An educational analysis of the bonds between horses and humans and how they can “bring feelings of self-awareness, joy,...
Exploration of the healing relationship between humans and horses.
Drawing on his lifetime of experiences with horses, including his friendship of more than 17 years with a gelding quarter horse named Austin, Hayes examines the intricate connections between these four-legged creatures and humans. He explains the three basic factors that motivate horses—“survival, comfort and leadership”—and places them in the context of a horse’s interaction with humans, who are considered “predators.” Despite their initial fear, horses overcome their hesitancy and develop long-standing connections with both children and adults. The author explains how this allows humans to accept their own fears and often leads to healing and greater life fulfillment. Through personal interviews and stories, Hayes covers the various aspects of using equine therapy for children with autism, war vets suffering from PTSD, inmates in prison for violent crimes, and those exposed to domestic violence and abuse. The author also discusses the benefits of horse riding for those with physical ailments and disabilities such as cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. Hayes’ obvious love for all things equine is evident throughout, especially when he relates his own moments of fear, such as when faced with a 20-mile ride through unknown countryside with only his horse to lead him in the right direction. “This remarkable creature can not only continue to serve humanity but can help heal our wounded, remind us of our connectedness to others, and ground us with love for ourselves and for all living things,” writes the author, who provides a long list of equine resources with ample information for those interested in exploring equine therapy for a variety of ailments.
An educational analysis of the bonds between horses and humans and how they can “bring feelings of self-awareness, joy, wonder, humility, and peace of mind.”Pub Date: March 3, 2015
ISBN: 978-1250033512
Page Count: 368
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: Nov. 28, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2014
A daunting but worthwhile journey through the material and divine realms of our universe.
An intriguing if sometimes ponderous examination of man's place in the universe.
Bartow creates a systematic philosophic framework for integrating concepts from diverse disciplines, such as astrology, psychology, metaphysics, theology, eastern and western mysticism and quantum physics. The author uses complex–and often unintelligible–diagrams to create a visual representation of the corporeal and spiritual universe, building layers of complexity that illustrate the dynamic interaction of mind, matter, energy and spirituality. He divides man’s perception of the universe into objective and subjective categories with distinctive subcategories, using piano keys as the primary metaphor–the black keys represent the objective planes, embodied in the concrete laws of science, and the white keys represent the subjective interior planes. The author makes frequent use of the philosophies from such ancient traditions as the Kabbalah, Buddhism, the teachings of Don Juan and Tibetan thought. The massive scope of Bartow’s vision eventually becomes overwhelming, and the esoteric nature of the study will deter casual readers. Ultimately, however, the text will prove thought-provoking and rewarding for the diligent.
A daunting but worthwhile journey through the material and divine realms of our universe.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: 0-9760863-0-1
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Problematic structure aside, a comprehensive history of Latin America's largest country.
A thoroughly documented scholarly treatise on Brazilian history.
In the first of two volumes spanning 500 years of Brazilian history, Hufferd focuses on the first 300 years of colonization in the northeast region. Portugal was seeking to build maritime trade to compete successfully with archrival Spain and to retain its national identity. The colony expanded westward from a number of large tracts of lands called captaincies, granted by Portuguese monarchs to wealthy royal favorites in return for profits gained through trade, breeding cattle and other ventures. These captaincies eventually gained the status of states, including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grasso, Manaus and Amazonia. Over subsequent decades, enterprising adventurers and explorers from these captaincies ventured inland, establishing sugar mills, cultivating grazing land and extracting gold, silver and precious gems. All ventures were highly labor-intensive, requiring massive amounts of manpower driven by slaves from Africa and native tribes. In the second volume, Hufferd focuses on the final 200 years of Brazil's rapid industrialization. After the Portuguese monarchy was forced to relocate its base from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, it became the fulcrum of a delicate political system within the new country. The social and political structure favored privileged hereditary landowners, even after the last reigning Emperor Pedro II was deposed amidst strong republican sentiment. Continuing the narrative through 2000, Hufferd chronicles upheavals most often caused by the chronic underdevelopment of existing resources, as the landowners maintained authority over the land, to the detriment of the black, mulatto and tribal segments of Brazilian society, who remained disenfranchised until recent years. In each volume, the author illustrates his vast knowledge of the topic, and he weaves political, economic, social and biographical threads throughout the panoramic narrative. While the expansive footnotes demonstrate impeccable research, they eventually hinder the narrative flow, requiring endless paging back and forth–the dissertation-style format ultimately detracts from the book's impact.
Problematic structure aside, a comprehensive history of Latin America's largest country.Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2006
ISBN: 1-4208-0278-X, Vol.
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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