Barry Books

If you're a die-hard baseball fan, then you'll love this auction catalogue featuring Barry Halper's unique collection of baseball memorabilia. If you can't make it to Cooperstown, this book is full of some of the most incredible pieces of baseball history short of the Hall of Fame. From the first baseball ever used, to Babe Ruth's last will and testament, each page brings you closer to baseball heaven. The ultimate guide to baseball lore and a must for the "can't wait till spring training" baseball fan.

This is filled with great photos of some of the most amazing baseball memorabilia that you'll ever seen. The book can be really, really expensive, so try to find it used.

Andy.

Very nice indeed. Photographs of sale items, which have distinct value. What I loved most was the inclusion of lot numbers and their final sale prices. Millions of dollars spent on what, at that time, were just some trinkets and a hobby.

Very well presented and I really like what I continue to see.

This collection is a history of the great game of baseball. The Babe Ruth collectables alone are stunning, add in the Joe DiMaggio and all of the photos! Wow! To spend a few hours browsing this set of books is magic! I can't say enough (can you tell).

This book is great. The pictures are beautiful, the descriptions informative--an all around great piece of work for sports lovers. It's well worth the money.

this book was made into a movie by stanley kubrick that won 4 academy awards. it relates the amazing adventures of the most dishonest man in history, redmond barry. it chronicles his unlikely rise to the top and subsequent comeuppance. he is fond of fighting, lying and ripping people off. despite his love of dishonesty and treachery, and his total lack of compassion for other people, he sees himself as a good person because he only hit his wife when he was drunk, at least for the first three years of their marriage.

Having seen the movie "Barry Lyndon" by Stanley Kubrick years ago, I was taken aback by this book which is so markedly different than the 1975 film. In the book, Lord Bullingdon is actually the hero, where Kubrick presented him merely as a cowardly cad. Redmond Barry (later as Barry Lyndon)deserves all the evils that befall him and his first person narrative is quite humorous especially when blaming everyone for his own shortcomings. Unfortunately, the ending leaves one a bit unsatisfied, quite like the dismal end of Mr. Lyndon himself. This novel is not on the level of Thackeray's "Vanity Fair", but fun to read nonetheless.

When one is about to take the big plunge and give oneself the trouble of making what is always -in our age of lighter reading, of course - the strenuous effort of reading a XIXth. Century novelist, one - at least me - must make the following question: What was this author's particular attitude, as a man (or woman) of the most bourgeois of all centuries, towards his/her preceding century, the most aristocratic and un-bourgeois XVIIIth. Century? If s/he scorns the XVIIIth. Century, or is indifferent to it, it's quite likely that the author in question is a bourgeois philistine regarding Victorian times as the undisputed acme of human civilization. If s/he is an admirer, than s/he is obviously starting out of a clear sense of alienation from his/her own society, and one should expect at least for this XIXth. Century _avis rara_, genuine sense of humor. Thackeray was one of such Victorians who realized the philisteism of his own society;Eça de Queiroz, his Portuguese disciple (who seems to have learned a lot from reading him) was another. Therefore: Read this book, QED.

Having seen the movie "Barry Lyndon" by Stanley Kubrick years ago, I was taken aback by this book which is so markedly different than the 1975 film. In the book, Lord Bullingdon is actually the hero, where Kubrick presented him merely as a cowardly cad. Redmond Barry (later as Barry Lyndon)deserves all the evils that befall him and his first person narrative is quite humorous especially when blaming everyone for his own shortcomings. Unfortunately, the ending leaves one a bit unsatisfied, quite like the dismal end of Mr. Lyndon himself. This novel is not on the level of Thackeray's "Vanity Fair", but fun to read nonetheless.

Here, in this relatively obscure work, Thackeray is at his ironic and satiric best. Modern critics lightly dismiss the book as a piece of journalistic hack work, but it is much more than that. Redmond Barry, later Barry Lyndon, chronicles in a fairly sophistocated and always lighthearted manner his rise from a poor Irish country boy to the astral heights of polite English society from 1750-1820. Mr. Barry is always Machievellian in his way, and is quick and efficient with his sword. He is Odysseus, Holden Caulfield, Don Juan, and Nabokov's Humbert Humbert merged. In a word, he is very, very entertaining and very, very good. The book's only glaring flaw is it's belabored and uninspired ending. But it is much worth reading to watch Redmond Barry when young

As we share Shiner's nostalgia, we rediscover Aaron, Mays, McCovey, Mantle, and Gibson, old heros, old memories. Baseballs Greatest Players, The Saga Continues is more than a Who's Who of baseball, it's a way of life, a catalog of events, a collection of memories. As Shiner reveals the greatest players, we, who are old enough to remember, bask in their glory and relive our own unachieved ambitions.

But Shiner does more than take us back, he bundles the past with the present and into the future, tyingthe memories together forever in our minds. McGuire's record-setting season rekindles other home run hitters: Roger Maris, Reggie Jackson, Mickey Mantle, even Babe Ruth. We connect to the present, even anticipate the future. McGuire's 70 home run season triggers a vision of people diving into San Francisco Bay to retrieve the balls Barry Bonds his in 2001, the year he surpassed McGuire's record.

Baseball fans will love this book, others will like it. It's clearly, simply, and accurately presented and guaranteed to stir a memory or two.

It's hard not to enjoy this well written, easily readable book on baseball's best players of the past 50 years. Lively anecdotes plus comprehensive (but not boring) analysis shows exactly why these are the best players of the game. I got a kick out of remembering a lot of things I had almost forgotten, like just how good Bob Gibson was. Some of the facts are amazing, like that in the last two years Sandy Koufax pitched, there were 8 games where the Dodgers only scored one run for him--but he won 4 of them. This book also avoids wallowing in sex and drug garbage. It's a baseball book, not National Enquirer. Balanced, interesting, a really solid piece of work.

With the writing of Baseball's Greatest Players, author David Shiner takes a serious risk. The only thing a sports fan loves more than making a "greatest list" is arguing voluably about why the other guy's list is WRONG! One read of this book will shut down most any other greatest list's chances, and it does so with style, wit, and a healthy dose of readable fact.

In its text, Shiner's book fulfils both the needs of casual fan's interest and the SABR-members desire for solid, quantifiable statistical evidence. But it goes beyond just fact and storytelling to get to the intangibles that separate the players truly great between the white lines from those whose personality and dedication supported not just their teams, but the game itself.

Baseball, more than any other sport (though Canadian hockey fans will rightly take exception to this) carries its past with it. This continuity, this love of the game that both transcends and unites generations is served well by Shiner's writing. Buy Baseball's Greatest Players, and take it to a sports bar near you. You won't go wrong.

Brief synopses of baseball's best players during the past 50 years. Fun and informative. Enjoyed reading this, think others would also.

What an enjoyable book! I loved it. Great short biographies of the greatest baseball players from the past 50 years. For the serious baseball fan or the novice (or anyone who wants to know the story behind legendary players like Mantle and Mays, or why Ricky Henderson really IS one of the greatest players ever). Whether you are ten or eighty, this book is fun, interesting, and helps explain why millions love baseball--and their heroes! Makes a great gift for kids or adults. Exciting stories, well written.

This book is an excellent resource for researching the life and works of Beethoven. The sections regarding compositions are broken down by ensemble and type, and provide important information such as performance dates, key signatures, time signatures, and movement headings. Almost all topics, including such things as Beethoven's handwriting, favorite literature, philosophies, thoughts on other composers, are covered. Very handy for reference, as well as a guide to starting Beethoven research. Well worth it at twice the price!

All the key facts about Ludwig at your fingertips, plus many more you probably never knew. This book is a terrific reference, an enjoyable read, a great collection of facts and essays, and a bargain to boot. For those who think you need to be a scholar to have this level of interest, you don't. But even a scholar will find handy having so many facts in one place.

The book covers not just Beethoven and his life and works, but Vienna in general, the musical climate of the time, history, politics, developments in musicology, the scholarship of Beethoven's music, musical instruments and practices of Beethoven's time, etc. It's all very well-organized, too, with many nice illustrations of everything from Beethoven's handwriting (how can anyone read it?) to portraits of his contemporaries. And after you finish this marvelous volume, get the one on Mozart, too! I only wish they'd make compendiums for Bach, Schubert, Liszt, Schumann, Haydn, Tchaikowsky, Rachmaninoff, Sibelius, Bartok, Wagner, etc., etc.

Undoubtedly thousands of books have been written about Beethoven, but what sets this one apart from the others is its well-organized and exhaustive structure. Perhaps the best way to highlight this for the prospective buyer is to list the actual sections contained in this book. 1. Calendar of Beethoven's life, works and related events 2. Beethoven's family tree 3. Who's who of Beethoven's contemporaries 4. Historical background 5. Musical background 6. Beethoven as an individual 7. Beethoven's beliefs and opinions. Following section 7 are several more sections dedicated solely to his music. As you can see, this book offers several aspects that many others neglect to include. This structure also affords one the opportunity to go directly to an area of interest without having to wade through myriad pages. Also included are eight pages of paintings, sculptures and sketches of the maestro. This book is equally at home in the bathroom, on the coffee table, or in the study. It is an invaluable source of information for anyone desiring to learn more about this amazing genius.

This book has the biography, the politics of the times, the pictures of, the letters of, the thoughts of others about him, deciphering of each piece of music, a list of his contemporaries, patrons, loves, friends, family tree... everything you could ever want to know about Beethoven's life and times! I love this book

This book offers chapter after chapter of information on every aspect of Beethoven. I find that every time I pick this book up, I can find something interesting to read about. Obviously the music as catalogued and described. Beyond that, details of the great composer's personality, writing style, health difficulties, as well as his known views on a variety of topics provide endless hours of fascinating reading. I am impressed by the thoroughness of this book. Listings of people who Beethoven knew or interacted with, his influences and those he influenced, pictures and descriptions of his handwriting and manuscripts, the historical perspective on the times he lived in, all clearly described. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about this great master, and to anyone who is interested in the life and times of one of the most influential artists to ever live. In summary I have found it accurate and complete and always interesting. It is an indispensable reference.

This first novel by San Francisco trial attorney Barry Willdorf offers a compelling re-creation of the resistance to the Vietnam War from a unique point of view. Not only does Willdorf create a realistic sense of the paranoia and harassment that existed in Southern California towards the peace movement, he portrays many other factors of the times: the sexual politics of the day, both in the protagonist's daily life and in the wider context of the nascent women's movement; the inner machinations of the peace movement itself; the drug culture that took its toll on some activists; and most importantly, the racism that existed both in the anti-war movement and in the Marines.

One of the most moving scenes comes toward the end of the book, in the speech by Marine "Jumping Jack," a combat veteran who had come to the conclusion that his own actions, and the actions of his superiors in encouraging him, constituted war crimes. Hospitalized in a psychiatric ward after a post-traumatic stress flashback, Jack had walked away from the Marines and made his way across the border to Canada. Arrested on his return to the United States, accused of treason and desertion, Jack's speech during his trial is an indictment and a plea, and a call for peace from a man who had experienced first-hand the worst of the horrors of war.

Skillfully written, well-plotted, unique in its characters and its setting, this book is a welcome addition to the literature of peace that includes such classics as All Quiet on the Western Front.

This book is an extremely moving portrait of a little-discussed part of the movement against the Vietnam War: the anti-war organizing within the U.S. Marines. The book's presentation of marines who have grown disillusioned with the war is compelling, and the stories of several of the marines -- fictional, but clearly based in real stories and experiences -- are the most valuable parts of the book. The trial scene toward the end of the book gives a better sense of what the Vietnam War meant than any "scholarly" historical examination I have seen.

Aside from these stories, Willdorf describes a very engaging, sometimes ridiculous, sometimes very smart, group of civilian organizers whose work to support the anti-war marines sheds light on a generation's shifting experiences of race and gender. The book manages to take on a lot of difficult topics while remaining a readable, moving, and often very funny narrative.

The sixties have largely been sanitized and trivialized in the
popular consciousness into a decade of "sex, drugs, and
rock-n-roll". Seldom do people remember when that phrase comes
up that there were two profound social movements in play -- the
civil rights movement, and, slightly later but overlapping, the
movement against the Vietnam war.

This trivialization is no accident, I'm afraid. Even at the
time, I recall newspaper reporters who found it inconceivable
that as college students we could be sincerely concerned about
something happening to anyone else but us. They really wanted to
believe that the only thing that could really be motivating us
was sex or drugs. Certainly the forces of power and authority
found it eminently convenient to slander us with that accusation.
And anti-war G.I.'s were hardly ever mentioned. But nothing
about the sixties and early seventies is comprehensible without
focusing on those two movements.

The book shows really well how there were so many different ways
that people had of trying to make sense of the world at the time.
Because most of the time, the range of acceptable political
discourse is really quite narrow. Most ideas simply aren't
deemed worthy of discussion. One of the remarkable things about
that period is that the world really did open up for so many of
us, and all sorts of mutually incompatible ideas were up for
grabs. This led to a lot of destructive factionalism and
nonsensical infighting, but it also led to some real insights and
permanent changes. (Just compare the status of women today with
that in the 1950's, when I was a kid, for only one example.) The
wonder is that with all the centrifugal forces in
motion at the time, those of us working against the war were able
to get anything done at all. Yet we did -- we really did "bring
the war home," and this nation is the better for it. This book
shows one of the ways we did this -- with all our messy and
contradictory ideas and opinions, with all the crazy and
not-so-crazy and sometimes heroic things we did.

The trial scene, by the way, is a knockout. I couldn't get it
out of my mind for days. It really brought back why so many of
us were so determined to end that war.

For boomers and War Babies who were young during the Vietnam War, Willdorf's tale brings back good times and nightmares. I was carried back to the late 60's, recalling all the bumps in the road, ready to look at it all in retrospect. By the time you get to know this young couple taking on the Military establishment in Camp Pendleton, you're involved in their plights and disappointments, and cheering their goals.
The descriptions were vivid, and it was great reading.

Barry Willdorf describes his "Bring Home the War!" as a "novel about resistence to racism and the Vietnam War in the United States Marine Corps." It is, however, much more than that. Being a skillfully written work, it represents a keen metahistorical insight into the complexities of the turmoil that rocked America nearly off its foundations during the Vietnam War era.

Eric Wolfe, the main character in "Bring Home the War!" is a newly graduated Eastern law-school student who, with his wife Emma,moves to Oceanside, California to defend U.S. Marines who
are in legal trouble because of their anti-war activities. Through Eric and Emma's experiences over a one-year stay at Oceanside,1970, Willdorf realistically introduces social, political and moral issues such as racial discrimination, women's right, a growing drug culture, and law and order in a rapidly destabilizing society populated by an outspoken generation of baby boomers that some have called "the wounded generation." (see A.D. Horne, editor, "The Wounded Generation")

In plot, dialogue, characterization and setting that read much like Raymond Chandler's hard-boiled detective novels of the 1920s
(for a connection between these novels and Vietnam War literature, see John Hellman's "American Myth and the Legacy of Vietnam"), Willdorf vividly describes a human landscape that is corrupt, violent, and rapidly deteriorating for America's less-advantaged young people while the more privileged members of the nation's youth-oriented society insulate themselves from a MacBethian brew of woes that seethe beyond their protected enclaves. Alienation is a key theme running through this bleak landscape.

After a long series of troubling and exhausting events that culminate in the military trial of a Marine corporal who speaks out against the military for condoning an atrocity he committed in Vietnam, Willdorf states at the end of his novel that the generation of young people who survived the tumultuous events of the Vietnam War era "would now be picking up the pieces for a long time to come." (p. 268)

"Bring Home the War!" is bound to be a classic work on a conflict that spilled over from Indochina into the streets of this nation. As such, the novel reflects a period in U.S. history that has come to haunt Americans as no other time has done since the Civil War. Perusing Willddorf's book is reminiscent of reading Robert Stone's "war-at-home" novel "Dog Soldiers" (1974). Well written, fast paced and brutal, "Bring Home the War!" is at the top of a growing list of new books which give clear insight into America's longest and most troubling foreign and internal conflict.

Having read countless articles and books on China, Naughton stands out as the leader on the Chinese economy. This book is structured brilliantly, providing novices and experts alike with easy access to valuable information.

I recommend this to anyone with any interest in understanding how China has grown into a leader in today's economy.

A superb guide to the intricacies of the Chinese economy. I highly recommend it to students, professionals, policy makers, and academics looking to better understand the underlying themes and trends of the world's fastest growing economy.

Erik Lundh,
Washington, DC

China's economic development since 1978 has baffled and surprised the world. Other developing economies may regard China with envy but if they are contemplating copying China's model of development, help is at hand. They just need to read Naughton's book.

China's three decade of economic development has been called many things, such as groping stones while crossing the river, three steps forward and two back, bird cage economics, transition from command to market, amazing, miraculous and more. The author has organized the historical date in a way easy to comprehend and coupled with explanations that are lucid and easy to follow.

Textbook conjures up the image of a big snore, but not this one. This one will become essential reference book dogeared by frequent use.

Barry Naughton has written a masterful book. It is comprehensive, accessible and rigorous. Researchers, upper-level undergraduate and graduate students, who want to understand the key economic issues faced by China, will all appreciate this volumn. I am using it in my Master courses!

Jiin-ming Fahn, National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan

An excellent book which is rare for being highly readable, insightful, and well supported. Those who know China will find specific information and analysis which explains why the country operates in the way that it does. Those who don't know China will learn about the country without the confusion that results from the writings of casual observers.

The only specific weakness in the book is Dr. Naughton's assessment of modern industrial policy, which is incomplete and off-track. That aspect is simply an omission and does little to detract from the overall value of his work.

My son says: This book has excitement, love, and hidden secrets. If you like books about people who were once your friend and turned into enemies, crazy myths, and drama, brothers who turn against each other, future, and crazy cities, then this would be a great book for you to read. Boys and girls between the ages of 9 to 14 would enjoy this book.

I have read Virtual War and The Clones and until I read these books I never really was interested in science fiction, but now I have started reading more of it. I loved both of the books I couldn't put them down, my whole school loved the books. Now I'm waiting with increasing excitement to read The Revolt, I am going to read it the first day it comes out . These books are great even if your not sure about science fiction you should try them

I thought that I had every good book our high school library had to offer, but as I was scanning the shelves those bright, bold letters poppped out at me, THE CLONES , it immidiatly piqued my interest and when I started to read it I couldn't
put it down. The mystery, the action, the romance. This is a very good book and I highly recommend it for anyone who even slightly likes science fiction. my only complaint is that the ending is a cliffhanger. Monday morning I am going back to my library to find the third book!

Second in a planned series, the author takes us to the Island of Hiva, where battle hero Corgan now lives. His friend and former companion Sharla comes to the island with a surprise-the cloned baby of their friend Brig, who died soon after the war. As a result of Sharla's genetic research, cloned twin infants are growing at a whirlwind rate, maturing years in a matter of weeks. Despite their identical features, Corgan soon realizes their dispositions are quite different. When Seabrig, the twin he is raising, loses a hand in a swimming accident, Corgan can't overcome the terrible feeling that Sharla's twin, Brigand, did it on purpose. Whatever the outcome Brigand desired, it seems to have backfired when he is left on the island with Corgan, whom he sees as a rival for Sharla's affection.

I met Corgan, Sharla and Brig in the Virtual War. As a grandparent and teacher I always look for good science fiction. The Clones can be read as a stand alone since Gloria Skurzynski fills in the backstory. Good fast moving tale that took me back to the doomed city. Gave my copy to my grandson.

I own this book, and my friend keeps trying to steal it away!

I was desperately trying to get her a copy for herself, but to no avail...

Bring it back!!

please- a friend has it and I am tired of borrowing

We purchased this cookbook several years ago and liked it so much we purchased 5 or 6 more for friends! Ingredients are easy to find and recipes are quick, simple, and DELICIOUS!

I have a friend who would like a copy, and I have been searching for her, but now find the book is out of print...

PLEASE reprint. This is a GREAT cookbook!

I saw a friends and what a great cookbook. It has fantastic recipes and are easy to follow. Even a beginner could not go wrong with the recipes The author Jillian Stewart did a great job. Unfortunatly I tried to purchase it and the publisher is out of stock. I would love for them to make it available again. I would like a copy for myself and to purchase as gifts.

This is an excellent cookbook with detailed instructions and beautiful full color pictures for every recipe. Highly recommended for any cook from the novice to the advanced!

One of the things I like the most about this book is the way that Rb. Freundel shows the development of Jewish tradition and practices, and shows how the philosophy that makes up Judaism has changed over time. Particularly of interest are the ways in which he ties changes in Jewish thought to global changes in thought over time, and how the overarching idea of a given era affected Jewish views.

This book takes the approach of being a quick overview of a variety of topics rather than an in-depth study on any of them, but it still provides the reader with enough information to give them a cursory understanding of the selected topics. The footnotes and citations are part of the real wealth of this book - if you do want to do an in depth study on any of the topics the book deals with, those would be a good place to start.

From Publisher's Weekly
The International News Source of Book Publishing and Bookselling

February 23, 2004
CONTEMPORARY ORTHODOX JUDAISM'S RESPONSE TO MODERNITY
Rabbi Barry Freundel. KTAV,Freundel, who counts former presidential candidate Joe Lieberman among his Washington, D.C., congregants, invites readers, Jewish and non-Jewish, to gain a better understanding of Jewish law, tradition and belief in his succinct but thorough analyses of 31 different topics crucial to Orthodox Judaism, such as teshuvah (repentance), Israel, prayer and Shabbat and Kashrut. Each chapter summarizes the central sources upon which the Halakhah (Jewish law) is based in clear, understandable terms and explains the development of the tradition as well as its practical application in today's world. Additionally, Freundel provides all the relevant Orthodox opinions on the matter, including those that he or the law ultimately rejects, and elucidates how and why Jewish law maintains its ancient positions even as modernity infringes on them. He does not shy away from or gloss over sensitive or controversial issues; instead he seems eager to take them on and debunk popular myths, including the widespread notions that Judaism considers women inferior and that Jews do not believe In an afterlife. Even though most chapters number only a few pages, his essays are accurate, entirely to the point, easy to finish without losing interest and convenient to pick up or put down at any time. Freundel's evident mastery of the vast breadth of materials within Jewish thought and law combined with his eloquent and cogent writing makes for an exceptionally worthwhile, inspirational and instructive work that no informed person should be without. (Apr. 21)

explaining the basics and debunking myths that seem to be altogether too common (e.g. that Jewish law is 100% anti-abortion or 100% pro-abortion, or that Jews don't believe in an afterlife, that Jewish mysticism began with Kabbalah, or that the most traditional Jews are always the most pro-Zionist). Although once in a while Freundel mentions other Jewish movements, his tone towards non-Orthodox movements is reasonably respectful, and he writes much more about differences within Orthodoxy.

A few points I thought were especially noteworthy or surprising:

*The key difference between the Five Books of Moses and the rest of the Tanach: the first are sources of law, the second generally not.

*Freundel admits the existence of possible corruptions in the biblical text, noting that 8th-century scholars sought to correct such corruptions and that even now, there is a one-letter deviation between Ashkenazic and Sephardic versions of the Torah. But Freundel argues that any small errors in the text are "not legally consequential" because Judaism rejects literal interpretation of the Bible, and Jewish law is based instead on centuries of rabbinic analysis.

*Freundel asserts that Judaism is optimistic about man's capacities, and gives an interesting example of this: human cloning. Catholics oppose cloning because cloning constitutes "playing God in the work of creation" while many Orthodox Jews support cloning in principle because "becoming a partner with God in the works of creation" is essentially noble. A Protestant theologican argued against cloning in a Congression hearing because "people have a right not to be created in this way". By contrast, Freundel asserts that human existence is sufficiently noble that existence is better than nonexistence regardless of how it is created.

*Freundel's detailed explanations of the relationship between God and Evil. Unlike some fringe characters, Freundel rejects the notion that evil is always a punishment for sin (though of course it might be). Orthodox Jews have also endorsed other explanations, since as human free will, Divine self-limitation, evil as a challenge that humans were created to remedy, and possible compensation (to good people who suffer and bad people who do not) in the next world.

Freundel does occasionally lapse into overly technical language; he once asserts that Israel "is a cutting edge issue in the debate between more modern and yeshivish expressions of Orthodoxy." I suspect that many readers who are not Jewish or who grew up outside Orthodoxy won't understand what "yeshivish" means - but thankfully, such lapses are few and far between.

it is amazing that in such short chapters rabbi freundel can do such a good job of showing the range of opinions in orthodoxy and demonstrate their relevance to modern problems. A must have for every jewish person's library.

For the uninitiated:

This book is a primer on the basic philosophies of Judaism.

Before a potential convert or person curious about Judaism reads "To Be a Jew" or other books about the basics of HOW to practice Judaism, he or she should read this book first. This kind of book is rare BUT NECESSARY first step of the thinking person's exploration of Judaism because it tells what Jews believe.

The only other book out there like it that I can think of is "Book of Our Heritage" by Kitov, but reading "Heritage" is already a pretty serious investment in study, usually made only by an avid reader. This book is an easier read but no less significant an achievement.

It is also different from "Heritage" in its approach. It is more straight on with a specific goal of saving the earnest intellectual who is curious about Judaism but confused - confused from all of the myths about Judaism, and popular schools of thought today which contradict or at least seem to contradict Judaism. In his way, the rabbi is trying to achieve a work which is not unlike what the Rambam was trying to do with Guide for the Perplexed and eliviate the confusion. This is an update to that idea for the current time and a much much easier read.

For the initiated:

The title of this book might scare some people away because it has the words "modern" and "contemporary", but it shouldn't. Although it is obviously written by a Modern Orthodox rabbi, it favors no particular hashkafah of Orthodox Judaism. If your kids are in Bnei Brock, they're not going to run out and go to the movies or become astronomers after reading this book, and modern kids aren't going to start keeping yashan either. Those who are learned will find this book has mostly basic material, but it is distilled and summarized in such a way which will clarify many things and make them clearer to us. Having said that, there are many things even the learned will learn from it.

In a world of instability where one of the only constants has become that of stress, the need to take control rises to the top of a daily "to do" list. Whereas geopolitical strategy is often left to the better judgement of our elected officials, the education and deployment of healthy lifestyle ones is up to the individual. In his book, CORONARY HEART DISEASE: A GUIDE TO DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT, Dr. Cohen redefines an inherently complex area of medicine into a simple one which suggests small steps to follow on a daily basis for long term success. It is true that medicine and treatment options will evolve at a rapid pace leaving some specific procedures behind in the process. However, the text of CORONARY HEART DISEASE appears timeless in its ability to last as a resource in every household,to be referenced over the years with regard to family issues and in order to share it with anyone close to heart in an effort to strengthen their lives. Dr. Cohen should be applauded for having felt the committment to his field to find time away from surgical schedules and office visits in order to prescribe measures which, if and when followed, might lead to our paths never crossing.

The information in this book will decrease your odds of contracting coronary heart disease (CHD), thereby increasing your odds of living a longer and healthier life. This book does an excellent job simplifying a complex subject so that a non-medical person like myself can comprehend and benefit from it. I have purchased extra copies to give to my family members and am recommending that my friends read it.

My introduction to Barry Cohen was the Friday after I was diagnosed with CHD. As a woman who has taken good care of herself - eating right and exercising - I was shocked when a high score on a cononary calcium scoring test deposited me into the heart of a disease that only others had. I was in the 75th percentile - that's bad! The calcium burden was in my LAD. I needed infomation - more than offered on the internet and more than my present doctor had time to offer me. Dr. Cohen was recommended to me by a cardiologist who is a family friend. After consulting with him, I bought his book.

In this book, Dr. Cohen and Bobbie Hasselbring have presented a concise, readable, and informative block of information a newly diagnosed patient needs. Step by step they take you through the understanding, risk factors, symptoms (in my case, none) of heart disease. There is a chapter on WOMEN! written with an understanding not often experienced. The chapter covers how we present differently from men, our higher death rates than men, hormone replacement and many risk factors. There is a glossary so that we can better understand our doctor during consultations. This is a book I will read and reread. For those of us who want information - this is the ticket! The information in Coronary Heart Disease empowers us. Dr. Cohen was named one of the best cardiologists in New Jersey, 2007. After you read his book, you will know why. The information about medications, medical procedures, treatment and lifestyle changes gives both the patient and the family the tools needed to be more pro-active and powerful when facing CHD. Thank you for writing this book for humanity.

I have a shelf of books on cardiac care but when I realized that I would be taken to a hospital with angina, I took this book, and only this book, along for the ride. Hospitalized and awaiting treatment, I digested the 186 page book cover to cover.

"Coronary Heart Disease" provides a lucid explanation of diagnosis and treatment aimed at a lay audience. While I might use a big book for coverage of a specific topic, for a coherent, readable, up to date synopsis, this compact book is the companion I bring along.

Web authors use the term "information architecture" to convey the sense of the big picture hidden within complex structures and "chunking" to indicate the intelligible presentation of the information. So it is here. The design of this book gives the reader the orientation and the content needed to grasp coronary heart disease quickly and accurately. The handy glossary and appended list of resources provide supplemental tools for the reader.

Thus, the authors have achieved their goal: This clearly written and well organized book by Dr. Cohen and Ms. Hasselbring empowers the patient to partner with the cardiologist in the delivery of care. This is a book that you can, and should, use.

I promised Dr. Cohen that I would put his book to use. After he operated on me twice within the span of a year, we both know that there must be a better way. Dr. Cohen and Ms. Hasselbring have charted the course. The rest is in my hands, which is the point of "Coronary Heart Disease."

This book is great!! It is written to be read -- not full of jargon or complicated medical terms -- and the suggestions for prevention and heart care are really helpful and can actually be incorporated into every day life. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who has or has had a family member with heart issues (and who hasn't???)