Berry Books

The book catches you in the first paragraph. It was interesting to see how all the characters were woven together. Nothing is quite what it seems. It will take you an emotional rollercoaster. The only negative was Reverand Wright. What happened to him in the end?

The book was great and I passed it on to my daughter who
can not put it down. You all did an exceptional job in paralleling the characters.

The book was a great read. The characters had a depth of detail that allowed you to relate to their struggles and rejoice in their victories. I highly recommend this book.

I very much enjoyed the book. I read the entire book and enjoyed it tremendously.

I thought this was an enjoyable and inspiring read. The characters are real and you can relate to each of them in some way. The writing really pulls you into the story so that you feel that you are in the room with them. Even after I finished the book I find myself reflecting on the stories and characters portrayed. That to me is a good book...one that keeps you thinking about it long after you've finished the book.

I found this book a must for those who are interested in the details of what happened at Stalingrad. The author is troubled with the big question as to who is responsable for this masacre. He tells the story about what happened in the pocket with those who are abandoned by Hitler. Also, a very interesting explanation of Von Mansteins motives or the lack there of to rescue 6th Army. The only negative thing, for a lack of a better word, is that he does not say one word about his time in captivity for 7 years.

This was a dificult book for me to read, written in a very stiff style. Only about a quarter of the book is actually about the author's experience in Stalingrad and I felt the restricted manner of writing failed to bring out a feeling of being there for the reader. Other chapters in the book focus on analyzing Manstein's and other's analysis and actions pertaining to the battle. I was looking to feel and understand the horror and tactics of the battle, but instead found this work to be more of a philosophical discussion of the battle, the actions of Germany's wartime leaders, and other peripheral subjects. Any contribution by an actual veteran of the battle is welcome and thus the four stars I am awarding it. However, I was not engrossed in this work and could not even empathize with the author because of the detached style of writing.

This book belongs on your bookshelf. Alongside you simply must have Joel Hayward, "Stopped at Stalingrad: The Luftwaffe and Hitler's Defeat in the East 1942-1943". These books give a tactical perspective and a strategic perspective. They therefore go hand in hand to give a complete picture.

This is a very nice book from reader's point of view. It reads like fiction, but it is not!

With the possible exception of Operation Barbarossa itself, perhaps there has been no other aspect of the German war with Russia from 1941-45 so extensively written about as the battle for Stalingrad in the fall and winter of 1942-43. Some might say that this is due to overwhelming scope of the battle. This is not a satisfactory answer however, as this battle was easily eclipsed in the scope and number of participants by later events such as the Kursk offensive and Operation Bagration, the Soviet operation which entirely destroyed the German center in June of 1944.

So what is the fascination with the battle for Stalingrad? This book looks into one of the most interesting and lesser studied aspects of the battle and that is how the army leadership, starting with Hitler and moving down through field marshal Manstein and generals Paulus and von Seydlitz caused the human tragedy here due to the chain of events that they brought about. After the encirclement of the German 6th army in late November of 1942 by a huge soviet counter offensive there were, according to the estimates quoted in this book 250,000 to 270,000 German and other axis partners trapped in the pocket. What was the cause of this suffering, which rapidly grew to desperate levels as rations fell to 50 grams of bread daily or even less and casualties had to be left in subzero winter conditions to die? This, Mr. Wieder argues, was directly attributable to the failure of those who were in positions to alleviate or end the encirclement to devise a realistic plan of action. An excellent example given by Wieder of this is the plan by Marshal Goering to supply the trapped army by air. The author clearly describes the realization, even at the time of it's proposal, that this idea was a fantasy with no basis in the facts of the situation. It was clear that what this really was was an attempt by Goering to renew the fuehrer's faith in the Luftwaffe, which had several notable and not that distant failures blackening it's record.

One of the key arguments here was that the suffering of the troops engaged at Stalingrad was, from a military stadpoint, completely unnecessary and one very clear indicator of the criminal nature of the Nazi regime-one that should have awoken even the least reflective members of the general staff as to Hitler's immorality in particular and the purposelessness of the war in general. As to why the general staff would have acquiesced for so long in regards to some of the other exceptionally criminal aspects in which the war was carried out, the author is silent- an opportunity missed. The barbarity of the attack on Stalingrad itself, as well as all of the urban fighting which had already occurred, should have been an eye opener to the German general staff. Of course, the complete disregard for the lives of civilians and the activities of the Einsatzgrupen just behind the lines in the Stalingrad have been proven to already have been known by those in high positions within the Wehrmacht. In most cases the atrocities occurring were ignored or even tacitly approved by these generals. Why Wieder doesn't connect these offenses to the broader criminality of the Nazi regime, or of Hitler in specific in waging the war is a failing of this book. It is not a catastrophic failure however and the author does much in other areas to show just how inhumane the holding of hundreds of thousands of lives within the pocket around Stalingrad was.

This book, written over 40 years ago is set apart by it's emphasis on the human tragedy of those locked in battle and the inability or unwillingness of some of the key players, such as field marshal Manstein or General Paulus to either make the necessary decisions. Wieder effectively argues that they along with Hitler, should have ordered the break out from the pocket early on, based on the responsibility they had for the lives of the soldiers under them , or to end the battle when the men were clearly unable to continue to fight. This book is then an indictment against the actions of Field Marshal Paulus and von Manstein, the commanders of the 6th army and the army group Don respectively, as well as Hitler. These men, in Wieder's opinion, due to their positions of leadership, were the ones critical for deciding the fate of the men of the 6th army. He also argues well that many of arguments that these men made in their own memoirs after the battle are clearly efforts to obfuscate and rehabilitate their records of inaction or poor decisions.

Overall this is a valuable addition to anyone wishing to understand the battle of Stalingrad beyond the traditional overview of the battle or personal accounts from the front-line soldiers. It is critical to dissect the decisions made by the generals in charge of the prosecution of the war. Only after they have been put under the microscope can what happened on the frozen steppe and in the cities of the former Soviet Union be truly understood.

I found this book to offer a different view
of von Manstein and von paulus than people
are used to. Written by someone who was
in the pocket of stalingrad, it offers
a first person view of the battle. For fans
of von manstein, the book offers a critical
and i thought a fresh view of the man, who is
held in high regard by most historians but not
so high by this officer in the sixth army.I found
book to be fast read. You'll enjoy it

A cute fun read. The book should come with a gingerbread recipe and a cowboy cutter. My little cowboy couldn't wait to make one and re-enact the story! If you are giving one for a present or budding cook include them!

Nifty! It's a great twist on the classic. I collect versions of the Ginger bread. This one is a great addition. I like the ending with the fox/wolf being replaced by a coyote.

This is a great book for the youngest readers! Your little ones will delight in the Gingerbread Cowboy's chase across the barren lands of the Old West as he runs to save his life. Many animals are after him but he manages to outwit them all, even the clever old coyote, with the help of the rancher's wife.

Kids will laugh when they hear the Gingerbread Cowboy chant, " ... You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man." They will certainly enjoy the colorful illustrations of the animals depicted against the contrasting, muted background of the Old West desert and mountains.

Hazel Rochman, BOOKLIST reviewer, describes this story best (see Editorial Reviews above): " ... universal trickster tale with a cowboy slant."

SIDENOTE: You may have noticed that Amazon has made some changes to its website. If it looks the same to you right now, look out for a new format that will be rolling out gradually in the weeks to come. If you can see the changes, especially the review format, I'd like to know what you think. Please leave me a comment with your opinion.

"Love the new look" or "Hate the new look" comments are perfectly acceptable.

My e-mail address is at top of this review. Thank you for your time."

Great twist on a classic tale. My class of first graders LOVED it!

As a Kindergarten teacher, I am always looking for a new twist on an old story. One of the best ways to help children to start crafting their own stories is to have them use a character they already know and change the setting or other characters in the story to make it their own. This book is a great example of doing this. My class enjoyed the book. When I lent the book to another teacher, her children loved it so they were running around the yard calling Giddy up! as they chased each other. She told me that they didn't have that reaction to the original story!

Having long ago lost my original copy from the '70's, I'm glad to see this classic back in print. Fully rounded with details of Jim Bridger, Hugh Glass and others on the world economic canvas painted by John Astor, Berry gives us the complete picture. It should be on the short list for any course in American history along with the Lewis and Clark journals.

The best book I've ever read for giving the complete picture of the fur trade out West. Not only the unique and colorful individuals, but the international scene that sets the background or framework for the times. Gives info on Hudson's Bay, trappers from Santa Fe, John Jacob Astor, as well as the St. Louis firms. Highly recommended for anyone interested in those exciting times. Shows who REALLY opened the West.

My favorite comment about this book comes from the author himself. When criticised for his lack of credentials by the academic historians, Berry replied, in defense of what is still generally held to be the best book on the subject: "History is the fiction that the historians write."

This book chronicles the fur trade era from 1822-1834 through the eyes of William Ashley's men and the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. Such giants of the times like Jed Smith, Jim Bridger, the Sublettes, Tom Fitzpatrick and many others are given thorough examination of their roles in attempting to capture the fur trade business, along with their exploration accomplishments of the American west. The cutthroat competition from the Hudson's Bay Company, Astor's American Fur Company and the Missouri Fur Company, not to mention Indian hostilities, hunger, thirst and the always present forces of nature, made the fur trade business a precarious way of life. If one is not familiar with the geography of the west, it would be helpful to have a map handy as there is not one in the book. There were a few typos which can be overlooked, but there is one historical blunder I must point out. This is on page 50. It is mentioned that Vanderburgh and Carson were exempted from Leavenworth's criticism of the Missouri Fur Company's handling of the Aricara battle. This is NOT Kit Carson as the index states it is. This man was Kit's older half brother Moses. Other than these few discrepancies, the book was presented very well and was a pleasure to read.

Never have I seen such a poorly proof-read edition of so fine a book. It's criminal. Page 61 has legendary mountain man Hugh Glass being killed by hostile Indians in the "winter of 1932-33." That would have made the poor guy over 140 years old at the time. And that's just the beginning. There are over 15 typos in the first five chapters alone, which would disqualify this publisher (Comstock Editions) as the operator of a Quick-Copy franchise.

Great book! But you're going to have to track down a much earlier edition in order to appreciate it.

Berry's brilliance as a scholar is exhibited in this text. She not only introduces the heroine Callie House, as a significant revolutionary who served jailed time for her leadership in this reparations movement, Berry uses House's story as a foundation to report how former enslaved Africans were mistreated systematically. Through use of a plethora of the state of Tennessee records, scholarly materials and various other documents, Dr. Berry introduces the first reparations movement to the reader.

It was often painful to read how former enslaved persons were treated as freedpersons, since all 8 of my great-grandparents were born between the 1870s to 1890. Knowing that they were children when their parents were so sorely abused was a very vivid and poignant point.
Dr. Berry is to be commended for creating this historiography that not only revealed House's story, it showed how callous the federal government was toward Black people during Reconstruction, and that this callousness trickled to the vicissitudes of everyday life and toil, from healthcare, employment, shelter, and a quality of life that all people deserve to have. Five starts to the senior scholar! - Colita Nichols Fairfax

This book really gives one PRIDE in knowing that people exsisted like CALLI HOUSE. Whatever ones ethicity, this is a book which should be read by all and the educational system should make this be a requiremnet. The population must be told and ugly story of what SLAVERY was and still is in the HYPOCRITICAL united staes.

As a historian and lover of obscure history in particular, I have to give Miss Berry (who I met in 1999 at a historian's conference in Toronto and found to be an excellent conversationalist) high marks for the untold story of Callie House.

Callie House tried to form an organization to encourage the government to grant living ex-slaves (this was in the early 20th century when many were still alive). She tried to do this with many strikes against her, facing racism, sexism, and classism (she did not have much formal education). Unfortuantely, government harrassment tried to destroy her movement.

As mentioned, little is documented about Miss House's personal life, but being a Tennesseean like Miss House, Miss Berry does a good job in using her knowledge of the area and historical documents to fill in the holes.

However, in the last chapter Miss Berry links Miss House's movement to the modern day reparations movement. One can argue that there is a considerable stretch between the noble effort of a woman to get deserved pensions for elderly ex-slaves and the modern snowball's chance in hell Quioxtic endeavor to get reperations for the descendants of long-dead slaves, but Miss Berry tries to put a good face on the modern movement. She notes the 2002 reparations march, forgetting to mention that it was very poorly attended and almost universally dismissed for its outlandish and crackpot speeches and states that the reparations movement is mostly supported by the poor black masses (I have to disagree- in my experience it has usually been supported by a segment of black nationalists with some high school or college education).

But that's another story, I'll admit. In either case, regardless of your opinions of the current debate, this is a VERY good and interesting read.

Since the Civil Rights Movement it seems most "Whites" and amazingly even some "Blacks" have bought the argument that slavery and its legacy were so long ago that no living African-American could rightfully claim being a victim of it.

This book shows that argument as being just another shameless attempt to avoid owning up to our nation's original sin. The fact that "White" leaders right after the Civil War used other equally specious rationales to avoid paying the piper for their unconscionable crime is telling. Ms. Berry's book should definitely be taught in every school in our guilty nation. And broadcast on every so-called news show. I'll hold my breath until Hollywood decides to make the movie.

"My Face Is Black Is True" is a must-read for any American who considers themselves educated.

This wellwritten and extensively researched book reveals not only the drive and persistence of post-Civil War African Americans in seeking reparations for ex-slaves and war veterans, but what can be accomplished with little more than a basic ability to read and write and a talent for organizing and motivating one's colleagues. Callie House is truly an American heroine and her efforts to help black citizens obtain what they richly deserved from the U.S. government, despite obstacles which would have made a lesser person roll over, should be recognized and remembered.

I love this collection of Wendell Berry's poems. He is such an incredible writer, and his poetry is honest and fascinating. I will often just pick up the book in between classes or activities and read one or two poems to relax. I have also read an enjoyed many of his essays, though I have not yet tried his novels. If they are anything like his poetry, though, I'm sure I'd love it.

Poems written in everyday language, not pretentious academic words. They express what is in the hearts of everyone. Poems that I wish I could write.

Mr. Berry has written honest, real-life poetry for over 40 years. One who is unfamiliar with his work will find in these selections the essence of Berry's writing. His work is contemplative, meditative, spiritually centering, and genuine. His poems range from songs of praise for the Creation to elegies that rightly reflect death and grief. In between one sees
what can be good in communities, in families, in friendships, in marriage, and in earthly work. These selections will lead one to search out and read Berry's other beautiful books of poetry!

"I am an amateur poet, working for the love of the work and to my own satisfaction--which are two of the conditions of 'self-employment,' as I understand it" (p. xvii-xviii), Wendell Berry writes in the Preface to his "Sabbath Poems," A TIMBERED CHOIR. "I belong to no school of poetry, but rather to my love of poems by other poets" (p. xviii). Berry is a Kentucky farmer, a poet, a novelist, and one of my favorite writers. By way of preface to this collection, he writes, "In a time that breaks/ in cutting pieces all around,/ when men, voiceless/ against thing-ridden men,/ set themselves on fire, it seems/ too difficult and rare/ to think of the life of a man/ grown whole in the world,/ as peace and in place./ But having thought of it/ I am beyond the time/ I might have sold my hands/ or sold my voice and mind/ to the arguments of power/ that go blind against/ what they would destroy."

Themes of earth, marriage, family, work and death weave the 100 poems of this worthwhile collection together. "Put your hands/ into the earth," Berry writes in "Song in a Year of Catastrophe." "Live close/ to the ground. Learn the darkness./ Gather round you all/ the things that you love, name/ their names, prepare/ to lose them. It will be/ as if all you know were turned/ around within your body" (p. 74). In "Marriage," Berry writes to his wife, Tanya: "How hard it is for me, who live/ in the excitement of women/ and have the desire for them/ in my mouth like salt. Yet/ you have taken me and quieted me./ You have been such a light to me/ that other women have been/ your shadows" (p. 31). "And we pray, not/ for a new earth or heaven," he writes in "The Wild Geese," but to be/ quiet in heart, and in eye/ clear. What we need is here" (p. 90). Enough said.

G. Merritt

Spanning nearly four decades, Berry's poems are firmly attached to his hillside farm in Northern Kentucky, but with appeal to all regions. Berry writes of fidelity to the land, sustainable farming, community, and marriage. He writes reverently and with faith, but does not broach religion directly. His poems speak for a longer time frame, of waiting to find out more (about the land or a partner). On first reading you might think this is pastoral nostalgia, but is an exciting new view of community and stewardship.

The poems are very personal and Berry selects what to reveal. He writes about marriage, despite "the excitement of women and have desire for them in my mouth like salt". He writes of what he learned from his father "A steer should graze and thrive whenever he lowers his head". This is good poetry for those wanting to reflect on land and commitment.

Excellent for self study. I was able to follow everything up to chapter 11 completely unaided.

This is a truly clear and thoughtful introduction to Bayesian statistics.Nothing is taken for granted as the author leads you through examples and concepts. This was my first introduction to Bayesian statistics, and Berry makes it seem so much more reasonable and closer to real research/real life than the artifice involved in other approaches.

This is an excellent introductory text designed for a first course in statistics. It covers all the topics that are typically in a first course. However, all other texts at this level take the frequentist approach to inference. A few may have sections that introduce Bayesian ideas but the Bayesian approach is a paradigm for statistical inference and as such the approach should be incorporated in all statistical topics. Berry shows that this can be done without the student having to know calculus. To understand Bayesian methods the student mainly has to know that posterior probability = likelihood x prior probability. Berry provides a good list of references for those who want to pursue more advanced topics.
This book is unique. It demonstrate that statistics can be taught from the Bayesian approach in the very beginnning. This is much like what Noether did when he wrote an introductory text in statistics taking a strict nonparametric approach.

The text is loaded with exercises and the exposition is very clear. There are many useful and entertaining diagrams. Many examples are taken from real medical problems. Medicine is an area in which Berry has done a great deal of consulting and his experience shows in his examples. This should be the text to turn to if you want an introduction to the subject. If you know the basics and want more advanced treatment go to the references mentioned in Berry's preface.

This book completely fulfills its goals, one of which is not to be a definitive reference book. It provides a friendly, entertaining introduction into statistics from a Bayesian perspective.

This is an excellent introductory text designed for a first course in statistics. It covers all the topics that are typically in a first course. However, all other texts at this level take the frequentist approach to inference. A few may have sections that introduce Bayesian ideas but the Bayesian approach is a paradigm for statistical inference and as such the approach should be incorporated in all statistical topics. Berry shows that this can be done without the student having to know calculus. To understand Bayesian methods the student mainly has to know that posterior probability = likelihood x prior probability. Berry provides a good list of references for those who want to pursue more advanced topics.

This book is unique. It demonstrate that statistics can be taught from the Bayesian approach in the very beginnning. This is much like what Noether did when he wrote an introductory text in statistics taking a strict nonparametric approach.

The text is loaded with exercises and the exposition is very clear. There are many useful and entertaining diagrams. Many examples are taken from real medical problems. Medicine is an area in which Berry has done a great deal of consulting and his experience shows in his examples. This should be the text to turn to if you want an introduction to the subject. If you know the basics and want more advanced treatment go to the references mentioned in Berry's preface.

This is a most beautiful book, with content by a mystic, gathered by a scholar and illustrated delicately by an artist. Our post-modern world is one where we, the human species, are beginning to realise the damage we have done to the natural world. This book draws us back to an appreciation of all we are missing in our daily lives.

My excpectations for this book may have been a little too high. Merton's work pepper my shelves, put this one I think will go up for resale. Other than a precious few noteable quotes, it read more like a nature walk than a spiritual path for enlightenment. Ah well, compilations of the works of others can be a very tricky business. Nice try though Ms. Deignan.

Kathleen Deignan's When the Trees Say Nothing
is a fresh rendition of Thomas Merton's writings evoked from creation. In times when chatter is normative and being alone is mistaken for loneliness we have a wonderful lectio book of quotes and context of 'seeing' from the inside.

This book will live beyond the writer but not without chanigng many readers into the vast beauty of 'silence'.

Kathleen Deignan, a professor of religious studies at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York, really outdid herself here in compiling and editing some THREE HUNDRED works by Thomas Merton in this text. It's not a particularly long book, surprisingly, with only 190 some odd pages in it. With that being said, not much is left out here, either. It's by all means complete. There are chapters on the four seasons - on the mountains and the forests. Nature herself.

Merton even likens a mountain to sainthood, seeing God`s creative beauty and wonder all throughout nature. If you have ever been to the Abbey of Gethsemani, you may understand why that is, too. The monastery is surrounded by absolutely stunning and expanding landscape, the perfect spot for the kind of reflection and introspection Merton apparently did in this work. He urges us to be engaged with nature. That probably means for us modernists to get out there off of our sometimes lazy butts and take a walk; go ride our bike. Whatever it is feel your connection to nature in a very raw sense. It opens up the sunshine that is already within. Merton's helpful finger pointing us the way in this work on how wonderful nature really is, serves as truly a great inspiration to do just that.

Very good read, with a 5 star being his The Seven Storey Mountain. This is a great collection for anyone looking to group Merton's works in to topics, seasons, or just short chapters. This is a definite "must get" for anyone into Merton or nature, even if they are not looking to use it for prayer and meditation. This is the book you sit and read as Merton walks you through the woods of beautiful landscape and little creatures, taking you away from the kids, city life and traffic.

We own all of this series! Started reading them when my daughter was 4 (she just turned 5 now), and they are age appropriate. Not too scary and always a happy ending. One book only takes us about 4-5 nights worth of reading together. The longer ones are good too "Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg" and "Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand", but they are a little bit scarrier than the short books (more appropriate for ages 5-7 I would think).

My girls (3 and 4) LOVE these fairy books - my 4 year old reads them over and over and both love for me to read them out loud!

Never Land is a magical island very far away from this planet. You probably have heard of it before. You probably have seen movies about it or read books about it or both. As you should know, in Never Land you never grow old. And you probably have heard something about fairies living there, or something of the sort. Well, now you can learn more about the mystical Never Fairies. Learn their talents, abilities and personalities in the Disney Fairies chapter book series!

So far this is the first and only Disney Fairies chapter book I've read. However, I plan on reading as many as I can! Usually books don't hold my attention span very long and after the first few chapters, I stop and forget it. However, this was very captivating! I read it in a single sitting! Lots of things happen in the plot. Speaking of plot, I think I'll summarize it.

Beck is an animal-talent fairy. She understands the twitters, chatters, squeaks, and wimpers of animals and recognizes them as a language. She is one of the best animal-talent fairies there is, in fact. One of her friends is a hummingbird named Twitter. Twitter has a frantic personality and often calls for Beck, saying it's an "emergency". Almost always it turns out to be nothing alarming. However, not this time. A nest disappears - and the birds suspect the chipmunks nabbed it. Soon, every time a chipmunk walks by a blackberry bush, hummingbirds are flinging juicy berries everywhere and splatting everyone (not just chipmunks!) with dark purple juice. Finally the chipmunks decide to fight back. A huge war broke out! Can Beck help them to be at peace once again?

Pretty exciting, huh? Well that's not even the half of it. Lots of other things happen - you'll just have to read it yourself! The illustrations are also quite splendid. The animal pictures are touching and the expressions are great! This book is really good and even if it's not selling for cheap, it's worth the price! Signed, StoryMaker. "Gotta trust the kid's review!"

I like animal stories. When I found out Beck was an "Animal Talent" fairy I wanted to skip straight to this book. I controlled myself instead and read the first 3 in the series. They were GREAT!
Then I read "Beck and the Great Berry Battle". I kept having to check the title to make sure I was reading the right book. This book should have been called "Beck is Around When Stuff Happens."
Beck is the weakest character so far. The artwork for this book is excellent, but it is wasted on a ho-hum story where everyone gets to be a hero or solve the puzzle or do cool stuff except Beck. Oh and by the way, "Animal Talent" is a secret Disney code for "Good With Children".
Go ahead and read the story, don't let me stop you. But I'm still hoping someone will write a story about Beck who actually WANTED to write a story about Beck.

I gave Fairy Dust 5 stars. SO far the book I have read in this series deserve at least 6 then. I LOVED the magic started in Fairy dust, but they have stepped it up and made a wonderful world of fairies most people will love. I found this book to have more personality and character then Fairy dust. They elaborate more on the characters, the talents and everything. The fairy world just got more magical!!

Trust me. I have absolutely no artistic ability but this book was inspirational and fun to use. Lovely illustrations, very easy instructions. Fungi and small birds as well!

it is first book tat i bought on this topic as it did not overwhelm me as other books that i saw on the shelf. As i think it is supposed to be easy guide, it does not have alot of information on type of brushes to use, paints and brush techniques. however, the designs are simple and quick to do and appealing for me.

one of the best feature is that it gives you step by step paintings of how the flower is drawn and it shows arrows to indicate the directions of the brush strokes. The pictures are also shown close enough like it is painted on the pages of the book. i think that's how you are supposed to learn from the book

however, if you are looking for things like brush techniques or more detailed information / instructions, this may not be the book for you.

give it 3 stars becoz i feel it cld have been slightly more descriptive in instructions.

About the very first book I bought about decorative painting. This artist's style is very unique, natural and beautiful without being too loud. Try to paint on the closet, door, bowl, cup, even on the wall. My family liked them a lot.

bought this as first book on decorative painting becoz it is not too overwhelming. designs and brushstrokes taught are simply and easy to do, perfect for a beginner.

one of the features i like is that there are step by step paintings shown to see how the drawings are done. with arrows to indicate the directions of the brushstrokes. drawings look as if they are painted directly on the book and are not like photographs taken from a distance which makes viewing much easier.

but if you are looking for detailed information on types of paints, mixing etc then this is not the book for you.

The subject matter is complete. Easy steps to follow and understand. Shows the author is talented and a good teacher.