Richards Books

Highly recommend this to both hunters and non-hunters. Richard Nelson did a great job in capturing the evolution of deer and people interactions in America. An enjoyable book!

This book is the most thorough, most comprehensive, most graceful study of deer I have ever encountered. It deals with everything from the natural history of deer to the animal rights movement to different approaches to hunting and management. There's even a section that deals with the ways in which the film "Bambi" inextricably has altered Americans' views about deer. Nelson is honest about his own biases and convictions; he tells us that he is a hunter and that he believes in a strict ethical code with regard to his own hunting, a belief he learned while working as a cultural anthropologist with the Koyukon Indians in northern Alaska. Despite his strong beliefs, he is remarkably even-handed when dealing with the many controversial issues surrounding wildlife management in America today. I understand much better now why animal rights activists and wilderness preservationists do not always make comfortable allies. I trust this author; he has integrity. I loved "The Island Within" for capturing the mist-ridden world of an island off the coast of the Pacific Northwest, and I loved this book every bit as much. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in deer, hunting, and the animal rights and environmental movements. It is balanced, fair, and majestic.

As a National Park Service Ranger and animal lover I've personally and professionally struggled with the issues surrounding deer management -- Bullets or starvation, which is more humane? Deer abundance or ecosystem biodiversity? Etc. etc. I've also read a great deal of literature spanning the entire HEART and BLOOD spectrum. This is the most accurate, fair, and comprehensive treatment on deer management I've ever seen.

Richard Nelson is the epitome of the professional anthropologist. He walks with as much confidence in the scientific and statistical world of biology/wildlife mgmt. as he does in the socio-political world of mass media, voters, and taxpayers.

The veteran scientist will regard the imagery in a few of his more vivid passages as "filler". These readers should be reminded that if the management of deer wasn't an emotional issue there would be far fewer researchers employed in such capacity. Hopefully they also realize that when Nelson describes tracking a food stressed doe in winter with "...at last I found her at the end of her tracks like a pencil resting in mid sentence," he didn't choose those words to impress an English teacher but to describe to the layperson exactly what it is like to pursue a starving animal.

On the other extreme the animal rights activist may try to skip over all of Nelson's nuances regarding deer behavior, physiology, and biochemistry. However, Nelson goes to great lengths to interject such information at a gentle rate and in very accessible terms.

With sincere unbiased reporting he describes opposing positions on classic bipolar debates. Then with his own arguments Nelson blurs the dividing line so thoroughly that animal rights activist will find themselves whispering "I can see how a hunter could be an animal lover too." and wildlife managers will end up muttering "I suppose individual animal welfare is worth the millions being spent on finding viable management alternatives to the bullet."

To say that this book has something for everybody would not only be cliche, it would be inaccurate. This book has everything for everybody. If you don't believe me, get a degree in Wildlife Management. Spend hundreds of hours tracking deer, thousands of hours pouring over scores of boring scientific research papers, EISs, lawsuits, and "blood-thirsty" calls-to-arms by animal rights organizations.

Or save yourself a few thousand dollars tuition and buy and enjoy reading this book. Allow Nelson who has already done the "BLOOD" work to take you directly to the "HEART" of the dilemma in a mere 400 pages.

Nelson explores deer history, management, and views in a thorough and unbiased review. He takes a personal perspective on values of hunting which will make the hunter and nonhunter alike ponder the marvels of the hunt.

Seriously, and I've met few non-fiction books that I can say that about. I'm not a hunter but I found this book quite engaging. Hunting is only one focus of the book. There is great appeal for readers interested in wilderness and conservation issues in the U.S. Remarkably detailed, intelligent, and colorful examination of deer across the U.S.; Alaska, Texas, Wisconsin, California, New York, etc. Very well-written; not a word is wasted and the whole is beautifully composed.

This collection of parodies inspired by anagrams of the authors' names is absolutely hilarious, furiously witty, and truly amazing in its technical virtuosity. Heaney's ability to mimic the poetic styles of the writers is stunning, and the fertility of his comic imagination seems to have no limits.

My favorite: A reworking of Geoffrey Chaucer as a narrator of the rise of Starbucks Coffee!

A lovely little book that has proven to be a wonderful introduction to classical poetry in our homeschooling family.

Francis Heany hits the nail on the head with each of these brilliantly conceived bits. He has a chameleon-like flair for clicking into the rhythm, style and voice of each writer. It's just uncanny. Also, the stories he explores based on the anagramed writers' names are a riot.

We had relatives visiting, and my husband's niece was in tears from laughing so hard at Robert Frost/"BrR, Footrest". Who else would come up with a surreal combination of "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" and the opening credits of "The Dick van Dyke Show"? Absolutely brilliant stuff.

Looking for a great gift for your friends who love a good juxtaposition of classic literature and popular culture? "Holy Tango" of Literature should be on your shopping list!

It takes a certain amount of talent to write a good pastiche, particularly, I think, of poetry. And it takes a certain degree of twisted brilliance to come up with the idea of writing parodies based on anagrams of the author's names. But it takes nothing more than genius to capture each author's style absolutely dead on, weave in a host of clever pop culture references, and produce something that pleases the frontal lobes of the brain even as it mounts an all-out tickle war on the funnybone. This book is a work of absolute freakin' genius.

I should note, by the way, that you really don't have to be a lit geek to enjoy this. I hardly consider myself a poetry connoisseur, but I recognized the great majority of the pieces being parodied. Heaney seems to have stuck to the author's most famous works, many of which are familiar from high school English classes. And even the ones whose source I didn't recognize entertained me. Which, when you think about it, is all the more impressive.

This is wonderful stuff by a true comic polymath. Just read "Likable Wilma" by William Blake, which begins, "Wilma, Wilma, in thy blouse, Red-haired prehistoric spouse" , and you'll know what I mean. I have a conflict of interest here (I drew the pictures) but I laughed hard at Francis Heaney's work before I got tangled up with it, when I first saw it in Mirth of a Nation. Buy The Holy Tango today! The children of America should be committing it to memory!

Although I am not an Architect but I enjoyed reading this book. It tells you exactly what you want to know about running a design firm. I also liked the simple, clear language that was used. If you are planning to start up your own business then I really recommend you to read this book.

How Firms Succeed should be on every Design Firm's must read list. It is the closest thing to a how-to manual in running a design firm. Anyone who follows the principles of the text will reap the rewards as their business grows.

How Firms Succeed transforms the poetry of architecture into the prose of practical management advice. This book offers solutions to the questions and problems that distract firms from their quest to provide excellent design. It should rapidly become an indispensable part of every architect's working library.

I was very pleased to find this book. It is a clear, concise resource for people who need to better understand design firms. It provides an insight into the nature of the design business - and it unique culture - that is invaluable to both practitioners and managers who want to create a successful and healthy organization.

Too many design professionals think that design excellence and financial acumen are mutually exclusive. Thanks to the authors of How Firms Succeed for putting this myth to rest. This book addresses the issues that, if practiced, will allow for both. One can only imagine the impact of a firm that provides best-of-class design and its impact on our communities.

Absolutely transforming truths presented in a loving and inspiring manner. Thank you for this book!

Pastor Richards' messages always go beyond "what does the Bible mean?" to "what does the Bible mean for my life today?" This is why his teachings are so practical, embracing the whole man--the body, mind and spirit. His mission is to change the way the world sees God, and he has done that for me. God is no longer a taskmaster that can not be pleased; I now see that God completely delights in me and this confidence in the love of God is revolutionary. I highly recommend any of Dr. Richard's books, along with his Heart Physics 30 day meditation program. I have met him in person, and he is very real and genuine and imperfect! It is very refreshing.

There is so much I can say about this awesome book, but I'll just stick to the basics. This is one of the books that has really transformed my life. I was so impacted by it I decided to do a teaching on it. This book is a must READ!!!

Most people have no idea of how many judgements they have made over their life time that keep them in bondage. This book will expose the way you think and the significance you placed on actions of other people that really were not about you in the first place. This book is excellent material for a small group book study.

This book is great. If everyone dealt with people as this book suggests it would be quite a different world. We can do it one person at a time!

As a hunter I've always marveled at how joy and sadness can dwell in the same moment, that moment when you reach out - with gun or bow or spear - and take the life of a wild creature. But there are many hunters who don't notice or care, and who treat this most awesome and mysterious thing as a sport like golf or car racing. The best part of "A Hunter's Heart" was spending time, so to speak, with others who see more and deeper things in hunting, and who can express it more vividly and truthfully than I have been able to. Each story is beautiful and eloquent and impactful in its own way. I reread the book often, enjoying it more each time, which is the best compliment I can give.

As a woman, and one who does not hunt, I found the essays in A Hunter's Heart intelligent, thought-provoking, and often moving. They suggest a complexity and ethic which underlie a sport often seen as cruel and mindless. They make a convincing case that those who hunt are more likely to respect nature than are those who buy their meat neatly packaged in plastic. The writers voice a genuine regard, even love, for the environment and for their prey. The authors may be more articulate and philospohical than those many of us think of as "typical" hunters, but if we admit that one may subscribe to an ethic without being able to articulate it, may live out a philosophy rather than expound it, the essays may make us rethink the motives and morality of those who take to the woods during hunting season.

This is an excellent collection of essays. The essays are honest, forthcoming, and thoughtful. I enjoy hunting not as a "sport" but as an activity that simply transcends sport. I love the environment, and perhaps this is why hunting is not merely sport to me. This work by Mr. Petersen is rare because it reflects the fact that many hunters do, in fact, love the environment and wildlife more than they love the hunt.

A few of the hunter-authors featured in Mr. Petersen's work don't hunt anymore, because they (like many sportsmen and sportswomen) have reached the "limiting out" phase of hunting, when a hunter no longer cares so much about bagging game, but cares mostly about the teaching of ethics and conservation to a younger generation of hunters. But when you read their essays, you can feel how much they loved the hunt and how much hunting taught them about the need for healthy ecosystems. On the other hand, some of these essays were written by active hunters. If you are a hunter, these essays will make your heart swell with anticipation for your next hunt.

Contrary to the review posted earlier by Mr. Seshadri, this book directly confronts irresponsible hunters. Admittedly, a few hunters do not love the environment and wildlife. Several of the essays confront unethical hunting practices head-on, including the use of overwhelming modern technology in the pursuit of trophy animals. Likewise, one essay condemns the use of live animals merely for target practice, undoutedly refering to the hunting of predators such as coyotes and wolves. Yes, this work is very honest. You get the good and the bad.

I am a 4th generation deer and elk hunter from the Rocky Mountains, and I think this book is a must-read for all hunters. My hope is that our wild lands, and our wild animals will be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations. We will need more conservation-minded hunters like Mr. Petersen if we are to be successful. Why? Because the golfers and couch potatoes don't care if another valley is buldozed for commercial developement. Habitat destruction is the threat to wildlife and wild land. The hunting community must stand up and make its voice heard, and this book is a good start.

I am not a hunter. I bought this book out of an intellectual curiousity of what it is that drives some people to kill and enjoy the pursuit of killing. The essays within - while plain spoken, well written and introspective - tend to be repetitive around some common themes:

1) It is no less ethical to hunt your own food than to buy meat in a supermarket
2) In nature, very few animals die of old age anyway
3) Humans are genetically programmed to hunt; hunters are just following their inner, atavistic calling
4) City folk who disdain any type of hunting are hypocritical and should pay a visit to their local slaughterhouse
5) Hunters actually love the animals they kill

I am compelled to agree with most of the above reasoning, although #5 is a tough act to follow. That said, where the essays fail is in their inability to confront the irresponsible hunters who kill just for the thrill of it. There is no mention of the moral deficiency of those "hunters" who kill not for the meat, but for the bragging rights of having shot a (mostly tame) lion or (farm raised) trophy ungulate. Likewise, the authors carefully avoid taking on the barbarism of "sports" like fox hunting. It's almost like these good hunters are ashamed of all those black sheep lurking within their fraternity, although not without good reason. All that said, this is nonetheless a good read that can be enjoyed by all thinking people - hunters and non-hunters alike.

This book is a collection of essays on hunting by some excellent outdoor writers, including former President Jimmy Carter. The writers talk about why they hunt. This book examines that question and finds that there are many reasons different people give to that same question. You may agree with some or disagree, but you'll definitely think long and hard about the answers given.

This book's thought provoking essays also force all of us to think about our own carnivorous instincts. Since almost all of us eat meat from the supermarket the book takes cows as an example and asks non hunters if the castration of bulls, the branding, the feeding of them in outdoor, closed in, excrement filled pens and the eventual slaughter of them is really somehow better than the hunter who shoots and kills a deer in the wild? It seems we all live with blood on our hands. But not to let you think this book is simply cut and pasted from the pages of American Hunter. The book also questions trophy hunting and whether hunting should even be considered a sport.

Since many hunters spend a good deal of time defending what they love to do, I would recommend that they pick up a copy of this book in order to be able to answer the question "why do I hunt?"

A friend shared this book with me on a recent trip to Maine, where I typically "escape" to re-capture the core of my being. As I read, I "listened" to the writer's charmingly sophisticated, yet simple straight talk that recalls
reminiscent ideals for the ears of today's world.

Rick Roberts skillfully contrasts our current realities with the romance of his nostalgic "Grandpa's" values that are echoed in his chosen idyllic lifestyle in Maine. Likewise, each of us has a voice to cast as a glistening pebble skimming the pond. Our collective energy will then radiate peacefully with infinite resonance. The world will see. The world will hear. The world will be touched.

Our future generations are only as great as the exemplary ideals and legacies we, as role models, hand our children. Not just for "Boomers," this book is a must for parents, teachers, and all responsible adults.

Thank you, Rick!

What every boomer needs to remember. It is in this book. Can't put it down, can't stop thinking of what it says, or what we, the Boomer Generation needs to remember.

Richard Roberts timely book is a must read for everyone, not just the Boomer generation. Roberts heralds a wake-up call to look at what impact we can (and do) have on our world, now and for the future. Most importantly, he outlines what steps to take to make positive changes now. Whatever your politics or spiritual beliefs are you will find this book a fresh take on our world today. Run, don't walk to buy this book.

Someone has finally written the great American novel! Well, it's not exactly a novel...more like a cross between a Michael Moore script and an Andy Rooney commentary. Rick Roberts' book is a warm hearted, straight talkin' wake up call to baby boomers - this nation's biggest generation ever. We boomers gave birth to a Dream in the sixties; and now, he says, it's time to finish the job: it's time to start living that dream. All I can say is buy this book by the armloads and pass it out to all your friends. It's a rollicking, great read...and when you're done turning pages you can continue to use it as an alarm clock.

I couldn't put Rich Roberts' book down! No matter what your politics, religion, gender, or race, it'll hit a nerve in anyone who questions today's personal, professional, or political priorities. Each chapter is extremely relevant. Rich's 'baby boomer rantings' are insightful, well researched, and full of wonderful, though sardonic, humor. Starting with Chapter 1 I penciled "X's" next to my favorite passages only to find by the end of the book nearly every paragraph was "X'ed!"

What more can I say than this: I enjoyed the book so much that I bought 20 copies and gave them to my friends, who also say "it is a must read!"

Aveline

If I were going to be stranded on a desert island I'd definately want this book with me. If you get a chance, it's a must read, triumph of the human spirit type book, but completely real and honest.

That's one of the logical questions that Mr Wurmbrand posed to his audiences in jail. This man is one of the most intelligent men I have read. An intellectual. A hero of the Christian faith. A man of integrity. Blessed with a long and beautiful life as a reward for all his pains spreading the Good News in Romania during the long Communist dictatorship. years in prisons, being tortured physically and mentally. And never giving up his faith, which was the prize the commies were looking for. It was amazing to see how many, almost all, the commies who had a chance of talking intimately with Mr Wurmbrand would eventually open up their hearts and crack. That tells a lot for the influence of evil spirits on people, people whose soul is naturally Christian -as Wurmbrand says.

A man well-learned, who can talk of science, Shakespeare, Dostoyevsky, ancient history, or almost anything without hesitation, who can give a quick and wise response to any questioner who's trying to ridicule the faith. The book is full of lessons on how to live as sheep "in the midst of wolves... therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." (Mat. 10:16) This was Mr Wurmbrand.

Reading him is learning to be wiser. There is priceless advice on how to face situations that can compromise your faith in Christ. It is not an idealistic, theological treatise, it's simple and handy advice on how to respond to the test of atheists.

Here's one pearl of his philosophy: "A real disciple does not seek gifts but Christ himself, and so is ready for self sacrifice to the end. They were not followers of Jesus, but customers."

Since the persecutions of Christians in ancient Rome, there has been no such hellish scenario up to the communist era in the 20th century. The book is not pessimistic though. It is a wonderful story of victory of faith against all odds. When faith in the Christian God of Israel was put to the test real bad, and boy did it come out alive!

This is an awesome book which gives the account of Richard Wurmbrand, a Jewish, Lutheran pastor, who endured suffering and torture in a Communist prison while being a Christ-like example to the many people around him. This book will inspire you (as it did to me) to walk closer to the Compassionate and All-loving God who used Wurmbrand to lead many prisoners to Christ and the grace that flows freely from the Cross to ALL who will accept it.

This book touched me and changed my whole view of the term 'martyr'. I have since become a great fan of Wurmbrand, his books never fail to stun one into a deep, reverential silence.

No matter your (ir)religious beliefs, you will be astounded by this account of life, endurance, perseverance, faith, and love in the worst possible conditions and suffering. An astounding witness to the strength and love the living Christ imparts, and an indictment of the horror and hollowness of atheism. Not for the faint of heart or closed of mind, and brimming over with insight and depth of thought; especially fascinating are his theological and philosophical conversations with a myriad of colorful characters, from (formerly) powerful politocos and military figures, to "lowly" farmers and thieves.

I already knew some of this stuff, but since I'm a great fan of the series, I wanted to check out this book also. Great overview of the different facets of psychology, highly recommended.

I was looking for a short review of what I learned about psychology in college, and this book was an excellent choice! It uses lots of diagrams and cartoons and drawings to illustrate and elucidate ideas. The book introduces you to some of the major thinkers in psycbology (BF Skinner, Freud, Pavlov, Piaget, William James, and others. It also outlines the basic schools of psychology (Behavioral,psycho-dynamic, developmental, cognitive). You also learn techniques to overcome deviant behavior like desensitizing and counter-conditioning. You also get re-acquainted with the differences between psychology, psychiatry, and sociology.

This book is a quick and entertaining read, and it will probably perk your interest to read more in the field.

Introducing Psychology by Nigel C. Benson This book is a good overall introduction to the subject of Psychology. It introduces the reader to the many different schools that have contributed to the field. Explaining how the teachings of one school relate to those of another. How they overlap, how they contradict and most interestingly how their interactions have in many cases given rise to the growth and development of entirely new schools of Psychology - such as Social Psychology, Humanism, Developmental Psychology and Cognitive Psychology (just to mention a few). Nigel C. Benson seems to have a real talent for making a very broad and complex science (which is what psychology is) accessible, enjoyable and understandable to the layman. I found the book easy to follow, interesting and most importantly, 'fun to read.' I recommend it to anyone who is interested in developing an understanding of this fascinating area of human research.

This book gives you a general idea about what psychology is and about different streams/schools in this field. It is very useful for beginners as it helps one create a skelett of psychology, because it's brief(not too much information,just enough to get you started). The illustrations are reinforcing the data. If you want to start in this field, you can do so by reading this book(max2-3h).

Introducing Psychology tries to give a basic overview on what psychology is all about. It starts with a general definition and sets off on a trip through the history of psychology and its numerous sections, including: Psychoanalysis, Behaviourism, Biopsychology, Social Psychology and Humanism. The main figures that had an influence on the course of psychology are all briefly discussed. The impact of names like Pavlov, Maslow, Jung and Freud is described to more extend.

The story brought by the author is easy to digest without actually neglecting the more difficult concepts. Because this book must clearly be seen as a first glimpse into the fascinating world of psychology, it does not dive too deep into the subjects, but highlights the basic ideas. Further reading is clearly encouraged by making strong recommendations for books to read. As extra further information on how to start the study of psychology is given.

The main assets of this book -and the whole series for that matter- are the tongue-in-cheek illustrations. Although sometimes the depictions are quite absurd, they do help in bringing the reader better understanding of the concepts explained in the text. But even more important, they make this clever book a joy to read.

Introducing Psychology is a must read for everyone who shows interest in the area of psychology and its applications.

I really enjoy the action in this story line. If only all military books could be this interesting.

I found this book to be a very entertaining read however I do get concerned at the way Mr Herman disposes of his main characters when they no longer suit his purposes.

In real life people do retire and live happily ever after-not every person has to suffer a horific death to keep readers enthralled in the tale being told.

This is an action-packed thriller for readers who like fast actions and war scenes. Unlike Tom Clancy, (who slow down the actions with too much tech-data), Richard Herman does not waste too much time to bring the readers right into the actions. The flow of the story is smooth and the writer keeps readers interested at all times. I would recommand reading Dark Wing before reading Iron Gate (although the story is not as smooth, it gives you more information about the main characters).

Every bit as intense as the new WWII airwar novel I just read, "The Triumph and the Glory", and as action-packed as any of Clancy's best, "Iron Gate" is a super book, I was very impressed with it.

Dale Brown and Tom Clancy are great, but Richard Herman is the best! His only equal is Stephen Coonts. The only problem I have with Herman is that he kills off his main characters (eg., Muddy Waters and Jack Locke). I am presently reading Iron Gate and cannot put it down. Keep up the good work Mr. Herman!

Yeah, it's not perfect but it isn't totally dry reading and it is great as one of several first books. I just liked reading it and I didn't fall asleep while doing it like some of the other bee books I have. Also picked up info not in some of the other books. Heck, used ones are so cheap it is very worth buying.

This was the book that turned me into a beekeeper, before I ever bought my first colony. The information on basic beekeeping is solid, and the descriptions are engaging.

I have read most of the beekeeping books that Amazon carries and I will highly recommend this book to anyone looking to get into beekeeping. It goes into a lot of detail just where a new keeper needs it. If you are an experienced beekeeper and are looking for detailed information in things like queen rearing then you may want to to get a book written specifically on the subject because that area in particular is a volume or two into itself.

A nice read, but having kept bees for about 4 months now I found it a little weak. Prior to Vivian's I have read a book by Dadant Publishing which gave a good foundation. Also talking with other beekeepers has also helped conciderably. At times I found the book a little on the quaint-side which for me wasn't of interest. Also found his section on Africanized bees (so-called Killer bees) weak. Presently I am in Brazil working with these bees. Certainly they require a different approach a little more protection and a larger smoker, etc. I've been working with them since I started and am still at it. Certainly they can be aggressive, but one learns to adapt and they are a good producer of honey. An excellent and well informed article on the Africanized Bee can be found in "ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture" by A. I Root. The article gives a balanced and much more positive picture of our little Africans. They tend to be more disease and mite resistant, and build up quickly, etc.. So don't worry to much they might even bring some positive aspects to their weaker European cousins.

This was my first book on beekeeping, and I whole-heartedly recommend it to any beginning beekeeper. I now have some 20+ beekeeping books but this is still my personal favorite. The information on bee diseases is a little old, but the clear concise explanations of all other aspects of small scale beekeeping and his warm writing style more than make up for this. Mr. Vivian obviously enjoys his bees and his affection for them only serves to foster the same in the reader. If you are thinking of beekeeping, or introducing the subject to a friend then this is the book to buy.