I think the level of detail is just right, as it gives me enough background to follow technical discussions and ask intelligent questions.

The author, Ray Horak, is also the editor of Newton's Telecom Dictionary and his experience editing that test shows up throughout Communications Systems and Networks. I give copies of Newton's Telecom Dictionary to every student who attends my TrainingCity.com Voice & Data classes.

I strongly recommend this text to anyone involved in IT. It is an excellent starting point for people new to the field, and experienced professionals who need to stay current on the latest trends and developments.

Ray is the editor of Newton's Telecom Dictionary, and this book makes an excellent companion text to that great classic. Those of you who read my reviews know that I give free copies of that text to every student who attends my TrainingCity.com classes. If you bought Newton's Telecom Dictionary, buy this book, you won't ever regret it.

Ray uses his experience editing "Newton's" throughout "Communications Systems and Networks." Every term is explained clearly and concisely. Reading through this book I was continually amazed at how well Ray can explain complex concepts, and get ALL the relevant information into so few paragraphs.

In conclusion, I believe this is an instant classic, and a must have for any Voice & Data library.

What makes "Blowing Zen" so thouroughly enjoyable is, not only is the book entertaining (I couldn't put it down) but it is also inherently satisfying and hopeful. Part travel account, part autobiography and part spiritual journey,"Blowing Zen"'s biggest strength lives in its timely message: one does not have to travel the world and play the shakuhachi to find an authentic life, it is simply necessary to look within.

I don't understand the reviewer who commented that the book contradicts physics. While the ball behavior may not be obvious to a pool novice, every shot I have tried from the book "works". The bottom line is that I bought the book, studied it and improved my game. What more do you want from a pool book?

The other night I was playing eight-ball and was in a virtually impossible position to make a shot. Using a little imagination and three principles I learned a long time ago from the 99 Critical Shots, I was able to make a really slick shot, instead of playing a safety.

However, this is NOT a book of trick shots. It is a book of fundamental principles, many of which I doubt you can learn on your own (at least, I couldn't have). In fact, the book does an excellent job of emphasizing that pool is not about trick shots, but about controlling your position.

As a side note, about ten years ago I was playing straight pool in Elizabeth, NJ. I had discovered the 99 Critical Shots three or four years earlier. There was a guy who was watching me play pool for a half-hour, until his table was called. Then, he picked up his case and left. Spray-painted across the case was "Ray Martin".

Hilarious.

Ray once quoted scientist Niels Bohr, who said, "An expert is a man who has made all the mistakes which can be made in a very narrow field." We owe much to each of these men; Bohr for at last describing the atom, prime constituent of the universe, and Jardine for tirelessly rethinking wilderness travel, and in so doing our relationship with the universe and all its constituents. For "Beyond Backpacking" is more than just a book of methods, a work detailing the how-to's of lightening our loads, of traveling more comfortably, of enjoying the physics of the pastime. It is all of this, and very capably and credibly so, but moreover this book elevates our outdoor activity to the level of fine art, prescribing a higher purpose to the hiking and camping than a simple end unto itself. Jardine takes us beyond, to a concept he calls the Connection: a heightened awareness of the natural world around us and of our place within it. Each of the book's 53 chapters is intended to lead us toward this connection, through a gradual shift in our wilderness methods and philosophies. When we achieve the connection, Ray teaches, we cease being mere visitors in wilderness, and instead become fully functioning members. We rediscover our heritage, our true, innate selves. The universe then is ours for the asking.

Whether you're interested in shedding pounds from your weekend camping outfit, or planning a lightweight, injury-free thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, "Beyond Backpacking" leads the way, always thoughtfully, with trail-proven savvy, and always with an eye toward personal refinement. Gone are the days of the mindless backwoods slog, head down, teeth bared, and body on the verge of collapse. In their place a new generation of "Ray-way" adventurers is discovering something far more profound, that the lighter we travel the lighter our spirits may also travel. Or as Thoreau put it, "Man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone."

Ray Jardine does an excellent job of explaining ultralight techniques, and how he gravitated toward them in the course of 5 megahikes. He urges you to field-test all your gear, whether homemade or store-bought, and he recommends training prior to a distance hike. This book, positioned for the mainstream, is a bargain for anyone willing to develop their outdoor skills.

Ray's credentials, listed at the end, demonstrate his passion for adventuring and exploring. That passion has probably taken him to new areas of interest "beyond backpacking."

However, most of the stories between these two novels were horrible and downright embarrassing. Many of them where from when Koontz was just starting to write(and it shows). The story "The Black Pumpkin" reminds me of something I wrote in fifth grade for a Halloween project. "Bruno" is Koontz's attempt at writing comedy and it succeeds at being the corniest, most childish, waste of thirty-some pages. Most of the rest of the stories are very one dimensional and uninspired.

I think this book proves that Koontz should stick to writing novels and steer clear of short stories. I do think that Koontz is a wonderful writer and I have read many of his excellent books, but this isn't one of them. I would definetely recommend reading the first and last stories of this book, just nothing in between.

Expect to make adult videos with this book. It's shocking how easy, and affordable it is to get started!

It comes as no surprise that our country is dominated by a Modern culture "found in the office towers and factories of big business; in banks and the stock market; in university science labs and high-tech firms; in hospitals and most doctors' offices; in mainline churches and synagogues; in the 'best' schools and colleges. It's the culture of professional football, basketball, and baseball leagues, chain stores and malls; most TV programs; and most 'mainstream' magazine and newspaper articles" (p. 25). Moderns set the rules and standards for our society (p. 25). They value making a lot of money, climbing the ladder of success, "looking good," shopping, and trends (p. 27). "Time is money," they say; "bigger is better" (p. 27). "Modernism lays out a dream that most of us take to be a promise," Ray and Anderson observe. "If you follow the yellow brick road to success, you will end up with the good life: the diploma, the job, the house, the cars, the promotion or the stock options or both, the children, their education and their accomplishments. But this road is really not so much a life path as a career path. The guideposts to success are really signs to the marketplace" (pp. 47-48). While the Moderns are still trying to "think outside the box," the Cultural Creatives "have sailed beyond the familiar horizon" (p. 43), and they are living their lives "outside the box."

This book penetrates our society deeply. The implications found here are far-reaching, and many Traditional or Modern readers may find this book alarming. In their insightful, landmark study of Cultural Creatives, Ray and Anderson use personal interviews, historical perspectives, and social analyses to reveal that our country may be on the verge of "great change" as Cultural Creatives replace Modernist standards in the new millennium.

G. Merritt

Now, a book for the 21st Century, Ray and Anderson's The Cultural Creatives, is poised to have the greatest impact on Americans' understanding of themselves - and shaping of their future - since Megatrends. "The Cultural Creatives" is already joining the national lexicon as the name of the substantial American sub-culture - 50 million adults - that the authors identified after more than 100,000 questionnaires, 500 focus groups and scores of personal interviews.

The Cultural Creatives, who transcend normal demographic boundaries, are characterized by their values. They tend to: love nature and are concerned about its destruction; hold a holistic perspective; value relationships, psychological and spiritual development; support women's and children's issues; be optimistic about the future; be unhappy with both the left and right in politics and seek a new way that's not the "mushy middle." The authors present 18 "values statements" that tend to define the population.

The Cultural Creatives is not only an immensely important work on American culture at this critical time -- with implications for marketing, politics and most aspects of American life -- it is also a fascinating, easy and accessible read. The authors present complete profiles of America's three sub-cultures -- The Cultural Creatives, The Moderns and The Traditionals -- along with historical context for all the groups and a collection of personal stories of cultural creatives from all walks of life ... and how they found their way into this group that's intent on generating "a future that works for everyone."

Not to be missed by anyone interested in the personal and social transformation emerging worldwide.

I've just read some of the negative reviews of this book and felt compelled to re-post my initial review....where's the harm in wanting to do good? I can't imagine a "Mother Russia" scenario, as one reviewer suggests.

Oh, well, that's why there's chocolate and vanilla.

For my money, the 'movement' these authors highlight will most likely run afoul...there is hope for our planet.

Psychologists Paul Ray and Sherry Anderson have written a handbook for people who are working to make this world a better place. Their book, THE CULTURAL CREATIVES - HOW 50 MILLION PEOPLE ARE CHANGING THE WORLD - is a guidebook for those who are interested in saving the planet, nurturing their personal relationships, and being sensitive without being stomped on. You might be a Cultural Creative if you're into: books and music; arts and culture; stories; social causes, especially issues dealing with women and children; and authenticity. The authors have created an interesting test to gauge where you stand in the mix and use a lot of graphs throughout the book to identify cultural creatives and their issues. If you're from the '60s and you've ever wondered what to do with all the energy created during that period of our lives, this book will open your eyes. If you've sometimes felt like an alien in your own family, the authors will offer you comfort because you're not alone. Even if you're just wondering why cultural creatives are so passionate about their lives, this planet, and their causes, this book will help you put it all together. Cultural Creatives include such personalities as: Pope John Paul XXIII; Martin Luther King, Jr.; The Dalai Lama; Annie Dillard; Georgia O'Keeffe; Marc Chagall; Yo-Yo Ma; Robert Redford; Katharine Hepburn; and Bill Moyers. Pretty good company, don't you think? While the book represents a lot of research on the part of the authors, the data is never presented in a dry, boring format. I found it hard to put the book down. The information resonated with me -- I'm from the 60's -- and it gave me hope for the future of our species and our planet. Enjoy!

The third story, "The Awakening" however doesn't really fit in - there's only a token mention of the salon, otherwise it's as if it's all on its own, unconnected with its three sister novellas.

One small grumble, Rosie's Curl and Weave is a high-class posh salon. I can't help feeling that if it's a simple charming surburban salon, with middle-class characters, the anthology will be even more a gem.

The premise is simple, eat like your ancestors, get trim and strong and never go hungry. By ancestors, I'm speaking way back, about our Paleolithic forebears. In case you're foggy on this topic, these were the hunter-gatherer people. The diet is somewhat akin to Dr. Atkins' but you don't go into ketosis. "Neanderthin" touts natural whole food, preferably organic. Nuts and seeds; berries and other fruits; veggies, olive & flaxseed oil, plenty of water and a ton of meat round out the offerings. The author encourages folks to reach out of the ordinary supermarket meats, to try ostrich, buffalo, venison and a variety of eggs.

Like one of the other reviewers I lost a lot, quickly--12 pounds in the first week. Naturally, the weight has slowed yet it continues each week. I have no intentions of ever going back to a carb-based diet. I've curbed the sugar demons and wheat bloat that I use to suffer from. This diet is a sweet ticket to freedom for all of the sugar and carb addicts out there!

I took off 1 star because I've been able to work the diet, which is based on a low glycemic index, to include safe grains and a tiny bit of diary without slowing my weight-loss or increasing cravings. Most people will also probably end up trying to add a smidgen of each but will not suffer ill effects.

I began reading other diet books like Protein Power and scoured the Internet. There were a lot of online references to something called the Paleolithic Diet. One book was mentioned time and time again, Neanderthin, by Ray Audette.

I got ahold of the new edition and became a convert. The book tells that while our diet has changed since the advent of agriculture, our genes have not had time to adapt. We still have the old hunter-gatherer DNA. The grains, refined sugars and carbohydrates in our diet today are making us sick. Our bodies can't handle this new stuff.

The book tells you what foods to eat and what to avoid. Well written with an extensive bibliography.

Very highly recommended. The book has changed my life.

Bob Hodgen