Essential Wall Street Summer Reading List

Andrew Ross Sorkin, journalist and financial columnist at the New York Times, has come up with his list of essential readings about Wall Street and business. Although you might not think of it, many of these books are great reads even during the long hot summer days. Let me list his recommendations and add a few of mine to round off your  financial and business "reading education" during this summer:

President John F. Kennedy's Assassination Revisited

This coming November we will witness the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination. But after all these 50 years, the theories about what actually happened and who really was behind this killing of the most promising U.S. President of the 20th century still continue.
The Christian Science Monitor reports that this fall, "a TV network will take another look at the killing in a docudrama that suggests a Secret Service agent accidentally fired one of the bullets that felled Kennedy.....
 
"ReelzChannel's JFK: The Smoking Gun is based on the work of retired Australian police Detective Colin McLaren and the book Mortal Error: The Shot that Killed JFK by Bonar Menninger. McLaren spent four years combing through evidence from Kennedy's death on Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas. He and Menninger also relied on ballistics evidence from an earlier book by Howard Donahue. The two-hour docudrama airs Nov. 3 in the U.S., Canada and Australia. It suggests that agent George Hickey fired (..accidentally...) one of the bullets that hit Kennedy. Hickey, who is now dead, was riding in the car behind Kennedy's limo that day."

It's quite astonishing that the theories, books and movies about John F. Kennedy's assassination keep coming, but it shows how

New Review for Dialogues with My God Self

Dialogues with My God Self: Understanding the Law of Love, by Alvaro Bizziccari, has received a new, flattering review on Amazon. The reviewer, booklover343, who titled the review, "Learning about Love from God's Point of View," states:

 Dialogues is a conversation, but it is also a book of lessons, a guide to navigating the world from a godly, and especially loving point of view. ...[T]he tone of the book is uplifting and comforting. It is designed to be a tool for readers to refer to when they are struggling with life's problems, and a refuge for those who are weary of the world's self-centered ways. It's not a book for those who cannot or will not take the time to focus on the more important, personal, spiritual things in life. But it's perfect for anyone looking to renew their faith, discover their meaning, and devote their soul to loving their fellow man.

You can read the full review, as well as others, and buy the book, on Amazon. This title is also available as an ebook from Kindle and Nook.

Cosimo’s Book of the Month: Two Scottish Tales of Medical Compassion

July's Book of the Month is a bit different from our normal fare. Two Scottish Tales of Medical Compassion, by Dr. John Brown, Ian MacLaren, and Dr. John Raffensperger, is a compilation of two beloved Scottish classics and a History of the Edinburgh School of Medicine by a modern doctor.

Included in the book are the short stories "Rab and His Friends," by John Brown, and "A Doctor of the Old School," by Ian MacLaren. In "Rab and His Friends," Dr. John Brown recounts a true story from his early days as a doctor about a huge mutt named Rab and his owner, of whom the dog was fiercely protective. He discusses medical procedures that were cutting edge at the time, though they would be seen as invasive and rather cruel today.

In "A Doctor of the Old School," we are painted a picture of a typical doctor on call from the Scottish highlands, complete with an authentic Scottish dialect. This touching story shows how selfless small doctors in the backwoods of Scotland were, never taking a day off and treating patients right up until their own bodies gave out on them.

Finally, Dr. John Raffensperger, a retired surgeon with a deep love for and interest in these medicinal roots, paints a picture of the authors of these tales, John Brown and Ian MacLaren, showing how their ties to the Edinburgh School of Medicine shaped their stories and love of medicine. He takes us back to the first glistenings of modern medicine, where cleanliness standards were just beginning to be discovered and used and where medical procedures with anesthesia were rare. It is a fascinating glimpse into the old ways and will make any reader--doctor, patient, or friend--truly thankful for the advancements that have been made because of men like Dr. John Brown. You can pick up your copy in the paperback version, or order the ebook version straight to your Nook or Kindle and enjoy immediately. Happy reading!

JOHN BROWN, M.D. (1810-1882) was a well-known Scottish doctor and writer from Edinburgh. He attended the medical school at the University of Edinburgh before becoming apprentice to James Syme at the Minto House Hospital. His experiences at the hospital influenced his writing, including "Rab and his Friends," the short stories in his book Horae Subsecivae, and others.

IAN MACLAREN (1850-1907) was the pen name of Highland-born John Watson. Watson studied for the ministry at the University of Edinburgh and at Tubingen in Germany. In addition to serving at the Parish of Logielmond in Perthshire and the Sefton Park Church in Liverpool, he was well known as a writer and speaker, culminating in several speaking tours in the United States. His works include "A Doctor of the Old School," Beside the Bonnie Briar Bush, and The Days of Auld Lang Syne.

JOHN RAFFENSPERGER, M.D. was a surgeon-in-chief at the Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago and a professor of surgery at Northwestern University. He has authored surgical textbooks, a history of the Cook County Hospital, a collection of short stories, and a "surgical thriller." He currently lives in Sanibel Island, Florida.

ALL NEW! Series of the Month: A History of the American People, by Woodrow Wilson

New for the month of July, Cosimo is celebrating American patriotism with a series of the month! A History of the American People, by Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United States, is a five-volume history of the United States and the American people, reflecting many of Wilson's policies and ideas that he later brought to his candidacy and presidency. Our series is a beautiful replica of the 1902 first edition features all the original halftone illustrations. You can order either the paperback or hardcover versions for your collection, and celebrate this Independence Day turn-of-the-(20th)-century style.

Cosimo offers many series and collections of beloved classics at discounted prices. Please visit our series and collections page in our bookstore to discover all the wonderful options. Series always ship free, and are always discounted off the original list price. Order your favorite classic series today from Cosimo! Please visit our website or call our office for more details.

Cosimo’s Classic of the Month: The Constitution of the United States of America

Cosimo's Classic of the Month comes just in time for the Fourth of July, and we're celebrating our country's founding with none other than our founding documents: The Constitution of the United States and Other Historical American Documents. 

Just in case you haven't read these all-important documents since your high school history class, you can read up before we celebrate our Independence from the British. Included is The Declaration of Independence, The Articles of Confederation, The Constitution, and--in case you're feeling particularly historical--The Constitution of the Confederate States, created after they attempted to secede from the Union. Together, these four documents offer a firsthand perspective on the political history of the United States.

Our descriptions of the documents are as follows (just in case you want the crash course before diving in, and we really recommend that you do):

The Declaration of Independence: Adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, this may be the most famous angry letter in history. Written by Thomas Jefferson and addressed to King George III of England, it lays out the grievances of the king's 13 colonies in North America, and announces that those colonies were now free of English rule. By 1783, after a long, bloody, and expensive war, that freedom became a reality.

The Articles of Confederation: Soon after independence from England was declared, the Second Continental Congress instituted this first organizing document of the new United States, which was ratified in March 1781. A compromise between those delegates who wanted a strong central government and those who demanded that the states be sovereign, its shortcomings became obvious during the war--such as the fact that the central government had no power to collect taxes or even to enforce requests for funds from the states, which led to a perpetually underfunded revolution against England.

The United States Constitution: This document replaced the Articles of Confederation on June 21, 1788. One of the most influential works of political philosophy and practicality ever written, it is the oldest national constitution still in use today, and continues to inspire freedom-loving peoples around the world. Its three-pronged system of government--balancing power among legislative, judicial, and executive branches--was groundbreaking. But it failed to address one issue, slavery, that would come to a head a century later.

The Constitution of the Confederate States: This 1861 document organized the new nation created by the seceding slave states. While quite similar in many ways to the U.S. Constitution, it includes more references to God and religion and more emphasis on state sovereignty, offers specific clauses that seek to limit the influence of big business on politics, and codifies the right to own "negro slaves."

Celebrate your Fourth in style, by knowing what your Constitution says. It's all the rage, these days.

Cosimo's Classic of the Month: The Wallace D. Wattles Trilogy

Cosimo's Classic of the Month for June is the Wallace D. Wattles Trilogy, a selection of three popular classics by Wallace Wattles. The trilogy includes The Science of Being Well, The Science of Getting Rich, and How to Be a Genius, or the Science of Being Great. Each title reads like an old-fashioned self-help guide from new thought guru Wallace Wattles. He demonstrates his philosophies on health, wealth, and happiness in this series that breaks each down into a step-by-step manual.

These books prescribe an exact method for readers to accomplish three basic goals that will make any person happy, applying principles of metaphysics and New Thought to overcome human error. Each book focuses on a subject--wealth, health, and power--and applies an exact science that will allow anyone to achieve their goal by following some basic steps in a specific order, in a "Certain Way." Sacrificing explanations of philosophy for brevity, Wattles provides readers a stripped-down guide on shaping the universe to their benefit through the power of positive thinking.

This series of three complements Cosimo's Book of the Month, The Book of Balance, by Yasuhiko Genku Kimura, by providing the groundwork to becoming healthy, wealthy, and happy in your life. Kimura's translation of Tao Teh Ching will provide serenity on your journey to happiness this summer.

WALLACE DELOIS WATTLES (1860-1911) overcame poverty and failure in his life to become a pioneer of the early self-help movement. His most famous book is The Science of Getting Rich; he also wrote Health through New Thought and Fasting, also available from Cosimo.

June Book of the Month: The Book of Balance

Cosimo's June Book of the Month is the The Book of Balance, by Yasuhiko Genku Kimura. A modern, visionary translation of the classic ancient text Tao Teh Ching by Lao Tzu, The Book of Balance will provide a foundation for peace, tranquility, and harmony to all who read it. It's the perfect read to start your summer off on the right note.

Yasuhiko Genku Kimura is the publisher and editor-in-chief of the VIA Journal, and chairman and president of Vision-In-Action, a non-profit organization promoting the development of creative thinking and visionary action. His other books include The Twilight Manifesto, Think Kosmically Act Globally, Virtues of Love, and The Twilight Club and the Creation of a Moral Community. He has also published numerous articles, essays, and translations on philosophy, transformational ethis, the philosophy of science, and business strategy. His business consulting and personal growth programs integrate a Socratic and Zen-like teaching style that stimulates participants' awareness of their self-knowledge and power of transformation. You can contact Yasuhiko online at his website or on his Facebook page.

Streaming Radio Interviews with Dare to Care author Louis Bohtlingk

This weekend, Dare to Care author and inventor of the Care First World initiative, Louis Bohtlingk, interviewed with KGNU radio host Duncan Campbell on his show "Living Dialogues." Duncan and Louis delve into Louis's vision for a care-first approach to money and finance and the principles outlined in his book.

The interview can be listened to in full on the KGNU website or downloaded as an MP3 file. Louis will follow-up this interview on Friday, July 21, along with Hazel Henderson (author of The Power of Yin and founder of Ethical Markets Media), on the KGNU show "Connections," at 10:30 am ET. It will be available online after this time.

Roswell Reports: The Official Government Explanations of What Really Happened at Roswell

Cosimo has recently published two new reports on Roswell, Fact versus Fiction in the New Mexico Desert and Case Closed. These fascinating and lengthy accounts are the official United States government response to all the hype and hoopla that surrounded the historic events at Roswell, New Mexico, which ufologists claim was the landing site for alien aircraft that the government subsequently covered up.

These reports assure readers that Roswell was not in fact a cover-up, but offer several possible explanations as to the origins of Roswell, including failed Air Force tests during experimentation with aircraft, misidentified debris from crashed military weather balloons, and even crash test dummies that were mistaken for aliens. The military provided eye-witness accounts to back up these explanations and even images of officers and equipment involved in the various programs.

To offer a stimulating and controversial counterpoint to these explanations, Cosimo includes Forewords in each volume from author and ufologist Stanton Friedman. Friedman, who has studied extensively the Roswell accounts and consulted for Roswell documentaries, is not satisfied with the military's explanations; indeed, he produces compelling arguments explaining why the government's stories don't make sense or match up with the actual evidence.

Pick up copies of these fascinating reports at Cosimo's bookstore or Amazon.com to read more and form your own opinion.

Dialogues praised as "excellent source of insight and wisdom"

Author Alvaro Bizziccari published Dialogues with My God Self with Cosimo in October of 2012. We were delighted to see someone post their review of the book on Amazon's and Barnes & Noble's store pages.

After providing a brief summary of Bizziccari's approach to his subject matter, the reviewer then explains why he finds Dialogues to be such a useful addition to the philosophical discussions it takes part in.

As a Doctor of Philosophy, Bizzicccari is erudite on these essential mysteries of humanity; mankind has asked the questions found in Dialogues with My God Self for as far back as history records, and probably much farther.  Philosophers, mystics, teachers, wise men, have all done their best to provide answers.  Bizzicccari draws from the many works provided by these pilgrims in metaphysics to organize and document the wisdom of the ages into ‘Dialogues.’ And, based on the excellence of this undertaking, perhaps Bizzicccari also incorporates a bit of his own dialogues with his god-self.  

We hope that if you are asking God and yourself big questions, you pick up Dialogues with My God Self and are equally inspired by this "excellent source of information, insight, and wisdom."

Finding Peace Amidst March Madness: Spiritual Places In and Around New York City

Emily Squires and her husband Len Belzer teamed up to write this wonderful book on where to find serenity in the characteristically hectic city. We are excited to share with you that Spiritual Places is our book of the month for March. While books for NYC tourists are easy to find, Squires and Belzer decided to showcase the grand island in a different light: where to get away from the hustle and bustle and find a moment to relieve stress.

The authors discuss the various locales with reflections on what they learned while in the space. This is a great guide to places around the boroughs that soothe the psyche and gladden the spirit. We hope you get a moment to sit down with this great read.

But if you find yourself just one of the many commuters with little time to spare, we are proud to announce that the book is available on the Kindle and Nook, for your on-the-go lifestyle.

Emily Squires passed away in November 2012, and as a testament to Emily's nature and writing, following is a sample from the book Spiritual Places In and Around New York City written by Emily and her husband Len Belzer:

THE CLOISTERS

Underneath all the texts, all the sacred psalms

and canticles, these watery varieties of sounds

and silences, terrifying, mysterious, whirling and

sometimes gestating and gentle must somehow be

felt in the pulse, ebb, and flow of the music that

sings in me. My new song must float like a feather

on the breath of God. — Hildegard of Bingen

This riveting glimpse into life in the Middle Ages is an essential place on any seeker’s itinerary- especially if you were a nun or monk in a past life. The art is celestial - paintings and illuminated

manuscripts, intricately woven tapestries from churches and castles, a treasury of gold, silver, jewels, ivories, and enamels - each chosen specifically for the Cloisters from the vast collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

But it’s the feeling of the place that makes it so rare. Madrigals and Gregorian Chants echo through high stone-arched corridors. Chairs are set in small chapels for meditation. Beatific statues of saints and Mary with baby Jesus cast their gaze upon you. Recent interest in such figures as the 11th century’s Abbess Hildegard of Bingen have stirred a new appreciation of things Medieval, and the crucial role of herbs in the Middle Ages is being reexamined. The historically accurate garden at the Cloisters gives us an idea how some of them were used. Arcane plants like fever few, agrimony, mallow, and burdock were used by the nuns and their parishioners for cooking, weaving, and painting

as well as healing.

Espalliered pear trees work their way between Gothic buttresses under warm red-tiled roofs. Covered arched walkways enclose small gardens with chirping birds, bubbling fountains, and quince trees laden with fruit. The softest of green grass calls Rumi to mind: “When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about.” All this high atop a hill in Fort Tryon Park with a sweeping view of the Hudson. Hie thee there!

(from Spiritual Places In and Around New York City by Emily Squires & Len Belzer; Cosimo Books, New York, 2008) 

Bynum's The African Unconscious: Captivating Narrative of Human History

In honor of Black History Month, Cosimo has named The African Unconscious: Roots of Ancient Mysticism and Modern Psychology our February Book of the Month. It was written by award-winning psychologist Edward Bruce Bynum and was originally published over a decade ago. The information and ideas discussed in this book are just as relevant now as they were when the book was first published. 

The African Unconscious offers an exciting and captivating narrative about human history based on archaeology, genetics, and the bio-spiritual roots of religion and science. More importantly, Dr. Bynum posits that humans at their deepest core are variations on the African template. This bold, humanistic view offers a radical new vision of our collective unconscious in its daily and historical operations. Dr. Bynum goes beyond traditional “Eastern” and “Western” perspectives and presents a powerful, unifying and healing vision of our deeper shared consciousness and identity as a human species from our earliest days in Africa on to contemporary times.

Edward Bruce Bynum, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, Director of the Behavioral Medicine Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Health Services, a Senior Fellow in the Society for Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (BICA), and a Diplomat (ABPP) in the American Psychological Association (APA). Dr. Bynum is the author of numerous books and articles, including five texts in psychology and three poetry books. He has won numerous awards, including the Abraham H. Maslow Award from the APA, and is a student and practitioner of Kundalini Yoga. He is married with two sons and lives with his family in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Tribute to Emily Squires, Evolutionary Leader, Director and Author

Last week I attended a tribute to Emily Squires, who had died last November 21, in New York City. Emily was a successful director, the first woman director of Sesame Street, who had won six Emmy Awards with her team for her work as Director of Sesame Street between 1995 and 2007. She also directed documentaries, including: Visions of Perfect Worlds, a conversation with the Dalai Lama, The Art of Being Human: a Portrait of Frederick Franck, which was shown at the tribute,  Five Masters of Meditation, and films about fracking and Occupy Wall Street.

Photo: Richard Termine/Sesame Street

In addition to her accomplished career, Emily was also actively involved with many good causes and interested in the frontiers of consciousness and human potential as expressed in her board work and membership of organizations such as the Friends of the Institute of Noetic Sciences ("FIONS"), which had organized last week’s tribute- the Source of Synergy Foundation, Evolutionary Leaders, and The Coalition of OneVoice

I met Emily as a fellow board-member of FIONS at the end of last century and was always impressed with her creativity and good nature, which experience only increased as I got to know her as her publisher. It was in those days that she and her husband Len Belzer wrote a lovely book, Spiritual Places in and around New York City, with their favorite inspiring and restful places in this city that never sleeps, from Riverside Church to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, from the New York Open Center to Hangawi Korean restaurant. 

I can only echo what I had heard from so many at this week’s tribute, Emily Squires was a warm personality who made everyone she met feel at ease and acknowledged. She will be dearly missed.

Alexander M. Dake, Publisher, Cosimo

January's Book of the Month, Mystic Journey—To help you get to know yourself

This book is deep, and makes anyone who reads this delve deeper within themselves to understand not only their own spirituality, but also one's own spiritual and conscious self. 
--Dad of Divas' Book Reviews

You may or may not be noticing your resolve for New Year resolutions cracking, but we've chosen a Book of the Month to renew your fervor for getting to know and improve yourself on a deeper level. Mystic Journey: Getting to the Heart of Your Soul's Story, by Robert Atkinson, is the exploration of who we are at our core and why we are deeply connected to all others on earth.

Mystic Journey explores life's greatest adventure, discovering who we are at our core by living consciously, as described in the world's oldest wisdom traditions. We all must explore the path of our soul, uncovering who we are in this life in order to determine who we will be in the next life (i.e. heaven, the great beyond, the afterlife, death). Atkinson uses a multi-faith approach to explain and describe the lifelong process of soul-making, leading to a personal and collective transformation. Each chapter of Mystic Journey ends with an exercise to help readers tell their personal story, and each chapter explains not only the process of soul-making, but also how each individual's story connects to that of the whole.

Mystic Journey is an ideal book for those searching for inner peace, spiritual awareness, or who simply want to write down their story for others to read. Mystic Journey guides readers to use their life stories to solidify their identities, live with an eternal perspective in mind, and reclaim a common spiritual heritage. You can read the press release, along with praise and purchasing information, here. The book also received fantastic reviews from The New Maine Times book review and The Publishing Guru.

Robert Atkinson is the author of eight books, including several on personal storytelling. He is a professor of human development and religious studies, and the director of the Life Story Center at the University of Southern Maine.  He can be found online at www.RobertAtkinson.net, where you can find out more about the book, read Atkinson's blog, connect with him personally, and read a sample of the book. He also has an interactive blog, Remembering Who We Are, featuring 50 ways to tell your soul's story.