Reviews Books

Thanks for the quick shipping! The book is in perfect condition as described.

A great read filled with colorful illustrations & all the usual excitement you'd expect to find in a troll adventure. Of course, there is also a beautiful princess to be rescued. I don't know why Amazon lists the reading level as "baby, pre-school"!!! No baby or pre-schooler would sit through the first page. Maybe the illustrations would interest that group, but the amount of reading is far too lengthy. As a "read alone" book, I would say it is best suited for grades 3 and up.

My grandsons loved this book. The illustrations are beautiful and the tales are quaint. We will be certain to treasure this book for years.

As someone who is trying to cultivate a love of literature AND a lengthy attention span in my homeschooled children, I *did* purchase this for my pre-schooler and he sat happily through the entire book (3 evenings worth of reading for us). The d'Aulaire illustrations were, as always, engaging, soft, and encouraging to the child's imagination. Detailed without taking over the telling of the tales. Basically, it covered all of my criteria to be purchased: well written and if it has illustrations they need to be worthy of the story and worth looking at.

The down side to this book is that it is in some ways a long treatise on trolls that happens to include some stories as examples. This means that your child ends the book having been exposed to a lot of the folk beliefs of Scandinavian trolls, with a limited number of stories, and that it doesn't simple cut-off points for bedtime reading. On the other hand, it means it is a book worth revisiting as a child grows older; in our case so our children will be versed in the folklore and belief of their ancestors. A simpler bedtime book with lovely woodblock illustrations would be Lise Lunge-Larsen's "The Troll with No Heart in His Body." It is a collection of the stories with very brief intros that can be included or omitted according to the moment (at bedtime with my pre-schooler I tend to leave them out; when reading during the day I am more likely to include them).

I'm not really suggesting one book over the other. In a search for either cultural literacy or multiculturalism, both have their place and are both well told, well illustrated and will add to your child's imaginative landscape.

This was one of my favorite books as a child. I checked it out of the library over and over . The pictures just seem to come to life, the stories are enchanting. A must have for troll collectors. I purchased a copy at long last! Thanks Amazon

I thought this was just going to be a piddly little book, but it was a really nice quality. It's got nice, thick, glossy pages and tons of photos. It has all sorts of inside information. Definitely worth the money.

I love Degrassi and all things Degrassi. :) The book was cool.

If you like dramas, then this is the best show ever! The characters are interesting and the story line is fantastic.

For those who are fans of DeGrassi: The Next Generation ... this was one to watch to understand how some of the story lines blended together. Joey and Caitlin break up for the final time (sort of) before starting all over again as adults a decade later. For those of you who believe you never get over your first love ... the Joey and Caitlin drama seems to follow that thinking pattern. The first series ended in 1991 after several years in production and was revived in late 2001. The very first episode was the DeGrassi 10th anniversary reunion and the reconnection of Joey and Caitlin. It's almost like a Canadian version of Casablanca when Joey meets Caitlin at the airport and she gets off the plane ...

Joey: Caitlin. All those years ago, when I broke your heart, I thought I'd lost you forever.
Caitlin: And, yet-here you are, standing in an airport with me on Christmas...

I guess for these two it is a case of "We'll always have Toronto. We'll always have DeGrassi" ... Kind of makes you want to watch The Notebook.

Degrassi: The Kids of Degrassi Street Series, Degrassi Junior High - The Complete Collection, Degrassi High Collection (14 Volume Set), Degrassi The Next Generation - Season 1. If you haven't heard of any of these television shows, then you don't know what you're missing! What began in 1979 as a brainstorm of Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler quickly became one of the most innovative, entertaining, and envelope-pushing shows of the eighties and early nineties.

The Degrassi shows can best be described as teen soap operas, although they're so much more than that. These shows, set in Canada and originally based on a group of kids who lived on Degrassi Street in Toronto, Ontario, brought new meaning to the term "teen drama." Thankfully, Degrassi Junior High - The Complete Collection and Degrassi The Next Generation - Season 1 are now on DVD, so if you missed it the first time around you can catch up with all of us who are devoted fans.

Kathryn Ellis has created the premiere reference guide for all things Degrassi with this book. With photos and detailed biographies of all the characters in each of the four shows, set designs, guest stars, and even an episode-by-episode synopsis, no fan wants to be without this book. Ms. Ellis hasn't forgotten the stand-alone supplement movie, School's Out!, either. She also covers makeup, hair, and wardrobe, the music of the shows, the numerous bands of the characters, and the hard-hitting issues that Degrassi took on throughout the years.

This is a book all Degrassi lovers must have for their collection. And if you haven't yet discovered this Canadian gem, I urge you to pick up a few DVDs to get the ball rolling. I promise, you won't be disappointed!

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

Other reviewers have done a good job of describing this and I agree with them. I'll just add that this wonderfully illustrated book really brought the memories flooding back.

Eric Sloane is known to many of us who love traditional country things as the superb and prolific American artist and author who gave us books with good words and even better drawings. Sloane was an accidental historian of that era of American life when agriculture was king. I cherish my copies of his A Museum of Early American Tools and A Reverence For Wood.

The Age of Barns was first published in 1967. I saw this 2001 version lying on a table in a friend's house and begged to borrow it. The sub-title is An Illustrated Review of Classic Barn Styles and Construction. It is more than that as it also shows silos, root cellars, springhouses, sugarhouses, corn cribs and smoke houses. Also shown are tools of barn builders, construction methods, types of ventilation systems and even hinge design.

Sloane shows the evolution of this most important structure with examples large and small and from many places. Medieval, English, German, American barns. Small and large log barns. The Appalachian overhung-loft barn built on two cribs, decorated Pennsylvania barns, a Georgia barn, a Maine barn, a Tennessee saltbox barn. Pent roofs, gambrel roofs, extended bays, threshing bays. Connecting barns, built so the farmer could do a winter day's chores without going outside.

I have known two barns intimately. The barn on our Wisconsin farm was a classic two-story bank barn built of stone on the lower level with hand-hewn posts and beams above, a cupola topping it off. The farmer whose death allowed my parents to buy the farm had been an alfalfa producer so the barn had huge mows that were filled both from the outside using a hay hook and from the inside where teams and wagons were taken straight in and through. The dairy herd was housed in the lower section next to the sixteen-foot silo. I pulled a lot of, um, teats in that barn.

The humble hillbilly barn at Heartwood in Missouri has two sections separated by a drive-through. In barns this design is called double-crib; in houses it is called a dog-trot. The construction is of hewn oak logs with half-dovetail corners. The logs are held off the ground only with loose stones, so early deterioration was inevitable. When the barn was still in pretty good shape we took a family photo one Fourth of July. My cousin and I hung the huge American flag that was hand-sewn by a grandmother for Lincoln's inauguration and we all posed in front of it on the ground.

Born in 1905, Eric Sloane died in 1985, walking to a luncheon in his honor celebrating his memoir, Eighty: An American Souvenir. His fine books will live on long after him, a legacy of focus and craftsmanship.

Sloane's books capture the romanticism of the past better than any picture books, and that is certainly true for his An Age of Barns. The beautiful line drawings range from evocative perspectives to working sections, giving you a good idea of how these barns worked. There are Shaker round barns, traditional gambrel barns, Amish barn raisings and a wide variety of outbuildings associated with the early American farmstead. He lovingly focuses on hinge details, stairs and ventilation openings. Sloane's eye never missed a detail, and for anyone who loves old barns this is the book to get.

This has some interesting history of early barns, especially those of New England. Drawings are well done, as usual. If you are interested in barns west of the Mississippi look elsewhere.

and I understand that barn so much better now that I have read this book. Sloane gives a brief overview of the history of barns, regional types of barns, and even the tools to raise a barn. A lovely book.

Mr.Smith's writing has put into words emotions I have been unable to define.The subtlety of his writing style quietly brings you to a deeper understanding of yourself and others. I very much enjoyed his ability to make a point without smacking you in the face to get your attention.

This is a recueil that breathes and grieves. It brims with striking apercu and exudes a palpable presence that you can taste, touch, hear and feel . Mr. Smith celebrates this flawed existence with language so beautiful it steals your breath.

Robert Smith has an enviable collection of poetry-making tools-- a clear and well-lit mind, a deep pool of honest, self-questioning emotion, a lover's intimacy with the physical world, and an absolutely pure delight in the sounds of words. And yet, he resists what must be a fearsome temptation to show off this tool-kit, one item at a time. Instead, responsible craftsman that he is, he simply applies each of these tools to every page, in precisely the right combination, with precisely the right touch, to achieve whole poems that satisfy the whole reader -- mind and heart, soul and senses. He would like it, I think, if his poems reminded us of Geoff Hill's (and they do, in the grandeur of their feeling), but this book reminds me much more often of Philip Larkin, the Larkin who refused poses of any kind, who could be counted on never, ever, to tell us more than he was absolutely certain of. Lies come easier than truths; poses are more convenient than mindfulness. The coming of the millenium, referred to several times in Bob Smith's book, was a great occasion for poses and hyperboles, but in these poems the most mundane details of weather -- "a few strands of cloud dyed pink by the last of the sunset," or rain that "falls as it must on the oblivious hills," regardless of what century we decide we're in -- are much more astonishing and meaningful, precisely because they are real. This poetry returns us, time and again, to what is real. In an age where even intelligence can be artificial, such insistence is called for.

Mr. Smith's, "Everything Moves With A Disfigured Grace," is an inspiring collection of poems providing reflections on life through penetrating visual imagery. In the poem, "At your Bedside," Smith writes, "the dreams of your illness lie gathered like embers - a low, white heat unstirred by morning's hand."
This and other selections leave the reader with a tangible sense of what the poet is attempting to communicate.

"Everything Moves With A Disfigured Grace" is simply one of the best books of poetry published in America in the last 40 years, and, to paraphrase Steve Earle speaking about Townes Van Zandt, "I'll stand in my cowboy boots on coffee tables at Billy Collins' house, at Ted Kooser's house, at Charles Simic's house, and at Robert Hass' house, and repeat that for anyone who cares to listen!"

"Five Stars" deserves five stars.

I read an early edition from Sutro Press, and "Five Stars" is truly a marvelous guide to making your dreams a reality, without any film school snobbery to weigh it down. The book surveys all the stuff you need to know to write credibly about movies, coaches you through the writing process, and even provides excellent tips on how to get your words published.

The author is a web entrepreneur, a seasoned magazine editor, and even a novelist, so he really knows what he's writing about, and that really comes through in the book. Whether you want to pursue film review as a career or even as an occasional hobby, or you just want to go see a lot of new movies and DVDs for free, this book is a fabulous way to start.

I love movies. I love to criticize movies. But I really just want to share my criticism with my friends, and I really don't care to be eloquent about it. Take the movie "Four Brothers" for instance. My review would run something like this: "WTF??? I gotta see that again!"

Now, if Christopher Null had written about how to become a food critic, I'd be all over that. I wonder if it would work to just replace words like "film" and "movie" with "food" and "eats", or "actor" and "actress" with "meat" and "potatoes". But then I would have to come up with all kinds of substitutes, and that would get complicated. Would I pick "flambe" or "brussel sprout" to replace "director", "chef" or "gourmet" for "producer", or "curry" or "whip cream" for "writer"? No I guess it wouldn't work.

Hopefully, Mr. Null has a food critic friend who will write a similarly great book entitled "Five Stars! How to Become a Food Critic, The Galaxy's Greatest Job." Let's face it, film critiquing may be great, but food critiquing, what could be better than eating for a living?

normally, i wouldn't want to be a film critic but christopher null makes you really think about it. a great critic...he's interesting and inventive--and has an appreciation for the out of the ordinary... just check out his wacky website. [...]

Other reviewers have gone into great detail about what's in this book so I won't repeat their efforts. Simply put, this book is written by a critic, Christopher Null, which knows movies and can put that knowledge on paper in an informative and still entertaining way. Each point he makes in this book includes at least one movie as an example and it's obvious by the movie titles he lists that he has watched thousands of them. This is a must buy for anyone that wants to be a film critic (or already believe they are one) and a highly recommended purchase for those of you, like me, that simply love watching movies.

If you're one of the millions who dream of turning your love of cinema into a lifelong vocation, you need to read Five Stars. This is the only book on the market today that tells you, step by step, exactly how to break into this business.

Without weighing you down with a bunch of worthless theory that means nothing in the real world, Five Stars quickly gets down to the nitty gritty. In this book, Christopher Null, one of the most widely published and respected movie critics on the internet, walks you through every phase of your personal development on the path to a successful career.

The tips in Five Stars clearly show you how to:
-Educate yourself about the larger world of cinema
-Become a smarter and more active movie goer
-Communicate your thoughts coherently
-Write lively, entertaining movie reviews
-Find outlets to publish your work

Even with the best guidance in the world, becoming a successful film critic isn't easy. But Five Stars will arm you with the knowledge you need to roll up your sleeves and put your talent to work. Whether you're a young upstart with a passion for movies or an established critic with years of experience, this book is a must-have for your personal library.

Written in 1950, this book cannot be said to have been influenced by the massive hype and disinformation that has surrounded the subject ever since. The author demonstrates none of the hysteria that characterizes so much of this genre. In addition to being informative, the book is a great read, more like a novel than a work of non-fiction. However, one never gets the sense that Kehoe is embellishing for effect. This is solid reporting. One element of the story that the book does not cover (as it emerged later) is the wide range in sizes these objects manifest, and their extremely varied form factors. Some, evidently, can take on the appearance of biological organisms, even quite small ones. For instance, I have seen such UFOs in my apartment, usually in the kitchen, and they look exactly like houseflies. After many years of observation, I have noted that these UFOs, for some reason unknown to me, return to their home galaxy in the Winter months, only to return in the Spring. Nowhere have I found a credible explanation for this in the extensive literature on the subject of unidentified flying objects.

This book is not fiction. The author researches REAL facts and sightings, and concludes that the saucers are interplanetary. Donald Keyhoe made a serious recearch, from an "inside" perspective , having some access to original military files. Before he started the research, he would not believe in the "visitors from space" answer. But checking thoroughly every other possible answer, he saw that they didn't fit in the sightings and the reports.
This book is a *must* have to anyone who wants to know the truth about the UFO phenomenon. It contains everything, from the reports and reactions to the military cover up. The *visitors* were here even before we were born. Anyone with a clear mind will see this.

In the realm of UFOlogy, this book was not only one of the first, but also one of the best reports ever written on the subject. I first read it in the early 1950's, and believe me, it is perhaps the one book that fueled my interest not only in UFO's but in all forms of Fortean Phenonema, both past and present for the last fifty-three years. No fadism in the pages of this excellent tome - just cold, hard, and well researched facts about a subject that is now more popular than when this book was first published in 1950.

I found this book unsatisfactorily casual and slap-happy for the work of putative been-there-done-that expert with such lengthy tenure in and around things ufological. Yet, by reading this, I did manage to concretize a philosophical system that has been emerging for years as I read one UFO book after another--while also reading widely in other things paranormal, as well as a spate of less abstract fields, such as history, science, linguistics, anthropology, and such. Let us posit that aliens (1) exist; (2) have the technology to visit remote star systems; and (3) took greatly enhanced interest in earth only when it developed weapons systems capable of either harming other civilizations (i.e., in combination with its rocket technology) or of destroying itself (which would constitute a crying shame from the viewpoint of fundamentally beneficent aliens who respect other sentient life forms). Keyhoe leads me to believe--amid his conspiratorial musings and his subtle hints at what was meant by what was really meant by what Mr. X thought that Mr. Y intended--that they are watching us and executing a hands-off policy until such time that we pose a direct, immediate danger to ourselves (this will occur long before we pose a direct and immediate danger to exocivilizations), at which time--Starfleet-style "Prime Directives" od non-interference notwithstanding--they will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure the harmonious continuation of our culture. Whether that means utterly conquering and enslaving us, or surreptitiously seizing control over certain key organs of our governments (possibly to include forging certain elements of the whole-earth government whose existence Einstein endorsed as a logical and necessary eventuality), or just providing cultural "guidance counselors," who can really say. It is indeed food for thought to ponder the likely--well, the possible--archetypal alien ethos and surmise what it might intend for us and why it should, or will, occur when the time requires it.

This is a wonderful book for anyone that wants to make sense of what has been going on for long around the world. Great research book.

THE FORCE IS WITH YOU

THE FORCE IS WITH YOU is a mesmerizing account of what it's like to be a movie producer. Besides sharing his own stories, Stephen Simon has written a thought provoking analogy of over 70 movies and the mystical messages he found in them.

Who will cherish this book? Movie lovers; people pursuing spiritual growth; anyone interested in any aspect of movie making... anyone...

I believe it was Mr. Simon's unquenchable love for humanity and the planet kept him going against all odds. The word "no" is unrecognizable in his consciousness. Oh - he's heard the word all right, more than most people. His heart has been shattered over and over, but love pieced it back together and motivated him on the relentless pursuit of his dreams. Did you know, for instance, that "What Dreams May Come" was 20 years in the making? Twenty years! And that "Somewhere In Time" bombed when it came out in theaters? Read the haunting and amazing story of how it resurrected itself and became one of the best loved
films of all times.

Stephen Simon is a visionary. The human race is evolving rapidly now and movies are one of the most profound tools we have to assist our evolution. Mr. Simon is forging a path for the genre of mystical movies (a genre Hollywood has not recognized). He discusses the industry and where he sees it heading.

Read this book. But be prepared to cry, to laugh, to be inspired and to grow in consciousness.

...

Stephen Simon's book is an inspiring read. Right from the beginning, you realize that this author, a producer and film executive with over twenty-five years experience in the Hollywood arena, is writing from the heart. He is passionate about awakening us to the spiritual cinema genre, movies that contain spiritual messages. Although this is a genre as yet not recognized by Hollywood, Simon maintains that these movies already exist, and indeed have done so for quite some time. He takes us on an entertaining, intimate, thought provoking and often humourous journey through a personal selection of seventy or so such films. Rest assured that this is not a book that critiques film, rather it illuminates. Perhaps Neale Donald Walsch says it best in his forward to the book: "If you love movies, you're going to love this book. If you love life, you're going to adore it. And if you love a good story, get set, because you're about to hear some great ones." I thoroughly loved reading "The Force is With You", and I think you will too.

Author Stephen Simon writes an excellent book about spiritualism and the messages in movies; movies that speak to the emotional context of a person's soul. I realized that the messages Mr. Simon writes about the very things that I found missing in most mainstream films. (Thank God I live in city where art houses exist, but I realize not everyone has that luxury) Finally someone was able to show that there is more going on up on the big screen than what meets the eye. Every movie that he writes about in his book is in some way or another a winner, regardless of what it did in box office receipts. Still this book is a lot more than just a much of plot synopsis and message of some really great movies. Mr. Simon writes about his life growing up in movie industry. His battle to get both "Somewhere in Time" and "What Dreams May Become" (both based on books by author Richard Matheson-a great writer himself) made into films. His elation of getting both films made and then watching as the critics ripped both of them both apart , only to become resurrected and warmly welcomed on cable, video and DVD by thousands of people years later. Plus, his very telling reasoning on why mainstream movies have to stay "commercial," he writes volumes in a few pages that will generate debate for years to come. Whatever your spiritual beliefs, I think there is something in this book for every movie lover.

This is new movement and a new way of thinking about movies and I'll gladly be in the front row watching as those beautiful, special images and messages flicker over me.

Hallelujah! We finally have a book that's dedicated to covering the newly emerging category of spiritual cinema! THE FORCE IS WITH YOU is written by Hollywood insider Stephen Simon, who writes straight from his heart about the significant messages in more than 70 movies. Spiritual Cinema is all about exploring the meaning of love, life, death, time, and space -- which are the topics I most enjoy seeing in the movies. Most of my favorite movies are included here: The Matrix, Sliding Doors, Somewhere in Time, The Kid, Frequency, Star Wars, Lost Horizon, The Sixth Sense, Ghost, What Dreams May Come, Defending Your Life, Groundhog Day, Contact, Phenomenon, Powder, Being There, The Truman Show, Sleepless in Seattle, Family Man, and It's A Wonderful Life.

What I love best about THE FORCE IS WITH YOU is the way it so clearly conveys a sense of hope, inspiration, and purposefulness about the way humanity learns about its worst fears and greatest hopes through stories. Yes, we love to vividly imagine the end of the world... but we also love to dream of ways we can find solutions to our biggest problems. We know that it's not easy being more spiritually and psychically evolved... but we love to imagine how those of us who are different can be accepted in mainstream society.

THE FORCE IS WITH YOU is priceless for clarifying what the new genre of "Spiritual Cinema" is all about, and for providing an inspiring list of the most spiritual movies of all time. It is my deepest hope that this book will help establish awareness in film-makers everywhere of the importance of making spiritual movies, as it helps movie-goers better understand the significance of the movies they see.

I apologize up front to those who can't stand anything negative, but hey, someone has to speak up and make all you positive types feel superior, right?

First let me say I enjoyed the book. If you love movies, you will also enjoy the book. It did need a good editor, though, as it had misspellings, repetition, bad grammar and even attributed FDR's famous "fear" quote to Churchill. Do you think I'm a bad person for pointing that out? Then you're a bad person for having thought that. Ha!

Lastly, its unrelenting positive tone drove me a little bananas. Why? It did not reflect life and so Stephen Simon did not feel authentic. I don't think life on Earth is ever going to be 100% positive. Why? Because life would die. One hand clapping produces nothing but silence. We humans happen to have two hands. For those of us who are not saints nor are aspiring to be, there is good and bad. Yeah, it's all relative, but hey, it's a structure that helps you keep your balance. Don't take it all so seriously. To read a book in which nothing but good things are said about everybody, with the usual (and constant) Hollywood adjectives: amazing, unbelievable, wonderful, fantastic, etc., is to find one's teeth suddenly coated up with sugar and gagging on it.

You can say that someone did a bad job without condemning them, can't you? You can point out that someone made a mistake without wanting to throw them away, right? This is Earth, folks. It's all about context. We have sunshine and rain. We also have drought and floods. To point out these latter conditions does not make you negative or unspiritual. But we are in the movie business so we don't want to offend anyone. Fine. Here's your heads up. With this book you'll find yourself in a rowboat with only one oar. You'll go in circles, but will still enjoy the ride.

this reviewer's praise comes from the heart when I say "bravo". I am not a huge fan of pop culture or the following it has (having had my gay card twice suspended for possessing a "less-than-acceptable" level of movie, broadway, and Camp knowledge), yet I cannot imagine any other calling for Mr. Zippy Bergund. His knowledge of movies and every detail within them has astounded me for years. Kudos to Jason and Bev for creating an all-in-one guide that even I can understand. Finally - a book that contains humor, camp, guidance, tons of trivia and of course, advice from behind the bar. Cheers!

The Hulk as a gay movie? Hmmmm...wait until those Greek lawyers get a whiff of that. Maybe The Hulk isn't gay per se, but the transformation he undergoes (personally I think Howard Dean is The Hulk in disguise) is something everyone can relate to, gay or straight. I love the way each of these movies, from Mommie Dearest to Norma Rae to All About Eve, can reflect pivotal points in our lives. I also appreciate that Jason Bergund, one-half of the real-life "Will & Grace" team that wrote this book, comes out in favor of social responsibility attacking "Queer as Folk" for only portraying the seamy underbelly of gay life (anonymous sex, drug abuse and endless clubbing aren't something to aspire to in any group). You go, girl!

This book talks directly to our fabulous gay souls. It matches up movies with moods like a perfect date! Aside from really good movie advice, the wit, humor and various fun parts (like recipes)make this book an easy reading experience. Definitely worth every penny!!!

This is an extremely entertaining and amusing book, perfect for anyone who has trouble finding that movie-night-feel-good-rental when you're in the mood for some queer therapy. Not only for gay people, the book lists movies, recipes, and little indulgences that will pamper and pacify even the most stressed out straights on gays. With sections dedicated to Judy, Bette, Madonna, the book streams a wide timeline, so there's something for everyone, from, "Mommie Dearest" (my personal favorite in which you learn some interesting facts about the film - like the fact the studio NEVER intended for it to be such a cult camp classic!) to "The Hours" to "Camp" and so on. Jason's Barmacy brings out the bartender in us all with the same ease it takes Omarosa to be hated, and Bev's pampering rituals will leave you feeling refreshed (and looking hot too!). However, I think the next book should have a cover photo of Mr. Bergund in his alleged "lavaliere - all the way down to his waist"!

Three words: Fun Fun Fun!! A must have for gay movie buffs and novices alike. A great lite read for the summer - it catered to my every ADD need, as I could pick it up and flip around to my hearts desire... I truly enjoyed how co-authors Jason Bergund and Beverly West summed up my personal favorites with wit and hilarity, and then had me rushing to the video store for a few films on my "to-see" list. This manual or "bible", as one may dub, is full of chuckles, fun tips, helpful hints, along with a plethora of random information that had me taking notes in case "Celebrity Jeopardy" ever came a knockin'. ("What is Velma Kelly's real name?" (...)

This pdf helped me tremendously in determining just how we incorporate the Internet into our strategy and company. To this day, I still refer back to this timeless masterpiece for guidance, advice and motivation on what the Internet ought to do for our company and how we need to embrace it. I highly recommend this pdf.

A lot of IT developpers forget what is the main essence of a WEB site. This short paper describes how to be efficient and successful according to Porter's theory of competitive strategy.

BUT... you might have some difficulty to apply it if you haven't read the theory (competitive strategy & competitive advantage). There are a lot of examples so it's quite easy to understand, even for a beginner.

Michael E. Porter is a Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. He is a leading authority in the field of competition and strategic management. This article was published in the March 2001 issue of the Harvard Business Review.

"The key question is not whether to deploy Internet technology but how to deploy it." According to Porter companies should build on the proven principles of effective strategy since the Internet per se will rarely be a competitive advantage. "Many of the companies that succeed will be ones that use the Internet as a complement to traditional ways of competing." In order to prove his point Porter discusses a long list of subjects, such as distorted market signals ("New technologies trigger rampant experimentation ... as a result, market behavior is distorted and must be interpreted with caution."), the impact of the Internet on the five competitive forces and industry structure ("Its greatest impact has been to enable reconfiguration of exisiting industries."), and the myth of the first mover. He then switches over to the future of Internet competition ("The next stage of the Internet's revolution will involve a shift in thinking from e-business to business, from e-strategy to strategy."), discussing the impact of the Internet on competitive advantage. Porter also discusses the Internet as a complement to traditional business. He uses sidebar and figures to translate the impact of the Internet into his famous models and frameworks (five forces, strategic positioning, and value chain). "Only by integrating the Internet into overall strategy will this powerful new technology become an equally powerful force for competitive advantage."

Although this article has come too late for many Internet companies, it is essential reading for managers of organizations that are considering or need to improve their online strategy. It provides great insights into how the Internet links into traditional business and strategies. For readers unfamiliar with Porter's previous work I recommend his 1996-article 'What is Strategy?', or his book 'On Competition' which is great value-for-money. The author uses simple US-English.

Michael E. Porter is a Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. He is a leading authority in the field of competition and strategic management. This article was published in the March 2001 issue of the Harvard Business Review.

"The key question is not whether to deploy Internet technology but how to deploy it." According to Porter companies should build on the proven principles of effective strategy since the Internet per se will rarely be a competitive advantage. "Many of the companies that succeed will be ones that use the Internet as a complement to traditional ways of competing." In order to prove his point Porter discusses a long list of subjects, such as distorted market signals ("New technologies trigger rampant experimentation ... as a result, market behavior is distorted and must be interpreted with caution."), the impact of the Internet on the five competitive forces and industry structure ("Its greatest impact has been to enable reconfiguration of exisiting industries."), and the myth of the first mover. He then switches over to the future of Internet competition ("The next stage of the Internet's revolution will involve a shift in thinking from e-business to business, from e-strategy to strategy."), discussing the impact of the Internet on competitive advantage. Porter also discusses the Internet as a complement to traditional business. He uses sidebar and figures to translate the impact of the Internet into his famous models and frameworks (five forces, strategic positioning, and value chain). "Only by integrating the Internet into overall strategy will this powerful new technology become an equally powerful force for competitive advantage."

Although this article has come too late for many Internet companies, it is essential reading for managers of organizations that are considering or need to improve their online strategy. It provides great insights into how the Internet links into traditional business and strategies. For readers unfamiliar with Porter's previous work I recommend his 1996-article 'What is Strategy?', or his book 'On Competition' which is great value-for-money. The author uses simple US-English.

Michael E. Porter is Harvard Business School professor and a leading authority on competition. He has written several important novels and articles in the field of competition and strategic management.

In this Harvard Business Review article, Michael Porter describes the impact of the Internet on competition and strategy, through discussing distorted market signals, the impact on industry structure (Porter's five forces), the myth of the first mover, the impact on competitive advantage, and the Internet as a complement. The author concludes that the Internet does not render strategy obsolete, but makes it even more important than ever for companies to distinguish themselves through strategy. "... the fundamentals of competition remain unchanged. The next stage of the Internet's evolution will involve a shift in thinking from e-business to business, from e-strategy to strategy."

For various Internet-companies this article has come too late (March 2001), but it is extremely attractive and useful for all people looking to extend their traditional businesses into cyberspace (Internet, World Wide Web, and e-commerce). Michael E. Porter makes extensive use of his previous research into competition and strategy, and combines these with Internet examples and cases. The author uses simple US-English.

My oldest daughter loves this book. The entire series by Esther Averill is terrific!

Great book for any cat lover

author of "Hobo Finds A Home"

What a wonderful book! I didin't want it to end. The cat characters were wonderfully realized, very "cat-like", with distinct personalities and catty quirks. The slightly primative illustrations were charming and enhanced the narrative. I loved the story, and look forward to reading the rest of the "Cat Club" books!

I'm hoping that The Hotel Cat will soon join the other Cat Club reissues. Somewhere over the years I lost my original copy and recently replaced it with a used one I came across on EBay, but I'd love a new copy that would hold up long enough for my children to pass on to their children. If I read this book once I read it a thousand times, and I'll never forget the fifth-grade book report I wrote---or the crude mobile I created for which my mother helped me knit a little red scarf for Jenny! The illustrations and the story captivated me, transported me to a place I could only imagine, and inspired me to ask my parents all kinds of bizarre questions that they probably never could have expected---like what's a hornpipe dance and why is it called that?! A real treasure.

The other day I came across a copy of "Jenny and the Cat Club" at a bookstore and was overcome by memories of the hours I spent with the Cat Club as a child. "The Hotel Cat" was the first of my experiences with the Cat Club, and has always remained my favorite. For several years in grade school I would check it out over and over at the library to have the pleasure of reading it again and again. At one point I became convinced that my own three cats had a secret club with the other neighborhood felines! Eventually of course I moved on to longer and more difficult reads, but I never forgot Tom and the other Cat Club members. Sadly, when I looked for "The Hotel Cat" at the library a few years ago I discovered that it and the other Cat Club books had been sold or donated due to a low check out rate. Since then, I have been looking for my own copy of Cat Club books. Now that they are being republished, I absolutely plan to buy a copy of each so that I can pass these wonderful books that meant so much to me on to my own children some day.