Product Description
Setting out to explore his beliefs in the environment of a simpler time, Richard Bach shares the adventure of one magical summer he spent as an old-fashioned barnstormer flying an antique biplane. The journey is another soaring personal adventure of wonder and insight from the author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull. HC: Macmillan. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Excellant as always.
What can I say about one of Richard Bach's book? This one is, like all the rest, entertaining and thought provoking.

Those were different times...
This is a simple, well written account of a summer spent trying torecreate the 1920s 'flying circus' days of aviation in the America of 1965.

Flying a 1929 vintage biplane, with a young parachute jumper and afriend with another aircraft, Bach flies more or less at random across theMid-West, charging $2 for a five minute ride at the small air-stripsdotting the landscape. Part travelogue, part hymn to old aircrafttechnology, this is great read for anyone interested in flyers and flying.

From a 2000 perspective, the book (accidently) gains some resonance.Vietnam is in the near future (there's a brief conversation on the draft)and the Cuban missile crisis is just past. The 1960s social revolution isaround the corner but for a brief moment the sun is shining, the corn isripe, and adventures like this one seem possible and almost sensible - inthat respect this book is very much of its time...

Early Richard Bachworks have been neglected since the astonishing success of the mawkishseagull tale published in 1970. 'Nothing by Chance' is perhaps the best ofhis early books, the ones that concentrated on living life rather thanslushy 'philosophy' and flying rather than levitation.

If you're a pilot ... you'll become a dreamer
I found this book in my father's library when I was 15 and starting groundschool. It's now 20 years later but I have a suppressed desire to someday have a go at the gypsy-pilot lifestyle. Mr. Bach's novel speaks tothe romantic heart of every pilot and leaves a lasting imprint.

Flying in its Purist Form
Bach has captured flight in its purist form.He set out to do this and he did. Bach acquires an antique biplane (in this book a Fleet Biplane and in "Biplane" a Parks-Detroiter Biplane) and spends a summer in theearly 1960's flying passengers throughout the mid-west, sleeping under thewing, eating questionable food, and meeting people who, in many casesremember the golden days of flight.This was the age of the Barnstormers. Bach wanted to re-create the majic and romance of these eariler aviators,share with them the joy of introducing flight to the every-day people whomake up the back-bone of the great mid west.Bach cared little, as did themajority of the early aviators, of the rigid regulations imposed upon theearly aviators by the Federal Government.These same regulations that soonbecame the demise of that beautiful time in aviation history.Part of thatsummer was spent traveling with a young "parachutist" and a youngphotographer who flew an old Luscomb.Together they re-wrote the exploitsof the Barnstormers as only they could and as only Bach can write about.Iloved this book, and all of Bach's books, and read it frequently.I lovedthe book so much I too finally was able to obtain my own antique biplane-a1930 WACO KNF, and intend to recreate the adventure of Bach in his questfor the purist form of flight, that is, the true freedom of flight.

Flying in its Purist Form
Bach has captured flight in its purist form.He set out to do this and he did. Bach acquires an antique biplane (in this book a Fleet Biplane and in "Biplane" a Parks-Detroiter Biplane) and spends a summer in theearly 1960's flying passengers throughout the mid-west, sleeping under thewing, eating questionable food, and meeting people who, in many casesremember the golden days of flight.This was the age of the Barnstormers. Bach wanted to re-create the majic and romance of these eariler aviators,share with them the joy of introducing flight to the every-day people whomake up the back-bone of the great mid west.Bach cared little, as did themajority of the early aviators, of the rigid regulations imposed upon theearly aviators by the Federal Government.These same regulations that soonbecame the demise of that beautiful time in aviation history.Part of thatsummer was spent traveling with a young "parachutist" and a youngphotographer who flew an old Luscomb.Together they re-wrote the exploitsof the Barnstormers as only they could and as only Bach can write about.Iloved this book, and all of Bach's books, and read it frequently.I lovedthe book so much I too finally was able to obtain my own antique biplane-a1930 WACO KNF, and intend to recreate the adventure of Bach in his questfor the purist form of flight, that is, the true freedom of flight. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I'd use this supplier again
I really appreciated the timeliness of the book- it was a graduation present and arrived very quickly.I was a little dissapointed in the condition of the book jacket- it was peeling off in chunks.To be fair the condition of the book indicated it was "worn".I just didn't expect it to be that bad- it was gift to my neice so...
But that being said, I would use them again. ... Read more

Product Description
Enrich your virtual existence by mastering the techniques and tactics the experts use to create jaw-dropping SL content—everything from buildings and vehicles to clothing, landscapes, and animations. This official, exclusive guide from a team of Second Life content-creation experts was written with the full support of Linden Lab and features in-depth instructions for creating beautiful content and putting it to work in-world. It’s both a practical, step-by-step guide and a creative session with some of the most artistic and talented minds in the Second Life community. CD included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Great book for learning Second Life
I bought this book recently in order to learn more about what is possible in Second Life.Turns out there is a lot possible, and much to do.This book is a few years old, but still is true to almost everything found in second life today.It provides a basic overview of Second Life, including making clothes, building, and programming objects.This is by no means the end all solution for becoming an expert in Second Life - but it does take you beyond a simple introduction and bridges the gap from being totally confused on how people get by in Second Life and how to really see where you are going.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in making Second Life a little more than just a tourist attraction and actually wants to express their creativity in a virtual atmosphere to be enjoyed by others.

book review
The book has good tips in it for SL, as always though could use more.

A good overview
The book gives a good overview of SL but doesn't go into any in depth detail.There is a CD that comes with the book that was helpful, giving scripts and templates that are mentioned in the book.

Good SL learning / reference resource
I have been enrolled in the University of Washington "Virtual Worlds" certificate program and Kim's book, "Creating Your World" was one of our reference books. When starting to build in SL, there are many and varied skills that need to be learned in order to be effective. These include items such as prim management, tricks of building, textures, and scripting. There are examples running from very basic to fairly advanced so the book covers a great deal of ground. In our second class of the program, we learned how to do fairly complex build and this book was a great resource. It can be used in two ways - going through the examples and using the examples as reference. There is enough information in the book for both beginners and intermediate SL residents who want to increase their skills.

Learn How to Build Things in Second Life.
If your into Building Things, Aimee Weber's "Creating Your World: The Official Guide to Advanced Content Creation for Second Life" would be a good choice. She and her co authors reaquaint you with the Editing box and have a breif introduction to Scripting. There are numerous tutorials and links to cool things others have done. The book comes with a free CD with the Tutorials and some extras but some of the contents match that of Second Life:The User's Guide.

I found the tutorials very easy to use and learn.
... Read more

Product Description

Can one animal save the world? So asks Richard Bach, bestselling author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull and The Ferret Chronicles. This moving fable about the almost-end of a civilization and the profound issues it raises -- that of war and peace, life and death, revenge and forgiveness, guilt and innocence -- is a timely tale of timeless themes sure to resonate with anyone concerned about the present state of the world. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Separated by their highest right
In the ferret culture, kits are taught almost from birth that the most important thing to do with one's life is to seek out one's "highest right" and live in accordance with it.Montgomery "Monty" Ferret and Cheyenne Jasmine Ferret, in doing that, learn that it doesn't always bring contentment.Raised on neighboring ranches among the beautiful scenery of Montana, they grow up "riding, exploring, noses in field guides about wild plants and animals and stars in the sky," both loving the country and the horselike delphins that ferrets use as mounts.But Cheyenne knows she's different from her friend--"not as gentle...not as peaceful, inside"--and though he teaches her patience, her first great passion is always for the movies they attend on weekends.After an apprenticeship of working at the theater, Cheyenne takes off for Hollywood to become a star.Monty stays behind, learning to communicate with the delphins, buying a ranch of his own, having a mystical encounter with what he suspects is a "philosopher ferret" (apparently a sort of avatar), opening a riding-and-racing school for kits, and eventually, through his brother Zander, coming to know the Rainbows, miniature cloned sheep with a sentiency of their own, who all agree that they want to live in the Wild West.Meanwhile Cheyenne is becoming a success, and eventually they meet again when she asks him to serve as wrangler on one of her films.But is Cheyenne ready to "give up all her wealth and fame" to be a "ranchpaw"?

Though the fourth-published of the Ferret Chronicles, this fable actually takes place before any of the others (Monty is the owner of the ranch where Bougeron of Writer Ferrets: Chasing the Muse, Boa of Rescue Ferrets at Sea, and Strobe of Air Ferrets Aloft spent a memorable kithood summer).It's not quite as much fun as the other three and somehow doesn't seem to take off as well, but Monty and Cheyenne are both sympathetic and well drawn, and the Rainbow sheep, of whom we learn a great deal, are a delightful creation.If you've enjoyed the preceding volumes, you should definitely have this one on your shelf as well.

excellent story
A very fun book. I'm a huge Richard Bach fan.
Read it to your kids and enjoy it along with them.
Great life lessons throughout.

Ferret Chronicles
This is amusing reading for those who enjoy adventure and/or flying. I'm not sure what the point of substituting ferrets for peoples means. However, once you accept this premise (i.e. the suspension of disbeief) then the story is much more enjoyable. This is almost more of a short story, than a book. The book is only about 135 pages. I like the author, Richard Bach. I have read many of his books, and have never been disappointed.

Special story
On earth Shamrock Ferret has always answered questions almost from the day she was born so it is not surprising that she especially enjoys responding to those inquiries that seem impossible to obtain a reply.Her upbringing became her workand her skills have earned her a reputation as a successful sleuth.What Shamrock does is sit in theCases Unsolved Chair to ponder the puzzle until she finds the solution.

Having just succeeded in solving the Case of the Curious Patterns for local farmers she accepts a partnership with Mr. Burroughs.However, she also begins her most difficult mystery.She "sees" a forlorn ferret hopelessly moaning on a dying world seeking someone or some way to save the survivors of the Ferret war that has devastated his people.Sitting in her chair she begins to wonder if this vision is a shadow from the past reaching out to her for help.

Besides the cleverly designed time paradox (not explained here), readers will appreciate Richard Bach's latest tale that clearly cries for give peace a chance.The story line focuses on Shamrock and her use of logic, psychometry, cryptography, and patterns to solve mysteries.Yet with all this Mr. Bach insures his audience understands his message that war is a last resort not a first preemptive strike because of the full impact on the innocent reminiscent of as Animal Farm in relation to Communism. ... Read more

Product Description
In a sublime journey toward understanding time and space, Richard Bach takes flight through American skies in a 1929 biplane. Soaring from New Jersey to California, he learns to navigate by following railroads and highways, masters the dangers of thunderstorms, and tastes the exhilaration of flyingeet above the ground. Biplane describes a magnificent personal quest. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

A Melancholy Read
Having flown for over 50 years - military, airlines and other - I still crave it.Although I have never flown a biplane coast to coast Richard Bach's words telling of the elements, the people and the feelings of himself and his plane put me there.
Like his Stanger to the Ground I will save and reread, and reread, and ....

Wind in the wires.....
In an age where 'time is money', the majesty of flying is too often taken for granted. Bach reminds us of the joy that is to be found each time the world drops away from the wheels and the wind whistles through the wires.

Owen Zupp
DOWN TO EARTH: A Fighter Pilot's Experiences of Surviving Dunkirk, The Battle of Britain, Dieppe and D-Day

little wisdom on every page
This is a book full of wisdome and great ways to look at life

Boring? No!
Indeed, "a reader" is correct ... this book contains little or no philosophy per se (it's much closer to "Stranger to the Ground" than to "Illusions"). But it is NOT boring, particulary if you have even passing interest in aviation (and if you don't, why are you reading Richard Bach?!).

An Odyssey of flight
This is truly a delightful odyssey of flight through time and space, into unknown dimensions.Simultaneously lovely and spine tingling.An amazing portayel, Richard Bach has a way of arranging words to describe the indescribable!
Arlene Millman
author of BOOMERANG - A MIRACLE TRILOGY ... Read more

Product Description
This is a story for people who follow their hearts and make their own rules...people who get special pleasure out of doing something well, even if only for themselves...people who know there's more to this living than meets the eye: they'll be right there with Jonathan, flying higher and faster than ever they dreamed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

purchased 6
Read this when it was new in the 70's.Had to read it again and give away as presents. It's all about being an individual and all you can be.Easy read mostly pictures but makes a big impact on how you see life.

I loved it as a teenager
I'm 33 years old and I still remember when I read this book. I strongly recommend it for a teenager. It's like a self help book for them. Of course, it would help anyone (not just kids)... but since it is an easy reading book, I think it will serve it's purpose with the young crowd.

Replacement book
I ordered this book as a replacement copy.My special ed. teacher loves the larger size and brint and has asked to keep it for her classroom.Of course, I agreed.Teacher -Librarian

Campy book - I read it in high school and now I know why I didnt like it
I have read other Richard Bach's Books (A bridge across forever) and he is one of my favorite writers, but this book, which is about being your own person despite what the others may say, just was not working for me.In high school as a freshman I was forced to read this book and now 20+ years later I wanted to give it a second chance. I have found adult I appericiate the writing a lot more.However, this story of the seagull who strived to fly his own way just didnt work for me.It was not a horrible book just kind of campy for my taste

JLS
received as promised, great condition, got this to read again and for child to enjoy ... Read more

Product Description

Not many humans know. On the edges of every sea, the Ferret Rescue Service stands alongside the Coast Guard and Coastal Patrol of any country that claims an ocean shore. Just as it is the job of humans to rescue human lives at risk in storm and shipboard disaster, so it is the job of ferrets to rescue seagoing animals.

In this world of committed, courageous ferrets, Captain Bethany Ferret stands apart. A kit from humble beginnings, she rises quickly to command the swift J-boat Resolute, once derelict, which she herself has rescued from the rocks. Bethany and her crew measure the days by storms at sea, by ships in distress and by lives saved from tempest.

When the alert siren shrieks in the midnight storm, Bethany shakes away sleep and races to the bridge. "Boa, start Engine One, start Engine Two." She does not inquire whether the Chief Engine ferret is ready for action on a quarter-minute warning. She switches to the ship's loudspeaker: "Topside crew, paws on deck. We have a vessel in distress, this is not a drill."

Engines bursting awake, searchlights blazing, crew and boat battle swells and screaming wind to reach desperate creatures in black water, the lines between life and death now drawn only by the limits of the ferrets' courage.

From ceaseless boat-drill practice to instant decisions on the broken deck of the Deepsea Explorer, Rescue Ferrets at Sea is a tale of the pursuit of ideals, of the value of teamwork, an action portrait of those who believe that the rescue of life is the highest calling.Amazon.com Review
If you think Jonathan Livingston Seagull is unclassifiable, wait until you see Richard Bach's latest, Rescue Ferrets at Sea. It's a fable that's simple as a children's book, but packing a message about spiritual self-empowerment. Rescue ferrets are, of course, the animal kingdom's answer to the Coast Guard, daredevils responsible for the safety of all nonhumans at sea. Our heroine, Captain Bethany Ferret, brings a reporter aboard the J-boat Resolute as she races to save calico cats, ships' rats, and the odd Indonesian parrot from imminent shipwreck near the Strait of Juan de Fuca (near the island where author Bach lives). The reporter, Miss Chloe, also happens to be a rock star--surely you've heard of Zsa Zsa and the Show Ferrets? But Chloe ("Call me Clo, please") is no spoiled, shallow celeb. She's got her paws on the ground (except when she's on a boat), and she's philosophical about showbiz. "If celebrity's magic, it's a screen, and I'm forever outside," says Clo. "I wish sometimes somebody would see me and not some... some mirror flash they want to be me." After 32 years as a bestselling author and human-potential pundit, Bach knows a bit about celebrity and its illusions.

Mostly, this is a straight-ahead action fable about ferret heroism and self-rescue. It has more characters than it can develop (and runelike passages in secret ferret language), because Bach has in mind about 60 more books in the Ferret Chronicles. Second in the series: Air Ferrets Aloft. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Rescue Ferrets at Sea
My husband and I listened Air Ferrets on a long trip recently. We enjoyed it enough for me to order Rescue Ferrets at Sea and Writer Ferrets. They all seem to drag a little in the middle but they come to great conclusions and we enjoyed them very much. Had sent them on to my kids.

At sea with the mustelids
Bethany Ferret, called Betha-Nikka by her mother, has known since kithood what she wants to be: a member of the Ferret Rescue Service, which works parallel to the human Coast Guard to rescue animals from vessels in peril.Her father was an FRS who drowned while successfully attempting to save two kittens afloat on an ice floe, so her ambition is natural."You can be anything you want to be, if only you love enough," says her mother, and so Bethany does, becoming first an ensign in the service, then a JG, then full lieutenant.Yet she never forgets the wrecked rescue craft she saw on a reef on her first day on patrol, and she relentlessly bombards her superiors with requests to be allowed to salvage and repair it.Finally they authorize the plan, and Bethany becomes captain of her own vessel.Joined by a loyal crew (including her younger brother Vincent) and a journalist named Chloe who doubles as a member of a popular ferret band, she sets out to save lives--and save them she does, in a thrilling mission to aid a foundering research vessel.But it isn't just lives that are in peril, as Chloe understands: what of the ship's years of findings?They may hold the solution to saving the oceans on which all life depends.

This is the first in Bach's "Ferret Chronicles" (four other volumes follow), and though it seems at first blush to be a kids' book, my library filed it in Adult Fiction, not without reason: the plot isn't complex and there's nothing objectionable in its pages (unless you're opposed to women's, or in this case females', lib), but there are underlying messages that kids may miss unless you're willing to read with them and help them understand what Bach is trying to say.But even if they, or you, just read it as a charming fantasy, it's thoroughly enjoyable and a book no animal lover should miss.

Rescue Ferrets at Sea
If you are lost at sea, who you gonna call? Rescue Ferrets at Sea
that's who! A great fun book, showing that Ferrets and man can co-exist and rescue all who are in danger. The Ferrets are brave and dedicated to their jobs, an excellent example is set for all.

VERY GOOD!!!!!
I loved this book. It was well written. And whoever said they don't like ferrets because they are vicous and bite they are WRONG!!!
Do your research!! Anyway it was my first time reading one of his books. I am going to buy the next one. Again, VERY GOOD!!!!

ADORABLE and please ignore the idiotic review below this one
Ferret lovers - any animal lover - will adore this book.Bach, being a ferret owner, captures ferrets in all their wonderful glory and personifies them as rescuers of shipwrecked animals.

The Coast Guard rescues humans - but what about any animals on board?Why the Rescue Ferrets, of course!It's a wonderful tale that will delight both young and old.I have all three books in the "Ferret Chronicles" and can't wait till he writes the next one.

Very well written, the story moves right along and Bach's attention to detail makes you feel like you're right there in the action.Great job, Mr. Bach :)

PS: ferrets are not vicious and my five have never bitten anyone.However, if the idiot in the prior review ever met mine I wouldn't stop them heh heh ... Read more

Product Description
Un alma gemela es alguien que tiene cerrojos que pueden ser abiertos con nuestras llaves, y llaves capaces de abrir nuestros cerrojos. Con Juan Salvador Gaviota, Richard Bach nos hizo volar por lugares de encanto y aventura, para guiarnos hacia una luminosa libertad. En El puente hacia el infinito, Bach narra su propio camino hacia el amor, hacia su alma gemela. Un camino cuyos obstaculos y desvios iniciales le hacen abandonar la busqueda y construirse murallas de proteccion, que se convertiran en su carcel hasta que conoce a la unica mujer que puede liberarlo. Con ella inicia un viaje de transformacion, jalonado de descubrimientos y extraordinarias aventuras.En esta, una de sus obras mas celebres, Bach explora el significado mistico y terrenal de la vida, el amor y la inmortalidad. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent seller excellent book!!!! Highly Recommended!! A++++
This book is beautiful, the story that it tells is very romantic. The seller was also great, he sent the book right away and in perfect condition, highly recommended, the book and the seller.

the best of the best
I all ready red this book and liked, I said is the best of the best because richard bach tell the story of a man who is looking for the truly love, but his search has no sucsess until he finds the right lady, right then is when the journey begins and everything turns 180 but this is not the clasical love story where they live happy for the rest of their lives,no no no this has more escence and more reality mixed whith the story, so in conclusion is a very good book because it teaches you something about your live,the love and about your most deepest feelings.

ONE MORE TIME I WOULD SAY IS THE BEST OF THE BEST! ... Read more

Product Description
In this warm adventure of the mind and soul, Bach approaches eternal questions.It is a diary that combines childhood memories and reflections about how to search for meaning in life.

Blurb in Spanish:
"Si hoy el niño que alguna vez fuimos nos preguntara qué es lo más importante que hemos aprendido a lo largo de nuestras vida, ¿qué le responderíamos?"

En esta tierna aventura de la mente y el corazón, Richard Bach aborda asombrosas ideas acerca de preguntas milenarias como: ¿quiénes somos? ¿Qué queremos hacer con nuestra vida y por qué no lo estamos haciendo? ¿Es indispensable que seamos víctimas de las circunstancias, y no sus amos? ¿Cómo aprender a amar?

"Alas para vivir" es una suerte de diario en el que se combinan recuerdos de infancia y pensamientos sobre cómo encontrar un sentido a la vida? ... Read more

Product Description
This simple, rich parable about our processes of inspiration tells the story of Bach's discovery of a parallel universe which provides design solutions while we sleep. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

BAD SELLER
THE BOOK WAS IN BAD CONDITION.ABOUT 1/4 OF THE PAGES WERE NOT ATTACHED TO THE BINDER.THE AD SAID GOOD CONDITION.
I WOULD LIKE A REPLACEMENT

RON FARGO ... Read more

Product Description
The author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull provides the introduction to a work in which his son describes his yearning for his absent father, the anguish he felt about his father's actions, and their reunion. 100,000 first printing. $100,000 ad/promo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Wow!
Wow! This book works on so many levels.As many have explained in prior reviews, this is a different look at the life of Richard Bach, author of 'Jonathan Livingston Seagull' et.al, as told from the eyes of his youngest son. It is really his son's autobiography, of course. But most importantly, it's a tale of courage, growth, healing and understanding from one generation to another.The author, Jonathan Bach, eventually reconciles with his father at the end of the book. But the feelings expressed in between the first and last page (from abandonment to reconciliation) were so very REAL and easily relatable. It takes tremendous courage to express such raw experiences, particularly the death of his sister, the fear of his step-father, the abandonment of his biological dad.Wow! I couldn't put the book down once I'd started it; I read it straight through to the end. (It also takes tremendous courage for Richard Bach to admit in the afterward how hard it was to read things he'd rather not see in print about his own personal history. Wow! Very reminiscent of Luke and Anakin Skywalker at the end of Return of the Jedi - but in 'real life.') It's been 17 years since this book was published and I'd love to know - what happened next? (Sequel?!) This is a valuable contribution to both the literary and the psychological world. Thank you, Jonathan! Hope you're still up there (literally and figuratively) flying, 'Above the Clouds.'

A MUST for Richard Bach fans!
The author of Above The Clouds, Jonathan Bach, was two years old when his father, famous author Richard Bach, decided he must leave his family and follow his dreams. Jonathan, named after his father's most famous character Jonathan Livingston Seagull, tells us what it was like growing up with an absentee father.

His description of family life with his brothers and sisters is vividly told and the tragic death of a family member is especially poignant. When his mother re-marries we experience the confusion and adjustments that have to be made to accommodate his strict new stepfather. Jonathan's decision to study Journalism was obviously a good choice as he shows in Above the Clouds that he has a rare talent for keeping his readers captivated.

Jonathan eventually makes the agonizing decision to call his father and let him know what he thinks of him. We experience the chest pounding fear first hand when he finally dials the number and talks to his father for the first time in years

I bought this book out of curiosity about Richard Bach; I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself more interested in Jonathan and his story and at how well he told it. Jonathan's style is easy to read and well organized and you'll find yourself experiencing his pain and joy as the book unfolds.

If you can find a copy of this book I enthusiastically recommend it! Jonathan, write another one!

Behind the Scenes with Richard Bach!
I read this immediately after finishing The Bridge Across Forever. It was like watching a "behind-the-scenes" documentary about one of my favorite movies!

Perhaps that's an exaggeration, but it's interesting to see how the events in Richard's life from "Bridge" are reflected in Jonathan's account. It's not often enough that you get to see the same story told from different points of view. It was fascinating to be able to attach the events in "Bridge" to the events in this book. Also, because Jonathan is about my age, it was interesting to remember what *I* was doing at the time he made some of his journal entries.

Originally I picked up this book to get a look at the nonfiction side of Richard Bach. I had always wondered what kind of dad a guy like Richard would be, and whether or not he truly managed to live up to his ideals. The answers were indeed in this book. But I realized two other things as well:

1. Forget about Richard, this is a great book about parents and children and the difficulty of mending (or in this case, demolishing) fences between the generations. Even if no one had ever heard of Richard Bach, this would have been a great book in that respect.

2. Jonathan Bach is a GREAT writer, and I really hope he has another book in the works! I had wondered if Jonathan would be a sort of Richard Lite. Having read Above the Clouds, I would have to say no, Jonathan Bach is Jonathan Bach, period. His style is similar, but distinctly different.

Worthwhile new perspective on Richard Bach
This is a really great book, by a young man who is a superb writer in his own right. I picked up the book at the library (since it's now out of print) because I was devastated to learn (under the reviews of Bridge Across Forever) that Richard Bach and Leslie Parrish-Bach had split up. Iwas surprised to learn that Richard Bach even had six (!) kids, and evenmore surprised to learn that one was a writer. I thought it would beinteresting to read his story, because I wanted a more realistic view ofRichard Bach, the "guru of soulmates" (as Jonathan amusinglyrefers to his father in Above the Clouds).

It was good to get this otherview of Richard Bach. It's so easy to idealize the guy, even though he isclearly far from perfect. In Richard's books, he and Leslie come off as somystical and always in tune with each other. Jonathan's book provides arefreshing point of view on Richard Bach, the man who couldn't hackfatherhood and who abandoned his family to find his own fulfillment. (Hecould well be the patron saint of the Me Generation.) Lord knows whathappened to split up Richard and Leslie, but Jonathan's account of hisreconciliation with his father was inspiring -- a great reminder that thoseof us with less-than-perfect parents can ultimately come to peace withthem. I recommend this for all Richard Bach fans ... it really does cut theguy down to size and bring him back to earth.

I'm looking forward to thenext offering by Jonathan Bach ... it's been seven years since this bookcame out. Anyone know what he's been up to since then?

A joy to read... even the painful parts.
I'm sorry I waited so long to read this book!Not a Daddy Dearest novel as I had expected, and not a book that got published just 'cause the author has a famous father.Jonathan Bach is a solid author in his own right...has the potential for surpassing his dad's ability to WOW me.I laughed, Icried, I got angry, I was inspired.I look forward to reading more fromJon. ... Read more

Product Description
Originally published by Delacorte (ISBN 0440056888, 1977, 70,000 sold), Mind-Reach is the book that led to the U. S. Army’s psychic spy program and the subsequent prominence of remote viewing. The protocols that physicists Targ and Puthoff developed at the Stanford Research Institute are still in use today and have proven again and again in laboratory settings that psychic ability is universal. Targ is the author of three recent books with New World Library: Limitless Mind (ISBN 1577314131, 2004), The Heart of the Mind (ISBN 1577311566, 2000), and Miracles of Mind (ISBN 1577310977, 1999, 20,000 sold). Mind-Reach is the eleventh title in Hampton Roads’ Studies in Consciousness series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

The book is an interesting read, but their science is flawed...
I was very excited to receive and begin reading this book after I watched "The Men Who Stare At Goats" and became interested in why the Government funded remote viewing research for 20+ years. This book is an interesting account of how experiments in remote viewing and psychic phenomenon were carried out in the early to mid 70's @ Stanford.

However, after having read the book it strikes me that the way the experiments were conducted would not be considered a tightly controlled experiment by today's scientific standards. Reading copies of the actual transcripts I did find what I would consider to be leading questions and cues. And in one part of the book Targ (one of the researchers) talks about how they were so impressed by Swann's abilities (he was the first subject) that they took him out for a steak dinner to celebrate. Clearly this could lead one to believe that the experimenters liked Swann and wanted him to succeed, even if subconsciously and thus may have inadvertently presented clues to him. In today's views on science, it would be considered highly inappropriate to take your subject out to dinner!

Even more surprising perhaps was the selection of another subject Hella Hammid whom Targ had known for more than a dozen years, and this was a subject they had selected in order to see if they could take an "ordinary" person and train them for lack of better terminology to have psi abilities. Obviously it's not wise to choose your pal of 10+ years for your research subject. And perhaps worst of all, they conclude (the book and their studies it seems) by "observing" Uri Geller who even his supporters now concede that he was simply little more than a magician. I used "observing" in quotes there because that is essentially what the experimenters at Stanford were doing, observing him rather than having him perform under tightly controlled conditions, and I dare say they allowed him to trick them. This was perhaps the biggest problem for me in the book and in my mind this along with the other aforementioned items destroys their credibility as researchers, at least in this realm.

However, regarding psi abilities, I still believe that there is likely some aspect of our cognitive abilities that we are simply not fully tapping into. I don't think of it as paranormal but rather a cognitive ability that is something that is not readily controlled by the subject. In other words there are good days and bad days. Some images come through clearly while others do not. It's usually described as a channel of information - often garbled with other unrelated images or noise. The trick apparently is to know what to filter out and what is relevant. If this is true, it would account for why it is not always statistically significant or reproducible.

Psi experiments
Targ is a scholar of a difficult field of research, but makes the case that psi is happening in many ways for many people.My skepticism was put on hold from scholarly research like this.Something interesting is happening.

Mind-Reach: Scientists Look at Psychic Abilities (Studies in Consciousness)
There is still some unshared data out there, some was in this book and I enjoyed it for that

Don't miss this book!
I am so happy that I read this book! Puthoff and Targ really packed an incredible amount of in-depth, tantalizing information in this short read. At only about 225 pages, it is amazing how many different topics they cover, from Ingo Swan and Remote Viewing (which Mr. Swann and they basically pioneered), to their work with Uri Geller, and on to various other dimensions of this fascinating world of science and the "paranormal." Makes for very entertaining and intelligent reading. What a blessing it's back in print!

Where are the flying cars?
If ESP, including remote viewing, telepathy and psychokinesis actually worked, we would be living in a much different world. Osama bin Laden would be unable to hide from the US military. Missing persons like Elizabeth Smart wouldn't go missing for long. Casinos would be out of business very quickly. But ESP doesn't work, and thus the world is as we know it.

So then, how can reports like those in Mind-Reach be explained? I have my doubts as to the accuracy of the account in Mind-Reach, but even taking it at face value, weaknesses in the experiments are obvious. In one remote viewing experiment, the viewer describes an A-frame building with a 4-sided ornament on the wall. This is matched to a windmill. In another experiment, the viewer describes an A-frame building with a 4-sided ornament on the wall. This time it is matched to a church. In another experiment, a viewer observing a nature sanctuary draws a tunnel of regular geometric shapes. This is matched to a utility tower near the site. Compare this drawing to the pedestrian overpass depicted in another experiment. One has to wonder.

For a skeptical report of the research of Targ and Puthoff, read Flim-Flam by James Randi, chapter 7 (ISBN-13: 978-0879751982). If you want a more academic treatment, try some of these:
MARKS D, INFORMATION-TRANSMISSION IN REMOTE VIEWING EXPERIMENTS,NATURE 292 : 177 1981
MARKS D, SENSORY CUES INVALIDATE REMOTE VIEWING EXPERIMENTS,NATURE 292 : 177 1981
MARKS D, SCOTT C, REMOTE VIEWING EXPOSED, NATURE 319 (6053): 444-444 FEB 6 1986 ... Read more

Product Description
What if we could talk face-to-face with the people we were in the past, with the people we are in parallel lifetimes, in alternate worlds? What would we tell them, and what would we ask? How would we change if we new what waits beyond space and time?' In a journey with his wife, Leslie, Richard Bach travels to a realm where survival depends on discovering what the other aspects of themselves have learned on roads they never took; where imagination and fear are tools for saving worlds and destroying them; where dying is one step to overcoming death. One is Bach's most startling story yet, opening a mystical door on an alternative path to finding ourselves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

ONE By Richard Bach
I received this book in excellent condition well packaged and a very fast delivery.
Thank you ... Read more