Editors Books

I picked this up from my library one day to read over the summer, and I'm so glad I did. It didn't take me that long to read, because I really got into it. It is the story of a girl who's family are Travelers, like gypsies. They don't have real jobs, and they don't have permanent homes. They basically make their money by ripping people off and taking their money while doing odd jobs for them or selling items to them.

The main character Bridget starts o question whether the life of a Traveler is the one for her. She has always wondered what it would be like to live in a real house and get an important job, and have a normal family. She wouldn't have to constantly be on the run, and she could go to the same school for more than a year and make real friends. The main character also feels a bit guilty sometimes about living this dishonest life of ripping people off.

Meanwhile, Bridget is engaged to her older brother's friend Patrick, which was arranged by the parents of both families. Patrick is nice enough, and he's really hot, but Bridget wants to make her own choices about who she marries.

Then, later in the book when Bridget finds out that her family has kept a secret from her, Bridget has to make an important decision about what kind of life she wants for herself.

The ending was good on one hand, but on the other hand, I was upset with it. However, this is a great book that I recommend checking out from the library. It was interesting to learn how the "Travelers" lived.

"See you Down the Road" is an interesting story about a girl named Bridget who lives as a "traveler" or person who lives in a trailer and lives on the road. This book is filled with plot twists and turns, as well as heartbreak and hope, as Bridget questions whether the traveler lifestyle is right for her. She wonders who the mysterious woman her mother is always talking on the phone with could be. Bridget also questions her families values as they shoplift and steal from various stores and people, in order to bring in their income. She also wonders if her boyfriend Patrick is the right guy for her or not. As Bridget struggles with these questions about her life, the story moves along at a very fast-paced speed and keeps the reader intrigued throughout the whole journey. I reccommend this book for readers ages 13 and up, for it has some mature themes, but is still targeted for teenagers and young adults.

I really, really loved this book. I learned a lot about another culture even while reading about characters who seemed like very real, typical teenagers. The book asks a lot of difficult and intriguing questions, and it's never predictable. There are lots of surprises throughout the book. I hope to read more by this author!

Bridget and her family are Travelers. They're a little-known group of people in America who travel around the country, making money in usually illegal ways, and keep to themselves, with their own traditions and way of life. People who aren't Travelers are called Country, and Travelers usually isolate themselves from these people. They don't trust them, and only interact with them to scam money off of them. Travelers only go to Country schools for a few years, just long enough to know what they need to.

Bridget is a little different from many Travelers in that way. She works Country jobs, as a cashier, and she's been going to Country schools years longer than most other Traveler teenagers. Still, though, she keeps to the Traveler way most of the time. She and her friend, Ann, make their money by ripping off the local K-mart in whatever town they're in. Her parents have arranged a marriage for her, with Ann's brother, Patrick. Her brother, Jimmy, has grown up helping their father fix driveways and roofs with watered-down sealant to make a better profit by scamming Country people.

Bridget doesn't always like her life as a Traveler. She isn't sure she wants to marry Patrick, even though he's a nice guy and she does like him, but she's never see any way out of it. Then her uncle, Big Jim, takes Bridget, Jimmy, and Patrick with him all the way to Arizona, where they'll pull off the biggest scam that Bridget's ever been involved in. They'll sell condos that don't meet the building codes, and then run off with the money. The beauty of it is, the contractor won't dare tell on them, as he's the one who hired them to sell condos that don't meet building codes.

In Arizona, Bridget has some time to think about a lot of things, and maybe even figure out what she wants. But then she makes a discovery about her family, one that could change everything for Bridget...The choice is hers, but what will she decide?

Before reading SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD, I had never heard of Travelers. I don't think many people have, but they're real people, and reading about them was very interesting. Their way of life is very different from the way most of us live, and this is an eye-opening book. Many of us don't realize how differently some people live from us, not just in far away places but right here in the United States.

On top of that, SEE YOU DOWN THE ROAD is full of amazing characters, and is very well written. All of the characters are well drawn, realistic, and three-dimensional; even the very minor characters seem alive. The ending is not what we might expect from this sort of book, but it fits well, and is one that I really liked. It wasn't predictable, and it was still a happy ending. Whitney's ending, I felt, stayed true to the characters and flowed with the rest of the story wonderfully.

Reviewed by: Jocelyn Pearce

I picked up Kim Ablon Whitney's See You Down the Road on a Friday evening and didn't want to put it down until I finished it! Not really knowing anything about the Travelers lifestyle before reading the book, I was intrigued to learn about it and to witness Bridget's angst as she struggled with the choices she had to make about staying loyal to her family versus forging a different kind of life for herself. Bridget's character was so believable and I must say I was very pleased by the book's ending! I found myself hoping that there will be a sequel because I really liked these characters so much!
I found the writing to be so descriptive and realistic- I could really envision and feel each of the scenes, which made it a really fun read! I would (and did!) recommend this book to friends!

I love this cookbook! There is a picture for every recipe. Not only are these time-saving recipes for every busy parent but it give you a shopping list along the side of each recipe as well as ideas for sides with each entree. Every kitchen should have this cookbook on hand!!!!

As the mom of 2 year old twins I am always looking for quick and EASY recipes. I LOVE this cookbook. I have made several of the recipes and my picky eater has even liked them. I also love the fact that the ingredients are items I can find at my local small chain grocery store.
The best part....each recipe has a picture!

THANK GOODNESS for a picture with EVERY SINGLE RECIPE!!! I've got this book and it is SO helpful to cook when you know what it will look like when it's ready! Check out the Upside Down Pizza Casserole - YUM YUM!! My family LOVES it!!

In "Southern Living Busy Moms Weeknight Favorites", Elizabeth Taliaferro has compiled 130 suppers suitable for family dinners. Each of these dinners is complete with a menu, a grocery list, nutrition information, and dependable, 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes. These easy-to-prepare dinners are especially notable for how quickly they can be put together making them ideal for time-stressed wives and mothers. Beautifully illustrated throughout with full-color photographs, the dishes range from Monte Cristo Sandwiches (Preparation time 10 minutes, cooking time 12 minutes); to Hearty Brunswick Stew (preparation time 5 minutes, cooking time 25 minutes); to Tuscan Pork Chops (preparation time 6 minutes, cooking time 11 minutes); to Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Thighs (preparation time 20 minutes, cooking time 60 minutes). Each one of these 130 suppers present palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, gourmet quality dishes that will grace any family table any night of the week.

While helping a friend with her newborn twins, I made a few recipes out of the Busy Mom's Weeknight Favorites that she received as a gift but had not tried yet. There are so many great recipes, I just had to go buy my own copy. We loved the Bistro Chicken Pizza and the Butternut Squah and Bacon soup. The recipes are quick, easy, and taste great. Extraordinary cooking skills and elaborate ingredients are not required. Most recipes are a tasty twist on classic recipes that make you think 'Well why didn't I think to try that.' Each recipe has a beautiful picture to show you what you are making.

Exceptionally well written book by a renowned current day investigative reporter about one of our first and foremost investigative reporters, Ida Tarbell. You'll learn about REAL American history starting with the early days of the oil business, thru the Civil War and into the industrial boom of the early 20th Century. Its an extremely perceptive American historical masterpiece and a real life feminist saga not to be missed by men and women alike.

Author Steve Weinberg writes that Ida Tarbell's expose of John D. Rockefeller and his Standard Oil Company is "arguably the greatest work of investigative journalism ever written." As a veteran investigative journalist myself, I wouldn't argue with that because Steve Weinberg is one of the best investigative biographers in our imperiled craft. I say "imperiled" because the newspapers that largely support our work are in an alarming state of decline. Will investigative reporting become a too-expensive luxury? What a horrible tragedy that would be. Ida Tarbell and the legions of investigative journalists who followed her example have been the watchdogs who have made democracy work. This book shows the critical importance of that role, as performed more than a century ago. Thanks to Steve Weinberg for bringing the pioneering Ida Tarbell back to life again today.

Having no knowledge of Ida Tarbell but interested in Rockefeller, I found this book a great read.
The author covers the subject in enough detail to make you knowledgable but doesn't get into minutia and bore you.
Ms. Tarbell is definitely a good role model for women and journalists of both sexes. Most current day journalists could revisit her standards.
The book provides plenty of pictures and tells a great story of a forgotten event of the period.

Steve Weinberg, one of America's most accomplished Journalism professors, has taken a "busman's holiday," in writing this fascinating and beautifully researched book. Weinberg, an inspiration to several generations of University of Missouri students, has written about one of his own heroes who no doubt helped influence his rather prestigious academic pathway. He has most satisfyingly delved into the epic battle of a single, brilliant young woman who successfully defined the power of the free press in 1904, pioneering investigative journalist Ida Tarbell who "muckraked" up the expensive and deep sediment underneath Standard Oil, standing alone against the awesome wealth and power of John D. Rockefeller.
Prof. Weinberg is as complete and intimate with his subject as any historian. Infused into this book is his profound sense of appreciation of the fierce, burning integrity and inspirational relentlessness of Ida Tarbell. He makes an excellent case for her monumental, fearless work "The History of the Standard Oil Company," as being the greatest work of investigative journalism ever written. The rich and world-saving traditions of the press in the twentieth century in many ways find their roots in Tarbell and her publisher Samuel McClure, who proved that the battle armor of a democratic society is its free press; without it, the people live in the dark.
This book will give the reader a completely refreshed pride in discovering that history can be riveting. In addition, it holds tremendous insight into the late-nineteenth century roots of the women's movement for equal rights, as well as the revolution for the rights of America's workers at the hands of monopolistic, big business. Ida Tarbell will become one of your new heroes.

Some journalists revel in muckraking reportage, and it doesn't make any difference to them that "muckraking" has been used as a term of opprobrium. There was a time when there was no tradition of newspapers doing investigative reporting; that tradition had to be invented. One of the inventors was Ida Tarbell who let the nation know how John D. Rockefeller was misusing corporate power. She didn't like to be called a muckraker, although she was in favor of reform, and the term had been coined by reform-minded Teddy Roosevelt. She resented that the term stuck to her, but it continues to do so. Rockefeller resented that her portrait of his abusive practices stuck to him, but it continues to do so. Tarbell was a journalistic innovator who deserves to be well known for her historic contributions to reporting and to society, and in _Taking on the Trust: The Epic Battle of Ida Tarbell and John D. Rockefeller_ (Norton) by Steve Weinberg, the story is told in absorbing detail. The book is supposed to tell the story of both main characters, but Weinberg is a reporter himself and can be excused for making Tarbell the star. She is, anyway, a lot more interesting than Rockefeller who didn't have much going for him except for the capacity to make lots of money, the same as many robber barons of the time. Tarbell never had anything close to the money or influence that Rockefeller had, but she won the contest between them, and she was the one proved right after all.

Tarbell shared her family's distrust of Standard Oil. Her father, and later her brother, became independent oil producers, and neither of them sold out to Standard Oil. Plenty of others did; Rockefeller swallowed up competitors and, as he pointed out, the smart ones took Standard Oil stock and became very rich indeed. The ones who tried to stay independent struggled to stay in business. Weinberg documents that her personal feelings may have powered her resolve to tell the Standard Oil story, but that she relied on facts as she had in all her previous researches. Here main revelation in her articles for _McClure's_ magazine was that Standard Oil had beaten out competitors by making secret deals with the railroads that transported its oil. She got the facts by looking at the files of letters kept by Rockefeller's competitors, by checking the records of his Baptist congregation, by looking into the records of governmental investigations into Standard Oil, and by contacting (with the help of Mark Twain) a sort of "Deep Throat" figure within the company itself. She not only connected facts, but she specifically reported about the sources she used; documenting sources is taken for granted now, but it was a novelty that she introduced into reporting. _McClure's_ published her series of articles from 1902 to 1904, the year her _History of the Standard Oil Company_ came out. Those who read her report could scarcely avoid agreeing with her evaluation that Rockefeller "... has introduced into business a spy system of the most odious character. He has turned commerce from a peaceful pursuit to war, and honeycombed it with cruel and corrupt practice, turned competition from honorable emulation to cutthroat struggle."

The Supreme Court in 1911 ruled that Standard Oil's abuses required its breakup, based mostly on evidence that Tarbell had produced. Rockefeller never directly addressed the charges, and he had expertly arranged his business affairs so that he seldom had to testify in any legal proceedings against the company. He barely mentioned Tarbell herself, except to lump her conveniently with "socialists and anarchists"; he was unable to see that Tarbell was an enthusiast for American capitalism fairly conducted. Weinberg's smoothly-written book is a combination of biographies and a narrative centering on one of the first instances of investigative journalism that made a difference. Weinberg says that Tarbell's work is "arguably the greatest work of investigative journalism ever written," and he makes the assessment seem a just one. There have been subsequent examples of how the labor of journalists has resulted in monumental social changes, but it is good to have this book as a reminder of the one that got the ball rolling.

This product has a ton of information. It was recommended by a friend because I am not an accountant by trade but work in a position where it comes up daily. However the writing is quite small and reading some things requires a re read.
Over all, I would recommend this book for information seekers.

As a tax preparer this manual gives just the facts enough samples to work to the preparers advantage. Cut and dried! Just what I wanted. We'll see how well when I sit for my EA :-)

An automatic must have every year. This handbook is a great reference tool for any level of staff.

My one-stop source for updated Federal tax information. I don't prepare taxes, but I buy a new copy every year to stay current on tax law and IRS regulation changes. A must-have for financial/accounting managers and executives.

This book is a tax preparer's dream, with all the answers for any questions that might arise in processing 2006 returns. It's simple language and full explanations of new tax law changes that impact 2006 filers is extensive. I use these guides every year and as always I am never disappointed. Thank you.

if looks could kill you'd be dead after looking at this book. the photo's are superior to most. I 'm tired of the same old shots of bikes. Worse there is NOTHING worse then a bike with a woman in a bikini on it. Don't get me wrong I love women but the harley davidson can sell itself without the porn. this book doesn't offer a lot of new theories but it's still rather interesting. I think that after you read this book it would make a fine collection to your coffee table.

Although this book has many elements, its core is the Harley-Davidson as a design. The photographs are mostly of 50 different models, focused on the motorcycle alone, done with remarkable lighting to create exquisite detail and color. You will feel like you are visiting a museum of mint Harleys as you "stroll" from page to page while sitting comfortably in your favorite chair. The book is strengthened by some classic Harley photos that you have seen before, such as from Easy Rider. There is also a good overview of the development of the company, key technologies, and a timeline of when different bikes were introduced. For those who don't know about Harleys, you also have a glossary to help you interpret, and a list of contacts to help you get even more information.

"People remember their first Harley-Davidson." As Hugo Wilson points out, that's because "Harleys look different, sound different and certainly ride different to other motorcycles." One of the strengths of the book is that it provides many helpful details about the bases of those differences. I could literally "hear" a Harley every time I looked at one of the images. And now I know why they sound that way. You will, too, when you read this exciting book.

"Their extraordinary appeal makes small boys dream and grown men save." Harley-Davidsons clearly draw on our sense of adventure, our desire for freedom, and our need to be different. Mothers, if you don't want your children to grow up to be bikers, keep this book and all Harleys away! The lure of the open road will be irresistible after enjoying this volume.

I am not an expert on motorcycles but have spent many happy hours on them. I could feel the thundering power in my legs as I looked at the Harley in Terminator II, the 74FLHB Electra Glide in blue from 1965, the FLHS Electra Glide from 1988, the FLSTF Fat Boy from 1999, and especially the Buell X1 Lightning from 1999.

To me the best page was 184 where there is a cutaway of the famous V-twin engine, along with a good description of each element. This is the heart of what makes a Harley a Harley, and I was glad to learn more about this wonderful design.

After you have finished enjoying this book and taken a ride on your Harley to celebrate (don't have one yet? . . . well, start dreaming and saving . . .), I suggest that you think about other ways you can enjoy your spirit of adventure and desire for the open road. Riding a Harley doesn't get you all the exercise you could use. Are there any hiking trails that you could ride your Harley to? In that way, you could have a double adventure. Plus, you can have even more enjoyment with your family and friends while you hike. If you haven't hiked the Grand Canyon yet down to the Colorado River, that would make a great ride/hike combination. Just do it! -- (but do plan ahead, you'll enjoy it more if you do).

Be different and better!

Great read, inspiring inside and out. If you read for pleasure you will also enjoy a Harley novel "The Second Coming Of Age" by: Curtiss de Vedrine

This really is a beautiful book. Lots of great pictures and the explanations to back them up. If you want a good introduction to learning the world of Harley, this is a great place to start.

Wonderful pictures and great engine exploration photos. Well done!

Vietnam When the Tanks Were Elephants is one of the rare books written by Americans that genuinely attempt to capture some of Vietnam's realities. In this historical novel Tom Barnes shows his sincere desire to see Vietnamese and a tumultuous period of Vietnamese history from a Vietnamese perspective: the challenge was enormous even for Barnes who lived for five years in Vietnam and who married a Vietnamese lady back in 1977.

Even for a Vietnamese scholar steeped in his/her country's culture and history, writing about the Tay Son period represents a frightful challenge: It was a very short period which saw the final decline of the Le Dynasty, the ruin of the dominating yet vulnerable House of the Trinh Lords in the North, and the rapid decay of the House of the Nguyen Lords in the South, the lightning ascent and collapse of the revolutionary House of the Tay Son, and the unification of the country by Nguyen Anh, the founder of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Like many Vietnamese, Barnes has been mesmerized by the men and women, heroes and villains, braves and cowards, victims and victimizers, winners and losers, kings and bandits of those days, all larger than life, who thrust themselves into the scene, said a few words, made a few gestures, then disappeared in the fumes of generalized bloodshed.

I guess what Barnes wanted to achieve was to bring those men and women to life, mold them individually into less evanescent, more solid and more real figures than those we've received from partial and forgetful chroniclers of that time. Whether he succeeded in his attempt is not as important as the attempt itself. Ultimately one can only admire his courage and his integrity in accepting the challenge.


Andre Van Chau, author of The Miracle of Hope and A Liftime in the Eye of the Storm

This is an excellant scholarly history of events in Vietnam not known to many westerners. It describes the clash of the armies of the southern farmers against the forces of the Imperial government in what is known as the Tay Son Rebellion and took place during the same time period as the American revolution. It is as rich in characterization and detail as Tolstoy' War and Peace, but is infinitely more readable. Barnes makes the story interesting by presenting it in a series of descriptions and commentaries by eight narrators, all Vietnamese except for a Spanish missionary priest and a Chinese general. It is very useful to have capsule biographies of narrators and named characters, a glossary of Vietnamese terms and a chronology of the Tay Son Rebellion.

Those interested in military affairs of the period will find much to learn. Some use of muskets and artillery is mentioned but the principal arms were swords, spears and archery. Frequent use was make of elephants in combat and horses were employed, but infrequently as cavalry. Vietnam then (as now) is terrain suited for infantry warfare and the bulk of the struggle between the opposing forces employed those tactics. Because of the many rivers and long seacoast, however, some use was made of naval forces.

The use of deception, bribery and cruelty as elements to achieve success in the power politics practiced in this atmosphere are not unlike those described by Machiavelli in "The Prince." Realistic depictions of these affairs give this work a sobering air of Asian reality, tempered by the humanity of the narrators.

It is rare to find history presented in this fashion, at once readable and informative. I highly recommend this book and caution that it is best not read at one sitting. Take the time necessary to savor its richness and complexity.

Most of us, the stay-at-homes and world travelers alike, seem to have some inborn fascination with things Oriental. That fascination gets a great feeding in Thomas Barnes' "Vietnam when the Tanks were Elephants".

This is the lively story of real events and people in a 31-year war among rivals for the rule of Vietnam, 1771-1802, told through fictionalized narratives by members of the various sides. The narratives join to make a rich tapestry of the war itself and the personalities who shaped it, their intrigues and betrayals, their acts of cruelty and moments of tenderness, their courage, their folly, their greed - and the sometimes inexplicable consequences.

The story is of the Orient, of minds formed by Oriental thought and traditions; but it is also universal. Here is war-time decision-making as it has been throughout world history, plans shaped by leaders' personal foibles or strengths, campaigns undone by the unforeseen event. Here are men who take power and cannot handle it; here is a great man struck down by no fault of his own. Here are tactics similar to those the U.S. learned in Vietnam. And here the elephants are, like tanks, scary and formidable but vulnerable.

It is useful for Western readers, especially Americans, to be jarred into some sense of the wealth of history in the rest of the world. The struggles depicted here started before the American and French Revolutions and continued after them, but how many in the West would have known about them without Mr. Barnes' book?

The book moves fast; it is not dull history. Nor is it a novel; it is fictionalized non-fiction. Some may object to its many changes of point-of-view characters. But such changes are standard fare in movies; and for that matter, the "Iliad" also shifts its focus frequently and to good effect.

I cannot imagine that anyone other than the unique Mr. Barnes could have written this book. He drew on Vietnamese historical studies that he himself translated. Just as "The Name of the Rose" bespoke Umberto Eco's scholarship, so "Vietnam when the Tanks were Elephants" evinces Mr. Barnes' erudition. He has a profound knowledge of Southeast Asia and is fluent in several of its languages. With that expertise he combines a personal experience of life and war in Vietnam (he is a veteran of many dangerous years there as a U.S. Foreign Service officer) that gives the book its extra insights into how things really happen.

This book could and should be made into a terrific mini-series. Meanwhile, it's a great read.

The Tay Son rebellion in Vietnam in the late 1700's was contemporary with the French and our revolutions and equally traumatic. Anyone interested in learning about Vietnam before our involvement will find this well written historical novel by Mr. Barnes to be fascinating.

Mr. Barnes is a thorough Vietnam hand, truly fluent in the language and with extensive experience in the country. He served there in our Foreign Service a number of assignments, almost all of the time outside of Saigon. He also served in Thailand and Laos, doing well with those languages too. His wife is Vietnamese and an able collaborator in his research.

The Tay Son brothers from Central Vietnam led their rebellion first against the Nguyen rulers of the south, killing off all the family except one prince who fled to Thailand. They then marched north to eliminate the Trinh rulers there. The division between the Nguyen and the Trinh was almost the same line as between South and North Vietnam during our war. Both were supposedly serving the Le Dynasty titular rulers of all of Vietnam. The Tay Son brothers after their victories fell out among themselves, and the dynasty collapsed as the surviving Nguyen prince returned to reconquer using Thai and French support. As King Gia Long he founded a renewed Nguyen Dynasty, which in turn was to fall to the French and then ultimately to the Communists.

It is a tangled bit of history, with many actors, much treachery, and copious amounts of blood. Mr. Barnes has followed the real history closely using the tool of a novel with first person narrations by the principal participants, and with descriptions of gruesome (and real) executions and the sex that comes with kings marrying for political reason and also having fun with winsome concubines.

Enjoy a good read and interesting history. You will know Vietnam much better.

The 18th Century Tay Son Rebellion placed southern peasants on Vietnam's imperial throne. The southerners overthrew Vietnamese dynasties and repulsed a massive Chinese invasion. The Tay Son's influence encompassed the entire Indochina Peninsula and extended into China and Siam. Tay Son is as significant an event in modern (i.e., the last half millennium) Vietnamese history as is the Civil War in the U.S. Surprisingly, despite the intensity of American interest in Vietnam since the war to which Americans refer as the "Vietnam War" and Vietnamese as the "American War," Tay Son has received little attention here.

Thomas J. Barnes, a retired American diplomat who spent five years in Vietnam during the war, here corrects that deficiency. In Vietnam - When the Tanks were Elephants, he has produced a scholarly work -- a historical novel on the period of Tay Son. Tom Barnes carries the reader along with the pace of a Tom Clancy adventure. He employs eight principals in the events to tell his tale: protagonists and antagonists in the rebellion - emperors and a queen, lords, Vietnamese and Chinese generals, scribes and a Spanish Dominican missionary. Evoking Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Barnes' narrators present first-person accounts. Each contributes a distinctive and engrossing perspective.

Let the squeamish be forewarned that Barnes' chronicle of deeds and misdeeds, crimes and punishment, is graphic. Votaries of Robert Van Gulik's Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee will recollect his themes in Barnes' similar attention to the full workings of the wheel of justice. Beheadings, drawings and quarterings, and all the grisly like -- barbarisms to modern sensibilities, but commonplace in the context of the age -- are portrayed vividly in all their gruesomeness. Nor are the narrators shy to confess their concupiscence. Episodes of libidinousness are interspersed into accounts of history-making events.

Compressing the epic events of 31 years into eight narratives within the covers of a 321-page book could lead to confusion in the hands of a less attentive author. Barnes, however, assists his readers with appendices comprising casts of characters, a chronology, and glossaries of foreign words and phrases. The last permits the narrators to speak realistically. Vietnamese interlocutors, for example, use exclamations and colloquialisms of their tongue, lending authenticity to their accounts.

Set aside half a day or a long evening for this book because you won't want to put it down. The reading of it is a delight and an education. You will come away from it with an enhanced comprehension of not only a significant slice of history, but an enriched insight into the universality of human nature.

War and Politics by Other Means is a graceful book. We should expect one who has been writing news (and in some cases, making it) for so many years to be able to tell a story and tell it well. but what is most wonderful about Scates is that he cares. Any reporter who has lived with what he calls the "rough mixture of altruism, venality, petty feuds or state government either has to go under, turn cynical and calloused, become a boozer, or have something special called Hope. Obviously, Scates has the latter..... Scates is, thus, a reporter of the old school. He is honest and he is driven, and he is too,more than a little corageous. We know this from his off had descriptions of his war reporting. You should go out and get the book at once. War and Politics by Other Means!...

Shelby Scates has a rare talent as a storyteller. Reading his memoir, you can imagine sitting at the kitchen table ( a bottle of booze within easy reach ) as he relates these tales gathered during his eventful life. Scates stories benefit greatly from the writer's exactness. Most remarkable is the noticable forward movement to his prose, a sense that there is more good stuff coming, a sentence, a paragraph, a page ahead and Scates rarely disappoints. A must read! James Bush, Seattle Weekly

Shelby Scates acts like a journalist, he talks like a journalist, he even looks like a journalist. Scates has the world-weary look of someone who has traveled and covered a lot of ground. He says what he wants and doesn't mince words. His newest book " War and Politics by Other Means, a Journalists Memoirs" was recentlyn published by the University of Washington Press. It spans Shelby Scates' entire career from going into journalism covering sports in Dallas to his careers in the wire services such as United Press International and the Associated Press before going to the Seattle Post Intelligencer. He left the newspaper in 1991 to work on books. The stories in the book make you feel like you're on the scene. It's written in the sparse prose of a lifetime reporter - short sentences that are always to the point. It is a fascinating must read book....

For 29 years Shelby Scates was a presence in regional politics, first for two years as a writer for Phil Bailey's splendid Argus weekly and later as a reporter and columnist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Since his retirement from the P.I. Scates has kept busy, writing the first full-length biography of Warren Magnusen and now his memoir, "War and Politics By Other Means". It is an interesting read. From a lifetime of writing for newspaper readers, Scates knows the scarcity of reader time and newshole space. He tells his tales briskly, emphasizing his encounters with the famous (Robert Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, etc.) and those who played small but interesting roles in history. A publisher should encourage Scates to start a new project.

"Too bad Ben Hecht never met Shelby Scates, a journalist's journalist. His memoir is an enchanting crackle of political history ( I especially loved the stories about Earl Long and JFK),war chronicles in the Middle East and Cambodia, and other treacherous adventures like his white-knuckle climb up the Karakoram moutain range in Pakistan. And it is all so elegantly written you'll despair when you finish it, as I did. A real friend of a book."

This page turner has left me wanting more! What a terrific summer read! A must for anyone interested in a story that will have you gripped by the end of the first chapter.

If you can figure out who was the murderer, you are a better sleuth than I am! Wonderfully crafted murder mystery. Margaret Snyder New is a great storyteller in the true tradition of the old Texas cowboys. I loved this poignant, intriguing novel. Would love to see the movie!

The mystery is grippiing- I couldn't put it down. New's writing is full of fresh metaphors and wonderfully vivid description of the Texas fronteir - can't believe it's her first! Sure hit.

A fun, easy read, very difficult to put down. The story is well-written and extremely entertaining. The way the characters are interwoven and brought to life leaves the reader sorry to finish the book. Very highly recommended.

If I only read one book this summer, this is it! It's a great Texas mystery. Loved the characters and story about the Texas Rangers. Easy read, great prose. This book has it all! Richard

This book grabs you from the first page. The characters and the emotions are captivating. I literally could not put the book down. The way the author captures the beauty and essence of true love made my heart melt all over the pages. It was a delight to read! I can't wait for the sequel!!

This book couldn't have gotten any better! It was so good that i didn't want to put it down, literally! This is definitely one of my five favorite books, right up there with Gone with the Wind, and To Kill A Mockingbird! I am counting the days until the sequel comes out, and when it does, i will be the first in line to buy a copy from this gifted author! * :) *

I love love love this fabulous book! I thought it was the perfect read and i recomended this book to all of my friends! I hope that a sequel comes out for this awesome story!

This is a wonderful book! I had been looking for a book that would grab my attention right out of the gate and this was it. I am tired of trying to get into a book for so long that I am half way through it before I decide to continue or put it down... I wanted a book that would engage me from the first paragraph and this was it. The characters were believeable, and the premise of the story itself was such a breath of fresh air. I can't wait to see who plays the leading roles when the movie comes out! I am keeping an eye on this author; this is my kind of novel. What a feel-good read!

A great summer read, I couldn't put it down! The characters felt so real to me that I wished the book wouldn't end. I hope the author writes another one, and that the character of Ruby ( a beautiful, shallow, self-centered, cunning, social climber looking for fame, and a husband )comes back for an encore performance. Being a bad girl beats out being a good girl every time in my book! Bring it to the beach!

Bought as gift, can't comment on the actual book. However, shipping was quick, item was what I expected, and I am pleased with my purchase.

Would you like to save money on household items ?
If so, this book is perfect for you. It describes how red wine
can benefit the daily diet, if used sparingly. In addition, the authors caution to avoid caffeine at bedtime. The alternative uses of vitamins and herbs are described in great detail. For instance, Aloe is used for skin care and Chamomile is utilized to promote a healthy digestive tract. This volume has a considerable body of good advice on almost anything dealing with household health and management. It is a solid value for the price charged.

This book is absolutely wonderful and I use it all the time. It is worth every penny. I highly suggest it and wish I could find more books just like it.

Book like new. One of the best all around books on health issues I have seen.