Independent Books

There are a variety of approaches to starting a Research Business, and this book simply does little justice to providing business-smart content for doing just that. If you want to embark into a research business on your own, this might give you a vision but it will certainly not give you the business smarts you need to really start and manage your new business. Best to look into resources on starting a consulting business and other resources about starting any business.

Best of luck.

- Dissapointed

I bought this book hoping for tips on research, and I got what I wanted. I was also impressed by how this book was organized. It contains a LOT of information, and it seems to me that this information is all relevant and useful. If finding information and doing research is part of your career, this would be a good book to have. I'd also recommend it for people who are likely to hire information professionals.

Mary Ellen Bates has created a very well-written, informative work that covers all of the salient aspects of starting one's own information services business - including those that someone looking into the field would never even think to ask about. Ms. Bates' writing style has a personal feel that is at the same time very professional. Her personality as a no-nonsense, savvy, and yet friendly information services professional comes across on every page.

The book really covers two important but somewhat distinct skill sets: how to start and run a successful business and how to be a successful information services professional. Ms. Bates' apt writing style weaves these two elements together quite seamlessly.

I suggest reading "Building & Running a Successful Research Business" cover to cover before spending your time reading any one of the more generic books available on the topics of how to find information online or how to conduct research. Once you have covered all of the bases with Ms. Bates' work, it would then be prudent to pick up some of these other works to dive more deeply into the areas where you need additional support.

Mary Ellen Bates is an internationally-known presenter on business information and research topics, however in this book she talks not about where to find information, but about how to build a business doing just that. The book is practical, inspiration, and actionable, but also makes it clear that the life of an information entrepreneur is not for everyone. A great resource for those considering this career path, or those already in it who need a bit of professional, albeit friendly, coaching.

So many "how to" books are filled with airy reiterations of the obvious or catchy but useless "10 Ways to..." Build and Running a Successful Research Business, on the other hand, is dense, useful, funny, insightful, honest and inspirational. A true page-turner in a genre that so rarely sees this caliber of writing or thought.

While some of the material is fiction, he has in fact got an overall grasp on much of the culture of the USMS. I know because I have been there/done that.

Deadly Force was a great book. It takes you through what a United States Marshal goes through everyday. You get to read about the stakeouts, arrests, raids, etc. It is a good book if you are looking for something a little suspenseful and fun to read.

But it's not. Fascinating look at the system's hunters. The only drawback is that the author sometimes leads you to action, only to cut away and never fully answers your questions. A good read.

After a promising start this book gets boring and confusing fast. Every chapter you have to figure out where you are, what year it is and who is in the scene. The reference at the beginning of each chapter is helpful but with the constant jumping around there is no continuity and you get lost too easily. If you can get past the first 3/4 of the book the last 1/4 is fairly good.

Carsten Stroud has never been a historian or a documentarian, but he admits this. His objective is to capture the sights and sounds of an area, event, profession. His writing style is very dramatic but readable. There is nothing melodramatic or corny about his works. Somehow he always manages to hit the nail on the head. The reader is left thinking, "Yeah, that's right. That's what it's like." or, "Damm that's the truth. That's why I'm a cop or a soldier". So to use the overworked phrase - Stroud's books are very truthful. Deadly Force takes you into not only the world of the Marshals, but the world of the fugitive. And the end result is that you're glad those fellas are out there doing the job. I recommend all of Stroud's books. Deadly Force isn't his best work, but it's still right up there.He lacks Clancey's verbosity which I find to be a relief. It keeps your attention and it has some very suspenseful moments. Some nice attention to details as well, though there are some technical errors I found them to be forgiveable. Good book. Give it a chance.

I try to read only filmmaking books that actually have real world advice and this one does. Simple, to the point and still very interesting. A great read that lays out the nuts and bolts of the best way to approach the low budget filmmaking world. Inspiring as well!

Just when you think it can't be done, John Gaspard comes along and proves you wrong. All of us scared, penniless, aspiring filmmakers can take comfort in the knowledge that all those household names who came before us started out scared and penniless too. With a breezy, unpretentious style, Gaspard introduces us to an array of shoestring auteurs recounting their experiences on the fringes of Hollywood. It's like an all-night gab fest hosted by your favorite college professor.

How low-budget can you go?

Pretty low, or so you'll discover in FAST CHEAP & UNDER CONTROL. You'll also learn how some very good films were made on a shoestring. For everyone who wants to make art without breaking the bank, John Gasper's book is worth every penny.

All film makers have eyes that are bigger than their budgets. That's OK for Spielberg and Scorcese, but Credit Card Filmmakers need this guide to rein in their appetites and make films that don't run away from them.
This simple and sensible book injects reality into the process and helps any filmmaker prevent their film from becoming a money pit. Lessons like those in this book are cheap at ten times the price.

John Gaspard's FAST CHEAP & UNDER CONTROL tells how to stretch production dollars, handle tight budget constraints, and get the most from personnel and props to create a memorable film production. Lessons from low-budget mavericks serve as foundations for duplicating success, with descriptions covering everything from dealing with written scripts and hidden improvisation potentials to previewing results and achieving memorable films even when poor. An outstanding recommendation and a 'must' for any serious film library holding, promising lasting lending value.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Infused with real-world examples and humor and just a little Hollywood edge, Campisi takes you through (from a to z) how to prepare a business plan for investors that even a film-world neophyte can understand and learn from. It's not easy to have your pie-in-the-sky ideas shot down, if you were thinking in vague terms of what a business plan should be. But over and over enthusiasm for the indie newbee and a you-can-do-this attitude make rolling up your sleeves to do the hard work you need to do to wade into the choppy waters film finance, not as hard as you think. I'm using it like a bible right now,as I step into those choppy waters myself and need to catch that Campisi life-preserver he throws into the current now and then. Watery metaphors aside, I highly recommend this book. Besides the appendix rocks with a distilation of the book into a business plan - its worth it to work your way through the book, just for the appendix.

The first thing you notice when you read Mr. Campisi's book is how well written it is. As a writer myself that means I will inherently respect this author and truly absorb what I am reading. Now, I must be honest, this is the kind of book that has always intimidated me, that I tend to shy away from - for I'm not exactly what one would call a natural with regard to matters of finance (as is my screenwriting partner who 'gets' this stuff quite easily). So it was rather pleasing to read this book and actually comprehend what Mr. Campisi was saying. He informs the reader without being condescending. He instructs without being pedantic. The second thing you notice is the warmth and humor: the book is actually fun to read. The cold, complex and harsh worlds of finance and Hollywood are anything but inviting and amusing yet Mr. Campisi manages to embroider his sage advice and interviews with charm and an eloquence that confidantly invites the reader in and says, "Hey, learn from me... I went through this too, you can do this... if you want... if you work hard... IF you are willing to take the time to learn and dispense with the pretense and attitude that will surely drive investors away." My writing partner and I recently decided we wish to produce our first project. We might not have made that choice to produce ourselves were it not for becoming familiar with this well-organized, smartly written book and its knowledgeable author. This is recommended reading for any first time indie film producer who dares to dream, who dares to ponder swimming in those frigid, uncharted waters of the industry. Don't be afraid to jump in - this book is a terrific vessel to get you ashore. The Sample Indie Business Plan alone is worth the money.

Gabe's book "The Independent filmmaker's Guide to Writing a Business Plan for Investors" is a must for any indie film company. While many books exist on the subject, Gabe's is able to package complex information into an easily digestible format for all readers. The book understands the changes taking place in the film industry.
Anyone not using this book will have to work harder to find the critical information needed to be a success is this competitive industry.

Dennis Baker
Mindsplinters Films

I was extremely disappointed in this book. It told me nothing I didn't already know and nothing that isn't available in numerous other books of the same subject matter. Considering the nearly $ 40 price, I thought I was getting a definitive book on the subject matter and I would hardly call it that. Oh but the cover is beautiful. Smart marketing.

This book has two sections: the first outlines the requirements of a business plan, and the second is a sample business plan, with the intention that you copy it and fill in the blanks.

The first section is very helpful in giving you an overview of what is expected in a business plan, and why. Most crucially, it gets you thinking about your investor and what they are looking for from the deal. Many projects that reach the business-plan stage fail because they to not acknowledge the business element of filmmaking, but focus on the artistic merits of the project. In reading the first section, you'll gain a good understanding of the steps to present your project to an investor. A slight weakness of this is the presumption that you'll have an army of entertainment lawyers to complete the funding process. This is advisable, but not always the case.

The second section, however, is where the book falls short. Reading through the business plan, it is laborious in its repetition - while there is a need to restate some facts or intentions, this plan goes overboard. It is also quite poorly structured: for example, half the plan is an overview of the filmmaking process that assumes your investor knows nothing about film. This information should be in an appendix - an investor should not have to wade through 20 pages of this before reaching the numbers and projections they're really interested in.

In summary, this is a good guide to the realities of presenting your project to investors, but it doesn't deliver as well on that promise as it could. Still a worthwhile read and a useful addition to any low- to mid-level filmmaker's bookshelf.

This is a well-organized, very readable text for anyone who is considering the realm of independent business consulting. The book's coverage is comprehensive enough to allow the reader to develop a checklist of preparatory actions. The author is pretty good about not delving into too much detail-- especially where legal and accounting matters are concerned-- so that the reader at least knows where to go for more details.

The down side is that the contents focus on computer and information systems consulting. The tips and refernce suggestions are sometimes specific to that sector and not of use outside those industries. Also, the binding of my soft-cover version was defective. Almost every other page was not securely glued to the spine, making for a sloppy page-turning experience.

But overall, this was a worthwhile purchase.

This book is okay. But, I have used "Strategic Organizational Change" by Beitler as a reference guide in my work as an organizational change consultant. It is full of checklists, examples, etc. Beitler captures 25 years of experience in one book!

In Successful Independent Consulting: Turn Your Career Experience Into A Consulting Business, Douglas Florzak draws upon his considerable experience and professional skills to create a practical, informative, "reader friendly" guide providing professionals in any field with a detailed "how to" plan for setting up and maintain a consulting business. Florzak explores the types of consulting work available, how to create a business plan, set up an office, and surveys the issues of contracts, law and taxes, fees, basic record keeping, retirement fund and insurance selection, and even offers marketing tips for utilizing the Internet. Successful Independent Consulting is further enhanced with a recommended list of resources for independent consultants and worksheets to help launch and maintain a consulting business. If you are contemplating becoming a career of professional consultation in your chosen field, begin with a thorough reading of Douglas Florzak's Successful Independent Consulting.

This is an excellent guide for anyone new to starting independent consulting and a good refresher to established consultants. After going through several similar books, this one, by far, is the best written, most helpful of the lot. He guides you through basic and more advanced steps in making your idea a reality in a clear, concise, and "user friendly" way. His approach is realistic and not stuck in the mundane as so many other "start your own business" books seem to be. While another book insults your intelligence by emphasizing the importance of street lighting for your new office (no kidding!) or devotes boring paragraphs on the evolution of their own business card logos, this author guides the novice entrepreneur effectively and intelligently from concept to practice. This book is highly recommended for professionals who do not have a background in business and who find "business speak" confusing and want a cogent initial guide. So if you are thinking of expanding your career path through independent consulting, and if you think "starship" when someone says "Enterprise," then you need this book to start thinking clearly about your new endeavor.

"Successful Independent Consulting" is the goal of my Entrepreneurship class, so the book of the same name by Douglas Florzak is a natural choice for my class text.

Mr. Florzak is a technical communicator himself, which matches the background and aspirations of a majority of my students. The examples provided in the book are the same situations found by all aspiring business owners, so the students find the reading interesting, relevant and practical. Most of my students are working adults who are studying for their Masters, and most have not done any prior consulting nor have they owned and operated their own business. The book provides a natural bridge for them, as the author explains how he transitioned from corporate `security' to the riskier world of independent consulting.

I teach in the Technical Communication program at the Illinois Institute of Technology; one of my classes is Entrepreneurship for Technical Communicators. To support the overall goal of successful independent consulting, we teach two main content areas: business planning and consulting skills. "Successful Independent Consulting" supports both areas, and we also use Peter Block's text "Flawless Consulting" for additional perspectives on consulting skills needed for large projects.

What Students Want to Learn

When you ask graduate students to list, as I do, what they hope to learn about starting and operating their own consulting business, you get a list of questions that correlates highly with the book's table of contents.
* How do I decide to start my own business? (See chapters 1-3 on why and when you might want to go independent, and how to leverage your current skills to get started.)
* What research do I have to do to on my business idea? What do I need to do to get financing? (See chapter 4 regarding the components of a business plan, and chapter 5 on the setting of rates.)
* What do I need to do to help ensure long term success? (See chapters 10-14 on marketing activities and the marketing plan, and chapter 17 on the delivery of services.)
* Do I need a lawyer? An accountant? (See chapters 6, 7, 8, 15 and 16 which cover legal entities, tax issues, record keeping, insurance, retirement funding, and contracts.)

In addition to the straightforward advice regarding business operations, the author also contributes to the consulting side of the equation. In one section, he reviews the characteristics of successful independent consultants, and then provides a discussion on how to assess your own qualifications as a consultant. A separate chapter is used to discuss the setting of rates, which addresses competitive research, types of rates for agency and your own projects, and projecting revenue to build a cash flow projection and therefore decisions regarding expenses.

Why You Will Like the Book Too

The biggest benefit for me from using the text is its approach to the business planning process. Some students need a business plan just for the planning exercise, so they are shown how to capture the spirit of their business through the coordinated use of vision, strategy, services/product, and marketing. Other students will be going to the bank or a venture capitalist for initial funding, and the business plan is the first step in that direction. While there are many business planning resources available, Mr. Florzak's compact and practical approach works well in the non B-school environment of our department. Through an example and a series of worksheets, the reader is led through the business planning process, shown how the spirit of the business is tied to the financials and operations through market analysis, competitor analysis, and cash flow projections.

As you can see from my comments here, I find many reasons, as an instructor, to like this book. The best recommendation, however, is reserved for my students: they rate it as easy to read and extremely relevant to their work. They are always positive when referring to the text.

Every so often a known concept is re-invented and served with a new garnish on a new plate. The environment of sudden public attention fertilized with ignorance breeds enormous hype, which in turn makes air so thick that you hardly can hear the voice of reason. This environment morphs the concept into something so vague and different from the original that only sales people feel comfortable talking about it. I believe this has happened to the SOA concept.

In this world of insanity, it is paramount to find islands of logic and reason that can teach and validate a hype-free understanding of the issues. Sources like ZapThink and Gartner have been very helpful, but "Understanding SOA with Web Services" is truly indispensable in putting everything in the right perspective. I bought the book primarily because one of the authors, Greg Lomow, wrote of one of my favorite books, "C++ FAQs", which I also strongly recommend to anyone who enjoys learning about new ideas and observations.

The book draws a conceptual and architectural views of SOA and its implementation using WebServices standards' stack. It covers not just history and latest developments on the subject, but also hints on the future directions. Just like "C++ FAQs", this book focuses on the core understanding of the issues, and on pros and cons of technologies and standards. But most important and enjoyable to me is its language of reason. Reading it simply makes me feel good!

I'm back here to purchase my 6th copy of this book, and 7th of Newcomer's earlier book ("Understanding Web Services"), as they are becoming compulsory reading in my division of a large and highly influential Financial Services technology player.

Newcomer and Lomow have done an outstanding job of putting a pragmatic, business and user-focused face on a field that is often either over-hyped, or too focused on technology for technology's sake. That is not to say that they only address the business-heads in this book (far from it - Newcomer in particular has been deeply involved in Web services technology and standards development since the very beginning, and this depth of knowledge of the technology is evident throughout), it is just that their discussion of the technology, even at its most abstract is easy to follow and well grounded in real-world benefits.

Rarely will you find a technical book written in such an approachable tone. Even more rarely will it cover the technology with the breadth and depth that these two industry luminaries demonstrate.

I have been working on the cutting edge of Web services and Mobile Web services for about five years, but was pleasantly surprised to find many new and refreshing insights and invaluable examples based on the real-world experience of the authors.

Perhaps the real value of this book, though, is demonstrated by my recent experience - When I show a copy to a senior manager they come back a few days later and ask me to get more copies. When I show a copy to a technical colleague, I have to fight to get it back!

Buy this book.

This is one of the main books I recommend to clients on SOA and Web Services. Several parts of the book that stand out from what I have seen in the rest of the field including the section on Advanced Messaging and Transactions. The work is particularly strong in the "why are we here and how did we get here" with regard to web service evolving from various technologies like MQ, Tx systems, and mainframes, and describes where Web services has advantages and disadvantages over those technologies in a non-religious format. In Chapter 3, for example, MQ, CORBA, and XML web Services are compared across a set of criteria including: service contracts, data management, registration and discovery, security, interaction patterns, communication, and QoS. These objective analyses are some of the most valuable resources in the book, because when looking at Web Services' integration it helps the architect see where the strengthes and weaknesses lie.

The only nit is section on security is good by normal programming books standards, but more emphasis on the gaps in the standards would be useful, for example input validation, and security exceptions which are a fact of life in distributed security, but are not dealt with by standards are not covered.

This book describes what gaps SOA/Web Services address and why, where the technology is going, and what you can do about it today. Very valuable.

This book is really good at distilling the web services standards down to the core essentials - what are the most important things to know and more importantly, where the specifications still have room for improvement. So if you would prefer to save yourself a lot of time wading through specs in order to be able to hold your own in front of the whiteboard (or keyboard) there is no better book than this. What I like most about Eric's books is they are always written in a very honest and straightforward manner and they are obviously informed by years of real world experience - in other words basically the opposite of a David Linthicum book.

Firstly this book is an excellent compliment to Eric's other book: Understanding Web Services. Definitely worth reading that one as well (it doesn't really make a difference which order).

This book is a great introduction to the differences between SOA and Web Services. Too many other books tie these two concepts together as though SOA didn't exist before Web Services. SOA had been around for a long time prior to Web Services, which is simply one way of doing SOA. In this book you don't really get into the meat of Web services until page 100, which is the way it should be: the authors lay the groundwork for a concrete realisation of SOA by going into detail about what SOA is, how it's important and how to plan for it within an organisation.

I found the book a very easy read, which is important for this subject: the architectural principles behind this stuff aren't rocket science, but too often other texts dive straight into specifications/standards and blind you with Three Letter Acornyms. The authors of this book build up the book in a way which flows naturally and each chapter delivers on technical and business-oriented rationals.

Summary: if you're looking for a good text on what SOA is, what it means to you as an architect or as a business, and how Web Services may fit into that picture, then don't hesitate to get this book.

This book is an excellent companion to some of the "embedded" accounts of the Iraq war as it's from a unique perspective; instead of being in a "ring of steel" convoy or laying out by the pool in the green zone, these photographers had only a press card, a camera, and hopefully some good-luck charms to help them get out without being shot up by either insurgents or US/Allied forces.

The photos are shocking not in their depiction of gore, but in how they show the destruction of the place. Many show dazed residents picking through streets that have been rubbled as far as the eye can see, utility poles teetering among pools of shattered glass. Something to remind us of both the material and human costs of war.

I just saw this book featured on the PBS show "AIR." It showcased many of the images from the book. Only the most heartless could fail to feel compassion and awe for the people depicted here and the brave photographers who did the work. I cannot accept the remark that the photos are somehow from Saddam's "point of view." They are a facet of the reality, a facet which we as Americans must confront, sooner or later, because it is our government that has set this chain of events in motion.

Ms. Bergin, please, if your idea of fighting for freedom is to deny the truth of suffering, at least have the integrity to spell "freedom" correctly.

Truly great work. The world needs people like these guys to
give us an in-depth view of what's inherently wrong with war. We
never have known what the other side suffers. Until now. Even the
'enemy' is human and the pain and suffering of is there to be seen in the
brows and creases in the faces of those men, women and children.

Keep on the good work and kudos.

It shows the heart and soul of Iraqis. It shows what they are going through during the US invasion and occupation. Though shot by mostly US photographers, it shows from the Iraqi standpoint. Some of the pictures are disturbing but after all it is the depiction of war and WAR is not a pretty site.
Kudos to the worthy photographers who put their life in danger to show the whole world an unembedded story.
I salute you guys!!

The photos were very interesting. Seeing the sadness of war is very compelling and heart wrenching. The captions are obviously from a Saddam Hussien Sympathizer point of view. I question if the captions are truthful to the photos or just more journalists propaganda. The less than 20 percent of Iraqis that don't want Freedom are captured in the words wriiten. Great photos ...that is about it. If you hate the American and Iraqi Military...you'll love reading the words.

Unraveling Aids: The Independent Science And Promising Alternative Therapies, knowledgeably co-authored by the team of Mae-Wan Ho (Director and Co-founder of the Institute of Science in Society, London, U.K.), Sam Burcher (Institute of Science in Society and the Independent Science Panel), Rhea Gala (University of Wales and University of Exeter), and Velijko Veljkovic (Center of Multidisciplinary Research and Engineering at Vinca), is the in-depth collective study and observational documentation of HIV and Aids, effectiveness of the present generation of vaccines, immuno-suppressants, "drug-cocktails", alternative drug therapies, native herbal therapies, and variations of vitamin, mineral and other nutrient-based therapies. As a competently written and experience driven collection of knowledge, Unraveling Aids exposes its readers to the great many intricacies of modern progression in the discovery of AIDS origin, causes and supplemental cures. Unraveling Aids is very strongly recommended to all students of medical progression and innovation, as well as those in particular study of AIDS and HIV for its scholastic and informative presentation of modern understandings of the disease.

Unraveling Aids: The Independent Science And Promising Alternative Therapies, knowledgeably co-authored by the team of Mae-Wan Ho (Director and Co-founder of the Institute of Science in Society, London, U.K.), Sam Burcher (Institute of Science in Society and the Independent Science Panel), Rhea Gala (University of Wales and University of Exeter), and Velijko Veljkovic (Center of Multidisciplinary Research and Engineering at Vinca), is the in-depth collective study and observational documentation of HIV and Aids, effectiveness of the present generation of vaccines, immuno-suppressants, "drug-cocktails", alternative drug therapies, native herbal therapies, and variations of vitamin, mineral and other nutrient-based therapies. As a competently written and experience driven collection of knowledge, Unraveling Aids exposes its readers to the great many intricacies of modern progression in the discovery of AIDS origin, causes and supplemental cures. Unraveling Aids is very strongly recommended to all students of medical progression and innovation, as well as those in particular study of AIDS and HIV for its scholastic and informative presentation of modern understandings of the disease.

Unraveling Aids: The Independent Science And Promising Alternative Therapies, knowledgeably co-authored by the team of Mae-Wan Ho (Director and Co-founder of the Institute of Science in Society, London, U.K.), Sam Burcher (Institute of Science in Society and the Independent Science Panel), Rhea Gala (University of Wales and University of Exeter), and Velijko Veljkovic (Center of Multidisciplinary Research and Engineering at Vinca), is the in-depth collective study and observational documentation of HIV and Aids, effectiveness of the present generation of vaccines, immuno-suppressants, "drug-cocktails", alternative drug therapies, native herbal therapies, and variations of vitamin, mineral and other nutrient-based therapies. As a competently written and experience driven collection of knowledge, Unraveling Aids exposes its readers to the great many intricacies of modern progression in the discovery of AIDS origin, causes and supplemental cures. Unraveling Aids is very strongly recommended to all students of medical progression and innovation, as well as those in particular study of AIDS and HIV for its scholastic and informative presentation of modern understandings of the disease.

Unraveling Aids: The Independent Science And Promising Alternative Therapies, knowledgeably co-authored by the team of Mae-Wan Ho (Director and Co-founder of the Institute of Science in Society, London, U.K.), Sam Burcher (Institute of Science in Society and the Independent Science Panel), Rhea Gala (University of Wales and University of Exeter), and Velijko Veljkovic (Center of Multidisciplinary Research and Engineering at Vinca), is the in-depth collective study and observational documentation of HIV and Aids, effectiveness of the present generation of vaccines, immuno-suppressants, "drug-cocktails", alternative drug therapies, native herbal therapies, and variations of vitamin, mineral and other nutrient-based therapies. As a competently written and experience driven collection of knowledge, Unraveling Aids exposes its readers to the great many intricacies of modern progression in the discovery of AIDS origin, causes and supplemental cures. Unraveling Aids is very strongly recommended to all students of medical progression and innovation, as well as those in particular study of AIDS and HIV for its scholastic and informative presentation of modern understandings of the disease.

Unraveling Aids: The Independent Science And Promising Alternative Therapies, knowledgeably co-authored by the team of Mae-Wan Ho (Director and Co-founder of the Institute of Science in Society, London, U.K.), Sam Burcher (Institute of Science in Society and the Independent Science Panel), Rhea Gala (University of Wales and University of Exeter), and Velijko Veljkovic (Center of Multidisciplinary Research and Engineering at Vinca), is the in-depth collective study and observational documentation of HIV and Aids, effectiveness of the present generation of vaccines, immuno-suppressants, "drug-cocktails", alternative drug therapies, native herbal therapies, and variations of vitamin, mineral and other nutrient-based therapies. As a competently written and experience driven collection of knowledge, Unraveling Aids exposes its readers to the great many intricacies of modern progression in the discovery of AIDS origin, causes and supplemental cures. Unraveling Aids is very strongly recommended to all students of medical progression and innovation, as well as those in particular study of AIDS and HIV for its scholastic and informative presentation of modern understandings of the disease.

1. Mutations can be be fixed by enzymes before they cause trouble. There are many enzymes that repair damage DNA in a cell. Some enzymes remove damaged pieces of DNA and fill in the gap with the proper bases, using the opposite strand of DNA as a guide. Other repair enzymes scan the chromosomes for mismatched bases. When a mismatch is discovered, the enzymes remove the wrong base, and replace it with the correct one.

2. Cancer cells replication patterns is controlled by the cyclins. Mitosis has S, G2, M, G1 stages and movement between the stages are controlled by cyclin-dependant Kinases. A cell's progress through the cell cycle is controlled by a group of proteins known as cyclins. For example, cyclin D1 increases as a cell prepares to enter the S stage of mitosis. Only when the right cyclins are at the right level in a cell will it enter the next stage of mitosis. In some cancers cells, it appears that some of the cell cycle genes, both cyclins and th cyclin-dependent kinases, have been mutated. D1 mutations can be found in some cancer cells. Cycline E protein in higher in breast cancer cells. Cycline E may also increase as breast cancers become more aggressive. These changes stimulate the cell to perpetually divide.

3. The mitosis checkpoints fail in cancer cells. The cell continues to divide with gene defects. The checkpoints may allow a cell to resume progress through the cycle even though the damaged remains unrepaired; the cell seems to become accustomed to the damage and sees it as normal. Some scientist think that the checkpoints themselves may have mutated.

4. In normal cells, the cyclins do not act on their own; they are controlled by growth factors, hormones and other growth-stimulating proteins. These proteins are usually manufactured by one type of cell and sent to a different type of cell. They attach to receptors on the cell and send signals inside which, ultimately, control the cyclins and stimulate cell division.

5. When growth factors or other cell stimulants send signals inside the cells, internal molecules must transmit those signals. One of the more commonly mutated oncognese in tumors is call Ras. The Ras protein is part of the signaling pathway which usually leads to cell growth. In some tumors, drugs which can suppress Ras can block the growth of cancer.

6. When a tumor suppressor gene mutates, its ability to prevent uncontrolled growth is turned off. For most tumor suppressors, both tumor suppressor geens in a cell must be damaged in order to promote cancer. Tumor suppressor gene and associated cancers: p53 (Sarcomas, breast cancer), RB (Retinoblastoma), APC (Colon Cancer), DCP4 (Cancer of the pancreas), PTCH (Basal cell carcinoma, skin cancer), BRCA1 & BRCA2 (breast cancer). Cell with mutated genes with an intact p53 can not be repaired, p53 turns on a set of proteins which kill the cell. The process of cell sucide is called apoptosis.

7. As many as 80% of women who inherit mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 will develop breast cancer.

8. The mainstays of cancer therapy is surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Not all cancers can bee effectively with all three.

9. Radiotheraphy basically works by bombarding the cancer with very energetic particles such as x-rays or gamma rays. The energy is absorbed by cells, and can split water moleculs in the cells, producing free radicals. Free radicals are very unstable molecules which have temporarily captured an extra electron. This extra electron give a free radical the ability to combine with any other molecule nearby. The free radicals bounce around in the cell, wreaking havoc as they damage cricical molecules. Scientist believe that the radiation therapy amy trigger apoptsis (cell sucide). The drug CBLB502 is being tested to help delay apoptsis during radiation treatment allowing healthy cells to survive and cancer cells to die.

10. With complex calculations and multiple beams from different directions, radiation can now match even the shape of the tumor. The exciting field of optical Coherence Tomography may someday allow doctors to probe tissue layers interactively and remove cancer by very focused radiation burst.

11. Japan is perfection the heavy-ion treatment system for killing certain cancer. Heavy ions concentrate more destructive energy directly at the tumor. The Tokyo Heavy-Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba, or Himac is the first large accellerator in the world dedicated to cancer treatment. The accelerator cost $300 million to build and $50 million a year to treat 1,000 patients. The device uses 25 megawatts of electrical power, the capacity to supply 8,000 homes. Heavy ions are particularly useful for treating tumors in areas that can be damaged by radiation, such as the eye and spinal cord.

12. Chemicals called radiosensitizers make tumors more sensitive to radiation.

13. Porphyrins are useful molecules in the body. Among their duties, they carry oxygen and iron in the blood. Porphyrins also tend to accumulate in cancer cells and not in normal cells. This characteristic has made them important in phototherapy treatment .Johnathan Sessler built a bigger porphyrin carried by cancer drugs into the cancer cell. The drug was called Texaphyrin. When Texaphyrin is attached to gadolinium, it seems to make free radicals last longer.

14. 5-fluorouracil (5 FU) stops the cell from making the base thymine by blocking the enzyme thymidylate synthase, which makes thymine from uracil. 5-FU inhibits thymidylate synthetase. Cancer cells need to make and repair DNA in order to grow and multiply. 5FU stop cells making and repairing DNA. The taking of 5-FU causes a temporary drop in the number of white blood cells produced by the bone marrow. 5-FU are part of a group of chemotherapy drugs know at anti-metabolites. Anti-metabolites often stop cells making and repairing DNA.

15. Cancer carrying Fas-L receptors connect with T cell Fas receptor and the T-cell commits suicide. Cancer cells have antigen blockers on their receptors and do not bind with the T-cell and the cancer cell and T-cell survive. Cancer cell with the Fas gen have fas receptors that bind with Cancers with Fas-L receptors and the cancer cell dies.

I would never ever put chemotherapy poison in my body. It does not cure and it DESTROYS the immune system, so you cannot try anything else less toxic after you realize chemo was a wrong choice.

This book "covers" 103 substances and treatments for cancer. In that sense, it was "comprehensive" 12 years ago. However, it appears to be written primarily for the researcher, rather than for the cancer patient. All the references are to studies, almost all of which would be "gibberish" to the average cancer patient.

Although it has had many printings since it was first published in 1992, it appears that Dr. Moss has done very little updating of the text. For example, there is no reference to even one Internet web site. With all their shortcomings (product hype, etc.), these web sites are now essential tools for the cancer patient to learn about their options and resources (doctors, clinics, substances, etc.) for treatment.

Use this book as you would a dictionary. It may be wiser to look for it in the library, rather than to buy it.

This is the premier book for people looking for solutions. Helped me make mine.

5-Stars. I don't own this book, but I borrowed it and read it three times, and took notes. I am a mechanical engineer who started studying Alternative Medicine 11 years ago. This book will impress all readers who have the following charactersitics; A logical mind, some basic science background, and a "show me the proof" philosophy. Dr. Ralph Moss's book supplies all the Cancer fighting natural medicines/techniques, with exact, honest proof on its success in humans and animal subjects.

I consider this book, although slightly old (1992), the first book to read on natural cancer therapy, for all interested readers.

In Search of Ancient Scotland is a valuable resource, not just because it acts as a travel guide to those out-of-the-way places, but also for the insight it gives for the road-tripper in a foreign country. They travel like I like to travel (not vacation), on my own, with my own agenda and schedule, seeing the things that interest me. It's clear that this couple has actually been to the places that they've written about, experienced the weather and peat and sheep, and not just pulled information off of a website - which many of the travel books seem to have done. These are clearly people who not only love Scotland, but genuinely love the discovery of it. They also give heads-up on things one doesn't always consider, like ferry schedules and bringing extra torches for certain places, or wellies, and I greatly appreciate their disclosing the hidden gems that they stumbled apon while searching for something else. I always consult their book before heading over to bonny Scotland.

Husband and I used this book extensively on our two week driving trip to Scotland. Can't recommend it highly enough. Unfortunately, we managed to leave our copy in a B&B, but immediately came home and bought another.

Inasmuch as Robert the Bruce never actually lived at Castle Tioram, as the book states according to at least one reviewer, I might exercise some caution......

This book was simply wonderful. I purchased this book to help me plan a trip to Scotland this year, and I am so glad I did. The authors give a detailed descrpition of each site and give it a rating to help you, the traveller, prioritize. They also give some pretty handy directions for locating the sites as well (we found every one we looked for, even some that were far off the beaten track).

There were so many wonderful sites I would never have found without this book, and it reeally helped to make a trip that I will never forget.

Another handy use for this book is that after I got the pictures from the trip I wanted to make a journal of my trip. The information and history provided in the book was hugely helpful in filling in the mental gaps and refreshing my memory of the visit.

An excellent resource. Don't tour ancient Scotland without it.

A useful book if you're planning a trip, know where you're going, and want to add some very old, off-the-beaten-track sites. If you're planning a trip and trying to figure out what part of Scotland to visit, another guide such as the Michelin is probably more useful as the latter guide differentiates better between the must see sites and those of only modest interest.