Travis Books

Dr. Thompson's book, Straight Talk on Autism, is an exceptional, well written book. Although Dr. Thompson addresses many complex issues, his easy-to-read style of writing can fully inform and capture a wide audience. He pulls together his extensive knowledge of neuroscience, behavior analysis, psychology, developmental disabilities (and more!) and combines it with true compassion and understanding for families who are living with autism. He gives practical advice and examples for families that address issues such as mealtime, daily living skills, and self injurious behavior; all of which are common concerns of parents who have a child with autism. This book is invaluable for anyone who knows someone with autism, whether is be a parent, professional, or family member.

This medium-size book (260 pages) is absolutely jam-packed with helpful insights and practical information, all readily accessible, thanks to the down-to-earth writing style of the author, to every intelligent reader who wishes to avail him- or herself of it. Effective communication to the general public about complex technical issues is an art form in its own right, and Dr. Thompson is clearly a master of the craft. He is also the award-winning master of a number of other crafts (scientific and clinical disciplines, actually), including psychology, pharmacology, neuroscience, behavior analysis, developmental disabilities and special education, and the benefit of his over 40 years of high-level professional activity in these fields is fully reflected in this book. And as the grandfather of a boy with autism, his writing also reflects a genuine understanding of the personal impact autism has on families. Dr. Thompson has the rare ability to convey the scientific complexity of an issue without making it sound scientific or complex and without talking down to the reader. He skillfully avoids jargon and esoteric technical terms while leaving no stone unturned in what is an unusually thorough coverage of autism spectrum disorders and everything that pertains to them. In its entirety, the content of this highly readable book is the equivalent of an advanced course in autism spectrum disorders, but it is all presented in such an easily absorbed form that one never feels like one is "studying". Although written specifically for parents and direct caregivers, research and treatment professionals also have much to gain from reading this book, and professional educators would be well advised to consider it as a textbook in their courses on autism. Thompson's discussion of self-injurious behavior (SIB) is especially insightful and helpful. SIB is without a doubt the most distressing behavior an individual with autism may exhibit. Dr. Thompson has treated scores of SIB cases over the course of his career and offers the benefit of all that experience to the reader. He explains the likely origin of this paradoxical phenomenon, the factors underlying its frustrating recalcitrance and obstinate persistence, the steps that can be taken to treat it effectively, and what to watch for to prevent it from developing in the first place. The wise insights and practical advice he gives on this problem alone are worth many times the price of the book. But SIB is just one example. The book covers the whole domain of issues that concern families of individuals with autism. Although dedicated to the special challenges faced by parents of children with autism, the book is actually also an excellent practical guide to parenting in general. This is especially true of the chapter on Daily Freedoms and Responsibilities. For example, the "rules" he enumerates for mealtime are good advice for any young family, as too are his other recommendations for teaching daily living skills and personal responsibility, and his extended treatments of the importance of leisure and the art of community participation. The wide scope of Thompson's academic credentials cited above is paralleled in this book by the comprehensive coverage he gives to absolutely all aspects of the lives of individuals with autism. A more complete, intelligent, practical, and sympathetic understanding of autism simply does not exist. This book is a masterpiece of scholarly, literary, and humanistic craftsmanship. I recommend it to anyone who wants an up-to-date, clear-headed, sensible, thoroughgoing, critical, totally understandable treatment of this important topic.

As a mother of a 6 year old with autism, I find it very challenging to know the most effective approaches when teaching my child. The myriad of therapies available overwhelm all but the most educated practitioners, and once we chose a path, determining the best strategise for each child can be overwhelming. Often it is a miracle to find the proper balance of therapy techniques for your child. In his book, Dr. Thompson's Straight Talk on Autism, Dr. Thompson has addressed these issues. Straight Talk on Autism is a practical user's guide to many of the daily autism issues we strive to conquer.

In addition to be a leading expert on data-based strategies and techniques for individuals with autism, Dr. Thompson is also a caring grandfather to a child on the spectrum. It is this unique background that makes his perspective truly valuable. He combines his academic knowledge, research and clinical experience and first person stories to outline comprehensive behavioral treatment strategies that are accessible to many audiences, both parents and educators alike. His compelling stories and unparalleled passion to help families affected by Autism makes reading this book a delight.

This easy to read book is a must have for all caregivers and parents that need strategies and techniques for implementing behavioral treatment for their own children. Dr. Thompson outlines nicely how to structure visual schedules and what steps to take to curb challenging behaviors. There is also an informative chapter on tips to make community outings a success. This hands on book gives you the confidence and ideas to help people on the spectrum with their social and behavioral issues.

Keep this book and the ideas enclosed close at hand. It will undoubtedly help with the daily issues that we all experience with our children on the spectrum. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.

This book is a terrific resource for our family! Our autistic son will be entering middle school in the fall and our main concern is the need for him to continue working on his social and communication skills. In particular, Chapter 4, "Once Upon a Time" (Discovering the Mystery of Words) was invaluable in helping us frame the discussion in his spring IEP meeting regarding practical workable methods for integrating social and communication training into his school day across situations.

We also love the chapter on the "Need for Control". Our son's "control" issues are not a problem at school because of the structured setting. But this chapter helped us a great deal in creating structure for him within our busy, sometimes chaotic lives at home. Dr. Thompson's straightforward writing style and insight into how the mind of an autistic child works makes it easy to understand what needs to be done, and how to do it.

Highly recommended for parents and caregivers. Even older siblings!

There are few books in the last five years that I did not want to end. This was one of them. It was awarded "1st place - Fiction, novel" in the 2007 Alaska Professional Communicators Communications Contest. Alaska Professional Communicators is the Alaska affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women.

This saga explores the history of a family who immigrated to America from Mexico in the early nineteen hundreds. There is an awareness of the detailed research & expert touch necessary to seamlessly intertwine actual historical personages and events with the characters' story. This novel is a shining example of personal and historical disasters woven with masterful skill to create a bright and colorful tapestry.

One of the prevading themes that surfaces in this book like a shark's fin, throughout the story is the social struggle between poor men and the "hacendados", the privileged, rich class of men who exploit them. In this novel, the hook is used as a unique metaphor. It encompasses a name, a place, a dream, family, and of course El Gancho, the name of the book.

The main characters of the book, Prudenciano Nava and Paz Nava are portrayed exceptionally well. The author let's you get to know the characters, loveable in their own rights but fallible, as all people are. Some of the less loveable characters are motivated by everything from hunger for admiration and esteem to using others' weaknesses for their own gain.

The reader is introduced to Prudenciano Nava in the first chapters of the book. The writer quickly pulls the reader into the setting with a wealth of vivid imagery. Prudenciano Nava lives a reckless life. He works as a laborer with his childhood friend and runs from what Texans call "rodeo" to "rodeo"

. As we venture through Prudenciano Nava's life with him we learn about his frolics and foibles: Relationships, responsibility (or lack there of) as well as Prudenciano's penchant for cultivation of females' expectations, to their moral detriment and families' anger.The author brings you so far into the world he has created & the characters that abide there it seems you can feel the breath of these characters and hear their heartbeats. There are many escapades and escapes in this saga. The escapes are more serious, fleeing from supervisors that consider the help expendable; disease; starvation, and a war ravaged Mexico, and ultimately a flight to another country where our characters continue to reap the consequences of their choices.

Ultimately Prudenciano Nava emerges as a survivor above all else.

The author successfully communicates the vivid immediacy of living life
constantly on the edge. We feel the grit and dust of the roads of Mexico,
taste the tobacco and the alcohol, and feel the desert heat. This book works on various levels, as history, as an adventure, or as a social or political commentary. The reader looks through an open window into the past, raw and real.

Read enough books and you'll eventually find a book that encompasses all the elements you really enjoy: a well-written tale of adventure, action, realistic situations, and, most importantly, memorable characters in a great storyline. "El Gancho: A Saga of an Immigrant Family's Journey out of Mexico" by Michael Travis fits that description. On the surface, Travis' book is a fictionalized, but truthful, account of his great-grandparents and their migration from Monte Escobedo, Mexico, to Sydney, Montana. But beneath the surface is the story of the immigration of Mexican people to the U.S. in the early 1900s, a time when immigration wasn't the contentious issue of today. In fact, in those days, America actively encouraged migration. The United States' westward expansion with its attendant increase in agricultural production and the accompanying growth of railroads and the like called for large amounts of cheap labor. Mexican immigrants provided that labor more readily and cheaply than any other group. And helping hold everything together, Travis has made "El Gancho" a different sort of history book. He's made it interesting and entertaining as he intersperses his story of family with actual historical people and events.

"El Gancho" (meaning the Hook in Spanish) centers around the life of Travis' great-grandfather Tereso Minjares, known in his earlier life as Prudenciano Nava. Talk about your memorable characters, Prudenciano Nava is that and more. In following the family's northern migration, Michael Travis manages to do something few authors writing about their ancestors achieve. Travis makes their lives extremely interesting and exciting, and yet manages to portray them with all their faults and frailties. We see Prudenciano/Tereso as an egotistical man whose pride, laziness, fondness of tequila, and disdain for honest labor leads him to make some seriously bad choices that affect not only himself, but others, particularly his much younger, long suffering wife, Paz. Although 33 years his junior, she is obviously the more mature of the two.

Although the first chapter has 78-year-old Tereso Minjares taking a break from the sugar beet field and reflecting back on his life, the story really starts with the illiterate 48-year-old Prudenciano Nava toward the end of his career with the Mexican rodeo. Nava is a master at a particularly dangerous event known as tailing the bull. This event involves flipping a full-grown bull onto its back by its tail. Few men could do this as the experienced and wily bulls came equipped with more than a ton of muscle and very sharp horns. While his partner on horseback acted as a target to draw the animal into a rampaging charge, Prudenciano came from behind, grasped the animal's tail and flipped it on its back. That's if all goes well. When things don't go well, the animal's size, agility and razor sharp horns poses a real threat of serious injury or death for one or both men and their horses. Such was the case in Fresnillo when, in front of his estranged family, Prudenciano misses the tail and the bull kills his life-long friend and partner, Tereso. Depressed, Prudenciano practically begs to be allowed to return to his father's ranch.

It's there on Emilio Nava's ranch that Prudenciano's life takes a significant turn. Quickly remembering why he left in the first place, Prudenciano rebels against work and the requirement to learn to read and write. As he resorts to his old ways of boasting and bossing others around, he alienates both his father and his older brother, Abundio. Then, he meets Abundio's 15-year-old stepdaughter, Maria Paz Esparsa. Following a fight with his brother, Prudenciano leaves, taking a willing Paz with him. They manage to throw off their pursuers long enough for them to quickly marry and their long arduous trip north begins.

Over the ensuing years, Prudenciano tries valiantly to provide for his wife and their expanding family. But his pride, his inability to read, his fondness of drink, and his preference for reliving his past glories regularly interfere. He takes up work in a silver mine, only to have a cave-in nearly kill him as he saves his boss. When an outbreak of typhus sends the family to Chihuahua (walking the whole way), Prudenciano becomes a guard in service to one of the town's richest men. And it's there he first encounters Pancho Villa and warns him of a traitor in his midst. It's also where he gets tagged with the nickname "El Gancho," as he participated in his last la Colleada. But their relatively good life comes to a quick end when, worried that authorities will learn he helped Villa, Prudenciano moves with Paz and their three children to El Paso, once again walking the whole way.

Entering the United States legally, thanks to centavos Paz has put away, Prudenciano soons succumbs to another meaning for the term El Gancho. Promising good jobs, good pay, and housing for families, unscrupulous labor agents extend the hook and lure men into dangerous or low paying jobs. The process is made all the easier by the illiteracy of the average immigrant. Prudenciano gets a backbreaking job on the railroad with he and his family sharing a drafty boxcar as a house. Then, following a drunken binge in celebration of Mexico's Independence Day, Prudenciano nearly kills a man accidentally and soon finds himself on the run. A year later with a new name, Tereso Minjares, he sends for Paz and the children to join him in his new job at a logging camp. After several more moves and several more jobs the family finally settles in Sydney, Montana, working sugar beets for the Holly Sugar Company. Of course, they arrived there after Tereso once again swallowed the hook offered by John Dillon, the same man who'd talked him into the railroad job.

All in all, "El Gancho" is a great story filled with exciting adventures and incredulous difficulties, many of them brought on by the poor choices made by the colorful Prudenciano/Tereso. Anyone wishing to understand the real challenge of coming to los Estados Unidos in the early 1900s would do well to read "El Gancho."

Michael Travis describes the attitudes and expectations of the Mexican culture with incredible accuracy. Even in modern days, I have seen many men and women struggle within their family roles for better or for worse. Prudencio Nava's difficulty with alcoholism and settling into a permanent home along with Paz's struggle to keep the family together reflects the lives of many Mexican family's today. El Gancho brings into the perspective the historical ramifications of the Mexican migration into the United States during the late 1800 and early 1900. It has given me insight into my own Mexican family's prejudices and mistrusts of other cultures and for authority in general. During his reading at the Fairbanks Arts Association Bear Gallery, Michael explained the extensive research necessary for this book. His hard work is to be admired. I wish I had his dedication to find out more about my family roots.

Weaving a rich tapestry of history, tall tales and outright lies, Michael Travis presents his reader with a story that spans more than thirty years and four generations, taking us from rural Mexico to an immigrant colonia in Montana.

Travis especially excels at subtly building tension in his reader particularly in the 'colleada', a death-defying rodeo event. Using brutal and resonant imagery as a conductor's wand rather than a club, Travis evokes artfully evokes appropriate feelings and empathy with his characters throughout the novel.

If a criticism could fairly be leveled at Travis, it is that he's too unflinchingly honest about his characters, often they are despicable and/or inscrutable, and by the end of the book it is difficult for the modern, enlightened reader to empathize or identify with his protagonist due to his defiant ignorance and all consuming machismo. But in truth, this should be seen as a strength on Travis' part. The reader must remember that Prudenciano Nava is not a modern man, not even for his own time. He is a primal creature who runs on instinct and raw power. He recalls the classical hero who, despite all of his strength and power inevitably falls to his untempered hubris.

Most of all, El Gancho is the story of a world, a place a people and a time that will seem both alien and familiar to the modern reader. These things are truly just next door in both time and space. The life changes of the Minjares family parallel the enormous changes that the world was experiencing at that same time. As life would never be the same for Prudenciano's family again, so too would the world never be the same.

I highly recommend this book. Read it if you love history. Read it if your ancestors or you crossed that Big River long ago or last week. Read it if your connection to your own family runs deep or you wish it did.

To paraphrase the foreword by Joe Minjares, Prudenciano Nava is that primitive creature that lies dormant, just beneath the surface in all of us. Incomprehensible yet utterly human. This story is for everyone.

Finally there is an EQ Assessment tool that actually lives up to its promise. I used the "Me" edition and found the reporting to be right on target. In the past I have taken assessments that were a waste of time - Drs. Bradberry and Greaves deserve a lot of praise for their breakthrough EQ product as I now have new insights and a refreshing perspective on how to leverage my emotional intelligence. I am also having each member of my team take the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal and attend a EQ training workshop put on by the authors. I highly recommend this product and plan to be a long-term customer.

I was introduced to this assessment at an American Management Association workshopon leadership a few weeks back. My scores were dead-on and thought-provoking. I was surprised that everyone in my class completed and scored their assessments in under 20 minutes. I work in pharma and we used the assessment last week in a workshop with 30 folks and they also had a real positive reaction to it. A great way to teach emotional intelligence that is cost effective as well.

Thanks to this appraisal I am no longer afraid of my emotional mistakes!

If you haven't taken this test by now, you are missing out! This booklet tells us how most of us are not really grasping what is truly important in life. Daniel Goleman says that emotional intelligence is a lot more important than if you can do math, spell correctly, fix a lawnmower, or build a spaceship. The authors of The Emotional Intelligence Appraisal explained to me how this type of intelligence is so underemphasized in our society and it taught me where I need to improve in my own life.

We live in a world where people can build weapons of mass destruction but can not keep a marriage together. I loved this book.

I ordered a couple of books on emotional intelligence and was working on a presentation on the topic when I found this product. It can be a bit of a challenge to take such a broad concept and put it into a tight, informative presentation and this product did the trick and saved me a ton of time.

This presentation was very well received at my company. I was looking for something to help me introduce the concept to a management audience and the research and film examples did the trick. Well worth the money.

I've never seen a product like this and really had a great time with it. I used the presentation to share emotional intelligence with the leadership team at my company and it was a big hit. The Powerpoint actually had movies that they recognized in the Powerpoint and the movies played right from the slides to teach EQ. It also had a good balance of research and bottom-line results for emotional intelligence. Needless to say, it was the best presentation I've given in a while and, using the free leader guide that came with the PowerPoint, it was a snap!

I had no idea that a product like this existed and thankfully it does. Last week I was surfing on Amazon looking for resources on emotional intelligence for a presentation this morning. When I saw this product I took a gamble that it would come on time, and it came much faster than the time listed by Amazon. It also saved me a ton of work because it was a complete presentation on emotional intelligence that had everything I needed. My group loved the common-sense presentation of the research and they really enjoyed the movies. I received many comments of "How did you do that" and let's just say it's my little secret!

I am a behavior psychologist who does early intensive behavioral intervention (IEBI) with children who have autism spectrum disorders (ASD's) and I have found Dr. Thompson's book to be an invaluable resource. I regularly recommend this book to both professionals and families who care for children with ASD's.

This book is especially helpful for families who have recently received an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis and are overwhelmed with absorbing the diagnosis, grieving the loss of their dreams for their child, and facing the pressure of deciding on treatment options. Dr. Thompson thoroughly explores IEBI and describes what family members can and cannot expect from the process. Additionally, he provides a frank discussion of family dynamics that facilitate or impede early intervention as well as problem behaviors that are commonly misinterpreted by family members. Dr. Thompson has the unique ability to present complex research findings in a manner that is clear, concise, and relevant. For example, his discussion of brain dysfunction in autism (Chapter 3) fosters an appreciation of the importance of early intervention and its possible effects on the brain. However; my favorite thing about this book is the table in Chapter 3 that summarizes autism interventions, the evidence for their effectiveness, and their possible effects on the core symptoms of autism. This table along with the final chapter (Cautionary Considerations for Parents and Practitioners) is worth the price of the book alone and I use them together often!

Finally, many of the families to whom I have recommended this book have commented on the depth, empathy, and respect evident in Dr. Thompson's writing. Dr. Thompson displays a deep understanding and appreciation of the emotional issues that arise during the diagnostic process and in choosing among the many treatment options available; and he does this while never losing sight of the facts. This is a very difficult thing for professionals to do when they are focused on their desire to build on a child's strengths in order to maximize his or her potential and to make every minute of skill training count. Dr. Thompson's book is a reminder that although researchers are making great strides in informing us about the causes and treatment of autism, we must never lose sight of the uniqueness of each person with an ASD and each family member supporting and encouraging that person's growth.

Dr. Thompson is a true expert on autism and has put together a book to help people gain a better understanding of the disorder. It is a valuable resource for parents, and for teachers and clinicians who have the responsibility of helping families come to grips with a new diagnosis. I routinely recommend this to families and to professionals who are new to the autism field. Dr. Thompson takes knowledge gained from research, and combines it with his experience as a family member and a clinician to create a readable and useful resource.

For anybody on the spectrum and/or has a child who is on the autism/Asperger's (a/A) spectrum, be sure to make this book a very close friend. This is a valuable resource tool.

Dr. Thompson writes in a clear, logical style and his frank approach will be welcomed by all. He discusses the diagnosis; the neuro-biological condition that autism is; drug treatment; early intervention; school and other related developmental conditions. Professionals also will want to make a place on their book shelves for this gem.

Dr. Thompson, himself the grandfather of a child with autism appears to have an excellent understanding of what this condition entails. He is able to see autism from an insider's perspective and I think he is sincere about wanting to help each person on the spectrum live a life of quality and dignity. Dr. Thompson and Dr. Attwood are the top contenders in a/A literature from the professional's point of view. Be sure to read this along with The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome by Dr. Attwood.

This is a terrific book! I only wish I would have had the opportunity to read such an insightful, candid and thorough book when our son was diagnosed with autism three years ago. Dr. Thompson has written an easy-to-understand book that flows well and includes sections important to anyone with autism in their life. He explores diagnosis, families, early-intervention, school, pharmacology (this section is facinating!) co-existing and related conditions, etc. From a parent perspective, I like that he shared that his grandson has autism. I believe that he really "gets" what this is like from the inside out, and wants to help kids live the best life possible. I learned a lot, this is very current information, and Dr. Thompson presents it candidly yet thoughtfully. I read a lot of books about autism, and would certainly recommend this as a very worthwhile addition to your "autism collection".

I would suggest that men everywhere buy this book.... funny, yet a testimonial to the fact that "guys" are under attack in the politically correct world. Use this book as your guide through life.

no longer is there any ambiguity to my sexual orientation. now, when people see me, they all realize that i'm 100% man. THANK YOU, MANIQUETTE! My testosterone level has increased so much that I've knocked up at least one chick that I know of since reading this book.

When I first received my copy of Maniquette, it was with great apprehension that I opened the book and began to read the pages. Were the rumors true? Could this book really be the answer to Y2K?

The answer: Yes.

If you read this book it will be like watching Fight Club and Boondock Saints simultaneously. There will be so much testosterone flowing through your feeble veins that you will immediately go into your back yard and build a cathedral. If you don't have a back yard then you will build one.

Do not be fooled by imitations. Maniquette is the only male-oriented book fully endorsed by the mystical power of the Hippo. Hippos are known for two things: for their sexual prowess and their wisdom. If you wish to attain either of these traits, I suggest you stop cryin' and start buyin', son...

Maniquette is a book that everyone should read. The premise is simple: 21st century society has become increasingly feminized. A man today is a watered down version of what he once was, and the future for this entity formerly known as man appears to be even more troublesome.

The 479 rules in Maniquette offer advice on how to stem the tide. The book discusses such topics as alcoholic consumption, the pursuit of women, and general rules on how a man should act. If you agree with the premise, you'll find yourself mainly nodding in agreement. If you don't agree with the premise, you'll find it wildly entertaining nonetheless.

The book is easy to read and would make a great Christmas gift. The principal author also writes for cbssportsline.com, I noticed, and his skill with words comes through in this work. The comedic value lies both with the rules and the author's ability to frame them. I promise that you won't regret this purchase.

This Trilogy of lovely books offer classic yet contemporary poetry with each poem written bilingually in Spanish and English. Amazingly, they are equally beautiful in both languages. Whether reminiscing, romancing or simply expressing alegr?a de vivir, Marie's eloquence entrances the reader with each perfect phrase. This poetry touches the soul in so many ways. If you love poetry, you'll love reading her work.

This book of poetry will live in your mind forever. Marie has written some of the most beautiful and memorable poetry I have ever read. I particularly liked THE WINDOW which brought back a flood of memories from my childhood.She has made beauty in 2 languages. Don't miss it.

From the pride-inspiring tribute to our mestizo Latino heritage, "Abolengo," to the satiric vision of female submission in the title poem "Ofrenda/Offering," Marie Delgado Travis keeps her reader riveted throughout the 45 pages of this delightful book of poetry. Whether the theme of the poem was love, regret, childhood memories, or unfulfilled dreams, I was pulled in each time by the the bold expression of honest human desire that fills each page. Marie Delgado Travis is a bold, elegant and versatile new voice on the poetry scene, and I look forward to seeing what she does next!

The wind and cold of long nights, and nights longing. Autumn, wide-eyed, bundled whims of desire, sprinkled lightly. Porchlights, dazzling like jewels on a frozen path...and poetry, by Marie Delgado Travis, savored by a warm fire. Exquisite.

I loved this book. It starts with Henry being chased by the mob because of an article he wrote on Bugs Moran. The place is Chicago 1928. The action does not stop from there. Henry escapes to be offered an adventure to accompany Kate Prescott to the jungle to find her missing brother who went to the Brazilian Jungle and never returned. He did send letters home in which he mentioned looking for a Lost City. So of course Henry Wolfe the adventurer extradnoaire is intrigued. Along for the journey is a variety of characters including one of Henry's old friends Max. One of my issues with the book is it refers to a previous adventure which implies there is a book one which there is not. Through twists and turns this book holds onto you. I cannot wait to read another Henry Wolfe adventure so Travis Thrasher please hurry up and write. ;)

I have read all of Thrasher's books, but this is by far one of my favorites. From the first page, I couldn't put the book down. Full of excitement, adventure, love and surprises. I didn't want the book to end because I just wanted to know more and wanted to stay in the adventure forever. I guarentee you will love this book. Thrasher has again outdone himself. I look forward to his next book in September!!! Keep 'em coming!!!!!!

"Out of The Devil's Mouth" is Travis Thrasher's latest literary triumph! Thrasher himself tells of his resistance to be put into a box as an author and his newest tome definitely prevents that from happening. Within the circle of Christian writers, Travis certainly tests the boundaries. Out Of The Devil's Mouth is a fantastic tale of action and adventure in the tradition of Indiana Jones. Thrasher's hero, Henry Wolfe is every bit as likeable and humorous. The story takes place in 1929, starting with the infamous writer cum adventurer being dragged off by Italian mobsters in Chicago to meet his death for a story he wrote of their crime boss, but should that keep a good hero down? No, he successfully escapes to find he is wanted for hire for a dangerous excursion to the Amazon by the wealthy Prescott family of New York to find their missing son,Louis, who went to find a lost city that natives believe to hold secrets to eternal life. On a side trip, he is to travel to Key West to find his mentor and friend, French explorer, Max Joubert ( I couldn't help picturing a young Sean Connery in the movie role, haha, this would make a great flick!) Embarking on their journey is also Kate Prescott, Louis' feisty sister, some area natives, a doctor and sure fire Italian protector. What ensues is mystery, mayhem, terror and grand adventure, death for some and near-death for major players....will Max, Henry and Kate find Louis and escape impending death?? Can Kate's faith overcome Henry's disbelief?? Answering those questions would give far too much fun away! For all those who feel that Christian novels might be too preachy and a forum to push religion, I beg you to try Thrasher's novels,he is a strong talent producing unforgettable characters....I could NOT put this one down, it is his strongest effort to date and I eagerly await his thriller "Isolation" coming out later this year! Travis Thrasher is an unbelieveably wonderful, yet somewhat overlooked, gem of a writer, I have gone out and bought his whole collection and let me tell you, it was worth every penny! He should be noticed up in the ranks of Clive Cussler, Stephen King, and James Patterson: Travis Trasher Rocks!!! If you read only one author this year, make it Thrasher! I am hoping that Out Of The Devil's Mouth is only the beginning of a series of stories about Henry Wolfe! I LOVE this character and hated to see this story end! PLEASE do yourself a favor and read this great book! you willl NOT be sorry!!!! A++++++++++++++++

Writer/adventurer Henry Wolfe has a knack for getting himself into trouble. As Thrasher's adventure tale opens, we find Henry on the run from the mob in Chicago in 1928. After a narrow escape he flees to New York where he is presented with an opportunity. The elite Prescott family wants to hire Henry to search for their missing son who was last seen on an expedition in Brazil. Henry accepts the deal eagerly anticipating the bestseller potential in this latest journey. Now teamed up with his old mentor, a beautiful young woman, and a handful of guides and natives, Henry heads into the unknown where terror and danger plague them at every turn.

Travis Thrasher never ceases to amaze me with both his quality of writing and his ability to write in any genre. Thrasher has published a wide array of suspense and love stories and this time around he tries his hand at adventure. This story has the elements we expect in such a tale: plenty or suspense, edge of your seat action, unexpected terrors, and a multitude of life-threatening scenarios. Of course none of these elements are new, but Thrasher's unique writing voice brings a level of freshness to a familiar genre. No adventure story would be complete without a hint of romance and Thrasher doesn't disappoint in this area.

Henry Wolfe is the real strength of the novel. He is an engaging and endearing character that is both tough and sincere. His journey of faith is explored effectively, never in danger of being heavy handed and always remaining relevant to the story.

Travis Thrasher proves once again what a talent he is and I can only hope more and more people discover this great voice in Christian fiction. Out of the Devil's Mouth will no doubt have readers begging for more Henry Wolfe adventures. Up next Thrasher tries his hand at horror with Isolation and I can't wait to see how he handles yet another genre. If this one is any indication I know it will be something special.

This is an important book on one of the most important movements in American Photography - and a significant part of American Art. The Institute of Design developed an essential alternative to the dominant model of serious photography at that time - the Life magazine concerned photographer essay. The fundamentals of the ID approach to photography provide working principles that can be terrifically valuable for photographers today, and provide a basis for many current photography programs.

The collaborative editorial effort of David Travis, Elizabeth Siegel, Keith F. Davis, Taken By Design: Photographs From The Institute Of Design, 1937-1971 is the Art Institute of Chicago exhibition catalog which was a jointly published project with the University of Chicago Press. Showcasing the photography that arose out of The Institute of Design during some three and a half decades, Taken By Design chronicles and documents a fascinating sidebar in the history of American photography. Enhanced with essays, articles, biographical sketches, course curricula, and more, Taken By Design is a welcome, original, and highly recommended contribution to personal, professional, and academic Photography historical reference and resource collections and reading lists.

Much more than a catalog

This book is not just a catalog of the show now at San Francisco's MOMA. It is a rich source that chronicles the evolution of the Chicago Institute of Design (ID) and its photography program. With 6 written essays and articles, biographies, course curricula, and other background it places the ID's photographers rightfully in the middle of the late twentieth century art revolution.

The writing is authoritative, revealing and thought provoking. Some is understandably enthusiastic, by authors named Moholy-Nagy and Siegel, some is analytical/critical, illuminating the difficulties and disagreements that resolved themselves into a program like no other. Any student of photography or modern art must know about this controversial and audacious adventure that was spun off from the Bauhaus by Moholy-Nagy, Arthur Siegel and the other subjects of this chronicle.

The authors explore some of these subjects. Why was the this such an important project and why was it controversial? What effect has it had? What does it teach us today? These are important questions simply because a large number of prominent and influential students passed through it.

No serious collection of late 20th century photographs can be without 20 or so of the prints from this group. Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind, Ken Josephson, Ray Metzker, Linda Connor, Arthur Siegel, Art Sinsabaugh and many others all studied and taught there. Many went on the teach at places like R.I. School of Design, San Francisco Art Institute and many places in between. The influence of this group is much more extensive than its size and longevity would suggest.

At a time when the "giants" of the medium were devoted to "pure" photography, Moholy-Nagy appeared from Europe and proposed that photography be treated as a tool of graphic design. Light, texture, volume, rhythm, contrast and other elements were worth studying for their own sake in order to apply the unique strengths of photography to the art of design.

They produced something akin to Jazz. Painters like Motherwell, Johns, Rauschenberg were producing strikingly similar imagery. Paul Strand, Man Ray, Lartigue, Rodschenko and a many others had explored the same issues. The Bauhaus and the Chicago ID were an attempt to formalize the earlier experiments. Strand, Weegee, Winogrand, Blumenfeld and others contributed to the ID at various times.

The ID photographers showed how purely graphic aspects of the medium could be used to express a vision, used to dig subtle meaning from the mundane, used to reveal things in synthetic abstract that weren't visible. They expanded and elevated their medium in a very short, intense time. There is little in today's published graphics not already in the photographs of the students in this show.

An unintended consequence of this book is to have produced a key to much of abstract expressionist painting, and modern poetry. The photograph always contains an insistent link to "reality" that seems more obvious than it is in a painting, but it is no less a subject of the painter than the photographer. This show might be the trigger that makes other modern artists accessible to some people. I've recommended this book to some art teachers for this reason.

I have long been a fan of the work that came out of the Institute of Design from the 1940s-1960s. It was a highly creative and experimental time and environment. After fleeing Nazi Germany in the late 1930s, many Bauhaus design and photography educators set up shop in Chicago. They started a new school and a new method of teaching photography that emphasized experimenting with abtract forms and understanding the process of imagery through intense creative study. Lazlo Moholy-Nagy was the driving force for the early successes, along with Gyorgy Kepes and Nathan Lerner. After Maholy-Nagy died, Harry Callahan took over the job as photography head, and moved away slightly from the early experimentation period by trying to challenge his students into creating their own thesis statements. Some of the other artists that also attended or participated in this important school were Barbara Crane, Yasuhiro Ishimoto, Joseph Jachna, Kenneth Josephson, Arthur Siegel, & many others.

The book in in conjunction with the exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago of the same title. The exhibition should not be missed if you are in the Chicago area, but if you cannot make it to the exhibition (which closes May 12, 2002), this book is a great representation of the exhibits masterpieces. Inside are hundreds of fine-art images from ID, along with interviews, quotes, in-depth commentaries, and a lot of really great candids of the artists. It is really worth it. And I would certainly suggest buying this book at Amazon...

If you have any interest in modern art or photography, this book is a fantastic history lesson on the impact of these innovators on the entire possibilities of the medium. The Institute of Design helped shape photography into an art form of its own, and to push the boundaries of the medium at the same time. What a great time it must have been!

My second encounter with Travis Thrasher. This book is a real tear jerker, and sometimes sappy. The pace is very slow, almost sluggish yet and almost feels like it is meandering, yet you don't feel like rushing it along, you quietly float with the pace the book out and you find that the meandering is intentional; you lose yourself in finding redemption. The central character's journey toward redemption isn't an easy one to forget. Very well written, almost poetic.
The hard back cover of this book is also very gorgeous; that shade of blue just steals my heart.

This book is funny and serious at the same time! He makes you believe the characters and he is not afraid to write about real life issues. It is a good read.

When I opened The Watermark, I wasn't sure what to expect. But from page one, I was intriqued...even hooked. Thrasher's thoughtful tale about forgiveness and second chances is a story for anyone who has lived, loved, lost, or made a terrible mistake. Covenant College and the surrounding Chicago settings lent authenticity to the work, since the author hails from that city. The concerns of college life as Sheridan and Genevie are readying themselves to move out into the world, their conversations, etc., feel real...as do Erik's season within the party scene.

It wasn't until Sheridan revealed the truth about Amy to Genevie that I also discovered it; Travis's ability to expose the mystery surrounding Sheridan's past was masterful. I learned enough to keep me flipping those pages and then had to discipline myself to keep from peeking in the final chapter. It was worth the wait. The story unfolded beautifully, giving the reader a wonderful, if sometimes bumpy, journey alongside Sheridan to healing.

If you are looking for a book with a haunting voice, compelling story, and nuggets of truth throughout, try The Watermark. It is a great read!

Some might find a male romance writer a little odd, but the jests will fade when they read this book. As a male reader, I was surprised how drawn in I was by the characters' story. These are real people with real emotions, the sort you squeeze past at the coffee shop, not the sort that wear hoop earrings while riding horses bare-backed across the cover of more "die-hard" romantic fiction. I found myself rooting for Sheldon to take the risky step of moving from living in his head to involving himself in the lives of others. Intelligent, believable, touching even, and altogether enjoyable.