Online Read Books

Archive for November, 2011

With the greats of Indian classical music, even the most complicated of thoughts are uttered in a simple and down to earth manner. The classical music masters were looking for the divine and the great photojournalist was looking to picture their soul through his lens for his book India’s Great Masters by Raghu Rai (ISBN-13: 9788172239466). That pretty much explains the process through which this book got its present shape. The great classical musicians tell us about the concept of the true note, a stage that can be reached only by the most dedicated.

Seeking The True Note

The photojournalist Raghu Rai who has himself has been awarded by French award Officier des Arts et des Lettres and Padma Shri, was humility personified when he was trying to capture the classical greats in their various spiritual moods. In 1998, when Raghu Rai went to California to meet the Sarod player Ali Akbar Khan, he asked Ustad to perform where a soundproof room was being constructed. Ustad replied by saying he will perform when he attains true notes.

Music Is For Upliftment

Inspired by such events, Raghu Rai went on to continue his mission to photograph the musical greats from all over India and the illustrious names included, Bismillah Khan, M.S. Subbulakshmi, Ravi Shankar and Bhimsen Joshi (all Bharat Ratnas). The precious photographs have now been published into a book called, “India’s Great Masters: A Photographic Journey into the Heart of Classical Music”. The famous Sitar player Vilayat Khan once said the classical music was not meant for entertainment, rather it was for upliftment. The portraits of Raghu Rai depict these famous classical music exponents into meditation and the stage of ecstatic release.

Raghu Rai Himself Wanted To Be A Musician

His father had nothing but contempt for the musicians. The dreams of the author died a quick death, only to be revived later as a desire to chronicle the classical greats as they invoked the divinity through their music. The passion was always there, and the first salary of Raghu Rai was spent on a record player. The profile of every maestro chronicled by the author is written by Ashok Vajpayee. The 13 masters covered by Raghu Rai’s pictures are: Ravi Shankar, Zakir Hussain, Vilayat Khan, Ali Akbar Khan, Kumar Gandharva, M.S. Subbulakshmi, Mallikarjun Mansur, S. Balchander, Alla Rakha, Bismillah Khan, Kishori Amonkar, Hariprasad Chaurasia and Bhimsen Joshi.

Fly On The Wall Style

The way Raghu Rai took his pictures also speaks volumes about his personality and his non intrusive style. The pictures were only taken after the Ustaads were immersed in the music for hours. The painful and euphoric climax comes only then, says the author.

How to Fill Your Life with Unlimited Abundance is an e-book that gives information on how to live an abundant life through attraction and positive thinking. A lot has to do with how you attract the abundance in your life, not just money and possessions, but also people, relationships and jobs.

We are currently living in uncertain times. The threat of job cuts, loss of savings and investments and homes are very real. However, we can ensure a life of stability and increase despite what the experts say about the global economy. How to Fill Your Life with Unlimited Abundance e-book can help you achieve this.

Financial Abundance

Chapter One deals with financial abundance. Most people think money and possessions when they hear the word abundance. Of course, abundance means much more than just money and possessions. However, money is an important factor to living life comfortably.

Money means different things to different people. Here’s an excerpt that explains this:

“When most people think about abundance, they think money and possessions.   Abundance to them means a large house, complete with expensive furnishings, a fancy car, maybe a vacation house and a boat. Some consider money to be a mere symbol, a simple piece of paper… For some, money becomes the ultimate source of power. People feel they can get anything they want, if they have enough money. Thanks to a generous group of people known as philanthropists, their money seems to say, “let me help you.” They use their money, their “power”, for the good of others”.

The question we should be asking ourselves is how much is enough? It all depends on what we need and want in our lives to make us happy. Do we control our money or does money control us?

Here’s another excerpt:

“If the problem in your life is a feeling of having nothing and needing to spend money to feel better, then there truly isn’t enough money in the world to satisfy you… Money is often not the answer to what appears to be money problems.”

The book then goes on to give suggestions on keeping record of your spending and saving habits which will help you determine your values and what you want out of life. Then it goes on to explain how the Law of Attraction helps you to receive abundance. Whatever you put out in your life is what will come back to you. However, affirmation and a positive attitude alone would not help if you really don’t believe what you’re saying. You can’t say outrageous things that you know your subconscious isn’t going to believe.

Lack of Self Confidence

Another thing that might be preventing you from receiving abundance is the thought that you are not deserving of blessings or you may have misconceptions about money. Even fear keeps you from achieving all you were meant to be.

Read this excerpt:

“Fear of failure stops many people. They’re afraid to even get out there and try, for fear of humiliation and rejection. This can produce serious regrets in your life, because if you don’t try, you’ll never know for sure if you might have been a roaring success.”

Poor Career Choices

Your career choice can also keep you from achieving abundance. If you are in a job you hate and focus on all the negatives concerning your job, then you’re blocking the flow of abundance in your direction. You are in control of your own destiny. By remaining where you are, abundance cannot reach you. You need to take stock of your situation, find out what you’re looking for and need out of life and go claim it.

Inspirational Quotes

There are also numerous inspirational quotes in the How to Fill Your Life with Unlimited Abundance e-book. Here’s one by Franklin D. Roosevelt:

 ”Happiness is not in the mere possession of money, it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.”

The Alchemist is another one of my absolute favourite books in my bookshelf. Paulo Coelho’s book is a metaphor that takes you on journey and you will be surprise how many different gifts people take out of having read this one.

Summary

The Alchemist is the hero’s journey of Santiago, a boy who has a dream and the courage to follow it. The story is ripe with symbolism and signs, drawn together to inspire every reader to see themselves in Santiago and wondering what dream they are meant to follow in their lives.

The Alchemist was published first in 1988. It has since sold more than 65 million copies and has been translated into more than 70 languages, winning the Guinness World Record for most translated book by a living author.

More in details

The central philosophy of the book seems to be summarised in the statement made by one of the main characters, an old king named Melchizedek: ‘When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.’

In the story we follow Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy, on his journey to discover what some would call his life’s purpose, the quest for a dream and the fulfilment of his destiny. Along the way he meets various people who give him messages, places and situations where he learns along the way to find out what they mean in relations to his quest.

It is a simple story with layers of meaning, partly probably carrying autobiographic remnants of Coelho’s journey to become a writer himself. To thoroughly understand what this metaphor has in store for you personally, you might need to read it more than once and be willing to let go of logic and reality. As the alchemist, that Santiago meets on his journey, says: ‘Those who don’t understand their personal legends will fail to comprehend its teachings.’

About the author

Paulo Coelho was born in 1947 inn Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He wanted to become a writer since his teenage years but only pursued his dream much later in life.

He nowadays splits his time living in Europe and Rio de Janeiro with his wife Christina.

Recommendation

This book is for you if you like to be inspired in following your destiny. Coelho has a way that allows the reader to identify with the hero, take from the story your own little messages, which might be different from what your friend will.

Let yourself be inspired by this metaphor.

Jeffery Redmond opens the doors to his fantasy realms of romance, suspense and betrayal with Amazon’s new Kindle program. Starting in the magazine and newspaper industry, Redmond switched to fiction to explore the more creative side of his personality.

As he states it, “I try to never let the facts get in the way of a good story. Fiction lets me be completely creative. I can invent all my own characters, places, and situations. And – especially – I don’t have an editor breathing down my neck. I pace myself, can be my own boss, and write more of what I want to (though, of course, also what the market is buying).”

He has the ability to go beyond the facts to explore the depth and breathe of not only makes his characters, but also the challenges he places them. More than just a typical romance, he creates characters that are multi-dimensional and complex. They are not perfect, but they are comfortable familiar and likeable. Although the situations on the surface seem extraordinary, they are in fact all about the defending of loved ones, seeking truth, and questioning our judgment, as common themes in every day life. Redmond just uses the backdrop of other worlds to provide his readers with the opportunities to not only enjoy the reading experience, but to see a fresh perspective on their own life issues. Romance in has always been of one of the most successful subplots in the fantasy and sci-fi genres. However, Redmond reverses the mixture by making the romance and passion primary.

He explains, “I have found that a science fiction setting, in the distant future, is best for me. I try to avoid overuse of robots, space ships, androids, and other ‘hard sci fi’ elements. I use fantasy as a way to enhance the story, but there has to be romance to have good interactions between the main characters. I believe that people (and alien humanoids) will have the same emotions that they have always had before.”

By exploring all the emotions including the deepest passions, which drive the characters’ behaviors, his work examines not only characters purist aspirations, but also their darkest desires and their deepest insecurities. It is the conflict that makes his characters exciting, believable and likeable.

Although most romance readers are female ages 15 through 45, there is enough action and adventure to entice the males of the same age demographic. He has been able to find the balance between the romance the female readers desire and the adventure that attracts the males. By finding this equilibrium, Redmond creates a niche market that is under-utilized. In the style of the Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and the many others in the same genre merging works, Redmond creates characters and worlds that are appealing to both genders and most age groups. However, instead of following the typical formula that others have found successful, Redmond has blazoned his own trail to these other worlds.

Looking back, Redmond compares his life and his work to his favorite author:

“My personal favorite author is Ernest Hemingway. He lived in northern Michigan, and traveled all over the world. He wrote about his own experiences in his stories. And he was lucky to have Max Perkins as his editor and publisher. I will never be as great as ‘Papa’ Hemingway, but I identify with him greatly. I too have widely traveled, been through many experiences, and also have a beard (though I can’t drink like he did).”
Like Hemingway, Redmond bases his characters on real people. He can also be an intellectual recluse and a survivor. Through his characters, he shares his life lessons and the challenges–the successful and those that were not so triumphant. Even though he could give his characters whatever traits and abilities he could imagine, he prefers to make them more realistic.

“They need to use their own physical, emotional, and mental abilities to overcome – rather than any magical or super powers. The planet they live on is much like Earth, except there’s no major oceans. I do include ‘fresh water seas’ which I get from the Great Lakes surrounding my home state of Michigan.”

Redmond can be reached through his website at /jeffringr. His books can also be brought through
and /DDP-INC. And his e-mailing address is redmondjeff@hotmail.com.

“Fair Aer-Inn”

ISBN 1-55404-443-X

Amazon.com Kindle Edition

ASIN: B000V1R8OO

Fleeing Svayn’s savage army, Princess Katarina leads her people toward the safety of the distant and unknown regions of the mountains. Although she had always considered her beauty to be her best asset, she quickly learns that it takes more than a pretty face to lead her people. Through the tears and fears, she guides them toward what she prays will be safety where they can regroup and rebuild their strength so they can once again return and free their countrymen from slavery. As her own bleak thoughts quickly steal her confidence as her decisions repeatedly put them more at risk. At her darkest moment, Briyan appears. Handsome as he is mysterious, Briyan quickly makes himself invaluable to not only Katarina, but to her people as well. Yet as they travel along the mighty river toward its source, Katarina falls deeply in love with him. But as their enemy draws closer, she realizes there is more to the warrior. As a woman, she loves his strength and comfort. As the leader of her Aerinn, she must set her feelings aside and question why this handsome stranger has chosen to risked his life to protect her and her people. Is Briyan a friend or foe? To chose wrong means all the people of Aerinn will suffer and she will face a fate worse than death.

“The Valley of Von-Dar”

ISBN 1-55404-441-3

Amazon.com Kindle Edition

ASIN: B000V1R8O4

Ellena’s parents escaped from Er-Da to protect their unborn child from the harsh judgments surrounding her conception. Born on Earth, Ellena grows up sheltered from the secrets of her family’s past, yet she knows she is in the wrong place. Part of her longs for the place her soul calls home. It is only when she finds pieces of her parents’ past that she learns where she must go to find her answers. As her ship lands, the restless that she has felt all her life suddenly finds peace, only to be replaced by apprehension and suspicion after she meets Mitir of Hastell. At first, she sees coincidental meeting of young and powerful landowner as a two fold blessing. The attraction between them is immediate and intense. but so is her mistrust as the twist of fates reveal his family’s secrets. Within his arms, she has found the passion of two familiar souls embracing each other, yet she cannot let her guide down. Will he help her find the answers she seeks or sacrifice her to those who wish the truth to remain hidden, thereby protecting his family’s wealth and position.

“The Islands of Mak-Naw”

ISBN 1-55404-442-1

Amazon.com Kindle Edition

ASIN: B000V1R8OE

Katarena is sent from Earth to the Planet Er-Da to investigate the disappearance Rafer. Known for her rashness and professional tenancy to get to the truth, Katarena has never allowed anyone or anything stop her from getting her story–until she met Bersten or at least that is what his handsome stranger called himself at first. She found his elusiveness and need for isolation is as intriguing as his handsome features. Quickly, Katarena find herself at distracted from her goal of finding the missing singer. Instead, she ignores Bersten’s warnings and follows him into his world. As their passion ignites, she learns he is not who she thought he was. As the Imperium closes in, she must decide if she should trust her heart or her head. One of them is lying to her. Her heart says Bersten is a hero. Her head points to the evidence against him. If she chooses wrong, a planet will die.

Determination, Faith, and Commitment

“Fighting for A Life” is David Hadden’s amazing story of determination, faith, and commitment to a cause. At age twenty-two David Hadden was hired to be trained as a conductor on Tri-County Rail Authority commuter line, a part of the Urban Transportation Development Corporation (UTCD). After three years of determined effort, hard work, and loyalty to the company, David’s employment was unjustly terminated because of his race. David decided to fight back.

This is his story, a story that parallels his fight for a life in three distinct different arenas. David found himself embroiled in discrimination suit against a giant corporation. He also tells of his struggles while an amateur and of moving into a career in boxing, a sport filled with deception and betrayal. Throughout the book he relates how he faced a spiritual battle to maintain a genuine, consistent testimony before his family. He tells of the depth and reality of his newly found personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

A detailed account of his experiences in searching for a lawyer and how he acquired a personal knowledge of legalese to enter pre-trial motions, as well as the contents of the transcripts of the trial are interspersed with his training and opportunities as a professional boxer. David clearly expresses a consistent desire to put God first in his life through each hardship and circumstance.

I was challenged by David’s determination to “fight for what he knew to be right.” He followed the dictates of his heart, relied on the truths he learned from the Scriptures, and from the mentoring relationship he felt with Martin Luther King, gained from his speeches, sermon tapes, and motivational messages. “Fighting for A Life” gave me a new appreciation of the struggle African Americans are faced with in their attempt to establish equal opportunity in a biased and prejudiced society, long after they were “supposedly” available. The book demonstrates the miracle of determined effort, a just cause, and a hope for justice.

Clearlake Publishing, 978-0980177947

As reviewed for Christian Review of Books