Allen Books

I met Julie and Mark back when I televised them when they were both competing in national and international triathlons. They were both wonderful personalities and great athletes who seemed in great balance with careers, sponsorships, a relationhip and then a family. How did they keep it all together when so many other folks with the same kinds of demands often had train wreck lives. Well, their book, "Workouts for Working People" tells how they keep the important things important and set high goals that, with love, planning and selflessness, are very attainable. A damn good read!

Other books may give better advice on specific sports, but for overall training, eating and living, this is my favorite. A related book, by Maffetone, talks more about aerobic training tips, but this book gives more details

This is an excellent book for beginners and hard-core fitness gurus alike. The book covers all the basics of health, fitness, and well-being. I can never get enough of Mark and Julie. The stories about their careers and the people they have worked with is fantastic. Their conversion to the power of strength training and the "how to" portions of the book can't be beat. This book is filled with great photos and the wealth of knowledge the authors have gained through out their lives. No where can you find the cardio-vascular part of fitness explained so well and made so simple. This book is a must have.

This is an excellent book. The information in it can actually be put to use! -- and excellent use. I was skeptical after I browsed through it, but after reading it completely, their fitness plans make sense and can be put to use by the average working person. Fitness must be part of your lifestyle, and they cover this completely. There is good information presented -- fitness, lifestyle, health, training plans, nutritiion. I especially found Mark's heart rate monitoring helpful (adapted from Phil Maffetone). Before this I never realized I had been working-out too hard. Both Mark and Julie have the experience to back up their concepts, and along the way they share their experiences with you. The training plans are numerous (basic fitness, 5k, 10k, marathon, triathalons), complete, and easy to follow. I recommend the book -- it is not too technical, which makes it easy to read and understand.

It's for real. You have two world-class athletes - not bodybuilders or celebrities or fitness models, but two of the fittest people in the world here.

What makes this book different? (1) The Allens recognize that most people have other priorities in life, such as jobs and kids, and therefore can't live in the gym for 2 or 3 hours a day. (2) They also recognize - unlike many athletes - that not everyone shares their passion for their sport. They don't expect you to open this book wanting to do an Ironman of your own as they've done, but they won't discourage you from training for one either!

The book is loaded with sound, honest advice, tips, encouragement and motivation. If you want to get fit, well, you have to work at it. They're not trying to sell you seminars or supplements or some 'magic bullet' that only slims your wallet. They're not trying to relive past glory days either - the anecdotes are purposeful: meant to instruct and/or motivate.

There's several different 18-week workouts here, depending on your goals. All of them offer a balance between cardio (ANY cardio - not just running/swimming/cycling) and weight training. During the week, most workouts are about 30 minutes to an hour, with a longer one on the weekends, and an optional one for the true weekend warrior. Plus, the Allens offer plenty of suggestions for squeezing fitness into a busy schedule for full-time employees and full-time moms.

This isn't another feel-good-because-you-showed-up 'exercise' book. This book is for people who are serious about trying to raise their level of fitness, no matter what shape they're currently in.

I also strongly recommend reading it thoroughly for some of the nuggets hidden inside. For example, 5-6 small meals, each about the size of your two palms held together. An easy visual guide to portion sizes that you always have with you! How can you lose? Or better still, how can you not?

I pencil in the date that I finish reading each article in James R. Newman's four volume, "The World of Mathematics" After a good many years, I now find that I am more than halfway through Newman's remarkable collection that spans 2500 pages.

Newman described his work as "a small library of the literature of mathematics form A'hmose the Scribe to Albert Einstein, presented with commentaries and notes". The topics have been chosen with care. Newman preceded each article with a thoughtful commentary.

The individual articles are not abridgements, but are reprinted in their entirety. Some articles are short, some quite long, some are easy reading, some are difficult, but few are overwhelming.

I have not systematically read section by section. I find that I skip around. Often, after Newman introduces me to some mathematical topic, I find myself sidetracked, exploring other books and authors. But eventually I return to Newman, select another article, and begin the cycle again.

The Newman collection was published in 1956 as a boxed set that occasionally shows up in used bookstores. More recently, the four volumes have become available in soft cover (a Dover reprint) and can be purchased individually.

What makes Newman collection so remarkable? The answer is great original papers, great authors, and wide ranging topics.

Imagine reading Descartes on Cartesian coordinates, Whitehead on mathematical logic, Weyl on symmetry, Dedekind on irrational numbers, Russell on number theory, Heisenberg on the uncertainty principle, Turing on computer intelligence, Boole on set theory, and Eddington on group theory.

I enjoy the biographical and historical articles scattered throughout the four volumes. I especially liked Bell's article "Invariant Twins, Cayley and Sylvester", The Great Mathematicians" by Turnball, and G. H. Hardy's "A Mathematician's Apology".

Mathematicians try to define just what is mathematical thought and how a mathematician creates mathematics. Clifford writes about "The Exactness of Mathematical Laws", Von Neumann on "The Mathematician", Weyl on "Mathematical Way of Thinking", Poincare on "Mathematical Creation", Newman on "Godel's Proof", and Russell and Whitehead separately offer their thoughts.

This is the "World" of mathematics. Newman's assemblage also includes a fascinating, eclectic mix of articles that I have not encountered elsewhere like "How to Hunt a Submarine", "Durer as a Mathematician", "A Mathematical Approach to Ethics", "Geometry in the South Pacific", and "The Vice of Gambling and the Virtue of Insurance".

I have had great fun wandering through this four volume set from section to section, article to article. I assume that someday I will finally read the last article. I expect that I will simply begin again. It would be hard to say good-bye to Newman's collection.

Al leer esta enciclopedia, aprendí que las matemáticas pueden ser fascinantes, y no muy difíciles de entender. Es muy agradable entender los razonamientos que impulsaron grandes descubrimientos, en estos Libros el autor nos explica claramente todos los pasos para ello. Nos muestra el trabajo de los mejores Matemáticos y las consecuencias de sus trabajos. Nos contagia el gusto por esta ciencia. En México se puede conseguir en la librería La aventura de Leer .

Jorge Gallegos

this is a book that I recieved as a junior in High School. I am currently a senior and I still enjoy looking into this book for mathematical insight and history.

Carl Friedrich Gauss, a famous 18th century mathematician said "Learn from the Masters".

The World of mathematics gives us all this opportunity.

This monumental collection of articles from the Masters throws light on all aspects and areas of Mathematics and mathematical sciences.

Do you want to hear about Boolean algebra from Boole himself?
Do you Want to hear about Turing machines from Turing himself?
From Newton to Einstien, all the masters speak to you.

The collection is well organized into different areas of mathematics. Abstract algebra to Logic to Geometry and Physics
Thru a series of wonderful articles from the masters of the field spanning several hundred years, one can understand the Length and breadth and depth of the wonderful world of Mathematics.

You will slowley understand how mathematics is not just about numbers and counting and measurement. Will slowley begin to understand the unbelievable depth of abstractions it aims to capture. you will begin learning the structure and nature of mathematics..its approaches to modeling the intutive world and then..extend it! In a way you will learn what the mind is capable of and is ultimately trying to acheive!

A personal note: I started reading it during my undergraduate and after more than 10 years, still go back to it for more light. Thanks to Prof. Chandrasekar for recommending this to me.

This four volume set is a gem. I bought this treasure back in 1973 but I still go back to it at least twice a week. The writing is uneven because of the different authors who have contributed articles. However, the substance of the book is top notch. Starting with the number system all the way to the differential calculus and parts of game theory, the book is a treasury of mathematical delights. Just pick a chapter, and you are sure to be sucked in. Another point I wish to make is the design and layout of the books. There are no slick, extra large, shiny page designs here. Just plain 6 by 8 size pages with appropriate black and white diagrams. This is when books used to be more like friends, often in one's company, and much perused. It is truly a shame that this series is out of print. If you happen to find it somewhere introduce yourself!!

I reckon I have given this book to 50 clients
And all of them love it so much, they give it to their friends in business.

This particular book in the 101 series is jam-packed with tips and should be on the bookshelf of every business owner - whether they be small or large

You do have a bookshelf dont you??

This book has helped me immensley as a small business owner.... This simple and effective approach works for me. The realistic examples are also attractive. My business structures and ways I market and day to day working schedule are all improved, thanks for this great resource!

With the failure rate of small businesses being so high - this book is a must for every small business owner!

Businesses need to ensure they have the competitive edge that will ensure their business survival. This book suggests realistic, proven strategies to assist small business owners create that edge and assist in its survival and growth.

Importantly, the tips given are affordable, useful and clearly communicated.

A highly recommended read for every small business owner!

I read the first book by this author, 101 Ways to Market Your Business and I really liked the style that it is written in. I especially liked the fact that it was written by an Australian - giving a fresh persepctive on marketing and advertising. When I saw this new title I was intrigued. On reading it I was very impressed by the information and the practical, simple advice offered. The author has covered everything imaginable in a way that empowers the business owner to surge forward and succeed. I was very impressed and I must say that I am not easily impressed. Good on this Aussie guru.

This is without a doubt, a book for anyone in business or anyone thinking about starting a business. The author clearly identifies the most common business mistakes (which I have made plenty of) and he describes how to avoid making them. This is definitely one of the few books that should be considered absolutely essential to any library. The author writes in a very clear manner that I found particularly easy to relate to. He also makes you feel OK about making mistakes rather than feeling like a[dummy]. I have no doubt that this book will help my business to prosper.

So many people today do not fully understad the sacrafice and the struggle our parents and grandparents endured for the sake of freedom. We take it all for granted. Abandoned on Bataan tells of a small town Texas boys view of a horrible war. The will to survive and their struggles are an inspiration. The horrible acts of their captors should never be forgotten. Our unwillingness to get involved in the beginning, our thoughts that it's not our problem, should be a reminder. We must never forget the past, or those brave men and women who sacraficed all.

In today's world, war is something of a video game. We watch it on the television, in the movies, and even pretend to stage our own battles over the internet. Modern day combat as seen in the Middle East proves this even more. With high tech equipment and more resources, we have left ourselves at somewhat of a disadvantage psychologically from past wars. As Americans, many of us have become weak to the thought of paying the ultimate price for freedom. In Oliver `Red' Allen's book, Abandoned on Bataan, we read his memoirs of survival as a prisoner-of-war under Japanese control. Allen tells the story of his own personal tragedy along with the stories of other Americans stuck in "hell." The battle cry of the Bataan prisoners-of-war says it all:
"We're the battling bastards of Bataan,
No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam,
No aunts, no uncles, no nephews, no nieces,
No pills, no planes, no artillery pieces.
...And nobody gives a damn!"

Allen does not attempt to put together a bashing attack towards the Japanese, nor does he give the history of Bataan or World War II. He simply gives the reader a summary of one man's experience as a prisoner-of-war during the Bataan Death March and subsequent captivity. His vivid descriptions of the march along with daily accounts allow the harsh realities of war to be felt by anyone who reads his words.
Allen gives an extensively detailed account of life as a POW under Japanese control. His depictions of daily life spent in Japanese custody are absolutely bone chilling. Some passages left me almost weeping with emotions that I thought were reserved for personal tragedies. One particular incident in the book concerned Allen's appearance before a senior Japanese officer. He was in trouble and had to stand at attention until he was excused; this treatment went on for hours. Already undernourished and overworked, Allen's body was on the verge of shutting down. After several hours, he was told to leave and go back to work. The Japanese officer left but later sent an interpreter back to find Allen still standing at attention. The young American prisoner was so numb with pain he could not move and had to remain in that position until pushed over by the guard. Even though atrocities like this occurred to the author, he still seemed to stay level-headed. Never during my reading did he seem to show hatred towards his captors, which is incredible given the conditions he had to endure.
I consider Abandoned on Bataan one of the best books I have ever read about this era. After reading the book, persons come away with a greater appreciation of our life today and the freedoms we enjoy. Allen's positive attitude, even in the worst of situations, stands as a shining example for all. I would recommend this book without any reservation for those who want to know more about this painful episode from America's past.

"Abandoned on Bataan" is the detailed memoirs of Oliver Allen, one of may American soldiers left behind on the Bataan peninsula during World War II. Most people with even a basic knowledge of the history of the war in the Pacific know of the Bataan death march and the condition of the people when they were rescued from camps in China and Japan. What we generally don't know much about is what happened between those events. Oliver Allen's story fills in that detail with his personal experiences. He details the treatment received (including the rare instances of kindness shown by individual soldiers), the daily life in the camp, the work details, the health conditions, and the eventual liberation. It is a story of strength in the darkest hours of human travesty, it is a story of surviving, and it is a story of winning against all odds. For those with an interest in history and in particular an interest in Bataan or the war in the Pacific in general it is a highly recommended read.

One man's story of survival, as told to Mildred Allen. A teenage American GI recounts his years (1941-1945) of starvation, torture & germ warfare as a prisoner of war of the Japanese Empire in the Philippines & Manchuria.

ABANDONED ON BATAAN isn't about great generals or mighty battles, it is much, much more important, for it is about the survival of human dignity, compassion & hope against all odds. Yes, Red Allen ponders on the differences between cultures. Yes, his perspective of his captors is all-American, his point-of-view, however, is both prosaic & honest.

Yearning to become a pilot, teenager Oliver Allen answers the call to duty as the storms of war rumble over Europe & China. Unable to attain his dream of flying planes, he enlists anyway & is immediately shipped to the West Coast, on to Hawaii & then across the Pacific to the Philippine Islands into the maw of the Japanese advance.

That Red Allen survives is due as much to the simplicity & hardscrabble of his Texas childhood during the Great Depression as to the ebullience of his youth, not to mention pure damn luck!

Embedded in this memoir is history as well as a mystery. What were the reasons the world went to war in Europe & in Asia, & what were the feathers the POWs found in their Red Cross packages & parcels from home?

ABANDONED ON BATAAN is an astonishing read. Profoundly modest, detailed & authentic. Time & time again, this prototypical survivor has the opportunity to dwell on self-pity & whine about horrific injustices visited upon him & his fellow POWs, however, he rarely does so, to his credit. It's the story that counts & the Allens have written a riveting memoir.

Lest we forget the horror that is war.

Standing, as we are, on the cusp of what historians will call the Second Gulf War, the world is confronted once again with the terrors and brutality that warfare stirs in the human psyche. Each of our living generations carries distinct and vivid imagery of what those horrors are. The further back in time our collective memories stretch, the more brutal warfare becomes. Tragically, as our technology has advanced, our ability to wage a lightning war -- an antiseptic Blitzkrieg if you will -- has become so profound that the youngest of our generations have forgotten, or never learned, just how terrible war can be. In a world where our most recent conflicts have seen more friendly fire casualties than deaths attributable to combat, to be captured, tortured, and deprived of basic human necessities is now something of an anachronism to Americans in the 21st century.

To counter our fading memories, Oliver Craig Allen, with the help of his wife Mildred Faye Allen, has given us one man's perspective of the grim realities faced by thousands of American prisoners of war during World War II ' many of whom never returned home alive. The Allen's do not attempt to tell the sweeping and rich history of American combat in the Pacific during the war, nor have they put together a comprehensive history of Bataan, the Death March or even of the unit in which Red Allen served. Rather, this is a story of survival in the face of almost unimaginable brutality at the hands of Japanese captors. Throughout the story, the reader is met head-on with Allen's completely honest assessment of himself, not as a hero or otherwise notable figure but as a simple young man who ended up in a terrible situation from which there was little hope of escape. Allen's gritty determination and tenacious will to survive is perhaps the most salient feature in this work which traces Red Allen from the years prior to his enlistment through his freedom from captivity and to his return to life as a civilian deeply affected by his experiences in combat and captivity.

Among the many prominent facets of this work is Allen's depiction of the ever-present fog of confusion and chaos that surrounded the battle for the Philippines and life as a captive of the Japanese. This story does an exceptional job in painting a clear picture of the fall of the Philippines and the abandonment of our armed forces thereafter. As a stand-alone memoir, Abandoned on Bataan is a good read about a terrible time. It is also valuable as a component in the larger story of the hell that was life as a prisoner of war under a Japanese captor with only the vaguest regard for individual dignity and human life.

Bradley had the misfortune to coincide in his later years with Russell and Whitehead, whose monumental work redirected Philosphy towards the realm of Mathematical Logic and Scientific Materialism. Yet, Bradley's revised version of Hegelian Idealism, strengthened by judiciously chosen elements from the British Idealist tradition, still stands as a practically inexpugnable bulwark against the inroads of those tempted by a spontaneous, unreflective materialism, namely, most of the scientific community today.
Also extremely well written, witty, sharp and captivating in parts. Well worth a perusal, especially the early chapters.

I completely disagree with his conception of reality, but I enjoyed this book. Bradley was a precursor to the language philosophers. Everyone seems intrigued with Wittgenstein; however, Bradley is far more comprehensive and profound. Plus, he writes very good English. Bradley distinguishes subtle naunces in meaning between words and in this way is a precursor to language philosophy. I also recommend C. S. Lewis's book, A Study in Words.

I'm amazed that all the books I have on language philosophy exclude F H Bradley. He did everything language philosophers did before they did it.

This book, written in 1893, is one of the most important books in the history of English language philosophy. During his lifetime, Bradley was one of the best known of British philosophers, but before he died (in 1924) his metaphysical position dropped out of fashion, in part because it was attacked (and misrepresented) by Russell and Moore. In spite of their hostility, Twentieth Century analytic philosophers were profoundly influenced by Bradley. For an excellent discussion of this matter, read the first chapter of Tom Rockmore's book, Hegel, Idealism, and Analytic Philosophy. I recommend reading _Appearance and Reality_ before taking on Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit (Galaxy Books). Bradley's argument for absolute idealism is the best written in English. His writing is lively, frequently pointed and sardonic, a "good read". This version, a reproduction of the 1893 edition, is sturdy, well bound, on good paper. It is a bargain and a must read for anyone with a serious interest in philosophy.

Something must have _happened_ to Francis Herbert Bradley.

He seems to have been something of a curmudgeon; at least, he was extremely reclusive and had a reputation for shooting cats. But at some point in his life he must have come to some sort of deep mystical realization.

Otherwise he couldn't have written this book, which reads like a Western version of Shankara. This is philosophy in the grand old style, and it's one of the high points of British idealism.

Bradley's argument doesn't always hold up in its precise details. He doesn't, for example, think that "relations" are real because (he says) they lead to an infinite regress. But Royce replied to this pretty adequately in an appendix to _The World and the Individual_. He also states firmly (and I think correctly) that there's no conceiving reality apart from experience and there's no duality in experience between subject and object. But support for this claim isn't exactly forthcoming. (Timothy L.S. Sprigge does a much better job with it in _The Vindication of Absolute Idealism_.)

But the essential structure of his argument is sound and could be carried through again with a different set of examples (the standard logical paradoxes, say): the world of our ordinary experience turns out upon inspection to be contradictory, so it can't be fully and finally real; what _is_ fully and finally real is a nondual Absolute in which all those apparent contradictions are resolved through that very nonduality.

Well, Bradley puts it better than that, of course, and his prose style is very pleasant to read. This work is also excerpted in James W. Allard and Guy Stock's collection of Bradley's _Writings on Logic and Metaphysics_, so if you want to read a shorter version, check that volume out.

Anyway, the point is, don't ever let anybody tell you there isn't any nondualistic wisdom here in the West. In a different time and place, Bradley would have been revered as a guru -- a prospect that in all likelihood would have made him cringe, so it's probably just as well. But he's clearly trying to articulate a vision here, and few writers have tackled "rational mysticism" with such philosophical flair.

I doubt that Shankara would have shot cats. Fortunately the similarities run deeper than that.

This book is indeed extremely important for analytic, continental, and mystic philosophers alike. Bradley's positive view, the Absolute, is proposed here as the _only way out_ of those messy analytic debates regarding topics such as appearance vs. reality, plurality, quality, and causation. Bradley's starting point: what is absurd (logically impossible) cannot exist.

The stories about the history, his family and the Indians around his life gave me a new perspective about this time in history. Ivan, an engineer, has told a story in this book about his experiences and involvement in the transformation of our nation from the `old west' to the modern technological age. I have always been in awe of people who have had challenging life experiences. It was fun to read this book and see how all these experiences have shown God's leading in Ivan's life.

Ivan Allen is my uncle. (my mothers brother) I was very happy that he wrote this book because it brought back many memories dating back to when I would visit my grandparents farm in Sumner, Oklahoma. When I saw the photographs of my grandparents, (uncle Ivans parents) and his children and family, I got a very nostalgic feeling. Sumner, Oklahoma is a simple, hard working farm community in northern Oklahoma and when I read Uncle Ivans book, it brings back a lot of good memories which I will never forget that I had as a child growing up. The old wooden raft (a very heavy wooden raft it is!), is still located somewhere in Sumner, Oklahoma, probably sitting in the corner of a farm pasture near the Allen homestead. I would like to find that old raft and let Uncle Ivan know where it is located and possibly even buy it and give it back to him.. Ivan Allen is a fine christian man with high morals and dignity and I respect him very much. I only wish that I lived closer to him so that he and I could talk about the old homestead and listen to some more of his early childhood experiences at Sumner, Oklahoma. I highly suggest reading his book "Bad Times and Then There Was God" because it will enlighten you on the early times of northern Oklahoma history with sad,serious and funny stories of the past. Its great!

Ivan Allen is a personal friend of mine. He and I have known each other for about one year. After reading his book, I feel honored to know him more and make the most of every opportunity to talk to him. The stories and adventures that Ivan relates in his book are very compelling and exciting. My children regard his experiences as many do Laura Ingalls Wilder in her famous biographical stories.

A simply-told story of life in tough frontier days, this book kept me reading. I could identify with the author's youthful struggle for success and the losses he experienced. The deep, sincere love for God that shines out of the later chapters is inspiring. The book was worth the time it took to read it.

I never would have guessed that anyone could have had such an interesting life. The way Ivan writes it is like sitting down and listening to him tell the stories in person. The only thing I could wish for is more detail. Jim Kilmer Ph.D.

(As written to the author)
Just wanted to tell you the reaction to your book here. A beading friend saw it at another beading friend's house. She immediately purchased one, then told me about it. She brought it to our bead society meeting last night and I came home and immediately purchased it, too. And several of the ladies in our group said they wanted it also! What a wealth of inspiration! And so beautifully photographed and displayed. Thank you, thank you for sharing this with us all. Who knows what wonderful creations will be born from seeds you have sown!!

As a jewelry designer, I am forever open to quality inspiration. "Beadazzled: Where Beads and Inspiration Meet," has become the go-to volume in my library when I need a little tug in the right direction. Unlike other jewelry showcase books which tend to present pieces in stark lighting with little more text than a list of ingredients, this one is rich in both bead lore ("Prized in China, Mongolia, and Tibet for its ability to protect wearers from evil, turquoise was also pulverized and added to traditional Asian medicines") and sumptuously arranged photos (necklaces adorn not only lovely decolletage, but also gorgeous raku pottery and Indonesian textiles). Sheer beauty and innovation were key when choosing featured designers; works from celebrated masters such as Grazia Zalfa, Amy Kahn Russell, and Susan Green appear alongside necklaces from up-and-comers such as Caito Amorose, Walter Ford, and 16-year-old Elizabeth Hutsell. Author Penelope Diamanti and photographer William L. Allen have created an inviting atmosphere for pure inspiration. My advice? Curl up on the couch with a cozy blanket and this book -- start with Diamanti's engaging introduction, and by the time you turn to the last page to see Zalfa's joyful bottle-cap necklace, your beads will be calling you to play.

Beadazzled: Where Beads + Inspiration Meet

Anyone who is interested in beads -- making them, buying them, stringing them or wearing them -- will love this book. First of all, the quality of the photographs and the writing are exceptional. That's not surprising when you learn that all the principals connected with the project have worked for National Geographic at one time or another. So along with remarkable designs by 70 of the best artists now working in the field of beaded jewelry, you'll find information about the history of beads and beading. The combinations of colors and materials are truly inspiring. This is a must-have book for anyone interested in the age-old art of creating beauty from stone, glass, metal and string.

I received Beadazzled as a gift from my 14-year-old daughter, who's always loved making jewelry. Nothing like the stunning creations in this book though. We enjoyed the book together, and were amazed at the range and beauty of all the beads--and also compelled by their stories. Every page of the book drew us in. The beads themselves are fantastic, but also seeing them around the necks of women is inspiring. So inspiring, in fact, that we've already made a couple trips to a Beadazzled retail shop in our area. My daughter is hard at work, creating "just the right jewelry" for me, her sister, her grandmother, her friends. I think this book has started a lifelong interest for both of us. I'll surprise her with one of my own creations on her next birthday.

This book has become the ultimate coffee table decoration in our home. Out of several we display, this one gets the most admiring attention. The women are drawn to it at once. The book is rich, well concieved and crafted. The verbiage is plain and easy to read and the pictures are warm and beautifully detailed. Many are almost 3D. For the neophyte (like me) this is a virtual "course" in cultral taste from around the world. There are high quality pictures of jewelry, the likes of which, I have never seen. Very worthwhile and well done. Congratulations to Penelope Diamanti and to Bill Allen for such a successful collabration.

My 6 and 8 year old boys absolutely love Tashi! They can't get enough! I just order big, big book #2 for them. Keep the Tashi adventures coming!

My boys 8 and 5 were captivated and couldn't wait to find out what adventure came next! I hightly reccommend this series!

This is a great book with lots of fun adventure stories. The stories are similar to Lord of the Rings......but for kids. :-) My kids beg for this book every night.

We think Tashi is a excellent book for all ages. Katie is nine and her younger sister is four, and they both liked the book a lot, as did their parents. The stories are not too spooky but exciting. We liked the charming "old country" that Tashi was from, created mostly by the pictures. Tashi has pointy hair and earings and wears a really cool jacket and boots. The houses in the "old country" look Japanese? Chinese? It's hard to say. It looked like a really nice place to live except for the warlords, baron, giants, flying houses, pirates and demons. We got swept up in the magical ride of "The Big Big Big Book of Tashi". We definetly plan to read "Tashi and the Dancing Shoes".

I bought this book to read to my 4 year old son, who is ready for stories with more meat on the bones (a higher word-to-picture ratio and stronger plot) than most picture books. He loved it -- he was so sad the last night when he said "Dad, you forgot to put the bookmark in!" and my husband told him they had read the last story. We'll read it again and again, if his 6 year old sister (who reads at a 3rd grade level) hasn't run off with it -- again! It is great for kids ready for stories with real plot, but not for too-mature themes. Particularly good for boys, just because there are so few for them at this stage; a lot of the other stories in this niche are kind of princessy -- which my daughter loved, but which wasn't right for my son.

This is such a good book! I'm so sorry to see it is out of print. The reader need not have any background or interest in coal mining to enjoy this story. The characters and their daily lives are so clearly drawn, you'll feel as though you are experiencing their joys and sorrows. Can't recommend it highly enough to those who enjoy a novel with substance.

This has to be the best book I have ever read. So true to life. Growing up in the northeast Pennsylvania, it made me laugh and cry. But most of all it made me remember.

I remember listening to someone talking about this book and I just had to read it. My future goal is to become a Historical Sociologist and this book was perfect for it. The effects of the mining and the city on this certain child and the histoical aspect is absolutely phenomenal.

If you have yet to read this or have the displeasure of not owning it, please run to your nearest computer an order it.

This is such a wonderful book, it MUST be brought back into print. This is fiction, but it is also history. I would use this book in my U.S. History class as supplemental reading. Also, Jan Kubicki is a great writer - but has he written anything else? If so, I'd love to read it

I grew up near Wilkes-Barre, PA - coal mining country. I remember my mother talking about hearing the miners working under the houses when she and her friends would gather for coffee and cake - Took some getting used to for someone from Washington, DC. Every so often, there would be a cave-in & the families would wait anxiously for news. This novel was very descriptive & I learned quite a bit about how the life must have been for the Breaker Boys and the miners.

HOW INCREDIBLY SAD THAT THIS HAD TO HAPPEN TO SUCH A WONDERFUL PERSON DUE TO PROFESSIONAL INNATTENTION.
THEY TOOK AWAY HIS TV PERSONA.
HOW GLAD I AM THAT HE AND HIS FAMILY ARE DOING MUCH BETTER SINCE 'THE WEATHER CHANGED'.
WHAT INCREDIBLY POSITIVE ATTITUDES THEY HAVE.
HE PROVES THAT HARD WORK WINS OUT.
HE IS AN INSPIRATION.

I often wondered what had happened to one of my very favorite TV personalities! Ironically, I have had several strokes over the past year and came across his book! I found it helpful and encouraging.

I had a cerebellar stroke in March, which caused this communications major and ex-Micrsoft college recruiter to become a disabled person who couldn't talk --overnight and very unexpectely, just like Mark..Mark's book is a good chronolgy of what that feels like and a good inspiration for recovery as he made a 100% comeback.

While I don't have his connections with Bill Cosby or presidents (and admire his newfound verve to use those contacts to get the word out about stoke), I share and admire his drive to recover - and that of his wife to support him...Stroke is not well known, we hear so often about cancer and heart attacks but it is the number one disabler - 455,000 americans will be struck by it this year, or one every 15 seconds...I had none of the prediposing symptoms (high blood pressure/smoker/family history/overweight) yet I still had a stroke and it has changed my life - just like it changed Mark's life into a recovering disabled person who had to learn to slow down and value a second chance at everything..we did not die and there is a distinct silver lining to stroke, which Mark's upbeat book chronicles...it was an easy read and a good boost...a profile in a different kind of courage for friends, family and Mark himself...Unlike many afflications, you CAN recover from stroke...it takes time and oomph.

MarkMcEwen has written an excellent book for those who have had a stroke or are caring for someone who has had one. His positive message is one of hope for all.

CHANGE IN THE WEATHER: LIFE AFTER STROKE tells of a news anchorman at the peak of his life - and enjoying it - when he suffered a stroke. Mistreatment and misdiagnosis nearly cost him his life - and this memoir documents these issues, also following his rehabilitation from a massive stroke in which he lost some of his greatest gifts. A powerful account of triumph over harrowing physical issues evolves.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch