Richards Books

When I decided to become a teacher, I knew that I wanted to do things differently. Richard Kent's book gives me the information I need to transform learning in my classroom into dynamic, student-driven exploration. Teachers will tell you it's too hard to run a classroom this way. It's too much work to teach students the skills they need to produce a portfolio. If you have children, you know that it's just too sad to hear them say, "Leonardo daVinci is boring." Something is missing in schools' curriculum and instruction today. We need to make some changes in education, and portfolios appear to be a good solution.

Before I entered Mr. Kents class I was utterly confused and then I read his book and it really opened up my mind to portfolio work and now I feel like I can do anything in his and any other english class. Mr. Kent is the worlds best teacher and a wonderful author!

As a student of Room 109, I have experienced the use of portfolio's as a teaching aid. What a wonderful way to teach your classrooms so that a student can explore and learn on an individual basis. If you walk into Room 109, you experience the magic ad artistry that this idea has brought about. As we come into the 21st century, the views on how we teach must change with the times. Portfolio's are a new, and much needed change to traditional teaching. The book provides a "how to" for starting this type of class.

This book is a must for any educator that is interested in portfolio assessment and individualized student curriculum. Although the focus is on english, all educators can benefit from the examples and ideas that are presented in this enjoyable and easy to read book. Inspiring and informational!

Rich Kent embodies the metaphor "teacher as guide." In this text, he uses example of the richness of student input in something that is so much more than just a "how-to" approach to portfolios and portfolio assessment. I strongly encourage a deep reading of this text to make meaning of the real purpose, process, product of student learning.

I've used just about every guidebook for Rt. 66 and this may be the best. Excellent photography, detailed text, recommendations for casual drives as well as rough, 4wd only trails. And best of all, half the book is laid out for traveling east, and half of the book laid out for traveling west.

It's a few years old now, but still entirely useful! Highly recommended!

"Route 66 Across Arizona" is a must guide for those traveling across northern Arizona - especially users of I-40, which largely parallels the old Route 66.

As a regular traveler in that area who has already undertaken a fair amount of research and exploration on Route 66, I can personally attest for its general accuracy (not 100% though - time changes most everything) and usefulness. The most substantive update I would offer is to definitely stop at Two Guns - it is no longer fenced, readily accessible, full of history, and quite interesting. The second suggestion is that Route 66 Padre Canyon Bridge (circa 1914) is much more easily accessed by parking off I-40 at the West side of the I-40 bridge, and walking North - don't take too long, though, or the Highway Patrol will tow your vehicle. (Similarly, the Painted Desert Trading Post is more easily visited by parking off I-40 just East of Dead River, and hiking North for about one-half mile.)

Again, great material for both the novice Route 66 traveler, or one who has "been there before."

Best of the best ! If you plan on traveling Route 66 in Arizona...this is a no brainer. Great photos, easy to follow directions...both East to West and West to East, color coded. From folks that live in and know AZ....not just passing thru.

I was fortunate enough to buy this book just before my family's summer drive on 66. I'm definitely glad I did! This book made my family's drive along Route 66 in Arizona into a real adventure road trip.
I have read most of the national and state guides for the Mother Road, but this is definitely one of the very best. The Mangums have included all the alignments of the old Road, have them color coded and dated, and even include journeys for 4WD vehicles and bicycles on Route 66. I never would have found some of these alignments with the standard maps and guides.
One particular favorite was the old 1930s alignment between the Monte Carlo exit on I-40 (149) and the Welch exit (151) farther east. It was potholed and torn up, but I really felt like I was experiencing the real Route 66.
The book's recommendations for hotels, cafes, and attractions were extremely helpful. Also, unlike most Route 66 guides, this book describes the trip going in both directions!

The Mangums have another hit. This is exactly the sort of book Route 66 travellers have been waiting for. "Route 66 Across Arizona" is a very user friendly guide book that gives accurate, detailed directions to the existing sections of Route 66 across Arizona. I have tried several of their tours, and found them to be exactly as described. There are good maps, some history and local color, and perhaps best, recommended stops along the way. "Route 66 Across Arizona" beautifully updates Jack Rittenhouse's 1946 "Guide Book to Highway 66" and provides a practical foundation for many other books about Route 66.

When I first saw this book I was amazed that there could be so much information on the subject of rubies & sapphires. This is way beyond Ph D Thesis. If the author has not been awarded a Ph D (H.C.) for this huge book it would be a crime. Amazing creation (with a wise-guy attitude that makes it twice as good). Wow!!!

Ruby & Sapphire by Richard W. Hughes is quite expensive.

If you don't value what you'll get.

As a professional who has been for quite some time now in the gem business (>25 years now. Wow, time goes by...) and who has seen quite some books about ruby and sapphire I would rate "Ruby and Sapphire" the best of its kind.

Written by a ruby/sapphire addict full of high class photo footage and excellent text, you'll love what you get.

Great for professionals and also great for owners. lovers, potential buyers of those little red and blue wonders of nature.

BTW: this book costs a tiny fraction of a single heat treated, coated, crack filled ruby/sapphire. I won't offer my copy for sale not even for the double price I paid for. So you'll have to rip my copy out of my dead, cold hands.

Enjoy!

Wow. What a sparkling mix of erudition and irreverence. Everything you might even begin to wonder about ruby and sapphire is here, in detail, packed with fact, lusciously illustrated, spiced with attitude and wickedly opinionated in the manner that only the truly expert can properly carry off. What's even better, the man can write! Consequently, the knottiest technical subjects are lucidly laid out, while the history, the legends, the myths and the gossip are offered up with all their zest and spice intact. We're talking "encyclopedic," here - but encyclopedic in the 18th Century French Enlightenment sense, before the Germans came along and dried us all up with their only-the-facts-ma'am pedantry. Hughes is omniverously curious about his beloved gems and unashamedly passionate in his devotion to them. Thus, nothing is beyond the scope of his interest or scholarship, from the hardest of hard science to the most romantic of Arabian Nights-type legends. And in the unlikely event that there might be something he's left out, [Hughes] supplies bibliographies of altogether stupefying dimensions, and in several languages to boot. Diderot would approve. There are all sorts of ways to read this book, each of them satisfying. You can of course dutifully do what the White King told Alice: begin at the beginning, continue until you get to the end, then stop. This means commencing with the chapter on History, working your way through the dense scientific chapters (e.g., Chemistry & Crystallography, Inclusions, Treatments, Geology, etc.), and concluding with Hughes' world tour of every known source of ruby and sapphire on the planet, its history, detailed characteristics of its gems, and oh yes, a huge bibliography specific to each one. That is what I did and it is undeniably satisfying. But it is by no means the only available way to enjoy this Gargantuan feast. You could also just cruise your way through the dozens of intriguing, sometimes quirky and often gleefully opinionated sidebars, and you will have a splendid time at that, too. Or you could just page through, looking at the pictures, because the illustrations alone are an education. In addition to everything else, this book is a wonderful history lesson and so, in addition to the dozens of luscious photos of glorious gems you would expect, there are scores of fascinating pictures and photos of long-lost mines, legendary personalities, gem cutters past and present, and my absolute favorite, a be-turbaned, leather-skinned old Burmese gal with a twenty megawatt smile, chomping on a mammoth cigar. Then, again, if you absolutely do not wish to indulge your sense of fun, curiosity and wonder, you can simply station the book on your essential reference shelf and refer to it only when you need a detailed rundown on, say, typical inclusions in rubies of the Thai/Cambodian border. Many of the sidebars are in the form of detailed tables summarizing the facts in the text (example: `Fluorescent Reactions of Untreated Corundums') so if you're in a hurry, you can use the book as a technical handbook without searching through the text for the information you want. I'd say that was rather like eating all the spinach at the buffet and passing up the chocolate eclairs, but there's no accounting for taste. Particularly when you open the book more of less expecting a dry-as-dust, edited-to-death textbook, encountering Hughes' damn-the-torpedoes attitude is gorgeously refreshing. Incidentally, be ready for Hughes' ardent, peppery opinions on the issue of treated vs. untreated gems. He has no objection to heat treating otherwise dim or badly included gems to bring out their potential beauties, but he absolutely and positively insists that such gems are not - repeat not! - to be considered the equal of their natural, untreated sisters. Whether you agree or not, it's hard to resist the verve with which Hughes states his conviction. Indeed, for this reviewer, the book's unapologetic opinionatedness was one of its major delights. So whether you need a complete reference guide, a stroll through history with a lively, expert guide, a survey of sources and markets, or a guide to everything that would ever seem to have been written about either of these two lovely gems, this is your book.

Brenda Forman, GIA Alumni Association, Washington, DC Chapter

EXCELLENT BOOK (both for interest and research)-- Reading this book by Richard Hughes, you can feel the decades that the author spent both in the field at mine sites and in the lab (Hughes was head of AIGS in Bangkok) researching this monograph. Some of the chapters bring the gem business to life, especially the chapter on Burma. The photos are accurate, dramatic or beautiful and go well with the written text. The maps are good, some being quite rare. Perhaps the greatest research went into the extensive bibliography (over 2500 entries!). As president of Pala international, an import-export firm dealing in colored stones for over 30 years, I would rate this book as one of the very best in the gemological field!

This is the most comprensive book ever writtten on rubies and sapphires. It will answer any question you might have about sources, treatments, history, great specimens, cuts, and colors. Seldom can one say that the definitive book has been written on any subject. This one is.

Anyone who is interested in the history of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk needs to have this book. It is packed full of all kinds of historical facts and it has over 160 black and white photos. The detail is amazing. It was fun and informative.

This book is a fantastic primer to become familiar with the rich history of Santa Cruz and its famous boardwalk. It will mesmerize you with recounting of events and beautiful historical pictures. I hope they make a movie of it some day.

As a local resident, Santa Cruz Boardwalk has been a fun destination for us for the last two decades. As I started reading the Santa Cruz Boardwalk book, I could not put it down. It is the most comprehensive historical recounting of the events assembled in one place. Meticulous details of the historical events, key characters that influenced and shaped the boardwalk, and wonderful photos provide a rich and fascinating journey through time. If you have ever been to the boardwalk or plan on going there, read this book to fully appreciate the beauty of the boardwalk.

Do you enjoy the fun of an old-fashioned seaside holiday - strolling along the beach, splashing in salty waves, building sandcastles, sun and fresh breezes, suntan lotion and bathing suits, the thrill of the roller coaster and the romance of the carousel, dancing on warm summer nights ? Read this book, and you'll be transported back to the happy days when Santa Cruz was young, and you'll get to know the the people who made the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk the magical event it still is today.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: The Early Years -- Never A Dull Moment by the daughter-father writing team of Chandra Moira Beal and Richard A. Beal, is a captivating collection of black-and-white photographs and thoroughly researched records that combine to paint a magical picture of the Santa Cruze California board walk of yesteryear. A nostalgic, poignant, and engaging presentation packed with curious minutiae of detail, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is highly recommended -- especially to those of us old enough to have memories of our own of the boardwalk's simple beginnings as a wooden bathhouse on the beach and its evolution and transformation into a contemporary City of Santa Cruze-based multi-million dollar business operation.

It is hard to believe it has been nearly 20 years since Pan Am 103 was blown out of the sky over the tiny town of Lockerbie. Richard Marquise tells the inside and compelling story of the FBI's role in helping bring at least some of the terrorists to justice. It is intersting to review Pan Am 103 in the context of a 9/11 world: Today, law enforcement and intelligence agencies are focused on prevention rather than prosecution of terrorists.

But we see that in this case, not only were some of the (albeit lower level) terrorist brought to justice, but it's the only case I am aware of where a ruthless dictator eventully cried uncle, in no small part as a result of this investigation and prosecution. Gadaffi admited responsibility for PA 103, gave up nuclear weapons a few years later, and even recently agreed to pay millions of dollars to the victim's families to put this event behind Libya.

Because this is a fairly detailed and technical book, I would highly recommend it as a textbook for an upper level undergraduate, or even a graduate class in National Security Studies or International Relations.

I feel Richard presented an excellent review of the sequence of events that lead up to the terrorist act and an even better chronicling of the investigation following the disaster. His attention to detail and his understanding of the investigative and political complexities of a multi-agency effort made this a very interesting read. F Uteg

This is the true story of the international investigation of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988. It was written by the FBI agent who led the US task force formed to find the culprits in conjunction with Scottish police agencies. This behind the scenes look examines all the suspects, discusses the problems of these types of investigations and takes the reader into the investigation itself. The trial in the Netherlands is analyzed and there is much discussion how the results of this case relate to what is going on in the world today. Numerous lessons for law enforcement and intelligence agencies are learned. This book is a must for any law enforcement or intelligence professional today or anyone wanting to see what actually is involved in coordinating the largest international criminal investigation in history.

This is an intriguing insider's tale from the one American who could write it. Retired FBI executive Richard Marquise has traveled the world, teaching the intricacies of counterterrorism and major case investigation to law enforcement officials. In Scotbomb he brings his expertise to the general reader as well as criminal justice professionals. Scotbomb tells the story of a horrific crime. It is also the account of a group of international police officers who refused to leave an investigation over the course of many years. This is a "must read" for anyone involved in counterterrorism.

Marquise's work is important on three levels. Using practical insight, law enforcement skills, and investigative strategy, Marquise provides a step-by-step account for criminal investigators. Second, it is an excellent case study for criminal justice classes. (My students are using it to develop a training session on major case investigation.) Finally, and most importantly, Marquise has told the story with one group of people in mind, the families of Pan Am Flight 103. His compassion for the victims flows throughout the narrative.

As news networks and public attention jump from one terrorist attack to the next, Marquise stays focused on the victims of a single event in the past. The world may have forgotten their life-altering pain. Marquise has not.

There have been an array of books written about the tragedy of Pan Am flight 103. From bereaved families to conspiracy theorists, everybody has a theory with every theory being ultimately self-serving or just plain wrong. This book is an accurate and detailed book about the investigation of this case. Mr. Marquise was intimately involved in this investigation and provides an inside look to an extremely complex case involving multiple jurisdictions from different countries. Other authors seem to assume this investigation could be conducted like any investigation in the US. This is just not true and Mr. Marquise makes that very clear.

Richard Miller, a master of vocal technique, has produced a volume for every baritone/bass and voice teacher's library. This is a balanced work: practical exercises and physiological and scientific data.

Excellent book as are all the Richard Miller texts. It's been a long time coming and very welcome.

This is a wonderful resource for teaching the male voice. I highly recommend it to any who is either a teacher or those that are searching for their voice type.

This is a great work by a great vocal scholar. I studied this book in detail, and found it to be most helpful in my vocal studies. Although I am just a novice singer, I found Professor Miller to be very readable. I did, however, have to spend extra time studying the physiology terms, with which I was unfamiliar.

I found it useful to outline the key points in each chapter. I am including these as they may prove useful to other readers. Additionally, I found it helpful to prepare my own glossary of terms. There is also an excellent glossary toward the end of the book.

As one example of the benefit I received from this book, I followed Prof Miller's suggestion to watch some of the great baritone performances of past days. I found Leonard Warren's Largo al factotum absolutely enchanting. In addition, I especially appreciated the chapters on the "passaggios."

In sum, truly a great book. I'm delighted I purchased this book. Not too hard a read, and very rewarding--even to a novice singer.

CHAPTER THEMES:

1 Overview of bass/baritone classifications

2 Onset must be precise

3 Strive for silent, smooth breath renewal

4 Poor chiaroscuro balance due to maladjusted lips, tongue, jaw, or pharynx
Tongue misplacement is common error
Using hum helps sense resonance balance

5 'Strive to achive a stable, even scale. This requires:
(1) Increased vocal energy (not volume)
(2) Vowel modification, or cover (It."copertura")
Vowel modification is gradual mouth opening beginning at primo passagio, with
more at the secundo passagio.

6 Singer must develop ear towards uniformity. There isn't any one rule for vowel modification.
Middle voice (about A>D) is critical passage. Need gradual balance of timbre
Typically, vowel adjusted to be more rounded to reduce shrillness. Exception: u.

7 Agility depends on brief onset.
Best achieved by practicing short stacatto passages.

8 Not helpful to use imaginary ideas of resonance; instead, study actual physiology of voice.

9 Strive for stable larynx position, somewhat low.

10 Falsetto practice improves larynx flexibility.

11 Vibratto is normal effect and should as a rule be employed.
Vibratto suffers if pitch not precise at onset.

12 Technical security cures anxiety.
This confidence due to applying common tonal physiology + personal distinctives.
"Wisdom of the body" a composite of:
a) Feel: Natural grace, not methodology, should prevail.
b) Sound: We should listen both internally and externally.
c) Visual: Be aware of your facial expressions.

13 Over time, build your own tonal concept. This forms basis for all singing.
Important to listen to elite singers as examples

14 Gradual energization should be your goal.
Strive for consistent timbre at all dynamic levels.

15 Men need greater vowel modifiction and breath control when navigating passagio area

16 Strive for serene air, with just minor body shifts.
Helpful exercise: Farinelli breath exercise.
Don't inject nasality into singing.
Avoid strohbass (special larynx lowering.)
Avoid open voice--voce aperta. This may happen if vowel not modified at passagio.

17 Dedicated study, not raw talent is #1 factor in singing success.
Technical security cures anxiety.
Publicly perform only pieces completely mastered, thus building positive track record.
Text and music must be totally ingrained before performing.
Focus on artistic communication, away from self.
Traversing zona di passagio is challenging because energy level increases,
resistance to breath exit increases, and glottis closed-cycle increases over open cycle.
Use entire-body warm-up (about 20 min)
Success requires creating a "tonal ideal" that matches one's instrument.
This involves daily effort to achieve stable technique.
Artistic creativity CAN be nurtured.
Precisely know the meaning of the words in the text--not just vague familiarity.
Visualize the scenario as sharply as possible.
Strive to accurately portray the song's emotion.
During performance, occasionally look at different sections; make eye contact.
Daily regiment should include (after physical warm-up) technical points in this book.

18 Suggested material

19 For audition, use best piece first.
Realistically, young singers should seek small roles first.
Arias should be fully mastered, but actual performance should have "spark of immediacy."

As a performer and voice teacher/coach, I find anything by Richard Miller to be helpful. Although by necessity there is always a good deal in his books that I already know, it is always put in such a catching way that it revives the memory and makes it easier to communicate to students. And then there are those details that I dont know... invaluable.

Great tips for any public speaker regardless of the audience size. All of the lessons can be translated to the workplace and your personal life. These principles differ from traditional public speaking training items by giving more abstract advie so you actually understand how to present yourself more effectively.

This CD is packed with great tips and advice for public speaking. Whether someone is brand new to speaking, or a seasoned "pro", there is something for everyone here.

I particularly like the fact that the CD includes a lot of interactivity and gives the listener practical tools to practice what they are learning. Mr. Zeoli delivers his topic in a way that is very engaging and easy to understand.

I'd recommend this without hesitation!

Practical, straight-forward, effective...and easy to implement. A must-consider for those who make high-visibility presentations, and a great-to-have for all those who report to you, and from whom you expect clear, concise feedback on a daily basis.

The tenents presented with respect to Public Speaking can be applied to all aspects of intra-department communications. I believe this will help my staff attain reputations for being on top of subject matter, and become the pro-forma "go-to" authorities for our clients and senior-most management.

It is now part of our library, and we hope to bring Mr. Zeoli on-site for more intensive training to a wider audience.

Highly recommended.

I have never written a review on one of these sites. But this CD was so helpful, I felt I should.

This CD was easy to listen to and provided simple, practical advice. I recommend it to others.

Zeoli's audiobook distinguishes itself from any other product in this market in that it's purpose is not to simply teach the listener how to public speak in its most traditional form. What Zeoli is able to leave his audience with is an appreciation of how public speaking is inherent in all that we do. It's a skill that anyone can master and understanding and believing in the 7 principles will help get you there!

I highly recommend this product. Zeoli takes an entertaining and practical approach to delivering his message. All listeners, regardless of age or profession, will benefit.

In South Boston, defense attorney Marie Blackburn and her police officer spouse Taylor rescue their kidnapped seven year old niece Shaney. Taylor kills the abductor. A few days later, Taylor informs Marie they must hide as the kidnapper's cronies are coming to execute Shaney and her twin Sarah because they can identify them as the robbers of an armored truck containing millions. He also insists that he cannot trust his peers in blue as some mole inside tipped the bad guys.

The extended family flees to isolated Birch Lake, Maine, but on the way two thugs try to kill Marie, her nieces, and their mom. They make it to the family home, but the thieves are coming because they need to silence the siblings whose special gifts of seeing have turned into a nightmare.

This is an exciting thriller with a twist of an ending that will astonish most readers, but thinking back over the plot, Richard Wymes left clues for the reader to see what is coming (this reviewer failed at the obvious). Though one of the crazies to assault Marie and company seems too unstable for the pros coming after the women, the rest of the cast is solid especially the fears that the four females exude. Fans of terse action-packed thrillers with females in trouble story line will appreciate SILVER EYES, a fabulous thriller.

Harriet Klausner

The gist of this thriller is well-presented elsewhere in this book site, so I won't repeat it. Crime thriller story-telling at its best! This story captivates you......... be prepared to live with this one till you finish it!

John Mansour
Rochester, NY

Marie Blackburn is a defense attorney and her husband Taylor is a police officer. This book starts with Marie and her husband chasing the kidnapper who has her sister, Angela and her niece. Taylor kills the kidnapper and rescues her sister and niece.

Now you would think this was the ending instead of the beginning, but it isn't. This is a fast paced thriller that has more twists and turns than a mountain highway. Marie's twin nieces have second sight and have been helping the police in a crime of hijacking, which lead to the kidnapping of one of them and her mother. The perpetrators have discovered this talent of the twins and are after them.

Marie takes her sister, Angela and the twins to a remote cabin in northern Maine, hoping they will be safe there. Marie doesn't know who to trust, Taylor has informed her there is a leak in the police department. In trying to keep her sister and nieces safe, Marie has put her own life in danger.

Also, a million dollars is missing. The bad guys are desperate to keep its hiding place a secret from the police and they have to get to the twins to shut them up. Toss in increasing tension between Marie and her husband and a very twisted plot, you have a mystery that will keep you turning the pages. This is a must read for the mystery reader that likes a fast pace and many twists and turns.

Little Shaney and Sarah were special twins. They could see whatever the other was seeing. Their talent made some bad guys edgy though. So someone was coming to kill the little girls. No one knew WHO was coming or WHEN, only that someone was coming!

Marie Blackburn needed someplace safe to hide her sister, Angela, and her little nieces from the killer. They head to the wilderness of northern Maine. The entire trip would be spent looking over their shoulders and outwitting their pursuer.

An astounding thriller with a surprise ending! I HAD to see what was going to happen next, so I was up far into the night turning pages. Not many readers will figure this story's twist out. Recommended!

Little Shaney and Sarah were special twins. They could see whatever the other was seeing. Their talent made some bad guys edgy though. So someone was coming to kill the little girls. No one knew WHO was coming or WHEN, only that someone was coming!

Marie Blackburn needed someplace safe to hide her sister, Angela, and her little nieces from the killer. They head to the wilderness of northern Maine. The entire trip would be spent looking over their shoulders and outwitting their pursuer.

***** An astounding thriller with a surprise ending! I HAD to see what was going to happen next, so I was up far into the night turning pages. Not many readers will figure this story's twist out. Recommended! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch.

I wanted to read the book before my son (10) so I could see if it would interest him. I really loved this book. I enjoyed Nemo and Quasar's adventure so much that I now have to make sure to get the next book in the series (I will probably just get all three!) The stuff boys dream of in becomoming men. I look forward to reading this to my son and having him read it to me.

Mr. Grant definitely has a gift for writing! What an amazing book! Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. My mom was looking for me in the house and found me in my room with my nose buried in the book! Fortunately for me, it was over the weekend or else my schoolwork might have suffered! I enjoyed the interaction between the sons of Hiram and how loving they are towards each other. This book is great for anyone who loves adventure!
-Amanda

"We wish we were kids again and could listen to Richard Grant weave his stories to us in books, such as he did in the "Silverglade Series". He keeps the plot easy to follow, descriptive and ever-exciting as to what will happen next"

by Jackie and Fritz Ridenour
Santa Barbara, CA

Silverglade is a charming tale of friendship and adventure, superbly written and refreshingly simple. The story follows two friends as they begin to change from simple shepherds to mischievous adventurers. Readers of all ages will be able to easily identify with Nemo and Quasar and the different situations they find themselves in. I for one could not put the book down once I had started reading. Silverglade has a very C. S. Lewis feel to it, reminiscent of the Chronicles of Narnia. Mr. Grant has created a fine story, and I for one anxiously await his next!
James

What a great book! Richard Grant's book about Nemo and Quasar and the House of Hiram is the quintessential story for boys of just about any age! (Even for Dad's!)
However...I should emphasize that although the main characters are boys, my daughter loved this story just as much as any boy would! The sense of adventure, loyalty, and excitement is one that both girls and boys can relate to! As a matter of fact, my daughter Tori has read it more than once and she is 16 and a high school junior now! It's a wonderful, mysterious and exciting tale....and speaks for truth, loyalty and other important values we all want our children to know! It will be a classic. I'm hoping it will be a movie someday! Hurry hurry Mr. Grant, we're awaiting the next title in the series!!!
VICKI-SCOTT

I have many books about Sinatra and this is one of the best. Richard Havers put together a wonderful read. The book combines his music and life very well in a chronological format. There are some great pictures and sidebars about other events music and otherwise associated with the time frame you are currently reading.The research put into this gem is amazing.If you are a fan of Sinatra get this book. You won t be able to put it down!

To me, as someone who lived thru this era and read many books on Sinatra,
none has captured the essence of the man and the times he lived in as
Richard Havers has done. All aspects of Sinatra's life are discussed; the music,
the movies, the concerts and shows, his friends and his loves, good and bad,
in a fair, unbiased, nonjudgmental manner

This is a big book that contains a lot of information and pictures that you
will not find anywhere else. It can be read by casually leafing through the
pages and enjoying the sidebars and photos, or it can be read carefully from
beginning to end to reveal the real Sinatra. If you take the latter approach
you will not only better understand what made Sinatra tick, you will also
better understand the times he lived in.

This book was a delight from beginning to end, packed with useful biographical information. It also contains dozens of sidebars on every one of Frank's albums as well as supplementary sidebars giving historical context to Sinatra's life and work in the form of other artists, historical events, and his various arrangers and labels. The book is packed with photos, memorabilia, track lists--in fact, everything you need to know about the life and work of Sinatra. I think that this book, combined with Will Friedwald's 'The Song is You' are the two best books on Sinatra, and as a dedicated Frankophile, I've read many. Also evident in the book is the author's love of Sinatra and his music. The book is like a virtual Sinatra museum, one you can open and enjoy over and over at your convenience.
Five stars.

This is an amazing book that lets you see Mr. Sinatra through the early days of his childhood, to what would become the ultimate legend...I was never into this kind of music but after listening to the wonderfully composed scores of music and lyrics, you cant help but become an avid fan of his. Through the good and the bad you see something everyone should strive for, the high expectation for ones self in whatever they do as he did and beautifully executed with class....I've discovered Frank Sinatra and I am definately Flying to the moon!!

His voice, his style, a trip into the past. Ole Blue Eyes we will never forget him. For all old and new fans this book is a treasure indeed.