Cole Books

I bought this book for class - a class I HAVE to take, so wasn't looking forward to it. So far, I think this is a great book - especially for those who are not in the mental health field. It gives a good look at why mental health people do what they do during a disaster.

Hi, you can call me StoryMaker! We got A Dog's Body, a book by Joanna Cole (the author of the Magic School Bus series), from the library. It's a classic book, it's older than me! That might be why our copy was in black and white. However, classic is not bad at all! It's got lots of detailed information, including many amazing things I didn't know before. Also, Joanna Cole talks about her life and her dogs, a nice touch that many books I have read don't feauture. This book should of gotten more reviews! If you can get your hands on this, that's good! If you want to be a dog expert and amaze your family and friends with fun facts, then read this. It's a great dog book that you'll want to get your paws on! Signed, StoryMaker. "Gotta trust the kid's review!"

This is an important book for "so called" documentary writers, photographers, and film makers. I say "so called" because we tend to think of documentary work as an accurate representation--literally the truth. Robert Coles pretty much shoots that idea down, showing how the background, beliefs, biases, hopes, and fears of the documentarian color the narrative. I came away believing that the word objective is not relevant here, and that it may be impossible to ever get at the truth. If I read Coles right, the documentarian may, in fact, be more akin to the literary fiction writer/photographer/film-maker, who does seem to get at the truth. This is not to say that documentary work is futile. On the contrary it can be potent, meaningful, and worthwhile. We may just have to look at it differently and face up to the fact that it reflects the person doing the documentary work as much as it does his/her subject. This is a liberating idea. And we owe a debt to Coles for proffering it. There are consequences, too. For instance, in the light of Coles' discovery, a lot of critics may owe an apology to Richard Avedon, whose photographic fiction, "In The American West," may be fine documentary work after all.

This is a swell introduction to analysis. Plenty of good examples, with a well-ordered approach to the material. I particularly appreciated the section on the mindsets and assumptions that affect how we do mathematics. It's really helpful in seeing that mathematics is creative and intuitive, and not as bluntly algorithmic as so many high school classes seem. A quality read.

This book is a great success-- written in humour and style, Mister Martin guides me to all stages of planning, doing and reporting psychology experiments. This is certainly a 'must read' for all novice experimenters. This work is also free of pretentious scientific jargon. Excellent.

I've read the book and have given it to many friends as gifts. For those people who are looking for historical data on our cultural histroy (and there's not much out there that's as good as this!) - THIS is the book that you want.

I found this book while doing research on the Philippine Insurrection. It is an excellent story of one officer's experiences across the American west and finally to the Philippines where he had some horrific encounters with outlaw bands, Moro brigands who seemed bullet proof and fearless. His adventures are well written and filled with period knowledge and his vantage point was always from the saddle or between bamboo stalks while Moro bandits slashed away with their razor-edged barongs. Suberb history that should be taught in school. Also recommended "Muddy Glory" and "Little Brown Brother" for some top-notch history during America's first Vietnam.

Finally, someone has succinctly and simply placed the Tibetan people, their culture and history as well as the weaving tradition within a Central Asian context. Devoid of the usual reliance upon Buddhism and the hocus pocus that pervades most texts of this type (ie. every rug is a meditation mat !), Cole has given a much need perspective through what appears to be a very sensible and well researched approach to the subject. The text really has little to do with rugs, per se, but more involved with early Tibetan history and medieval accounts of travel through the region. It was a pleasure to read and such an easy read too as it is written in a narrative style that belies the depth of research and the assumption of a scholarly tone that is achieved without pretensions or arrogance. For anyone who is truly interested in Tibetan weavings as well as Tibetan history, this book is a must read! Not to be missed!

Helen McLean and Abiye Cole have done an excellent job in providing an introduction to working with dreams in your personal life, or, as a facilitator, in professional life. The fact that they repeatedly point out that there are no hard and fast rules for interpreting dreams, and strongly warn against the indiscriminate use of dream dictionaries, makes clear that writing a handbook about dream catching can be tricky.

They have chosen to lavishly illustrate and illuminate their guidelines with examples from their experience in Gestalt dream-working. The result is a vivid book, in which the numerous step-by-step analyses of real dreams give the reader a thorough understanding of mechanisms in dreaming. At the same time the authors make clear that there are no hard and fast rules to be found which can lead to an automatic interpretation of a dream.

The book is very practical, with lot's of tips, varying from how to enhance one's capability to remember dreams to how to deal with uncomfortable images.

Here's what J. A. Kaszuba Locke, star reviewer of Bookloons.com had to say about Drowned Hopes:

Allan George Cole's new mystery, Drowned Hopes, boasts a plot in which con artists sting con artists and robbers steal from robbers. The author sweeps the reader to immediate attention with soundly characterized, fun cast members, displaying naiveté and human fallibility.

Ellen Berman, central figure número uno, is timid (sort of) until she gets her dander up, and reveals her ability to stand strong and watch out for her welfare. Opposed by her family, Ellen ran away with lover Andre (leaving her husband) from the U.S. to Jamaica. There she established a boutique selling her artwork - designer jewelry, cloth, and clothing. When Andre left her, Jamaican authorities closed down the gallery. Moving to Boca Raton, Florida, Ellen hopes to begin life anew, even though she is subject to her brother's control (he doles out the trust fund money she needs to survive). Sam Barr is central figure número duos - he's suave and slick, tough and sassy. He's also an ex-convict, having robbed robbers who stole from innocent victims. When Sam meets Ellen at his girlfriend's apartment house, plans begin formulating in his crafty mind. The reader can never be sure of Sam, trusting him for one second, and then mistrusting him for hours!

On to the secondary characters. Ruth Castro is Sam the Man's girlfriend and soon also Ellen's landlady. Sam's friend Danny is rough around the edges, but bright enough to charge large fees for check-cashing services. Ellen's brother Harold is a rich powerful attorney, fitness jock, and womanizer. Harry placed mother Berman in a nursing home. Her Alzheimer has progressed, and charge of estates, trust funds, and the like are his number one priority. Police Sergeant Bill Propp, very rough around and inside the edges, just happens to be on Harold Berman's payroll. Vivian Berman loves Perry Mason TV shows, and even with Alzheimer's, knows the exact time when Perry will make an appearance each day. Mom talks about how much she misses her daughter, how good Harry has been to her, and loves to show visitors her secrets album.

I always enjoy the author's splendid phrasing, as in thoughts about 'the 'Miami Herald', favoring the business section, which in recent days had become almost like the 'Policeman's Gazette', with all the corporate executives being indicted and mostly dodging jail. You could get a lot of good tips, if you studied those guys.' Cole cuts to the quick in Drowned Hopes with splendid casting, action, and dilemmas - in a pinch, I might want Sam on my side, even if he is a low-down con-artist skunk. And the grand finale is action-packed ... with a lot of drowning going on.