E Books

This, no doubt, is one of the best works on prayer in the English language, if not the best. A book to be read slowly, quietly and with much concentration. Every line has good rich teaching for us all. Thanks to Baker Book House for compiling this complete printing.

This book has challenged me and helped mold my understanding and practice of prayer. It calls the believer to stretch and reach further in prayer, putting faith into practice. Bounds' emphasis is on scripture and dependence on Christ.

Its one of those books that you could close your eyes, flip it open to any page, run your finger down the page to any point, open your eyes and it'll be a quote that you want to put in your sermon on prayer. Get it. Read it...daily.

For almost a century Edward McKendree Bounds' (1835-1913) books on prayer have been classic works, stimulating and inspiring Christians to develop a fuller prayer life and become prayer warriors. A forceful writer and deep thinker, Bounds spent the last nineteen years of his life reading, writing, and praying. He rose at 4 a.m. daily for many years, and was indefatigable in his study of the Bible.

As breathing is a physical reality to us, so prayer was a reality for Bounds. He took the biblical command "pray without ceasing" almost as literally as animate nature takes the law of the reflex nervous system, which controls our breathing.

Because Bounds so diligently practiced what he preached, we was able to capture the essence of prayer, and his works live on to call today's Christians to higher discipleship and an energetic, God-devoted prayer life.

About 11 years ago God drew me into an greater understanding and deeper practice of prayer than ever before in my life. I inquired concerning some of the leading "Prayer Ministries" around the world and wrote several of them and asked this question: "What are the top 25 best books ever written on prayer?" Six replied. Many of the same books were recommended, but 1st Place and 2nd Place were the same on all 6 lists. Andrew Murray's book: With Christ In The School Of Prayer was either #1 or #2 on each list. E. M. Bounds writings on "prayer" was also either #1 or #2 on each list.
No book, not even Murray's, has ever been written on "prayer" that can hold a candle to The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer. In fact, if you read this book (actually 8 little books) and it doesn't revolutionize your prayer life, then you need to re-read it until it does. If you read this book and think that it is "mediocre", that will be more of a statement about you than about this book. Seldom is any book hailed as the unquestioned "Greatest Book" on a particular subject by ALL the specialists on that subject, but this one is. And the experts are right. So bless yourself or someone today and buy this book. Then get ready for the revolution! God bless. Mike

This book should be on every engineer's shelf.

The content is amazing the included software is extremely useful, Haestad Press has hit the mark with this text/software combination.

This book is simply amazing. Evaluation software has been extremely useful. A must have for professionals and students alike. The CEUs are a great bonus!!

This book is perfect for students and civil engineers working in the hydraulics or hydrology field. The software included is great to have a better feel of the theory.

CAIHE is a great learning tool for practicing engineers. I used it to brush up on my StormCAD skills, and learn some new tricks in CulvertMaster.
For the first time I used PondPack, by following the step by step tutorial. I can't believe how easy this software is to use. This is quite an improvement on the spreadsheets I've been using.
Nice job Haestad!

I have read this book and find that it is very helpful. It is very simple and easy to understand, whether for students or experienced engineers. The step by step exercises helped me with the trial software that came along with the book. The book has definetely helped me get a better approach towards applying computers in my work.

"I'm going to do whatever I can to see justice is done in the courtroom. If the town burns down because of it, so be it." Those words were spoken by Roy Black, the author, who shares with readers his passion for defending the criminally accused. In this book, he tells the story of four trials. In one, he represented Luis Alvarez, a young cop who shot a black man which caused a large riot in Miami. Another case involved a bartender who faced death for murdering his girlfriend. In that case, Black dissects the botched police investigation and shows how to take apart a prosecution's case built on circumstantial evidence.

Throughout the book, there are many insightful practice tips for defense attorneys. For example, Black instructs for cross-examination that "although jurors needed to understand that the detectives had failed to do many things, I didn't wnat to transmit the impression that 'my client's guilty, but the cops blew the investigation and so they didn't prove it."

All four cases in the book read like great mysteries. Whether you are a defense attorney or not, you are sure to thoroughly enjoy this book.

Roy Black once said, "The kind of cases I handle are the ones people can't afford to lose." On the eve of yet another notorious public figure facing penitentiary chances, Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis made the call, "Get me Roy Black." And why not? Mr. Black has attained legendary status as one of the top legal minds in the country. From his days battling in the PD's office in Miami to his rise as Miami's `super lawyer' , Black's deft handling of the media makes for a formidable one-two punch when you combine his PR skills with his presence in the courtroom. Francis knows he's in for the fight of his life. The government has tattooed crosshairs on his back for the last ten years, and he knows he's facing the end of his rope. Who wouldn't hire Black?

This book encapsulates all that is Roy Black. Delivering gut-wrenching stories of trench warfare, he said, "My cases are World War III to me. I don't take prisoners when I go to trial." Attorneys make their living through words. And this book is a testament to that. Written for the everyday man, the style of writing is brief, easy to read, and compelling. It's as if Black is masterfully telling his stories to a jury. And once again, he wins them over. Highly recommended.

Do you sometimes wonder why anyone could possibly want to defend the scum, the losers, the obviusly-guilty-because-the newspapers-said-so? Well, if you think that way you will find a very good answer in this book. Roy Black describes four different cases which seemed impossible to defend, yet he did and did it well. He lets you in on what it's like to be on the defense side of the aisle. His writing style is smooth and flowing and each of the cases was so interesting I found it hard to put the book down. For me this was one of those books you can't help but read fast because it's fascinating, yet want to read slow so it lasts longer. For any True Crime genre fan, this is a MUST read.

I really enjoyed "Black's Law." He tells four different seemingly story-like narratives about four different cases. He discusses in detail every aspect of trying a case from research to voire dire. If you are interested in either legal strategy or just in a good story, you should read this book.

A great book. Written by a expert in communication. Each case brought you into the defense, you believe in the actions brought forward to give not only a legal defense by our constitution but to see a inocent person never is incarcerated,if that ever comes to pass. I would hope Mr. Black will write more, he is able to take a very complicated subject and break it down to a laymans understanding.

Marine officers are often required to read this book during The Basic School (the six month infantry-focused training all lieutenants undergo after OCS or the Naval Academy). I have read that some Army schools also list it as required reading. Swinton takes a simple issue, the defense of a small swatch of land during entrusted to a young officer, and uses dream sequences to illustrate shortcomings of various tactical approaches to the problem. The officer realizes via hindsight the solutions to each problem and the reader becomes engaged in a sort of Monday-morning quarterbacking of his methods. Just when you think you have the answer, Swinton tears your theory to pieces with the next report of failure. After reading all of the scenarios, one realizes that the answer was so simple and some basic but careful analysis would yield the answer. That is the heart and core of tactics. Making a quick decision with limited information but moderate knowledge in order to come up with a 90% solution. Not only is this book a must-read, it yields new lessons every time I go back to it. It's one of those books you buy and come back to every few years. Highly recommended for the military historian, NCO or junior officer.

A perfect primer for every small-unit leader and above. Learn guerilla tactics and how to counter them from the series mistakes in a series of dreams of another young Lt. The story is a fast-paced and entertaining story and provides lessons learned by real combat experience. Though the setting is the Anglo-Boer war, the lessons are universal and well thought out. An enjoyable primer on small unit leadership of counterinsurgency.

A timeless classic of Military instruction set forth in simple and fast reading manner. It is truly amazing how many principles never change. If you are an instructor make your students read it, if you are an NCO memorize it, if you have a new junior officer assigned to you tie him down with 100 mph tape and read it to him. Any individual who does not learn anything from this text should be reassigned to a position where they cannot influence or harm soldiers in the field.

Hypothetical Lt Backsight Forethought has 50 men and a mission to hold a drift in South African territory during the Boer War of 1899-1902, and he starts his mission fresh from officer training and being totally unaware of the realities of combat. In the first trial he gets beaten really bad but he analyzes his faults and learn from them. He also gets beaten in his second, third, fourth and fifth trial, every time making different mistakes which the enemy does not forgive. Finally, when he has a sixth chance to re-fight the battle he puts up a splendid performance making his opponent to pay dearly and holding the drift until friendly reinforcements arrive. It is a very enjoyable little book and although it was written a hundred years ago it is still very useful for anyone who wants to learn about the core of tactical prowess in infantry battle.

Swinton is a military professional with experience in the Boer War who wrote this famous short book based on a series of thoughts he had on how a infantry unit with only 50 men could defend a river crossing. A young Lieutenant has the role but you are given his perspective, the terrain features, the political situation, conflict with civilians and limits on your own military support. There is a brief history of the war with the "Dutch" and then your Lieutenant receives his assignment. With the use of maps, there are six scenarios of the Lieutenants approach to defending the crossing (drift). Each scenario is acted out and with each of the first five scenarios there are several lessons learned such as the effect of enfilading fire, the limitations of a simple trench, the use of the military crest versus being located on top of the hill, the effect the local sympathetic population may have on aiding guerrilla fighters, the effect of surprise, disguising your defense from view, proper posting of sentries and responsibilities, how to combat artillery, dealing with multiple directions of attack, using the terrain to advantage and on. As the Lieutenant in each scenario learns from his mistakes, he alters the outcome to his advantage but only incrementally. Only at the end and sixth scenario does he get it right but with realistic loss. The same map is introduced in each scenario with defense features matching the new defensive tactics. Fascinating book for all interested in basic infantry tactics, which has been used as a training manual for militaries world wide. This is a very readable book that can be read in less than 2 hours time. Applicable to any war but this book would be interesting to read with an account of Rappahannock Station, which was a spearhead position held by Confederates in advance of Lee's line on November 7, 1863 where Meade's forces overwhelmed the defenders and took almost 3,000 prisoners. Duffer's Drift would be very applicable here.

For so many years Ann Rule has been the reigning ruler of the true crime genre. Well she better watch her back because KC is poised to steal that crown. All of her books have been excellent and this one does not disappoint. In the days of so many poorly written, lazily researched and badly edited true crime books ruining the genre thank goodness for Kathryn Casey. Rather than start the book at the point of the murder, she is like the proverbial fly on the wall and takes us back through the lives of Fred Jablin and Piper Rountree. From what shaped them as adults to their meeting and subsequent marriage, all the way to the contentious divorce and custody battle and then the tragic murder of Fred Jablin. All this back story may sound boring but it is far from that. It gives insight that makes the story of the police investigation and subsequent trial all the more interesting. She also delves into the dysfunctional and troubling bond between Piper Rountree and her sister Tina which added a creepy element as well as in my opinion a bond that helped make the murder happen. If you are thinking of giving up on true crime because of all the bad books out there give this one a read. It is an excellent book and will restore your faith in the genre.

DIE, MY LOVE is Kathryn Casey's account of the murder of Fred Jablin, a respected college professor, by his self-centered and narcissistic wife, Piper Rountree. Rountree's motivation was to assure that she was granted custody of their three children, and, not incidentally, that she would not
have to pay child support. She is presented as a woman who professed repeatedly to care more about her children than anything else in the world, but who in fact simply used them when it suited her needs, one of the main ones being to show the world that she was, above all else, a MOTHER!
Fred meanwhile became the one who actually cared for the children on a day to day basis, performing the routine, mundane tasks that a truly loving parent repeats daily to raise and protect a child, because Piper found this necessity boring and beneath the artistic, new-age, and ultimately just "special" person she considered herself to be. Both before and after the murder, Rountree and her equally self-centered sister clumsily constructed a series of events designed to provide Rountree with an alibi. But since the sisters were not as smart as they believed they were, the attempt ultimately failed.

This is the fourth Casey book I have read and reviewed (the others are A WARRANT TO KILL, THE RAPIST'S WIFE, and SHE WANTED IT ALL) and they are all outstanding. Casey, as is for her routine, avoids filler and drama. Her research is so deep that she has no need to copy police reports or trial transcripts, a common tactic of the lazy incompetents who litter the true crime landscape. Her writing, as always, is crisp, reportorial, and adult. It is also highly literate, and it is always a pleasure to read a writer who actually appears to have more than a passing familiarity with the English language.
The highest praise I can think to give a writer is to say that you realize that when you have finished a book you are truly glad you read it and then realize that, while it was beautifully written, you were not aware of the author's personality while you were reading it - that the author does not personally intrude on the story he or she is telling. And I can praise DIE, MY LOVE as well as Casey's other three books as meeting this standard.

DIE, MY LOVE is outstanding true crime, and I believe Kathryn Casey is among the very best true crime authors currently writing. I unreservedly recommend this one.

Fans of psychology and true crime will thoroughly enjoy this book. Die My Love tells the story of how one woman's obsession would lead to murder and the destruction of an entire family.

There's no time to catch your breath in this latest true-crime page turner from Kathryn Casey. With her unique voice style, the author paints a vivid portrait of Piper Rountree...petite, beautiful, attorney and murderer? Although those closest to the family were painfully aware of Piper's irrational, eradicate behavior, only her sister Tina truly understood the darkness that had enveloped her every thought.

Using her sister's identification for plane tickets and hotel reservations, Piper flew from Texas to Virginia, where she gunned down her estranged husband in the driveway of his home, as their three children slept in their beds mere yards away. Despite the sister's best efforts to concoct an air tight alibi and dispose of evidence, it was just a matter of time before justice came calling.

Extensive research takes the reader behind the well manicured facade that had been painstakingly constructed to protect the all important image Piper cultivated. With lyrical prose, Casey skillfully traces the Jablin-Rountree story - from their early days to Piper's strange, irrational behavior, to the series of events that would lead to the destruction of an already flawed marriage. Weaving a complex narrative of a family who, lived in a beautiful home, surrounded by friends and family but lingered in the shadow of dysfunction, Casey reassembles their shattered lives in the years and months before Fred's death, intimately describing what led this petite, educated, Texas lawyer to murder her ex-husband and the father of her children.

Filled with the most complete case facts available, Die My Love offers an unparalleled look at one of the most captivating murder cases in recent years told by one of the most prolific crime writers of our time! I recommend this book to all who enjoy true crime novels, as well as, thriller and mystery lovers! I anxiously await Kathryn Casey's next novel!

Happy Reading!

Kathryn Casey just may be the finest True Crime writer today. In "Die, My Love," Casey profiles convicted murderer, Piper Rountree, who decided that losing custody of her three children during a bitter divorce was unacceptable. She gunned down her ex-husband in his own driveway in Virginia and then hopped an airplane back to Texas, wearing a ridiculous wig and flying under an airline issued ticket in her sister's name.

When police investigators began questioning those close to the family who knew about the contentious divorce between Rountree and her husband, Fred Jablin, several individuals suggested the police take a closer look at his ex-wife. Police departments in two states, along with a brilliant prosecution team, compiled an impressive mound of evidence and detailed a paper trail that spanned the country from Texas to Virginia and back again.

Although Rountree had once served as a defense attorney herself, she was both arrogant and uninformed when she assumed she would never be arrested, much less convicted. The most damning piece of evidence came in the form of cell phone records. While Rountree casually spoke to her 12 year old son and informed him she was on a business trip in Texas, she was calling from the very neighborhood in which her children resided with their father. (Damn. Forgot about those cell phone records!)

As is true of many murderers, Piper Rountree was not nearly as smart as she thought she was! In her arrogance, she decided that her children would be better off in her custody, even if that meant they grew up without a father. Also, let us not forget that she was willing to kill their father in the driveway of the family home... while her children slept inside. This is not the act of a loving mother. In her selfishness and need for control, she effectively robbed her children of not only their father, but their mother.

I have only two complaints about this book, and those are small. The title of the book, "Die, My Love," sounds like a cheap, dimestore novel meant to evoke a surge of emotion, even though it really does not make much sense once the story is told. There was no loss of love for Piper Rountree. She only felt hatred and murderous revenge. In addition, the cover of the book is completely unappealing. Although I find the two "bullet holes" an interesting touch, the whole of the cover appears cheap and lacking in inspiration. In fact, had Kathryn Casey not written this book, I doubt I would ever have picked it up or even read the back cover. Similarly, the photos in the center portion of the book could have been greatly improved. However, none of this detracts from the detailed research and excellent writing of which Kathryn Casey is a master. True Crime fans will not be disappointed. Kudos to Casey!

Kathryn Casey produced an EXCELLENT story with the case of Piper Roundtree who was convicted of killing her estranged husband, Fred Jablin. Roundtree, despite efforts to establish an alibi proving otherwise, flew into Virginia from Texas and, in the wee morning hours, gunned down Jablin in his driveway and immediately flew back to Texas; all the while, the couples three children sleeping soundly in the beds inside the home.

And what was Piper's motive? Money? Maybe, but more than likely it was simply to regain custody of her three children whom Fred had obtained custody of in prior proceedings.

What is absolutely fascinating about this case is the tie between Piper and her sister Tina. It was Tina's identification that Piper used to purchase plane tickets and make reservations at hotels. And, all the while, it was Tina who was helping Piper dispose of evidence to cover her crime when Virginia Law Enforcement came knocking in Texas. This pair gives a whole new meaning to "brotherly love."

This is Casey's best work by far. I highly recommend reading this fast paced, attention grabbing story to all true crime fans!

This book is not for beginners, and contrary to the reputation of O'Reilly press, this is not for experts.

The book uses a simple way to discribe many cases of things going bad. But it stays on the superficial layer of the problems.

The paradigm it uses is describe the problem, ways to prevent it, and how to get off the hook. This may seem very tempting to read because of the easy way to analyse the content of the cases. I like the 3 step aproach, but I didn't see and substance of the way she explained and the conjectures of details each process entails.

The book in general is a simpleton... and its boring.

I was unable to find something I really needed from my usual sources, and turned to eBay for help. Sure enough, there it was! I was an eBay virgin, unsure and feeling very vulnerable. Should I try it?
This is exactly the point where "Don't Get Burned on eBay" comes in handy. Reading this book was like finding a good friend and a compass while wandering lost in the wilderness. I started out marking the impor-
tant points I came across but soon gave that up since there wasn't a lot that I didn't feel like underlining. It's crammed full of useful information.
One aspect that doesn't get enough play for the prospective reader in
my opinion is that the book not only tells you how to avoid the scams
and frauds, it also tells a newcomer how to buy and sell with the legiti-
mate people and do it right the first time. To me as a newbie, that was
just as important. And even if you read this and never do an eBay trans-
action, you will have likely learned something about mail-ordering from
anyone. This is a good reference that I will keep in my library.

I've been using eBay since 1999 as both a buyer and a seller. I was amazed at the amount of things I learned from this book. The policies at both eBay and PayPal have been updated significantly over time, and I'm sure like many other people, I was not aware of many of the changes. From tips on insurance and shipping to information on how to block and cancel bids, this book is valuable to any eBay seller. It also provides tons of information for buyers and sellers on how to avoid common scams associated with eBay. For example, I didn't realize that some people would actually switch a new item for an old and try to claim a return. I also didn't realize that eBay flat-out warns against using Western Union - and that even money orders are not secure in an age of easy counterfeiting.

The book is also filled with real stories of eBay snafus which clearly illustrate the author's points. In addition, the author's sense of humor makes the book a pleasure to read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone that is active in eBay - even if you don't read it cover-to-cover, it would act as a great reference guide.

This book should be mandatory reading for every person who buys OR sells on eBay. Both sides need to understand their rights and responsibilities clearly, and understand what exactly to do when things go wrong. In addition, both sides need to know common scams, common problems, the ins and outs of insurance and shipping, and common payment issues. This book covers every important issue clearly and concisely. EBay should give a copy to every new user, and give them a quiz before letting them bid or sell.

In addition to being clear, the author has a sense of humor, which makes this not only informative, but entertaining as well. The chapter layout makes it useful as a reference tool, to which the reader can turn when she has a question. The reader should read the whole book once, but afterwards, it is easily used to refer back to for specific questions or occurrences.

I'm a librarian in a university library, and I evaluate books all the time. For its purpose, this is one of the clearest and best I've seen.

Whether you've been using eBay for years or have been afraid to try it, lest you be ripped off, this book is an invaluable tool. Unlike other books that deal with online subjects, it's actually fun to read. The wit makes these tips and tales very easy to absorb and remember while bolstering your eBay confidence and savvy.

I've been using eBay since 1998 and I still picked up dozens of new things and now understand some of the more esoteric features of the site. When I lent the book to my mom, who has shyed from the site because she felt it was too risky, she proudly made two purchases using only the book as a guide. I wish all DIY and instruction style books were this much fun to read, I'd know how to do a lot more things if they were.

It's about more than just swimming.

Can inspire one to accomplise any "impossible" goal!

[From a larger review]

"...Despite her unwavering ambition and machinelike training, though, Dover Solo's author unself-consciously confesses her fears whenever they surfaced, which keeps her narration always at a human level. Cleveland states being "downright scared" at the initial prospect of open-water training without a partner. During her ten-hour qualifying swim one year later in a New Hampshire lake, she censors none of her moments of weakness, suffering her own "private hell" while her swimming companion seemed to be in much better shape. Even after long months of intense yardage, upon arriving in Maine for a three-week solo training camp, Cleveland enumerates her various anxieties before entering the waters off Bailey Island ("These were not the thoughts of a confident Channel swimmer"). It's this utterly transparent self-representation that will help ensure the book's enduring value in the field of swimming literature, for it avoids transforming the tale from fact to legend.....

...Preparation is key for such an endeavor, but though Dover Solo records one woman's successful swim, the book continually reminds us that once you enter the chop nothing is certain. Cleveland honestly relates what training aids or feeding selections worked and didn't work for her. She is consistently forthcoming about her fluctuations in confidence, and often suggests that luck (the benevolent "Channel Gods") played no small role in her accomplishments. Readers years down the road will appreciate her transparency as they contemplate their own prospective athletic milestones; particularly humbling is a scene where, immediately after jumping into the waters off the coast of Dover, and even after "sweat[ing] the details" like no one else, she realizes "I just smeared my goggles and need new ones right now, and I forgot to put drops in my ears, and I forgot to put Vaseline on my lips." This is a human achievement after all, with all its humanity evident...."

I found Dover Solo to be a good read with an appeal that should cross over different reader interests. At the risk of cries of nepotism, I would say up front that I live in Ms Cleveland's home town and that I have met and found her to be very personable and interesting. I am also a triathlete and I swim in the same waters off Greenwich Point, in Greenwich Ct, as she did in her training. Hence the interest in reading the book in the first place. Beyond that, however, I found the book to be both fascinating and inspirational on several levels. Her writing style presents her as an ordinary mortal - no super athlete - who took it on herself to perform a relatively rare feat of physical endurance that required great discipline and commitment over a long two years. While the goal was fixed and she was determined enough, she is always happy to share her fears and doubts in a way that defies the modern self-aggrandizing, "chest-beating", athletic stereotype. Ms Cleveland comes off as a sweet but very driven personality who is easy to relate to. Her acknowledgement of those around her in helping her to achieve her goal is also noteworthy in making her seem like the rest of us. Meanwhile, the playing out of the goal to swim the English Channel is written in a gripping fashion, even though we know the outcome. In words and photos we really get a sense of what it may have been like. Finally,I am a school teacher of young adolescents, and because we know they can be torn by insecurities and lack of purpose, I think that, because of the style of the writing, Dover Solo would be inspirational to young people who are in search of what it takes to set goals and to realize them. More particularly of course, while this read crosses over the sexes - boys should read this as well as girls - I would think that young women would particularly find inspiration in the story. But I reckon it's a great yarn for anyone of any age.

Not just for swimmers, Marcia Cleveland's Dover Solo is an inspiring story...and a 'must read.' It offers lessons applicable for anyone either inside or outside business. Marcia's story is not just about setting and achieving a lofty goal - that's just the tip of the iceberg. It is also about the necessity to undergo careful and ardous preparation, and to build a team to assist in achieving the goal (yes, even Marcia's solo swim required the support of an extensive team). Engaging writing.

An interesting and informative "must read" for swimmers and nonswimmers alike. I thoroughly enjoyed Marcia Cleveland's Dover Solo and, although not a swimmer myself, learned much that I apply to my own athletic pursuits and daily life. Read this remarkable woman's story; you'll be glad you did!

wonderful. when you read this work you can actually feel the soil, smell the grass, and taste the fruit. a greeat read

I feel a connection with David Masumoto. Not that I've met him or anything - in fact, there's a good chance I never will (although I keep hoping that one summer day I can make it over to his farm to pick peaches). No, this feeling is based on an impression that we have both fought the same fight over different things, for the same reasons. It is also because he writes so poignantly about a landscape I grew up in. Mr. Masumoto is an organic farmer in the valley of California, and his story is becoming more and more familiar to me as I see this way of life disappearing across the country.

A third generation Japanese American peach and grape farmer, David Masumoto inherited the family orchard from his father. He also had the heritage of his childhood memories of how that particular peach variety, Sun Crest, tasted and ran with juice unlike the pretty red baseballs that have passed for today's supermarket peach varieties. Mr. M wanted to show the world how delightful an old-fashioned peach could be.

When he took over his father's farm, he resolved to not only continue growing his Sun Crests, but to do it organically. This would prove challenging in our day and age of cheap, quick fixes; moreover, it would test his strongly felt ideals. The land needed to heal and replenish itself after years of chemical fertilizers and toxic pest control methods. Masumoto had to take his example from research on other organic farming practices, planting wildflowers to encourage beneficial insect life and sowing "green manure" crops to act as natural mulch and compost. All this took time, patience, and faith that his hard work would eventually pay off.

Epitaph for a Peach is rich in sensory descriptions, philosophy, and nostalgic flashbacks. It is a picture of the way a farmer's life is connected to the seasons, capricious weather patterns, and changing market conditions. Not incidentally, Masumoto also teaches about the obscure history of Japanese farmers in the Valley - something that even I, native to Fresno, had little idea of. Reading this book was a slow, thoughtful experience much in the same manner that one slows down to savor a rich fruit. Recommended to anybody interested in history, growing food, or the vanishing California landscape.
-Andrea, aka Merribelle

Author David Masumoto has written an excellent vignette into the year in a life of a small-scale, family farmer. His passion for his life's work, his connection to the land, and his strong family values are so clearly evident in his writing. I think a lot of readers will be envious of the life he describes. I share many of his views on the value of small family farms and the need to focus on how food should taste. Masumoto's book will reonsate deeply with those of us who know what it means to be curious about how something grows, who look forward to the first ripe peach or melon of the year, who prefer to make things from scratch and sit down with all our kids at dinner.

It is rare to read a book where the author works miracles with his hands and his words. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys non-fiction but finds it dry, without humanity. David Mas Masumoto is anything but dry. His land may be at times, but his poetic prose is anything but. His relationship with his family, his family's farm and nature is a rare combination. I highly recommend this read.

I live somewhat north of the area Mr. Masumoto writes about - where the San Francisco Bay Area Suburbs collide with the San Joaquin Farmlands. The Peach and Cherry Orchards and the Sweet Corn, Tomatoes and Strawberries are currently holding their own - but like Mr. Masumoto's Peaches and Grapes, only tenuously, and with great courage. If you would like to understand not only how these people live, but who and why they are, you should read this book. It is both beautifully written and thought provoking.

I teach math in high school, and I have found this dictionary more useful than the textbook. The definitions are more precise and understandable than in a book designed to be understandable. It's compact, lightweight (because it's paperback) yet it's packed with information. It has been one of my better purchases this year.

Well written and edited. Definitions and explanations are clear and to the point. As I flipped through the book, I ran into many, many entries which I did not understand, but in that regard, an unabridged dictionary of the English language has many, many entries in it about which I know nothing.

I'm yet to find a better maths dictionary. Lots of definitions. Well organized/cross-referenced. As an undergraduate, I'm yet to look up something and be disappointed. Handy tables at the back.

It doesn't get 5 stars because of a few glaring misprints.

My job requires extensive technical writing skills in the form of developing mathematical algorithms or creating presentations or other documentation that frequently requires that mathematical concepts be clearly defined for the reader. Even when you think you know a good definition for a mathematical term, this dictionary will likely give you a better one. Good reference to keep around.

This is perhaps one of the best, if not the best, mathematics dictionary. But it is just that, a dictionary of mathematical terms and phrases. Do no expect it to teach you any subject in mathematics. It would be great for any student taking a mathematics course. If the student runs across a term that he/she might have forgotten, the student can refer to this dictionary for a quick reminder.

If you're anything like me, you enjoy reading while in the toilet, doing one of the necessities of human nature, this reference has a great "random open" feature, where you can just slide your thumb at any page and find an interesting term you can think and learn about, I dont know how much the shallow discussion to these complex terms is really useful, but it gives you interesting things to think about, it also contains some mathematics history and some information about famous mathematicians, the paperback cover provides for some nice comfortable format, this dictionary has replaced the old Almanac I used to open randomly when I'm bored.
A 5 star for the cuteness.

Enjoy.

I really appreciate the fact that this book is research based and advocates complementary medicine. I feel it really helped me sort through treatment options and show me how I could help my mother after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She's currently doing cyberknife therapy, and now I know which supplements can help her with radiation therapy, and what I need to give her now (I chose curcumin or quecertin, vitamins, Ip6 and Maitake mushrooms, and am a Reiki practicioner so I do Reiki on her every night. Even Reiki is mentioned in the book!).

If you're trying to figure out what to do, get this book first. It's also approved by the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, which practice allopathic along with naturopathic medicine in treating cancer.

This book is a must for people with cancer or people trying to prevent. Easy to read and follow, you can start from the beginning or use it as a reference. A keeper for your health and medical library!

This is a great book, tons of information, really helpful and very informative regarding alternative treatments to cancer and things you can do long with conventional treatments.

I found this book to be very informative. As a Pharmacist, I do believe that certain medications are beneficial. However, I also believe in nutritious foods and exercise to be the foundation of a healthy body. This book is an educational tool, but not difficult to read. Enlightening!!

I highly recommend this book if you are interested in preventing or supplementing your cancer treatment with natural medicine. It will save you lots of time in research. I also own and love Michael Murray's Encyclopedia of Healing Foods, another really great, well researched book.