I like country, just don't spend much time actively in it. This treatment of the subject is thorough and easy to follow in its points. Written from a solid Christian perspective, the authors make the consistent point that country has as its roots a Christian, gospel orientation.

While such orientation does not predominate, it is there and has always been there. Now, contemporary country fights the battle with other venues of the pop culture. Amazing the story of Alan Jackson at the CMC awards. Right on Alan. I knew this man was a winner!

One learns much about the real world from country music. Nothing is hidden in the lyrics of this music, it tells it like it is. People can relate to it. It's not all the hype of pop. Until, Garth et al started letting it seep in.

Suggest also Mark Zwonitzer's excellent book on the Carter Family where he shows how the Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis types cut their musical teeth on Country Gospel, then lost it to the commercialism.

What we sell our souls for! This book exposes that while admirably detailing how traditional country supports classic Christian values. Well done and great read!

While I'm not a real fan of country music myself, I did find this book to be a great read. Country music may be the last vestige of popular American culture that still has Christian underpinings but it has also begun to drift as it is swallowed up by the "no-brow" culture of marketing. The authors do seem to have some trouble with facts (Bristol is in Virginia and Tennessee not Kentucky and the relationship between Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart) but other than a few minor points the thesis still holds up.

It is a good thing to serve one's country, but to be denied the chance to reenlist due to fear and ignorance is entirely another matter. SFC Edward Carter was a military man who wore his uniform and duty proudly. As a child of missionaries in India and later in China, where he first helped the Chinese with the Japanese, as well as served in the Spanish War's U.S. Abraham Lincoln Brigade, he exemplified that he was willing t fight for a country that didn't give him a full fair shake. In the closing days of WW2, he was involved in a attack of a small town,despite heavy losses from his unit and even though he was injured himself, he wouldn't leave the scene until the job was done. Although his superiors felt that he deserved the Congressional Medal of Honor, they felt at that time, that due to his color, it would be denied which was rightly so. After the war, he reenlisted and helped to establish a California National Guard base in Los Angeles, and later served at Fort Lewis, Washington, where, he was cited for being an excellent soldier. Despite of his glowing records, he was denied reenlistment and no reason was never given. He appealled constantly for years, but to no avail, and he died in 1963 without justice being served to him. In 1997, after checking on conditions of African American soldiers in WW2, he was finally honored to received the Congressional Medal of Honor. His daughter in law, Allene, who wrote this book,also started to checking into his military and other files to see why he was denied reenlistment, which ended up into a full apology by the Army and President Clinton, as well as coverage in the media. It is an excellent book and highly recommended.

Honoring Sergeant Carter uncovers an important yet esoteric chapter in American WWII history and gives balance to The Greatest Generation. You may only come across a book as fine as this once or twice in a lifetime. If your budget allows only one book - this is the one. It is "intellectually honest," informative, passionate, and if you don't have ice water running through your veins, you will feel it!

While reading I reminisced of my late father who served in very close proximity with Sergeant Carter during and after WWII. They never knew each other. My father saw Sergeant Carter after the war - how could he miss him - the sharp and deadly soldier that Carter was described to be and one of the very few African Americans holding the Distinguished Service Cross. My father understood all too well what happened to many good men during this era. I look back on living in Germany as a youngster during the Cold War with my avid interest in WWII. I explored bunkers and shopped flea markets searching for relics. Most had the dreaded swastika on it. My father observed my hobby and explained to me in great detail how it was dangerous and in bad taste, but I could keep the collection. He then told me in no uncertain terms: "If you come across anything with a Communist marking on it ......etc, etc, DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME SON!!!" I shook my head yes - I was speechless. Honoring Sergeant Carter provided clearer understanding of why I couldn't speak that day.

Sergeant First Class Edward A. Carter, Jr., affectionately known as Eddie, was one of the seven African American soldiers honored at the White House with the Medal of Honor. This long overdue tribute (over 50 years) took place on January 13, 1997. When you read Eddie's story - that is backed with strong research and solid documentation - you will see how fact (in this situation) is stranger than fiction.

A must read for WWII historians and buffs who are sincerely interested in balancing their understanding of WWII. Honoring Sergeant Carter is a great companion book that will complement Tom Brokaw's The Greatest Generation.

This week, I returned home to the Bluegrass for a spot of Thoroughbred racing and attending horse shows. I wanted a receipe of the famous Kentucky Hot Brown and was purusing a book store where I found Col. Masters book. I was disappointed that he did not include the Hot Brown in his book, but found many other useful receipes.

What is also included in this wonderous little book his is thougths on the life of a true gentleman. Hosting your family and friends for food and libation is a tradition that has been seemingly lost in our fast paced world of today. The good Colonel reiminds us that not only is it fun to do, but it restores a certain dignity to the soul. His receipes are simple and not hard to do, so that once your guests have arrived, you have time to share a bourbon and enjoy their company before enjoying the repast.

My lady friend and I can't wait to put together a little dinner for our guests this summer, using the Colonel's book. Some hot summer Saturday evening, a pitcher of mint juelips, ice tea so sweet it makes your teeth hurt, beef tenderloin and good friends. Here's to you Colonel Masters!

Amazon.com has just notified me that my book, "Hospitality--Kentucky Style" has been entered into their database.

I thought I would be the first to comment on the book. Mark Twain was asked late in his career if writing was difficult. His answer gave me the encouragement to write "Hospitality--Kentucky Style." Mark Twain replied that he did not find writing difficult noting that, "I always write about things I know about."

I hope you enjoy reading "Hospitality--Kentucky Style" as much as I enjoyed writing the book. I hope the book inspires you to practice "simply elegant cooking and entertaining."

Very Truly Yours,

Col. Michael E. Masters

After my son wrote all over the carpet, TV, fireplace, VCR, door, window, coffee table, entertainment center, and walls with a sharpie marker, I called my sister in a panic. She grabbed this book and told me the suggestions for cleaning ink stains. I got the marker off the carpet and entertainment center completely and greatly reduced the stain on the rest. I am ordering this book TODAY. It is a must have in our house with 2 toddlers and another on the way!!!

This is a manual for everyone about cleaning everything, as the title suggests. Beautifully non-biased and generic; teenagers, newlyweds,professionals, men, women, and children can benefit from it's categorical and common sense approach, and derive universal applications. Not the publication of any company or corporation,brand names are not used. Extensive comparative research usually provides for more than one option for any cleaning problem, often in a small med. large format. After reading through once for basic input, keep it real handy to consult before any project. The book will either steer you in the right direction or confirm that you are on course.

Caution: Although this book might at first seem like it is made for children as one of the audiences, be aware that How to Eat Like a Child contains two instances of a vulgar four letter word beginning with "f."

How to Eat Like a Child would be a great gift to new parents . . . especially from their own parents!

This book has two appeals. First, to those who wish to remember their own youth. Second, for those who wish to remember what their children were like. In either case, you will find yourself feeling the situations in your body, in your mind, and in your emotions.

Ms. Ephron is a very good observer, and has a good memory for the way things work.

The title is actually just referring to one five-hundred word essay, that leads the book off. Ms. Ephron wrote this for The New York Times Magazine in 1977 and got a tremendous response, including an invitation to write more material. The result is this book which is filled with wit, wisdom, and love. I've captured a few brief excerpts to give you a flavor of how you will eat up the contents of this book:

Eating: "Cooked carrots: On way to mouth, drop in lap. Smuggle to garbage in napkin."

Watching television: "Your mother is calling you. Do not hear her . . . ."

Hanging up the telephone: "Are you still there?"

Playing: "After using your bed as a trampoline, transform your room into a giant spider web . . . ."

How to laugh: "Call a pizza parlor and send your teacher seven pizzas."

Caring for a pet dog: "Each day, procrastinate and complain until your mother finds it easier to feet it and walk it herself."

Birthday party guest: "If reminded, say thank you.
Go home.
Throw up."

School: "Tell your teacher for the second time this week, that you do not have your homework because the dog ate it."

Arranging to be excused from the dinner table: "Lean back until your chair rests precariously on its two back legs. Fall over."

Being sent to room: "Slam door."

How to torture sister: "Pretend to eat shaving cream . . . . Wanna try some?"

Ride in car: "Ask if you are almost there yet."

How to sleep: "Fall out of bed and don't wake up."

This book really deserves a sequel that focuses on how to be the parent of the child who is behaving like a child. I suspect that subject would be a lot funnier!

Think back. How would you behave if you were not constrained by so much socialization, guilt, and desire to please? Where would it be appropriate to adopt some of that wonderful freedom of childhood?

My mom had this book when I was a kid, and I thought it was funny then as it portrayed my brother and I when we were kids. Now I have three kids of my own, and they think it's pretty funny too. Anybody who has, or works with children would really enjoy the humor in this book.

...

Get ready to roll... with laughter, as K. D. Kenton takes you on a wildly hysterical ride through book one of her 'Crooked Falls' series.

Crooked Falls is small town U.S.A., a small town like any other. Or is it? Lizzie is 39, divorced, mother of two teenage boys, and has a razor wit with which she observes life in her little town as she tries to defy being single. Throw in a German mother with a thick accent and a roving eye who is sure her daughter will die a 'born-again virgin', and you're ready for the ride of a life-time through the population of Crooked Falls.

In a rather last ditch attempt at breaking the ties of singledom, Lizze tries everything from calling a classified love ad, to cyber chat rooms. From there, Crooked Falls, or at least Lizzie, may never be the same.

If you love to laugh, and love to read romance, this is the book for you. From the moment I picked it up, I laughed and chuckled through Lizzie's antics. Written in the 1st person, which is something I usually avoid reading, I was quite taken by the skill with which the author pulled off the difficult task of making all the characters familiar and loveable. Visit Crooked Falls with Ms. Kenton, you may never want to leave...

In the fictional town of Crooked Falls, divorcee, single mom, real estate agent Lizzie and her brood put the FUN in dysFUNctional. The family includes Lizzie, her two teenage boys and her wacky German-accented mother.
Alone and lonely, the last straw falls when Lizzie's "ex" turns up dead in the back yard of a neighboring house, which Lizzie has refused to try to sell because the smell left behind by the cats makes it a "No-no" on the market. What could the possible relationship between Lizzie's Chihuahua-loving "ex" and the neighboring cat lovers be hiding?
Desperate, Lizzie begins internet playing on her son's computer in the basement. Somewhat agorophobic, she is not prepared for the possibility of actually having to come face-to-face with any of her cyber dates. One by one, they end in disaster, from the country hick who has passed himself off as an opera star to the guy who "just wants to be a friend." Lizzie escapes by faking a dreaded disease or locking herself in the restroom at the local bar.
Can this poor agorophobic loser find happiness at the end of her modem? Whether she can or can't, the trip is hilarious. You will find yourself not only empathizing with poor Lizzie, but you will laugh yourself all the way through the book.
It promises to be just the beginning of a series which will bring more fun from Crooked Falls.

"Many business leaders are realizing that", Mone and London write in their Preface "HR practitioners can offer much more to the enterprise than maintaining personnel transactions such as payroll, benefits, and compensation. As important as these functions are, executives and HR practitioners alike increasingly recognize the transformational nature of human resource development functions. Human resource development is a key component of successful organizational transformation. For example, HR personnel get involved in determining job requirements to make the business successful, in recruiting and hiring people who match the new and emerging skill demands, and in training these new employees and managers, as well as existing personnel to ensure they have to required knowledge and skills. Significant changes in how business is conducted entail concomitant changes in how employees are attracted, developed, maintained, and rewarded."

Thus, emphasis of this book can be summarized as is demonstrating how human resource development principles, strategies, and programs can ensure the requisite business transformations to meet significant business challenges facing corporate leaders and human resources professionals.

Through case studies written by contributors, HR professionals learn some major lessons such as :

* work collaboratively with senior management during periods of strategically driven change.

* recognize transformational change and its impact on the organization.

* ensure leaders are visible and engaged.

* build commitment to the change in other parts of the organization.

* form partnership between business managers, HR, and external consultants.

* be flexible when introducing a new process.

* focus on the end result, not the survey.

* include a communication phase before launching each initiative.

* involve the people in the organization who are most critical to the operating success of the initiative.

* establish uniform criteria for identifying high-potential people.

* reward the high-performers in the organization.

* use technology to support HR efforts.

* help people overcome their resistance to learning and using new technology.

* help CEO become the HR leader.

* recognize that changes takes time.

I highly recommend this invaluable study to all HR professionals.

HR is too often viewed as playing a strictly support role, often that of the majordomo or naysayer, in the drama of business, strategy and organization. But the ten case studies presented in this intriguing volume demonstrate how crucial HR can be to enterprise success! In these pages you will learn how practitioners have had a profound impact on their organizations. The cases detail specific ways in which HR has played a vital, strategic role. The editors provide a helpful set of diagnostic questions to aid in fathoming each case. Additionally, the key features of each case are highlighted in one-page tables that make the content further accessible. This book can infuse an HR practitioner with a new sense of purpose and resolve, and a renewed realization of the pivotal value of human resource management. Reviewed by Gerry Stern, founder, hrconsultant.com and Stern & Associates.

I gave five star not because i liked it but i purchased wrong book.Very simple anatomy pictures. This is a good anatomy book at the basics, pictures are very simplified, information is weak, good for high school level anatomy courses.

I purchased a copy of THE HUMAN BODY ATLAS because of the human behavior courses we teach within our social work curriculum. Students are required to have a fundamental knowledge of biological systems. Such knowledge is not the top priority of many students and oftentimes students have low motivation. However, I suspect that when students are required to examine/review THE HUMAN BODY ATLAS as part of their closed reserve reading assignments, they will become more enthusiastic about understanding biological systems.

The illustrations are quite impressive. Two points in particular are worth noting. First, all the illustrations are artful and large. Even the illustrations that extend over two pages have a high degree of clarity. Technologically this is a complex task which would require the editor, publisher, and illustrators (31) to closely coordinate their efforts. I suspect that they had to redo their work many times prior to getting the illustration to look just right. Second, I have seen many such illustrative books on the human body. THE HUMAN BODY ATLAS stands out because of its illustrations of the aging process. Thus, besides being a great asset for a human behavior course, it is also worthy of being a closed reserve item for a gerontology course.

I highly recommend this book for undergraduate academic libraries.

Nazim Hikmet's great Epic Poetry is written in simple lines that carry more than they seem. So much about a culture and its human side. Nazim Hikmet, regardless of his politic side, is a humanist that always believed in human beings and wished for the best for those who suffer. Human Landscapes is a masterpiece of his humanist side.

Nazim Hikmet and his poetry and prose are famous for various reasons, and I think with this specific edition the value of the poetry is very well communicated even to those who read Nazim for the first time. The translation, the glossary and the introductions are what make this edition great. As to what makes this book great... it is a very telling story of the history of the time in Turkey. The characters come alive and pass us by as we turn the pages and the reader becomes a part of the epic. While reading the story I felt like I was in Turkey and was turning my head to see where the noises were coming from only to be included in the daily lives of so many very well developed characters....