This is a great book for summer! It's mostley just fun, but it does touch on responsibility too (but not so it seems like you're getting a lesson). I'd recommend it to anyone, but especially boys, who are begining to read chapter books. There are a couple pictures in each chapter, which also make it a fun book.

More selective than Michelin, Zagat or any lesser known compilations of Europe's best. Hard to disagree with the selections to the list, plus counting how many you've hit in your travels is an automatic reaction to the beautifully layed out publication (I've made it to 37 of the 200). Why not more from Portugal?

This text is a great basic text, serves as a foundation for those beginning their studies in science. As a non-science major, I found the contents easy to digest, while providing the basic nucleus. Pictures complemented the material well. A wonderful source for professors and their students. The material is well-thought and compacted nicely for accessibility and resource usage.

Being a Leftist, I didn't know much about how the conservative movement actually works. After reading this book, I think I understand it a little better. I had always known that the Republican Party is fractured, with religious conservatives and economic libertarians forming a coalition of people who have little in common with one another. This book showed me that there are even more divisions than that.

It also showed me how the conservative movement has changed. In this profile of five relatively young conservative leaders, you won't find any mention of Jesse Helms as a role model. The Republican Party is trying to smooth the edges a little bit.

Of the five leaders whose lives are profiled (Grover Norquist, Ralph Reed, Clint Bolick, David McIntosh, and Bill Kristol), I found Ralph Reed's to be the most interesting. I really didn't know how moderate he is. After his almost comical exploits as a young man trying to rig elections, his maturity and conversion come off as being genuine if incomplete. I loved the parts of the book where Ralph Reed tries to moderate the conservative christian message and is undercut by his own followers, who are much more interested in being anti-abortion crusaders than in crafting a complex social policy. When he missteps, it is usually by presuming to speak for them in ways for which they would not approve.

Grover Norquist comes off as a Darth Vader-like character, a man almost completely blinded by his ideology. Reading about his torpedoing of a potential Colin Powell run for the presidency and about his thinly disguised sympathy for separatist militia groups, one is reminded of the ugly face of conservatism that earned it the traditional brand "mean-spirited". But one also realizes that people like Bill Kristol disapprove of that sort of thing vociferously, and still call themselves conservatives. Norquist operates under the supposition that 60% of the people of the country are Rightists, and that Democrats only win by cheating, but it seems that not even 60% of Republicans would meet his definition of a Rightist.

This book chronicles the intellectual development, the rise to power, the internal conflicts, the illusions and delusions, the lessons learned through hard experience, and the ultimate disappoinment of the Right's leaders before, during, and after the Republican Revolution of 1994. As a liberal reader, I recommend it as a great primer. I don't know what a conservative reader would think of it.

THE SAGA BEGINS WITH SCHRODER GROWING UP ON THE MEXICO-CALIF. BORDER NEAR SAN DIEGO. RUSTLING, BANDITS. ALASKA: HE SPENT A WINTER SNOWED IN WITH JACK LONDON. THEN ON TO CHINA WHERE FROM THE 1880'S THROUGH 1917 THIS MAN WAS ON ONE LONG ADVENTURE. ITEMS: HIS INTEREST IN THE METEORITE THAT STRUCK SIBERIA AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY (1900) AND THE CURIOUS BEHAVIOR OF THE TIBETAN MONKS, LONG BEFORE METAPHYSICS BECAME FASHIONABLE. HIS CRITICISM OF ROY CHAPMAN ANDREWS. HE WORKED FOR THE AMERICAN TOBACCO CO. IN CHINA AND WENT EVERYWHERE WHEN IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DO SO. THE BOOK COVERS HIS LIFE FROM THE 1880'S THROUGH 1917 NO DOUBT A LOT MORE HAPPENED TO HIM THAN WAS IN THE BOOK, BECAUSE THE BOOK ONLY COVERED THOSE YEARS AND HE LIVED WELL INTO HIS NINETIES. HE DIED OF INJURIES FROM AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. IF YOU LIKE TRUE NON-STOP ADVENTURE THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST.

After my trip to Israel in 1997, I've been searching for a book to accurately capture all the sights and culture I experienced during my trip. When my parents received this book as a gift, I knew I had to search down my own copy right away. The photographs in this book are absolutely stunning! Rich color and texture in each picture give a sense of the richness of middle eastern culture in that part of the world. This book is the best I've seen of all the pictorals of Israel. A good one to display on the coffee table.

Virology is not the easiest of subjects to consider studying so it was with some trepidation that I ordered this book. My confidence was well founded as it is in every way superb. Chapters include definitions of viruses, lab techniques, biochemistry, processes of infection, virus-host interactions, vaccines, evolution of viruses and focus chapters on specific viruss/groups. Every page was fascinating and ,relatively easy to grasp if read in page order (though this is not a book for the complete layman, 'A' level biology or chemistry will be useful if not essential). Did you know that ME is caused by a virus, or that seals can catch human flu, or that at laest two infectious particle SMALLER than viruses exist? Read this book!

This updated edition of the classic "The Topping Book" contains all of the great information of the original, plus some updated info about "SM on the Internet," the proliferation of SM groups across the country, and so forth.

I've always enjoyed the authors' writing style (very informal, friendly, and to the point) in other books they've written together and The New Topping Book is no exception. It provides lots of good information and thoughtful points. I've been into SM for over a decade, yet there were still items in this book I hadn't thought of or considered before reading it.

The authors speak of "ritual" in SM. Very good point and the longer I do this sort of thing, the more I agree with them on this point. In fact, they devote a whole chapter to "spiritual SM," describing ways to incorporate ritual into your scene. They also talk about "shadow play," ie ways to do scenes with major emotional risk, both ways to do them and how to end them safely, and what to do if something goes wrong.

In fact early on in the book, Janet and Dossie discuss what to do when something goes wrong, and how to handle this, whether it's during the scene, right after, or even a day or several days later. This also goes for after care, for even when a scene goes great, one or both participants may want or need this.

Among other topics mentioned? As in the original edition, chapters feature topics like "What Is It About Topping Anyway" (ie 'why the attraction to it'), Rights and Responsibilities of a Top, Learning to Play, Ethics, even where and how to meet others (always of importance).

The end of the book has a short "resource guide" of books, support groups, even a couple of online resources for the reader to learn more. It's nice to see an update for this classic. Excellent job you two!

Online Auctions is a well-researched book, full of examples and illustrations.

It is a great "how to" book for the beginning online auction entrepreneur. It guides you step by step, from start to finish, whether you are the buyer or the seller.

I found it very informative from the seller's point of view because I've never sold anything online. It provides excellent tips on how to word your ad. It expressed how the timing of your ad can make or break your auction. I wouldn't have given this much thought but I now know the start time/end time and day of the week start time/end time are critical.

Online Auctions also pointed out that catergorizing your items might make a difference on the number of bids and the amount of the bids you receive.

This book stressed the importance of researching buyers and sellers, how to do it and why.

Online Auctions spelled out the process to attach a picture to your auction. I didn't realize it was such an ordeal.

This book also introduced me to the ins and outs of dutch auctions. I hadn't heard of these before reading this book.

Online Auctions-The Internet Guide for Bargain Hunters and Collectors is a must for someone who has not been involved in the online auction world but would like to be.

This beautiful book is a mini-course in design and the use of public spaces. From Europe through the Arts and Crafts Movement to modernism and children's gardens, Ms. Rutz connects Michigan's gardens to styles and traditions around the world. The stunning photographs--and there are often 4 on a page-- reinforce the text, showing connections between Michigan's showplaces and their roots.

Thirty four gardens in Michigan are highlighted, from the Grand Hotel Gardens on Mackinac Island to Marquette Prison, Kellogg headquarters, Dow Gardens, several colleges and universities, downtown Marshall and Holland, and Hills Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak. It is a virtual tour of the state of Michigan.

Even though I live on the west coast and may never see most of the spaces described, I have this book on the coffee table to enjoy when I need an escape from the clutter of my life. Turning the pages I visit Paris, Cranbrook Art Museum, Flint, and mansions around the world. I sometimes get inspired to try something new in my own backyard, but usually just relax and enjoy the hard work of others.

Read it for information--it is outdoor art history--or for relaxation, but don't think it is only for people in Michigan.