Myths & Legends Explained
By Neil Philip
ISBN 978-1-4351-3568-0

The world's most enduring myths and legends explored and explained.

This beautifully illustrated collection of myths and legends is a great book for your library.
If you happen to be a Pagan it is a must. And if you are in a Coven it would be great for your story teller.
He even brings the Christian faith into it as a Myth comparing a lot of biblical text to Myths in many other cultures covering the same thing many years prior to the bible. It is a great book! You really need to check it out and it is on sale at Barnes and Noble :)

A Daybook of Positvie Thinking, Daily Affimations of Gratitude and Happiness
A Blue Mountain Arts Collection
ISBN 978-1-59842-604-5

This is a great book to do your daily affirmations. I place a mirror in front of me and read one 3 x to myself everyday :) they help with my whole attitude of gratitude. I would highly recommend this book for any Pagan library :) There is enough negativity in the world. I am going to try and balance it ;)

Attitudes of Gratitude, How to give and receive Joy everyday of your life
M. J Ryan
ISBN 13: 978-1-56731372-7

Currently Reading

As a Pagan I am looking for more ways to be Greatful at what Gaia has to offer to me everyday and really take the time to listen and hear. When I stumbled across this book at my local Barnes and Noble on the sale rack.

The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation Solitary Witch by Silver Raven Wolf
ISBN 0-7387-0319-2

Pros:Well written, comprehensive, very in depth outlines for rites and rituals Cons:Can be a bit biased at timesThe Bottom Line:If you are a solitary practioner this is one book your should look into. It has a wealth of knowledge for you to absorb and learn from.

Once again Silver RavenWolf brings her vast knowledge and expertise to us in a way that even the most inept person can understand. She uses visualization and excellent wording to bring you into the world of Wicca and Witchcraft. In this text she outlines various rituals and rites and gives you examples of almost every situation that can arise. All the while encouraging, almost daring, you to create your own. She gives multiple examples of different types of rituals and why sometimes you don't need all the pomp and circumstance involved in the more "traditional" rituals. She lets you know that it is okay to just be yourself, all the while telling you to do what is in your heart.

She goes step by step through some of the history of Wicca while siting examples and other references for you to check out. Her knowledge of the Essabats and Sabbats can help younger practioners gain some much needed understanding of the "how's" and "why's" we choose to honor these days. She gives her own personal input into certain aspects of the book which can get slightly retorical, but well worth it. Silver has given the knowledge in a way that everyone can understand. She outlines everything and gives example of why somethings are done the way they are. She also stresses ediquette when visiting a circle for the first time which you do not see in many of the books you read today.

She herself states that each must read and discover what they choose to believe. Her humorous keeps the book light while not sacrificing the importance of what you are reading. The book follows up everything it says, or nearly everything, with footnotes and points of reference for those that would like to delve deeper into the meanings of some of the things she says. Raven SilverWolf has again completed her mission of bringing Wicca and Witchcraft to the masses in a way that is easily understandable.

Recommended: Yes

THE SOCIOPATH NEXT DOOR

The Sociopath Next Door is an intriguing look at these devious, tricky people who live a life without a conscience. She describes the sociopath as a person who doesn't have guilt or remorse, or a sense of conscience. Literally no conscience. Their minds are such that the sociopath is free to run amuck in the world, doing what they like without feeling bad or upset. They don't lie awake at night, wishing they could take back a nasty remark. They don't bite back and keep from saying nasty things to the clerk at Blockbuster when asked to check their backpacks at the store. If they say something awful, they're not going to feel sorry for it.

That really seems to be the gist of sociopathy... the total lack of remorse or regard for other people. The DSM-IV criteria -- the gold standard for diagnosing mental disorders -- Dr. Stout says, lists seven characteristics: failure to conform to social norms, being deceitful and manipulating, being impulsive, being irritable or aggressive, being unconcerned about the safety of the self or anybody else, being consistently irresponsible, and being unconcerned and unremorseful for hurting or stealing. To be a sociopath, you need to have at least three of the symptoms (and not just because you're in a bad mood. If you're not a sociopath, you'll probably regret it later).

According to Dr. Stout -- who is backed up by quite a bit of research -- sociopaths make up about 4% of the population. My mediocre math skills suggest that if you're with twenty-four other people, statistically, one of you would be a sociopath. Maybe more, depending on who your friends are. Dr. Stout gives some interesting examples of sociopaths and how destructive they can be. The sociopath doesn't necessarily become a world leader or an evil CEO. Dr. Stout argues that they can easily be a parent exerting influence over children, a noisy neighbor, or really anybody who seeks to wreak some havoc on other people's lives.

They seem to be bored a lot, which probably explains why they're so intent on making other people miserable. The drama that's created by a sociopath trying to take over the condominium or, on the more extreme level, hurt or maim, seems to keep them entertained. Dr. Stout remarks that sociopaths have a curious charm about them, and a spontaneity that makes them interesting, saying that "someone who is unfettered by conscience can easily make us feel that our lives are tediously rule-bound and lackluster," and that joining them makes up for our dull existence. Not all sociopaths are criminals, but all of them are lacking that conscience that keeps actions and behaviors more or less in check by an underlying compassion for others or simple guilt. The sociopath can be incredibly skilled at drawing us in, managing to flatter us and make us want to help and be involved, or just to simply trust them. We don't see what's coming -- at least, most of us don't -- until it's too late. They're out to get what they want because they don't have the ability feel any remorse for the injuries they cause... which means that they're not sorry to have done it. Nothing to stop them, since there's no regard for social norms.

While Dr. Stout doesn't explicitly say what causes sociopathy, she does suggest that it's a combination of nature and nurture. I found it a bit frightening to think that there's no real cause -- too much asparagus in early childhood, say, or too many Barney videos. Sociopaths just seem to crop up, though they occasionally have their uses. They can make excellent soldiers in times of war; people who can kill on the battlefield without feeling guilt after the fact are probably good to have on your side. Without really understanding what causes a sociopath, there's doesn't seem to be much that can be done to cure it. Can a conscience be instilled in somebody who haven't ever had one? Dr. Stout doesn't presume to suggest a cure; she admits that there isn't one, at present, and some cultures actively encourage sociopathic behaviors.

It's an interesting book. The background on what conscience is tends to be a bit too wordy, and a bit difficult to wade through, but that may be the nature of the material. It's hard to commit to a singular definition of what a conscience is, even though most of us can describe it. Dr. Stout also doesn't try to explain what can be done to cure or treat sociopathy. What she's done is write a book on how to recognize a sociopath, and how to cope with his or her influence in our lives. The best way, she says, is to avoid them altogether.

But if you're unfortunate enough to have one in the family, or living next door, or work with one, she does suggest some ways to avoid falling prey. The "thirteen rules for dealing with sociopaths in everyday life" are pretty straightforward and easy to understand. Be suspicious of flattery, for example, as it's used at great lengths by sociopaths. Don't be drawn in by pity, also a tool of the sociopath.

It feels as though Dr. Stout has written this book out of a quiet anger. She talks of the trauma that a sociopath can inflict, and her experiences with their victims. As a psychologist and clinical instructor, I imagine that she has an intimate understanding of the sociopath. It gives the narrative an undertone that is more suspected than revealed, making you wonder at the number of people she's worked with over the years.

One criticism of the book, I think, might be that it seems awfully alarmist. The book sounded like there's a real and present danger to each and every one of us (not including the sociopaths). I felt alarmed as I read the book. Kind of a "holy cow... everybody stay the fuck away! Everyone around you might be a sociopath!" On the other hand, given Dr. Stout's experiences with trauma victims, and her knowledgeable approach to the subject, I'd have to give her the benefit of the doubt when it comes to things like this. Though I haven't been personally victimized by a sociopath, reading the book made it pretty clear that they can be incredibly destructive.

That said, this is probably not the kind of book you want to read on public transit; you'll start to look at your fellow passengers with some concern. Especially if you count twenty-four of them around you. Because. One of them. Might be. A sociopath.

And the one in twenty-five statistic is just that. I don't know that all of us have actually run across a real life sociopath. I think it's like that "perfect husband' that's out there for all of us. He may or may not exist, but I'm pretty sure I haven't met him yet.

Which is fine. Just so long as he's not a sociopath. Because if he is, I'm afraid I'll have to pass.

The Sociopath Next Door: The Ruthless vs. the Rest of Us by Martha Stout, PhD
Broadway
ISBN: 076791581X
241 Pages

Dirty Little Angels by Chris Tusa

Release Date: 03/01/2009

ISBN: 1604890304

Reading time: 2 hours

Total Pages: 170

This story is set in the slums of New Orleans.  It is a story of sixteen year old Hailey Trosclair.  Facing the trials and tribulations of most teenage girls these days with a few more dramatic twists. When her family, which consists of her Father (Deadbeat but lovable father), Mother (self absorbed and overly relgious) and Brother Cyrus (rebellious and overly protective),  suffers a string of financial hardships and a miscarriage. Hailey and Cyrus befriend Moses Watkins, a failed preacher and ex-con. They get tangled up in his views on religion and begin spending more time with Moses. Gradually, though, Moses becomes increasingly more violent, and Hailey and Cyrus soon find themselves trapped in a world of danger and fear from which there may be no escape.
At 170 pages this book is a comfortable read in less then 2 hours uninterrupted. I would have defiantly bought it had it not been graciously given to me to review by the Author. The story line was great and if elaborated could have been easily another 200 pages. But over all a great book. 

Tell Me Honey...2000 questions for couples by Vikram Chadiramani

Release Date: 04/01/2010
ISBN#:  1451501897
Reading time: 30 mins
Pages: 217


This book is exactly as the title says. This author goes through a list of 2018 questions to be exact.
I truly believe I found my next new quiz sheet for any new relationship. Be it romantic or not.

Where was this book when I spent endless hours in the chat rooms with people who had nothing to say?  Heck I might even share these on facebook as wall posts to get my friends and family to post something on my comments from time to time.

Some of the questions I would NEVER ask at the beginning of ANY relationship, however, some would be saved as an arsenal and base for a great argument.

Overall it is an alright book. For what it is that is. Would I buy it? Probably not, but only because I have a creative mind and am not afraid to ask questions.  There are many out there who are not.

If I asked my boyfriend or some of my friends these questions and got to question 1941, you bet your sweet bippy they would say YES and you SOOOOOO fit this category. Want to know what that question is... go to your local Barnes and Noble and pick up a copy and either open it and find out or buy it if it does interest you and gets your mind thinking. Heck pick up a copy and answer the questions yourself.