Lloyd Books

Political intrigue and moral questions are explored in The Kestrel, the second in Lloyd Alexander's Westmark trilogy.

The long-lost heir to the throne, the orphan Mickle, has been reinstated. The evil chief minister Cabbarus has been exiled from Westmark. Things seem, on the surface, to be going smoothly. But the untimely death of the king of Westmark sparks the flame of unrest in the country.

The nobility is unhappy with their "beggar queen." The commoners want a government in which they have more of a say - they would be happy to do away with a monarchy altogether. Thrown into this mix is Mickle, now the ruling queen upon her father's death, and Theo, who finds his loyalty tested and divided between his friends in the anti-monarchy movement and his love for Mickle, which causes him to want to protect the crown. When a neighboring kingdom invades Westmark, Theo sets out to prove himself by aiding his friends, while Mickle rises to become an unlikely war leader.

The Kestrel continues to explore the hard questions introduced in the first book of the trilogy. The main characters wrestle with wondering when violence is acceptable, and for what reasons. They also have to deal with issues of stealing (when you're hungry, is it okay to be taking from your own side?), honor, and how far you can make personal compromises before you become someone you don't want to be. Alexander does a commendable job in presenting these issues with no pat answers or preachiness. In the book, as in real life, there are no easy solutions and people have to deal with the consequences of their choices.

The political issues are also brought into play in The Kestrel. The ideals of the peasantry, the long-standing aristocracy, and everything in between are represented by most of the main characters. Each idea has merit, and yet they are hard pressed to find the right balance. While the war is brought to a satisfying conclusion, the book itself ends on an unclear note, hinting that the problems of Westmark government will be concluded in the final book of the trilogy.

The second book of the Westmark Trilogy, the adventures of Westmark continues in "The Kestrel". Theo is now traveling through Westmark to learn more about the country. He and Mickle, now known as Princess Augusta, are hoping to be married after he returns. But suddenly and without warning, Westmark is thrown into turmoil as the neighboring country of Regia has declared war on Westmark. Theo is once again forced into making a hard decision, will he stay in the sidelines or fight for his country? Eventually, he joins under the command of Florian and his people to fight a guerrilla war against the troops of Regia. As he sees brave and honorable men die one by one, Theo finds himself changing into a merciless commander and a stranger to himself...

For those familiar with Lloyd Alexander's award winning series, "The Prydain Chronicles", I can honestly and truly recommend this other series written by the 'grand master of fantasy'. A bit more serious with dark overtones, "The Westmark Trilogy" deals with realistic events that can almost convince you that the series is based on true historical events. Through the series you will be given a chance to explore the characters as they struggle with forces beyond their control. Lloyd Alexander gives a realistically accurate study of human nature and psychology of war. I must say, after reading this book, I was left in thoughtful silence, musing over what I had just finished reading. It is not very often we Young Adults are given books which leaves you in a state of contemplation

As I said, I can highly recommend the thrilling and psychologically filling "Westmark Trilogy". Best to read in order. But the faint-hearted be warned, this book and the next one in the series are somewhat violent and gritty since the main theme is about war. But nothing too bad to turn away lovers of a good series! Pick these series up!

Regia is invading Westmark. King Constantine IX of Regia and his uncle, Duke Conrad, have already paid off the corrupt General Erzcour, who is the commander of all of Westmark’s forces. Erzcour has ordered all of his men on the Regian border to surrender to Regia. However, many of his soldiers and officers disobey his orders, to stand and fight for their country in the mountains that separate Regia from Westmark. Unfortunately, the valiant fighters are leaderless and low on ammunition. They beat a hasty retreat. Queen Augusta of Westmark, who was formerly a street urchin because the corrupt chief minister, Cabbarus (now affiliated with Regia), threw her out on the streets before she knew she was a princess, orders a carriage to carry her to the border. She then rallies the remains of the army to the nearest city and resupplies there. She is eventually forced to fall further and further back. Meanwhile, revolutionaries who wish to overthrow the monarchy must for the time being support it because if Westmark is defeated, then they will be also. One group is lead by Florian, a very well respected anti-monarchist. He begins to organize militias and to support the Queen’s army as well as he can. Justin, a far more radical revolutionary who will stop at nothing to establish a republic, leads the second group. Theo, Queen Augusta’s boyfriend, becomes second in command of Justin’s group, and assumes the name “Colonel Kestrel”.

I would recommend The Kestrel to anyone who has already read the book that comes first in the trilogy, Westmark, because The Kestrel is the second book. Westmark helps give you more background information on most of the characters, particularly Queen Augusta and Theo (Colonel Kestrel), and the setting. This book is excellent. It combines war, romance, and comedy (in subplots) into one very pleasurable story.

If you've read the other glowing reviews for this book, and for the other books in the same series, then you'll probably understand why I decided to purchase this whole series all at once, without reading even one of them first. According to absolutely everyone else, these books are brilliant, and I fell for the hype. I was looking forward to reading them like a starving man looks forward to eating a three course dinner.

But having now read the first two books, I beg to differ from the other reviewers. I read the first one, 'Westmark', over a year ago. It was okay, I suppose, but I was so nonplussed by it that I waited until now to read this second book in the series. And I have to say, I am just as unimpressed with this one.

This book does have some good points...there are the poignant observations on the brutality of war, the inequality of the feudal system, and the corruption of the power of officials and the ruling class. That's all well and good, and done with some finesse.

But there are some big problems, too, with this book. The storyline moves quickly, often too quickly, and glosses over too many things. There is a lack of detail and world building, the things that help make scenes real for a reader. Also, it lacks warmth, and fails to make the reader feel happy. Sorry, but I like books that give me a happy, warm feeling at least ONCE in the narrative. This book was never really uplifting. But the biggest problem was with the characters. I just never really felt empathy for them, or cared too much what happened to them. I did warm slightly to the street urchins, the elderly castle advisor, and 'The Monkey', whose military experience was admirable. And Mickle, the Queen, was at least a strong female character. But everyone else was just sort of dull, flat, or even annoying. I should have liked the Poet, but he just went on and on about his Muse, to the point where I wondered, doesn't he do anything else? Is he completely one dimensional? Where are the intelligent, poetic insights that such a character should have brought to the story?

I know war is dark and horrible. But there's still room for warmth and even humour in a war story. Australian comedian John Doyle proved that when he wrote the brilliant and evocative tv series 'Changi', which showed how a group of young Australian men dealt with the horrors of life in a WWII Japanese POW camp, by keeping a sense of humour, and holding on to their basic humanity. That show was realistic, gritty, and so sad I cried in EVERY episode, yet it was still uplifting and inspirational...not like this book!!!

I also know this book was written a few decades ago, and the standards for writing were often lower back then, in the age before modern word processors, when it was much harder to do rewrites. But I still think this book should have been much better. And I am worried by the fact that it has been given so much acclaim by so many reviewers. Are literary standards really so low that we'll proclaim any middle-of-the-road work a literary masterpiece?

I don't know if I'll ever get around to reading the third book in the series. Even if someone told me there was my favourite chocolate and a $50 note tucked inside its covers, I'd still be a little reluctant to open it up.

But hey, what do I know? I'm the only person who doesn't think this series is the most brilliant thing ever! I suppose you'll just have to make up your own mind. But don't make my mistake -- don't go buying the whole series of books until after you've read the first one. Then, if that first book leaves you feeling like I did, as flat as a pancake and as bored as someone watching a 24 hour marathon of documentaries on how to watch housepaint drying, then at least you'll know you haven't wasted too much of your money!

While "Westmark" (the previous book) and "The Beggar Queen" (the final book in this trilogy) are excellent books, this is the best, because -- well, because it's the one that has the power to hurt the most as you see what characters you care for are forced into by circumstance, the twists of fate and their own sense of duty.

Former Chief Minister Cabbarus, forced into exile in "Westmark" plots with the uncle of the King of neighbouring Regia to invade Westmark and re-establish a "proper" society. Theo wanders the country, trying to get a grip on how he feels about the thought of Mickle, the street urchin he fell in love with in "Westmark" becoming Queen... with himself intended as Prince Consort.

When the invasion begins, Mickle finds herself forced to become a military commander, and Theo finds himself among Florian's "children" again, fighting the Regians as an irregular, eventually rising to the rank of colonel among Florian's forces.

And Alexamder takes the chance -- without seeming preachy or heavy-handed -- to present us with just a bit (PG13 rating or so) of the horror of war and what it does to even good people.

Because "Colonel Kestrel", the brilliant and ruthless revolutionary/guerrilla leader is, also, the gentle Theo, who has never believed in violence as a solution to anything.

Someone has said, more or less, that Alexander is here presenting a parable on the uses and effects of violence, in causes good and not-so-good. He proposes (by example) the question "When -- if ever -- is violence justified in a 'good cause'?", and proceeds to show us (again by example) the answers to that question arrived at by various people of greater or lesser good-will.

And then he hands the reader an even hotter potato to examine than that -- he asks us to consider the after-effects of violence (even "in a good cause") on the people who have found themselves forced into it.

And it hurts -- in a good way -- to see what some people must give up so that others may still have it.

(David Drake presents a much more violent -- and most *definitely* adult -- look at much the same questions in his military SF novel "Redliners".)

In the end, everyone is forced to compromise somewhat, and all *appears* to be well.

On the other hand, this *is* the second olume of a trilogy.

Too much fun! Read it over and over and never tire of it. Blackadder will not disappoint you if you love British Comedy, Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Hugh Laurie.

"Blackadder" is one of the most brilliant television shows ever. The star, Rowan Atkinson, along with other series regulars such as Tony Robinson (as the perpetual dogsbody with a cunning plan,) Tim McInnerny, Stephen Fry, and Hugh Laurie carry this show through four distinct historical periods, with more laughs than could possibly be expected. Series one starts in the fifteenth century, with Atkinson as Prince Edmund, the illegitimate and despised son of the lunatic king, Richard IV. During this season Edmund adopted the moniker "The Black Adder" only after Baldrick advised him it was much more awe inspiring than his original choice "The Black Vegetable." (Note that while his name is spelled "Blackadder" in the scripts, when it is used as a title in season one, it is spelled "Black Adder.") This season sets the stage for Blackadder as a conniving and scheming con man, a reputation he and his Blackadder descendants live up to through the rest of the series.

Seasons two and three see a progression though history with Edmund first becoming Lord Edmund Blackadder, in the court of Elizabeth I (who is delightfully played by Miranda Richardson,) and later becoming the butler to Prince George, the Prince Regent, who is the idiot offspring of crazy King George III. These seasons provide the most laughs of the series for me, and I am particularly enthralled with the episode "Ink and Incapability" in which Baldrick burns Doctor Johnson's new dictionary. This episode is the ultimate in Blackadder humor, witty and urbane, yet full of madcap comedic moments as well, especially when Blackadder introduces new and confounding words for Dr. Johnson's considerations: "Contrafibularities, sir. It is a common word down our way....I am anaspeptic, phrasmotic, even compunctious to have caused you such pericombubulations." (Of course in true Blackadder fashion this only gets him in trouble, as Coleridge, the poet and Johnson ally threatens to thrust an Oriental disemboweling cutlass up his "ignoble behind.")

The forth season of Blackadder sees Atkinson as Captain Edmund Blackadder in the British army during the trench warfare of World War One France. This series also had a lot of laughs, with my favorite episode being "Private Plane," in which Blackadder and Baldrick join the Royal Air Force and are forced down behind enemy lines. They are subsequently interrogated and insulted by the Red Baron ("How lucky you English are to find the toilet so amusing, for us it is a mundane and functional item, for you it is the basis of an entire culture.") and sentenced to teach home economics to a convent of nuns for the duration of the war. One thing about this season (and two of the others) is that in the last episode of the season the entire cast dies, which elevates the series into a peculiar blend of black comedy and social commentary which I have still not grown fully accustomed to.

The book is a collection of scripts and has several extras germane to the time period being satirized which are also well done. I like the excerpt from "Dr. Johnson's Dictionary" provided on page 106, with definitions such as "left behind - part of the sitting apparatus of a personage," and "leek - a long, thin Welsh tomato." There are also helpful lists of the "Duties of the Prince Regent," "Duties of a Butler of a Royal Household" which includes "Commissioning moleskins (as and when necessary)," and "Duties of an Underscrogman." Baldrick, being the Underscrogman serving under Edmund is responsible for (among other things): "Removing and making good all squoles, whiffen-plugs, and blunters," "Cleaning the wulger-hole," "Quilping," "Cliving," "Groving," "Arranging the sheep droppings into neat little pyramids," "Frossiking the hounds," "Folding the glut-pile," and of course, "Making sandwiches."

This is a wonderful book, though if you are unfamiliar with the series, I recommend buying the DVD set and watching the shows first; a subsequent reading of this book will ensure many more laughs. As a side note, profits from this book go to the charity Comic Relief, a brief history of which appears in the last three pages of the book.

I recommend this book very highly for intelligent wit, and I likewise recommend the television series on DVD interphrastically.

The Blackadder series, begun in the 1980s, was a comedic masterpiece set forth by Rowan Atkinson and his comrades. From start to finish, the first series was a masterstroke of wit, irony and comedic styling that fits both the contemporary and medieval situations perfectly. The combination of slapstick and intellectual humour blended well, and the literary types will not miss the occasional credit of William Shakespeare as a collaborating writer on some episodes -- this might well be the kind of comedy Shakespeare would have produced today.

The first series was set in the pre-Tudor royal family, projecting that Richard III won at Bosworth Field, and Richard IV succeeded him, until after many adventures, the entire royal family was done in, and Henry Tudor reworte history thereafter. The first series starred Brian Blessed and Elspet Gray as the King and Queen, and Robert East as their eldest son, the Prince of Wales. Rowan Atkinson played the second son, who with companions Percy and Baldrick (Tim McInnerny and Tony Robinson) create most of the comic scenes. BlackAdder variously becomes the Archbishop of Canterbury, the betrothed of the Spanish Infanta, a witch on trial, and finally, however briefly, King of England.

The second series sees Percy and Baldrick following a descendent of Blackadder in Elizabethan times; as befits the period, the characters are more vibrant and saucy, particularly Blackadder, who still seeks his fortune as one of the Queen's suitors. Here he variously becomes the royal executioner, a sea-faring discoverer, a bankrupt noble, and finally a traitor to the crown, albeit not without a sense of humour. Miranda Richardson puts in a spectacular performance as Queen Elizabeth, with Stephen Fry and Patsy Byrne in attendance. Stephen Fry will recur throughout the series.

In the third series, Blackadder is still close to the crown, as the butler of the Prince Regent, a despised position to a despised person. Baldrick is still around, and the Prince is played by Hugh Laurie, who will recur in the final series. Done almost as a period comedy, the very titles and situations pay hommage to the day of the Scarlet Pimpernel, Dr. Johnson's dictionary, and the conflict with France. Through an interesting set of circumstances, butler and prince trade places, and the Blackadder finally becomes his intended goal, albeit in the name of someone else.

In the fourth and final series, Blackadder has fallen from a great height, and is an officer in the trenches of World War I. Baldrick is still there, and Percy and the Prince have transformed into fellow field officers, with Stephen Fry playing a bellicose general here as he did Wellington in the third series. The main device of this series is the effort by Blackadder to escape the trenches, by variously becoming an artist, a theatre producer, a chef, but to no avail finally, producing a sombre end to the dynasty.

The book is a fabulous companion piece to the series, as the BBC is known to do with television series of success. The six episodes of each of the four seasons is laid out in script-narrative form, with a generous collection of side offerings, such as the Blackadder family tree, the menu of Mrs. Miggins' pie shoppe, and other pieces of interest related to but not found in the actual series. The cast is included at the beginning of each series section. The book concludes with a partial collection of some of Blackadder's best insults.

This book was printed in aid of Comic Relief, who give a brief outline of their history of funding good causes in the last few pages.

This is a must-have for any Blackadder fan. Regretably, it does not contain the addition special features (such as the Victorian Christmas of Blackadder), but for any devotee of the series, this is a requirement.

1983 saw the airing of a hilariously funny new British television show, Blackadder. This show had four separate seasons that chronicled the lives of four members of the Blackadder family: Edmund Blackadder in 1484, son of Richard, Duke of York; Edmund Blackadder, favorite of Queen Elizabeth I; Edmund Blackadder, butler to Prince George, son of King George III; and, finally, Edmund Blackadder, Army captain during World War I. This book is a companion to that wonderful series, filling in the holes left in English history, giving all sort of useful information drawn from the Blackadder family archives, and the full scripts of each of the shows!

This is a great book, and a must-have for any fan of the Black Adder. The scripts are great to have, and the other information demonstrates the same great humor as the show. Having been created in 1998, the book does not contain any information on the Y2K special, Blackadder Back & Forth, which makes sense. What doesn't make sense is that it completely ignores the 1988 Christmas Special! But, that said, this is a nice book, one that I highly recommend to every Blackadder fan!

I stumbled upon the Black Adder comedy series one night in the 1980s while channel surfing. Something was weird, I thought--there's this sniveling coward, and this even more sniveling sycophant, and then the dogsbody who has dung all over him. Looks interesting. And as I watched, I found it extremely funny, as well. It required a knowledge of history (or Shakespeare, as you see fit), yet wasn't afraid to do the occasional fart joke. Puerile, yet intelligent. That described me at the time as well.

The successive series (Blackadder II, Blackadder the Third, and Blackadder Goes Forth) shifted over into the more intelligent realm (with the third series being the most so), although the running jokes about Baldrick (the dogsbody) being little better than the dung he came from remained. Blackadder II, set in the court of the virgin queen, starred Miranda Richardson, who was perfect in her cruelty towards the hapless Blackadder. The third series had Hugh Laurie as the Prince Regent, a befuddled German idiot who is being taken advantage of by Blackadder, the butler (think of a dark Wooster/Jeeves match, where the Jeeves character retains his aplomb but becomes extra greedy). I never got to see the fourth series on television, so my experience with it is through this book alone.

And what a great book it is. Published to benefit Comic Relief, the organization trying to aid the poor and destitute in England and Africa, it contains the scripts to each episode of the four series with faux historical documents and a running summary of the line of Blackadder. For an American, the scripts are almost a necessity to catch some of the more obscure language used in the series--especially the curses. The endpapers have color pictures of the main characters in each series, and there are some black and white stills with humorous captions included within the pages.

To say that Black Adder is my favorite TV show is true. I liked the 1970s American sitcom, SOAP, as well, but from its hilarious beginnings, it tapered off into pure silliness (as most American shows tend to do). The nice thing about the Blackadder series is the way that the British limit themselves to sets of shows, rather than endlessly milking the cash cow. Yes, I would like to see a fifth Black Adder (I've seen the Christmas Carol, which was wonderful), but only if it can be of the same quality as these. If not, let's not ruin a good thing, shall we?

"Cactus Hotel" is one of those rare books that is highly educational without seeming so. At the bookstore I first tried to just thumb through it but I found myself reading the entire thing and being wowed by every page. Now the book has no humor, it has no people, it is a gentle journey through the desert life of a sole cactus and the magic of nature and fantastic purpose of all living things. The cactus is the star and I'm star struck! This is a must for any inquisitive little minds library age 3+.

I carried this book in our bookstore and it became one of our best sellers. It describes the long life of the saguaro cactus, from seed to full growth to when it collapses. Along the way, creatures use the cactus for their homes or food. This books shows children how a plant is so important to animals. Beautiful illustrations.

I picked this up at an Arizona Airport for my kids, and we've all been enchanted by it. The illustrations are gorgeous, the text simple and accessible. Cactus hotel is the story of a single saguarno cactus throughout its 200 year life-span, as it grows from a seed into a towering cactus that is home to dozens of animals, and then topples and dies, still providing shelter to small desert animals before it returns to dust. My children and I will never look at a cactus the same way again!

This is a perfect book to read during a study of deserts. In fact, I think the author and illustrator should team up and make a whole series of books about various ecosystems, just like this one, that focus on the life cycle of a marvelous plant that is specific to that ecosystem. What an educational bonanza that would be!

A++++. As a gift idea, a child might enjoy receiving a small cactus with this book.

If you like to read about different kinds of homes and what lives in them, you would like this book. It is about a cactus that lives for 150 years! In that time about 38 animals make holes and move in. After 150 years it falls over and 10 to 20 more animals move in. This is a great book.

Beautifully written. Beautifully illustrated. This is a wonderful story and the kids (ages 7 and 3) were enthralled. It is a science book that reads like the best kind of picture book. We learned so many things from this and had fun doing it. Very highly recommended.

This is the touching story of a girl and her cat. He goes missing and she try's to find him. Mr. Pusskins learns grass is not always greener on the other side. A great story for teaching children about love and tolerance.

I saw this book on display about a year ago at a bookstore. I was so glad to find it again! I'm a 41-year-old woman, and I was instantly smitten with the crotchety Mr. Pusskins. His "portrait" on the front of the book reminds me of when I haven't had coffee. I see there's a second Mr. Pusskins book -- I simply must have it! With Christmas coming up, this would make a fabulous gift to anyone with a sense of humor, no matter what their age.

The cover made me look at the story and I had to get it for my daughter. The expression of Mr. Pusskins alone makes the story funny. He is an aloof cat that is pampered and adored by Emily. He can't stand it and decides to go have fun!

He lives the high life and makes friends with the Pesky Cat Gang. Eventually, the weather turns, things get boring and the pesky cat gang turns out to not be very nice. He finds a lost animal poster of himself and realizes he had it good with Emily. What my daughter found funny was the fact Mr. Pusskins calls Emily on the telephone and she drives the car to find him.

The artwork makes the story really fun. The expressions alone will bring a smile especially if you ever had such a cat.

We can't wait for the new story Mr. Pusskins and Little Whiskers: Another Love story.

I bought this book because my daughter loves cats and because I grew up with a cat that looked and acted like Mr. Pusskins. It quickly became a favorite book and it is never far from my daughter's bedside. She memorized each and every word and reads it to us now. It is a simple story of love lost and found and any child with a favorite "pet" can quickly grasp both Emily and Mr. Pusskins' feelings. We can't wait for the next book to come out!

This is a great book. I saw it in my daughter's classroom and was so taken by the cover that I had to buy it. It is beautifully illustrated and the story is so nice.

Chris Mooney presents a fascinating inside look into the politics and personalities behind hurricane science and scientists. With the possibility that global warming can increase the destructive power of hurricanes, a formerly non-controversial topic became highly politicized in a short amount of time. Predictably, scientists were in two basic camps: one believed global warming makes hurricanes worse, and one believed that global warming (which may not be occurring) does not make hurricanes worse.

Although Mooney keeps the pace moving along, by the time you finish this book, you may know more about hurricanes than you bargained for. At times, the book is almost too detailed for its own good, but if you know at least a little basic meteorology, you should be able to handle all the atmospheric science thrown into the book. Good book on a fascinating subject.

This is an exceptionally well done example of scientific journalism.
It presents a balanced review of both sides of the global warming ->
hurricanes issue while recognizing that the consensus of scientific opinion is that global warming is a real phenomenon.

Chris Mooney has written a fascinating account of one of the more complex issues associated with global warming -- the possibility of increased hurricane activity. Ever since Katrina, this issue has been central in public debate about the consequences of enhanced greenhouse warming on our planet. However, linking greater hurricane intensity to global warming is less straightforward than understanding the melting of glaciers and polar ice, desertification, or the rise in sea levels. Mooney explores this complexity and the different approaches to science of the main protagonists. The result is a fascinating and subtle account of personalities and science issues -- more nuanced, and hence more accurate, than many journalistic perspectives on the science behind global warming.

This is a good book, but not quite as good as the other reviewers suggest. I suspect that how much you like this book depends, in part, on how much you agree with the author's views. Put simply, although the book purports to be an objective overview of the interaction between science and politics, Mr. Mooney makes it clear which side he thinks is right. Those skeptical of global warming tend to be marginalized as out of touch, cranks, or biased by "special interests." This detracts from the book in a significant way because it casts doubt on the accuracy of the analysis. Indeed, in several places, the author seems to go out of his way to downplay data that undercuts the "global warming is making hurricanes worse" thesis that he endorses.

Having said that, the book is still very readable and full of information about hurricanes and the history of their study. Whenever the author is not talking about global climate change, his account of the science and the scientists is engaging and clear.

In sum, worth reading if you have any interest in hurricanes, but take his discussions of the state of global warming science with a large grain of salt.

It was probably a coincidence that this book reached our library just as I started teaching an online meteorology class at a local university. Whether or not, I found it invaluable in directing the discussions for this class since global warming is the most significant current issue for this science, and all roads/students/newspapers etc. lead directly to the issue.

For such a topic that is wrought with both political and emotional issues, I thought Chris Mooney did a wonderful job of presenting all the sides. There are never just one or two sides in any science. I saw that when I did research in HIV encephalitis in med school. It was amazing not only the good research that was done and reported but also the quacks that came out of the woodwork. They could have done reasonable and valid research prior to their introduction of mistaken theories and concepts, but boy, if you insisted they were wrong...even if it did turn out later they were wrong, they would cling to those theories like velcro. Not only did they cling to the theories, but if they couldn't get published in recognized peer reviewed journals, they started up their own journal!

This inability of both scientists and politicians to admit to mistakes about previously held beliefs is a real problem in science. Not just in meteorology, though I can see from Mooney's book that due to the attention that hurricanes brought to global warming, these guys who are often social inept were thrown into a maelstrom they didn't have the foggiest idea how to contend with (weather puns definitely intended).

I recommended this book to my students, and I don't do that often. I will continue to refer back to this book because it put very well the divides that not only exist in science, but even among communities and families concerning this issue (my husband is a wait-and-see guy, while I am one of those people who think we should do whatever we can possibly do to minimize our impact on climate).

Great book...great discussion.

Karen Sadler

Received the book in the condition specified in the listing. It was delivered promptly with no problems. Would recommend this seller.

Creating a Life Worth Living is one of the best purchases I've made in some time. Rather than the usual advice of satisfying an inner child or making a laundry list of things you THINK you might like to try, Carol Lloyd leads you through a series of exercises that help narrow down the field considerably. She requires you to work, to think about who you are, identify your bad habits and obsessions and incorporate those as well as your talents and inclinations. She encourages you, but it's clear the work is yours to do. This is a workbook for people who are creative, are looking for a direction, and can use self-examination as a propelling force rather than an excuse for not moving forward.

I've owned this book for a few years and even now, I turn to it once in while for motivation. Similar in objective to Julia Cameron's books, it is designed differently, more like a 15 weeks workshop. It is absolutely essential for creative types looking to guidance on their path, no matter what turn they are at.

Even if you don't make a living at your art or craft, this book is excellent for those who want to give more space for their personal project. "Creative types" loom large; there must be something in "Creating a Life Worth Living" for a large number of persons. Most alive and curious working people have a second or many passions beside working at their jobs: engineers writing science fiction books, secretaries making specialty chocolate or salesmen writing books.

Whatever your passion, whatever the stage you are at living it, you can find ideas to guide you and portraits of creative people enjoying their own life worth living. In the same vein, I would also recommend "The Pathfinder" by Nicholas Lore and "Soul Mapping" by Nina Frost et al.

Carol Lloyd's "Creating a Life Worth Living" bears a subtitle that declares it to be "a practical course in career design for artists, innovators, and others aspiring to a creative life." And in that, it succeeds quite well. The course (developed from workshops Lloyd teaches) starts with the assumption that maybe you have a yearning to do something different with your life, but you don't yet know what that is or, at least, how to do it. Starting with a "daily action" and moving on to some material on idea generation and abstraction, Lloyd mixes thoughts on creativity ("It's good to simply look at your lived experience and separate it from your concepts about 'life.'") with concrete exercises and interviews with successful creative people from all walks of life: teachers, painters, actors, writers, inventors, entrepreneurs, performance artists, dancers, directors, and more.

A book like this won't bandage up your life and make everything better in five easy steps. It won't reveal a magical key that will show you how to make millions from your watercolors. But it can help you to see your life a bit more clearly. It can help you to see the options and resources you might have missed, and it can help you to figure out what needs you have, creatively speaking, and how best to fulfill them.

Questions encourage you to take both the short and the long view, the practical and the ideal. Lloyd helps you to let go of your preconceptions by having you write down everything, no matter how silly, and by sharing stories of people who succeeded by doing what everyone told them they shouldn't do. So if you're already snugly fitted into your creative career, you'll have little use for this book. But if you're struggling to figure out what to do next or where to go, this book could help you turn your interests and desires into a concrete plan of action that fulfills both emotional and practical needs.

This book speaks specifically to people who aspire to creative careers. Lloyd talks about the pitfalls that keep people from creating, as well as the structures in the day that foster artistic activity. The author knows intimately what helps and what doesn't, in terms of an artists' career development and personal habits. Also, throughout the book are descriptions and interviews with successful artists. These were instrumental in helping me see that there are many different ways to be a successful artists, and that it is possible to make a living doing art. In fact, nothing seems more fun than that!

To anyone who is creative, not necessarily even an artist, I HIGHLY recommend this book. I've read many, many career books, and this one has done it like no other, because it goes beyond merely brainstorming what you love to do, into structuring your lifestyle to focus on what you love to do.

AN AMAZING MAN WITH MUCH TO OFFER EVERYONE WHO IS SMART ENOUGH TO BUY HIS BOOKS AND READ THEM. HE WILL NOT DISAPPOINT AND GIVES MANY TIPS ON HOW TO LIVE IN THIS CRAZY MIXED UP WORLD OF OURS AND BE HAPPY AND IN TUNE WITH OURSELVES AND THE WORLD. IT SURE OPENED MY EYES AND HELPED ME MAKE WONDERFUL CHANGES IN MY WORLD AND MYSELF THAT WILL LAST ME A LIFETIME. THANK YOU MASTER HAHN FOR YET ANOTHER WONDERFUL AND INSPIRING BOOK THAT GAVE ME MUCH TO LOOK FORWARD TO AND THINK ON IN THIS WORLD THAT HAS NEVER OFFERED ME MUCH HOPE. NOW THANKS TO MASTER HAHN I HAVE THAT HOPE AND MY WORLD HAS BECOME MUCH HAPPIER AND EASIER SINCE FINDING MASTER HAHN AND I TRULY HOPE HE KEEPS ON WRITING HIS BOOKS FOR IT WOULD BE A HUGE LOSS TO ME AND THE WORLD WITHOUT MASTER HAHN IN IT.

"The Art of Power" by Thich Nhat Hanh is an eloquently written book that delves deep into the essence of compassion, power and happiness. Thich Nhat Hanh goes beyond our conventional understanding of power to provide a more comprehensive understanding of what true power is along with how to create a life of true happiness that has the potential to spark a collective awakening!!!

Important aspects of the book highlight boundless love, being present at home & work, taking care of non-business, & meditations to cultivate power which are provided as practices that you can easily integrate into your day to day life.

I especially like the idea the author presents about 'the bottom line.'

"We know that the bottom line in business is profit. But 'to profit' means 'to benefit from.' There are many ways one can benefit from being a bodhisattva. If our work brings about well-being, there's nothing wrong with making money. It's possible to make money in a way that is not destructive, that promotes more social justice and more understanding and lessens the suffering that exists all around us. To do this, we need to be free from the pursuit of power, wealth, fame, and sex. These four go together. If you don't practice mindfulness, you'll be the victim of these four lures. Looking deeply, we see that it's possible to work in the corporate world in a way that brings a lot of happiness, both to other people and to us. When we're doing something for the benefit of all humankind and the environment, our work has meaning. Even if it's also making money, it has meaning. Even if it's also making money, it has meaning, because it can bring well-being to the world." Thich Nhat Hanh.

I highly recommend this book.

Even better read together with a spiritual novel NEXUS by Morrison & Singh about a heart-centered & transformative journey.

Nexus: A Neo Novel

Nhat Hahn's commentary here is simply amazing. He speaks the truth. Listen to his words, take seriously his suggestions and you will transform yourself first and ultimately the world in which we live that is lost in materialism, vanity and suffering tremendously. I'm completely serious when I say that this is the most important book to have come out this entire year. It's zen concepts applied in a practice manner to the modern world.

The striking design of this book's brick-red cover with the huge white word, "POWER," dominating all the other type -- is deceptively attractive. I know from talking with a group of teen-agers about books on spirituality that have caught their eye that this imagery is alluring.

But, of course, the Buddhist writer Thich Nhat Hanh defies our normal assumptions about power: that it is something we strive to attain so that we can control and perhaps even dominate people around us. That's the typical model of power in our culture -- power as "winning" in a competitive world.

Anyone who has read his previous works -- or heard his talks in person or on video -- knows that his traditional Buddhist approach to life is to set aside striving and competitiveness. Instead, compassion becomes the glue that should hold together our community.

So, what he really is writing about here is the social force that flows from the kind of authority we build through our exercise of compassion and a positive approach toward life. Some critics have observed that, over the years, Thich Nhat Hanh's books have tended to repeat themselves. And, yes, frequent readers will find the same heart of Buddhist teaching here that we know from other works.

But there are fascinating, fresh anecdotes and emphases in his teaching in this volume. For example, there's an intriguing story here about his return to Vietnam -- after many years of exile -- and the way he approached this extremely challenging journey. There are a couple of practical supplements in the back of the book, including some plain talk about Buddhist principles in the realm of business.

Yes, there is a deliberate twist in the title -- but it's a play on words in the service of wise and compelling teachings.

This was an absolutely amazing book. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone with a open heart.

I don't think that this book should be just limited to mental health professionals.
It's very interesting, caught my attention, and can be used as a motivator but more important it makes sense to me.
It should be used by those who are uncertain of where to go and what to do.

Before reading this book, I thought the best I could do when my emotional buttons were pushed, was to recognize and interrupt the reaction. I never expected that I could possibly eliminate the buttons entirely.
I plan to apply this wisdom to my own life and share the lessons with my patients.

Button Therapy, a 'MUST HAVE' for any mental health professional and/or the lay person. I have found many insights in this book and I have recommended it to just about everyone I know. I think that Dr. Goodwin has hit the 'button on the head', and has loosened it's thread with his insightful, caring explanation of our 'buttons' and how to deal with them. I find myself referring to it regularly in my business. Thanks Lloyd, I am happier, my clients are happier and we all understand ourselves and others better now that we have read your book. We will all be looking forward to your next work!

Suzanne Osborne, Ph.D.,Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist,Forensic Psychologist, Criminal Profiler, Counselor

Dr. Goodwin says what other "Dr's." say in ways that make the information accessible, useful and helpful. Every one of us has felt the pushing of our buttons and not been aware of it or known what to do about it. This book heightened my own awareness from "what? feelings? bah!" to "hey, this is cool stuff, I can actually know what I'm doing with all this emotional stuff running amuck inside me."
Hey, it'll make life easier and better. So where can you spend a few bucks and get such a deal?

The Button Therapy Book has made an incredible difference in my attitude and my life. I am able to relax more and don't get as uptight or angry as I used to. I have always been a person who had my "buttons pushed" fairly easily and now I understand how to identify my buttons, address them in a calm and loving way and most importantly, get rid of them. I've also been able to take the information given in the book and pass it on to my children to help them overcome their "buttons." Dr. Goodwin gives the reader all the tools they need to live happier, healthier lives, starting immediately! I highly recommend this book, it is a must for any person who is interested in improving his/her quality of life and getting rid of those buttons!

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.

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

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.

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. :-)

This book is crammed full of good survival and outdoor information. Its also full of awesome drawings. This is one of my favorite outdoor books and has been for many years, i find myself coming back to it again and again. Buy it, you wont regret it.

A great book with much of interest to anyone interested in outdoor skills and woodsman ship in an age that has mostly vanished. The illustrations are great and some are humorous as well.

All outdoorsmen should own a copy of this book. Highly entertaining and a wealth of knowledge.

THE BEST OUTDOOR/SURVIVAL BOOK I HAVE EVER READ. LOADED WITH INFORMATION, AND AT A GIVE AWAY PRICE OF ABOUT 10 BUCKS. ITS A NO BRAINER, BUY THIS BOOK.

I first read this book in my High School Library in 1955.
The best outdoor survival book ever.
Buy it at least a month before you go camping.
Must read for campers.