Ariel Reviews

I am an angel & spirit communicator, and the angels recommended that I read this book shortly after I began communicating with them. It contains powerful insights about our lives here on earth, and answers questions related to karma, death and immortality, love and relationships, and the course of human history. If you do not believe in angels, you may just change your mind after reading this book. A must-read for anyone on a spiritual path ( and even those who aren't!). Open your heart to the angels!

I believe in God, but I always wondered what He was doing when a child is beaten to death, or whether he took a coffee break when the Holocaust happened. Ariel's explanation of what we perceive as evil gave me peace, and a great sense of safety. I don't mean physical safety, because now I understand that it's not the point, but spiritual safety.

Thank you Ariel for sharing so much love and compassion with the readers of this book. Ariel is a being we call "angel" and she speaks to all of us on topics such as religion, history, reincarnation, karma, the universe and, of course, love. This book was a fascinating, quick read and I plan to keep it and refer to it on a regular basis.

As I listened to "Instantaneous Transformation" with Ariel and Shya Kane, I was struck by the power that the Kanes have harnessed in their lives. It's not a power that dominates or sets up hierarchies, but one that vibrates with passion, success, and compassion - a contagious power that lives in everyone, but few as masterful as the Kanes have ever facilitated its discovery in such a an honest, down-to-earth manner. You won't have to change a thing about yourself. No new diets, no dogma, just simple enlightenment on a practical, daily basis.

A section of the tape covers a discussion the Kanes have with participants during this recorded seminar on the story most people listen to, the individual stories of our lives. The Kanes let their guests know that their seminar is "a place to discover the story isn't true - you are." Since hearing this tape, I've discovered so many intricacies of the story of my life along with the freedom that comes with letting go of that story to discover who I am now, in each moment. As I listened, I found that what the Kanes do is create and support a safe space for people to settle into being - not trying to get away from our lives or to feel good or bad, but just to feel. What makes them stand out is not so much the simple wisdom of what they say, but who they are, interacting with participants fully in each moment. Each participant helped to explore the variety of ways the Kanes pointed out that the mind works to take us out the present. The Kanes shed light on each question in a way that I felt myself in a whole room experiencing a profound "AH-HA!" In a world of mental mumbo-jumbo about happiness, Ariel and Shya Kane are a breath of fresh air. They have other tapes and a bestselling book called "Working on Yourself Doesn't Work." I can't recommend these guys enough.

Have you ever not been looking for something and you find it anyway. That is how I felt about this audio tape 'Instantaneous Transformation: An Honest Look at Self Realization' by Ariel & Shya Kane.

Ariel & Shya Kane speak about feeling light and alive in your life. I especially love that they are about not "working on yourself," i.e. not focusing on fixing or judging yourself. Transformation starts with becoming aware of your behaviors and thoughts. Once you are aware of them they do not have to have control over your life. I definitely recommend this audio tape for anyone interested in becoming the author of their own life.

The speakers have a selection of tapes with different themes that revolve around Instantaneous Transformation. My next pick is 'Magical Relationships'. I am really curious about the 'Magical' in relationships. They also have a book called 'Working on Yourself Doesn't Work'. The revues are great for this book. I can't wait to read it!

This was the best Audio tape I have ever listened to on Personal Growth. The speakers both seem amazing and have very great insights that helped me feel more at peace, more centered in my life. I have listened to the tape a couple times in the last two weeks... and I feel good every time I listen to the tape!

What they are saying is so simple - Just become aware of your thoughts and behaviors - and they will no longer have control over you! But while I have heard it before - They add nuances to it that have made listening to them very powerful! I see myself more clearly, I feel better about myself. But it is different from all other motivational or meditation oriented tapes I have heard before.

The authors exude a sense of centeredness and joy. It seems to rub off on me. My life seems to get better every time I listen to their tape. And that's the real thing...not just an affirmation...

I just ordered their book...(Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: A Book About Instantaneous Transformation) and some of their other tapes...and I am waiting expectantly...

I am so glad I stumbled onto this gem of wisdom.

This book is a perfect antidote to overly simplistic, "cookie-cutter", astrology books. This is because it delves into the deep mythological symbolism behind the planets and signs. It is an excellent reference for fleshing-out a written horoscope with more than the basics. This isn't a book that is going to teach you how to cast a horoscope, however, it will help you to interpret a horoscope in terms of the deep archetypical patterns and currents for which the stars and planets are merely visible markers.

Indeed, this book goes beyond providing mere historical details and trivia, it is a starting place for deep meditation on the underlieing meaning in a chart.

This is an excellent book that ties in syncretically, astrology, the planets, the Gods and Goddesses for whom the planets are named and many of the myths relating to them and indiviual signs. In short, it is one of the few concise, deep accounts of archetypal astrology that I have read. The authors also pull a lot from depth psychology and the work of Carl Jung. It is an absolute MUST for any serious student of Astrology! You don't have to go out and buy a big book on Hellenic Mythology, just keep this and within it is all you need to know!

Mythic Astrology explores the relationships of mythical figures and how those relationships impact the symbolism of the planets and signs. The book is broken up into chapters about the planets and then chapters about the signs. It includes Ceres, Vesta, Pallas Athene, Chiron, the nodes, and Juno. Very good for a more in depth understanding of the mythology behind astrology.It also takes a moment at the end of each chapter to highlight the personal impact of the myth for the individual through the placement of the planets and signs. It includes a checklist to see how much a mythic figure may be influencing one's life.

Being a spiritual student of ECKANKAR, I felt as if this book was written by a fellow student of my spiritual path. The book contains the same description for the Tibetan ECK master, the same concepts of Soul Travel, the light and sound of Holy Spirit, the male and female energy currents, and numerous other spiritual principles. Although the author wrote this book as a novel, it has more facts than fiction. I had numerous similar spiritual experiences. Since ECKANKAR teachings have changed my life, I have no doubt that this book can change yours if you read it with an open mind. I certainly recommend this book.

Ariel Tomioka's On the breath of the Gods is a most intruiging expose on the spiritual basis of the Male-Female gender differentiation. It's easy narration belies a truely astounding yet most secret of principles-the secret of the sexes. A careful perusal of this text clarifies our nebulous understanding of the primal motivation for our actions, simply put it shows what drives us to make our everyday descisions- of love,work,finance, and others too numerous to name .These forces that drive and motivate are 'primed' into the body(sex)we wear this time around. Even beyond this is grand design, a syllabus of some sort that we are compelled to master. The significance of this book is not completely felt until you draw close to it's final pages, then you suddenly know that you've always known all these albeit unconsiously but you forgot somehow.. A powerful, powerful discourse..

I found lessons about balancing the male and female polarities, what the dark side is really all about from a practical functioning viewpoint, and most importantly, how and why to stay present. Rarely, do I experience a spiritual book that I can apply to my real world, everyday existence. Thank you, Ariel!

Ariel Sharon, although he had help from a professional writer on this, does not seem to carry the wieght of his importance to Israel in this book. It is a fascinating tale nonetheless, but he lacks a certain literary zing that keeps you glued to the book. Sharon was and is a military genius of the first order (as in Alexander the Great, Napoleon, and Patton), but he does not have the glint of hope that Dayan had for lasting peace with the Arab countries. Sharon details his experiences up to his greatest military moment-leading the IDF to surround the Egyptian 3rd Army in the Yom Kippur War, and later he defends himself from the accusations that he was responsible for the SLA massacre at Sabra and Shatilla (he was eventually exonerated, and an American court found in his favor when he sued Time Magazine for slander). A very good book about a fascinating man, but Moshe Dayan's will still be the high watermark.

     The author of this book is David Chanoff. He writes an autobiography
of the Israel Prime Minister. The Israeli prime minister Arial Sharon, was
born in Israel and is the main character of this book. At an early age he
had to go through  hard time living in Israel. He than took part in the 1948 .
He was in danger of geting captured and killed.  He also had to live in a place
where he was in danger of getting hit buy mortar shell. He was raised on a farm
and had to work hard very hard to keep it going. Problems were to survive in his
homeland. Overall he had some successes.

My opinion

My opinion of the book is that it is a very good book. Is it is field with adventures
and is really exciting. It is even more interesting to read it
because of the men in it are still living and doing the same thing.
My favorite part the book was the beginning I think the beginning is always
the most interesting. I would not change a thing in the book because it
is like if you change the recipe of a cake it would not come out the same.

My recommendation

I would recommend this book to kids over the age of 13 and I would
encourage them to read it. The kind of person who would like to read
this book is The kind of person who is interested in the Middle East,  politics and in wars.

Ariel Sharon is so demonized by so many in the Arab world and Liberal Jews and Israelis that I sought this book to hear his side of his incredible career and life. Having spent most of his life fighting for Israel's survival and combatting terrorism in every war and conflict, he illuminates the problems Israel faces and the nature of its Arab opposition.

Like a true warrior he is a man of peace. Those who have been in the carnage of battle want to avoid it the most, but he has enough insight to understand that compromises and shortcuts to accomodate other's deadlines and agendas only means sending your grandchildren off to war.

His stories of being in the frontline of Israel's historic battles are gripping military history; and his rise from a neophyte poltician to Israel's Prime Minister provides a rich introduction to Israeli politics. His efforts to develop trade and agricultural ties throughout the world is less known than his military and political career, but very important among his contributions.

But most of all I wanted to hear his account of the Lebanese war and specifically the massacres in Sabra and Shatilla. I have always been bewildered at how the murder of Moslems by Christians would lead to the villanization of a Jew. He explained his view how he was sacrificed by the international pressures and Israel's own political parties.

The fact that he was able to rise from this poltical abyss to become prime minister is a remarkable achievement. There is far more depth to this man than his opponents would want us to believe.

This book was an excellent read a must for those trying to understand the complexities of modern Israel, and a fascinating biography of the leading player on the middle eastern stage.

I first read Ariel at the age of 13, when the anger and blackness was a perfect outlet for my teenage angst. I memorised the vicious but gorgeous poems Lady Lazarus and Daddy and walked around holding these words as a kind of talisman against all of the nameless terror of growing up. Twenty years later, long since past the angst of my youth, I thought it would be fun to revisit this poetry which was so important to my generation, thinking perhaps I had outgrown it. However, like Lazarus, Plath rises from the ashes of her own depression to reveal a linguistic beauty which is, at times, astonishing. There is, of course, terrible bleakness. In Death & Co, for example, "I do not stir. The frost makes a flower, The dew makes a star, The dead bell. The dead bell. Somebody's done for." still leaves me shivering and feeling terribly cold and alone. Lady Lazarus, Cut and Getting There come to mind immediately as touching the very edge of death. However, there were also some light and lovely surprises, as with Morning Song, where the wonder at the miracle of a child hit a familiar note with me (having had my first child recently), in the moment the child wakes and its "clear vowels rise like balloons". It has been a long time since I've read poetry of such power, anguish or beauty. Often hard and painful, with moments of vulnerability, tenderness and even a strange kind of joy, there is something timeless and permanent in this work. Worth a re-read.

Sylvia Plath and Denise Lermontov were the two most powerful female American poets of the 20th century. When I was in my teens and a "would-be" poet, I had a copy of Ariel that I rarely let out of my sight. She is the queen of angst. I greedily drank the concoction she distilled out of her anger, disillusionment and loathing. I felt the same way towards my parents as she did towards hers. Those who try to soft-pedal these poems and claim they're somehow life-affirming are deluding themselves. These are poems of despair, anguish and hopelesness, probably the most evocative expressions of those sentiments ever recorded. They will not put you in a good mood. These come from the dark night of utter isolation, written by a young, beautiful wife and mother who will soon stick her head in an oven and turn on the gas. They are about as pretty as Auschwitz. If you are looking for poetry that is morally uplifting, look elsewhere. If the paintings of Bosch and Breughel hold some fascination for you and you don't flinch from visions of the damned, then this work will appeal to you. For some reason, I think of Sylvia Plath and Diane Arbus as artistic sisters. Both show us things we probably didn't really want to see, but it's impossible to look away when confronted with the images they depicted. Art is sometimes disturbing. This is one unsettling volume of poetry.

One day, in the middle of my honors English class, I saw the cover of my friend's poetry book. I remembered to find this title in the library. I happened to be visiting it that day, and I also happened to be doing a poetry project. I searched the dusty shelves of the old building and finally found a grey-covered, but slightly glowing collection of poems by someone unknown to me at that point. When I opened it up, I could see her. I saw who and what Sylvia Plath was.

"Ariel" is my first Plath exposure. I am planning on reading her diary entries and, hopefully, the movie that is based on her life with her husband, Ted Hughes. I cannot wait. I am anxious for one reason: I have never been more affected by a collection of poems than this book. Every line was dripping in her emotion, in her feeling. I was shocked. I was blown away at her passionate hate towards one thing and complete adoration for another. It was beautiful, but sad at the same time.

One poem that stood out to me was "Daddy." In this she expresses her anger towards her father, comparing him to the Nazis. "I thought every German was you." I could just sense her passionate dissapointment and dislike. She really showed us all through this work that she really is one of the classics of this century. Other poems that stood out to me include "Tuilips", "Death & Co." and "Poppies In July."

Bottom Line: By far my favorite poet and this is of course my favorite collection of poetry in existance. (I give it an A+)

I was, as a teenager, completely obsessed with unicorns. I picked this book up strictly because of the cover, expecting to read it once, probably enjoy it, and stick it on a shelf. Instead, I fell into a wonderful world, with great characters who have stuck with me over my turbulent high school years, my highly depressed college years, even now into my so-called adulthood. I read my copy to pieces, literally. The writing was crisp, the dialogue real, and the dilemmas faced by Pete and Ariel are just as compelling in my memory now, over 15 years later, as they were the first time I read it. I have recommended this book very often - in fact, I was telling a friend about it last night! I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this book.

I first encountered Ariel through a friend who got it at a used book store. He picked it up at random and bought it for a buck fifty. He read it and loved it and then lent it to me. To quote another great fantasy book... "Who can know when their life is about to change? Who can sense revelation in the wind?" This book became my favorite. I read it earnestly and repeatedly until I had to give it back. The book was circulated among everyone in my circle of friends and we all aree it's one of the best fantasy books around. I had first read it in 1988 and could not find my own copy until another friend found three in various bookstores in Austin, TX in 1997. This book is well worth the time it takes to hunt it down. The story revolves around the life of a young man, Pete Garey, who's life takes place after the change, where the laws of physics have been altered to where technology no longer functions and magic is standard. Pete befriends a young unicorn and the two share adventure and love in a hard post-apocalyptic world. There are several well-written characters and Boyett breathes new and more realistic life into dragons, griffins and unicorns. This book is a must for fantasy gamers, readers and live-action role players (such as sca-ers and amtgarders).

I agree with the other reviews - this is a great book. Since I did not feel like coughing up the dough for an out of print paperback, I decided to download the book and read it on my Dell Axim. The formatting was a little off, but the story was great! I thank Mr. Boyett for getting me through a week of meeting :)

I seldom write reviews on children's books, although I love them with a passion. My children are now mothers and my grandchildren are past young childhood. However, I believe that somewhere deep inside each of us remains a small child that still loves fairy tales, cotton candy, and walking barefoot in the grass. This book was one of my children's favourites, along with "Charlotte's Web;" both were also my own personal favourites. When my children were six years old reading this book became a nighly adventure until I knew the words by heart. For the reviewer who rated the book with a one star due to a spelling error, my heart goes out to you; you have sadly missed something very important - the message. The book is not about spelling, editing or lack thereof; it is about encouragement and love.

The book tells the story of a toy, sawdust-filled rabbit who wishes with all his heart to become real. The message contained in this book is poignant, heart-warming and touching, and one that you will never foreget as long as you live. It is a story of beauty, wonder and love. Any child who misses out on "The Velveteen Rabbit" is missing out on one of life's greatest lessons. I cannot say enough good things about this wonderful, wonderful book and highly recommend it to children...and the grown-up child in all of us.

It's a sweet story of a 'simple' stuffed rabbit amidst the more 'complex' modern toys in a boy's "toy collection". The rabbit starts to believe that in order to get the love of the boy, he needs to appear 'real', or be able to zoom about like the motorized toys...
(And I'm not going to tell you the end hahahahaha!!!)
It was great having that read to me, while I was hugging my stuffed animals in bed.
But -- in a way, at first glance it looks like a simple story, but it is actually a surprisingly complex story. Leave it on your child's bookshelf as he/she grows up and he/she will reread it again and again as he/she questions issues such as "who am I?", "what does it mean to be 'real'"?, "what is my role in this world?", and even "what is death"?

This was a favorite childhood book of mine, and this touching tale stayed with me even as a grown-up lady. I lost my copy in a move long ago, borrowed the book from someone else, and I loved it as much as I did as a little girl (I went and bought my own copy, plus the sequel THE SKIN HORSE)
Yeah, I know that the "Product Details" list it as "for ages 4-8," and you know what? I don't care! To cram it into a box marked with an age group doesn't do it justice, for it has themes that are timeless and universal -- love, friendship, feeling appreciated and cared for, meaning something to someone and having them mean something to you, aging, social hierarchy. If this is a children's book, then it's a children's book you never outgrow! 5 stars? I'd give it 10 if I could!

Over the past year I have read extensively about the 17th century. "The Age of Louis XIV" is the best book which I have found on the period. Volume VII of Will and Ariel Durant's multi-volume "Story of Civilization", this book documents more detail of the era than any others which I have read.

The book begins with sections on France and England. The next section is "The Periphery" dealing with Russia, Poland, Scandinavia, Germany, Italy, and Iberia. After the geographically oriented sections, the reader is treated to sections organized along intellectual topics, such as science, philosophy, and faith and reason, which contain chapters dealing with specific philosophers or scientists. The conclusion wraps it all up with the denouement of Louis XIV.

This book makes the 17th century understandable. The premier character of the era was Louis XIV, the Sun King of France. During his reign, the policies of he and his ministers established France's day in the sun. Absolute ruler of the most populous and powerful kingdom in Western Europe, Louis made France the center of Western Civilization. On these pages we learn about the Fronde, the revolt by the nobility at the rising of his Sun, from which Louis acquired his life long aversion to Paris, Louis' aggressive support of Catholicism, while at the same time maintaining illicit personal relationships, and his generous support for the arts. This era, rich in French literature and theatre, as represented in Moliere, is revealed.

The forces threatening to rend the Catholic Church further asunder, as well as the relationship between King and Pope, are dealt with in detail. I was surprised to learn that Louis exercised a power over the Church in France similar to that which Henry VIII had previously established over the Church in England.

England, meanwhile, endured Cromwell, The Stuart Restoration, and the Glorious Revolution, while spawning Milton, Dryden, Swift and other literary giants.

Interesting contrasts are illustrated. Whereas in France the monarchy was strengthened into absolutism, England was making hesitating steps toward democracy. Whereas Louis excluded much of the nobility from government and military service, essentially forcing them into the role of idle rich, the English nobility gradually gained power and responsibility for the governance of their country. We can see how these trends may have encouraged the resentment of the aristocrats on the part of the French peasantry, which may have contributed to the intensity of feeling during The Terror of the French Revolution. By contrast, the empowerment of the English nobility may have helped solidify the tradition of peaceful political maturation.

On the Periphery, Charles XII brought Sweden to the zenith of its international power, while Peter the great modernized Russia. Germany survived the onslaught of the Turks, while Italy and Iberia, the "Old Europe" of the day, slid through an era of decline.

Intellectually the era was one of giants. Many of the names with which we are familiar come alive as we read of Isaac Newton, Thomas Hobbes, John Lock, Spinoza, Leibniz and others.

The conclusion of the era was the sunset of the Sun King. Having exhausted his country with dynastic war, bled it with unequal taxation and incurred the enmity of the world, Louis negotiated a peace which left his kingdom a shattered hulk of its former greatness.

For anyone desiring an introduction to the history of the 17th century, this is a great place to start. It has me ready for other books in the Durants' "Story of Civilization".

Though the central figure of this book is Louix XIV, this book is not about French history, but about European history as a whole.

The focus of this book is not on political and military history but on the history of religion, art, literature, science and philosophy. Or I can say politics is deeply involved in religion, art, literature and philosophy. I have never studied European philosophy before, and I thought it would be exttremely difficult to understand philosophy. But while I was reading this book, I found that phlosophy could be much easier when it was explained in a political context of the times.

And in this book English history was emphasized as much as French history. It is quite natural because Louis himself was deeply involved in and greatly responsible for the 17th century English history, and Thomas Hobbes and John Locke were Englishmen.

I believe that this book is the best book I've ever read. I'd like to read all 12 volumes of Will & Ariel Durant's "The History of Civilization" series.

By the way, I found 2 trivial mistakes in this book.
According to p 505, Halley identified another comet, seen in 1680, with one observed in the year of Christ's death; he traced its recurrence every 575 years, and from the periodicity he computed its orbit and speed around the sun. According to my own calculation, however, 575 x 2 + 33 = 1183, while 575 x 3 + 33 = 1758.
According to p 513, Mariotte amused his friends by showing that "cold" could burn: with a concave slab of ice he focused sunlight upon gunpowder, causing it to explode. To focus sunlight, however, we need a convex lens, not a concave lens.

The Durants succeed again in encapsulating the 17th century in Europe. They label it as the landmark century intellectually and scientifically and there is much truth to their assessment: the 18th Century, the "Enlightenment" and "Aufklarung" usually takes pride of place given the American and French Revolutions that dominated them and the general retreat of superstition and obscurantism that marred both Catholicism and Protestantism in the previous centuries. The Durants clearly show that all the 18th century did was develop themes initially sounded and expounded by 17th century thinkers such as Hobbes, Locke, Newton, Leibniz, Spinoza and the English Deists. These writers, and others, laid the bedrock for the various revolutions that shook Europe in the 1700 and 1800s and which have culminated in our own day: The Industrial, Political and Scientific.

Thematically, the book is erected upon the scaffolding of the Le Roi Soleil's life. They present his wars, mistresses, patronage of art, political autocracy as well as murderous bigotry. In my opinion, in their conclusion they let Louis off far too lightly. He was a man who countenanced, nay, actually encouraged and gloried not only in wars to dominate Europe--a common enough failing amongst the crowned--but in the Persecution of the Huguenots he left a blot on his record that, in light of the deadly century we just left and the religious fanaticism of 11 September, should sink his record in the humanitarian sense.

His vanity and thirst for "la glorie" (which he admitted himself to have been his worst failing) bankrupted France and left the Peasants in a savage and degrading poverty they hadn't experienced since the calamities of the 14th century. His refusal to use his power to actually reform government and tax the nobility mark his reign as regressive and disastrous in many ways. Still his impeccable taste in the visual and plastic arts-as opposed to his love of second-rate playwrights and third-rate opera--make him the supreme art patron in history. And the prestige and admiration that accumulated acted as a sort of bank that his incompetent, worthless successor cruised upon. Only under sixteenth Louis did the credit of the Sun King's name finally run out...

Still, the Durants must credited for making this error sparkle and shimmer with life and the lovely prose still entrances and pleases regardless of how dull or recondite the subject might be. Again, they are two of the greatest of all American writers. Someday, I hope, they will be acknowledged as such.