Inspiration

The third volume in the Essential Nature series (see VL-7/96), Inspiration combines unattributed poetry (excepting the opening verse by Frederick Tennyson-with whom I'm unfamiliar) with occasional, rather vague inspirational instruction ("wait with the cosmos for the day's sure return" (?)), shots of New England scenery, and soothing background music. Neither the choice of imagery nor the arrangement of sequences are particularly inspired; although the tape ends with sunset imagery, earlier snippets do not suggest a progression of the day or the seasons. In a crowded field with exceptional choices--Miramar's Jan Nickman nature videos are far superior, as are the Reader's Digest titles--a merely ok production doesn't warrant purchase. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)