Bonds Books

I bought this book not because I had heard good things about it, though I had; but because not ever having a father myself, I have always been curious as to what they were really like. I'd expected to skip through the book, verifying my own thoughts as to what my father might have been like should he have opted to stick around, then stuff the book onto a shelf. Wrong! Once begun, I was hooked (and I'm not a fan of anthologies or short stories).

O'Keefe has pulled together a group of writers who depict almost every type of father imaginable, some loving, some distant, some giving and strong, others needy and weak, many in between. I found myself reading through the night, forgetting about my original reason for picking up the book.

Some that stood out for me were the pieces by E. Annie Proulx, Jane Praeger, Ana Veciana-Suarez (the scene where her father is shot in a drive-by is riveting, the ending touching) and Jonathan Kellerman.

What surprised me was that some of the better known names did not live up to what I'd expected. Dean Koontz came across cold and somewhat arrogant in his writing, though to be fair, this may just have been the particular character he wrote about. Interesting was the story by Jonathan Kellerman's son, Jesse. He does show potential, but his writing seemed flat and the characters one-dimensional. It goes to prove that becoming a good writer takes time and maturity, and perhaps paying your dues.

What I find really amazing, though, is that some of the best work in the book was by writers whose names were not familiar to me, and I am an eclectic reader. I have put their names in my mental file to look for again. Oh yes, Claudia O'Keefe's own essay came closest to what I was searching for when I bought Father. I would like to spend lunch with her to exchange thoughts on fathers. Her choice of restaurant, I'll buy. As for O'Keefe's editorship, she has managed to change my feelings about anthologies. Before reading Father I thought them nothing but literary grab bags. I'm now looking forward to her next one, whatever the subject she may chose.

but I bought this one the moment I saw it. Fathers are a subject of such huge importance to families today, but so rarely discussed in modern literature. I thought Dean Koontz' essay about the atheist father who actively tried to deny his son any hope of eternal life was brilliant, but very dark, and a little soft at the end. John Updike's characters were good, but the story went nowhere. Claudia O'Keefe's portrait of the father she never knew until she was an adult and found out she was better off not knowing was memorable as was Caroline Leavit's picture of the family vacations from Purgatory. Jonathan Kellerman's semi-mystery of the cop who doesn't want his daughter following in his footsteps was unexpectedly touching, not to mention suspenseful. But to top them all off, that David Forsmark, a guy I've never heard of, blew them all away with a somewhat tongue-in-cheek tale of the woes of his fundamentalist upbringing which kept me glued - and grinning - from start to finish. I hope to see more books of this type and will definitely keep my eyes peeled for anything by Forsmark.

This book gives information about the usal problems a couple faces. I found that the problems with my wife had to do with me not her. This is a uniqe experience.

I read this book years ago and have referred to it many times. This book shows how the family we grew up in affects the marriage we have now. It also gives information on real case study couples and how they worked out their differences. I have given this book to others who found it tremendously helpful and it would probably be a great wedding present!

This book begins with the story of Donovan Grant, psychopathic killer and traitor, who defects to the Soviets. They, unlike other forces, welcome and use these types. The beginning chapters are filled with accurate background. You wonder how a newspaperman like Fleming acquired this knowledge. In Chapter 5 the Soviet High Command has decided to reach out and touch one of their enemies. Various targets are discussed until they decide on James Bond as the object of scandal and death. Destroying a hero will damage the morale of this Service. Bond must be lured to a foreign country where he will be killed and disgraced; the planners devise a scheme that meets their needs. The book shows Fleming's knowledge of Russian, learned before he reported on a Moscow spy trial in 1932.

James Bond is between assignments, tending to administrative matters. The Director calls him and tells of a situation in Station T concerning a Soviet code clerk and a cipher machine. Bond will accept this gambit, but wonders if it is a trap. Kerim shows Bond the sights of Istanbul. They visit a gypsy band and observe their primitive justice. Chapter 18 has plenty of action! The attackers were told to spare Bond. Who can tell why? When Bond returns to his room he finds Tanya; she tells how she will bring the cipher machine to their compartment on the Orient Express. The next day they meet for their return to England. On the train Bond suspects there is some sort of plot connected to their travel by train. But he ignores this suspicion. When Bond find Darko Kerim dead in his train compartment he realizes something is happening. But all seems well when the train reaches Italy.

Bond seems to recognize a man sent by M. Captain Nash gives the proper password and countersign. But there is something about him that doesn't ring true. Woken from sleep, Bond faces a new threat in the sleeping car. It seems almost hopeless, but Bond improvises a shield against danger. Nash's own weapon is used against him. Bond wins again, the girl and the cipher machine, and important information about Paris. Rosa Klebb is captured, her career is over. But she kicks one last time and Bond has a problem.

This story shows how Fleming has improved his writing since "Casino Royale". The popular 1965 film developed more action by not strictly following the book. I think it was better that way.

Fleming does a great job introducing us to all of the characters in this novel. Like the movie this novel allows us to see Bond as a secret agent, not a superman saving the world. A must read for all Bond Movie fans.

"It is better to foresee, even without certainty, than not to foresee at all", writes Linus Pauling in the preface of this book, which has become a bible for chemists.When I first read this book, I thought that it was unnecessarily detailed.But then, as I patiently went through the chapters, I realised that Pauling has truly "foreseen with certainty" in his career and discoveries, which is slowly but surely revealed in this book.I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in how a few simple scientific ideas lead to the explanation of literally hundreds of phenomena.In this book, the two times Nobel Prize winner has beautifully demonstrated how his classic 'Valence Bond Theory' can be applied to explain the bewildering array of atoms, molecules and crystals around us.In each chapter, the author introduces certain classic principles like resonance, electronegativity,partial ionic character of bonds, partial double bond character, and hybridization.These concepts are today the cornerstone of the description of thousands of simple molecules. It should be noted that the valence bond approach has its drawbacks, which Pauling does not discuss.It is also true that the Molecular Orbital Theory has replaced his theory in making quantitative calculations.However, Pauling's masterly style of writing and the insights which almost each and every page of this book give the reader, are unparalleled.Even though the book would perhaps not prove useful as a modern chemistry book, I think it should be read by each and every chemist and chemistry student as the ultimate example of simplicity,variety and beauty.It is one of the finest examples of how one extraordinary scientist tries to explain diverse chemical phenomena with a few simple ideas.

This book is one of the Masterpiece in Chemistry.
You simply can not rate this book in stars values. It is one of the EPIC in Chemistry.
I should say it is a bible or Bhagavad-Gita for chemists,

A soon to be released book under the title "The German Financial Time Bomb" and subtitle, "A Betrayal of the American Public, A Fantastic Deception, 50 Years of Cover-up and Now a Solution" by the American expert Jeffrey A. Weston deals, in a very detailed way, with the very timely theme of encashment or redemption of the German Goldbonds issued between 1924 and 1930. Obligors of the bonds are the ex German Reich, former German States, Cities, public law institutions and private companies. The book describes 85 different loan issues which have in common the fact that the bonds, issued as American loan contracts subject to U.S. law, are each payable in gold coin of the USA as that was defined at the time of issue.

In about 300 pages Weston pulls no punches against the Federal Republic of Germany. Referring to the German Goldbonds he reports of intrigues and fraud perpetrated by Germany. He even refers to Germany's failure to pay on the bonds as the greatest financial swindle of all times in the history of men. He balances his historical account with reports of the mysterious games done by German agencies that try to use malicious deceit, illusions and scare tactics to avoid making payment to the bondholders.

The complex matter of the placement of German foreign bonds in the USA in the years of 1924 to 1930, the default of the German debtors from 1933 and the London Debt Accord of 1953 are dealt with in the first two chapters which are documented and commentated from the American viewpoint. Then chapters 3 to 5 deal with the authenticity, valuation and the statute of limitation of the bonds. Chapter 6 elucidates nine American lawsuits involving German Goldbonds. All of those suits having turned out very badly for the bondholders excepting the two that involved Mr. Weston. Chapter 7 discusses Mr. Weston's proposed solutions and ways to assist Germany to pay off the pre-war Goldbonds to the full satisfaction of the bondholders without expense to Germany. Additionally the book contains 28 exhibits including legal opinions, relevant letters and a listing of the specific 85 different Gold-Dollar German External Loan issues which are the subject of the book.

The very well researched book arrives at just the right moment. Three lawsuits against German Obligors are currently pending which were brought by holders of German Goldbonds. The background of those litigations will be clear, if someone studies Mr. Weston's book:

* Under the London Debt Accord the offer of repayment of the German bonds could be accepted or rejected at the bondholders option. Those bondholders who did not accept the offer kept the bonds and the original claim. Weston calls those persons, that did not accept the offer, "Non- Assenting Bondholders".

* Referring to the German External Debt from 1924-1930 the Federal Republic of Germany is indeed the legal successor of the ex German Reich.

* All non-cancelled German Goldbonds presented for payment today must be repaid, both principal and interest, in U.S. Gold dollars as specified under the American Loan contracts. Since American law applies, the repayment in Gold Dollars can be sought through American courts. If the bonds are valued in terms of gold at today's prices then the value of each bond will be over one million U.S. Dollars. Because many of the potentially responsible obligors of the Gold Bonds currently have huge assets in the USA or do significant amounts of business in the USA, such lawsuits for repayment of the bonds may become, under certain circumstances, very devastating for them. Mr. Weston's solution would allow all bondholders to get paid without any of the obligors being damaged or burdened.

* In German courts however the claims represented by the bonds do not appear to be payable or enforceable under German law. Germany has for decades avoided making payment of the bonds because of the "German Validation Law". A law which Mr. Weston claims was never applicable to the "Non-Assenting Bondholders". Furthermore, in 2005, the highest German Court (Bundesgerichtshof) decided, in a very controversial court decision, that the City of Dresden need not repay their Goldbonds of 1925. The Dresden bonds were not part of the 85 described in Mr. Weston's book but it does serve to illustrate Germany's position on such matters.


Mr. Weston's book is the first of its kind to shed light on the above occurrences. I hope that this book will also help the Federal Republic of Germany, now more than 15 years after the German reunification, to take the initiative and start the negotiations stipulated in Article 25 of the London Debt Accord. Article 25 refers to the obligation of Germany to repay the defaulted East German Goldbonds.

Like Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code on historical secret cover-ups, Mr. Weston's book has also unveiled historical secrets and cover-ups that started after WWI and are ongoing today. I never understood how Germany rebounded so fast from WWI with the ability to go into another world war until I read his book. There is no shortage of Internet traffic on this book and research done by Mr. Weston. This book helped me to understand how American and European governments got us to where we are at today. I enjoyed the parts where it discussed the Mr. Weston's victories in court as plaintiff in two precedent setting cases. Mr. Weston has outlined the blueprint for us to participate in the repayment of one of histories greatest rip-offs. The book brings to light the fact that thousands of people may hold bonds worth millions of dollars and not even realize it. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in American financial history, or anyone who may have access to any of the old German bonds that may still be worth millions of dollars. Books like this only come along once in a lifetime if at all.

In telling the life story of the almost forgotten British virtuoso jazz/R'n'B/rock musician, Graham Bond, author Harry Shapiro gives a masterclass in writing rock biographies. Well written, thoroughly researched and objective throughout, he charts the highs (too few) and lows (too many) of the life of a musician's musician. Without Graham Bond there would have been no Cream, no Colosseum and no jazz rock. His recorded legacy can only hint at the excitement, innovation and forward thinking nature of the music. Harry Shapiro does a first rate job at explaining what could have been - and what went wrong. The book, although not shown on Amazon's listings, is now available in an affordable paperback edition.

This is the definitive book on Graham Bond...uh...make that the only book on Graham Bond...and best of luck finding a copy of it anywhere! But seriously folks this book is the definitive study of Graham Bond - the man as well as his music. If you're a fan of Graham Bond, I encourage you to hunt down a copy. This, however, will require patience and perhaps some bucks! Best of luck!

A truly remarkable book by the author, who found herself in a situation and instead of giving up she changed the laws regarding it. This book is a must have for all in this situation for it is a handbook of hope and information.

Susan Hoffman has given us true insight as to how to turn personal tragedy and loss into something positive and useful. A must read for not only every grandparent who has had to experience this for themselves, but for every parent who believes they are not doing profound damage to a child they are robbing of their grandparent.

Rebecca Bond's THE GREAT DOUGHNUT PARADE tells of small Billy, who has a doughnut tied to his belt and finds himself leading a parade as a result. With its rollicking rhyme and fun paintings, it's a cheerful, fun easy read for beginning picturebook enthusiasts.

My daughter will not go to bed until we have purused every page of this wonderful book and spotted each character along the way. It's a lovely read aloud.

I've had this book for four years. I leave it on my kitchen table for guests to browse. Most everyone will end up reading at least 2-3 excerpts to whomever may be within ear-shot. They love it! It's definately a conversation starter. I plan on purchasing it for friends and family this Christmas.

As a parent, I try my best to create a home environment which is happy, healthy and safe for my family. The ideas I came across in this book have helped me in my efforts to do just that. From tips on eco-friendly cleaning, to food storage, from saving energy to nutrtitional tips... it has a little bit of everything! It is well written, easy to read - and a great book to keep on hand to refer to later on. It is the type of book which gets you thinking... and has you looking at your kitchen, and even the rest of your home... in a whole new light!

This book is especially useful for someone who doesn't understand the basics of bond investments. It explains these investments in clear and easy-to-understand language. A good reference for investors who have limited experience in bonds.

Provides a good overview of bond investments and explains what factors to consider when you are thinking about investing. Answers questions that made me uneasy about buying anything but bond funds.