Jackson J. Benson has in this volume produced a superb literary biography of one of America's most underrated writers. The book in many ways reflects some of Stegner's own qualities as a writer. Stegner, in his biography of John Wesley Powell, BEYOND THE HUNDREDTH MERIDIAN, emphasized that it was a biography of his professional, not personal, life. Although Benson does not neglect Stegner's personal life, the stress is very definitely upon his literary, academic, and environmental work. Benson does let us get to know Stegner the person, with his own quirks (he dislike of the sixties and youth counterculture, his love of Vermont, his avoidance of extremism, his love of community as opposed to rugged individualism), but unlike many modern biographers, he is not intent upon baring Stegner's inner life, warts and all. Benson, like Stegner, strives towards balance. In this he succeeds admirably.

Stegner vividly emerges in this biography as a profoundly principled, disciplined, committed, and morally courageous individual. The product of an impoverished childhood, later recounted fictionally in his semi-autobiographical novel THE BIG ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN, Benson chronicles Stegner's drive to become a writer. In a sense, the book covers an uneventful life. Stegner did not do a great deal beyond write, teach, and speak out on a variety of environmental issues. Benson explores his friendships with mentors such as Bernard DeVoto and Robert Frost, to friends both famous and unknown, to students such as Ernest Gaines, Wendell Berry, and Ken Kesey.

Although primarily focused on Stegner's literary output as both a fiction writer and historian, Benson deals extensively with Stegner's work as a conservationist. Of all the major writers of the past century, Stegner almost certainly was more involved in environmental causes than any other. He did this not only through his writing, such as in his great biography of John Wesley Powell, but in his activities as part of the Sierra Club and in numerous environmental efforts, including working briefly as an advisor to Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall.

Most of all, this book created a portrait of a writer and human being worthy of respect. Stegner emerges as a good man, someone the reader would have enjoyed knowing. At this point in time, I have read only Stegner's book on Powell and ANGLE OF REPOSE, but between those two books and this excellent biography make me want to read a great deal more.

Wallace Stegner wrote about ordinary people trying to make sense of day-to-day existence. He wrote with an extraordinary clarity of description and dialogue that is best matched by the clear, keen air of the Western high country where he grew up. The reader will find no hyperbole in his books and no gratuitous violence or sex. He or she will find sorrow there and the ways of handling it that humans use to try to make sense of it. His books are explorations of the canyon lands of sorrow and of the ascent to the connections with other humans that require the forgiveness that makes our best solace in the face of regret. Professor Benson senses these themes and uses them as organizing principles in presenting Stegner's works as they map his life. The book is balanced in its presentations with no room for heroes, anti-heroes or villains of the stock variety, a reflection of both the author's scholarship and his subject's own approach to characterization. Jackson Benson's book, too, is the harvest of ten years research done carefully, using many contemporary sources including interviews with Wallace Stegner himself before his premature death after an auto accident in 1993. Professor Benson's writing style is fluid, clean and selfless as he gives us a portrait of a man who chronicled changes in America between the last of the frontier cowboys and the invention of cyberspace. It is the picture of a writer of the American West whose themes apply equally well anywhere on the globe that humans inhabit. This book is a fine introduction to Stegner's work for those who have never read him and a delightful comment, containing both criticism and appreciation, for those who have read Wallace Stegner and will enjoy a conversation with another, most astute, reader. It is another dip into the complexity of Wallace Stegner's fiction, essays and biographies and into the meaning in them that can be described as their author once described mountain streams: always running, always there. by Thomas Beresford, M.D., University of Colorado Health Sciences Center

OK, this book is a MUST to read! It grabbed me completely from the first page. I did not remember to eat or sleep before I had finished it. The characters are great, the scenery amazing and the action thrilling. And sex too. I can see this book making a great computer game or a film. I am eagerly waiting for a sequel for this...

Water is a mind-blowing debut from Stuart Jackson, following the journies of four very different characters. Set on the vast ecological paradise of Novagaia, in orbit around an Earth from which humanity has long since been banished, Tenys, Melie, Flocanalog and Manchester are drawn into a sequence of events that began centuries before as the cetacean creatures of earth evolved sentience, and the power to change the universe.

Water explores many concepts that will be familiar to science fiction afficionados, particularly the continued evolution of sentience and new forms of life, whilst seamlessly blending new perspectives on the roles that technology, particularly nanotechnology, could play in our future.

It is the encounters with the metacetaceans, the powerful inhabitants of Water, that really makes this book stand out from much of the current crop of recycled science fiction. Jackson's unconventional approach to translating the metacetacean's mode of communication, whilst disorienting at first, really serves to remind the reader of the differences in cognition and comprehension between his human and non-human characters. Flocanalog, who is partway between these two worlds, makes the point abundantly clear as he undergoes a long and traumatic removal from his symbiotic shell, in order to make the journey to Novagaia.

In all, Water is a thoroughly enjoyable read that remains thought-provoking without disappearing into the realm of self-indulgence. I will be eagerly awaiting more of the same from Stuart Jackson.

this is a good introductory book for western civilization. if u r new to the field of western civilization, then read this book before any more advanced or complicated books...

I used Spielvogel's _Western Civilization: A Brief History_ when teaching a Humanities I course. _A Brief History_ is a shorter, paperback adaptation of Spielvogel's longer _Western Civilization_. Of the Western Civ texts I've used before (including the longer version of Spielvogel, I thought _A Brief History_ was the most successful. Spielvogel did a good job of choosing the most important historical events and cultural developments to include in his shorter version, at least those most likely to be included in a Western Civ course. Important information is clear both from subheadings and from the text itself, and short samples of primary texts that give students a taste of the past are included. Students also seemed to enjoy reading the _Brief History_ more other Western Civ texts I've taught. Women's history is well-represented. Only caveat: Because the text is a shorter version, not much of Asian, African, or Indian history is included.

I read this book shortly after being diagnosed with terminal stage IV lung cancer. As a non-smoker; active, health conscious 46 year old woman; and a Christian, I read this book hoping to feel a sense of peace from what other cancer patients had experienced. Indeed I felt the peace and so much more. The book, in addition to my strong faith, helped me to truly believe that it really doesn't matter whether you live on this earth or live in heaven. The important thing when God and cancer meet, is to make the opportunity to affect others' lives in such a way that they too can look forward to heaven. What an uplifting and precious book. I highly recommend the reading to cancer patients as well as the families of those patients.

These storiers are amazing and true. I am a cancer survivor and I go to Lynn support group each week and know some of these people. My husband was treated by Dr. Hirsh for years and I know The feelings of peaceful and being close to God in there. You have to be there to realize that what Lynn said is true. I am waiting for her next book.

This book covers many principals of viticulture and enology, and does very, very well.

A great companion to either an enologist or viticulturist seeking new points of view, or a great record of principals all in one book

Fantastic...

Jackson provides a well-written overview of viticulture and oenology, with academic rigour and a bias towards more recent research. This book has been very useful so far in my studies through the Cape Wine Academy, and I expect it to continue being a useful reference. Especially valuable is the clear exposition of complex biological or biochemical processes, which allows excess detail to be ignored while still maintaining readability (rather more useful than trying to fill in the scientific gaps in consumer-oriented books). Meticulously referenced.

This book is packed with fascinating facts on what it means to become a mother: the mystery of pregnancy, the miracle of birth, and the joys and challenges of early motherhood. Deborah Jackson takes a fascinating cross-cultural approach to this subject, talking about pregnancy, birth, and baby-related traditions in various parts of the world. This is one of the most-used books in my library. I find myself turning to it again and again. I've recommended it to countless other parents and have included it in the list of recommended readings in some of my own pregnancy books. Thank you Deborah Jackson for writing such a wonderful book!

Nothing can be more fulfilling than the creation of life. When you are expecting your own child you are filled with creative energy and usually have a strong desire to express it. Reading With Child will help you find so many ways to explore the feelings you have by offering suggestions of rituals to do that will help fulfill the need to connect with the birthing power of other women. Filled with traditional birthing wisdom and cultural traditions this book helps you to really feel in tune with pregnancy and birth as it is viewed around the world.

This is a sort of alphabetical encyclopedia of women rulers in history. Included are many different people like: Hoho, a 18th century Hottentot ruler, Drahomira, mother of the "Good King Wenceslas" of Bohemia, Betty Mae Jumper, chief of the Seminole Nation in the 1960s, Tansu Ciller, Prime Minister of Turkey in the 1990s, and Diane of Poitiers, mistress of the French King around 1550.

Caterina Sforza, as a widow in the 15th century, refused to yield her castle, when her children were held hostage, explaining that she could always make more babies. Cleopatra Thea of Egypt married successive Seleucid Kings and had her own son put to death. Jacqueline of Bavaria, Countess of Holland, wasn't able to keep hold of her county. Abandoned by several husbands, Philip the Good of Burgundy finally stole her inheritance. Kaahumanu, co-ruler of Hawaii in the 19th century, tried to raise the sexual moral standards of her subjects to the annoyance of foreign sailors.

Some entries contain only a few lines, while other entries fill 3 pages, including a black-and-white picture. The number of references also differs for each entry with sometimes only one reference. Despite the difference in quality of the entries, the book is very thorough and contains many little known Queens.

Women Rulers Throughout the Ages is based on Jackson's Women Who Ruled and presents revised, expanded, updated entries from the prior book plus over 200 new entries bringing history up to date for female rulers of the past decade. The result: an illustrated reference covering not the rulers' lives and achievements, plus the era and nations which they governed.

Although the technical layout of the book is well done, and most of the historical information contained between the covers is informative;but! if you want a one sided view on what is good to drink,this book is for you.Mr. Jackson has a particular taste for particular styles of whisky which he tends to rate highly.Almost as bad as Winespectator saying that each new vintage of California Cabernet is the best one yet.Mr. Jackson ignors the quality of lesser known,and possibly harder to find whiskies,to support the more widely known products of United Distillers:maybe paid a small sum to do so?Be that as it may he does point some people in the right direction,and if he is responsible for a initiate or two embarking o a trail of whisly discovery,I must applaud,for it is truly the best drink in the world!

Jackson is the king of Single Malt Whisky, more famous than any scottish king. And his book is a must for every fan of malt whisky

This is a big, heavy book, beautifully illustrated and authoritatively written. I am finding it a boon in my research on Tibetan art, for it covers most every subject, style, and region of Tibet. My copy came from the library--wish I could afford to buy it!

This book is a companion volume to the same authors' "Wisdom and Compassion", which came out a few years ago. Both are sponsored by the Tibet House in New York and both have the same layout, typography, and approach. As far as I can see there are no duplications between them, though both books are quite large. People who loved that book, as I did, will definitely want this one too, since it is basically more of the wonderful same.

This volume focusses on one vast private collection of Tibetan painting. There are two hundred featured paintings, all shown in full-page reproductions, many with full-page details as well, showing the detail of the tiny figures in the backgrounds which are half of the fun of these pictures. There is some repetition from the first book in the text, but this book goes into more detail about who the figures are and what they are doing.

If there is a prize for quality of reproductions in an art book this book should win it. Every shot is beautiful -- nothing too dark, everything evenly lit. It is impossible, of course, to reproduce the soft powdery glow of the Tibetan pigments on silk, so the pictures look different here than they did in the museum. The printing process necessarily gives them a gloss that the originals don't have. That said, the book is still a beautiful object in its own right. Exactly THAT rosy pink next to exactly THAT acid orange next to exactly THAT slate blue are what make these paintings engrossing from the first minute, even before you get down to work and figure out what's going on in them.

If you want a gift for the budding Buddhist in your family, or if you want to start with only one giant volume on Tibetan art, I would advise you to start with the first book, "Wisdom and Compassion", for the simple reason that it includes sculpture as well as painting, and those little gold demons and tiny brass Buddhas are not to be missed. Real fans, though, and anyone serious about learning all they can about Tibetan art, will want both. Also people like me -- that is: gluttons for color.

The number of pages given above is wrong -- there are 512 pages. And please note that this price is NOT expensive for such a book. (Are all those movie stars who have their picture taken with the Dalai Lama bankrolling this book somehow? If so, we should forgive them all those horrible movies.) It is wise to preserve all the beauty in this book; it is compassionate to sell it so inexpensively.