Farrell Books

Fire in the Hole is a really good book. It's about a boy named Mick Shea who lives in a Union Mining town in North Idaho. His father is a union miner who goes on strike. Mick Shea wants to go to college at Gonzaga University, but his father wants him to stay and work in the mines. I think this is a good book because I like historical fiction a lot and almost everything in this book really happened. It's interesting to find out what happened. It makes you care about the characters a lot and wonder what's going to happen to them. It's one of my favorite historical fiction novels.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I read it from start to finish in one night because I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen to Mick and his family. Not only did the author do an excellent job of researching the history and material for the story, but she really drew me into the emotion the main character was feeling. For example, she doesn't just say he was angry, she describes the emotional and physical event to a point that you can completely relate and feel and understand his anger.

Mary Cronk Farrell definitely did her homework when she wrote this tale about Mick and his family during the historical silver mining strike. I stayed up late just to finish it. Although it is written for youth I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I felt as if I was there in Northern Idaho with the characters and found that I was praying for them as they faced the challenges given to them. Farrell's book made me laugh and cry but especially it made me look forward to her next work.

This book was hard to put down. It was a very interesting story. I felt like I really got to know the characters, and was captivated by the unfolding of events. Anyone who has ever been a teenager can identify with Mick as he struggles against the world that he finds himself in. I enjoyed watching him learn and grow from the challenges he faces as comes to the grips with the realities of entering adulthood.
I learned a lot of history from this book, as well as gaining some insights on humanity. It is definitely worth reading.

This is a gripping, seemingly realistic picture of life at the turn of the century in a mining town of Northern Idaho. I didn't want to put the book down. I had to know what would happen to Mick and his family and to the town they lived in. The history is well-researched, but it's the story that keeps you hooked. My 11 year old son also read the book and loved it. It definitely appeals to adults and kids alike.

Las huelgas de 1934 que forjaron el movimiento
sindical industrial en el mediooeste
norteamericano y ayudaron a allanar el camino
para el ascenso del Congreso de Organizaciones
Industriales (CIO), relatadas por un dirigente
central de esas batallas. El primero en una serie de
cuatro tomos sobre el liderazgo de lucha de clases
de las huelgas y campa?as de sindicalizaci?n que
transformaron el sindicato de los Teamsters en gran
parte de esa regi?n en un movimiento social
combativo y se?alaron el camino hacia la acci?n
politica independiente de la clase obrera. Incluye
una nueva introducci?n a la edici?n en espa?ol
por Jack Barnes.

THIS REVIEW IS ALSO BEING USED FOR TEAMSTER POWER WHICH IS A CONTINUATION OF THE STORY PRESENTED HERE. THE POLITICAL POINTS ARE VALID FOR BOTH BOOKS.

ORGANIZE WALMART! ORGANIZE THE SOUTH! These are the slogans which outline the tasks that the American labor movement, particularly the organized trade union movement under the AFL-CIO and the Change to Win Coalition, need to address. With those tasks in mind it was refreshing for this old militant to re-read Farrell Dobbs' analysis of the fight to organize the truckers in the 1930's. This volume, and an earlier one detailing the struggles to organize truckers in Minneapolis, are little handbooks for model labor organizing. Dobbs himself was instrumental in organizing the truckers of Minneapolis in the great strikes in that city in 1934 and as documented here the later, successful organizing of the over the road drivers in the Midwest which created the modern, powerful Teamsters International Union. He was, more importantly, a supporter of what later in the decade became the Socialist Workers Party- American section of the Trotsky-led Forth International.

Whatever else may be true about Dobbs this man could organize workers. Why? The last sentence in the previous paragraph gives the answer. In the modern labor movement it is not enough to be a militant on the picket line but one must also have a political approach to labor actions. With the merging of corporate and governmental interests on the labor question in the modern state militants better think politically. As the December, 2005 unsuccessful struggle of the transport workers in New York City demonstrated militants better know the enemy and his tactics well. Moreover, these days, unlike in the 1930's when it went without question by advanced workers, it is as important to know there is an enemy. On the other hand think what it would be like to have a political militant like Dobbs organizing the drivers of those 7000 trucks that Wal-Mart owns to distribute its merchandise. You get my drift. Read what he has to say carefully.

To even introduce this militant labor leader of the 1930's is to state the fundamental problem of today's labor leaders. They do not exist in the modern labor movement. Yes, there are militants out there in the rank and file but militant leaders are no longer produced and that is the rub. Unlike the strategy of independent political action which underlined Dobbs' work the strategy of today's labor leaders can be summed up in two words- class collaboration. That is a strategy of dependence by the labor movement on the good will of the `friends of labor', essentially the Democratic Party- not to fight for victory in the streets but by what at times amounts to parliamentary cretinism. Just start to organize Wal-Mart seriously or organize the South and militants will quickly see who their `friends' are.

The natural audience for this book are today's labor activists so the reviewer would draw attention to the following issues that Dobbs and his associates had to confront and which militants today will confront in any serious organizing efforts. (1)The role of the labor bureaucracy in limiting the scope of struggle. (2) The role of governmental mediators, courts, legislation and the above-mentioned `friends of labor' in curtailing the struggle. (3) The role of scabs and others, including government troops, who will try to break the up the struggle. On the positive side- the following should be noted; have your own publicity organ to get out your message; organize other labor and pro-labor sources to assist in strike action; anticipate that governmental and corporate sources will try to `freeze' workers out so have your own transport, commissary and medical operations. Finally, in the words of the old Wobblie song by Joe Hill- "Don't Mourn, Organize!!

In rereading this book I was struck by what a wonderful thing it was that these rank and file workers were able to change history by creating, out of their struggle, an example of revolutionary unionism. It was wonderful for them and is wonderful for us, because it shows what we can do today. This book also tells the story of how Farrell Dobbs learned that he could trust in both the fighting capacity of the working class and the leadership capabilities of its vanguard. Through powerful examples Dobbs describes the dog-eat-dog viciousness of capitalism and contrasts it with the desire on the part of young fighters to break through the backstabbing and open up a road to workers' solidarity. This book could change your life. Amazon may list this book as unavailable from time to time, but it's always available from the Pathfinder z store. Click on "new and used" at the top of the page.

Dobbs, a leader of the 1934 Minneapolis Teamster strike, which became a citywide general strike, tells its story. The battles with the companies, cops, strike breakers, and their hangers-on are told with masterful effect. It also shows the rising industrial unions as organizations of working-class struggle, taking on the employers and its government. But the real gem at the heart of this tale is how the unfolding struggle transformed ordinary workers, including Dobbs himself, into extraordinary fighters, thinkers, and revolutionary leaders.

Farrell Dobbs was a coal-yard worker and one of the central leaders of the 1934 strikes when in his twenties. Some forty years later Dobbs was the national secretory of the Socialist Workers Party and wrote down an account of his experiences working in the coal yards and becoming involved in unionist movement organizing the drive to establish Teamsters Local 574 and the rise of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) as an effective nation-wide instrument to better working conditions for men and women like himself. Teamster Rebellion is Dobbs account of the hard-fought strike actions which were often all out battles with law enforcement and hired thugs operating as strike breakers in the employ of the exploitative company owners and such big-business fronts as Citizen Alliance. Teamster Rebellion is a welcome and recommended addition to academic and community library American Labor History collections.

This really is a great cookbook. Easy to follow recipes (although some ingredients are hard to find in a small town in the middle of nowhere, where we live), and everything tastes good. I'd highly recommend it to anyone wanting to expand their cooking.

I received this book as a present, and I am very pleasantly surprised by this book. This book contains modern and creative twists on traditional American dishes as well as other food of ethnic origin making its way into mainstream. All the dishes I've made from it have turned out to be very delicious, the steps are simple to follow, and most of the ingredients are available at well-stocked supermakets. I was surprised how many things I used to have to buy can be made so easy with so little time or effort. This was what I had hoped my Moosewood cookbook would be, but this book actually succeeds because of it is more focused, placing emphasis on beauty through simplicity rather than purely just inventiveness.
Another part I really like about this book is that it actually contain a decent breakfast section. From now on I no longer have to rely on omlettes or toast for breakfast, but instead I can have banana french toast, different muffins, etc.
The recipes here are very straightforward, so they are suitable for most levels of cooks. The only possible drawback is that there are no pictures (though you won't need them), and there are no directions on preparation techniques, so I would suggest this book for those with at least some rudimentary kitchen skills.

This is one of my favorite cookbooks. I have been vegetarian for many years and I am an avid cook, and this book has provided nothing but perfect food, without meat, every time I have used it. The salads are great, the breakfast foods are great, the entrees are great. You name it, in this book, it's all good.
The recipes are well-tested and well-written recipes. A must have.

Great cookbook, has trendy new way to look at origional ingredients.
Made Tomato Bisque today.... Yumm..

This is an excellent cookbook, lots of variety, well-written, visually pleasing...definitely a good choice for anyone who appreciates easy-to-prepare, delicious recipes.

Dr. Hess has an expertise and passion that makes him a unique advocate and guide to women all over. His pursuit of the disciplines of Chemistry and OB-GYN blended with solid knowledge of natural therapies and a passion for helping menopausal women gives him an unorthodox yet very balanced view of menopause and women's options at its onset. For women close to or at the onset of menopause, this book will help them make informed choices that suit their unique individual circumstances.

The book's tone is informative and balanced without sacrificing verve or enthusiasm. The passion isn't over the top, and thus has an honest voice when encouraging women to find the right treatment and regimen for them. The information is copious but compact---just the right amount of important information women will need in order to focus on key factors that will help them make informed choices. The balance that the reader detects from the book's tone is fueled by open-minded prudence---despite pointing out errors and seminal discoveries of past researches, discussing new findings, mentioning cutting-edge research, and touching on radical discoveries and options, the book always returns to central themes: new studies shed new light, findings of past studies show more implications if scrutinized more, and the reader should always remember the possibility that "the answers have changed."

The book begins with explaining key concepts needed to understand menopause, then it dispels certain myths that have been held about the menopausal condition. It moves on to focus on key studies and treatments that have been crucial in shifting perspectives about menopause and opening up options for women today, and then it takes time to clarify definitions of current available treatments in order to minimize confusion surrounding them. All this information can be considered crucial preliminaries--Dr. Hess is arming his reader with the necessary background knowledge before he introduces them to the seven steps of what he believes is the Perfect Menopause.

As Dr. Hess armed his readers with key concepts and information about menopause in general, so he reassuringly begins his seven steps to the perfect menopause by arming women with the means to gather vital baseline information about their own particular menopause experience. By discussing the key events of a full ovarian cycle (its hormonal implications, salient features, and the unique implications of removing the uterus or ovaries), Dr. Hess gives women a very helpful backdrop that allows them to discover where they are in the cycle. His first step provides information that makes for an enlightening "you are here" map, to help women discern the stage they are in, the symptoms they are experiencing, and anything they feel that seem apart from the norm. Once armed with the knowledge of their individual menopause experience, Dr. Hess then guides women through choosing their treatment goals. In this second step, the discussion of the different kinds of treatments available allows women to either choose a treatment (one that will address several symptoms and alleviate most if not all of them, or one that the woman feels is the best match for what she knows of her overall needs to manage her menopause), or prioritize the symptoms they feel in order to determine which ones need to be addressed by treatment immediately. Again, Dr. Hess presents these options in a very open-minded manner.

Steps 3, 5, 6, and 7 deal with addressing major symptoms of menopause. I group them together not because these steps are similar--it is actually only step 3 that is called "Manage Major Symptoms": steps 5 to 7 tackle aging and dryness, sexual desire, and sleep respectively--but to show Dr. Hess's ability to convey comprehensive information in order to give readers a chance to make intelligent choices. Despite these being common to most women going through menopause, customizing how to address these symptoms to fit one's situation is possible. Dr. Hess tackles each in detail, sharing information, giving options, and for those completely at a loss, conveying recommendations that are worth trying to see if they work. I choose to highlight step 4 ("Get to Your Perfect Weight") last because the chapter's flow represents for me the commitment Dr. Hess gives to his readers through this book. After conveying information on how preventing weight gain is beneficial during menopause and discussing the various options for weight loss, Dr. Hess recommends an action plan in order to get to one's perfect weight--the plan he recommends is practical, requires commitment, and asks one to be responsible for one's goal as the plan is executed. Dr. Hess conveys himself to the reader in the same way: the help he extends is valuable and practical, with the reader receiving a windfall of solutions--IF they take ownership for seeing to their needs, and IF they commit themselves to executing their chosen plan or treatment.

I feel that through this book Dr. Hess achieved his hope of empowering women to make the choices that address their individual, unique needs for their menopause. He will cite preferred studies, treatments, or service providers, but he always stresses the need to choose the best option for oneself. He guides, he informs, and he weighs the pros and cons for his readers, but he always leaves it up to the person to customize the information to suit their needs and lifestyle. He clarifies what to look for, what is important, and what to be concerned with, and then points the reader to numerous resources that help them implement their chosen goals. My best wishes to Dr. Hess and all the readers who use this book to help themselves or their loved ones--it is a good guide, and at the end one feels in control and able to manage the changes happening.

I'm a simple woman, looking for simple ideas of how to get through peri-menopause and menopause without going crazy. This book is helping!

Navigating through the period of changing hormones is complex and often times frightening. I find this book comforting and especially appreciate the frank approach to using "natural therapies" to "manage major symptoms." For me, an estradiol patch and herbal supplements are working as I enter into year 5 of menopause.

BUT my favorite and the most inspirational section of this book by Dr. Hess is "get to your perfect weight." Working on that now by following the 7 steps as outlined in the book.

I'll survive menopause and be healthier than ever. Thank you Dr. Hess!

I am fortunate enough to live in the Rochester area and Dr. Hess has taken me as a new patient. I read his book prior to my first visit and was informed enough to have an intelligent discussion regarding my issues. I am a 43 year old woman with weight gain, mood swings, mental fogginess, low libido and fatigue. I just didn't understand why I had changed so much in such a short period of time and knew I needed help. I was mis-diagnosed with anti-depressants which only added more weight, more mental fogginess and lack of energy.

Dr. Hess' book pointed to something I never considered - lack of testosterone. We did the blood work that no one else ever considered before and identified this is indeed the problem.

In his book, Dr. Hess helps you understand you need to address your menopause holistically - mind, body, spirit. I am exercising more and eating healthier. I am taking a small dose of testosterone. No more anti-depressant, no more fatigue and no more weight issues.

Dr. Hess does a great job as a myth buster regarding hormone therapy. You do not have to be afraid of hormones - you just have to be informed. It is time to start managing your menopause. Written in laymen's terms, this book is a must have and make sure you share it with your doctor!

I am so grateful to have found a way to help myself. Many thanks to Dr. Hess for focusing his career on menopausal issues - this could be a life changing experience for all women.

This is an important book for woman and men no matter what their age because there's not only a lack of information about menopause, even among physicians and other health care providers, but also there has been an astounding amount of mis-information recently which could result in serious consequences for those who are mislead by it. Dr. Henry M. Hess is a gynecologist, chemist, natural therapist and menopause expert who has spent the past 25 years traveling the world learning and teaching about all aspects of menopause therapies as well as helping patients in their search for relief from menopause's symptoms. (Apparently most medical schools and reputable OB/GYN residencies provide very little teaching and experience on menopause). I love the title and the tag line: "7 Steps to the best Time of Your Life." This is a promise on which the doctor delivers, spectacularly.

The book itself should be an inspiration to other authors. Written with Tiffany Farrell, a medical writer specializing in women's health, it is clear, concise, identifies and addresses reader concerns plus provides charts, questions, schedules and case studies that make the subject immediate and real. "Your menopause is not your mother's menopause," Dr. Hess writes, "or even your sisters. So much more is known today about all aspects of menopause than even just a few years ago..." My own wife went through menopause five years ago and I now feel I understand it in a way I wish I had back then. Some facts: "The average woman will spend one-third or more of her life in menopause," "Before 1900, most women did not live long enough to experience menopause," "Hot flashes and night sweats last for 4-5 years for most menopausal woman; for at least 10% of women, they will last for the rest of their lives" and, very significantly "The famous hormone study of 2002 showed that estrogen causes breast cancer, but recent analysis of this data and additional new studies, show that estrogen use may actually prevent breast cancer for many younger postmenopausal women in at least the first five years of use."

There are three categories of therapies for menopause: natural therapies, medicinal therapies and hormone therapies. This book addresses the pros and cons of each type. It answers big questions, such as, "What are the differences between natural, synthetic and compound hormones?" and equally important smaller ones, like: "Is a patch a better means of delivery than taking estrogen orally?"-- it is. We also learn that "natural" does not necessarily mean safer. Permarin is advertised as a natural hormone because it comes from an animal source (pregnant mares' urine) but that doesn't mean it's natural to humans. I really admire Dr. Hess's honesty. About proper eating habits: "Most of us really don't know the elements of a healthy diet, even though we think we do...and the medical profession's new understanding (of nutrition) has not been effectively translated into practice." And with regard to sex: "A stale emotional relationship and/or a stale sexual relationship is one of the most significant causes of female sexual dysfunction at any age!" Yes, there is an excellent section on male menopause too.

Like any map, there's more than one way to reach a goal. Dr Hess presents all of the possibilities in this single, easy to understand book. It is exactly what we need to know.

First off, let me say that the compassion and true caring for women and their experiences coping with Menopause shines forth from every page of this book with each word written by our author, Dr. Henry Hess. Now that in itself is a wonder, as I'm sure you feel as I do, that we at times are simply given a pat on the back, a patronizing smile, and sent on our way while we desperately search for answers during this time in our lives. Well, ladies, the search is over.

Inside the pages of this outstanding book, Dr. Hess unravels the many misconceptions about Menopause, the treatments available, and the myths that simply are not true. I was shocked that a man could understand the deep emotional and physical challenges women face during this time, and give such knowledge and insight. Amazing.

I'm telling you, you will close this book with a smile on your face and the complete satisfaction that finally you have found the answers you were looking for and the compassion you so desired. At the conclusion of the read you will finally feel as though you are armed with knowledge of what you are going through and where you will end up. This is a wonderful book, a must have for all women, one that could simply be life-changing. Thank you ,Dr. Hess for caring and sharing. I wish we all had a doctor like this in every town.

If you have one book of poetry, or one book of art reproductions, for your family (or for yourself at any age), this may be it. All of the poems are short and vivid, and the images are stunning, as befits a book issued by a museum. The choice of poetry may not be everyone's cup of tea, as the New York School poets are rather over-represented and there are a lot of poems in translation that include good images but unfortunately sound a little clumsy. But year after year, I find new things to delight in here.

I disagree with the tag "children's poetry" for this book. This is not kiddy poetry, like Shel Silverstein's, but real poetry that children can appreciate.

As a father, poet and art fan, I think this book makes a brilliant gift for artistically inclined children. The art graphics and choices are excellent. The poems are excellent. Most importantly, the book doesn't condescend to intuitive children. Koch understands that kids don't crave excessively sentimental hooey. They like to be fascinated. This is the kind of book that, over time, will increase a child's creativity.

This is a book of poetry and art. The poems are good for adults as well as children (even though this is called anthology for "young people"). They are arranged loosely by theme and are from different time periods.

There are also many pictures throughout the book. These are color and are reproductions of art from different time periods and cultures. The pictures and poems are arranged to fill each page. This makes for a charming book to browse.

This is not an essential book for a family library. It is a nice edition and has a good collection of poems for all ages displayed attractively with pictures. Depending on what you already have and how much space you have this might be a nice edition for you.

Poetry. Could be used for any age level.

Summary
This book is a collection of art work that accompanies more than a hundred poems by an array of writers, including Nash, Dickinson, Tennyson, Carroll, ethnic poems, and many by people I don't know.

Illustrations
The illustrations are photographs of art work from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Application
This book would be great to read while waiting in line. We could look at Egyptian art page, for example, and I could ask students what they think about the people who created these sculptures? Who are these people today? How old do you think the child in this painting? Why? What kind of hairdo would the child have today? What kind of job do you think this woman had? I could have the students look for details in pictures. What happened to the rest of this sculpture?

I am 25 now, but I was given this book as a child, and I loved it. It is filled with lavish art and short poems that are meaningful and interesting to children as well as adults.

A great book to give a child as a first exposure to poetry.

This has a great variety of recipies and each has nutrition information. Recipies grouped into traditional sections like pasta, chicken & turkey, beef, fish & seafood etc. but each section is organized into the following catagories easy, 30 minute, 60 minute, microwave, low-fat, make ahead, one pot and classic. There are definitions for each catagory at the beginning of the book.

Each individual recipe has all the information you need to decide if you want to make it. Recipe catagories then name how many it Serves, Prep Time, cook time ingredients directions then nutritional information per serving calroies, protien, carbs, gat, cholesterol and sodium. All the information you need to achieve a balanced diet.

There are also many color pictures. The best thing about this book is (p657 -671) the section entitled A Year of Menus. My mom liked cooking but hated the pressure of deciding what to cook for dinner; this is a terrific feature and even if you don't like the menu for each day at least you have something to alter to your likes or dislikes.

My mom had a Woman's Home Companion Cookbook it was a great cookbook and complete reference for keeping house - I have been on a quest to find an updated replacement as the one I inherited from my mom is getting fragile.

While the Woman's Day Cookbook is a great all around cookbook, has nutrition information and 365 days of menus it won't replace a Woman's Home Companion but this is a must have for any home cook and combined with Home Comforts by Cheryl Mendelson you would have a good substitute for a comprehensive reference like WHC.

This cookbook offers challenges for the cook, as well as encouragement for the reluctant cook and refreshment for the cook in a corner. I have appreciated the nutrition information especially, as we struggle to control calories, and the extra commentaries help make me a more knowledgeable cook. I like the philosophical viewpoint of this cookbook, that there is not always time and money to cook every bite from scratch. Judicious use of convenience foods works well for health of the cook as well as the others at the table. Even though it is not hot off the press any more, it is a valuable book in my kitchen with helpful tips and an excellent index.

I checked this book out of the public Library and liked it so much after using it for several soups, I decided I needed it for many other reasons, such as the investment cooking section. I never thought I would need another cook book, but I just couldn"t pass "The Woman"s Day Cookbook.

This is the best (and I mean best) cookbook on the market today. There are few "fancy" ingredients and 99% of the recipes can be made with what you have on hand. If you don't have something, it's easy to substitute. Need something elegant, look here. No nonsense, easy to use, and better yet, great recipes!

As a general cookbook, this one is hard to beat. Geared to the needs of a wide spectrum of users, the book has a huge variety of well-seasoned recipes reflecting many different kinds of ethnic cookery. Each recipe carries a stated range of difficulty from complex to simple, a complete guide to preparation, and an introductory note describing interesting facts about the recipe or its ingredients, the amount of preparation time, and the amount of cooking time.

Divided into the usual sections--such as Grains and Beans, Desserts, Chicken and Turkey--this cookbook has an unusual feature that will delight the busiest cook. At the front of each section is a complete list of the recipes in that section, with individual recipes classified as Easy, 30 Minutes, 60 Minutes, Microwave, Make Ahead, Low Fat, One Pot, and Classic. If a recipe falls into more than one category, it is listed more than once, so that someone looking for Coq au Vin, listed here as Chicken in Red Wine, a classic recipe, will find it under Classics, but also in the Easy, Lowfat, and One Pot categories.

Long boxes on each page, adjacent to the binding, offer helpful tips for cooking, recipe variations, microwave adaptations, and useful trivia (the number of shrimp per pound, depending on size, how to carve a roast, how to get perfectly rounded muffins, for example). Several longer inserts, almost a page long, appear in green boxes and offer the "how-to's" of basic cooking--everything from grilling vegetables to making perfect pie crusts.

The most helpful feature for those who are health-conscious or on special diets is that every recipe provides the counts of calories, carbs, protein grams, fat grams, cholesterol, and sodium, taking the guesswork completely out of planning healthy, nutritious, good-tasting meals. Sections at the end of the book provide menus for a year, special recipes for entertaining and celebrations, and information on herbs, cheeses, and wines.

I initially selected this cookbook to give at a bridal shower, but when I had a chance to get it home and really look at it carefully, I bought a copy for myself. I had used and enjoyed the Joy of Cooking and the Fanny Farmer Cooking School Cookbook for years, but I have now found that this newer cookbook offers so many more features that I use it nearly all the time, in preference to my old standbys. The recipes, very well seasoned, are terrific--I haven't found a single dud!--and I now have many new favorites with fewer calories and fat grams! Recommended without reservation. Mary Whipple

Don't be put off by the title. This is not a story with vampires, it is not a horror novel. It is a mystery, a mystery in the tradition of crime fiction. Among its more important elements are a mixed-race protagonist named Wesley Farrell. Here's a protagonist with an interesting attitude, a five-year-old mystery---a shotgun murder, an attractive setting---Louisiana and New Orleans in 1939, great pacing and strong writing.

I've been to New Orleans, though not as early as the time of this novel, and if this isn't quite the way it felt, smelled and tasted, it should have been. Skinner has nailed the look, the feel, the ambience that makes New Orleans a very exotic locale. This novel offers up plenty of heat, tension, a little sex, some brutality, and the constant fetid rot of crime and corruption.

In 1934, toward the end of prohibition, the Coast Guard is saddled with the almost impossible task of trying to keep alcohol out of the United States. One of its officers is gunned down in the streets of New Orleans, in a murder that almost ends Wesley Farrell's life. For Farrell, sometime bootlegger and thief, his brief presence in the life of Coast Guard Commander George Schofield, is problematical, especially to Farrell. Most of his associates, business and otherwise look askance at his association, however tenuous, with law enforcement.

Five years later, Schofield's brother comes to town to try to solve the homicide. He begins to turn over some rocks. His actions not only threaten to Farrell's illegal past but are troubling to Farrell's conscience. He'd liked Schofield during their brief, if violent association, and he was again bothered that he'd done little to find Schofield's killer.

Larded with fascinating under and over-world characters in and out of politics and law enforcement, the dialogue rings true, the settings are correct and the overall effect is just terrific. This is a fine novel.

If you're a fan of detective stories, don't miss this book.

Well-plotted, well-rounded characters, dynamite dialogue, a unique setting (New Orleans in the 1930s), Robert Skinner's BLOOD TO DRINK is an outstanding book and a genuinely pleasurable read. It packs quite a punch.

Wesley Farrell is at his deliciously tough best, gun wielding, knife slashing, lady kissing, put-the-bad-guys-in-the-ground.

The intricate plot of gangsters, cops, organized criminals, alluring women, and crooked politicians is surprisingly easy to follow. Only a writer of Skinner's obvious skill can pull something like this off so easily, so deftly. This is one well-crafted novel I highly recommend.

It is certainly nice to be able to visit New Orleans in the good ole, bad ole days.

BLOOD TO DRINK is another fine entry in the Wesley Farrell series. As ususal, Skinner's storytelling is strong and his characterization of Farrell grows more complex with each novel.

But what impresses me most is how Skinner actually makes you feel like you are in the 1930's or at least the 1930's as we like to imagine the era.

Mystery buff or history buff, you'll love this book and the rest of the series.

Robert Skinner has penned another Wesley Farrell mystery for his readers. Hardboiled mysteries are not my cuppa, but historical mysteries are, and since I missed out on reviewing his last title Daddy's Gone A-Hunting, I decided to grab this one up. Even though the storyline is a little stronger than I anticipated, I'm glad I did.

At the beginning, Mr. Skinner gives us a quote from Nathaniel Hawthorne's The House of Seven Gables, 1851: "God will give him blood to drink" -- and so goes the story. Wes Farrell's world is in the south; New Orleans to be exact. The former rumrunner now runs a nightclub. His sweetheart Savanna Beaulieu, back from a sabbatical, owns one in the French Quarter, but she only has a small part in this mystery. The prologue takes us to September 23, 1934, when Louis Bras and his Hot Six Combo were raising the roof at the Honey Pot. Wes thinks he's minding his own business until a Coast Guard Lt. Commander George Schofield shows up looking for an anonymous informant. The night leads to a deadly conclusion, one that will come back to haunt Wes five years later. 1939: A T-agent (Treasury agent) by the same name of Schofield shows up asking questions about George Schofield in an attempt to get some answers to that night in `34. The T-agent doesn't know Wes was with his brother that night, so Wes is in the clear, except that he wants answers of his own. At the same time, an undercover cop is killed and Chief of Detectives Frank Casey, Detective Sam Andres and Negro Squad Detectives Merlin Gautier and Sergeant Israel Daggett take to the streets looking for the killer or killers.

In Blood to Drink, the reader will know who the killers are. The mystery to solve is: whom is the bone chilling, threatening voice that gives the orders. Wes Farrell mysteries are highly seasoned, suspenseful reads to begin with, but with bad guys like Mercer and Zottie it becomes an even more demanding read. The author, Robert Skinner, is talented in his ability to bring the south, during the thirties, to life. With a stroke of his pen, he creates an intoxicating atmosphere of inestimable, dynamic characters so rich in dialect and life that they ascend from his inscribed print. It isn't just a mystery; it's one of the most provocative paintings of the south I have read in a while.

In the thirties, it was easier to be white than black, so Wes Farrell, half Irish and half African-American pretended to be 100 percent Caucasian. During prohibition, Wes made a fortune as a rumrunner. Wes invested his earnings into legitimate enterprises like nightclubs and commercial properties. Just before the official end to prohibition made his occupation obsolete, a fight broke out in a club where he was drinking. Wes and a sailor managed to escape before the police arrived. His companion Commander George Schofield gives Wes a lift, but someone kills the Coast Guard officer. Wes flees the scene before the police can question him.

Five years later, Scholfield's brother, a T-Man, arrives on the scene to question Wes. He wants to learn the identity of the informant his sibling was going to meet on that fatal day. Feeling a bit guilty, Wes decides to help the treasury agent. They quickly learn that a Coast Guard employee was providing information to powerful gangs. Wes intends to uncover the identity of the double-crosser if he is not killed in the process of his investigation.

The fourth Wes Farrell tale, BLOOD TO DRINK, is the best novel yet in what is a fabulous historical mystery series. The plot is filled with 1930s regional atmosphere that provides the reader with a glimpse of the lives of Blacks during the Depression as well as a look at the seamier side of the era. With previous tales likes SKIN DEEP, BLOOD RED, CAT-EYED TROUBLE, and now this one, Robert Skinner shows he is a talented storyteller who makes history sing inside top rate crime fiction.

Harriet Klausner

This is a really great cookbook. It is well organized, has fabulous photos, and the recipes are very easy to follow. Both the recipes and the accompanying anecdotes are written in an exceptionally user friendly style, making this a cookbook that you will want to actually sit down and read! This is one I find myself coming back to, time after time, for easy preparation and terrific results!

Brendan writes exceptionally well. I like his style; it's very upbeat with a joie de vivre feeling. Comfortable punctuation makes the writing flow nicely. It's concise and unambiguous without being the least bit pedantic.
The anecdotes, biographical sketches, introductions to place, and mini-tutorial lead-ins are most enjoyable. (Man, would I have loved some of Michel's 150-pound halibut!) The complementary
information provided about the people and their environments makes the recipes that much more appreciated. I am very much enjoying the book and the learning experience. It's like a travelogue. I have never really "read" a cookbook before. But then, this is not an ordinary cookbook.

Some 35 years ago Brendan O'Farrell, an international business man, and Michel Deville, a French Master Chef, became the best of friends who shared an appreciation for good service and great food. They opened a restaurant (La Table de Michael) in Sain-Remy de Provence near Avignon in the South of France in the spring of 2005. Now having successfully collaborated as restauranteurs, they have combined their love of the culinary arts to publish a compendium of savory recipes laid out with careful step-by-step instructions so clear and concise as to be able to transform ordinary kitchen cooks into accomplished chefs of French cuisine. Wonderfully illustrated throughout with finished dishes, the recipes comprising "Brothers In The Kitchen" range from Tri-Color Salad; to New Orleans Style Gumbo; to Roast Sirloin Encrusted in English Mustard; to Jumbo Prawns Flambe with Pernod; to Spinach with Swiss Cheese Sauce; to Mint Chocolate Delight. Enhanced with the inclusion of wonderful anecdotes and stories, "Brothers In The Kitchen" begins with thematically appropriate advice about how to get started in the kitchen, matching wines with foods, stocks and savors, and goes on to include sage counsel respecting menus, special restaurants and restaurateurs, conversion tables for cooking, and more. "Brothers In The Kitchen" is enthusiastically recommended as a core addition to any gourmet quality kitchen cookbook collection!

It is unusual to be completely satisfied once you actually delve into a cookbook and try to produce the "plat".
Brothers in the Kitchen works!
It is clear that much attention was put into clarifying the recipes to make them easy to follow, each with a photograph.
The accompanying essays are light and engaging.
I have ordered several to give as holiday gifts... if not for cooking to impress, to make a beautiful coffee table addition.

This book was a pleasure to read & the pictures made my mouth water. The recipes are designed to be successfully followed by both the seasoned chef & the newly initiated, with pretty impressive results. I tried the "Death by Chocolate" and was ready to go to heaven! Anyone who yearns for a taste of Provence, whether it be at the dinner table or in a favorite reading nook, will be deeply satisfied. Also, unlike some other books of this genre, I think that men would especially enjoy its particular combination of culinary craftmanship, staightforward writing & entertaining stories.

This book is timeless. If you truly desire to be a good leader and not someone who simply rises to the top for stardom or money -- then this book is for you. Business as we know it today would be profoundly changed if even one quarter of our leaders exhibited the traits written about in this book. Mr. Farrell -- Thank You for taking time out of your life to write this. I was inspired by its content.

This powerful allegory speaks to the heart of the leadership challenge. An easy read, but so powerful that the essence of its message continues to drive home and continues to motivate me to change. A must read for anyone who has read any of the other leadership titles out there. This concise rendering of the core values any leader ought to possess is resonated through the allegorical format---leaves a lasting impression and definitely a recommended book for my business associates to read. Don't under estimate this simple format. And to top it all off, this was such an enjoyable read. Genius!

this novel is the best one I have read in my entire life.
Charlie, mes compliments!!(congratulations)

A refreshing way to cover tried and true topics of management, leadership and what is important in our lives. I thoroughly enjoyed this more than that the dozens of "classes" I've attended. The ending will make you think.

this is a wonderful well thought out novel on leadership that really makes one think about work, life, and what is and should be important. I have been through many seminars on management skills etc. but have yet to find a book that illustrates these principals as this book has and in such an interesting manner. its a must read.

A good book to keep in reach whether you're looking for a refresher, or to learn new processes, techniques, etc. I've got some experience with wireless (although not a guru), and I learned some new stuff... A good book written by authors with obvious wireless experience.

Hack Proofing Your Wireless Network is an invaluable resource for implementing or administering a wireless network. War Driving (searching for random insecure wireless networks) is happening all over. To keep your personal and confidential information private and to keep prying eyes from surfing your wireless network or hujacking your bandwidth you need to make sure you do everything you can to secure your wireless network. The case studies, Security Alerts, FAQ's and other features of this book all help to provide a comprehensive, must-read book on wireless network security. If you are new to the concept this book is written in a way that you will understand. Even if you know this stuff, this book should be kept close as a reference.

(...)

"Hack Proofing Your Wireless Network" (HPYWN) weighs in at 512 pages, but it could easily be half that size. While the book contains good information, its internal redundancy and inclusion of security advice not specific to wireless adds unnecessary pages. I recommend security professionals skim HPYWN for the material they need, and skip the generic network protection advice.

Unlike the attack-minded "Hack Proofing Your Network, 2nd Ed", HPYWN is indeed a defensive-oriented book. It offers strong overviews of widely deployed wireless technologies. These include modern cellular networks and wireless area networks created by 802.11, Bluetooth, and HomeRF. HPYWN offers sound advice on making the best use of available wireless defensive mechanisms, despite acknowledging that Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is "broken." An overview of popular wireless assessment tools like Netstumbler is helpful although not especially thorough...

Of the book's nine chapters, chapters 2 (A Security Primer, 50 pages) and 8 (Auditing, 43 pages) don't add anything original to the current body of published security books. Furthermore, many wireless security topics are discussed repeatedly. For example, I didn't need to read in chapters 1, 4, 5, and 6 that WEP's insecurities stem from weak Initialization Vectors. Other recommendations on changing default configurations, enabling logging, and so on also appear in multiple sections. The editor should have consolidated this information to avoid wasting the reader's time.

Overall, Syngress should be credited for getting into the wireless game with this book. I would have preferred to see protocol decodes, thorough documentation and usage examples for wireless assessment tools, and in-depth VPN deployment guidance. Should the second edition of HPYWN contain this information, it will justify its current page count.

Obviously, with WLANs the big issue now is security. If you are looking for a good introduction to the topic or work with WLANs already and need to learn about security, then this is a good place to start. This book lays a good foundation of knowledge and then is an interesting an easy read on the topic. The authors certainly demonstrate that they know their business. In a total of nine chapters they will take you through the majority of what you would need to know to keep your WLAN safe from the wardrivers. In addition to this, if you are thinking of going for any of the WLAN security certifications, this book will take you a long way down that road as well. Once again, another good publication from Syngress!

Our company is in the midst of several large scale wireless deployments, and security is one of our primary concerns. This book does a great job of detailing all of the vulnerabilities and attacks, and presents real solutions for preventing attacks and data or services being compromised. There are some good wireles books out there now, but this is the one to get if you want something really focused on security.