Bridges Books

Again Mike Lawrence writes the bible on a bridge topic. It is hard to imagine a more thorough treatment of the topic of takeout doubles. Mike writes on regular takeout doubles, delayed takeout doubles, balancing doubles, responding to doubles, etc. He touches on a number of expert treatments along the way.

A great book for all players. As with most of Mike's books, novices will find the material demanding.

Many valuable ideas and expert tips. When and when not to make a takeout double. 1995 Bridge Book of the Year.

John R. Walsh and Thomas Bradley are a pair of expert history and religion teachers. They draw upon their considerable expertise in A History Of The Irish Church 400-700 AD, offering the reader a straightforward overview of the 300 year time span that characterized a true golden age in Irish art and an era when Ireland earned its lasting and justifiable reputation as a land of saints and scholars. A deftly researched study, narrated in a style as completely accessible to non-specialist general readers as it is to history scholars, A History Of The Irish Church 400-700 AD is a welcome and recommended addition to Irish History and Christian Historical Studies supplemental reading lists and library reference collections.

There have, over the past several years, been many texts highlighting the unique contribution of the Irish church to the preservation of the church, culture, and general literacy and administrative strength to Western civilisation. This book by John Walsh and Thomas Bradley fits well in this genre, exploring the history of the Irish church from the years 400-700, roughly corresponding to the time period from the fall of Rome to the beginnings of medievalism in Europe.

During this period, Ireland was saved much of the trouble caused during the general collapse of the Roman Imperial establishment and way of life across Western Europe, as such Imperium had never been established in Ireland. Even the Christianity that was brought over assumed a different character pastorally, academically and liturgically from its British and Continental sources. Walsh and Bradley begin with a brief chapter on Christianity prior to the advent of Patrick, and then devote three chapters to looking at Patrick, the great apostle to the Irish, in terms of who he was, his mission and its setting, and the Church at Armagh.

Following this, Walsh and Bradley look at Irish monasticism, its origins in France and Britain, and the way in which monastic structures came to rival the more traditional diocesan pattern of church authority and administration. Different theories are advanced, including the possibility of plague and the fact that Ireland lacked the secular Diocletian-instituted settings of administration the Continental church co-opted. Walsh and Bradley also look at the character of Irish monastic life liturgically, architecturally, administratively, and from a day-to-day living basis. Many leading Irish thinkers and saints came from the monastic tradition, and many of these leaders are highlighted.

Of particular note for Walsh and Bradley are Colum Cille, an Irish monastic who worked in Britain, and Columba, who saw as his mission field the areas of Continental Europe. Colum Cille was the first great Irish missionary abroad. Colum Cille might have had royal positions had he not turned his attention to the church instead. His upper-class connections likewise might have provided a respectability for the church among the royal and aristocratic classes, and ultimately providing it with an authority beyond simple moral authority. Colum Cille continued as a monastic to be involved in secular affairs, perhaps even being the cause of battles and strife such that he was driven into exile, where he established the community at Iona, famous to this day, and mother monastery to other famous places, such as Kells.

Columba is a very accessible person, having been a prolific writer who established communities and schools with libraries across the continent. Columba's missions took him all across Gaul, and into Italy and Germanic territories. His influence went even further afield, as did that of Irish monasticism generally, as people from Britain and the Continent decided to be trained and educated in the monasteries in Ireland, and then return to their homes with such influence as would be gained there.

Walsh and Bradley conclude by exploring issues such as the Easter-dating controversy and the wider issues it raised for local autonomy and diversity over against central authority and uniformity of practice, and by looking at the unique character and qualities of Celtic art as expressed through Irish Christian artists. Celtic crosses and illuminated manuscripts are but a few of the magnificent productions of this period.

Overall, this is a well-written and engaging book, meant for the casual reader as well as the general scholar. It includes a few endnotes with each chapter, and a bibliography arranged with general titles as well as resources specific to each chapter and topic covered. There are several basic but useful maps highlighting locations in Ireland, Britain and Continental Europe of monasteries, missions, and other important landmarks.

Columba Press (name for St. Columba, 'the dove of the church') is a growing press based in Ireland, begun in 1985 with three titles relating to religious and spiritual themes. Since then, they have grown substantially and now publish across a broad range of areas, including pastoral resources, spirituality, theology, the arts, and history. With over 200 books in print, they add another 30 or so each year. Additionally, they are the British/Irish/European distributors for many other titles in the same fields.

Like all the books from the Kings, "Contract Killers" is brilliant stuff. British humor at its best. I think this one it's my favorite of all their books. Drop-dead funny, and stuffed with kinds of delicious things. They're presented in a low key throw-away style -- read it carefully or you'll miss them. I won't give any examples here; do yourself a favor and read it for yourself.

Like Mollo, but better. This is one of the four very fine books from the Kings, who write extremely good satire of other authors. I highly recommend all of their books, especially their first, The Kings' Tales.

If you have ever traveled the scenic byways and backroads of Montana, you have surely enjoyed the bridges that span distances between here and there. Jon Axline's book provides a wonderful perspective on these often forgotten, but critical, structures that made settlement, travel, commerce, and progress possible on the last frontier. Informative text explores the necessity and the feats of engineering behind these overlooked landmarks while breathtaking black and white phototography make this truly an unforgettable book with an important message. You'll never look at bridges in quite the same way. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys roadtrips, history, and diverse architectural beauty.

Fun, accurate, great pictures. An easy way to change from casual interest in bridges to a Montana bridge expert. Histories explain not only what happened, but the more important "why" things happened. Entertainingly told, no dry bridge histories to wade through.

The single most important skill in bridge is the ability to count the hands. Tips and techniques used by experts to "know" where every card is. This book is certain to improve your play and defense.

This may be the best book I've read on card placement and deduction, even better than Mike Lawrence's HOW TO READ YOUR OPPONENTS CARDS. And thats saying a lot because How To Read is a great book.

This book has many examples, and covers a wide range of inferential topics. There are sections for defenders, and how to confuse and mislead the opponents. You are really given the tools to solve a great number of hands. Its more than just counting, its using that information, and thinking about what the opponents might have done.

The photos in this book are gorgeous. Frequently the verbiage in bridge books makes for pretty dry reading, but I found the words in this book to be as enjoyable as the photos & just the right length.

There seems to be no shortage of books about covered bridges these days. This one distinguishes itself by the quality of the descriptions of the bridges and Bill Miller's outstanding photography. It is in a class by itself! Judged by the photography alone it would appear to be at home on the "coffee table". However, to classify it as such would do the book a disservice. The quality of the text makes it much more worthy.

Ohio bridges are the centerpieces based on their numbers, although the other two states are done justice as well. Miriam Wood is the matriarch of Ohio covered bridges and has published an earlier more historically detailed book on this subject. David Simmons is author of several scholarly publications on historic bridges and is editor of Timeline, the spectacular color publication of the Ohio Historical Society. If you have just one book on the covered bridges of this region (or perhaps any region), this should be the one.

This is a fun read for bridge players intermediate through expert. Mr. Kauder makes amusing observations of human nature while showing fine points of bidding and play that I have seen nowhere else. One of the best books in my library.

Kauder uses a fresh approach to teach how to bid and play based on inferences from the auction and play. A useful book for players of all levels. Also, Kauder definitely has an attitude, and it adds considerable humor and interest. A very enjoyable book.

After looking through many bookstores for something on Christian fellowship, I finally found what I was looked for in this book. Our church's vision is to be an Acts 2:42 church. So, what IS fellowship? What does it look like? This book tells you what it is, what it is not, answered all my questions, and increased my knowledge considerably. It's deep, but not written so that it's confusing or "over your head". Boy, did I get an education. Excellent resource.

This book does a great job of contrasting the biblical idea of fellowship with what so often passes for fellowship in America. It does it in such a way to encourage you to start that fellowship!

This book gives a window in to things that many have heard about and many don't get to see up close and personal - the urban drug culture and it's deeper causes, the Police from the perspective of their prey, life in the Cabrini Green housing development and much more. But, beyond that, it reflects on many deep challenges faced by U.S. society - and challenges the reader to reflect on them deeply.

One may not agree with the authors prescriptions for this or that social issue. But an honest reader has to stop and think about what they usually glide over when they read the newspaper or watch the 10 O'clock news. Or when they pass someone of a different race, nationality or culture on the street.

What I've said up to now might make you think that this book is a heavy, heavy read -- a slow, sociological treatise. It actually is a fast moving, engaging and entertaining reflection on the world. It is filled with love of people and joy for life. And, while sometimes the experiences of the author may seem far fetched one has to keep in mind that real life is often stranger than fiction.

I encourage anyone who wants to take a voyage into an unknown land to read this book and discover the unknown land that exists all around them in their every day life - a land you can't see until you look through someone else's eyes.

i enjoyed this book, i found it intriguing and entertaining. it was written by a real positive man who offers great insight into the streets of chicago.

I read the whole book in ONE night.... loved it. Then I went back and read it again...just to be sure. Annette Sanford is a wonderful storyteller and her stories are poignant and interesting. I have just recently been introduced to this writer by a fellow librarian... I don't know how I missed her books and stories. I highly recommend it to friends... especially those who have lived in Texas. For three years, many years ago, I lived in East Texas and I would not give anything for the experience. It helps me appreciate Texas writers and there are many good writers in Texas.

If you enjoy the special talent that can bring a wonderful tale filled with word-perfect dialogue, wit, and wisdom, and deliver it within the form of a short story, you will be hard pressed to better this collection. "Crossing Shattuck Bridge", by Ms. Annette Sanford is a series of ten stories that you will enjoy without exception. This is her second collection of her work the first book was published in 1987. The time between the books is the only rational reason I can find why this writer's work is not more widely known. The readers and fans of short story fiction are missing excellent writing.

Many of the stories are entered by the reader after the pivotal event has occurred, or a lifetime of habit is about to be disturbed, and not necessarily with negative consequences. An example of the latter is, "Housekeeping", that is as charming and funny a story as you will find oh so rarely. "In The Little Hunky River", which closes out the book has a great cast, however 80 year old "BoPeep", owns this story. She is part Mother, advisor, surrogate, and the fount of knowledge for a family badly damaged by an accident. She is one of those old souls who not only appear to know everything; she understands it all as well. When she has offered a loan, and the person asks what if he does not return it, she simply replies she will not die until he does.

This Author has a way of writing that is best experienced by reading her work. She has a style that strips every unnecessary word from her prose, gives the reader all they need, and maintains every detail. She does not have to tell you what someone was thinking, nor does she ponderously establish that a person's thoughts may have shifted to the past for a moment why they contemplate what they will say next. Her work reads as though there is much more written on the page. The magic of it is that she places in the reader's mind the story she wishes to tell without holding your hand the entire journey.

Unconditionally recommended.