Companies Books

A friend referred to the Sharpe series as literary opium...he may be right. They are guilty pleasures, for sure....and I worry what will happen when I have read them all.

The thing is, drug or not, Cornwell is a wonderful writer. I laughed out loud a couple of times, was riveted by a love scene, and ran to the computer to look up the actual battle and scenes described. Great stuff.

And then I had the misfortune to read the new McMurtry novel....

"Sharpe's Sword" is a decent entry into the Sharpe series, but I happen to tend to prefer the Sharpe adventures that are primarily military rather than the ones with espionage plots. And, for my taste, "Sharpe's Sword" is a bit heavy on the spy angle and a hair light on the battles. But the book's action scenes, while failing to rival those in, say, "Sharpe's Rifles," "Sharpe's Eagle" or "Sharpe's Company," are still pretty satisfying. "Sharpe's Sword" is far from the weakest of the generally very strong Sharpe series (of the ones that I've read so far, I'd say that "Sharpe's Prey" my least favorite), but it doesn't quite rank among the very best, either.

I've been reading through the entire series chronologically and up until now i've been hard pressed to pick a favorite. After reading Sharpe's Sword however i have a clear choice.

In Sharpe's Sword, Cornwell gives the reader his true best - putting together a plot so interesting that one can even claim that in this novel it trumps his ability at "battlefield writing" where i believe Cornwell is the best living author- and that's saying something.

If you want a good introduction to cornwell's writing ability and you don't mind starting most of the way through a series i highly recommend Sharpe's Sword.

This is another entry on the Sharpe series. It is fun, entertaining and very readable. Cornwell's research is as excellent as usual. He takes some licenses for the shake of the story and continuity, but this is OK. Some people are outraged by the portrait of some of the real historical characters, but historical characters are rarely depicted accurately in historical fiction, so I think this can be forgiven. Besides, usually a more serious account of these characters is given at the end of the book on the Historical Note.

Many people insist in compare this series with Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander. I don't think this is fair for any of the series, they are different entities. What they have in common is that once you start you may get hooked and devour one book after another...

And in the literary world today that is a rare and marvelous thing.

Bernard Cornwell's Richard Sharpe series is one of the most beloved collective works in the sub-genre of historical fiction. Spanning over twenty novels (and counting!), Cornwell has treated his readers with thrilling battlefield and bedroom exploits from Flanders to India to Spain and France. While the novels have a definitive formula, they never grow stale.

"Sharpe's Sword" is among the best of the Sharpe novels. Sharpe is a captain of the 95th Rifles, attached to the South Essex regiment as a light company. As fans of the series know, Sharpe has made himself indispensable to the British army (including his patron, Lord Wellington) by being the most lethal rogue in an army full of cut-throats and vagabonds. But in "Sharpe's Sword," Cornwell has created a foe worthy of Sharpe - the French spy-hunter Leroux, a lethal aristocrat whose charge from Napoleon is to topple the British spy network.

Leroux is captured by Sharpe early in the novel, but takes advantage of a foolish British officer's notion of "parole" (in which a captured officer may keep his weapons and freedom if he gives his sworn statement that he will not try to escape). Acting quickly, Leroux murders his way back to freedom, but in doing so he earns Sharpe's undying hatred . . . and envy. Sharpe hates him for being a backstabbing liar, but Sharpe envies him because Leroux has the most magnificent sword Sharpe has ever seen, and Sharpe wants it.

And so Sharpe and Leroux are caught in a duel to the death while the French and British armies slug it out in the gorgeous city of Salamanca and also on the plains of Spain. "Sharpe's Sword" has it all - humor, romance, intrigue, friendship, betrayal, and battles. And what battles! Nobody writes a better battle scene than Bernard Cornwell, and he tops himself when describing a suicidal, insane cavalry charge by Wellington's German heavy cavalry against formed French squares. The reader is flung into the wild madness that is Napoleonic warfare, and it is a glorious madness indeed.

Well-researched and lovingly written, "Sharpe's Sword" exemplifies all that is good in the Sharpe series.

I've made multiple recipes from this book. Although barley flour is used in almost every recipe, with some experimentation, I'm sure other flours will be good substitutes. The barley flour does result in darker final baked products. The baked goods do not come out too sweet (a lot of maple syrup is used) and the recipes recommend date/prune sugar, which I have no idea where to get. Instead, I use regular evaporated cane sugar or brown sugar, which is less preferred, but more accessible. Plus the recipes I've tried did not require a whole bunch of dry sugar. Very versatile book, ENJOY!

This book has some of the most amazing vegan cookie recipes i've ever tried. Although i am not a vegan, i am unable to eat dairy or eggs. All of the cookies i've made with these recipes have been delicious and actually taste like they're made with butter. The cakes, breads and muffins are moist, and healthful without tasting like sawdust! For anyone on a restricted diet, i would definitely recommend this book! Most of the ingredients are easy to find, especially if you have access to a health food store. The recipes are simple, consistent, and satisfying.

This little book is packed with inspiring ideas, taking "eating healthy" totally into consideration. These two girls who wrote the book are inspirational to me, an omnivore, to eat more healthy and still enjoy these better choices in desserts. It is a perfectly presented manual and guide to vegan eating and the recipes are truly works of art and a labor of love.

I bought this cookbook 8 months ago so I could make a cake for my daughter's 2nd birthday that she could eat--she has been off dairy and wheat since her first birthday. From chocolate cupcakes to zucchini bread, every recipe is delicious and "real" enough to serve to friends and family. Our favorites are the blueberry muffins, zucchini bread, coffee cake and the almond butter and chocolate chip cookies that are AMAZING! My daughter loves every recipe we have tried, and I feel great knowing that she is eating such healthy food. So far everything freezes really well, too.

I love the fact that this is wheat free, not gluten free. If you don't have to worry about avoiding gluten...you have a lot more tasty options. And this cookbook has plenty of examples. The authors also do not use white sugar and you don't miss it at all. They do a great job with easy recipes for moist, yummy baked goods. I no longer eat white sugar, wheat or dairy so we are relying on this cookbook even more now.

The cornbread recipe has a typo that I noticed way too late--tablespoons instead of teaspoons for baking soda and baking powder.

This book is just what I needed. I can't eat wheat right now because it bothers my nursing son. Finding wheat free, vegan recipes for sweets that taste good was proving to be a daunting task. I was really missing dessert until I found this book. True, it's not gluten-free, but I didn't get the impression it would be. I was able to look through the book a bit on amazon and knew what was used in the recipes.(Thanks amazon) There are people who can't have wheat but have no problems with other gluten containing grains and for them, this book is great. The cookie recipes are amazing. The recipes that call for more barley flour like cakes, muffins and quick breads are a bit health-foody. But we like that. My four year old devours the rapberry muffins like they are going out of style. The gingerbread cookies have also become a favorite around here. I really love having recipes for treats that I can feel good about giving to my kids. It doesn't hurt that us grownups love them too. Thanks Ellen Abraham, for filling the void.

Totally beyond belief! I too am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse living in Australia and Rhonnie's story still shocked me! An unbelievable survivor, Rhonnie shares her raw emotions with the world to put forward the TRUTH behind child molestation. She lived through the nightmare, suffered the after effects, gained strength and now has stepped aside from what could have been a soul destroying future.

Rhonnie is a woman of pure strength, which also shines through in the success of her non-for-profit organization, Leaps and Bounds, dedicated to survivors of child molestation. Child abuse is a global problem and the torment it leaves in its survivors is unparalleled to none. Rhonnie is here to help... not just survivors, but all those who either directly or indirectly come into some contact with this unforgiving crime... or may be yet to realise that they are already unknowingly linked to it. Are you hearing what I am saying? If not, read the last three lines again...

Her ongoing dedication to this devastating, shocking act is a tremendous achievement and deserves unparalleled credit. I have nothing more than respect and admiration for this wonderful woman. Rhonnie is here today for many purposes, to be a survivor, a teacher, a leader, a mum, a wife, a family member, a friend... but I think the most important purpose is to share this book with YOU. You definitely don't have to be a victim yourself, it is written to all of society, not just aimed at your town, state or country, but globally!

Life is too short to let chances pass by. Rhonnie's book will change your views and understanding, if not your life! It may just open your eyes enough to help save just one victim... or many. What would you give to know that you made a difference in someone's world? Don't let that chance pass by...

An amazing "MUST READ"!!!!! Whether you have lived through abuse, know someone who has or only heard about it, this book tells it all, through the eyes of a child and on into adult years. The struggles are many and I applaud this author for her tremendous strength and ability to get it all out in words and share this with all of us. She is an inspiration to all who read this book.
Deb Ontario Canada

In my work with the abused ( I am a lay counselor) I have recommended Rhonnie's book time and again. Rhonnie's book is difficult to read. Those not prepared or ready to confront the truth about abuse, will not be able to read this book easily. Some won't be able to read it at all. If you live in denial of these issues and don't want to be a part of the solution, you will want to put it down. I urge all of you to press through the hard stuff and READ THIS BOOK. You will end this book proactive towards child abuse, rather than choosing to ignore it. This is part of the answer to stopping the epidemic of child abuse that is rampant in our society today! We must be OUTRAGED with adults abusing children, and get involved, report it, and seek help for the children, as well as the abusers. Get this book in the hands of everyone you can! It will change your perspective and change your life!
I am so impressed that Rhonnie had the courage to write her story and open her life for all to read about. That couldn't have been easy. It put her in a position with famiy to be targeted for her refusal to stay in denial of the family secrets. Thank you, Rhonnie, for caring so much for America's abused children, that you subjected yourself to persecution, ridicule and facing your own pain and agony.
Rhonnie's book has been instrumental in my husband and I considering opening a "HOUSE OF HOPE" for troubled teenagers in our area. When I finished her book, I wanted to make a difference, as she has. The Lord willing, we will open a House of Hope in the near future where abused and hurting teens and their families can come to find healing and grace. Thank you, Rhonnie for inspiring us into action!!

Valerie & John Norton
Living Waters House of Hope (To be opened)
Healing for America's Teens

America has a secret hidden epidemic lurking, protected and secure, in the American family home. It is child sexual abuse. The strength and courage of one woman to tell her brutal story will give everyone who reads it an understanding of child molestation necessary to change this cycle of abuse carried through generations and generations. Comprehension of this unspeakable crime will get people speaking. Rhonnie speaks about her own abuse and I could not stop reading. Through the tears and the anger, I kept reading. After reading her story, I wanted to cup my hands around all the abused and neglected children of the world. Thank you Rhonnie for this eye-opening, riveting book.

First of all I want to say that I am proud to call Rhonnie my friend and kindred spirit. What she has done in this book is spectacular, in putting you in the head, heart and body of an abused child. I found myself caught in her skin and feeling everything she felt...as well as those of her siblings. I wish someone would be brave enough to make a movie from her book and make it a must see. Child abuse in any form is devastating and destructive. Rhonnie reaches out with her pure portrayal of her life and lets the world share her pain and the pain of every other individual who ever suffers this horror. The chain is seeminging endless, but Rhonnie is going to make a difference in this world...because she is a survivor and one of the bravest and kindest people I have ever known. If each victim of child abuse and molestation would join hands and start standing up for this cause...the voices would be heard around the world. Rhonnie,you are the greatest and I truly feel you are worthy of Oprah and every other talk show on the planet that will help you and all of us in this fight. Your book is precious and I would not take anything for it. God speed dear one.
Jane in North Carolina

Ms. Hawkins nails this spirituality thing. Her book clearly tells us why spirituality in the workplace is not only appropriate, but good business. And she gives clear instructions on how to achieve it both personally and corporate-wide. Of course, she's not talking about coercing anyone to a specific belief, but making opportunities for people to incorporate their beliefs into their daily work ethic. Sound advice. I took her advice to heart and began incorporating the spiritual life into my own work and writing with zeal at www.WorldWantingPeace.com. Thanks so much Ms. Hawkins.

"SPIRIT INCORPORATED truly has exciting business principles for professionals in International Banking and Finance. In a global financial market too often driven strictly by 'bottom line' profits, country tax incentives, P/E ratios, down sizing, insider rumours, and market speculation, instant and sudden wealth is being created (and lost) through overnight M&A's and market IPO's, with little thought given for human considerations. SPIRIT INCORPORATED brings back the human spirit to the often dehumanizing business calculations seen by too many as a 'Zero Sum Game.' I have applied these exciting principles and philosophies while living and working in Europe, the Middle East, and the Republic of South Africa. Kathleen Hawkins, I applaud you!!!" -- Mark Douglas, B.A., M.B.A., International Business Manager, Johannesburg, RSA

"Spirit Incorporated turns the daily grind into a premium blend of ethics, integrity, and job satisfaction." -- Don Dible, coauthor, Chicken Soup for the Dental Soul

"I am in awe. SPIRIT INCORPORATED is the first book on spirituality that I have read that is so REAL and doable. So many of the others give you ideas but they are sometimes hard to apply to real life. I keep having to stop reading SPIRIT INCORPORATED to write down ideas that I want to remember and don't want to lose. What a great book by a great writer!" Patricia Boyd, Consumer Real-estate Advocate, Certified Finance Specialist, and author of How to Buy and Sell Your Home Without Getting Ripped Off! PBSem@aol.com

"Kathleen has packed Spirit Incorporated with so much truth and so many practical examples that I hope this book is marketed as widely as possible." -- Jim Collison, President of the Employers of America: the National Association for Workplace Leaders, and the Senior Editor of Smart Workplace Practices

This book is a thoughtful and comprehensive summary of most every critical aspect of the start-up process. As an entrepreneur who has started several companies over the years (and as an author of a book on the subject of entrepreneurship myself), I can say that I wish that I had a copy of this book early in my entrepreneurial career. If you studied this book and came to understand its content, you would be well prepared for the start-up process.

In reality, most readers will not plow through 500 pages of material to prepare themselves to be entrepreneurs. Instead, they will get going and reference the material in this book to explore the details of their current activity (whether it's getting started, putting a team together, writing a business plan, securing a round of financing, etc.) The book also helps entrepreneurs to better anticipate next steps. The bottom line is that this is a solid reference book for entrepreneurs and one that nicely complements other books on the subject.

There are over twelve thousand books available on the subject of entrepreneurship, ranging from the truly execrable to the really good. But Michael Stathis' The Startup Company Bible is one that I can recommend to every entrepreneur and every early stage investor.

As an active angel investor in the US, I have read dozens of books aimed at entrepreneurs. Usually I end up cringing at the misperceptions, bad advice and third-hand information they contain. The great thing about Stathis' work is that he gets everything right. And to do that over 600 pages of dealing with all the intricacies of starting and financing a business is quite an accomplishment.

If you are an entrepreneur who is considering seeking angel or venture capital financing, this book will help you understand what the picture looks like from the other side of the table, and what things you can do to strengthen your company...and thus improve your chances of getting funded.

This was purchased not to start a company (yet), but to increase my effectiveness in business dealings with startups. As director of business development for a pharmaceutical contract research organization (CRO), I work with VC, PE and Angel funded companies routinely to assure their product development goals are met. This book provides insight into key strategic issues on how these companies, my clients, are structured. Highly recommended.

As someone who worked in, worked with, and funded start-ups and now teaches the subject I've found two common categories of start-up books: those by academics that have been written in a vacuum and thus seem clinical and out of touch with reality, and those written by successful entrepreneurs who use the pages to relive their glory days. Stathis, on the other hand, balances the conceptual with the practical, providing prospective entrepreneurs with a thorough, well-rounded, yet technical step-by-step guide to starting a business. From the everyday minutiae - or what Stathis considers the boring, nevertheless crucial details - to more strategic concepts that can help ease the entry path, this book addresses the necessary tools to starting and running a new business. The appendices to the 400+ pages are a great addition, exposing entrepreneurs to what confidentiality agreements, stock option plans, etc. actually look like. This book should be not just a starting point for people considering starting/owning their own business, but a companion throughout the entrepreneurial journey. The title of Startup Company Bible is truly deserving.

This is a book with great strengths and great weaknesses. If you are a seasoned entrepreneur, this is a useful resource at a fair price. If you are just thinking about starting your first company, be wary of this book; if you use it to chart your course, it could drive you onto a reef. In the hands of the naive, it will cause a lot of damage.

Strengths:

- Comprehensive - it covers a very wide range of topics
- Honest - the book tries to be forthcoming and avoid biases
- Based on Experience - Much of the book is based on the real world

Weaknesses:

- Organization - the organization is simply awful and there are few navigation resources to help you find your way through tangled threads of thought
- Myopic - this book assumes that you want to use Venture Capital - the most expensive money on the planet
- Inconsistent Quality - this is the most severe problem (more on this below).
- Ad Hoc - beyond ad hoc organization, much of the content (tables, chapters...) is ad hoc. It's impossible to tell when a list is supposed to be a list of examples, or when it's supposed to be comprehensive.

In the hands of someone who has started companies before, this is a great handbook and could be a good coaching tool to help others. In the hands of a beginner, it would be incredibly dangerous, since the inconsistent quality makes using it a potential disaster.

Inconsistent Quality: The book lacks quality on several levels.

On the elementary level, it's full of typos. No editor is named, either because there was no editor, or because there was not a single senior editor to sign the work.

On the broad level, there are so many examples of inconsistent quality that it's hard to know what to cite. The intellectual property discussion is, for the most part, quite good, and offers valuable advice that is often omitted. But, at the same time, this discussion is very sloppy in its terminology, so the same people who need the advice could be misled.

On the "sophisticated" level, there is an odd mix of truly useful teaching, and vapid babble. This is most evident when the book quotes business schools, like Harvard. Anyone who has actually run a business and then spent time around a business school knows that many of the professors have never actually DONE anything, and they don't know that they don't know. So, you see B-schools publish books and articles that don't say anything and the authors don't seem to know they have not said anything. These are "vacuum publications" because they are void of any real content. In this book, you'd hope that the vacuum publications would be absent, but sadly there are some quoted, cited, and in some cases, even their figures

A new edition could make this a great book - you can see a great book in there somewhere.

In Straight, Francis gives us another of his honorable and vulnerable heroes who find themselves in trouble through no fault of their own. True, part of Derek Franklin's problems stems from not getting to know his much older brother, Greville, but the rest of his problems just seem to happen. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time is never in one's favor.

Derek is a successful jockey whose ankle is broken in a fall in a race. Just after he learns that his brother has been killed in a freak accident. Now, Greville was a gemologist who tended to be more than a little paranoid. He loved gadgets and puzzles and lives in a house outfitted like a fortress. Unfortunately, the strength of the house does not prevent Derek from being pummeled and otherwise abused nearly to the point of death. The worst thing is that he doesn't know why. This is a story of many mysteries most of which have nothing to do with one another. True to form, though, the villain once identified, proves to have no compunctions about doing whatever it takes to get what he/she wants and for self protection. Or is that villains?

As the story unfolds, the reader finds out as much about the deceased Greville as Derek, his brother and sole heir. (There are two sisters who live abroad.) It's difficult not to care about both and to feel the regret about not getting to know someone before it's too late.

Straight is a typical Francis novel in that it's a fast read, one cares about the protagonist, and pretty much despises the antagonist. Few surprises when it comes to it, but one of Francis's good ones.

I hve been reading Dick Francis books for at least 15 years. My father introduced me to them. When I go on vacation this summer, some of them will accompany me. "Straight" will be one of them.

Greville and Clarissa had concealed their love affair for three years.

Greville was a middleman, who had traveled the world to search out reliable sources of semiprecious gemstones. The successful London company he founded would have the stones cut in Antwerp, Tel Aviv, New York, or elsewhere, then distribute the gems in quantity to creative designers and producers of fashionable jewelry. Greville also owned racehorses, starting when someone had given him one in settlement of a debt.

Clarissa was the attractive wife of an older British lord, who had pursued her. Greville became Clarissa's first love, as she became his. When he was not on a trip, and she could come to London, they would meet. When apart, which was most days, they had agreed to pause at a set time of day to think of each other, knowing that each was doing the same.

A sudden accident ended all this. Greville had been walking down the High Street next to a construction site, when collapsing scaffolding from high up, struck him, sending him to the hospital, where he never regained consciousness and soon died.

Here are Dick Francis's very first words of the story: "I inherited my brother's life. Inherited his desk, his business, his gadgets, his enemies, his horses and his mistress. I inherited my brother's life, and it nearly killed me."

The speaker is Greville's brother Derek, younger by nineteen years. Too tall for flat racing, Derek is a steeplechase jockey, which is especially dangerous because of the jumping. In the story he is, in fact, on crutches recovering from a broken left ankle injured in a race.

Derek's racing world and Greville's business world collide throughout the book. Derek must pick up the complex gemstone business traces, while undergoing continuing pressure from racing owners and trainers to hurry up and heal.

The company employees tell Derek that Greville did not deal in diamonds. In going to the bank, Derek discovers otherwise. The manager tells him that three months earlier the bank had loaned Greville a million and a half U.S. dollars, specifically to expand into diamonds, and would soon be looking to Derek to start repayment.

Where are the diamonds? Stolen? Who are the customers who wanted them? Greville's company business and his house are broken into. Derek is assaulted and shot at. The action is nonstop. The book is a fascinating, literate page-turner.

Note: Probably all of us readers like to notice where a book's title appears in the text, and to see the meaning in context. I frankly lost count after more than a dozen instances, many of them different -- from Intensive Care Unit monitor lines going flat, to straight thinking versus labyrinthine, to honest test reporting versus shadiness, just to name a few. And a big one near the end of the book, which I wouldn't want to reveal here. Your reading will have to decide which of the many applies most strongly. Or perhaps they all do?

This has to be one of my all time favorite Dick Francis novels. It has everything a mystery should have in it - murder, missing jewels, mayhem... In my opinion, it's going to be difficult for Francis to top this one, but I can't wait while he keeps trying!

Straight takes the reader behind the scenes of the jewel trade and it's not an industry that's always on the up and up. Derek Franklin has been on a roller coaster ride of late as his steeplechase jockey career is nearing the end with him sustaining yet another injury. During his forced leave to heal, Derek finds out that his older brother, Greville, has been attacked and is on his deathbed. After his brother succumbs to his injuries, Derek is told that he has inherited his brother's business. Too late to protect himself, Derek realizes that his brother was a target and Derek suspects it has something to do with a fortune in missing diamonds.

This isn't a direct "who dun it" but also has a few subplots that are enjoyable in their own right. When Derek is summoned to his dying brother's hospital bed, the interaction (or lack there of) made me very thankful for the close relationship I have with my brothers and sisters. This thankfulness was reinforced throughout the story, as Derek learns more about his older brother and begins to understand him.

One of my favorite parts of the book is when Derek is sure that a clue is hidden in his brother's computer, but he is unable to access the correct password. Greville's secretary comes to the rescue. After hearing the clues left by Greville, followed by a brief mind struggle, she comes up with the correct code word and up pops a message on the computer screen congratulating her and promising her a raise. Now that's the kind of boss I want - he sounds fun!

The only negative some may have with this book is that it is a detour for Dick Francis. As most of his books revolve around horseracing, his devoted fans have come to expect that background. In Straight the only reference to horseracing is the fact that Derek is an injured jockey.

Want to read a mystery that will have you guessing until the end? If so, then this is the book for you to read next! It's very enjoyable and will have you wondering until the very end.

A reader knows what they are getting with a Dick Francis book. The mystery will be well plotted, the hero (usually a jockey or former jockey) will bravely face whatever trials that face him overcoming his troubled past and/or secret sorrow and the action will center around the some part of the racing world. Every once in awhile though a surprise pops up, this time the jockey is thrust into the totally alien world of gems.

Jockey Derek Franklin has been sidelined by a broken ankle, shortly after his brother Grenville is murdered. As Derek tries to settle the estate he finds himself drawn more and more into his brother's world of finance, gems and quirky little gadgets. Gradually he begins to sort out the mysteries surrounding Grenville's life and death but soon discovers that there are others who are determined to keep him from the answers. In the end, of course all is revealed.

This is a well plotted and clever mystery. The clues are all there for the reader to follow. The characters are well written, and draw the reader into the story.

This cookbook is actually very beautifull. Havent tried the recipes in it yet, it was a gift for my mom. She really loved receiving it. It took a little longer to come to my house than i expected, but i did order it right around Christmas, so i guess that can be expected. I cant wait to try the recipes. The pictures are georgous!!

This book is so charming. The artwork is lovely and the recipes are good too. It's a book to use and treasure for years to come.

I bought this more for nostalgia, so in that case it gets 5 stars for pictures and memories. Most of the recipes are modern, yet impractical. There are a few that I would say are great heirloom recipes, but that's all.

Anything by Tasha Tudor is a work of art! Her illustrations, and down to earth practicality, is revealed -- upclose -- in this delightful book! This is the kind of book you can give a little girl of any age -- even 99!

Tasha Tudor's cookbook makes you long for the past when your grandmother taught you how to make the perfect pie crust. Ms. Tudor's own illustrations add to the charm of a book that reminds you of happy times spent in the kitchen. Her recipes and personal stories encourage you recreate that time with your own children and grandchildren.

I read this book the first time when I checked it out of the public library. I loved it so much that I had to have my own copy. It is a fascinating account of how the nouvo riche in the U.S. basically bought acceptance to high society for their daughters. You can just pick it up and read sections - it's not necessary to start at the beginning and work through. Not a summer goes by that I don't pick it up!

Every time I read this book it becomes more and more interesting. Meticulously researched, with great little anecdotes and etiquette tips.
This book is a lot of fun! I especially liked the many photographs of the designer gowns (most by Worth, if you please!) that are liberally scattered throughout.
If you're ananglophile you'll want to get this one!

Those few of us who have wondered why in the world a comfortable, cosseted American girl would want to marry an Englishman and live in a cold climate in an even colder stone castle will find answers here, even if the answers aren't satisfactory to the modern ear.

Think of it: wealthy American society girls, products of generations of men and women who gave lives and fortunes to escape a Royalist society, thought it a worthy investment of their lives, loves and wealth to buy an English title in the form of a husband. It's understandable that men who have no money and are saddled with huge estates and titles with no way to support themselves "in the manner to which they have become accustomed" would search out these women. It's another matter to understand the women, especially if they were bright and energetic (like the fabled Jenny Jerome).

Of course the first women to get involved in this weird method of social climbing didn't realize what was involved. (Though why American society decided that an English title was important in the United States, especially if it could be bought with money, still escapes me.) The problems included loveless husbands who paid little attention to their wives and carried on affairs; cold and drafty castles into which Papa sank tons of money to no avail as far as comfort was concerned; families who refused to accept them in spite (or because) of the fact that they provided the money to keep the lifestyle intact; servants who often were sulky and rebellious ("but we've ALWAYS done it that way"); children they handed over to nannies. The first brides must have kept the hardships and loneliness from the succeeding generation, for the rage for English titles prevailed from the mid-19th century almost through the mid-20th century.

TO MARRY AN ENGLISH LORD is a fascinating and complete look at these women and the lives they led. Illustrations showing the homes and households of the times and how they operated, fashions, maps, photographs of the women and their friends, families and husbands all combine to present the core of that particular section of society in that particular age.

The book is meticulously researched and includes a bibliography, a register of American heiresses, a suggested walking tour of the women's London and a very handy index. It's built around the stories of these women and the men who wooed and won them. Who they were, what they did and what the consequences were -- all adds up to an intriguing and fascinating read.

As the other reviewers have noted, this is a great romp through a part of American history you don't learn about in school. I read it through once and then re-read it just to savor all the little bits and pieces the authors have so generously loaded it with. If you ever wondered about all those Vanderbilts and all those Whitneys, here is your chance (from an American point of view!)to find out just how and why these ladies ended up in the postions they did- all for the love of Edward VII. I wish there were more reader-friendly books like this that make history so entertaining.

Who says that history is boring and stuffy? This well-researched book is chock full of anecdotes, pictures, and facts to make the period and the subject come to life.

This book discusses the phenomenon of the "dollar princesses": American hieresses who married into titles abroad, particularly England. Amongst them were Winston Churchill's mother; a woman who was the second-highest ranking woman in the British empire (after only the queen); and maybe the most famous of all: Consuelo Vanderbuilt, who begrudgingly became the Duchess of Marlborough in a marriage aranged by her social-climbing mother.

Written informally, with lots of pictures, this might be a great book to buy a teenager who is just transitioning into "grown-up" non-fiction, but finds most of it dry and uninteresting. It is also a must-read for anyone who plans on traveling to country-houses in England, as it gives a more accurate view of what it was like to actually have to live in one of those monstrosities! Anyone who is interested in the history of class in America, or of the British Aristocracy, would also be interested.

Some concepts are not for the beginner. Let's you use your imagination to create outstanding layouts.

This is a great book on how to run and plan your next model railroad. Gives great idea's and samples of yards, train movements and point to point locations. Not just for beginers.

I don't think anyone in the model railroad hobby can say enough about the contributions of the late John Armstrong. His layout designs are masterpieces of getting the most out of a given space and working with the tradeoffs we all enevitably face. The book gives an overview of prototype operations and then goes into countless ideas and pointers for design and operation. I found the section on curve planning (p. 76), schematics (Chap. 8), and laying out an "easement" (p. 116) particularly useful. I recommend this to anyone planning a first layout or for anyone building a second layout after messing up their first. It is a good companion to "Classic Layout Designs," also by John Armstrong.

John Armstrong is one of the best known names to the model railroad hobby. He has written extensively but this book is his finest work.

A person interested in railroads finds himself caught up in lots of detailed scenes and complex trackwork. Armstrong explains what it all does and why it is arranged in the way it is. He does this by explaining railroad practice in the real world and then by looking at the problems faced by the modeler. He does so in a lucid and interesting manner...for the first half of the book.

While the first half of the book is dedicated to teaching about how railroads operate, the second is intended to teach how to model them effectively. He explains broad general concepts and then refines things and explains them in easy stages. He knows where the pitfalls are and he points out solutions.

This is a useful book for anyone from beginner to advanced but especially the beginner.

This book will teach you exactly what it claims. Numerous prototype examples are used throughout the book to give the reader an insight into how you can design a realistic track plan. This book has helped me to better understand why prototype railroads arranged track in certain ways. Excellent book, highly recommended.

This is a fun and exciting trek around the Red Planet. I absolutely love the "hike" format, and this book is probably the next best thing to actually being there on Martian soil. Tidbits like what to wear on Mars and how to tell time definitely give the book a light-hearted personality. Another great feature is the author's own "personal experiences" / Mars exploration observation sections entitled "My Martian Chronicles." Thanks to the author, a great guide, I felt so involved in my "trip" that I wanted to buy a souvenir T-shirt! LOL I love the Classic Martian Map and Topographic Map foldouts at the front of the book. I especially like the easy-to-read large font of the text. I didn't have to squint while reading the book, which is a good thing.

In this book, we see Mars treated almost as if it was a tourist region. The author has divided Mars into areas of interest. He then discussed separately each area. Just like Earth, Mars has many different regions and scenery.

Although I am keen on space, somehow this book did little for me. After awhile I found it too much and lost interest in the details of each region. What I would have preferred on Mars is fewer notes and more pictures.

The other point is the book is full of interesting pictures unfortunately to appreciate them you need a large size book then this one.

Having said that if your interested in Mars geography though you will find this author knows his information, it is current and he explains his points well.

A Traveler's Guide to Mars is well written and quite fascinating for anyone with an interest in the planetary geology of Mars.

Hartmann breaks down the history of Mars into three geologic eras (Noachian, Hesperain, and Amazonian) based on the amount of cratering on the Martian surface. From there, he explores each one of these regions in detail.

From the majestic Mons Olympus volcano and 2500 mile long Valles Marineris Canyon to the probable glacial "melting mountains" of Promethei Terra and controversial ancient ocean shorelines of Vastitas Borealis , Hartmann provides the reader with a sweeping scope of Martian history, replete with stunning aerial photography and images, that is simply quite amazing. He even discusses the "microbial fossil" Martian meteorites as well as the notorious "Face on Mars" in the Cydonia highlands.

Take a trip to Mars ... you won't be disappointed

This is a really cool book! I didn't know we had the so-called red planet (a better name is the butterscotch planet) mapped out to the extent that we do. I've always loved geography and to take a tour of the features of another world is thrilling. If you like astronomy, geography, or have an optimist's bent on human destiny being among the stars, read this great book!

Have you ever wanted to go beyond the headlines concerning discoveries about Mars and get a thorough overview so that you can put things into perspective? This book is more than a collection of pretty pictures from a far away place. It gives a good introductory account of what we think we know about the planet, and why.

William Hartmann has been involved in uncovering knowledge about objects in the Solar system since the time that mankind first developed the ability to go beyond the Earth's atmosphere for an unobstructed view. He is in an authoritative position for attaching meaning to the images, and yet the explanations he gives are very much 'down to Earth', so to speak.

Data from space probes (starting with the Mariner series) have literally redrawn the map of the surface of Mars. The time varying dark regions were found to be not seas, or canals, or vegetation, but rather wind blown sand. New names were needed in 1972 to identify actual terrain features. The contrast between old and new can be see by comparing the two foldout maps inside the front cover.

Does Mars have a global magnetic field? No. But it used to! Metal particles in rocks older than 3,000,000 years ago are polarized. Particles in younger rocks are not polarized. The core of Mars was likely molten for the first 1,500,00 years and then cooled. Lack of a magnetic field has resulted in more Solar radiation reaching the surface, and may have played a role in carrying away the atmosphere.

Is there life on Mars? Was there life on Mars? That's still an open question. It's clear that there is evidence of large quantities of liquid water on the planet in its early years. That at least opens the possibility that Mars harbored life at that time. What we are finding today is that life survives in very hostile environments here on Earth, and microbes survived on a Moon probe visited years later by an Apollo crew, so who can say at this point?

Of all the places in the Solar system besides Earth, Mars is the one which has the most resources that would support manned exploration and colonization. There is still water on Mars, although in frozen form. The atmosphere contains CO2, from which oxygen can be extracted for propellant and for breathing. The presence of an atmosphere itself if of interest for aerobraking and radiation shielding. The fact of a day/night cycle very close to 24 hours is conducive to agriculture.

Robert Zubrin and others have been advocating for years that travel to Mars is worthwhile and affordable, and NASA now has a congressionally supported presidential mandate to proceed in that direction. The concept that one day a reader of William Hartmann's Traveler's Guide will in fact make the trip is no longer so far fetched.

This is a good read for anyone interested in Mars as a destination, or who would just like to know a bit more about that pink speck in the night sky. It also provides food for thought concerning climate change on our own planet. We didn't destroy the atmosphere on Mars, but maybe we can learn how to avoid Mars' fate here on Earth.