Thomas Perry's early books are masterpieces and thank goodness the publishers have yielded to public pressure and made them available again. This is a delicious confection. Metzger's Dog has everything Perry is famous for -- violence, humanity, irony -- and unlike some authors, he carries through right up to the last scene. It's got the attention to details, strategic thinking, and casual violence of "tough" thrillers, mixed with an upbeat affection for life that makes it three-dimensional and unforgettable. You never want it to end; you never want to say goodbye to the characters. Now, join me in a moment of prayer that the publishers will reissue "Big Fish", another great book that should never have gone out of print.

Metzger's Dog is, by far, one of the best books that I have EVER read! Dr. Henry Metzger, is a cat who, through a series of events that just have to be read, comes to be the "owner" of a 200 lb Black Mastiff dog! If this sounds too unrealistic to be true, just read the book to find out. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

Another of Perry's books along the same light is "The Island". If you ever get a chance to read it, please do. Through a series of events (sound familiar?) a small atol in the middle of an ocean becomes a "new country", eligible for UN support!

Metger's Dog is one of the finest novels I have read in quite a while -- and working in publishing (don't hold it against me) I see hundreds a year. There are moments in this narrative, many moments, when the reader realizes he has placed his or her attention in expert hands. Humor and seriousness are expertly blended. Perry is a subtle observer of people and of life. The character of Chinese Gordon is revealed only on the very last pages of the book ( and never fully), and rarely have I seen such judicious treatment of a CIA type as with Perry's creation of the character Porterfield. Good and evil are carefully intertwined in this text -- all of the characters trouble these moral boundaries. Even Gravirjas (sp?), a drug boss, is admirable in his assessment of circumstances, in his reasoning and objectivity given the life he leads, the hand he holds. His fatal mistake would have been impossible for him to grasp ahead of time -- circumstances just got way beyond what he knew.

In fact, only Poterfield and Chinese Gordon, the two main characters, are up to the chess board in this plot. And like two generals from opposing armies, they walk away respecting each other, though perhaps not equally.

The name "Metzger's Dog" is a metaphor -- the dog in the novel, a vicious animal, has been salvaged from a junkyard and tamed. At the end of the novel, this dog is given the name Porterfield.

In this story it is ultimately the CIA that has been tamed. The details of how this is achieved hold up to any test for authenticity.

Having read many books on database marketing, direct marketing, data mining & CRM as a consultant, I appreciate the story line approach heading up each chapter most. Many books fall prone to teaching "at you" rather than guiding the user along "through the experience of doing it".

A second critical factor to look for - once you've gotten through all the introductory books - is finding concrete info on how-to, best practices providing significant content and knowledge. This is the true value-add from the masters: learning is incremental and there must be true takeaways to get the 5 stars.

This said, the authors have made an extremely broad, detailed and well spun story out of a subject matter that can be to say the least, challenging... Moreover, the disciplines of customer analysis, database management & modeling, data mining, statistical analysis, marketing planning are all the focus of reengineering by many of today's major businesses.

Consequently, this book leads nicely and rather naturally into a major subject of the day for many IT & marketeers -- Analytical CRM. As such it is a must read for anyone interested in understanding how A-CRM works in many companies practicing DBM today.

A great next step would be to go from the marketing-IT function(-ing) to the broader enterprise, long-term (relational) infrastructure & practices preached by CRM. Show how the DBM process evolves in to and is transformed by meeting Customer Mgmt strategies. How would DBM work in a enterprise integration, near/real-time, customer interaction CRM initiative?

Finally, as an aside, in reviewing MANY course syllabi across the world in DM/DBM, I've OFTEN found this book as the course text if not mandatory-suggested reading.

I agree -- for all & anyone wanting a good complement to Shepard's seminal work - you can't do any better.

Buy it ! Good reading...

When I first became involved with database marketing in the mid-1990s, and through my tour of graduate school a few years later, books on the subject fell into two categories: basic and trivial, or advanced and impossible to comprehend. OPTIMAL DATABASE MARKETING is the perfect reference for what is probably the majority audience segment: marketing managers, senior executives, list professionals, data processors, professors, and students who want to understand all the elements of strategic planning and analysis *and* gain practical knowledge to apply professionally or in research endeavors.

In OPTIMAL DATABASE MARKETING, you get a wealth of material on two aspects of the process - for the price of one. Co-author Ron Drozdenko does a great job defining concepts and detailing potential objectives when building files. His coverage of technical specifications and issues is particularly useful.

As for the subsequent chapters: I don't think there has ever been a book written which covers database modeling, and statistical techniques germane to direct marketing, as comprehensively and clearly. Co-author Perry Drake manages to leave no stone unturned and yet convey knowledge in a style that's both understandable and easy to follow. This part of the book is worth the cost alone.

This book is an excellent tool for direct marketers who need to develop, manage and optimize a database. Tells what to do... what to avoid... I recommend it highly.

As the author, I'm letting you know that the resources in this older edition of Playing Smart are out of date after a full decade in print. Buy the REVISED edition (subtitle: THE FAMILY GUIDE etc.) and you won't be disappointed.

PLAYING SMART is coming out in a new enlarged updated edition in April 2001. Stay tuned.

Susan K. Perry's writing is always a delight. PLAYING SMART is filled with fun ideas that will entertain children AND adults. Each chapter offers dozens of suggestions to open children's minds to love learning, improve their powers of observation and innovative thinking, and to be respectful of the world and all its beauty. Many many resources listed for games, supplies, and further information. Children will learn they need never say they are bored again.

I enjoyed this book tremendously. Entertaining and thoughtful -- I found it reminiscent of John Keegan's work. I look forward to Mr. Perry's next.

This is a wonderful book. The author has a great sense of irony. He skillfully blends contemporary records and journals written by soldiers at all levels of the hierarchy to show the incompetence of the "arrogant armies" he's describing. This book goes very well with "March of Folly" by Barbara Tuchman. It's unfortunate that amazon.com does not list this book as a suggestion on this page. I just wish he would include more examples from 1914-1989 years. I don't really understand why there's a gap between the old European imperial period all the way up to Somalia. There were plenty of wars that would qualify for this book in between.

Military history is replete with brilliant campaigns by celebrated commanders. Less well known are the debacles of ignorance, carelessness, and plain racism which have besmirched the names of once-proud generals and wasted the lives of thousands of soldiers.
Perry, a seasoned Wall Street Journal political writer, recounts twelve such disasters, from the French and Indian Wars to Mogadishu; such prime example of arrogance, poor planning, and stupidity that they should be required reading for student-officers everywhere. A highly readable trek off the beaten path for military history buffs.

(The "score" rating is an ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.)

D.A. Hamilton Burger is out for blood this time. While investigating the return of a man missing for ten years, Mason sends Della Street out to interview the man before the police get there. What happens? When the man can't be found by the police, Della is charged with spiriting away a material witness. Burger plans to convict her, then try Mason as an accessory, convict him, then institute disbarrment proceedings against him. This will end Mason's career of legal dramatics and "outwitting the police".

Mason doesn't care anything about a murdered man, a wounded man, or the missing man who is the prime suspect - all he cares about is aquitting Della Street. And since Burger made it personal, Mason refuses to give the true solution to him during or after the trial. After all, if he did so, he'd be "outwitting the police" once again...

It is an interesting case, where Perry Mason defends his secretary, charged with hiding a material witness. As usual, the plot is well developed and the court room drama is highly interesting. A very good novel.

Perry mason is in the middle of a plot that is so skillfully planned that even he is baffled. The only clue that helps him solve is a careless kitten. What did the kitten do to help mason solve a case where every suspect seems to have an air tight alibi! The desire to find out what happens next kept me turning pages. So, watch out for the answers & learn a little bit of cat psychology!

So much of what is said in the news about young people today is negative and critical of them, highlighting disasters and tragedies. CATCH THE SPIRIT focuses on a few of the many teenagers who volunteer and make a difference in the world by giving of themselves and reaching out to help others. More important, they learn that confidence and self-esteem come from taking having purpose and taking action in their lives. How delightful to hear these stories in the words of these young, courageous, and empathic teens! I'd love to see some of these stories featured on TV talk shows.

~Joan Mazza, author of Dream Back Your Life; Dreaming Your Real Self; Things That Tick Me Off; and Exploring Your Sexual Self.

Every school library will want this book. Through diverse, inspiring examples Dr.Perry shows how teens all across America have made a difference by volunteering their time and passion to good causes. Each story is both personal and universal and brings home the point that nothing feels better than making the world a better place. In the back of the book are great suggestions for getting started with your own service project and special tips if you're shy or unsure what kind of project is right for you. This book would also be a great gift for service organizations to give to outstanding teens.

Even thought this is a book of wonderful examples about teens who have volunteered, it's an inspiration for everyone -- whether they already volunteer or want to. I'm recommending this book to the thousands of people I network with while co-authoring "Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul."

This book really was "complete". It answered all those little nagging questions I had and couldn't seem to find the answers anywhere else. I loved the fact it went through the whole process of homeschooling from deciding to homeschool all the way through sending them off to college. They explained everything very clearly and even explained some things I hadn't even thought of yet. I highly recommend this book.

This book is truly straightforward. Tell's it like it is and very easy to read. My wife and I were at a loss of whether or not we could handle teaching our two teenage sons. They were so lost in the shuffle of public schooling, that we knew we had to do something. Our biggest fear was that all homeschoolers were teaching with a religious-based curriculum, that our sons wouldn't have the same opportunities available to them in the public sector and we didn't want that. We needed to help our sons with their academics so they could get into college. This book pulls no punches by showing us how its done. We've bought two copies, one for us, and one for a friend our ours, who also is considering homeschooling for their teenage daughter. We thank the authors for their truthful insights into the pros and cons of homeschooling. They helped us make an important decision to give homeschooling a dedicated effort.

I've borrowed many homeschooling books from the library and this is the only one I've decided to purchase. The Complete Guide to Homeschooling will tell you all about the Who, What, When and Where regarding this controversial issue; the "Why" is up to you. The book's question/answer format is very easy to read even with a toddler in the house! Also, several pages are devoted to the opinions of previously homeschooled children/teens, now adults. This book also offers many support group/organizations and resources to contact. I really think I can do this! A must have!

I was so excited to see my Grandfather's name in print; Reginald Marshall Worby. It is too bad that he died before the printing of this book.

My Grandfather was at St. Augustine with Perry's father. I have been in contact with Perry via email.

I can now understand why my Grandfater cried when he was telling me about his experiences as a boy. I am sure my Grandfather purposely left a lot out of his stories, things he was trying to forget. I did a paper on his life story when I was in highschool, it makes me sad to know that so many of these children were treated so cruely.

My Grandfather did eventually find his family, he was one of the lucky ones as many families are still looking for their roots.

Thank you Perry!!!

Perry Snow book has opened my eyes to my own families past and thanks to Perry his love for his father and in his words for the home children,I am pleased to say i have recieved a confirmation on my own grandmother that she was know to Barnardos am expecting something soon..Thank you Perry Snow your father would be proud ..And i hope all read NEITHER WAIF NOR STRAYS..It is our stolen idenitys.God Bless you Perry

Powerful! A must read for anyone who suspects they may have a Home Child or Orphan Train Rider ancestor. Mr. Snow gives hope for researching these lost ancestors. Too many people do not know that these children were placed on both sides of the US/Canadian border. Mr. Snow's analysis of the psychological effects should help Home Children and their descendants to understand how this shameful scheme shaped their lives. My thanks to Mr. Snow.

Marie Osborne-Perry has done it. She has combined fantasy fiction with erotica and made it work. I loved the character of Odette and her brazen ways. I also liked the backstory provided as well. A really good read if you're in the mood for some escapism!!!!

Loved the unusual premise in combining fantasy and erotica in this story. 'Very Nice!'

The heroine Odette -- sexy little minx with many talents...Legend has it that any man who hold the 'swan mantle' enslaves the fair maiden, but what happens when it (the swan mantle) falls into the hands of a woman???

The characters in "RAVISHED WINGS" by Maria Osborne Perry, are fun and exciting, the dialogue entertaining, and the plot 'EXCELLENT!' A thrilling combination...

John Savoy
Savoy International
Motion Pictures Inc.

Having been a fan of Maria's stories since EROTIC DREAMS AND SATIN SHEETS was released, I wasn't surprised that her second book RAVISHED WINGS was also a winner. Odette, the heroine, is another example of the sexy seductive submissive who can defeat the blackest hearted villian with one hand and pleasure her man with in ways most men just dream about with the other. This type of heroine is fast becoming a hallmark of Perry's writing. I recommend RAVISHED WINGS to all fans of erotic fantasy, and eagerly await more from this talented lady.

I was raised Catholic but by my teens had some serious doubts about the afterlife. As most of my friends agreed (they wanted tangible evidence) and the opposition disagreed (they didn't need tangible evidence), it was always a standstill type of argument.

After a few people died in my life though, I felt that the issue wasn't satisfying enough. So, I started to do some research not related to the Catholic Church, as the people I knew had convictions and didn't want to discuss WHAT IF questions.

What was great about this book were several things:

(1) He mentioned he did an NDE on children and retold over a hundred stories; I found it less likely children would be able to make stories up on the spot;

(2) No one has stepped forward to debunk the author so he must have at least got his evidence together correctly; and

(3) The NDEs were, again, over a hundred people, retelling their personal tales. They were from all over the USA with different backgrounds . .. and they had similiar experiences of seeing a light and feeling comforted and getting in touch with loved ones who had passed on.

So, this book has been the first step in helping me believe there is something after death, and I feel a lot better for it. For those who want something more heavy duty, you can also check out John Edward's CROSSING OVER, which airs every weekday in the mid afternoon. No one has really debunked that guy either so there has to be more to life than just death and oblivion.

I just recently read this book and it shed light on what has happened to me in the past 15 years since my out of body experience.

I was transformed and went back to school; got my degree in therapeutic nutrition and have written & published four books. I have had a lot of help from beyond in writing these books,but Dr. Morse's book Transformed by the light has helped me cope with the changes in my life.

Thank you, Dr. Morse

I love this book too.Dr.Morse is a medical DR who knows that NDEs are real.