Somehow Holmes produces scholarly biographies that make compulsive reading. He never fictionalizes or puts thoughts in his subjects' heads that he has no authority for - and yet he keeps us turning those pages. Is it the subjects he choses? Shelley and Coleridge both had strongly "plotted" lives. Coleridge married the sister of Southey's wife and fell in love with the sister of Wordsworth's wife. I liked his comment on Coleridge's father's predecessor in the the benefice of St Mary's Ottery.

The general reader and the scholar should enjoy this book. Holmes does set Coleridge talking.

Don't miss Owen Barfield's WHAT COLERIDGE THOUGHT if you want to explore the matephysician.

If you think Coleridge was finished by 1804, think again. True, all his great poems had been written but an astonishing life of triumph and tragi-comedy lay ahead. "Coleridge, Darker Reflections" is the long-awaited second half of this award-winning biography of Samuel Taylor Coleridge. It covers the period 1804-1834 - a time when, according to popular belief, Coleridge's fertile imagination had dried up and he faced a slippery slide to an opium-induced decline. But not according to the author Richard Holmes, described as "Our best post-war biographer". He is a superb story teller and unlike so many biographers before him, deeply in touch with his subject. His first volume, "Coleridge Early Visions" introduced the poet to a new generation of admirers (including myself who was fired into writing a play for children about the poet's early magical years). This wonderful book will surely establish STC as a troubled but gigantic genius of the 19th century. Holme's own genius is to show us Coleridge the man. "Always on the knife edge between tragedy and comedy" said Holmes at the London book launch this week (21st October 1998) Holmes has worked assiduously through STC's vast notebooks. Like his namesake, Sherlock, the author clearly enjoys the detection element of biography. His is a personal search for the man, his millieu and his place. Holmes retraces STC's footsteps around England - echoing the desperate perambulations of the wandering poet. Holmes tells this astonishing story at a cracking pace - he has the thriller-writer's gift for making you turn the page. We follow STC through his Malta years - a wonderful evocation of Coleridge's chaotic life. The years of tragic opium decline in London are brought to life (I challenge you not to cry) - and yet there are so many triumphs - the marvellous late poems that Holmes has championed in an earlier collection, the seminal lectures on Shakespeare, Coleridge the thinker and radical, Coleridge the father (not a very good one), the years of relative happiness in Highgate where we find Coleridge the guru. Above all is Coleridge the man. Holmes as only the greatest biographers can, brings his subject completely to life and shows us why Coleridge was such a tour de force in the Romantic movement and why Byron called Wordsworth "a fixed star" but Coleridge "a meteor". There is so much to love in this book - it is hard to know what to recommend. If you have never read a biography before, make this your first. If you think you are familiar with the life of STC, this book, so full of new discoveries and insights, will make you reassess the poet. Holmes is clearly enamoured of his subject. It is a book that will make you laugh out loud in places. You will see exactly why Charles Lamb said of his great friend "He is an archangel, damaged."

Ernest Holmes' Creative Mind and Success is a little gem of a book. Not only will reading and re-reading it give you the good stuff for your mind that'll help propel you to success -- but the book proves you don't have to write a ton of verbiage to be profound. And you, as a consumer, can save thousands of dollars in motivational training by just reading THIS small book.
Holme's main point is that "your thought decides whether your business shall be a success or a failure." Why? Because "Life is from within outward and never from without inward." Our thoughts DO influence what we become and how we fare. Holme's wrote this book in 1919 and wrote the foward to its reprinting in 1957 -- and it is as good as ever.
And...no...I'm not a card-carrying member of his church (with a name like "Gandelman" -- guess!). But I've learned (the HARD WAY) that the motivational speakers and motivational/spiritual writers are CORRECT: how we view things, what we verbally and mentally affirm and what and how we pray (affirmation is actually a form of prayer so if you don't like to pray and you do affirmations, you're basically doing it) DOES HAVE AN IMPACT. If I don't do it and go into a downward spiral, I STAY in it. If I break it and do affirmations or Holme's version of prayer mixed with affirmation (affirmative prayer) I get out of it and steadily advance.
Why do I suggest you get and read, re-read and TRAVEL WITH this book? A few reasons:
1. It's only 84 pages long.
2. He clearly provided the foundation for the views of many motivational, self-help folks who would follow. I see a lot of Napolean Hill's philosophy (they most likely arrived at the same conclusions independently) in it. And even Norman Vincent Peale whose widely used quote is on the dust cover: "I believe God was in this man, Ernest Holmes. He was in tune with the Infinite."
3. He CONSTANTLY tells readers to ignore the naysayers who tell you you are a failure. Ignore the prophets of doom and gloom who, in your darkest moments, will tell you that you are destined to flop.
4. He gives you a very specific explanation as to why you must IGNORE the negative voices and view yourself as a success and your goals as doable. As he puts it, yes, there is a cause and effect but "In your life you are that cause." Think failure and poverty...that's what you'll get. If, despite where you are now, you think success and plenty, you'll find yourself headed in that direction.
"Whatever we think is the pattern and mind is the builder," he writes. "....Know that no matter what others may say, think or do, you are a success, now, and nothing can hinder you from accomplishing your good."
5. Whether you want to use a self-help framework or religious framework this profound little book (you will NOT feel cheated; there is no padding!) gives you the CONFIDENCE and HOPE to jump out of bed every day and get down to it...and listen to YOUR OWN encouragement and blot out the negative voices that may surround you and dishearten you.
When things may not look great, you can read it and get your thinking back on track. If people say you're destined to fail, Holmes is there to tell you you will NOT and give you a specific framework to tell you why you won't if you don't think you won't.
NOTE: I not only read this but I underlined it. Now I'm re-reading my underlinings. Then I'll re-read it again..and I travel with this jewel of a book, keeping it in my carry-on luggage or my overnight bag.

All my life i have heard that you can use your mind to bring you anything you want. i never belived it. after reading this book i started to doubt my notion. but still i cannot say that the first statement is a valid statment because i have just begun to use the book for mind control. but its a great book to remove negetive thoughts from your mind and start to hope and belive in the mental powers.

This is a book you can't put dow

Encyclopedia Brown is a 5th grade boy who solves puzzles, crimes and mysteries as easily and as unconsciously as breathing.

Each book is a series of short mysteries (5-10 pages each) ending with a question - usually "how did Encyclopedia know that X was responsible for the crime". The answer to each mystery is at the back of the book. Solving the mystery takes no special knowledge, but it does require paying attention to detail. Don't turn to the answer too fast.

This book is the third in the series, but the books do not have to be read in order. I loved the Encyclopedia Brown books when I was growing up. I am reading them again before I give them to my nephew who I hope will enjoy them as I did. (The target reading level is ages 9-12).

Adults who like this series may also enjoy the Lateral Thinking Puzzles books.

Teaching kids to observe, think, and have fun at the same time? Difficult? Not with the Encyclopedia Brown books!

This is actually the third book in the Encyclopedia Brown series by author Donald J. Sobol. In this volume, Encyclopedia Brown, the smartest kid in Idaville, tackles ten cases. Kids (and adults) will have a great time matching wits with Encyclopedia as they gather clues with him and seek to put together the pieces of the puzzle. If you can't crack the puzzles, don't worry: the solutions to each case appear at the end of the book.

These stories were first published in the 1960's, so they're a little dated, but they still provide loads of fun, and some of them are pretty tricky. If you'd like to develop critical thinking and observation skills in your kids, you can't go wrong with Encyclopedia Brown.

10 cases, 112 pages total

Donald J. Sobol has done it again with another great collection of 10 mysteries that his hero, Encyclopedia Brown, must solve. From the obvious to the scientific you'll have to use your wits to figure out these stories. From a kidnapping to stolen diamonds to a local bitter drink contest this book is a great get-away for those who like to think out solutions as they read.

After spending literally thousands of hours reading true crime books, I can say that this is the real thing. I was absolutely thrilled to see that it is available because I am going to make it required reading for the students in my Criminal Investigation classes! They may grumble at first about having another book to read, but when they start on "The Evidence Never Lies", they'll not want to put it down!

As the spouse of an award-winning crime reporter, we found "The Evidence Never Lies" to be a compelling, thought-provoking analysis of the incredible career of Herbert MacDonell. For those whose careers focus on crime, crime buffs, and seekers of great reading, this is a must-buy.

I first found this book in 1992...and it changed my life. I am not kidding. Because of this book, I went on to studying serial killers, profiling and forensics...I was a paralegal major before that. The Evidence Never Lies is one of those treasures that should not be lost....never mind out of print!! I searched for it to see if there were a newer edition; I cannot believe it is out of print. Please Mr. MacDonell, write another like it. It is truly great

My ten year old son is a rapidly developing avid reader who has fallen absolutely in love with this excellent series. Erickson creates rapid narratives filled with honest (and yes, corny) humor and pleasently comic action and an occasional moral or two.

This series provides young readers with a simple, yet appropriately challenging vocabulary. It also provides fine entertainment as it can hold a young man, who favors outdoor activities and sports, and his attention span for countless hours. A most highly reccomended series of books designed to encourage and develop young readers.

This is my all time favorite Hank the Cowdog book! I love Madam Moonshine and Wallace and Junior. It's witty and humorous throughout the book. I'm impatiently waiting for #34 to come out. I recomend any of these books to children and adult alike.

Poor Hank! This makes a great sequel to number one! This is one of the best, and the cure for this terrible disease is hilarious! I would recommend this book to any Hank the Cowdog fan! - MG

Nigel Bruce's Watson is a loveable bumbler--quite a contrast to Conan Doyle's capable but unimaginative Watson. The stories tend to be somewhat contrived and suffer in comparison to the BBC productions of original Doyle stories in which Clive Morrison starred as Holmes. The organ music gets monotonous, and if I weren't already a teetotaler, the wine commercials would make me take the temperance pledge. Despite all that, the productions are wonderfully entertaining. Basil Rathbone's Holmes exceeds Clive Morrison's overacted Holmes as the day exceeds the night. The chemistry between Bruce and Rathbone is perfect, and the simple stories move swiftly to their satisfying (if somewhat obvious) conclusions. Although Holmes purists tend to hate Nigel Bruce's Watson, I found him to be irresistably likeable. I'd want Doyle's Watson guarding my back in a tight spot, but I'd rather sit by the fireplace and swap stories with Bruce's Watson. I particularly liked the host's introductory visits with Watson in which Watson sets the stage for the mysteries.

having been born 30 years after the recording of these great radio classics, i feel like I was there during the original broadcasts. Basil rathbone and nigel bruce are surpurb in there roles as holmes and watson. a must have for any sherlock holmes fan.

peel your eyes away from the idiot box and use what's left of your imagination. buy this now!!!

This book is a great book! I think that all Hank the Cowdog books are good! Hank saves the day by taking the medicine to Little Molly. When he runs into a couple friends that try to eat him Madam Moonshine helps him.

Little Molly is sick, and Hank, Drover, and Slim try to bring her medicine.But they get lost in a blizzard!Will they ever make it back home?Will they get the medicine to the baby?Find out in this exciting adventure of hank the cowdog!!!!!!!

Comic drama at its best. Wonderful voice acting, writing and wording of scramble (scrambling of words, written in the tapes own dialect). A joy for the whole family.

This book is a wonderful resource. The book is full of design ideas shown in site plans, 3-D renderings, and with great close up photos of the flowers, scrubs, and trees. Many designs are shown in each season and in a progression of how it will look in three to five years and then in ten to fifteen years. I found this book to be very helpful in designing flower beds, in picking plantings, and in knowing how to care for each planting.

I'm not under 13, but I didn't want to give my name and email.

This book is great. It takes advantage of some great underused native plants from the Mid Atlantic. It is very helpful because it provides plant spacing and maintenance. Most plants are low maintenance, all year interest.

I have used the landscape plans in my yard and will continue to use this book as my number one reference.

I am new to gardening and I am have cleared out my backyard, I had no idea what I was doing or what kind of plants to put where until I read this book. It also has good ideas for building patios... great illustrations too!

Tony Holmes' "Hurricane, a Fighter Legend" started my interest in second worldwar aviation again, and this book is a nice companion to the former, focussing on the merits of the plane and its pilots in those very crucial days and giving an exellent account of it.
For Hurricane colour photographs you have to have the 'fighter legend' book, but the colour sideviews in 'Hurricane Aces' are very good, and more than make up for the lack of colour photographs. Very good in my opinion is the last part of the book, where all planes depicted in the sideviews get their own small piece of history, including their eventual fate in most cases.

This excellent account covers the pilots who were some of the first RAF aces during WW2, whilst also giving a superb history of the early part of this legendary fighter's operational combat career. I've always had a soft spot for the Hawker Hurricane and the extraordinary young men who flew and fought in it. The Spitfire has received an unfair share of the credit for the victory that was the Battle of Britain, despite the fact that two-thirds of the RAF fighter squadrons were composed of Hurricanes. 'Spitfire snobbery' was displayed by downed German aircrew, who refused to accept that they could have been bested by anything less than a Spifire. The careers of pilots such as Kain, Brothers and Frantisek illustrate how this magnificent machine was the equal to anything the Luftwaffe flew. This is an informative and fascinating account of the part played by brave young men, and the legend that was their steed, during the darkest days of WW2.

This Osprey Series is really amazing, no wonder it's making a big sucess. "Hurricane Aces" go deeply in details about the aces involved in those hectic days of 39/40, as always making a link with the enemy's units involved. We can find the scores, the ones who died, the ones who became great wing leader in the future. Excellent work by Tony Holmes.

I have to admit, I normally wouldn't have read this type of story but was "forced" into it because the author is my niece. [g] (Hello to Beckers, if she ever happens upon this!) Her writing style is believable, fun and I found myself reading non stop. Trust me when I tell you, that had I not loved this book I wouldn't be writing this now. A great read!

This book is a tour-de-force in technique. Pen Baker has mastered Conan Doyle's voice perfectly. If you believe in your heart that Sherlock lives, you can believe that this book was written by his daughter!

If you like feminist thought, Sherlock Holmes, a good mystery, good dialogue, and a a fun sense of history, go for it.