U Books

As with many Bahai writings (I'm not a member, but I have been to Bahai functions, read much of their literature, and have close friends in this faith), one doesn't have to be a member to enjoy this book. A lot of what Esslemont says here is practical for anyone. Partricularly such advice as-

"For a child, a teacher is necessary, but the aim of a true teacher is to teach his pupil how to do without a teacher."

"The time has come when narrow national patroitisms should be merged in the wider patriotism whose country is the world."

Want more? Buy the book and see.

This book has a defined scope. It does not address all the questions of a scholarly mind or an inquisitive mind... but that is not within it's scope. The fact that some reviewers find it does not address all the contemporary questions may be related to a misunderstanding of when this material was written. J. E. Esselmont lived from 1874-1925. Keeping the context of history and the author's personal involvement in the faith, it shares a view of the emerging Baha'i faith by one taken up in the swell of the changes of the day. The author's introduction clearly states that when he first glimpsed the teachings, he was struck by their power and beauty. The author thus disclaims his bias and his position. This is not a dispassionate, dry, recitation of the purports of the day. This is the writing of a man in love with something greater than himself, attempting to put his learning into a context historically and socially.

No book will be perfect, but this one is intriguing. A preview of contents is available by project guttenberg online.

I'm not going to get into much detail here, because this a book that you really just need to read for yourself. Verily, every Earthling should read this. Okay, that is a biased thing to say. ( I believe in Baha'u'llah's revelation ) But to view this as a reader and not a theologian, it is a remarkable introduction to the 2nd most widespread and youngest of the world religions. It is a source of the Baha'i view on a very large number of issues that face the world today. I think its easy to at first be utterly confused by the Baha'i faith, but this book should aid you in a comprehension of Its message and what it means to be one of Its adherents.

To be a Baha'i simply means to love all the world; to love humanity and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood." - Abdu'l-Baha

"Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer to the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men. Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts. Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility." - Baha'u'llah

It was an exciting experience.

This is an incredible book which outlines the basics of a new, world-wide faith known as Baha'i. It discusses such topics as:

- The unity of science and religion

- The way to peace

- Health and healing

- Prayer

- Education

- Fundamental justice

- Baha'i history and religion

It contains a number of profound ideas and meaningful insights which can be applied to any life and every society, and offers a basic understanding of this young religion. For some, it leads to still greater questions -- the answers of which can be found in other, further reaching books and studies.

I highly recommend this book.

This book is a gold mine! I spent several hours over many months researching medical tourism online. Had I simply read this book, my research would have been far quicker and far more informative. Beauty From Afar doesn't just talk about the industry, but gives solid advice on anything you could possibly want to know about getting surgery outside of the country. I was most surprised to read about Brazil (and Dr. Patanguy) as being at the forefront of advanced cosmetic surgery. Also of interest was the focus on Costa Rica. With direct flights from many major US cities, why would anyone go to the Far East when Costa Rica has an abundance of top-quality surgeons. You can get to Costa Rica within a few hours by plane. The price might be a bit more expensive than Thailand, but the ease of travel makes a huge difference.

I had to get four crowns put in my mouth a couple of years ago. It cost me $2,000 out of pocket. And that was WITH dental insurance!! And, that was after fighting with my insurance company for two months to approve the care. And the quality wasn't all that great. I could have had far better quality, care, and price had I had this done during a recent trip to Costa Rica. Probably for about $800. Or, I could have driven down to Mexico from Tucson, where I used to live.

What was also interesting is the author's approach to choosing medical travel. He recommends picking a country first. Then research the surgeons and facilities. Much of the research on the internet is very vague. The author cuts right to the chase, giving more relevant and reliable information than any other source.

My brother is in need of some major dental work and needs his eyes lifted. His eyelids hang over his eyes. People tell him that this could be covered by insurance, but it's not. And his dental insurance pays next to nothing. So I am helping him to have all of his dental work and eye lid surgery done in Costa Rica. This book has been a heaven sent.

If you are considering any sort of cosmetic work, pick up this book first.

If you are considering going abroad for any medical/dental care, I highly recommend that you spend a serious amount of time doing "due diligence" - IE. Research, Investigate and Get First Hand Recommendations.

I have work in International Medicine for 18 years. I have personally known outstanding dentist and medical doctors from countries all over the world, including those countries that Jeff Schult listed in this book (Brazil, Argentina, Mexico etc.). However, often in the same countries, I have meet and seen the work of incompetent, ignorant and unprofessional doctors as well. That said, I would have no hesitation getting certain medical & dental procedures in certain countries if I knew WHO would do WHAT, WHERE and HOW. That will take research.

Thus, above all do your homework. Start with a few good books. Jeff Schult has written a good primer. He set an excellent example of doing your homework when he wrote in his chapter titled: "Research, Research, Research" where he notes that he read books, gathered more than 1500 news stories and saved 6000 post from internet forums. This book, along with Josef Woodman's, "Patients Beyond Borders", can help you begin building a solid information base upon which you can make your plans. Happy Travels. Strongly recommended 4.5 stars

Great book regarding medical tourism. Includes alot about dental tourism. Personal experiences of dental work done in Costa Rica. Plastic surgery options, weight loss surgery and more. Ways to get affordable healthcare for services not covered by insurance or for the un- or under insured.
Fast shipping. Item as described. Seller is highly recommended.

I was looking for information on Thailand. I had better luck on the Internet and my cosmetic trip turned out fine. Since there was little on Thailand I didn't look into what else was in there. So it may be fine for other countries--I don't know.

In a few months I will be flying to Vitoria, Brazil for a "total body" makeover with Dr. Fabio Zamprogno Mendes ([...]) thanks to Jeff's book on medical tourism (I'll write back in September and share the results!) After reading the book I had complete confidence to travel outside the U.S. for plastic surgery and the tools to adequately research everything I needed to know to make my trip a success. It's interesting that you may know one or two people who have gone to a U.S. plastic surgeon but the foreign docs have forums where all patients share. I know much more about my foreign doctor and what his patients think of him than I did with any plastic surgeon in the U.S. I can have everything done that I've dreamed of and afford it. My bill will be 60 to 70% cheaper than what I would pay here. By all means, read Jeff's book and embark on the make-over journey you have always wanted!

This is an outstanding summary of Bettie's life and her impact on modeling, art, pin-up, photography, and those needing encouragement in overcoming obstacles. The book is a nice way to learn about Bettie Page and those individuals she worked with during her career and growing up. It stops short of telling about recent events, but gives one a good understanding of the lady. The information is factual and well written. Much speculation has been made about the time she walked away through the present, but this is a nice account with the facts that we know to be true without the speculation. The pictures within this book are amazing and many won't be seen anywhere else. The information about those individuals she touched, encountered was interesting as well. Good read.

So said one of her photographers. What a marvelous book. If you're like me, and have been a Bettie fan for years, you've been waiting for this book. For years one could find stuff on her only in comic shops and the like, dealing in old memorabilia from the Fifties, or in various "alternative" shops that sold her image on T shirts. As a teen that's where I learned about her, thanks to "The Rocketeer," the comic "The Bettie Pages," and psychobilly trash-punk band the Cramps, who for a short time had a bass player the spittin' image of our fair maiden. Now that we've finally opened our eyes, we can buy several books on her, this being by far the best. It is the ne plus ultra of Bettiebooks, of pin-up books in general. What a trend-setter; a humble, troubled, open and honest woman who was not exploited, who has not turned herself into a PC victim--she's idolized by smart, hip young women who see in her freedom, sexuality, playfullness, life itself. This book had better be reprinted--it's an absolute crime to be unavailable. Get this book by any means necessary!

I bought this book for my husband's birthday last year; he has always thought Bettie Page was great, and he is the one who enlightened me about her. As an artist, I was drawn to her style and unpretentiousness, and have drawn her twice so far.

This book is well-written and leads the reader through Bettie's life; from her start and to her present day in a respectful and fascinating manner. I came away from this book understnanding the appeal she had to men, and wanting to draw her portraits over and over.

There was one another 50's icon who rivals Marilyn in popularity today--Bettie Page. True, she didn't make any A-movies, but like Marilyn, embodied that woman who drew a fine line between good girl/bad girl and crossed the lines as easily as one drank Coca-Cola. Unlike Marilyn, Bettie survived, but like Marilyn, her legend lives on for one simple reason: she dropped out of sight in 1957 following the fall of Irvin and Paula Klaw by the Kefauver Committee on indecency and pornography and refused to have herself be photographed as she is now. Thus, she is remembered as she was back then. And as her life has become simpler, she values her privacy. She says so as much in the hand-written foreword, at the same time surprised and honoured that so many people are interested in her.Karen Essex and James L. Swanson book is a great place to start for those curious about Bettie Page. Basically, it's a biography accompanied by lots and lots of colour and b&w photos, many of them topless. There are two of them which has her completely nude. She also posed for countless magazine covers and photographers. Art Amsie's photos are the best of the lot here. Bunny Yeager is touched on briefly, but that woman has a book on herself so... Looking at the early Bettie, before she became a pin-up from 1947, is also quite a revelation. She is still beautiful, but in an ordinary way, like a typical girl growing up in 1940's America.There is clearly a dualism going on here. There's the pretty wholesome girl in the bathing suit or maybe not, and then there's the darker leatherbound fetish girl, be she receiver or giver. That latter half led to her downfall. The point also was that she enjoyed her work, mainly the lighter beach stuff. You can see it in those twinkling eyes and smile of hers.The last section of the book features models who have been influenced by her, be they in clothes or just looking like her. Of the lookalikes, Eva Herzigova, Debi Mazar, and Janice Dickinson have got it down to the bangs, (it's the bangs that did it for Bettie, after all), long black hair, and prominent eyebrows.Apart from being one of fantasy artist Olivia's favourite subjects, Bettie's images appear on album covers by My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult and the David Lee Roth Band. Her three videos, Teaserama, where she acts opposite stripper legend Tempest Storm, Varietease, and Strip-O-Rama have come out. She'll live on, no doubt about it.Anyone interested in Bettie Page-start with this book. You won't be disappointed.

This is the ultimate book on Bettie Page. This book is for every true Bettie fan. Even contains an introduction from Bettie herself.

If you really want to follow the history of legend, this is the ultimate book on Betty Mae Page!

I first met Dinty while reading The Accidental Buddhist and was captivated by his style. I bought Between Panic and Desire as soon as it came out and learned that he is living my life five years in the future. I'm looking forward to his next work to see how my life turns out.

This is probably the most refreshing and inventive works of creative nonfiction. The stories interact with one another in creating a wonderful, compelling narrative. I chose this as a required reader for my creative writing class at Manatee Community College because the forms of the stories provide great examples of what creative nonfiction can be in the 20th century.
Because the novel is enjoyable, it reads quickly. The topics span a great distance in the modern era of popular culture, yet this book does not bog itself down with over-referentiality. Buy this and you will not be sorry!

This is simply an amazing book: funny, accessible, poignant, avant garde, and silly all at the same time. It is an easy read, as it is organized in short, punchy chapters. If you were born in the 1950s or 60s, the book will be even more meaningful for you. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Moore's fine sense of rhythm and wit carries us through this brief memoir. Under a stylish veil of humor and irony, Moore explores the universal human search for balance between panic and desire.

This really isn't a memoir in the conventional sense--and thank God for that. This sad-yet-funny montage provides a number of poignant glimpses into the life of a writer and a country: whether he's writing about Irish-Americana, 9/11, dropping acid, or dysfunctional fathers, Dinty Moore is poignant, honest and ultimately hopeful. No matter how much you think your country is screwed up, or how much you think you've screwed up, or how much you think your family screwed you up, read Panic and Desire. By the time you finish it you'll realize life is better than you thought.

This book touched me to the core! Catherine's story is searingly honest, human, passionate and moving. Inspite of being extremely busy I could not put it down from the time it was delivered until 3am when I had finished it. This tour de force not only addresses issues of adoption, identity, race and prejudice but also how one's environment and circumstances affect one's own perception of events and experiences. It is the best book I have read in years!

It can be hard enough to come to terms with family and identity when one is not adopted. Imagine growing up the transracial adoptee of a white family in a tiny working class town in rural Massachusetts (read: all white). Moreover, you are biracial and subject to putdowns and jibes by "full-blooded" members of your race. This background makes up the first part of Catherine McKinley's compulsively readable memoir. The second part is her search for her roots, and her reckoning when she finds those roots and they are not quite what she expected.

McKinley has a superb ear for dialogue and mood. Moreover, The Book of Sarahs is so full of suprises that sometimes it's like reading a thriller. McKinley starts out by giving us her fantasy of her birth mother that carried her through her youth (most adoptees have one)...and part of the fun of the book is seeing just how different reality is from her fantasy, again and again. McKinley also writes with wonderful humor and subtle characterizations that make it difficult to dislike anyone in her book despite their foibles. Finally, I can't agree with other reviewers that McKinley was cruel to her adoptive family. Her adoptive parents clearly understood her journey, and by the end of the book she intimated that she had resolved her issues with them.

Don't miss this one...one of the best I've read this year!

I beg to differ with some of the other customer reviews posted for The Book of Sarahs. Reality is messy. Members of the adoption triad--birthparents, adoptees, and adoptive parents--share a complicated, emotionally charged relationship from the moment the adoptee is born. There are one thousand and one reasons why birthmothers feel that relinquishment is the best possible choice for their child; there are just as many reasons why adoptive parents choose to raise a non-biological child. But the adoptee has the most to gain or lose. In my twenty-six years as a birthmother, I am continually amazed by the infinite variety of paths triad members have traveled, yet we're all connected by the same feelings of uncertainty, wistfulness, and longing for what might have been. Thankfully, adoption today is much more open, kinder, gentler; many studies have documented the impact of adoption on all triad members, and there are fewer black holes than there were a generation or more ago. Catherine McKinley's personal story of life as an adopted Black child raised in a white family and predominately white community will captivate readers. One does not have to a member of the adoption community to appreciate her search for self. Ms. McKinley's prose is a pleasure to read, a beautifully, richly written story of relationships that readers will find hard to put down.

Catherine went searching for the truth and she found it. It was reality and not a made up story with a happy ending. I believe that she was very self serving in telling the story. I felt she did not really appreciate the parents who raised her, until the very end. I wondered how they felt after reading this book. She certainly laid out all her complaints about them. I personally could relate to her mother, who was doing the very best she could for a rather unappreciative daughter.
On the other hand, I think I gained some insight to what it was like to grow up black in a white world, not easy at all. I'm glad she was able to tell this story with as much depth and clarity as she did.
This story also brings to light the plight of the children of a middle class woman who had several children and didn't choose to acknowledge or care for them. What about birth control? Yes, she was mentally ill, but I wonder if we can excuse her for that.

In the last several years I have done the research that reunited my husband (in his 60's) with the birth mother who gave him up. The search was very interesting and it was a miracle how it all came together. The story has a bittersweet ending, since his birth mother passed away within a year of their reunion.

This is a great story and I couldn't put it down.

This book tells the tale of Catherine McKinley's search for her birth parents. McKinley, who is biracial, was adopted at birth. Brought up in a White family, she found herself drawn towards African American culture in her search for building her own identity. As an adult, questions about who she was and how she came to be gradually took over the focus of her life. In this book, she details how she searched for her birth parents and eventually found them, as well as other family members.

From reading the blurb on the back cover of the book, I had expected the book to focus more on McKinley's experiences of growing up as an adopted biracial child. I have very little experience myself with issues relating to adoption, and I had no idea how consuming the questions of identity and family can be for an adopted child. Prospective adoptive parents might learn quite a bit from this book about how adopted children may have an unquenchable thirst for knowing their birth parents, a thirst that can taint relationships between them and their adopted family members if not handled appropriately. Adoptees, on the other hand, may be quite interested to read how McKinley proceeded in her search, and how the results of her search compared with her dreams. The emotional issues concerning adoption are never easy to reconcile; after all, every adoption starts with a tragedy that has resulted in parents having to give up their children. The children and all of their parents, both adopted and birth, must spend the remainder of their lives putting the pieces back together.

With all those books on breastfeeding out there, you might be tempted to buy the good-old question-answer based book. But believe me you will still have the: Is this what a doctor might tell me? question back there in your head. This book, however; presents you with more complete answers that experts on the breastfeeding subject have studied. You will end up being an expert on breastfeeding yourself. Even friends call me to check a prescripted medicine on the chapter that classifies almost-all prescriptions with scales as to how they affect and enter the breastmilk. Be assured, you will be fully satisfied and, as I found myself; exceed your expectations.

need for class. easy to understand. written for a professionals as title suggests, great book for review for certification exam

This is a good classic text that was recommended for an inservice/ 5 day training for nurses

As a gynecologist based in Spain, I found this book extremely helpful while counseling my patients about breastfeeding, and while breastfeeding myself. I think most obstetrical textbooks do not cover enough the aspect of breastfeeding, and numerous questions remain to be answered, some as simple as: both breasts or one breast?. These simple questions, however, are an important source of stress to new mothers. Apart from that, the more "medical" aspects of the book are also exceptional. A must for all medical professionals involved in pregnancy, birth and infant care.

This should be required reading for any physician caring for the breastfeeding mother or the breastfed baby. With all of the mythology surrounding breastfeeding and the wide range of advice given to nursing mothers, it is essential that practitioners give accurate, informed advice. Reading this book will allow health care professionals to do so.

As a longtime afficiando and collector of political memorabilia myself, I was thrilled when I learned of Jordan Wright's impending work last fall. My months of anticipation did not go unrewarded. Mr. Wright's book, Campaigning for President, surpassed my high expectations. His easy-flowing and witty narrative is buttressed with the breath-taking illustrative body contained therein. Wright's book is a top-flight example of the visual trinketry used by campaigns spanning since George Washington's first election in 1789.

Furthermore, knowing that each of the exquisite items illustrated is a part of the collection Jordan Wright has amassed over several decades simply boggles the mind. The highest possible accolades are due to anyone whose passion for preserving our political heritage results in such an awesome work. I will make sure each of the libraries in my community has a copy of this illustrative historical reference.

Campaigning for President will stand the test of time as an unrivaled resource for students, historians and plain-jane political junkies such as I. Bravo Jordan, an excellent work!

I think it was Artistotle who said that man is a political animal. Now if you want to see in living color and lively text just how animalistic it is to run for president in the United States, this is the book for you.

Tough campaigns are not new and it is well documented in this walk down memory lane.

Enjoy.

When I read about this book in the New York Times and saw pictures of a few of the items, I couldn't wait to get the book. It is astounding that one person could have collected so many varied items from all periods of our history. The current election cycle has grabbed everyone's attention and it is amazing to see how this has also been true in the past.
I am looking forward to seeing the actual items at The Museum of the City of New York and The Museum of Democracy.

A unique book and a fun guided walk through the campaigning process. Perfect as a gift for your politically obsessed father or friend, but readable and interesting enough to entice readers of any kind. Jordan Wright delivers a winner!

In this book Jordan Wright, through his eloquent and entertaining prose, does a terrific job of bringing to life otherwise forgotten artifacts of past presidential elections and inaugurations. The book is also an extraordinary window into the fierceness with which prior presidential candidates attacked each other and puts the occasional rancor of the current election into perspective. CAMPAIGNING FOR PRESIDENT is entertaining reading for children and political historians alike.

What a wonderful piece of work! The photographs are stunning and the narrative both informative and interesting. I recently read "From Sea to Shining Sea" a historical novel about the Lewis and Clark Expedition and enjoyed it very much. When I saw this book advertised, I knew it was a "must see". The foresight of Jefferson in purchasing the land West of the Mississippi River was a stroke of genius and is what made our nation the size it is today. This is the best coffeetable book I've ever seen and is one that will be read and enjoyed for years to come. Congratulations to the authors.....a beautiful and fantastic work of art. I've reviewed books for Heritage Books, Inc. of Baltimore, MD, for many years and enjoyed reviewing this one as well.

This is one of the best books I have seen and read in a very long time. The history of the Lewis & Clark Expedition comes alive within the pages of this book.
The ultimate beauty of the aerial shots of the landscape photographs takes your breath away. You are surprised at the untamed beauty of our vast country that most Americans seldom see. These photographs capture your heart and you are in awe at the challenge that the Corp of Discovery undertook and accomplished so many years ago.
The narrative keeps you fascinated with the various types of people the ground crew met while following the trail of Lewis & Clark. Through their eyes we are allowed to see how people today live and how their lives are shaped by the geography of the area.
This book is a feast for your eyes and a treasure trove of interesting facts. It is a book everyone interested in our country should see and read. Geographers, historians, and teachers should use this book in their classrooms.
The authors have done much more than journey in the footsteps of Lewis & Clark, they have touched the hearts of those who have read their book. My sincere congratulations to the authors for taking a 21st century aviation adventure and showing us the beauty of our country. This is a must have, must see and read book that you will return to time after time.

The photography in this book is really amazing! I have never seen so many different aspects of America done so well. I could almost feel like I was in the plane. I was interested in the book to learn more about Lewis and Clark. I found myself going back again and again to study the photos. A lovely book I like to leave out to look at again and again.

Two hundred years ago The Corps of Discovery set out to explore the uncharted West. To mark the bicentennial of this epic journey, Ron Lowery determined to retrace their trail from the air.

The Corps was led by Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Over a four year period this assignment took the Corps thousands of miles through flatlands, moutains, and rivers that no American had traveled before.

After studying the journals of Lewis and Clark, and doing extensive research studying the photographic possibilities and the topography of the proposed flight, Ron concluded it was feasible.

He recruited co-pilot and co-author, Mary Walker, and a ground crew of four to begin "Chasing Lewis & Clark Across America." The incredible photos Ron captured of the grandeur of America during their three month adventure are published in this book.

Ron's airplane the "Cloud Chaser" is an experimental aircraft made from a kit. It was originally designed for a National Geographic project in Africa's Congo. The design fit perfectly into Ron's plans for aerial photography.

Breath taking views, spectacular country, contrasts of colors, and a voyage of discovery are all word pictures that inadequately describe the photos displayed in the pages of this amazing book.

Mary Walker expresses an experience this way: "The air is cold and pure, and we are alone in this high realm of austere, timeless beauty. We stay as long as we dare...Ron wants to capture the backlit haze gathering in the valleys as the sun slips down. It's been a magical evening at the top of the world."

Whether your interest is in history, aviation, photography, travel, or adventure, you will enjoy your ride in Ron's "flying canoe."

Reviewed by Shaley Melchior for Reader Views (7/06)

It's not often a 'picture' book sticks with me for very long. Most photography books I read leave a mild impression that slides away very quickly. This book is more than simply a work of photography with a few words thrown in; it's truly a work of art. It's a piece of art that has left a lasting impression on me, and is a book I will enjoy for years to come.

In June 2003, a motley crew set off from St. Charles, Missouri with a mission: Photograph the route that Lewis and Clark famously took on the expedition to find the headwaters of the mighty Missouri River, and the Pacific Ocean. Ron Lowery and Mary Walker manned the ultra-light plane, the 'Cloud Chaser'. Ron's wife and son, Sue and Ryan, and the family dog, filed into the RV used for the adventure. They left from St. Charles on a 3 month, 14,000 mile adventure, and documented the resulting photographs and stories for the enjoyment of those of us who can only dream of such an adventure.

The photographs are stunning, and very well taken. No surprise, as Ron Lowery is a professional photographer, who works have been used by Kodak, IBM, CBS, Smith Kline Beecham, Telecom Italia and other corporations worldwide. A few pictures in particular stick with me. A photo of cherry orchards in various stages of development. It looks as if the orchard belongs in a model railroad, and it's an amazing photo. Another is a photo of cottonwoods in the early morning fog. The fog casts a haunting shadow over the ground, and it could never have been spotted from the ground. Haystack Rock along the Oregon coast. Cannon Beach, where Haystack Rock is located, has been one of my favorite spots for as long as I can remember, and the photo brings a new perspective to the ocean. The colors of the tossing waves along with the cragginess of the rock stand in stark contrast to the small Bed and Breakfasts along the coast line.

The writing is flawless as well. Mary Walker is also a highly experienced professional, who has worked as a chemist, founded a magazine, and is a private pilot. She brings life to the photos, the thousand words the photo tells. The book would be only a photo album, but with Mary's words, it becomes a piece of art.

The book is not all serious, either. One of my favorite experiences that were related in the book was a short piece by Mr. Lowery. He tells of a time he landed at a small airport where no one was in site. He spotted the lone caretaker fiddling with his running lawnmower. Mr. Lowery tapped the gentleman on the shoulder; the man jumped up, dropped his screwdriver and yelled "Please don't kill me!" Needless to say, the men got along well after they both recovered, Mr. Lowery from laughing, and the gentleman from fright. I'm still smiling at the remembrance of this!

All around, I feel this book reaches every goal Mr. Lowery and Ms. Walker set out to accomplish. It had gorgeous photography, excellent history and background descriptions, well written prose, and even a bit of humor infused into the mix. This is the one coffee table book you will keep at the top of your pile, to read and enjoy for years to come.

The authors have provided a visual celebration for nursing! Clearly the parades were really annual public processions, although the narrative and images demonstrate the religious nature as well. The photographs are a witness to the pride and esteem that nurses held/hold for their profession and the tribute paid to nursing by all those other groups who chose to also march as well as the crowds that lined the parade route. This is a real contribution to the history of nursing!

This book is a perfect gift for any nurse, but especially one who is over 50-ish, has any Chicago connections, and who attended a "diploma" school of nursing. It is a completely unbeknownst to me super-cool annual event out of the city's past. The documentation and photos are great. Thus, it's also a great book for a Chicago historian, nurse or not. I happen to be a nurse, and purchased this book for myself. It's nice to know that past mayors of the city honored its nurses in such a neat public way. It's also a view of how nursing has changed. In the days of this parade, practically every R.N. had graduated from a hospital "diploma" school of nursing. Now those schools are virtually extinct (mine closed over 20 years ago), and most nurses are college, community college, or university educated. The evolution of nursing education is another huge subject, but this book gives a great glimpse of the old days of Chicago and nursing in the 10 years that the parade was held.

Chicago's Nurse Parade is a wonderful easy read with incredible vintage photos deplicting this fascinating historical parade. Being a nurse, there is a pride and a wonderful history of this profession.
Hats off to the authors for showing the historical and interesting journey this profession has!
D. Emerick R.N.

A wonderful book. A very creative way to honor the Nursing profession. It is a classic.

The problem was a serious nursing shortage--one giant step in the solution was to have a parade! Initiating an annual Nurse Parade in Chicago was a very imaginative way of raising awareness for a serious problem. With a minimum of text, this visually delightful book explores, through reproductions of documents, newspaper articles and photographs, the history of Chicago's Nurse Parade. We can learn a lesson from the success of this initiative. When we utilize our creative resources (and remember to have fun!), effective solutions can come in unexpected and interesting forms. The authors, passionate advocates for nurses and the nursing profession, have offered a story relevant to us all.

I read this book when it first came out. Then with our Iraqi fiasco in mind I read it again and was overwhelmed by the fact that the same hubris laden micalculated assumptions of a cearly incompetent cabal of idiots in power once again has sent Americans to early graves for nothing. Choosing War is never a good choice!!

In Choosing War, Mr. Logevall presents a very cogent and deeply reasoned assessment of America's entry into the futile and eventually tragic landscape of an Americanized war in Vietnam. There are so many commonly held beliefs about the necessity of America's involvement there was to prevent the spread of Communism, that it is refreshing, but painful, to read about how and why America went so wrong - and how many chances we had to change direction. It is most infuriating to see the steady drumbeat of the military generals and like-minded advisors twisting and subverting the information coming out of Vietnam that was shifted to show that American military might was making a positive and meaningful difference in pursuit of our goals for a non-communist South, knowing full well this was not the case. As in JFK and Vietnam [by John Newman], it paints a frightening picture of how at the mercy of others are the president's choices.
A most interesting and prescient comment occurs in the final chapter and paragraph of the book that equates lessons unlearned from Vietnam allowing similar mindsets to erupt, engaging America in a similarly foolish military incursion in a foreign country whose population and conditions we also don't understand.
A very well written, well researched and easily readable book.

This book is well written, well argued, and fascinating. It's especially timely now as we try to understand the forces that led us into the Iraq war. My students liked it too.

As the war in Vietnam escalated in 1994 and 95, I was a young naïve supporter of the war simply because I believed that whatever it took to stop and fight communism was justified. My first doubts about the justification of this war came when I would hear the causality figures at the end of each week on the nightly news. I can remember these figures e.g. 946 VC killed in the fighting this week; 94 Americans died. I simply did not believe that anyone knew how many VC were killed, and questioned the figures reported including those of American causalities. As things developed, I began to reassess my thoughts about the American involvement in this war. I read McNamara's "In Retrospect," Neil Sheehan's "A Bright Shining Lie," Stanley Karnow's "Vietnam: A History," But it was Fredrik Logevall's "Choosing War," that really gave me the insight to this conflict. It's the most enlightening account of the American involvement in Vietnam I've read to date. Last year I visted Ho Chi Minh City (formally Saigon). This is in itself was more of education than any of the books. It's my recommendation to all who are interested in the American involvement in Vietnam, to read this detailed and comprehensive account.

Not only is Professor Logevall an excellent historian...he is an excellent teacher as well! I have taken one of his classes at UC Santa Barbara; they are the best and most popular classes on campus.