D Books

Every time I find it Amazing!
How much Magic, Love & joy are in those books!
Every story- is a Gift!! :-)

I recommened you to read the introduction..
It is most touching, special and wonderful! :-)
"Good stories touch your heart in a special way no others can
and can transform your life forever!" (in my own words..)

If I could.. I would buy ALL of the books available!
(well maybe I can pass the one for Golfer soul.. ha ha!)

Thank you so much Jack and Mark- you Have changed the world!
Even here (in Israel) some people read your books..
and by now I have about 16 Chicken Soup books!
Not bad huh? :-) And I try to make those books known!
Optimism and good endings- is what needed here! :-)

Many of the stories are so touching- they can fix a whole day.
They can make me tear and appriciate my life more..
Make me want to Change The World for the better!
And also show all of my Love to the ones I love-
Not wait to another day or be affraid to show it!
and never forget the kindness of strangers!

Thank you Thank You Thank You! :-)

And for all the people here who don't know what to do- buy it! :-)
It's worth is! I promiss you! :-)

With Love and Joy!
Gil :-)

The stories in this edition of the book are my favorite. All of my friends have loved the autographed copies that I have given them. So many touching and tender stories, and even ones that make you chuckle.

I have purchased a number of the Chicken Soup series am I am quite pleased with them.

A 4th Course of Chicken Soup for the Soul

By Melody Beattie, Bob Greene, Edgar Guest,
Harvey Mackay, Pat Riley, and many more

Stories, motivational excerpts

Chicken Soup for the Soul is a fantastic, true book with hundreds of stories inside all about people's real live experiences. The sections covered in here are about love, kindness, parents and parenting, teaching and learning, death and dying, matter of perspective, overcoming obstacles, and elective wisdom. Everyone and anyone who reads this book can find stories that they can relate to, while enjoying them. Happiness and sorrow is merely a speck of all the emotions felt throughout this amazing book. When reading this you are able to learn the different kinds of situations there are and the everyday people who go through them. This book is extraordinary and unique; how it slams real life into your face and shows exactly how unpredictable life can be. It also shows us how we should value those around us, for we do not know when it is anyone's time to go.
All of the characters are real people who have gone through an event and have decided to share it with us. Each story has a beginning, middle, and end to it; just like life. Their stories are there to help others or to send a powerful message across that has once touched them. Each and every story is unique, interesting, and 100% true. So be prepared for any kind of emotions, because in real life you don't always know what the outcome will be.
The stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul are all directly from those who experienced the story. They are all easy to understand and follow. The voice in each story is so strong that it actually feels as though the person is right there telling you their story; it's unbelievable! Though not all stories may be your type or make you feel comfortable, just skip them and move on to those that interest you more. There is something for everyone in this original book. After reading Chicken Soup for the Soul you will be able to truly see how precious life really is.

I have read several of the Chicken Soup books and love them all. A five star rating is not high enough, it should be ten! I recommend all of the ones that I've read to all of my friends and even give out the Chicken Soup Calendars as gifts. I want them to experience the feelings that I have when I read the books. (My favorite story is the one about adoption when a child says that an adopted child is one that grows in her mommy's heart instead of her belly.)

As the author of two books regarding National Board Certification, I read with interest this author's work on accomplished teaching. I found the content not only helpful, but well-researched and highly applicable to any instructor seeking to pursue excellence in classroom teaching.

Many such books are often pedantic tomes that offer little research, and even less practical usefulness. Not so this one. The author(s) have done their homework. Their bibliography is a 'who's who' of noted researchers in this field, and I cannot imagine any teacher--even one not pursing NBPTS certification--not picking up a wealth of helpful vitae from reading this book.

This work should be required reading in every university education program. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Dr. J.L. Parks, author "So, You Want to Become a National Board Certified Teacher?"

I highly recommend this book for National Board Candidates and National Board Support Providers. I have been supporting National Board Candidates for many years and have found the tips highly helpful in creating a strong portfolio entry.
I wished I had this book when I was working on my National Boards.

I got started on my portfolio rather late (I do work best under pressure) and was stunned to pass in my first round (EA Science). This book clearly helped. It is full of powerful guides and lots of tools to use in preparing lessons as well as preparing the entries. I used the NBPTS Workbook by Mack-Kirschner first to get started then used this one while I drafted out my portfolio. I returned to the Workbook as I was refining my entries. Both were important. I did not find the CD particularly useful, as it mostly provided un-editable copies of the forms in the book. I used the first edition, which was published in 2004.
Lorraine Theroux (the real name) contact me through scienceforall.com if you wish

As a Candidate Support Provider, I have found "Accomplished Teaching" to be the most comprehensive and user-friendly book available to National Board Certification candidates. "Accomplished Teaching" takes the NBPTS standards and portfolio instructions and breaks them into meaningful and manageable chunks for teachers. Completing the National Board Certification process is a rigorous process and teachers need a resource like "Accomplished Teaching " to guide them. This book should be required reading for anyone going through the board certification process. In fact, it should be required reading for any teacher interested in improving their teaching practice!

Working through the National Board Certification can be difficult and confusing. This book breaks the process down into manageable steps and keeps candidates on track. There are many helpful worksheets and planning tools to ensure you complete the portfolio in the best and most informative way. Throughout the book there are brief anecdotes about other teachers' practices and struggles, which is an enjoyable way to keep readers' morale up. I highly recommend this book - it's a useful tool for anyone interested in National Board Certification.

This is an excellent book - it is more focussed on a lay-person's introduction to neurofeedback treatments for ADHD, great for parents. It is not really technical enough for a practitioner or someone wanting to learn more about the clinical application of neurofeedback.

A large section at the back of the book is dedicated to an index of worldwide practitioners who can treat ADHD with this drug-free approach

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (11/06)

If you've ever dealt with an ADD/HD child you know the frustration of a child fidgeting, disrupting others and needing constant supervision. If you are that frustrated, just imagine the frustration of the child. The authors have offered us a clear and concise look at ADD/HD. They have offered us an option that does not include medication.

Matthew's parents and teachers are at their wits end. They sincerely want to help Matthew but don't know how. "This book is about helping kids like Matthew: ADD/ADHD children who possess the potential to succeed, but who chronically function below their abilities because they cannot regulate themselves. `ADD: The 20-Hour Solution' describes and examines a revolutionary hi-tech methodology called EEG biofeedback (also called neurofeedback) that has unequivocally demonstrated its efficacy in helping chronically inattentive, distractible, impulsive, and hyperactive children regulate themselves."

"The pluses of EEG biofeedback training in treating ADD/ADHD children are extensive. This quick and painless treatment:

- Provides a viable alternative to psychotropic medication
- Trains children to self-regulate naturally and safely
- Trains children to adjust automatically to changing demands and conditions
- Emancipates children from continually professional supervision
- Creates a synergistic effect that can help other treatments work more effectively
- Permits parents to become involved directly in the treatment process"

Steinberg and Othmer discuss ADD/ADHD in terms that a layman can understand. Parents and teachers will be wondering why this book wasn't written years ago. The authors propose that ADD should stand for Arousal Disregulation Disorder. They made an excellent case for their opinion. In detail they discuss Matthew, a child that has ADD/ADHD. I found myself sympathizing with Matthew; he cannot control his fidgets and distractions. He soon becomes labeled as trouble and that label follows him from year to year. "Matthew had trouble staying in his seat and keeping his hands to himself. Note that he was `verbally exuberant when others wanted him to be quiet, and ... withdrawn and often clueless when people demanded answers...' Matthew was simply lost in an eternal maze of jumbled, intense feelings, sporadic mood shifts, changes in energy level and focus, and incomplete thoughts. These are hallmark signs of disregulation."

This book is well written and documented. As I stated previously it is written in terms that laymen can understand. I highly recommend this book to teachers, parents, grandparents and all who deal with children with ADD/ADHD. I believe "ADD: The 20-Hour Solution" is the answer for many children.

I think that the person that wrote the last review does not know nothing about neurofeedback. Neurofeedback is a self-regulation work. In other words, it does the same thing that a psychoterapic aproach does, but faster.Only this!!!

I found this book, ADD The 20-Hour Solution, a clear and concise guide to understanding how the brain works and how EEG biofeedback can improve its behavior by self regulation. This book is written in a way that parents can understand not only what ADD is but how to approach it. Parents can learn from this book the questions they should ask and most importantly to take action themselves. I was amazed to find that ADD can be treated in your own home. As a mother and teacher, I wholly support self help solutions without drugs which are so often overlooked today. The case studies examined in this book give hope to any parent. I would do anything as a parent to help my child. If using a computer to train your brain works than that is what I would want for my child. This book is a must read for any parent that wants a solution to their frustration with an ADD child or for a parent that just wants more information about ADD. There is also a great Neurofeedback Practitioner Listing in the back of the book.

As a neurofeedback clinician, I have given this book to parents when they are considering brain-training as an option for their child. I have to say that I'm not wild about the title, as it suggests that in less than a day, the ADD will be gone, instead of it being 40 sessions at a half-hour each. The book is a simple, quick read and does a good job of explaining ADD/ADHD and sympathizing with parents who are trying their best to cope with a child who exhibits some of the symptoms inherent in the disorder. It doesn't go into any detail on the development or mechanisms behind neurofeedback, however, and is kind of showy and overly-excitable (too many exclamation marks) about how great training is. Don't get me wrong - I know it's great and I know it works, but there's just something about the book that seems to be over-selling the technique in a hokey way - like their on the home shopping network or something. I find myself more often referring clients to read "A Symphony in the Brain" or one of Daniel Amen's books instead, or else forewarning them that this book is a bit over-the-top excited about neurofeedback.

This is definitely an excellent book. I have read both this and Samurai Cat Goes to the Movies and have found both to be hilarious and highly enteraining. While often very wierd it is a great book which I would highly recommend.

I read this book about 6 times in a row as a kid...the title page fell out because it had been read so much and I framed it and put it on my wall! I really wish it was still in print...please let me know if it becomes available. It is definately a world I'd like to revisit.

"Tomokato turned, watching the sun's glaring disc begin to sink beneath a mountain-ridge. A chill breeze sprang up, stirring his whiskers. His paw clenched on the hilt of his katana, or long-sword. He wondered if he would ever see the light of day again, but he knew it did not matter. His lord had been cruelly, treacherously butchered. Fugu Otoko had had a hand in it, and Otoko had fled into the vast recesses of Catzad-Dum. Tomokato's soul ached with the lust for revenge. His slitted eyes seemed almost to smoke, like newly congealed obsidian. He smiled slightly, showing his wickedly pointed teeth. He was the very image of ferocious martial resolution.
"Just before the sun dipped from sight, a crow flew by, and was almost too awed by the sight of him to continue flapping.
" "What a stud!" the bird mumbled to himself, winging erratically southward."

So begins THE ADVENTURES OF SAMURAI CAT by Mark E. Rogers, the first in a series of at least six books about Miaowara Tomokato, the Most Perfect Samurai ever to whip out a katana, and his mischievous nephew Shiro, the most demented, blood-thirsty little fluff bunny ever to whip out a Johnson M1941 automatic rifle. Yep, that's where the ADVENTURE begins, the story itself started a few pages earlier when Tomokato defeated all 30,000 of Takeda Katsuyori's armed warrior's merely by stepping out from behind a screen and revealing himself. His mere presence had so terrified even the horses that they had stopped dead in their tracks causing a massive pile-up in which the entire attacking force had been killed. What a stud! As a reward Tomokato asks only to be allowed to visit his brother's family, a request which his lord grants since it is far too small a payment for the service Tomokato has rendered, but of course being a Perfect Samurai, he will accept nothing else.

This turns out to be a Bad Time for Tomokato to have left court, however, for in his absence Lord Nobunaga was assassinated by what may have been the largest and most diverse group in recorded in history. Upon returning and finding everyone dead, The Cat, with the assistance of his Lord's severed head which is very talky considering its present state, compiles a list of the names and address of everyone involved in the murder. It includes, but is not limited to; Cossacks, Apaches, Al Capone, Vikings, Nazis, Stalin, Mongols, and Martians. It also includes Fugo Otoko, the Blowfish Who Never Smiles mentioned in the openning quotation. When asked about the large number of out of towners on the list Nobunaga explaines that he had travelled a lot when he was a teenager.

I first encountered SAMURAI CAT and his creator Mark Rogers at the New Orleans World Science Fiction Convention in 1989, I think. He was giving a slide show and a telk in one of the panel rooms and the phrase "samurai cat" caught my eye and intrigued me. The slides were of his artwork for the third book in the series SAMURAI CAT IN THE REAL WORLD in which The Cat tracks down those who responsible for his Lord's death to Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia. All of the books are heavily illustrated. I suspect that The Cat may have started out life as a visual concept and then evolved into a literary one. As it turned out Rogers was giving a reading from the third book that night in his room and all were invited. Cool.

I made a point of showing up, I just had to find out what these stories were like after having seen photos of T-Rex's in Gestapo uniforms being cut to very bloody pieces by an orange cat wearing lamellar armor and weilding a katana! A lot of other fen showed up as well, maybe 40 which is a goodly number for a regular sized hotel room. The door to his room was actually propped open but Rogers himself was nowhere to be seen. Gradually we all inched our way into the room and decided to wait in there, we were about 10 minutes early. So we waited. And waited. Then at about 5 minutes after the appointed hour Rogers staggered into room. He was out of breath and his face was the oddest shade of red I've ever seen. He really looked as if He was going to keel over. The elevators had been jammed with people so he had decided to run up all 34 flights of stairs so he wouldn't miss the reading!

I'm so glad I stayed, and equally glad that Rogers didn't stroke out that night! He had 3 more books to write. The story was wonderful, and I finally managed to getsome closure for the JFK assassination! But that's another book.

THE ADVENTURES OF SAMUAI CAT is simply put, a classic of comic genius.
It plumbs new depths of genial idoicy and will ultimately leave you knowing far more about assorted heavy weaponry than you ever imagined you would. If you're a fan of absurdist humor and don't mind having some/all of fandom's sacred cows lampooned you'll be in your element. Rogers takes on just about everyone and everthing fannish in this series, including (at the end) his own fans. Ouch. In the first book Tomokato ventures first into Tolkein country and encounters D&D gamers as well as the great winged demon B'aalhop. Then its on to the village of Outsmouth and the Real Old God K'Chu. There's Con-Ed the Barbarian, and his deadly foe Thpageti-Thoth and all sorts of other exciting and silly characters to be sliced and diced before The Cat finds himself in Asgard facing RAGNAROK!

I can't imagine having to live in a world devoid of Samurai Cat! As science fiction writer Robert Jordan said, ""The Cat Is marvelously funny and maniacally adventurous, turning every science fiction convention on its ear. I want to be Miaowara Tomokato when I grow up."

Me too.

I can honestly say these books (there is five in the series) are the best books I have ever read. My advice? Search them out and find them (I know I have all five in my personal library!). YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

This book is the first and best in the series, and contains the following sections:

KATEMUSHA
---------
In feudal Japan, loyal samurai Miaowara Tomokato returns from a family visit to find his lord dead in a scene of destruction that's completely spoiled me for similar scenes forever. Maybe it's the arrow-ridden dragon in Red Army uniform, or the landgoing replica of the Merrimac.

"From his vantage-point Takeda Katsuyori surveyed the grim scene. 'Fudge," he gritted."

THE BRIDGE OF KATZAD-DUM
------------------------
Samurai Cat pursues one of his lord's killers into Tolkien country, dealing with such critters as porks and the dread B'aalhop.

"The katana whirred and flamed, slicing through tentacle after tentacle, whistling in a constantly repeated *Datsun Tempura*, or Divine Whirling Outboard Motor Propeller Blow."

THE BOOK OF THE DUNWICH COW
---------------------------
The setting: a Lovecraftian town whose houses consist only of gabled attics to hide the squamous half-human denizens of Outsmouth.

"Yog N'goggawoggah and Yoknapatawpha, twin masses of stone-cold cream chip beef that ooze sluggishly in the center of all time and space, are their chiefs, terrible in combat, unappetizing to behold. Their herald and messenger is Stor-Atroomtemp, Lord of the Luke-warm, Cosmic Blight, Master-of-Many-Shapes-and-Interesting-in-None-of-Them. Their publicity is handled by the horrendous Isaac Azathoth...."

BEYOND THE BLACK WALNUT
-----------------------
Another murderer, Thpageti-Thoth, has fled into savage Pictland. Illustrated in gorgeous Frazetta parodies, the story shows Samurai Cat's meeting with Con-Ed the Barbarian.

"Amalric the East Anglian..., armored in a scale-mail corselet, was a tall weasly-looking teenager whose spiky hairdo sent orange and purple tufts up through the holes he had deliberately punched in his own helmet. His only weapon was a gigantic Wilkinson sword razor-blade with the words 'Hi Mum' written on it in crimson lipstick."

AGAINST THE GODS
----------------
Tomokato's search takes him next to Asgard, as the gods prepare for the final war against the giants of the Greater Jotunheim Co-Prosperity Sphere.

"Odin nodded his grimly regal head and picked up the microphone for his P.A. system. 'Attention, attention,' he began. 'This is Odin, Lord of the Hanged. Ketil Jormunreksson, report to the Throne-Room, on the double.'"

This book is a must.

I think every woman should read this book.
Dr. Nancy takes the worry out of growing older.

Hope Nature returns to all of us in infinite ways.It made me very happy reading this book.

This is a wonderful, sensible, informative book on health written by a female doctor. I am following many of the book's suggestions and have seen health improvements in myself. I have recommended it to amy of my friends.

This is an invaluable resource for all women, especially those over forty approaching the transition of menopause. Overflowing with very practical information to assist women during this natural life passage. I wish I had known this when I was forty! But far beyond just a manual for navigating through menopause it offers wise counsel on how women can maximize health at all the stages of life. As a health educator I recommend it often.

Nancy Lonsdorf has written a terrific book that really should be read by all women, before the age of 40! Dr. Lonsdorf renews one's ability to be guided by their own common sense while, at the same time, giving a deep understanding of the ongoing physical, mental and emotional changes experienced by women. If you read this book you will be able to take care of yourself and continue to experience life full of energy and zest! Dr. Lonsdorf explains concepts about the physical in a very clear way and also gives practical tips for taking care of health and preventing problems. It is very empowering to learn these tips and to apply them .....and then to feel better than ever.

This book is a great expose of what grassroots political people go through at every election cycle. My family has worked at this level and says Wilcox is right on the mark. The most laughable character in the book is Rocco Sarducci, a Democrat faithful with the cunning of a fox. Although the book is a fictional story, friends from the Pasadena area tell me Sarducci bears a strong resemblance to California Assemblyman Anthony Portantino. While the book is a little wrody at times, the plot is great and the descriptions of characters and locations are excellent.

Although this book is a work of fiction, it has some parallels to the unsuccessful campaign of Susan Carpenter McMillan for the California State Assembly in 2000. The character Dee Dee Smith, for example, sounds a lot like Paula Jones. But, the details and events in the book are decidedly different from what happened to Carpenter McMillan.

The author paints an interesting picture of the fictional Assembly candidate. She's a bold woman with no fear of going toe to toe with her opponents. At the same time, she has a terrific sense of humor and can be very likeable.

But, as the story unfolds, the candidate's darker nature begins to show through. What else should we expect of a politician, after all? I am left feeling that the author's fictional candidate would make a good Assemblywoman, but not a very good friend.

The author does an excellent job of character development for this very complex woman. You may hate her or love her, but you can't resist respecting her toughness.

Until I read this book I had no idea of how vicious Democrats can be. I asked a few friends who have worked for our local Congressman and State Senator. They told me that what I learned from reading "...And the Donkey They Rode in On" is more than accurate. The book is a political eye opener for those of us who are less savy to the deceptive game of politics.

According to the author Wilcox, there is a war going on right here within our shores. It's a war for our society, and everything we believe. The Democrats know it but the Republicans don't. If Republicans don't wake up soon they will lose everything...and so will we. My friends and I agree that Mr. Wilcox is right on about this.

In this story, a devious president who is seeking revenge for being impeached tries to direct who will win in San Diego Congressional and Assembly contests. This is a lot like what happened in my hometown where President Clinton wanted to defeat Congressman Jim Rogan and Assembly candidate Susan Carpenter-McMillan.

The story takes a bunch of quick and unpredictable turns in the final days of the campaign and nothing is as it appears. Then, the roof caves in on the Democrats and the election turns out to be a lot closer than expected. Too bad this didn't happen for Ms. Carpenter McMillan...I thought that she was a better candidate than the Democrat she lost to. It appears that in today's times, money buys more than justice. Sadly, it also seems to buy revenge, campaigns, elections and our towns.

I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to people who have no idea what goes on leading up to election day.

As a person who has spent many years working on political campaigns, I give David Wilcox high marks for doing a great job of describing what goes on when Republicans and Democrats slug it out.

It's a sad but true commentary on how low the Democrats often stoop to gain a little advantage over a good Republican candidate. I have seen first hand the kind of thing that goes on in real political campaigns, and Wilcox describes everything to a tee in this work of fiction.

Wilcox develops his characters beautifully with one exception. There is an especially dark character named Eve McAdder who receives very little in the way of development. This is similar to the technique used by Ayn Rand who deliberately tells very little about her evil characters to project them as people unworthy of notice aside from their actions.

Wilcox is very economical with his words in creating the atmosphere in several scenes. He succeeded in putting me right in the middle of the action without being wordy.

If you don't understand just how fierce the battle between warlike Democrats and their often unprepared Republican opponents is, you should read this book. It might change the way you vote!

This book is a hoot. Wilcox's character Rocco Sarducci is the Inspector Clouseau of politics. He is the ultimate sleazy politician who plays dirty tricks---some of which backfire on him---and smiles at you while he's doing it.

Still, I had a lot of trouble hating him personally. His actions are repulsive, yet he has a fuzzy, likeable side. Wilcox did a terrific job of showing us just how these seemingly warm Democrat politicians wage war on Republicans and on America's culture.

This book is very timely with the November elections just around the corner.

Even if you're not single, there is remarkable charm and understanding in this little book about being a woman in what is STILL a remarkably marriage-obsessed society. It is a pleasure and a comfort to take part in poking fun of this reality. As ever, Author Rachel Carpenter's intellectual, dry wit comes through even in the context of the whimsical simplicity of the book. Anyone--male or female--who has ever actively looked for a life partner and consistently failed at doing so (in other words, everyone, right?) will gobble up these modern words of wisdom.

Whether you are happily married (like me) or still looking (like many of my girlfriends), this book is a good way to laugh at yourself. Even if you never looked for a partner you know someone who has offered you the perfect advice for finding a mate. I took the book to work and everyone enjoyed it and subsequently shared stories from their own experiences. Even the men loved it! They said it was fun to see us poke fun at ourselves.

A friend of mine had this book sitting on her coffee table and I opened it up and couldn't put it down. This is one of the funniest parodies I've seen in years. I was laughing out loud from beginning to end. Just when I thought I had the whole thing figured out, Carpenter would come up with another unexpected and delightfully amusing twist. I've bought four and am giving them as Valentine's gifts. Even my mother (married for 50 years!) loves it. Does anyone know who Rachel Carpenter is? Has she written other stuff? I searched her name on amazon and couldn't find other books but I'd sure love to read a novel if she's got one. Wow!

My husband brought this book to work today to show to his coworkers. It is kind of cute that he is responding so well to a pink chick book...So its clearly not just for girls.

Hilarious! A chick looking for her husband, from ballroom dance classes to AA meetings with amusing results. Does she find him? I don't want to ruin the surprise! Suffice to say, along the journey, she realizes that whether or not she finds The Man, she can lead a fulfilling, rich life.

This is an excellent book, with detailed maps covering history from the dawn of civilization all the way upto the date of the book's publishing (only real change between the most recent map in this book and the present is the independence of East Timor.) Keep in mind that this book focuses on breadth, not depth; that isn't really a flaw, it's by design. It's not meant to be and all-in-one historical text, but a reference companion to any more in-depth historical text for a given region or period.

The best part of the book in my opinion is the several world maps that let you see the entire world at a glance during certain years. There are 27 of those, if I counted right, showing the world at a glance during key moments in history from 2000 BC all the way up to 1999 AD. Another thing the makes this book unique among historical references is the fact it isn't so Eurocentric as most history books are; it covers the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia with the same detail as Europe.

If you're a map-freak like me, who likes to see maps to help you picture historical periods, this is a great book to have.

Recently I did a detailed comparison of the 5 or 6 major offerings in this area, which includes such traditional notables as the big Hammond atlas and the one from Oxford University Press, as well as the Dorling-Kindersley one, but this atlas is the best combination of features and price out there. It's only a fraction of the cost of the big Hammond one, for example, and is cheaper than the other two by at least 50%.

So I agree with several of the other reviewers here, that this atlas really rocks, and that in many ways it's better than any of the more famous other offerings in this field on the market, including the massive Hammond one and DK ones, which, as I mentioned, are a lot more expensive.

I've read my share of ancient history books, and this atlas is just the best way to get a good overview quickly of a particular time frame and period. I've used it to clarify many aspects of ancient history, for example, when I got lost in the details in reading more standard histories on the subject. In reading your typical ponderous history, it's so easy to lose the forest for the trees, and there is no better solution for the problem than this book.

Another nice feature of the book is that periodically throughout the text there will be essays at key years or junctures in history, such as "The World in 1914," or "The World in 800 BC," or whatever, in addition to the more topically oriented essays, such as "Old Kingdom Egypt," or "The Persian Empire," or "The Warring States (referring to 5th A.D. century China) which give you further historical perspectives on the events of the time.

The book is organized into two-page spreads with the essays and their corresponding maps and illustrations. According to the jacket text, the book was also prepared with the aid of graphics experts and geographers skilled at combining the written word with visual illustrations and graphics. I would say they and John Haywood succeeded admirably, making this a great book just to browse casually, or read more seriously. Haywood also writes very well and has a nice, deft touch with the material that avoids the dry, technical-sounding quality of some atlases.

Another nice feature of the book is the detailed, color-coded timelines that accompany each two-page spread, which some atlases don't always include or set aside in a separate section of the book. This makes it easier to use and more informative since it can be referred to along with the maps and the text.

My only fault with the book is that the coverage is typically Eurocentric, but this really only applies to the DK atlas, which is suprisingly strong in terms of its coverage of Asian, African, and non-European history in general. All the others are more Eurocentric, like this one.

Keep in mind that this book (like all atlases) aims at breadth rather than depth, since it covers the entire history of the world from man's earliest origins up to modern times. Overall a great altas and a fine book to keep you oriented in whatever period of history you are reading on.

This History Atlas is probably the best generally available. I find it to be very good as a general overview of history timelines with maps and charts. It doesn't really dig deep; it is the proverbial two miles and two inches deep view of history.

For a through understanding a reader should move on to other books. That being said any true student of history needs to have a good overview of things before they can dig into the details. And this good gives a great overview of the major topics. Which is why I would recommend it to people.

One group that could really benefit from a book like this, of course, are high school students studying history or social studies or whatever they are calling that class now a day. A provides a way to understand an outline at a glance which is very useful for a student. I know I wish I had something like this book in high school or even college.

Many people are interested in history, but find their own history to be much more transparent than other parts of the globe. This is reinforced by a school system that, in North America, concentrates on European and American history, ignoring two-thirds of the world.

I will soon be teaching history to a new generation of students, and I can tell you: it doesn't get much easier when you study more. History students often end up knowing a patchwork - vast amounts of information about Europe or China, but very little about other important areas such as India or Africa, and with very little idea of what was going on in China at the time of Rome, or vice versa.

John Haywood's 'Atlas of World History' is just the book you need to fix this problem.

Large, beautifully clear maps occupy every inch of this book, with timelines and summaries around them to give readers a brief overview of the period in question. Every chapter of world history is summarized with a world map that quite clearly shows states and tribes around the world, giving one a breathtaking hint to what was going on. Other maps - the majority - concentrate on a particular period of time in a particular part of the world. Europe still gets more attention than other regions, but this is almost unavoidable in history - there is just so much information available! However, other parts of the world can come to startling life in front of you, making the history of India, China or Africa into digestable, comfortable chunks easy to understand.

The only downside to this magnificent book is that it is only a summary. To understand history in depth, you need something that has focus, not breadth. But to understand history as a whole, this book is indispensable.

It is a rare treasure that I hope you enjoy as much as I do - although the book is slightly outdated now, it continues to outclass newer versions by other publishers, and will always occupy a special spot on my bookcase.

This is a terrific gem of a world history atlas. As a history undergraduate, I wanted an atlas that would give me an opprotunity to explore a multitude of historical periods with inpsiring maps and elegant prose. Do not be fooled by the price on this fantastic Atlas, it is worth its weight in gold.

The atlas starts with early human history and migration, moves into the prehistorical world, then the ancient world, then the medieval period (my personal specialty), the early modern period, and finally the modern period. The scholarly aptitude utilized in the writing of this atlas is beyond comparision. The maps are vibrant and extremely well-done.

Truely, I can not recommend a better book for anyone interested in gleaning an overall view of world (Western, Eastern, and everything in between) history.

Good fantasy these days is hard to find. You have to really look around pick and choose and hope that if you cannot pick it up at the library that the book that you buy is not a complete waste of your time. Happily, "Banshee's Honor" is in no way a poor book choice. More than worth anyone's time or money "Banshee's Honor" is a complete book it could easily begin a new series but it also could readily stand alone an excellent example of how books should be more often. I encourage any who enjoy just plain good fantasy of the caliber of Andre Norton (the writer's style though is completely her own) to take the book buying chance and read this.
Seriously I do not want to give anything away; I believe the description that Amazon has up is wonderful for leading you into the story though while reading I found it left out just enough information for me to be completely engrossed in the nuances of the story. However I will say that fans of fantasy lesbian, straight, or none of the above will like this book. The characters will enchant you barely 10 to 12 pages into the book the world is very well developed and I found myself often traveling beside Kyrian and Azhani, though unlike them I often referred to the map to get my bearings of the countries and places where the characters dwelt. The pace of the book is excellent, building the plot slowly until the climax. And wow there was just things I never guessed would happen that did in the book. The characters never seemed wooden, even the lesser characters seemed full of their own life and history. No one was ever just a placeholder everyone and everything had its own vibrant life in this book. Even the horses have their own distinct personality!
So I urge lovers of good fantasy to pick up Banshee's Honor, it has action, romance, and just an all around fun plot. You will find it more than worth your while in a world that is currently a bit fantasy deprived.

I really enjoyed Banshee's Honor. Especially the idea of a world where all relationships are accepted as "normal". Along with the adventures and everything that makes up a great fantasy, this made it special. It is now a part of my collection and I am hoping Shaylynn Rose will continue to write for us.

This is a very well written book. Shaylynn Rose has captured the strength of each character in her writing, yet given them down to earth human characteristics that makes them unique. Fate lends a hand to assist the main characters to find each other. As the story unfolds, the two main characters find the trust needed to break down the bariers that stop us from living. The lesson to learn from this is that time can heal wounds, if we have the strength to accept our fate and move onto a future that has infinite possibilities. Through the meeting of various other characters throughout the book they each find and the strength within themselves to meet the challenges of this unknown future and an enemy that is not who they think it is. Despite the challenges they must either face alone or together, they find a strength and courage to face each day together. Shaylynn Rose has one simple message, we are not alone as we journey through the path of life. The path we tread though life is enhanced by those we meet along the way.

This is hands down one of my favorite books. Shaylynn is artful in her telling of this tale. Every character in the book vibrates off the page. There are many story lines in this book, which weave together to form a rich tapestry. The love story of the main two characters was touching and poignant and never rushed, but the story doesn't stop there. There is action, intrigue and murder afoot. There's something for everyone in this book. The book is epic in it's length and depth. Every character has it's own tale to tell and path to walk, and yet it all wove into the overriding arc of truth by the end. Every character has an amazing depth that isn't found in many books, and each one brought something special to the tale. I was rivited to every page. I fell in love with so many characters that I was sorry to see the story end. I would love to see her pick up another tale out of this universe if only so I can see where some of these other characters ended up in life. Shaylynn is a wonderful and artful tale weaver and I hope she publishes more in the future.

I highly recommend you buy this book. It is worth it!

I love fantasy and sci fi but it is very difficult to find well written and well constructed lesbian stories within the genre. I cannot recommend this novel highly enough. Its a great read with excellent plotting and a tight story line, the emotion shown by the two characters is both real and easily can be imagined to be a true reflection of how a person may act in the situation.

So go on and try something new, you won't be disappointed!!

This isn't an Idiot's guide to photography. It is a well written book on the physical and chemical phenomena around picture tacking, an eye opener on quirky peculiarities of the media for photographers (more scientifically minded people may feel it just brushes the surface of many subjects). It is a good read, but as with text books, if you're not well awake, you'll have to go through a topic several times!

Most of the emphasis is on film, with a last chapter added on to cover digital. I reckon even strictly digital shooters may profit from reading it.

OK nearly fully understands photography. This book goes far beyond the "for dummies" overview of the medium. It even goes far beyond the "Beyond Basic Photgraphy" books I've read. This book, along with Ansel Adams' The Negative are the best instruction you can receive on the technical aspects of photography, digital or film. It does include chapters on film and chemicals which are becoming less and less popular though still useful for some. But it also describes light, light measurement, focal plane vs. leaf shutter operation- you'll understand why an SLR has a high flash sync speed limit of 1/250" while point and shoots as well as Hasselblads can sync flash with any shutter speed. You'll understand lens optical performance terms. You'll fully understand film characteristic curves (now dynamic range characteristics of digital sensors). Worth the money. (Note this review is based on the first edition which was hardcover.)

All the technical details of photography have been covered. The review questions at the end of the each chapter are helpful too. I feel one can surely save a lot of film after reading this book. And there are quite a few b&w photogrpahs which are quite interesting.

This is a rather comprehensive introduction to the theory of photography from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Rochester (NY) is of course where the headquarters of the Eastman Kodak Company is located...

Note the word "theory" above. That the volume contains an appendix on the calculation of basic logarithms should give you a clue to the nature of this book.

This is a book about the physical properties of light, the chemical properties of photographic papers and film, and so on. It is not a book about composition and "beauty".

Photography is an art and also a craft. You would buy this book to become a better craftsman.

After a boring introduction to one of the most exciting topics I can think of (Light and Photometry) the volume covers exposure both at the picture taking (camera) stage and post-exposure (printing). These are extremely useful chapters for any photographer.

There then follows five chapters and 160 large pages whit what is essentially an introduction to science for photographers. You wouldn't guess it from the chapter headings, but you are given a brief introduction to statistics, sensiometry (excellent chapter!), optics, chemistry, and physical chemistry. Only what is relevant for photography is presented, and it is done at a fairly high-level. The level may suit you or frustrate you. The style is unlikely to excite you...

Finally, on page 213 we get practical and hands-on again with a chapter on black-and-while development followed, after a section on archival, by one of the gems of this book: tonal reproduction. Starting from the foundation it has developed over the five "boring" chapters it shows how to achieve the tonal reproduction that you want, and shows the Zone System as a practical approximation. Understanding the Zone System in this light (pun intended) will give you a great background on when and how to use it, and when not to use it: it is only an approximation.

The remaining chapters are classics and include excellent sections on visual perception, colors and color reporductions.

This book is a must read! I considered deducting a single star in the rating because the book is very focused on black-and-white photography. It does cover color, but not in the level of detail that I would have liked. In the end I decided that it would be unfair to give this book anything less than 5 stars: you should read it.

The book "Basic Photographic Materials and Processes" is separated on 16 chapters. Very useful chapters for everybody, both for beginners and professionals are chapters: 1) Light and Photometry, 4) Photographic Sensitometry, 5) Photography Optics (there is an instruction how to build the pinhole camera with exact calculation a diameter for different pinhole cameras and how make the lens testing), 8) Black and white Photographic Developments (with a paragraph about anti-foggants, special black-and-white process), 10) Tone Reproduction (Objective tone-reproduction curves for motion pictures, transparency etc., Luminance values of an outdoor scene, Flare factor, The making of negative, The making of Positive, the equations for average gradient for different quadrants of tone-reproduction diagram, ......), 11) Micro Image Evaluation (with much examples og graininess of films of different producers), 13) Filters with their influencies on different sort of films, 14) Color, 15) Color Reproduction and 16) Digital photography. This book is very useful and its content is very comprehensive one. I photograph since 1960 and I admire Mr. Anselm Adams, that is to say I very, very recommend this book for one, who has serious interest about photography and different cameras with their optics. The book has many pictures, useful tables and diagrams. (Rene Novak, studio ER67, ...)