Services Books

I have learned alot from reading this book! As a parent of a teenager with a disability, I often wonder if I am doing everything possible to help her reach her full potential. This book is helpful as it it a voice from different adults who have had disabilities since childhood and how their families impacted their future in both positive and negative ways. I highly recommend this book!

As a parent of a child with a disability, this book challenged my "over protective-ness" and helped me see things the way my child may see them. The insight given is amazing, and has assisted me to see that my child can do more than even I give him credit for. A must read for parents!

This book is a collection of personal narratives by adults with a variety of disabilities. As the parent of a child with cerebral palsy, reading these stories is a great experience. I have absolutely no doubt that my son will be a happy, loved, employed adult - but at the back of my mind is always the question of "are we making the right choices." It is really hard to balance all the "work" that comes with the territory of CP (physical therapy, OT, medical appointments, etc.) with the "play" part of being a child - and it helps to read stories of grownups on the other side. I recommend this book highly.

Fantastic book for those who live with disability and those who don't. Truly a masterful tool in helping the nondisabled understand what it means to live with a disability and know that we are NORMAL people. At a time when most books tell the story of a disabled person for them Mr. Klein has done an excellent job in letting the authors speak for themselves. A must have for parents and families raising children with special needs.

The personal essays in this book are incredibly helpful for anyone whose life is touched by a child with a physical or emotional challenge. As a parent of a child with a chronic illness, I found the first-hand advice unique and straightforward. The essays are short and really diverse -- each one of them had a gem that I could apply to my child's situation. This peek into the lives of the authors helps parents create a life that is blessedly ordinary for their kids when life may not feel very ordinary at all. The greatest gift of this book is that most solutions are quite simple -- it's our desire to overcome the disability that prevents us from treating it as another normal part of life. A great read for anyone touched by a child who faces medical challenges.

This is a good book as a review for nurses already in hemodialysis and an informative book for new dialysis nurses.

I have a Masters of Science in Nursing. This was the best written, easiest to read book I have read in a while. Question and answer format. Worth the money.

This book is very informative not only for experienced Dialysis professionals but also for those who are new to this sub-specialty. I highly recommend it for anyone who needs a book that is very readable and covers the topics necessary without using terminology that is too technical and complicated to understand.

"THIS EDITION INCLUDES SIX NEW CHAPTERS:
* Transplantation
* Diabetes and Hemodialysis
* Pediatric Hemodialysis
* ESRD in the Elderly
* Management of Quality in Dialysis Care
* Renal Care and Information Technology
These chapters focus on the needed interdisciplinary approach reaching across the continuum of care."
[from the book of back cover]

I used this book at a study guide for the nursing certification test in 2000. I passed with flying colors. It is comprhensive and to the point. There wasn't a subject in the test that was not covered in this book as well. This book is a much easier read than the ANNA curriculum. If you are looking to study for the CNN or CDN then look no further.

This is unquestionably the best written book of its type that I have read. It's about time somebody took the time to write a book as a teaching vehicle using a light, humorous approach. I've a huge library of books on the subject, but this one has become my favorite. I fully intend to recommend it to others interested in the subject My advice to the author: don't stop now, write more !!!

This is really a great book!! It's very informative and easy and fun to read.This book gave me all the information I needed to visit the rock art and ruins sites I did while I was in Utah.It gives you directions,the type of hike to get there,when to go,photography tips and other useful comments.It also has lots of nice pictures,some in color and some in black and white.It's one of the best books I've read on visiting these sites in the Southwest.

Rock Art And Ruins For Beginners And Old Guys is a travel and field guide to more than forty major Native American prehistoric rock art sites as well as fifty other ruins and attractions that can teach even the most urbanized city slicker the basics of prehistoric rock art in the West, including where to find it, as well as how to hike, camp, and cook while making the journey. From the equipment needed on the trail to the type of vehicles that are best to drive, Rock Art and Ruins for Beginners has it all - along with descriptions and directions for many ancient, fascinating rock art sites. If you are planning on viewing rock art in the American West, begin by reading Albert School's Rock Art Ruins For Beginners And Old Guys!

IF MY HOUSE WERE ON FIRE THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST BOOKS I'D SAVE! IT IS FUNNY, CREATIVE, PRACTICAL, AND VERY WELL ORGANIZED. EXPERIENCED HIKERS, BEGINNING HIKERS, OR ARM CHAIR TRAVLERS - YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK - AND IT JUST MIGHT GET YOU OUT OF YOUR ARMCHAIR.

With a sence of humor Mr. Scholl does a great job of educating others about rock art.

In an introduction chapter he discusses what rock art is and types of rock art. He discusses what rock art means and refers you to other well written books. He also provides lists of emergency equipment, camping equipment and more that you should consider taking as you begin looking at rock art.

In the next chapters he tells where to go to see rock art. He also instructs the reader about the expected behavior, tours to take, and more.

There are directions for taking pictures of rock art and explanations of clothes to wear, weather, and even a few recipes for crockpot cooking... so you can cook while you are looking and come home to a nice meal. Great!

This is a very exciting book. It made me want to jump out of my seat and go looking. The pictures are nice. His enthusiasm is catching and the format is easy to understand. Well worth the money.

Enjoy

This planner should be required for all new nursing students. It has valuable information that can be used and reviewed as well as a calendar to keep you on track.

I wasn't sure if I should purchase this at first or not. I was not in need of a planner since I use a palm pilot to keep track of my appointments and school work. I was just going to purchase RN-notes instead since it has a lot of information. I ended up buying both. I highly recommend this book/planner. The first half is a book with 177 pages of information about nursing school and things that will be SO helpful and enlightening to new students, and it will also be useful after graduation as well. I feel much more prepared to start school in a few weeks after reading this. RN-notes is great for clinicals or practing nurses, but it won't help you much with being introduced to the field. Buy both, and you're set!

I know for a fact that I'd benefit from this planner 100%, not just at the time being but for as long I will be practicing nursing. I'm a student nurse and this is just a total must-have! Makes a great gift, too. What a thoughtful idea! It really helps to eliminate some if not most of the fears a student nurse is most likely to encounter. This is definitely not just another planner. You'd feel armed with just the right stuffs necessary to thrive while in nursing school, doing clinicals, and yes, I'd like to add, what a good item for the NCLEX review!

I just purchased this planner yesterday and after reading through it, I too agree with the rest of the reviews....it's excellent for fisrt year nursing students!!!! This book should be recommended in all first year nursing programs. ALthough i would like for the calendar section to be less time consuming for the student, I find this planner to be helpful.

This isn't just a planner. There is a lot of help in here on how to do well in clinical, give therapeutic communication, perform assessments, and even tells you what to look for in lab tests as they pertain to some common medications.

I wish I could personally thank the authors for this book. Parents who find themselves in this circumstance feel very alone and frightened. Our 17 year-old daughter needed to be rescued from an abusive relationship. This book supported us as she was finally able to break away. Can I give it more than five stars?

A very important book that should be mandatory reading for all educators, especially in middle schools, high schools, and colleges. Abuse and male privilege are far too common and even accepted by so many. Saving Beauty from the Beast is very readable and compelling. All school counselors should read this book. As a former victim of domestic violence I know what an uphill battle it can be as the victim is often blamed by the police and clergy. This book is a ray of light in a dark tunnel. I am grateful to its authors.

If you even SUSPECT that your child may be in an unhealthy relationship, please read this book! It contains so many insights that would have helped keep my daughter safe had I known. Out of ignorance we let her continue a breaking up and 'getting back together' cycle with a young man who we now know has been abusing her for almost a year. Fortunately, some friends convinced her to tell us, so we can help her get out safely, and make sure he gets the help he needs so that he doesn't do this to someone else.

Besides the many chapters for parents of abused girls, there is a chapter for parents of suspected abusers, and one for youth who suspect a friend is being abused. I feel so guilty that this has happened to my daughter, and the book addresses that as well. It also gives very practical information about how to set up safety plans, minimize the chances of his finding her new phone number, etc.

Dating abuse is so much more common than it used to be. This book is an excellent tool to help us protect our children. Every parent should know about the 'power and control spiral', the cycle of abuse, and the warning signs of potential abusers and abusive relationships, and educate their children about them as well.

In a 2003 "Montel Williams" show on dating violence, Vicki Crompton, co-author of Saving Beauty From The Beast, did more than plug her book, co-written with Ellen Zelda Kessner; she told the highly personal story of her daughter Jenny's murder at the hands of boyfriend Mark Smith, and offered advice to young women and parents torn apart by callous teenage boys, adolescent angst, parent-daughter conflicts, and a culture that, as the book points out, romanticizes forbidden love, taking what you want at any cost, love that hurts, and having a boyfriend.

Crompton, hand-in-hand with parenting author Kessner, has turned her daughter's shattering, unthinkable death into a brilliant, readable book that draws on real teenagers and their parents from all backgrounds, speaking in clear, intelligent voices, articulating the myriad pressures young women today face when involved in a love that hurts. Crompton and Kressner do not make light of peer pressure, or fail to note that the very rich and the very poor of today's youth are the most at risk to become abusers, or shrink from advising parents to "back off" and accept the relationship. The personal safety plan for daughters in abusive relationships, the safety plan for daughters who have left the relationship, the ingenious suggestion of a "code word" signaling danger, are useful tools. The coda of Crompton confronting Mark Smith in prison serves as a poignant reminder and incentive for all parents of teenage girls to read and share this book with their "Beautys."

I recently bought several books on abusive relationships.

My husband (a very picky reader) has read many passages out loud to me from this one.

It is filled with many examples of abusive relationships that are unbelievably similar to what we have seen. We almost feel as if the authors know the young man we are concerned about.

The book is clearly written, provides good details and ideas on how to cope.

Buy this book before your daughter gets involved with an abuser, or at least at the first signs of an abusive relationship. You want to know, as early as possible, what can be going on.

The book is worth many times what it costs..

Geberth has insight and depth in his expansive study on sex-related homicide gleaned from his many years of working within the depths of depravity of driven murderers. His ability to objectively explain the motivations of sex-oriented killings aids those of us who need to understand and investigate crimes of passion and sexual addiction. In plain and forthright language, Geberth brings an understanding of the progession of a murderer's life cycle. A sexually-oriented killer is fearfully portrayed in their first stages of development and eventual growth into an evolving pattern of fulfilling desires to complete fantasies and realities of domination and power. Geberth's thoroughness on this subject is exemplified in his meticulous categorizing of types of sexual addictions and their potential outcomes. This book is a masterpiece of practical study and application in both preemptive prevention of sexually driven crimes and the investigation after their commission.

Vernon Geberths Sex-Related Homicide and Death Investigation is by far the most detailed and informative resource a homicide and sex crimes investigator could wish for. The quality of this work reflects the high professional standards set by Geberth with his Practical Homicide Investigation series. There are other textbooks available, but only Geberth has earned the level of respect and admiration of homicide investigators around the world that his works are referred to as the bible of homicide investigations.

Sex-Related Homicide and Death Investigation clearly demonstrates Geberths talent for translating the most horrific crimes imaginable into an accurately documented and easily understood resource for those involved in the investigation of violent crimes.

If I can't have Geberth himself standing next to me at a crime scene, at least I know that his works will never be more than an arms reach away.

"Vernon J. Geberth's new investigative text, Sex-Related Homicide and Death Investigation, will be a tremendous asset to investigators and prosecutors of sexual predators. His methodical approach to case analysis, augmented with vivid crime scene photographs, documents the step by step investigative procedure used in solving numerous sexually motivated murders. Detective Commander Geberth also provides the reader with his unique in-depth insight into the psychological motivation of the sexual deviant, explaining why the killer has a need to dominate, manipulate, degrade and torture victims."
"This book should be a mandatory reference work, not only for prosecutors and homicide detectives, but also for juvenile and general sex crimes investigators. The information provided describing the motivation and abnormal evolution of these sadistic killers will greatly assist in identifying and questioning homicide suspects and sexual offenders of all ages and stages of development."
Raymond M. Pierce
Detective 1st Grade (Ret.)
NYCPD Criminal Profiler

Vernon Geberth did not just write a book entitled SEX RELATED HOMICIDE AND DEATH INVESTIGATION: PRACTICAL AND CLINICAL PERSPECTIVES. He has created a portable, hand held training simulator for the response to and investigation of the sex-related homicide.
As the reader makes his way through each chapter,you are hit with the same initial shock and revulsion of a sex-related homicide scene. By providing the reader with dozens of photos, analysis, techniques and checklists, Geberth brings you as close to a real time crime scene as possible.In creating this atmosphere Vernon prepares the reader, whether cop or prosecutor, when called upon to investigate the sex related homicide, to professionally deal with the depravity and inhumanity of this evil act and to maintain your professional objective and in so doing focus your efforts toward the only goal that matters "...to see that justice is done not only for the deceased but for the surviving family as well."

Vernon Geberth has provided law enforcement with another major contribution with his book "Sex-Related Homicide and Death Investigation-Practical and Clinical Perspectives." The text is specific to death investigation, up to date, state of the art, accurate and easy to read. Although the material is oriented towards the serious homicide investigator it is valuable to all police personnel (uniformed and non-uniformed), because of its valuable insight into crime scene investigation and preservation by the initial responding officers as well as its contribution to in enhancing any officer who wishes to advance thru the ranks.

In addition to providing valuable insight to the initial responding officers in the preservation of the crime scene it provides knowledge to ancillary police personnel as they may be called upon to assist the chief crime scene investigator.

The case material is reflective of Geberth's remarkable insight into aberrant human behavior and the significance of such concepts as linkage and "linkage blindness" in investigative protocol. The concepts of "signature" and profiling are expanded and built on sound psychological principals. The assessment of psychopathy and sociopathic personality represents the latest understanding of both psychological and law enforcement perspectives.

The section on child related homicide is especially timely and one of the most comprehensive presentations I have seen anywhere. In each section the author has integrated behavioral aspects with a contemporary analysis of state of the art criminal forensic techniques. He has consulted the major contributors to each subject allowing the reader a comprehensive view of the work of leaders in the fields of both law enforcement and psychology.

There are so many seemingly subtle and direct admonitions and directives that one has to read this book thoroughly to realize how thoroughly researched the material is. Properly studied, this volume will not only keep the homicide investigator out of trouble but will enhance his investigative ability enormously contributing to outcomes.

The specific suggestions for interrogation have proven their value over time in countless cases. For example, setting personal feelings aside and allowing the suspect to develop his subterfuge and perception of being "smarter" than the police has proven enormously effective in case after case.

The chapter on crime scene investigation is the best I have seen in the forensic literature, being clearly written, concise, contemporary and comprehensive. This chapter alone is worth the purchase of the book.

As a former biochemist I found the chapter on DNA well researched and very practical. The newest techniques for utilizing DNA are expanded and discussed along with the historical development of this remarkable forensic technique. The author demonstrates how DNA is the most important advance in law enforcement since fingerprinting and the text comes alive with his enthusiasm and practical sense of application. The reader is transported to the crime scene where the complex mysteries become commonplace.

The "hard science," techniques of preserving and analyzing evidence and administrative procedures are interwoven with the behavioral aspects of a large assortment of crimes. This allows the reader to gain an understanding for a solid foundation to prosecute especially with regard to crime scene linkage and signature.

The thought processes of a serial rapist or killer are just one example of how the author
integrates material from various sources including the updated concepts of criminal behavioral profiling and its associated psychodynamics, signature and "MO," with the issues of control, dominance and sadism.

Throughout the book there are references to recent Supreme Court decisions regarding issues associated with search warrants and the involuntary confinement of sexually violent predators, as well as legal defense tactics in use, all of which compliment the investigating officer's repertoire of knowledge.

This book took courage to write and the author does not mince words or principles! This volume is a must for every homicide detective and should be studied daily. "Sex-Related Homicide and Death Investigation" is the most comprehensive and up to date text regarding sexual death investigation that I have come across in the forensic and psychiatric literature. This book is a gift to the law enforcement community and a contribution of historical importance.

Ronald Turco, M.D.
Past President-The American Academy of Psychoanalysis (New York, NY)
Past president-The Society of Psychoanalytic Physicians (Washington D.C.)
Reserve Police Officer-Beaverton, Oregon Police Department (25 years)

I saw this book at my brother's house and immediately knew I had to buy it for my husband. It is a high quality reprint of an older book and has that "60's" feel. Much excellent info and lots of great pictures. Very eclectic. We got it specifically for the info on Geodesic Dome houses but there's plenty more for shelter freaks.

I bought this book when I was fourteen years old and it blew my tiny little mind! Now that I've lived a bunch of years in the design field, and I take it off the shelf, tattered from three decades of intense study, it still blows my (now even tinier) mind. Mr. Kahn has done us all a great service with this book that goes beyond architecture to higher values and has a spirit that leads by example. Sure it's got some crazy hippy parts, do with that what you will. But a deep devotion to what you make and why; it's all here. I'm thankful for this inspiring work.

Throughout the 1960s and `70s, hundreds of unwashed, longhaired youth from around the world descended on the open foothills around Placitas, New Mexico, and established multiple communal hippie settlements. These youth had read of the Placitas scene in national magazines and counterculture books, or heard about it from other hippies; they were idealistic types from all around the world, and they came to the area to try to raise their own food, escape The Man, indulge in free love and mind-altering drugs, and live communally in tents, geodesic domes, adobe shacks, and experimental homes they built themselves out of plastic and scrap metal.
This book, "Shelter" documents their bizarre housing experiments in wild detail. It also documents curvaceous mud homes in Africa, riverside huts in Yugoslavia, thatched huts in Ireland, homes in busses, homes in caves, dome homes, homes made of car parts, homes carved into mountainsides, homes made of hay, tipis, barns, gypsy tents, and more.
If there's a strange kind of housing, you'll probably find it in here, and you'll probably be inspired by it.
"Building this house was more of like feeling where you went as you started working with it, you know, the material and just playing it from there," said one Placitas hippie interviewed in this book. "...It's like three dimensional sculpturing, you know, we just got into building a house out here that's like jewelry. ...OK, let me put it this way, the inspiration like as we move along through it, like I found it in [Stanley Kubrick's film] 2001, where the dude had finally split out of the satellite and was heading towards Jupiter, just as he was coming in, what they had done was they had used different types of film, infrared for one, and just taken a plane and flown over Grand Canyon at a high speed, low, what is created you know, is in some respects synonymous to what the house is, you know, and certainly our cell structure in our body is synonymous with that...."
As you can probably tell, this is not "Better Homes and Gardens" or even "MTV Cribs." It's "Shelter," and it's a trip.

Now I don't know if I want to live in a tree, a yurt, or on a converted vehicle. This makes my 'normal' house seem quite ordinary. Drat!

I studied architecture in Australia and dragged my feet through the course. That is until a mate suggested I check out this book.
It liberated me.

Here was a bunch of common folk who met one of the most basic needs of all humanity - shelter.

So much of what we encounter in our 'western' enlightened age is alien and regulated. The materials that we commonly use in buildings & infrastruture is devoid of any life or connection with the earth. They are not in or close to their natural state. And even if they are, there is so much regulation and stipulation on how we are to use them.

But this book gives you hope, a chance to dream. It shows buildings as art forms, useful & practical but completely expressive of the owners they serve. They are not bound by regulations and conventions. This is craftsmanship not industrialisation. They are made from from natural unrefined materials which in essence connects us to the earth, which we all belong to. From dust we came, to dust we will all return. The beauty of nature is your own home.

This book is filled with ideas and ways in which people have often 'escaped' from the life draining cities to a more peacuful and harmonious way of life. It's superb photo's, hand illustrations and even the way the book is laid out are a freedom in itself. This is one book you will not regret owning and will always find pleasure returning again and again to.

I just finished reading this book this week.. Had the book for over a year.. not sure why I waited to read it.. It was an excellent book.. Throughly enjoyed it, couldn't put it down.. except to go to work. I cried when one of the flight medics gets killed by being hit by a car while working a MVA.. Just shows how much they put their lives on the line to save others.. They are by far the everyday heroes we never really get to meet, but they are on the streets and in the air to help save people who suddenly find themselves in trouble.. Speaking from experience from being involed in a MVA. Thank You.

This is one of the few books that I have had to read all in 1 sitting! I could not put it down. I laughed out loud, I cried, I clenched my muscles, my heart palpitated, I relaxed. Talk about an all around best read! Everyone should buy one to give for Christmas. Don't know whether you'd get a more true to life book than this one. Definitely shows the life of a flight nurse! A sequel to this story is a MUST! Hope Pat Jensen's fingers have time to fly over the keyboard another time or two.

I loved this book, i was on the edge of my seat the entire time, i could not put it down. I work in the EMS field on a volunteer ambulance service so this book was so realistic. I loved it.

I am hoping to be a medevac pilot in the army, so I thought I would read this book to get some kind of a feel for the civilian side of air ambulance. I found this book to be excellent. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the medical conditions and the way Pat paints such a clear picture of the medevac life. I would give the book 5 stars but some of the sappiness got to me at times. All in all, one of the best books I've read in a while.

While reading this book, I was unable to put it down. I felt like I was right there with the crew. I laughed aload and I cried while reading this book. It just kept you reading. I can not say enough about this book. I would refer this book to anyone to read.

What a pleasure to finally read this classic book. I grew up loving Cousteau's television programs. Ultimately, I became a diver because of Cousteau.

This is adventure writing at its best. Cousteau was always a master storyteller. That was probably more instrumental to his success than his bravery, innovativeness, or his ability as a diver. This book is a collection of Cousteau's experiences with early scuba. He masterfully captures the awe, the fear, the struggles, and the sense of adventure of the first years of scuba.

I love adventure writing, but sometimes great adventurers are not great writers. Cousteau was both. If you have an interest in Cousteau or in scuba diving, this book is a must read.

As promised in the title, in this book Jacques Cousteau reveals a new world of unanticipated beauty, fittingly described in his charming, French-influenced English phraseology. C. Blickenstorfer has done a fine job explaining the contents of this book, particularly as it relates to divers or those interested in diving history. However, The Silent World, read as a frontier narrative, also has relevance for anyone interested in our current and historical treatment of the ocean.

Humans have interacted with the ocean for ages, but before divers like Cousteau it was a blind interaction, a grasp at resources based on guesses and historical results. Cousteau's underwater observations of trawl-net fishing make clear the change of ideology his "aqualung" opened to humans. Watching the net destroy grasses on the ocean floor, Cousteau reports "Man's method of undersea farming seemed to consist of blighting the acre while reaping a small part of the crop" (48). As opposed to a history of blind grabs at ocean creatures, Cousteau's aqualung gives him the capacity to see without touching, and his narrative provides a chance for our knowledge to begin catching up to our know-how.

Another epiphany facilitated by the aqualung is a completely new set of fears and a new evaluation of old "monsters." The killers of which Cousteau writes are nitrogen in his blood and clams with shells sharp enough to sever air pipes. On the contrary, the octopus, demonized by Victor Hugo as a monster who will suck out a man's innards, shows itself as harmless and shy. Cousteau concludes his chapter "Monsters We Have Met" with a jocularity that is persistent in the work: "If none have eaten us, it is perhaps because they have never read the instructions so generously provided in marine demonology" (222).

Cousteau's reinterpretation of the ocean brings readers to the fundamental questions of humans and their environment. How are we going to think of this new space? Should we sell it as new realty? Militarize it? Farm it? Should we simply Keep Out in a quest to guard some portion of the earth against ourselves? Those from my generation who have mythologized Cousteau as a heroic conservationist might struggle with Cousteau's narrative. This is not the work of a dolphin-hugger. Cousteau writes of his exploits kidnapping an endangered monk seal pup in his desire for an aquatic hunting dog (the seal almost dies and is given to a zoo) and bludgeoning most large sea creatures who get close enough. This includes wounding a captured porpoise to watch sharks eat it alive, an act which he justifies with "It was cruelty to an animal but we were involved in a serious study [. . .] and had to carry it out" (234).
In his conclusion, Cousteau asserts "Obviously man has to enter the sea. There is no choice in the matter. The human population is increasing so rapidly and land resources are being depleted at such a rate, that we must take sustenance from the great cornucopia" (266). Both those who would agree with this 1950s assumption and those who believe this "cornucopia" has been already overexploited can gain insight from this book as a well-written record of human reactions to the new world under the waves.

As a diver for long years, I remember the old b&w tv days, when we find happiness with Cousteau's documentary films. Now it's a mirracle to be able to purchase the whole collection in DVD format.

As great a read today as it must have been over 50 years ago. Being a modern day technical and recreational dive instructor I still find this book a fascinating read and would recommend it to all ages to divers and non divers alike.

What can be said about Jacques Cousteau and his groundbreaking book that hasn't been said a thousand times? He is undoubtedly the defining figure of modern scuba diving, his books, films, and documentaries known to millions or billions. Even the name of his ship, the Calypso, is known the world over. It's a small volume, this book, just 160 pages, yet it's absolutely mandatory reading for anyone interested in what Cousteau termed "the silent world" under the surface of the water that covers 71% of our planet. The Silent World is the bible of modern scuba diving.

Jacques Cousteau himself died in 1997 at the age of 87, but the legacy of his pioneering work with diving and diving physiology lives on. It is all well documented and disseminated worldwide, thanks to this French explorer's unique combination of instinctive understanding of the world under the surface and his equally unique knack of spellbinding the world with his words and images. A total master of public relations and getting the word out, Cousteau managed to grab attention and media coverage wherever he went. Critics went so far as suggesting his media talents exceeded his actual contributions to understanding the seas.

At first it's hard to figure out why this slim volume became such a success. It's not a textbook, it doesn't cover the history of diving or even much of Cousteau's own research, and it's not an adventure book. Though Cousteau was French, he wrote The Silent World in English as he had attended American schools in his youth, widely traveled the US, and, of course, extensively lectured in his enchanting French-accented English. Yet, The Silent World clearly reveals its author's non-English origin and decidedly "non-English" thinking. The writing, while precise, often suggests that Cousteau frequently described a word or concept that existed in his native French, but did not directly translate into English. As a result, the writing at times seems a bit flowery and, well, foreign, and you need to read a sentence or paragraph two or three times to figure out what it actually means. Cousteau's liberal use of metaphors, artistic nuances, poetic concepts and words that have since fallen out of currrent language only serve to make The Silent World even more unusual of a literary treat.

Anyone looking for technical explanations, precise history, a logical flow of events, or anything one might expect from a world-famous documentary maker and researcher will not find it in this book. The Silent World is a totally unique, very compressed tale flowing from Cousteau's mind. Read half a chapter and you know the man; he's a unique combination of inspired philosophical observer and gifted researcher with uncanny intuition. While others conducted their research methodically and ploddingly, Cousteau always just seemed to know what to expect, how to behave, and what to seek and avoid to make it all seem easy. He and his close associates and friends Phillipe Tailliez and Frederic Dumas used their "aqualung" to experient liberally in sort of a "Hmmm.... this is probably what will happen, let's go check it out!" approach.

Using this, Cousteau describes the difference between "helmet divers" and the newly liberated users of their "aqualung" -- what we now know as air tanks and regulators. The book casually touches on all the principles of diving physics and physiology, the stuff we learn in our PADI and NAUI classes. He describes sea life, how it reacts, where it lives, how it behaves, and what is dangerous and what is not. They see just how deep they can go. They check how colors change. What nitrogen does and why we need recompression chambers. He offers his views on treasure hunting (not worth it; if you find real treasure authorities and hordes of lawyers will soon apprehend it). He reports on atrocities he witnessed underwater, like the needless destruction of corals and cruel killing of fish. He debunks myths of sea monsters, seeks answers to geological phenomena such as the Fountain of Vaucluse near Avignon, one that almost cost him and Dumas their lives in a pioneering effort at extreme cave diving. He describes what fish do and how they react. And sea mammals and other sea critters. Sharks remain an enigma to Cousteau as his conclusion is that you simply cannot understand or predict them.

So The Silent World relates, in 14 fascinating self-contained chapters, pretty much everything we know about diving today, 60 years after Cousteau began researching as a "manfish," all the principles we know, and it's all neatly and attractively presented in tales that always mix research with adventure. Cousteau never preaches or lectures. He just explores, pushes, interprets, and reports. Maybe Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a showman as much as a researcher. If so, good for him as otherwise we may never have had the opportunity to learn from him and enjoy his remarkable insights. -- C. H. Blickenstorfer, scubadiverinfo.com

They should've gotten Ron Jones to do First Contact instead of Goldsmith. This is the kind of score you need for an epic battle with the Borg. Wonderful action sequences with stirring strings and threatening brass. And the Borg theme is just marvelous. Ron Jones or Dennis McCarthy or even Jay Chattaway should do all future Star Trek motion picture scores.

I consider the two-parter The Best Of Both Worlds© to be Star Trek™'s most pivotal & influential episodes, and the soundtrack does a beautiful job in adding to the feel and suspense. Although Ron Jones' compositions on this CD aren't quite as ambitious as the tunes one would hear in the Star Trek™ movies, his efforts did help make these two watermark NextGen episodes seem truly grand and larger than life. The military style of some of the tunes also gives a warlike tone to the show, as the Enterprise™ and the Federation™ fight desperately to stop the Borg™ invasion.

Each track complements the scene it plays in almost perfectly. One good example is Hansen's Message©, which plays through the end of the scene in Part One when the crew sees the Borg™ ship for the first time. The moment itself is chilling, but with the music, along with the crescendo at the climax, it becomes even more suspenseful! Another great tune to complement the moment is Intervention©, heard in Part Two when Worf™ and Data™ sneak into the Borg™ ship to rescue Picard™ (now changed into the Borg™ Locutus™) and get him back to the Enterprise.

Thanks to the synergy between the music and the scenes, The Best of Both Worlds© becomes a whole lot more than the sum of its visual & musical parts!

'Late

I LOVE it it is so very relaxing to listen to on occations when you need a dose of Star Trek.

Without comparing this TV score to that of a film, I would consider this an excellent TV score. Hearing the Alexander Courage's version of Jerry Goldsmith's Star Trek theme really opens the album up. It is really a shame that it appears only once or twice in minor situations because then it would mean this score has some trace of thematic development like film scores do. The Borg theme, played by a synthesized chorus, sounds very mysterious yet somewhat hostile and threatening. You have to have seen the show to know what's happening because there's barely any thematic music to base what's happening on. The strings and celeste playing on the tracks before the borg encounter adds the sense of mysterious but foreshadowed danger. The battle tracks between the borg and Enterprise aren't upbeat like scores from John Williams or Horner but sound much more suspenseful and average-paced like on Crimson Tide. Ron Jones seems to back off on fast-paced string and brass parts and prefers edgy brass and percussion coupled with electronics. Away Team Ready is a haunting, military-like cue as some people prepare to board the borg ship. An unused cue for the exploration of the borg ship sounds very far and dissonant like on The Empire Strikes Back, Return Of The Jedi, and Aliens. Both are very original sounding. Let me admit that the music on the second and final fight between the Enterprise and Borg ship heats up but leaves more to be desired. Of course, this is a TV score scored under a period of a week so forget what I just said for any film score fan. After a bittersweet ending stopping with an afterthought, the brilliant Star Theme comes up for the credits and draws this score to a close. I recommend this original score for anyone who has seen the borg episode of TNG but don't expect a Star Wars score here for any film score collectors.

Fans of the syndicated television show "Star Trek: The Next Generation" may remember the two-part episode "The Best of Both Worlds" as a high point for the series, and for science fiction television in general. This cliffhanger and its resolution constituted the third season finale and fourth season premiere. In the story, the United Federation of Planets faces an invasion by the Borg, a seemingly unstoppable cybernetic race that "assimilates" whole civilizations into its insect-like "collective." Captain Picard and the crew of the Starship Enterprise represent the Federation's only hope against this relentless enemy.

Such an epic tale calls for an epic musical score, and composer Ron Jones delivers. His music pounds with excitement during the thrilling space battle sequences. He makes brilliant use of eerie musical effects to capture the alien nature of the Borg Collective and its dispassionate "drones." He also brings out all of the emotion of the heroic struggle of the Enterprise crew to save the Federation from conquest and assimilation. But it's not all big, bombastic space opera music; Jones also pays attention to more intimate moments between the crew.

Yes, "The Best of Both Worlds" was a landmark in the ongoing, multigenerational "Star Trek" saga, and Ron Jones' superb score is an integral part of the story. This is an essential disc for fans of science fiction soundtracks.