Birdsong: A Novel of Love and War

Amazon.com

Readers who are entranced by the sweeping Anglo sagas of Masterpiece Theatre will devour Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks's historical drama. A bestseller in England, there's even a little high-toned erotica thrown into the mix to convince the doubtful. The book's hero, a 20-year-old Englishman named Stephen Wraysford, finds his true love on a trip to Amiens in 1910. Unfortunately, she's already married, the wife of a wealthy textile baron. Wrayford convinces her to leave a life of passionless comfort to be at his side, but things do not turn out according to plan. Wraysford is haunted by this doomed affair and carries it with him into the trenches of World War I. Birdsong derives most of its power from its descriptions of mud and blood, and Wraysford's attempt to retain a scrap of humanity while surrounded by it. There is a simultaneous description of his present-day granddaughter's quest to read his diaries, which is designed to give some sense of perspective; this device is only somewhat successful. Nevertheless, Birdsong is an unflinching war story that is bookended by romances and a rewarding read.

Book Description

Published to international critical and popular acclaim, this intensely romantic yet stunningly realistic novel spans three generations and the unimaginable gulf between the First World War and the present. As the young Englishman Stephen Wraysford passes through a tempestuous love affair with Isabelle Azaire in France and enters the dark, surreal world beneath the trenches of No Man's Land, Sebastian Faulks creates a world of fiction that is as tragic as A Farewell to Arms and as sensuous as The English Patient. Crafted from the ruins of war and the indestructibility of love, Birdsong is a novel that will be read and marveled at for years to come.

Customer Reviews:

Birdsong Just an OK novel.......2007-07-28

Birdsong is just an OK novel, nothing outstanding. It is about a man named Stephen from Britain traveled to France and fell in love with the wife of the man that he's living with, they had an affair, the wife left her husband and step children for Stephen, then later was pregnant with Stephen's child and left Stephen for no good reason. Stephen later became lieutenant of an army and fought in WWI. The story then skipped years ahead to the granddaughter's time who was already a grown woman, she was curious of her grandfather's past, and so she go through her grandfather's past letters written during the war to find out who he was. The story jumps back and forth between the War and the granddaughter's time. The plot wasn't anything special, but the message I got out of the story was much more worth it. The war does change people's perspective about life, it also tests how far can humans abandon their humanity in the grounds of war. The characters were weak and underdeveloped. I didn't really care for any of the characters, most of them annoyed me at times. The only thing I can praise about the story is the detailed description of the battle and the horror it draws out. Everything else was just ok.

Triumph from the Trenches.......2007-06-27

Mr. Faulks has captured the essence of war in what is perhaps the best novel ever written about The Great War. We are taken into the horror of the trenches while at the same time we delve into the hearts and minds of the heros whose only goal is to live one more day. A triumph of love and perseverance in the darkest of times. If you like this book, watch for Night of Flames: A Novel of World War II by Douglas W Jacobson coming in October 2007.

compelling read.......2007-06-06

A gripping and emotional novel with compelling characters. The descriptions of trench warfare bring the reader into the WWI era. The author's well-written prose carry the narrative along, but I did find the transitions between the plot changes a bit choppy. All in all a good read and well worth checking out.

Depressing and Brilliant.......2007-05-21

The best war-based fiction I've possibly ever read. Birdsong begins as a love story. The young Englishman lives with a business partner's family in France while on assignment and falls in love with his wife and manages to steal her away. From there the book destroys said main character, Stephen, with the unreliability of love and the horror of war. Faulks' characterization is brilliant and lacks any easy answers from any character involved. Weir, Stephen, Gray, Jeanne, Isabelle, and the rest of the cast are all complex and thoughtful. The brutality that becomes Stephen's life is slow-building. His affair with Isabelle seems dreamlike before her own complications take her away. He survives the war just barely (in fact, this part of the book may have been taken too far as Stephen survives **SPOILER** the battle Somme, being left for dead, shot, another major battle, and being trapped for a week buried underground in a tunnel**END SPOILER**) but the pure unsentimentality of the descriptions of war and the horror that Stephen sees and endures make the story both believable and poignant. As Stephen attempts to survive mental collapse through-out a life of endured brutality, the depression of the novel becomes almost overwhelming and the reader finds his or her small moments of happiness in hope in the same small moments and acts that Stephen does. Only criticism of the book is the character of Elizabeth who ties the book to semi-modern times (still 30 years ago) was a bit irritating at times but she still serves her purpose quite well of giving the author a way to address greater themes of Stephen's life and setting.

Simply a great book and modern classic that will make one want to read more of Faulks and of The Great War itself.

Faulks on Song.......2007-03-24

I thought the first 200 words of the book were deadwood boring. But by the time I've hit the two thousandth (or so), I'm telling myself whoah there's something extremely real, and gripping, and emotionally scary, and almost magnetic about this story.

Somehow I was hooked at the start. Not by any magical realism (there wasn't any). Not by the postmodern reality-within-"reality" quasi-meanings and stuff (no need to 'figure anything out' here). It's just the way Faulks takes you into the minds of the characters. It's like you've become Stephen Wraysford, the key character around which the book revolves. From his passion and pain as a lover to that as a soldier, and back again. First a personal/family crisis (born of love or lust it's hard to confirm), moving to a national disaster. It's an awkward switch of scenes - from a soap opera-like romance to something akin to Saving Private Ryan - but Lit fans may enjoy it. Quite deliberate, so says Faulks (if you have the version with his commentary) who was experimenting with different styles of writing, although it's nothing as direct and contrasting as, say, David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas.

And smack (or boom) in the center: The Battle of the Somme.

Faulks paints a grotesquely vivid picture of the morning of 1st July 1916, where thousands of British solders (slowly) marched their way into German bullets. The arrogance, ignorance and downright incompetence of British military leadership being the key factor in the sacrificing of her sons for a few hundred yards of trenchland.

Faulks proves himself to be quite a literary Mel Gibson once the violence begins. There's a scene about how a captain gets shot near the barbed wire and falls onto it, only for the Germans to shoot his head off bit by bit as target practice until there's nothing but a red stump across his shoulders. Also gasp-inducing was the casualties from trench explosives, when British miners turned ad-hoc soldiers played hide-and-seek(-the-bomb) with their German counterparts. This was far from the basic Crime thriller sensationalism. This was history at its worst and, some might say, most required remembering.

But the book wasn't all easy-going. I found it hard to follow fully the narrative in the mines. Couldn't imagine very well the crawling, the breathing, the low ceilings, who's ahead of who, and so on. So if you're bothered by even imaginary claustrophobia, this book may not turn out very well for you. Also, I think Faulks packed in too many characters towards the mid-point of the book, such that it was tough keeping track. Perhaps authors should remember that a good portion of their readers do their reading after a hard day's work - it doesn't help if they have to keep flipping back to pg.145 to confirm that it's Jack, and not John, whose character is saying something important on pg. 190.

Still, it's depressing how much (and worse) of what Faulks depicted actually happened. And if the main aim of the book was to transport the reader almost a century back to the Great War, and reinject significance and memories of the (mainly British and French, in that order) losses therein, I think no other work does it better (how many WWI novels do we get nowadays, let alone those that are of prize-winning calibre?)

If you're a Lit person, Birdsong's probably a should-read. If you're a Lit fan AND a war buff (and you don't mind an almost humourless but occasionally poignant British-style narrative), what are you waitng for?

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Birdsong a Novel of Love and War
Sebastian Faulks
Manufacturer: Vintage Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NY5RPG

Book Description

Abducted from a life of privilege, she was sold into slavery in a distant land. For Lady Janet Leslie there would be no escaping the harem of the wealthy and powerful Sultan Selim. But from the moment the handsome ruler spied his breathtaking "Cyra," was captivated -- by the fiery desire that coursed through his veins. She belonged to him, body and soul -yet it was he who was enslaved.

Praised for her keen sense of history and remarkable storytelling powers, the bestselling author of The Spitfire displays the passionate magic that has made her a national favorite -sweeping the reader into the romantic past, from the magnificence of Renaissance Europe to the perfumed splendor of a Sultan's court.

Customer Reviews:

I LOVE THIS BOOK!.......2007-08-14

This book was my first experience with romance novels, and I can say that I love it! I've heard all the complaints, and have to say I still love it! The story is much more than a romance and it focuses on Cyra/Janet more than the romance. Cyra has a long life with lots of great and misrable moments (like us all). I hate the rest of her books, but this is great.

Different.......2007-07-25

What makes this book a masterpiece is that it deviates from the typical romance novel where they live happily ever after. Ms. Small tells Janet Leslie's entire story, her beginning and her end.
Janet Leslie, Cyra.. Hafise is a beautiful, intelligent, spirited fiery beauty who never dwelled too much on what turns her life took but instead took full advantage of each opportunity that life offered her.
For me this was a slightly sad tale but what a telling it was.

Fantastically Romantic as well as Fasinating.......2007-07-16

I have just finished reading The Kadin. I really enjoyed this book. I am a lover of historic fiction and found it to be very acurate in its portale of 15th century middle east and europe. I hope if you read it because of this review that you enjoy it as much as I did.

An Avid Reader in Washington, DC.......2005-04-13

I started reading books by Bertice Small years, and years ago. This, I believe was the first book that got the ball rolling for me. Ms. Small has a unique ability to transport the reader. The characters come alive, the brutality, sensuality, and excitment is continuous. This book deals with the Saga of Lady Janet Leslie, who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. From this Saga, which follows love, lust, intrique, etc. Ms. Small follows through with other books, i.e. Skye O'Malley Series. These historical romances are loaded with information on historical England, France, and the Middle East (or Eastern) lands. You can follow along from one generation to another and see how each tie into the lives of the decendents. Ms. Small has written various legacies which overlap into other novels, Janet Leslie's father the Earl of Glenkirk (Patrick) was again introduced in "Until You". i.e. Rosamund's continuing story. I have found them all to be very enjoyable. I'm now beginning "Philippa", the story of Rosamund's eldest daughter, I hope it's as entertaining as all the other books. I might add, I have often re-read Ms. Small's books when I needed a break from my own reality. Thank you Ms. Small for opening my eyes to history, love and hope. I always look for your work, I know I will be entertained. Thank you, again.

The best Bertrice Small book........2005-02-24

This was the first Bertrice Small book I ever read and has remained my favorite over the years. This book complete transports you into it's fantasy world and I frequently re-read it whenever I need an escape. I can laugh out loud at various things I read, but this is the only book that can make me cry. I recommend it to every historical romance book fan.

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Kadin-Erkek Adlari Sozlugu
Adviye Aysan , and Selma Tuncay
Manufacturer: Milet Publishing Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Genealogy | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

Turkish | More Languages | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 9755530142

Customer Reviews:

..........2005-08-21

Its awfully misleading to translate the title when the book itself is entirely in Turkish.

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Fantastically Romantic as well as Fasinating

The Kadin; Love Wild and Fair
Bertrice Small
Manufacturer: Rhapsody
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: 1582880832

Product Description

2-in-1 reprint edition. Historical romantic fiction.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastically Romantic as well as Fasinating.......2007-07-16

Amerikali Kadin Sairler/American Women Poets

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Amerikali Kadin Sairler/American Women Poets

Manufacturer: Cross-Cultural Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 089304072X

Boundary Element Methods in Engineering: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Boundary Element Methods : Advances in Solid and Fluid Mechani

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Boundary Element Methods in Engineering: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Boundary Element Methods : Advances in Solid and Fluid Mechani
Conn.) International Symposium on Boundary Element Methods: Advances in Solid and Fluid Mechanics (1989 : East Hartford , and Balkrishna Shriniwas Annigeri
Manufacturer: Springer-Verlag
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Caglarboyu Anadolu'da kadin: Anadolu kadinin 9000 yili

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Caglarboyu Anadolu'da kadin: Anadolu kadinin 9000 yili

Manufacturer: T.C. Kultur Bakanligi, Anitlar ve Muzeler Genel Mudurlugu
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Turkish | More Languages | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 9751711851

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Haematologic Malignancies in the Adult

Manufacturer: Addison Wesley Longman Publishing Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Hematology | Internal Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Introduction to Superconducting Circuits

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Introduction to Superconducting Circuits
Alan M. Kadin
Manufacturer: Wiley-Interscience
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

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Principles of Superconductive Devices and Circuits (2nd Edition)

ASIN: 0471314323

Book Description

Superconductivity made accessible-a unique introduction.

Does superconductivity have to be hard to understand? No, says Alan Kadin, as he proceeds to make the field accessible to engineers, applied physicists, even undergraduate students in electrical engineering. Setting advanced theories aside, Dr. Kadin uses simple circuit models to develop an understanding of the physics of superconductors, then applies this knowledge to superconducting circuits and systems. He covers cutting-edge circuit applications and materials along with practical examples-giving readers insight into the pros and cons of various superconductors and what superconductivity has to offer for different disciplines. End-of-chapter problems as well as numerous conceptual line drawings, circuit schematics, and plots complement the following topics:
* The central role of inductance and kinetic inductance.
* Transmission line model for RF and dc properties.
* Dual circuit transformations to follow vortex and fluxon motion.
* A balanced coverage of low-temperature and high-temperature superconductors.
* Both large-scale (power) and small-scale (electronic) applications.
* Applications of superconducting devices to electromagnetic radiation detectors.
* The use of SPICE to simulate Josephson junctions and circuits.

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The Kadin
Beatrice Small
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0380431904

Product Description

Her emerald eyes and flaming hair brought 30,000 pieces of gold at auction - more than her fther, Lord Glenkirk of Scotland, could raise for her ransom. For young Lady Janet Leslie there would be no escaping the harem of Sultan Selim. But from the first moment their souls touched, the Sultan was lost to her forever.

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The Kadin

Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GR4Y9K

Book Description

Kylara Vatta is the only daughter in a family full of sons, and her father’s only child to buck tradition by choosing a military career instead of joining the family business. For Ky, it’s no contest: Even running the prestigious Vatta Transport Ltd. shipping concern can’t hold a candle to shipping out as an officer aboard an interstellar cruiser. It’s adventure, not commerce, that stirs her soul. And despite her family’s misgivings, there can be no doubt that a Vatta in the service will prove a valuable asset. But with a single error in judgment, it all comes crumbling down.

Expelled from the Academy in disgrace–and returning home to her humiliated family, a storm of high-profile media coverage, and the gaping void of her own future–Ky is ready to face the inevitable onslaught of anger, disappointment, even pity. But soon after opportunity’s door slams shut, Ky finds herself with a ticket to ride– and a shot at redemption–as captain of a Vatta Transport ship.

It’s a simple assignment: escorting one of the Vatta fleet’s oldest ships on its final voyage . . . to the scrapyard. But keeping it simple has never been Ky’s style. And even though her father has provided a crew of seasoned veterans to baby-sit the fledgling captain on her maiden milk run, they can’t stop Ky from turning the routine mission into a risky venture–in the name of turning a profit for Vatta Transport, of course.

By snapping up a lucrative delivery contract defaulted on by a rival company, and using part of the proceeds to upgrade her condemned vehicle, Ky aims to prove she’s got more going for her than just her family’s famous name. But business will soon have to take a backseat to bravery, when Ky’s change of plans sails her and the crew straight into the middle of a colonial war. For all her commercial savvy, it’s her military training and born-soldier’s instincts that Ky will need to call on in the face of deadly combat, dangerous mercenaries, and violent mutiny. . . .

From the Hardcover edition.

Download Description

Elizabeth Moon, acclaimed author of Against the Odds and Change of Command, returns with a thrilling new military science fiction series -- Vatta's War -- featuring explosive space battles, soaring adventure, and a spirited, tough-as-nails heroine who refuses to back down when...

TRADING IN DANGER

Kylara Vatta is the only daughter in a family full of sons, and her father's only child to buck tradition by choosing a military career instead of joining the family business. For Ky, it's no contest: Even running the prestigious Vatta Transport Ltd. shipping concern can't hold a candle to shipping out as an officer aboard an interstellar cruiser. It's adventure, not commerce, that stirs her soul. And despite her family's misgivings, there can be no doubt that a Vatta in the service will prove a valuable asset. But with a single error in judgment, it all comes crumbling down.

Expelled from the Academy in disgrace -- and returning home to her humiliated family, a storm of high-profile media coverage, and the gaping void of her own future -- Ky is ready to face the inevitable onslaught of anger, disappointment, even pity. But soon after opportunity's door slams shut, Ky finds herself with a ticket to ride -- and a shot at redemption -- as captain of a Vatta Transport ship.

It's a simple assignment: escorting one of the Vatta fleet's oldest ships on its final voyage... to the scrapyard. But keeping it simple has never been Ky's style. And even though her father has provided a crew of seasoned veterans to baby-sit the fledgling captain on her maiden milk run, they can't stop Ky from turning the routine mission into a risky venture -- in the name of turning a profit for Vatta Transport, of course.

By snapping up a lucrative delivery contract defaulted on by a rival company, and using part of the proceeds to upgrade her condemned vehicle, Ky aims to prove she's got more going for her than just her family's famous name. But business will soon have to take a backseat to bravery, when Ky's change of plans sails her and the crew straight into the middle of a colonial war. For all her commercial savvy, it's her military training and born-soldier's instincts that Ky will need to call on in the face of deadly combat, dangerous mercenaries, and violent mutiny....

Customer Reviews:

Middle of the road.......2007-09-30

This was a slow dense read. While it was very well written, Trading in Danger felt like a short story with a lot of boring business exposition thrown in to pad it out to novel length.

I've never read anything by this author before, but the more I look into her backlist, I see that this book is a retread. I'm going to read the next one because I've already bought it.

Ky is a likable enough character who spends too much time in her head. No one else sticks out. The bureacracy Ky is up against is the most interesting antagonist.

I sincerely hope the next volume is better.

Enjoyable read........2006-10-23

I picked this book up, not sure I would read it, or even finish it. I read it in 1 day. Ms Moon has created a cast of characters that I really want to see succeed, and cared what happened to them. She also created a world that was believable, without being over sci-fi technical and long boring detail or description about stuff. I recommend this to others.

"I haven't really done anything," Ky said. .......2006-06-24

Trading in Danger tells the exciting story of Ky Vatta, a girl who suffers from a complete and utter lack of any kind of personality. Her entire life she's always been entirely devoid of any kind of qualities or traits which would make her the least bit interesting to read about. Thinking the military would make her a more interesting person, she goes off to Space Academy. Unfortunately, due to some illogical plot device, which is never really explained properly, (she apparently commits some kind of treason by telling a fellow cadet where he can find a priest so he can confess his sins. No, I didn't make that up.) she's kicked out and has to return home to the family trading business.

Her father quickly gets rid of her by making her captain of a ship crewed by characters even less interesting than Ky. For the first time in her life, Ky has finally found a place where she belongs. Everyone aboard the Glennys Jones is dull and forgettable, and Ky is finally able to quietly be nothing more than a name on paper. At last she's free of the pressure to be someone she's not, and she can spend page after page doing nothing interesting without any danger of being overshadowed by more interesting people.

If you want to read about forgettable characters doing forgettable things that you've already seen done many times before, and long since forgotten about, then Trading in Danger is a book you still shouldn't read. Read this book only if you're suffering from insomnia, or if you find the idea of reoccurring jokes about unwanted fruitcakes from Aunt Grace the least bit funny.

Decent work.......2006-04-24

Not as engaging as her previous series (Hunting Party et al), but still a good read. Compared to her older works, it seems a bit abbreviated.

Mac Si-Fi.......2006-03-27

Yet another mass produced si-fi story apt for quick consumption, with but minimal entertainment value. A simplicistic, linear plot and stereotype characters like they come straight out of a space sim like Privateer or Freelancer. Any Star Trek episode has more depth.

As with fast food, consume infrequently - if you must. There is so much better stuff out there.

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The dangers of municipal trading
Robert P Porter
Manufacturer: G. Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B000864IOA

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TRADING In DANGER.
Elizabeth. Moon
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NYC1FA

Closing loopholes in arms trading: new report points out dangers of lazy international arms control.: An article from: The Futurist

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Closing loopholes in arms trading: new report points out dangers of lazy international arms control.: An article from: The Futurist
Patrick Tucker
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from The Futurist, published by Thomson Gale on March 1, 2007. The length of the article is 766 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: Closing loopholes in arms trading: new report points out dangers of lazy international arms control.
Author: Patrick Tucker
Publication: The Futurist (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 41 Issue: 2 Page: 13(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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The dangers of municipal trading
Francis Charteris
Manufacturer: The Liberty and Property Defence League
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0008CDOQ2

Book Description

After 'Hit Man'

The New York Times bestseller Confessions of an Economic Hit Man documents John Perkins’ extraordinary career as a globe-trotting economic hit man. Perkins’ insider’s view leads him to crisis of conscience--to the realization that he must devote himself to work which will foster a world-wide awareness of the sanctity of indigenous peoples, their cultures, and their environments. Perkins’ books demonstrate how the age-old shamanic techniques of some of the world’s most primitive peoples have sparked a revolution in modern concepts about healing, the subconscious, and the powers each of us has to alter individual and communal reality.

Deep in the rain forests and high in the Andes of Ecuador, native shamans teach the age-old technique of dream change, a tradition that has kept the cultures of the Otavalans, Salasacans, and Shuar alive despite centuries of conquest. Now these shamans are turning their wisdom and power to the problem of curing a new kind of illness--that created by the industrial world’s dream of dominating and exploiting nature.

John Perkins tells the story of these remarkable shamans and of the U.S. medical doctors, psychologists, and scientists who have gone with him to learn the techniques of dream change. These shamanic teachings have sparked a revolution in modern concepts about healing, the subconscious, and the powers each of us has to alter individual and communal reality.

Customer Reviews:

A New Way of Viewing the World.......2007-07-06

This book is for those of you who recognize that there is something inherently wrong with the way our society operates. Even if you don't recognize it, this book will shed light on a myriad of problems. We can all learn a few things from indigenous people, and Perkins is a level-headed expert on the subject. Short and easy to follow, this book is a must read!

False and Deceptive -- Doesn't Even Mention Shuar Violence and Head Hunting!.......2007-06-21

This book needs to be labeled fiction and it totally misrepresents the indigenous South Americans about whom he's talking. The native Amazonians he visits have a well-documented history of head hunting and raiding until very recently! These groups survived colonialism because they retreated deep into the rainforest, and because they were extraordinarily violent towards outsiders, other fellow Amazonians, and especially to their own women.

It's insulting that Perkins remakes these indigenous Amazonians into his own hippy, 1960's idealistic view of a nature-loving, dream-centric, egalitarian culture with some special understanding of the world that we can use to remake our own. He neglects to tell anything truthful about the Shuar culture-- and it's tiresome and offensive to have people put their own ideals into some "Wise Indian's" mouth.

The truth is always interesting, and I'm sure Perkins' trippy, drug-induced vision of an eco-friendly imaginary dreamworld could be interesting too. His lie is to conflate the two.

John Perkins is a true teacher.......2007-05-22

I plan to buy ShapeShifting next. This book will change your life and the way you look at things. I know...there are so many books out there that claim to do that as well, but they are nothing compared to this book. Only an intelligent spirital person would read this book, but it is also an easy read. I have the highest respect for John Perkins.

Dreaming it as it is.......2006-07-31

This is a superb rendition of spiritual principles crafted within the context of indigenous cosmology. It reflects broader corollaries that can be assigned to numerous spiritual disciplines world wide and provide a source of inspiration to those who question the nefarious motives of unfettered "development" with all its hideous consequences.

Mr. Perkins utilizes vast personal experience to highlight indigenous wisdom that takes to task our ethnocentric, greed based, industrialized world view that seems designed to ransack planetary resources and exploit the lives of all it can consume. A sad commentary on the foibles of an economic system run amuck, yet, a surprisingly inspirational joy ride through time and space as seen through the eyes of the author.

Highly recommended.

Lacking depth.......2003-05-29

I was very dissapointed by this book. When I bought it I was expecting the book to teach me how to implement shamanic teachings, how to heal, how to dream, how to direct our dreams, how we can change our dream, but instead I read pages and pages of discriptive text. Talks only about Mr. Perkin's travels. It doesn't even give in-depth examples of how people were healed.

WORLD IS AS YOU DREAM IT : SHAMANIC TEACHINGS FROM THE AMAZON AND ANDES

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WORLD IS AS YOU DREAM IT : SHAMANIC TEACHINGS FROM THE AMAZON AND ANDES
JOHN M./ PERKINS, JOHN PERKINS
Manufacturer: INNER TRADITIONS INTERNATIO%@^
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KWH3VM

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