I just used this book while on a vacation in these areas of Colorado. The reccomendations in the book are very helpful and the use of this book really helped make my vacation a success. It is very easy to read and follow and FULL of information about both the sites in the book and interesting history of the area. Great book to buy if you are planning a vacation to Colorado.

I read this 'spiritual novel' in a day. Wonderful! I'll read it again soon, no doubt. If you are interested in personal growth and you are gay, this is a inspiring and affirmative book about life and being gay. The spiritual lessons taught to the main character, who is trying to find his place in the world, are Universal and for everyone of us, but the fact that the guy is gay makes it just a little bit more special and personal...well at least for me. A wonderful job from the authors who include their life pupose and mission statement in this book which is obviously something very near and dear to their heart.

Understanding Contemporary Africa is a general textbook that is perfect for introductory courses in African studies. Authors of the various chapters are university-level scholars and teachers of history, political science, sociology, religion, and African studies. The subjects covered are African history, politics, national economies, international relations, population growth and urbanization, the environment, familial structures, women's effect in society, religion, and literature. There is an entire chapter devoted to South Africa.

This book contains many helpful references. Full page maps are near the beginning of the book, showing major physical features, the ITCZ and vegetation zones, natural resources compared to railroads and navigable rivers, early states and empires, colonies in 1914, and current countries and their capitals. I needed to refer to them often enough that I put a paperclip on the pages. Table 5.1 is a current export chart. Each chapter ends in a lengthy bibliography for further study. At the end of the book, acronyms are defined and there is a thorough glossary to which I referred many times. Basic Political Data is the third appendix. Each country is traced from independence to the present day in terms of its leaders.

Although the book suffers from sweeping generalizations, many times these are acknowledged by the authors. There are too few examples of these generalizations for my own taste. I personally prefer more "real people" stories to demonstrate points being made. This does not detract from the excellence of this intended introductory textbook for college-level African studies courses.

The last chapter of the book leaves the reader on the upbeat. There is hope for Africa in the current generation of young, educated middle and upper class men and women. They are seeing a bright future for Africa with hope in place of despair. Autocrats are being replaced with democratic leaders. Small businesses are on the rise; this is always a healthy sign in an economy. Health services and public education have increased since independence. The book closes with the observation that it will take a world partnership with Africa to make things work to neutralize the long term effects of exploitation of the African continent.

Understanding the Contemporary Middle East is an edited collection of essays that succeeds where so many others have failed. Rather than being merely a random sampling of contemporary articles on the Middle East, each essay is linked together into a coordinated whole. Geography, history, economics, internal politics, international relations, urbanization, ethnicity, women's roles, literature, and a host of other topics find their way into the book's 13 chapters. However, the authors have obviously made an attempt to integrate the extremely diverse subject areas of their individuals essays. This adds a value to the whole which is far greater than that of its separate components. The quality of the individual essays is quite good. As with any collection, some are stronger than others but the integration of the whole makes even the weakest of chapters valuable in its contribution to the overall picture of the modern Middle East. The diversity of the subject matter is matched by the diversity of the contributing authors. In addition to such well-known names as John L. Esposito, Arthur Godschmidt Jr., and Laurie King-Irani, the editor has gone out of her way to include individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines thus presenting a level of diversification of viewpoints which is remarkably unique to this text. While an excellent introduction to the Middle East, appropriate for anyone with an interest in the region, UCME is highly suitable for undergraduate studies. Additionally, the bibliographies of the individual essays are broad enough to provide a starting point for more in-depth analysis of subject areas of particular interest to more advanced students. As such it makes a valuable resource not only for the teaching of Middle Eastern studies but also as a reference tool for students and other individuals who might share a fascination for this oftentimes bewildering region of the world.

Smart Women is perhaps Judy Blume's most accomplished work. Indeed, the text is almost a synthesis of familiar themes and character types from Blume's earlier work. The novel deals with children coping with divorced parents, teenagers searching for self-identity, adults who are on a similar quest, and, as always, a search for love and self validation. As Blume portrays, love and life are never easy, but with patience, perserverance, and time, new beginnings can always be made. The novel almost serves as a text that tells what may have happened to Blume's other characters had we been able to see them develop outside their own texts. However, the novel is more than a mere rehashing of familiar themes. Blume effectively uses themes that she knows best and incorperates them in the novel. Blume is undoubtedly the best Children's and YA novelist this century, but her "adult" novels are where Blume is able to shine. We can only hope that Blume doesn't take as long as a hiatus working on her next adult novel as she did between Smart Women and Summer Sisters. Why Smart Women was ever out of print is a mystery. Read the novel and enjoy. The characters stick under your skin long after the last page is turned.

Reading Smart Women is like catching up with an old friend you haven't seen in a while--Judy Blume. If you, like me grew up reading Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret and Forever, and loved those books, then you will love Smart Women. Judy Blume's writing style is so fabulous, so comfortable. There is no one else writing like her today. This is a terrific book about contemporary women and the crises they face after divorce, and, as with all other Judy Blume books, she does not disappoint. Enjoy this one, it is so easy to read, yet it's not "light reading" because it makes you think.

this is my second time reading Smart Women. i love this book and i love the characters. i wish judy blume would write more adult novels. i can't wait to read summer sisters.

What a sad story. I'm also an abused child I wished I had the courage to tell my side of what happened to me, but I can't. I will read this book over and over...someday maybe I will have the courage to TELL. This book will help many who have been abused. I cried when I read her story...the anguish she must be going through. Can you imagine what little JonBenet went through...only the people who have gone through with it will ever know. The last chapter makes you stop and think...Did mommy and daddy really do it??? The only other thing, I wished it would have contained more about the pageant industry. I got out because i didn't agree on what those moms do to their beautiful little girls. I also saw the hitting, the pulling of hair, and some DUCT-TAPING. It wasn't for me!

GOOD BOOK READ ON THE BEAUTY PAGEANT INDUSTRY. THE ELEANOR STORY WAS SO TOUCHING. BRAVO TO
HER FOR COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET.
SHE MUST BE SOME TOUGH COOKIE TO
ENDURE ALL SHE'S ENDURED. THE JONBENET STORY COULD HAVE BEEN STRONGER. IT SHOULD HAVE CONTAINED MORE ON THE PAGEANT SCENE. THELADY
IN THE BOOK NEEDS TO WRITE HER OWN
STORY LINES. I'M SURE WITH THE LENGTH OF TIME SHE HAS SOME GOOD READING. I DEFINITELY WOULD RECCOMEND IT TO OTHERS BECAUSE OF THE INSIDE PAGEANT STORY AND THE TOUCHING STORY ON THE DIRECTOR. I CRIED ALOT FOR HER. I CAN SEE HOW THIS WAS TIED INTO JONBENETS LIFE.

What a touching story! The Angle story made me cry! I've read it twice and I got the same reaction.. What JonBenet must have gone through. A person never knows unless you've been there. I applaud Eleanor VonDuyke for
telling her story to the world. If you've never told about your sexual abuse...read this book. I
would have liked to have read more story on the kiddie pageant end of it. Do all children
dress the way the videos portay JonBenet as...
A miniature adult??? The false hair, and $2,000
dress is this what it's all about? And the theories...who REALLY killed the little girl...After
reading this, I really don't think daddy did!!!

I found this book to be the most updated of its kind regarding the JonBenet Ramsey case. The book is a great read and sheds new light on what really may have happened to JonBenet. This is a must-read, if you liked Schiller's book on JonBenet Ramsey, you will love this up-to-date book by Mr. Singular.

I HAVE READ ALL OF THE JONBENET BOOKS. THIS ONE IS THE BEST. ONLY SCHILLER AND SINGULAR DID MORE THAN A PASTE AND CLIP JOB.THIS BOOK IS INSIGHTFUL AND THOUGHT PROVOKING.THE QUESTIONS SINGULAR RAISES ARE GOOD QUESTIONS BUT THEY MAY NEVER BE ANSWERED.

Mr. Singular's insightful book is a great example of contributory journalism. Not just a scrapbook, like "Perfect Murder, Perfect Town", but a chronicle by one of the country's finest investigative journalists of his descent into the darkest regions of one of the 20th century's most distorted and over-reported criminal cases. Mr. Singular actively investigated the case. His findings are disturbing and provide critical information for law enforcement officials and others with an interest in seeing justice for JonBenet. His analysis of cultural phenomena impacting this tragedy should be required reading for the Grand Jury investigating the crime.

This is a good book as far as informing you where the trails along the front-range are. However, his rating system is suspect. First off you just can't rate mountain biking trails with 3 tires, and this fool thinks every trail is simple. Beginners beware some of the trails he rates as easy are pretty darn hard. 3 stars because the direction to the trail heads is excellent.

Though my husband is an avid Mtn. Biker, I am fairly new at the sport and less experienced. We have been using this book as I gain skills taking me from beginner to advanced trails. The book is nice and small and should fit in your camel back. I would recommend this to anyone living in the area, or planning to vacation in Beautiful Colorado!

Stephen White is, without a doubt, a truly extraordinary author. Even when his books aren't as good as you'd hoped, they're still good enough that you don't want to put them down (and, in my case, are willing to give them a second chance and re-read it). This book, while not the best, is still enjoyable. I believe the author hit his stride in "Remote Control" and has been off and running since.

While the book would've benefited from fewer characters (I had to go back and find where one was introduced to find out what her importance was), it was still enjoyable and had me reading well past midnight.

This is the second book I have read by Stephen White and I loved it. I couldnt put this book down! It keeps you guessing the whole way through!

I've been a big fan of Stephen White for many years. I re-read Private Practices in one sitting last night. It only reconfirmed why I grab White's books as soon as they're printed.

First and fundamentally, White writes with great suspense and lots of unexpected twists and turns. In this book, a ski death, a spousal abuse murder,the crash of the United flight in Sioux City, a gas explosion and a gourmet restaurant all find their way into the tangled web.

Still,when I recommend White to friends (which I do often), the recommendation always includes the wonderful dry humor of the books.About 3/4's of the humor is universal and a healthy forth is directed at Colorado things - weather, the People's Republic of Boulder and skiers. Funny enough for outsiders and really big grins for locals.

One word of caution to new readers of the Alan Gregory series. Unlike many male slueths, Alan doesn't have a new babe in each book. If you want to follow his romantic relationship, as well as the progress of friends and neighbors, this is a series worth reading in sequence. It starts with Priviledged Information. This book, Private Practices, is the second in the series...

Not only was this a good read from a mystery standpoint, it taught me more about the Mormon religion than my college level Comparative Religion class. The author either has a very personal acquaintance with the Mormon church, or he performed very thorough research. Either way, I always love it when I learn something from a book as well as just enjoy the experience, and this was one of those books. I found this book to be HIGHLY original. In addition to the events in the plot being different from the ordinary fare, this is the first time I have read a mystery author who switches the focus from a series' main character (the psychologist)the secondary main character (Lauren)in a separate book. I read it in less than a week, was sorry when it ended.

As a born and bred Mormon, active and faithful, I read this story because it sounded intriguing. As a story, it lives up to its promise of mystery and excitement. I was dismayed at the Mormon bashing, and only want to tell prospective readers that the author has no real factual knowledge of the LDS Church and what life is really like in Utah. The truth is really simple and there's no mystery to it at all. Utah is far from a theocracy, and Church leaders do not dictate our actions, much less our thoughts. Unfortunately, the plot and premise of this book depends heavily on the possibility that even murder would be considered an option rather than have politically high-placed individuals exposed for practices which are not condoned by the Mormon religion. If you keep that in mind and discount 95% of what the author says about politics and religion in Utah, I do recommend the story.

Some of the Mormons who wrote reviews here are defending what can't be defended. Stephen White wrote a novel but he did research before he did and what he found was obviously not to the liking of the LDS Church or some of its more devout (and misinformed adherents). What White tried to do with "Higher Authority" (and I think he was very successful) was set a murder mystery against the backdrop of the workings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. What Mormon readers of this book need to do is get honest; they also need to read up on their church's history and when they do, the real theology should come through. Alan Gregory is not the main character here, Lauren Crowder is. It is what she investigates and finds that makes for the backdrop of the story. What many non-Mormon readers don't realize is what exactly LDS members believe. White gives us a primer but he doesn't cover it all. If most people knew just exactly what Mormons believe, they would never, ever become adherents. Read this book because it's a good story. After you do, go to a Christian bookstore to the section on "cults" and buy any of the books on MORMONS. Read with an open mind and when you do, you'll find that Mormons aren't Christians at all. They mean well and Stephen White points that out in his novel. But it's the negative exposure that has the Mormons trying to explain away the inconsistencies and outright falsehoods that are part of their false doctrine. Stephen White lives in a part of the country where Mormons are numerous and influential. His riting is all the more courageous because of that. There are documented cases of people making death threats to people who write and say negative things about the LDS Church. I have spoken to non-Mormon friends from Utah and they HAVE told me that UTAH is as close to a theocracy as one gets in the good old USA. Read "Higher Authority" and get an idea why.