Richard Books

"The Soul of Creative Writing" is for lovers. Those who adore reading, those who are passionate about writing, and those who are committed to teaching will find Richard Goodman's book irresistable.
Richard Goodman has a love affair with words. They woo him in a powerful, seductive way. If words are elusive or difficult, Mr. Goodman searches until he finds le mot juste - the right word. He is captivated by the music, the poetry, and even the punctuation of a great paragraph. Even titles hold his fancy. Mr. Goodman's passion is contagious. He invites the reader into a mystical arena where pen and paper create characters, scenes, dilemmas, drama, and humor. Mr. Goodman teaches us how the word is made flesh. He encourages writers to follow their passion even if it leads them to write books about, let's say, the disappearance of card catalogues ("Double Fold: Libraries and the Assualt on Paper"). He encourages authors of non-fiction to turn to fiction as an example for character development, setting, and drama. Mr. Goodman suggests that fiction and non-fiction writers look to poetry for inspiration.
Mr. Goodman is not just a terrific teacher, he is also a writer who has opened his soul and shared his great love of words.

As a published author I am often asked to recommend books on writing. I would put this at the top of my list. If someone isn't swept away by Richard Goodman's love of language, they probably should rethink being a writer. However, it's also a great read if you're just an avid reader. It will give you a new appreciation for the art and soul of writing. My only regret is that I didn't read it with a notepad and pen handy. The book was too beautiful to dog-ear and there were many passages I wanted to return to. It will give me the opportunity to revisit it. I also highly recommend Mr. Goodman's other book, FRENCH DIRT, which led me to reading this one.

Regardless of whether you think of yourself more as a reader or a writer, you will find Richard Goodman's The Soul of Creative Writing compelling. Like David Denby in Great Books, Goodman celebrates the works he loves, but he goes far beyond the concept of "great books" by demonstrating himself to be a champion of fine writing wherever he finds it--literary essays, fiction, and poetry, to be sure, but also detective stories, speeches, and even advertising. Unlike so many of those who write about writing, Goodman is neither elitist nor prescriptive. Instead, with charming sincerity, he invites readers to articulate for themselves why they prefer one writer over another, why a particular passage moves them. Without proclaiming the supremacy of any particular word-music, Goodman helps readers think about how the music they respond to has been made. Without ever setting a toe across the dull boundaries of grammar regulations, he draws his readers into a delightful consideration of the flexibility of punctuation. General readers who may shy from textbooks have no reason to lay this book aside, but because Goodman encourages readers to think about how their favorite writers manipulate language, the book will be useful to writing teachers in all genres as a springboard to conversation about the choices writers make.

Language is one concept that unites the entire human species as a whole - and working with it can be one of its greatest art forms. "The Soul of Creative Writing" is an in-depth guide to better understanding language as a whole, created to help aspiring writers use the knowledge they gain to create great and marvelous writing of their own. A first rate handbook for aspiring authors of any type of creative writing, be it short stories, novels, or poetry, "The Soul of Creative Writing" is a must for any community library collections gathering books on writing.

Richard Goodman's new book "The Soul of Creative Writing" is probably one of the best books I've ever
read on the process of writing. Mr. Goodman's love of language and in depth examination of subjects
such as "In Search of the Exact" word will not only inspire you to be a better writer - IT WILL - make you
a better writer just by absorbing the incredible wisdom that is being so generously shared.
I honestly can't recommend this book enough - thank you Richard!

Deborah Attoinese
Filmmaker/Photographer

This work is thorough, but at the same time simple and concise. It is essentially a collection of documents that relate to important events in Chinese history with short background sections introducing most works and longer introductions when a new period of history is covered. I believe that this is currently the most complete single volume on the market as it runs from the early 1600's all the way up to 1989, covering the Qing Dynasty, its collapse, the Nationalist Revolution and later the Communist Revolution, up through the ideas behind the Tienanmen Square demonstrations and the modern reevaluation of Confucianism. If you only want one volume on modern Chinese history that focuses on the sources, I think this is probably the one to have.

This book gets the majority of its bulk from direct translations of actual Chinese texts, and as such it is an indespensible tool for any student interested in Chinese religions and philosohpies. There is very little input on the part of the editors and I, personally, was very thankful this. It can be dreadfully difficult trying to find sources that aren't mired in thousands of pages of theory and speculation, and sometimes a person just needs the root text! An awesome book.

I'll make this short...For anyone interested in Chinese history, literature, or culture, this volume is an absolutely essential collection of primary sources, and includes prefaces and explanations by China scholars. There is no one better than de Bary, and this new edition includes everything from the 1960 edition up through the Jiang Zemin era.

This book is a collection of readings dealing with ancient Chinese history, especially focusing on philosophy and religion. The readings are organized into chapters related to various stages in Chinese history. Early chapters cover antiquity, Confucius, Mo Tzu, and Taoism. Then comes Confucian tradition, the Legalists, the Imperial Order, the Universal Order, and the Economic Order. This is followed by the Great Han Historians, Neo-Taoism, and Buddhism. This volume is rounded out with the Confucian revival and neo-Confucianism. Each chapter begins with a short introduction essay that introduces the context and events of the time and goes to a selection of original texts on the topic at hand. At the beginning of the book is a chronological table of Chinese history from 2852 BC to 1849 AD that highlights various events in Chinese political philosophy.

This book is a great resource for the serious student of Chinese philosophy and culture. The essays and readings provide a unique window into Chinese thought. The authors assume that the reader will have a basic familiarity with the overall picture of Chinese history, and provide many details and insights into why history took the course that it did. I found the reading selections, drawn from such documents as the Analects of Confucius or historical documents like Ma tuan-Lin's Introduction to the Survey on the Land Tax, particularly illuminating. To find so many documents such as these presented in English, together with essays that explain their context and importance, is invaluable for the serious Asian studies scholar.

This book is excellent for anyone wanting to read primary source information. It is a great help for any college student or proffessor interested in the Chinese Culture. I highly recommend this to any one who is interested in Chinese history.

Whenever the prolific Richard Grudens publishes a new book we know, even before diving into the introduction, that the material before us is going to be well researched. Take that to the bank! Accordingly, the entertainment industry being what it is, we've come to expect America's most renowned Celebrity Author to furnish us with surprise-a-minute anecdotes and other insider data from first page to last. In the 700-pages-plus "Stardust" anthology, that's a lot of delicious Big Band stories, some hilarious, some poignant, all unforgetable.
What I hadn't anticipated when I picked up the new book (candidate for a Pulitzer if ever I saw one) was the incredible quality of a special promotional compact disc bundled with my copy.
The CD, produced by Grudens and his remarkably talented wife Madeline, features well-known troubador, Roberto Tirado, accompanied by the Wayne Sabella Trio, and neither ever sounded better.
I've been enjoying Tirado for years, played many of his songs on radio in a former incarnation, and always gotten positive feedback from listeners all over the country ... and beyond. However this new album (appropriately titled "Stardust") uses the finest offerings from The Americaqn Songbook to spotlight Roberto as he has never been showcased before.
From his smoky rendition of "Angel Eyes" with its Tony Bennett overtures, to the Mel Torme-reminiscent "Nina Never Knew," and the classic "Golden Earrings" presented in his own distinctive voice and style, Tirado takes us on a nostalgic ten-song journey that culminates, of course, in a wonderful rendition of "Stardust." Fabulous!
Too often in reviews such as this, musical accompaniment is relegated to a sort of footnote status. Let me say for the record that after a career in radio, and as the writer and publisher of a number of songs, I could listen to The Wayne Sabella Trio all day long! Their interprative application of piano, bass, and drums is unobtrusive when required, and soaring in the tradition of the finest jazz medleys when appropriate.
If Richard and Madeline Grudens are going to make a habit of producing musical offerings like the highly professional one that accompanies "Stardust: The Big Band Bible" then, incredibly, their already salutary contribution to the entertainment world will be furthered significantly.
Jeb Ladouceur
WLOX - Biloxi, Miss.
WHOM - Armed Forces Radio Service
WABY - Belmont, NC

Big bands are a big part of America's folk music history. "Stardust: The Bible of the Big Bands" is Richard Grudens' complete and comprehensive compilation on the major musical acts of the 20th Century. From Duke Ellington to Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey, no important artist is left out. With a foreword from Frankie Lane, and an introduction from the wife of Bing Crosby, Kathryn Crosby, it's a heavily researched labor of love for the music. "Stardust" is a must for fans of big band music everywhere, highly recommended.

This is the quintessential book on the Big Band era.I have read many, many books on the subject, including large, fancy, hard cover books, but none compares with this. Every other book seems to be more a list of statistics compared with the life that Richard Grudens has breathed into this exciting, informative work.I have had the good fortune to have met many of the players, and been friends with some of the leaders and arrangers, and yet I have gleaned a wealth of knowledge I did not have. Do not fail to get this book.
Dr. Irwin C. Shiell

I have never been inspired enough to write a review about anything, especially things regarding the great Big Band era since anytime I've ever picked up anything Big Band related, it always seemed incomplete. I say this because being one of three radio talk show hosts ever to be inducted into the Big Band Hall of Fame, I always found myself either at the library or a bookstore trying to gain more knowledge. Unfortunately I've never found anything I could truly use or refer to on air. That is until now. There aren't enough words to express my thoughts regarding this incredible compendium entitled Stardust: The Bible of the Big Bands. It's 700 plus pages of pure bliss for the Big Band enthusiast, and for those just getting acclimated, there is no better reference. The stories, the interviews, the photos.... There's nothing else that can compare. From Ethel Waters to Glenn Miller, not a `beat' was missed. For a guy like me, and for so many others, this has truly been a blessing. Bravo to Author Richard Grudens for taking so much time for creating such as masterpiece making sure we will never forget an era such as this. Five stars aren't enough!

In what I believe to be the crowning achievement to all his works to date, Richard Grudens had delivered a most comprehensive book on the big bands. From Benny Goodman to Count Basie to Stan Kenton and then some, Richard Grudens takes you on a sentimental journey second to none.Written in his personable, warm and inimmitable style, one can tell this five-star chronicle was a labor of sheer love. And it's not just memories you'll find. Grudens mentions the bands that are active today
continuing in the great tradition of the Dorseys, Glenn Miller and Woody Herman. If you can't find your favorite band, bandleader, sideman, vocalist or vocal group in STARDUST: THE BIBLE OF THE BIG BANDS, it just ain't to be found! Anyone who loves good music -- music that made(and still makes) sense,that was played and sung TO you and not sreamed AT you; (even if it's just a passing interest)-- has got to include this book in his or her library. With over 700 pages and almost as many pictures, it a shame you can't listen to it, too!! Great job, Richard!

I read about The Sun Kings in the Smithonian Aviation magazine. For anyone wondering about the history of our sun, this is a must read. You might think that this is dry reading but not so. It delves into the lives of many famous people who made astounding discoveries about the sun. A very interesting book. Jack Main

In his book, The Sun Kings, author Stuart Clark introduces the reader to both the early history of solar astronomy and astrophysics and the reasons why such studies are important today. Clark begins by telling of the events near September 1st, 1859 in which the Earth was bombarded by a huge solar storm. While the effects of this storm were readily observed around the planet, only one person seems to have witnessed the cause, a huge solar flare on the Sun's surface. This man, Richard Carrington, forms the the central figure of Clark's narrative but he is not the only scientist who contributes to the story. Along the way we meet William Herschel and his son John, Warren de la Rue, George Airy, George Ellery Hale and a number of other figures whose work will gradually shed light on (pun intended) the murky physical connections between our world and the star it circles.

As is often the case in biographical sketches of a scientist's work, the story begins before Carrington's contributions and continues after he meets his tragic end in what be seen as a mid-life crisis gone horribly wrong. In this sense, while Carrington may seem like the subject of the book, the bigger theme is how humans came to understand anything at all about an object that could not be touched, sampled or controlled. In presenting this, Stuart does a good job of describing the science and the culture in which it took place without getting bogged down in the technicalities of the work. By presenting the material first with a pair of near catastrophic events, the author engages the reader and then holds on by revealing the events and personalities that shaped the work done. Gone is the sort of inevitable march towards knowledge approach that many simple treatments of scientific topics use. This is replaced by a better tale of false starts, professional (and sometimes personal) disputes and rivalries along with the triumphs and collaborations that are part and parcel of scientific inquiry.

The only quibble I have is that Carrington's personal story is left a bit undeveloped as compared to the larger scientific theme. I would have liked a bit more discussion of the tradition of the British "Gentleman Scientist" and certainly a deeper analysis of Carrington himself as well as some of his actions. Much of this may be lacking due to a dearth of sources available to the author however and I certainly can not find fault with showing restraint and speculating if that is the case. This is a relatively minor quibble. A bit more serious is the lack of a good explanation of why the Sun has a magnetic field and why is acts in the way it does. It seems that if the author can find a way to simply explain differential rotation as he does, more effort could be put into discussing a bit more of the physics behind the observed phenomena.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone seeking a better understanding of the Sun, the history and culture of science or the process of scientific inquiry. Those wanting to know more about how the Sun works might be well served by checking out an astronomy textbook from their local library to supplement the material included here.

It isn't often one finds a book offering readable science along with fascinating portraits of scientists. THE SUN KINGS is an exception that does a truly commendable job of exploring the explosive nature of 19th Century astronomy and the idiosyncrasies of its practitioners. Reginald Carrington's meticulous solar observations and his discovery of solar flares and their effect on the earth are the book's major theme. But there is much more in it about the astronomical greats of that age. The Herschels (father and son), Humboldt, Hale, as well as others whose names have survived attached to various phenomena such as Bode's law, Fraunhofer lines, and the Maunder Minimum figure prominently in these pages. Clark has also sprinkled the tale with intriguing anecdotes--the meteorologist who fired dead chickens from a cannon to test the often-repeated story that tornados had stripped chickens of their feathers, the telegrapher who turned off his batteries during an aurora borealis and powered his line with the magnetic field created during the display, and the first improvised solar cooker, used to fry an egg. The 1860 total eclipse expedition with its first photograph of the event is alone worth the price of the book. Add to that the depiction of the savage infighting among the scientists of that day and the difficulties faced by amateurs and women as they were grudgingly allowed into the sacred circle of academic astronomers--these make current fracases in that field seem minor by comparison. From it all, however, emerged what seems to be a truism today, but a truly major scientific discovery--the relationship of the sun's pulsing heartbeat to events here on earth, springing in large measure from Carrington's observation of a magnificent solar flare.

Although this excellent book's subtitle mentions "modern astronomy", the book is really about the sun and how certain key individuals, the "sun kings", have made important discoveries towards our better understanding of some aspects of our nearest star and how the earth can be directly affected. In particular, the role that sunspots and solar flares play in producing auroras and magnetic storms on earth is historically explored. The author weaves his remarkable tale from the mid-nineteenth to the early twenty first century. Everything is brought together in the last couple of chapters in which our current understanding of solar astrophysics is presented. Also discussed is modern research on the observed relationship between the number of sunspots and the earth's climate - another possible contributing factor to climate change. The writing style is clear, very engaging and quite friendly; this book is very difficult to put down, in part because the author skillfully includes details of individuals' personal lives intermingled with the science that they were pursuing. The book can be enjoyed by everyone since the author was very careful in avoiding scientific jargon and in meticulously explaining scientific matters. I definitely look forward to reading more of this author's books.

This book is real history. It is well written, covers the important points of the history being written about, and is very informative. Clark has written a history of the discovery of the nature of the sun, and of how its magnetic field effects the earth. Clark does a very thorough job describing the lead researchers and how they operated. The basic science is discussed very clearly. I learned a lot.

This book is highly recommended for anyone even remotely interested in history.

I have had this book for quite a few years now and I absolutely love it. I have come to depend on it for wowing guests and at potlucks. I have made nearly every recipe in this book and I have never been disappointed. The pictures are fabulous, instructions are well written and easy to follow.
A huge plus is that each recipe shows the nutrient value. There are wonderful little tips throughout the book as well as silly stuff by Mr. Simmons. The Almond-Ginger Biscotti I make the most and it has never failed to please. Great book and a must for any dessert lover and recipe book collection.

Man, if I could take one cookbook with me to heaven, this is it! It has fantastic tasting recipes (Cranberry-Apple Crisp and Chocolate Mousse Pie) and the fat content is so low, it's astounding! How does Richard do it? Everything in this book is fabulous, and so low in fat! Must be magic!

Delectable, delicious, yumtastic, tummy filling, mouth warming goodies are all you'll find in this sweet, sweet book. Easy instructions for even the slower cook like myself! Easy for everyone!

This book has some really good ideas for deserts. My husband has diabetes and the recipes fit right in with his diet requirements. One downfall, there is no information pertaining to the food-mover program Richard has. There is portion size, and calorie content broken down by protein, fat, carbs., but if you want an easy way to use your food mover don't expect to find it here.

Richard Simmons' "Sweetie Pie" is a delight for the eyes and the tastebuds. It's filled with mouth-watering, well done photographs of luscious desserts which might even earn it a spot as a coffee table book. As noted by another reviewer, people with diabetes can indulge in some of the recipes.

All of us like a satisfying sweet end to a meal, and this collection of low-fat recipes will fill the bill without padding your waistline. Recommended both for calorie-counters and for those lucky few who don't worry about weight.

Truly, Caitlin Kiernan's hypnotic writing is at it's best in this collection of short stories. I have to say, I have enjoyed everything she's written, but this particular book is perhaps the best of the bunch. Her unusual take on plots works best in the short story format, at least in my opinion. And her prose is so tasty you'll practically want to eat it. She creates stunning, stark imagery, and Richard Kirk's illustrations are a wonderful complement. (More books should be illustrated!) The paperback sadly fell apart though, the cover peeled apart almost immediately.

There have always been authors who, with their plot, their characters, and above all, their prose, had made us feel simultaneously giddy and lethargic. And now (which means for more than a decade) there is Caitlin R. Kiernan. The world of pain and wonder that she has created in this book might be repulsive to many, since it deals with (mostly) lost-wasted characters surviving or perishing in a world of gaudy pleasures and visceral pain, both of which we shun at any cost (while both attracts us when we are given the choice to act as voyeurs). This book harps on that particular attraction as it hypnotises us with its uniquely haunting and burning imagery, with its overlapping of wine-red and blood-red, and as a portal to such beings who carry darkness of numerous shades in their veins, arteries, eyes and heart. Normally I tend to avoid such stories. This time also, when I started reading this beautiful book (Subterranean Press books are a pleasure to read, in all aspects), I almost felt like feeling sleepy, but then.....!

I wouldn't like to offer you a story-wise review, since that would do great injustice to Kiernan's writing. Although these 22 stories are somewhat loosely related, as we find some of the characters coming back to their own unique hells (and occasionally heavens), you may read them in whatever order you wish. Readers of "Threshold" would especially appreciate the "Into the Water Works", a prequel to that novel, and other stories leading to the introduction of the character of Deacon. But most importantly, this book should be read and treasured by all lovers of fiction, irrespective of the genre preferred: dark fantasy, horror, urban angst, surrealism, poetry.... Wholeheartedly recommended.

'Tales of Pain & Wonder' is a collection of Caitlin Kiernan's earlier work (if one is allowed to speak of the late 1990's as 'late'). As such, it presents many of Kiernan's important themes as they appear for the first time. Characters surface for the first time as well, in particular Deacon Silvey who will show up again in two novels, 'Threshold' and 'Low Red Moon.' This makes the collection 'important' if you are a Kiernan aficionado, but all that aside, what really makes this collection important is that it is very, very good.

I have lately come to refer to Kiernan as the 'last of the great horror writers.' Partially as a lament for a genre that currently spends far too much time specializing in hot, romantic vampire novels, but also because she really is good enough that writers of her caliber are far and few between. Hers is a horror that leaks out of the spaces between things and pervades the atmosphere surrounding her characters, clinging to them like a faint scent of doubt and rot. Yet when its time finally comes, it is sure and brutal, sparing no unkindness.

Kiernan's characters exist on the fine edge of self-destructiveness, whether they come from wealth like the sisters Salammbo and Salmagundi, hypnotized by the beauty of death like Lark and Crispin, or, like Jimmy de Sade, have both feet firmly planted in terror so real it is an aesthetic experience. The confront things they cannot understand, or know far too well, living the kind of homeless or disconnected lives that make them lightning rods for real horror, not the candy-coated-sip-your-blood kind.

Kiernan admits in her forward that the book has two narratives, one is the accident of the order of writing, and the other is a natural order where the interconnections among the tales is more obvious. I chose to read in the latter order, which reveals the most about how the story arcs develop, rather than the former, which says more about Kiernan than her tales. Both, though, are legitimate approaches, and produce equally valid if different experiences.

The writer has a knack for creating symbols and only half filling them in. Eerie twins, cold presences, wounds that never heal, and barren landscapes come and go, but the reader is expected to do part of the work - to construct a narrative at least partially his own. Part of the horror is that it is my terror that lurks about, as well as Caitlin Kiernan's. Each of these stories is a opportunity to look in a place you desperately don't want to go, and to succumb to a nightmarish glamour. And above everything stands Jimmy de Sade, judge and jury in a gothic world.

This is top grade stuff. Kiernan's writing style is excellent - each word is carefully selected for its purpose, nothing is extra. Characters quickly step out of the shadows and assume an unexpected reality. This is what contemporary horror should be.

Caitlin R. Kiernan's magnificent first short fiction collection, TALES OF PAIN AND WONDER, is a dazzling triumph for dark fantasy. The author blends elements of horror and terror (the Gothic), noir, and hints of Lovecraftian sci-fi, for stories that are utterly unique in their scope and tone. Kiernan has established herself as the premiere stylist of dark fiction and nowhere does her talent and skill with words shine more brightly than in this accomplished collection. An informed and conscientious reader doesn't need the introduction by Douglas Winter or the afterword by Peter Straub to tell him that this book is something special. each page - indeed, each sentence - declares that fact. Many of the stories are linked by recurring characters and related events, and even the unconnected stories are related to the others in theme, so that TALES OF PAIN AND WONDER becomes almost a sort of pseudo-novel. With these stories, Kiernan explores the disintegration of society, faith, humanity, and, indeed, the fabric of the world itself, offering a lonely and disturbing view of the survivors. These stories frighten, strike awe, sadden, inspire wonder, and even offer slim bits of hope, but they never merely entertain. Scholars of fantastic fiction should take note: Caitlin R. Kiernan is one of the few important voices in genre today.

That said, the Meisha Merlin edition is a disappointment, a shoddy, unprofessional effort with one of the most garish and inappropriate covers I've seen in ages. The interior layout is slipshod, Richard Kirk's gorgeous interior illustrations are reproduced a bit to darkly, and the book is marred by errors that would have been eliminated from a more skillful printing. I encourage readers who can't afford the pricey Gauntlet hardback to pick up this edition - it's far better than nothing - but I regret that Kiernan's masterwork has been done such a disservice.

If you've read this book, there's not much i can tell you that you don't already know. If you haven't then you damn well better be ordering everyone of her books. Caitlin Kiernan is an amazing author, with a large body of work that includes many editions of 'The Dreaming', three novels, two published, and a growing number of short stories. In this book, you'll be introduced to a Lovecraftian beast that also takes part in her second novel. As does Deacon, the troubled alchoholic psychic. You will also see Salmagundi and Salammbo, sisters born of a strange estate. Jimmy DeSade, who peddals dark wares to Kiernan's motley collection of amazing characters. You will witness Voodoo magic. You will be beaten bloody, and raised to the absolute heights of ecstasy. You will feel grief, reexperience childhood, and break free of all that's been binding you. Yes, it's that good. And after you read this one you can read Threshhold, and Silk, and In the Garden of Poisonous Flowers, and so much more. Then, of course you'll want to reread all of them. So you'd better get busy. Artistry of this caliber is rarely seen and needs to be coveted as a precious thing.

An uplifting account of one boy's struggle to overcome a disadvantaged life. If you liked this, definitely check out "The Wanderer" by Ken Grant of Massachusetts (1993)

How many broken windows and hearts can one family endure? Obviously for the Miniter's there is no finite answer to that! What a family! I picked this book without having any clue of what it was about. Saw the jacket, the title caught my eye and that was all it took. I was drawn in almost immediately. I am a 20-something woman, that is not married, has no children and is not adopted. I have not encountered many, if any, foster children and I still found this book to be an incredibly moving story. To Richard and Sue and the entire family- you have most certainly earned my respect and admiration. If only we could all be as patient, understanding and as loving as you are! What a great testimony to the good in the world- thank you for sharing your story. I truly hope that you encounter only good fortune in the future, no one family deserves it more than you!!

This book is not only for those who are adopting or work with disturbed children, but it can serve as a valuable lesson for those who have never been in these situations. It is necessary to know that trouble derives from the early years of a child's life and how important it is to show affection, trust and caring to children at all ages.

This book is the best personal account of fostering/adopting an older child that I have ever read. It is a natural for a "made for TV" movie, with its dramatic story, picturesque setting, and cast of "characters." I laughed, I cried, I sobbed. In Miniter and his wife, we see the mixture of naivete/ignorance, denial, and audacity that goes into the decision to bring a "disturbed" youngster into one's family. The book also reflects the reality that formal treatment plans are limited (and sometimes unrealistic) and that "real life"-- honest emotions and reactions, normal expectations, natural consequences-- can be a strong motivator in turning around dysfunctional behavior. To the reader who is NOT an experienced foster/adoptive parent, I would offer a few minor cautions: 1) Miniter makes no mention of receiving any kind of training before taking the boy into his family. If that was indeed the case, that's a major flaw in the "Harbor" program. Prospective foster and adoptive parents of kids in the child welfare system should receive fairly extensive training in areas such as what to expect when the children come into your home, how the system (and particular agency) works, and how to manage difficult behavior. 2) Miniter would probably be one of the first to point out that this book is not a blueprint for others but is instead ONE case study, of ONE youngster, in ONE family. The Ministers' experience notwithstanding, psychotropic medication and/or psychotherapy are important-- if not essential-- components in some youngsters' healing, and respite care and parent support groups can be lifesavers for some "therapeutic" parents. 3) Miniter says he ignored some of the safety precautions recommended by his agency, and suggested that (hunting) guns were readily accessible in his home. Having weapons easily available in ANY home with kids (even "normal" children!) is foolhardy, and most agencies REQUIRE pretty sensible safety precautions.

This book teaches many lessons. First and foremost that the husband-wife relationship plays such a major role in raising children, and it showed in this book. The relationship between Rich and Sue is an admirable one, one that not is not so common after so many years of marriage. With that bond of love, they raised a house full of kids and later in life, were able to take on one more kid, very different from their own. They gave it 1000% and stuck with it through thick and thin. What they did for "Mike" is untouchable, precious and blessed. God Bless the Miniters and the best of luck to "Mike" in his future endeavors to become a chef.........This book more than once will put a lump in your throat and a tear or two in your eye...To learn more about children, about sacrifices, about life, you must read this beautiful story !!

Great Book! Highly recommended. I read it in once sitting. Great pics as well. Would I do it... no way!!! I agree with the author... he definitely has determination (and guts)!!!

Very interesting description of his adventures through the heart of Africa. It encourages me to strike out for the wilds.

I read this book in-flight on my way to Africa. It kept me entertained for much of the trip. The text is well written, informative with a touch of humour (as is evident from the title). There are many photos which bring life to the adventure. I highly recommend it.

Traveling by car through Europe to Africa is something that would be difficult to do today, but it is interesting to read what the author experienced and how the people lived. It encourages me to travel in challenging places.

I have always been interested in Africa, and I found the day-to-day journal account of the journey to be really interesting. I would recommend it highly.

I'm too young to have ever seen a nuclear test, but wish I could have. The book covers all the things the US did with nuke test, and where the fallout traveled. John Wayne filmed the movie "The Conqueror" in Monument Valley, in part because the dust swirled dramatically when horse thundered through. Problem is, the dust was radioactive. Everyone connected to the movie died of cancer. Various chapters cover nuclear accidents, and their outcomes. GREAT book, be you for or against nuclear weaponry, you'll find a lot of information in here...

Have read it cover to cover a few times. This is a book that should be read in schools. A shocking and mostly untold portion of American history. To read about the extent of continental US Nuclear testing and the often covered up dangers (By the AEC) is a real eye opener. Many of the stories are told from the perspective of eye witnesses and include other bits of timely and relevant history that help to capture the moment. Pages of diagrams detailing the fallout patterns of many tests show that fallout was often scattered across the entire country (instead of just endangering the NTS area). A "must read" for anyone with an open mind towards real facts and American History.

Richard Miller's "Under the Cloud" is probably a must-read for any of the late baby-boomers like myself who grew up during the Cold War but mostly after above-ground nuclear testing had ended. I was born in 1957 and for most of my life, the above-ground tests were a thing of the past and not really much discussed. But Miller's book reveals how I and most others of my age were probably victims of fallout to some degree. The book provides a very good sense of time relative to the major test series and documents much of the fallout movement and intensity. Miller's narrative style is easy to read but at times a just a wee bit melodramatic. It also gets confusing for the non-physicist as he tends to change units of measurement for radiation exposure constantly - in one test the exposure is in rads, then it's in roentgens, then it's in millicuries - and most of us don't know the relationship. But these criticisms are quibbles with what is for the most part an outstanding book and a very revealing look at something the government wouldn't want you to know. Along with Richard Rhodes' books on the nuclear program, this is a first-rate volume.

Excellent and thorough account of the nuclear testing era in America, the South Pacific and the Soviet Union. The book's focus is the open air testing in Nevada, and details of those tests and fallout trails in the 50s and 60s. The book is written in a style that makes it fascinating, not bogged down with complex scientific jargon. It sidesteps to describe what was going on in American culture at the time, in the cities that were virtually unaware they were downwind of deadly exposure. Author explains how it all occurred, why, and the tragic legacy it has left.

Highly recommended for anyone. Should be of interest to all since as the book so accuruately reveals, we were all downwinders.

I remember in the 50's and 60's being taught to get under my desk in case of a nuclear blast and to stay inside in case of nuclear fallout. Naturally this would only come from Russia and even our small town in Wyoming had a fallout shelter, we thought this was great as our state had several ICBM silos. After reading this book I was once again educated on the perils of nuclear fallout, NOT ONLY WAS IT ALL OVER THE USA, IT WAS MEASURED BY OUR GOVERNMENT AND AT NO TIME WAS ANYONE WARNED TO STAY INSIDE OR TAKE ANY PRECAUTIONS REGUARDING, FOOD, WATER OR LIVESTOCK. This is a crime against humanity and the fallout is still with us in the extremely high cancer rates that follow the fallout maps. The most incredible thing about this book is that it really happened and the American people were and still are totally uninformed. How many RADS were you exposed to? Check it out!

I own the first and second editions of this book. I keep a copy at home, and one at work. It is comprehensive guide to the UNIX operating system. I always look here first for any questions or help I need with UNIX. I would recommend this book for anyone that uses UNIX.

The Bible of Unix. The one (and final) book you need in UNIX. Your search ends with this book. Well defined examples, explanations, notations. Be it a beginner, intermediate or expert you SHOULD have this book, if you are a Unix user.

Finally, a Unix book that is so comprehensive!

Had to give this one four stars, though, instead of five. The chapter on Tcl/Tk and Expect (chapter 20) is loaded with errors - probably editorial in nature (lots of places where parentheses are used instead of brackets "{}" and these WILL cause errors if you try to run the commands.). Otherwise, this is a fine book for learning Unix or going beyond the beginner level. The authors not only know their stuff, but they communicate it well. Highly recommended!

I bought the original version of this book in 1991-1992. It's still the best UNIX "How-to" book on the market. Absolutely no other book in my "UNIX library" provides more useful information on such a wide variety of topics: shells, networking, user environment configuration, mail, etc., etc., etc. It's all in here. It's especially great for beginners, since it covers all of the basics that normally provide stumbling blocks for beginning UNIX users. I highly recommend it.