John Waters Books

Chambers is no doubt a superb leader, excellent speaker, widely respected business man and a hero for all of Cisco. The acquisition strategy is indeed very true, and this book explains how Cisco has managed to grow to its current size by the multitudes of acquisitions and the unique blending of the incoming cultures into its own. It has built a mosaic well worth being proud of and continues to grow in this manner. I think it's a good book if Cisco and acquisition strategy is of interest to you.

I was given this book as a present. I warmly thanked the giver for her thoughtfullness, but secretly, I dreaded reading the book. These unauthorized bios are generally either full of senseless/salacious details, or they're dry as an annual report. Most of them are suitable as torture devices. Why do I bother you ask? Knowledge is power, and I invest in stocks.

Well, big surprise.

This book reads with an almost perfect balance of translated tech talk and personal detail about Chambers. This is no simple feat for the author, as Cisco's core business is anything but easy to explain, but you will be amazed at how much you painlessly learn about the innards of the net and how / where Cisco fits.
I could go on, but your time is better spent buying and reading this book.

I hope Waters has another of these in the hopper.

This book covers some of Cisco's corporate and Chambers' personal history. However the book does not present any detailed analysis of either. Instead it relies on press-release and newspaper excerpts to document parts of the Cisco and Chambers story. It does not appear that the author had much direct access to John Chambers.

In places, the book presents analysis which is either naive or false. For example, the book claims that Cisco viewed Sycamore as a "big-eight" competitor at one point. I am sure Cisco viewed Sycamore as a competitor, but it could not have viewed it as an imminent threat - Sycamore was a tiny startup born in the late 90s around the same time as Juniper. Sycamore was always a much smaller threat than Juniper was and both companies were (probably) 1/100th the size of Cisco (or smaller) in terms of revenue.

All in all, this book is suitable for somebody who wants to get a broad view of cisco's evolution. It is not suitable for somebody looking for precise facts or for deep business analysis.

This book is interesting, packed with facinating facts and I love the way it explains in "real people" language just how the whole computer industry got started. It also offers insight into the character and effective management practices of John Chambers, without being a flattery piece. The book communicates the fast-paced life in Silicon Valley and extends beyond the Cisco experience to in-depth explanations of how the computer industry giants grow, compete and sometimes die. A wealth of knowledge with an insightful look at a manager who has worthwhile practices to share with any of today's managers.

Like several other reviewers, I latched on to this book thinking it dealt with present-day folks defending themselves against criminals. In point of fact, this book by Robert and John Waters relates Old West and Depression-era shootouts between bank robbers and enraged local citizens. It's exciting reading but not what I expected.

The stories in OUTGUNNED are a combination of well-known failed robberies and little-known bungled attempts. Exploits by famous outlaws - Jesse James, the Daltons, Pretty Boy Floyd - are intermixed with those of robbery rejects like Adam Richetti. There really isn't any rhyme or reason to the order of the different chapters. Chronologically you jump back and forth from events circa 1915 to 1897 to 1938. And, if the thread that holds the stories together is bank robberies, why then is a chapter devoted to Tom Horn who was a killer but never a bank robber?

All in all, a somewhat interesting but still optional choice.

Robert Waters has done it again! OUTGUNNED! reads like a sequel in subject matter to his previous books regarding self-protection of law-abiding citizens of America against ruthless criminals. Since I am a university history instructor, please indulge me to elaborate in this review. I truly appreciate all the effort that went into writing this informative book.

Mr. Waters and his brother, John, have obviously spent much time in the research of data involving gangsters from the midwest to the great southwest. Some are well-known, and some are not. Toward the end of the nineteenth century up through the early twentieth century, all kinds of marauding gangs were running rampant throughout these territories. In the latter days of the westward expansion, settlement, and development, law and peace were not always easy to maintain. It was simple for hoodlums to hit a bank or post office, and quickly disappear into the wilds of Texas or Indian territory.

From Jesse James and his loosely knit group to John Dillinger, and the flamboyant members of the Mob in Chicago, these thugs carved their way into the minds of Americans, and some are still remembered. These people and events are described by Mr. Waters in graphic details that abound on every page through thirteen chapters. At times, by pointless mistakes made, the outlaws were brought to the dust by their intended victims. The bravery of these ordinary citizens was amazing!

There are those in America who will argue that Robert Waters advocates self-protection with the use of firearms or other weaponry, and that it is politically or religiously incorrect. Their problem may be getting invaded without a chance. I have read this study for its substance, not specific technicality, and am satisfied that Mr. Waters and his brother have written a fine piece that will hold the interest. What was the actual ignoble ending of Butch and Sundance, along with some of their disciples? Read this book!

I bought this book because I thought so highly of Mr. Waters' book, "The Best Defense." This is also a good book, but the subject is not what I was expecting. I should have read the commentary and reviews more carefully.

I was expecting more stories of people who had defended themselves with a firearm, but this book doesn't really cover that subject. This book is about people who banded together to defend their communities against outlaws. It is not about personal protection.

Most of the stories are about bank robberies and how the local citizenry thwarted them. The most recent event covered in this book occurred in the 1930's. This is primarily a history book.

Although the book could have been edited better, Mr. Waters has done his research well, and he gives a good accounting of each of the covered events. If you are looking for this sort of thing, you will enjoy this book. I was looking for something else.

As in his prior books, Robert Waters, aided this time by his brother John, has brought to light the politically suppressed accounts of Americans righteously using firearms to defend themselves and, in this case, their property and that of their neighbors.

Delving into history, the Waters brothers give us an insight into times when citizens were not prosecuted for defending their communities and its institutions, particularly the community banks. It would take a lenghty search for a reader to assemble all these accounts on his own.

However, as in Robert's earlier works, there are an embarrassing number of errors, mostly technical, but also historical and geographical. I hope that they continue to produce these unique books but I also wish that they would seek better editors and proofreaders. In books that are so closely related to firearms there is no excuse for some of the glaring technical errors.

I am happy to have added this book to my collection of art books. I really like the way the author writes, the book is very readable. Although the book was written some time ago, I found the information completely pertinent for today. There is a mixture of color and black and white plates in the book, I find this adds to the character of the book. There is loads of valuable information for the new, or experienced watercolor painter.

Very helpful for me. I am an amateur painter, needed extra guidance even though I have been painting for a number of years. Good discussion on opaque and transparent colors, how to get to a goal, and so many examples.

I bought the book based on the cover I have no where near the watercolor skill as John Pike had. But this book is rather dated from the 70s and has paintings reproduced in black and white! I'm not sure how much you can learn from Black and White paintings that are suppose to be in color.

John Pike was a student of Charles Hawthorne from the "Cape Cod School." Pike spent time in the West Indies, and later did illustrations for magazines such as Colliers, Life, Fortune, and Readers Digest. His paintings, which remind me of a mix of Maxfield Parrish and Winslow Homer, take advantage of that gorgeous light of late afternoon or the weird mist of early morning, especially in New England and New York State. His art is found in many museums and permanent collections. His books sold many copies in the 1960's and inspired a lot of amateurs to try their hand at this expressive medium. This book is one of my favorites. Right from the start, the cover challenges the watercolorist to learn about light, economical use of brush strokes, and a surprisingly limited palette that excludes tricks and gimmicks. If you are serious about watercolor, this book is probably on your shelf or wants to be there. Frankly, I love this book for the cover alone, but the advice is timeless and worth learning.

Bill Nye The Science Guy has a winner, again. This one is the Big Blue Ocean. There are twelve easy to do experiments for children to do. How big is the ocean? That is the first question. It is answered very informatively, then it is followed by a great experiment to cement the concept for hands on learners. The whole book is formatted the same way with informational side bars added. Good third and fourth grade material.

I have a Ph.D. in oceanography and have taught it in colleges. I was looking at this book for clues on writing oceanography for kids. I didn't read every word but in my skimming I found two pretty bad errors. The book says gives theocean off Chile as an example of a region with very little life (WRONG! there's upwelling of nutrient-rich water there and it's an example of a region with a lot of life) and that chemosynthetic bacteria at hydrothermal vents make oxygen (NO! it's energy). The book is fun but for readers who don't know a lot of oceanography, beware.

If your kids (and you!) love Bill Nye on TV, they'll also enjoy him in print form. Here Bill is up to his usual antics--but it's all serious science. This fun and accurate introduction to a number of aquatic concepts is likely to "hook" kids--so be prepared to follow this book up with one that goes into more depth!

The problem with a lot of books written about Hetch Hetchy is that they leave out the original Native Americans of Hetch Hetchy Valley.

The Paiute Indian people were the original owners of Hetch Hetchy, but no one, especially the Yosemite National Park Service, does not want to mention that. Why is that?

Why do stories written about Hetch Hetchy always start AFTER the the Raker's Act. There were Indians in Hetch Hetchy before that. The Native Americans of Hetch Hetchy Valley were Paiutes.

Where is that in the story of Hetch Hetchy and Yosemite National Park? The story of Captain Jim of the Hetch Hetchy Paiutes. The story of Joseph Screech the first European to enter Hetch Hetchy Valley meeting Paiutes there.

In fact here is something the Yosemite National Park Service does want people to know. The original Indians of Yosemite and Hetch Hetchy ended up in Paiute areas.

The truth is out there, but the injustice continues. The history of the true Indians of Hetch Hetchy should be included in all stories of Hetch Hetchy...the Paiutes.

After the great earthquake and fire of 1906, San Francisco was in desperate need of a reliable water source - and proposals were made to damn the Tuolumne River and transform the Hetch Hetchy Valley into a giant hydro-electric supply for the city. Others protested the changes to the environment. The two groups sparked one of the biggest controversies in American environmental history, and Damn! Water, Power, Politics And Preservation In Hetch Hetchy And Yosemite National Park charts the conflicts and eventual resolution, from changing attitudes towards growth and water issues to the American public's evolving interest in preservation. A lively account of controversial battles which continue into modern times.

Portions of this book will be of great value to anyone interested in the history of the environmental movement, and the shifting political realities that environmentalists have had to deal with over long periods. Simpson explores the history and issues surrounding the Hetch Hetchy dam at Yosemite National Park, which was built to supply San Francisco with water and power even though the site was already protected within the national park. The unsuccessful fight against the dam, which flooded a beautiful valley that was the near-equal to the tremendous Yosemite Valley nearby, was the first major battle conducted by the American environmental movement. Simpson starts with a history of the national park and the twisted politics that resulted in the construction of the dam and its reservoir. This leads to some real insights into environmentalist history in America and the politics of the early 20th century, when the fight for and against the dam took place over several contentious decades.

After this enlightening start, the majority of the book covers the politics and issues behind water and power utilities in modern San Francisco. There is much to be learned here, though the specifics on San Francisco's unique challenges and practices become rather tedious and may not be that enlightening for anyone outside of the region. However, one of the great insights of this book is how San Francisco behaves like an empire, controlling far-away colonies for the extraction of resources that it can't obtain locally, especially fresh water. All of this was accomplished through strong-arm political tactics and flaunting the wishes of both the Federal government and millions of affected citizens. [~doomsdayer520~]

Not only was I intrigued by her much praised poetic style of writing (a rare find in this day & age), but Oliver portrays very well the less-than-perfect famial relationships with which we can all identify. Even back in the early 1900's when things seemed pure and innocent, we can see that the same types of scandals took place and that really, nothing is new under the sun. The author sheds light on the current events and circumstances of the age and provides interesting details about a rural family's upbringing and routine. I wouldn't say it's necessarily a book you can't put down until it starts exploring the mystery of things in depth and then you are lured in by the twisted tales of family secrets which are gradually revealed. During the last half of the book things really pick up and by the end you are left feeling like you yourself are part of the Holloway family.

First off, I should say that the writing is excellent. You won't have any problem following the story. As another reviewer stated, she does have a way with "lush texture". I have to disagree with the statement that the reader is anxious to learn the outcome. You can pretty much tell the outcome after the first couple of chapters. The best part of the book is the end in which the everything is finally revealed, but aside from the character, you should have pretty much figured everything out long before you get to this point. If you need a book that you don't want to get too involved in and don't want to spend more than a few hours on, this book is for you!

My favorite professor of literature in college once declared in lecture: "God gave out a lot of literary talent, but very little story-telling talent." Author Julia Oliver's elegant new novel MUSIC OF FALLING WATER proves that she is among the extraordinary few blessed with both gifts. Set in Alabama, during World War I, MUSIC OF FALLING WATER exquisitely mines bitter themes of familial guilt, resentment, dashed hopes and a desperate search for the truth about the mysterious disappearance of young sister Rhoda, who one night simply vanishes, never to be heard from again. However, when human bones are discovered in the murky waters surrounding the family's old grist mill many years after Rhoda's seeming evaporation into thin air, the reader is as anxious to find the truth about their identity as are her sisters and the entire Holloway family. Julia Oliver's long awaited second novel (after the dazzling GOODBYE TO THE BUTTERMILK SKY) evokes the lush beauty of rural Alabama during the early part of the last century. In MUSIC OF FALLING WATER, she explores the complexities of family relationships which readers will most assuredly identify with. Most impressive to me, after reading MUSIC OF FALLING WATER, is the narrative's lush texture, which seems increasingly rare in modern literary fiction. This is a novel to be read slowly in order to absorb its delicate and precise details. There is genuine warmth here, which readers will savor as they immerse themselves in the lives of the deftly drawn, heartfelt characters. MUSIC OF FALLING WATER will appeal to a wide readership.

I don't want to say I was disappointed with the book, but much of the information is too basic and can easily be found in greater detail in just about any magazine dealing with QDM. In reading the book I often felt like I was reading an advertisement for many of the companies now selling designer seed blends and other QDM tools.

The author is never critical of anything, be it a designer seed blend, a food plot tool, or a management practice, for example the PlotMaster the author recommends is only good for soil already turned by a plow or large disk, yet this is not mentioned. He would also have you believe that planting seed can be as simple as broadcasting it onto some properly limed and fertilized ground, then packed down with a heavy roller. Trust me, its not.

All things considered, I found the book a good read as a quick summary of food plot development, but by no means should it be considered a useful tool from which to develop appropriate food plot plans for your property.

Planting Food Plots for Deer and Other Wildlife is a well written comprehensive book on food plots for wildlife. John Weiss is a respected outdoor writer who touches on a variety of wildlife subjects in his treatment of creating food plots and habitat for wildlife.
The book is easy to follow and very informative and will be a welcome addition to the libraries of land owners with an interest in wildlife.
Weisses treatment of food plots covers planting practices in some depth and will provide much useful information to beginers. Dougherty and Dougherty's new book "Grow 'em Right" picks up where Weiss leaves off and offers more in depth information on hunting, habitat development and food plots but together they make a nice book package. Add Alsheimer's new Quality Deer Managment book to the mix and you have it all.

As someone who is new to managing a hunting property for personal use, I found John Weiss' book to be a very valuable resource. Lots of information on where to start, what deer and other wildlife prefer in terms of vegetation, and on where and how much to plant. The book is primarily designed for someone who has a mixed field/hardwood property and who has the ability to put in some serious time to improve the habitat. It is well written and interesting and chocked full of information - good value for the money.

I picked up this book and was flooded with memories of my years in Worcester, MA. John, thank you for the terrific read. I enjoyed your stories and the details (Alice and the Hat Diner, for example). Glad for your success. I am recommending this book to friends.

If you're a short fiction fan, don't miss John Dufresne's "The Way That Water Enters Stone." My yellowed Plume reissue copy came to me in the most accidental of ways, and it was years before I ended up reading it, even so. But since then, I've read all of the stories twice and a few, such as "A Long Line of Dreamers" and "The Slow Death of the B Movie" three and four times.

These stories are good in the way all good stories are good--memorable characters, inventive yet (mostly) believable situations, anchored but not overdrawn places, and superb writing. Yet this doesn't say anything about Dufresne's fine work here. There's everything here from a 43 page story about a man cursed, according to those in the local parish, with a genetic blight which ultimately he cannot escape ("The Fontana Gene"), to a 5 page story about the razing of a beloved tomato garden ("The Surveyors"), and so much in between. Some stories are set in Louisiana, others in Massachusetts and one in Florida. They are not grouped geographically, so you have to be aware of the leaps from story to story, yet many of these characters seem of a piece, or as if they knew each other. They are united in their aloneness, and how easily they let slip away the person or thing that might have saved them.

The reason for the "Dubliners" comparison is this. In the way that it depicts Ireland as dark but sparked occasionally by remarkable people, so does Dufresne here depict America. He writes from America's dusty corners--Louisiana parishes soaked thoroughly in Catholocism and despair, Massachusetts after the tourist season ends, with the cold coming on and things closing up, and Belle Glade, Florida, about as bleak a place as anyone could find. Yet some of the characters in these stories, like those in "Dubliners," find ways to live against their circumstances and in spite of their locales. A few of the stories are rough in places, but the easier ones apply salve in between to keep you steady. All in all, worth the scrapes.

Dusfresne certainly has a way with titles; this book caught my eye as I was buying my books for school this semester. I paged through it and couldn't help reading the title story because I was so intrigued. What I found is a refreshing cllection of short stories about love and loss that is remarkably free of the tired cliches that are so common in love stories today. These stories are not only sympathetic but also profoundly thought-provoking. Dusfresne is one of my favorite new authors. His writing is real: sympathetic, poignant and about real issues that we all can relate to.

I purchased this book to help me learn more about Word 2000 after it came with a new computer that I purchased. While helpful in teaching me different features of the program, the amount of typographical and spelling errors contained within was really inexcusable. After reading through most of it, I began to wonder if the author had even bothered to skim the chapter on the Spellcheck feature himself. All in all, I would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about Word 2000, but if a badly proofread book is a pet peeve of yours, you might want to go to another volume to get your information.

Owners of Microsoft Word 2000 will find this packed with information on how to efficiently utilize the program, from creating professional documents and injecting multimedia and graphics to using templates for web pages, resumes and letters. An easy, essential guide for any newcomer to Word 2000.

This is a very good book on the subject and should be required reading for every hunter out there. The topcs are well organized, the text clear and where necessary the pictures help out on some of the difficult points. There is also a summary at the end of the chapter to remind you of what you just learned and many practical pointers throughout the book about recovering wounded deer. The book concentrates on deer but the concepts can be applied to all groundbased hunting situations.

I read this book at the wrong time. Which is to say I picked it up immediately after shooting my first deer, wounding it and being unable to retrieve it despite 2 days of tracking. If you've ever experienced this, then you know that this is the worst thing that a day's hunting can possibly lead to short of injuring a human being. Not a week has gone by since then that I have not thought about what I did wrong in my ignorance.

Don't let this happen to you. Buy this book. If you have a son or daughter who is planning their first hunt this fall, buy the book for them now. Don't just skim it - memorize it. I'm mid-way through my third reading of it. The author has tracked hundreds of deer and already made the mistakes that you can avoid if you'll listen to him.

How do you look at a single drop of blood and know which way the deer was travelling? What types of wounds will lead a deer to run what distances before bedding down? What does the color of the blood and the type of hair that the bullet or broadhead clipped off tell you about the deer's specific injuries and how long you should wait before tracking it?

If you're going out into the woods with a rifle over your shoulder then you have a responsibility to be able to answer these questions. This book answers all those questions and more. We all strive for the single shot kill but that doesn't always happen. You had better know what to do in that event.

The only reason why I do not give this book 5 stars is the sloppy editing. The publisher allowed this book to go to print with more typos than I could even count. The book is important enough to deserve a better printing with a publisher that actually employs proof-readers.