I had this guy for Health Policy. He sure loved his book. Did you know it was translated to Japanese??? Quite simply, amazing. It is a good book though. It would be nicer if it had some color pictures to spice it up a bit!

I am completing my final semester in the Economics Department at the University of Rochester. Looking back over all of the books that I have read as an undergraduate student, this book ranks among the top three (including books from other disciplines). Dr. Phelps offers a balanced perspective on a broad selection of health-related issues. Furthermore, he constantly backs up his analysis with insightful studies and statistics. Regardless of the quality of your professor, after reading this book, you will feel knowledgeable (from an economic perspective and more) about the issues facing our health care system (and to a certain extent, even those of other countries).

Having spent almost 10 years teaching health economics, I've read and used quite a few of the texts books that are around. Phelps' "Health Economics" is quite simply the best I've read bar none.

Its coverage is as comprehensive as one would want in a book of this type covering the standard demand, supply and policy issues as well as looking at specific aspects of the health economy such as medical malpractice. It is written largely from a US perspective but is by no means insular.

What I found particularly commendable in this book was its style and structure. Many books cover much of the material that is covered here but none in a fashion that is as readable, articulate or clear. Appendices are used to deal with technical issues (and deal with them in a way most students with a basic knowledge of economics will actually work through) while examples are used to provide an intuition that is often absent from other texts.

I cannot recommend the book highly enough for teaching at an undergraduate level or non-specialist postgrad level. I also recommend it as a good read for those working in the area of health economics. Quite simply a cracking book.

I used this book while visiting Venezuela, and I was able to identify quite a few birds. However, I found that some of the color plates are inaccurate, which made identification rather difficult at times. Several species (such as the Green Jay, some tanagers) are depicted with improper coloration- some were too pale, some too brightly colored and/or with incorrect markings. The book was very useful and I'm glad I bought it, but be aware that the bird you see may look significantly different in the book.

There are a couple of risks of misunderstanding with regard to this book that must be made clear here. Firstly it is in no way a second edition. The only things in common with the first guide to the birds of Venezuela, by Meyer de Schauensee and Phelps Jr are the familiar old plates by Guy Tudor, the title, and the publisher. In all other respects it is completely new. Secondly, the "Grand-daddy" review here, clearly refers to the original book and not this one.

Having said that, there is little one can add to Chris Sharpe's comprehensive review except to say that I have already used Hilty's book extensively for research this year, along with the other current guides for other countries, and have found it to be the best. In my opinion it sets a new standard. The only small weakness worth noting here is the plates, but has there been a guide that is perfect in this respect?

For anybody birding in Venezuela, the book is an essential item to have along.

I believe the earlier reviewers are mistakenly referring to the 1978 First Edition of this field guide (Meyer de Schauensee and Phelps 1978). As the first modern field guide to a South American avifauna, the original Birds of Venezuela is certainly now showing its age though it is still a remarkably useful field aid to the world's sixth largest national avifauna. The new edition - practically an entirely new field guide - is a very different kettle of fish. What makes this new edition different?

First of all, the new guide is twice as thick and the text is much more closely packed. The book now weighs in at over 1.8 kg (4 lbs) and is more along the lines of the field guide volume of the Birds of Ecuador (Ridgely and Greenfield 2001). Nearly a hundred new species are treated, taking the country total to 1381. Far more species are illustrated and more colour plates have been used, though eight black and white plates have been retained to depict flying raptors and swifts. We now have 67 plates compared with the previous 53 - a 25% increase. Twenty-five of the plates are entirely new with beautiful artwork primarily by John Gwynne. The new plates cover a range of taxa, with Cracids, owls, nightjars, toucans, tanagers, Fringillids, Emberizids and Icterids particularly well covered. A further four have been adapted from Birds of Panamá (Ridgely and Gwynne 1989) and one from Birds of Colombia (Hilty and Brown 1986). The remaining 37 are basically the same Guy Tudor plates (and one by John Gwynne) from the old edition with some modifications.

To my mind, though, it is the text which has really benefited from this new edition - so much so that this should really be thought of as an entirely new field guide. The format follows and improves on the standard set by Birds of Mexico (Howell and Webb 1995) and Birds of Ecuador. The type-setting and text layout have allowed far more text to be included than, say, Birds of Ecuador and Hilty has also been precise and economical with his words. This comes as no surprise to those familiar with Hilty's earlier Birds of Colombia.

The text is far more oriented towards identification than in the old edition - the main requisite for a field guide. The first section contains information specifically on identification and this is followed by a section on similar species, where further comparative text is merited. The voice section is new and seems to be very well compiled with - to my taste - excellent transliterations of songs and calls. Much natural history information and further aids to identification are included under a paragraph on behaviour. A detailed appraisal of status and habitat preference is included before the final discussion of range. The text retains the custom established by the earlier edition of separating range information by subspecies, a feature which is particularly welcome in these times of ever changing taxonomy. Range maps are another new feature and they make use of points corresponding to specimen and sight records as well as the customary shading to indicate overall range. In short, they are similar in format to those provided in Birds of Ecuador.

Finally there is a good selection of references at the end of the book and some very nice colour habitat photographs at the beginning. A well annotated locality map of the country is also provided together with colour relief and vegetation maps.

Any drawbacks? With a work of this magnitude there are bound to be some errors and omissions and I quickly found a number of minor inaccuracies too petty to mention here. Perhaps the guide could have a benefited a wee bit more from external review of status and range of some species - there are gaps in the known range of a number of species. Many will also carp about the dimensions and weight of this new guide, though this is an inevitable product of the diversity of the avifauna in question and nothing that cannot be remedied with a pair of scissors and a certain degree of irreverence.

In resumé, an essential buy for all who are interested in Neotropical ornithology and truly great value for money too. I can't wait to get the book out into the field!

"A Lady Without A Latitude" is a really fun book! Susan Phelps writes about her childhood and the world around her with humor, warmth and intelligence. I especially liked the essay, "What's in a name?" and the hilarious story she found in her grandma's cedar chest! Grace Housholde

Susan Phelps has a unique sense of humor that she applies to life in general and to her life in particular. She's irreverant in a sort of honorable way. Although she does admit to switching toilet paper rolls in friends' houses so that they will hang the "right" way, her firm advocacy of doing the right thing, and laughing about it, encompasses broader realms, too. I loved her memos to colleagues, such as "How does our school's ethics program differ in concept from other prisons' rehabilitation programs?" (An academic committee meeting attended by Susan Phelps must be a little off the norm.) It's impossible to make your way through this book without having a good laugh. Anyone who enjoys tongue-in-cheek commentary would like A Lady Without a Latitude

Counterpoint continually twists and turns the reader into new directions and unexpected events which both provoke and encourage. Presented with afterlife experiences, the reader is forced to confront his own mortality and finds comfort knowing that life doesn't end with physical death. A seemingly unresolvable dilemma is then presented, leaving the reader questing for more. I really liked the premise and found it both fascinating and enlightening.

If you've ever wondered what happens to souls before and after this earthly incarnation, then this book will stimulate your juices and keep you thinking. Even though this is a work of fiction, I think many of us may have had experiences in our own lives that make us think this story may hold more truth, than just one man's imaginatiion. I was facinated, and couldn't put it down until I finished. Very thought provoking and may leave you looking for more insight. Maybe Mr. Phelps will provide us with a future installment.

J. Alfred Phelps not only is a great biographer, but also a master of fiction as proven in his latest novel, COUNTERPOINT. The reader is taken on a ride of fear, betrayal, and a journey to the other side. COUNTERPOINT is fascinating and impossible to put down. It is more than a story, it is an experience. A MUST READ!!!!

This book is a remake (a tenth anniversary) of an earlier publication of the same name. Being that I don't care for cutsey wooden plaques, and the red, white, and blue of the "original" American Country look made famous so many years ago, I was hoping for the best with Formal Country.

It just did not live up to the terminology "formal" for my tastes.

This book experiments with different shades of country style, from the Santa Fe to the European Tuscany or Provence, displaying the versatility that country decoration can have, departing from the traditional decoration ideas one may have.

The photographs offer an amazing display of the richness and colorfulness of the different settings that make possible to visualize the match of these many different styles to the country warmth.

This book is great for its innovative approach and its simplicity in the combination of elements and the degree of contrast one may play with.

This book experiments with different shades of country style, from the Santa Fe to the European Tuscany or Provence, displaying the versatility that country decoration can have, departing from the traditional decoration ideas one may have.

The photographs offer an amazing display of the richness and colorfulness of the different settings that make possible to visualize the match of these many different styles to the country warmth.

This book is great for its innovative approach and its simplicity in the combination of elements and the degree of contrast one may play with.

Jay Slagle has done an excellent job of detailing S. Ledyard Phelps' career in the Navy and on the Mississippi. Unfortunately, the work appears to be biased in favor of the author's family connection with the subject. Notably, Phelps's relations with the rest of the officers of the Western Gunboat Flotilla are obviously skewed in favor of Phelps... Henry Walke of the Carondelet is portrayed in a decidedly poor light, while the highly controversial William D. "Dirty Bill" Porter is seen to be almost heroic. A potentially fine biography is partially sabotaged by the author's obvious sympathy for his ancestor.

Jay Slagle has produced a book that offers so much. It gives the reader a real feel of what life was like for a young officer in the pre-Civil War Navy and how the development of the sectional conflict was perceived. This book is also one of the best accounts of the Western Flotilla/Mississippi Squadron that I have read. I couldn't put it down for two weeks. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in the naval events of the Civil War or life in 19th-century America..

I believe that Mr. Slagle is to be commended for the very detailed accurate research that went into this fine histoical account of naval history on inland waters during the War Between The States. After reading this book you will have a better understanding of the use of naval forces to short- en this conflict.

I remember watching some Notre Dame games that Digger Phelps coached. The games were always entertaining and top notch. You could tell Phelps was excellent at getting the most from his teams. This book is a continuation of that, he combines his knowledge and occasionally humor to write an excellent guide about the sport. In an early chapter, he points out that you can play the game almost anywhere and equipment costs are low. Who wouldn't enjoy it? In later chapters, he discusses rules, stats, shooting fundamentals and offense, defense and rebounding, specific plays run during games, the various levels of play (from pickup games up to the pros and international basketball), as well as chapters on coaching and getting into "playing shape." He even lists his choices for "Ten Greatest Games" and "Ten (well eleven) Greatest Players." The book even contains a glossary of terms and drills to use in practices.

Truly a complete "instructional guide" to basketball (if there ever was such a thing).

I think that this is one of the best books on basketball ever.It was well written and easy to understand strategies. A coach,player and parent can find this book useful. With all the drills, helpful tips and personal experiences, you have to read this book if you are a basketball fan!

This book was so increadibly awesome I can't even begin. For the first fourteen years of my life, I had little to no interest in basketball whatsoever, but then in eighth grade a friend of mine made it his personal goal to convert me to basketballism. He succeded.

I still didn't know much about the game though, (I had to ask what a field goal was) and so I, being a basketball "dummy", bought this book. It had more in it than I think I wanted to know. It was awesome. The book explained everything so that someone like me who didn't know a thing about it could understand. They explain how to play the game, as well as how to watch it. They covered everything in offense, defense, etc. I learned about basic basketball plays such as the give-and-go, pick-and-roll, etc. In addition to teaching you about the game, it also explains how to do different shots and what the propper defensive stance is. I was looking for information like what a foul is, and it's all in there. Towards the back it gives some neat chapters such as "Ten NBA Greats" and "Top Ten Places to Watch a Basketball Game" and I was proud to see that the Delta Center was listed in there.

I learned just about everything I was wanting to know here. I would recommend it to ANYONE wanting to know ANYTHING about basketball!

As an environmental health constultant, and as a long-term MCS patient myself (Multiple Chemical Sensitivities), I believe the adage, "a patient doesn't care how much you know, but rather how much you care." I perceive Dr. Gilbere's book to be a very caring, self-disclosing case history of a health-care professional who has been successful in her own healing odyssey and is now passionate about sharing her considerable insights and strategies with her readers.

I found her writing style to be clear, communicative and inviting. I especially liked her use of the "FLASHBACK" technique, which personalized her journey along the road to improved health. Her Product Resource List, Bibliography and Resources for Testing alone, would be more than worth the price of this text.

As someone with MCS, I very much appreciated her "How I Get Out of An Allergic Reaction" gameplan. It is a handy and efficacious "first aid" map for the environmentally injured who often can't think clearly and rationally for the duration of a reaction.

My one criticism of this book is that it could benefit from some editing (spelling, grammar, syntax). But nowhere did I find that these "typos" impacted negatively on the ability of Dr. Gilbere to state her case.

Health-care choices are very subjective. To those who feel safe only in the hands of mainstream, traditional medicine, this book may appear radical. But for those of us who want to take responsibility for our wellness and for those of us who are intolerant of most prescription medications, this book offers something priceless: a proven course of therapy and HOPE.

I have had MCS, fibromyalgia, leaky gut for over twenty years. I have read a plethoria of books and have been to the most notable in this field without relief. After reading this book and following Dr,. Gloria Gilbere's program I am, for the first time in years, experiencing less symptoms, and am feeling healthier than I thought possible. Dr Gilbere works closely with me, has the patience of a saint, considering how complicated and overwhelming this illness can be, and I get a sense that she not only cares about me but have found her to go above and beyound the call of duty. This book will change your life but one needs to work hard by sticking diligently with teh program. It then will transform your life. good luck and happy reading. Jennifer Millett New York

As a sufferer from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity for 11 years, I found this book to be extremely enlightening on the subject of healing from this condition based on correcting the colon disorder that is underlying it. This book does not just help the reader learn how to treat symptoms, but instead shows how to correct the REAL problem so that true healing can then take place - I believe if we give our bodies half a chance, they will recover, as shown by this book. The book is very easy to understand, which is great for people like me with chemically-induced "brain fog"! I highly recommend this book to anyone suffering from MCS, CFS, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, or any of the autoimmune disorders!

This book is perhaps a lesson in color theory for sweaters. The sweater patterns are simple, as the title states, and classic. The interesting thing in the designs, however, is the use of color -- and not in ways that are so complex that they can be either intimidating or time-consuming. The photos of each sweater are marvelous -- the colors rich and vibrant. Everything is attractive. The book itself is of extremely high quality -- durable and glossy papers, although I think that being a paperback it is a tad overpriced. Some of the designs have a list of yarns used, and others do not, only suggesting the weight of yarn required, which can be frustrating if you, like me, tend to want to knit exactly what you see in a photo. I liked the write up on the shop owned by the authors and the colorful photos -- somehow it made the book more appealing, as if you knew the authors. The patterns are clearly laid out, and the instructions are meticulous. Also, the printface was large enough that it was comfortable to read (unlike some patterns that are squeezed onto a page so you sometimes lose your place while knitting/reading). This is really a fine book, and though at the moment I don't want to knit any of the sweaters (that may change as I browse through again and again), the book itself is an excellent lesson in the color possibilities for sweaters, which should make many of us more creative in our color choices. This is a very nice book and regardless of whether you like intricate or simple patterns for sweaters, an excellent addition to a knitter's library.

When this book came, I grabbed a coffee, my knitting chair, my glasses...and entered a bit of knitting heaven! It was everything the reviews I had read said it would be.

This is not a technical book; no new ways to do Fair-Isle or delicate, complicated patterns. While the designs are quite simple, the choices of yarn and small stying details update classic patterning and gives this knitter some wonderful ideas for lots of knitting projects.

The photographs are beautiful; clear and colorful. The yarn is scrumptious and the directions are easy to follow, complete with schematics. I found myself looking at my yarn stash, thinking of yarns I could combine to get the expensive, designer look of the samples!

I would not call this book a "necessity" for a knitting library, but rather, a lovely addition:

This book is great for beginners to advanced. The patterns are written very clearly and the charts are excellent. The sweaters are knitted very quickly and easily. These are great when you do not feel like working on a more complicated design. Granted they do use "designer" type yarns. However, with the guage and yardage information they provide, another yarn of your choice is easily substituted as I have done with my projects. I highly recommend this book to anyone with the "knitting addiction!"

If you expect anything even approaching an objective and truthful retelling or analysis of the Phelps Dodge strike, you'll be sadly disappointed. Kingsolver picks a series of unsubstantiated and self-interested stories of the strikers and completely ignores the horrible violence committed by the unions.

...

Barbara Kingsolver was a young reporter in Arizona when she was assigned to write a story about this strike. Little did she know then that the strike would last for eighteen months, and that this book would be a natural outgrowth of her interest. The book is filled with facts and figures as well as the stories of people who bravely "held the line" each day, picketing against the "scab" workers that were brought in by the Phelps Dodge Copper Corporation. It's also the story of a town, where the only work was in the mine. And it's also about the generations of Mexican American citizens of that town who had to fight prejudice as well as the everyday dangers inherent in mining.

Most of all though, it is the story of the women and how this strike broadened their understanding of the world beyond their families, and let them develop new strengths. For it was mostly the women who stood on that picket line - the wives, sisters and mothers of the men who would have been arrested. Families were threatened with eviction. There was even a catastrophic flood during this time, which brought its own kind of devastation. And some of the women were arrested too. But despite intimidation, tear gas and harassment, the community stood firm.

I was particularly interested in the stories of the handful of women who actually worked in the mine. One of them had 11 children but needed the work to be able to help her husband support the family. Eight dollars an hour doesn't seem like much, but it was considered a good wage compared with $3.00 an hour for being a secretary. Several of them described the actual work, including the heavy lifting all day long and sometimes working as many as 28 days in a row. Their male co-workers verbally harassed them. And there was no special restroom for women. Eventually though, they won respect.

But when the corporation wanted to cut wages and eliminate even a cost-of-living increase, the strike started. It went on and on. Ms. Kingsolver goes into all the details. It was fascinating. It was if I was just picked up from my New York City apartment and plunked down on the picket line of a little town that had less people than one apartment building on my block.

The eventual result wasn't very good for anybody though. Not in the usual sense. But by the time the author gives her own spin on the situation, including her feminist politics, I was left with a positive feeling, as was her intention. I learned things from this book. I learned about a copper mine in Arizona, the actual jobs and the people who worked there. I learned about the large and imperfect system of unions in this country. And, most of all, I learned about the strength and courage of a few special women.

Barbara Kingsolver is one of the, if not the, greatest writers ever produced by America, maybe, the world. With care and compassion, she writes a thorough account of the mine strike of 1983 in Southern Arizona. During the height of the Cold War, while Reagan was calling the Soviet Union and Communism, the "evil empire," things which Americans thought went on "only over there" were happening in Southern Arizona. Hard-working people who did no more than stand up for there rights, were denied their right to assemble, to speak, to pursue life, liberty and happiness. Judges, Governor Bruce Babbitt, Department of Public Safety, the National Guard, and the local authorities, all in the pocket and payroll of Phelps Dodge Copper Corporation who was trying to break up the Unions, so they could re-institute racist, sexist, classist, policies.

They all failed. The Morenci Mine Women's Auxiliary led the way to community solidarity against all odds. More than any strike victory, they gained, life, confidence, and a purpose in life. Read this book, it's told in the form of interviews and narrative. You'll get to know and have affection for Anna O'Leary, Flossie Navarro, Berta Chavez, and many other women of Clifton, Arizona. You'll root for them, be inspired by them, and, be moved by them. What a wake up call! Working people of the world, UNITE!