This is a great book for who wants to start to read about Astronomy and also for people who already have knowledge about physics .
It's clear and easy to understand , you would not stop reading
until the last page .

As I was reading this book, I was already thinking of how great it is. It flows and the presentation is logical and helpful that it great aids giving an appreciation of this incredible phenomena. Absolutely read this.

Take an exciting and exotic topic like "black holes"
and a gifted writer like Fulvio Melia, and what do
you get? A surprisingly and satisfyingly accessible
book like "The Black Hole at the Center of Our Galaxy."
At times it reads like a science fiction novel, until
you realize that all of the contents are factual. It's
amazing how far astronomers have come in unravelling
the mystery behind arguably the most bizarre objects
in the universe, and especially the supermassive black

hole at the center of our own Galaxy. And Melia does
a great job setting the stage and then explaining where
things stand. I particularly liked chapter 3, in which
he sets out in everyday terms what mass is, and how it
is related to gravity. I read it twice before going
on to the next. Several questions that have bothered
me for years were finally answered. Read this and
catch up on where science has gone in the past decade!

Jeff Wilson, a Buddhist who practices in the Pure Land tradition, has written an indispensable guide to Buddhist practice in New York City...

His book is very reader friendly and gives a tremendous feel for all the various places to practice which are available in the tri-state area...the book is a must have for both the experienced practitioner who wants to have a guide and the new practitioner who is looking for a sangha...

I bought this book mainly to get a better feel for the various Buddhist sects proliferating today, as the book has a great capsule overview of what the focus of each main group is. However, the book is book insightful and amusing, and will save the novice Buddhist visitor or tourist many a misstep or faus pas, not to mention wasted time. Wilson gives great, easy to follow information and covers not only NYC but I think the whole state. Definitely goes in my bag the next time I take a trip north!

A Bread-and-Buddha book, a MUST, for any visitor to New York City or State.

I couldn't put this book down. It's the best novel I've read all year. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

This book is a fascinating look at a family's struggle with substance abuse and dysfunction and its affects on the world around them. Each character is so complex and real, I wanted to love them and hate them at the same time! The tone of the novel is quick and poignant, it can be dark, it can be silly, it covers the gamut of human emotion, just as families do in real life. This book moves fast and kept me intrigued until the end. A great summer read!

This is a great book. I highly recommend reading it.
The the author, what a lady!

WOW! I was just given "The Center of Attention" as a holiday gift and was stunned as I opened each page. The cover did not do the contents justice. Some of his concepts seem simple enough for someone like me to replicate. The photograpahy and lighting was beautiful. This is a book to keep out for others to enjoy as well as a perfect gift for anyone with an eye for beauty.

Aside from a brief text forward, The Center Of Attention is a splendor-filled book that eschews mere words and devotes itself entirely to photographs of eye-catching and heart-stopping tablescapes using flowers, vegetables, and other plant themes as created by master floral designer Ron Morgan. Powerfully enhanced with a wealth of full-color photographs by Pamela J. (works of art in and of themselves), The Center Of Attention fully captures Morgan's beautiful floral design masterpieces ranging in a wide variety of moods from fresh spring morning to somber candlelight evening. The Center Of Attention is enthusiastically recommended for serious and dedicated students of floral design, as well as the non-specialist general reader with an appreciation of skilled and artistic flower arrangements.

This book is incomparable! The unbelievable arrangements, table settings, colors, photography and creative layout make this book "one of a kind". This book is for everyone from the novice to the professional floral designer. Every page is breathtaking and is truly instpirational......Ron Morgan is a genius!

Good Lord, its like I was just punched in the brain with a pair of iron knuckles. If only I had been aware of this book when I was wandering with Alice I may have had a little bit of direction or forsight. I may have been able to avoid a few meanderings in the depths of hell myself, and I may have saved a few years of cleanup time spent working that stuff out of my head. Anyway I must say that this book is full of possablities, great ideas which could easily (well not so easily, but productively) expand the mind into a new realm of though.

To dolphins everywhere, this book also has the sensory deprivation tank, like in the William Hurt movie,Altered States. The movie was actually based on the book. Even with the Hallucinagenics, the tank brings out severe hallucinations, into other worlds and it really tempts people to try a Dep. tank! Makes us realize that Dolphins are smarter than humans because of their brain size. See's the brain as a personally programable bio'computer, where you become, what you put into yourselves. I first was turned on to this book in 1982, and it really opened my consciousness. Recomend for anyone that wants a good laugh, or should I say an intelligent laugh, on the introspective methods of the working dolphin and human brain-Bravo John Lilly-May your work continue and the Dolphins be as free as a human-Marilyn(Garry)

An autobiography of Inner Space is indeed what is happening here. Dolphin researcher turned consciousness explorer reaches heights that Timothy Leary so much admired about him. The book journeys from his youth to his research days at the dolphin labs and his scientific and personal discoveries and relays them to the reader in such humbleness that one cant help but to empathize and rejoice in his discoveries. Once his dolphin research was abolished, he took it upon himself to turn to neurology and neurological drugs, i.e. LSD-25, or as they called it "Pure Sandoz." It is here where his naieve approach to drugs really comes out in his writing, as he was not afraid of them, but also had never tried them (LSD in particular). Lilly read everrything he could on LSD before trying it (study before trial, similar to magic and all forms of initiation. Today with psychedelic drugs illegalized almost everywhere in the world (a conspiracy if you ask me), Lilly never condones this method (drugs) to attain self knowledge. Lilly in his deep moments of self reflection and depression understood that it could be achieved through other means without drugs. From here, is where he finalizes his journey. A marvelous book, unfortunately now its out of print, however, if you should find a copy, it would be worth your while to pick it up. I am also assuming you are somewhat familiar with John Lilly, either through Professor Leary or Robert Anton Wilson, in which it will not be a waste of a purchase.

This book was published as the monograph to a traveling national exhibition on William Christenberry which was curated by the Center for Creative Photography's curator of photography, Trudy Wilner Stack, back in 1996. It is a splendid introduction to Christenberry's work. Through his photography, sculpture and painting, Christenberry has explored the South's rural manmade landscape and its tortured psychological landscape, focusing in on the Ku Klux Klan. Working in color, Christenberry comes across as a latter day Walker Evans, showing much empathy and respect for the culture he depicts in his photographs, with, of course, a notable exception for the Ku Klux Klan. Anyone interested in seeing a fine introduction to Christenberry's work should look no further.

As unique and genuine an artist as America has produced, Christenberry receives admirable attention in this work. The depth and breadth of his talent is showcased, with attention paid to all of the mediums he employs: painting, sculpture, and photography. Southerners will especially appreciate the evocative quality that rings through these pieces, but their appeal is not limited to art enthusiasts from that region alone. The gravity of the work has a wide appeal.

A visual treat. The artist has captured the look and feel of rural Alabama. Whether it is a photograph, assemblage, painting or drawing, there is a basic truth and honesty to these works.They evoke the time from the depression to the present in a haunting and beautiful way. Mr, Christenberry is indeed a poet.

The best book I've read on design competitions. In fact, the best book I've read about architecture. A must read for anyone interested in the field

I've wondered about the trophy architecture I've seen in my city and elsewhere. As did Tom Wolfe in From Bauhaus to our house, Design by Competition goes beyond the publicity to tell the true story: The emperor's wearing no clothes. Nasar packs the book with facts and anecdotes about flaws in competition designs through history, and the disastrous results of a Peter Eisenman competition winning design. If you liked Wolfe's book, you'll love this one.

A compelling and comprehensive book about the problems with design competition architecture and signature architecture. It analyzes competition successes and failures through history; and provides a detailed analysis of Peter Eisenman's competition winning design for the Wexner Center, a full blown disaster that the critics loved. He shows that the emperor is wearing no clothers. It is a must read for any citizen concerned about their built environment and for anyone involved in a design competition--sponsors, jurors, competitors, and concerned citizens.

Thisi s the first review I've written. I've got a stack of business books. Most are filled with common sense advice, advice I really do not need and a waste of my [money]. BUT, The author of this book provides clear examples, examples that can be used right away, advice worth buying the book for. I am impressed.

/KK

The ideas are great, easy to put in place and reap the rewards. This author knows customers and contacts centers. jl

I found the book to be quite effective. The ideas can be put into operation right away and the results are equally as fast. jl

This book is probably as good as any other general overview of philosophical ideas. It covers epistemology, ontology, religion, freedom, ethics, political and social philosophy, and art. Donald Palmer includes some people quite a lot (Plato, Marx, Freud, Sartre) while there are many philosophers who are not mentioned at all, but considering the number of philosophers and their numerous ideas, this may not be a fair objection.

What makes this book different from others is that it is very light reading. It isn't condescending, or excessively simple, but Palmer writes in a conversational manner and with a frank, sometimes humorous tone. And you see how no philosophical ideas, however convincing, are free from being challenged and scrutinized. This may not be a book you refer to time and again, but for a relaxed and entertaining introduction to different branches of philosophy, Palmer does a fine job. Tedious and confusing language is something you won't have to worry about.

This topical introduction has hundreds of humorous illustrations drawn by the author. Writing in an engaging conversational style, he presents the issues typically covered in introductory courses, but with unusual clarity. I used the first edition several times as the core text for my Introduction to Philosophy class with great success.

Those who have read the first edition will miss the wonderful handwritten script. It has been replaced by a font called Tekton that is, unfortunately, somewhat tiring to read.

There is no better philosophy I textbook. This textbook is fun and very easy to read yet teaches. If you are just a high school student loving philosophy, or taking a class, buy this book. High School, College, This philosophy book kills all other introductory philosophy books. (Most usually just have excerpts anyway). Use this book with Sophie's World or "The Big Questions"

This is an extremely disturbing book. Perhaps because along with the well-documented facts concerning the unprecedented toxic environmental fallout from 9/11, it is the shocking realization that it's not just the NYC and federal goverment cover-up of this story -- it is the citizens themselves collectively turning away from the horrible reality of this disaster.

The national media has not pursued the obvious leads -- the common sense questions -- but Mr. Gonzales has. And the logical conclusion of this story, in the not-too-distant future, is a public health nightmare that will have the media self-righteously condeming Giuliani and Whitman in hindsight as bearing responsibility for perhaps thousands more deaths.

The story from 9/11 that the media immediately created was of the heroes and victims. We remember them, and try to forget the horror of the collapsing towers. But if we are a truely a courageous nation, we will look clearly and not turn away from the terrible reality that ground zero represents. That is what I think this book is really about -- there are facts and consequences of 9/11 that have not yet been dealt with. And closing our eyes and wishing them away simply won't work.

Finally someone has the guts to print the truth about the toxic air at Ground Zero. For those of us who were there and who are experiencing the medical consequences of having been exposed to these toxic chemicals, Gonzalez's book explains in understandable language why we are sick and what we are likely to experience in the future. Americans need to know the truth, especially the thousands of men and women from around the country who volunteered their time at Ground Zero and are likely to suffer the medical consequences of having done so, either now or in the future. Fallout is a must read for all Americans.

Americans are being deceived. In this stunning piece of investigative reporting which should be awarded a Pulitzer Prize, Juan Gonzalez reveals the horrible truths about the environmental impacts of the 9-11 disaster. Asbestos abounded. The many heroes who helped to clean and console may face excruciating deaths thanks to suppressed and inaccurate information.

Our sacred institutions are rotten. Every American citizen should read this brief but incendiary work which speaks truth to power unflinchingly. If we do not quickly institute major changes which make our leaders and representatives truly responsible for telling the truth to the American public, however unpleasant, we may be facing the end of American democracy as we have known it and believed in it.

Where are the Thomas Paines and Thomas Jeffersons of the twenty-first century? We desperately need your voices and leadership!