E Books

Ah, these dragons are keeping me from sleeping! I went to the bookstore, searched for a 'cool' cover to read, saw Dragon Champion with the handsome Grey, and started reading. I read through the night, fell in love with the handsome and daring chameleon Grey, and went right back in the am to the bookstore for Age of Fire 2, (which they didn't have, so I settled for skipping to 3 - and it turned out to not be a problem at all) I went home, told work I wasn't coming in, ordered Age of Fire 2 online, and tried not to cry through Copper's life in Age of Fire 3. It's hard to imagine a dragon as a poor little lonely baby, but that Copper is stuck in my head as the underdogdragon (something too many of us can relate to) - and I'm cheering for him to persevere as I wait for the rest of the series (can it come any sooner? - can I talk E.E. Knight into 'slipping' me a pre-release copy? I'll even take his rough draft notes - anything! Just finish this story for me so I can get some sleep!). Age of Fire 2 arrived quickly (worth paying the extra shipping to get it fast!) - and green Wistala didn't disappoint. Like most people, I'm rooting for the one that didn't stand a chance, the Outcast. I would love to jump into his world, polish his scales for him, find him some coins, and protect him from all those who have and will betray him. But I'll sit back for the story to unfold...these wild dragons are finally being represented in literature as they should be!

If you've been following this series (and you really should be if you like dragons at all), you probably know this book is the one about the Copper- the Outcast. From the first two books it was easy to place this dragon as the 'bad guy'. This book is from his perspective and I think it is an important perspective to take. Few things are black and white and this character that was so easy to cast off as a despised traitor in the first part of the series suddenly becomes a complex individual. We get to see how he struggles with his mistakes and essentially grows up in dragon society.

I love the Age of Fire series- they are a look at dragons as I'd always hoped: dragons as their own entities, without making them big scaly mounts to 'dragonriders' or making them overly malevolent or benevolent- they just are. This is a no-frills realistic type of fantasy that is easy to believe in.

I really enjoyed this latest story by Knight. It is always refreshing to read from a dragon's point of view. A very rewarding read.

A very well-written book. Unlike the previous two, the Copper is driven onwards by the longing of being with others and being loved. A very different point of view than the other two. I love the way how these three unlikely hatchlings, grow to become very strong and legendary dragons in the end. Also the way how Knight writes these characters develop and grow spontaneously with each other. This is one of the best series of books I have ever read.

Like so many great stories, E.E. Knight's Age of Fire series is about a family and what happens when that family is torn apart. Admittedly, this family has claws and wings and the ability to breathe fire, but the emotional core underneath resonates, even as the books oscillate between tragedy and playfulness, thoughtfulness and pulp action. If Ursula K. Le Guin and Edgar Rice Burroughs had collaborated on a series of dragon books, the result might have been something like Age of Fire.

Whereas other dragon books tend to either regurgitate fantasy clichés or use dragons as really neat horses, E.E. Knight's dragons are something else entirely. Anyone with an interest in the behaviors of birds, reptiles, or dinosaurs will find the instincts of Knight's dragons refreshing. They behave like top predators from the moment they hatch, and watching them evolve from ravenous beasts to thinking beasts is worth the price of admission.

Knight's plots speed along, as addictive and rich as really good coffee. I have trouble setting his books down. That he manages to confront troubling issues (racism, slavery, and genocide) within the format of a page-turner makes these books a stimulating read for both teenagers and adults.

This is one of the most under-rated fantasy series currently being published. Plus, the first three books (Champion, Avenger, Outcast) can actually be read in any order. Plus, it's like Rashomon with dragons. Do yourself a favor and buy them. They're a treat.

This author reinforces what we at digitalevangelism.com have been trying to get the church to embrace - "digital" evangelism!!

If you want to learn the internet....this is the book foryou. If you are a Christian on the internet...this is the book foryou. If you are concerned about your children surfing theinternet....this book is for you. If you care about internetcontent....this is the book for you. I give it tenstars...

If you want to learn how you can become online fishers of men, then this is one of the best tools you can put in your tackle box. Learn how to be in search mode while talking in chat rooms, posting on message boards and writing e-mail. Andrew has listed the witnessing tools and tips you will need online. Learn how to witness using your web site. Cyberspace is ripe for the harvest. Fill your tackle box and let's go fishing!

An oft neglected subject by todays church, E-vangelism is here to stay, and Andrew Careaga gives a very good starting point for todays church to again become relevant.

Perhaps the greatest battle the modern Christian faces is apathy. In the pages of this book, we find that their is a real "subculture" out there. If we are to become true "minister of the Gospel" we must take advantage of every mass communication tool possible.

The Internet, while surely not being the last frontier is certainly the latest and greatest opportunity we have.

Offering practical advice for anyone seeking to be a true ambassador for Christ on the Internet; E-vangelism: Sharing The Gospel Through Cyberspace , is a must read for the serious Christian in todays modern world.

We either make the most of this opportunity, or we blow it, this book shows how to make the most of the opportunity we have.

This is an important"how to" manual for novice and experienced web users for sharing the good news of Christ via hyperspace.In all probability,we will see more advances in technology in the next few months than we have seen in the past 10 years.

It is very important for Christians to have the knowledge to be able to use this electronic medium to reach the lost and Andrew Careaga has written a comprehensive guide to do just that.Highly recommended reading. Praise God for the world wide web and the opportunities it presents for God's people.

Book recomendations, index, glossary, macroeconomics, microeconomics, a very didactic book made for anyone interested in the subject or people already familiar with economics. The first day I read 100 pages non-stop. Different from some other books on the theme, this is not a book to build anyones consciousness(and definitely not eco-economics for dummies)but a realistic transdisciplinary outlook on the subject.

Bring ecological economics to every day life will be the greatest defy of this century. The autor writes brillantly how we can, now, change our economic view and achieve sustainable development. Every student must read this book...

Here at last is a book that sees ecological economics not as a branch of economics or a school of economics but as a broader and deeper system of ideas that includes the sound elements of conventional economics. Herman Daly, the Grand Old Man of the steady state economy, and Joshua Farley, his able younger follower, have produced a comprehensive and very readable synthesis. Traditional economists see natural resources as a subsystem of the world economy. This book presents the economy as a subsystem of the global ecosystem. The effect is like that of climbing a tall tower and seeing that a familiar city was all along part of an island whose fields and forests are in danger of disappearing under the advancing suburbs. The authors have not shied away from including controversial ideas, and there are some that I do not agree with, but that just adds to the stimulation. Not only have I adopted this as the textbook for a course in ecological economics, but I would like to see it read by all economists. This is not a specialist branch of economics; it is the only kind of economics appropriate to the new century.

The authors of this book demonstrate a deep understanding of the negative role and impact on econmic growth that results from speculation in national and international currencies,stocks,and other financial assets.This book is especially strong in chapters 13 and 14 where they discuss macroeconomics and the effects of worldwide speculative activity.The Nobel Prize winning chemist,Fredrick Soddy,whose 1930's book " Wealth,Virtual Wealth,and Debt ", demonstrated an excellent uderstanding of the dangers of speculative finance,is given his due along with Keynes(pp.256-257),who had always understood the severe negative impacts speculative finance can have on both economic growth and income distribution.

The intellectual rigor of the authors suffers on pp.224-225 when they discuss Adam Smith's Invisible Hand .It is simply not the case that Smith took the view(micro economic decision making in the aggregate always leads to an optimal macro economic outcome )foisted on him.Smith himself was well aware of the great dangers of speculation(see Smith's extensive discussions on pp.290-340 of the Wealth of Nations[1776,Modern Library(Cannan)edition] and the need to prevent it from occurring in the first place ,as well as the negative consequences of the Invisible Hand process that could only be overcome by government action(see pp.734-741 on the necessity for the government to provide universal education supplied for free for those unable to pay).

And I'm not just saying that because I like ecological economics. Before this I used to hate even the idea of textbooks...mostly the fault of high school I guess, but also many college courses. In fact that is the reason why I hesitated to buy this book, but I'm glad I did. This is the only textbook I have been able to read straight through (though slowly and critically) and maintain my focus, interest, and energy. It's very well written and organized, and it's honest and upfront, highlighting debates and differences in opinions, as well as their implications. It is even entertaining on a fairly regular basis.

No prior knowledge of economics or natural sciences is necessary, though of course having some helps to make it an easier read. The 2nd edition should take care of some of the minor typos and other editing mistakes. I have seen no serious flaws in the book.

If you
1) Have an open mind
2) Respect solid, provocative arguments that challenge the status-quo
3) Are interested in the nature of the relationship between humans and our environment, economics, ecology, sustainability, social justice, or democracy
4) Have tried a standard econ. course and was frustrated by the hordes of inane and offensive or otherwise false assumptions, contradictions and overall lack of scholarly rigor
You will probably enjoy this book.

I also suggest getting the companion workbook, especially if you are
1) A student (of any age, shape or form)
2) Interested particularly in the fields of environmental policy/management, economics, or ecological economics or
3) Interested in the education system and education reform.

It has valuable supplemental information as well as suggestions on how to advance your knowledge and possibly put you into a career path. The pedagogical philosophy espoused in the book is great from my perspective--a student frustrated with the hypocrisies and contradictions of academia and our current education system. Farley makes it clear that fundamental education reform is necessary in order to advance democracy and for us to continue to develop into our greatest human potentials.

Les recomiendo la versión AUDIO MP3 de Piense y Hágase Rico Piense y hagase rico

Once again I'm really very happy with the delivery
great condition, super fast, Thank you :)
will recomend you any time!

Este es uno de esos libros que deben acompañarnos en la vida, para releerlos y recordarnos que siempre podemos crecer más, no sólo como profesionales, sino como criaturas de este Universo. Para mí es parte de una trilogía especial que comprende a "Juan Salvador Gaviota," de Richard Bach; y "El Profeta," de Gibrán Jalil Gibrán. Una vez lo presté y no creo que lo recupere, así que vine aquí para comprarlo de nuevo.

Al contrario de lo que yo pensaba. No es un manual de ventas, yo me goze y ,termine en lagrimas...Me senti Hafidal comienzo de mi carrera, el estomago vacio, el caminar,el azote de puertas en la nariz,y el lenguje espiritual-romantico.Siempre han puesto de manifiesto que este libro ha sido el mas vendido en todo el mundo, despues de la biblia...Este libro fue de inspiracionpara conocer mas a fondo de Dios y rendir mi vida a ElOg Mandino sin saberlo se ha convertido tambien en predicador de la Santa Bibliaal poner algunos parajes Biblicos dentro del libro..en exacta concordancia a los hechos en cuanto tiempo y espacio...He leido todos sus libros, lo recomiendo a aquellos que deseanser independientes en cuestion de trabjo y a los estudiantes de todo tipo de estudios...Esta es la inspracion de unhombre en vien de la humanidady nolos esajeros que tratan de ver el comunismo , como una solucion...al bien de la humanidad

La lectura de este libro, como todos los de Og Mandino, nos lleva a encontrar otros campos que son mucho más ricos que aquellos en los que vivimos. La historia es simple, las enseñanzas que esta historia trae, es maravillosa. Yo recomendaría este libro sin más. Es un MUST en la literatura de la autoayuda, y, creo yo, del crecimiento personal.

This book is amazing! Extremely well written, comprehensive and the best textbook in the field of PM&R/Electrodiagnostic study. I highly recommend it!

I really like this book. It teaches EMG/NCS in a step by step manner and helps the reader from scratch. 2 CD-s that come with it are a great resource.

I recommend it to every one in the EMG/NCS buisness.

I would recommend this book to anyone. It offers a good and practical review of the pertinent entrapment syndromes and other illness. Its concise and well written.

This is truly an amazing book. I am board certified by the American Board of Phyiscial Medicine & Rehabilitation, American Board of Pain Medicine, American Board of Interventional Pain Physicians, American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine and with Subspeciality Board of Pain Medicine, currently practicing pain management at the Physicians' Pain Specialists of Alabama, Mobile, AL 36607. I am also fellowship trained in Interventional Pain Management. I honestly believe I have come across quite a number of medical books in Medicine, PM&R, EMG/NCS, Neurology and Pain Medicine during my medical training and practice. In my opionion, this is one of the most wonderful medical books that has ever been written.

It is comprehensive, yet concise but most importantly, it is practical. What distinguishes this book from others is that the contents are organized and presented in the most logical order so that what you read make sense and therefore can be easily remembered. The authors did an absolutly superb job in introducing each concept step by step, each chapter building on one another, integrating what is important, practical and pertinent without overkill. I had never been able to read through any medical text book(close to 600 pages, 1st edition) from cover to cover except this one, which I did almost twice. I did it during my GYIII-GYIV Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency because reading it was educational, joyful and rewarding. For a long time, I have wanted to write a few lines, introducing to collegues the wonderful learning experience I had reading this book as well as expressing gratitude to Drs. Preston and Shapiro for making it availabe during my residency training, which helped me trenmendously in studying EMG/NCS. It is extremely useful in helping me prepare the Board Certification Exam by the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine. I recommend this book to all PM&R and Neurology residents as No. 1 text book in EMG/NCS. As a matter of fact, I even recommended this book to my anesthesiologist pain specialist who wants to know more about EMG/NCS. The greatest success of this book is its "readability".

For me, a pain management physician working in a overwhelmingly busy pain clinic, this book also works well as a quick reference book for EMG/NCS as well as for neurological disorders, because time is always too short in private practice.

If you are looking for a solid book to begin learning about EMG/NCS, this is an excellent choice. The text is clear and concise, reflecting the exceptional instructional abilities of Drs. Preston and Shapiro. The text is very "readable" and
organized in a logical fashion with helpful illustrations alongside. A bonus of this book is the CD, which is very user friendly and allows one to establish visual recognition of basic concepts in the needle study such as spontaneous and voluntary activities. The CD also includes unknowns for a short quiz or review.

I'm fairly experienced in the kitchen, but I still found this cookbook very helpful for preparing meals I'm less experienced with--especially the vegetarian dishes. Recipes are presented along with a difficulty rating to assist with planning, which is a nice touch. I can't wait to make my own sambar!

I found Vineeth's book to be a straight-forward, easy-to-follow narrative for aspiring and experienced cooks alike. Vineeth's approach of considering your cooking tools and your grocery shopping habits first - before you cook - is extremely helpful. I also appreciate how he gets right to some creative and delicious recipes. I'm fairly new to the kitchen, but Vineeth's step-by-step instruction has enabled me to prepare some tasty dishes that look good too!

For a beginner cook like me, Everyday Cooking for Beginners is an exceptional value. I tried out few dishes suggested in the book, and for an awful cook like myself, they turned out really good!

Other than recipes, Vineeth also gives out valuable information such as how to shop for ingredients saving me lot of dollars in the process!!

I love good food. But, to find great food everyday and then to pay for it is really time consuming and expensive. I found myself in a similar situation to the author a few years ago and I learnt to cook out of the very necessity of cooking for myself and craving for the same tastes I had experienced at home. This book will surely get you started on that front, and will take you a little further than that if you like.

Solid fundamentals, basic information, and common sense - ingredients that are insanely hard to find in most cookbooks out there, are the cornerstones of this book. If nothing, it is just over 100 pages long and a really quick and interesting read for anyone who wishes to take the first step towards culinary depths.

This book is directed primarily to people who don't know how to cook and could use some inspiration and guidance to get started. I am a lot like this kind of person (I especially was a couple years ago).

The first couple chapters discuss why to cook, what you need, and how to shop at the store. Like many people who prefer takeout to cooking, I demand instant gratification and these chapters were somewhat too methodical for my tastes.

My guidance to you is: skip the first chapter, but check out the "$3000" line when you need inspiration to cook. Then skip to page 25 and buy the things listed there. You can probably skip to the takeaways page for chapter three as well and look back if any of the bullets intrigue you.

As a bachelor who has learned a couple tricks over the years, I was impressed and intrigued by the simple list of cooking materials. I have occasionally told people that using a wok (#5) was one of my secrets to fast, cheap, versatile cooking. Other items were presented to me in a new light, like the casserole dish (#9).

There is a chart on page 51 which in my mind alone warrants the price of the book. Basically, it compares a few different kinds of cuisine (Indian, Thai, Italian, etc.) and how they differ by flavor base, spices, herbs, flame, and so on. I occasionally raised an eyebrow when looking at the chart - for example, Italian listed onion above garlic and omitted olive oil - but it is still really cool.

The selection of recipes is wide, with some emphasis on Indian recipes. There are wraps, soups, and stews as well as normal stuff. Some of the recipes take a while to make, but quite a number of recipes are between 15 mins and one hour. The instructions are clear. I can't tell you how good the recipes are, because I haven't cooked any yet... maybe someday soon :-).

Beautiful presentation of principles in life. Life saw as function. Good for biologist and no biologist

This book has planted the seeds to my new interest in biology. It is always there to refresh my information and help to make me conversant with anyone that is willing to discuss this topic.
Only when we understand these concepts can we grasp the mechanisms involved when life processes go awry.
For people who do best at gaining information visually, this book is the best! For me it has been the sine qua non.

There is a saying: "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." This student was ready, your book came at an opportune time. I very much appreciate the authors efforts: First, in their gaining knowledge of this material, then taking the time to write in such an understandable fashion and finally making simply and memorable illustrations of - what we can't see in a way that we won't forget. Great job, many thanks - keep books like this coming.

I agree with the other reviews but take issue with the Amazon reviewer: This book is not for the biology illiterate. Those who love biology will be especially charmed by the way the material is presented here. It will allow those proficient in biology to see different perspectives on familiar concepts. From a pedagogy perspective, there is no better biology text-truth be told: visuals are presented using a number of models so students can understand conceptual nuances. The attractive pictures are inviting and interesting. Text and picutres are united and work together- you don't get blocks of words. It is engaging-not "easy". And often it is darn funny.

This book is excellent! If you're a current or future student of biology (especially a beginner, like me), or even a teacher, you will have no trouble understanding the concepts of biology due to the illustrations and explanations. The book's examples reference everyday life so you can instantly apply what you're reading and seeing. The illustrations are colorful and well defined, and the text is light and even a bit humorous. As a future teacher this book will definitely be added to my permanent collection of reference books.

I really enjoyed this book. It had good detail, and you really felt like you were going on the rounds with Dr. McCormack. I have read it several times since I bought it, and it is hard to put down each time, even though I know the outcome!

I enjoyed reading how tough it was to convert some of the farmers to the methods of modern veterinary medicine, and it was interesting to read the different methods the farmers had preferred to treat the illnesses in their livestock and pets until their was more modern help available.

My people are not from Choctaw County, but we're from "around there." This is not only a sympathetic and heartfelt account of a rural vet practice in the sixties; it's a very accurate look at the folks you were likely to meet then and there, both the good and the bad. I have met most of the folks he talks about, or at least their near relations. Dr. McCormack's extended meditation on the verbal mangling of his job description by his neighbors is alone worth the price of admission, although the account of his visit to the Governor's Mansion driving the "rounds vehicle" and a too-long-delayed boar cutting run it very close. Excellent book.

This book relates some of McCormack's adventures as the new vet in a southern country town during the early 1960s. McCormack grew up on a farm in Tennessee. His college roommate, a pre-vet major, interested him in veterinary science. Once he earned his veterinary degree and had a few years of experience under his belt, he set off in search of a town where he could hang up his shingle with an independent veterinary practice. At the time, Butler, Alabama had no licensed vet, so it seemed like a reasonable place for a new vet to make a start. In this book, McCormack describes the characters he met, both human and bovine, during that first year in Butler.

McCormack is a master storyteller. With his careful choice of words, he conveys the character of the place with all its color. While chatting with some locals at a general store, McCormack quipped he went into veterinary rather than human medicine because he didn't like dealing with people. But he tells us that this is absolutely not true-if there's one skill that a vet must have above all others, it's the ability to deal with people, to understand their needs and character. In this book, McCormack regales us with tales of how he came to learn this lesson.

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and entertaining. I loved the Herriot stories so much, this is another great book about vet stories. It will definately be worth your time.

I own the hardback copy of this book...actually I have owned it for a few years now. It is one of those books that become a literary treasure in your bookcase. I was so hooked on this book when I first got it, I read it from cover to cover in one day...I just couldn't put it down!

Dr. McCormack in the US can be likened to James Herriott of England. His stories of animals that he treated and the start of his career in the 1960's makes the reader feel they are right along side him assisting in whatever procedure needs to be done to his animal patient.

I am a person of great compassion for animals and as a reader, I was truly appreciative that the love and compassion that Dr. McCormack has for his animal patients shines through to the reader's soul. I laughed with this book..I have cried with this book...I have pulled for the sick animal in this book...I have rooted Dr. McCormack through as he treated tough cases in this book.

There are books about animals and then there are the special books about animals because the respect, compassion from the writer is there and the animal patients become real as one reads along the journey in the book.

If you are a James Herriott fan or an animal lover who is a reader, I highly, and I stress highly, suggest getting this book and reading it!

The funny thing is that I have read over 20 books on financial analysis and investing, and I believe that every penny that I have spent on this book was well worth it. The price of the book scared me at first, but where all of the other books that I read fell short, Financial Warnings did not. I was very impressed with the detail to which the book describes each investment scenario. There is no shortage of financial warnings to look out for. In fact, I was shocked to learn of how many warnings lenders and investors should be aware of. Not only has this book taught me about what to avoid, but also about what to buy. Did you know that the CEO or CFO going through a divorce is a financial warning? Did you know that a company entering a new business is a financial warning? Did you know that beating earnings expectations by one penny every quarter is a financial warning when your competitor fell short of expectations? This is a must read. Reading Financial Warnings has changed my life. It is a must read.

To all the people who are skeptical. This book is excellent. I got an email pointing me to this direction and I am glad I did spend the money. It is money well spend.

It teachs you the non recuring items in the financial statements, capitalized assets, capitalized interest, Lifo liquidation etc.

If you find my review satisfying, let me know if you had another good book to read. I know another book, let's trade some info.

Impeccable, a must read for investors, bankers, corporate finance pros. Highly recommended.

Although this book looks outdated but I am sure it sounds loud and clear especially when we are so hot-headed about the Internet Age and Knowledge Management and in most cases have forgotten about what are the Warning Signs we have to watch for particularly when we are opting to invest in a new stock of the new age.The Author is a respected scholar in the field of Finance and I admire every book of his and has spent the money to have every book he has written but most of all, I feel this book is the best. Read it and you will have things to remember everyday.

The book is an excellent treatise which provides the readers a systematic framework for figuring out whether the books have been manipulated or if the accounting has been aggressive, through finding out non-recurring items in the income statement and balance sheet. I have tried other books but, they just do not compare with this treatise. The book uses a systematic step-by-step approach which introduces the reader to how to read the fine print. This book should be invaluable to finance and accounting professionals, and also to amateur investors, who would be willing to do a little research into the company books.

For those who not lucky enough to attend Dr. Mulford's class, this book should do a great job.

You want a book to really take you somewhere? And move you so much that it changes you? Do you want to read a book that makes you want to shout this from a few rooftops because this can change the world?

That's what First Tiger did to me.

How many heads have we seen shaking; how many hands wrung; how many political platforms and how many new social agenda have all been predicated on the universal question asked throughout the ages--"Why do people do bad things?"

George Harrar's journey to the center not only mines a gem so rare its value is immeasurable, it--this exploration--does what Freud is still trying to do: Harrar's characters, among them teen-ager Jake; his lost father; Jake's friend, Frankie, make the understanding of human nature touchable, seeable, knowable; and ultimately, loveable, so that we embrace it in all of its polished--and raw--facets.

This novel is brash, crash, warm, loving, hateful, stripped, sentimental, scary, comforting; you don't read it--you experience it the way you do a dear friend who confides in you their story of their struggles and triumphs--you can't relate to everything firsthand, but surely, as their pathos unfold, you come to a deeper understanding of them and what it might feel like to be them.

Jake and his brethren in First Tiger should be a case study that the student of social work studies. In fact, First Tiger should be required reading for students of all disciplines from the teacher, the judge, doctor, pollice officer, CEO, line worker to the parent. Instead of head-wagging and hand-wringing we might all then bask in this archeological find for the ages, whether from our rooftops or desktops.

A beautifully written, haunting story of a teenager on the edge. The author pulls no punches, letting 16-year-old Jake tell the story of his father, his mother and the tragedies that have marked his life with unflinching honesty.

After enjoying several short stories by this author I was eager to read his debut novel, and was not disappointed. From the opening pages to the disturbing, though wholly satisfying conclusion, I remained riveted. Harrar's depiction, his keen insight into a world a bit off-kilter, is splendidly done. I hope First Tiger receives the recognition it deserves.

This book goes down as easily and memorably as a Raymond Carver story. My wife and I both couldn't put it down. You're drawn into the lives of characters who can barely seem to hold it together. Upon first meeting them, you might be tempted to dismiss the father as a dreamy incompetent, his wife as a bitter and heartless woman, the son and protagonist Jake as a ne'er-do-well punk. But quickly you find your sympathy growing for all of them. "Dad" is a good-hearted would-be philosopher with intellectual gems to share. It becomes clear that his wife, Jake's stepmother, has sound reasons for her behavior and, beneath a harsh exterior, a sad heart of her own. Jake, despite specializing in reprehensible and even atrocious behavior, is highly appealing. How the author could have such a finely polished voice in his first novel is beyond me. Read it!

This is a stunner of a book. It happens to be a first novel, but doesn't read like one. The author treats his characters with generosity and understanding, revealing the the positive qualities that coexist with their obvious flaws and frailties. There's a chronically depressed father, who can't figure out how to make peace with life, but manages to impart wisdom and resilience to his children. There's a kid sister who could hold her own with Harper Lee's Scout. There's an uncle whose distant existence is reflected through the influence he has managed to have on a nephew he has never met.

The portrait of the teenage central character is particularly strong, capturing the weird mix of fatalism and perceived invincibility that is the adolescent mindset, as well as the good nature that can lurk beneath a stubbornly opaque surface and seemingly hell bent behavior.

There is a lot of darkness and sadness in these pages. Ultimately, however, the book leaves you feeling better about human nature in all its manifestations. These characters are going to stick in my head for a long time, and I'll be glad of their company.