P Books

If you are the type of person who likes to figure out why and how military intelligence succeeds or fails, you will like P.G Kivett's book, Intelligence Failures and Decent Intervals.
The author takes on the complex task of analyzing how military intelligence works, and why it sometimes fails. This is an interesting exposition of the culture of intelligence and the high-level decision makers who use it. Kivett provides a lot of insight into the sorts of issues that affect intelligence warning. Some of the issues he deals with are ambiguity of information, operational security, disinformation, organizational inertia, and political bias.

The author uses numerous intelligence case studies to make his case. Among these are the 1968 Tet Offensive, the 1973 Yom Kippur War, failure of General Douglas Mac Arthur to heed warning of Chinese intervention in the Korean War, and the emasculation of U.S. HUMINT capabilities. He provides a lot of material that I haven't seen elsewhere. Rather than telling you what conclusions to draw, he points you in the direction of original sources (many of which are now available on the Internet), and encourages you to do your own analysis. I found the material on North Vietnamese SIGINT operations particularly interesting. It sobering to think about how many Americans may have died in Vietnam as a result of poor communications security exploited by enemy SIGINT operators.

Highly recommended for military intelligence professionals and enthusiasts, and for military history buffs.

If this book had been professionally edited, it would have been a very different work, but then it would not have retained much of its very controversial material. The author pulls no punches.

Before reading P.G Kivett's book, I had some reason to think that I knew a lot about its subjet matter. Instead, I learned a lot from it that was completely new to me.

If you have ever wondered why the US loses military engagements despite overwhelming technical advantages, the answer is here. Don't miss it.

Mr. Kivett has extensive experience as an intelligence analyst, and he's also an old Air Force man. This book provides an important historical perspective on the venerable tug-of-war between decision makers with a political agenda to advance and the people who evaluate the situation. This is a most timely subject vis-a-vis our present involvement in Iraq.

While this book investigates an area that isn't given a lot of press, it will force the reader to think about some matters of real importance and should open doors to further investigation by the reader. The author demonstrates no political bias and does an excellent job of objectively laying out facts/arguments. Although I have had limited intelligence experience, I believe the intelligence layman will find this work quite revealing. A good, well-thought read.

This book provides insightful information and good reading. The facts in the book are extremely well documented to the degree it leaves no question in the reader's mind as the responsbility and knowledge of what are now referred to as "failures." The author's years as a practicing attorney show in the verification process. However, the book does not read as "only the facts ma'am" and continues to keep the reader's attention page after page. I found it hard to put down. Engaging writing; fluent style; simply wonderful.

A handful of years ago Thomas Thompson (of the Copenhagen School) wrote a message on an Internet listserv that he did not consider Roland K. Harrison to be a historian. However that was about 1995 and Harrison's book is from 1969 when the issues of historicity were not the same.

Harrison begins his "introduction" (the book runs over 1300 pages) with a review of the development of Old Testament study. A special chapter is dedicated to the Graf-Wellhausen hypothesis and another chapter to reactions to the same. This section is followed by ones on archaeology, chronology, and the text and canon of the Old Testament. Following sections deal with Old Testament history, religion, and
theology.

After almost 500 pages, Harrison begins to deal with the books of the Old Testament beginning with the Pentateuch. This is followed by sections of the prophets and the writings, the other two sections of the Tanakh. Finally comes a section on the Apocrypha.

Needless to say Harrison's Introduction is thorough. His includes some 400 pages more than that of Robert Pfeiffer and 850 pages more than Osterley and Robinson. THIS book is the place to start for anyone interested in what we call Old Testament studies.

R.K. Harrison's monumental single-volume "Introduction to the Old Testament" packs in everything you need to get started with a serious study of the Hebrew Scriptures. You will be acquainted especially with the history of scholarly criticisms (e.g. the Graf-Wellhausen JEPD stuff), archaeology, Ancient Near Eastern cultures and languages, book-by-book criticisms, development of theology in the OT era, etc. etc.

Over my years of studying the OT, I have noticed the ever-widening gap between the pew and the academia. The average Church-goer is woefully uninformed regarding issues of OT interpretation. Zealous readers who desire to get more out of their Bible-reading will probably be boggled by the amount of information and views/counter-views of any Critical Commentaries. Most of the time, they have to struggle to understand what was the "big deal" in all the endless arguments of scholars in the said commentaries (I know I did!). Harrison puts all the necessary views/counter-views in one convenient package to acquaint the serious reader with the "esoterica" of the academia.

Harrison hails from the traditional-conservative position. However, he gives ample ground for the presentation and careful consideration of the views of "higher critics" and liberal scholars... all with an objectivity that is laudable in this age of strawberry-flavoured "devotionals". He speaks his mind in many instances - but more with the aim of stimulating his reader to think rather than to convince you of the "infallibility" of traditional-conservative views. All the above reasons make this the BEST single-volume introduction to a lifelong serious study of the Hebrew Scriptures.

This is an excellent, scholarly and comprehensive treatment of the OT. RK Harrison, the author, is apparently recognized by conservative and liberal thelolgians (possibly begrudgingly by the latter) for his precision and objectivity as a scholar. I especially appreciated Harrison's critical analysis of higher criticism including his conclusion that that discipline as a so-called scientific method is significantly flawed in light of recent archaelogical and related findings. This book is the best of its kind and I highly recommend it!

If you are after a comprehensive study of thought of the Old Testament, then this is the perfect book. Though this book is 40 years old, it still remains highly recommended as one of the best sources for study.
Harrison endeavours to evaluate all views of thought and weighs them by their merits. Harrison is honest and does not let his own view point skew the evidence, no matter where the evidence leads. This isn't to say that he doesn't put forth his views, but when he does it is merely supplementary.
Harrison is faithful to a conservative view of the Old Testament, taking it at face value and justifying his position authoritatively and empirically. Though there have been many attempts at denigrating the historicity of the Old Testament, Harrison is convincing in its defence.

If you want a comprehensive study of thought of the Old Testament, then there is none better.

Just to inform everyone, the Vol. 1 [paperback] edition, ends with PART EIGHT: THE PENTATEUCH, and is 662 pages. I searched for Vol. 2 but it seems as if it is not available. These are reprints by Wm B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (First printing, September 1969; Reprinted, June 1979).

Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., publishes the hardcover edition in arrangement with Eerdmans. It contains both volumes, topping out at 1335 pages.

I own both of the books listed above - the format is identical, the font is a nice readable size, and the paper quality is good.

The paperback edition just edges out over the hardcover because the printing stock is an eggshell color whereas the other is white. A very minor detail for sure, but when reading for an extended period, the off-whites are easier on the eyes.

Finally, might I humbly suggest two sources for a solid start on understanding the OT are the volume listed above and "Kingdom Prologue, by Meredith G. Kline".

I myself am a commentator on Classical Music on Television, and Leonard Bernstein, thanks to this book and to his "The Infinite Variety of Music",
has been always my inspiration, model and idol.- Inspite of the years, these talks have not lost any of their charme and intelligence and continue to be valid.- Highly recommended to every music-lover.-

I've had this book for a couple of decades in the original hardback version. It's a reminder to me of what I watched, live on television back in the fifties, when television had "culture." His Omnibus lectures were thrilling to behold and I wish dearly they were on dvd. His description of how perfect the Fifth was defies description; you had to have seen him use musicians as notes and move them around to show what happened if one note had changed. Or how a little discussion around a table with a man and a woman becomes something else again when sung (La Boheme) or explaining about a piece concerning a little nightengale when introducing Stravinsky.

The man was pure genious and millions of Americans became interested in classical music through this man. This teenaged girl did.

This is Leonard Bernsteain at his best. It's a fun book, an engaging and fascinating book. All the Bernstein wit and wisdom is here. It's a book for both musicians and those wanting to learn about music in a fun way.

You won't regret spending time or money on this gem.

Leonard Bernstein excelled at everything he tried--he was a fantastic conductor, composer, and writer. From popular music from West Side Story to jazz to "serious art music" like Chichester Psalms and his Mass, Bernstein was never constrained by any seeming limitations. This book is a compilation Bernstein's writings. The first section consists of dialogues between Bernstein and several imaginary characters regarding society's philosophy of music. These discussions are quite intellectual and thought-provoking. The second section contains seven television transcripts about subjects ranging from Musical Theater to J.S. Bach. This half is much more accessible and a breeze to read. If you can't read music, you would enjoy getting CDs of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, Brahms' First Symphony, and Bach's St. Matthew Passion before curling up with this book. It will enhance your enjoyment of Bernstein's exciting descriptions, and will make them come to life.

This is a complete, lucid, approachable and vibrant book. The dialogues at the beginning reveal the many facets of Bernstein's character and of his startling brilliance, and the section on modern music should not be missed. Of course, for the sections taken from his Omnibus television programs, the textual medium can only inform the reader what would be happening on screen, and those descriptions probably lack the power of audio-visual aids. It is, however, a work that any student of music, or any lover of music, would be able to take for granted in a Perfect World.

My son is incarcerated and I sent this book to his cell mate who is an aspiring artist. He loved it. He has talent and someday, maybe, we will all be buying JP Kennedy's!
Thank for sharing the story-you never know who'll you will be inspiring to stay straight and focused.

JUBILEE CITY is one of the most moving and unusual memoirs I've ever read. It's snapshots from an artist's life that are often funny and heartbreaking all at once. They are always moving, and often universal experiences. Andoe has a fresh and unique way of expressing himself. I loved this book and found myself reading stories from it over and over again.

Joe Andoe must be fifteen years younger than the artists and poets I'm most familiar with who hailed from Tulsa--the WHITE DOVE REVIEW crew of Joe Brainard, Dick Gallup, Ron Padgett. His book JUBILEE CITY rivals the memoirs of Brainard (I REMEMBER) and Padgett (OKLAHOMA TOUGH, MY FATHER KING OF THE TULSA BOOTLEGGERS) as far as getting the lowdown on one of America's most exciting, durable, and dreamlike city-states. When I picked up this book, out of curiosity towards all things Tulsa, I had never heard of the painter Joe Andoe, and now that I've read it I realize he's one of the most famous artists of the world and he's shown all over the known universe. Somehow he flew under my radar but perhaps I have my head in the clouds or buried in the sand like a West Coast ostrich, what do I know? In any case Joe's childhood was like a real-life version of JT Leroy books, except for one stabliizing factor, his father was a real man's man who didn't say very much but Joe always knew that, no matter how many juvenile shenanigans young Joe got his sorry butt into, there was always going to be one man who had his back, his dad.

The saddest part of the book was when Andoe Sr., a relatively young man, had a heart attack and Joe had to bundle him into the car and drive him to the hospital, simultaneously talking him alive, keeping him going. But I think Mr. Andoe didn't want to stay alive not smoking, having to watch his diet, living as "half a man," and so, it wasn't long before they were carrying him back to his Maker.

Joe's interest in art went into high gear when he found out that his chichi society drawing teacher could sell a drawing or a watercolor for 900 dollars--900, as much as the car Joe was driving cost. "He looked like veal to me, all soft and white." And Joe was skeptical of the teacher's talents, thinking to himself, if his s**t flies, then mine will too. At college he learned about men like Robert Smithson, Dennis Oppenheim, other hipsters like himself, but as he says, it wasn't until he saw one of Warhol's pink Marilyns that art got its hook into him once and for all. The teacher told him he should have more humility but Joe just looks at him sideways and says, "I don't know what that word means--is it like humid?"

He had to deal with rapacious and uncaring dealers who tried dicking him every which way from Sunday, and he wound up with a Smith College alumna girlfriend in NYC who, addicted to heroin, had him breaking into his own kids' piggy banks for nickels and dimes. His brushes with the law were frequent and outrageous, and if you read THE BASKETBALL DIARIES or seen the movie with Leo Di Caprio you will agree with me by admitting that Joe Andoe was the baddest boy in many moon,s but he never lost his soul and he never lost heart. His story further proves the continuing vitality of Tulsa and Tulsans, who include also Garth Brooks, Leon Russell, Gene Autry, and David BREAD Gates in music and, in other fields, Jennifer Jones, John Hope Franklin, Sammy Sosa, Larry Clark, Alfre Woodard, S. E. Hinton who wrote THE OUTSIDERS, and Wes Studi. What do these folks all have in common? They're tough and they're cool, ubercool.

Reading Joe Andoe's memoir is like walking through a collection of his paintings. Sublime, sensual and haunting. His words reach right into your soul as do his paintings.Unlocking ghosts of distant memories.For anyone who has lived outside the box ,or for that matter looked inside and not quite know how to fit in there is comfort in knowing you are not alone. Loved it.

So, world-renowned (and successful--which isn't so easy to pull off) artist Joe Andoe has written his memoir. Why do you care? Because Joe grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma - an unlikely breeding ground for an artist. Because Joe grew up misbehaving in all sorts of ways, had more close calls with the law and death than he can count, until he finally moved to New York City to make his name and to find his fame. Joe's voice, as a writer, is like an undertow -- before you know it, you're miles off shore, completely sucked into his world of all-encompassing love (for his children, his painting) and lust (for women, alcohol), as he paints and parents his way to recovery and redemption. The life presented here is one lived on Joe's terms, with sparkling moments of bigheartedness, crazy humor, and poignant regret. I was entranced by his bad boy youth in Oklahoma, full of muscle cars and dewy teenage girls, the insider details of the world of art galleries and agents, and most of all by how he sorted out all his inner demons and rebuilt connections with his family, friends, children.

After the world wide attention for the 101st this is a welcome addition to airborne warfare in WWII

This is a very well written book b y a man who was there. Telling the personal story of Leland Burns' travels thru F Co of the 508PIR, Jump Into the Valley of the Shadow is a fine read. Factual and well thought out, it goes thru the gritty days of fighting that only a man who has lived thru it can tell you. But it also goes over the softer, more human side of his time overseas in an in-depth and honest way.
From his personal accounts of his courtship with his wife, to his time in England with both new and old friends, the book is made better by the fact that these are all REAL people that actually existed (and in many cases are still living) that makes this a truly special book to have.

This book starts out with the author staring out the open door of a C-47 on the night of June 5, 1944 and realizing that it was now too late to join the motor pool or become a cook. Like a lot of other youngsters, when he was drafted into the Army he decided that he wanted to be with America's best, and that was the paratroopers.

I was glad to see this boook. There has been a lot written about the 101st in recent years and their defense at Bastogne including 'Band of Brothers,' the movie 'Battleground' and a bunch more. Much less well known is the action of the 82nd to hold the north shoulder and prevent the Germans from having more roads to use for their advance. Burns was there. He doesn't tell the big picture - there are a lot of books on the Battle of the Bulge. He tells his story from the bottom side. It looked different from a foxhole.

The book is told in the form of a bunch of little stories, not a day by day diary. This makes it much more interesting, and I recommend it highly.

I highly recommend this book. Dwayne Burns brings to life his memories from elite training as a paratrooper to his feelings and emotions of actually going into combat. Along the way, he shares his personal life stories and how all of this shaped the person he was to became. The incredible bond that paratroopers have which started in their training and lasts to this day is very inspiring. Reading this book reinforced my genuine thanks to these men that "Jumped Into the Valley of the Shadow" along with the rest of the "Greatest Generation" that helped bring peace back to this world in the uncertain time of WWII.

OK! This is one man's story about the "Oh Eight" the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment (P.I.R.), 2nd Bn, Fox Co. Mr Burns jumped into France, Operation Neptune (D-Day) and Market-Garden (Holland) two jump stars earned the hard way. There are a lot of "soldiers stories" in the book, being with your buddies, goofing off, military life, as well as the stories about combat. Books like these put a human face on anonymous mens faces of black and white photos taken 60+ years ago. It shows they were pretty much the same as most young men, full of life and hopes and dreams, except their lives were forged in the fires of the Depression. It is a good read and a page turner, there are "flashback" type parts of the book, that may disagree with some readers. But I was most humbled and impressed by his story and the stories of other men I have met, ironically from Easy Co. 508th PIR, Mr Burns' sister Co to his own Fox Co. I am glad some of these men have told their story, because too many never have or got the chance to live long enough to. Thier story is told by rows of silent crosses in France, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Germany, and a thousand other lonely places where American boys fought and died. Read this book if you want to know the story of one man's journey through a pivotal time in human history.

KEEPS YOUR INTEREST AND LEAVES YOU WANTING MORE.CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SEQUAL. WOULD MAKE A GREAT MOVIE. KEEP IT UP!!!!!!

26 years of flying and he has a good grip on keeping any fliers looking for more.

EXCITING, FAST PACED ADVENTURE. CAN'T PUT IT DOWN! The Jungle kept my interest from cover to cover. Would make a great movie!! Its smaller size is great to carry during business trips. Each chapter is small enough to enable reading multiple chapters in a single setting. As each chapter ends, the reader will find it hard to put down! You'll want to read the next short chapter, and the next, and before you know it, the Jungle Part I will be finished (Oh no!). You'll want to run out and buy The Jungle Part II. So save some time, buy them all now, and you won't have to wait!

Great reading for pilots who love adventure! I especially enjoyed the ending, as two days before buying the book Jupiter was hit by an asteroid. I found this perfectly exciting! Great job! Can we expect more?

The story provided mystery, intrigue, and excitement. The flying seemed so realistic that it felt like I was actually sitting there in the cockpit. I'm looking forward to the sequel and other novels that Erik Feldmanis might be working on.

My kids and I loved this book! The text is clever and fun, and I love the way the mother integrates helping chores with her daughter's imaginative play. The illustrations are bright and fun, with plenty of clever twists to make rereading enjoyable. A great read!

I love reading this to my kids! (What parent wouldn't?) But the thing is, my kids love it, too. Definitely a great repeat-reader.

This book is simply delightful. Well-written, creative, imaginative, educational and a story line that "warms the cockles of the heart". My three year old loves to read and re-read and now asks me, with a glint in her eye, if she is just what I need. Not only is the book fun to read but it has opened up a whole new dimension in creative play and interaction. It is a "must have" book for anyone's book shelf.

Darling book that teaches the days of the week and turns chores into exciting adventures. I read it to my 5 year old niece and she loved it! Imaginative, creative and all around fun to read, very enjoyable book for children as well as the adults who read it to them!

Pleasing to the eyes and ears, this picture book is great for group storytimes as well as for reading to kids at home. The story is inventive and charming, and the parent-child relationship depicted is tender without being sappy. The text rolls easily off the tongue. Plus, the paper-cutout artwork is fantastic. A stand-out!

This book is a labor of love and committment, the author rocks and provides insights into what it takes to assure that today's actions ensure one's goals/ideals, i.e. wolf recovery, survive into the next generation. The illustrations are sweet and the book is very easy to read and enjoyable.

I grew up in Wisconsin and can relate to Richard P Thiel's accurate and colorful descriptions of northern and central Wisconsin landscape. However, his experiences go far beyond those of most others, helped by being able to track wolves by light aircraft and radio telemetry thus getting a bird's eye view of the scene. A good example of the Scientific Method on the hoof, so to speak. The book does not glamorize the profession of wildlife biology; it tells it like it is, including the governmental bureaucracy, physical hardships, bad weather, and long hours, occasionally punctuated with incredible encounters with the wolves that refused to be excluded from Wisconsin. The book teaches people what to expect when wolves share your living space. And what a great ending ... it brings the reader right up to date and sets the stage for proper management decisions in the future. A great humorous book which will entertain you as well as educate. I couldn't put it down.

Good friends presented us this book as a Christmas gift, knowing that we are very interested in all forms of appearance of the nature, inanimate and alive.
It is of great interest for us since just in this years the wolves also return to the forests of our Eastgerman country.
It is wonderful written, understandable also for the laymen and rich in nice figures.
Most important for us is however, that this book is written by a man who obviously feels responsible for the life on our so endangered earth, who understand that human life is tightly connected with all the other appearances of life and that the good evolution of one kind of life is the necessary precondition for the healthy existence of all another creatures.
Men like Richard Thiel give us the hope that life has a chance to survive at our planet.

'Keepers of the wolves' is Richard P Thiel's follow up to his
wonderful 1993 publication 'The Timber Wolf in Wisconsin.'
Once again the author's informative and personal writing style
makes this very fine book an essential work for any Wolf supporter interested in the more complex aspects of the Wolf recovery effort in the United states today.

Keepers Of The Wolves: The Early Years Of Wolf Recovery In Wisconsin by Richard Thiel (coordinator of the Wisconsin Department of natural Resources Sandhill Outdoor Skills Center, Babcock, Wisconsin) is the true and fascinating story of the restoration of wild wolves to Wisconsin Forest, from 1978 when they had been gone for twenty years to the present day with an estimated 200 timber wolves in 54 packs. Black-and-white line drawings illustrate a story of political controversies, environmental struggles, and the enduring strength of the wolf itself. A conservationist success story, Keepers Of The Wolves is especially recommended for Wisconsin environmental issues reading lists and wildlife restoration studies reference collections.

Look out John Grisham - hang on Patsy Cornwell!!! You have company. P. M. Terrell has written a marvelous first book that demands more.

A page turner that keeps you involved and never confused with esoteric terms.

Ms. Terrell is an author to watch!

KICKBACK is a galloping good read about a lowly computer programmer caught up in corporate shenanigans that could quite possibly get her in deep, deep trouble.

P. M. Terrell has written a not-so-fantastic thriller about very real ethical problems facing everyday people in the workplace.

On it's way to being a bestseller!

I thought I would be bored with this book as I'm not all that computer or accounting savvy, but I really enjoyed it. The plot, characters, and corporations are very realistic and the computer parts are easily understandable for those not in the know. This is an excellent first novel! A sequel is in the works. I talked with the author at a book signing. Her father is an ex-FBI agent and she is supported by the Crimesolvers Association. I expect more great novels from her!

Sheila Carpenter is a computer whiz kid. In a hurry to take advantage of her accomplishments, her employer Douglas Murray and Associates signs Sheila to work as a programmer for a trucking company. By page 20, our heroine learns that she has been hired to hide a kickback scheme. And shortly after, her associates start turning up dead.

Where does a young woman, eager to please, but not eager to break the law, turn for help? She befriends a young lawyer, Matt, from the law firm that she has also been contracted to help setting up a computer system. And she contacts, the FBI.

Soon, Sheila doesn't know whether to trust Matt or not. And the FBI doesn't seem like they are eager to help either. Her aunt is kidnaps, in her mentor is killed by a trucker in front of her eyes. Desperate to do what is right, stay alive, and save her aunt, Sheila devises a plan to blow the lid off the kickback scheme, using her computer skills.

Author Patricia McClelland Terrell (p.m. terrell) is a computer industry professional and has been since 1976. She's also the daughter of a former FBI Special Agent and a longtime resident of the Washington, D.C. area. Her considerable experience and family background adds credibility and depth to this story. Fast-paced, filled with suspense, Kickback starts with a bang and doesn't let up until the very last page.

This inside look at how kickback schemes can work, the realistic character of Sheila, the FBI, the setting, and computereze, educates as well as entertains. This début suspense thriller hits all the right spots and doesn't disappoint. Instead, it leaves a yearning for more that the author has recognized and will fill with the soon-to-be released sequel-Ricochet: The Adventure Continues.

Terrell is also the author of the China Conspiracy, another suspenseful thriller featuring a gutsy heroine familiar with the workings of a computer.

Kickback has it all, including action, great dialogue, characters to root for, and bad guys to hate. Seasoned with an insider's look at the trucking industry, the computer industry, and the FBI, Kickback pulls no punches.

Welcome to the world of suspense writers, Ms. Terrell. You've earned it.

"Kickback" by P.M. Terrell opens with an excellent exposition drawing the reader into wondering why a women is hanging upside-down in her overturned car with dangerous men just seconds from reaching her.

We soon find out Sheila Carpenter is a newly graduated computer programmer who must take down an entire law firm, a consulting firm, and the trucking industry, for giving illegal payments (thus the name "kickback") to companies who would award them contracts.

She unwittingly involves herself in writing a computer program for these illegal activities. Or are they illegal? She really isn't sure; even when her supervisor asks her to create hidden menus that only she can access. And is it illegal, she wonders, when asked to void original invoices, to erase them without a trace so there is no audit trail? Did she take basic accounting classes?

But, okay, she's a country girl just out of Vanderbilt University on her first real job in a big city (Washington, D.C.). She's vulnerable, maybe a little naive to the business world. I'll give her that. It doesn't take Sheila long, however, to turn revenge savvy using her computer skills to set up a sting to get the bad guys. There is also a side-story romantic interest for Sheila. Should she trust him? The reader is kept guessing until the end.

In addition, other large industries, including the FBI, itself, might be involved. There is even a hint of (whisper here) mob involvement. All this while trying to save her only living relative's home from being demolished and warning a best friend that her newly found truck-driving boyfriend may be connected to her ordeal. My goodness, Ms. Carpenter has gotten herself into a pickle!

Author P.M. Terrell has written a mostly page turning novel with a likable female protagonist. By "mostly" I mean the first two-thirds of the book are fast-paced and she keeps the reader wanting to know more. The last third of the book is relatively consistent with small problems coming only in plot workability and conflict toward the end. (i.e., my attention was somewhat drawn from the suspense wondering how much time the real players in a corrupt operation would spend on one programer. Attempts to explain this later in the book fall short.)

In the end, however, I was impressed by Ms. Terrell's writing style. She writes fluently with crisp sentence structure and excellent dialogue. And most importantly, like any really good author, she keeps us guessing and wanting to know more. She writes so well, in fact, that I'm looking forward to reading Ms. Terrell's next book The China Connection, with hopes that the plot is deeper with far more at stake than one person bringing down kickbackers. This book gets a green light. Go for it!

This is a very useful book. It is not meant to be read, but to be used as a reference guide. It is just packed with useful growing information. Information can be looked up easily.

I have taught agriculture and worked in agriculture my entire life. This book encapsulates the growing information for crops very well.

Experienced growers would fare well to have this book on your desk of resource material. New growers will be milestones ahead to familiarize yourself with the information in this book.

This book covers every aspect, from starting from seed, soils, greenhouse and field production. Want to know how long it takes a particular crop to mature to harvest? Its here, along with hundreds of other useful tidbits.

Don't expect everything to be written in paragraphs. You have to be able to read and interpret simple charts and graphs.

If you put into practice even one tenth of the information contain in this book you will grow your garden or crops much better. You fare well to buy this book over many of the others with glossy nice to look at pictures. This is a book of facts with an abundance of information.

I recommend this book to anyone growing vegetables for gardening, hydroponic gardeners, or crop production.

Some years ago I used this book to build a very large farming company. I had no experience and little money but in 5 years I was farming 6000 acres of row crop. This book is fantastic. Eventually I had lots of AG engineers on staff, but this was the book that taught me how to monitor them. I recommend it to anyone, from a gardener to a an agribusinessman. It is wonderful and the current edition is great.

Very comprehensive but somewhat esoteric. This handbook is not for casual reading, but yields results for specific research. The more the book is consulted, one has a better understanding of how the information is presented. The handbook contains a wealth of material.

I give it five stars. This book, which contains a variety of information from a wide number of sources, is not a "how-to" book. Its information is mostly in table form, so the book's main use is as a reference. Some chapters, such as the one on water and irrigation, contain information I've never seen anywhere else, except in technical publications. The chapter contains line illustrations and descriptions that are accessible to the layman. The chapter on vegetable pests also contains (black and white) line illustrations of the insects. Rather than try to list all the information this book contains, I list the table of contents:

Preface

Part 1: Vegetables and the Vegetable Industry
Botanical Names of Vegetables
Names of Vegetables in Nine Languages
Vegetable Production Statistics
Consumption of Vegetables
Nutritional Composition of Vegetables
Selection of Vegetable Varieties

Part 2: Plant Growing and Greenhouse Vegetable Production
Transplant Production
Plant Growing Containers
Seeds and Seeding
Temperature and Time Requirements
Plant Growing Mixes
Soil Sterilization
Fertilizing Transplants
Plant Growing Problems
Hardening Transplants

Crop Production
Cultural Management
Carbon Dioxide Enrichment
Soilless Culture
Nutrient Solutions
Tissue Composition

Part 3: Field Planting
Temperatures for Vegetables
Scheduling Successive Plantings
Time Required for Seedling Emergence
Seed Requirements
Planting Rates for Large Seeds
Spacing of Vegetables
Precision Seeding
Seed Priming
Vegetative Propagation
Polyethylene Mulches
Row Covers
Windbreaks

Part 4: Soils and Fertilizers
Organic Matter
Soil-Improving Crops
Manures
Soil Texture
Soil Reaction
Salinity
Fertilizers
Fertilizer Conversion Factors
Nutrient Deficiencies
Micronutrients
Fertilizer Distributors

Part 5: Water and Irrigation
Water and Irrigation
Rooting of Vegetables
Soil Moisture
Surface Irrigation
Overhead irrigation
Drip or Trickle Irrigation
Water Quality

Part 6: Vegetable Pests and Problems
Air Pollution
Integrated Pest Management
Pesticide-Use Precautions
Equipment and Application
Nematodes
Diseases
Insects
Wildlife Control
Herbicides
Equipment and Application
Weed-Control Practices
Effectiveness and Longevity of Herbicides

Part 8: Harvesting and Storage
Predicting Harvest Dates and Yields
Cooling Vegetables
Storage Conditions
Chilling and Ethylene Injury
Vegetable Quality
U.S. Standards for Vegetables
Storage Sprout Inhibitors
Containers for Vegetables
Vegetable Marketing

Part 9: Seed Production and Storage
Seed Labels
Seed Germination Tests
Seed Purity and Germination Standards
Seed Production
Seed Yields
Seed Storage

Part 10: Appendix
Sources of Vegetable Information
Sources of Vegetable Seeds
Periodicals for Vegetable Growers
U.S. Units of Measurement
Conversion Factors for U.S. Units
Metric Units of Measurement
Conversion Factors for U.S. and Metric Units
Conversions for Rates of Application
Water and Soil Solution Conversion Factors
Heat and Energy Equivalents and Definitions

Index

First published in 1956, this handbook is an indispensable, up-to-date companion both in the field and in the marketplace. Topics include the vegetable industry, greenhouse vegetable production, soils and fertilizers, water, pests, weed control, harvesting, storage, and seed production. Packed with quick-access graphs, tables, charts, and line drawings, the 4th edition offers new information on drip irrigation, seed germination, plant tissue and sap testing, windbreaks, and weed management. It also gives advice on allowable pesticide and herbicide use and on the latest worker protection standards. The appendix contains sources of vegetable information, providers of vegetable seeds, periodicals for vegetable growers, and U.S. units of measurement and the metric conversion factors. A change from the spiral-bound 3rd edition is a sturdy, flexible cover to help hold pages flat.