January 2006

"Seven Spiritual Laws of Success:
A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams"

by Deepak Chopra

Following is a publisher's review of this month's Power Book:

"Based on natural laws which govern all of creation, this book shatters the myth that success is the result of hard work, exacting plans, or driving ambition. In The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, Deepak Chopra offers a life-altering perspective on the attainment of success: Once we understand our true nature and learn to live in harmony with natural law, a sense of well-being, good health, fulfilling relationships, energy and enthusiasm for life, and material abundance will spring forth easily and effortlessly. Filled with timeless wisdom and practical steps you can apply right away, this is a book you will want to read and refer to again and again."

December 2005

"Best Evidence"
by Michael Schmicker

Following is a review of this month's Power Book:

"From the Publisher

In Best Evidence, Michael Schmicker assembles scientific documentation for
experiences that many readers intuitively believe are real, despite mainstream
skepticism: ESP, psychokinesis, mental healing, ghosts and poltergeists, dowsing,
mediums, near-death experiences, reincarnation, and, as Schmicker puts it,
"Other Impossible Phenomena That Refuse to Disappear." Expect a credible
collection of convincing evidence, such as a published report in the
American Journal of Diseases of Children in which a Seattle doctor offers a
detailed account of a near-death experience. Or a 1995 report from the CIA on
the practice of remote viewing, in which the U.S. government hired psychics to
spy on other countries. Other evidence is presented to convince readers
of death-bed visions, ghosts and poltergeists, and reincarnation. While anyone can
manipulate data to draw their own conclusions, Schmicker's evenhanded,
journalistic tone brings credibility and a no-nonsense tone to these esoteric
discussions. He also possesses a smooth, accessible writing style that
makes it easy to digest the research, studies, and data that his book is based upon.
After each chapter, he offers a "Highly Recommended Reading" list so
readers can continue their own research. --Gail Hudson"

November 2005

"The Alchemist"

by Paolo Coelho

Following is a publisher's review of this month's Power Book:

"Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. The Alchemist is such a book. With over a million and a half copies sold around the world, The Alchemist has already established itself as a modern classic, universally admired. Paulo Coelho's charming fable, now available in English for the first time, will enchant and inspire an even wider audience of readers for generations to come. The Alchemist is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist. The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, above all, following our dreams."

October 2005

"In The Presence Of High Beings:
What Dolphins Want You To Know"

by Bobbie Sandoz-Merrill

Following is an editorial review of this month's Power Book:

"For ten years author Bobbie Sandoz-Merrill swam with a pod of wild dolphins off the shores of her Hawaiian home as well as with other dolphins and whales throughout the world. In the Presence of High Beings is about her many remarkable healing experiences with these extraordinary beings. Organized in three parts, the first phase of encounters offers a period of friendship during which she learns from the dolphins by observing how consistently they embody the six characteristics of the higher self.

During the second phase Bobbie suspects that the dolphins are attempting to communicate with her. Among other things, they create "bubble" drawings in the water, which is one of the dolphins' ways of reassuring Bobbie they are truly communicating with her. As a result, Bobbie opens to receiving their telepathic messages and is able to learn the dolphins' for how humans can release the chaotic world they are currently creating and manifest the world of their dreams. In the Presence of High Beings shares the dolphin's unique formula for rapidly attaining a high level of joy.

In the Presence of High Beings also includes a valuable guide on how to swim with dolphins and whales in the wild, new information on the lethal effects of sonar on dolphins and whales, and some unusual material about human healing with dolphin "tapping." This book is filled with an abundance of useful information that can be applied to becoming a better person and a better humanity."

September 2005

"The Power of Intention"

by Wayne W. Dyer

Following is a critic's review of this month's Power Book:

"For this very popular speaker and bestselling author of the classic Your Erroneous Zones, intention is not dogged determination, but an inner awareness "that exists in the universe as an invisible force of energy." This conviction, gleaned from Dyer's professional experiences, metaphysical studies and contacts with personal mentors, has allowed him to link to the force of intention and use it to enhance his life and work. For Dyer, there are seven faces, or energy fields, of intention: creativity, kindness, love, beauty, expansion, abundance and receptivity. Drawing on a variety of spiritual traditions and gurus, Dyer first describes how to surmount the barriers that may get in the way of connecting to this power, such as negative thinking, relying on the opinion of others or retaining a controlling ego. Although Dyer's message is deeply sympathetic, his conception of the fields of insight reads like a familiar mixture of Eastern and Western philosophies wrapped up in a new theoretical package. In a chapter on living a stress-free life, for example, he recommends silently repeating the words "I want to feel good" i.e., practicing a form of meditation and elsewhere advises practicing detachment, a cornerstone of Buddhism. Another tactic, using forgiveness as a means to achieve peaceful relations with difficult family members, has recently found a wealth of expression. But whatever his sources, Dyer's soothing voice and gentle prescriptions for happiness remain uniquely his own, as fans will recognize. (Mar.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information."

July 2005

"Alternative Cures : The Most Effective
Natural Home Remedies for 160 Health Problems"

by Bill Gottlieb

Following is an editorial review of this month's Power Book:

"Pick an ailment--any ailment--and chances are, Bill Gottlieb can succinctly crystallize the problem, propose its root cause, and describe a handful of nonmedical remedies for treatment. Creator and supervising editor of the bestselling Doctors Book of Home Remedies, this 25-year veteran of the health field draws from more than 300 alternative care practitioners (including holistic nutritionists, licensed acupuncturists, massage therapists, and the occasional swami) to present a thick textbook worthy of gracing the reference shelf of any family or health provider.

Serious physical ailments like asthma, HIV and AIDS, stroke, and cancer receive equal attention with pesky afflictions like oily hair, acne, nightmares, and wrinkles. Mental health ailments, such as guilt, anxiety, grief, and shyness, also get their due. Gottlieb's stance is not that individuals should shun their primary care physicians to rely solely on herbs, better nutrition, and other alternative paths. Rather, he seeks to educate readers on the biological effects of such practices and tinctures, to share their documented benefits in helpful detail.

Each ailment receives a sidebar titled "Guide to Professional Care," in which Gottlieb outlines symptoms that warrant immediate medical attention. Other sidebars highlight especially helpful treatment--from aromatherapy to meditation--for various troubles. Gottlieb provides an section on alternative healing where he elaborates on the process, benefits, and safety of each general treatment referred to in the book (from acupuncture to yoga therapy). Complete information, an engaging writing style, and visually appealing graphics make this encyclopedia-style book very easy to digest. --Liane Thomas"

June 2005

"Spirit Orb Phenomena : Fact or Fiction?"

by Anthony Kevan Sercombe

Following is a review of this month's Power Book:

"Ghosts have always fascinated humans if only because they have offered the possibility of finding out more about life on the other side. Spirit Orbs, though are less known, Anthony Kevan Sercombe's "Spirit Orb Phenomena: Fact or Fiction?" is a pioneering work in this field and has been rated 93% www.amazon.com. Put simply, spirit orbs are images of humans which can be captured with camera. The writer takes the trouble of sharing how easily spirit orbs can be easily confused with reflected light on camera and other natural anomalies, however it made clear that spirit orbs images are definitely different to some tricks of the light. The many illustrations (98 colour photographs) offer, at least interesting if not compelling evidence of this phenomena. Readers will be able to judge for themselves what spirits orbs actually are. The author himself found spirit orbs appeared more as he wrote the book and looking at the illustrations one is struck by sheer personality which comes through in certain images. Perhaps the most appealing fact about this phenomena is that all it takes is a digital camera for anyone to possibly capture such intriguing images. Anthony Kevan Sercombe's book offers a fascinating introduction and explanations to a little known topic. Not only that, but readers will find it also provides a doorway into the mysterious world of the spiritual afterlife."

May 2005

"The Giver"

by Lois Lowry

Following is a publisher's review of this month's Power Book:

"Winner of the 1994 Newbery Medal, this thought-provoking novel centers on a 12-year-old boy's gradual disillusionment with an outwardly utopian futuristic society; in a starred review, PW said, ``Lowry is once again in top form... unwinding a tale fit for the most adventurous readers.'' Ages 10-up. (Sept.) "Wrought with admir-able skill -- the emptiness and menace underlying this Utopia emerge step by inexorable step: a richly provocative novel." "

April 2005

"Tesla: Man out of Time"

by Margaret Cheney

Following is a publisher's review of this month's Power Book:

"In Tesla: Man Out of Time, Margaret Cheney explores the brilliant and prescient mind of one of the twentieth century's greatest scientists and inventors. Called a madman by his enemies, a genius by others, and an enigma by nearly everyone, Nikola Tesla was, without a doubt, a trailblazing inventor who created astonishing, sometimes world-transforming devices that were virtually without theoretical precedent. Tesla not only discovered the rotating magnetic field — the basis of most alternating-current machinery — but also introduced us to the fundamentals of robotics, computers, and missile science. Almost supernaturally gifted, unfailingly flamboyant and neurotic, Tesla was troubled by an array of compulsions and phobias and was fond of extravagant, visionary experimentations. He was also a popular man-about-town, admired by men as diverse as Mark Twain and George Westinghouse, and adored by scores of society beauties.

He was born in a small Yugoslavian village in 1856. Yet he grew up to transform our world. From his supernaturally gifted mind came the principles that led to computers, missiles, robots, nuclear fusion—even the microwave in your kitchen. He had a photographic memory. He never even made blue-prints, being able to create directly from his mind. Always thinking at fever-pitch, he worked too fast to secure patents or even rent-money. Friend of Mark Twain, enemy/rival of Edison, he was trail-blazer and mentor for many of our century's most famous scientists. A riveting biography of a colossal, crazy genius."

March 2005

"The Indigo Children"

by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober

Following is a publisher's review of this month's Power Book:

"What is an Indigo Child? The Indigo Child is a child who displays a new and unusual set of psychological attributes that reveal a pattern of behavior generally undocumented before. This pattern has common yet unique factors that demand that parents and teachers change their treatment and upbringing of them in order to achieve balance. To ignore these new patterns is to potentially create great frustration in the minds of these precious new lives. Can we really be seeing human evolution in the kids today? Are they smarter? Why do so many of our children today seem to be "system busters"? Why are they committing suicide and killing each other? Why are so many of our best children being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder( ADD)? Are all of them really ADD kids...in need of being drugged, or is there more to this story?

Join international authors and lecturers Lee Carroll and Jan Tober as they bring together some very fine minds to discuss and expose this exciting premise. Many alternate methods of treating ADD are presented, and you won't believe some of the spiritual aspects of this study! These children are very different, and represent a great percentage of all the children being born today...worldwide. They come in "knowing" who they are, and must be recognized and celebrated with the correct guidance."

February 2005

"The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-create Your World Your Way"

by Wayne W. Dyer

Following is a critic's review of this month's Power Book:

"Publishers Weekly For this very popular speaker and bestselling author of the classic Your Erroneous Zones, intention is not dogged determination, but an inner awareness "that exists in the universe as an invisible force of energy." This conviction, gleaned from Dyer's professional experiences, metaphysical studies and contacts with personal mentors, has allowed him to link to the force of intention and use it to enhance his life and work. For Dyer, there are seven faces, or energy fields, of intention: creativity, kindness, love, beauty, expansion, abundance and receptivity. Drawing on a variety of spiritual traditions and gurus, Dyer first describes how to surmount the barriers that may get in the way of connecting to this power, such as negative thinking, relying on the opinion of others or retaining a controlling ego. Although Dyer's message is deeply sympathetic, his conception of the fields of insight reads like a familiar mixture of Eastern and Western philosophies wrapped up in a new theoretical package. In a chapter on living a stress-free life, for example, he recommends silently repeating the words "I want to feel good" i.e., practicing a form of meditation and elsewhere advises practicing detachment, a cornerstone of Buddhism. Another tactic, using forgiveness as a means to achieve peaceful relations with difficult family members, has recently found a wealth of expression. But whatever his sources, Dyer's soothing voice and gentle prescriptions for happiness remain uniquely his own, as fans will recognize. (Mar.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information."

January 2005

"The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment"

by Eckhart Tolle, Russell DiCarlo

Following is a publisher's review of this month's Power Book:

"The author shares ideas about personal integration with uncommon eloquence and a deep understanding of the human condition. Our true identity is in our moment-to-moment experiences rather than in our past or future. Concern about anything but the present is an unhealthy identification with the mind that can only cause pain and an illusion of control. Being totally aware of ourselves in each moment actually requires little effort or direction if we stop our thoughts long enough to find the pure consciousness that exists in the gaps between them. These ideas will be radical for most Westerners, but they are so smoothly elucidated that almost all seekers of inner truth will find something of value in the program. "

December 2004

"Sacred Places"

by Jane Yolen, David Shannon

Following is a publisher's review of this month's Power Book:

"Gr 5-9-Holy in the distant past (Delphi), or still sacred today (Mecca), the sites of Yolen's poetic tributes include some of the world's most celebrated spiritual and cultural power centers. The poems evoke, rather than describe, their subjects, with brief additional information on each provided in an appendix. Nevertheless, many of the references to places, gods, and concepts require further research for comprehension. Of the 12 sites chosen, one is in the U.S., one in Honduras, two each in the Middle East and the Pacific, and three each in Asia and Europe. Since one of the "places" in Europe is the vast category "cathedrals," Europeans appear disproportionately blessed with sacred sites. An otherwise helpful map unavoidably highlights the utter absence of sacred places in Africa and South America. The familiar "Ayers Rock" is rightly called Uluru, but Jerusalem's Western Wall is still tagged "Wailing Wall" here. Shannon's paintings are compelling. Recognizably realistic, they are nevertheless given expressionistic emphasis, from point-of-view, composition, coloring, or simplification of form, to suggest their spiritual dimension. Browsers may be attracted by the pictures, and if the text is too allusive for some readers, others may accept the mysteries as part of the allure of the sacred.Patricia (Dooley) Lothrop Green, St. George's School, Newport, RI ."