Society Books

Very informative, great pictures, covers everything you need to know to raise a wonderful garden.

I've been slowly entering gardening as a serious hobby and this book was perfect for me. Whether you've never gardened before or have done it for years, this book is a wealth of valuable information. I spent hours reading it! Gorgeous photographs and easy to understand intructions and information -- this book has become an indispensable reference for me.

The information and photographs get a 5-star Rating. The binding (0 stars) fell apart the second time I opened the book.

I was a little disappointed with this book because I thought it would have more information on specific plants. It gives very little info on the specific plants and focuses on the design aspects. As a novice gardener, this book has not been very helpful to me. Don't buy it if you want a general reference guide.

This book covers almost everything including how to grow Blackberries and grapes which caught my attention and how to take care of cuttings, which I had never done before and had all sorts of doubts about. Thanks to this wonderful jewel, my back yard is now filled with all sorts of exotic flowers and plants that I have grown from cuttings off of other plants and flowers in only a few short weeks.

My husband bought me a greenhouse in February 05 so I thought this book would be perfect for us. We have tripled our flowers and plants by using this book. Now the back yard is half filled and the greenhouse is totally filled thanks to this book! Total cost was only for the soil and pots that we needed, everything else was all cuttings placed in water or placed directly in the soil until rooted.

This book is very expensive but worth it's weight in gold!
I love it!

It seems there are copious books out there for true beginners or "idiots" as the book calls them. There are also numerous tombs for experts, what seems to be lacking are books for the indoctrinated, but non-experts among us. It seems that the Complete Idiots Guide Series is for those of us with absolutely no knowledge of the subject matter at hand, and it does a good job of whetting the appetite. However as a source for information and knowledge it is sorely lacking on all fronts. A quick Google search would provide a greater level of information at a more reasonable cost, and with greater authority.

As much as I respect Brent Morris, I do think Hodapp's book is better because he really writes it as a layman--but this book is very good too. It's a toss up, but I have both so how can I go wrong. They are both invaluable books to explain and demystify Masonry throughout history and time. I hope these books will both help to move the Craft into the 21st century as it belongs with us as long as the world exists.

I enjoyed it thoroughly--did a great job of separating fact from fiction. I highly recommend it.

I WAS SURPRISED ABOUT THIS BOOK, IT'S FULL OF INFORMATION THAT DESTROYS PREJUDISM ABOUT FREEMASONRY. THERE'S A LOT OF SIMBOLISM THAT COULD BE MISINTERPRETATED AND OBVIOUSLY PREJUDICED. SO, THIS BOOK IS AN IDEAL GUIDE TO REVEAL THE MISTERY OR "SECRET" AND GET WELL INFORMATED ABOUT THIS ANCIENT AND EXCELLENT FRATERNITY THAT CONSTRUCTS BETTER HUMANS IN ALL OVER THE WORLD.

ESTE LIBRO ME SORPRENDIÓ, ESTÁ LLENO DE INFORMACIÓN QUE DESTRUYE LOS PREJUICIOS SOBRE LA MASONERÍA. HAY MUCHO SIMBOLISMO QUE PUEDE SER MALINTERPRETADO Y OBVIAMENTE PREJUZGADO. POR TANTO, ESTE LIBRO LO CONSIDERO UNA GUIA IDEAL PARA CONOCER LA MASONERÍA Y SUS "SECRETOS" ASI COMO PARA ESTAR MEJOR INFORMADO ACERCA DE ESTA ANTIGUA Y EXCELENTE INSTITUCIÓN QUE HA CONSTRUIDO MEJORES SERES HUMANOS EN TODO EL MUNDO.

I have been a Freemason for over five years and have read over 40 Freemason related books. This book is the first one that comprehensively covers the entire Masonic field. I often lend this book to friends who are considering joining a Masonic Lodge.

Initially I borrowed this book from a friend and read it at bedtime. The short chapters are perfect for a quick read at bedtime, while waiting at the doctor, etc. Phillip Gulley is fabulous at taking the "normalcy" of life and applying Biblical principles to deepen the experience. His humor causes me to laugh out loud repeatedly. This is a fun and fresh way to look at the Eccelesiastes text. After devouring my friend's copy, I purchased this one to share with my dad. He is loving it as well!

Philip Gulley uses the words of Ecclesiastes, "For everything there is a season", as a springboard for essays on life. He happens to live in the small town of Danville, Indiana, where he grew up, so his stories have to do with the people and customs of his small town. Gulley is a Quaker pastor who holds to traditional values and the sovereignty of God, but this doesn't hinder his sly wit or wry observations on the absurdities of modern-day life. His choices of stories range from the addition of a screen door to his home under "A Time to Build" to a list of his prejudices and pet peeves under "A Time to Gather Stones Together". This is a good book to read a bit at a time as each chapter stands alone. It's also a good way to escape from stress and to get a laugh and a new perspective on life.

I was given a copy of this book by my sister, Mrs. Fruits, who is featured in the "a time to let go" chapter. I also have a signed copy. This is a wonderful book (along with Phil's others) to pick up when one needs a spiritual "pick me up". I have circulated these delightful books through the membership of my Episcopal church and have incorporated some of his stories into sermons. I am a Hoosier from Hendricks County who now lives in Washington State and it is often a nostalgic trip for me when I travel the roads and streets of Indiana in Phil's books. But anyone could benefit from these stories about every day people dealing with every day life.

This is an excellent book, as are all of Philip Gulley's. They are "feel good" books, and I enjoy them all. Although this particular book is not a story evolving around the local townspeople, as are many of his, it is still an inspiring read. I hope Mr. Gulley continues to crank out his particular type of humor/inspiration for years to come!

What a great book about the sweet simple side of life. It made me want to move to the author's small town and settle in with my family. I have enjoyed everything I have read so far by this author.

Throughout history, spiritual thinkers have turned to the art of the story to convey their experience. Jesus used parables, the Torah came to us as narration, and THE GOLDEN FROG sings us an aria tuned to the symphony of instruments contained in the orchestra of life. Michael Mamas introduces us to characters so real we can't help but recognize pieces of ourselves in each of them. He takes us on a journey, down a river, where two childhood friends navigate the waters of existence. Though they each tack toward opposite shores, both are driven by the same divine current -- a desire to delve deeper into the understanding of what it means to be human. There are many reasons to read this book, and even more to reread it!

The Golden Frog is an inspiring look at the growth of two men, one who knows there is more to life than what you get in school. And one who is helped to that discovery... And it shows that there are people out there to help each of us along on our journeys. I loved the book!

This book took me back to my childhood and those special memories, reminded me of the joy of a special friendship and inspired me when I looked at the changes in Bruce and Ashley's relationship. It is a thought provoking, heartwarming story and I recommend you buy it and discover for yourself the magic that is within us all.

I was suffering from a deep depression brought on by situational stresses....this book pulled me completely out of it.
I'm still feeling quite well and optimistic. I have read many books of this genre and this is the best by far.

This is a spiritual teacher destined for the history books. His teachings will change the planet. This book is the work of a true Enlightened Master quietly saying hey-i'm over here.
READ CAREFULLY

After reading this book I wish I had met Sri Yukteshwar personally.
While the energy as true as it is of Yogananda, it did not resonate to me like that of Sri Yukteshwar. I consider him a guru and a true source of God experience. This book is short but I still treasure it in my library.
Jai Gurudev,

ESL

Swami Yukteswar is a great philosopher whose life is uniquely divine. He brings an unprecedented truth that we are not in Kali Yuga (the "dark" age). It is interesting to read his hypothesis on four ages of human civilization. His knowledge on "sanatan" scriptures is remarkable. Although a thin book, The Holy Science requires hours of reiteration to understand his intrinsic message. It is interesting to realize that Sri Yukteswar was not only advanced in spiritual world but also he was superior in numerical interpretations and logical analysis.

Sri Yukteswar, teacher of Paramhansa Yogananda of India, does a great service to the West. In this treatise he clearly shows how all religions essentially reveal the same truths. Using Biblical as well as Hindu sacred scriptures he compares the essence of these beliefs and binds them togther. A must read for any serious student of Mahayoga.

Marvelous book. In an age of misunderstandings and hostilities toward people whose beliefs are different from our own, this little book brings us back together. Calming, delightful, enlightening. For the novice and the adept.

For any seeker of the truth, this book will certainly bring you to the core. Yoganandas guru, Sri Yukteswar was an absolute pure channel of divinity. The truths he reveals in his short book will no doubt serve you for this lifetime and anyother you may find yourself in. The Lion is wise and fierce, beautiful and tender, graceful and kind. You cannot go wrong reading this book and I am confident that you will refer to it many times. I absolutely classify this book as sacred scripture. Blessings, Namaste.

If you like to visit the National Parks or just want to know more about them, this is a great source of information. All National Parks, Monuments, Wildlife Refuges and some National Forests are covered. It is full of pictures and maps that look great. Nice all in one book.

We originally owned an older edition of this book and just purchased this to replace it. We have been to many National Parks over the years and have found this guide to be the best one out there. The drives as listed are fantastic... you won't miss anything if you have this book along with you!

This is an excellent book to use as a planning guide for trips to any of the National Parks in the US. I have been to many of the parks, and without exception the book's advice about how to get there, when to go, what to look for, etc., is excellent in every way. The book is filled with excellent color photography, and accompanying explanatory text with detailed entrance information that is particularly useful in some of the busier parks. There is also some good introductory safety information presented, but as always, it is a good idea to talk to local authorities when arriving (this is especially a good idea in the Alaska parks, many of which are veritably full of bears.)

All the parks are worth seeing, and this book gives a good introduction to them. Among the favorites that I have been to and particularly recommend are Denali National Park, an easy drive from Anchorage, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, on the island of Hawaii (the "Big Island"), Zion National park in Utah, home of some of the most spectacular desert landscape in the world, and Badlands National Park in South Dakota, featuring not only spectacular landscapes, but amazing animals in abundance.

This book is a great place to start; now get going and enjoy the beautiful National Parks!

I obtained the first edition of this book over ten years ago, and have kept that along with the latest edition in my book collection ever since. At that time I had never been to a national park, but this little book insipired me to visit 35 of them, volunteer in two, and work seasonally as a ranger at one.

This book is packed with useful and interesting information about each of the parks, and it is a pleasure to read even when not planning a trip. I highly recommend it.

We recently purchased this book just before our four-national-parks tour. The book not only gives you an overview of the parks, practical information such as how to get there, and nearby lodging etc., it has very good recommendation of must-see stops, and different levels of hikes you can take and what to expect. We used the book at every park and it helped us effectively use our time and it is a joy to read even without going to the parks.

"Right Ho Jeeves" was first published in 1934 in the UK, though was first published in the US under the name "Brinkley Court". The book is set in England and features Wodehouse's best known creations : Bertie Wooster and his valet, Jeeves. Bertie is the book's wealthy, good-natured and rather dim narrator. He's a member of the "idle rich" and, rather than having to work for a living, lives off an allowance provided by his uncle. He spends much of his time in the bar-room of the Drones Club, is fond of the occasional wager and has an appalling dress sense. Luckily, Bertie has Jeeves, to look after him. Without Jeeves, Bertie's life would be a mess : he makes an excellent hangover cure, his bets usually win and is intelligent enough to rescue Bertie from nearly any situation. He disapproves of Bertie's more garish items of clothing, and will - occasionally - take it upon himself to deal with the offending item.

The book opens with Bertie's return from Cannes, having spent two months on holiday with his Aunt Dahlia, his cousin Angela and Madeline Basset - Angela's best friend. Arriving back at his flat, Bertie is surprised to learn that Gussie Fink-Nottle has been a frequent caller in his absence. Gussie, an old school-friend of Bertie's, is something of a reclusive character : he doesn't drink, looks rather like a fish, prefers country life to the city and is a noted newt-fancier. Gussie has apparently fallen in love, and has - wisely - taken to visiting Jeeves for his advice on how to win the young lady's heart. However, following a disagreement with Jeeves about a white mess jacket purchased in Cannes, Bertie decides to take over Gussie's case.

By sheer coincidence, the object of Gussie's desires is none other than Madeline Basset - who, after the trip to Cannes, has returned to Brinkley Court (Aunt Dahlia's stately home). Bertie sends Gussie off to the stately home in question - though his motives aren't entirely noble. As well as spending time with Madeline, Gussie will also be delivering a speech at the local grammar school's prizegiving day - a job Aunt Dahlia had intended for Bertie. However, when word comes through that Angela has brokern off her engagement with Tuppy Glossop, Bertie and Jeeves race off to the countryside to offer their support. Naturally, Bertie's attempts to ease smooth things over land everyone in a great deal of bother.

A very easy and enjoyable read.

If there's one thing Bertie Wooster should never do, it's make elaborate plans to bring estranged lovebirds back together.

And he demonstrates just why in the second full-length Jeeves novel, a screwball disaster saga that sees Bertie confidently trying to fix people's lives. Of course, things go horribly wrong, and Wodehouse's arch, nutty look at what happens next is an absolute gem.

When Aunt Dahlia summons him to Brinkley Court for a prizegiving, Bertie sends his newt-fancying friend Gussie instead -- especially since Gussie is enamoured of a girl staying there, the soppy Madeleine Bassett. But when Bertie hears that his cousin Angela has broken off her engagement to Tuppy Glossop -- and his aunt is in need of money -- he rushes down to assist all his relatives and pals by advising them to feign such sorrow that they're unable to eat.

Unfortunately his plan falls through, and they manages to enrage the cook Anatole to the point where he storms out. Even worse, the prize-giving is a disaster and the wrong people end up engaged -- and pursued by homicidally angry exes. Only Jeeves' formidable brain can somehow save the day -- and Bertie's behind.

P.G. Wodehouse made a pretty good living off of spoofing the upper crust of England, and the subtlely intlligent servants who bail them out. "Right Ho Jeeves" is a prime example of his writing -- some small mistakes rapidly balloon out into a crazy tangled mess, which only an intelligent manservant can rescue Bertie from.

Much of the book's charm comes from its complex plot and series of disasters (such as Tuppy's homicidal rampage). And as usual, poor Bertie finds himself the object of young ladies' affections -- in this case, the appallingly goofy Madeleine thinks he's madly in love with her, when she's not rambling about fairies and bunnies. If there's a flaw, it's that Jeeves' final solution is a bit limp.

But Wodehouse's writing is what really makes the book timeless. It's arch and wry, whether he's describing basic actions ("He leaped like a lamb in springtime"), or goofy dialogue ("But if you were a male newt, Madeline Bassett wouldn't look at you. Not with the eye of love, I mean").

Jeeves and Bertie are the perfect comic team -- Bertie is proud, goofy, and not terribly bright, while the quiet Jeeves is a towering intellect with wry wit. And they're backed by a colourful, small cast of nutty aristocrats, schoolboys, sharp-tongued aunts and cousins, newt-fancying fish-faced men, and a girl who talks about how "every time a fairy sheds a tear, a wee bitty star is born." Yech.

"Right Ho Jeeves" is a hilarious, tangled farce of love, money, jealousy, dinner jackets and the mating rituals of newts. Absolutely priceless, from start to finish.

got the blues? melancholia got you in its grip? the prospect of death got you down? jeeves to the rescue! nothing like a good wodehouse read to cheer one up. problem is, the man wrote just short of a million books, and not all of them are good. so where to start? right here, with this book. of all the wodehouse books i've read, this is my favorite, the most consistently entertaining. just what the doctor ordered to smash you in the funny bone and get a smile going on the old face.

If you love Monty Python, Faulty Towers, and the like, you'll love RHJ. The glowing reviews on this page are spot on. This is timeless stuff. And Cecil's reading (if you incline towards the recorded version) is terrific. Laugh out loud funny. I adored every moment!

It is rare that I derive such pleasure from a book, but Right Ho, Jeeves, gave me a delightful surprise. Not only does Wodehouse make an art of the satirical novel, but in the process wraps the reader up in the witty speech of Bertram Wooster and his strange arrangement of friends, family, and butler. Bertram, or "Bertie," as he is commonly known, stumbles through the entire novel with the idea that he alone must bear the weight of being the sole aid to his friends' problems. Despite several attempts at a kind reprimand from Jeeves, his personal servant, ("I beg your pardon sir... What I intended to say, since you press me, was that the action which you propose does seem to be somewhat injudicious."); Bertie continues to give it his best. Among other things, Wooster implements the best intentions while attempting a match between old friends, but with little success: "All he had to do was propose." "Yes, sir." "Well, didn't he?" "No, sir." "Then what the dickens did he talk about?" "Newts, sir."

Despite the playful banter, colorful characters (such as a sensitive French cook), an inept yet lovable narrative voice found in Wooster, and of course, Jeeves, behind all is an incredibly clever satire on the "upper crust," so to speak. Although, admittedly, many readers cannot associate directly with the early-middle twentieth century, one cannot help but feel the idle, privileged and somewhat clueless lives of the English aristocracy seep from the pages of Jeeves. Wodehouse does a wonderful job of capturing the lives of people who have nothing better to do then dabble about ridiculously in the lives of one another.

Indeed, Wodehouse does much to reflect the over-privileged lives to which Bertie and company cling to so humorously. However, what might have become a novel filled to overflowing with hilarity and drama is brought back down to a more substantial level with the constant subtle humor and patronization brought in by Jeeves. "Jeeves, don't keep saying `Indeed, sir?' No doubt nothing is further from your mind than to convey such a suggestion, but you have a way of stressing the `in' and then coming down with a thud on the `deed' which makes it virtually tantamount to `Oh, yeah?' Correct this, Jeeves." The nature in which Bertie and the rest are virtually ignorant to Jeeves' little jibes such as this shows clearly the statement of Wodehouse, how the aristocracy is too self absorbed to notice even the slightest. In short, this is a wonderfully clever novel, which keeps the pages turning with quick wit and snappy humor. I highly suggest it.

This is, to say it modestly, a splendid book.

If you want to shake your ideas, radically change your mind about almost everything, this is maybe the best book I would recommend you.

The author, in short, funny, readable chapters, explains why people should respect, or accept, or tolerate, or even like people that are usually despised without any good reason. Just to name two: the drug pusher and the child labor employer!

This book is a strong defense of freedom, not only of personal, civil liberties, but of economic liberties too. This book is an excellent refutation of economic myths and an excellent antidote against economic ignorance. After reading this book (believe me, once you start reading the first chapter, you will devour the whole book), you will know what is necessary to produce widespread prosperity, and you will understand why: freedom, capitalism, free-markets, laissez-faire, and property rights. And you will understand that this is not only what is necessary, but what is good too.

I don't give 5 stars to this book for some minor reasons. The main one is that I don't believe in perfection in this world. Then, on a more earthly level, I think that the author should have been still more radical, extremist, fanatical, coherent and logical than he is. For example, he should have defended the gun smuggler, the anarchist rebel, and a few more who can contribute to destroy the state, and conquer total freedom. Finally, the last reason for which I don't give the best score is that I disagree with some few conclusions and arguments.

Anyway, this is without a doubt the book I read which had the biggest impact on me ever. This book, coupled with some complementary reading, like for example For A New Liberty, from Murray Rothbard, is enough to make of you a liberal/libertarian and an anarchist. And to change the way you see the world.

Bravo Walter Block!

Viva a Liberdade!

Pedro Velhinho Bandeira

Dr. Block's work, Defending the Undefendable, is an outstanding introduction to basic economics; and an ideal gift for contrarians, curmudgeons and coots of all types. In simple, easy to understand chapters, Dr. Block lays out the case for legalization of a some things, such as prostitution and drugs. In other chapters, he goes on to argue that drug sales and "price gouging" should not only be legal, they are morally praiseworthy. Students of ethical philosophy may also be interested in the manner in which Dr. Block defends many long vilified practices. Two things, unfortunately, keep me from giving this book a full five stars. Although a minor defect, and difficult to avoid in a book of this type, the book can be a little uneven from chapter to chapter. Secondly, the book feels somewhat dated at points - for example, the chapter on the importer, while a subject of great controversy at the time the book was written, has since been overtaken by events, at least insofar as contemporary relevance goes. An updated edition, tackling more contemporary issues (the health insurance shirker, for example) could make the book even more approachable.

Walter Block, or "Doc Block", as I like to call him, provides a solid and refreshing application of the most basic laws of freedom to areas previously avoided by those who claim to support it. What Block does that makes this book unique is exactly what he purports to do in the description. He teaches the lessons of liberty by analyzing the actions of those who are supposedly less worthy of defense. And he does it with a flair that makes the book not just entertaining, but also thought-provoking. Whoever thought an analysis of liberty could be entertaining! Maybe more importantly, the lessons that Doc Block provides for one scapegoat flow smoothly and inexorably to the next. In fact, that's the real treasure of these analyses. The lesson(s) for each new "rogue" is exactly the same as it was for the last one, even though it might initially seem like the cases are vastly different. Lucky for us slow-learners, Block teaches the same lesson over and over again. By the time you hear it applied to such a wide spectrum of (ostensibly) illicit activity, you begin to "get it" relative to not only why freedom is so vital, but why it must be treasured, for all, even the scapegoats.

This book should be required reading for anyone looking to understand what liberty is actually all about.

Block's book is a classic, and nobody can call himself a libertarian if he hasn't read it. It exudes the best in Walter Block's defense of liberty, namely his personal enthusiasm. Apparently Block wrote this while working on his doctoral dissertation, and would "reward" himself for slogging through the necessary evil (i.e. dissertations) by writing a chapter for Defending; it really shows.

I don't agree with all of Block's chapters. In particular, I didn't agree with his analysis of the counterfeiter, and (much to my shock) you can apparently order my critique on Amazon itself.

Having said that, I still consider it essential for every libertarian to read his book. Even if you don't agree with his conclusions, you will definitely see things in a new light. E.g. I still don't consider a litterbug heroic by any stretch, but Block's treatment made me see that littering is only a "social problem" on government property. People probably wouldn't even have the word "litter" if everything were privately owned.

What a fantastic way to illustrate libertarian views, by picking "scumbags" and showing that there is more than meets the eye.

Some 30 years after its original release, Defending the Undefendable is in many ways as fresh and topical as any current book. It follows a collection of society's villains and attempts to explain, in both economic and ethical senses, why these people are really heroes.

In many cases, Dr. Block makes a seemingly airtight case. I found myself disagreeing on a few counts but that only made for a more enjoyable read. After all, who wants to read nothing but what they can unquestioningly agree with?

Defending's cover makes a lofty promise... "Something to Offend Everyone". Honestly, I'd imagined that so long after it's release, this was an unreasonable promise to make, and that much of the controversy of the book would have been dulled with age. But I can report that truly, the book's ability to offend is very much in tact. In my case it was the author's outright hostility to private charity and his attempt to present the social darwinist argument against it (something I was already familiar with) as "undeniable" proof that private charity is harmful.

Still, irrespective of its ability to offend (and in some cases because of it), it's still something I can highly recommend. It is, simply put, a classic work of libertarian philosophy... and a too often ignored one at that.

First reason: exceptional images.

Second reason: advice on obtaining these kind of images.

How many books get 5 stars for 16 out of 17 reviews? This is one. The images are excellent and the advice is sage. Fitzharris used both film and digital for these images, and his advice challenged my prosumer level. He really is an accomplished professional, and he has shared many of his ideas and techniques. Other professional landscape photographers would be interested in this book. But much of the information is accessible to amateur photographers as well. His description of depth of field, hyperfocus, wide angle, rule of thirds, exposure, composition, etc. are clear and straightforward.

Even if this book had just the clear, large, interesting images, it would be worth it. Other books of his did not get such great reviews. I can't say how much I liked this book.

For $16, just click the "Buy it now," button.

Outstanding pictures, informative, a must for any landscape photographer at any level. I highly recommend this Tim Fitzharris book.

I'm an advanced amateur photographer, i've found this book quite useful, it gives strongs helps to improve photograph.
By the way, in most of its parts its based on 6X4 system, that is really different in performance and "thinking" from the digitalreflex we use. The "big" concepts for composition and "theming" our works are obviusly the same, but in application it's different, also the example works ( beautiful ) are quite all in 6X4.
In any case a really good book!

I have been an amateur photographer for about 35 years, and I have enjoyed the instruction of several masters in the days I used to lug around a large view camera (mostly B/W imaging). Tim Fitzharris's book about (color)landscape photography is my most valued book on the subject in my entire library. He is an excellent writer and communicator of key thoughts. His writing is dense; he doesn't prattle. As he states in his introduction, "The emphasis of the book ... is on the photographer's actual interaction with the subject" {being photographed}. This book is for the intermediate to heavily experienced photographer (amateur or professional alike). As much as possible, he doesn't dabble in the usual tech stuff. He includes myriad photographs to illustrate all of his concepts and principles.

The part of the book most rewarding to me is Part 3, "Creating an Image." In these 28 pages, he articulates the key elements of visualization and image control. He thoroughly analyzes each element of good composition and the rationale for each. After reading the book, I went back to the pictures in this book and others in my library to validate these elements. As I did, I related more and more to the principles. They were clearly authenticated. They are clearly valid for all landscape-photo venues; color landscape photography is clearly the emphasis of the book, however. His photography alone is worth the price of the book.

Yeah, you need to get this book. This is the photography book I've been looking for. Tim Fitzharris doesn't just take stunning photographs, he disects photos and goes through the thought process so that the reader can understand what it was about the scene that caused him to frame it the way he did. He doesn't just say "follow your heart" or "discover what the scene is trying to tell you" or other artsy-fartsy stuff like that. He's a technician. He tells you how to assemble the photo piece by piece. No other book I've read goes into so much detail on how to actually frame a shot. Since digital cameras take away much of the worry about exposure, composition is the main worry, at least for me. Mr. Fitzharris does an excellent job of explaining vantage points, focal planes, proper camera placement and everything else associated with getting it all right in the camera.

Two tiny nits to pick, but certainly nothing worth deducting points for: 1) Fitzharris explains everything assuming you'll be using a 35mm or digital SLR camera, which is fine. But he uses a medium-format film or digital camera, and the pictures reflect this. Unless you're willing to spend the price of a new car on camera equipment, you shouldn't expect to be able to replicate the pictoral quality of his work. 2) Fitzharris points out that the best places to photograph water are actually from in the water, and he says that you should be "prepared to get wet". He also points out that this might cost you a camera or two, as any digital equipment dumped in the drink will be "a complete right-off". Whoa, there! Maybe a pro can right-off a few thousand dollars worth of equipment, but I saved for a year to buy my digital SLR. Taking it into the soup is just not an option.

One good thing that Fitzharris also covers is the amount of work necessary to get breathtaking shots. Up before dawn, hiking in the dark, coming back day after day if the light isn't right. He conveys the proper message that getting great shots on a consistent basis is real work. If you were under the impression that you could obtain shots like this while on vacation with your family, reading this book will quickly put that fantasy to rest. Fitzharris points out that it takes patience, dedication and time to get the good stuff.

This is by far the most informative book you can get on landscape photography. Fitzharris takes jaw-dropping, OMG-I-can't-believe-it photographs, yet it never seems that he's just showing off his work. I've read so many books where the author writes "this picture succeeds because..." and then goes on to explain why the shot he took is so great. In my view, if you have to explain to your readers why the picture succeeds, maybe it doesn't. Fitzharris never does this. He lets the shots speak for themselves, and simply describes the elements he looked for in composing the picture. And, wow. His pictures sure have a vocabulary!

I wanted to have this book ever since I saw it: because I wouldve been there to help these people to help rescue all these animals if I could from day one.The photos in this book tell the story so well, its amazingly beautiful,tears have rolled down my eyes every time I watch these amazing pictures.Its the story of what unconditional love can acomplish when you let it happen.There are thousand of moving stories,the one of "dog in boat" was incredible, and the one of the big white dog that recovered that has her picture on the cover.But to me, my very favourite story of all, because I have a soft spot for Pit Bulls and the fact they are often extremely misunderstood by people, is the story of the Pit Bull couple who where together on top of a car hood, and when they spotted the little boat with the people, the male jumped into the water and started swimming towards them.That is my very favourite photo+special story.I vividly recommend this book to everyone, its a jewel!

This is one of the animal books that has touched my heart deeply. Imagine being a pet, dependent on your owner for basic survival, and then suddenly having no one there to protect, feed, care and nurture you. Imagine this going on for days, with no end in sight. That's what these animals went through. Many of these owners didn't realize how Hurricane Katrina would tear into their lives taking everything away from them including their precious pets. Happily, many of these animals were reunited with their owners again, and for those that weren't, "Best Friends" took care of them. However, these animals were desperate.

Whenever I read about the 2 pit bulls trapped on the rooftop of a submerged car my eyes tear up. Who knows how long these 2 dogs were trapped on that roof, but when the one dog spotted the rescuers--who were in a rowboat due to the flooded streets--he was so desperate by then that he jumped into the water and swam the distance to the boat...which was quite a ways from his rooftop... he swam up to the boat, looked into the eyes of the photographer and just begged to be plucked out of the water, rescued and loved. He didn't even wait for them to get to him, he swam across the water just to get to them. I tear up everytime I think about that pitbull's desperation and feeling of abandonment.

Anyway, read the book. And I have to say that Best Friends is one of best organizations I've ever heard of. They do so much on behalf of animals and they are just a wonderful, wonderful organization. Buy the book and visit www.bestfriends.org! It can be a great coffee table book too.

Memories of when people come together to help those in need, no matter how many legs they have. It's great to see the results of human compassion.

Troy Snow and the Best Friends Animal Society, Not Left Behind: Rescuing the Pets of New Orleans (Yorkville Press, 2006)

After Katrina hit, thousands upon thousands were forced to flee New Orleans and leave their pets behind. (The prevailing attitude of "we'll only be gone a few days, we'll leave a big bowl of food and some extra water" is reiterated here.) As the military worked on trying to get the city back into habitable condition and rescue any surviving people in the city, the best Friends Animal Society went to work trying to rescue the pets. Troy Snow, the group's photographer, documented the weeks they spent outside New Orleans, boating into the city every day to rescue animals that had been trapped by the flood. These are not happy fluffy bunny animal pictures, folks. If you prefer to think of your pooches as gamboling in the breeze, you might want to avoid this one. But Snow's pictures capture the dogged (pardon the pun) determination and will to live of the animals, and are a fitting tribute to their ability to survive. ****

Having worked at the sanctuary in Tylertown, MS where many of these animals were taken after the rescues documented in these extraordinary photographs, this book helps one vividly see what so many of these animals went through after the hurricane and before they arrived at our base camp. More can be said by these photos that captured how these beasts survived the days, weeks and sometimes months after Hurricane Katrina, than any written text can state.

I was also pleased to see that one of the dogs we cared for in the Back 40 in Tylertown whom we named "Piglet" turned out to be the covergirl on this book! She was always so happy to see us when we'd approach her kennel and loved to have suntan lotion rubbed all over her belly -- it is really something to see her story in detail before she came to us at Tylertown. The happy ending is that she was adopted by a family and now has a very happy forever home. :)