Sneaks' Book Reviews: 'The Big Burn' by Timothy Egan (2009)

Book: The Big Burn (2009)
Author: Timothy Egan
My Rating: 9.2/10 Stars *********'
I just want to start by saying that I highly recommend reading this book! The Big Burn is a well-researched and historically-accurate account of the biggest forest-fire in US history, the establishment of the US Forest Service, and the National Parks system under President Teddy Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot who faced fierce opposition from the land baron's and politicians of the industrial era. If you want to learn a little bit about US history in the early 1900's and the origination of progressive politics in America then this book is definitely for you, and the best part of the story is that all of it actually happened. Check this book out, you won't regret it. The video below is from Youtube.com, and is an interview with the author done by Borders.

Sneaks' Book Reviews: 'Kryon: The End Times (New Information for Personal Peace) (Kryon Book 1) (1993)

Book: Kryon:The End Times: New Information for Personal Peace (Kryon Book 1)
Author: Lee Carroll 
Year: 1993

It has been a long damn while since I last posted a book review, so here is one I recently read. I have been re-reading lots of books I already read many times in the past and just haven't been keeping up on the reviews for them. The Kryon books, are a series of channeled writings by author Lee Carroll, which I personally have found to be quite enlightening and positive in terms of the visions for humanity's future here on Planet Earth. I am writing specifically for book one of that series, as there are many Kryon books and this first one was originally published back in 1993, yet it is highly and most relevant for our current times of rapid change and global transformation. For those who are open-minded and looking to hear some positive visions and information for humanity, check out this book. Also, these are available in audiobook format too. 

A Brief Book Review for 'I: Reality and Subjectivity' by Author Dr. David R. Hawkins M.D. Ph.D. (2003)

Book: 'I: Reality and Subjectivity' (2003)

Author: Dr. David R. Hawkins M.D. Ph.D.

Published: 2003 

This book is another metaphysical masterpiece by Dr. David R. Hawkins M.D. Ph.D., and it is all about reality, the universe, God, consciousness, metaphysics, etc. and addresses just about every topic you can come across. I just finished reading in a third time and I highly recommend this book to everyone. I believe that most of you readers out there will find it compelling, even if you are not privy to the science of applied kinesiology, and you will still find that you begin to have deeper understandings about the nature of our reality and of consciousness after reading this book. I personally feel that this book has expanded my own reality and understandings of it, along with many other authors and books (i.e. Walsch, Tolle, Ruiz, Roman, ACIM etc.) of a similar genre, and has really helped to round out the extraneous factors and questions I've always had about the meaning of life, God, metaphysics, philosophy, etc.. If you are seriously considering checking this book out I would firstly recommend reading Dr. Hawkins's Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior book first, as the two read together deliver a powerful understanding. Check this book out even if it doesn't sound interesting, there is something beneficial for everyone who reads it.

A Brief Book Review for 'The Art of Learning' by Josh Waitzkin (2007)

Book = The Art of Learning (2007)

Author = Josh Waitzkin

Rating = 5/5 Stars ****

I recommend that everyone read this book! Its a auto-biographical work about the author's life, and his approach to learning new skills and achieving excellence in his 2 primary fields of Chess and Tai Chi Chuan. Author Josh Waitzkin is not your average bear, he was a child-prodigy at chess (many time world champion and in various tournaments), as well as a world champion in the martial art of Tai Chi Chuan, and all of this before the age of 30! Whilst being a high-achiever is not for everyone, it is still inspiring to read this book because the author details his own personal experiences and how he worked through his various challenges, which is probably the most helpful way that a person can share an experience with others. I find this very approach to be important as it is the true-experience and method of a real person, and not just the common beliefs that society holds about how true learning and achievement of the highest order is actually attained. Thanks to the author we get a window into that world, which is no doubt a wonderful contribution. If you are striving for excellence or trying to learn new things (most of us are I would hope) then this book holds something for you, so check it out. For more info on the book the author has a website you can visit HERE.

A Brief Book Review: Hermann Hesse's 'Steppenwolf' (1927)

Book: Steppenwolf (1927)

Author: Hermann Hesse

5/5 Stars *****

Today's brief book review is on an extraordinary piece of German literature that you may or may not have heard of, and that I personally consider to be a classic. The book is Steppenwolf (originally published in German in 1927, and translated to its English-publication first in 1929), and its author was German-born Swiss poet/novelist/painter Hermann Hesse. Now I wasn't around pre-1980's but I have heard from my elders that this book quickly became a staple in many personal-libraries following its publication in 1927. The Steppenwolf is one of Hesse's alter-ego's (so to speak), and we discover the tale of a man who is past his prime, single, and struggling to find a reason to keep living in Germany as it is clearly ramping up for World War II. Hesse explores his animalistic side, his spiritual side (although if you read the book you know that is a gross over-simplification) where he is gripped by a constant internal struggle as his consciousness awakens and the dying egoic self becomes more and more dysfunctional with its approaching collapse. I can relate to Hesse's writing as it becomes clear to me, as the reader, that much of his story comes out of personal-spiritual-psychosomatic experiences. If I go into it too much it starts to become abstract, and so I will tell you now that if you enjoy the writings of Aldous Huxley or Carlos Castaneda, then you will find that Hesse and Steppenwolf come from a similar exploration of existential-existence and experience that somehow connects the trans-personal to the personal in a brilliant manner. Also, Hesse's biographic is quite interesting but I will keep it brief. Now I am just trying to be a fancy-pants here, but seriously, check out this book, and if you are confused after reading it, do not fret, because you are not alone in that experience...it is after all exquisitely existential!

A Brief Book-Series Review for 'The Belgariad' by David Eddings (1982-1984)

This brief book review is for the entire Belgariad series, which consists of 5-books written by author David Eddings, and which was published in its entirety between the years of 1982 and 1984. This includes the five books in order as follows: Pawn of Prophecy (1982), Queen of Sorcery (1983), Magician's Gambit (1983), Castle of Wizardry (1984), and Enchanter's End Game (1984). This series is my personal favorite fantasy-adventure-series of all time, bar-none! In my opinion the film-industry is crazy for not doing something with these books. While reading these books one gets the idea that they were written in a screenplay format, in that they could quite easily take every line and scene and quite easily transform it into a film or tv-series if some director/producer desired to do so (Peter Jackson, this one is calling to you!). The most amazing part about these books in my opinion are the human interactions which involve rich details of all the different cultures and lands, their rich histories and socio-cultural-economic nuances. You will leave this series feeling as if you knew each one of the characters intimately, which in my experience not many authors are able to do as well as David Eddings, in fact many sci-fi-fantasy-adventure authors seem to focus most of their attention and energy on producing a compelling or formulaic storyline. While the basic plot of the books may be similar to others there is a richness in the small details that makes them so compelling. To top it all off there is a lot of real-world style politics that goes in this epic series, and it is a great series for young readers to dig into as it will actually teach them something about human interactions, basic politics and economics, as well as the glory and terror of war. That may sound like I have really over-rated this series, but I tell you this, I have hardly just begun. Definitely check this series out, even if you are not into sci-fi or fantasy-adventure books, everyone has something to get out of these books. Also, before I go I would like to add that according to his Wikipedia Page David Edding's wife Leigh Eddings was actually an un-credited co-author on several of his earlier books (including the entire Belgariad and his companion series the Mallorean), and so I would just like to acknowledge her contribution to this series of books as well. For those of you who have read it I just stumbled across this video of someone's own animated-interpretations of settings in these books, and its always good to have a video on a vlog-post. Enjoy!

Brief Book Review for 'Creating Money' (1988) (book by Author's Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer)

Book = Creating Money: Attracting Abundance (1988)

Authors = Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer

5/5 Stars ***** 

Ok, so I just finished reading this book, titled Creating Money by authors Sanaya Roman and Duance Packer for the 6th time!! I read somewhere that advertising company research over the years has revealed that if you are exposed to a commercial or an idea/set of ideas 5-6 times or more that the ideas and their underlying assumptions/suggestions start to absorb subconsciously in the viewer/reader. That is exactly why I have read this book for the 6th time (all in the last 2 years), as it really contains so many new beliefs about money and abundance and how all that works in life that I now choose to have as my own thoughts and beliefs. I am also writing this review in the hopes of inspiring at least a few of you to at least check the book out and thus have a real opportunity to change some things, as well as to shake loose some of the more unhappy rigid structures/patterns in your live's. Now, don't get me wrong here, this book isn't going to guarantee you will get rich or anything so common like that. What this book might do, and has done for me, is help you begin to think of money and material abundance as well as spiritual abundance in new ways that can help you to evolve out of your old life-long patterns/habits surrounding money and everyday living (particularly those that you would deep down love to change). So there is my sales-pitch if you can call it that, but I must say that this book is really just a beginning, as there is a lot of work to be done to re-program your own deep-seated beliefs and stubborn patterns, and it requires that you actually be open to new ideas and new possibilities instead of thinking that you already know it all. For me, it has been a long process, but I have started to see small changes here and there, and in real life, and in my own experience that is how it seems to work, small forward steps here and there that add up to larger changes over a period of time. So, with all of that said, I highly recommend this book to all of you who are open to expanding your reality and to opening up to new ideas. I believe that William Shakespeare said it best: "There are more things in heaven and earth...Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." -Hamlet Act 1, scene 5, 159–167

Click here to check out Sanaya Roman and Duane Packer's website for more information about them and their works.

Brief Book Review for: 'The Golden City' (Author John Twelve Hawks) (2009)

 4/5 Stars ****
The Golden City is a novel by action/sci-fi author John Twelve Hawks. It was released in the USA in September of 2009, and it is the 3rd book in the Fourth Realm Trilogy. I highly recommend this series if you are a fan of sci-fi adventure books that have a fast pace and lots of action (eg Dan Brown books), because I can tell you by experience that you will not want to put this book down and will likely read the entire thing in one or just a few sittings. The 3 books in this trilogy follow a Harlequin-warrior named Maya and a Traveler named Gabriel, and many of the people around them as they fight an endless battle against a secret organization called the Tabula (aka the Brethren) who control the human population via most of the governments in the world, corporations, surveillance systems, financial transactions, and 1984-style Big Brother tactics. The whole lot of which is termed the Vast Machine. So they are the resistance fighting the never-ending struggle against this Vast Machine and those who seek total control and total force over all humanity. The themes are very similar to those of The Matrix, and they confront real life realities about many of the new technologies that have actually infiltrated our global society, the erosion of privacy and individual freedoms in the name of security, and of course what it all means from a somewhat schizophrenic point of view...its just a story kids....really...Check this trilogy out if you are into sci-fi, conspiracy thrillers, and lots of action.

Andre Agassi Interview!

Woot woot!! My brother and I had an interesting discussion a few weeks ago regarding Andre Agassi's interview with Tavis Smiley on PBS (I will post the link here), which is a great interview about his recently released auto-biography. My brother and I were both pleasantly surprised to see someone like Agassi actually act from a place other than just ego, especially seeing that he is a tennis superstar and that he has been in the celebrity spotlight for the last 25 years or so. From this interview you can really see how grown up Agassi is, he mentions that he has found peace in his life, which is more than most can say. I definitely intend to read this book, its called Open, and I have a feeling will be transformative to read.
    In the interview Agassi also talks about some of his philanthropic work, such as educational programs set up for troubled youths, and the recent successful graduation of a class of students from his program in Las Vegas (his home community). It is great to see someone in the spotlight who has true humility, and who is not just looking for another ego-boost. Check out the interview and see what you think, and check out the book too:





& For the full interview go here

Ahoy Readers! Life-Changing Book Suggestions Abound!

Greetings Earth denizens......just kidding, I always wanted to write that, so there! Now, getting on with it all, this is my first entry and as my good pal John McClane says, Yippie Ki-A M*&$^$*. I would write that but probably not the best first impression. Getting on with this post, I want to offer to all of you "seekers" out there my own personal suggestions for a few books to get started on your spiritual quest or journey or whatever you want to call it. The 3 books I will mention below here are all ones I have read and in fact read on a regular basis. If there is one important thing I have found is that repetition is the key to this stuff, as essentially one of the main things you are doing is reprogramming your own "software," also know as your socio-cultural programming and beliefs. So here is the short list:

1.) A New Earth, by author Eckhart Tolle: If you were to read one book of all the books out there I would recommend this one. Eckhart Tolle has written a few other books as well, including the well known Power of Now. I read the Power of Now about 13 years ago when I was in highschool still. Now I remember thinking that the stuff he was discussing and talking about made sense, but of course that was my first time being exposed to the material and it didn't really stick that well. A few years ago Tolle rolled out A New Earth, which I found to be much more palatable material, and well, it just clicked with me the first time I read it, and I think it would be the same for most people. Now, do not get me wrong and think that I am putting down the Power of Now in any way, now, when I re-read the Power of Now I find it much more digestible (is that a word?). Once you have been exposed to multiple sources/authors and spiritual teachers, and as you progress (if it can be called progress) down a Spiritual path that is right for you, you will naturally become familiar and multifaceted when it comes to this material. Thus, you will have been exposed to many different perspectives on the same topics, as well as have expanded range.
       Now if I had to give an explanation for how I view the Power of Now vs A New Earth (and I would like to hear the views of others who are familiar with these books) I would describe the Power of Now as being more masculine or slightly more intense and in your face (I see the color green when I think of it, whatever that could mean), and I feel that the A New Earth is a step back, more gentle, and sort of leads you by the hand, so to speak through material that has become a bit clearer (color of lavender comes to mind when I think of it). Now Tolle is one particular filter through which the information comes into this world, as is anyone that the material comes through, and like all things, with time, these filters change, and so perhaps the teachings became clearer and that is why it was clearer, or perhaps it was me, or a combo of all the above. In the end I say read both of them, but for the purpose of this article A New Earth is my first recommendation to those of you starting out on a path.

2.) Conversations with God (the Trilogy), by author Neale Donald Walsch - The second book I would like to recommend is actually a trilogy of books (for those of you who are confused, that is 3 books)...I know I know, I can hear you screaming inside your head "that's cheating," but this is my blog, stop end report. This Trilogy will seriously expand your knowledge in this area, not that "knowledge" is what we are seeking, but it will do a seriously solid job on reprogramming every area of your life, and it will challenge all your automatic and inherited programming. As I mentioned before, repetition is the key here. I personally know that I will be reading these books for the rest of my life, and I am currently on my fifth read of them. Now Walsch has written heaps of other books post-this-trilogy, such as Friendship with God, Home with God, Happier than God....and the list goes one, I have read them all except one which I will probably read at some point. These books cover everything and answer virtually every question you could have about spirituality, death, personal life, life on Earth, politics, religion, economics, transformation....I could go on, but seriously just read the first one, you will be hooked after the first couple chapters, unless you aren't of course ;-)

3.) Power vs. Force, by author David R. Hawkins - Now, this book is for all of you scientifically minded folks who have trouble buying into this "airy-fairy new age stuff" that you all winge about so much. This book bridges the gaps quite well, and will seriously enhance your understandings of the other books mentioned above. I have read many of Hawkins books, in fact most of them, and I still find this first one to be the most significant one of the bunch, (not that you shouldn't read the others), but just make sure that you read this one if you read any of them as it will seriously give you a booster shot in the spiritual ass if you know what I am saying (there's me trying to be witty or something).
    This book comes out of the science of kinesiological testing, of which I know many of you so-called "scientifics" will immediately scream "bullshit," but I am telling you to give it a go, and once you read it you will see that this book contains a lot truths that have come through this technique. Also, who said science is limited to the physical? This is part of what many call the "new science," as termed in Thom Hartmann's Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight. For those Christians, Buddhists, and Hindus out there I have to tell you I gained renewed respect for the Krishna, Jesus Christ, and Buddha of history, and just what they represented to humanity and what it spells for the future of humanity. Really, check this book out and see what you think.  

    Allrighty-then, those are my top 3 recco's for ya (definitely have to insert some bad english and slang in there, why, because I can.) Obviously I would recommend many more, so I have added a few at the bottom here to continue your Spiritual reading frenzy, and note that these further recommendations will simply add to the depth of your perceptions/understandings of all of this, which I always feel awkward saying as its not really further "content" that a spiritual person is looking for, but further refinement and simplification, and ultimately no-thing as they say. Also, simple exposure, and especially repeated exposure to the energy these books contain (much like the bible or any holy book) will change you and cause inner shifts, but remember once you are awake there is no going back to sleep ;-)

Further Reading Recommendations:

*The Power of Now - by Eckhart Tolle (I would also like to highly recommend Tolle's DVD seminars, a few of which are free to view in full on youtube, seeing him live really helps to bring it all together.
* The Voice of Knowledge - By Don Miguel Ruiz (great companion book with A New Earth)
*The Mastery of Love - By Don Miguel Ruiz
* The Celestine Prophecy - by James Redfield (this one is a fiction-adventure book, definitely good for beginners just getting into this material)
*Living with Joy - by Sanaya Roman (this is the first of the Orin books, and I recommend them all
*Personal Power through Awareness - by Sanaya Roman
*Creating Money - by Sanaya Roman
*A Course in Miracles - by Dr. Helen Schucman (I just bought it, and am looking forward to it, I don't know why I posted it here, but somehow I know its worth putting here).

*The Four-Hour-Work-Week - by Tim Ferris (why have I added this, because this book has a liberating energy to it that will work for many, not spiritually oriented per say, but this book has an empowering energy to it that can pull you out of in-action and into action, if you haven't read, do it). I say this because its had this effect on me. 

*The Prophets Way - by Thom Hartmann

*The Power of Positive Thinking - by Norman Vincent Peale (an oldie but very goodie)
...and many more to come later on...