Creators Books

I really enjoyed this book and its description of orthodox Judaism. It has a description of every holiday in the year. The time period is also interesting, New York 1970s.

What a disappointment to learn that this book is out of print. I no longer have my copy, as three years ago I gave this book to an Afrikaaner visitor who wished to understand America. He assured me I had made an excellent choice.

An entrepreneurial history from our colonial period forward, this text presents the American economic phenomenon as a classical case history. A lucid presentation of the personal and cultural wealth deriving from the custodial responsibility of ownership, it is an economic history which reads like a novel.

Not previously interested in the dismal science, my South African friend is today an avid proponent of Laissez-Faire capitalism living (Andre, I trust you have not been killed...) in a neo-communist war-zone. And, I find myself in Amerika writing a review for a 'dead' book.

Read Von Mises....

Whew! Boy am I glad I bought this book when it first was published. I think I paid only six bucks for it and now, can you believe it! they want forty-three bucks for this book! Is it worth the price? I have read a lot of theologies and I have yet to find one written so comprehensively and so clearly as this one. . When I first read this book, I could hardly put it down, it is that good.

If you like reading R.C Sproul, you will enjoy Conttrell. Although not as well known as R.C. both authors are masters in communicating complex ideas simply. The main difference between the two authors is that Conttrell is not a Calvinist. But more about that in another review.

Women, Earth, and Creator Spirit is an awesome way for readers to rethink and examine their traditioanl views on God. Elizabeth Johnson connects the destruction of the earth with the oppression of women in a unique way. As a reader of this book in a university theology class, I felt like my mind opened up and truly connected with the ideas that she presented. Ideas that i had not yet been able to articulate appeared so eloquently in this prophetic little book. A quick read, this book will leave you thinkng for quite some time about the need for a new recognition of the Creator Spirit in Christian institutions

From the introduction by George Beverly Shea to the last page, Tom Fox glorifys our Lord by displaying His awesome creations in nature. The magnificent writing by Adrian Rogers that accompanies these superlative photographs reveal through scripture and anecdote the awesome power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This book will be a blessing to all who read and enjoy the beautiful photographs. Tom Fox is without question the premier nature photographer of our time. With an eye for incredible stirring scenes, color, and movement his photographs will give our Lord glory, honor, and praise for generations to come. For any who may doubt that this world was created by an awesome God, this book will serve as proof positive that beauty of this magnitude could only be the result of divine inspiration.

Outstanding addition for those who have enjoyed the series. Many details are clarified and explanations for why are given. A must for those who have read the books as they were published and forget the minor subplots over time.

Fans of this (some say too wordy) time traveling series will find a generous amount of information given here, both of the behind the scenes sort and simply of the type that details and hopefully enhances an understanding of the colorful world Diana Gabaldon has created over the past decade and a half. As they've moved from Scotland to North Carolina, England to France, from the twentieth century to the eighteenth, the characters of these novels have certainly lived eventful, albeit imaginary lives, and in the pages of this encyclopedic overview, much is, as promised, explained by this likeably down to earth writer. Gabaldon has cordially taken the time to answer the questions readers have most often asked her, listed and given short biographies of everyone (sigh, yes everyone) who ever appeared in her hefty books, has talked about settings, customs, legends, histories, and anachronisms as they've related to her 4,000-plus page-long saga, and has probably unintentionally turned out yet another work so massive it will bend the shelves of almost any bookcase.

Of course for those (um, like me) who bailed out after getting through the first book and who might wish to read condensations of Gabaldon's epic novels in order to see what came next, The Outlandish Companion is a time saver, because it includes dense, thorough, Cliff Notes' like overviews of every book in the series the author had released up to the time of this guide's publication. Personally I found spending two hours reading a couple hundred pages of overviews was more enjoyable than investing three months in her novels, but I know fans of the series will glare at me for thinking so, and I respectfully understand why.

All in all I'm tempted to say a hard-core fan might get more from The Outlandish Companion than someone who has casually read her works, but there is still much here to catch the eye. Frankly, there is also a lot contained within that the book would have been better without. Like her novels themselves, this reference work was too wordy, too self-indulgent, and heavy enough to leave your chest bruised if you try to read it in bed.

Possess it at your own peril...

Not exactly what I expected but overall a good companion for the Outlander series. I think it was worth the price just to find out how to correctly pronounce Laoghaire (which in my mind was pronounced as Log-hair).

I have enjoyed this series and particularly like this one as it gives alot of details about Scotland...

I almost enjoyed this book as much as the series books themselves. It brought back so many wonderful points I'd enjoyed and forgotten about, questions remaining to be answered, thoughts of other readers that enjoyed the series as much as I did. This is a great gift for anyone that's read (and looks forward to perhaps more) Gabaldon's Outlander series.

Cute story about how the farm animals outsmart the farmer. Silly and fun to read. Great pictures.

These books are so cute. Brand new and received in less than a week.

From the age of 9 months to 2 1/2 years 'Giggle, Giggle, Quack' was my daughter's absolutely FAVORITE book for us to read to her. Story revolves around when Farmer Brown goes on vacation Bob is left behind to watch the farm. Duck causes trouble by writing silly notes that make the farm animals lives much more fun and exciting while their owner is away. From ordering pizzas to bubble baths to movies and popcorn, Duck shows how sly and intelligent he is!! This story is written incredibly well and the artwork is wonderful. Still on the top 5 of books all-time that my daughter loves, this was THE book for awhile and you can't say that about many things young children adore! Wonderful, fantastic, a gem of a book!!!

***** HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION

Arrived in great condition. This author is definitely tops in putting just a wonderful book for children.

Do you like silly stories? Do you like when someone gets into mischief? If you do, then you should read Giggle, Giggle, Quack by Doreen Cronin.

There are many times Duck gets into mischief. Throughout the book, he writes fake notes. One of them gave the animals free pizza for there food. In this book, the pictures are very exciting. On page 4, the animals are eating pizza when Bob isn't looking. Also, the storyline is very funny and interesting. On page 6, Duck writes a fake note about how the pigs take baths in a bathtub.

In conclusion, this was a very silly story. The animals get into a lot of mischief. If you like these, you will like this story.

This was a gift for a friend who loves the show. She was very pleased.

I bought this more for novelty than anything else. Like the show, I wish it was more about the food and less about the people. The pictures are lovely. Recipes are good, I haven't attempted them all yet. I recommend if you like the show.

As a huge fan of Top Chef I was happy to read more in depth material on the show and the contestants. So much editing is done for on air purposes that the written remarks are more revealing. The reciepes are a little much for the home cook but can be modified. Excellent read!

My son got me this book for Mother's Day. I took it into work to share with my other Top Chef fans and didn't see it for a month. We all loved it. It was very interesting to be behind the scenes of the show. I've tried some of the recipes and feel that I had to take creative license in preparing them. Zahtar? Not available in Tucson, Arizona. Would a teaspoon of it make a difference in taste? I have no idea. That's what I mean. But it's all good fun and if you are a TC fan, buy the book.

As a dedicated fan of TOP CHEF from the very first season ,who always wonders what I would do with the challenges (despite the fact, I'm only a "wanna be decent cook"), I bought this book because I always wonder what ingredients are actually available to use in the TOP CHEF Kitchen for those challenges.

Afterall, how could anyone create some of those "out of the vending machine in 20 minutes" or "canned food" dishes without a few extra ingredients? What, I wondered, if I were doing the challenges would I be able to use?

This book delivers on that question and more . While, apparently, the pantry ingredients for each challenge are TOP secret - the list of staples provided regularly and recipes from the various challenges - give a good sense of what the challenges truly consisted.

Judge perspectives, unique profiles of the contestants, recaps of the seasons and challenges, and sample applications --- all make this like a behind-the-scenes tour with old friends. Plus, it's laden with beautiful food pictures - and enough cooking tips, ideas and information to keep any amatuer chef happy.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ANY TOP CHEF FAN.

I also purchased Think Like a Chef, which is the selection you want to go for if you're more interested in cooking great recipes and learning about Tom's culinary perspective, than the behind-the-scenes look of the show (you won't find online) this one provides.

First something becomes a cornerstone of society then you parody it and that is when things start to get fun. Think of a book that you would write if you could jam every conceivable plot clique and character into 600 pages; Friaser did all that.

In typical buccaneer fashion there are damsels in distress, great escapes, sword fights, evil Spaniards, upright British officers, rouges a treasure, great men of the age and a whole lot more. There is also a handy 30 pages or so at the end to help the unwary separate fact from fiction.

A very good investment all round solid gold.

Now that I've read all of the Flashman series, I went searching for something else written by George MacDonald Fraser. I came upon a book that he wrote some time ago entitled "Pyrates" (yes, that's the way he spells it).

This book is a hilarious spoof on all the pirate movies of the late 1930s...Errol Flynn, John Barrymore, et al. Our heroes are handsome down to their chins, our heroines are "real" blondes, at least according to Fraser (taking after Mickey Spillane's "I, The Jury"). Our villains are so evil that one even keeps losing his dentures.

But, as always, Fraser's writing has me guffawing as he (writing from the vantage of the 1980s) portrays things happening in the 1600s in current terms; ie, castaway sailors in the Indian Ocean were arrested by the Burmese Coast Guard and found guilty by a Burmese court for "fishing without a license".

This is one heck of a read.

A brilliant book by one of my favorite authors. I stumbled on it by accident, while looking for Flashman. In a sense, this is even better: Flashie can sometimes get repetitive, but Fraser keeps this one moving. Virtually everyone and everything plays out in strict accordance with Pirate Cliche, with the exception of the cliffhanger ending. Walls between the narrator and the audience are broken down, so that Fraser can explain, for instance, what the background music or camera-eye view would be if this were a movie (and it should be-think of "Airplane","M.P. and the Holy Grail" and a solid Errol Flynn movie rolled into one.) I could say a lot more, but why bother? You should be reading the book. Trust me.

This has long been one of my favorite books. I've read it over and over so that I need to replace the copy that is falling apart. One does need to be familiar with the old pirate movies of the 1940s and 1950s to appreciate some of the jokes, but it is definitely in a class with the sort of antics that occur in Disney's Captain Jack Sparrow movies. Plus it has the added bonus of telling you what is real history and what is pure fancy on Fraser's part. My favorite character is the anti-hero, Col. Blood, who really did exist, no doubt with the same personality traits that Fraser has given him. I not only am ready to replace my copy but prepared to buy others as holiday gifts for the Captain Jack fanciers on my list.

Imagine the fantasy and imagination of The Princess Bride; take the joie de vivre of Pirates Of The Caribbean; mix it a little with the eccentricity of Carry On Don't Lose Your Head (leaving out the tackier parts of the humour) and then take each of your favourite pirate stereotypes (bad guys, good guys, black spots, needlessly evil Spaniards, sword fights and derring-do) and turn it into one of the most joyous and hilarious books you'll ever read. Oh, and some of the characters really existed, too, just to add a slight historical edge.

The Pyrates is perhaps the funniest book you'll read all year, perhaps it's the funniest book you'll read in many years. For a long, long time I thought it was the funniest book I was ever going to read.

One gets the clear impression while reading this book that GM Fraser, the author, has thrown caution to the wind. Normally his books are considered, paced and quite recognisably scholarly, for all their adventure and humour. With Pyrates, however, we get a writer having the most fun he's had in years, and sharing it with his readers.

Reviews can be used for many purposes; the purpose of a review may be to critique a novel from a particular standpoint, or it may be to throw interesting light on it by placing it in a broad context. The possibilities are almost endless. In this case, I'm going to nail my colours to the crow's nest:

I'm writing this review simply to tell you how much I loved this book, pass on some of the happiness it gave me, and thoroughly recommend that you get a copy of it as soon as you can. I hope it makes you laugh out loud as often, and as heartily, as I did!

Whether your new to writing or producing interactive programs or a seasoned pro, into fiction or non-fiction, this book is the best there is in explaining this new craft.

This book brings clarity to a complex and often confusing subject. After co-writing several CD-ROM games, I thought I knew what I needed to know about interactive entertainment. This book made me realize how much more there is to this world and the vast potential that's there for creating new forms of entertainment and education. Instead of making you feel overwhelmed by the possibilities, Ms. Miller lays it all out for you in ways that are not only informative but actually inspirational. The chapters are well organized and the real-world examples are plentiful. On the one hand, it's an indespensible reference for anyone who writes (or wants to write) interactive material. On the other, it works as a muse, helping you to see things in a new light and often sparking ideas. It's a must for those who want to work in this field.

An extremeley informative, clear, focused book by a pioneer in the field who covers all the bases. It's a useful tool for writers interested in new forms of storytelling. With Miller's lively writing style and illustrations, it's a great read as well!

Dr. Linda Seger, Script Consultant
Author of MAKING A GOOD SCRIPT GREAT
and seven other books

Not a very playful book. In fact... it seems to follow the old playbook of how things are done. The same playbook that men/boys have written when it comes to gaming. Shoot first and ... questions? what questions? story? What's that? I already knew the material that was in this book. Didn't offer anything new for me. With this book... just a play an online game or grab a game off your shelf, read about the history of "interactive" media and computers and .. voila... you've read the book. For what I needed... this book just did not cover it. Time to lay some new ground in the gaming arena.

DIGITAL STORYTELLING
Carolyn Handler Miller

From sitting in front of the camp fire to sitting in front of a computer, story-telling has always been rewarding, yet often frustrating. The challenges of telling a story using different media, particularly a new one, can be intimidating, especially to someone who wasn't born with a mouse in their mouth.

Not to worry, though, for in the first chapter of Carolyn Miller's book, she lays those concerns to rest by noting that interactive stories are similar to myths, rituals, and games. I immediately felt better and dove right into this comprehensive book.

DIGITAL STORYTELLING is valuable on a number of levels.
It's a scholarly revue and investigation of interactive media and thus an excellent resource for researchers.
It explains the terminology and theories.
It offers specific tools for digital storytelling development of plot, structure, and characters.
It has guidelines for specific uses of digital storytelling such as information, education, and advertising.
Children's projects have their own helpful chapter.

As a story consultant moving more into games design work, and as a writer desiring to keep up with the latest techniques and technologies, I know I'll be reaching for DIGITAL STORYTELLING a lot. And I know I'll always find it a rich resource of information and inspiration.