Australia Books

A well written and researched true story. Many, who have grown up after the holocaust, will find it hard to imagine what people went through only a generation ago . Diane was fortunate enough to have many members of her extended family survive (though they have scattered around the world in their effort to do so) and we are fortunate she has written the story of their survival. Readers that are fearful of books about the holocaust that have gruesome details can easily read the book as it is more a book about survival.

Excellent account of life in pre-WW2 Poland and the devastating years of the war itself. What is so remarkable is that the survival rate of this family was comparatively high compared to other Holocaust stories - mostly as a result of a family that saw the terror coming, and fleeing outside of the eventual jackboot sphere, with Diana's immediate family living precarious daily lives through their sheer wits in Nazi occupied Poland. How remarkably easy reflect our own lives against these - just to be grateful and marvel at the human spirit, read and be grateful.

I absolutely loved "Mosaic: A Chronicle of 5 Generations". I have read many Holocaust memoirs & oral histories, but none have moved me as Diane Armstrong's book has.

The strength of "Mosaic" is it's breadth and it's protagonists, the author's family. The central family, that of Daniel & Lieba Baldinger & their 11 children is augmented by cousins on the maternal side (the Spira's) as well as the family of Ms. Armstrong's mother, the Bratters. Although Poland is the setting for the first 30 years or so, as WWII beckons the scope becomes the entire continent of Europe as the now-adult children of Daniel & Lieba pursue their lives.

The majority of the family is caught in Nazi-controlled Poland & thru various ruses attempts to escape being deported to the death camps. These are the most thrilling sections of "Mosaic" because Ms. Armstrong's writing is so vivid that the reader can feel the never-ending fear that she & her family lived with for years. While she & her parents live as Catholics in a small Polish village, her aunt & young cousins are standing behind a wardrobe for days at a time in Krakow; we experience both types of anxiety as well as many others as the author recounts the many ruses various family members undertook to survive.

There were family members outside of Poland during WWII as well. With 2 uncles in France, another uncle who moved his family from Belgium thru Spain to finally end in Rio de Janeiro & various aunts & cousins everywhere from Andorra to Tel Aviv the reader is treated to a kaleidoscope of war experiences. The post-war years & family diaspora is dealt with in detail also.

What makes "Mosaic" especially memorable for me is that nobody is a "hero" or does "historic deeds" at any point in the book. While most Holocaust memoirs are by individuals who somehow stood out from the crowd, this account is of the members of that crowd, the folks who by simply surviving without compromising themselves became heroes. It is a marvelous reminder that everyone has a story worth telling.

The final chapter, in which Diane Armstrong & her daughter Justine return to Poland & reunite with the priest who befriended & helped her family shines with joy & compassion. I truly hope that Father Roman Soszynski had the opportunity to read this book. I hope that you will read it as well.

First i'd like to thank Ms. Armstrong for writing such a wonderful and powerful book. I could really relate to it and i'm sure many readers have as well. Ms. Armstrong writes so well that it is never a struggle to keep track of the abundance of family members, which can sometimes turn a book sour. Her chronicle of her family will make you ponder about your past. I HIGHLY recommend it! It is a stunning read.

Gripping, exciting, and suspenseful reading. Great factual writing with immense feeling. Diane Armstrong took me back to my own childhood. I lost my then nineteen-year-old sister as well as grand parents, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends from school to the holocaust. It was painful as well as joyous to read. The book brought back memories and filled in some necessary gaps from my own past. A reader of a book which I wrote sent me MOSAIC all the way from Australia to the USA. I am very grateful to her. This book encompasses five generations of the author's families including detailed explanations of Jewish traditions then and now. For those of you who escaped the holocaust, you will be able to relate with it. For all others, it will be an eye-opening experience.

We recently visited New Zealand and searched at each venue for books that capture the magnificent landscape. Although there are many beautiful books, this is the best. We found it at the Te Papa museum. It has won a gold award. The feature I like best - apart from the photography itself - is that the book is divided into sections according to the type of landscape - coastline, lowlands, mountains etc, and does justice to each.

This is a simply beautiful book of photographs. Apse's custom-built medium-format cameras and his eye for composition and lighting have produced a collection that distills the essence of New Zealand's beautiful "Four Seasons in a Day" landscapes.

I just returned from 3-weeks in New Zealand and I must have looked at 30 NZ published photo albums before I left, settling on "New Zealand Landscapes." The US price for this NZ published book is a little steep, but it beats the pants off anything else I saw.

This is the first time that I have ever written a review but I feel that I must in order repay what Mr. Apse has provided me.

This book is my favorite collection of photographs, period. The photographs are technically perfect and do justice to a landscape that itself is almost indescribable. Whenever I pick up this book, I know that I'll be sacrificing an hour because I just cannot put it down.

Thank you Mr. Apse.

I am an amateur photographer who just returned from an extended vacation in New Zealand. I spent a lot of time looking for the perfect scenic picture book to take home as a souviner, and I must say that this one was absolutely the best! Andris Apse is an amazing photographer - his images of the New Zealand country and coastal areas are incredibly well composed. The lighting, the scope, the sheer beauty of it all..... it's difficult to put into words. The price for this title in the US is well worth it. If you are able, definitely get your hands on a copy. And if you want to have a look at more of his stuff, visit his website.

Even if you've never been to New Zealand, I highly recommend this title as a thoroughly enjoyable work of art!

I just received this as a gift. It's filled with some amazing shots all over New Zealand and some nearby islands. Some of the photos do not even look real they are so picture perfect. I love his use of light in the photos as well. Only thing better will be getting to go there. :-)

Simply better than the first... and it's on my bookshelf now.

I got this book from a local bookstore. Only one was available and the cover was not in a very good condition. But I find the content stunning... the combination of photographs and no faults with the manipulations/modifications done could have easily fooled many in earlier days. Today we know such mastery is possible powerful computer software.

This book eye candy to me.

Paintbox No.1 shows the power of image manipulation. With a simple digital pen these artists blend together images that will amaze your eyes. Pages upon pages of eyecandy!

This book is chocked of photographic pictures that are skillfully modififed to blend seamlessly. Some of these may be done by using plug-ins, but others require more effort, skill and thought. For example, you cannot just mask an object and paste it on another photo; need to consider shadow, lighting, etc. and I think the pictures here involved such considerations. Great work. When I look at the pictures, I think, "That's great..." and a great challenge to me to produce similar results.

I am also intending to get "Paintbox No. 2" !!

Sometimes we come across advertisements (eg. posters) that catch our attention and make us wonder---"How REAL!!" and amaze us. This book is filled with wonderful pictures, carefully designed, composited, etc. with consideration of details such as shadows to make things realistic. Everything in the pictures blends well with other elements in the pictures. With the power of today's photo editing software, some of these may not be difficult to produce but for the rest, they seem like wonders to me. Imagination and skills are essential.

If you are in advertising and designing, it would be a great challenge to yourself to try to produce similar effects in the book. Or if you are just looking for a book that shows you great pictures in advertising, you will find this book to be an eye-candy. However, this book does not teach you how to produce the effects; which, I think is not the aim of the book.

I am happy to have a copy of this book.

I can't find this book ? Can somebody help me to find a place to buy it ?

What started out as a collection of articles in Australian newspapers The Courier Mail, the Australian and the Age has become one of the best and even now, one of the most relevant and well thought out political commentaries on political power in Australia.

Garrett is passionate, prophetic and coherent. His argument is timeless. Further more, it shows Australian politics has changed little in nearly 20 years.

Hard to find but worth the effort. Australia's most passionate voice

Wonderful writer, passionate man

After literally years trying to find this book at used bookstores around the world over the internet, I discovered that my local library could get it for me via an inter-library exchange. Boston Public Library has a copy.

- An Oils fan.

I am a 60 hour student pilot. I found Schiff's book to be broken down in easy to digest sections. I've learned much.

Even you are familiar with the principle of flying, the book can provide new insight in every flying aspect. It uses different point of view to elucidate the basic theory. I am sure you can get more understanding about what you have learnt in flying.

Schiff's wisdom and clarity are tough to appreciate when you don't know anything about flying. Save this one until after you've soloed at the very least. Then reread it once per year. And don't forget Volume 2 when you can learn how to fly the North Atlantic and also how to ditch if your flight to Europe doesn't go as planned...

As a physicist and private pilot, having read a few dozens of books on aviation, I find this book (in fact the two volumes I and II) the best aviation reading I have ever come across. Strongly recommended even if you think you have read it all.

Being a helicopter and fixed wing instructor pilot for 7 years, I thought I knew how lift worked. NOT. Read what they did not teach you in flight school in this great book by Mr. Schiff.

After reading this book, I felt it was a little "dated" but, overall, it's a great guide for the Gay and Lesbian Traveler to Hawaii. Many lists of what, where, why and when to go to Paradise!

I urge everyone to buy this book right away. It's the best damn book on Hawaii I ever read.

I urge everyone to buy this book right away. It's the best damn book on Hawaii I ever read.

Matthew Link presents a unique side to Hawaii in a complete, fun, and entertaining manner. The book is very well researched, and is suitable for anyone travelling to Hawaii or has been to Hawaii and wants to relive their experiences.

Rainbow Handbook Hawaii covers history, gay communities,interviews with local gays and lesbians, places to see, trivia, and photos. Also included in Rainbow Handbook Hawaii: detailed city and island maps - the same-sex marriage battle - homo bed and breakfasts - bars and clubs - eco-tours - restaurants - shops - vacation rentals - Hawaiian language glossary - and loads of gay island facts and pictures!

My two favorite players are Pat Rafter and Pete Sampras so this book was destined to be of interest to me. Overall, I would say I'm slightly disappointed for not getting more in-depth into Pat Rafter the man. This is nothing but a simplistic diary of a year traveling the circuit, what he did at tournaments, where he practiced and with whom, and status of his injuries.

There is nothing in this book to criticize; it's just very simplistic reading. Pat is the epitome of an Australian man, a great athlete who credits his mates and his family for his strong bearing. Everyone knows Pat likes to toast a few and this book describes a few all-nighters after key wins.

Unfortunately, this book needed to be written sooner. The yearlong diary covers few highlights. He did make it to the semi-final of Wimbledon losing to Agassi and he did play in the Davis Cup match in Boston beating the Americans in an epic struggle with Todd Martin. But while the book starts after he won his second US Open, it ends with him losing in the first round of the US Open in 1999.

Probably the most interesting part of the book to me was the squabbles with Pete Sampras, my other favorite player. Pat starting beating Pete and I assumed Pete was struggling with this and was at fault for fallout by some of his comments. From reading this I suspect Pat was just at much at fault based on comments made at a press conference and the way he states his side of the relationship. Irrespective, they're both quality individuals and great players who went at it from different angles. It says a lot for their character that they talked on the phone to hash out any difference and can both walk away with respect for each other.

I don't mean to be disrespectful to Pat about this review. I miss his game. You knew when you watched a Pat Rafter match you got 100% effort win or lose and that attitude comes through loud and clear. I just wish it had covered more background about his upbringing including his junior tennis career to show how he grew into such a champion.

As a tennis fan, I always liked Rafter and was curious to read about his career. This book has everything for the Rafter fan, match results, insights, quotes from fellow players, and even a revealing centerfold that will leave any woman satisfied.

I highly recommend this book!

If you are a Patrick Rafter fan I think you will enjoy this book. It's like he's speaking to you throughout the entire book. You get to know how he feels before and during matches. I enjoyed reading the book and hope he comes out with another book telling his story from the beginning.

I immensely enjoyed reading this book. I read it on the road while traveling to away matches. It was a refreshing and encouraging reading. It's very heartening to see such a down-to-earth person as Rafter be so succesful at tennis. The narrative is very personal and informal. It's like Rafter is having a couple of beers with you while he gives you his insight on life as a professional tennis player. Great tennis player + Great person = Patrick Rafter

It's really flattering to actually know how Pat Rafter feels inside and go through a year of tennis with him. In additional to the well-written diary, there includes pages and pages of terrific photos. I'd recommend anyone who likes tennis or Pat!

From a lay perspective, "tradition" arises from a repeated series of human acts. In many cases, those acts were first spontaneous or induced by some external event.

Can you "create tradition?"

The most interesting part of this book to me was Rykwert's analysis of Celebration, Florida. This was, of course, Disney's effort to create a brand-new "small town" from the ground up. He correctly diagnoses the effort as being dominated by profitable real estate development. In fairness, he distinguishes Celebration from a typical suburban development because of its dependency on "Olde World" design principles.

What he foresaw, almost inadvertantly, is the more widespread use of this modality for commercial/residential developments now springing up in revived, older suburban areas. These have been commercially successful and have created the sorts of delightful spaces he describes in his coverage of older urban spaces.

It's a good book, albeit a little dogmatic.

Joseph Rykwert's new book is perhaps his most radical, although he elaborates on themes that have preoccupied him for more than 4 decades. Never has he so emphatically stated his conviction that the cities we desire can become the cities we have, but only if we take hold of our capacity to effect meaningful reform. Rykwert's position is particularly encouraging and insightful at a time when most of us perceive the built environment as the result of abstract and impersonal economic and political forces seemingly beyond any individual influence. Rykwert's stance is a challenge to architect's, urban designers, planners and other citizens who cannot imagine an alternative between revolution and acquiescence other than surrender to conditions as they are. Such inertia is countered by Rykwert, as are rationalist and quantitative approaches to the city, with affirmation of the city as a fundamental setting of and for human will, dreams, and desire. It follows then, according to Rykwert, that any successful making and re-making of cities depends on a set of rational principles that are flexible enough to accomodate chance, elaboration, and improvisation. Features Rykwert believes can become the special qualities of contemporary and future cities (if they are not eradicated). Rykwert's consideration of the city investigates the full-range of attempts to make cities places of and for people; a thread he pursues from ancient cities, to the revolutions of 1848 to the Seattle demonstrations in 1999 in opposition to the World Trade Organization. It is for these reasons, and many others, that Rykwert's book is a must-read for all lovers of cities and perhaps especially for all those who don't yet love them.

Joseph Rykwert's new book is perhaps his most radical, although he elaborates on themes that have preoccupied him for more than 4 decades. Never has he so emphatically stated his conviction that the cities we desire can become the cities we have, but only if we take hold of our capacity to effect meaningful reform. Rykwert's position is particularly encouraging and insightful at a time when most of us perceive the built environment as the result of abstract and impersonal economic and political forces seemingly beyond any individual influence. Rykwert's stance is a challenge to architect's, urban designers, planners and other citizens who cannot imagine an alternative between revolution and acquiescence other than surrender to conditions as they are. Such inertia is countered by Rykwert, as are rationalist and quantitative approaches to the city, with affirmation of the city as a fundamental setting of and for human will, dreams, and desire. It follows then, according to Rykwert, that any successful making and re-making of cities depends on a set of rational principles that are flexible enough to accomodate chance, elaboration, and improvisation. Features Rykwert believes can become the special qualities of contemporary and future cities (if they are not eradicated). Rykwert's consideration of the city investigates the full-range of attempts to make cities places of and for people; a thread he pursues from ancient cities, to the revolutions of 1848 to the Seattle demonstrations in 1999 in opposition to the World Trade Organization. It is for these reasons, and many others, that Rykwert's book is a must-read for all lovers of cities and perhaps especially for all those who don't yet love them.

What's Joseph Rykwert's perspective and what's his view of the city? It's not very easy to peg down. It's not that of "sociologists, traffic experts, and politicians" as he says that he's "always been struck at how little the physical fabric of the city - its touch and smell as well as its sights - occupies their attention". Maybe he's more inclined to take an economists view and see things as Jane Jacobs does. Then again maybe not. Rykwert says quite plainly that cities do not develop "naturally". The perspective is definitely not that of a speeding, disinterested motorist. Rykwert refers to the impact of cars as "catastrophic" and says "I am not, nor have I ever been a driver." Now we're getting somewhere - a supporter of New Urbanism? Not quite. He has this to say about one of those showpiece communities: "the whole business of 'community' at Celebration is about...real estate". Rykwert is equally critical of a few architects (modernists), certain building designs (government and institutional), a couple of city plans (Brasilia and New Delhi), and some approaches to urbanism (the New Town concept of post WWII Europe).

With all that's wrong it's amazing that this book didn't turn out to be a miserable reading experience. That's partly due to Rykwert's writing skill but moreso because of his very obvious love for the city. THE SEDUCTION OF PLACE and affection for city space is obvious. The depths of his thinking about the urban form is manifest and Rykwert offers a synopsis of what's wrong and also what's to love about a city. "My polemic is not against the disordered, even chaotic city but against the anonymous and alienating one." With this we finally understand what his perspective is. It's that of a person open to experiencing the personality of a city; that of someone at ground level. Our difficulty with coming up with a clear view of the city might be due to the fact that we haven't experienced the city as Rykwert has and it doesn't yet occupy the same space in our hearts and minds. He invites us to begin. "The very condition of openess is what makes our city of conflicts so attractive to its growing crowd of inhabitants. The lack of any coherent, explicit, image may therefore, in our circumstances, be a positive virtue, not a fault at all, or even a problem."

Joseph Rykwert's new book is perhaps his most radical, although he elaborates on themes that have preoccupied him for more than 4 decades. Never has he so emphatically stated his conviction that the cities we desire can become the cities we have, but only if we take hold of our capacity to effect meaningful reform. Rykwert's position is particularly encouraging and insightful at a time when most of us perceive the built environment as the result of abstract and impersonal economic and political forces seemingly beyond any individual influence. Rykwert's stance is a challenge to architect's, urban designers, planners and other citizens who cannot imagine an alternative between revolution and acquiescence other than surrender to conditions as they are. Such inertia is countered by Rykwert, as are rationalist and quantitative approaches to the city, with affirmation of the city as a fundamental setting of and for human will, dreams, and desire. It follows then, according to Rykwert, that any successful making and re-making of cities depends on a set of rational principles that are flexible enough to accomodate chance, elaboration, and improvisation. Features Rykwert believes can become the special qualities of contemporary and future cities (if they are not eradicated). Rykwert's consideration of the city investigates the full-range of attempts to make cities places of and for people; a thread he pursues from ancient cities, to the revolutions of 1848 to the Seattle demonstrations in 1999 in opposition to the World Trade Organization. It is for these reasons, and many others, that Rykwert's book is a must-read for all lovers of cities and perhaps especially for all those who don't yet love them.

Extremely insightful and helpful on a practical level.

Ms Smith's book provides a highly readable and empathetic (without being patronizing)resource for anyone living with depression or for those just hoping to understand. The usefulness of the professional advice offered is peppered with her own experience of this debilitating disease which seems to make the book more relevant than if it was written from the perspective of an academic.

Ms Smith provides a highly readable, empathetic resource for anyone living with depression. All options for coping with this debilitating disease are covered including valuable sections to assist family members. The book is peppered with the author's own experience of depression which adds value to the professional information included.

I found this book (and I have read many) to be informative,easy to follow and have a user friendly format. I would highly recomend its reading to any one looking for help in this given area.

This book is so good. It has changed the way I focus on the issues of depression. I feel empowered by reading this book.

Marj Noble

This is a story of a girl lost in the world of today, without a soild family. It is perhaps fear that makes her "step around the corner" into the 1930's, at the time of the depression in Australia. There she meet Young Jim, whose family takes Barbara in, even though they are poor. Here Barbara learns what it is like to be loved, and to love in return. THis is a great book, and I love the feel of the 1930's, French writes it so well!

thiis book was the best book i have ever read i think it should be around for many years to come it is just a bit to hard to find.

i think it should be a compuslery book at high school's

I love it! Abolutely! I cried, I laughed, I read it again. The description of the depression days, the Australian bush, the ol' billy and hessian bag windows in Young Jim's family's shanty in Poverty Gully to which Young Jim flees with Barbara too. Lonely, 1990s Barbara. In the world of jeans and sportsgirl and makeup and discos. Plummeted into the dark depression world. But not everything's so bleak. Over Barbara's time living with Jim's family, they accomplish some wonderful things... until it takes a natural disaster to get 'Bubba' back around the corner again... The best book I've ever read. I loved the end, but it was a tear-jerker, when she and Young Jim are reunited, then only perhaps two or three years apart, now more than sixty. I could cry now! I LOVED IT!

I can't tell you all how much I LOVE this book! It was sooooo touching! I laughed alot of times and cried at the end. But don't get me wrong this book wasn't sad at all, it was so touching and sweet. A perfect ending. This book moves at a fast pace. I fineshed it in a couple of hours! READ THIS BOOK!

I think this is the best book that i have read and i would suggest anyone reading it. please read it