This book was the first to teach me to associate colors with words. It is so wonderful, I buy it for each of my friends' children when they turn 2.

To my surprise this book has been my sons favorite since he was 10 months old! The illustrations are quite appealing. Although he does not understand the concept mixing colors, this book has helped him learn colors and he will identify concepts in the real world that he learns from the book. Pretty good for a one year old. This book is a big hit.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

For some reason, when I was younger, I found this book sitting on my bedroom shelf, untouched. Over the years, i've read this book many, many times and every time I read it - it amazes me. This book is simple and sweet...like a cozy home in the snow. It provides all the essentials needed for a realistic book. Lou Emma has a wonderful family, although frequently feeling less accomplished than her smart, outgoing younger sister. She also deals with her boyfriend, and of the uncertainty of their relationship. She also deals with teachers, parades, woman rights, and so much more! :) I would recommend this book to any person in this entire world - thats how great I think it is. But don't misunderstand me, it's not a long classic like THE TALE OF TWO CITIES or somehting..it's a simple short to the point book that everyone will enjoy.. I hope you enjoy it!

I really related to this book when I was young. Lou Emma deals with sibling rivalry, first crush, and learning to be your own Woman...all in the early 1900's, but it correlated to my life in the 1980's so well. I love this whole series of three!

A hot topic covered by someone who really knows the business. Tells the whole story, including the challenges. The complex topic of privitization is detailed and thought provoking. Takes the topic of international business to new depths.

I enjoyed Miller's book because it examines privatization from a business perspective rather than the usual view of government agencies and multilateral organizations. He clearly describes the relative risks and rewards of dealing with former government owned firms and the strategies that produce the best results.

Elizabeth Miller's latest book is a welcome relief for people like myself who are continually annoyed by the unsubstantiated theories and just plain incorrect facts that have (and continue to be) passed off and have become generally accepted as "facts" over the years. In Dracula: Sense And Nonsense, Miller (to use her own words) "...challenges dozens of errors and misconceptions about Bram Stoker and his famous novel..."

The book is divided into five main chapters which cover: the sources for the novel, Stoker's writing of his classic, the novel itself, the geography covered in the book and Vlad the Impaler. A sixth chapter covers the strengths and weaknesses of other (non-fiction) books that deal with the novel Dracula in some form (bios of Stoker, studies of the novel, etc.) Each chapter is also extensively annotated.

In each of the first five chapters, Miller quotes an error or misconception surrounding the chapter subject, gives the source for the quote and then presents her evidence as to why the quote is "poppycock" (one of my favorite expressions used in the book).

Ms. Miller sprinkles some welcome humor into the book with her initial reaction(s) against given quotes. Also, you can tell that every explanation was carefully and thoroughly researched. One comes away with an immense respect for the time, effort and thought that she put into presenting her case. Her writing is succinct and scholarly, although never written above the heads of her readers.

To truly appreciate the importance of this book, a little explanation is in order. Bram Stoker kept an incredibly comprehensive record concerning the origins and sources for the writing of Dracula, many times known as his "working notes and papers". These notes were discovered in the Seventies. Thus, to establish any true facts concerning the novel, one need only look at the novel itself and Stoker's notes. Any information or "facts" that do/did not make use of these notes (since their discovery), can truly only be considered theories or assumptions.

In debunking the myths and errors related in her book, Miller uses Stoker's notes as her evidence. If the proof for one of the quoted "facts" cannot be found within said notes, Miller (correctly) identifies it hearsay, improbable, misinformed, or just plain incorrect.

Of the many inaccuracies Miller corrects, perhaps no other will cause more controversy than her severing the ties between the fictional Count and the real-life Vlad Tepes. According to the author, Stoker merely borrowed the name Dracula and any statement of fact that Stoker based his vampire Count (or even had much knowledge) on the bloodthirsty Vlad is irresponsible. Many more deep-seated, but less shocking assumptions and beliefs will likely be shattered by this book.

This won't be an easy book for many devoted fans of the novel. Old established beliefs can be hard to shake and many may simply dig in their feet and refuse to accept Miller's rebuttals. But serious fans of the novel owe it to themselves to give this book a reading. Miller only presents the best possible evidence: what Stoker himself wrote concerning the origins of his book. If it isn't in the notes, where's the proof?

With all the fiction masquerading as fact in the world of Dracula studies and the unsubstantiated rumors about what Bram Stoker knew and didn't know, Miller's book should be required reading for any "serious Dracula scholar." There is much unreliable information about the novel "Dracula" and its author and Miller's book is about questioning the assumptions of many of the most relied-upon "Dracula" works. Miller argues that there is an "anything goes" attitude toward "Dracula," as though the novel is not worth serious consideration. She contradicts this argument and manages (with much humor) to weed through many popular misconceptions and trace them to their sources, refuting them most convincingly. From the idea that Dracula cannot walk around in daylight to the notion that Stoker's novel was inspired by a nightmare to the belief that Stoker based many elements in his novel on actual people and places to the linking of Count Dracula and Vlad Dracula, Miller explores a wide variety of mistakes, rumors and misleading statements. Miller points out that a statement of fact regarding the novel, or its author, requires proof to support it. Her's is the scientific approach to Dracula studies: if it isn't in Stoker's Notes, you have to prove it some other way. If you cannot do this, you should not state an argument as a fact. Bravo! Through more than two hundred pages, Miller takes us on a journey of discovery and we find that anyone researching information about Dracula must be aware that the source they rely on may be riddled with inaccuracies. With a copy of Miller's book at your side, however, you can approach these sources with a critical eye and avoid perpetuating the nonsense. This is a wonderful book, extremely well researched and a great resource for anyone interested in "Dracula."

This book is an incredibly charming read, made even better by the beautiful pictures. I enjoyed it so much that I have given several copies of this book to friends and family. When I grow up (?), I want to be an archaeologist!!

Thank you, Naomi Miller, for giving me many evenings of pleasure.

Amazon.com had a mistake in the listing (since corrected) which prompted me to write and take the opportunity to transmit what my friends say about the book (I, of course, would be too prejudiced to write my own review):

One of the people pictured in the book wrote to me: "Thanks a million for your wonderful book. I've just spent a while taking refuge from a grumpy evening by flipping through it, pausing to read about the parts of your life I don't know. How wonderfully generous of you to enshrine us like this, with such precise evocation of time, space, foolishness & purpose."

Another friend wrote:"Your lovely book of drawings and watercolors arrived yeaterday. [We] were immediately entranced by the images and text--such an amusing, informative down-to-earth description life on the dig. The watercolors are really wonderful, but I've always known that.... I had never seen the Shiraz bazaar or Malyan village scenes. Then there are all the pals: ...--they evoke such memories! Is that Dash, the Wonder Dog, on the back cover? Remember, he had a "thing' for you, invading your bedroom with his cargo of fleas! And there he is, wagging his tail at your photograph. Plate 16 is a sweet rendering of my favorite view of Yassihöyük. The Euphrates views are as close as I ever need to get to that old river. Finally, I love all the little sketches scattered throughout--especially the birds and animals. Thanks again for the originals, which I treasure, and thanks for the book. ..."

And another friend wrote: "...Your book is wonderful: your narrative is a delight to read and you know how much I admire your watercolors--each is exquisite w/ great sureness of line, balance of composition pacing & repetition that makes a whole of the multi-paneled ones, and of course great use of colors to die for. I love them! I am lucky to have seen many in incomparable person but there were some that were new to me--the luminosity of the originals and your wonderful backlighting were undiminished in reproduction. Of course we love best of all discovering new things in the plates with each reading.
Congratulations in getting your book out. I am so happy that everyone else will get to share in the pleasure of looking at them.
Thank you again, I am most proud to possess a copy so wonderfully inscribed!"

I won't bore you with the rest of the rave reviews!

In the first half of this book, Dr. Miller carefully goes through how Graeco-Roman people in late antiquity thought about dreams: where they thought dreams came from, how they interpreted them, and how they used them. The second half of book is a set of five essays about specific individuals from late antiquity whose dreams have been recorded and preserved. These dreamers are: Hermas (of "The Shepherd of Hermas"); Vibia Perpetua, a young aristocratic women executed on the charge of being Christian; Aelius Aristides, author of the "Sacred Tales"; Jerome, translator of the Bible, a pivotal figure in the history of Christianity; and the "two Gregorys", Gregory Nazianzen and Gregory of Nyssa, both bishops and leading theologians of the fourth century. In all five essays, the themes of religion and spirituality play heavily; indeed, in the late-antique Graeco-Roman world, the essential relationship between dreams and spirituality was self-evident. This fascinating, superbly researched, and well written book really gives the "taste" of that period in history, especially because dreams are such an intimate aspect of the human being. This book would be of immense interest to anyone interested in the late-antique Graeco-Roman world, as well as to anyone interested in the relationship between dreams and spirituality.

In the first half of this book, Dr. Miller carefully goes through how Graeco-Roman people in late antiquity thought about dreams: where they thought dreams came from, how they interpreted them, and how they used them. The second half of book is a set of five essays about specific individuals from late antiquity whose dreams have been recorded and preserved. These dreamers are: Hermas (of "The Shepherd of Hermas"); Vibia Perpetua, a young aristocratic women executed on the charge of being Christian; Aelius Aristides, author of the "Sacred Tales"; Jerome, translator of the Bible, a pivotal figure in the history of Christianity; and the "two Gregorys", Gregory Nazianzen and Gregory of Nyssa, both bishops and leading theologians of the fourth century. In all five essays, the themes of religion and spirituality play heavily; indeed, in the late-antique Graeco-Roman world, the essential relationship between dreams and spirituality was self-evident. This fascinating, superbly researched, and well written book really gives the "taste" of that period in history, especially because dreams are such an intimate aspect of the human being. This book would be of immense interest to anyone interested in the late-antique Graeco-Roman world, as well as to anyone interested in the relationship between dreams and spirituality.

This is a grand effort at a difficult and complex subject. Miller does a great job in setting forth the basics in a clear and easy-to-read manner. Teenage readers will find it very informative, but the book is written in a pleasing style for any age. I was most impressed with this book, which stands far above the rest of recent books on this subject. Thank you.

This book presents an easy-to-understand, well thought-out description of the relationship between drugs--both therapeutic and harmful--and mental illness. It provides useful references for readers who want more information, and the writing--simple, straightforward, and neither too complex nor overly childish--is just right for teens.

THE EMILY DICKINSON HANDBOOK : Edited by Gudrun Grabher, Roland Hagenbuchle, and Cristanne Miller. 480 pp. Amherst : University of Massachusetts Press, 1998. ISBN 1-55849-169-4 (hbk.)

For anyone who is seriously interested in Emily Dickinson, this is a marvelous book that provides up-to-date information about her life and works, her letters and manuscripts, the cultural climate of her age, her reception and influence, and what is going on in current Dickinson scholarship.

The book's 22 essays have been distributed in eight sections : Introduction; Biography; Historical Context; The Manuscripts; The Letters; Dickinson's Poetics; Reception and Influence; New Directions in Dickinson Scholarship.

Although I've read many critical collections, several of which were devoted exclusively to Dickinson, I can't remember ever having been so impressed. Usually an anthology will hold one or two outstanding contributions, with the rest being humdrum and of little real interest, but here pretty well all of them are outstanding, and I found only one that struck me as being both pretentious and obscure.

I was especially impressed by Robert Weisbuch's brilliant 'Prisming Dickinson, or Gathering Paradise by Letting Go,' by Josef Raab's 'The Metapoetic Element in Dickinson,' by Martha Nell Smith's 'Dickinson's Manuscripts,' by Paul Crumbley's 'Dickinson's Dialogic Voice,' by Roland Hagenbuchle's 'Dickinson and Literary Theory,' and in fact by many others. So much so that this seems to me the single most valuable book on Dickinson that I've ever seen, and the one from which I've learned most and continue to learn. It really is that good.

The book is bound in a full strong cloth, stitched, beautifully printed on excellent strong smooth ivory-tinted paper, has clearly been designed to withstand the heavy use it will be getting, and is excellent value for money. No serious student of Emily Dickinson should be without it. Weisbuch's essay, serving as it does to provide one with a whole new way of understanding ED, is pretty well worth the price of the book itself.

So don't pass this one up! It's a gem!

If you are new to Dickinson studies, or if you simply want to read the most current thinking about the poems, The Emily Dickinson Handbook is a must. It contains essays on subjects ranging from the historical context of the poems to the poet's metapoetic sensibility. This text is also a wonderful introduction to the writings of the finest Dickinson scholars extant. Richard Sewall, Paul Crumbley, Christanne Miller, Sharon Cameron, Martha Nell Smith, and many other great thinkers offer the reader a glimpse into the realm of magic and poetry. If you love Emily Dickinson, do yourself a favor -- read this book.

First, despite what the editors put on the front cover, this book is NOT just for women. Anyone with emotional problems -- woman, man, or whatever -- can help her/himself with this book. The individual stories are both intriguing and powerful, and the cd makes meditation easy. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to achieve greater equanimity and decrease the stress in his/her life. And it's fun to read, too.

In Emotional Healing, Barbara draws a sensitive and thoughtful portait of some women in crisis. She has added the skill of using meditation to her already quite accomplished therapy skills. I was particularly struck how, in the midst of chaos, the simplicity of breathing, calming and getting in touch with oneself can be a tremendous help to the confused aspects of a person's life. It appears to shift the focus so that the puzzle takes on a different look. Barbara is respecful and loving of her subjects. The book is lovely for any psychotherapist to read, or for that matter, anyone.

This book was ME and every other woman I've known who has thought she had to DO IT ALL for her family. It's only when we stop caring for everyone else and allow them to do for themselves that the ones we love learn to spread their wings. And we benefit, too, in paying more attention to ourselves and our own goals. The hardest thing to do sometimes is NOTHING, but it is so liberating to realize there are things you can't fix or cure. I highly recommend this book.

I have always been very protective of my much younger sister, but it was not until I read this book that I realized how destructive my protection was. This is a slim volume--it took me only about 2 hours to read it--but it changed my life and my sister's.

Two brief passages from the book sum up its content and purpose. The first is from page 7: "An enabler is one who prevents growth and learning in others by assuming their responsbilities. An enabler promotes weakness in others by protecting them from the consequences of their unproductive behavior." The second is from pages 28-29: "When people . . . are not required to alter their unproductive behavior because they are protected from its natural consequences, it is easy for them to become dependent. Their experience of the world is that the world will always accommodate them."