Bernstein Books

My daughter loves to do crafts. In her Liberty Girls group this semester they are reading about Addy, so I thought that this craft book would be a lot of fun for her. She is really enjoying it.

This craft book makes for some interesting conversation. My daughter and I will make some of the craft items to share with others. This book is especially fun when you have a 'girls gathering'. The crafts give you an understanding of how girls of other time periods spent their time. Addy is a wonderful American Girl. I encourage everyone to read the stories about Addy, The American Girl!

"Baudelaire Rimbaud Verlaine: Selected Verse and Prose Poems" carries with it a strong selection of each poet's better known poems. Collecting these three, specifically, is in tune with their own sense of language and image.

The translations work splendidly for all three poets, as executed by several different translators. As such, the pieces chosen are encumbered or glorified by their own merit, and not of the hurdles and interpretative biases of language.

I first learned of Arthur Rimbaud, ironically, from my religion teacher at a Catholic high school. As the first French poet I was introduced I felt, then, obligated to like his work. However, now, in seeing him compared to the much greater Baudelaire, Rimbaud comes across self-indulgent and meaningless. I gain no pleasure from reading his work, and consider, of these three, him to be far overrated.

Paul Verlaine, for me, is somewhere in-between. His romance with Rimbaud (scandalous then, as he dumped his infant daughter and young wife for Rimbaud) luckily did not reduce his poetry to wandering colors and images. Occasionally, he is even cliche:

Oh, heavy, heavy my despair
Because, because of One so fair.
(from Verlaine's "Oh, Heavy, Heavy")

And occasionally brilliant:

Hills and fences hurry by
Blent in greenish-rosy flight,
And the yellow carriage-light
Blurs all to the half-shut eye
(from Verlaine's "Brussels")

Baudelaire's prose poem selections are too many here. They do not meet up in quality with his more tightly articulated poetry. The section, "Flowers of Evil," though, is a masterful, though bitter, book within a book.

Throughout "Flowers," Baudelaire defies God, but never denies his existence or power, as seen here in "St Peter's Denial,"

What has God done with all this flood of sacrifices?
Which rises to his Seraphim divine?
As a tyrant intoxicated with his wine
His fearful sleep is haunted by his vices.

I fully recommend "Baudelaire Rimbaud Verlaine: Selected Verse and Prose Poems." While I cannot so I am an exuberant fan of any of them, their influence on poets I completely embrace I acknowledge, and am pleased to have become better aware of them.

Anthony Trendl
HungarianBookstore.com

I think I have a better instinctual understand of these "decadents" who were the clear marking of the break between the old aesthetic rationality and the surrealism, symbolism, etc. that followed--those who actually blend the periods, smudge and blur the two worldviews, like Poe and Blake and, here, Baudelaire do. I like Baudelaire's phantasmagoria, his exoticism put in service of delivering a concrete insight. And I especially like it when the poetic histrionics of "Flowers of Evil" give way to the fascinating prose poems--like "The Confiteor of the Artist" or the marvellous war-against-poetry volley "The Courteous Marksman." Other fine ones (reminding me also of Lovecraft)--"The Evil Glazier," "At One O'Clock in the Morning," "Solitude." There's misanthropy, insight and occult broodishness here of the most useful sort.

Rimbaud and Verlaine didn't grip me as strongly--I appreciate that they stretched artistic boundaries, but what they have done intrinsically I don't find as rich. Rimbaud's religious ravings and visions I find intelligent but obscurant (like Wallace Stevens)--he's doing some constructive deconstruction, but it's hardly readable (though I do like the more coherent symbolism of the famed "Drunken Boat"). And Verlaine, while he has the occasional dead-on whimsical insight, is a bit too florid in verbiage, classical in form, and even conventional for me. With these latter two poets, I think my concern with translated poetry also must come in at full force--this sort of wordplay and deliberate suggestiveness must be highly dependent on the nuance of the original words, and must therefore lose something considerable in English.--J.Ruch

I have read this book four times in three years. The article on Ms Sophia Kowalevsky is very moving and an indicator to posterity that genuinely knowledgable persons get their due recognition even after eons after their death. The article on Primo Levi is a fitting tribute to a man who had Chemistry in his blood. The first article on Einestein during the period 1900-1905 revolves around one man fighting the Scientific community which thought the end of progress of Science. A must read for any lay person. There is a possibility of your getting addicted to the Bernstein's writings. I got addicted and read his new book " A Theory for Everything".

Jeremy Bernstien is an antidote for all the fluffy modern books that attempt to convey concepts in a style that seesm to be mostly entertainment and little content. Bernstien is a practicisng physicist who writes in addition to his teaching and research, rather than a writer who happens to write about science. And having done his apprenticeship under William Shawn at The New Yorker, Bernstein has an elegant, spare style, although he does seem to rely on a few literary devices excessively from time to time.

But no matter. Bernstein not only knows physics, he knows phsyicists as well, and gives us a rare insight into the lives of pivotal figures like Einstein, Mach, Yang, Schroedinger, Levi and others. His piece on Primo Levi, who took up writing after having established himself first as a scientist, and in whose life Bernstein sees parallels with his own, is especially moving and incisive.

Bernstein does perhaps have a bit of an inflated notion of his place in the pantheon of science writers. He states that he created the "scientific profile" with his New Yorker pieces, while I would maintain that his writing, good as it is, is far cry from the medical pieces done by Berton Rouche and certainly the marvelous John McPhee pieces on geology, both of which make Bernstien look a bit mannered and amateurish by comparison. But these are masters- McPhee especially- who have devoted their lives to mastering the craft of writing, and Bernstien is still in the top echelon of those writing about science for the non scientist.

Most of this book is interesting, but it is very cursory either as a biography of Warren Hastings or as a history of the beginning of the Raj. It contains a lot of marginally relevant information that I enjoyed reading, but which doesn't contribute enough towards the alleged main purpose of the book to explain the number of pages devoted to it. If this were an exhaustive multi-volume work, I might understand why it includes so much information on George Bogle, Robert Oppenheimer and Fanny Burney, but as it is, the biographical information on Hastings is skimpy and some of it is repetitive. There are two somewhat contradictory stories of one duel, separated by a number of pages without any apparent recognition that they don't quite fit together.

The book opens with a chapter on Bogle's trip to Tibet at the direction of Hastings. This shows something about Hastings' activities in India and his breadth of mind, but Bernstein carefully chronicles Bogle's childhood, family, etc., in a surprising amount of detail. Intriguing, but not precisely part of the main story.

Hasting's early life is chronicled in appropriate detail, but once he reaches adulthood, I am baffled as to exactly what he did and why he was made Governor-General. The story moves in a series of brief hops from Hastings' first employment to India quickly to his quarrels during his administration with other members of the Company. There is very little detail in between. Bernstein chronicles the events that would figure in his trial, but I am left with no coherent picture of Hastings' tenure nor his significance in the shift from the East India Tea Company's dealings with India to the official takeover by the British government. I found most of these chapters rather dull because I could make little sense of them. Were Hastings' activities actually important in the shift, or was he, as Bernstein seems to suggest in his discussion of the trials, simply seized upon as a pawn to pursue political ends that had little to do with him as an individual?

Fanny Burney seems to occupy more of the book that Mrs. Hastings or Eliza Hitchcock, Hasting's goddaughter and supposed illegitimate daughter, who had a continuing relationship with him. I have learned far more about the latter from biographies of Jane Austen, Eliza's cousin and sister-in-law. Burney's life is carefully explained in unnecessary, though enjoyable detail. It is interesting that she wrote about the trial, but why this requires more than a passing reference is beyond me.

Bernstein compares the treatment of Hastings to the travails of J. Robert Oppenheimer. Why, I am not sure. I am an American, and 52; frankly, while I have heard a great deal about Oppenheimer and the atom bomb, I was totally unaware of his problems with Congress. They occurred when I was a small child. If Bernstein thinks that he is illuminating Hastings' situation by comparing it with Oppenheimer's, I believe that he is mistaken: I don't think that enough people are aware of the details of the latter case. Perhaps Bernstein thinks that we ought to be more knowledgeable, but that's another book. (And that book would be American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.)

The explanation of the trial itself is interesting, especially for its essential pointlessness. Bernstein seems oddly puzzled that after four years, Hastings changed his mind about how he would like the trial conducted - I think it was obvious, Hastings wanted to get it over with! The trial was conducted in small installments over a period of seven years with the result that very few of the Lords determining Hastings' fate had heard all the evidence. I read this part and the epilogue on his latter years with great interest.

I can't say reading the book was a waste of time: there was a lot of interesting material. It was a disappointment as a biography, however, which was why I wanted to read it.

The life and trials of Warren Hastings are followed in this story of early British rule in India, recommended for students of India history and for those researching early legal issues. Dawning of the Raj reads like a novel at times but is packed with facts about the trials of Warren Hastings, following the man's life and achievements.

I have read many Iron Man comics over the years, mostly from the '70s and '80s. But I had never read the very earliest Iron Man stories, so with the release of the Iron Man movie, I decided to finally do so. This huge book reprints the first 40something Iron Man comics from Tales of Suspense #39 - 83. The earliest stories here are a bit gimmicky, with most issues featuring Iron Man pulling out some new device that just happens to be the perfect thing to defeat the villain with (and most of those early villains are pretty lame). But the series started to improve when Stan Lee took over the complete scripting duties, instead of just providing the plots. The series steadliy improved and reached a high point with Tales of Suspense #69 - 71 (the epic first battle with Titanium Man). From that point on, the series was about as good as anything else Marvel Comics was publishing. This book is a bit pricey, but it's a heck of a lot cheaper than tracking down and buying the original comic books.

This book gets 4 stars, but Marvel gets 2 stars for releasing another collection that may not continue.

Here is yet another collection of the first issues of Iron Man by Marvel Comics. If you've seen the MARVEL MASTERWORKS Iron Man series, then you've already had a taste of what's in here.

This contains the first appearance of Iron Man in Tales of Suspense #39, but re-colored today, very generically, not matching the coloring of the original issues. So it's not really an exact reproduction, but it's still pretty good.

It is very nice to see so many issues represented in such a lush volume, but as I said before, they did this with the Marvel Masterworks series and then discontinued it, well in fact, they re-released the SAME TWO volumes about 5 years after the initial release. They did this with the Marvel Essential Iron Man as well; printed two volumes, then reprinted the same two and discontinued the series.

Are we to get the same treatment with this new Omnibus series? Although this covers a good 45 issues of Iron Man's earliest exploits, there is much, much more to read about, and I hope Marvel will no drop the ball once again.

Marvel's marketing choices aside, this is a VERY nice intro to Iron Man, for new and old fans alike. This effectively doubles the amount of full-color reprints of Tales of Suspense, so even Masterworks owners may want to get this.

I had high hopes for The Migraine Brain after seeing Dr. Bernstein on the Today show. She talked about the brain of someone with migraines being different than others. This topic she does cover well in her book; Chapter 2, The Migraine Brain - How It's Different and What That Means for You contains useful information I hadn't read anywhere else before.
However, what was disappointing is that she states on pages 15-16 that migraine is a chronic illness, meaning you cannot get rid of it. Not only is this not true, many people have recovered from migraine, but on the dustcover of the book itself is a quote from Dr. Christiane Northrup where she refers to herself as a FORMER migraine sufferer. Dr. Northrup elaborates on this topic in the movie You Can Heal Your Life.
Another part of the book that could be considered inconsistent is in Chapter 5- Female Hormones and Migraines Through the Life Cycle. In this chapter Dr. Bernstein suggests periodic preventive meds when you "know" a migraine is expected during your monthly cycle. However in Chapter 9 on page 163 she asserts that preventive drugs only work if you take them every day.
I have been suffering with migraines for over 20 years now and taking the triptan Zomig for about 8 years, it works for me about 70% of the time. Dr. Bernstein states on page 174 that you must take a triptan as soon as you feel a migraine coming on in order for it to work. Not only is this NOT true, but for my daughter and I our migraines must be in full swing for the medication to work. So it would be safer to say that triptans work differently for different people.
Basically the only thing really new in this book is the chapter on the brain itself. Still not a bad book, but a few revisions could make it great book, as it is quite comprehensive.

From: www.BasilAndSpice.com

Book Review: The Migraine Brain: Your Breakthrough Guide to Fewer Headaches, Better Health (Free Press, 2008)

By Carolyn Bernstein, M.D. and Elaine McArdle

With the publishing of The Migraine Brain, a precedent has been set for better prevention and treatment of migraine patients. Written by Carolyn Bernstein, herself a migraine sufferer, but also the Founder and Director of the Women's Headache Center at Cambridge Health Alliance, Dr. Bernstein empathizes with those who are struck down by the mind-numbing pain of migraines.

Dr. Bernstein refers to those with the headaches as migraineurs, and as a neurologist on the faculty at Harvard Medical School, she has treated thousands of fellow sufferers.

The Migraine Brain seeks to express to readers how to:

* Prevent migraines
* Find their triggers
* Reduce pain and duration of the migraine
* Understand her/his own brain

Bernstein's Points to ponder:

* One in every four households in the United States includes a person who get migraines. It is the ninth leading cause of disability among women, and is also one of the most painful conditions. Some women quoted in the book said that natural childbirth was easier than a migraine.
* Migraine costs the United States $1 billion a year in health costs and about $13 billion in loss of industry.
* Most migraine sufferers do not realize they have the condition as it is often misdiagnosed or underreported.
* Within the last 15 years, new medications have revolutionized migraine treatment.
* Alternative medical treatment, like yoga, ice massage, acupuncture, and biofeedback has been found to help.
* Even the famous get migraines. Recognize any of these? Terrell Davis, Troy Aikman, Serena Williams, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Ben Affleck, Whoopi Goldberg, Carly Simon
* Foods like chocolate and red wine do not begin migraines, rather for some, foods set off abnormal brain chemistry, which begins the migraine.
* At a 3 to 1 ration, more women than men get migraines due to a difference in our brains. 1 in 20 elementary school children get migraines.
* Those with migraines are more likely to be depressed.

The Migraine Brain is divided into three large sections, each covering a different aspect of the migraine. Part one helps the reader decide if hers is a true migraine, learn how to find anything that triggers the condition ( Dr. Bernstein lists her own top ten), and covers how female hormones play a part throughout life. There is also a short but important section for men.

Part two discusses how to find the right physician to help you; explains the variety of medications--those that prevent, abort, and rescue; mentions in-hospital treatment; covers recent natural alternative methods for migraine relief.

Part three helps the reader set up her personal wellness plan. Topics covered are family, sex, mental health, travel, home environment, and work.

The Migraine Brain is the kind of book I really like, because it is written by a doctor who is also a researcher, but more important than this, she is a self-advocate--Dr. Carolyn Bernstein truly understands the disease. We all know someone who suffers, sometimes needlessly because of lack of information. By reaching out to both her patients and other readers, Dr. Bernstein has handed them a tool which will empower their lives. I highly recommend The Migraine Brain, and will pass my copy along to my aunt who has suffered her entire life with migraines.

5 Stars

I studied this book as part of my A level Spanish course and found that avid readers who didn't study Spanish were missing out on a great experience! While the story of "El Coronel" is a simple, rather uncomplicated one, it deals with contempory and historical social issues in a thoughtful and interesting way. The way it is written evokes great sympathy and pity in the reader for both the Colonel and his wife, but particuarly the former with his child-like innocence and continuing sense of hope. It is not an inaccurate description of how many lives were (and still are) at the time in Colombia...therefore you realise that there's always someone else worse off than yourself! An excellent read.

Gabo's fatalism,melancholy and agony continues in this Chef d'oeuvre making the reader believe that life is Despair as Kafka or Samuel Beckket experienced it.It's about a Colonel who had fought against the government for liberty, rights and freedom ..But after the Truce , the colonel still awaits his mail(pension).The mail and the Rooster are the only hope which are Keeping him alive with his wife..Full of Compassion , sympathy and sufferings .. A must read. If El Dorado ever existed in South America ,then Macondo- the oppsite- also exists there.

If you already have a subscription to Metropolitan Home, House Beautiful, and/or House and Garden, you've seen all the pictures from this publication before. I guess it's nice to have them all in one book if that's important to you.

Among all books on renovations I purchased this Fall, this one is my favorite. The photography is outstanding, the text really insightful. While I didn't really find how-tos, the What the pros Know tips put me on the right track while contemplating my own renovation. I highly recommend it!

Many of the obstacles that commonly hold us back from achieving our potential are within our own minds. This book helps you to identify and overcome them. The authors point out that the ten obstacles they discuss are really fallacies and go so far as to write, "these beliefs actually stand square in the way of common sense."

You are challenged to cultivate relationships work, particularly with the boss. Realize that what decision-makers think about you has an impact on your success. Devote time to making the proper, professional impression. Speaking of challenges, they add, "challenge is essential to psychological health."

Along the lines of professional relationship cultivation is the idea of selling oneself. "It is never enough merely to have what it takes. You always have to convince other people," they advise.

Workaholics are seen as being people who cop out because they do what is comfortable rather than what is more difficult. Holistic management realizes life includes more than managing things.

One reality that is usually observed but not commented upon is that "in many companies, 'looking good'--understanding the system without being told-- is rewarded more than actually doing the job well," they poignantly state.

These are just some of the valuable epiphanies this book contains. It increases your effectiveness because it puts the spotlight on some things commonly observed, yet frequently not analyzed. It will help you to learn to "play the game" and get ahead.

Well written, funny and to the point. This is definitely a book for busy workers who are concerned with moving up in their own career. It explains by fictitious examples that are easily identifiable from personal experience. As a result the book is easy to read in small, digestable chunks. I read this book on and off for about a month while dealing with problems at work. It is fair to say that without this book I would have been stalled for a year or more dealing with these issues.

In most cases this book helped me to gain a much more objective perspective on my own life and to indentify problems that I didn't even realize existed.

A good book all around. Definitely worth the price.

The only reason I do not give this book a 5 star rating is due to the writers tendency to spend more time than necessary reinforcing points made throughout the book. I found myself skipping around, or paging forward because of redundant information. A very minor complaint, however.

As an LD teacher, I have found the materials in this book to be an excellant adjunct in the reading/language arts programs for my students. Many special educational plans include word families and the mastering of vowels, r-controlled vowels, and dipthong sounds when needed for decoding. These materials give guided instruction in these areas with varied practice. My only concern is the size of the print in many areas of the book. It is too small for students with visual processing difficulties and I have needed to enlarge some of the pages. Overall, it is a nice addition to my curriculum library.

As an LD teacher, I have found the materials in this book to be an excellant adjunct in the reading/language arts programs for my students. Many special educational plans include word families and the mastering of vowels, r-controlled vowels, and dipthong sounds when needed for decoding. These materials give guided instruction in these areas with varied practice. My only concern is the size of the print in many areas of the book. It is too small for students with visual processing difficulties and I have needed to enlarge some of the pages. Overall, it is a nice addition to my curriculum library.