Open Books

This is a book that tells what life is like on small ships (fewer than 500 passengers) and it includes everything from cruise ships to barges, freighters, dive boats, sailing ships. You can search by destination and find ships that go to wonderful places that you can't go to in big ships.

This is the review that appeared in TravelWriter MarketLetter that goes to travel writers all over the world...

"The Table of Contents for this book is very reader-friendly. Under each chapter heading are all of the chapter's subheads, with page numbers, so if you want to reread the paragraph on seasickness, for example, you find it under Chapter 2, page 35, and find it quickly. The first several chapters tell the many differences between sailing on a small ship and a large one, discuss costs, things to do, places small ships can go, and the many questions the reader might have about small ships. There's a chapter on life aboard a small ship, with detailed descriptions, then one on saving money on cruises with various ploys, and a chapter on ship profiles which takes up more than half the book describing more than 200 ships. The final two chapters are about barge cruising on canals, and sailing in small romantic schooners. It's all good, juicy writing, even if your cruise is not imminent. But if you are about to take a cruise, it will save you money, prepare you, and insure that you have fun."

Before you buy one of the books on Wittgenstein's thought about philosophical psychology, buy the Philosophical Investigations and Zettel. Most of the notes in these other "books" are alternate workings of thoughts already expressed in better form in the Investigations and this volume.

Keeping in mind that the early Wittgenstein intended to express everything clearly that could be said, though the most important things could not be said, they could only be shown, this book is a marvelous collection of just the sort of questions I suppose led him to change his mind. Each is thoughtful and leads no where -- which is precisely the point.

In Carson City, Nevada, Halford Turnbull negotiates with Jonathan Templeton exchanging a DVD that proves he did not commit murder for $20,000. However, before they complete the exchange Dogwood intercedes demanding the 20K belongs to him as Halford stole the loot form him. All hell breaks out with bullets firing everywhere. As the cops arrive, Halford escapes, but as he drives off a woman dives through the passenger window of his car.

Halford's new "partner" Apple Valley gives him instruction on how to get out of town with cops everywhere. He knows his only hope for freedom is to reach his brother Hanford who assumes Halford is guilty. The trek to Huntsville, Texas is dangerous with cops ready to bust him at every point, two groups of goons chasing after him for the DVD or the money or both, and even a local church wants to literally bust him. Only Apple Valley seems to get him through roadblocks, but he wonders what the former stripper wants of him.

2,000 MILES TO OPEN ROAD is a wild thriller in which everyone seems slightly deranged (eccentric seems too gentle of a description). Thus the audience will have a good time hitching along with Apple and Halford as it seems like half of Nevada want him dead, the money he stole, and the DVD he needs to prove his innocence. Readers who enjoy a wild ride will want to sit cannonball with the lead duo as they are chased across the southwest.

Harriet Klausner

This is a must have book for what you are collecting. If you have collected salts in the past or present, this book has the best and the largest variety of salt(s), in picures! Love it!

This is a really neat book but thought it might have more color pictures. It is genuinely unique and even though not completely hard to find, no longer in print, I believe. A must for open salt collector's.

This is an excellent guide book for those ready to change and a compassionate motivator for those still trying to get the courage to do so. I loved this book. If I were to write a self-help book on change, this would be it. Lin speaks from her heart about her life and how she successfully transformed herself to be the best she can be. Change is about self-responsibility and that can be scary. It doesn't have to be though and this book shows how to support yourself through the change process one step at a time. Lin's 12 Step background and life experience offers a roadmap for others to make lifestyle or attitudinal changes. When we're in the process of change we need to support ourselves and this book is excellent support! Lynn Telford-Sahl, M.A., Certified Addiction Counselor

Dying or many other troubling subjects that parents will, (hopefully) eventually broach with their children, the amazing psychology collective behind Open Books brings us About Dying. I first came across this book at age 18 and while reading the child only entrys, found myself in tears. Later given to me as a gift, I had time to peruse the literature and found the message both stunning and relevant. With entries for both children and adults, About Dying explores the nature of death, the varying reactions to be expected as well as how some of us cope, whether through anger, fear or looking forward to the future. About Dying is an invaluable asset to any family facing the current battles of cancer, heart disease or any natural event that can leave a child shaken and unable to express their feelings. This book encourages communication between parent and child as well as reflection for the parent. A complete emotional package, I would recommend this book for anyone facing death, be it with a child or on their own.

I had the good fortune of reading this book when it was first published and still consider it one of the best children's books ever on understanding disabilities and the people who have them.
This is a picture book, a children's book and a guidebook for parents, all in one. The story focuses on the building of a friendship between two young boys, one with and one without a disability. I actually purchased several copies of "About Handicaps" and shared them with friends and neighbors. Later, when I became a Disability Awareness Specialist, I used this book in an awareness program for third graders to help them become more understanding of their classmates who had a disability. This is a book that will educate your head and touch your heart. I can't recommend this book highly enough.

We live in an historic moment. Publishing is moving from print to digital formats, and the model of `open access' publishing challenges traditional methods of commercial publishing and academic publishing as well.

In The Access Principle, John Willinsky argues that open access to research archives and journals has the potential to change the public presence of science and scholarship and to help inform civic discussion and policy making.

A professor at the University of British Columbia, Willinsky argues that a commitment to the value and quality of research carries with it a responsibility to extend the circulation of research findings as far as possible, to all who are interested in it, and to all who might profit by it.

Willinsky's case for open access is multifaceted. It draws on the spirit of copyright law,
the mandate of scholarly associations, the promise of global knowledge exchanges,
the public's right to know, the prospect of enhanced reading and indexing, the improved economic efficiencies of publishing, and the history of the academic journal.

Willinsky is careful to explain that `open access' does not mean `free access.' Open access articles cannot be read without a substantial investment in hardware, software, and networking. The open access movement does not operate in denial of economic realities, he says; it is simply acting on a scholarly tradition that has long been concerned with extending the circulation of knowledge.

Research knowledge has been transformed into a capitalized commodity and economic driver, he writes. The resulting corporate publishing concentration, with its relentless focus on knowledge capitalization and shareholder value, has allowed journal prices to increase well above inflation rates. University libraries cannot keep up, and even Tier 1 research institutions are dropping expensive journal subscriptions by the dozens and scores.

Online scholarly resources are now available in a variety of forms, yet it's the research article in particular that's at the center of a struggle, Willinsky says. The struggle is over online publishing and whether it will further contribute to, or whether it will begin to reverse, the current state of declining access to research within an otherwise expanding global academic community.

Willinsky argues that scholarly associations must ask themselves whether they will use this new publishing medium, already integral to the scholarly process, to extend and advance the circulation and exchange of knowledge. The associations need to consider the principles of access and the availability of open access publishing in the short term and the long term. They should consider cooperating with research libraries and better attune themselves to what's in the best interest of their members and authors, as well as the cause of research and scholarship which they serve.

Debate has raged in education for many decades over the professional status of teachers. Judyth Sachs's new book, "The Activist Teaching Profession" published by Open University Press, summarises and extends current understanding of professionalism. Professor Sachs develops understanding of "old" and "new" professionalism. The strength of this book is that the author has addressed the important preservice and post-service aspects of teacher learning. The appeal of Professor Sachs's writing is that she makes important and insightful observations about changes that have affected teaching in Australia, England and the United States. Teachers and school-based personnel will be enthralled as the big picture of changes that have influenced their lives click into perspective.

She notes that old professionalism has six characteristics:
1. exclusive membership
2. conservative practices
3. self-interest
4. external regulation
5. slow to change
6. reactive.

And, the ten characteristics of new (transformative) professionalism are:
1. inclusive membership
2. public ethical code of practice
3. collaborative and collegial
4. activist orientation
5. flexible and progressive
6. responsive to change
7. self-regulating
8. policy-active
9. enquiry-oriented
10. knowledge building.

Competencies and standards are a part of the future for all teachers and Sachs sounds warnings. She noted that in the UK standards evolved from competencies and noted that they represented a new control system. The section entitled: "Professional teaching standards and what do they mean?" is particularly good and Sachs suggests four usages of standards in the literature and discourse:
1. Standards as common sense (What can teachers do and what do they know?).
2. Standards for quality assurance (Accountability).
3. Standards for quality improvement (Developmental approach).
4. Standards, certification or control (Licensing and professional certification).

Teachers are oriented towards day-to-day teaching and the workload has made them industrially passive. Sachs's passionate plea is for the teaching profession to look beyond their work and put into place structures and a culture of teacher activism.

This is an important, useful, and well written book that sounds a warning to all of us involved in teaching and learning."