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I absolutely love this book, so much so that I have given it as a gift a number of times and my copy is one of the most well-worn volumes on my bookshelf.

Among its many outstanding features are the Planetary Tables on pp. 134-135 that show you where the visible planets will be located as the years pass. The tables run from 1997-2006. The tables in the current edition are therefore out of date (type "134" into the "Search Inside" box and look at pp. 134 and 135).

I realize this is a minor quibble, and it is the ONLY reason for my 4-star rating. But these pages deserve an update. There are easy ways to get planetary information on the internet but it would be nice if the tables were updated in the book.

This book is a very good guide for the beginner as well as veteran stargazers. The book's biggest asset lies in the way the stick figures are drawn. Unlike the drawings before this book was published Rey's drawings are realistic in shape, corresponding to the name of the constellation, making them easy to spot and memorize.

This is a great book....reducing the complexities of the always in motion astronomical world to something understandable by ordinary folks with a curiosity.

This book is the BEST format for learning the constellations with your kids, and getting a good feel for the "summer sky", "winter sky", etc... Even my six year old can pick out obscure groupings by using the charts. We spend evenings after dinner finding as many as we can and we can hardly wait for camping this summer!

When I was a kid, my father had a clever response to my "Why?" He threw books at me. Once I asked about the stars, and this book was what I got. And what a book it was! It taught me the mechanics of the nights sky, about the Moon and planets, what the constellations looked like and how to find them in the sky... Everything I needed to go outside and start finding things.

The book didn't stop there. It teaches about the seasons, the difference between 'star time' and 'sun time', why the stars and constellations precess as they do, and MUCH more.

All this was about 1957. For whatever reason, my interest in all this got rekindled around 1997. But my old friend - the book my father gave me - had been lost many years before. So, I went to a local book shop, looking for a some kind of substitute, and to my astonishment, there it was! A copy of HA Rey's book, my long lost friend! So I was off again, looking at the easy-to-use diagrams, finding the constellations in the sky.

You may go to astronomy forums on the net, and you'll find this book mentioned all too seldom. The one most mentioned (to my observation) is "Turn Left At Orion", which is a fine publication, but it is NOT a beginner's book. Rey's is, and there isn't one better, and never has been. (The net forums seem to be for folks that are beyond the beginning stage, and I've found none designed for kids just starting. So, for absolute beginners, these forums can mislead, though, I'm sure, not intentionally.)

For absolute-beginner backyard astronomy, if you're looking for a book for your kid (or you're a kid looking for something to pester your parents to buy), you've found it. And at a rediculously low price to boot.

If I were king, this book would be in every library that calls itself a library. No praise can be too high, for this book does, exactly and completely, what it purports to do. Mr. Rey passed in 1977 (Wikipedia, "HA Rey"), and his work has long outlived both him and his wife. But, as long as a publisher with a heart and brain exists, his masterpiece will continue to show kids (of any age) the way to the stars.

I can't tell you how much I love Torch Song Trilogy. I can honestly say I love this more than Brokeback Mountain. Now before anyone starts ragging on me, I'll tell you why. Trilogy shows that gay people are just as vulnerable to hurt, joy, and humanity as straight people. Fierstein's character isn't afraid to take on the world even when it is hostile and violent toward him. He displays strength and compassion and never loses his sense of humor, no matter how despairing and bleak it gets. Now don't get me wrong, I love BBM but Arnold Beckoff has strength and resilience in a way that Ennis Del Mar could only dream of. Mountain was a wonderful film but like all major gay love stories it always has to end tragically with the death of one of the characters. Trilogy showed that while Arnold experienced the loss of a loved one, he also fought and gained an old flame who finally came to his senses. It would be nice for mainstream gay themed films to have characters that are unafraid to take on the world and fight for that respect. Instead we get gay characters who are the subjects of ill humor or tragedies that make people think twice about falling in love. I can also add that this is one of the better films of the overblown 1980s (I also believe the 80s was probably one of the worst decades for movies).

The only thing that saddens me about this movie, aside from the heartbreaking climax of a brutal attack that you must simply see to savor, along with the fact that this priceless artifact never made it to the "Big Screen" was poor advertising.

If this movie had been properly advertised, I would have been PERFECT for it's time, making movies like "Making Love," "Parting Glances", and "'Broke Back Mountain"

Harvey Fierstein wrote, directed, and produced this Broadway adaption of his fine work from the stage, and brought to the big screen, SEAMLESSLY, although Harvey of course, in his adorable self-deprecating humour, denies it all, making his quiet private demeanor a stark contrast to his "Diva" like status as a performer.

It's just no use to even try to explain this movie, for I personally, PERSONALLY believe one must be a young gay male in this country to have been raised from the 50's to the early 70's, when homosexuality was a "sickness" that must be cured.

Shudder...

Don't EVEN get me started on that subject.

Later, I may go and edit this review, as I have many times, but alas, I have other things to do in my nonstop, hectic life. Dog to walk, couch pillows to rotate...you know how it is.

I would call this Torch Song Tragedy, which is constituted by the actuality of the subject. In spite of all the time passed it still matches mainstream America's perception of gays.
I saw this movie many years ago and it moved me even today.

A quadruple all star cast topped off by Anne Bancroft and harvey fierstein. The story about a gay guy, whose Mom loves him, but wishes he wasn't. Harvey Fierstein's performance as gay Arnold gives a performance of a lifetime. He has never been better and will never be better.Being a gay female impersonator in New York confronts him with daily challenges, crisis', brief moments of happiness and loads of grief. This is a down to earth flick that tells the story, I'm a person and I deserve to live too. Once a Broadway play and now a film too good to miss

Ever since seeing him accept the Tony for his adaptation of "La Cage" I have had a tremendous admiration for the sheer creative genius of Harvey Fierstein. But "Torch song Trilogy" has got to be the icing on the cake; the cream on the top of Mt. Everest; the spark that set off Guy Fawlks Day on the 5th of November in London!

And as if the tale wasn't enough, that fantastic narration by Mr. Fierstein at the end of the film was just by far and away the best "special feature" I have ever had the pleasure of hearing! (Normally I avoid listening to a narrative over a movie I have only just watched!!)

And although I think the late and great Anne Bankroft was superb as the mother, I confess I would like to have seen Estelle Getty in the performance extolled by the author.

As a totally "square" viewer of this performance, I would hazzard a guess that in another 50 years or so "Torch Song" will have reached the level of film classics. The death scene of Matthew Broderick in the story was simply devastating!

For sheer entertainment and creative competence, my vote would have to go to Mr. Fierstein.

I can't live without this... I have my LeRobert & Collins unabridged and my Larousse mini dictionary and this. And now my American friends in France stole my French Verbs - even so well worn that there was no front cover and the pages were all folded (lol!). So I have to get ANOTHER one.

Everyone with whom I ever took any French class had this book, and when they didn't they used mine - tattered and torn and thoroughly marked up - and eventually bought one.

I lived in France 5+ years and you just have to have it. They pull the subjunctive on you and you can't figure out what verb they are using - so you go home and pull this out. ALL the tenses are right there on one page.

It's a must for someone who really wants to learn to speak the most beautiful langue du monde!

I purchased this book years ago when I first undertook my study of the French language. One of the difficult parts about learning French and other Romantic languages is the verb conjugations that one must learn that correspond to the different tenses. This book simplifies the conjugation learning process for some of the most commonly used French verbs. I can truly say that this book was one of the essential tools (along with a dictionary and actual real world practice) in learning French. Definitely would recommend it.

This was my first purchase in the 501 series. It will definitely not be my last. If this volume is any indication of the scrupulous yet extremely accessible nature of the Kendris' work, then this series is a must for any foreign language student or lover.

all books I have purchaes have been exactly as described. I am satisfied

An invaluable reference work for professionals or students. Serious students should read and review this text. Experienced French speakers will find it useful for those odd, little encountered forms.

Non-judgmental and very honest style of writing. The tools in the book brought immediate results.

I found this book to be so helpful in raising my grandson. It has been and is a refreshing way of dealing with childhood again.

I highly recommend this book. Very helpful, especially for those parents that fail to be consistent and "go with the flow", failing to create strong rules and a loving, solid discipline.
This books acts a self-confidence booster for parents, offers very empathetic advice when it comes to parental anger, and actually gives very practical tips and hints to deal with misbehavior.
I love the humor and the bright, positive thinking that fills up the book, and I really appreciate the fact that Pantley also addresses other side issues like marriage skills and parental self-esteem.
Overall a great book.

I dont know how to thank the author but she did a great job in this amazing book,she has mentioned almost all of the problems im facing with my 5,3 and 2 year old kids...and she knows exactly how a mother can feel and how she acts and at the same time she gives amazing ( i tried most of them) solutions..its one of the best book i have ever read and i highly recommend it to every parent.

This book is easy to read, in a friendly, conversational tone. I do not find Pantley patronizing or lecturing as a few other readers have suggested. I rather find that she comes across as "a good friend in the same boat". It works fine to read just a little at a time of this book if you are a busy parent with little time to spare for reading. I actually found myself reading it as slow as I could because I wanted it to last, and I would give myself a few days of reading other books between each chapter to reflect on what I'd learned before I moved on to the next part. I will most certainly refer to it again later.
I am a mother of three children and have used this with my 1st grader and my toddler/preschooler. And as the baby gets into toddlerhood I am sure that I will continue to use the advice from this book with all three.

I spent most of the 80s and 90s reading every spiritual text, Bible, Gita, Koran, etc etc I could find. This one says more with fewer words than any other holy book I know of. Golas proves that there are many routes to enlightenment and peace of mind, and his pithy ability to condense history's wisdom into less than 100 pages is truly legendary.
The end page, Even Lazier, has a few sentences that will remind you what really matters when you need it most. For instance, "What do you think it is that needs to be loved?", a perfect answer to every time you struggle with negativity in any form. The ultimate reminder is "No resistance". Once you read this book--takes an hour or two max, and is a lot of fun--you'll know how deep those two words really are.
No new age book yet has come close to the concision and relaxed optimism of the Lazy Man's Guide.
Not bad for a broke head writing in a Berkeley hotel in the late 60s.
But then, old JC was a nutty freak too, wasn't he?
Blessings and much love, Mr. Golas.
May you expand forever.

I was terribly disappointed to come across this preface-laden edition - complete with family photographs - of a little book that I had kept at my side constantly for many years. Blew a lot of my illusions. This guy really did seem to think he's someone special for writing it, whereas in fact it's so obviously channeled, and in channelled works you'd usually rather the writer remained as anonymous as possible. Thaddues Golas, the author, proceeds to treat the book almost as a kind of holy text (which it isn't) and rambles on, by way of introduction, for a number of extra redundant pages in the slightly pompous and loopy epigramic prose style which we accept as an integral part of the Guide itself, but don't therefore necessarily condone as a good or even consistent example of mainstream thinking. Golas seems to harbor that illusion, and appears really to have a guru-complex of sorts. The book itself, though, remains perfect in its way. Pity he couldn't have just left it in it's perfection, and stayed back in the wings paring his fingernails,and cashing in his royalty checks.

The recent reprint of this book has an addition of a short biography with photographs of the author. Included is a letter for readers that he wrote in his last years about how the book came to be and a few added thoughts he had towards the end of his life.

What I have learned from this book is that no resistence is the way to love people with charity; with full unconditional love. If you can look at someone for what they are, with all of their strengths and weaknesses and love them regardless of what is right or wrong, in fact, love them for what they are, for what you see wrong in them too then you have discovered what many call the Christ love and are no longer drawn to and imprisoned by what you might deny.

From reading this book it has become very clear to me that we become what we hate. The very thing that we fight against is what we become. The same with our government fighting against terrorism, it has become a federal terrorist. The terrorist fighting against unjust governments have become unjust. Self appointed protectors fighting against what they perceive as protecting the innocent have become the guilty.

It always works that way.... no resistence is the only answer, love that which you would hate and you will not become that. It appears that the universe is built to teach us compassion. Hate something enough and you are drawn to it like iron to a magnet, offering your soul to the very thing which you sought to deny and in the end becoming a perfect image of that which you tried to destroy.

The big joke is that because none of us see everything the same way many of the pretty or ugly colors that you might see upon others uniquely exist in your own mind alone because you have colored them that way. When you see injustice, cruelty, ignorance and stupidity most of what you see does not exist exactly the way you see it, sometimes far from the truth. When you fight the image upon the mirror of your mind it's the most dangerous enemy you can possibly have because the internal oscillations of hate and dislike reflecting off of the surfaces of your own judgments take on a life as your own personal phantoms capable of haunting you to the ends of your days, never vanishing until accepted and loved for what they are, for what you have created.

Fighting against another with hate is like offering your soul to the devil. You will be consumed by and become the very thing you sought to perish. In the end trading one for the other, you stand in its place. Do as you wish to diminish the problems in this world, but do it without the resistence of hate, replace it with accepting love or you will become that which you fight against.

The new edition is fantastic! I enjoyed reading how Thaddeus finally published Lazyman after many trials and tribulations. I'm not quite sure about the "love and pain" part which he wrote with his "earthly" mind...I'd like to see what others think about it.

The recent reprint of this book has an addition of a short biography with photographs of the author. Included is a letter for readers that he wrote in his last years about how the book came to be and a few added thoughts that he came to in latter years.

What I have learned from this book is that no resistence is the way to love people with charity, with full unconditional love. If you can look at someone for what they are, with all of their strengths and weaknesses and love them regardless of what is right or wrong, in fact, love them for what is wrong as well as right, then you have discovered what many call the Christ love and are no longer imprisoned by what you might deny.

From reading this book it has become very clear to me that we become what we hate. The very thing that we fight against is what we become. The same with our government fighting against terrorism, it has become a federal terrorist. The terrorist fighting against unjust governments have become unjust. Self appointed Bodhisattiva's fighting against what they perceive as protecting the innocent have become the guilty.

It always works that way.... no resistence is the only answer, love that which you would hate and you will not become that. It appears that the universe is built to teach us compassion. Hate something enough and you are drawn to it like iron to a magnet, offering your soul to the very thing which you sought to deny and in the end becoming a perfect image of that which you tried to destroy.

The big joke is that because none of us see everything the same way many of the pretty or ugly colors that you might see upon others in the world uniquely exist in your own mind alone because you have colored them that way. When you see injustice, cruelty, ignorance and stupidity most of what you see does not exist exactly the way you see it, sometimes far from the truth. When you fight the image upon the mirror of your mind it's the most dangerous enemy you can possibly have because the internal oscillations of hate and dislike reflecting off of the surfaces of your own judgments take on a life as your own personal phantoms capable of haunting you to the ends of your days, never vanishing until accepted and loved for what they are, for what you have created.

Fighting against another is like offering your soul to the devil. You will be consumed by and become the very thing you sought to perish. In the end trading one for the other, you stand in its place.

This book is awesome!!! First and foremost, I must say that I am ashamed. I own this book and have not kept it in the cherished condition I should have. This book is indescribable. So exact in the rythm of life this script is. Each person that would appreciate its knowledge, is truly blessed. You will come to an understanding of life and yourselves. Buy this book. Feel it. Love it.

I've been a fan of Debbi Kempton Smith since the column she wrote for Seventeen magazine back in the 1980s, and this book does not disappoint. I really owe everything I know about astrology to her. I first bought this book in 1991, and then I had to buy this reprint when the first one fell apart.

If you're interested in learning the real basics of astrology, past the basics about sun signs, this is the book to pick up. The book includes ephemerical data so that you can look up the signs the moon and other planets were in when you were born, as well as what that means. But the best thing about the book is Smith's writing--it's fun and practical without even a hint of newageyness.

I have been a student of astrology for over twenty years and this is my favorite guide. It is a pleasure to read and filled with amazing insights. The void of course moon tables which guide you through your high and low periods alone are worth the price of the book. Debbi goes even further by making astrology fun and teaching you how to make very accurate decisions. After reading the book and being astounded by the often humourous insights, do yourself a huge favor and schedule an astrology reading with Debbi herself! I felt like I was drowning and she pulled me from the water. Debbi is compassionate and very witty as well. I am thrilled to have her as my personal astrologer and consider her my friend.

I bought this book over 20 years ago to learn about astrology. Kempton-Smith's chummy, humanistic approach to interpreting the aspects, planets, etc. shys of pretentious science speak, enabling her to relay her comprehensive understanding of the cosmos in a way that'll get through to just about anyone. Her generous injection of wit taught me and many I know more about astrology than any other book. Can't recommend it enough for either the novice or seasoned astrologer!

This is one of the top 10 books on Astrology. I have been a professional astrologer since the late 60's and when this book was published I grabbed it up. It is mandatory reading for my beginner and intermediate class'. One of the things that places it in the top 10: It's an easy read presented in a very humorous was and keep my students really interested. Way to go Debbi (so when are you putting out another?).

This novel is truly amazing. The characters are well developed and the reader truly becomes attached to each one as they undergo their personal trials and tribulations in the days before Pearl Harbor. The work provides an excellent examination of the pre-war Army, a professional army preparing for war, inducting draftees, and operating under a proud system of tradition. The novel is full of great stories, advice, and sayings that are as relevant today as they were in 1941. Serving in Iraq while reading this novel, I was amazed at the very real connection I found with its soldiers; many things have not changed. Again, a great novel that I would recommend to anyone interested in war, the army, or the human condition.

I actually loved the melody of this book; but what it is really a good read for, is it's description of the attack on pearl harbor: This book captures the nuance of that particular moment when the Japanese planes appeared over the houses of Hawaii and the actors all knew while they were in the midst of it, that nothing would be the same again. I also liked the book for its description of Pruett's alcoholism - where Jones intervenes as the narrator/author and decides not to have his character "go alcoholics anonymous", thus guaranteeing certain death for his character - talk about deus ex machina in reverse!

I've read only a few war novels in my day and most of them are about, well, war. Which is interesting and all, but there's only so many ways you can depict war as horrifying and dehumanizing, and the soldiers involved as both heroic and all too human, the command structure as haphazard and detached. So I wasn't looking terribly forward to the prospect of diving into yet another massive examination of soldier life, and yet, that's not really what this is about. Jones' novel isn't so much about WWII as about sitting on the cusp of WWII, taking place in the months just before Pearl Harbor. Everyone is training for a war that may or may not happen, more or less hanging out in Hawaii, killing time in between drills with drinking or prostitutes, living the Army life as best they can. The story pivots around two characters, enlisted fellow Prewitt and staff sergeant Warden, following their separate stories as well where they intersect, and how they interact with everyone around them. Prewitt's tale is the slightly more visceral of the two, he's an excellent boxer that refuses to go out for the team, even though his superiors would very much like him to. They'd like him to so much that they'll go to nearly any lengths to break him, in order to make him fall in line and fit in, with the entire company eventually trying to wear him down. It's a rather frightening depiction at times of the military's somewhat necessary need for comformity taken to a new level, stamping down on anyone who dares to deviate. Meanwhile, Warden is attempting to hold the company together, and pursuing an affair with the wife of his superior officer. The stories of these men collide with everyone else they come into contact with, as Jones vividly relays military life on the base and in the town, detailing the trials and loves the men endure and force themselves into. It's a surprisingly angry book at times, the language coiled and sharp, etching out the duality of the longtimers who both love and hate the Army that nourishes and captures them. The salty language and somewhat brutal scenes are shocking not in how graphic they are but how frank and matter of factly they're presented. The prose achieves a strange jagged beauty in parts, as Jones dives right into the minds and emotions of the men involved. It becomes, as I said, not a book about war but about people at war. Pearl Harbor doesn't even occur until most of the book is over with. It's not the fastest paced book, the early chapters are necessary to set up everything that will come later but you are going to be about halfway through before all the setting up starts to gain momentum but after that it barely pauses. It's tragic and visceral and sort of beautiful in its own way, not because it glorifies but in the way it shows everything, the times when the system beats them down, the small moments of friendship, the way men you depend on with both look out for you and let you down, sometimes in the same moment. Surprisingly readable despite the length, it carries a fire and passion that most books can't even approach. Probably one of the best military books ever written that doesn't involve long descriptions about how a gun works.

In my humble uneducated opinion, this book is superior to the film as is usually the case. But the movie is STILL a classic, so don't get preturbed at me for sayin' that. It's by and large one'a my favorites, but you don't get the FULL impact of James Jones' story unless you read this book. And while it is LONG as hell, it's worth it. I'll be honest, I was so intimidated by it, I bought it and didn't touch it for a year; I'd never even ATTEMPTED a book that was 800-plus, but when I finally got up the courage, I was hooked by the third chapter. Of course, like most people my age, I had the preconceived notion of how I viewed the characters from the movie, but, trust me, that doesn't water down the incredible impact of the way the book unfolds; it clings more to tragedy and despair than the film, and truly encapsulates Jones' theory that the world stops to mourn no man. He puts you right there for everything; the corruption, the favoritism, the "treatment", the hookers, and many other controversial, politically incorrect topics that the mere mention in this review would be censored. Fifty some years after its first publication the book still feels scandalous. The stockade scenes for instance which were only briefly implied in the film are brutal to read.

But what's really REALLY great is the way Jones puts you in the mind of each and every character, even the ones we're supposed to despise, like Sgt. Galovitch or Dynamite Holmes, making it not so "black and white" like the film was (literally and figuratively). Everyone is a human being, whether in the corridors of power or in the messhall cleaning; there is no true villain; characters you latch on to will more than likely do something or say something to enrage you at least once or twice before the book is over; they're all flawed human beings confused and uncertain about their place in Uncle Sam's army. This book is a real, unflinching, highly critical and uncompromising view of the United States Army and Infantry told from the views of the young faceless men serving at the bottom end; accounts which aren't heard nearly enough.

But the most gut-wrenching part to me deals with a secondary character; the long drawn-out scene of Isaac Bloom considering his options before his tragic end. That scene brought real true-to-life tears into my eyes which hasn't been brought to me by a book in a long time. Anyone looking for a deep, involved, beautifully harsh an' thought-provoking read that shows you the pain and indifference prevalent in the life of the modern man, look no further.

From Here to Eternity is a singular reading experience: gritty, raucous, desperate, raw and, yet, ultimately sublime. James Jones fields a superb cast of characters with which relatively few novels can compete. More than once, it reminded me of Catch 22 (without the intended absurdity) - Pianosa set down in a peaceful Hawaii just prior to Pearl Harbor.

Distractingly, there are times when the author is guilty of pontification. There are stretches which seem entirely gratuitous. The two protagonists, Prewitt and Warden, elsewise dynamic, can wax numbingly philosophic. But, by the middle of the book I was captive to a steadily mounting anticipation, the culmination of which plays out true to form - recklessly, brutally as the soldiers of G Company ready themselves for war.

There is a quality of novel which can best be described by the wistfulness with which one completes it. I was sorry to see this one end. Despite the violence, hard living, bravado and despair, James Jones concludes with hope and endurance. Like Herman Wouk's Winds of War and War and Remembrance, From Here to Eternity is a classic among WWII literature. 5 stars.

This is one of my favorite horse stories of all time. It is about a young boy who makes a bond with an increadible horse. A must read for any horse lover!!!!

This is my favorite horse story ever! This book stands above all others for me and I will always remember it. My mom read this to me when I was 9 years old and still to this day, I have never read it's equal. Henry's writing is so beautiful, the story so touching and the characters so real. A plot unfolds about a young stable boy in Morocco and his golden-bay stallion who would one day be known as the Godolphin Arabian, who's bloodline still runs in race horses of today. It's quite possible a lot of this book is based on fact. A simply amazing story in all respects! I must warn sensitive readers however, there are some very intense parts of this book, some sad parts which are sure to make most people cry and a few parts where there is fairly harsh abuse and neglect of animals. Maybe not the best choice to read to very young kids, especially if they are the type to get scared easily. Overall, I would say the book has an excellent balance of tragedy and triumph. The ending is a beautiful one, both happy and a little sad but satisfying and well worth reading the story.

King of the Wind is a great book by Marguerite Henry. It is about a mute boy named Agba and his horse Sham. Agba goes with Sham on many adventures together. Agba goes with Sham from the royal stables in Morocco to Gog Magog. Sham also sires many winning foals and when he is gone, Agba goes back to Morocco.
I enjoyed this book very much. I liked it because it is about horses. I also liked it because it was full of adventure. It was sad and exciting and there were many parts where Sham and Agba were seperated. Agba was very brave for a young, mute boy and Sham kept him company with his firy spirit that only Agba could control.
My favorite part was when the cook tried to drive Sham. He wanted to show that he did not need Agba to drive Sham. He left Agba at the royal kitchens then set out. Sham bidded his time till the cart was groaning with goods and a young pig. Then "BAM!" He went wild and ran like the wind, sending the goods, the pig, and the cook into the air. The cook runs after first the pig, then Sham, then the pig, until he is so confused that he catched nither. In the end the apple woman cathes Sham and the cook is so fustrated that he sells Sham to a cruel man. I like this part best because it is so funny and shows Shams firy nature.

All of Marguerite Henry's books are classics, but I think this one, recounting the life of the Godolphin Arabian, a founding father of the American thoroughbred, is my favorite. I bought it for my own children and as I read it to them, I was taken back to the day I first read the story. Even after thirty two years, Sham and Agba still make me cry.

It's writing is simple, the words easy for a child to understand, but the story is so full of awe and respect for the great horse that you can't help but be moved. The illustrations are also some of the finest in children's literature. Wesley Dennis painted watercolor masterpieces for many (all?) of Marguerite Henry's books, but I think the works in this book are particularly inspired. Both the writing and the artwork are true treasures I am honored and delighted to be able to share with my children.

The Christmas I was nine, I got a boxed set of Marguerite Henry novels and while I loved all of them and read them day and night during the break from school, I think this one goes down as my favorite. A few years after I first read this novel, my family moved and I discovered it was also, by a nice coincidence, one of the favorite books of a girl I met in our new neighborhood, who went on to be my best friend to this very day. That connection, too, makes this a special read. However you might come to possess this wonderful book, I think you'll agree, it's one to be cherished.

King of the Wind is the story of a mute boy named Agba, who lives works in the royal stables in Morocco during the eighteenth century, where the Sultan has perhaps the finest collection of horses on earth: maybe the greatest ever in history. Among the animals Agba cares for is a colt who has long been Agba's favorite. This horse was born with a mark called the wheat ear, that is regarded among Moroccans as so unlucky, custom mandates that any foal possessing it be destroyed at once. However, this colt also is marked by a sign of extraordinary good fortune, which reprieves the death sentence and is there to battle the wheat ear in the animal's life: the good in constant yin/yang conflict with the bad.

As a gesture of goodwill, the all-powerful Sultan elects to send a shipment of his finest horses to his friend and ally, King George of England. As the horses chosen for the journey are prepared, Agba is given the chance to accompany these prized animals by ship to the far-off Christian kingdom. One of the colts hand-picked by his Excellency is none other than the omen-marked horse Agba has grown to love. The journey northward upon the ocean is undertaken, but an unscrupulous sea captain has shortchanged the Sultan's agents and not provided food for the equine passengers. Therefore, the cargo of fine desert steeds who are unloaded in England appear little better than half-starved nags, and never find their way to the royal court.

Cast out among beggars and in a strange, cold nation where he knows no one and does not understand the language, Agba refuses to leave his beloved horse's side and the happenings that come to pass in the life of the desert stable boy and the fine, though seemingly run-down stallion, form the basis of a delightful novel that is simultaneously a tale of a boy and his extraordinary horse, and a history lesson in eighteenth-century equine lore. In Miss Henry's story, fact and fiction meet as Agba's horse becomes the celebrated Godolphin Arabian, from whom roughly one-third of all modern thoroughbreds can trace descent.

I guess you can tell I really like this book, and I think almost anyone would as well!

For years I've been urging my clients (I'm an Executive Speech Coach) to visually simplify the message... and now I have the perfect book to backup my request - Presentation Zen! Garr Reynolds is a master at presentation design - his ability to distill the message and reduce the visual slide noise is invaluable. A must read for every speaker who wants to learn to create a visually impactful presentation.

For anyone serious about effective presentations, this is required reading. Once you have read it, prepare to change your presentation approach in a fundamental way. Ask me next year, as I intend to start down the road now incorporating these concepts and expect this will take awhile to become comfortable with. Invaluable.

Garr Reynolds is now an icon for all the presenters (who seriously care about their presentations). Several of the things he talked about is applicable in presentations created for informational purposes. This can be marketing and advertisement, personal branding, book review or anything. However, when it comes to technical presentations, it becomes a different story.

Though this book does not talk about techniques in this area, I believe these can be evolved from the principles presented in the presentation zen. I am curious if Reynolds has started researching about technical presentations and how persentation zen can be extended to address the boredom and save the world.

Overall, a wonderful buy! Remember that you also get some stock images for free with the purchase of this book.

Saranyan
http://saranyan.wordpress.com

In this beautifully designed and well written manifesto, Garr Reynolds illustrates how your presentations can engage and even inspire audiences, with just a little more effort and imagination in the preparation and design stages.

Most presentations we see are lists of bullet points. They are entirely 'left brain.' The best presentations, Reynolds says, use 'whole mind' aptitudes and talents. During preparation, he advises, get away from your computer. Use paper and pen to sketch out rough ideas in the early stages.

Remember that design is not decoration. Design is about making conscious decisions about inclusion and exclusion. Simplicity is powerful. Simplicity 'comes from an intelligent desire for clarity that gets to the essence of an issue, something which is not easy to do.'

Make your audience feel something. Example: You're explaining the devastation of hurricane Katrina. Do you use bullet points, data, and talking points? Or do you show pictures of the wreckage and flooding and human suffering?

The best book on creating great presentations I've ever read. If you're going to read one, this is it. Please watch my presentations and web casts (http://silverlight.net) starting mid-June through the next few months and see if it changes what I do; it had better. Truly a great book, very high signal:noise ration, very hgih quality, well worth taking the time to read.

This book was amazing. I started to read the first chapter and automaticlly was hooked!!! I love Shawdow Horse. Alison Hart, when does the next book come out?

When I first got this book I wasn't interested. My Mom and Dad wanted
me to read the book but I kept saying no. One day my Mom said, "Just read
the first chapter." Once I starting reading it I couldn't stop because it
was so good!!!!!! This is what I have to say to Alison Hart: WRITE ANOTHER
SHADOW HORSE book!!!!!!!!!! I say this book is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!

Jas, a kind and fun loving young equestrian lover, was well aware that she had no chance winning a course case against Hugh Robicheaux. After all, he had all the money and the power. She had attacked him, and to the jury, for no apparent reason. But both Hugh and Jas know that she had all the reason in the world, he killed her horse.

Jas is sentenced to two months on house arrest at a small farm for abused animals. She knows that somehow this farm ties into the killing of her beloved horse and she is determined to find proof. Little does she know she will find all that and more! Now the only question is, can she go up against the richest guy in Virginia State, Hugh Robicheaux?

Filled with twist and turns and not to mention amazing passages "Shadow Horse" kept me reading until I turned the last page. This book is meant for younger readers and preteens,(those who are older may find it juvenile). Though the ending was somewhat of a disappointment for me the "Shadow Horse" is a great book for young horse lovers and mystery lovers alike.

This is like the best horse booke EVER! It ends weird though, so THERE REALLY SHOULD BE a sequel!!!!! So to Alison Hart, MAKE ANOTHER!!!!!!!!!!

I got this book back in 2002 or so and have read it countless times...at least 15 times or so. It is extremely well written and keeps you interested from cover to cover. I have been waiting for a sequel since the first time I read it. This book really is a must read!