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Tim Burness' Profile
Customer Reviews: 100
New Reviewer Rank: 10,914
Classic Reviewer Rank: 2,729
Helpful Votes:
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Reviews Written by
Tim Burness (Brighton, England)
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
A Master reaches out in style!, June 10, 2008
If you have heard or suspected that there might be some substantial truth in astrology, this is an excellent place for an open and intelligent mind to start.
Over the last 30 years, Stephen Arroyo has achieved widespread international recognition for his outstanding astrological writings. In his previous books he has explored the depth and complexity of modern psychological astrology in clear, accessible, entertaining language. However, this book is written more for the general reader and independent thinker, not astrologers who already know their stuff!
The first few chapters explore a wide range of issues related to both astrology's lack of widespread acceptance and the problems of forming healthy relationships in the modern world. Arroyo refers to the "mass psychosis" of the modern Western lifestyle that bombards us with commercial images and unrealistic expectations. Our ability to form relationships with each other is one area that suffers as a result. The author suggests that if more people opened their minds to what serious astrology has to offer, they would find a much-needed, precise, insightful tool for self-understanding.
Arroyo gradually moves on to explore astrological basics such as the four elements, the twelve signs and the rising sign. The personal planets and relationships are covered in great depth, with countless everyday quotes and examples from many years of observation. This is very high quality writing that deserves respect.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Modern post-punk experimental brilliance with the spirit of Gong!, February 16, 2007
The third album by University Of Errors from 2003 is a great mix of hard-edged guitar rock and crazy Gong experimentalism that works superbly. It deserves a far broader audience than Daevid Allen and Gong fans, in fact I suspect many might not find it their (joke for Gong fans) cup of tea? Teenage fans of grungey American indie guitar bands would surely love a lot of this, there's more than a hint of Red Hot Chilli Peppers here and there.
The opening instrumental rocks out around a Josh Pollock angular heavy riff and distorted feedback. Pollock's excellent guitar experiments and production feature strongly throughout the album, supported by the rock solid drums and bass guitar of Jason Mills and Michael Clare respectively. But as it says on the Planet Gong website, this album is not just a wall of urban metal-voodoo-feedback speed guitar...
There is a rocking version of "Pot-Head Pixies" and some of the other Allen songs and lyrics such as "Wage Slave" and "Mystico Fanatico" are up there with his best. Daevid is on good whimsical form for "Moo?" which discusses the pros and cons of putting soya milk or cow's milk in your tea. "Soya beans go 'weee' and cows go 'wow whoopee!'". The tone changes completely for "If You Die", a dark and moody track that ends with some great feedback effects. A nice version of an old Kevin Ayers popsong moves into yet more different musical territory and the album finishes with a crazy upbeat punk jig!
Great album.
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Affluenza
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by Oliver James
Edition: Hardcover |
| Availability: Out of Print--Limited Availability |
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
YES! But will this book make any difference?, February 15, 2007
As someone who basically agrees with almost everything in this book, I am biased in its favour. On the other hand, one wonders whether it will only be "preaching to the converted" or maybe reduced to a conversation piece in middle-class circles. Psychologist Oliver James occasionally comes across as suffering from "affluenza" himself, a few too many references to his own success perhaps? But to be fair his style is also honest, self-effacing and funny in places. Someone in his well-connected position (a bit of a media figure, consultant to senior UK politicians and so on) writing a book like this has to be a good thing. It is surely better than no-one saying anything while people slowly drown in a sea of unchallenged, materialistic, individualism.
The essential message deserves to be taken very very seriously. The author's focus is on why so many people in English-speaking countries (such as America, England, Australia but not so much New Zealand) are experiencing higher rates of personal unhappiness than they were 30 years ago. According to James, this is the result of placing a high value on money, possessions, physical and social appearances, and fame. By contrast, countries such as Denmark and Holland have a less selfish version of capitalism and so are generally happier. Along the way there are entertaining interviews, some interesting psychological insights, suggestions on parenthood, and analyses of different cultures. I found the section on China's economic development particularly interesting.
There are three parts: The Virus, The Vaccines (basically some sensible self-help suggestions) and Wakey Wakey! In the last section James suggests a whole range of legislative measures such as having a system which selects leaders who are emotionally mature, and making housing property no longer a means of defining status. He calls for a genuine democracy that doesn't mean the rule of all by a rich minority. At one point James even goes so far as to question the necessity of economic growth and of course he is laughed at. Of course!
My guess is that some will think this book doesn't go far enough and others will think it goes too far. All credit to Oliver James for writing it.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent comprehensive overview of psychology, February 4, 2007
Following on from Tom Butler-Bowdon's previous volumes in the "50 Classics" series, this first class collection of summaries of key psychology books and authors continues in the same broad, accessible, but also in-depth, style.
As the sub-title says, psychology is all about who we are, how we think, what we do. In other words, what it means to be human. Topics covered include the unconscious mind, happiness and mental health, the study of personality, motivation, love, creativity and relationships.
With key "in a nutshell" comments, the author cuts to the essential message of each writer, while addressing more complex subtleties in the accompanying text. As with Tom's other books, there is a very wide range of carefully chosen authors. I had come across several here in an academic context, but in general the emphasis is on popular psychology, "Psychology for nonpsychologists" as the jacket puts it. The range includes RD Laing, Oliver Sacks, Fritz Perls, Ivan Pavlov, Eric Berne, to pick a few random names. The founding fathers such as William James and Sigmund Freud are covered, alongside over a century's worth of contributions right up to Malcolm Gladwell with his 2005 bestseller on the importance of first impressions and split-second judgment.
There is a huge amount of psychological and self-development literature available these days. It can be difficult to know where to begin but each volume in the "50 Classics" is an excellent starting point. "50 Psychology Classics" is another winner in the series and I wholeheartedly recommend it!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Profound insight into the soul and psyche of America, January 3, 2007
A well-balanced book that deserves a wider readership than just those interested in astrology or spirituality. Steffan Venel has written with this hope in mind, incorporating many of the basics of astrology into the text.
Serious astrologers suddenly became a lot more interested in the birth chart of the U.S.A. after September 11th. Beginning with a Libran dedication of "Towards a Vision of a Truly Beautiful America", Venel goes on to explore the positive and negative possibilities in great depth. Chapter one looks at America's self-image and Sagittarius rising sign. "This sign rising will tend to make the individual see himself as upright, honest and morally strong, whether they are or not". Other chapters include a look at the historical birth of America, the material obsession shown by Pluto in Capricorn and the second house, the Arab/Israeli conflict, and a concise interpretation of George W. Bush's chart. Towards the end of the book, the author ponders the future. One can only hope that America shows more self-reflection and sensitivity to others in the years to come.
Some astrologers may find that Venel occasionally uses rather wide orbs but basically his interpretations are spot on. I personally found some of the more occult or esoteric spirituality a bit superfluous in places, but there is plenty of carefully researched (and referenced) history, psychology and sociology here too.
Overall this is an absolutely superb book. Thank you Steffan Venel!
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Great introduction to holistic living and healing, January 2, 2007
Skye Alexander has put together an accessible collection of lifestyle ideas and practical exercises that just about anyone could benefit from. "Fundamentally taking care of your chi involves caring for yourself on every level and following a lifestyle that promotes health and well-being - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually".
The book serves as a good introduction to a large number of complementary and alternative therapies. The author draws on a great deal of experience in these areas, from yoga to Chinese medicine to astrology and many others. The first 3 chapters (part one) are an overview of what chi energy is and how we can work with it. The remaining 4 chapters consist of a large number of practical suggestions and exercises that can help individual healing. There are simple meditation and yoga exercises, herbal remedies, self-help ideas and affirmations for keeping a positive attitude to life.
I have been practising many of the suggestions in this book for many years and can confirm that they really make a difference. However, I personally will not be taking too seriously Skye's recommended action to prevent chi energy from leaving your home - always keep the toilet lid closed!?
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9 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
Fact or fiction, the message deserves serious attention, April 2, 2006
Brilliant, in an odd kind of way! The paradox of this book is that it often reads like an unbelievable and corny spy thriller, while simultaneously dealing with probably the most real and important issues facing humanity and the planet today. I am sure the author is well aware of this - a more academic, or more "credible" account would have reached far fewer people. Regardless of how much artistic license John Perkins may have used, the essence of this book has a sobering ring of truth about it.
Perkins takes us through his autobiographical account of life as an economic hit-man or EHM. "We are an elite group of men and women who utilize financial organizations to foment conditions that make other nations subservient to the corporatocracy running our biggest corporations, our government, and our banks." From 1971 to 1980, this found him working in developing countries (eg. Saudi Arabia, Ecuador, Panama), subtley and not-so-subtley building the global American Empire. The real-life politics is interesting.
Perkins eventually quit his job, finally finding the greed and hypocrisy too difficult to deal with. This was partly a result of getting to know the natives of each country he worked in and his social life makes entertaining reading. Although he left the EHM job in 1980, it took the events of September 11th 2001 to finally inspire him to come completely clean and publish this book.
The epilogue is a nice little wake-up call in itself.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Fantastic album by a truly great band, April 2, 2006
"Ghost In The Machine" ranks alongside "Zenyatta Mondatta" and "Synchronicity" as the three best albums by the phenomenally brilliant band that were The Police. By this one they had moved largely away from their "white reggae" style, towards a more complex produced sound that would peak on the also excellent "Synchronicity".
As usual with Sting, Summers and Copeland, there is a broad range of styles here, both musically and lyrically. "Spirits In The Material World" and others such as "Secret Journey" show Sting's already well-established interest in spiritual matters. Other songs such as the big hit "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" are more straightforward love songs. A political theme runs through the album with "Invisible Sun" being about the troubles in Northern Ireland at the time, and "Rehumanize Yourself" making a damning reference to a far right political party.
The musical sophistication, intelligence, high energy and creative imagination of this band was incredible. With this album they expanded their sound to include more keyboards, saxophone and layers of sound in general. Masterful.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
One of the very very best from the nineties!, April 2, 2006
An astonishing album that came from nowhere to take over the world in 1995. It still sounds brilliant today and it would be somewhere in my list of all-time favourite albums. This much soul, naked feeling and uplifting intelligence rarely co-incides with massive commercial success.
Every song on "Jagged Little Pill" is strong, even the odd one I personally am not so keen on. A freshness and energy come through on every track. On later albums Alanis sometimes comes across as self-indulgent, even self-obsessed, but here her screaming and ranting just sound honest and genuine. This woman has really had enough of being treated like dirt, make no mistake! Alanis goes right into her emotional and psychological troubles but empowers herself and the listener at the same time.
The production by co-writer Glen Ballard is subtle and not too sophisticated, which serves the songs well. The final song "Wake Up" is one of my favourites, a call to get up off your backside and take responsibility for your life. I love this album. Thank you Alanis, Glen Ballard and friends.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Entertaining, funny, well put together, April 2, 2006
Whatever you think of the man, Bono is something else. Here we get some genuine insight into what makes this extraordinary individual tick. The series of dialogues between the Irish singer and old friend French writer Michka Assayas covers just about everything you can think of with intelligence and humour. At one point they discuss that these conversations themselves may be some kind of therapy for Bono since the relatively recent death of his father.
From his troubled adolescence and the death of his mother, to his recent first-hand experiences of international economics and politics, to his relationship with God and Christianity, Bono reveals all. Meetings with the Pope, George W. Bush, President Gorbacev calls round for Sunday lunch, there are some fascinating bits and pieces! Just as he appears on the point of pomposity or pretentiousness, out comes a quote from Monty Python, or a self-deprecating U2 story.
For a millionaire rock star, Bono comes across as remarkably in touch with reality and with his feet firmly on the ground. In fact it is astonishing that he appears to be so in touch with so many different realities, and still have a healthy sense of perspective. One senses a clear-headed ambition to achieve an ongoing balance between idealism and realism.
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(Brighton, England)
![Ghost In The Machine [Digipak]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31MT74YPBQL._SL110_.jpg)
