Western Books

My son picked this out of a bookstore and loves it. I had to read it 3 times to both of my boys the first night. It retells the Biblical story of Gideon and having trust in God.

The graphics and fun and keep the kids tuned in (including my 3 year old) and the story line is a blast to read. It's written in rhyme with a nice beat. The last page includes questions for the kids to help them think more of the story, a recipe for black bean chili (featured in the story) and a game that mentions that there are 24 geckos hiding among the pages in the story (which also keeps the kids attention).

My kids love the western theme to this and let's face it, it's a easy accent to do for voices. I can't say enough good things about the book and hope they keep coming out with more. In fact, I'm purchasing the other one right now.

I saw this book in a bible book store and got it for my 3 1/2 year old. This is a wonderful way to "cowboy-up" a lesson out of the bible. We can't wait to get the rest of the series!

This is such a great retelling of the Biblical strory of Gideon. The book has amazing artwork and great writing. It takes place in the American "Old West" and is very action packed. The pictures have so much going on in the background and my boys just love to point out things they recognize. A great moral story for kids to learn from and told in a fun and exciting way. Great for fans that love bible stories told in a different way( i.e Veggie Tales). NOt just for kids either.

I just wanted to say that I thought this was one of the best children's books that I have seen and read in a long time. All the way from the story line to the Graphics. It looks like it came from a movie! Pixar style! Anyway...It keeps straight to the facts of the story in the bible even though it has the western twist to it. All of my little brothers and sisters enjoy reading it and want to read it over and over again. GO MILLER BROTHERS!!!

This is a wonderful book and would make a great gift for special kids in your life. Our three-year-old girl loves it and wants us to read it over and over. This is a great retelling of the story of Gideon. The western theme is fun, the illustrations are top notch and the moral is to not allow fear to stand in the way of doing what is right. I highly recommend this!

I am an avid reader, through out my years I have only had the urge to read few books twice having said that I have read Lily six times. It has made its way to a tie of my favorite books. The story plays out the classic love that every girl wants in her life, the untamable hunk that has fallen head over heals for you and you are they only one who can see the goodness of his soul. The moral of my story is that you should with out a doubt read this book. It is timeless.

I have read many books, but this is by far the best love story i have read. i have just finished Lily and the book was so enticing that i read it in only two days and can still not stop thinking about it. Marion and Lily's passion for each other is not the stero-type romance that are so common, but real. It is an excellent book and you can tell that the author took in her research to write such a wonderful book. I only wish that it was a true story!

I just have to say, I was given this book 9 years ago when I was only 13 years old. It captivated me then and it still does to this day. I re-read it at least once a year, every year since then . I never get tired of it. With each year of new maturity, I understand and love this story even more. Thank you, Ms. Bonner, for writing this marvelous story. Your writing paints such a detailed picture and brings the reader in and I can almost feel the cold in the air and the smell of gunpowder around me. I only wish such characters really did exist. Thank you!

I am a 32 year old college graduate and mother of two. I have always loved to read, so I've read a LOT of books. This book remains one of my all-time favorites! It has a wide age-range of appeal. I discovered it at age 24, and would wholeheartedly recommend it for any female age 12 or so and up, right on through adulthood. It's filled with the sweetly romantic love that young girls crave, and for those of us who hate the "adult" romance novels for their annoyingly stereotypical scenes and descriptions, this is a delightful change of pace. It's not inspidly sweet and juvenile by any means, though. If you can find this book, even at a public library, get ahold of it and enjoy it!

After falling in love with an outlaw, Lily Delony must battle an internal conflict growing inside of her. It is a fight for true love against her family and the whole town. Her heart belongs to Marion Beatty, the youngest brother of an outlaw gang. When the town of McDade sets up to capture and hang the Beatty gang, Lily discovers that her father is part of the vigilante group. Marion and Lily have hidden their love long enough. On the night of the captures Lily and Marion run off togerther hoping to start a new life. They did not leave the town alone though. Marion was wanted for murder and abduction, and the sheriff was hot on his trail. After getting married, both move in with a family member and begin their life. When Marion runs into the sheriff, he turns himself in and is takin back to McDade. Lily is reunited with her father, but is sadden. Her father does not recognise the marriage license and burns it. Lily rides into town with only one motive on her mind, how to get Marion out of jail.
This book is a wonderful love story. It has suspense and romantic love scenes. The authors descriptive form of writing places vivid pictures in your mind. Teenagers and young adults anre recommended to read this novel. It is a page tuurner that will not allow you to sleep.

This is one of my favorite books ever.

It asks us to take the elephant out of the closet. That elephant is that we are all alive and at some point we each will experience our own death.

That actually was very empowering for me - it helps me to make decisions about things I thought I had no choice over such as how I want to respond to certain people, situations, past experiences, and anticipations of future events.

Somehow, by really getting that I will experience my own death, my present reality and choices have come more into focus.

I like how the author writes - he is kind, firm, funny and insightful all at one time. I highly recommend this as well as his other books. Breath by Breath was a great one too!

This is an excellent, down-to-earth, practical and clear explanation of the most essential concepts of Buddhism, namely impermanence, aging, sickness, and death. Although these are topics most of us would rather sweep under the rug, the author makes a great case for confronting these issues head on. His point is that when confronted we can live our lives truer to our inner selves. The writing is clear. The analogies are simple and directly applicable. The author is honest and his sharing of his own journey helpful to the reader. This book has helped me understand these important concepts in Buddhism and I highly recommend it.

Possibly the only book that you need to read to get a perfect understanding on how life works. Larry Rosenberg writes this in simple language that is very easy to understand. I have studied these principles in my life as a Buddhist and these are presented in a non sectarian approach. I would say that this is a MUST read for anyone who wants to learn about our true nature.

Larry Rosenberg has written a book that covers all a person needs to know about death awareness. It includes the 9 contemplations of atisha in simple to read prose that is quite inclusive and profound.

As a new practitioner to the Buddhist way of life, I felt that this book distilled several books/teachings I've encountered on finding happiness in the present. I heartily recommend it to anyone living - especially those living in a fast-paced society.

Richly detailed and populated with memorable characters. A sweeping tale that carries the reader from the most remote corners of the unsettled West to the complicated social customs of pre-Civil War New Orleans and the small, wild city that will become San Francisco. Intricate portrayals of Native American culture and tribal interaction as well as Western life. Worth reading.

This is a wonderful novel and a MUST READ! It brought back many great memories of my own years exploring and experiencing the mountains, streams, valleys, and lakes of the Northwest. The novel is set in the 1850's, a time of expansion for the United States. The author has certainly done his homework as he brings out the strengths and weaknesses of his characters showing the struggles of the white and red man as they accepted their destiny. I just wish there were more books like this to read. I am looking forward to the sequel.

It's wonderful to read an account depicting how an outlaw, opportunistic, western town becomes the civilized, cultural city of San Francisco. The Indian Wars intertwined with the rich description of the Oregon Territories rounds out a great read, filling in the whole picture. The story has exciting action sequences that lead you to believe the events actually happened. Character development is comprehensive. I want more.

You will surely enjoy this book. It's an entertaining story that makes the history of the period covered (1850's) and the geography of the Oregon Territories come alive. I have always found Indian culture fascinating and this treatment of the Shoshone and Blackfoot is well researched and sympathetic. The author leaves you intimately acquainted with the conflicts between tribes and individuals and the land they cherish. Meanwhile, you are following this young cowboy from adventure to adventure and meeting a fine cast of interesting characters (romantic interest included). It held my attention from cover to cover.

I give this one an A+ as a quality western fiction novel. I love to read, but I don't always finish every book I start. This book was one of those rare finds I didn't want to put down. The Lone War Cry kept my attention from the beginning. Even with the start of the first chapter, I quickly found myself trotting right along beside young blue-eyed Corby as a turn of events partners this outlaw with his former foe, the rugged ex-marshal Donovan. Their intriguing contrast of youth vs. experience enhanced the adventure as the two build their friendship while traveling on a sometimes inhospitable journey west. The story captures the true character of the 1850's westward expansion and accurately depicts the historical struggles of both the white man and the Native American tribes. The author did his homework and it shows. The challenges of rapid change forced onto the Shoshone, Blackfoot, Crow, and others tribes caused by the invasion of pioneers is depicted with refreshing realism. Although this book has a fiction label, the author's accurate portrayal of this period in history grips you emotionally and reels you in. I found myself rooting for the victors, and sometimes even for the villains! Along with a host of interesting characters, this genuine cowboy adventure has a touch of humor, a hint of romance, a sense of wisdom, and a saddle bag of adventure! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys good reading.

In the uneven 7 Deadly sins series, copublished by Oxford University press and the New York Public Library, three of the volumes are stinkers, one is above average, and three are quite good. The best of the lot is Robert Thurman's treatment of anger; third best is Francine Prose on gluttony. Second place goes to philosopher Simon Blackburn's witty, urbane, and analytically precise treatment of lust.

In Blackburn's hands (pardon the bad pun) lust loses the automatically pessimistic sheen of sin that the Christian tradition has bestowed on it. As Blackburn says (p. 27), "we [should] no more criticize lust because it can get out of hand, than we [should][ criticize hunger because it can lead to gluttony or thirst because it can lead to drunkenness." Looked at in itself, lust--desire for sexual pleasure--is neutral. Context and disposition are the dividing lines in separating moral from immoral lust.

Lust that fully recognizes the partner as a fellow human being and desires his or her sexual fulfillment in the encounter is, says Blackburn, the optimal situation. There's a kind of feedback look that occurs when sexual partners mutually recognize one another: I desire your pleasure, and seeing it enhances my pleasure, which enhances yours... Blackburn refers to this as Hobbesian unity (from a passage from Hobbes in which he writes of the relationship between imagination and mutual pleasuring in sex). This doesn't mean that all lust which falls short of Hobbesian unity is tarnished. One of the healthier aspects of Blackburn's approach is his recognition of degrees. As he says (p. 133), "if Hobbesian unity cannot be achieved, it can at least be aimed at, and even if it cannot be aimed at, it can be imagined and dreamed."

Blackburn's book achieves what all good philosophical treatments do: it simply has the ring of familiar common sense.

Well, it's good to see at least one philosopher who understands lust better than most historical figures.

I had more fun reading this book than I have reading any book on such a serious moral topic. Simon Blackburn lives in the real world and he writes as if he intends to help everyone else who lives there as well.

Absolutely must reading for the serious and not-so-serious minded as well. The press that printed this book is to be commended for having selected Simon Blackburn for this task (writing clearly about the meaning and importance of "lust".

Blackburne's book is the best of the series, yet they all tend to be of a high calibre. It is highly readable yet carefully researched. As with all the books in the series, it is quite short and can be read in a sitting or two. The book has a wonderful dustjacket and nice tight binding, although for such a slender little book it does fetch a bit of a high price--worth it though!

+++++

This book that contains an essay by philosophy professor Simon Blackburn, analyzes one of the "Seven Deadly Sins," namely lust. (The other six are pride, envy, anger, sloth, greed, and gluttony.) Lust and even more so the "ideas about lust" are examined from an historical, artistic, religious, psychological, and philosophical perspective.

Even though there are different types of lust, Blackburn is concerned with sexual lust. He explains: "Lust is a psychological state with a goal in mind...the desire that infuses the body, for sexual activity and its pleasures for their own sake."

Specifically, some of the topics Blackburn looks into with respect to lust are as follows: desire, excess, suppression, Christian viewpoint, cultural consequences, and evolutionary psychology. Perhaps, the most important concept presented in this essay (at least for me) is the idea of "Hobbesian Unity" developed by seventeenth-century philosopher Thomas Hobbes. Here, there is a "pure mutuality" of lust. That is, "I desire you, and desire your desire for me."

Who are some of the people you will encounter in this book? There is mention of Aristotle, Plato, Aristophanes, Shakespeare, Saint Augustine, Bill Clinton, Dante, Richard Dawkins, Freud, Thomas Hobbes, David Hume, Immanuel Kant, and Bertrand Russell. If you're not familiar with some of these names, don't worry. Blackburn tells us who these people are. In fact, Blackburn's entire essay is clearly and precisely written.

Finally, there are two sets of artistic photographs or plates in this book (eight pictures per set). The first eight are in black and white while the final eight are in color. These are used to highlight points that Blackburn makes throughout his essay.

In conclusion, I found this slim book to be very insightful. It cleared up the many, many wrong and contradictory ideas regarding the most misunderstood and interesting "deadly sin," namely lust!!!

(first published 2004; preface; introduction; 15 chapters; main narrative 135 pages; notes; index)

+++++

Simon Blackburn has given us one of the top two of the 7 Deadly Sins series - hugely enjoyable, highly informative and one of those rare things: an intelligent book that neither patronises nor bores the reader to death. (For the record, I think the other one is Envy)

Most philosophy books fall into two deadly and sinful categories. They tend to be either simplistic, so that anyone with a serious interest beyond degree level becomes frustrated and dissatisfied; or they're way too 'academic' and technical, forcing the reader to tear his (or her) hair out by the roots and retreat to the sports channels on television. Blackburn avoids both hellish places here, giving an intelligent overview of his allocated sin while keeping the reader pinned to the pages as though reading a novel.

His amusing and often almost poetic writing style not only grips, but leads you down alleyways of the history of ideas that both entertain and get you thinking. But that's his chief problem, because once you think a little about what you're reading, you realise the flaw in his method of argument. He's simply enjoying himself too much.

This shouldn't hurt, and really it doesn't; on the other hand it leaves you with the feeling that he's missed something along the way. Sin is, after all, quite deadly, and rather than condemning as prudes or psychologically scarred misfits those people who have historically told us that it's bad, it would have been helpful to have been taken along the darker streets of lust for a change.

Hell, it's fashionable these days to defend things like lust. John Portman's In Defense of Sin is a shining example of reader-friendly 'diet academia' which gets the blood flowing and the mind racing, but it's ultimately little more than an excuse to be naughty and dress it up as a "serious examination of why we believe x y or z". For anybody who has experienced lust and got their fingers (or anything else for that matter) burnt, Blackburn just doesn't go far enough.

Every one of the Deadly Sins has its friendly brother whom we mistake for the real thing. Envying somebody else's car while we drive down the street in our Skoda may technically be called envy, but it's a barmy thought process that would lead anybody to think that because it only scratches us and doesn't cut us, envy isn't necessarily that bad after all. The same goes for lust. While a 'Hobbesian unity' sounds fantastic, it doesn't account for the darker or more destructive sides of the thing.

We don't need to mention the agonies of rape or other forms of sexual abuse to see this. Imagine simply lusting after other women while your wife waits at home with the dinner, or think of the discomfort you might feel upon seeing a boyfriend looking hungrily at another girl's legs...

Lust can hurt love. Lust can cause us to turn away from more giving feelings. Lust can draw us away from, not always 'Hobbesianly towards', our partners. Why didn't Blackburn discuss this? Why did he do no more than nod once in its direction?

Why didn't Blackburn discuss the husband whose lust is tethered and never actually acted upon, but fairly indiscriminate nonetheless, and whose wife is consequently devalued even when never technically cheated upon? Why didn't he mention the wife who has no indiscriminate lust but forms a lustful attachment to one of her work colleagues, and while never acting upon her basic urges knows full well that her husband would be devastated to find out (and rightly so - this isn't some childish jealousy that he'd be feeling)? Why doesn't he mention the girlfriend who has neither indiscriminate lust nor lust for a colleague, but who suddenly finds herself chomping at the bit on just one occasion? I'm no prude, I feel and will hopefully continue to feel powerful lustful urges, but I recognise that they're not always fun and happy. Lust can damage people beyond recognition. Having lustful dreams about a friend is bad enough, but waking up and being disappointed to find my girlfriend lying next to me was injury to insult; finding my commitment (but happily not my fidelity) to another girlfriend tested and found wanting by an urge I may never lose reminds me, over and over again, that there's more to lust than fun, the fulfilment of love, or pointing a disapproving (although in Blackburn's case eridute) finger at Mediaeval philosophers and theologers.

It's a great book. I don't want to knock it. But it seems to think that lust is a great sin, rather than just a great big dirty one. I just can't help thinking that while Blackburn intelligently defends, explains and even to some extent promotes lust in his book, all those occasions that I've been torn apart by it and all those times where otherwise beautiful relationships have been damaged, sometimes irreperably, by it have been done just a little disrespect by the notion that, well, you'd have to be a puritan or a prude not to see its advantages.

I also don't believe that Blackburn has deliberately led the reader to challenge him and think about the other side of the coin; he spends so much time examining so many of the minutiae of lust that his feels like a book that sets out to inform rather than lay down a gauntlet. Yet I still, after all this, urge you to buy it.

Why? I don't know. Perhaps it's just because while I didn't always agree with him, I don't think that disagreeing with someone means that his book can't be enjoyed and recommended. It IS intelligent; it IS readable; it IS informative. It even prompted me to buy more of his work.

If we could choose when to lust, if we could choose whom we lusted after, if we could choose how much we lust and if we could choose who lusted for us, the world would be a better place, and perhaps more accurately reflected by Blackburn's otherwise excellent little book.

Mildred Cusey was a madam, an entrepreneur, and a survivor: Max Evans's superbly written biography, Mildred Cusey, tells of an orphan and waitress who rose from prostitute to bordello owner, in the process charting the rise and influence of bordellos from Silver City to Ketchikan. Madam Millie is an intriguing biographical history.

Ignore the book's subtitle, cover and back cover copy. Madam Millie is not about bordellos or lurid sex detail. It's about a tough, wise, loveable woman. There are a few funny incidents -- as when a cat attacks a delicate portion of a bishop's anatomy -- but today they seem rather tame.
Millie's long life was never ordinary. Orphaned at a young age, she was saved from juvenile justice by Harry S. Truman, then a Kansas City judge. When her sister Florence was diagnosed with tuberculosis, Millie accompanied her to Deming, New Mexico, where she worked as a Harvey Girl at the train station.
Millie entered her new profession to pay her sister's medical bills. And the rest is, literally, history.
Readers will appreciate Madam Millie on two levels: as the biography of a legend and as a social history of women, work and early life in the southwest. Millie entered the business to pay medical bills for her sister. In one night, she would earn more -- and have a pleasanter life -- than she would in the other occupations open to women at the time.
Millie was first and foremost a businesswoman. She built her success not on her looks but on her charisma, executive skills and ability to read people. It was no accident that her houses attracted high-powered clients. She was their equal.
Millie managed bordellos but she also bought and sold real estate. If she had been born forty years later, she would be a player in business or politics -- a very different but equally challenging game.
Readers can debate the morality -- and inevitabilty -- of Millie's "business." Millie herself believed there would always be a need, whether legally met or not. As Millie acknowledged, in the end what she had to sell soon became available for free, thanks to birth control and a changing society.
Millie ran clean houses, with no drugs and no disease, and her contributions to the community must have set a record. There were no rescue agencies back then. She *was* the Red Cross. Her last houses on Hudson Street -- site of the current Silver City post offices -- closed in 1968.
Madam Millie is fast-paced and easy to read. We get a sense of her wit and style, though not a great deal of her thought processes. Then again, Madam Millie does not come across as an introspective gal. She's all action. The pictures help us see history: the "girls" come across as more humorous than provocative.
Give this book to your favorite Silver City newcomer. Buying stamps and mailing a letter will take on a whole new meaning after they read Madam Millie.

I met Millie once when I was a youngster, this book was of immense interest to me.
This is a very good story and it is hilarious at times.
Other times it is heart wrenching. Kind of like life.
My only criticism is that the biographer was weak in the delivery of the story.
Nevertheless, I express thanks to Mr. Evans his perseverance in writing this book. I am certain it was not an effortless undertaking.

This book is one that I will save as a gem between gems on my bookshelf.

Absolutely great book if you want to read about one of the truly fantastic madams of the recent period, read this! She crowded more 'living' into her life than most people do in 6 lifetimes. She had friends in all the right places, and knew everyone. On her own from the age of 14, she was a quick learner and knew all the 'tricks'. In fact, as she put it, "We turned a good trick". Had houses from Alaska to the bottom of New Mexico. Top notch- 5 stars.

I found the story of Madam Millie very fascinating and funny at times. I've lived in Silver City for two years and its interesting to read about the town in its heyday. Especially now that I know that the post office is where her infamous whorehouse once sat.
The story is told as if Millie was still alive and Max Evans makes her real and not just some unreachable figure in Silver's past. What I enjoyed most was learning about the people who would visit her brothels and I rolled on the floor with laughter at the story of the Mormon bishop.
I recommend this book to anyone, especially if you live in or near Silver City, because most of the places she talks about still exisit and it makes you think twice about downtown Silver City.

Came quickly with the software package included.
Saved over $20 from school bookstore website!

Honestly, unless you want to pore through every major modern quality system (ie ISO, Baldridge) and amass the details of countless companies (from Ritz Carlton to SSM Health - yes, healthcare!), buy the book.

Once you do, expect a tremendous return on this investment for an up to date, well organized, and thorough look at quality in its practical application. To get the most bang for your buck, get the latest version so your not quoting what the Ritz did 5 years ago.

Long, verbose, time consuming and WORTH EVERY BIT OF IT!

Was an assigned text for an upper level university Management course. Excellent choice. The content made sense, was well written/easy to read, and continually built on earlier chapters.

It's still on my shelf as a reference I refer to often in my business. Wouldn't be without it!

It is straightforward book. Each chapter has some case study, which is real application of Quality management. I would strongly recommend for students as well as managers to read this book. It has different point of views from various Philosophers like Dr. Deming, Dr. Juran, Crosby and other well-known persons.

I used an older edition of this book in preparing for the ASQ Certified Quality Manager Exam. It is a great reference.

This book has wonderful graphics and a compendium of material about the distribution and characteristics of a wide variety of reef fish. It would be good for identification of species in both the ocean and aquarium. It does not have enough information on most fish for culture, feeding etc.

Micronesian Reef Fishes is the ultimate referance for experienced marine biologists. The number of species listings are mind blowing. Some uncommon and unknown species are also offered. For example: "Reptilian Snake Eel", "Lagoon Picasso Triggerfish", and "Pink Snapper." These are a few of the thousands of uncommon and typical species identified. Every single category is described to the pinpoint in the front of the book, with the beautiful photos on the right hand side. This is not any annotated version of a field guide, and it seems to cover a wider range than Micronesia. Both editions of the guide are pretty much complete, but the hardback has more listings. However, it does not matter which edition you purchase, since the difference is hardly noticeable.

Robert Myer's book is a wonderful tool for all snorkelers, divers, and fish enthusiasts. Robert is a wonderful diver and photographer, and he has spent much time identifying Micronesian fish in their adult and juvenile stages. His book is easy to use but also detailed. This book is much-needed, because many of the fish included are native to particular regions, rare species, or under-studied.

I have used this book numerous times in Guam and other Micronesian islands (where we became friends with Robert!). This is really a great tool for identification, and not just for Micronesia, but also for the entire Indo-Pacific region. I highly recommend it!

I make my living taking people scuba diving in Micronesia. At Yap Divers, we reference Myers' book daily. This is the definitive fish book on Micronesia and belongs in any serious libarary.

I would just like to comment that the differences between the softcover and hardcover editions needs to be described in the advertisement. The hardcover edition is comprehensive, covering "every known shorefish from the region" as well as a detailed descriptive (i.e. measurements and counts, line drawings, keys, synonyms, etc.) that may be of more interest to the marine biologist or fish fanatic. The softcover is an abridged version with a re-written text, suitable as a field guide for divers and aquarists. Both have the same color section (the text section is separate from the photos). The content is excellent in the softcover; however, I will be returning it for the hardcover since it contains the kind of information I am interested in attaining.

I am Dorothy Garlock fan. I have read many of her books and I must say, that this is one of the best books Garlock has written.

As usual Dorothy Garlock has as always written a very good story and a meaningful family story.

Mara Shannon returns to her childhood home to claim her parents' land. Her fight to regain what is rightfully her's brings her into close contact with Pack Gallagher, a rough boxer. Their story is truly touching as is the story about two secondary characters, Emily and Charles. Excellant!

Yes, this book is definitely for hopeless romantics, or just those that love a great historical romance! Wonderful from start to finish. Ms. Garlock took her time getting the two together, slowly developing the relationship from protector to lover. At the beginning, it is Mara that has to protect Pack from sure death. Then from there on, she slowly discovers how Pack has been her whole life, even before she was aware of it... you'll have to read it to understand that statement!

Yes, this book is definitely for hopeless romantics, or just those that love a great historical romance! Wonderful from start to finish. Ms. Garlock took her time getting the two together, slowly developing the relationship from protector to lover. At the beginning, it is Mara that has to protect Pack from sure death. Then from there on, she slowly discovers how Pack has been her whole life, even before she was aware of it... you'll have to read it to understand that statement!

Sam and Emily were also wonderful characters, with a very sweet love story. If you read other Garlock books, you'll be thrilled to find out the true identify of Emily and Charlie Rivers. I loved reading about Zachary Quill, the son of Farrway and Liberty Quill, and hearing what's happening to others from Quills Station.

This unique and fascinating book by Dr. Cox has important implications for development practitioners and academics interested in political ecology as well as ethnobotanists. The challenges faced by the people of Falealupo village in choosing between preserving their forest or building a school for their children are typical of the environmental trade-offs that many people in developing countries feel compelled to make simply to achieve, by our standards, a minimally acceptable standard of living. The solution presented by Dr. Cox, in which social networks are built such that people willing to invest in the preservation of ecosystems are put into direct contact with those people overseeing these ecosystems (without government or NGO intervention) has important lessons for people interested in promoting "Conservation-with-Development" approaches to economic development. This text also illustrates the complex ways that the human imprint on ecosystems is embedded in power-laden social networks and that change involves contestation and negotiation of power within these networks. This book thus holds important insights for those interested in political ecology. (For those interested in these topics, Dr. Cox's contribution to People, Plants and Justice - Charles Zerner, ed., Cambridge University Press, 2000 - makes an informative companion-piece to Nafanua.)

Finally, as a person who has lived in Samoa for several years as a volunteer teacher and as someone who conducts ecological research there, I find Dr. Cox's presentation of the people of Samoa, shown from a more personalized perspective rather than an academic one, to be open, honest and fair. He avoids falling into the trap of romanticizing or essentializing the people as "ecologically noble savages" that live in perfect harmony with their environment that has become so common in depictions of indigenous peoples in the popular media. When I read the book, I often saw the Samoa that I knew from my own personal experience.

First I must say that I am not saying that ethnobotany is boring. I am just saying it seems boring to me and it might to others, but even if you know nothing of botany and have little interest in it you will find great interest in this book. It is a fascinating narrative and Paul brings you into the Samoan world as well as a palagi really can.

I had a chance to hear Paul Cox speak and he talked about how the rainforest became his mother. The book starts with the death of his mother by cancer. He travels to Samoa to search for a possible cure in the rain forest, his quest however becomes to save the rainforest from the forces of globalization. I think the most compelling issue of this book is the positive and negative aspects of western scholarship when it comes in touch with another land and culture.

Paul is a very good storyteller and makes you want to continue reading.

This was an outstanding work. I am a palagi who has been married to a Samoan woman for 9 years and have had extensive dealings with Samoans for 14 years. We visited Western Samoa in 1988, so I have seen the culture first-hand, as well as my state-side exposure with Samoan American organizations. I could almost see myself interacting with the people as he related his accounts... although my 50 or so word Samoan vocabulary can't be compared with the author. He truly captures the essence of Samoa and its people.

This is a most interesting book, the story of how the author came to live in Samoa,and fell in love with the people and their tropical forest environment. When faced with a seemingly hopeless situation, namely the destruction of a huge area of tropical forest, the author recounts his experience in helping to save these sacred lands--through purchasing the logging rights from the outsiders who were beginning to bulldoze the forests, and turning the control of the forests over to the local community. The book is filled with fascinating stories, and the people and their forests come alive in its pages. I was particularly moved by Cox's account of living through a typhoon and barely managing to save his family and Samoan friends as the waves continued to pound apart each of the shelters that they took refuge in. A wonderful narrative of live on this remote Pacific Island, of botanical studies, conservation and committment to a cause. Truely this book will be an inspiration for people who are looking for real life heroes--in this case the lineage of elderly healers who have been the guardians of their sacred traditions for thousands of years, who worked with Paul Cox to ensure that their plants, many with profoundly important uses, would be preserved for future generations. I gave this book to several friends. It is, quite simply, a wonderful read.

This is a most interesting book, the stody of how the author came to live in Samoa,and fell in love with the people and their tropical forest environment. When faced with a seemingly hopeless situation, namely the destruction of a huge area of tropical forest, the author recounts his experience in helping to save these sacred lands--through purchasing the logging rights from the outsiders who were beginning to bulldoze the forests, and turning the control of the forests over to the local community. The book is filled with fascinating stories, and the people and their forests come alive in its pages. I was particularly moved by Cox's account of living through a typhoon and barely managing to save his family and Samoan friends as the waves continued to pound apart each of the shelters that they took refuge in. A wonderful narrative of live on this remote Pacific Island, of botanical studies, conservation and committment to a cause. Truely this book will be an inspiration for people who are looking for real life heroes--in this case the lineage of elderly healers who have been the guardians of their sacred traditions for thousands of years, who worked with Paul Cox to ensure that their plants, many with profoundly important uses, would be preserved for future generations. I gave this book to several friends. It is, quite simply, a wonderful read.