California Books

I felt it had some very good ideas. It's a short read and to the point.

This is tops in my book. I am purchasing one for each of my child's teachers. Boy did i learn a lot!

I have struggled since Kindergarten to find a book that teachers at my son's school would actually read and this is it. I bought it after printing pages from the internet for his teacher so that she would understand his needs better. He is mainstreamed but has difficulty with authority. She has done wonders in just the first month of school. She is willing to learn and accepted the book without hesitation and has actually shared it with other teachers and duties in the school. The book is well written - very easy read and doesn't take up the precious time of teachers, it is informative and well explained. I highly recommend this book to anyone even supporting staff at schools especially elementary schools.

I was very impressed with the straight forward and direct approach of this book. I read this book in less than an hour and picked up some good tips. Before I found this book, I was trying to search the internet for info to print off for his teacher. I was having a hard time finding a site that described AS, it's symptoms, what to expect, and how to help. This book covers it all, plus has tips of things to add to the IEP. Since no one in our school district has ever dealt with AS before, this book will be a big help. I bought a copy for my son's teacher, and am trying to get the school to buy copies of their own.

I love this book because it's short enough that the teachers will actually read it, and practical enough that they will actually use it. We have given a copy of the book to each of my son's teachers every year - it is a critical part of laying the foundation for good communication for the school year, and for helping the teachers see and understand his behavior in the right context. I would highly recommend this book!

the spine on this book broke - i like to have my books stay in very good shape so this was disappointing

I was fortunate to see the two Frans' lecture in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park over a decade ago where they discussed their new book and showed slides of the bonobo apes. I found it all quite intriguing and purchased my autographed copy there.

The most fascinating part was that bonobos love sex. They have sexual encounters multiple times per day with many different partners (except mother/son) in all types of positions yet have the same amount of offspring as other apes. An amicable lot, compared to the aggressive chimpanzee, bonobos tend to have sex to rectify disputes as well as for the pure pleasure of it. The bonobos are a matriarchal group, taking their cues from the females versus typically the males. I thought it was interesting that we humans are now reevaluating whether it is indeed the aggressive, patriarchal chimpanzee that we evolved from or the sensual bonobo ape.

Frans Lanting captured a photograph of two bonobos having missionary style intercourse, she on her back with her arms over her head and with the biggest grin on her face! A gorgeous book, gorgeous animals.

This is a great book with plenty of great photographs by Frans Lanting and a good deal of basic information on these least-known ape cousins of ours from Frans de Waal. Equally genetically and evolutionally related to us as chimpanzees, they are best known for their sexual behavior and their relatively peaceful lives compared to chimpanzees but de Waal warns that the differences are a matter of degree and there is great flexibility.

The differences between the species are interesting. Though in both species the females (normally) leave at puberty and the males always remain in their birth groups, bonobo females bond more and males bond less than in chimpanzees. But the more important difference is that in bonobos the most important and strongest relationship is that between mother and son. This is all-important and at the core of bonobo society and includes serious rivalry between mothers over their sons' dominance ranks - and the fights between the mothers can be viscious.

What most people immediately think of when the bonobo is mentioned is sex, sex, and more sex. This is often misinterpreted and tends to obscure what is really going on. De Waal says their social life is better understood as being peppered by brief moments of sexual activity, the majority of which does not involve intromission nor is it carried through to sexual climax. It is largely brief and casual and used to reduce conflict. And when it comes to full mating with receptive females, this is normally limited to the top two males who occupy, with the females, the center of a travelling party and from where adolescent and lower ranking males are excluded.

De Waal discusses the possibility that the extended female receptivity of the female bonobo - receptive for nearly half of her adult life compared to 5% for the chimpanzee female - may be the bonobo strategy for avoiding male infanticide. In some species one male will remain with one or more females and protect his young from harm from others. In other species females mate with many males, including proactively soliciting males when the females are not normally receptive because they are not fertile, and this 'paternity confusion' is seen as a stategy to counter male infanticide. Infanticide has been observed in increasing numbers of species but, as yet, not in bonobos. De Waal suggests that the particular relationships of bonobos, with the reduced male aggression towards and dominance over females, may be a successful anti male-infantide strategy.

Another suggestion de Waal makes is that, as chimpanzee females have food priority when they are sporting sexual swellings, the extended sexual swellings and receptivity of bonobo females may have extended their food priority. Bonobo females almost always have food priority over males.

Another important difference between bonobo and chimpanzee is the relations between goups. Though chimpanzee females, like bonobo females, move between groups to breed (using sexual swellings as 'passports'), chimpanzee males from different groups are very aggressive and sometimes kill. Though bonobo males are antagonistic towards outsider males and display aggressively, there can be contact between the females of the two groups that meet and sexual contact between males and females of the two groups. I have read elsewhere that this contact between females, who in some cases will be known to each other as females move between groups, may have been something similar to the way our early ancestors were able to overcome full-blown aggression between groups, the females acting as links between groups that would ultimately lead to potentially positive alliances and trading links.

Whether we'll ever learn enough about these apes before they become extinct is unlikely. And that is sad. Whether we are interested in other species for comparision with our own or simply in order to understanding their particular evolutionary stories, we need to convince greater numbers of people that other species are interesting and deserve our full respect and protection. This book contributes to this for the bonobo.

Although I love learning about animals just because I love learning about animals - this book brings many important issues to the forefront - issues which directly relate to humans and human culture. For that reason, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has any curiosity about human behavior - especially as it pertains to sex. While Dr. de Waal is careful to avoid generalizations and anthropomorphisms, you will have fun drawing your own conclusions!

Most people are familiar with chimps but few have heard of the bonobo, but we resemble them behaviorally more than any of the other great apes. Also I recall reading once that we have the greatest genetic similarity to bonobos. I forget the exact figure, but humans share something like 99.5 percent of their genetic material with bonobos.

De Waal teamed up with internationally acclaimed nature photographer Hans Lanting to produce not only a very scholarly but very readable and interesting book, and a visually very striking one as well.

There are many similarities between bonobo behavior and humans, and ways in which they differ from other apes. Females have higher social standing in bonobo society compared to chimps, and high-ranking males never stay that way for long unless they have the support of at least a high-ranking female or two.

Females also cooperate more than in other apes. They have been observed working together to drive off an aggressive male, which doesn't happen in chimps. Females are also very social, and seek to establish alliances with other males. This can come in handy in various ways. For example, during the mating season, if a a male the female doesn't like wants to mate, she can effectively rebuff his attempts by getting her other male friends to come to her aid. They even resemble us in their sexual behavior, since they are the only ape observed to use the missionary position during sex, which they do about half the time.

This is just a small sample of the many interesting and thought-provoking things I picked up from reading this book. Overall, a fascinating and very visually appealing presentation on this little-known and understood relative among the great apes.

Best Read. John Annerino's CANYONS OF THE SOUTHWEST. -Tucson Weekl

CANYONS OF THE SOUTHWEST by John Annerino features the author's photographs of towering red rock and rushing waters. -Travel-Holiday Magazine

CANYONS OF THE SOUTHWEST by John Annerino. A stunning overview of the "inverted mountains." -Summit Magazine

For people who love the West, especially those who seldom leave the concrete road, this book provides unbelievably beautiful pictures and stories about gorgeous places in the wilderness. -Rocky Mountain News

Foremost are the photographs. I would call Annerino's canyon portraits the best of a really good lot, even over big-time large-format photographers. While the large-format works are stunning artistic studies of light and color shot with impossibly huge f-stops, Annerino's canyon photographs give expression to the phrase "wearing one's heart on the sleeve." His photos have an active passion that others lack. Anyone who knows him will say he is among the "hardmen' to tackle the Southwestern mountains and canyons, but that he is definitely the most sincere in his passion for place. Perhaps, because of this he lacks a calculated commercial view of the places he photographs. His images also record his own passion, creating compelling and unique photographs. More than any other contemporary outdoor photographer, Annerino's photos mirror his love of the land's people. In the text, Annerino portrays canyonlands people as part of what makes the places special. He has a deep affection for past and present native peoples, but unlike some Anglo North Americans, Annerino isn't a lost 20th century soul. Rather, he seems to have a straightfoward and genuine admiration for native people, and has learned a great deal about them. His research on each canyon's history is impressive. Annerino writes with an immensity commensurate with his subject. His style is old-fashioned, evoking an older, more grandiose era of writing of explorers like Powell and Pattie. While many modern writers seem bent on infusing themselves into as much of the story as possible, Annerino's style is not so full of himself as full of the intensity of his canyon experiences...Annerino is at his best when he writes about Mexico, especially the Big Bend passage where he talks about the injustices served the Mexican across the river at the hands of our national park there. An optimist who sees great things in the canyons, Annerino neither ignores nor dwells on the obvious problems facing the West like pollution and development. And fortunately, CANYONS OF THE SOUTHWEST is not a treasure map guidebook to these areas. -Desert Skies

This book is the most wonderful Encyclopedia about Barbie dolls. It has so many dolls listed with descriptions, prices and pics of the dolls in their boxes. Many pink boxes, OOAK Mattel dolls and collectibles. Pictures are nice, they are from the doll in box, and there are closes on some dolls.

If you need information on Pink Boxes, this book is the best!!! There are a new version 'cos this is not updated, the dolls showed ends on 1999. There are no 2000 dolls or 2001. But there are a second edition, so search for the new edition!

I have looked at many many books trying to find one that would help me to easily identify Barbie. Well folks, this is it! The pictures are wonderful, brightly colored and large enough to see detail. This is a "Must Have" book if you are a collector. (or if you buy used dolls to make up an OOAK) Well worth the money spent. I highly recommend!

I just received the COLLECTOR'S ENCYCLOPEDIA of BARBIE by JMichael Augustyniak. I thought I knew a lot about the value of eachdoll, I sell them and buy them regularly right here on amazon.com auctions. However, I opened the pages of this book and it is fantastic and a must for any serious collector. All the photos are in color, by date, series, it is all in this book. You will be amazed that some Barbies are valued in high 5 figures! I'm so glad I have this reference. Everyone who is interested in Barbie should! END

Maravilloso libro ! , poseo la 1ra y 2da Edicion, y son fabulosos, fotos hermosas y claras, muy bien las descripciones de cada muñeca...,Gracias Micael Augustiniak ! desde San Luis ,Argentina RITA REVUELTO

This book was very informative regarding dolls and values. I wish it would have had more of the "Special Edition" models and values though. Lots of pictures that are a good size for viewing and easy to see.

This book is put together very well, the index pages in the back make it easy to locate the dolls that you are looking for. I am a beginner and this book was very helpful for me to put a value on the dolls that I already have.

It's amazing how soothing just reading William Blake's poetry is on the troubled soul. I always look for his work to ease my mind and lift my spirit. Everyone should treat themselves to his work. Peace be with you.

A wonderful paperback edition, containing all the works of
William Blake, with a excellent introduction
of Harold Bloom. An priceless tool for students
and teachers

This is an outstanding resource for anyone interested in the works of William Blake. It's well organized and easy to work with. I'm very pleased with it.

What to write for my last review? That was tough. Since I was a little boy I have always been one of those who had his face in a book. Books, books, books. When I began my jobs as a paperboy, and later at the grocery store, I began buying books. This hobby grew so large, that my father made our rumpus room a library for me. And it grew ever larger. By the time I enlisted in the Air Force, I had amassed quite a large number of volumes. While in Europe and the Middle East, I would scour book stores and began purchasing leather books. Some very old, and many in foreign languages. Since the Air Force only allowed for a 5,000 lb limit, I spent a fortune sending books home. When I left the service my house looked like a library. Running out of space, I began to make my garage a library. However, it grew ever larger. Therefore, I made use of my brothers garage, then my mothers, and eventually even had to make due with having to rent a few storage spaces.

Yes, it's that large. I was hoping to make a large home library some day. Books have been my life: Even though I write mostly about Asian films. And I was glad that VHS films came into vogue, as they afforded me the opportunity to begin amassing a large collection of Japanese films which I have a soft heart for. That got real big too! Anyway, back to the question as to what to write for my last review? Well, I just happened to stumble across this book last night, one of many. There is a poem by the gifted and enigmatic poet, engraver and painter William Blake. I do recommend the book by the way. Events in my life have gone in a very negative way, therefore, I have decided to impart a poem as my last review. Hope you like it. It's one I have remembered from my childhood. There are too many great things to write about, and I figured this would not be a bad goodbye. It is William Blake's "THE TYGER"

THE TIGER

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?

What the hammer? What the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?


William Blake (1757-1827)

It has all his writings: letters, anotations scribbled in the margins of other people's books, everything. Only downside: it doesn't show his illuminated printing.

As a former Navy service member I looked forward to reading this book. I wanted to see what someone else's experiences in command were, particularly on an new destroyer. The book was a real disappointment. I'm not sure how this officer made it to flag rank, he must have more chops than are exhibited in this book. He relates the significant accomplishments of the ship (which were certainly significant) but the tone of the book is rather off putting. The man is self-deprecating to a fault. He seems to have great second thoughts about his ability to command and whether he will be successful. Generally, all the officers and sailors in his book are "outstanding" in all ways, there are few descriptions of incompetent officers and with the exception of descriptions of incompetent enlisted men...everyone is seemingly perfect for the most part. About halfway through the book I just wanted to finish it and be done with it. I usually hand off books to friends, this one went to Goodwill.

This is a first-rate book. I am delighted I read it. I found it to be touching, informative, funny, and readable.

It also confirms, once again, what I think of those in the American military----they are very good people, and dedicated professionals.

It is not surprising to note that Admiral Stavridis is an avid reader. It shows in his selection of books, and in his writing. If you don't read, you can't write well, and he writes well. I respect the way he is in touch with history, and literature. I also respect the way he is in touch with reality---he cares about those under his command, and he takes every bit of his job seriously.

I was interested in the Admiral's observations about the Middle East, and the problems America has there.
The book was written before 9/11, and some of the observations caught my attention. He noted that Iran is the real problem in the region, which is hardly a surprise. He also wrote that it might be useful to turn Iraq into a democracy as a challenge to Iran. I gather this idea was around a long time before George W. Bush adopted it.

I do not know if its right or wrong. The "surge" seems to be effective, after all, and it might just work out.
it would be interesting to know what Admiral Stavridis thinks about it now.

I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in naval history, naval warfare, and history in general. It is well worth reading.

Adm. Stavridis takes the reader aboard the destroyer Barry with a day to day briefing.

He shares his hopes, many fears , and his personal life. He is able to convey the constant pressure from the sea, his superiors,and the members of his crew, during his command.

After reading Adm. Stavridis'diary, one has a new appreciation of the dedication of our service men and women for the defense of the United States.

Everyone needs a hero in life, Jim is one of mine. He is more than just a great writer, demonstrative leader, caring father, and compassionate husband; he is a great human being. This book brought back many wonderful memories from a special time in my life and I appreciate the author's candor. Semper Fi Jim Stavridis!
Stan Brown (former CSMM/CMC in BARRY)

You...will...love...this...book. But only if you want to know of honesty, humility, humor, the courage of everyday acts of service by others, and the peaks and valleys of leadership. Not to mention wonderful writing, anecdotes, and insights by a distinguished military commander writing as a young officer, a decade and a half before pinning on the four-stars of an admiral.
If you want a great book about the wanderings of a homesick warrior with duties he must discharge before being reunited with his family, Homer's "Odyssey" is pretty tough to beat. If you are looking for a primer on leadership, Stephen Covey's "7 Habits..." is the blockbuster choice of millions. For inspirational stories of ships and men and the sea, Jack London, Patrick O'Brien and a few others invented and nurtured a timeless genre. For a personal catalog of humility and insignificance against the greatness of life and a higher power, "The Confessions of St. Augustine" are available.
And then there is "Destroyer Captain," which has a tincture of these works and more, is entirely accessible, and a terrific read. Painfully well-written, poignant, and complete, this book opens a window onto a world that hums along with quiet, powerful, efficient ordinariness everyday across the globe: the U.S. Navy defending the empire of liberty.
Jim Stavridis, one of our nation's most senior military officers, has published the journals he kept while a first-time captain at sea in the mid-1990s. Stavridis is a friend of many years, and someone I know to be of great good humor and a fine leader. Even so, there is nothing like the well written word for true insight. Stavridis gives brutally raw honesty as he describes his expectations, his fears, his longing for home and hearth while thousands of miles away, and the timeless bonds that develop among the crew of a ship at sea.
Stavridis paints with equal skill in bold brush strokes and pointillist precision as he colors the everyday routine at sea, and the non-stop demands on the captain. As he puts it -- and the book is infused with the obviousness of it -- "for no one is the term service more applicable than the commanding officer who is doing his job." Stavridis describes in wonderful detail -- and with an easy but extraordinarily fine style -- the 24/7 nature of what it means to be a captain of a weapon-packed man of war, with a crew whose average age is probably about 22 years old, and the captain himself in his thirties. He describes what it is like to sit in judgment of others at "captain's mast," the navy's unique system of self-discipline that reaches back to ancient times. Forget what you may think you know of the all-powerful captain at sea; here's the real deal as Stavridis describes a mast at which he restricted to the ship a young petty officer who had been thrown in jail for a shoreside brawl: "As the captain's mast concluded, I walked out, feeling diminished myself. Judgment is the hardest of human tasks..."
But this is no "woe is me for the burdens of command" cri de coeur. The book fairly tingles with the sheer pleasure Stavridis takes in being "the captain." He knows he is a lucky man, having been entrusted with the most advanced warship ever built, a crew of 350 men he clearly loves, and ordered by his country to ply "the magic monotony of existence between sky and water," as Stavridis quotes Conrad. An avid reader, Stavridis writes of his early decision to sit in his elevated chair on the bridge of the ship while at sea, generally observing the daily routines but benignly ignoring them as he reads -- not from important dispatches or operational manuals, but "a good novel." Why? "I think it's important to show the younger folk that (a) reading matters and, more important, that (b) it is a good deal being the captain. If I can't communicate the joy of command to my wardroom, why would any of them want to stick around? It sure isn't for the pay!"
Captain Bligh, step aside. You have been relieved as proto-typical literary commander at sea. READ THIS BOOK and know about duty, honor, country...and seasickness, liberty call, carving turkeys for a Thanksgiving dinner of 350, and lots lots more.

There are many things I love about this book. For me, being a mother of two busy kids, I love the fact that the book is written in "bite-sized pieces". If I am waiting to pick up my son from basketball and have ten minutes, I can read an inspiring story from start to finish. The material and people profiled in the book are incredibly interesting. How did Bill Nye the Science Guy help revolutionize how kids view science? How did Maya Angelou find the strength to turn the pain she has suffered into such beautiful masterpieces? Each story has a lesson - one that I am sharing with my whole family. I've already given seven people this book as a gift!!

This is a great book because some of our favorite famous people are spotlighted and their lives are examined from before they were famous. It's helpful to me because once again I can see that we are all the same in our humanity, and anyone who puts in the effort, diligence and spiritual "something" to accomplish their dreams will do it! It lets us see we can do it, too, in whatever way feels good to us!

What I really like about this book, is that the authors do a wonderful job showing you how the super successful people had their starting points as well. They started with a dream, and then took action to follow though--to make their dream--their reality.

All too often we forget this simple truth.

One of the greatest psychological discoveries of the twenty century was NLP. Anthony Robbins did a great job promoting its practical application for the masses. The essence of NLP is that if someone could do something, you could copy him and achieve the same results.

But beliefs need to start somewhere. That's where this awesome book comes in. it shows you in clear terms how other went from zero to stardom. Reading stories from the super successful will help you gain a strong belief in yourself. It will spark a flame of empowerment - that says "I too can be great!" Which reminds me of a great quote from Mark Twain that is very apropos:

"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."

Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works

"Dream It Do It," did it for me! It reinforced the passion and realization that I can achieve my most desired dreams. This is the most inspirational and motivational book I've read since "The Power of Positive Thinking," by Norman Vincent Peale. Cook and Sholander go a step beyond, and list steps for ALL of us to achieve our most innermost dreams. It certainly benefited me as I answered the questions in the journal they include in this extraordinary book. By writing my answers, I realized what was necessary to achieve my goals and dreams. I started following their recipe for success. And I'm not stopping!

After reading the stories of people who had overcome insurmountable obstacles, including physical handicaps, amputations, rape, cancer, and other adversities, I was immensely inspired. What made these people different than others? According to Cook and Sholander, they each possessed one or more of the 10 key essential elements of CPR. For some it was passion, persistence, and resilience. For others it was a combination of other elements that are needed for one to successfully achieve their long held dream.

Lance Armstrong was a dreamer. But life hit him with a heavy blow when he was diagnosed with testicle cancer at the age of 25. Even though the cancer had invaded his stomach, lungs, and brain, he fought back with chemotherapy treatments. He never lost sight of his dream...to win the Tour de France. Instead of focusing on the cancer, he realized that he was a great athlete. He focused on beating this disease and eventually achieving his dream. It took courage for Lance to hold on to a dream of winning such a competitive race, while fighting cancer. Yet, in his heart and mind he was confident that he was going to bicycle in the Tour de France and win. I was moved by Lance's deep faith in himself and his courage to beat his cancer and achieve his dream of winning the Tour de France.

Graciela Sholander and Sharon Cook give many examples of people, such as Barbara Walters, who fought so hard to become the first female co-host on the Today Show and the first woman to co-anchor network evening news. So many female co-hosts owe a great deal to Barbara. Her persistence didn't allow her to give up on her dream, even though she had to fight obstacles in her path to success. We owe a great deal to Barbara for her persistence. She has given her viewers so much.

AIDS researcher, Edward A Berger worked for ten years, and his persistence led through a breakthrough in developing a vaccine, and hopefully a cure for AIDS.

These people had to overcome insurmountable obstacles to achieve their dreams. Why didn't they give up? One reason is because they possessed one or more of the 10 key elements Sholander and Cook describe in this motivational book. Explaining how these people were able to achieve their goals can help all readers. Instead of saying, "Woe is me. I can't do it because of "this of that;" turn it around and say, "Yes, I can accomplish my dream. I have what it takes."

When I read about a young woman who had been in a car accident and had lost her left leg, pelvis, and hip, and then later became a ski racer, I was amazed at her confidence in herself. She knew life would be more difficult, but that didn't stop her from enjoying every minute.

So many stories about extraordinary people are included in "Dream It Do It." I was fascinated with all of them. What I particularly found helpful was the suggestions and advice at the end of the chapters explaining practical ways for ALL of us to become successful.

This book should be on everyone's wish list. It will change the way you think and live your life. You will be thankful you read "Dream It Do It" and be thankful to Sharon Cook and Graciela Sholander for taking the time to interview so many amazing people. This book will surely direct the reader to find possible ways to achieve THEIR innermost dreams. Thank you for such an uplifting book!
Nancy A. Draper A Burden of Silence: My Mother's Battle with AIDS

Have you ever looked at a successful person and wonder how they became successful? In this wonderful, easy to read book not only do you find stories of peoples' successes, but you also find the challenges they faced, and how they overcame those challenges.

To quote the authors: "Life can knock us down flat. It's our measure of resilience that determines whether or not we'll keep dreaming and reaching for our dreams."

This book gives examples of people who have been knocked down, but they also share many stories of people who succeeded. More importantly, they also give the elements of the keys to their success.

The authors have developed a wonderful tool, which they refer to as "Dream CPR". Throughout the book, they discuss the "Ten Essential Elements of Dream CPR", and apply the elements to real life examples.

While reading the book, they got to the heart of the matter quickly, and I could see how the elements of Dream CPR applied.

If you need inspiration, look no further. This book will motivate you, and help you to achieve the success that you are dreaming about.

QUOTES from the book, DREAM IT DO IT:

"Despite what we've been taught, we don't have to be rich, famous or distinguished to make our dreams come true."

"If you have ever felt such tremendous enthusiasm and desire for something that you would gladly spend all your waking hours working on it, that you would happily do without pay, then you have found your passion."

"Following our dreams almost always requires us to take chances. There is no guarantee that we will succeed in our venture. But if we don't try, we will never know how far we can go."

"Most people who are recognized for their remarkable accomplishments started out stumbling and struggling just like anyone else."

"When our dreams are born of purpose, we can soar above the limitations to accomplish the seemingly impossible."

"If nobody was willing to try something new, nothing would ever be invented."

"A single action can completely alter your future, for better or worse."

A great book!!!!

The Eye of Odin is a very interesting first from writer Richard Larsson. It demands your full attention, with its many characters and their difficult names, but a very rewarding piece of saga. The vikings, the ancient gods,the trade, the raids on the Europeean continent and Britain.
Things that we know, have heard and read about could be repetitive and boring, her come alive in new light.
The characters are strong and laconically Norse, as in Njals' Saga and the Snorre Edda, big strong fellows who are as likely to suddenly cleave you with a sword as they are trying to drink you under the table on mead.

The scoundrels of the story are utterly evil and attack the Good with ever means possible, stopping at nothing.
Yet in the midst of this, the old Norse clan continously strike back at their enemy, keeping all skirmishes far from home, impossible to prove to the Althingi, the Icelandic parliament.

I dound the book enticing in it's description of viking life, which seems so real, so alive and so very plausible.
We know today that the vikings were no more savage than other folk at the time, skilled merchants and negotiators.

The discovery of the New Lands is described just as it may have occurred, much by chance, bu coincident.
Larsson writes meticulously, leaving no details forgotten, no stone unturned, which sometimes is a strength sometimes a weakness, making a vengeant mind like Bagnold's wait a hundred pages before striking, whereas in other parts of the book two sentences could mean a few years.
I strongly recommend this book as it is a brilliant Saga, an enxiting book and- most of all- a Very Good Read!

James Larson's writing style is fantastic! I am a huge fan of historic novels of the dark ages, and saga periods, and this is the most enjoyable read in the genre I have experienced to date.

The characters are familar, being drawn from history, but the telling is truly eloquent.

I am anxiously awaiting his second book!

If you're looking for high literature, you won't find it here, as Jim Larson is never going to be acclaimed as the greatest exponent of the English language. However, he is a master of the craft of yarn spinning. I found this novel of Viking times a genuine "couldn't put down". The characters come alive, and there is none of the confusion that one can find in some epic novels. What Nigel Tranter did for Scottish history in novel form, Jim Larson looks like being fully capable of for the Vikings. Superb first novel, great reading, and I can't wait until the next one, called "Wolfgar" is published. I'll be at the head of the queue to buy it.

It's been a long time since I've let myself be swept into another time and place by an historical saga. And this novel, set in the tenth century in the time of the Vikings, is what I call a "delicious" read. Once I got into the book and the Norwegian names were no longer a challenge, the story moved fast, sweeping me up in this epic tale of adventure, plunder, murder and revenge. The characters were fully developed, the time and place authentic, and I learned a lot about the politics and history of the time.

The story begins in conflict as the Christian King of Norway is pitted against the old time religion of the people, who worship Odin and come together in an annual festival where they pray to Odin and ritually sacrifice animals. There is a murder which results in a prestigious family being banned from the land. Erik the Red is their teenage son and the reader watches him and his two good friends, go to sea, marry and develop trade. They also "go a Viking" which means they travel to various European countries, loot the valuables and takes slaves. Reading this is an interesting experience because by this time in the book I identified with them and liked them. Though their eyes, however, the plunder was just part of their culture and even though I personally was appalled at what a Viking raid really was, I couldn't help but understand where they were coming from.

There are also several other villains who plot our hero's demise. They are sketched so well that I could almost find myself "booing" them every time they came on the scene. This is not a book of subtleties. It's big and bold and every character is larger than life. There are good guys and bad guys and even the good guys are cruel sometimes. However, the author makes sure to let the reader know that the good guys' cruelty is justified.

The book moved quickly and swept me along in the adventure. If there was any weakness it was that I needed a little time to get the characters' names straight and, the author's use of words like "okay" made me wonder at first if the dialogue was going to be too modern. I needn't have worried though, because by the time I had finished the first fifty pages, I was so swept up in the story that I no longer noticed little details like that. By then, the characters had sprung to life and I felt I was right inside their heads, living their lives with them.

I loved this book. It was a perfect companion on a cold winter's night when I could hear the wind whistling outside my window and let myself be transported back a thousand years. When I finished all 481 pages, I wanted more. I understand the author is working on a sequel. I can't wait to read it.

It began with the murder of King Hakon's henchman, to avenge an insult to family honor. Thorvald is outlawed from Norway, forced to start a new life in Iceland. Grieving his banishmnet from his homeland, Thorvald has no idea the great destiny in store for his clan. Thus begins the complex chain of events that lead his descendants to explore and colonize North America and Greenland, ...as Thorvald's grandson is none other than Leif Erickson himself.
Written in a style reminiscent of the ancient Sagas, Eye Of Odin is a dark tale of feuds, rivalries, and armed conflict, all the elements of a proper Nordic epic. Mr. Larson gives us a story of a Norse family and their allies striving to succeed in new lands. Despite relocation to Iceland, Thorvald finds that his troubles are far from over, as he has purchased lands greatly desired by another. Enraged with envy at the frustration of his economic ambitions, Thorvald's new neighbor plots reprisals, and makes alliances to sabotage Thorvald and his people. So begins the cycle of rivalry and revenge which one expects in a Viking tale...

Eye of Odin is not only a novel, but a worthy source of cultural and historical insight to the greatest era of Scandinavian expansion and exploration. The uninitiated reader who has never read Viking history, will learn much within. There have been other Viking novels over the years, but the only previous book which I can compare in volume of research, is Franz Bengtson's "The Long Ships", written some fifty years before.

I read this book about three years ago, and enjoyed learning more about Elliot See, Ted Freeman, C.C. Williams, Ed Givens, Charlie Bassett, and Roger Chaffee. I didn't know that Freeman graduated from Annapolis in the same class as Ross Perot (1953), and I didn't know that both See and Chaffee were both Eagle Scouts. See is often noted as a "civilian", but he was a Navy Reservist, and stayed that way throughout his time in the Astronaut Corps.

It was nice to learn about the Russian Cosmonauts, since I was familar with the deaths of Vladmir Komarov and the Soyuz 11 crew only. However, I was disappointed that Robert Lawrence was omitted. Lawrence was a MOL astronaut who was killed in a plane crash in October 1967. MOL was cancelled around the end of 1968. There were two other former MOL astronauts who were killed in plane crashes, but not while they were part of the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) project.

The gravesites of Freeman, Williams, Chaffee, See, and Bassett can be found at Arlington National Cemetery. A few years ago, I found them and put flags on their graves. There's also a section of the Electrical Engineering Building at Texas Tech University named for Charlie Bassett. The library in Clear Lake is named for Ted Freeman. Colleagues of Freeman and Bassett have said that these men would most likely have had moon missions if they had not succumbed to early deaths. Buzz Aldrin dedicated his first book Return to Earth to Charlie Bassett, saying "to Charlie..whose place I took."

Another excellent book from Mr. Burgess. I especially enjoyed the great level of detail in this book. Mr. Burgess even provides the astronauts' mothers' and wives' maiden names, their childhood addresses and many obscure yet interesting facts about their early careers. It was also interesting to learn how many of the astronauts had interacted with each other in the years before they joined NASA. While you know the eventual outcome of each chapter, I still found myself hoping it would somehow turn out differently.

I had just started working for McDonnell Aircraft on Gemini 9 a few months before the crash of See and Bassett into the Gemini manufacturing building in St. Louis. This book clarified several details of the accident that had become fuzzy over the years.

The epilogue was of interest to learn how many of the relatives and colleagues have moved on.

If you grew up in the 1960s and could name every astronaut and recount the details of each Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo mission (or, if you didn't), this outstanding work is a very important milestone and accurate record that enables us to remember the sacrifices made to reach the Moon. In great detail from the impressive research conducted by the authors, this book provides very rare insights into the lives of Astronauts Freeman, See, Bassett, Grissom, White, Chaffee, Givens, Williams, and the cosmonauts from the former Soviet Union. The book also dispels some rumors with respect to the accidents that took the lives of these skilled pilots and astronauts, as many of those rumors have been reported, merely repeated, and accepted in other accounts unfortunately as facts.

Thank you for reminding us of a time when America tackled a monumental challenge, and allowing us to be more fully grateful for the lives lived and lost so that we could meet that national challenge and extend the spirit of exploration to the heavens.

As a keen observer of the space program from Mercury through Apollo, I was very impressed by the scholarship and professionalism of this book. Although I have researched many of these incidents, this book provided details that I had never seen. Congratulations on an excellent tribute to these brave individuals.

I'm keeping it short and sweet - If you want to know about the "unsung heroes" of the early space programs in the USA and former USSR, pick this book up and read it - you will see who these men really were, and how any one of them (Americans) could have been first on the moon, instead of Neil Armstrong.

This book was such a fun read. Even if you are not involved in metaphysics there is much to be enjoyed here. More than once I laughed until I cried. I found the characters very believable and the situations (for those of us involved in metaphysics) to be realistic. Although this book is fun, there are also object lessons not unlike those we have all experienced in our own lives. I really like Anne. She is a delightful character who has embarked on an adventure beyond her wildest imaginings and whose life will never be the same again. To relate to her and her situations was very easy. Go with the flow, follow intuition and know that all the right people will be in the right place at the right time, even if it doesn't seem like it at first. For those who are interested in reading a lighthearted metaphysical journey I strongly recommend this book.

I was really drawn in by this book. I loved Anne's adventure and the nuts she meets and gets involved with. Dr. Reubin and his drumming circles was a hoot! It was fun to follow Anne on her journey trying to figure out what happened at Midhaven, while she does her best to improve her spiritual foundation. But, she's like a lot of us, putting all her faith in what sounds and looks good only to find out that she's been duped. I loved the Sedona trip and Wolfe's airhead philosophy. All in all a good time!

Wow, what a fun book! I really enjoyed Anne's antics as she feverishly tries to figure out how to handle a devastating lawsuit that she suspects has something to do with her scheming mother. As she searches for answers with her new cohorts in the new age community, she finds comfort under the wing of channeler Fran Baker. Fran seems to be the answer to all of Anne's problems....
I really liked Anne's relationship with surfer hunk Wolfe and the bizarre Dr. Reubin. Through it all, Anne rises to her challenges.

This book left me wanting more. Anne is such a screwball and the people she gets involved with are so looney that you have to sit back and enjoy the ride. First rate entertainment!

I loved this book! Kooky Anne Davis had me in stitches as she struggles to deal with an insidious lawsuit, a mother that seems to hate her, and off-the-wall new agers. When she aligns herself with channeler Fran Baker, it looks like everything will turn out alright--but that wouldn't be much fun would it? Anne, along with adorable surfer-dude Wolfe, go head-to-head with worldly and other worldly forces, get scratched and bruised along the way, but come out all the better for it. Can't wait for the next adventure!

What a fun book, I laughed throughout this book as I could relate to so many of Anne's personal experiences. Her journey as a naive young girl into the realm of the New Age Movement brought back many memories of my own trek through this world. Anne explores magic, tarot, channeling, drumming, spirit guides, animal guides, drugs, conspiracy theories, spiritual gurus, sacred sites and just about anything you can imagine "new age". I found myself laughing numerous times as I remembered my own spiritual dramas. I recommend this book for everyone searching for understanding within the New Age community.