Other The Books

This is a great book. I find myself laughing at times, grimacing at others.

The author has a great understanding of snakes and other reptiles. His respect for crocodiles comes across very clearly in this book. He also has a great understanding of human nature and some of the stories he tells are touching and sensitive. Others are hilarious and I laughed out loud while reading this book

The book is well written and enjoyable. It is easy to read and grabs you right from the opening pages. Even when he is lecturing to the reader or providing information, it is done in context and is very interesting.

Well worth every penny.
Enjoy.

I am loving this book. I decided to come online in the midst of it and urge others to read it...and this is not a paid urging!!!I hate to see what I look like reading this book..I go from grimaces to smiles to shock to belly laughs...I at times find myself leaning back in my chair as a particular tale is taking hold of me! The information is astounding and the authors sympathy with snakes is heartwarming...truly!!! More...more...more!!!

You Belong In A Zoo!: Tales From A Lifetime Spent With Cobras, Crocs And Other Creatures is the one-of-a-kind memoir of Peter Brazaitis, a man who dedicated his life to working with exotic reptiles and other animals, ranging from alligators in the reservoirs of Florida, to cobras on the loose, to capturing giant frogs in West Africa. A wry dash of humor flavors an inspired and informative discourse. You Belong In A Zoo! is a life story highly recommended to the attention of anyone with an interested in reptilian wildlife as a hobby or as a potential career.

"You Belong in a Zoo" is Peter Brazaitis' tale of his storied career caring for and studying reptiles. Brazaitis' served as Superintendant of reptiles at the Bronx Zoo and as Curator of the Central Park Zoo, and has also acted as an advocate for endangered reptiles through his work to prevent the illegal importation and killing of these animals. Brazaitis of course has a wealth of stories to tell - some humorous, some frightening, and some a combination of the two. After describing 15 foot long King Cobras capable of rising to look a full grown man in the eye, Brazaitis relates the story of his attempt to capture one of these fascinating but deadly creatures by precariously balancing above a pool of crocodiles to reach the ceiling panel where the snake is hiding. Brazaitis' take on reptiles, and animals in general, is interesting. He obviously has a deep respect and admiration for animals, especially the reptiles he has spent a lifetime studying, but his view of animals seems different from that of some of the more radical animal rights activists. One could also argue that Brazaitis' work - especially his work with customs officials to stop the smugggling of endangered reptiles - has done more good than some of the antics of the more extreme members of PETA, for example. Brazaitis writes in an earnest style with some dry wit thrown in, and this style is quite effective in relating the story of his career. "You Belong In a Zoo" is an entertaining tale of reptiles and other animals, and an enjoyable autobiography of a man who has obviously "found his niche" in caring for these creatures.

As a child, Peter Brazaitis' stepmom told him "You belong in a zoo!" He decided she had a point.

This book is part biography, part recollection of interesting episodes in his career. Brazaitis went on to work at the Bronx Zoo and Central Park Zoo in New York, and his specialty is reptiles.

Many people find scaly animals to be scary or repulsive, but Brazaitis helps to bring some uunderstanding and fondness for them to the reader. He has a talent for storytelling. He raises the tension in a scary story about an escaped cobra. He transports you to a very different kind of society as he describes a trip to capturte goliath frogs in Africa. He brings insight into how zoos are run and how they've evolved. And more than once he gets a lot of chuckles from landmark human stupidity. (Such as the lawyer with a unique idea about the digestive + reproductive systems, or the true pinheads who seem to think venomous snakes make for interesting pets.)

If you're interested in animals, you'll find "You Belong in a Zoo!" to be an excellent read.

I love this book, I used it 10 years ago to stop smoking. It guided me through the process of understanding why I smoke, and helped me to understand the role that smoking played in my life, and how smoking served some need (for me, squelching emotion and creating distance from people). It also helped me anticipate what it would feel like to be an adult non-smoker, which was scary because I had never been one! You have to do the internal work before you can quit successfully, to understand where you are, how you got there, and why you want to change. It has to be your own choice for your own reasons. Then, it's easy. Believe me.

This book was a GREAT help to my Mom in her struggle. It detail's a very different kind of approach to quitting smoking. It doesn't throw crap down the reader's throat but rather allow a little leeway, understanding the difficult struggle ahead.

Good strategies for anyone willing to listen to them.

It is not a "STOP SMOKING NOW!" book, neither is it a self-help book, rather an informative, helpful little guide in breaking down each individual smoker's habit, helping them slowly, but surely, gain the willpower necessary to finally quit smoke.

Since she finally quit, It's been several Month's. Her mood has changed a lot, she seem's happier, less nervous and easier to accept difficult challenges.

I quit after 15+ years of smoking. I read this book 2 times before quitting and then stopped 2 years ago and haven't looked back since! I was the most addicted person I know. I mailed my book to one brother who used it to quit. (We both are just amazed by this) He mailed it to my other brother... We shall see!!! I would buy these for any smoker I know. I feel like Ms Rogers gave me a new life! You should see how healthy I look! No more sore throats or headaches.

I was so physically and psychologically addicted that I really believed there was no way I could ever quit smoking. I had tried everything: patches, smoke-cessation groups, cold turkey, etc. Finally, I read this book one summer, made lots of notes, kept the charts that are suggested, made myself a diary of why I HAD to quit and all the other wonderful psychological helps suggested in the book. I got all fired up and ready to go. It then took patches and after that the nicotine gum and about 1 1/2 years of antidepressants and..... I'm free!!! and feeling fantastic! I did this in February of 1996, so next February will be 10 years. I know that I never could have done it without this book. I'm buying it now for a friend. Try it. It will help you to succeed.

This really is a great book. I read it nearly eight years ago and quit smoking after 20 plus years smoking like a fiend. Sadly, after seven years smoke free and losing a parent to lung cancer, a few months ago I began smoking again. I ordered this book and have been working through it, and find it as good as last time I read it. I am having a hard time working through the problems associated with getting up the motivation and willpower to quit - without enough motivation, forget it! - but this is the best book I've found to give great, practical advice and the steps to achieve success. Starting smoking again is the worst thing I could have done. Almost immediately, the cigarettes had their evil, addictive tentacles wrapped around me. A good lesson in never having even ONE!!! I do wish she would update the book again, the last version being over ten years old. I think it's out of print now, but can be found used on amazon. The advice is still great. Good luck!!!

I started with the tape version, still have it; along with
all the others in the series. Yes I did pass the 5wpm test-
second time around.

What ever method(s) you do settle upon it is basicly a matter
of practice, practice, and more practice.

Condition yourself to learn these characters by SOUND only.
Once you can copy by Sound- start sending practice with
a hand key. I use a Speed X hand key and a T-Tone oscillator
from: Morse Code Express. T-Tone oscillator produces a pleasant,
authentic, pure note- much better than the usual 555 timer
chip with it's distorted square wave output. Full designation is
MX-T-Tone Oscillator(I think).

Although I am particularily fond of the straight key do
consider taking up Iambic Sending. I have found that the
Iambic Sending method as described by Chuck Adams compliments
and enhances my CW skills in every aspect. I am delighted
with my Bencher Paddles. I use an inexpensive MFJ kit built
keyer. I like things casual, my goal is 25wpm- that being
the case, this keyer is fine for me. Not a huge price
differential in keyers; rule of thumb is: get the best one
you can find.

If you find that in you copying sessions you tend to "anticipate"
the next character, look into the concept of left/right brain
interference(AKA: Typists Dilemma). Practice with: Call Signs,
numbers, and especially random code groups wiil solve that.

In your spare time, listen to code at higher speeds. Say 5-10
wpm past your base line copying speed. Just listen, don't
even sweat copying. Morse Code practice sessions on the
Internet come in handy here. This exercise will help your
hearing mechanism discern finer and finer distinctions in
sound at higher and higher speeds. This will also make
your temporary base line copying speed much more solid.
Keep this up incrementally untill you have achieved your
ultimate speed goal.

Now for a little soul searching. If I had to do it all
over again would I be inclined to take the time and make
the effort to learn Morse Code. The answer for me would
be an emphatic- yes; and even more so now than when I
first started out.

Plenty of CW resources, events, clubs, projects etc. on
the Internet. Best of luck on that OM.

I used this product to learn the code, and it worked wonders! I was preparing for my General amateur radio exam, and I turned to the ARRL for assistance in the form of this CD and booklet. It is excellently put together. They start you off slow, learning and repeating the characters until you are thoroughly familiar with the entire alphabet. They then move onto the words and phrases. By the end of the program, you are competent in morse code, and can easily decipher and send at around 5 words per minute, a good starting place. The good thing about the program is that it uses something called the Farnsworth method to teach morse code. This utilizes extra large spaces in between the individual characters, giving you ample time to decipher them. This is a great help in the learning process. Highly recommended!!!

This was a gift for my mother. She is really enjoying it. She is 86 and learning Morse Code, just for fun!

This CS is a no nonsense guide to learning code. It jumps right on in and starts. the narration gets to you so I would only recommend short lessons with frequency. Otherwise, you do really seem to pick up the code fairly easily.

I'm not yet done learning the morse code alphabet, but this has helped me with half of it so far. Great Value as well.

This book is a must have for any family. I have shared with family and friends many of the poems such as Learning to Read by Frances E.W. Harper page 26. It is so inspiring in times that require a reminder of how important education is and how much sacrifice has been made for us to have it! I enjoy reading it to my 2 year old and 3 year old because I am learning so much at the same time. I think this book is so important to have that I am now including this with my gift for every baby shower!

Read this book! It is a wonderful celebration of race, culture, and heritage. It has some of everything and is a great resource. It covers all different types of values and approaches each from different genres. I use this book every time I do a research paper because it touches everything that has worth.

Steven Barboza has done a wonderful job! It's the kind of book you can pick up again and again! Very entertaining and thought-provking. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book! A real find!

This book has everything that is traditionally and newly important to the African American. Not only are some of the leaders of literature included, but there are essays from leaders in all fields, science and technology, medicine, law, religion and education. All too often when the world gets its views of who our representatives are, it is none too flattering, I give accolades to Mr. Barboza for changing and challenging that. This book is sad, funny, inspirational and eccletic. One could not ask for a better read.

The book is like a library of our people's trials and tribulations. A collection of poems and stories that will inspire you to do great things. African Americans come from royalty and we can do anything because we are doers and achievers. I wish every "American" could read this book, perhaps African Americans wouldn't be looked down upon. I learned so many things that our people had accomplished that are not taught in school, but should be known and should be printed in text book form.

This book is now being used a bedtime ritual for my children. This means that each night I read a story or poem from the book to them, "about them (African Americans)". About their creativity, their inner strength for survival, their ability to do anything they want to do, about their ancestors that were forced to travel from afar, about their people who invented items that we use today, about their people that broke the color barrier, about their people who walked for freedom, about their people who used the pen to fight their battles, about their people who were forced to feign ignorance in order to survive, about their people who prayed and had faith that God would free them from bondage, about their people who loved each other and encouraged each other, about their people who stepped out there on faith.....

This book is awesome!

This book has inspired me to go back to school which is the least I could do after seeing what my people endured just to give me an opportunity to "step out on faith" "act accordingly" "mind my manners" "represent my hood" "believe in myself" "reach for the stars" and broaden my horizons. For they paved the way through sweat, tears, backbreaking work, picking cotton, washing Missy's clothes, raising Missy's children, eating in the backroom, riding in the back of the bus, being treated as second class citizens.

Thank you, my people past and present.

Thank you Steven Barboza (Editor) for having a vision and seeing it through.

This may be Sontag's most rigorous and important collection of essays, complete with topics ranging from Levi-Strauss to Godard. In it is her famous essay "On Camp," which would later make her a superstar in the New York artistic community.

Sontag is worried about intellectual interpretation, the erudite and narrow approach to understanding a work of art. She calls on us to "show how it is what it is, even that it is what it is, rather than to show what it means." Her approach is far reaching and yet acute and highly attuned to the intellectual aspects of the fine arts.

This collection includes fabulous essays on Sartre, Bresson, Beckett, Lukacs, Resnais, and many others. It is evidence of her astonishing ability to think seriously and with tremendous beauty about that which is most important.

I went to this collection after recently purchasing Camille Paglia's latest critical reading of forty-three poems in Break, Blow, Burn. In the dust cover notes, Paglia is described as "America's premier intellectual provocateur." I had always thought that honor belonged to Sontag.

Sontag's collection contains some of her most famous essays and some rather obscure ones. Instead of the most famous, I found myself re-reading the less widely discussed ones, like the essay "Godard's Vivre Sa Vie" and "Happenings: an art of radical juxtaposition" and "A note on novels and films." These essays gave me something new to think about and re-introduced me to Sontag's renowned intellect. They inspired me to buy a few Godard DVDs from Amazon, to attend the Festival of New French Cinema here in Chicago this past weekend and they caused me to ruminate on the contemporary examples of "happenings."

Whether you agree with Sontag's opinions or not, you will probably agree after reading this selection that the depth and breadth of her interests and knowledge is impressive. And she thought and wrote about things that most, even academics, had not been willing to take on. For that, we should be appreciative. For her willingness to be a true public intellectual, we should be grateful. For her legacy to the realm of critical theory, we are indebted.

Critical writing serves to introduce a reader to non-mainstream writers when it is well done. This is well done. Sontag was a writer and thinker of high caliber. Her special interests in French literature, film, and psychoanalysis are highlighted in this collection of essays.
Discussions of form and content in art recall the art theory of the Greeks of art as representation. Interpretation is a conscious state of mind interpreting a code. Interpretation is a radical strategy conserving an old text. It is the modern way of understanding something. Flight from interpretation seems to be a feature of modern painting. Films may have a liberating anti-symbolic quality. To be able to experience art on several levels is a matter of redundancy. Unfortunately, the author contends, redundancy is a principal affliction of modern life.

All agree that style and content are indissoluble. The duality persists, nevertheless, particularly in criticism. Style necessarily persists. Even realism is in truth a stylistic convention. Stylization reflects ambivalence. Morality is a code of acts. Art performs a moral task. Genet's books are both works of art and works about art. Great art overrides everything else. Nietzsche held that art is a metaphysical supplement to nature. Art exists at a distance from reality. An artist's style is a particular idiom.

Cesare Pavese showed delicacy, economy, and control. Sontag deems Pavese to have been more gifted than Silone and Moravia. Pavese felt literature was a defense against the attacks of life. The writings of Camus embody moral beauty, not artistic or intellectual beauty. To Claude Lewvi-Strauss being an anthropologist is a total occupation. Anthropologists exploit their own intellectual alienation.

The critic Georg Lukacs had a free-wheeling speculative view of Marxism. He concentrated on nineteenth century authors and for the most part wrote in German, not Hungarian. Sartre practiced criticism as immersion. There are no guidelines. In SAINT GENET he tries to impose commitment on action. Genet's task is self-transfiguration. Ionesco discovered the poetry of cliche and language-as-thing to use in his work. Ionesco's development was the reverse of Brecht's.

Sontag identifies the supreme tragic event of the twentieth century as the murder of six million Jews. She remarks that tragedy is not an art form, but a form of history. It is appropriate to compare Rolf Hochhuth's THE DEPUTY with the Eichmann trial. Among other things, trial is a theatrical form. THE DEPUTY has a documentary intention. In her piece on Miller's AFTER THE FALL Sontag opines that Miller writes on the level of a left-wing newspaper cartoon. The classics of Broadway liberalism were too optimistic. The playwrights thought that problems could be solved. Weiss's MARAT/SADE is a play of ideas. The characters debate in it the meaning of the French Revolution.

Robert Bresson's films have a common theme, liberty and confinement. Godard's films focus on proof, not analysis. Camp, (defined by Christopher Isherwood), is something to which Sontag was drawn. It is a sensibility, a matter of subjective preferences. Taste governs every human response. Camp is a certain mode of aestheticism and it is mannerist.

In this review I have tried to give the prospective reader an impression of some of the excellent writings in this collection.

Susan Sontag has the reputation of being infinitely pretentious and self-important, which is probably true. Ordinarily I hate these qualities, but somehow I'm able to overlook them because her thought - in this collection particularly - is just that good.

"Against Interpretation" compiles nearly 30 essays dealing with works of art (literary, cinematic, theatrical, etc.). Some deal with obscure topics - "Spiritual Style In the Films of Robert Bresson", "Psychoanalysis and Norman O. Brown's 'Life Against Death'" - others have practically become household names, as is the case with the standout piece "Notes On Camp".

All the essays address aesthetic problems - often minor, but nonetheless engaging. Each essay draws you in, causing you to mull over a topic thoroughly: for example, I'd never seen Eugene Ionesco as self-absorbed and aphoristic before, but Sontag's argument about his work is so quietly persuasive, with subtle touches of mockery driving the argument further home. Same goes for her thoughts on Simone Weil.

Sontag spent her professional life making people angry and uncomfortable with her political stances, which sounded infuriating taken out of context, and surprisingly sensible when heard with an open mind. These essays show a very different side of this great thinker - but regardless of her subject, it's her quiet wit and passion that keep her work so compelling, and which make this one of my favorite books despite its obscure topics.

America has very few independent intellectuals, that is, intellectuals free of academic responsibilities and tenure. Most grub for life-long jobs and then throw away their careers on campus duties and teaching. Gore Vidal, Richard Rodriguez, Susan Sontag...there are others, I'm sure, but not many. It's nearly impossible to make a living now in journalism, so the call to academic prostitution is great. Sontag got through and deserves our praise. God knows, like other free-lance intellectuals she lacked manners and never learned to grovel the way our teachers do, trained as they are to please the young. Much like Sartre, she could be dumb and silly and arrogant, but in the end she survived the culture wars, praising excellence for its own sake and refusing to bestow the title of greatness on to every bestselling author reviewed in the NY Times. She was great and her genius lay in one small area, as far as I can see. She introduced American readers to some very exciting European film makers, theorists, and writers. She herself is a forgettable author of fiction. She had limited talent as an artist, if any, but like Edmund Wilson she brought the latest European thinkers to the attention of American readers of the New York Review of Books and other periodicals. She wrote breathlessly and exhaustively on authors of all sorts. She was capable of passion and insight. She made you fall in love with writers as diverse as Sartre, Barthes, and Canetti. For this we should be grateful. I am.

This book is amazing! It is beautifully written and beautifully illustrated!
I lost my daughter last year and when I stumbled upon this book I felt it was written about her! It is hard to read it with dry eyes, but it is uplifting and comforting. I believe that anyone who has been touched by the loss of a child, especially a special needs or medically fragile child, will be profoundly moved by it.
I cannot recommend it highly enough!

I got this book for a close friend who recently lost a beloved child. Even when I read it, it really touched me deep inside. It is a beautiful way of saying "there is a reason for everything". It really helped my friend and will even more help to explain it to her children later.
Thank you for writing such a wonderful book.

We first received this book from our hospice nurse when our 8 week old son was diagnosed with Type I Spinal Muscular Atrophy (Please visit www.curesma.com to learn more about SMA). We found the message in this book to be powerful, beautiful, and comforting in a time of great sadness in our lives. This story could have been written for our son, without having to change a word. I have purchased several of these books for close friends whose children are dying of SMA, or have passed away from SMA. The book has received nothing but positive feedback from all of them. Elissa, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for sharing this story with us. You have allowed us to turn a heart wrenching experience into one of hope and love. We highly recommend this book, in loving memory of our own "Angel with the Golden Glow".

Any family dealing with the loss of a child needs this book. This is especially true if the child has special needs and/or is in a pediatric hospice program. This book would be an excellent choice for families who can and will have another child after the loss of one. Through touching language and adorable illustrations, the book conveys beautiful messages about God's purpose for the presence of these children in our lives. Adults will be overcome with emotion when reading this book, and children of all ages will be able to understand it's message. All readers will remember that we love one another even when we are apart, and that we will all be together again. Having recently lost my two year old daughter after many long months in hospice, I found this book touched my heart like no other.

As a mother dealing with the birth of my fourth child born with severe neurological problems this book was just what I needed to help answer my children's questions about our little angel. I cried through the whole book because it was as if this book was written about my little Benjamin. Such a well written, feel good story that can apply to so many real life situations. Thankyou for writing and sharing this beautiful story.

what can I say?
If you read five or more of Terry's hilerious DiscWorld novels, and ever wanderd how MR. Pratchett imegained them, you will get more than your fair share in exchange to the 20$ this will cost you. Sam Vimes, Nobby, Carrot, Angue, Rincewind, Detritos, RIdiculy and his group of loony Wizards, Twoflower and Death (and manny more) will all get amazing and detailed paintings and sketchas. scatterd among the pages of the book are amusing and sometimes fasnating comments from Paul or Terry.

only little problam I had was the abscence os Gaspod- how could they everforget him? I'm sure he would have been really angry if he ever found out (He is, after all, the only talking dog in the world, he will be happy to explain)

Like every Discworld fan, I've always had in my mind a good idea of what the characters looked like. I pictured Ridcully as Brian Blessed, Vetenari as David Warner, Granny Weatherwax as either Judi Dentch or Maggie Smith, Lady Sybil as Dawn French, CMOT Dibbler as Eric Idle, and Vimes as Russell Crowe. This book doesn't present the characters exactly as I've pictured them, but it's not far off and what it shows is certainly great!

Consider the picture of A'Tuin flying through space, or the picture of Granny Weatherwax smiling broadly. Look at Greebo, oozing feline malevolence (though too bad we didn't get a look at his human form, once described as being the sort of person who can commit sexual harrasment by sitting quietly in the other room).

All your favorite characters are here, and most of them are so well-done you can look at them and just KNOW who it is, without being told. Look at the totally gormless picture of Fred Colon, for example, or Carrot, looking quite noble... almost... regal...

Basically what it boils down to is that if you enjoyed, The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable you'll like this book. There's no story, just some lovely artwork. A definate must-own for any Discworld fan!

This book is a collection of Artist Paul Kidby's illustrations of the various characters in Terry Pratchett' Discworld. And boy howdy, what a good job he does. Personal favorites of mine are the picture of Discworld on the back of the elephants on the back of the turtle swimming through space!! Kidby gets it perfect! I am also very fond of his pictures of DEATH.. one of my favorite characters in the series.

If you are fond of the series, I highly recommend this book! I would also suggest that you check out The Last Hero: A Discworld Fable, which also features the art of Paul Kidby.

All the best,

Jay

"The Art of Discworld" is a beautiful collection of images by Paul Kidby - some are pen and pencil essays, others are more advanced sketches and many form completed paintings. They are grouped by theme and portray the Discworld itself, several landscapes (Ankh-Morpork, Lancre, Überwald...) and buildings (Unseen University, several Guilds, Night Watch HQ...) and almost every named character in the Discworld universe. In addition, Terry Pratchett adds interesting, lengthy comments on characters, how they came to be and his opinion on Paul Kidby's view of them.

There are a couple of inexplicable omissions (for instance, Magrat Garlick is barely shown in the background of a picture, even though she is mentioned repeatedly in the accompanying text) and several images have already been featured elsewhere (e.g. several book covers, the Mapps,the Calendars).

Finally, the illustrations and the text correspond to the Discworld situation as it was by 2006, which means there are some serious SPOILERS in the text for those who haven't read the corresponding books.

Overall, this is an absolute MUST for any serious Discworld fan. It's gorgeous to look at, interesting to read and at times hysterically funny like only something written by Terry Pratchett can be.

I would say that the art depicting the various characters of Discworld looks exactly like I had imagined them. This is a wonderful book that I highly recommend if you are a Discworld fan. The only thing missing in this book is a depiction of Sybil, Vime's wife. I would liked to have seen her included in "The Art of Discworld". All in all, an excellent Discworld resource for the Discworld fan!

The last review that I did on George Orwell's work was Homage to Catalonia, his compelling story of his involvement in a Party of Marxist Unification (POUM) left-wing militia regiment in the Spanish Civil War. I noted there that this is the Orwell that today's militant leftists need to read. The current compilation of articles that he did during World War II and shortly thereafter are not in that same category although they are, as always with Orwell, well worth reading. No matter the subject matter of the articles they conform to the points that he made in Politics and the English Language about using precise, clear and rational political language. Unfortunately, at the time of the Tribune writings Orwell had already made his peace, even if critically, with British imperialism. This is obvious from the subject matter of some of the articles, particularly those in defense of holding on to the old empire or at least its prerogatives. The articles themselves vary from the topical and mundane under war time conditions to the speculative but as always written in a bit of a tongue and cheek manner. That said, although Orwell by this time was an anti-Stalinist socialist of some sort he preferred to outsource the fight against Stalinism to world imperialism. Apparently, as the recent furor over his naming names of British communists to British intelligence indicates, he had no such qualms about doing so. Certainly this was not his finest hour. He left that in Spain.

I don't know if George Orwell is the best writer this century has produced, but he is among the most decent human beings who was also an extremely talented writer. And that decency, that honesty and sense of fair play come through loud and clear through this wonderful mix of editorial pieces and personal letters. It does not matter whether he is writing about the Socialist movement, the Monarchy, the manner in which Americans were treated in England during WWII, the English language, writing, colonialism, nationalism, anti-Semitism, or how to make a proper cup of tea, his honesty is ever-present. For he wrote these essays (I think) because although "emotional urges which are inescapable, and are perhaps even necessary to political action, [they] should be able to exist side-by-side with reality. But this requires a moral effort." If you are prepared to make such a moral effort-or simply want to spend a few nights with a truly wonderful human being and gifted writer, I highly recommend this book.

George Orwell' (1903-1950)anthology titled AS I PLEASE is an interesting collection of his careful literary criticism and political insights which were much more often right than wrong. Readers can learn so much about not only the situation and conditions in Great Britian between 1943 and 1945, they can learn much about the international situtation and Orwell's complete disillusionment with the "Left" both in Great Britain and in Europe.

This reviewer thinks that Orwell's literary criticism of Arthur Koestler is the best article of literary criticism. Orwell focused on Koester's DARKNESS AT NOON which Orwell thought was Koestler's best work. Orwell argued that Koestler was a supporter of the "Left" during the Spanish Civil War and was arrested and faced the prospect of being shot. Koeslter escaped but had to know how the Stalinists betrayed the Spanish Left during the Spanish Civil War. Koestler was a member of the Hungarian Communist Party, knew of the Stalinist purges of Lenin's Bolsheviks, and saw a repeat of all this in Spain.

Orwell also had intelligent commentary of literature and humor. Orwell stated that good humor had all but disappeared in Great Britian because of political and religious sensitivity. Orwell stated that the best comedy was that which attacked hypocrisy and pretensioness. Orwell cited Aristophanes, Rabelais, Shakespear,Voltaire, etc. who did not hestitate to mock and write comedy of the self righteous and "high and mighty." Orwell was bothered by the fact that such humor almost disappeared from English litature during his life time. An interesting aside is that Orwell complimented Hillaire Belloc and G.K. Chesterton for their humor. Orwell was critical of both in some of the other essays in this anthology.

Orwell not only wrote good literary criticism, he wrote solid political commentary. Readers can see the beginnings of his best known novels-ANIMAL FARM and 1984. Orwell's comments on ill feeling between British and American troops. Orwell stated that since American troops were paid at least five times as much as British troops, social divisions and hard feelings were almost inevitable. Orwell also commented that many American troops refused to admit that British casualties were larger than American casualties which indeed they were.

Orwell's best political commentary dealt with such concepts as Fascism, Pacifism, the Trotskyites, the Stalinists, etc. Orwell's major criticism of the "Leftists" was that because they were anti-Fascist, they would not become anti-totalitarian because of refusal to oppose the Stalinists and Big Communism and its obvious record of mass murder and concentration camp brutality. Orwell makes hash out of the accusation that the Internatianl Jews heavilty subsidized Britian's Trotskyites. Orwell commented if that were true, one had to ask why Trotsky's supporters were always so poor. Orwell accused much of the "Left" of refusing to accept facts and assessments of World War II. For example, many of the British and American leftists commented that the Soviet Union was an example of the biblical inscription that the meek shall inherit the earth. Orwell noted that those who made this remark obviously had not read Soviet anti-German propaganda which was full of hatred and violent vengence. Orwell also noted that the Left expected British military failure while extolling Soviet victories during World War II.

Orwell also expressed serious concern over the distortions and falsification of history. For example, both the "Allies" and "Axis" claimed victory when their was defeat. Casualty figures were distorted as were events. What was worse was the description of non-events or events that never occured. Orwell commented that the Leftists never wrote a word about the SovietGerman "Non-Aggression Pact" which was negotiated in 1939 with the secret protocol of the Soviets and Germans to invade Poland.

Orwell made comments that his novel titled ANIMAL FARM was censored or kept from publication because of British concerns of offending their Soviet "allies." Little did Orwell know that this novel would be a best seller after he died. Orwell can also see the outlines of his 1984 in this collection of essays.

One development that concerned Orwell toward the end of World War II was the emerging anti-Semitism in Great Britain and to a lesser degree in the United States. Orwell was clear that accusations and slurs agains Jewish people were patently false. Yet, Orwell was clear that facts and reason were of no avail to many because they were immune to knowledge and reasoned thinking. Orwell attributed much to a weakened Great Britain at the end of World War II, and the British Empire would soon be dismantled. Orwell argued that nationalism and the fear of the loss of Empire incited anti-Semitism among people who would otherwise not fall for such nonsense.

While Orwell was wrong in some of his earlier predictions, he was honest enough to admit this and explained why which something most "intellectuals" are loathe to do. If Orwell had lived another 50 years, he would know that his important predictions came true. This reviewer was pleased to see Orwell admit he was wrong as this showed a degree of honesty that is sadly lacking.

This reviewer did not like the format of the book. As this reviewer stated elsewhere, the book should have been arranged by topic rather than by chronology. However, this is a matter of taste. This reviewer strongly recommends this anthology which is part of a four volume set of Orwell's thought. This is yet another excellent collection of Orwell's great writing.

It is a pleasure to read Orwell. I think that there are two major reasons for this. Stylistically he an exceptionally clear writer. His work has a quiet elegance. Secondly, he is a writer who says meaningful things. Whatever subject he writes about he writes about not only with knowledge but with real ' sense'.
In this third volume of his collected essays, jouralisms, and letters there are a number of outstanding longer pieces, including those on 'The English People' 'Notes on Nationalism' and 'Anti- Semitism'
He is an excellent letter writer and I especially enjoyed his insights into literature. His remarks on Conrad and Koestler and European as opposed to British Literature are sensible and insightful.
All through this work there are scattered gems of humane perception.

Sorry for the prank in the headline, it is not a comment on Orwell but a quote from the book, from the essay 'The English People', written in 44, but published later. Orwell tries to characterize the English. I would never have dared to write that myself.
This is volume 3 of 4, and the first that I give 5 stars. It is less uneven, less self-contradictory, probably more honest than the previous 2. GO had grown up, I assume. The bulk of the book are his leaders under the name that the collection carries: As I please. He comments on events of the time, and does it with lasting interest.
I don't want to repeat my friend Jim Egolf's summary of the book, nor his assessment of its historical value. All true.
But Jim left out an important subject that Orwell also included, and that I want to bring to your attention. The fact is that GO was an impossible romantic about England. He honestly thought that there was merit in English cooking! One essay is called: In Defence of English Cooking.
He lists a few items that we are supposed to accept as proof of his odd point of view. Believe it or not, one of the items which supposedly prove the high standard of English cooking are English apples. I rest my case.
'It is not a law of nature that every restaurant in England is either foreign or bad.' Written 1945. My regular visits in recent years, all in basically friendly intention, make me conclude: if anything changed, then for the worse, because now even many of the foreign restaurants are bad.
Dui bu qi.

I love Kay Arthur

Her books really touch my heart. I received the book in good condition and fast service. It was wonderful to open my mailbox and find the package waiting for me just a few days after placing the order.

JUST LOVE THIS BOOK.......IT'S JUST WHAT I NEEDED TO GIVE ME A MORE POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON DAILY LIFE AND COPING WITH THINGS WHEN THEY DON'T TURN OUT THE WAY I WANT THEM TO...MAYBE IT WAS NOT MEANT TO BE ...GOD KNOWS BEST!

IF YOU ARE FEELING DEPRESSED OR JUST LOOKIING FOR A BETTER WAY TO DEAL WITH EVERYDAY LIFE...THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!!

I absolutely love this book. My copy is underlined in many places. Kay Arthur shares her wisdom as a Bible teacher to assure readers of God's sovreignty in ANY and EVERY situation of life. Very comforting and informative. It will make any reader want to dig into the Word of God.

To think, this book had been in print for five years before I found it! It's extraordinary in its frankness, concerning present failures, past regrets, and absolute faith in God's sovereignty. What a blessing that I found it at last! I recommend it to any Christian who is troubled by past sins or mistakes. Even though God has forgiven you, do you have trouble forgiving yourself? This book is a great encouragement, and an enormous comfort.

The title drew me in. EMBRACE disappointments? Pardon me?

The book proved to be a keeper, and beyond that, one to buy for others too. I have a large collection of Christian books, but few of them have earned a place on my bed stand. This book is the most dog-eared of all. I have read it again and again, and God has blessed me each time, with a new discovery about my own life, or a fresh concept to encourage me. Kay's insight is breathtaking to me.

She writes of trials that the enemy wishes would serve to destroy us, and what we can do about it, to reclaim our lives and our joy.

She writes of God: "if this trial were not for your benefit and His glory, He would never have allowed it to seep through His fingers of love into your life. The disappointment has come, precious child of God, not because God desires to hurt you or make you miserable, or to demoralize you or ruin your life or keep you from ever knowing happiness. Rather, it comes because He wants you to be perfect and complete in every aspect, lacking nothing... God will use the disappointments of life to teach and train you and to make you more like Jesus Christ. God will use them to do something awesome: to reproduce Himself in you."

And: "Let's look at a second particularly dangerous kind of disappointment: our regrets over the past. Something I constantly have to remind myself of ... is that whatever happens, happens. Once it's done, there's no changing it. No matter how I try, I cannot erase the past... Whatever happened, happened. We can't remake our pasts. But with God we can handle the past. With God, whatever has happened in the past need not destroy us....

Where there is hope there can never be despair. .. And since He's the God of all hope, the reality that our pasts cannot be changed need not demoralize and destroy us."

and: "God is not a destroyer of us. Even when He allows us to self-destruct because of our wrong choices, even then He intervenes in His sovereignty for His children."

and: "don't ever doubt His love or concern for you as His child - no matter what you might have done, no matter what circumstances you find yourself in."

Kay Arthur's book is exceedingly encouraging and uplifting. She writes with sincere humility, and enormous faith. She has given me an entirely new understanding of why God allows life's trials, even those that I caused myself. And she lays out a path of faith for those who have stumbled, that leads away from despair.

An extraordinary book.

My Mother-in-law passed away in February 2002. I really did not know where to turn. God seemed so far away. My husband and I decided to join a griefshare group, and Kay Arthur forms part of the videos, sharing her own experiences through her tough times. This book was on the "suggested read" list for griefshare. Although our group did not have this book on the shelf, I decided to go and buy it. (there were many to chose from, but because I am a Precept-upon-precept leader and student (try and find a study goin in your area - it will change you life forever). Well, i never looked back, I just could not put the book down, it helped me through those very dark tunnels, it guided me into seeing that my dissapointment could very well be God's appointments. The book has gone through my ladies book club as well as some of the students within my class. What makes this book brilliant is that God uses it to help us in our deepest pain and this I know because of all of the people that have borrowed my copy and read it - they have gone out to buy their own copy and some have even bought it as a gift for someone who needs encouragement and hope! I thank God for this book!

The Audio Dictionary has a reserved spot on my desk. I have had it only a few weeks and already it looks as if I have had it for five years. I find myself constantly refering to it for specification writing, white papers and design/bid documents. Gary and Glen have really outdone themselves in creating this masterful work.

This book is an excellent source for words used in the sound arts and audio recording industry that you need to know to go into the business. Trying to find accurate and consistent definitions is very hard but this book puts the definitions all in one place in a clear and understandable way.

Great item to have if your going to be working in the field of music.

When I first got into audio engineering there was no way of understanding some of the more technical concepts I was expected to know. This book makes it really easy to understand a lot of the terms, I still always keep this book handy when I'm reading an AES journal article, just to help me out if there is something I don't understand.

The Audio Dictionary is a great book for anyone who's looking for a concise, clear explanation of any audio-related term. It's not (and does not pretend to be) a complete treaty like the Handbook for Sound Engineers, but offers a quick and reliable solution for those questions for which you don't have an answer from the top of your head and don't want to spend 2 hours reading the complete scientific explanation.

I consider it a must-have for any Audio Engineer who takes his profession seriously and have at least one copy in the library of each school we operate in Spain.