Journey of Hope: The Story of Ilan Ramon, Israel's First Astronaut

Book Description

"Columbia is lost; there are no survivors"
-President George W. Bush, February 1, 2003.

In 1995, President Bill Clinton announced that a future NASA space shuttle flight would carry an Israeli astronaut. In January 2003, that promise was fulfilled when Colonel Ilan Ramon, a decorated and heroic Israeli Air Force pilot, was part of the crew of space shuttle Columbia, flight STS-107. Two weeks after it was launched, within minutes of its scheduled landing, the ship disintegrated, killing all seven astronauts aboard.

This book chronicles the selection, training, flight, and death of Ilan Ramon, Israel's first astronaut, over a seven-year period. Ramon was the child of a Holocaust survivor and of parents who came to Israel to build new lives. He personified the best of Israel: a family man, a committed Israeli, a proud Jew, a war hero, and, as well, a quiet, modest person.

Journey of Hope captures the drama, humor, and humanity of the life and death of Colonel Ilan Ramon.

Journey of Hope includes NASA photographs, images of Holocaust artifacts that Ramon carried with him into space, the famous Hebrew poem read at his funeral, and the complete transcript of President George Bush's comments at the official memorial ceremony for the Columbia Seven.

Customer Reviews:

Fitting tribute.......2005-11-10

Saturday February 1, 2003 was a sad day for the U.S.: The shuttle Columbia disintegrated in space, killing flight commander Rick D. Husband; pilot William C. McCool; payload commander Michael P. Anderson; mission specialists David M. Brown, Kalpana Chawla and Laurel Clark; and Israel's first astronaut, Ilan Ramon.

It was especially difficult for Israel and the Jewish people, who had placed so much pride and hope into the voyage of Ramon, the son of a refugee from Germany and a veteran of Israel's War of Independence and a mother who had survived Auschwitz. In 1981, he had flown with seven other Israeli F-16 pilots who destroyed Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor near Baghdad. "If I can prevent another Holocaust, I'm ready to sacrifice my life for this," Ramon had selflessly told his comrades.

All Israel and the Jewish people considered Ramon's mission a source of honor, a testament to positive spirit, despite a troubled time that had claimed 768 Israelis in terrorist attacks since September 2000.

Ramon was cool-headed, modest, "a humble hero," who although he was not an observant Jew, took with him Jewish symbols into space--a small Torah smuggled out of Bergen-Belsen by a Holocaust survivor, a mezuzah wrapped in barbed wire, and the drawing of a moonscape by a victim of Theresienstadt. For Israel and the Jewish people, he had said, it was "a very symbolic mission."

And so it was. For Ramon reminded the Jewish people, said a Jerusalem Post editorial after his death, "we can make the desert bloom and build modern cities on sand dunes. And we can reach for the stars."

This book is a fitting tribute to a Jewish hero.

--Alyssa A. Lappen

thank you.......2003-06-08

I just wanted to thank you that you wrote this book

I am the book's author.......2003-06-01

I want everyone to know that this book was a labor of love. I want to help make people aware of the life and the legacy of Ilan Ramon, a hero and inspiring figure for all of us.

Customer Reviews:

Explorations.......2003-12-01

It is almost as hard to write a review of this book as it must have been for Mrs. Huxley to write it. Above all else, for the purposes of reading this review or the text itself, please keep in mind that it is not a novel but a recollection of her husband that the public had decided they knew so well.

If you haven't read Aldous' works, don't bother with This Timeless Moment as it would be as interesting and informative as reading a description of the flavour of a fruit you've never tried. If you have read his texts though and found yourself immersed in the worlds within the man's mind for all its brilliance and receptivity, then this book will give you insights you simply could not get anywhere else.

Not being an author herself, This Timeless Moment is not well written by any technical or literary means, but nor is it meant to be. This is a recollection of a husband by his widowed wife; it explores their time together and apart, describes the man she knew for the latter half of his life, and examines the misconceptions of the renowned author as communicated through the media. It is as to the point, as it is a scattered writing as any memory translated to paper promises to be; where it loses in technical merit it gains in heartfelt sincerity.

There is also as much in this text for the fans of Aldous Huxley's writing as there is for the man himself. The biggest gift included is the first and only copy of a novel he had begun before his death in which, it is explained, he had hoped to achieve a level of completeness previously unattained- a level he only came to understand as his illness took hold. There is also a great deal of reference to his last published novel, Island, as to how it related to the man himself and his experiences that he'd incorporated into the writing. Of interesting personal note are the many letters and transcripts of recorded conversations between the husband and wife, as well as letters by Aldous to his brother and son.

Included among much of the book are references to Aldous Huxley's experiments with psychedics which the media has given such focus and emphasis. It must be said that she is not advocating the use of the drugs, nor is she defending his choice to use them- she speaks of his and her own experiences with LSD and the level of consciousness found within them. Another review I read here on Amazon referred to her as being "preachy" about this issue, but I found that it was anything but. As evident by his writing, Aldous Huxley was interested in virtually every facet of life and the exploration of consciousness was but one of them.

Also check out www dot yourwords dot org for more about this text and others.

If you're looking for something mind-blowing, read Aldous' own writing itself like Brave New World, The Doors of Perception, Island or any other, and ignore this for now. If you have read these though and want more insight into the man lining each page, read This Timeless Moment and get past the sensationalism of the media into the mind of the woman he had shared it with.

Huxley's last years.......2002-02-20

THIS TIMELESS MOMENT is Laura Archera Huxley's memoir of her marriage to Aldous Huxley. Laura Archera, a young musician from Italy, married the aging and recently-widowed Huxley in 1956. Her book chronicles their life together until his death in 1963.

By her own admission, Mrs. Huxley was not a "bookish" person. Nor was English her mother tongue. Her writing style is strangely disjointed and contains both non-sequitors and inconsistent statements. Nonetheless, her love for Aldous Huxley is clear. It is this love that makes the book worthwhile.

Due to Mrs. Huxley's tact and her awkward writing style, the reader needs a background knowledge of Aldous Huxley's life and work to understand a number of her anecdotes and veiled references. I re-read Mrs. Huxley's memoir after completing David King Dunaway's ALDOUS HUXLEY RECOLLECTED. Only then did Mrs. Huxley's story begin to make some sense.

Mrs. Huxley devotes a chapter and then some to the Huxleys' drug use. This section of the work has a "crusading" tone which I found annoying. It is followed by several heartbreaking chapters describing Huxley's final illness and death. I developed a new appreciation for this great man and his wife who worked so hard to finish one final essay, "Shakespeare and Religion", just days before his death. Mrs. Huxley's reveals that Huxley was working on a novel on mysticism at the time of his death. She states that Huxley told her in his final days that he was on the verge of fitting everything together in one last novel. She then shares the first chapter of this unnamed, unfinished work. It is beautiful (and, unmistakeably, Aldous Huxley). It is the finest chapter in Mrs. Huxley's book. I kept wishing it would go on and on.

Mrs. Huxley succeeds in showing a rarely seen side of Aldous Huxley. So often, he is portrayed as cold, aloof and cerebral. Here, Huxley is a warm, vibrant, sensual human being who is utterly at peace with himself and the world.

Interesting Memoir.......2000-11-22

After reading Huxley's books for years, we finally get a glimpse into his later years through the eyes of his second wife, Laura Huxley. It is apparent throughout the book the extent to which Laura loved and admired Aldous. Nothing wrong with that.

We learn the truth about his alleged "blindness", his view of psychedelics and how he handled death. Although through my readings it was apparent that Huxley was a brilliant man of letters, the biography brought to light the kindness of the man. He was, according to Ms. Huxley, willing to avail himself and his knowledge to anyone who sought it (except perhaps reporters from whom he understandably sought sanctuary).

Even though I am sure it was unintended, we also come away with some notions about Ms. Huxley. Her devotion to Aldous, open-mindedness, and self-effacing manners shine through.

I liked the book, but somehow felt the picture was incomplete. Certainly Huxley must have had an interior struggle between his religous beliefs and his intellect. Such a struggle is not discussed in this book. Perhaps Ms. Huxley was unaware of such a struggle or perhaps Aldous had somehow transcended it by the time he met Laura.

Entheogens: Professional Listing.......1999-05-01

"This Timeless Moment" has been selected for listing in "Religion and Psychoactive Sacraments: An Entheogen Chrestomthy" http://www.csp.org/chrestomathy

This Timeless Moment A Personal View of Aldous Huxley

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This Timeless Moment A Personal View of Aldous Huxley
Laura Archera Huxley
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus & Giroux
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J0LDP2

Average customer rating:

This Timeless Moment, A Personal View of Aldous Huxley
Laura Archera Huxley
Manufacturer: New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1968
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NXG7NS

Average customer rating:

This Timeless Moment: A Personal View of Aldous Huxley
Laura Archera Huxley
Manufacturer: FARRAR, STRAUS AND GIROUX
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OKIFD0

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THIS TIMELESS MOMENT, A PERSONAL VIEW OF ALDOUS HUXLEY
Laura Huxley
Manufacturer: Mecury House Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VGDALE

Book Description

The ultimate single-source cookbook for a world of appetizers
Whether in the form of a passed hors d'oeuvre, canapé, or a dish of small bites placed at a table setting, appetizers are the perfect showcase of a cook's creativity and skill. The Appetizer Atlas brings together an enticing range of starters from around the world that will help lead off any dining experience in style. This unique, encyclopedic cookbook offers 400 authentic, savory recipes for appetizers from twenty-eight distinctive regional cuisines-from Mexico to Maghreb, from China to the Caribbean, along with France, India, Italy, Japan, Thailand, and many more. All recipes are kitchen tested, perfect for home cooking, professional catering, and entertaining. With photographs of finished dishes, plus background material on specialty ingredients and regional cooking methods, this comprehensive resource is the only appetizer book a cook will ever need.
Arthur L. Meyer (Austin, TX) is a professional chef, pastry chef, and consultant for commercial bakeries.
Jon M. Vann is an award-winning chef, restaurant consultant, and a food writer for the Austin Chronicle.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed.......2007-04-05

I found very few recipes I was actually interested in making. We have "Appetizer" parties twice a year and I am always looking for good recipes. I could not find anything to add from this cookbook.

Good Luck Finding the Ingredients.......2006-12-27

I requested this book as a Christmas gift because of all the glowing reviews and I love appetizers for entertaining. My husband and I are always looking for new appetizer recipes and especially like ethnic recipes. This book seemed perfect.

Well, it's not. I do not doubt that the recipes taste good. They are probably also not very hard to make, but many, many of the recipes require ingredients that are not easy to find. Some of the meats used are venison, quail, dove, and baby goat. Many spices are also hard to find. I know that almost anything can be ordered over the internet, but I need recipes that I can go to the grocery store to get the ingredients.

If you have access to ethnic markets, you may enjoy this book, otherwise
beware that you may have trouble making a large number of the recipes in this book.

One other comment, there are photos in the book, but some of them are placed nowhere near the recipe they are for.

On a positive note: the descriptions of the different areas where the food comes from are very interesting and really add to the book. All in all though, I wish I had not asked for this book.

Do not buy this book.......2006-10-13

Absolute rubbish. Who publishes a cookbook without pictures. Ok. There are about a dozen pictures, but even so. 400 recipes and no pictures beside them. You eat with your eyes first. What a waste of 45 dollars. The author is a thief.

Atlas of delight!.......2005-02-08

This 600+ page tome has a wonderful cosmopolitan approach and organisation to it's wonderful recipes for appetizers from around the world. The background information is very helpful and educational. The ingredients are generally readily available, prep time is reasonable, and instructions are clearly written. Although not necessary, I wouldn't mind if it had more photos in the book or on a website, as some of the appetizers are such appetizing eye candy!

These recipes are perfect for serving at more formal "theme" dinners, and also for serving casual as "comfort food".

The recipes, with simple to complex flavors, are a a great complement to such books as "Hors D'Oeuvres by Eric Treuille, which has even simpler recipes, more pictures, with more of an emphasis on bite-sized portions, ideal for fast and good appetizers. Enjoy both books!

Excellent reference.......2004-06-08

I bought this book to express my appreciation for Arthur Meyer's organic chemistry class. Oddly enough, I discovered that he had an entirely different life outside teaching.

The Appetizer Atlas is not only a comprehensize cookbook, but a good reference to the cutural aspects of cooking. Each section begins with a brief history of the geography and the culture of the region and how these contributed to the local cuisine.

Extensively researched and elegently concieved, this book is a smart buy.

Average customer rating:

Terrific Book, Terrific Author

The taste and history of Armenian food brought into today's kitchens

An enduring classic

A great book

The best has gotten better!

The Cuisine of Armenia
Sonia Uvezian
Manufacturer: Siamanto Press-The
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
European | European | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Mediterranean | European | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Middle Eastern | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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Armenia & Karabagh (The Stone Garden Guide)

ASIN: 0970971672

Book Description

This acknowledged classic is the first book in any language to offer a comprehensive view of Armenian cookery. A brilliant exploration of one of the worlds most exciting culinary traditions, this landmark volume contains hundreds of splendid recipes, many of them for dishes previously unknown in the West. No serious food lover should be without this bible of Armenian cooking!

Customer Reviews:

Terrific Book, Terrific Author.......2007-08-06

I bought this book about thirty years ago when I first began to cook and I have been a fan ever since. The author has the gift of being able to put together a recipe in a simple, easy to follow, readable way. Over the years I have cooked the majority of recipes in this book and even ordinary sounding ones like baked chicken with tomatoes are exquisite. The recipe for baklava which calls for a longer cooking time than any other I've ever seen is the only one ever use and the most delicious I've ever eaten.An intriguing and delicious dessert is apricots with whipped cream, an invention of the author. Ms. Uvezian's touch turns every recipe, even the most basic, into a real treat.this is not a book I would ever part with.

The taste and history of Armenian food brought into today's kitchens.......2005-07-04

without compromising flavor. Armenian food is is full of history and meaning and reflects the foods native to their land.
This book is written by an Armenian woman who knows her food! Her recipes are easy to understand and there are suggestions for side dishes as well. Reading this cookbook is reading the love of the authors' heritage and the respect she has for this great world cuisine. Everything I have made from this book has made my Armenian husband rejoice.

An enduring classic.......2003-04-23

This is a very fine cookbook that provides a large number of mouth-watering recipes written in a clear and straightforward style. Dishes from both Eastern and Western Armenia are included, as are a number of Uvezian's own creations that are steeped in the Armenian tradition. Although the book lacks color photos, it does have a stunning color shot of Ararat Pilaf (two peaks of rice shaped like Great and Little Ararat) on the cover and includes beautiful drawings of dishes that are placed at the beginning of each chapter. I especially like the two illustrations that make striking use of old Armenian churches as a backdrop as well as the elegant medieval Armenian manuscript illumination that borders both the title page and the table of contents. Since this volume is moderately priced (and a great value considering the treasure that lies within it), expecting it to contain color photos would be unrealistic; the cost would have been prohibitive. Actually, the directions are so easy to follow that pictures are unnecessary. I would much rather have a cookbook like this that offers an extensive selection of outstanding recipes in addition to a tremendous amount of helpful and necessary culinary information, plus some lovely illustrations. Although Uvezian has provided a generous amount of enlightening historical material that traces the roots of Armenian cuisine far back into antiquity, she has wisely avoided trying to pinpoint the origins of the dishes, a task impossible to accomplish due to the long tradition of cultural and culinary interchange in the Middle East and Caucasus. As she explains, in addition to preserving their repertoire of national dishes, Armenians have skillfully assimilated foods of other peoples in the region and, conversely, a number of Armenian recipes have become part of the cuisines of other cultures. Until a time machine is invented that allows us to go back into the past without being impaled on someone's sword, it is probably best for us not to argue about origins but to celebrate the extraordinary creativity and diversity of Armenian cuisine as presented to us in this exceptional cookbook and to savor the delectable results it produces with joy and gratitude.

A great book.......2003-03-06

The Cuisine of Armenia is a great book. I bought this book for my sister and she realy liked it. The book reveles that some foods that Turks and Arabs say comes from them is realy Armenian. Sicne Armenians lived under Turkish and Arabs rule for a long time some of our food were taken from us and became "Trukish". It has all the recipes of all Armenian foods. If the book had pictures it wil have been easier to understand how to make the foods. A great book for all those who want to make great tasting Armenian cuisines.

The best has gotten better!.......2002-06-18

I have used various editions of this classic cookbook over the years, and it remains one of my all-time favorites. Unlike the 1998 edition, which fell apart after only a couple of weeks, this new one is much better made and is holding up very well. Also, the quality of the illustrations is far superior.

Uvezian has done an admirable job of presenting hundreds of mouthwatering and healthful recipes in her characteristically clear and concise style. The dishes described are rich and varied, the simple-to-follow instructions explain exactly what to do, and the ingredients called for are easy to find. The recipes from the Caucasus, which were unknown in America before the original hardcover edition of this book came out, are in themselves worth the purchase price.

"The Cuisine of Armenia" is a real treasure. Not only is it a must have for every Armenian household, it belongs in the library of every enthusiastic cook.

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Armenian Food: Fact, Fiction & Folklore
Irina Petrosian , and David Underwood
Manufacturer: Lulu.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1411698657

Book Description

Food is a portal to Armenia's past and present-day culture. This culinary journey across the land called Hayastan presents the rich history, wondrous legends, and fact-filled stories of Armenian cuisine. Authors Irina Petrosian and David Underwood take readers on a memorable tour of Armenia by way of the kitchen. What ancient Armenian fable warned against genetically-altered food? What little-known Armenian fruit may have helped Noah on the ark? What was the diet of David of Sassoun, the legendary Armenian Hercules? What was the influence of the Soviet Union on the food ways of Armenia? What strange and exotic fruits and herbs are sold in Armenia's markets? Why do Armenians go to cemeteries to "feed" the dead? What role did coffee play in Armenian marriage rituals? If you are curious about one of the world's most ancient cultures, or are contemplating a trip to Armenia, don't miss the chance to read this book.

Cuisines of the Caucasus Mountains: Recipes, Drinks, and Lore from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia

Average customer rating:

A lot of misclassification
I wouldn't recommend to buy the book
Not just food but also history
Focuses on what people actually eat!

Cuisines of the Caucasus Mountains: Recipes, Drinks, and Lore from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Russia
Kay Shaw Nelson
Manufacturer: Hippocrene Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0781809282

Customer Reviews:

A lot of misclassification.......2006-01-21

The range of recepies offered in the book is great, but a lot of the recepies are misclassified by country/culture. Also, in the introduction part, and the part describing the history of the region, some facts are misrepresented.

I wouldn't recommend to buy the book.......2006-01-21

Knowing the region described in the book quite well, as I am from that region, AND reading this book, I was surprised with the way author (who is a historician !!!) puts the outdated information about the certain countries of the region and their cuisines. Seing the map with the wrong names/borders in the book was just shocking!!! The author have not done enough research on INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED facts on the region, it's history and geopolitics, and therefore is misrepresenting the region and may actually be offencive for the people like me, who grew up in that region.

The names of some culinary dishes are misperperented and misclassified, too.

Instead of spending money on this book, I'd recommend searching the information available online, where you can find more truthfull and up-to-date informaiton, and a variety of recipes for free!

Not just food but also history.......2005-09-04

I'm happy I bough the book. Not just for the food but it also gives the best decription of the region and a great run down through the history.

Focuses on what people actually eat!.......2005-06-18

What a great looking book. My mouth watered as I looked at the cover.

Kay Shaw Nelson is a student of Russian studies - thereby someone who really did research in the countries that this book covers and not just a compiler of other people's information. She even gives some reviews of places to eat in-country! She did a nice job of including literary references and short stories about some of the dishes. I'm no chef and I was able to make most of the items with ease. The tasks are easy to follow and replacements for some ingredients not easily found outside of the Caucasus are included.

Caucasus food has great flavor and uses herbs and spices masterfully. It is healthy and tasty. There are many vegetarian options as well.

Some of my favorites: page 165 rice-filled tomatoes, page 203 lavash (this actually tasted like lavash!), page 256 tan, page 42 cucumber-yogart dip, page 79 green beans and eggs.

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Cuisine of Armenia
Sonia Uvezian
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OEFSUO

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The Cuisine of Armenia
Sonia Uvezian
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEUMVY

Ethnic Cuisines: A Comprehensive Bibliography in the English Language : Includes Armenia, Georgia, Greece, Cyprus, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Israel

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Ethnic Cuisines: A Comprehensive Bibliography in the English Language : Includes Armenia, Georgia, Greece, Cyprus, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Israel
Hamo B. Vassilian
Manufacturer: Armenian Reference Books Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0931539137

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