Road Books

For all people who are in search for answers as to why things are they way they are, You have to read this book. It is insightful, uplifting, and very spirtual. I do believe in God, and if God's message is what is in these pages, then I am a very happy person. I recommend this book for all to read who need a little God boost in there lives.

Answers has given me a comfort zone in the confusing life that seems to always raise questions. It gives me insight on another note that moves me through life everyday. It has added to my spiritual being and ability to overcome struggles and challenges , when it just seems there is no explanation. The author has found a "divine" way to connect with those we can't, those we can and those we would like to. It adds a bit of comfort to "why?" and every open mind will feel a little closer to understanding it all. I would like to thank the author for broadening my spiratual spectrum. Peace and Love to all :) Marie

Yvonne M. Albanese has had psychic abilities since childhood. For years, she believed she had no control over her special gifts. Over time, she's learned that she can use her abilities at will.

She began by communicating with deceased loved ones, using automatic writing. When she "writes," she is unaware of what is written until she looks at it later. The handwriting differs also from her normal writing. Late one night, she received a comforting message from God. "I have since been receiving answers to questions I ask God on a regular basis," she says.

Answers: A Divine Connection is a compilation of the questions Albanese asked and the answers she received. She also includes her own commentary on the information she received.

She asked a wide range of questions, including ones about the nature of souls, love, who Jesus really was and his role, life in other worlds, angels, dreams, abortion, and cloning. She covers most of the issues that people are struggling with on a daily basis.

Although she freely shares her questions and the answers she received, Albanese emphasizes that "the messages I receive are my own truth." She says that she's learned that each person has their own truth and reality, and all have significance to God. God is available to everyone on a very personal level, regardless of religion or other beliefs.

"Filled with hope, inspiration, and guidance, Yvonne Albanese's Answers is another link in the infinite chain of testimonials to God's presence and love." It's an essential book for all those seeking answers to questions of the heart.

Below is the actual copy of the email I sent to Ms. Albanese after glancing through her book.

Dear Ms. Albanese, Your book has arrived! We as employees received our copies today and you should be receiving your copies shortly. I feel I must tell you that as the secretary for the editorial department I do not have an opportunity to get involved with the "insides" of a book. My only involvement is usually with the paperwork side as with the contracts, applications to the Library of Congress, etc. Therefore when we receive our employee copy I do not have a preconceived idea of what's inside the cover beyond the title. When I picked up your book today it had such a special feel to it. The actual cover has a soft and inviting warmth to it. As with any other book I usually thumb through it to see if anything catches my eye. YOUR WHOLE BOOK HAS CAUGHT MY EYE! I cannot remember the last time I felt so drawn into a book. I was beginning to wonder if I was going to be able to put it down and get some work done and when I saw your email address under "About the Author" I felt as if I had to write you. Your book is EXACTLY what I need in my life. I find myself constantly asking almost all the questions I looked at today. Especially the one about a mother's abandonment that God and Mary answered for your mother on her birthday. I have felt an abandonment by my own mother even though the circumstances were slightly different I could so relate to what was said. Mary's letter to Bonnie are words that I would love to hear from my own mother but feel as if I never will. I feel as if I could go on and on. I just need to thank you for having the courage and strength to find a way to put your book into print. If I remember correctly from just glancing through, you questioned a lot at first as to your sanity and/or what other people would think of your abilities. I can tell you that it most definitely served its purpose here. I so look forward to taking Answers home and reading it from beginning to end. I feel as if the answers I have been looking for have also been answered through your work. In addition, if you ever have the opportunity to visit us here in Charlottesville, I would be most honored if you would sign my book. I look forward to meeting you. Thank you again. With many blessings and thanks, Diane

THIS BOOK IS UNQUESTIONABLY THE BEST QUALITY REFERENCE BOOK EVER WRITTEN! David Hoyle confidently explains the underlying logic behind ISO and QS requirements in such a manner that the reader is amazed at the simplicity of the requirement and how it will benefit his company. I feel more motivated and positive each time I use it!

The book is well organized and addresses complex issues in a logical, well ordered fashion. The author uses excellent examples to illustrate his points. The "task lists" and "Do's and Don'ts" provided for each section are the single best reference checklist I have come across. He makes extensive use of charts and diagrams to illustrate interdependencies and processes.

What I like best about this author is that he clearly understands the real world and the problems and challenges that face every company. He sites real-world examples and solutions. He takes a common sense approach so that you get a quality company and product, not just an expensive bound manual. So many other quality authors come off as dry and unyielding losing sight of the real goal.

The first thing any company should do when contemplating ISO or QS is to go and buy a copy of this book for every Senior Executive and Manager!

David Hoyle is a true pioneer in Quality and a guy to keep your eye on. I also follow his speeches and articles. I have no doubt that his contributions will someday reshape this field.

I not only read this book, but also I was the chief editor for a translation of it into Farsi (a limited companywide translation). Being Editor for the Farsi translation, I had to read it letter by letter, and compare the concepts with the original text. So I can claim that I am one of those who has read the book deeply and completely in detail. This is such a handbook that makes companies needless of consultors, for many parts of the implementation project. It takes the managers' hand, carrys them step by step, giving a deep insight onto the thoughts behind the physical name of "QS-9000". None of the words has been neglected to read critically from the consistency and interpretablity point of view. I and all the translation team, enjoyed and learned a lot through reading the book. (Unfortunately I have not the address of Mr. Hoyle and looking for his address, to communicate directly, to take the greetings and thanks of the team and mine, and to send a Farsi translation to him.)

We completed the translation and desktop publishing in only 28 days, (it takes normally at least 1 year)! What is clearly identifiable, Prof. Hoyle knows the backbone of ISO9000 and QS-9000 philosophy well, that is why his comments on the ambigous or confusing parts are completely consistent with ours as advisors with many practical experiences. I had some footnotes on Farsi translation of this book, but this never lessen a bit the value of it and I pride that it was a real remote training course of Prof. Hoyle himself for me and our experts.

The handbook can be also a good guide for implementing any standard system like VDA 6.1, ISO TS 16949, French, and Italian automotive companies' similar standards, becouse it is concept-oriented and not QS-9000 word- or phrase-dependent.

I leave my e-mail address, and looking forward to any kind mail about the address of Proffessor by others khowing him.

David Hoyle's book on QS-9000 is one of the best books I've read on the automotive standard. I use it as my 'bible' for instruction and for creating documentation. I would recommend it to anyone who is contemplating certification.

David Hoyle's QS-9000 Quality Systems handbook is essential reading for all interested parties who require a succinct accurate analysis of QS-9000, Quality System Requirements.

As a practicing QS-9000 Registered Lead Auditor the writer has informally recommended the text to numerous corporations worldwide. Divided into two parts - Preparation for QS-9000 and Satisfying QS-9000 requirements.

Part 1 - Preparation for QS-9000 initially reviews quality assurance fundamentals in clear language including discussion on the quality , price and cost relationship. The mechanics of the QS-9000 registration process (similar to ISO9000) are covered together with a listing of key QS-9000 requirements and many common misconceptions. ( These may be useful in discussing an invalid nonconformity with an over zealous QS-9000 auditor !!)

Part 2 - Satisfying QS-9000 requirements takes each of the 23 sections of QS-9000 (2nd Edition February 1995) and in very good detail explains the! actual QS-9000 requirement and how it may be incorporated within a quality system. A useful Task List, Questionnaire and 'Do & Don't' listing is included at the end of each section.

In summary its hard to criticize this book as it is truly a world class text !

Roland J. Kelly QS-LA , CQE , BS MS Natonal Standards Authority of Ireland Fremont California USA

O'Dell's story captures all the facets of an extremely dysfunctional family with raw, shocking realism - outright physical and verbal abuse, insinuated sexual abuse, incest and murder. As the novel unfolds, it becomes obvious that the male narrator is mentally disturbed but it's nearly impossible not to sympathize with his situation. O'Dell also does an excellent job of portraying his sexual frustrations, not to mention the overall confusion and desperation of a young man who has had too much responsibility thrust upon him. I highly recommend this novel. It is compulsively readable and well written.

Amazingly written book with well developed charaters. Although dark, O'Dell makes the disfunction heartwarming. I couldn't put this book down once I started.

I felt so much sadness for the main character of this book. I wanted him to get a break somewhere along the line and find some happiness but it was just not meant to be. I would love to see this turned into a movie.

The twisted storyline in this book threw me for a bit of a loop, and the intensity of the characters is riveting. I couldn't put it down. It's a very quick read - esp for the length of it. I was left feeling a bit shocked by the graphic details and twisted thoughts/actions, but in a good way. It's amazing when a book can get under your skin and creep you out a bit, but draw you in to wonder about a world in which such things can exist so easily. I would definitely recommend this book.

I received the book in good time and the book is in good condition.

This is an extremely good book. The author not only graphically tells it like it was in MS in the 60's, but also relates her life story that can only encourage anybody. From a kid picking cotton in the Delta in the 50's to becoming a Harvard Fellow and a recipient of a McArthur Genius Fellowship later in life, MS Blackwell tells a Hell of a story. This book is a must read.

Barefootin' is as captivating and real as Mississippi Delta Blues.It is memorable, entertaining, and beautifully written.I learned a lot, felt a lot and cheered a lot while reading this wise, funny and brave recounting of the life and times of an American Renaissance woman, Unita Blackwell, who has lived long enough and remarkably enough to become an historical icon of the Civil Rights struggle. But, thankfully, her earthy humanity overcomess that pigeonhole and, as Barefootin' makes clear, Unita is a woman for the ages.

I am reading this book now, but more importantly,
I saw Ms. Blackwell last night , at a reading at 61 coffee
in Vicksburg Ms. She is an amazing presence, and the
co-author, Joanne Morris, who read, also.
This is well, just read it . You will love it.
I have not written a review before, I love lots
of books, but this one is special. I moved to Mississippi
from Minnesota, and this is what I needed to hear about this
state.

My son, age 10, devours these books!! He has read every one of them. As soon as one is released he's read it in 2 days. He also re-reads them over and over. Hank is a character that's easy to relate to, even if you've never been to New York. I hear my son often laughing loudly while reading these books. I catch myself on occasion flipping it open when it's on the table and can't stop reading it. There's a good moral theme running through as well.

1ST OF ALL; I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FROM KIDS AGES 8-12. THEY MAY SOUND LIKE DUMB BOOKS, BUT HENRY WINKLER'S WRITING STYLE IS ENJOYABLE AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND. I ALSO ENJOYED READING THE OTHER 11 BOOKS. IF YOU'VE NEVER READ ONE OF HENRY WINKLERS BOOKS, START READING THEM AND YOU'LL BE ZOOMING THROUGH THE BOOK IN NO TIME. ANYONE OVER THE AGE OF 12 MIGHT THINK THESE BOOKS ARE DUMB BUT I JUST READ THEM FOR THE FUN OF IT.

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO BUY THIS BOOK BUT HAVEN'T READ THE OTHER 11, IT'S OKAY BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS PRETTY MUCH EXPLAINED TO YOU. YOU CAN READ THEM IN ANY ORDER.

HAPPY READING!

This series is soooo cool for both boys and girls ages 3rd-???. I teach 3rd grade and these are my kids' favorite read alouds. I have an 11 year old daughter and this is the first series she has been "into". They are funny, with lots of elementary school humor and words they find hilarious.
Fun stuff!

Great book for Dyslexic kids self esteem!
Hank Zipzer is such a great kid his adventures are entertaining for kids and adults alike.

We found this program many years ago while visiting the Battle Road visitor center/museum in Concord. We took a guided tour of the battle field and the park ranger recommended this tape as a great audio drama of the events that took place on April 19, 1775. To make a long story short, we listened to it many times while driving around on that vacation, and have continued to enjoy it. We are pleased to see that it is now on CD. If you love history and radio drama, you will enjoy this classic production. Really a perfect gift for a history buff, or a child needing to learn some American history in a pain free manner.

We bought this tape because we thought it would be a good way to expose our kids to American history. The Colonial Radio folks seem to have a knack at making dry history lessons fun (we own a couple of their tapes). This particular production is not as flashy as some of their others, but it is none the less a good one. Unfortunately, my Father-in-Law is a history fanatic, and we have not seen the tape since his last visit. The family gives it a hearty four thumbs up.

I live in the area and have been along Battle Road many times. This tape has really brought the historical events alive for me. I have since gotten the Plimouth tape and am eagerly looking forward to the rumored Gettysburg series.

We stumbled upon this wonderful little tape purely by accident while doing the tourist thing in New England. When visiting the Lexington visitors center, we over heard the park rangers saying great things about this cassette, we bought one and must have listened to it a dozen times during the trip. The story of Paul Revere's ride and the battle of Lexington is truly a great one, and this tape makes listening to history fun and exciting. The kids love it (as do we) thought it is by no means a childrens product. It is apparently well researched and very well performed. We will be ordering some of the other items written by Jerry Robbins to see if they are of equal quality.

I have been to Beijing 4 times and took this map for my last 12 day visit. It was GREAT! Got me to all my meetings, Olympic events, and even my native friends were loving my Map! If only they could do more maps on every district in BJ, but then you would need a book. Worth every penny I paid! Thank YOU.

During my 2 weeks in the Beijing area this map was indispensible! It's laminated, so it holds up great. The streets are labeled in pinyin (roman characters). This is perfect, since these days almost every street sign in Beijing is also labeled in pinyin (as well as Chinese characters). Almost every landmark you want to find is on the map in English as well as Chinese.

Subway lines and their stops are indicated (except the brand new line #5). The map makes it very easy to get around Beijing and even includes overlays with major places such as the forbidden city and summer palace.

In looking at maps of Beijing, my criterion was simple: "Does the map show the street where our hotel is located?" This was a challenge: the hotel we chose was a converted mansion on a narrow "hutong," or side street. The Borch map was the only one I could find that did - much, much more detail than any similar map - certainly vastly better than any of the free maps that hotels give out. Note that the current version is updated for the Olympics and does show the new Beijing Metro lines that are about to open.

During my ten day trip to Beijing The Berndtson laminated map of Beijing was indispensable. It is easily readable and has many of the best places to visit highlighted which made planning each day easy. The map not only survived the hundreds of openings and refolding, but is still in excellent shape for many future uses. The only shortcoming is that the map does not cover the outlying areas of Beijing. It covers only the central area out to the "third ring road"

This is a great atlas, and at a great price too! It gives you a good idea of what the topography is going to look like, so you can plan your week end getaways, and can be used as a road atlas too. Note that there is also one for Oregon that you can buy.

This atlas is highly recommended. The beautiful maps are great for looking at (and daydreaming) at home or as a navigation tool on the road. I have already given two as gifts. It is simply the best atlas of California on the market.

The folks at Benchmark have come up with a single-volume atlas of California that's easy to use, and beautiful to look at. The ergonomics are great -- the choice of text and line styles make roads and cities easy to locate, there are generous overlaps between adjacent map pages, and every 2-page spread has a scale of miles and a tiny California outline showing this page's coverage. Very clear lat & long grids aid in GPS navigation.

The most distinctive feature, though, is the topography. Color is keyed to altitude, and shading is also used to give a clear picture of the land's contours. Combined, they give a very detailed image of how the land will be shaped when you get where you're going.

For those interested in adventuring on California's back roads, the obvious comparison is with DeLorme's Southern California Atlas & Gazetteer, and its Northern California companion. I've used the DeLorme books for years, and have the following comments comparing the Benchmark atlas with them:

Pro: better ergonomics. The text fonts, road lines etc. are clearer in the Benchmark atlas. The "look and feel" makes it more of a pleasure to work with.

Pro: more discernable land contours (the new edition of the DeLorme books add some shading to help in the interpretation of the oft-confusing contour lines, which helps a lot, but it's still not as sharp as the Benchmark book. Note that I've seen this new contour shading in the Southern CA book, and haven't seen a new Northern CA book yet)

Pro: Seems to be more up-to-date (e.g. the Recreation Pages show a lot of the recent changes to the desert parks. The Benchmark book shows a new bypass through Barstow that isn't in the new DeLorme edition (confused the heck out of my group once))

Pro: All of California in one book!

Con: Not as detailed. There's a reason they can fit it all in one book: it's at twice the scale of the DeLorme's (1:300,000 instead of 1:150,000). Some small features, such as mine sites, aren't in the Benchmark book. I examined various regions I've visited, and most of the same dirt roads are in Benchmark book, but not as many of them are labeled. (In fairness, there's a corresponding "Pro", in that twice as much area is covered on a page, so there's less flipping around)

Con: Many park & base boundaries are not shown on the detailed maps. While the borders of some national parks are shown on the detailed maps, many of them only have a label in the middle, and you must turn to the less-detailed Recreation Maps section to get a sense of their borders. This can be frustrating when you're planning a drive in the region of an off-limits area like China Lake Naval Weapons Center. This shortcoming is the main reason I don't give it five stars -- I hope they correct it in future editions.

Con: No indication of land surface. The Benchmark book uses color exclusively for elevation; the forested Sierras look just like the mountains around Death Valley. DeLorme uses color to show levels of vegetation, etc. So, you can look at Desolation Wilderness near Lake Tahoe, and get a sense of which parts are forested and which are open granite.

So, which is better? I'd say it depends on what you want to do. If you mostly stick to the paved roads, and/or tend to supplement your atlas with more detailed maps (park service, forest service, USGS topos, etc.), and want something that gives a better sense of "the big picture" of what the land is doing, you might be happier with the Benchmark book. For a driving tour at highway speed, the detail of the DeLorme book is probably excessive -- you'll be flipping a lot of pages.

On the other hand, if you really want to get out on the dirt trails and find your own site in the backcountry, you'll appreciate the DeLorme's greater detail.

Personally, I like having as many different maps available as possible, so I'd say "Get Both". In particular, if you have an older edition of the DeLorme book, and are thinking about upgrading to the newer edition with contour shading, you might want to consider keeping your old one, and getting the Benchmark book instead.

No one map [or atlas] can serve all purposes. The Benchmark California Road And Recreation Atlas seems to fill a middle ground between the pure road atlas [the Thomas Guide California atlas is my number one pick in this category] and a topographic/backroads atlas [the DeLorme atlases are my favorites in this category]. The Benchmark atlases are good road atlases with color-coded and shaded relief added to indicate topography. Each map covers more territory than the maps in the DeLorme atlases. This means less detail than the DeLorme maps and I wouldn't want to do much backroad driving with only the Benchmark atlas available for reference. I generally bring my copy of the Benchmark atlas with me on road trips because I find it good for doing a visual and mental overview of the area I'm exploring. I think all travel enthusiasts should have a copy of this atlas in their map library and especially those who want information on topography, but are contour line phobic.

The Benchmark Nevada Atlas is of the best topographic atlases of Nevada. This large format atlas includes historical sites, major and minot roads, and physical features that complements most GPS based mapping programs. It's a must have if exploring landsailing sites in Nevada!!!!

Not only does this map label and explain all the interesting recreational features in the state, it also labels all the rural ranches and farms(!) We use it at the university! THANKS!!

When I purchased a Nevada Road & Recreation Atlas that had missing pages, Benchmark offered to correct the problem immediately. They responsed to my email in less than 24 hours. I've used 3 of their Atlases for different states and find them extremely useful.

I use this atlas for it's great off-road detail to plan and execute ATV trips. This is the BEST atlas I have found for off-road detail in Nevada and it hasn't let me down yet. It must be the best, since others in our ATV Club have it and refer to it often. I never see another atlas on the trail besides this one!

Eamon J. McEneaney's life was cut short at the World Trade Center on 9/11 but this collection of his poems shows that he took in much of this world while he was here and gifted us with a lifetime of poems to cherish.

This is an amazing book of poetry. Eamon was poetry in motion on the lacrosse field and a wonderful wordsmith off, a true poet-warrior. this book will take you to coney island, the nyc subway and the last moments of an icicle's life. you will laugh, cry and be moved spiritually. Do not miss this one as the initial printing is limited.

These poems inspire strong reflection and develop feelings to their most powerful heights
They evoke very intense draws toward spirituality and should be read by all
They make us all consider the higher order

This is an amazing book. It truely allows the reader to reconnect with their spirituality. It's incredible that so many poems--both beautiful and disturbing--seem to reconfirm the basis for the premonitions, prior to 9/11, that Eamon McEneaney had. It gives me faith that there is more beyond this life. This collection of poems is a wonderful gift for us all. A must read for content and reflection.