Books published by North Atlantic Books,U.S.

As in all his books, Heckler draws from personal experience: training his horse, cultivating presence in aikido dojos, consulting with business executives, raising children. A masterful and encompassing book, Holding the Center develops from the fulcrum of the self in the natural world. Many of Heckler's lessons arise from his life as a householder and father. Community is a larger family—we make alliances to "take care of what matters to us.” But, as Heckler teaches, that takes listening to others with an open heart, and learning what the needs of others are.The world can be a sanctuary, if we find a balance between instinct and choice. Richard Strozzi Heckler sounds an important call about the interplay between power and generosity in these subtle and luminous essays.

This unique book by Master Shi Ming and Siao Weijia explores the Chinese science of mind/body and the refinement of consciousness in the higher martial arts.

In this memorable account of 17 trips he made to Hawaii's North Shore starting in 1974, Bruce Jenkins, considered the Kerouac of surf writers, profiles the area's elite, the superstars who live to conquer Hawaii's deadliest waves. Here are the egoists, stylists, gladiators, and purists of the sport, from big-wave greats Darrick Doerner and Mark Foo to bodysurfer Mark Cunningham and bodyboarder Mike Stewart. Features 77 color photos.

Jeanne Rose's Herbal Body Book pairs a wide variety of ailments with possible plant cures. Each plant recommended is described in anecdotal detail. This book includes recipes for the newcomer and expert. It also includes a glossary of specialized terms, herbs, and recipes. Everything you need from hair products to belly salve for a pregnant woman is inside this most useful companion. Jeanne Rose encourages the reader to make your own blend of herbs to target specific conditions and not only follow a limited number of recipes.

The Architecture of the Soul introduces and maps out a model of the human person that represents a new way of interpreting and treating human—and by extension global—dysfunction. Arising from the transpersonal and integral schools of psychology, this model provides an alternative to the view of the human person as a product of brain chemistry, whose dysfunctional behavior can be treated through pharmaceuticals and traditional psychology. Based on the author's years of clinical experience treating addiction, the book posits a human psyche made up of three zones of awareness. The first two are reached by present-day psychology, focusing on cognitive and affective disorders, and therapies that treat addictive disorders. The crucial third zone, called Tertiary Awareness, is the 'rudder' of the human personality that contains deep bio- and eco-wisdoms that must be brought to consciousness and cultivated. In explaining how to integrate self and spirit, the author demonstrates how people must be made aware of this zone if we are to survive as a species and a planet.

It's the birth year of Ragtime music, 1895, and Lee "Stagolee" Shelton, a St. Louis pimp, murders Billy Lyons, a political gang member. Afterwards, Stagolee makes a deal with Judge Murphy to bring order to the underworld. As a member of a group of pimps called the "Stags," Stagolee makes alliances with the Democratic Party and votes for a Democratic Mayor. Later, the Stag Party, along with the Democratic Party, elects St. Louis's first black policeman. It is this policeman who is sent to arrest Stagolee for the murder of Billy Lyons. Now, nearly 50 years after singer Lloyd Price introduced mainstream audiences to the "Stagger Lee" story, Cecil Brown portrays the events that gave rise to this mainstay of African-American popular culture. This follows the successful Stagolee Shot Billy, Brown's nonfiction account of the same story.

In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, al-Qaeda has become the most infamous terrorist organization in history. While their actions are deplorable, it remains a populist and idealist movement—and one that continues to spread. Despite heavy media coverage, most people are unaware of the group's ultimate goals. Sampling from actual al-Qaeda texts, this is al-Qaeda in its own words, rather than another interpretation (which often emphasizes the inflammatory religious rhetoric) offered by the Bush administration and other factions of the Western world. Introductions and commentary provide the historical context necessary to understand fully the interconnection between the religious, social, and political issues that led to the emergence of Osama bin Laden and his jihad against the West. These primary sources enable readers to discern the fundamental convictions underlying the group's demands, and help answer the question, "What does al Qaeda want?"

Conscious Breathing presents contemporary Breathwork methods in a comprehensive, structured way for modern readers. Emphasizing the practice as a way to access the most elevated states of consciousness and the deepest states of meditation, author Joy Manne shows how Breathwork can be applied to transpersonal, existential, past life, chakra, Kundalini, shamanic, and other experiences. Using detailed examples, case histories, and exercises, Conscious Breathing covers basic grounding and awareness, advanced breath and body-centered explorations, and explorations of biblical and religious teachings.

From a homeopathic "constitutional analysis" standpoint, a true romantic partnership is only possible through an understanding of self and what makes one fulfilled. This unusual guide analyzes the personality types and emotional dynamics of 50 different film characters to show readers how to discover themselves and their ideal partner. Drawing on her vast film knowledge, Liz Lalor uses examples ranging from Bogart and Hepburn in The African Queen to characters from American Splendor to demonstrate how self-knowledge is the key component in finding lasting love.

Inside Star Vision is a landmark astrology book for the twenty-first century and centuries to come. It views human destiny and the life and death travels of individual souls as part of the larger journey undertaken by the universe itself in various modes of being and intelligence. Lonsdale not only leads us through signs, houses, and planets, but also interprets them in the context of broader archetypes and vision quests. He delineates the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006, and in a daring and profound act of spiritual writing, he sets the cosmic terms for the imminent transformation of humanity through an opening of the door between the two most separated realms of all, life and death.