History Books

This is small format book! Simply put, this is not a then and now picture book considering that photos were taken at various distances from different angles. For those who love Chicago, an outstanding book is "Chicago at the Turn of the Century in Photographs", A large format book with great clear photos!

I just received this book as a gift from a friend who has heard me talk about relocating to Chicago. Well, after reading this book, I really want to visit this city and seriously think about moving there. This book was a nice addition to my library

I just found this book at my local bookstore and was excited about reading it cover to cover. I just loved how informative this book was and it is a great tribute to a great mid-western city. Having lived here for the past 20 years, there are many facts that I didn't know until I read this book. I just loved the selection of photographs contained in this book. Thank you for several enjoyable afternoons reading this book.

Just purchased this book that really gives you a good feel of Chicago, past and present. The photographs are wonderful and I enjoyed reading about this great midwestern city. A must-have to complete any collection of Chicago History Books.

I just purchased the book online and after reading it cover to cover, I now want to visit Chicago. A real nice introduction to a great city. I found the many descriptions of the various historic places in the commercial district extremely fascinating along with the very interesting "old" and "new" photography. I loved the book!!!!

For all you kids out there who picked up a guitar because you wanted to be a Beatle, this book shows you how to do it.

First, be exceedingly talented and charming, then WORK YOUR TAIL OFF! Within these pages is detailed documentation of exactly what the Beatles did to attain, then retain, their unparalleled success.

No other band, save possibly The Ramones, put in more stage time wherever they could, and we all know the results.

Read this book, young musicians, then go out there and do it, for the sake of us music fans.

Thanks to Mr. Lewisohn for this book. We look forward to his multivolume bio.

I borrowed The Complete Beatles Chronicle from the library hoping to get more info on the making of the White Album (my favorite). But, because of how well the book is written, I wound up starting from page one.

This book is interesting because it doesn't miss the big picture. At the beginning of each year is a concise chronicle of what happen that year and its significance. One needn't get bogged down in the details. Just read the first few pages of each chapter for a good overview.

But, if you read the whole account, you'll discover the true genius of the four lads from Liverpool and how they somehow managed to create high-quality songs in between appearances on TV shows, sitting in on radio broadcasts, making movies, going on far-flung concert tours and dealing with mobs of desperate Beatlemaniacs.

Some of this data must be conjecture (even though it's not presented as such). For example, unless it was revealed in an interview, how would the author know that Billy Preston was brought into the Get Back sessions in order to break the tension within the group.

Still, it's an easy read filled with facts. I must now buy this book. So should you.

[DW]

Since publishers and editions change from time to time, I am not certain that I am reviewing the exact book. This book will be interesting mainly to those who were teenagers during the 1960s. These persons will recall the first time they heard each of the Beatles' albums, or they will recall the event of buying these albums. For example, I first heard Sgt.Pepper at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. The album was played before the performers went on stage -- that was Cream on their first American tour, along with Gary Burton Quartet and the Flaming Groovies (a last minute replacement for the Electric Flag). Anyway, the book takes the form of a diary detailing when and under what circumstances many of the songs were composed, recorded, and performed. The book contains 360 pages of small print, and almost every page has a 1/4 page photograph, though some are 1/8 page or 1/2 page, in size. The latter part of the book contains color photos. The reproductions of the photos are better than one might expect -- nice contrast and sharp focus. We learn that the original name of the Beatles was the Quarry Men, where this name came from Quarry Bank High School for Boys (page 12). We learn that the Quarry Men (John, Paul, George, and John Lowe (drums)) made their first recording in 1958 (page 13). We learn that Ringo was the drummer for a band called "Al Caldwell's Texans" even before he (Ringo) jointed "Rory Storm and the Hurricanes." (page 16) We learn that the first appearance of the lineup of John, Paul, George, and Ringo took place on August 18, 1962, and this was at Hulme Hall, where the occasion was the Horticultural Society's annual dance (page 75). We learn that the Beatles' first U.S. performances were in February 1964. An interesting fact is that Charles Finley, then owner of the Kansas City Athletics baseball team, paid $150,000 out of his own pocket to persuade the Beatles to play in Kansas City, and that the manager of the hotel in Kansas City cut up the Beatles' bed linen into 3-inch squares, and sold them for $10 each (page 139). We learn that the trumpet players on Strawberry Fields Forever were Tony Fisher, Greg Bowen, Derek Watkins, and Stanley Roderick (page 234) and that Dave Mason played the B-flat piccolo trumpet on Penny Lane (page 240). We learn that Maxwell's Silver Hammer took 27 takes, that She Came In Through the Bathroom Window took 39 takes, and that Here Comes the Sun had 13 takes (pages 324-327). Again, the reading is fairly dry and fun facts are encountered only on occasion. There is essentially no information on the Beatles' social lives. But for those who were teenagers during the 60s, the book is likely to be a page turner.

The Beatles weren't always big,and their was a time actually before Beatle mania.In these times we also didn't always have Ringo star to play drums.We had Pete Best.

The compiled information is outstanding.For a person to gain so much information and archives and list them all in this well priced book is a genious.Very affordable as amatter of fact i picked this up new for $5.99 just awhile ago.

With a well written list of all of The Beatles shows from Livirpool to the USA you can expect the same amoutn of quality info in each segment.The back of the book features a list/guide to all the Beatles albums and a well summed up list of al their songs.(OR so we believe)All the information found in this book is accurate never having to worry of fasle news paper clippings or romours that spread amongst those days.Cool little tid bits of info float all over the book and some well done photos.

This is truley for the Beatle fan in all of us craving that little bit of nerdiness wondering about everything they ever did.Or to some one who wants a well written chronological ordered book of the Beatles in general.Big fan or newcomer this is just right for you.

I borrowed The Complete Beatles Chronicle from the library hoping to get more info on the making of the White Album (my favorite). But, because of how well the book is written, I wound up starting from the beginning.

This book is interesting because it doesn't miss the big picture. At the beginning of each year is a concise chronicle of what happen that year and its significance. One needn't get bogged down in the details. Just read the first few pages of each chapter for a good overview.

But, if you read the whole account, you'll discover the true genius of the four lads from Liverpool and how they somehow managed to create high-quality songs in between appearances on TV shows, sitting in on radio broadcasts, making movies, going on far-flung concert tours and dealing with mobs of desperate Beatlemaniacs.

Some of this data must be conjecture (even though it's not presented as such). For example, unless it was revealed in an interview, how would the author know that Billy Preston was brought into the Get Back sessions in order to break the tension within the group.

Still, it's an easy read filled with facts. I must now buy this book. So should you.

[DW]

I had this book in my wishlist for over two years. I kept off buying it basically because it looked like many other "past catastrophes that will happen again unless we repent and stop buying SUVs" type of book.
However during that same period many reviews indicated that this was a different book, and frankly it is the best book on the subject of ancient catastrophes that I've ever bought.
It gives a scientific support to other author's wild claims of ancient cultures and technologies that are very badly proposed in many other books.
Finally a book shows that it's feasible that many ancient cultures were decimated by the events related in this book, even though they make no such claims.
This will be a great addition to your collection.

As other reviewers have mentioned, the title of this book is not completely accurate as it doesn't explore much in the way of cycles of catastrophe's such as comet strikes and Im not sure why the authors would title it in such a way because the essence of this book if marketed well is interesting enough to attract many serious readers. Unlike other `pseudo science books' this one tackles head on a number of key findings relating to an `event' that supposedly happened 13,000 years ago in a way that iw generally well backed up and emphasizes what is theory, what is unproven and what is likely to be true. As a result I enjoyed this book emmensely because it does away with the Graham Hancock style of rhetoric and gives us some clear evidence in the form of pictures, scenarios and diagrams.

It could be said that the authors have not tied together all the loose ends and considering what their focus of investigation was I don't think this detracts from what the book implies. If one is to research a number of other books on similar topics a picture starts emerging about our past that not only sounds very logical but is incredibly fascinating.

Mass extinctions are nothing new. One of the most common geological process in the solar system is meteor and comet impacts. This book specifically explores the role of an exploding supernova's influence on earth. Other scientists have documented supernova explosions and dynamics before including the potential for it causing a major event 13,000 years ago. This is highly significant because it happened at the end of our last ice age and happened towards the beginning of wat we have recorded as history. Its also very significant because many ancient cultures have deeply embedded stories of such an event.

I enjoyed the evidence presented relating to micro meteorites imbedded in mammoth tusks and clovis stone tools and the photos showing clear meteor or comet strikes on earth. There should be nothing controversial about debris impacting with earth...anyone who's spent a little time looking at the night sky will have seen a shooting star. The book made me ponder the scenarios presented and try and tie them in with other theories such as earth displacement and catastrophes evident elsewhere in the solar system. The idea that the earths crust could have shifted, or other geological processes happened, in a short space of time is a valid theory and especially so when applied to an event as covered in this book. I thought the authors could have at least speculated some of the more unknown areas or discussed how one could investigate any link between a comet strike on earth and crust displacement. It's not a giant leap of imagination to contemplate a large enough strike on earth as causing some disbalance to our plate tectonics or geological processes. Tis would tie into other theoretical books that propose geological processes may happen much faster and not as uniformly as believed.

The same goes even for adventurers seeking remnants of Atlantis or highly civilized ancient people. Its seems highly likely that if there was an Atlantis that is was somewere in the america's - it matches Plato's description and seems logical as a trading location given its proximitry to Africa and Europe. Its enjoyable to speculate that what happened in north America 13,000 years ago wiped out much of this civilization and that indeed humans may have almost been wiped out many times before. Graham Hancock will go to length to talk about how earthquakes shook the world and so the pyramids were this built for sophisticated astronomical purposes. But astronomy is not volcanism. It seems much more likely that the ancients wanted desperately to understand the mechanics of the universe because they had been severely affected by it. It makes sense that a culture battered by a process such as described in this book would then strive to understand natural processes and build monuments of stone that also act as astronomical computers.

What would have been nice in this book is a more in depth comparison with the theory of our solar system having a companion star. It is suggested that every 26,000 years we orbit a binary star that could also explain comet strikes due to the disruption such an orbit would induce. This theory is well put together in the dvd `the great year' and points to a range of cultures that perhaps understood this process. The timing of such an event caused by such a binary orbit could also be calculated to around 13,000 years. Day and night have a profound impact on us, the moon cycles have a profound affect on us, the sun a profound affect on us...why not a binary star?

One of the most interesting aspects of this book was in its discussion of how human populations increased after this event and how this could have been due to greater access to the land or even due to mutations from the supernova/comet radiation. Mutations might sound like science fiction but no-one still has a clear idea of how one species evolves into another. This was Darwins dilemma. Perhaps it is in fact catastrophic events like this that push evolutionary mutations along. Like war - long periods of nothing and then short shapr periods of change. I just can't buy this old school view of the world as being so uniform and rigid. It doesn't make sense. The idea that legitimate scientists would overlook these sorts of issues of how we view geological time, our antiquity and our solar system geology is not suprising but a shame more scientists are not actively researching these fields. Instead they are researching global warming and other areas, that likely lead to better paychecks.

Now Im going to go read `when life nearly died' and see what light it sheds.

Fascinating book and well worth the read. The many pictures, questions and answers and scholarly authorship makes this one a true contemplator in the hit and miss alternative theory market. Its just a shame they didnt elaborate on other 'cycles of cosmic catastrophes'.

In brief, the authors' thesis is this: 41,000 years ago, a Supernova (Geminga) exploded, in the cosmic vicinity of Earth. On at least three separate occasions, this event had significiant influence on the lives of creatures on this planet. 1.) The radiation from the Supernova killed or mutate species in Australia and southeast Asia. 2.) About 7,000 years later, the shockwave material began to arrive in our Solar System. 3.) A low density object (comet, or supernova material) impacted the norther hemisphere, wiping out megafauna (large animals - mammoths, mastodon, horses, rhinoceroses, etc.) and the paleoamerican Clovis culture, in North America.

The book, divided into three parts - Solving the Mystery, Describing The Event Sequence, and Presenting the Evidence - does a fantastic job of entertaining and educating the reader. We become (vicariously) an investigator, an eye-witness, and a multi-disciplinary scientist. In the process, the authors succeed in convincing us (most thoughtful, objective readers) of the validity of their theory's main points.

I like this book for a number of reasons. The first part, solving the mystery of the black mat, allows us to peer inside the recognizably human world of a scientific researcher. We get to share his travels and curiosity, sympathize with his hunches, and envy his luck. We also learn of his low tech pragmatism - using a shotgun to blast iron grains at a mammoth tusk, or tossing small objects into a cakepan filled with flour to see what kind of craters they make.

The second part provides a chilling account of the three times when there was Hell on Earth. No disaster movie yet made comes close to the intensity and devastation that this Event probably caused.

And while the third part - The Evidence - takes up most of the book, it too can be fascinating in its own right. Not only are we given the data gathered to support the authors' claim, but we are shown the reasoning which rules out previous, conventional explanations, and supports this theory as the correct one.

More importantly for me personally, and perhaps for anyone with an interest in cultural, spiritual and religious mythology, the authors take care to present a diverse sampling of ancient legends and stories which apparently attempt to convey what survivors of that time actually may have experienced or observed, albeit with symbolic embellishments being added along the way.

All told, this book/theory may explain a great deal about our world today. It implies that the event and our reaction to it, caused the prevalence of global disaster and flood myths around the world. Quite often we note that the gods or heavens were the source of our ancestors doom, and the blame is often laid upon the evil or wickedness of those who perished during the cleansing. Some say that it was because our ancestors forgot their creator, that he wanted to remind them/us that he was still important in their lives.

More specifically, the research tends to dispell the more recent myth that early Americans overhunted the mammoths, resulting in their extinction. And the timing with the disappearance of Atlantis, according to Plato, is too close for coincidence. What is not clear is whether this particular event is also responsible for the Biblical story of Noah and the Flood. Other sources cite a meteor impact closer to 5,000 years ago. Of course, the authors may have avoided this suggestion, for fear of alienating the religious fundamentalist who take exception with anything that appears to conflict with their understanding of scripture.

Finally, the authors issue an explicit warning that the consequences of this supernova event are not over yet. Mankind owes much of his current success, and overpopulation, due to the supernova events wiping out competing predators. They remark that after all extinction events, some species proliferate and overpopulate, but eventually succumb to limited resources, and suffer a massive depopulation eventually. Humans are still at the overpopulation stage, but may yet be on the brink of depopulation. In any event, the bombardment of the Earth by meteors and comets (due to the supernova) is far from over, and we are experiencing a rate of about 75% of the all-time high, about three times what it was a billion years ago.

None of this is to say that the book is without some faults. The wording is not as clear as I would like it (in places), and some of the statements are just plain wrong. For instance, Gemini is said to have only a few weeks every year when it rises in the northeast (as seen from a particular location.) The reality is, that at that latitude, Gemini always rises in the northeast, each and every day, whether it can be seen or not.

Yet on the whole, this is perhaps the most important book I have ever had the pleasure to read, because the theory answers so many questions I have long pondered, and it does so with the weight of scientific thought and evidence behind it.

I'll make this short - everyone should read it!!!
The slightly lengthier version is -
The authors put a case for a cataclysmic planetary impact event of circa 13000 - 16000 BP having been preceded by the shock wave and the initial light / radiation blast of a nearby supernova around 41000BP but with the major focus being on the impact event(s).
Unlike others that have written on similar themes, these authors supply a myriad of evidence to back up their claims and the real strength of their work is the breadth of various unrelated scientific studies undertaken which seem to support the proposition. A tremendous amount of work has gone into this book.
It provides the supporting scientific evidence in an easy to read way - I eagerly await the next work they produce on this subject.

I agree with one other reviewer here who said "horrible cover but great book"...the cover and the title of the book are way over the top. I half expected the book to start with chapters of little green men who caused the extinction of mammoths. Despite the goofy title and cover, this is an easy to read, easy to follow theory of what caused the great extinctions of 13,000 years ago in North America, killing off the mammoths, mastodons and evidently much of the human population (clovis culture) along about that time. Firestone's theory of the comet hitting an area near Lake Michigan, which was covered in ice two miles thick at the time, takes a little getting used to, and opening the mind a bit to grasp the entire theory. He examines everything from the mysterious "black mat" at the Murray Springs Arizona Clovis site to the micro meteorites embedded in Mammoth tusks, to the "Carolina Bays" that were supposedly created by large chunks of glacial ice, blown out of the Michigan glacier by this comet. He explains the comet was supposedly made of "dirty ice" a cosmic dustball, and the size of the comet was what caused the depression which later became Lake Michigan. A very entertaining read, and a theory worth considering.

The author writes beautifully & this is well-translated.

The pages fly by. Terrific story, wonderful plot with twists & turns. Highly enjoyable.

i ordered this one and the 'special assignments' book at the same time and read them both back to back. the way that 'achilles' slips from fandorin's view to achimas's view is seamless and well crafted. the story moves quickly, and the internal politics between the different departments are just as interesting as the battle between our hero and his main adversary. i liked very much that akunin gives the antagonist a human side (as much as possible for a professional killer). the fact that fandorin is not entirely perfect, and he's not entirely invulnerable makes him so much more believable. this book is well worth your time if you loved earlier fandorin mysteries.

This is the fourth Fandorin story to be translated (with kudos to Andrew Bromfield for a great job) of the eleven stories that Akunin has written. It would be great if the publishers could get moving and get more than one book translated each year. Much of this book is a continuation of the story line from the "Winter Queen" and the conflict between Erast and the assassin Achimas.

The book itself has an inventive structure. The first part (which is divided into chapters) deals with Erast and the 'Death of Achilles' (aka General Sobelev) who was a hero to most of Russia. We learn that the General was planning a 'coup d'etat' and that he planned to set himself up as Tsar. He dies though, inflagarante and this is just the beginning of the story. Erast is certain that the General was murdered but he is not sure why, how or on whose orders. As he works his way through the maze of misinformation, double and triple agents, just as he is about to confront Achimas, the first part ends.

The second part (where chapters are headlined by names) is the biography or history of Achimas. How he came to be an assassin for hire and his training and background. We even see how he first encounters Erast. In the end we follow him through the murder of Sobelev and fill in some of the information left out in the first part. Again this section ends as he is about to be confronted by Erast.

The third part is the short (only twenty pages, two chapters) where the two antagonists square off and we learn the identity of the man who has ordered the 'Death of Achilles' and why.

Though I would have preferred to read more about the six years that Erast spent in Japan (I assume there will be flashbacks in future novels) the background on Achimas is entertaining reading.

Erast Fandorin's return to Moscow is marred by the death of his war-hero friend, The White General - Mikhail Sobolev. Although the apparent cause is an unexpected heart-attack, Fandorin, exercising his unusual observation skills suspects foul play. As he investigates the circumstances, it seems he's correct, but nobody is willing to acknowledge the reality. Fandorin, in fact, sees any support for his seeking the truth not only whither away, but become outright hostile. This is a very political crime, indeed. In an excruciatingly twisted and seemingly endless story, Akunin has again demonstrated the skills that have made him one of Russia's most popular contemporary writers.

Unlike some of the Fandorin books, such as "The Turkish Gambit" where our hero often seems limited to almost cameo roles, the "collegiate assessor" - his innocuous-sounding official title - is more present and accounted for in this story. He even demonstrates his skills at disguise to enter one of Moscow's less salubrious evening entertainment establishments in search of information for his quest. Although the politicians fail to provide Erast with any support, the "registrar's" time in the Orient enabled him to gain a helpmeet. Masahiru, who bears an interesting resemblance to Peter Sellers' "Kato" in the Inspector Clouseau films, has interesting tastes in both food and women. A samurai, he's taught Erast much, but is seriously challenged in adapting to the West. Still, it's a team with amazing potential. Akunin has a talent for giving us only a partial view of Fandorin. Even after four introductions, we remain uncertain of with whom we are dealing. Which certainly doesn't detract from the story.

In this tale, a new prose style and an unexpected element appear as a departure from the rest of the series. The style is slightly more open and there are flashes of humour rarely present in Akunin's work - if you set aside ironies. In many ways, this is the most "readable" of the Fandorin tales. Subtle differences from the rest of the series - it is less "imitative" than the previous books -providing it with a characteristic flavour. The element is to set aside over a third of the book to a [seemingly] new character - Achimas. Akunin develops this man in exquisite detail, weaving a compelling, if disturbing narrative around the forming of a dedicated killer. Known as Aksahir - the "White Wizard" - Achimas moves through Russia and into Europe building a reputation. With so much space dedicated to Achimas' story, it's clear that a confrontation with Fandorin is inevitable. Its resolution, of course, will have surprising twists. After all, this is Akunin! [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A remarkable series to say the least , with an incredible backdrop of Russia towards the end of the period of the Tsars. The one thought which crossed my mind when I put down the novel was , just where was Boris Akunin all this while. Erast Fandorin , a 24 carat hero, is one of the best sleuths that you will encounter in literature.
The setting is 19th century Russia flirting with enlightenment , with significant tension simmering with imperial neighbors. The nation is rocked with the death of its favourite general in rather suspicious circumstances, conveniently in the same hotel where Erast Fandorin is lodged. What follows is a remarkable story of unravelling layers of intrigue .Every murder seems to indicate an acceptable closure to the mystery , but a never say die pursuit by the detective takes you deeper into the darker forces involved. Fandorin has a remarkable Japanese man friday which tends to deviate from the usual diet of dumb counterfoils to brilliant detectives. Fandorin is Holmes with Zen nay a Bond with restraint. There's much more than just Fandorin to savor here. The rather brutal rural Russian setting gives rise to a diabolical assassin who almost proves too much for out hero.
Its a great commentary on Russian society during the 19th century, much as the pipe smoking Holmes characterises Britain. Never a dull moment , this is a book to savor.

Two books are tops for those who love the game and choose to continue learning how to play it well: this one and Every Shot Must Have a Purpose: How GOLF54 Can Make You a Better Player The stories, experiences, tips, and memories are superbly inspiring. Worth re-reading every year!

I don't play golf but I LOVED Ms. Vold's book, read every word, hated to have it end! I would recommend this book to anyone whether they play golf or not.

This book has it all....contemporary history of women who love the game and made the LPGA what it is today, nostalgia, technique and lots of food for thought. Any woman who has a passion for golf must read this one. I seldom read a book more than once...I'm on my third time through in less than three months. Do yourself a favor by buying it and keeping it near your nightstand to refer to again and again.

"If a person has any greatness in them, it comes to light , not in one flamboyant hour, but in the ledger of their daily work." Beryl Markham "West with the Night"

The women Mona Vold writes about in her book, "Different Strokes", are national treasures worthy of any reader's time. And although the common thread of their journeys is the world of golf, the passion of their hearts, the clarity of their minds and the strength of their voices both dig deeply into and transcend that rich and humbling game.

Without reservation, I highly recommend this wise and thoughtful book.

Fun to hear what the other half has to say about the game. Great stories a good read for any golfer. Not to sure about the technical information. You might want to purchase GOLF IS A WOMAN'S GAME to set you straight on that. Both books really elevate women's golf.

Earth Prayers From around the World: 365 Prayers, Poems, and Invocations for Honoring the Earth We are finding this book useful each week in our Mass readings and will continue to use it for reflection.

A friend of mine just purchased this book and we read quite a few of the prayers/poems together. They are exquisite; lovely, lovely poems that are a blessing to read and share. I highly recommend this book. Coming from a Christian faith, I found them to be a wonderful bridge to read and share of other faiths and honoring mine as well. I'm purchasing several for Christmas gifts. Wonderful gift for anyone who enjoys the outdoors.

I use this book frequently. It has many wonderful prayers that I share with others. The book was like new and arrived quickly in good condition.

This is an excellent selection of Earth-centered prayers. I borrowed an instructor's copy, and had to acquire a hard-bound copy for myself!

This eclectic collection of prayers, poems, chants, verses, and mantras from all around the world is worth keeping near at all times. A dear friend gave this to me many years ago and I've nearly worn out the copy carrying it with me while sauntering from the Rockies and high Sierra, to the depths of the southwest desert canyons, to the wild Pacific shore. This is truly a wonderful collection of wisdom and inspiration that should be part of everyone's library. Its strength is found in its extensive Native American selections. Its only shortcoming is a scarcity of poetry from the Chinese masters.

By Kyle Gardner, author of Medicine Rock Reflections

Robust account of one of the seminal figures of early America, one attempting the creation of an indigenous culture cast in a more universal mode than that of the provincial Christianity of his roots. The courage to give up his secure life as a minister for the uncertainties of exploration and creative renewal marks Emerson's trail through a pioneer's psychological American wilderntess, to touch on and integrate everything from the post-Kantians, to the Buddhists/Hindus to the Persians and Sufis. That Emerson evolved into a near firebrand abolitionist is an aspect of his life unsufficiently told, and this part of his later career runs clear in this book. All in all, a first rate pioneer story of another kind.

This is the only biography of Emerson that truly matters. Richardson locks in on the essentials - the development of a seeking mind is search of the ground of being and the nature of reality. Emerson is our Founding Thinker and to do him justice, a biographer has to grapple with the how and why a mind grows, changes, struggles and reaches new heights. Even if you haven't read much Emerson, this biography sheds light on what Emerson meant when he said, "Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind."

In the past, my experience in reading Emerson has been similar to reading the Tao Te Ching; interesting, non-mainstream in its point of view, puzzling to understand what exactly it means. So I would pick up the Tao and read it at different times of the day and different frames of mind, hoping that it would resonate with me, but it never did. Maybe it was the cultural difference, or the language, or not being able to easily identify with Lao Tzu. Such had been my experience with Emerson. I wanted to understand him better because what little I did understand made me want to learn more, but I just couldn't get there.

This biographer, Richardson, really did his homework and any who want to understand Emerson better should appreciate this work. Emerson kept exhaustive journals and collections of his thoughts for many years. He read widely and deeply, kept detailed notes, and thoroughly indexed the notes. What perfect material to access for writing a biography! Apparently Richardson went back and studied much of the source material that Emerson references in his journals and brings into this biography an understanding of who Emerson was reading and what it meant to Emerson, so we receive the pleasure of following along on a journey in the development of a powerful mind. Then Richardson is able to write about this development so that it is easily readable to us moderns. It's quite a remarkable achievement.

"Mind on Fire" shows me that Richardson is certain that studying Emerson and his message is worthwhile. So much consideration has gone into this biography that when I laid it down after almost non-stop reading for several days over the holidays, I felt like I really understood Emerson for the first time, and now have much better insight. I plan to let this book simmer in my mind a few more months, then pick it up and read it again.

If Richardson could also write something as lucid and detailed to help me understand the Tao Te Ching, I wouldn't have 10,000 questions about the 10,000 things. ;-)

Mr. Richardson's 'Thoreau A Life of the Mind' was not only the best biography I've read on Thoreau, but one of the most exhilerating and enlightening reading experiences of my life. So I decided to read his 'Emerson The Mind on Fire.' And it was every bit as intimate and intelligent.

There are times you feel that you're intruding upon Waldo and Henry on one of their walks. It was an endless stroll of two intellectuals and humanists on the path of being very human. Each of the one hundred chapters (both books) are kept short, which helps move the reader from topic to topic without ever feeling put upon (too much detail can drag what is otherwise very interesting.) Though, for me personally, I would love to savor every moment these two great men shared. I don't think I could ever get bored.

Emerson has many close friends with whom one gets to know intimately. His personal address book was a whose whose of literary and intellectual greats.

The relationship between Emerson and his second wife, Lidian, is of great interest. She was also intellectual and as much a partner in life as she was a wife. Her presence is everywhere in Emerson's life.

Emerson's essays are pure poetry. And the behind the scene snippets into how they became a part of his legacy was both insightful and relevant to the day to day interactions and causes he committed himself. His transformation from the unremarkable child into the neverending 'student' of self-education and commitment to social conscience throughout his entire adult life is one to be admired.

Mr. Richardson is one of the best biographers of nineteenth century literaries. He is truly one with his topic.

Robert Richardson's biography of Emerson is superb. Though, as Richardson reminds us, Emerson did not like superlative language when precise and adequate language would do, it is the case that at times the superlative, the precise and the adequate converge (as, in fact, they often did in Emerson's writings). Richardson's biography is indeed superb in its unfolding of Emerson's life -- the loves, the friendships, the losses, the intellectual and spiritual hunger, the religious quest, the writers in America, in Europe, in Persia and elsewhere to whom Emerson owed and acknowledged debts, the grasping at and for a world, the determination of a single, brilliant human being to find his way and to see his life, and all individual lives, as imbued with the divine and thus worth living.

The book is also superbly written. Each short chapter offers enough substantive insight to urge the reader into the next. It is a long book, but not long-winded. Richardson provides the reader with some morsel of insight in a few pages of narrative, and then offers a rest to digest what has been said. His placement of quotations from Emerson's journals, essays and other works is brilliant, offering the reader a useful sketch of Emerson's metaphysics and ethics. In my own case, this has allowed time to reach for other literature more fully descriptive of the events or scenes offered in a particular chapter, or to reread chunks of Emerson's writings while moving through the biography. The book is a useful tool not merely for a study of Emerson's life but for a study of Transcendentalism and of the interplay of ideas across the Atlantic that shaped American thought in so many ways. One sees more clearly where and how such writers as Nietzsche and Thoreau obtained the seeds of their own truths from Emerson's works and thoughts.

Richardson has set the standard for the writing of future biographies. Again, simply superb.

I lost sleep last night to devour its last page...I love a night like last night where a book keeps me awake like a lover.

This collection is the juice of a cool of mango on a scathing summer day, I tasted radience in the words!! I immediately got more to give as presents to friends in love.

This collection is a falling in love with life and shouldn't be missed!

I started to read this book with skepticism, because I think that it is impossible to translate Neruda in his exact sense. However, I had a very good impression of the book, and I think that the author did a great effort understanding Neruda's poems. Obviously, if you really want to know Neruda, you need to read his work in Spanish, but still it is a good approach to introduce you in his poetry.

It's difficult to read Neruda and remain intact.

"Of all that I was, I bear only these cruel scars,
because those griefs confirm my very existence."

I got The Essential Neruda when it came out in 2004. I already loved Neruda, and have the old Selected Poems edition (which unfortunately ends at 1968, and some of the translations are just plain flat) plus the 20 Love Poems, Residence on Earth, Canto General, and some of the odes. But the translators here (former US Poet Laureate Robert Hass just won the Pulitzer!) just bring Neruda so alive, and the selection of poems just captures his whole range of 'the many Pablos'. So when I came here today to buy one as a gift, I'm pleased by the reviews of how great an introduction to Neruda it is, but I want to stress how great it is as a book to keep going back to again and again. Actually, to quote the great writer Ariel Dorfman on the back cover of the book:

"What beter way to celebrate the hundred years of Neruda's glorious residence on our earth than this selection of crucial works - in both languages! A splendid way to being a love affair with out Pablo or, having already succumbed to his infinite charms, revisit him passionately again and again and yet again."

Gorgeous work. Neruda is my all time favorite. A beautiful book to give as a gift or to get some started with Neruda.

I just cannot wait to get a bit of time to be able to really sink my teeth into a project using the lessons in this really good book. Well written with plenty of illustrations and easy to follow instructions.

I love Maureen as an artist and my rating has nothing to do with her or her book in general. The detail in her artistry is fantastic and her instructions are easy to follow.

I was dissapointed in the condition of this book though from the seller. It was used, but I was surprised at how bad the condition of it really would be. Out of all the used books I've purchased through Amazon, this was the worst...... Again, this has NOTHING to do with the author or her book in general. It is still worth your purchase.

this is a fun project one both young and young at heart will enjoy. Mom if you want a project you and your childern can do together, this is it. What a great feeling when you see the finished friend your child created. They will want to do more and more. It is very additive.

Polymer clay figures are difficult to make at first, but the book is easy to understand and entertaining to read.The author discusses topics from choosing clays and tools to learning to see the different shapes of faces and body proportions. She includes a variety of facial shapes to practice, with step by step guidance. There is no confusion and loads of clever ideas for caricatures. There is also a chapter on problems and solutions. I am working on caricatures of my family right now, and I don't know of another book that could be as helpful as this one. I am very pleased with it. I have a few others, but this is the one that I recommend to friends, and basically the only one I need.

Whether you are a beginning sculptor, or an experienced doll maker, this book is a good one to have on your reference shelf.

The artist has a playful way of explaining/showing you how to do things, and the step-by-step color photographs are really helpful. She even shows you how to make tools from common everyday things you'll find around the house.

I was impressed by her ability to sculpt perfect caracatures of her friends and family. There was no mistaking who it was when you saw the finished sculpt along side the photo of her person.

Enjoyable book.

I AM AN AUSTRALIAN AND I VISITED OSHKOSH IN 1997 WITH MY WIFE AND HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SEEING BOB HOOVER FLY.I HEARD BOB AND CHUCK YEAGER TALK AND RIB EACH OTHER, AS ONLY GOOD FRIENDS AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE GREATEST RESPECT
FOR EACH OTHER CAN DO.THIS BOOK IS A REAL TREASURE.IT REVEALS THE SKILL AND BRAVERY OF THIS VERY SPECIAL MAN.IT ALSO SHOWS THE CHARACTER ,FORTITUDE AND STRENGTH OF BOB HOOVER,COUPLED WITH HIS LOVE FOR HIS COUNTRY; AS INDICATED WHEN HE TOLD TWO YOUNG BOYS ,WHO WERE SEATED, TO STAND WHEN THE NATIONAL ANTHEM WAS BEING PLAYED...SOMETHING PEOPLE TODAY NEED TO VALUE.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO EVERY PERSON WHO LOVES FLYING ,BECAUSE BOB REALLY COVERED IT ALL.

This well written book is a must read for all pilots. When you read this you will be taken back in time to WWII, to landing on the moon, breaking the sound barrier, and the first man in space. Mr. Hoover has been an active participant in many historical events, he even tells why he was not the first to break the sound barrier. The book chronicals his exploits and then he backs up the stories with photos. I gave the book to my youngest son, who is going to fly in the USAF, and he could not put it down. If you like flying or airshows or history you need to read this book.

BUY IT !!

You'll love it. This is a page turner if ever there was one.

I did not know who Bob Hoover was before I started reading this book. Wow! What an amazing human and pilot. It's on my A list of autobiographies.

And, if you are a pilot, you will definitely want to read Forever Flying.

Some years ago I was at an airshow and watched Bob Hoover do things with a Shrike Commander that no twin-engined commuter airliner should be able to do. Afterwards he was amazingly modest and easy to talk to. Hoover is one of the greats - a life dedicated to flying and as a war pilot, a test pilot and an air display pilot he's done it all. Everything is faithfully recounted in this book. Yet there's something missing. True, it's an easy read. But it's also a bit sterile and I don't think it truly captures the man. Sadly the 'ghost' writer has done a less than brilliant job and the endless testimonies that appear would have been much more convincing had they been incorporated in the text. Also, they keep saying Lindberg was the first man to fly the Atlantic, but of course Alcock and Brown did it many years earlier. It's a great story but might have been better told.