O Books

I got this book at a local Linux talk given by the author about a week ago. This book really opens my eyes to see how much resource there is for multimedia on the Linux platform. It's a must-have if you are serious about multimedia, even if you are not a heavy Linux user. As you see, a software dies on Windows PC when the software company (or Microsoft) stops supporting it (or the software company goes under), because you only have the binary code. But the Linux software lives on because you can always pick up the source code from the open source (that is if it's an open source project, of course. Fortunately, most of the Linux software are). Bottom line: this book does what it says ! I am very happy with it !

Kyle Rankin's Linux Multimedia Hacks: Tips & Tools For Taming Images, Audio, And Video covers a program which typically disappoints multimedia fans with what seems like shortcomings in playing DVDs or MP3 files. Overcome these seeming detriments with a book which tells how to tweak and build Linux multimedia entertainment systems. Both newcomers and advanced users of Linux learn how to edit images, audio and video, manage music, burn DVDs and VCDs, and much more. Linux Multimedia Hacks isn't just one developer's knowledge base: it reflects contributions from many Linux experts - even the software creators themselves.

I've spent the last few days going over this book and experimenting with the different hacks on my Fedora Core 4 workstation. I use Fedora Core 4 almost 100% of the time at home, and I've felt the need to manipulate and use multimedia objects for a long time now, but didn't have the practical knowledge at my fingertips to do so. For example, how do I take a screenshot? This book answers this and other questions.

Now I understand how to use ImageMagick, take screenshots, and work with mplayer. I've implemented some hacks with gratifying results and experimented with bits and pieces of other hacks. For example I installed mplayer and the software bits needed to import video from a camcorder with a Firewire (1394) port. Mplayer is now running smoothly, and I'm waiting for a convenient camcorder to come my way so I can plug it into my 1394 port and let it rip. These hacks really seem to work, and they are quickly implemented. The authors of the various hacks give brief explanations that help build multimedia skills. Each hack is written with great clarity.

This book will gently introduce you to the power of scripting in Linux. Simple 1- or 2-line scripts pepper the book, and by using them you can quickly get the effects you want without having to spend long periods of time learning how to do the same thing on a GUI interface. Now, I can dump all 300+ photos from my 1 Gb flash card into a new folder and then use a script to resize them to a size small enough for a web page and for sharing with other folks. Try doing that to hundreds of photos on a GUI interface! With the suggested scripts, you can let the computer do the work, not you, and you can congratulate yourself on your smarts. Each script is carefully explained in plain language. I especially like Rankin's discussion of how to set up a digital camera and download all the photos from it automagically.

Today the Linux desktop is every more GUI-friendly. It is very easy to use; some of my friends have used it without realizing they were on Linux. I can see thumbnails of all my imported photos on Gnome -- it just works. I can expand the thumbnails into new windows with the actual photo. I can plug a compact flash card into my card reader and Gnome will recognize that, too, and offer to download the photos in the card. I can and often do edit photos with the Gimp and email them to my relatives. This books discusses all these things except possibly the emailing bit.

I began to realize that my hard drive is way too small for all the media I hope to work with. I recently ordered a 400 Gb drive to solve this problem.

This book shows you how to work with your media at no cost to you. It rolls up a lot of useful knowledge right at your fingertips. I can't think of another source of well-thought out media hacks either on the internet or in the documentation that comes with your Linux distribution. Every person wanting to work with media on Linux ought to have this book. Rankin and the other hack contributors have done a superb job.

Do you want to master the entertainment possibilities of Linux? If you do, then this book is for you! Author Kyle Rankin, has done an outstanding job of writing a book that takes the best of Linux's multimedia tools and shows you step by step how to use these tools to do cool things you would not have thought possible with images, audio, and video.

Rankin, begins by defining hacks that are specifically for images. Then, the author describes hacks for all things video. Next, the author shows you how to get the most out of video tools under Linux, which are some of the best in the industry. The author then gives you tips for accessing and creating your own web broadcasts. Finally, he shows you hacks to help you tweak your web browser under Linux so it can get the most out of the multimedia Web.

For the most part, this most excellent book allows you to look for hacks based on the multimedia type. More importantly, with this book, you'll be able to move quickly beyond anything you previously thought was possible, without spending a small fortune on commercial software.

Most versions of Linux have minimal multimedia abilities without the installation of additional software. Of course there is a lot of Linux software out there that can be used to change your Linux installation into a powerful multimedia computer with amazing capabilities. And, since it is Linux, it can be done at minimal or no cost for the software. Author Kyle Rankin details how to install and configure these products in this book. To keep the information organized he breaks it up into chapters on Images, Audio, Video, Broadcast Media, and Web. Working through the hacks you soon discover everything from how to rip a CD, convert file types, and edit a sound file to how to build a MythTV system where you can record television, watch videos, listen to music, and play arcade games from one system. There's even a tip for automatically removing commercials from digitally recorded television shows. When you are trying to figure out how to get your Linux system to do something special in the area of multimedia this is the first book you will want to turn to for answers. Linux Multimedia Hacks is highly recommended.

When doing any study of the Old Testament, this reference puts together the ideas and flow like no other book I have read. Seeing the bible through the patterns of understanding is the only way to truly see "The Big Picture" broken down into bite size pieces.

Dorsey does an excellent job within the limits of a 'flyover" approach to the literary structures of the Hebrew Scriptures. The introduction and first chapter is a great primer on the types and purposes of literary style. The brief overviews of literary structure are akin to a satellite image that allows a "from the top" view of a neighborhood that gives a "lay of the land" concept - and helps at the "street" level of moving through texts, connecting them into a more comprehensive array.

The potential to see harmonies and purposes where before scholars have only seen "cut and paste" approaches to editing, or have discounted the throughtfulness and intentionality of the text is encouraging. It is accessible to the lay reader while also serving those who desire a more scholarly resource.

I believe this to be a very important and necessary work.

The Literary Structure of the Old Testament gives a great overview of the use of literary patterns found to be common in the OT. It also covers each book of the OT in some detail.

Why should we care about the literary patterns in the OT? The ancient Hebrew author used them to communicate meaning. And if you want to know what an OT author was saying then you need to understand these patterns and how he would have used them. David Dorsey helps us see this in this wonderful book.

If you are a serious student of the Hebrew text.. then I encourage to get this book. You will be enlightened by it.

I personally keep 5-10 copies of this book to give to those who I know would appreciate it.

Many thanks to Dr. Dorsey for his time and effort.

This book is valuable to help students of Scripture see the pattern of each Old Testament book. The author provides us with symmetrical outlines, typically providing a "Center Point" which is th emphasis or "pinnacle" of the section. But the arrangement is not just his creation: it really fits the organization of the book under study. This outline exemplifies an orderly arrangement called chiasmus (or chiasm). It looks something like this: A B C Center Point C' B' A' And most of the Old Testament typically does indeed (naturally) flow into this pattern.

This work is useful in two ways:
(1) hermeneutically (interpretationally), it shows us where the climax of the section is located and how the symmetrical pattern before and after it modifies that climax;
(2) instructionally (for preaching or teaching) it directs us to a concentration point. This is useful in many ways, but it is particularly helpful when we are addressing highlights from the various books of the Old Testament.

This is not the type of book one would read through, but it is a reference book to pull off the shelf when a person is preparing to study a particular book of the Old Testament. I would include this volume under the label of "introductory material." Although it is subtitled as a "commentary" it is not a verse by verse work, but rather a commentary on the main structure (and outline) of the books involved. The book is slightly more than 300 pages long.

The average laymen would probably not find this book very useful, but folks interested and active in Bible teaching (particuarly at an adult level) would probably enjoy this work.

This is a very important one-volume study on chiasmus that deserves shelf space for any biblical enthusiast of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). After a very instructive twenty-nine page introduction to biblical literary structure, the author organizes his analyses of biblical structure book by book (English order) of the Old Testament Scriptures. As he states in his Preface: "At first I planned to include analyses of all the books of the Old Testament. Then reason set in, and I selected a small sampling of biblical books on which to focus. In the end, however, Kenneth Miller, my colleague at Evangelical School of Theology, convinced me to reverse this decision and return to my original (foolhardy) plan. I am keenly aware that what I have gained in breadth by greater coverage I have lost in depth. But I am satisfied with the decision, and hope that the resulting product will be more useful to readers" (p. 9).

If you are at all interested in biblical structure of the Old Testament and its importance in relation to correct interpretation, you will never regret purchasing this indispensable volume. As the author himself states: "Certainly it is time for surface-structural analysis to take its place among the important disciplines within biblical studies. Old Testament authors communicated their message through the arrangement of their compositions as well as through verbal content. Modern commentators devote much effort to clarifying the verbal content of passages of scripture but give relatively little attention to the arrangement of this content. If we are to understand more fully the books of the Hebrew Bible, we must pay greater attention to their structures and to what those structures reveal about their meaning. The purpose of the present work is to encourage renewed interest in this promising and important aspect of interpretation" (pp. 327-328).

I first heard The Little Dragon on an LP (that's right, a record) from our public library when I was about 4 years old and it quickly became a favorite. My family has been quoting it ever since. In fact, I still can't remark that something is yellow without wanting to shout "It's YELLOW!!" I'm now buying it to have on hand for nephews and cousins and hopefully one day, my own kids.

My family also has listened to Jay's children's stories for years and years and years. He is a constant pleaser! Hurry, hurry, Little Dragon! Go get this cd!

Jay O'Callahan is a master story teller. This is one of our favorite collections (I love Orange Cheeks!). I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old and we all love it. I also highly recommend "Little Heroes" also by Jay O'Callahan. If you like Jay (and high quality children's storytelling) you should also check out Jim Weiss and Odds Bodkin who are both in the same stellar category.

My aunt bought me this tape years ago, and I lost track of it. Recently, I decided that my daughters had to hear it as well, so I asked my mom to see if she could dig it up and send it to me. When it arrived, I found that it was every bit as good as I remembered -- maybe even a little better. :-)

Woe is me Bones, woe is me Bones, zz zz zz zzzzz, zz zz zz zzzzz....

In this set of stories, Jay stretches the imagination, the attention span, the drama of words, and the heart. We bought this tape some years ago from some catalog (before Amazon got big), and my daughter and I still hang onto the tape, though we have passed on most other stories/tapes. I will buy another copy of it so the cousins will have it to listen to. Jay is really really expressive in how he uses words, and how he uses words can be very infectious and entertaining. He is a cut or two above most storytellers. There's something very psychologically positive and motivating about his stories, and they give lessons about how to conduct life without being the least bit preachy. Kids are the heros and heroines in these stories, and the kids in them have both mundane and exotic, and always fascinating adventures. If he ever does a CD of this, I will buy it for the grandchildren. The dragon story is a fantastic fairy tale (with a heroine being brave and wise and the adults learning from her); the orange cheeks tale could happen next door (the little hero tries to hide some mistake and makes a situation worse and worse, and then a wise and forgiving grandparent fishes the truth out, gets the kid to confess, and makes everything better--communication resolves misunderstandings; lying makes things worse).

I want Peter O'Toole to scrible my life story. One of our grandest actors turns out to be a remarkable writer. If he was writing about any other person than himself, this would be a great book; a most enjoyable reading experience; and a primer in how to tell the story of a larger than life person. As it happens, Peter O'Toole, the exceptional writer, is writing about Peter O'Toole, the peerless actor.

And this is Volume Two! Do grab the first book, "Loitering With Intent: The Child." It is not only a fascinating story of the very early years of O'Toole's boyhood in Ireland, it is also a personal account of the world plunging into the chaos of the 1930s that became World War II.

Read them both...preferasbly in order. And pray Mr O'Toole is with us long enough to craft volume three!

Peter O'Toole continues recounting his early years in the second volume of his biography. It has a slightly different style than the first volume (The Child), but is still extremely enjoyable. Highly recommended.

That O'Toole can write is no surprise to anyone who has seen him act, since--although he is saying others' lines on screen--a pulsing intelligence comes through in his performances. (Brando can't write in SONGS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME, and neither could KATHERINE HEPBURN in her autobiography. As good as they are as actors, they don't suggest eloquence on the screen...despite the quality of the lines they say). But O'Toole is not one of the greatest writers alive. This volume shows that. His writing needs to be more linear. He IS one of the greatest actors alive, however. So I wish he would leave his desk and get in front of a movie camera or on stage instead. I don't believe there is such a thing as a genius actor. But if there is, O'Toole is it (and the only one). There has certainly never been an actor as charismatic (well, maybe Cary Grant. But could Grant have played serious drama as well as light comedy? He never played in a drama that I know of).

Who says a great actor has to be a self-absorbed boor with no life or thoughts of his own offstage or off-camera? This second installment of noted actor O'Toole's autobiography brims over with vitality, quirky charm, and loving reminiscences of fellow drama school students, teachers, and a host of other fascinating souls. O'Toole is clearly one of those people who makes his own fun, and naturally finds kindred spirits wherever he goes in life. He doesn't choose his friends based on their status or what they can do for him, he just enjoys their company. And how! The myriad, unorthodox ways O'Toole and his pals devise to obtain lodgings, food, semi-clean laundry and other of life's necessities will have you laughing out loud. One of many highlights concerns the delightful, party given to celebrate the final hours of leaky old houseboat, where guests take turns pumping the sea back out even as it sloshes at their ankles. A rip-roaring good time was had by the artist as a young apprentice, and his mates!

O'Toole has a gift for the English language -- you just want to read whole chapters aloud, to enjoy the sound of the words. There are also scores of laugh-out-loud funny anecdotes sprinkled throughout, all told with wry joy. This isn't a typical actor's memoir -- this is way more fun.

Mabel really doesn't like peas, but she's stuck at the dinner table until "every pea has been chewed." Unwilling to eat even one pea, Mabel has the clever idea of hiding the pile of peas...in her ears! Needless to say, when you have ears full of peas "words become confusing, their meanings amusing, ideas become hard to convey." Mabel's mother tells her to "stop," but Mabel hears "hop." "Mabel, hold still" becomes "Get out my old drill" and "Put those tools down" is received by Mabel as "Paint [your] face like a clown." Hilarity ensues. The illustrations are colorful and as raucous as the text. This is an fun book and an excellent choice for working on rhythm and rhyme as well as vocabulary (text includes words like devised, dismay, convey, mission, urgent, conceal, etc.). A great partner with Ain't Gonna Paint No More for a wacky-behavior-themed storytime!

This book is by far one of the best children's books that I have come across in a long time. There is a lot going on in this book and it will keep your child entertained again and again. With very expressive characters that are drawn well and a rhyme that will put your child in stitches this book will never take a rest at your house.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!!!!!!!!! My daughter likes it a lot too although I think much of the humor is directed at the parents. I can see myself keeping this one around for a long time. I was actually giggling out loud the first time I read it. I do have to say that I was a bit worried about giving my daughter any ideas since she's such a picky eater but it's too funny not to share. I hope there are more in the Mabel series!

Mabel O'Leary Put Peas in Her Ear-y is a playful and zany rhyming book with whimsical and colorful illustrations that will become every child's favorite.

It also passed the important child test. My four-year-old granddaughter and I share the delightful ritual of reading books over the telephone when we're miles apart. I read Mabel O'Leary Put Peas in Her Ear-y to Caroline and she giggled and clapped her hands joyfully, and when we'd finished reading it, she asked me to read it to her again. Now that's a recommendation!

Mabel doesn't like peas but she can't leave the dinner table unless she eats them all. What to do! But Mabel has a plan. She hides the peas in her ears. The problem is that she is unable to hear anything her mother says and that causes many problems for Mabel and her mother.

Armchair Interviews says: Mabel's adventures will delight children and adults alike. You'll find yourself laughing along with your special child.

When you don't like veggies, you must eat them anyway or devise a plan to make them disappear. Mabel O'Leary chooses to hide her peas in her ear-y, which makes for an interesting day when she can't understand a word her mother says.

Rollicking rhyme coupled with gorgeous illustrations of the young trouble-maker and her exhausted mother make this book laugh-out-loud funny and an entertaining read-aloud.

"MacOSX Panther Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips &Tools" is an updating of the earlier "MacOSX Hacks" to address the newest operating system from Apple, OS 10.3, popularly known as "Panther". The Panther OS update continues to provide opportunity for basic users and power users to customize, tweek, and hack their machines. Unlike all previous Apple operating systems, the OSX iterations incorporating Unix underpinnings, legacy OS9 and Classic components, and a continuing evolving Mac GUI, provide unusually rich and complex textures allowing for all kinds of customizations.

The book is a compilation of 100 ideas, hacks, tips, and tweeks contributed by a large handful of developers and power users covering mostly productivity-enhancing items, but also security and maintenance items, and some fun and geeky items. It is designed for the adventurous spirits who may need some guidance in customizing their machine and applications.

There are nine chapters of such hacks. Chapter 1 covers the user interface including how to customize the Apple-provided animations like the "genie-effect". Available third-party applications for customizing the user interface, like Konfabulator, are noted and evaluated (Hacks #2).Others include launchers, desktop applications, keyboard shortcuts and the like. (Hacks 3-9).

Other sections include an introduction to Applescript, Safari tips and tricks, multi-media tricks, file and device synchronization, and Unix tips and tricks, including how to use the Terminal application. Hack #27 is a guide to the hidden debug menu, which provides access to otherwise unknown Safari and browser features. Hack #30 informs how to use RSS with the Mac. You can learn to build your own MPS server from Hack #41 and build an emergency boot volume with iPod in Hack #52.

Many of the hacks are quick and easy. Some require geek-level knowledge. The most interesting and perhaps most valuable sections deal with Panther maintenance and security. Hack #93 is a 19-page security primer useful for both basic and power users.

OS X UNIX is amazingly friendly and accessible. Some people who had never used it before type commands and work with the operating system directly as a "cool guys" in movies! This book is very helpful and well written and it is serves as a very nice reference. I paired this book with that "UNIX Essentials" DVD I found here on Amazon and it is complete UNIX course recorded and this book and a video they contribute one another greatly. You improve the reading and by reading you improve what you have seen.
The book is very particular about the subjects that related to OS X and because there are some differences between OS X and other UNIXes it is nice to have a book that deals with it.

....do that??!!

Once cracking this book open, it didn't take me long to have a "eureka!" experience. "I didn't know I could do that!" I heard myself say to myself. I learned something new that I bet no one else knows....or do they?

My favorite hack so far is using the services menu under the application menu. It's an amazing thing and has been used more often than anything else I read in the book. The next thing I'm going to do is use more scripting and attach those scripts to my file folders. Fortunately, the authors provide lots of great examples. Whew...I don't "do" Apple scripting.....yet. I will after reading this book.

The authors don't exclude the use of other applications in "hacking" the OS but they sure do provide a lot of helpful ways to use them. My very favorite hack in that way was their suggestion to "Clutter Your Desktop with Music." In that hack, #42, they suggest using a little iTunes add on called Clutter. Ohh...I don't want to give all of it away. I want everyone to have a copy of this book. You just have to use this little app. It's a great helper if you love your iTunes.

Some of these chapters will require return visits for me as I managed to find out that I knew very little about some aspects of "hacking" Panther. The book now resides on my desktop and will for the foreseeable future.

No one will lose by getting Mac OS X Panther Hacks and will surely be surprised at what they don't know when they get through this wonderful volume. Be sure to check one out for yourself very soon. You won't regret it.

This book has a little bit of everything for everyone. O'Reilly publishes a lot of OS X titles, but this one is the most unique of those that I have read (and I have read most of them). The reason is the insane breadth of the book. It covers everything from how to use Quicksilver (the best application for OS X, bar none) to how to share desktops, to script iPhoto with perl. If you want to see in just how many ways you can hack your Mac you have to check this book out. It's one of a kind, and for those with the need to really see how they can tweak their Mac, this is a must have.

The hacks in this book seem to end up in one of three categories. Useful to me, useful to somebody else, and just plain weird (but good for a laugh). The last is represented by Hack #60 - iOscillate. Think iChat, iSight, some adhesive, and a stripped down oscillating fan. Mac people have all the fun...

I found the hacks involving bluetooth, cellphones and your Mac worth the price of the book. Prior to this I "wanted" a bluetooth phone. Now I "need" a bluetooth phone. =) I was also happy to find the info on getting the Postfix Mail Server running.

The great thing about the hacks, IMHO, is that despite there only being 10 hacks or so that you might find useful enough to start using right away, you're bound to come up with another few on your own. For example, by combining what I learned from a few of the hacks, I was able to set up Virex to scan my Mail inbox for viruses every 15 minutes. So far, I've only found W32 viruses, but you can never be too cautious. =)

If you want to feed your inner geek, this book is for you.

I ordered the book and requested to receive it on the next day. I recieved it the next day!! It doesn't get any better than that!! Thanks Amazon!

Very fast delivery, great price (for a textbook- all of which are rediculously overpriced anyway)and arrived in excellent condition. Thanks.

The book I bought from Eric was in excellent condition, plus it arrived only 3 days after I had purchased it! Great service, perfect product!

I have never been too crazy about or never been good at economics, but after reading this book, I feel I understand the real-world economics better. For a novice like me, it is relatively easy to follow the contents because it's full of examples from real business world. I assume this book will be satisfactory to more "academic" readers too because the book still doesn't fail to cover real economic materials like graphs and theories.

This book provides an excellent background for learning applied managerial economics. Mr. Baye uses interesting real-world examples, which is difficult when writing about the entirely hypothetical world of micro-economics. I felt that the section on Game Theory was especially useful in explaining real world market paricipant behavior in pricing decisions. Overall, I would highly recommend this book for both students of economics, as well as those non-students seeking a weekend of light reading in the topic of economics.

No matter what your business or its size, this book will help you maximize its potential. Easy to read and loaded with good advice. A "checklist" for success.

Being an owner of a retail company, I am always looking for new ways to improve the success of the business. This is a no nonsence approach to the overall restructuring of the company in order to improve employee & customer relations. This would provide greater profits and resources for all involved. I would recommend this program for both large & small companies who are looking for the means to improve their sales.

This book is a must for any sales person or sales manager of ANY experience level! As a sales person with only 2 years sales experience, Mr. O'hara opened my eyes and defined for me many of the challenges that I face everyday. Now I am armed with the information and message I need to go back to my sales manager and discuss our internal inefficiencies to maximize my revenue stream, and translate that to the rest of the sales team. The implementation plan was well thought out and included everything that we will need to maximize our revenues! There is a message in this book for any level employee or manager in the sales/customer service/supply chain function!

This is the book that should never have had to be written, but when so many of America's business leaders get lost in mechanical functions, they neglget the customer. This quick read clears the deck: everybody in the organization sells, and customers are on top of the pyramid. I re-learned what I already know - sales people cannot do it alone, and when an entire organization benefits from sales, everybody pushes and pulls in the same direction. This book shows the value of setting clear sales goals, providing incentive throughout an organization, and the monetary growth it brings to believers.

Mr. O'Hara concisely describes the problems that plaque many large companies. In fact the title may limit readership to only those in sales departments when the message pertains to all aspects of management. You will identify with the many examples given and thoroughly enjoy the solutions to the problems. This should be required reading for all executives and is enlightening to anyone in management.

The title "March, before Spring" and the title poem itself (placed nearly at the midpoint) echo softly in my mind and heart as I read--and read again and again--the poems in this book: delicate and powerful, moving from a husband's relentless illness to the experience of death and beyond, all in deceptively simple, straightforward language that magically evokes the ineffable quality of love.

A second printing for a poetry book is always something to celebrate, and especially this book. March, Before Spring has touched many people since it was first published. The letters sharing the common feelings that people experience upon discovering terminal disease and the death of a loved one, have encouraged the author to make the book available to hospice groups working with individuals to help them through their grieving. When Stephanie Mendel reads from this book, people listen. Anyone who has cared for a loved one in their dying or who has known someone who has, will want to have quiet moments with March, Before Spring. They will hear their hearts speaking deeply.

March Before Spring chronicles the illness, death from cancer, process of mourning and healing of a husband in a long and successful marriage from the point of view of the widow. The poetry, in the tradition of the very best of "confessional" poetry in contemporary American letters, is spare, elegant, lyrical and deeply felt. Ms. Mendel is a master at the use of the vivid image and ordinary experiences of life to convey the varied experiences of the entire process of caring for and about a dying person, and putting life back together again after his death. The lover of poetry will enjoy this book for the sheer artistry of the craft. The person seeking a book of poems to give voice to the universal experiences of mourning she so vividly portrays will find comfort and solace in its pages. As a psychotherapist, I have recommended this book on many occassions to people who are grieving, and all have been moved and grateful for chance to read it. In every sense, this is a book to own and to treasure.

March, before Spring puts into words what I feel. It has the honesty of emotions that make up grief and shock of loss. I couldn't put the book down. Than I read it again. I found the poetry to be both comforting and healing.

Ms. Mendel's poems are stunning.She balances love and grief on the small details of ordinary life: an old shirt, the crumbs left on the counter, the dent left in a pillow. They speak softly but can tear your heart as the poems recall her husband, their love, his death from cancer and her struggle through grief. My first reading left me in tears; each subsequent reading shows me more of Ms. Mendel's power to give voice to near-overwhelming grief and what it takes to overcome such a loss. I am a physician and I prescribe copies to patients coping with the loss of a beloved. The local Hospice organization keeps copies in their library. The poems carry great healing power as well as beauty.

I highly recommend the performance of Simon Vance. His reading is excellent. Jack Aubrey's vibrant personality comes alive, as does Maturin's more subtle character. Killick is a riot. I have all recordings up to "The Thirteen Gun Salute" by now, and Vance keeps the individual voices consistent across all books. He is a true pleasure to listen to and even does the women well, which can't be easy. His mediterranean accents are not so good, but this is a minor hitch. These CDs are very good value for money.

Listening to Simon Vance read Patrick O'Brian's words is like having silk poured in your ears. A fantastic book made even better!

I came late to this table, intrigued by the excellent Russell Crowe movie. (A note for new readers arriving by the same route: the movie is an amalgam of several of the books in the series, then modified even further by the supposed needs of Hollywood.)

When I bought this 13½ hour CD reading of the first book, I was delighted but also somewhat baffled: the language is extremely challenging, even to one with years of sailing experience. How could this series have sold millions? Another Amazon reviewer set me straight: the books are written so that they could be understood and enjoyed by the characters themselves, and describe the harsh sensibilities of the times without apology or explanation.

An extremely difficult feat to pull off, writing in the 1970s. Being a rather proud writer myself, at first my anachronism police came out in full force, looking for missteps. Oh they are there, if you want to get curmudgeonly, but instead, why not just enjoy the author's magnificent accomplishment? The book has become my nightcap: one chapter per night, with a rewind each morning to the point I fell asleep. It has also become my traveling companion: I ripped all 11 CDs down to one mp3 disk, and traffic jams immediately stopped annoying me. (For people wishing to do the same, it can be encoded at a generous 256bps and still fit on one CD). And there are still another 21 novels to go...

To the meat: You will have to put up with sometimes excruciating detail: is it really necessary to have an unbroken five-minute naming of parts? The top mizzens, each and every backstay, the exact length of each spar? But perhaps it is. The internal voice of Aubrey: a sympathetic man whose company I would nonetheless not enjoy, the utter callousness towards human suffering displayed. We wouldn't judge Jane Austen for having archaic sensibilities; Patrick O'Brien should be given the same leeway.

But with your investment in place, the rewards are enormous. The battles, the tactics, the seamanship displayed and the characters involved are described at close to the level of Conrad. It is impossible to read (or listen) without trying to imagine your reaction to being hauled off a side-street, impressed into the Navy, given your 14" of hammock-space and sixteen hours of daily work, with the lash readily available if you ever care to demur. And as a reminder, the monthly reading of the Articles of War, with almost every infraction being followed by: "...and shall suffer death." O'Brian probably accurately describes this monthly litany as comforting and reassuring to the men.

The reader, Simon Vance, does an excellent job. He trips up occasionally by repeating himself, and his occasional Scottish accent is strictly from the James Doohan Hollywood school, but those are hardly gripes: his friendly voice is accurate and his personality is quite invisible, as it should be.

"Aubrey! May I trouble you for the salt?"

I have read this series of books and listened to them on tape and now I am getting them on cd so I can rip them to the computer and sync them to my mp3 player which is easier to carry around my neck as I work. When I listen to these stories it makes watering the trees a bit more interesting. If you haven't read this series I highly recomend you start if you want to be totally entertained by the wonderful cast of characters.

It's been a decade since I read the books, so this time around I am listening to them. The production is first rate and I am enjoying the book as though I'd never read it. Joy!