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Design on a Crime (Deadly Dcor Mysteries, Book 1)

8/12

01 star

Not much of a mystery....

I don't typically negatively review books, as I will read just about anything to the end. This book was a struggle. There was no real mystery, and the killer was so unbelievable that it took ALOT away from the book. Not only was the main character very wishy-washy, and confusing but it took so long to get to the point of her history that when you got there you no longer cared. She is a 20 something with no friends her age, a therapist that meets her in McDonald's, and spends all her time with 60 something ladies, or in the gym. The premise was so unrealistic and the book is poorly written. On top of all that this book was riddled with SO MUCH religion it should have been billed as religious fiction, not a mystery. The best part of the book was the first chapter after that it pretty much tanked. I am very glad i didn't pay for the others in the series, because I would have been very disappointed.

5Book

Design on a Crime (Deadly Dcor Mysteries, Book 1)

0/0

34 stars

Good in more than one way

I enjoyed the the many messages in this book.It kept you guessing as to who did the crime and why. The message of relying on God was good too. It didn't over preach but made you think about how things aren't always what you think they are.If you like a mystery that you don't solve in the first chapter, if you have faith, or if you are struggling with your faith, give this book a try.

5Book

Design on a Crime (Deadly Dcor Mysteries, Book 1)

0/0

34 stars

Design on a Crime

Good quick read. Just a fun book. Great to read if you are traveling you can finish in a short time

5Book

Design on a Crime (Deadly Dcor Mysteries, Book 1)

0/0

34 stars

Design on a Crime

Very, very enjoyable. Never knew what the work of a designer entitled, and enjoyed reading this book. Not as deep as Agatha Christie's mysteries, but definitely contemporary and entertaining.

5Book

Design on a Crime (Deadly Dcor Mysteries, Book 1)

0/0

45 stars

another great, light-hearted mystery! love this series!

i enjoyed reading this fun and light-hearted, "who-done-it" mystery. the characters are interesting and the plot was intriguing without being too serious or intense. this is well written and gives the reader a chance to gather the clues, along with the characters, to solve the mystery. light and entertaining!

5Book

Design on a Crime (Deadly Dcor Mysteries, Book 1)

0/0

45 stars

Fun fab

Hard to put down. I enjoyed the characters ver much the plot was fun and kept you intrest the whole hook.

5Book

Design on a Crime (Deadly Dcor Mysteries, Book 1)

0/0

12 stars

Disappointing read

This book reads like a too-long advertisement for Starbucks and God (in that order). I'm greatly annoyed by books that have a decidedly proselytizing bent and do not clearly identify themselves as such in the product description. Beyond this though, the book wasn't really enjoyable. The main character was a self-absorbed doormat and the people around her were caricatures. There really wasn't a mystery to solve along the way to keep the reader's interest. Just a lot of whining from the main character and then the wrap up. Definitely won't be picking up anything else in this series or by this author.

5Book

Design on a Crime (Deadly Dcor Mysteries, Book 1)

0/0

45 stars

Great murder mystery.

Lots of twists & turns. Didn't see what was coming next.Love mysteries that also have spiritual content in them.

5Book

Design on a Crime (Deadly Dcor Mysteries, Book 1)

0/0

34 stars

Enjoyable

I really enjoyed reading this book. I appreciated her Christian perspective. I was uplifted and found myself rooting for the main character to overcome.

5Book

Design on a Crime (Deadly Dcor Mysteries, Book 1)

0/0

45 stars

Truly enjoyed this book.

Would recommend this book to anyone. I just wanted to keep reading. The plot was very interesting from beginning to end.

5Book

Clinical Anatomy -- Churchill's Master Medicine series

5/5

34 stars

A good buy, but it doesn`t suffice on its own.

Well written, with a clear language, and the bonus of having the author making references to the relative importance of each section in a delightful way. It goes right to the point and focuses on the minimum amount of information possible without being too concise; it doesn`t spend paper on useless anatomic details, I guarantee you that! There is a good deal of pictures and schemes to accompany the reading and to make it understandable, but that doesn`t always happen and you sometimes can get lost trying to imagine in 3D the details that are being described. Therefore, one should accompany this reading with Netter or a good atlas, and I guess it will suffice for someone who wishes to hold a strong foundation of clinical anatomy. I hope that in a future edition, the author acknowledges this and inserts more pictures and schemes; I would rate it five stars then! Anyway, the book is extremely [priced] for a medical one, which makes it a good buy.I am a clinical years student, and I reccomend this book to all clinical students who require a fresh and concise brainwash of clinical anatomy without having to consult the big "bibles"..., or that didn`t like their anatomy course and/or the way in which it was taught and are eager to apprehend a modern, different prspective/approach to anatomy versus the classical one.

5Book

Clinical Anatomy -- Churchill's Master Medicine series

2/2

45 stars

This book rocks!

As a first year medical student, I've browsed through a lot of texts looking for a good middle-ground between excessive detail (with too much trivia) and excessive condensation (with too little explanatory information and ideas). I think Monkhouse, the author, strikes a near perfect balance in this regard. He very clearly points out the differences between need to know structures and nice to know structures, something which all too few books actually do, and which is frustrating to medical students, who are often in a time crunch. I would agree with the previous reviewer that the diagrams are not always sufficient by themselves, but don't let that hold you back. All you need in addition to this book is a good atlas, like Netter or Grant, which most medical students own, anyways. Another plus of this book is that it has a lot of questions, which provide feedback on how you're doing. All in all, this book rocks!

5Book

Clinical Anatomy -- Churchill's Master Medicine series

0/0

45 stars

my anatomy bible

I don't like big books. So any fans of Gray's Anatomy, big Snell or the big Moore should stop reading now. I like books that provide nuggets of information, the common points and leave me the option to look up more. This is not meant to be your only book for anatomy and it doesn't pretend to be. It should be your starting point and the last stop before the exam.Perhaps I was biased as Professor Monkhouse lectured at Surgeons while he was writing this book. The outline of the book follows the curriculum approach neatly. It got me through 2 years of weekly anatomy vivas and its holding me in good stead for the clinical years. Everyone should own a copy of this book.

5Book

Every Man's Challenge: How Far Are You Willing to Go for God? (The Every Man Series)

11.89

9/9

45 stars

Provocative and Challenging!!

Having had this book for some time now, I'd usually read a chapter a day, and other times, a few chapters. That's how it's set up, but the authors provide a great deal to think about, and if you read the whole book in one sitting or two, the reader might miss some important points.As it is, Arterburn and company has delivered what I'd considered a potentially explosive encourager to a man's walk with Christ. With many chapters dealing with intimacy, marriage, our walk with Christ, and temptation in its many forms, the questions at the end of each chapter are designed to provoke more than thought. More like action!!It's a fine book and highly recommended!!!

5Book

Every Man's Challenge: How Far Are You Willing to Go for God? (The Every Man Series)

11.89

4/4

45 stars

Worth Reading

I enjoyed this book. It has thought provoking questions at the end of the chapters that will test your mettle. The real question isn't how far you are willing to go; it is how real you are willing to be. If you are willing to be brutally honest this book will definitely challenge you. This is especially true if you are married as I found several of the chapters geared towards married men. It is still an excellent read, even for a single guy.

5Book

Every Man's Challenge: How Far Are You Willing to Go for God? (The Every Man Series)

11.89

0/0

45 stars

Highly recommend

Great for any man or mens group to go through. I went through this book with 6 other men and we all enjoyed it.

5Book

Every Man's Challenge: How Far Are You Willing to Go for God? (The Every Man Series)

11.89

0/1

45 stars

Must read.

I've read the "Every Woman's Battle" and that was an excellent book. I purchased this book for someone and believe that it is equally excellent based on the contents of the book.

5Book

Every Man's Challenge: How Far Are You Willing to Go for God? (The Every Man Series)

11.89

0/9

12 stars

Pass on this one

This is one of those psuedo-religious books that trys to take self-help, weak-mindedness and God's will and then throw it all together in a brew.I give it to the author that he is very straight forward and actually goes deep into the problems that plague men. But I didn't find it interesting and I wouldn't recommend it unless I had a really weak-minded friend.

5Book

Mr Men Uppity (Mr. Mens Books)

7/8

34 stars

Hargreaves: Bolshevik, Or Monarchist?

In the opening few pages of this, the 11th work in the Mr Man series, we are almost led to expect of Hargreaves a foray into dialectical materialism.We meet Mr Uppity with his top hat and monocle - a clear and overt representation of the bourgeois industrialist. Other arriviste trappings such as his long limousine and imposing townhouse further give the game away.In a thinly-veiled reference to the oppression of the workers by the ruling class, we are told that Mr Uppity is rude to everyone, and the detail that he has no friends in Bigtown explicitly informs us that the masses are on the brink of revolution. Are we about to bear witness to class war, Hargreaves-style? To see Mr Uppity brought to account by the revolutionary power of the proletariat? Vanquished and overthrown by the party of the workers?Not so. Mr Uppity is no Marxian analysis, no Leninist prescription for class action. As always, Hargreaves' inherent and essential conservatism comes to bear. His critique of the bourgeoisie comes not from the proletariat but from the feudal aristocracy. It is the authority of a king that places limits upon Mr Uppity's excesses, as his usurpation and arbitrary exercise of power has violated 'the natural order of things'. Hence the protection the masses are dealt in response to this transgression is paternal, and they receive it as subjects not radical agents of change.Being so staunch a traditionalist, Hargreaves of necessity is a reformer not a revolutionary. The King does not have Mr Uppity executed, imprisoned or even sent into exile. There is no state seizure and collectivization of his wealth, or in fact any redistribution at all. (Despite his pomp and grandeur, the King no longer has such powers - both the outward self-importance and ultimate weakness of his intervention appear little more than a face-saving exercise for his waning hereditary rule.)Rather, in the end it is the mildest of all regulation that is imposed upon the capitalist class. The ownership of the means of production remains the same, with no fundamental change to the economic base - just some superstructural tinkering to rein-in any overly brutal treading on the small man. The ruling class can do pretty much as it did before, as long as it says 'please' and 'thank you'. The aristocracy is duly appeased.Hence we arrive at the Britain Hargreaves lived in - a gently regulated capitalism coupled with sham aristocracy, maintained by our own collective nostalgia and a national lack of appetite for mass action.

5Book

Mr Men Uppity (Mr. Mens Books)

2/2

45 stars

Mr. Uppity

Mr. Uppity is the story of a man who thinks very highly of himself. But after visiting the goblin king, he begins to treat others nicely. A very funny book, great illustrations, and a wonderful story for all ages.

5Book

Holy Daring: An Outrageous Gift to Modern Spirituality from Saint Teresa, the Grand Wild Woman of Avila

11/11

34 stars

Spousal Prayer, Divine Intimacy

Tessa Bielecki is an unusual Carmelite nun, who styles herself a monk. She writes in uncomplicated, but not simplistic, language about her namesake Teresa of Avila and Teresa's experience of God as her spouse. The author opens this experience for the contemporary reader in such a way that one can regard it as a viable spiritual lifestyle for the lay Christian, single or married, male or female.In a text of little more than 100 pages, the book cannot be called profound and the author sometimes loses focus. But she presents enough material from Teresa herself to support her premise and she gives concrete, healthy guidelines for the spiritual seeker.

5Book

Holy Daring: An Outrageous Gift to Modern Spirituality from Saint Teresa, the Grand Wild Woman of Avila

4/4

34 stars

Paradox of Spirituality - Agony /Ecstasy

I am enriched and encouraged to live the Call of the King/His Majesty with passion and feeling as a woman. The author's connection to the foundress Saint Teresa the grand wild woman of Avila is light unto my path. I am left with the paradoxical prayer that is part of my life now and the ten universal ascetical practices that I dare to adopt one day at a time in my way of life. Thanks be to God and ALL be to His greater honor and glory.

5Book

Tour of Duty: 50 Inspiring Stories from Our Men & Women in the Armed Forces

7/7

34 stars

Tour of Duty

Milo James and Marie Rominger have put together an excellent collection of short stories about the men and women of our armed forces. I spent 25 years in the Marine Corps and could relate to many of the stories. The real life accounts in this book brought back many fond memories of places I have severed and the many friends that I made. Many of the stories reminded me of the war stories my father use to tell me as a small boy when he would recount to me his adventures during World War Two. The stories were all well written. As I read many of these real life accounts I felt in several cases like I was actually there with the service member reliving these events. As a former member of the military and a history buff I would highly recommend this book.

5Book

Tour of Duty: 50 Inspiring Stories from Our Men & Women in the Armed Forces

4/4

45 stars

Anytime Reading

Within the pages of this inspiring book are real life experiences of the people who make our country free. Few of us will ever be celebrities, but each of us has a story or two that is of interest to others.The first story in TOUR of DUTY grips the heart --trapped in an underwater tomb on December 7th, or the story of the Marine pilot out of ammunition heading straight for an oncoming Zero. Nail biters for sure. Yet, there are stories of compassion mixed with danger, and love of husbands and wives seperated by miles and dangers.The length of these stories makes it possible to read one during a bus or train ride, or when getting ready to fall asleep. The authors are kind to the reader--they exercise our minds and hearts at the same time, but in a manner that doesn't exhaust the reader.Encore.

5Book

Tour of Duty: 50 Inspiring Stories from Our Men & Women in the Armed Forces

4/4

34 stars

Riveting, timely, compelling

This is a really great read, especially with what's goin' on in the world right now. I admit I'm a pretty patriotic guy, but I loved reading about these "ordinary Americans in extraordinary circumstances" (as the introduction says.) Its fascinating to read the experiences of these guys (and gals) in their own words ... gives you goosebumps in some of them. It just made me more grateful than ever for our military and for being an American.My girlfriend got me the book for my birthday after hearing the author interviewed on the radio. She liked it just as much as I did. Dad's definitely getting a copy for father's day. Kudos to the authors for putting this collection together!

5Book

Tour of Duty: 50 Inspiring Stories from Our Men & Women in the Armed Forces

3/3

45 stars

Captures reality!

Short of actual service in the military, this book is the best, closest way for someone *existentially* to know and understand what it is like.Tour of Duty presents the most compelling - and readable - collection of narratives I have ever seen. Though someone who has not read the book may be put off by its military association, let me say that it is not militaristic triumphalism nor is it political in nature.The book captures the reality of military service in human terms, not just the surface-level fighting and weapons (as so often is the case). The relatively brief passages present the fullness of the human experience: from friendship to panic, from frivolity to horror, from sadness to joy.Through riveting narration, the reader actually enters into the stories. Their experiences become our experiences. Do not be surprised if you find yourself laughing out loud or crying when you read some of the stories. Their power is overwhelming-- because it is all so very real!But, much more than a wonderful emotional ride or a mere litany of personal experiences, the stories give the reader an insight into what these men and women in the service think and feel. From the humanitarian chaplain working with those in need, to the fighter pilot fighting for survival, we are given access to their common motivation: love of freedom, love of county, and a sense of service.Tour of Duty is not only a book that I can respect; it simply has become one of my favorite books!

5Book

Tour of Duty: 50 Inspiring Stories from Our Men & Women in the Armed Forces

2/2

34 stars

Dittoheads & nabobs of negativism both will appreciate this!

I'm a hardcore conservative, my wife a reluctant liberal (she's still hanging on for dear life, though, bless her heart), and we both loved this book. It shows the character of the people who consider patriotism and freedom important enough to back up w/ real sacrifices. I wish this were required reading for everyone.

5Book

Tour of Duty: 50 Inspiring Stories from Our Men & Women in the Armed Forces

1/1

45 stars

wonderful americans

who serve their country with honor and who would do it again....i love all the stories because they take you there....it makes me appreciate the military even more.....i would like to read more stories........hope there will be more tour of duty books.....................

5Book

GOVERNING HIGHER EDUCATION

0/0

45 stars

Classic text on university governance

This is really a foundational work on higher education governance. The introductory essay is a little flaky, but the core chapters focus on quite interesting governance questions in different countries. I learned a lot about structural and functional differences by jurisdictions. The concluding, comparative chapter is one of the best papers on higher education governance that I have ever come across.

5Book

The Silver Spoon

9/10

34 stars

The Woman of Property

The Silver Spoon opens with the introduction of Frances Wilmot, the brother-in-law of Jon. He arrives at the Mont house with a letter of introduction for Fleur. Fleur herself is occupied with her son Kit and her life as a leading social figure.It is that social life which is endangered in this book as an impoverished and slightly disreputable socialite (Marjorie Ferrar) makes a disparaging remark about Fleur as collector in a gossip column and sets off a storm. The fierce and public reaction of Soames leads to a libel suit being filed against Fleur and the issue of private morals is tried on the public stage. Fleur proves herself as stubborn as her father when a matter of principle is involved, and burns her own hands on changing public opinion.The character of Marjorie is an interesting one. In the first Forsythe trilogy, the agents of moral change are drawn very kindly and are actually the heros and heroines of the books. By contrast, Marjorie as the typical flapper is as repellant as she is energetic. She clearly represents the new world, but the approval that the book has for her is just as clearly mixed. Her honesty speaks in her favor, but she is also visibly shallow and capable of great careless cruelty. She seems to represent the accelerating decay of standards and values and as such offers as bad an option as the inflexibility of the earlier generation of Forsythes. At one point in the book, her kindly grandfather asks, "If your idea of life is simply to have a good time, how can you promise anything?" It is a question that the book seems to be posing of itself.The book is bound with "Passers By", an interlude in Washington in which Soames realizes that he, Fleur and Michael are in the same hotel as Irene, Jon and Anne.

5Book

The Silver Spoon

1/1

34 stars

~suckling on privileges~

The Forsyte Saga: A Modern Comedy, Book TwoQuite interesting how idioms travel through different languages for the expression of someone being born with a silver spoon in her mouth is the same in Russian language. The idea of it goes through the book, true for those born into privileged families and England herself, both not ready to admit that adjustments to the lifestyle are long due.This book concentrates on aspects of social and political life as related to Michael and Fleur Mont: his desire to aid England to fully use the resources of its vassal states; her desire to be the successful Lady in the eyes of the society. And people of the book, are still people: they smile to your face and gossip behind your back, and even if there is no strength to stand against them any more, some ideals must exist and young Michael finds support in wise people around him: in Soames, his father in law; his own father, and the author of "Foggartism", the novel theory of sending youth out of the country and to the farther reaches of the British Empire to live and work as the solution to end unemployment and ever expanding population rates.I give the book four stars only because I am not interested in politics ways, but even I have to admit that those parts were written in simple and engaging language and allowed me to dive deeper into life of England in the 20th century.Victoria Evangelina Belyavskaya

5Book

The Silver Spoon

0/5

01 star

same disappointment

story line not what I had expected. Rambling on about other people of the husband's family, and lost interest in the whole book.

5Book

Robin Hood and his merry outlaws,

0/0

34 stars

Superior retelling of Robin Hood

I sampled several versions of the Robin Hood stories before originally purchasing Howard Pyle's "The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood". Pyle is fine, but a bit too wordy and stiff for my taste.I found a used copy of McSpadden's "Robin Hood and his Merry Outlaws" which, though using similar archaic language, has been more conducive to light reading and reading aloud; for that reason it is probably a better choice for younger readers as well.(I would be interested to learn if there is a still better choice than McSpadden.)I give it 4 stars because, while I like the McSpadden's prose and the simple B&W; drawings by Louis Slobodkin are pleasant, the World Publishing Company (1946) edition itself, part of a "Classics to Grow On" series, is designed to be used and abused by children rather than grace a collection. (It appears there may be multiple versions published in '46, or at least different covers.)

5Book

St. Andrews Seven

8/8

45 stars

A book to challenge your soul

A pastor friend gave me this book a year ago. I started reading it on a recent trip and couldn't put it down. God used this book to challenge me to excellence in my study of the Bible, communicating God's Word to people around me, and the power of prayer. Don't miss another key point in this book: these believers studied, prayed, discussed and served together. Not only will St. Andrews Seven give you a snapshot of early Scottish Missions, it will also challenge you to live all out for Christ in fulfilling His Great Commission at the start of the new millennium. I highly recommend it and other biographies published by Banner of Truth (look it up on the web)and sold by Amazon!

5Book

St. Andrews Seven

8/9

34 stars

The rise of Christian Missions from St. Andrews University

The St. Andrews Seven chronicles the rise of an emphasis on overseas missions among several students at St. Andrews and their Professor. Then, as now, there were those who felt that the Christian faith was not academically respectable, yet these students were both accomplished scholars and men of faith. Their effects on the establishment of overseas missions and colleges, especially in India, and the rigors of student life, faith and politics at St. Andrews in the 18th century are an inspiration for students even today.

5Book

St. Andrews Seven

3/3

45 stars

Challenging, readable, and inspiring! Excellent work!

I just received this book a month ago for my birthday and have already read it twice! It has easily shot to number two behind Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret on my list of Ridiculously Awesome Books on the Missionary Task."Seven" is the story of six young students and their professor who were at the forefront of a season of missionary zeal in Scotland in the early 1800's. The book tells their story compellingly and succinctly, letting the profound testimony of these students lives leave you speechless. To give you a hint at the caliber of these students, one of them dies at the young age of 18... and the biography his friends write of him takes two volumes. How many of us at 18 had accomplished enough for a chapter in a biography, let alone a volume, let alone two volumes???Here's some quotes that hit me in the gut... maybe they'll whet your appetite and you'll go buy this book, read it, get convicted, and become a missionary:"They are a rebuke to those who never get past dabbling with the world-wide mission of the Church.""They also saw that faith must be personal, but its practice should not be private.""Our response to Christ's commands should be determined by what we can do in His strength, not by what we might fail to do in ours.""It is by dint of steady labour - it is by giving enough of application to the work, and having enough of time for the doing of it - it is by regular painstaking and the constant assiduities - it is by these, and not by any process of legerdemain, that we secure the strength and the staple of real execellence.""From seven to nine in the evening I am engaged with J. Urquhart in collecting, under specific heads, all possible information on the subject of missions, both from Scriptures, under the titles of precepts - prophecies - promises and examples, and from all other books whatever we can lay our hands on; the object of this is, with our united prayers, to seek a sober determination of the enquiry, whether or not we ought to embark on this enterprise." (From the journal of one of the students, John Adam)"Only one thing seemed to matter: to discover God's will and do it."

5Book

Leveraging Communities of Practice for Strategic Advantage

7.79

14/14

34 stars

A useful practical model

The book describes the introduction of a virtual community of practice, the Agents Network, at Clarica Life Insurance, Canada's first and oldest mutual insurance company. The book offers a practical and detailed example of the establishment, implementation and evaluation of the virtual community, with examples of the tools used by the project team at Clarica.The authors introduce the notion of communities of practice as a new strategy to leverage knowledge capital to create sustainable competitive advantage. By valuing communities of practice, by recognising the contribution of community members, and giving support for time and commitment) and providing an infrastructure (e.g. giving them a communication platform, active facilitation and information resources), the authors suggest that organizations can increase the speed of innovation and knowledge sharing.The Community Development Process Model (p.137) provides an excellent 'roadmap' to the approach they undertook that is readily understood. Practical suggestions and tools about evaluating the value of the community are also provided. There is a good combination of theory and practice and, therefore, something for anyone interested in this topic. It has a balance between high-level strategic models, and detailed and practical examples.The approach taken at Clarica was systematic and project-managed, with the organization playing a very active role in facilitating the conceptualisation, establishment, growth and expansion of the community. The organization obviously provided significant resources to undertake the project. Virtual communities of practice, like the one described in the book, clearly require strong organisational support and resources due to the technological infrastructure they require to be effective.The authors do not purport to provide a recipe - rather, they tell a story about the introduction of a virtual community of practice in one organization - as such, the book offers an in-depth view of the process. The questions asked at the end of each chapter are intended to challenge readers to assess whether the approach described would work in their own organization.Practitioners may be tempted to read more widely to find alternative approaches to developing communities of practice, and to select 'the best of the best'. The Clarica approach is only one way, but it does provide sound conceptual models that set the strategic context, as well as diving directly into the detail. There is a useful associated website.

5Book

Leveraging Communities of Practice for Strategic Advantage

7.79

2/2

45 stars

Excellent practical guidebook

While there are a number of books with marvellous content about the theory of communities of practice, this is the one that I go back to over and over again for practical, step-by-step guidance.I have used and recommended this book often. It is the manual I employed when I created my first formal community of practice in early 2004 - and that community is still going strong and growing, even though I am no longer working with that organization!

5Book

Leveraging Communities of Practice for Strategic Advantage

7.79

12/17

01 star

thick clotted prose

This book is comprised of the kind of writing Sockel calls "thick clotted prose". After decades of reading the clear, unadorned, precise and excellent English of The Economist, I have become intolerant of pretentious layered jargon. What, for example, does this sentence say, which could not be said in simple words: "The organization's objectives, responses, and business models should be calibrated on the basis of its capabilities." Perhaps it could have been: "Organizations should do things they are good at." If this thick clotted prose had coagulated into high scholarship, I might have bothered to read on. Alas, that was not the case. The authors write, in a gesture alluding to scholarship: "Evidence shows that customers are demanding clearer information from their solution providers..." What evidence? It was not given, nor references to studies showing it. Read this book to find out how not to write.Better still, get yourself a good book on this topic. See "Cultivating Communities of Practice" by Wenger at al., from Harvard Business School Press. Here you shall find lucid expression, good English, thorough endnoting and source documentation, and a comprehensive treatement of the topic.

5Book

Leveraging Communities of Practice for Strategic Advantage

7.79

3/4

45 stars

The Future is Here!

Hubert and Debra, thanks, you two have written a monumental work, but in such a humble and mater-of-fact manner. The more I read, the more I became frustrated with the title, because although the book is about the strategic nature of "Communities of Practice," it offers so much more. For the last thirty years, people have been trumpeting the `end of the hierarchy,' but without anything to put in its place. Know we know the future, and it is here!In Nonaka and Takeuchi's "The Knowledge Creating Company," there was the suggestive diagram of the "hypertext organization." It showed three layers, the hierarchy, the project team community and a third space, the knowledge community. A few years later Nonaka understood that this third space was what the Japanese call "Ba," a shared mental space. Is this not what you two are talking about in your "Reflective and Strategic - Communities of Practice?"Please write your next book as quickly as possible and reveal the key to the "culture of leadership," a phrase that got short-shrift. Revisit the earlier work you did at The Mutual Group around "values." I am convinced this, more than any number of memos, meetings and check lists, was what made it possible to accomplish what you did at Clarica.

5Book

Leveraging Communities of Practice for Strategic Advantage

7.79

0/0

45 stars

Very practical indeed

This book has proved very practical indeed with the developing of CoPs in our environment.

5Book

The End of Karma

14.00

31/32

45 stars

A Beautiful Guide for Choices to Enhance &Transform Your Life

Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D. writes deep wisdom in this book that can help you to become more aware and get in touch with your highest choices to eliminate any negative Karma in your life.Each chapter has a beautiful verse, or poem, and it is them followed up with an enlightening explanation that is deep enough to help you on a deeper level, and down-to-earth enough to help people who might be new and/or searching on a spiritual path.What I love about this book is that it helps you to get in touch with your Highest Self in a pure way. One of my favorite passages comes from chapter 12 "Going Deeper":I quote here: "Returning back to the theme of listening, this chapter tells us that by genuinely doing so, ignorant people can become wise, mere mortals can become Divine, and all creatures can transform themselves to become pure, as virtues arise in their hearts. Thus, God's love as manifested by His Will (which we hear by listening deeply) transforms ordinary folks with countless failings into saints and Godlike individuals who continually remain in bliss.It is also restated that listening eliminates errors from our life. And this is the beginning stage of a deep, lasting, and perfect peace."This book is undoubtedly a beautiful and needed contribution to uplift humanity.Barbara Rose, Ph.D. author of Stop being the String Along: A Relationship Guide to Being THE ONE and Know YourselfEditor, inspire! magazine

5Book

The wedding dress (Albatros Hispanofila ; 15)

1/1

34 stars

Amazing book from Nelson Rodrigues!

As all Nelson Rodrigues's books, this one starts as a comedy but finishes in tragedy. All the characters imperfections are completally exagerated, making a hillariouslly tragic story. Certainly one of the bests books by Nelson Rodrigues.

5Book

The wedding dress (Albatros Hispanofila ; 15)

0/0

45 stars

The most important Brasilian play!

Nelson Rodrigues is the most important Brazilian playwriter of all times and "Wedding Dress,The" is his most celebrated work. In this play, Rodrigues, a conservative and moralist author, flirts with the surrealism genre and made a complex panel about the feminine mind and its desire and fantasies of love. Maybe his most delicate and sensitive work, "Wedding Dress,The" is a great challenge for directors, actor and especially for actress. A must read for anyone who really appreciates a great play with universal theme and moral context.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

38/41

45 stars

A Very interesting book, worth reading.

Because my husband is a Homeopath, I came across this book and couldn't put it down. It really shows the different constitutional types, in the thinking and feeling processes. It's farely easy to find your own through reading the book, and shows how much of how we act in in our typing. I really enjoyed this information, and shared it with friends who also found great value in it. In the book "The Complete Guide to Homeopathy", there is a good test for quickly finding out your consitutional type also. Its a good combination book to go with this book. Thanks :-)

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

32/37

45 stars

In-depth, esoteric look at homeopathic consitutional types..

This book is primarily intended for the trained homeopath, not the layperson. It is an in-depth look at the more common homeopathic constitutional types. That being said, it's a fabulous book, filled with excellent information that the author gleaned from years of work as a homepath.Bailey provides detailed information on 35 major types, giving insight on diagnosis, mental and emotional traits, and physical characteristics. This book should really only be used by a trained and certified homeopath, but it does provide fascinating reading for us laypersons. Great book!

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

19/21

34 stars

Very Useful and Informative!

As a patient of a classical homeopath, I've found this book to be invaluable. As I move through the different constitional remedies in my healing process, I refer to the book often for a greater understanding of my process and the complexity of this type of healing. A must have for homeopathic patients!

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

23/27

45 stars

Facts and detail, but never dry!

A brilliant book! Every pupil should be given their own copy as a Rite of Passage at around 14 years of age and have to study one or two "types" per week such that the whole book would be covered in a year, and then this should be done every year whilst still at school. They don't have to learn anything about Homeopathy per se, only about people, and in so doing would develop more compassion and understanding of both themselves and others. This would beat any grounding in some of the modern subjects attempting to teach ethics/social behaviour/civics; half an hour a week in the curriculum and a couple of hours reading for a better balanced society! And it would be fun. The teenage pupils would realise that what's going on in their own minds is normal and would be able to understand their peers and elders far better for knowing what makes them tick! But this would probably be too threatening, especially for bureaucratic elders in politics and teaching, and here I'm thinking especially of kali-carbs amongst others! It would also teach the consequences of different behaviours, particularly of bad parenting and expose some dubious management practices for the perverted strategies they really are!This book is extremely well written and accessible to everyone, while still being of enormous help to the professional. The standard repertories are great for the material body, but now we are entering a different age and there is a dire need for the mental and emotional sides of man to be categorised, understood and, where necessary, healed. Catherine Coulter helped significantly to illuminate the path with her outstanding "Portraits of Homoeopathic Medicines" which I wouldn't be without, Whitmont has written some very interesting books, now I have another brilliant, practical perspective. Here is a practitioner who has studied people's behaviour and homeopathy and really understands it as a living science, based firmly on empirical evidence.A lovely book, a useful book, an accurate book, a fascinating book.Well done, sir! Thank you.Now let me get back to reading it!

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

12/13

45 stars

Excellent Insights

This book is a great back-up reference for aspiring or practicing homeopaths (or, truthfully, for anyone wanting better understanding of why some people act the way they do).I think the author is a great writer. He really paints full pictures of the various remedy types he covers.In reality though, I have found that no one is only one remedy type (constitution); people generally have a few "constitutions" that predominate. This is why not everything he says about a type is true. The profiles must be taken in holistically and intuitively, not as set in stone.The only "problem" I have with this author is his never changing doses of 10M. This is really bad advice!! I take the LM potencies -- 10Ms would not only jar my system, but they simply don't go deep enough or last long enough to bring cure. Hahnemann created the LM potencies specifically because 20% of his patients didn't heal all the way with the C potencies (M potencies are at the high end of the C scale). And even if a patient doesn't want to do the LMs, he may need a 200C or a 30C or who knows? But all patients, most certainly (!) do not "automatically" need or respond favorably to the 10M potency. Potency is a very, very individual thing (see Sankaran's work, or read Neil Tessler's interview with Divya Chhabra as two examples of the highly individualist nature of choosing the best potency for each individual patient).

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

15/17

45 stars

well done

This is a most interesting book that combines psychology with homeopathy. Philip Bailey describes indepth the personality profiles of some 35 polychrests. The last pages of the book cover a mix of psychological astrology and homeopathy when Philip Bailey explores the elements and some polychrests. This book is abolutely basic reading, together with the books by Catherine R. Coulter (that I still find better). You will be astonished how much can be said about 1 remedy.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

32/40

23 stars

Too much bias

After reading, I am not sure if this book is an objective description the constitutional types or a ranking of Phillip Bailey's personal favorites. It is easy to pick up on a theme that the author has some kind of personal problem with the idiosyncrasies of the majority of the consitutional types. He goes on and on about silica, sulphur and phosphorous which he loves and basically trashes most of the others. It comes off as very judgemental.He states with authority some concepts in here which are highly questionable. He states over and over that people can willy-nilly change constitutions, for any number of reasons, as they age. He also describes specific disease states as constitution types (e.g. tuberculinum). His thoughts on the "layering" of constitutions are muddled and leave you asking "does this guy think people really have a core constitutional type or not !?". When you start call the emotional state-of-the-day a "constitutional type" per se then that sort of waters down the concept of a constitutal type to nil doesn't it?I also was skeptical about the claimed "rarity" of seemingly not-too-uncommon constitutional types (e.g. a male pulsatilla). If fact the -constant- gender polarization is annoying and I think misguided. Am I the only one who thinks this author does not like women very much?Ok having aired my complaints, thanks to Phillip Bailey on addressing a subject in need with an interesting style. There are many intersting comments (and fewer facts) in the book. This is not a great book but I don't know of a better one on the subject.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

13/15

45 stars

Riveting!

When I first bought this book (on recommendation from my classical homeopath), I couldn't stop reading it! It gave me a wonderful perspective on the various remedies, as well as a new view of my own constitutional remedy. It was also very interesting to speculate on my family and friends' constitutional remedies based on what I read here. Further, I especially enjoyed reading the numerous amusing anecdotes from the author's own practice.My only quibble is that the author frequently divides the remedies into male/female manifestations, and the descriptions of the gender less often represented by the remedy can be terse (as a Tuberculinum woman, I was naturally hoping for more info on my type :).Highly recommended!

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

10/11

45 stars

Can't Memorize A Million Details - Buy this Book

His broad profiles of major constitutional remedies give the reader a good overall picture of the personality type and therefore ways of remembering facts about the archetype, by having a unifying theory for each remedy. This was extremely helpful as a student of homeopathy! And someone who seems to have lost the ability to memorize around the age of 25.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

12/14

45 stars

A very in-depth book about 35 constitutional remedies

This book has written out of the author's own practical experience and his deep descriptions makes the remedies types "come to life" in front of you.The very clear and thorough explanations and examples makes the 35 most commonly seen constitutional remedies highly understandable.You will not regret having this book!

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

2/3

01 star

Like the dad from Inception, I am disappointed.

I had hoped that this product would have abrogaded me from the morose, phallic ennui to which I have capitulated. However, I must bemoan that after reconnoitering its effects on my genitals I must conclude the surreal cacophony surrounding homeopathic products is nothing but malarkey.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

0/0

45 stars

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles

This book provides up-to-date information regarding psychological profiles when attempting to ascertain the most appropriate constitutional remedy. It is most comprehensive and well written in easy to understand language. An invaluable resource for natural/holistic healing.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

7/12

34 stars

the essences

After being trained in Greece by the master himself, Bailey has expanded on Vithoulkas's essences, giving a thematic overview of the mentality of each type-a useful project considering the mass of particuliars the practioner must know. It does not, as the title suggests, relate these mental states to the entirety of a person's being. Perhaps the closest comparison would be to Coulter and many of his descriptions differ from hers in a useful way, particulary with syphilinum. I guess this will have to do until Vit...'s publication of his entire materia medica vivus.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

0/1

23 stars

Fascinating Profiling

I found that this book was very interesting. It provides insight to the Homeopathic Psychology in profiling personalities. I had a difficult time trying to type myself. Perhaps it's hard to be objective. The only real complaint about this book is that only a Homeopathic can provide or prescribe the necessary "remedy". While I "believe" in Homeopathic Healing,I cannot afford to pay out-of-pocket for this service. Again, this book helps you see into the Homeopathic's profiling view, but you cannot directly help yourself with this book. It just gives you insight into the various "personalities".

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

1/3

01 star

Mental Illness is Serious. This Book is Not.

I have had close friends with serious mental illnesses. Their parents tried this book - and others like it - but it did nothing. The only way to treat mental illness is to see a qualified medical professional. I encourage you to do some further reading on the subject and refrain from purchasing this book.[...]

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

1/3

01 star

I took the remedies in this book, I still have autism

I bought this book and followed the remedies as constructed in this book. However, I am still autistic. I guess it must be the mercury in my blood. It turns out that the active ingredient in the treatment he gives, mercury, is diluted to the point in which it no longer can exist. Time for me to get chelation therapy...except that has also been disproven.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

1/3

34 stars

Understand others

A good book to help you to understand other people and how to relate to them in a meaningful way.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

1/6

45 stars

Homeopathic Psychology

As a Homeopathy student I have found this book extremely helpful as I thought it would be.Thank you for asking.Gloria:)

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

6/6

45 stars

Absolutely nailed it!

I was looking for info on a constitutional remedy and stumbled upon an online preview of this book. As 'luck' would have it, the preview had the chapter on the needed remedy in its entirety (though most other chapters were missing from the preview). I got what I needed, so I didn't really need the book anymore, but I was SO impressed that I ordered it anyway!I agree with the other reviewers - this book is hard to put down! I have nearly finished the whole book, even though most of the remedies did not apply to anyone I know. It is exceedingly well-written and details the subtle differences between the remedies. I especially liked how he mentioned other remedies in each chapter, further clarifying the differences between several remedies which might confuse the practitioner at first glance.I am absolutely blown away by this book! I'm not a practitioner, so I cannot comment on the accuracy of the info from a clinical perspective, but I can say that his descriptions were uncannily accurate, on the several remedies that matched my loved ones. I have a keen, personal interest in Homeopathy, and have read only a few books on constitional remedies, but so far, this blows them all away! By far the most in-depth Homeopathy book I've ever read!I was also impressed with the author's knowledge of and correlations with mythological archetypes, which proved very useful.If I may be so bold, I would venture to say that practitioners would find much of value in this book, even if they disagree with some of the author's observations.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

8/9

45 stars

Well-written and very interesting

This book is not geared for someone just learning about homeopathy. It is extremely well-written and keeps one peeled to the book. Definitely worth having for the practicing homeopath.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

6/7

45 stars

Life changing book

If I'd acquired this knowledge of personalities in my 20 my whole life would have been different. I would not have wasted my time and life and health on unavailable men like Tuberculinum, I would have made better choices regarding my own path and would not have judged myself so harshly for being who I am.This stuff should be taught in high schools, regardless of effectiveness, or not, of homeopathy.So much better than astrological profiling, way more accurate.Brilliant writing, concise and clear.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

3/3

34 stars

In Depth Reading

This is not an easy read for the average health nut. This is more an in depth study of personality types and remedies. A textbook to help practicioners better serve their clients.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

3/3

34 stars

interesting read

I'm not a homeopath, so I can not judge the accuracy of the descriptions of the constitutuonal types. I can say that the book drawns you into it and it really makes Homeopathy a living subject. But I wonder if Hahnemann would approve that a professional homeopath should limit his scope to the 35 constitutional types, described here.In the homeopathy, there are more than thousand remedies and each has a mental picture that could be your constitutional remedy too.But as a client of a classical homeopath, I can tell you that many professional homeopaths miss the clue when you only have slight mental complains and it's then that they fail to recognise the similimum. So I think that they should study the mental pictures more in detail and I belive that this book could be an asset.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

3/3

34 stars

Review of Homeopathic Psychology

While I would have liked a more clinical approach, this book has a lot of excellent information. For some of the constitutional types the author dsecribes, the descriptions are too general and vague, but even in those chapters, there is a lot of very useful information. I definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting a more in depth understanding of constitutional types.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

6/8

45 stars

The remedy pictures 'IN COLOR'

Very glad to have bought this great book. It is well written and provides vividly and in-depth the psychological pictures of major constitutional remedies. Complimentary reading to the Kent's Lectures on Materia Medica.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

1/1

45 stars

Worth its weight in gold

Having read the moderns from Vithoulkas to Sankaran, I can definitely say that this writer explains some common constitutions in more depth than anyone else. I have treated many of my cases that were 'stuck' for years just with this book alone. I wish I had come across it sooner. His longest chapter is on Natrum Muriaticum and I read it every day. This book needs to be part of the curriculum in homeopathy schools. The subtle details and the clues in body language are so helpful in the clinic. Thank you Dr Bailey for some really original contributions to the materia medica. I hope that in time you will add more information about other remedies although I am forever grateful for this book alone.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

1/1

34 stars

An insightful book.

This book highlights the way persons needing the remedies think and act and helps a lot in looking for traits, asking confirmatory questions or to differentiate between similar remedies. Although well written, I have stopped short of a five-star rating as only 35 remedies have been covered.

5Book

Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of Homeopathic Medicine

1/1

45 stars

Valuable information obtained

Homepathic Psychology gave me valuable information regarding my health and well being. It has provided me with answers to my many questions as who I am and why I am that person. GOTO: Homeopathic Psychology: Personality Profiles of the Major Constitutional Remedies @ AMZON.com

5Book

The Mission and Message of Jesus: An Exposition of the Gospels in the Light of Modern Research.

0/0

45 stars

THE CHALLENGES OF JESUS'S MISSION

The volume titled 'The Mission and Message of Jesus', is really a compilation of three masterful works from the 1930's that resonate today with a clarity that cannot be effaced although theological emphases have moved some way since it was first published in 1937 to a more conservative audience.H.D.A.Major is perhaps the least known of the three authors, and he sets the backcloth for his two colleagues with a sure footedness that immediately engages the reader's attention.In his introduction to this multi volume format, Major poses questions such as: Are the Gospels true History, and goes through 'Four Schools of Thought',starting with the 'Christ Myth School',attending to the 'Form Critical School' and 'the Jewish Prophet School' and succinctly delving into 'The Eschatological School' which concluded that Jesus was a peculiar Messiah driven by apocalyptic forces that consumed him.That discussion is closely followed by reflections on the death of Jesus, miracles in the Gospels, 'Two conflicting Tendencies in Gospel Criticism, before Major switches to the originality of Jesus and what he as a writer considers the snare of critical study.With his stall well and truly set out,Major sets himself the task of analysing the incidents in the Synoptic Gospels, starting with Mark and ending with Luke. Mark is the anchor text for this scholar, and the other twoGospels are used to record incidents not in the Markan narrative.T.W. Manson is given the responsibility of commentary on the Sayings of Jesus, in the Synoptics, dealing specifically with the hypothetical Source ,document Q,which reflects the teaching that is peculiar to Matthew and Luke and not dependent on Mark.Manson guides us through the problems of theology and Christian ethics in his introduction folowing the fast track to the History of Tradition and itssources.Such was the enduring impact of this study, that it was re-issued as stand-alone book in 1949.The third work by C.J. Wright is Jesus:The Revelation of God, and deals exclusively with the Gospel of John,'where the Jesus it portrays is in some respects different from the Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels'(p.643).Wright sheds light on the problems raised by the Fourth Gospel, including its literary structure in a fine introduction.He firmly believes that the Johannine author shows a deep conviction that Jesus's mission was a spiritual journey and it was the crowds who flocked to see him preach misunderstood his potent message.Mining the text for semitic and Greek nuances, Wright also pays heed to symbolism and the dramatic Allegory of the Scene at Bethany, John 11:17-32(p.841). He carries on this dependence of interpretation by stating that in John 19:31-37, the Fourth Evangelist's mind-set allegorised the blood and water from Jesus's pierced side on the cross to suggest the innate symbolism that flowed from the lifegiving redemption from sin (p.931).C.J. Wright ends with this Gospel's postscript, that pedantically observes that all the books in the world assembled,could not contain the revelation of Jesus.Yes, this threefold volume by authors dedicated to inspire readers with the names of Major, Manson and Wright appended cannot hope to live up to this billing; but approaching the Fourfold Gospel from their various theological uncertainties they have provided a path that we might follow to our spiritual enrichment.

5Book

Azerbaijan, 2nd: With excursions to Georgia

0/0

34 stars

Good but needs an update

This book was very helpful while I was in Azerbaijan but some things desperately need to be updated. I only spent a couple weekends in Baku but the streets are changing all the time. We were unable to find three of the Chinese food restaurants and the one we finally did eat at wasn't listed. The snippets on the towns in the outlying regions could definitely be added to as well. All in all it still is the best guide on the market.

5Book

Azerbaijan, 2nd: With excursions to Georgia

0/0

34 stars

The best available

As other reviewers have noted, the hallmark of this book is that we frequently met Azeri travellers either armed with it or knowledgable about it. Some mentioned, and we agreed, an update is needed regards restaurants and hotels in Baku which come and go with disturbing frequency. But, really, the humour of the writing, and the lovely drawings, make this a special treat. We did encounter a writer updating the notorious Lonely Planet Guide, in Polish only though. Elliott gives the impression of having walked everywhere he describes. It is worth warning that, though English is on the increase in Baku, and regional centres especially with young people, Turkish in the south and Russian in the north are the more widespread second languages. And, taxi drivers, given the just mentioned language issues, are a very great challenge especially in Baku. Really they are the only negative I have about the place. Beyond Quba and heading into the high country is stupendous, even if you are not a hiker.Xinaliq is an amazing village, and there is now a shop, the road to it is bitumenized, and as I write a new consolidated school should be open for business. The teachers there can help with English. I also rate Zaqatala higher than the author. Coming across from Georgia's poverty-stricken villages, this immaculate town was astonishingly ordered and cared for. But in this regard, it was to prove exceptional in Azerbaijan. Lahic was lovely, as was Ilisu; Shaki less so, though we wished we'd booked ahead for a bed in the great caravanserai. Elliot's book seems at times like a promotional exercise for the tourist board, if such a thing exists in the country, and has a leaning towards a perceived audience, the considerable expat community in Baku for reasons to do with its oil industry. Here, hundreds of BMWs and Mercedes flourish with almost disgusting indifference to the real poverty on the footpaths, the suburbs and those regional towns and villages.

5Book

Azerbaijan, 2nd: With excursions to Georgia

0/0

45 stars

Packed With Info, Yet a Lively Read All the Way!

Mark Elliott's guidebook is more than the bare-bones "here's where you can stay and eat" sort of volume. Sure, he gives you all of that necessary information (prices, best value, etc.) but the true worth of this book lies in the pleasure reading it. Let's face it: If you're not planning on visiting a certain destination, you'd never pick up, much less buy, a guidebook on that locale. But Mark writes very well, with a sure-handed knowledge of the history and cultures that he comes across, and effortlessly works it into his background descriptions. The book is actually fun to read, and I suspect that if Richard Burton (not the actor!) were alive today, he'd pretty much be writing the same sort of thing. Don't know if I myself will ever make it to Azerbaijan, but I came away from reading this book -- actually reading! -- feeling like it's one of the places I'd really like to see in this world.Baku or bust!

5Book

Azerbaijan, 2nd: With excursions to Georgia

16/17

45 stars

Best Travel Guide to Anywhere!

I picked up this book shortly before I left to come to Azerbaijan for a year. It has been my constant companion while living in Baku (the capital) and in making countless excursions out of the city. Having been here almost a year, I can safely say it's the best travel book I've ever read for any place. It is delightful to read and its author's warm and quirky sense of humor make it a constant source of entertainment.Perhaps the best recommendation for this books comes not just from the many expatriots who rely on it, but from the native Azeris who are astounded at how well Mark Elliott (native of UK) knows their country. Azeris are famous for assuming (perhpas rightly so) that the rest of the world knows nothing about their country. So, when Azeris recommend a book about their country, written by a foreigner, it is a pretty good endorsement.By far the best aspect of the book are the scores of maps and illustrations--all done by the author. As a trained geographer, I appreciate the excellent maps loaded (almost overloaded) with information. They are easy to read maps that make it difficult for the traveler to get lost. I am particularly impressed by how a map can simultaneously accurate and amusing! My favorite entry is the map of the fascinating town of Quba that includes "Old Men" sitting in the park. Damned if they weren't still sitting there. On another map, the author suggests looking for grey beards at the point where you're supposed to make a particular turn. Sure enough, there they were.Living in Baku, my family and often make use of Elliott's recommendations for restaurants. Of course restaurants come and go, but the information is nearly always accurate and detailed.My eight-year-old son and I have enjoyed taking his "scavenger hunt" for artistic architectural oddities in the city. I think we've now found all the objects in the second edition, but a third one is already on the drawing boards.Mark Elliott has a delightfully respectful attitude towards Azerbaijan and the Azeris. This is different form many travel books (Including the Lonely Planet Guide to the South Caucasus) which often take on a preachy attitude which tends to poke fun at the local cultures rather than respectfully describing them as Elliott does.In addition to being a good travel book, this book also is a worthy source of information on the country for anyone interested in learning about it.Having lived or traveled extensively in over fifty countries I can recommend this book most highly.

5Book

Azerbaijan, 2nd: With excursions to Georgia

8/8

45 stars

The travel bible that makes Azerbaijan accessible/enjoyable

Before this book there was nothing written at all to help people travel around, enjoy and get a cultural understanding of this place. But thanks to this guide, a lot of us that thought Azerbaijan was goint to be an oil-hardship posting have discovered that it's a really beautiful, varied and incredible place. The book is stuffed full of maps and little pictures. Even shows sketches of bus stops where you need to turn (there aren't many road signs) and has pages and pages of food words which has helped us venture into some of the non-expat restaurants. The title is Azerbaijan with Georgia, but the Georgia section is relatively small - again lots of maps, but seems to be included just for people going there on weekends from Baku. The Azerbaijan sectin - the overwhelming majority - is very comprehensive. I heard that a Lonely Planet book for the Caucasus is coming out later this year, but it's hard to imagine that it would really compete - has to cover three countries. I would suggest that anyone coming to Baku / Azerbaijan seriously considers getting this 'bible' before they come - it is difficult to find a copy here in Azerbaijan.

5Book

Azerbaijan, 2nd: With excursions to Georgia

10/11

34 stars

Topical, relevant, useful travel guide; Spring 1998

In the style of "Lonely Planet" guides, this recent book is worth its weight in gold to help take the apprehension out of travel in the South Caucasus. Full of useful information balanced between travel logistics (travel modes, accomodation, money and eating), country history and today's culture, this book not only lists the tourist's highlights of the two countries, but also the pitfalls to avoid in searching them out, as well as a selection of quirky oddities for those who tire of museums and cathedrals. The book's maps are highly useful.Intended as a guide to Azerbaijan, the section on Georgia is a serviceable, useful bonus. A similar detailed guide to the equally fascinating country of Georgia begs to be written!(Be sure to read the book before you visit AND to bring it with you. And don't forget your recording walkman for the amazing sounds of Georgia.)

5Book

Azerbaijan, 2nd: With excursions to Georgia

7/8

45 stars

A Must-have for Azerbaijan

If you're going to Azerbaijan you must have this book - in fact, several companies issue this book to their international staff here. It is extremely comprehensive and thorough and very accurate (though there have been some changes). As someone that has lived in Azerbaijan for the past year and a half, I continue to be impressed with this book and have relied on it many times. It is an essential guide to exploring Azerbaijan - a country that has a lot more to offer than most would expect. Buy this (and avoid the Lonely Planet one - it does a really bad job for Azerbaijan!).

5Book

Azerbaijan, 2nd: With excursions to Georgia

6/7

45 stars

There's a new edition on sale that doesn't seem to show up!

As the author I'll leave it to others to comment on this book, but I'd like readers to be aware that there IS a new edition which has been available since 2001. It has over 140 maps and although the 'with Georgia' was dropped from the title, it retains plenty of coverage on that nation, though still focussing on Azerbaijan. There are reviews on the amazon.co.uk website if you can't find them here.Enjoy Azerbaijan!

5Book

Azerbaijan, 2nd: With excursions to Georgia

3/3

45 stars

Azerbaijan with Georgia

This is a great guide book, I wish they were all this good. But there is a new edition, with more maps and information. Just as excellent. Mark gets down to great detail in both editions. If you are on a tight budget this first edition will work great for you. Azerbaijan is a great place to visit!!

5Book

Azerbaijan, 2nd: With excursions to Georgia

2/2

34 stars

learn and laugh

Great book! Clearly written by someone who loves this country. My wife is a native of Baku learnt and laughed about her native country. Culturally savy and sensitive.

5Book

Azerbaijan, 2nd: With excursions to Georgia

4/5

45 stars

Practical but loving

This is a travel guide with all the practical details you'd expect from a series like Lonely Planet, but with more soul and many more maps. If you go to this part of the world, make sure you have this book.

5Book

Azerbaijan, 2nd: With excursions to Georgia

3/4

45 stars

Sertainly useful

This book can be of a great use for the travellers, expatriots moving to Azerbaijan or for those studying different regions/cultures. I enjoyed reading it!

5Book

Azerbaijan, 2nd: With excursions to Georgia

2/3

45 stars

This book is amazing!

This book has more information than you could possibly imagine. It was written for both tourist and foreigners living in Azerbaijan. Be sure to pre-read as much as you can and take it with you, as you will refer to it over and over again. It's loaded with maps and useful information about history and current events. As well as local customs and day-to-day information that is very handy for foreigners who are stationed in Baku and can't seem to find the shoe repair shop. It's an invaluable source of information.

5Book

The Third Millenium

6/6

34 stars

my impressions of this book.

The authors of this book, while not getting every little nuance of the future correct (I am writing this 12 years after the book was published and have read it several times, the first time 4 years ago) have presented a very plausable and believeable future that people can look forward to. This story of the future is not glorious like star trek, or bleak like the road warrior. It is the story of humans learning and fumbling there way through life, as they have always done. It is the most believeable picture of the future I have read even though it is so old. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in what challenges lie ahead for us, and how we will respond.I have often wondered if the authors will update the book, including new findings and ensights, but have not heard anything yet. enjoy!!I can be reached an proc@pacbell.net.

5Book

The Third Millenium

5/5

34 stars

An amazing future history! But progresses much too slow...

Unlike many books in this genre, "The Third Millennium" succeeds in conveying the illusion of a real historical account. In fact, this is the only book I've ever seen which truly deserves the name "a fictional future HISTORY".The steady progress from the turmoiled 21st century to the utopia-like 30th, is portrayed with incredibe realism and vividness. If I'd want to give this book a rating solely as a work of fiction, I would have given it 6 stars...But "The Third Millennium" is not a mere work of fiction. As the authors point out on the back cover, it is a serious attempt to portray a realistic future of the real World. And in this respect, the book suffers from one fatal flaw: In terms of absolute dates, the progress of events is agonizingly slow.A few events and their dates would make this complaint clear. In this book, fusion energy is harnessed only in 2054 AD, and becomes dominant near 2180 AD. Genetic engineering in humans begin after 2227 AD. Unmanned probes to nearby stars, powered by nuclear fusion, are launched only in the 26th century...Very slow indeed.A more understandable glitch is the failure to predict the fall of the USSR. In this book, the cold war continues well into the 22nd century.Since no one in their right minds thought in 1985 that the USSR is going down in the near future, I do not hold this particular mistake against the authors. But the agonizingly slow progress of technology in their scenario is something I will not forgive that easily.It is this sluggish pace of progress is what turns this book from "a perfect masterpiece" to "a great idea ruined by one bad call".And what a masterpiece it would have been! After all, there aren't many works that get a rating of 4 stars after being ruined, are there?

5Book

The Third Millenium

2/2

23 stars

A thousand years of history...

...that should have happened within only a few hundred years. Scientific development, political trends, changing social issues and even developing philosophies happen so slowly in this book, that you wonder why the cockroachs haven't taken over by the end of the book!Lets skip the fact that the English used in the book should be totally different by the end of the 30th century.But the book is FULL of interesting ideas and details about the future and, if not taken too seriously, should be enjoyable.

5Book

The Third Millenium

0/0

45 stars

An interesting view of the future

A different kind of science fiction book. What will the next 1000 years of the future look like? Written in the mid 1980's, it ventures a fairly optimistic view of the future after some rough spots. Some neat concepts and ideas.Here we are 12 years into the next millennium and some predictions weren't so accurate. Others are still evolving. Interestingly, I think the Internet/Web was totally missed. Right now it is the center of innovation, imagination and information sharing for the modern world. I wonder what the center of attention will be in the next 20-50 years or later?The concepts and ideas presented by the authors tend to be slightly green oriented. But, if we are to have a future, maybe that is the way we must go to make it. Fun reading. Neat drawings and Photoshopped images.

5Book

The Third Millenium

2/4

34 stars

An Interesting Look At The Next 1000 years of Human History

I originally picked this book up back when it was published in 1985. Stableford and Langford have put together a futuristic history book looking backwards from the year 3000 A.D.The book it broken out in sections that cover 200-300 years of time. For example, the years 2000-2190 are called The years of Crisis, as civillization is taken to the brink of conventional, nuclear and biological war. The predictions are presented like news articles. They cover global events, economic stituations, entertainment, and medical advances.Its interesting at some of the future concepts that the authors posed back in 1985 in retrospect of the present."The Third Millenium" theorizes that more 3rd world-like countries will have nuclear weapons. Countries like Brazil, Argentina and Iraq or all places will have nuclear weapons. Its interesting, since when the book was published, Iraq was friendly toward the United States. In no way could the authors predict the current world situation.Same goes for medical situations in 2050 A.D. as a AIDs-like virus is prevalent and cured in the span of 10-20 years. AIDs was still relatively unknown when the book was published.Later centuries cover the "Age Of Recovery", as civillization start to merge into one world governments, and strides are made in peace and prosperity. The UN is speculated as contributing a large role as the peacekeepers of the world and humanity.The final three centuries deal with "Age Of Transformation", as science prevails in curing most diseases, discovering immortality, to creating new life-forms.The approach takes on that no other intelligent "alien" life has been dicovered, implying that perhaps we are alone in the universe.I did, however, have a problem with the Christianity bashing the authors sprinkle in their book.The year 2000 has come and gone. Christ hasn't returned, so people have lost their faith in Christianity. They discover that religion is just pablum for the masses, which in this day and age after Sept 11th, is the direct opposite. Stableford and Langford selve Christianity with Maxisim, saying they are both doomed belief systems. In their universe, in the 1000 year span they cover, Christ has never returned. So therefore if Chist never returns, then Christianity is false. I couldn't disagree more with that assumption. If they disagree with the bible that is one thing, but at least know about your subject matter before making an attempt to invalidate it. Jesus never gave a date when he would return. "I will come like a thief in the night" he said. Do you know when a thief will strike your house? No, I think not.

5Book

The Third Millenium

1/5

12 stars

Frightening portrayal of the future

The first time I read this book was for a social studies project in ninth grade. At the time, I found it disconcerting for its view that religion and traditional values are futile, and that humanity will eventually become God-like in its ability to surmount nature. Looking back now from the perspective of another ten years of education - I can see that this book is a late 20th century manifestation of the deterministic narrative of perpetual progress through reason alone that was perfected by Hegel, Toynbee and Marx in the last century. History has shown that human progress is not always inevitable, and that both traditional values and religion are resilient in the face of change. Jefferson believed we would all be Unitarians by the second American century. Evangelicalism is on the rise in America in the early 21st century. All in all, this book is interesting but frightening - if only for what it says about the "progressive" movement's grand design for humanity.

5Book

Memories Of Opportunities, Family And Adventures

1/1

45 stars

Continue the saga of Inge as she emigrates to the U.S.

Those that enjoyed the first book in the two part series will enjoy her experiences as she immigrates to the U.S. and encounters a world entirely different from that of war-time and post-war Berlin. A fascinating book and highly recommended !

5Book

Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee

12.08

0/0

45 stars

Thank you Chris Van Dusen!

We checked out one Chris Van Dusen book (A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee) at our local library and wanted more. We love his "retro" illustrations and his clever rhymes. Our kids ask to read this book over and over again. It is a cute story, told and illustrated well.

5Book

Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee

12.08

0/0

45 stars

MaGee and Dee, forever with me

This is a beautiful book with Seussian rhyming text, and appeals to children of all ages, and young boys in particular. The rhyming text helps children who have difficulty reading stay engaged. There is so much to look at in the illustrations, and grownups interested in the color palette and trappings of the 1950s will find all of Van Dusens books welcome additions to their children's book library. This one will never go in the giveaway pile - you'll want to keep it forever.

5Book

Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee

12.08

0/0

45 stars

LOTS OF FUN

This book is so much fun. The rhymes make it fun to read over and over, and the illustrations are absolutely incredible corner to corner. The story is so cute. Not too long, not too short. We love it and also purchased Camping Spree W/ Mr. Magee and that too is a must have! Chris Van Dusen did not disappoint!

5Book

Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee

12.08

0/0

45 stars

Hooray for Mr. Magee!

We bought this book for our (...) son for Christmas. Mr. Magee's first adventure (A Camping Spree With Mr. Magee) has been a favorite of ours for 2 years and his newest adventure quickly became another favorite! The rhymes are so catchy and the story so simple yet we can't seem to get enough of it, and we can't wait to see what sort of crazy situations Mr. Magee and his little dog Dee will get themselves into next.

5Book

Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee

12.08

0/1

34 stars

Great nostalgic illustrations

My kids ages 3 to 6 liked this book very much.They like this read to them and they like to read it over and over. They are always looking for new things in the detail of the illustrations. We also have Camping spree with Mr. Magee which is equally good.

5Book

Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee

12.08

0/2

12 stars

Nice Book but

Nice book for children but the print is Way too small. There is plenty of room to make the print a little larger.The first thing my 7 yr old Daughter said was "the words are too small".I'd give this book 5 stars if not for that.

5Book

Down to the Sea with Mr. Magee

12.08

16/16

45 stars

A Fantastic Book!

You'll be amazed at just how vivid and bright van Dusen's pictures look in this unexpected treat. The colors seem to jump off the page. Add that to some super-detailed work (especially his splashes of water), multiple perspectives, and purposive lack of shading, and you have a kind of magical realism that recalls the best of Pixar animation. Yet van Dusen paradoxically evokes a decidedly 50's retro setting and style in his neon-bright gouache illustrations.This is a fun all-rhyming story that quickly engages the reader. Mr. Magee and his dog Dee decide to go to the sea. Soon,"they suddenly spied off the bow to the eastA big pod of whales (there were fifty at least!)"When a "little whale" (it's huge) playfully blows them 50 feet up in the air with a blast of water, the boat lands on the top of a huge tree. Their surprising rescue takes the book to its happy conclusion.Van Dusen's uniquely bold colors and old-fashioned sensibilities combine wonderfully, and the rhyming story flows smoothly with its enthralling pictures and subtle wit. A great book for elementary school age kids (and anyone else, really) to look at and read aloud; I recommend it very highly!

5Book