Ross Books

The seller's performance in the timely shipping and condition of the book were excellent. I have not read the book as yet, but I'm sure that it's an informative and interesting read. That's why I purchased the book.
A. P. Bushey
East Longmeadow, MA

The world remembers swashbuckling Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton as a selfless leader who would do anything for his men. But this tale of the hardships suffered by his support crew paints a different picture of Shackleton - a charismatic and courageous figure, yes, but also a man whose disorganization and carelessness wasted the lives, health, loyalty and courage of half his party. Three members of Shackleton's Ross Sea party died while leaving supplies of food that Shackleton never used. Historian Kelly Tyler-Lewis uses the survivors' journals and interviews with their families to chronicle the Ross Party's relationships and sacrifices in compelling detail, illuminating the missteps and mismanagement that caused the expedition to go awry. We recommend this study to managers who want examples of how to respond - and how not to respond - in a crisis.

Both sucessful and failed feats of courage are lauded by literature. Many have heard (and read) of the failed expedition of Ernest Shackleton to cross Antarctica. Shackletom failed to even reach the continent, as his ship, the Endurance failed to reach land.

Less well known is the story of the Ross Sea Party -- the group charged with laying in supplies that Shackleton would need as he crossed the pole and returned northward. This book tells the saga of the poorly funded "other half" of the planned expedition.

Focusing more on the shore party, rather than on the shipboard party on the Aurora, the book details the mistakes that were made in the first summer attempt to stock the depots, where Macintosh drove the sled dogs to death and made very little progress, to the stranding of the shore party at the end of the first summer when they were not picked up by the ship.

Presuming the ship lost, and wondering if a rescue would even be attempted during WWI, the 10 men were determined to do the job they were sent to do and proceeded through all odds to strive to lay the depots that Shackleton would never need.

Kelly Tyler-Lewis examines the physical and mental struggles of the shore party including their deep divisions over leadership styles. Culled from the diaries of the expedition, she has weaved a gripping tale of man's struggle against incredible odds.

This book is quite a gripping story both in based in tragedy and triumph.
I saw the PBS special on the Shackleton Journey, but many times, like this, the book is much better.
The book was highly researched and vividly written describing the many astonishing moments of the expedition.
It was a ten-man journey the relies heavily on personal journals about some happy moments and some very terrible times. It goes into detail about the decreasing health of the journeymen and stuggles with scurvey, frostbite, snow blindness and the horrible mental and emotional anguish that many sucumb to on this dangerous 1330-mile mission to Antarctica.

The attractive front-cover design is the first indication of the quality of this work, which is well researched and written and a thoroughly engrossing read. Highly recommended.

A stunning book. I felt like I knew every single person. I understood what drove them. I loved that! Having lived in Jamaica for seven years, I felt the author captured the sights, smells and sounds of a beautiful country and a resilient people. Mavis's story sang the blues for all women who've lived at the edge of abundance they couldn't touch. The women in London lived out the legacy of a struggle they didn't understand. Doing the very best they could with the wisdom, knowledge and understanding they have. Learning, changing and growing through each experience. It's a book about victory, even when it doesn't look they way we thought it would. Ross has a powerful writer's voice; one we will hear well in the new millenium.

At first the book starts out a bit slow, but afterwards, you just cannot put it down. Being Jamaican and having spent 6 months in London, made me appreciate the book even more, the language, the symbolisms, etc. It is funny and sad at the same time, but there's definitely a lesson to be learnt at the end of the day.

This is one of the best books I have ever read in my life. Ms. Ross shaped her characters into people that I feel like I actually know. I think I've read this book four times now and everytimes is as enjoyable as the first.

The characters made this novel for me - they were so real. I also enjoyed the humour that permeated throughout. I love books with a twist at the end and this novel did not disappoint. It was a fun read.

Loved this book! This story was one breath away from being real. It's truly amazing how the author so accurately described each character and their situations, yet leaving you with just enough room for you imagination to visualize the story. I literally got pulled into the world of these women of strength, intelligence, humor and imperfection. I found myself reading at every chance, between classes, breaks and yes between every bite at lunch. When you read the book, you will find yourself a favored character and will refuse to put the book down. I believe the author has done an excellent job of exposing readers to a taste of Jamaican life. So I will say it again, and you will too. LOVED THIS BOOK!

Immense credit must be given to Dr. Gaines-Ross who bravely and successfully takes on, notwithstanding the post Enron anti-CEO environment, the hypersensitive issue of CEO reputation. Yes, agrees Gaines-Ross, being a high profile, ego obsessed CEO is asking for trouble and is to be avoided like the plague. She refuses, however, to engage in the now fashionable tendency toward unrestrained CEO bashing, preferring instead a reasoned, astute and carefully researched analysis of the CEO's role.

While adding her voice to those who deride media hyped personalities, what she refers to as big "C" Celebrity CEOs, she cautions that old fashioned leadership is still desirable. When engaged in by talented CEOs, it may, indeed should, lead to the creation of an executive persona. Such a persona need not require media exposure and is entirely compatible with sound corporate practice. Such persona bearing CEOs are small "c" celebrated CEOs, who "by dint of strong leadership, discriminating vision, force of character and other admirable traits become celebrated by their employees, their industry, their peers, and occasionally (though not necessarily) even the media for jobs well done."

Gaines-Ross' book amounts to a much needed, intellectually honest warning not to let the anti-CEO backlash go too far. Refusing to jump blindly onto the anti-CEO bandwagon as have so many business pundits, she stresses that executive leadership is still necessary and if effectively and ethically rendered is something which should not be hidden under the rug but promoted openly. In pursuing the cause of sound, old fashioned corporate leadership, she lays out a roadmap, based on original research, on how CEOs may repair their reputations, stressing among other things the need to communicate internally, build a management team, develop a thematic stamp and a vision.

She deserves immense praise not only for her honest appraisal of the role of CEOs in today's business environment but also for presenting an immensely practical and useful format on how to lead ethically, energetically and effectively.

A major, original addition to the literature on leadership and reputation ... no doubt about it.

Immense credit must be given to Dr. Gaines-Ross who bravely and successfully takes on, notwithstanding the post Enron anti-CEO environment, the hypersensitive issue of CEO reputation. Yes, agrees Gaines-Ross, being a high profile, ego obsessed CEO is asking for trouble and is to be avoided like the plague. She refuses, however, to engage in the now fashionable tendency toward unrestrained CEO bashing, preferring instead a reasoned, astute and carefully researched analysis of the CEO's role.

While adding her voice to those who deride media hyped personalities, what she refers to as big "C" Celebrity CEOs, she cautions that old fashioned leadership is still desirable. When engaged in by talented CEOs, it may, indeed should, lead to the creation of an executive persona. Such a persona need not require media exposure and is entirely compatible with sound corporate practice. Such persona bearing CEOs are small "c" celebrated CEOs, who "by dint of strong leadership, discriminating vision, force of character and other admirable traits become celebrated by their employees, their industry, their peers, and occasionally (though not necessarily) even the media for jobs well done."

Gaines-Ross' book amounts to a much needed, intellectually honest warning not to let the anti-CEO backlash go too far. Refusing to jump blindly onto the anti-CEO bandwagon as have so many business pundits, she stresses that executive leadership is still necessary and if effectively and ethically rendered is something which should not be hidden under the rug but promoted openly. In pursuing the cause of sound, old fashioned corporate leadership, she lays out a roadmap, based on original research, on how CEOs may repair their reputations, stressing among other things the need to communicate internally, build a management team, develop a thematic stamp and a vision.

She deserves immense praise not only for her honest appraisal of the role of CEOs in today's business environment but also for presenting an immensely practical and useful format on how to lead ethically, energetically and effectively.

A major, original addition to the literature on leadership and reputation ... no doubt about it.

We have all been witness to the lionisation, and thereafter, the demonisation of CEOs.

As we watched some of the finest corporate reputations bite the dust, we also became acutely aware that there is no 'secret sauce' to brew a fine reputation. Yet there are some basic principles that apply and that is what this book sheds light on.

CEO Capital is not about impression management or building personality cults. Nor is it a simple 1-2-3 recipe for assembling a chief executive's reputation. It is for serious business professionals who recognise and honour the immensity of the chief executive's job, especially in today's complex business environment.

Over the past few years, Burson-Marsteller has contributed significantly to the body of knowledge through a series of research studies looking at CEO reputation and its contribution to broader corporate reputation. Those studies have found a significant - and growing - correlation between the credibility of the chief executive and reputation of his or her organisation.

The principal architect of that research is Leslie Gaines-Ross, B-M's chief knowledge officer, who joined the firm after serving as director of marketing and communication at Fortune magazine, where she was closely involved in the publication's Most Admired Corporations research.

In the book, Gaines-Ross builds on Burson's research and lays out a roadmap for CEOs who understand the increasing importance of both personal and institutional credibility. CEO reputation, according to this book, is dependent upon three 'C' factors -credibility, code of ethics, and communicating internally - and two 'M' factors - attracting and retaining a quality management team and motivating and inspiring employees.

So important are the CM factors that each one surpassed even wealth creation in importance according to the 2001 Burson-Marsteller study, she writes. Evidently, financial performance is important, but simply not enough.

Gaines-Ross makes a compelling case that building CEO capital is not about ego, but about good, old-fashioned leadership. And she shows that it has payoffs for the organisation. But before embarking on what Gaines-Ross calls "the CEO capital model of building reputation," the CEO must buy into the importance of building his or her personal credibility.

The most practical section of the book, based upon B-M's 'Seasons of a CEO' research, provides a roadmap for a new CEO seeking to build credibility inside and outside the organisation.

That task begins in the countdown period, before he or she takes office. The countdown is a time to cherish -a time when a CEO may quietly plan for the future, contact key shareholders, research the company, and do all those innumerable tasks for which there will be so little time later, says Gaines-Ross.

The first 100 days of a CEO's tenure are critical, and a time when the focus should be inward rather than on external audiences.

The media should be low on the list of priorities for a new CEO during the first 100 days, says Gaines-Ross. Media exposure without full opportunity to gain a thorough understanding of corporate workings is an invitation to disaster.

As the first year progresses, the focus slowly shifts. The CEO must establish a unique corporate persona in which the CEO's every action and deed reflects in some way the corporate values the CEO wishes to advance and the vision the CEO wishes to instil.

The first step is to engage in what Gaines-Ross calls "intense learning," from customers, from analysts, from alumni, from employees. Then, she says, CEOs can cultivate a persona, establishing those values that will drive the company, articulating a code of ethics.

The second year of a CEO's tenure can be even more challenging because this is when the change really gets binding and the stakeholders, including the board of directors, start to expect real, measurable results.

The CEO needs to demonstrate the company's new strategic vision, put stakeholders at ease - show them both financial results and a unified management team - and start to plan for the future.

The CEO also needs to demonstrate what Gaines-Ross calls thought leadership, something that "distinguishes and differentiates a company from its competitors... Thought leadership often breaks with business or industry convention, astonishes if not startles. Thought leadership reflects on the company and builds CEO capital."

Gaines-Ross ends the book with two appeals. The first is for a longer CEO timetable. B-M's research has shown that all stakeholders expect more of CEOs, and faster. But "the trend toward increasingly shorter CEO tenures is undermining business productivity and focus," says Gaines-Ross.

"Fewer CEOs seem to make it past the five-quarter mark and even fewer beyond their three-year anniversary. Such instability irrevocably and adversely affects a company's reputation and destiny. Chief executive departures have substantially adverse consequences, affecting too many employees, customers, partners, and investors." The second appeal is related, a call for a longer-term view.

This is substantial addition to the literature of our profession, a manifesto supported by compelling original research and informed by intelligent, sympathetic analysis. It is also a rare book about public relations that preaches not to the choir but to the choirmasters.

(The reviewer is Principal and Founder, Genesis Public Relations, India)

Until I read this book I did not realize the importance of communicating the 'how','why', 'when' of each executive decision. Given the crisis environment dominating corporate America today, I think CEOs need to add another word to their title and become chief executive and communications officers. Without communicating and finding their voice as leaders, I think CEOs will have a hard time earning public trust. This book provides a great blue print for understanding the commotion we read about in the papers.

In CEO Capital, Leslie Gaines-Ross has written an insightful and enlightening book for those who want to increase the positive visibility and reputation of their CEO. It is a surprise to this reviewer that more books have not been written on the subject of how to master the art of building your reputation when both your own personal future and corporate future may be resting on it.

The celebrity hungry society of today looks to corporate movers and shakers especially the CEO as icons of a particular company. Think about Lee Iacocca, Jack Welch, Richard Branson, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs to mention just a few. How much of your opinion of these companies (and notice I don't even have to mention which companies they run/ran) is based on your perceived image of the CEO? The phrase `you are your company' has never been more true, especially in the post Enron & Arthur Anderson world. How has your opinion of Enron changed now that you know more about Jeff Skilling and Andrew Fastow? Despite any fraud at Enron being committed by the few and not the masses of the organization, our entire perception of Enron has shifted to the iconic few.

Part I of CEO Capital is a contextual look at CEO capital: what it is, where it comes from and how it can be built. Gaines-Ross draws us in by looking at the CEO Effect by citing some examples as far back as 1985 starting with Roberto Goizueta, then CEO of Coca-Cola and the whole `New Coke' revolt, that could have been a fatal disaster for the company. But Goizueta, trading on his CEO capital, not only avoided being removed but was able to bring the company back even stronger.

Part II is most interesting and is centered on the five stages postulated in the CEO capital model which take you by the hand, and step by step go through best practices (ed: hate that term but in this situation it is apt), principles and linkages to factors affecting the building of CEO capital. As the book says, `the reader may be left with the impression that the stages read almost like a manual on how to lead a company. This perception is quite acceptable and entirely reasonable because nothing is more conducive to building CEO capital than building a strong, high-performing company. Any similarity between the two is entirely intentional.' Which is indeed how it reads, but in doing so, broadens the scope of the content to be relevant to a wider audience of business managers and executives who may not be leading Fortune 500 type companies (yet!). In fact, they may be the very leaders who will gain most from this book, since they are not too arrogant to learn and may gain the most from any capital building opportunities presented to them.

Chapters in the book include guidance on the Countdown (the time before the CEO-elect takes office), the First One Hundred days and the First Year, and then of course the second year in office which is always much harder than the first.

Gaines-Ross has written a truly pioneering work - overall an excellent book on a little-written about subject. The book is practically written and you should not let its somewhat `user manual' style detract you from putting its advice into action. Recommended for CEOs and CEOs to-be of all sized companies, as well as other corporate officers and marketing/PR professionals who may guide along the process.

Julia Gorin has put together a collection of the most hilarious utterances of Bill and Hillary Clinton. And yes, at this point in time Barack "Barry" Obama has essentially pushed them out of the spotlight. Nonetheless, one should never conclude that the Clintons will disappear into the pages of the history books. The odds are that John MCain will be a one term president---and Senator Clinton will be back in 2012. Please read Ms. Gorin's book and be prepared for her return. If nothing else, your funny bone will be tickled in the process.

While there are many delightful quotes and humorous headlines in Julia Gorin's book, there is also an undercurrent of seriousness throughout because Hillary Clinton is running for the highest office in the land. When you are reminded of her past statements as presented in Clintonisms, it is undeniable clear that she and her husband are liars who will do and say anything to get what they want. No way should either of them get anywhere near the Oval office again even for a visit. I strongly recommend this book to any campaign looking for ammunition against Billary. The Clinton administration was a stain on out country's history. Let's not repeat it.

One of the most polarizing political families in American politics today is that of the husband and wife team of former President Bill Clinton and his wife, the current Illinois Senator Hillary Clinton. The notoriety of these Democratic Party icons has been exacerbated with Hillary's current pitched political battle for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency being waged against fellow Democratic Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama. All that the Obama (and the Republican McCain) campaign personnel need by way of background research material to point out past foibles, follies, and questionable conduct of Hillary Clinton and her husband/political partner Bill, is to be found within the 130 pages of "Clintonisms: the Amusing, Confusing, And Suspect Musings Of Billary". Compiled by Julia Gorgin, readers are treated to a wealth of such infobits as Hillary's observations regarding the Whitewater scandal, "If we did something improper, ;then how come we lost money?", or Bill 'I did not have sex with that woman' opining that "The road to tyranny, we must remember, begins with the destruction of the truth.". While Bill and Hillary's direct quotations are plentiful, "Clintonisms" also features a wealth of comments by other concerning this American couple such as the comment by Jim McDougal (deceased former Clinton business partner) that "I just got sick and tired of lying for the fella. "Clintonisms" is especially recommended reading for anyone, Democrat, Republican, or Independent, not wanting to relive the turmoil and torment of the Clinton White House years with 'Billary" back in charge.

As a Hillary supporter from New York, I bought this book with every intention to pick it apart... But then it started to make me laugh. The funny thing is I actually finished the book understanding more about Bill and Hillary's rise to power. I often take my politics too seriously, and this humorous account was a welcome change of pace. I consider Clintonisms to be essential subway reading.

To read Julia Gorin's "Clintonisms. The Amusing, Confusing, and Suspect Musings of Billary" is to be transported back to the time of the Clinton presidency. With no time off for good behavior.

In those days, anyone still able to make bail camped out by their mailbox for the next edition of "The American Spectator." Month after month, we could read there the most amazing stories of people who had by some cosmic joke come to control the civil and military power of the federal government of the United States. Though two highly intelligent people with law degrees from Yale, no less, Bill and Hillary Clinton were, it became clear, individuals suited instead to careers as Demolition Derby drivers. For eight years, we reveled in the spectacle of their going after ideological and legal enemies as they would have had they been behind the wheel, respectively, of a 1963 Studebaker Wagonaire and a 4-door 1959 DeSoto Sportsman Friday evenings in Conway, Arkansas.

Julia Gorin has made a careful compilation of the Clintons' own words with her own witty commentary and some great lines from Saturday Night Live, Dennis Miller, and Jay Leno, among others. It is a crystal clear a picture of two limited people whose inner compasses were so bent they should have gotten no closer to the White House than the second window of the Hot Springs McDonalds.

Our natural temptation is to think that any resident of the White House and his wife are pretty much like the previous ones. Probably, we hope that the electoral process winnows out poseurs, flaneurs, gamblers, climbers, and others living principle-free lives. Maybe we even think that that process identifies and disqualifies people who seek the office of Commander in Chief but who have actual contempt for the nation's armed forces. Perhaps, too, we are tempted to believe that even if the scrutinizing powers of the electorate are inadequate to the task of choosing the national leaders, a glib sex addict taking a seat in the Oval Office would somehow be elevated to a higher level of conduct and consciousness by the enormity of the privilege bestowed and responsibility encountered.

Little prepared the nation for a man who viewed being president as great way to get laid.

Gorin reminds us of the reigning spirit of the Age of Clinton -- astonishment. How, we could only wonder, could two such people have risen to the top of American politics when their only motivation was to advance their private interests by any expedient means? If there had been anything noble in their thinking in Arkansas times, it must surely have been confiscated by Customs at the Tennessee border.

It is hard to describe a vacuum. How many different ways can you say "not much there"? Gorin's solution has been to present the Clintons in their own words, rather like searching for a ghost in the attic by using neon spray paint. Page after page, we are immersed in iteration of and variants on Bill's now-immortal scholastic musings upon the verb "to be," conduct that would embarrass Al Sharpton, and interspousal communication that would blister paint.

Gorin fails only in that she sheds no light at all on the 1992-2000 suspension of the laws of physics that allowed (a) law firm billing records to materialize in the Clinton bungalow, (b) Vince Foster to float from the parking lot of Ft. Marcy Park to his nearby "locus terminatio," and (c) and female breasts spontaneously to spring from their place of confinement into the presidential hand. Surely experts could have been consulted.

If we overlook this omission, Gorin's keen intelligence, dry wit, and comedienne's gift for language conspire to bring us a great book. "Clintonisms" is an instructive read -- however bereft of inspiration and uplift it might be -- that is best savored four or five pages at a time or produced at dinner parties to refresh fading memories of truly bizarre times.

As Hillary's hopes revive in the wake of the revelations about Obama's 20-year power nap in the pews of the Church of the Holy Fever, it's also something to peruse on the eve of the general election in November. It will re-alert you to (a) her modest but "burning desire to do what I can" in aid of "remaking . . . the American way of politics, government, indeed life" and (b) what a crazy mistake it would be to give her an opportunity to try.

Your own body can cure itself of disease and Dr Ross is giving you the tools to work with in finding the root cause of any problem. Read this book and then re-read it as often as you wish. Step by step you can achieve the vibrant health and energy you were meant to have. If you are already healthy and well you certainly want to stay that way and prevent any disease from occuring in the future. I am fortunate to know Dr. Ross and have been a patient of his for several years. I am 66 years old and I feel better now then I have ever felt. Thank you Dr. Ross for your wonderful book and inspiration that it brings.

Dr. Steven Ross is an expert in the field of functional diagnostic medicine and is a knowledgeable, compassionate practitioner. His book, Curing the Cause & Preventing Disease, is highly informative. During a time when more and more people are interested in establishing true health, this book is a welcome and timely perspective on how to obtain that.

"Curing the Cause and Preventing Disease" is a book that everyone should read. It is easy to read and follow, and it is full of information that I have never read before. By applying this book towards my life and health habits, I feel better and have more energy than before. At the same time, I have not had to give up on the things I enjoy. The instructions are easy to follow and apply at the same time.

It is a MUST read for everyone.

This book is my first introduction to Functional Diagnostic Medicine. Dr. Ross really makes understanding this amazing new science easy. I enjoy thinking outside the box when it comes to my health. If you want a new approach to your own health, buy this good and easy read.

This book is a must read! If you are interested in becoming healthier or dealing with a health challenge then Dr. Ross's book is a great resource. It's written in a way were you can take immediate action in your own life and implement numerous proven methods to "Curing and Preventing Disease." This book is not only easy to read but Dr. Ross has managed to take complicated issues and put them in terms that we can fully understand. I plan on reading this book again to get every once of info out of it I can!

I have a 6 month old American Pit Bull and the day I got "Cross" is the day I also started reading this book. Today he is a trust worthy and obedient dog. What Ross does is breaks down how you train the dog and also gives you an insight into why your puppy or dog does what they do. ANYONE who has a dog should read this book.

Dog Obedience Training by Ross Allan is an excellent book for anyone seeking serious advice on training their dog. It is clear, concise and easy to follow with a step by step process outlined for each exercise along with wonderful colour photos demonstrating the correct handling procedure. I have used Ross Allan's training methods on my own two dogs and have achieved the desired results when all other avenues have failed. The years of experience and dedication to dog obedience training by the author have produced what I consider to be the best book available for everyone from beginners to the more advanced dog handler. I have witnessed Ross Allan's methods work time and time again and thoroughly recommend this book to anyone in need of guidance with the training of their canine companion.

This book made me and our puppy "Cross" a great puppy at 6 months and he is an American Pit Bull. At 7 weeks I got "Cross" and the same day I got the book. I started right away with the training Ross tells you about step by step. The hardest part like he tells you is to have yourself stay in tune with what you are doing. If you do....well my dog is great. A playfull, trust worthy dog. If you own a dog - YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK. It makes you and the dog live in harmony.

Thanks Ross

With this book,Ross Allan has proven once again,his expertise in the art of Dog Obedience Training.An easy to read and comprehensive guide to obtaining a great relationship with your Dog as well as valuable information on health and diet. Ross has helped me many times with his knowledge in this field and I recommend this book to anyone wishing a happy and healthy dog.

In 1972 Ross Allan was an Airforce Legend, the best of the best, a Top Gun, Dux in his field, and now this living legend quietly trains dogs in sunny Queensland "only an hour away from where last century this man made Airforce history". It almost sounds like a Hollywood Blockbuster and possibly one day, it might be because Ross Allan is as much part of Australian Airforce history as was William (Bill) Perrett the founding father of the RAAF Police Dog Mustering. This 'man', Ross Allan graced our industry and is without doubt, the best independent dog trainer Australia has ever seen.

Ross Allan's legacy will never again be repeated. Never before has the guts, determination and natural ability of one person been seen in any of Australia's Armed Forces, Police, Corrections, Security, or Customs. This magnificent 'man' has for many years been undersold.

All of Ross Allan's experience, techniques and methodolgy have been captured in his book 'Dog Obedience Training'. This book is the most significant tool you can own if you train dogs! Ross Allan, you are a true Australian icon and the Royal Australian Airforce (RAAF) salutes you, a living legend...... Will you one day return to where it all began?

Your book has given a high profile to the mustering and dog training in this country. You are a true ambassador and master craftsman. Good luck my friend!

There is no such thing as a bad Ross MacDonald novel, but while this is good, it isn't typical of his best work. MacDonald's Lew Archer novels are correctly judged to be the great successor works to the great stories and novels of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. Together the three writers constitute the Great Triumvirate of the American hardboiled school. While MacDonald doesn't write prose quite as brilliant or memorable as his two predecessors, he created characters of greater depth and complexity. He also wrote a larger quantity of great novels than either Hammett or Chandler.

Despite all this, THE DROWNING POOL does not stand out very far from what Hammett and Chandler had achieved and it did not really put on display MacDonald's later innovations. If there is a theme running through MacDonald's best books like THE CHILL or THE INSTANT ENEMY or THE MOVING TARGET is it this: "The sins of the fathers will be visited unto the second and third generations." In almost all of his mature novels Lew Archer starts off investigating some incident in the present that ends up having roots 20 or 30 or 40 years earlier. His novels always puts me in mind of Yeats's "Leda and the Swan," where the rape of Leda by Zeus in the form of a swan inevitably leads to the tragedy of the Trojan war: "A shudder in the loins engenders there/The broken wall, the burning roof and tower/And Agamemnon dead." There is an intricate causality in the Archer novels. Things happen not because of anything happening right here and now, but in almost foreordained fashion because of actions in a previous generation. THE DROWNING POOL has a smidgen of this, but not much. The causality developed here is the later view of causality in embryonic form.

The amazing thing is that even though this is not quite as breathtaking as later MacDonald novels, it is still absolutely first rate. Ironically, this is one of his best-known novels, even if it isn't one of his very best. The reason is easy to identify: it was made into a movie starring Paul Newman. In fact, though MacDonald is clearly one of the Big Three hardboiled writers, unlike Hammett and Chandler -- both of whose novels have been turned into several great films -- MacDonald's books simply do not lend themselves to conversion to movies. Paul Newman did play Lew Archer as Harper in two movies, but they were not of the same quality as the best films based on Hammett and Chandler books. HARPER was a film version of THE MOVING TARGET, so both the title and the main character underwent a name change. Unbelievably, MacDonald's best book -- and one of the two or three greatest hardboiled novels ever written -- THE CHILL has never been made into a movie. The film that is closest to the world of Lew Archer has no connection to any novel by MacDonald, Roman Polanski's CHINATOWN, which is much closer to MacDonald in spirit than to either Hammett or Chandler.

Still, this is must read MacDonald. His books would get better, but that isn't to say that this isn't a good, even a great, novel.

Of all the classic heroes in hard-boiled fiction (Spade, Marlowe, etc.) I've always found Lew Archer to be my favorite. Maybe it's because MacDonald does such a superlative job illustrating Archer's flaws, doubts and shortcomings. Rather than some iron-jawed superhero, he's a compellingly complex person whose battered conscience ultimately makes him more heroic. Many readers consider The Drowning Pool to be the best Archer book and it's hard to argue that contention. If pressed, I might rank The Way Some People Die just a little bit higher, but both books are so good it's stupid to quibble. I haven't read The Barbarous Coast yet, but look forward to diving in soon.. and afterward I might have to revise my opinion regarding Archer's best case once again.

A different Lew Archer here than THE BLUE HAMMER Lew Archer. The tone is in TDP is more gritty and hardboiled. Lew is less the romantic toward the ladies he meets. I like Macdonalds' writing in TDP. A less polished and more direct style has its appeal. There's less psychological development of the characters, more emphasis on plot.

I hesitate to call this a classic because some people consider "classics" as dull and out-dated. And there's nothing dull or out-dated here (well, maybe that paying $10 to be driven from Las Vegas to L. A. is a bit out of date).

Archer's hired to discover who sent his client's husband a letter accusing her of infidelity. Introduced to the family and friends at a party as a Hollywood agent, he is sensitive to the growing tension and explosive atmosphere. The reader knows of course that somebody's going to be murdered, but these early chapters are among the most skillfully written to build suspense that I've ever read.

Written in 1950, the inclusion of a homosexual couple was quite daring although there is not graphic description, and isn't significant enough a factor of the plot to either offend or attract a reader.

Read this and I'm sure you'll find it on your own list of crime classics.

In this skillfully written tale of murder and intrigue, Ross MacDonald manages to "out Chandler" Raymond Chandler. It's Southern California, circa 1950, and hardboiled detective Lew Archer finds himself traversing the same landscapes Chandler's Philip Marlowe does in The Big Sleep, High Window and The Long Goodbye.
The plot of The Drowning Pool is complex enough to be interesting without being convoluted or forced. Greed, blackmail, homosexuality and family dysfunction all play roles in advancing the nicely paced narrative. Thrown in for good measure are seductive women, a number of action scenes and a Lolita like teenager named Cathy.
MacDonald's very descriptive prose is quite effective. And there's plenty of memorable dialogue. My personal favorite: "Your reminiscences fascinate me. May I take notes?"
You'd be hard pressed to find a more satisfying example of noir crime writing. An enthusiastic 5 stars.

Ross Bishop has been there and back again. He's taken the hits, wound up in the ditches, and seen the high side, all for a price: to find his way along the path. In his case a path that led him to discover that he is a natural healer, a shaman.

To our good fortune he is also one of those compassionate beings that realizes that spreading the word of what he learned helps us all and the planet we so precariously live on.

Ross has a knack for explaining things, always a helpful attribute. Our Universe is complex, a gazillion learning experiences happening simultaneously, all guiding us along our path. We sometimes need help along this path and Journey To Enlightenment can fill this need.

A wealth of information is offered to us in this book. Some of it the kind one must go over several times to ingest. I noticed right from the start that this is going to become an importance reference book in a lot of people's lives. To his benefit, Ross has endowed this book with an easy to follow format: principles we can gather and begin to assimilate and an index to help us find our way back to particularly meaningful bits.

I am always delighted when authors pull quotes from knowledgeable sources and then expound on them or use them to guide us to an important junction. Ross calls on the likes of Ghandi, Rumi, Ramana Maharshi, Juan Ramon Jimenez, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, and Black Elk to name just a few. He uses stories where they do a particularly good job of illustrating his point. The best of these being Steve Job's infamous, "Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish" commencement address at Stanford.

So, where can this book take it's readers? Pretty much anywhere you want to go, but most importantly to find what Bishop calls the God Space. The work involved is not easy, and it will take time. But as you work thru his suggestions and exercises dealing with your inner child, entities that may have attached themselves to you or past lives that need to be visited you will little by little, or in astonishing leaps find your way. Remember, as Principle No. One states LOVE EVERYTHING. Just imagine how far that could take you towards your own personal God Space.

Reviewed by Irene Watson for RebeccasReads (3/08)

Ross Bishop is a natural shaman that writes from the heart and his truth. He says "No matter how you slice it, it's about compassion. Certainly about compassion for others, but mostly it is about compassion for yourself." He couldn't be much closer to the truth. Bishop explains in "Journey to Enlightenment" being compassionate toward oneself, letting go of limiting beliefs, acceptance of challenges in life and steps on what to do about them. According to Bishop, understanding why we created the beliefs and challenges is the first step to enlightenment.

However, as Bishop explains, this is not an easy task. He quotes Carl Jung "He who looks outside, dreams. He who looks inside, awakens." Dreaming is easy but wakening is often a task we consider as being difficult. Bishop talks about awakening and why we struggle against it. According to Bishop, our inner child is usually damaged due to parental dysfunctional behaviors as well as disharmony within the environment - home and outside influences. Changing our pictures and rewriting the scripts, combined with resolution is the first step to awakening. Bishop contends we "came to Earth to resolve" the issues.

Bishop further challenges us, when we are worried, upset, or have "problems" we "take a deep breath and recognize that this is not occurring as punishment, or because we are unworthy, or that we are messed-up. It is happening because we need to learn to open our heart." He feels this is an opportunity that presented itself to us to learn how to open up our heart. However, we can choose to take it as an opportunity or we can wallow in our issues and feel sorry for ourselves, usually getting nowhere but deeper in our "stuff" and further away from enlightenment.

Bishop explains that according to traditional concepts blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint issues, or cancer are systemic illnesses. According to non-traditional healers these are just "natural progressions from unhealed psychic or emotional disturbances." This is where Bishop comes is, as a healer in non-traditional means. "Journey to Enlightenment" not only explains why we have challenges but Bishop gives the process of awakening through a "journey" of an ancient shamanic healing process (in a Western concept.) But, he doesn't just leave you there; he explains how to deal with issues that manifested during the process and move past the obstacle stage to awakening and enlightenment.

I give Ross Bishop's book, "Journey to Enlightenment" a resounding YES! Being a student of the enlightenment process myself, I've read many books and attended many workshops. I've even facilitated workshops and retreats myself. From my personal experience, I must say this is one of the most concise, yet simple books I have come across. Bishop writes with extraordinary precision, giving the readers the opportunity to look at their own beliefs and interferences in a gentle way while bringing an end result of compassion to oneself and enlightenment.

According to Shaman Ross Bishop, "Enlightenment may not be as unreachable as you think." In his important book, Journey to Enlightenment, Bishop provides readers with a new way to view their life experiences as well as recommendations to reconnect with "God space." Readers are given concrete techniques for addressing "obstacles" on the path to enlightenment. Bishop encourages readers to live a life of compassion rather than fear and encourages readers to make their spiritual growth the most important thing in their lives. Bishop presents 13 core principles as a guide to finding one's way to the Divine. Among these principles are: Love everything or it will become a lesson. Bishop also provides specific exercise to work and heal the inner child as well as information about healing ritual with the Shamanic Journey Process. The book is a fantastic resource readers are sure to refer to as they advance on their pathway to enlightenment.

This book truly allows you to "see the light." I was fascinated with Ross's background with him being in the Advertising field and he is now a Shaman! This is my hope for others to take a look at their journey and figure out if it is the right one for them. He was led kicking and screaming onto his new path, what a way to go!! We should all be so lucky to have his wonderful insites on the how to of this journey of enlightenment. You will not be disappointed with his easy to understand and helpful suggestions to encourage you on your spiritual path. Happy Journeys!

This 248 page journey into self love was a great treat to review. The format was easy to follow and I fell totally in love with the author's compassionate down to earth style. It was so comfortable it was like sitting with my best friend and mentor discussing the road map to enlightenment over a cup of tea. I was energized and comforted all at the same time.

The book touched on many areas that I have found sticking points through out my life and then proceeded through personal stories and great insights to give me a way out of my pain and the blocks that have held me back for so long. There was a meditation that really helped me get more in touch with my spiritual self and I was amazed how simple it was to accomplish. I would recommend this awesome teacher to anyone serious about reaching to the light in a more focused and supported way. Thanks Ross, your blessed contributions have helped many.

Last week, I finished the novel, The Moanin' After, by L.M. Ross, and thoroughly enjoyed it to the last drop! Delectably delicious!

"Please sir, may I have some more?"

Now, I don't want to tarnish the ending for those who have still not purchased the novel however, let me first say that people are sleeping on an exceptionally talented author. During my e-mail correspondence with Ross, I discovered the book was not selling favorably. So on that note, go buy the book and support this gifted writer! There are no excuses!

In The Moanin' After, Ross focused primarily on David Richmond, dancer extraordinaire, fashionista and former member of the boy band Da Elixir as well as exclusive heir to the group's royalties. He is haunted by the passing of his best friend as well as the "hemorrhoidic" desperate Faison "Browny" Brown, another member of the group who will do anything to achieve fame and fortune. While contemplating the meanings of life and love, David is reunited with Bliss Santana, a tortured soul who comprehends his pain but embodies secrets of her own. Lastly, David's sanity is challenged when he meets Kindred, a vision of purity, like sunshine after a fresh spring rain. But is he genuine or simply a manifestation of David's grief?

The last few chapters were so powerful that I simply cannot give anything away. The story line and plot twists added a fourth dimension to the characters and reached the depths of my soul. Ross evoked strong emotions, something that NEVER happens when I read a book. Most emotional scenes merely scroll insipidly past my eyes but throughout those last chapters, I stopped reading and began FEELING! I experienced a mental orgasm of sentiment, an authentic catharsis and I'm left in absolute admiration and amazement!

Ross informed me that the book was structured such that first time readers weren't left wondering about the first book, Manhood: The Longest Moan. The flashback scenes were particularly beneficial as I read his previous novel a year ago. While there were numerous grammatical errors, Ross surpassed his peers and shined through with an astounding story and extraordinary prose. His poetic roots were woven throughout the story and he succeeded in crafting a thoughtful and eloquent conclusion worthy of the greatest writers.

I really can't type anything more except: "go buy this book!" The length of both novels may discourage some unsophisticated readers however, if one is willing, you won't be disappointed. L.M. Ross has done it again and I'm quite sure this will not be the last we hear from him!

For the two weeks that it took me to complete this novel I felt as though I was holding a beating heart in the palms of my hands; the heart that belonging to that of Mr. L. M. Ross. "The Moanin After" was worth the wait and a moan that was needed. Ross proved that there is life after death, life after tragedy and life after disease. Ross makes us aware of the fact that no matter what may happen, life indeed goes on. This was more than just a novel. It was a lesson on life with the most important point being that your life speaks whether you are dead or alive. Each day we live we create our own legacy with a permanent marker that will be our story until the end of mankind. Love was another important lesson in this story. We each love and desire to be loved in our own unique way and if we stopped to understand this in others, most of us would realize that the love we desire is right in front of our eyes. Also, Love is not a quitter. It endures through the toughest of times. You can't break up with love.

Although the first novel was titled "Manhood," this story was David's manhood. David had to cope, accept and embrace. David the dancer was used to using his legs to dance, but now David had to use his legs to simply stand. While David appeared to have lost his rhythm he never struggled with the beat.

Once again, Ross has mastered the art of placing the reader inside of the story. I felt as if I was one of David's ghost; watching him, listening to him and following him. I fell in love with David in "Manhood the Longest Moan," but here in his moanin I began to respect and honor him.

This is a timeless masterpiece.

I like to think that LM Ross writes books just for me. They always seem to land on my desk at just the right moment. They always seem to speak exactly to what I am experiencing. I can wrap myself up in them like blankets and feel related to, understood...and the things that I don't understand are explained to me.

A sequel to a book as great as Manhood: The Longest Moan had to have been a scary task to tackle. It was a grand work of poetic fiction that conjured the greats: James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Ntozake Shange. What makes the sequel as equally brilliant, is Ross' resolve to not duplicate the voice of the first novel.

The Moanin' After speaks with a new timbre. The story of David, Tyrone, Brownie and Face continues, even beyond the grave for two of the characters. David's voice is more primary in this work, and the tone is deeply spiritual, ethereal and esoteric this time around. I don't want to give the storyline away, but I must say that the story centers around the awakening of David, there is a riveting return of Bliss Santana, and a surprising twist involving Tyrone that should tweak the interest of anyone who read the first book. If you haven't, then you must begin with Manhood and continue with Moanin'.

The feelings of grief, heartache, friendship, love, connection, resolution and salvation are palpable in every word. These characters live, breathe and dance through Ross' brilliant storytelling until they are palpable. This is the kind of writing contemporary fiction writers are incapable of...and Ross truly has no contemporaries. He is head and shoulders above the rest.

L.M. Ross's The Moanin' After is a book about choices--choosing to live, choosing to die, and choosing to forgive. In this, Ross's second novel, we follow his protagonist David on his harrowing journey through grief. Ross beautifully shows us that grief is not a solitary process. David touches lives in his quest to understand and accept the deaths of his friends Face Depina and, most importantly, Tyrone Hunter.

And author Ross also makes choices. Ross has grown as a writer since his first novel. In it, Manhood The Longest Moan, Ross used his gloriously beautiful figures of speech to excess. He created six or eight metaphors, similes, etc., and strung them together. In The Moanin' After, Ross wisely chooses the two or three best of his creations to make his points. And he makes them amazingly. The reader can revel in his descriptions. A poet at heart, Ross knows his subjects: jazz, New York City, gay life, and what it means to be a Black man. His word portraits rapturously evoke, sometimes bringing chills down the spine.

If anyone deserves a deal with a major publisher, it is Ross. An editor at Little Brown, Simon and Schuster, Clarion, or any of the other "big" publishers could work with Ross and turn him from a very good writer into a great one. The man knows how to use words in a commanding and beautiful way. He truly deserves better than his present editor and publisher.

His current publisher apparently is dedicated to bringing African-American writers to the marketplace. What a fine and noble goal! But when every page has five to fifteen errors, how can this publisher be taken seriously? The reader is forced to wade through sentences filled with repeated words and words left out. Time and time again, verbs of two different tenses (think "was"/ "were") are both given, as if the reader might want a choice in the sentence. Or could it be the editor or proofreader couldn't make the choice him or herself? And the commas! My lord, my lord...they are just thrown in willy-nilly. Someone needs to send this editor a grammar book--STAT!

L.M. Ross needs to be read, not decoded. If there is a publishing god out there, please let Her send an angel to plop Ross's next manuscript on the desk of an editor familiar with the English language.

Ross serves the gay community, the Black community, and the community at large with his humanity and his word paintings. Read The Moanin' After--it has power and grace. And after you read it, pass your copy on to your publisher friend...you know, the one who sits in an ivory tower office in Manhattan, waiting for the next great African-American author.

I just finished L.M. Ross' latest gift to the world. Once again, Mr. Ross has given us a profound gift and another taste of his genius. I LOVED The Moanin' After. Far too often these days, African-American authors of "gay" material or otherwise, tend to write for (what seems to be) readers with a 7th grade education, at best. Not this writer! He really takes you on an emotional journey, in which maturity and intelligence is a must; as well as some experience in that indefinable condition known as the human heart. As with his brilliant work before this - Manhood, The Longest Moan - again, Mr. Ross made me think..and not just coast along, when reading. How refreshing. How challenging. How adult. How REAL! He made me use my brain, and more importantly - my heart! Congratulations, Mr. Ross. You deserve KUDOS! If you crave intelligent, adult reading with raw and heartfelt emotion - this one's for you! We need more from you, Mr. Ross! Thus, we wait.

Book is well-arranged and very useful. Have only one mistake - from time to time describe facts which is used in Taiwan, but not used in mainland China without note. It can be source of problem.

I've had one semester of 'conversational' Mandarin, and started in on some flashcards to learn some characters after the class was over. I was studying the Schaum's Outline of Chinese Grammar also by Claudia Ross, and I set it down somewhere and lost it. I found this book when I went to order another one.

It is much greater in depth and in scope than Schaum's, but very easy to understand and use. Occasionally vocabulary becomes a problem, but that's a normal part of learning any language. I'm glad I got the more complete book, as I intend to continue my study of Mandarin.

One thing missing that was nice in Schaum's is the plethora of tests, which make for easy self study. I haven't had a chance to get that far yet, but I like the way the book is divided into two major sections: the classic textbook section, and the situational section. The first is as expected going over verbs, adverbs, nouns, adjectives, prepositions, etc. The situational section describes language used for various purposes (greetings, talking about past, present, or future events, commanding or permitting, compliments, congratulations and so on). The second part makes it more useful to beginners than a plain textbook.

A very good book - highly recommended.

Claudia Ross improves and expands the work she did for Schaum's Outline of Chinese Grammar with a thorough and easy-to-use grammar guide for both beginning and intermediate learners. Chapter titles separate the language into clear and concise entires that are easy to navigate and provide hundreds of example sentences. "Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar" is exhaustively cross-indexed by chapter number to help learners distinguish between multiple uses of the same word/character. Overall, an excellent resource for serious students of the language!


Nathan Dummitt
author of Chinese Through Tone & Color

This is a simple, straight forward book to study the Mandarin Chinese language. It is actually a myths-buster. Having had a cursory glance at my copy borrowed from the library, I was convinced that Chinese is not particularly more difficult to learn than any other language. Although the authors do not claim this to be a book for the beginner, even a pre-beginner like myself found it to be easy to follow.

Writing the Chinese characters still remains elusive, and awe inspiring, but this work succeeds eminently in making sense of how those letters combine to form words. Imagine the delight one can get to find out that Chinese nouns, and pronouns do not undergo any changes with gender, tenses, cases, etc. in most instances.

This excellent work encourages the student by removing the fear generated by fear mongers and "linguo-phobes" by talking about 3-6000 characters, some with 40-50 pen strokes, several dialects, four tones of saying a sound, and so on, without ever explaining how such a language has survived for 30+ centuries.

The customary approach of learning the alphabet, before learning to use the language, would probably frighten away many new comers to Chinese. Grammar (first part of the book) generally is not the best way to begin learning a new language. However, quickly reading through the early pages of this work takes one a long way. It gives much needed confidence. There is no learning by rote, memorizing lists of words, or phrases without understanding them.

I have not yet reached the applied grammar (second part), but I am beginning to feel quite comfortable with the language. The book is very well organized, elegantly produced, and more than reasonably priced. One would be happy to pay that much for a lesson or two, and will get out only a fraction of what the book offers. I am ordering my own copy right now.

If you are studying Chinese then you really need a grammar book as a companion to your other course materials. This will serve as a good reference which can be referred to when needed. The fact that the second half of the book focuses on functional (i.e. situational) grammar makes it easy to find the relevant grammar pattern. I won't go into too many details - you can read that in the review(s) below. I still have some grammar questions that the book doesn't answer but it is the best I have found so far. One area where the book is weak is on directional complements which can be unnatural for the western learner. Good luck on your learning!!