Works Books

great book with tons of practical tips on living green. even if you don't have kids, this book is a good resource for simply living a healthier lifestyle while doing your part to protect the environment. would make a GREAT gift for new parents.

Great book for those who are learning how to go green. It has so much information to help you protect your family and Earth. It is an eye opener. We can make better choices now and it's important that we do so. Good luck, go green, be healthy, save Earth, enjoy the book and your life!!!

I feel like I am well read on this topic. I learned alot and many useful, pratical tips. Its also written very well for those new to the topic. I made many notes and made a to-do list. I highly recommend!

While the target audience for this book is people living with or expecting children, anyone who wants to minimize their exposure to environmental toxins or pollutants would find it very useful. I am expecting my first child in the fall and before reading this book, I considered myself fairly knowledgeable about what's in the world around us but I have learned so much!

The approach is not preachy but rather educational, and in fact early on in the book is the statement "No one can do everything. Everyone can do something." So even if small changes are made in one's household, health will be improved.

After an introductory chapter, the book covers limiting exposures to toxins in the following settings: while pregnant, cleaning the home, choosing foods, beauty and hygiene, kid's toys, gardening, air and water, pet care, home renovation, and lastly, putting it all together. Information is presented in each chapter as a series of steps, and readers can make the changes suggested in one or all steps.

Within each chapter are several sidebars written by either celebrities or others knowledgeable on the subject. Personally, I like these stories because they show how people (albeit rich people...) can incorporate the suggestions. Many times, the writers of the stories will discuss making a few major changes, but pointing out that another area hasn't been changed for certain reasons. It made me realize that I don't have to do everything to improve the living conditions in my home.

I highly recommend this book. It's an interesting read and websites are given for those who want even more in-depth information.

I read this book and liked quite a bit, but felt it wasn't really geared towards the every day person. I have a decent income, yet it overwhelmed me on it's push to buy, buy, buy to keep my family safe. It wasn't until I was almost finished that I realized his Hollywood connection, but it had seemed incredulous up to that point how he'd attracted so many celebrities as just a non-profit green guy.

All that namedropping made it harder to see the book as aimed at everyday people (I wanted to see regular people talking about their changes and making it work, not people with millions to work with). Several of the shops mentioned in the resources section for places to buy from "just happened" to be owned by celebrities. A lot of the items mentioned as critical were really advertorial for specific brands and of course very expensive. There were a few homemade recipes & ideas, but just as many pushes for things that are a financial stretch for many people. A lot of cheap greener living items were barely touched on. Cloth diapers were a tiny paragraph and not given much kudos yet that is a huge item that is feasible for any income level. Only 1 of the 4 diaper brands listed in the resources was cloth.

The intention was there, but IMO there are other books by regular people that are more inspiring, more realistic in what you're able to do time-wise and financially and still be as green and safe as you can.

My teenage son was diagnosed recently with Type 1 Diabetes, it was very scary not knowing anything about Diabetes. This book is easy to understand and it explains everything about Type 1 diabetes. Wonderful help to me.

Great book for the Type 1 patient or the parent/spouse/family member of one.
Gives good suggestions on a variety of topics. Well worth the money.

I have found this book VERY helpful. From time to time we have questions/concerns that come up, we have found easy to understand answers/advise for real life issues.

This book has helped us so much.
The doctors don't help you too much so you are left with a million questions and this book has helped so much.
This disease is so overwelming and this book is so helpful in easy to understand words.
Instead of going into a panic when something happens we now just go to the book and it calms us right down.
Thank God this book is here.

I have only received this book recently, so I have not read the whole thing. The author doesn't recommend reading it from cover to cover, but to use it more as a reference. I started reading it at the beginning and am now on page 46. It is so interesting, and easy to read, that I see no reason NOT to read it straight through! Even though a lot of the information is technical, it is written in such a way so as to make it fairly easy to understand. My 13-year-old son has only had Type 1 diabetes for three months now and I am hungry for this kind of information. I want to understand this disease as much as possible, and so far, this book is great!

There's not much more I can add to the glowing reviews, except to say that this is my favorite book about science-fiction movies. In fact this may be my favorite book about movies, period. Great insights, a wealth of data, and a keen understanding as to why these films continue to entertain and fascinate us. (I loved watching these movies on TV years ago and love to collect them on DVD today.) True, some may find certain assessments a bit nit-picky --especially for some of my personal favorites -- but the author's affection for the genre cannot be questioned.

This 1997 paperback edition is a combo reprint of the hardcover editions of volumes 1 and 2 which were originally published in 1982 and 1986, respectively. My only quibble -- and this is a minor one -- is that several movies that were not readily available for the author to view when these books were written have since been issued on home video and/or DVD. And there's at least two omissions: the sci-fi comedy GEISHA GIRL (1952) and the space adventure MOON WOLF (1959). Both of these obscure titles were later released on video. So I wish the publisher would allow the author to update the text, to incorporate new information and fresh appraisals.

Despite some outdated material, this is still the definitive book on the subject and I highly recommend it.

This is a terrifically entertaining and informative compendium of 1950's science fiction movies that, for fans of this inexplicably overlooked genre, will serve as an almost endless supply of delectable brain candy. Other reviewers have nicely captured the essence of this book; I'll simply add that this is the one volume you'll want to keep by your bedside and savor night after night.

do you ever wonder about the old days? how people thought about space and time, and oh yes, giant monster bugs? then look no further than this fine and funny volume. from 1950 to 1962, warren covers the best to the worst with a wry sense of humor and a clear love for the subject. almost everything is covered, from obscure jungle movies, to elaborate space epics. if you want to know about these old films, and have a laugh or two, then by all means pick up this book.

If you're a fan, or even a casual watcher, of science fiction movies of the 1950s and early 1960s, this exhaustively researched, 2-1/4-inch-thick tome deserves a prominent place in your library. It is, quite simply, THE definitive reference book on the subject. Period. There is none better. The conscientious reviewer MIGHT point out only one minor "problem"--but more on that later.

Mr. Warren does an unbelievably thorough job of presenting the most minute details of virtually every American science fiction film produced from 1950 through 1962. The classics are all here, of course. "Destination Moon," "The Day the Earth Stood Still," "The Thing From Another World," "Forbidden Planet," "Creature from the Black Lagoon" and "War of the Worlds" each receive 10 or so pages of treatment (in very small, closely spaced print, mind you). Mr. Warren tells you everything you could ever want to know about the script, the director, the actors, the special effects (such as they were, in those days), the budget, the editing, the musical score and the reception that each movie got on its initial release. He includes meaningful, interesting details and fascinating anecdotes, many of which I can't imagine how he managed to dig up. Lesser films such as (to pick a couple at random) "Mesa of Lost Women" and "The Rocket Man" get only a page or so, but still with full discussions of each film's production and how it fits into the genre. Well-chosen still photos, typically printed in full-page size and in many cases not the same ones seen in other books, illustrate some of the movies.

I found that the best way to use Mr. Warren's monumental work is to refer to it just after watching one of the films that it covers (which means ANY science fiction movie of the era). With the screenplay fresh in one's mind, reading the relevant chapter adds immeasurably to the viewing experience, much as a director's commentary does on a DVD. You can, of course, read "Keep Watching The Skies" through from cover-to-cover, but only at the risk of information overload. Its usefulness is sure to last for many years--as long as there are VHS tapes, DVDs or (if you're very lucky) old 35mm prints of classic science fiction movies to watch and enjoy. It adds new meaning to the term "reference book."

Now, for the one and only "problem" with "Keep Watching The Skies." The book consists of two parts. Part 1 covers the years 1950 through 1957; Part 2 covers 1958 through 1962. Both parts were apparently once issued as separate volumes. For this reissue, both volumes are bound together. Each part has a comprehensive index, but ONLY for that part. Thus, it can be a little difficult to find a specific film if you don't know its year of release, especially since many films in Part 1 are referred to--and thus indexed--in Part 2, and vice versa. A single integrated index would make Mr. Warren's magnum opus much easier to use. With that single tiny quibble aside, I give "Keep Watching The Skies" the highest possible recommendation. Five stars is not nearly enough. It deserves a galaxy of stars.

Bill Warren is obviously very knowledgeable concerning classic science fiction films, having spent a lifetime researching the subject. "Keep Watching the Skies" is not only factually accurate, it is also extremely entertaining to read.

Highly recommended for all fans of the genre.

Koalas: Moving Portraits of Serenity is an impressive book and was obviously a labor of love by its editor, Joanne Ehrich. I am amazed each time I look through the extensive collection of superb photographs. The organization, excellent presentation, and informative text make this a captivating book that you will cherish. Once you get it, you probably won't be satisfied putting it in a bookshelf because it is such a beautiful book to display.

With its wide appeal and outstanding quality, this book makes a great gift! It will be especially welcomed in any home where there are children, but it will be loved by people of all ages. If you have a child or grandchild in school, check the school's library--if they don't have this book, buy an extra copy and donate it.

Browsing through the pages of Koalas: Moving Portraits of Serenity and finding this many photographs of one of the cutest animals on earth is pure magic! I, along with my children, have always been intrigued and fascinated by these unique creatures. This marvelous work is the end product of drive, knowledge, photographic genius, vision, and sheer talent. We will display this book on our bookshelf with pride. Its inception is breathtaking. This book is richly deserving of success.

The 315 photographs by over 100 different photographers are grouped in chapters on various aspects of Australia's koalas such as feeding, types (three), and life cycle. Photographs within each chapter and overall have also been ordered to illustrate the koala's movement along the ground, up tree trunks, among branches, and in some cases with a young koala clinging to a mother's back. In keeping with this, some of the pages have several side-by-side smaller photographs in which the koala's sequence of movements stand out especially. Besides offering an opportunity for viewers to enjoy numerous pictures of the always fetching, cute-looking koala, the work has the aim of presenting a broader picture of the koala to publicize environmental threats to it. Koalas are so gentle and congenitally slow-moving and approachable because with "no natural predators in their distant past, [they] have underdeveloped adrenal glands and therefore did not develop the same flight-or-fight mechanisms" of most other animals. This is but one of the little-known facts found in short introductions to the chapters of this book largely of photographs.

With hundreds of magnificent photos as well as superbly written and very informative text, Koalas: Moving Portraits of Serenity is a sheer delight. The amazing talent of the writer, Joanne Ehrlich, come shining through. Her deep love for these wonderful animals is evident on every page. The book is a treasure, reminding us that we share the planet with many creatures that deserve our continual appreciation and respect. This is an extremely inspiring book.

-Andi Bruno, Yoga Instructor And Meditation Teacher

Foreword by Deborah Tabart, Afterword by Jack Hanna

In America we have come to see the koala (commonly called a koala bear) as a cute, fluffy bear found in Australia. We see it as quintessentially Australian.

But the koala, technically speaking, is not a bear. As it has a pouch for its young it is technically of the marsupial family. Most marsupials are found in Australia, a good number in South America, and the Virginia opossum the only marsupial found in North America. Usually we think of kangaroos, another Australian animal, when we think of marsupials.

The koala also seems to be a laid-back, relaxed animal. It photographs well because it doesn't scare easily. Is this because the koala had no natural enemies? Of course it's trusting nature dooms them today-many Australians have not seen a koala in the wild.

This book is primarily a photo book featuring koalas. Brief text tells us about the koala, it's land, and it's habitat. There are three types of koalas in Australia and each is described with photos so the reader can tell the difference as they are pointed out in the book. In addition is a brief history of the koala and its habits. The enigma that is the koala is even found among the aborigines in Australia. The myths of the aborigines is filled with koala references-I imagine if these stories were gathered in a book you would have a "koala coda." Since koalas rarely drink any water at all, aboriginal folklore suggested that koalas have a knack for stealing water.

This delightful and colorful book brings to our attention the need to preserve the koala for future generations. With scintillating photos and crisp text the reader will come away with a greater appreciation og these serene animals--and a sense of wanting to do what's right to save these precious beings. With a gaze that only a koala can give, how can you not have it in your heart to buy this delightful book and enjoy the many pictures and brief descriptions of the cuddly koala?

I am using this book in a veterinary science class because the teacher feels that it is the best med term book out there. Obviously, many of the terms do not apply and the diagrams are of humans, but the layout of each chapter is clear and the exercises at the end of each chapter are great for self-testing. The CD helps with correct pronunciation and also gives you the information in one addition mode.

This book has turned out to be an extremely user-friendly and comprehensive text for medical terminology. I would recommend it to anyone, whether they have previous medical knowledge or not. The format is easy to follow and basically guarantees you will learn and remember your material.

I purchased this book to review some Medical Terminology prior to the start of my PA program. This book has plenty of exercises to practice, and the chapters cover a lot of different subjects with useful information you may or may not already know. A CD comes with the book that has exercises similar to those in the text, but less repetitive. Even though I already know a lot of this from my prior education, it is a great review or intro for those that are new to the subject. I highly recommend this book to any Pre-PA students, pre-med, or pre-health students.

The Language of Medicine by Davi-Ellen Chabner is the best workbook out there for learning medical terminology, and it also comes with a CD. I'm an occupational therapist and medical librarian, and the knowledge I gained from this text prepared me for both fields.

I actually have recently purchased this textbook/ CD-ROM combo from my college bookstore for a class I am taking and I find the book to be fantastic. It is just as all these many, many others have reported it to be: A SOLID 5-STARS! However, I could not possibly be more disappointed with the CD. All the PCs, laptops, a tablet pc, and even one iMac where I am far, far exceed the minimum system requirements to run this software, but it is nowhere near being in the same league as the textbook/ workbook it supposedly supplements. It is so poorly constructed that some of (many of) the features are practically incomprehensible. My very American, English-speaking, raised on computers, extremely pc-literate (but not always the most politically correct or polite!) son took one look at the page on my screen and said, "It looks like some Russian-speaking translator threw some stuff together at the last minute and ripped all of you off." My college-loving son is currently working toward his third degree at the same school I am attending and has quite a bit of experience with textbooks which include a CD that is supposed to make the set worth twice the price of the book alone (but the book is never available for purchase new without the CD.)

Buy this great book, even if you are stuck paying a lot for the inclusion of its accompanying CD-ROM. The book is awesome & I hope as my course goes forward, I will continue to be so impressed and will easily learn everything it has to offer. I am enjoying spending time in these beautiful pages so much in fact, that I would not even mind too terribly if it did not come so clearly & easily. This edition is, after all, Ms. Chabner's eighth go at it. She obviously knows her stuff and knows how to give it to her readers in meaningful, thought provoking, and permanent ways. It is obvious with this kind of quality what our author has been concentrating on -- and it has not been on computer programming. We should all be very grateful her tremendous talents are displayed in this book The Language of Medicine. Anyway, I bet every single computer user out there, if honest, would have to admit it would not be the first time they have been burned from purchasing lousy software. (And I am talking about the kind of software you buy because you want to own that software, not just because it was bundled with something else that you were really buying.)

Before I go, I do have to tell you that there are several sources of free Tech Support included with the CD-ROM installation instructions. I am sure this is a good thing. At the very least, it indicates responsibility, pride, and concern on the part of the software producers. From my own experiences with similarly behaving computer programs though, I do not hold out any real hope of achieving excellence in the performance of this software. It just has too many problems to expect a phone call, an email, or a FAQ page to completely start over at the beginning and create a well-written program that accomplishes all the functions this CD-ROM claims to do.

After my twins were born 3 months early, I felt really alone. No one in my family had babies like ours. The only people that I had to talk to were nurses and doctors, and the are not big on offering hope.
I finally found this book and immediately found what I needed at the time, to know that other babies had went through this and survived. This book gave me comfort while my two boys were still in the NICU, I cannot recommend it enough.

I cried in every single stories of this book. they are very touching. and yes, i could relate to all of the stories in there, especially the stories on very premature babies. the stories definitely gave me hopes on my baby's future (who was born 10 weeks premature). this book is really a good source for parents with premature babies.

how would i describe this book? engrossing, heartfelt, heartbreaking, encouraging, emotional, wonderful!
all of the babies do survive in this book, but not all come out unscathed. all the parents mention how the child is affected now by their problems. some stories are short, some are long, but they are all so heartfelt,and true! you can't help but be engaged by these stories, that are not at all what you expect. you cry with the parents, and get excited when they do well. you are amazed what these kids go through. since the stories are written by the parents, it is firsthand knowledge, and no two stories are told in the same manner,and each one is so important to the writer, which is conveyed in the story.
i really recommend this book!!

I went down this dark road after the premature birth of my daughter at 27 weeks gestation. Living Miracles offers hope to those who might feel their situation is hopeless, but it is not for the faint of heart. To be the mother or father of a premature child, especially with one who develops problems, one must learn to be strong, resilient, loving, and patient. It is a selfess calling, as these parents show us. And it always, always helps to know you are not alone . . .

Thank you for sharing!

Three years ago, I took a trip to my local book store in search of books about preemies. The selection I found was limited at best. I spent hours searching for a book with real stories about babies born prematurely-I found not one. I found some good informative books, which were also important, but none that gave me the kind of hope and inspiration I so desperately needed those weeks and months after my daughter was born at 25 weeks gestation. When I heard about this book, Living Miracles, Stories of Hope from Parents of Premature Babies, edited by Kimberly A. Powell & Kim Wilson, I thought to myself, "Well, it's about time there came about a book like this!" I was very excited about the book as I sat down to read it, but nothing could have prepared me for how wonderful the book turned out to be!

The book is laid out by gestation from 23 weeks to 36 weeks, with 22 stories in all. They have various outcomes, just as in real life. Each story is written from the parent's point of view, which makes it that much more gripping. There are stories where the children come out virtually unscathed from their experience with prematurity, and also stories where children have severe complications due to their prematurity. There are also stories about children who have problems completely unrelated to their prematurity. However the stories end up, they are all very touching and inspiring.

This is a book not only for parents of premature babies, but for everyone. You can't help but feel inspired after reading the stories of these heroic children born with the deck stacked against them. It is good for new parents of premature babies to give them hope for the future and make them realize they are not alone in what they are feeling the hours, weeks and months after their babies are born; For families of people with babies born premature to help them understand some of what the new parents are going through and feeling; For the average person who doesn't even know that there are over 400,000 babies born prematurely every year. It is important for people to be more aware of the many babies who are born early, and also that there are a number of reasons babies are born premature. Hopefully this book will find it's way to those people who don't have a clue that the preemie world even exists-just as I didn't just a short 3 years and some change ago! But most importantly, it is a great book for new parents of preemie babies because there is so much uncertainty after their birth.

To those who are either considering moving to Italy or just going for vacation, this is the book for you. It provides not only the basic information, but also answers questions that you would not normally consider or even think of. It also provides valuable information about embassies/consulates, education, and every day life. Even as a seasoned traveler, I found this book very useful, as I plan my relocation to Italy. It is an asset to any traveler's library.

This book is great because it gives you things from an American perspective. I've lived in Italy before on a study abroad program, so I was familiar with some things, but the lists of contact information alone are enough reason to buy this book. It covers everything from student visas to getting dual citizenship and from teaching ESL to starting your own business. A must read for anyone thinking about moving to Italy.

I moved to Italy to live, study and work, taking with me this book as the ultimate resource for an American looking to make a life there. Unfortunately, I did not find it to be the exhaustive guide I had hoped.
Not only did it brush the surface on important questions any American moving abroad would have (such as those addressing legal requirements, getting proper paperwork and visas to stay, finding work, etc.), I found it to actually contradict itself in the discussion of some important subjects.

I am afraid that whole-heartedly trusting this book to help you navigate through some of the legal implications of moving to Italy may result in much frustration. I also found the helpful lists (compilations of schools and universities, English-speaking organizations, etc.) to be less-than-comprehensive. These lists mainly focus on the big cities and American-draws (Rome, Florence and Milan).

This book is fine as a starter guide to help you to begin to plan, but it is not "everything you need to know."

This book arrived today, and I have read most of it already-- absolutely wonderful! It addresses answers to 98% of my questions, as well as issues I hadn't even thought about. There are also useful addresses and resources, as well as basic, but necessary tips, including how to convert measurements (for butter, sugar and clothing!), saints' days, and everyday etiquette (don't walk around your hosts' house barefoot!). How can someone who doesn't speak much Italian find a job? Which visa is actually right for you and what's the process? How do you prepare for your Italian job interview/write your resume? What's the garbage tax? What if you need emergency medical care? How do you get covered by Italy's public health care system? What is the proper way to go shopping in Italy? I've spent several months living/studying/traveling in Europe before, and I wish I had access to this book earlier. Full of tips, tricks, and tools to make you a successful individual in Italy (and beyond). Go eat some pasta and read up!

This book is literally a goldmine of useful information. I had no idea that the university system began at different times then the university system in the States... no wonder I didn't meet any cute Italian boys until two months into my stay! Hehe. But beyond that, I would recommend this book to anyone who, like myself, dreams of one day calling Italia home. I went through some of the avenues listed in the book (i.e., post-graduate study abroad, mingling with the locals, etc.) before even knowing this book existed, so the authors must be doing something right!

this is the best book i've ever read and by far the best translation of it. i can't really say anything more.

Lushly, sensuously, decadently overwritten, a fatal literary intersection where Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Poe, and Sade collide and out of the spectacular wreckage something lopes off into the surrounding woods declaiming like Nietzsche's Zarathustra with head trauma--Lautreamont's *Maldoror* is one of those ten or twelve books that aren't like any other. Part hallucination, part philosophy, part prose-poem, part prophecy, it's a bizarre stitched-together Frankenstein's monster of a text, a virtuoso improvisation animated by an electrifying genius who appears--and disappears--on the literary stage like a bolt out of the blue.

Here is a work where the first-person protagonist is an arrogant, cruel, disdainful superhuman egoist--sometimes seeming to be Satan; other times, something considerably less, but at all times evil incarnate. Dramatic and arbitrary shifts of narrative perspective and authorial points-of-view, a fractured, nonlinear plot-line, similes and metaphors of Homeric proportion that bring together the most disparate items in absurd conjunctions virtually without meaning. Was it all a joke? A parody of Romantic literature and the self-indulgent, self-pitying, overheated imagination of those who struck the Romantic stance of poetic revolt and existential defiance? What must the French public have thought of this black mass "celebrating" vice, blasphemy, pederasty, and murder--a work that held nothing--including itself--above disgust?

Predictably enough, *Maldoror* caused barely a ripple in the bourgeoisie calm when it was first published--by Ducasse himself incidentally--and remained unread by the general public who continues to not read it today. It remains a text ahead of its time--or perhaps more accurately--outside of time altogether. And yet it's had a huge influence on the writers, artists, and intellectuals of our time, from the Surrealists to the Situationists to literature in theory and practice to this day. *Maldoror* is a quintessentially postmodern text--a pastiche of genres with its penchant for self-parody and its direct address of the reader, breaking the illusion of "fictive reality" and authorial authority.

The translator argues forcefully that this is the edition of *Maldoror* to read--that other editions, most egregiously the Penguin--are rife with errors that stumble along the borderline of sheer incompetence. I've got no good reason to doubt this is the truth--and why not read this edition? It's attractively formatted, fully annotated, and contains all the known works of Lautreamont ((Ducasse)) including a few apocryphal tidbits, a chronology, biographical notes, and even a reminiscence by an old dude who once went to school with the Dark Prince of Letters. If there's a better edition, I'm unaware of it.

As for the heavily annotated *Poesies* that round out the main bulk of this volume--I had far less enthusiasm for them than for *Maldoror.* A series of gnomic axioms and aphorisms ala Pascal, indeed, many apparently in direct reply to Pascal, I didn't find them very interesting, often barely intelligible, even with the help of the comprehensive annotations--much of it in French which was unfortunately of no use to someone monolingual like me. What I did understand of the *Poesies,* the opinion of enthusiasts to the contrary, I found, for the most part, bombastic or banal, and very often both. A young man's ((Ducasse died in his early twenties)) bold, world-shattering, and consequently somewhat naïve proclamations on life and literature, any and all of which were likely to change if he'd lived to see even five more years of either. At twenty-three, you can be a genius and produce a literary masterpiece, but you still don't know much--certainly not even most--about life.

Indeed, even in the *Poesies,* Ducasse radically reverses field, mercilessly ridiculing Romanticism and its heroes, mocking the Satanic defiance that inspired such works as...*Maldoror!*

So was *Maldoror* all a goof then--a black spoof, a devastating satire? Had Ducasse turned a new leaf as he claimed in the *Poesies* and now dedicated himself to composing uplifting works of classical order and clarity? Was he pulling our leg then...or again? Was it all a joke--on us, on him? Was he simply insane, or just young, or both? Are we reading too much into all this--and is *that* the point?

These are some of the very potent post-contemporary questions that Ducasse has left us to contemplate in the wake of his great literary disappearing act--questions that remain in addition to, and beyond, those raised by the actual content of his enigmatic, and abbreviated, corpus of work.

An author--and a book--as important for being important as for the substance and merit of what he wrote, Ducasse and *Maldoror* is essential reading for the serious student of post-19th century literature. Ducasse/Lautreamont/Maldoror is a major signpost on the way to a new kind of writing, some of which we see today, more of which we'll see tomorrow.

What to say about Maldoror that hasn't been said yet? What to say about the mysterious son of a diplomat who appeared in France, wrote this book and died, vanishing from the world, yet leaving his mark for decades and centuries yet to come?
The first time I had the pleasure of reading this exceptional work, I was taken aback. Barely seventeen, I hungrily swallowed the disturbing images leaping at me from the pages, not to fully comprehend them until years later. This work, over a century old, is believed to be the first work, the foundation stone of the surrealist movement, a movement that penetrated into every aspect of art, life, being; whether we are willing to admit it or not, this work is as important today as it was when originally published in 1868 (well, at least a part of it was). The world was not ready to receive the complete self-awarness of evil Maldoror so fully comprehends, and the world is still not ready. This work is certainly not to be read by a "closed" mind. It is said that to be creative, one must borderline insanity, yet, Lautreamont was playing with genius; a genius of a caliber capable of scaring away even the most immodest of us. But get deeper into his work, walk past the disturbed images, surpass your fears and you shall see the light. This work cannot be ignored, cannot be left to collect dust. I have owned several copies over the past 14 years, and I am still finding new meanings, new passages and new understanding in this wonderful work. This trully is the one book that will never get old, that will always keep on giving, as long as one is ready to listen.

This review is of *Maldoror*, alone.

Lautreamont's *Maldoror* is legendary for its bold and complex phrasing and imagery, for its reputation of embodying Surrealism *avant la lettre*, and for its remarkably extreme, savage imagery. Less frequently remarked is its obvious debt to the earlier literature of the *Frenetiques*, such as Petrus Borel. Given the very few English translations of the latter, one may pardon those who do not read French for overestimating the originality of *Maldoror*. Francophones such as the Surrealists and Lykiard, however, have no such excuse.

The descriptions of *Maldoror* in the various reviews here describe the content and style of the work perfectly well, so I shall neither repeat them nor try to outdo them. Instead, I shall offer a slightly less breathlessly adoring view of the work, in general, and of Lykiard's translation of it, in particular.

My view of *Maldoror* is that it is primarily a parody of the extreme tendencies of the "dark side" of Romanticism, in general, and of Byron, in particular. Although Lykiard dismisses Mario Praz's view of Lautreamont and *Maldoror* rather abruptly, Praz's observations seem quite germane, to me:

"[Lautreamont/Ducasse is] a macabre humorist in whom it is impossible to distinguish where sincerity ends and mystification begins".

Those who doubt this observation should have a look at Ducasse's extant letters, many of which bear witness to his desire merely to be a successful writer, and to be judged by the literary critics of the day. In a word, Ducasse/Lautreamont appears to have been precisely the sort of careerist *litterateur* whom the Surrealists excoriated and excommunicated from their ranks with tedious regularity!

As for Lykiard's translation, it is adequate, but far from inspired. Although, as he trumpets *ad nauseam*, his version of *Maldoror* may be in the main less error-riddled than those of his competitors, it is frequently leaden and awkward. Compare, for instance, the following tin-eared rendition to the original, and then to Paul Knight's rendering of the same passage:

The original: "[...] car, à moins qu'il n'apporte dans sa lecture une logique rigoureuse et une tension d'esprit égale au moins à sa défiance, les émanations mortelles de ce livre imbiberont son âme comme l'eau le sucre".

Lykiard: "For unless he bring to his reading a rigorous logic and mental application at least tough enough to balance his distrust, the deadly issues of this book will lap up his soul as water does sugar".

Knight: "[...] for, unless he brings to his reading a rigorous logic and tautness of mind equal at least to his wariness, the deadly emanations of this book will dissolve his soul as water does sugar".

Granted, such evaluations involve much subjectivity, but there's no doubt in my mind which version reads both more accurately and more elegantly in English. Lykiard does, however, deserve credit for demonstrating Knight's faults, as well.

Lykiard's notes are not necessarily much better than his translations. To take but one instance, Lykiard tells us that "God is here (and *passim*) ironically addressed as *tu* rather than the more formal *vous*". If Lykiard were as clever as he'd like to appear, then he'd know that the French *always* address God as *tu*, and not as *vous*. Therefore, there is nothing ironic on its face about Lautreamont's usage, at all.

In sum, *Maldoror* is a sometimes powerful, but often puerile, *reductio ad absurdum* of *Frenetique*-era late Romanticism. Enjoy it for its over-the-top style and its infrequent passages of genuine and sincere poetic power. Do not, however, take it too seriously, because, although we shall never know for certain, my bet is that Ducasse/Lautreamont was little more than a prodigiously gifted adolescent who sought, as most adolescents do, simultaneously to shock and to impress the grown-ups.

I like my writers drunk, blasphemous, decadent and French. If any of that list sounds even vaguely familiar then this is the book for you. Set the absinthe fountain to a slow drip, light some candles and prepare to tour an alchemical end-of-the-century underworld.

I've read some great stuff on leadership, but "Mastering Monday" is one of my favorites.

John Beckett is not a theorist, but a practitioner. I've actually had the privilege of visiting his plant in Elyria, OH. I was deeply impressed with the way John interacts with his employees--they're family.

John is unashamed of his faith. The Bible is his source of inspiration. His use of biblical characters as examples of both success and failure doesn't come across as preachy, but prove that the Bible is still relevant for the world of work today. Ironically, John Beckett the `businessman' cites the Bible more than most preachers who attempt 'cross-over' books on leadership for the general public.

From personal observation I can confirm that John Beckett is the same person in and out of the marketplace. His godly character is particularly evident in the kind of family he and Wendy have raised. That's true success.

Surprisingly, for a man who is not a writer by profession, John Beckett communicates with remarkable clarity and creativity.

John Beckett has shown that integrating work with faith is possible---and the dividends are worth the investment.

I like "Mastering Monday" so much that I ordered a whole box!

John Beckett has a perspective of nearly 50 years in grappling with faith and work issues. His book, Mastering Monday, gives a remarkable perspective from a Biblical and contemporary setting to understand important issues. Beckett is well versed, well travelled, and has a thoughtful spirituality.

I know of few other marketplace leaders in the world as respected as John. His book should be a primer for every markteplace ministry and every church that understands the sacredness of vocational calling. Those of us who live in vocationally driven metropolitan areas will well appreciate the clarity with which John writes on the topic of calling.

We will encourage our church and marketplace networks here in New York City to make wide usage of this invaluable resource.

Dr. Mac Pier
President, Concerts of Prayer Greater New York
Chairman, Fulton Street Anniversary Congress

How refreshing to find someone who has a positive, creative angle on business! Whether you are a CEO or simply in the work force "Mastering Monday" is essential study to help pave the way to a fruitful and fulfilling experience for those looking for a balanced family, community and business life.

From the outset "Mastering Monday" steps right into the nitty gritty work situations that regularly grab newspaper headlines tackling issues like .... personal conflict....union confrontation....attempted takeovers....global fall-out of bad business, etc. this leads into John Beckett focusing the reader on essential management policies and practices, the need to rethink relationships, as well as the balance between work and family, employee health, safety issues, and the bottom line in the balance sheet. This book sets out a corporate roadmap that spells out vision, mission, core values and principles essential to forge a balanced corporate character of your business.

"Mastering Monday" is designed to help businesses in the work place to bridge the gap between faith in God and everyday work bringing these two worlds together. John boldly relates some well known Biblical examples of godly personalities who set the highest standards of outstanding leadership from Noah to Jesus. There is a compelling chapter spelling out the end of business where God's principles of integrity and equity are ignored. John illustrates his point with some well known examples of corporate collapse due to business excess, pride, abusing influence in the workplace and devaluing people, with the subsequent impact on the business community and society in general.

In the final chapters John lays out five rock solid structural building blocks for a business based on sound Biblical principles that transcended time and circumstances. These principles cover areas such as....a sense of purpose....core values....the importance of people....stewardship in business and what it means to serve. Again John uses practical examples of these principles which have dynamically effected many spheres of today's business world and the benefits they have brought, not only to individuals but to the community by and large.

Momentum for change is touching hundreds of corporations and organisations as they rethink how they can live out sound Biblical principles in business in seeking to integrate faith and work. This is a genuine move of God potentially changing the whole landscape of work as an integrated part of living out a Christ-centered life naturally in the business world. I would highly reccommend "Mastering Monday" to every one involved in business and management.

Noel Bell.
Retired partner of Noel Bell Ridley Smith, Architects and Planners.

As a sequel to John Beckett's interntionally acclaimed LOVING MONDAYS, we're now empowered with a practical handbook to help us engage the marketplace for Jesus Christ with enthusiasm and hope, doing so effectively and with significant impact for Him -- thanks to Beckett's tried-and-proved insights. Playing on words ('mastering" = serving the Master), the author speaks to practical issues related to various facets of daily Christian discipleship. But he does so from the unque perspective of his years of leadership as one of America's most successful Christian CEOs. Yet, he writes in such a gentle and winsome manner, that anyone seeking to live faithfully for God's Son in the weekly challenges of the business world will find great encouragement, while at the same time gaining key principles on how to integrate faith and work so as to doing nothing less than bring glory to God. As far as I know (and I've spent 30 years traveling the Church worldwide) there is not another book out there today that speaks so directly and forcefully to any follower of Jesus in the markeplace the way MASTERING MONDAYS does. I highly recommend it. And while you're at it, if you haven't done so already be sure to follow it up by reading LOVING MONDAYS. To be joyful citizens of God's Kingdom in today's world, you need to experience both: the "loving" and the "mastering". The Lord Jesus deserves both. Thankfully, Beckett shows us how.

John Beckett has accurately captured many of the struggles and tensions Christians experience daily in the marketplace. Aspects of the author's journey are common to many Christians. His chapter "Integrating two Worlds" will be a help to any Christian in the marketplace -it is an issue that continually manifests itself. The phrase "I found that my growing faith was often relevant to work issues - but the reverse was also true. Workplace issues challenged and strengthened my faith, occasionally more than I anticipated." provides an encouraging perspective. The author shares his own experiences in this realm - in a transparent way that should be encouraging to all who read.

The section "Companions on the Journey" provides a number of biblical stories and characters from which much is to be learned and applied to our work world today. These are not one size fits all stories, but the characters and illustrations the author selects will provide much to think about. This is mixed in with some stories of contemporary business leaders and recent situations they have faced and their responses.

Finally, a discussion of God's workplace agenda and what theme's the author believes are critical in this discussion. In light of some recent business failures (more specifically failures of leadership) - this section does a good job of connecting the themes to "good business". It is a reminder of what really matters - and some encouragement to have the courage to do the right things.

This is a pretty quick reading book, but I don't think it is a read once and put it on the shelf. I'm sure I'll be referring back to it every year or so to remind myself of proper perspectives and to be encouraged in my work.

I happened to find this paperback version on the bargain shelf at Borders for $5, and I made the decision to buy it just on looking at the first photograph alone. Impulsive? Yeah, but I don't regret it at all. I just bought this book tonight, so I haven't actually read it yet. However, just looking at the photographs was mesmerizing. There are some really incredible trees out there in the world and I think the author has done a great job of capturing some of them. If you don't come across this book on a bargain shelf somewhere don't worry, it is well worth the price that Amazon is asking.

As I recall it, I first saw this book in 1996 or 1997 at the Midnight Special Bookstore in Santa Monica before they closed. The photographs of the trees were the most breathtaking photographs of trees I had ever encountered. I didn't buy the book then, but I remembered it for a long time afterward, and then my husband gave me a copy of it for Christmas a few years ago.

What I particularly like about this book - beside the photographs - is that it contains a Gazetteer at the back which tells the reader where the trees are located, what page they are pictured on, what kind of tree they are and whether they are accessible to the public, whether they are part of the Forest Enterprise or whether they are part of the National Trust. It also gives the reader a designation for Champion trees with full measurements. This is very handy and has saved me from having to pull all this information together myself.

My husband and I are going to be in Surrey this summer and we are looking forward to paying a visit to several of the trees mentioned - in particular - the Crowhurst Yew (pp. 120-21) and the Tandridge Yew (pp. 22-23) located in the churchyard at Tandridge in Surrey. These are probably the most spectacular. There are also several others at Kew Gardens which we are hoping to visit (tulip tree p. 61, hybrid strawberry p. 67, chestnut-leaved oak p. 71, maidenhair (Ginko), p. 83, Chinese wisteria p. 151, as well as the Knap Hill weeping beech p. 155, at the Knapp Hill Nursery in Surrey).

The introduction is very poignant. Pakenham recalls his encounters with trees which prompted him to create this book. He recalls a severe storm in Ireland in January, 1991, which toppled 12 out of 19, of his 200 year old, 100 foot high beech trees which once inhabited his garden - "all had been good friends to five generations of our family." "Why had I not looked at them more carefully before?" he asks.

This is an amazing book from the stunning photographs to the detailed stories about each remarkable tree. It is also scattered with beautifull 18thC etching of illustrated trees that refer to the tree being discussed.I found this book quite beautiful. I would definately recommend this book to anyone who is passionate about trees. Or to anyone who is looking for great photograhic reference as I was.

Pakenham's Meetings with Remarkable Trees and his Remarkable Trees of the World are portraits, not just pictures, each book documenting the impressive presence of sixty venerable trees from around the world. Pakenham groups them by their histories: Natives, Travelers, Shrines, Fantasies and Survivors. Each is a testimony to the majesty of Nature's creativity, diversity and adaptability.

Pakenham shares the unique history of each of these outstanding personalities, in the context of its species and its struggles for survival - ever threatened by man's over-cutting and under-husbandry of these irreplaceable resources.

Inspirational!

If you need a gift for a nature lover or photographer that you really like, this is the book for them. And get yourself a copy while you're at it.

Briefly, the author takes wonderful photographs of trees that affect and inspire him in Great Britain. Included with each tree is a history of the tree and facts and vignettes associated with the tree. His camera-work is impeccable and if you've ever tried to photograph a whole tree you will recognize the talent and work that have gone into this book.

The writing that accompanies the pictures is compelling and interesting. The author has obviously done his homework.

You can lose yourself for an hour at a time, or you can put this on your coffee table and get compliments from your guests, but have one in your library where you can get inspired and calm at the same time.