Other The Books

Both my sister and I have multiple copies of this book with we hoard very carefully. I can't say I have ever liked the cover art, which, as with many science fiction books, has very littel to do with the actual story. The story is wonderful and stretches the mind. Should be required reading for any state department employee.

This is the book that introduced me to the idea that body language could be, and should be, studied exactly like, and along with, any foreign language. The linguistical study, as vital as it is, still takes second place to the mystery that underlies the whole book. There are a few names that can be hard to say correctly, but it is well worth taking the time to learn them. This book is more than just a simple mystery novel, ultimately dealing with the question "just what does 'human' mean?" Unreservedly recommended.

This is a truly incredible book. Not quite as light-hearted as her other novel (Mirabile) but very entertaining. I wish she would write more.

Hellspark is quite possibly my single favorite book - and I read an awful lot of books. All of Janet Kagan's books are wonderful, and my only gripe with her as an author is that she's only written three so far (Please Ma'am can I have some more?) Hellspark is a fascinating first contact book, with a crystal clear look at how our culture informs our assumptions, and the huge messes those assumptions can cause. Tocohl Susumo (our Hellspark protagonist) is wonderful as the only good cultural interpreter in a mass of surveyors from vastly different worlds, Maggy, her computer is a delightful mix of rapid thinking and small-child personality, and her aliens (the Sprookje) are truly alien without being unbelievable or trite. If you've already read this one, go on and try Mirabile and Uhura's Song, which are also wonderful reads.

"Hellspark," by Janet Kagan, is a flat out readable book. It gets everything right, from the science to the psychology to the anthropology -- everything works.

The plot is somewhat difficult to describe. Tocohl Susumo is a ship captain, trader, and bon vivant; her sentient computer Margaret, Lord Lynn is her sole companion.

At the Festival of Saint Veschke on the world of Sheveschkem, Tocohl finds danger, mystery, intrigue . . . and maybe even a hint of scandal. She goes to Lassti to find out whether or not a new race of beings, the sprookjes, are sentient -- or aren't.

There's a whole lot more to it; it's a comedy of manners, a comedy of language, and a hint of romance among Tocohl and Om Im Chadeayne helps to spice the mix. (The romance between Alfvaen and swift-Kalat does even more along these lines.)

I wish I knew how to describe this book better. All I can say is that I enjoy it for the language, the sense of humor, the mystery, the intrigue, the conflict, and everything else besides.

Five stars plus, recommended.

Oh yeah, and if you like this, you'll probably like the other couple of books Ms. Kagan has written -- "Mirabile" and "Uhura's Song" -- as well as works by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee, Lois Bujold, and possibly David Weber.

Barb Caffrey

I took this book along on a recent vacation and was thoroughly absorbed in it. I love Cornelius Ryan's writing style. He keeps it moving and made me feel as if I was there. I can give no bigger compliment than that. I have read almost all of Stephen Ambrose's books and numerous other WWII books, I rate this book up there with them all. It is a must read for the serious WWII reader.

Not for the experienced WWII reader but a nice overview to put in your library. This book is still light reading in comparison to books like "Hells Gate"about the Cherkassy Pocket, Not the definitive book on the topic as I say but still good reference material. In the light of new material available and better divisional and unit accounts keep reading what is coming out now and build your knowledge one book at a time.

Ryan does such a superb job in knitting together the state of so many things happening in the city prior to being abandoned by its leaders and being taken by the Soviets. Mayhem, confusion, lies, and destruction abound, whilst life somehow continues for so many. This is very well researched, supported by many first hand accounts, and recounted in mesmerizing fashion. I've read Beevor's book too, "The Fall of Berlin 1945," which is also a fine account, but this one tops it.

When I first read this book 25 years ago I could barely put it down, and I've read it several more times since then. This is simply the best single title on the battle for Berlin.

Cornelius Ryan is a wonderful writer and throughout this and all of his books you can picture the events that unfold. I could not put this book down and spent several late nights because of this. I would highly recomment this book to anyone interested in history, military or otherwise. I have to say I was amazed at the service I received from Amazon.com. I ordered this book on a Sunday and received it on Tues. all the way to Cave Junction, OR. Thank you! Rudy

Excellent how so manay different events were put in such a good sequence.

I was very pleased with this book and so was my husband. Very interesting to read, lots of helpful information, and not cutesy girly stuff either. My husband took up mosaics and was really disgusted with the painfully cheap designs and projects in most of the mosaic books, much less the obscure directions. You could put this book in the category of home remodeling or fine arts, and it would stand well - the technical information was that good. We both really appreciated the format and the quality. Great pictures, too.

I absolutely love this artist and her book - the photos and instructions are beautiful and clearly detailed - I am embarking on a new journey into the art of making clay tile and assemblages, and the ideas presented in this book have been fantastic - I have already started ordering supplies from the recommended vendors and am so excited about incorporating these ideas and techniques into my own creations!

This is one of the few inspiring and how-to books I've come across in a while. Many have claims and teasers on the outside but this one actually gives the reader the complete background and foundation with which to springboard the techniques for use in the artist's work. Highly recommended!

This book will make you smile at every page. So many fun ideas that it gives you the inspiration to get going.

I purchased this book to make a mirror for a 6th grade class project. I've never worked with polymer clay before so I was a little nervous. The directions were easy to follow and the end result was amazing. Our family plans on doing a mirror at our next family reunion for the grandparents. It was fun, easy and once you start you'll want to keep making more and trying different techniques.

This book gives a very clear and concise description of the Marshall Protocol, an anti-biotic based relief program for Auto-Immune disease.

I have given it to my family Doctor to read and he is convinced.

I am starting the protocol as soon as I have a couple of tests undertaken to check for suitability.

I bought this book for 2 people i know who have RA. I don't think either of them read it. You really have to be ready to think outside the traditional medical box to get this book. It was originally recommended to me by someone with RA who read it and is doing the treatments and is living a wonderful life because of it. She said it saved her life. I think it's worth knowing this information.

This text provided my family and I an alternative treatment outlook for the future of an RA suffer. At my age, 28 the toxic medication on offer from my specialist wasn't appealing. We were able to read and understand the disease better, it's long term impact on our lives and hopefully have found a safe effective alternative treatment. We have nothing to loose.

An excellent book for newly diagnosed people with RA who are unaware of alternative treatment available using anti-biotics, instead of current medications perscribed by mainstream doctors, which I believe are destructive to the human body.

Unfortunately doctors do not feel free to administer anti-biotic treatment because it is not approved, yet they can administer drugs that have destructive side effects. I did not feel I could survive the strong drugs being used as the standard of care due to my age. Luckily I found this alternative that has given me hope. Although I have just begun treatment I am experiencing improvement.

The book also has information on The Road Back Foundation, a resource for people affected by arthritis and other diseases.

I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis at 33 years old. I grew up very healthy and active. In September 2005, I had my second child, a girl. I was 32 years old. During both pregnancies I had hyperemesis gravidarum, which means extreme nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. In October and November of 2005, I had two root canals (I ruined my teeth from vomiting during pregnancy). My immune system was down because I had just had a baby (the immune system lowers as to not reject the fetus), I was getting very little sleep with a newborn, and I had just had two root canals, the perfect entrance for bacteria. In December 2005, the balls of my feet began to ache. By the beginning of January 2006, I knew something was wrong. I did some investigating later and found out I had a great aunt with Scleroderma and three second cousins with RA. There are also a lot of allergies and asthma in my family, indicating a pattern of hypersensitive immune systems. (I always thought I was the lucky one in the family who didn't get allergies. It seems my allergies have just manifested themselves in a different manner.) About a week later, I was in extreme pain and I had read a lot about RA and knew that my symptoms matched. I referred myself to a local rheumatologist. My pain had spread to over 35 joints. I was having trouble lifting my newborn baby, opening jars, turning car keys, fastening infant seats, putting on my 4-year-old's socks, brushing my teeth, washing my hair, etc. I required at least 12 hours of sleep at night, and was still tired during the day. I was very depressed. I would cry every day, usually out of frustration because I could not undo my seat belt or put on my son's socks for school. Everything that I read said this disease was progressive, degenerative and crippling. I could not imagine it getting any worse than it was! I was referred to [...] by other RA patients. I read and read. I contacted my local area contact. I told him I was considering starting Enbrel the following week. He e-mailed back that I had a choice to make. I could give antibiotics a try and possibly go into remission or get significantly better; or I could go on potentially harmful immune suppressors, which would usually eventually wear off and I would have to jump from one drug to the next. And what would happen if I ran out of drugs to try? He said there is hope in AP. With AP, I had the hope of getting better. With the other drugs, I was merely suppressing the symptoms, not getting to the root cause of the illness. I ordered the book The New Arthritis Breakthrough and started posting on the roadback board. It made much more sense than the conventional autoimmune wisdom which stated that: One random day my immune system just up and decided to attack my joints for no reason at all. I finally came to the conclusion that I did not want to just suppress my pain and symptoms. I wanted my life back. I knew that in the past I always tended to get side effects of medications and I thought I would probably be one of the 1% of people who got lymphoma, TB, or severe infection from the biologics. I knew I wanted to be alive to watch my kids grow up. It was not like I was NOT going to be treating my RA; I would be treating my RA with an American College of Rheumatology approved DMARD. I decided to try the antibiotic protocol. It was the best decision I have ever made. Within 1-2 months of being on Zithromax, the depression and fatigue had disappeared. Within 3 months, I felt 60% better. After 10 months, I was 98% back to my normal self. 18 months later, and I have only one finger that will not bend all the way into a fist (it is about an inch away). My rheumatoid factor has dropped from 282 to 28 and my CCP has dropped from it's all-time high of 153 to 55. My sed rate is 1.0 and my CRP is .3. I walk two miles a day. My feet, neck, knees, ankles, and shoulders do not hurt at all! I thank God, Dr. Thomas McPherson Brown, Henry Scammell,and The Road Back Foundation for giving me my life back!

The story of Olive shows us how we all have strengths and those strengths are important even if they are different from others. It can teach us to be creative on how we can best use our strengths. Most of all it is a sweet story about a very sweet dog named Olive. I loved reading it as an adult and gave it to someone who also enjoyed it very much.

this is a great edition of Olive. the illustration is as wonderful as the story. it's one of my husband's favorites and he wasn't disappointed. the look of this book corresponds with the latest movie edition.

No other Christmas carol has such a hold on children's imaginations as "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer." (*see note) Even the youngest child understands the joke of this book's title.

When a little dog named Olive hears the lyrics "All of the other reindeer..." she thinks the line is, "Olive, the other reindeer" and concludes that she is in fact, a reindeer, not a dog. Hi-jinks ensue.

This tenth anniversary edition has scratch and sniff gumdrops, flaps to open, levers to pull and a pop-up scene at the end. Reading the "otto-biography" of Seibold on the Chronicle Books site, I learned that the names of his children (and their images) are tucked into the illustrations, shades of Marc Brown and his Arthur books.

Skip the video and enjoy this book. It is a charmer.

I got this for my 3 granddaughters, ages 6 and under. They loved it!

What a great book! My family and I loved the dog, Olive, that came with the book, too. I plan to read this book, and share the stuffed toy with the area school.

One of those books every home needs on the shelf. By the way, read it.

I have made it a habit this year to get through many of the classics on audio book during my daily commute. I picked Pilgrim's Progress since it was one of the most influential English books ever published, and I wanted to see what it was all about.

The audio book was published by Blackstone Audio and the reader was Robert Whitfield. The reader did an excellent job and was very easy to listen to. He did some characterization with his voice that made it easy to know which character was speaking. I was a little worried about the older style English, but it gave me no problem. It probably helps that I am familiar with the King James Version of the Bible. Overall, listening to this book worked out very well.

This is the first book length allegory that I have been through and I thought it was an excellent way to teach. There is no doubt which principal each character is supposed to represent by their name, and their actions represented that well also. I can understand why so many families had this book in their libraries. As far as Christian doctrine goes, there are a few things that some would disagree with, but most of the principals taught are still generally accepted today. The path to God's presence is filled with opposition, but there is help available and the reward is worth it.

I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to understand an important part of our heritage, and to see what an effective tool allegory is.

I love this book. It was written from a jail cell in the 1600s. This version is the original so the text is difficult to read at first but I would not want a watered down modernized version (which can be purchased). I find if I read in chunks it starts to flow nicely. The characters have names like, "Evangelist", "Piety", "Talkative", "Faith", etc. So you know just where someone is coming from. I have marked up this book with pencil just like I do my scriptures! It is like reading one long parable in story form! Cool book. I'm glad to have found it.

We've read this book to our son and he has really enjoyed it. He doesn't yet fully understand everything and we had to stop and explain a lot to him, but it is something that we plan on reading over and over again as our kids continue to grow.
I read a review that stated that a main flaw in this book was the lack of one on one relationship with Christ. I can understand what they are saying, but I think what you have to keep in mind is that while we are here on earth and in our day and age we do not physically see Christ. He was once here walking and living on this earth, but He is now in heaven. He uses other means now to maintain a personal relationship with us. For example, we can know Christ through His word and through prayer. Just as in the book, He often also sends other Christians along in our life to help us and encourage us. This book is a good example of a walk of faith. We can't see and physically touch Christ right now, but when we are in heaven we WILL see Him just as Bunyan talks about in the book. Christian persevered in his walk without physically seeing Christ and he was rewarded in the end for his faith. For now, how much greater our reward is for those who have not seen Him and yet believed!

Every christian household should have this volume to read and share with the famiy. It never fails to bring me to tears when pilgrim falls before the cross and looses the burden of sin. It is a must have for every christian library and the additional insights from Bunyan are a added blessing!! I cannot say enough good things .....

We bought this for our young children (5-year old and 4-year old) as they were excited by the Pirates of the Caribbean movie trilogy.

We bought this book along with "Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter's Companion" last year. We take the books off the shelf every couple months and read through them for bedtime. The books will stay in our collection for years to come.

This book helps introduces kids to a large amount of new vocabulary but, more importantly, covers so much ground that it acts as a fantastic springboard to further study history or science.

This book is so interesting! I love it! My 5 y.o. daughter even loves this book!

This is an all around excellent book, I am completely satisfied with this purchase, and I highly recommend this book for the pirates enthusiast in your family!!

My adult daughter is mad about pirates. Her niece and nephew (6 and 10) bought this for her for Christmas. It was a hit.

I bought this for my 7 year old nephew who had a newfound fashion for all things Pirate. Being a book (at a birthday party) it didn't get his full attention until later on when he asked his parents to sit and read it to him.
Now it's a year later and I found out the book was a tremendous success from the get-go. He brought it into school to share with the class and every kid there wanted his own copy so phone calls were made and the hunt was on. A few parents were able to get a copy. My nephew and his friends dressed up as pirates and went together to see the latest Pirates... movie. Later my nephew was huddled with his special book, relishing all the details it provided. This book is interactive by design which makes the reading all the more personal and imaginative.

She knows all the ins and outs of using polymer clay. She can make it gorgeous and, with easy directions, she can show you how to as well. I have followed the signs and, in the end, unlike many others, my pieces look just as good as hers!! Miracle!

Very Helpful Book about making Pretty Polymer Clay Stuff! I really like this book alot. :0)

At first I was not interested in "creative traditions". After a friend showed me a copy I decided this was a must have. The photography is excellent and step-by-step instructions are clear. I was surprised and pleased by how Judy Belcher's techniques could enhance my most contemporary work and with the wide variety of "traditions" she presents.

This is the perfect and complete polymer clay book. Step by step are so clear and Judy Belcher is a talented and generous clay artist. Must buy.

This is a wonderfully inspirational polymer clay book, with a fresh approach and new ideas. The photos, diagrams, and written instructions are detailed enough to actually be useful and the projects are enticing enough to make readers want to actually try them, rather than just view the pictures. This is a fine addition to my polymer clay library and a book I'll refer to often.

Delightful stories of the Hundred-Acre Wood and all of its lovable characters. Pooh and friends have quite a few adventures (or misadventures) in this collection of Winnie-the-Pooh stories. The stories remind me of childhood, making them special each time I reread them. I wouldn't even be able to choose my favorite chapter in this book -- each one is full of wonder, laughter, and Pooh.

The charming and timeless story of Christopher Robin, Winnie-the-Pooh, their friends and their adventures. I truly enjoyed this more than I thought I would. After all the years working at TDS where we had the Disney version of Winnie-the-Pooh shoved at us from all directions, I'd taken to having a distinctly soured view of the bear and all his friends.

It occurred to me one day that I had never actually read the original, and thought maybe I should give that a chance, and am glad that I did. It's a simple and direct story, and proved to be a joy to read.

What does it say of a reader who, as an adult, reads 'Winnie the Pooh' for the first time - and - and - feels it one of the best novels he ever read.
So pristine, so perfect - would I have appreciated it as a child? Who knows (I was too busy feeding my literary hunger with comics). Anyway I have my copy of 'Winnie the Pooh' on the top shelf of my book case, next to the others I consider great (Ulysses, 1984, Great Expectations ...) for all to see.
And who can contest that for "I am a bear of very little brain, and big things bother me".

My 2 1/2 year old loves this! It is soooo much better than letting her watch tv as this uses her imagination. I'm very happy I bought this.

This book was such a sweet little something to come home to at night. This book isn't just for kids, but for adults too! relax and enjoy!

Chicken soup for the cat and dog lovers soul is a wonderful book that warms my heart and gives me a happy feeling reading thru the stories and the love people feel for there pets. When I recently lost my beloved siamese cat it helped me to feel better about my "furry baby" passing over the rainbow bridge because I knew he had a wonderful life and he knew he was cherished. All the books in the chicken soup series are very uplifting and spirtual and make people smile, I highly recommend them.

I have bought many books from this series and found this one to be my favorite. This book is a must for the animal lover. I will read a few stories before bed every night. Some stories bring tears to my eyes and others make me simle from ear to ear. Great book that people of any age will love!!

My 10 year-old son tried reading it,and thought the stories were too sad, but I adore this book. Very sweet, humbling stories about good people and good animals.

I really enjoyed this book. The main reason I liked it is because it is all about cats and dogs, and I am a hardcore animal lover. Another reason I liked it is because the stories are not made up in someone's mind. These stories are real stories that real people lived through. The last reason I liked this book so much is because you don't have to read it like an ordinary book. You can read it like I did and just jump around to stories that sound good to you, instead of reading the book cover to cover.

In this volume, Mr. Canfield and crew have compiled a smorgasboard selection of short stories about pets who fortify us and make life bearable. Especially poignant to me was "the medicine cat" as I, too, had one named Tosca. She gave up the ghost a few months ago at the age of eighteen years, as I had no way to get to her when she needed support of the kind she gave to me several years ago. They recognize the special love and devotion of animals to bless our hearts and homes.

"Cat lovers will tell you that felines are 'poetry in motion,' living sculptures at rest, and that the warm weight of a purring cat...is a surefire cure for all that ails you."

It is the physical acts of love to bring the gift of life as expressed in "The Healing Touch." I cried as I read "The Language of the Heart" about an unusual rabbit and his healing the hurt of a little girl who'd turned inward and no longer could talk. Something had died in that child which this loving rabbit cured. His innocence and trust had rekindled the same qualities in the child. The loving presence of an animal can heal where words have no effect. Alas, Roger Rabbit bit the tip off my little finger one day, which led me to the ER for a Saran-wrap bandage (to stop the bleeding -- a bandaid wouldn't work) and a tetanus shot. Needless to say, I found him another home.

"A small gesture -- the insistent tap of a cat's paw" about Jack, an adopted stray kitten (like Dante in Troy, Alabama), who grew into Ellen's savior. He woke her from a daydream of tragedy; Star woke me up with that same gesture over and over so that I would not strangle from Acid Reflux. Pets do love and care for their owners. This volume is one I will treasure for years to come. It is full of memories about pet owners' animals, not just cats and dogs.