On The Edge Books

I picked this book up out of sheer curiosity and read it to its entirety in one sitting. Jenning's presentation style and narration are excellent - the book flows perfectly and many of the points brought up can be taken and applied.

Stories of successful businesses fill this book. The author got "down and dirty" and did in-the-trenches research to find the best performing companies in the world. Then he spoke with the CEO's to find out what makes them and their businesses tick.

This is not just another book about the secrets of famous companies. It is, instead, a book about the secrets of somewhat obscure but great companies. The principles that author Jason Jennings propounds are familiar enough, but most of his examples will not be familiar to the general reader. That is no drawback. Although some of these companies are less well known, they have all achieved great business success (if not fame) by applying some of the most tried, true and proven axioms of management. Treat people with respect, pay them for performance, focus on one clear and understandable mission - there is nothing new about these principles, except that they keep proving their efficacy even in the unlikeliest places. Do not look for a deep examination of management here. The book provides frustratingly scant background information about the companies themselves. But we assure those seeking a handbook of solid if venerable management advice that you will not go wrong with this interesting little book.

This book is an excellent example of the types of practices and procedures almost any company can follow to be successful both financially and ethically.
Jennings cites numerous companies who have carved out success while still remaining true to their customers, their employees and their values.
Not surprisingly, few of these companies are ones that so called pundits regularly review.
As the other reviews have noted, these companies are very successful financially, but they get there by asking the really pertinent business questions, and not by hiding behind an air of executive invulnerability. The leaders are real leaders, more focused on growing the company, serving customers, and doing right by employees.
What vividly differentiates these companies from the "name brands," is that in the "name" companies, executives are more concerned with their own compensation, preserving their own existence, and with profits at all costs, than long term success.
The questions you should ask yourself after reading this book are, "Where have all the leaders gone?" and "Why don't all companies follow many of Jennings' researched best practices?
After that, I would run, not walk, to one of these companies and see if you can start at the bottom and learn what it's like to work in a real company.

This spring, I had a night-flight from Houston to Europe. I never got any sleep due to this book. It reads like a fiction novel while the focus is very much on the softer issues of productivity businesses. The well-written behind-the-wall stories and interviews with successful top executives give us insight to many issues that usual case stories do not explain.

Business magazines often glorify top executives by telling about the grand strategic plan behind the success. This little book shows us a different story. It provides insight to the many seemingly small traits of the lean culture that only works because they taken serious by the organization and used in combination. These are the 11 traits required for the leader of a highly productive enterprise: attention to detail, high moral fiber, embracing simplicity, competitiveness, long-term focus, disdain for waste, coach leadership, humility, rejection of bureaucracy, belief in others, and trust.

I'm sure you're really not impressed of this list. Neither am I. But try challenging some of the advice. Humility? When was the last time you saw a big company using this as a standard. When you hear the story of many head offices visited in this book, you'll understand humility. Often you'll find a very simple and humble office building for a huge company. No art on the walls! No lavish entrance hall! In these companies, you don't find huge corporate staff creating immense bureaucracy and all sorts of information requirements from their operating companies or business units. These organizations do actually "walk-the-talk" on lean - unlike many fad-driven major firms who's paying lip service to a lean culture.

PERSISTENCE is a word missing from the 11 traits, though attention to detail and long-term focus do include some of it. They never lose sight of their BIG idea or focus. It includes their performance measurement. "Everyone who works for SRC gathers once a week in their respective lunchrooms and takes part in a review of the business's financial performance for the previous week. By DOING IT WEEK IN WEEK-OUT FOR MANY YEARS the exercise has also become a system".

Okay, I'm sure that the book's research on productivity could have been better. And some of the firms reported on may experience difficulties, though most are still flourishing. But don't read this book for the hard stuff. Read the soft issues that over time usually turn out to be the hardest to beat.

I agree that it resembles "In Search of Excellence" to some degree, but remember that this book is on the lean culture of Cost Leadership firms (my interpretation, not the author's).

Peter Leerskov,
MSc in International Business (Marketing & Management) and Graduate Diploma in E-business

First of all this is a teen book and I'm 28. That being said, I loved the book. For advanced readers it's a fast read, but thouroughly enjoyable. I could picture the places the author was describing and picture Æthelflæd easily. With so few historical fiction novels being directed toward great women, this was a welcome read, and the author stayed true to the history of the time.

"Surprise, stealth, unbalancing her enemy, these were the ways her guardian had taught her to save herself, and to win," are the words that are featured on the back of the book, The Edge on the Sword, because the things her guardian taught her is a crucial point. Making history come alive, Rebecca Tingle mixed magnificent facts and fiction together to make an unforgettable story, where any girl can escape. In 2001, it was published by Penguin Putnam Books. Beautifully, remarkably, and magnificently done, the front cover illustration of The Edge on the Sword was drawn by Karen Savary, a memorable artist.

At the end of the ninth century, Flæd was now on her fifteenth year of living. Living in the burgh, staying with family, and learning her languages were all she knew, since she had done that for all her life. Her father was King Alfred of Wessex. He had a passive kingdom. As Flæd grew up, her main companion was her brother, Edward. They enjoyed their ambitious adventures among the forests around the burgh. Eventually, these trips got slim because Flæd began her education in writing, Latin, and Greek under her instructor, (w) Bishop Asser. Little did she know that soon her life would dramatically alter.

As instructed, Flæd headed toward her father's private chamber. Inside the small room she entered, sat King Alfred, who had been waiting. He gestured for her to sit. Alfred looked at her for a second then said gently, "Æthelflæd, as women grow they obtain more responsibilities. Now, that you are almost sixteen, it is time for you to be married. At the end of the summer you will travel to Lundon, Mercia, to be married to my friend and partner, Æthelred." Being the daughter of a very powerful man, Flæd had known this was coming, but it still shocked her. Soon, she would leave everything. She would lose her family. Permanently, she would leave home. Immediately the next morning, a warrior and envoy from Lundon came to be her guardian and warder. His name was Red. Flæd had always had a strong, enduring friendship with her brother, but as that last summer came and went, that friendship was almost lost, but that friendship lasted. No longer could they go on their private adventures in the woods, because of Red, Flæd guardian, who followed her everywhere.

At the end of the summer, Flæd equipped herself, packed up, and prepared her gifts for Æthelred in preparation for her departure to Mercia, because it would be several days before they would arrive in Lundon. As her protection, she had been trained in the arts of the sword and had a minute band of warriors with her. Leading them, Red rode at the front, followed by two wagons and a small amount men on horse back. They followed the river. Surprisingly, they were attacked and many of the men fell in battle, leaving Flæd with a few desperate men and little hope. Could they arrive safely after this tragedy?

This book has a fantastic twist of history and adventure, as if the excitement is literally bounding off the pages. As a great source of entertainment and much more, every pre-teen and early teen girl should read this book. Over all, The Edge on the Sword is an astounding masterpiece, because of the unforgettable story and amazing use of words, which is a charismatic combination.

A teenager named Aethelflaed, is the daughter of the king. That means he picks the husband for her! Her dad picks a man that's about his age (which is about in his fourties!), which she's never met. She sadly can't refuse her dad on this, and is now tortured by the thought of what he looks likeand who he is.

Her dad hire's a protecter for her, since there is a big deal of raiding in the area. Aethelfaed is annoyed by the man who watches her because he follows her everywhere(she is very independant!) She eventually befriends the man, and he teaches her to defend herself, and she teaches him a few tricks as well.

There is a lot of stuff that occurs that I don't want to give away, so you'll have to read it! I'll warn you that there is a sad part, but a happy one fills it in! This book has a slow begining, but gets you hooked!

This was a awesome book, and if you read it you'll enjoy it as much as I did, and I enjoyed it a lot!

I absolutly loved this book. I think Aethelflaed is an amazing heroine. It was sad in some parts, happy in others, with a great plot. Aethelflaed seems so real, and sort of like me. I hope other people can relate to this book as well as I can.

This is definetly one of my favorite books! I've read it countless times and I also love the sequel 'Far Traveler'. The characters are all lovable and the plot is excellent. Another great thing about this book is it is partially a historical fiction novel. The author Rebecca Tingle wrote this book wrote this looking at historical notes. AEthelflaed was a real person and did many great things. Enough great things to be known as Lady of the Mercians.

Flaed is a girl that's only lived fifteen winters but her father King Alfred is making her marry a man named Ethelred of Mercia...a man that she's never met... He's also many years older than her. But Flaed must agree and her father tells her that she cannot be left alone any longer. She must have a bodyguard...a man named Red.

While Flaed and Red are together Red teachers her many things on how to defend herself. She learns how to ride faster and better (which will let her show off to her future husband soon), she uses the sword and many other things. But little does Flaed know that when she leaves for her new home trouble will follow.

Simply, yes, if you let it touch you.

At a time in my life when I needed help, clarity of vision, and hope, this book opened my eyes and my heart in a way I needed it most. I first read this book in 2005, and have since come back to it, time and again for the pure pleasure of it.

The prose is well paced and refreshing, not so fast that you feel like you've been caught in a whirlwind, not so slow that you put it down and never finish. It's just right, gripping, inspiring and amazingly real and down to earth. It is, in so many ways, an escape for the reader that leads them right back to themselves. Almost a meditation on life, this book helped me see the forest for the trees, and step outside my own life long enough to inspire me to make the changes I needed to in my own.

This was my Greyhood to Papermoon Montana, and such a yummy, pleasurable read. Without question not to be missed I'd have to say this book, and it's sequel are brilliant! This book isn't about boundaries, it's about freedom and self respect for one's self in balance and a certain amount of harmony with the the rest of the world.

Why don't they make books like this one required reading in school? Had I read this twenty years ago who knows, I might not identify with Jaunita so much at this point in my life. This book is about vision, and truth, with ourselves.

I love it!

This book is a short, quick read but a great story of a middle aged woman with the courage to pack her bags, leave her grown butt kids and put herself first for once in her life. In the process she finds herself. Great story.

I loved it. If you ever thought about breaking away to a fresh start...read this book. Dancing on the Edge of the Roof takes hold of the reader and never lets go. You can't wait to see what Juanita gets into next. Ride along with her on each adventure and take a moment to enjoy nature the way Mother Nature intended. What a romance! The ending leaves you feeling completely satisfied, yet ironically waiting anxiously for a sequel. I highly recommend this book for the mature and exciting women of today.

[...]

This story was well written, and I enjoyed the characters very much. I would like to have seen more love scenes and interactions though.

I am sure many of us have heard this Dr. Phil-ism. I believe it is true in all its forms--self-fulfilling prophecies and such. DANCING ON THE EDGE OF THE ROOF is a simple, straight-forward book, and readers will benefit from its eloquence. Exaggerated, overblown writing may have its place, but Sheila Williams' first book will have a place in your spirit. Strip away the main character's (Jaunita Louis') skin color, occupation, neighborhood--all of the superficial things that can separate us from her story, and we will see ourselves. Facing the same challenges. On the same journey toward fulfillment.

What I got from DANCING ON THE EDGE OF THE ROOF was a lesson: Do everything you fear to do. Get locks or a long weave, if you must. Learn to merengue. Take a trip to northern China. Study at an institution for culinary arts or interior design. Take your vacation in Fiji. Have a baby at 40. Get your MBA at 54. Do it all, because this is the only life we get. Even those who believe in a second life cannot be sure, so we ought to make the best of this world, this life's opportunities.

I was reminded that I cannot blame anyone but me if I don't take those chances in life that will, in the end, make me the best form of myself that I can achieve.

Good For The Soul.

What a great read! Awe Inspiring, Alaskan all the way. Does not get more raw than that! I grew up in the bush hearing tales of the good old days. This is a story worth every word.

I spent time in the village of Huslia and actually taught in the school Jimmy started there. I met Jimmy's brother Sidney, who also wrote an awesome book, SHADOWS ON THE KOYUKUK. This is a beautiful, but harsh country where survival was not a given. This is a marvelous book..... unforgetable........ a must-read for a lover of adventure and the wilderness!

Recently, I have been fascinated by Alaska and the people that inhabit(ed) its interior. The life of Jim Huntington is to be admired by everyone. This book was a fast read and a real page turner. It is more adventurous than many fictional tails I have read. Excellent and should be read by everyone.

I think I bought the last eight copies, so please order more, Amazon. I teach high school in the Alaskan bush, and it is extremely difficult to find books that my non-readers enjoy reading that also have academic value. This book, and "Shadows on the Koyukuk" by Sidney Huntington, Jimmy's brother, have given my students insight into the transition between traditional Native culture and current native culture with its White influence and inclusion. My copies are going into the Alaska History tub of materials from our district resource center, to be shared by the other schools in our district. We will need more copies.

Jimmy Huntington wrote the best read I have seen in awhile--not too flowery, just basic truth. I loved it!!! Bonnie

This is the first book I read by Dorothy Garlock and I liked it so much that I read many more of her books as well. This one was fast reading and had an unusual story line that was filled with humor and romance. It's about a country family whose names all began with J. The oldest daughter was raped but kept the baby and let her mother pretend the baby was hers. Part of the story is bringing the rapist to justice and another part involves the Father's interest in a married flirt that his children couldn't stand. It was quite an interesting family and I enjoyed the banter among the children.

I really liked this book. I loved the characters, especially the Jones children. They were very lovable and believable characters. I liked the 'Birdie' drama and was anxious to see how that would play out. It was a very refreshing book about life on a farm in the 1920's. Then there was the mystery of the serial rapist. It gave the book a hint of the darker side of life. Julie and Evan were very likable and I am glad they fell in love. I would recommend this for an easy, enjoyable read.

This was my first Dorothy Garlock book but I have now read about 15. This book is the beginning of four books that share characters. I love how Garlock doesn't abandon her characters and we see how their lives continue. Unlike other authors, she changes the setting and creates a whole new world for subsequent books. They can be read in order or they are wonderful stand alone stories. Here are the ones in this series:
Edge of Town
High on a Hill
A Place Called Rainwater
River Rising

I would recommend all of them!!

Enjoy!

I just happened to pick up this book on a discount shelf at the airport, and I'm really glad I did! I'd never heard of this author before, but it sounded like a nice book, and it definitely was. This is a great story about family, love, and the circumstances that test both of them.

There is a large cast (there's 7 people in the Jones family alone) and it took me about half-way through the book to finally quit mixing up the boys (Jason, Jack, and Joe)!!...but they were all wonderful to read about.

This book really covers a lot, and I think almost anyone could enjoy it... from family and true-love, to rape, murder, and mystery, it has it all. This was truly a great find and I'll certainly read much more by this author!!

As with other Dorothy Garlock Americana romance-mysteries, I loved this book! It had a warm and cozy "Little House on the Prairie" feeling to it, and was very realistic and believeable. I loved the countrified descriptions of Sunday afternoon baseball gatherings at the Jones' farm, the town setup, the harvest, the meal preparation, the sightseeing drives and the dances at the lake - it gave the reader a true feeling of what life was like in that time and place in the heartland of America.

Both Julie and Evan were likeable heros, and I certainly was routing for their love to conquer all that threatened to come between them, especially Birdie. What they say about a woman scorned rang true here - when Evan saw through Birdie and rejected her advances, she moved onto Julie's father Jethro, but not without cruelly trying to discredit and slander both Evan and Julie, and to selfishly break up the Jones family so she could be the center of Jethro's attention.

It was nice to see the good-hearted children in this poor and motherless family find happiness despite their hardluck circumstances, such as when Jack became the hero of the local baseball team. I was cheering for sassy middle-sister Jill to find love, perhaps with Corbin the police chief, although in the end there were hints that something might go on to develop between her and another nice young character. I also would have like to see the characters of Joe and Jack fleshed out more too. (Maybe a sequel is in order??? lol). The theme of not judging a man (Evan) based upon the actions of his father was refreshing too.

I figured out Julie's secret early on, but Evan's secret came as a shocking surprise. So did Birdie's. I agree with the other reviewers that the rape-pedophilia subplot was sickening, and seemed wrong for such a wholesome story, (although it was an integrel part to the secrets).

My only criticism of this book was that there were too many minor characters, and too many similar names to keep track of. I found myself confused at times. Even after I finshed the book, Joe and Jack are all mixed up in my mind, and I'm not sure I know which people belong to which neighborhood family.

I read this book in three days. I have not read a book for enjoyment in years. Once I picked it up it was over. The stories make you TRY to relate to your own house. At the risk of sounding gay, It becomes a tear jerker.

I am a firefighter in a department much smaller than the FDNY. We do not run many calls and I was starting to get unmotivated and complacent. After reading this book I remembered the brotherhood of firefighters I am in and gained a new love for my job.

the most moving book I have ever read.It takes the good with the bad. No sugar coating, all honesty.

I should know: I'm a firemen's daughter. In fact, I'm a Rescue 2 firemen's daughter (we're a special breed) and have spent my entire life in the wacky world of Rescue firemen. Although it's really hard to capture the type of insanity and devotion these guys have for their jobs - Tom does a really good job. If someone you love is a fireman: read this book. It'll help you understand them better. Hey, even if you don't know anyone whose a firemen you should read this book. I just have 1 bone to pick with you Mr. Downey: Captain Ruvolo's daughters are not what I would call "pampered" (p.62). He loves them and they love him just as much.

Amazing stories in this book. You get the feel of the life of a member of the famed FDNY RESCUE 2. It is the kind of book that you read one chapter, and say..."Just one more chapter and I will put it down." But you cant put it down. After I finished the book, I said "I wish there could be more stories." Highly recomend this book to anyone interested in the life of those crazy enough to run in where the rest of the world runs out!

This is definitely one of the best books that I have read within years. I've read it a few times now and some passages - on the paintings of Chesley Bonestell (the Caspar David Friedrich of alien landscapes), which match the serenity and sublime poetics of those paintings, on Alexei Leonov's and Ed White's first spacewalks, on the lift off of the Apollo 11 Saturn V rocket (gives me tears in my eyes, the same as if I see it on DVD), on Percival Lowell, on the fantasy worlds of Astounding Science Fiction and Startling Stories, to mention only a few - are so great! They give you a kind of experience which normally only good poetry can give you. I read these passages again and again, they are aesthetically addictive! It is impossible to convey the sublime poetic quality of Wachhorst's prose. Really, every sentence in this book is a gem by itself. There is no other book, not even the books of Carl Sagan, that convey that sense of wonder (what the old Greeks called thaumazein) that propels us human beings toward space travel so intensely as this book does. It's not only poetry of course, it's also a very informative book (Wachhorst is a historian), but this book teaches you how important the mastery of language is to get a message through. It is also a very philosophical book, not in the analytical sense but more in an existentialist way. You'll learn a lot about the meaning of human transcendence while reading Wachhorst's reflections and meditations on our ultimately incomprehensible and utterly absurd condition as lonely intelligences stuck on a small piece of rock somewhere in the infinite vastness of the cosmos. We are, Wachhorst writes at some point, 'the ballroom innocents of Spaceship Earth - frail seed of life itself, afloat for an instant on the surface of forever'. This wonderful, exceptionally well written book is a must read for everyone, not only space enthousiasts. I dare to say that it is essential reading. How great that this book exists!!!

Not what I expected. This is a philosophical rather than a technical book. It is very well written and quite enjoyable.
It has an engaging literary style.

"The Dream of Spaceflight" is a charming little collection of essays on the past and future of spaceflight and space exploration. More lyrical than substantial, "Dream of Spaceflight" is designed more to stimulate that place in the imagination that initially made man reach for the stars and seems to have been stymied recently as spaceflight has now become a glorified courier service instead of pioneering endeavor that it was intended to be. Why is it that it only took us eight years from the first astronaut orbiting the Earth to reach the Moon, but almost 30 years since the last moonflight, we barely reach beyond our own atmosphere anymore? Author Wyn Wachorst wonders this and seeks to have readers ponder the same questions and re-ignite their desire to reach beyond the bounds of Earth.

Certainly not a fast read, "The Dream of Spaceflight" tells the story of scientific pioneers like Johannes Kepler and Werner von Braun, as well as the brave men of the Apollo program. It remembers the imagination of past explorers while seeking to provoke the desires of the future explorers. This collection of essays may prove quite valuable in the future of our dreams.

I have been a space buff ever since I got my first telescope for Christmas, 1968, and got to use it on Christmas eve 1968 and looked at the crater filled moon as Apollo 8 orbited the moon, what magic, a time long gone. So I can relate to Wyn Wachhorst as he narrates this journey through our coming of age in the cosmos, from Kepler, Goddard, and others, to the present, always writing in symbolic and poetic style, neat to say the least.

I particularly loved the chapter "Abandon In Place", anyone well versed in space lore will instantly know what that term means, but in this chapter Wachhorst laments in great detail the lack of vision people in our society exhibit, and it's causes. Ask yourself this: how many people do you know, personally, that appreciate anything beyond normal everyday occurances, beyond the mundane, beyond the simple utility of everyday life and what is on television tonight, and if you are like me you will be able to think of perhaps one or two people only. This is a topic that Wachhorst discusses extensively and he writes that we need to have a sense of wonder, and the need to explore, and the craving for personal transcendence at the leading edge of evolution, in order to thrive as a species.

In this book you will read about the lives of several visionary people, and I think the tribute to Carl Sagan was the best anyone could ever write about another person. This volume is a jewel that is rarely encountered in the literary world, a joy to read.

Wyn Wachhorst has written some beautiful essays with the core theme of spaceflight and has collected them in his book The Dream Of Spaceflight. The essays aren't perfect. Wachhorst often takes disparate insights from others and tries to connect them, when leaving them to contrast with each other would have been fine. He is critical of the postmodern [which is fine by me], but he often uses terms in fuzzy and metaphorical ways reminiscent of many postmodern authors. But ultimately the purpose of any good essay is to get the reader to think and Wachhorst succeeded with this reader admirably. The deep and wonderful insights in the essays [e.g. The whole person must have both the humility to nurture the Earth and the pride to go to Mars.] come often enough to recommend the book with a four star rating.

Unlike many books written for people in the world of business, this book really ties it all together. It not only talks about leadership, core values, and applying them, but also shows us why we don't and most importantly how we can, and why we must.

I recommend this book, as a strong must read for anyone working with or managing people.

With all the corruption being exposed in the business world it is refreshing to read a book that offers solutions that are both practical and easily applied. Every CEO should read this book. It will change your perspective about how we operate both consciously and unconsciously in our work, our world, and how intuition can be our best ally...

This book is a must read for all business people interested in really transforming the soul of the workplace.

As a business consultant, I couldn't agree more with the authors' insights and ideas.

The Inner Edge presents a common sense framework for improved personal and organizational effectiveness. The book is especially relevant in an era of intense scrutiny of corporate behavior and heightened expectations of ethical personal and professional behavior.

The book has an easy to use format with helpful tools such as self assessment exercises, guidelines and charts.

I have been working with individuals and small business for over 30 years in the Financial Services Industry. I have read many books and attended many workshops in an effort to expand my spiritually in both my personal and business life. This book and the concepts and exercises it provides is unquestionably one of the very best I have experienced.
I have ordered the audio CD's to assist me in implementing these concepts in my life. This book and it's concepts will provide wonderful benefits for everyone who puts it to work in their lives.

The title, preface and initial chapters excited me towards this book which i happen to browse in a local book store. I was quite excited and sometimes amazed by the clarity of presentation by the authors in the initial chapters which talks about life and its purpose, understanding and having your own "identity" and also about the side-effects of deep-rooted negative childhood habbits (unfinished business) which some people tend to carry along in their life unknowingly. The techniques to identify your strengths and small steps to be carried out to overcome the negative qualities are somewhat old but polished with new terminologies and jargons.
But I noticed a strange discontinuity in the authors presentation, when they jump into a new concept, so called "Quantum Decision Making (QDM)". The authors does not give good insight into QDM nor establish the relationship between the initial chapters and QDM. Hence overall we are introduced in lots new terms but without clear purpose and reasoning. The case studies of their approach has been clearly separated from the actual text, which was helpful to maintain the continuity in the discussion.
I would been happy or atleast understood the QDM concept better if a limited version of a CD or small visual guide was accompanied with this book. Because of this most of the latter part of the book goes over the head, when the authors talk about "icons", "multicolored 3D visualization" .. etc. Interesting/Useful initial chapters but poor second part.

Join Jeff Corwin as he shows us the dry, hot desert of Arizona, the life and death struggle in southeastern Africa, the rain forests of Costa Rica, and the grasslands of the Venezuela. Along the way we learn about life, death, love, and the web of nature. He also pops in facts and short stories, many of which are as funny as you can get without a Nun's outfit, a donkey and a jar of peanut butter.
The book itself is a lovely hardcover, with full color photos and something I would be proud to have on my coffee table if I had a coffee table. And it is so enjoyable to read you could easily finish it in a day if you wanted to.

Jeff Corwin is not only a great tv personality but is also a very good author. I have read his book like three times already and each time I read it I like it even more.The pictures, all of which he took himself, are great and I like how he goes into his life experiences with animals. Also, I like how he sprinkles humor throughout the book. I have learned so much from Jeff Corwin and he is the reason I am majoring in Environmental Science. He has made me realize how important it is to protect the environment and all of the animals in it.

Gives good complex look at the animals in different environments and shows the environmental issues challenging each place. Filled with stories from Jeff Corwin's life and his own encounters with both exotic and extraordinary animals.

This book is great! Altho I am a big fan of Jeff's and the Jeff Corwin Experience, I am still blown away by this book. Jeff describes everything vividly, yet in a beautifully poetic way (i've never heard of so many diff ways to describe the sunset). I was really surprised b/c he isn't like that on the show. I loved that many lesser-known animals are introduced, as well as the more common ones. Also, I loved that Jeff gave us the pecularities/specialties of each animal so I'm not just reading the same old boring stuff that I've read in too many nature books or seen on tv. I've learned a lot of things that I never knew about (ie: the symbiosis btwn strangler fig & wasp) and Jeff describes them all so vividly that it was even better than watching the show. The only complaint I have is that there's not enough pictures. But as I read along, I realized that Jeff already painted the whole scene for me that photos would just be icing on the cake. I totally and whole-heartedly recommend this book to any nature lover!

This is a very entertaining and educational book. I'm a fan of The Jeff Corwin Experience, and this book did not disappoint me. It is very well organized and well written, and I was amazed at the way it managed to drop me right down into the middle of the Costa Rican rainforest or the African savannah. What I particularly liked was the variety of bizarre and fascinating details that Jeff adds. I found myself sharing these bizarre facts (like giant anaconda orgies that can last for weeks and weeks...woohoo!)with all sorts of people who, no doubt, thought I was some sort of animal expert now. But best of all is Jeff's obvious enthusiasm for the subject matter, particularly the topic of conservation. It's hard not to enjoy his stories when he presents them with such passion and humor. I definitely recommend this book to Jeff Corwin fans and any readers who want to take a walk on the wild side.

it was recieved in a very timely manner - no complaints at all and in fact I would gladly do business with this vendor again!

I'd lost interest in playing for about 5 years before I read this book, but Mickey Hart's book brought me back to the reasons I started hitting the bottom of tin cans woth a wooden spoon! This book follows, to a degree, the history of drums, and studies the emotional, spiritual and physical effects of drums, old ancient, and new on people. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to play for any or no reason, and to andone who can't explain why the music makes them dance.

At a glance, Drumming at the Edge of Magic may seem like an autobiogrphical journey by the Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart. While the book is autobiographical, it goes far beyond that to discover the real meaning of drumming and music in general.

The meaning of drumming (or life?) comes in many forms, and many disguises. As Hart begins to unluck the secrets to why humans desire to express themselves in music, one can't help but say, "YES!". Hart, and to a certain extent, Jay Stevens, put into words what drummers and other musicians have felt all along but have never known how to express. The journey ends up being a look inward; not just for Hart but for the reader as well.

After reading this, I had my wife and father read it. I explained, "This is how I feel about drumming."

The companion CD and sequel book, "Planet Drum," are nice additions but the book stands by its self as an outstanding source for understanding music at its most basic form.

This book will move you.

I am not a Deadhead, nor am I a drummer, but I have really admired this book, and Mickey Hart big time. He really went off the deep end of his knowledge of percussion, both conventional, and exotic. I had not had this book with me since 1995, so my mind is a bit foggy, but if I remember right, the book is also a trip down Memory Lane, speaking of the hippie days of the Haight-Ashbury, The Grateful Dead and the whole scene in general. One of my favorites was of a drum he got in Tibet made from human skulls. He was wondering why he felt like he was being cursed, and he was told that he was using the drums wrong and it was used to wake the dead. He decided to return the drums and get a similar one not made of skulls. Drumming at the Edge of Magic was also a tie-in to what was then Mickey Hart's latest CD called At the Edge. This book really makes me wished I was there with the hippies and the Deadheads, even if I, myself don't listen to the Dead. It's too bad the Dead isn't around anymore thanks to Jerry Garcia's untimely death. Whether you're a Deadhead or not, whether you're a percussionist or not, this is truly an enthusiastic and well-written book on the subject of percussion.

Drumming At The Edge of Magic is a truly inspirational book for all people interested in drumming and rhythms. It details Harts cathartic exploration and eases the modern drummer into other-worldly potentials.