This is an exceptionally well written biography of perhaps the greatest scientific genius in human history.Clark superbly conveys the story of Einstein`s journey through physics,the world wars & Zionism.Be warned,though:the book`s encyclopedic nature & voluminous content ensures that reading it till the end is pie in the sky for people who are not used to heavy reading & deep contemplation on the topics discussed.

This is probably the most widely read biography on Einstein and with good reason: the author does a fine job of detailing the life of the man who pretty much dominated 20th century physics. It is a cliche now to say that his theories changed the way physicists think about the natural world, and his demeanor and politics continue to be the rage in so-called popular culture. Young students of physics usually get their first taste of advanced mathematical formalism when being introduced to his general theory of relativity, and the author, even though he is not a physics educator, actually does a decent job of explaining the concepts that Einstein was responsible for in his life work. The author does not leave out the politics of the man who continues to be known for his Zionism, and the reader will finish the book with an appreciation of the complexity of his thinking and his personal adherences to this point of view. Some readers may be perplexed on his associaton with the mustard gas researchers Walther Nernst and Fritz Haber, but put in context, as the author does with clarity, readers will see the reasons for this along with Einstein's commitment to the development of atomic weapons.

The author also conveys the excitement surrounding the experimental confirmation of some of Einstein's theories, particularly the photoelectric effect and the bending of the light around the Sun. In addition, the reader can appreciate more the concern among many physicists at the time of Einstein's use of "high-brow" mathematics in general theory of relativity. Now of course, such concern has definitely subsided, for today's theories of gravitation are laden with highly estoric constructions from mathematics. Einstein, as the author notes, was very young when he developed his theories. Modern theories of gravitation, such as superstring and M-theories require such a high level of mathematics that physicists who make contributions in these theories generally spend many years obtaining this background. It is interesting to reflect on how Einstein would have reacted to these theories and elementary particles physics. It is also interesting to ask whether Einstein's politics would be the same if he were alive today, given the current situation in the Middle East. In addition, computers were not available to Einstein in the way there are now to all physicists. Would Einstein have taken to computers? To computational physics? His general theory of relativity is now one of the main applications of high performance computing and symbolic programming.

This gem is not only well-researched and clearly written; it is a deeply moving overview of the life of the world's greatest scientist, not just as a theoretical physicist, but as a human being struggling to be true to himself in trying times.

Although Clark does explain a bit about special and general relativity, he does so only to aid one's understanding of why Einstein's contributions were so crucial. You will see Einstein as a curious boy, as a troubled student, as a young man making his way in the world, and then as a post office clerk who worked on physics when his bosses weren't looking.

You will see the tide slowly turn as physicists of his day began to take this uncredentialled but highly original thinker seriously. And then the day dawns when an experiment proves that gravity indeed bends light....and Einstein wakes up famous.

The book is also full of those charming anecdotes one loves to hear about Einstein, ever the absent-minded professor and "dropper of conversational bricks," such as the performance in which, armed with a violin but off rhythm, the greatest living physicist is chided by the director: "Einstein, can't you count?"

What comes through best is Einstein as a great-hearted and humble man who wanted "to know God's thoughts"; a man of conscience troubled by the wars and other injustices of his time and (unlike most of us) actively trying to do something productive about them; and most of all, a profound man whose central mood, known to every child but never to be outgrown in the inwardly alive adult, was his loving awe of the unknown.

Jeff Pate has written a sensational thriller in his second book, EYE OF THE BEHOLDER. This book will keep you guessing who the murderer is right until the end. There are enough twists and turns regarding the hunt for the murderer and the investigation involving the techniques of law enforcement and roadblocks thrown in their path to keep any die-hard mystery fan interested from the first page to the last. Not only do we get to see the day-to-day drama involving an interdepartmental investigation, but in this second book we get drawn in even further to the personal life of Clark Hager, his fiance,and his daughter and exactly what this dynamic character is made of. The relationship between Clark Hager and his partner, Lloyd Sheridan is also further explored, to give the reader an in depth feel of how a successful detective partnership really works.

Jeff Pate gives a depth to his characters that is refreshing and gives the reader the sense that they are living this drama right along side of these people. If you are a lover of the mystery genre, and are looking for a new author that gives a fresh perspective to a mystery, then Jeff Pate is your man. I highly recommend both WINNER TAKE ALL and EYE OF THE BEHOLDER!

Thanks Jeff, for another fast-paced, Clark Hager thriller! An entertaining fast read. Clark Hager reveals himself as much more than a police detective to his readers in this book. He gives us insight into what makes him tick as a father, a lover, a friend and dedicated investigator. Jeff Pate continues to mature as a novelist. I understand there's another Hager case brewing. I look forward to the release of BOILING POINT

From the moment I read the first page, I knew this was a page-turning thriller that I could not put down. Jeff Pate has done it again with "Eye of the Beholder." This suspenseful novel about Clark Hager investigating the murder of his friend's wife delves into the inner workings of police investigation. It also deals with the topical issue of racial profiling. Clark's personal and professional lives intertwine to create a multi-faceted character that remains genuine. A must for your summer reading list!

This is a well written book.. written by a Doctor who is a specialist in the field of weight problems, who appears on TV regularly, and more importantly who has helped people I know to lose weight and more telling, to keep the weight off with a common sense diet plan that works!

This book is written in everyday language for adults and children. In a country with obesity and anorexia so common, it's refreshing to have a down-to-earth explanation of what stresses a teenager (or pre-teen) faces, and a kind approach to working with some of these challenges.

One doesn't suddenly start eating a "perfect diet". We are, at times, fast food consumers, and Dr. Cederquist understands this, and opens your eyes to the healthier choices available at McDonalds, Arbies, Burger King, KFC, etc. She give concrete examples of healthy choices for many items from the grocery store, in selecting cereals, pizza, fish, desserts, lunch meats, potato chips etc., so one doesn't go into withdrawal!

Start, gradually, by following a more balanced diet in a day with less fats and sugars, and portion control. Read the food labels. Learn the calories in foods, with your children, then make healthy choices! Perhaps keep journals on food, often overlooked emotions, excercise, when helpful, and see the progress, and occasional fall backs. If the less healthy food's out of the home, it's not eaten!

When you and your child learn and actually use these facts and hints, it's easier to plan for success, avoid binges, eating out of boredom or from worry, etc., and still enjoy eating, only it's now with a healthier approach.

Today, start long lasting healthier habits, one page at a time, one simple day at a time.

Help your child eat wisely, live longer, (and perhaps get teased less), with this book's easy-to-follow directions.

As an academic child and adolescent psychiatrist, studying the problems of weight in children and youth, I have been very frustrated to find limited smart and clear materials for families and practitioners.

Dr. Cederquist has the very rare brilliance to know vast amounts of material and to make it practical and clear.

Good luck to anyone who tries to improve on this work!

Combination Physician, Master Teacher & a Writer like this one come around rarely...

FearlessBooks.com. - -
The first step in helping an overweight child is not the introduction of a new diet, says Dr. Caroline J. Cederquist, a family physician and national spokesperson on weight management. Instead, 'tell your child that she is okay, no matter what she weighs. Say it loud and often. . . . Let [your child] know that children come in many shapes and sizes, and none of them is inherently wrong. Your child is more important than what she weighs!'

Solid emotional support is a crucial foundation, says the author of Helping Your Overweight Child, because the psychological and emotional stresses of obesity can be just as tough on kids as the physiological consequences. That's why she recommends that kids old enough to write should be urged to start keeping a journal, so that they can become aware of how they may use food inappropriately to deal with stress while they are still young. After all, our excuses and rationalizations get more sophisticated as we grow older!

While providing a concise and basic overview of all the health fundamentals, including a survey of 'Nutrition 101' and the obvious arguments for displacing TV-watching with exercise, Dr. Cederquist revisits psychological concerns often ' including the dynamics of family communication and suggestions for coping with an overweight child's tendency to binge or relapse along the path to better health. Along the way she dispenses helpful tips on environmental factors, such as restricting dining areas to a well-kept dining room or kitchen out of earshot of televisions and video games, and serving food from the stovetop in single portions so that second helpings are always farther than an arm's reach.

And while the author provides about twenty pages of healthy recipes for kid's favorites prepared in the home, she also faces the modern reality of childhood eats in America by providing complete nutritional breakdowns of all the foods served at junk food palaces like McDonalds, Wendy's, and Denny's, as well as standard grocery-store offerings. In each case, she lines up her 'better choices' (1 serving of Annie's Shells and Cheddar: 280 calories, 4 grams of fat) 'as compared to' the usual, unhealthier suspects (1 serving of Kraft Deluxe Macaroni and Cheese: 300 calories, 10 grams of fat).

At a concise 158 pages, this is a guide that will not overwhelm concerned parents with too much information while providing them with a serious but not overly stern guide to changing childhood eating habits. Since those habits are very likely to be rooted in psychological and environmental factors that influence the whole family, what proves to be healthy for the overweight child will likely benefit his or her siblings and parents as well.

Patrick Gass's journal is much more readable than that of Lewis & Clark - for a start, his spelling is better; he doesn't resort to overblown, flowery descriptions (the notable and ludicrous exceptions are those added by his first editor); and Ms McGregor's wonderful notes flesh out this rivetting story.

Reading this after the better-publicised Lewis & Clark journals makes you wonder if they were on the same expedition - the Captains' journal is more concerned with who they met, making maps and taking measurements - whereas Gass's journal is full of description of the surrounding country and wildlife (interestingly, Gass rarely mentions anyone but the Captains by name).

The newly-included account-book is very interesting and the list of animals killed for food gives one some idea of the calorie requirements demanded by the intense labour these men went through each day, and also making you wonder if there was anything left for the poor natives after they'd passed through their territory!

Sergeant Gass was one of the few members of the Corp of Discovery to keep a consistent log of the journey. His journal style makes his account interesting and very readable. Gass's log of daily activities shows the optomistic spirit of the corp and makes this an important contribution to the study of the expedition. The inclusion of Gass's newly discovered personal account ledger is facinating!

Carol MacGregor has done a wonderful job. She has taken the original Lewis & Clark Journals and footnoted the Gass Journal. Where Gass said men went out to hunt she names the hunters ect,. His account book told me when my g,g,g, grandmother died and what was bought day by day. I was surprised that so much fish was eaten. On behalf of the Gass family, Thank you for a job well done.

As the editor who commissioned this book and originally worked with the author on it, I am delighted that readers are so glowing about it. It is certainly deserved. Angus has written a truly accessible book and the commissioned photographs, using time-lapse photography as well as sequential shots, give the reader ample opportunity to really understand what they are doing.

This is my favorite tai chi book. It has helped me re-learn tai chi and then go beyond. As an exercise that seems so non-strenuous, tai chi has significantly improved my muscle tone and control.

I agree with another reviewer in that I don't think tai chi can be learned entirely through a book, but I had taken tai chi lessons for over a year. I stopped practicing and quickly forgot most of what I had learned. The book has helped to bring it back to me.

My first reason for chosing this book is that it matched the form I learned in class - the Chen Man Ching version of the Yang Short Form. There is a recommended variation part way through the book, but it also provides the original postures.

Even better, the book's instructions include a visualization/ meditation to go with many of the postures. For example, with the first movements of the single whip, you are asked to imagine your hands casting a small fishing net and "surrounding yourself with a spray of silver light."

I have found the warm-up exercises in this book to be helpful too. Some are deceptively simple yet powerful. Finally, the end provides some suggestions on how to incorporate tai chi practice into daily home and work life. You don't have to go through the whole form. If you have only a few minutes or a small space, you can practice one or two movements and concentrate on those.

This book is worth seeking out.

If you wish to learn Tai Chi, any book alone is probably insufficient. That said, an introductory reference and overview is equally likely essential. Angus Clark has drawn from his broad experience and deep understanding of the history, forms, and practical benefits of this art in crafting this lovely book.

The book begins with a very helpful historical perspective of Tai Chi and articulates well its relationship to other Chinese martial arts. The presentation of the Short Form (a variation of the Cheng Man-Ch'ing short form) is quite well done with additional material on useful variations.

Throughout the book the breadth of Tai Chi's value is constantly reinforced. From relaxation and exercise, through general health and fitness, to defense and martial forms, Clark nicely opens the door to the cosmos of Tai Chi.

Of particular value are a collection of short notes from Westerners who have taken up this art for a variety of reason and for varying lengths of time. I found these particularly encouraging.

As a newcomer to Tai Chi, I will be supplementing this book with videos and probably local courses. Clark's work is superbly supported with that of the numerous talented illustrators. The result is a lovely book to enjoy, share, and reread often.

I usually develop custom applications against Oracle. But for one project, I needed to make Access front-end Oracle in order to support ad hoc queries. After playing with Access for a day, it was apparent some functionality was not easy to get my hands on. I was confronted with a few "how do I get from here to there" situations. This book clearly and concisely explained how to implement some common business processes. While I have a technical background, the Access user interface is decidedly non-technical and not always intuitive. This helped me in a couple of key areas. It was much easier to use than most of those dreadful 1,200 page tomes. And it covered things I couldn't find online. For me, it was definitely useful.

Scott Clark and Doug Kleiber effectively collaborate to show busy executives how to quickly become proficient in using Microsoft Access software in Effective Executives's Guide To Access 2002. They present a seven step approach to designing, building, and managing a Microsoft Access 2002 database. Included is an overview of what Access databases are and what they can accomplish; what is necessary for designing and building an Access database; how to create forms and then utilize those forms to supply a database with data; how to turn data into useful information through describing how data ties together; how to search through and filter data, plus bring data from several databases together; create concise reports gathering data together and presenting it is useful, effective ways; and how to publish the data from an Access database, including making it available to others via the Internet. Effective Executives's Guide To Access 2002 is very highly recommended for anyone requiring a quick learning curve in the use of a Microsoft Access 2002 database.

This is kind of a funny computer book. For one thing, it's really well-written. (Not always the case with computer books.) For another thing, it doesn't just document the program, it explains how to use Access 2002 to build a database. (The example used in the book is building a database of donors for a nonprofit agency, but as you read through the book you see pretty easily how things would work in your real database.)

One thing I appreciated was the real world perspective. When I read about stuff like when you need to augment Access with SQL Server or Oracle and how much these options cost, I could tell the writers had used Access in real business settings.

One important warning though. This isn't a big book on Access. Think of this book as "Access for Dummies" minus the silliness and humor but plus business advice and information. This book is a fast tutorial that will get you very proficient and comfortable. But it's not a book to turn you into an Access developer.

By the way, I read this after reading a positive review in Library Journal (they recommended the Effective Executive's Guide series) and a very positive blurb in Publishers Weekly (they said these books, uniquely, tell people how to get their work done).

Franklin is a little cutie and he has lots of nice friends. They are all excited that Halloween is coming and they are making big plans. The bright colored, detailed illustrations of the quaint woodland world where they live are brimming with wholesome, good-natured fun. This is a good book for introducing Halloween to little ones so that they will not be unnerved by mysterious ghouls who'll come knocking on their doors on Halloween. It shows Franklin and friends getting their costumes ready for a party, painting, cutting and pasting decorations, bobbing for apples, playing a pumpkin toss game, and trick-or-treating in their neighborhood. They're a little spooked when they visit a make-believe haunted house but it turns out to be fun and they solve a mystery! They pool some of their goodies to deliver to their friend who is ill and can't go out trick-or-treating. It also shows little Franklin getting carried home in the arms of Daddy with Mommy walking along beside. It's heart-warming and has enough action to hold a little one's attention so they can become familiar with common Halloween disguises. It's easy to see from the pictures that Franklin is Franklinstein, Fox is clearly the mummy, Skunk is Dracula, and Goose is a wolf. Our friends dress up but we know it's still them underneath the make-up and masks. Franklin is a lot of fun at Halloween. Enjoy!

"Franklin's Halloween" is a book that emphasizes to young kids how much fun Halloween can be. Franklin and his friends are all looking forward to the big Halloween party and trying to come up with the best costume. What Franklin comes up with is the "Franklinstein" monster and once thing you should pay attention to are the neat little details in his costume: the drawn on stitches on his wrists, the fake forehead, and the corks for bolts (in other words, this looks like an actual costume you can make for your kid). There are actually several other costume possibilities you might pick up from this book, so kudos to Brenda Clark for drawing such fanciful but realistic costumes, as well as for providing so much detail in all of her paintings. The strength of Paulette Bourgeois story is that her characters are all having such fun that when she adds a message to her story it seems the most natural point in the world to make. Franklin and his friends are just the sort of party animals you want to spend the night with on Halloween.

My sons wants to be Franklistein for Halloween. In the book all of Franklin friends'costumes are a secret, but Bear's. They think Bear is the ghost, but it's Mr. Owl. They find out that Bear is home sick and take some of their candy to them. It teaches sharing and caring for others.

A very good book about the Lewis & Clark expedition. The illustrations were vivid and the best part of the book. I would recommend this book

Set in 1804, How We Crossed The West by Rosalyn Schanzer is the true story of the incredibly adventurous Lewis & Clark expedition exploring westward from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean (May 1804 to November 1805). Superbly presented in an exciting picturebook format for young readers, the "reader friendly" text is taken from the original journals of the explorers themselves, though slightly edited for clarity. The wealth of illustrations are warm, colorful acrylic/colored pencil designs that bring a great journey through early America vividly to life. As educational as it is entertaining, How We Crossed The West is a superbly presented history and very highly recommended for school and community library collections.

This book is an excellent example of a primary source of information. I originally bought the book because I believed it would be a good resource for teaching about the Lewis and Clark Expedition, but after I got it and realized the text was created from journal entries made by Lewis, Clark and others, I was truly excited to be teaching from this book. There is just enough text per page so as not to be overwhelming to elementary students and the illustrations are gorgeous.

Ever since her "Father Knows Best" days, Elinor Donahue has been a familiar presence on our screens. She always seemed so "up". Is that real, or just acting? After reading this unusual book that is both an autobiography and a cookbook, I've reached the conclusion that Elinor is real, on-screen and off. I don't recall reading a single word in which she said anything bad about anyone. She seems to be as charming and optimistic as her image. She's a lady in the truest sense of the word, and it was a delight to read her book. Now to try out some of those terrific recipes . . . .

Elinor re-affirms her fans thoughts that she is indeed a warm and facinating person. Her collection of favorite foods and rememberances are entertaining as well as an insight into her life and dreams. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves TV history, great food, and, of course, Elinor Donahue.

I _LOVE_ this book. I found it to be very unique, and different from most celebrity cookbooks ... It is very warmly written, a veritable treasure trove of fascinating little insights into Hollywood's biggest names (and their favorite recipes), and shows Elinor Donahue to be an exceptionally kind, lovely person. She also includes a large number of her own favorite recipes, which look delectable -- and which I can't wait to try. (My copy is studded with bookmarks, since there are so many dishes I'm eager to make.) I love it both as reading material, and as an outstanding cookbook. I'll be buying additional copies to give as gifts.

Truly, Jenny Gerhardt has a lot of heart.

Though she makes some bad decisions and often lacks the confindence that could have reinvented her in the magnified binocular-eyes of society, Dreiser's love for the character shines and we, the readers, grow to love her also. Several glimmers of why Dreiser is the transcendent novelist that he is peek out from the fast moving story of Jennie Gerhardt.

"She was not, like so many, endeavoring to put the ocean into a tea-cup or to tie up the shifting universe in a mess of strings called law."

"The loveliness of seventeen is centuries old. That is why passion is almost sad."

"So this little household drifted along quietly and dreamily indeed, but always with the undercurrent of feeling which ran so still because it was so deep."

I admit to you, I have never been very interested by the sometimes dry prose offered in the writing of earlier time periods. But Dreiser seems to me a rare gem in the world of early 20th century fiction.

However, the one reason I am writing a 4 star review is because of the ending of this novel. After several mini-climaxes, the book ends. --just like that. With a grim display of "if only". And although most, if not all of us, identify with that theme, I felt like I MUST have read 366 pages for something other than that.

However, I would still recommend it. It is a delicate work of art whose power and beauty cannot be denied.

Most of us know the genius of Dreiser, the lyrical capabilities of this author is astonishing. He humanizes literature, the characters posess complex personalities and physical appearances. He takes the aesthetic beauty of the surreal and the honesty of harsh reality and combines these potent elements into a story of life, almost more believable than our own. This story follows Jennie Gerhardt, a young German girl living with her poor family in Ohio before the turn of the century. Honest but hard work puts her into the path of Senator Brander a benevolent mature man, but his ardent passions soon destroy Jennie, and her life is tainted with shame. She leaves her home, and life take her on many journeys, mostly unpleasant. This story chronicles how one mistake can change your life, and the domino effect takes place, constantly misplacing your life as you try to escape the past. I would also recommend "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" by Thomas Hardy

It seems each time I finish one of Dresier's works I think it is my favorite. Such is the case with Jennie Gerhardt, at least until my next Dresier. This heart-wrenching saga takes the reader through Jennie's life from cleaning houses with her mother, bearing a child by a US Senator and living and loving a man beyond her society class. Lester (the man she loves after the Senator), for his part, is unwilling to marry Jennie and is cut-off from the family and it's millions for loving someone "below" his class in society. Jennie remains true to herself, following her heart and the dicates of a harsh scoiety. She makes amendes with her father and is the only child to nurture him through his final days and death. She takes her daughter away from Chicago and leaves Lester so he can reclaim his family fortune. Her daughter dies, leaving her alone but the strength of Jennie's character comes through when she adopts orphans, for if she isn't nurturing she isn't living. Dreiser drives home his theme of fate and how some can dictate it while others are a slave to it. But even this distinction isn't black and white. Lester seems not to care what fate has in store for him until he takes it into his onw hands and marries the society girl he arguably should have married before he hooked up with Jennie. Alas, Jennie never mastered her fate. She was punished for loving two men from the upper-crust of scoiety instead of taking the crusts that high-living classes would toss her.