Book Description
Anne Marie’s dad, a Glaswegian painter and decorator, has always been game for a laugh. So when he first takes up meditation at the Buddhist Center, no one takes him seriously. But as Jimmy becomes more involved in a search for the spiritual, his beliefs start to come into conflict with the needs of his wife, Liz. Cracks appear in their apparently happy family life, and the ensuing events change the lives of each family member. Donovan completely captures these lives in her clear-eyed, evocative prose, rendered alternately in the voices of each of the main characters. With seamless grace and astonishing veracity, Buddha Da treats serious themes with humor and its characters with humanity. From prize-winning writer Anne Donovan, this stunning debut novel — shortlisted for the Orange Prize and the Whitbread First Novel Award — will appeal to readers of Roddy Doyle.
Customer Reviews:
A Scottish gem.......2006-06-26
I read this book while in Scotland. I have a good friend from Glasgow and I felt as though she was reading the book outloud to me. It is written in the accent of Glasgow and takes a page or two to get used to the writing - but adds charm to the book. Buddha Da is a wonderful novel that touches a subject at the heart of family life, as one member of the family develops a spiritual direction unfamiliar to the others. The question of whether to support this individual's quest or try to pull him back into the family is what a daughter and wife grapple with. A wonderful read - I recommend it!
Wonderful novel.......2006-01-29
I like this novel so much that I'm going to use it as a set book in a college class. It's original, touching and funny--full of the compassion and insight that its main character, Jimmy, seeks. After a few paragraphs I settled into the Glaswegian dialect easily. It's hard for a teacher to find a well written novel that isn't depressing. This is the only one on my short list (Brian Moore's Feast of Lupercal and Keneally's Passenger were others, but Donovan gives the reader at least as much as either of these and is in print).
Compassionate and compelling.......2005-05-31
At first, I was afraid of the Scottish dialect in which this is written, but after three pages it failed to register any longer except as how these characters talked and thought. Don't miss this book because of the dialect -- I almost did and I would have greatly regretted it.
Buddha Da weaves together the story of three members of a family -- Da, Ma, and Anne Marie, their daughter -- and does it seamlessly into a story of fallout, faith, hunger, and redemption. It is just about a flawless book, flawlessly told. I don't know the last time I found a book as dramatically pleasing and logically coherent and consistent as Buddha Da. It is a masterpiece I will recommend to everyone interested in Buddhism, family life, or just good fiction. I look forward to the author's next book.
Profoundly Simple, Profoundly Moving.......2004-10-18
OK. First of all, understand that this book is written entirely in phoenetically spelled Glaswegian dialect. And for the first few chapters, it can stand in the way. And then you get the rhythm. And then it doesn't matter. And you have achieved what the quirky main character in this book, a Glasgow house painter named Jimmy, is trying so hard to achieve--simplicity and clarity.
The charming and very quirky story revolves around a working-class family in Glasgow, Scotland. The dad (or "da," as they say), Jimmy, owns the house-painting business with his brother John. His wife, Liz, his sweetheart since she was 14, is a secretary. Their only daughter, Anne-Marie, is herself 14, and simply loveable--the most centered character in the book.
Sensing some sort of inner turmoil, Jimmy is drawn to the local Buddhist center (we are talking about a working class beer drinking simple soul whose previous idea of humor was to moon for the video camera) and finds a sense of self he never had before. As he earnestly seeks to immerse himself in this new way of being, he becomes increasingly neglectful of his family--up to and including declaring to Liz that he must be celibate from now on! The story is told first person from alternating points of view, and the reader is sympathetic to all of them (at least I was).
The disarming simplicity of the tale, and the work it takes to overcome the dialect, mirrors Jimmy's immersion into Buddhism, and is simply brilliant. This is a completely different kind of book, and well worth reading. I loved it and recommend it with the caveat that it is a book that takes some work.
Good Reading.......2004-04-25
Its seldom that a book comes into my world that is different in almost every conceivable way from anything you have read before. Buddha Da maybe be one of the most unique works of fiction that I have ever worked my way through.
Basically the book is a mere snippet in the lives of a Scottish Family. The father becomes immersed in Buddhism and changes to the extent where his marriage breaks down. Not the happiest outcome in the world but the storyline is not the strength of this book. The entire thing is written in a series of monlogues, each character expressing how they are feeling about things and discussing the latest events. Rather than Donovan trying to explain to you how her creations are feeling she allows them to do it directly to you - amost as if they are each working on personal diaries and you are diary they are writing on. This angle allows you to get really quite deeply into the characters and makes you feel like much more of a fly on the wall than is typical.
The barrier to many Americans reading this book however is going to be the language the monologues are in. They are written 'with accent' and much of it is phonetic.
"At the coffee break the wumman came ower and sat beside me. She wis tall wi her hair cut dead short and she'd these big dangly earings jinglin fae her lugs. It wis hard tae work oot whit age she wis; could have been anythin far thirty-five tae forty-five. She wis dressed in black wi a flowery-patterned shawl thing flung ower her shooders."
What folk need to understand is that familiarity to a Glaswegian accent is something that is common to almost all people in the world and is as foreign to an Englishman living in London as it is to a resident of San Deigo. A little effort is required to read the first few chapers but after a while you forget about the lack of real words and instead literally hear your characters - Donovan by forcing you to acknowledge the accent brings her characters to life.
Its a good enough book to give it a shot at any rate. Is this a rave review? Nope. Frankly I thought that Anne Donovan did a fine job with the adults in the book but the character of the daughter was something unreal. It was like Donovan has been an adult to long to set herself inside the mind of a child and I thought the character and the things she achieves are just a little boring and lifeless. Fortunatly she isnt in the book often enough to spoil it completely however I'm not sure she really needed to be in there at all - a couple of years older and she may have been a more interesting subject to deal with but alas ...
Customer Reviews:
A BEAUTIFUL PICTORIAL SUMMARY OF THE WORK OF THE DIVINE WORL.......2000-06-30
Beautiful color photographs and carefully selected quotes taken from Ruchira Avatar Adi Da's Teachings adorn this inspirational book. It records in detail, the remarkable work that spans the first 25 years of this Great Master's Teaching Life. Truly a labor of Love!
A beautiful summary of the Avatar's Great Work........1998-05-20
This coffee-table quality book is a must buy for anyone interested in understanding how the Divine World Teacher, Adi Da Samraj has worked intimately with his devotees during the past 25 years. This book is full of beautiful photographs, stories,and quotes from Adi Da Samraj. I highly recommend it for anyone truly interested in estatic living and divine communion.
Book Description
This Volume Deals With The Birth And Youth Of Gautama Buddha, His Ascetic Life, His System, Buddhaic Monachism, Buddhist Sects, Relations Between Sakhyamuni And Francesco D' Assisi, And The Decline Of Buddhism In India, The Relics Of Buddha, The Authorities On The History Of The Tooth- Relic Of Ceylon, The History Of The Tooth In India, The Arrival Of The Tooth In Ceylon, Its Capture By The Portuguese, Its Destruction By The Archbishop, Contemporary Opinion On The Event, The Resuscitation Of The Tooth., And A Descriptive Sketch Of The Tooth, Temple And Sanctuary.
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Fo tuo shi da di zi (Fo jiao hua zang)
Danni Li
Manufacturer: Xin hua shu dian jing xiao
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
 Buddhism
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
| Buddha
| Dalai Lama
| Dhammapada
| Dharma
| General
| History
| Karma
| Mahayana
| Rituals & Practice
| Sacred Writings
| Sutras
| Theravada
| Tibetan
| Vajrayana
| Zen
| Zen Philosophy
Chinese
| Foreign Language Nonfiction
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Nonfiction
| Chinese
| Foreign Language Books
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Religion & Spirituality
| Chinese
| Foreign Language Books
| Specialty Stores
| Books
All Chinese Books
| Chinese
| Foreign Language Books
| Specialty Stores
| Books
ASIN: 7506007436 |
Book Description
Eight hundred years have passed since King Connavar of the Rigante and his bastard son, Bane, defeated the invading army of Stone. Now the Rigante have lost the freedom and culture so many gave their lives to preserve. Only one woman remains who follows the ancient ways–the Wyrd of Wishing Tree Wood–and she alone knows the nature of the evil soon to be unleashed. But the Wyrd pins her hope on two men: a giant Rigante fighter, a man haunted by his failure to save his best friend from betrayal; and a youth whose deadly talents will earn him the rancor of the brutal Varlish. One will become the Ravenheart, an outlaw leader whose daring exploits will inspire the Rigante. The other will forge a legend–and light the fires of revolution. . . .
Customer Reviews:
excellent.......2007-07-16
I THINK THE RIGANTE SERIES ARE GREAT, BUT I WILL ALWAYS LOVE DRUSS THE LEGEND. I HAVE BOUGHT EVERY BOOK WRITTEN BY DAVID GEMMELL. I WAS SO UPSET TO HEAR THAT DAVID GEMMELL PASSED AWAY, HIS BOOKS BECAME LIKE A FAMILY MEMBER TO ME. I HAVE EIGHT MORE BOOKS LEFT TO READ, AND OF COURSE I AM PATIENTLY WAITING FOR THE LAST BOOK THE TROY TRILOGY. DAVID GEMMELL YOUR BOOKS HAVE GIVEN ME AN INSPIRATION TO READ, I AM JUST SAD THAT THERE WILL BE NO MORE. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE AND AGAIN THANKS FOR THE GREAT BOOKS.
Spectacular.......2007-04-24
Never before have I been afraid that I was going to wake up my wife because I was crying too loud next to her until I read this book. I am a 6'4 230 lb. firefighter for Gods sake I can't be crying in bed next to my wife I said to myself. Little good it did. This book from it's beginning sucks you into a world of one character that I found myself apparently very attached to, Jaim Graimauch. He is the essence of everything great about Gemmell's writing. He is the type of character that inspires me to be better as a human being. I am not an overly emotional guy but this books ending is a goddamn tear jerker. Tough guys beware read it alone. F'ing five stars
Solid, historical fiction-like tale.......2007-02-01
This novel is Gemmell's third in the Rigante series and is quite excellent. It does a great job of continuing the great story that was begun in the first novel (and suffered through the second).
This book takes place 800 years after the events of the first and second novels and picks up the story of the Rigante people as they struggle to retain their rights and identity while they are being repressed by an occupying force.
The book does a good job of conveying action and the deep emotions that are involved with the plot. The characters are all very well rounded and it is easy to like them and get involved in the story.
For those looking for a good fantasy story; however, this may not be the one. While an escellent book, it reads more like historical fiction than a fantasy novel. A small amount of magic is used, but other than that the races could have been Scottish and English.
I highly recommend this book, at least from the library.
Powerful and Compelling..........2006-03-13
David Gemmell has an uncanny ability to write fantasy series where each book in the series could stand alone. He populates the novels with intriguing characters, has wonderfully descriptive action scenes, and the dialogue makes you experience every emotion. Like the other two in the Rigante series, Ravenheart follows this same mold.
It has been approximately 800 years since the deaths of Connovar and Bane, but the Rigante lands are no longer their own, even though their blood still runs true through many of the villagers. One of the truest Rigante, who feeds the magic of the land, is Jaim Grymauch who is still hurting after the loss of his best friend. He couldn't save his best friend from death, but maybe he can inspire the Rigante to rise again and take back their land.
Kaelin, or Ravenheart, wants to fight for the Rigante, but he is not old enough. He will have to face many trials and tribulations before he can truly inspire the Rigante like Jaim Grymauch does.
I stayed up until 4 in the morning to finish this book and loved every minute of it. The writing, the characters, the storyline and especially the ending kept me turning the pages. I only hope that the next and last book in the Rigante series will live up to this immensely enjoyable novel. Enjoy!
No characterization and a confusing plot.......2006-02-08
I hate to be the only critic, but I feel I must interject here for all the skeptics out there. The reviews for this book must be coming from an extremely specific-and therefore biased beyond belief-group of people. Never fear! I am here to save the day with an (I'm sure) equally biased answer to the opposite side. This book is championed for its elevated action and incredible adventure, but truth be told, I found myself bored throughout the novel, always desiring to skim large portions to get to the "good part" (which never arrived by the way). The novel lacked cohesion and organic unity, and felt disjointed at best. This, however, must be forgiven in a novel of this ilk. After all, we don't expect our fantastic adventure novels to rank among esteemed literature. What can be expected, I think, is a page-turning, voracity-inspiring, un-put-down-able (forgive me for lack of concision but it had to be said) novel and you will not find that here. Perhaps I have high standards, but if the book is poorly written, I at least have the right to demand that it doesn't bore me to a dire degree, right? I believe the main problem is that David Gemmel fails at putting you in touch, emotionally, with the story line and characters. First off, his characterization is non-existent, leaving the characters static and uniform. I get the feeling that he wished to represent characters as human, being neither the extreme of good or evil (an admirable goal), but he failed. Guy Gavriel Kay, for one, champed Gemmel here. In his book, I could not help but be utterly empathetic to both sides of the fight. In Gemmel's novel, I was merely confused by the sudden, and seemingly random, changes in character. If he is attempting to elucidate development, or the double-sided nature of people, he executes it poorly. For example, Kaelin lashes out in the beginning of the novel when a friend dies. Later, however, he is extremely calm in the face of a much closer relative's death. In the mean time, no development, mentally is exclaimed. If he is suddenly wise and accepting of the world, it's deus ex machina style. I truly believe that none of this would be true but for the extreme dearth of characterization. In any case, I felt left out in the metaphorical cold, apathetic to the fate of the characters. My other major complaint is that the way he constructed the plot was bewildering and nonsensical to me. It played out multiple inapropos lines of the story, while leaving the critical prophecy unfulfilled and unexplained. To be fair, this is part of a series I believe, though it is difficult to tell which part as that is not referenced anywhere that I can find. If it is meant to stand alone, it certainly fails. Honestly though, from the most purely analytic point of view possible, the plot was ineptly done and baffling at best. It truly lacked cohesion. This is all not to mention the fact that the dialogue was awkward and the prose mediocre. Succinctly said, I would not recommend reading this book, but don't take my word for it. Many other reviewers seem to praise the concise characterization that I hated.
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9 critics, 9 photographs (Untitled)
Manufacturer: Friends of Photography
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 093328621X |
Average customer rating:
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Jersey, The: Untitled - Book #9: CANCELLED
Manufacturer: Disney Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
The Jersey
| Disney
| Popular Characters
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0786844698 |
Average customer rating:
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Untitled
Bonnie Geisert
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Spine-Chilling Horror
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 061868588X |
Average customer rating:
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Untitled Modern Aesop
Toni Morrison
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
Classics
| Children's Books
| Books on Cassette
| Audiobooks
| Formats
| Books
General
| Children's Books
| Books on Cassette
| Audiobooks
| Formats
| Books
Morrison, Toni
| ( M )
| Authors, A-Z
| Books on Cassette
| Audiobooks
| Formats
| Books
General
| Books on Cassette
| Audiobooks
| Formats
| Books
General
| Classics by Age
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Children's Books
| Mythology
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Morrison, Toni
| ( M )
| Authors, A-Z
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0743508440 |
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Untitled Silence
J.P. Fairfield
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
20th Century
| Poetry
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Poetry
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Poetry
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Love Poems
| Poetry
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
United States
| Single Authors
| Poetry
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1412025559
Release Date: 2006-07-06 |
Book Description
"Love Can Hear Silence But Not Love Itself". It\'s a collection of poems that portrays the trials of the heart, showing the struggle between the lines of love and hate.
![[untitled]](http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/01VS1K4P7ML.jpg)
Average customer rating:
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[untitled]
Leader & Jones
Manufacturer: Lulu.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Language Arts
| Reference & Nonfiction
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Issues
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Being a Teen
| Social Issues
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1411628926 |
Book Description
All teenagers deal with problems. The problem is, we think no one else does. Every problem is unique to us, and no one has dealt with it before. In this insightful collection of poetry, the authors lay bare their problems for everyone to see. They deal with everything from broken homes and broken spirits, to love. You are sure to find a piece of yourself hidden in these pages.
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Untitled Historical #3 Picturebook Series (Untitled Historical)
Kathryn Lasky
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Action & Adventure
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Lasky, Kathryn
| ( L )
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0786824387 |
Average customer rating:
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Disney Chapters - Recess: Untitled (Disney Chapters)
tk
Manufacturer: Disney Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Fiction
| Nature
| Science, Nature & How It Works
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 4-8
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0786843128 |
Book Description
"Jungle Calls" by Ron Snell is Book 3 of The Rani Adventures, also known as The Jungle Series. The second edition is 5 1/2 inches by 8 1/2 inches. The first edition was 4 1/4 inches by 7 inches. Type is bigger and easier to read in the second edition. Extremely popular with the Christian homeschool audience as well as people of all ages, The Rani Adventures depict what life was like for a young missionary kid growing up in the rain forests of Peru. Snell writes: "It was 7:30 at night. Standing in inky black jungle, we were hundreds of miles from the nearest lightbulb. The call of insects and frogs shrilled in our ears. Somewhere nearby, we knew, were Indians who killed anyone who ventured into their territory. What we didn't know was whether they were coming to kill us. Even so, after almost a year in the concrete jungles of Chicago at the Moody Bible Institute, there was no place else I'd rather be. I was 17." This third book in the Rani Adventure Series is filled with more true stories of high-pitched tension and hilarious adventure. The Matses Indian contact. The attempt to raft through the Boqueron. The night an idiot Chihuahua became our hero. And through it all, a thought provoking look at the jungle, at the Machiguenga Indians, at the process of translating Scripture into another langauge.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful for ALL ages!.......1999-12-25
This book is full of fun, adventure, and learning. If you want a solid view of South American up-bringing, combined with honest insights on multi-cultural interactions-- this is it. You will never think of the rainforest and its tribal inhabitants the same way again. Great for all ages. Inspiring. Remember that this is the third in the series, reading the others adds to your enjoyment, but they all stand well alone.
Product Description
Reprint of three well-loved books, on experiences in Indian jungles, interaction with tigers and leopards, perspectives on wild animals. beautifully written and informative
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Educator Classic Library 12 Volume Set: Treasure Island, 20,000 Leagues, Pinocchio, Jungle Book, Swiss Family Rob., The Virginian, Sherlock Holmes, Arabian Nights, Robin Hood, The Heroes, Call of the Wold, Paul Bunyan
Manufacturer: Classic Press, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OQOL2I |
Average customer rating:
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Jungle Call
Margaret Epp
Manufacturer: Beacon Hill Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Adventure & Thrillers
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: B000NPG6GO |
Product Description
Ken and Faith Lingard have an unexpected introduction to the distinguished author, Faye Wannamaker, which results in their being invited to join her in a three month trip to Peru. The possiblity of finding a long-lost uncle who was last reported in that country adds suspense and intrigue to an already exciting adventure!
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Jungle call (Catholic action library)
Joseph Cacella
Manufacturer: Catholic Action Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
Missions & Missionary Work
| Evangelism
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: B0007ELF5S |
Product Description
Describes missionary work in New Guinea, and effects of native opposition and the Japanese occupation during World War II.
Average customer rating:
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TREASURY OF ILLUSTRATED CLASSICS 12 BOOKS (A LITTLE PRINCESS, REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARMS, ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD, CALL OF THE WILD, WIZARD OF OZ, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, PYGMALION, WIND IN THE WILLOWS, WHITE FANG, JUNGLE BOOK, GREAT EXPECTATIONS)
AND ALL THE FAVORITES ROBERT LEWIS STEVENSON
Manufacturer: MODERN PUBLISHING
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000T4FW32 |
Product Description
FAVORITE STORIES BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED IN 12 BOOKS
Books:
- Charles Dickens Four Complete Novels (Great Expectations, Hard Times, A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities)
- Cien Anos De Soledad / 100 Years of Solitude (Contemporanea)
- Dancing with Ghosts: A Critical Biography of Arturo Islas
- Daring to Dream; Holding the Dream; Finding the Dream: Three Complete Novels (Dream)
- Death in Venice: And Seven Other Stories
- Descubre La Selva Tropical/ Discover the Rain Forest (Yellow Umbrella Books. Science. Spanish.)
- Dr. Heidenhoff's Process
- Drama of the English Renaissance: Volume 1, The Tudor Period
- El Sindrome De Ulises/the Sindrome of Ulises 5 Edicion
- Every Good and Perfect Gift: A Novel
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Family Math : The Middle School Years, Algebraic Reasoning and Number Sense
- 101 Arena Exercises: A Ringside Guide for Horse & Rider
- The Captain and the Enemy
- The Modern Mind: An Intellectual History of the 20th Century
- The People and Process of Film and Video Production: From Low Budget to High Budget
- 2001: A Space Odyssey
- West Virginia: The Allegheny Highlands
- The Future of Capitalism: How Today's Economic Forces Shape Tomorrow's World
- The Deep Democracy of Open Forums: Practical Steps to Conflict Prevention and Resolution for the Fam
- Foundations in Europe: International reference Book on Society, Management, and Law
Nixon Under the Bodhi Tree and Other Works of Buddhist Fiction
Hungry Ghost : A Novel
Not Where I Started From
You Are Not Here and Other Works of Buddhist Fiction
Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung?: Inspiring Stories for Welcoming Life's Difficulties
