I received this book as a gift from a dear friend who knows just how much I love Ireland. She was right on the mark with "Eyewitness Travel Portrait of Ireland". This book has it all!

It starts out with basic info; finding Ireland on a map, it's history, landscape, wildlife and people. It then moves on to a region by region review of places to visit and the towns/sights to be seen. The book has a ton of information as well as beautiful photographs to give you a feeling of what you'd see. I especially liked that the hardback book I have is bigger and easier to view than it's soft cover counter part. I've seen the smaller version and, even though the information is the same, you lose a lot in trying to see those teeny, tiny pictures. Go for the big one if you have the room! There's not much difference between them in price.

If you plan on going to Ireland I can only suggest you suppliment this book with a guide like Frommer's that give you places to eat and stay as well as all the prices. "Travel Portrait" lists which places have fees but not exact amounts. It also lists which towns have market days, which sights require fees and offer tours, which ones are handicap accessible and what the open and close dates are for most places.

I love this book and you will, too. It is well worth owning!

Essentially a travel guide in a large format, this book makes an exceptional gift for anyone with a hint of Irish blood or an interest in the Emerald Isle. Beautiful images are married to very readable text and interesting sidebars and facts. Printed on glossy, coffee-table-book paper, the pictures really jump out, grab you, and drag into the incredible scenery and history of one of the most spellbinding islands on earth.

In Dorling Kindersley's unique and highly readable style, Protrait of Ireland takes the reader to Ireland through photgraphs and interesting facts. Perfect for all ages, Portrait of Ireland offers snippets of information enabling even the smallest attention span to glean valuable information about Ireland.

It is scary, when fear reigns, as we have it today in the USA after the attack of 9-11. Dannon encounters WW III, stating "fear so great that humans will give up all freedoms in the name of safety!" Should the USA become the "Land of the Safe" and the "Home of the Oppressed"? Who would write a hymn to that? Dannon went to "heaven" after he died and he had many visions into the future. Yes, we are in the earth to co-create with the deity, he is told. This book is extremely fascinating. It confirms carma - the balance - as he experiences his former deeds on earth and its after-shock. The purgatory: we have to suffer everything we did to others - like a ripple-effect. Do I recommend this book? I wish every person wrapped up in their faith, Muslims, Islams, Christians, Jews, Sufis, Buddhists etc. would read it, because no matter what your believe is, this book is true for all of you! Let's shoulder our burden together and avoid a worldwide conflict WWW III - ...

i was truly amazed by this book, i mean, watching how the main character completely changed his life from being a total killer and looser to be a guy who helps people, to me is amazing. I liked most of all the way he describes what he sees, from when he dies the first time etc. it is truly a book worth the read, and for those who are into things like life after death stuff, this book is a must to have

The author, who was struck by lightning, died afterward. He was brought back from his death and revealed the world he saw after he died. Spirits he met in the other world disclosed him movie-like images in the future. The book contains messages from "spirits" about the entire human race and our Earth's ecology problems. This book is easy to follow yet embedded with highly sophisticated messages to chew on it. A great book to read!

When I began the book (with the problem of Marianne) it obviously had five stars, when you finish that part you won't understand why it was written in so many pages and it really doesn't have to do anything with the book, so the book has now four stars, in the middle of the book, when you see why it was written the [beginning], the book has only three stars ..., and that keeps during all the judgment of the doctor (I won't tell you which one because I will tell you the story), but when the judgment is almost over, when you almost finish the book you will see that this is definitely a five stars book, And when you read the last chapter you will see that you will recommend this book to your friends.

It is a mystery to me that Amazon.com should begin reviews of the mysteries by Anne Perry by quoting "Kirkus reviews." The results are predictable -- the reviewer dislikes all of the strengths of these novels. He cannot appreciate Perry's real skill in character development. He is opposed to any discussion of the status of women in Victorian England; dislikes Perry's careful depictions of social mores and class status in Victorian London --despite the fact that these are often the very crux of the novels. One of the best examples is "A Breach of Promise." I haven't the Kirkus review for that novel but I am willing to bet that he really really hated it!
Actually, this series of novels should be called the
Hester Latterly - William Monk - Oliver Rathbone series. Hester is often the central sleuth and it is the links between these three characters which move the plots forward ingeniously. As example of this I recommend "A Breach of Promise which the Kirkus reviewer undoubtedly hated.

A Sudden, Fearful Death is the fourth mystery in the Inspector Monk series of books by Anne Perry. Better known for her Pitt series, the Inspector Monk series are slighly earlier (just after the Crimean War), grittier, and in many ways more riveting. They are longer than the average Pitt novel, and this allows the author's wonderful ability to convey period detail and characterization to shine through.

In this mystery Inspector Monk is called in to investigate the murder of one of Florence Nightingale's Crimean nurses, who is working at a London hospital. Those of you who have read the previous three novels know how hard it can be for these young women to adapt to English hospitals after their stint abroad, and at first it seems that Prudence Barrymore might be a victim because of her desire to reform the medical system. As the plot unfolds, however, we realize that there is a great deal more going on at London's Royal Free hospital than meets the eye.

One of Perry's greatest talents lies in character development, and she is always careful to let a different character feature prominently in each novel. This time it is Lady Callandra Daviot's turn, Inspector Monk's female patron, who emerges as a more three-dimensional character. Hester Latterly, another Nightingale nurse, is also featured, along with the brilliant Inspector Monk and the lawyer of lawyers, Oliver Rathbone.

I would particularly recommend the Monk series to fans of TV's Law and Order, since these mysteries combine excellent sleuthing with taut court-room drama. If you like historical mysteries, you will love this series. If you already like Anne Perry, I encourage you to give Inpsector Monk a try!

My kids laughed histarically when we got this book from the library for my six year old to practice reading. My four year old also wanted to read it himself. The text is simple enough for them to repeat after I read it to them. They love this silly book so much I'm going to buy one for them. It is definately a keeper!

I disagree that this book can be scary for little ones. I used to read this book to my now 16 yo brother when he was 2 yo. He had it memorized and just loved it! It was his absolute favorite book. I found it again and now I'm ordering it for my 6 yo daughter.

My children loved reading the creative attempts to escape going to bed. Adults can also relate to the young frogs antics. The illustrations are very expressive and the vocabulary is great for an early reader. This book is one that will be read many times.

this is it. the big book of the spiritual wisdom of the ages. from all the great wisdom traditions, east and west, this is the most comprehensive anthology i've ever seen. all the major themes of mankind's search for The Real are treated. from creation to sacrifice to magic to illusion to reality to visions to suffering, death, metanoia, prayer, grace, ecstacy, truth, union, the esoteric, the list goes on and on. mr perry has wisely organised this large book [over 1,000 pages] into a very accessable treasure trove of the world's greatest wisdom writings. well referenced, indexed, foot noted, the book is awesome on many levels. here you have quotes from the bible, the koran, the buddhist sutras, the bhagavad gita, shakespeare, plotinus, ramakrishna, eckhart, william law, thomas aquinas, kabir, lao tzu, ramana maharshi, black elk, plato, and hundreds more. this beautiful book all by itself makes a fine library of both ancient and modern writings by the great prophets, seers, sages, mystics, and scholars who have sought to speak their deepest truths. i buy books all the time, this is one of those rare ones you fall in love with completely. with very few exceptions, i know of no more wonderful book of essential knowledge than this one. its a real bargain at 32 bucks. buy it, you'll love it!!!

I have this book in its first (1972) edition, and I have to say that it is simply excellent, a cyclopean work (before the general use of computers and all that). This is an encyclopedia of the wisdom of the religions of the world, collected by themes and, from the first page to the end as if it were a spiritual journey, so you begin reading passages about "spiritual death" and you end with the highest level, which is "union with God". Mr. Perry has taken a lot (a lot) of care in quoting the sources, so that they're not out of context. And you have almost 1.200 pages of wisdom in its purest form from the most orthodoxes sages or saints (or both). The notes and introductions to every chapter (and every chapter has its own sections and subsections so each one is relatively short) are clarifying and taken to the minimun, so to not to interrupt much the quotes. Add to this the cross references at the margins of each page and you have the best "summa of the philosophia perennis" ever collected. A must for everyone interested in comparative religions and spirituality no matter your standpoint.

This book is incredible. It gives much meaning to words like death and love. Did you know that marriage and die mean the same thing? In this book, this is something that is brought up. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to expand their spiritual perspective on things. This book is considered to be an " Encyclopedia of Humankind's spiritual Truths " GET THIS BOOK!

This book is perhaps the most moving account of persoanl suffering, and courage, I've ever read. It's made all the more so by the fact that thed 'hero'--unlike our Hollywood hereos--is a normal guy, and the story is unknown and unheralded. ( I found my copy for 50 cents at a library's throw-away bin, kind of like the people it talks about in the book) A Spanish-American war veteran returns from the Phillipines to begin his young life only to find out a few years hence he was infected with leprosy. The real enemy is not so much the disease as the immediate ramifications which include exclusion from normal life and society. The heartbreak, sorrow, hopelessness, courage and truth that unfold are a lesson for anyone who ever wonders whether their life counts. Lessons abound for anyone faced with physical, emotional, or social ills that seem to bar them from living a meaningful life.

I read this book in the 8th grade for the first time. I think it was great and have read it over and over again. It is a fast read and very touching.

About the courage and trials of a patient with leprosy who spent much of his life on a leper colony in the phillipines. Excellent!

Having just read the book, I am excited to jump in and see if I can find success where other diets have failed me. Jean Spodnik's credentials as lead nutritionist for Kaiser Permanente are comforting and Barbara Gibbons recipes look no-fuss.

I can't believe with the number of women over 35 years of age and the inherent weight problems age brings that this book hasn't been reissued.

I would dearly love the two authors to update their book considering the plethora of non-fat, low-calorie food products on the market. It might make this diet even easier and more convenient to follow and be a saving grace to millions of over-35 women who are fighting the battle of the bulge!

Are the authors still out there and in the nutrition field? I would love to see an update on 35-plus Diet for Women.

Since discovering this book about 10 years ago I have kept it close by. It is the first diet book that ever helped me shed the unwanted pounds in a healthy manner.

The writers, a clinical dietician and a cookbook writer, both offer value to the reader, but particularly the dietician, Ms Spodnik. She clearly understands the dieting problems of middle-aged women and offers her diet, based on medical studies, in a way that the reader not only understands how to follow the diet, but the rationale for the diet itself. There is no calorie counting or weighing because the dieter chooses a specific number of servings from a variety of food groups for each day's intake.

In addition, the diet produces immediate results that motivate you to continue. It is the easiest diet to stay on that I have found and offers the reader recipes and ideas for those who don't like to cook or those who must travel a lot and rely on restaurant and airplane food.

I regularly recommend the diet in this book to my friends and acquaintance and follow it myself whenever a bit of extra weight has accumulated.

This is an important book and a terrific guide to all health issues in a man's life. It answered every health question I had and more - on fitness, aging, and sexuality - and since this guide is from the American Medical Association, I know I can trust the information. I'll certainly recommend this guide to all the men I know and their families.

Guidebooks don't get more resourceful or better organized than this! You'll find the latest information on such topics as: regular exercise, healthy nutrition, reducing stress, and extensive coverage on each internal system of the male body. It's a great gift for any loved male in your life!

I am a former Russian journalist and a documentary filmmaker who has also worked at NASA in the US.

"The Anatomy of Russian Defense Conversion" touches on many more subjects then just Russian Defense Industry. This is a very thorough, informative and important work that analyses the history of US and Russian Defense Industries, weapons exports and conversion, and possibilities of transformation from a militarized to a civilian economy in the new millenium.

The book also reflects on the current state of defense industries in the US and Russia, and "brain drain", or loss of intellectual capital in Russia and other countries after the Cold War.

I found reflections in Arkady Yarovsky's chapter "From the Culture of War to the Culture of Peace" very contemporary, especially in the light of recent events in the Middle East:

"Our time is unfortunately still characterized as "the culture of war." The culture of war is evident first and foremost in the hostilities between people and states, between nations and faiths, and in the inability to solve conflicts by peaceful means... Humanity has made it into the third millenium because the lust for power has been restrained by fear of nuclear war, but this restraint is not to be counted on permanently... The danger hidden in the separateness of people of different countries, unfortunately, remains a legacy for the next century... If humanity renounces the legacy of the culture of war, it can start down the road of cooperation, peaceful creation, and enlightenment. This is the only road leading to the culture of peace."

One can imagine that I, as a small child living in San Antonio, Texas, next to three Air Force bases and an Army base, living through the Cuban missile crisis, thought about the threat of the Russian military. I also met my parents' wonderful emigre' friends, and to this day have had warm relations with Russian people.

This book tells of the enormous cost to the Russian people of building and maintaining their war industry for so many years, a militarized economy where people got second best. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, defense industry just about shut down, but civilian industry has not grown great enough to support the population. There are horrendous unemployment, and terrible health and social problems. There is some danger that the path of least resistance for Russia, if we neglect the situation, could be to re-start weapons production, for export at first.

In my opinion, the United States also, to a lesser degree, has neglected the manufacture of quality consumer goods, importing them instead, and has let its physical economy deteriorate, despite much activity in the financial sector. We, too, have been insufficiently careful of the environment. This book provides some idea of what these trends could lead to, if carried to extremes.

Perhaps the involvement of United States companies in Russia, could lead to more of a recognition here, of the importance of the physical economy. Hopefully, both countries could also work to put industry on a healthy environmental footing as well.

There is awareness of the problem of Russian defense conversion, at high levels of our government. I hope this book helps educate people and sustain that interest.

I am currently looking for a software programme that will allow our company to produce images similar to those shown in the book. These images are for a shipbuilding company. If anyone out there can help and offer a site to have a look at, I would be most grateful.

Buy it if you want to see the most amazement images in your life. It has minimum text. But consists of 14 very big and high resolutin 3D images. Very colorful. But you have to have much time to learn to see it.