F Books

This book is a must read story for any horse lover. I was lucky enough to meet Blackjack in person and he is a beautiful horse. Reading this book will take you on a wonderful horse adventure! Thank you Ellen Feld for writing such an amazing book.

This book is a must have for all who love horses! It is entertaining, heartwarming, and inspiring. No teenage girl should be without it!!

AWSOME!! I can't wait to read the other ones!!!

Its the best horse book I have ever read. Any horse lover or owner like me will fall in love with the horses and the characters. I laughed and even came near to tears in this heart filled story. I highly recommend it.

I love Ellen Feld's Morgan Horse books. I love them because they don't ask the reader to believe that teenaged girls can solve crimes, stop the destruction of rural America, or take a half-starved rescue horse on Monday and win the KY Derby on him the following weekend. OK; I'm exaggerating. It usually takes them at least 6 months before they win the Derby.
Ms. Feld's books are realistic in their portrayal of the human and equine characters, and accurate in their descriptions of tack, veterinary care, etc.
As a once-upon-a-time horse-crazy teenager grown into a horse-crazy middle aged person, and both a bookseller and tack store owner in years past, I appreciate the fact that Ms. Feld's books aren't filled with inaccuracy and improbable fantasy. It has always seemed to me that many YA stories that are, presuppose that the readers are not very knowledgeable about horses.
Five stars and a bag of carrots to Ellen Feld's books.

The real-life background of "Captivity" is the often-unwittingly callous experimentation done during the Seventies, when baby chimpanzees were raised as human children, in human households, and taught sign language and human mannerisms--only to be inhumanely discarded when the research was completed. Most famous were the Nim Chimpsky and Washoe projects, done partly in response to Noam Chomsky's thesis that language is a uniquely human attribute.

Fast forward three decades and Dana, one of the children in the experiments, now a primatologist, has assumed responsibility for a sanctuary for chimpanzee survivors of HIV testing and ill-kempt zoos and behavior modification. The center is confronted by a public-relations disaster when the chimps are released in the dead of night, endangering themselves and the tranquility of the surrounding neighborhood--and unleashing the always-latent NIMBY currents unique to American suburbia. Complicating things are Dana's brother, Zack, approaching middle age and clinging to adolescence; animal rights activists who are ambivalent and confused about the sanctuary's purpose; a well-meaning journalist writing a follow-up story about children who were raised with chimps; and an unscrupulous psychologist, a longtime family enemy, who hopes to wrest control of the primate sanctuary from his colleagues in anthropology.

The sanctuary's chimpanzees, credibly portrayed, often steal the scenes. Yet the author, wisely, avoids spinning an anthropomorphic tale of human-chimp interaction; you won't find here the literary fiction equivalent of "The Secret of NIMH." True, "Captivity" does examine the ways in which our species projects its attributes (and foibles) on the animals with which we grudgingly share the earth and, more specifically, it imagines the psychological trauma suffered by two adults who, as involuntary children-subjects in simian experiments, lost a family member they believed to be more a sibling than a pet.

But the novel establishes its story on a broader stage than the confines of the sanctuary might suggest; it is a compelling, empathetic drama about a truly dysfunctional family. While the story of Dana and Zack would seem to prove Tolstoy's aphorism that every unhappy family is unhappy for its own reason, the loss and betrayal endured by this hapless pair, as well as their paths to self-discovery, are common to us all.

Captivity keeps the reader completely engaged throughout. The author shows how human chimps are, and develops them as whole beings with individual personalities. You will find many instances where humans and chimps act alike to achieve their similar goals and fulfill their needs. I found myself as interested in the drama of the chimp societies (at the sanctuary) as those of the human characters in the story.

This is a great book, it pulls you in from many directions. Highly recommended.

Captivity, by Debbie Lee Wesselmann, fuses many elements of a classic novel into an entirely original setting and plot. In its protagonist, Dana Armstrong, you have a classic intelligent, resourceful, strong but flawed heroine. There's her brother Zack, who is one of the most well-drawn screwed-up sibling characters I've ever encountered. There's a classic villian in the aptly named Dick Lamier, who tries to discredit Dana and her work in an effort to take her job. And there's journalist Sam Wendt, who goes from antagonist to ally. That Wesselman can take these almost iconic characters and weave them into a compelling plot that mingles primatology, animal behavior, animal rights, and inter-special communication is a testament to her skill as a storyteller.

I absolutely loved reading this novel.

"There are no boring stories. There are only boring writers."

These were the words of my first newspaper editor, words conveyed to me after I had turned in an excrutiatingly dull story about a mechanical engineering conference. A good writer can take any subject, no matter how mundane, and make it an exceptional read. Take primatology, for example; while certainly a topic of interest to some, it's not a theme one would expect for a novel. My interest in primate studies/behavior was nominal, which is why I picked up Debbie Lee Wesselmann's latest novel with some trepidation. My fears were for naught; Wesselmann delivers a fast-paced, informative tale of intrigue and political posturing in her novel CAPTIVITY.

Make no mistake: This is a novel far removed from Wesselmann's earlier title, "Trudor & The Balloonist." CAPTIVITY demonstrates how much the author has progressed as a novelist; the descriptions of primate captivity and behavior and human interaction were fascinating, and indicative this author really did her homework. Furthermore, the narrative was strong, compelling, and thoroughly character-driven. Here's but one example:

"He followed her gaze and found he, too, was mesmerized by the proximity of the drug. The lull of it. The scratch of it that now clawed inside his veins, begging for release. The happiness that lay there, if only brief and illusory. The duality of freedom and enslavement. This he could share with Becca; they could fall down the abyss together and enjoy the free fall like kids on a roller coaster who did not know the track would end suddenly, midair.
Yes, he thought. Yes."

That's good stuff.

This is a novel that examines the dynamic of trying to keep a university primate sanctuary afloat (amidst never-ending political posturing) while Dana Armstrong, the protagonist, tries to juggle a relationship with a most dysfunctional brother. I had no idea of the politics involved--all the behind the scenes machinations--in the field of primatology, so this novel informs as it entertains. Plus, a freelance journalist, for once, is presented in a favorable light, and that's a good thing. Primatology may not be your cup of tea, but Debbie Lee Wesselmann definitely makes it palatable; CAPTIVITY is a page-turner, an enlightening and pleasurable read.
--D. Mikels, Author, The Reckoning

I eagerly paged through 291 pages of brilliant writing and storytelling to uncover the many layers to this fine story. Captivity, by Debbie Lee Wesselmann is one of the best novels I've read in far too long. You want a well told and well-researched story with unique and fully drawn characters on a road filled with wonder, intrigue and surprising twists? Voila! This is a book for you.

Captivity is the story of Dana Armstrong, a primatologist famous in academic circles for her portrayal as a child involved in early psychological studies comparing human and chimpanzees behavior. As a middle-aged, divorced woman, she heads the South Carolina Primate Project (SCPP), a sanctuary for chimps born into captivity and once used for medical experiments and research--chimps incapable of living in the wild. When the sanctuary is broken into and the chimps set free, her whole world begins to unravel. Deep rooted traumas stemming from her childhood come to the surface as she tries to save not only her job, but also the SCPP.

Dana, as well as the secondary characters, including her assistant and best friend, Mary, her troubled brother, Zack, a freelance journalist named Sam, the nefarious nemesis, Dick Lamier, (I found that name choice appropriate and funny!), even a host of chimps, are fully realized and interesting, adding color and dimension to the highly literary, beautiful writing. I give this book my highest recommendation.

From the author of A Line Between Friends and The Things I Wish I'd Said.

What a beautiful, sacred and incredible collection of artwork. The book is absolutely stunning!

incredible stories and amazing pics...bigger than any 'coffee table' book we've ever owned!...a bargain at 1/2 the price

I've owned this book for 7 years. I admit that I love the art --the mandalas are beautiful. Romio Shrestha is a good MANAGER of good artists (I've never seen him actually PAINT a mandala HIMSELF, and even he admits that the mandalas are painted by monks he has "commissioned.")

And Ian Baker's text to this book is extraordinary.

BUT -- and these are some BIG concerns:

INACCURACY: The mandalas contain numerous inaccuracies in them, and do not reflect deity or yogic practices as accurately, precisely or in as much detail as do the works of many others who actually PRACTICE the Dharma (which Romio does not) -- day in and day out -- see, for example, thangkas painted by His Holiness the Dalai Lama's personal thangka artist in Dharamsala, or even more Western-accessible Andy Weber.

AS IMPORTANTLY: I've met Romio Shrestha. He is a player, a wanna-be playboy, and a charlatan -- a cheap imitation of what non-discerning and gullible Westerners will believe a tantric master to be, or a self-appointed swamiji or yogi. When I met Romio the first time, he was at an international WOMEN's peace conference, lurking about, pretending to be a yogi or swami, chanting mantras and "casting spells" on sacred pendants -- all a pretext for the fact that he was stoned out of his gourd.

All he was doing (I saw this, first-hand) was smoking pot in a hotel room designated for the media production team -- trying to pick up women!!!

Romio tried to come on to me by chanting the Ganesha mantra while holding and offering to me a cheap fake silver Ganesh pendant. I recognized the pendant instantly as identical to the handfuls of pendants I had picked up on my many trips to India, dozens of years previously. The main problem for Romio was twofold: (1) I am intimately familiar with the Ganesh mantra -- Ganesh is one of my protector deities!; and (2) as a longtime practitioner of a Kriya Pranayam meditation practice, a longtime Tibetan Tantric practitioner (I keep my samaya), and with live-wire activated Kundalini, I am INTIMATELY familiar with energy player PRETENDERS.

As soon as I chanted the Ganesha mantra back to him, Heart wide-open, staring him directly in the eyes the whole time -- he scurried away, like a cockroach does when the light is turned on.

I bear Romio no ill will. Romio is, ultimately, pretty harmless to most people (except pretty young things, whom he will try to pick up by his pretense of being a "tantric master.") He's got trickster energy -- which can actually be quite fun, when it's recognized and acknowledged as such by the person who is the container for it (rather than some kind of "high teacher" egoic pretense). The bottom line is that he has NO genuine spiritual juice, NO genuine foundation in Tibetan tantric practices, and he is FAR from being a genuine spiritual master, of any kind.

The art he helps bring into the world is beautiful. But his schtick? Kindly stated, it's mundane at best.

Things are never as they seem . . . especially where spiritual materialism is concerned.

Thanks for listening -- to my humble opinion, of course! :)

I have a modest collection of new, good-quality Thangka ($150 to $400, up to 25"), but the quality of the Thangka displayed in this collection are beyond my price and size range. If you are considering buying a Thangka, get this book first to see how high the bar can go. No faded antiques here. For the most part the book's format is one page text, one page painting, but some intricate Thangka such as the "Wheel of Life" are broken down and explained in more detail.

The near poster sized book of mandalas is truly perfect for the subject. Traditionally done in sand to mirror the transcient nature of life and beauty, this book is wonderful to behold. One can easily frame the individual plates but it's not merely a bound poster book. The text is nicely written and informative. The mandalas are really first rate, so intricate and detailed, that they transcend even beauty. It's surprisingly heavy (nice glossy paper) for a book that is the thickness of a children's book. Best displayed open to your favorite page.

It is really a very good book from IBM about DB2-SPL. In our company we bougth a lot of DB2 book, but this is the very best.

from basics to tricks

Has been extremely helpful. Good information

The book describes IBM's Procedural Language, which runs on their db2 servers. It is not a general purpose language, like C or Java. Rather, it is tied directly to db2 and IBM's implementation of SQL. But within this context, the book explains the expressive power of PL. It shows at length how you can write stored procedures, triggers and functions in PL. The level of detail and the cited examples should reassure you of PL's capability.

But why even write business logic code at the database layer? There have been other books on n-tier application design, which call for the locating of business logic in a middle tier and not at the database. The authors' rejoinder is that while that makes for an elegant design, practical experience shows that often, crucial logic needs to be at the database. This reduces networks traffic and can heavily improve perforance. Hence the need for PL, or something like it.

Be wary of the book's claim that PL lets you write "portable application logic". It is portable only between instances of db2 running under linux, unix, Microsoft Windows or IBM's operating systems. When you write embedded logic in PL, you are also embedding yourself or your company into db2. Which may indeed be fine by you. But just so you know.

If you are a developer or DBA who is new to DB2, I would highly recommend this book to you. Both administration and development topics are covered, helpful best practices and tips are included, and illustrative examples are used.

The fundamental DB2 concepts and the different DB2 tools such as the Control Center are introduced in a very straightforward and easy-to-understand manner. This allows DB2-newbies to get fully up to speed on DB2 terminology and functionality, while serving as a gentle refresher for those who might have prior DB2 experience. The book achieves a good balance of topic selection and level of detail. More advance topics that are covered are explained in a manner that most novices would comprehend and in enough detail to be useful.

The prime focus of the book is on leveraging the ease-of-use and autonomic capabilities of DB2. If you are a developer not wanting to memorize database and/or SQL command syntax, you will particularly appreciate this book. The book shows how most common administrative tasks can be very easily performed using the GUI tools and Wizards provided with DB2. Ease of application development is demonstrated in both Java and Microsoft .net environments. An easy and intuitive introduction to DB2 SQLPL is also provided.

Overall, I think that if you are new to DB2, or need to learn the essential concepts/features needed to develop and/or administer DB2 quickly, you will be very pleased with this book. It is a perfect starting point for introducing the most important concepts, features, and tools. As you gain more experience and familiarity with the product, a more advanced book can be obtained.

I didn't know anything about writing DB2 stored procedures until I bought this book. After reading it I have written several procedures to aid in data migration. It is well laid out and has all the necessary information. The best part is that you don't feel like you are reading a technical book.

I gave this book five stars because of the all the reasons mentioned by the previous reviewers. After reading Michno's accounts of the battles in my area, I am left with the impression that he's been out here walking the battlefields himself.

That shows the kind of dedication needed to make a reference book like this really valuable. If you don't already have a copy, you'd better get one. It's going to be a classic.

For anyone interested in the late 19th century, this will be an invaluable reference and a healthy counterbalance against some of the politically correct fantasies being churned out by Hollywood and the scattered remains of our once great educational system. I use mine all the time and learn something new every time I pick it up.

Excellent chronological record of the relevant actions of the frontier army from the offical govt/public record.

If you are interested in ALL the battles and skirmishes in the west, this book is for you. I was amazed to see how many fights took place in my part of the country. The author has done extensive research, but I could do without the occasional editorializing when defending the U.S. Cavalry.

If you live in the West this book is absolutely fasinating. The familiar small city names and familiar places, together with an excellent set of maps adds depth to your understanding of your surroundings. But be prepared for an unflinching look at some very brutal episodes though, this is not a sanitized Hollywood version of the West. This is the real deal from a real deal historian.

Many books call themselves an encyclopedia of this or that but turn out to be simply random collections of information on their topic. However, Gregory Michno's Encyclopedia of Indian Wars: Western Battles and Skirmishes, 1850-1890 really is a miniature encyclopedia of the Indian Wars fought between the U.S. Army and various Native American tribes or groups during the period when Euro-Americans came to dominate the western United States.

The bulk of the book (345 out of 438 numbered 5x9" pages) consists of brief descriptions of 840 major and minor battles and "firefights" that occurred in twenty Midwestern and Western states/territories and adjoining parts of Mexico. The descriptions are arranged chronologically within each year, 1850-1890. Drawing largely on Army after-action reports, Mr. Michno's narratives are heavy on facts for each event: when, where, who, casualty counts and immediate results. By providing the names of many Army officers and NCOs as well as significant members of their Native American opposition it is possible to get a feel for some of the participants' careers over a number of years.

One of the most useful features is a 32-page introductory section of state/territory maps showing the locations, tied to accompanying lists and page references, for every action described in the book. This allows readers to locate all the events in a particular locale regardless of when they took place.

A conclusion and appendix section has several interesting statistical tables summarizing the intensity of the actions in terms of numbers of actions each year, the number of combatants involved and casualties incurred. Twenty-two pages of reference notes, a 16-page bibliography and a 27-page index increase this book's value as a reference for further research or reading. In my opinion the most interesting of the scattered black and white photos of those showing the battle sites in recent years, but the photos are not a strong part of the book. There are no maps showing more detail than the simple state reference maps.

Some reviewers lament the author's supposed apologetic view of the Army's involvement, but I didn't read the book that way. The dominant perspective is that of the U.S. Army and other non-Indians because it is mostly from their records, the only ones available in many instances, that the descriptions are taken. The bulk of the narratives are summaries of facts included in the reports (the weakest link, as in any such war, being the casualty count inflicted on the adversary). If anything, the facts often portray the Army poorly in that its often impossible to glean from the description any rationale for the Army initiating a particular action - and sometimes getting beaten - and there are numerous occasions mentioning non-combatants (primarily women and children) being injured, killed or taken prisoner (i.e., hostage).

I don't think the author's perspective on the infamous Wounded Knee Creek action on December 29, 1890 is apologetic of the Army, just politically incorrect. That's because Michno points out not only that the Lakota suffered 128 killed and 33 wounded (a lerge number of whom were non-combatants), but that the Lakota, in turn, were not passively massacred but inflicted 60 casualties (25 KIA, 35 WIA) on their 7th Cavalry adversaries. That was the largest number of casualties suffered by the 7th Cavalry apart from the Little Bighorn battle. Who knew?

My main complaint is that the day-by-day format sometimes makes it hard (despite references to prior or subsequent related events) to trace a particular multi-day or even multi-week or month campaign. For instance, the 1877 Nez Perce War is hard to follow because unrelated events elsewhere are intertwined in the same months. If the author revises this book I'd like to see a reference section with maps and a listing that groups significant campaigns together in some fashion.

Highly recommended as background reading and a reference to keep for anyone interested in the Indian Wars, American history or military history. Makes an excellent companion book when touring historic sites associated with the Indian Wars (I bought my copy on a visit to the Little Bighorn Battlefield last spring).

I bought this book and it was not a bad decision. Most of the reviews here are pretty accurate. He does cover unique ground in pointing out exercises that are not common in the more mainstream books like Body for Life and Lean Body Promise. The first edition has its fair share of editorial bugs but I think that you could piece together the general meaning given the context. I would point out that most books do not go into lifts such as the clean and snatch due to injury possibility. This is something that needs to be covered because some of these exercises can really put a person into jeopardy if they did not slowly build up to these type of movements. The more mainstream books tend to stick with bodyshaping movements and do not really go into more "athletic" moves. This is a good resource to consult for those type of movements but most people that I see working out at the gym are not into that type of lifting. In that way, the book is a bit overkill. The author has taken unnecessary pot-shots at the Body for Life and Lean Body books for being to simplistic or "looks based", but that is what a lot of people go for these days. They just want to know how to get from A to B as fast as possible. You look at Body for Life (even with its flaws) and the program is fairly simple and will give results as long as you are consistent. The downside with this book is that in being as comprehensive as it is, it misses the typical American way of life. I am not saying that this is the right way of thinking but it is out there. I would say that this is really geared towards those that are more advanced and not intimidated about more advanced lifting techniques.

Learn the right forms for power lifting and weightlifting so you don't injure yourself when lifting. Even a 75-year-old woman will find this reference guide a useful fitness tool.

What I liked: coverage of the different types of weight training (power lifting, body building, etc.), great description of body shortcomings (too stiff, weak arms, shoulders) and possible remedies, form for different lifts, interesting Egyptian history and training methods over time (40+ yrs), Q&A section

What I didn't like: 1st edition binding unraveling, small print, overwhelming size of information, sometimes dry writing style

Who should buy this? those looking beyond the basics and wanting something more integrative & descriptive approach - whole body lifting

Although I am currently not in the best of shape, at one time I worked as a personal trainer and by education I was trained as a research scientist. I have graduate education in both physiology and biochemistry and have worked with some high end athletes including one Olympic level powerlifter. Currently, I am looking to use strength training again myself because I was sidelined for a number of years by a back and neck injury, this is the context for my interview.

The first thing I would like to say is that I own and have bought many books on strength training and most of them are not even in the same category as this book. Of the books that are out there, most of them say the same thing in different ways, make unsubstantiated claims or set unrealistic expectations. In short, this book is a welcome exception. It is well-organized, detailed, thorough, well-written and dense with valuable material.

A lot of the focus here is on training for powerlifting. However, it's also a great strength training text with lots of references. The scope of the book is ambitious and covers the proper way to perform important exercises, information about periodization, explanations of how different types of programs affect the body, the importance of coordination, etc.

In addition, this title has many useful diagrams, training ideas and references to actual studies. The information in it is very credible and much more than one person's opinion. I was also extremely impressed with the detailed descriptions of how each exercise works, the anatomy involved and the sections on physiology.

One might assume that a book like this would read like a text book in accounting or calculus (not that there is anything wrong with either of these subjects).... However, it sometimes difficult to be technically precise and at the same time engaging to the reader. On this account, Dr. El-Hewie has certainly succeeded.

Although this book is quite expensive, it covers a TREMENDOUS amount of ground in a reasonable space. It was clearly a labor of love and it is well worth every cent. Rather than wasting money on more of the same, I recommend getting a few good books. This is one I would NOT like to be without.

Another book that I saw recently for hard-gainers had a lot of good content in terms of building mass. I think it fell down a bit in the nutrition/supplement area, but it is much less expensive than this and covers a subset of this material that is most important to training properly for mass. This book is called From Scrawny to Brawny. There are a FEW other books I saw that I thought were quite good and I will be reviewing them in the near future. I will most likely be reviewing the ones I thought were quite bad as well.

Lastly, this book covers lots of nuances like nervous system adaptation, relationships between strength, mass and power. The importance of coordination and how to plan a path forward depending upon your goals. It's really one stop shopping for an athletic approach to strength training vs. bodybuilding. Bodybuilders will find a lot of great material here, but this is NOT the emphasis of this particular book.

The descriptions of the reviewers: Slavisa Nesic and Larry Wagner "Athlete, Analyst, Coach, Dad" in this list do an excellent review and detailed description of the book. I just wanted to add my voice, as a woman, that I found his book incredibly useful too.

As is stated, the emphasis of El Howie's book is on weight-lifting and power-lifting (which focuses more on strength) as compared with Bodybuilding (to get those shapely muscles that make our stomach flat and the rest of us curvaceous.) Women in general want to look great in a bikini and the Bodybuilding orientation is the way to go.

But he gives enough coverage to Body-building and nevertheless, he is meticulous about form.

The other two books I have liked in conjunction with this is Delavier's Strength Anatomy and his Women's Strength Training Anatomy (I recommend getting both whether you are male or female.) Those books give you very clear basics for form, lots of detailed diagrams and so forth. El Howie's book is extremely comprehensive.

There are various debates as to how often to work out, whether you should focus on just parts of the body each day at a time or workout the whole body in each session. There are also differences of opinion as to best plan your meals, whether and when you should do cardio in conjunction with the weight-lifting. It would be useful, if you are a first-timer, to go for Body for Life or some other program that involves lifting weights. At bottom, in my experience, how one comes out on the various debates invariable is what works best for them, whether physiologically, psychologically or schedule wise.

I just want to say to any woman reading this, if you don't already know, you will never get back or achieve that girlish figure if you don't lift weights and lift heavy weights. And you can no matter what you age.

Though I do not want to provide a link on an Amazon post, if you google John Stone 42 the first link that comes up should be "Fit Women over 42- 89 on parade." If you go to that link you will find tons of stories with pictures of women going through fantastic transformations starting at age 50, 60 and older. Don't ever believe you are "too old" or "too out of shape" to achieve this.

And El-Howie's book is a great reference for getting form down correctly to get the best results and not injure yourself.

It never really made sense to me until after I started reading this book. God really does love us. He's the only one that we can always count on and our focus should always be drawn back to him.

"Finding Peace" is yet another great book by Charles Stanley. The book's focus is on realizing that our peace rests on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ instead of circumstances. Dr. Stanley challenges the reader to take responsibility and be proactive in finding peace through a relationship with God instead of fuming and fretting over the situations we find ourselves in.

Among the great points mentioned in the book are:

1. Issues that can cause destructive conflict.
2. God is larger than our challenges.
3. Four clear signs of God's peace.
4. Why we lose our peace.
5. 5 essentials beliefs for a peaceful heart.
6. 7 categories of peace-destroying thoughts.
7. 5 vital questions to ask yourself about regret.
8. Results of anxiety.
9. 7 steps to overcoming fear.
10. 4 keys to living in contentment.

I also appreciated Dr. Stanley describing his own struggles when his wife filed for divorce and yet was able to obtain peace through the trial.

Read and be encouraged to seek peace in the Lord instead of yourself, others, or your circumstances!

Highly recommended.

Dr. Stanley has a wonderful talent for putting such a complicated ideal into laymans terms. He's definitely set me on course towards finding peace. The book isn't about answers, but rather a process.

~Finding Peace : God's Promise of a Life Free from Regret, Anxiety, and Fear~ is a helpful guide to seeking peace and overcoming anxiety in midst of stressful circumstances. Charles Stanley gives practical and sound Scriptural exhortation on facing life's problems. We can find our peace in midst our trials and tribulations by recognizing that God is sovereign. Sometime, it is a lot easier said than done, which is why we need reinforcement from others. We have to continually set our sights on God's promises. Few Christians want to peer into book of Job, much less have their faith tested like Job. Taking a hit professionally or financially, suffering persecution, enduring slander, or relationship friction can strain a person. However, we can come out stronger enduring hardship if we seek peace of mind through God. God's pruning can often be painful, but we have to set our sights on Romans 8:28, and the promises of God. Life is a vapor.

Anyhow, Stanley offers a lot of prudent exhortation on seeking stability, peace of mind, discerning between productive and destructive anxiety, and living at peace with others. Too many Christian pastors these days, miss the mark and neglect addressing that life has its pains, and preach blissful optimism. Turn on Joel Olsteen for example, and he will be rambling about having a "better house, a better car," etc. and preaching the health and wealth non-sense. When life on the flying carpet of bliss doesn't come people get more discouraged and disappointed. Charles Stanley, however, isn't one of those errant teachers... Stanley will be the first to say tough times will come. Likewise, he offers sound advice on enduring those times and finding peace through acknowledging and trusting God. "You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 2:3). Hardship endured in God's strength produces the peaceable fruit of patience, makes us more dependent on God, and breaks us of our stubborn self-centered thinking.

"What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?."
-Romans 8:31

If you have not read this book by Dr. Stanley, you need to read it. You owe it to yourself. I continue to be amazed at his use of Scripture as it applies to the human soul.

I highly recommend this volume.

I neede to buy this book for a class/trip I am taking over spring break. I was very surprised that it was not a dry text book , but a very readable information guide to the entire area. Great book if your interested in the geology of the area.

I read it after I came back from a trip to Owens Valley, so I can't speak on using it for directions, but it is a great book. I began reading to find a few facts to label my trip photos with but found myself reading the entire Owens Valley half, even the places I didn't see. There are some crazy things in Owens Valley! A gravity deficit, piles of rock in neat columns, lava cooling into glass, water issues with Owens Lake... I couldn't stop reading even though I had work to do - bad bad, but so good!

The chapters on each location are longer and geologic feature are more detailed than your average guide book, so you understand the background and science, but there's no technical jargon, so it's very easy to understand. Very clear simple writing by people who obviously have a genuine appreciation for what they're writing about.

Most years we vacation in Mammoth. This book describes a number of convenient and interesting side trips to take with the family. We wander around, sometimes visiting the same features, sometimes visiting a new site. Always appreciating more & more of the world around us. My children have a much better feel for geological processes and their impact on the landscape than do their peers.

The book starts with a five page description of Eastern California's geological history, then jumps into 30 sites of interest, nearly evenly distributed between Death Valley & vicinity and the Eastern Sierra & vicinity. A glossary, "Sources of Supplementary Information," and an index round out the book.

Each site receives its own chapter, replete with photographs, maps, geological diagrams, and even driving directions, as needed. I'm not a serious geologist, but landscape features fascinate me. The explanations that the authors give work well for me: I can understand them well enough to explain them to children.

If you're interested in how the land has been shaped, if you're willing to turn off the tube & make contact with the natural world, then this book is for you. One of the best "field guides" to geology I own. One of my favorites, too. (The companion volume, GEOLOGY UNDERFOOT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, is also an excellent book).

Great to take along any drive through the area. Have your passenger read as you go, stop along the way for a closer look. Easy to read, not too "intellectual". This was my favorite guide to the area when I moved here (and still is)!

The southwest United States is a geomorphologist's dream... There's not a lot of green stuff covering up the beautiful geology! This book details the geologic features of Death and Owens Valley, CA. It gives the geologic history of features while succinctly describing the details of the processes that brought about these features. The Tufa Pinnacles in Searles Valley, the alluvial fans in Death Valley, the interesting history and development of Gower Gulch, the mysterious ascent of desert pavement, the glacial morraines and routes of the Tahoe and Tioga Stade glaciers at Convict Lake, the Mono Craters (Domes), Fossil Falls, the Alabama Hills and more. You'll even get the heebee jeebees when you read about the monstrous explosion of Ubehebe Crater! Certainly one of the most interesting and pleasurable books I've read in ages! Highly recommended for ANYONE who plans a trip to California's awe-inspiring Death Valley and environs! A must have!

The true story of the mixed blood George Bent is far more exciting than most fiction novels. The authors do an outstanding job of giving George the credit and recognition he deserves. Clearly George Bent, Chyenne raised and white school educated, had a never ending challange fitting into either world. His trials and tribulations are vividly portrayed in this book.
Review by Will Davis- Author of "Bell County Bushwhackers"

An imbibing read of George Bent's life as a halfbreed White/Cheyenne Indian from the mid-1800's to the early 1900's. Bent was the son of famed trader William Bent and his Cheyenne Indian wife Owl Woman. In later years he wanted to tell his story from the Indian point of view which makes this a captivating read. For years we have been exposed to thrashings of the Native Americans from the slanted and one-sided views of Hollywood, dime novels, etc. that we oftentimes forget that there was another side to the story.
George was raised among the Cheyenne Indians at Bent's Fort in Colorado, later schooled in Westport and St. Louis, fought as a Confederate soldier in the Civil War, rode with the renegade Cheyenne Dog Soldiers in retaliation for the horrific Sand Creek Massacre, hired as a government interpreter to the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, knew and met with the many Indian chiefs to promote peace and acted as an intermediary between both worlds.
Throughout his entire life he was confused and frustrated as to which side of the heritage line to choose. The authors are to be commended on the manner in which they incorporate this struggle for identity along with critical historical events that shaped and incurred during his lifetime.

George Bent was truly one-of-a-kind. Born the son of a wealthy and prominent White trader and a beautiful Cheyenne woman in 1843, he was raised half-White and half-Cheyenne. He was educated in the White man's world and served in the Confederate Army, but became a Cheyenne warrior when his tribe went to war with the United States, participating in 27 war parties. He later worked as an interpreter and a broker -- not always a good one -- between the Whites and the Cheyennes. Perhaps his more important role came late in life when he served as an informant to the historians and ethnologists studying the Cheyennes. That they are among the best documented, most admired and studied of all Indian tribes is largely attributable to Bent.

The authors have done an outstanding job in compiling the story of George Bent. This is a scholarly, well-researched, well-documented, book that is complex but reads easily and tells a fascinating tale of a man between two worlds and comfortable in neither. The characters of Western legend appear in the book: Kit Carson, Wild Bill Hickock, George Custer, Phil Sheridan, and Buffalo Bill. Desperate forgotten battles between the Cheyennes and their White enemies are recalled and described. Perhaps the most interesting chapters of all describe the relationship between Bent and the scholars -- Hyde, Mooney, and Grinnell -- who used him as a resource to write their books. Bent had a burning interest in assuring that the story of the Cheyenne was recorded and remembered. He succeeded.

"Halfbreed" is a sad book as it describes the destruction by disease and war and massacre of a people and of Bent's own efforts to survive in a world that collapses around him. I don't know of any other book that delves so deeply and movingly into the world of the halfbreed. Bent deserves the recognition this book accords him almost a century after his death on the Cheyenne Reservation in Oklahoma.

Smallchief

This is a brilliant study of George Bent, the son of William Bent and Owl Woman, a physical union of the American settler and the American Indian in the west during the 19th century. He was not necessarily a central figure but nevertheless is emblematic of an entire era. In a time when we have few sources and fewer books regarding the progeny of Indian-european unions, this serves as an important and fascinating book that looks into the two worlds and momentous events of Bent's life. He lived among those great men of the American west such as Buffulo Bill and Kit Carson as well as witnessed the destruction of the native-American way of life. As a dog soldier, or elite warrior, of the Cheyennes he saw the massacre of Black Kettle's people and the subsequent war between whites and Indians on the plains. He later lived to serve as translator to the slowly defeated tribes and ended his days as a teacher at an Indian school, witness to the passing of an era. This is a well written book that reads like fiction but serves as an important testimony. A fascinating story that anyone will enjoy but should truly be read by anyone who enjoys the American West in all its flavor.

Seth J. Frantzman

When I moved to Santa Fe in 1983, I became fascinated with the history of this area and all things related to the Santa Fe trail. David Lavender wrote a great book on Bent's Fort that has always been a favorite of mine. Bent's Fort is a "living museum" in south eastern Colorado that is really worth visiting. When my friend loaned me his copy of Halfbreed, I was so impressed with its insight and easy reading that I bought two copies and sent one to another friend to enjoy (he did). I've read it three times now and will enjoy it again. I was moved by the authors' sensitivity of a true unsung hero who tried his best to preserve his knowledge of the Cheyenne oral traditions before they were forever lost. I will one day soon travel to the village of Colony, Oklahoma and visit his grave sight to pay homage to a great man that through this book, I have come to know and honor. I recomend this book for all who are looking for a good book to read.

I wish Leslie Forsgren's book, HE'S BEEN THERE TOO, had been available to me years ago when I was struggling to understand and cope with alcoholism in my family. It would have been most helpful. It is a fine book and Forsgren is to be commended for sharing his baneful experiences with us and then offering hope that, with proper treatment, alcoholism's destructive behavior can be controlled

Forsgren tells a courageous story of his torture from his addiction to alcohol and the ultimate success of his efforts. He writes not only from his heart , but also from the very depths of his soul. His candor and sincerety keep the reader wanting to hear more of his striving toward an ultimate goal. He is quick to admit that his struggle is never in the past tense, but a continuing endeavor toward freedom from this "Monster." I found it almost impossible to put the book down until I had read the very last page. A good read. I recommend this book to anyone who has an addiction or who knows anyone who has.

I read this book because it was recommended to me as an excellent reference on addiction written by a man who "has been there". I wanted to learn more about the feelings and thoughts that are associated with being an addict.

I was struck with how much honesty, strength and generosity shine through the author's words, although pain and struggle occupy every page.

I commend the author for taking up the challenge of shedding light on this very personal tragedy.

I hope that it will move other alcoholics toward their own sobriety.

This book has a definite quality. It evokes pathos without soliciting pity. Well written, obviously truthful, it extends a hand shake of hope for alcoholics who may think life is hopeless.

This is about the truth - it's not for sissys. I recommend it highly. It's not only for alcoholics, it's for anyone who has loved one. This book can help us all. Wonderful!