Richards Books

I gave this book to Eric Johnson - Yes the one with his own signature Martin - for Xmas. He told me after Xmas that it is the single best book on Martin guitars he has seen and he has a quite a few books on the company and their guitars. So I don't think you are going to go wrong buying it.

I found this book to be truly fascinating. American history often has blanks in it and one of those blanks has always been the archival of American music types and instruments. Martin is America's oldest guitar manufacturer and thankfully for us, they believed in meticulous records keeping, they kept every letter and even the envelopes ever mailed them as well as invoices and other types of business related material, giving us a small glimpse into the American music scene all the way back to 1833. The Authors had unlimited access into this treasure trove of documents which they carefully chronicled for us to enjoy and learn from. All I can say is Thanks! The many photos, copies of letters, and assorted tidbits of knowledge kept me utterly enthralled for well over two weeks, and my librarian has told me I am the fastest reader she has ever seen with almost total recall. If you enjoy peeking into the past, and love music, especially stringed instruments , particularly Martin's you'll love this book.

This is my true favorite CF Martin book. It is a little outdated by now, but it is, after all these years, still a great pleasure to read in the book. I use it as a reference on a regular basis because it has plenty of good information.

The amount of good or interesting pictures is endless. You can't wihsh for more.

I also enjoyed the format, it is not just a dumb collection of text and pictures. It has been designed to be enjoyed.

I understand there is also a paperback edition but I would definitely prefer the bound edition (which I have).

As the proud owner of 2 Martins, it was very interesting to read the story of the Martin family business. My only gripe is the book seems a bit dis-jointed, with explanation boxes / articles taking up to 2 pages, thus competing with the text, causing you either to lose track of the narrative whilst reading the boxes, or having to go back many pages once you have finished the chapter. Nevertheless, all the information is there, and it is an interesting story for any guitar enthusiast, not just Martin owners. I would recommend it.

I was just a boy in the 60s, in Italy, when i first heard that very particular sound. Only after a lot of years i could buy a Martin Guitar, 'cause they were too expensive for us, really impossible to buy! Today i'm a player and I play that sound, and I never got tired of it! Like Stephen Stills says in the foreword, it's something magic, pure magic. This book doesn't explain magic, but it shows it! Paging, photos, notes, history, all is excellent. The only gap (yes, there's one!), is the cover: paperback!?! It's like finding plastic instead of wood in your guitar! This book was made only for a hardcover! Thanks also to Amazon for selling & shipping with care and so fast! ..in any case highly recommended!

This little book packs a big punch. I start off every morning with this book. I believe it makes a me a little wiser everyday. It really makes you think about a lot of things we usually do not think about. Buy this book. It is a small price to pay for a lot of wisdom.

This is a wonderful book which I purchased as a gift. People enjoy these powerful daily reflections that are thought provoking and inspiring. They point to the awesomeness of God and use short proverbs from around the world that undergird the author's point. Each also contains a prescription for improving our daily lives. Not the usual how-to book.

An extemely stimulaing, insightful book that is in an easy-to-read format. Its call for balance and simplicity in life in this hectic, 21st century world is pertinent and practical. Written by a medical doctor, it includes a daily prescription for applicaion of truth.

This is one of those books that you won't want to put down. Dr. Swenson challenges you to think deeply about the true issues of life. And, after reflecting on what really matters in life, you will be left with no better alternative than to slow down and enjoy life and your loved ones. I'd recommend this book to anyone who is "too busy." It is a simple read and is broken down into two-page reflections, which take (surprisingly!) about a minute to read. Enjoy.

Outstanding book. Short but profound daily thoughts that help keep life and priorities on track. Outstanding gift to business colleagues, family and friends.

I read the reviews then bought Mr. Modem's book. Paul Harvey was right. This IS the book that takes the gobbledygook out of computers. I'm 72 years old. This book was fun, easy-to-read, and helped me greatly. I would recommend it to anybody. Thank you, Mr. Modem. Please write more books.

Mr. Modem's book is filled with wonderful information for surfers of all ages! It's a terrific resource and so much fun to read. I couldn't believe I found myself laughing outloud while reading a computer book.

When my dad got his new computer a couple of months ago and wanted to start surfing the Internet, I let him borrow my copy and now I can't get it back from him. He's learned so much and is now a real pro.

My personal favorite chapter is the one on web sites. This is by far the best collection of web site URL's I've ever come across. I also learned so much in the chapter on search engines which has really helped me find what I'm looking for on the web much quicker.

Thanks, Mr. Modem, for writing such an educational AND entertaining book!

If you or anyone you care about is reluctant or afraid to get connected to the Internet because it seems complicated and time-consuming or because you think you can't teach an old pup new tricks, you should get connected to "Mr. Modem's Internet Guide for Seniors" first. Clear, concise, and all-encompassing, this guide anticipates a learner's questions, allays technical fears, and proceeds in an orderly way to cover what it takes to get up and running on the Internet. Best of all, Mr. Modem keeps it simple, safe, satisfying, and fun for those who did not get to attend Internet classes in a previous life. You can move through the chapters at your own pace and, in some cases, in your own sequence.

Although I have been surfing the Internet for a while, I found many useful tips, new links, and great sites in this guide. If I could have only one Internet guide in my life, Mr. Modem's guide would be that one.

Good work, Mr. Modem!

I bought this book as a holiday gift for my dad (who has always been a bit stymied by his desktop computer) -- he dove right into it & didn't speak to any of us for a couple of hours, so judging by that reaction, I'd have to guess that it was pretty readable for your average intelligent-but-techno-naive senior. Mr. Modem covers a lot of ground (how to get online with an ISP, how to use a search engine, etc.) without going too deeply into any particular topic. Instead, the book gives lots of URLs and places for the neo-surfer to try out his new skills. Hey, maybe Dad will even get the hang of Amazon.com soon ;-)

This is a great book for people intimidated by the Internet. Information is presented in a fun and friendly fashion. Nice work, Mr. Modem!

I was never much a fantasy fan before. I watch the Si-Fi Channel and I love the fantasy movies but I would refuse to read. Then my dad gave me the original hardcover copy "MYTH Adventures" (Another Fine Myth, Myth Conceptions, Myth Directions, and Hit or Myth) with the original cover illustrations (just to show how old my copies are) and ever since I have been addicted to fantasy books. Especially the MYTH series.

Just to warn you this is a laugh-out-loud story. I would not recommend reading this in public. You might get some odd looks from people that obviously have no sense of humor. Everything is a play on words and the characters are amazingly thought up. The plot is actually imaginable and it flows smoothly. The magik (not magic, there's a difference) has rules. What Skeeve and Aahz can and cannot do in the world of magik does not change throught the series.

To make a long review short, get this book. If you don't enjoy it then don't read it. It just means that you are a boring and unimaginative slouch. However, I can guarantee that from the very first chuckle you'll be hooked. Take it from a fantasy skeptic turned MYTH addict.

First, if you haven't read the first two books in the Myth series, this book is a great chance to correct that. If you own the first two books, there's not much point in buying this collection. However...

According to the Asprin's new publisher, Meisha Merlin, the next few books, Myth Adventures 2 and 3 will both have NEW Myth Adventure novellas written by Asprin and Jody Lynne Nye. The short story in number 2 will be Myth Congeniality.

Also according to Meisha Merlin, there are at least two new Myth titles forthcoming, both of which will be by RLS and JLN. The next is due sometime in 2003 and will be called Myth-Alliances. The one after that is is Myth-taken Identity and is due August 2004.

Just thought you might want to know.

If you like fantasy books, if you don't like fantasy books it doesn't matter you'll love this series of Books. Robert Aspirin (who by the way, edited the theives world books) has written an inceredibly hilarious series of books. Skeeve and ahz are the main characters and the situations they get into and the witty and inventive way they get out of those situations is very comical these books have everything from demons ( not demons as we know them but demons= short for deminsion traveler) to dragons ("Bleep"). I have been blind sided more than a few times by these books they are anything but predictible... you can't even count on the main characters being alive at the end of a book..( of course it's just a cliffhanger for the next book). Each book is a continuation of the last. I could talk about these books for hours, and i can get lost in them for even longer.... I have never met anyone who hasn't finished one of these books after starting it.... It is a good idea to start with the first book in the series, Another fine Myth, that way you have a good idea of what kind of relationship ahz and skeeve have and how they became friends.... the myth series is hilarious witty inventive and overall the funniest books i have ever read. I have read and re-read these books a hundred times and they never get boring

In reading the back of the book you would think this is anything but the first book in the sieres. But it is. Other then that I only have good things to say about this book.

ok! I'm a long time Myth fan, so I was very suprised to see the new (old?) books brought to life again! Now, I hate to say it, but I always felt that pretty much all of the Myth books have pretty....short endings. Some are cliffhangers, some, maybe the publisher said, no only X # of pages and are very abrupt, and some are just totally unexpected.

But the concept of the Myth books is fascinating, and I have gone back many times to read then again and again... Much better when you have the whole series to continue on to! But the series is a must read for anyone who considers themselves a sci-fi fantasy fan! They are hillarious and definately worth the read (I don't suggest reading them IN a library cause I always end up stiffling my snickers and laughs!)

Now that the author's friends and relatives have had their say, perhaps a more objective appraisal is in order.

The book is readable enough, yes. But a serious historical work it isn't. Has the author never encountered the idea of citing primary sources, or for that matter citing anything? A university professor would not accept this sort of "scholarship" from a freshman. There's nothing whatever new here, and what might have been a useful addition to the subjects of the Gettysburg Campaign and the Federal cavalry simply isn't.

On top of which, the maps are really, really dreadful -- confused and hard on the eye -- and the quality of illustrations not much better.

On the whole, this is a rather amateur work.

This is a very personal look back at the author's great great grandfather, George Patten, who at age 28 in the summer of 1862 joins a calvary unit from his home state of Michigan to do his part in the American Civil War. He leaves behind his parents, a beloved wife and a young child to fight for a cause in which he deeply believes.

Through the eyes of Quartermaster Sergeant Patten we follow his journey from Grand Rapids, Michigan, where his company is trained to the long train journey to Washington City where he sees action in the battle of Gettysburg and a few days later in the battle of Falling Waters in West Virginia. His company, decimated by the Gettysburg battle, is ordered to charge a rebel position defended by hundreds of soldiers. Great great grandfather Patten writes a touching letter home before the battle and as he feared he is killed in a hopeless charge.

Author Richard Hamilton uses letters from Patten along with dozens of primary sources to flesh out the story of this union farmer in his last year of life. Through Patten we see the horror of our nation's most awful war and the effect it had on one man's family. The troop maneuvering of generals, the political machinations of politicians are all there but it is the foot soldiers, George Patten and his comrades in arms, who do the dying and suffering. Hamilton never loses track of this and "Oh! Hast Thou Forgotten" is never far from this truth of war.

I hit the Trifecta. I have a history minor, I'm from Michigan and Richard Hamilton is a friend of mine. I am aware of the great amount of loving research that went into this book and it shows in the stunning details provided by Richard as he traces the steps taken by his great great grandfather, George Thomas Patten, as he joins the 6th Michigan Cavalry and ends up in the Gettysburg campaign. He eventually loses his life at the age of 28 in the battle of Falling Waters. I believe this book will be interesting reading on many levels whether you are a history buff or not.

Frank Valenti

A GREAT read!
VERY insightful!!!
And for once...a WONDERFUL account not only of the cavalry battle here in Hunterstown, July 2nd, 1863....but the entire Gettysburg Campaign.
I felt like I was "riding with the cavalry"!!!
I could "see and hear...and smell" the day!
A WONDERFUL account...that is MUCH needed....in the annals of history!
First rate!
Well done!
You are to be commended for this written documentation...
as are all the Wolverines that fought here!

[...]

Richard L. Hamilton has written a description of the Battle of Gettysburg that is easy to follow and therefore easy to become involved with on a personal level. Telling the story from the point-of-view of a cavalry sargent gives the reader a new perspective of the rigors that these heros of our history had to contend with. If you want to learn about "Gettysburg", Mr. Hamilton has certainly given us an interesting story to lead us through the battle.

I searched and searched for this book. My search was almost more difficult than finding a real mystery animal; but at last I found a decent copy and spent too much on it.
It was worth it, though. This book is a classic for a reason. The author presents the material in a thorough and engaging way. And he is skeptical at the right moments.
I have no regrets about buying this rare book. If you're into cryptozoology, yet also have a brain (a rare combo), this is a book that needs to be in your collection.

Heuvelmans has written an absorbing work that falls just short of masterpiece stature. The scope of the coverage is breathtaking, revealing the author's encyclopedic command of the field and unmistakably belying his tremendous enthusiasm for the material. From the outset, I would argue that the opus is more "archaeozoological" than "cryptozoological," as the author tends to devote nearly all of his attention to the details and history of collection of evidence for this cryptid or that, and upon the associated sociological phenomena (e.g., folktales, taboos, sculptures), than he does to ecological analysis of the theorized creatures' ontogenies within their respective biomes. The work reads almost like a compendium of forensic dossiers: for each cryptid he treats, Heuvelmans carefully narrates the historical accretion of man's evidentiary knowledge base-even to the details of each relevant archaeological expedition, whether splendidly fructiferous or gut-wrenchingly frustrating. Of particular note, Heuvelmans turns unsuccessful hunts into positive experiences, arguing how even failure to find this or achieve that adds monotonically to scientists' knowledge bases. Other aspects that are equally indicative of the author's love for his material include the proliferation of hand-drawn illustrations: while clearly no artist, he has striven to provide visual aids-even as minor as a small piece of skin or a vague scrimshaw on narwhal tusk-wherever they might prove edifying.

On the critical side, I may level two accusations that do not go very far toward pejorating the work. Firstly, taken from a continent-by-continent perspective, the coverage is not balanced. Although cryptozoological mysteries-and the oral and/or literary traditions that are often associated therewith-besprinkle the entire globe, the author devotes precious little attention to the boreal zones and none whatsoever to North America! Secondly-and, indeed, this is intertwined with the sparsity of North American coverage-Heuvelmans says next to nothing about sasquatch or some of his cryptohominid cousins, e.g., the central Asian almas and the Australian yay-ho and lo-an (although he most thoroughly dissects the evidence for and against the yeti). But, just perhaps, this second omission can be blamed upon prevailing undertones in the academic community: specifically, it was not until the 1958 incidents in logging camps in rural northern California that the "bigfoot" phenomenon began to attract serious attention.

My 5th grade son asked for a book about cryptozoology for Christmas, so I recently bought this book after being pointed to it by various reviewers (of other books) on Amazon. It seemed bizarrly expensive--and I felt obnoxiously indulgent buying it--but I can now report it is worth every penny. My son has been glued to the book for a week now and is on his way to memorizing the whole thing. The reading level is adult but a smart kid, fasinated with the subject, will rise to the challenge and chew through all 4 inches in no time.

When it comes to Cryptozoology, there still is no better source than Dr. Bernard Heuvelmans, the man who penned the phrase, literally. I never considered the existence of the Yeti as anything more than a mythological cartoon character, until my discovery of this book in my High School library, some 36 years ago. And there still is no other work that approaches anywhere near it, for pure captivating reading, over-and-over again. I'd recommend this book to anyone, even the staunchest skeptics. From the Yeti to Orang Pendeks, Marsupial Tigers to Nandi Bears, the volumes of research will astound. Better than reading any novel about Lost Worlds and experiments with DNA. These represent real worlds, and possibly tens-of-thousands of creatures just waiting for serious scientific attention. Will make a believer of many for certain. One drawback though, no mention of Bigfoot, or any other American cryptids for that matter. Not even in the more recent revisions. But still worthy of the highest rating.

For those of you who do not know Mr. Brenard Heuvelmans (1916-2001) was one of the true pioneers in Cryptozoology (study of hidden animals) "On the Track of Unknown Animals" is certainly a must for those who find this topic interesting.
In 2003 Jerry D. Coleman released his book continuing on the work of Heuvelmans in "Strange Highways", also found here at Amazon.com. It was "Strange Highways" open, logical, fresh story's that peeked my interest in this subject.
You couldn't go wrong reading them both.

Haven't read any Holmes stories in years and a friend recommended this book. Briefly I was totally engaged. The characterizations are sharp and the atmosphere is thick with dread. Doyle's attempt to come to terms with "the method" based on previous(actual?) experiences makes for an interesting conflict that runs thru out the book. Can't wait to read the other 2.

Written by the screenwriter of the BBC's Murder Rooms, this mystery chronicles Arthur Conan Doyle's first meeting with the eccentric Dr. Joseph Bell. Providing the basis for Sherlock Holmes, Bell and his "method" are put to the test with a number of cases, but the series of events surrounding a beautiful patient of Doyle's is the most sinister. As a fan of the short-lived television series, I bought the book as soon as I heard about it. Surprisingly the book did not strictly follow the episodes that I had seen. Pirie's evocative writing perfectly captures the memoirs of a troubled man recalling his dark past. He also has a talent for creating an ominous, foreboding atmosphere. I'd recommend this mystery to avid Sherlock Holmes fans, but also to anyone who wants to read a dark, thrilling story.

First-time novelist David Pirie deserves kudos for doing
something a little different along the lines of a Sherlock
Holmes pastiche. His characters are Dr. Bell and Conan Doyle
themselves. On the other hand, he runs off the rails pretty
early on, with a perfervid yet elliptical style that is more
along the lines of Anna Katherine Green than Dr. Watson, and
with (oh, no, not again!) standard pastiche plot B.

There is no chemistry (or even friendship) between Dr. Bell and
Dr. Conan Doyle, and their cases--- "real life" incidents that
are close parallels to Holmes-Watson adventures such as
"The Speckled Band" and "The Solitary Cyclist"--- tend to
be more annoying or unsatisfying than interesting.

The usual problem with standard pastiche plot B is that the
behavior of a central character is necessarily totally
inconsistent with his actual aims--- here the problem is
magnified, since there are at least three and maybe four
characters whose behavior throughout the "adventure" makes no
sense whatsoever in terms of their eventually-revealed
motivations.

Conan Doyle's overheated style continually sets the reader up
for "a revelation more terrifying than mere mortal flesh can
endure," and then follows up with, more often than not,
no payoff at all, or a payoff that amounts to an empty
pay envelope. At the end of the very episodic "novel," Dr.
Conan Doyle hints that in the next adventure, we'll encounter
Jack the Ripper (whom CD and Bell have seemingly matched wits
with years before during Watson's medical school days).
It's a promising setup, but we've been burned so often in
the present book, I wonder if it is worth checking out the next
in line.

Those who have admired the cases of Sherlock Holmes and found "The 7 Percent Solution" to be a fresh look at the first great detective of popular fiction will find a different game afoot in "The Patient's Eye." The intriguing premise for David Pirie's novel is that Arthur Conan Doyle is playing the Watson role to Dr. Joseph Bell, the writer's real-life mentor in medical school at Edinburough and the model for Holmes. Doyle starts off in the role of Scully, unable to accept that the practice of medicine has anything to do with Dr. Bell's deductive reasoning from minute clues, but in due course he becomes a true believer in Bell's pioneering work in forensic medicine.

The case involves Miss Heather Grace, a young heiress who has been traumatized by an attack by a lunatic who murdered her parents. Now Miss Grace is subject to visions of a figure who follows her on her bicycle. The conceit here is that Pirie is working backwards from several of the cases from the Holmes canon, most obviously "The Solitary Cyclist," but also "The Speckled Band" and "Wisteria Lodge." The idea is that Doyle later fictionalized these stories from the "real" events contained herein. It was a good move on Pirie's part not to simply offer up the "true" story of one the original Holmes mysteries or to try and tackle one of the "biggies" in the canon. There is also more romance than you find in Doyle, what with the young doctor falling for his patient.

Most importantly, Pirie is able to present Doyle and Bell as interesting substitutes for Watson and Holmes. There is no pretense of friendship between the pair; they are teacher and student. Doyle is not as much the inept foil that Watson serves in the stories (indeed, he solves several initial mysteries before getting in over his head) and Bell is arguably more charismatic than the driven Holmes. There are times when Pirie follows the Doyle model too closely and the gallery of suspects is rather overdrawn, but as the first effort in what is clearly going to be a developing series, "The Patient's Eyes" is worth the reading. The execution is not quite up to the ambitious idea, but that is a minor concern. The one caveat is that you should read over the original Sherlock Holmes stories on which this novel is based to better appreciate how Pirie is using them in this story.

David Pirie's "The Patient's Eyes" is the first in a series of books about the collaboration between Arthur Conan Doyle and Joseph Bell. Doyle is a young medical student in Edinburgh when he meets Bell, who is both a teacher in the medical school and a forensic scientist. Doyle soon becomes Bell's clerk and the two work together on a number of cases, including the very strange one in this novel.

Doyle's patient, Heather Grace, is a lovely young woman who suffers from eye troubles and nightmares. She also believes that a man has been surreptitiously following her, and may wish to do her harm. Since Miss Grace is about to come into a great deal of money, Doyle suspects that her relatives may want to get their hands on her fortune. When Dr. Bell intercedes in the case, he uses his forensic skills, his intuition, and his uncanny powers of detection to get to the bottom of the affair.

Pirie is a superior writer and he brings all of the characters in "The Patient's Eyes" to brilliant life. Doyle is a callow and troubled young man who comes from a dysfunctional family. Bell is Doyle's mentor, and he may be the real life model for the great fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes. Pirie's language, settings, and even the titles he chooses for his chapters are all reminiscent of those used in the Sherlock Holmes stories. There are also puzzles galore in this book to intrigue those who love interesting ciphers.

The story is complicated yet thoroughly engrossing, and I was genuinely surprised by the developments at the end of the book. Pirie has a knack for writing satisfying mysteries and I look forward to more novels about the collaboration between Arthur Conan Doyle and Joseph Bell.

It's hard to enjoy a book much when you spend much of the readng time editing it in your head. Unfortunately, that's pretty much what reading "The Phoenix Egg" was like for me -- not a bad idea, but I couldn't help but find better ways to explore the premise of the book as I read. Word by word, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph, I found myself fixing spelling, puncuation, and phrasing to improve on the story overall. Too bad they didn't do this work before publishing it, to save me the trouble and let me enjoy the novel.

It's not just misspellings, either -- though there are many of those throughout the book (you don't put airplanes in a "hanger," for example), that's at least somewhat expected for a small publisher like this. The bad puncuation, while distracting, could also be forgiven somewhat. What really got to me, though, was the poor sentence structure and paragraph construction. On nearly every page, I found ways to rephrase a sentence or two to make it stronger, or to convey the idea better. Somehow, Bamberg finds ways to make even the most high-octane action seem bland and flavorless, and the love scenes, which are supposed to be revelatory, come off as trite and predictable. It's a problem of how he phrases things -- using too many adjectives when simplicity is called for, then hedging his words when more depth is needed. It almost seemed like he was working against the ideas he was trying to express, limiting his palette to only a few word constructions.

I give him credit for a good idea, though. Even if it takes a while (almost half the book) to get there, the concept behind "The Phoenix Egg" is an interesting one, and could have been really enjoyable in the hands of a different writer. The plot, too, was fairly well structured, if imperfectly so. The book starts out at a running gallop and never really lets up much, with a great deal of action and suspense strung out before we even have an idea of what's going on. It works for the most part, though it did seem a bit far-fetched and frustrating to me how little there was to learn about the impetus behind all the action until much later. And by then, it was a little bit anti-climactic.

It starts out fairly simply...Caitlin Maxwell's husband is killed and her life is also in danger, because of something he was working on that she doesn't know about. She enlists the aid of an old flame, John Blalock, to help her survive and find out just what her husband's secret was before the folks chasing her, organizations from all over the world, find it. Blalock, in the years he and Maxwell were separated, has become something of an expert in black ops and investigation...all very convenient for Caitlin, who has need of all of his talents before their adventures are over.

The characters in "The Phoenix Egg" are on the thin side -- not as transparent as those from "The Da Vinci Code," but pretty cardboard nonetheless. The plot runs fast and hard but doesn't really establish a good steady pace. And someone really needed to go through the book with a fine tooth comb and pick out all the mistakes and things that could have been done better. This is a book with a great deal of potential. It was frustrating, and more than a little disappointing, to see much of that potential squandered. I usually think that saying a book needed a better editor is something of a cop-out when rating a book's quality, but in this case, it really fits the bill.

This could have been such a better book. As it stands, it reads more like a term paper, and I felt like the unfortunate grad student grading it.

The action in this "government coverup" thriller starts off at over 100MPH and accelerates much like a launch from a Cape Caniveral pad. In this page-turner, the author expertly and deftly fleshes out and develops the two protaganists, John and Caitlin, who are in possession of what just may be the most startling and important invention ever created. As they learn more about the Phoenix Egg, in the layered manner that an onion is peeled, and struggle to stay one step ahead of corporate espionage thieves, international assassins and agents of secret governmental agencies, we are drawn into the desperate world of John and Caitlin. I am a fan of Clive Cussler's Dirk Pitt novels and heard this one would be like Dirk Pitt being in a Dean Koontz novel. Richard Bamberg's John Blalock is more interesting than Cussler's Dirk Pitt and the action is better described and faster pace. Blalock would kick Pitt's rear!

I haven't seen much by this author in the past, but I did a little research and found a few other items of note. This novel did surprise me in its technical details, action sequences, and a love interest that made me think. There are a few flaws the copyeditor missed, but by page 20 I was so involved that I stopped noticing them.

Enjoyable read with truly memorable characters. The author has created a book that forces you to keep turning those pages. The Phoenix Egg is set in the immediate future and is as exciting as a Bond movie with characters that touch the human spirit with depth and devotion. The ending leaves you feeling satisfied with all the loose ends tied up and the plot twist unraveled. Definitely worth reading.

THE PHOENIX EGG is great fun -- an action adventure novel that I read very quickly and did not want to put down. The page turning quality and the touch of the paranormal invite a comparison to Dean Koontz or perhaps John Case, though the book does not at all seem to be an imitation of Koontz or anyone else. THE PHOENIX EGG is a great find. I picked it up because I met the author and was curious. I bought it and stayed up late to finish it because it was a great read!

The action starts immediately. We get thrown into a scenario in which we do not know what is going on or why the bad guys are out for blood. Bamberg weaves an enjoyably tangled plot, with plenty of adventure and a touch of romance, before he finally unravels it all for us. I found myself at the end of chapter after chapter saying,"And then what," and putting off bedtime for a while longer. I highly recommend THE PHOENIX EGG if you want a good action adventure fix!

I have purchased many books on web site design and usability, most of them more expensive than this one, and yet this book is the one with worn pages because I go back to it again and again. Many "how to" books give you plenty of tips but never tell you what to do with them. Not this one! This book gives you sound, no-nonsense advice about what works on web sites and what doesn't. Part 1 clearly explains the "hows and whys" of crucial web site elements, while Part 2 tells you how to put what you learned in action. And as if that's not enough, you also get real life examples of how it all comes together, whether you're selling products, are a one-person show working out of a home office, or a large corporation. I was so impressed with the level of knowledge demonstrated in this book that I recently participated in Marcia Yudkin's (the author's) Web Marketing Makeover mentoring program. If you want your web site to bring in business you should read this book and religiously apply what you learn.

I don't normally do reviews or read work-related books, so this has been an interesting process. After all, I sweated through college, marketing qualifications and I've run an internet business for three years, so why do I need to read what some American who I've never heard of thinks - after all, its not really relevant to a UK-based business... Wrong!

What a great book - I had to keep putting it down to make notes on changes needed for my sites. Marcia thinks about this stuff all the time, whereas most of us don't, and she really takes apart the whole site and marketing process. It's all about the detail, about how the site visitor sees our offer, one that we are over-familiar with but so often fail to get over in a few seconds. It is when you realise how massively you could increase the return on your objectives by making simple changes (what are the objectives of your website, by the way?) that you realise the power of this book.

Marcia takes you though all the elements of your site, step by step - why you have one, what you want it to do, the copy, design, style and real nuts-and-bolts stuff. Throughout she illustrates her point with screen shots of hundreds of sites - and there are some very well known ones in there that still fail to fully exploit the opportunity. Plus, a selection of make-overs - some seem minor, but have documented results, for example, $24,000 of extra sales in one month. Her style is very open, non-technical and moves at a pace that doesn't make assumptions on acronyms, jargon and your physical location - so often US books seem irrelevant to overseas readers. There are also lots of references to further reading, for example, on copy-writing, too many sites just lift pre-approved copy from printed brochures that fails in a new medium.

So, who should read it? Me, again, for a start. With specialist sections or even whole chapters for professional practices, membership or charitable organisations, local small businesses like B&Bs, organisations selling single or multiple products, there really is something for everyone. If you're the owner of a business, or the person that's directly responsible for websites in a business, you'll find it a useful read. Why not buy it for a colleague to read and report back on if you can't spare the time yourself? And the key point is change will not cost big money, so you really can see a return on modest spending - a couple of hundred pounds will make a difference to most sites. Perhaps that's the acid test of the book: whether you actually do anything after reading it that in turn actually pays off. If you don't do anything at all, then I think you've missed the point.

One thing that may put you off is the legend `Poor Richard's' across the top of the book and the cover style - I've no idea who Richard is, nor his pecuniary standing and the folksy cover may suggest the book's audience is low-budget, but this does it a disservice. Its also not expensive - ...

So, in summary, the chapters that make up 200 pages of readable and thought-provoking writing, are organised in two parts - site elements and then implementation. I make no apologies for including the chapter headings as they help illustrate the breadth and relevance of this book: Elements: the name plate; navigation/on-site searches; copy; who are we?; building trust; content as bait; gathering leads/members/subscribers; order forms/customer service and graphics/layout. Putting it all together: single product sales; multi-product sales; solo service provider; professional firm; advocacy organisation; event reservations; local businesses and internet services. This is followed by a makeover checklist and pages of further resources in print and online. Go on, read it, implement it and reap the rewards - and tell me if I'm wrong!

Mark Wibberley ...

There are so many books on designing websites available today that it is easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume. Among these it is rare to find one that really stands out from the crowd. Marcia Yudkin's "Website Marketing Makeover" is an exception to this rule. She avoids a lot of the fluff that tends to be in other books and gets right down to the nitty-gritty of website design. One of the things that I particularly liked about the book is that she not only provides advice but also provides the means to actually accomplish the goal. For example, most of the website design books discus the need to see what your website looks like using different browsers. Marcia's book also makes this very important point. However, she not only makes the point but also points the reader to software and websites that can help determine what your website looks like in different browsers. When other books are saying what to do without telling you how to do it, Marcia is showing you how.

From beginning to end, Marcia lucidly explains what works, what doesn't work, and why. Although it is predominantly focused on how to "turn visitors into buyers" and so is most appropriate for a site that sells something, there is a lot of information that is also appropriate for any site including purely informational ones. "Poor Richard's Website Marketing Makeover" is a highly recommended read for anyone looking to create or improve their website.

I have been procrastinating in upgrading our website so I figured I'd read a few books... a great way to procrastinate some more. Well Marcia writes in a step by step practical way, creating a marketing foundation first then getting to the beef. I'm now educated and inspired, have a notebook full of notes and ideas that I'm actually implementing. It's getting done. I'm actually recommending this book to friends who are redoing their marketing message since the first two chapters do that so well... great book, not heavy, beefy info.

My mind is spinning; this book is awesome! I have been successfully selling on the web for 2 years and have even paid some "big names" to critique my site, but I have found TONS of ideas and changes I need to implement as soon as possible. Ms. Yudkin writes in a specific, down-to-earth manner; her suggestions make SENSE and she includes many before-and-after examples. The advice in this book will undoubtedly save me time and increase my sales.

My mother just loves Egypt stuff and this was bought as a mother's day gift. I previewed it (just to see) and it is beautiful. I even caught myself reading it, as it was full of information and details. I've never seen an Egyption book like this before, and don't think I will ever come across one again.

If you want a succint and fascinating guide to understanding Egyptian art then this is for you. Arranged in a most unique style, Wilkinson's book captivates the reader and moves him into a richer understanding of Egypt's language and art. Richly illustrated, this masterpiece for the layman traces the impact that the Egyptian language had upon the ancient forms of art. It provides the reader with some basic information as well as specifics which will assist the layman in understanding and appreciating this great civilization. It moved me to purchase the companion volume which I cannot wait to read. Having been to Egypt twice, I can only say that this book is a MUST for anyone who is planning to travel there. I only wish that I had discovered this book before I went there! The only thing better would be if the author himself led you on a tour to this enchanting land!

Art language, the signs by which we interpret the meaning of art, is a specialized study. I would recommend this book to anyone who would like to approach Egyptian art on a deeper level than a simple visual feast. Prof. Wilkinson has explained many of the common themes used by ancient Egyptian artists in simple terms, so that anyone who cares to read will be able to understand and appreciate the work in depth. I have found this book invaluable. The book is richly illustrated and the line drawings by Troy Sagillo are exquisite. Wilkinson has opened a path for me that I knew was there, but could not find.

Wilkinson is a professor at the University of Arizona (or was) and I believe may still be directing that institution's work in the Valley of the Kings. As he points out in this volume, one of the things often missed in regards to Egyptian art is that it is intended to be "read". Even paintings and objects in the round are often constructed using hieroglyphs. The author gives a well written, organized overview of the rudiments of learning to see into Egyptian art more of what the artist intended the viewer to see. Very nicely illustrated with an excellent selection of examples.

What a wonderful book!

The author takes 100 of the hieroglyphs used in writing Egyptian, and used in Egyptian art. (Symbols are identified by the Gardiner code number.) He dedicates 2 pages to each symbol - the right-hand page gives an analysis of the meaning and uses of the symbol, and the left-hand page, through line drawings and photographs, illustrates how the symbol is used.

Whether you study it page by page, or just dip in and browse, this book can be used, with profit, by anyone interested in the language or art of ancient Egypt.