Howard Books

This book saved my cats life, I am ondebted to the authors

An easy reference book that helps you determine the cause of your pet's health symptoms caused by decorating products, indoor air, cleaning products, pesticides and other chemicals we use daily. A listing of symptoms for each hazard is included. A must if you have indoor or outdoor pets

Dr. Kaye's book helped me and my family so much to understand my arthritis. There is so much confusing information in the news about side effect of many medications. This book made the treatment options very understandable. Highly recommended.

This was a great book because it explained to me what type of arthritis I had. It then went on to explain how to manage the pain of arthritis safely. This book is also the ideal handbook to be used as a reference when you are talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

This is an intreaging book that questions the roots of one of the greatest legends in Western culture. This is an intriguing book that questions the roots of one of the greatest legends in Western culture. The book is essentially discussing a theory that legends and heroes that lived in central Asia spread out to affect other histories and cultures. If there is more solid evidence that surfaces over the following years then it may mean that our image and the history of everything from Christianity to the first contacts with the East will drastically change. The book's main drawback as a historical resource is that it is predominantly theory and plausible evidence, but nothing proven, at least for now.

I hope that the author, Howard Reid, is able to complete his follow up book looking at links with the legends in Asia, all the way to Japan. Experimental research and theory in history is always needed and attracts new blood and ideas into the field. As every avid reader of history knows, history is ever changing - new perspectives, evidence, and fallacies are constantly being uncovered. We should learn what is factual in order to question it, and ultimately strive to find the truth.

Enjoy a good read on a possible past!

Howard Reid has produced a very readable introduction to the idea that the King Arthur legend began with a Roman Cavalry Commander in ancient Britain. Historically, the Imperial Roman Army had recruited much of its cavalry from subject peoples more familiar with horses than the Romans themselves. There were many "horse" cultures in ancient Europe and the Near East, apart from the Celts themselves. Reid introduces the Samartians, successors to the earlier Scythian horsemen who had so troubled the expansionary Roman Republic as it spread towards the Black Sea. Certainly there is much conjecture in Reid's book. However, he has the historical starting point of 175 AD when Rome posted to the Hadrian's Wall forts (that separated Roman Britain from the wild Scots tribes to the North) one of its cavalry units, comprising some 5,500 Samartian horsemen. He suggests that some of these horsemen would have settled in Britain after their period of service. From this beginning he posits a border community that would have held on to its traditions of horseback fighting. Thus, he suggests, there may have been a local war leader (dux bellorum) who used Roman cavalry tactics to fight the invading Anglo-Saxons of fifth century Britain. This "Samartian Supposition" forms the basis of the 2004 film "King Arthur". The screenwriter, David Franzoni, has his hero Arthur (played by Clive Owen) as a Samartian commander of a Roman cavalry unit on Hadrian's Wall. Arthur confronts the indigenous "Woad" (British war paint) people, North of the Wall, led by Guinevere (played by Keira Knightley). These two then make an uneasy alliance to oppose the invading Saxons. So, for once, Hollywood appears to have made a film based on some very intriguing historical supposition. Whether or not you see the film, Reid's book is an engaging effort with enough scholarship to assist its credibility but without being off-putting to those looking for a good "general" read about a possible "historical" Arthur. Thoroughly recommended, especially to those looking for something other than the 21st century Fantasy retellings of the magical King Arthur so often retold in Romantic Fiction.

This book, as far as I know, is the first to focus on the anonymous warriors of feudal Japan. Turnbull does an excellent job of shedding light on the class of warriors that bore the brunt of fighting during sengoku jidai. He covers everything from arms and armor, how the farmer/soldiers were mobilized in time of war, to life on campaign and medical treatment for wounded soldiers. He also shows how ashigaru went from being despised underlings to finally being granted the social status of samurai under Hideyoshi, who himself started his military career as an ashigaru. All of this in 64 pages. Well worth the money.

Typical Osprey warrior title, detailed, well-illustrated, and providing information rarely, if ever, found anywhere else.

I work in a museum of history, in South Georgia. When recently completing a presentation on local history I found this atlas to be invaluable. The historical maps showing the Indian trails, and Indian Cessions are excellent. Also, the maps showing the state according to county development and transportation. I would recommend this book to anyone researching Georgia. In fact, two of my colleagues want to purchase individual copies!

I work in a museum of history, in southwest Georgia. When recently completing a presentation on local history,I found this atlas to be invaluable. The historical maps showing the Indian trails, and Indian Cessions are excellent. The maps showing the state according to county development and transportation are informative. I would recommend this book to anyone researching Georgia. In fact, two of my colleagues want to purchase individual copies!

AutoBioDiversity is an entertaining and feisty anthology of essays culled from the pages of ZYZZYVA in honor of the journal's twentieth anniversary. In his introduction (introductions are his forte), editor Howard Junker notes that he purposely avoided including "the usual suspects" (other than the celebrated Phil Levine) in "keeping with my essential commitment: to mine the slush pile in order to give new voices a chance." Junker should be proud of this anthology. He put these writers into print, some for the first time. These diverse voices tell us in their own words what it is to be them. And because of their eloquence, we do walk in their shoes for a short but exhilarating while. What a magnificent way to celebrate a twentieth anniversary. [The full version of this review first appeared in The Elegant Variation.]

The 27 true-life, memoir-styled stories delight again and again. Noted editor Junker of his acclaimed literary periodical ZYZZYVA has no agenda other than fresh, high-quality writing. As the title of the anthology of selections from the periodical connotes, the pieces reflect the contemporary multicultural society, especially its West Coast diversity. A number of the writers are from different ethnic backgrounds, a number are women, a number combine the two. In the pages, one finds creative nonfiction at its best--mostly plainly honest (this is what makes for the freshness), though sometimes teasingly elliptic, colorful, amusing, comprehensible, enlivening.

The book is an excellent source of information if you have pets or are in the pet industry.

As a caretaker of six cats and a dog, I have used Bach Remedies for years with my animals but I've always had to refer to books focusing on the use of the remedies with humans. This book has come to my rescue and I especially like that there are separate chapters on cats and dogs. There is also a separate chapter on use of the remedies wih horses.

The best feature of the book is the second chapter "Using the remedies" where the authors spell out the animal behaviors that can indicate a need for each of the 38 remedies. For example, Crab Apple is the remedy for cleansing and is indicated for a animal who does excessive grooming or chews on its fur or feathers.

The only negative aspect for me, as an American, is the very British slant in the resources lists and in the case studies. However, that is a small complaint in the overall usefulness of this title.

Five decades ago I fell in love with a brick wall. Next to a bus stop I had ample opportunity to admire its colours, finger feel the rough texture, track the scurrying insects and over the years be astonished at how the mosses, lichens and miniature trees would burrow their roots in the desert-like substrate. Three decades ago I had my first article published. Yes, it was on walls: Detective work on the physical geography of sandstone walls. Thank you, Howard Waldman, for obliging these memories to flood back by having Harry Grossman be equally obsessed - in his case, photographing Parisian walls.

There is no understating the plot. Waldman is a master of the ennui. His deep knowledge of mid-century France, both in the capital and in the sticks, oozes from the pages admirably. The American Harry, rudely bludgeoned by the police, discovers he has fallen in lust with a French beauty when his bleeding being recovers in her home. Does hapless Harry clutch his angel? One of Waldman's writerly skills I am addicted to is his use of the conceptual double negatives in this book. Harry is after one goal but scores in another, then another. Linguistically too, he employs opposites brilliantly. For example `Addition is subtractive in the strange emotional mathematics of her language.' Je t'aime is weakened to I like you when you add bien. Stop trying so hard, Harry. His girl knows this: It was always something else for you. This wonderful play with words permeate the whole novel in such delectable morsels.

Speaking of treats. Harry worms his way to the family's rural farm. His New York life is poor preparation as illustrated with this gem: Where he comes from strawberries, once thawed, were in season all year round.

I will not spoil the ending, but it is both a crucial key and a little confusing, as is the beginning. I collect recursive stories, and this novel is one. A self-referential essay extraordinaire. I recommend the reader to skip the prologue until the last chapter is read, twice. In fact I am reminded of that joke where a local is asked directions: If I were you, sir, I wouldn't start from here. The smoothest flowing prose is in the middle, and the beginning is a mosaic of confusion, much not really needed.

This is a beautiful book, so close to being perfect. As it stands it should be recommended reading for all lovers of English, with French dressing. I have no hesitation giving it a 5 star rating.

Howard Waldman's Back There reverberates long after it's been devoured and put back on the bookshelf. A novel too unashamedly individualistic and underivative to be easily squished into a genre pigeonhole, it offers a litfest of walking-talking-breathing-emoting characters set in the fuggy café ambience of mid-century Paris and country dacha retreat.

The protagonist, Harry, l'étranger from New York, is a memorable character. Howard subtly insinuates the reader into Harry's convoluted thoughts and ambivalent heart. Arriving in la gaie Paris by a bizarre twist of fate, Harry engrosses himself in photography and at times his vision, or weltangshauung, is so warped that it seems as if he's viewing life through a distorted lens. Ineffectual in the art of basic survival, Harry is - until self-made disaster strikes - an Engish tutor. There is much understated irony in his escapades, such as a pedantic grammar lesson serving as the springboard for steamy erotic foreplay.

Harry falls in lust, which he typically interprets as love, with a coldhearted but très belle mademoiselle. He eventually infiltrates himself into the belle's home and we are given an almost voyeuristic insight into the private folds of a French mid-century family. The mother, the kindest woman and the worse cook in France, lavishes samples of her goodness and cuisine on Harry. The father sings opera arias at the dinner table and anoints his body with malodorous cod liver oil to achieve immortality. And not to forget the little grey sister who, with the passing of time, proves herself to be Harry's eternal love. While this is a transatlantic love story, there is no suggestion of mawkish violins or hand in hand swoonishness.

Harry's philosophical meanderings wend their way in and out of the narrative. This is done so sensitively that his quite profound and alarming thought patterns enhance the storyline rather than detract from it. Harry, while he is undoubtedly his own very idiosyncratic person, at times echoes and shadows Albert Camus' unforgettable existential hero Mersault.

Back There is, without question, a literary tour de force which deserves a wide readership in English-speaking countries and, also, it would be a compelling and enlightening read for French bibliophiles.

Backcountry Roads - Idaho is a fantastic book. As a coffee table or guide book, it hits the mark. From stunning photographs, to easy to read passages that make you feel like you are there with the writer, this is a guide book not to be missed. The details for GPS coordinates, directions and elevations make sure that you will find each and every hidden spot. My only wish is for more Backcountry Roads for other states, like mine, Washington.

This book will quickly earn a prominent place in your armchair browsing library, but you may want to buy two copies. One to showcase and another to use and abuse while exploring. Stunning photography pulls you in, and then, you find more - much more. Explicit directions guide the adventurous to experience well chosen remote destinations with confidence. Background information covering history, geography and geology provides an intellectual foundation that can transform a quickly forgotten weekend road trip into a cherished memory. Highly recommended.

For the past thirty years, hikers, climbers, and motorized explorers of Idaho's backcountry have had a steadily increasing number of guides from which to choose. Some of these include a few photographs and all describe, in lesser or greater detail, routes, distances, difficulty, etc., of trails. Today, I received my copy of "Backcountry Roads-Idaho," and I have to say there is not a guide that even comes close to this peerless publication. The Howard's have set a standard that perhaps will never be surpassed. Lynna's prose gently guides you by the hand, and Leland's photography literally puts your mind in these locations. Even armchair travelers or those just wanting to take a scenic drive will love this book. I cannot imagine someone buying this book and not taking one or more of these excursions. If you do, buy two books: one to accompany you and the other to take its rightful place among other coffee table books in your living room, study, or library, for this book is a wonderful blend of history, geography, geology, and, of course, travel adventure. If I could rate this book as 10 stars, it would not be enough.

The original book by J. Grant Howard was a text book at Bible college. This book influenced my perspective of priorities.

I grew up hearing about the heirarchial approach of priorities. For example, God is first, then your spouse, then children/parents, then job, etc. But do we spend over 40 hours a week serving God, with our spouse, and with our children? It looks great on paper but is impossible to live out consistently.

Howard proposes a different model. God is the central priority. Then, there are the other various priorities all connected to God. Thus, there may be times when one priority becomes more important than others, but each area of our life is under God's authority.

J. Grant Howard gives an incredible amount of wisdom for those of us who sometimes struggle with our priorities. I often hear people say if there is one struggle they have in life it's with priorities. If you struggle with finding what relationships or "items" in your life need the most attention, then this book is for you. Howard shares from experience. From being a pastor, a dad, a seminary professor, and a man who loves the Lord, this book shares from the heart of someone who has lived out what he is writing. Because of this, this book is transparent and gives hope to those who live in the "tyranny of the urgent".