Burns Books

With vivid photography by Tyler Hicks and thoughtful essays from John F. Burns And Ian Fisher of the New York Times, Histories Are Mirrors: The Path Of Conflict Through Afghanistan And Iraq is a truly impressive collection of the many truths that comprise the realities of the contemporary Afghanistan and Iraq. Histories Are Mirrors is a strong recommendation for students of International Studies in general, and the controversial involvement of the United States in these two Islamic nations.

Our world is in a very tumultuous state. To many, the words "Iraq" and "Afghanistan" are just that... Words. Tyler Hicks' "Histories Are Mirrors" is an important record for our time. He offers the viewer a glimpse of what our global neighbors have to do to survive and exist. War is not pretty. And to those who live in comfort in countries free of continuous conflict, the idea of war is as foreign a concept as the land that they take place in. In my opinion it is the responsibility of all to seek out, view and to try and understand the issues at hand. Some people may consider a few of the photographs difficult to look at... But we must. Mr. Hicks' book is a testament to all those whose paths he has crossed on his journeys. Look at the photographs and look into the eyes of those affected.

Contrary to the first reviewer's misinformed and erroneous comment about "are the photographs faked," Hicks is one of the world's finest, most authentic and reliable photojournalists. This magisterial book is a good entrance into the world of his extraordinary visual testimony about the world's events. It is not necessary for me to add more than what Ms. Hegland has already contributed villifing the outlandish accusations promulgated about Hick's work. We, unfortunately, live in a time of easy words and radiant mistruths spread with electrical velocity. If only the hard-won expression of what passes in this life were so easily and readily available to be swallowed and digested.

I recommend this book and the entire scrupulously honest work of Mr. Hicks.

It is magisterial and breath-stealing. Allow yourself this wind-swept moment: by swallowing Hick's photographs, you shall be transformed.

cheers,

People talk endlessly about how the world has changed since 9/11. In his new book, "Histories are Mirrors," Tyler Hicks doesn't talk about the changes, he records them in some of the most riveting photographs I've ever seen.

This book may be the best document to date of what has happened in our world since the World Trade Towers came down. From the Hicks's earliest pictures, taken at ground zero immediately after the attack, through the invasion of Afghanistan and on to Iraq, the viewer is taken step by step through world-changing events and the resulting hope, euphoria, death and destruction.

Hicks is one of the world's leading war photographers. Sometimes it seems barely a bullet was fired that he was not there to record. His pictures of the execution of a wounded Taliban soldier-previously splashed across the front page of the New York Times where Hicks is a staff photographer-are gut-wrenching. And there are many more like that: Marines in close-quarters combat in the cemetery in Najaf, Saddam's soldiers searching for downed Americans along the Tigris, bleeding Northern Alliance soldiers an arm's reach from the lens. The pictures of Iraqi prisoners fleeing the open doors of Abu Ghraib are alone worth the price of the book

But Hicks has another, more empathetic side as well. He goes into the homes of grieving families; he shows the funerals and the hospital wards, the parents who have lost children, the children who are now orphans. The viewer feels the human suffering that results as world leaders solve political problems with guns and bombs.

There are many talented, committed photojournalists working today. Two characteristics separate Hicks from the crowd. One is his persistence-he was one of a handful of journalists who remained in Baghdad during the US bombing campaign. The second is his artistry. Simply put, he understands how to make a riveting, often haunting picture in the quiet moments when there is no action.

Robert Capa, Eugene Smith and Larry Burrows are recognized as the preeminent war photographers of the twentieth century. All were brave beyond belief (Capa and Burrows died in Vietnam). Yet they are remembered as much for their artistry, and for the humanity in their photos. Tyler Hicks follows in their footsteps.

Michael Kamber

"I learned that, regretfully, we cannot be all things to all people--only Jesus can."

With this insightful refrain, Carol Topp urges leaders of homeschool co-ops to identify their purpose and define their target.

The opening chapters of Homeschool Co-ops provide a levelheaded assessment of both advantages and disadvantages of participating in a co-op. For example, Topp tackles a significant issue by admitting: "Some people are extremely reluctant to discipline another person's child. Granted, I would never lay a hand on a child, but I do let them know if they are out of line. If you do not like assisting other parents in this way, or if you are very sensitive about other parents verbally disciplining your child, then you had better think carefully about a co-op commitment."

Speaking of interpersonal matters, Topp points us to The Peacemaker by Ken Sande for conflict resolution, and summarizes the key aspects to successful peacemaking: overlooking an offense, reconciliation, and negotiation.

Topp addresses general issues including the double-edged nature of co-op distinctives, as well as specific matters including how to evaluate space and facilities. Valuable checklists, surveys, and links support the author's recommendations.

Quick references sprinkled throughout the text direct readers who seek more in-depth coverage of a topic discussed. Sometimes readers are directed to another chapter within the text, other times they are referred to an outside source, website, or book.

Detailed suggestions for co-op offerings are provided, including classes and activities based upon students' ages, topics, clubs, or curriculum. As a fellow writer, I particularly appreciate her admonishment for homeschoolers to purchase curriculum whenever photocopying violates copyright restrictions.

Fellow home-schoolers' stories and testimonies are woven throughout the book.

Although insights from others who have led or participated in co-ops are valuable, one of this book's greatest strengths comes from Carol's insight as a CPA with personal experience in home school co-op business matters.

Carol presents clear explanations regarding the various non-profit organizational structures and by-laws. She explains how to prepare a budget, bookkeeping basics, and the benefits and disadvantages of the coveted 501(c)(3) status. A more detailed treatment of these matters as well as guidelines regarding hiring teachers and other employees may be found in her eBook titled, Money Management for Homeschool Organizations (see her website for ordering details).

In the last section of her manuscript, she underscores an obvious but too often neglected reality: a co-op is not a solo venture! Fortunately, she provides concise instructions on how to avoid burn out: "Strive for a co-op that lives up to its name..."

Carol closes her counsel with the ABC's of successful homeschool co-ops: "A Board" (establish one), "Bylaws" (write them, and include a clear mission statement), and "Create a Budget."

In summary, this title brims with wise counsel and practical resources for those who lead or attend or are simply considering participating in a homeschool co-op.

This book has been invaluable. DO NOT start a co-op without it. Why reinvent the wheel, you don't have to. Mrs. Topp has done the heavey lifting for you. It has paid for it self a hundred times over!

This book is a must have for any one wishing to start, maintain, or save a dying co-op.

I would have loved to have had this book years ago when I joined my first co-op. Being brand new to home schooling, the other moms and I knew nothing on how to get a co-op off the ground. We forged a path through uncharted territory, figuring it out as we went. Though we gained friendships, fellowship, and a shared learning experience, we weren't without our struggles, personality conflicts, and growing pains. That's when a book like this is invaluable.

Anything you want to know about cooperation of families working together - small co-ops, large ones, mission statement and purpose, leadership and volunteer roles, handling conflict, potential class topic ideas, location, and even tax-exempt issues are explained. It's all there in this well written 170-page book.

The author writes:

It may not be problem free to start or run a home school co-op, but most homeschool parents find that co-oping is worth the commitment and expense! Homeschool co-ops are becoming more and more popular because they are meeting the needs and expectations of homeschooling families.
There is no stone left unturned! No matter what your need or group size, this book is a great help to start and keep your Co-op healthy.

While I have never been a member of a co-op, I was thinking about getting together with one or two other families to have either an art class or science class-- the two subjects that have sadly fallen by the wayside in our homeschool. Carol's book came at the perfect time!

Let me tell you some of my favorite things about her book:

-Carol's writing style is very easy to read. It didn't take extra energy (that I did not have) to just get through the book-- I actually enjoyed reading it!

-Included in her book are real life stories and situations. Not only does it make things more interesting, but you can tell the book contains her personal experience with co-op's along with the experience of other homeschoolers.

-As you would expect from a CPA, the book is very well organized. Nothing irks me more than a book with no flow and no sense in the order of chapters.

-The book is very thorough and divided into three main sections: Starting a Co-op, Running a Co-op, and How to Avoid Burnout.

-Examples of various forms, mission statements, etc. are included. She also has very pointed questions to ask yourself in each chapter. Not one to just convince you that a co-op is for everyone, Carol helps you to see the many benefits of a co-op as well as to count the cost.

I highly recommend this book to anyone that has even thought about starting a co-op! This has encouraged me greatly and I plan to pass this useful resource on to others.

Are you thinking about starting a homeschool co-op? Are you involved a homeschool co-op that needs some re-structuring? Carol Topp, who is also a CPA, has written a how-to guide on how to start, run, and not burn out. As a homeschool group leader for many years, I would have benefitted from this book when our group went through a major reorganization. Growing pains are never fun, but our growing pains would have been easier with this resource. This books contains space for you to answer questions, and it gives you outlines of questions to ask when structuring your co-op. This book contains 11 chapters, and one chapter that ALL homeschool co-ops should read is the one about 501(c)(3) Tax-exempt Organizations. There is a handy checklist and list of resources. I highly recommend this book for any homeschool leader or member.

I don't like to review books, but I love the couple in the books "It Takes Two" and "Three's A Charm" and so will you. Mini & Reuban are a witch and warlock who have been punished by the high council and are earth bound as love birds for a while. This delightful couple will enchant you. They still find ways to charm and help the lucky humans who come into their reach. I just wish Adrienne Burns would give us a third installment of this charming couple's hijinks!

I read this and was surprised to find that this book was a little slow on the uptake.
It has a really cool concept- a wizard couple turned into lovebirds for punishment have to get a pet store owner (the heroine) and a high school football coach together.
The story is a double romance, because the wizard couple are looking to split up.
There's a bit with a monkey that's quite hilarious; but the heoine is a little bit of a downer with her overreacting.
All in all, though, I'd say this was a good read and I reccomend this if youre tired of reading ghost/vampire/alien romances.

Cannon Bay, Nebraska, was a world away from the cruise ship where Justine Diamond and Zachary Wayne met and fell in love. But, here in Cannon Bay was where Justine belonged and where she would mend her broken heart after Zach's sudden disappearance from the cruise ship. After a year's time, it was obvious to Justine that what she and Zach had shared for four glorious days and nights was over. If not for her, then certainly for him.

But she never counted on Zach tracking her down in Cannon Bay and his attempts to woo her back. And neither of them had planned on interference from a bickering witch and warlock who were living their days in the bodies of a pair of lovebirds.

Engaging from the first page, "It Takes Two" is a magical treasure. Wonderful characters, sparkling wit, and a cleverly crafted tale make this one for the keeper shelf.

Justine Diamond was "dumped" by her handsome shipboard romance... and now he's invaded her home town...if he thinks he's just going to waltz back in and take up where he left off and then leave again...he's got another think coming!

Zack, an ex-football player waited for Justine to call and when she didn't, he had to find out why and if what they had shared was still "there" for the two of them.

With the help of a pair of magical love birds and a nephew who "believes" I laughed and loved right along with the main characters in this wonderful book. It's a definate must read for those who love romance, magic and humor all rolled into one! Ms. Burns has quickly become a keeper for me!

This is an important book for anyone contemplating a change in a job or a relationship; listen to the inner voice, pay attention to what your body tells you, and much, much more. It's obvious that the author knows her stuff--she includes a lot of practical advice and many stories of people who have managed to reclaim their energy and delight in life.

I attended one of Dr. Glouberman's seminars, and I found her book even more helpful--because I can practice the exercises and read the book for advice and inspiration as I need it. She has an insightful, poignant writing style with the wisdom of an expert who knows her audience and how to help them. Burnout is so commonplace that we accept it as normal, and Glouberman reminds us that life is about living with our whole hearts and finding our true selves.

The question: "What is burnout?" may seem obvious, since the term "burnout" has become part of everyday language, but it is still the topic of a great deal of empirical research.

Perhaps the best definition is that burnout is a prolonged response to chronic physical, emotional and interpersonal stressors at work. It is defined by three primary dimensions:
Exhaustion
Cynicism
Inefficacy

Burnout is more than just an individual experience of stress: it has to be seen in the larger organizational context of people's relationship with their work, and it has to be seen as a meaningful process that is trying to tell us something.

It is often the case that individuals miss all the signs in themselves. Some of the main symptoms are: Trouble sleeping; Worrying, particularly at night; Feeling unappreciated or "used" at work; Feeling less effective or competent than you used to; Easily becoming angry or irritated; A dread of going to work; A feeling of being overwhelmed; Recurrent stress-related physical symptoms like headaches, fatigue or back pain; Watching the clock and counting down toward the end of the work day; Rigidly applying rules without considering more creative solutions; Automatically expressing negative attitudes; Finding excuses to be absent from work. This is not the whole list, but just some of the most important symptoms. It is distressing that some people with burnout begin to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol, as can happen with many life changing events, if people are not shown a way out of the maze.

There has been a lot of work on strategies to help individuals and organizations deal with this problem. Most have focused on ways to abolish the problem: to make it go away. Though that is a worthy objective, it is also important to understand the context, meaning and purpose of events in our lives, or otherwise we simply keep putting psychological bandaids on ever larger problems. So the best approach is to use work with physical, psychological and social difficulties to come up with solutions, but not to neglect the broader context of burnout: what does it mean for us personally and spiritualy?

This book is a superb example of how to approach that final piece. Pain, suffering and struggle are so often life's way of helping us to advance, to break out of the cocoons that restrain us. The trick is to know how to use these "negative" events to our advantage. Dina Glouberman's book is well written and full of wise and practical advice.

If you have any of the symptoms that I mentioned, then I would heartily recommend that you investigate what Dina has to say.

This book caught my eye in a bookstore in London last fall, and I found it very timely and helpful, so I'm delighted that it's now available in the U.S.

Most books on burnout are written from the perspective that burnout is a negative condition that results from our failure to handle life's demands effectively, so it's up to us to cure the personal problems that caused the burnout and restore our pre-burnout frame of mind. By contrast, Dr. Glouberman sees burnout as a wake-up call, an invitation to stop and re-evaluate what led to our burnout, and an opportunity to reinvent our lives.

In my experience, burnout often occurs because (as happened to the author herself) we're putting too much of our energy into activities that are peripheral or antithetical to what we do best -- e.g., the technical expert who's thrust into a management job, or the teacher who becomes an administrator. Rather than struggling frantically to recapture the enthusiasm that may not have been there in the first place, it's better to step back, evaluate what's right and wrong for us in the present situation, and consciously choose which path forward is best for us.

The author's exercises are helpful, but what I found most encouraging was her attitude. Most people with a strong work ethic find burnout shameful -- an admission that they "failed" to meet the demands of a presumably desirable situation. Dr. Glouberman's positive, optimistic approach to burnout is heartening: once you're able to get past the negative emotions associated with burnout, you're free to look at the situation with detachment, and to learn from it.

Kenrick Brimley (call him "Ken" or "Rick" but never "Kenrick" -- and he's no relation to that other Brimley who "eats the oatmeals") has a job you didn't hear about at the high school Job Fair. He works at the local women's prison as a sort of conjugal consultant, offering Death Row residents one final night of pleasure before the state kills them. The closest thing he has to a long-term relationship is with Leena, a convicted arsonist whom he has visited multiple times due to the various postponements of her execution.

Last Burn in Hell: Director's Cut is a newly expanded edition of the first novel (and reportedly the first of a series) by John Edward Lawson -- publisher, editor, author, and Bram Stoker Award-nominated poet (for The Troublesome Amputee). Just like the special edition DVDs of your favorite films, this book offers deleted scenes, an alternate ending (that lets the reader choose between "into the sunset" and "final confrontation" styles), a soundtrack to assemble, promotional stills, and more features that make it a must-have even for those who already have the original edition of Last Burn in Hell.

Lawson tells the story as a modern-day pulp-style adventure, with Brimley going from one implausible situation to another in rapid succession (see David Dodge's The Last Match for a good example of the style). We can only sit back and watch as Brimley goes from prison guard to Death Row gigolo, from pop star hanger-on to movie-set masseur, and from the inadvertent next big rap superstar to the inadvertent instigator of a rash of suicides.

Brimley's strange adventure itself would be enough to make Last Burn in Hell: Director's Cut a fun read, but the author also satirizes the style and himself in the process: he's quite aware of how unbelievable the whole thing is (and especially how his character is going through all too familiar fictional situations), and embraces it with fervor. But instead of seeming cliched and trite, it all adds up to a skewed kind of originality.

A few political statements worm their way into the story, but they're presented with a good deal of humor -- as if to say Don't take me too seriously ... but pay attention! -- that makes them go down easy. John Edward Lawson is very much a man of ideas (one need only read his poetry to understand that), and Last Burn in Hell: Director's Cut shows that not only is he constantly coming up with new ones, but he is also unlikely to run out of them anytime soon.

[A final note: Though it would be easy to slap a label on it based on Lawson's prior work (especially his appearance in The Bizarro Starter Kit), don't call this book bizarro. Lawson has used the picaresque method, very familiar to the mainstream, to tell his story, and Last Burn in Hell: Director's Cut is really no stranger than, say, John Irving's early novels. In fact, it would very likely appeal to fans of The World According to Garp, and it deserves that large and diverse audience.]

Okay--forget for a second that John Edward Lawson is a fantastic writer. Forget that he's assisted in the pioneering of fringe and unusual literature. Forget, too, that his fiction is capable of making you physically recoil in horror one second and eliciting uncontrollable laughter from you the next. For a second, despite all that, let's focus on this book.

The story of a gigilo in a women's prison--when it was originally published, it had everything you'd think such a story would have. Here, the "Director's Cut," plays out like a special edition DVD, replete with bonus scenes, behind-the-scenes, alternate endings, and even a soundtrack (that probably WON'T play in your CD player). Lawson has taken creativity to a whole new level, insisting that the publishing industry as a whole stand up and take notice. The George Orwell of our time, John Lawson illuminates the new direction of fiction...then punches it square in the face.

You know those crime movies you stumble upon late at night? The ones that were made (you assume) somewhere in the late 1990s? There's lots of action, backstabbing, double crossing, and sex? It's the movies that usually star some B actors you see everywhere but can't name. You know the type. The ones that aren't art films or heavy-handed attempts at making a "serious" film but rather fun crime romps through the desert, through Mexico, in and out of dangerous situations? Sexy women, strong men, strong women and action. Lots of action. Well... this is what LAST BURN IN HELL is like.. except the plot is warped with a keen sense of weirdness.

The feel of the novel reminds me of those films (which I love). Like a cross between TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M., RED ROCK WEST, ... and other such neo-noir films.. except LAST BURN IN HELL (director's cut!) has a sense of humor.. and a sense of the bizarre that'll satisfy fans of the odd, the surreal, and the strange.

I won't go into the director's cut angle. Actually, okay, I will. It's a gimmick but a good one. Deleted scenes, alternate ending, and even a soundtrack (well, no, you can't really LISTEN to it but still..).

I'm fairly sure that this is John Edward Lawson's first novel. If it is, well, then pat yourself on the back for even considering reading this. It's exciting, funny, weird, and fast-paced. All good ingredients for an entertaining read.

PROS:
Humor. It's funny.. but not really absurd funny (well, not too much). It takes a lot of shots at pop culture and that makes for some good laughs.
Organization. There are little chapters and blurbs here and there (like a top 10 US singles chart.. which ties in later with the story). They're clever and funny.
Plot. The story moves along and the reader encounters many different characters in many places. If this was a movie, it'd be one where you wouldn't be bored for a minute.

CONS:
Confusion. Especially towards the end. I'm guessing that because the author writes a lot of poetry, he may be use to setting the stage using obscure imagery. That works in poetry but in fiction, it can sometimes make it difficult for the reader to figure out just what is really going on. I don't consider myself an unintelligent person but by the end, I wasn't too sure what exactly happened. I get the gist of it.. but there are just some details and events that confused me. Again, some people may not feel this way. Regardless, it shouldn't stop you from buying and reading this book.

CONCLUSION:
You should read this book. It's fun and entertaining as hell. The fact that it says "Director's Cut" should clue you in to the fact that it flows like a movie albeit one with some weird twists and turns. The set-up is original; the characters are original and/or humorously based on real-type people.

This is a "bizarro" book that you shouldn't miss.

Without a doubt, John Edward Lawson is what Friedrich Nietzsche would have called an "Ubermensch" ("overman," or "superman") of the written word. Last Burn in Hell is a nonstop romp in a bizarre world of a man who has one of the best, and at the same time, worst jobs possible. His landscape is fresh, his strokes are perfect, and the final product is a wonderfully mastered piece of bizarro fiction that will leave you enthralled. You will be left craving more work of Lawson.

Last Burn in Hell: Director's Cut is s stunning piece of literary creativity; and original endeavor that is both entertaining and genius: a novel written in the format of a DVD.

Director's Cut includes the original novel Last Burn in Hell, along with Bonus Features: the Soundtrack, Deleted Scenes, an Alternative Ending, and Previews. To top it off, this one even comes with "errors" on the disc.

Last Burn in Hell: Director's Cut is a fresh take on the mundane format of the novel. John Edward Lawson has given birth to a greatly needed renegade with a push toward progress and "A punch line aimed at your chin . . . ."

This was my first book that I read of the W40K universe, even though I was familiar with the original game and had played the "Dawn of War" series on my PC. I was also familiar with the Horus Heresy which is essential to understanding the W40K universe. I absolutely enjoyed every story as they bounced around through the entire cast of characters and races that make up W40K. Even a newcomer should enjoy reading this collection and if they are patient they will begin to connect the dots between the stories as far as the entire scope of W40K.

The stories are fairly even... only a few stand out and none are particularly bad. I enjoyed reading it as a 40k player... more fluff!!

i've been collecting warhammer books for about 7 years now and have over a hundered, so i'm pretty well versed in it's universe. when i saw this book i snapped it up instantly but was a bit dissapointed to learn that most of the stories (about 80%) were from books i already own. however, in all fairness to black library, they have collected some of the best, most memorable stories in this one awesome (and very large) tome. for those interested in introducing others to the world of warhammer 40,000 or if you're a new comer, i can't recommend a better book to begin with.

it won't answer all the questions you have about warhammer but it will give you a pretty solid foundation and it will whet your appetite for more black library books...beware, once you start, you'll never want to stop (that is if you're into hot blooded, fast paced, violent sci-fi action)!

I don't follow the WH40k universe and have only read 1 other Warhammer compilation. I am a rabid SF/Fantasy reader though, and the short stories in this compilation are great! The stories are interesting and make you feel as though you are a participant. Lots of action and well fleshed out characters abound. Couple a low list price with a whopping 1+ pound book weight and this is a sure fire hit if you like SF and/or Warhammer.

Biographies of women do not get much attention in Pacific Northwest history. This is a great book about an amazing person. I first read this book for the Museum of History and Industry's bookclub and have read it again since then.

I LOVE THIS BOOK! I read this book about 8 years ago and it blew me away. It's a true account about living your best life. The author, June Burn tells of the homesteading, travels with her husband and later with their two boys and other experiences they let themselves have by going with the flow of opportunities that presented themselves to them. They didn't have much but lived a beautiful life full of experience, memories and love.

Shortly after I read this book, I lost one of my best friends in a tragic accident. This book isn't about death but it does cause you to examine just how complete of a life we are living. Times are different and we can't just pick up and go as easily as June and her husband did.

This book will inspire you. I'm just thrilled I can get my hands on a copy of it.

This wonderful book was a discovery I made after marrying one of the distant relatives of the author. It transported me back in time to a very different America where women could travel alone and homestead islands of their very own.

It is full of wisdom and joy in the act of living a full life. 'Living High' is a phrase like gay that no longer holds its original meaning.

I love to take this book along camping and read chapters around the fire aloud to companions. It is full of rich description of the flora, fauna, and hardy lifestyle of early settlers in the San Juan Islands of Washington state. The story traverses the country following the journey of the remarkably brave author. I wish I had known her, but the book opens a beautiful window on a special life lived well.

I hope the book is reissued. It would be a perfect 'books on tape' candidate.

In regard to a world where the concept of old world adventure and romance is getting harder and harder to grasp, comes the most extradinary story of one young woman's life building a not-so-ordinary family while adventuring with her husband amidst the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Homesteading Sentinel Island in the Puget Sound, teaching school in isolated Alaska, and traveling around the entirety of United States in a donkey cart, June Burn paints a vibrant, and somewhat encouraging portrait of a landscape, a partnership, and a life that anyone is capable of having but not quite brave enough to grasp. June Burn's voice is practical in her wisdom, and gracefully concise in description, wistfully demonstrating that nobody has to live a conventional life, regardless of societal or cultural guidelines. This book is one of the greatest autobiographies that I have ever had the pleasure of reading, and though it is diffucult to get a copy, it is well worth the effort. It is an inspirational literary treasure that is highly valued by all who read it. I would highly recommend June Burn's story to anyone who doubts the dull and mudane grind they're living is all there really is.

Funny, horny, passionate, insightful and a damn good read!

Foreman gives testosterone a good name!

This is Earth First! founder, Dave Foreman's first novel. Set partly in New Mexico's Diablo National Forest and partly in southeastern Arizona, Foreman's natural descriptions read as if they were drawn from his own field notes. This story is as much about commitment to wild places as it is about survival.

Interestingly, Foreman's novel is similar to Barbara Kingsolver's current bestseller, PRODIGAL SUMMER (2000), in many respects. Both novels involve sensual love affairs that unfold in nature. Whereas Kingsolver's lovers, Deanna Wolfe (a forest ranger) and Eddie Bondo (a hunter) debate coyotes, Foreman's lovers, MaryAnne McClellen (a wildlife ecologist) and Jack Hunter (a burned-out, Sierra Club lobbyist) protect Mexican wolves. Like Deanna, MaryAnne understands: "If life in all its fecund, blooming, buzzing, beautiful diversity is to survive, we humans must find within ourselves the generosity of spirit and the greatness of heart to make room for the full flowering of other species and natural life processes" (p. 176). Kingsolver even lives in Tucson, where parts of Foreman's novel unfold.

Jack Hunter is a complicated character. No longer a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., Hunter has become "a hard-drinking, sullen horseshoer in a backwater nowhere;" yet he remains "a man born to greatness" (p. 206). When confronted with Forest Service logging plans and saving the lobos, "Hunter knew he couldn't run any more," Foreman writes. "It was time to stick his spear in the ground and fight for home. He saw the grand cottonwoods and bouncy stream of Stowe Creek Meadow. He saw the tall ancient pines of Mondt Park. He saw the wolves of Davis Prairie. That was what was real. That was what was important. That was what made his life worth living . . . he would fight for it now. No matter what the cost" (p. 200).

Dave Forman has written a howling-good first novel which, like Kingsolver's, I recommend to those who share a love for wild places.

G. Merritt

This was a wild read. Sex, romance, wilderness, wolves, good guys, bad guys, and a moral to the story. The story is about those who love the west and do battle to protect the land and its wildlife. Many of the characters and events are probably emulations from the author's own life that has been dedicated to the protection of wilderness and wildlife. If you want to gain a sense about why some people are willing to devote their lives to the wild then read this book. When you are done, choose your place to stand and defend.

Having moved to the New Mexico outback myself a few years ago with the notion that cowboys and ranchers were noble and strong caretakers of the land, I was shocked to learn about the whole public land multiple use system and what arrogant cretins the abusers of it really are. Dave Foreman has ripped the masks off every wise-use, militia belonging, united nations fearing, and custom-and-culture ranting local rural resident and revealed them for the ignorant, bombastic yahoos they really are. I hope I live long enough to someday hear the howl of a lobo here. This book let me dream that might someday come true.

I read an edition of Starlog magazine about Bob Burn's Halloween extravaganas. I always wanted to attend one of these Halloween shows. Monster Kid Memories is as close as I will ever get. The book makes you feel like you were right there when it was being built and shown. Bob Burns is probably the greatest SciFi fan out there. The book is hard to put down once you start. I do wish Mr Burns would put a video out showcasing the Halloween shows. If you watch a documentary of The Time Machine you can see a portion of one of his shows.

he didn't save lots of kids from burning buildings or shoot down Zeroes, but Bob Burns sure did a lot of other cool things. A neat story of the famous and near famous as told by one of the nicest guys ever to dress up like a gorilla. The writeups on his giant halloween extravaganzas are fantastic - could you imaging being a kid and being able to look forward to these giant home-transforming shows at the end of your street every year?

To my mind, there is no greater Monster Kid than Bob Burns. Burns has lived (and continues to!) the life that every Monster Kid dreams of. He has met some of the giants in the field; become friends with many other lesser-known, but equally interesting personalities; participated in the making of some of the classic films of the genre; appeared on television as part of Shock Theater; has accumulated an untold number of props and other memorabilia over his more than 50-year association with monster and science fiction films; and produced some of the most talked-about, elaborate, and awe-inspiring Halloween "haunted attraction" spectacles of all time.

Yet, despite his extreme good fortune, which could turn lesser men selfish and possessive, Bob Burns never hesitates to share his stories, anecdotes, collection, and super big heart with others.

At long last, Burns, in collaboration with horror/science fiction genre writer Tom Weaver, has gathered a collection of his wonderful experiences in Monster Kid Memories. Here, Burns shares many of the highlights of his life with fellow fans, in addition to hundreds of amazing, seldom-seen photos (the book contains over 300 illustrations), including one very special, never-before seen shot of the Martian costume from War Of The Worlds.

Ever the selfless, generous Kid, Bob turns the spotlight on others, allowing them to shine. We: listen with envy as he describes seeing Bela Lugosi on stage and relates his encounters with Karloff, Elsa Lanchester, Chaney Jr., George Pal, and William Castle; visit the sets of films (Destination Moon, Unknown Island, the 2002 remake of The Time Machine); learn the intricacies of portraying a gorilla; discover the man behind the genius that was Jack Pierce; help Bob rig the seats for a showing of The Tingler; and learn of Bob's innumerous movie prop acquisitions over the decades (he owned the original Time Machine!) and how he came to possess them - these are just a handful of the many treats awaiting the reader.

The book contains numerous highlights, but a few deserve special mention:

The chapter where Bob discusses his friendship with Glenn Strange (the man behind the Frankenstein monster in the Universal House films and Abbott And Costello Meet Frankenstein) is touching and sweet. The two men first met when Bob was a teen, but a genuine friendship started, and lasted until the day Strange died in 1973. The two men shared many experiences together, and such a bond developed, that Burns came to think of Strange as a second father. It's wonderful to read of a friendship between two men like this, and to have Strange step out of those huge Frankenstein monster boots (which Strange gave to Burns by the way, along with an unused Monster headpiece) and learn that he was just a down-to-earth, regular Joe.

A chapter detailing Bob's friendship with George Pal is illuminating. We learn that Pal was a warm and fun-loving man, in addition to fascinating facts about the making of Destination Moon, The Time Machine, and War Of The Worlds. Unfortunately, the chapter is also heart-breaking. To learn Bob's opinion of what really killed Pal is to want to storm the offices of today's Hollywood bigwigs with torches and pitchforks.

The fact that Bob relates the lives and stories of many "behind-the-scenes" people - people whose names won't ring any bells and often don't receive any of the credit and recognition they deserve, is refreshing and very welcome. Some of the make-up artists, stuntmen, bit players, prop and special effects people that Burns knew receive their just due here, and I was grateful to learn of some of the "invisible" people behind some of my favorite old-time films and serials.

Lastly, the chapter that details the history of each of Bob's Halloween "haunted spectaculars" made this reader greener with envy than Elsa as the monster in BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. Reading of the amount of time, effort, and talent that went into producing each of these shows, merely for the entertainment of friends and neighborhood children, is a testament to just how big Bob Burns's heart really is.

The mere fact that these memories, and much more, are captured in one book is reason enough to recommend it. But quite often the telling of one's life to another can make for a dull, difficult read. Not Monster Kid Memories. Although many of these memories occurred decades ago, you wouldn't know it to read it. When he's relating one of his many stories, there is such genuine excitement and enthusiasm emanating from Burns that you swear you're sitting in a chair across from him, listening, caught up in his excitement - several times while reading I found myself actually exclaiming, "Oh, wow!"

This sense of fun and "gee-whiz!" excitement, perfectly captured and transferred to the page by co-author Weaver, is the book's grand accomplishment. For several hours, the reader once again becomes a little 15-year-old boy (or girl!). Only a handful of books can accomplish magic like this, and Monster Kid Memories is one of them.

My only regret is the fear that the title might turn away a wider audience. While the book does concentrate primarily on Burns's association with monsters and science fiction, a potential reader should know that these stories will appeal to anyone. You don't have to love monsters and aliens - Bob Burns does, and the kid-like joy and genuine love that he has for his subjects spills over onto the page and will captivate any film fan.

Just a terrific book.

Being a long time lover of everything that is classic horror & sci-fi, I consider this is a great and highly recommended book from one the most beloved fans of the genre, Bob Burns. It really feels as if he is sharing all his wonderful memories about guys such as Glenn Strange (the Frankenstein monster of the 40's), George Pal (War of the Worlds, The Time Machine), and Charlie Gemora (Monster & the Girl, "the Gorilla man"), with you in your living room. It is a fun adventure to share all of Bob's wonderful memories, and gives insight to not only those actors, directors and makeup men I mentioned, but to Bob's life as well. He is THE fan that we all wished we could be, and along with "IT CAME FROM BOB'S BASEMENT", is a wonderful journey back to the days of classic horror and early sci-fi!

Dave and Kerry did a fantastic job of compiling a conversation-like memoir of Dave's adventures through life. He is a charasmatic and compelling speaker, and it is evident in his writing as well. This book is a fabulous account of a life that had many bumps in its road, and the confidence to overcome those hurdles.

Dave's life story is a remarkable one and is very encouraging for anyone who struggles with one of life's many obstacles or tragedies. He reminds us of hope; a reminder we all can use at one time or another in our lives. This is a book that engages you . . .. You can't wait to pick it back up and start reading again. It is an intriguing journey of tragedy, miracle, perseverance and ultimately, a fulfilling, purposeful life.

An excellent, engaging book for people of all backgrounds and all ages. Truly motivational book for how Dave overcame huge obstacles to become successful in business and personal relationships. The bonus = Flicker of Hope foundation (book's seller) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. It made me feel good that by buying this book I might be helping someone in need.

Dave's self-chronicle inspires the human soul with his stirring personal triumph from the tragedy of fire. His compelling life's journey is offered with wisdom, clarity, and humor as he takes us softly by the hand "through the fire" beside him from the cradle to adulthood. It is a spirited saga of family love and affection, heart-breaking struggle, deep parental commitment, and one man's destiny as he discovers true happiness in love and making a real difference in the world against all odds. With grace, strength, and courage, Dave reminds us that lasting beauty lies well beneath the skin.