Dr. Larson provides another straight-forward and practical book on parenting troubled teens. For the parents that have suffered through the straying of their child, they will find hope for the journey, principles to live by as a parent, and strategies that can have an immediate impact in a troubled kid's life.

Dr, Larson's unique ability to blend the latest in psychological research and timeless biblical insights affords parents a fresh look at parenting "for the long haul"

Scott Larson's book, "When Teens Stray" is a tremendous resource for any parent, counselor, youth worker or pastor, and should be on the shelf of anyone who needs a concise, down-to-earth resource for working through various issues with teenagers. It should also be required reading for anyone working with teens in any capacity. I would also strongly recommend this book to any healthy family as well. It would affirm, prepare and grant additional insight into parent-teen relationships. Scott's experience in working with troubled youth gave him many pertinent illustrations to draw from. His style is easy to read, straight-forward and peppered with excellent guidelines and suggestions. It also includes many practical helps and an excellent list of resources and ministries, this book is a must-have!
Lennie Spitale, Director of Prison Ministries, Vision New England

In Dr. Larsons new book When Teens Stray Parenting for the Long Haul. I found a great amount of helpful information for parents who are raising teenagers in this day and age.
Dr. Larson says "parenting for the long haul means parenting with the future in mind, trying to make each day's decisions with a mind toward five or ten years from now. In the book he gives many real life stories that cut to the heart of many issues facing teens today. The results that Dr. Larson has found are kids that throws their arms round their parents and tell them they are eternaly greatfull for the way that were raised.
Dr. Larson gives seven common myths parents hold about their kids. These myths are very insightful. They will help you see the ways that our teenagers realy see the world not the way we think they do.
When our teens do go atray Dr. Larsons give tips like " It is far better to confront transgressions right away. He says some times it is better for them to pick the consequences for their actions than for us as parrents to.
Later in the book he gives us seven proactive principles for parenting rebellious teens. These principles are agian very insightful. He uses time tested Biblical wisdom thoughout his book. Dr. larson says that "The experiences of raising a rebellious child gives parents a unque insight into the character of God". Even Jesus never with held his love from Judas Iscariot even thought he would betray him. We as parents of teens can all learn from this.
Dr. Larson says that we as parents can get away with many mistakes in parenting if our home if it is built with a solid loving alliance. He offers many profesional outlets for help in the raining of rebellious teens if one feels thay need help in any of these areas.
Thank you Dr. Larson for this wonderful book. My wife and I give it the hiest raiting.

From the opening page I found myself emerged in the life of Paul Dogolov, sometimes author with a bad attitude, sometimes-sensitive father. As a Vietnam War veteran Paul considers himself a failure in his personal life and has hit rock bottom with alcohol abuse and little purpose in life.

Paul swings in and out of his alcohol-induced haze to find new meaning in his life and volunteers to teach the inmates of a maximum-security prison writing skills. Through his prison program the story comes alive with an in-depth look at the inmates and their lives, which also forces Paul to take a good hard, look at his own life. He finds within himself the capacity to care about his fellow humans once again and learns to trust himself and others, misplaced as this trust is at times.

As a lover of mystery and suspense this book kept me on the edge of my seat. Filled with twists and turns and even truly funny at times, David Scott Milton reveals himself as a gifted writer. Bravo!

This book is a rare combination of genres, both literary and mystery, not unlike books by Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett. The story centers around novelist Paul Dogolov, 48, who is stuck in his own existential hell. His wife recently left him with their two kids, he cannot write anymore, and memories of Vietnam haunt him. He decides to teach a writing class to prisoners at the local maximum-security prison on the edge of the Mojave Desert in California. The prisoners "must have interesting stories to tell, I reasoned. I wanted to get to know them and learn what it's like to have your freedom bounded by real walls instead of the walls inside your head."

There, Dogolov falls for a female prison guard as well as for a story of innocence by one of the members of his prison writers group. The young man, Travis Wells, was convicted of murdering his grandfather, as well as his half-brother and -sister, with a baseball bat. Compelled to look into it in much in the same way he's drawn to the prison guard who soon spends the night, Dogolov finds himself in real trouble. He's investigating in Joshua Crest, a small desert town where the police, judges, and others don't want him nosing.

Once Dogolov is caught up in the intrigue, the book is utterly brilliant. The tone reminds me of Dashiell Hammett's "Red Harvest," perhaps because the portrait of Joshua Crest is as bleak and compelling as Hammett's Poisonville, and the narrator is a kind of modern Continental Op, dark-humored, self-effacing, and in need of the truth--which is to say why I'm in awe.

Each chapter ends with a dramatic punch, and the action is constantly engaging and just wonderfully odd and bold. For instance, when Travis's ex-girlfriend Millie decides to not only tell him of a motel but go there with him, I was on the edge. Who did she call? Was he going to get a slug from a .45? Then she strips because her costume chaffs. I love the sentence, "I ached for her, not only in a sexual way, but in the way you ache to come near to astounding art."

Other lines spoke deeply to me, too, perhaps because of the way life's come at me. For instance: "I thought how rare it was even for the bravest not to be crushed and broken by the force of life...in jobs, marriages, relationships with children and friends; dreams; ideals." And the line: "There are small things in this life that are can openers to the soul." I teach English at Santa Monica College, and I'm going to assign this book next semester to help in my never-ending quest to have students discover that novels can be both engaging and enlightening.

In the novel, "The Fat Lady Sings," author David Scott Milton takes the reader on a journey into the darkest corners of the human psyche where people and events are like distorted reflections in a cracked funhouse mirror. Nothing is exactly as it appears. Paul Dogolov is a successful author and former Vietnam veteran who takes on a tough assignment teaching convicted murderers in a creative writing course at a maximun security prison. But is he looking for new material for his next novel, or does he seek revelations to unlock some of the secrets in his own soul? Dogolov meets and befriends a quiet young man named Travis Wells who has been convicted of killing his grandfather. Convinced that Wells is innocent and troubled by the injustice of a wasted life spent behind bars, Dogolov visits the desert town where the murder took place. He meets friends, enemies and family members of Wells, following a string of mysterious clues that leads him into a few trials and injustices of his own. As Dogolov moves closer to solving the mystery surrounding an unspeakable crime, the walls inside him come crashing down, threatening his sanity and his very life. If he can survive, he might gain insight to more than one truth. This is a novel that has something for everyone: Action/ Adventure, mystery, comedy and a little metaphysics--a recipe to suit many tastes!

"Inside Network Perimeter Security" is one of the most well-written volumes I have in my (large!) collection of
security books. The topic encompasses a wide array of different subjects, all of which are covered very thoroughly.
The book doesn't sacrifice clarity for depth, though, like some others do. The chapters are well written,
concise and clearly thought out. This isn't just a book about how to set up a firewall: this is a book about how to
design a secure network perimeter. It's also the companion book to SANS' GIAC Certified Firewall Analyst (GCFW) certification, which makes it doubly valuable.

This book is an invaluable reference for Sysadmins, Network Design Engineers, and Security Engineers with most any networking focus. The authors offer real examples of configurations for multiple products to illustrate the points made in the discussions so the recommendations can be implemented wit h a minimum of trouble. The topics covered cross the range of issues associated with perimeter networks, Firewall, VPN, IDS. Each section offers it's own insights and solutions.

You want to have this book in your reference library !

The first thing that appeals to the reader of this excellent book
["Inside Network Perimeter Security" by Steven Northcutt, et al] is a
curious title. So will the authors take the reader "inside perimeter"
or will they cover the perimeter security inside and out? In fact,
they excel at both. It is well known that the defense perimeter of the
modern Internet-enabled business is not just the choke router
connecting the company to the public network. Perimeter manifests
itself in wireless leaks outside the building, in VPN links stretching
out to partners an suppliers and forgotten modems on the company
premises.

The books effectively straddles several difficult bordelines, that
adds significant value to it. For example, authors manage to not
express their preferences and provide coverage for both Windows and
UNIX, free and commercial software. Moreover, the book has both
valuable hands-on exercises (right down to 'permit icmp any any
packet-too-big' and 'SEC-6-IPACCESSLOGP') and strategic business
aspects (choosing the network design based on business and industry
requirements).

The book goes well beyond perimeter defense, stretching onto security
monitoring, incident response, vulnerability analysis, security audit
and network performance. Especially fun was a chapter devoted to the
"adversarial review". Security vs performance seem to be a timeless
conflict. The chapter is dedicated to this important aspect of
security design, covering performance impact of various security
technologies.

The important advantage of the book is real-life examples, case
studies and sample network security designs. They are given a thorough
evaluation, both from defender's and attacker's prospective. However,
some currently popular attacks are not given sufficient attention (such
as web hacking and malware). That seem to stem from the fact that in
the book infrastructure defense takes priority over information
protection. Apparently, the books focuses more on defense and
prevention (and thus is less valuable for those seeking to cause
computer mayhem).

Overall, the book is of great value to security novices and the
experienced professionals as well. The latter can use the book as a
complete guide for secure network design, implementation and
maintenance (extensive troubleshooting information is provided) under
real-life constraints. Even when most things in the book might already
be familiar, the added value is in integrated holistic approach to
network security presented by the true experts in the field. It
appears that is can make an effective study guide for SANS GCFW
certification.

Anton Chuvakin, Ph.D., GCIA is a Senior Security Analyst with a major
information security company. His areas of infosec expertise include
intrusion detection, UNIX security, honeypots, etc. In his spare time
he maintains his security portal info-secure.org

A fun fantasy adventure to a possible future. The book has very creative characters, especially the assistant, Pockets. I couldn't get enough of the Dropas and their carefree approach to life. I hope to read more about them in a Book II. The art work on the cover alone is reason enough to get the book. I keep it face forward on my bookshelf to enjoy it. The artwork is so good that I'd like to see some illustrations or art within the book too.

An easy going read and thoughtful rendition of the ageless story of good vs. evil.

I would encourage you to embark on this inspiring adventure with brothers Scott and Timm Etters and their friends THE DROPAS as they work together to save the world from destruction.

This easy reading and entertaining book will take the reader on a fast paced and exiciting adventure in the future.

I found the vivid descriptions of the persons, places and things easy to visualze as if I was there myself.

This book hits home as it relates to various relationships, those of friends, family and community all working together for a common good.

When I had finished the book, I was wishing there was more. It kept me thinking about future situations and how the DROPAS, Timm and Scott would confront them too.

Can't wait for the sequel.

The beautifully illustrated book cover will catch your eye at first glance. The story inside is an exciting fantasy adventure narrated by the author himself. He takes us into the lives of Scott and Timm Etters, two brothers who rise to the challenge of overtaking the world's most powerful human being, Lord Ozone. Take the journey with Scott and Timm and their whimsical friends,The Dropas, as they set forth with their imaginative scheme to change the world. Scott has a lot on his mind as he constantly problem solves his plan to rid the world of negativity. He uses his dry humor and wit to keep the story humorously amusing. Bottom line here is to surround yourself with positive, supportive people throughout your life. This author's talent and career are certainly not waning. Thanks for the journey!

Max does a wonderful job of combining the house with the Lord's prayer. We are using this book as a small group bible study and everyone is getting something from it. Most chapters you leave feeling "on fire" and ready to tackle your house, but mostly is a truly new way of looking at the meaning of the Lord's prayer. Everyone who is in class says that they see the Lord's prayer in a new light now--believing now that God is truly their Father. Max, God is surely working through you and we hope to see more of your work!

I could have finished this book a good while now, but it was a book that I enjoyed reading at a fairly slow pace. There is quite a lot to grasp and understand as Max Lucado walks us through The Lord's Prayer, and through the House of God starting at the living room, through to the kitchen, and finally the chapel.

This prayer which is said by millions all around the world every day, is sometimes said in ritual style with the deepness of it taken for granted, though not intentionally. But Mr. Lucado uses Our Lord's Prayer as a floor plan of the House of God, with a step by step description of how God meets our needs when we dwell in him, and how we can live our lives completely in God's favour as we obey this great Prayer.

As Christians with our sins forgiven which Jesus paid in full on the Cross, we must act accordingly as the prayer directs us. Not wanting to give too much away let me encourage you to read this book soon and cherish the lovely way it is written. It has truly blessed my heart and I know it will yours too. Mr. Lucado.....thank you once again for the wonderful revelations of this book. I pray that God will continue to bless you and your family, and of course your literary work.

Heather P. Marshall

Max Lucado goes in depth with The Lord's Prayer, taking an angle I have never seen before. He equates it to a home - God's home. A book that will give you goosebumps from cover to cover, and the motivation to search out God and make Him the # 1 priority in your life. Great for those whose walk with God has been put "on the bottom of the pile" in today's busy lifestyles. The Lord really uses Max in this one to convey some incredible messages. A MUST HAVE!

Sorensen has carved a life of simplicity on the Kipawa, enjoying nature's beauties -- and perils -- as they are seldom encountered by today's weekend outdoorsman. A kayaking enthusiast and adventure addict, Sorensen can dish up stories like any good mountain man. Just read about the Fig Newtons. Kipawa Chronicles continues the rich narrative tradition of the outdoorsman, weaving Sorensen's personal experiences with modern-day development issues. The book's discussion of the Kipawa River's environmental fate is tempered by the author's reflections on the many peaceful years he has enjoyed an almost isolated existence on its shores. His easy writing style could coax even the city rat readers into his beloved Canadian backwoods. Reading this book reminded me of the many places I consider "my own" and that have changed my life.

I would recommend this book to anyone visiting the Lake Temiskaming area, particularly kayaking and fishing enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys the outdoors in general. Or anyone looking for a fresh breath of adventure.

"Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity..." seems to be Henry David Thoreau's wake up call to the modern world. Scott Sorensen heard this still small invitation and headed to the northern woods of Canada to live on the banks of the Kipawa River and Lake Temiskaming. Here, the author of "Kipawa River Chronicles," has not lived 'a life of quiet desperation,' but rather one of quiet adventure. In the pages of this book the reader will find 'simplicity' in all of its complexities, like the unadorned caterpillar's transformation into a beautiful creature of flight. The surface of the book tells the story of a young man who's goal is simply to operate a fishing lodge for a few years, while starting a family and loving his wife. True adventure always includes an outcome that is unpredictable, sometimes humorous and sometimes perilous. For over twenty-three years the Sorensens have lived such a life on the fringe of the wilderness. The is their story. But more, its the story of those who are reluctant to accept the inevitabilety of the modern age. It is alao a wake up call to those who would take waters of the Kipawa from their natural flow and throw them in other directions. Nature has its limits. When these limits are reached, perhaps that will be the end. This warning is threaded through the whole of the book. If you enjoy laughing, crying, and thinking, this is a book to read. This is the real Edward Abbey and his Monkey Rench Gang preparing for a 'quiet determined struggle' to save the waters of the Kipawa.

For those who love the wilderness this book is a mixture of history, excitement and reality. This grouping of personal and historic stories of life in the wilderness of Canada is a pleasure to read. With it's regular reality checks that show you the modern day struggle that occurs in every wilderness area as man tries to balance his need for more with his love of unspoiled beauty this book shows us what challenges we must overcome to preserve what is left of the wilderness. Read it and rise to that challenge. Over the past thirty years I have spent many weeks in the Kipawa area. It is a joy to see and experience. Scott's stories give you a picture what it is to live in and experience these wild places. Life is to short to see them all but our challenge as Scott demonstrates in this book is to preserve them for our children and the many generations that follow. Read this book and you will be moved by the experience.

Oracle 8 is out and in this book it only covers to Oracle 7. It is a very well written book. It is a valuable reference however it was published in 1996. Still looking for Oracle SQL Plus 8.0 AND the PL/SQL Programming. I hope the author steps up to the plate and updates his work.

THIS BOOK IS A MUST FOR ALL PL/SQL PROGRAMMERS. THE EXPLANATIONS ARE VERY BRIEF AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND, AND THE EXAMPLES ARE VERY CLEAR TO GRASP THE MEANING OF..WITH THIS BOOK, I GET TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN PL/SQL WHICH I THOUGHT WAS HARD TO MASTER. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK..

I bought this book as a complete Oracle novice, transitioning from Microsoft T-SQL to PL/SQL. I was worried about the transition being difficult until I read this book.

It is one of those very rare books that presents advanced concepts in a context understandable by users of all experience levels. The author often throws in tips about Oracle PL/SQL quirks to watch out for, as well as some very applicable information about how Oracle works internally.

I've since become more comfortable with PL/SQL, and the book also serves as a great reference. I highly encourage you to read this book straight through.

I recommend this well-written book to anybody wanting to learn PL/SQL, as well as anyone needing a great reference.

I do not remember seeing the entire length of Dr. King's famous "I Have A Dream" speech delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial nearly forty years ago. As I was preparing to speak to a group of high schools students in a program titled AVID --- Advancement Via Individual Determination --- I was excited by the thought of seeing Dr. King's speech. What better example of a leader with an inspiring vision for the future? What better example of someone who put their skills and experience to their highest and best use to fulfill their dream? What better example of someone who gave their life to something of value and significance?

Dr. King did not disappoint me. As I strained to pick out his figure --- nearly lost in a sea of over 300,000 faces crowded beneath the Lincoln Memorial --- I heard the voice that stirred souls to action in tumultuous times. I heard the cadence, rhythm, and volume of it. I heard the phrases rising and falling like waves crashing on the shore. I felt a lump in my throat as I considered the power and importance of the message.

And I wondered if we are already too far removed from this message. Nearly two generations hence, are we closer to Dr. King's dream? Does today's generation understand the price paid for its freedom? Are we cultivating leaders who will rise to the needs of tomorrow? Leaders of character, integrity, vision, action, teamwork, and service? This was the example and spirit I sought to inspire those students.

I was, however, disappointed by the quality and integrity of the video. I was at first surprised to hear Peter Jennings of ABC News narrating the video. As I watched, it became clear the content of the video was an excerpt from a narrative on the life of Dr. King, yet I could find no credit to Mr. Jennings, ABC News, or other source material. It ended abruptly as if it had been hastily or carelessly editted. I found this distracting and disappointing.

If I had an opportunity to select an alternative source for Dr. King's speech, I would select a better one.

The beautiful illustrations show Dr. King's speech as a dream that is achievable. The image of prayer winning over violence is so powerful that it gives inspiration and hope. The Table of Brotherhood need not be a fantasy, but already is becoming a reality in many parts of the country, as Race Unity Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of June. Share this book with everyone you know who understands what it is to be a member of our HUMAN race, and share the hope. Take it to school, take it to wherever you worship, take it to work... Then take some action to make the dream become a reality!

This book is a beautiful piece of literature. It is pictorial representation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech. All of the illustrators are winners of the Coretta Scott King Award for illustration. It is a great teaching tool for elementary children to be introduced to MLK and civil rights. I also read to my high school students and they love it too.

I was very pleased when I received the soft cover version of GLADIATOR. It is very well written with wonderful pictures that will remind you of how much you enjoyed the film. When you see the film it moves so swiftly that you don't have time to ask, "How'd they do that?" The historical facts are made clear in the book. Although there were liberties taken with those events, the film has the "feel" of the times. Ridley Scott, manages to let you in on secrets that made this movie so incredibly popular. It is a book you will wish to return to often, before and after seeing the film again. The star, Russell Crowe, a dynamite actor, tells how he learned the dangerous swordplay, that had to carefully choreographed so that no one was injured. Mr. Crowe had the magnetism necessary to make Maximus a great hero, and at the end you wish there could be more of the book, and more of the film. It's a beautifully put together book with lots of "inside" information. You will add this to your film library with pride.

This companion book to the movie will appeal to any fan of Gladiator, providing over 200 color photos and drawings and detailing the behind-the-scenes production secrets of one of the finest films of the year. Interviews reveal how the story was written and the movie cast and filmed, while color illustrations and photos liberally embellish every page.

Director Ridley Scott's epic, Gladiator, is my favorite film of the year 2000. It reminded me of the way movies in old Hollywood were made. I can remember watching films like Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments and Lawrence Of Arabia on television with my Mom, and being wowed by the spectacle of it all. Gladiator brought back that same kind of feeling for me.

The story behind The Making Of Gladiator is almost as epic as the film itself. The book is divided into 2 main sections. The first, talks about what it took to get the film to the big screen, while the second discusses the filming and post production. Scott provides a well written introduction, while Co-Executive Producer Walter Parkes pens a foreward. The main text of the book was written by Sharon Black. Thankfully, the text is very readable, and the full color photography is some of the best I have seen in a book like this. The usual cast and crew interviews are present of course. But the photos really tend to put the book over the top for me. Script excerpts, original storyboards, and a complete credit listing are also included.

Even if you already own the film, this book still makes a fine companion to it. This is a must if you like the film as much as I do. The book has 160 pages and is highly recomended

Orson Scott Card is one of my favorite authors, and in some recent Amazon-surfing, I was delighted to discover this Card novel that I'd never heard of. I got a used copy, and I really enjoyed it. The book is based on the 1989 movie "Abyss" by James Cameron, who did "Aliens," "Titanic," and the "Terminator" movies. It's about a deep-sea mission, some cool aliens, and a bunch of interesting people, their relationships, and their deepest personal struggles. I'll probably rent the movie eventually, though I'm guessing I won't like it nearly as much as the book, since a movie can't explore the characters in the same depth.

(A similar undersea sci fi adventure is Michael Crichton's "Sphere," which I didn't like, but the average customer review is 4.5 stars, so if you're into thrillers, you might like it. And I highly recommend most anything by Orson Scott Card, especially "Ender's Game," one of the best science fiction novels ever, and, if you're into religion, "Stone Tables," which is a novelization of the life of Moses.)

The dusk jacket of this novel takes great pains to explain that this is "A Novel by Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Author Orson Scott Card based on an original screenplay by James Cameron." That lengthy description is important because it is trying to make it crystal clear that this is NOT a "novelization" of a screenplay, and to give you some idea what a unique and exquisite book you are reading. Card provides an entirely new dimension to Cameron's screenplay.

I still think the Abyss is James Cameron's best movie, Oscar winning block busters aside, although that other film certainly proves water is his natural element. Displeased with the "cursory, mediocre, often inaccurate, and sometimes downright reprehensible" novelizations he had already read of his films, Cameron determined there would be a NOVEL. In a totally unique process, Card worked from videotapes of the film as the editing progressed, updating his manuscript as scenes were changed, added or cut. In addition to covering everything you see in the film version of "The Abyss," Card made two significant contributions to the story in his novel.

First, he wrote chapters focusing on the three main characters of Buddy, Linsey and Coffee. Each chapter goes back to when they were kids and relates the seminal events that made them the people they grew up to be and brought them to the setting of this story. Cameron was so impressed with these chapters that before filming began he gave them to Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (and you have to wonder what Michael Biehn would have done with the background on Coffey). Second, Card works in the entire story from the side of the alien beings, explaining what they are doing and thinking even when they are not around the humans on Deepcore. Things that you wondered about in the film (How could Coffey survive that great depth and cut the right wire?) will be made clear and the additional scenes add great depth to the film (intentional pun).

It is because of this added dimension that I think you will best enjoy this book after you have seen the film and more specifically the Special Edition or Director's Cut of the film. Of course, I can certainly appreciate that fans of Orson Scott Card might pick up "The Abyss" without any care about the movie. This is not a bad thing either because Card is a first rate imaginative writer, as he has proven from "Ender's Game" to "Enchantment." If you loved the movie, you will love the book. You do not want to miss out on this one.

And that's a pretty strange recommendation to make for a movie novelization, it's supposed to be the other way around. Following writer/director James Cameron's recommendation to write a real novel based on his story rather than just write it in narrative form (which so many writer-for-hire types do) Orson Scott Card crafted a well thought out expansion of the film's story. In addition to having the pre-special edition cut sequences (which go a long way in explaining the abyss's residents motivations and such) Card also contributes some welcome background material for the main characters. In an interesting note about the novel's origins (it was written during filming) Card shares that Cameron actually had the principle actors read their individual character's background material from Card's early drafts to better understand the inner workings he wanted communicated in their performances. Highly recommended.