Frank Books

I am - or was - an overweight teen. I really love the show Growing Up Gotti and once I heard that Frankie had a diet book comng out I thought that this would be a perfect oppurtunity for me to loss the weight for good. I ordered the book and it exceeded my expectations. Frankie is truly a great writer. This book encouraged me to follow his diet steps! Now, only half way through my diet, I have lost 24 lbs. And it is thanks to Frankie! So thank you for helping me and others lose extra weight for good.

I wish there was more publicity on this book. I had watched the show and goggled the show for images and came upon a picture of him before the show and was shocked to see his weight and even more shocked at what he is today. After viewing the sample pages provided by Amazon, I knew I had to grab a copy. I am 10 years older then Frank but he touches the core of my problems. He is an admirable writer that can be respected by all ages. I really appreciate his honesty, sincerity and encouragement. He taps into emotions and experiences that I have yet to see in any book, and for it to target the young generation is phenomenal!! Thanks Frank :)

The author of this book was just arrested for drug posession. Diet and exercise, or was there something more?

Lies and scandals.

i love the growning up gottie show
it of the chin, but anywayz, hi frankie, i just wanna say that u look soooooo fooooone,now we girls can see ur the real frankie
u look amazing

Frank Gotti's diet and exercise book really reveals the trauma of being overweight as a kid/tennager. I couldnt believe the before and after pics! And the heartfelt text inside. Frank was not afraid to show his sensitive side, in an effort to help others lose the weight as well. I applaud him--he has guts!....(and he's gorgeous!)....Katie Ross

Val is my favorite type of crook. The crook we know, love, and probably have been burned by in the past but something about him - call it gritty, unrepentant charm - has us rooting for him to get away with it anyway. Val seems to be a guy who is getting into something that has been waiting for him his whole life with the full understanding that you can't look over both shoulders at the same time. I'd definitely like to read more of this.

From the very first sentence, there is something addictive about Frank Pisano's tale of Val and his life in Coney Island. His writing is neat and crisp, and he has the ability to hook you from the first page. Engrossing--by the end of the chapter, Valentino's Lament leaves you with hungry eyes, wanting more!

I was intrigued by the first sentence: "The Indians came to Coney Island on the first day of summer." And when I got to "It wasn't until awhile later I found out the Indians had come to Coney Island to kill Petey", I was hooked.

Frank Pisano sets his scenes vividly but doesn't bog down the story with superfluous detail. So far, with its sharp writing and colorful characters Valentino's Lament is a very entertaining read. I'm looking forward to the rest of the book.

I got a kick out of the beginning and I want to follow Valentino up and down the boardwalk. The writing is sharp and the characters got my attention. I'm looking forward to the rest.

Pisano's straight-forward and gritty approach to writing is refreshing and captivating. He has invented an intriguing main character in a setting that only a handful could successfully capture on paper. Simply put, Pisano has a way with words and has left this reader wanting more.

Fantastic work by Frank and Tina. Many years of research and practice has made Frank Allen one of America's foremost authorities on the art of Ba Gua Zhang. He has put together a great manual for practitioners to draw inspiration from. The form details will show any Ba Gua students some of the classical Cheng style movements, and will help all Ba Gua practitioners compare and contrast the moves they have in common. The weapons form is great too, giving much needed information on the notorious Deerhorn Knives. My favorite part is the work on Taoist meditation and I Ching internal alchemy. Great stuff and very thought provoking. Thanks you guys!

Sincerely,

Jess O'Brien

"Whirling Circles" has answered many questions I had about Ba Gua Zhang's history. I was unaware about its origins before this book. The illustrations are nicely rendered. The book is filled with many wonderful photographs displaying posture, techniques and high level practitioners. I especially liked the explanations of the classics. They are thorough, enlightening and enjoyable to read.

"The Whirling Circles of Ba Gua Zhang" is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the Taoist martial arts. It addresses a broad spectrum of issues relating to the art of Ba Gua Zhang, thus it has much to offer both the pure beginner and the more advanced practitioner. Topics covered range from the Taoist philosophy at the core of the art to detailed information about the deerhorn knives set to the poetic yet pragmatic sayings of the art's founder. I particularly enjoyed the first 50 pages which are devoted entirely to discussing the history of Ba Gua Zhang and the colorful cast of characters who helped it evolve into what it is today. In short, I would highly recommend this book.

This is a clearly written, basic overview of BaGua. Essentially, it's written like an introduction of the subject to the Western culture-- a useful book for those who know little about BaGuaZhang. In the first part, we are treated to a very wide overview of BaGua's history, with a number of stories-- many with mystical flavor still intact. Given that BaGua is a relatively new martial art, the authors can go into some detail in a fairly short space-- roughly 15% of this book is history. They also, I think, fairly, speculate that the reason for much of BaGua's obscurity is the relative youth of this art-- what few masters that developed subsequently saw their skills lost over generations in the many Chinese cultural revolutions that ensued.

This is followed by instruction on basic concepts-- circle walking, stances, palm training, VERY rudimentary energetics. I guess I was hoping for more. For much more on biomechanics, see the books by Park Bok Nam. That being said, the instruction in this book is clearly stated.

Later, we are introduced to the Old Eight Palms of Cheng Shi family BaGua as interpreted by Liu Jing Ru. Some photos of Liu doing his stuff are included. Unfortunately, most of the photos are of the authors, and unlike on the cover, in the photos inside they are wearing very loose "tradiitonal" kung fu outfits that make it very difficult to discern what they are truly doing-- even basic spinal alignment. Me, I love going to seminars where the masters come out in sweats and a T-shirt. George Xu, for example, is famous for letting you put your hands practically anywhere on his body to feel what he is doing. The text of this book, while clear, is very basic.

Similarly, a basic overview of weapons, and a presentation of the Deer Horns Set (which is very similar to the empty hands set entitled "Cascading Palms" form, aka "Flexible Chain Palms" depending on your source-- which is a more advanced form in the system. Again, my same comments about clothing and content apply.

Incidentally, Grandmaste Liu has his own VCDs/DVDs and books now (all but one book in Chinese--available via Internet-- I got mine in SF Chinatown), and one can see him in action. He is quite good, and gives a fairly "pure" BaGua flavor. It is sometimes hard to find this flavor-- George Xu himself, for example, will admit his forms are all blends at this stage-- and his BaGua is heavily influenced by Hsing-I and Lan Shou, among others.

There is an overview of applications that is basic concepts but not really applications. Despite being familiar with BaGua applications myself, I had a hard time discerning what was really happening in the photos-- usually one or two stills for each application, and an explanation that basically said: "Thunder techniques have the quality of a shockwave..." Basically, not very helpful outside a a philosophical understanding of intention, but not the mechanics.

Finally, there is a translation of the Songs of BaGua-- historically the classic means of transmitting the basic principles of BaGua from generation to generation. Again, the translation is basic-- that is, without a lot of more in-depth discussion exploring details and experiences that might help the intermediate-advanced student.

This book did blend in concepts of BK Frantzis' water meditation techniques into circle walking to a more advanced levels-- concepts that I did not get even from Frantzis' two books on the subject. That alone gave me something to work on, and made this books worth it to me.

In summary, a good book as a reference to sequence for these particular forms, and especially good as a basic basic introduction to the BaGua concept, but not a hard core martial artist's book.

Most martial arts books are passionless. My library is full of books that have lots of interesting content but little real human interest to me. Until recently the only martial arts books I loved were T.T. Liang's books on Tai Chi. Somehow the energy, the slyness of character, his love of his art came through. You knew Tai Ji was worth doing because it meant something to Liang. That was it until Frank Allen and Tina Zhang started publishing their internal martial arts series. These books are full of the love and passion that they have for these arts. I've reviewed the Tai Ji book before and will talk about the Ba Gua book now. The thing both books have in common is the completeness of the discussion of the art. In the Ba Gua book we have a detailed history of the arts beginnings and its subsequent development to our time. Frank and Tina don't pass on or make up fantastic tales. Where Dong Hai Chuan got his art isn't known they tell us; describing the tales that have been told but making clear in the end that Dong himself never said how he found or developed the art. But the history since Dong has been well researched and carefully presented so that we clearly understand the development strands that have developed. The best thing about all of this is that the authors own interest in the material comes through and helps in riveting our attention and memory of it. Next the book describes the basic training of a Ba Gua student. This is often neglected in standard books which is a shame because students need this kind of reference when they are practicing and need to remember how to hold the hands or a particular stance. There is discussion and demonstration of basic circle walking a la the Cheng style. Next the Cheng style eight palm changes are shown and discussed and these discussions are an excellent reference for someone who has been through the basic training in the Cheng style. After this the authors discuss the applications of Ba Gua for fighting and then the weapons of Ba Gua are shown and discussed. The next 3 chapters are for me the most important part of the book. In here are discussions of how to train, the philosophic and spiritual content of Ba Gua, Ba Gua's relationship to Taoism and to the I Ching. All of these are important and they are discussed with much care but not in a way to confuse or in attempt to make the authors seem to be above the reader. These issues are important for the student because they help connect you to the reasons for why we do the internal arts - the joy that rises up in us as we learn to connect to the Tao. The translations of the Ba Gua Zhang classics are, like the translations in the Tai Ji book, very practical and down to earth - making clear the principals of the art of Ba Gua Zhang. This book should be on your shelf if you consider yourself a sincere student of the internal arts - no matter what your level. And you should be hoping that the authors are writing a third book to finish their explications of the internal arts - a book on Xing Yi. We owe Frank and Tina much thanks for their passion and devotion to their art.

A clever funny and warm little story that reads quicky. Bright, simple and charming drawings highlight the adventures of a small mouse who triumphs over troubles to bring his family together. A very satisfying ending and a book that kids will want to hear again, and again, and again...

A MOUSE LOOSES HIS FAMILY MEMBERS & THEN FINDS THEM. IT'S JUST AN OK BOOK, VERY UNDERSERVING OF ALL THE 5-STAR REVIEWS. A BETTER MOUSE BOOK WOULD BE- IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE.

A small grey mouse with enormous ears is asked by the narrator who he belongs to. Why, he's nobody's mouse!! Where's his mother? Inside the cat!! Where's his father?? Inside a trap!! What about his sister?? She's lost, far, far away... My goodness!! Well, what is he going to DO about it, then?? I'll let you read to find out his fun, creative answers to his life's problems!

Originally published in 1970, "Whose Mouse are You?" is as much fun for young children and beginning readers now as it was back then. The text is short and simple, it rhymes and repeats, so even very young children can get interested in the story and repeat it after a few tellings. The illustrations are wonderfully simple and uncluttered, drawn with only with black yellow and red (from which we can get pink, orange and grey, too!)

When I was a infant/toddler teacher in daycare, "Whose Mouse are You?" was one of the all time favorites. Children just learning how to speak would call out "mouse book!! Mouse book!" and then sit glued to the pages. I've even seen an elementary school art teacher use this book to show how one does NOT need a box of 2 bazillion crayons to make interesting and fun illustrations-"get creative with limited tools" she said, passing out only red, yellow and black markers to the class.

For lapsitting readers as well as beginning readers, "Whose Mouse..." is an excellent choice and a lot of fun!! Enjoy!!

My favorite illustration is the one where the mother mouse is feeding her son (or daughter?) an impossibly large cheese banquet, much to his/her great delight. A wonderful book!

This was my daughters very very favorite book. She had all the words memorized by the time she was barely 3. I would ask the questions from the book and she would respond with the answers. I still ask her Whose Mouse Are You ? sometimes and her own baby will be born in October. By the way, until we find out the sex of the baby we are calling him/her mouse. Your kids will love this book too!

A great book that talks about other animals that lay eggs other than chickens. I read this book to my preschool children and they loved it very much. The pictures are bright and very colourful. It's a must buy!

This was my favorite book growing up, because of it's catchy rhyming story, accompanied by colorful, ecclectic illustrations... and now, it is my sons favorite book - so much so, that I'm now looking into buying Ruth Heller's other science books. My 4 year old loves them, and the colorful picutres hold my 2 year olds attention (a feat in itself) so well, I'm amazed!

I'm so glad I've kept this book around long enough to pass it on to my son, who already has a great understanding of any animal, who is an "Oviparous"

I think it's really great that Ruth Heller introduces a complex subject in a children's book without talking down to the children. It's great that she uses "big" words like "oviparous"--kids, after all, can remember lengthy dinosaur names; there's no reason why they can't handle other long scientific words.
But I do have slight qualms. For instance, the part about amphibians says that amphibians don't have claws--what about African clawed frogs?
The illustrations are engaging, and the use of rhyme in prose makes the text flow nicely. The subject is interesting, too. I just wonder a bit about the accuracy of the "facts" presented here.

I enjoy the realistic non-anthropomorphic pictures Ruth Heller, author/illustrator, placed on each page. They are colorful, accurate and fun to look at. Some pages have just one animal and other pages are filled with lively looking insects and their eggs. I also enjoyed how she showed the size, coloring, shape and form difference between all types of eggs. I learned a lot from this book and think that kids over 3 will enjoy having this read to them. The only downfall I see in this story is that sometimes the words and sentences are in rhyming form and sometimes they aren't. I would've preferred one OR the other, not both. It doesn't flow as well with the two methods of writ, but other than that it was a good book.

Egg lovers, egg heads will especially enjoy this book by Ruth Heller a beautiful story. Oviperous you are, if you slithered or crawled or burst from your shell. Lots of children certainly love the expressions eggs generate. Crack open that shell and enjoy this play on the question, "Which came first the chicken or the egg?" Egg-xactly.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ruth Heller and husband in two completely different times in my life, in a bookstore in Carmel and on another rainy day in a bookstore in Ventura,CA. Both times I had her books, didn't know she was there, coincidental encounters, so I could and did get autographs. My girls loved her Designs for Coloring: Birds (Designs for Coloring), hint, hint parents. She was so tiny...and obviously a lovely person to get to say to, "I'm a teacher that always wanted to thank you for...."

Right now my first graders are reading about chicks, ducks and other egg tales. So showing the Reading Rainbow that contains this book being featured and read aloud is perfect. Heller's book is read by Georgia Engles with her interesting lilt it makes the poetic text very nice for them. It's still a bit hard to read for a few but I do have a set left over from days I taught not from canned scripts but from content connected literature. A few pieces of this text I'll quote hoping to get the sound which is so gentle and lovely, " Chickens lay the eggs you buy......Chickens aren't the only ones. Every bird wild or tame does the same. The ostrich lays the largest egg, the hummingbird the smallest. .."
As you read her lovely drawings bring you the text illustrated very factually and wonderful rendered. I always see those psychedelic 60 rock posters. I don't know why, it just happens in my head. I always enjoy teaching with Heller books. You go on to be introduced to reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects..."mermaid's purses", seahorses...moon snails, lots of ways to appreciate the egg layers.

If you enjoy video showing the Reading Rainbow: Farm Life with this is a great idea because you'll go to the farm to see a chick break out of the egg, watch loggerhead turtles be laid and hatched and see some great facts about egg layers. I can't imagine Ruth Heller's book out of the context of this tape because it expands the constructs so beautifully.

And if you love this "Animals Born Alive and Well (Picture Books) " is another great one from the author.

This is a Great Book by Tina Zhang and Frank Allen on how to do Northern Wu Style Tai Ji. Having studied Wu Style Short Form for 6 months with Frank Allen I can honestly say that many things he taught me in person are explained in great detail in this book. All students of all styles of Tai Ji will benefit from reading it and incorporating its techniques into their daily practice. If you are interested in Tai Ji You Must Get This Book !!!!!

This is a great book on the art of tai ji quan (tai chi chuan). It offers an excellent overview of the internal martial arts principles of Wu style tai ji quan, and addresses the aspects of the art that contribute to good health and longevity. The history of the Northern Wu is very interesting and includes rare archival photographs. The form and practical application of the postures are well presented, as is the section on the Wu sword form. This is the kind of book you buy to keep as a lifelong reference as you develop the skills of tai ji quan - from knowing the techniques (zhao shu), to understanding internal energy and gaining tai ji quan power (dong jin), and progressing to the advanced level where the spirit is calm, happy, relaxed, and free to use flowing techniques at will (shen ming). (See Chapter 8.) I can't wait for the authors' book on Bagua, due out this summer!

Not only does this book offer a detailed description and clear photography of the Tai Ji Form and Sword Form, for these alone would be reason for those practicing or interested in Classical Northern Wu Style.
What makes this book invaluable for ALL internal martial artists is its direct and straight to the point explanations of the martial applications, how to apply the qualities of a Tai Ji practice to become more effective, and specifically what training methods the internal fighter will utilize in contrast to an external stylist. It is within these teachings that Tina Zhang and Frank Allen show their understanding of the complete art, integrating all the components into a whole... which is the essence of Tai Ji.

Although it is always preferable to have a teacher, this book goes a long way towards providing the images and text for learning Taiji on your own, which is an unusual occurance. The images are sharp and there are many of them. Using figure numbers, the images are linked to the text, which is as clearly written as is possible.

The introduction gives excellent background on the evolution of Northern style taiji and provides biographies of the people that developed and spread the art. The introduction is followed by a section on the Principles of Wu Style Taijiquan, which provides interesting information on the differences between the hard and soft, and the external and internal martial arts styles.

The Wu style described in the book consists of 83 movements with images covering the beginning and end of each movement plus images for all key changes in posture.

In addition to the Taiji form, the book contains a good section on Push hands, which incluses more than 50 images showing fighting applications using the Wu style movements.

The Classical Sword Form is also presented and the presentation is just as well done and extensive as the Taiji form.

The book is a well done, authoritative, excellent addition to the martial arts literature.

On the bookshelves of the martial arts section there are few books that can truly be called thorough and complete. The "Classical Northern Wu Style Tai Ji Quan" by Tina Zhang and Frank Allen in one of these few.

The history section is a concise look at the history of Tai Ji Quan from the perspective of the northern Wu style school. Instead of just regurgitating the usual legends, it tells an interesting story and gives the reader a quick introduction to the confusing and convoluted field of martial arts history. Unlike many Tai Ji books it actually has some new information, specifically about the Northern Wu style so that any Tai Ji player will get some new perspective on the development of the art.

The principles of practice are well laid out and to the point. There are many facets to be worked on here from alignments, to breathing, vision, and more. Very interesting are instructions on Compression and Expansion which is often absent in Tai Ji practice, yet is one of Tai Ji's most useful and enriching aspects.

The form is taught carefully with full instructions, yet not overlong or boring. Tai Ji enthusiasts should be able to make a close comparison of this with their own work and see how it is the same and different. The sword form is also fully taught and should also be quite useful for comparison.

A note on the combat applications. Any Chinese martial arts book that is missing the fighting uses of the form should be considered useless. This is where the hard gongfu training is demonstrated. The creativity and proficiency of the author is always shown best in the applications. Your form may be great but are your fighting moves silly and wrong-headed? In the case of "Classical Northern Wu Style Tai Ji Quan" the answer is decidedly not! The applications are a short section, but instead of wasting endless space on explanations, the pictures are worth a thousand words. Each shows the essence of a fighting technique, and almost all of the Wu style form movements are demonstrated in combative use. The demonstrations are clear and provide much fodder for exploration and experimenation by the reader. They are simple and direct so you can grab a friend and quickly get to work trying them out with no wasted time.

Finally the theory and translation of the Tai Ji classics in the end is of course another mandatory part of a good Ta Ji book. The special points of Northern Wu Tai Ji are also translated so the reader gets a small taste of what makes this style unique.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all Tai Ji Quan players, and all who want a close look at the intricacies of Chinese martial arts.

Sincerley,

Jess O'Brien
Oakland, CA

Skip Morris breaks it down for beginners. He explains and has colored pictures of materials and tools. Also there is detailed (and colored) step by step for all the types of flies. If you are going to start tying flies, this book is a must have.

5 years ago I was mentored by a friend who taught me to tie basic flies... unfortunately life got in the way and I didn't tie flies for two years. A year ago, I pulled out my vise and materials, which inlcluded this book. By starting from the beginning, this books takes you through all the basics and gives you a foundation to tie ANY fly you want - the only limiting factor is the price of materials. If you're new to tying, this book de-mystifies topics such as the whip finish and palmering hackle to name just a couple. As a bonus, it is spiral bound to lay flat so you can tie along with step-by-step instructions and troubleshooting.

I own a number of fly tying books and this, by far, is the best. If you start with only one book, start with this one. The author methodically goes step by step, using fly patterns which require most, if not all, of the basic skills. The photography and illustrations are wonderful. Not only does the author give you exact, easy to follow directions each step of the way, he goes as far as to give a point by point review of what should be done if you find yourself in a mess. (invaluable for a klutz like myself). This, as I indicated, is by far one of the best books for beginners, but should certainly be owned and used by more advanced fly tiers also. The price is well worth it and in the long run will save you much money and certainly much time and frustration. I do wish there were more "how to" books around of this quality. Highly recommend this one.

This an excellent book to use when you're starting out. Directions are clear, illustrations are helpful-everything is designed to help you build your success along the way, moving from relatively simple to relatively complex. It introduces the materials, tools, and skills that will continue to be helpful as you develop expertise.

I am fairly new at tying my own flys. I own a couple of fly tying references and I am so much more impressed with Skip Morris' book "Fly Tying Made Clear And Simple." This is an outstanding choice for the novice. The biggest help, for me, has been Skip's methodical way of going through the process as he instructs on building each fly. He also describes solutions for the most common problems a novice will face and, best of all, the book lays flat on your fly tying bench due to it's spiral bound binding! I wish I would have started with this book!!

This is a good book for someone who is intersted in FLW and wants to see most of his Masterworks. However, I wouldn't call much of anything he did after the late 1940's a Masterwork but never the less the book gives a nice overview of his entire career. The guy lived to be 92! Lots of just gorgeous photos. Not many floor plans and the ones included are too small to read. Lots of original colored renderings, sections, elevations & some floor plans. The ratio of text to pictures is 20:80. The book goes quick.

The pictures are marvelous and the content is more than the usual re-written information. i have really enjoyed this book.

No one book could capture the full range of Frank Lloyd Wright's brilliance and versatility, but this one comes close! If you're a fan of the man who was arguably the 20th century's greatest architect, this book is a must-have. It covers his design philosophy, and shows how that philosophy was manifested, from Wright's preliminary sketches to great photos of the finished structures. A visual treat and an invaluable reference work.

Coffee table book, lovely photos; if you love the vision of FLW you'll enjoy this book

I've seen a lot of books on Wright over the years, and read a number of them, but for sheer enjoyment and the celebration of his work, this work is the best I've seen. It strikes the best balance between the photos and text, but the photos are truly magnificent and worth the price of the book by themselves. Much of the information, as another reviewer has commented, is available in other books on Wright, so there might not be that much new here for the Wright expert, but for those not steeped in Wright scholarship, this book is as good as any to learn about his architecture, philosophy, and life. Thirty-eight of Wright's most important buildings are covered, equally divided between his private and public buildings. Overall, probably the best single book out there on Wright to gain an understanding and appreciation of his work for the general reader.

By the way, just today we toured Taliesen, in Phoenix, AZ. It's a great tour if you ever get to the area and are a fan of Wright's buildings. Perhaps that's why I was inspired to write the review. :-)

I have only eaten at Highlands Bar and Grill once and it was the best food i have ever eaten in a restaurant, a pinnacle moment, like the first time I saw Pantera play live. It beats out many so-called fancy hip places in many of the major cities of the country. The food at Highlands can be simple and complicated simultaneously. This book takes the philosophy of the restaurant and shares some its secrets. What you will find is that many of the best meals are made from simple, fresh ingredients. It is a book that I have read and used more than I thought I would.

The book has chapters covering various topics: adult beverages, appetizers, seafood, poultry, meats, vegetables, desserts, a section on commonly used sauces, dressings, etc., and some tips on kitchen equipment and techniques. there are lots of very nice photographs throughout the book including pictures of the various dishes, local farmers, and other people.

You will find the food can be very Southern (e.g. Spoonbread), or the recipes are infused with the French flavors that Frank Stitt leans toward. Most of the recipes are actually not that complicated or difficult. Some are super easy like potato cakes. Since i cook mostly sweet treats, I have focused on some real jewels here. One of the coolest sweet thangs here is Brown Butter Almond Financier - a slightly more complicated recipe than the usual cake, but well worth the effort.

It's quite fashionable to talk about buying local produce these days, but Frank Stitt has been pushing this idea for years and years. He emphasizes fresh ingredients and using what you have locally both for the benefit of the flavor and the benefit of the people who make our food. I also like that Frank Stitt can be very practical at times - when discussing buying a mandoline, he recommends an inexpensive plastic model over the expensive steel versions.

By the way, the best food i've ever eaten isn't in a restaurant. my mom makes that food.

I have this cookbook, ordered another for a friend and it was in perfect condition, as stated.

I'm just a regular mom who likes to plunk down with a really good cookbook and try new gourmet recipes to amaze and delight my family. Lets just say that my 3 year old toddler and husband look forward to dinner every night that I pull out Frank Stitt's cookbook. Some recipes make me crazy, especially when I have to flip through 3 different pages to get various related recipes such as sauces, but oh what heavenly delight if you persevere and see the recipe through to completion. I can't say enough good things about this book - makes one appreciate the time, effort and loving care that is evident in the recipes. The sauce gribiche is worth the price of admission. The book feels like an old friend, calling me every few days to try another recipe. What a fantastic chef. This cookbook rivals my other beloved and tattered cookbook " The French Recipe cookbook" by Clements and Wolf-Cohen. You will NOT be disappointed if you get this book. 5 star rating all the way.

Wow!! This cookbook rocks. I've recently bought over a dozen Southern cooking cookbooks and this is the BEST hands down. Frank Stitt's recipes are inspiring. No longer does Southern Food need to be somewhat bland and heavy. I'm ordering my Gourmet Cook daughter a copy for her birthday in a couple of weeks. I know she'll love it.

Frank Stitt's Southern Table is truly a masterpiece. I am a Southerner and was raised on the wonderful flavors that form the recipes in this book. I love that Stitt showcases humble vegetables that can be found at any Southern farmer's market and presents them in impeccable fashion. His philosophy on using the freshest, in-season ingredients is wonderful advice for all cooks. I also keep this book on my coffee-table and I often read his charming writings on Southern food and the culture that surrounds cooking and eating in the South. I recommend this cookbook above all others. My family has adored everything I have made from this cookbook. I recommend the Lowcountry Red Rice, Pimento Cheese, All the cookie recipes, Spiced Pecans, and the fabulous section on perfectly mixed cocktails. This cookbook has got me planning a trip to Birmingham for the sole purpose of eating at the Highlands Bar and Grille.

This is not just a random book I picked up. It is the book I wished I had written myself. Over the past few years I have been teaching and researching on mainly one single subject. I have become obsessed with this subject because I now know that this is really the Subject of all time, for it is God's obsession and His ultimate passion! I used to think that the Church was just a temporary necessity to help us endure and be strong until Jesus comes back. Who needs each other when we are face to face with Jesus? Who needs a messed-up church when you have a worldwide theocracy during the millennium rule of Christ? When I read, "When that which is perfect has come, then that which is imperfect will be done away" ...I saw nothing more imperfect than the church! So good riddance... come Lord Jesus! But I was very wrong.
You see, I understood very little of God's ultimate passion. I had an incredibly weak idea of God's purpose on this earth and therefore my part in it. I knew God loved me and wanted me to live forever, but as to why, how and for what, I had no idea. Oh, I thought I had it all figured out, but as I began to delve into the full richness and the glory God has stored up for us, it was as if a cascade of light flooded my soul. I now tremble at how huge God's purpose is for us! Not that I am aware of the fullness of it all, for now I realize that I have only explored a single speck of light out of a whole universe of galaxies. I am such a baby in this subject!
This book is a brand new book, written by another explorer, who is also a baby. However he has seen many things I have not and he is as enthralled with it all as I am, so I am recommending this book in hope I can recruit you to explore with us. So PLEASE, read this book... but nibble on it for you will miss out on most of it if you guzzle. And do not stop with this book, but continue to explore. And if we could share together our discoveries beyond this book, it should change how we act, love and dream, for it really does matter how we see the big picture.

Once Again Viola hits a home run - a most inspirational and insightful book.
Frank Viola continues to be a voice in the wilderness.

This book is one of the best ever written on God's eternal purpose. Viola provided me with a whole new perspective on the mind of God and helped me understand better the Scriptures through which He reveals His mind. You will learn to look at the Bible very differently from what most have been taught, and some people will probably be threatened by this approach. I still strongly advise you to read this book and keep an open mind. If you do, Viola will take you on a journey into God's heart. There, you will learn what His desires are and how you can be part of their fulfillment! You will gain a greater appreciation and understanding of the deeper life, and see why it is so important that Christians commune with each other in unity with Christ as their only head. Viola will show you how the three great images of the Church (the Bride of Christ, the House of God, and the Body of Christ) are reocurring themes in the Bible which reveal the Father's ultimate purpose for His Son, and the Son's ultimate gift to His Father. This book is one of the greatest helps I have yet discovered for helping believers get beyond themselves and live for God's purpose. This is a must-read!

In the e-mail to Frank, I said:
I wanted to let you know that I got your book in January and how much it's meant to me. I loved this book!
I don't think I've ever heard a clearer description of God's passion. I was in one of your meetings in Williamsburg in 2004 and heard you talk about "the lady" in Williamsburg, but I didn't 'hear' like I did when I read this book.
I think I'm 'seeing' for the first time some things I've only known about vaguely. I received a clearer understanding of God's 'loneliness,' His 'romantic intention,' and His need for 'a place to stay.' One of the greatest impacts though was seeing that the Bride of Christ is a corporate woman and not individuals living independently (which is where I am right now). When I read the chapter "Exiting the Desert of Waste," I began to say to God, "I don't want to die in the wilderness. Lead me out and into the fullness of your purpose for my life."
This book was life to me. It's changing so many of my thoughts about God and about myself as I relate to Him. Thank you, Frank, for writing this important book.
Nancy Mauldin
Hampton, VA

In "God's Ultimate Passion", Frank Viola emulates a man pursuing the heart of God responding to His irresistible invitation to spiritual union. This three fold story of God's romance and plan for the Bride of Christ, the dwelling place (house) of God, and the Body of Christ (the Family of God) is solidly based on Biblical teaching.

This is God's own love story. It is the story of a redemptive love, which draws the Bride of Christ into an expression of ultimate passion. The bride captivated with the bridegroom revels in his grace, to accept his love.

Frank writes with an exciting intensity and vision that is persuasive. He moves the reader to a positive response and life changing action "to let Him build us together with others in the way that He has always wanted...So that He might have His House upon this earth."

Viola is a gifted communicator stirring the reader to awaken a new perspective of self, God and the potential lying dormant within, "crying out for expression."

This is a book for "revolutionaries who are reaching for God's highest."