Reviews Books

I really didn't expect too much out of this book. But I was quite pleasantly surprised to find myself thoroughly enjoying it. It gives background to so many of the customs and questions about Siam. It was very interesting to read because it made the story of Anna and the King more understandable and easier to relate to. It gives real story behind each character, but it also explains where this movie came from. If you enjoyed the movie, this is the book to get. It has a lot of awesome pictures, and it tells how the story developed from the true story to a wonderful tale. I think everyone understands that the movie isn't very true, so this book is perfect for learning the truth, and also learning more about the movie. If that's what you're looking for...here it is!

Being obsessed with all things 'Anna', I had to have this book, just because its about 'Anna'. But I can't believe how cool it is beyond that. It is a behind the scenes guide, beautiful, glossy picture book, and well-researched, informative, awesome history lesson in one. It totally quenched my need for 'Anna'!! I reccomend this to fans, historians and movie buffs alike. Ceccelia Holland is brilliant; you can tell she really thought about this and did her homework. My copy is priceles to me. Please get this!

If you enjoyed "Anna and the King," I think you will love this book. It is filled with huge glossy photos, many of them close-ups of Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-Fat as well as the beautiful sets and landscapes. It contains tons of historical background information on the movie and makes for a very interesting read. I highly recommend it.

A good book on the making of the movie Anna and the King and a brief on the history of the Chakkri Dynasty. Disapointed only that the author did not give details on production of the movie. Such as why did they produce the film in Malaysia recreating elaborate sets and imitations of the real thing in the real country, Thailand? And the fact that it was banned in Thailand. Otherwise a good buy, especially if you enjoyed the movie.

Great job! Got the book fast and the book was in a great condition with the CD!

I used this book for my Ob semester of nursing school. This book along with the disk helped me get wonderful grades in the semester. This semester is very hard, but using this book made it very easy. I HIGHLY recommended this book to everyone who is in or going to nursing school. This book is great. It actually covers material the instructors lectured on. The questions on the disk were very similiar to the questions on the nursing tests. It helps you understand maternity and neonatal.

This is a great book......would recommend this to any nursing student. It really helped me get through nursing level 2. It really breaks the important material down and makes it easier to understand. The CD has Nclex type questions that are really helpful as well.

If you have one of those large texts that you have to read and just dont have the time- this is the perfect middle man! It cuts to the chase- gives you all you need to know in relation to the facts- I read my big text for the nursing know how's for how to care for the new mom- but this is great to get just what you need to know for the tests! I love this book- in fact all of the straight a's books are great as well- my teacher in fact wanted to use this book as the actual text, she liked it so much. Really a great investment- This was a great read too- not boring like some other texts- kept me very interested!

I wanted to know all the inner workings of applying and getting into nursing school. AND, I wanted to know how to actually make it through once I got in. This book has it all! From the reality of whether or not nurisng is for me to how to "get in." Plus, study tips, a specific breakdown of what to expect in school and very detailed advice on how to succed in it. I'm talking about details like how to prepare for tests, how to make the most of clinical experiences, and even how to get financial aid! Also,this book explains all about preparing for the licensing exam, and even how to write a "cover letter" and handle job interviews. THOROUGH! Vey thorough. I will refer to it for years to come.

I am already in nursing school, but I ordered this book anyway. I only wish I had found it before I got into school. It answered many questions I had to find out the hard way. It is very informative in so many areas. I would recommend it to anyone looking for answers about nursing school, either before or after you're in school. Excellent and easy to read. Lots of resources listed as well.

At first I thought, hmmm...this is kinda skinny for 25 bucks. But now my only complaint is,
WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG, STEPH? This book answered every question you'd ever want to ask
but probably couldn't find the answer to in one place.

It is great! If you don't have much experience in healthcare, and want to be a nurse, this is the book to
get! There are a few others out there, but this one is straight to the point, gives concrete ideas, even
talks about going the LPN route.

Even if you have an idea of what it's like to go to college, or know the classes you'll be taking, the
hoops you have to jump thru, etc., Stephanie actually tells you what'll be like when you have your first
clinical day. She tells you seemingly inconsequential details like the supplies you might be expected to
buy before you actually start your clinicals. That may be a small thing, but if you're tight on a budget
and just approaching your pre-reqs, isn't that a handy thing to know? She spells out what a big time
commitment it will be, how hard it is, etc., but also tells you that you can do it if you just get
FOCUSED.

And she tells you how to focus, gives study strategies, note taking tips, how to use study groups. I plan
on reading this section to my son who just began high school and needs help with his study habits. We
will both benefit from committing this one to memory.

She also explains what different specialties of nursing means. Didn't you always wonder what Nursing
Informatics was all about (obviously something about information, but what kind?). She tells you what
the classes that are usually standard in most schools of nursing are about (like what the hec is
"Foundations in Nursing"? Is it the beginning of nursing? The history, or what? It is actually just the
"basics").

Financial Aid is covered in this book not so much as to tell you where to go and what to do (altho some of this is there) because truly, as the book advises, your school will steer you in the right direction and it lists some places you can try for additional help. But did you know some grants, loans and scholarships can help with your living expenses? Important information to know if you're a single parent who is wondering how they will go to school, feed the family and have time to study.

Taking the NCLEX is spelled out in detail as well as what to do if you don't pass the first time....or the
second.

You can't go wrong with this book and I can't say enough good things about it. Everything from
making your application to the school and what they're looking for to going on to graduate studies is
included in this volume. Plus everything in between. If you are either a traditional high school student
who wonders what the whole education process of a nurse is, or you're a 50-something wanna-be
nurse going back to school after 30 years, you will profit from this book immensely. Absolutely worth
$... and then some! It will keep you from tossing and turning and agonizing over things Stephanie has
thoroughly spelled out in this terrific book!

This book really answered a lot of questions I had about organization and time management. It focused on the importance of studies as well as emotional and physical well being. I would suggest anyone just beginning nursing school or thinking about it read this book.

The Catcher in the Rye is the best book I have ever written. I am a 15 year old, and no other book I have read has described a teenager as well as J.D. Salinger. At first, Holden Caulfield arouses the reader's sympathy, but quickly changes to frustration b/c one cannot tolerate Holden's kvetches for too long. One might interpret Holden as severely depressed and in need of a sgrink, but for me, I think Holden was actually a portrait of the typical teenager. Read this book!

After reading the reviews of Amazon.com, I decided to read this book as part of an English assignment. I had a hard time putting this book down. If you like old-fashioned writing, this book is certainly one you should read! The blurb on the jacket cover isn't very appealing, but the book is much better than the editors make it sound. I recommend this book to anyone over the age of twelve who loves good literature.

When you ask the question, Would you read this book? Well I'll tell you why I would. Personally, I would read this book over and over again if I had the time. The Catcher in the Rye is a novel that is based on a teens life who has faced many challenges in his life. He went from going to a prep school and failing out, dealing with his brothers death, where to stay at night, who to call when he needed to vent about lifes troubles and worrying about telling his parents he failed out of prep school. He also told a lot of white-lies, but who doesn't? This book shows a lot about how a person deals with many troubles in their life, and how to move on and become a better person. Someone said,"Once you've found what your looking for, it's yours, go for it and don't look back." My favorite part of this book was comparing it to my own life. I may have difficulties in my life, but I have never given up. Like Holden, I wasn't very popular in high school either, but I never gave up the hope of thinking that one day people might like me for who I am. I'll do what I have to do, to get through life being happy and satisfied with what is before me. But and I quote, from my senior highschool year book, "I'll stay the way I am because I don't give a damn". That's just the way I am. In the book it said that Holden represses his emotions and pains inside, if he would have just let them out once in awhile, he would have had a better way of making decisions in his life. I was told many times before, don't give up on life when you are struggling, keep trying and smiling and you'll go far, farther than you can believe. But like I said before, I would read this book over and over again if I had the time in between my busy schedule. I've already read it twice, once in high school and now, my freshmen year of college. I would recommend this book to those of you who are understanding the troubles of highschool, and/or anyone whom may be struggling with the walks of life known to be difficult.

A young boy by the name of Holden is always seeing life negatively. He hates just about everything in the world from movies to school. Holden only treasures his sister Phoebe and his dead brother Allie. Going in and out of schools, Holden doesn't understand stability, but only rejection. Unable to cope with his surroundings, Holden goes on a journey through the hotels and streets of New York and finally finds what he has been searching for all his life:happiness. I recommend this book to anyone of any age. I'm not much of a reader, but I continually picked up this novel to see what would happen next. I especially liked the relation of young teenagers to depression. I know people who are depressed and I want to understand the illness. In Salinger's book, he shows the anger Holden carries very well and the sarcasm at times were even funny. I didn't really understand the ending, so that might puzzle some people. Overall, The Cathcher in the Rye is definately recommended.

This is the first time I buy from amazon and it was great. Very fast delivery. I will definetely buy through them again.

I used this book along with the textbook and ACED the test!

This is the best book we've had in my RN, BSN program so far. The content is very easy to read. The sentences are kept short and to the point. The content is repeated over and over in different places in the chapters as well as throughout the book, making it easier to remember the main points. The summaries at the end of each chapter really focus on the main points and great for last minute updating. I wish all of our books in nursing school were this good.

this is a great review for my nursing classes and career choic

This is a short book but it will get you started and more.
What is an OODA cycle? Don't know.
Better find out today

The difference between an effective and efficient military as opposed to an ineffective and bloated military. A must read for every military planner and every citizen concerned with runaway government spending.

Col Richards walks the reader through how Sun Tzu and John Boyd might have assessed 4th generation warfare and the world in which we find ourselves. His presentation is thought provoking to say the least.

Sun Tzu's wisdom has survived 2,000 years of study by people from a young Mao to the United States Marines. Sun Tzu is all about winning the battle before the battle begins. His wisdom is durable beyond expectations,
" Those whose generals are able and not constrained by governments are victorious ."

Sun Tzu speaks of "The Way" where there is unity of purpose between the ruler and the population. By inference a goal is to break that bond.

John Boyd, cigar chomping fighter pilot turned student of war. His early studies focused on why one side won aerial combat in the jet age. After annoying the Fighter Mafia of the USAF to no end he was sent off to an obscure Pentagon office, hidden exile. However, Boyd used the time to launch a study of Patterns of Conflict, which turned into a monumental brief. Out of this effort also came the OODA loop which stressed the importance of maintaining an advantage by processing information and operating on a faster cycle than the opposition.

Boyd's greatest contribution was not to the USAF but rather to a fundamental restructuring of the Marine Corps battle doctrine. After the 1991 Gulf War the Marine commandant gave Boyd much of the credit for helping to achieve what many pundits believed to be impossible, rapid movement through the heavily armed Iraqi forces occupying Kuwait.

Again and again Sun Tzu, Boyd and Richards stress the importance of non combat war. Victory, not slaughter is the goal.

During the early days of the war in Iraq the press was filled with reports of very tired US troops, often so far beyond their supply lines that they were short on food, yet they continued on. Why, too often the Generals are seeking near perfect preparation while Boyd and others understood that the ability to act is a way that kept the enemy off balance was the quickest and lowest cost way to victory. Richards seeks to restructure the military along the visions of Boyd and Sun Tzu.

Richards acknowledges that he goes far beyond his mentor, John Boyd, in his recommendations for an overhaul of the US military from top to bottom. Richard's ideas are bold and near revolutionary, reduce the officer ranks, close the service academies, promote officers from the ranks of the enlisted, fill pilot slots in the AF, Navy and Marines with non officers. The list goes on.

Col Richards has produced a highly readable book, filled with wisdom of the past 2,000 years along with his own ideas. Highly recommended.

As I understand it, Dr. Richards' book is in fact an amended version of a presentation he gave at a conference in Quantico in Fall of 2001. The presentation itself, which is available on the net in Powerpoint format, was a straight-forward summary of the new situation we find ourselves in: the age of 4th Generation Warfare. The book expands on the presentation, pointing out the obvious flaws of U.S. military management by examining the ideas of John Boyd and Sun Tzu.

In an era where the U.S. still emphasizes gadgets over human assets, answering every other problem with more cash rather than new concepts, Boyd's advice ("People. Ideas. Technology. In that order.") seems more practical than ever. Richards' work is a good examination of Boyd's core concepts and solid guide to reorganizing U.S. Defense strategy.

Readers who enjoyed this book may also want to take a look at H.J. Poole's "The Tiger Way." It applies similar concepts towards the reorganization of the military on the tactical level.

The book was received in record time, in excellent condition, and, was an excellent read.

This is a great book, giving a balanced pespective on the practice and surrounding aspects of Tai Chi. If you practice Tai Chi and have been looking at the books available, then you probably understand that style specific content isn't very useful for most of us. The differences in styles and instructors combined with the non-photogenic nature of Tai Chi make the photo sections all but useless. This book doesn't spend a lot of time trying to teach the specific movements, but how to feel when doing them. This is the best part of any Tai Chi book, and Horwitz's book has plenty of it. I have been practicing Wu style Tai Chi for 14 years, and am currently working on a College project on my studies.

BY FAR THE BEST BOOK YET ON TAI CHI CH'UAN AND TAOISM.

Truly insightful writing about the TRUE nature of TaiJi Quan. A review of the TaiJi classics, and in-depth discussion on Daoism. Truly a MUST-READ for those interested in the higher levels of TaiJi! :o)
...and besides, it's cheap...

this book is for you... it is full of great pictures and information... it is awesome

Digby Diehl has dug up enough ghastly art and story lines from the old E.C. vaults to chill even the most die-hard Crypt fans! This book captures the horror and fascination many of us experienced as kids, encountering our first Tales from the Crypt comic. This archive presents a rich visual history of the development of the horror genre in comics, its rise to horrific success, and the devastating blows it was dealt in the 1950s, as comics came under tighter censorship scutiny. It is worth having this book for the collection of cover art alone, but also worth noting is the section on its spinoff into the television series. Anyone who has ever seen the comics, or the shows, will undoubtedly enjoy poring over this collection into the wee hours of the night...

A mere comic book in 1950, today Tales From the Crypt and its Crypt Keeper are trademarks whose value exceeds their initial medium, much as Disney's Mickey Mouse surpasses the value of his cartoons. And if Mickey means amiable family entertainment, the Crypt Keeper signifies a particular kind of horror tale: one combining brevity, gore, black humor, and moral irony.

Tales From the Crypt is also a multimedia property. Digby Diehl touches most bases along its history, beginning with the origin of comics books, a marriage between newspaper comic strips and pulp fiction. In 1896, Richard F. Outcault created The Yellow Kid, a comedic strip of cartoons about ... a yellow kid (allowing its publisher to showcase a newly invented, bright yellow ink, a favorite practice of tabloid yellow journalists). Until the late 1920s all cartoon strips were comedic, hence, a comic strip.

In 1933, Max Gaines conceived of reprinting comic strips into pulp books, making him the Father of the Comic Book. In 1945, his partners at Action Comics bought him out and he founded Educational Comics, publishing titles such as Picture Stories From the Bible and Bouncy Bunny in the Friendly Forest. He died in a 1947 boating accident, saving a child's life while perhaps sacrificing his own.

Bill Gaines grew up hating and avoiding comics because they had represented Max, a critical and demanding father. Now Bill's mother insisted that he run EC. He did, changing EC from Educational to Entertaining Comics, and hiring Al Feldstein to draw an Archie clone, Going Steady With Peggy. But Bill soon dropped the idea of cloning successful trends, a standard publishing practice then (and now?), and created what he called his New Trend titles.

The history of EC's New Trend horror and crime comics (Tales From the Crypt, Vault of Horror, Haunt of Fear, Crime SuspenStories, Shock SuspenStories) informs much of Diehl's book, but there is much else. We read of Weird Science and Weird Fantasy, Bill's sci-fi comics tolerated out of love since they never achieved the success of their horror siblings; the GhouLunatics (Crypt Keeper, Vault Keeper, Old Witch); Harvey Kurtzman's distaste for horror, his meticulous attention to military detail in his beloved EC war comics (Two-Fisted Tales, Frontline Combat), and his creation of, and defection from, MAD; EC's plagiarism of Ray Bradbury's "What The Dog Dragged In," leading to a long, congenial working relationship with Bradbury (but who later requested that his name not be put on covers, as he worried that being adapted by the comics hurt his authorial reputation); and the cloning of the New Trend, so that by 1953 about 150 competing horror titles were being published, today mostly forgotten.

Sections on each EC artist includes bios and samples of his unique style. Al Feldstein, who wrote and edited most of the New Trend, demanded that each artist have his own signature style. Bill Gaines encouraged it by instituting an "Artist Of The Issue" kudos page, a respect rarely accorded by other publishers.

EC's five horror and crime titles all folded in 1954, due to public outcry against comic book sex and violence. Psychiatrist Dr. Fredric Wertham of the New York Department Of Hospitals and Harlem's Lafargue Clinic led the fight. Powerful enemies against EC included gossip columnist Walter Winchell, waging a vendetta against EC business manager Lyle Stuart (whose book had revealed the "seamier side of Winchell's private life"); Senator Estes Kefauver (D-Tenn) of the Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency and a presidential hopeful; and EC's competitors, particularly Archie Comics's John Goldwater and DC's Jack Liebowitz. As President and Veep of the Comics Magazine Association of America (CMAA), Goldwater and Liebowitz prohibited the words "horror, terror, crime, and weird" for a comic book to earn the CMAA's new seal of approval, required by distributors. EC's strength was its horror and crime titles, unlike its competitors. Ironically, Bill Gaines had called the meeting at which the CMAA was formed.

Wertham recruited support from "women's groups and religious organizations," vilifying horror and crime comics for their "detailed descriptions of all kinds of felonies, torture, sadism, attempted rape, flagellation" and portraying women "in a smutty, unwholesome way, with emphasis on half-bare and exaggerated sex characteristics." He decried all horror and crime comics, but EC had the most to lose. Ironically, EC was rare among publishers in diluting its horror with humor. The GhouLunatics' wry commentaries distanced readers from the suffering characters.

One rare political hero was New York Governor Thomas Dewey, who vetoed "numerous bills outlawing horror comics." But though attempts at state censorship failed, bad press, public pressure, and boycotts discouraged distributors and retailers from carrying EC. Bill Gaines summarized, "Magazines that do not get onto the newsstand do not sell."

Gaines requested permission to testify before Kefauver. In his statement (reprinted by Diehl) Gaines says, "I do not believe that anything that has ever been written can make a child hostile, over-aggressive, or delinquent." Here he was disingenuous, or at least contradictory. Gaines believed in comics' power to influence youth, periodically publishing what he called preachies (tales condemning racism, anti-Semitism, drugs, etc.), usually in Shock SuspenStories. And if art can influence for good, it follows that it can influence for ill.

The question should not have been: are violent comics potentially harmful? Tobacco, marijuana, airplanes, cars, guns -- and yes, art and ideas -- are all potentially harmful. To users, to third parties, to children. The proper question is: Do we chose to live and raise children in a society that assumes the risks of liberty, or do we wish a society cocooned, safe, and inoffensive, hypersensitive to the sensibilities of all?

Although Diehl makes no connection, Wertham began his campaign in 1948 and Bradbury began Fahrenheit 451 in 1950. One wonders what influence the psychiatrist had on the author. For the society in Fahrenheit 451 is a democracy, one in which whatever book offends any group is banned, until none are left. Unlike 1984's obvious state totalitarian target, Fahrenheit 451 reveals that people can discard their freedom by choice.

Yet as EC so often demonstrated in its pages, you can't keep the dead down. The Crypt Keeper lived on. In fanzines, in Russ Cochran's hardcover reprints (published in black & white so as to display the artists' meticulous ink lines), in the Amicus films, in the HBO series (Diehl includes a 93-episode guide covering the first seven seasons), in the more recent films, in the Tales From the Cryptkeeper cartoon. All covered, if only a page. There are a few errors (remarkably, Boris Karloff is referred to as William Henry Platt). Thankfully, there's an index, albeit incomplete. No reference to Karloff under any name.

Not covered are the Amicus film novelizations by Jack Oleck. Although pictured in the collectibles section, there's no information on its making. I miss it because it was both my introduction to Tales From the Crypt (being underage for the Amicus film) and my first "adult" book. To boomers, Tales From the Crypt is a comic book. To Xers, an HBO series. To those born in between, the Crypt Keeper is Ralph Richardson, seen on the back of Oleck's novelization.

Diehl's book reprints four "classic" stories and all 105 EC horror and crime covers (nine per page). Extensively researched, generously illustrated. If you have a serious interest in Tales From the Crypt, you'll want this book.

While I was never a big fan of the HBO cable series - I always felt it was more a star vehicle than a scare vehicle - I did always enjoy the comics it was based on, and with this, the offical history of EC and all their creations, you too will become a fan all over again. This book comes fully equipped and packed with features. It spotlights the history of EC and beyond, background profiles on artists, writers and producers, as well a comprehensive listings of episodes from the HBO series, plus four reprinted classics from the original run (LOWER BERTH/THE THING FROM THE GRAVE/HORROR WE? HOW'S BAYOU? and THE OCTOBER GAME - adapted from a story by Ray Bradbury... who has an interesting history with EC), plus a cover gallery running the gambit of all the EC horror series. This is a must for any fan of the series or collector of comics in general. Very fun, very nice package and very well done. My only complaint is that on occasion the material can read a bit light, but it never bores you... and you learn a thing or two, like: Just who owns all the original art work from MAD #1? To find out - buy and and read inside.

Ten P's in a Pod is the story of a family of traveling evangelists. On one hand, I was very inspired by the family's commitment to prayer and Bible reading, and my children enjoyed the book as a read-aloud. On the other hand, I was disturbed by the "Christian brinksmanship" that was pervasive throughout the book. Mr. Pent deliberately and repeatedly put his family in situations--such as driving through a North Dakota blizzard with bald tires--where the family's basic well-being was dependent on God's active intervention.

This is an awesome book about a family seriously devoted to the heart of GOD! Today so much lip service is given about loving GOD and HIS WORD especially in our worship services all over the land. BUT then after 20 minutes or so of singing about loving GOD and HIS WORD, we then are consumed with other loves, the gods of technology, etc. that have worked their way into the thrones of so many areas of our lives. This book describes a family of ten who simply read GOD's WORD, the BIBLE, and they lived it, sang it, and truly breathe it. Don't read this book if you don't want to be convicted by the HOLY SPIRIT and challenged to change your life into a more simple pattern of pleasing the heart of GOD! So readers beware. WARNING: This book can cause serious health implications and spiritual awakenings unlike you've ever dreamed. GOD's WORD will not return void! Read it (The Holy Bible) and believe it, then miraculous things will occur weekly in your life. We know, because we are a family of eight that live by faith. This book though written in the mid-sixties, has eternal value for all walks of life. We have been seriously challenged by this book to increase our almost daily devotion time and Bible reading.
Grace and Peace,
The Lord Family - www.LordFamilyMinistry.com

Being a family that wants to honor God and obey His Word ourselves, it was neat to hear the adventures of the Arnold Pent family. They traveled all across North America, often wondering where they would sleep or where their next meal would come from or how they would pay for gas. But they trusted God and He always provided.

As a father, this book gave me a vision for teaching my family the Bible--hearing how much importance Mr. Pent placed on READING the Bible. Before breakfast, and after every meal--regardless of where they were or who they were staying with.

DON'T GET ME WRONG--This is not a boring, stiff, how-to kind of book that makes you feel guilty. It's just a FUN story about a family who was very different from your typical family. Almost every page made our whole family laugh.

We were given this wonderful book in 1980 and as a result our small children in a matter of weeks could quote chapters and entire books of the Bible without memorization. In the following years, our four kids would travel, sing and recite series of verses that my wife and I compiled on various Bible subjects. We told the Pent Story where ever we went. We even were blessed by several personal visits by David Pent to our home and got to eventually meet 5 of the 8 Pent children. Our children are grown now, but the scripture they learned is still with them effecting how they live their adult lives for the Saviour that died for them. If you want to step out of the mundane and into the extraordinary life of serving God... this book is the key to leaving a legacy that no one will ever forget.

It appears that Kirkus'bias against Gerald Stern has unfortunately led them to unprofessionally trash a bright new poet on the scene. Beckman's work is anything but trite-his words flow, his scenes are graphic, and his subject matter fresh and invigorating. This is a book to read & re-read, and to share with friends. L. David Howe

"Things are Happening" is a complex and thought invoking collection of poems by a new poet. His imagery is wonderful and he speaks from the heart of his experience with life and words. Well worth the time to read and reread.

Gerald Stern in his forward provides poetic geneology of these poems: Schuyler, Ashbery, O'Hara, "Grandfather Carlos", berrigan, Whitman, Spicer, Lorca, Hart Crane, Creeley, etc. Sounds good, eh? Yep. After reading the first poem, "Lament for the Death of Bullfighter", I flipped to the back and wasn't surprised to see in bio this poet has a deep visual streak. The phrases seem to be thoughtfully parceled out, arranged, pushed together with a minimal visual logic, stacked almost the way colors might be, edged together. There is no huge declaration, passion, or attempt to be outright witty. The passion or humor is mulled. The sometimes Creeley-like lines slowly collect their meaning, somewhat like cinematic phrases, and always showing care, making the line gossamer, and using the daily for material. Stern wasn't kidding when he says, "His identity is through affection. That is his print." At times the lines and narratives seem like they might float apart -- this seems the opposite of Lowell's granite. But unlike a lot of new poetry -- the narrative does not dissolve in confusion. Example: "Old Watermelon Hands told me/that I lack any real talent/for setting tables or having children,/that the knives were crooked/and the kids like their mother. His hands seemed to be healing,/white lines puching up/a strange map around them,/and the dog chased him through the house/showing off its leather tongue." Interesting, new, appealing. Teachers: This may be a dicey text for, say, intro poetry class as it seems simple but, I think, tone and style could be badly imitated.

Beckman. A poet once, a poet always. From the formative years in Madison to the blessed years of Hampshire and the ensuing acclaim of the mature work, Beckman has always been a force to reckon with. Now, with the publication of this volume, Beckman's work is reaching out to the world, which will now find out what many have known for a long time: the man is a poet. No longer does he xerox his poems and bind them in unique ways; no, now the machinery of publishing has taken Beckman and presented him: stunning, unique, essential. Beckman. Now. Always.