France Books

As a minority faculty in the academics Frances Conley's book vividly portrays the reality of the ivory tower that, though pretentiously progressive in ideas, is way behind the iota of gender equality that exists outside the academe. I, sometimes, feel I am living in the medieval period when entering the academe.

When I first came across this book I thought this must have been written in the seventies and I could share it with my students as a historical autobiography of sexism in an academic institution. I was horrified to find that it was written in the nineties about one of the most prestigious institution in California.

I have always felt alone, alienated in the academe and of course disconnected from other women who were struggling too much to bother with the problems of their women peers. This book validated my experience and helped me understand where my alienation was coming from.

I wish this book could be a standard read for all freshman students in all universities. Only when women who appear to be in power tell their stories of powerlessness and abuse can we act collectively to stop the misogyny that exists among our men and more particularly among our elite men.

Frances Conley offers a compelling indictment of gender discrimination at Stanford Medical School, past and present, focussing on her own recent experience. I started this book at midnight and could not put it down until finishing it at 4 a.m. Conley provides case after case of medical school professors given virtually absolute and unchecked power over their subordinates and their subordinates' careers, abusing that power, and the medical school administration covering up that abuse. While she never addresses the issues of solidarity in the face of sexual harassment, her cases all indicate that when one woman protests, she loses, and only a pattern of abuse reported by multiple women leads to any punishment of the harassers at all. Conley was fortunate and grateful that 37 others came forward to support her claim that Gerald Silverberg engaged in inappropriate sexual contact and other activities counterindicating his capability for leadership. I'll be passing this book onto many women who have had the choice to be treated at Stanford Hospital and may well now rethink that choice.

Men groping women. Men coming on to women, and making incredible jackasses of themselves in the process. Men getting drunk and acting like barbarians. Men with one thing in mind. Men whose compulsion to talk about sex is so strong that they do it at highly inappropriate times in public. Men who think that pressuring women is their God-given right. If you think that what I just described is a high school football team on an overdose of steroids, you're wrong. These sexual antics weren't perpetrated by adolescents with testosterone bubbling out their ears, they were committed by male doctors at Stanford University. Not being stupid, these demigods put two and two together and realized that they could use their power to pressure women. One of these men made a fatal mistake, though: he pressured Dr. Frances Conley, a topnotch neurosurgeon and renowned researcher at Stanford. Bad move, fella. I suppose that guy never learned that if you're going to pick a fight, you don't provoke someone who can whack you back so hard you just might rethink whether it's wise to be a bully.

As publicity spread about Dr. Conley's fight, more and more women came forward to reveal their stories. This was certainly an eye-opening book. Before reading it, I'd never given much thought about the sexual harassment of women in medicine and allied healthcare fields. Perhaps we're more civilized here in Michigan, because I've never seen or heard of any such hanky-panky. Well, let me revise that last statement: I have witnessed a lot of sexual inducement, but what I saw was women chasing men not the other way around. But everyone knows that those California folks are trendsetters.

Dr. Conley never envisioned herself as a trendsetter, though. For years, she passively participated in the abuse until a concatenation of events convinced her that it was time to draw a line in the sand. To make a long story short, the men didn't believe she'd put up much of a fight, but she did, and they lost. Big time.

(...) Perhaps the most chilling message in this book is that some men in positions of power are willing to use that power to stifle the careers of women. So what is an attractive woman to assume? That if she goes into medicine her pulchritude will serve as a magnet for sexual harassment? Perhaps this abuse is, unbeknownst to me, more pervasive than I think. I suppose because most of my friends are women, I can't understand men who view women as being somehow inferior. However, you shouldn't necessarily construe from that statement that I think women physicians are as competent, on average, as male physicians. There's no doubt that some are, and there's no doubt that Dr. Conley is a superior physician, not just competent. (...) My only major criticism of the book is that it is too focused upon abuse of women by men. Since the core of this book is hinged upon some of the depredations that ensue when power is abused, I think she could have achieved a more balanced perspective by pointing out that powerful people often use their power against men, too ý not just women. I've seen male docs fight one another with such a vehemence that it made the stories in Dr. Conley's book seem as pleasant as afternoon tea and cookies with a neighbor. Consequently, while I don't intend to trivialize the unfortunate reality of the abuse Dr. Conley documents, it's important to keep in mind that this abuse is but one aspect of a much larger problem. In defense of Dr. Conley, broadening the scope of this book to include other aspects of hospital politics would have diluted the message she wished to inculcate, and it would have made for a very unwieldy book. With that in mind, I suppose I'm on shaky ground by wishing that her book had a wider focus. Her book, her demeanor, her dedication, her resolve, and her competence are commendable. Dr. Conley is a great doctor and I am happy to have met her, however indirectly, by reading this book.

Review by Kevin Pezzi, M.D.

I'm not an MD or a PhD; I don't work in a hospital or academia. Yet I too have experienced sexual harassment, and I too have consulted the EEO department that is supposed to get involved in handling these issues, and I found that they were disinterested, that they gave subtle and obvious messages that the problem was "my" problem and not the corporation's, and that they relied on my being too timid or unmotivated to initiate a lawsuit so the whole thing could be, well, ignored. Sexual harassment exists because the society permits men (even encourages men) to expect that it is their right to harass women. Not all men harass, and not all men admire harassers. In fact, it is quite the opposite, but those who possess the attitude that women who dare to compete must be put down through sexual threat or debasement will harass (they also enjoy and even need it, since these men have very real problems). Through her description of her own experiences, the author illuminates the social mechanism of harassment. She also brings to light the story that all we women know -- what it feels like to be the victim not just of a troubled person but of an organization that insists she accept the role of victim. When we are harassed, we women discover the battle we are in, not against one man but against all those societies which are founded on (this does sound harsh, I know) the hatred of women. This is a marvelous book -- hard to read at times if you've been there -- but it is important that women know what we are facing (especially our daughters, who like us may have been programmed to think that all men will be nice to us, will treat us fairly, and that if someone is abusive, it is our own fault, there is something wrong with me, etc.). Important too is having the author detail the steps she took to handle the harassment. This is a very supportive book for anyone enduring just such a situation (harassment as well as gender discrimination, which is a lot more rife and a lot less obvious). I'd recommend this to any woman who is willing to step outside of the traditional role, because we all need to know what we are up against, how the system is going to fail us, and especially all the steps we are entitled to take to combat this problem so that we change society's viewpoint and not just our own. I'd also recommend this to men, because there are many who are supportive of women in the workplace. Our husbands and boyfriends need to read this book to know how difficult it is for women, because in the end we can only effect a change if we all stand together.

Sadly, any woman who's achieved a doctorate (& not just in medicine) will relate wholeheartedly to this book. I greatly admire Dr. Conley's unbelievable courage in standing up to the Boys' Club & trying to make things better for women in academia. Hopefully this book will encourage ALL women to stand up to the misogyny & be heard.

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award.

First off this is a kid using there parents acount. This is a great book. It teaches kids to help the encironment and stay out side(and if you cant recognize the pictures in some of the seans in some of the books are they are from St. augustine). And the best thing is that the author and the artist are both my grandparents. The whole series is really good. i recomend you buy this book =)

In our throw-away world, books come and books go. But there are those worth keeping. The Pelican Pete books fall into that category. We've gifted each of our grandchildren with this series, and they plan to pass them down to their own children. Stunning in their originality and beauty, it is sheer joy to peruse these pages.

I homeschool my two kids - ages 2 and 4 and we have TONS of books. We read all of the time. They LOVE this series of books! They re-enact the stories, over and over. They're written in rhyme, which is entertaining and educational for them as well. The stories really hold their attention and the pictures that accompany each story are beautiful . Finally, don't miss all of the interesting facts at the end of each book! HIGHLY recommended series!!

I have given all the Pelican Pete books to my grandchildren and those of my friends. In every case both the parents and the children were delighted with the books. The children found them colorful, easy to read and fun. The parents tell me they really appreciate how well researched the information is and the extensive list of sources for other information on nature.

No wonder these books have won so many awards! You can't miss when you give these books to children you care about. They will be both entertained and educated by every book in this great series.

This is an excellent book, well written, clear and concise. It focuses on the Year of the Terror during the French Revolution.

There are several strengths to this book.

First, Palmer does an excellent job of giving short biographies of the major characters that ruled France as a committee during this period. They include Carnot,the military officer who maintained the war office during the terror,including defending the northern border of France. Collot D'Herbois, the ex-actor and fanatic had a very different temprement from the monk-like Robespierre. Saint-Just's attacks against the Dantonists was fascinating. The fall of Herault de Sechelles, the philosopher former aristocrat is very interesting.

Second, the chapters are very well organized. They are aranged around topics, including a hyistory of how the Comitteee for Public Safety evolved in the fifth year of the revolution; three chapters on maintaining control of the other regions of France during the revolution; chapters on foreign conflicts; a chapter on wage and price control and maintaining a central economy, are all well written and interesting.

I read the book after reading Hilary Mantel's novel "A Place of Greater Safety" regarding the relationship and competition between Robespierre and Danton. The two books perfectly compliment each other.


This is a very accessible history of this portion of the revolution and is extremely informative. It was written in 1941 but is fresh, current, and alive with detail.

I decided to read R.R. Palmer's The Twelve Who Ruled after having it recommended to me in class. The Year of the Terror and the Committee of Public Safety are often overlooked or not given enough description in history classes and it wasn't until my senior year in college that I had even heard of the Year of the Terror. Palmer's book is great for the student because he includes enough background information so that one can understand the information without feeling overwhelmed. The text deals almost exclusively the events from the summer of 1793 through the summer of 1794. Because so much happened in this one year period, Palmer presents it on an almost day-to-day status.

Originally written in 1939 and 1940, Palmer mentions in the Bibliographical Essay how difficult it was to gather information from the French archives, but upon reading this book and having some basic knowledge of the events of the period, one finds it difficult to find any deficiency in Palmer's work. The 2005 edition of The Twelve Who Ruled opens with a new foreword by Isser Woloch, Moore Collegiate Professor of History at Columbia University. In this foreword, Woloch gives the reader a little history of Palmer's book, as well as a brief overview of the events detailed in the book.

Palmer begins his book with a one page list, titled "The Twelve", of the members of the CPS and gives a brief one-line description of each. On the next page is a sketched map with the locations and provinces mentioned in his book, as well as a translation of the Republican Calendar. I don't want to go into detail about all of Palmer's 15 chapters, but some need mentioning. The first chapter, "Twelve Terrorists to Be", gives a detailed description about the history of each member of the Committee of Public Safety leading up to the Revolution. The subsequent chapters describe the different political groups of the Revolution and how the CPS came to be as powerful as it did.

Chapters 6-9 deal with the individual missions of the CPS members to different parts of France. Chapter 6, "Republic in Miniature", describes Georges Couthon's mission to his native region of Clermont-Ferrand and his attempt to turn Puy-de-Dôme into a model for the Republic. Chapter 7, "Doom at Lyons", is self-explanatory and deals with Collot d'Herbois and the Committee's shocking actions in Lyons. Chapters 8 and 9 deal with the missions of Committee members to Alsace and Brittany to deal with the army and naval affairs in those regions, respectively.

The beginning of the end becomes apparent in chapter 11, "Finding the Narrow Way". In this chapter Danton makes his return to Paris and Robespierre and other members of the Committee are becoming more and more adamant in their positions. The remaining chapters detail the downfall of the Committee of Public Safety and the numerous executions that take place. The exception to this is chapter 14, "The Rush upon Europe", which describes the military events during the spring and early summer of 1794.

During the epilogue, Palmer sums up the lives of the eight of the original twelve that were remaining after 10 Thermidor and the different ways each one went. It is interesting to see how some of the members played a part during Napoleon's reign. Palmer end's the book with discussing Barère, him being the last surviving member of the Committee (passed away in 1841), and his last days.

Readability was something that I was looking for when I was choosing a book for this assignment. I didn't want a book that would be so in depth that it would be a chore to read, yet I didn't want a book that would have less information than my textbook. The Twelve Who Ruled was perfect in that sense and Palmer kept it interesting by including many quotations from meetings and correspondence of the period in his book. I haven't read any other books on the Year of the Terror, but I would have to recommend this book to anyone interested in the French Revolution, or even political science.

I agree with all of the amazon reviews as to this being a compelling narrative. Most interesting was Palmer's argument that the CPS wasn't merely Robespierre's beard. Palmer is mostly persuasive in his suggestion that power was more or less equitably diffused throughout the committee and that facesaving hindsight by CPS members is the reason why history has affixed sole blame for the terror on Robespierre's shoulders. Less convincing is Palmer's portait of Jacobin ideological purity. Robespierre and St.Just are presented as Spartan warriors with spotless souls even as he details their forgeries and chicanery in railroading their political rivals. Palmer often protests too much, bemoaning the miniscule percentage of victims of the terror and blaming CGS members, representatives on mission, anyone really but Robespierre. One can never escape bias in French revolution histories-so this criticism should certainly be taken with a grain of salt. Palmer's book is unique and refreshing however, meticulously and cogently argued.

In print since 1941, this fine book is a group portrait and analysis of the Committee of Public Safety, the most important organ of government in France from the fall of 1793 to the summer of 1794. Writing at the end of the 1930s, Palmer was particularly interested in the psychology of dictatorship and how much governments emerge.

When the members of the Committee took their seats, France and the French Revolution appeared headed for disaster. There was widespread dissent in the provinces, and in some, outright revolt. The chaotic politics in Paris made government from the center difficult and the armies of almost every other major European state seemed poised to dismember France. The members of the committee were on the face of it, an undistinguished lot of modest prior accomplishments. Almost exclusively middle class, none of them would have been able to rise high under the Ancien Regime. Most were lawyers or had legal training. Several were simultaneously minor provincial intellectuals. Two were army officers whose plebian origins would have prevented them from attaining significant rank in the Royal Army. As a group, and despite significant internal political strains, they proved to be an energetic and capable group of administrators and politicians. Palmer does very well in describing the considerable obstacles to success, the enormous efforts made by most of the Committee, and their considerable success as administrators.

Over the course of a year, the committee met the great challenges in front of them more or less successfully. Revolts in the provinces were crushed, often with great brutality. Though the Parisian political scene remained volatile, it did stabilize and the Committee was able to construct a reasonably effective central government. Assisted by dissent and incompetence among the monarchial opponents of France, the Committee found the resources and military leadership needed to prosecute the war successfully. The Committee arguably saved the Revolution and went a long way towards the construction of a powerful, centralized French state.

But what kind of Revolution did they save? Palmer shows very well that the Committee were not merely reacting to the pressure of events but were all committed Republicans of varying degrees of radicalism. It is impossible to understand their actions without recognizing their ideological commitment to a new kind of Republican society informed strongly by Rousseauist ideals. Detestation of inherited privilege, anti-clericalism (though not atheism), worship of the idea of virtue, a commitment to some form of popular sovereignty, and the pursuit of a strong state were common ideals of the Committee. As is often the case, war produced radicalization and these ideals would also justify the Terror and the ruthless suppression of provincial revolts, and encourage French armies in practices that anticipate the brutal behavior of Napoleon's armies in occupied Europe. In a few cases, the Committee made pragmatic choices that contradicted some of their earlier convictions. Most of the committee disliked the violent de-Christianization carried out by some radicals but did not interfere in some cases to maintain their political support in Paris. All the Committee members would have prefered an economic system based on free trade but the exigencies of war resulted in the first systematic and partially successful effort at a planned economy.

Palmer both describes the actions of the committee well and writes well about the individual members. His objective treatment of Robespierre is particularly good. This book is a model in terms of melding biographical information with the broader context of historical events. As a study of revolutionary psychology and a case example of how dictatorships form, this book is excellent.

This may have been the best book that I have ever read. Palmer does a great job of portraying the characters, the times, and the decisions they made. The last chapter is absolutely riveting. One of if not the best book I've ever read!

This novel written by an author best known for her nonfiction/memoirs is a totally engaging coming of age story. This is a quietly spectacular novel about a brief but life-defining moment for Sabine, a young American exchange student in Paris. Struggles in class, language and culture, and the juxtaposition of personal history with the present, are the makings of this character-driven story, and it makes for a wonderful read. One of the themes that makes this a haunting and relatable story is the loneliness of a young person making adult decisions and living with the consequences. I found myself thinking about it for a long time the book was finished.

This is a wonderful, if hard-edged, story of one young woman's experience in Paris. Unlike the myriad books out there painting a rosy picture of (name any European country here), this portrait is more intimate, more gritty, and much better written than most you will find in your local bookstore.

Here, the character is unsure, struggling to find herself, some friends, and her way in the world. She hides a lot from others and herself on this journey of discovery, but each scene is truthful, compelling you to go on. This is a coming of age book, with all the clouds of vacuousness gone. It's the real story of a real American girl in Paris, lumps and all. I loved this book and highly recommend it.

Apart from the "gripping" (boy is that word overused in book reviews) style, and an intense feeling of integrity, this book offers humorus/morbid insights to everyday life, through a not so regular week in the life of an american exchange student, trapped in a not so romantic paris. I found it very enjoyable.

A gritty taste of reality told by an author whose command of the English language is a thing of beauty. Samantha Dunn tells the story of a young woman caught in a crisis without anyone to turn to in a land that can never up to her expectations. I was compelled to turn the page and see this girl face difficult hardships, intense loneliness, and moral dilemmas that would test any resolve. I was surprised that I cared so deeply for the character of Sabine and her journey to become a woman. An amazing book written by an amazing author.

Paris is usually written about in novels as romantic, luminous, but here it's grey, rainy, dangerous, claustrophobic--and thus, a revelation. On scholarship from Los Cruces, NM, Sabine is trying to fit in, to escape her lower middle class background, but can she ever really learn French so well that she *is* French? Powerful, gripping, hypnotic--and beautifully written.

A unique blend of introspection,philosophy, WWII adventure, and aviation.

In this autobiogrpahical tale, Antoine de Saint-Exupery ruminates at length upon the situation of men within mankind, France's gallant but failing war effort, and the general context of a life lived meaningfully. He includes relationship to God. He provides specific illustrations within the context of his occupation as a pilot in the French air corps. AND . . . incredibly, he narrates most of this story while at the controls of a French military reconnaisance aircraft on a seemingly hopeless mission to Arras and back.

As St-Ex is wont to do, he flits back and forth between his reflections on life, and the current situation piloting the aircraft. The effect in fascinating, dealing with his inner thoughts while on this hopeless mission, for example describing his feeling of old age as he starves for oxygen at high altitude, fighting against his frozen controls. There is tense combat, described at one point as, flying into a "wall of brass".

On a few occasions the heavy introspection came close to losing me. I suspect that the translation from the French contributed to this, although the Lewis Galantiere translation that I read was generally nicely done.

Great writing . . . adventure . . . thoughtfulness . . . history. Does he make it back to home base? I won't ruin it for you. His writing indicates that in a way, he "found himself" while on this sortie. I will add that, as recorded in history, Saint-Exupery died when his P-38 reconnaisance plane went down in 1943, returning from a mission.

How can an author do better than "The Little Prince"? He can't. And once the dull reader--myself--accepts that, Saint-Exupery's other wonderful books become what they are meant to be: special gifts from a memorable writer.
Read "Flight to Arras" to learn about the nature of warfare, the nature of defeat and, in the midst of all this overwhelming distress, the importance of the individual.

It took more than one try for me to really get into Flight to Arras. Saint-Exupery is not the easiest of writers to follow, despite a superb writing style, because of being so deep into philosophy. And, once I did finally reach the point of being ready for this book, I was astounded. Absolutely! As always, St-Exupery taught me So Much.


To anyone who likes Saint-Exupery and wants to read this, I would say: Go for it. Don't force yourself through it, though. Wait until you're really at the place where this book will take to you, on its own.

In this autobiographical story, Saint-Ex tells of the already lost battle he found himself in during 1940 in desperate, war-torn France. He and his crew get sent on a hopeless reconnoissance flight mission over the burning City of Arras. Faced with almost certain imminent death, he is brought to the point of where he can't help but ask himself: "Where's the sense in all this? What am I doing? Why am I doing this?" And as we live through the harrowing experience with him, he lets us see into his heart and mind as he tries to find some answers.. What he comes up with is defined by solid thought resulting from acute observation (Metaphysics my foot!) of man and mankind, certainly more poignant now than ever and therefore surely timeless... And since it's Saint-Ex who relates all this in his unique humble-but-not-so-humble and profoundly human style, this is not only an exciting read about a dangerous time, but it is infused with charme and humour like some superb wine with its unique flavour and aroma. A great little book by a great man.

the book is st.-ex's thoughts and reflections as he flies a suicide recon mission during WW2. it is not an action novel, but does have some exiting parts to it. it is a thoughtful look at life. the book is not just an interesting look into the mind of someone on a doomed mission, but is motivating, thougth provoking and insightful, and has some great lines to live by. i liked it better than his other book wind, sand and stars, and my copy is all marked up and highlighted and i refer back to it often. i would reccommend this book without hesitation.

I own quite a few gourmet cookbooks. You know, the kind where you really have to put some effort into the cooking to turn out a dish you would receive somewhere in some great restaurant from the left bank of Paris. So finding this cookbook was heaven sent. This cookbook is my prized possession. I have referred it to everyone I know. If you really like cooking well, but you want simplicity, this book is for you. The pictures are so beautiful. I am not a fan of cookbooks that don't show you the photograph of the intended end result, or the visual steps during the preparation. This cookbook is loaded with all that, plus photographs of the French countryside, people, and history. I love that extra background info. I have prepared a lot of dishes from this book and the outcome has been superb. This book teaches you the basics you need for fine French cooking.

The book divides the contents into sections: soups and salads; vegetables and side dishes; eggs and cheese, fish and seafood; poultry and game; meat dishes ( the stews are delicious!!); pastry and cakes; and desserts (oh my God, you MUST try the Rich Chocolate Cake recipe...it is a chocoholic's dream come true. I must have been asked for this recipe a thousand times.)Bon Appetit!

I've had this cookbook for over ten years now, and I still refer to it monthly and for cooking inspiration. I absolutely agree with other reviewers that it is the best french cookbook around. The step by step pictures and instructions make this cookbook invaluable and make even complicated dishes doable.

I've always wanted to make delicious food, which includes Chinese food, of course. I got this book from a book sale, and I had tried Fish Terrine, White Veal Stew, and Baked Caramel Custard. Not knowing what it would taste like before making it (because I've never had any French dish before), the outcome were amazaing. The ingredients are accurate, and the explaination are simple and clear. This is a very fine cookbook. Worth every penny.

Owning over 100 cookbooks, this is the one that I turn to most often. One can turn out a marvelous French dinner and not spend a huge amount of time preparing it. I have yet to try a recipe that isn't excellent and I have prepared many of them. Highly recommend this book. Not being able to buy a new one now, have ordered used to give as gifts. They have all arrived in excellent condition.

My daughter bought this cookbook in Paris and brought it home for Christmas. After looking through it, I decided I had to have it myself as there were too many recipes I wanted to try and I couldn't write them all down. Now, whenever I show the book to any of my friends, they have to order it too!

The recipes are clear and easy to follow. The pictures are lovely. The dishes I have tried so far are pure delights to the tongue! It is fun to just sit and look through it and plan a dinner party! I take a yearly trip to Paris to visit my daughter and this book helps me cope with my ordinary life the rest of the year!

I've read all the reviews of Schmidt's efforts on matter of European Integration. And here's what I think: She is destined to embrace the English model and the English model, I'm convinced, will embrace her. The two will be as one. They will be a European Union far more robust than anything concocted in Brussels. So I, for one, would like to celebrate that true union of politics and passion and hoist a glass to Schmidt and this English Model!

I've read all the reviews of Schmidt's efforts on matter of European Integration. And here's what I think. She is destined to embrace the English model and the English model, I'm convinced will embrace her. They will be as one. A European Union far more robust than anything concocted in Brussels. So I, for one, would like to celebrate that true union of politics and passion and hoist a glass to Schmidt and this English Model!

As I see it, the English model must be (and no doubt is, in Schmidt's extraordinary hands) smart, generous, and prone to displays of great good humor. The English model must display the kind of maganimous spirit that say, one brother-in-law might display to another brother-in-law if the latter brother-in-law were, say, a writer needing a place to stay in England.

I've read through the review string, and I must ask about the referenced English model. Please tell me more. I know of course of Schmidt's work on French models and German models and the energy she devoted to the models of Italy and America. Before I endorse this new effort, I think we should know more.

I agree with most of what the earlier reviewer stated. Schmidt is definitely 5-star material. But her most recent efforts have in point of fact focused almost exclusively on the English Model, and with amazing results.

This book is wonderful. While it cannot possibly list all the cultivars, it gives nice details about cones, bark and how various evergreens can create a beautiful setting. Gorgeous photos of summer, fall and winter scenes showing the beauty of evergreens over the various seasons.

While there was no doubt that Adrian Bloom loves and knows Conifers. I was hoping for more help with identification pictures and information on individual conifers. I do enjoy the book nevertheless.

Faith

This book has lots of beautiful photographs which depict conifers in their mature size and shape. The book is inspiring but has an incomplete plant list. The author lists the most common varieties. A common problem with plant book is that it is hard to keep up with the new stock. I bought four new conifers this year that were not listed in the book. I would have liked to have seen some advise or planting designs on which conifers work well together. Overall it is a very inspirational book.

this is a great reference on conifers. It shows how exciting and changeable conifers really are (I was never over-enthused by them previously). The book talks about how to use conifers in design, how to maintain them and then there is an encycolpedic reference at the end.

This book is a gorgeous, mouth-watering treatise on gardening with conifers. The photography accompanying the garden descriptions is spectacular with conifers shown in all kinds of light as well as different seasons. It makes you want to begin your gardens all over again using nothing but conifers!

This book compiled for the most part from original sources such as diaries and letters depicts the struggle in Normandy from the German viewpoint with emphasis on the grunts doing the fighting. But, the book transcends the viewpoint of either side. It relates in detail the receiving end of what students of military history now describe as industrial warfare. Many of the first person descriptions repeat the overwhelming material advantage the Allies possessed. German tanks especially Panthers and Tigers, "88" caliber guns, their equivalent to our bazookas, and machine guns were far superior to the Allies. Their soldiers were confident until faced with the massed airpower, artillery, navel gunfire, and the strangling of their supply lines by the allied strength in the air. Still, they fought a courageous and skillful retreat except for the trap at Falaise. The book reminds one of the amazing job the American Army did in putting divisions with no combat experience in the line and succeeding in attack without catastrophic losses. Despite the massive literature on the Normandy campaign, I recommend this book to those interested in military history, WWII, students, military professionals, and libraries.

This is a superb book that is well researched & examines the battles fought in Normandy in 1944 from a German stance. The author explains how the Allied invasion was seen as the last opportunity to turn the tide & how Rommel made great strides in his short time in 5-6 months to strengthen the defences. However, the author does not just cover off the strategic & key high command personalities but more importantaly he looks at the Normandy battles from the common fighting German soldier (Landser)& has drawn on many first hand accounts, letters, diaries etc. The book examines how the German soldiers fought on despite been overwhelmed by the Allied material superiority & air supremacy. The Allies command of the air was a key factor in the German defeat as all German movement by day was effectively paralysed & soul destroying to the troops. But as the author points out 'despite the Allied material supremacy, tank for tank, gun for gun, the Wehrmact was more than a match for its enemies'. Unfortunately for the Germans, their losses incurred in men & material could no longer be made good. This is the story of the German soldier & how he fought & endured those battles in the West in 1944 (especially around Caen & Falaise), been driven on by their comradeship for one another. Highly recommended reading.

Most people are fairly informed about the D-Day invasion at Normandy from the American, British and Canadian view. I knew little about the battle from the German side. Book was very informative and interesting. I also have just read Dunkerk and the Ambrose book.

This book is great, and really opens your eyes to the side of losing that war, and what nightmarish things they went through.

Santa put this in my stocking. Many adjectives and cliches come to mind: "page turner," "can't put it down," and even just "Wow."

Hargreaves masterfully narrates and is possessed to tell this story from the German view, only turning to an Allies' account of some key event when it is only absolutely necessary. He stitches personal stories, official records, and historical context of June 6, 1944 together for a whole and complete German account of the battle for France.

This detailed perspective of The Germans in Normandy is refreshing and a long overdue addition to the works of Paul Carell's Invasion! and Stephen Ambrose's D-Day works (D-Day, Band of Brothers, and others). If you enjoy WWII history, Hargreaves has written the next book you should read.

The Course of Miracles can be daunting especially if you decide that you are going to go at it alone. People usually buy it, read a few pages, and up on the shelf it goes. There's even a joke in Course in Miracles groups, that it has a shelf life of 8-10 years before it gets picked up again. That's okay, because Truth, like Beauty, stands and waits. Truth is Like Love, it never pushes its own way. Besides, Truth really isn't in a book whether it be the Bible or Ralph Waldo Emerson or A Couse in Miracles. Truth is in you now. In Truth, Truth is who you are...

That's okay, you can be a little startled. But I invite you to simply breathe in the statement; Truth is who I am...
and breathe it out, Truth is what I am...

Again, you don't have to force this to be True. It already is. You don't have to accept it. You can reject it. In fact, many of us have spent many lifetimes doing so. But I just want you to know, there is Something calling you to this teaching because at a very deep level, you know that you are of God...of Spirit...of Life. You know that you are not of this world. At a certain level of things, deep in our subconscious minds, we remember the Original Ectasy of being created out of Pure Love, Pure Joy, Pure Innocence. On a human level, we think that if we had the fancy home, or the shiny Mercedes, or the "right" partner, we'd be happy - and I'm not knocking these things - but what we really desire, what we really, really want is to be One with God, again.

Well, good news, we already are and we can never leave home without it...sorry, bad joke, I know.

This book is not as intimidating as the actual Course in Miracles text. The format is much easier to read than the Course. If you hadn't read the Course, there are certain parts of it written in iambic pentameter. The very same style of writing that William Shakespeare and John Donne would use. Once you get used to it, however, it flows beautifully, but if you are not used to it, you'll find yourself stumbling and tripping over the lines. At least, this was my experience.

This book is perfect for just leaving on the nightstand and reading just before going to bed or right after waking up - or both -it's a great way to begin your meditation. Usually, I'll shorten the quote even more to just a sentence and take it into meditation. Here are some examples:

Let forgiveness be the substitute for fear. This is the only rule for happy dreams...

Every choice you make establishes your own identity as you will see it and believe it is...

There is nothing outside you...

Love will immediately enter into any mind that truly wants it...

A therapist doesn't heal, he lets healing be...

The last one I have laminated and put over my desk. I have to remember as a Spiritual Counselor, I don't heal anyone. I see their Truth now. I see only Spirit...only Love...only God...and if I cannot see Spirit, then I must heal my mind about them.

I love this book. I wish the pictures were in color, but that would make for a very expensive book, but it is a wonderful addition to any Spiritual Library. And, if you are still hesitant about the actual book, I invite you to attend a Course in Miracles Study Group. I had my own for almost six years and I absolutely loved it. Now I attend one and it's a big difference going from facilitator to participator.

Buy this book as a gift to yourself. Allow the wounds of the past to be healed once and for all. Make 2008 great because you deserve to be at peace. Afterall, something within you already is.

Peace & Blessings,
john, 'the Light Coach'

This book was given to me by a dear friend in a time of great changes in my life; it allowed me to see the real meaning and joy in the fiber of life. It is absolute love, every page. Please do yourself and everyone you love a favor, purchase this gift, you and they will treasure it always.

I must confess that I have not yet read "The Course in Miracles" - Due to it's sheer size, I've felt a bit intimidated. I have, however, read many, many books that deal with the ideas espoused in "The Course", and I've foud these ideas to make quite a lot of sense!

This particular book, "Gifts from a Course in Miracles", is written in such a way that each major "tenet" is further broken down into smaller sub-sections - each dealing with a part of the "tenet" being discussed - and it's written quite similar to the form of a poem. I really like the format, as it makes the info. easier to digest.

If you are at all interested in finding out about the ideas espoused in "The Course", or even if you're already a student of it, I would highly recommend this book.

A wonderful interpretation of the ideas expressed in The Course In Miracles. Great for daily meditation. A lovely gift for anyone.

This is truly a very special book. I have bought quite a few just for presents. It is great for anyone who is already a student of "A course in Miracles" or if they just want to get a glimpse at what it is really all about. The introduction alone by Marianne Williamson is worth the price of the book. It also would be a terrific book for anyone who is thinking about joining a Study Group for the Course. The book is edited by two people who have been students of the Course for many years and it is their favorite sections put together in a very special way. A must read!!!!
Dorothy Gautier