Maestro Books

My nephew loved this book! He's a real soccer fan and this was a great addition to his collection!

Este libro, enseña como entender mejor el destino, como cambiarlo y como mejorarlo

I am using this book in a math-through-history course I teach for all ages, including my own children, along with a similar book by Betsy Maestro, The Story of Money. These books are beautifully illustrated, with "denser" text than a picture book, and they fit a need for middle-grade level materials. I enjoy the simplicity of the text and stories, and find I can read these aloud to interested children of even younger ages if I can abridge the text and use the illustrations to advantage. Yet the material cannot be considered light, I learned a lot of history I never knew about before reading these books, and it whetted my own appetite to investigate the topic deeper. A great compliment to this book would be Marilyn Burns' This Book is About Time.

This is a deceptively simple little story that children aged 2-7 really enjoy hearing over and over. Adults and older children get a kick out of the various facial expressions as the kittens go through their adventures. Three Kittens is fun and it encourages thinking, too - a great combination!

Betsy and Giulio Maestro have once again turned their highly creative talents into pure gold for the civics classroom. As a teacher, I find many uses for their books about America and its history. Their eye for the essential and interesting make students turn the pages like the most engaging fiction books. This edition is no exception. They trace the key documents and processes that make our democracy work - from inception through today. The large format illustrations and charts are as intriguing as they are informative.We use classroom sets of this book with our 5th grade students as they discover the "bill-to-law" process and experience the election cycle in class projects. We feel there are many more challenging ideas yet to be developed for our students using this text. If you are considering a "standard" civics text, take a look at this gem of a resource first before you buy anything!

It is 30 years since Stokowski's passing, and by now one might reasonably think there is no more to be said about him. Not so! Here we have this fascinating memoir by Janet Frank, a former member of his American Symphony Orchestra, that wonderful ensemble he personally formed and conducted throughout his ninth(!) decade. This is an affectionate, funny, wise, and by no means uncritical firsthand view of what made Stokowski one of the very greatest conductors ever. And the story of the time he divided the orchestra in half -- not for a concert, but for a softball game! -- is a fond reflection of a bygone era, the like of which the world will probably never see again. Bravo Stoki, and brava Janet!

I recently discovered this gem of a resource, and I was thrilled because it accompanied my fifth grade noun unit perfectly! As teacher, it is not easy to find well written resources in the area of speech and grammar, not to mention appealing to 10-11 year olds! However, this selection not only does a great job showing examples of those tricky irregular verbs students struggle with, it does it in an enjoyable and humorous way. The illustrations are wonderful, and I am planning on buying the other books in this series on verbs and adjectives as well. If they are anything like this one, I am 100% sure I'll use them just as frequently as I am this one! I recommend this to any teacher who teaches nouns, children who are studying nouns, or any parent who wants to buy a great and educational book for their child! It is a super choice!

My boyfriend and read it toghether and i got addicted to it since page 1! what a book!
Its very funny, cause the characters are one of a kind, it is interesting because it reflects the Russian society, it is deep because you also get both of these features related to yes...Pontius Pilates and Christ! and it is easy to read, has many many helpful comments at the end so you dont get lost in history!
This is a must for everyone

About midway through this book, I decided it could easily be turned into a screenplay for another run-of-the-mill slasher movie. Maybe the best is yet to come, but I resent having read so far waiting for something better.

Over the years I've heard numerous people call "The Master and Margarita" their favorite book, so finally I decided to read it for myself and was not disappointed at all. Yet, despite my enjoyment of this book, I am at a loose for how best to describe or critique it. I could perhaps say (and I mean this as a compliment) this is the literary equivalent of an old and unsafe ride at a traveling carnival - that is, you're never sure what's going to happen next, so all you can do is hold on tight and enjoy the ride. Bulgakov's work is a terrific, mind-bending mixture of dark humor, satire, surrealism, romance, horror, fantasy and social commentary. Of course, while this work skewers many of the problems which faced the early Soviet Union, you don't need to be enrolled in a seminar course on Stalinist Russia to appreciate this unique and absorbing tale of good and evil (although the introduction and notes by Richard Pevear are very useful for the non-academic reader). Approach this novel with an open mind and you will love it!

I found Mikhail Bulgakov's life terribly sad, as I progressed through this novel, realizing how much of it is autobiographical. Here was a brilliant man---the grandson of Priests, who was obviously quite theologically challenged in atheist Russia. His motif surrounding the existence of Jesus and the Devil, told through stories of Faust and Pontius Pilate, was obviously his personal desire to master the concept of good versus evil, in a culture of oppression, brutality, and subjugation, not to mention censorship---the slow death of a creative, freedom-seeking, artist.

A good deal of the read may appear to just be magical folly but on careful inspection, it is filled with deep, political satire and symbolism attacking Stalin's Communist Russia and the justifiable paranoia it bred. The ridicule, denouncement and exposure was nothing short of genius, as were the characters that carried out his themes, my favorite being the personification of the big as a pig, Vodka craving, Black Cat.

Bulgakov, was clearly before his time and it is sad he died at 48. His history shows a man who was broken by his inability of free expression. His determination to complete his works, in spite of censorship, is a testament to his spirit and perseverance---one of the strongest reasons that this book deserves to be read by all. I consider it a literary gift from the grave, carrying messages we must never forget.

Be warned that this is not a quick and easy read---at least it was not for me. I suspect that I've missed, or misinterpreted many scenarios that will read differently with a repeat read. Simply put, it's like trying to watch a ten ring circus---in more ways than one. But, you won't want to miss a single ring of action.

There is little I can add to the many excellent reviews of this unique novel; it repays re-reading and study.

Professor Kevin Moss at Middlebury College maintains an excellent site dedicated to this novel. There are illustrations from various editions, maps of places and a guide to the characters. Professor Moss describes the site:

"These Master & Margarita pages are intended as a web-based multimedia annotation to Bulgakov's novel.

"You won't find the full text of the novel here, as it is still under copyright and no one in his right mind would want to read a 300-page novel online in any language. Curling up with the novel, preferably in a basement apartment in front of a fire on a moonlit night, is highly recommended.

"You won't find a summary of the novel here either, and it's unlikely the site will make much sense as a whole if you don't read the novel. You can't use this site like Cliff's Notes."

Amazon doesn't permit direct links, but you should be able to find this outstanding reader's aid by going to middlebury.edu on Google and searching on Bulgakov in the Middlebury search box.

Robert C. Ross 2008

I have the fondest memories of this book, and I was delighted to recently find a copy.

It's the ultimate "power tool" book that should please young boys--an old time steam shovel with a personality to boot that is out to prove she can still do her thing.

The drawings are detailed and gorgeous, and the end shall always be a classic.

This was a favorite book from my childhood. My wife and I recently found out we will be having a little girl, and I can't wait to share this book with her.

IT IS ONE OF THE MOST LOVED BOOKS OF MY CHILDHOOD(50'S),IT BROUGHT BACK GREAT MEMORIES.

I loved this book as a child, so I purchased it to read to my niece and she loved it. It's a great book for beginners, it was one of the first books I learned to read. I highly recommend you add "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" to any child's library.

Mr. Michael Mulligan and his faithful steam shovel, lovingly called Mary Anne, are working class heroes, fighting to retain their independence in the face of corporate technological prowess in the construction industry. Can outmoded steam power compete with the awesome strength of diesel? Conveniently, this book features paper (not plastic) pages, so your tot can decimate the images of the vile diesel shovels with all the rage that his or her small hands can muster. Don't' be upset about this, it's nothing a roll of clear packing tape can't fix.

Much like the story of Casey Jones, vindication of our heroes will require their demise. Tasked with one final job, the digging of the basement for a fancy town hall, Mike and Mary Anne find themselves trapped by the tremendous success of their labor. Unable to get out of the hole, Mary Anne is broken down to be made into a boiler for the new building, and Mike becomes the janitor. This is no happy ending. No longer are Mike and Mary Anne independent contractors, free to come and go as they please. Mary Anne's steam-powered feet have been bound, like a disobedient concubine. And Mike has become a low-ranking servant of the state, forever forced to feed coal into the mutilated form that was one his industrial lover. The life lesson here is that it doesn't matter if you are honest and hard-working. In fact, those are disadvantages. The only winners are the diesel shovels, destroying without remorse.

Good for tykes who like to play with blocks and toy trucks. Might as well let them know what they're in for.

Wish I would have found this 7-8 years ago when it was first published.

I lost 65 pounds but became stuck for a year or more. This book helped me break the plateau...and I'm on the way down again!

THIS BOOK IS FABULOUS AND WELL PRICED TOO. IT GIVES WONDERFUL INFORMATION ON HOW TO CONTROL YOUR DIET WITH VOLUMES OF FOOD. I FIND IT VERY USEFUL AND THE RECIPES INSIDE ARE JUST AWESOME!!!

The quality of the books are excellent. I had a problem receiving the books, though. When tracking them I was told they were delivered, but I had never received them. I got connected with customer service through the website and they helped make things right by re-sending my order. These books came in the same time I should have received my other books. I feel confident that I can order through Amazon again and they will make sure that I am satisfied. Thank you, Amazon!

How can air in food make you more satisfied - make you eat less? How can it curb a tendency to be fat, or reverse a trend?

Can it? Turns out - yes.

Feed a hungry college student a half glass full of smoothie and they will eat 20% more at lunch ½ later than the college student who drinks the SAME smoothie only whipped until it swells to a full glass with air. Not only that, but the ones that eat the airy smoothie don't make it up at their next meal.

My brother, John, and my food guru, Dick, have both recommended Mindless Eating and Volumetrics to you and me. I finally read them. Actually, John recommends listening to Mindless Eating as a book on tape, so that's what I did. I recommend it.

Listen to get the fun of it and the flavor of it. Then get the book to read the summaries of what to do.

Both titles don't really work to tell you their messages. The subtitle of Volumetrics is great - Feel Full On Fewer Calories. I'd rewrite that to read - Feel Satisfied on Fewer Calories.

It's not my job to re-title these excellent books. Mindless Eating deals with how our brains are tricked to eat more than we want by other visual cues and often by genuine optical illusions.

You could summarize Volumetrics - We don't eat calories, we eat size, volume. We are stratified by greater volume and not necessarily by greater calories. Satisfied means you eat less, means you lose fat and still feel, well, satisfied.

These are not deprivation diet books. DEPRIVATION DIETS DON'T WORK. And need I say, not fun.

The two cheapest ingredients in food are water and air. Adding air or water is the simplest way to feel more satisfied with no additional calories. You read about air in the smoothie above. Soup is food with water added. Raisins are grapes with water removed.

Let's see what that does for you...


Raisins

Which is more satisfying. ¼ cup of raisins or nearly 2 cups of grapes (50 ml or 500 ml). The metric numbers makes the size difference even more startling. Exact same number of calories. Exact same food. One has water; one doesn't.

Which would you choose if you wanted to feel most satisfied?

Yep, me too.


Soup is the Free Lunch of Satisfaction

I live on good soup, not words. - Molière

Even though soup is mostly water, you and your body perceive it as food. This is very counter intuitive to me.

Proof? Give people a 270 calorie chicken-rice casserole and a glass of water as a first course to a luncheon.

Give another group the same casserole with the water added to it to make it a soup. Check both groups to see how much they ate for the rest of lunch.

The soup people ate 100 calories less of the lunch that followed and didn't make up the loss at dinner. Cool, yes! Soup created more satiety, satisfaction. Other experiments showed that chunky soup creates more satisfaction than strained soup. And hot and cold soups both create the same benefits.

You can read the physiology in the books if you're interested. But this seems like magic to me.


Bag the Peanut Butter

I over eat peanut butter; it is one of the highest density foods you can find. If I eat volume, then you have to eat a mountain of calories to get a decent volume.

If I lived alone, I would just not bring it into the house. Obviously you can use this useful tip for all your trigger foods. Since I live with the Mysterious Madame Ling, who likes peanut butter on apples, I simply put the peanut butter in a brown paper bag.

Not only is this -- Out of sight, out of mind -- it puts inconvenience into the circuit making it harder to mindlessly eat.

Note: You may be and I am on a seafood diet, I eat everything I see. Out of sight, out of mind.


OK, One Optical Illusion

People perceive tall as more than short.

Remember the optical illusion from childhood of the upside down T. They ask which is longer - the horizontal part or the vertical section.

People say the vertical is up to 20% taller when they are in fact the same length. (The illusion is so strong for me, that I got out a ruler and tested it.)

Tall thin glasses will have you drinking less wine, juice, or Coke. And again, you will feel satisfied. Remove the short squat glasses from your life, unless you want to increase your consumption of water, then the idea works in your favor. I drink water out of a Bavarian beer mug.


Action

If you have people in your family who need to monitor fat gain, get the books, read them, and then apply the tricks.

Eat well,

William

The Volumetrics Weight-Control Plan is the best thing to come into my life since sliced bread - no pun intended. Barbara Rolls is a researcher and scientific investigator who isn't trying to sell you overnight success or supplements or super-duper curves or a body to die for. In fact, as far as I've been able to figure she ONLY selling her 2 books, and boy are they worth every penny you'll spend to buy them. The science isn't new, just the presentation. The book is filled with color pictures that actually SHOW the difference between a quarter cup of raisins versus a cup of grapes - a veggie pizza wedge versus a cheese slice.

The premise is simple and the science is sound. Your body doesn't know from fat, carbs, etc. It know from FULL or NOT. Make it think it's full, it'll quit nagging you to eat. It's so simple I can't imagine why we haven't all come to this plan.

Why am I using this book? I'm fat. I've been fat for about 16 years. I'm glucose intolerant, have high blood pressure, and before I found this book I was on the way to full blown diabetes, the very real possibility of a stroke, blown knees, and a life of waiting to die. My doctors have been telling me a simple truth for years. ALL - that means every single one - of your physical ills are directly attributable to being overweight. Sound familiar? For years they've been saying - start with 1800 calories Mary. Lose 20 pounds. Then we'll reevaluate. Just begin, Mary. So - I began - dozens of times. And failed. Dozens of times. I beat myself up mercilessly for my failures. Then, trolling Amazon as I am wont to do, I bumped into Volumetrics. OK, I thought. Can't hurt. Nope. Didn't hurt a bit. This is far and away the best eating plan I've ever met, and I've met a few. As soon as I started charting 1800 calories a day using the principles in the book - I started losing - slowly and steadily. And I felt full - ate stuff I loved - learned to plan for the day - even the week - bought a nice big roomy food carrier to take to the office. It's not in the carrier - it doesn't go in my mouth. For all of you out there who have been praying for the one that clicks - try this. It's a cheap price to pay for what may be the most important book you'll ever buy. It works for me and my hand to God, it'll work for you. Try it. You'll love it.