P Books

My mother-in-law gave this book to my kids when they were young and they still remember the story of the little boy and his pet fish. A must for any kids' book collection.

Almost every nite we read "Mr. Carp" as my son calls it. Such a sweet story. I don't even mind reading it 700 times. I take it on vacation too. You'll love it.

This was one of my favorite books as a child and it was my daughter's absolute favorite book as a child.
Every new child in our family gets a copy of this book and it has become a favorite for all of them.

When my son was a little boy, this was his favorite book. He wanted to take it out of the library so many times that I finally bought a copy and gave it to him for Christmas.

My little grandson is two years old and he has 3 goldfish. I thought the book would be appropriate for him -- and he loves it.

This book is so cool. You just got to read this book. You'll laugh your pants off. You just got to read this book.

This is a well organized and colorful book that is good for the first time gardener as well as the seasoned veteran. Attractive pictures pull the reader into the page, then concise, helpful information is readily available.

I am really enjoying this book. It has given me a lot of good ideas for my garden this summer. I already have some of the flowers it lists, and I agree they are winners. An excellent book for beginning and experienced gardeners looking for new flowers for their yard.

My wife wore out her 1st copy and the yard looks great.

Keep this book on your counter all spring and summer long - you'll find lots of reasons to refer to it.

Great for the beginner gardener, it's easy to understand and gives a lot of information on planning your perrennial gardens to look great from early spring right into the fall.

What a pleasant read. Denise Linn really knows her stuff and is an expert at space clearing. The Feng Shui techniques are wonderful and really make a difference in your space area. Of course there are people who are going to call this woo woo or moosh material - but these are individuals that dont understand energy and how it works. The elemental techniques were specially fascinating - being a Pagan myself, I found this read highly educational and insightful. But dont let that misguide you - you dont have to be a spiritualist or believe in a different religion other than your own to work this stuff - anyone can make use of this book and the techniques described herein.

I'm on my second copy--the pages are falling out. Some sections may not be for everyone, but it is an excellent resource. Great book--highly recommended!

A neat book, with lots of woo woo and a mish mosh of religious ideals. A little too mixed up for me.

As an interior designer and Feng Shui practitioner, Sacred Space is a special addition to my collection of Feng Shui books.

This is one of the best books, I found on this subject. I use it more like a reference and a diary in my day to day life rather than a book. Its filled with lots of useful and simple information which can change your life for good. Considering the prize, its an excellent investment. There are plenty of reviews about the details of this book. Therefore I will just say that if you are considering a book about space clearing or making your surroundings more harmonious, this is one of the best books available. Go, get it.

I loved this book. It fit perfectly in with the rest of the series and added to both the continuation and explanation of the complex storyline of the other three books.
If you have been reading this series, you must have this. If you have no idea who P.C. Hodgell is, I would recommend you start with Godstalk and work your way to this 4th book in the series to familiarize yourself with Jame's universe.

First of all, let me state that I have LOVED P. C. Hodgell's work ever since I picked up God Stalk in the late 80's. I was delighted when I learned that she had a "new" book out, and promptly purchased it. I loved the story, and felt that it continued the saga beautifully - and I hope she writes more Real Soon Now. However, having done some professional proofreading, I was less than pleased with the technical quality of the book. The maps were poorly reproduced, and nearly illegible in places. The book text was also poorly proofed; I found typos on every page, it seemed; the sort of thing that happens when someone runs a fast "Spell Check" but doesn't bother to check grammar and syntax. So, if this bothers you, buy the book anyway, because the story is great, but be prepared to wince repeatedly as these errors push you back out of the story. Hey - next time, Ms. Hodgell, or Meisha Merlin, run it by me, and I'll proof it for free!!

I recently reread the first two books of this series and then worked my way through Seeker's Mask. I loved God Stalk, thought Dark of the Moon had problems, thought Seeker's Mask had problems but was compelling enough to keep me reading, and finally started in on To Ride a Rathorn.

Wow. Amazing. I am thrilled, yes thrilled, to finally get hints and bits and pieces of the elaborate backstory that has lurked behind Jame's adventures. I feel that in this book we are finally given enough detail to have an inkling of understanding of the complex psychological issues that face so many of her characters.

Jame and Tori are wrestling with the same issues as ever, but here we finally start seeing the big picture, start really feeling their struggle and knowing it, rather than being told it exists. There seemed to be a bit more of a window into the internal life of the characters in this book, more detail about their childhood and especially more info about their father. Tori's deepseated response to the Shanir comes to make more sense.

A brilliant and fascinating book. God I hope there's another after it.

I just wanted to show support for this series. I absolutely love the books and look forward to the next one.

Hello. PC Hodgell here, thanking those readers who have kept faith with me all these years and welcoming new readers to my occasionally insane fantasy world. (Sorry about the five stars: I was afraid I wouldn't get posted if I didn't put down something.) Yes, I'm a slow writer, rather like the grain of sand in an oyster which eventually, if lucky, irritates the host enough to produce a pearl. Nor has it helped that publishers keep dropping me mid-series. Blame that for the gap between "Dark of the Moon" and "Seeker's Mask," when no one would touch my work. My last publisher suddenly went out of business without paying me anything for the past five years. Now, however, it appears that Baen is picking me up, so I hope to get all the books back in print and to have the funds to concentrate on continuing/finishing the series, which has become my life's work. ¨To Ride a Rathorn" got cut in two to bring it out on schedule. I'm currently working on the second half. If I ever get my website on line, you'll have the chance to commission "God Stalk -- the Sweater" (I have about 4000 different colors of yarn to play with) or a stained glass window, those being my other current occupations since I retired from UW-O, along with training a Saddlebred colt named Pip (aka Peregrine Stargazer) and chasing three rag-doll kittens around the house.

Written with common sense. Factual, but doesn't read like a reference guide. If you like the works of say, Mark Twian or Walter Isaacson, you'll like this writer's style. I believe it might out do "Kill Me If You, You SOB" because of the depth.

I picked up this book by chance at Barnes and Noble looking for new and exciting insight into the Calvary troops in Vietnam. I was not disappointed. Having read another book about Apache Troop, "Apache Sunrise", by Jerry Boyle, a cobra gunship pilot, it was interesting to read about the infantry of the 1st of the 9th Apache troop.

Jorgenson's writing style is very smooth and readable. It makes the reader feel like he/she is right there with him in the jungle. I found myself having to re-read a paragraph from time to time as I was so "white knuckled" at times from being involved in the book. I was reading too fast in anticipation. Mr. Jorgenson also has a knack for weaving in historical descriptions about the units and military involvement in general so the reader has a better understanding of the war going on around his small part of it. I also commend him for the truth behind his writing. His humble descriptions of both traumatic events and the good times are appreciated by this reader. Also, his in-depth descriptions of his fellow troop and friends make the reader seem like he has known them for years.

I recommend Acceptable Loss to anyone interested!

It amazes me the dedication and bravery that the young people showed in serving our country. We owe our veterans a great deal for their service and being able to share their experiences with future generations.

Thank you Mr. Jorgenson!

I picked this book looking for new and exciting insight into the Calvary troops in Vietnam. I was not disappointed. Having read another book about the famous Apache Troop, "Apache Sunrise", by Jerry Boyle, a cobra gunship pilot, it was interesting to read about the infantry of the 1st of the 9th Apache troop.

Jorgenson's writing style is very smooth and readable. It makes the reader feel like he/she is right there with him in the jungle. I found myself having to re-read a paragraph from time to time as I was so "white knuckled" at times from being involved in the book. I was reading too fast in anticipation. Mr. Jorgenson also has a knack for weaving in historical descriptions about the units and military involvement in general so the reader has a better understanding of the war going on around his small part of it. I also commend him for the truth behind his writing. His humble descriptions of both traumatic events and the good times are appreciated by this reader. Also, his in-depth descriptions of his fellow troop and friends make the reader seem like he has known them for years.

I recommend Acceptable Loss to anyone interested!

It amazes me the dedication and bravery that the young people showed in serving our country. We owe our veterans a great deal for their service and being able to share their experiences with future generations.

Thank you Mr. Jorgenson!

I have been reading war stories since I was 12 years old (non fiction). My reading has covered all American Wars from the Civil War to Viet Nam. I have a collection of aroud 300 that I kept. This book is at the top of the list on Viet Nam and very high on all war books. The author tells it like it is . Most books on Viet Nam are about the marines with a lot of propaganda about the good old corps. The author tells of all the sensations he goes through, being afraid, the terror of being wounded. the allmost disreguard of the top brass. Should be read by all

This is one of the best personal accounts of the vietnam war.

Kregg Jorgenson is one of my heros, but also one of Americas, he
is decorated with the silver star, the bronze star and 3 purple
hearts
Kregg Jorgenson (KJ) tell his story how he lived it.

KJ started his service in Vietnam with the 1 cavalry division, while at the repo center he decided to join the Ranger company of the 1 cav; Hotel company.
After a short training period he started going out on patrols and soon got into his first firefight.
A short while later his partol got into a more serious firefight
that saw the ATL and his best friend killed in action and another
team member woundet, KJ and his teamleader performed admirable, getting the whole team extrated under fire while fighting off the NVA.
Even though that KJ felt that he had failed his teammates and his best friend, the division decidet that the Teamleader and KJ deserved the Silver star.
Having lost confidence in himself as a ranger, KJ decidet to quit the Rangers, he tranfered to A troop ( aka Apache) of the 1/9.
First he tried out the scouts, but his stomach could not handle the rollercoaster rides, he decides to join the infantry platoon of apache troop, the Blues.
Here he served as a squadleader, and he did not mind walking point, some said that he enjoyed it.
His service in apache troop got him inte several firefight, that saw him woundet two more times and earning a bronze star for valor.
He also had the disputed honor of being shoot on camera while in a shootout with a NVA pointman, KJ killed the NVA pointman but was hit in both legs during in the process.
so KJ had the "honor" of being called "the sarge who like to walk point", making him a national hero in an efternoon.

Acceptable loss is one of my favorite books, it is well written, many of the episodes in the books has been well documented in other books, KJ writes with a sarcasm and self ironi that offen makes you laugh, he makes his comrades in the blues platoon come alive and you get the feeling that you almost know them in person.
A very good books by any standart, go buy it, you will not regret
it.

Bo Hermansen

Like many other reviewers, I first read this book and the other Williamsburg novels in my teens. I loved them, and read them repeatedly. That these books are so beloved of teen-age girls forty years ago should give a good idea of what they're like. This one is probably the best, but all are sweet love stories with an interesting historical setting--good plots, memorably noble and heroic characters, and happy endings, both on the personal and historical level. There's little real pain and suffering, no matter how horrible the historic event described was, and few really bad guys. If you want enjoyable, G-rated escape, these are your books.

Dawn's Early Light, the first book in the Elswyth Thane Williamsburg series, is a delightful read with memorable characters and an accurate rendering of Williamsburg's Colonial days leading up to and through the Revolution. Here we see the beginnings of two families: the Days and the Spragues as well as the beginning of our nation. From the first moment when Julian Day steps off the boat from England and is met on the wharf by St.John Sprague, Thane's story captured this reader who read it for the first time in the 60's and has just finished reading it again. The characters and their stories, their loves and heartaches in the midst of this tumultuous Revolutionary period have become a part of my own story. What better way to learn history than through the eyes of those who lived it. Kudos to Thane for a well-researched account and for the portrayal of flesh and blood characters who captured the heart. It is wonderful book. Enjoy! Ann Westerman

My grandmother passed the Williamsburg novels on to me when I was 16. I devoured all of them that summer. I always wanted to read them again, and yesterday on a whim I decided to do just that. It has been 16 years since I last read the series, and I'm enjoying Dawn's Early Light with a new appreciation.

Thanks to the Internet, I now know more about the author. Elswyth Thane (1900-1981, American) was a romance writer in her time. She wrote several books, but the Williamsburg series are her most popular.

I'd say while these novels have a healthy dose of history -- historical characters like Jefferson and Washington interact with our fictional characters in "Dawn's" -- they are first and foremost romance novels. Therefore, female readers might enjoy them more, which seems to be the case from the comments posted here!

This is the beginning book in a series of books called the Williamsburg novels. I have been reading and re-reading this series of 7 books for over 50 years. They are my all time favorite books. Each book deals with a war or pre-war action (except the war of 1812) in which the US has taken part from the Revolutionary War (Dawn's Early Light) to the Civil War (Yankee Stranger) to the Homing with is the last of the series and the 4th book which deals with WWI and WWII and the years in between. They are a great source of history. Ms Thane (widow of the explorer Dr. William Beebe) has done an excellent job of research for each of the books. I hope others find them as wonderful, and as entertaining as I do. I have read my old copies until they are falling apart. I was very excited to find they had been reprinted and purchased them immediately.

The advice is--- don't make the same mistake I did. Upon reading all the glowing reviews, this series of books sounded like just what I love to read--- long,interesting books, interesting characters. So- instead of buying them one at a time, I bought the whole darned Williamsburg Series, plus a few more by the same author, "Queen's Folly", the "Tudor Wench" and "Tryst". What a disappointment. Since this review is about "Dawn's Early Light", I won't mention how boring the other books were, but I've got to say-- "Dawn" was the best of the lot. However, I could hardly bring myself to finish it, but I did. The other books were just as boring--- if all the references to war had been left out, they would have been pamphlets, but much more interesting. Ladies, these are men's books-- unless you like to read of ambushes, guns, dead horses. I think Elswyth Thane had seen "Gone With The Wind" and was trying to emulate it in her work. She failed miserably. I should have bought one book to see her writing style, and I would have saved some cash, because I wouldn't have wasted my money on the rest.

I love this book. It was written from a jail cell in the 1600s. This version is the original so the text is difficult to read at first but I would not want a watered down modernized version (which can be purchased). I find if I read in chunks it starts to flow nicely. The characters have names like, "Evangelist", "Piety", "Talkative", "Faith", etc. So you know just where someone is coming from. I have marked up this book with pencil just like I do my scriptures! It is like reading one long parable in story form! Cool book. I'm glad to have found it.

We've read this book to our son and he has really enjoyed it. He doesn't yet fully understand everything and we had to stop and explain a lot to him, but it is something that we plan on reading over and over again as our kids continue to grow.
I read a review that stated that a main flaw in this book was the lack of one on one relationship with Christ. I can understand what they are saying, but I think what you have to keep in mind is that while we are here on earth and in our day and age we do not physically see Christ. He was once here walking and living on this earth, but He is now in heaven. He uses other means now to maintain a personal relationship with us. For example, we can know Christ through His word and through prayer. Just as in the book, He often also sends other Christians along in our life to help us and encourage us. This book is a good example of a walk of faith. We can't see and physically touch Christ right now, but when we are in heaven we WILL see Him just as Bunyan talks about in the book. Christian persevered in his walk without physically seeing Christ and he was rewarded in the end for his faith. For now, how much greater our reward is for those who have not seen Him and yet believed!

Enthralling. This book will help every Christian deal with the battles of being a Christian in this life and all the struggles that go with it. It teaches you never to give up even when you feel like you can't go on. Life's struggles are not a new occurrence, but as timeless as human existence itself. It teaches you not to be too concentrated on your struggles, but to look at the great prize which is Heaven and not be distracted or enticed by the struggles of life nor the easy way out. Excellent. It is a must read for every Christian.

The first time that I encountered Christian and his pilgrimage was as a preface and a family favorite in the book Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Unfortunately, it was not until twenty-something years later that I actually got around to reading the book itself. If I were you, I would not wait that long.

The first part of the current combined book appeared in 1678. Bunyan, a nonconformist Protestant minister who was imprisoned for preaching without a license, wrote at least the first part of the book in jail. The second part was first published in 1684. It is likely the most popular allegory ever written, and is still one of the best selling books of all time.

What makes it so popular? The obvious key to its popularity is its simple, crisp style. Even accounting for the language changes between the seventeenth century and now, it is not a struggle to read Progress and it flows well for the modern reader. Although the book is allegory, the characters are full of little realistic details that make them feel quite human. Incidentally, I was reading this book as I was walking some of the old pilgrimage trails of Europe and it was interesting to me how vivid and applicable his version of the pilgrimage experience is. The Slow of Despair rang remarkably true, as did characters such as Talkative and Mr. Worldly Wisdom.

The Oxford University Press edition is bound with a scholarly introduction which is, for a change, worth reading. It also came with explanatory notes and a glossary which were helpful for the modern reader who is not familiar with the everyday language of the period.

This book is a true classic. John Bunyan spins a wonderful tale of the spiritual walk to heaven. The language may be a bit hard and it won't be that easy of a read, but it is definately worth the while!

It is spiritually edifying and also quite captivating.

A must read!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading R.I.P It was a Christmas present to me, and when I unwrapped it I couldn't wait to read it. After reading R.I.P, this great gift ranked high as one of my favorite presents. It would be a GREAT book for those looking for a book to read for a book club. To all people, whether for yourself and a friend, READ THIS BOOK!!

PS... Sonya, we want more!!!!

This book was incredible. Once you start reading you get totally caught up in the characters you will start to feel as though you know them personally. It is amazing how real the story seems. I laughed, cried and got angry.

The book is very easy to read. I found myself not wanting to put it down in anticipation of what was going to happen next.

Anyone who has sisters or close friendships will be able to relate. This book definitley shows that no matter what True friendship is priceless and will endure any test.

I look forward to reading more from this talented writer.

This is a wonderful novel. Very entertaining, fast read. Three believable "girlfriends" who endure the ups and downs of friendship.

Being a grandmother of 12, this book captivated me in every sense of the word. This book was very enjoyable. It reminded me of 3 of my friends and myself many years ago. We all had the middle name "Mae" and we were affectionately called the "Mae" Sisters, by family and friends. Our personalities, lifestyles and upbringing were as different as night and day, but because of a special bond and the way we met, our friendship lasted through all the turmoil, laughter, love and pain of our husbands, children and even ourselves.
The good, bad and indifferent experiences that Roshandra, Indigo and Priscilla encountered is presented by Ms. Wash in a vivid realization of "life" and what it presents. It was also intriguing to see how a loving friend of a different gender, such as Walter could make a platomic relationshiop "BLOSSOM!"
The moral of this story is: Life is too short to let "STUFF" hamper and ruin a true relationship between people who become friends by fate.
This definately is a must read book! As a first time author, Ms. Wash really impressed me with her strong writing abilities and I am anticipating her next novel!

Sonya Wash's debut offering, "R.I.P. Til We Meet Again", is a moving and powerful tale of Sisterly Bonds, and what it takes to make them work.

Rambunctious Rashonda, Ingenious Indigo, and Perfect Priscilla have a friendship that only few can even phatham. Their chance meeting in college proves to be very rewarding, as their sisterly connection forms almost instantly. Their relationship survives many obstacles throughout the story, but when a tragedy occurs, their worlds are turned upside down. Can their bond withstand the pain?

Sonya did an excellent job of pulling the reader into her world, as page after page draws you into the story. Her characters were strong, and made me feel as though I knew them personally. I look forward to reading more from this talented writer.

By looking at five different aspects of our personalities, we can see how our uniqueness in each of the areas combines to create an incredible potpourri of advantages and opportunities. Through an examination of spiritual gifts, passion, abilities, personality and life experiences, the author takes us on a journey to understanding our original divine design. With copious quotes, lists, and reflection questions, the author forces the reader into a very personal examination of the way that they are hard-wired. The The appendices are not superfluous but take the user on a journey that is exciting and filled with potential. It would be difficult to read this book and not emerge more confident and self-assured.

5 Reasons why this book is a MUST read. Here's my SHAPE acrostic.

Simple: Erik does an incredible job of making this stuff easy to use.

Helpful: The Spiritual profile that every participant leaves w/ helps the reader to succinctly understand what their next step for service is.

Authentic: if you're able to go through the small group curriculum ( video ) you'll seek Erik's authenticity. It's the real deal.

Passion: As you read the book you'll sense a desire to want to do something bigger than your normal everyday routine. You'll discover or rediscover your passion to impact lives or causes on a daily basis.

Experience: You must experience SHAPE either in book form or through the small group curriculum. Both are incredible resources!!

This book helped confirm the strengths I felt I had. The assessment really opened my eyes to the specific ways my spiritual strengths can be used to help others. I also appreciated the part of the book about having a board of advisors and a training partner. We can learn a lot from the people God has put in our life.

What an eye opener! After reading SHAPE and applying what I learned, I discovered where I truly am in my life, what I am good at, and where to spend my energy in daily living. Based on the content of SHAPE, I have made significant changes that have improved me, my marriage, and my other relationships. This is a must read if you want to get to know yourself on a deeper level, put your true talents to work on what matters most in life, and make a difference in the world you live in....

This book was a great follow up to the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. While Warren's book helped me understand that God created me for a purpose, SHAPE helped me discover how I am made to achieve this purpose and the practical steps to put this purpose into action!
Since reading both these books, God has revealed my purpose and shape to me and I am dedicating my life to becoming a marriage and family therapist. I am currently working in the field and going to school to get licensed as a therapist!

Book was shipped on a timely manner, in the condition they said it would be in.

Just when I thought I knew it all about voice-overs, my agent and producers started asking me to audition at home. Honestly, I was overwhelmed by the thought of it all. And thought that maybe this was the technological chasm, the great divide, that would separate the wheat from the chaff....and not related to voice-over abilibity.

And then I found Harlan Hogan's and Jeffrey P. Fisher's book on Home Recording. To say it has saved my derriere is putting it mildly. Harlan and Jeffrey take you through step-by-step on what affordable equipment to buy, how to set up your home studio and how to properly record and edit yourself. They even toss in chapters on ISDN and phone patch, as well as self-promoting your home studio.

A "home run" if you ask me...and you did!

I put a recording studio in my home in 2006 in order to build my voice over business. I must admit, I'm not sure why I didn't buy this book sooner!! This book is a MUST for anyone who is even REMOTELY considering building their own studio.

In the process of building my home studio, I came to one conclusion: there's a reason there are audio engineers... because they understand all of this equipment, and I didn't have a clue what all the knobs and sliders meant. What little I did comprehend when building my studio has now been further explained to me in this book... NOW I KNOW!!!

The text is written so that it's easy to understand. And, it's apparent, without even knowing them, that Harlan and Jeffrey included their personalities in the book. You can just tell by reading, these are guys with a great sense of humor... which is so refreshing when you're reading about things you may not necessarily understand at the onset.

This book provides a good overview of the process and the equipment needed. it covers some of the technical aspects well in broad strokes with enough information to point in the directions for further study if required but is sufficient in the depth of information to be up and running quickly.

The subject is huge. There are the technical aspects of the technology, which is changing monthly,and any publication will be out of date by the time it is printed, however, the underlying processes are unchanged.

I recommend it as a good reference for anyone interested in Podcasting or Voice Overs.

Man, I should have checked the dates on all the positive reviews of this book. Had I done so, I would have saved myself the purchase price.

3 years ago, when it was published, I'm sure this was a fabulous reference, however, it is now SO out of date as to render more than half the book almost useless. To the author's credit (and the book's ultimate downfall) he includes a high level of detail on things like computer hardware and software, microphones, and other studio technology, but in any techno-based treatise, one year is a long time and three years is an eternity. The very detail that would have been fabulous three years ago is totally irrelevant today.

I found myself skipping more than half the text of the book primarily because it was so out of date. Recommendations like a computer with a Pentium 4 processor with up to a 40GB hard drive and a minimum of 256MB of RAM were appropriate at the time of publishing (early 2005) but not now. Step by step instructions on how to use programs that have long since been upgraded (or even changed ownership) are of very little benefit in the year 2008. What I have in my hands is a 180 page book with maybe 80 pages of pertinent information.

Another example is in the area of ISDN connections. Again, the authors couldn't include programs like Source Connect or Audio TX, both VOIP type programs and neither of which require an ISDN line and associated hardware/software/expenses to function in this book because they had yet to be released, but I go back to my original statement that if a book is going to be technology-based then it is incumbent on the authors to keep it up to date. Harlan Hogan himself has written a very good discussion on Source Connect and Audio TX that can be found at the CommercialVoices.com web site where he discusses the place non-ISDN communication solutions currently occupy and where they will be in 5 years, and it's critical everyone understand this BEFORE making the substantial investment in ISDN.

I don't fault the authors because they wrote an exhaustive and definitive guide covering the subject at the time, but when one publishes a book like this, you need to make a concerted effort to keep the content up to date. I would think an eBook, with a living chapters would be more appropriate than a paper and ink volume like this. Harlan Hogan's web site is very helpful, and in fact, I learned MUCH more from his web site on the topic than I learned from his book.

My bad, like I said, for not checking the dates of the reviews and the date of publishing.

There is still some information in the book that is of general value regarding how to set up a home studio and get started in the business, but I feel there are other books out there that may be more complete and more importantly, more up to date on this score. On the positive side, the authors write in an enjoyable and humorous style which makes reading the book a positive experience.

This isn't a terrible book, but it could be a GREAT book if it were current.