Bryan Books

This book works on multiple levels. The text storyline is outstanding and enages both children and adults in understanding the beauty and uniqueness of each individual's name. The book is unique in its call and response potential that will further draw young children into the story. The story will become especially intriguing to children when it becomes obvious that they are able to pronounce the name(s) in the book better than the adults (always a source of children's delight. An additional benefit of the book is its multicultural component. It should also be noted that for all the teachers and parents who mourn the fact that there are, seemingly, not enough books that address diversity, I recommend this book. Finally, the illustrations are exquisite. This is a classic book.

I read this book to my 1 year old. We liked the repitiion and rhyme of the book. But what we liked best is the subject matter. She and I both have difficult and lengthy names and I think this book encourages you to embrace your name. The illustrations of Ashley Bryan are always beautiful and alive with color.

I met Bryan Fiese at one of his book lectures. Mr. Fiese is a vibrant, enthusiastic young man. He has developed a unique perspective on life and shares this perspective in his book, Two Steps Back, A Lifetime Forward. In his book, he paints a picture of life's journey as the "River of Life." He speaks of building your 'raft' to withstand the adventures of the river in order to reach the "Lake of Dreams." Mr. Fiese then states that the 'first step back' is to get in touch with your inner vision through meditation. The 'second step back' is to understand your behaviors by identifying the thoughts and the emotions that lead to your behaviors. 'A Lifetime Forward' begins with planting a commitment tree by writing down "what it is that you are committing yourself to become." He defines commitment as "a promise, a pledge to achieve an objective within a specific time period." Your idea becomes your 'seed.' Then you must "develop your roots" and "constantly feed and nourish your tree." Mr. Fiese provides ample tips for nourishing your commitment tree. He also gives great suggestions for quitting bad habits, living a healthier life, and building lasting relationships. The book concludes with a two page poem from an Indian Elder that will literally reach out and touch your soul. Bryan Fiese's book is a great source of inspiration. He encourages the reader to smile and live with enthusiasm. This author's words are like a breath of fresh air.

In Two Steps Back, A Lifetime Forward, author Bryan Fiese provides a guide for acquiring positive insights to cope with the stresses and concerns of contemporary society. Through the use of humorous anecdote and story, Fiese showcases proven techniques and simple strategies that change thinking, make life more exciting, and our personal futures more optimistic. Readers will learn how to break bad habits, release negative emotions, understand feelings, control their own time, achieve success, develop enthusiasm, build lasting relationships and a great deal more. Two Steps Back, A Lifetime Forward is a much appreciated addition to the reading list for anyone seeking to improve their lives by improving themselves.

Government at a distance does not work. It is easy to ignore the personal responsibility of governance when it is not local. First we allowed the State to take over the rule making and curriculums of our schools and now the Federal authorities are making global rulings on school operations. Those who wish to control find it easier to make rules once at the Federal level and force all to submit to their vision. Return the control to the local levels.

Having just seen the review posted by Independent Publisher (1998) - right on the money! Ten years after publication, The Vermont Papers is still the only blueprint for dismantling overgrown liberty-destroying political superstructures and restoring true LOCAl democracy with widespread civic involvement. And we also thought it was pretty entertaining, too. (from co-author John McClaughry, now 32 years a Town Moderator)

This book is great fun. Written by "Real" Vermonters Frank and Melissa Bryan (Linda Bryan took all the pictures for the book, she did not write it), it's a great way to test your trivia knowledge or your friends. Whether you live in the Green Mountain state or just like to put your knowledge of it to the test, this is a great book for everyone.

The (Very Latest) Vermont Quiz Book by Shelburne Vermonter Linda Bryan is an amazing trivia guide and self-test on everything about Vermont from its natural wonders, to its roads, towns, and famous people. Featuring 928 multiple-choice questions and answers, The (Very Latest) Vermont Quiz Book is an engaging and fun read, whether to self-test one's knowledge or as a an extra supply of questions for popular trivia games.

This Osprey book takes a look and the uniforms and regimental colors of the regiments of Scottish Highlanders that served in the British Army c. 1787-1815. It opens a with a fairly brief introduction to the origins, weapons, and character of these Regiments, and then goes on to examine their uniforms and colors in great detail; this latter section of the book would admittedly be of little use to someone lacking a strong interest in or knowledge of the Highland Regiments.

As is always the case with Osprey, the color plates are well done and enjoyable to look at. Plate 'F' is particularly neat for its focus exclusively on the Highland Pipers of this era. I would also recommend the men-at-arms titles 'Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders' (volume 3) and the recently-published 'Queen Victoria's Highlanders' (volume 442)for somone interested in this book.

I am not a fan of Osprey publications. There was a time when I would buy every Osprey Napoleonic title. This was until, when doing research in primary sources on my own, I found that many of these books, and their attendant art work, to be generally average at best, and sometimes not reliable at all.

I found the volume on Wellingtons Highlanders troops fascinating. The Highland recruited, developed, or thrown together to combat the swarms of very effective are meticulously listed in this volume and it gives a very good picture of the units that gradually developed into the 79th Cameron and effective 92nd Gordons and infantry regiments of the Wellingtons Army. What is also interesting is the varieties of both clothing and uniforms these varied corps wore (and there is a difference), being influnce by their culture(Scottish). It is a true menagerie for uniformologists.

I'm sure everyone is very familiar with the Men-at-Arms format, but I'll briefly review it for anyone not familiar with it. The Men-at-Arms series is a general, somewhat brief (limited to 48 pages) uniform history of famous units and/or armies in specific wars or campaigns. They are profusely illustrated with relevant illustrations of uniforms, as well as eight color plates of the subject in question by a contemporary military artist. The narrative describes the uniforms in detail, sometimes with a brief history of either the unit, personalities, or both. Additionally, the plates are explained and there is a necessarily brief note on sources. In the hands of an expert such as Stuart Reid, this can be a narrative overflowing with useful, very accurate, and sometimes newfound information. All of the 48-page volumes have excellent color plates; however, my favorites are those by Eugene Leliepvre,Bryan Fosten and Francis Back. These are very talented artists give us very realistic renderings of what soldiers undoubtedly looked like on campaign and in combat.

These book is thorough studies, written in a scholarly manner with well thought out illustrations and color plates.Stuart Reid and Osprey have done us a great service with these volume and all of them belong on our bookshelves. They are accurate, packed with information, written by an acknowledged authority of the periods covered, who is a meticulous researcher and an entertaining author. What these volumes proved to me is that we really shouldn't judge a book (or a series, for that matter) by its cover or its title. Osprey has once again, in my mind, placed itself in the top notch of military history books available for research purposes, as well as entertainment.

Anyone who consider himself a fan of the Highlanders Regiments would enjoy this fascinating book I also recomened the Highland Clansman 1689-1746 from the same author excellent and very informative.

What Do You Know! is fun and entertaining for any age, but especially preschool and kindergarteners. Using rhyming text and beautiful illustrations, Lorinda Bryan Caulley has created an enjoyable book that will keep the youngest of readers searching for everything from pairs to pears, wrongs that don't belong and hidden objects (I still have not found the mitten!). For those who love I Spy, this is a great version for the very youngest of readers. Works best as a one-on-one sharing book.

I bought this book for my 4 year old daughter and she absolutely loves it. The book has simple puzzles and games that kids really get a kick out of. Since I bought it, my daughter asks me to read it to her nightly.

Easily the finest short collection in print today of quality and classic fly fishing quotations and photographs. A great read for all seasons and a fine reminder of the attraction of fly fishing for all ages and callings. Buy it now for yourself and your fly fishing friends and treat all to a refreshing review of why we are fly fishers.

Great gift item. Loved it so much, I bought a copy for myself. Enjoyable reading.

Joyce Carol Thomas proves that classics can be fun in her adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston stories in WHAT'S THE HURRY, FOX? AND OTHER ANIMAL STORIES. The book contains a sampling of tales included in Hurston's Every Tongue Got To Confess. In addition to the title story, some of the collection includes "Why Buzzard Has No Home," "Why the Waves Have Whitecaps," and "Why Donkey Has Long Ears."

Collier's illustrations lend themselves to the folksy theme throughout the book. I particularly enjoyed the fact that each stories illustrations have their own unique look and style. The stories in the collection are diverse, some will make you laugh out loud and others will make you say "hmmmm." WHAT'S THE HURRY, FOX? is a terrific, child-friendly introduction to a very important American literary figure.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

What's The Hurry, Fox?: And Other Animal Stories, Collected by Zora Neale Hurston, Adapted By Joyce Carol Thomas, Illustrated by Bryan Collier

Why do dogs hate cats? Why do waves have whitecaps? Why is the fox in a hurry?

What's the Hurry, Fox? is a delightful and humorous picture book of porquoi tales. In the introduction to these tales, acclaimed children's author, Joyce Carol Thomas tells her young readers that the rich words in these stories, which were collected by Zora Neale Hurston in the 1930s, fell like "diamonds from the mouths of poor people." Thomas has skillfully and beautifully adapted these jewels so that any child who reads them will be both tickled and enchanted. Zora Neale Hurston, according to Thomas "willed us a legacy of laughter." Joyce Carol Thomas, in her own unique and signature way has adapted these stories "for a child's eye and ear." Additionally, the rich collages of Bryan Collier capture the spirit of rural storytelling tradition. What's the Hurry, Fox?: And Other Animal Stories should be in every child's library.

This book achieved notoriety when in 1995 a New York Federal Court issued an order that all copies of it be destroyed. Then, on Jan 7th 1996, Judge Sprizzo ordered Bryan Ellison to destroy all copies of his book. For more on this court case and the revelations of this book, enter "judge sprizzo bryan ellison" into a search engine.

Although it was written in 1994, this book is still relevant in these times when only this year a woman was jailed in Britain for supposedly deliberately infecting men with HIV through intercourse.

The other review covers this book very well, so I won't bother repeating what that reviewer says. After I read this book I consulted the current edition of the British National Formulary, which is the drug reference guide for British doctors and I counted that there are now 20 antiviral drugs for HIV infection, which are to be prescribed in combinations, of which all are toxic and which are associated with side effects such as gastro-intestinal disturbances, muscle disorders, ulcers, congestive heart failure, alopecia, liver damage/failure, blood disorders, influenza-like symptoms, to mention just a few.

It baffles me how toxic drugs, prescribed to be taken over many years can somehow increase a person's life expectancy. Surely a more scientific approach if someone has "human immunodeficiency virus" would be to boost the immune system perhaps, e.g. through high doses of vitamins, as recommended by Nobel prize winning scientist Linus Pauling.

EXTRA- A few days after I read this book I came across a copy of Time magazine from last month which stated that traditional healers in Uganda recognise typical symptoms of AIDS as being diarrhoea and rashes. If that's the case then eating, for example, a dodgy curry at certain certain Asian restaurants in London causes typical symptoms of AIDS too! So much for scientists.

Ellison and Duesberg present a compelling argument that modern medical health organizations have their own interests at heart when it comes to diagnosing and treating infectious diseases. At the end the of the 1960's most infectious diseases like Polio had been eradicated in the western world. This threatened the budgets of federal health agencies the like the CDC and NIH who thrive on public funding to combat transmittable diseases. Cancer seemed like a promising candidate for their research but turned out not to be caused by viruses or microbes.

When a new disease called AIDS appeared, it provided the promise of huge amounts of funding if it proved to be transmittable. Ellison and Duesberg argue that the health establishment manipulated public perception about the relationship between AIDS and HIV, to create the appearance of a direct linkage, so as to create a new research and health-care paradigm: one that put them at the center of the action. In reality, the vast majority of retroviruses are harmless and AIDS shows very different symptoms depending on which country it appears in. African AIDS is a different beast altogether from that which appears in Europe and the U.S.A.. This suggests AIDS isn't one disease but many immune system disorders that have been lumped together under one rubric for the sake of the organizations that specialize in their treatment. According to the authors, anytime someone tests positive for HIV and have any of over 100 symptoms, they are automatically classified as having "AIDS." And yet apparently, many people who test positive for HIV stay healthy for decades.

In essence, Ellison and Duesberg present a lifestyle explanation for what causes AIDS including drug-use, immune system stress, and sexual preference. This is a more sociological driven idea of what AIDS is than a biological explanation. And it challenges everything we've officially been told about the disease.

This book was an important event in my personal understanding of how scientific institutions actually work, what drives their research, and causes them to sometimes act like witch-hunting "knowledge monopolies." If you are at all interested in the collusion between science, government health policy, and the medical establishment you are bound to find this book provocative and challenging, though it is a bit rough in some sections. Is AIDS a "fake epidemic"? Honestly, I don't know for sure, but my mind is now open to new evidence that supports a different interpretation than the standard, official line touted by the media, the CDC, NIH, and other organizations.

(Dr. Simeon Hein is the author of OPENING MINDS and PLANETARY INTELLIGENCE, and composer of the CDs EARTH DREAMING and OPENING SKIES.)

This is the first volume of the trilogy, and covers Bryan's life to late 1908. The account of the Cross of Gold speech on July 9, 1896, is as riveting account of that most momentous speech in American political history as I have ever read. I was also surprised by how interesting the account of the 1904 Democratic Convention was--I had never heretofore felt the 1904 polical events of much interest. Coletta writes balanced history and does not hesitate to point out Bryan's faults, showing he was not a great thinker, was very stubborn and sure of his rightness, having little interest in history or literature. But the role he played was crucial in making the modern Democratic Party. If you like political history you will enjoy this volume.

Paolo Coletta's biography, the first of three volumes, covers the life of the agrarian champion and three-time presidential candidate from his early years to his final run for the White House in 1908. Growing up in Illinois, Bryan moved to Nebraska at the age of 22 soon after earning his law degree. Though successful as an attorney in the growing town of Lincoln his true passion was politics, and he won a seat in the House of Representatives in 1890. There he became a strong supporter of agrarian issues and a fervent advocate of tariff reform, the establishment of an income tax, and - most importantly - the free and unlimited coinage of silver. Increasingly at odds with the Cleveland administration, he turned down reelection in 1894 in favor of bids for governor and senator, both of which he lost.

By 1895, Bryan was active among silver circles, using his considerable skills as an orator to advocate silver coinage. Such efforts enhanced his national image and made him a contender for the 1896 Democratic presidential nomination. With the support of many Midwestern and Southern states - where Bryan spoke extensively during his speaking tours - he was a legitimate candidate for the nomination even before he gave his famous "cross of gold" speech that won the national party convention to his cause. His selection at the age of 36 made him the youngest nominee of any major political party in the nation's history.

After facing defeat in spite of a strenuous campaign, Bryan continued his political activism. He maintained his support for silver and advocated Cuban independence when the subject arose, even enlisting to serve when America went to war against Spain in 1898. Though defeated again in the election of 1900, Bryan continued his political activism in a series of speaking tours (which were extremely profitable) and in the pages of "The Commoner," a weekly journal of agrarian political issues and Jeffersonian principles. Coletta sees Bryan in this period as a prophet of progressivism, supporting the rise of a new political mood that many of his own campaigns had paved the way for. The excesses of capitalism prompted Bryan's third run for the presidency, a campaign that ended in a frustrating and perplexing defeat by William Howard Taft.

In recounting Bryan's life, Coletta uses both primary and secondary sources in a thorough and critical manner, providing a sympathetic treatment while keeping his limitations in mind. Though the Nebraska politician occasionally comes across more as a symbol than an individual and Coletta's effort to make the case for Bryan as a supporter of both agrarian causes and progressive reforms doesn't always ring true, there is no better work on the early life of this pivotal political figure.