D Books

The book never arrived at 3 weeks, so canceled the order and hope the charge is reversed on my card. Woody's books was nice about the problem and sent me a $5 check to aid in buying the book at a higher cost in a local book store.

This is a fantastic book for the newly-diagnosed breast cancer patient. It was given to my by my surgeon's office. It does a great job explaining things on a level that the average person can understand. It also has great diagrams, lists of questions to ask your medical team, glossary of terms, websites to check out and comments from breast cancer survivors and/or significant others of survivors. I highly recommend this book.

We give this book to surgeons in our area to distribute to women diagnosed with breast cancer. Before purchasing it, we had a group of 4 breast cancer survivors review and rate 3 separate books on breast cancer. This book "won" hands down, based on numerous criteria -- everything from its explanation of breast cancer treatments, to its index and glossary, to its discussion of life after cancer. It is clear and easy to read, provides comprehensive information on types of breast cancer and corresponding treatment alternatives, has wonderful graphics and photos, and provides interesting anecdotal stories of actual patients in its sidebar. Highly recommended!

I was introduced to this book at work and am now giving it to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. I am on oncology certified nurse in the radiation oncology department of my cancer center. In January 2007 I also became our Breast Cancer Patient Navigator. I find this book gets excellent reviews from patients and their families alike. It is a great source of information, covering all the topics from diagnosis to living life 'after cancer'. I only wish I would have had this book when I was on my personal breast cancer journey! I highly recommend this book for someone newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

"Many experts believe that Herceptin represents the future direction of breast cancer drugs, because it targets a particular protein on the cancer cell, rather than attacking all cells at random. As research progresses, scientist hope to make all anti-cancer drugs as specific as possible." ~ pg. 97

Designed to compliment the book, the DVD provides an environment of understanding with explanations for all the procedures and various situations that will occur after a diagnosis. New treatments like Immunotherapy are discussed and there is an extensive resource section with additional CD options, including a CD-ROM program that is an interactive guide to treatment.

Helpful up-to-date information about why you may not need a mastectomy and only a lumpectomy is encouraging and gives hope. Radiation and Chemo is also discussed in detail. Throughout both the DVD and book, women tell their stories and that gives a sense of the range of experience. There are over 150 color photographs and graphics to illustrate important points.

A variety of questions are given in each section so you know what to ask your doctor. The stages of breast cancer are given so you know exactly what your doctor is talking about. The main sections include:

Facing Breast Cancer - Your feelings, support groups, healthcare teams and overview of treatment options.

Breast Cancer Basics - Types of Breast Cancer

Diagnosis and Staging - Tumor Testing, the Pathology Report, Additional Tests, How Stage is Determined

Surgery - Reconstruction, Lumpectomy and Mastectomy options, Lymph Nodes

Reconstruction - Choosing a Plastic Surgeon, External and Internal Options

Radiation Therapy - How treatment is given, Brachytherapy

Chemotherapy - Side Effects, Common Chemotherapy Drugs

Hormone Therapy - How Treatment is Given, Who should be Treated, Side Effects

Immunotherapy - Future Therapies and Herceptin

Clinical Trials - Participation Ideas and getting the newest treatments...

Life after Cancer - Emotional Recovery, Physical Recovery

The Guide for Your Partner is a special section your partner can read. If possible, watching the DVD together would be ideal because it explains all the basics in the book.

Be a Survivor is an excellent resource because it gives you all the questions you need to ask and answers a number of pertinent questions any woman will be asking the moment she is diagnosed.

Vladimir Lange, MD is one of the most respected doctors in this field of study and this book came into being after his own wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.

~The Rebecca Review

I can also recommend "Reconstructing Natalie" by Laura Jensen Walker.

An accumulation of some of the most stimulating and exhaustively-researched details on the intel and counter-intel during WWII, particualrly surrounding D-Day. Truly amazing events chronicled extremely well; even after these many years since the book was first published, Cove-Brown's work stands out.

"Bodyguard Of Lies" is one of the most compelling and important reads out there. Lovers of Clancy novels should put them away for a year and concentrate on some of the most real bizarre, yet important, machinations of espionage and counter-espionage ever created and implemented. What gives this phenomenal work its incredible allure is the knowledge that these creations of historical intelligence import occored only a little more than a half-decade ago. The book takes its title from Winston Churchill's remark regarding the crucial role of good intelligence, where he stated, "In war-time, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies." Using for his research information that had only been de-classified the previous year (1975), Anthony Cave Brown takes us through the minefield that was "Ultra", the Allies means of reading the secret ciphers of the Third Reich. "Ultra" was of such devastating importance that the entire city of Coventry was sacrificed in order to keep secret the fact that the Allies had, early on in the war, broken the German "Enigma" ciphers. This top secret cipher would time and time again put vital information directly into the hands of the Allies. It is safe to say that "Ultra" may have been the difference between victory and defeat. Brown also details what can only be referred to as the most convoluted espionage and counter-espionage schemes that only the minds of men at war for the highest stakes ever perceived could conceive of. In one instance, a false 'cadaver' was planted in an apparant shipwreck, replete with false identity papers, false obituary, false love letters, fake funeral, and, more importantly, false maps and information intended to persuade the enemy that they had stumbled upon ACTUAL information, and act accordingly. Brown relates other tales - some quite unsavory on both sides - for instance, Allied baiting of French resistance in order to convince the enemy of the plausibility of invasion (or non-invasion, as the case warrented) at a given place or time. Agents were sometimes dropped into situations where their 'handlers' knew that cover had been blown or compromised...all done to keep a certain game afloat or a certain secret intact. Perhaps the most interesting revelations, for me, in the book came from the 'dangling' of certain German Generals and Intelligence officials who were not simply sympathetic to the Allies, but in many cases actually working against Hitler and taking incredible, traitorous risks to help defeat him (the Schwarze Kapelle, or, in English, the Black Orchestra). Abwehr head Wilhelm Canaris is studied in depth, and his behavior, not to mention his persona alone may be one of the deepest level secrets of the Second World War. Churchill is again quoted at the start of the section on 'Special Means', "In the high ranges of Secret Service work the actual facts in many cases were in every respect equal to the most fantastic inventions of romance and melodrama. Tangle within tangle, plot and counter-plot, ruse and treachery, cross and double-cross, true agent, false agent, double agent...were interwoven in many a texture so intricate as to be incredible and yet true. The Chief and the High Officers of the Secret Service revelled in these subterranean labyrinths, and pursued their task with cold and silent passion." This book will leave you relieved that men like Churchill, Sir Stewart Menzies, Alan Turing and the like were on the side of the Allies. The book may also leave some disturbed concerning what deep levels of intregue - double, triple, even quadruple-cross - can be invoked when men, and women, are convinced that they are fighting on the side of right against what they are sure is the side of wrong.

The new and warranted reinterest in World War II, and D-Day specifically has given this book new life. What I am wondering is whether or not the content has been changed, Not an easy read back in 1975 when Anthony Cave Brown first slogged through the newly declassified material which help to make this book fascinating, I am tempted to wager that some things have been re-written. Only a guess of course. This could also be a good thing, as in the case of Pearl Harbor, where after 1995 declassification documents were used to prove ("Day Of Deceit by Mr. Stinnett) that the attack was not, in fact, a complete suprise. Seeing that the original was out-of-print I suppose that this is a welcome development to have a new edition, retitled or no. 30 years is a good long time - and perhaps more information is included while staying true to the "old" edition.

One of the most fascinating behind-the-scenes stories of how the fate of World War II hung in the balance which was tipped ultimately by seemingly inconsequential actions. A real page turner of little known facts..................................the reader will have a hard time setting it down

This is an extremely detailed book on Allied (mainly British) deception operations during World War II. While it was written in 1976 it still hold up well, though some new information on the role of GCHQ and signals intelligence has been released since 1976. I am still amazed at the scope of operations the British ran during World War II. A very well written book, though it is by know means a quick read. It took me almost a month to get through it. If you are keenly interested in intelligence operations try to track down this book.

The characters in this book are four famous girls. There names are Galleria, Dorinda, Channel, and Aqua. Dorinda is there best dancer that teaches them the moves that they will need for there next chance to be on stage. Aqua is there best singer because she has such a great voice. Channel and Galleria are the ones who work together to write the songs and make the cover on there disk. Aqua, Dorinda, Galleria, and Channel meet Jackel Johnson and get this big chance to live there world wide dream. But Galleria says no and decides to turn her back away from this big chance. Latter her and Dorinda, and Aqua, and Channel meet down town because Galleria's dog gets stuck and shows up on live tv. You wanna now if they become friends again well you'll half to find out yourself by reading this magnificent book. This was typed by: Jenny

Hello.
I'm a Cheetah Girls fan. This book is special. Because it tells different stories from each girl.

Wishing On A Star: You mostly get to know Galleria in this book. So yeah, this is mostly about Galleria with The Cheetah's, Chanel, and the weird guy, Derek with this sidekick, Macarol. Spelling this right??? But anyway, this book is funny and fun!

Shop In The Name Of Love: Chanel uses her mothers credit card and she visits her stepmothers salon. Her mother gets angry. But later lends Chanel the credit card for one thing. Chanel buys more like 20 different things. Then, she gets in big trouble and has to work at Toto in New York....Fun in Diva Sizes. [ Galleria's mothers shop.]This book is hip and hot!

Who's Bout To Bounce: This one's magical. It's amazing how Dorinda has so many brothers and sisters. She really loves them. Miss Bosco [ Her Foster Mom.] Has an adoption party. But, the twist is, for " reasons" she can't adopt her. It's a good book.

Hey, Ho Hollywood!: This is a great book. Angie and Aqua's dad's girlfriend Aballa Shalla whatever. But they [ Cheetah Girls] perform at the Apollo theater and they lose. But this book is sweet.


This is one sassy book! Buy this lovely book!

It's Awesome!

Thank you for taking your time to read my review!

"Welcome to the Glitterdome." Galleria Garibaldi is a diva in training along with Chanel, Dorinda, Anginette or Angie for short and her twin Aquanette or Aqua. All of these girls dreams are to get a record deal, go to Hollywood and become famous. Galleria and Chanel have been friends ever science they were little. Galleria met Dorinda in a chat room and found out that they go to the same school.She met Angie and Aqua at a meeting but soon found out that they go to different schools. Dorinda loves to dance and sing but one day her dance teacher told her to try out for a dance compotion. Dorinda did not think that she would make it but she did. What would you do in her situation? Would you choose to just not to do the dance compotion or to leave the Cheetah Girls? The girls relationship is very strog because they help eachother out all of the time. This book is apart of a series. The plot of the story is these five girls are having a really hard time on finding a record deal so they can go to Hollywood. Will the girls be albe to find a record deal? Find out by reading this fantastic book.

"Welcome to the Glitterdome." Galleria Garibaldi is a diva in training along with Chanel, Dorinda, Anginette or Angie for short and her twin Aquanette or Aqua. All of these girls dreams are to get a record deal, go to Hollywood and become famous. Galleria and Chanel have been friends ever science they were little. Galleria met Dorinda in a chat room and found out that they go to the same school.She met Angie and Aqua at a meeting but soon found out that they go to different schools. Dorinda loves to dance and sing but one day her dance teacher told her to try out for a dance compotion. Dorinda did not think that she would make it but she did. What would you do in her situation? Would you choose to just not to do the dance compotion or to leave the Cheetah Girls? The girls relationship is very strog because they help eachother out all of the time. This book is apart of a series. The plot of the story is these five girls are having a really hard time on finding a record deal so they can go to Hollywood. Will the girls be albe to find a record deal? Find out by reading this fantastic book.

This is a great book! I first saw the movie and it was GREAT! So then I decided to read the books.It only took me about 5 days to read this book,because I got into it. It is worth every penny and you won't be dissapointed!

I received this 3 years ago and wasn't sure if I liked it. Yes, some of the questions seem redundant... But! Your child changes that fast! This week, he loves peas! Next week, he hates them! It seems minor, but it's so much fun to look back and remember the little things that could have been lost to amnesia-due-to-sleep-deprivation. This was a great way to record the joys of baby- and mother-hood.

Since then, I've bought this for every new parent, and keep a couple on hand for baby gifts. Be sure to point out that there is a special area in the back for special events (holidays, etc.) I didn't have time to pore through it the first time, and almost missed it. Also, this could be really special if presented with a special toy or blanket or something that they can be pictured with each month to measure their development.

I have just purchased my sixth copy of this book for another friend. I received this book as a gift when I had my son and bought another for myself for the birth of my daughter and have given the book as a gift 5 times! It's easy to complete - walking you through every stage and first year event. It makes me reflect on things I may not remember if I was free journaling. And I love that I have my son's book to look back on and compare my daughter's growth to. The book is quality and the binding makes it easy to leave the book open to the week you are on. A must for any new mom!

My son is now two years old and having some developmental issues. During our screening process I was asked a lot of questions about his development as a baby, things no mother would ever be able to pull out of her head. Having such a well written journal that asked so many good questions was monumental in helping the professionals assess my sons past and current situation. Thank you Ms. Nelson for putting pen to page and providing this tool for me and my son. It not only helps me remember that first precious year, it is also helping us get a sense of where my son has been and where he is headed!

This journal is really great! It asks questions that you wouldn't normally think about when writing free form in a regular journal. Some of the questions are "Did you choose to bottlefeed or breastfeed, Why?", "How are you feeling about your body?", "Describe your feelings on the way home from the hospital.", "Describe a typical day for you and your baby." Some questions are asked every week, others every month. There is even a place to put a picture of your baby each month next to some "benchmark" object so you can see how big they are getting. I highly recommend this journal to not only record typical milestones, but also your thoughts, feelings, and emotions as a new Mom. I think it will be a wonderful keepsake for my daughter and an honest memoir of how things were. Lets face it, there are many joys to being a Mom but also many challenges. I think it is great to have a record of both.

While I realize this is a type of "journal", I ended up wishing I hadn't purchased this item or had supplemented it with another standard baby book. There are no pages for the baby's firsts so I ended up putting them at the end of the book in the blank pages section but didn't think to start doing it until my son was 9 weeks old. There is a lot of repitition in the book as well, such as asking every week "What is your baby's sleeping schedule?", "Describe a typical day for you and your baby", or "What have you done for yourself this week?" I ended up leaving so many items blank because the answers didn't change on a weekly basis. Other things I ended up putting in the weekly "notes" section only to find it touched upon a few weeks later - Example: "Have you used a babysitter yet?" "Has your baby been sick yet?". Again, I realize this is a journal but I think the format is a bit odd and I see myself filling out less and less as time passes. The idea behind the book is good and the book itself is nice so I am giving it 3 stars.

Daughter of Ancients was definitely my favorite book of the series! It was a good ending though I think that Berg left room enough that she could have written more novels in the same world, so I am a bit disappointed that she didn't. Really a great series and good example of how talented Berg is to have been able to pull off something so complex.

This series has it all:

1. In depth characters
2. a good plotline
3. just a touch of romance
4. a whiff of magic
5. Strong storyline.

Miss Berg does not stray from her first intention, she does not stray from the morality of her characters, she makes them blossom, come to live and evolve like real people.

In fact it's all about the main characters and the magic is crucial yet second in command.

For me this series is well-thought, thorough, the characters jump of the pages into reality and well I enjoyed it a whole lot.

It's intriguing, surprising, unpredictable and yet a constant.

Well done

The whole Bridge of D'Arnath series has been riveting. The last of the series is not anti-climatic like many wrap-up books. It is a very good book.

Gerick, once a Lord of Zhev'Na, shows where his true loyalties lie once he's exposed to the magic of the Dread Lords. A very exciting book, no doubt the best of the series. It winds its way from viewpoint to viewpoint, never losing the feeling of impending climax.

A great book of a good series. I thoroughly enjoyed it!!

Carol Berg, in my humble opinion, is the very best living writer of "dependable" fantasy...i.e. nothing that offends my sensibilities, but transports me to a place I'd like to be, filled with people I'd like to know. While I consider each of her books I've had the privilege to read as safe territory, her characters are anything but safe, each generally beat to a pulp one or more times in each story line. Some would consider this violence excessive, but it always moves the story forward and promotes the philosophy of pain and hardship's place in selflessness. A lost concept in the cocoon of ease and comfort in which most of us dwell.

Daughter of Ancients delivers all the promise of the preceding Bridge of D'Arnath books. It is satisfying, suspenseful, rich and so very human...with the delightful tendency of Carol Berg to often surprise us thoroughly and tie her plot lines together without the too-tidy endings that so many authors fall into. Thank you, Carol, for the gift of your imagination and the concise nature of your beautiful writing!

...to the high drama that unfolded on the ground I have traversed for the past half-century, all the while only peripherally aware of the desperate struggle that occurred at Monocacy. Marc Leepson has created a vivid expose of a little-known battle that had far-reaching ramifications for this entire country. I am no expert in the Civil War and yet I thoroughly enjoyed the captivating portraits of the main personalities and the solid research and voluminous details that helped me understand how pivotal this battle truly was. Never again will I cross the Monocacy River on that humpback bridge, cross the Potomac on the ferry named the Jubal Early, pass by at 60 mph on I-270, or even walk the streets of DC without being keenly aware of the brave souls who, in the very same spot over a century ago, experienced the most critical moments of their lives and shaped the country I live in today. The wrap-up at the end, describing what happened to the key characters, was an interesting and unusual touch. I highly recommend this well-researched book!

Marc has done a superb job of using very personal first hand accounts and weaving them into a detailed close up picture of a Confederate action aimed at Washington, D.C. The dedication of the soldiers, and their miseries, bring home the realities of War. That they almost succeeded is to their everlasting credit.

Marc Leepson's book, Desperate Engagement compelled me to go deeper than the battles, military careers, and political maneuvering. Having come from the Washington area, I am reminded of the memories of the Civil War I was exposed to growing up and how they affected my family.

Mostly however, I pondered the raging emotion and destruction of the Civil War period, and the staggering death toll. The greatest value to me as a reader however is Marc Leepson's clear writing style and judicious research that allows me to come to my own conclusion.

Rudy Gillespie, Seattle WA

This is a well researched and clearly written book about a battle that seldom is given the due it deserves. Author Leepson not only provides the vivid details about the Battle of Monacacy, but he also gives the reader the essential background on events leading up to the battle that are key to understanding the importance of the engagement and the context in which it was fought. The book also richly describes the motley cast of characters involved in the event: the crusty misogynist and racist, Jubal A. Early; the courtly and cerebral, Robert E. Lee; Lew Wallace, dashing scion of a Midwestern political family and future author of Ben Hur; and the bureaucratic and scheming Washington-based General-in-Chief, Henry Halleck.

The battle descriptions are well paced and have sufficient detail to please the Civil War buff, but not too much detail to overwhelm the general reader. The post-battle description of the Confederate march to Washington and subsequent withdrawal after encountering a strengthened Union defense at Fort Stevens are excellently narrated.

The book could be improved with more and larger maps to help the reader navigate the events, but nevertheless, this is a valuable contribution to Civil War history in an area that warrants additional coverage. Knowing more about the "battle that saved Washington" is an important part of understanding the final year of the war. Leepson's work belongs on the bookshelf of anyone with an interest in the Civil War.

I started reading this book with very little knowledge of the battle of Monocacy except for the knowledge that some of my ancestors were involved in the action. I had driven up I-81 and had seen signs directing passersby to the battlefield but I have never stopped and until I read this book I wasn't really inclined to do so. After reading this book however Monocacy is now high on my own private bucket list.

Marc Leepson has done a remarkable job of researching this book and he also has a lot of talent as a writer. The book flows smoothly and never gets so bogged down in details that only the most knowledgeable student of the Civil War could follow the story. The necessary details are there but the minutia is left out and that is a skill that several historians need to learn. The only quarrel that I have with the author's writing style is his use of the term CSA instead of Confederate such as "CSA General Jubal Early" or "CSA troops." The use of this term in this way may well be grammatically correct but it doesn't seem to flow correctly and by the middle of the book it was beginning to grate on my nerves. Some readers have a problem with "what ifs" and may be turned off by the time that the author takes to speculate on what might have happened if Early had taken Washington but as for me I rather enjoyed his small bit of speculation. It is after all, pretty hard to understand the motivations for an action if you don't speculate on what possible consequences the actors were facing.

The Confederate (or CSA) invasion of Maryland in the summer of 1864 is an often-overlooked campaign and I am happy to see that it has finally gotten the notice that it deserves. Had this campaign succeeded in attaining all of its goals the war may well have turned out very differently and even without capturing Washington, Jubal Early and his troops did disrupt General Grant's plans and prolong the war by several months. This author does a superb job of leading his readers through the entire campaign from its inception until Early's return to Virginia and he explains what is going on in a very easy to understand manner. A few more maps would be helpful but even without them the author explains things so well that their absence is not a big problem. I particularly liked how the author ended the book by giving the reader a quick look at the post-Monocacy lives of the battle's major players.

This is a very well researched, well-written, thorough and balanced look at the Monocacy campaign and it deserves a place in any well-stocked Civil War library.

Robust account of one of the seminal figures of early America, one attempting the creation of an indigenous culture cast in a more universal mode than that of the provincial Christianity of his roots. The courage to give up his secure life as a minister for the uncertainties of exploration and creative renewal marks Emerson's trail through a pioneer's psychological American wilderntess, to touch on and integrate everything from the post-Kantians, to the Buddhists/Hindus to the Persians and Sufis. That Emerson evolved into a near firebrand abolitionist is an aspect of his life unsufficiently told, and this part of his later career runs clear in this book. All in all, a first rate pioneer story of another kind.

This is the only biography of Emerson that truly matters. Richardson locks in on the essentials - the development of a seeking mind is search of the ground of being and the nature of reality. Emerson is our Founding Thinker and to do him justice, a biographer has to grapple with the how and why a mind grows, changes, struggles and reaches new heights. Even if you haven't read much Emerson, this biography sheds light on what Emerson meant when he said, "Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind."

In the past, my experience in reading Emerson has been similar to reading the Tao Te Ching; interesting, non-mainstream in its point of view, puzzling to understand what exactly it means. So I would pick up the Tao and read it at different times of the day and different frames of mind, hoping that it would resonate with me, but it never did. Maybe it was the cultural difference, or the language, or not being able to easily identify with Lao Tzu. Such had been my experience with Emerson. I wanted to understand him better because what little I did understand made me want to learn more, but I just couldn't get there.

This biographer, Richardson, really did his homework and any who want to understand Emerson better should appreciate this work. Emerson kept exhaustive journals and collections of his thoughts for many years. He read widely and deeply, kept detailed notes, and thoroughly indexed the notes. What perfect material to access for writing a biography! Apparently Richardson went back and studied much of the source material that Emerson references in his journals and brings into this biography an understanding of who Emerson was reading and what it meant to Emerson, so we receive the pleasure of following along on a journey in the development of a powerful mind. Then Richardson is able to write about this development so that it is easily readable to us moderns. It's quite a remarkable achievement.

"Mind on Fire" shows me that Richardson is certain that studying Emerson and his message is worthwhile. So much consideration has gone into this biography that when I laid it down after almost non-stop reading for several days over the holidays, I felt like I really understood Emerson for the first time, and now have much better insight. I plan to let this book simmer in my mind a few more months, then pick it up and read it again.

If Richardson could also write something as lucid and detailed to help me understand the Tao Te Ching, I wouldn't have 10,000 questions about the 10,000 things. ;-)

Mr. Richardson's 'Thoreau A Life of the Mind' was not only the best biography I've read on Thoreau, but one of the most exhilerating and enlightening reading experiences of my life. So I decided to read his 'Emerson The Mind on Fire.' And it was every bit as intimate and intelligent.

There are times you feel that you're intruding upon Waldo and Henry on one of their walks. It was an endless stroll of two intellectuals and humanists on the path of being very human. Each of the one hundred chapters (both books) are kept short, which helps move the reader from topic to topic without ever feeling put upon (too much detail can drag what is otherwise very interesting.) Though, for me personally, I would love to savor every moment these two great men shared. I don't think I could ever get bored.

Emerson has many close friends with whom one gets to know intimately. His personal address book was a whose whose of literary and intellectual greats.

The relationship between Emerson and his second wife, Lidian, is of great interest. She was also intellectual and as much a partner in life as she was a wife. Her presence is everywhere in Emerson's life.

Emerson's essays are pure poetry. And the behind the scene snippets into how they became a part of his legacy was both insightful and relevant to the day to day interactions and causes he committed himself. His transformation from the unremarkable child into the neverending 'student' of self-education and commitment to social conscience throughout his entire adult life is one to be admired.

Mr. Richardson is one of the best biographers of nineteenth century literaries. He is truly one with his topic.

Robert Richardson's biography of Emerson is superb. Though, as Richardson reminds us, Emerson did not like superlative language when precise and adequate language would do, it is the case that at times the superlative, the precise and the adequate converge (as, in fact, they often did in Emerson's writings). Richardson's biography is indeed superb in its unfolding of Emerson's life -- the loves, the friendships, the losses, the intellectual and spiritual hunger, the religious quest, the writers in America, in Europe, in Persia and elsewhere to whom Emerson owed and acknowledged debts, the grasping at and for a world, the determination of a single, brilliant human being to find his way and to see his life, and all individual lives, as imbued with the divine and thus worth living.

The book is also superbly written. Each short chapter offers enough substantive insight to urge the reader into the next. It is a long book, but not long-winded. Richardson provides the reader with some morsel of insight in a few pages of narrative, and then offers a rest to digest what has been said. His placement of quotations from Emerson's journals, essays and other works is brilliant, offering the reader a useful sketch of Emerson's metaphysics and ethics. In my own case, this has allowed time to reach for other literature more fully descriptive of the events or scenes offered in a particular chapter, or to reread chunks of Emerson's writings while moving through the biography. The book is a useful tool not merely for a study of Emerson's life but for a study of Transcendentalism and of the interplay of ideas across the Atlantic that shaped American thought in so many ways. One sees more clearly where and how such writers as Nietzsche and Thoreau obtained the seeds of their own truths from Emerson's works and thoughts.

Richardson has set the standard for the writing of future biographies. Again, simply superb.

If you are considering buying any guide for Check Point Firewall-1 NG buy this one first and forget the rest.

Don't let the author's "phoneboy" aka make you think twice. This is one of the best guides I have ever read. Most are dry boring and overly technical. This guide is a very easy read, it is well written and to the point and covers all aspects of Check Point Fire Wall thoroughly.

Welch-Abernathy has taken great care to present installation, configuration and troubleshooting in a manner anyone will understand, whether you are seasoned pro or just getting started. He has covered all OS models and taken many of the trobleshooting questions from his site FAQs at www.phoneboy.com and shown examples of how to understand and correct them. In addition to actual Q and A, he outlines the step by step sample configurations excellently with actual scripts, screenshots, notes and diagrams.

Welch-Abernathy also guides you through creating network structures on a scale that allows someone new to Check Point to design and impliment smallto medium network configurations in easy to manage ways.

The author starts out buy giving a great overview of firewall security technologies and there relation to OS Models while comparing the benifits and short comings of both.

Welch-Abernathy then guides you through the installation and developing your rule base. He includes tables and charts to show examples of each and backs up his examples with the most common Q&As making an installation seem like a breeze.

The authors explanation of remote access, NAT and high availability servers don't get any simpler. Any Admin who needs load balancing and fail over on a server cluster should keep this
guide around for refferance as well as daily use.

In addition to the main body of knowledge Welch-Abernathy also includes a great appendex covering OS Bastion security that is not only simple it is direct as well. Also included in the Appendices are a use policy template, ldap configuration, fine tuning for performance and two pages of concrete internet resources.

The author starts out buy giving a great overview of firewall security technologies and there relation to OS Models while comparing the benifits and short comings of both. I also found his overview and specifics of the licensing to be very helpfull.

Welch-Abernathy then guides you through maze of the installation process and developing your rule base. He includes tables and charts to show examples of each and backs up his examples with the most common Q&As making an installation seem like a breeze.

His examples of authentication, encyption and vpn make this a must read for anyone running Check Point on a corpoarte network.

I also found his overview and specifics of the licensing to be very helpfull as well.

If you are running Check Point Firewall-1 or considering using Check Point Firewall-1 you won't go wrong by putting this one in your library.

Alot of subjects in IT and security are covered over and over with a mass of books that may be a little better or a little worse, but are essentially identical. While Checkpoint is a less crowded topic than, say, NT Administration, I suspect this book will continue to stand out. In researching Checkpoint issues I've been struck by the extent to which "Phoneboy" is personally identified with the topic, both by newbies and by seasoned professionals. It's for good reason. This book is extremely thorough (within its scope) and brings alot to the table in the way of the details that a professional would need. I've read alot of technical texts, but this one stands out, both generally and with the specific topic. The book is written well, with a good structure and giving useful examples. I found the bug reports and known issues particularly useful. As a technical resource it seems unmatched. It was an excellent resource, both on the job and in earning my CCSA.

Each chapter of the book starts off with describing what the reader will learn or accomplish by reading that chapter. This sort of information is helpful for allowing readers to skip information that may not be useful to them and find the answers they seek. Many of the chapters also contain FAQ's and sample configurations and illustrations to help reinforce the information.

The book tries to cover a very broad scope and apply to a wide audience. It contains information all the way from holding the readers hand if they are new to Checkpoint Firewall-1 NG to providing detailed troubleshooting and configuration steps for experienced Checkpoint administrators.

I have never administered a Checkpoint firewall personally, but I found the information mostly straight forward and understandable. Again, this is not a book one would typically read casually, but for anyone who administers a Checkpoint firewall or is looking at installing a Checkpoint Firewall-1 NG system this is an excellent source of information.

(...)

Checkpoint FireWall-1 has become one of the top firewall software products in the industry. There are many reasons for its predominance. It was the first commercial
firewall on the market, but more importantly, the FireWall-1 GUI and its ease of use impressed corporate CIO's.

Although FireWall-1 is easy to use, some users face difficulty in configuring the product correctly and appropriately. In fact, one of the biggest dangers of a firewall is that it can
provide a false sense of security; if not properly configured, a firewall may have so many holes that it actually functions as nothing more than a router. Firewall expert Marcus
Ranum notes that, "...eventually, if enough data is going back and forth through your firewall, it is no longer a firewall -- it is a router."

Many times, firewall administrators are hired not because of their expertise in information security, but because they know network and systems administration quite
well. Many FireWall-1 administrators start with zero experience and knowledge. This is good from a job security and training perspective, but terrible from a security perspective.
Despite the proliferation and ubiquitous nature of FireWall-1 over the past decade, it is only in the last few months that any worthwhile books on FireWall-1 have become
available. One of the best is Essential Checkpoint Firewall-1: An Installation, Configuration, and Troubleshooting Guide by Dameon Welch-Abernathy. Welch-
Abernathy maintains a Web site, ..., which contains information on anything and everything related to FireWall-1. In fact, many FireWall-1 administrators have
... bookmarked as their prime site for FireWall-1 information, even before the Check Point support site.

Although the documentation that comes with FireWall-1 is quite good, Essential Checkpoint Firewall-1 often surpasses it. This is what makes Welch-Abernathy known as
the man for FireWall-1. Even Nir Zuk, who was a principal engineer at Check Point, stated that Welch-Abernathy's knowledge of FireWall-1 in many cases surpassed the
knowledge of Check Point's own engineers.

As its title implies, the book covers the installation, configuration, and troubleshooting of FireWall-1. Whereas the product itself is pretty straightforward to install (except for the
software license information), the real challenge is in the post- installation arena. The book has 14 chapters and, by Chapter 3 (page 34), the book is already into FireWall-
1. Other books often include up to 100 pages of filler on topics such as computer secrity, cryptography, threats, etc., and don't get to the main subject until half way through the
book. Chapter 4 of this book provides a thorough overview of how to build a rulebase. The chapter describes the various fields and objects that need to be created for the
firewall to be effective. Although the simplicity of the Check Point GUI is obvious, the definition of names, network objects, and so forth, must be carefully planned -- especially
for rollouts of FireWall-1 in large enterprise environments.

Chapter 8 provides an excellent overview of content security. FireWall-1 is built on its patented Stateful Inspection capabilities, but it has other security facilities including CVP
(Content Vectoring Protocol), UFP (URL Filtering Protocol), and others. The chapter describes much of the secondary content protection capabilities of FireWall-1. Such

capabilities are crucial in light of the volume of information that passes through corporate firewalls (including streaming media, email, files, Java, etc.).

Essential Checkpoint Firewall-1 covers all the crucial topics that any FireWall-1 administrator needs to know. From authentication, VPN, logging, high availability, and
more, it is all there. This is what makes Essential Checkpoint Firewall-1 the book of choice for FireWall-1.

This is one of those rare books that delivers what the title claims. It gives in-depth instructions on Firewall-1 installation, configuration and troubleshooting, and also includes additional material on security and networking that goes beyond what the title promises.

What I especially liked about this book are the little details that have a big impact if they're overlooked. Notable examples include:

(1) Quick, but thorough, introduction that provides an overview of firewalls at a general level, and the key features and benefits of Firewall-1 in particular.
(2) Issues, such the need for a security policy, are addressed early on. This is an important consideration and the author goes beyond merely highlighting the need by giving you a brief template to use in creating one.
(3) Guide through the labyrinth of Check Point's Firewall-1 licensing schemes - this is a nice touch because mastering the technology is a less daunting task then figuring out Check Point's sales strategy.
(4) Strengths and weaknesses of candidate operating systems, and a straightforward process for installing and configuring Firewall-1. The latter is a strong point because you'll benefit from the author's extensive experience and will save time by having a strategy instead of getting bit by obscure issues and learning painful lessons.

I like the way that each section ends with frequently asked questions. The author anticipates and answers common questions about installation, configuration and troubleshooting. Because of the way this book is structured it can serve as an off-the-shelf implementation and maintenance guide, eliminating the need to develop this material in-house.

This is one of the best written and well thought-out technical guides that I've had the pleasure of reading. It sets a high standard for similar books, but more importantly, it so completely covers Firewall-1 that you won't need anything but this book to implement and support this product.

Let's face it, we know the ending when we start. But, once into the book, you are drawn into the world at the NIC unit. You see what is happening as if you were there experiencing it. To see the raw emotion, experience the day to day happenings is to fall in love with the little life that is so fragile at this stage. Then on the other level you see how much love is shared, how everyone is drawn to this family. And yes, it is a family just like any other. I keep going back to the book and reread passages - when after a bath, little Jackson has a breathing problem, you read the "prayer" that BD Wong has going through his head. You get so imvolved that you actually feel emotionally exhausted after you put the book down. I so hope for more books by this particular author! Bravo! I am a Foo Follower for sure!

So, after finishing the wild ride/read on 3 different plane trips and stops at several coffee shops. I was crying, laughing, experiencing a roller coaster of emotions and everything else of this intense, personal family story. I kept having to stop to wipe away tears or suppress laughter in the very pulic spaces that I read the book. I guess B.D. can write as well as act. All of us can thank this family for sharing their experience...and making us all realize that alternative or traditional families are the same. A new Foo Follower.

This book is remarkable. I could, literally, not put it down and then was disappointed when I finished it. It is a real life, soul revealing, sad, funny, inspirational story. I feel that my life is richer for having read it. I am quite picky when it comes to how I spend my time, especially with regard to reading and I would read this again without hesitation.

I was recommended it because I just lost someone close to me through death and this book allowed me to grieve openly and fully for my loss and for all loss.

This book made me proud to be human. I await more from B.D. Wong.

a perspective, from a single woman, with no children-yet:
Believe it or not, this book is one of my birthday presents to myself, to help improve the quality of my life.

BD has helped me become a better woman. Hopefully, I will also become more responsible, as well. Hopefully, I will be better to cope with life's emotional issues, and handling them better.

That's what drew me to the book.

You see, while growing up, many, many people automatically assume that any given person should be able to handle anything thrown at them. You ask those around you for help, or you are impacted by something trumatic, and those around you automatically assume that you're tough enough to go through it, by yourself. Many a time, I would go through life, and not tell of my problems, because I felt that those around me would make the problem worse - or blame me for it.

Some of us have a harder time getting through things. To say "get over it", is a cruel thing to say. I feel that sometimes, those saying such a thing, are really digging deeper into the mess, and allow for things to continue to spiral downward.

I feel that this book allows people to communicate, in ways that go beyond the core scope of what the book was essentially written about.

I find it ironic that 2 men, sharing their account of parenting, pregnancy, and love with the world, including me, would have more of an impact on me, than that from any woman, since I have never received this type of insight from women.

I shouldn't have to get this type of insight about childrearing, etc., from men. However, I am indebted to BD and Richie, nonetheless.

You see, women have this thing out there, where they feel that they don't like sharing, esepcially when it comes to things like child-birth and pregnancy. It's like this secret, kept to hurt those women coming up in the world. Growing up, you ask your female relatives about such things, details inolved, and those female relatives keep quiet!

Women do not share everything, contrary to popular belief.

Needless to say, this is one of the first things that has impacted me, while reading the book.

The other is, of course the trauma, and roller coaster that BD talks about.

Some of the things mentioned, bring me back to the trials in my life.

I am thankful for the book, and the impact that the book has on my life.

When I saw this book, I just had to read it. Not because of who the author was or that he was gay, but because he LIVED what I was LIVING. Mr. Wong's book is the ONLY book about NICU babies that I would suggest as a MUST READ for critically premature parents! It doesn't help you understand the medical terms, it helps you understand YOU, as a parent of a tiny ray of life in a plastic box.
I lost a premature daughter (Mary) at 23 weeks, eleven months after that my second premature baby (Julia)was born at a whopping 28 weeks. I still was grieving Mary's death while trying to stay "upbeat" and "positive" about my Julia in the NICU. I joked, I laughed, but I hid A LOT of emotions. Everybody tells you how strong you are, what a brave person you are, while inside you are screaming "WHY MY CHILDREN!?!". You feel like you are the ONLY person in the world who feels that way.
Well, Mr. Wong's book is the ONLY book I have read that made me feel like I wasn't going crazy. He not only addressed the issues of being a parent of a NICU baby, but losing a child, and the realities of coping with that loss while being exatically happy your child has made a huge accomplishment (She either pooped, or ate half a teaspoon of breastmilk... major things in a NICU).
His humor at the most critical of times is very similar to how I dealt with things when the dr.s would say... "Well, Julia had a good day today, she only stopped breathing twice, and oh, by the way, her blood levels show she may need a transfustion, etc."
Life in the NICU is like constantly waiting for the shoe to drop! And when it does, it is usually a size 15 triple E!

I would love for Mr. Wong to do a follow up to his book, maybe "Following Foo, The Early Years". Julia is now 18 months old, and we are dealing with Early Intervention, Boston Children's Hospital, Weight issues, and Mom (or Dad) going nuts trying to keep it all in check. I would dearly love to hear some advice. Plus, I fell in love with his adorable son in this book and would love to know how he is doing!

This book is fantastic for dating photographs. I have bins of photos that I have no clue when they were taken. The tables in here help you to pen point the dates using things you'd never think of. Once Miss Fitzpatrick was able to use a cash registar and some old ads to determine the date of a picture! The more meaty sections are when she uses the light of day to name the exact location. Now that was amazing!
Last year I had the oppurturnity to meet Colleen. She is the nicest woman and ever so intelligent! Her passion flows throughout her work and makes the book enjoyable and fascinating to read. A genius in her field, Miss Fitzpatrick gives you the tools, the websites, and the frame of mind all in this book.
Inside are charts and tables giving you dating for when each type of photograph was made, describing to a tee how to distinguish your photo.
Also included, though I've not had much time to examine that section, are chapters on reading between the lines in directories and census images, ect.
Without this book I would still be clueless. It truly is a must have.

Forensic Genealogy is a unique contribution to genealogical studies that will enable the novice genealogist (and even the experience genealogical researcher) to utilize diverse resources and methods for developing their genealogical family histories that combines established and conventional genealogical research techniques with cutting edge advances in forensic investigation techniques to identify, understand, correlate, and detail their ancestry. Enhanced throughout will illustrations, this 182 page instructional reference shows how to create a "database" to construct a family story (including cultural profiling). An avid genealogist, Colleen Fitzpatrick offers a thoroughly "reader friendly" introduction to the subject of identification and analysis using everything from surname studies to non-paternity events, to cladograms and pairwise mismatches. Readers will learn how to become a kind of "digital detective" in analyzing documents, photographs, and records of all kinds. Concluding with a chapter on "There Will Always Be Mysteries Left", Forensic Genealogy is a welcome and seminal addition to personal and professional genealogical reference library collections. Also very highly recommended is Colleen Fitzpatrick's related instructional reference DNA & Genealogy (0976716011) with its focus on the genetic trail an ancestor leaves behind which can be traced through Y-chromosome and mitochondrial DNA testing, offering heretofore unavailable genetics-based expertise to genealogical inquiry for non-specialist general readers with an interest in developing their own genealogical inquiries.

Don't put away those old photographs and documents. You are not through with your families history until you have read Dr. Fitzpatrick's book "Forensic Genealology". There may be many hidden secrets in all those old items. This book will teach you to look at them like a "crime scene" and discover their meaning for your ancestor.

You will never look at a photo in quite the same way after reading this book. Many of us have so few photos from our families past that it makes every one of them important to telling our families history. The author helps us to be critical and wise examiners of the clues we have from our past. As one reviewer already said, the same pictures are examined as you progress through the book. There is just too much to learn to get it all in one place. Even if you didn't have any photos, there are excellent resources mentioned that could be used in any genealogy research. The book encourages the reader to extend family research beyond the usual sources like the census and city directories and dive into what the location was like where they lived, what was their occupation, what was the weather like and many other similar questions that can be pursued by extending our view of our family who lived in a location at a given time in history. I think the enthusiasm of the author is catching. It encourages that driving force to figure out and analyze the photos as evidence of our history. It is that push to go beyond the obvious for more clues.

This is not your usual basic family history book. It effectively teaches one how to think and analyze way outside the box. Once you have gathered all your family's pertinent material, this book will take you way beyond birth, death, and marriage records. The author brilliantly demonstrates how to use city directories, weather data, photo intelligence mensuration techniques, sleuthing approaches, and even a chapter on DNA testing and tracking. This is a wonderful teaching vehicle and reference manual. We would recommend it to all serious genealogists.

The author takes a highly technical subject area and transforms it into understandable tools for one to use with excellent examples from her own family investigations. This book is a mind expanding read, and we rated it a high four hearts.