O Books

Mark Gold is a bright doctor indeed and this book is a comprehensive source of modern psychiatric information for depression and other mental illnesses. However, treatment resistant depression is a serious problem and that fact is that many people simply do not get better from medication, no matter how many strategies they try. Medication has a tendency to stop working and only now are new therapies being invented including transcranial magnetic stimulation, and recently, vagus nerve stimulation. Gold says that "only the rare person will fail to get better." Fact is, medication is usually not the answer for complete relief in of itself and should be combined with some type of psycotherapy for maximum effectivness.

I found this book to be very helpful. Mark Gold has been a pioneer in this field. He has also wriiten extensively about the abuse of cocaine.

I would highly recommend his books to anyone thirsting for knowledge in these areas.

In 1986, the psychiatrists in Canada insisted on trying a series of antidepressants on me, even though I told them that I could not tolerate them. I could not tell them exactly what was going on, but suffice to say that the things that you hear about anti-depressants instigating suicide, violence, and/or homicide are true. The doctors then wanted to hospitalize me and give me Halperidol to suppress the effects of the antidepressants! If I had let them do this, I am sure that I would never have recovered to a stable state.

In 1987 I came across a newspaper review of an earlier edition of "The Good News About Depression" by Dr. Gold. I read the book, and immediately made arrangements to go to Fair Oaks Hospital. I was tested and interviewed as a clinic outpatient, and within three days, the psychiatrist informed me that persons who exhibit the characteristics which I do (positive on depression indicator tests, intolerance of standard antidepressants) often respond to lithium treatment, even though they do not present bipolar symptoms. None of the MANY doctors with whom I consulted in Canada, including those at the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, knew about this important fact. I responded quickly to lithium, and within a month I was able to work, after being "unstabled" to work for a year and one-half. Since then I take lithium prescribed by my family doctor, I have not been to see a psychiatrist since, and I have had no other therapy of any kind for 17 years. You will find lithium listed in the monograph as an "anti-manic agent", but for me it is the opposite, an antidepressant. Who knew? No one except the experts at Fair Oaks in Summit.

Dr. Gold and his associates are The Best, and this book is The Word! If you, or a member of your family, or a friend, has anything that seems to be incipient depression, then get this book. Get your physician to refer you, make an appointment and go right to the Fair Oaks Hostpital. It is your life. They are the real experts, and you will never be sorry. They will give your life back to you, just as they did for me.

I recieved the tests described in the book. These tests pinpointed the type of depression and the proper anti-depressant.I had relief after taking the first two capsules and have been fine since. (1986-Fair Oaks Hospital,Summit N.J.) Thank you Dr.Gold.

The work of Mark Gold and his associates was an eye-opener for me when I was researching (author's book plug alert) the first edition of my book, Dealing with Depression Naturally. It was they who discovered, over 20 years ago, that there is a substantial subgroup of depressives - mostly middle-aged women - who are resistant to therapy because they have a relatively mild or subclinical degree of hypothyroidism that eludes diagnosis unless sensitive, seldom employed tests are used. Thankfully, "the thyroid solution" is finally being recognized by the mainstream. But Gold et al. (and other "biopsychiatrists") are hip to a much, much broader array of established medical/physical illnesses and conditions (literally 100 or so) that also can cause or promote the symptoms of depression, without attracting the attention of the average doctor bent on whipping out the old prescription pad after a cursory physical examination and history, at best.

This book - written with the help of a popular writer to make it an easy read for the average Jane and Joe - will educate you (and your doctor, if s/he is willing) about the range of hidden (if you don't look, they're still "hidden") medical/physical causes that could be causing or contributing to your depression (but not including some of the fringier ones, like brain allergies and Candida) and how to rule them in or out and, in many cases, treat THEM instead of the secondary depresion. With authoritative estimates that up to 50% of depressions are accompanied by physical illnesses that could be playing a causative role - and preventing depressives from recovering fully or at all, even when treated with the latest, greatest drugs (which Gold also discusses in depth, but circa 1995, along with a few natural alternatives and adjuncts) - this kind of knowledge is real power.

"Great Day for Dying" is a pretty fascinating (and bold) idea for a mystery: What if the Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick's Day parade was murdered? This fast-moving (I finished it an afternoon!) and often hilarious book is a must for anyone who's interested in anything Irish -- with some great glimpses of the REAL Irish culture of New York, which Harrington chroniciles with the fine eye of an anthropologist. On top of that, it's a neat little mystery, which had me guessing -- and laughing -- 'till the end.

A first-rate novel here, from all angles. The mystery story twists and turns engagingly. This time Danny O'Flaherty is back in New York, and it's not in wannabe hip circles downtown but far uptown above 200th Street where the work is tough and the people live in fear of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Harrington moves with authority from the complications of a Dominican neighborhood to the internecine strife of the Irish community. And along the way he offers incisive and often funny characters - Detective Washington, Mr. Zhang, surly Ian Masters, and above all, the opinionated Fintan Conway who, even dead, is larger than life. These creations linger in the mind long after the story is over. The climax is a fitting mix of resolution and tragedy, with a promise of romance to come. Highly recommended.

A GREAT DAY FOR DYING Jonathan Harrington

A Great Day for Dying is a fast-paced, thoroughly enjoyable mystery. In Harrington's two previous books Danny O'Flaherty solved murders while teaching in the quaint, Irish town of Ballycara. In the third book in the Danny O'Flaherty series, A Great Day For Dying, the tone changes somewhat as Danny returns to his job teaching in an inner-city high school in New York. His girlfriend from Ballycara, Fidelma Muldoon, has also come to New York and wants to go to the infamous St. Patrick's Day Parade on Fifth Avenue. Danny hates the parade, believing it is more about politics than Irish pride, but eventually agrees to go. Finton Conway, the Grand Marshall of the parade, is killed right in front of them and Danny is an eyewitness. Clues seem to point to another Ballycara resident and friend, Brendan Grady, who may be mixed up with the IRA. Danny is determined to prove his friend innocent, although Brendan makes it clear he does not want Danny's help.

A Great Day For Dying is spiked with enough Irish history and politics to peak my interest without overwhelming me. I am Irish American and learned more about my ancestry.

The characters in the Danny O'Flaherty series are growing and maturing as the series continues. I really enjoyed A Great Day for Dying, and recommend it.

Mystery connoisseurs who have not discovered Jonathan Harrington's Danny O'Flaherty series will be delighted to do so. O'Flaherty--New York City Irish--after the death of his father, visits Ireland to research his roots. Ultimately, this protag finds himself investigating two seemingly unplumbable mysteries in, The Death of Cousin Rose and the Second Sorrowful Mystery. Harrington's latest mystery novel, A Great Day for Dying, is anything but small town. Back in New York City O'Flaherty resumes his role as a tough but fair inner-city high school teacher. While attending a St. Patrick's Day parade the controversial Grand Marshal, Fintan Conway--whose enemies stretch from the IRA to the Papacy to Miami drug traffickers--takes to the chest, three bullets from a masked assassin and is left for dead. O'Flaherty, witness to the events, soon finds himself unraveling the mystery behind the shooting at the urging of his fiancee, Fidelma Muldoon. Muldoon is a modern day Maureen O'Hara equal to her beauty, spirit, and individuality. Harrington knows the mystery genre well and it's obvious that he demands of himself taut writing, swift pace, bushels of humor, Irish wit, and above all, fairplay plotting. There's no sorcery in O'Flaherty's conclusions and there are no wasted tributaries on the road to culpability. A Great Day for Dying also introduces Detective George Washington. A seasoned, New York City cop--McCoy from the get go. readers may at first feel uncomfortable with the author's "George Washington" device, but much like Arthur Upfield's shamus, Napolean Bonaparte--"Boney" to friends--Washington quickly emerges as a keeper. He could easily carry a series on his own. In a Great Day for Dying Danny O'Flaherty and his world around him develop wonderfully. An excellent, swift, and satisfying read. --Andrew McAleer is the editor of Crimestalker Casebook and the author of Appearance of Counsel.

While teaching in Ireland for a year on an exchange program, Danny O'Flaherty solved a couple of murders. He recently returned to his home in New York City where his fiancee Fidelma Muldoon illegally stays too, though her Visa expired. Fidelma persuades Danny to accompany her to the St. Patrick's Day parade, an event he hates because it has become more revelry than a celebration of ethnic pride.

Someone shoots the controversial Grand Marshal Fintan Conway near where Danny and Fidelma are observing the events. The police arrest illegal immigrant Brendan Grady, a friend of Peter and Fidelma. Since Danny provided an eye witness account of what he observed and Fidelma knows he has solved at least two homicides, she insists he find the real killer. Brendan was in the room where Conway was shot, but he refuses to explain why. Despite misgivings on becoming involved, Danny investigates the killing only to learn more than he ever wanted to know about ethnic loyalties.

A GREAT DAY FOR DYING captures the ambiance and gala feeling that New York's St. Patrick's Day parade provides to much of the locals and visitors. The tale also looks at the politics that go on behind the scenes, especially that of the Big Apple's Irish community. Danny remains a terrific character who in spite of his doubts instinctively champions justice. Readers will enjoy Jonathan Harrington's latest work while eagerly awaiting more novels in a tremendous series.

Harriet Klausner

An excellent publication for all those who have desired to implement eastern theology and the soul's path into the corporate realm, but didn't have the tools or know how. This book is revolutionary in providing the practical tools to bridge this tricky terrain.
Apply the soul's work in an "acceptable" format that won't raise the eye brows of CEOs. Execute exercises that seem sincere and truly contribute to well-functioning individuals and organizations. Review organizational and personal experiences with the new perspective of eight steps of the change journey realizing that they do exist, and how you can work with each step for the best possible outcome.
Highly effective in my work as a consultant and organizational behavioral specialist.

Guiding Change Journeys is a masterful fusion of Eastern and Western wisdom,science and mythology presented with great insight,clarity and warmth.It is full of new ideas,tools and practical applications that are guaranteed to energize and re-orient your thinking and approach to organization transformation.

Rebecca Chan Allen has written a masterful book that bridges
ancient eastern wisdom and modern western organization problems.
The book illuminates both the practical and theoretical side of some of our greatest organizational issues, and supports leaders
in playing full rich transformational roles in organization change.

Finally!... A book providing both practical guidance AND sound theoretical reference materials for change leaders and organizational effectiveness practitioners. Chan Allen's book is clearly organized, easy to use, and accessible at whatever level of conceptual depth her reader wishes to work (or to start from). Her examples are creative, original and fun to use -- in both professional and personal contexts. I highly recommend this for organization development professionals and those interested in transformation methodology.

One of the greatest challenges an author can undertake is to write a book that is both theoretically complex and strongly pragmatic. Rebecca Chan Allen has accomplished this in Guiding Change Journeys. In combining the philosophical underpinnings and conceptual bases of a wide variety of organizational change strategies with practical approaches, examples, exercises and illustrations, she skillfully supports change practitioners in integrating Eastern and Western perspectives. Through her integration of stories from mythology and concepts from organization development, new science and wisdom traditions, Chan Allen takes us on an "Archetypal change Journey" based on Jungian archetypes, which describe enduring patterns of transformation.

In a spirit of integration, the book implies throughout that successful organizational change is dependent upon individual and group psychological approaches, conceptualized within a systemic framework. The author's intention seems ultimately holistic, in that she continually addresses issues of mind/body/spirit, whether individually or organizationally.

Though the book may seem esoteric and philosophically dense at times, it carefully balances the more theoretical introductions to each chapter with a plethora of practical examples and exercises, which bring the theory to life and make the concepts infinitely usable. The overall impression is a treasure-trove of ideas. The many insights, methods and resources are offered by the author as gifts, with the invitation to "tinker and improvise" in order to adapt them to one's own needs.

In this simple offering, Chan Allen summarizes the heart of her book as a journey of discovery - which may well alter the life of the change practitioner, as well as the very nature of his or her organizational context.

"Guilty of Dust and Sin" is an easy read with a style somewhat like Chandler or Hammett. It's set in New Orleans just after WW II. The story starts out when two boys come running into Detective Lucien Caye's office. Apparently, a dead body was discovered nearby when their errant football went over a fence. From there, Lucien follows the clues, as a good detective should do. He starts out by wondering why a woman would be wearing a flashy red and yellow dress, as if she was going out on the town, while doing gardening. The local police are a little clueless at times, but Lucien is there to help. The plot unfolds in a straightforward fashion, albeit a bit plain, I'd give that part 3 1/2 stars. However, the story telling itself and the attention to detail is excellent, I'd give that part 4 1/2 stars. On the whole, a really nice piece. Overall rating -- 4 stars.

De Noux hit the ball out of the park with this one. The characters are quickly brought to life with rich descriptions and attention to detail creating a moving visual image of tension, agony and a touch of humor. If you love mysteries, you'll love this story.

I loved this story. "Guilty of Dust and Sin" reminds me of some of the best of Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain. It's a tale of a world-weary PI with a sharp mind and a strict sense of justice, one who does things his own way. O'Neil De Noux's characters are marvelous and his dialogue is snappy and real, but I think the strongest element of this story--the one I'll remember the most--is the setting. His detailed description lets readers see and feel the New Orleans of the late 40's. It makes me look forward to more of Detective Lucien Caye's adventures. An excellent, beautifully written story throughout!

This story is a beautifully written paean to a city (New Orleans) and a time (just after WWII) in which the boundaries between right and wrong were more sharply drawn and the consequences to someone who crossed them more immediate. Guilty of Dust and Sin, by one of Louisiana's best authors, is a story to be savored.

I've been a fan of O'Neil De Noux for years. Here's another great story by a great writer.

A Walk Through LifeThe Guv'nor is a great autobiography about a tough man who comes from the East end of London and gives you some good insight into the underworld of unlicensed boxing. One of the stories inside is how Lenny Mclean was flown to new york to fight the mafias top man, he beat him in the less than three minutes! if you like your tough men like Kimbo Slice, Mike Tyson and many others this book is for you to read!.

I always wondered who played the role of "John the Baptist" in the movie, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. The name Lenny Mclean kept popping up in books on British gangsters. He is Lenny McLean. A man who grew up tough under hard circumstances. Showing a talent for fighting, he starts doing enforcer and door man work for the local mobs. Later, he fights for money. Totally fearless, he takes on all comers "I'll even fight King Kong," he states. "And I'll beat the hairy b....ard!" Some of his exploits and boldness had me laughing. Like when a group of tough guys approached him at a bar that he was managing and asked for his job. After soundly beating the lot, he tosses them out of the club. There is another incident where he beats up an opponent before getting into the ring.

There is no bragging or nonsense in this well-written biography. It is an honest, straight-forward story about one hard guy.

Doug Setter, author of Stomach Flattening

one of the best books i have ever read

a must buy

What an amazing book. The story of a kid, horribly beaten by his step father, who grows into the hardest bare knuckle boxer in the world. But what makes the story so great is McLean's ethic's and moral's. He clearly draws a line in the sand and if crossed there's trouble. Not just a hard man but a real character. This is a great read.

If you ever saw the movie Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels , you probably noticed the mob enforcer character, "Barry the Baptist", who "baptized" his victims in trash-bins filled with water. While reading an article about the movie, a mention was made of the real mobsters and hard-edged sorts that were used in bit parts. One such role was played by Lenny McLean, who portrayed Barry, and was called out as "in real life, the hardest man in England".

As an American fight fan, I'd never heard of Lenny McLean. So I did a bit of Internet research and happened upon his autobiography -- this book -- over at Amazon.co.uk. I bundled it with a few other UK-only purchases (at the time, certain AJ Quinnell books were only available there, too) and received it days later. It was a captivating, compelling read -- the working-class, Cockney nomenclature notwithstanding -- that details McLean's rise from an abused child to the top of England's unlicensed fight game.

An unlicensed fight can take place anywhere: a warehouse, tavern, gym... wherever there's enough room for two willing fighters and a plethora of bettors. The rules? Let's just say there aren't many. Head butts, hair-pulling, elbows, knees, and the like are all part of the game. One might consider UK's unlicensed fights as the logical ancestor to today's UFC or mixed martial arts.

Over time, McLean proved himself the most dangerous man in the fight game. He participated in thousands of these no-holds-barred bouts, and it can be argued he lost only once. And in a rematch of that fight, he handily won. McLean doesn't shy away from describing his experiences on the seamy side of things. He details his role as a real-life mob enforcer willing to do anything -- except kill -- to collect or intimidate. Even his tangles with the law -- including a murder charge for which he was found innocent -- are fully described in colloquial, yet entirely satisfying, prose.

The book's ending is filled with promise for a new life as an actor: McLean appeared in several TV and film roles. But during the filming of LS&2SB, McLean was stricken by a bout with the flu. Subsequent testing showed that he was suffering from advanced lung and brain cancer and he passed away in July 1998, just days before the release of the film. The book is a fascinating testament to a hard man who lived a hard life, but was equally dedicated to his family and destined for great things no matter the odds.

Well known in New Zealand for his fantasy/science fiction books, Maurice Gee's "The Halfmen of O" was the winner of the New Zealand Children's Book of the Year Award and is the first of a trilogy that most kiwi kids have read (or been read to) in primary school. Although in many ways it is a generic fantasy story (complete with dark lord, inter-dimensional travel, lonely hero with a destiny, exotic creatures and treasure hunt for magic relics) its quick pacing, delicate language and New Zealand atmosphere make it something a bit more unique.

Energetic Nick Quinn and dreamy Susan Ferris are cousins that have nothing in common, except an annual summer holiday to the Ferris farm in Golden Bay (where I used to go camping with my family!) However, things are about to change when Nick meets a strange old man in the countryside who instructs him to give his cousin a message: a pebble engraved with a strange symbol. Susan seems to understand this odd calling, particularly since the symbol on the pebble matches the birthmark on her arm.

Catapulted into the world of O, Susan finds herself the prisoner of the terrifying Halfmen, as well as the last hope of the other inhabitants of the world who look to her to restore the balance of this beautiful, but dying planet. The meaning behind her birthmark is revealed, as is her duty: to find the two Halves of the mystical Motherstone and rejoin them. By doing so she will not only restore the balance of good and evil, but she will destroy Otis Claw, the being responsible for destroying the Motherstone in the first place. Helped by her innovative cousin, the untrustworthy Jimmy Jaspers and the other inhabitants of the world (the Woodlanders, the Birdfolk and the Stonefolk), Susan struggles against the dark influence of Otis Claw and his right-hand man, the vicious Odo Cling.

There is quite a lot of exposition on the dynamics of this world; which is ultimately concerned with the placement of good and evil in human beings, symbolized in the yin-yang-type symbol of the Motherstone and Susan's birthmark. When the Motherstone was destroyed, evil consumed mankind and resulted in the "Halfmen" who either completely good or completely evil, with no ability to choose between the two states. It is interesting then, that Susan's primary objective is thus to return *choice* to the inhabitants of O, to allow them to become complete people and decide their own destinies, for good or for evil. She's not eradicating evil, she's restoring the status-quo.

This is an interesting philosophy to introduce into a genre that's usually all about killing the bad guys, but I can't help but wish that Gee had found a slightly more interesting way to do it then have Susan fetch two Halves (which are kept secret in with the Birdfolk and Stonefolk, respectively) and return them to the Motherstone (in Claw's horrific city). It is a fairly typical "find the McGuffin and return it to its rightful place" gimmick that you find everywhere in fantasy stories. However, Gee does compensate by having the two Halves have a profound effect on Susan herself, and by making the cultures of the Bird and Stonefolk as interesting as possible.

The world of O is beautifully realized in terms of its landscape, with landmarks such as the Morninghall and the Throat of the Underworld. Despite being a completely different planet, there is an uncanny resemblance to New Zealand that readers just can't miss! Should this ever be made into a movie, there's only one possible location it could be filmed.

This installment was followed by two sequels: "The Priests of Ferris" and "Motherstone", which are also worth tracking down, particularly since they are even better than "The Halfmen of O!" Together, they make an interesting look at the fantasy genre, as it is written and conceived in the country that helped bring "The Lord of the Rings" to the big screen.

Priests of Ferris

Motherstone

I first read this book when I was eight years old and was required to read it at school aged twelve. I love it and have read it many more times since. I am currently getting the books to read to three of the children I look after, promising them a story equal to the Harry Potter Stories. I am a Kiwi living in the States and am glad to see such a favourite is being read here if only more people would do so. Battling classic elements of good and evil there are important messages in these books as well as being enjoyable to read and have read to. The opening gives a glimpse into the New Zealand landscape but from then on is fanatsy, a book to be enjoyed by all nations and ages.

I first read the story when I was only ten years old, it's as heart warming now as it was then. A Fantasy adventure set in a parallel world, similar to the Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. Beginning in New Zealand, it is a story about Susan Ferris, chosen at birth by the guardian of O she is the worlds last hope. She is kidnapped and taken to O, but with the help of friendly natives is rescued and begins her task to unite the Halves, the good and evil inside the inhabitants of O and bring order to the chaotic realm. 'The Wizard of Oz' with a New Zealand charm 'The Half Men of O' is a wonderful story for children and adults alike, you will be taken in by the poetic beauty Maurice Gee adds to this wonderful story and hopefully you will love this story as much as I have. Prequel to 'The Priests of Ferris' and 'Motherstone'.

The Halfmen of O is a stunningly powerful novel which places the force of evil up against Susan Ferris a small girl who is magically whisked away from her beautiful home in Southern New Zealand to a land of good a evil, along with her cousin Nick she must claim the "halfs" (mysterious relics of power)before it is too lat for them too save O and even earth along the way they'll meet friends like Jimmy Jaspers,Brand,Breeze and many other well described characters.

I can't praise this book enough! I first read it as a class book when I was eleven and was totally drawn in by the vivid imagery and the wonderful story of good over evil. I read it again when I was fourteen and was equally enthralled. At seventeen I read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and don't know how I ever lived without them before, and I would put The Halfmen of O up there with Tolkien (seriously!). Now at twenty-eight I still get visions from the book (the Halfmen) coming to me from time to time - quite regularly in fact, so much so I'm in dire need of reading it again. I couldn't remember the authors name and I was pretty sure it was set in New Zealand. Knowing that it is set in NZ makes it feel more 'local' to me and makes me wanna cheer for the the fab Aussie and Kiwi talent. I'm going to send a copy to some young friends who are fans of Tolkien and Harry Potter, I know they will love it.

I find writing reviews of the Head First series of books difficult. Not because they are badly written, or because they do not cover the subject matter well. It is simply that they are so good. So let me set the tone by saying: I challenge anyone to find a better book for learning basic probability and statistics!

Head First Statistics was written by a mathematician for non-mathematicians. The author and editors have obviously put in a great deal of effort to create something out of the ordinary. This book is clearly a labour of love, as it is a low effort and fun way to learn probability and statistics!

I studied Mathematics at University, and statistics was something I had little contact with until a first year introduction to the subject. This clear and simple book will take you painlessly from having absolutely no knowledge of probability and statistics, to a level commensurate with university entrance. It stops short of deriving the central limit theorem from first principles, but it will make you aware of what it is and show you how it can be applied. I gained a clear understanding of concepts I had merely glossed over at university over 20 years ago.

This is an interesting and engaging book, written in the Head First series' hallmark style (tells you how, but also shows you why). Even if you have absolutely no knowledge of statistics, it will not be a barrier to gaining an in-depth understanding of basic statistics from this book. I really enjoyed reading this book. Highly Recommended.

I did find a few spelling mistakes, and another reviewer on Amazon pointed out that there were a few mistakes in the exercises (I must confess I didn't work through every single one!).

Disclosure: a copy of this book was supplied by O'Reilly. I did not let that influence this review.

Let me start off by saying that I have used many student aiding books throughout my school year but I have never approached a book like this. I tend to stop reading a book if it is not interesting or just does not make sense. What I like about this book is that it teaches through the methods of interaction by putting you in a situation and having you solve problems that associate with the situation.

Also, I enjoy looking at the book illustrations because it allows me to focus on the situation and because some of them are amusing. I do not do well in statistics but thanks to this book, I actually understand the concepts and I can see the difference through my grades.

The only thing I could say about this book is that it would have been nice if the book included a bit more practice problems to practice with. But, overall I say that this is definitely a book worth buying if you are learning statistics.

I started reading an online copy of this book through my library. It explains the basic statistics concepts lucidly. Though it seems like a big book, I am able to browse through the pages quickly. It is written in a fashion that even a layman could understand basic statistics easily.

§
Ok, I'm almost 250 pages into this 650 page Head First Statistics and my head is not hurting at all. I think that is a function of the brainwork and sweat that went into putting this book together. More than that really -- with Head First books I am always also impressed with the quantity of organizational effort brought to bear to distill so much creativity in content.

Statistics. We quote them or make them up every day. Many of us also work with them in one form or another. I intend to use this book not just as an expansion of skills but also as a form of self-defense. Our employers use fine bunches of stats to confuse us on how much our overall compensation is. Wall Street and The City use them to show how needful they are for a bailout. Election candidates are surely naked without them.

This book covers the full range of topics dealt with in first-year statistics. If only it really *were* the textbook used, statistics would be more firmly set as a common skill -- and Wall Street would be much more circumspect in how it pleads poverty.
§

This is my first Head First book, and I was quite impressed. I am a graduate student who has had little to no previous experience in statistics. For the most part, I can complete SPSS analysis with ease and I understand most of the concepts presented in class. However, it dawned on me that there were gaps in my understanding that weren't being adequately explained by my professor or my textbooks. I wanted a real, in-depth understanding of when and why I would use specific methods, not just how to do the methods. This book is a wonderful synthesis that uses current research on how we learn effectively. I love the way that it blends concepts with problem-solving to enforce the connections for long-term retention and comprehension.

(I do have one criticism: it appears that there are some spelling errors and exercise mistakes. They are not overwhelming, and, fortunately, you learn enough to recognize the mistakes, but they should be noted. However, they are so mild, it is not worth spoiling a good review.)

This highly engaging book makes the Hittites accessible to the general reader. It opens with the story of the discovery of this culture with reference to the Old Testament, Egyptian records and the work of various scholars in the 19th and 20th centuries plus discussions of their various publications.

The main text is divided into State & Society, Life & Economy, Law & Institutions, Warfare, Religion, Literature and Art, as well as Languages & Peoples which includes discussions of Hittite, Hattian, Luwian, Palaic, Hurrian, Mitannian, Akkadian, Sumerian and Tabalic (hieroglyphic Hittite).

The book includes a Table of Hittite Kings, a bibliography and an index. There are black & white figures throughout the text and many plates with works of art, statues, seals, pottery and cuneiform tablets and photographs of the remains of Boghazkoy, Yazilikaya and Alaja Huyuk, plus a map of the Middle East and one of the layout of Boghazkoy (Hattusas).

For a brilliant discussion of the Hittite language, please consult Whence The Hittite? by Jaan Puhvel in the book Sprung from Some Common Source: Investigations into the Prehistory of Languages, edited by Sydney M Lamb and E Douglas Mitchell.

Gurney's book was my first introduction to the Hittites. And despite the passage of years and several revisions, it remains one of the three best general introductions. Even a general reader limited to the English language, however, should not stop with this book. Two books by Trevor Bryce ("The Kingdom of the Hittites" and "Life and Society in the Hittite World") complement Gurney's treatment and are both up-to-date, well-informed and written in a readable style. Well written and inexpensively priced collections of Hittite texts in translation authored by G. Beckman and H. A. Hoffner can be found in the Society of Biblical Literature's series "Writings from the Ancient World".

If you are not very familiar with ancient history, but want a good popular introduction to the Hittites, this is the book for you. Hittite is the oldest known Indo-european language, known mainly from thousands of tablets unearthed in central Turkey. The language is so archaic it is not classified with the others, but is considered derived from an earlier version. Hittite is the only language that preserves an explicit trace of the laryngeals, sounds that disappeared from all the other languages. The culture of central Turkey is identified with the Biblical Hittites. They just may have founded or helped to found Troy, and they may just be among the pre-Greek inhabitants of Greece. There are relatively few popular books on the Hittites, mainly because the field changes so fast. You scholars that are popular educators, get busy!

When Israelites arrived at their "promised land" land in Canaan, they met several other peoples, already settled there. One of them was the Hittites of Northern Syria - a civilized but also a "warrior" nation. The Old Testament told something about the Hittites but this civilizations' existence remained an enigma until the early 20th century. Since that time we learned a lot about this Indo-European people, especially after Hugo Winckler's excavations in Hattusa (Bogazkoy) of Central Anatolia. Oliver Robert Gurney, a well known hittitology specialist, presents us a rich summary of both Hittite history and culture in this excellent work. There are only a few books on Hittites, written for non-specialists, and this is probably the best one.

The Hittites are one of the better-known unknown peoples - they are well known from the Bible; mentioned as one of the peoples in the Syro-Palestinian area during the time of the Patriarchs, they continued to be mentioned through a long span of the history of the Hebrew Bible. At some point, they stop being mentioned - most likely, the Hittite Empire collapsed just as Israel was growing strong under the united kingdom monarchy (or perhaps just before) and was later absorbed by the various empires (Assyrian, Greek, etc.) that swept across Asia Minor.

There aren't many texts on the Hittites; what books are available are often written for archaeologists and other scholars. O. R. Gurney was a professor at Oxford specialising in Assyriology, that branch of archaeology and history that studies the empires of the Fertile Crescent. This book is accessible and interesting; originally written in the early 1950s, it has been updated to take account of later archaeological finds and interpretations. The history of publishing in this kind of field is such that often the 'latest' book will be something decades old, so the 'antiquity' of the book here should not be an issue, and generally isn't, for the student and for the general reader.

Gurney discusses in his introduction the earliest archaeological discovery of the Hittites, lost for millennia to the world under the sands of Asia Minor (Turkey) and other countries at the northern end of the Tigris and Euphrates. From here, he looks at Hittite history in broad strokes - the earliest cities, the Old Kingdom, the period of Empire, the decline of Empire and subsequent rise of neo-Hittite kingdoms, possible connections with the early Greeks and Trojans, and finally the Hittites found in Palestine.

Gurney's following chapters look at the different aspects of Hittite life and culture - society structure from royalty to commoners; government and foreign policy; economy and lifestyles; law and institutions (there are tablets of laws found in various locations); warfare (some things shared with other nations at the time, and some uniquely Hittite features); languages and literature; religion; and art. With regard to languages, this continues to be a rapidly developing area, but the connection of Hittite to the Indo-European language family (through the Anatolian line) has been known since 1915; this was rather surprising, given that the other languages in the area are of the Semitic line, a non-Indo-European language family that included Sumerian and Akkadian, languages in evidence in Hittite areas, showing regional connections for trade and foreign relations. This shows that the Hittites are most likely of a different stock of people from the rest of the peoples of the ancient Near East -- strangers in the land, in a way.

Gurney's text adds details for the student that are worthwhile. For example, while reading about the downfall of the Hittites, Gurney mentions the Peoples of the Sea who were sweeping across portions of the eastern Mediterranean at that time, and tells how Palestine came to get its name, not data directly relevant, but useful and interesting nonetheless. The text is full of such things.

The book also contains many pictures, plates, and line-art drawings of inscriptions, maps, buildings and building plans, and other pieces of interest. There is a chronological list of the kings of the Hittites, ranging from early kings of unknown timing, to the known dated kings from 1740 to 1190 BCE. The bibliography is excellent, divided topically into eighteen different topics, for scholars and students to pursue particular subjects in relations to the Hittites in earnest. The index is very good, useful for Hittite, English and other words and names.

A fascinating book!

I'm a roadgeek and figured I would like Erik's book. But it greatly exceeded my expectations. It is well organized, full of detail, and has terrific photography. The history of how roads came to be what they are adds an interesting dimension. Erik even discusses facets of road construction which I had never considered, such as lighting. Overall, what could have been a dry subject is coverered in a fascinating manner.

Wonderful book: totally comprehensive with incredible pictures and maps. A must buy for anybody interested in the history of Houston or in freeway design. Put it on your coffee table and amaze your friends: "So that's why that road is like that." "Wow, look how much this part of town has changed!" "So that's what a Texas T-ramp looks like." (ok, so maybe not that last one...)

Words cannot describe how intelligent, classy, and thought-provoking this book actually is. Of course, one should not expect anything less from Slotboom, a detail-oriented perfectionist.

Tremendous use of fascinating photos and maps makes this book a pleasurable read. This book will captivate the engineer and mesmerize even the most casual of highway buffs.

This book will not disappoint. The only negative point I can make about this book is that it is impossible to read a small number of pages; I set out to read 20 pages and, instead, ended up reading the entire book in one sitting.

Easily rates a 5/5.

This is the best book I've seen about the history of roads and highways in Houston I've seen. It's got a ton of full-color photography, historic photos, and is a well-written book. I'd been waiting on thia book for over a year, and when I found out that it was finished, I went straight to the bookstore (only in stores in Houston and Austin, I think: go to http://www.houstonfreeways.com to be sure) and bought it. If you're a roadgeek, or just want to know about how Houston grew, this book is well worth it.

I moved to Houston in Summer 2003 and wanted to know more about the when/where/why of Houston's freeways. I found the web site for the book, and when I got the book it answered all of my questions and then some.

Being a history buff I loved all of the historical photos, and when I drive these days I love looking around at the development and then remembering the pics I saw in this book. Amazing.

If you want to know why I-10 West outside the 610 Loop is a disaster and inside the loop is fine, Slotboom knows the answer. Every time I go to Ikea I think about those decisions made decades ago and how they impact me/us every day.

If you like history and/or are a freeway buff, this book will not disappoint.

From Basic Fundamentals to building useable skills, this book outlines in a simple constructive fashion "how to make youngsters better ballplayers". The drill sections provide practice methods to teach budding little leaguers the foundations for future success.

There have been many books that have attempted to simplify teaching this wonderful game, but this book is the first one that actually accomplishes the task, and puts it in a repeatable, useable format.

Thank you for making my job as a coach and instructor easier!

This is a great book for a complete step by step approach to coaching baseball! Very useful for coaches and parents!!

This book is very detailed and organized yet easy to follow. You could have never coached baseball before and be prepared by the time you finish this book.

I bought this book after the youth baseball season started as a way to help my son improve his skills. I wish I would've bought it sooner. However, I will continue using these drills to help him improve his game before next season starts. The drills are formatted in a way that anyone can understand and follow. It is obviously that the authors know the sport and know children well. I highly recommend this book.

There certainly is a need for GOOD how-to youth coaching books, and this is one of them. The book is well written and organized with an easy-to-follow format and lots of photos and diagrams. A new coach can't go wrong in following the user-friendly book to cover all the basics of baseball.

But perhaps more important is the emphasis on YOUTH and dealing with kids, a skill that does not come automatically to everyone involved with youth sports. In other words, the book helps to shape a coach's attitude as much as how to improve skills in young players. Ideally, the coach learns and grows throughout the season as well as the kids.

It seems to me that this book is equally valuable to experienced coaches, in helping them to get the most out of all their players, not just the most talented. Many coaches come to youth sports as successful athletes themselves, and sometimes do not recognize what it takes to bring along kids who may be having difficulties. If the point is to keep more players playing, improving, and having a good time, here's a way to strengthen a team as well as individual players.

A great investment toward a good season.