D Books

I always been a fan of Kashif both as a singer and producer. I highly recommend this book to gain greater insights in the Music business or any business. It was a great buy along with a couple of manuals I purchased from Musicbrains.net entitled the Indie label Kit on amazon. You can also check kashif out at Brooklynboy.com

Included in this package are over 100 music contract templates that will aid you in filling out every king of music contract imaginable, from the deals you set with music producers, to the deals with promoters, to the deals you have to make with agents. The contracts all have explanatory notes and underlining information explaining each the purpose of every line in the contract. As good as this set is, it doesn't compare to "101 Music Business Contracts - Updated Edition - Preprinted Binder / CD-ROM set containing over 100 contracts and agreements for recording artist, musicians, ... industry. Entertainment law at it's best!" By Ty Cohen, a more complete set with easier explanation and a more intelligent structure

A real life look at the music industry. This is a must have for all involved in writing and publishing.

From Mark John Sternal
Author of "GUITAR: Total Scales Techniques and Applications"
"GUITAR: Probable Chords"
"Complete Guitar By Ear"
and, "The Twelve Notes Of Music"

I'm blessed I purchased this book earlier this month and tells me right here how I need to know and learn all about the music and record industry. This is a Extradordinary, more good-reading, more instructional Must for all Music lovers, listeners, musicians, singers, singer-songwriters, composers, producers, artists, and/or any1 that's real interested of trying out in the music biz. I recommend Donald Passman's book "All You Need to Know About the Music Business" 2 include along and recommendarily Quincy Jones' memoir along w/ others.

I 'preciate the help of what R&B and Music legend, artist, and producer Kashif tryin' 2 say. 'Preciate everything u talked 'bout this book. Enjoy it. It's very interesting stuff and u can't turn your back from it.

This is a great book. I first purchased Donald Passmans book "Everything You Need To Know About The Music Buiness' - a must have book for any interestd, but as a complete newbie also a bit overwhelming. This book is easier to read, gives a good introduction and overview of the topic and helps to simplify some of the things Passman talks about. I highly recommend them both if you're serious about this subject.

This is the story of an immigrant family in the early 1900s. Many times were hard but the family's faith in God brought them through. This is a very easy to read book with stories that put the reader in the setting. The stories, although enlightening about living in that time period, also serve the purpose of building one's faith by seeing how Mama believed God's promises and helped all her children to believe them too. This book is a pleasure to read & the reader will feel better after having read it.

I was surprised by how attractive biblical marriage is portrayed within the pages of this encouraging little book. This is not about how to have a happy marriage/family life when both partners are 'wonderful'. This is the life-story of a woman who applied God's truths to her life and trusted in the Lord for the outcome. Her husband didn't suddenly turn into the romantic white knight she may have dreamed about in her youth, but she loved and respected him, even regarding his differences. She walked the walk, sacrificing many things to the Lord, and found that the secret to a happy life was a thankful heart. There just aren't very many Christian books out there that unabashedly take God's word as it is written. So many water it down with situational ethics...this one does not, but what an encouraging and riveting biography for us to follow.

A relative loaned me a well-worn paperback copy of this book to read, and I laughed and cried as I read it. When I finished the book, I didn't want to put it down. I felt uplifted. I knew this is a book I would share with friends and family. I've given away the 3 copies that I bought and now I'm ready to order more. I want to make sure I have a copy to keep for myself.

"First We Have Coffee" is one of the dearest books I've read. I have bought it over and over again for many years, only to give my copy away and buy another. I can't tell you how much I fell in love with Mama. If I could be that kind of Godly Mother, I would rejoice. God bless Margaret Jensen. What a talent she has. I have read many of her books and loved them all, but this was my favorite. I am going to order several for my Grand girls. Good lessons for today's younger generation, especially the ones who have too much!

I was given this book as a gift and just fell in love with it. I now keep several copies on hand to give as gifts. Its easy to read and full of depth! Any mother would enjoy reading it... young or old! It inspires you to be a better Mom and wife. What I love about books like this, is that you fall in love with the family. You get to know all the kids and the mother and father. By the end of the book, you don't want the family to go.

I loved your book. Great motivater!! You hit very close to home several times.
I have joined weight watchers probably 20 times with little or no success. The
instructor always told me that I didn't eat enough. I guess hearing it from you
helped. I workout M-F for 2 hours/day, but I only had one big meal around 3 and
a couple protein bars the rest of the day. I also can't lift weights (which I
love to do) because of a torn rotater cuff. So, I gave up on it all. Sunday I
read your book. Monday I went to the gym, bought a body fat scale, and ate 5
small meals/snacks. It was great! I also drank my water which I normally don't
drink any water!! Thank you!
I do have a couple of questions. I apologize if I missed it in the book, but is
there a total daily consumption of protein, fat, and carbs that you should have?
I think I remember fat should be around 27, right? My other question is milk,
how does it fit in? I know I am geting calcium with cottage cheese, string
cheese and yogurt, but I would also like to have a glass of milk. I do take a
calcium supplement also. Well, thank you again for writing the book. I hope I
can be like one of your success stories in the book.

Dr. Rick has written an easy to understand comprehensive book that illustrates the key things you need to do both nutritionally and with exercise to become and remain fit. As a 43 year old desk jockey struggling with weight, but interested in endurance activities, Dr. Rick taught me two important things that I believe will have a long lasting effect on my current fitness and will allow me to live a longer happier life. First, I need carbohydrates in my body in order to burn fat when I exercise. Second, I need to prevent overtraining in order to run, bike, or swim longer and faster by exercising at a more comfortable pace (lower heart rate). Since meeting Dr. Rick and reading his book, I have already lost over 1% body fat and have started running ten miles. I also recently beat, by a considerable margin, the time I ran a 10k just months ago by running at a more comfortable pace.

These two insights I learned above are analagous to the insight I had when I finally heard a ski instructor, after not listening for many years. In order to ski you have to do what is counter intuitive - you have to lean down the hill. In order to become fit, you have to do what is counter intuitive - you have to eat more often and you have to train more easily. Buy the book and go to Dr. Rick's website.

For me, Forever Fit was about getting my body, mind and soul healthy. The way in whick Rick Kattouf delivers his message about being Forever Fit, in this book, is gentle, powerful, and impactful. Knowing Rick personally as my coach, I can say that Rick and his book have inspired me to make life changes. I have lost 15 pounds in 4 months, toned up, gone down a dress size, and have implemented healthy eating patterns. By reading this book and being open to Rick's wisdom he shares, my life is changed. I know by following Rick's Forever Fit program, I will meet my health and nutrition goal in one year. And I will be Forever Fit.

Dr. Rick is amazing! The wealth of knowledge that this man has in the realm of Fitness, Nutrition, and the Human Body is amazing! Whether you are overweight,and a novice just getting started, competitive athlete, or a person just wanting additional information to add to your own way of Living a Healthy Lifestyle.........this is the book for you. I have personally studied Fitness and Nutrition, and thought that my background was efficient enough to get me to where I wanted to be both physically and mentally.....I am a 37 yr. old female, I eat healthy foods, I workout 4 times a week, and live a healthy active lifestyle.....But I just hit a road block. I was not happy with where I finally ended up with my TOTAL BEING. I needed more. I have known Dr. Rick for almost 8 years now. I know about his background in Health and Fitness and thought I would pick his brain. Since reading his book, he developed a personalized Health and Fitness program for me. I was skeptical at first, but gave it a try. Can i just say that I have never looked better, felt healthier, and get really excited when people think that I am in my 20's. My PHYSICAL BEING is elated!!! My advice....Read the book..... If you still need more personalized attention, contact Dr. Rick. Find out what he can do for you to stay fit for life. His website is www.teamkattouf.com We only have one life so let's make it the very best we can!

Forever Fit will put a smile on your face and fun back into your life. It is a user friendly program based on eating real food - you know the tasty stuff our bodies nutritionally crave, at LEAST FIVE TIMES A DAY! Yes, you read it right...a plan that encourages you to eat to get into shape. That's a pretty good deal and the best part is it works! The plan simply incorporates exercise, diet, and a good mind set. Rick has a fabulous zest for life and you can't help but get caught up in his belief that you can achieve any of the goals you set for yourself because deep inside YOU KNOW YOU CAN. Rick, in his wisdom, is able to unleash the courage you have and need to make the changes you desire. The time to do so is now...rock on with Forever Fit because you deserve to be.

The fourth of the Chronicles of Barsetshire, Framley Parsonage (1861) is a gentle novel filled with memorable characters, including many characters from The Warden, Barchester Towers, and Dr. Thorne. Mark Robarts, a young vicar with a devoted wife, has a comfortable situation at Framley Parsonage on the estate of the indomitable Lady Lufton. Her son, now Lord Lufton, had been a friend of Mark Robarts at school, and it was their friendship which resulted in Mark's position. Mark, though conscientious in his duties and grateful for his situation, is ambitious, however, anxious to expand his horizons beyond Framley.

Lady Lufton, who rules with an iron hand, is appalled when Mark decides to spend a weekend with a "fast" crowd, one which he believes can advance his career. Young and naïve, he becomes the dupe of an aristocratic "con-man," an MP named Nathaniel Sowerby, who persuades him to help him out of a financial jam by signing a note for five hundred pounds (more than half Robarts's yearly salary), allowing Sowerby to draw funds on Robarts's name. Though Sowerby swears he will resolve the problem within weeks, he needs an additional four hundred pounds when the note comes due.

In the meantime, Robarts's sister Lucy arrives at Framley Parsonage upon the death of their father. Lucy, a sweet ingénue in mourning, soon comes to the attention of Lord Lufton, who is fascinated by her naivete, a marked contrast with the women he has known to date. Though Lady Lufton has much more "significant" matrimonial prospects in mind for her son, the courtship begins, and though Lucy declines Lord Lufton's initial proposal, she remains in love with him. As Robarts's financial miseries become more pressing, and as Lucy's misery at having turned down Lord Lufton increases, the scene is set for a final showdown.

Numerous peripheral characters, many of them known to readers of the series, add to the drama of the primary action. The implacable dowager Lady Lufton, wishing to maintain her family's social position, staunchly opposes the Duke's relationship with Lucy Robarts, pushing Griselda Grantly, daughter of Archdeacon Grantly, as the Duke's suitor. The competition between the (Archdeacon) Grantlys and the (Bishop) Proudies for suitors for their daughters adds great comic relief to the story, and the internecine manipulations among the clergy provide gentle satire in a novel which seems to be remarkably domestic in its focus.

Trollope provides a full picture of Victorian life, representing many aspects of society, and though his view of the clergy has in earlier novels been a bit jaded, he is sympathetic to many of its representatives in this novel, seeing them as humans, rather than as types. A sweet novel, part love story and part social commentary, Framley Parsonage is charming, memorable for its characters and picture of Victorian England. n Mary Whipple

The Warden
Barchester Towers
Doctor Thorne (Barsetshire Novels)

In this novel we find one Mark Robarts, clergyman and parson of Framley. He is an ambitious young man desirous of rising in society. He is friends since childhood with Lord Lufton who makes an unfortunate introduction in the person of Sowerby who seduces poor Mark into signing his name to a debt which the parson cannot afford.

Mark Robarts's father passes away early on and his sister Lucy joins Mark and his wife at Framley Parsonage where Lord Lufton falls in love with her. Two more couples form and while I won't reveal how any of these relationships work out it wouldn't really matter if I did. Trollope's plots usually vary from bad to good but they are hardly ever of any importance anyway. What is important in a Trollope novel isn't what the plot is or how it concludes, it's how it works itself out and how Trollope paints his characters.

The characters in Framley Parsonage are a little whiter and blacker than those of the previous novels in the Barsetshire series. Sowerby is by far and away the blackest and Trollope was so effective in painting him black that towards the end he clumsily appeals directly to the reader and assures us Sowerby isn't really as bad a fellow as he seems.

Dr. Thorne and his niece Mary Gresham appear (from Doctor Thorne) as do the Grantlys and the Proudies (from Barchester Towers). Lucy Robarts is a fascinating woman even more headstrong here than Mary Gresham was in Doctor Thorne, but my favourite character in this novel is Lady Lufton. She opposes her son's desire to court and marry Lucy but does so politely and with consideration. At the same time, Lucy behaves in way Lady Lufton can only find irreproachable. So of course, not having anything with which to reproach Lucy, Lady Lufton has nothing with which to oppose her son's suit. And yet she does. How will this three-sided battle of wills, pitting Lord Lufton against his mother against Lucy against her suitor, resolve itself?

Well, that would be telling, wouldn't it? Let's just say that Lady Lufton has painted herself into a corner and let us leave it at that.

All in all, another fine example of Trollope's mastery of moral calculus.

Vincent Poirier, Dublin

Anthony Trollope is a favorite author of mine, and this audio CD version of Framley Parsonage, read by Simon Vance, is well worth the investment. Deft use of language and a keen sense of human motivation, time, and place characterize all Trollope's writing, and those who enjoy period literature will be more than satisfied with this book. It starts slowly, as Trollope's stories often do, but once the background information is given, there are many interesting social, political, financial, and romantic plot developments to engage the reader and listener. Simon Vance's reading is superb, as always. The only caveat is that his rendering of the voice and character of young women is not as good as his pitch, tone, and inflection when narrating the voices of mature women and all men. His skill in rendering different dialects for different social classes and geographical regions is matchless. By all means, listen to this book.

The fourth of the Chronicles of Barsetshire, Framley Parsonage (1861) is a gentle novel filled with memorable characters, including many characters from The Warden, Barchester Towers, and Doctor Thorne (Barsetshire Novels). Mark Robarts, a young vicar with a devoted wife, has a comfortable situation at Framley Parsonage on the estate of the indomitable Lady Lufton. Her son, now Lord Lufton, had been a friend of Mark Robarts at school, and it was their friendship which resulted in Mark's position. Mark, though conscientious in his duties and grateful for his situation, is ambitious, however, anxious to expand his horizons beyond Framley.

Lady Lufton, who rules with an iron hand, is appalled when Mark decides to spend a weekend with a "fast" crowd, one which he believes can advance his career. Young and naïve, he becomes the dupe of an aristocratic "con-man," an MP named Nathaniel Sowerby, who persuades him to help him out of a financial jam by signing a note for five hundred pounds (more than half Robarts's yearly salary), allowing Sowerby to draw funds on Robarts's name. In the meantime, Robarts's sister Lucy arrives at Framley Parsonage upon the death of their father. Lucy, a sweet ingénue in mourning, soon comes to the attention of Lord Lufton, but Lady Lufton has many more "significant" matrimonial prospects in mind for her son. As Robarts's financial miseries become more pressing, and as Lucy's disappointment in love increases, the scene is set for a final showdown.

Numerous peripheral characters, many of them known to readers of the series, add to the drama of the primary action. The implacable dowager Lady Lufton, wishing to maintain her family's social position, pushes Griselda Grantly, daughter of Archdeacon Grantly, as the Duke's suitor. The competition between the (Archdeacon) Grantlys and the (Bishop) Proudies for suitors for their daughters adds great comic relief to the story, and the internecine manipulations among the clergy provide gentle satire in a novel which seems to be remarkably domestic in its focus.

Trollope provides a full picture of Victorian life, representing many aspects of society, and though his view of the clergy has in earlier novels been a bit jaded, he is sympathetic to many of its representatives in this novel, seeing them as humans, rather than as types. A sweet novel, part love story and part social commentary, Framley Parsonage is charming, memorable for its characters and picture of Victorian England. Mary Whipple

Framley Parsonage is the fourth in Trollope's Barsetshire novels. Trollope (1815-1882) wrote the novel as a serial in the influential Cornhill magazine in 186-61, This novel along with the others in the series: The Warden; Dr. Thorne, The Small House at Allington, Barchester Towers and the Last Chronicle of Barset is a delightful return to mid-Victorian middle class society in a rural mythical county named Barsetshire.
In this long novel of over 600 pages there are several stories. The main character is the Rev. Mark Robarts, a
doctor's son, who at a young age becomes the vicar of Framley Parsonage. He has children and a kind wife Fanny. Mark has visions of grandeur in his head. He lends money to the unscrupulous Member of Parliament Mr. Sowerby. As a result of this fatuity Mark falls into debt. His friends rally to his aid.
Mark's sister Lucy Robarts is novel's heroine. She falls in love with the wealthy Lord Lufton who lives at Eustace Court with his formidable mother Lady Lufton. Lady Lufton wants her son Ludovic to wed Griselda Grantley the statuesque but dull as dishwater and cold as a cucumber daughter of Archdeacon Grantley. Lufton is torn between these two women. We see Lady Lufton overcome her prejudice against Lucy. Lucy is a kind girl who minister to the family of the poor clergyman Josiah Crawley. She wins over the heart of Lady Lufton and the reader.
Secondary plots concern the midlife romance of Miss Dunstable and good Doctor Thorne. Olivia Proudie daughter of the fussy busybody and scold Mrs. Proudie and the uxorious Bishop Proudie weds a clergyman Mr. Tickler who is a widower. Griselda Grantley is courted by the stupid Lord Dumbello who possesses a name and title to the Hartletop lands and fortune. Will she win Lord Lufton or choose Dumbello?
All's well that ends well in this classic Trollopian tale. Long before Jan Karon, Anthony Trollope wrote humorous, moving and plot driven tales of the lives of the clergy dealing with real life problems, romance and challenges. In my opinion, an Anthony Trollope novel is a good way to spend a quiet evening before the fireplace. Enjoy this wonderful author and the world he created.

A harrowing tale of life in Occupied France that reveals, to a greater extent than anything else I've read, the experience of life Behind Enemy Lines. Some of what the author describes is so horrific that it's hard to believe he wasn't writing a movie script. But his matter-of-fact tone and attention to detail leaves no doubt as to his veracity which makes the book all the more sobering.

In spite of its grim tale, this book is a GREAT read, especially his triumphant description of the liberation of his home town of Dijon. My cynical and "hip" generation no longer ascribes great heroism to the Allied side of World War II, focusing instead on the self-interested motives of many of those nations. But DeAnfrasio shows what it meant to him, his family and his fellow Dijonnais to have the Americans and Free French forces march into their city after four years of Nazi tyranny. That moment is so powerful, after having vicariouosly experienced his suffering beforehand, that I almost started shouting for joy on the beach!

This book is a timely reminder that "tyranny" and "liberty" are not merely empty phrases used by venal politicians only interested in furthering their own careers. DeAnfrasio shows their real meaning by emphasizing what extraordinary courage it took to live an ordinary life during the darkest days of WWII. We Americans need to be reminded of this every once in awhile, since we haven't experienced occupation since the War of 1812.

I recommend this book HIGHLY!!

The wonderful endurance and courage of a young boy is both exciting and inspiring reading.

Great book! A very descriptive story about a boy growing up during the war and facing hard times. I finished the book in two days and could not put it down. This book would make an excellent movie; It's a story that needs to be told. It's definitly a story for posterity.

This autobiography is an extraordinary account of a young boy during the Nazi Occupation of France. Roger de Anfrasio captivates the reader and makes us proud that there are men like him who stood up proudly with immense courage against the Nazi occupier. I am happy to know Roger de Anfrasio and his son Dominique they both have my admiration. "A Garden of Thorns is a must" and particulalry for young people.

I have read many World War Two books...but none have been asinteresting as, "A Garden of Thorns." Having my father meetand associate with Mr. de Anfrasio, it made me like the book evenmore. It is touching and has a way of capturing you mind and it makesyou think a little more about life and what we take for granted.

I've had a copy of this book for over 21 years and decided to buy 7 more to give to friends. It's a wonderful reference during times of trouble.

My family was given this book when my mother was dying of cancer. Since that time, I have no idea how many times I've opened it up again and browsed through it. The version I have is leather bound, and has thin pages like those you'd find in a Bible. It came in a box, which has helped it stay nice through the years. I personally would recommend buying the leather edition rather than the paperback; It makes a better looking, more sturdy gift.

I have so often used this book when trying to think of appropriate verses to add to the letters and cards I send to others. I plan to buy a couple copies to give to people who are going through trials right now.

For the most part the verses are organized in a helpful manner, and I enjoy reflecting on them when I feel discouraged, anxious, etc. There are 9 sections, with numerous sub-sections. For example, under the section titled "Jesus is Your ...", some of the subsections are "Savior", "Lord", "Love", etc. Other sections include: The Bible is Your ... What to Do When You Feel... What to Do When You Are ... What To Do When ... What the Bible Has to Say About ... Truth From the Bible About ... What You Can Do To ... God's Plan for Salvation.

Personally, my husband and I believe that a few of the verses, especially those found in the sections relating to Physical Sickness and Finanical Trouble, are not always applicable to us today. In some cases, they are taken out of context. (We are not promised that He will physically heal our ailments today the way Jesus and his disciples healed people while on Earth.) However, I would not let those few verses deter me from giving this as a gift.

This was purchased as a gift. The person who received it read it through in a single sitting- it beckoned her so! Now she is reading it on a daily basis.

I love this book as it is a handy quick reference book for when you are helping others and need a certain Bible verse to comfort, encourage, etc. Bought one of each of my 8 children to have! Many different topics to look up to help in times of trouble. A must have and small enough to carry with you, but print is nice size also.

The compiler of this book (Dr. A. L. Gill) has crafted the single most powerful book of God's Promises. First, the Scripture is primarily drawn from the King James Version of The Bible. Newer "Living" translations, while they may be useful, occasionally change the meaning and context as a by-product of "updating" the language. With King James Version Scripture, you can't go wrong. Second, this is a reference work organized in a primarily situational manner. If you have a need, the book guides you to Scripture that addresses that need. Finally, other than the organizational text, it's 100% Scripture. Too often authors of "Promises" books add their own agenda and interpretation. Depending upon the author, this can cause more harm than good. This book places God's word in your mind and in your heart and lets you decide what He is trying to communicate to you. I consider this to be an essential book for any Christian seeking a deeper understanding of God's Word.

You should note that this is fiction. I rarely read fiction but this book is really a change. It was put in the non-fiction section and at first I thought I was reading a real case history - which would have been really interesting. Even then it reads almost like a non-fiction, like some of the case histories that make Oliver Sacks famous (which are real). I really liked it. Its a short book and will entertain you and that is saying it lightly. It will make a religious person feel vindicated about their faith, as it puts the unreal in a very real circumstance, and makes the scenario appear contemporary. It tries to somehow appeal to all religious people although the christian connections can't be ignored in the story.

If you are an atheist or agnostic read it for the thrill of QnA sessions in your mind with hypothetical questions that you as god's shrink might have asked and thereby proven the disconnection.

What is about psychological and neurological case histories that attract so many people? I don't know, but I am guessing it has something to do with our fascination with our mind. If that is the case then read books by Harold Klawans, Oliver Sacks, Antonio Damasio, and V. S. Ramachandran to name a few. Life is stranger than the stories about god, and it is stranger than strange.

An excellent concept of finding a link between the world today and God. The "non-believer" can relate to this newly discovered God in his/her life who is not a threat, but is rather a source of comfort and intellect.Witty and entertaining, Dr. Adamse makes us rethink our relationship with a higher power.

Great title which delivers a thought-provoking, spiritually challenging glimpse into a dialogue between God & his shrink! This book has broad, interfaith appeal - whether you're a person of faith or simply an observer of human nature - this book will nudge you to question the existence of God's plan. Beautifully written - the author succeeds in testing the reader's willing suspension of disbelief - an essential requirement for good fiction.

God's Shrink has an intriguing title and is an absorbing and fascinating book; the unlikely scenario of a patient with possible psychotic tendency who claims to be God, can only stimulate our imagination and curiosity. We are drawn in by the superior intellect of the individual...regardless if he is God or not. His words are empowering and comforting. According to this God we are expected to solve our own problems; after all we have been given brains, and not collective ones, and we should be ready to use them without his help. We are not puppets, and he will not be pulling the strings. This God is very much like loving parents, who comfort us with their support and care but cannot live our life for us.

Particularly moving is Richard's return to his roots; the visit to his grandparents Oma and Opa's house and cemetery plot. I found this passage of the book very emotionally charged, because it brought me back to my own childhood, reconnecting me to family members that have since passed on. I was overwhelmed by emotions, and a flood of cleansing tears streamed down my face. I remembered how much their wisdom and love was instrumental in shaping my character, and helped me in the darkest moments of my life.

God's Shrink is a wonderful book that takes its reader on an emotional journey, based on individual beliefs in God. I found the experience beneficial, and will encourage family and friends to read the book.

Does God need to vent? Does he get stressed? Does he ever take a moment to just stop and pull himself together and decompress? God's Shrink is a book about the possibility of what could happen if The Supreme Being ever thought he needed to talk about his feelings to a mental health professional. The man he picks is Dr. Richard Johnson.

As extraordinary as it would seem to have God walk into a psychiatrist's office and state he has to `vent', Dr. Adamse handles the situation convincingly. Even after several displays of unexplainable feats (speaking foreign languages on demand, reading thoughts, describing the Doctor's morning routine) Richard is still struggling with figuring out exactly how Gabriel's psychosis is structured. It may seem clichéd to us as readers, knowing (or more accurately, assuming) that he actually is talking to God, but in a realistic setting the good Doctor just can't seem to wrap his mind around the possibility. The dichotomy of actually believing in God but not being able to believe you may be in his presence despite the evidence is a tricky subject to traverse. Adamse delves into his own knowledge of psychology, describing to us many technical details of the process and letting us know just how complex the therapy of dealing with a psychosis can be. There is a possibility of one being lost in the subject matter at these points but they don't last long and they are not germane to understanding the story.

As for the plot, Gabriel seems well adjusted and baffles Richard with many of his thoughts and feelings. The things he discusses can easily be coming from a very sane, very concerned person who just wants people to use their free will more than anything else to make the world a better place. The genius in the patient's motives is that he doesn't say it straight forward. Gabriel simply states the obvious in how the world works; things are in motion. He doesn't have control. We are not puppets. As God, he has set things on course and is somewhat disappointed in how they are progressing. Schlepping through this subject matter could easily be full of landmines to controversial damnation, but Adamse seems to have found graceful ways to get this across without (at least as far as I can tell) being insulting to anyone's religion. Of course with Gabriel saying things like `Who says I'm the only God' and making a point of every religion having a different name for him is most likely going to offend SOMEBODY.

There is a saying that the greatest tragedy of Religion is that there are too many names for God. But a simple notation to the fact that God represents himself to Richard as `God' and not Allah, or Buddha or Jehovah can be chalked up to the fact that the Doctor grew up with and has faith in Christianity. Just like many people, Gabriel wants to make himself as available as possible to the person he has chosen to open up to. If the Doctor was of another religion, he might very well have used a different name.

In the end, Dr Adamse makes a great ploy to ask yourself...did this really happen? Was this a real patient? If so, was he God? Or is this just the fictional fantasy depiction of what Dr Adamse would consider his dream patient? Either case, it's a brilliant plant of a seed in the reader's mind. Many questions are asked and many could be discussed in different ways with no clear cut answer simply due to everyone's varied beliefs in God. But the message is clear for the most part...we need to be better humans.

I purchased this book for my 4 yr old nephew to go along with a Gold Panning Kit. He completely understood about gold panning and enjoyed being read to about it.

A real pleasure to read, with vivid, bouncy rhyme and great illustrations. Jasper's encounter with the bear was a particular hit . A short, fun book -- parents take note!

Very good book for young children to introduce them to the idea the California Gold Rush was not all glitter! It was cold, wet and most people didn't get rich. The writer tells the story in descriptive words that convey the essence of the period. Jasper is cute!

I give Ms. Kay's GOLD FEVER six stars. The sing-song rhyme is nothing short of wonderful. It is a FAVORITE night read. Even though we have read it again and again, the journey is always new and exciting!

Written in short, cryptic and perfectly rhymed and metered verse, Verla Kay's Gold Fever presents an amusing and authentic picture of the excitement and hardships of California's Gold Rush. The illustrations match the humorous text.

Though i am now growing older I can still remember the books that captivated me as a child. Now that my children have begun to discover reading I found that Grasshopper Pie is an excellent addition to their book collection and a creative way to nurture and develop their reading skills. The illustrations are also great and help my kids learn and comprehend. I hope both the author and illustrator of this book continue to publish books so that my children and I can enjoy themin the future.
Sincerely,
Boe Guse (new york)

"Grasshopper Pie" is a very good children's book and I highly recommend it. My six-year-old daughter was able to practice her reading skills with it and enjoyed the illustrations very much. My daughter and I are eagerly awaiting the next book Mr. Steinberg and Mr. Sinnott do together.

This book is a wonderful collection of poems for children. I love the illustrations by Adrian Sinnott because they match the writing perfectly. They are silly, fun, and creative. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Shel Silverstien.

The poetry in Grasshopper Pie is wonderful for youngsters just learning how to read. The vivid illustrations drawn by Adrian Sinnott make the whole learning-to-read experience a much more enjoyable and fun one. It was so clever to have a grasshopper hidden on every page!! I am first grade teacher in Boston, and the kids in my class loved reading the book and looking at the pictures. Sinnott really inspired them to get into art and draw on their own.

Grasshopper Pie and Other Poems is a collection of whimsical stories by David Steinberg. Brought to life by cartoonist Adrian Sinnott, the tales and illustrations will captivate children and parents alike. My two daughters loved the Grasshopper chronicles-- from the title story to a tale about an upside-down boy and an "Alien in My Soup." My oldest daughter, age 7, found the cover illustration fun to study, with grasshoppers playfully swimming in the kitchen sink, lounging in the silverware drawer, munching on a blueberry pie, etc. Anyone who has children knows that children love looking at the details of any given drawing and spotting the various activities depicted by the artist (there's a "Where's Waldo?" quality to the cover). As my oldest daughter said, "The drawings are cool and the stories are funny." Thankfully, Grasshopper Pie does not have any politically correct adult moralizing, and instead emphasizes children's imaginations. I recommend Grasshopper Pie for children ages 5 to 8, and for adults who wish to revisit the way they once thought when they were young.

I am a Civil War reenactor, and this book has been an excellent source of ideas for first person scenarios and ideas for living history. It is an insightful, unique record of the soldier's life for living historians or students of history. I would highly recommend this engaging book.

This is the best book on the life of the Civil War soldier. The other reviews attest to this, so here is something different.
Charles W. Reed, the illustrator, was ALSO a Civil War veteran.
He served in the Ninth Massachusetts Battery and won the Medal of Honor at Gettysburg for saving his commanding officer, Captain
John Bigelow, who had been seriously wounded in the fight at the
Trostle Farm on 2 July 1863.
My favorite chapter was the one on the army mule.
Buy, read & enjoy this book!

Hardtack and Coffee provides an excellent picture of Army life in the mid-nineteenth century. The sketches illustrate the text superbly. This is a useful handbook for students and teachers as well as an intriguing introduction to the Civil War.

This engaging book fills the void that other Civil War histories leave, and that is an understanding of the everyday experiences of the foot soldier. "Hardtack and Coffee or the Unwritten Story of Army Life" by John D. Billings is an exhaustive and fascinating look back at the flesh, bones, and blood of those lines and arrows on the maps of Civil War battle strategies.

The book is filled with anecdotes, observations, and songs arising from the era. (I very much appreciated the introduction which details the election of 1860 and started the whole terrible tragedy that ensued over the next half decade.) The generous amount of illustration truly helps evoke the period. "Hardtack and Coffee" is a perfect companion to Bell Irvin Wiley's "Life of Billy Yank: The Common Soldier of the Union" and "The Life of Johnny Reb: The Common Soldier of the Confederacy". And it is a perfect part of anyone's Civil War/American History library.

Rocco Dormarunno, author of THE FIVE POINTS

I'm one of those men with the "Civil War Itch" who can't get enough reading, can't get enough time on the battlefields. This book is hands-down one of my favorites in my extensive collection, re-read several times and dog-eared. It's something I always put in my bag for air-travel reading, because you can pick it up and put it down when you need to...the author and the illustrator both were participants in the Conflict, so you know it's accurate. The content is educational but not stuffy, since it was written to explain to soldiers' families what exactly Union Army life was like...and the humor still carries through to this day. After you've read the historical studies or walked a battlefield, THIS is the book you want to read to put yourself in the shoes of the everyday soldier--and it's easy to do with the author's skills. For me, the best chuckles are the chapters "Jonahs and Beats", and "The Army Mule". A must-read for those wanting more than just a general's biography or an order of battle.