How Mr. Spence can be proud of getting a stone cold killer off is beyond me. Joe Esquibell wasn't insane at the time he shot his
wife in the head IN FRONT OF EIGHT WITNESSES ! Mr. Spence and the Doc at the hospital were just tired of the whole
case, it having dragged on for 7 yrs., and the Doc. finally agreed to say that in his opinion (his 3rd flip-flop) Joe was insane at the
time he pulled the trigger. It was a sham. It was a lie.

And then after Joe is freed he of course returns to his old violent abusive boozing lifestyle and gets himself killed. And of all things
Mr. Spence wants the killer of Joe punished even tho he knows it was in self defense, that Joe attacked the guy first.

As you can see I obviously missed whatever good point you all above got out of this book.

Joe Esquibell was a user, abuser, violently jealous, violent in general, boozer. He never worked a day in his life. He had 5
illegitimate kids by three women (one a 14 y/o) that we are told of (you know he had more) that he never supported in any way
shape or form. He was a killer. If there was anyone who deserved the gas chamber it was he. And as far as
insane or not, to me it makes no difference. You take a life...you pay with your own. What's the good in keeping an insane person alive anyway? Especially one who kills. I don't understand it...an insane person has no life. They are the LIVINGDEAD. I think it's cruel to keep them alive in those hospitals where you know damn well they are treated like sh!t.

And what kind of women and/or man has baby after baby after baby when they know they can not support them (they can't
even support themselves for chirst sake!)..., when they don't really want them nor care about them. That is SICK. That's abuse. It's a sin. Joe Esquibell's mother out to be shot. She and her sheepherder husband (alcoholic) are responsible for this whole bloody mess. But that in no way absolves Joe, as Mr. Spence seems to think. Gerry Spence ought to be ashamed.

It's an ugly story about stupid thoughtless trashy people and Mr. Spence attempt to parallel his own life to Joes is a stretch (mr. spence used condoms :o) )

Trial attorney Gerry Spence writes a fascinating tale about one of his trials in which he defends the American underdog. Spence describes a chivalrous undertaking on his part, feeling that a more intellectually advanced human being should become involved with the problems of the less advanced, the unfortunate and the meek. In his book Half Moon and Empty Stars, Spence writes a defense story about the fateful American Indians in modern times, and in Of Murder and Madness his subjects are Mexican Americans in Wyoming and their dire circumstances. As the defense lawyer in a murder case, he takes us behind the scenes unveiling the caprice of the "courthouse club" and the criminal shortcomings of the Welfare Department. He says an insane society produces "skitz" (schizophrenia sufferers). The story of psychotic Joe is interwoven with Spence's autobiography and philosophical outlooks. The battle in this trial is for the lost soul of the defendant, a noble cause for one determined trial attorney. Gerborg

Famous, flamboyant, but brilliant Wyoming attorney Gerry Spence tells the start-to-finish story of a murder trial he was involved in.

For years, this book was out-of-print; few libraries had copies. So, when I ran across this book in the 'true crime' section of a University bookstore, I was elated.

Once I began reading it, there was no stopping me. [Spence is THAT kind of writer. He doesn't bore you for ten pages. He puts the hook in you after a few pages].

The book is rather lengthy, but that's okay. All he has to say needs to be said...in order to understand the crime committed, the background info that LED to the crime, and the actual courtroom drama itself.

This book is a VERY good read for anyone undecided on the death penalty. [It might even confuse you more as to where you're at regarding the death penalty. But that's fine. It will give you something to think about for quite some time].

Yes. This book is a definite page turner. Once started, I doubt you'll be able to put it down. I know I couldn't.

Best part is: it's the type of 'true crime' that could happen in Anywhere, U.S.A. NOT like the Charles Manson "Helter Skelter" true-crime that is sensationalized.

I'd suggest this book to anyone interested in: 1) death penalty cases. Pro or con. 2) real life justice and our legal system.

This is not a book for the faint hearted. Be cautious.

This is the first Walter Mosley book I have read. Everybody seems to be rating this author very highly and say that his books are amazing. I'm not convinced. It seems like an ordinary mystery story to me. The dialogue and language is a lot more relaxed than you would find in most books which makes it easy to read. Nevertheless, I found a lot of it hard to follow and found that I got bored with it very easily even though I did manage to finish it. It is worth reading but don't expect anything special because it really isn't. The characters are very believable but they suffer from a disjointed and in some ways unbelieveable story. Make your own mind up. I prefer John Grisham every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

This is the second Easy Rwalings book, a series by Walter Mosley.
It's a short and fast-paced book, easy to read. There are two problems with Easy Rawlings, though. As happens with all Mosley books, the plots are kind of misty, you just don't know for sure what Rawlings must do or discover through the story. Other thing I find extremely annoying is that, except Rawlings, other characters are completely undeveloped, they're just names thrown into the story, making it a little confusing, you almost never know who is who and what part they seem to take in the plot.

Easy Rawlings is a funny character, though a little too stupid. He acts before he thinks. Mosley thinks this is a means to provide action in the book and it works well, but I thought Easy was rather obtuse sometimes. But maybe Mosley just wanted to create a story as close to reality as possible. As in "Devil in a blue dress", the most interesting character is Mouse, Easy's friend, a murderer without scruples, who should get a book of his own.

I'll give a try to "White Butterfly", the next book in the series.

Grade 7.3/10

This was my first Walter Mosley novel. I had not done any reading for fun for some time. This book engulfs the reader in the world that Easy Rawlins exists in. All characters are beautifully distinct and colorful. You will truly enjoy this book.

I am a big Paul Shepard fan but this book was a disappointment. The book starts off well investigating the thesis that natural selection has left the human mind with a set series of developmental events that must take place between childhood and adulthood by which the child comes to understand its place in both the human community and the natural world. This sequence was built into human psychology during hundred of thousands of years of living as hunter-gatherers. When we adopted large-scale agriculture a mere 10.000 years ago this sequence was radically disrupted as the sphere of the childs interaction with both the naturl world around it and it human community was contracted drastically. Many of the ills of modern life stem from this disruption.
Shepard presentation of his basic thesis is compelling. But he then goes on to psycho-historical explorations of how this disruption takes different shapes in different historical epochs. This constitutes the bulk of the book. The psycho-history pieces I found unsatisfying, full of very broad generalizations about the psychological effect of various cultural trends. There is no way to tell what is just psychobabble and what is not. If you are new to Shepard I would recommend the Tender Carnivore instead, or for a nice summary of his whole line of thought Coming Home to the Pleistocene.

For those interested in studies of western culture's destructive relationship with nature, this treatise from Paul Shepard is certainly a rewarding read, though I recommend it with some reservations. Shepard starts with the Mother Earth concept and takes it to great psychological lengths, then applies this psychology to all of mankind. It's certainly a radical thesis, but it's worth thinking about. In what he calls variously ontogenetic regression, unaltered immaturity, and other labels, Shepard makes the case that humans have been torn from their true mother, the Earth, as the unfortunate outcome of modern civilization and social constructs. Thus, society behaves in pathological ways similar to what can be seen from children who are torn away from their mothers before the onset of maturity. Therefore, our society's attitude toward nature is perpetually immature, underdeveloped, and undernourished, with all the destructiveness and disrespect that results from such a dysfunctional childhood.

While this thesis has its various strengths and weaknesses that can be discovered by the reader, there's not enough meat to it to round out an entire book, even a very short one like this. Shepard's most glaring weakness is in psychology, as he offers little more than extremely basic Freud (with the associated sexism and dubious ideas on infancy and childhood), and then makes unconvincing attempts to extend this psychology to society as a whole. Meanwhile, Shepard's writing gets buried in academic dogma that is a real slog for non-professors who don't speak in non-stop technical jargon all day. Watch for arcane terms like methectic, kerygmatic, neoteny, or autochthonous; along with brain-drain sentences like "...amputate and cauterize pubertal epigenesis because they would further transform the relationship of the infant to its mother." Add all this to Shepard's rather self-righteous speculations and you are in for an exasperating read, although the basic thesis of this book definitely offers food for thought.

This is a really impressive, powerful and inspiring book, which investigates neurotic behavior of the individual and collective societies as a result of alienation and separation fom our natural impulses, nature itself and our "co inhabitants" of the planet earth.Those interested in further investigating these themes are advised to check out John Zerzan's excellent "Against Civilization"(surely a pun on Huysmans classic portrayal of dissatisfied and empty urban neurosis, "Against Nature"), a collection of essays devoted to the "wrong thnking" and negative effects of civilization and the disastrous implications of man's separation from nature. In a similar vein, his "Elements of Refusal" should find a sympahetic readership amongst those impressed by Shepard's work. Gregdada from Korea.

The analysis of algorithms is an important aspect of computer programming, and it's actually a pretty interesting study in its own right. That's why the "gee-whiz" tone or cutesy-poo approach Rawlings takes in this book is all the more discouraging -- not only is it a distraction, it was unnecessary. Of course, there are those who like the "cutesy" approach. Some people think, the more pyrotechnics, monkeyshines and theatrics in a classroom, the better. If that type of instruction pleases you, you might like this book. However, for those who aren't studying the analysis of algorithms for yuks, this book is off-putting. The content of this book is that of a competent work, suitable for a first-semester course in the analysis of algorithms. But it is too much work to separate the content from the lamely facetious, precious manner in which that content is expressed.

I am a senior in computer science & I'm taking my first course on Algorithm Analysis. Our instructor is using another book. Every year he picks a different book. I found this at our library & I've never read a computer book on this subject matter that is so useful. The theme of the book is it guides you thru "thinking about" the topic & all the other ramifications of doing things. You'll find yourself washing dishes differently after this book. Otherwise, if you looking for a better book "Introduction to Algorithms," Corman, Rivest, ..; is the definative text. And of course Knuth's monumental tome.

Reader from the Windy State

I disagree with the first comment. While I know more about the algorithms and analysys than author probably expected about reader, I found the book interesting and entertaining. It forced me to think again about the old known thinks, brought me new views and new analogies between them. This is very important.

Covers surprisingly wide range of ideas from various subjects. Contains analysis, complexity theory, logic, information theory, probability and more. Don't go to the depth but gives you clear idea what is the topic about.

And I like the style book is written. It force you to read it just because it is fun even in situations I would never read serious algorithm analysis textbook.

The plot sounded interesting, so I picked it up. Gina and Mike were subject to one antic after another. If you like that sort of thig, this is for you. If not, think twice. I thought Blaze books were supposed to be steamy. This read more like a comedy with some sensual awareness between Gina and Mike. Mike is a good guy, a little up tight. His wanting to be a part of Gina's big Italian family made sense except toward the end when he seemed to willing to go a little too far to please people who didn't consider him family. My bigger beef was with Gina. I realize she was from a different country and had a different upbringing than your average American girl. But she acted a bit like she was from another planet. The wide-eyed innocence stuff was a little over the top. Still, it was harmless and enjoyable for an afternoon.

Mike Mason loves his job but when he's left showing the city to the bosses niece Gina he wonders how long he'll have it. Not only is Gina ready for big city fun but she brought a warddrobe that her parents would never approve of.
She's a temptation he's not sure he can handle especially after being celibate for so long. Especially when she makes it clear that she wants to shake her catholic school girl image and learn everything about sex that Mike is willing to teach.

Temptation at it's best.

Highly reccommend, if you are looking for a fast, funny and light story. Love the fact that Mike is very down to earth, and the author gives us a great insight on what goes through "the minds of men". Love the Blaze Series.

My only reason for not giving this book 5 stars is that it is somewhat dated, having been written in 1986. However, it provides an excellent history of the rhesus macaque troop of Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico, and this is a "must own" for anyone interested in behavioral studies involving rhesus monkeys.

I am a psychology student at the University of Wisconsin and have studied rhesus monkeys myself. This book provides both a history of the Puerto Rican troop and a number of scientific chapters regarding kinship and other studies conducted at that facility. It is based on data and not a light read. It includes an extensive bibliography of the 300 studies that have been published from this group of macaques--or had been published up to 1986. With that caveat, it provides an interesting account of the work that took place there between 1938 and 1986.

Chip loves nature. You can tell from his poems and his stories. He loves his spiritual connection to the earth. For him it is a tool. He uses nature as a way of helping him understand the people in his life. His poems help us understand nature and reconnect ourselves to the earth.
I thought "Ceremony" was great. Very easy to read poetry. If you already have a spiritual connection with desert and mountains, you will be able to live Chip's loves and anguish with him. If your feelings for nature are incomplete, these poems will help establish and secure the bonds back to mother nature.

Lots of interesting information and useful facts about Field Commander Cohen's life and work. Well laid out with plenty of photographs and appendices. The book does not gloss over The Ladies Man pre-recording days, as other related material does.

The only criticism is that it is too sycophantic. Best example of this is the awe with which Leonard's university reading list is presented - Everybody Knows students don't read a quarter of the books they should, preferring to lead The Smokey Life instead. But if He's Your Man then it is worth a read.

The author, Mark L Rawlins, has emerged as an industry expert in implementing a vast array of commission plans for many successful network marketing companies. Unlike someone who designs commission plans, the majority of his twenty years is, "taking a plan that has already been designed and making it work." This book gives anyone who wants to understand how commissions work, a good foundation on the basics of commission plans. It's just as important for network marketing distributors to understand these concepts, as it is for executives.

Network marketing commission plans are difficult to set up. More than that - they're difficult to understand. This book breaks through the confusion and brings to light the essentials of commission plans - its commissions, its rules, and its structures. It also describes why commissions are so important, and the ramifications that affect payout and distributor behavior. Once a company figures out how to recruit, the biggest challenge is finding ways to maintain distributor loyalty. Certain commission plan elements can enhance that loyalty. This book provides the reader with a clear understanding of how different aspects of various commission plans can affect a company's performance.

The book is organized into three sections - comprising of eleven chapters. In the first section, "What You Need to Know First", it reviews the background of network marketing. In chapter one, you learn the history of the industry and what has changed through the years. Chapter two looks at distributors, why they join companies, and why they do what they do. The last chapter of this section is a little different from the rest of the book in that it describes how to design a commission plan. There are some interesting calculation payout exercises in Appendix D that complement this chapter as well.

The goal of section two, "The Building Blocks", is to help you understand the components that make up every commission plan. Here's a brief synopsis of the chapters within this section.

Chapter 4: Commissions. Here you become aware of the strengths and weaknesses of each commission type and how you can use each type of commission to achieve a specific objective in commission plan design. Commissions alone do not define the commission plan, but they're certainly of great importance to your distributors. Details of these commission types are examined in this chapter.

Chapter 5: Rules. Rules define the qualifications a distributor must meet in order to be paid commissions on downline activity. They also specify the criteria for earning other awards or benefits from the company. Here you will confront such questions as:

·Do you expect a new distributor to purchase a sales kit on signup?

·Do you require them to purchase a demonstration kit?

·How many months can a distributor be unqualified before losing the distributorship or be reduced in rank?

·Does the company require a distributor to take certain training classes before moving up in rank?

·How much must a distributor sell each month to remain qualified at the current rank?

·What are the most common qualifications?

Chapter 6: Structure. The term "structure" refers to the overall organization of a distributor's downline that must be in place to receive certain commission payments. This chapter discusses the rationale for having a specific set of rules in a commission plan that determines where people must be placed in the organization. Herein lies an exploration of the following questions:

·How do distributors build downlines?

·What will the downline look like as the company grows?

·How effective will the organization be in terms of motivation, payout, distributions, and so on?

Chapter 7: Miscellaneous commissions. These are commissions that companies use to supplement the "big four" commissions that make up the majority of commission plans. These commissions are matching commissions, automobile commissions, fast start commissions, and incentives.

Chapter 8: Operational issues. Here you will become acquainted with the operational issues that all network marketing companies must address. They may not deal directly with the nuts and bolts of the company's commission plan, but the decisions the company makes regarding these have a direct impact on the company's commission plan.

The last section of the book, Mark does an excellent job at, "Putting Everything Together." Chapter nine is a review of the different commission plans that have been used, along with an overview of each plan's strengths and weaknesses. In chapter ten, you learn how a company can create a commission earnings emphasis and which plans lend them to each emphasis. It also talks about which plans work well to pay sales commissions and sales management commission, and how a company can target earnings to each of the five distributor types. Finally, in chapter eleven, you learn what Mark predicts about where commission plans are going in the next few years.

Mosley, Walter. Gone Fishin'. Black Classics. Jan. 1997. 244pages. ISBN 1-57478-025-5. $22. There can be no better way to start off the year than with Easy Rawlins. Fans already needing a fix after Mosley's recent "A Little Yellow Dog" get happy, Easy and Mouse are back in this "prequel" to the series. This latest novel is actually Mosley's original Easy/Mouse story written in the late 80s but never released. Gone Fishin' follows the classic search for father motif-literally for Mouse and figuratively for the 19-year-old Rawlins who finds himself a very un-Easy rider on a road trip to Pariah, TX, to strong-arm Mouse's step daddyReese for money. Easy quickly lands up to here in trouble that includes witchcraft, fevered sex, a fleeing killer, and a few dead bodies. While Mouse is facing down his wicked stepfather, Easy must exorcise the demons of his own past in order to achieve a coming of age that's steeped in blood, guilt, and forgiveness. Not a straight mystery like earlier volumes in the series, Gone Fishin' is a more spiritual novel that reaches into the characters' pasts to reveal their souls. Mosley delivers the goods every time and Easy fans are going to eat this up. Highly recommended.-Michael Rogers,

Great detective story writers can rise to being solid novelists. Ross MacDonald was clearly in this category. With Gone Fishin', Walter Mosley has attained that distinction in a new way -- he has gone into a new fictional genre.

Although this novel has the usual crime overlay, it is really a novel about coming of age in the South as a black person before the days of integration. With few books available on this subject, I suspect that Mosley may have set the standard for other authors to meet.

For me, a lot of the charm of the Easy Rawlins stories is their historical setting in the more prejudiced days of the past. How does an intelligent, honorable black person deal with this? The stories are interesting for both what they say about society and for the great plots and character development.

This book, a prequel to the others in the series, does the same, but in a different setting -- far a way from Southern California.

I found it to be an excellent gothic novel, and encourage you to read it as such. If you open this book expecting another Easy Rawlins detective story, you may be disappointed. On the other hand, if you leave yourself open to what you find here, you will probably be rewarded. Moseley's fans need to live up to his talent, and follow him where his skills take him.

If you have not read the Walter Mosley books before, I suggest you start with this one. You'll make more sense out of the rest of the series. You'll also be less likely to be disturbed by the shift in genre. Anyone who enjoys this book will find the detective novels to be an easy follow on.

If you're looking for a true summer adventure--and you happen to be a fan of Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins series--don't miss this one. "Gone Fishin'" is a prequel to the other novels--it begins in Houston in the late 1930's where Easy and his murderous pal Mouse are two young black men looking for fortune in a white man's world. That leads them on trip into the dark recesses of the East Texas Piney Woods, where the city boys discover there's plenty of sex, black magic and killing out under the trees. Mosley wonderfully captures the dialect of that region from that era--to me, it had a familiar ring. To others, it may require a bit of concentration, but it's worth the effort. With "Gone Fishin'", Mosley has created a grownup "Huck Finn" style adventure that reads like a movie. If you're like me, after Denzel Washington's portrayal of Easy in "Devil In A Blue Dress", you see Denzel in your head whenever you're reading about Easy Rawlins. Imagine him as a youngster--not yet the cool sleuth he'll become later in LA--and you've got the character Mosley creates for "Gone Fishin'". The only bad thing I can say about this book is that I was finished with it before I wanted to be.