McDonald's Books

I really liked this, but Mr. McDonald has written half a book! In the last 25 pages of a 275-page book, he rushes to tell us how he quit Elaine's, has his book published, gets deeply into drugs and alcohol, goes broke, spends years of his life on a prolonged relapse, then gets clean and sober again. Hello!?!? I wish there had been more editing early on, so we could have had less about standing behind the bar and more about the struggle to get his life back. Maybe that's being saved for the next book? If so -- not fair. Nonetheless, Mr. McDdonald's a good writer and it was an enjoyable read.

Reading McDonald is akin to eating a piece of Junior's cheesecake or a hotdog at Yankee stadium; its pure New York that you end up carrying with you as an experience.

I am a big fan of My Father's Gun, and this book shows not only McDonald's writing strength, but how he has grown as a writer. Like Gun, you come away with a precious sense for how it is/was in New York as a true New Yorker. Simply priceless.

Mr. McDonald vividly describes the unique world of Elaine's, an iconic bar and restaurant in the Big Apple. But that's not all he describes in this hard to categorize Memoir. The book is a redemption story. And it's a celebration of a place that will probably never be equaled for its longevity and its sheer glamor. In addition, Mr. McDonald has written a most sensitive and compelling portrait of Elaine Kaufman. Ms Kaufman has always been enigmatic even to the people closest to her and the people that have previously written about her. McDonald enables us to see the strength, fragility and vulnerability of this complex and enormously successful "Queen of New York." She is just human after all. However, the most significant aspect of 'Last Call at Elaine's' is the author's portrayal of his own alcoholism and the concomitant and destructive denial that all alcoholics must have in abundance to keep doing what they do. There is nothing trite, maudlin or sensational about the way McDonald describes this insidious disease. I feel richly rewarded for the sleep I lost staying up to read this book. I am glad McDonald took Elaine's advice to 'Just tell the Story.'

A must read for any New Yorker - surely you know one, or have been one yourself.

I really like this book. I read it when I was 12, and I just HAD to show it to my friends at school. They're more confident in their looks because of this book. They know now not to be a slave to the stereotype depiction of beauty (this one girl actually tried to pop her zits to get rid of them, even when she knew it was a bad idea!!)

I just bought this book for my almost-13-year-old niece. I spent the entire evening poring over the chapters myself! I hope it will help her maintain a positive self-image throughout the devastating teen years. The thing I liked best about it is that it explains how fashions and make-up styles follow cycles, and the kinds of things these industries do to create demand for their products. And talk about diversity! It celebrates the beauty of all body types and sizes, deals honestly with burgeoning sexuality and sexuality identity, and also emphasizes a very important point: things like wearing make-up, shaving your legs or following fashions are really a "choice" rather than an obligation for teen girls. You don't see information like this in most of the magazines aimed at girls in this age group, since they're part of the "machine" that creates and drives demand for cosmetics and fashions. It was nice to see a different viewpoint presented. Nice also to see the quotes included from teen girls who frequent the authors' website. Wish there had been something like this when I was a teenage girl!

I felt so much better about myself reading this book. It has girl's comments on their bodies and how they feel about them, and it shows how fashions change and how media images aren't real. There's a lot of stuff that helps you appreciate your body, plus a chapter on different looks you can try, to express yourself. Plus, the illustrations and chatty, fun writing style make it fun to read.

This book covers just about ALL QUESTIONS! It has info about beauty and style as far as the egyptian and greek times! It shows how certain styles and body types have gone "in" and "out" of fashion. It also has info about different body parts. There's even letters and emails from girls who talk, comment and ask about the body part. The looks part of the book is excellent too! From Diva to Vamp, Bombshell to Femme Fatele, you will find a look that suits you! In fact, for me and many others, you will find you like a combanation of two or more styles! I hope you really like the book! I do!

This calendar is like having a piece of art on your wall that changes each month. I have been getting them form many years and I always look forward to each great image.

Imagine a calendar making sense by telling time by the phases of the moon. I have this calendar at work and one of my moon loving colleagues demanded to know where I got it. I love reading the lore about the moons and it's a great way to feel in sync with nature. My only qualm is that they don't change the illustrations so my '07 calendar has the same pictures as my '06.

I've purchased the lunaria for several years now and look forward to seeing next year's new and intriguing illustrations, folklore, and poetry. And to help you segue from one year to the next they always provide the last month of last year's calendar. Every year is very informative and entertaining. I've also started using the Lunaria day journal. Very handy.

I love this calendar and get one each year. How unique to have a calendar in the house that starts with the new moon! That makes it very different since each page will start mid-month. The pictures and literary pieces are interesting and different each month. Another reviewer says the pictures don't change from year-to-year. I know the first month's is always the same as the last month's from the previous year, but the rest are different from other years that I've noticed. If you are at all interested in the moon and/or astrology this is for you! It includes sunrise/sunset times and astrological codes that are explained in the last pages of the calendar.

I had an ancestor who I think worked in this mine. reading the book has helped me understand how the mine worked, but more importantly, how the men lived who worked there. It is easy to understand and the book flows so it is not a labor to read it. I still don't know if I will find my g-g grandfather Patrick Condon here or not, but with the help of this book, I just might.

I highly recommend it.

I don't about it being a "Mile Deep", but it sure was "Black As Pitch" if you turned off your miner's light. One of the things that made this book so meaningful to me was the fact that I worked in the North Ore Body of the Sterling Hill Mine. This direct, personal connection made the book all the more interesting - and helped it earn its fifith star. I recognized several names and faces - and words I have not heard in thirty years, like, stope. That aside, I found that the material was well organized and that the company town was much more beneficial to the workers than that of the corporate town.

As the 1st cousin once removed of one of the contributors to this book, reading this was extra meaningful to myself. My great-grandfather was one of the miners this book talks about, and to be able to read about how the miners lived their every day lives in this time was truly fascinating. I recommend this book to anyone with Franklin, NJ roots, you will definetly enjoy it, and perhaps will learn a thing or two about your own family.

Carrie Papa's father, Paul Moore, was a deep shaft miner in the Franklin Mine in northern New Jersey. This is an area well known to geologists, mining historians, and mineral experts for the quality, diversity, and complexity of zinc ores and associated mineral wealth. A Mile Deep And Black As Pitch: An Oral History Of The Franklin And Sterling Hill Mines is a unique regional history drawing upon the memories and experiences of thirty-four mine workers, their families, and others whose lives were intertwined the New Jersey mining industry in general, and the New Jersey Zinc Company in particular between the years of 1897 and 1986. A superbly presented and original work of seminal history, A Mile Deep And Black As Pitch is especially recommended to the attention of students as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in American's mining industry and the contributions deep shaft ore mining has made to the development and expansion of the American nation.

Joe McDonald's book covers a very wide range of wildlife photography. There are a lot of tips for the amateur but also a lot of info for serious photographers using professional equipment. The examples used to illustrate Joe's message are well chosen and also beautiful and inspiring to look at. It is difficult to imagine how you could get more or better material into a book of this size. Strongly recommended.

After reading several photo books, this was the one that finally let me take control of my camera and get away from all of the auto modes. The chapters on flash, for the first time, gave me an understanding of how flash works and how to manipulate it in both TTL and manual. Contains info on design and composition as well as approaching wildlife, but it was the exposure and flash info that made it an invaluable reference for me.

Mr McDonald puts passion into every word of this book,its simply explained lessons are written in a provocative style that leaves you yearning for the next page.....

Its a "must have" book for anybody wanting to explore wildlife photography as a hobby or professionally, and just a great, easy reading book.Ive owned my copy 6 months and have already read it 3 times! Its well explained so even people with a basic knowledge of photography can put many of his "lessons" into practical use.I cant wait for his next book!

Joe has done a very good job in writing this book explaining the basics of exposure control in the field including some flash techniques. I find this book to be indispensable in my library. I am now reading through it the second time. The pictures in this book are all very inspirational and well taken. I certainly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in wildlife and nature photography.

Those looking for a good reference to start learning about star stories and legends will find a good tool in this book.

What I liked more was the different cultures kept in mind while narrating a story. Often, we see that only Greek Mythology is considered; this book keeps an eye to the other corners of the ancient world.

Perfect for those involved in astronomical education and public outreach

Staal's death in 1986 resulted in this book being published posthumously. His original 1961 book was focused on constellations visible from London, but he was revising it to provide more complete coverage of all 88 official constellations and to include bits of the star lore he collected from all parts of the world.

The book is divided into five major chapters, four for the seasons of the year and one to cover the constellations near the celestial poles. Each chapter is then subdivided into individual constellation sections. Stall included plenty of descriptive text as well as sketches of the individual asterisms being described. The appendices include a few star maps that show the relation of each constellation and asterism to the rest of the sky.

Although he does reference specific stars by their scientific names, the focus of the book is oriented towards providing the reader with information about the myths and legends associated with each constellation.

Anyone interested in getting a good overview of star lore from the various cultures around the world will appreciate this book.

Don Childrey, author of "STAR TRAILS - Navajo, A Different Way To Look At The Night Sky"

The book provides a good background on the myths relating to the constellations. Especially interesting is the coverage of the Chinese astronomy. However, I kept wishing there was just a little bit more information...

The human race that has always been captivated by the sky, stars, suns, moons, asteroids, meteors, comets, and the infinite distance of space. So are the creatures we share this world with. Wolves howl at night and stalk their prey whether they are the giant Russian ones or those of the werewolf population. Witches brew their strongest potions, and cult worshipers gather in the darkness to perform their deeds away from light. The vampire rises and rules the night.

Certain qualities are associated with astrological signs. Predictions and karmic charts are based on the date, location, and time of birth. The Chinese Year of the Rat or Snake or Dragon brings vivid pictures to mind. The associations may not be right at all, yet most people can tell you their birth sign. I am a Gemini, the butterfly of Zodiac, first of the air signs, ruled by the mercurial Mercury and daughter of the Moon. Does that mean anything other than I found a comfortable way to add a quick and casual description of me?

Even in astrology, a birth chart is more defined by the rising moon or retrograde of a planet. This easy to read book addresses the lore associated with 88 constellations, shooting stars, the Milky Way, and the true ruler of our solar system -- the sun.

In Star Trek, we go boldly where no one has been before, Star Wars takes us beyond any dimension we experience here, the Alien trilogy, War of the Worlds, Red Planet, etc. all reveal aspects of a strange new life that is both enchanting and horrific.

One night the sun was setting. I held my little companion up so that she could look east and then west in the open desert. As the sky grew darker and stars popped out in the east, she also saw the sky painted gold, pink, purple, and orange to the west. Her voice was filled with wonderment as she said, "Oh wow!"

Now, I can teach her more about the stars, and show her The New Patterns in the Sky. Add this to your library and discover the magic of night, and, perhaps, a few more creatures.

Victoria Tarrani

The book is a well written collection of autobiographical essays that sometimes include astonishingly honest descriptions of his life and thoughts. It describes his personal journey from a troubled dyslexic schoolboy to an internationally known glass artist. His pathway to success and international recognition was not an easy one - instead, it was marked by his relentless determination, commitment, and an unquenchable desire and pursuit for overall excellence and perfection of his work.

I found the book easy and delightful to read. His stories give a personal insight into this most recognized paperweight artist and leave you feeling that you have personally known and understood him for years. Some of the stories are funny, some are touching and some explain his intellectual and artistic blossoming. His spiritual core values, work ethics and artistic integrity become clearly obvious. In this book, Paul wrote "In the studio, I promote excellence like a holy doctrine."

I found it very inspiring and informative to read about Paul Stankard's path as a glass artist, including his stuggles and triumphs. Not only was this an entertaining read, but I also relate to some of the tribulations Paul has faced along his path and I really connect with his love for nature. As a glass artist myself, I find it comforting to see that with perseverance, one can find the right path and eventually be successful doing what one loves to do. Thank you Paul for sharing so deeply and honestly of your experiences.

Paul Stankard, by all accounts one of the most recognized and successful glass artists alive today, has collected his experiences from decades of work with hot glass into a small tome of reminiscences. His memories are organized into a dozen and a half essays, loosely chronological but often overlapping, doubling back upon, and fleshing out earlier episodes. Additional materials include 32 full-color pages of photographs after the Epilogue, and an unexpected but handy Index following that. All of this is bundled within a thoughtfully-designed cover that cradles Mr. Stankard's prose in tones of green and cranberry.

While short in length (183 pages, not including the Foreword and Preface), No Green Berries or Leaves is densely packed with feeling and reflection. Despite the weight of the material, it is a quick and easy read, owing to the fact that the voice which comes through is Paul's. It resembles more a story he might share over a cup of coffee rather than a piece of print. It is this quality, coupled with the way the book is broken down into small bites of his life rather than chronological chapters, that is the underlying strength of the book. No lofty phrasing or clinical assessments are found here, just plain words written with warmth, thought, and honesty.

Paul gives more than just a standard re-telling of how he got here from there. History is interwoven with artistic philosophies, psychological states, and spiritual beliefs, resulting in a story rich with detail and meaning. He relates his youthful dreams, training, and creative yearnings that led to career changes, but also reveals personal struggles with a learning disability, anxiety, and nagging self-esteem issues, all of which culminate in the development of Paul Stankard the artist, family man, friend, mentor, and human being.

Several themes are reinforced throughout: hard work, perseverance, the importance of continually educating one's self, harmony with Nature and its Maker, and gratitude, to name a few. Paul is forthright about the difficulties he endured, but also encourages his readers that if he was able to overcome those to become the acknowledged glass master he is, others can do the same through hard work, dedication, and faith in one's abilities. He strives to be an inspiration to others just as he was mentored throughout his career. His appreciation to all of the people who played a part in his journey flows through the pages, another prominent layer to the book and the person.

For the paperweight enthusiast, this book offers a rare look into the heart of a master craftsman, delving into what originally inspired him to take up the torch to recreate those lovely handfuls of glass, what drives him to push the boundaries of the genre, and how the medium's siren call draws him ever closer into communion with its mysteries.

Mr. Stankard's story, at it's core, resonates with me. As a enthusiast of glass art, I expected to be interested in his journey, but I did not anticipate Mr. Stankard's level of candor and honesty. The combination of his balancing act of family, his struggle with dyslexia, and the pursuit of excellence is more than an inspirational story, it's an affirmation of life as an artist.

This is an outstanding addition to my ever growing parental toolkit. I have raised one adult and I'm currently raising a nine year old girl. If only the book had been available to me when I was raising my son, I might not have made so many mistakes. Though I've learned from my mistakes, the book solidifies my concept of rules and consequences for lack of rules. Regardless of age, social status or economic status, there is something for everyone.

This book is a must for all parents!

The information in the 'Handbook' leads to lots of head slapping "A-Ha!" moments that seem so obvious but have complex and deep implications for the future of you and your kids. No book has all the answers, but this one leads to asking questions and finding your own.

It is hard to read this book without reflecting on your own parenting style and the rules you do/don't enforced. I thought alot about how my decisions would affect my kids. While reading this book, my husband and I debated which rules were important and what we ought to enforce as a family. I wish that we had read this book before we had kids!

This book was easy to read. I enjoyed the humor and the personal stories. I encourage everyone to get a copy and give a copy to new/struggling parents. I am going to try this Hoax with my kids. "I'm sorry kids, but I have to enforce the rules because the Official Handbook says so!"

I thoroughly enjoyed "Spare the Rules Spoil the Child!" book by Dr. McDonald. I highly recommend this book to any parent or future parent who may be challenged with raising a child/children. Obviously, parenting is no easy task! This book displays a great combination of parenting wisdom, guidance and humor so you can LIVE the process.

This book is well written and very informative. This is more of an academic history than a page-turner, such as the books by the likes of David McCullough, but then again few books are. This book will appeal to those interested in history, especially American history. It is about the first 8 years of the government of the United States. Because the constitution was not specific on many of the aspects of how the government was to be run, it was necessary for Washington, his Cabinet and the Congress to further define their roles. This book describes how the men involved and the challenges that they faced directed the evolution of the government of the United States. It describes, in detail, Hamilton's financial system, the internal challenges of Indian uprisings and the resistance to the power of the government (as shown by the Whisky Rebellion) and the relations with foreign powers (primarily with Britain, France and Spain). I especially liked the discussion of Hamilton's system of monetizing the debt incurred during the revolution and using this as the basis for a currency system. This is a very complex subject, one that few at the time (or later) understood. This book not only clearly explains his system but also shows that it was based on the British system, thereby making it less mysterious and not a completely original creation of Hamilton's. Much time is also spent on the attempts of the French and Republican politicians, such as Jefferson, to support the French Revolution, even at the risk of war with Britain. In opposition to this were the Federalists, such as Hamilton, who wanted to avoid war with Britain at all costs. A considerable amount of space is therefore spent on the Jay treaty with Britain, and the support and opposition to it. The book also shows how the challenges faced by the US and the rivalries between the men involved helped to lead to the evolution (much to Washington's dismay) of political parties.

While the title is accurate, it is also a bit misleading. This book is not primarily about Washington, in fact, in most of the book he is only in the background, ratifying or rejecting the acts of others. The author's view of Washington really only becomes clear in the last two pages, where he is depicted more of a symbolic presence than a dynamic leader. Nonetheless, the book makes it clear that Washington was more than just a figurehead. He created a stronger president than the weak one desired by Congress. He brought the heads of the departments of the government (State, War and Finance) clearly under the control of the President, reporting to him and not to Congress. He refused to hand over the papers associated with the development of the Jay treaty and refused to acknowledge the Senate's right to prevent him from firing someone they had previously approved. This book thus shows how the presidency of George Washington shaped the history of the Presidency and the US.

Forrest McDonald is an excellent writer. He produced a wonderful full length bio of Alexander Hamilton that I recommend to anyone interested learning about our government's start and the role played by the man second only to Washington in ensuring that these United States succeeded in laying a firm foundation for self government.

This book is one of McDonald's two contributions to the Univ. of KA's "Presidency Series." It is splendid.

McDonald concisely explores the challenges presenting themselves and issues demanding attention from our new and untested government. In just under two hundred pages, the author does an excellent job of boiling down the topics to their essentials and describing how the nascent government struggled to define its role, the meaning of it's constitutional structure, the balance of factions and America's relation to warring European giants.

His book accomplishes this with brevity, clear and concise writing and in an interesting manner. Along the way are fascinating tidbits. For example, neither Washington nor the Senate knew what "advise and consent" meant regarding treaties. About to send negotiators to several indian tribes, Washington walked down to the Senate to seek their advice on instructions for his agents. As the Senate sat dumbfounded, and then finally began to debate the seven points Washington sought advice on, it became clear how impractical legislative micro management of treaty making would be. Washington turned on his heels and left in disgust when it became obvious the Senate could not give him clear and definative advice. Thereafter, it was mutually agreed that the Senate's role would revolve mainly around "consent" and come when the President presented negotiatied treaties to that body for consideration and not before the treaty making in the form of advice. And thus has it been, evermore.

This is a very good book that will inform those interested in learning how our government got up and running and how important Washington and the players around him were in charting the course for our young government.

The general consensus is that the two greatest US presidents were George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. I firmly believe that and in my opinion, Washington was the greatest. Before he became president he did something very rare in the history of the human race. After the victory in the war of independence, his stature was such that he could have been "elected" king. However, his honor was such that he had to be persuaded to run for president and then re-persuaded to run for a second term. He then thoroughly rejected any thought of a third term.
The nation that he led was still very fragile and every action by Washington or congress that was not explicit in the constitution would establish a precedent. Furthermore, the world was still a dangerous place, with the French revolution and subsequent European war creating a dangerous environment for the new nation. His actions in building the new government and keeping it out of foreign entanglements fully justify the admiration that he receives.
This book kept my attention from the first page as the early years of the new government are described. For this is a book about the Washington administration rather than Washington the man. So many legends in the annals of history were there and setting the tone for over 200 years of continuous government. You also learn of the emergence of political parties, as Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson and Adams among others vie for power and influence. Alexander Hamilton is the most interesting of these giants, as he successfully creates the financial institutions that made the country fiscally sound.
The more I read about Washington and that period of history, the more I am impressed by him. I have no idea what would have happened if he had been different, but it is a sure bet that it would have been worse. It is unfortunate that we teach our children nonsensical myths like the one about the cherry tree. The truth is so much more inspiring, and he truly deserves the accolade of "the father of his country."

"The Presidency of George Washington" is exactly what its title implies. It is the story of the Washington Administration. It is not a biography of George Washington, nor is it even a book which revolves totally around George Washington. It is the story of the people, issues and events which made up the administration of George Washington.

The book starts out with an introduction into the United States of 1789. The regions and interests, as well as the political alignments, which supported and opposed the adoption of the Constitution are explained in some detail. The economy, trade, finance and the neighboring powers of Spain and England all laid the background for America's experiment with its new Constitution.

The first task facing Washington was the establishment of the National Government. While reading this book we come to understand just how little guidance he had from the Constitution. Many of the practices which we take for granted derive, not from the Constitution, but from precedents established by Washington and his successors. The title of address for the President and the role of the heads of the executive departments, which were to become the cabinet, were among the first issues to be addressed. The role of the Senate in granting "advice and consent" on foreign policy matters had to be defined. An early trial occurred when President Washington appeared in the Senate to present his proposals and ask for advise and consent. After this awkward exercise, the practice was established that the executive would formulate policies and negotiate treaties, which would then presented for advice and consent.

The power of removal of executive officers also had to be refined. It was presumed by some that any officer who required Senate confirmation for appointment, also required Senate consent for removal. It was the Washington Administration which established the principle that executive officers could be removed by the President without Congressional approval. This was an issue which was to be resurrected during the impeachment of Andrew Johnson.

Beyond organizational problems, the towering challenge facing the administration was that of finance. The debts of the Continental Congress and the states raised a myriad of issues. Should debts be paid? Should the debts be paid at par? Should payment be made to the bearer, who had often bought the bonds at a discount, or should some or all of the payment be made to the original lender? Should the national government assume the debts of the states? All of these issues had important consequences to the credit worthiness of the government. The assumption of state war debts had unequal impacts, depending on whether the individual state had serviced its debt or let it accumulate. Ultimately the Hamiltonian proposal to assume the war debt of the states and to pay the holders of the bonds was adopted, with the concession of the location of the national capitol in the South to win necessary support.

An issue which would remain controversial until the Administration of Andrew Jackson was the establishment of the Bank of the United States. One of the main reasons for the establishment of the bank was the dearth of banks in the country capable of handling federal deposits.

The domestic issues confronted by the administration introduced the spirit of party into the Administration. The differing views and personalties of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson brought contention into the administration. It was their personalties, particularly that of Hamilton, which came to be the heart of the Administration, even more than that of Washington himself.

The second term was to be dominated by foreign entanglements and a domestic insurrection. The advancement of the French Revolution and its wars with the powers of Europe brought European problems to America. The continuance or renunciation of America's treaty, made with Royalist France, was a hotly debated issue, as was the ratification of a later treaty with Britain. Acceptance of the Jay Treaty with Britain was, ultimately, decided in a reaction to alleged official corruption. In America's first encounter with Islamic Terrorism, raids against American shipping in the Mediterranean by Barbery Pirates, resulted in, again after heated debate, the establishment of the U.S. Navy.

1794 saw resistance to federal taxation on whiskey erupt into the Whiskey Rebellion. The assertion of Federal authority lead to the raising of the militia for the suppression of the rebellion. The declaration of the Rebellion and its suppression may have had more to do with Hamilton's desire to crush his political opponents and brand them as traitors than it did with any actual insurrection.

Washington's ultimate gift to the nation was his retirement and transfer of power to an elected successor at the conclusion of his second term.

This book is recommended to anyone desiring an understanding of the personalities who made up our first national administration, the challenges which confronted them, their responses to those challenges and their legacies to our country.

This charming little book contains recipes and also drawings of Scottish scenes. It is in a spiral bound format, which is helpful for using in the kitchen, makes it very easy to keep your recipe flat. It contains traditional, mouthwatering recipes for scones, shortbread, stovies, rhubarb jam, Scotch broth, trifle, Dundee cake, sheperd's pie, trout drambuie, mutton pies, spiced salmon and roast venison. Scottish cuisine is fairly heavy on meat and potatoes, so there are not a lot of salad recipes in here. Its a wonderful cookbook for anyone who enjoys Scottish cuisine. This book also would make a great gift.

Savory Scottish Recipes designed in the popular recipe-card file size Stocking Stuffer format. This series of books adds proverbs and tidbits of traditional lore to a full complement of recipes and illustrations.

Scotland is renowned the world over for ingredients culled from deep seas, coastline, moorlands, mountain meadows and streams, lochs, uplands, lowlands, and countryside. The language of the people lends an added gusto to the food. Thus, potatoes are "tatties," turnips are "neeps," and hash browns are "stovies." The author, who collected these recipes on her travels in Scotland, prefaces the work with a "Wee Glossary" of these flavorful terms.

One-hundred-forty pages include over seventy-five recipes for daily fare and festive celebrations. Notes include instructions for Robert Burns Night (January 25), when the "Ploughman Poet's" birth is celebrated by serving up the haggis-a liver-and-heart pudding encased in a sheep's stomach! The more conventional Scottish food represented includes delicious Shepherd's Pie, Scottish Farmhouse Eggs, Chicken Stovies, Baked Salmon Steaks, Drop Scones, Collops, Marmelade, Shortbread, Toffee, and Dundee Cake. Recipes for concoctions of Scottish "spirits" are also included.

McDonald writes that she "fell in love with" the Scottish people and the drama of their lives and surroundings. This volume clearly reflects that enchantment.

Excellent for personal collections, as well as a thoughtful gift and memento.

Encouraged by this cookbook, we bought a haggis at a shop in the Edinburgh airport. We transported this frozen cannonball home, cooked it according to directions and made the tatties and neeps as presented here.

We also bravely invited guests. As we plunged the knife into the heart (literally) of the haggis, its compact contours exploded into an amazing amount of what looked like steaming cooked chopped meat. It tasted divine, and there wasn't any left.

It's a good thing this cookbook has plastic-coated pages, because an exploding haggis could really damage a regular book. Of course Scottish cooking isn't just about haggis; there's a lot of salmon and many notable soups. I recommend the Dundee cake recipe. If you want to serve a fruit cake at Christmas that will delight and not disgust your guest, Dundee cake is for you.

Why the Scots can cook and the British cannot remains a mystery. But don't even think of making a haggis at home. One set of instructions I read had you put the lungs into a pot of boiling water and hang the trachea outside the pot, draining into a cup to collect...whatever. Stick with the salmon or cockaleekie and you will be all right.

I really like the format it's in. All of the pages are laminated (to avoid those cooking accidents) and there are cute Scottish anecdotes and pictures throughout. It has recipes for every occassion, including drinks!