Australia Books

I got this book for a reasonable price at a quick shipping services it took about a week to arrive and shipping was free WOW I'M LUVN IT!!!!!!!!!!

I would recommend this book to anybody who is interested in the development of children. This book covers a wide spectrum of theories and real life examples from conception till late adolescence. What is more, it is very easy to read and every single chapter is incredibly knowledgeable and attention-grabbing to go through. It was one of the best psychology books I've read so far!!!

Overall it's a well written, illustrated and researched book that keeps with the most contemporary of scientific and specialist knowledge within this area and sustains throughout right from the chapters on conception and prenatal development through to the formative years outside the womb that the roles of environment, culture and the human organism itself, all in their different contexts, work together and in sync to create the overall eventual development of the human being. One such example in the book where these forces come into play focused around the fact that exclusively looking for genetic causes for intelligence and other psychological and physical attributes is flawed. Geneticists have found that many genetically related diseases and other diversities arise from genetic anomalies and mutations that are not inherited e.g. Down syndrome. This goes some way to questioning the validity of Eugenics programs that in part aim to `breed out' genetic code or traits from the human gene pool that is seen to be unhealthy.

Other information that was of interest;
1. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and some of the research done in this area and ways to help prevent it, there is a program called the "Back to Sleep Campaign" run in the USA by NICHD, The Back to Sleep campaign is suitably named for its recommendation to place healthy babies on their backs to sleep. Placing babies on their backs to sleep reduces the risk of SIDS.

2. The Utilization of what they call `Kangaroo Care' as a means to help premature babies thrive.

3. One thing I found intriguing was the suggestion that infants who are allowed to simply actively engage and explore their environment progress better psychologically, cognitively and socially.

4. The beginnings of a sex role identity start to occur around 3 years of age when children's strong attachments to their mothers weaken. During this period of early development, "wanting to be near" (their parent) that is the dominant force in infancy is taken over by "wanting to be like".

5. The in depth discussions to do with schooling and the different modes and forms that this takes on in modern times and also the types of influence that formal education exerts on both the social lives of children and also their academic faculties.

6. The beginning of the reasoning of moral issues and Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of the six stages of moral development.

My only complaint is this; given that I am colour blind it was quite a job to often try and distinguish one line from the next on the graphs and tables throughout, so that would be my only criticism but its relatively negligible. Obviously the views of both psychology and early childhood development do overlap so I would recommend that anyone interested in this area of study read Psychology 7th Edition (Myers) first, you don't have to by any means but it does make some of the concepts and text in this particular book seem easier to understand which makes the flow of reading the content much smoother, though having said that, the authors who as it turns out also have children of their own, have done an excellent job of explaining theories and ideas first then following up by giving a working and easy to understand example in laymen's terms of where those theories and ideas have been put to work, both under scientific conditions or in the real world. Furthermore the authors have somewhat followed the basic format of briefly talking about what they are going to discuss at the start of any particular section of the book, then discussing it and finally at the end of each chapter they review and summarize the content which helps to round out the discussion.

The reference sections at the back of the book containing the definitions of the different terms used throughout the text were a nice and helpful addition to the hardback. This was my second book purchase from the `Worth' Publishing press and the style of their books, in particular the pedagogical features seem to be uniform throughout their range, also in addition to this is the accompanying website that is full of didactic features and a great way to learn interactively about this subject. Overall this book is a fascinating insight into the development of children and certainly worth reading if you're planning on starting or already have a young family as the knowledge will help give you an idea of what to expect as a parent, but it would be equally suitable to others that may be simply interested in academia or just have an interest in this general area and want to add to your knowledge about the human condition.

As a final word I'll say that although the book was mainly meant for academic study which usually makes these class of texts somewhat cold, prosaic and uninspiring, all of which I might add this books suffers none of, you can't help but come to the conclusion that the underlying message in my view is that the more children are nurtured, shaped and prepared both psychologically and socially in a positive and interesting way, then the chances of a superior eventual outcome for the child in question and society at large are improved enormously. To the casual reader of this review that previous sentence may seem blatantly obvious, but to arrive at a greater and much deeper understanding of the what, when's, where's, why's, and who's of childhood development and advancement, then one would be wise to invest some time and money into this book because it is surely worth it. Conversely, this is not a `how to' manual, rather it may be best viewed as an intense analytical overview of the different theories, conclusions, studies and the people who have influenced this area of scientific enquiry over the last 100 years or so.

Edward Gibbon wrote the "Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire" and Mike Cole and his colleagues have written a work of equal stature on the making of human beings. This is an encyclopedia of human development from single cell to adolesence. Though a leader of the cultural psychology school of development, this work includes every theory and subtheory of development around, each bringing its particular insights at the appropriate point in the story - part eclectically, part critically, but always comprehensively. Frequent break-outs take up issues of controversy, the photographs and illustrations are magnificent. Each chapter is constructed with study questions, summaries etc, making it suitable for systematic study, written by a consummate educator. This book will do you for life; use it from your first lecture in your "Early Childhood studies" course, or for that matter, libguistics, anthropology, neuroscience, till your first research project, keep it while your kids grow up, use it when composing your journalistic articles about social issues, and re-read it for sheer enlightenment. I can't say that this book is the last word on the topic, because I know that the Coles will put out a sixth edition before long and the story will go on!

Cole & Cole's work is by far one of my favorite textbooks. The reason? The authors methodically lay out child development from a biopsychosocial perspective, which is no small feat.

They write with a thoroughness and efficiency that you will rarely find in a textbook. Their treatment of child development is evenhanded, not privilaging either the bio, psycho, or social perspectives.

Perhaps the best book ever to explain why New Zealand is not the USA with minor differences. There are considerable cultural and societal differences which may escape the visitor unless and until they experience New Zealand on a deep level. Some find the mysterious aspects of her experience of the Maori culture to be doubtful or merely coincidence. Those born in New Zealand will understand them and will not be surprised.

My mother mailed me this book from America to New Zealand because I have recently arrived in NZ and I will be living in New Zealand for the next year. I find Carol O'Bistro's insights about New Zealand culture relevent and insightful for a current long-term visitor. Her writing is lyrical and fun to read. I wonder what she is doing now.

Thought provoking, moving and fun. The story is told in a masterful way that made me laugh, cry and sit-up thinking about it for a week after I read it. The author takes you along on her own personal journey and as her New York City eyes and heart transform into something miraculous so does the readers'. It touches the heart and reminds us of our humanity in the most magnificent way. Read it slowly; you won't want it to end!

I bought this book when I was visiting New Zealand in 1988 where people kept recommending it, and I am just now rereading it for something like the fifth time--including one time with a discussion group. This time through I am finding new delights that I must have skimmed over before. Parts of the book are naively New-Agey, but even those parts are personal and honest and fun to read. It is the story of a woman whose job takes her into the middle of an enormous cultural shift, and she manages to stay in the middle--between the world views of American bureaucracy and a traditional people's values, and somehow to walk that precarious boundary and to be receptive to the ways it changes her. It's an amazing story.

On September 10, 1984, at first light, New York's Fifth Avenue was the scene of an unusual ceremony. On the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art a group of Maori women wailed the ritual welcome: HAERE MAI !! Their calls were answered and taken up by a group of Maori elders down the avenue, their leader in a feathered cloak, their path cleared of evil spirits by a small band of tattooed warriors ferociously thrusting their spears.

It was opening day of a groundbreaking exhibition at the Met: Te Maori: Maori Art from New Zealand Collections. The elders were in New York to lift the tapu and open the exhibition. Their greeting was for their ancestors, spiritually residing in the 174 taonga (treasures) on display outside New Zealand for the first time. Nine years in the planning, Te Maori was the culmination of a massive exercise in politics and logistics.

Carol O'Biso was the registrar of the exhibition, responsible for the packing and safe passage of these treasures collected from a number of New Zealand museums. First Light: A Magical Journey is her lyrical story of this great adventure.

The "cultural artifacts" are believed by the Maori to be sacred and powerful. Carol, overwhelmed at first by the vast divide between her New York self and the ancient Maori beliefs, struggled to do her job in the midst of controversy over the exhibition. She was excluded by Maori custom from speaking at the many ritual gatherings in museums and meeting houses. Frustration was her constant companion, in those early days. Gradually the power of the collection became entirely real to her and she found herself honoring the treasures in ways she would not have found possible.

Carol spent several years packing, shipping and unpacking the irreplaceable treasures and was under their spell when she returned them to New Zealand in 1986. She handed them over, in yet another ceremony that left her in tears, to a New Zealand registrar for their awe-inspiring progress through New Zealand museums.

Carol's story is a very personal one and some of her early impressions of New Zealand were less than favorable. However the country's charm and especially the strength of the Maoris' respect for their culture led her to a deep appreciation of The Land of the Long White Cloud.

I had the privilege of seeing Te Maori in New Zealand, and First Light brought back vivid memories of its power. I read the book in the early 1990s and then gave it away (read it! you'll love it!), and when I found a copy on Amazon this month I was delighted to be reacquainted with it.

Linda Bulger, 2008

The well-known phrase 'for the term of his natural life' is used by Marcus Clarke to bring home the horrors of transportation and the Tasmanian penal system in the 19th century.
Richard Devine, an innocent man (under an assumed name of Rufus Dawes) convicted of a crime he did not commit, is sent for transportation and assumed killed in a shipwreck. In reality, he is heir to a vast estate (unbeknown to him) and the convolutions of the tale that evolve from this are wonderfully written; the gradual demolishing of Dawes, the unspeakable duality of Frere, the calculating guile of Sarah and the gullible innocence of Sylvia are woven together in a plot that does not end happily ever after. This I think, serves to underline the barbarism and futility of the transportation system.
Based on actual events, Clarke uses his 'hero' to illustrate the depravation and privations that prisoners (and their guards) had to endure. Graphically showing how degradation degrades and power corrupts, the narrative never dwells on gruesome details, instead it relies for effect on the imagination of the reader, which can be more terrifying.
A book that deserves a wider readership.

This was without question one of the most gripping novels I've read in many a day. I first ran across this work in a brief mention by British travel writer/popular historian James Morris, where he thought it akin to the gulag novels of post-Stalinist Russia in subject matter and philosophical content. Add to that a wealth of striking narrative detail, immensely memorable characters (Maurice Frere, Sarah Purfoy, and particularly James North leap to mind), some truly transporting (no pun intended) and incredibly creepy passages, mind-blowing plot twists and turns, and a persistent refusal to provide too pat solutions to characters' problems... Clarke wasn't better than Dickens or Eliot, but neither of the latter could have written this book.

Clarke's masterpiece was published in 1874, after being serialized in 1870-72. Critics have lambasted a few of the less believable elements and some of the pat characterization of a number of supporting characters, but these are flaws to be found in most novels of that time (and ours). Clarke redeems himself by taking the cliches and mannerisms of the nineteenth-century English novel and using them to illuminate a whole new society, one practically mythical to the metropolitan consciousness of the Victorian Anglophone world. This work is a great counterpoint to all those English novels of the day where the hero or villain gets packed off to the antipodes and returns mysteriously changed. The main thrust of the novel, though, was the need to tell the true story of (white) Australian society's beginnings. Clarke, in telling the story of the unjustly convicted Rufus Dawes (aka Richard Devine), provides a panoramic view of early Victorian Australia, from the hellish convict settlements of Macquarie Harbor and Norfolk Island to the nascent frontier towns of Hobart and Melbourne, from the aging memories of the "First Fleeters" (the original convicts who arrived in 1788) to the controversial Eureka Stockade Uprising of 1854. The narrative frequently moves at a deliciously whirlwind pace to accomodate the exciting interaction of characters and history.

Clarke's novel is generally cited as nineteenth-century Australia's greatest and points the way towards more nuanced examinations of the colonial experience in the twentieth century (Peter Carey's JOE MAGGS, about the "off-stage" life of Dickens antihero Abel Magwitch, is apparently very much in this vein). Don't read it just for this reason, though. Please be sure to find the longer, original version, as I was fortunate enough to do. Clarke was forced to produce a revised, shortened version for the original publication, one dictated by his editors that turned the novel into a much more "conventional" Victorian literary production (and has a longer title--FOR THE TERM OF HIS NATURAL LIFE). I understand a TV series was made in the mid-80s with Anthony Perkins as North. If this was the case, then it badly needs to be remade on celluloid, because I can't seem to find the series. It's a magnificent novel whose flaws, I think, are amply counterbalanced by its unexpected joys.

It's a collation of events by various persons involved in the penal settlement of early Australia. Marcus Clarke has interwoven these events into a novel of fiction. These are stark facts; and show, as far as I've researched, very detailed. L.P. Hartely said it all,in this case.."The past is a foreign country.They do things differently there." The more you read on, the more you want to know..

LEt me set the record straight first...I have never read this book. I had seen the mini-series almost 10 years ago on CBC Canada. The series was very gripping and always left me waiting for the next in the sequence. Following the end of the series I was determined that I had to read this book. My last attempt to find it was in 1991 when I was told it was out of print and could not be found anywhere. Luckily I have just tripped across the information again and it prompted me to start looking again. Needless to say (but I must) I am thrilled to find it and now be able to finally read it. I hope it is everything that I know it is and more. It is an epic tale of grand proportions. Now if I can only find the video series AND a hard cover copy to add to my library!

Well, as an Australian living in the year 2000, reading this book, written in the 1880s, is an emotional experience.

For it is through works such as this that we can see our past. We can examine the nature of the beast that gave birth to us. Who we are. From whence we came.

If you want to understand why Australians are they way they are, and have the attitudes and language that they do, then give this book a read.

First off I would love to send my heartfelt love to Treenie who recently transitioned from her physical, and thank Michael for being so generous in giving us an insight into who she was as an incredible individual on his website. She became self-aware even before he did, according to Michael.
This book was the first one I picked up (thanks to a friend's recommendation) from the series and was amazed at the intensity and the hard-to-believe-this-is-real kind of stuff. I loved it, and I also enjoyed the writing aspect of it that was I found to be fluid, easy-to-read, well put together, and with good, dynamic literary content. Upon reading the book, it feels like a narration, and one that keeps you guessing what's next. The adventures are beyond words, beyond what I've even read in science fiction books. Reality is far more bizarre, and exquisitely creative than even what our fantasy novels can depict. And Michael here goes to places that are very hard to believe, because their existence runs completely against every scientific tenet and notion out there. Like the famous out-of-body researcher and pioneer, Robert A. Monroe, Michael visits another reality in a non physical state that is apparently adjacent to ours, and provides our reality with most of its raw 'materials.'

Because the book flows very easily, some of the events can be more accessible for the average reader. However, the events described were hard to swallow for me, and admittedly so, there are realities that our 5 senses wouldn't be able to interpret because they occupy such frameworks that barely deal with any sense of time, space, gravity and depth.
Yet, according to Michael J Road's experiences, there exists an even greater variety of species, inhabitants, and individualized consciousnesses that inhabit and function in such realities.
This book is a must-read for any explorer, scientist or mystic for it holds a concept of reality that shatters our worldview. This book was a bold one to write on Michael's part for that I say thank you.

I have read all of Michael J. Roads' books and found this one to be absolutely fantastic. It takes you deeply into the metaphysical realm and beyond. When reading it, I felt as though I had personally witnessed what the author experienced. I consumed the book quickly and then read it a second time in order to digest it. A great, well-written book! Definitely one I'm going to keep on my bookshelf.

- this would certainly be one of them!!

In this book, Michael J. Roads describes a spiritual journey unlike any other I have ever come across. It is fascinating, breath-taking, mind-boggeling, almost unbelievable - and yet it FEELS very real and true. There are a multitudes of insights throughout the book, and each time I revisit this book I find new ones. If you have never read any books by Michael J. Roads, I would recommend to start of with one of his earlier books, like 'Journey into Nature' or 'Journey into Oneness', simply because 'Into a Timeless Realm' ties these into a much larger universe and it is always fun to begin a journey with the first couple of steps. :)

If you have already read his earlier books, treat yourself to this one - it will keep you at the edge of your seat from beginning to end!

The incomparable Michael Roads has done it again! A wonderful author who makes the other realities very real to us has another great adventure to tell in this book.

An inspirational and mystical account of his true voyages into accelerated consciousness, Roads is a natural storyteller. While others may have similar experiences, what sets him apart is his ability to share his story coherently.

A story of connecting to Source, other potential future realites, other beings from other dimensions/parts of space---this is my kind of book, and my story as well.

Thank you, Michael Roads, for giving us such a fun adventure!

Until the release of Michael's new book ("Getting There"), "Into a Timeless Realm" was my favorite of his books -- and I've read them all. His connection with, and love of, Nature is amazing, and is a connection I share (not yet with his depth and consistency yet, but it's coming).

"Into a Timeless Realm" takes you on his most incredible and insightful spiritual journey. Each time I read this book, I come away with more treasures.

Lifted - The fourth section of Moments and Milestones gives us, the readers, a welcome respite from the drama and angst of previous chapters. The author takes us on an internal journey of discovery that leads to the awakening of a new and brighter consciousness.

Looking - Section five, finds the author using his new found sense of self-worth empowering him to become an adventurer. Traveling overseas in a hopeful search for both purpose and meaning. It is at this point that the story really became engaging for me. Life in a strange and exotic land with romantic love seemingly just around the corner. Exciting!

The pace of the writing seems much more clear to me now, though still furiously frenetic. Perhaps I am just becoming used to the author's style.
Lifted and Looking provides a bouncy almost buoyant feel good adventure that completely enthralls the reader.

Up next is 'Loving'! (The story I originally picked this book up to read.) Can't wait!

The third and fourth installments of Moments & Milestones, with the lilting alliterative continuance of L-words, Lifted and Looking, is filled with an empirical exploration of the author's personal acquaintance with hallucinogenic drugs, and also a graphic annotation on earning a living "in the flesh." In fact, Mr. Mulder's exploration of meth is as fully rendered as Carlos Castaneda's exploration of peyote buttons. The little voice (the wee scientist, sort of a Jiminy Cricket) also takes us vividly into the world of legal prostitution and "escort services" in Australia. It's a catalog as long as Don Giovanni's and as spicy as Frank Harris'.

Mr. Mulder has indeed presented us with an immense life, and we still have more "L's" to go. Plus, his evident love and enthrallment with the world down-under inspires. The carefully crafted description of Sydney and its pristine environs compliments the work.

I recommend Moments & Milestones highly, starting with Little and going through to the last L (whatever that will be), which I am looking forward to reading. I am now proceeding to Loving, and then to Lunacy with all the interest of a newbie at life's circus. "Come one, come all. Step right up and listen to that little voice . . . ah, another L-word, but I think an important one, for there is plenty to "l"isten to in "l"ittle's voice.

As a part-time member of the New Age movement I was thrilled to read the account of Timothy Mulder's spiritual awakening. He details his past problems with organized religion and his devout connection to rationality and the scientific principle. When his investigation of the physical world dovetails into his shamanistic experiences, the results are a completely believable perspective on the nature of reality.
Though he has not yet discovered all the answers to life, in truth his journey seems to have only just begun, Mulder is definitely a man on a mission. Truth has become his goal.
Where that quest takes him is anyone's guess, but I for one intend to be there as the hoped for answers are revealed.

I found myself reading 'Lifted' with both hands holding on tight to my Kindle while perched precariously on the edge of my seat. This chapter of Timothy Mulder's memoir dealt with his experiences with drugs, one drug in particular and the effects this had on him both mentally and physically. It also describes how he came in touch with his inner psyche. I felt this section was well written. It was as though I was present in the room as the scenes played out. When the Author hit rock bottom and finally decided it was time to make a change, I felt as if I too needed to come up for air.

"Looking" is a good title for this 5th chapter of his memoir. It details how he made a change and began looking for who he wanted to be and the efforts he made to be that person. It talks of his success as he left his former self behind. There is a golden light at the end of this tunnel....and once again I find myself anxious to explore the next installment of his book.

What more mischief is in store for our hero? I thought I had seen it all. Timothy Mulder opens our eyes to a reality unknown to some and yet keeps our sympathies while he struggles with life and its revelations.

He gives hope where none is expected and passion where missed. Shows love and concern for the lonely and opens your eyes to a new reality with his discoveries.

Highly recommended and still wanting more...
I look forward to the next installment.
Sondi

It might be a bit presumptuous to declare this installment of Moments and Milestones: Loving - Part Six, the very heart and soul of the book, but it so struck me with its beauty, I was completely beguiled.

Loving - finds the protagonist/author discovering a fairy tale romance of mythic proportions. After spending years developing his sense of self-worth, delineating his own personal ethics and undergoing a comprehensive investigation of self, Timothy Mulder is graced with the gift of true love.
Rooting for this accomplishment came easy for both me and my lover, (We read these chapters together in bed) since we had become so invested in both the character and his convoluted story.

The details conveyed in the initial stages of his romance with his lover from down-under are achingly poignant. Some of the most intensely, erotic interludes. Love and romance portrayed at its finest without ever crossing the line of sleaze or inappropriateness.

I've been living happily in a relationship for over twelve years and Loving has helped to redefine my standards of quality and happiness. At the very least, I'm going to have to give special thought to future birthday presents.

5 Stars of the sweetest love.

In Loving (part six), Timothy Mulder finally finds the love of his life.
A touching exploration of romance engaged in by two people who truly know themselves and can share a full life together.
These three chapters were truly inspiring.
Like a port in a storm, Loving brings the reader to safety.
Reading this latest installment makes me wish, I could fall in love all over again.

I'm not sure I can repeat my original review. I guess it got lost in button pushing. But I wanted readers to realize what a blessing this chapter is in Timothy Mulder's memoirs. To go through life and find a person compatible and sharing that also enriches your life is one find in a million.

To recognize it is even more imaginable. This chapter is a culmination of knowledge practiced with wisdom in a life path that few can claim. He has shared his memories of an everlasting love with the reader and given the reader a chance to live this experience for the short duration of the printed word.

High praise for the writing in Loving that allows the reader into a little bit of heaven.
Sondi

Little: First a compulsion to know and understand all things, then the struggle for independence.
Lonely: Followed by the birth of a self-actualized individual with slight hedonistic tendencies.
Lost: Which leads to the inevitable 'fall from grace'.
Lifted: Broken and humbled, a new voice is allowed in and an awakening is achieved.
Looking: Awareness of limitation leads to a journey of self discovery. Ultimately culminating in a well centered, evolved human ready to receive life's ultimate gift; unconditional love.
Loving: (Part Six) of Moments and Milestones takes us to the heart of author Timothy Mulder's most intimate and exciting time in his life. A lifetime spent birthing the man who finally finds true love and embraces it with wild abandon.
One of the most passionately romantic love stories I have ever read.
(All that and you get to go scuba diving with baby seals too!!)
If only it were always this beautiful.

When I opened the pages of this chapter, a warm comfortable feeling came over me. I wanted to kick off my shoes and stay awhile....so I did. The voice of the narrator was soothing to match the mood of the loving atmosphere that filled these pages of the book. Our hero had found true love and it was the most wonderful thing in the world. Of course when it was time to return to business, I grabbed my shoes and caught up with the author as we resumed our Journey. While I am eagerly awaiting the next installment of this book, The memories of 'Loving' will linger.

I bought this book as a guide before my honeymoon. I had already looked around a couple of eco-tourism web sites and booked a couple of hotels; in one case, I changed my mind because of this book and ended up canceling a booking. It's a well-organized guide with astonishing clarity and frankness. Some off-hand tips include who to talk to (first names) at travel agencies/resorts/etc. for tips and deals, what times of day and/or days of the week you should avoid certain activities, what environment to expect at a hotel or resort (Partying backpackers? Couples only? Family-oriented? Rich lazies?), which buses leave early/late or stay overnight, how to deal with hagglers, general Fijian pronunciation tips and cultural guidelines (including an apparently conservative dress code in the villages that I would have regretted not knowing beforehand), where and how women will feel safe, and of course, which restaurants and accommodations offer the best deals. You're probably also well-off to visit www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree for first-hand travel tips, but the Moon guide book is a great buy.

Awesome book, well written and very insightful.
South Seas Photography uses all these Moon South Pacific books and the Fiji Book for all our travels throughout Polynesia.
Easy to use, perfect for detailed information, easy to carry and share.

Karl Meinhardt
www.SouthSeasPhotography.com

The 8th. Edition of David Stanley's Moon Fiji handbook continues to be the essential guidebook for travelers to Fiji. And whether you are a seasoned Fiji traveler or an eager first-timer, you will find Stanley's book critical to getting the most of your Fiji visit.

Compared to the earlier editions, this one is totally revamped and redesigned. It's compact, attractive, and very usable. Information is easily located and details are ample. Every section is updated and expanded to include current relevant information, insofar as any destination guidebook can be anyway.

Each geographical region of Fiji is fully detailed covering related visitor attractions, accommodations, dining options, activities, recreation and more. Specific recommendations make each section extremely valuable. Stanley pulls no punches in both his criticisms and compliments to vendors of accommodations, restaurants, activities and others. Descriptions and explanations are quite trustworthy.

Detailed maps and interesting photography makes for a well laid-out book. Placement of the Background reference section to the back of the book make the tome usable. The opening section with such things as "The Best of Fiji," and "Island-Hopper Special," plus "Culture and the Real Fiji" and others get the reader quickly immersed in Fiji and offer practical ideas for getting the most of a Fiji visit.

The book's regional Fiji sections provide all the detail and information needed for planning a visit to these storied and historic South Pacific islands. Whether you see one area such as Nadi and the Mamanucas, or take in Suva, the Coral Coast, Lomaiviti, the Yasawas, Taveuni, or the "Friendly North" of Vanua Levu, you'll find Moon Fiji a fine and very useful traveling companion. Like the saying goes, don't leave home without it! As a veteran Pacific Island traveler, I'll have my copy of Moon Fiji along on my next Fiji stop.

This book IS Fiji. Even the people who live there should own a copy for themselves as a guide to their islands' resources.

The indispensable information and guidance within Moon Fiji about trip planning, transportation, dining, lodging, entertainment, recreation, tours, events...will save the traveler the cost of the book many times over.

I've edited other publishers' guidebooks and am most impressed with the excellent composition and layout of this book, the perfect refinement of seven previous editions. It is amazing that: so much information has been included; the type size is big enough to be easy to read: and yet the book is small enough to carry everywhere.

Don't waste your time searching the Internet for information about the Fiji Islands. It's all in this book, including reviews, maps, photos, telephone numbers, schedules...and, if you must, a list of the top twenty Fiji websites. There is too much more info to mention.

Let me be succinct and direct: Anyone who is planning to visit the Fiji Islands must have this book--they will be handicapped there without it.

We've been talking about going to Fiji for years, and have looked at other books, but this book trumps them all. It's very thorough, with excellent descriptions that make us wish we could pack our bags and go today. Author David Stanley obviously loves Fiji, and his passion comes through in his writing. We also appreciate the way he doesn't sugar coat the less than perfect. This seems like a book you can really trust. And the history sprinkled throughout (great stories of Capt. Bligh, for instance), the interesting boxes full of fun information, and the very useable maps make it easy to get educated in all things Fijian. We also love the beginning section with beautiful color photography. It would be nice if all photos could be in color, but we'd happily trade the excellent info in the book for color pictures.

This book provided us with our new dream adventure vacation: A stay on the Yasawa Islands, where there are no motorized land vehicles or roads. You can stay in a thatched "bure" and make a vacation exploring the island chain via a catamaran line that offers a kind of "Eurail Pass" for island hoppers. Who knew such a place still existed?!

I read all of these "Mr." books to my 5 year old son and he loves them. He likes this one alot but really loves Mr. Funny the best. These are great bedtime books for kids!

I have used the Mr. Men series for many years in the classroom. It was always a highlight for the children. I would read one each week, and they always looked forward to it.

I had this book when I was a child and I still enjoy reading it. I purchased it so my daughters can enjoy it as well.

Mr. Mischief loves to play pranks on the other Mr. Men characters. In this book, he does sneaky things to Mr. Happy, Mr. Greedy, and Mr. Funny. But of course, Mr. Mischief gets a taste of his own medicine! A hilarious story! I had this book as a child and rebought it as an adult. I still laugh when reading it today at age 27. All of the Mr. Men books are superb, and Mr. Mischief is one of Roger Hargreaves' best works.

Back in college I got a job as a summer janitor at the local elementary school. One of the things I had to do was clean up in the library. I took this time as an opportunity to catch up on some reading... in the form of the Mr. Men series. Mr. Mischief is about a guy who enjoys causing trouble. It makes him laugh. It will make you laugh. But then something happens to him, and he learns a lesson.

it is amazing that with all the hardship that these guys went thru, human nature can still make the best of an awful situation.

One of my first introductions to Australian and Far East reading of WW11, thoroughly enjoyable, could not put it down until it was finished. Would recommend this book to all generations. Has given me the taste to find out more about the Far East and familiarise myself with further Australian literature. Thought only John Pilger could write riveting literature, I was wrong!

The author went through some really horrific situations but at the same time can describe the strength of the human spirit. The author also has a great sense of humor. I think books like this are rare these days in our politically correct world. Well worth the read.

The Naked Island

The autobiography of a young australian soldier who spent long years in captivity as prisoner of war of the Japanese.
The first part is the description of the military life in Malaya before the attack of the Japanese with many ironical notes on that tedious life from the point of view of a soldier.
The second part is the description of the useless fight of the Australian and British troops against the overwhelming enemy and then the attempt to escape the capture.
Then the third, and most interesting part, is the description of the life during three long years of captivity in the different prisons where the writer was imprisoned and in the jungle camps where all prisoners were forced to work without food, facing malaria, beri beri and death for starvation.
A book I would really recommend.
Are you looking for another absolutely interesting book about a similar experience?
Read the famous "Behind bamboo" by Rohan Rivett

This is an unforgettable book: informative, educational, poignant and often delightfully humorous. It is a tribute to the British and Australian Forces used as slave labour in the construction of the Burma/Siamese Railway and their ability to live with dignity, compassion and decency under the most deplorable conditions imaginable. This book leaves an indelible impression on the reader and should be required reading for each successive generation.

A humorous little book FILLED with insight and wisdom. Wish I had it when I was in my 20's.

The fact that this book is small enough to be carried around must be no coincidence, since I find my copy carried around and passed around among my friends quite often. The book heals, and if you for some reason don't feel enlightened after reading it, at least you can enjoy the demonstration of the "canadian three step" dance move. I sincerly believe everyone should own this book.

A simple, yet charming tale of a little girls search for a magnificent love. This story will remind every little girl, young or old, that sometimes the most magnificent things cannot be found in other people.

Such a tiny little book, such a quick read, such an eye opener for anyone who has ever been head over heals for someone else. The proverbial "light bulb" appears in your head while reading this book. This book is a sigh of relief, and a moment of clarity that one needs when a relationship comes to an end. I highly recommend this book and will certainly pass it on to my girlfriends, who happen to be in the same boat.

On first glance I'd never guess this book to be so poignant and charming. The Perils of Magnificent Love is quirky (come on, it's a three-eared bunny with foxes... and don't even try to understand what the little lines are above their heads), but the point is concise enough: you don't need to love someone else in order to love yourself. The message is glittered with a surprisingly extensive vocabulary and deceitfully artistic drawings of the fabulous Emma Magenta herself. This gift is best for anyone (or even a good buy for yourself) who is just getting out of a relationship, for in just a few words touches upon the entire stages of dating without making any judgements.

I wish more creativity illustrated in this book existed in the world, but its rarity is also what makes this book such a great find.