Perry Books

I love this book. It is a fantastic resource, complete with color photos. An absolutely essential book to have if you live by the sea. You will be able to identify the cool beans you find along the shore with this book. I have learned a tremendous amount about drift seeds from reading this book. Highly recommended. Enjoy & Happy Beaning! :)

Excellent guide book with photos and text. Helped me identify the beans that I have collected on the beaches of Key Biscayne.

Co-produced by Edward L. Perry and John V. Dennis, Sea-Beans From The Tropics is an impressive collector's guide to the tropical drift commonly found on the shores of the Atlantic ocean. Full-color photographs illustrate each entry ranging from bald cypress, to white inkberry. Each shell is provided with a lengthy introduction covering such topics as the nature of ocean currents and how to grow and polish sea beans rounds out this informative, fascinating, detailed, "user friendly" guide.

I GOT THIS BOOK OUT OF THE LIBRARY, AND JUST HAD TO HAVE A COPY OF MY OWN. THIS BOOK BRINGS ALL OF THE FUN OF CHILDHOOD AND SUMMER BACK TO US PARENTS, SO WE CAN MAKE MEMORIES FOR OUR CHILDREN.THE PICTURES ARE BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT, AND THE INSTRUCTIONS EASY TO FOLLOW. THIS IS A FUN BOOK FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!

Many fun ideas for crafts that don't require Martha Stewart skills. Made the cookie cutter soaps with my girlfriends and had a great time. Plan on making the vacation placemat this summer on vacation. The food also looks great. The picture of the black bean and salsa salad made my mouth water in the store. I will be making that soon. Also appreciate the adult versions of thirst quenching recipes. Instructions and ideas are basic and that's just what I need.

This lovely little volume, coming in at a jam-packed, powerful 96 pages (softbound) is truly a delight for kids and adults alike!! As with the previous books I've reviewed in this series...I love the size, the cover design and colors are VERY appealing and quite enjoyable...but I worry about the long term survivability of this book -- I think a nice spiral or library binding might better serve this book and increase its usability!!

How I determined how much I would actually be able to use this book as:

1. A craft and cooking resource for myself and my kids for fun and learning -- my kids are ages 3 & 6.

2. Its use as an inspiration for my own Wiccan practices, both for seasonal decorative projects and for usability in group gatherings and magickal workings

The inside flap promises:

"....every family's handbook to keeping cool and creative during the best months of the year...keep those brain cells functioning with fun and creative crafts that are easy to make, indoors and out!"

....I must say I think you get all that and more!! We start out with "standard" or "basic" practical tips -- which are helpful in reminding us to stock up that craft box before summer, so you can be spontaneous in your summer crafting!!

The actual crafts section is rather small...the bulk of this book consists of recipes for beverages and light meals...but DO NOT let that discourage you from adding this to your collection!! What crafts there are VERY exciting and fun for kids of all ages!!

I was particularly drawn to the Sand Dough...my crafty mind sees many, many applications both for "regular" craft projects as well as for magickal ones! This dough (yes, I already tried it out...boy was this FUN), is a great activity for small hands -- and will not be lost on older kids and adults, the applications for crafting beautiful sand art is as limitless as your imagination here...chunky and typical or elegant and finely crafted....your sand dough will allow you to make beautiful, fun, and long lasting (it's semi permanent - life can be added to these projects by using a spray on protective coating) items!! Let your imagination run wild with this...it's easy to do! I also see a great deal of expanded opportunities for magickal application with this project...both for altar decorations and for spell working too...this could be really useful in exploring or re-connecting with the "inner child" in all of us!!

The painted terra cotta pots is a fun project...this is another one that even the very young can enjoy and do with little help...my kids (ages 3 & 6) had no trouble with this...and they were so PROUD of their very special personal pots...these make great use for the kitchen or for planting (learning about growing things)....I was very happy with the ideas here!!

I would not personally attempt the terra cotta lamps with my kids - they are just too young for this...older kids (especially pre-teens and teens) will likely enjoy this project -- I believe that they will find this a classy and fun, "grown-up" feeling touch!! This is a fun way to "dress up" a party and if you use some of the colored tea lights that are available at many stores you have even greater flexibility in uses for this project!! My magickal mind was racing just as much with this one as the dough...Full moon gatherings and Summer Solstice circles would certainly be a great time to make some of these!! Again, the added use of colored tea lights adds variety to the potential for this project!!

The ants in the grass candle (page 25) is cute, probably best for kids 8+, who have better coordination (hot glue gun used)-- this project could be expanded and used as a playful alter decoration!!

The Vacation Placemat is a good way to commemorate a summer trip or even to help familiarize smaller children with destinations prior to travel!! I LOVE this project and it also has expansion possibilities -- it could be enlarged and made into an altar cloth of sorts...what a fun, playful and lively summer touch for your altar!!

There are a variety of other projects...very sweet and mostly fun which would be fun and easy for most kids - younger children will need assistance with some of the projects, but overall...there are actually lots that can be enjoyed by the ENTIRE family!!

The remainder of the book (from page 34 forward) is largely recipes with a few simple crafts interspersed...I think the drink recipes are all really easy (and the ones we tried were really YUMMY!)...they even have complimenting ice cube recipes...WHAT FUN!! Most of these can be done by younger children (some with assistance)!! I feel that the beverage recipes in particular would be a very fun resource for magickal summer gatherings!! I found my mind racing with alternative beverages for summer circles and think yours will too!!

The food recipes are all pretty light, but full of flavor -- the Gazpacho-to-Go....MMMMMMMMMMMMM!! There are LOTS of grilling recipes and salads with light flavored butters and lots of veggies -- GREAT flavorful summer sizzlers!!

Overall...I don't think anyone who buys this book will be disappointed with the content and as an all-in-one resource for family fun...it pretty much lives up to the promises made!!

I give it an A+ for content and usability -- a good amount of easy and fun craft projects that can be either a little campy or a lot elegant, depending on how you use them...and great beverage and food fare that won't bog you down in the summer heat!

Summertime treats gets a B+ for price...again...looking at this entire series...there is a list price of $14.95...I got it on Amazon for $10.47...I'd still like to see these for about $9.95 for the size and durability!!

This book was written in a manner that communicates to children at their age and understanding level. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it to my grandchildren.

What a wonderful book for children of all ages. This book shows children that success can come by relying on their own self-confidence, and not a material object. Great job!

This is an excellent book. My grandchildren loved it. It really kept their interest.

I bought two of these books. One for my wife (and me too) and one for my best friend's familt that goes to San Jose Sharks games with us. My wife is already quoting things I didn't know. The other family loves it as well. Plus it's compact, so you can stick it in your back pocket and bring it to the game or have it on the coffee table next to the TV watching the game. Great book.

I bought this book for my 9-year old son who is really getting into hockey this year. This book is absolutely terrific and is a must have for the casual or the serious hockey fan.

I love this book and would give it to anyone who is interested in hockey.
I didn't really know much about hockey until this year when I decided to find out why my husband liked it so much, what's the big deal? The action is pretty exciting, althought I'm not into the fighting. So my husband gave me this book so I could look up all sorts of things about the game. What's a hat trick? or icing? There's a rink diagram showing what the different lines mean and areas on the ice. I even stumped my husband with some trivia about awards.
This book lives on my coffee table.

This book is incredible. It gives much meaning to words like death and love. Did you know that marriage and die mean the same thing? In this book, this is something that is brought up. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to expand their spiritual perspective on things. This book is considered to be an " Encyclopedia of Humankind's spiritual Truths " GET THIS BOOK!

I have this book in its first (1972) edition, and I have to say that it is simply excellent, a cyclopean work (before the general use of computers and all that). This is an encyclopedia of the wisdom of the religions of the world, collected by themes and, from the first page to the end as if it were a spiritual journey, so you begin reading passages about "spiritual death" and you end with the highest level, which is "union with God". Mr. Perry has taken a lot (a lot) of care in quoting the sources, so that they're not out of context. And you have almost 1.200 pages of wisdom in its purest form from the most orthodoxes sages or saints (or both). The notes and introductions to every chapter (and every chapter has its own sections and subsections so each one is relatively short) are clarifying and taken to the minimun, so to not to interrupt much the quotes. Add to this the cross references at the margins of each page and you have the best "summa of the philosophia perennis" ever collected. A must for everyone interested in comparative religions and spirituality no matter your standpoint.

This is it!!! The big book of the spiritual wisdom of the ages. From all the great wisdom traditions, east and west, this is the most comprehensive anthology I've ever seen. All the major themes of mankind's search for The Real are treated. From creation to sacrifice to magic to illusion to reality to visions to suffering, death, metanoia, prayer, grace, ecstacy, truth, union, the esoteric, the list goes on and on. Mr Perry has wisely organised this large book [over 1,000 pages] into a very accessable treasure trove of the world's greatest wisdom writings. Well referenced, indexed, foot noted, the book is awesome on many levels. Here you have quotes from the Bible, the Koran, the Buddhist Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita, Shakespeare, Plotinus, Ramakrishna, Meister Eckhart, William Law, Thomas Aquinas, Kabir, Lao Tzu, Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, Black Elk, Plato, and hundreds more. This beautiful book all by itself makes a fine library of both ancient and modern writings by the great prophets, seers, sages, mystics, and scholars who have sought to speak their deepest truths. I buy books all the time, this is one of those rare ones you fall in love with completely. With very few exceptions, I know of no more wonderful book of essential knowledge than this one. Along with the massive amount of wisdom assembled here by Mr Whitall N. Perry, the book is further enriched with a great introduction by Huston Smith and a beautiful foreward by Marco Pallis. The purchaser and reader of this book will get many times their money's worth.

Dave Perry is not only one of the world's best sailors (2nd in the 2005 Hinman Master's Championship and champion of many other regattas) he's an amazing teacher. If you've ever heard him talk, I'm sure you'd agree. His energy and enthusiasm for the sport is clearly dipicted in his excellent book. No matter what your level in sailing, you are bound to learn something new from his book.

bryan mcdonald
us sailing appeals committee member

Each time the US Sailing rules change, I order my replacement copy of "Understanding," by Dave Perry. Not only is he the most reliable and knowledgeable expert on our sport's arcane rules, but also he's the best at explaining them. Besides a complete rules dissection, the book holds a complete set of the latest racing rules (so you don't need to spend another $30 on those if you're not a US Sailing member) and a great rules-in-brief section that can help a newcomer get on the race course safely without tackling the complexity.

An excerpt from the Back Cover:

Includes the complete text of the 2005-2008 International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Racing Rules of Sailing and US SAILING Prescriptions.

Contains over 100 quotes and references to the US SAILING Appeals and ISAF Cases, making it an indespensable resource for sailors and racing officials.

The better you know the rules, the sharper you will be tactically on the race course. Dave Perry clearly and concisely answers all of the most commonly asked questions on the racing rules from a champion racing sailor's perspective.

Though 4 years younger than the author, Frank Wetzel, I knew many of the people he talked about in Victory Gardens & Barrage Balloons and experienced many of the same places and events he writes about. The girl used as the model on the cover lived not too far away from my family during WWII. I would definitely recommend this book for all Bremertonians but especially those living there between 1930 and 1945. Others may enjoy it as well

Former editor Harwood of The Post has written a 3-page review of the book in the health section re: the importance of oral history. Good reading

During my second and third trimester I had trouble sleeping. So I
would just get out of bed and sit in our living room reading through
The Wish & The Wonder. The little book proved to be a source of
encouragement, respite and comfort for me as it normalized many things
I was thinking and feeling.

What a treat this is...a great gift for expectant parents! Not a "how to" parenting book, just wonderful reflections and insights for those who are waiting for their first...or third.

I absolutely loved reading The Wish & The Wonder. I am going to recommend it to any couple that I know is pregnant. My wife and I have four sons in their 20's and 30's and as yet unmarried. I can't wait until we have a daughter-in-law that is pregnant, so that I can share this great book with her and our son. As I read it, I frequently shared quotes from the book with my wife. It will give encourgement to any pregnant woman, especially those that are pregnant for the first time.

Dean Ruddell

My interest in the shape of a hull and the configuration of the rigging is a growing one, but is often stymied by the immensity of the topic. Perry's book is a clear and inspiring entry into a complex topic. He is straight forward and personal too. I love reading this book.

Bob Perry has written an interesting and entertaining book about his long experience as a yacht designer. He interspaces specific experiences with some of his well known designs with a summary of the theory of yacht design. Perry's style makes for an easy and informative read.

It was interesting to read about the different approaches some of his clients have used in working with him and helps to explain the challenge that a yacht designer faces when doing a custom design.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the art of yacht design and about Perry's designs in particular.

I have a large collection of yacht design books (all of which I have read) and can say this one was worth reading and will now be added to my collection.

In a note of full disclosure I have met Bob a number of times and have alway enjoyed his company and wit. I am delighted that he took the time to put some of his thoughts and experiences into a book.

If you enjoyed Bill Garden's books and L. Francis Herreshoff's books on this subject, I believe you will enjoy Bob's new book. KB

Kim above provided an excellent synopsis..I can only echo her comments.

Mr. Perry does a great job of explaining the technical challenges associated with modern yacht design, along with the technical terms, what they mean and how they intertwine in the total package of a performance cruiser. He is witty, candid in his discussion and humble enough to note things he could improve in his own designs.

I had intended to add this to my coffee table collection and slowly browse through it, but after opening the package and beginning to read, I have almost completed it in just a few days!

Absolutely fantastic! HB

Views of the studio at 7 Reece Mews in South Kensington, London, where Francis Bacon spent the last thirty years of his life from 1961 - 1992, inform us of many aspects of Bacon's life and art. The studio is notorious among artists' studios in that it is nearly non-navigable, so strew are the walls and floors and easels with the memorabilia and photos, drawings and articles that ultimately resulted in some of the most exciting art created in the 20th Century.

This very fine book represents a catalogue of the project to move Bacon's studio intact to Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin where the curators have seized on documenting every tube, brush, tossed away sketch, collaged photos, small reproductions of famous artists' works (such as the Velasquez popes), bits of cloth and canvas, and photos of his models, his lovers, and his associates - a daunting task but one so important that it takes this book to define.

Richly photographed by Perry Ogden who manages to capture the atmosphere of claustrophobia that pervades the studio, this book is indispensable to the scholars who find Bacon's visual influences as important as his paintings. The writing that accompanies this photographic essay is highly informative and immensely readable: Gallery Director Barbara Dawson offers a probing insightful examination of Bacon's personal and artistic history in 'Francis Bacon's Studio: A Stimulating Solitude' and the Curator of the Francis Bacon Collection essays 'Finding order in chaos: Francis Bacon's Studio contents'.

Though the book is small (61 pages) it is of utmost importance to those fascinated with the expressionist art of Bacon. An added bonus is a brief but thorough Timeline of Bacon's life. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, January 06

An unusual, beautiful little book for the shelves of Francis Bacon fans. The photographs are beautiful, exhaustively document this legendary, but little known space, and have a haunting quality that complements other Bacon monographs. One senses the vibrancy of the artist's life, and only then the realization that, but for the fact he is deceased, the reader would not be holding this book and having this "privileged" view. Very strange!