If your idea of love is limited to visions of puppies and balloons, The Thing About Love Is... probably not for you. In Polyphony Press' first effort, the heavy topic of love is tackled in gritty, gutsy pieces that cut to core of this complex emotion. Sometimes it's bliss, sometimes it's bizarre, and quite often it hurts, but regardless of its form, love is always intriguing. This anthology is in keeping with that notion. With a variety of styles and voices, the works featured here are unanimous in their ability to draw the reader in and keep him hooked. It is truly a great read that may challenge one's personal definition of love. Call it an enjoyable experiment in mind expansion!

It's difficult to find an anthology that has as much stopping power as this one. Reading it, I was impressed not only by the diversity of the authorial voices, but also by their veracity. Each story, poem and play seems to have come straight from the gut. What's more, the contributing writers help to remove our blinders; particularly when it comes to matters of the heart. Love, they argue, is nothing less than a battlefield on which each of us daily chances victory or defeat.Those seeking to enter the contest fully armed would do well to buy this book.

Anthologies are not my usual choice of reading material, but as this was recommended to me, I decided to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised. While I could not relate to some of the pieces here, I enjoyed the underlying topic immensely. The poetry, drama, and short stories were a good blend. The Thing About Love Is... an enjoyable and fast read, but has a peculiar lingering effect that required that I return to it for further exploration. It's a perfect book to read from the relative comfort and safety of your best chair, where you know that you can dip into the joy and angst of love and for once, walk away unscathed.

One Step from the White House is a very satisfying, well-written biography of a pivotal figure in both post-World War II U.S. political history as well as 20th century San Francisco Bay Area history. The book chronicles William Fife Knowland's life in a straight-forward narrative from his 1908 birth to his suicide in 1974. Knowland's life makes a compelling story -- from his early days as the favorite son of a politically ambitious father, to his Senate years as a strong voice for the Republican Party's conservative wing, to his self-destructive golden years. Montgomery and Johnson allow the story to unfold slowly and tell itself without too much analysis or summary. While this style gives the book good narrative momentum as the reader becomes more and more familiar with Knowland, this sometimes analysis-free style resulted in this reader wondering how certain events came about, such as Knowland's meteoric rise in the Republican Senate leadership. The book is also too "soft" on its subject for a post-Watergate era political biography. While the author's introductory remarks thanking the Knowland family for their confidence and trust seem polite and appropriate, they ultimately reveal an excessive concern for the subject's descendants at the expense of the story at hand. When Montgomery and Johnson do impose some analysis on the story, it is sometimes unconvincing. The most prominent example of this is naming the book "One Step from the White House," clearly an appropriate title for a biography of Thomas Dewey or Hubert Humphrey, but the author's do not successfully sell its applicability to Knowland. In spite of such lapses, Montgomery and Johnson deliver a effective chronicle of a fascinating man and flawed man.

Gayle B. Montgomery and James W. Johnson have presented an excellent book on the complex life of Senator William F. Knowland. This book is great history of California and the (SF) East Bay Area;the Republican Party of the 1950's and the Oakland Tribune. Daniel Wyatt, the author of the life of Bill Knowland's father, Joseph Russell Knowland.

I knew Senator Knowland well, having worked for twenty years for the Oakland Tribune, and having had the unenviable assignment of writing his obituary for the newspaper following his death. Gayle Montgomery and Jim Johnson have done a magnificent job of capturing the driving demons of a man whose brusque and hearty demeanor disguised a complex and, in the end, tortured personality. This is a compelling book for every reader, not just those interested in the social an political history of the time.

This book is pretty wonderful. It's not quite as good as the Anne and Emily books, but it is one that I love to re-read every so often. I can identify with Pat and her love for her home and not wanting things to change, but dealing with the changes and learning to get along in the world. The descriptions are great, and there are many funny and touching episodes. I also enjoy Judy's Irish dialect, it makes her a fun character. This is definitely a must-read if you like Anne and Emily and the others. However, the sequel, Mistress Pat, was not very good at all. I've only read that one once, but it was boring and seemed a bit pointless. But Pat of Silver Bush is excellent and highly recommended.

Although Pat of Silverbush is not L.M. Montgomery's biggest triumph, it performs up to expectations. The story is firmly rooted in reality as it tells the story of Pat Gardiner, her family, and life at Silverbush, Pat's beloved home. The book follows Pat's expansive imagination in her childhood, and then her struggles to accept change as her family changes as she grows older. The book ends when Pat is eighteen, but her story is picked up in Mistress Pat (which I have not yet read). The book does slow down at times, and there are a few predictable events, but overall this is a charming story about a farming family on PE Island that will bring a sigh of contentment out of any reader.

I have read the entire Anne series, The Blue Castle, Kilmeny of the Orchard, The Story Girl and The Golden Road...but Pat of Silver Bush touched me in a way that none of the other novels did. The book follows Patricia Gardiner from age seven to age eighteen, but does not seem rushed. There is no complicated plot involving secret identities and there is very little melodrama, in my opinion. Pat of Silver Bush is "character-driven" and realistic. It celebrates the beauty of home and of everyday life. Over and over, the descriptions made me shiver and sigh. The episode in which Pat gets lost after running away from her aunt's house and meets Jingle on the road is wonderful. I sympathized with Pat's fear and with her relief and, finally, with the overwhelming joy she feels when she arrives home and sees the windows all lit up. When Pat stayed out after dark with her friends (or alone) I could almost feel the way the evening air would brush against my cheeks and shoulders if I were out on a summer night on Prince Edward Island. Pat's friendship with Bets is sweet and realistic. It made me think, "Every kid should have at least one really close friend like that." Pat's infatuations with different boys when she is a teenager are also realistic...they reminded me of some of my own experiences, even though I was a teenager in the 1990's! If you are a sensitive person who delights in little pleasures (and if you like a book that will make you cry), read Pat of Silver Bush. The only thing about the book that got annoying at times was Judy's dialect. I think readers can imagine an Irish brogue without constantly seeing it spelled out phonetically. I won't dock my rating any stars for it, though. It can be distracting, but it doesn't really take away from the novel.

This text was used in a graduate course on the Design of Experiments. It has a great wealth of examples that span many different fields of industry, from pharmaceuticals to "tool and die" manufacturing. This text, when used along with a statistical software package, made research projects easy to design, implement, analyze and present to others. I found the chapters on reliability, determining sample size for mixed models (random and fixed variables), very helpful in my research.

Doug Montgomery got excellent statistical training at VPI. He also has a wealth of practical experience from his consulting work. His books on regression, statistical design and response surfaces are all well written and understandable to engineers. This 4th edition published in 1997 still contains all the useful information on factorial and fractional factorial designs. Chapter 14 is a wonderful up-to-date chapter that covers important process optimization topics not often covered in traditional design of experiments books. This includes response surface methods, mixture experiments, evolutionary operation and Taguchi methods. It does not require high level mathematics.

Doug Montgomery is an engineer with great statistical training. This enabled him to be a great teacher for statistical practitioners and an author of several excellent applied books in the design and analysis of experimental data and statistical process control. This book is one of the best sources for Design of Experiments for engineers, currently a very important topic in industry. He provides a wealth of information on classical designs and the analysis of variance models. In addition he provides a balanced perspective on the value of Taguchi designs. Other topics covered include response surface methods, evolutionary operation and mixture experiments.

This book (5th edition) cover the topics of undergraduate number theory well. The chapters are -
(1)divisibility
(2)congruences
(3)quadratic reciprocity and quadratic forms
(4)some funtions of number theory
(5)some diophantine equations
(6)farey fractions and irrational numbers
(7)simple continued fractions
(8)prime estimates and multiplicative number theory
(9)algebraic numbers
(10)partition funtion
(11)density of sequences of integers.
It also contains basic cryptography, basic group theory and basic elliptical curves in some of the chapters. The authors give notes on the end of each chapter about some research results, which I enjoy reading.

However, the author give too much hints spoling the fun of solving the problems. Eg 32-36, 40-3, 59-53, 108-36, 136-17, 312-8, and most of the problems in chapter 8. The author should put these hints at the back of the book. I suggest you look up IMO (imo.math.ca) for problems suitable for chapter 1-7 because IMO is well-knowned for its excellent number theory problems (especially 1990-3).

Overall this is an excellent book. I give it a rating of 4.5/5, I don't give it 5 because of the author give too much hints to problems instead of putting hints at back of the book.

I have started my studies in Number Theory reading this book from the preface to the last word. It is amazing! I think it is a better introduction to the subject than the classical Hardy and Wright...it is "more objective" and almost 100% elementary...a good high school reader could do well with it. The chapter of diophantine equations has some divine proofs, very clever and very beautiful. And there is an easy proof of the irracionality of Pi. The only negative point is the existence of some points where the authors could be less concise and a bit clearer, stating the theorems before giving the demonstrations, instead of saying at the end of the paragraph "we then have proved the theorem of..." Its a good book for self-study. It has many exercises.

This is a fantastic book on number theory. It covers far more ground than most introductory text (comparable to Hardy and Wright in depth with much less concern for the big O). It covers material usually only available in separate texts: Rational points on elliptic curves, the partition function, and Dirchlet series. Quite readable chapters, well motivated theoretically, although the historic motivation for the subject matter comes largely in the end-of-the-chapter notes. It's an excellent refresher and reference for non-specialist who find themselves using an algorithm or formula they've forgotten (number theory now playing a role in physics and CS, like never before). It is well cross-referenced with regards to methods of proofs the can be accomplished in different section by different methods - this again making it an excellent reference.

Alas, it is pre-FLT. So you'll have to look elsewhere for that.

What a beautiful book, for beautiful cuisine. I have tried many of the recipes, and although they taste good, I have found a few 'glitches' -- for instance, everything sticks to the pan, or the recipe calls for ingredients but then the directions never say when to use them!

I am now living in Maussane - one of the towns mentioned in the book - it is nice to have the names of the restaurants so I can taste first-hand without having to cook!

Bottom line: this is absolutely worth having.

If you look at the food stains on all our cookbooks, this one will be the dirtiest -- meaning it's the one we refer to the most. The recipes are very provencal, emphasizing fresh ingredients, well matched and well prepared.

But there are some pleasant contrasts to many other provencal cookbooks. Chase doesn't go overboard on obscure meats that you can't easily find in the US (or have can make for finicky dinner guests). Though not in any way designed to be a "health cookbook," the recipes are mostly all just fine when it comes to the health component. Like Jacques Pepin, it's light on saturated fats, but doesn't unnecessarily work to eliminate lovely things like olive oil & butter when needed to make things taste good.

Plus, it's the kind of cookbook that is full of little things that add huge amounts. Example: I have a dozen recipes in other books for Pissaladiere. But in Chase's, she adds a anchoiade spread under the onion topping that makes all the difference, and gets guests asking "What's that flavor in this? It's so good!"

The only time I read the prose (about biking) was when I bought the book. Lovely to read, nice context in which to place a cookbook. But in the end, buy this for the cooking contents.

I have made many of the recipes in this book and have been delighted every time! Her anecdotes bring back my own memories of this lovely area. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

This is a wonderfully mystical book about the Persian master poet Hafez, whose poems remain popular today with Iranians all over the world as a great divination tool. The authors are an Iranian woman, H. Pourafzal, who learned the poetry from childhood, and an American man, R. Montgomery. The book also draws on the work of Ms. Pourafzal's father, who lectures on Persian poetry at Sorbonne University in Paris. The result of this collaboration is a fluidly articulated presentation of an ancient mystical master that has not previously appeared in the West. The many aspects of Hafez's thought are revealed by examining the depths of his poetry in the context of his own times. What emerges are not only many pages of flowing verse but also an engaging vision of a wise universal teacher. The translations/renditions are first rate. Very different from other "scholarly" books on Persian mysticism, and very highly recommended for any reader with a strong mystical bent and the desire to discover a wonderful ancient teacher.

So many books have been written about Persian poetry by non-Persian people in recent years that you may wonder if Persians ever write about their own literary figures. Well, here is a very intelligent and warm book by a Persian woman (and an American co-author) about the deeply-loved poet Hafez. As would be expected, it presents a different picture of thhe poet and a different feel for his poetry than most other books. Hafez is talked about as a true universal poet rather than a Sufi, as most others do. I had not ever heard him called the philosopher of love, but it is a fitting label.

Many people say Hafez cannot be translated well because he writes in an extremely complex manner. In so many translations, this is true. But this poetry is translated with a warm and true feeling for the rhythm and even the rhyme, a unique accomplishment. The book is filled with both the full poems and individual verses. The authors offer extensive discussions of the meanings.

Like another reviewer, I particularly liked the translation of The Wild Deer, a Hafez masterpiece which is not easily understood. This well-known poem conveys the teachings of the poet's whole life.

But perhaps the best part is that the author shares her personal lifetime understanding and study of this cultural being who is so loved by Persians, and now American readers can look at Hafez with affection, a little bit like Persians themselves do. This is a very different view than that of Western literary scholars, and it is so nice that it is now shared in an enlightening and gracious way by a Persian writer. It is a point of great cultural pride.

I recommend this writing to all lovers of poetry and good books.

A wonderful, mystical book that is grounded in ancient Persian tradition. The overall presentation of this Persian poet is well researched and the poetry is moving. I took a long time to read this book, and found it to be in the top ranks of current mystical writing. It is thoughtful, moving and original. I would love to see additional translations.

I gave this book to a friend (25 yrs old at the time) and she loves it. We are both huge Anne Shirley fans and actually L.M. Montgomery fans too. This is a very sweet book that provides you with memories of some of Anne's memorable moments and adventures.

I bought this book for a friend, but before I gave it to her I poured over it. It is adorable and a great book for True Anne Lovers... and not just for kids! I made the raspberry cordial and it is simply delicous. This book brings back memories of Anne's adventures and important events in her life. You will enjoy this book if you are an Anne fan or if you are a cook... you will LOVE this book if you are an Anne fan AND a cook!

I bought this book to the ridicule of family and boyfriend but now they're the one's who can't wait for me to make the recipes included! The saucy chicken was a hit with my mum as was the caramel sauce with everyone. Other recipies include raspberry cordial, shortbread (came out yummy), icecream and chocolate caramels. I can't cook to save my life but these recipies are a doddle, even when I messed up the traditional lemonade it still tasted great.

DeRougemont claims in this classic that the modern notion of romantic love originated in medieval courtly love. He further argues that this medieval notion of romantic love cannot form a proper basis for Christian marriage.

The author traces the tradition of courtly love from the 12th century through the 19th century to modern day. He begins with the legend of Tristan and Isolde and notes the inescapable conflict between passion and marriage. Passion is grounded in an eros that is often spoken of by the poets. Such eros is implicitly selfish and finds its only consummation in death, which means that romantic love includes an unconscious death wish.

The selfishness of passion is at odds with the mature agape love found in Christian marriage. The author claims that his underlying belief is a phrase from Heraclitus, "opposites cooperate, and from their struggle emerges the most beautiful harmony." DeRougemont does not argue that passion should be eliminated from marriage; rather marriage cannot be founded upon passionate love alone.

It is a great reading, though not easy, to fully understand this book you need to have a knowledge of european literature concepts (from the courtly love on).
If you don't have such fundamentals however you will only find it a little more difficult but not less interesting.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who want to understand more about not only his way of falling in and feeling Love, but also about his Culture.
Very interesting also the comparisons and discussions about the Eastern culture and influence on the West.
It's a little bit depressing thinking that such books are nowadays sold at such low prices and out-of-print; the subject and discussions have not actually gone out-of-print and probably won't for a couple of centuries ahead.

This is a curious, compelling study that is likely to generate as much controversy for its style as for its amalgamation of historical, cultural, literary, operatic, biblical and theological traditions. Rougement traces the "courtly love" tradition from its orgins among 12th century troubadors in southern France through the high Romanticism of 19th century opera to the modern-day consequences of a love that is based on Eros, delusion, and selfishness--a passion that lives for passion, and whose only consummation can be death (for were it to endure, to be exposed to the glaring light of day, it would no longer be romantic passion). Rougement's scholarship is solid, his interpretations provocative, and his proximity to his subject uncomfortably "close" for someone bearing the mantle of cultural critic and scholar. In fact, it's impossible not to feel the conflicted emotions of the author himself. On the one hand, he presents himself as the enemy of "Eros" and proponent of "Agape," as the critic of immature, romantic passion and the defender of mature relationships based on a realistic "dialogue" between two unique, complex individuals. On the other hand, he reveals the heart and soul of an incurable romantic, someone who has been love's thrall, who has been swept up in the dark rapture and sublimely lyrical death wish that is Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde." But far from being a liability, that underlying tension provides the book's argument with an energy, vitality and, yes, "passion" that is lacking in similar studies of this fascinating topic. At times I was suspicious that the author might turn out to be an idealogue, tedious moralist, or Christian "fundamentalist," given the zeal and curiously evangelical flavor of many of his sentences. Not to worry. His intellectual kinship is with Kierkegaard, though he finally falls short of the "leap of faith" and spiritual "marriage" achieved by the melancholy Dane. As proof of the foregoing, I defy any close reader of this text to leave the book more repelled than enticed, entranced, and ultimately entrapped by the Tristan and Isolde myth. Rarely have I read a work in which an author so convincingly argues against himself.