Natalie (whats her name) can be pretty when her makeup is on right. The cover of this book clearly shows her with her makeup on in a freaky (and kinda ugly) way. This book showcases overrated and not all that great "beauties". Save your money and buy a book with more substance.

Heylo
i just wanted to say that this book was really inspiring and helped me to understand different people (be more open). Anyway this book inspired me to write my own book about me and my friends, who knows it might get published someday. oh yah and just for the record i am 15 i'm just too lazy to sign up haha

Some of you seem to be missing the point---nothing is wrong with beauty. Nothing is wrong with writing about beauty. And certainly, there is nothing wrong with reading about it---and liking it.

True, the definition of "beauty" covers the gamut. "Beyond Beauty" is, yes, about physical beauty, but I feel it is balanced with down-to-earth thoughts by all the girls featured in this book.

Take Natalie Portman for example. She is the girl gracing the cover, and is, in my opinion, a good example of the beauty of blossoming into a beautiful young woman. We first saw her as a young, gangly child in the movie the "Professional". And now we see her as a coming-of-age teenager in "Star Wars". In "Beyond Beauty", readers get a chance to connect with Natalie in the fact that she gives an honest viewpoint on things. Sure, she's a star, but she's also just a girl on the inside, with the same insecurities and hopes of any other girl.

All of the girls are like this in "Beyond Beauty". Yes, this book also focuses on make-up and the use (or non-use) thereof, but the young women featured in this book give a different slant on things...it's something along the lines of "Looks aren't everything. Really."

And besides, what's wrong with talking about make-up? Girls love it! I grew up reading "Seventeen" and "YM" (formerly known as "Young Miss"). I was a gawky girl and I loved reading about make-up and fashion.

I really don't see anything wrong with it as long as no one makes it the most important thing in their lives. Although I felt that "Beyond Beauty" did not apply to me as I am in my late 20's, I would have been happy to read "Beyond Beauty" as a teenager. And, I wouldn't mind it if my daughters, if I had any, read it as well.

This book should be titled "I do not know how to price all risks when valuing companies so here are 101 fudge factor guesses I use instead". This is the wrong way to value companies and is inconsistent with financial asset pricing theory. Look elsewhere for better resources.

Pratt took his many years of valuation experience and put it in this one book. The book reviews the theory and practice of how to derive a discount rate for use in a DCF. At present, it's the best book in print for appraisers.

The valuation profession has exploded among CPAs, CBAs and others who attend a few seminars and then undertake to do this complicated work. Many do a shabby job, and more do not understand basic concepts of cost of capital. The sophistication and understanding of many business appraisers will grow from reading this book, as (I believe) mine did.

This book is NOT written by an academician (although I think I recall that Shannon has a PhD in finance), and no doubt "they" (I admit, I don't really know any finance professors) will not approve. A fair example of an academician's work, reflecting a different approach and serving different needs, is Bradford Cornell's fine work on the equity risk premium.

My personal belief is that finance professors don't really understand practical differences between valuation of public markets, publicly traded stocks and portfolios made up of publicly traded companies, and valuation of closely held companies.

Shannon does understand the differences. He has authored several classic books on business valuation. He has valued thousands and testified in US Tax Court, state courts and federal courts across the country. He continues to speak to business appraisers across the country. This book summarizes issues he knows need to be better understood by those of us who consult with closely held businesses.

I know it is not directly related to this book, but some may want to know a little about who the author is. Shannon Pratt's leadership in his field is well known and respected. As a pioneer of our profession, he is a hero to many of us. He is also a magnanimous personality, and I enjoy sitting in the front row of many seminars where he sits to afflict speakers with his trusty digital camera.

This is a short book and an easy read, but packed with good information for those who want to better understand the cost of capital in the context of valuing small businesses.

No one can argue with the credentials of the authors of this interesting and engaging book. It is certainly an interesting account of the life of a dermatologist and some interesting case studies. However, if you are looking for a book on the effects of sunlight on human health I would urge you to look elsewhere. The authors exclusive focus on pathology gives them a kind of tunnel vision which misses the larger health picture and their resulting advice (in a nutshell, wear SPF 30 sunscreen and stay out of the sun) may be harmful. While they give a passing nod to the health benefits of sunlight (allows the skin to synthesize Vit D), they seem to have not read the literature on the effects of sunlight in lowering blood pressure, lowering blood sugar, decreasing cholesterol, building lean tissue, increasing the production of sex hormones, and actually increasing the resistance to infection and cancer. None of these benefits are available to the person slathered in SPF 30 sunscreen. I would urge you to read Zane Kime, MD's book "Sunlight Could Save Your Life" or Dr. Downing's book "Daylight Robbery" before you decide to follow the advice in this book. Of course, caution IS well advised. The two books just mentioned help the reader to determine how to get the benefits without undue risks. Unlike the Balin's, Dr. Dowling says that sunlight actually stimulates production of antibodies and strenghtens the body's defenses which actually help suppress the growth of melanoma. The Balin's seem to totally ignore a several thousand year history of sunlight therapy in medicine and the fact that many human cultures haved lived under intense sunlight all their lives without the constant care of dematologists and SPF 30 sunscreens and without dying of melanomas. The Balin's should pay more attention to the abnormal conditions of modern life (indoor living, ozone depletion, high use of polyunsaturated fats & refined foods) which seem more to blame than sunlight for the current epidemic of melanomas. Sunlight can be a blessing to our health if we use it wisely but you would never know it from reading this book.

Very readable look at dermatology and why healthy skin is so important. It is told though cases where the authors were the physicians.

I learned alot about people and issues with skin that I never understood before. This book was both entertaining and informative and anyone who wants to learn more about their body and their skin should read it.

This book contains a good bit of knowledge about American philosophy, history, and European/native interaction in the United States. But all this is buried by the author's desire to set forth a preposterous but politcally correct thesis: that pragmatism, understood as a distinctively American philosophy, has its roots in native American thought and culture. If the author had been willing simply to note some philosophic parallels and some points of contact, that would have been one thing. To suggest, however, that Peirce's intellectual debts to not lie with European philosophers like Kant, to suggest that James was wrong when he viewed Aristotle and Hume and Mill as early pragmatists who engaged in this old way of thinking, and to suggest that Dewey's thought can be understood more fruitfully as the result of, say, the Iroquois than Hegel, Darwin, and James--this is just plain silly. The political sentiments that underlie this book should not be faulted, but the book itself is a telling example of how not to do philosophy. By cutting pragmatism off from all but a tiny portion of its history, and by implying that native American thought is somehow validated if we can see it as issuing in the white man's pragmatism (that in good colonial fashion shows it was thus important), Dr. Pratt has done a disservice to both groups and has misunderstood the roots of American pragmatism.

Native Pragmatism is a great book. Pratt provides one of the MOST articulate and useful summaries of the tradition of American Pragmatism. He also provides a fair as well as critical look at the literature that has been written about Pragmatism. He does not disagree with histories that trace the roots of American Pragmatism back to Europe, but he does ask the reader to consider some additional influences. Pratt's account of possible Native American influences on a range of American thinkers is quite thought provoking, as is his inclusion of several key women thinkers. His account provides some explanation for how the central thinkers of this tradition were able to so radically transform their understanding of philosophy, of the individual, of knowledge, of life. American Pragmatism still represents a challenge to learn "the lessons of a way of thinking that is committed to the importance of interaction and pluralism, the necessity of community, and the value of growth, that is, by recovering the ways of understanding and acting indigenous to American, we also gain the possibility of a flourishing pluralist society" (289). Erin McKenna, Pacific Lutheran University

It is all too common to treat the philosophical perspective known as American Pragmatism as if the field begins and ends with the works of Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, and John Dewey. Native Pragmatism by Scott L. Pratt is part of a growing body of work that recognizes the ongoing contribution of women, indigenous people, and people of color to American Philosophy. The book is a tightly woven argument that begins with an exploration of the origins of American philosophy, including an important discussion of what constitutes philosophy. From there, the book logically progresses through key moments and movements in North American history, primarily focusing on the influence of Native American thought on pragmatic theory. Pratt's notion of "colonial attitude" versus "indigenous attitude" act as useful organizing principals and his discussion of the "logic of place" and the "logic of home" are both carefully worked out and help explain many of the conflicts in the history of colonial and indigenous peoples. Ultimately, the reader is left with a new perspective on American history as well as better understanding of the many, and continually evolving, influences on American philosophy
What makes this an intriguing read is how Pratt integrates fascinating, and often little-known, historical anecdotes. When I picked up this book, I expected to have a compelling argument regarding the recovery of over-looked traditions, what I found surprising was the thorough overview of the European antecedents of American Pragmatism as well as an excellent review of the basic tenets of this philosophical tradition. As I finished the book, I realized that I was holding a fine introduction to American Philosophy and perhaps the most inclusive and comprehensive introduction on the market. I plan to use this book the next time I teach an introductory course in American Philosophy but it also has applications for ethnic studies, women's studies, and American history. It is written in a style that is accessible and interesting to the non-specialist. I think Native Pragmatism is bound to make a significant contribution to expanding our concept of American Philosophy and we may look back on this book in decades to come as a pioneering work in the field.

I thought Big Girl in the Middle would be a wonderful book to read. It's about a girl who is a professional volleyball player, and I really love volleyball. But when I began to read it, "Boy was I wrong!" I hate books that try to make you feel sorry for people and it seemed like that's all this book was doing. It was quite depressing, and I dreaded the thought of having to pick it up again each day to read another chapter. I like to read about some obstacles people have to overcome to achieve their goals, but this was a little extreme. It seems as though nothing good ever happened to Gabrielle Reece in her life, and when something finally did, it was taken away from her. Life is not easy (we all know that), so why make it worse for other people by writing about it?
I also thought the book was difficult to follow. One minute they'd be taken talking about her childhood and the next thing you know they were in the middle of one of her games. She didn't always give her ages; she would just say that she did things after this and this. I also never really knew when or where they were talking. For example, I never knew if the conversations happened at her home, on the phone, on at the beach. It was just really tough to follow.
The only good thing about the book is Gabrielle Reece. She is what every girl, at some point in her life, wants to be! She's been a model as well as a professional athlete. Most girls want to be idolized for their looks and /or praised for their athletic ability. Gabrielle Reece is both. She is a role model for many women around the globe.
I would not recommend this book for those who are looking for a laugh, or an exciting or interesting story. I don't think it's a really good book at all. There was absolutely no humor in it. It was depressing and hard to follow. I wouldn't want to read it again!

When I bought this book I was looking for inspiration in my everyday training/fitness. I found it, I think Gabby Reece is someone who has a lot of confidence and while reading her book I developed a likeness toward her and I enjoyed her openess and spunk.

I loved reading BIg Girl in the Middle! I was amazed to find that Gabrielle Reece was more fascinating than I thought she'd be. The girl is witty, beautiful, and she has some pretty deep thoughts on a lot of things-and a great deal of insight to back it all up! I think she should seriously be considered as a good example of a role model for girls, and some people out there would probably be better off if they acted more like her!

Instead of giving helpful advice, this book lectures. I'd rather read a book that helps my husband and I address our problems, than one that sets itself up on a pedestal. I'm sure the Garcia-Prats are a remarkable couple, but I'm not sure how they qualify as experts.

I read the Garcia-Prats' first book, which was okay, but this one is simply a lot of recycled information. Some of the advice is amazingly impractical, i.e. when they talk about forgiveness. Mrs. Garcia-Prats cites a saint who forgave her daughter's rapist. In the framework of a marriage, this seems like a reach. Much of the rest of the book appears to consist of quotes and ideas taken from other "experts." This isn't the place to look for fresh, practical ideas. That said, they look like a nice family with cute kids.

I'd recommend this book for any of my married friends. The Garcia-Prats have done an excellent job of writing a really engaging book. It makes you think about the importance of marriage, to not just the couple but the entire family and our society as a whole. So many families today are searching for answers. This is a place to get some. I can't say I agree with everything in the book, but it certainly made me think about my own marriage in a new light.

Sorry Authors but I can never seem to find what I am after here. e.g. Looking for info on "aggregate" terms - no reference to it. e.g. Looking for information on oracle date handling - not enough info to be useful.

I need something more heavy duty really. Might be okay for someone starting out - but I doubt it.

I've had some programming experience, but can't say I'm an excellent programmer. This book really clued me in how just how versatile SQL can be. It slowly builds your knowledge and feeds it just enough to keep you interested for more. I've since purchased other books by Loney published by Oracle Press and have found them to be dry reads in comparison. After reading this book, I feel confident enough to take on PL/SQL. My limited programming skill is not a hindrance to learning SQL. Now.

An excellent beginner's book.

I would definitely recommend this book to any beginer who has no idea what SQL is really all about. It starts off by introducing a fairly simple database and then builds on various queries and aspects of the database. I found it helpful making a copy of the database layout page which I then placed next to my monitor for constant referals. In just a few days I was confidently tackling our Oracle database at work and now no longer have that 'unknown' fear when facing any SQL related problems. Though for complex SQL scripts I would recommend a more advanced book.

Bob Pratt has an axe to grind. His sponsor MUFON is no longer an independant organization and like others is controled by the Shadow Government. Interestingly enough, this expensive inquiry by an American Journalist takes place far enough from home for anyone to verify any of the alledged facts. Secret Intelligence is very fond of these weird stories they publish to (officialy) test public's gullibility when in fact they seek to accredit the idea that aliens are dangerous. This is their last ploy following the failed disinformation gambit that aliens do not exist. Until such authors expose themselves to the full scrutiny of the public, it is safe to assume that they are subsidized by self serving interests who need an ennemy to go on preparing for war.

This book is about the UFO phenomena in Brazil. The author claims to have interviewed hundreds of witness's and abductees over the years, and this book is said to be a compilation of it.

Thankfully, the author tells you right away that this is a one sided book, and it is. The book covers the ways UFOs are terrorizing people in rural communities of Brazil.

In a nutshell, the UFO scene in brazil differs from anywhere else, in that people report being chased by ufos, emotionally terrorized by them, injured by them, being burned by thier beams of light, being levitated by them, feeling sick after thier experience, and being abducted by thier crews.

None of the people who gave testimony in this book required hypnosis to recollect thier experience, and most share the same opinion... that UFOs terrorize, and in some cases, kill people in Brazil.

That's what's in the book, on the whole, the book gets pretty repititive after the first chapter, as you fell you're reading the same stories over and over, and at the end you don't really know if you should feel more educated about the topic, or whether or not to start questioning the credibility of the author.

The big discrepancy is this: the kind of terrorizing that is described in this book, just doesn't seem to be reported anywhere else in the world, not to this extent. So the question is...

Are UFOs in brazil terrorizing people? or is the content of this book not entirely accurate?

I rate this book 2.5 stars.

Many sceptics in the USA and Europe have come up with theories intending to debunk the UFO and the alien abduction phenomena as hysterical side effects of a nutty society. Bob Pratt and his collaborator Cynthia Newby Luce are posing a great and insurmountable challenge to these sceptics. There they are, in NE Brazil, in tiny villages where no one has ever heard of Star Wars or the Grays. This is a typical "Third World" society, a place where people have a thousand priorities in their minds before dealing with "deluxe" questions such as "Are we alone in the universe?" and "Are there intelligent beings on other planets?". Yet every single extended family has experience of strange phenomena that involve UFOs (called "the fire", or "the animal" by many, a proof that this area is not exactly inhabited by trekkies and X-philes and other hi-tech minded people), and some of the most appalling abduction cases ever recorded. There are no Grays involved here, nothing similar to the much publicized cases from the USA, but instead you have humanoid abductors and hints of other dimensions. The stories related in this book are far too off, too much out of quantum physics to have been devised by those isolated and illiterate peasants with no interest whatsoever to appear on TV or to make a buck out of these stories. I have acquaintances in the cities of NE Brazil, and I have discussed this matter with them. All of them are aware of the strange UFO flaps and abductions in their area, and all of them know a relative or a friend or an acquaintance who has experienced something unworldy. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the paranormal.

I got this book in a class on MS Access, perhaps I went into it with too high of expectations, but the book is basically a wizard walkthru.

If you have the basic ability to click "Next" on a wizard and select the basic styles you are already well beyond the scope of this book. Sixty percent of each page is full colored, often pointless, illlustrations about the task at hand. I recall one section where the book used three pages and three seperate diagrams to resize a text box on a form.

Calling this book "Comprehensive" or applicable for the "Expert" skill level is like saying playdoh is the prefered material of master artisans.

Microsoft Access 2000 Comprehensive Concepts and Techniques
by Shelly and Cashman is a good text if you are completely new to computers and/ or want to learn MS Access without instruction. If your skills already include Excel or any level of Access expertise, then the text will likely be too slow for you. The style and layout make it easy to work through on your own but makes the text unsuitable as a reference source for specific MS Access information.

I have never used Access before and wanted to learn it. I got this book in a college course for a beginner course on Access. I thought the book was perfect. Lots of diagrams and it walks you through everything step by step with great explanations. I have other books on Access, but this one was the easiest for me to learn from. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning Access that has no experience in it what so ever.

I bought this book in Hawaii because it was the only bird book I could find. It at least showed me some of the birds I would see, but the organization (if there is any--can't tell) is horrible. Next time I would go online ahead of time and buy an actual field guide to birds. It is a nightmare to find a bird in this book, and it doesn't give any information about them, such as their size, or male/female differences; also, it lists some birds more than once--weird. This book should be named differently...perhaps, "A glimpse into the history of birds in Hawaii." Overall, it did help me identify the birds I saw, so was better than nothing, but I would definitely not choose it again.

This book is intended for the casual observer of birds, not the dedicated birder. (Serious bird-watchers should use Pratt's Field Guide to the Birds of Hawai'i and the Tropical Pacific together with his Enjoying Birds in Hawai'i or Rick Soehren's Birdwatcher's Guide to Hawai'i.) But within its limits, this is a fascinating and readable book. Pratt discusses the native birds, especially the endemic passerines, and illustrates the evolutionary processes which produced their astonishing variety. Then he describes the introduced birds, including their effect on the native avifauna when that is significant. The result is a clear though brief analysis of Hawai'i's avian world.

Pratt is a fine photographer and bird illustrator, and Jack Jeffrey is a true master of avian photography. The result of their collaboration is one of the best-illustrated books on birds I know.

Pratt's writing style is direct and clear. His straightforward narration of the destruction of a large part of the native Hawai'ian avifauna is heartbreaking in its simplicity.

This is an excellent introduction to Hawai'i's birds.

I need the scientific names, that unfortunately were not listed in the book. The development in the bird changes is also so quick, ( I did not see Frigate Birds over Waikiki. Also the colony of Laysan Albatrosses on Kaohikaipu Island deed not seem to be mentioned, even there was a picture of the island in the book. Maybe the colony is new???) that some changes should be maid, or foreseen in the possible next edition. I also saw a bird that was not listed in the book. I wonder if that could have been an apanane female. But the book does not indicate whether male and female are alike or not. The bird I saw was very alike the apanane in shape an bill. Bill a little shorter grey top of head and green on side. What bird could that have been? Seen in Hosmer Grove. The bird list in the back should be a clean bird list, which ought to be complete. (Ex. Mallard is not in the list. Geografic names should be kept in another list.

If you read this yourself, mr. Pratt, could you please forward the scientific - english list to my e-mail adress - see above. That would be appreciated very much.