Washington Books

This is an exceptional book - very emotional and touching. In fact, I found it hard to get through more than a few pages with a dry eye. As one who is too young to remember the Vietnam era, this book helped me to better understand this part of our country's history. Highly recommended!

Wow! What a tribute! It's about time, we've heard too much about the guys who came back broken in body and spirit, addicted to drugs and despair.
BX*&#!!!
Mike Sofarelli, a Marine, came home missing part of his leg but he came back whole.
The proof of this is the wonderful book his son, Michael, has written as a tribute to him. The book is hopeful, heartbreaking and, at some points, wryly amusing.
It tells the story of how the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, The "Wall" went from being reviled when the design was unveiled to the most visited site in the National Parks system.
The true authors are the thousands of loved ones who left rememberances near the monument.
Buy the book, visit "The Wall" and thank a vet!

It's odd that many friends of mine that visit D.C., dont bother seeing this spectacular building. This book does a fine job, through vivid, crisp images and historical text, to impress upon the reader the importance of this famous structure, as a fine architectural set piece and as the nations library. I always love the story of how Jefferson sold his book collection to the library for a ridiculous sum, to settle his always present debts, it was hardly a philanthropic jesture, but then with Jefferson it was always about him anyway, great man in many ways, but deep down a cold narcassist..anyway, getting back to the building, its essentially a copy of the paris opera of Napoleon III's Second Empire, with some changes, but definitly the opera house was the inspiration for this building, Garnier's estate should have demanded royalties it was so close, at any rate, very good book on a most deserving subject, I really cant imagine anyone being disappointed in this book, if they have any interest at all in this building.

As the illustrator of the Jefferson building's overview for the book (pp.276-277), I had the rare privilege of walking through many of the areas of the Jefferson building not open to the public. Entering the Great Hall for the first time, I was caught off guard by its extraordinary beauty. Being a native Washingtonian, I was surprised that such a lavishly decorated structure existed here in Washington, D.C. The overall impression of the interior is more that of the Paris Opera House, than a government building. This beautiful book, with its many photographic details of the interior, allows the reader to recreate that sense of awe that I experienced walking through the entrance. With Anne Day's vivid photos, and the Libary's wonderful history, this book should be a welcome addition to anyone's personal library. Once you see the book, I suspect you may modify your itinerary for your next trip to Washington. This gem of a building is definitely worth a visit.

-Doug Stern

This book teaches the value of teamwork and the results that can come from it. Great for all kids, not just Husky fans.

A fun book to read to and with kids...especially if you want them to grow up to be a Husky fan!

Born in Washington, D.C., to one of the First Families of Virginia, Littleton Q. Washington attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, before securing a clerkship at the U.S. Treasury Department. In 1855, he joined the U.S. Customs House in San Francisco and became embroiled in that city's Vigilante Uprising. Dismissed from office during James Buchanan's administration, Washington made a wild and dangerous journey home across Mexico, which was then entering a bloody reform war.
An ardent secessionist, Washington secured a lieutenant's commission in the Confederate Army and served at First Bull Run. He briefly edited the Richmond Examiner before joining the Confederate State Department where he worked with Judah Benjamin for the balance of the war. He knew most of the C.S. government's top people and was a close friend of Mary Chesnut.
This journal is a fascinating character study of one man caught up in the most turbulent period of American history.

Littleton Washington's Journal is the assembled character study of Littleton Q. Washington, an ardent secessionist who served as a lieutenant in the Confederate Army at First Bull Run, and later worked with Judah Benjamin for the balance of the war. Though aptly edited by Douglas Gibboney for reader accessibility, and with informative historical notes, Littleton Washington's Journal is almost entirely Littleton's story in his own words. Highly recommended for Civil War buffs interested in seeing the Civil War from the perspective of one of its many soldiers.

I have Hepatitis C and I have read every book that Amazon sells on the subject of Hepatitis C and then some. This is a gem, the best, most objective information you will find out there. I appreciate the fact that the authors are open to alternative treatments but most importantly they are not puppets for the pharmaceutical industry. Great care needs to be taken when reading the extreme approaches to treating HCV. On the one hand you have internationally renowned hepatologists who liken the side effects of milk thistle to interferon and on the other hand, those who give you outright dangerous advice like Shark Cartilage & Colloidial Silver treatments. "Living Healthy with Hepatitis C" provides well-balanced, good advice. I also recommend the PDR for Supplements and the PDR for Herbal Medicines.

This book struck exactly the right chord for the hepatitis C sufferer who is feeling overwhelmed but wants scientifically rigorous information in a form that he or she can use. It is full of clear, factual answers to the question every hep C positive person has, with the scientific bases explained well but in a nonintimidating way.

But it also tackles those thornier questions of how to find a doctor who shares your personal style, how to avoid the "snake oil" faction of alternatives while making sure your lifestyle supports your chances for getting well and how to increase your chances of a successful liver transplant if you need one It's pragmatic and positive.

OK, so the title is a cheap rip-off of the "Must-See TV" mantra that we've been inundated by those purveyors of the electronic medium.

But as someone who has lived outside the box for more than a decade, I appreciate the thoroughness, clarity and thoughtfulness with which Brock writes in "Living Outside The Box."

She doesn't condemn TV, nor does she condemn those of us who watch it so much---and let's face it, a whole bunch of us do that, or have done that for long stretches of our lives. Instead, Brock focuses more on the up-side of turning off the TV---the doors it opens in our lives for other activities, deeper involvement with others in our family and community, and a more independent way of looking at the world.

Brock is a gracious, insightful woman whose book truly is a "must" for anyone seeking to look at how the other 1/1000th (or whatever the minuscule fraction is) live. New parents (even old parents :-) should seriously consider the benefits that can come into your life when TV is out of your life (or at least used sparingly). Every "no" inherently means "yes" to one or more other things (including writing reviews on Amazon).

When you say "no" to TV, you say "yes" to so many other beneficial things, and Brock does a terrific job of laying that out in an engaging, thought-provoking manner.

I should note that I was not among those whom Brock surveyed, though I have been in touch with her via email since the book came out (after I wrote a piece about the decision that my wife and I made to pull the plug on our TV).

Written by recreation management professor Barbara Brock, Living Outside the Box: TV-Free Families Share Their Secrets is a thoughtful analysis and outgrowth of the author's landmark study of hundreds of TV-free families. Living Outside the Box does not focus upon what is wrong with too much TV, but rather the positive benefits of entirely eliminating TV from one's daily life. Chapters offer personal testimony from parents who choose to go TV-free, and how they help their children adjust as well as finding other means to spend their time. A one-of-a-kind look at a draconian yet effective antidote to the intrusively advertisement-saturated aspects of our passive media culture, highly recommended.

...for this fund of invaluable information. I highly recommend this book along with Meyer's other stellar gem, "Views From Our Shoes," which addresses the needs siblings of people with special needs have.

This book lends the voice of hope, confidence and clarity to the experiences many people whose siblings with special needs have. It not only sheds light on many questions that often crop up, it also provides a safe forum to explore any and all sibling related issues.

I like the way Meyer respects his readers' intelligence. It is so critical, in fact paramount for people to be informed about the special needs their siblings have. That is a good way to foster honest relationships and inclusion within the family. That also promotes acceptance of the members who have special needs.


Meyer's book serves as a medical, legal and educational advocate. It provides much needed information about services in these areas. I especially liked the part where people are strongly encouraged and rightfully so to make provisions for their children with special needs and to keep the other children without special needs informed of these decisions. People with special needs are vital members of their respective families and each person impacts upon the lives of others. That is still another reason why it is so crucial to have frank, open discussions with all the family members so as to keep the lines of communication open and to prevent secrets and fear. The fear of the unknown and the lack of communication causes problems and helps no one.

I wish this book had existed a generation ago! I can't recommend it highly enough and it is a book for everybody, parents; all children; educators; medical professionals and the world at large. I love this book!

I am a Japanese and I am a "sibling."

I encountered this book and Don Meyer's Sibling Support Project in October of 1997. At that time, I was struggling to persuade the staff of a (sibling) group that support for siblings was as important as support for people with special needs. In my view this book gave me confidence and shed light on my road to start a new sibling support group.

Some uncommon feelings, opportunities and concerns that siblings might have are described in Chapter 1. Medical knowledge of various disabilities are written about in Chapters 2-6. Since siblings are not often informed about their siblings' disabilities by anyone, it could cause more concern; this book's objective is very important. You can also get basic knowledge of laws, programs, and services for persons with disabilities and their families in the U.S., in Chapter 7. In Chapter 8, an uncommon concern is discussed: where will my sister (brother) live when she (he) grows up. The authors continues by stressing the fact that parents should tell their plans for their disabled children to their "normal" children, and offers suggestions for doing this.

Since this book is intended for young siblings, it is easy for me to read it as a foreigner. Reading Chapter 1, tears welled up in my eyes. I could relate to many things: friends, unselfishness, accepting differences, guilt, overinvolvement, understanding, embarrassment, loss, maturity, worry and loneliness. I wish I could have read it in Japanese when I was a child ! I strongly recommend young and adult siblings, parents and service providers to read this book all over the world, because siblings need peer support and information in a straightforward manner.

This is the best guide for things to keep you busy if you're in Washington!

The right mix of interesting information, maps, history and tips. Highly recommended.

This is an excellent book if you are interested in learning the history of the Long Beach Peninsula. The author of the book did a great job researching the area history. Book provides a very nice section of historical pictures relating to the Long Beach Peninsula.

I have lived in the area my entire life and learned quite a bit from the book. A highly recommended pleasure read! Enjoy!

Brian Loos

The Long Beach Peninsula has been a favorite vacation destination of mine for long time and I have been interested in the history of this unique place for years. This book is a must for anyone traveling to the peninsula or for anyone who has lived there for years.

This is one of the most fascinating stories I have ever read. Politically correct academics have succeeded in erasing Longfellow from the American canon, replacing him and his contemporaries with names you've never heard and will never know how to pronounce. Perhaps this bit of exotica if not to say erotica will give life back to this former pillar of American culture. It is the son, not the sage of Cambridge whom Professor Guth has chosen as her subject. But what a character he is. Longfellow Jr. had very little going for himself besides boredom and a nearly limitless bank account, so he went on an extended grand tour of the Orient, setting himself up in a Japanese harem, stocked like a koi pond which nubile Japanese maidens. Besides an addiction to Asian flesh, young Longfellow seems to have keyed into that great American pastime known as shopping with the result that he brought a warehouse full of souvenires back to fill Boston's museums and the mansions of his father's aristocratic friends. Any way you look at it, this story has legs. It's a miracle Hollywood hasn't grabbed hold of it. Stay tuned.

Charles Longfellow was the son of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Charles visited Japan in the 1870s intending a brief visit, and stayed for two years, returning to Boston with photos and elaborate tattoos he had 'collected' on his body. But Christine M.E. Guth's Longfellow's Tattoos: Tourism, Collecting, And Japan is not so much a survey of collectible items nor even tattoo history, as a cultural expose of Japan in the 19th century travel world. Chapters survey the state and nature of Japanese culture in the world of the times, using art and curios as a focal point.