One The Books

This book is translated by a person named N.J. Darwood. It's simply wonderful. The tales involved are tales of the Persian Gulf, of Bagdhad, Arabia, and tales that we as adults should revisit for some enjoyable light reading that will make us smile and wonder at the old folklore of the Arabian Peninsula. Sinbad the Sailor is in there, as is Aladdin in it's original form, and the story begins of a king who is so upset by his wife's unfaithfulness that he will now only accept virgins for one night and then have them killed. A smart virgin begins her night with the infamous king by telling him stories, and she so fascinates him and enthralls him with her tales that the tales turn into folklore for readers of the ages. I won't tell you what happens in the end to the virgin princess, but you will find humor, enchantment, wisdom and fantasy for those times when stress becomes a factor in your life. I highly recommend the tale of "The Historic Fart" as a both funny and inspiring tale of human nature. Please buy this book and remember to become a nine -12 year old again as you read with curiosity and wonder at the fabulous enchanting, lively stories. I was beginning to wish my children were a bit younger so I could read these to them. Any child would enjoy these stories, and any adult will find them simply relaxing and a reflection of medieval Islam.

This book is a selection of the choicest tales from the Thousand and One Nights. The translator, N.J. Dawood, also translated the Koran for the Penguin Classics series. Dawood explains in the introduction that the first of these tales appeared in a written form around 850 C.E., in a book called, "A Thousand Legends." More tales, of lesser quality, were added over the years until an anonymous editor in Cairo finally codified them in the 18th century. A French version of some of the stories appeared in the 17th century, and was followed by several English versions in the 19th century; the best known adaptation came from Sir Richard Burton, in 10 volumes. The stories are a mix of Arabic, Persian, and Indian tales and appear to have been written in response to classical Arabic literature. The Arabs do not consider them part of the classic canon, and after reading these stories, I can see why. They are aggressive and highly sexualized, and are loaded with sorcery, fantasy, and criticism of authority figures.

Whatever their origins and means of transmission, these are excellent and entertaining stories. I cannot think of one tale in this selection that I did not like. Included in the book is the instantly recognizable Aladdin story, as well as the Sinbad voyages. Other tales are just as interesting: "The Tale of the Hunchback," "The Tale of Judar and his Brothers," "The Porter and the Three Girls of Baghdad," and many others. Many of these stories are cycles; they have stories within stories, as characters in one story tell their own stories. At the end of the cycle, the story is cleverly wrapped up, usually with a happy ending. I do not think I need to go into detail about Aladdin or Sinbad, except to say that I was surprised to see Aladdin described as Chinese. Providing details to these stories would be useless anyway because they are so detailed as to be impervious to summary.

There is no doubt that many of these stories started as oral stories, and retained that shape into the written versions. The best example is the Sinbad cycle. All of the stories in this cycle are framed in the same way. This repetition made it easier to memorize the stories, or at least the basic outline. A good storyteller could take the frame and fill in the blanks with whatever his heart desired. You often see this kind of writing in the Bible.

Social roles and class play a large part in these stories. Women are presented as wily and dangerous, but not always. Several stories show men trying to pull fast ones on the ladies, with the results much to the detriment of the men. Many stories show how the high and mighty come crashing down, or how the lowly are elevated to great status. These movements are attributed to the grace or condemnation of Allah, and the characters all act out their movements with Allah close by.

You will not go wrong with this book. These are immensely entertaining stories for both children and adults, although you might want to find a toned down version for the kiddies. Why? I am thinking about the tale where a man and some women play "name that body part." My only criticism of this version is that the tale of "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves" is absent. I have no idea why it is missing, but the book loses one star for this grave omission.

A collection of tales mostly of Persian, Indian, and Egyptian origin. Legend has it that Shahrazad, to prolong her life, told these tales to the king each night over 1,001 nights. In the end, the king let her lived as he had fallen in love with her. What a delightful legend!

In reality, these tales are most likely a collection that were handed down over time very much like folk tales in our Western world. They are fantastical stories in many cases involving jinnees and magical islands and far off lands and mysterious animals and beautiful women and enchanted lamps and....well, it goes on and on! There are some common themes: poor, common men become wealthy beyond their wildest dreams and eventually become kings, women are (usually) portrayed as deceitful and conniving, and at the center is religion.

An entertaining and fascinating book for children and adults, although there are some stories that might need to be monitored by adults for children - the stories can be a little bawdy! But there are so many good ones here, such as Sindbad and his voyages and Aladin. However, the other stories are just as entertaining, too, such as the hilarious Historical Fart and introspective The Dream. I'm normally not a fan of fantasy fiction, but these are easy to read and easy to follow and allow the read to let their imagination just go to the four winds. Wonderful book!

The stories in the Thousand and One Nights never seem to grow old and captivate readers, both young and old. Dawood's translations are faithfull to the original stories while giving a firm footing in the present. This is one of the most enjoyable books I've read in quite a while. If you think you know the stories of Aladdin, Sinbad the Sailor, or Ali Baba from movies then think again. These tales in their original form are timeless!

What a great book. These stories are extremely old from places such as Persia and India with a mostly arabic influence. The introduction gives great historical insight about the various tales. Of all the translated versions of these classic stories, and what was probably much more complicated original prose, I find Mr Dawood's translations simple and fun to read. The stories are rich with adventure and fantasy. Mr Dawood does an excellent job of keeping the stories down-to-earth and entertaining. Those who enjoy cryptic, esoteric literature will enjoy losing themselves in the intertwining stories of this book. With a simplistic style of story-telling, it is still intricate enough to keep one immersed. Those who already enjoy simple stories will be intrigued by the unique storylines and plots. For young, impressionable readers, the tales have no religious overtones or underlying political agenda and women are revered and respected. I first read this book when I was 12, and continue to enjoy and re-read the stories well into adulthood.

Yes,Im still laughing at superficial man.Fianally a book that tells the truth about dating....Wish I had read it twenty years ago. Im giving it to my daughter as a gift...I can't wait to read AJ.S SEQUEL.I loved the illustrations they reminded me of a superficial man i knew.

The content of this book certainly rings true to each and every one of us at one time or another in our lives. It reminds us that human beings do indeed have a common thread. A.J. Pascale certainly captures that in a fabulously humorous way, with creative and entertaining illustrations to match. It's obvious he has a good sense of humor about the path of his own life, and we can all appreciate the fact that he so openly shares his perspective with us. We've certainly all been there, and it sure would be a far better world if we could all laugh at ourselves like this!

This book is like the movie "Groundhog Day". Deja vu all over again. Page after page of funny and poignant reminders of the unconcious state in which we men wander around. I would like to see the woman's pov on this one. A great gift for that guy in our life that needs HELP

WOMEN BE WARNED: reading this book could cause you to laugh out loud as you flash back on those "Superficial Men" you have known!

If you like HBO's "Sex in the City", you'll love this collection of devastatingly accurate snapshots, caricatures and x-rays of the naked male libido.

Okay, I'll admit it - I laughed....and laughed. We've all been there: your ears start burning the second you turn to walk away from your 'superficial boyfriend'and you know you'd be a fool to ask what was said. Thank god for the superficial men in the world - they keep us from taking ourselves too seriously. Pascale's honesty about the superficial man's motives is either a walk down memory lane or a glance backwards toward the road not taken. I'm thinking we'll all do both after reading it! Good book!

Annie Kopchovshy decided to ride around the world on a bike. So she changed her name to Annie Londonderry, conned half the planet in helping her ride around the world, mostly on trains and steamboats, and made money while doing it. An interesting story? Why, yes. An amazing woman? Yes. Smart? Yes. Amoral? Sure. A con artist? Yes. Did she lie and cheat and act self centered? Yes. Did she leave behind her husband and kids during her travels? Yes.
Interesting, daring, and a great piece of history.

Instead of running to buy this book, bicycle there! I could not stop reading the story, and finished it over the weekend based upon my father's enthusiastic recommendation. What an amazing true story Peter Z. has discovered, digging from his family tree. This would make a blockbuster movie. It would secure at least an oscar nomination for the lucky actress who gets the role of Annie Londonberry, perhaps someone such as Natalie Portman?
Mr. Zheutlin is an erudite story teller and I can't wait to read his next book.
R. Bornstein, Ft Lauderdale, FL

"Around the World on Two Wheels" is the fascinating and highly amusing tale of how Annie Kopchovsky, a Jewish immigrant and mother of three living in Boston in the 1890s, singlehandedly reinvented herself as "Annie Londonderry," the subject of a high stakes wager over whether it was possible for a woman to cycle around the world. While the wager and much of Annie's recollection of her journey is apocryphal, she did succeed in circling the globe, all the time spinning fantastic travel tales to willing and gullible newspapermen.

Zheutlin has done a marvelous job in researching the tale of Annie, a distant relative, and also in separating the facts from the many fictions she put forward. He also puts Annie's groundbreaking journey in the proper historical/societal context.

A great read that will appeal to a large cross section of readers.

An extraordinary story! Peter Zheutlin, a descendant of Annie Londonderry's brother, has researched and written her incredible adventure. With all her claims, her outrageous self-promotion, her character flaws, Annie Londonderry has emerged again as one of modern women's most outstanding pioneers and role models. Her story--and this book--is inspiring, fun, and memorable. It is a stiring tale of one woman's incredible adventure, a provocative and thoughtful example of women's suffrage, and a tale of the Old West rarely investigated today. It is not only a must read, but a must have.

This true story of Annie (Kopchovsky)Londonderry is an exhilarating and fascinating romp through history with a companion the reader can't help but admire for her gumption, cleverness, and determination.

Annie was the first woman to ride her bicycle around the world, possibly as part of a contest. It's just as likely, however, that she fabricated an excuse to travel because she felt claustrophobic, trapped within the societal constraints placed on women during the Victorian era. The author, Peter Zheutlin, writes Annie's story with tenderness (he's a descendent of Annie's, but I suspect he would do so regardless), yet also with appropriate skepticism and rich historical detail. (Read the endnotes!)

While following in the wake of her fierce independence and almost reckless energy, the reader also explores the impact Annie's journey had on the advancement of women's rights, as well as uncomfortable questions it posed about traditional roles - including her own role as wife and mother.

I'm recommending "Around the World on Two Wheels" for my book club selection next month. We'll have plenty of issues to discuss, and we'll get to do so in the company of one incredibly memorable character -- Annie Londonderry.

What a wonderful way to introduce creative writing for children. This book is both interesting and informative--definitely something for your collection.

This book is great for teaching story elements. I always start out the year (when we are teaching narratives) reading this book. I talk about all the parts, and we discuss what makes a really good story. It really motivates the students to write and do it correctly. I allow the student to create their own story step-by-step as I read the book back to them a second time around. They love it!

This is an excellent book. It is a great resource to teach story elements.

Several years ago I got this book from our public library to read to our two small children and two others we were babysitting at the time. I don't know whether the children or I enjoyed it more, but later when I went back to borrow the library's copy again, I was disappointed to find it no longer available.

A month or so later, the children and I were invited to visit another home-based daycare in our neighbourhood for the afternoon--the "library lady" was coming for an hour of stories and games. At the end of the visit, she pulled out a stack of discarded picture books and said she was going to give them to the daycare moms, as the library no longer needed them.

"Thank you," I said, "but I'd better not take any--our family already has a lot of books." I suggested that the other mother keep all of them. However, as we walked toward the door I suddenly spotted "Aunt Isabel Tells a Good One" in the pile. I walked back, pointed, and said, "Well actually...can we have THAT one?" Thus we ended up with a copy of our own.

This book would be excellent for teaching ANYONE how to create a story. I'd never seen the process explained so clearly, so concisely, and so humourously. When I write my first book, I'll probably get "Aunt Isabel" out and use her for a template.

My boys are 3 yrs old and too young to create stories, but they still love the storyline and illustrations of the book itself. The book is wonderful for preschoolers since it uses animals for the characters and the wording is perfect for reading aloud. It's full of adventure and the "scary" parts are downplayed by the whimsical illustrations.

For older children who are developing their writing talents, this would be an great way to "explain" the characteristics of "a good story" as requested by Penelope. Throughout the book, Aunt Isabel adds various "ingredients" essential for a good story. She starts with a WHEN and WHERE, adding a hint of scariness and cheerfullness in the adventure. Her details of the characters allow us to be part of the story. The conversation of the main characters leads to ROMANCE, but "too much niceness is dull" so they add a PROBLEM. A little DANGER is also "good for a story". Of course the heroine has creative ways of getting them out of danger and things work out in the end. "It's the HAPPY ENDING every good story should have", according to Aunt Isabel. And best of all, Aunt Isabel leaves the ending open for more adventures, because now, it's time for bed.

"In 2004, the medical world was shaken a bit when scientists found a link between the incidence of breast cancer and antibiotic use... There has been much debate about this study, but given the increasing resistance of microbes to antibiotics, it generates further concern over the overuse of antibiotics in the United States." Written by Lynne Eldridge, M.D. and David Borgeson, MS, MPT, Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time: Practical Advice for Preventing Cancer is a health and wellness guide to preventing cancer through avoiding carcinogens and implementing lifestyle and diet practices that can reduce cancer risk. From a healthy sex life to the right amount of sleep to maintaining a proper weight, choosing one's medications carefully, and much more, Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time covers reasonable, practical strategies with a strong benefit for overall health. Written in plain terms for lay readers, Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time is highly recommended for its solid health and lifestyle improvement advice.

Dr. Lynne Eldridge and David Borgeson have written an authoritative, good-humored and remarkably practical book on how people can alter their lifestyles and add years to their lives. "Avoiding Cancer: One Day at a Time" is about do-able prevention, and sets a needed example for American health care, where research and resources disproportionately address diagnosis and treatment to the neglect of keeping people healthy in the first place. This is an easy read, loaded with practical information - from everyday environmental hazards, to avoidance of carcinogenic lifestyle choices, to a deep and useful discussion of preventive nutrition. And there is a terrific "Avoiding Cancer Recipe Collection" which could be expanded into a book of its own. In sum, the best reader-friendly cancer prevention book I've ever read.

In the introduction, the author says she wrote this book because she wants you to "be prepared" before the siren blows, announcing the disaster.

Say this out loud: One in every two American men and one out of every three American women will get cancer over the course of their lifetime (pg. 1). Now does the author have your attention?

Quoting from the British Cancer Control Society, "...treating disease is enormously profitable, preventing disease is not."

If far more money is spent to treat than prevent, and physicians are restricted by managed care--now is the time for us to know more and advocate for our own health. Other money issues concern how our food is produced (what is put on our plants to increase yield and what animals are fed to grow faster).

As consumers we will spend whatever is needed to treat illness, but we do not spend time and money to educate ourselves about avoiding the disease in the first place. And yet ... "80-95% of cancers that have a environmental component, only one third are due to smoking."

However: "One thousands Americans stop smoking every day--by dying." (Author unknown)

Chapter 2 starts with 25 questions--and now I AM concerned because I answered yes to too many--and my ignorance is showing. You may feel the same when you answer them.

The authors left no cancer-causing stone unturned. Through charts, graphs, lists, recipes and action suggestions, you will understand your body and your environment--and how what you eat and drink and do can affect your health. The back of the book has worksheets, very helpful appendices, a carcinogen list, references and index so you can find things easily.

Author Lynne Eldridge, M.D. is a medical doctor who has studied human exposure to pesticide and has practiced family medicine with an emphasis on prevention. David Borgeson has a Masters in epidemiology and is a practicing physical therapist that emphasizes health promotion.

The authors have asked us to make many changes in our lives to live longer and cancer free--and some are easy and some will be hard. They do not want us to become overwhelmed and do nothing--just start with what you can change today.

Armchair Interviews says: The contents can--and should frighten you into action and change. Maybe then you will never have to hear the words: You have cancer!

Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (12/07)

Cancer touches countless lives every day. Chances are that either you or somebody very near and dear to you has had to fight it at some point in your life. While medicine has certainly advanced greatly in the past, mortality rates from cancer are still high and still scary.

While it seems to me that the American way of medicine tends to be geared much more towards curing the disease once it manifests itself than to preventing it in the first place, I found "Avoiding Cancer One Day at A Time" a very refreshing departure from the usual pattern. Extremely well researched and comprehensive, this incredibly readable book leads the reader through many facets of possible cancer prevention. While it is obvious that the authors have done an incredible amount of serious research, the book never gets too technical for an average reader. From a simple introduction to cancer prevention to an eye-opening Cancer Prevention IQ Pretest and a chapter on what cancer is and what causes it, the authors alert us to numerous things that we could do to increase our chances of not being one of the scary cancer statistics in the future.

While authors primarily focus on primary cancer prevention - as in before it actually happens, there is also a chapter on secondary prevention (finding cancer and preventing it from spreading) and some notes on tertiary prevention (support methods for individuals with cancer). Each of the chapters concludes with a list of practical points, and if you start your journey just by reading those, you'll have to agree that there are very many simple and eminently sensible steps we can take to increase our chances of staying healthy. If any of the topics discussed in the particular chapter really intrigue you, there are very comprehensive lists of resources and further online information available for advanced research.

Chapter 10, the "Avoiding Cancer Recipe Collection," features not only mouth-watering, yet sensible recipes, but also stories of people whose lives were changed by cancer forever. Do take a particular note of the conversion table for the recipes there: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of care.

The book concludes with Appendices, the first Appendix being the worksheets for applying cancer-prevention principles, the second one a scarily long list of carcinogens; and a nearly 30-pages long list of references.

"Avoiding Cancer One Day at A Time" was a fascinating read, which showed me how little most of us know about proper cancer prevention and how easy a great majority of those prevention steps really are. This book should find a permanent place in every American home, where it should be read, re-read and used often.

Paranoia would be a perfectly logical response to this cancer-prevention book. You might be tempted to rifle through your medicine cabinet and laundry room shelves, disposing of any product that isn't vinegar, baking soda or bottled water. You may never use an air freshener again or allow another French fry to pass between your lips. In fact, Dr. Lynne Eldridge and her brother, epidemiologist David Borgeson, warn against becoming fanatical in attempting to reduce carcinogenic threats in your environment. But they aren't apologetic about presenting a wealth of valuable information that could help prolong your life. The authors admit that links between certain chemicals and cancers are inconclusive, and they judge the medical establishment pretty harshly. Then they present the most current information based on studies and statistics, and leave it to you to accept or reject their recommendations. We recommend this book in the belief that much of what the authors cover makes sense. Don't get scared; get busy.

I enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it.
I think it should be made into a movie as I'm sure others who have read this book would agree as well.
I have personally met Mr. Yeates. He has a very warm and engaging personality. To sum it up Lanier Yeates genius comes alive in this book.

Bay Of One Hundred Fires is a "what if" novel should Saddam Hussein have had and employed the weapons of mass destruction that the U.S. and its allies thought he had prior to the American invasion that toppled the despot from his absolute control of Iraq. At the heart of this riveting story are Juan Navarro, his sister Mariisa, and his father Salvador, a family of poor Cubans who find themselves swept up into the struggle between the American navy and a global terror network. Another key protagonists are a young Navy lieutenant commander, maverick CIA analysts, a self-made oil explorer, a nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser skipper by the name of Hoss Mueller, an aging Communist dictator, rogue scientists with special training, and genocidal, suicidal fanatics funded by Middle Eastern oil money. Bay Of One Hundred Fires could be a story ripped from the pages of any contemporary newspaper. This is the kind of "can't put it down" action/adventure/suspense novel of which block buster movies are made!

This was a very exciting novel. I found it hard to put the book down. The way Mr. Yeates tied the locations together was great. I found myself able to see these things in my mind's eye.
Being from New Orleans I found the parts about Louisiana especialy gradifying. The discriptions of the area were very detailed and the part about the Zoo to do showed a perticular knowlage of the event that made me feel like I had been there with them.
In all I have recomended this book to several of my friends and I would highly recomend it to anyone who enjoys military and spy novels and anyone from the New Orleans area.
This was one of the BEST BOOKS I HAVE READ SINCE PATTON.
JGROACH
FRANKLINTON, LOUISIANA

Spellbinding! Great piece of fiction! Mr. Yeates should be in line for the next techno thriller award.

The grand plans of the terrorists on 9/11--that our government, economy, and way of life could be taken down in one fatal blow--are revived and exceeded in Mr. Yeates high-tech thriller titled Bay of One Hundred Fires. From Iraq to Syria to North Korea to Cuba the face of terror knows no bounds in its diabolical schemes. WOMD are as transportable as evil thoughts in the minds of men. The only question is whether an unlikely but very believable cast of characters from a simple Cuban family, to Captain Mueller, to a couple of military "buds" from the Bayou State, can save the day. At the very least it will take enormous skill, luck, courage and bravery to face the dark force of evil and prevail. Mr. Yeates has done his homework and has provided his characters with the latest, most innovative technology to assist them in their battle. And what a battle it will be! Reader, listen to me: set aside some time and strap yourself in your chair before you open this book. And then be prepared to not only pray but sweat blood, line by line, page by page as everything important to us hangs in the balance by less than a thread.

A sequel is foreshadowed in the final pages. Let us hope that Mr. Yeates not delay in identifying what no doubt will turn out to be another devious plot upon which our freedom depends on the heroism and knowledge of technology by a few unforgetable individuals.

Outstanding performance, Mr. Yeates.

This is one of those rare works by a true master. The following quote from page 161 definitely applies to the book itself:

"If we understand the preceding ideas, we understand the foundations of modern mathematics".

This is what this book is about. If you're looking precisely for this, as I was, you'll be truly enlightened by its reading.

I assume that it was very unusual, in the early 20th century, for scholars of Whitehead's stature to write for an educated lay readership, and that IM is one of only a handful of 'popular mathematics' books of its day. As such, IM and Whitehead are to be commended. Aside from an occasional reference to the 'ether', as others have noted, IM is current and compelling in every respect. It is a fine read (though rather curiously organized: it's final two chapters seem to belong much earlier in the book). I give it 4 stars only because others, standing on Whitehead's shoulders, have done a much better job of covering similar ground. I have in mind, especially, Tobias Dantzig's first-rate "Number: The Language of Science" (recently reissued).

A word to the wise: avoid the Barnes and Noble edition of IM. It is rife with typos, not to mention a missing diagram. I don't know whether the errors are B&N's own, or owe to the fact(?) -- it seems -- that this edition corresponds to (though does not photo-reproduce) the original 1911 edition, which (judging from the latest offerings on Amazon), was superseded by a corrected edition in 1948. Whatever the source of these errors, they are many and greatly distracting.

"The study of mathematics is apt to commence in disappointment."

"One of the causes of the apparent triviality of much of elementary algebra is the preoccupation of the textbooks with the solutions of equations."

In discussing Descartes' coordinate geometry, Whitehead states, "Philosophers, when they have possessed a thorough knowledge of mathematics, have been among those who have enriched the science with some of its best ideas. On the other hand, it must be said that, with hardly an exception, all remarks on mathematics made by those philosophers who have possessed but a slight or hasty and late-acquired knowledge of it, are entirely worthless, being either trivial or wrong."

"Civilization advances by extending the number of important operations which we can perform without thinking about them. Operations of thought are like cavalry charges in a battle - they are strictly limited in number, they require fresh horses, and must only be made at decisive moments."

"The really profound changes in human life have all had their ultimate origin in knowledge pursued for its own sake."

Alfred North Whitehead, a remarkable British mathematician and philosopher, enlivens his look at the fundamental ideas underlying mathematics with provocative observations. Nonetheless, Whitehead does not avoid mathematics while trying to explain mathematics. While this book is clearly for the layman, it may occasionally require some effort. An Introduction to Mathematics is delightful, insightful, and intellectually stimulating.

Whitehead argues that mathematics is an abstract science that is primarily concerned with generality, not specificity. In trying to master the techniques and mechanics of arithmetic, algebra, and geometry, many students fail to recognize the fundamental ideas. They become lost in a murky fog of details.

I found myself surprised by Whitehead's insightful explanations of familiar topics like variables, constants, and simple algebraic equations. I know math. But I now recognize that I had not really given sufficient thought to some very basic concepts. Just a few pages into this little book I was actually looking at some familiar concepts from a very different perspective.

Later discussions on mathematical symbolism, imaginary numbers, conic sections, trigonometry, and infinite series move more slowly and may require rereading. But the insights gained will more than offset any additional effort.

Whitehead occasionally digresses to discuss the act of mathematical creation. He agrees with the poet Shelley who compared the discovery of "some great truth" to the slow snowflake by snowflake accumulation that leads to an avalanche. While not discounting the role of genius, Whitehead sees breakthroughs in mathematical thought, often as unexpected as an avalanche, the natural result of the accumulation of knowledge through the centuries.

Whitehead's small book could serve as the basis for a short class or tutorial for high school students (or perhaps even for humanities majors with less than fond feelings for mathematics.) An Introduction to Mathematics is an effective counterbalance to standard textbooks that focus too much on technique, manipulation, and mechanics. Five stars.

Whitehead's "Introduction to Mathematics" is an illustrative, lucid, and concise discourse on the "three great mathematical ideas of the variable, of algebraic form, and of generalization." As other reviewers have indicated, the author presupposes that the reader have at least *some* experience with elementary algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. The book's greatest strength, however, lie in its ability to supplement the rigor of an undergraduate math education (or something akin) with the "why" of said education. In sum, both math- and non-math oriented folk will benefit from reading this book --- the non-mathematicians may be turned on to the elegance of the discipline whereas the mathematicians may be reminded (gasp!) of its beauty and relevance.

This is a nice, little book: short, clear, and very well written. I confess, though, that I'm not sure who its best audience really is. If you know some math, and have thought and read AT ALL about the philosophy of math, you will not find much new in this book; still, since it will be quick and easy to read, you will probably find it worthwhile, for the occasional new insight or alternative way of looking at things. I found the section on series particularly worth reading, because series were not well covered in my own math education. I also found the comments on the measurement of time to be subtle and thought-provoking.

If you know little or no math, you MIGHT find this a good introduction (as the title implies), but don't expect any detailed exposition on the actual PRACTICE of math. This book is really an introduction to the philosophy of math. It is concerned with WHY we do math, and why math takes the form that it does. Whitehead's goal is to introduce some key concepts, common to all math, such as variables and abstraction. Any actual proofs or expositions in the book are included only as examples of how these concepts play out in seemingly different areas of study.

Perhaps the reader best served by this book would be one who is comfortable with the practice of math at least through the basic high school level (geometry, algebra, trigonometry), and possibly more, but is just starting to think about the underlying philosophy: the "why" of math as opposed to the "how" of it.

For those who don't know, Whitehead was, of course, one of the premier philosophers of math of the early 20th century, co-author with Bertrand Russell of the 3-volume magnum opus "Principia Mathematica". The present book was written around 1911, and is definitely dated in spots - for instance he talks about electro-magnetic vibrations in the "ether" - but that doesn't detract from either its usefulness or readability.

This is truely the best bonsai book that I have seen. It is Great for any true Bon-Sai enthusiast. In Comparison to the other books on the market this is by far the best one that I have seen so far. This book was written by a true master of bonsai who greatly understands the sciences and art of bonsai.

In comparison to other books this book was written as a guide to the members who participated in his workshop, but eventually became published due to the pamhlets (the original book)becoming to big and expensive to print, while the other books on the market are more for generating revenue by exciting some one who knows nothing about bonsai and believes that they can learn all from such a book. Sensai Naka covers all of the basics from the soil of the Bonsai all the way up to the apex, as well as all of the different styles and demonstrates what it should look like and its different laws.

One of the two best books on bonsai that I have ever owned. No bonsai artist should be without it. Mr. Naka does a great job of explaining the different basic techques that can be used in creating great bonsai. A job well done.

Accept first off if you buy this book, there are very few pretty pictures. This is not a coffee table book. There are however many detailed diagrams and tons of information that any serious bonsai artist should have. Naka de-mystifies the art of bonsai and gives clear cut diagrams that are easy to understand and (even more important) easy to apply to your own trees.

If you want a picture book of bonsai this is not for you, if you grow bonsai you should buy this book. In fact if you only buy one book on bonsai, buy this one.

This book is effectively in print -- the latest printing was 2002 -- and you can still get new copies from bonsaimonk.com or bonsai-bci.com/books.htm, among others. I'm sure eventually amazon will get some copies with the next printing -- they've been coming out every two to three years. Until then, don't pay $50 for this book used. And yes, as another reviewer said, he does sign almost every copy -- so don't pay extra for the collectibles!

And yes, it is a terrific piece of work -- like being walked through a hands-on class by a tutor who demonstrates all the possible mistakes along the way by showing, not telling. Very pleasing to the eye as well, for a micro-publisher's book.--Shayana Kadidal

In case you were wondering, the author, John Naka, was considered one of the top 5 bonsai artists of the late 20th and early 21st centuries (John died recently in 2004). The display pavillion of the National Bonsai Collection in the National Arboretum in Washington D.C. is named after him, and he is considered the "founding father" of American Bonsai. For many Americans, John humanized the art of Bonsai, and opened a window to what is for many people a new art form and a new culture.

As other reviewers have stated, this is not a book for people who are looking for glossy photos of finished bonsai (there are plenty of those elsewhere). Instead, this book is written for practitioners of the art of bonsai - it could be considered a compilation of John's working notes from his lifetime of experience and the numerous workshops and classes he gave. Much of the text feels like you are listening to a bonsai master talk to a class instead of reading a text book, and many (if not all) of the hand-drawn illustrations are by John personally. The text is very clear and easy to understand, and the complexities of bonsai are slowly revealed through the quantity of the content provided instead of the complexity.

Pros: Easy to understand. Great illustrations that illustrate step-by-step techniques. Depth of content.
Cons: Low print quality (low quality black & white photos) - this is a workbook and NOT a coffee table book but it leaves you wishing that there was another version out there with color photos and highly quality paper.

I would highly recommend this book, and its companion (Bonsai Techniques II) for any bonsai enthusiast. If you are lucky, you can get one of the few that John personally signed.

I've recently looked up Elliot Essman's Building Yourself after having come across the book in a second-hand bookshop. It seems that no matter which of the (numbered) sections you turn to, his crisp writing clears your head. He's got the whole thing on the web now in a revised version at buildingyourself.com/build along with a lot of other success material I've been able to really use in my insurance sales practice. Not too many "success" books can really help someone who is already motivated, but I like the choppy, unsentimental way this is written.

I keep becoming absorbed in big parts of this book, and one day I'm going to read it from cover to cover. I cannot relate to everything the author covers, but different parts keep grabbing me. I don't know how else to describe this book. It's always there for me. I love the quotes. I keep it by my bed. I want everyone I know to have a copy.

My review title says it all. Here is a step by step guide to success in every aspect of life. Every time I open the book I see it in a different way. There's always a guidepost I can use.

Building Yourself seems at first glance to be a practical guide to life. But this author is so sure you can succeed that I feel now I have been "infected" by his confidence. I love this book. I am ordering copies for my two teenage nephews and for the local library.

Many people have the ambition to succeed but lack a game plan to achieve that success. The author creatively guides and helps you formulate that game plan that we are all too inexperienced or fearful to do on our own. I believe he is able to do this extremely well because of his knowledge and `feel' for the intricacies of our human nature. He understands our fears and senses our potential. Through `Building Yourself' the author deftly leads us step by step towards realizing our ambition.

Written for a little older child, but when you are trying to normalize Chemo in their life anything is worth a try and this one gets their attention.

I was looking for a book to help explain my 4 yo daughter's leukemia to her. After finding lots of really BAD books, we ran into Chemo Girl. FABULOUS book that is written by a 9 year old girl with cancer. She introduces a superhero to help a child with cancer. Chemo Girl races to the rescue and defeats the cancer. The story gives an uplifting hopeful spin on the chemotherapy treatments that kids get. Doesn't explain the disease process for leukemia or other cancers, but does give a hopeful picture.

Pros - drawings, storyline, inspiring.
cons - may cover treatments that your child doesn't have (like radiation - which now scares my daughter). Nothing else. Get this book!

Do get this book!

Chemo Girl is a fun story written by a girl who is undergoing treatment for cancer. She weaves terms into characters and events in the story to create an understanding of Chemo Therapy, and what it is doing to fight the cancer. It is a creative look into a complicated topic that kids can understand. I gave this book to one of my elementary students who is currently in treatment so she could get a grasp of what chemo is and how it works in the battle. This is an excellent book for an children facing such a challenge.

I didn't know Christina Richmond well when she was alive. I saw her occasionally at 1 thing or another, and she was always a great person. Her book is a reminder to those who ever knew her (even just a little bit, like me)and a guide, for those who never had the priveledgeto know what a special person she was. She had a srenght like nobody else, and was always positive. This book serves as a readable memorial to Chemo-girl, who is now an angel.

Chemo-Girl is exactly what it sounds like -- it's a story that aims to help children who have been diagnosed with cancer. For a 12 year old, it is extremely well imagined and structured: this book makes chemotherapy understandable to children and, in the process, a good deal less scary. It also helps those siblings and friends surrounding a chemo patient understand the therapy without intimidating or frightening language. I would seriously recommend this book to parents and friends of children with cancer being treated with chemotherapy and the great patients themsleves . . . Anything that helps, folks, anything taht helps.