This is an evidence-based pocket wonder. Mark Graber, M.D., et. al. do an amazing job of packing the relevant practical facts needed in a daily practice or ER in a small space. The emergency care chapters particularly provide the kind of memory jogging details of care that one needs while on the job.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one family practice book, this should be it. (But wouldn't you take a good novel instead?) It covers the waterfront with details of diagnosis and treatment of all of the common and most of the uncommon disorders without the clutter of the rare. Good for students and residents in my estimation.

Excellent pocket reference. I'm a 3rd year FP resident and have found it helpful in the office and in the hospital. Just wish there was a new version -last one was in 1997.

If you need to learn C# in a hurry, this is the book that will get you up to speed. The entire "Fast Track" series from Wrox were written to help you learn a subject fast and this is especially helpful if your employer decides to convert to C# or any other .Net technology or language. I purchased both Fast Track C# and Fast Track ASP.NET C# Edition together. I am impressed with both books. The Fast Track C# book is 413 pages and the chapters are not to long. This makes the reading very easy and the chapters don't take weeks to read. The book starts out with the basics of .NET and C# and then progresses to more advanced C# subjects. Note: The authors do not go into great detail on the various subjects and you should augment this book with a more advanced books on C#. There are ample examples but the authors do not provide the "results". This is a book for the intermediate developer making the conversion from Java or C++ but I think Visual Basic 6 developers will benefit from this book.

In Chapter 1 - Overview of .Net and the CLR (Common Language Runtime), the authors explain the fundamentals of .Net.

Chapter 2 - Introduction to C#, Chapter 3 - C# Basics, and Chapter 4 - Object-Oriented Features of C# provide the basics that you will need to know about C#. If you are coming from Visual Basic.Net, you might want to skip over these chapters but I read these chapters twice.

The authors explain the more advanced features of C# in Chapters 5 - Advanced C#, 6 - .NET Programming with C#, and 7 - Working with the .Net Base Class. These chapters will help you get beyond the "Hello World" type of applications. These chapters provide some real-world examples.

In Chapter 8 - Building Windows Applications, the authors explain all of the basics to windows development. The GUI or the presentation layer is what the end-user will be most familar with.

The next chapters will help you with real-world applications that you may encounter.

Chapter 9 - Assemblies and ILDASM.
Chapter 10 - Data Access with ADO.Net
Chapter 11 - COM and COM+ Interoperability
Chapter 12 - ASP.Net
Chapter 13 - Web Services

This is an excellent book for C#. It covers almost every topic in C# in a consie, to-the-point fashion. Whether you are new or experienced programmer, this book will give you a head-start on mastering C# concepts. If you are doing MCAD, this is the book you should read first for brushing your concepts. I like the portability of this book (400 pages). Big thumps up for Wrox Fast Track series.

I've long been of the opinion that Wrox Press makes the best developer-oriented books, bar none. Yes, there have been a few missteps in the past, but nobody is perfect. The Fast Track series, however, has thus far failed to disappoint me.

This is the second Fast Track I have purchased. I started using .Net when the first public beta came out, and now I am a complete convert to C#. Not to play into the old "this language is better than that one" argument, but I have found C# to be clean, powerful, and elegant. They used to say that "Inside C++ is a nice clean language ready to come out, and that language is Java." I say that language is C#.

This book gets right to it. If you are already familiar with (n.b. you don't have to be an expert, just familiar with) a true OO language such as C++ or Java, then C# will be a snap for you to learn. This book gets you there, covering the topics that all experienced developers need to go from one language to the next. We're talking the bare-bones necessities here: syntax, basic classes, and usage for .NET, WebServices, and Windows Apps. No, this is not an exhaustive reference for the language. If you want that, check out the excellent: Professional C#, also by Wrox. This book is to get you up and running quickly in a new language, and give you the tools you need to build a core knowledgebase of C#. We all know that once you have the basics, it is much easier to search the web, or MSDN, or a giant reference book, for more advanced topics. But it is often hard to find one good source for the "getting started" stages of a new language. How do I do in C#: A FOR loop? Arrays? Inherit a class? Use XML? These and more are all answered in a way that will get you productive quickly, and leaving you to your own devices to grow beyond that.

If you are going to get into C# for the first time, get this book.

A book full of important and uplifting messages for children--needed today more than ever. Every school and public library should have this in its collection.

On a recent visit to Pueblo, Colorado, I had the pleasure of attending the book signing by Jayne Cordes - the author of "The Hope Star." What a endearing and touching book! My 7 year old (and I) fell in love with the beautiful message of HOPE - and the illustrations are so captivating. I strongly encourge this book to all parents - young and old - to help teach our young children about love and hope. Thanks Jayne for the autographed book!

It is obvious afterr reading this book that the author put her heart and soul into this story. All families should read this together. I am very proud of Jayne and wish her and the book many successes!

Janet Allen is fast becoming one of our best researchers/practioners in the area of language arts for at-risk students. Her books are clear, jargon-free, and practical. I use her work in my university courses and students continually find that her methods are exactly what they are looking for.

This is one of my favorite books that I have bought this year! I find myself picking it up again and again as I rethink new strategies for my classes. My only regret is that I did not read it sooner! I am positive that you will not regret your purchase of this book. Allen will get you excited about returning to school in September!

I discovered Janet Allen's "It's Never Too Late" while studying as an undergrad at University of Maine. I used her techniques offerred in this book while student teaching and I am still using this book as an excellent literacy reference today! Absolutely wonderful resource for all reading and writing teachers who do believe in their students.

This book discusses key post-Soviet archival discoveries and discusses a critical historical issue -- the COORDINATION OF THE GESTAPO AND NKVD in liquidating the Polish elites as part of the 1939 Pact and invasion. That was more than enough to get me intrigued enough to buy this book. There's a lot more that I learned from the author's research -- even as an analyst in this field (former, now with the Cold War over).

The world still knows very little about the Katyn Massacre, and until recently many people believed that the massacre had been committed by the Germans, so effective was the propaganda machine of the Soviet Union and its supporters and collaborators the worldover. Today we know the truth. The other major event was Great Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33, instituted by Stalin and the communist regime, which the Soviet government was able to keep hidden for decades, and which is only now beginning to be acknowledged.

Yes. The Katyn massacre is a grim reminder of what the Soviet Union and its supporters and sympathizers were all about. Like the Great Ukrainian Famine of 1932-33, the Katyn Massacre has been kept hidden by the Soviet Union until its disintegration. Both are still not widely known - unlike the Jewish Holocaust. Far too little information has been brought to light on either subject. More needs to be done. "Katyn" is a must book for those who want to understand the brutality of the former Soviet Union.

Very useful for organizations working with an interactive agency to imporve their efforts on the web...

A fantastic collection of resources! Warwick, Hart, and Allen brought together an amazing array of experts to assemble a practical, hands-on book full of interesting case examples. As an application service provider working almost exclusively with non-profits, we found the book particularly useful as a source book for guidelines and best practices. Our clients who have read the book were enthusiastic about everything from the specific strategies to the fundraising tips.

This is an all-encompassing, basic guide that makes fundraising on the Internet accessible to the most inexperienced nonprofits but gives insightful advice to veterans. I wholeheartedly recommend the book and plan to make this required reading for our customers and employees.

If the events of Sept. 11th proved anything it is that fundraising via the Internet has come of age. Witness the incredible success of online fundraising by many of the nation's top relief agencies. Now, nonprofits across America are saying not if they will adopt on an online fundraising presence but how fast they can tap into this new technology in ways that meet an agency's needs but stay within their budget constraints. Fundraising on the Internet, 2nd Edition, could not have come out at a more opportune time. As the editor of a weekly on-line email newsletter directed at nonprofits throughout Arizona and the Southwest I was particularly impressed with the chapters on recruiting and renewing donors online. I can always stand to learn more about effective recruiting and promotion techniques to build an even bigger sense of community between our donors who, as the book carefully explains, are much more likely to open an email or click on a website before calling us or responding to a survey they receive in the mail. At almost 300 pages this book is a bargain. The authors do not shy away from providing any number of resources that can help a nonprofit create an Internet presence or expand upon whatever success they have already achieved with their online constituents. The book also includes 4 case studies and a number of resources including such important topics as ethical online fundraising standards and practices and how to use the Internet to both promote and manage donor advised funds. I heartily recommend this book. The authors have spent considerable time and energy to provide a definitive text on this most important subject.

It is nice to see new geological tour books come out. This is a good book for both the novice and the professional. It is very hard to present geology to a novice without losing them with the technical end of the profession, and yet the author's pull it off. The trips are great for weekend exploration in southern california.

This book has triggered day-trips & camping expeditions in our family. I've had the pleasure of leading my children and their friends to moments of discovery and learning & shared wonder and beauty with my father--all based on this book.

It starts with a six page description of SoCal's geological history, then jumps into 20 sites of interest. A glossary, "Sources of Supplementary Information," and an index round out the book.

Each site receives its own chapter, replete with photographs, maps, geological diagrams, and even driving directions, as needed. I'm not a serious geologist, but landscape features fascinate me. The explanations that the authors give work well for me: I can understand them well enough to explain them to children.

If you're interested in how the land has been shaped, if you're willing to turn off the tube & make contact with the natural world, then this book is for you. One of the best "field guides" to geology I own. One of my favorites, too. (The companion volume, GEOLOGY UNDERFOOT IN DEATH VALLEY AND OWENS VALLEY, is also an excellent book).

(If you'd like to dialog more about this book or review, click on the "about me" link above & drop me an email. Thanks!)

If you've used the "Roadside Geology of..." series, this is a bit different. It's more of a "sites of interest" type of book. It lists 20 sites in the southern California area, from Mammoth Lakes out to the coast, and south to Needles and San Diego. The sites are wonderfully explained, with aerial photos, illustrations, and maps. This is definitely aimed at the casual tourist, with very little knowledge of geology necessary. As a professional Geologist, it's one of those books I'd give a non-Geologist friend.

Samantha Velmar has been on her own for a long time. She's been disappointed in love too many times, her self-image is low and she does not believe in fairy tales. Or she didn't until meeting Jonathan Edwards. Jon takes her totally by surprise with his charm and the different ways he has of trying to show her she is beautiful.
Jon has a dilemma, though: He must marry and start a family or he'll lose control of his father's company.
Sam cannot believe Jon loves her and when her trust is betrayed, she is devastated. Jon knows that keeping the stipulation of his father's will under wraps was wrong, and now he does not want to lose the one woman he loves.
Allen is at the top of her game, creating a realistic heroine who is far from just a head on a Popsicle stick. The author takes care in proving that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and creates a hero who allows his heart to lead him. I enjoyed this witty and heart-touching tale of true love and real life.
Faith V. Smith

February 2003 Issue #228

Sam is a woman you have to love. She's so real. And Jon is the kind of guy we all look for in love. He knows what he wants & he's not afraid to spell it out.

I found this to be a topnotch, well-written romance from an author that I hope we hear much more from. Sam becomes a model not only for full-figured women, but for ANY woman who doesn't happen to fill the so-narrow, "traditional" romance novel heroine --& in reality, few of us do, for one reason or another. I applaud Rida Allen for taking on the challenge & doing so w/heart & humor. Sam & Jon's story draws in the reader & as we turn the pages, we hope it turns out positively for such a beautifully-developed couple.

This is a book for all women. Read it & see yourself in its pages.

Great Love begins with the full-figured heroine, Sam, believing that she doesn't need anyone but Molly, her faithful pooch. Over the years she has convinced herself that no one would ever want her or love her for herself. Then she meets Jon, a charming man who sees her for the beauty she is. But even with his love she still has trouble seeing herself as lovable; a common problem with women of size or any woman not fitting the Hollywood ideal. Admittedly, I am not much of a romance reader, but I enjoyed this sweet tale of a woman's self-realization. Sam is fun, sweet, witty and real. With a heartbreaking past, she has more to deal with than just the issue of weight, and it is this other dimension that adds true credibility to her lack of self-esteem and eventual blossoming into a confident woman.

I'm an undergraduate student of history, anthropology, and classics, so this book is merely one of my assigned texts for an obligatory course. I was a bit worried (and a bit more when I saw the price tag), but I found myself pleasantly surprised by this book.

Before you buy it, realize that it is, first and foremost, a textbook, so it is written in a scholarly fashion and has plenty of (relatively common) references to periods of time (e.g. Bronze Age, Paleolithic), historical persons not covered in great detail within the text, etc. Also realize that if you want a comprehensive, detailed, and -- best of all -- interesting overview of Rome from its earliest known inhabitants (circa 1200 B.C.E.) through Justinian (circa 600 C.E./A.D.), this is a great place to get it. Highly recommended.

This is the most complete, concise, and up-to-date survey or Rome from c.1000 B.C. to c.600 A.D. Along with the standard political, military, and legal narrative comes several chapters detailing Roman thought, religion, economy, agriculture, families, technology, and art. Useufl maps are abundant in this edition. Don't be awed by the price tag -- it is well worth it.

As a previous reviewer has noted, this is the standard text for any survey study of the Roman state and people. Well and concisely written, this is the place to start for anyone seeking a broad review of the history of the Roman state, from its legendary and archeological inception to the last days of Justinian. Clearly organized and, unlike some other books written to satisfy the requirements of the undergraduate classroom, presented in a style that will satisfy both the casual as well as historically trained reader, this text broadly and completely covers the essential events, figures and characteristics of the social, political, cultural and military developments that define the Roman civilization from its birth in legend to its political decline and transformation during the rule of the Dominate, eventually evolving into the Romanized societies and political entities that were to define and characterize the early Middle Ages. If there is any criticism that can be leveled at this work, it is only regarding the price, though if you visit your local university bookstore, it is likely you can find a clean used copy at a cost more commensurate with what should be expected.

We got this book as a present for our 2 year old, and I was almost embarassed to read it to him. He is way past this book already. I can't imagine reading it to a 4-8 year old. Too simple even if they're reading it.

Otherwise, the illustrations are beautiful, and would be appropriate for 12-24 months.

we have been checking out this book from the Library for 3 months running and feel badly for hording it. My son, 21 months, adores this book. He likes pointing to the different types of balls (basketball, paddleball, football, soccer ball, etc.) and we talk about the activities (shooting a basketball, kicking a soccer ball, etc.) and now his favorite thing to do is to "find the little red rubber ball" that is hidden on each page. The second to last page of the book is a boy asking, "Have you seen my little rubber ball?" and finally I realized that this little rubber ball (red) is hidden on each page. Simply reading the text is fine, but this book is simply fun to PLAY with!!!!!!!!! Our conversations often drift to other things that the child pictured can do with a 'soccer ball' and what colors are on the ball and where we last saw a soccer ball, etc. This is a book to read, discuss, discover, and enjoy. The illustrations are vivid watercolor and detailed enough for a small child, but lovely enough for an adult to appreciate.

I have twenty two grandchildren. This was a great hit with the younger children as a Christmas gift. They certainly relate to it. Excellent