R Books

It's My Life Now fills an important gap in the literature on domestic violence. There are several great books out there that help bring the abused to the point of recognizing that they are in an abusive relationship that they must escape. These books help clarify the patterns and cycles that are common to so many abusive relationships. When searching for help and healing myself, I largely encountered books that told me how to get out, get safe, and (had I any children) get custody. But at that point, I had already fought my way out of my abuser's grasp and was searching for something to help me untangle the webs of control, humiliation, and verbal abuse I had endured. I was also struggling with difficult feelings of guilt, loss, and anger that I needed some guidance to process. That is where this book came in: the practical guide to regaining yourself after enduring abuse and/or violence.

What is so valuable and remarkable about this book, compared to many others, is that it walks the abused through the complicated (and admittedly frightening) time AFTER she gets out of the relationship.

It begins with the typical identification of abuse and abusive behaviors, but as this book is written for those who have already left their abuser, this list serves a different purpose. In an incredibly reassuring and helpful chapter that addresses the feelings of love for the abuser that may still remain, we are asked to make a list of the qualities that were attractive in him in the first place. Then, we return to the initial chapter's list of abusive behaviors and make a list of what type of abuses were committed and with what frequency. The positive list serves to reassure the abused that she had compelling reasons for being attracted to the abuser, while the abuses list reminds her that the abuser (however charming) is not who he seemed. There are many more simple, journal-style exercises that I found important for gaining insight and perspective.

The book addresses key issues I encountered in the uncomfortable period that ensued within one week or two of leaving my abuser. The author also recommends that readers return to these topics and exercises one month later, for comparison. (Perspective is everything.) I have emphatically recommended this book to the women I have met in domestic violence support groups, who have returned nothing but praise for the usefulness, pertinence and clarity of It's My Life Now. I have found it invaluable in my own process and will continue to refer to it when I require strength or guidance.

I would recommend this book for anyone who has been in a relationship with a controlling person. You will think you're reading about your own life.

Please refer to the 2006 expanded, second edition. Just click on either author above.

Easy read, that helps make so much sense after coming out of an abusive marriage. It helps to make sense of the situation and how one might have gotten their- without the blame.If you were ever abused, mentally, physically, emotionally, this is a book for you.

I could not put this book down, I carried it with me everywhere it helped me regain my sanity after a very abusive relationship.
A brilliant read - you will find yourself on every page. You are not alone. An important book for recovery.

This noevl The Kid from Tomkinsville, is a very interesting book. The author John R. Tunis tells us about Roy Tucker, a young man from Conneticut trying out to play for the Dodgers.

When I was in junior high, I was addicted to reading juvenile sports fiction. Shortly after beginning seventh grade, I went to the alphabetical beginning of the fiction section in the school library and began moving down the alphabet. As I went, I examined the books and read all that were sports related. In a little over two years, I had read every sports fiction book in the collection. Of all those books, the Kid From Tomkinsville was one of the most memorable.
While the background of the 1940's made the presentation difficult for someone in their early teens in the 1960’s, the descriptions of baseball more than made up for it. Roy Tucker is the title character and an excellent pitcher. However, immediately after one of his best games, he slips and cracks his pitching elbow. This finishes him as a pitcher and the main theme becomes his quest to come back as an outfielder.
He is initially very effective and believes success is assured. However, he soon begins to struggle and doubts creep in. The description of all of this is a combination of one of the best baseball stories as well as one of triumph as a combination of talent, hard work and persistence lead to his success. I still remember the scene where his manager comes to his room and tells him the problem is that he is playing for himself and not for his team.
John Tunis is one of the best writers of sports fiction that has ever lived. He makes baseball exciting, even when all the action is taking place off the field. While our society has moved on to a point quite different from the time period of the story, baseball is still a game where strategy, preparation and dedication can triumph over athletic ability. That has not changed, and the descriptions in this book will continue to keep the attention of baseball fans for decades to come.

Like another reviewer, I fell in love with John R. Tunis as a kid. Tunis has great characters and great stories. Perfect for the kid who loves baseball.

I was hardly a baseball fan at all when I began this book. Now baseball is one of my greatest loves. This book is terrific! Whether you love baseball or not you'll be pulled in as Roy-the main character-tries to overcome a freak injury and rejoin the Brooklyn Dodgers.

I read this book the first time back in the mid-80's in high school. I had a burgeoning love of baseball and fell deeply in love with Tunis' works. The point I got from this story is that there is always another door to get to your dream.

I read this book with my wife each taking assignments and reporting back after a day or two. What an incredible read and experience. There is a wealth of challanging material in this book to help anyone wishing to expand themselves into a more thoughtful person.

A pure blessing that has potential and material to make a substancial upswing in one's life.
Rocco

I have been a fan of the Merills, since their synergistic work with Stephen Covey with "First Things First".

I am not married yet, nor do I have a job, but I find this book so practical and I am convinced as I grow up into the various future stages of my life, the wisdom within it, will become more and more obvious.

I really like the idea that balance is not in "balancing the scale" but in "balancing".

The sections that deals with Time Matters and Money Matters, is worth more than the price of the book. When I was browsing through the book, and got to read the Money Matrix diagram, I almost jumped out of my skin. I always felt the Time Matrix is always applicable to one's personal finance. I was so delighted to know the Merrills felt the same and has wrote and developed it further in this book. The book also feature a quote from my favorite personal finance guru, Robert Kiyosaki.

If you have a friend who is getting married, this would be an excellent gift to a newly wed couple. I recently gifted one to my best friend. Since the book is quite expensive for us living in India, I along with a group of friends, decided to give it together.

It's a book worth to be made a family heirloom. I am sure anyone would find it helpful. Its a rare diamond in the overly cluttered world of self-help books. Most self-help books offer advice, but ended up with platitudes and rehash of ideas. We need books like this one.

Another beautiful aspect to this book is the author's recognition that more than offering answers to people, it is more important to help people develop their ability to find the answer within. This is what they called navigational intelligence. It is the effort to develop personal conscience, and listening to it.

Its a book that will never leave my reading desk and will be refered to again and again and again, till I end this life and buried six feet under.

Thanks Roger and Rebecca for an enduring legacy for generations to come. I pray more and more people will embrace your message. If we all do the world will be a better place to live in.

New books telling you how to improve your life come off the presses every week, maybe every day. Some are bad, and you realize you have wasted your time. Some are average, and you might learn a few new things, but they aren't all that memorable. Some are great, and you go back to them again and again. "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" is one of the great books. Years later people remember it, talk about it, and reread it.

"Life Matters" is a great book. It covers a lot of good ideas, the thoughts and observations are well presented, and the book reads quickly.

The first chapter starts off talking about what is important in life. The authors focus on four areas: work, family, time, and money. They have a quiz to help in your self-assessment of how you are doing in each of these four areas. A big message of this book is there doesn't have to be conflict between the four areas.

The next chapter covers three things you have to do in any area of your life. The three "gotta do's" are:

1) Validate your expectations. You have to confront reality, for if you have an unrealistic expectation you will be frustrated. The authors make the point that the direction you are heading is more important than how fast you are going.

2) Optimize Effort. Look for ways to get the maximum benefit for your effort, and make sure your decisions are aligned with your goals.

3) Develop your "Navigational" intelligence. This is the ability to be aware of your changing environment, so that what looked like an important task at the start of the day may have to take a back seat when your boss gives you a new assignment, or a child needs attention.

The next four chapters are on: work, family, time, and money, with a chapter on each area. The authors weave each of the above three "gotta do's" into each area. For each area they explore different ways people see the area, for example how do you see your family, or your money. And then they discuss what is the reality. They have a list of "optimizers" which are techniques for getting the maximum benefit for your effort. And they talk about how to be flexible when situations change.

"Seven Habits" mentions a Time Matrix, which is a two dimensional matrix based on how important something is, and how urgent it is. Many people waste time on things that aren't important, or get caught up doing things that are important and urgent. Stephen Covey explores why doing things that aren't urgent, but important, can make a great difference in your life. For me one of the gems of "Life Matters" was exploring this same matrix in relation to money. The Merrill's point is that it is best to invest your money with the same Quadrant II focus, things that aren't urgent, but are important. For me, that idea alone was worth reading the book. There were a number of similar gems scattered through the book.

The last chapter was titled "Wisdom Matters" and here the authors explore why wisdom is important, and how to improve your wisdom. One of the points they strongly make is to develop an ongoing daily self-important program. The idea is to spend a few minutes each day improving your understanding of life, and how to make better decisions.

This is a great book. If you are interested in improving your life, buy this book, read this book, and then reread it. It will help you get better control of your life. For as the Merrills say, life does matter.

This book is one of many that build off Stephen Covey's "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," and is a more in-depth discussion of prioritizing (Living in Quadrant II for those who speak Covey). This book is divided into four sections that reflect the four biggest concerns Americans face--the workplace, the family, time, and money. The basic message of the book is that one must think in terms of "investing," whether it be money, time, or effort. It is important to examine what one invests in so that maximum returns can be paid on that investment. As an example, investing money in a car yeilds a much lower return (a negative return) than investing in a mutual fund. Investing time in televison watching yields a much lower return than helping your child with his homework. Investing in effort in a long-term project that is still months away yields a much higher return than filling out some pretty-unnecessary paperwork. Other commentators are correct when they say that the examples of theory-in-action can be fairly unrealistic (even though they really happened!), but they illustrate the authors' points well. I would first recommend the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. If you find that helpful (and I imagine you will), this book is an excellent follow-up to it.

Prioritizing the building blocks of life - family, work, money and time - is paramount to happiness. Some people do it unconsciously by living within their intellectual and monetary expectations. Others need a framework for balance, such as the one that authors A. Roger Merrill and Rebecca R. Merrill provide. To achieve personal balance, the authors suggest becoming a better team player, working more effectively, learning about finances and setting home and work priorities. They establish the goal of building a strong family, centered around parental "family leadership." Do they successfully address the knotty issues they raise? Yes, in a folksy way. This is a useful self-help manual with checklists, self-assessments and personal anecdotes, which are sometimes touching, but sometimes impractical or saccharine. Though the management advice dons motivational language, the sections on family and work are particularly worthwhile. The authors deliver a solid antidote to misplaced modern values, albeit wrapped in some fluffy trappings. We recommend this book to corporate officers and human resource personnel, as well as to individuals seeking balance.

I'm sure I'll love this book. Once I receive it. It's been nearly 3 months since I ordered this...Amazon will no longer be the beneficiary of my internet commerce.

Kind of essential lookback to something we'll never see again. All the messiness, sloppiness & amateurism that had me and my pals going all the time to the FE (Friday Night Late Show Only please!). One of few worthwhile rock books.

I love this book. I frequented the Fillmore East 18 times between 1970 until it closed in June of 71. This book brought back so many memories. The Fillmore East was without a doubt the greatest place to see and hear a concert and I miss it. I am glad that I was able to be a part of the Fillmore East - even got to speak to Bill Graham the night of the last public concert. I am very glad this book was put together and anyone who was there will enjoy it. I sure do miss those days - Thanks Amalie!!! Got anymore tidbits - any chance of a Fillmore East Late Show edition?

This book provides a list of the bands playing each night the Fillmore was open! Great historical insight!

The Fillmore East was not only the Mecca of Rock Music in the late sixties and early seventies, it was also the epicenter of all Rock Music, as well as jazz and performance art from the era. Live at the Fillmore East captures the ambience of the era by capturing not only the acts performing on stage, but the audience's exuberance and the backstage scene in wonderful photography by Amalie R. Rothschild. I'd highly recommend this book to all music lovers, like myself, who have an appreciation for the music of Jimi Hendrix, Janis, The Who, The Grateful Dead (many great pictures of the band on stage), Miles Davis, etc.
A special portion of the book is dedicated to the light shows that were so valuable in those days in highlighting the music as it was being performed. If you ever attended a show at the Fillmore East, this book is a must! If you know the reputation of Bill Graham and the Fillmore East and never attended a show there: this book is a must also! Great forward by Mickey Hart and great text by the author. Buy this book and treasure it for the testament of a great, historical era in music.

Abandoned for centuries and overgrown by dense subtropical forest, this awesome city in the sky has been the subject of speculation and conjecture since Hiram Bingham first disclosed it in 1911. Now, for the first time, the wonders of Machu Picchus' construction and water supply are revealed in a new book by Kenneth R. Wright and Alfredo Valencia Zegarra. Anyone who has read Bingham's Lost City of the Incas, or who has visited this ancient city of the Incas or who yearns to journey there, should read this new and searching volume that delves into and solves many of the mysteries of Machu Picchu. Why was it built, how the site was selected, and what were the critical criterial criteria that were met to make the ridge top site suitable for an alternate home for the Inca Pachacuti? Machu Picchu served as a residence, a fortress and a holy place. The developement of a water supply, the construction of terraces for agriculture and the remarkable and enduring granite structures were well concealed by its unique location. Near vertical cliffs, the roaring Urubamba river all contributed to the concealment of Machu Picchu from the Spanish invaders How an ancient people, without the written word, without instruments and steel tools so capably built and prospered there for more than a century is now revealed in this landmark book that will increase both the awe and respect of the reader for the Inca people.

Don't let the title scare you if you are not an engineer. Reading through the book is like taking a stroll with the ancient men who planned, designed and built this great site. It is a "must take along" if you are planning a visit. Even if you cannot afford to visit, the book is worth the read to be able to admire the skills of ancient people.

For the University of Denver Water Law Review,
Vol. 6, Issue 1, Fall 2002

Coloradans Ken and Ruth Wright have teamed with Peruvian archeologist Alfredo Valencia to place back in working order the sixteen fountains of Machu Picchu. You can see for yourself.

The Inca were master water handlers. They chose Machu Picchu as a ceremonial center because the mountains and the river spoke to them of life-giving power. The Urubamba River far below snakes triangular around the base of Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountains. A saddle between these peaks cradles the temples, rock shrines, dwelling places, and agricultural terraces that dance between the clouds in early morning and emerge to sunlight by Noon.

Water at the center of it all. The paleo-hydrologic studies of the Wrights and Valencia reveal how the Inca predicated the design and construction of Machu Picchu upon the flow of a spring. From high on the side of Machu Picchu Mountain, a canal brings water across an agricultural terrace to the first fountain just above the Temple of the Sun. From there, sixteen fountains splash, spout, and sing down a staircase to the Temple of the Condor.

The May 2002, issue of National Geographic Magazine contains yet another map of Machu Picchu deriving from the Wright-Valencia partnership. This map shows how magnificent Machu Picchu must have looked with its thatched roofs uplifted to the condor sky.
Underneath your feet at every turn is the invisible sixty-percent of Machu Picchu. In their Civil Engineering book, Ken and Alfredo describe the genius of Machu Picchu's foundational structure. The Inca edifices and agricultural terraces stand the test of time because of careful drainage and methodical trenchwork. The visible forty-percent of Machu Picchu rests on mountain bedrock and the skill of people who learned through ancestral experience how to counter earthquake and erosion's despoiling effect.

Ken and Alfredo deduce from their studies that the Inca did not irrigate the agricultural terraces at Machu Picchu, though they did elsewhere. Here, the rainy season and supplemental importation of agricultural products met the needs of the small resident population and the influx of those attending rituals. The Inca ruler Pachacuti began Machu Picchu as a ceremonial retreat in A.D. 1450. It likely ceased normal operation by A.D. 1540 due to the collapse of the Inca Empire under Spanish invasion.

Ken and Alfredo explain that Machu Picchu's durability stems from high quality professional workmanship:

"Machu Picchu's technical planning is surely the key to the site's longevity and functionality. The Inca's careful use of hydraulic, drainage, and construction techniques ensured that the retreat was not reduced to rubble during its many years of abandonment. These techniques, combined with a strong knowledge of hydrology, were what made it a grand and operational retreat high in the most rugged of terrain."

The Civil Engineering book is easily readable, yet contains much study and analysis of Machu Picchu's structural accomplishment. Ken and Alfredo devote chapters to (1) setting, geology, climate, and site selection; (2) city planning and engineering infrastructure; (3) hydrogeology, collection works, water requirements, and water supplies; (4) hydraulic engineering, water supply canal, and fountains; (5) drainage infrastructure, surface runoff and drainage criteria, agricultural terraces, and urban sector; (6) agriculture, hand-placed soil, crop water needs, and adequacy of nutrient production; (7) building foundations and stone walls; (8) construction methods, rock quarry, transporting and lifting rocks, using wood and vegetation, roof structures, canal stones, floors and plaster, bridges, and tools of the trade; (9) cultural background and Inca heritage; and (10) a walking tour of the engineering works (Ruth's contribution).

Dr. Gordon McEwan, excavator of Pikillacta and Chokepukio, illuminates the cultural background of the Inca in a fine chapter he contributes to the Civil Engineering work (chapter 9). He further explains in a June 2002 National Geographic Magazine article how the Inca culture built upon the Wari culture (A.D. 600-1000). At Pikillacta, the Wari relied on an aqueduct whose portals also served as their gateways and guardways to the Cusco Valley. Before the Wari, dating from B.C. 200, the Pukara and the Tiwanaku peoples conducted water for pragmatic and religious purposes.

The Inca were religious and practical people. They revered the earth, the mountains, and the sky, as their descendants the Quechua still do. On mountain torsos they saw visages of the serpent, the puma, and the condor. Rocks and dead ancestors were equally alive to inform and inspire them by daily consultation in community. They were expert engineers, architects, and water workers. Joseph and Pharaoh-like, they dreamed of drought and famine; so, they stored the plentiful crop against the certitude of impending scarcity. The Inca exacted a tax in the form of labor. In return, the community benefited from stored food and ritual celebrations.

In the third summer of a North American western drought (A.D.2002), with the published work of Ken, Ruth, and Alfredo in hand, I could see it too--how water works at Machu Picchu for domestic water supply, aesthetic, and spiritual needs. The Inca water containment and delivery structures join those of the Mayans at Tikal, the Anasazi at Mesa Verde, and the Hopi at their mesas in a centuries-old mosaic of water use in the Western Hemisphere.

In scarcity lies the opportunity for community. The native peoples of the Americas practiced the art of water works construction out of ingenuity and necessity, praying to the gods for rain to fill their earth-constructed hope against despair. The native peoples also demonstrated that water supply planning and infrastructure is a core responsibility of those who would govern in the public interest. Westerners always come round to the practical and symbolic value of water for people and the environment.

Great book that goes way beyond the standard guide book fare. It inspired me to make the trip after reading it, to see first hand how the ancient Inca Empire created a complete fortified city in the sky, to trace the old Inca trails by the watchtower, the drawbrige and into the main gate with the view of city and the peak beyond. Other travel books have beautiful pictures and "where to eat and where to stay" for this citadel but very little information on how the city itself came into being and survived.

City maps and commentary in the book are far better than you can get on-site. Don't leave home without it. Even if you are just an armchair traveler you will be amazed with the accomplishments of the Inca Empire.

The story of Machu Picchu is a tribute to the prehistoric Native Americans who planned and built this mystical mountaintop royal estate for Emperor Pachacuti between AD 1450 and 1540. The authors have, at last, defined for scientists and layman alike what makes Machu Picchu such a beautiful and special place: the innumerable details of Machu Picchu, when combined into a whole, create a visual and spiritual experience that is unparalleled in the New World.

Properly, this book is dedicated to the young Yale explorer Hiram Bingham, John Rowe and Pat Lyons of the University of California/Berkeley, Richard Burger and Lucy Salazar of Yale University, and several others who had a hand in supporting the research work in both the United States and Peru.

Ten chapters, 160 photographs, many sketches and maps, in conjunction with a detailed index, provide both the scholar and casual tourist with a description of Machu Picchu that is a must-read before leaving Cusco for the trip down the Urubamba River to see this most important archaeological ruin of the Western Hemisphere. The book is designed so that much of the story can be appreciated even if one only looks at the photographs and reads the captions; much like a National Geographic magazine.

Chapter 1 explains the when, where and why of Machu Picchu along with it ancient climate. Site selection reasons are described; here you will learn why the Inca chose such a difficult site for construction and how the mountain and water played a major role in its choice. In Chapter 2, you will learn about the Inca-period planning that went into the royal estate so that it would function. For instance, based on engineering evidence, the Inca spring and canal layout details were established before the Inca Royal Residence and the Temple of the Sun locations were chosen. It is no coincidence that the one-half-mile-long canal ends near the Royal Residence and Fountain No. 1 so that the emperor would have the first use of the domestic water supply.

Without the Inca Spring on the north side of Machu Picchu Mountain, there would be no archaeological ruin here. The Inca water source is described in Chapter 3. The hydrology of the spring and its flow are presented in an easy-to-understand manner; the reader will learn why the water supply is a child of the geologic faulting, upthrusts and related cracking of the granite bedrock and that the spring flow rises and falls throughout the year with a several-month lag time between the rainfall. But most of all, the chapter describes the original spring works and its water supply so that its technical significance to the Inca engineer can be fully appreciated. For water quality aficionados, a detailed water quality table of constituents is described; you will learn that the water supply of Machu Picchu was and is clear and pure.

Also in Chapter 3, the remarkable recent discoveries of long lost water supplies are explained. A previously unknown extension of the Inca Trail down to the Urubamba River is also described. One fountain is shown flowing in 1999 after nearly five centuries of being buried under the forest floor.

Chapter 4 explains the hydraulic engineering of Machu Picchu and the meticulous fountain work that delivered water to the heart of Machu Picchu. Hydraulic works such as the Abandoned Canal are pictured to show that even when Machu Picchu was left to the forest in AD 1540, the royal estate was still under construction. Machu Picchu represented a pinnacle of the Inca architectural and engineering achievements.

The author explains in Chapter 5 that, without good drainage, Machu Picchu would not have endured through the centuries. The drainage system is analyzed using modern methods to prove the type of planning and engineering that preceded the actual building construction, all with figures and photographs so that the drainage components can be examined in the field to provide a greater appreciation. Discovery of the first and only gold at Machu Picchu in 1996 is a story that illustrates the Machu Picchu mysteries that still await discovery; a gold bracelet was found in and amongst the stone chips that underlie the Playa. A photograph of the gold bracelet shows its graceful curves.

The agriculture of Machu Picchu is amply illustrated and described in Chapter 6, along with the nutrient producing capabilities of the hundreds of terraces. It was determined that the terraces would provide food for no more than 55 people and, therefore, food was brought into Machu Picchu from elsewhere. Actually, the terraces were used mostly for growing corn, probably to produce the ceremonial Inca beer known as chi cha.

Chapters 7 and 8 satisfy one's need to know about how the Machu Picchu stonework was built and why it has endured. Eighteen types of stonework wall patterns are illustrated and lintel beams are described along with many special-use stones. Methods of construction are analyzed to show how large stones were moved, shaped and placed. Evidence of potential Inca renegade stonemasons is shown on page 77, a controversy on which Inca scholars still disagree.

One of the best descriptions of how the Inca were able to do so much in such a short time is given in Chapter 9, prepared by scholar Gordon McEwan, in a chapter on cultural background and the Inca heritage.

The final chapter of the book provides a capstone in the form of a walking tour that takes the reader to each and every Machu Picchu highlight, complete with 44 figures and photographs. The four pages of Machu Picchu mapping helps the armchair traveler know just where he or she is at all times.

This book, parading as a civil engineering guide to Machu Picchu, is actually a detailed guide that covers the scientific aspects of the archaeological site in a way that any and all readers can appreciate. I recommend it to all. Don't miss it if you are planning to visit there.

I kept hearing about this book, then I happened to see it featured on BET's Cita's World as "Book of the Beek". So I had to pick it up. Once I did I couldn't put it down!

A love supreme, experimental, quintessential, soul stirring, rhythmic poetry....... In its true form

The book was fabulous. I read it several times and it seems that everytime I read it, it gets deeper. Very inspirational and motivated young man. More poets need to have the courage to publish their works...Keep up the good work and I am looking forward to the next published work...

From the intro to the first chapter; is was sprung, Subliminal Seduction!!! What??? I was intrigued by this book. I've read it over and over again.... and each time... feels like the "first time".....literally! Do your thang!! Much love to ya Bro!!!!!

The title sets the stage for a very unique poetic approach that Mr. Thornton has so graciously put together, one that will rejuvenate the mind and soul. By any means necessary, MENTAL CONCEPTIONS opens with much to consider as each poem makes deep introspective statements. I enjoyed all the selections and was very impressed with his unique flow of words and the fact that each offering challenges readers to understand what the writer is sharing.

'Silver Bracelets' opens with such spiritual depth that the feeling will stay with me. Rejuvenation, mental awakening, spiritual growth and originality are words that barely describe Andre R. Thornton's book. He has created, as one of his poems is titled, 'A Poet's Dream'. The title MENTAL CONCEPTIONS says it all.

Reviewed by Kalaani
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Weather you in the business or getting into it, this book is essential. Even if you have a lawyer. Good insight...

This book is so crammed with info and knowledge coupled with insight into practices of the industry and courts its like attending a credited law school.With basic torts and concideration of all parts and many elemental workings of the industry.It is a must have.

This is comprehensive & each chapter was written by another expert, so you're bound to like something!

This can be a substitute to the book: "Everything You Need To Know About The Music Business" (Donald Passman)

This book was a required text in my Legal Problems of the Recording Industry class. I'm passionate about the music industry and can give a good debate, but am far from being a "legal mind." This text is great for those, like me, are not the best students in legal courses. This text breaks down real contracts/ agreements into easy to understand formats, section by section. If it wasn't for this text I wouldn't have made an A in the course. This book should be required reading for those in the music business as well as the musicians who will be facing these agreements. Plus, it's like my professor said 'remember, everything is negotiable - don't get screwed in your contract!'

People think music business is all about creation and keeping the fans happy. Well it mostly is but a young artist can become stuck in all that legal stuff. For somebody who is new that can be very difficult and people could take advantage of this and try to cheat you so this book is about all the legal involved aspects of the music business. This book will offer you a detailed explanation of everything that concerns the people in the music business. After you read it you will know what to avoid and understand the issues as they are explained in an easy and franc manner.

*Were you sincerely interested in the Terri Schindler-Schiavo case?
*Do you really want to see the FACTS and the ACTUAL DOCUMENTS surrounding the Terri Schindler-Schiavo case?
*Do you wish to have a clear understanding of why a young disabled woman's viable life was tortured via starvation and dehydration?
*Do you care to educate yourself about how the judicial system in the United States of America, NOT only allowed a young disabled woman to be starved and dehydrated to her death, but, how the same system assisted in her actual murder?

The book was not written by the Schindler's, Schiavo's, or, by any other party who could be declared as biased towards Terri's case.
The book was clearly written after thousands of hours of research; to depict only the TRUTH, FACTS and ACTUAL DOCUMENTATION associated with an American citizen's life. The book reveals how an innocent, defenseless life was taken via the harsh and torturous death associated with starvation and dehydration.

If you want the educated truth and want to see copies of the ACTUAL documents surrounding Terri's life....spend the 20 plus dollars and buy the book. It will be well worth your read. If not only for the education of how our legal system seriously failed a young, disabled American citizen, but, for how the same system could indeed fail YOU, or, one of your LOVED ONES.

This is a well written account that includes documents, affidavits, and testimony. I would recommend this book to anyone who has followed this case because of the factual content. The hope of Cheryl Ford and Dr. J. E. Craddock is that those in power will be inspired to change the systems that failed Terri.

You need look no further. "Our Fight 4 Terri" is the only book anyone would ever need to fully understand the miserable miscarriage of justice that allowed the longest public execution in the history of the United States. That a young, healthy, innocent girl was forced to die a brutal death of starvation and dehydration while the whole world watched for 13 long days is still just beyond belief. Even more unbelievable is the picture I can never get out of my mind of children being arrested for trying to offer her a drink of water while paid snipers (yes, In AMERICA!) watched from the rooftop to make sure no one got in to save her.
Included in this book are all the affidavits, court testimonies, bone scan image reports, hospital reports, police reports, depositions, and court documents anyone would ever need to realize the immensity of the fraud that was perpetrated in this case in which the wool was pulled so completely over the eyes of the American public that the door was opened to murder of the institutionalized healthy. No person in this country is safe until this miscarriage of justice is corrected. This was done under the control of ONE Judge whose decisions based on hearsay were upheld by others out of misguided respect for his court. When you finish this book, you will be overwhelmed by the fraud, manipulation of the system, corruption between government offices, incompetence, cover-ups, and determination to make this woman die.
I remember the first time I saw the movie "Manchurian Candidate" and how shocked I felt at the immensity of the conspiracy. The revelations in this book place the Terri Schiavo saga on the same level. It is a must read for every American to know the truth of this terrible story.

That's who you're reading the facts from, in this book. To the neuronless brainiacs who left negative reviews: did YOU two ever meet Terri? BOOKSTORE OWNER -*snicker* of what, porn books? Because the only way for you to know this book is trash is if you live amongst trash yourself.

CASADEGA, darling, do your research before opening that polluted mouth of yours; FYI, Terrisfight.org DOES endorse this book's authors' views (do a little research and you'll find a link to their blog). If you had any idea of the publishing world's workings, you'd know why this book is not [yet] promoted on their website, but since you don't have that idea, please, shut up. Ah yes, and go ahead and use the book's pages as toilet paper if you wish: the paper is just about right on its thickness, because stickier derrieres need rougher paper to really get all the caca cleaned off.

I pity you two, it's obvious that you're the little friends of michael schiavo & you're just trying to kick as you drown.

To everyone else, I urge you to form your opinion on this book on your own, by reading it (THEN if you don't like it, tell it). If you're going to give an opinion, make it an informed one, not one based on someone else's (in this case very biased and illiterate) opinion. As for my opinion, the book is vivid & written by people who were actually involved and have the guts to tell it like it really was.

Cheers! And long live Terri.

I purchased this book last year, and found it to be one of the best references for facts in Terri Schiavo's case. Reading this book is like sitting down with Cheryl and Jan, and listening/watching them present the actual evidence and truth about so many things that the mainstream "pro euthanasia" media has refused to tell. You will see the actual hospital documents, police reports, and so much more. I will warn you though, that once you learn about the judicial misconduct, FL laws broken, the details of Michaels malpractice case,(money was paid under the claim that Terri had a heart attack brought on by potassium imbalance that was undetected. The autopsy confirmed this assumption was bogus, and that Terri never had a heart attack brought on by anything. The news however, is consistently reporting to this day that the autopsy confirmed the heart attack! There is a lot more about the autopsy that has never been reported. The geniuses reported that the autopsy proves Terri was not strangled, however, it only proves that 15 years later, there is no sign of soft tissue damage - nor would there be if someone was strangled that long ago!) Reporters should be charged with a misleading the public charge for purposely reporting assumptions as truth. And why is it that all the TV stations do not disclose that Terris records were SEALED by Judge Greer? No one reports on the bone scan that indicated a tremendous force hit her, as well as the multiple fractures and other damage. ****HBO Autopsy Dr. Himself, Mr Baden, had commented on the bone scan before Terris death, and suggested there may have been foul play.*** There is so much corruption involved in Terris case, Pro death judges making their political position the law, instead of obeying the law and keeping their opinions out of it! Greer sealed her case, so why isnt any anchors asking about that? Why were Michaels prescribed anti depressant bottles witnessed by the police the night of the "Incident" taken as evidence? Why were Terris friends and family not questioned regarding Michaels attitude, or any marital problems? The first report on what happened at the Schiavo residence, was titled a homicide. Why was it changed? What happened to the woodwards and Bernsteins in our country? Now each network or cable news feeds off the other, like vultures. They report the same story over and over, from reuters or the like, and rarely ever investigate it themselves. Newspapers follow suit. If someone investigated the five different interviews that Schiavo has given to the media and police reports, Michael Schiavo might very well be behind bars, in the cell next to Scott Peterson. There is actually v ery little difference between the two, the more you learn about what may very well have happened that night to Terry. Yet strangely, Matt Lauer and Larry King, and all the other news media does not bring up these questions, or question Michael why in the 7 years after Terris "incident" did he never ever tell a soul about Terris wishes that for seven years he supposedly denied? No media outlet reported on the testimony that Schiavo told other people that he had no idea what Terri would have wanted, as they had never spoken of something like that happening in any context. The only time Michael did come out with this revelation was after he asked his girlfriend to marry him, and all of a sudden there was a rush to get rid of Terri and whooops, there it is, a million dollar inheritance! If someone is in a position to gain something from another persons death, they should not be the guardian of that person. PERIOD. For all the sappy journalists that report that Michael became a nurse to take care of Terry, the truth is that he did not really "care" for Terry. He bossed around nurses, on a Schiavo power trip but he didnt take care of Terri. Did anyone report on the testimony of nurses that said that Terri would be visibly shaken after his visits, and afraid, crying, etc? Did they report that there were nurses that made entries in Terris medical file about things Michael said or did, or how Terri responded, and Michael would see to it that they were removed? I could go on and on! If you care about the truth, learn more about this case, not just what you hear your TV anchor saying. We all owe that to Terri, because at the very least, what happened to her will affect all of the laws regarding other disabled people like her.

Of course the "Pro Death" movement hates this book, which is why I see some entries in the reviews desperately trying to persuade others to pass it up. They dont want you to see it, which is why you need to see it. Cheryl, who is by the way, a registered nurse gave up her life on the West coast as a consultant to the Schindlers during the fight for Terris life. She was on the inside, aware of all of the facts regarding Terris injuries, her marriage, the inconsistent interviews, Testimonies regarding the night of Terris "incident", and so much more. Ford and Craddock do the legwork in reading all of the court documents, and bring out the parts that others left buried. Cheryl also led thousands of Terris supporters, that grew once the videos were released. Here michael and Judge Greer were talking of Terri as if she were in a coma, as if she were sleeping and not responsive at all. Greer and Schiavo were furious that the videos were released to the public. That now there was proof that Terri was aware, and did respond to family, dr's questions, and requests, could track things with her eyes. Another fallacy of the autopsy was that Terri could not see. False. It was stated that to be sure that Terri could or could not see, a doctor would have to do just what the videos did. They would have to examine her and see how much she was able to see - and any moron could tell that Terri could see to some extent after recognizing family, and following baloons and lights she was requested to follow. The fight4terri group worked 24/7 through internet emails, faxes, phone calls, letters, protests, to reach those with the power to save Terris life.

Anyone upset about the facts in this book, is really angry that the truth is coming out in it. when the truth comes out, the advocates for people like Terri have their agendas pushed back once again. If people like Terri and others with Alzheimers and brain damage, chronic disease, etc are looked at as liabilities within the health system rather than human beings who still have worth, who still have hope, and who still have a right to live with simple food and water. Terri, was not on any machines as was reported on many programs, she was not weak, my Lord, she lasted 14 days without one drop of water. Many of us who are healthy would not last one quarter of that time.

Without this book, you will be missing a great deal of the story on Terris life, the autopsy, as well as what really happened before, during, and after Terri was injured. The book is well written and what really went on in Terri's life will keep you glued to the pages. I am purchasing additional books for lawmakers in hopes of changing our country's guardianship laws. I would encourage everyone who reads it to do the same, if you want to stop seeing other innocent people like Terri sentenced to death. There are many more than Terri, every day, who die silently, with no one to speak for them. The hospice agenda of starving patients has gone out of control. Terri and others like her, are dying painful, horrible deaths, in rooms far away from Katie Courick, Matt Lauer or Larry King. They are dying with nurses and doctors standing by, ignoring the oath they took not to harm their patients. These are people who never agreed to such torture, and pain. People being starved, guilty of being disabled, and needing someone to bring the food and water to their mouth, to a straw or to a longer straw going into the stomach if their swallowing is affected. there is no difference. The Judge in Terris case (Greer) didnt mandate that she only have the tube taken out, he mandated that even if Terri could eat or drink sustenance by mouth, it would not be offered to her, by his decree. He made sure that police would be there to see that no one allowed Terri to even attempt to eat or drink on her own, regardless of testimony from numerous nurses that she could and did indeed eat on their shifts, jello, pudding and other soft or liquid foods. Instead, given that testimony from multiple sources, Greer made sure that no tests would be done on Terri to confirm whether or not she could eat by mouth! He mandated that Terri do nothing less than DIE. We dont starve murderers, it would be too cruel a death. However, for those with disabilities who can not speak, they are the ones who are forced to suffer that fate, by a Judge who never ever went to see Terri once in all the years that her case was in the courts. Bottom line, we need laws that insure food and water be given to any person without a clear written and signed directive. We need to make sure that men who move on and take another family do not get to decide whether hat happens to the woman they left behind. Every womens group that turned a deaf ear to Terri, should be totally ashamed. ACLU as well. The same Judge that was appointed to watch over Terris medical funds to make sure they were there for her, should not have been able to allow her husband to take them, and buy an expensive lawyer that he could not afford on his own with her medical care money! You will see the judicial misconduct in this case and it will make you scream! If the world knew what was in this book before Terri died, she would be alive right now! My gratitude to Ford and Craddock for such an excellent and much needed book.

Mrs. Debra Ferguson
Disability Rights Advocate, SC

The size of the book is appropriate for carrying in the field. The narrative is concise and well presented. The pictures of the birds are easy to reference. The real test of a field guide, though, is how useful it is when there is an unidentified bird in front of you. I will not know that until I get back from S. Africa in March but this book appears comparable to the better guides for US birds.

We wanted to label all the photos of birds we took in South Africa. This book made it easy to locate the drawings of the birds. . .drawings that were very lifelike. . .and attach the names to the photos. We highly recommend this guide.

This guide looks perfect for my needs. I have looked it over carefully, even though I haven't had a chance to use it in the field. I definitely like the quick reference guide to bird types inside the front and back covers and the color-coded reference to bird groups. Look forward to using this guide in the field.

Well worth the money to enjoy your trip to South Africa even more. Even with a good guide (like we had with Transfrontiers) it is well worth taking a strong field guide like Birds of Southern Africa. That way when your guide is trying to tell you what you are looking at, you can see the picture up close and get a better idea. We have done many trips to various parts of Africa and this is one of the best guides we have used.

Warning: using this field guide will make you dissatisfied with many other field guides. You will enjoy studying and using this guide.
The illustrations are large and detailed, distinctly more accurate than most guides. In addition most are just beautiful works. They are grouped in species settings with juveniles, alternate plumage, flight and significant field marks highlighted.
On the opposite page: written description, habitat, abundancy status and call descriptions with a range map plus the Afrikaans name.
As an example of the illustrations: the Laughing Dove is illustrated by two flight poses and a profile. The profile has arrows noting 'no hind collar', 'cinnamon back' and 'black-flecked necklace'. The written text notes marks that distinguish this bird from a Cape Turtle-Dove.
The cover is plastic coated and the pages have a lesser water resistant coating.
A lot of attention to detail went into creating this book --colored coded page edges according to bird group, groups of waterbirds and hawks in flight for comparison, a checklist near the index and internet addresses of birding resources in the area.
All this in a work that I carried in a large pants pocket every day.
It just makes me wish such books were available for many more areas.

a little difficult to use but once you get used to it it has a wealth of info. a must have.

I have had this book for the last 10 years, and I find it indispensable for diagnosis and treatment. My daughter has diabetes, and has improved greatly when she has followed Dr. Christopher's diet and herbal formulae. You will not be disappointed.

One caveat is that the index can be a little confusing. Sometimes browsing is the best way to glean information.

I have had this book for years and it has a lot of information in it that is useful for people needing healing and wanting health. It is not organized in a way that I would like it to be (I'd like it to be organized by herbs and by health problems - it is organized by types of herbs), but it has useful info in it.

Top notch information.
Yes, it could stand better indexing, but ,worth the while.

Head and shoulders above the rest. Time wouldn't allow how highly I prize this book. Gives definitions of therapeutic terms(which is a life saver for a person new to herbs and herbal medicine) also gives information on combining herbs for best results. The 25th edition would be the only one I would by as it is updated for measurements, as well as having complete formulations for every one of Christophers' remedies. As someone new to Herbs, I was able to pick up information useable to me right away and apply it.The book includes excellent cross references for Latin and common names for herbs, as well as copious names used for each herb in case your vernacular calls the plant by a different name (also includes international names). Contains Recipes for a mucusless diet, three day cleansing program and lots of real case scenarios.
BEWARE!!! This book can get addictive! You will start looking up remedies for everyone around you and spouting solutions to ailments of those you talk with!