Great new book on amusement parks of PA. This book show the interest in amusement parks and rides that has been growing ever since the 90's. There is a nice balance between the history of the parks and current conditions. In one book the reader learns a wealth of material about past and now defunct parks (where is the mention of the park that used to be in Mt. Gretna - carousel and all??) as well as information on parks that are up and running. Good summary of each park as well as current information on admission, directions, etc. I was disappointed that there was little emphasis on memorabilia or good trivia. The old photos/postcards really help. That would really help this work out. What about all those great tokens. Even Leap the Dips put our a coaster token to push the coaster. The book is a good read and recommended for the enthusiast.

As most roller coaster enthusiasts know, there are very few books that go beyond pretty full-color photographs and into the history of a particular park. It is even more difficult to find information on parks not owned by major corporations (e.g. Disney, Paramount, Vivendi Universal).

Futrell's book captures the unique history of 13 different amusement parks in Pennsylvania. You are given a rare glimpse into these parks that date back to the origins of the American amusement park industry. Having recently visited Kennywood and Idlewild for the first time, I have realized how much of the charm and atmosphere has faded from the latest generation of parks.

Buy this book before the print run ends! You won't regret it.

This book rocks. There was more information than I could possibly imagine. The author is obviously impassioned by his subject--this had to have been a labor of love. And what better muse than the romantic coasters of Pennsylvania.

As a practicing surgeon, I am always interested in reading about ways of improving the health system. Although the description of the problems in healthcare were defined as a result of a misguided approach being practiced by "free barons of the Medical guild," other factors need to be considered.

Patients in the United States feel entitled to all the innovation and health care resources available without consideration of cost. Once patients realize that they have to take responsibility for their health (to prevent illness) then the need for technologically advanced treatments will diminish. While doctors do have a say in the need for procedures, patients must take ultimate responsibility for their health.

We must also consider that the present legal environment adds to the cost of health care. When malpractice premiums for surgeons are $65,000 - $100,000 per year that will impact how physicians practice medicine. Secondly, when the best and the brightest are seeking admission into medical school presently, does anyone expect that trend to continue if medical school debts can amount to $150,000 and limitations will be placed on the autonomy of physician decision making? HMOs may be the answer, but legal and financial jobs will be filled with the best and the brightest leaving medical jobs for dabblers.

O'Briens' Bad Medicine is an excellent discussion of how medical schools and teaching hospitals have contributed to the current health care crisis. As a family health psychologist on the clinical faculty of Harvard Medical school these last 20 years and an advocate for the collaborative family health care paradigm, I welcome this hard hitting, insightful, philosophically grounded presentation of how American medical priorities have often given us both poor health care and impossibly high health care costs. Many of my colleagues, health care practioners and medical school faculty are unhappy with what is happening, for our patients and ourselves. Some of us are beginning to see that we as doctors, medical school faculty and teaching hospital administrators, have been part of the problem. An example is an editorial (Aug 1,l999 Boston Globe) by Dr. Bernard Lown, senior physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Professor Emeritus at Harvard University School of Public Health. Dr. Lown writes, "Our health care system is on the verge of collapse..it began when doctors were seduced by financial incentives, with unquestioning third-party payers providing an open till. Care was fragmented among a bevy of super-specilists, with multiplication of mindless procedures, encouragement of un-called for office visits, and exposuer of patients to a glut of unnessary surgical intervention. Each procedure was converted into a profit center". Larry Obrien has written a strong book on the problem, tracing the history and philosophy of this medical/financial train wreck using his 25 years of experience in HMO administration. Bad Medicine is a great public policy contribution because it shows how and why the American government has colluded over the course of the 20th century. Congress has subsidized too many medical schools producing an oversupply of specilists, functioning for profit, with extraordinary high technology, to do often unnecessary procedures on individual body parts with an 18th century mechanistic mind set of repairing bodies like they were broken clocks. All this is still going on, when we health providers, consumers, administrators and legislators could and should be maintaining health defined as dynamic biopsychosocial functioning of human beings as we understand ourselves from the perspective of 20th century neuromolecular biological medical science and philosophy. Bad Medicine concludes with recomendations for collaborative health care, treating whole human beings by teams led by primary, family generalist health care doctors in local settings, in organizations given financial incentives to maintain health care with information systems that really help care and cost.

As a former federal health policy analyst I can't help but say "right on" to Lawrence O'Brien's thoughtful analysis of the problems endemic in the U.S. health care system and his carefully laid out steps for reform.

Certainly, the medical economic system and its incentives are awry, with demand set by the seller and the true price hidden from the consumer. But O'Brien also succinctly shows that the product is flawed explaining how and why the U.S. falls so far behind many other countries in indications of health and well being.

The litany of problems, linked to their roots, is a treasure trove of insight. Among them: How medical records are stored and handled contributes to the dearth of clinical science and evaluation. How medical schools create and then reinforce system problems. The effect on both medical outcome and economics of too many doctors practicing the wrong spcialties. How federal interventions have exacerbated problems.

Perhaps most instructive is O'Briens clear description and examples in everyday medicine of the important distinction between advances in true medical science, which discovers the causes and preventions of illness and disease, and advances in medical technology, which develops interventions designed to lessen the impact of disease for which no cure has yet been found. This is reflected not only in the banks of blinking and beeping machines in today's hospitals, but in the increasing specialization of physicians where technical skills are rewarded highly and payment for services aimed at preventing disease is almost non-existent.

O'Brien outlines steps needed for significant health care reform, adknowledging that the full-scale upheaval needed will be difficult to achieve. Nevertheless, he serves up an insightful and cogent framework for reform and, perhaps most importantly, prompts consumers to view the system in a different light. And that is perhaps the hardest task of all, convincing the patient that changes need to be made.

Crazy Horse comes off noble and courageous as he probably was. The author did mix in episodes of the great warrior's cruelty that fell well within the category of atrocity. However, the treatment was not overly sentimental and told of the hostilities that existed between the tribes, who had been united to defeat the white man's ignoring of existing treaties.

The surgeon and his love for his wife offered an interesting juxtaposition to the harshness of frontier life. I found this book infomative and enjoyable.

I met Dan O'Brien in 1975 when a common love for fine horses, bird dogs and all things wild had enticed each of us into the early advent of what the practical in heart prophisied to be the follies of misguided youth. Our paths crossed and ran parallel for about three years until our separate and multifaceted career paths dictated decisions leading us in different directions. Even though I had been able to follow his successes with the Perigine foundation through reports from common aquaintences, I had not, until recently, known how far Dan had progessed in his desire to become a respected author. THE CONTRACT SURGEON, a far cry from the short stories of his youth, is the combination of careful research, and an intimacy with the land that can only be expressed by someone whose livelihood is hinged upon the vitality of a place as hostile yet fragile as the ancient grasslands of North America. Dan's vibrant word pictures, painted through army surgeon Valentine McGillycuddy's recollections of his own youthful passion for the Great Plains and its inhabitants, create a sensory overload which compelled me to read the whole book in one setting. No contemporary author has driven me to that point in many years. If you have ever connected with the land, fine horseflesh and wild places, keep a bandanna handy. Same goes for the warrior who has wondered how you can hate yet respect and even love the enemy. For the dreamers and the politically correct, who need a reality check, this one is for you too.

A fine read, crafted by a man whose misguided youth has proved visionary, not misspent. My compliments to Dan and his own Dr. McGraw. Whoever he is.

This is beautifully written historical fiction with some excellent medical scenes. I'm a librarian and I read everything and this was the best book I've read so far this year. Riveting medical drama, a lovely romance, and excellent historical details make this a terrific read. Highly recommended by me!

The ancient Hawaiian culture has always held an air of mystique. The language, not readily understandable by the rest of the world, even has a touch of the unknown. Couple these with a warm tropical paradise and you have the perfect setting for suspense.When Kate McKenna, the daughter of a native Hawaiian mother, visits the island of Maui in search of her heritage, a chance meeting with a mysterious stranger piques her curiosity. The stranger, Dan Kala, is disconcerted with the near-identical resemblance of Kate to a long-dead Princess of Hawaiian Royalty.Beginning with a missing roll of film, unexplainable events begin to occur which seem to have roots in a curse out of the past. When Kate begins to doubt her own sanity she wonders if Dan holds the answers, or is he on a search for his own reasons? TAKE MY BREATH AWAY is a good, suspenseful read that kept me turning the pages.

Take My Breath Away is the fifth Meg O'Brien book I've read and the author continues to amaze me. Her writing is both intelligently crafted and full of suspense. I loved the way she weaved historical fact throughout a modern plot. The heroine is brave, but in a vulnerable sort of way, making me want to cheer her on every step of the way.

This book is interesting and spellbinding. Meg's other books that I love are her Jesse James series and my favorite thriller is "The Keeper". If you like suspence and mystery, you have to read these books. When you read, you are there, you can understand the characters and are rapt to see what happens to them throughout the story. Jesse James of the series is a unique character and as the books evolve so does she. She ages and grows. The only thing wanting about these books is that it takes too long before a new one comes out!

Do yourselves a favor and get into a Meg O'Brien book, you'll be glad you did.

Terri Doria

Thumbelina is not normal girl she is about the size of your thumb, but don't let her height mistake you she can do alot of things other people can't do. Like she can fit into small spaces that you can't. So if you like books that are about people doing extremely different things that you don't think that can do then this is the book right for you to read. This book will amaze your eyes with the colorful pictures inside, and with the amazing things Thumbelina can do.

Hans Christian Andersen's story of Thumbeline is so endearing that it's no wonder that so many authors have written their own versions of it and so many illustrators have had a go at making tiny Thumbeline come to life. This version, translated by Anthea Bell and illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger is brimming with charm, rustic folk sensibilities, kindness and compassion spiked with just the right amount of perilous adventure to make it interesting, and a lovely magical feel. The story is well told in satisfyingly descriptive language. The illustrations are superb! Zwerger does a wonderful job with all of the animal characters that Thumbeline encounters and manages to infuse them with emotion and intelligence as well as country charm. Little red-haired Thumbeline is delicate and sweet in several lovely costumes with a peasant feel to them. You know the tale...a woman tells a witch that she wants a "tiny child" and the magic gives her exactly what she wishes for, a tiny child no bigger than her thumb. Thumbeline is born from the heart of a tulip. She's so beautiful and sweet that every small suitor in the neighborhood wants her hand in marriage, including a toad, a mole and a June beetle. They are not interested in the fact that she does not want to marry them! She gets help from other wee folk in the woodland community and makes a good friend when she saves the life of a swallow. The story ends happily for Thumbeline. It may be desirable to point out to your young ones that not every unattached female needs to find a husband, especially very young ones like Thumbeline, and that kidnapping and force are not true ways to get a girl to marry you! Children are smart enough to know that but it's still a good idea to talk over the odd concepts that a child may be thinking about after you read this story. I love this old-fashioned story and this re-telling adds beautifully to its charm and therefore justifies its conception.

The familiar Hans Christian Andersen story of Thumbelina has received the royal treatment from Susan Jeffers. Her large, lovely pictures make this seem like you are stepping into the story for the first time. Thumbelina is so dainty and sweet that it's no wonder the toad wishes to marry her but poor Thumbelina has a harrowing time escaping from her warty suitor. Share a trumpet vine blossom with Thumbelina, a pair of hummingbirds and a fat bumble bee or take a ride with her on the back of a gallant swallow. This whole story is enchanting from start to finish and the pictures are a delight!

This is an omnibus edition containing four semi-related examples of Dave Barry's early, fairly short works: Dave Barry's Guide To Marriage and/or Sex, Babies and Other Hazards of Sex, Stay Fit and Healthy Until You're Dead, and Claw Your Way To The Top.

The humor is mostly some of Dave's better stuff, although I thought that the first two sections were funnier than the last two; still, even those are well worth reading. Overall, about on a par with "Dave Barry's Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Need".

I bought this as a gift for a friend, who just happens to be an expectant mother. She was showered with "how to" books on raising babies, so I thought I would give her one more -- the Dave Barry guide. I started reading it, and ended up chuckling more often than not. A recommended read to someone who wants a laugh, and enjoys Dave Barry's outrageous writing style.

Much of this was written back before Dave Barry was a name brand humorist. I can remember buying copies of the babies book years ago to give to all of my pregnant friends. This is typical Barry-- pointed, free-wheeling, funny and immediately recognizable as pieces of truth that most people are too polite to mention. Written as books, these are often more sustained than the column collections, and written Back In The Day, they don't have to live up to any rep or expectation. These books are part of what MADE Dave Barry's national following.

I don't know who is stranger? This author or Angelo Buono. The biggest hero in this book is a alcoholic philandering cop who, when he gets liquored up he shoots off his gun. I am inclined to believe Angelo Buono was innocent after reading this geeks view of the world.

I reread this book every couple of years. This is an must read for any true crime junkie. It was so well written and showed all sides of the story. It made me realize random acts of violence against women was the "high" for these two idoits. They killed women they knew as well as someone they just spotted on the street. They were cold blooded murderers ...and ended up where they needed to be... a premanet resident of the state prison. As a female it made me more aware of my surroundings and I never get out of my car without looking around first for weirdo's lurking. :)

I loved this book. I inherited among others from a deceased family member (among other books).

The "Hillside Strangler" became an everyday headline that frightened Los Angeles for a year or so in the late 1970's. During that year, bodies of young women started showing up on the hillsides around the city. But the horror waned beside the revelations that came to light in what became the longest criminal trial in American history--BEFORE O. J. Simpson's 1994 trial--and one of the most controversial

The Hillside Strangler was thought to be one person with a real fast pace in killing. With TWO OF A KIND, Darcy O'Brien gives the inside story and is the first book to make the shocking disclosure that "the Hillside Strangler" was not one man, but two, and not only that -- they were were cousins!

In Mr. O'Brien's riveting story examines the relationship between the murderers and the drive behind their hideously evil crimes. It tells the entire story of the Hillside Stranglers as it has never been told before. He begins with the stranglers themselves who just decided one night out of bordom that they hated women and wanted to kill them (even as one strangler was living with a pregnant girlfriend and hiding the truth of his killing spree from her).

It reveals the torture, the prostitution ring, the killings. But it also shows the other side of the drama--the law. The police were so baffled by the disappearing women and then the subsequent finding them on a hillside dead, that they took drastic measures to ensure justice would prevail in this case.

TWO OF A KIND is a true story of crime and punishment here and now. But even more disturbing, it is a tale of primal evil rising from the darkest human depths and our age-old struggle to defend ourselves from it.

Dominic O'Brien developed his own system which uses (famous) people linked with numerals from 0-99. Foe example, he uses the digit 00 - as Olive Oyle, popeyes girlfriend. It is clever as it is different from the phonetic system which Buzan, Lorrayne and the like developed. He then links them together using the Loci system; a different location with a different person etc. If you a familiar with the phonetic system i.e 1 = t,d; 2 = n etc why change? Every memory improvement book uses word association and imagery and this book is no exception. Both need to be developed and practiced. It doesn't take one or two lessons to learn to play the piano, so why should memory improvement be any different?

Dominic o'brien teaches how to memorise lists, languages, numbers, names, general facts and lots of other things. He explains how his simple methods transformed him from an absent minded dyslexic to the world memory champion.One of his feats include memorising 35 packs of cards in 35 seconds! much practice is needed to really use his techniques in every day life. however i managed to memorize all the american states and their capitals in one hour and all the american presidents and their period of office in 30 minutes. i did this without much practice. this book will improve your memory and concentration if practice the techniques he teaches.

In my opinion this is the best book on memory improvement that I've found, I've been studing memory training for few months and I can memorize 155 digits in 5 min, deck of cards in 2.5 min so I should know what I'm talking about .

Dominic's system's are so easy and effective, his method for languages are just brilliant. His use of the journey technique is so logical and effective. My only wonder is why is this not taught in SCHOOLS?????

So I have only one more thing to say try to find the book and buy it NOW!!!!!

This is without a doubt, the funniest, most clever and, ironically, on target business book I have ever read. Boy howdy! It's got everything: parodies, satire, spoofs, and monkeys with sticks. I laughed til I ... ummm, nevermind.

Let me start by noting that this book is not something I would have picked up just browsing at the bookstore. There're lots of satires out there about the business world that just rely on the same old cliches about the silliness of economists and the business world. But I heard the authors on a radio show, and they were really funny, so I figured it was worth a look. When I did so, frankly, I laughed so hard right there in the store that I figured I better go ahead and get a copy. I am sure that their jabs will offend someone, but for the rest of us, it's hilarious.

I am, in general, not overly fond of business parodies (remeber that lame 'cut the cheese' one?) but then I heard the authors on a radio interview in Fresno and they cracked me up. Enough to go buy the book.

And the book is even better. These two cover virtually every genre of business book written. Their history section is worth the price; Hayak as a poet, Lenin complaining about the revolution, these guys are GREAT!

I found the prose well written, the industry examples almost made me, dare I say this?, wet my pants.

I can whole heartedly recommend this book, you'll cry laughing.

I've read better true crime books, but this is better than most. A lot of unnecessary details are included. And then there are some strange omissions. We read about the doctor's parents a lot at the beginning and then it's just mentioned parenthetically along the way that they died.

The book could have benefitted from a good paring down, say by 30%. But then they couldn't sell it for as much could they?

I am from Southern Illinois and remembered when the Cavaness case came about. One of our neighbors had been one of his nurses. I couldn't fathom a father killing his sons and in such a gruesome and cowardless way. I also couldn't comprehend a town that could worship such a menace to society. And the unbelievable part is that even today, he is still regarded as a well respected indidvidual.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves true crime. You will not be able to put this book down.

"Murder In Little Egypt."
This book is unnerving to the soul yet unforgetable. My mother bought this book a couple of years ago do the fact that Dr. Cavaness was her doctor and also the doctor of some other members of my family.
Although i was only eight years old at the time Dr. Cavaness murdered his son Sean, I still remember my parents and family members discussing it. In private of course, but being a sly little girl i would hide behind the couch or stand in the hallway unnoticed and listen quietly to the conversation at hand.

Egypt, as the title refurs to is better known as Southern Illinois. Little Egypt, lies between Eldorado and Harrisburg Illinois. My home town area.

The news spread across the area within days and disrupted and discouraged the lives of friends and citizens of Dr. John Dale Cavaness, a respected, well known and well liked doctor, who lived in Harrisburg and practiced at Pearce Hospital in Eldorado. I found the details of Seans murder to be sickening and heartbreaking. I was in tears as i continued to read about their lives and how twisted it was. When my mother gave me this book she asked me if i remembered the story of what happened. Briefly i did but i had no idea of the turmoil behind it. The details and lives of the Cavaness's are well understood and i just couldn't put the book down until it was finished. It made me think twice about what doctor i choose.