Elliott Books

While this book adequately covers the absolute major sights in Eastern Europe, if you're planning on going anywhere remotely other than the top five spots (Krakow, Prague, etc) LP Eastern Europe is pretty inadequate. With only about 7-8 pages to cover the entire nation of Montenegro, for example, LP occasionally only acknowledges that entire regions exist. Not mentioning Montenegro's second major airport (Tivat), for example, is a huge oversight. As with most LP regional guides, if you're planning on spending more than about 4 days in a given country, you might as well spring for the country guide.

You won't find the whole information of those countries, but it has an excelent synthesis.

I'm happy with my purchase.

The book is in excellent condition and has been most helpful in planning a trip to Prague, Krakow, and Budapest. Most of the suggested middle-range hotels had already booked which is a good indication that the guide book had good selections.

In 2007, I was fortunate to visit nine of the countries covered by this book, and I used it in each new town. First off, the book prices are way underpriced. Not every hotel in those parts have websites, and relying on this book to give you a "rough idea" is a bad idea. Restaurant prices were also not even close. Second, nightlife descriptions tend to give you the same venues as any tourist brochure. Ask a local about a Lonely Planet highly-rated club in Zagreb and they'll laugh that it's a tourist haven. Although they note local contacts that are consulted for each region, you couldn't tell by some of the recommendations. And finally, the politically-charged "Country Profiles" are often factually wrong. Ukraine's Orange Revolution didn't "unite the country" to pour out into the squares, most of those people were paid to stand there and rally. This book is good to check out at the library or read at a bookstore for 20 minutes to get a rough idea, but is not very helpful if you plan to rely on its facts once you get out to central and eastern Europe.

Eastern Europe is Lonely Planet's comprehensive travel guide compiled by thirteen authors who spent 4732 combined hours of on-the-road research, covering the nations of Albania, Belarus, Bosnia & Hercegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. Each nation's section features maps, festivals and events, specific dangers and annoyances for travelers, a concise mini-history, recommended places to sleep, eat, and see, and much more. "Bulgarians shake their head 'yes' and nod their head 'no'... If in doubt, ask 'da ili ne?' (yes or no?)." At nearly one thousand pages in length, Eastern Europe strives to squeeze in everything a world tourist absolutely needs to know about a staggering diversity of nations, cultures, and customs, and is a top quality guide for business and pleasure travelers alike.

This is a very well written book on developing applications with Lotus Notes. There are abundant samples of code that you can plug into your applications. If you work with Notes/Domino, or are thinking about it then this book belongs in your library.

I thought I'd share my thoughts on the first new Notes development book that I've seen in quite a while. The book in question, "Lotus Notes Developer's Toolbox: Tips for Rapid and Successful Deployment" by Mark Elliot, would do well to find a place on the shelf of every new and intermediate Notes developer. According to the back jacket, Mark has been employed by IBM since the early 90s and has implemented commercial applications for many large clients. He uses this background to craft a very solid technical book that covers a lot of ground.

While there is probably nothing new here for the truly advanced Notes crowd, I would recommend this book highly for those developers that have been working with the technology for a few years and want to fill in a lot of the gaps. Even better, this book should be required reading for someone new to Lotus Notes. Thinking back to my introductory days of Notes development, owning this book would have been a blessing. Mark does a fantastic job of starting at the beginning, introducing the reader to the concept of Notes. He explores often overlooked pieces, such as the various clients, installing Notes, an in-depth tour of the Designer client, etc. As Chapter 4 kicks off, we get into the actual architectural details of Notes before he launches into discussions of the Formula Language (Chapter 5), LotusScript (Chapter 6) and the fundamentals of a Notes application (Chapter 7).

The next several chapters are quite nice, as they focus on real-world applications. Each chapter introduces a new project (workflow app, calendar database, etc.), walking the user through all of the bits and pieces to get it going. There's even a section of the book that delves into web apps via Domino.

The remainder of the book builds upon information introduced before, focusing on specific techniques in LotusScript, Formula Language, building views, writing agents, etc. Mark rounds out the book by addressing data management, security, troubleshooting and application deployment and maintenance. Two appendices provide information about the related online materials and a discussion of Notes' future state. Of course ( and yes...I'm a bit biased), I'd have liked to see more emphasis on the importance of designing an attractive and usable interface in Notes, but I guess we'll need to wait for the sequel. ;-)

All in all, this is probably the most solid Notes development book that I've ever read. I especially liked all the "Note" sections that are interspersed among the text. These might be one of the most valuable parts of the book, since they point out little tips, tricks and pitfalls that many of us learned the hard way. For all of the beginning and intermediate Notes developers on your shopping list, I'd be happy to recommend finding a place for Lotus Notes Developer's Toolbox on it.

The first technical book that I have read, cover to cover, is Lotus Notes Developer's Toolbox: Tips for Rapid and Successful Deployment by Mark Elliott. This is also the first book that a publisher sent to me specifically for review. Luckily, it is a topic that I know a little something about and I didn't mind that it wasn't my normal nightstand book.

Contents:
Chapter 1 - An Introduction to the Lotus Domino Tool Suite
Chapter 2 - Getting Started with Designer
Chapter 3 - Navigating the Domino Designer Workspace
Chapter 4 - Domino Designer Elements
Chapter 5 - An Introduction to Formula Language
Chapter 6 - An Introduction to LotusScript
Chapter 7 - Fundamentals of a Notes Application
Chapter 8 - Calendar Applications
Chapter 9 - Collaborative Applications
Chapter 10 - Reference Library Applications
Chapter 11 - Workflow Applications
Chapter 12 - Web Applications
Chapter 13 - Design Enhancements Using LotusScript
Chapter 14 - Design Enhancements Using Formula Language
Chapter 15 - View Enhancements
Chapter 16 - Sample Agents
Chapter 17 - Miscellaneous Enhancements and Tips for Domino Databases
Chapter 18 - Data Management
Chapter 19 - Security
Chapter 20 - Application Deployment and Maintenance
Chapter 21 - Troubleshooting
Appendix A - Online Project Files and Sample Applications
Appendix B - Lotus Notes/Domino: What's Next?

How many times have you wondered if there is a good book covering Domino development? Take a serious look at this book. Lotus Notes Developer's Toolbox is a book that should take space on your bookshelf, whether you are new to Domino development or an old hand.

While the seasoned developer would find the first few chapters "review," Mark puts some excellent nuggets in those early chapters. One of the best things that I found in the early going was a figure showing the way that a Notes form processes (page 60). That is just one example. Another would include excellent development practices, helping the new developer to design an application using best practices. For those that have developing in Domino for awhile, the later chapters are indispensable. There are copious code examples, written so that even I could follow the logic, that would probably fit (with proper modification) any development issue or user request that you may get. While most are used to develop a specific application (the latter chapters help you develop specific apps), they could be very useful to a project that you are working on, or supporting. By the way, that is another nice feature of this book - Elliott creates new applications from scratch, he does not use the standard templates as guides or say "go look here for examples." This was an excellent idea.

An interesting, and very valuable addition, is that Mark includes links for more information at developerWorks:Lotus at the end of every chapter. He may touch on a topic, but provides a URL for more, detailed information on the web. A very nice touch. He also sprinkles throughout the book, tips for the developer that show how administrators (and their use of groups and security) that may affect your application. Elliott recommends that the developer create a good, working relationship with the admins, as they can assist with troubleshooting. And allow your agents to run on the server (sorry, a little "Admin humor").

Finally, look at the chapter listing. Mark moves easily from basic concepts to advanced features. This is a fairly comprehensive guide to Notes development (a pretty amazing achievement) and he manages it nicely. One of the latter chapters, "Troubleshooting" should help you with the wonderful "Variant does not contain an object error" or assisting you with using the Lotus provided tools for troubleshooting agents. Take a look at those steps before posting to developerWorks:Lotus. :-)

New to development or a pro looking to enhance your skills, this is an excellent book and one that I highly recommend.

As an aside, be sure to look at the Acknowledgements. You may see some names that you recognize.

This book will be one of the most valuable and frustrating books you'll ever read. I definitely recommend it, but preface that recommendation with some advice - be patient... it will make sense eventually. This book starts off with a couple of good 'foundation' chapters - feel free to skip them if you are very Notes savvy - and then moves on to the heavy stuff. There are several step-by-step projects for a novice programmer to complete, which on one hand is a great learning tool, but on the other may be extremely frustrating. A lot of what is covered in the projects isn't explained until much later in the book; the examples instruct the reader to perform a lot of actions (such as insert pre-written LotusScript into an action button) without explaining the syntax/logic. I am a very analytical person, and it was very confusing/frustrating to be told 'Just do this and don't ask questions' - but I am glad I powered through - chapters later on in the book went back and did a lot more explaining.

This book claims (among other things)
a) to be for all levels of developers
b) to have online content

The problem with promise a) is that the book is only useful for newbies. Reasonably experienced developers find almost nothing here that can't be found in the standard F1 help.

The problem with promise b) is that the online content is missing. I registerd at the website as instructed in the book, but the link to the source code examples points to a 404 (not found) error. I sent a mail to the contact address supplied at the web site but received a delivery time out a few days later. Really lousy service.

Apart from the above problems the book is probably quite useable to anyone new to Notes/Domino development.

This is a pretty good story with a very dramatic climax, marred by the fact that the author is clueless about what tobacco sticks are used for (To hang the newly harvested leaves in the tobacco barn for curing, not for poking the stuff. Come on, for goodness sake!), and has a abysmal lack of knowledge of courtroom/trial rules of proceedure.

A plot stolen from "To Kill a Mockingbird" is surpsisingly good. The author sets a nice tone in his descriptive passages. He has chosen to begin each chapter with a short description of the process of growing and tending tobacco, which I think juxtaposes nicely with the advancement of the story. I think his dialogue is better than his exposition, however. I would encourage him to continue writting, as he may get better and better.

Based on the reviews I've read here on Amazon, I expected a mediocre piece of prose featuring stereotypical characters and a hackneyed plot. Imagine my surprise when, from the first page on, I couldn't put down the book! The premise, the characters, the pure visual -- even cinematic -- nature of this fine author's work was a delight. Oh, and I wasn't in the least troubled by what one reviewer here pointed out as a grammatical error. I recognized it for what it was -- the narrator's voice and way of talking. Lighten up, readers! Remember why you're reading to begin with. Great job, Mr. Hazelgrove!

Tobacco Sticks was more like Faulkner to me than Harper Lee. The author has charted out his own terriotry and the story is compelling and well written. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a book so much and was reluctant to finish. It is the story of a lawyer who does the hard thing and that is a rare story. I think readers will discover this author soon.

This is an absolute page turner. Well written, exciting yarn set in the South, post World War II. This book includes a group of absolutely wonderful characters that you just cannot forget and become of a part of, including the narrator of the story, a 15 year old named Lee. I would highly recommend this book. Superb American literature.

I mainly bought this anthology for Sharon and Tom Curtis' story but I was really disappointed. The characters were fine and the story was interesting but I just couldn't for the life of me figure out why Henry Lamb would fall head over heels for this girl. One minute they meet, the next he's enchanted. What? Why? She's full of joy? When? I tried to read the other stories but none of them caught my attention --- couldn't get all the way through a single one.

Sorry to be so harsh --- starting to feel like the guy in green. Guess when it comes to this book, my heart was just two sizes too small.

Skip the first story by Jane Feather which is awful. If you don't you may never read the rest of the wonderful stories.

I agree that Feather's story was one of the weakest. However, Sharon and Tom Curtis' THe Natural Child more than makes up for it. It's funny, chronologically accurate in ambience and setting, but so sweet and romantic! The other stories are solid as well. Good reading.

Skip the first story by Jane Feather which is awful. If you don't you may never read the rest of the wonderful stories.

All the stories in this book will capture your heart and make you start the book again when you reach the last page. My favorite is the story of Lucy and the man of her dreams. It will truly cause you to smile.

Ambergate is the sequel to Murkmere, and picks up approximately where the first book left off, but with a new narrator: The servant Scruff has never had a real name, and came to Murkmere after committing a crime in the Capital. When soldiers come looking for her, she must flee, beginning a journey that leads her back to the Capital, towards Leah, and into the heart of a revolution against the country's ruling government and religion. After Murkmere I came to this book hoping to find Murkmere's atmospheric sense of magic and more mature writing, since this is Elliott's second book. Unfortunately, Ambergate is a step down: magic is fleeing and unexplored, Scruff fails to be a compelling protagonist, and Elliott's style is disjointed by constant changes in point of view. It is a disappointing sequel, and drags down both books in the series. I don't recommend it.

I generally avoid reading series because I don't like being obligated the book that comes next. Murkmere had a promising, haunting atmosphere with an intriguing undercurrent of magic; it was also Elliott's first book, and her inexperience showed in a hesitant text that never quite managed to embrace its themes or sweep the reader away with its language. So, despite my dislike for sequels, I had high hopes for Ambergate, thinking that the experience of her first book would help Elliott improve in her second, and that this book might be a bit bolder, more decisive, and more artistic. Unfortunately, my hopes were not fulfilled. Ambergate is none of these things, and it is actually worse than its predecessor.

There are all number of issues that bothered me. First, Murkmere's strength was its ghostly magic, always sitting in the background of the story, enticing the reader. I had hoped that this book would embrace that aspect, but instead it pushes magic even further into the background: the protagonist is blind to all signs of it, and it never takes a bold role in the book. Second, Elliott spends a fair amount of time trying to explain why nameless orphan Scruff is important enough to be the book's protagonist, but (without giving away the plot) what makes Scruff important is nothing special, just an exaggerated crime and a personal association that she isn't even aware of. Nor does Scruff do much in the book: she is lead around and pushed through encounters, and the book's climax comes when Scruff learns she does not need to do the important act that she was charged with. Superstitious and timid, without an active role or purpose, Scruff is a difficult character to identify with and root for. Third, Elliott changes point of view often, and these changes are disorientating and messy. Scruff narrates most of the book in first person, but constant interruptions jump into the heads of half a dozen other characters, all narrated in third person. These jumps come without warning, suddenly dumping the reader in a new narrative voice and a new character, and they are hard to follow--probably even more so for the intended young adult audience. This writing style, which was not present in Murkmere, is messy and seems like the mark of an unpracticed writer--not of a second novel.

Ambergate boasts no real strengths to counteract these flaws. The plot is more solid than the book's prequel, and has a better defined conclusion. The characters are simplistic, but the settings have depth and personality. But the book does not stand out, and the various flaws drag it down. While Murkmere was a decent text that looked like it would lead to an even better sequel, Ambergate is actually quite disappointing. It lacks strength and character, the protagonist is nothing special, and the writing is messy. I do not recommend this book, and since Murkmere's abrupt end depends so heavily on this sequel, I don't recommend the series as a whole.

Orphan Number 102 or Scuff is on the run from the government. Why the
government is chasing her isn't quite clear, but she knows they aren't after her to serve her tea and cookies oh, and it might have something to do with the terrible crime she committed a few years ago. With her number branded on her it isn't easy to hide. While Scuff is on the run it is revealed that the government seems to want her for other reasons including a strange prophecy. With its alluring mystery, bird-people and strange magic, this world will pull you in and leave you wanting more.

This was such an interesting book in so many ways. Scuff is an interesting character, full of promise and intriguing traits. The people she meets on her journey were all interesting as well, and the tapestry of their lives fills this novel to overflowing. As a side note, I simply adore odd, mysterious boys with something to hide, so this book was a special treat for me. No spoilers, though! Let's move on.
The plot was inventive and constantly surprising, and I was very invested in the outcome of the climax. I hated to leave that world. So many tantalizing questions answered in the end, and yet, so many more remain!
I am looking forward to reading more!

Reviewed by Nicole LeBoeuf (age 16) for Reader Views (4/07)

Patricia Elliott's novel "Ambergate" is a suspenseful tale of fascinating characters with the ability to capture you within moments. Growing up in Europe and the Far East, Elliott always had a creative spirit. She has spent her life around books, working in publishing, at bookstores, and finally as a college literature teacher. Her first novel "The Ice Boy" won many awards, followed closely by "Murkmere." The companion novel, "Ambergate" is full of potential.

The gothic mystery spins a tale of a young orphan without a name facing countless terrors. It is easy to fall in love with the characters Elliott weaves, as they become so complete in the imagination. The orphaned girl, living in a world we've never experienced before, is forced from the comfort of the place she has called home for so long. Facing the world alone, she is in constant terror of the soldiers from the capital finding her, as she committed a hideous crime in her past. Always in constant danger, she overcomes one obstacle after another.

The characters she encounters in her flight are unforgettable, as each is creatively portrayed. The tale dives into complexity as her journey moves on, but as detailed as the novel is, it is never anything but a pleasure to read. The storyline is always clear and never cluttered. Each sentence flows so perfectly, with simple, beautiful detail. Once Elliott's words have pulled you in, it is as though the world and characters she created are living and breathing. Close your eyes and you can hear the birds singing in the Wasteland, feel the sweep of swan feathers against your skin and smell the sweet fragrance of the wedding flowers...

"Ambergate" is a simply beautiful novel. Age is not a thing of concern once you have turned its first page, as it is perfect for anyone. "Ambergate" is an inspiring tale, filled with courageous characters that will touch any heart that dares to enter Elliott's world.

Scruff has worked as a kitchen maid at Murkmere ever since she was taken from the Capital five years earlier. Much has changed during that time --- the Master is dead, Leah's whereabouts are unknown and Aggie is the new caretaker --- but what remains are the unanswered questions that continue to haunt her. Scruff has vague recollections of a life before she was found wandering the streets and put into a Home, but they provide no answers as to where she came from.

Then Murkmere has some unexpected visitors from the Capital. The Lord Protector is seeking an orphan for reasons not entirely clear, though Scruff thinks it's herself. Anyone who has lived in a Home can be called back to work in return for the "debt" they owe the Home. However, children never receive wages; instead, all they get is pain and suffering through terrible living conditions and often at the hands of their supposed caregivers. The youngsters are branded with a number that identifies them and, in effect, stigmatizes them for life.

Desperate to save Murkmere and herself from danger, Scruff seeks Aggie's help in avoiding the police. Aggie hides the young maid in the Master's tower, but when the police return with some other unwanted guests, Scruff realizes she must leave Murkmere. In a harrowing escape, Scruff somehow ends up in the mysterious Wasteland, where she is cared for by a kindly gentleman named Gadd and his son Erland. Over time, Scruff develops a deep connection to Erland and eventually uncovers a strange secret, one that may include her own past.

There is another reason why Scruff is afraid of being captured: she committed a crime, though its nature isn't revealed until later in the novel. But the incident is innocent compared to the crimes of individuals with whom Scruff crosses paths throughout her journey. From the Eastern Edge to the streets of the Capital, old and new acquaintances, along with startling new revelations, make Scruff question everything as she tries to figure out who she really is and perhaps start a new life.

With complex, intriguing characters and suspense throughout, this sequel to Patricia Elliot's MURKMERE is a thrilling story that will surprise and satisfy readers.

--- Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle

Ford Tramps is bound to bring out the wanderlust in everyone. Part travel log, part history lesson, part personal journal from a time gone by. In some ways, little has changed in the freedom that a good roadtrip offers, in some ways everything has.

I thoroughly enjoyed "Ford Tramps." It's a charming and inspiring look at America in the 1920's, written in a breezy and unpretentious style. Anyone with an interest in early 20th century America or vintage automobiles will LOVE this book. But be careful! My father-in-law was so inspired by "Ford Tramps," he now considering purchasing and restoring a Model T!

Might be good for someone interested in early automobile history. A lot of mechanical descriptions of the Ford Model-T will be liked by anyone mechanically-minded.

As a grandson of the author, I thought I should abstain from adding my applause since objectivity would be a big question mark. But after hearing what some of my friends had to say, I became convinced that my enjoyment of Ford Tramps was more than just personal. When Mr. Swanson surprised the family with the news of his book project (begun at the age of 90), I packed up the family and headed for the Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. If my wife will let me, our next car will be a Model T.

P.S. Thanks Gramps for sharing this great story with the world! Is there a sequel in progress?

Easy to read and identify with the characters. Gives the word "roadtrip" a deeper and more personal meaning. Makes you want to hit the road yourself just to see how things have changed since these two young men toured our nation in the 1920's.

A very good book to start your education on Fiber Optics. It gives a very basic overview of Fiber Optics that should form an excellent background for further reading.

I recently purchased this book, "Fiber Optic Reference Guide" by Goff and "Understanding Fiber Optics" by Hecht. I knew nothing about fiber optics and had to get up to speed in a very tight time frame. This was my second favorite of the three, as it did a very good job of providing a basic explanation of the technology behind and implementation of fiber optics. This book was not bad in any way, there were merely some areas where Goff's book (which was the most useful of the three) were more up to date and the illustrations were more clear. Also, it did seem as if a few items within the book were a little dated.

I'm an engineer becoming familiar with fiberoptics. This book is very oriented towards the non-engineer. Much space is devoted to explanation of terms dB, and basic laws of physics.

The issue of multimode vs single mode is handled too cavalierly. The reader is left faced with an undesirable trait of fibers without sufficient explanation of the eigen values or transmission theory. This is good starter book only.

I teach telecommunications and was looking for reference material. What I found was a book that will help me better explain complex concepts in terms anyone can understand. I already understood refraction, but Mr. Crisp even gave me new insight in that area. The book is dated, so don't expect to learn about PMD or DWDM, but as a basic tutorial to understanding the basic science behind fiber optics, you won't find clearer text. I should warn, that the math is pretty steep, but he still makes you understand the concept, if not the equations.

This is an excellent book for someone just starting off in the fiber optics industry. Everything is explained in a completely understandable way, with lots of examples and quizes to to test your knowledge at the end of each chapter. I would especially recommend this for sales and marketing types who don't need to know as much as engineers, but need to be able to understand the basics.

This book is part of a series that Mary Engelbreit issued a few years ago. The book series is comprised of these nifty little books filled with great ideas, depending on the topic. The photos in this book are absolutely amazing, just as all of M.E.'s books have wonderful photos. Very inspirational.

This particular book, though, from Mary's series is LESS "how to" and more of a picture book. Thus, I wish she had included more photos of people's collections.

This is a cute, fun, little book (check the dimensions before ordering so that you aren't disappointed). For the list price it should have been twice the size, but at $6 it's an excellent buy. I love some of the collections, but too many photos are close-ups and you can't see how they are displayed. I prefer Better Homes and Gardens "Collector's Style" which has some of the same attitude, but more bang for the buck.

If you're like me and love to collect, this book is for you. The pictures are luscious and it's loaded with great information. It brought back so many memories of my childhood (things I kept and things I wish I had kept). It also gave me great ideas on new collections. I settled in on a rainy afternoon to browse the book and before I knew it, it was over, much to my dismay!! I only hope Mary plans a sequel - with many more collections!

On the plus side, Collections does feature lots of lovely photos of pretty things. Sadly, it didn't really give me what I wanted, which was ideas on displaying diverse collections. Most of the photos either show only one of an item (this is a collection?) or just plunk the items down on a shelf (thank you, I could think of that myself.) The book wastes lots of space on collecting tips (price suggestions/figuring out the age or maker of a piece/etc.) which aren't very helpful -- too detailed and boring for someone who doesn't collect that particular item; not nearly detailed enough for someone who does.

Buy the book for the pictures, but don't expect too much...

What simple pleasures we seem to find in collecting. To gaze through the pictures and pages in this book, you may find bits and pieces of items you enjoy saving. Unfotunately, you may also stumble upon a new item that you just have to have. There is always room for just one more little lovely isn't there?

Mary Engelbreit has added a dandy to this series of books on decorating your home. If you love this book, pick up her PLATES and PAINT books too!

Admittedly, mine is the third edition, but let me say at least half the words in whose definitions I take an interest are not included in this most disappointing of the Oxford dictionaries. One must bear in mind that it catalogs Current English; as such, anyone except perhaps the most remedial student of English as a foreign language would do better to acquaint himself with "words, phrases, and definitions" elsewhere, perhaps in a still smallish dictionary containing more than 120,000 items, as those 120,000 have proven grossly insufficient. In response to this betrayal by "the world's most trusted dictionaries," the literate should have no truck with the third edition and steer clear of the fourth.

I wouldn't say it's a bad dictionary, but there's nothing that stands out about this one. I have the American Heritage Dictionary, 4th Edition paperback version. Comparing these two, they both failed about the same number of time when looking up words; this one just slightly better since it is thicker. I strongly recommend Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary 2nd Edition over any other desktop dictionaries. Since Amazon has excellent return policy on books, if you don't believe my words, simply get this one and Cambridge one and see which one you like better.

This is my "resolution" to the need for the large hard-cover versions of my favorite dictionaries. It gets to sleep in the drawer at night, but mainly it lives on top of the desk - always at hand; often consulted. I won't claim never to make errors, but I do try to avoid them. The Oxford Dictionary of Current English is how I do it.

Yes, I actually own two copies of this dictionary. One is kept at work (and gets borrowed several times per week by co-workers) and the other is at home next to my computer.

I bought this dictionary not only for the brand name 'Oxford' but also for the way in which the entries are presented. The word being defined is highlighted in clean bold text and this helps the words stand out from the page. That makes finding an entry quicker than in some dictionaries and thus makes the book more enjoyable to use.

For anyone frustrated by dictionaries that seem to have every word except the one you're looking for, Oxford provides the best solution (that I know of). The key is it's thick and has over 140,000 definitions, twice the amount of some other dictionaries. It defines combination of words not just single words, has intelligible definitions and uses a font that is easy on the eyes. It has let me down a couple of times but this is the exception rather than the rule. This is the best dictionary I have used yet and I recommend it for a frustration-free dictionary experience.

I purchased this book for myself...I am 37 years old. What I didn't realize until I bought the book is that it is a book written for teenagers. It is a good book, but not for a grown adult. I wished they would have specified that more in the description.

This book is a good starting point for understanding the general forces behind a perfectionist's makeup. You can use this book to identify characteristics, then narrow your research more specifically to suit your interests or queries; yet it is also detailed enough to be the only book one reads if you only want general knowledge of this personality type.

I didn't realise this book was aimed at teenagers when I borrowed it from the library... Nevertheless, it was still pretty informative for me.

Some parts of it were a bit depressing -- references to suicide, eating disorders and such (which, in some cases, are problems perfectionism might lead to). However, there were some enlightening moments for me to... It had never dawned on me that perfectionism & procrastinaton go hand-in-hand. (That's definitely me!!)

One light-bulb moment was when I read the chapter about perfectionism and relationships. It was time for me to accept there is no such thing as the "perfect partner", and that it's OK to be 90% happy most of the time, rather than expecting 100% all the time!

I would recommend this book to any perfectionists out there, whether you are a teenager or not. The 10 Tips for Procrastinators were handy too.

Sometimes it is nice to discover a self-help book that is easy to read and written in a light-hearted tone even when discussing a difficult or serious subject. This is one such book.

Perfectionism: What's Bad About Being Too Good? Is a well written and accessible self-help book for teens. It speaks directly to the reader in a conversational tone. Chapters are organized into ten sections, with headings such as, "Why People Become Perfectionists", "What Perfectionism Does to Your Mind", and "When and How to Get Help Coping".

The book contains a quick and easy self-assessment quiz to see how serious a problem perfectionism might be for the individual. A table illustrates the differences between the pursuit of excellence (a healthy desire to achieve) and perfectionism (unhealthy striving for perfection). Quotes from real teens are interspersed throughout the text, along with comments from well known historical and contemporary figures.

Teens can learn to recognize their perfectionist tendencies, understand why these thoughts and actions are ultimately detrimental, and discover how to change their attitude and behavior. There's quite a lot of information packed into this 123 page guide! I would not recommend it for kids younger than about 12, as there are entries dealing with violence, the dangers of eating disorders, and self-mutilation. Examples of celebrities who died as a result of their eating disorders, and plain talk about the practice of "cutting" are probably best discussed with a parent after reading.

I like the practical advice about balancing work and play. The advice here is meaningful and easy to follow. It's also interesting to note that some very famous thinkers were unhappy people who did not consider themselves to be successful. A quote form Leonardo DaVinci sums up his feelings, "I have offended God and mankind because my work didn't reach the quality it should have." Marie Curie, who discovered radium, once said, "I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done."

Other topics addressed include overcommitment, setting reasonable standards, how parents may contribute to perfectionism, and how procrastination relates to perfectionism. The tips for procrastinators are real life solutions that can make a difference.

The final section includes statistics on teen suicide and signs of a teen in crisis. It should be read by parents as well as teens. There are lists of relevant organizations and publications at the end of each chapter. Web sites may not be accurate, as the book was published in 1999. All of the writing and recommended readings are still completely valid and valuable.