California Books

What a great book. I was looking for a book for my 9 yr old son. Not only did he love it, but his sisters did too. My son is short in stature like David Eckstein and athletic too. This is a great book for demonstrating size doesn't matter. That what you can do is all up to you. It also emphasized family values and the importants of family. You can't go wrong with this book.

What a wonderful story of a very loving family and the importance of becoming an organ donor!! This is truly one of the most inspiring books I have ever read. I highly recommend it.

David Eckstein became my favorite player on the team before I ever new anything about him. I've never seen so much heart radiate from a person. You can look at him and tell there's a life story that needs to be told, this book does just that. It is inspiration for all ages, but excellant for the young who are trying to find themselves and need that extra boost of confidence. This is an excellant book! One that will be talked about for years.....

My family has been a fan of David Eckstein since when he played for the Anaheim Angels. We used to go to the games in Anaheim and after the games, go where the players come out to get in their cars. We would wait on the other side of the fence for autographs. Wouldn't you know, that David Eckstein would sign every time. My kids have several signed items from him. The other players would get in their cars and leave, while the kids would yell, " please, Mr. so and so, can you sign my..." David was always dedicated, willing and a gentleman. Again, there were other players that were also generous, but David did it all the time. I haven't read the book, but I just ordered it for my two sons, who love baseball and play on local teams. It is about time that our kids read about positive role models in sports. I am also looking forward to reading the book. Thanks for all the positive insight!!

In todays sports world, a role model is sometimes hard to find. Steroids, wife beating, DUI, bar room fights, its all fair game. This kid plays hard fair basesball. Thats it. His personal story is touching, and I especially like the way it is written, he's talking to my 14 yr old son.

I stumbled across Heschel a few years ago, and I'm so glad that I did. As a Gentile, I cannot express enough the importance of Heschel for people of any faith. He shows the depth and beauty of Judaism and of the human spirit. Every book I have read by Heschel has moved me to tears, and this book is no exception.

Heavenly Torah is very long, and at times repetitive, but it is packed with profound insights. Heschel compared two 2nd century schools of thought, the school of Rabbi Akiva and the school of Rabbi Ishmael. So far, the Akivan school has had a larger impact, but Heschel makes the point that the Ishmaelian school has a very important message for the modern world.

Indeed, the two schools of thought are different, but Heschel's main point is that they don't have to fall into a rivalry. They have enough beauty in common that the two schools can build off of each other, challenge each other, and live in harmony with each other. This is a teaching from Heaven that we all need to hear.

www.ravenfoundation.org

Excellent. Comprehensive. A wealth of information distilled through a knowledgeable perspective. Thoroughly documented for those of us who want citations.

I'm very suprised with the amazing knowledge of Joshua Heschel, and glad to had invested on a very responsible work on Jewish theology.
It's very very recommended.

I am very interested in the text. I read it in conjuction with the Holy Bible Old Testament. I find that the comparative texts are very enlightening when read together.

This work is the translation of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel's classical work of Biblical exegesis. It is ably translated from the Hebrew by Gordon Tucker and Leonard Levin. Each section of the work contains a translator's introduction,and there is an overall introduction to the volume by Heschel's daughter Susannah Heschel.Among the subjects debated by Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Ishmael in the work are miracles, beholding the face of God, the Torah that is Heaven, Moses Ascent to Heaven, The Descent of the Divine Glory, Torah from Heaven, the Sectarians,Moses did things on is own authority, Two methos of understanding 'Thus says the Lord', Is it possible that it was on his Own say so, The book of Deuternomy, Is the Prophet a Partner or a Vessel, See how great was Moses power, Moses prophecy, How the Torah was written,Lost books, Renewal of Torah, It is Not in the Heavens, Both these and these are the words of the living God, Against Multiplying Rules, Stringencies and Leniences, et al.
The principle of debate and argument is the moving spirit of the work.
The book is richly annotated .It is filled with telling citations from Gemara and Midrash.
This is a book which all who care for Jewish learning will wish to have in their libraries.

This is a very thick book... and for good reason. It has photos (albeit black and white ones) or photo-rendered sketches of many potential wedding and reception venues. Each venues' pages come with the stuff you need: the seating capacity and approximate prices. There are also other sections of the book focused on vendors for flowers, etc. I recommend this book if you're trying to get a feeling for "what's out there" with regard to venues. It's a great place to start, and you'll probably feel like you've covered a lot of ground once you've gone through this book.

Wonderful book, a must have!

This has been an invaluable book during my wedding planning. When I got engaged in December 99, a girlfriend suggested that I buy the SoCal edition immediately to start finding reception and ceremony locations. I did buy it, and whipped through the whole book one evening. Sitting there reading, I quickly dismissed reception site after site and determined that the book just couldn't help me. I put it aside.

Then I started actually going out, visiting places, and realizing that it wasn't so easy to find the perfect place! I quickly realized I was going to have to work a lot harder than I thought to mesh the right church location, my number of people, and a convenient indoor reception site. So I came back to the Guide--time and again! Soon I had it dogeared and filled with notes as I reconsidered the options I'd been so quick to skip past earlier. The statistics on each site helped keep me focused and helped me and my fiance consider new places when others fell through, and keep the attributes of each place in mind. The descriptions of the reception sites are detailed, positive and generous-but-not-misleading. We ultimately booked a site listed in the Guide and are thrilled to have found it.

Now that I've moved on to choosing a photographer, I went to the Guide again. First I read through each photographer's profile in the book, then went on the Guide's website! It's so easy to use - - it allows you to jump to photographers' websites and see their portfolios, all without making appointments or driving around! I feel satisifed that I don't need to look beyond the professionals listed in the Guide, since the authors have already done the legwork in finding people with high standards and good customer service.

If you really want to explore all possible options for your ceremony, reception, and event professionals, you will love Here Comes The Guide! The hardcopy book and the website are thorough, pleasant to read, and - - most importantly - - really helpful. My mom keeps saying, "I had no idea it was this complicated to plan a wedding in this day and age!" Here Comes the Guide goes a long way towards relieving the complication!

While the bulk of the Guide is dedicated to reception site listings, the vendor listings in the back are very helpful. The listings are not mere "paid advertisements." If you read the book, The Guide explains how each vendor undergoes a thorough screening process--something even the most persistent bride likely wouldn't have the time or ability to conduct.

As The Guide states on Page 483, their process "involves interviewing 15-20 other event professionals. We call every single reference and ask about the professionalism, technical competency and service orientation of the advertiser in question. ... Those candidates who received consistent, rave reviews made it into The Guide."

Using The Guide as a starting point (combined with the internet, magazine ads, and friends' recommendations), I conducted exhaustive research of my own of wedding professionals in Los Angeles and beyond. I wound up hiring three vendors who had been featured in the Guide (caterer, band and florist, 11-11-00 wedding). All performed beyond my greatest expectations, and my guests cannot stop raving about the "fabulous," "amazing," and "out of this world" food, music, and flowers. Clearly, The Guide got it right.

So don't be fooled by the relative size of the vendor section compared to pages allotted to reception sites. The vendor section may be small because they are the cream of the crop, thanks to the Guide's legwork.

I am so glad that a friend told me about this book. I was so daunted by the search for a location for my wedding, I didn't know where to start. This book (and their fantastic website by the same name) made it really easy. They give great descriptions and the pricing information helped me narrow down the places I could afford. It saved me so much time, I was able to actually enjoy looking for a reception location. Thank you, Here Comes the Guide.

This book is not only exquisitely written but extremely informative as well. The utter incompetence of high-level government employees that is exposed by Cassara is enough to make your blood boil. If you thought the government was infallible, think again. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who is concerned with the well-being of our country.

I'm sort of a government/spy stories buff, and I really enjoyed this book. The first half is sort of a story, almost like reading a novel, while the second half is almost instructional. The author makes a lot of good recommendations in the last chapter. This guy should go into politics!

What a great book! My husband somehow was able to get a copy of the book a few days before it came out (he lives for this type of stuff), and I picked it up the other day while he was at work. Four hours later, I was finished. I couldn't put it down. My reading usually consists of romance novels (I'm not ashamed), and to be honest, I only picked up this book out of sheer boredome. Boredom turned to fascination very quickly, and I was hooked after reading just one chapter. While there is a good deal of government jargon, the auther does a great job of explaining everything. Still, what I liked most about the book were his stories. This guy has had an amazing life! So many adventures, I'd love to meet this guy just to hear him tell some stories. Not to diminish the importance of the book, as he does say a lot of things that our government should be paying attention to, but he's a great storyteller. He definitely puts a personal touch on a sticky subject. Anyway, it's a great book, and believe me, I usually stay away from these types of books. My husband and I actually sat down and discussed the book for almost 2 hours last night...he was very impressed with my knowledge. Great book, I hope he writes another one.

The author provides an insightful and at time intense criticism of inner governmental workings. Depicting through first hand experience the bureaucratic failures that have resulted in the continued operation of many criminal and terrorist financial networks. The removal of these "financial networks" is crucial, to ensure our victory in the "War on Drugs" and "War on Terror". These failures can cost lives, as so dramatically depicted by the author. To someone who seeks to pursue a career in government service, like myself; this book is an invaluable tool. In depicting the failures of previous generations of government employees, it serves as a "wake up" call to both current and future governmental employees. This will help to prevent these errors from continuing to happen in the future. Finally, the authors' career serves as an example of excellence in government service, that the new generation of government service employees should aim for in their career.

HIDE AND SEEK: INTELLIGENCE, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE STALLED WAR ON TERRORIST FINANCE is a 'must' for any who would understand one of the failures of the U.S. in 9/11. John Cassara is an expert in terrorist financing and money laundering and here surveys the lack of reporting requirements before 9/11, efforts since, and how the failures of law enforcement have helped foster terrorist efforts. HIDE AND SEEK could not have been written without an insider's knowledge of how foreign intelligence, domestic efforts, and international finance works: the fact that John Cassara has such knowledge lends authority and depth to a survey which encourages law to follow the unusual paths of international terrorism's money networks.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

The great thing about this book is that it was written by people with an inside view of "The business". Along with the most complete look at Tinsletown they add anecdotes and little known facts that make just reading the book fun.
And this book covers more that downtown, Hollywood and Beverly Hills. It travels north to Santa Barbara and south to Long Beach and Catalina.
If you're headed for LA this is the book to get. Even as a died-in-the-wool Angeleno, I found this book informative, usefull and fun to read.

Here's a 600-page book that's filled to its movie brim, with tons of offbeat things to see and do; bright and breezy in its writing, you'll find facts and other nifty news here about this incredible place called LA and Hollywood that, even if you've lived here all your life (!), you probably never knew existed.

John Clayton, Travel With a Difference radio show,
KNX 1070AM

As in all Hunter Guides, this hefty paperback is chock full of information - restaurants and hotels, shopping, daytime and nightime activities, even where to see the stars.

Anton Community Newspapers

As a former "angeleno" and film enthusiast, I was amazed at the wealth of information contained in this travel book. I recently visited L.A. and stayed at two of the hotels mentioned, and found the descriptions to be right on the mark. I recommend this book not only to those who are planning a vacation in L.A. but to people who live in L.A. and enjoy watching movies and reading about movie stars.

I can't imagine what I can add to this well researched volume of Hollywood tidbits.... This book is fun. It reads especially well with a tub of buttery popcorn and a box of Good & Plenty.

Tippi Hedren, actress

I bought this book along with two others (ie: "Hollywood THEN AND NOW" by Lords, and "PICTURING L.A." by Wilkman). All three books went very well together.

This book by DANGCIl is in black-and-white because all the postcards are authentic reproductions of early photo-cards. The fact that each of the photo(s) are in B&W does not take away from the excitement in looking through all the early photos of Los Angeles & HOLLYWOOD. Each photo is quite sharp.

Each photo has a brief description of the exact angle in which the photos were taken. So if you would love to see what HOLLYWOOD used to look like (from the very early 1900`s to the 1950's) then you'll love this paperback book..... I sure did!

Besides being a good resource guide, the compilation of information is in chronological order. This makes for effortless accessibility. The writing is clear, informative, and well researched. The author took time and care to put these postcards in this format. I can only assume that the author has a love for the movie industry and all the machinations it takes to make the final product. I hope to see more from this author in the future.

I was fascinated by this book! I could not believe the changes in Hollywood over the years. And the captions were so informative and incredibly well written. I felt like I had taken a class in Hollywood History. A perfect present for anyone who loves beautiful books.

I'm Los Angeles born and raised, and this ISN'T a simple book of postcards: it's a fantastic slice of Hollywood history containing fabulous pictures accompanied by informed narratives! It's very cool to see pictures of Old Hollywood and compare what is standing at the same location in the present day. I plan to give this as a holiday present to my many friends who are L.A. natives. In all, A FABULOUS BOOK, and a great gift idea -- especially for someone interested in learning about the history of "Old Hollywood" and Los Angeles in general.

Born and raised in Hollywood, I am facinated by the history of all the places I've visited and seen growing up as a kid. Thomas Dangcil makes you relive what this glitzy town was and how it came to be.
It's great seeing the history of Hollywood unfold before your eyes in this book and how it has transformed itself into a icon of stardom that is re·nowned worldwide.

This book is amazing. The story told is absolutely incredible, but not nearly as amazing as the man who's life is being told. He truly is The Holy Thief and I am blessed to be able to call him my Daddy! He is living proof that miracles do happen!!!!

One of the most remarkable stories I have read, as the other reviewers have noted, it is truly inspirational.
Borovitz grew up in a warm family, but when his Dad died, his world fell apart. Unfortunately, he was also somewhat influenced by an Uncle who was, in reality, a Jewish mobster. Rootless, Borovitz quickly gravitated to a criminal lifestyle, undertaking increasingly more serious criminal acts. Eventually, he is forced to move from Cleveland, his birthplace, to Los Angeles. Once there, he continues his cons, and eventually lands in prison.
This memoir is well-written. In particular, it describes that one important constant that Borovitz had in his life while growing up was Judaism. His going to Synagogue, the family holiday gatherings - all are described so that the reader feels the deep reverance that Borovitz had, despite his criminal life, for his religion.
He also writes so well concerning his Change - when he began to turn away from his life of crime, and toward something far more worthy of his abilities - that of Jewish spirituality. I especially commend his description of how this took place; other authors who have undergone similar "revelations" often depict it as sudden and earth-shaking, and that from that 'moment on' each was immediately transfored from a
low-life loser to a 'saint'! Thankfully, and far more realistically, in my opinion, Borovitz explains that he was changing, but that it was gradual.
After his transformation, Borovitz completed college and then Rabbinical School. Realistically he hesitated even applying, declaring that they would not accept an ex-con gonif (thief) into their program. However, with the support of his friends, and the fact that G-d often works in mysterious ways, he was accepted with open arms.
Today he is a Rabbi for a community of people who were like him once, but also like him, are committing to changing their lives.
If you ever feel like cons, addicts, etc., can't transform their lives - just pick up this book. You will be amazed.

Next to the word inspiration in the dictionary should be a picture of Rabbi Mark Borovitz. This is the story of a man whom God chose to send to the deep valley of dispair and addiction so that he would have the experience and wisdom to encourage others to turn their lives around.
Anyone in trouble or who knows someone in trouble should read(no-devour) this book.

Like another reviewer, I don't typically take the time to write a review of books I read. As the wife of an inmate who is changing his life for the better while incarcerated, I seek out inspirational stories of people who have hit rock bottom and have used that experience to reach out to others. I read a short review of this story in Reader's Digest and decided to seek it out.
I read it cover to cover in a Saturday afternoon. The author is so frank, honest, and REAL. His story gives me hope for my husband's future, and proves that good can come after a life of mistakes.

I never take time to post reviews about books, but I had to comment on this one. I couldn't put this book down. I was especially moved by Rabbi Borovitz's definition of love, which you'll have to wait until near the end to discover. But it's so worth the wait. What an amazing story!

This is a really fun book. My daughter, son and I really enjoy comparing notes, thinking about which dinos we might want as pets and how various dinos stack up against fish, cats, dogs and the like. It is nearly believable that there are markets throughout the world to purchase your very own raptor!

The dustjacket of "How to Keep Dinosaurs" gives the reader a great and accurate preview of the book: the front shows an intelligent, fun-loving little compsognathus chasing a tennis ball, with a food-dish labeled "Dino" on the floor; the back shows a rowdy, beautifully-feathered incisivosaurus having a pillow-fight with a little girl, with the pillow clearly on the way to Pillow Heaven afterward.

Robert Mash's "How to Keep Dinosaurs" is the hilarious, tongue-in-cheek, definitive guide to breeding, raising, feeding, housing, training, and optimally utilizing different breeds of dinosaurs. Along the way, Mash pokes fun at political correctness, Americans, British, politicians, talkshow hosts, and a variety of other concepts, people, and professions. The book starts with an introduction describing the history of human-dinosaur interactions, then moves on to suggest the kinds of equipment dinosaur owners will find handy. Following this are sections on dinosaurs for beginners; dinosaurs that make good house-pets; dinosaurs that have entertainment value (e.g., riding); dinosaurs that are good as guard-animals and in related security/law enforcement areas; dinosaurs that are prime candidates to be raised for meat, eggs, feathers, or hides; and, finally, dinosaurs that are spectacular but only suitable for zoos or safari parks. At the end, there is a brief list of common dinosaur ailments (e.g., many are prone to extreme flatulence and/or constipation), and a family tree showing how the dinosaurs described in the book fit into the overall taxonomy.

Each animal listed is accompanied by a beautiful, full-color "photograph" that often shows the beast interacting with a human. The linguistic background of each animal's name is given, but these derivations are intentionally skewed for humor. There is a well-written description of the animal's strengths, weaknesses, and quirks, plus advice on feeding, housing, and breeding them, along with recommendations on what the dinosaur is most suitable for. There is a map of the world showing the best locations to purchase that particular species, and the specific stores are named. Finally, there is a set of symbols that summarize important information about the animal (e.g., an icon of a teddy bear means the animal likes children; an icon of a teddy bear missing a leg means the animal likes children to eat).

The "photographs" in this book deserve separate mention. Many beautiful, colorful, often full-page pictures are included to depict the dinosaurs and emphasize each animal's special traits. Many dino-human interactions are shown in these pictures. A prime example is the final picture, which shows a magnificent, and quite colorful, Tyrannosaurus Rex, with a family standing very nearby, and above, on an observation platform. They are taking pictures of, and pointing at, the magnificent hunter supreme. The caption reads, "A picture taken mere seconds before tragedy struck . . ."

There is only one sentence in the book where the author "slips" and alludes to the fact that dinosaurs just happen to be extinct. That one instance relates to how all the restrictions involved in dealing with endangered species do not apply to dinosaurs, as they are already extinct. I think this "slip" was intentional, with the multiple and divers purposes of poking fun at zealous conservationists, giving parents one needed statement in case their children take the book as fact, and professionally stamping the book as fiction.

While "How to Keep Dinosaurs" is fiction and made for humor, the author knows his paleontology. The species named, and their characteristics, all fit with modern paleontology and are extrapolations thereof. More recent theories about how avian the dinosaurs might have been are strongly incorporated (i.e., many of the animals depicted have primitive plumage). I am no paleontologist, and I do not know whether or not Mr. Mash is either, but he is certainly closer to being one than am I.

This book is big (length-width) but only 96 pages; with the many illustrations, it could be used as a coffeetable book. It is extremely well-done and a lot of fun. Want a chuckle? Buy this keeper.

I breed and show Boxers and am used to the standard "Owners guides" published on almost all dog breeds. This book reads as such and is CHARMING! It takes itself seriously from cover to cover, including an author photo showing his pet dino in his yard. Its fantastic, and is a SUPER coffee table book, after you are done with this clever read! Recommended to any dog/cat/horse fancier who may be beginning to take themselves too seriously.

So many people just go out and pick the cutest dinosaur they see in the pound or pet store and use this as a decision on which one to take home. If only more pet owners took responsibility before purchasing their pets and researched how big they would get, how their temperament is with children and other pets, how much they will cost in food and other expenses and how big a yard they really need to run around in then there wouldn't be so many dumped animals or feral once were pet animals running around in our national parks. Whilst there are many decision helping and informative books out in the marketplace on dogs, cats, birds and fish, there has been a severe lack of information on the large reptilian pets that are growing in popularity.

Thankfully Robert Mash has written an extremely helpful guide to dinosaur ownership complete with sensational photographs of humans interacting with their best friends around the house, out in the parks and on the sports fields. The photographs alone mean that even those who have no interest in owning a dinosaur will still be able to get great enjoyment from this book. Those doing school assignments and others who wish to use this as a research book on the facts of different types of dinosaurs will find this a lot more entertaining and easier to read than most research books. A must for any dinosaur lover.

This book is saving my sanity. Our five-year-old has been obsessed with dinosaurs for so long that we've read pretty much everything you can get your hands on about the beasts. This refreshing and extensive manual has us laughing while reading it out loud over and over again. Our son loves the handy symbol key, which allows him to look up critical traits on each dinosaur, such as which ones "like children," or "like to eat children," or are, alas, "worryingly stupid." He's got it all figured out now, which ones we should get. The photos are great.

The War in Iraq rages on - but the rebuilding has already begun. "Howling in Mesopotamia: An Iraqi-American Memoir" is the story of one Haider Ala Hamoudi, one who has dedicated his life and well being to restoring the country he loves. He tells his story of rebuilding and how the events of these past few years have changed his life and the lives of the people around him. A different look at the Iraq conflict, "Howling in Mesopotamia: An Iraqi-American Memoir" is highly recommended to community library current events shelves.

'Howling in Mesopotamia: An Iraqi-American Memoir' will remind you that Iraqis are individuals just like everyone else in this world and even though the US government and media will many times make it sound like they are lesser people because of the harsh world that they live in, this book is a stark reminder that given the right opportunities they are no different than anyone else. Read this book and learn more about Iraq and decision that were made which put the country in the state it it currently in. A thoughtful and interesting piece of work that is well worth the time.

**** RECOMMENDED

Written with disarming honesty, this memoir of an Iraqi American is a fascinating look at the Iraqi people during the American occupation. Professor Hamoudi returned to the land of his family after the invasion in 2003 with high hopes. As a bilingual lawyer from a prominent Shi'a family, he was in a good position to help with the building of the hoped for democracy. He is obviously a privileged and highly educated man, idealistic and religious but also secular. He hated Saddam Hussein and what the psychopathic dictator had done to his country. But Hamoudi is not just some ex-pat returning to his homeland in other to reap the spoils of war. Instead, as one cannot help but know from reading his engaging account, Hamoudi sincerely believed in the American effort and wanted nothing more than to be an instrumental part of bringing about a secure, happy and prosperous life for Iraqis.

In this he failed as he tells us in the final pages. He tells us why candidly. He writes: "...between air conditioning failures, power cuts, limited grocery options, appallingly slow internet connections, a near entire lack of recreation, and, of course, a constant fear of annihilation, life was becoming unbearable, my ability to write limited, and my efforts to teach Iraqi students psychologically exhausting, I felt myself wasting away." (p. 271)

Note well the practical and personal nature of his concerns. How easy it would have been--and how empty--for Professor Hamoudi to say he could not achieve success because the American occupation had been so poorly planned and executed, because the uneducated and warring Iraqi fractions were at one another's throats and were not ready for democracy. How easy it would have been to blame others, but characteristically Hamoudi blames himself and accepts personal responsibility for his "failure."

But it was not a failure because one of the things that came from his experience was this book. It is a great success itself because it shows the Iraqi people--and especially this particular Iraqi, himself--in a genuinely human way, complete with shortcomings and strengths, complete with differing ideas and beliefs, but with very much the same humanity that we all share.

Curiously enough this memoir is also a charming love story that takes the reader by surprise. Here is how Hamoudi recalls the first conversion with his future wife, Sara, whom he met while working in Kurdistan Iraq.

"'I am sorry, remind me of your name one more time?' I asked.
"She looked confused, but replied, `Sara.'
"'Sara, Professor Saman said you were interested in applying for a Fulbright, and I would like to help you. Have you completed the application?'
Sara is confused. They are conversing in Arabic, but that is not Sara's native tongue. After some further confusion, Hamoudi asks again, "'Did you not actually apply for the Fulbright? Do I have the wrong person?'
"She shook her head from side to side and stared at me, unsure of what I was saying."
At this point Hamoudi decides to go and fetch Professor Saman.
"I turned to the door. Suddenly I heard a lovely voice.
"'O thou Professor, dost thou refer to the application whose pages must be completed in full along with the most favorable recommendations sent by professors that doth hold me in the highest regard?'"
Hamoudi says, "Huh?" And then gets an inspiration: "'What dost thou say?'
"With this the most beautiful smile I had ever seen appeared on Sara's face. `I understandeth thy latest utterance thou professor of wisdom!'
"'Dost thou understand only classical Arabic?' I was feeling rather stupid speaking this way but had no alternative." (p. 200)

As they say in Hollywood: Boy meets girl, cute!

Of course love in Islamic lands is rather formal. They can hardly be together and certainly not alone. He can buy her a friendship present, maybe, but not a romantic one! And to use the word "love"--well, here is how they managed it over the telephone:
"'Haider?' she asked, as I was preparing to hang up the telephone.
"'Yes, Sara?'
"'I want to teach you a new Kurdish word before you go.'
"'Okay.'
"'In case one day you want to tell your mother, or maybe your aunt, "I love you" in Kurdish, this is how you say it--Khoshem Ewet.'
"'Got it. I am sure my Arab mother and aunt will like that.'
"'Goodbye again, then, Haider.'
"'Khoshem Ewet, Sara Khan.'
"A pause, then, in English, a language she did not know well, `I love you too.'" (p. 217)

I came away from reading this book with a new understanding and appreciation of the Iraqi people. Initially I was disposed to question Professor Hamoudi's motives, figuring that he was just another of those privileged exiled Iraqis, like Ahmad Chalabi, who promoted the invasion of Iraqi for personal gain. But Hamoudi reveals himself (as one must in telling such a long and personal story) to be sincere, hardworking, intelligent, diplomatic (very! and patient), vulnerable, more heroic than he knows, a man of the world who understands better than most of us not only what has happened and is happening in Iraq, but a man who has that understanding as both an American and an Iraqi who is an Arab Muslim. If we had more people like Professor Hamoudi in this world, the quarrels, the misunderstandings, the suspicions and hatreds that exist among people would be largely quelled and the world would be a better place.

I hope this book is widely read, as it deserves to be.

Whether you were for the initial invasion of Iraq, against the initial invasion, for a continuing large military presence in Iraq, against continuing a large military presence, for some type of military presence in Iraq, against any type of military presence, or just not sure, this book is a must read. It gives an account of what it was like, and probably still is like, to be an ordinary person living in Iraq. The author uses superb analogies of American culture to explain Iraqi culture. When reading the book, keep in mind Robert McNamara's rationale for why we lost in Vietnam, in that we did not understand the history and culture of that Southeast Asian nation. History does repeat itself, but never in the same way.
This is an intriguing book which is hard to put down.

Howling in Mesopotamia is a very good book written by an Iraqi- American who decided to revisit Iraqi during its initial post- Saddam Hussein years. Author Haider Ala Hamoudi was sent to Iraq on official university business with one main goal in mind: To educate the people of Iraq on the rule of law and help the nation transform itself to a democratic and just society. During his two years in the land of his forefathers, he does get to work with educators but he also has time to spend with his family, explore the different areas of Iraq, and witness first- hand what Iraq is like now that Saddam Hussein is gone and the nation is controlled by the American military.

Hamoudi traverses the Iraqi nation and gets to talk and interact with Iraqi natives and Americans who are there to help rebuild the nation. He listens closely to the personal stories of Iraqis and gets a perspective on how they feel about the changes that have taken place in the past few years. He takes part in different Iraqi festivals and soaks up the culture. He exchanges words with Iraqis who don't quite understand the American way of life and cannot understand why Americans speak and act the way they do. He comes away from his experience with a feeling of despair but also a glimmer of hope. Conditions are bad, and many Iraqis fear for their lives every day. But there is always that small chance that, one day, Iraqi will be able to stand on its own, defend itself, and offer a stable government for its people.

The collective mood of the Iraqi people is certainly foul, but there are a few bright spots. One is the fact that Saddam Hussein is no longer in charge of the government. The book is quick to point out the jubilation that was felt by the majority of Iraqis when Saddam Hussein was no longer a threat and the equally joyous occasion when Hussein's sons, Uday and Qusay, were killed in a gunfight. Hussein's brutal regime was largely feared and despised in Iraq, and few if any tears were shed when Hussein and his boys were eliminated from the country. But does this mean that Iraq a safe place to be?- Far from it, in the eyes of the author and those living in Iraq. Even though Saddam is gone, the country is in complete disarray and frequent mention is made of the seemingly indifferent attitude of the Americans in Iraq and how they have done little to nothing to help transition the nation from dictatorship to democracy. In the minds of the Iraqi people, the American forces either do not care or do not know what to do. With people dying from gunfire on a daily basis, Iraqis don't feel much safer than they did under Saddam and they long for the day when the U.S. forces are gone and they can reclaim their land.

This book offers many personal stories about the time Hamoudi spent in Iraq and he lets his own feelings shine forth on many occasions. His whirlwind of emotions is one of the book's many strong points. He feels for his family and misses them dearly. He is saddened by the tragedy that has befallen his nation and wishes it would improve quickly. He is appalled by the sight of filth in the cities and in the countryside. But he is also very excited at the book's end when he meets the woman he will eventually marry. Still, the overall feeling is bleak. Hamoudi came to Iraq hoping to offer a helping hand in the reconstruction of his homeland but his optimism gradually diminishes with each passing day as he bears witness to the ruined nation around him- a nation no closer to political stability than it was in the days of Saddam.

Howling in Mesopotamia is a very personal and powerful book about one man's journey to his homeland and his interactions with his family and fellow countrymen. The writing in this book is impeccable, and it makes for a great companion when you're in the mood for some reading that almost seems too surreal to be true. Some parts read like a work of fiction. But make no mistake: this is a work of non- fiction through and through, even though the author probably wishes it was a fictional novel rather than the cold, hard truth.

Regime change in Iraq hasn't been easy. Saddam is gone, but chaos and disorder are still part of life in this ancient land. The poor living conditions of the people, the turmoil of the government, and the ruinous state of the economy are all realities in post- Saddam Iraq and while the situation looks gloomy, there is still an iota of hope that Iraq might be a stable country once again. Howling in Mesopotamia explains it all, from the perspective of a man who grew up in Ohio to Iraqi parents and still hopes his homeland will be safe and secure in the not- too- distant future. Hope is all that many have left, as the war continues to drag on and on with no end in sight and little or no progress toward stability. This book explains the current situation well, and it ranks as one of the best books I have read on this subject.

Others have described The International Directory of Civil Aircraft as the "bible" of civil aviation references, and I would heartily agree. Each type of aircraft referenced has an excellent color photo, performance information that breaks the numbers down into metric and standard (making it a truly international reference guide), and a great synopsis of each aircraft type's history. All of this makes IDOCA a great guide for both aviation professionals and enthusiasts, and I'm distressed to see the 2003/2004 edition listed as "out of print" here on Amazon. One of this guides biggest benefits is its currency (a new edition every two years), and I sincerely hope that Mr. Frawely will continue making this excellent reference. I can't wait to purchase a 2005/2006 IDOCA edition!

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This book is truly fascinating. I had bought the 1997-1998 edition back in late 1997 because it just stood out from all the other books which I saw. It was just so comprehensive, everything that any aviation enthusiast could want. Without any delay I snapped up this edition when it became available. I find it readable and never boring, even if I pick it up to review something small. An excellent book.

I bought this book for the first time and I have never seen a book on aircraft that was so detailed. I love aviation and if you love aviation and civil aircraft, this is the book for you.

This is easily the best civil aircraft book in the world, it lists specifications and tells the history of the model, from a Cessna 152 to the Boeing 777 they are here! Great book and a must have for all aviation enthusiasts!