Product Description
Architect Preston Scott Cohen combines the use of the most advanced digital modeling technologies with a fascination for 17th century descriptive geometry. He uses familiar forms distorted by oblique projections and similar devices to create complex designs that challenge our preconceptions about the nature of order in architecture.

Contested Symmetries and Other Predicaments in Architecture features Cohen's intricate abstract geometries and lucidly describes both the mechanics and the theory behind their application. A wealth of projects, including the widely acclaimed Torus House, are represented through drawings, models, and computer-generated images. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Asks the right questions, gets great answers
Subtitled "The midnight confessions and revelations of 37 rock stars and legends", this is a great bathroom book that tells you Lou Reed's early idol was Carole King, what makes Laurie Anderson think about sex, what Tina Turner would've been if she were white, and a thousand other things. Good, intelligent questions, the kind you always wish interviewers would ask, answered by the likes of Bowie, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Marianne Faithfull, Dylan, Neil Young, Chrissie Hynde, etc. And great photos. A classic of its kind. ... Read more

Product Description
This indispensable three-volume series featuring perspective drawings from award-winning garden designer Scott Cohen is an absolute must-have for anyone looking for pool and spa design ideas. Whether you’re a homeowner designing your own backyard or a professional seeking to boost sales you’ll find help here. Each volume is packed with 90 breathtaking backyard drawings demonstrating today’s best pool and hot tub ideas.This collection of Cohen’s most popular pools is taken from Fetch-a-Sketch.com, a web site featuring backyard design ideas. If you’re an outdoor designer or contractor, you know that a first-class visual presentation is your most valuable sales tool. This collection gives outdoor contractors the chance to capture the imagination of their clients using gorgeous perspectives created by one of today’s top designers. If you’re looking for backyard inspiration or want to learn how to build your own pool and spa, Pool Perspectives will become your ultimate design guide. ... Read more

Product Description
Don't you just hate when you hold the ketchup bottle over your French fries and the first thing that comes out is red water? People who think soy is the solution to all health problems? The fact that Barry Manilow didn't write his hit song, "I Write the Songs"?

Almost as if in answer to Barbara Ann Kipfer's 14,000 Things to Be Happy About (over 1 million copies in print) and its legion of sunny readers, Scott Cohen has compiled an obsessive, hilarious compendium of life's irritations--the myriad little annoyances, vexations, injustices, and petty pretensions that make any sane person cringe. Of course, this is more than snippy waiters or rude drivers who cut you off. It is a finely honed selection of 738 exasperating things, people, situations, complaints, and attitudes that everyone who's ever had a bad day can appreciate. And which will make us all feel better, just because we know someone else is paying attention--at last. Talk about annoying:

Yoga instructors who smoke.

Pets that only show affection right before mealtime.

Tipping someone who hasn't earned it only because you don't want to look cheap.

Late fees for a video you didn't have time to watch.

The second-to-last day of a two-week vacation.

A sneeze that lingers in your nose, doesn't come out, and then is absorbed by your forehead.

When your Cracker Jack has melted into one big Jack.

When your doctor asks if you mind if an intern watches your colonoscopy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

Love this book!
I stumbled onto this book in the gift section of a department store. A few flips through and I had to buy it. The simple, observational style of bringing the little weird things we all think of, but think we're alone in thinking them, is genius. Very funny! You will laugh out loud at more than a few of the items in this book. A lot of fun!

Seinfeld-like Humor
I've seen Jerry Seinfeld's stand-up comedy act and Mr. Cohen's entertaining collection of amusing observations elicit similar reactions. The knowing smiles, the bursts of laughter, and frequently nodding in agreement with your shared experiences.

Mr. Cohen has written a very funny book.

Get a good laugh, when you have a minute...
We have a B&B and we keep this book on the table in our sunroom.It is the perfect book to pick up when you have a few minutes, turn to any page and be certain you will get a good laugh.I experience what another reviewer said - I will find myself somewhere and out of the blue, start laughing out loud thinking of one of Scott Cohen's observations.Who is this Scott Cohen?He is so funny!I love his writing style.I too am waiting for Book #2!

Can't stop laughing
I got this book for my friend as a Christmas present and I ended up reading the whole thing before I gave it to her. This book is hilarious how we all seem to function with the same hates on many tiny things.

hilarious
It's just what you expect to get when you order the product, hilarious. The pages are filled with almost any awkward situation you have ever been in and then some. It's great to pick up and browse through for a few minutes when you want a good laugh. ... Read more

Product Description
Create the outdoor kitchen of your dreams with this inspirational how-to guide for homeowners, designers, and contractors. In this book you will learn to design the perfect outdoor kitchen and bring it to life with Scott Cohen's award-winning design secrets, master step-by-step techniques for creating gorgeous cast-in-place concrete countertops, discover how to cast sparkling countertops using recycled glass, and add dazzling fiber optic lighting effects to your outdoor entertaining space. This book has over 200 inspirational full color photos inside! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Learn How to Design an Outdoor Kitchen the Right Way
Good book! It's great for homeowners planning their yard or professionals.What you learn in this book will save you time and money down the road.

As a homewoner you get useful tips on layout and how to decide what you truely need in an outdoor kitchen.You hear from contractors or TV shows you need this big kitchen or tons of appliances.This book is not that way.It presents the fact and then you can decide. There are numerous outdoor kitchen plans and photos. If you're a landscape professional you'll get tons of helpful tips on material choices, layout, construction options, and more. This book will teach you virtually everything you need to know about designing an outdoor kitchen that is functional.

All you need to know about outdoor kitchens
This book has the kind of details one can only provide if they have designed and built many outdoor kitchens, as Scott Cohen has: Locating the outdoor kitchen on your property; what appliances to include (and not include); configuration and sizing of the kitchen; standard heights; etc. This book is a small investment to make to get all the questions you need to ask yourself before you build, and importantly, check against what your contractor tells you.

Outdoor Kitchen Design Workbook
For contractors, designers, and homeowners that want great information and ideas for planning outdoor living areas this book does it. Knowing what works and what doesn't can add up to big savings and wonderful results. This book offers all that and more. Thank you Scott and HGTV.

Great Stuff
This book is truly wonderful for many reasons. First of all, the information is great. It's full of helpful pointers, well-written descriptions and informative explanations of what makes a backyard design successful. Secondly, the photography is gorgeous. There are pages and pages on pictures (I always like to see what I'm reading about) and Scott Cohen includes useful close-ups of small details that would get lost in a larger photo. You also get the building plans for these backyards which is cool. The third reason I really like this book is the way the design tips are organized. The information is broken down into entertaining sound bites that are useful and easy to read.

New Hampshire style out door kitchen
Nice book, but all the out door kitchens were meant for the South or extremely contemporary. None of them would have been suitable for the lifestyle up here on the countryside of New Hampshire.I wish he had included more options, they were all relatively similar.I'll keep looking. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Better books are available
I probably own most books written on the video game history and this one is so full of historical inaccuracies and poor writing that I would not recommended adding to your book shelf unless you like to collect whatever the quality (by the way, I wish someone would have reviewed it before I spent my money!)Better written books exist such as"The Ultimate History of Video Games." A new book that probably will appeal more to software developers or technical geeks is "Racing the Beam: The Atari Video Computer System."The book "Phoenix: The Fall & Rise of Videogames" is excellent but hard to get. I always check out the Rolenta Press web site - they publish some interesting books on the video game industry of yore.

rockstar video
This is a very funny story about a company with a colorful, sorted past. Nolan Bushnell started Atari around the area of San Jose where many electronic firms were getting their start.I like the way the book compared Silicon Valley's street layout to the design of processor chip-a reference similar to the ending in the movie 'Tron.'Nolan is the lead character and is an entrepreneur for lack of any other label.The guydefinitely had vision if nothing else.His early career was much more interesting than that of when he established himself and moved beyond Atari.Atari really was the association that defined Nolan.The book moves us into details about how he developed Pong and other Atari hits.About how he left the pong game in a bar one night and the game broke because patrons stuffed too many quarters into it.It describes some of the competition(i.e., Namco.)The Time/Warner acquisition was a low point for Nolan as his status with Atari diminished andmany of the 'rock star' programmers took leave at this point.I thought it was strange that Nolan got into the food business industry, but it was actually a brilliant idea and Chuck E. Cheese is still around today.The whole story of 'Zap' really describes the story of an innovative start up electronics company with a formidable idea with some success during the years of furtile soil, but lost ground when economic 'reality' set in.The grips of megacorporations squashed the life out Atari.And, Bushnell, although clearly the entrepreneur to the end, never really gains back the ground he eventually lost at Atari.Highlights of the book include Atari's beginnings and how Bushnell financed and grew the company.The colorful engineers who were treated and revered like rock star celebrities( think women, hot tubs and champaign.)Most interesting was how Bushnell created the distinctive 'ping' sound in his pong game.The book putters out at the end as Bushnell loses ownership to Warner, but the story wouldn't be complete without mentioning the acquisition.However, the went into too much detail over this acquisition and wander from the most interesting element-Bushnell. This is an entertaining book, but not a very good reference.There are better written stories about the video gaming industry, but none more colorful.Many will say video games origins began in the labs at MIT, but on the other side of the country Bushnell proved there was another, more entrepreneurial spirit alive and kicking.And, that's the true story of 'ZAP.'

Needs to be edited and researched
The book starts off with an empty table of contents! Well, that should be a warning. A reviewer comments that the book is well researched. Well, I found the book to be full of factual errors. For example, giving Steve Jobs the credit for the reduced chip design of the game Breakout, when in fact in was Steve Wozniak, the genius behind the Apple machine that came up with the design.On the same page the author discusses the chip that went into the VCS and numerous game consoles afterwards but the author then goes on to talk about the company Intel not MOS Technology!!It was the 6502 by MOS Technology that went on to be the brains behind popular computers and consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System (actually a variant, a reduced cost version of the 6502 was used for the VCS).I would recommend the book, The Ultimate History of Video Games by Steven L. Kent, if you are looking for a book that has not only the history of Atari but of the entire video game history and is more professionally published. I found the book had numerous misspellings and typos. For a book with only 133 pages it had too many errors.

Not what I expected
Altough a good read, and well investigated, I was expecting to read about the Rise and Fall of Atari, not the Rise and Fall of Noland Bushnell and the other people that worked there.

I expected to read about all Atari Products, both the good ones and all the flops they made, and the ones that never made public light. I expected a trip down memory lane. I expected too see at least a couple of pictures and photos to complement the book and what it talked about...

Yet, the book mostly talks about Nolan Bushnell, the guy who founded Atari, and it talks about the VCS. The Atari 5200, Atari 400 and Atari 800 are mentioned briefly (1 or 2 instances), there is no talk about all the other computers that followed (XE, XL, etc), the Atari's ST, the Lynx, the Jaguar, the Atari Portfolio (remember those?)...

ZAP! The Rise and Fall of the People at Atari, or ZAP! The Rise and Fall of the Atari VCS is a more accurate title.

I know the book was written in 1984, but it could have been revised... even as today, Atari is still kicking a little making video games alone.

Still Searching for the Ultimate Guide to Atari
Being an Atari 2600 fanatic during my youth and a collector today, I was eager to purchase this book. I wanted to read only about Atari--not about Nintendo and other more modern systems that most video game books get into--so this little book seemed the way to go. I was very disappointed after reading it, however. I was hoping to read about the different games Atari put out. I know which games I liked, but which ones were the most popular and which were disappointments? I was intrigued by a question on the back cover: "Who decided the home version of Pac-Man was good enough to release?" (the main reason I bought the book). Alas, this question is never answered!In fact, the home version of Pac-Man (as well as other games) is not really discussed at all! Only E.T. and Raiders of the Lost Ark are mentioned more than in passing because they did not sell well and were part of the reason Warner's stock went down.There is also no mention of the landmark game Adventure.Instead, Cohen concentrates on the characters in the business (the engineers, financiers, and marketing people). The parts I found to be the most interesting to me were on the origins of Pong, and the effect Colecovision and Intellivision had on Atari's dominance in the home video game market.

On the plus side, the book was very well-researched with a bibliography (mainly periodicals up to 1983) that is quite valuable. The author also offered excerpts from interviews with inside people at Atari. Cohen also seemed to have a firm grasp of computer technology. What takes away from this research is the style of writing, which sometimes seems like that of a college student. The book is not very focused, often jumping around to different subjects along with separate quotes added within the text. Cohen also repeated himself (sometimes almost word for word) throughout the book. Many paragraphs were spent describing the way principal actors at Atari dressed (i.e. like a hippie or a polished businessman). I agree with the previous reviewers that this book had and, unfortunately, still has a myriad of editing problems. The last line of the book even reads "Printed in the USA 1896"! It also would have been nice to see an additional reflection chapter that would take the book beyond 1983.

Still, if you are interested in Atari (especially on a business and marketing level), this book is probably the main source out there right now. ... Read more

Product Description
Running a business, or just running your everyday life can be challenging at times. It can sometimes seem like the odds are stacked against you or that there are so many issues to deal with that just starting is enough to make you want to retreat back to your duvet!

When I get to the times where I question why it was I started a business I find calling on the snippets of wisdom of others to be a highly beneficial exercise. The modern world can be a lonely place and it is always reassuring to know that somebody else has felt the same way, and better still, been inspired to share their knowledge with others.

In my adventure on "The Last Millionaire" I called upon some of the motivational quotes I have heard over the years to keep me focused. It was especially useful in my winning week in Hong Kong where I was all alone in a strange city.

In this book Coach Ian Scott deals with some of my favorite motivational tools; quotes.
Some are funny, some are profound but all are inspiring and will allow you to briefly step out of your life and remember that you are not all alone in a big scary world!
( Taken from the FOREWORD written by Lucy Cohen) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

It Stimulates Thinking!
What I like about this book, is , it's a book that stimulates the thinking process! This is not a book of quotes to be read simply for entertainment value. The content in this book is designed to really make you think about yourself, your life, your goals ,aims, and who you are as a person. This book really does what it says on the cover it "inspires and motivates". For example, take this quote: "The best way out, is always through." - Robert Frost. What is the intent of including this quote? It is encouraging persistence, rather than the tendency to quit! Another really cool and unique feature of this book, is that it includes some coaching tools in the back section. A couple of life balancing tools : The Wheel of Life, and The Life Coaching Chart. I found these in themselves to be very useful and beneficial. This book has quotes in it that can provide encouragement, comfort, as well as be inspirational and motivational in nature. I think too, that this book will serve many in a number of situations. Public speakers, and those in teaching capacities will find it useful. They can draw upon its content when speaking and teaching. Writers and authors too I think would be well served by having a copy in their personal library. Even parents with children would find it an effective teaching tool, when it comes to lessons in life, and instilling good habits of character and personality. I never thought that a simple book of quotes could be of so much use to so many! Those in the field of sales too would find it a good source of motivation and inspiration. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Do yourself a favor and get a copy today! ... Read more

Product Description

Social History of the United States is a cornerstone reference that tells the story of 20th-century America, examining the interplay of policies, events, and everyday life in each decade of the 1900s with unmatched authority, clarity, and insight.

Spanning ten volumes and featuring the work of some of the foremost social historians working today, Social History of the United States bridges the gap between 20th-century history as it played out on the grand stage and history as it affected—and was affected by—citizens at the grassroots level. Covering each decade in a separate volume, this exhaustive work draws on the most compelling scholarship to identify important themes and institutions, explore daily life and working conditions across the economic spectrum, and examine all aspects of the American experience from a citizen's-eye view. Casting the spotlight on those whom history often leaves in the dark, Social History of the United States is an essential addition to any library collection.

Customer Reviews (1)

The set is wide-ranging and makes for a top reference pick for both high school and college-level collections
The impressive 10-volume set SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES divides history into eras (the 1900s, the 1930s) for each volume, allowing for a narrowed, more detailed examination than most offer. From an introductory review of major issues of the era to biographies, discussions of social change and economic influences, and the rise of movements and campaigns across the country, each volume provides bibliographical references for further research. The set is wide-ranging and makes for a top reference pick for both high school and college-level collections strong in sociology and American history. Very highly recommended, it promises to hold lasting research value and is a particularly strong starting point for papers and classroom discussions. ... Read more

Product Description
This indispensable three-volume series featuring perspective drawings from award-winning garden designer Scott Cohen is an absolute must-have for anyone looking for pool and spa design ideas. Whether you?re a homeowner designing your own backyard or a professional seeking to boost sales you?ll find help here. Each volume is packed with 90 breathtaking backyard drawings demonstrating today?s best pool and hot tub ideas. This collection of Cohen?s most popular pools is taken from Fetch-a-Sketch.com, a web site featuring backyard design ideas. If you?re an outdoor designer or contractor, you know that a first-class visual presentation is your most valuable sales tool. This collection gives outdoor contractors the chance to capture the imagination of their clients using gorgeous perspectives created by one of today?s top designers. If you?re looking for backyard inspiration or want to learn how to build your own pool and spa, Pool Perspectives will become your ultimate design guide. ... Read more

Product Description
This indispensable three-volume series featuring perspective drawings from award-winning garden designer Scott Cohen is an absolute must-have for anyone looking for pool and spa design ideas. Whether you’re a homeowner designing your own backyard or a professional seeking to boost sales you’ll find help here. Each volume is packed with 90 breathtaking backyard drawings demonstrating today’s best pool and hot tub ideas.This collection of Cohen’s most popular pools is taken from Fetch-a-Sketch.com, a web site featuring backyard design ideas. If you’re an outdoor designer or contractor, you know that a first-class visual presentation is your most valuable sales tool. This collection gives outdoor contractors the chance to capture the imagination of their clients using gorgeous perspectives created by one of today’s top designers. If you’re looking for backyard inspiration or want to learn how to build your own pool and spa, Pool Perspectives will become your ultimate design guide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Pool Perspectives
I thought the perspectives were ok, but not as accurate as I would have expected. Returned the book. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Superbly enhanced throughout with full color images of finished dishes by award winning food photographer Ron Manville
The collaboration of Scott Cohen (Executive Chef of Las Canarias restaurant in San Antonio, Texas and the Pesca restaurant on the River in the Watermark Hotel and Spa) and food critic and author Marian Betancourt, "The Texas Hill Country Cookbook: A Taste Of Provence" is a showcase compendium of French influenced contemporary Texas cuisine. Superbly enhanced throughout with full color images of finished dishes by award winning food photographer Ron Manville, the recipes are organized into chapters dealing with appetizers; salads and sandwiches; fish, meat, and poultry; vegetables and side dishes; desserts; glazes and rubs. Replete with insightful and practical tips for preparing these memorable dishes, of special note are the many suggestions having to do with presentation and plating. From Squash Blossom Roasted Corn Huitlacoche Soup; Young Spinach and Goat Cheese Salad; Roasted Chilean Sea Bass; and Texas Pecan-Crusted Chicken Skewers; to Texas Home Fries; Honey Lavender Ice Cream; Chocolate and Roasted pepper Cheesecake; and Barbecue Pepper Glaze, each of these 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes would grace any dining occasion with gourmet quality meals.

A True Taste of Texas
This cookbook is a must-have for home cooks who like the distinctive flavors of Texas (chiles, pecans, beef) served up in sophisticated and innovative ways. The recipes are clear and easy to follow, the photos are luscious, and I love the emphasis on buying locally and eating sustainably.

Awesome recipiesand photos!
I have tryed several of the recipies and they went great.I loved the presentation photos and it was easy to make my version very impressive.
Great read and a beautiful book to put out on the coffee table and share with friends. ... Read more

Product Description
Paperback grade 2 SCOTT FORESMAN 1991 DISCOVER SCIENCE student workbook. Contains activity pages (worksheets for Vocabulary Previews, Science Skills, Science Activities, Vocabulary Puzzles, etc) that correspond with the lessons taught in the student textbook. ... Read more

Product Description
My Disability Isn't In Charge of My Life. I am.

These are the wise words of Terry Scott Cohen, who from a very young age began learning to accept and conquer the many challenges he faces with myotonic muscular dystrophy. It has never been easy, but Terry has met his challenges with great determination and hard work.

Now, with his psychologist dad, Barry M. Cohen, Ph.D., Terryhas written an inspiring book for young people who are facing life-long disabilities of all kinds - and for those who love and care for them as well. Terry shares his experiences and know-how for reaching a full life. He speaks frankly and in a language that children and young adults can easily understand and enjoy, peppering sage advice amid personal anecdotes to help others cope with the many challenges ahead...

- Getting your doctors to stop talking over your head and scaring you

- Finding healthcare buddies who really care about you, not just your disability

- Making good friends

- Interviewing and landing a job

- What to do with people who don't give you a chance or expect next to nothing of you

- Having fun - enjoying your life despite your limitations

- Planning your future - living the life you want ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Heartfelt and practical advise
"Disabled and Challenged" is a well-written personal account of Terry's successful struggle with a severe disability.As Terry and Dr. Cohen so aptly put it, Terry is a person with a disability, not a disabled person.Terry's medical problems do not define "who he is", but rather, Terry defines who he is by how he deals with his disabilites and, like all of us, seeks fulfillment and happiness in life.A great read, I couldn't put it down.
Gerald M. Groe, Ph.D.

Great resource for patient's and caregivers!
This is one of the greatest resources regarding MMD that we have found so far.Hearing Terry's challenges and his positive attitude about the cards he has been dealt have been a great inspiration to myself and my son, who also has MMD.Terry's positive attitude and ability to always find the good in every situation really encourages my son, and would appeal to anyone with any type of disability.We would be interested in any future books the author may write as well. This book is very easy to read and understand as well.We have read it many times.

Enlightenment
As a teacher and a tutor of challenged students, I feel as if many of my questions have been answered. I have always made an effort to walk in the footsteps of my students ,and the Cohen Family has invited me to do so in DISABLED & CHALLENGED .I applaud you for your sincere honesty in sharing the rewards and challenges of your lives. I highly recommend this deep and heartfelt book .It is a gift to be shared among all .My sincere thanks and hopes that one day we will meet . YOU Terry Cohen, use your abilities to the fullest . One day ,I will shake your hand !
Sincerely, Judie Curry

A book from the heart
This book brings courage, heart and wisdom to living with disabilities and challenge' and reminds everyone to do so with their own lives. Terry shares his story, his thinking, and feelings profoundly and so offers a real perspective on what impacts disabilities may have. And his strategies, realistic thinking,and commitment to live his dream are inspiring.A great collaboration of father and son.

This book helped me.
I am a kid living with a disability. I am learning how to deal with it. This book showed me that when I am tired, it is ok to stop and rest. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Dying is not at the end of life....it is all through it
A must have for every Faith Commujnity Nurse and hopefully every nurse.What a treasure

Dry reading on a necessary topic
This book, put together by a panel is mighty dry reading - kinda like unbuttered popcorn.Alas, that's a common problem with a report or study put together by a committee, no evidence that any of the panelists has a flair for writing.As with the other reviewers to date, I feel the book provides much needed help on the issue of one's faith on facing and addressing death; especially death under trying circumstances--life support, hospice care.I'd have found it helpful if there'd been some discussion on coping with the death of youth or young children (grief issues are especially critical) and the matter of a child dying before elderly parents, again an especially hard grief issue and test of faith.

Faithful Living, Faithful Dying:Anglican Reflections on End of Life Care

This book was excellent.It gives a great insight into the beliefs of the Anglican Faith regarding the End of Life Care, and what we, as Anglicans, can do.I knew before I read the book, that the Church allowed us to forgo Life Support Measures, and Extraordinary measures including refusing artificial Nutrition and Hydration.

This book is a great resourch for any member of the Anglican Faith (Episcopal of Church of England, or member of the Anglican Community).

A really helpful book
This is a really useful book for those who are approaching death and those who are critically ill and don't know what the outcome will be.I'm not Episcopalian, but felt really supported in terms of ethical and spiritual help when my father was dying and I read it.

An Episcopal Church task group writes a book worth reading.
When confronted by potentially controversial ethical issues, such as thosesurrounding death and dying, churches rarely distinguish themselves.Thereare a number of pitfalls.Knowing that they cannot please anyone, they maysimply remain silent, abdicating their responsibility to provide moralguidance.Worse, they may make pious-sounding, but vague, pronouncemntsthat address issues without actually saying anything.When take clearpositions, they may have a hard time making a convincing connection totheir own tradition.This work avoids all those pitfalls.The EpiscopalChurch's End of Life Task Force addresses issues such as assisted suicideclearly and concisely even as they respect the human anguish and moralambiguities involved. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Expanding the Role ofShamanism
As a storyguide beginning his third MAGE chronicle and as a player starting in a separate chronicle, I found this book very useful in further detailing the ways in which true shamans work in the World of Darkness. Insome ways, the book continues the themes expounded in the Dreamspeakertradition book, but it goes further and is not limited to Dreamspeakersalone.

That said, this book does focus on shamanic methods andviewpoints, and has a heavy emphasis on interaction with spirits. It's nota spirit compendium, unlike Werewolf's Axis Mundi, and though it touches onshamanic possibilities for all Traditions, it seems far less useful fornon-shamanic groups like the Celestial Chorus and the Order ofHermes.

Outstanding features involve blessings and curses of being ashaman, new merits and flaws, the potential "catch-all" nature ofSpirit magick, discussion of totems and the World Tree aspect of the Umbra,and finally a new collection of spirit-related rotes. It's all well-writtenand presents minimal rules-related content. The story is illustrativewithout being intrusive.

Bottom line was that this gave me a greatlyexpanded perspective on what it means to be a shaman, the responsibilitiesas well as the benefits. The only drawback for me was that the authorschose not to explore alternative visions of shamanism, such as technomanceror Hermetic possibilities. Consequently, the book will be primarily usefulto chronicles featuring Dreamspeakers, Verbena, or Cultists. ... Read more