Reviews Books

An informative and enjoyable guide to Britains popular comedy series that is full of everything you wanted to know about the carry on films and probably more. Intelligent and witty, this offers a critical guide to all 31 carry on films which comes complete with facts behind the scenes of the film, the best scenes in that particular film, best actor/actress and shared memories from the cast. Lovley photographs throughout from stills of the film as well as cast and publicity shots. As well as an informative guide to the films it also offers a faultless guide of the t.v series that began in the late sixties and every stage production of the carry on phenemonan. A must have for any serious Carry On fan. Very enjoyable. Recommended!

An informative and enjoyable guide to Britains popular comedy series that is full of everything you wanted to know about the carry on films and probably more. Intelligent and witty, this offers a critical guide to all 31 carry on films which comes complete with facts behind the scenes of the film, the best scenes in that particular film, best actor/actress and shared memories from the cast. Lovley photographs throughout from stills of the film as well as cast and publicity shots. As well as an informative guide to the films it also offers a faultless guide of the t.v series that began in the late sixties and every stage production of the carry on phenemonan. A must have for any serious Carry On fan. Very enjoyable. Recommended!

This great carry on companion is a great addition to any fans collection. It features all 31 of the carry on films and also biographys of the cast and crew. It's such a great price too, one that any fan can afford. Also there is a behind the scenes section where you find out information on the stars lives outside of the carry on circle. This is a must for any carry on fan and i recommend you buy it today.

An informative and enjoyable guide to Britains popular comedy series that is full of everything you wanted to know about the carry on films and probably more. Intelligent and witty, this offers a critical guide to all 31 carry on films which comes complete with facts behind the scenes of the film, the best scenes in that particular film, best actor/actress and shared memories from the cast. Lovley photographs throughout from stills of the film as well as cast and publicity shots. As well as an informative guide to the films it also offers a faultless guide of the t.v series that began in the late sixties and every stage production of the carry on phenemonan. A must have for any serious Carry On fan. Very enjoyable. Recommended!

As summarized by another reviewer, the story takes place on a cruise ship en route from New York to Buenos Aires in 1941. The world chess champion, Mirko Czentovic, is on board. Czentovic is a chess prodigy who is singularly ungifted in other areas of the intellect and social graces. Also on board is Dr. B, a former solicitor for the Austrian imperial family who is traveling to South America as a refugee from the Nazi regime.
At the outset, considering Czentovic's isolated and emotionally deprived childhood, I was prepared to allow him his arrogance and conceit. Acknowledged, he was a master at chess and his boorish behavior could be excused. When Dr. B becomes peripherally involved in the chess match and exhibits a mastery of moves, it becomes clear that this man has somehow or other been absorbed into the exalted realm of chess. As his story unfolds, the reader enters the world of isolation and solitary that Dr. B endured at the hands of his Nazi tormenters. Zweig is so masterful at the depiction of the incarceration and the man's mental salvation through the game of chess that we as readers are carried along so forcibly that we leave the confines of our homes for the world of Dr. B. Every emotion he experienced, every racing of his pulse, every fearful moment, his ultimate dissociation of his personality and his breakdown are experienced by the reader. The descriptions are powerful and cause a visceral reaction that is astonishing. As I was reading, I started to note a racing pulse and sweating and a sense of uncontrollable foreboding. As the story raced to its conclusion, I had the urge to shout, "Halt! Don't play again!" I wept when I set the book down. The tears were for Dr. B, all of the victims of the Nazi carnage and perhaps also a reaction to what came to pass, the suicide of the author. This gem of a small book explores and disturbs the human psyche like no other.

This is one of the best books that I have ever read. I just finished reading the original German version for the second time and came here to see if it is available in English for all of my non-German speaking friends.

This book is basically a psychological thriller that takes you inside the divided mind of one Dr. B and locks you there just as securely as his Nazi tormentors ever could through the final endgame. I cannot vouch for the quality of this specific translation, but the original work is a masterpiece.

This is truly a must read. Important historically, emotionally and I couldn't put it down. Be warned - I was so disturbed by this book I couln't fall asleep the night I read it.

"Chess Story" (Original "Schachnovelle", previously published in English as "The Royal Game"), was Stefan Zweig's final work prior to his tragic death. It is a poignant, finely tuned psychological drama that will long linger in the reader's mind.

Chess Story centres around two extraordinary chess players. One is the world champion, Mirko Czentovic, who travels across the world for tournaments. The other is the enigmatic Dr. B., who claims not to have seen a chessboard in more than twenty years. The two are opposites in terms of personality, background and in their paths bringing them to a chance meeting on an ocean liner en route from New York to Buenos Aires. The narrator, who exhibits traits of an aspiring psychologist "passionately interested in monomaniacs", finds his first subject in the twenty-one year old chess prodigy, who otherwise exhibits poor education, intellect, and crude social behaviour. To satisfy his curiosity he instigates a game of chess between Czentovic and a group of "amateur chess lovers". Dr. B. watching the game in passing, is suddenly drawn into it, advising the hapless amateurs so that they reach a draw. His manifest expertise at the game as well as his strange conduct intrigues the narrator as much as the reader.

Using language that is sparse yet precise in detail, the first-person observer, although commenting on the game, is more fascinated by his subjects' personality and psyche. The narrator's inquisitiveness, heightened by Dr. B.'s unusual behaviour, leads him to follow his subject as he hurriedly flees the game room. Out on deck, Dr. B. eventually shares his personal story and recounts the recent harrowing events that forced him abruptly into exile from his native Austria. The narrator becomes at the same time listener and astute analyst. Dr. B.'s account reveals why chess for him has been both a salvation and a danger to his survival: his "involvement" with chess had gone beyond what a person can endure without dangerous consequences for the rest of his life.

Zweig's ability to build emotional tension and drama while keeping his choice of words neutral and objective is superb. The fluidity of language is maintained in the English translation. The story's impact is deepened by Zweig giving the narrator the dual role of audience and commentator. The intensity of the author's fascination with diametrically opposed characters and the clash of cultures they represent is evident throughout the novel. Certain parallels between Dr. B. and Zweig himself come easily to mind. Chess Story conveys a premonition of events occurring in the author's own life. Zweig, a well known and widely read Austrian author of biographies, essays and fiction in the first half of the twentieth century, left behind a remarkable opus of work. He fled Austria in 1935 anticipating the political upheaval in his country resulting from the rise of Nazism in Germany. Shortly after completing the novella in 1942, written during the previous three years, the author and his wife committed suicide while in exile in Brazil. Even after more than sixty years Chess Story remains pertinent today, both in its historical context and its primary subject matter. Peter Gay's informative introduction adds to the understanding of the story's context. [Friederike Knabe]

I just finished reading this book and I found it educating and interesting. The author was masterful enough to illustrate the zeitgeist of China in those times, to show how and why did the communist succeed, to show, what is so needed in these times too, that alternative always exists. Written from the standpoint of a Westerner is not a drawback but rather an advantage of the book as the author could take a step back and analytically dissect the reality. A must read for anyone interested in Chinese history.

After reading the Chinese version of CHINA SHAKES THE WORLD online in a Chinese BBS, I cannot helping borrowing myself an English copy from PSU library. A Chinese graduate student in the US, I am truly grateful that Belden faithfully and vividly recorded China's Civil War, which fundamentally shattered China's past and opened the way to modernization for her. As a school boy, I found the official history textbook unappetizing, and although I read a lot of books on the military aspects of China's Civil War, a lively and stunning description of class struggle and people's war has eluded me until I read this book.

Many of my peers regard the Communist version of Chinese Revolution as more or less propaganda. I'm going to recommend this book for anyone doubtful, and again I'd express my heartfelt gratitude to the author, who unbiasly portrayed and commented on a part of fate-deciding history for the Chinese people.

BTW, I'm buying myself a 2003 version of CHINA SHAKES THE WORLD on Amazon, as my 26th birthday gift. May genuine journalism live forever!

This book, deeply touched my heart, is so unique, yet deflected from mainstreet opinion in USA, although author tried not to be that way. So far, all you had know about Chinese Communist Party may not more than anti-human-right, uncivilized, insidious deadly manic. But, some of you may ever wondered, in very remote distance prehaps, how could them win Chinese civil war in 1940s, how could them defeat UN army in 1950s. by knowing some Korean War, you may also ask, how could CCP turned sloppiest old Chinese cowards into warriers.
Well, if you have those questions, you will find answers in this book, if you never doubt about mainstreet media and don't have any of those question, you may going to draw a whole new conclusion about CCP after reading this book.
If allows me please, I'll say this is the only book you will understand China in the past and present. Thanks to the author, a great unprejudiced reporter.

This is a really powerful book..... It is an account of China under the government of the Nationalist Chinese written by an American journalist who, in the end, fell under the spell of Mao's PLA not for ideological reasons-- but because of a personal affinity for the Chinese people.... who were suffering....

I was advised to read this book in college by a professor who claimed that "if you can read this book and not cry, then you don't have a heart." Certainly, Belden's account of how through Communism the Chinese people relieved themselves of some of the subjugation which a feudalish society compounded by Western imperialism subjected them to, graphically illustrates suffering.... murder, rape, and many other human vices.... in ways that few other books do.... and hints at WHY people (barring events of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution) can still respect Mao as a leader and a liberator of a nation....

I'd recommend this book to anyone.... if you can get a copy....

I have a feeling that this is a review that no one will ever read....

A great book by Jack Hunter. Christopher Walken is a very gifted actor, and Hunter gives loads of insight into the many characters he has played throughout the years. You may even be inclined to view some of the movies, again after reading this book. It is obvious that Hunter recognizes talent when he sees it. Hunter goes beyond the typical type-casting, that many film critics are stuck on. This book has many nuggets of wisdom, and is laced with respect. Christopher Walkwn is very fortunate to have an insightful author, like Hunter, write about him. Thanks Chris for sharing your gift of acting. Thanks Jack for sharing your gift of writing. The pleasure has been mine from Indiana.

A great book by Jack Hunter. Christopher Walken is a very gifted actor, and Hunter gives loads of insight into the many characters he has played throughout the years. You may even be inclined to view some of the movies, again after reading this book. It is obvious that Hunter recognizes talent when he sees it. Hunter goes beyond the typical type-casting, that many film critics are stuck on. This book has many nuggets of wisdom, and is laced with respect. Christopher Walkwn is very fortunate to have an insightful author, like Hunter, write about him. Thanks Chris for sharing your gift of acting. Thanks Jack for sharing your gift of writing. The pleasure has been mine from Indiana.

This is a great source of information about Christopher Walken, his movies, and the themes that drive them - however - it does tend to overanalyze, and contains little information on Walken that you could not pick up yourself on the internet. It seems that Walken is not the chatty type. In his own words, he enjoys working and is not proud of all the 90+ features he has appeared in, but he does have his favorites. I have no idea after reading this book if one of these top ten are in fact the actors favorite - rather they are showcased as his best performances. This is a lot of speculation, as Walken has an incredible amount of work, including broadway shows to choose from. So if you are looking for that personal touch, it's not really there. You have to ask yourself though, is there really anything behind Walken as a person that would warrant a personal touch? From all appearences, he works, he goes home, he works some more. He has been married to the same woman for 30+ years, thinks he cooks really well, and aside from the really odd stab at screenwriting (he wants to do the John Holmes story - apparently he is fascinated with Holmes' life, and the attention paid to Holmes' member vs. the real man behind the porn - Okay Chris - you get the different award) he would appear to be reasonably stable (discounting the Natalie Wood thing, but even that is scandal of the most mundane variety.). Christopher Walken is a person who has lived his entire life on film (since the age of 3) and no doubt will die on film as is his wish. So perhaps there is no personal touch to be had and his films are the only window into his life, aside from the odd interview (such as his most recent wish - to host a cooking show). If you want to experience an exhaustive analysis of ten of what are his best well-known films by good reviewers that have never interacted personally with Walken himself - this is for you. If you want to read Walken on Walken, get the playboy interview.

I only rate this book with 4 stars because of its interesting subject - not for the editor Jack Hunter. Did Hunter actually read it? I was completely distracted from the material by the numerous spelling and grammatical errors. An actor like Christopher Walken deserves better treatment than this sloppily thrown together collection of essays. Though some of them were pretty interesting (Deer Hunter, Comfort of Strangers), I found myself wondering if Hunter actually watched all of the actor's major films. How could he include The Addiction and Suicide Kings in the Walken Top 10 but leave out the awesome performances in At Close Range and Biloxi Blues - both with gripping climax scenes that deserve essays of their own. A comparison of Walken in his stand-off with Sean Penn to Walken's flip-flop stand-off with Mathew Broderick (Walken is held at gunpoint by Penn/ Broderick held at gunpoint by Walken) sorely needed to be added to this collection. Will someone please re-write this book?!?!! Heck, give me a week; I could do better than this.

To me, one of Peter Drucker's greatest strengths as a business thinker is his ability to cut to the proverbial "bone" when sharing an insight about an especially complicated subject. This unique talent illustrates what Oliver Wendell Holmes meant when observing that he didn't "care a fig about simplicity on this side of complexity" but greatly admired simplicity "on the other side of complexity." Given Holmes' observation, consider these three prime examples of "classic Drucker":

In 1963: "There is surely nothing quite so useless as doing with great efficiency what should not be done at all." (Managing for Business Effectiveness, page 83)

In 1995: "EVA [economic value added] is based on something we have known for a long time: what we generally call profits, the money left to service equity, is usually not profit at all. Until a business returns a profit that is greater than its cost of capital, it operates at a loss...By measuring the value added among all costs, including the cost of capital, EVA measures, in effect, the productivity of all factors of production." (The Information Executives Truly Need, page 107)

In 1988: "Information-based organizations, in other words, require clear, simple, common objectives that translate into particular actions. At the same time, however, as these examples dicate, information-based organizations also need concentration on one objective or, at most, on a few. Because the `players' in an information-based organization are specialists, they cannot be told how to do their work...So [such an organization] must be structured around goals that clearly state management's performance expectations for the enterprise and for each part and specialist and around organized feedback that compares [and contrasts] results with these performance expectations so that every member can exercise self-control. The other requirement of an information-based organization is that everyone takes information responsibility...The key to such a system is that everyone asks: Who in this organization depends on me for what organization? And on whom, in turn, do I depend?" (The Coming of the New Organization, page 133)

There several other excellent sources of Drucker quotations (e.g. The Daily Drucker) which I frequently consult. However, in the 15 Harvard Business Review articles which are assembled in Classic Drucker, there is a context within which the value of each insight is more clearly indicated. In the Introduction, Thomas A. Stewart (editor of the Harvard Business Review) cites three of Drucker's great gifts to his life work: "First was the talent for asking the right questions...His second gift was to see organizations whole...[Drucker's] third gift was the ability to reason equally well both inductively and deductively." All three gifts are clearly evident in each of the 15 articles.

Near the conclusion of an interview by T. George Harris in 1993, Drucker makes several points which seem even more relevant now: "'Democratic' bespeaks a narrow and legal organization. Nor do I use the buzzword `participative.' Worse yet is the `empowerment' concept. It is not a great step forward to take power out at the top and put it in at the bottom. It's still power. To build achieving organizations, you must replace power with responsibility."

During the months and years to come, decision-makers in all organizations (regardless of nature or size) would be well-advised to keep such basic business precepts in mind, not as simplistic solutions to immensely complicated problems but, rather, as fundamentally sound principles to keep in mind when attempting to solve such problems.

This is one of the best management books I've ever read. Despite the articles being written 10 - 20 years ago, they are still relevant. Drucker uses good examples to illustrate his points, and avoids the word "synergy."

I found the chapter on self-management alone to be worth the price of the book.

If the name of Peter Drucker sounds familiar, it should: he's inspired managers with his works for nearly half a century, with his articles in Harvard Business Review - gathered here for the first time under one cover and offering his best works to audiences of business learners. From how to remain productive throughout your work life and choose careers which are lasting to learning how and when to make changes, Classic Drucker is a compendium of business wisdom which should be in every business library collection.

This is a well written book dedicated to those clinicians planning a clinical trial or to those interested in this topic.
There is also a section dedicated to diagnostic tests.
Overall the book is well written, easy to read.
After reading this book everybody will feel more confident with these topics, that sometimes seem to be so hard to learn.
In addition, the authors have a very good reputation and exprience in the field of clinical epidemiology.

Whenever you heard about epidemiology you think of a dull paper impossible to read. This book is quite different, first it is written by people who actually perform research and use their own research as examples, second they follow a line left by the amazing Dr. Sackett and have learned and possibly improved his skills shown at his famous EBM book. A must if you want to keep being a good doctor.

Se trata de un libro útil para aquellas personas interesadas en realizar investigación clínica. No se requieren conocimientos profundos en estadística y ofrece herramientas prácticas para resolver los problemas más frecuentes a los que se tiene que enfrentar un investigador. Muy interesante el capítulo de David Sackett sobre los factores relacionados con el éxito de un investigador clínico.

I know very well this book and I know it is a very usefull tool for practce and teaching Evidence Based Medicine. But I have not received it yet; I'm waiting for it and hope it's coming soon.

I am studying for the COMLEX 1 right now and it is a great review of everything...I wish I had had this book for the first two years of medical school, I think it would have helped me understand the basics. In addition, it would have helped me for OMT practicals, because you can never talk your way through OMT enough! Always keep talking! I think this will definitely help me out, glad I bought it and I will definitely use it for the future Levels of COMLEX.

When studying for the COMLEX, osteopathic medical students have always been short on finding alternatives. COMLEX Review finally fills the void for high-yield, easy to read and understand review books for the osteopathic manipulative medicine portions of the osteopathic boards.

I wish I had this book to use during levels 1 & 2... trust me, it is definitely excellent for level 3. The last time I seriously looked at any OMM was during my 3rd year at Des Moine, and let me tell you, now near the end of my intern year, not only did this book refresh all the OMM I had forgotten, but it explained stuff better than I ever understood it. Nobody wants to spend too much time on OMM, but it is quick and easy read - great to fill in the spaces when you don't feel like studying and want to read something "light".

I was bit skeptical when I borrowed this book from our school library- it seems it was written by two students. But after reading the first 2 chapters, I immediately bought my own copy. The beautiful thing about this book is that it finally correlates anatomy with OMM- so it actual covers those "in between" questions that the other review books fail to discuss. The pictures are EXCELLENT! They actually help to make sense of some of the more difficult concepts. I'll let you know how my Step II exam goes- but I would have loved to have this book around when taking Step I as well. Also, the beginning of the book has a little chart that tells you what chapters to read for each COMLEX exam- takes the guess work out of studying. I am definitely doing better on my practice exams- wish me luck for the real deal.

This review refers to the original volume that I have sitting by my TV. In these days with cable and satellite available many vintage TV shows are aired all of the time. A quick thumb through the book not only gives excellent overall view of the show but the cross reference of stars and other shows is suburb.

I have used this book since I "found" a copy on book stand in NYC back in the 80s. Worth the purchase price.I use it all the time. The 1992 version should be better.

Used in conjunction with the Prime Time Stars book, this makes an excellent cross-reference of TV programs and stars for the period covered. My hopes are that the authors write a update for both the television shows and stars. The format is excellent showing all aspects of the shows including dates televised, stars and their roles, and interesting facts about the production.

I purchased this book when it was first published over a dozen years ago and still refer to it several times a week. Not only is it comprehensive but Tim Brooks often gives short biographies of the stars, listing other shows and related areas for which a particular actor or actress might have been known. I'm sorry that it is currently out of print because I would like to have an updated version of the book.

This is an accessible, well-written review of Italian grammar -- remarkably thorough for the price, and well laid out with usage examples. A particularly useful feature is coverage of conventions of contemporary usage -- such as E-mail conventions -- that are rarely covered in a traditional grammar. It would benefit from a more extensive dictionary section but at this price it's hard to complain.

the item was in excellent condition and it took little time to get to my address.

This is an excellent book. Un buon libro! Mi piace molto. It is very helpful.

A complete overview of grammatical terms, parts of speech, and how they work together.

Studying the grammar of a foreign language is often perceived as torture by many, but there is no way to avoid grammar. To master any language one must know how its parts work together.

This book takes away the torture out of studying grammar, by providing a user-friendly practice and review manual. The complete book is written in a "conversational style", so is friendly enough to be used as a self-study guide.

The book is divided in twenty chapters that cover everything from the structure of simple sentences to writing e-mails. At the end of each chapter there is a "culture capsule" completely written in Italian with a glossary, which is designed to give information on a major component of Italian culture and civilization. This capsules can be consider at least useful reading material, but in fact they give information of which no intermediate or advanced learner should be unaware.

At the back of the book is a list of the most frequently used words in the Italian language, verbs charts and the answers to all the exercises.

Absolutely a must for anyone who wants to master the Italian language.

This is one of the few books that I have laughed out loud until tears streamed down my face!!! When trying to share the funniest entries, I can't even read them without laughing again. From analyzing the famous "Yeti on the lou" Pertwee phrase to including a table of contents containing only the letters of the alphabet, this is humor and wit at its best. I have never found a funnier Doctor Who book and I am hard pressed to name a funnier novel in general. If you do not have this book you don't know what you're missing!!! A++++

This book is an incredible collection of phrases and Whoisms that have appeared throughout Doctor Who's many years on the air. The authors have managed to poke fun at the good Doctor while assuring the reader that they're really on our side. It's a lot like making fun of your family - only another family memeber can get away with it. If you're not family, watch out! From "AAH" to "ZORG AND ORG," it's all there - every last tasty fun morsel that makes Doctor Who a worldwide institution.

This text is the funniest book I have ever read... Poking fun at not only Doctor Who, but the fandom of Doctor Who, this book is a laugh-riot from the introductory debate over stories' names, to the final index page which lists simply the letters of the alphabet and the Dedication to Godzilla. My favorite parts: the description of Season Eighteen as an "amusing omission from The Doctors: Thirty Years of Time Travel" and the description of Lazar's Disease as a syndrome whose main symptom is removing one's clothing... Lyons & Howarth are to be commended for such a devistatingly funny work.

Hilarious & irreverent, the useless encyclopedia looks unflinchingly at the schitzophrenic british fan base, the shoddy "classic" episodes, the ludicrous "new adventures", and just about everything and anything "Who" and useless. Written by fans for fans.