Works Books

Wayne Williams captures the beauty of the western United States in a way that inspires a respect for nature. Hopefully, everyone will have an opportunity to view this book and remember to treat our environment as the gift it truly is.

I have just spent an enchanted couple of hours visiting 'America's Vanishing Landscapes'. Wayne Williams has produced a visual feast and testament to the beauty of Nature. This book contains so many beautiful images, I felt compelled to write and reccomend it to you.
I am lucky enough to live by one of nature's rain forests in the West Indies. Everyday I am filled with awe and wonder by my surroundings. This book makes me feel the same way. What also impressed me too, was his mastery of the craft and it reminded me of Ansel Adams work. They have combined technological mastery of the photographic techniquies available to them; and have produced a vision that not only speaks to the senses, but also to the heart. This is a rare combination and achievement.

Breath-taking vistas!!! You want to run away and see America. I have never seen the jewels of our country captured with such feeling. This is THE book for every home that wants to "travel" the country. Gorgeous presentation, beautifully put together. Perfect gift item, but get one for yourself too. I can't wait for the other editions covering the rest of the country.

It's impossible to capture the grandeur and magnitude of beauty of nature in a photo but Williams comes as close as you can get in this amazing book. The greatest and worst terrorism is the terrorism against the environment. It dwarfs all the other forms. This book may give people the vision that is an antidote.

What would it feel like to be able to go back a couple of hundred years and experience in real life the magnificent vistas of the American west as they were then? Amazingly enough, this book of contemporary photography will magically let you feel that and then bowl you over with its message. It is simply the most moving collection of landscape images I have ever seen. The stunning beauty of these photographs of some of the American West's most spectacular vistas and the inspiration and purpose reflected in the artist's heartfelt interpretations of each image weave together a haunting sense of loss and, at the same time, a deep understanding of what we have done and must now do. It will be a long time before you make room on your coffee table for another book (probably about as long as it takes Mr. Williams to publish the next volume in the project). It will not take long, however, for you to make room in your life for its purpose. Thank you, Wayne Williams, for helping us see again with this important and beautiful work.

Another wonderful work by Al Seckel and an appropriate companion to his other gem "Master's of Detection".See my review of it dated Dec 1,2004.
This is a fine collection of 144 intriguing illusions.There are examples of a lot of different forms of illusions.I say a lot because there is one form which I like which is not included. That being "trompe-l'oeil" which is French for still-life deception,illusion,sham or camouflage.A well known artist who excels at it is Bev Doolittle.
Al has included many of the classic illusions,of which 105 is an example from the puzzle master Sam Loyd,and crops up in many books.No.5 is really good being a combination of a photograph of a man holding an "impossible figure".Nos.10 & 104 are similar,but 10 jumps out at me while 104 is something else!No.26 and 139 would have to be called "real illusions".No.139 reminds me of an experience I had on the Marsh Boardwalk at Point Pelee National Park during spring bird migration.An American Bittern,which stands about 20 inches tall, was standing in the reeds about 30 feet from me in a similar pose;except the bill was pointed straight up.The bird held itself completely motionless while I pointed it out to quite a few people over a period of a half hour or so.Some had great dificulty in picking it out,even with binoculars.What a thrill it was for them when they finally "found it".
A few are ageless ones namely,14(which reminds me of another of a girl in a mirror),77,95,147 and 144 ;but always good to see again.No. 119 is a switch where you get to make and solve your own illusion or puzzle.
Kudos to Jerry,see review of Oct 23,2000,who states:

"The mind is blind to what the eye can't see".Well said!

Anyway, a great treatment of illusions and sure to catch the interest of young and not so young,and all in between.







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I got my book today and I'm so happy to have bought it.
You will smile and get amazed with such incredible pictures
and effects.

I agree with other people that the explanations about each effect are minimum. I'd like little more about the theory
behind each one, but it doesn't matter, you and your family
will spend great moments with this book. I definetly
recommend it to everyone :-)

Nicely done. I am happy with the purchase. However, I expected more elaboration on theory behind the ilusions.

The award for "Best Book for Young Adults" was an understatement. My boys could not put it down! And their friends come over and get totally absorbed in it too! I watched all of them crowd around this book and discuss each image endlessly. Finally, something tore them away from playstation! Thank you Al!

YALSA announces Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Washington, D.C.) -- The Young Adult Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has announced its 2001 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. The list was released during the ALA Midwinter Meeting held January 12 - 17, 2001, in Washington, D.C.

Compiled by an 11-member committee, the 79 nominated titles on the list were published from late 1999 through 2000 and represent more than 40 different publisher imprints. The list is composed of 35 fiction and 44 non-fiction titles. The committee annually selects for the Quick Picks list, outstanding titles that will appeal to reluctant teen readers, aged 12 - 18 years old. Reluctant readers are considered those teenagers who, for whatever reason, choose not to read. Teen input is a vital aspect in the final decisions of the committee. The visual appearance of a book and the standard considerations in the quality of content also are equally important when selecting books.

The list is not intended for teenagers with reading disabilities, though someof the selected titles may be appropriate for those teens.

The winner of the first prize went to the following title:

1. "The Art of Optical Illusions," Carlton Books, 2000 by Al Seckel

If you are a fan of the Pirates Movies this is a must have book! The art work in this book is amazing how they show them bringing the characters from conception art work to the big screen. Some truly amazing pictures in this book very vivid like you walked into the film. Love the Book and would highly recommend it.

This is a fantastic book! I can't say enough about how well this book was put together. It's oversided quite like the "Book of Codes" from the movie with splendid artwork throughout. Needless to say I am quite pleased. If you enjoy great production artwork this volume is for you.

This Product/ Purchase was very satisfactory. The book came on time as specified at the time of purchase. The descriptions at the time of purchase made the decision to buy this item very easy, as it assured me that this was what I was looking for. There were not only detailed descriptions of what was inside the book, there was also examples of some of the images inside the book, giving a preview of what to expect. The only suggestion/ concern I had with this purchase was that the packaging could have protected the book more than it did, as when it arrived there were a few slight mishaps when the book encountered the sides of the box on a rough delivery. Other than that I am happy with the purchase.

I bought this book, "The Art of Pirates of the Caribbean" for myself for Christmas, to add to my ever growing "Pirates of the Caribbean" collection. It's the perfect coffee table book; big, bold and loaded with beautiful photos of artistry and magic, and this book shows us "how" the magic was brewed to create what we know now as "The Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy". Being an artist myself I can really appreciate the creative genius and the blood, sweat, and tears that this collective collaboration represents. Tons of work went into not only each character's development, but also that of the props, locations, etc., and you can see it all just by turning the book's pages. "The Art of Pirates of the Caribbean" book is magnificent addition to my collection and a proud representation of the hard work and talent of those who contributed to the movies...Bravo!

I'm one of the artists featured in the book. I have to say this is one book that I'm proud to have my name attached. Too often "Art of" books smack of kissing up to the producers and above the line folks. This is an "art of" book that doesn't lie. It's just a bunch of art. Period. Thanks to Jon Rogers at Disney for putting this together.

This book is right up there in the embroidery range of books. As a teacher of embroidery I find the ideas and the instructions are the best.
Have been using The Artful Ribbon since it was first available in Australia and this copy (second hand) was for one of my students. The quality, price and speed of delivery was excellent. Thank you.

This is the best book on ribbonwork. It incorporates many beautiful pictures of vintage and some contemporary work. The entire book is instructional (no silly projects to fill the pages!!!). The instructions are excellent and this is as close to a "beginners" introduction to the subject as I have been able to find. At first I was disappointed that there were very few photographs of instructions. Often the instructions use drawings and often drawings are the only examples of the completed piece. But, what I have come to love is the lack of pictures for instruction. This book achieves something many art/craft books fail to. It requires you to practice, to use a variety materials and to create your own color combinations. It makes the "copying" of another's work no concern, because basically, you cannot. The subject is so well covered you will have an understanding of it: from foliage, to flowers, to stabilizing your work for wear on clothing, hats, and pins, to stems and buds, to flat and dimensional, to texture and how to preserve your work, etc. I haven't found a better book and I do not expect to. I thank the author for covering subjects like the movement, or "dance," of the work and for challenging me with the drawings - to try it and then see how it looks. Last but not least, the author introduces a great way to figure how much ribbon you will need to make any project using any ribbon width! So you can make ANY size flower you want. Ms. Kling makes your journey an unexpectedly easy fall - into a creative medium more satisfying than anything I've dabbled in besides beads - which one can incorporate too, of course.

This book has got to be one of the best and most comprehensive books out there on ribbonwork. It not only showcases the antique items where the colors have faded to perfect glory, but also incorporates the new and runs the gamut from embroidering with silk ribbon to forming flowers and bows of the ribbons.

This book is a wealth of inspiration and a source of continual referral for most any project using ribbon and will keep it's prominent place on my bookshelf!

I've seen most of the ribbon flower books that there are--and this is pretty much the best. It has instructions that are clear and very easy to follow and there are so many different ideas for you to use. Not just a couple of projects--so many for you to combine. I have taken this book out of the library so many times that I wanted to keep it. Then I remembered I could buy it online!!!

In comparison to the other books available, it has more projects and I think the directions are easier.

If you love ribbon flowers (I make them as accessories in a business partnership) you will absolutely love this book!

This book makes you want to try ribbon embroidery! The varieties of applications are well illustrated. Loved just looking at this book! Really improved my roses...

I read the library's copy of this book. It had so much information that I wanted to share with friends and family and remember for myself that I decided to add it to my small reference collection.

A very common sense approach to common maladies. Especially love the suggestion that Vick's Vaporub on the soles of the feet help arrest coughing. It does work in most cases.

Informative, consice, easy to read and very helpfull. A wealth of information reguarding health issues.

This book has more useable information than any other I've seen. The remedies recommended are all impemented with ingredients you either have around the house anyway or else you can easily pick them up at the local grocery store or drug store. No eye of Newt or powdered antelope horn needed. The advice is sensible, simple and easy to follow. I love mine and plan to give some as gifts for Christmas.

This latest of the Graedons' books is a wonderful resource for any family to have. It contains a wealth of information about traditional as well as alternative medical remedies.

I just heard this author speak at a teacher's conference. The material presented was excellent, and reflected the fresh and new approach of this book. I am so pleased that finally there is a book that treats the subject of body mechanics in a functional and practical way. This book is exactly what our profession has been waiting for. Buy it and enjoy!

If you are a massage student, therapist, or teacher of massage therapy, you should buy this book. It's the best book written on body mechanics. It provides all the information needed to sustain a healthy massage career. The burn-out rate for massage therapists is too short; this book will help to eliminate it.

I've been teaching massage for over 15 years, and in all that time I've never come across such a wonderful book on body mechanics. This book is a gem. As a teacher I find its content up-to-date and concise. The photos are clear, the exercises are brilliant, and the tips for students are an extra bonus. My students have learned an incredible amount from this book, and I see it in their work with each other. I wouldn't be without this book in the classroom, and my students will be so thankful for it after they graduate.

I was recently at a massage convention. This book was by far the best one there on the subject of body mechanics. Its functional approach, illustrations, layout, and overall format not only make it easy to use, but a pleasure as well. All others fail to brighten up an otherwise historically dry subject. It will relight your fire and renew your, perhaps neglected, promise of self-care!

If you are a therapist, of any kind, you must buy this book. I use mine almost everyday to help keep myself injury free - and so far, so good. I also use the "client education tips" regularly to education my clients. The book also has helpful "practice tips" which help me to remember good body mechanics when at the table. I love this book - so will you!

My Professor, Nina Mogar, is a friend of Dr. Bruce Perry. For her class she suggested we buy the book, because she incorporates it into her curriculum. Everything we know about children, will change when reading this book. This book delves into the neurobiology of children, rather than just studying behaviorism. Dr. Bruce Perry's stories from his own experience, helps us understand children. I also suggest that you visit this link: http://www.visualrecord.com/wishspace/education/childvideos375.html There you will find lectures from Nina Mogar, an extraordinary teacher who has fought for children for over 30 years. She is an amazing woman, and she said she will never retire until she gets the message out of helping children. But how do we define helping children? Both Dr. Bruce Perry and Nina Mogar shape that understanding, and know, what some may even say radical, ways to help children. They have challenged common ideas that we believe are okay to use with children such as: time-out, the idea that teaching children earlier is better, testing, teaching a child to share, recess being shortened, etc... things that many elementary schools are using in their teaching environment. This book will help you to help.

This book is a brilliant summary of the essential information for anyone working with children and families. I thank the authors.

As a counseling student focusing on child therapy, I was very glad I stumbled across this book in the local library. Perry explores the role of brain structure in childhood disorders. While he focuses primarily on trauma (such as how PTSD in children mimics ODD and ADHD), I believe that other applications can be made. This is novel to hear in a world of tired exclusive arguments pro or con genetics, brain chemistry, and environment. Perry combines a few of these ideas to give the mental health worker a more comprehensive look at mental illness and trauma.The case stories are heartbreaking and compelling. A worthwhile read if you are going into the mental health (or even teaching) field, and interesting even if you are not.

The book lives up to its fascinating title. Perry has worked for years with traumatized and neglected children and his take on dealing with them is based on research showing how the brain develops and the impact of neglect and abuse on it. In other words, if a child is abused or neglected in the first year of life (approximately), physical changes take place in the brain or rather, neurological connections that should be made, are not. (This is a vast simplification.) So as a child gets older and begins exhibiting antisocial behaviors that land him or her in special classes or even mental hospitals, it is not because he or she prefers to act this way but because the child's brain is unable to function in a way that enables him or her to become socialized. Perry, having done a great deal of research on this subject himself, spits in the eye of a lot of "accepted" practices when it comes to children's mental health. I'm always interested to read views that oppose the generally accepted norms. My daughter loaned me this book which she is reading as part of her Ph.D. program in pre- and postnatal psychology. It certainly fits right in with her assertion that we need to pay much more attention to what is happening in the first year of life (and before), not only because the child's personality is being formed, but because his brain is as well (and perhaps this is the same thing). The stories in this book are heart wrenching, but Perry does show that there are ways to help or at the very least, understand.

Assisted by a talented science writer, child psychiatrist Bruce Perry presents a series of heartbreaking stories of children severely damaged by trauma. But that's only one side of this remarkable book. The other side is how many of these profoundly damaged children were assisted to heal.

Perry explains his "neurosequential" approach that sequentially targets brain regions left undeveloped by abuse or neglect. He presents compelling cases to illustrate how the child's age at the time of the abuse or neglect will determine the gaps in neurological development and how his interventions sequentially target those developmental gaps. For children whose brains were stalled out in infancy, for example, therapy may start with healing touch or rhythm before moving on to higher brain activities.

The focus, always, is on the child's humanity. Perry explains the importance of listening and letting the child set the pace. He warns of the damage caused by well-intentioned but poorly trained therapists who push children to open up, or who administer punitive interventions in the guise of treatment. Healing is not about a specific technique administered in cookbook fashion but, rather, about love, and restoring shattered human connections.

This is an enlightening and heartening book and a real page-turner to boot. The neurological underpinnings of the trauma theory are presented in clear English accessible to anyone who can read. If you're a mental health professional, psychologist, or psychiatrist, you'll love this book. If you're a parent or a teacher, it's also for you. Whoever you are, it's for you. I guarantee you will be engaged and inspired.

What can I say about Ernie Pyle? One of the most well-known correspondents in WWII, he wrote with an empathy for the common infantryman that transcended his simple, eloquent prose. "Brave Men" is a collection of the articles he wrote while covering the war in Sicily, Italy, England, and France. Exceedingly modest, Pyle always downplayed his role while extolling the infantry fighting on the front lines, his beloved "dogfaces." Pyle may not have thought that he was doing anything of importance, yet his articles served to bring the war home to an American public that was being fed a somewhat sugar coated version of the war by the government; in turn, the GI's loved Pyle as one of their own. He immortalized as many of them as he could in his articles, stating the names of the many men with whom he had contact, and often their full home address for good measure. He shared many of their hardships on the front lines, and now, more than 60 years later, his articles offer an insight into WWII for today's readers that is as poignant now as it was then. He makes the reader feel as if we know these men personally-they are our fathers, grandfathers, brothers, neighbors, friends. Impossible to put down, this book is the enduring legacy of a great man whose life ended much too soon (after surviving the European theater, he traveled to the Pacific at the request of the Navy, where a Japanese sniper took his life on the tiny island of Ie Shima, just off the coast of Okinawa); I would recommend this book to everyone I know with an interest in WWII.

I read many of these stories when I was an infantryman in the ETO during WWII. I just wanted to re-read them again to satisfy the feeling of respect I have always had for Ernie Pyle and what he did for the American soldier during that conflict. It was good to smell the smells and hear the sounds while in a safe environment.
It is an excellent 'Chronicle' that takes one back to a time of long ago.

I have read this book several years ago and was touched by his writing and empathy toward the GI's. I saw a biography about him on the tube and found out how the war torn the man apart inside. That and the burden of his wifes dive into madness and all I can say is there was a man! Rest easy Ernie you did good!

Ernie Pyle was truly the soldier's reporter. I have the original wartime copy of "Brave Men," and it's a work of genius. Pyle knows how soldiers feel, Army, Navy, Army Air Corps, from Privates to Sergeants to Lieutenants to Generals, Pyle brings their stories to life with a simple sort of clarity that nonetheless retains every ounce of power that original stories had. Many reporters told the stories of World War II, grand theaters, massive battles, staff meetings, generals, leaders, strategies. Ernie talks about privates, sergeants, lieutenants, the adrenaline highs and sheer terror of close combat or being surrounded by flak, the miseries of mud and rain and the joys of the girl at home and that package of fried chicken that some thoughtful mother sent. All the little things that make soldiers soldiers, and men as well.

Pyle was nothing less than a genius, and his death on Ie Shima resulting from a Japanese sniper's bullet was a loss to journalism. But then, I'm at Indiana University Bloomington, within spitting distance of the Ernie Pyle School of Journalism, so I guess I'm biased. =D

I'm a french reader and I discovered Ernie Pyle through an excerpt of Brave Men published in a french newspaper.
Obviously, this man was a great reporter! I was looking for Brave Men in a French edition but it seems to be impossible to find it, what a pity !.
I was very happy to find it on Amazon.com.
I think that this book is far above all the films or novels you could read on this subject. With Ernie Pyle style, you can catch the real feelings and the fears and the heroism of this men who were caught in this Maelstrom.

This book is uplifting and inspiring and will have you nodding in agreement and renewed awareness again and again. It is a must for every home.

This is one of the most special books in my collection because it was a present from Rabbi Chaim Adelman of the Chabad House at UMass-Amherst in May of 2002. (In addition to being a great person and really funny, Rabbi Adelman was also quite possibly my favorite rabbi I've ever had.) There was a little party one night for those of us who were about to graduate, and towards the end he gave each of us this book (the commemorative edition that was printed that year in honor of what would have been the Rebbe's 100th birthday) and wrote lovely personalised inscriptions in them for us. This is the type of present that can last a lifetime instead of only being read once and then put aside, or maybe reread once in awhile. It's a book like the Tao Te Ching; it can be read and reread over and over again and always give the reader new profound insights. This simple timeless wisdom doesn't even have to be read from cover to cover; one can just go through it day by day, or whenever one wants to, and digest these meditations, sayings, quotes, and stories slowly, or as one needs to. It's divided into categories such as "Children," "All the World Is My Teacher," "Science and Technology," "The Blueprint of Creation," "Days Are Coming," "Making a Living," and "From Despair to Joy." Whatever one's problem, question, issue, or concern, advice or an answer is bound to be found here. Many of these tidbits of wisdom might also pleasantly surprise those who have a view of Hassidim as having a very pre-modern view of the world or of being dour, joyless, and very authoritarian and triumphalist. One doesn't even need to be Jewish to enjoy and benefit from this wonderful book.

I was an early casualty of the faith of my parents. Not particularly religious themselves, they left me with a sense of the form of our religion, but no picture whatever of it's content. This wasn't their fault, it was simply very much the way we were in the 50's and 60's. My own spiritual needs left unmet by my faith of origin, I drifted from the time I entered college, first as an atheist, and then as almost every kind of theist one can imagine.

Eventually I found a place that suits me spiritually, in which I can dwell and feel no need to convert the unfaithful. From within this place, I have rediscovered a desire to spend some time reaping the wisdom of the religion I always took for granted, the one I was born into. This is not necessarily a comfortable journey for me but one it has been time to make for a while.

One of the things I had never come to understand about Judaism until well into college was the tremendous mystical richness of Judaism. What makes this mysticism special is its refusal to abandon the world in which we make our way. From Jewish mystics and rebbes we expect practical advice as well as inspiration. Rebbe Menachem Schneerson was for many years the premier spokesman for the Lubavitcher tradition of mystical Judaism. A man who valued humility, wisdom, affection, humor and a deep abiding faith.

Tzvi Freeman has taken the time to compile the essence of Rebbe Schneerson's meditations and teachings. This is simple, direct writing that would touch anyone, Jewish or not. Short sections that can be read a paragraph at a time and meditated upon at will. We are invited to take our beliefs out of the ivory tower and apply them in the world. The first recommendation for the spiritual treatment of illness is 'find a good doctor and follow his instructions.' The fourth is 'Increase your study of the inner light of the Torah.'

This kind of wisdom is good for all to use. I would recommend "Bringing Heaven Down to Earth" not just to crabby old men such as I, but to anyone who finds themselves sometimes a seeker or wishes to understand more of the depths of Judaism.

In a format accessible to readers of every background, Rabbi Tzvi Freeman has culled through over four decades of writings, letters, ma'amarim (Chasidic discourses), sichos (talks), farbrengens (Chasidic gatherings), yechidus'en (private audiences), and stories of the Lubavitcher Rebbe to present bite sized gems of wisdom applicable to the reader's practical everyday life and emotional/spiritual/material well being. With the exception of Rabbi Simon Jacobson's Toward A Meaningful Life, I doubt if there are any other English works besides Freeman's that so enable the reader of ANY background to integrate the Rebbe's wisdom into his own life. In his foreword, Freeman advises, "Take it little by little, day by day. When you need an answer, look here. When you need to come up for air, find it in the Rebbe's words. When life is getting tough and confusing, open up just anywhere and see what the Rebbe has to say. If you find heaven, bring it down to earth." Indeed, without being hyperbolic, this book can potentially change your life.

This is an awesome and informative book. I use it as an oracle and find it to be amazingly insightful and informative. Uncannily so. I think of a question, then open the book and read the passage where my finger is. Tzvi put his heart and soul into this book and it absolutely shows. It's an amazing book to have on anyone's bookshelf as it's such a fascinating read including many anecdotes about the Rebbe. I highly recommend this book to spiritual people of all faiths as you will find yourself going back to it again and again through the years.

This an excellent book. Short chapters, easy to follow, common sense advice and really helpful suggestions for a person looking to put their illness in remission.

I bought this book (along with others)for my Dad after he was diagnosed with Stage 4 RCC. He absolutely LOVED this book. He then bought 5 copies and gave one to me, my brother and three other people because he felt we would all benefit from reading it. I read it and agree with him 100%. This book is an easy read and really put things in perspective. Great book for anyone going through this or for someone whose loved one is in this situation.

For anyone facing the big C or anyone with a relative in the same bandwagon, this is the best, most uplifting and practical book to get. It will give you advice, nutrition guidelines that help and most importantly, how to battle the depression that may arise. Get it!

Somewhat helpful, mostly things I had previously read in other books. But it was interesting and did keep my attendion. I did gain some knowledge that I have put in place in my treatment and am finding it helpful.

This book was easy to read and gave definite things to do to stay healthy and be a long term survivor.
It is especially good for people who first receive the diagnosis of cancer.