Ms. Stern has written a beautiful book explaining the essence of diabetes to a child. The book is enhanced by Ms. Orland's illustrations. I have had diabetic friends read this book, and they all tell me they approve of it greatly. This is a disease that I had never heard of until I was twelve, and did not really understand until I was in high school. I wish this book had been around a few decades earlier.

It is ironic that I never really understood the complexities of diabeties until I read this book. Written simply for children and bypassing extraneous technical language, "Can Mom Have a Piece of My Birthday Cake?" is actually a wonderful "Cliff Notes" of sorts, for adults who want to acquire a basic but not oversimplified grasp of the condition. The book gives an intelligent but easily understood explanation of the physiology and symptoms of the condition, and also provides a window into the practical concerns of a person with diabetes. (The
activities at the end are a great reinforcement for kids!) I recommend this book for children, and also for any adult who would like a quick and practical overview of the disease.

The Cross-sectional Atlas includes radiographic images of every possible cross section as well as a detailed illustrated pen & ink drawing of the same area for cross reference. These two images are together on the same page for easy reference, and the pictures are all of the highest quality-- easy to see. John Wiley & Sons has made a beautiful product. It really is a must for every radiologist or any physician who wants to be able to read MRIs and CTs on their own. (The book contains both MRI and CT image.)

I can't say it much better than the accolades on the back cover--this is an exceptional devotional. It penetrates deeply; it is rich in personal application. The author's insights will force you to thoughtfully pause and examine your own life and attitudes as he effectively applies Paul's letter. The book is an excellent and meaningful resource for anyone studying Romans, who desires to walk more closely with Christ.

With pearls of wisdom gleaned from the writings of such as Conrad and Hippocrates, the authors offer artists (and would-be artists) advice and encouragement to follow a calling that is too frequently thought to be more appropriately a hobby. Though the reader addressed is one who aspires to art as a profession, much of what Bayles and Orland offer is as applicable to any undertaking: "Artmaking involves skills that can be learned. ... Even talent is rarely distinguishable, over the long run, from perseverance and lots of hard work." Liberal doses of unpleasant reality are well balanced with insight and reassurance. The sort of little book that one might keep about for an occasional dose of comfort and motivation.

Art & Fear is an easy book to rave about, but it is a particularly difficult book to write about. The authors have chosen their words so well, that it seems as if there ARE no other words with which to talk about this subject or this book. I'll try anyway, fully knowing that whatever I might say surely will not please me as much as what I have read in their pages. And this is part of the message of Art & Fear, one of the lessons to be learned - just do it and learn from it.

Art & Fear is an unpretentious little paperback, written by two lifelong friends who have been artists, as well as other things, for most of their lives. Both of them have their feet firmly rooted in the real world that we all live in (however high their ideas and ideals might fly), and both of them have keen insights into what enables individuals to produce good art and to continue to produce good art, and what stumbling blocks stop many individuals. These insights are of value to artists in any medium whatsoever, and are in fact likely to be of significant value to many individuals who don't think of themselves as artists at all. One doesn't need to be an artist to be struggling with goals that seem beyond your reach and a lack of appreciation from others; it's just a little more pervasive in the artmaking world.

Reading this book is like sitting down with the authors for a long and lively conversation. You'll learn something of them, and something of yourself, and good things are sure to come from it. I've actually found it too good to keep to myself - I'm on my 6th copy now, as I keep giving them away to friends!

I picked up this book in the middle of a 'dry spell' in my artmaking career. I was looking for some ideas to help me re-ignite the spark.

The first thing I did was copy a paragraph from the book and put it up on the wall in my studio It reads, "Operation Manual for Not Quitting: A)Make friends with others who make art and share your work in progress with them frequently, and B)Learn to think of (A) rather than the Museum of Modern Art as the destination of your work -- eventually the MOMA will find you." This little perspective point was the first of ideas I found useful as an individual artist fighting to build a body of work.

After reading this book, I experienced the most productive period so far in my emerging artistic career. Could you do the same? Maybe, maybe not. But if you're unsure, consider this idea from the book: If you are fearful or unconfident in your approach to making art, the going will be hard. But when you commit to your work, it will 'come on like the blazes'. The only question that remains is do you REALLY want to do it.

This tattered, written-in little volume is the most read book in my studio, and I highly -HIGHLY- recommend it to any creative person looking for their inner voice.

One of life's real (and unnecessary) tragedies is the closeted gay man who is regimented by years of homophobic conditioning and, as a result, can neither accept or even like himself. If he can't like himself, then, how can he let anyone else like him? Orland Outland's "Coming Out ..." is the complement of Michelangelo Signorile's classic "Outing Youself ..." and the unofficial second chapter to Rik Isensee's "Reclaiming Your Life: The Gay Man's Guide to Love, Self-Acceptance and Trust," all three of which extend "permission" for the closeted gay man in torment to let go of the pain from the years of emotional exile, self-rejection and loathing, and get on to a life of fulfillment. The "condition" of Orland's book is that the gay man is ready to come out to family and friends, and the works by Signorile and Isensee are more intended to help the gay man out himself to himself. Once that monumental step has been taken, Orland first renders tips to come to terms with family and friends and then how to establish a healthy gay lifestyle. Of the latter, we get a road map of how to navigate all those questions that today's gay man asks (and they're not too much different than the heterosexual guy's questions), like whether or not to do the bar scene, how safe is safe sex, is political activism advised and where to look for that special other guy. Written in a friendly and warm prose, Outland's self-help guide - like those from Signorile and Isensee - nonetheless doesn't treat jovially the life-altering experience the gay man will undoubtedly have when he comes out. Far from being "fun" and light-in-the-loafers (no pun), "Coming Out ..." is actually a journey of the fragile human heart that helps the gay man begin to get rid of all that internalized homophobic garbage and get on with the business of being happy for once. A wise investment!

Many words came to my mind after reading 'Coming Out: A handbook for men' - amazing, thought-provoking, honest, refreshing, and basically just a big WOW! I don't ever recall reading a book about the gay world that was so honest and detailed in it's description of what being gay is all about and the gay lifestyle in general.

The book may be called 'Coming out', but it is actually a handbook for all gay men - especially those who are 'coming out' and experiencing the gay world for the first time. The book describes coming out as more than telling everyone about your sexuality then marching in the next Pride march waving a rainbow flag. Coming Out first must entail coming out to yourself and accepting yourself as you truely are. For alot of us gay men, that can often be the hardest part. So the first part of this book describes this process and then goes onto discuss in detail discovering your gay self through meeting and interacting with other gay men, as well as sex, drugs and disease because often, our first forays into our gay world involves exploring our sexual sides first. At no point does the author preach or say 'that is wrong', but he provides the basics in order for the reader to make up his own mind or at the very least encourage the reader to seek further information.

The second part of the book describes 'being out' - building your gay lifestyle so you can, hopefully, build a happy and nurturing enviroment with other gay men. He discusses everything from surviving your first relationship to the many different sub cultures within the gay community, to dealing with physical attacks and being scammed. If only I had read this book 10 years ago I could have saved myself a lot of grief! Whilst it may appear this book is aimed at those just coming out and experiencing their first gay contact, we 'old hands' can read it and see things from a completely different perspective and perhaps even learn something new ourselves....

If you're ever in a position where someone has confided in you about being gay and wants information, tell them about this book. Not only will it give wonderful valuable information in a direct, readable and honest manner, but it may also make their journey into the gay world a little smoother by being able to avoid some of the pitfalls and traps that most of us 'old hands' have experienced....

For years I strugged with my sexuality, denying it to others while trying to see if I was really gay. And I decided that I was tired of feeling so in doubt so I found this book. And I'm glad I did. This books explains in plain English withoout the psychobabble about how to embrase one's sexuality, understand it and gives a unique and definate view of being gay. One of the reasons its so hard coming out is because people don't know how to be gay. This book explains activities and gives clear definitions to some gay terms and such. This book was excellent and I recommend it to anyone coming out. It helped me come out in a very positive way and everything turned out great.

I really enjoyed this book for several reasons. First, I had read Mr. Outland's first mystery book and enjoyed it thouroughly. Second, it was fun trying to figure out who the famous people in the book he was talking about were (some I could, some I am STILL trying to figure out). Lastly, I really enjoy Mr. Outland's style of writing. It is very easy to read, and the dialogue is fun, and timely. Thanks, and I can't wait for the next in the series! Jenny

It all started when I was persuing books in the airport bookstore when I came across the title, "Death Wore a Fabulous New Fragrance." I pulled it out and did a quick thumb-through when I heard my flight's boarding call. Having found nothing else that even came close to piquing my interest, I paid for the book and ran to catch my flight. For the next two hours, I was grinning, laughing, and having a grand time with two of the most imaginative characters in the most glamourous of situations to the point that *I* was jealous of them. Yeah, yeah, they're fictional characters but the panache they pull off when ordering Bombay Sapphire Gin Martinis....buy this book, make a pitcher of Bombay Sapphire Gin Martinis (or Long Island Iced Teas) and lose yourself in this book. I *dare* you to read between the lines on some of these characters! I know I did and it made it all that much more enjoyable!

Socially vacant people would take one look baby Binky van de Kamp and homosexual Doan McChandler and stereotype the pair as a drag queen and a fag. Anyone who gets to know them, quickly realizes that they are just two people who prefer to live the high life to the fullest, but do not have the cash to do so in an orthodox manner. The unusual ideas this pair uses to maintain their current lifestyle is ludicrous. Still they would go the extra mile for a friend in need (hopefully finding cash on the way).

Just a month ago, Doan and Binky risked their lives to successfully rescue a friend from a murder charge. This achievement leads them to open up their own detective agency. Their first client is an acquaintance of Doan, accused of murdering a closeted movie hunk. The duo goes to LA where they quickly find themselves surrounded by human piranhas willing to do anything for a buck.

Orland Outland has created a unique and refreshing new kind of mystery series that is pure fun. The mystery propels the story line forward, but it is the campy characters and their serio-comic scenes that give DEATH WORE A FABULOUS NEW FRAGRANCE its quirky charm (and odor). Though Binky and Doan are not a romantic couple, their constant zings and witty ripostes are priceless. This is the beginning of a warm friendship with a new series clearly on the cutting edge (and sometimes to the outside of that).

Harriet Klausner

This whole series is very amusing. If you keep your eyes open to the real world, you may notice a little satire here and there. If not, well... it's still pretty funny.

Most observers feel it is odd for gay cross dresser Doan and blue-blooded Binky van deKemp to be friends. Yet the two individuals from different spheres are amigos who also co-own a San Francisco detective agency. Dean loves entertainment editor Tim O'Neal and likewise Binky loves Luke, a police officer. Gay billionaire Andrew Weatherall offers their significant others jobs in New York.

Weatherall also finds a position for Binky that uses her experience in spending money. Dean agrees to relocate with them because he sees the opportunities for the three most important people in his life. As soon as they start their new jobs, the trio finds themselves caught in a battle between the left leaning Weatherall and his right wing rival Herbert Kildaire. However, someone kills Kildaire in Binky's office and the police arrest Weatherall for the crime. Binky and Doan turn detective to prove their new boss is innocent.

The return of Doan and Binky is always a pleasure as the duo is a strange, believable, and endearing pair. The change of locale freshens up the series even as the fascinating who-done-it is filled with viable suspects and a weird ending that initially seems convoluted, but makes sense on a second look. Orland Outland lands a winner in his latest book that utilizes his dry wit inside an entertaining mystery.

Harriet Klausner

POOH'S EASTER EGG HUNT gives the kids a simple story that's easy to follow, with all of their Pooh friends along for the ride. The pictures have lovely bright colors. And the words are really big for young readers. The Step into Reading (this is a step 1 book) series is such a great idea for kids. There's an introduction here explaining the Step into Reading books program. Step 1 is for preschool to grade 1 (approx.). Your child will love having his/her own books, and these make an affordable collection to encourage young readers.

Winnie the Pooh at his best. Rabbit sends Pooh, Tigger, Roo, Kanga and Eeyore on an easter egg hunt. Pooh finds all the eggs, but they fall out of his basket through a hole in the bottom! All of his friends then find the eggs, but at the end they give them back to Pooh because he didn't have any eggs. Pooh ends up sharing the prize for finding the most eggs with his friends who shared their eggs with him. A great tale about true friendship...

Among the available textbooks of many-body theory, like Mahan's, AGD's ..., this is the "only" one which touches the path-integral method. Based on the coherent state representation, the author systematically introduced the Green's Function formalism at finite and zero temperatures. Applications to phase transitions, Landau Fermi Liquid and Stochastic processes are also discussed. Overall, it's a good introduction textbook, also ideal for self-study. Its exercises are more noteworthy for lots of beatiful physics. Yet, it didn't cover topics like spin path integrals, non-linear sigma model ...., which are more interesting in frontier research.

A very good introduction to the many particle systems, includes all from the basics of coherent states to very complex parts of theory.

A great physics book for field theory applied to condensed
matter and sometimes nuclear physics problems. The authors
are EXTREMELY careful mathematically and really don't skip
any steps or shove stuff under the rug; in fact, the first
chapter is just all math about how to do integrals and path
integrals and field integrals and deal with Grassman numbers.
A bit unusual for a physics book, but that's their style.

The rest of the book deals with the usual and other material:

zero-temperature Green's functions and perturbation theory
(for energy, Green's function, etc.) The treatment is detailed
and relatively exhaustive. Then there is the same for finite-
temperature. The earlier sections on linear response are
concise and one of the best treatments of the subject I have
seen leading directly to the fluctuation dissipation expression
(after this book I realized this vaunted "fluctuation-dissipation" that no one can explain is just
a straightforward thing about commutators and pert. theory).

The book also has other good stuff: a chapter on mean field theory, Landau-Ginzburg theory, order parameters, and a nice
discussion about spontaneous symmetry breaking that helps
clarify a bunch of stuff. Then there is a whole chapter on
further aspects of one-particle Green's functions (Dyson
equation, solving for poles, quasiparticles, satellites, etc.)
that is pretty good and gets the physical point across. There
is also a chapter on statistical (monte carlo, numerical, etc.)
methods for doing quantum many body problems. While some of
the methods are not the most up to date or modern, the basics
are all there (Monte Carlo, Hubbard-Strataonvich (spelling?),
inverting matrices via Monte Carlo, some stuff about lattice
systems, Langevin equation simulation for Monte Carlo, updating
problems, etc.) There is also a chapter on more advanced
functional integration stuff. Also there is a nice description
of the loop expansion and whatnot.

The book is very well written, has no errors as far as I can
tell, and is exhaustive on what it treats. The problems at
the end of the first few chapters deal with physics problems
and help build intuition whereas the texts in these chapters
are more formal. The book could use some more physical insights
sprinkled throughout, but that is not too much of a drawback.

The book is based on functional integration (Feynman integral)
methods for field theory: this is the modern way folks do it
and it is a powerful way of doing field theory both to
derive results, connect results, do expansions and what not,
and also for certain kinds of monte carl computations. So
having read this, the reader is up to date on a pretty modern
view of field theory in condensed matter (and somewhat on
nuclear physics).

Highly recommended unless you can't stand precise and long
mathematical treatments. My only misgiving is that sometimes
I wish the authors provided more physical insights for certain
concepts and gave some examples rather than "just the math";
but they do this in other parts of the book, so perhaps
my complaint, which is not that serious, is more about the
uneven way this is done. Nevertheless, this is 5/5 and a book
you will read many times and learn from many times.