The trouble with this book and the others outside Rankins series about Brentford and Barry the travelling time sprout is you know that what you are reading ain't half as good. Rankin is undoubtedly an extremely funny science fiction writer but his(or his publishers?) policy of bringing out what seems like a book every week means you are getting less genius per page than is tolerable. Slow down, Robert and refine your exquisite stories.Forget this book, readers, and head for Brentford country.

This book contains everything which is to be expected. There is a humour not found in any other writer, which floats through the story like a log on a fast flowing stream. The lead charactors are obviously mad, the philosophies of Hugo Rune strangely persuasive, and there's an obnoxious Campbell! It's a sardonic sort of wit, but make no mistake, you will relate to the humour. If this is the first book you read by Rankin, you'll buy more.

robert Rankin is a great writer and this is one of his best books. Very funny silly and enjoyable. a word of caution though he has writtern a lot of books so prepare for a compulsive addiction

Among others, I purchased this book along with "SYBASE SQL SERVER 11 UNLEASHED". I was amazed to find that both books contain largely the exact same text. Not almost the same words but EXACTLY the same text. Either book is useful by it's self however, there is no point in purchasing them both. While I am a dedicated follower of the "UNLEASHED" series, I was very disappointed in the publisher this time.

Good book for beginning Sybase DBA.

Text has bolded blocks highlighting useful tips and warnings.

Excellant reference book to have during upgrade from Sybase 10 to 11.

Sybase Sql Server 11 Dba Survival Guide is now the one book I take with me instead of the 4 or 5 books I have carried before. All of the essentials are here. I also like the tips and tricks that the author has put in. Much of this info can be found in the product manuals but is very hard to extract. This book has it right where I need it -- all in one place.

I like this book and its sister book, Family Houses by the Sea (which I prefer). Both books, however, make me feel that I am simply looking through a window at something I cannot have. I find I prefer a new book called Second Home, because it offers the same kind of yummy dreamlike quality yet talks to me about how I can make my getaway dream come true. If you can afford a stack of books on retreats, add this Family Houses volume to the pile. If you can only afford one or two books, I highly recommend Second Home instead.

This book gives you great ideas for building a country home. It doesn't limit itself to only one geographic area, but moves from country to country. It allows you to review different elements, materials and design used over time. It's a beautiful book, great inspiration.

Forty-three beautiful summer-type homes appear in large glossy colored format covering more than 250 large size pages that make the book weigh as much as a heavy fire-log ready to sink a coffee table.

Author Alexandra D'Arnoux and award winning photographer Gilles De Chabaneix visit several continents to pick out outstanding dream homes, that although luxurious, with stables, gardens and formal dining rooms, nevertheless look lived- in; loads of lucky children treck through casual libraries, relax, take walks, celebrate birthdays, and play chopsticks on an old piano.

Emphasis here is on family values and most of the places are furnished to create a nostalgic atmosphere. It is like 'Conrad in Search of His Youth.'

This is a wonderful book to have and hug. Whenever a guest opens it up and peers at a picture, there follows a deep longing sigh.

I am an American student studying abroad in Göttingen, Germany for the year. I had to buy this book for the last German grammar class that I took in the US.
I do not think this is a very helpful grammar book. First of all, it is not organized very well; it is sometimes difficult to find a specific grammatical definition. Also, the explanations are fairly meagre; just turn to the adjective ending section. There is no chart for all adjective endings (and no example-adjective-ending charts, which MOST grammar books have). Instead, there are two overly-simplified (and not all too clear) 'weak' and 'strong' -endings charts which cover "most cases", as the book says. Grammar is about particulars!! A grammar book which is only partial isn't a good grammar book at all!! I know this book has gotten some good reviews, but being in Germany now has only hightened my frustration with this book. I need German at this point (I am taking classes at Georg-August University in German), and this stupid book is not helping! blah!

If you are a serious student of German, then this book is worth the money. It is a thorough overview of German grammar, written in a not too difficult, but not too "easy", way. For me, it is the only book that covers almost all aspects of German grammar in depth without being too complicated. I am currently studying in Germany and this is the one book I bothered to bring with me from home, because it is just so useful. It is well-organized, easy-to-navigate, and accurate. In addition to detailed grammar explanations there are plenty of varied writing exercises for you, the student, to practice what you've learned. It is definitely not for total beginners, but intermediate and advanced students will find it a wonderful resource for learning the complex structures of German grammar. It would also serve as a great review for someone who completed several years of German but needs to brush up on the formal aspects of the language, as well as those preparing for German language exams.

This is an excellent reference for intermediate and advanced students of German. Rules are explained thoroughly yet not too short and not too long. Not intended for beginners, this reference manual is very convenient for the user because of its modular approach. Modules can be approached in any sequence as they are complete self-contained units independent of eachother. In cases where the grammatical topics of one module influence another, the author was sure to add references for the reader in order to go to the appropriate module for supplementary grammatical guidance. In order to improve this book, I recommend providing answers to exercises so that students can check themselves.

This book was assigned reading for an advanced course in engineering physics. It is more of a history book, cartoon style, than a serious book on the physics of motion and gravity as observed by Galileo and Newton. I found the presentations on important topics to be painfully vague. You may get a few soundbites from this book, but thats about it.

The treatment of Galileo could have been more accurate and less crude, but I really like this book. Excellent presentation of both history and ideas in the context of history. I gave a copy to my wife, and also require my students to read it when I teach both elementary and modern physics (relativity).

This book is understandably fragmentary because its interview-based format. As a pastiche of American life, this format is interesting and pretty effective. However, if your main interest in reading the book is to find out about innovative programs around the US, presumably with an eye toward participating yourself, is a bit difficult to get a coherent view of what's happening in each section. For instance, I would have preferred to have a bit more detail about how each of the organizations was started, what problems were overcome early on and which were still being faced -- there wasn't much pragmatic detail, there were a lot of impressions. There wasn't even contact information for the organizations in the book. The overall impression was more coffee-table book than a practical manual for change.

Here are synopses of the 12 organizations described in the book.

1) Doula Service, Univ. Hospital, in Stony Brook, NY.
'Doula' is a Greek word meaning servant, and today it means someone who offers emotional and practical support at the pre-natal, labor, postpartum stages. Talks about how doulas engage in this "ancient, humanizing approach to supporting birth".

2) Dine bi' iina', Inc., in the Navajo Nation "Dine bi' iina'" means "Navajo lifeways". It's a group of Navajo herders, weavers, and cultural activists, working to find ways to prosper while maintaining traditional ways of life. The titl machine that e of this section is "A Traditional Future".

3) Eau Claire Community of Shalom, in Eau Claire-North Columbia, SC
The Community of Shalom is a nat'l initiative of the United Methodist Church. It encouraged two churches in Eau Claire, one historically black, the other historically white, to work with each other and with other churches & community institutions to improve health care, education, housing, safety.

4) Proyecto Azteca, in San Juan, TX.
Founded by the United Farm Workers union, this organization ("Project Aztec" -- Aztec being both the name of the ancient people and a relevant acronym in Spanish) helps Mexican-American families escape from colonias and build homes. A "colonia" is an unincorporated rural development, usually without even basic utilities.

5) Southwest Youth Collaborative, in Chicago, IL
Grassroots collaboration of churches, social service centers, rec centers, and neighborhood organizations. Activities include a discussion group for female juvenile offenders, assistance for released offenders, discussion group for youth to understand issues of law/justice, and a variety of neighborhood youth programs.

6) Yaak Valley Forest Community, in Yaak Valley, Montana
150 familes living near Canada, often w/o electricity or plumbing, in the middle of a huge nat'l forest. The Council, created under the US Forest Service's Forest Stewardship program, supports forest protection, especially in the remaining roadless areas. Its story shows the value and vagueness of the democratic process in a highly charged debate involving issues of ownership, livelihood, freedom, wrestling with issues of public and private good.

7) Haitian Citizens Police Academy and Roving Patrol, in Delray Beach, FL
Many Haitians who have streamed into Florida in recent years. Naturally the arrival of many new immigrants causes various stresses on the existing community. The program profiled was started by the police dept and community organizations to embrace the newcomers as community members, in the context of community policing.

8) Alaska Marine Conservation Council, on the north coast of the state
The AMCC is a group of concerned residents who have successfully advocated for sustainable fishing practices, independent fishermen, native communities, a good example of change through consensus building, successful because informed by a deep familiarity with the complexities of maintaining a viable way of life in that region.

9) Communities in Harmony Advocating for Learning and Kids (Chalk), in San Francisco, CA Youthline is a toll-free phone service offering access to listeners, young staff trained for at least 80 hours to direct callers to help & information, supporting callers with conversation and encouragement. Essential idea is youth helping youth. The emphasis is on active listening, not giving advice.

10) alternatives federal credit union, in Ithaca, NY A credit union working within federal standards, Alternatives is member-owned, and driven by a commitment to social change through local investment. It provides low end," high-risk" members with mortgages, small-business startup loans, lines of credit, in financial education.

11) Handmade in America / small town revitalization project, in Western North Carolina America's small rural towns are struggling to survive and maintain their way of life in the face of megastores and franchises. Handmade in America works to revitalize local economies in an environmentally and culturally sensitive way. The Small Town Revitalization Project in Marshall, NC, develops citizens' ideas for promoting tourism, in developing small-business, etc.

12) the village of arts and humanities, in Philadelphia PA the village intends to rebuild community through creativity. By building housing, reclaiming lots as parks, youth theater, publications, and outreach efforts, village residents work on building community through the arts.

"Local Heroes Changing America" is an extraordinary collection of stories and photographs by some of America's finest photographers and writers. Having just seen the exhibition here in Chicago at the Terra Museum, I can only say that this book should be brought by everyone who wants to know if pictures and words together still have the power to inspire and create social change. They do, and this book, and the traveling exhibition, shows why. Buy one for yourself, and one for a friend. They will definitely thank you. If the exhibition is in your city, make it a point to go, and take others. Work like this, that speaks so powerfully and compassionately, should be widely and enthusiastically supported.

Not the best Rankin novel - Sprouts fails to inject enough humour into the proceedings to carry the bog standard plot. Rankin regulars (like myself) will be disappointed.

Well, it isn't the first Rankin I've read- in fact, I've gone throught them all. But this is one of the best. Coming from Ealing, near Brentford, where the books are set, I must admit I feel a certain affinity with Mr Rankin, but I am damned glad I do. He is incredibly funny, and get's funnier with each book. Sprouts...deals with Brentford's hosting the next Olympic Games, which will be held in a giant invisible floating stadium. Hmmmm. Anyway, it's a great laugh, as much for regulars as newbies. Trust me - you will enjoy it. You have my word. No, really.

The book combines trial drama with psychological interest, both in the hidden past of the sketch artist and in profile of serial killer. Romantic angle involves female attorney who has to juggle romance with shady goings-on at prestigious firm. A very absorbing read.

Once it is understood that this DIYer is mostly about candles, not about incandescence, the book's charm becomes apparent. Those seeking a tighter focus on low voltage outdoor lighting may be disappointed but the 14 page introduction clearly states the author's intent. The introduction provides a brief, helpful overview of "electrical lighting" and lighting concepts. Since there are currently 13 listings under "landscape lighting", 9 of which are actually about the topic, this review (and the 8 others) is meant to guide the seeker in the search. This book is another in the fine series of Lark publications on DIY crafts projects.... Forty projects are illustrated and detailed ranging from the sublime (Ikebana-like colored glowsticks in a clear glass vase) to the ridiculous (Alice-in-Wonderland teapot tikis). Beautifully photographed and with a crisp, airy layout the text is clear, concise and minimal (plus I found only one typo). A book on candelaria! At last a topic even more specialized than low voltage landscape lighting. Nice job Chris.

I really was more than pleased with this book. It contained so many innovative and creative ideas to use in smocking. Most smocking books contain the usual baby and childen's clothing along with other heirloom items. I teach English Smocking and use this book as a resource for all my classes. It gives people great ideas to build on and many of them can be used for ADULT garments which won't look like maternity clothes. I get new ideas every time I go back to it. It's only drawback is not using more creative fabrics and colors, but if you can get past that, the ideas are refreshing. I recommend it highly.