Joshi's book is an awesome thing to behold. If Lovecraft will go on in the 21st century to be one of America's great writers, much credit will go to Joshi for his incredible research, storytelling and critical view of a very curious man.

At times I felt like skipping around and reading chapters which tell of Lovecraft's life during the creation of a specific story (my favorites like "Call of Cthulhu" and "At the Mountains of Madness") -- easy to due thanks for the great Index compiled for this work. The whole book is very thought provoking -- even if you thought you knew enough about Lovecraft's life. The disassembling of the (Derelith's) mythos too is good to have made official with the keen research Joshi has done.

Have recommended this to friends both Lovecraft-lovers and ones-not-necessarily-so. An example of what a good literary biography should be.

Joshi's biography will quite probably never be topped. It easily outdistances L. Sprague de Camp's original biographical study, even though it does slip into some of de Camp's finger-wagging mode from time to time. (Joshi, in common with all critics, seems to feel that his OPINIONS about specific stories are OFFICIAL PRONUNCIAMENTOS about them, a form of arrogance that only mars the fine scholarship, indefatigable research and pleasant writing style of this book.) That minor cavil aside, this is a major accomplishment --- and even when you disagree with Joshi, he'll leave you thinking, AND pleased that you read the book. What more can you ask?

There is little I can add to the kudos already present on this page in reference to "H.P. Lovecraft: A Life." It is every bit as good as the previous readers have said it is: magnificently detailed, critical yet sympathethic, and, yes, "compulsively readable." The point I wish to add is this. The folks who have already reviewed this book here all seem to be inveterate Lovecraftians; in contrast, I am not. While I am slowly warming to Lovecraft as I read more of his fiction, I really ordered this book simply to obtain some background on the writer for a class I teach which will touch briefly on his work. I never had any intention of actually reading all 600 pages---there was some specific information I was looking for, and really only planned to skim the volume. Well! Five days later I staggered away from this magnificent book, dizzy from reading, exhilarated, moved, overwhelmed. The point is: if you have any interest in literary biography, you owe it to yourself to read this book. It is one of the finest examples of the genre published in the past 30 years, and even if you do not much care about Lovecraft the writer, S.T. Joshi will make you care about Lovecraft the man. It should be required reading for anyone planning to write a biography.

"H.P. Lovecraft: A Life" is a great achievement.

Enjoyed this very much. A non-nasty Dilbert. Plus a domestic strip as well.

It's really Funny, & A good read, my only complain is that the sunday strips are in Black & white , What? No color? that aside, I recommend it , By God!

This was an excellent collection! Only complaint is that it's not (and never is) long enough.

As an adult I love these stories. They are repetitive and have a rhythm. This is what the kids love about the books. My son loves the part where Mr. Putter's knees are cranky. Instead of using the word old, decrepit, or any other word that may be over the heads of kids; they used cranky. Kids can relate to this word! It is a true story of friendship. This is a funny story. Kids will love making their predictions as to how the book ends. This is the type of book to let them practice with predictions. It is easy enough that a beginner to chapter books would have an easy time with this book. The words are simple and so is the storyline. This is why Cynthia Rylant's books are all terrific! I highly recommend this book!

The Mr. Putter and Tabby series are the sort of books that I would have loved to have when I was a beginning reader. I know that I would have read them over and over again to no end, even once they began to fall apart from constant use. That's why I am so glad that Mr. Putter and Tabby are around now while my youngest brother is learning to read. The non-repetitious (words are repeated, but not enough to become explicit), non-rhyming storytelling contained within the books makes them a pleasure to read continually, unlike many other easy-reader books. And in my opinion, the Mr. Putter and Tabby books are a step in front of Ms. Rylant's Henry and Mudge collection, due to the fact that, in their own way, they create an appreciation for the elderly as the reader comes to love Mr. Putter, the aging main character whose only companion is his cat, Tabby.

In Mr. Putter and Tabby Pick the Pears, the fourth book in the series, Mr. Putter attempts to pick the pears from the tree in his backyard. The ailments that come with old age try to keep him from accomplishing his task, but Mr. Putter soon comes up with a witty and humorous solution that will have everyone laughing while they continue turning pages to see how it all ends.

Mr. Howard's cartoon-style illustrations greatly enhance this wonderful story, which is written in such a format to be used as either a 3-chapter book for the beginning reader, or a bedtime story that is longer in length. Either way, the Mr. Putter and Tabby books would be a great find for emerging readers' shelves. Like having a kindly old grandpa next door, they only make life richer!

I wish we lived next door to Mr. Putter! This is such a nice book. The part where Mr. Putter cuts up an old pair of boxer shorts to get elastic to make a slingshot is just silly enough to please a potty-humor-newbie, yet is still tasteful.

My son loved all the descriptions of "juicy things"...apple cider, apple pie, pear jelly, apple turnovers. Every time we read this book, he wants to make a different "juicy thing".

I love the comfortable companionship between Mr. Putter and Tabby, as well as the wonderful drawings. This book makes me want to check out the other Mr. Putter and Tabby books!

This book is the only reference book on alcohol and other addictions put together in one easily understood volume. It should be the book on a readily reached shelf of every therapist. I have used this fine work since it's publication in my work: treatment planning, lectures, individual counselling and diagnosis. James W. West M.D., Betty Ford Center

This book was the catalyst to my sobriety. It succeeded in drawing the truth out where my friends and family had not been able to. Most of all, it made me finally be honest with myself.

Thank you, to the authors. Thank you, thank you.

Before this I have never read anything that made me feel better in my recovery. I had gone to several meetings and read other materials as well as conferred with my Doctors' and therapist. Several questions I had but couldn't quite ask were answered in this book. As well as things I was feeling, and scared about, but wasn't able to put words to. It helped me to relax, to feel like I was experiencing something other people had been through. I didn't feel "crazy" for the first time in months. It was a great quick reference guide too. It's all set up in easy to read chapters covering everything you need to know about recovering from addictions. It explains specifically steps to go through the detox process from every drug or alchohol, medical advice on how to get help, the whole withdrawal process for each type of addict, and more importantly-the way to get on with your life with your kids, your spouse, your family, your job, and yourself. It doesn't clutter itself up with 99% spiritual talk either. Not that that isn't important, but that comes later, after you get your body back to normal.

The ideal audience for this book really has a large range; it is ideal for anyone wanting to experience a "trip" from a hallucinogenic drug without the actual drug. High Priest is an excellent piece of art, it is an encyclopedia of Leary's 16 most life changing "trips" when under various forms of hallucinogens. It is filled with strong imagery to support Leary's want to tell the world about the wonderful hallucinogenic "trip". His style is very unique in that especially in a series of short stories, he can in essence connect them, just as he does in his life with situations. He uses a very intense tone, and style becomes rapid as he submerges into a hallucinogenic state, almost as if you where there with him. Then as he's coming out of it his style loosens and becomes slower, and drowsy. Its almost as if there were two extremes one is cold and gray, and the other is vibrant and full of life. This book will definitely stir your interest about psychedelic drugs and the life behind it. Leary's intense flavor and swirling style can sometimes almost be frightening especially when he discusses his inner emotions about death, and his chilling way of expressing his views on the "life changing trips". I think this book is very educational depending on your view of education, and can teach people, things about other cultures that may not be their own, a counterculture if you will. I recommend High Priest to anyone with a thirst for knowledge and an open mind.

essential reading for the humanist, the individualist, the psychedelicist and the lover of freedom.

Tim Leary reminds us what it means to be American.

A simultaneous explanation of why, and why not. The depiction of an appealing experience that within itself shows glimpses of why it may be best left wonderment.
You can get so trapped in the micro while reading this book that it's easy to forget that these thought processes helped shape this country, and etched themselves in time to never be forgotten.
Basically Dr Leary takes us through several "trips" in different settings, and with different participants and hallucinogens. If you're waivering on whether or not this book is for you, I would say the entertainment value alone is worth it. If the subjectmatter is of some interest to you, you'll love it.

Aldrich is a leading figure in organizational sociology. The organization is, with no doubt, a domain of sociology. But organization is not the object only sociology, especially because the company is the dominant form of organization under capitalism. The firm has been the object of various disciplines. Since the firm is an organization, if one studies the company, he participates in organizational studies. Organizational sociology has also zeroed in on the firm, rather than other form of organization. So now organizational sociology is not much discernible from economic sociology in the empirical research. Both have focused on the firm and the market as research domain. Most universities in the States offer both specialties as one course rather than separate course. Moreover, such a blending of field is intensified as more and more researchers from various disciplines take the firm and market as their research agenda. we¡¯ve seen the ascendance of organizational economics over past decades, breaking decades of ignorance of firm in economics. One-of-a-kind move could be spotted even in political science. ¡®Varieties of Capitalism¡¯ (2001), edited by Peter Hall and David Soskice, for instance, is a example of such a trend. In this book they examine the influence of national regulatory system on the business system and competitive advantage. Now the organizational study is increasingly interdisciplinary affair in social sciences. The more come into play, the more divergent the field become. Aldrich identifies seven perspectives in organizational studies: ecological approach, institutionalism, interpretive approach, organizational learning approach, resource dependence approach, transaction cost economics, and evolutionary approach. The diversity of approaches is not only tolerable but also necessary, given the interdisciplinary nature of organizational studies. But seven perspectives in only one field is too much. So Aldrich attempts to launch the overarching framework based on evolutionary approach, while preserving the value of other approach. The advantage of evolutionary approach lies in its simplicity. It consists of only 4 principles: variation, se4lection, retention, and struggle. Each relates to the other with if-then clauses. But they are abstract in nature. The specific accounts of events should be provided by other niche approaches. Evolution is the name of process, not of substance or what takes place in the field. This is the overall architecture of the book. It seems Aldrich succeeds in the ambitious project to provide the umbrella framework linking competing perspectives under one roof. In doing so, he reviews tons of researches to validate the effectiveness of his proposal. It seems to work with empirical studies. But the devil lies in details. He dumps too many into the limited space in cursory manner. So reader has some difficulty in following through the lines. Overall framework of the book is reasonable, and that it must be the breakthrough in organizational studies. But reading through it is another matter. It¡¯s a painful travail.

Howard Aldrich's ORGANIZATIONS EVOLVING is truly a tour de force. Those who know his 1979 ORGANIZATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTS are familiar with his sharp insights into the field of organizations and his lucid writing. In ORGANIZATIONS EVOLVING, Aldrich develops a compelling, broadly evolutionary, perspective on organizations that integrates the best ideas from diverse organizational theories. He makes the best, most sophisticated, case yet for an evolutionary perspective on the organization.

this book will revolutionize the way sociologists look at (evolving) organizations...lots of examples and an excellent organization of topics.

This is a book everyone should read. It is a factual account of deeds ordinary human beings would not even dream of doing to one another. But these people were evidently no more than animals. Their thoughts and actions proved beyond doubt that our society has elements within it that should not be free to prey on others under any circumstances. In fact, in my mind, these kinds of people should not even be allowed to live. I cannot imagine that the media never reported these atrocities as racist crimes -- yet they certainly were. Of course this would have been politically incorrect then as it is today. The entire thing is almost impossible to imagine taking place, but it did. How many of these killers were executed for their beastly murders? How many did the taxpayers have to continue feeding in prison cells? How many are back on the streets today? How many more like thinking Blacks are roaming the streets looking for a chump to kill. This book will certainly make the reader ask such questions. It should open the eyes of many.

Howard Clark's book Zebra is hauntingly truthful. My family member was a murdered victim of the "Death Angels" horrific crimes. The cult was an off shoot of the Muslim religion and to achieve the highest status and a possible trip to Mecca, they were to murder and maim as many white victims as they could. Points were "earned", the highest amount being white children, then white women and the least white men. When you read this book it can be shocking and unbelievable that such crimes do actually happen. San Francisco was terrified during the 70's when these crimes were being committed and Mr.Clark's book invokes that same terror in you as you read the book. This book even includes actual photos.

A terrifying true story of brutality, mutilation and mass murder. It is the story of a fanatical cult whose religious initiation consisted of hacking to death nine white men,or five women, or four children in order to attain the exalted rank of "Death Angel" No one knows how many members actually attained their "Death Angel" wings, but ZEBRA is the true account of five who tried. A haunting look inside the twisted minds of men who convinced themselves that their bloody cause was a noble one.

You don't have to be especially interested in photography to get something out of Camera Lucida. It was Roland Barthes' final book, the last of his great and highly idiosyncratic trilogy of autobiographical works (the earlier two being "A Lover's Discourse" and "Roland Barthes by Roland Barthes").

Although the book is ostensibly about Barthes' attempt to work out why he is moved by some photographs and not by others, it soon reveals itself to be a meditation on the absence inherent in photography. Barthes wrote before radical manipulation of the image had become a standard practice in photography, but even if he hadn't it would make no difference, as he is only interested in photographs insofar as they depict something that was there at that particular time, and is now (presumably) gone. He is particularly eloquent on a photograph - deliberately unreproduced here - of his beloved mother, who'd died shortly before he began to write the book. He doesn't even try to elaborate a grand theory of photography; this is unashamedly a book about himself and the loss he has suffered, which he finds echoed and prefigured in the photographs that he holds dear. This being the case, he is able to write as movingly and beautifully about a 19th century photograph of a condemned man ("I observe with horror an anterior future of which death is the stake") as he can about the cherished Winter Garden photograph of his mother (which he doesn't reproduce in the book because, he says with heartbreaking discreetness, "it exists only for me").

Barthes wouldn't feel much at home in the digital age. For all his academic reputation as a whip-cracking avant-gardist, his most powerful and convincing writing is always yearning back to the past. He almost manages to make nostalgia seem not merely respectable but essential. But his generosity prevents him from imposing this point of view on the rest of us. That's what made him a great writer.

Roland Barthes - Camera Lucida

Frequently as I read through the brief, but provocative, Camera Lucida I would turn to the author photograph of Barthes on the back of the book. The further I got into Barthes' book the more I wondered just what he would have thought of the photo of himself. You see, in the pages of Camera Lucida Barthes explains how he sees most portraits as mere images that are far separated from the true identity, much less the soul, of the subject. And so I wondered, did Barthes ever see this portrait of himself? Was he the one who chose it for the back cover? Are the subtleties of this photograph effects Barthes consciously created as he posed for the camera?

These questions that arouse in my mind went to the heart of, indeed were a product of my reading of, Camera Lucida. In this book Barthes explores the nature of photography, what sets it apart from other arts, what are its benefits, its liabilities. He also wonders what exactly a photograph is, what that cold image on paper truly captures.

The book opens with Barthes wondering what is that one thing that a photograph, out of all other forms of art, possesses. While contemplating this he also muses that a photograph is forever linked to the object of which it is taken. That is to say that a photograph of a girl is always linked to that girl whereas a painting of a girl might very well be the construction of the author's mind and have no real world analog. Barthes does well to open with these two thoughts because they become the central insights on which he hangs the rest of his theories.

Barthes is also concerned with how a photograph can exist, that is to say how it can become more than simply a sign pointing as a real world object, how it can come to embody that object on its own, how it can achieve, in a word, transparency. He sees photographs as dead objects, indeed at times is obsessed with this Death that he claims photographs confer on their subjects. It seems that somewhere inside Barthes is a desire to discover photographs that are not shadowed by Death; this is the transparent photograph he seeks.

As Barthes investigates these theoretical propositions he beautifully blends blend cold theory and personal reflection. For instance, when Barthes recounts his experiences as the camera's subject, and we discover a shy, even vulnerable personality. Similarly Barthes evokes tender feelings when he recounts the touching effects of discovering what he believes to be the one true photograph of his mother. In Camera Lucida we see that the author is a man for whom ideas are not theoretical abstractions, but deeply felt concerns whose resolution is central to his well being. This organic blend of personal and professional reflection makes Camera Lucida a work of much intellect and much beauty.

Camera Lucida is a slim book that carries a great deal of weight. It is a book that is highly recommended to anyone who is concerned with what separates a good photograph from a great one, as Barthes points a way past the proliferation of mediocre photographs to the truly great ones.

This book is perhaps the best extended essay on photography ever written. Lyrical and brilliant, it is equal parts philosophy, prose poem and history. A veritable MUST.

The information in this book is comprehensive, well-referenced (including mention of non-scriptural resources related to the period), and quite absorbing. I found myself moving from one cross reference to another, avidly seeking the information which "fleshed out" the accounts, and made the meanings of scriptural texts, even those I had studied a number of times, richer and more complete. The relation of gospel texts, particularly Jesus's parables, miracles and the like, to historical perspectives is well done. There also is a valuable section relating how to use gospel texts in preparing sermons. In total, it is a fine reference for placing Jesus's words in context, and understanding the actions of those with whom he dealt. (For example, look up the article on Pontius Pilate... his fear at "you are no friend of Caesar" has an interesting and very natural basis.) With this said, however, this valuable book should not be one's only reference for scripture study. My five stars are for the book as it is intended - a "dictionary," with extensive and often fascinating explanations. It is not sufficient for most scriptural exegesis or advanced New Testament study, particularly because it is strictly composed from an evangelical perspective. Many distinguished contemporary scholars (Raymond Brown, N.T. Wright, E.P. Sanders, to name a few), equally orthodox in their Christology, would have viewpoints that are far less literalist than this work provides. Just as two minor examples, the Dictionary sees no reason to doubt that the apostle Matthew was the author of the first gospel, and the idea that the visit of the Magi was completely, literally true (with no allowance for its being a midrash at all) is unquestioned. The entire approach in this work is extremely conservative. I would place this book on the shelf of anyone studying the gospels, but it would be one of at least five.

IVP and Dr. Daniel Reid have outdone themselves with this great series of dictionaries. This volume on Jesus & the Gospels is packed with over 900 pages of detailed information on the four gospels. With dozens of the leading scholars of our day contributing, the vast coverage of subjects is breathtaking.

The contributors have been given a great degree of freedom to express their views, but this turns out to be good for stretching one's thinking. Matters that I disagree with in various articles have been nothing short of challenging. This is an extremely helpful work that will prove invaluable to the pastor and teacher. There are so many excellent and helpful articles in this work that we would probably do well to just read the entire volume.

This is one of the better reference works available from a conservative evangelical publishing company (IVP). The text itself is a very detailed dictionary of the four Gospel accounts. The editors include articles regarding people, places, events, dates, cross-references, etc. The articles are broad in the sense that they include various opinions and views but not so broad that they are too muddled in what they communicate. There is an enormous amount of detail in this volume. The editors discuss things such as the ethics of Jesus, certain feasts, genealogies, historical reliability of the Gospel accounts, the doctrine of Hell, historical quest of Jesus, Josephus, the phrases "Kingdom of God" and "Kingdom of Heaven," miracles and miracle stories, passion narratives, the Resurrection, what the term Son of Man means, etc. and what I have listed does not even begin to scratch the surface of the material that is within these pages. This work is over 900 pages of great material about the Gospels and their content, history, dating, etc. If you are wanting a great research tool, then this is one of, if not the best one you could add to your library. Another great reference work by the same publishing company (IVP) which works well with this volume is titled "Dictionary of Paul and His Letters." See my review, here at Amazon, on that gereat reference work which is a type of vol. 2 in connection with "Dictionary of Jesus . . ."

This book is great. The illustriations are remarkable and realistic. The reason it didn't get five stars is because it does not list the Spinosaurus. Which is my 4 year old's favorite. Buy it and enjoy

Dinosaurs! The Biggest, Baddest, Strangest, and Fastest written by Howard Zimmerman is a short, but fully illustrated book of some very unusual dinosaurs. Just as in the title of the book you will find some different looking dinosaurs, and these dinosaurs were found all over the earth's surface.

Your favorite monsters of the Mesozic are accounted for here. Some seventy-five beautiful illustrations are found in this book. I would rate this book not only for children who have a fascination for dinosaurs, but also adults. There is information reguarding some of the species that wasn't out when I first got interested in dinosauria.

For instance, some the the dinosaurs weithed more than a dozen African elephants, a dinosaur that had claw nearly 3 feet in length, dinosaurs that could run faster than an ostrich, some as small as cats, and of course the famous foot claw of the raptors.

There is a pronunciation guide in this book to help the younger reader to master the dinosaur names. Informantion found about the dinosaurs comes for finds in China, Africa and South America where you'll find a meat-eating dinosaur larger than T.rex.

There is information about each of the dinosaur family, that is the period and area in which they lives, eating habits, peculiar attributes. Also found near the end of the book there is a listings on the World Wide Web for those with computers to follow up on the dinosaurs.

This is a short book, but the information is top notch. If you child like dinosaurs this would be an excellent choice.

My son loves this book. Great illustrations, lots of cool facts. I think that it is maybe a 4th grade to eighth grade reading level, not 4 yr to 8yr level. It is a little advanced for your average four year old.