of his life in Morocco and captures North Africa skillfully. His description of a man spiraling down into his self-inflicted hell and a woman driven mad by the process is gripping. Though my own personal experience intensified the book's impact, it is quite accessible to anyone who has ever felt the urge of damn-it-all-to-hell self-destruction. If you are bothered by seemingly rational characters making irrational decisions, stay away. However, if you can't help but watch what happens when people push themselves to the edge, then this is the book for you.
Tea in the Sahara.......2006-07-15
"The Sheltering Sky" gives a cool existentialist sheen to an otherwise pretty conventional Orientalist romance. The story of three Westerners trying to find their metaphysical way against the exotic (and ultimately horrifying) backdrop of Morocco reduces North Africa to a kind of movie set for the "real" characters--the American couple Kit and Port, along with their friend Tunner--to explore the nature of existence. Bowles is good at describing the trash, poverty, bad food, and illness his characters discover in Africa. Instead of sweeping that under the rug, he makes it a key part of the story: it's through learning to accept the third-world filth that Kit and Port free themselves of Western convention, and come to embrace the emptiness behind the sheltering sky. But I think the real force of the novel isn't so much in its philosophy--a fashionable `50s existentialism--or its spare descriptions of the East, where Arabs aren't much more than talking landscape, but in its portrait of Paul and Jane Bowles, the glamorous writers in fashionable exile in Tangier. I get the impression Bowles was trying to deliver great scary truths, but what I enjoyed most about the novel was its fantasy of privileged escape from modern ennui.
P.S. Does anyone else find that "P.S." marketing insert in Harper Perennial editions as annoying as I do?
Westerners in Africa.......2006-06-26
I read this book while in Morocco. I remember my paranoia (which is already peaked at the time) increasing ten-fold. But still, it was engaging to read particularly because I was encountering the locations, people, and environment that is showcased by The Sheltering Sky. The plot is not the most compelling one though. So, I am unsure if this book is something I would have enjoyed if I wasn't already there.
Way overrated!.......2006-05-22
I was really disappointed by this book. Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I like a novel with a plot and with characters who are at least plausible if not interesting. This book has neither. Given the glowing reviews here on Amazon, I kept reading on, assuming that "this has got to take off soon." It never did. Nothing led anywhere, nothing mattered, nothing happened. Maybe, as some previous reviewers suggested, that's the point: this book is about nothingness, and thereby makes a statement about the twentieth century soul. But if that's what I wanted, I could just have stared at a blank piece of paper for fifteen minutes. When I read a book, I want to engage with the book on some level, and I did not engage on any level whatsoever with this book. Maybe it's me, but all I can say is "Reader Beware." When they say that the desert is the main character, THEY'RE NOT KIDDING. If you're interested in people or plot, look elsewhere.
Book Description
Paul Bowles had already established himself as an important composer when at age 39 he published The Sheltering Sky and became recognized as one of the most powerful writers of the postwar period. From his base in Tangier he produced globally ranging novels, stories, and travel writings that set exquisite surfaces over violent undercurrents. His elegantly spare novels chart the unpredictable collisions between "civilized" exiles and a Morocco they never grasp, achieving effects of extreme horror and dislocation.
This Library of America Bowles set, the first annotated edition, offers the full range of his achievement: the portrait of an outsider who was one of the essential American writers of the last century. In addition to his novels-The Sheltering Sky (1949), Let It Come Down (1952), The Spider's House (1955), Up Above the World (1966)-and his collected stories-including such classics as "A Distant Episode" and "Pages from Cold Point"-they contain his masterpiece of travel writing, Their Heads Are Green and Their Hands Are Blue (1963). Throughout, Bowles shows himself a master of gothic terror and a diabolically funny observer of manners as well as a prescient guide to everything from the roots of Islamist politics to the world of Moghrebi music. With a hallucinatory clarity as dry and unforgiving as the desert air, Bowles sends his characters toward encounters with unknown and terrifying forces both outside them and within them.
Customer Reviews:
A Great Value!.......2007-03-03
You can read the other detailed reviews, all earning 5 stars, and see why this item is ranked so highly. Three novels all in one nice, hardbound, 900+ pages volume, at a great price. I already had all three in paperback, and still ordered this book. If you love Paul Bowles as I do, or are just beginning to read his work, this is the book to buy.
Interesting, Interesting, Interesting.......2002-10-26
This is my first exposure to the writings of Paul Bowles. What a surprise! The three novels in this edition were written in the late 1940s to mid 1950s. His characters are not at all dated. His writing is clear, and uncluttered. In contrasted to his writing style, are his characters who complex, murky and often compelling. I read straight through from the Sheltering Sky to Let It Come Down to The Spiders House. He is one of the most interesting 20th century American writers. The Library of America has done a wonderful service to readers by ensuring that Paul Bowles will remain in print.
The Sheltering Sky, the first of three novels in this edition, is short, only 250 pages long. It seems to be considered his defining novel. It is about a married couple, Kit, and Port, and their sojourn into the Sahara Desert. They are dishonest with each other about many things, their shaky marriage, and the danger of the trip they have embarked on, fidelity. They cannot take charge of anything, their lives, their marriage, their trip, and even their privacy. The decisions that they make exude with bad judgement. This is exposed early on, when Porter goes off for a walk alone the city. He encounters a stranger, Smail; Port walks off with this stranger, out of the city into the desert to meet and be entertained by a young girl, who he is told is not a [prostitute] but will want to be paid. The characters do dangerous things. You sense their doom with them. And, like them, the reader is compelled to go on. I do not want to give too many plot details as it might spoil the pleasure of reading what I think is an overlooked 20th century classic.
Let It Come Down, is about a bank clerk seeking adventure in Tangier. Like the Sheltering Sky, there is no happy ending here. You can sense the impending doom of the main character as he makes one bad decision after another. He gets involved with a local prostitute, financial intrigue, and in the end, drugs.
The Spiders House starts with a quote from the Thousand and One Nights To my way of thinking, there is nothing more delightful than to be a stranger. And so I mingle with human beings because they are not of my kind, and precisely in order to be a stranger among them. In the wake of the worldwide effects of militant Islamism, this is a fascinating book to read.
The characters include two Americans. The first, Stenham, sees the French colonial rule in Morocco as destructive. He becomes attracted to Islam. The second is arrogant and contemptuous of the locals, the country, just about everything Moroccan. Each is stranger. Each sees and judges the Moroccan people, their culture, and their religion through western eyes. And so, Bowles introduces Amar, a teenage Moroccan boy, who is a direct descendent of the prophet, Mohammed. The boy is illiterate and poor, but not ignorant. The view of the world that each maintains at the beginning of the novel cannot hold. Set in a time of rebellion, there is plenty of plot to keep the characters moving along.
I highly recommend these three novels. This hard cover edition is published by the Library of America. It is the one that you will want to buy, and keep as part of your permanent library.
Finally!.......2002-10-22
I couldn't be happier that the Library of America has released Paul Bowles' three best novels (he only wrote four) in one volume. Previously they were only available in not-so-easy to find small press editions. Hopefully this edition will make them readily available to a wider audience in volume and time.
The most striking thing about Bowles' work is its pace. It moves at a mesmerizing rate. The language is fairly simple but it plods along with a suspensful tension that never lets up even after a climatic moment. It is the kind of fiction to read next to a fountain in a courtyard.
Bowles' characters are almost always out of place, or are where they shouldn't be, or where they think they should be. They become engulfed by cultures that they don't understand not through stupidity or banality but often through the natural course of clashing cultures. Reading the books can give you a feeling of getting lost, and overcome with a feeling that you don't belong, or that you're delving into worlds you aren't prepared to delve into. This is the terror that underlies nearly all of his writing. They are cautionary tales, and they have become more relevant in the past few years since Bowles' death in 1999 (not highly publicized), and the rising relevance of Islam in and to the West.
Bowles is one of the first western writers of fiction that treats Islam equally to European society. Islam is not merely a backdrop in which his characters find fault or get ground up in (i.e., you never get the sense that Bowles is blaming the cultures themselves for the destruction of his characters, typically they are responsible, but it really isn't anybody's 'fault' per se). This is multicultural literature at its best, because it allows nastiness and goodness on all sides. Bowles is not afraid to show the dark sides of Islamic and European cultures side by side, while allowing positive aspects a place as well. He is also never racist towards either side, though some critics have accussed him of this (wrongly, in my opinion).
Bowles is an eye-opener. All three of these novels will make an impact on you and make you think about things you've never thought of before. Thanks again to the Library of America for releasing this collection. Buy it and read it.
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El Cielo Protector/ Sheltering Sky
Paul Bowles
Manufacturer: Editorial Seix Barral
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Sheltering Sky
Paul Bowles
Manufacturer: NEW DIRECTIONS @
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000SMZIE8 |
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Sheltering Sky
Paul Bowles
Manufacturer: NEW DIRECTIONS @
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UCH6PK |
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Sheltering Sky
Paul Bowles
Manufacturer: NEW DIRECTIONS @
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Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SHGCQQ |
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Sheltering Sky
Paul Bowles
Manufacturer: NEW DIRECTIONS @
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UCPGAM |
Book Description
"ENTRANCING . . . A GEM."
--Ocala Star-Banner
Hamish Macbeth's life is going to pot. He's been promoted (horrors!), his boss is a dunce, and--to add insult to injury--a sinister self-proclaimed gypsy and his girlfriend have parked their rusty, eye-sore-of-a-van in the village.
Hamish smells trouble and as usual he's right. The doctor's drugs go missing. Money vanishes. Neighbors grow suddenly unneighborly. And when the unsavory newcomer is murdered, Hamish regrets it only because his bones tell him the killer may be one of his friends.
Nobody wants to volunteer even a scrap of useful information, so canny Hamish single-handedly sets about the delicate work of worming the facts out of his neighbors. Yet in the process he uncovers a story so bizarre that neither he nor the villagers may ever recover from it. . . .
"EXCELLENT.. . . A cast of winning characters."
--Publishers Weekly
"Scottish writer M. C. Beaton develops the locals with humor and verve."
--The Christian Science Monitor
Customer Reviews:
Rank Struggles.......2007-02-17
Death of a Travelling Man is the ninth novel in the Hamish Macbeth series of comic mysteries by M.C. Beaton. Before describing the book, I strongly urge you to not start your reading of the series with this book. The subjects in this book reflect important transitions in the series, and you won't find the book nearly as entertaining as a standalone novel rather than a continuation. Stop reading here if you haven't read the earlier books!
At the end of Death of a Glutton, Police Constable Hamish Macbeth was still trying to get the central heating for his Lochdubh police station home that Chief Inspector Blair had promised in exchange for getting credit for solving an earlier murder. Anxious to get the central heating, Hamish took credit for a gutsy bluff that solved the death of the glutton. His reward? He was promoted to Sergeant and Police Constable Willie Lamont was assigned to "assist" him and live in the police station's spare bedroom.
Rarely since Shakespeare has anyone painted a portrayal of a person in power with greater comic wit than M.C. Beaton does with Willie Lamont. Three main gags dominate: Willie's desire to keep things neat and tidy; Willie's malapropisms; and Willie's idea of a romantic life.
Much of the pleasure of Willie's appearances is spoiled, however, by the portrayal of Hamish as being very upset by Willie. No one could be upset by Willie.
As the book opens, Hamish spots a recycled hippy van parked where it's not allowed. Planning to hurry the van and its occupants right out of town, Hamish is surprised to find that the driver, Sean Gourlay, is young, handsome, and well off. Gourlay is accompanied by a very foul-mouthed Cheryl Higgins who loves to shout "pig!" Hamish associates such "travellers" with layabouts who are collecting on the dole and sell drugs for an income. Hamish has a premonition that this traveller is bad news.
In the first half of the book, Hamish finds himself running the police business by himself while looking out for Willie, too. Desperate to get rid of Willie, Priscilla and Hamish work out a scheme that quickly backfires. In the background, Blair decides that it's time to take Hamish down a peg or two and comes close to succeeding.
In the meantime, Gourlay has charmed the minister and is camping behind the manse and siphoning off electricity to power his lights and telly. Gourlay soon has all of the older ladies in town in the palm of his hand. But the town doesn't seem as happy. Hamish reaches the end of his rope when Gourlay starts to show an interest in Priscilla and becomes a pest.
When Gourlay turns up bludgeoned to death by a sledge hammer, it looks bad for the villagers. Those with a motive have iron-clad alibis . . . except the villagers. How will Hamish handle investigating his friends and neighbors?
The mystery's resolution will probably strike you as a little far-fetched. M.C. Beaton wrote herself into a corner that required a pretty weird result. I graded the book down accordingly, but I found the book's ending to be a nice surprise.
another nice outing with Macbeth.......2005-10-05
What's the best indicator of a fine read? When you can't wait to get to the library to select the next one in the series. That's definitely the case with "Death of a Travelling Man."
In this novel, two transients blow into Lockdubh in a remodeled bus, and the village is turned topsy-turvy by one of them, the malevolent Sean. It's a common plot device for M.C. Beaton -- in this series as well as her Agatha Raisin series; however, Beaton is able to make it seem fresh in "Death of a Travelling Man." You'll love the clever ending, too.
My one quibble with the book is with Hamish's new assistant, Police Constable Willie Lamont. The young sidekick is more of a cartoon than a true-to-life character. Beaton usually manages to make her quirky village residents remind you of people you've really met. (I hate to admit it, but the high-strung and untidy Angela Brodie reminds me of myself!) Here Lamont is a one-dimensional version of Felix Ungar, complete with ruffled apron. Ugh!
Although this is the eighth Hamish Macbeth mystery, the series hasn't grown tired. Macbeth can be petulant, mooching and unlikable, but in "Death of a Travelling Man," the lanky Highland copper is likable, unselfish and industrious. Macbeth also shows more self-knowledge than usual. Don't miss this one.
Excellent and Very Entertaining.......2003-11-25
Death of a Travelling Man is an excellent addition to the Hamish Macbeth series. In it we see a newly promoted Hamish trying to put up with a trying police constable (P.C Willie Lamont). All Hamish wants is the privacy of his home back without the arduous efforts at cleaning by Willie. A man can't even relax in his home - Hamish thinks. Then something happens to really upset the applecart in the village of Lochdubh. A "traveller" arrives in town, and seems intent on staying. Hamish, for some reason can't stand the man, but all the village ladies seem to think he's marvellous, at first. Then it appears that some of the women in town have had a sudden change in personality, and the peace of Locdubh is ruined. When Sean, the traveller, is found bludgeoned to death in his trailer (or caravan as the English call it), Hamish can't help breathing a sigh of relief, but peace doesn't return and he realizes that it won't until he finds the killer. Hamish is his usual lovable and charming self, but he finds he has to get tough with some long term Locdubh residents in order to get to the truth. This is probably one of my favourite Hamish stories so far.
Death of a Travelling Man.......2003-04-03
"Death of a Travelling Man" is the ninth Hamish Macbeth mystery by M. C. Beaton, a series set in the Scottish highlands in the town of Lochdubh. Hamish has been promoted to sergeant, and has a helper in P.C. Willie Lamont. With so little crime in Lochdubh Willie is usually either cleaning the station or spending time at the Italian restaurant with the lovely Lucia. Sean Gourlay and his girlfriend Cheryl Higgins roll into Lochdubh in an old bus converted into a travelling home. Hamish knows they are trouble and orders them to leave. The townspeople think he is being too harsh, and the pair soon park their bus in back of minister Wellington's home. Soon after their arrival, many of the women of the town start acting strangely. Four vials of morphine vanish from Dr. Brodie's office and one hundred pounds disappear from the Mother's Union. Then Sean is found murdered in the bus. Who killed him? Was it one of the women of the town whom Sean had been blackmailing? Was it Willie Lamont, who learns that Lucia had kissed Sean Gourlay? Could it have been Sean's girlfriend, Cheryl? Hamish once again sorts through everything and solves the murder. An interesting turn takes place in Hamish's relationship with Priscilla Halburton-Smythe. "Death of a Travelling Man" is an excellent novel and a very entertaining read.
A fun Hamish Mac Beth mystery.......2002-08-30
Hamish is trying to deal with his promotion and new constable Willie. Willie is a clean freak and is driving the laconic Hamish crazy. The police station is also abnormally busy. Two travellers arrive in the village in a beat up bus. Everyone but Hamish seems to be charmed by the couple. The local reverend even lets him park his bus on the grass next to the manse. Then odd crimes occur. Money is stolen from the Mother's Union fund, and morphine is missing from Dr. Brodie's office. Priscilla's scarf is taken, then found, and finally, the Currie sisters have put their house up for sale. Mrs. Brodie, Mrs. Wellington, and Jessie Currie are miserable. Hamish thinks that it has something to do with the Travelling Man. Soon after, Sean turns up dead, beaten to death with a sledge hammer. Hamish is terribly afraid that one of the villagers committed the crime.
This was a funny mystery. Hamish is lazy on the outside and busy in his mind as usual. Willie's romance with the beautiful Lucia is hysterical. I love the way his scrubs his way into her heart. Hamish's devious solving of the crime without effort or getting promoted is very entertaining.
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- One of the best books you'll never read
- A surreal awakening to ordinary life
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You're All Alone
Fritz Leiber
Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Customer Reviews:
One of the best books you'll never read.......2003-09-06
Except for 'Dark Ladies' and the occassional treasure in a used book store, you'll be hard-pressed to find many of Leiber's classic works, and this is a shame.
Fans of the Wachowski's 'Matrix' trilogy will find a number of similarities of story, which centers around an unemployment clerk who is 'awakened' by a strange girl. Once awakened he steps out of his life only to find it continues on without him; indeed, the whole world continues as if it were only some huge clockwork machine.
As said, the idea of world=machine, with but a few awakened souls, seems to be a popular one today.
The creepiness comes when he can watch friends and lovers have conversations with him when he isn't there, describe shared experiences he never experienced. By not doing what he is supposed to do, by being 'awake', he is outside the machine.
The sheer horror of being outside the machine is what Leiber is interested in (hence the title). When no one notices you even if you slap them in the face, when nothing you do has an impact on the world, you truly are all alone.
Find a copy if you can. Steal one if you can't. It's a story which deserves to be read.
A surreal awakening to ordinary life.......1998-11-02
The book is about the awakening of one individual to the fact that the world is a vast machine, of somewhat mediocre efficiency, which is ignorant of the individual. The individual can leave his post, his part of the machine, and it will continue to operate without him. In many ways, it seems to be an awakening or recovery from alcoholism. All this sounds very literary, but the book is a well written story, thought provoking without being wearying or ideological, and a good read. I enjoyed it immensely, and highly recommend it.
If the first two sentances of my comments put you off, you should read it. It is a book better read than criticised. I found it fascinating and enthralling; I have found more interest in Fritz Leiber's work outside the Llankmar milieu than within it; this may be a pointer to my interests, or a comment on my taste - up to you.
Also - if you enjoy this you might also like "The Wanderer" by the same author, and possibly works by Edgar Pangbourne, (such as "Davy" and "A Mirror for Obsevors") who writes very differently, but also writes well and thoughtfully.
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You're All Alone
Fritz Leiber
Manufacturer: Ace Books/ Charter Communications Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000EP7T64 |
Product Description
The complete novel and other stories by Fritz Leiber.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from CMA Management, published by Thomson Gale on March 1, 2007. The length of the article is 421 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Info management at your office bad? You're not alone.(New and noteworthy information you can use)(Survey)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication:
CMA Management (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 81
Issue: 1
Page: 13(2)
Article Type: Survey
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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You're All Alone
Fritz Leiber
Manufacturer: Ace Books/ Charter Communications Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000NPT96I |
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- Just the book I was looking for!
- On point with spirituality for fitness , plus body image concerns.
- Really motivating book for me
- Mastering the Seven Elements of Fitness
- Inspiring but...
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Shape Your Life: 4 Weeks to a Better Body-and a Better Life
Barbara Harris , and
Angela Hynes
Manufacturer: Hay House
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ASIN: 1401901581 |
Book Description
With nearly five million people reading each issue, Shape is the #1 magazine for today=s health-conscious women. Its mission and ever-present philosophy is: Being fit means more than having thin thighs and well-defined absCit means living a balanced life. In Shape Your Life, Barbara Harris, pinpoints the seven goals Shape considers the benchmarks of total fitnessCWorkouts, Diet, Spirituality, Rest, Emotions, Body Image, and WorkCand provides a custom-designed, four-week, personal transformation program that all women can use to make over their lives forever.
Brimming with photographs and results-producing programs for each element of fitness, Shape Your Life overflows with expert advice and inspirational wisdom on:
1.Your Workout: details programs ranging from The Ultra- Efficient Cardio Workout to the Fit-in-20-Minutes Workout; from The Body-Confident Workout to The Mind-Body Makeover.
2.Your Diet: unveils The Shape Food Pyramid and Shape Pyramid Meal plan, healthy kitchen makeovers, shopping guides, and more.
3.Your Spirituality: offers soul-nourishing yoga and meditation exercises and steps to becoming more connected with others and with the natural world.
4.Your Rest: explains the health benefits of taking a rest now and thenCbreaks, vacations, naps, and sleepCwith tips, techniques, and mini-retreats for getting more healthful rest.
5.Your Emotions: reveals how to survive modern life with your sanity intact, reduce stress, identify triggers that cause anxiety, and balance your emotions.
6.Your Body Image: provides the keys to building a positive view of your body at any size or shape, as well as special confidence-boosting workouts.
7.Your Work: explores how to make your work, however you define it (corporate manager, self-employed businesswoman, stay-at-home mom), more productive and personally satisfying.
Customer Reviews:
Just the book I was looking for! .......2007-07-08
This book truely speaks to me. Especially well-written - and in such a language that stays with me once the pages have closed. It is much like my personal companion rather than simply a personal trainer. I will use this book to transform my already wonderful life to one that's totally over the top! And my daughter is getting one for Christmas. I could not wait to share the knowledge I discovered in this book. I bought three more so I'd never be without it.
On point with spirituality for fitness , plus body image concerns........2006-06-14
I took my time to read this book, given that Barbara is a highly respected figure in the fitness industy. The book addresses the issue of spirituality and a healthy body image in vast lengths, and I didn't feel as if I was hearing something that has been repeated over and over.It talks about fitness being a web of relationships amongst 7 elements, these are: exercise, a healthy diet, spirituality, rest, sleep and relaxation, emotional well being and a healthy body image.
I liked the fact that Barbara addressed the body image issues , because it is one area that has been soo underrated and misunderstood.She brings out this issue in a very intelligent and convincing manner.
I must say even though I wanted to read more about exercising, I was really glued to the spirituality part of the book.She talks about how spirituality is soo profound.She teaches you the importance of this aspect, given that we live in a technologically driven society, with information overload and chocking materialistic values-that are damaging alot of people's health via the spirit.I was impressed by one of her statements , to which she says " all indicators suggest that our spirits are hungry, and its a perfectly human response to seek nourishment"-Amen!!She spends time to show the naysayers how spiritual health affects physical health.
The book has a 4 week program for the nurturing of the spirit, where readers read and also have homework!-what a great way of learning.A clear testimony of the book's genuine intention.
Really motivating book for me.......2005-06-04
I really liked this book. I am a faithful reader to Shape magazine and this book had a lot of useful information on ways to improve your lifestyle. I really liked the way the book was mapped out and it gave you several different ways to go about your own plan to get healthier and fit.
My only complaint was the meals that they gave in the "your diet" section. None of the meals really appealed to me and I pretty much skipped that section for that reason. The website for Shape magazine has more healthy recipes and I was able to find more that I liked at the web site.
Mastering the Seven Elements of Fitness.......2004-04-15
With the popularity of makeover shows, it is no surprise to find books promoting the idea of "getting in shape fast." It only took my husband asking me if I wanted to go on one of those makeover shows to get me thinking I could probably do this myself without surgery and a "lot" of patience. What I worry about is how discouraged some people might become when four weeks pass and they look at themselves in the mirror and see minimal results.
For me, it has taken over 24 weeks of serious working out for about 45 minutes a day, not to mention all the salads I've had to eat to get to a point where I feel that I should have started. I've found that diets don't work, but diet counts. If that makes any sense.
But with that aside, I think this book is for people who are between 10-20 lbs overweight. Then, you will probably see dramatic results. For anyone who is trying to lose 50 or more pounds, it is going to take much longer than 4 weeks.
So, I would say that this book is more helpful for anyone looking for lifestyle changes on a permanent basis. Toss out the "4-week" idea and think "life plan for getting fit and staying that way." Then, you will enjoy this book and it becomes a starting point for major changes down the road. I would just hate to see anyone toss out the wonderful ideas when they don't see dramatic changes in four weeks.
The concepts are amazingly well organized. The Seven Elements each have their own chapters. You explore: your workout, diet, spirituality, rest, emotions, body image, work and finally the last chapter analyzes your results. Throughout the pages you will find "quick tips" and "what you'll learn" pointers. The fitness test is helpful to determine your present strength level. The "walk-run" idea is probably not new to you if you have a treadmill, but might interest you if you have only been walking. The walking program is highly detailed and gives you a schedule for all four weeks, day by day.
If you don't have a lot of time to workout, you can try the 20-minute workout. There is a helpful chart for major muscle groups. If you enjoy learning exercises from a book, there are quite a few exercises. I still recommend getting exercise videos to learn how to do Pilates, yoga or any other exercise you want to try. You can refer back to the book to see the pictures, but nothing compares to a one-on-one session with a professional instructor on video/DVD. A video will help you keep the intensity going and an instructor will show you what you might be doing wrong.
Chapter two delves into the area of diet. I'm going to say that I agree with Shape's approach to eating right. The shape food pyramid puts vegetables and fruits on the bottom of the pyramid and whole grains on the third level. Water is on the second level. This makes sense and I've lost weight following these ideas. I'm less hungry when I drink enough water and my moods are more constant when I drink enough fluids and exercise almost daily. If you are a vegetarian, there is information for your diet which includes suggestions for meat substitutes, etc.
I must say that the weekly menus are rather impressive. They have easy-to-prepare recipes for every single meal, every single day for four weeks. You start to eat 5 times a day which you really need to do once you start working out more. Some of the delicious recipes include:
Quinoa Salad with Red Peppers and Pine Nuts
Frozen Cinnamon Cappuccino
Tarragon Mashed Potatoes
Grilled Tuna Salad
Thai Pudding
Banana-Soy Shake
Chicken Pot Stickers
The amazing thing about the recipes is the lack of complicated preparation steps and the speed at which the meals can be prepared. There is an intriguing section that shows you how to navigate your grocery store. The Mango and Ginger Cream recipe reminded me of how we mix low-fat sour cream with honey or stevia and a dash of vanilla. Suddenly pieces of fruit becomes an exotic treat when dipped in creamy vanilla bliss. I can eat an orange, banana and apple in one sitting while watching a TV show. That is one of the ways I get in my fruit for the day.
The chapter on spirituality encourages you to explore new areas of your life. The "are you starving your soul? questionnaire could be enlightening in itself. The list of "7 people we all need" shows you that you can't just rely on one friend to satisfy all your friendship needs. Whether you try journaling or meditation, there are plenty of ways to feel more nourished. Try yoga! The next chapter should be called: Your sleep number. ;) Although, it also deals with vacations and visualization. Then, you explore body image and finally analyze your results.
Helpful Tools that make this book a keeper:
How to calculate your daily calories
How to calculate your Body Mass Index
Fitness Test
Menu Plans
When you start buying smaller clothes, reading this book is going to be so worth it! Just remember, when you are first working out, you might gain weight. Once you get over that hurdle, the pounds start to drop. It took me years of working out, panicking because I'd gain a few pounds and starting over again to realize that you just have to live through the first 24 weeks and deal with it. Once you get to week 25 things are looking pretty darn good and by then you have been able to apply many of the principles in this book. It is more about lifestyle changes than "I have to be fit in 4 weeks." This book could change your life around, just be patient with yourself and forgive yourself on those days when you break all the rules. The principles are working for me and I'm pretty sure they will work for you. Exercise is key!
Onward to week 26!
~TheRebeccaReview.com
(Week 25 of review my way to fitness - Total lbs lost = 10, Total Inches = 5, Dropped 2 sizes so far.)
Inspiring but..........2004-01-26
I read Shape magazine almost every month and I guess I expected more from the book. The graphic production is excellent and so are the sections covering spirituality, emotions and diet. It has a New Age approach and is very upbeat, inspiring and uplifting, except that... it is a contradiction to lay so much focus on the inner self when the models in the photos are so wiry, thin and flawless without. Besides, I don't find the workouts presented to be half as good as those featured monthly in the magazine, especially coming from authorities such as Rodney Yee or Karen Voight. A book that could be greatly improved.
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