Wood Books

This book and its sequel, "Between the Woods and the Water," is truly a classic of the personal odyssey genre. Together they are the report by the English author of a diary he wrote between the ages of 19 and 22 while he walked from Holland to Istanbul. But he writes his report after a lengthy career in military service and, among other things, in journalism. The result combines the enthusiasm of a young student with the measured and spare prose of a seasoned and skilled veteran. The author as student is amazingly well schooled, even though thrown out of his public school. His reflections on what he sees are both erudite and almost poetic. (Read, e.g., the chapter, Prague Under Snow.) They don't serve as a normal travel guide, but they'll introduce you to the lands he traverses in a way that will make your own visit unusually well informed.

This is the continuation of, "A Time of Gifts." The English youth continues his walk across Europe to Constantinople. He picks up now in Austria, on to Hungary following the Danube valley. I wanted to quit reading this - page after page of allusions to east European history from Roman and pre-Roman times, Hungarian geography, reflections on Slavic languages. Esoterics I cannot appreciate. Still, they lured me and challenged me. These are places and these are people - Magyars and Gypsies - we seldom find in writing. We are introduced just as an era is about to end and everything is to change. It can be a book to go to bed with.

I got this book before Amazon existed and I've bought multiple copies since then.
Buy this and treasure it, give it to your friends.

`Between the Woods and the Water' is a delightful travelogue, even though the sites and sounds are long gone. Fermor paints a picture of the life every young man wants to lead - well-funded itinerant travel, nearly effortless sociability, and a seemingly endless nightlife. This is the ultimate "Wish You Were Here" card, well worth the read for anyone interested in travel, history, and tales of pre-war social frivolity in Eastern Europe.

The narrative structure took me by surprise. Almost every region receives a minor academic treatment prior to Fermor's personal tales: history, language, architecture, nature, fun and games, repeat. I found myself skimming past descriptions of birds and trees, but fascinated by the author's insights into the interplay of geography, language development, and regional history. And, of course, it is impossible not to be won over by the author's late nights, fleeting loves, and brief stays with forgotten royalty.

My father often told me that `On the Road' had a profound effect on him as a youth. `Between the Woods and the Water' has a similar effect on me, only later in life. After the reading the story I was offered a brief trip to Hungary which I could not pass up. Far from Fermor's experience, I was greeted with mindless business meetings, post-communism industrial architecture, a robbery, and small-scale street riots. In the end, my disappointment with reality deepened my appreciation of the book - a memorializing tale of a geography and way of life that no longer exists.

The title above is German for "Absolutely nothing!", Fermor's droll reply to "What are you studying?" when visiting a scholar with his newfound Transylvanian friend Istvan, who laughs about such blasphemy all the way back from the visit. The polymathic Fermor had contemplated his answer a few moments before answering-"Languages? Art? Geography? Folklore? Literature? None of them seemed to fit." The truth is, of course, as anyone who has read of anything of Fermor's knows full well, that Fermor has been studying all of these things, but with his own assiduous, unacademic zeal. This time he spent in Transylvania (The country's name meaning, as any first year Latinist would know, "Across the Woods") is by far my favourite: His escapades with Istvan, the fleeting amour with Angela, the effortless historical erudition about the region all make it exemplary of the book as a whole - which is not to slight the rest of it at all!

I disagree profoundly with the reviewers who take umbrage at Fermor's "esoteric" use of language and historic allusion. For the armchair traveler, these qualities make the book just that much more fun - Diving into the OED and various encyclopedias to thresh out some of the references.

The overall effect of this book, as with A Time of Gifts, is best likened to a friendly punch in the gut by an old chum. It takes you at unawares but leaves you invigorated and happy to be alive in the world. Yes, there are sadnesses to the book, not the least of which is that the beautiful View of the Danube near Regensburg on the cover of the NYRB edition is now underwater, lost forever; But as Fermor contemplates as his time with Angela draws to a close, "There are hours in life worth more than diamonds." This book is full of them!


And all these youths chain-smoking cigarettes! Perhaps the Surgeon General should put a warning label on the book lest a youth of today discover the vibrant meaning of carpe diem!

Eric Sloane has written several books, filled with his wonderful drawings, looking back at times in our early American past. This is the first of his I've read, and I want to read them all. I can't say if he is accurate in his depictions, nor whether his viewpoint has full historical merit, but he shows us the value of what we've lost.

I was drawn to this book by it's illustrations. I do not look at this book as a field guide. It is not a book to take into the wilds and identify the surronding wood, but a book that celebrates the Tree and all it's beauty. The pen drawlings give an image of strength and beauty that spark the imagination. A flavor for the majestiy that the trees posses. This book is for pleasure and celebration of trees.

This is one of my all-time favorite books. I read it in a sitting. I'm not even all that interested in wood or building anything else that may have made me a likely fan. The writing was fantastically engaging, and the tidbits and anecdotes just kept coming. I say it's Cliff Claven writes a book because that's how I've been describing it for 10 years now - Sloane's enthusiasm and honest passion are to writing what the charm of a pure young laugh is to happiness. I've given this book away I don't know how many times, and have never heard of somebody not loving it too.

This is Sloane's best book in my opinion, but then I've been a woodworker for many years and already have "a reverence for wood". There is much to learn here, a lot of information compressed into easily understood drawings and text and a joy to study. Highly recommended for both the woodworker and anyone interested in wood and its properties and uses.

This is an easy read that yet conveys quite a bit of information. An important part are the drawings, which say more than a thousand words. It is an atmosphere book, which lets the reader understand something of the relationship between the early Americans and their material (wood). It also shows that wood allows more uses than what passes for woodworking these days.

I am a little dubious about the inclusions of trees in the back. The author appears somewhat out of his depth here (he is no Peattie, not by a long way).

I enjoyed this book, but it was irritating looking up the footnotes. They made it especially amusing and odd, but it definitely isn't my favorite.

Candide is certainly humorous for those that understand medieval to early modern European history.This satire is cynical much like Erasmus' "Praise of Folly". Voltaire attacks many of the issues of European society. You do not need to be a historian to appreciate this work, or have a great knowledge of European history to understand it.
Buy it and enjoy.

Candide: Or Optimism parodies the classic, romantic coming-of-age story, with the young title character, Candide - the ignorant, ever-optimistic metaphysician of Westphalia- confronting the evils of the real world. His forbidden love of a baron's daughter causes Candide to be evicted from his home and sheltered life into a desolate sixteenth-century Europe--where the strong prey on the weak and misery abounds in the heart of humanity. The master of social commentary dissects spiritual faith, ethics and legal systems, love and human vanity all in under 200 pages. Everyone can relate Candide's life story and journey to their own. Highly recommended.

If you thought 18th century satire is irrelevant today, you might want to know the meaning of that Italian phrase, uttered by a eunuch at the sight of an abandoned and beautiful young lady in the story: "Oh, what a misfortune to be without balls!"

If you've made the decision to read Candide already, then this is the version you want to buy. Theo Cuffe's translation is more recent and much better than any other ones out there. I was thinking of purchasing the Oxford World Classics edition - after all, it's a few dollars cheaper and has a few more stories - but after contrasting paragraphs from Candide in either version, I decided Cuffe's superior translation warrants the extra money. This edition is also bound beautifully; it's a paperback but the cover is much firmer than a regular paperback and is adorned with eye-catching comic strips and a useful list (with pictures) of the main characters on the inside flap of the cover. This edition also has very thorough footnotes at the end; if you're like me and have little acquaintance with the 18th century and life through the era of Enlightenment, the handy footnotes will graciously guide your way. Aside from the footnotes, this edition also has additional pertinent writings from Voltaire including a poem he wrote on the disaster of the Lisbon earthquake and some excerpts from his Philosophic Dictionary.

Now, if you haven't made up your mind as to whether you'd like to read this, I strongly urge that you do. It's a rather short story but a very profound one. It's extremely witty, clever, and yet masterfully laconic. The story itself is an assault on the philosophic concept of "Optimism" as championed by Leibniz, Alexander Pope, and various other contemporaries of Voltaire who believed that all that happens in the world is for the best, and that we live in the best of all possible worlds. As Pope himself said famously, "whatever IS, is good." Candide, the young, naive and charming protagonist of our story is very much swayed in the direction of believing in Optimism because of the teachings of his philosopher teacher Pangloss. But as Candide inadvertently travels the world, matures, and learns from the sight of reality beyond the corridors of his residence at Westphalia, his perceptions begin to change, and we begin to develop nothing short of a sense for everything that is meaningful and meaningless in life. As Gustave Flaubert once said, the prose of Voltaire is mesmerizing and yet ingeniously succinct. You'll know the feeling once you travel the land of Eldorado, where people are indifferent to diamonds and gold lying in their streets and where everything is in perfect harmony, with non-other than the worthy Candide.

I think a lot of readers miss the point of this book. It is a romantic adventure story like the Odyssey and The Princess Bride, not some political rant or whatever people misconstrue it to be. It is named after the star of the book, Candide, a young nobleboy that's sent out on his own in the 18th century. Like Alexander the great, Candide has his Aristotle...in this case Pangloss, an amazing philosopher that believes everything has a purpose and works for the common good in the world. Throughout his adventures, Candide's faith in his mentor's teachings is continually tested, yet he stands firm in his beliefs instead of caving in capriciously.

You are no doubt getting ready to throw this book into your Amazon cart, but I beseech you dear reader, hold back and finish this review. For I need to impart in you the fact that this book is a love story as well! Candide, from his days in the Baron's court has been in love with the beautiful Cunegonde, whose stolen kiss is responsible for his banishment from the castle! On his journeys he meets back up with the fair maiden, in Portugal, and they go on a romantic boat-ride together! They sail to South America in the New World where they soon must split up.

Candide then travels to El Dorado where he meets the king! The king gives him billions of dollars worth of diamonds! He loses most of the diamonds on the way home, but he is still a millionaire. He then must travel to Venice where he is to meet back up with his love.

There were some funny parts in this book, but most of it was starkly serious. There was war, torture, natural disasters, and many other road blocks that Candide must overcome in order to get his prize, Cunegonde. I found this book to be a great motivational tool for myself. "You don't get the princess Cunegonde unless you sail to the New World and get a bunch of diamonds from the king of Eldorado," I keep telling myself.

I don't understand why so many people had a cow over this book. Apparently its author was thrown into prison for writing it! Maybe because it was a little violent and people weren't used to violence back then. Though I do admit, this book is strictly R rated, which makes me upset that they have school-kids reading this stuff. Kids, having never been subjected to the subjects of s e x and violence in this book may not understand it in a mature way without parental guidance.

The author picked a good name for the star of this book, as Candide is an unusual name and makes a good title. Can you imagine if he named the main character Steve? It just wouldn't have the same effect. I liked this book so I hope the author has some more fun adventure stories in the works.

This book is great. My father in laws dad was Emil Luebke and he saved his house but almost died in the fire. We are from Rogers City. The story that is told has been told down our family and is very much what was told. We really enjoyed this book and would encourage anyone to read it, specially if your interested in Michigan history.

This is an excellent book based on the Metz fire. My father-in-laws dad is Emil and the stories in this book have been told to him many times. He said this is a keepsake for his family and beyond. We have read many things on this fire, but this is the most interesting. My husband lived in the farm house Emil saved during the fire. This is truly a great gift to all readers of Michigan history.

Reviewed by Danielle Feliciano for Reader Views (2/06)

"Devil in the North Woods" is a fictionalized account of the 1908 wildfire that swept through northeastern Michigan, wiping out an entire town. The author uses public documents, as well as the experiences of one survivor of the fire, and merges them into a beautiful story of fear, loss, and redemption. Young Henry Hardies narrates the story, and by having a 10-year old boy lead us through the fire, the reader is treated to a refreshing voice of innocence that an adult narrator would not have been able to provide. The reader is introduced to Henry, his family, and the people of Metz, Michigan. In this community, the threat of wildfires is very real, and a fear that these people live with almost on a day-to-day basis. On October 15, 1908, their worst fears come true as a fire quickly spins out of control. The town scrambles to decide how big a threat the fire it, but by the time they realize it will hit their community, it is too late.

After a somewhat slow start, the story quickly picks up the pace, reading more like a suspense novel than a historical one. The book becomes impossible to put down once the fire hits town. You are given a nearly minute-by-minute account of what is happening in the town, and in the Hardy family, during the fire, as well as its aftermath. The detail is so realistic and believable that it is easy to imagine yourself in this situation right alongside the characters in the book.

Sadly, the town loses 43 people, 4 of whom are Hardy family members. The town of Metz is obliterated and there is not much left to salvage. But the people of Metz are stronger than the fire that tried to destroy them. They are determined to move past the destruction and rebuild their community, as well as their lives. This is more than the story of an out-of-control wildfire; it is the story of everyday heroes and the way they reclaim their lives after tragedy.

Devil in the North Woods is a work of historical fiction, based on modern reports and oral histories of a terrible 1908 wildfire in Michigan. Ten-year-old Henry Hardies survived the fire that claimed his mother and three younger sisters; in real life, Hardess told personal stories that his own children have handed down to this day. Devil in the North Woods vividly recreates the terrible blaze from start to finish, the toll it took, and the trials of human beings forced to recover from the devastating losses it inflicted. Though Devil in the North Woods tells the story of man vs. nature, its core is emotional and human-centered.

"Devil in the North Woods" by Walt Shiel is a real barn burner. I kept trying to put out the fire. Walt's style kept me immersed in the story and fully engaged until way too late each night. I enjoyed the read and the education.

The Devil's Story Book is about a devil that disguises him self as different people every day. The Devil's Story Book has different events in every chapter about the devil doing different tasks to steal, catch, and grant wishes. We think the devils story book is mischievous, adventurous, and hilarious. We truly think you should read this book!!

The Devil's storybook is a touching, funny, and wonderful book. Though it has some language in it like Hell, we think it is an appropriate book for all ages. It's about a Devil who goes into the world, disguised as a fairy godmother, hobo, and towns people. Each wonderful chapter has a new setting for the Devil. Towards the beginning of the book, the Devil goes into the world and meets a beautiful lady. The Devil goes into her cabin. He reminds her of her beauty and asks her if he can take her beauty back to Hell. If you want to know what happened to her, then you'll have to read the Devil's Storybook.

Rating: Five stars

GG 5th grade students

The stories are extremely short, cunning, and witty - great for children and adults. Ms. Babbitt includes hilarious puns that are well placed throughout the book. The sentences are simple to read and the moral or ending of each story is amusing. My most favorite is the last one, "The Power of Speech". In general, no matter which species one belongs to - humans, animals, devils - one should always consider the consequences of one's actions and words.

I love this book! In this story a devil tries to turn hell into heaven. Like I say, try it, if you don't like it put it aside!

I LIKED IT!

...because the Devil herein seems almost like an ordinary person, just with an itch to make trouble and boss minor demons around. Both this and its companion volume, THE DEVIL'S OTHER STORYBOOK, were illustrated by the author; the original cover art of each shows the Devil reading the book. (He's drawn in standard Mephistopheles style, goatee, horns, tail, cloven hooves - and whenever he's shown in disguise in an individual story's illustration, the tail is visible to the reader, curled up behind his back or whatnot.)

Both books open with a stanza or two from the poet Robert Southey, "From his brimstone bed, at break of day, a-walking the Devil is gone, to look at his little snug farm of the World, and see how his stock went on." Most (but not all) the stories follow that pattern - the Devil getting bored and going out for a stroll to stir things up. He doesn't buy souls at all - he just makes trouble on his occasional visits to the world and people make their own decisions about how to handle their problems.

Most of the stories (all very short) have a kind of moral, if you look at them carefully, but Babbitt has a light touch.

"Wishes" On a dull day, 'the Devil fished around in his bag of disguises, dressed himself as a fairy godmother, and came up into the World to find someone to bother.' But the first two people he encounters are a crabby old woman and an old man who's at peace with himself - and each foils the old boy (the old lady's comeback catches even the Devil off guard). But along comes contestant #3, a foolish young man.

"The Very Pretty Lady" had many suitors, but wanted to be loved for herself - or so she said, although truth be told she enjoyed her looks and the fawning young men very much. Then the Devil got to hear of her, and figured she was just what he needed to brighten up the place, and went out to have a look at her, and set about coaxing her to join him of her own free will.

"The Harps of Heaven" - the Devil doesn't have any, and he's been stung by a nagging piano teacher's remarks about the quality of music in Hell, so when a pair of brothers who were the best thieves in the world wind up on his doorstep, he's got a little job for them.

"The Imp in the Basket" Instead of following the Devil's activities, this follows a very good man - a clergyman who tries to think well of everybody - beginning with the most severe test of his life: a little imp has been left on his doorstep, a devil's baby rather than a human one. But he knows that even the Devil was an angel once, so maybe there's hope even for this little one.

"Nuts" The Devil, like anybody else who eats walnuts, complains about the nuisance of cracking them open - then gets a bright idea about how to trick a human into doing it for him: hide a pearl inside a walnut shell, then tempt a greedy person into opening the lot looking for more pearls. But as often happens, his mischief doesn't work out the way he planned.

"A Palindrome" is a word or phrase that's the same whether spelled backward or forward. In this case, the Devil wants a particular artist - a painter whose pictures are much admired in Hell, but who's a good man - to become his #1 painter, so after the artist has produced his 40th picture, the Devil sets about making life difficult for him to tempt him away from his good life.

"Ashes" Mr. Bezzle (yes, Babbitt likes puns occasionally), a bad man 'who made a great deal of money by cheating shamefully', was cremated after he died, and his ashes on the mantel of his widow's house were just as warm as he himself was. But when a grumpy housemaid knocked the urn over and was careless about sweeping up, he couldn't understand why a pig suddenly showed up in Hell and began following him around. :)

"Perfection" The Devil (like some readers, to be honest) has gotten fed up with a goody-two-shoes little girl named Angela, and he's determined to annoy her into losing her temper a few times so she'll stop being so perfect.

"The Rose and the Minor Demon" The minor demon isn't really evil, but since he doesn't have anyplace else to go, his job is to guard the Devil's treasury - even though nobody *ever* tries to steal anything, of course. But looking at a vase painted with roses, he starts wanting to plant a garden of his own - but the Devil, of course, has strict instructions about what he's allowed to plant.

"The Power of Speech" The Devil likes an occasional pet, but in keeping with his character - in this case he wants a pet goat named Walpurgis, but the old lady who owns him belled him, because the Devil can't stand the sound of bells. Then the Devil got an idea for how to make the old lady stop wanting to protect her pet...

Working within the industry, it is painfully clear how difficult it is for people 'on the outside' to make informed decisions, know what they are getting into and understand what they should be getting out of products, contractors and procedures. This is a good compass for the journey of building or remodeling any project. It helps you get organized, think through the process before you begin and 'trains' you to remain in charge to the very end. Recommended to me by an architect who worked with homeowners who followed this book. It's beneficial for both sides of the process.

I am in the early design stages of my house ...and this book arrived none too early to help me through the rest of the process. It is a veritable primer in the process of building a house. Full of lists, tables, and all sorts of things to consider. Commentaries on product and services selection, design considerations, project management ...basically all the decisions in the design and construction process. I thought I knew a lot when I went into the process, and this book reinforced the good things I was doing. Happily, it also suggested a whole bunch of things I could be doing and thoughtful approaches to make the process go better.

I usually consider 'how-to' books facile and almost silly. I purchased this book on an impulse on Amazon (along with a whole bunch of less useful picture books), and I was really shocked how valuable it is. It is a little treasure box of information. Dollar for dollar, I think this is probably the best investment I will make in my new house ...and I am sure that I am not alone.

Why learn the hard (and expensive) way when this book will save you from mistakes? No exaggeration to say that this is a 'must have' book for people considering a new home or extensive renovation. Sure, buy your picture books for the coffee table ...but this is the real stuff you need to know.

This book is a great overview of the process of deciding how to design and build your own house. Its charts, tables, glossary and very pointed writing style makes it an easy read. There are lots of great tips and has helped a lot as my family build our dream house

This woman is organized. Not only were the timelines helpful for each sub-job, but she also included steps I would have overlooked. I also like the physical size of the book - it's small enough for the toolbox!

- - Tom Kelly

This book is perfect for ANYONE who is building a home, looking to build a home, or remodel their current home. I have begun to recommend this book to all my clients, because it allows them to be informed of decisions and helps them to organize all of the important information needed when working on your home.

Highly Recommended!

I've been using this book to make toys for children for 15 years and find the drawings and instructions clear and easy to follow. I like how all the projects are designed around stock lumber. One reviewer mentioned that the drawings are on grids for easy scaling. I should note that only items that are odd shaped and can't be drawn full scale in the book are on grids, but that is all that is needed. The only toy that I would have liked to have been included is a dump truck, but I designed my own once I got the hang of how his trucks are designed.

This book is great for making fun, easy projects that make great gifts. I have made a total of four trucks from this book. This book is a great way to introduce woodworking to kids. I would reccomend this book to anyone.

Since I purchased this book I have madea Model T Ford and am now making a Stearman biplane.
The instructions are generally clear with good illustrations. Most of the projects are not for beginners and most require a table or radial arm saw, a band saw and a power drum/belt sander. The author's suggestion to use knotty pine is economical but most of this wood in my local home improvement stores is warped, bowed and generally a pain to work with. Spend a little more and use clear pine or better yet, poplar which in my area is available in many different sizes and thicknesses. Also, the author may love resawing wood to get the sizes that he recommends but it would be a lot easier to scale the projects so that they require standard thicknesses.

I bought this book a few years ago when I started making wooden toys.
I loved the designs in this book. They ranged from simple to more complext to suit differing levels of skill. Of course as your own level of skill increases, you can confidently tackle some of the tougher projects, although even the toughest of them was not overly difficult.
I began selling the toys I was making from these plans at craft shows. They went like hot cakes! I could not make enough of them. Seems I wasn't the only one who thought these toys were neat.
But for the Toymaker, whether you are a hobbyist, or looking to make a living with them, these toys are easy to make, great looking, and popular!

I echo what the other reviewers have already said. Excellent intro to wood toy making provided you have or can get access to tools. Good step by step instructions. This book is a good way to develop your woodworking skills without being overwhelmed.

Henry David Thoreau is one of America's greatest literary treasures, and this Library of America compilation of his four complete, full-length books is an excellent purchase for any Thoreau fan. It includes possibly Thoreau's most famous work, Walden, as well as lesser-known (but still immensely inspired and entertaining)works. I would highly recommend this purchase to any interested Thoreau reader, as I am yet to find a comparable compilation for nearly as good a deal as this.

It was Thoreau who made me understand that writing had everything to do with one's sum total and worth as a human being, and everything to do with one's passion and sense of purpose in life. It was while reading from an anthology of his work that I first made contact with a superior being. I recognized a mind that I could be intimate with, a mind and soul of someone with whom I could spend endless hours and never cease to learn from.


Thoreau's style is cumbersome. He can be terribly dry, and his paragraphs run way too long. But who cares when passages ignite the page with brilliance, flame from the black and white of paper into the depths of one's being. 'Walden' has more profound and relevant quotes than any other book I've read. They're the purest gems to be found in the rough of a larger work. A work that I wouldn't dare to diminish, but forewarn the reader so that they have the patience and perseverance to continue.


I would like to mention a superb biography written on the life and mind of Thoreau, a biography that exceeds and exceeds in going deeper into the life and mind of this great and humane and very misunderstood man, it is called: 'Henry Thoreau -- A Life Of The Mind,' by Robert D. Richardson Jr. Mr. Richardson not only wrote a biography, he was on a mission, for he knew and believed in what his subject was about. As comprehensive, insightful and exhilerating as any biography can or should be.


The price and quality of this anthology can't be beat. Beautiful to read and beautiful to see on my book shelf. Buy it! Get to know this man of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

While reading the four books of Henry David Thoreau (1817 -- 1862) included in this volume, I was reminded of the piano sonata no. 2, the "Concord" sonata by the American composer Charles Ives (1874 -- 1954) and decided to listen to it again to complement my reading. The Concord is a monumental work in which Ives tried to capture the "spirit of transcendentalism" associated with Concord, Massachusetts. Its four large movements bear the names of Emerson, Hawthorne, Bronson Alcott, and Thoreau. The "Thoreau" movement of the Concord captured in music for me what I had been reading in Thoreau's texts, with its reflective arpeggios, long hymnlike introspective passages, distant sounds of bells, and quiet close. Ives wrote the movement, he said, to reveal the "vibration of the universal lyre" to which Thoreau had alluded in the chapter of Walden titled "Sounds". Those who love Thoreau or the American Transcendentalists should explore Ives's great musical tribute to them and their thought.

This volume is the first of two in the Library of America devoted to Thoreau, with the second book consisting of essays and poems. It includes the two books published during his lifetime, "A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers" and "Walden" together with two books published shortly after his death, "The Maine Woods" and "Cape Cod". The former two books are philosophical and introspective in tone, even though they include much of the descriptive writing about nature for which Thoreau is famous. They are the writings of Thoreau the Transcendentalist, the Thoreau of Ives's Concord Sonata. The second two books are describes Thoreau's travels. They originated the American practice of writing about nature.

Thoreau's most famous book, "Walden" describes the two years he spent living at Walden Pond, near Concord, from 1845 -- 1847 on a tract owned by Emerson. Walden is deservedly an American classic, as Thoreau reflects upon and attempts to simplify his life, to appreciate it for itself and for the everyday, without the strains of commerce or the pursuit of wealth. It is an eloquent study of learning to be alone with and content with oneself.

Thoreau wrote the first draft of "Walden" while he resided there and also wrote "A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers" which in 1849 became his first published book, enjoying little success at the time. This book describes a trip Thoreau took with his brother and there are many detailed observations of people, places, and plants and animals. But the book is full of detailed digressions on literature, philosophy, the Greek Classics, friendship, and Thoreau's religious beliefs. This book shows the large influence of Eastern thought on Thoreau. It is filled with allusions and quotations from poetry on virtually every page. It is a joy to read.

There is little overt philosophising in Thoreau's latter two books. But both these books made me want to leave, at least for a short time, my life in the city and to run and visit the wild places Thoreau described. In "The Maine Woods" Thoreau describes three trips he took to Nortwest Maine -- its forests, rivers, lakes, and mountains, in 1843, 1853, and 1857. It includes detailed descriptions of rugged camping, in the rain and sun, on water and on land. The higlight for me was Thoreau's discussion in the first essay of the book of his climb on Mount Ktaadn, with Thoreau's description replete with both actual description and ancient Greek and American Indian symbolism.

Thoreau's final book, "Cape Cod" describes three visits in 1849, 1850, and 1853 (A fourth, later visit to the Cape is not included in the book.) This is Thoreau's only book which features the ocean and the seashore. It describes a rugged place, but the tone is leisurely and humorous in many places as Thoreau takes his reader on a thirty-mile "ramble" over the Cape. Thoreau introduces a memorable character in his chapter "The Wellsfleet Oysterman" and draws a picture of a lighthouse, no longer standing, on the Cape, "The Highland Light." Reading this book made me want to walk the sands and dunes that Thoreau walked and described over 150 years ago.

As with all volumes in the LOA series, this volume is lightly annotated but includes a valuable chronology of Thoreau's life which helps in approaching the texts. Transcendentalism and naturalism both have played critical roles in the development of American thought and you will find them both here. And if you enjoy Thoreau, I encourage you again to approach Ives's masterpiece, the "Concord Sonata" and meet Thoreau realized in sound.

Robin Friedman

While every artist is tied to their time and place, this is especially true of Henry David Thoreau. To me, Thoreau has always seemed like a beautiful and tender plant that could only exist in a specific time and place. His world was rich enough to allow him to enjoy nature rather than see it as something to tame. Yet it was also rural enough to leave him natural space to enjoy as if it were wild.

It also seems to me that Thoreau's writing is more beautiful and observant than penetrating and intelligent. It is more about the senses than analysis. I think this is why it appeals so much to young people of so many generations and why he became such a symbol for the Back-to-Nature portion of the Boomer generation.

This volume contains his most influential works (the essays and poems are collected in a companion volume also from the wonderful Library of America): A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers, Walden; or, Life in the Woods, The Main Woods, and Cape Cod. So much has been written about these works that I can't think of anything specific to add except to encourage their being read. However, I would encourage adults who remember reading them in their youth with such enthusiasm to read them again from the vantage point of mid-life. I think they will find somewhat less to be enamored of in the content, but they will appreciate his sheer power of writing more.

The total collection is more than a 1,000 pages and includes a chronology of Thoreau's life, notes on the text, relevant maps of the areas covered in the book, more notes, and an index.

I would like to publicly thank Henry David Thoreau for teaching me this:

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavours to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." -Henry David Thoreau

Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated

Dennis Henning's book, Hiding Under the Table, really inspired me. Even though I have never had an eating disorder, I have still suffered with emotional eating during chapters of my life. Reading about his journey to overcome his eating disorder helped me realize that I'm not alone and can get help, myself. I highly recommended this book to anyone not only suffering through eating disorders, but who really want to take a personal look at negative body image thoughts, personal relationships, spirituality, addictions, and self-forgiveness. Thank you Dennis for being such an inspiration to take charge of my own life, not just through learning how to overcome emotional eating but also by applying The Daily Process, 16 Points to Life.

Dennis Henning's book, "Hiding Under the Table" is the much needed alarm, giving a brutal, gut and soul-wrenching account of the male eating disorder sufferer and his personal struggles with food, weight and body issues. Its straightforward, raw and disturbing personal story is further strengthened by Henning's spiritual, physical and emotional recovery and revelations toward healing, powerfully outlined in his wonderful, practical and hopeful "16 Points." Male and female eating disorder sufferers alike will both be empowered and healed by reading this incredible recovery tool. Males,in particular, need to read this book and know that they are not alone; they are not hopeless either. It is a must for any recovery resource library,high school or college health class or program, as well as for anyone who is touched by the struggle of eating disorders. This book proves that it is not just a "woman's issue!" It is a must read!

Through the power of his experience, Dennis Henning has written a very personal story about his battle with an eating disorder. His story is a stunning display of a long-practiced dysfuntion and--thank God!--an equally stunning recovery. Henning reveals his own private road to hell. Eating and purging became a way of life. As his life spun out of control, he also became addicted to sex. Everybody else was to blame for his problems which, as time went on, included prostitution, stealing, lying, manipulating--anything to numb the emotional pain of his self-hate and doubt.
It takes a lot of courage to tell a story like this one, a lot of honest reflection and inner work on the self: You really have TO WANT TO CHANGE your behavior, to change the way you think about yourself, to learn self-love. Dennis eventually creates a healthy life by getting in touch with good people who care about him. He opened up his mind to a much bigger world--the one beyond that crippling world of fear. He stopped blaming others for all his problems.
Through the clarity of his unique perspective, Henning turned his life around and grew into a compassionate human being. He began to trust his feelings, to get to know himself. He found a spirtual life that he can rely on no matter what. He now uses his life as a tool for helping others overcome debiliatating eating disorders. Anyone with an eating disorder--male or female--should read this book. You are not alone. Reading this book can be the first step in your recovery.

Dennis shares his pain and suffering from self-famine in such a courageous raw and vulnerable fashion. Unfotunately, so few men have shared their experience of suffering from eating disorder behavior and this book helps fill in much needed and long awaited personal recovery by a male. My hope is that his honnesty and life-learned wisdom can help others seek solutions to their own healing and perhaps along their journey, utilize some of Dennis's ideas as a template. I felt empathy, hope, and joy as Dennis shared his story of recovery.

Michelle Matoff, LCSW, BCD

An eye opening book! Raw honesty that was spine chilling. I admired Dennis' openess in telling his story and believe it will help others to come out from "underneath the table." Even if a male does not have an eating disorder, but has issues about his appearance, physique, masculinity and self-worth, this book will shake him awake and help him focus on what really matters in life.

This is a beautiful book. My granddaughter is 20 months old and this is one of our special "read together" books. She squeals over the pictures and we have to read it over and over.

I originally bought this for my daughter when she was about a year old. She loved it!!! In fact she read it and reread it so much that I had to throw it out about a year ago because it was so worn. I just recently bought it again (she is now 3 1/2) and she still loves it.

This is a great book for toddlers. It has bright vivid pictures and a nice story.

My daughter received this book when she was 19 months old and it immediately became a favorite--an incredible compliment considering all she does is read books. The illustrations are vibrant and incredibly stimulating--something to find on every inch of each page. 5 months after receiving the book my daughter still adores it. She now knows the name of every creature in the book, down to the nautilus, neons, and sea slug. This book has definitely spawned a love of the ocean in her. And the format of the book, with its different textures that morph from one subject to another with the lifting of a flap is brilliant. We'll be buying every book by Maurice Pledger!

We have three of these books. The other two we have are "In the Rain Forest", and "In the Forest". The rain forest and forest ones are her favorite and she isn't even one year old yet. The only reason I gave this one 4 stars is because it doesn't seem to grasp her attention as much as her two other books. I think becuase the pictures in the other two are more lively and there is more variety in color and texture. I give a lot of credit to these books because they are the only things that can keep her still for a long period of time. They have been life savers on airplane rides. I believe they have also encouraged her early love of books.

Our sons enjoy many of Maurice Pledger's books -- and this one with AJ Wood is our favorite for its well written text to accompany the drawings. some of the other books have much weaker text, and some have animals that do not look all that different (the mammals are often very similar). This is a nice story where the little dolphin looks for his family, all the while watched over by his mother.