Reed Books

"The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications" has been the bible of amateur radio since 1926. The 80th edition carries on in the tradition set by prior editions by providing an outstanding overview of practical electronics as well as a wide range of information and over 60 projects on amateur radio communications.

The "Handbook" starts with information on what amateur radio is, from the variety of people who are involved in the hobby to how to get started as a radio amateur. The book reviews the wide range of activities available to radio amateurs, with discussions of everything from emergency communications to Amateur Radio contests and awards. There's also a glossary of ham radio terms.

The book continues with the fundamentals of electronics theory. First is a review of the mathematics required for applied electronics. For those who need a refresher, the chapter provides an excellent review of electronics mathematics, from significant figures and equations to complex algebra and logarithms. It also includes examples to help those with little prior background in math understand the principles involved.

Next, the book discusses the fundamentals of electronics, from DC theory to AC theory, including both resistive and reactive components. This is followed with information on digital signal theory that starts with the basics of binary logic and builds up through computer hardware. The section on electronics theory wraps up with a discussion of analog signal theory. This chapter covers the various circuits used in radio communications and the devices used in these circuits, from the ubiquitous transistor to integrated circuits. Each of the chapters in the fundamental theory section has a glossary of the terms introduced in that chapter.

Fully half of the handbook covers practical radio design and related projects. This section of the handbook starts off with a chapter on safety practices for radio communications that discusses antenna and tower safety, electrical wiring including grounding, RF radiation, and other dangers encountered in radio (it's amazing how many chemical hazards there are in a radio shack!).

The rest of the design and projects section covers virtually everything in modern communications, from the characteristics of components at RF frequencies to power supplies and from communications filters to radio wave propagation. In each chapter, there is a review of the basic theory on the topic followed by projects that apply the theory. In addition, the projects are of practical items that the radio amateur will need.

For example, the chapter on Antennas discusses the theory of how antennas work. Following a discussion of dipoles and half-wave antennas, there are four projects for building dipole antennas for HF operation on various bands. There is similar information for vertical, yagi, and quad antennas, as well as discussions about antennas for mobile operations; each followed by one or more projects.

The Handbook includes chapters on construction techniques including information on electronics components, how to use common electronics tools, circuit construction tips, electronics test instruments, and electronic system troubleshooting and repair techniques. There are several related projects, including a frequency counter and several signal generators.

The ARRL Handbook bills itself as "The comprehensive RF Engineering Reference." I believe the handbook lives up to this statement and more. As a practicing RF engineer in the past, I can attest to the usefulness of the handbook to radio technicians and radio engineers. My team and I referred to the ARRL Handbook constantly in designing and maintaining MF, HF, VHF, and UHF installations.

As an instructor, I continue to find the ARRL Handbook as a useful reference for both Communications Systems classes, but also as an excellent resource for basic electronics circuits and components. I'm currently using the fundamental theory portions in the study sessions I hold for those preparing for electronics technician certifications.

This is an outstanding book for anyone interested in amateur radio or wireless communications. I also strongly recommend it as a reference for radio technicians and radio engineers.

Review by Mike Powers, Radideo.com Guide, January 2003

I have been involved in the hobby for less than a year and am a non-technical person. This book is a real work of art for what I would call a "technical user" or "technician". The manual is a superb desk referance.
However, for the greenhorn, ARRL has other books that are written at a more simple level and there is also a "Dummies" title that is a pretty good book in spite of the heavy overlap with "Now You're Talking".
There is content on antenna installation and principals that even newbies can understand, but again, ARRL has some titles that are targeted toward this need.

This book, published by the Amateur Radio Relay Lague, is a must-have item for any serious amateur radio operator.

Any question you might have about RF, antennas, tuners, amplifiers, and so on are in this book.

I would recommend this book to any ham who's interested in working HF or building antennas. It's not really necessary for most new hams who are planning on working two meters for awhile since most of the information doesn't really apply to working 144MHz on a handheld.

Otherwise, pick up a copy. I wouldn't buy one every year since the technology doesn't change that much, but support the League and get a great book by buying this item.

When I recently picked up the newest edition of the ARRL Handbook, the first thing I noticed was that they had changed the subtitle from ?For the Radio Amateur? to ?For Radio Communications?. This was done to reflect the fact that a large percentage of these handbooks are purchased by non-amateurs. Electrical Technicians and Engineers, Laboratories and Researchers often have a copy on their shelves. So with the 80th edition they made the slight name change to better appeal to the wider audience of active users. The book covers just about any major category of radio communications one can think of from Fundamental Theory, to Construction Techniques to Operating Practices. It is a excellent reference source for anyone with a question about radio. Off course for anyone with a very specific interest the ARRL has other books that deal with a more specialized subject, but for a starting point I would purchase this book first.

The book is published on a yearly basis, but since the soft cover copy I purchased retails for $34.95, I wouldn?t purchase a new copy every year. The basic technology doesn?t change that fast, most of the yearly changes are adding and removing projects. The new edition does have revised chapters, including ones on Modulation Sources and Digital Signal Processing, but I wouldn?t run out to purchase it if I had last year?s copy, unless I had a specific interest in the new material. Personally I have a hard cover edition from the 80?s and a CD edition from the late 90?s and much of the basic information is still the same. I would recommend for the average user that they purchase a new copy every 5 to 10 years unless they have a specific need. I might also recommend alternating between paper copies and CDs. CDs are archival and easy to store and duplicate (for back up purposes of copyrighted material), but for manuals of this sort it is also convenient to have a hard copy to thumb through at their workbench.

Reviewed by Trip for Huntress Reviews.

This is a must for the articulate and must be read carefully, consistently or the extensiveness and expertise will cause one to re-read excerpts. Forwarning: create word document to capture the depth of the content to enable review of materials. The book is precise and very well organized. Only one area of weakness in material is more detail regarding corporate minutes. Unless you have been a corporate secretary and done this kind of work you won't grasp the critical issues in doing acquisitions and questions to seller. I do M&A-well worth the money.

Alexandra Reed LaJoux has done it again. Her most recent book on "The Art of M&A Due Diligence" is a valuable tool for the seasoned practitioner as well as the neophyte. She and her co-author Charles Elson effectively combine the big picture with relevant detail so that the reader has a clear understanding of not only the critical concepts but of the process of "due diligence." I found the chapter dedicated to "transactional due diligence" particularly useful. I would recommend this book to anyone serious about transactional work, either as a lawyer, investment banker, or businessperson.

When purchasing a company you need to know what to look for and where to look for it and what it is you are looking at when you get the information you asked for.

If you are selling your company you need to know what someone SHOULD be looking for, where they will look for it, and the kinds of conclusions they should be drawing from what they are seeing.

This book is an incredibly valuable resource in this process. It is organized very logically and is a series of questions and answers so you can hop around to the information you need for the moment. However, it is also written in such a lively manner that it is easy to read from beginning to end. I happen to be fascinated by this topic and think this is an incredibly helpful handbook.

I think that the way you conduct due dilligence says a lot about your chances of success with an acquisition. And I also think that if someone is trying to buy you, you can tell a lot about them by what they want to know and the conclusions they draw from what they see. In either case it behooves you to invest time and a couple of books in a book like this. Well, in this book.

Alexandra Reed LaJoux has done it again. Her most recent book on "The Art of M&A Due Diligence" is a valuable tool for the seasoned practitioner as well as the neophyte. She and her co-author Charles Elson effectively combine the big picture with relevant detail so that the reader has a clear understanding of not only the critical concepts but of the process of "due diligence." I found the chapter dedicated to "transactional due diligence" particularly useful. I would recommend this book to anyone serious about transactional work, either as a lawyer, investment banker, or businessperson.

Reviewed by Susan Pettrone for Reader Views (1/07)

According to the author, Malcom Kushner, "squisine is a combination of the words squeeze and cuisine." Basically put, anytime you take a squeezable foodstuff such as ketchup, relish, or anything else that "squishes" and add it to what you are eating, you are creating "squisine." The easy-to-use part of squeezable food is not the main importance of "squisine" however, it is the fun part of squeezing the food to add it to a dish that makes it truly squisine and the fun is what makes it worthwhile and entertaining for kids.

Throughout this book the author takes us through the art of squisine, telling us simple ways to add variety and fun to dishes by using this easy-to-apply technique. Because his instructions and ingredients are so easy to use and simply found, the child in your life can happily apply this technique to even the most boring of foods, making them squisine works of edible art! One of my favorite ideas presented in this book is to squeeze messages for someone using a squeezable medium. I have used this on many occasions myself, serving an open-faced sandwich with the message "I Love You" in mustard on top of bologna or cheese. The look on the face of the person receiving not only lunch but a message of caring, is priceless and well worth the extra few seconds it takes to turn an ordinary sandwich into a message of caring.

But, ideas on how to use squeezable food aren't all this book is made up of. It also is packed with recipes including BBQ sauce, honey mustard dip, parmesan yogurt dip, maple chocolate syrup and even strawberry cream cheese spread...all of which work extremely well as squisine for the young chef in your life!

I would highly recommend "California Squisine" for any and all individuals that have a special child in their lives that likes to help in the kitchen. Not only are the recipes found within kid-friendly; they are tasty and fun to prepare as well. In fact, I found many of the recipes perfect for all ages within the pages of this book and ones that I foresee using time and time again even when my children don't help me with their preparation. It is an interesting book, not your typical recipe book for kids, having within its pages recipes, quotes and simple entertainment for kids of all ages. It would be a perfect gift for anyone who works with children as well. Many of the recipes could easily be used in a classroom setting making this a book that would be welcome by teachers as well. Simply said, this book is a great book for m any ages and many types of people. Check it out your self and I'm sure you will agree that it is a book that not only useful but fun as well!

"America's Favorite Humor Consultant" Malcolm Kushner presents California Squisine, a unique cookbook consisting entirely of recipes that are healthy, easy-to-make, and squeezable - perfect for introducing kids to the joy of making tasty treats. Best of all, no actual "cooking" is required! Though not specifically a weight-loss cookbook, California Squisine is pediatrician-approved and provides emphasis on salads, vegetables, and other healthy foods make it ideal for building positive attitudes toward good nutrition. Recipes range from Tuna Pate to Peanut Butter Pizza with Everything, Vegetable Kebabs, Pineapple Pudding, and much more. Enthusiastically recommended for harried adults with little time to invest in cooking as well as for kids.

Ask any child, "What are the four basic food types." You may be surprised when they respond, "Fast, frozen, instant, and take out." Informational and entertaining, Malcolm Kushner addresses a timely and important issue faced by American's today, that of childhood obesity.

The book includes over 100 recipes that have met the criteria set forth by the author and his team of consultants. The recipes had to be squeezable, be approved by their medical advisor, had to be made without cooking, and had to be approved by the taste tester.

The book is divided into six basic groups of recipes: Dressings, dips and spreads, sauces and syrups, snacks, sandwiches and other stuff, desserts, holiday squizine, and ethnic squizine. A blender is the only appliance needed to prepare these, cleverly illustrated, mouthwatering recipes.

The easy to follow instructions also provide suggestions for getting children involved in the preparation of the meal. This involvement adds a touch of family time fun to meals and the ownership the child feels insures less stress at the dinner table.

In addition to the valuable background information and recipes I especially appreciated the humorous quips in the "food for thought" sections, generously spaced throughout the book. Malcolm Kushner has given the reader a sample of his wit and lived up to his reputation of "America's Favorite Humor Consultant."

This delightful book should be in the hands of every mother of pre-school through pre-teen children. It should be displayed and available in book stores and in the waiting rooms of pediatricians across America.

Of all the cookbooks for kids I've read to date, this one is by far the best. It covers all the bases -- it's Easy, Fun & Healthful -- and as a bonus, the running commentary by author Kushner couldn't be more entertaining. Let's take those bases one by one.The recipes really are easy for kids to follow. They are divided into two parts, "What You Need," and "What You Do." Unlike some kids' cookbooks that purport to have simple recipes but require you to use ingredients one finds only in gourmet stores or overseas markets,the recipes found in "California Squisine" are comprised of items everyone typically has already in the fridge or kitchen cupboard. There are only a few steps that go into the preparation of each item, and they are clear and concise. As far as fun is concerned, children will love the concept of "Squisine." I was a teacher for 12 years and currently work with pre-school children and know how much children enjoy tactile activities. And the foods really are healthful! They are packed with anti-oxidants, are low in sugar and are just good for kids (and adults) to eat -- without being boring. I not only highly recommend this book for children, but also for special needs people of all ages. My adult daughter is autistic and loves to cook. However, she becomes frustrated with complicated recipes -- and I am not comfortable with her using the stove. She loves these recipes and it gives her a great deal of satisfaction to be able to prepare the different foods in "California Squisine" with confidence on her own.(And of course she loves "Squisining.") Kushner has done more than write a cookbook -- he's created a concept and should be heartily congratulated for it.

I wish I had this book before my Mom passed. I spent seven years gathering similar information on my own. Gail's book is invaluable when you are going through caring for the end days of a loved one. It helps save you all that foot work so your time and attention can be where it should be , with your loved one. I think it should be easily available to anyone with family approaching the dying process.

I recommend this book for anyone who wants to start a discussion about health care either for themselves or someone else. It provides a structure that is logical and very easy to understand. This book has included everything from tax returns to sample services. It helps take the pain out of planning.

The Caregiver's Checklist is a wonderfully organized tool and it would also be a great gift to some who is becoming a caregiver. Because it is spiral-bound, it lays flat on the table so you can consult it while stirring soup or reading a thermometer. All the difficult tasks involved in taking care of someone are carefully explained and you could consult this book before, during, or after you become a caregiver.
This would be the book to give to someone when you are unsure of what they need when dealing with a family illness or emergency. There is helpful information for everyone in here.

Caregiver's Checklist: A Personal Experience

This book is something you may wish you had prior to the painful experience of losing a loved one, or handling a loved one's estate. The Caregiver's Checklist gives you the knowledge to help you make good sound decisions in what is normally a difficult time. It is practical and it easily explains ever step of the process. It breaks hard and complex tasks into small easy to understand steps. It is a great reference book to be able to review when the time arises.

Caregiver's Checklist also educates the individual so that when that time comes and you do loose a loved one, you are more prepared to help handle the next difficult steps.

While American corporate propoganda, the pressure of advertising, and an antiwoman culture means that more money is spent in this country on cosmetics than on education, this is not natural, but the product of a society hostile to women, hostile to humans, and beholden to capital. The core of this book is the discussion about this issue that took place in the Socialist Workers Party in the 1950s, but the rich and full introduction linking these discussions to the rise of feminism, the victory of abortion rights, and other struggle since is very important to understanding of women's struggles today.

This books clarifies a lot of things that we let just seep into our minds from this society without understanding where they come from, why they exist and who is to blame.

While this book may not be available from Amazon from time time, it is always available from booksfrompathfinder, a vendor you can rech by clicking on new and used toward the top of this page.

This entertaining and thought-provoking book had a curious beginning - a 1954 exchange of news articles and letters to the editor in the socialist newsweekly the Militant. The original article joked about the declining use of cosmetics and subsequent problems of the cosmetics industry. A reader's reaction quickly brought a discussion of the role of women in society, their increasing participation in the workforce, and the source of the imaging of women in culture.
This dispute, which became a debate within the Socialist Workers Party, took place well before the rise of the 1960s women's liberation movement. It took place at a time generally regarded as one of bland social conformity. Obviously, social attitudes towards, and by, women were much more complex than met the eye. An introduction by Mary-Alice Waters puts the book in its modern-day context

My two favorite sections of this book are the introduction by Mary-Alice Waters and the essay by Evelyn Reed, "The Woman Question and the Marxist Method." In the intro, Waters explains 1) how the status of women in the US has changed since WWII; 2) what the women's liberation movement of the 1960s and 70s accomplished; and 3) a scientific explanation for why this powerful and inspiring movement declined. It is the definitive answer to Susan Faludi's thesis in Backlash, written 8 years before Faludi's book appeared! For that alone, this book is worth buying and reading and studying and discussing with others.
Reed's essay sums up the political debate at the center of the book (see other reviewers' summaries of this) and, like Waters, launches a factual, scientific examination of the roots of the oppression of women and how our concepts of beauty, fashion, and cosmetics are tied to the rule of a handful of capitalists over the majority who toil for a living. A must for women (and men) who want to understand why sexism exists in our society and how to fight it.

A fascinating and instructive collection, this is the written record of a debate carried out in the pages of the socialist newsweekly, the Militant, in the mid-1950s.

You get a serious look at the roots of the oppression of women in capitalist society, including the powerful psychological pressure exerted through mass media, marketing, and bosses to compel women to "need"--and hence buy-- the "right" clothes, cosmetics, and so-called beauty treatments. The discussion takes up the changing relations between men and women as human society has evolved from earliest times to today's class-divided society, debunks the notion of an eternal standard of beauty, and much more.

It's also a wonderful example of how to analyze and understand political and social questions from the standpoint of the interests of working people and not succumb to the prejudices and fetishes of capitalist society. You see how political activists can thrash out sharp differences over tough questions in the framework of an open exchange of views.

An extensive introduction covers the impact of the capitalist crisis of the 1980s on women and the decline of the mass women's rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s.

This was a truly remarkable story, one that everyone should read. Very well written. If everyone would take charge of their health like this it would be great.

I was very impressed with the author's willingness to keep a very open mind, while also seeming to keep her feet firmly planted on the ground through a balanced approach which embraced both eastern and western medicine. I enjoyed her honesty and relaxed sharing of this personal, and quite challenging, "adventure". She gives hope and a positive outlook to those with any unpredictable disease. This is a wonderfully inspiring book, encouraging faith in oneself and in trusted healers, along with the modeling of staying proactive in the ongoing healing process.

I confirm everything Helen Pollock wrote in her review and would like to add my appreciation for Lynne's candor and honest portrayal of her experiences and how those experiences affected her and the members of her family. How refreshing to know that there are doctors willing to support a patient's desire to explore all avenues of healing modalities. This book is definitely a keeper and one I will definitely give away. It is a messenger of hope to those with illness and a valuable wake-up call for everyone.

Here is a book with a real, live story of how a person, with no previous exposure to meditation, healings, energy, etc., simply responded with openness and curiosity, and without judgment, to one slightly strange event after another, until at the end she found she had traveled to where I think we all want to travel. Her humor is subdued, but easy - she is impressed by her first psychic because her apartment was neat and her bathroom clean. Lynne's receptivity is fair and expansive - kind to "Western" medicine, although she definitely tells it like it is, as she is drawn more and more to the alternatives. And how rare to find no preaching - Lynne merely observes her prejudices as they gently dissolve, but she doesn't tell us what we should be thinking or doing. She has a great heart, but doesn't smother you with it. This is a book I am giving to friends. It is a unique tale of spirit and one person's dedicated journey of hope.

Helen Pollock Please put my email address on this review - hpollock@aol.com

The author starts with a quote - The past is not dead. In fact, it's not even past.- William Faulkner. As I barreled through this wonderful novel which is also a mystery, I understood the importance of the quote.

Reed Farrel Coleman is a wonderful writer. He has created a compelling main character in Moe Prager. Moe is deeply flawed, but his flaws come from misguided judgment rather than from malice. Often he tries to do the right thing, sometimes he does.

Other reviewers have provided plot details and background. I prefer to comment on the writing and the characters.

For me, great fiction requires great characters. Coleman writes characters who you recognize and who incite opinions. He writes good guys, bad guys, and in-between guys (and gals.) His plot is convoluted, but the plot is merely a road taken for character development.

I have now read the last 3 Moe Prager books, and recommend them highly. Somewhat similar authors include: Ian Rankin, George Pelacanos, Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, James Lee Burke.

Coleman is not very well know, but he should be. He writes prose which makes you think and care. I would love to meet Moe Prager, and therefore I would love to meet Reed Farrel Coleman.

Moe Prager is a complex man, and Empty Ever After, the newest book in the series of which he is the protagonist, is a complex novel. Moe is an ex-cop and currently a p.i., as well as co-owner of four wine shops in and around New York City. He adores his teenage daughter, Sarah, and has a more or less amicable relationship with his ex-wife, Katy. As he says, "Divorce, no matter how amicable, isn't easy, and Katy, Sarah and I were still in the midst of realigning our hearts to deal with the new tilt of our worlds...Divorce impacts couples in different ways. It's an equation of losses and gains. The gains, however large or small, are usually apparent early on. The losses, as I was discovering, reveal themselves slowly, in painful, unexpected ways."

Moe's marriage fell apart when the truth of Katy's brother's death years earlier became known to her, and the fact that Moe had kept that truth a secret for all that time. Moe is called to the grave of Katy's brother, Patrick Michael Maloney, when it is found to have been desecrated, and subsequent events make it apparent that someone is out to hurt, if not destroy, Moe's family. Secrets are a big part of this tale, and the harm that they can do which can far outlive the events that gave rise to them. Moe finds it necessary to search back over the last few decades of his life, and has to "focus on closing chapters in my life." [Vengeance, cemeteries, and `ghosts' all play a part.] He tries to comfort his daughter, distraught at the awful way unfolding events have affected her mother. In the past he had always been able to provide that comfort, but now wonders "Had she finally outgrown the magic...or was it that the magic wouldn't work if the magician no longer believed in his powers?"

Mr. Coleman has written a book that is much more than a suspenseful novel - it is a beautifully written work imparting some universal truths. About truth itself, the author says "....the truth doesn't conform to the rules of Sunday school or sermons, to clichés or adages. The truth doesn't always come out in the wash or in the end and it's frequently not for the best. The truth often makes things worse, much worse. The truth can be as much poison as elixir, cancer as cure." It's often moving, and it resonated with me as much as I did partially because I, as Moe, grew up as a Jew living in Brooklyn, with the Belt Parkway part of the backdrop of my life and Shea Stadium part of its fabric, but also because of the very human and well-drawn characterizations. The book, simultaneously issued in hardcover and paperback, is highly recommended. The author has a new book coming out in October from the same publisher, "The Fourth Victim," written under the name of Tony Spinosa , and I cannot wait to read it, as well as the next book in the Moe Prager series.

EMPTY EVER AFTER (PI, Moe Prager, New York, Cont) - Ex
Coleman, Reed Farrel - 5th in series
Bleak House Books, 2008, US Hardcover - ISBN: 9781932557640

First Sentence: We walked through the cemetery, Mr. Roth's arm looped through mine.

PI Moe Prager has secrets he's kept from his wife, now ex-wife. Now those secrets are making themselves known with tragic results.

It's Moe's job to find out who hates him so much they want to destroy his life and the lives of those he loves.

With each new book by Coleman, I am reminded just how good a writer he is. He is a true stylist and an author whose writing elevates the genre. While his sense of place and dialogue are very strong, he excels at character development.

Coleman never assumes the reader has read the previous books in the series, but incorporates the back story in such a way that it becomes part of the plot rather than distract from it.

Moe is a complex character but one that has evolved through the series. He is not all static character, but a very realistic one. Moe is Jewish by birth, but not by faith, yet that plays an interesting role in the story and the character.

The story is dark, the ending shocking but with an element of hope.

Even though one needn't have read the previous books in the Prager series, I recommend starting at the beginning of the series for the joy of reading it, and everything else Coleman has written.

The major secret stayed safe for over twenty years and provided the backbone of a story arc that has traveled the first four novels of the series. The shattering aftermath of the revelation provides the springboard of the current novel as Patrick Maloney won't stay dead and buried. The Maloney family plot has been desecrated and the bones of his ex brother in law, Patrick Maloney are missing. Moses' ex-wife Katy is distraught as one would expect and it is left to Sarah, their now grown daughter, to somehow bridge the distant gap between the parents. In so doing, she contacts Moe and before long, Moe is standing at graveside in the year 2000 inspecting the scene for himself.

A former NYPD officer who had to leave the force after a knee injury as well as a rather unorthodox P.I. in the few cases he handled over the years, Moe finds himself at a crossroads in his life. Multiple changes in a relatively short period of time have left him feeling adrift and alone. The desecration of the family plot gives him something to do and a focus for his days. From the beginning, the desecration of the plot which wasn't just limited to the removal of Patrick's body, has him thinking long and hard about his past, the people in it, and the secrets he has kept over the years as well as the secrets he has learned of others.

Soon, Moe learns of another grave desecration in Dayton, Ohio this time with links to Patrick and himself. Moe realizes someone is targeting what is left of his family and they are using Katy as a means to get at him. It is working as Katy's mental state worsens due to repeated shocks to her already fragile system. Seeing her dead brother outside of her home and hearing him on the phone pushes her steadily towards the brink of insanity. Moe desperately seeks to find those of the living responsible and to bury the past once and fore all.

This book is incredibly disturbing and at the same time a very disturbing read. There is a certain depressing relentless series of events that leads to a shocking conclusion that comes at a total surprise to the reader and yet when the book is finished, inevitable and obvious. It is a book that could serve as a fitting ending to a series and yet could mark a huge turning point and a new way forward in a series. One doesn't know quite how to take this very good book as it could easily go either way.

What is very clear is that this book goes into extensive detailed commentary about past events, past cases, and past relationships that have been covered in earlier books in the series. Much of this book goes into such descriptions of past events with the actual event described as well as all the ramifications of the event. Such detailed examination not only allows Moe to consider his past, secrets, and his responsibility but other themes that have been part of the series.

In so doing, Author Reed Farrel Coleman continues his history of evolving the Moe Prager character. Unlike some main characters that seem to remain relatively static novel after novel, Moe has changed from book to book. While his basic core beliefs have remained the same, his application of them and his view of the world has changed. The result is a living, breathing, humanely flawed major character that continues to evolve as does the series and another very good book.

Kevin R. Tipple (copyright) 2008

I was very satisfied with the biology book. It arrived 2 days after I ordered it with no flaws. Thank you!

I am learning a lot of things from the book and study card useful for class.

My 16 year old just finished this book for homeschool biology. It was comprehensive, thorough, yet easy for her to follow. The illustrations are excellent and prolific. It had quizes she could take to track her progress. I highly recommmend this book for high school biology.

I used this book to homeschool my 13 year old daughter, who went on to obtain a 750 on the SAT II Biology. I also taught a class to homeschoolers using THE WAY LIFE WORKS (much cheaper) as the main text, but using many of the CD-ROM activites from ESSENTIAL BIOLOGY as class material. I especially liked the MendAliens for genetics problems! There are many useful activites, quizzes, and chapter tests, wonderful graphics. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand "essential" biology.

The books arrived in great condition, in good time.
They were great gifts for Christmas. Thankyou . One of them is going to the Soldiers in Iraq. Our soldiers can use a laugh. Please remember them.

I bought this book thinking my kids would think it was hysterical- they are 4 1/2 and 3 1/2 - don't think they caught on to the humor. It is beautifully illustrated and wonderfully written. I recommend it but to older kids.

What a wonderful, laugh-out-loud story! Even though our son is only 6 months old, his babysitter and I read it to him and all three of us were squealing with delight (the baby might have had gas himself). This is the kind of story that a comical father might make up for his children, a tale that they will remember fondly long into adulthood, and perhaps even pass on to their own little ones. Enjoy!

This is such a funny take on The Night Before Christmas. If you can't bear to read the classic tale one more time.....this is an hysterical alternative. Our entire family was in tears laughing.

This book was very easy to understand and follow. A great book to learn how to draw figures!

One of my favorite figure books(!)- If you've ever seen the bestselling How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way, a major teaching that stands out is its emphasis on spheres, cubes, and cylinders when learning to draw anything & everything, including the human figure. Well this is *exactly* what Walt Reed's The Figure is essentially all about. The teachings here were developed in & represent the Famous Artists School, and the figure basics here are really excellent yet standard fare. I've even seen some of these principles repeated by recent Japanese animation & comicbook instructionals. Yes, these principles are definitely great; it's the style & way these principles are communicated that makes this book seem a little bit dated. Reed's instruction here is presented with a combination of work by various artists and black & white photos of nude models, giving this entire effort a very mixed-media effect in its overall design. It was created in 1976, and while the photos are generally well done, the models here look very much to be from that time, and maybe even earlier. Also included: drawings, etchings, paintings & sculptures; all by various masters in the history of western art. Add to this the book's physical dimensions- 9" x 12" x 1/2"- and this is really not a simple looking how-to-draw type book. Yet the teaching here really *is* simple & effective! It's basically about building the figure with cylinders, although spheres & cubes are depicted as well. My favorite aspect of the book is Reed's own drawings & instruction, which demostrates the simplified figure accompanied by a wealth of helpful hints, tips & tricks. These instructions are also shown along with the photos of models to help reinforce principles by drawing from life. Hands & faces get special attention. We even get a little on basic light & shade and a section on figures in action! Usually, it's books that present a unified look & style, like the ones by Bridgman and Hogarth, that tend to look a little more timeless in my personal opinion. But Walt Reed's The Figure is fantastic in its actual *effect*, and that's really, basically the most important thing. It's a worthwhile book to add to anyone's collection! P.S. Parts of this book were included in an 8-1/2" x 11" x 3/8" compilation entitled Basic Figure Drawing Techniques, edited by Greg Albert. This compilation is printed on better quality paper, and includes material from 5 current books. In my opinion Reed's contribution is the best. Also- Another great, 5-star work for beginners: Jack Hamm's excellent Drawing the Head and Figure. Highly recommended!

When I review DRAWING books, the first question I ask is, "Is this for BEGINNERS?" Because I feel an obligation to the book buyer to provide good information, and also to prevent a beginning student from being discouraged, and feeling that they are defective, or ....just cannot get it.

It does not seem to occur to the buyer that many authors just cannot teach. Instinct seems to suggest that that if book gets published, it must contain credible instruction by someone who knows how to teach, and everyone seems to desire to cash in on the Big Bucks market of HOW-TO-DRAW. It may seem surprising that this is just not so. Perhaps as many as half of all drawing books are not very good for beginners. I know. I've gotten familiar with most of the books on the market, and I know what I'm looking for in good instruction.


I've purchased over 25 drawing books from Amazon.com, and own the most popular titles of the HOW-TO-DRAW genre. Walt Reed's "The Figure" rates in my top four choices.

It is not "wordy" and "overly intellectual" nor does it presume to teach ZEN or YOGA, or "Drawing on the Artist in your Brain". This book sticks to the subject and it is darn good.

It is chock full of illustrations, and does not throw you to the wolves; but takes you step-by-step through proportion, basic shapes, and finally, detailed drawing. Of the books using the classical (best) approach to drawing, I rate "The Figure" one of the top five books on figure drawing. The price is "right" too. This book doesn't even cost twenty bucks!

I have used this book for about a week and am totally impressed with the results. Before, I did not like to draw hands or faces or lips, now, I find them amazing and a great adventure to draw. I would recommend this book to any one who has never drawn the human figure in a proper way, it's a great way to learning how to. I would like to thank Walt reed for being such a good person as to allow us to know what he knows and sharing all his knowledge. Learning how to draw the human figure is not scary as I thought, I now have discovered a new world of excitement and fun through the use of a simple pencil and paper. Oliver Gonzalez.