C Books

Wonderful book like all of Mc Phee's work. However, disappointing in that he did not cover the California orange industry to the same extent he gave Fla. Perhaps another book one day. JMK

Expertly executed. A detailed history of oranges--customs surrounding, growing, marketing, geography--yet if you apply your close reading skills and critical thinking you may find that this work has deeper meaning. Could it also be taking on social issues such as poverty, ignorance, miscenegation, reproductive rights, and just plain old politics. It is certainly intriguing to consider this when drinking in the beauty of the writing and the mastery of weaving a comprehsensive report on all things having to do with oranges. Never dull no matter what your take.

It's forty years now since this brilliant little mandarin of a book appeared. Early reviewers (and readers of McPhee in the New Yorker) were amused and even a bit ill-at-ease at the entertainment that the author squeezed from a subject as apparently banal as oranges.

Fruit, after all, is hardly a subject for serious discourse and therefore must not be a subject for serious readers. But it was hard to avoid the suspicion that there was something more important about the dynamics of everyday life than about the transient political and artistic events that captured 'serious' attention.(Valley of the Dolls was a best seller that same year)

In the years that followed, we saw a growing realization among scholars that ordinary life was worth study. In fact, the suspicion is even raised that ordinary life may be the thing most worth studying. There has been a spate of books examining such mundane topics as salt, the codfish, apples, spices, coffee, sugar and wine. We have had biographies of diseases and inventions and public manias.

Some of this attention to the mundane has been diluted by its focus on the ordinary object as a marker of greater things: sugar stands for colonialism in Sweetness and Power, public napping stands for a cultural of denial in (No) Time for Sleep and so on.
But increasingly the daily lives of ordinary people-the hohum stuff of most of human existence is seen as worth attention.

Remarkably, it turns out that everyday things are often the most fascinating. Here's a book by the man who played the first card in the genre. It remains remarkably readable and charming and its indirectly indicated concerns are very much alive today.

"Oranges" was the first of John McPhee's books I ever read. I found a copy at a thrift store about ten years ago, and was absolutely blown away by it. Since then, I've probably read it another six or eight times. There is so much fascinating information in it, covered in such a beautiful way, that I could probably read it once a month and still find it entertaining. I'm here to buy yet another copy, as I tend to loan out McPhee's books to my friends, whether they ask for them or not. Unlike other books I loan out, my friends eventually return the McPhees, if only in hopes that I'll loan them another one. I always do. Oranges has been away for about a year this time, and I'm feeling a powerful urge to read it again.

Whether a lot of the information in the book is out-dated or not is totally immaterial. McPhee's work is not journalism covering current events, it's brilliant literature on non-fictional subjects, in the same way as the writing of Samuel Pepys is well worth reading today, in spite of all his subjects' being deceased.

I recently read Mr. McPhee's "Survival of the Bark Canoe" again, and found it just as hilarious as ever, and just as informative. Mark Twain couldn't have covered the subject as well, or any more entertainingly.

Aside from the sheer quality of his writing, the great thing about John McPhee is that he's so damned prolific. Any time I see one of his books which isn't already in my collection, I snap it up; yet I still haven't managed to read his entire body of work. But, I'm working at it.

First published in the 1960s, Oranges by twice Pulitzer winning journalist, John McPhee got a limited lease of life back in 2000 when Penguin reissued it as a modern classic. And while it's an interesting little book covering pretty much everything to do with oranges, the reportage within doesn't so much as ground the book in its time than date it

You may think that there is not much to say about fruit in general, never mind being specific. But that's where you'd be wrong as, it turns out, the orange has a catalogue of facts literally bursting with juicy trivia. It begins with uses for the fruit around the world, covering methods of eating, seasoning, and even cleaning the floor and removing grease. It explores the etymology of both the fruit's name, and it's scientific name, Citrus Sinensis. Along the way, as it spouts nugget of information in quick succession, we see the orange in history as it began its two thousand year westward journey from China to the Americas until orange growing and juicing became a worldwide industry within itself.

Splitting up chapters of trivia, McPhee shares the outcomes of his meetings with orange barons, orange growers, and other assorted industry types. While interesting to read, the text is littered with anecdotes containing names that will mean nothing to anyone other than their immediate families. And, to top it off, there is a section whereby we learn of new methods being introduced to improve the industry that, even if you have no experience of it, you know has long since been superceded by methods. It doesn't take a genius to know that in a world rife with technology and technological gains, that the huge workforce mentioned in Oranges has long since been made redundant or replaced by immigrant workers.

McPhee's style is immensely readable, the way he dances from fact to fact a delight to read, and when he injects some humour to his catalogue of orange facts, you can't help but raise a smile - at the joke and in appreciation of its wording. His anecdotes do drag, and I think it wouldn't be uncommon to breath a sigh of relief once they conclude.

It's a quick read and a quirky subject, and McPhee's research is to be commended, although much of the journalistic writing -reading it forty years on from publication - has soured. That said, if you know nothing of the orange industry - and oranges in general - then Oranges is a fun little book that should quench that specific hole in your trivia.

What makes this first volume great is that it doesn't start with Popeye's first appearance but weeks before. Really neat to see Thimble Theatre without Popeye in it. Makes me wanna see volumes of all pre-Popeye Thimble Theatre strips.
Segar showed himself a grade-A cartoonist even before the famous Sailor Man entered the picture :)

As much as I respect the old Fleicher Studios for producing some wonderful Popeye cartoons that became an integral part of establishing him as a worldwide phenomenon I think they did him no favor in moving him into an urban environment. Popeye is at his very best, as a sailor, adventuring on the open seas. Nobody wrote or drew Popeye like Elzie Segar. Unfortunately, Mr. Segar passed away at the very young age of 43 having created Popeye a mere 9 years earlier. So what we have here is over a year and a half of Popeye's absolute best run ever.

This is not the Popeye most people are used to. This is the Popeye that existed prior to being significantly toned down at the behest of William Randolph Hearst in response to the characters growing popularity. This Popeye is a violent, foul mouthed sailor with a serious gambling addiction. Few able bodied males outside of the diminutive Castor Oyl manage to get through the book without receiving one of Popeye's famous haymakers and I have to give credit to Elzie Segar for his skill in drawing the most thunderous, teeth rattling punches in the history of comics. In the opening introduction there is a group drawing by Segar of a menagerie of characters from Thimble Theater including a most mild-mannered looking fellow named Johnny Doodle. I thought surely Mr. Doodle would be safe from Popeye's fists but sure as the sun rises in the east, before the book was through Johnny Doodle was left horizontal.

In one particularly funny sequence Popeye punches out a man for no apparent reason. When asked why, Popeye answers, "I don't need a reason... I socks `em where I sees `em, I leaves `em where I socks `em". Queried further Popeye responds, "I jus wanted to see which way he'd fall" and finally adds, "I likes to smack tall swabs on account of they fold up so nice" Later it turned out the man he socked was a crook but when it gets right down to it the humor of Popeye revolves around his burning desire to punch everyone he meets and Castor Oyl's vain attempt to control it. Popeye is a man who kills a horse with a single crushing blow. In volume one Popeye is arrested multiple times on assault charges and proudly proclaims, "I hits cops too - I hit's `em jus' like they was somebody else" In a sense the original Popeye seems almost like a parody of his future self.

I absolutely loved this book. A few reviewers complained about size of the images saying they caused eyestrain but I didn't have any problems at all. My biggest complaint is with the gigantic dimensions of the book. I would have preferred something similar to what was produced for the Dick Tracy or Peanuts collections. I also have to confess that the covers are absolutely bewildering. I'm not sure what the publisher was going for but I don't think it worked. I guess I also have to take issue with the introduction which really didn't do anything for me. In the end it's the brilliance of Elzie Segar's drawings and writing that makes this volume. I've already purchased volume 2 and intend to continue buying them as they are released.

Popeye shows up as a natural man. A flawed, older man who has lived a hard life. He is profligate and has low impulse control. He shoots craps whenever he has excess cash. He lies when convenient; but, deep down he is a decent guy who will give the shirt off his back to anyone that neds it. No wonder he was popular. Read these comics and reaqlize that people haven't changed all that much.

Simply one of the finest books I've purchased in recent memory. I own many of the earlier Fantagraphics-published Popeye books ("The Complete E.C. Segar Popeye" series) and this book is a far better product and value. I particularly applaud the removal of the sydicate-added titles and by-lines above the daily strips that were included in the above-mentioned books. Their omission makes for a smooth read. Much praise, also, for the far superior production and design on the book. And the fact that I can get all the material in six volumes including all the color Sundays as opposed to what was previously published in well over a dozen volumes almost twenty years ago? Sweet news, indeed.

I won't go into the brilliance and relevance of the book's content, others better qualified have and will do so here and elsewhere. This book and its forthcoming volumes are essential. I'm so pleased they finally did the material real justice.

Be sure to eat not only spinach but lots of carrots before tackling this one.

Even so, you'll likely need a magnifying glass to read these strips. Who's bright idea was it to cram six strips onto a 10.5 x 14-inch page? It made for some serious squinting when I checked this out at my local comic book store.

And at 10.5 x 14-plus inches, this book hardly makes for cozy reading material.

Bad book design and layout have made what could have been more accessible material a real chore. I like the dimensions of Tony Millionaires' Maakies books: one strip per page, and look ma! no squinting!

THE RIGHT TO PRIVACY is an excellent legal resource which can be read by legal scholars, however, lay people need to consult a legal dictionary from time to time. But the book clearly establishes how the right to privacy applies to every citizen when used against several aspects of everyday life the citizen comes in contact with. Caroline Kennedy, along with Ellen Alderman, has proven her excellent legal scholarship which, in my opinion, qualifies her as attorney general and/or associate justice of the U. S. Supreme Court.

This book starts off Rated R. I wish I could give a copy to my teens, but it gets a little too descriptive (necessary for impact though) of police violations on women. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. (Maybe when they're older...) It is a collection of some landmark cases, conflicts, and horror stories of the reality of our government's instrusiveness into people's personal lives. It is an eye-opener to those who blindly follow government orders. I'm comfortable reading legal documents, but I thought one of the book's better points was that it put legal terms into layman's terms. I found the book so lively and intriguing I finished it in a day! I definitely recommend this for anyone concerned about government instrusiveness and loss or interpretation of constitutional rights.

a bit boring but just shows what big brother can do to innocent people . good to see caroline standing up for ordinary people .

I enjoyed this book, even though it is heavy on legal court cases. Don't let that fool you, though, it's not a legal reference. This book covers significant cases in privacy using a very interesting approach. There a interviews and behind-the-scenes stories that explain what happened, how the plaintiff felt, and what the outcome was.

If you liked this book you will love "The Digital Umbrella." It is a great compliment to this book.

This book is written by a couple of lawyers who specialize in privacy issues. It is essentially a collection of thoughly researched court cases with added commentary from the authors. As such, it reads like...well... a collection of court cases.

A copy was originally lent to me by a very well-read and intelligent friend of mine who considered it overly dry. I, on the other hand, loved it. It's very details-oriented from cover-to-cover and packs in a wealth of information that is invaluable to anyone interested in the legal aspects of privacy.

John Maxwell wrote a timely book on how to plan your life. No detail was left unturned in this book. John helps you define your purpose, where do you want to go, how far can you go, how do you get there from here! Then he helps you see your full potential by asking simple questions: What should you pack for your journey, how to handle detours, are you there yet. He than introduces the concept of helping others get to their dreams in route to your dreams. Is it a family trip, who else should be on the journey, and what should you do along the way! John than beautifully ties a bow on the book by asking what you like best about the trip.

This is a great book for planning the rest of your life. Again, I buy it by the case and give to everyone involved in any type of business! My way of helping others grow as I grow myself. A must read!

A popular leadership speaker and prolific author, John C. Maxwell has a great deal of experience in the process of personal growth, and he communicates it well. This book, published as The Success Journey in 1977, is a useful step-by-step guide to plotting your journey to success, right down to the thoughtful exercises at the end of each chapter. Maxwell does a nice job of mixing the personal and professional sides of success and encouraging you to redefine it. His definition is that success is following your true purpose and living up to your dreams and potential, rather than just accumulating wealth and possessions. The book is quite a fast read - probably because a good portion of it is devoted to quoting others - and its evangelical tone may not appeal to all readers. Maxwell also makes frequent use of catchphrases, which help fill a page but say little. We recommend this book to ambitious individuals looking for guidance on creating and following a workable, actionable life plan.

I am definitely a John Maxwell fan. This man is truly gifted and knows how to communicate so all can understand and benefit.This book was great but even better if read as a sequel. Don't get me wrong this is a stand alone book by itself but I am glad that I first read The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. The 21 Laws is much more dry and technical while this book is personal in its application. You will better understand the process by first knowing the driving principles.There are several excellent lists that are explained in detail but my favorite is entitled, "How to Take Others for a (Life Changing) Ride. #2 states to , "Limit Who You Take Along". This one explanation alone is worth the book. It should prevent burn out and minimize disappointments.Page 177 has a chart on communication styles and the results. He applies this not only to the business world but to the family unit as well.I particulary like the chapter, What Should I Pack in My Suitcase. This will help me redeem my "downtime" as I travel. This guy is a genius.

The Roadmap to Success is by far the best motivational book I have ever read. It was the first book that I have read by Maxwell, and since then I have read four others. He teaches us a new way to think about success. Clearly stated success is: knowing your purpose, growing to reach your potential, and sowing seeds to help others. It is amazing how much better you perform and how much more you enjoy life when you view success through this framework. If you have been successful so far in your life, this book will help reinforce any doubts you have about your choices and reaffirm the actions you have taken. If you are committed to growth and development then this book is a great start to helping you put aside your fears to get the most out of your life. If you are closed minded, resistant to change and generally a pessimistic person this book is not for you. While those people that continue to make excuses for their failures or the way their life turned out will never succeed, those who have the right mindset and follow Maxwell's advise will surely go far in life and reap the beiefits and joys of success.

The following is what I liked best:

The section on Goals
They MUST be activities that are: written, personal, specific, achievable, measurable, and time sensitive.

The Quotes:
"You can not make any progress when you are facing the wrong way." & the another one by Charles 'Tremendous' Jones who said "The only difference between the person you are today and who you will be in 5 years come from the books you read and the people you associate with."

The Benchmarking idea:
To attain success you should ONLY pick 3 to 5 areas to work on & grow in at one time.

The section on Choices:
In order to make progress it will involve 3 choices: to gain something, to lose something, or to trade something
and when you choose: pick the former rather than latter:
Achievement over affirmation
Excellence over acceptability
Personal growth over pleasure
Future potential over personal gain
Narrow focus over scattered interests
Significance over security

And finally the Laws on Developing others:
Take someone with you: "There is no success without a successor"

Rating: Strong Buy

This series is great and this was another chapter in the ongoing story of Maturin and Aubrey. Their adventures are of another world and provide a great contrast to other books.

This entry in the Aubrey-Maturin seagoing saga was probably my least favorite that I've read so far in this series. My quibble was with the novel's plot, which was pretty thin and derivative of other action novels and movies. And Diana Villiers, Dr. Maturin's love, is starting to remind of the character of Irenee in The Forsythe Saga. Everyone is always talking about how fascinating she is, but darned if I can see why. On the plus side, as always O'Brian serves up amazing historical details and makes Jack and Stephen witty and real. And the on-going story of their lives advances to a very eye-opening and surprising ending. So you can bet I'll look forward to the next installment of this series.

The focus is on Stephen Maturin in this seventh installment of the Aubrey-Maturin series, which, though it isn't the best or most exciting of the first seven books, is still a ripping good read. Returning to England following their escapades in North America, Aubrey and Maturin try to settle into life at home -- Jack with his family and Stephen with his scientific pursuits -- but their pasts catch up with them, compelling them to join forces for a spur-of-the-moment mission to the Baltic. Will they succeed? Will they overcome the old problems that dog them? And just who is the surgeon's mate? Read this tale of spying, diplomacy, and (of course!) naval combat to find out.

Patrick O'Brian's scope of imagination is staggering. We are now into the seventh book in his series, and Captain "Lucky Jack" Aubrey and surgeon/naturalist/spy Stephen Maturin continue to find themselves in realistic-yet-dire circumstances of a personal, military, and intelligence nature. Through it all, these two characters never seem like invincible juggernauts, but instead very human, very capable men living by the best their wits and luck can offer.

At the outset of the novel, Aubrey and Maturin need to flee the New World for the old, but find themselves hard-pressed to do so. Thanks to Dr. Maturin's single-handed destruction of French spy networks in Boston (including a wee bit of murder), a wealthy intelligence figure hires ships to track down the fleeing Maturin. The result is a thrilling chase off Nova Scotia and the nearby waters - while I prefer Aubrey's sinking of the Dutch 74 the Waakzamheid in "Desolation Island," this chase is one of the most thrilling in the series so far.

And the joys of this novel don't stop there. O'Brian once again finds various ways to inject humor into his novel. Dr. Maturin hits a personal and professional high (as a naturalist) when he gets the chance to address a body of learned scientists in Paris . . . only to bungle the presentation horribly. Aubrey allows himself to be seduced by a wanton woman while celebrating his escape from the jail in Boston, and is confronted with news of the natural biological result of such a transgression. Maturin and Aubrey are accompanied on many of their adventures in "SM" by the Swedish captain Jagiello, a supremely attractive young man, and Aubrey finds himself at a loss as to why the women fall all over themselves for this young buck when they could have a sailor "with the handsomest set of whiskers in the fleet." There are joys in this novel that you just don't find in most swashbuckling thrillers.

But at its heart, "SM" is an adventure yarn, and O'Brian does not disappoint. In a story that sweeps from the New World to Paris to Denmark to the infamous Temple Prison back in France, Aubrey and Maturin find themselves thrown from one pan into another fire. And God bless them for it!

Confession time. THE SURGEON'S MATE is the fifth book in the "Aubrey/Maturin Series" of seafaring novels that I have completed; however, it is the seventh book in the logical series order. Having subscribed to receive the entire series, I began reading the books in the order that they arrived, assuming that the publisher would send them in proper sequence. Such turns out not to have been the case, and some of my discontent with other volumes I have reviewed derived from the fact that I had missed some events because of reading the books out of order. Allow my experience to stand as evidence that, for maximum enjoyment and even comprehension, these books should be approached in their logical sequence.

I have now edited those earlier reviews to correct any misstatements as to the books' places in the sequence of novels and have removed comments pertaining to missing events that actually were addressed in preceding volumes. Nonetheless, I find that my overall assessments of the books remain unaltered. I feel that Richard Russ (Patrick O'Brian's real name) is essentially a "three star" author. When he writes of naval engagements aboard men-of-war, sloops, frigates, and the other fighting ships whose maneuvering capabilities are largely at the whim of the prevailing winds, he is a most engaging author. However, when he delves into the interpersonal relationships of his characters, he is less successful in engaging his readers.

Two other continuing weaknesses in Russ' writing are his heavy use of now-archaic seafaring terminology that often clouds the meaning of the passage and his frustrating lack of time transitions. The first problem could have been alleviated by judicious use of explanatory footnotes. The latter could have been corrected by use of transitional commentary. As it is, however, in one sentence, the captain may call for one of his officers, and in the very next sentence he is speaking to that officer. It is as though a time warp has occurred and the officer has materialized next to his captain at the very moment he is called for. This annoying truncation of time appears in each of the five volumes I have read thus far, and I fear it is a weakness to which the author is blind and may well continue throughout the series.

By itself, THE SURGEON'S MATE, while subject to the general criticisms I have mentioned, is, by and large, readable and engaging. Is Russ/O'Brian improving as he writes additional volumes, or am I becoming accustomed to his style and more accepting of it? In either event, I found this volume a much faster and more intriguing read than some of the others I have already encountered. The single most perplexing thing about this book is its title. There is no focus on any "surgeon's mate" whatsoever, and where Russ/O'Brian found his inspiration for the title remains a murky mystery! (Some reviewers have identified the title as referring to the character of Dr. Stephen Maturin; however, he has hitherto been described as being much more than a naval surgeon, being a skilled physician while a naval surgeon was essentially limited to chopping off shattered limbs. If this is indeed Russ/O'Brian's intent, then his choice of title essentially demotes Maturin from his former position, which is not, I think, the author's intent.)

If, gentle reader, you are determined to read the entire Aubrey-Maturin series of novels, you will certainly not want to miss this one. However, you will perhaps enjoy it most if you have read the preceding six volumes first. On the other hand, if one is interested in merely sampling Russ/O'Brian's work, this would not be a bad example to choose, although I would still suggest reading at least the first work, MASTER AND COMMANDER, before delving into any of the succeeding books, including this one.

We originally bought this book in the late 80's. It sits in our bathroom and gets more use than Uncle John's! It has insightful problems that often don't require the use of math. The problems often seem common sense, but OUCH! It's like those game shows when you know the answer must be the one that's outside the box. Of course, then the next problem will bite you when you realize you common sense isn't so screwed up after all!

After each problem is an explanation, that's easy to understand, usually less than a page, and is usually explained in such a way that you will say... "DOH"!

The same real world problems your physics teacher made seem SOOOOoooo Hard and complicated to solve/understand will suddenly be lit with a hundred light bulbs.

As I said before, this book sits in our bathroom, is constantly read and doesn't need a calculator next to it. Although some of the solutions do use math, this book breaks them down into simple math problems.

As for the 1 star review by the scientist. That indicates how great this book is. A book with a description of "..cleverly designed Q and A book for physicists of all ages." may be an indicator that the problems do not require a background in calculus.

I love the way Epstein explains things in everyday language and examples. He uses simple drawings and does not use mathematical formulas!

An excellent low-math book that covers many everyday concepts in physics, allows anyone to think through everyday problems and gain experience in thinking without doing calculations or sitting through endless ball-rolling-down-ramp labs. It shows ways that physicists and scientifically literate people think about physics problems in general terms. I've seen it on many shelves- grad students, postdocs and professors, teaching or not, since my undergrad days 25 years ago , alongside Art of Electronics, Jackson, Halliday/Resnik , and a book of integrals. Fine for junior- and high school students, and even younger with parental guidance. Many kids have sensible questions about why e.g. a bike stays up or who you really wouldn't want to run into on a football field, and the answers to them, and nice sketches too.

This book by Epstein is one of my better investments for secondary school (or undergraduate/graduate) physics books. Although I do not use it as a text, I have taken advantage of the problems posed within as warm-up questions to engage the students on the topics at hand(in addition to the hands-on demonstrations.) My students can really get fired up by some of the classical problems and the illustrations that accompany every questions within. The answer keys are highly intelligible as well as entertaining.

However, do not underestimate the questions as merely for the beginning students of physics: they are far from that realm. Some of the questions are challenging enough even for the professional physicists, and in fact even for Newton himself.

If you are intrigue, go buy it.

The other reviewers have given this book excellent ratings, but I must differ. As a scientist, I approached this book with high hopes, but it fell far short of my expectations. It is poorly organized and written in a haphazard fashion, jumping around without any continuity and without the development of common themes. Furthermore, the author confuses his units -- to pick only one example, he uses pounds (lbs) for both mass and force. This may seem too particular, but confusing units is truly inexecusble in the world of physics, at least if you want to think about physics in an exact manner. Finally, there is very little in the way of demonstration of basic laws of physics. Newton's laws get mentioned only rarely, and the mathematics are not explained adequately. The author relies far too much on the reader's physics "intuition," rather than actually explaining the mathematics or physical laws behind the illustrative (or not-so-illustrative) situation.

All in all, this book is a patchwork compilation of random physical scenarios that may have interested the author, but do little to illuminate physical laws or enlighten the reader.

I read this book to my students. But before I had read it myself, I shared it with my students. It was very emotional for me. (I have a cousin listed on the wall. His son was born about 4 months after he died. I could see my uncle walking his grandson there.) The book was a beautiful, moving tribute to all those who have given their lives in Vietnam.

Being a "baby boomer" from the Vietnam era, I think this book will help explain to my grandchildren about Grandpa and his war time. It is beautifully illustrated and tender. I wish I'd had this book when I went to see the Wall with an 8th-grade girl who made an etching of her Grandpa's name. It may not mean as much to anyone who hasn't been touched directly by the Vietnam war, but it touched my heart.

The Wall by Eve Bunting is an incredible story of remembering. It all starts when a little boy and his father visit the Vietnam War Memorial. The father, who wishes to find the name and remember the good times with him, takes a piece of paper and and pencil and traces the name off of the wall. The little boy, who just wishes his grandfather was there with him, sadly watches another little boy and his grandpa on a walk. This book about rememberance will make you sad until the very end. Eve Bunting does a great job setting the mood at the Vietnam War Memorial. I give this book a thumbs up and believe it's the best children's book ever. Read The Wall by Eve Bunting to find out what happens in the end.

Loosing a relative can be tough, especially if your close to them, or too young to ever experience or meet them. All you can do is wonder. The book The Wall by: Eve Bunting, is aobut a dad and his son that go and visit the Vietnam War Memorial in memory of the dad's father, or the son's grandfather that died in the Vietnam War. Eve Bunting describes what happens there from a child's point of view. It is very realistic, and makes you feel like you are really there.
This book not only teaches little kid's lessons, but is good for even adults. IT really took me back and made me think. It made me think of how valuable our lives really are, and when we die, who is really affected by it. Also, it taught me that loosing someone you love doesn't always have to be sad, especially if they have died fighting for what they believe in. So, if somebody you know died, think of the positive side. Reading this book may take you back, and let you think of why they were so special.

The Wall
by Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Ronald Himler

You should read this book because it's great and it's about someone you will remember and someone you love! The main Characters are the Dad, son, and an old man from war, and grandpa. Dad and his son are trying to find grandpa's name on the wall. The wall is in Washington D.C. They can't find their grandpa's name even though they keep looking up and down.
Dad and his son find grandpa's name! what do you think his name is? The book tells you a note and tells you where the wall is and it is in Washington D.C. it also tells you why the wall was made.
By reading this book you can learn to Keep doing your best, keep looking for what you want, and don't give up. Keep looking for what you love too! What do you love to find that you love so much? What I love to find is my family and my things I love. So if you love to find your family then read this book!!!!!!!!!!


By Tanashia C

I wasn't sure what to expect when I was turned on to Dr. Norton and his book, "where does it hurt?" I was certainly in a lot of pain and willing to try anything to get relief. Dr. Norton 's approach is gentle, unique and PERMANENT! I am forever grateful for my lack of pain, and the new habits I am trying to form in order to preserve my health. Prevention is certainly key, but there is hope for those of us with years of ignored injuries and bad habits leading to pain. I highly recommend this book and Dr. Norton's holistic approach to healthy living.. physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

I suffered from chronic back pain for about five years. It wasn't until I started to see Dr. Norton last March that there was hope. After a few weeks of treatments, one day I realized "I'm not in pain." I had actually forgotten about my pain, something which is rather difficult after it has been a part of my life for so long.

Now that I have been reading Dr. Norton's book, I have the additional information needed to complete the healing process and restore "whole body health."

My favorite thing about the book: it's interactive which makes me feel like I'm in control, not the pain.

Even if you don't live near Central California, you can still benefit from Dr. Norton's expertise by reading this book. I would definitely recommend it to anyone, even if they don't think they're suffering.

Kudos to Dr. Norton and his team!

After reading the first chapter, it became so clear as to how to improve my health. The language is easy to comprehend and the stories shared were so relevent to my own experiences. I wear a medic alert bracelet because I am allergic to seven types of meds. All but one of the meds are painkillers. Dr. Norton's book has the answers I've been seeking in finding my way to improved health and pain relief. I recommend it to anyone who seeks wellness without having to rely on medication.

I have been fortunate to have access to Dr. Norton's care for many years. I did NOT make it into the book as one of his stories of healing and rejuvenated health. Why? Because I am a great example of someone whose belief in the principles that Dr. Norton espouses has helped to keep me in excellent health into my 50's. I am fortunate that subscibing to a healthy lifestyle, including Dr. Norton's Chiropractic care, has prevented me from entering a degenerative state needing "rescue". Being boringly healthy does not make for interesting reading, but I will gladly remain a part of the unfeatured, healthy majority of patients who understand that Chiropractic adjustments are as essential a part of health as good food, exercise, good supplements and a good attitude.
Dr. Norton once posed a question to my husband and I..."Do you want to feel better, or do you want to get well?" Feeling better (temporarily) by treating/masking symptoms was not what we wanted for our lives. We wanted to get well, be well and stay well.
This book will help you if that is also your journey of choice. It will give you information that traditional medicine won't and can't, and start you on the road to wellness that can only be achieved by waking up and taking charge of your health and your body's ability to heal itself.
I encourage you to read this book. It can and will make the difference between just feeling better, and truly being well.

Dr. Norton's book, "Where Does it Hurt?" provides a systemic methodology to find and fix the problem instead of treating the symptoms. Having been treated for back and neck problems for many years with "vitamin M" (motrin and other pain relievers), I found that I never got better - they just covered up some of the pain caused by long term problems. After reading this book, I wanted to visit Dr. Norton's Chiropractic Clinic personally for the benefit of more than a "chiropractic tune up" - but for a full body overhaul! Read the book to understand how you can feel and live better - and then take the time to do something about it. I live in Florida...a little far for a visit, but after reading his book, I am looking for a DC who approaches total health the way Dr Norton explains it.

This book is far more than its title implies. Yes, it's about animals and plants in the wake of glacial retreat, but it's also a travel guide to ancient lakes and seas, an explanation of the cause of glaciers, and seeing the distribution of life throughout North America in an entirely new way. And as if this weren't enough, Ms. Pielou's precise descriptions are consistently presented in a very readable way.
I've just finished my first reading, and will be reading it again soon. It's a great book.

This is a fabulous book. I have read it twice, will read it again and again. I am not a scientist, have little background in geology, ecology, earth science, don't know E. C. Pielou from Norman Mailer, but for me it has been a page turner from preface to index. I have learned that at 40+ below zero Fahrenheit black spruce trees stop procreating via seeds, turn to cloning,which allows them to survive alpine frigidity beyond all reason. I have learned that maple trees followed the ice north faster than chestnuts because they blew in on the wind while chestnuts had to be carried along by squirrels. I have learned that THE ice age was just the latest, that there have been at least 200 similar periods since Day One, and that the next one is surely on its way - global warming or no. There was a time in Earth history when it rained day and night, week after week, month after month, year after year, for thousands of years. Who knew? Treat yourself to a rare delight. Get this book and don't pass it on until you have read it backwards at least once. -Mike Ameigh

I love this book. At the beginning the author starts off with a agreeing nod towards the completely discredited Malthus, and I love this book despite that. I'm only two chapters into it and already I love this book. Anyone who blithely thinks that the global warming analysis is completed and that we know all the answers needs to read this book and realize just how dynamic climate patterns can be over as little a period as the past 20,000 years. But reading it requires that the reader put away his science as politics mentality and listen thoughtfully to an amazing story. Did I mention that I love this book?

One of the most far-ranging books I have ever read. The first chapter, on glaciation processes, covers an an enormous amount of ground (no pun intended). This book can give perspective on such issues as climate change and on the ongoing rapid change of plant species in North America.

It provided information about glaciation that made me fighting mad about the abuse of glacier images in Al Gore's movie. He is doing no service to us by using specious evidence in support of his views on global climate change.

The author's style can make you feel that you are on the business end of a fire hose, but what a great way to cover a lot of important territory fast.

Science is data-driven. What we know is based only on the data we acquire and its careful interpretation. Debates about climate change often occur in an over-heated atmosphere, with those opposed to the notion that manmade influences are driving the global climate shift often beginning their arguments with the statement that "the climate changes naturally". True enough. Over the 4.6 billion year lifespan of our planet, it's safe to assume that the weather has changed. It is the magnitude of the changes, and their rapidity, that has caught the attention of scientists. The end of the Pleistocene Epoch and the beginning of the Holocene, the past 20,000 years or so, marks the end of the last glaciation, known as the Wisconsin glaciation, and the beginning of the present interglacial. There seems no reason to doubt that a new glaciation should begin. Short term trends, measured in centuries, have varied, with periods of relative warmth and then cooling. The Little Ice Age, which began around 800 years ago and was a particularly rigorous period in our history, seems to have ended with a warming period persisting from the mid-19th century until the 1940s, at which time a short cooling trend set in that seems to have reversed itself about 1970. The trend has been unremittingly upward since then, accelerating in the magnitude of the temperature increase. It is the trends and not individual years that are important. Since we are in the cooling phase of an interglacial period, there is one inescapable fact: the glaciers should be advancing and not retreating. That would be the natural trend. But they are not advancing, they are most definitely retreating worldwide. From continent to continent, everywhere we look, the ice is melting. This is the antithesis of what they should be doing naturally. It is most probably a manmade trend. And that is the worrisome aspect of recent climatic events.

E. C. Pielou has written the finest book on that strange period when the ice disappeared and flora and fauna fitfully returned to the ice-ravaged landscape of glaciated North America. The large mammals, such as mastodons, mammoths, sabertooth cats and giant short-faced bears, were the most spectacular immigrants. The small human population of 10,000 years ago may be to blame for their extinction: another sobering thought. It is the dramatic destructiveness of the glaciers, the titanic changes in the environment caused by natural climate change, and what it takes to reintegrate a pre-ice age biosphere that has changed almost beyond recognition, that Pielou outlines so beautifully. Pielou does not speculate on issues of global warming. What she does do is brilliantly portray the breathtaking magnitude of global climate change. It only requires a little imagination to recognize that if humanity is indeed changing the long-term natural course of the weather, then we are playing with fire. When it comes to the issue of climate change, it is best to ignore the arguments. First acquire the facts: acquire them truthfully and without prejudice, especially without economic or political prejudice. Then proceed from there. This book is strongly recommended for best outlining the facts without imposing an ideology or agenda. And in the end it is the facts that make the issue of climate change so worrisome for thinking people.

Mike Birman

Bought as a gift for a 21st birthday. Will be a memory that he can keep for a long time with a personal message on the inside front cover.

Great gift idea! Would highly recommend

My daughter is 24 years old and she is an aspiring artist. Andy Warhol is her very favorite. I got her this book for Christmas and it is her most favorite thing. She says that the detail that it has is facinating and compelling. One word of advice though...it is one HEAVY book so make sure that you are in a comfortable place to support it while you are reading.

This is a real great (and large ;-) ) book with beatiful reproductions of Andy Warhol. My children love to go through it. It was also for sale on the Warhol exhibition in the "Stedelijk Museum" in Amsterdam last year.

Definitely worth the money!

I've recently got into andy warhol and this is the second book i have by him. The book has stunning portraits/photographs/art thats what i love about andy warhol everything is unique and different.I wasn't sure what to expect with this book however i'm glad that I purchased it.

You also might want to check out "Men - Andy Warhol"

Fantastic pictorial book...worth every penny. If you are a fan of Warhol, this is the book to own. Great prints of Andy's work from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s - including rare prints. You won't be disappointed - it is all here. The dimensions are impressive at 17" x 13" x 2 1/2", and it makes for a beautiful coffee table book that you will be proud to display. The pictures are sharp, both in color and b&w, and many are full-page, including pics of Andy and Edie. Outstanding!