There are lots of books on ways to become "spiritual," but few so practical as this one. Just reading it makes me relax into a deep comfortable place where time seems to stop.

You can do any one of these practices in the moment. Oman Shannon makes all of them appealing by explaining each one with beautiful simplicity. "Abundance can be had simply by consciously receiving what already has been given," a Sufi proverb notes. What is given here is blessedly rewarding and full.

If you're looking to enrich the way you pray--no matter what your practice--this beautiful book is golden. "The Way We Pray" has become my constant companion.

Prayer may take many forms and be for an infinite variety of reasons. In The Way We Pray: Prayer Practices From Around the World, Maggie Oman Shannon provides a "compendium of prayer practices with enough context to acknowledge the cultural traditions behind them, while offering an invitation for further exploration."

Oman Shannon is a spiritual director, and founder of The New Story, an organization that helps people discover the deeper purpose to their lives. She's also a writer and editor, with a previous anthology of healing prayers to her credit.

Although many of us think of being on our knees with hands folded in front of us as the way to pray, practices as diverse as fasting, haiku, meditation, storytelling, and visual arts can all be a way of prayer. Oman Shannon quotes Catherine of Siena with the thought that "everything you do can be a prayer." What you physically do is of less importance than your sacred intentions. She says that prayer can become the "enfolding fabric in which we live our lives, and everything we do has the potential to be prayerful."

She describes over fifty ways of offering prayer. Each description details how that practice developed and how it has been used throughout time. Then Oman Shannon provides suggestions of how each method can be used in contemporary times, for contemporary difficulties. Each description is finished with a section containing several suggestions as to how individuals can explore that particular means of prayer to determine if it's something they can use.

An extensive resource section is provided to assist readers who want to investigate a particular practice in more depth.

Alan Jones, Dean of Grace Cathedral, has this to say in the Foreword: "The Way We Pray offers us a treasury of integrating spiritual practices [and] they all have the power to open us up to a deeper and more generous reality." Readers will find the Oman Shannon has provided an invaluable resource for discovering the power of prayer in the way best suited to meet their needs.

Maggie Oman Shannon does such a great job of making devotion through prayer seen alluring, rewarding and even fun. I enjoyed learning about all the differnt methods of praying that I have heard about before but knew little about. Finding out about prayer bowls, tea ceromonies and prayer dancing was very interesting. Maggie shares many ways that whatever way of prayer we are interested in can become accessible to use immediately.

I enjoyed as the quotes from different traditions included and
learning about different cultures. The Way We Pray does a great job of giving the reader so many different ways to be spiritual that they can never get bored and always have more paths to explore. What an inspirational book.

nothing to say exept that it's simply fantastic

This book presents an overview of the full splender and variety of Omani silver jewelry, in superb photographs, with informative text.

This book documents the variety and workmanship of Omani silver designs. Detailed information is provided concerning each style/type of object, including region of origin, gender/age/marital status of the wearer, and the circumstances associated with the use of each object.

The pieces are shown on models, as well as in closeups, so that the massive scale of the pieces can be fully appreciated.

The book makes mention of the fact that Oman has a population of Baluchi immigrants, from Pakistan, a fact which I had not known. Herein I noted an error of omission. In discussing a pair of bi-conal beads, with wrapped wire and chased design, the authors mention that the necklaces which used these beads have long since disappeared. These necklaces cannot be found in Oman because these beads are not Omani, but Baluchi, in origin. One needs to look in Baluchistan, Pakistan for the necklaces in question.

Back to the Omani silver. The tragedy is that these pieces are no longer worn by the persons being photographed, but rather, are from the personal collections of two non-Omani collectors who live in Oman.

Today's Omanis wear machine made, gold jewelry, imported from India, which is very different in appearance and weight.

This volume might well have been titled "Omani Jewelry Remembered", for jewelry, of this type, is no longer part the lives of the people shown in the book.

The world is a sadder, duller place, for the loss of this extraordinary style of personal adornment, as a living art form.

A "must have" for any ethnic jewelry enthusiast.

Oman Adorned upholds the tradition of its sister volume Africa Adorned. This book presents a detailed survey of the various types of Omani jewelry, giving the local name of the each type of piece; who would wear each piece, and under what circumstances (gender/age/marital status/ geographical region).

The photography is superb, with most of the pieces shown on models, as well as in closeup, for detail.

The great tragedy is that most of this magnificent jewelry is no longer worn, but comes from the collections of non-Omanis. The art of making the pieces, and joy of wearing the pieces, are rapidly passing into history. The book might well be titled Omani Silver, Remembered, as today most Omanis wear gold jewelry, made in India.

I learned that there is a sizable Baluchi population in Oman, a fact of which I was not aware.

I did find one error of omission in the volume. The caption for a photo of 2 elaborate, bi-conal beads, with wrapped wire and chased design, mentions that the necklaces which used these beads, have long since disappeared.

The reason that the necklaces are not to be found is that the beads are not Omani, but Baluchi, a fact which is not mentioned in the text. The beads come from Pakistan, not from Oman, brought by the Baluchi imigrants.

I recommend this book to any ethnic jewelry enthusiast.

"One God, Shared Hope" invites us to share a thoughtful, from the heart conversation about what it means to be a person of faith, and how that meaning resonates and echoes among Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The desire to do good, to know and love God, to be faithful and to flow love from our hearts for all of God's creation is universal.

The more we think we are different, the more we are really the same. The similarities in the scriptures of our faiths vividly affirm how alike we really are.

The book is easily read from beginning to end, or better yet, can be used as a starting point for personal meditation upon any one of the twenty "threads" Oman Shannon uses to weave this luminous cloth. There are even threads within the threads. When brought together, the depth of color and texture invites one back again and again, each time something a little bit different allowing itself to be seen.

I've read other books about the unifying themes of Islam, Judaism and Christianity. They seemed over-arching in theme and somewhat abstract. Oman Shannon speaks to me, as one person of faith to another, inspiring and encouraging me along the way, so that I may also inspire and encourage.

And isn't that what it's all about?

My heart literally beats with more lightness and vibrance as I read this enlightening book.

A student of "Oneness" between spiritual traditions, I was delighted to read this new offering. Maggie Oman Shannon introduces scripture selections with artful prose which mirrors and calls forth the scripture and principals in question.

I can see myself suggesting this book to many people who have yet to realize our many "likenesses" between the descendents of Abraham.

In fact, the book reminds me that we are ALL unified... whether our beliefs come from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam or any other faith. Our hearts connect us just as this book connected me so surely with its message.

By directly comparing great principles from the scriptures of Christianity, Judaism and Islam, "One God, Shared Hope" shows that these religions have shared goals of peace among nations and cultures. In turbulent times, this message of unity is indeed welcome, and should be shared with family and friends.

The book is unique and valuable on another level, as well. The principles expressed are the basis for personal spiritual growth and well-being. We can never have enough inspiration in this direction. A quiet reading of this book can do wonders for the soul.

I read this book every day. It has enriched my spiritual life tremendously. Now I give it to friends and family. We all have places in our lives and selves that need to be healed-- this book speaks to many of those different dimensions.

I was knee deep in the muck, as they say. My mother had passed away much too early in life for me to make any sense of it, and directly thereafter i was going through a painful divorce. I was bitter. This book is for those of you that believe that God is in all things. That pain is a medium for growth, and as A. Powell Davies would say, " . . . There comes a gentleness, a returning quietness, a restoring stillness. This too is a door to life. Here also is a deepening of meaning - and it can lead to dedication, a going forward to the triumph of the soul, the conquering of the wilderness. And in the process will come a deepening inward knowledge that in the final reckoning, all is well."

If you, or someone you know, needs healing of some sort, this interfaith book of calendar meditations can help; but, even if not, the prayers for the healing of society, the healing of the world, are appropriate for anyone to pray. The selections range from ancient times to modern, some are deeply religious, some are more secular. I got multiple copies of this, two years ago, and I have given away my last copy; now I'm ordering one more, for me. The book is divided by the seasons of the year. It is compact enough to travel easily. Even if you already have a daily devotional book, this is worthwhile as a supplement.

I am ashamed to say, after studying the Napoleonic Wars for quite some time, this is my first reading of this excellent volume. It is an exhaustive, authoritative account of the Peninsular War that is without peer in English. Oman spent years researching and writing this multi-volume epic, and it is invaluable both as a reference and a research tool on its own. The only way you will find like information is by going into the archives yourself.

Oman does somewhat over simplify 'column versus line' in his study, but the detail, and the sweep of these campaigns that he so meaningfully tells more than make up for that.

This book, and the series it introduces, are highly recommended for any and all enthusiasts and historians, and it has an honored place on my bookshelf. The price may be somewhat steep, but it is definitely worth it.

This reissue has an invaluable introduction by Col John Elting, the noted authority on the period, which is helpful in understanding how and why Oman wrote the series. This book, and the series, is a definite keeper and is without peer for the study of these critical campaigns.

Oman is the definitive tactical and operational description of the British and French campaigns in the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. It's also among the best descriptions in the English language of the realities of early 19th century ground combat.

My reading was of the original volumes in the 1970s; I'm most pleased that these unmatched references have been re-printed.

Recent English royal biographies, perhaps following the success of Fraser's "Mary Queen of Scots," remain fixated on the Tudor era, Elizabeth I in particular, with less frequent mention of Mary Tudor or Mary Stuart, and/or perhaps Henry's wives. The romance of the Stuart queens, however, didn't end with Mary Queen of Scots - it reached its apogee with her grandchild, Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia. Married to the hapless Frederick, Elector Palatine, in 1619 she and her young family were brought to Prague as the newly elected (and Protestant) King and Queen following the deposition (defenestration, to be exact) of the previous Catholic regime. In power for little more than a few weeks, they were chased back into Germany after the disastrous Battle of the White Mountain, following which Elizabeth languished in exile in Holland for the best part of the next 40 years. Oran's 1930s bio is the standard work on Elizabeth - she pays particular attention to the life of a woman in the 17th century European court: hobbies, clothes, sports and the ubiquitous letter-writing. Elizabeth turned the damsel-in-distress cliche on its head, being a furious rider and outdoorswoman as well as a supple European politician and skilled linguist. Despite competition with the other women in the Stuart family (e.g., Charles I's and II's respective wives), it was Elizabeth's genes that won out - under the Act of Succession, every English monarch since 1713 has been required to prove an ancestral link to the Winter Queen. Classic biography and a useful bridge between Antonia Fraser's four Stuart books (Mary/James I/Gunpowder Plot/Royal Charles) and C.V. Wedgwood's numerous 17th century histories (e.g. Thirty Years War, Montrose).

Elizabeth, the daughter of King James VI of Scotland and I of England, was widely acclaimed as the most beautiful princess in Europe. Her hand was sought by many, but James selected the Protestant prince of a small German state, Frederick of the Palatine, to counterbalance the intended match of his eldest son with the Catholic royal daughter of either France or Spain. It would prove to be a true love match, as well as a political disaster.

This history follows the eventful life and tumultous times of Elizabeth of Bohemia, known as the Winter Queen for the brief duration of her husband's reign. The research is solid, the writing scholarly yet engagingly annecdotal. The narrative is particularly strong: settings are described with unusual care and color, and telling bits of cultural detail help evoke a sense of time and place.

The relationships between Elizabeth and her many family members are vividly drawn. Most poignant among these were her strong sibling attachment to her oldest brother Henry, her passionate but disappointing marriage to the moody Frederick, and the sense of betrayal she must have suffered when her father all but abandoned her. She survived war and endured exile -- not only from Bohemia and her husband's hereditary Palatine, but also from England. Neither James nor his successor Charles I acknowledged her as a queen, or permitted her to return to England.

Students of history might be interested in Elizabeth's descendents, which, in 1938, included the ruling sovereigns of Denmark, Great Britain, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Roumania, Sweden, Belgium, Bulgaria, and Italy. By any measure, this is an impressive family saga!

I did not review any thing about it , i need to review all of it because i am from Oman and i need to know most things about oman .

This translation of this historical record has, without doubt, endowed the world of scholarly research with an outstanding and valuable source of information.
The Gazetteer remains a unique contribution to the knowledge and understanding of the Gulf region and an indispensable guide for those who study it.

I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE ABOUT ARABIA ORYSX.HOSPITALITY PEOPLE LIFE HERITAGE THE EMTHY QUATHER OF AL RHUB AL KHALY BUT FIRST THE TRUE ARAB THE BEDOUIN .THE NOMAD LIFE.I HOPE TO MEET ONE DAY IN THE DESERT.TO SPEAK PERSONAL SOMETHING SECRET.WHAT IS THA ARAB NATION MINNING IN THIS WORLD.WHAT THEY ARE.

Charles Oman's book is an excellent resource for learning about the history of the period from the military point of view, but, having been written over six decades ago, the book shows signs of its age by (naturally) failing to take into account what historians have learned about the subject since its writing. This leaves the book as valuable, yet not one you can entirely trust. Unfortunately, Oman also fails to add go into developments in Eastern Europe and the Ottoman Empire.

Let me begin by stating that I am a military history junkie. It isn't my profession, but I have a profession largely to support my military history habit. I bought this book for the simple reason that I knew very little about 16th century military history. That, and I needed a fix. After reading Sir Charles Oman's work, I cannot believe that I made it this far in life without it.

To put it bluntly, anyone who claims to know something of modern military history, without a thorough grounding in 16th century warfare, is simply a pretender to knowledge.

Sounds harsh? It is not, and please let me explain why. Everything that evolves into the modern military establishment emerges in a recognizable form during the 16th century. It is the military history equivalent of the first fish struggling out of the antediluvian muck onto land and taking that first breath of air.

The 16th century bears witness to several critical military developments. The most obvious is the emergence of firepower on the battlefield. Gunpowder was several centuries old by that time, but it remained a rare and expensive siege weapon. In the 16th century, all of that changes. Cannon are lighter, limbered on smaller and more maneuverable carriages. Suddenly, armies have a powerful and portable siege train. In a matter of a few years, every castle in Europe becomes obsolete. Furthermore, cannon, for the first time, can be handled effectively on the battlefield. This spells ultimate doom for the large, unwieldy formations popular in earlier times, such as the Swiss pikemen's phalanx.

The new power and portability of artillery forces a radical evolution in fortification. The tall stone walls of the medieval period are now indefensible. Instead, huge, broad and low fortifications, covered by over-lapping fields of fire, become essential. This new style, the "trace italienne", will dominate warfare until the wars of Frederick the Great. Indeed, one finds combat conditions in heavily fortified regions, such as the Low Countries, that resemble World War One: Interminable battles fought in muddy trenches, where snipers dominate No Man's Land and the grenade and mortar are the weapons of choice.

Gunpowder also spurs the rearmament of the infantry. A judicious mix of arqubusiers and pikemen become the favourite mix of battlefield commanders. Interestingly, gunpowder helps to revive the cavalry arm. Long helpless against the Swiss pikeman, German landesknecht and English longbowmen, the mounted soldier regains his effectiveness with the advent of firepower. Artillery now breaks up formerly untouchable infantry formations, making them vulnerable to a cavalry charge. Cavalry also embraces the pistol, giving them firepower in addition to shock value. Gustavus Adolphus, in the next century, actually has to use considerable effort to wean his cavalry off of firepower and its excessive reliance on the caracole.

These technological advances require a new level of prefessionalism on the part of soldiers. The professional warrior of the Middle Ages is replaced in the 16th century by the professional soldier of the modern period. In turn, the nation state finds itself required to maintain a standing, professional military. The increasing dissatisfaction of commanders with mercenary troops only accelerates this move to national, professional armies. This process becomes an essential catalyst to the birth of the modern nation state.

As is his wont, Sir Charles tells the story of this historical process with a lively and engaging prose. His explanations of the political factors behind the wars of the period are succinct and immensely informative. With grace, wit and scholarly aplomb, Sir Charles will quickly convince any reader that he was quite mad to have imagined that he would proceed through life without a thorough understanding of the 16th century's military revolution.

This is a magnificent work - both scholarly and easy to read - that focuses on a time that most military historians gloss over. It focuses on the technology and organization of "pike-and-shot" armies of the sixteenth century (1500-1600)with detailed sections on the Italian wars, England, the Wars of Religion in France, the Dutch revolt against Spain, and the struggle in the East against the Turkish Empire. The only failing of this book is the combination of great length (770 pages) and an index of people and place names only; if you look for something more nebulous like "fortifications" in the index you will be disappointed. Put it by your bed or on the medicine cabinet and read it in short bites - you'll keep coming back for more.