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36 of 36 people found the following review helpful.
Must have Mindfulness Training DVD!
By Meditate21
This is probably one of the best mindfulness training DVDs out there. The exercises are easy to follow and having the video guidance in addition to the audio track proves to be invaluable. Not only are the garden’s waterfalls and bonsai arrangements stunning, but using them to illustrate mindfulness concepts make it super easy for beginners. For those that have more mindfulness meditation experience, the DVD also includes the traditional body scan and sitting meditation exercises, which comes with a nifty on-screen tracking tool to assist you in maintaining focus. Overall, this DVD is a must have for anyone looking to start or enhance a mindfulness meditation practice!

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful.
Finally a meditation DVD I can use!! –EXCELLENT!
By Jay M. Greenfeld
The Garden of Now truly simplifies the complexities of mindfulness and meditation. I am an author and lecturer on stress management and this DVD is an ideal fit for my students and readers. The soothing narration and visual effects allowed me to understand what parts of my body were most tense as I truly experienced the present moment. As I followed the guided steps of the exercises I was able to embrace the relaxing effects and better understand what it means to be in the now with my body and mind. Additionally, the guided steps of the various levels of mindfulness and the detailed body scan simultaneously unified my mind and body. I was also able to have a more restful sleep followed by a more productive day!

I have seen other videos on meditation and relaxation, but none of them were as effective as The Garden of Now. I had been looking for a DVD to use with college students and adults –finally, a resourceful tool I can use!! The narrator peacefully makes it easy for anyone to follow regardless of their meditation skill level or age. Thank you, I will use this frequently and often!!!

My Choice – My Life: Realizing Your Ability to Create Balance in Life

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful.
Powerful tool for STRESS REDUCTION!!
By Michael
Working with this mindfulness dvd has been a LIFE CHANGING experience and I would recommend it anyone! I’m a busy professional who lives the typical stress-stress-stress lifestyle. I knew it was time for a change, so I decided to buy the garden of now dvd to see what mindfulness meditation was all about. I was a skeptic at first, but to my surprise, learning mindfulness has made it a lot easier for me to stay centered in the stillness of the present moment when things get hectic and chaotic in life. I have tried other stress reduction products in the past, but this dvd really does make it MUCH easier to learn a powerful stress management tool!

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Mindfulness Meditation And Stress Picture

Beyond The Next Mountain

At the close of the 19th century, the British branded the Hmar people of northeast India as “the worst headhunters.” It was a label well deserved at the time. But in 1910, a single copy of the New Testament Gospel of John came into this village and changed the course of history for the Hmar people. Through that single copy of John’s Gospel, Chawnga, the father of Rochunga Pudaite, was introduced to a revolutionary “new life in Christ.” He and a few tribesmen “forsook all and followed Christ.” Chawnga believed that Rochunga was God’s chosen instrument to fetch the Scriptures to the entire Hmar tribe in their own language.

This is the story of Rochunga’s personal pilgrimage. It is an unforgettable saga of his dedication to a resourcefulness and of the Lord’s direction in his life. Filmed in India, Hawaii, Scotland and America, this gorgeous film will be enjoyed by the entire family.

DVD Special Features:
– View in English, Spanish, Korean, or Hindi with or without English subtitles
– Chapter titles provided for easy scene access
– Biographical selective information on Rochunga Pudaite

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33 of 33 people found the following review helpful.
The intricate and phenomenal ways of God…
By S. Sheridan
Beyond The Next Mountain is a unique story. Unique because it is something that had never happened before in northeast India. In fact, this story is one that most likely has happened only one or two times in history. A barbaric tribe in India receives news of Jesus through one young white man from England, which in turn leads a tribal boy in a future generation to learn English, Hebrew and Greek, who in turn creates a written language for his people, then translates the Bible into that language. He goes on to establish schools for his people to learn both to read and write the language he created. And later, with the help of many others, he mails millions of Bibles to people all over the world using addresses listed in telephone books.

When I watched this movie I thought, “I wonder where this person is right now in the world.” It wasn’t until I watched it two more times that I finally saw at the end that it gave contact information for his ministry office. It was a 45-minute drive from my house in Denver, Colorado! He and many of his family members have been living in Colorado Springs for several years working at his ministry, Bibles For The World.

I very much recommend watching this. The acting is superb. And through this film, I believe you too will receive a revelation that God’s true ways are astounding and unlimited.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful.
A dramatic and superbly produced feature film
By Midwest Book Review
At the close of the 19th century, the occupying forces of the British Empire cited the Hmar people of northeast India as “the worst headhunters”. An appellation that was well deserved. But in 1910 a single copy of the New Testament Gospel of John came into the Hmar village and changed the course of history for the Hmar people. Through that one copy of the Gospel of John, Chawnga (the father of Rochnga Pudaite) was introduced to a “new life in Christ” that was to revolutionize his life and the life of his fellow tribesmen as he and some of them “forsook all and followed Christ”. Chawnga believed that Rochunga was God’s chosen instrument to bring the Scriptures to the entire Hmar tribe in their own language. Beyond The Next Mountain is a full color, 97 minute, DVD production showcasing the story of Rochunga’s personal pilgrimage. This true life saga of one man’s dedication to a vision and of seeking God’s direction for his life was filmed in India, Hawaii, Scotland and America. The DVD format allows viewing in English, Spanish, Korean, or Hindi with or without English subtitles, chapter titles providing easy scene access, and biographical information on Rochunga Pudaite. Also available in a VHS format, Beyond The Next Mountain is a dramatic and superbly produced feature film which is enthusiastically commended to the attention of Christian communities everywhere.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful.
A Bit Slow, but worth seeing to the end.
By CAT
I have seen this movie twice, and both times was struck with the focus of one who “moves mountains” to reach a goal. Most of us do not know this type of focus. Granted, God touched this individual through the prayers of his father and mother, but his open, pure and sincere heart along with his willingness to do what it takes to reach the goal enabled the God of the Universe to touch his life with the end results of success upon success. Even his willingness to wait to be with his beloved one showed his ultimate trust in his Lord and God.

I had not heard of this man until seeing this movie. It is mind stretching to learn of how many lives have been touched just by one individual. This movie is a must see for anyone wanting encouragment in tackling the impossible.

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Beyond The Next Mountain Picture

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Beyond The Next Mountain Pic

Beyond The Next Mountain Picture

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48 of 52 people found the following review helpful.
Main feature great; penguins add-on not worth the extra cost
By J. King
The Madagascar 2 movie is a great flick, full of fun and witty lines. If you liked the first movie, this is more of the same, if not better and probably worthy of five stars. The second DVD featuring two Nick Penguin shorts for a total of about 25 minutes of video, isn’t worth the additional cost, in my opinion. The first Madagascar release had a Penguin animation short included as an extra on the movie disc, whereas the new one has two shorts and charges the buyer for the priviledge. And frankly, I thought that the two penguin cartoons, while a bit amusing, were a bit of a disappointment. If one is a REAL fan of the Nick Penguins, then you’ll need to get this DVD set. Otherwise, I would recommend just getting the main feature and save yourself the $7.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful.
More heart, humor than the first
By Poor Napoleon
Dreamworks’ animated films have not been able to hold a candle to caliber of Disney/Pixar films, but let’s face it: who can? That said, Madagascar 2 is learning from Pixar at the very least. Animated films work when they are able to successfully blend humor, heart, and a good story to keep the audience sustained for at least 90 minutes.

Madagascar 2 starts in the right direction by presenting a very nice opening featuring a brief origin of Alex and how he got to New York. It’s probably less than 5 minutes, but already set the tone for the heart of the picture, which focuses chiefly on Alex fitting in with his fellow lions. The other chief characters are also stumbling as they interact with their own in Africa.

Also back is the humor. I sometimes feel like the movies would be funnier if the penguins had more screen time, but they are still funny in whatever scenes they’re in. The granny who beat up Alex in the first film is also back for some humor. The humor is better and more consistent than the first.

The only flaw in the film is that it is fairly predictable. The chracters are a little bit better here than in the first and it has a good heart, but sometimes they don’t spend as long on the emotional aspect as they could. It’s still good entertainment and I like to see Dreamworks progress with their films.

36 of 43 people found the following review helpful.
penguin adventures
By bob
note: this blue ray includes the nick penguins episodes available in the dvd 2 pack

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Charlie Rose Charlie Rose Brain Series Image

Charlie Rose Charlie Rose Brain Series Picture

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Charlie Rose Charlie Rose Brain Series Image

Charlie Rose Charlie Rose Brain Series Pic

Charlie Rose Charlie Rose Brain Series Image

Rick Steves Italys Countryside Dvd

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
Rick Steve’s Countryside DVD rocks !
By Francis P. Cardella
This video gives an excellent overview of the Italian countryside. I’ve been to Italy twice and
going back for the 3rd time this fall. I’ve picked up a lot of tips by watching his videos and
recommend them highly for anyone traveling to Italy. This time around we will be staying in
an old monastery in Florence that was recommended in his Rick Steve’s Italian Cities tape.
Can’t wait.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful.
Italy’s Countryside
By James and Constance Ewadinger
This is a wonderful overview of just what it says, Italy’s Countryside. In this DVD, you take the country roads and learn about all the incredible country towns and villages. It is a more intimate view of the Italian people. This is a good addition to other DVD’s that cover the major cities of Italy and will give you great new places to visit in Italy.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful.
Rich Steves – need I say more?
By Harmony
I always enjoyed watching his show on PBS. I gave Rich Steves’ DVD and book to a friend who was traveling to Italy with her family and she said it was GREAT! It was an instant “friend” magnet and provided instant discounts to attractions. I think this may have been one of the best gifts I’ve ever given?!?

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Rick Steves Italys Countryside Dvd Photo

Rick Steves Italys Countryside Dvd Photo

Rick Steves Italys Countryside Dvd Pic

Rick Steves Italys Countryside Dvd Picture

Rick Steves Italys Countryside Dvd Image

Rick Steves Italys Countryside Dvd Image

The Pumpkin Eater

In her third marriage to writer Jake Armitage (Peter Finch), Jo (Anne Bancroft) wrangles her brood of five young children with Jake’s cheerful support. But Jo’s pleasure is shattered when she realizes that Jake is not only unfaithful, but that he is constitutionally incapable of monogamy. Pregnant with another child, Jo becomes progressively distraught, and in the end breaks down utterly when confronted with more proof of Jake’s infidelity. The screenplay by Harold Pinter takes a cold psychological look at the interior turmoil of a middle class wife and mother, and begs the question: what is the extreme cause of Jo’s unhappiness? Is it Jake’s unfaithfulness? A lack of feeling of satisfaction in her maternal role? A fear of losing her role as her youngest children grow? Director Jack Clayton shines a harsh light on fidelity and marital obligation in the innovative world in this disturbing but sharply crafted drama. Excellent supporting actors include James Mason, Cedric Hardwicke, and Maggie Smith. Newly remastered.

This product is fictitious on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com’s popular return policy will apply.

This product is expected to play back in DVD Video “play only” devices, and may not play in other DVD devices, including recorders and PC drives.

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44 of 46 people found the following review helpful.
ACTING EXCELLENCE.
By A
Anne Bancroft, in an AA nominated performance, plays a twice-married mother of six. She divorces her second husband (played by Richard Johnson) and takes up with a highly successful screenwriter played by Peter Finch. After the two marry, it is obvious that her philandering husband will never buckle down to her notions of marital fidelity. This sometimes confusing, sometimes depressing film is elevated to screen art via once-in-a-lifetime performances by Bancroft, Finch and Mason. As Jo Armitage, Ms Bancroft is magnificent: giving her role real depth, switching her moods with a wonderfully eerie believability. Her breakdown in Harrod’s Department Store isn’t easily soon forgotten. In his supporting role of Bob Conway, James Mason is nothing short of excellent and Peter Finch excels as Jake. This is a fine film which encompasses the joys and tragedies of life: birth and death, love and hate, marriage and divorce. The direction, slow and even-handed, allows the story to develop at its own pace, but gradually, the pace picks up as the story’s intensity grows. A fine and sensitive work & a truthful portrait of human foibles and complexities, these seem like real people on the screen instead of actors in a drama. A great example of fine sixties British cinema.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful.
The Pumpkin Eater: A Modern Tragedy
By Steven Golden
Positive reviews of this film often refer to it as a melodrama. It is more significant than that, being a largely successful attempt to create tragedy. Deeply depressed by her husband’s infidelity, the heroine, Jo, finds the priviledged lifestyle he affords her, devoid of spiritual value. Her pregnancy becomes a pivotal moment in which she must seemingly choose between her core identity and belief, and an alternative offered by her husband. She makes her choice as if it were a pact with him, only to find herself betrayed. The fight scene that follows is harrowing. At the film’s conclusion, in a gesture both exalted and grimly realistic, Jo accepts her husband’s offer to continue their life together.

Thus we have the elements of tragedy: success that is a fall from grace; Jo’s dilemma at the time of her pregnancy; the tragic insight that allows Jo to reconnect with her husband, as he truly is.

I have rarely been so moved by a film. Surely, this film is unsurpassed in its visual beauty. The acting is uniformly great, and Bancroft delivers one of the touchstone performances in screen history. The lyrical nature of the screen writing is enchanced, particularly in the opening and closing scenes, by the exalted music of Georges Delarue. For me, this lyricism is also the essence of the Penelope Mortimer novel.

Final kudos though must go to Harold Pinter. His style is peculiarly effective. It is as if he writes half the scene, forcing the viewer through intuition and interpretation to supply the other half; for example, the scene with the psychiatrist. This is a most intelligent way to engage the audience. His treatment of the issue of abortion will probably not win him fans. He demonstrates how politically correct and fashionable ideas can be used in perversely selfish ways.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful.
Brilliant Portrait of a Bad Marriage
By P. Mitsos
This is my absolute favorite film of all time, and Anne Bancroft’s performance is her best. Made in 1964 and set in London, this film tells the story of a woman who is in the middle of her third marriage, to a screenwriter, played by Peter Finch. Her character, Jo Armitage, is a woman who truly seems to find her self-worth and happiness only when she is pregnant and raising children. Once her children become even only slightly older, she seems to lose her sense of purpose, and allows herself to become quite isolated in the world. Her current husband, the screenwriter, doesn’t make matters any better for her either.

This is definitely Anne Bancroft’s film all the way, and she is breathtakingly beautiful in it as well. Her portrayal of Jo Armitage paints a very lonely, depressed, lost, and in many ways pathetic character…but it is also strangely my favorite performance of Bancroft. Look also for wonderful supporting performances by James Mason and Maggie Smith. This film weaves a disturbing yet very realistic portrait of a bad marriage (some might just say “marriage”), and it should be studied for its acting and its writing. In addition, Georges Delerue’s musical score is superb, and I am always searching for the film’s soundtrack, but have had no luck. Thanks to beautiful art direction by Edward Marshall, their home interior is also gorgeous…’60′s chic. I’ve seen this film at least 60 times, and never tire of it. It’s a quiet little masterpiece.

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Manda Bala

Brazil is known for it is gorgeous beaches lush rain forests and vibrant culture. However in recent years the country has developed more of a reputation for corrupt politicians kidnapping and plastic surgery. Manda Bala (Send a Bullet) artfully connects these seemingly disparate elements and conducts a dazzling yet harrowing examination of the tragic domino effect that has reshaped the face of the country and invented an entire industry built on corruption. Featuring a stylish score and articulate consultations with kidnappers kidnap victims and the humans who earnings off them Jason Kohn s award-winning documentary illustrates how corruption and kidnapping represent two sides of the same violent crime: the rich steal from the poor while the poor steal the rich.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/HISTORY UPC: 897246001102 Manufacturer No: DV600100

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful.
Best Doc of 2007
By James LeJeune
If Tarantino made documentaries, this is what they’d look like. Beautifully lensed, perfectly edited, and laced throughout with a killer soundtrack of brazillian tunes, this movie grabs you from the first moment and captivates till the last frame. Rather than beating you over the head with it’s message, or concocting a bogus narrative to tell a specific story, instead, Manda Bala interweaves numerous characters and their various roles in the drama of Sao Paulo’s infamous daily kidnappings. These interwoven tales are so expertly layered that the filmmakers intended conclusions appear innescapable. It’s a simply brillant piece of documentary work that everyone should see.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.
Wowww!!! Turn me 360 degree!
By B. Tavares
Beautiful. Humanize human beings. I wouldn’t recommend to those who live in Sao Paulo or has love ones there. Great film about Brazil’ system, economy, politics made by a foreigner. Surprised me.
Must see film for ALL Brazilian people.
The truth is not always easy to be faced but is necessary.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful.
WOW!
By Greg
Normally I don’t watch documentaries, but I was sent this one as a screener and it was terrific ! ! It was a winner at this years Sundance Film Festival and features some of the best most honest interesting interviews I have ever seen. It manages to show all sides to the business of kidnapping in Brazil, from victim to perpetrator, to police & prosecutors to the corrupt judicial officials who refuse to convict government officials who break the law of the land.

Well worth the purchase price and the investment of time to watch.

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Manda Bala Photo

Jazzercise Live Total Body Dance Workout

Blast the fat! Burn calories with this 60 minute total body dance workout in a live Jazzercise class. Includes bonus cardio and strength sets.

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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful.
GREAT WORKOUT
By Hilda L. Rood
This is a great DVD! It’s not as good as LIVE classes, but it’s a close second. There’s several different workouts, so I’m not sick of doing the same one over and over. I would suggest this to anyone who hates boring workouts!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
Sweating for Sure
By A
I’ve taken Jazzercise classes, but can’t afford the expense right now, so I picked up this dvd. While I miss the humor of a class, this still gets me sweating and I can already feel myself starting to get better at the DVD. There are a few different options on the dvd. 30, 20 and 60 min session. So far I’ve only done the 30min piece but I like that there are multiple instructors and there is a dedicated low impact instructor that I can watch for moves that feel just to hard on my knees.

Bottom line- I wish I were in class, but this travels better!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful.
dvd doesn’t do jazzercise justice
By kara
Still an awesome workout, but does not do the Jazzercise name justice. I used to attend Jazzercise classes 3 times a week and LOVED going because of the great music and massive variety of routines. Unfortunately, this video doesn’t have either. The music is your typical, generic work out variety and there is only one set of routines on the video, so it gets boring really fast. Like I said, still a good workout, but just a bit disappointing.

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Jazzercise Live Total Body Dance Workout Image

Jazzercise Live Total Body Dance Workout Image

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Jazzercise Live Total Body Dance Workout Photo

The Bible Unearthed

In this iconoclastic and provocative work, leading scholars Israel Finkelstein and Neil Asher Silberman draw on recent archaeological exploration to present a dramatically revised portrait of ancient Israel and it is neighbors. They argue that crucial proof (or a telling lack of evidence) at digs in Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon proposes that a heap of of the most famous stories in the Bible — the wanderings of the patriarchs, the Exodus from Egypt, Joshua’s conquest of Canaan, and David and Solomon’s tremendous empire — reflect the world of the later writers rather than actual historical facts.

Challenging the fundamentalist readings of the scriptures and marshaling the latest archaeological proof to support it is new imaginativeness of ancient Israel, The Bible Unearthed offers a arousing and attention holding and arguable perspective on when and why the Bible was written and why it possesses such outstanding spiritual and aroused power today.

ReviewThe Bible Unearthed is a balanced, thoughtful, bold reconsideration of the historical amount of time that invented the Hebrew Bible. The headline news in this book is easy to pick out: there is no proof for the existence of Abraham, or any of the Patriarchs; ditto for Moses and the Exodus; and the same goes for the whole amount of time of Judges and the merged monarchy of David and Solomon. In fact, the writers argue that it is out of the question to say much of anything in regards to ancient Israel until the seventh century B.C., around the time of the sovereignty of King Josiah. In that period, “the narrative of the Bible was unambiguously suitable to further the religious reform and territorial ambitions of Judah.” Yet the writers deny that their arguments will have to be construed as compromising the Bible’s power. Only in the 18th century–”when the Hebrew Bible started out to be dissected and studied in isolation from it is powerful function in community life”–did readers begin to view the Bible as a source of empirically verifiable history. For most of it is life, the Bible has been what Finkelstein and Silberman disclose it once more to be: an eloquent expression of “the deeply rooted sense of shared origins, experiences, and fate that each humane community needs in order to survive,” written in such a way as to partly include a broader “the men, women, and children, the rich, the poor, and the destitute of an entire community.” –Michael Joseph Gross

From Publishers WeeklyFinkelstein, conductor of Tel Aviv University’s excavations at Megiddo (ancient Armageddon), and Silberman, author of a series of successful and intriguing books on the political and cultural dimensions of archeology, present for the initial time to a ordinary audience the results of recent research, which reveals more without doubt or question that while the Bible may be the most important piece of Western literature–serving concrete political, cultural and religious purposes–many of the events recorded in the Old Testament are not with respect to history accurate. Finkelstein and Silberman do not intent to undermine the Bible’s import, but to demonstrate why it became the basic document for a distinct religious community under peculiar political circumstances. For example, they maintain that the Exodus was not a single dramatic event, as described in the second book of the Bible, but rather a series of occurrences over a long amount of time of time. The Old Testament account is, according to the authors, neither historical truth nor literary fiction, but a powerful expression of memory and hope constructed to serve peculiar political purposes at the time it was composed. The writers assert rather convincingly that the kingdoms of Israel and Judah became radically dissimilar regions even before the time of King David; the northern lands were densely populated, with a booming agriculture-based economy, while the southern region was sparsely populated by migratory pastoral groups. Furthermore, they contend, “we still have no hard archaeological evidence–despite the unparalleled biblical description of it is grandeur–that Jerusalem was anything more than a modest highland village in the time of David, Solomon, and Rehoboam.” Fresh, stimulating and highly engaging, this book will hold biggest appeal for readers intimate with the Bible, in peculiar the Old Testament–unfortunately, a shrinking share of the population. 16 pages of b&w photos not seen by PW. Agent, Carol Mann.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From BooklistUnlike the millions who revere the Hebrew Bible (the Old Testament) as the word of God, Finkelstein and Silberman approach it as a distinctly humane record, one bearing the marks not of careful historians but rather of enthusiasti visionaries engaged in a struggle to wrest transcendent meaning out of the whirlwind of events. Following a trail of proof uncovered in recent decades by archaeologists working all around the Near East, the writers find no certification for the biblical accounts of Abraham or Joseph or Moses. And even though archaeology does verify the historical reality of David and Solomon, it discloses their empire as a mere shadow of that ascribed to them in Scripture. Clue by clue, a pattern of discrepancies cumulates separating archaeology from Scripture, so revealing the authorial fingermark of an embattled group of religious leaders, fighting valiantly versus political treachery and spiritual apostasy. The writers argue forcefully that these guardians of orthodoxy forged a powerful new testimony for their faith, fashioning inherited traditions and recent developments into one magnificent–but profoundly ahistorical–saga. A significant, if controversial, contribution to cross-disciplinary studies of history and religion. Bryce Christensen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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306 of 331 people found the following review helpful.
Scholarly and Accessible
By Mark Wylie
In “The Bible Unearthed,” Israel Finkelstein and Neil Silberman display a rare talent among scholars–the ability to make specialized research accessible to a general audience. In this book the authors reveal how recent archaeological research forces us to reconsider the historical account woven into the Hebrew Bible. Among the conclusions they draw are:

1) The tales of patriarchs such as Abraham are largely legends composed long after the time in which they supposedly took place. This is seen in anachronisms such as the use of camels, not domesticated in the Near East until nearly 1000 years after Abraham’s time, in many of the stories.

2) There is good reason to believe that the Exodus never happened. Had migrants to the number of even a small fraction of the 600,000 claimed in the Bible truly sojourned in the Sinai Peninsula for 40 years, archaeological evidence of their passage would be abundant. In fact, there are no traces of any signifant group living in the Sinai at the supposed time of the Exodus.

3) The Israelite “conquest” of Canaan, such as there was, was far from the military invasion of the books of Joshua and Judges. Many of the cities described as being conquered and destroyed did not even exist at the time, while those that did were small, unfortified villages, with no walls to be brought down, by blowing trumpets or otherwise.

4) While there is evidence that a historical David existed, and founded some sort of ruling dynasty known by his name, there is good reason to believe that he did not rule over the powerful united monarchy described in II Samuel. One reason for doubt: Jerusalem, portrayed as the great capital of a prosperous nation, was during the time of David little more than a village.

5) Neither Israel nor Judah emerged as organized kingdoms until significantly after the supposed period of the united monarchy. Israel does not appear as a recognizable kingdom until the time of the Omrides of the 9th century BCE, while Judah does not appear as such until the late 8th century BCE, at the time of kings Ahaz and Hezekiah.

Along with their revision of the biblical account of history, Finkelstein and Silberman attempt to explain the origins of the Hebrew Bible, suggesting that the composition of much of the Bible can be tied to the religious agenda of King Josiah of Judah during the late 7th century BCE. While the origins of the Bible will never be known with certainty–there simply isn’t enough evidence–Finkelstein and Silberman definitely provide a plausible interpretation.

The authors, as I noted above, do a superb job of making their work understandable to non-specialists; since even college history majors often don’t study the ancient Near East, they take care to include sufficient background information for the reader to understand the context of their account. Anyone with an interest in the subject will find “The Bible Unearthed” to be fascinating reading. And anyone who thinks the Bible is an accurate history book should definitely read it.

208 of 225 people found the following review helpful.
Excellent Scholarship
By Deborah Appler
I just finished The Bible Unearthed and I have one overall word to say about it: EXCELLENT! First of all, the authors provide a complete and easy to read explanation of ALL of the “hot” issues currently debated in the field of archaeology and biblical studies. Should the reader not find full agreement with the authors’ final conclusions, he or she will have the data available to express this disagreement, especially since the authors place their arguments in the context of what is believed by both majority and minority scholarly opinions. They provide an excellent summary of the opposing arguments; summaries that are fair and complete. Too often people are quick to dismiss Finkelstein as a “biblical minimalist” because these readers are often misinformed or have misread Finkelstein’s work. In “The Bible Unearthed,” Finkelstein and Silberman are clear to disassociate themselves from the biblical “minimalists” while affiming the questions that they raise, questions that even the most “maximalist” scholar must honestly deal with in light of the paucity of archaeological evidence associated with the time of the ancestors through the rise of the Omride dynasty in 9th century Israel. One of the major questions plaguing the field of biblical studies is the one concerning David and Solomon. Do they really exist? Finkelstein and Silberman unequivocally state that both David and Solomon are historical beings. The magnitude of their kingdom, however, is the issue at hand. Based on the archaeological evidence, the authors suggest that the biblical account of these kings is a mixture of both fact and some embellishment by later authors, most likely writing during King Josiah’s reign in 7th century Judah. Finkelstein and Silberman argue convincingly that Josiah, wanting to expand his kingdom to include the now fallen kingdom of Israel, found it useful to weave together the “histories” of the northern and southern kingdoms to create one unified and sacred text uniting the peoples of these two kingdoms. This understanding is not so far afield from earlier scholars who attribute the Deuteronomistic History (Joshua–2 Kings) to the time of Josiah and later. As a seminary professor and an ordained Christian minister, I am not willing to throw David and Solomon out and I struggle with those who argue that the Bible was constructed in the Persian and Hellenistic periods. Finkelstein and Silberman are not amond these minimalists and are well within what is argued by mainline scholars, especially those trying to come to terms with how the Bible and the archaeological data coincide and differ. Yes this book will rankle feathers yet it isn’t far afield from what has been recently argued by biblical experts. This book will be assigned to my students because I want these people, who will be church leaders and scholars, to struggle with these issues. It is a well written and researched book and has a great deal to offer the reader. Besides, should questions threaten one’s faith, one must question the veracity of the faith that was threatened.

84 of 95 people found the following review helpful.
I will never see the Bible the same again.
By Beverly Hines
Whoa! If you are a person who interprets the Bible from a modern, traditional perspective then be prepared to be troubled when you read this book. These authors suggest some brow-raising hypotheses and seem to show some support for them.

I read this book after I read Richard E. Friedman’s book Who Wrote the Bible? That was a good way to do it. Friedman’s gentle voice (he seems to still value the Bible as a spiritual guide of some sort and states he still holds a Christian perspective) tenderly lowered me into the cauldron while Finkelstein and Silberman’s more stark and detailed punches knocked me around a bit.

I will say that this book took some discipline for me to get through. It was definitely worth the effort, but it is not quite as easy a read as Friedman’s.

I do grieve and mourn that the Bible will never be the same for me again. On the other hand, I am beginning to be hopeful that one can embrace all these new perspectives of the Bible and still find spiritual food (Walter Brueggemann is a Christian author that seems to have embraced many of these new findings and yet seems to be unperturbed by them. In fact he seems to be finding a way to incorporate them into his spiritual journey.)

I must also admit that I am excited about what this new paradigm can do in liberating many of us from Biblioidolatry.

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Touch For Health Dvd

With over ½ million copies in print since 1973, John Thie’s Touch for Health started a phenomenon that has flourished international to support more than 10 million people in over 40 countries restore their natural healing energies and take pleasure in vibrant health through his distinguishable treatment of posture and muscle balancing that combines simple distinct features of acupressure touch and massage. From this book, you will learn the proficiencies that chiropractors, substitute health specialists, athletic trainers, and massage therapists have found valuable in preventive health-care treatment.

ReviewThe body heals itself. What we have tried to do for the professional, John is doing for the layperson. –George Goodheart, D.C

Review. . . a priceless contribution to the creative writing of recognized artisti value on the Healing Arts. This beautifully illustrated book has both clarity and scope. For those who are fascinated in healing others, Dr. Thie has rendered a positive service to the world, when healing noesis is so needed. –Rammurti S. Mishra, M.D., Yoga Society of New York

About the ActorJohn Thie, DC was president of the Touch For Health Foundation after having led the Thie Chiropractic Clinic for 35 years as a conductor in Pasadena, California. With degrees from USC, the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic, and UCLA, he served on the faculties of galore Southern California universities, where his treatment and technique gained acknowledgement allround the world. Despite his recent passing in 2005, Touch for Health will live everlastingly in the hearts of his colleagues and practitioners for years to come. Matthew Thie collaborated directly with his father since 1996, fabricating healing protocol, writing articles, and working with students.

Most helpful customer reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful.
Video Not Super Helpful
By Annette
I was anxious to learn more about Touch for Health after being introduced to it a couple weeks ago. I bought the video believing that it is an instructional guide to accompany the book “The Complete Edition Touch for Health”.
I usually play instructional videos on my computer using Ms Windows Media Player. I had trouble getting this video to play on my HP computer and would not play at all on a Gateway computer. When I finally got it to work, the sound was so low that even with both my computer and media player on 100% volume, the narration can barely be heard. Part of the dialog cannot be heard at all.
The video played well on my television DVD player with adequate sound volume.
The volume of narrator often fades at the end of her sentences so that it is difficult to get the meaning without replaying that section several times.
The video starts with an introduction by TFH founder, John Thie.
Then there is an elementary anatomical explanation of the spine & vertebrae, sacrum & coccyx, which should be unnecessary for any massage therapist or healthcare professional.
There are nice graphics on energy flow in the meridians.
There is a quick explanation of 5 Methods for correcting weak muscles.
There is only one complete demonstration of John Thie treating a patient. It states that he tests all 14 meridians, but there is little or no explanation of which meridian or specific muscles are being tested as the demonstration continues.

There are several testimonials at the end of the video, but there was only a brief clip of them being treated or no video of treatment.
Although I find the video somewhat helpful in understanding the book, I believe that it is over-priced and too infomercial-like.
I expected more detail on the vaious techniques and rationale for the sequence in testing and treatment of various merdians and muscles.
The textbook “The Complete Edition, Touch for Health” is a wonderful source of information for anyone learning meridians and acupressure points, a great value.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful.
Touch For Health DVD with John Thie, DC
By L. Rossi
If you are curious about what is done in a session using Touch for Health this is a great starter video. It covers the some of the basic theory on Touch for Health and then shows an actual balancing procedure. Demonstrates goal setting and the 14 muscle tests and their re balancing procedure and the outcome. It is not a long video, less than an hour perhaps. I am simply in awe of John Thie’s approach as a healer and will watch it again, not only for the technical part, but mostly to see a real master loving his craft. I give this film 5 stars because he is simply so inspiring to watch.

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful.
Disappointed
By KKH
I got this video as a companion for the book I already had and was hoping for something that expanded on the book but this video has none of that.

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