References Books

I was given this book as a gift for the holidays and couldn't put it down. The books is easy to read and VERY entertaining. As an amateur genealogist I found the stories heart warming, spine tingling, and most fascinating. It also gave me ideas of what else I need to do to find additional ancestors. I have already ordered four additional copies to give to friends and fellow genealogists.

So many times we associate genealogy with just names and dates. This book reminds us that there so much more to genealogy... the stories of our search, what motivates us, and the reminder that we all have a fabulous tale to tell. Read and be truly inspired!

I bought this book to read one article, but I got hooked. As I read article after article, I found that I couldn't put the book down. The book shares unique stories about everyday people who found information about their own past in surprising and wonderful ways. Now, I find myself telling friends about the fascinating articles that were in this book.

Gems of genealogical tidbits wrapped in one hundred and one surprising and fun stories. I was inspired by, and will never forget, the researchers who thought to ask to actually see the burnt records, the daughter's pursuit of information about her father who died in the war three months after she was born, using the Internet to find a sister not seen for six decades -- or any of the 98 other inspiring, sad, sometimes-scary, humorous or (mostly) very happy stories. Even my friends who are not interested in genealogy wound up carrying the book around to read the stories...everyone enjoyed it!

Megan Smolenyak's, "In Search of Our Ancestors; 101 Inspiring Stories of Serendipity and Connection in Rediscovering Our Family History" breaks new ground in the long-known but little discussed area of the seemingly divine help millions of researchers have known when they commenced to discover their kindred dead. The book chronicles the most remarkable--but believable--instances of individuals who sought to learn of their ancestors and their heritage but who encountered brick walls along the way, only to have the walls smashed by acts of kindness or happy and unexpected breakthroughs.

Some of the accounts in the book border on the miraculous, such as when books fall-off shelves to reveal portraits and biographical sketches of ancestors. There are accounts of distant cousins from different continents meeting in the same county court house on the same day, looking for the same ancestors. There are accounts of microfilmed records seemingly scrolling to the exact spot necessary to find an ancestor. There are accounts of cousins working on genealogy who discover one another by serendipitous accident: one accidentally leaving his genealogy on a photocopier the other was next to use.

In all, "In Search of Our Ancestors" is a life-affirming work, edifying us in our knowledge that we live not just for ourselves and that there is more than this life alone. It is a remarkable contribution to the hobby and the practice of family history research.

As a professional genealogist, I have already purchased dozens of the books and given them to my clients. Everyone should own a copy.

I got this book well before I thought I was going to and it was in amazing condition :)

If I had to keep but one reference book on my shelf as a Professional Interior Designer, this would be the book. It contains in-depth and well-formatted information on virtually every subject in the field, and the graphics are outstanding. One of the authors, Maryrose McGowan, is a powerhouse and has done a remarkable job with this guide and I hope she comes out with many other useful books to advance the profession. This book has quickly replaced several books I previously owned that attempted to do what this book has done with great simplicity, completeness, and accuracy.

The chapters are well-organized, the graphics are abundant, clear, and easy-to-understand, and they contain information from all ends of the spectrum. The price tag of the book is steep, but well worth the investment. Save your pennies and make a point of buying this book, or look for used versions as they come available on Amazon.com. You will be glad to have this book in your collection!

This book is very helpful for upcoming designers. It gives you standard codes for everything you could imagine. Very helpful when doing my design projects.

If your an Interior Designer or practicing to be one this book should be amongst the many in your personal library. The details are well written and displayed.

I've purchased this book for 2 companies that I've worked for and for myself as well. I am an Interior Designer and find Interior Graphic Standards to be extremly resourceful and helpful when it comes to design & planning. It covers a wide range of topics such as basic electrical, mechanical, accessibility standards, plumbing fixture considerations; material finish's, door frames/types, acoustics, etc. and provides enough information on each subject so that you understand what is required to plan. My only complaint is that in many cases, measurements and dimensions are not shown where you would think they should exist. That being said, I highly recommend the book for people of all levels in this industry.

As a fairly new user to the Mac and iPhoto I found this Missing Manual a valuable help in learning to properly use the application. I own 3 of the Missing Manuals and would recommend them to anyone.

This is a helpful reference manual for the new I-Photo program. I would recommend this book to anyone new to I-Photo.

Ain't gonna do a bang up job with out it.

Walt

I have learned so much from this book. The book is very well written and gets to the point in a simple and easy way to follow.

This book has saved me a ton of time and answered a lot of my questions about iPhoto and I am only about a third of the way through the book so far. It is a real joy. Questions that Apple staff in the local Apple store were unable to answer to my satisfaction are amply covered in this book. While the first section on fundamentals of digital photography is more basic than I need, still I got some useful information out of that section. I gained an understanding of the workings of the iPhoto image files - original and modified - and on how iPhoto interfaces with Elements 6.0. I also bought the Missing Manual for Elements 6.0 and find the two albums play well together.

Things that I previously was unable to figure out became clear within a short time thanks to the Missing Manual for iPhoto '08. I feel more confident that I am going to master the photo processing software and spend much less time at the iMac while doing a better job of editing and printing my images. A great value because it translates right into time saved. Much easier than using on line help and tutorials because the manual asks the questions that I was unable to even think to ask - and then proceeds to answer the questions. I am very pleased with this book. I have over 15,000 images in iPhoto now and feel that I will soon be in command of the images and not the other way around.

This is the single greatest Bible study tool I have ever came across! Keener makes scholarly information available to anyone who can read. I would recommend every believer to own a copy!

This book is outstanding it's very detailed, well-organized and great quality. The commentaries are well researched, easy to read and understand. A must have for anyone interested in bible study.

This book has been an excellent resource for me both in my personal Bible reading and in preparing sermons.

The first sermon I ever gave was directly informed by the historical information I learned about from this book.

It really illuminates the historical background for all the verses in the New Testament.

I have taken a course with Dr. Keener, and his passion shines through in this book. I have never met someone who works harder than he does. It is big, but it is not a difficult read. If you are looking for answers, you will find them here. Want to know why the signs in John are so important (and it is "signs" rather than "miracles" in John for a reason), you will know. If you want to know the significance of the numbers and churches in Revelation, you will know.

This is a helpful resource in helping to understand who the Bible text is written to. By understanding the historical background, you can interpret the scriptures accurately.

This book is outstanding. It is about real travel and interaction, not the 9 countries in 13 days type thing. It is very practical, addressing the real problems faced by the solo woman traveler (harassment, cultural attitudes, personal safety issues). It also has the standard advice of what to pack,etc. I appreciate the special aadvice for seeking interaction with other cultures by actually living and working among the local population......travel is much more than what you can see thru the tour bus window.

I've read many travel books and searched out various resources over the last year, but Thalia's book really hit home with me. She prompts the woman traveller to dilligently question her own motives and to really delve deep into why she wants to travel and how certain aspects of travel may affect a woman's TOTAL well-being. I've answered many questions in my journal and I have to admit I've adjusted my travel plans (for the better) because of Thalia's insightful book.

At last an intelligent, informative, approach to spending time in other countries. Simple promptings to ensure you don't offend the local people, hints on gaining the most from the areas to which you travel and good, sensible logistics info. on packing, booking, travelling etc.

I first bought this book when I was preparing to travel to Europe at 19 - over ten years ago, and my rough worn copy is still a favorite on my shelf.

Chock full of great advice, anecdotes from author Zapatos and women she interviewed, inspirational insights and down to earth tips, A Journey of One's Own is the perfect gift for any woman considering an extended travel adventure - or armchair traveller looking for a new perspective.

This is a wonderful resource. As I read it, I always had a pen in hand, taking notes. I have a plethora of websites, notes, and good tips to take into consideration when planning my three-month trip. She helps you ponder each decision carefully, whether it is to travel solo or with others, where to stay, travel lessons, safety, how to pack light, and traveling for a long period of time. Even though I am not traveling with a partner, I still read the entire book cover to cover. I *highly* recommend this book--I would give it way more than 5 stars if I could. Any woman (even a man would benefit from most of this book) should read this book before traveling.

Whether you're a proverbial deer in the headlights at the mercy of salespeople or a picky shopper who fancies himself quite a negotiator, you will almost certainly learn something from this book that will save you money and/or frustration. Mark Marine isn't your typical car dealer; he may in fact be "the anti-car dealer." That's a good thing. The reason other car dealers don't like him or this book is because he sings like a canary about all of the ways car dealers exploit you for their own profit.

This isn't a primer on arguing down your local salesperson to the lowest price possible. You don't need to haggle to get a good deal; in fact, even the best hagglers probably won't get a good deal if they don't understand the arcane arts that car dealers use to make money off you. Speaking of deals, those "too good to be true" deals the guys are always yelling about on TV are indeed too good to be true. Marine shows you how something like 0% financing (which sounds great) can actually cost you money. Those sweet trade-ins values that sound so surprisingly generous? They're not. You'll also learn how the cost of your chosen car manages to swell so much on its way from the salesman to the loan manager - it's not just all the accessories you know about. There are all kinds of secret little add-ins the dealer probably won't tell you anything about.

What most surprised me - and probably a lot of you, too - is the way good credit works against you. Because lenders are willing to lend those with excellent credit more than the cash value of the car they want, car dealers feel they have a license to add all sorts of extras to the deal. In Marine's words, "good credit begs for abuse." If you don't want to find yourself buried in your car loan, you need to read this book. Marine shows you how to make your credit work for you - whether it's good credit or bad credit. It starts by getting pre-approval from the lender of your choice, as that's the only way to get the lender on your side rather than the dealer's; by knowing what you can do financially before you ever get to the car lot, you also seriously diminish the wiggle room the dealer has for exploiting you for his profit.

Kick the Dealer ... Not the Tires! takes all of the intricacies of buying a car and explains them in terms you can easily understand - and profit from. Mark Marine can save you enough money to buy this book many, many times over.

In this wonderfully succinct helpful guide the author walks the reader through every step of the car buying nightmare, with special attention given to the many faults, frauds and pitfalls of credit. This book takes an inside look at how the car dealership works, especially the ins and outs of where the car dealer makes money and the tricks he uses to compel the buyer into a bad deal. There are several places the car dealer is making large profits, sometimes it is by creating an artificially high `sale price' and then giving the buyer a big discount off the fake price, thereby pressing the buyers `hot button'. Most likely these profits are made at the credit table, for instance in the method of `spot delivery' where the dealer gets the buyer to sign a contract before credit conditions are approved.

The book takes an excellent look at all the shenanigans that take place when buying a car, from the trade into the `back end profit' such as all the extras like service contracts and add ons that the buyer is talked into getting. However the best part of this book is the portions on credit, how those with good credit are abused and those with bad credit are misled by `debt management' companies that pretend to repair credit but in the end only hurt the credit more. A very helpful guide that should save the reader a good deal of hassle and money the next time one buys a car. Highly recommended.

Seth J. Frantzman

Daily radio show personality Mark Marine shares the secrets he had to fight for the right to speak freely in Kick the Dealer... Not the Tires!, is a cut-the-bull assessment of how to get the best deal on how to shop for a new or used car, and especially, how to prevent car dealers from using your credit against you. Do you have a good credit score? Then watch out! Kick the Dealer... Not the Tires! reveals how customers with good credit are the most likely to get "buried" (meaning "to owe more in loans on a car than the car is actually worth") in a bad car deal, because both the dealer and lenders see a good credit rating as an invitation to jack up loan rates and pile as many unneeded extras on the bill as possible. Car dealers have been known to overcharge good credit customers to make up for money lost selling to bad credit customers! And if your credit is not so good, don't let it be an invitation to get gouged either - arm yourself with the knowledge to protect your pride, your rights, and your wallet. Kick the Dealer... Not the Tires! offers warnings against common pressure sales tactics and pitfalls, tips for protecting oneself against dishonesty and fraud, and much more, and is an absolute "must-have" for anyone who can't afford to pay for their car in a lump sum (which is to say, the vast majority of us).

Locked in this little package are all of the secrets that the car dealerships use to make their profits at the buyers' expense. Do you think that people with good credit get good deals, while those with bad credit get bad deals? Well, think again! In fact, the dealerships have tricks that allow them to maximize their profits on the backs of people with good credit, and this book tells you how you can avoid being a cash-cow.

Heck, it even tells those with bad credit what dealers can do for you (versus what they promise), and what you need to do to rebuild your credit.

Oh man, how did I ever live without this book? Not long ago I found out that I was "buried" in my most recent car, that I paid a good deal more than the car was worth. I blamed that one dealer, and vowed to take my business elsewhere. Well, in this book I found out that the treatment I got from that dealer was not unique, but actually standard procedure. But, now I am forewarned and forearmed!

If there was one book that I could recommend to all people, it would be this book! If you *ever* buy a car, then you should know what you need to do to make the best deal, which means that you should, indeed must, buy this book!

I give this book my highest recommendations!

I am one of a large group of people who wonder why buying a car has to be such an unpleasant experience. It seems almost impossible to get a straight answer to any question, much less an honest one. My worst experience was my second visit to examine a car at a dealership where I had previously purchased two vehicles and had one vehicle serviced for almost ten years. During the first visit, I talked with a saleswoman. On the second visit, that woman was busy, so I talked to a salesman for a short time and then left. When I got home, I fielded a call from the saleswoman where she chastised me for even talking to another member of their sales staff. That was seven years ago and since then, I have not set foot in that dealership, and in that time I have purchased two vehicles.
This book will not help you deal with rude sales personnel, but it will help you anticipate and avoid the questionable practices that almost always cost you more. In particular, you will be armed against the deceptive talk that is the main weapon of the car salesperson. The first rule is to never walk into a car dealership without having been pre-approved for a loan. One of the biggest sources of profit for the dealership is the markup when they obtain the financing for you. Terms that you will learn about in this book are:

Powerbooking - this is where a dealer will add options on the loan application that are not on the vehicle to inflate the value of the car and the amount the lender will be willing to lend.
Upside down - where an owner owes more on the car than the book value.

All of the points are explained in language that everyone can understand and will anger most people who have purchased a car. I recognized several of the tactics that were used on me and now realize what they were trying to do. This is a very valuable book that could save you thousands of dollars when you purchase your next vehicle. Read it before you walk into a car dealership for the next time.

This book is a great read for anyone who is a student of life, not just of a martial art. It is philosophical, historical, and somewhat autobiographical in nature, and its lessons can apply to everyday life. I found the short chapter entitled "YU" or "Bravery" particularly relevant and moving to me personally.

Peter writes that "There is a grace, a depth and a character to the movement of the expert, akin to the fit of a well-broken pair of boots." Peter personifies this. He seems to glide gracefully through life. He is always the gentleman; always the master willing to lend his hand and expertise to the willing and eager student. At times, even in his own well-worn pair of boots! It is an honor to know a man of his character.

....ask those who have gone before. Sometimes, I struggle to blend eastern thought with everyday western living. Peter Hobart helps by taking years of experience and distilling it down to an essence over a few pages. Pick out either an idea or concept listed, and gain a new thought (or revisit an old one semi forgotten) to work on. Not just for the martial artist, also for those who wish to live, rather then exist.
The chapters may be thin, so what?! Never say in 300 words what can be said in 30.So, if you are wanting to stetch your mind, or just want a degree of clarity in everyday living, then perhaps this is the book for you.

I found this book to be an interesting read. It is divided into five sections, each containing 10 short commentaries about different subjects which are applicable to the martial arts. Each new commentary is accompanied by interesting quotes which introduce the commentary's theme. While this is not my favorite book on martial philosophy at all, it is worth while and it is an interesting read. It is well done and well organized. I think that you will find it enjoyable and be able to pull a few gems from the pages of Kishido.

Bohdi Sanders, author of Warrior Wisdom: Ageless Wisdom for the Modern Warrior

This collection of short stories is very philosophical and eclectic spanning a wide range of topics that all have to do with personal growth. The story Ihtaram: A Civil Code takes place takes decades ago on the Arabian Peninsula. The author incorporates Bushido principles as he tells of a good host allowing a murder to happen rather than violate the code of hospitality. The point of this extreme story is to show that the host chose to find resolution by working within the mandated code. I don't exactly agree with this viewpoint but the story was intriguing. I also loved the calligraphy and the quotations.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Kishido: The Way of the Western Warrior" by Peter Hobart. The book can be read pretty quickly. It contains 50 short chapters in 161 pages and then includes a short Glossary of Japanese terms used in the book as well. While the chapters are short, the contain some very important lessons.

The book is a series of lessons that Hobart's martial art master passed to his students while not only teaching martial arts, but teaching virtues embedded in all traditional martial ways. The instructor taught through example that conduct is just as important as ability. He exemplified integrity, dignity, courtesy, chivalry, truth, trust, benevolence, and wisdom. He passed these lessons to his students, and now Hobart has written them down so the reader can blend the philosophical and spiritual concepts found in martial arts with the physical and technical training of their specific art.

The lessons include:

Part I: Foundation

1. Kishido The Way of the Western Warrior
2. Bumon Lineage
3. Shoshin An Open Mind
4. Junshin A Pure Heart
5. Fudoshin A Determined Spirit
6. Ihtaram A Civil Code
7. Enkyoku The Winding Way
8. Ganshiki Insight
9. Discretio Mater Virtutis Restraint
10. Noblesse Oblige Obligation

Part II: Range

1. Bangei Versatility
2. Bunbuichi Sword and Brush
3. Bokuden, Ima Anachronism?
4. Koji The Master Texts
5. Nihongo The Lingua Franca
6. Shika, Doka, Renga Expression
7. Heiho Strategy
8. Koan Mumonkan
9. Kanpo Healing
10. Garyotensei The Eyes of the Dragon

Part III: Strategy

1. Yohei Mercenaries and Merchants
2. Gi Right Decision
3. Yu Bravery
4. Jin Benevolence
5. Rei Right Action
6. Makoto Truth
7. Meiyo A Matter of Honor
8. Chugi Loyalty
9. Ichigo, Ichie The Power of One
10. Hanare Time to Let Go

Part IV: Harmony

1. The Dao Interconnectedness
2. Docere Versus Ducere Instructors and Educators
3. Primum Est Non Nocere First Do No Harm
4. Chaqun A Son Gout Horses for Courses
5. Shojin Demagogues and Curmudgeons
6. Stare Decisis Tradition
7. Girei Professional Courtesy
8. Kiki Opportunity
9. Kouhei No One is Above the Law
10. Tatsutoriatowonigosazu Leave Things a Little Better Than You Found Them

Part V: Void

1. Kotan Elegant Simplicity
2. Heisei Serenity
3. Fuga Refinement
4. Enryo Reserve
5. Panache A White Plume
6. Gyakute The Unexpected
7. Hokosaki Advance and Be Recognized!
8. Okunote The Other Hand
9. Matsunen The Final Days
10. Renzoku Passing the Torch


As you can see, there are quite a few topics with quite a range of lessons. I think some of the most important are illustrated in the final chapter, those of gi, yu, jin, rei, makoto, meiyo, and chugi; or Right Decision, Bravery, Benevolence, Right Action, Truth, Honor, and Loyalty.

The book is full of stories and examples of how the master not only taught the lessons, but lived them as well. I'll say again, you can read through this book quite quickly, but it will mean more if you savor each lesson and look to see if you are applying it to your own life. I know I related many of the lessons to teachings that I've had from my instructors and I looked for ways that I could better live by the code outlined in this book to make me a better teacher as well. I hope to be an example of these traits to my students also, and I truly believe if you are going to teach someone skills that can hurt or kill someone, you must also instill the positive character traits so that person will only use those skills if necessary and will never misuse the teachings.

I highly recommend this book. I believe the teachings Hobart has shared from the wise master will enhance your own martial art journey.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer. Alain Also wrote a series of articles called Lessons From The Apprentice.

Great book for those who have a compost system going. We are on Cape Cod and recycle everything! This book tells us how to compost everything.

This book is a quick crash course on composting. I learned things about composting that I never new before. The other great thing, it is an easy to read book! Totally satisfied!

I bought this for my husband as he went crazy on composting. I read it as well. And it provided more info. A must read for anyone wanting to start or even seasoned rotters. Good book to leave on the table gets lots of funny looks

Composting, in case you aren't terribly familiar with it yet, is simply the practice of allowing waste matter to rot and decompose until it's fit to be tilled right into the soil. However, while the basic concept is as old as mother nature and often very easy to execute, it also helps to know more about it. What materials should you compost, and which should you avoid? Do you have to worry about animals or flies in your compost? How do you make sure your compost will turn into dirt and not a slimy, stinky sludge?

While nearly every gardening book these days has a section on composting and most of these are enough to get you by, Stu Campbell's Let It Rot! is an entertaining, folksy and in-depth take on the art that will see you through nearly any foreseeable difficulty. I was certainly able to successfully compost with the simpler directions in other books, but there's information in here I wish I'd had back when I first started. For instance, now I know the cobweb-like stuff that I feared was mold was the natural activity of Actinomycetes, a part-bacteria, part-fungus organism that aids decomposition in certain parts of a compost pile.

Mr. Campbell's book also introduces a great many different types of compost piles and composters that you can use, depending on what you're trying to accomplish, what area you have to work with, or what you're trying to decompose. He also suggests many ways to use compost in and around your garden, and how to get the most out of it. I'm glad I picked up Mr. Campbell's book, because I learned an incredible amount of new material!

I have never tried composting before, so I wanted the big picture. I researched online and this seems to be the undisputed classic book on the subject. It seems to tell ALL you need to know to manage your composting, and in as few words as possible.

I've been camping in Maine for a few weeks... Mainers expect you to have one of these. They say "get out your DeLorme's" not "do you have a map?" Some people I've met have pointed me to the right page without looking at the back.

The details in this atlas are great! All of Maine's public reserve land and campground are clearly marked. If you are trying to do some real camping in some remote areas, get this map. This is a must if you are going to be doing anything outdoors in ME. I never thought I'd say a map is fun to read.

After reading reviews on Amazon, I bought this book with a couple of others for my sister-in-law who moved to Maine. Within a week of moving to Maine, they got lost and used this atlas to find their way! They really like it.

This is the bible of maps of Maine. And most, if not all, other states have a version available. The first time you use it will probably make the purchase worthwhile.

If you like maps and spend any time in Maine hiking, paddling, or traveling backroads, you must have this. It is fun to study and indispensable for exploring Maine.

The detailed maps are great but guys...no use looking for a road map of Maine, I mean the whole state as it doesn't exist: incredible! so do order a map in addition!!

As a former student of Ms. LaPlante's, I have first-hand knowledge of her teaching talent. She has somehow managed to get her priceless lectures into a book that is thorough and accessible. Teachers and writers of all shapes and sizes will find a way into their material with Alice LaPlante's guide. Not all teachers are excellent writers and not all writers are excellent teachers. Alice is uniquely both. Lucky us that Alice decided to write this book. Enjoy!

Alice LaPlante's "The Making of a Story" is textbook-length (well over six hundred pages), and should appeal not only to serious writing students, but also to teachers and readers who would like more insight into how writers create. Creative writing is not for the faint-hearted; that is clear from the outset. It is easy to feel overwhelmed when staring at a blank page or screen, trying to come with original ideas and fresh ways to express them. LaPlante gently and slowly guides her readers through the entire process from getting off the ground to putting the finishing touches on the final draft.

LaPlante's scope is encyclopedic. She includes such topics as: making the ordinary extraordinary, employing imagery effectively, writing a good opening, developing plot and characters, choosing a point of view, writing believable dialogue, generating suspense, and revising one's work. She also discusses the strengths and limitations of writing workshops. The author emphasizes that there are no hard and fast rules; rather, she is passing on "conventions" that have worked for many but not all writers.

How does this work differ from others of its type? "The Making of a Story" covers more territory than most writing handbooks. Part of the book's length results from the inclusion of quite a few full-length classic stories, such as Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried," John Cheever's "The Swimmer," James Baldwin's "Sonny's Blues," and a non-fiction piece, Barbara Ehrenreich's "Welcome to Cancerland." Each work is followed by thought questions such as "How do the opening paragraphs set the tone for the story?" and "Can you point to some sections of narration that are convincing because of their specificity?" There are also dozens of exercises sprinkled throughout the book. For example, the student should pretend that she is a camera and record everything that she sees in a place rich with visual stimulation.

"Reading Like a Writer" by Francine Prose is another excellent work of this type; in fact, LaPlante quotes Prose and even uses the phrase "Reading as a Writer" repeatedly. "The Making of a Story" is well organized into fourteen carefully constructed chapters. There is a useful table of contents, a glossary of literary terms, a bibliography, a list of stories, and a thorough index. This guide cannot be absorbed in one sitting. It should be savored slowly and kept as a ready reference book. Used judiciously, it can serve as a source of inspiration to help writers bring out the best in themselves.

This book has great insight into what it takes to be a creative author. My only complaint is the content of some of the sample stories. I realize they are very well written and serve the intended purpose. However, when limited pieces of suspense and crime stories are included it leaves the readers (who are simply trying to to get an education) with a terrible feeling in the pit of their stomach.

The Making of a Story by Alice LaPlante is the BEST BOOK I have read on creative writing--a truly "modern" version of older books like Janet Burroway's Writing Fiction and John Gardner's The Art of Fiction. The book is broader and deeper than previous books: for example it contains information on writing creative nonfiction as well as fiction; it describes the traditional models of shaping a story (conflict-crisis-resolution model, epiphany and change models) but is inclusive, allows for a wider, organic, more creative definition (stories must surprise us and convince us at the same time Alice says); it contains 26 complete short stories from outstanding writers (Baldwin, Carver, Cheever, Chekhov, Cooper, Didion, Ehrenreich, Hemingway, Johnson, Lamott, Oates, O'Brien, Packer, Sharma, and others) AND has exercises for writers at the end of each chapter--and examples of each exercise completed by students from Alice LaPlante's classes whose writing excellence is equal in many cases to that of the published authors in the book. What is really helpful is the ability of these exercises, or "constraints" as she explains, to help writers (beginners or advanced) access their personal, authentic, most inspirational material. This book teaches how to combine method (craft) with madness (inspiration) and is fascinating to read! I recommend it to anyone who loves stories--readers and writers.

Alice LaPlante's THE MAKING OF A STORY: A PRIMER lucidly explains the craft basics of fiction and creative nonfiction, presenting numerous examples from both genres. However, this massive book's subtitle, " a primer," led me to expect a multi-genre approach as in Burroway's IMAGINATIVE WRITING: THE ELEMENTS OF CRAFT, which covers not only fiction and creative nonfiction but also drama and poetry. (See my Amazon review of the second edition of Burroway.)

Several of the illustrative short stories LaPlante includes are the same as in the classic WRITING FICTION: A GUIDE TO NARRATIVE CRAFT by Janet Burroway and in Tom Bailey's ON WRITING SHORT STORIES.

For introductory writing courses that discuss fiction and creative nonfiction (but exclude drama and poetry) LaPlante's detailed primer could well be a better choice as it is relatively cheap, nearly one-fourth the price of the two Burroway books. For teaching yourself the basic craft aspects of creative writing, I recommend Burrroway's concurrent multi-genre IMAGINATIVE WRITING as the best primer. For the beginning short-story writer, I recommend Tom Bailey's ON WRITING SHORT STORIES & SHORT-STORY WRITER'S COMANION.

-- C J Singh