Adams Books

First, a 'proper disclosure' is in place; I should say that the author and I are not acquainted. This is quite surprising since we are both Israelis, and our fields of research are adjacent. However it is not surprising that we share a similar approach to the notion of 'meaning'. The use of meaning in Biblical Hebrew differs from meaning in Western Tradition; it is a change that an agent makes in the actual world and not just a process that takes place in the representation of the world in the agent's inner 'mind'. As the author, Henry Atlan, and others have pointed out in their scientific papers, both in my 'turf' - culture dynamics - and his - the human immune system - the question of how meaning is generated, passed on (in time) and distributed (conveyed between agents) is crucial. It is not surprising therefore, that Biblical meaning sprang to both our minds.
Another 'proper disclosure' is that even so I am biased in favor of the book, because it does save me a lot of time and work. Had professor Cohen not written the first hundred pages, containing a general description of the position of our current know-how about Complex Adaptive Systems - CAS - in the perspective of the reduction, driven by the functional approach to meaning (rather than considering meaning a property of the substance that its denotation points to, as usually is the case) I would have probably had to write something to the same effect myself.
Let me illustrate this point (summed-up on page 99) by making use of Cohen's book as an object. The fact that the book is meaningful is not just something I think, it has also grown a small 'lawn' of markers and had sojourned to the side of the Complexity Science book shelf nearest to my desk; I also occasionally find out that pieces of text in my own writings are actually conversations with it.
Another point of self organization worth noticing is its neighboring books. It seems that in the time-vicinity of an expansion in the capabilities of CAS science, there comes out a book to prepare the hearts and minds of people for it. These are the books, which tend to cluster inadvertently at the side nearer to my desk, since one tends to remember what they said and therefore returns to them for reference.
The fact that I find these books meaningful is therefore, not just a set of forms in my mind; these drive decisions that result in self organization happening in the shape of the real world (the geometry of my study, in this case) and in time, i.e. a certain pattern of narrative is realized each time CAS science is poised and ready to expand.
Although I am an expert on city/culture dynamics and a neophyte of/to the human immune system, I find the second part of the book - 150 pages - which deals with the way functional meaning establishes our understanding of the human immune system to play a greater role in my own work.
The point that this part drives home is that in the context of a Complex Adaptive System, to be useful, a model cannot possibly be applicable to too broad a spectrum of relevant phenomena. Cohen challenges in the second part a conventional wisdom of scientific tradition, which has served us well for the last couple of centuries.
Contrary to the well established 'corporate culture' of science which strives always for a model to be as concise as possible and encompass in its range of relevance as wide a chunk of nature as possible, in CAS based research, one can miss by being excessively universal, thus rendering a model of the mark by being too far removed (resolution wise) from the real world subject system.
Cohen elaborates this proposition not by discussing theory but the way a Bedouin fixes his pickup truck, i.e. by disassembling it (the 'cognitive' model of the immune system, in our case) to the level of cogs, shafts and sprocket wheels and then putting it together again.
I would like to further his course of thought by suggesting that like the rift between idea and action that exists in our mind and discussed above, the ubiquitous great-divide between theoreticians and experimentalists in the actual practice of science does not serve us well in the advancement of CAS-based research.
By going into the specifics of his 'cognitive' model, Cohen has demonstrated that a CAS scientist should not be, as our 'corporate culture' ordains: either one or the other, but work like a master luthier, who envisages the sound of the violin and then proceeds to the minute details of its construction, back and forth, adjusting both ends - the imaginary concept of the instrument's future sound and the details of its construction - as the real world violin-sound takes on a form. It is in the interplay between the general outlook and the indispensable hands-on experience that new insights appear. Therefore, although as a neophyte some of the details of the model may have been lost on me, it is still at the nuts and bolts level, that I as a scientist could look, learn and hopefully follow the example.

Cohen's book is the first book I've read about immunology that baldly goes where no book has gone before. Cohen does not seem to be afraid to explore the field of immunology with what used to be the holdings of other fields. He doesn't hesitate to use philosophy, computer science and physics whenever the need arises. He not only ignores the superficial boundaries between the fields we were brought up on, but he even presents immunology in a way that seems obvious, given the other sciences of the 20th century. It is evident from the book that Cohen has a clear agenda and his own theory on the structure of the immune system. What many immunologists try so much to ignore - the urgent need for a new theory replacing the 50-year-old Clonal Selection Theory, turnes in his hands from a problem to a solution. Anyone interested in seeing how science is about to change, how borders between disciplines disappear and how immunology can be the basis to learning information theory, network theory, philosophy, system design, biology, evolution, cognitive systems and much more. And do all that while getting to know one of the most ingenious systems - the immune system, should read the book.

Once you have read a book on a subject that you find fascinating and easy to understand as is the case with "Immune Crossover . the two faces of immunity "(Enrique Rewald, 1998, Parthenon Publishing), you feel like reading more about the same. This did happen by reading "Tending Adam's Garden", Irun Cohen's outstanding book. Both have much in common. Besides a similarity in design and in some ideas, their approach appears to be complementary. They are worth having near.

I have read Immune Crossover by Rewald and it was clear enough. Then Tending Adam's Garden of course attracted me. I started reading it and I stopped. I have never read any book that starts with the too wonderful words other people write about it. It kills the suspense of finding something good. Modesty is a great virtue especially in science. I don't think that someone else's opinion will change the content of the book.

Lía Barberis
Specialist in medical translations

In this book the author makes a seemingly radical hypothesis, namely that human immune system is in fact a cognitive system. Those who think of a cognitive system as also being one that is conscious will find the author's contention perhaps even more radical. However, the author's notion of a cognitive system is not as elaborate, and such systems are very prevalent in manufacturing and control systems, telecommunication networks, and military systems.

The book is targeted toward a wide readership, and therefore the author omits detailed scientific jargon and also omits many references. Readers (such as this reviewer) who are not experts in immunology though can still gain a lot of insight into the workings of the human immune system, and the book could be read as an introduction to this important field. In fact, a non-expert in immunology might gain much more from the book than an expert, for the former has not been biased by the "classical" clonal selection theory of the immune system, and will therefore be more open to the prospect of a different paradigm. The physicist/mathematician reader will find an interesting use by the author of chaotic dynamical systems and its notion of an attractor. The use of these concepts goes along with the author's notion of evolution and adaptation, which he describes as a radical departure from the standard view. Adaptation, in his view, is defined as an attractor, and is not correlated with improvement of the organism. Evolution does not involve the `improvement of DNA' but rather is the `creation and occupation of attractors.'

The main virtue of this book is the author's careful elucidation of the notion of a cognitive system. This is necessary in his view in order to distinguish such a system from one that might qualify as being cognitive, but one would not want to view as being cognitive. As evidence of the latter, he gives the example of the production of urine by the kidneys. Such a system he says exhibits complexity, precision, and regulation that rivals many nervous systems, but one that should not qualify as being cognitive. A cognitive system he argues is able to make decisions, is able to form images of their environments, and is able to learn from experience. This learning ability involves the updating of their internal structures and images, which the author refers to as `self-organization.' Hence `choice,' `internal images,' and `self-organization' allows the cognitive system, and therefore the organism that possesses it, to interact with the world that will give it distinct advantages over what can be obtained from evolutionary genetics.

So what is the nature of the `images' of the environment encoded by the immune system? They are merely proteins, some of which are distributed throughout the body and form geometrical shapes as well as `abstract, functional' ones. These images are also of two types, the `innate' images, which are inherited, and `acquired' images, which arise from the cognitive process. Autoimmune diseases, the author argues, involve an image dysfunction in the immune system.

A cognitive view of the immune system the author thinks is necessary because of the need for immune receptors to have the ability for specific recognition. However, they are degenerate, `pleiotropic', redundant, and random observes the author, and this means that cognition (as he defines it) is necessary in order that the immune system generate specificity out of the non-specificity of its components. The author outlines in detail how to construct immune cognition, this involving the `geometry' of cognition, the `dynamics' of cognition, and the `images' or `patterns' of cognition.

In terms of its ability to engage in cognitive decision-making, the immune system reacts to a pattern of signals that it receives by selecting a particular type of response pattern from its collection of available responses. An `immune language' that combines germ-line and somatic `chemical words' is used to make the decisions. These choices, the author emphasizes, are not the result of any `self-reflective consciousness' or `mystical free will' but in fact are deterministic. Choices in the immune system can occur because it can exercise options and because it can learn. From a chemical perspective, the decision-making in the immune system involves associating somatic perceptions of objects with classes of effector responses in the germ-line.

These views of immune system decision-making are fascinating, and will certainly invoke strong reactions from the philosophical community. Indeed, what is normally thought of as capabilities only found in a `mind,' namely that of abstraction, semantics, and context, these can also be found in the human immune system. It communicates via molecular interactions; its antigens and cytokines express semantic attributes since they can confirm ligands and their receptors and can arrange the signal molecules in patterns; and can patterns of signals can create a signal context.

The immune system can be defective, this resulting among other things in the deadly autoimmune diseases. The author discusses this unfortunate circumstance in detail in the book, but he is also willing to contemplate deliberate intervention into the workings of the immune system in order to circumvent any problems with it. In the last paragraph of the book, noting that "two cognitive systems are better than one," the author advocates the deliberate engineering of the immune system, i.e. that of turning "on or off the immune response as we see fit." Along with genetic engineering, metabolic engineering, and other endeavors of twenty-first century technology, such a prospect is awesome.

Great book with brilliant art pictorial descriptions of weird behavior. I am afraid that all of mine are off the scale. However it id difficult to find a behavior that is not in the book. With the exception of washing the caned food in the water dish like some sort of raccoon.
In the back of the book is an attempt to help you deal with these little (ok maybe big) wierdies.

This is a short book (80 pages) about cats, and the weird things they do. There really isn't a lot of reading involved - this is more of a pictorial. Very good, descriptive pictures portray the things we love about cats the most - their weirdness and individuality (or so you thought until you see this book & realize ALL cats do this stuff!)

For the cat lover - this book is a must! You will thoroughly enjoy this fun loving book! Included is a Kitty Weirdness Scale (KWS) so that you can score your own cat and compare him/her to other cats. One excerpt; 275 points or more "Verify that your animal is not a Tasmanian Devil."

A few of my personal favorites in this book include Laziness, Drinking, Body Language, and (I'm sorry to say it) Barfing. These pictures are the best in describing cats and the (definately weird) things they do!!

Enjoy! I sure did!!

1smileycat :-)

Great book with brilliant art pictorial descriptions of weird behavior. I am afraid that all of mine are off the scale. However it id difficult to find a behavior that is not in the book. With the exception of washing the caned food in the water dish like some sort of raccoon.
In the back of the book is an attempt to help you deal with these little (ok maybe big) wierdies.

Very interesting, had very good drawings of real live cats. This entertaining piece of mind, had sub-topics and scoring. Most enjoyable for your inner love of cats. Covers most antics of cats, from vainess to drooling. Last, but not least, my personal favorite, the kws scale (kitty weirdness scale). Has a delightful description on every level. I highly reccomend this book.

My cats...you should meet them, they're insane. And until I bought this book, I thought that a) I was the only one with odd cats and b) perhaps my perceptions were clouded. No, it's true, my beadspread sucking, flapping and screaming, last pair of pantyhose shredding, gettin' stuck on the roof overnight, fighting with the wrong dogg kitties, all 12 of them, just test really high in the KWS, or Kitty Wierdness Scale. Missy Dizick writes from the perspective of a person who could only have many very wierd cats who shred seedlings, eat wierd stuff, and so on. Even after 30 or so readings, this book still has me rolling on the floor every time. I laugh so hard that my abs are improving just from this book. It's been loaned to so many cat loving friends it's falling apart. You must have this book. Its so funny you won't believe it.

In, "A Theology of Christian Counseling: More Than Redemption," biblical counseling pioneer, Dr. Jay Adams, offers a solid theological foundation for Christian counseling. As he notes, many people have written theologies, many have written counseling manuals, but until his book, no one in the 20th century had attempted a focused theology of counseling.

Dr. Adams discusses the ten classic doctrines of the historic Christian tradition, providing an introduction to evangelical theology. He then relates each doctrine to the field of biblical counseling.

As his subtitle suggests ("More Than Redemption"), the Christian life does not end at redemption, but begins there. Thus, much of "A Theology of Christian Counseling" appropriately focuses upon sanctification (the doctrine of the Christian's growth in grace). Adams is at his best here as he dissects the process of putting off the old way (mortification or, as he calls it, "dehabituation") and putting on the new way (vivification or, as he calls it, "rehabituation").

In his introduction, Dr. Adams states that "A Theology of Christian Counseling" was meant only to be a first salvo. He asks that others come behind him and develop more in-depth theologies related specifically to biblical counseling. In this sense, Dr. Adams stated the one limitation of his own book--though an excellent start, its breadth of coverage leaves it lacking somewhat in depth of theology and in depth of methodological application. However, as an introduction to the field, there is none better.

Reviewer: Dr. Bob Kellemen, author of "Soul Physicians: A Theology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction" and "Spiritual Friends: A Methodology of Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."

If you are pursuing counseling, trying to get your degree in a particular mental health field, this is a must read. All the secular humanistic and optimistic views of the human being in gneral require the christian counselor to be grounded so he will be swayed to the right or left but remember the grace was given to him on the cross and the reason for the cross. In this day and age is to easy to make Jesus death out to be of no meaning because we all have "good" in us. So i encourage anyone who is trying to be a counselor or just desiring to grounded more dotrinally for there own faith to read this. Jay E. Adams is th founder of "Christian Counsleing Education Founation." A biblically based counseloing progam. Check it out "www.ccef.org." Any of their resources are rich in truth and knowledge.

This volume is indispensible for anyone who presumes to call himself a "Christian" counselor, because the Scriptures must be the bedrock authority for any such claim. Jay Adams begins by dispelling any misconceptions about the advisability of trying to syncretize biblical counseling with worldly methods and theories. He then continues to explore, in very practical terms, how the Scriptures relate to various aspects of counseling doctrine and practice. The format and structure resemble a systematic theology text. Given the breadth of the potential subject matter, this volume is not, and indeed cannot be, exhaustive in its coverage. However, there is sufficient treatment of most important areas of counseling practice and the critical importance on using the Scriptures to the exclusion of competing resources. My only negative comment is Adams' distracting writing style, with its excessive use of parentheticals and, to a lesser extent, footnotes. However, these do not detract from the substantive value of his commentary. Excellent book!

For anyone interested in Christian counseling presented and taught according to God's divine plan this is a great book for your study of Christian counseling. I had the honor of hearing Dr.Adam's speak at the National Association of Nouthetic Counselors this year(2006) in Indiana. His focus, his books, his views on Christian counseling are all biblically based on the inerrant Word of God and directed by the presence and person of the Holy Spirit who indwells him.

Dr. Adams is THE authority when it comes to Biblical Counseling. He doesn't just call it 'Biblical' and then again uses Freudian, Rogerian or other psychology - no, Adams solely uses Scripture, which is sufficient for instruction in righteousness. Adams' main strength is that he is exegetical and therefore very well balanced. This book is almost a full systematic theology - it's just excellent!!

With reading and storytelling as important background themes, we learn how one intelligent, sensitive and creative young black man survived Jim Crow's pre-WWII south. In Adam David Miller's memoir, "Ticket to Exile" we stand in an important American literary tradition that began with the slave narratives and carried on through the transitional work of Frederick Douglass, James Baldwin, Alex Haley's "Roots" and even the the wild (yet deeply humane) work of Eudora Welty, Flannery O'Connor, Harper Lee, and Zora Neale Hurston. In Orangeburg, South Carolina, the separation between whites and blacks was not so much a ghettoized apartheid as a separation enforced by the banal daily routines of institutional racism: humiliation, the constant aura of violence, and "laws" and customs meant to enforce powerlessness and subservience, both economic and cultural. In this south, blacks and whites lived near one another, their lives constantly intertwining and mutually influencing. Northerners often don't get this. Miller's writing places us smack-down in an "anytown" America through its uncanny descriptions of that rural/village setting, filtered through a child's lens. Here, people know each other's business all too well, and petty prejudices and stifling status markers play their painful roles. Neverthless--and here is the memoir's comic relief--people (and Miller) get by on their imaginations: storytelling lends a balance to harsh realities; even the stories of catching and eating vermin are not entirely repelling because of the oddly compelling form in which the memories are recounted. Miller's soft-spoken worldliness shows us, too, how West African roots express themselves in southern culture; I'd like more of this in our telling of American history. I love the details of how families and neighbors got along (or didn't) and Miller's understated poetic prose--there's nothing show-offy here, thank goodness. I had a visceral awareness of this time and place, and even when the going was exceptionally rough, I felt the writer's confident hand. The book left me with a deeper vision of race in America and of humanity in its larger sense, for, if anything, the book showed me how the manufacture of "race" always limits our humanity. This book should be required reading in schools, book-groups, and the halls of our political leaders.

VERY INTERESTING MEMOIR,THE IMPACT THAT DRIVE UKNOWN LIMITS TO COLOR PEOPLE,THIS STILL UNRESOLVE, THIS BOOK GIVES YOU THE BIG PICTURE HOW, BACK IN TIME THE WOLRD START TO DISSECT THEMSELVES AND NOT BEING RESPECTED AS REAL HUMANS BEING.

Adam David Miller's new memoir is a startling look back at a valuable life that was nearly extinguished by ignorance and fear. The book is a multi-faceted look at the human condition and how we treat one another in a world that would often have us consider one another the enemy. The fact is that Mr. Miller does himself great credit by not hammering on the idea that only white people were dangerous to existence, and emphasizing that race is not the only issue, but difference of any sort. This, despite the central fact that his tale is one of fear and oppression by white people. This lack of hyperbole gives credence to the basis for his story. Here is the tale of a man almost lynched by a mob of white men during the early 40's in the Jim Crow South, a tale that takes the time and care to cover all the ways in which human beings demean and punish one another for their individuality. In doing this, Mr. Miller makes it quite clear that there are good folks and bad folks, although he does not use that nomenclature, but that the hierarchy of oppression from white to black is only one sort of bigotry, and that horror begins with fear of difference. The central and underlying concept of the book impresses anyone who picks this volume up with its certain knowledge of what centuries of oppression does to those oppressed: to turn those of white skin against those whose blood contains so little as "one drop" of African-American blood, those of lighter color against those who have darker skin, male and female against one another, those with education and social standing against their less well-educated, well-heeled neighbors, those from one side of a town against those from the less-desirable address, and homophobes of whatever sexual orientation who fear they might become tainted by what a person does in the privacy of his or her own body against love, and those with the desire for love, however that might be defined. This moving book is the story of a town in the Jim Crow South, but it is also the story of anytown anywhere in the United States of its time - and of anytown anywhere today (despite the current emphasis on politically correct phraseology practiced in public). It is also the story of a boy turned man in one second by circumstances beyond his control, and beyond his ken at the moment he is betrayed. Mr. Miller's young life is held forfeit in the hands of a group of men who know him and his family and yet consider killing him because of his skin color. In addition, it is the story of all of us at that age (19) - bored with our hometown, looking for some new and interesting person/thing/idea, we leave the local setting and set out on our journey to human independence. The difference here is that Mr. Miller is thrown from one sort of exile into another, as much against his journey as his ancestors were against theirs. For most of us growing up with a wish for independence, we find ourselves in new territory, but Mr. Miller finds himself in terrifying new territory in the city jail, and later in completely new territory, both mentally and physically. It is a journey to independence as a human being, and Mr. Miller makes the telling of his odyssey with rare grace and aplomb. We can thank the framers of the Declaration of Independence (some of whom were slaveholders) for the quote "...life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...," but we owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Miller for having continued the tradition of citizens who fought for independence so that they might live in a way that honors the individual bravery and honor of all. This reminder is all the more ironic coming from a man whose ancestors were ripped from their own country and culture and exiled into enforced enslavement. Bravo, Mr. Miller! Next installment please!

What an immensely readable treasure. I smiled, I cried, I was provoked, riled against the injustices, 'bled' from the scab of hurt living with this history in my lap. I was kept on the edge of my seat for two nights even though the book is structured with the 'ending' first--what an accomplishment just on that note alone. I'm deliciously confused how the author kept the suspense and incredible tension going in flashback. So all this to say, I'm waiting for the 'next installment...' (a memoir covering the next period of years?)

Ticket to Exile The book, Ticket to Exile is a rare intimate portrait of an intelligent mind trapped in an ignorant world. As I read this book I found it to be thought provoking and inspiring. As a person of color, I kept comparing my life to Mr. Miller's childhood. I was amazed by how resilient and resourceful my elders were in stark contrast to how easy my life is today. Ticket to Exile opened my eyes to the subtle and damaging aspects of internal and institutional racism as it was at that time and it made me reflect on how it continues today. If this book doesn't change your mind I hope that it changes your heart. As it has mine. Ticket to Exile is an affirmation of life. Thank you Mr. Miller! I highly recommend this book for all readers, book clubs and especially High School students.

We should all weep, because most people are too stupid to appreciate Adam Green's fine sense of humor. Due to these fine individuals not buying this brilliant book, it is now out of print. I am sad. Fortunately Adam's other book, the Book of Hollow Days is still available, and every bit as funny. If you don't own any Adam Green yet, you owe it to yourself to find some of his work. You will laugh until you are in severe pain.

I second all the opinions of this book. I got it for a birthday present when it first came out and now I loan it out to my friends since they can't find it. Every time i re-read it I find myself still laughing out loud. If you like bizarre, wickedly funny humor, this book _cannot_ be beaten!

In my earlier review (below) I stated that Adam Green's book "What were you in a previous life?" was no longer available...apparently it IS available now. I bow before the publishing gods...THANK YOU for bringing this book back! Now that it IS available, I suggest that everyone buy one or two copies. If you already have it, they make great gifts! If you have any doubts about just HOW funny this book is, read the reviews. You won't be disappointed...unless you're completely humorless and dead inside.

As a number of the other reviews noted, this collection is not for everyone. But, if jokes about torn puppies, monitoring your friends for hints of suicide, and dog vomit are your cup o' tea, then this book is for you.

One of the funniest books I've ever read.

This is a book of very morbid hilarity. It also exudes an amount of contrarianism. Do it. Buy it. Let yourself laugh.

Ms. Burckmyer has obviously mastered the art of writing herself, and can make her readers laugh while she also teaches them. This is a gem, and its scope is far beyond the world of business writing; anyone who seeks to communicate effectively in print will gain from reading it. And chuckle besides!

Pop this one into your briefcase or bag and hail the train to Boston! In one easy commute to the office, I scoured this book for trainstopping advice which fired me up for a dynamic written presentation once I hit my morning meeting. My boss borrowed it and hasn't returned it yet! ALL TOOLS FOR CLEARlY COMMUNICATED BUSINESS LANGUAGE AND WRITING COMES TOGETHER IN THIS BOOK - with humor, intelligence and the happy wisdom of a writer who seems to know how the mind suffers in the uninspiring atmosphere of the everyday office workplace. Her book is a grammatical cup of fresh Starbucks coffee -- sharp, to the point, and oh-sooooo-needed!

If only Ms. Burckmyer had written this gem 20 years ago! I am a recently retired business executive who had to resort to my own improvised methods of teaching the rules of English construction and effective writing to a generation of bright young managers whose good ideas were masked far too often by disorganized and poorly executed written work.

Why Does My Boss Hate My Writing? is a handy little book that can be readily absorbed --and actually enjoyed-- by even the most reluctant or defensive of those in need of remedial instruction. It tackles and teaches the basics of good writing in easy-to-read chapters that illustrate, often with engaging humor, the practical consequences of inattention to the rules of effective writing.

Ms. Burckmyer accomplishes much more than providing the reader with an enumeration of the basic lessons of grammar and syntax, she addresses the subtleties of tone and style that soothe the concerns of disgruntled customers, win negotiations with business adversaries, and convince the skeptics within our organizations of the wisdom of our thinking.

I highly recommend this succinct and well written primer. It should be required reading for every management trainee, newly minted M.B.A., and the legions of junior consultants, lawyers, and accountants who aspire to be business advisors. I also recommend this book for the seasoned executive; it contains some helpful reminders that may refrest your own writing style and make you a more effective critic of your company's communications.

At last, a style manual with style!

Each chapter in this little gem of a book asks and answers a question on writing, everything from "Have I Written for my Audience?" to "Have I Sweated the Small Stuff?" Although geared to the workplace, the author's common sense approach to grammar and writing would work in any setting. Imagine the rules of grammar written in an informal style, very clearly, and often with wit (e.g., the "breath comma" and the "death comma")! Each chapter is filled with very good examples and with practical solutions to common writing problems. Each chapter also ends with helpful bulleted notes to summarize key points.

A very practical guide to help readers improve their writing, but also kind of fun to read!

What's amazing and valuable about this extremely entertaining book, which comes disguised as a manual for the challenged writer, is the humane, intelligent, sensible and charming persona behind every sentence. (Incidentally, it's probably true that a challenged writer is anyone who is making a decent effort.) There are life lessons in here -- about the value of being truthful and clear and kind. For example, Burckmyer tells you how to avoid being unintentionally mean or patronizing. E.g.: ``As you are surely aware, this seminar is available to corporate clients only." Presidents Clinton and Nixon might well have benefitted from a section in the same chapter that begins: ``When you must apologize, do it up front and in full." Burckmyer is not at all the rigid English teacher. For example, she shows how the passive voice may be useful in some cases, to protect someone. As in: `` `A mistake was made in Customer Service.' (It was Betsy's first day on the job: let's give her another chance. If this customer gets her name, she's toast.)" She's kind to readers (as well as to Betsy), gently leading us out of the traps we all get stuck in trying to undo a split infinitive, or rewrite a sentence that ends with a preposition or correct a dangling participle. She shows us in a nice way how to avoid the embarassment of being caught mixing metaphors. Why is this sensible advice only for business writers anyway? Poets need to be clear, historians need to be concise. Mystery writers need to avoid dangling participles. There are newspaper columnists and novelists out there who could benefit from everything in here. The lifesaver in the book, useful for anyone writing anything, is Appendix A, ``Getting Started and Following Through on a Writing Project." This isn't mushy believe-in-your-dream kind of stuff. One good practical piece of advice: ``Don't stop when you're in trouble." Burckmyer is pretty much, via print, the perfect teacher. Firm but gentle.

It couldn't be better said.

This book is pure enjoyment. What a wonderful command of the language from this former English professor! Insightful and reflective, this book is about so much more than the obvious. Though perhaps the title is not that far amiss...

My only "criticism" would regard the desire to see more of the photographs to which Adams refers or describes in detail. He gives us very few opportunities to understand what he says by looking at the picture itself.

A wonderfully written book about the wonders of photography written by a wonderful writer with a wonderful eye and a wonderful brain.

This book has been of great assitance to me in my teaching and creative practice over the years. It has been a source of inspiration and motivation allowing me to continue working with my cameras and photography, at the same time reconciling different ideas about 'money', 'ideas', 'freinds', 'teaching' etc to enable me to maintain my faith in what I do.

The essays on teaching and money in particular have helped me clarify my position as both an artist and teacher, I highly recommend this book to anyone considering teaching or photography as a career.

If you are not connected with any photography/art community, this book is for you. If none of your friends has an MFA, and if you are in need of someone who can speak intelligently about photography as art, then again, this book is for you. Robert Adams' writing is clear, concise, and insightful. Adams tells us why we photograph, for example, why we photograph landscapes. The answers include: because the images are of "emblems of a land" (pages 146 and 163), because our photographed subjects redefine us and is part of our biography (page 15), because art is "specifics made universal" (page 120), and because "art is a discovery of harmony" (page 181). Adams consoles photographers who come to realize that spending ten years doing photography won't necessarily result, e.g., in a contract for preparing a coffeetable book: "[t]hey may or may not make a living by photography but they are alive by it" (page 15); and the experience of having an exhibit where the photographer "stand[s] through the opening of an exhibition to which only officials have come." (page 16). Adams reveals the secrets of some of the masters, e.g., Weston: "limbs and torsos . . . treated as shapes to be enjoyed as one might the sight of a smooth stone" (page 64); and Paul Strand: "he worked off axis as if it were a moral principle . . . but usually just slightly off axis." (page 81) Robert Adams offers some critiques of the masters, e.g., of Paul Strand: "[o]ff-centering is used here . . . it begins to seem formulaic (page 87); and of Ansel Adams: "I have been derivative of myself for fifty years." (page 116). Robert Adams' book is a stand-alone book, that is, it does not require a knowledge of literature, art criticism, or history. The book is for the layperson. Another fine, insightful book on photography criticism is Light Readings by A.D. Coleman. A remarkable bit of insight by A.D. Coleman, for example, concerns his view of the typical amateur (page 164): "Typically, a snapshot of someone's relative at Grant's Tomb will show the relative too far from the camera to be identifiable and Grant's Tomb too close to be recognizable . . . Their charm and poignancy derives specifically from their failure to communicate . . ."The writings of Robert Adams and A.D. Coleman may be contrasted with the poetic commentary David Wallace (in Morley Baer's The Wilder Shore) and with the "writing" of Sally Eauclair in The New Color Photography and New Color/New Work. The writings of David Wallace and Sally Eauclaire are silly, and sometimes very silly, and serve only to draw attention to the words printed on the page instead of serving to invoke new concepts and connections in the mind.

Most of the book doesn't really respond to the title, but Robert Adams writes in a very engaging manner and talks about issues that most photographers will find interesting. I found particularly interesting his discussion of famous photographers and their aesthetic philosophy. This is not a book for the casual photographer, but for the photographer who is interested in photography's background, or a collector who'd like to better understand the photographer as artist, this book is terrific.

It's more Dilbertine for the addicted like myself and allthough there are a couple of minuses to mention the level of hilarity stays high as always. And how could it not? The inspiration from the corporate world keeps coming through in tsunami waves.

While one of the most cult characters in the Dilbert series (Wally) gains even more of the spotlight other equally legendary characters like Ratbert but above all Dogbert himself keep getting lesser and lesser appearances. That's a pity actually as especially these two have offered unforgettable moments in the past. Another thing connected with these two fading somewhat is that we get fewer moments of Dilbert at home and more in the office. Tha creates somewhat of an imbalance which was not present in the initial installments of the series.

All in all though, this gets adequately compensated by Adam's invincible humor and the introduction of new characters who might have less of a lifespan in comparison to Ratbert and Dogbert but who provide for some freshness nevertheless.

Other than that it's Wally galore to the max. Wally has been the secret ace of this comic all along. This is cynicism at its very best and its most hardcore. The lines coming out of Wally's mouth are surreal.
The Dilbert series continues to be a classic.

It's been 15 years and Scott Adams shows now signs of slowing down or the ckind of burnout that caused Bill Watterson to retire from Calvin and Hobbes. Thank God! Because Dilbert remains the most consistently funny comic strip in the papers. A daily dose of wry, sarcastic wit that is daily bread to those of us toiling away in an office environment.

The title of this book says it all...who hasn't wanted to smack the person reviewing us upside the head and ask them what the hell were they thinking when they wrote it. Reviews, marketing, computers, stupid bosses...it's all to be read and mocked in Scott's latest collection.

It was beginning to look like Scott Adams would run out of material for Dilbert, but the corporate world just keeps spinning. Words.. is a new high level in corporate mayhem. From Dogbert the headhunter to the genius garbage man and of course Catbert the evil HR manager they are all here. We learn that "plundered" is now called "enhanced stock holder values." The pointy hair boss gets a body double for safety, and Dilbert invents a robot clone to double his visibility. It's another swipe at office management and the minions who toil our lives away in cubicles. Buy a 2nd copy and mail it to your pointy hair boss. Better yet, buy a 3rd copy and mail that one to your HR Catbert.

This is another very funny and spot-on book from Adams. Some of the characters like Ratbert and Dogbert don't appear as much, but Wally comes on strong and new characters are introduced like ConsulTick.

What's funny is the resonant note that Dilbert has struck with so much of corporate America. Having been an employee at a major Fortune 500 company for many years myself, I was convinced that Adams was talking about my company, and so did everyone else, although the resemblances at times could be almost eerie.

Adams's cartoons of the more absurd and ridiculous aspects of corporate culture (which at times seems to be about 99% of it) continue to provide much needed comic relief for hapless cubicle dwellers everywhere, and this is another funny book from Adams that shouldn't disappoint his fans.

One of the reasons I like this one so much is because it contains the comic strips that I always read in the paper last year. These are a few of the reasons why you should buy this book.

Toxic Tom
Dilbert as a sheep
Wally being lasy a usual
Dogbert's Tech Support
The Consultick
Dilbert's mood altering drugs
The furniture psychic
The new dress code which is barrels
My favorite comic which is the one where Wally researches Greek names for a new product

This are a bunch of really great comics and they are a must buy for all Dilbert fans.

I bought this book on writing proposals at the suggestion of my literary agent who told me my proposal for my first book *really* needed help. I studied the examples in the book and the suggestions in the text and re-wrote my proposal, using what I had learned. Six weeks later, my agent called to tell me she had four offers on my book. The information here is excellent, clear, and easy to translate to suit your own book. It will stimulate your thinking about your proposal in new ways. I frequently recommend it to people in my classes and workshops who ask for advice about how to get published. ~~Joan Mazza, author of DREAM BACK YOUR LIFE; DREAMING YOUR REAL SELF; WHO'S CRAZY ANYWAY?; and 3 books in The Guided Journal Series with Writer's Digest Books.

Getting a book published on how to write a book proposal sounds like something that would be hard to do. One of the telling points of how good this book is that the authors explain how they did it: No one had ever developed a book that showed what makes for a successful proposal using actual proposals.

Like the Chinese philosopher would have said, seeing a successful proposal is worth 1,000 books about how to write one.

The examples are even more interesting because they are annotated for their good and bad points.

I am working on a business book proposal now, and four of the examples contained very valuable ideas and language that I need to capture for my proposal. I found it very practical, and marked up notes all over the text and examples. I will use this as a guide in my next redraft.

I must admit to being chagrined by how much my past successful book proposals fall short of the mark established here. But I would have been slow to improve without the benefit of these examples.

If I cannot write a good book proposal now, the fault will be mine, not that of the authors.

If you plan to write book proposals for nonfiction books, THIS BOOK IS A MUST!

Don't even think of writing a book proposal without reading this book. Jeff Herman gives you everything you need to know. Buy this book and Michael Larsen's "How to Write a Book Proposal" and you will not get turned down...

This book shows you how to do it. From start to finish, if you want to write a winning proposal, devour this book, and heed it's every word. Two months after reading this book and developing a working proposal, I received a contract from Random House for my book - Aha! - 10 Ways To Free Your Creative Spirit and Find Your Great Ideas.

It worked for me, and it can work for you.

This book gives excellent examples, with quick and concise advice on getting a proposal written. I sold my first nonfiction book, "In the Saddle: Exploits of the 5th Georgia Cavalry During the Civil War" in 1999 using "Write The Perfect Book Proposal." And last month I used it to prepare a proposal for my second book "Rebels, Saints & Sinners: Savannah Personalities of the Past." Yet, as useful as "How To Write A Perfect Book Proposal" is, I would also recommend reading one or two others to help flesh out more detail where Herman and Adams are somewhat vague. In this game the more knowledge you have, the better your chances of success.

If you suffer any financial problems and you feel that there is no way of pulling yourself out of these problems, then i will recommend this book highly to be read. If reading it did not change your situation, then at lease it will give a hope and an inspiratin and defenitely you will look at the things from a very optimistic angle. The theory of the book is very logical and convincing and makes you think how life is simple. This book for sure gives you the courage, confident, inspiration and the well to change things on you or around you to something you have always dreamed of.

I am the one who wrote the review...three long years ago! I am still reading, enjoying, and gaining new insights from this book! I have doubled my income many, many times as a result, and I look forward to a future of even more prosperity! The principles are deceptively simple, but try them out and you will be pleased with the results! You have nothing to lose...but your unhappiness.

This is a book I often give as an 'offer of hope' to clients in financial distress or just people wanting to have a plan for making money work for them.. not against them. Ben Franklin said the secret to wealth is an understanding of compounding interest and this easy little book gives understanding and motivation that when followed will lead to financial comfort.

This may sound silly, but I have nothing to gain by saying this, but I follwed a couple of principles in this book and I quadrupled my income in a month. You just have to believe what it says and recognize and accept it as truth.

This book is truly a wonderful book. Such a easy read and anyone who has read it will tell you that they wish they would have read it sooner. People will say that the book worked for them over and over again. It has for me. My salary has gone up by forty percent by reading this book. I own my own business and since reading it our sales have gone from $275K-$325 to $450K. When my business took a turn for the worst this book (stonecutter) picked me up and put me back on the right track.

This book will not tell you how to get rich QUICK. It will tell you simply how to obtain wealth. Pick it up, read it and you will never be sorry you did.