Richard Books

I am Derek's number 1 fan. My friend has the book too and we always read it. My room is filled with Derek pictures, and posters, and newspaper clippings. I love him to death and this book shows just how great he is! Go Derek! Take the Yanks to the series baby!

I really like Derek Jeter, so I got the book to find out more information. I got all the info I wanted plus more!

I love this book. I am Derek's #1 fan. It is great. I have my room cover with pictures of him. I read the whole thing in like a day. Once you start reading it, you can't stop.

A compelling read, filled with rare insight and info on a great athlete and person. Don't pass this one up!

I'm a new Derek fan, and i was impressed about his look. I bought this book to know more about him. After reading it, i admire him. Really. I felt guilty by treated him like an object, when he is a great person.

I am a bridge designer and in the final semester of my Masters degree. I recently purchased this book based on the recommendation of my former mentor. It is a quality book with good insite.

My only complaint, and it is a big one, is that the examples are written in SI units. For applications in the US, this makes it very difficult to reference for quick design issues. Other than that, it's a quality book.

This book offers the bridge engineer a complete guide to the new LRFD specs in metric units. It is a great tool for both the new engineer, or the skeptical veteran, leery of LRFD. It offers a brief US bridge history in its introduction, and discusses aesthetics in the beginning: where it belongs. Next the development of LRFD and its advantages over ASD is discussed and should be read (and reread) carefully by the skeptics (excellent chapter). Influence lines follow, then system design, and finally concrete and steel bridge design and examples. This book is well suited to supplement the ASSHTO code or stand alone. Also, it is truly metric, no soft conversion at all. The book is quite long, however; it does command your undivided attention if it to be learned from. I highly recommend this book.

Our office found this to be the best, and most comprehensive reference on the new LRFD Specification available. The design examples set this book apart from other references. They are as complete as any we have found. While our interest sprang from our need to learn the LRFD specification, we found that the book is a valuable tool for bridge engineering in general. Most of the designers in our office at KDOT and many of the consulting firms who work with us have a copy of this book.

I am a bridge designer with three years of design experience. I purchased this textbook for Dr. Barker's (author's) bridge design graduate course in college. This textbook, unlike so many others on the subject of bridge design, delves into the real nuts-and-bolts calculations of structural engineering. The most in-depth sections are loads, analysis, steel bridges, and concrete bridges. The two examples in the steel and concrete sections are thorough treatments. No subject is simply glossed over in this book. This entire text seems to have been written with the goal of answering common questions from both designers and students. From why various code requirements came to be, to exactly the meaning of obscure variables, most everything in the 1st to 2nd Ed. of the LRFD code was addressed. My only complaint about the text is that there are several mistakes in the calculations (particularly in the lengthly examples). However, most of these appear to have been corrected in subsequent printings.

This book is a great desk reference for bridge designers. I cannot specifically recommend it as a study guide for the PE/SE, since those exams do not use the AASHTO LRFD specifications yet. However, for designing by the AASHTO LRFD, this book can be considered the commentary that space did not allow.

As a side note, the hardback book is a nicely bound edition. The sketches, tables, and diagrams are all clear, as well as the notations used (superscripts, subscripts, Greek, etc.).

As a Bridge Engineer trying to figure out the new LRFD Code, I found this book to be a necessity. It is comprehensive in applying the code to actual designs. The design examples are thorough, and the logic can be followed. In all, I would recommend this book to anyone trying to learn all the provisions of the new LRFD Code.

As of date, built the cedar lattice & pine bracket birdhouse illustrated on the cover. I enjoy working with cedar, using cheap cedar fencing which I put through a planner bringing out a smooth nice wood grain finish. A coat of Tung Oil further brings out the wood grain and seals the wood.
Electric tools I used were bandsaw, drill press, 12" planner and belt sander.
The instructions are easy to follow. All 20 birdhouses are of unique design and easy to make. I will probably make most of these just to add variety and color to my yard.

The adjective that leaped to mind when I firsst read Designer Birdhouses by Richard T. Banks was: impressive. This book is a visual phenomenon...with instuctions. Whether one is a master carpenter unequalled or a would-be carpenter challenged by a hammer and nail, Designer Birdhouses is unrivaled in its beautiful illustrations, ease of understanding as well as clarity of instructions. In a brief perusal of the book, it becomes readily apparent that Banks executed a brilliant accomplishment in his ability to tie together the relationship between birds and their nesting habits. This relationship is imbedded in the many birdhouse designs.
Banks is a professional architect, author and artist. There is some evidence in the pages of Designer Birdhouses that he has accepted Southern culture, language and some of the humor, e.g. in the design element called "Baffles" he wrote "it's from below that you need to thwart those clinbing critters." For the unfamiliar, "climbing critters" may be squirrels, possums or cats. Later on, in forgiving the would-be carpenter's faulty transgressions he wrote "birds are creatures of he wild...they don't go about measuring holes or potential nesting boxes. So, Mr. spprentice, stop worrying about your mistakes.
Designer Birdhouses covers all aspects of design, building and placement of the completed birdhouse. Note the clever idea of starting many of the designs with a "basic box". this concept would show the apprentice carpenter that he has the ability to recognize and build a "basic box" then move forward with various design embellishments. To assist the apprentice carpenter even further, Banks asks the question, "What makes a good birdhouse?" He answers that question in simple relevant terms. Wow! What more can one ask for in a specialty book such as Designer Birdhouses.
Designer Birdhouses sets a new standard and ranks in the summa cum laude category. It would make a wonderful gift for bird enthusiasts as well as do-it-yourselfers and other hobbyists.

I can't believe this book didn't come up as one of the first when I was looking for birdhouse building ideas. If you like contemporary innovative designs this is the book for you. The designer is an architect and it shows in the original designs. Colorful photos and detailed instructions. I highly recommend.

I recieved this book as a christmas present and I love it. It's really easy to follow, the pictures and diagrams are wonderful. My favorite birdhouse is the Board and Batton Shingle house. I recommend this book if you enjoy interesting and stylish birdhouses.

Great for grandparents to make a special project with grandchildren. You can premeasure & cut as needed depending on their age and ability. The houses are made with common materials which makes them very do-able. The designs and colors are fantastic. Inspirational for all!

I was referred to this book while searching out another "motorcycle author" Daniel Meyer. My personal favorites are books that inspire me to get out on the road and ride for days, if not weeks. La Plante delivered the motivation in spades. I found this story to be intriguing, as LaPlante rides cross country to Sturgis, set against the backdrop of his "real world" life experiences. This book is a page-turner, and I finished it while on a two day trip to pick up my newest bike in Reno. The 600 mile ride back home was the perfect ending to reading a great book about riding.

A man comes to terms with his life's decisions and puts them into perspective during his lone bike trip from East Hampton, NY, to Sturgis, South Dakota. Honest and without pretention, it will make you want to take a break from daily routine to prioritize and appreciate what we all take for granted. You do not need to be into motorcycles to enjoy this gem of a book.

INCREDIBLY AWESOME!! LaPlante has captured the very essence of what we all yearn for....IT! A search into the mirror for the true meaning of hardaches, joy, love, honesty, fellowship and sincere happiness. One doesn't need to be a motorcycle enthusiast to savor the rewards this adventure will salivate. His humorous style will leave you giddy but the real story lies between the Hamptons of New York and the hallowed ground of the Black Hills of South Dakota. His wit and outrageous cast of characters makes this wild ride a must read, all the way home. This true exploration will leave a reflection in the mirror. Destined to end up a classic!

Author Richard la Plante wanted to once live his American dream of attending the annual motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota. However, the now fiftyish Richard knew his time to consummate his dream apparently passed and he always would be a couch potato wondering what he missed. With a young child and a pregnant wife and now fifty-three, Richard faced with economic worries and writer's block decided it is time to live his fantasy. Borrowing a bike, he begins his odyssey.

IN DETOURS: LIFE, DEATH, AND DIVORCE ON THE ROAD TO STURGIS, Richard, in his autobiography, concentrates mostly on the trek to the Dakotas, which serves as an allegory to life's journey from birth to death. This is a strong but quite different type of autobiography. Though some will say the author ignored his responsibilities to his family with this risky venture, many will agree this book is worth reading not only for the well-written morality tale, but also for encouraging individuals to sing "My Way".

Harriet Klausner

It's truly special how La Plante somehow takes one's own gritty reality of life, death and divorce, sends them off on a bike ride through time, space and climates, and ends up with a journey full of humor, sensitivity, hope and dreams. This book is a vacation for the soul complete with pit-stops for laughter, tears, and reflection.

Sure would love to let loose and really take such a trip but until then, I'll take my daily dose of Detours to remind me to keep the perspective by getting lost.

PS... I'm off to Ebay to buy a bike!

From the beginning of the book I felt as though I knew each and every person. The story was told with such down to earth, heartfelt emotions that I felt what the author was trying to convey. This is not fiction, but real emotions told in such a beautiful and touch way. The positive manner in which the author faces the challanges in his life is true inspiration and guide for living.

I read this book in under 24 hours - I couldn't put it down. I fell in love with the characters and were pulling for them through the whole book. It was very inspiring and made you count your lucky stars.

I read the book from start to finish in one evening. It is a must read for anyone who would like to search themselves and be open to the possibilities that life holds within any relationship. Richard Haviland takes you through the emotions with such passion and clarity you are immediately taken in and are part of the story. I could not put it down.

From the first chapter, I knew this heartfelt book was gripping. His story will capture your heart and run a spectrum of emotions. You can truly experience and understand the emotional struggles Dick encounters as he tries to unravel his past. An unusual twist, shows that things are not always what they seem. The story forces you to re-evaluate relationships and the impact they have. A must read!

I was drawn into the book immediately! What a beautiful and heartfelt story told so eloquently by the man who lived it. You could feel the emotions in the book as vividly as you can see the changing colors of the sunset. I could not put this book down and have encouraged my friends and loved ones to read it as well.

May List mysteries are hilarious! Must also get "Death by Dessert".
Not only was the price good, but I couldn't find this book anywhere else!

T. Dawn Richard's DIGGING UP OTIS is an unusual mystery with an unusual sleuth. Several twists, action scenes and a surprise twist at the end keep this mystery exciting. Humor and an unusual geriatric commando unit with walkers and Depends and other ailments will go above and beyond to discover and capture the culprit.

May List, the sleuth from T. Dawn Richard's previous mystery DEATH FOR DESSERT has settled into a comfortable life after solving her last mystery at the Waning Years Estate. She missed the residents after the recent changes in her life. Giving her cat a shower and getting clawed in the process is not substitute for solving crimes. When she receives a call from one of her friends from the nursing home, she is only too ready to return. A man named Otis has gone missing and the residents are certain he has been murdered. May and her geriatric commando force will do anything to unearth the culprit even if it means digging up a corpse in the grave to take his fingerprints.

Ever since she solved discovered her first corpse in DEATH FOR DESSERT and solved the crime, May List has been fantasizing about solving more crimes. The author breaks the expected mystery formula by including forbidden actions and topics to heighten the humor. Going to a cemetery and digging up a buried corpse is certainly not accepted practice. The author makes this mystery a humorous reading journey through her characters and their mention of items not too typical in a cozy mystery like Depends, flatulence and putting underwear on backwards.

Readers who loved DEATH FOR DESSERT will love this next installment. Many of the characters are familiar as well as the location. Although this book can be read as a stand alone, it is best enjoyed after reading DEATH FOR DESSERT since some of the details in May List's life happened due to her first case. Readers will find May List not the typical elderly sleuth for sure and nice variety in the my mystery reads: Irreverent in some ways, slightly hard-boiled in a geriatric not in the sexual side rather defines the hard-boiled genre, definitely some unexpected twists at the end, and lots of action scenes too.

T. Dawn Richard's DIGGING UP OTIS is an unusual mystery with an unusual sleuth. Several twists, action scenes and a surprise twist at the end keep this mystery exciting. Humor and an unusual geriatric commando unit with walkers and Depends and other ailments will go above and beyond to discover and capture the culprit.

May List, the sleuth from T. Dawn Richard's previous mystery DEATH FOR DESSERT has settled into a comfortable life after solving her last mystery at the Waning Years Estate. She missed the residents after the recent changes in her life. Giving her cat a shower and getting clawed in the process is not substitute for solving crimes. When she receives a call from one of her friends from the nursing home, she is only too ready to return. A man named Otis has gone missing and the residents are certain he has been murdered. May and her geriatric commando force will do anything to unearth the culprit even if it means digging up a corpse in the grave to take his fingerprints.

Ever since she solved discovered her first corpse in DEATH FOR DESSERT and solved the crime, May List has been fantasizing about solving more crimes. The author breaks the expected mystery formula by including forbidden actions and topics to heighten the humor. Going to a cemetery and digging up a buried corpse is certainly not accepted practice. The author makes this mystery a humorous reading journey through her characters and their mention of items not too typical in a cozy mystery like Depends, flatulence and putting underwear on backwards.

Readers who loved DEATH FOR DESSERT will love this next installment. Many of the characters are familiar as well as the location. Although this book can be read as a stand alone, it is best enjoyed after reading DEATH FOR DESSERT since some of the details in May List's life happened due to her first case. Readers will find May List not the typical elderly sleuth for sure and nice variety in the my mystery reads: Irreverent in some ways, slightly hard-boiled in a geriatric not in the sexual side rather defines the hard-boiled genre, definitely some unexpected twists at the end, and lots of action scenes too.

May List is fabulous! I love this series. She and her geriatric friends are at it again.

May and her husband Ted had settled back into a comfortable life together when May gets a phone call from her friends at Waning Years Estate. There's been another murder. That gets May's juices going. Ted encourages her to fly down to help them out. He even agrees to join her as soon as he can get things settled in his doctor practice.

May enjoys seeing all her old friends again. She soon finds out Otis Cunningham is missing and presumed dead. The gang shows her all the improvements made to Waning Years Estate since she left. She is pleasantly surprised.

While relaxing in the lounge, they discover Otis floating in the pool at the center. The police call it an accident. The gang knows it was murder. But how do they prove it? They split up to check out some various leads. They begin to have even more suspicions about this murder.

Once Ted arrives, he joins in on the hilarious antics of this group. I laughed out loud many times. So many that my husband asked me what was so funny more than once!

I highly recommend this book and series. It is a fun read that you won't want to put down until May and her friends have solved the murder. Be prepared to laugh out loud and to keep reading until you finish! You won't get much else done while reading it!

[...]

Author T. Dawn Richard graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a Masters in Adult Education. Originally hailing from Hamilton, Montana, Dawn also completed studies at the Defense Language Institute for Russian Language. She worked as a civilian instructor for the U.S. Air Force, developing curriculum. With that varied background, she now writes mysteries about retired senior citizens.

DIGGING UP OTIS is the second May List mystery. May is a doctor's wife, and her husband Ted is about as supportive as he can be. But May is really happy when she can solve mysteries with her friends. When they call to tell her that Otis is missing, May takes the first plane to the Waning Years Estates and the game is afoot. Of course Ted isn't very far behind, and the geriatric group find Otis tied to a pool ladder, apparently drowned. But is it really Otis, and who killed him? The senior snoops decide to dig up Otis to find out just what happened, with hilarious results:

"The guys in back had held up pretty well, but the two at the head of Otis' casket took some quick baby steps and then collapsed just short of the burial site. The head end of the coffin struck the ground, and its lid popped open. The guys in back were in a forward momentum. They were determined to push the rest of the way to the hole, but only hefted the back of the heavy box high into the air. The satiny lining was slippery, and Otis was on the move. 'Dead man walkin'!' Ted proclaimed."

T. Dawn Richard uses hilarious character development and a plot that seems like something out of "I Love Lucy" to entertain her reader. Her "crepe-skinned" seniors at times seem bewitched and befuddled, but their life experience and intelligence serve them when the local cops (who are of the Keystone variety) fail to take them seriously. Richard writes her own unique form of the cozy thriller, and the fuzzy slipper gang emerges victorious, even as they are almost outfoxed by the real killer. DIGGING UP OTIS is a laugh out loud mystery!

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

Dirty Little Drawings is a wonderful book full of erotic drawings featuring the male body in every concievable way. The erotic poses are wonderful! If you are considering buying some books of illustrations, some of the artists have books of their own, so you can kind of preview their work to see if you want more.

I would hardly call this a little book, as it weighs in at 322 pages! Also, as you turn the pages over a period of time, you seem to discover more and more little nasty things you missed the first time through...YUM!

When purchasing the book, I was not aware of the background of the process of how the artwork was created for a show. Turning the pages of the book is like walking through a gallery. A small portable gallery of Male Erotic Art.

Aficionados of male figurative art come in many shapes and sizes; Dirty Littly Drawings will appeal to all of them. For those tired of the same old insipid, slick, hackneyed photo spreads in the stroke mags, Dirty Little Drawings is a welcome departure: this little book will kick-start your libido like a juiced-up set of jumper cables. Even the looser, sketchier, more abstract pieces radiate an intense sexuality, the boldness of their lines and headiness of their colours imbuing the images with more sensuality than most photography can muster. Whether your fascination is for fine art in general, super-charged erotic imagery, or something to "hang over the sofa," this book has something for you.

One of the greatest assets of this collection is its enormous variety of subject matter, styles, and media. In its 320 pages, Dirty Little Drawings houses a stable of 291 images, created by 72 artists, ranging from delicate, slender, coming-of-age youths to improbably muscled and impossibly endowed muscle gods to down-and-dirty leather daddies and their slaves. Dirty Little Drawings also pulls no punches in the action its images depict, with vivid representations of just about every scene imaginable (the only acts missing are those of the yellow- and brown-stripe variety). Providing a point of context, some of the drawings even depict the models in situ, giving the viewer a privileged glimpse into both the Queer Men's Erotic Art Workshop's clandestine, underground lair and the process itself.

In terms of artistic styles, DLD contains a wide range: Max Ernst-ish pen-and-ink caricatures, Old Master-style charcoal and pencil studies, delicate French Academie/Prud'hon-like compositions, Fauvist crayon abstractions, Expressionist/Egon Schiele-inspired watercolours, and photorealistic coloured pencil pieces. Some funky images decorated with metallic ink scrawls even call to mind Keith Haring's work. Although very few of the pieces could be considered masterworks (limited primarily by their requisite small size), the general level of craftsmanship is high, and many of the artists are clearly at the top of their game here.

The majority of the pieces are done on coloured armatures, from delicately hued pastel papers to Bristol board laden with op art-intense acrylics, but the black-and-white images are no less striking. Tai Lin, the artist whose work graces the cover, achieves an incredibly striking, luminescent effect with an extremely limited chromatic palette of pastels on black paper, while Enrico Gomez creates works of sublime sensuality and ethereal vagueness using lines of graphite and charcoal smudges nibbled away by kneaded eraser on cream-coloured Strathmore paper. Other artists, such as Chuck Nitzberg, achieve an extraordinary effect by combing the two methods, working for the most part monochromatically, with a few accents of colour - bright orange cock heads, blazing-red nipples, etc. - to highlight the points of interest. Although oil paint as a medium is absent (canvas loaded with oil paint being too heavy for the exhibition's hanging requirements), some of the pastel images do attain a painterly quality in their play and blending of colour and looseness of strokes.

My only complaints would be that Tai Lin's hauntingly arresting portrait, which graces the cover, is not reproduced anywhere within the book - on the cover, it's obscured by the title and list of artists' names. It also would have been nice if the artists' names were reprinted in list form inside the book as well, along with contact information for purchasing and commissioning purposes - one can only get a complete listing of the artists by combing through the index pages in the back. Also, the lack of page numbers or artist names beneath the full-size images makes it difficult to find one's favourite pieces. While it is arguably preferable to have the reproductions cover the entire page as they do here, thereby increasing their immediacy, it does make it difficult to identify the pieces (an index at the back of the book reprints each as a thumbnail in the order it appears in the book, along with the artist's name, but since the pages are not numbered, the viewer can only approximate where in the book each piece appears based on its order in the index). Finally, while Dirty Little Drawings was clearly created with exceptionally high production values, with a heavy, rock-solid cover and thick, glossy paper stock, the slight sheen on the pages makes it a little difficult to get a clear view of the artwork - one has to tilt the book just so to minimize the glare.

Despite these minor flaws, though, Dirty Little Drawings is an incredibly eye- (and zipper-) opening treasure trove of newcomers to and icons in the gay erotic art scene that perfectly captures the phenomenon that is the Queer Men's Erotic Art Workshop. In purely sensual terms, the book has a satisfying heft to it, the relatively small size makes it feel personal, private, even covetable, the cover and pages have a sumptuous texture (almost naughty, like satin sheets), and the quality of construction and artwork contained therein make it feel like it's worth a good deal more than Amazon is currently charging for it. It makes a great gift...just make sure you get an extra copy to keep for yourself!

(Note: To keep this review short, I have appended it in the Comments section with detailed information about the physical aspects of the book, as well as a brief history of the Queer Men's Erotic Art Workshop and background information on the exhibit from which the book's images were drawn - hope it's of use!)

The book DIRTY LITTLE DRAWINGS is an artwork in itself. Measuring about 6 1/2" by 6 1/2" it not only contains some superb art but it also serves as a catalogue for a project from a unique event that began in December 2000. Harvey Redding hired an adventuresome model and posed for a group of fourteen artists, each of whom sketched and drew from the model's input 'to expand the boundaries of academic nude figure drawing,' - 'full out, rock hard, unapologetic, sexual posing: nothing held back, nothing sacred.' The result was a collection of gay erotic art that became an exhibition of art works identically sized and priced. The exhibition and sale was so successful that there have been subsequent shows creating a collectors' dream and a new New York art scene.

This book may be small in size, but the artworks are vigorous, erotically charged and visually stunning. They range from simple head portraits to S and M influenced scenes, sex acts, and coupling and solitary pleasures. The variety of art types ranges form the hastily sketched pencil or crayon outline to fastidiously detailed drawings. The quality of the works may vary in degree of craftsmanship, but this selection of richly colorful works has one thing in common: the works are full of sensual energy.

The book and the concept are the work of Harvey Redding, Robert W. Richards, and Rob Hugh Rosen, the three directors of the Queer Men's Erotic Art Workshop in New York. The book is produced with finesse by Bruno Gmunder Verlag Gmbh. This is a fine art collection that started out to be a reaction to academic art. It is a superb little book! Grady Harp, December 07

Don't let the compact dimensions of this erotic art book fool you. Inside, each individual page is filled with a stunning slice of erotic imagery. The whole concept of this book is wonderful and exciting in itself...when you look at this art, you can just imagine the atmosphere in the studio where real men posed in these explicit positions, surrounded by a group of artists who splashed across a page their own interpretations of the fantasies frozen before them.

Great book! Variations of strategy are used today in many school systems. For new teachers, it lays out step by step how to manage your classroom. Both students and teachers benefit from a well managed classroom!

Curwin and Mendler do an exceptional job breaking down classroom management in an easy to read and codified form. The book provides valuable insight into problems and solutions in today's classrooms and also functions well as a quick reference for those topics you may need "on the fly"

I once attended a seminar by author Richard Curwin and found him to be an affable fellow with good insights to classroom management. This book contains many practical tips in this regard (review based on the 1989 edition). Curwin believes that classroom discipline is a social contract that should jointly be planned by teacher and students. This includes small details. For instance, teacher and students should come up with a consequence for dealing with an infraction in which the teacher doesn't know who did it, but not one that stigmatizes the entire class.

Curwin notes that the student population breaks down 80%/15%/5% in terms of near-complete compliance, varied compliance, and chronic non-compliance to rules. He summarizes the challenge facing teachers: "In many junior and senior high classes, 5 to 10 minutes of class time is wasted at the beginning of class trying to focus the attention of students. At least another 5 to 10 minutes is directed toward off-task behavior (students not paying attention, using put downs, arguing) during class time. This amounts to minimally 10 to 20 minutes of a 45- to 50-minute class period doing things other than what you are paid to do and want to do: teach!" (p. 53).

Punishment is centered on retribution, and can violate the dignity of the child. Consequences, in contrast, are corrective. The distinction between the two is not simply semantic. Let's illustrate. A child who didn't bring in homework can be punished by writing 100 times "I will do my homework". How much better to have the child have the consequence of writing out a plan for budgeting his/her time so that the homework gets done? For hitting another person, the child may be punished by having to stay after school. The offender should instead have the consequence of coming after school and writing out a plan for expressing his/her anger at others without hitting.

Lee Canter believes that the identical set of consequences should be imposed on anyone who violates a classroom rule. Curwin, in contrast, believes that the teacher should enjoy the flexibility of different consequences for the same infraction. This allows the teacher to avoid choosing between appearing to be rigid and being inconsistent. For instance, if a child didn't do homework owing to a home emergency, he/she can face the consequence of a parent-teacher conference. If he/she didn't do homework for any excusable reason, he/she can face the consequence of coming after school.

Power struggles can be avoided by not "taking the hook". If a child says: "You can't make me!", the teacher should ignore it, but then privately tell the child that he/she is expected to follow through.

Curwin includes many unconventional ideas for solving discipline problems. For instance, a teacher had a chronic problem with students throwing paper airplanes. She came up with the idea of a bloc of classroom time when students would build paper airplanes and launch them--provided that not a single paper airplane was made in the interim. It worked!

I used this book 10 years ago when I first began my career, and I still refer to it today. It demonstrates the ability to direct kids in the correct manner while they develop their self-esteem, and their independence. It gives you ways to deal with negative situtations that allows the child to walk away feeling like they can be a better person and they will be!
Kari Koffman

The book povides suggestions and solutions for today's classrooms. It is also a good book to use as a quick reference for those disciplinary topics you may need. Very good!

DISCOVERING THE MALTESE FALCON AND SAM SPADE is the complete book for the fan of Sam Spade in both film and fiction. Fortunately, a very detailed index is provided which allows the reader to choose from among an array of tantalizing topics.The latter includes an account of Dashiell Hammett's days as a Pinkerton detective as well as his work for BLACK MASK. The author also gives us much information about THE MALTESE FALCON in the movies and on stage and radio.The book represents an admirable effort by Layman and it will be enjoyed by anyone captivated by the lure of this enduring tale.

I love the story of THE MALTESE FALCON, not only as it is told in Hammett's novel but also as it is portrayed in John Huston's movie. I can never read enough about Dashiell Hammett, Joseph Shaw, Humphrey Bogart, Peter Lorre, Gladys George, Sydney Greenstreet, Elisha Cook Jr., Mary Astor, Barton MacLane, Robert and William Pinkerton, John Huston, Lillian Hellman, the Knights of Malta, BLACK MASK, San Francisco after World War I and Raymond Chandler.

This book has enough anecdotes and background material to satisfy even the most ardent enthusiast. My own favorite piece is an account by Mary Astor of her experiences while filming for her role as Brigid O'Shaughnessy in the 1941 version of THE MALTESE FALCON.

Dashiel Hammett is one of my favorite authors, I have all of his stories, including a couple of biographies. I'm also a fan of Noir stories and movies. This is a great book to add to my collection.

"Discovering the Maltese Falcon and Sam Spade" is an amazing collection of materials related to Dashiell Hammett, his greatest novel "The Maltese Falcon", the film adaptations of the book, and other spin-offs assembled by Hammett biographer Richard Layman. Layman states in his introduction, "The purpose of this volume is to provide researchers basic materials useful in studying 'The Maltese Falcon'." Not everything ever written about "The Maltese Falcon" is here, but the contents of this book are remarkably varied. The collection is probably too dense for casual fans of "The Maltese Falcon", but it's indispensable for Hammett scholars and aficionados. The only fault I find is that reproductions of newspaper and other type-written materials are sometimes poor and would have benefited from enhancement.

The book is organized into five parts. The first part, "Detective Days", provides biographical information on Dashiell Hammett, a history of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, an interview with a colleague of Hammett's at Pinkerton, excerpts from books on criminal investigation that Hammett studied, and some non-fiction pieces that Hammett wrote about his detective days. The second section, "The Pulps and the Making of the Novel", includes a history of "Black Mask" magazine, the historical basis for the Maltese Falcon statuette, comments by "Black Mask" editor Joseph T. Shaw, some reviews of Hammett's mystery fiction, and many excerpts from Hammett's stories that later inspired characters and events in "The Maltese Falcon".

"Magazine and Book Publication" begins with a copy of Hammett's book contract with Knopf and correspondence with publisher Harry Block. There are covers of "Black Mask" issues that serialized "The Maltese Falcon", examples of text that was revised between magazine publication and book publication, early book jackets, many favorable reviews of the book, Dorothy Parker's tepid review of "The Glass Key", articles about Cecil Henderson's plagiarism, and sales data for the novel. The forth section, "Critical Views of 'The Maltese Falcon'", is seven pieces of relatively recent literary criticism that explore American individualism, Sam Spade's vernacular, the novel as introverted romance, as allegory of international politics between the wars, and the pursuit of tangible wealth, among other themes.

The last section, "Movies, Stage, and Radio: Hammett's Novel in Popular Culture", follows Hammett's life after the publication of the novel, followed by discussions of the script, budget, and reviews for the first film adaptation at Warner Brothers in 1931. More letters from Warner Brothers, title suggestions, correspondence with the Breen Office, and reviews of the second movie adaptation, "Satan Met a Lady", in 1936. For John Huston's 1941 adaptation, there is a letter from Joseph Breen citing Production Code violations in the script, a budget, letters about filming, Mary Astor's recollections of the film, 3 movie reviews, and 4 critical analyses. There is a bit about an abortive stage play and the legal challenges over "The Adventures of Sam Spade" radio show. There is a list of selected publications of "The Maltese Falcon" in the back of the book as well as an index.

Discovering The Maltese Falcon And Sam Spade is a tribute to the novel by Dashiell Hammett featuring the hardboiled detective Sam Spade and his involvement in the doomed quest for a mysterious artifact, as well as the three film noir movies based from it including the classic that made Humphrey Bogart a star. Chapters tell of Hammett's days as a detective, his publication in pulps, the making of the classic novel, critical views of the movies, the reverberations of The Maltese Falcon in popular culture, and much more. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs, selections of Hammett's pre-publication material, copies of news articles and other primary sources, and much more, Discovering The Maltese Falcon And Sam Spade is a "must-read" for mystery movie trivia buffs and anyone else curious about the history behind a legendary 'hard boiled PI" adventure story.

Wow, I am sold! I just wish that I could buy the movie rights, as this could be academy an award potential. I travel extensively in buisness, and I read many a ook on jets and waitng at airports. Some of my likes are Tom Clancy, Steven King, John Grisham, Michael Crichton, and I hev absically read all of their books. I picked this book up by a flook recently,and I am glad that I did. This book gave put me on an emotional journey, and it made me think all of the way about events in my own past life, and I could on and on, but I will not. All that I can say is that the author has been able to grasp the essential secret of writing that will make me yearn for more of his works, such as I do for the above named authors! Truly, a qualuity pice of work, and yes, I believe that it would meake a great movie!

Enjoy the many facets of human kind, and marvel at the interaction between each characters own narcissisms. Join the family and feel the pain and joy of childbirth. The short-lived happiness of Frank, as he learns the one thing he desired above all else is less than perfect. The helplessness of Catherine, that having so much responsibility causes her to overlook one thing, and in doing so, hurt what was most precious to her family. The responsibility undertaken by Frances so the family can survive. The strength and self-destruction of all the characters, and how they deal with each other. The patience and acceptance of Johnny by Andre after time, who when he's least expecting it realizes his true feelings.
The hope that by reading Don't Cry Johnny, you will think about how you wish to be treated, and treat others in kind. As you internalize and wonder if you would treat Johnny any different, you need to see him for what he is. He is just a child that wants so badly to be accepted and loved, which is what so many of us want. Why then is it so hard to realize that even though people may look different, we all have feelings and wish to be treated with respect and kindness.
If you are looking for an intriguing book that will allow you to escape your own reality, Don't Cry Johnny will deliver. In the end be prepared to contemplate the complexities of life and wonder if you were any one of these characters, who would you be? Would you make the same decisions they made? Will you aspire to treat people differently? One thing is for sure, you will want to know more about what happens to the characters once you have finished Don't Cry Johnny.

It's amazing all the power, emotions and feelings packed into one book. Instantly, one of my all time favorites. You actually get so involved that you start to talk to people about a story they have never read. Everyone should read this book!

This book brings out every emotion possible.
It is a story that is so intense and heart felt that I hated to put it down and couldn't wait to pick it back up!
It's amazing how someone so different can bring out the best and the worst in people. I was fascinated with how the author captured real human feelings. It made you laugh, it made you cry, and it DEFINITELY made you think.
This book is so powerful. It is a "must read" book that I recommend to everyone.
Richard Schotts has done an incredible job.
Beautifully written. Makes you actually feel like you are in the story. A definite must!

Enjoy the many facets of human kind, and marvel at the interaction between each characters own narcissisms. Join the family and feel the pain and joy of childbirth. The short-lived happiness of Frank, as he learns the one thing he desired above all else is less than perfect. The helplessness of Catherine, that having so much responsibility causes her to overlook one thing, and in doing so, hurt what was most precious to her family. The responsibility undertaken by Frances so the family can survive. The strength and self-destruction of all the characters, and how they deal with each other. The patience and acceptance of Johnny by Andre after time, who when he's least expecting it realizes his true feelings.
The hope that by reading Don't Cry Johnny, you will think about how you wish to be treated, and treat others in kind. As you internalize and wonder if you would treat Johnny any different, you need to see him for what he is. He is just a child that wants so badly to be accepted and loved, which is what so many of us want. Why then is it so hard to realize that even though people may look different, we all have feelings and wish to be treated with respect and kindness.
If you are looking for an intriguing book that will allow you to escape your own reality, Don't Cry Johnny will deliver. In the end be prepared to contemplate the complexities of life and wonder if you were any one of these characters, who would you be? Would you make the same decisions they made? Will you aspire to treat people differently? One thing is for sure, you will want to know more about what happens to the characters once you have finished Don't Cry Johnny.