Bryan Books

We all enjoy the book. I liked to know what to do about the insects in our garden. Turns out most of the insects are just fine and no threat to any plants. Our kids like the book to just snoop around and be able to learn more while having fun.

The book is a refreshing approach that combines gardening and natural history. I like the balance. A useful guide but also a good read on its own. The best part is having a book written about the prairies by authors who garden on the prairies. Too many books miss the mark for our region but this one is on target for the insect questions I've had. I hope more garden writers in our region pick up the torch as this book does.

It's great to find a book that is actually of practical use. I like the mix of gardening info and Nature info. I've already identified a few critters in the garden and figured out which ones (there was only one) to keep an eye on for problems. The illustrations are top-notch. I like books that aren't dumbed-down but the average gardener can still use. I hope there are more books written by people who garden in our climate and don't just rehash info that is more relevant to warmer zones.

Everyone who gardens, especially those who live in the prairies of Canada or the Northern USA, should read this book!

It not only has great information about entomology and the individual bugs but also details about how to live with them. The illustrations are wonderful too!

As a teacher, I suggest that it would make an excellent resource for school libraries as well because it's not only dry facts but is written in a manner that is easy and fun to read.

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I bought this book for my sister and she used it with other books and a garden designer to create a prairie garden in the Chicago suburbs. She has a custom-designed prairie-style house and made her terraced front yard a true prairie garden. She says it was extremely helpful as well as a "comfort-read". I visited her recently, 2 years after her garden began, and the muse definitely worked magic.

I love to garden and always hated our long, dreary winters. This book looks at gardening during the "off season" and argues (successfully) that it doesn't have to be off-putting at all! Now, I look outside and I see things differently. I never realized the beauty that already exists in my frosty backyard and now I know ways to improve upon it. Who would have thought that we in the cold zones could have winter containers outdoors?

This is a good book for people planning new gardens because it highlights some important considerations, for folks who like to decorate and be crafty (there's a couple of projects outlined), and to give grumpy northern gardeners something to smile about during their 4 - 6 months of winter.

Sometimes I pick up a book and it might be okay but there's not enough new material in it to justify buying it. This new winter book presents a whole new subject. We made up some of the winter pots to add some character to the garden. It's nice to have some Winter interest relief that isn't Christmas decor. I especially liked the photos of how some common northern garden perennials look in the winter if they aren't cut down. I'd recommend this book to any gardeners who want a more attractive garden during the cold months and to be able to do it with plant material free for the taking. It's good to know what locally available plants and trees to add to the garden next growing season to keep the garden looking good year round.

This sure takes the pressure off gifts this Christmas. This book is perfect for the northern gardener who has everything. I'm normally a bit of a sceptic when it comes to these types of topics but this book has a lot of meat on the bones. Believe it or not I was actually looking forward to the freeze up to put some of the great ideas in the book to work.

This is a superb book. Its very well written and exceptionally well researched and thought through. Anyone who's interested in the work of Springsteen, Guthrie and Whitman or the liberatory potential of popular culture will find this book fascinating. I read it like a thriller - staying up all night.

Garman works from a rigorously principled political position which leads him to be very even handed in his assesment of the achievments and failures of the subjects of his study. This is no hagiography but it also has none of the self righteous contempt for the popular that infects so much cultural studies.

This is exemplary work.

Bryan Garman's book provides an indepth study of those singer-songwriters who, according to the author, follow in Whitman's footsteps. He analyzes Woody Guthrie and Springsteen's work thoroughly. The consideration of Guthrie's "hurt song" is fascinating. The author also makes a good case for expanding our horizons beyond the white male heterosexual dominant order. I was rather taken aback to learn that some of my old favorite English folk club singalong songs smacked of homoeroticism. In particular, we are told that Tom Paxton's "Rambling Boy" is "a love song that contains and expresses a homoeroticism that permeated the work of socially engaged artists from Whitman to Traubel, Hughes to Guthrie" (p 159). Gosh, I wonder what Paxton would say about that! I agree with Mr. Garman, however, that much of this New Left rhetoric marginalizes women. That is why folks like Ani Di Franco seem far more engaging and even revolutionary than Springsteen. A Race of Singers has proved an invaluable book for me as I prepare my PhD dissertation at a Spanish university. I recommend it to anyone studying contemporary folk music and its place in recent history.

Garman's analysis of Springsteen, Dylan, Guthrie, and Whitman is very provocative. Especially his insights into Springsteen and the way in which his music played off against (or was interpreted as being in sync with) Reagan's politics, and pop culture in the 80s, such as Rambo. Definitely a worthwhile read for someone who considers her or himself a fan of any of the aforementioned singers, or someone interested in an in-depth analysis of the politics of these singers.

As a cultural figure of the late 20th century Bruce Springsteen has long been admired as well as the object of derision in some circles. Garman's work places Springsteen in a context far removed from the fickle nature of fame. By linking Springsteen with Guthrie and with Whitman Garman allows us to appreciate Springsteen as far more than his icon status as "the boss", but rather as the latest in a long line of cultural critics who allow us to "hold a mirror up to nature" as Shakespeare had Hamlet say long ago. Garman's book is not just for an admirer of Springsteen, but also for anyone with an appreciation for social commentary and its long rich history in the US.

I am reviewing this book because I don't think that the previous reviews accurately characterize the book. This book is very accessible. High school students might struggle through some of the material, but would probably be able to follow along just fine. I have no knowledge of Hebrew, and that has not hindered me one iota from enjoying this book fully. In fact, I have learned a great deal about what a rich and wonderful language Hebrew is, so much so that I just might try to study the language myself. However, the single most important thing that readers will gain from this book is the understanding that the Old Testament points forward to Jesus Christ. In fact, the entire Bible points to Christ, which is what makes Him the Word incarnate. I highly encourage anyone who is at all interested in studying the Word of God to acquire this book and read it more than once. Studying the Bible has never been more fascinating.

Bryan Estelle is Associate Professor of Old Testament at Westminster Seminary in California, and this is his first book. I hope that it is not his last. The wee OT book of Jonah is a complex book, offering a lot of fun for those interested in biblical literature and who are especially conversant with Hebrew. In fact, Estelle's understanding of the Hebrew language and ANE culture, as well as his committment to Christ has produced an excellent commentary on Jonah that is simple and easy to read and understand, thought-provoking, and devotional. He writes for the pastor or Bible study leader to help him understand the intricacies of the book, and gives insight into the theological thrust so that he may be able to preach the text from a Christological viewpoint, which is the ultimate point of the book (and the whole OT for that matter). With that end in mind, each chapter ends with several good questions that can be used to help the pastor prepare a sermon on the text, or by the Bible study leader to generate thoughtful discussions within the group. But it is not just theological, it is practical and he calls the reader to respond in faith and obedience to the One who is greater than Jonah. So he takes some difficult theological positions and discusses them for the contemporary reader. One such discussion that I found helpful was his teaching on just how it is that God "repents" or "relents" from chapter 3. He deals with the problem from a biblical perspective that is true to orthodoxy and helpful in the present discussions of "open theism." Dr. Estelle interacts with other commentators and uses generous quotes from other works of literature that blends in well with the teaching. He shies away from allegory, but shows just how it is prophecy pointing to Christ, and not merely an interesting historical story. Although I do not think it is the only book a serious student of Jonah will want, the one who reads this book will not be disappointed and will gain much insight.

Bryan Estelle writes a thoroughly enjoyable, practical, and redable commentary on the book of Jonah. Estelle's bases is work in redemptive-historical theology, which means simply that he grounds the Old Testament in the New, showing how Jonah prefigures and finds its fulfillment in Christ's redemption. Jonah is the gospel in a nutshell - the Lord's redemptive grace extends to all nations! Estelle helps the reader to grask the meaning of Jonah for the church today. Estelle is well-learned in ancient near eastern and semitic literature, and his great learning is brought to bear in this commentary, bringing insight and wisdom that one may not ordinarily glean from the book. I highly recommend this commentary for the pastor, the scholar, and the lay person.

A somewhat helpful commentary. I wouldn't recommend it for devotional reading or a small group (Estelle quotes tons of obscure sources and assumes a fair amount of familiarity with Hebrew), but it is helpful for pastors. A lot of good insights and Estelle brings out a lot of the word puns that are hidden by the English translation. A great virtue is that the commentary is strongly Christocentric in its interpretations. (Note: when you read it, save yourself some bad writing and skip the Intro and the 1st chapter.) Estelle gleams most of his insights from Jack M. Sasson's commentary, which is more indepth.

Part 4 in the Scott Pilgrim series lives up the the standards set by the previous three volumes. I won't go into detail describing the plot, as that as been documented pretty well. I will say this is a fun, entertaining read. Every time I pick up the newest volume, I re-read all the previous episodes and enjoy them as much as the first time I read them. A highly-recommended series. Can't wait for the next issue.

after waiting for over than a year, the new scott pilgrim book pays off already at the first few pages (which are actually in color- another manga detail). without spoiling the plot, it can only be said that it's somewhat darker than the previous books, but it's still flawless in its pacing and storytelling. the probable reason for such a long delay between books is most likely because of the art- much more thought out and refined now. sometimes it works against the book (seeming a bit too clean and missing the raw power of the first book), but most of the time it's just a beautiful book.

in any case, still one of the best books on the market, strongly recommended for you and everyone you know (i bought four).

The first three Scott Pilgrim books have shown that he is immature, thoughtless and sometimes mean. Sure, he's charming and funny, but is that enough to balance out his laziness, selfishness and ignorance? That depends on the reader.

Deep thought aside, this book is hilarious and as fun as it's predecessors. Mixing comic books, kung-fu movies, music videos, and especially video games, it truly makes them into a pure fun mixture.

In this one, Scott fights another of Ramona's evil exes. Not an evil ex-boyfriend, though. to find out what that means, you'll have to read it!

You can't Love a book as much as I love this one. If you did it would get gross.

Buy all the Scott Pilgrim books out one through this one: four, when they get to you house call in sick and read them cover to cover. When your done you'll want to move to Canada, or into a video game.

They will brighten up you whole year.

I borrowed a copy of this book from someone who got an early realease. but i will buy it when it comes out.

Awesome! this book is great.

If oyu are not very familiar with C, back off, as this is a coders book.

But if you want to fight spam, this book has a ton of good info.

As the title says, the bulk of this book is on working with spam on the sendmail software package. If you are using sendmail, there is no question that this is the book for you.

The strange thing is, that there is so much information on spam contained in this book that I'd recommend it even if you are using some other software package. The general discussion on spam, its history, its impact on the industry and on individuals, and especially on it's techniques of spammers.

I particularly enjoyed his philosophy of setting up a Bait Machine just to collect inbound spam. He then began developing techniques to stop the spam that was coming to the bait machine. Great concept.

This is a programmer's book. It's heavy on C code, and if you can't at least read C, a lot of this isn't going to mean much to you. However, it does have a lot of general information that is of interest to anyone, and it could be helpful in unmdertstanding how someone else's milter works and how to modify it, etc.

I enjoyed it, but I like code heavy books - you may not.

There's a surprising amount of detail here; even getting into how to decode mime, and advice on user friendliness. I was a bit amused that they gave advice on how to attract spam to test milters; I don't think too many of us have any shortage of spam nowadays.

In the ongoing struggle against spam, adding filters to sendmail is a vital ability. Sendmail is probably the most common mail transfer agent on the Internet. The book describes how the latest sendmail supports a Milter interface. So that you, as a sysadmin or programmer, can write a program, usually in C, that implements a filter of your choice.

There has been various documentation on how to do this. Often scattered throughout the Web, and at various levels of competence and detail. But finally here, we have an entire book devoted to comprehensively explaining Milter.

It should be said that the authors deliberately don't go into details of what filters you might write. That is an open ended topic which is properly your remit, not theirs.

But as a bonus, there is a superb chapter on spam. It concisely goes into explaining techniques spammers use to obfuscate their mail. You can find out why blocking spam on the basis of checking subjects is essentially useless, for example. The chapter describes methods that other books on spam rarely go into. Actually, even if you have no intention of using Milter, you may want to consider the book for this chapter alone.

An inspiring,provocative,educational novel based on a true story from the sixteenth century, concerning the Spanish Inquisition in Mexico. A marvelous mixture of suspense,romantic interludes,and courage. A must read for anyone who appreciates extraordinary story-telling. A great book for discussion groups.

Provocative!Based on a true story during the Spanish Inquisition. A masterful mixture of suspense, bravery, cruelty and romance. Captivating and educational, from historical and theological perspectives. A must-read for anyone who appreciates a first class novel and an excellent book for those belonging to book clubs/ discussion groups.

"Soldier of God" is not only a page turner but a font of information on the history of Mexico in 16th and 17th centuries. The mores of the Catholic and Jewish religions are portrayed in a manner that does not interfere with the exciting story line. Intolerance runs rampant. Torture and death are routine for those who do not pay homage to the religion of the King of Spain. Character and faith are put to the ultimate test.

I was not aware of an inquisition in Mexico. Growing up in the U.S. our history lessons were obviously limited! The Jewish people have historically been persecuted and misunderstood. This wonderful accounting of factual historical information, intertwined with a tender romantic scenario is well worth reading! I couldn't put it down!

I am a philosophy graduate and this is the best book I read in popular philosophy. Most of the chapters are accessible to a general audience but I think it would overwhelm those totally new to the subject. Magee frequently recaputilates the ideas presented by the philosophers in a simple way and asks whether his account is accurate or not. That really helps to keep track of some more complex parts of the book. I'd recommend this book to anyone seriously interested in philosophy.

I've only read three chapters, which I've enjoyed. The Barrett dialogue on Heidegger and existentialism prompted me to buy the book. I thoroughly enjoyed that dialogue--that one alone made the book worth buying. I also read the dialogues on philosophy in general with Isaiah Berlin and philosophy of science with Hilary Putnam--both of them very good. I'm not that interested in linguistics or Marxism, but the book includes other interesting topics in philosophy.

My main complaint with the book is the tiny print, making it hard to read. In addition, the binding is rather stiff.

This book is the transcript of Bryan Magee's BBC Television series where he interviews various modern thinkers about their philosophies. 15 of the interviews are included in this book. Many outstanding people are here, including Noam Chomsky, John Searle, W.V. Quine, Herbert Marcuse, William Barrett, and Ronald Dworkin. Subjects covered include Marxism, Heidegger/Existentialism, linguistics (Chomsky, Searle, Bernard Williams, and Anthony Quinton talking about Wittgenstien) as well as science, politics and literature. This book makes some very complicated ideas accessable and is quite easy to read. Very enjoyable.

This book presents Bryan Magee's brilliant interviews of leading philosophers for the BBC in 1978. Hereafter some very brief summaries and very few comments (MHO).

Isaiah Berlin: philosophy's task is to examine and criticize and bring clarification, not to give definite answers.

Charles Taylor: Marxism says nothing on the individual or the cosmic level, only on the social level. There is an internal contradiction between Marxism's inexorable laws and its use as a theory of liberation.

Herbert Marcuse: comments on the Frankfurt School and its linking of Freudianism and Marxism, as well as politics and economic power.

William Barret (on Existentialism): Heidegger gives a descriptive analysis of our being in the world: What is it to exist?
(MHO: Heidegger poses the wrong question: what is? Not, what does?)
Sartre confronts freedom and responsibility.

Anthony Quinton (on Wittgenstein): he explains the 2 Wittgensteins:
1. language is a picture of the world
2. language is a social tool

A.J. Ayer (on Logical Positivism): any statement that is not a formal one, or empirical testable (verifiability), is nonsensical. But the most important of LP's defects is that nearly all of it is false.

Bernard Williams (on Linguistic Philosophy): Understanding what a word means is nothing more or less than knowing how to use it. LP is a tool for the investigation of this use.

R.M. Hare (on Moral Philosophy): The most central of moral concepts is what we ought to do. `As you wish that men should do to you, do to them likewise.'

W. van Orman Quine : Philosophy is a part of science. Processes (like emotions) in physical objects (people) are always accompanied by microphysical changes. In fact, they are those changes. Neurology is ultimately the place for explanations.
(MHO: abstract numbers don't exist in reality. They are only characteristics of physical processes.)

J. Searle on the Philosophy of Language): Our concept of reality is a matter of our linguistic categories. The purpose of language is communication.

N. Chomsky: Human beings are biologically preprogrammed for the use of language and must all have in common a basic structure that corresponds to the preprogramming.

H. Putnam (on the Philosophy of Science): `test your ideas' and `remember that your ideas are corrigible'.

R. Dworkin (Philosophy and Politics):
on J. Rawls (A theory of Justice):
1. there are certain liberties that must be protected
2. every change in the social structure should benefit the worst-off group.
on R. Nozick (Anarchy, State and Utopia): individuals have rights not to have their persons injured or their liberties limited or their property taken without their consent.

Iris Murdoch (Philosophy and Literature): A philosopher must try to explain exactly what he means, use an unambiguous candid style. Philosophy and literature are both truth-seeking and truth-revealing activities.

Ernest Gellner: Knowledge is central to life. The task ahead is bring together the cognitive and the social restraints

This book is a must read for all those interested in philosophy. It is written in an extremely clear, comprehensive and unambiguous language, a major plus for that kind of work.

I am so happy that there is finally a book about this part of American pop culture that has been largely ignored! I had no idea that so many amazing pictures have survived all these years. The graphics are wonderful and I love all of the logos. Great book.

This book brings together a wonderful collection of visual images of travel trailers from the late 1920s through the 1950s. The images come from vintage photographs, publicity brochures, and other publications. A majority of the materials come from the collections of the University of Southern California, the Auto Club of Southern California, and Vintage Vacations (a California travel trailer restoration company). The quality of the image reproduction is excellent making this book a genuine feast for the eyes.
Although subtitled "A Visual History Of Mobile America," the majority of pictures are from California with the rest of the country only sketchily represented if at all. Florida is the only other state to have more than one or two pictures included.
The book has eight chapters. Each begins with one page of text consisting of three paragraphs. The rest of the chapters are illustrations with captions and quotes. The first chapter "Motor Camping" has some of the earliest photos and portrays the beginnings of the travel trailer craze. The second chapter "Selling The dream" contains a collection of illustrations from brochures and advertisements. "Wish You Were Here," the third chapter, is a collection of postcards both humorous and illustrative. The fourth chapter "Trailer Shows" contains pictures from various California trailer shows. Pictures of the latest trailer designs are often enhanced by including attractive female models. "Take A Look Inside" is the next chapter which portrays the interior furnishings of travel trailers. Again attractive female models often enhance the photos. "I've Got This Idea" is a chapter that captures some of the more inventive and original travel trailer designs. A whole chapter is devoted to "Trailer Logos." It was in this chapter that I found the only reference to my 1948 trailer made in Alma, Michigan.
The book ends with a chapter on "Teardrops," compact trailers with outdoor kitchens built into a back hatch. A one page bibliography provides both current and historic books and articles for further reading. A joyful coffee table book, light on text, but very rich on illustrations, that is eye candy for the trailer park crowd.

It really is a great little book. The endless pictures are the selling point as I could (and have) look at them again & again!

If you like trailers, or 50's Americana Camp this is a great book.

Colorful, instructive and full of eye candy. It's about time someone published a book for those of us who love vintage travel trailers and just plain Americana. This book will live on the very top of my coffee table library.

This is an illustrative epic that I can't help but pick up again and again. Mr. Wise's sharp eye for unique and colorful scenes is easy to appreciate, even for a photography neophyte like me. Mr. Wise's photo essay reveals an adventurous soul that is willing to go the distance in sharing a dream!

These photos are amazing. Marc Wise has immersed himself in the trucker lifestyle by taking a job as one, and the works show this intimacy he shares with the subject while maintaining an objective viewpoint. Highly recommended for people who appreciate the works of photographers like Stephen Shore and William Eggleston.

If you are looking for a trucking book with lots of pictures of trucks, this is not for you, however if you want a photographic pictorial book which captures the mood of truckstops and the variety of patrons who frequent them, this is a worthwhile addition to your library.

This book truley captures the life of an average truck driver. It shows the experiences of the road and best of all the truck stops. The truck stops are wonderfully photographed.