Stevens Books

From Bobby Sox fave to Sultan of Swoon to the Fall and Great Comeback, it is just about all here, except for the very last years from the mid-1990's to the end. This volume is a collection of essays surveying the vast realm of an incredible career. The clear links between his peerless Capitol recordings,and his own life are explained,as are the demanding sessions themselves, his always being in charge with a lot of help from his friends. Every piece here is worthwhile, my favorite being Gay Talese's FRANK SINATRA HAS A COLD (1966)To quote:"Sinatra with a cold is Picasso without paint,Ferrari without fuel..A Sinatra with a cold can, in a small way,send vibrations through the entertainment industry and beyond as surely as a President can, suddenly sick, shake the national economy." A great fun of a read! Not for Frank fanatics only.

This book is like an almanac of information on Frankie. I had the pleasure of reading it at a friends house, and it was just great. I highly recommend it. Another good one, is "Why Sinatra Matters." Both give a glimpse into a man that we all love.

Here's a collection of articles and book excerpts dealing with Frank Sinatra - the man, his music, his career. A vast majority of the pieces were written after 1965, and most are fairly long and substantial. It's amazing how similar in approach many of the personal reminiscences are: I knew Sinatra a long time, though we're not close friend; his personality is volatile - up one minute, demonic the next; he's performed magically at times and also in a mediocre fashion - are typical remarks. The ambiguity that those who know the man share is fascinating. Just about everyone acknowledges a magnetism about Sinatra - even bigger than his talent, said Billy Wilder - and many who have come to know him almost fear being sucked in by that magnetism - so they purposely keep the man at arm's length (at least in their writings about him). Just about every author who writes about keeping an appointment, for example, with Ol' Blue Eyes relates it with a marked tentativeness, some (notably Pete Hamill) as if they were going to their doom. I guess that was the power of Sinatra.

Guy Talese's "Sinatra Has a Cold" 1966 Esquire article (an early example of the New Journalism) is included, and it's a highlight of the book. Also of special interest are Pete Hamill's "The Legend Lives," Sinatra fanatic Jonathan Schwartz's "In the Wee Small Hours," and Petkov's own essay on Sinatra's greatest years when recording for Capitol records. But all the pieces are worthwhile and together build a well-rounded, critical (as opposed to mere adulation) view of perhaps the greatest male pop singer of all time. Worth checking out.

I bought this beautifully illustrated book for my grandson, who is growing up in the Pacific Northwest surrounded by the art of the region's native people. I've colleced a lot of Haida and Tlingit art over the years and was so pleased to find the book's illustrations were both historically and aesthetically accurate. Between this book and the author's Storm Boy, kids can see Haida button blankets, Chilkat blankets, coppers, wooden chief's masks, the carved and painted interiors of long houses, the woven reed clothing worn in past eras, and of course totem poles. I loved the scale of the illustations in scents in the Frog longhouse, with the little girl so dwarfed by all the big carvings and sculptures. I have to say that these two books are among the best-illustrated kids' books I've seen in years. If I were on the prize committee, I'd award the author/illustrator a Caldecott Medal for sure.

This is a title that will entertain both the adult reader and the child. An adventure regarding stewardship of the earth. The dream-like images and intriguing story draw one right in. Would make a nice gift.

The story is easy to read aloud and the illustrations are rivetting. I bought this for my three-year-old son, but find myself using it as a teaching tool in my second grade classroom, as well. It is very similar to a story my grandparents (Quinault-Cowlitz/Coast Salish) used to tell me when I was growing up. The message about taking care of all our relations is an important one. The story ignited a new interest in volcanoes and pond-life in my son's imagination. His interest in volcanoes and caves became so keen because of this book that we spent hours in the volcano exhibits at the Natural History Museum and made a special trip to Carlsbad Caverns! Bravo Paul Owen Lewis.

This is GREAT! Read it and love it! Seriously, it's a very good book that does an excellent job of passing on the Spartan world to the modern reader. It's very gritty and hard and everything you could imagine Sparta to be. The only weakness (and this is a MINOR criticism) is the intrigue going on in Sparta with the slaves. I didn't care about it or for it one bit. Otherwise, if you know anything about history, you'll dread reading the last two chapters because you know what is coming. The best part, though, is that you dread the end for the characters you don't like - because Pressfield gets you to respect the Spartans above everything else. AWESOME STUFF!!

This is quite possibly the most incredible book that i've ever read. On an epic scale, the true story told through a fictional character's eyes is spellbinding and gritty. The reality of it is difficult to grasp, but Pressfield's vivid description and brilliant conveyance of emotion is captured in each line and will keep you enthralled until the end. The beginning is a bit slow, but the rest more than makes up for it. Once you get over all the Greek names and city names that are presented in the opening set-up, the story climbs until reaching the pinnacle of which you won't be disappointed. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone and everyone that enjoys history, has been in the military, or just likes to read, it really is that good.

Everybody dies. So did these 300 Greeks. But the world will never forget their choice of death.

It is incorrect that the battle at Thermopylae changed the course of history. That was the battle at Marathon, some years before, when the Greek cities were unprepared and only the city of Athens was able to scrape a small army of conscripts which, brilliantly generaled by Miltiadis, defeated the first Persian campaign and, thus, averted the infusion of Asia into Europe.

Thermopylae was mostly a moral victory. In every sense - as well in the sense that it demoralized the Persian troops. At the same time, it bought the rest of the Greeks the time needed to organize their naval forces at Salamis, where they crushed the great Persian forces only weeks later.

Pressfield does a fair job in making his readers get a taste of the Spartan way of life. The loyalty to the city-state; the devotion to the ideals of freedom; and the personal sacrifices offered to safeguard it.

Those who would try to extract modern lessons from this historic sacrifice against the Persians should probably keep in mind that other aspects of the Spartan society have been left untold: the oppression of the older tribes - hence the need for a militaristic elite; the dissolution of democracy in any city-state conquered and the establishment of a Spartan-controlled oligarchy; the skewed morality that allowed theft and cheating as long as the final goal was achieved - and the perpetrator never got caught.
Then again, maybe modern lessons can be extracted after all...

Not to be taken as a history lesson - yet, could be a great excuse to get interested in the period that shaped the western civilization.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

They say that the squeaky wheel gets the oil, but this book gives well-deserved attention to the other wheels. God's Quiet Things asserts that natural beings and phenomena that don't bark or chirp or thunder are important too for the work that they do, their beauty, and for making our world better. It teaches small children to pay more attention to things that don't grab our attention by the sounds they make.

As a parent, I must admit I LOVE this book. My daughter can get pretty worked up at times and I have always enjoyed using books as a quiet, peaceful and relaxing time for us to share. GOD'S QUIET THINGS is just the book to do this with.

The illustrations include a boy and his cat and are somewhat muted and soft--a beautiful, well executed technique with pastels to heighten the idea of being quiet. To listen for God's quiet things is a good way to open up your heart to God, for He is in them and all things beautiful. "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10a

GOD'S QUIET THINGS isn't a "story" per se, but a journey. Sweetland asks questions, inviting the reader's imagination to blossom and relax which can "send them sailing through the air."

Soar!

An unusual and effective way to introduce nature's silent features as interesting and well worth our attention.

Let's face it -- as a fairy tale, "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" is pretty flabby stuff. Not a whole heck of a lot happens except for a broken chair and an unmade bed, and while the repetitive, predictable nature of the tale may be "just right" for kids, it's somewhat less enthralling for adults. That's why Steven Guarnaccia's retelling of the old chestnut is so refreshing. His whimsical illustrations set the story in mid-1950's America, making Papa Bear a swingin' beatnik, while Mama wears capri-pants and hoop earrings and Baby comes complete with Davy Crockett coonskin cap.

Goldilocks has been updated as well into a preteen bobby-soxer, sporting a Patty McCormack "Bad Seed" hairdo, an excellent touch.

Guarnaccia's light, humorous tone is perfect for this slight cautionary tale. For those curious, the endpapers include a pictoral labelling of the designers and years of the various furnishings sprinkled throughout the illustrations -- everyone from Terence Conran to George Nelson is represented. This book is great fun for kids and adults alike.

This is Goldilocks like you've never seen it before. My sonand I BOTH adore this book -- he loves the crazy story, and I get akick out of the tres moderne illustrations. In fact, I must confess that I bought 2 copies -- 1 to read and 1 to cut up and use for artwork in my son's room. Enjoy!

I bought this book for a friend of mine who collects 50's Modern furnishings, as a housewarming gift and now I'm back for a copy of my own! It's a must have for anyone who loves Modern design and likes a new twist on tradition. The illustrations are fantastic and very hip. What a great way to turn a child (or adult for that matter) onto Modern design. A definate baby shower gift for me from now on.

I bought this book when it first came out in 1982 and STILL turn to it whenever I need some quick info on a book, or an author, or a particular subject. I WISH it were updated, but even though it is 20+ years old it is still the best of its kind!

"A Booklover's Companion"--and, oh, how very true that is! I love to just veg out in a comfortable chair and page slowly through this wonderful compendium (I wish Mr. Gilbar would bring out a "Son of Good Books" that would update us on what he's been reading in the 20 years since he compiled it) of thematically arranged lists of books both famous and lesser-known. Everything from Homer's epics to Time-Life's Old West series and the Rivers of America books is in here, each of them personally read by the compiler. His squibs are necessarily brief--after all, he's trying to explain the attraction of some 9000 different works!--but should at least give you a hint of whether the book might be worth a look; and, as he points out, all "exist and can be found"--through InterLibrary Loan if you're low on funds. But no matter how low on funds you may be, if you love to read, you should own "Good Books," and that's not a general recommendation.

With all the controversy that swirls around "best of" lists today, it's a pleasure to encounter a "list" of great books in which the compiler doesn't claim any unique insight other than his own love for literature. Gilbar seems to be a reader who hasn't forgotten what it means to value a book for its adventurousness, its quirkiness, and its visceral appeal. He doesn't try to use academic or professional standards to judge a work -- rather, he uses his own wide-ranging and boisterous curiosity to compile a reading list which any book lover can enjoy.

Great imagination experience for all young children that is well needed for this time and age, clean adventures for the young mind, great book!!!

To all parents and children alike. I've spent nearly a decade perfecting the Googles' concept. The results of which are displayed in my first Googles edutainment adventure book titled: Googles and the Planet of Goo. It's a wonderful read, if I do say so myself.

This is a wonderful read for children who have a creative mind and a keen sense of imagination. I am an elementary school teacher and very much enjoyed reading Googles and the Planet of Goo to my students. They really seemed to enjoy reading all about Googles' adventures as he leaves his planet called Goo and lands his GooShip on Earth. That's when the real action begins. The new words the child learns, in a fun-filled manor, is also refreshing. I guess the most rewarding gift of all this book suggests, is the fact that it's non-violent and offers an alternative to all of the wild stuff out there today. This book is a must for any parent's shopping cart. Would make a wonderful gift, too. Sincerely, Arie

Simply amazing for students,college or highschool. When in need of an idea for a paper, just thumb through the table of contents and you will definitly find a two page summary of "just what you were looking for". Plagarism? Nah, Inspiration!

The Great American Bathroom Book series is chocked full of thorough summaries of published books of all genres. It even includes quotes and trivia. Reading the summaries of these books make you want to read the full versions. Great bathroom or anywhere reading. I highly recommend this book.

Provides great one page summaries of hundreds of good books. If you don't have time to read all of the "real things" (nobody ever does) read this.

If you love maths and play with numbers it is a great book for you

The best book of mental calculation of the world.
You will be impressed by Klein's method to extract the 13th
root of a 100-digit number in 1mn28s, the very famous world
record of mental calculation. But do not forget that Alexis
LEMAIRE extracted it in 13s: 44800613, also divisible by 13,
in the year 2002=154x13! This is another story...

The book is divided into three sections, covering the psychological aspects of rapid mental calculation, the mathematical methods involved, and brief summaries of the lives of the great calculators (which include particular methods used by each person). There are extensive quotations from the calculators themselves, explaining their methods and how they learned. The book is so well-written it's hard to put down, yet it covers the topic in great depth. Smith surveys all the prior literature on the subject, and has also interviewed many of the living calculators. His knowledge of both math and psychology is impressive. This is a MUST for anyone interested in the subject, or just interested in improving their calculating abilities.

Well chosen content, although Chapter 19 (Multiple Personality Disorder) was not included in my 1997 copy. Not light reading, but a good choice for a general overview.

This and the Casebook of Clinical Hypnosis (same editors) are complete guides to psychological students and scientists. I recommend it but you should read their another articles in journals.

This book explores almost all types of techniques, aplications and researchs in hypnotic procedures. It's a complete guide (if you have Casebook of Clinical Hypnosis) for those who study and use hypnosis in therapy. You can not understand what is hypnosis if you have never read this book. Thanks Lynn, Kirsh and Rhue!

Os acadêmicos brasileiros das áreas de psicologia, odontologia e medicina interessados em estudar hipnose clínica e experimental podem contactar Danilo Assis Pereira do Instituto de Psicologia da Universidade de Brasília. Tel. (61)-307-2625 ramal 617 (Programa Especial de Treinamento).