Brian Books

This book by the late, great, much missed artist Brian French is great at explaining why things look the way they do to us, examining relationships between colours, use of space, shape and form. Any budding artist looking for some basic rules and ideas will be greatly helped by this book. It is also a good read for those simply curious to understand why we like certain images, colors and forms instinctively, and why we don't like others. I'd recommend the sequel, "Practice Of Collage," too.

Collage as a modern art medium originated around 1910 when Picasso and Braque stuck scraps of newspaper to their canvases. Since then it has been inventively employed by artists ranging from the Dadaists to Rauschenberg in his 'combine' pictures. Brian French, author of this concise treatise, is an artist and lecturer who takes the reader through the basic elements of the subject with a refreshing simplicity of explanation and example. Illustrations of collage works by artists Schwitters, Matisse, Gris and others demonstrate the almost limitless potential of this inexpensive and versatile method of constructing art objects in which almost anything from photogaphs to string, seeds and nails may be effectively used.

Principles of Collage analyses the elements of two-dimensional composition, collage in particular. It explores these elements in simple language, aided by illustration, so that they may be fully understood and used with authority. The element discussed in each chapter leads logically to the next. The later chapters show how these elements may then be composed in a reasoned way into collages of a professional standard, presented and framed up to exhibition standards. The illustrated chapter on the history of art and collage places the contexts of the book firmly in the context of the century. Written for persons who wish to produce work which is more than wall decoration, this book will enable the reader to make collages of worthwhile content and form. The author is an artist and a lecturer.

How-to-do-it art books, with a few notable exceptions, fill me with horror. Partly because of my practical inactivity I suppose. This book may join the notable exceptions list. I hope so. By artist, art lecturer and teacher Brian French, Principles Of Collage is just as capable of being a reference work for school teachers - or art critics, a do-it-yourself for those with the time, or simply an astute, highly personal analysis of a medium that is too little known. After studying at Goldsmith's School of Art in London, England, including a post diploma year and his art teacher's training, the author taught at schools. It started at a big London comprehensive, and some of the students' work illustrates the book. Collage became an extremely convenient media to use in his teaching, with advantages that commend it to individuals, as well as teachers. The book is deliberately basic. It starts at the purpose of art, and works on. Like Cennini in his great handbook of five hundred years ago, the author exhorts us to regard ourselves as professional artists from the beginning. Chapters take us through colour - with a luscious and obviously expensive colour guide insert - areas and shapes, textures, line and composition. For the heavy historical reading we have to go to the end of the book. There is a small, but representative collection of works by Picasso, Schwitters and Juan Gris. We also find a couple of the author's works, including the witty 'juxtaposition of the unlikely.' A photomontage, it represents a highly important subdivision of collage. This is simply a marvellous book!

Collage is an art form rapidly acquiring new disciples, principally because the technical process is within everybody's sphere. It can be defined simply as the selection, arrangement and adhesion of ready-made materials to a surface, so its scope is almost limitless and the substances used are cheap- often free. A book by an acknowledged authority in the media, therefore, is an event that should not be missed, particularly for those wishing to learn by example. Brian French, in lucid, simple language and with numerous illustrations, analyses the composition of collage from the theoretical stage through colour, shape, texture, line and construction to framing for presentation. He does it well, with flair and infectious enthusiasm. The book is well worth studying by all attracted to the media, and one that I unhesitatingly recommend.

I read this book and I loved it. You have to read the book because it shows the power of children to make the World better.

School is for more than English, Math, and Science - it's for the intangibles too. "Spectacular Things Happen Along the Way: Lessons From an Urban Classroom" follows Brian Schultz as he teaches an inner city class something far more valuable than academics - determination and a feeling of self worth. An inspired and inspiring tale sure to give hope in the next generation ensues. "Spectacular Things Happen Along the Way: Lessons From an Urban Classroom" is highly recommended for community library education collections.

"Impressive..." or "Extraordinary..." may be a more appropriate title for this book. Schultz traces the both the history of a non-functional inner-city public school classroom all the way through the children's education achievements, and his personal growth along the way. Developing a democratic classroom with both the students and teacher learning from each other is truly amazing!

The book allows the reader to share, and understand, the successes and disappointments of both Schultz and his students. And throughout, the reader remains totally engaged.

The interaction between the students and politicians, the news media, and national organizations has demonstrated that we all have much to learn. Truly inspirational and extremely motivational. A must read.

One of the most important and challenging things we do in this country is educate our children. This becomes especially important when we think about how education can affect one's life. This book really highlighted for me the hope and possibilities for education in a time when all I hear about is that teachers are focused on standardized tests. Apparently, things can be different.

I must admit that at first I was resistant to some of the ideas presented early on in the book in terms of allowing the students' to guide the learning. I thought the students would naturally pick something that did not challenge them. But, boy was I wrong! It is almost as if my inclinations were the exact opposite. That is where this book has a extremely powerful hook. The students clearly went well beyond that simplicity. They clearly found something that mattered to them. They clearly became transformed in their learning.

While reading the book, I really want to know what happened next. The author does an excellent job of drawing the reader into the story. I felt like I was sitting in the dark classroom with my coat on as vividly described in the narrative. And, I found myself learning, questioning, and reflecting as I was reading. I especially learned what horrific conditions exist in some schools and better understood how that old mantra of picking oneself up by the bootstraps is not so easy when most things in some schools like the one in this book are stacked against you.

I strongly recommend reading this book. It is a page-turner. It will give you much to think about. I promise! What is especially great is that the students are front and center rather than it being all about the teacher. And, I believe that as the author states throughout the book, you will learn from the students in this story, just as he did.

Brian D. Schultz's "Spectacular Things Happen Along the Way: Lessons from an Urban Classroom" is a beautifully written, well-researched, and heartfelt account of one classroom's journey from stereotyped and ignored to empowered, challenged and brilliant. Schultz's narrative intelligently interweaves the students thoughts, hopes, disappointments, work, and words with his own reservations, thoughts, struggles, and triumphs. Furthermore, he manages to connect, explain, and reinforce their story with some of the greatest educational philosophy and research available (e.g. Dewey. Kozol, Freire, etc.).

What is this read about?
It's about Room 405. In 2004, Schultz was a 5th grade teacher at Chicago's Carr Community Academy. And in short, Schultz participates in a workshop called Project Citizen, which in turn inspires Schultz to do something new with Room 405. He asks the students to identify a problem that they care about/want to solve, and from there, a year-long curriculum was created by the students and for the students of Room 405.
What do the students decide upon?
Room 405 decides that they need a new school because their school is obviously falling apart, so they set-up an Action Plan that consists of the ways in which they are going to go about this undertaking (e.g. writing letters to legislators, interviewing the principal, emailing newspapers, etc.).
What happens after they decide on their problem and what they are going to do?
Are you serious? Just read the book!

As an educator myself, I want to point out that Schultz's Social Justice teaching, as exemplified in this book, should have all of the skeptics and naysayers believing because the proof was and is in the students and the results of what they learned, shared, achieved, and experienced together.

My boys love Toad Catchers Creek! They want me to read it to them a few times a week. They have it memorized! It is a fabulous book that teaches children that they can do anything if they believe in themselves! A very important lesson to learn!

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Florrie Binford-Kichler, Founder of Patria Press, Inc.- an award-winning independent publisher and Member of The Children's Book Council; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award.

In this enchanting tale endorsed by Dr. Laura Slessinger, a young boy named Chris wants to give up in the face of a challenge. He finds inspiration in a story shared by his father, and he grows as a result.

Told in buoyant verse, this story is an entertaining introduction to the idea that achieving begins with believing.

The father/son relationship is a special element of this story and is celebrated in the author's dedication: "[To my father] for the many loving lessons he spent his time teaching me."

Martin Cannon's vivid illustrations create a captivating setting for this delightful story.

Truly a quality production destined to be a modern classic.

The whimsical cover of this oversized book is a feast for the eyes and sure to captivate children before they even open the book. The story inside doesn't disappoint. Decorated with upbeat, brightly colored pictures, every page is lush and appealing. The oversized text and fun pictures bounce off the page, combining to address the issue of childhood fears and the importance of believing in yourself. The positive message of this charming book is perfect for kids of all ages.

Marsha Jordan
Author of Hugs, Hope, and Peanut Butter
Inspirational Essays Illustrated by Seriously Ill Children
www.hugsandhope.org/pb.htm

A young boy named Chris wants to give up in the face of a challenge. He finds inspiration in a story shared by his father, and he grows as a result.

Told in buoyant verse, this story is an entertaining introduction to the idea that achieving begins with believing.

The father/son relationship is a special element of this story and is celebrated in the author's dedication: "[To my father] for the many loving lessons he spent his time teaching me."

Martin Cannon's vivid illustrations create a captivating setting for this delightful story.

Truly a quality production destined to be a modern classic.

I've known Brian for many years, and have a great respect for his passions in life. This book reflects those passions! Great information!

Ronald Williams, USAirways, Ret. Captain
"Captain Power-Waters hits the mark with 93 SECONDS TO DISASTER. It is very informative and easy to read. Brian has done his research and backs all of his comments with compelling facts that he has pieced together . The data proved to be very disturbing ,especially concerning American Airlines flight 587. Having been involved in pilot flight crew certification for the past 16 years, I now feel that more research must be done on composite materials for fatigue failures, especially in the older aircraft."

A must read for anyone who flies. Commendable research and insight into the airline industry and FAA. Very insightful!

Norman Rhodes was a member of the Rothman's Aerobatic team. He flew the slot position on the Rothman's Aerobatic team. He is presently a senior Captain on the Boeing 777, flying for a major UK carrier. The following comments appear on his website...

So what did actually happen to AA587 during that terrible time post 9/11?
Captain Brian Power-Waters XIII has a theory that he presents in his book `93 seconds to disaster' iUniverse, 2005) Brian sets the scene including extensive background information on the crews involved. If you knew these people then the story is one of sorrow, most of us involved in the industry recognise the characters well, either as ourselves or those we know and love. What follows is a stinging indictment of Airbus, the NTSB and the FAA. He accuses them of collusion and coverup, highlighting flaws and errors made by the US authorities in the post crash analysis during the aftermath.
[If you recall the fin and rudder departed the main structure of the aircraft during an encounter with wake turbulence thrown off by a preceding aircraft.]

Brian is a highly experienced pilot and has engineering qualifications that add some weight to his claims. I cannot attest here to the accuracy of the work nor the accusations he makes as I have not researched the accident nor sifted through the evidence myself. But Brian puts his case well and if his work is valid, there are questions to be answered that have to date been papered over and forgotten by the authorities.

For example, the FAA send the NTSB seem to support (certainly at the time) the assertion by Airbus that composite structures can be satisfactorily inspected visually or by using the `tap method.' Ask the same question of independent composite structures engineers and they will laugh at you. So how do you explain the current position of the US authorities? Do they still hold the same view I wonder and if they don't, have they re-opened the investigation into AA587's crash?

What on earth would prompt current line Captains of enormous experience to lobby their company, the FAA and the NTSB to re-open an investigation to establish the the facts if the investigation had been properly carried out and the truth established?
To step up to the line and make such claims always places the claimants at risk of their livelihoods - the industry does not forgive nor excuse challenges of this nature and I have friends who can attest to that to their heavy cost. Brian is one such man, his courage is proven as he has paid such a price himself for principle and less commonly seen displayed - action.

To simply blame the handling pilot for the losses on that terrible day would seem to be cowardly and .... somehow a familiar strategy. There are many unanswered questions raised by Brian's book and although I would like to have seen an extensive bibliography and references to research carried out, it does hit the spot it is aimed at.

Robert J Goebel, Lt.Col. USAF Ret, 07/24/2007 Customer Rating for this product is 5 out of 5
Minding the store, No Longer!
Before I read ' 93 Seconds to Disaster' I felt comfortable with the notion that several government agencies staffed by the most capable people available and dedicated to maintaining the highest level of Commercial Air Transportation safety were 'minding the store' No Longer. Capt. Brian Power-Waters, through his persistent and relentless investigation, has raised serious questions about how technical requirements and administrative matters are handled today. He has shown courage in voicing these concerns,where he has found culpabilities ,even at the highest levels . We all owe him a debt of gratitude.

Fantastic, hair raising tales of hauntings of a legendary of boom town that is frozen in time in the Virginia mountains of Nevada! Historical references are enlightening and muster intrigue surrounding the wild west days of the mining boom. A must read for those that enjoy chills down their spine!

I have always had an interest in the ghosts and things that go bump in the night. This book was recommended to me by a friend, and I must say, was worth it's weight in gold! Every time I tell people about it and let them read some of it, they want to borrow my copy.

Comstock Phantoms is an amazing look at the history of the Virginia City area. This is no ordinary "I have a ghost story" book. This book has what all those other ghost books lack....historical reference! From the Blue Lady of the Old Washoe club, to the basic graveyard haunts, this author backs up the stories of the area with historical facts. He even takes the time to document his sources.

This book is not only entertaining, the historic sections bring to life the haunted areas, and makes it that much easier to beleive that the ghosts are real, and not just some made up tales to raise the hairs on your neck.

In addition, the ghost hunts the author goes on are wonderfully written and enertaining; closing the loop on the histrical past to the present. His descriptions take you right into the present day buildings and cemetaries.

Does he find a ghost? I'll let you buy it and find out.

5 stars!

I found myself thoroughly engrossed in this book and the writer's style, though I don't usually read that much history. It was engaging and entertaining and I've recommended it to several friends, who enjoyed it as well (come on, guys, write reviews!). I hope all of you out there who have even a tiny interest in paranormal experiences pick up this book and give it a read. It's great!

Brian Bruns has written a very entertaining book on the Comstock Ghosts and Hauntings. He has wrapped his own ghost hunting experiences into a book that is spooky as well as historical. It has been a pleasure to pass on my copy (and buy another for myself and also another for my daughter) to my daughter-in-law who also could not put it down.

On visiting Virginia City and the the Comstock area, you can put the buildings and locations together with their ghostly inhabitants thanks to Mr. Bruns. Mr Bruns writing style is refreshing and lively. His experiences are both humorous and well told making you feel like he is in the room talking to you instead of the reader just reading a book. I am still taking photos to see if the Blue Lady will make an appearance on film!

If you are planning a trip to this area or even if you are a Nevadan, this is a book worth reading and keeping as a guide to some of the events and places of our historical past that are evidently still making an impression on our present day.

I am eagerly awaiting Brian's next endeavors!!!!!

This is an easy reading book with well written descriptions of the hauntings in Virginia City and it's surrounds. The author's humor keeps the stories lively and his sprinkling of facts about the mine, city and state were both enlighting and fascinating. I'm re-reading it already.

Contents includes:

interfacing a robot to a PC
electronics schematics : light, touch. motion sensors, distance, compass sensors

Robot magazine cost $5.99 and includes non JAVA educational robots

This book is superior to "Programming Lego Mindstorms with Java."

It is well suited to both beginning and advanced programers. It covers languages basics, but still provides much info to experienced Java developers about robotics Design Patterns.

It also includes detailed instructions and pictures describing on basic robotic construction...things like how to turn a rotary motion to a linear motion, how to change gear ratios, how to build differentials, etc.

There is also a detail chapter devoted to building your own homebrew sensors that even someone with little to no experience in electronics could easily build.

I am very happy with this purchase.

While taking java courses at the local college, I ventured into the idea of applying what I had learned. Being an avid Mindstorms fan, I found this to be the perfect outlet. This book has re-affirmed what I have learned as well as created new ways to look at the programming. Due my success with this product, my professors have asked that I periodically come by with a program for student review and demonstration of applied programming.

It is well written with unassuming overtones. The portions on building your own sensors also make electronic assembly easier. The graphics are black and white on flimsy paper giving the book a sense of newspaper style instructional manuals. This said, presentation could be better.

All in all this is a very good tool for the Mindstorms nut, Java programmer, and techy at heart. I highly recommend added it to your tool box!

If you have the Lego RIS and are interested in Java then this is the book to get. Bagnall leads you through the installation of LEJOS and JCreator (both freeware) including setting up the environment variables on your PC. He also gives a brief introduction to Java, enough to get you started. The chapters on behavior, proximity detection and navigation are especially good. As an added bonus, applying the techniques discussed in this book is a fun way of learning the basic concepts of Java and object oriented programming. It won't make you an expert, but it will get you started.

I just bought a mind storm kit and have had great fun during these thanks giving holidays. I explored the lejos api and have read this book. I am keenly interested in running the robot over the network, with the IR tower. And this book has just all the code and examples to help me work on that. I am using this book and the basic rover bot to test out some java code on it. I have tried a few lejos examples. This is a great book. Its just amazing thatjava can be run on 32K of memory!

--Naveed

On their own, the pictures are nice. I thought they detracted from the text, which I have read before in a different edition (and gave away!).

If you can understand the text without letting the pictures have any influence, great. I think this poem (?) is all the wisdom anyone needs to get through life.

I found the photos to take away from the words. Also parts of the poem were placed in bold face and made them stand out in the wrong way; it simplified Ehrmann's ideas too much. I was very disappointed in how it changed the over all feel. I would think these words are better left alone without other artists visual interpretation attached. Just my thoughts.

I gave eight of these books away for Christmas this year. I love the book because proceeds go to the Daniel Pearl Foundation, not to mention the nice black and white photography and inspiring philosophy. This book is a bit of sunshine on demand.

This is a wonderful book for any age. The Desiderata, an inspirational poem, was written long ago. This book illustrates the words using simple, yet striking, photographs. I have bought this book for teachers, students, and as gifts for graduates. I always keep a copy in my collection. Words we can all live by.

One of my favorite poems, a comforting and refreshing perspective on life's big picture. It purports to have been discovered in a church in the seventeenth century, but in fact it was written by a man named Max Ehrmann in the first third of this century. I have kept a copy around since elementary school (ever since I learned that Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, kept one in his office), and now keep one in my office at home and one at work.

Hello my name is Buddy Locatelli. I live in Fla. And i have the pleasure of riding in a taxi to south beach and the driver was a retired Boston police officer by the name of Billy Crowley. We had a conversation and on the way i asked him why he moved to Fla. He told me that he co-authored a book with a writer by the name of Brian Wallace of S.Boston about a Boston gangster named phil cresta, and after the book came out for publication they signed a movie deal with 20th century fox. After 2 yrs and 2 screenwriters hired they finally got a screenplay, but at the last minute on the last option the movie was not picked up. He had an extra copy of the book in his taxi and i read the book and was amazed about the crime scene in the Boston area. The book jumped out at me and i could not put it down. I read the book in one night I can see why 20th century fox signed it up it should be a movie.

This is the best book I have ever read. I read it cover to cover. I could not put it down. It was fascinating, well written and riveting from start to finish. This should defintely be made into a movie. Maybe DeNiro could play Cresta!

Very well done. Will make a great movie too.

Very enjoyable. I agree with other reviewers about its
contents. My vote to play Phil Cresta in a movie is
Robert Di Nero. Looking forward to the movie.

A lot of fun to read. You can't help but laugh at a lot of these true-crime stories. You just can't make this stuff up. This book would make a great movie.

Loved this, all of it, especially the beautiful and smart poetry.

This anthology is not particularly erotic, literate, clever, amusing, or original. If you think it is, you need to read better erotica. There's a boring lecture about abstinence, a fishy story about a cat and canned tuna, a geography lesson that features a woman reciting the capitals of countries, and a simply uninspired recipe for a human strawberry shortcake. The quality of the book is poor, too; after a single reading the binding came apart. Maybe my hands got too excited from reading it? Nah!

I think that what I most enjoy about the "From Porn to Poetry" books, as well as CleanSheets.com, the magazine they originate from, is that you can say something like "sexy, classy, hot, wild, and true" and be accurate in your description. The editor's name, Susannah Indigo, represents authenticity in writing to me, and all of her projects that I've read have been a cut above ordinary erotica. The mix of material in this book ranges from the down and dirtiest stories to elegant, sexual poems, and there's nowhere else you can read that kind of pleasurable mix. The subtitle is "Clean Sheets Celebrates the Erotic Mind," and that's how it felt to me after reading the book - like my "erotic mind" had been thoroughly and joyously "celebrated," honored, turned-on, and was raring to go.

Nothing in the book resembles cheap "Penthouse" stories; stunning stories by writers like Kim Addonizio, Maggie Gray, Mike Kimera, Greg Wharton, and Susannah Indigo herself simply leave you begging for more. I can't recommend these books enough to anyone interested in erotica; I've gifted friends with them and they all agree. They wonder, in fact, where I found them, since there's nothing in big bookstores done as well as this. Thank heavens for the web and the ability for small book publishers to put this cornucopia of erotica out there for us!

I love the mixture of fiction and non-fiction and poetry in this book. All of it is sexy, interesting, fresh and new. Highly recommended, and a great gift for a love to get them talking about what they like.

This is a terrific book, it's sexy and smart and unusual. Some great stories and sexy poems, much better than many erotic books.

This work is a masterpiece of sight and sound; reading Shul's writing you feel like you're right there with him, at the controls of the greatest, most beautiful airplane anyone ever built.

I was given an earlier edition of this book (back whent he price wasa only $57) and DEEPLY regret that I cannot afford the Special Edition to replace the other, which was stolen.

If you CAN afford it, BUY IT NOW AND REJOICE! It simply IS that good. Kudos to Kelly Johnson (the plane's designer) and Kudos to Brian Shul for such a great book!

The amazingly true story of Sled Driver was about a very daring pilot that flew one of the most secretive airplanes in history, the SR-71. Brain Shul, the author and the main personality throughout the book, started as a military fighter pilot, was one of the few people in the world to be to be trained to fly the SR-71 "Black Bird" or the "Sled" as it is sometimes called, let alone actually fly the beast, was chosen to fly the airplane. Two months of severe flight simulating and text manual reading, Brain is chosen to fly the "Sled" and is partnered with the only black man to ever fly the SR-7, Walt Watson. These two men are paired for their entire career of flying the SR-71. The rest of the book are tales of wondrous experiences and frightful mishaps that nearly take their lives, though they always came out strong.
In every book there are at least on thing that does not click with the reader, and in this book this rule holds true. The only problem I experienced while reading this book was the odd placement of pictures. Whenever the Author got into a serious thought or story, the next page would have a picture or series of pictures that would make you lose your trail of thought and provoke you to look at the photos. This severely annoyed me most of the way through the book. I don't quit think the author was thinking to deeply into the placement of the photos or he's a total genius and didn't want you to get completely trapped into his story, giving you time to think about what just happened or recollect on what exactly he was saying.
Of course there are good or great things about a book or the reader would stop reading it, unless he was forced to read it like I was in grade school and throughout High School. The pictures were phenomenal, even though their placement was off. The sheer quality and beauty of them was overwhelming. Also, the author used so much detail in his writing, it was almost as if you were in the cockpit with him and Walt. He used so manning adjectives, that it was almost as if he wanted your full attention on a specific object or experience, just so that you didn't miss a thing.

yes i know that the 'sled driver' by shul is a fantastic book!!
and yes indeed, i have yet to read it
at nearly 1/2 a grand to purchase, i believe i shall never read it
i find it wonderful that the author wants to release another limited printing of 3500 copies
once again, i am sure to be left out of the fold
what is the motivation here?
am i not to ever get a crack at reading this fine work??
am i expected to ever get a truthful answer to my questions??
being a realist and a pilot, i must say its a lousey day for v.f.r
warmest regards to all those profiting at my expense
tim

I first heard about this book when i was a freshman in high school seeing the add in the pacific flyer newspaper, Ever since then I have always wanted to get this book! I searched book stores to this day to find a copy! But after searching I have found it here only to have my dreams shot down like a japanese plane over pearl harbor that at a price of 245+ I will never be able to add this book to my extensive collection i have collected ever since i was 8! I hope one day to win the lottery or something so i can buy it!

I got my copy from Brian when he was selling them at an open house at March AFB. He was planted right under the left wing. You could sit in the cockpit of the SR-71 for a photo for $5. That was well worth it! When you look behind you and see all that mass of black titanium, and imagine that you would leave a 30-06 bullet in the dust, it is truly awe inspiring. By the way Brian was signing, to you personally, his Sled Driver books for a paltry $35. My friend who is also a plane nut , got one too. My treat. I also got his second book by mail from him for the same price. He is a great guy who answers his own phone and takes your order himself. He is also very funny. Look him up at the next big airshow you attend. He'll tell you all about "the sled" Lee