Before I read Baksheesh and Bramhan, all I knew of Campbell was that he was an author of formidable intellect and also engaging wit (if the print version of Moyers series is to be believed)with a deep understanding of Oriental faiths. Campbells' account of his encounter with the land of these faiths - India - is at once insightful of the man and India in the 1950s. Confronted by the actual India - ancient, prudish, theieving, an emerging nation seeking a semblance of pride, low on self esteem, spiritual - Campbell is all at once the fastidous Westerner at odds with a culture he has admired from afar, charmed by its exoticism and occasionally getting bang on and incisively the actual reality of India. This book is an easy read and essential for anyone who has ever admired Campbell's work. Also a must read for anyone who wants to hold up a mirror to the new Indian nation and how far and how less that nation has travelled in the 50 odd years since. Campbelll's acerbism on fellow American travellers make for marvelous diversions.

One small observation and this must stem from being an Indian - that India is a hospitable nation is clear from this book. I am sure a lot of Indians would attribute it to Campbell being white, but there is something in here of hearts and houses being thrown open to a stranger.

My five year old son begs for me to read this story to him every night. I would love to have more books like these for children.

If you're looking for a book to share and read this summer for that little leaguer in your family, I recommend this one. It includes pictures and a short piece on past and not-so-old pitching greats like Leroy Robert (Satchel) Paige, Walter Perry Johnson, Nolan Ryan and Tom Seaver, just to name a few. I found it to be an interesting read, and loved being able to share it with my grandson. It's noted as being for ages 4-9, but I found it more for the 6-9 age group (my 7yr old grandson loved it). There are other books in this same series, and as this one was a winner, the rest are on my to-buy list.

If you have an item that needs a handle to hold it, the pattern is in this book. If it is not, then with imagination, the starting point is in this book. If the item is weighty, a macrame strap may be the answer. Do you need leashes for your glasses? There are several patterns that will suffice. There are loomed and off loom straps as well as one that is made with a spool-knitter. If you have never beaded before, some of the straps require practice before starting, but many are able to be compleated on the first try. The diagrams could have been clearer, but they will suffice. All one needs is a bead supplier for the seed beads and thread and you're ready to give it a go.

Nice photos, beautiful patterns - but instructions are hard to follow if you are a novice beader. If you are looking for a variety of new patterns, however, it is a good book to have.

As a judo player, I enjoyed reading the sections detailing Campbell's judo days. It's worth having on those reasons alone.

Review by James N. Vogler, Jr., editor Confederate Veteran. Most of us know the tale of that great Confederate raider the CSS Alabama and her illustrious Captain Raphael Semmes. The scourge of the Union merchant fleet, the Alabama sank over sixty Yankee vessels in her brief, but dramatic career. There have been countless books about the ship, including a fine account, Memoirs of Service Afloat by her captain. This volume provides an account of service on the Alabama from a slightly different angle. Beneath the Stainless Banner was written by John McIntosh Kell, the ship's executive officer, the man who ran the day to day operations of this deadly raider. The reader gets a feel for the inner workings of a sailing vessel on the high seas in search of its prey. While most of the book revolves around the Alabama and her exploits, Kell does write about his service on the CSS Sumter where he also served under Raphael Semmes. This book is actually a reproduction of the second volume of John Kell's memoir entitled Recollections of a Naval Life, Including the Cruises of the Sumter and Alabama published in 1900. R. Thomas Campbell has enhanced the work with footnotes and some photographs. This is an excellent account of life on a Confederate raider, and I recommend it to any of our readers whose interest is in the sea.

A book that teaches anybody how to start making planes and some basics which are really good. I'm an aeronautics student and I liked the book very much. It is a must for any paper plane enthusiast. Teaches you to make almost 30 planes. But the price hurts a bit. I'm an Indian and 7dollars is 500 rupees. But a good buy.Fit for people from 7 to 70. REAL FUN!!

This book is a study guide to accompany the textbook, Biology -- ISBN 0805330445. The study guide offers more in depth questions than the book and is meant to prepare you for tests and test your knowledge over the material you've read in the book. I like most study guides in general, so I decided to get this one. It definitely helped me, I would recommend it to someone who is willing to take the time to use it.

This story features characters from the movie MONSTERS, INC. Sulley is the top Scarer at the Scare Factor in the monster world. However, he finds his job in jeopardy when he finds a little human girl, Boo on the Scare Floor. Sulley doesn't know what to do and hurries home to consult his good friend Mike. Mike comes up with a plan to get rid of the girl and what follows is lots of laughter and chaos.

Many children are familiar with the movie and if they are they will enjoy reading this book. However, even if they are not, the book is a self-contained unit and with characters like Sulley, Mike, and Boo, they will probably enjoy reading it anyway. Since the story contains monsters, it's a nice tale to read at Halloween.