This is a beautiful book with lots of interesting information on the gem collection.

If you have visited the National Collection and want a souvenir to remind you of the stunning array of unique World Class Gems then this is the book for you. Both the format of the book and the superlative quality of the photography make this book the next best thing to being in the exhibition hall. There is a fairly light weight coverage of the gemmology in the text, but it mostly focusses on the history and ownership of these fabulous gems. The National Collection is unique, no where else in the world is there such a concentration of fabulous jewels with such an interesting history, with the possible exception of the British Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. This book is a fitting celebration of such a marvellous collection.

This book is more suited to enjoying the pictures than the text, but both are fine in every way. Almost all the stones in the book have exceptional color - or colors as the case may be. The front cover, going roughly from top to bottom counter clockwise, features a 99.82 carat fluorite, sitting on top of the 858 carat uncut Gachala Emerald (and the original cover looks way better), the lower left features a 34.07 carat red spinel from Mogok, next is a 52.26 carat calcite, and to the right a 17.85 carat diamond crystal from Murfreesboro, Arkansas. The back cover has a spectacular 181.9 carat Cooper Pedy white opal, that I initially mistook for a black opal. This book is published by Harry N Abrams, Inc. of New York, and is well up to this company's superior standards - and that also helps to explain the rather high price. The book is divided into six sections: an introduction, some gems of signficant historical interest, a chapter on diamond, corundum and beryl, a chapter on other important stones, one devoted to stones with special properties (eg opals, cat's eyes and star sapphires) and finally ornamental gems. The appendix is also very useful and informative.

It is very helpful to use this as a reference for benchmark color. There is little or no commentary on evaluation, appraisal or strategic purchasing.

This book is expensive but there are few others like it. Recommended.

As a hypoglycemic, I am trying to find out what I can do to keep my blood sugar level. Dr. Murray provides the reader with more suggestions than just eating right and exercising. The addition of supplements is very helpful. He also educates on the connection between hypoglycemia and diabetes. This is important for hypolycemics to know since it is very possible for this condition to turn into diabetes.

I highly recommend Hypoglycemia: The Classic Healthcare Handbook, by Jeraldine Saunders and Harvey M. Ross in addition to this book.

1996 is almost light years away from all the new nutrient info available today. I have both encyclopedias that Dr. Murray has authored, & they are more recently published than this book.

I have low blood sugar and throughout the past few years I have read many books on the subject of sugar. In fact tonight I was reading; The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Program. As I was reading this book I was getting frustrated at how wordy the book was and how wordy the other books had been that I had read before. The book by Michael T. Murray is clear and to the point. It's an easy read but invaluable for the information it conveys. It is definitely my favorite book and I have been recommending and purchasing it for friends and family for years.

This book is quite different than most of the others in the series. Even the theme is different because the book is written around the whole concept of natuaral dyeing. Plants are still a part of the story, but in a different way. In this book China and Ruby set out to save a small Texas town from dying. The local landowner wants to sell the mining rites to the land, and it didn't seem to matter to him that the land had people's houses and businesses on it. Needless to say, he was not a popular citizen and when he turns up dead, no one in the small town of Indigo seems to mind a bit, but then other things start heating up and another body is found that seems totally unrelated to the first murder, and China and Ruby, along with China's McQuaid are on the tail of a murderer. Not a bad little story.

Another winner. I love this series and look forward to more China Bayles books!

I enjoy reading Ms. Albert's fast-paced, well-written mysteries because I always learn something new and fascinating about herbs. In this China Bayles story we learn history and a bit of folklore on the art of fabric dying using natural plants and herbs. The plot was tight and kept me guessing up to the last chapter. If you love herbs and mysteries, then this is the series for you!

This is a better-than-average coffee table book that gives a very personal account of the author's introduction to the history of the art of perfumery. Good inside information on advertising and perfume promotion. Who knew that CoCo Chanel was such a...freak? If you're looking for specific information about how perfumes are made, as I was, look elsewhere. You can zip through this book in about an hour.

This book gave a fascinating history and overview of the use and creation of perfumes. It all seemed to have started when Romans wore perfume-soaked garments and shoes while Egyptians placed perfumed unguents in their hair to produce a slowly diffused scent that surrounded them.

From Catherine de Medici in the 16th century to Coty to Coco Chanel, there has been a connection between fashion and fragrance. During this time, the perfume bottle has evolved from a simple container to sculpture, often giving identity to a scent.

I learned that to be called "perfume", there must be an oil concentration of 22% or more. Eau de parfum has a 15-22% oil concentration while eau de toilette has 8-15% concentration of oil. Cologne has less than 5%.

The average fragrance has 60-100 ingredients and complex ones can have 300. Estee Lauder's "Beautiful" has 700 ingredients, which is a record.....and its formula is 12 pages long!

The perfumer must have a vast knowledge of raw materials and also of chemistry. There are only about 400 perfumers in the world and their training can take 10-15 years.

One reason why perfume can be so expensive is the amount of an ingredient needed to yield what the perfumers use. For example, two tons of rose petals are needed to yield just one pound of rose oil! Petals must also be quickly picked as the amount of oil that they yield diminishes as the day goes on.

I found the explanation of "headspace technology" very interesting. There are machines that vacuum up the molecules of a scent and then run them through machines that separate the fragrance into chemical components and identify them. This is particularly valuable when collecting the scent of a rare plant or when it is desirable to leave the plant in its natural environment.

A very informative and beautiful book. The accompanying photos are lovely and give the reader an added level of understanding.

This bewitching, lavishly illustrated book does really explore every aspect of the fascinating yet little know art and science of scent. This book is very detailed from the beginning to the end.

The photography is stunning and spectaclar! It captures all the elegance and romance of an art where image is truly everything.

The book is very well written. It takes you through a very vivid journey into the fascinating world of fragrance. Sophisticated and irresistible as the classic it celebrates.

I have read this glamous, enthralling book twice and plan to place it on my coffee table as a conversational piece. It is well worth the money, every cents and then some.

TRULY THE ESSENCE OF ILLUSION!

This is a very entertaining and informative book. It includes everything and more on what I need to know about the properties of various rocks.

As I am a big fan of communal stoning this book proves to be an invaluable resource. There is nothing more embarrassing than choosing the wrong type of rock at a stoning. I unwittingly chose a rock of very brittle consistency during a recent stoning I attended. You can imagine how foolish I looked when my stone merely disintegrated as it bounced off of my intended targets forehead. I still haven't lived that painful episode down, much to the amusement of my fellow stoners. My nickname is "Ole Softie" now.

Take a lesson from my faux pas; pick up this book before you are made to look the fool.

This book is a must have for any experienced rockhound. The field guide sorts mineral specimens by color and then further subdivides them by crystal habit. The color plates are nicely photographed and direct the reader to the corresponding pages which contain all the mineralogic characteristics of the specimens. All the information a rockhound could possibly desire, including North American collecting locales is contained within.

This would not be a suitable book for a beginner in the field as the retrieval of information would not be easily done by a novice. As a long time serious collector, despite the approximately 800 pages, many popular minerals have been omitted.

This fieldguide is probably one of the best fieldguides out there on rocks and minerals. Being a geology student at Ohio State, I found this book very helpful in the identification of minerals and rocks. It contains an identification key according to hardness and cleavage for minerals, and a key pertaining to rock fabric and hardness for rocks. These keys are integeral to quick identification. One thing I don't like about this book is that the pictures and the text are in two seperate sections. That and the rock section of the book is somewhat lacking. But the main types of rocks are touched upon. However, the book is filled with information, and is very helpful. If you aren't a geologist of sorts, it is somewhat technical, but offers a good glossary of terms, and explains cleavage and other mineral properties well. Overall, an excellent fieldguide for identifying rocks and minerals.

I found this book to be very well written with an style that was casual and easy to read. The information is through when needed yet doesn't overwhelm. It has been the best on the subject of CFIDS I have read.

Most doctors give us medication that doesn't help. This book offers real ways we can help ourselves!

Before you read any farther, scroll up and look to the left column.
Click on the link that says "table of contents", read it,
and then come back here. Done? Good. That in itself should be
enough to get you to buy this book. All of Dr. Murray's books are as
thoroughly organized. You have explanations, common symptoms, and then
a whole array of dietary options and explanations of how any number of
nutritional supplements can help your condition....Michael Murray is a
standard in the alternative medicine field because of the research he
does and cites and because the supplements he recommends have found a
valid place in today's society.

I am very glad to see that somebody finally gets it. As a physician, I find it very difficult to discuss nutritional products with my patients. Not because I don't believe in supplementation, but because I don't trust many of the companies who make supplements. The PGN gives me all of the information I need to make an informed decision about what products to recommend to my patients. If there are warnings or interactions - it lists them, if I need to know what a specific herb or vitamin can be used for - I can find it in either the Quick Reference Guide, the Universal Index or the Glossary. This is the most informative product specific reference I have ever used. The reason for my 4 star rating is because I would like to see all the manufacturers of supplements in this book. But then again, if the companies that are in this book are the only ones that are making good products - then the book gets the full five stars.

I bought this book a few months ago. I called information to get the number of NDR. When I called them they put me through to Doug Ringer. This man is a wealth of knowledge. Even though he told me that they are in the middle of puting out a new book, he took the time to speak with me about his vision of nutrition and wellness. This man is on a mission to help people, he is completely devoted. I learned more in ten minutes while speaking with him than I had over my 15 years of trying to understand how supplements are made and how to use them. His objective reasoning was refreshing. Given the chance, this man will help change peoples lives - he's smart and he cares about us. I can't wait for his next edition.

This book goes into detail about the applications of specific brand-name formulas. This is the kind of information that you just can't get on the label or in brochures. Before you buy anyone's products, you should see if their in this book. If their not, you may want to purchase from someone that is.

The book was easy to understand, easy to follow and easy to incorporate into your diet. It may not be the most complete book on the subject of nutrition, but it has excellent advice, great places to start and specific topics to peruse.

Everyone is looking toward nutrition to help them out with specific problem areas, this book does just that. It shows you what is good and what is bad for specific illnesses, and symptoms. I particulary liked the glycemic portion of the glucose chapter, it puts into perfect perspective which foods are worse, better and best to control your glucose level. Since many illnesses are now attributed to insulin resistance (like PCO, diabetes, prostate problems) I thought this section was particulary enlightening.The herbs, minerals and vitamins in each portion were very well documented also, and relevant to each health area being discussed.

Its an excellent place to start for those travelling down the road of natural healing.

I am impressed! Not Blown-Away.....but impressed! A few items like the "New Food Pyramid" and the "Health Concern Assessment" section are extremely valuable (Especially for the layman).

As a Professional Nutritional Advisor though, I was a little disappointed that a publication of this high quality (Great questionnaires, great illistrations, good general health information, etc.) was lacking as much as it was. There is a section in vitamins and minerals for instance and later it touches on some herbs. What about other nutrients that don't fall into those categories?

For example: One particular nutrient (Lyprinol) is a marine lipid extract that comes from the New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussle. This Super-Nutrient is THE MOST POWERFUL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY on the planet but was somehow overlooked.

Another example: Years ago Professor Dr. Jack Masquelier discovered and patented THE MOST POWERFUL ANTI-OXIDANT on the planet. This nutrient is Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins. His formulation (OPC-85) is still unmatched by any other anti-oxidant claiming it is also an OPC. Yet this vital nutrient was completely overlooked as were several others like Methyl-Sulfonyl-Methane (MSM), Detailed Amino Acids, Glucosamine Sulfate, Glucosamine HCI, N-Acetyl-Glucosamine, Chondroitin Sulfate, Collagen Hydrolysate and many, many more.

The recipe, medicine chest, common ailments and food combining sections were Ok but again lacked any substance.

The various DIET sections are not as good as I'd like to see. Example: Someone who is obese would not want to follow this plan as it suggests carbs.

Overall this is a good reference and is a welcome addition to any home or office but I personally would not rely on it as my sole reference.

I have been providing free nutritional advise, counciling and training for years and I welcome any thoughts or questions someone may have.

This was a wonderful book! I have read many books on nutrition. My frustration with other books was that each book said something a little different. I've read Fit for Life, Eat Right 4 Your Type, Sugar Busters...and gained from each book. However, THIS book contains ALL that information and MORE! (Even includes a section specifically for women's health needs). The illustrations are wonderful, the charts very helpful, and a wealth of information is included in the pages. My favorite book on nutrition BY FAR! Highly recommend!

I recently borrowed this book from the library. It is stock full of information, vitamins, minerals, herbs, symptoms, a little of everything. I especially liked the full explaination of vitamins and their attributes. The only thing bad about this book is that it isn't up to date with all the new herbs out on the market or new diseases and afflictions.

Do you need food supplements? If so, which ones? And how much? Nicola Reavley answers these questions and many more in The New Encyclopedia Of Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements, & Herbs. Reavley points out that we're all different, and not everyone needs supplements. She emphasizes that supplements don't make up for a poor diet. Peo0le need first to have "a good understanding of the roles played by vitamins and minerals in health and disease." Then they need to understand how supplements are "affected by your age, sex, state of health, and lifestyle. Certain supplements can be harmful to certain people." She starts with a general description of vitamins and minerals and their roles in the human body. She explains how the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA) are calculated and how to determine if those are adequate for your individual needs. With this, she includes a discussion of what constitutes a good basic diet. In some instances, people can get all the nutrients they need from their diet, and don't need to take supplements. The bulk of the book is devoted to an in-depth discussion of each vitamin, mineral, herb, and other nutrients. Other nutrients include substances like melatonin, shark cartilage, and coenzyme Q10. She starts each discussion with a "Quick Guide" which summarizes what the supplement does in the body, sources, RDA, interactions, and cautions. She then provides a complete information about that supplement. The final section of the book is a listing of common health problems, such as asthma, insomnia, and osteoporosis, with information on the causes and treatments for each. She describes the role of diet and nutritional supplements in preventing and treating those diseases. A glossary provides definitions of terms used in the book, and an extensive reference section enables readers to do their own research if they so desire. Reavley says that "as diet has a huge role to play in the prevention of disease, eating well and consuming adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals are vital for both present and future health." She wrote The Complete Encyclopedia Of Vitamins, Mineral, Supplements, & Herbs to provide the "necessary knowledge to make informed choices about the food you eat and the supplements you take." Readers will find that she has met her goal.

Sandra Smith, Reviewer

I found this book invaluable in understanding the way the body absorbs and utilizes vitamins, minerals, supplements and herbs. It is an important tool when designing your own health program. The reference gives you details on how the body utilizes these elements in daily building of tissue. I highly recommend this to anyone who is concerned about what you eat and what to use as supplements to enhance your nutrition.

The information and photos are great, but it's geared more towards someone who already has a good working knowledge of the subject, especially the introduction to minerals. I would recommend this as a solid field reference, but not so good as a field guide (there's not identification key). Beginners will quickly get lost in some of the technical aspects and jargon.

This book was a must have for all geology students when I started out. Everyone in first year had this book and we used it regularly right up to fourth year. It came in very handy for mineralogy, especially since we had to know 200 of the rock forming minerals. The color pictures and information about each mineral and rock (including accidentals) and the geologic environment was very helpful. This book even came in handy when we were working on a gold exploration program coring through volcanic rock. It was helpful trying to match up the pictures with the rocks we were logging. Of course I don't recommend this practise but we all did enjoy the joke in camp.

This book has also been helpful when I used to work on large scale field mapping projects or drilling programs. I still have my original copy. I definately recommend this book above all others I have seen to any rock hound, hobbist or student.

A Rock and Mineral competition forced me to buy a field guide on the subject. By luck, I picked up the Simon and Schuster's Guide to Rocks and Minerals, and couldn't have been happier with it. This book it helpful in identifying mineral specimens from around the word, and also provides easy-to-find and essential information about each one. The pictures are wonderful, and they portray the appearance of the most common and obscure varieties. With the long hours of studying and the help of this book, I took a state medal, and later a national medal, in the Rocks and Minerals field of the Science Olympiad competition. Best guide I've seen on the subject.