Like all introductory texts, it skimps a little on complexity. However, I truly have an appreciation now for finance. Many decisions my company makes now make sense. Though I have little need to apply financial concepts in my current job, I can give better 'business reason' explanations to my reports when they ask. Which is why I began pursuing an MBA in the first place.

Dr. Guillermo E. Martinez.

Bruce Walker

Pastor, Grace Church of Greenville

Each of the 87 areas includes a quick summary of important info such as distance & elevation, detailed instructions to reach the areas and find the trailheads (and whether 4WD is required), a basic map of the wilderness area (including access roads and designated trails), discussion of geology, plants, wildlife, and sometimes historical notes. Many areas include B&W pictures.

Some areas have descriptions of activities beyond hiking, such as river running, rock climbing, and cross-country skiing.

This book is one of Scott Warren's exemplary outdoor-related books. This mammoth effort includes area and trail descriptions for 87 of Arizona's Wild Areas. Descriptions of each area include statistics, hiking seasons recommended, plants and wildlife, geology, and a hiking narrative which includes good trail information as well as detailed information on how to access trailheads. An excellent basic map detailing every trail accompanies each area. This book is the first one I reach for when I am looking for Arizona hiking information. I am sure it will be yours too

Aside from the sheer thrill of witnessing at least part of the transition and revision, the book itself is a wonder--to one end--to be viewed along with "The Great Gatsby." Things I've been bothered by in "Gatsby" are different in this book, and it's interesting to read that they had indeed been altered - most notably, the mid-section in "Gatsby" when Nick tells the reader in a near omnicient narration Gatsby's true story; this happens entirely differently in "Trimalchio" and in my opinion does not break the narrative flow the way it does in the final "Great Gatsby."

Some unanswered questions, some debated items become clearer after reading this. Is Gatsby a good guy or a bad guy? Is Nick? Who is Jordan Baker really? Is Nick the agent of the action or an observant/removed narrator? "Trimalchio" presents the answers to some of these questions differently than does "The Great Gatsby," or in a more straightforward and clear fashion. In a sense, this could be a truer-to-Fitzgerald's-soul account, as many of the changes were suggested to him from the outside. Many of the characters underwent changes from this version to "The Great Gatsby," though some changes more major than others.

I'm trying, in this review, not to write what would be a book's worth of my opinion about which is a superior book. Gatsby is such a part of me I could write forever. I will mention that typos and other necessary changes were made from this to the final, as well. And although some things I've questioned and have bothered me simply because I do love the book so much are different in this early version, I don't know how I'd feel if this were the *only* version of the book, as what we have here is an early version of a book I'd always thought brilliant.

The language is beautiful; the characters amazing, sad, complex. I'm infinitely impressed by this book, whichever level of "completion."

I've got one complaint about this edition of "Trimalchio": at the back of the book, there is a list of changes made - galley version, holograph, 1st edition, etc. They are laid out in such a way that they are hard to follow and hard to study. I nearly know "The Great Gatsby" by heart. While reading "Trimalchio" I noticed tiny, tiny differences. But, after I finished, I wanted to truly study the changes at each stage of Fitzgerald's writing, and the lay-out and lack of explanation made it oppressively uninviting. It's too bad, too, because I am ceaselessly (as FSF might say) interested in this - this book, the revision process, its history, everything Gatsby.

In one sense - especially in the little-changed early chapters - this version of the story is interesting mostly in that it demonstrates the improvement brought about by the relatively few changes that were still to come. For example, Jordan Baker's climactic recollection of seeing Daisy and Gatsby together during the war is quite a bit less scandalous here than in the final version, so that the plot still advances but much of the tension of the scene is lacking. Some of the party scenes are also less detailed than they would become. None of this is to say these parts of the book aren't still enjoyable, especially if you haven't read Gatsby recently; it's just that the changes Fitzgerald made really did improve the story in small but noticeable ways.

Although the end of the story is largely the same, the last two chapters do hold several surprises for those who are already familiar with the final version. Gatsby is portrayed at least slightly more sympathetically, Nick is less of a shadow, and the past events leading up to the currently unfolding plot are both different and somewhat less vague. This takes away some of the mystique of several of the characters, but it's not necessarily better or worse; in any case, it's fascinating to see Fitzgerald's original approach and how it changed. One thing he arguably didn't change enough is Nick's bleak outlook in the closing pages; life doesn't end at 30 just because of a lousy summer! I've always considered that the weakest point of the novel, but this version at least offers a slightly different context and narration of the ending.

Imperfections and all, it's still brilliant. Recommended for all Gatsby fans.

All of the above should explain why I picked up "Final Cut: The Post-War B-17 Flying Fortress: The Survivors." The point of this book is simply to acknowledge that the era of the B-17 is finally drawing to a close over fifty years after the Boeing Model 299 first left the drawing board. After decades of combat, military, and civil use there are but a handful of Flying Fortresses still actually flying. "Final Cut" accounts for virtually every B-17 still left intact on some corner of the globe. It is not only a compilation of what B-17s can be seen where, but also a record of the diverse uses these airplanes were put to after World War II. After proving itself as a the heavyweight bomber of the war it segued into roles such as air-sea rescue, weather and photo reconnaissance, test-beds for engines and electronic equipment, cargo and administrative transport, drone and drone controller use, covert CIA activities, and airborne radar platforms. That was just in the military. In civilain use surplus B-17s were put to wide use as air tankers, sprayers, transports, test-bed, and, of course, film production.

"Final Cut" is a fascinating record of these planes, even flagging certain planes with asterisks because these are incomplete or badly damaged airframe that are still identifiable and may be eventually used to build up complete aircraft. That is the sort of attention to detail that you have to admire. Scott Thompson's book is divided into six main part: (I) The Dust Settles talks about the end of the war; (II) Post-War Military Use of the B-17 covers the use of reconfigured and redesignated Fortresses; (III) Civil Use of the Flying Fortress, including a chapter devoted specifically to Motion Picture and Television Use; (IV) The U.S Survivors which lists 33 complete aircraft and five partial airframes; (V) Other B-17s in the World, listing another dozen aircraft from New Guinea to the United Kingdom; and (VI) Appendixes providing Serial Listing of All B-17s Produced, PB-1W and PB-1G Serial List, B-17s Surviving Through the Post-War Period Including Civil and Preserved Examples, B-17s Issued Civil Registrations, Air Tanker Serial/Civil Registrations, and Selected Post-War Foreign Military And Miscellaneous Listing. There is also a Bibliography and Index in the back of the book. The book is richly illustrated with black & white photographs of each plane at various points in its history (there are some color plates in the front of the book). For those who consider the Flying Fortress to be a very special aircraft, "Final Cut" would be a welcomed addition to their library (and, yes, there is a picture of the bomber that played the "Picadilly Lily, N3713G).

But where this book really shines is in the survivors. There are a few pages devoted to each survivor, with text and photographs explaining about the individual plane. The text of each section details the plane's use during and after its military service and eventual concludes with its current whereabouts and condition. The photographs help cover the lives of planes such as "Memphis Belle", "Shoo Shoo Baby", "Sentimental Journey", "Nine O Nine" and "Fuddy Duddy". Overall, a great source for millitary and avation buffs alike.

This book brings wisdom from many years of helping people learn to use time more productively. Its discussion of the spiritual side of life puts the consideration in the context of one's whole life and what is most important and lasting. I highly recommend this book for your reading and application in your life.