It is unfortunate that the debate with respect to the use of sanctions so often boils down to a religious one - sanctions good or sanctions bad. What nuance there is in that argument often seems as similarly simplistic - multi-lateral sanctions good, unilateral sanctions bad. In this context, Meghan O'Sullivan's "Shrewd Sanctions" presents a timely and carefully reasoned call for a more finely calibrated approach to the use of sanctions as a tool of foreign policy. In each of four case studies covering Libya, Iraq, Iran and Sudan, O'Sullivan evaluates sanctions regimes against a set of criteria which includes their economic and political impact, effectiveness relative to the goals laid out for them, the varied costs associated with their imposition, and the relative effectiveness of these sanctions regimes vs. alternative policy instruments. In her final chapter, O'Sullivan lays out a series of specific recommendations for policy makers to strengthen the performance of sanctions.

"Shrewd Sanctions" does seem to me one of those rare books able to appeal to a "crossover" audience - of sanctions "experts" on the one hand, and relative foreign policy novices on the other. That it does so is a tribute to O'Sullivan's fluid writing, rigorous and straightforward analysis, and her ability to continually frame the most specific instances and arguments in a broader context - both historically and in the most current and urgent geo-political sense. I expect this to be a staple in classrooms and in the foreign policy establishment for some time to come.

Most of us want the interational community to check countries that support terrorism, violate the human rights of their citizens, or threaten cross-border aggression. At the same time, we hope to avoid resort to projecting military power in the event of each transgression. Sanctions, therefore, should be the ideal tool. Yet, looking back in recent history, have sanctions really worked efficiently and effectively in any important case?
Meghan O'Sullivan's book tries to answer that question -- and to offer insights for those considering the use of the sanctions in the future -- by providing a detailed analysis of 4 recent cases where sanctions have been used against countries supporting terrorism or cross-border aggression. Her analysis, which finds no examples of truly successful sanctions regimes, suggests 4 rules for thinking about sanctions use in the future:
1. Unilateral sanctions are rarely effective; broad-based international action is far more powerful
2. Secondardy sanctions -- like Helms-Burton, where the US sought to punish constituencies in sovereign nations that saw Cuba differently than did the US Congress -- are counterproductive
3. Effective sanctions regimes need to be tailored carefully to specific goals
4. Flexibility -- the ability to recalibrate sanctions as the targeted country shifts its behavior -- is critical to the success of any sanctions effort
If these rules were taken to heart, O'Sullivan's analysis suggests that sanctions might prove to be a much more effective tool than they have been in the past. This conclusion offers hope, though one is left to wonder if US and UN political processes will ever permit sanctions to be more than they have been so often in the past: a salve meant primarily for the abrasions inflicted on special interest groups in the sanctioning countries by other thorny instruments of foreign policy.

I bought this book some time ago and found it to be a very helpful source for overweight people. Living large can be very difficult and extra assistance is always needed.

Perhaps it isn't fair that I'm reviewing this book. After all, I am one of Ms. Sullivan's subjects--but that is how I came to know and love this book.

I've been fat my entire life, and always wished for someone to show me how and where to fit into a world that is not welcoming or accepting of people who don't fit the kind of airbrushed ideal displayed on magazine covers. Finally, there are resources compiled in a comprehensive, compassionate and unapologetic package, complete with examples of successful fat people who are thriving and making a difference--despite their so-called "inability to fit" the cookie-cutter image and standards which are so celebrated in our society.

Ms. Sullivan addresses every kind of need--from basics, such as clothing and personal care, to the essential tools (social support, activism, advocacy) necessary to evolve oneself into a confident, assertive and productive human being, regardless of body size.

Although I have been involved in the size acceptance movement for nearly 18 years, I am always thrilled and renewed by reading the struggles and triumphs of others. I recommend this book as a "must have" for all people of size, their partners, families and friends. With the resources represented here, any friend or family member can choose gifts, clothing and other necessities--including a fat-friendly travel package knowing it's just the right size. In fact, a copy of this book should be included with the tickets for that Alaskan cruise!

Susan Mason

Operating a small-business has challenges, and our company has been committed to educating users and helping them start. They should focus a little more on how cash-flow and bootstrap capital is critical -- yet overall helpful!

Dr. Sulllivan's book is a must-have reference for all those contemplating entrepreneurship. As the owner of more than one profitable business, his practical tips and resources can steer you in the right direction to your own small business success!

This is a remarkably moving book with heartfelt revelations from families who have truly"been there". Anyone who has struggled with the issues of disability in their life will feel seen by this reading. Anyone who is friends of families with these challenges would be well advised to read this book and gain a deeper understanding of "how they do it" and the trials and triumphs within.

This review appeared previously in Christian Library Journal (March 1997).

Tom Sullivan is well-known as a special correspondent for ABC's Good Morning America, a sometimes actor, and the author of his autobiography, If You Could See What I Hear. He is also blind.

Fascinated with his mother's account of the chalenges of raising a special-needs kid, Sullivan interviewed 200 parents and selected six remarkable families of children with disabilities. Special Parent, Special Child shares the stories of how these parents overcame their personal tragedies and became nurturers of and advocates for their children. The families dealt with diverse circumstances: cerebral palsy, blindness, leukemia, deafness, attention deficit disorder, and Downs syndrome. The insights the parents offer about dealing with educational bureaucracies and medical personnel are valuable to anyone who loves a differently abled or seriously ill child.

Sullivan records several guideposts along each family's journey: their reactions to the initial dignosis (and the professionslas who made them); phases of denial and grief; impact on the family unit; how the parents learned to "work the system," becoming their child's advocate; dealing with the loss of personal identity; socialization; relationships with professionals; and sources of strength and hope. The parents candidly open their hearts, sometimes confessing attitudes of which they are not proud, but which other parents in the same situation would acknowledge as real. But best of all, in sharing their stories, they serve as role models for parents facing the same challenges. They demonstrate how to persevere for the sake of the child, how to search out better alternatives when what's offered isn't satisfactory.

Sullivan's style reads like a transcript of a television interview. It's sparked with banter between him and his subjects, and it's occasionally circuitous and redundant.

Andrea R. Huelsenbeck, freelance writer

This book is the classic introduction to cave sciences. Written for the lay person, but with plenty of scientific specifics. Caving is a very young science. This book was written many years ago, and much has been added to our knowledge of caves. Every serious caver starts with this book, though.

Anyone interested in learning more about caves will want this book. It is easy to read, yet introduces cave science (Speleology) in a clear and logical way. Even a layman like me can understand it. It is beautifully illustrated with detailed diagrams and striking drawings.Both cave geology and cave biology are covered. You will find answers to questions like how caves are formed, why some caves breathe in and out, how stalactites and stalagmites develop, what kind of animals live in caves, and why some cave animals are blind. The authors were pioneers in modern cave research. They have spent a lifetime studying and exploring caves, and write about the subject with style and authority. Main sections are: Caves as Natural Laboratories, Origin of Caves, Characteristics of the Underground Atmosphere, Growth of Stalactites and Other Speleothems, Behavior and Products of Cave Microorganisms, Habits of Cave Animals, Evolution of Blind Cave Animals, Uses of Caves, References and Related Readings, Caves in the U.S. Open to the Public, Index. David McClurg, author of Adventure of Caving, a how-to book on cave exploration.

Hard core dieters may be stunned by this book's format, but I LOVED IT! Dieting should never be taken too seriously and this book conveys the idea that dieting doesn't have to be a painful process. Humorous and smart, Sully Baby has helped me lose 18 pounds in only 73 days.

Great book if your really want to lose weight. It's as easy as 1-2-3! More writers should boil it down to the essence as Mr. Sullivan has done. This book is common sense with a smile!

I read this book a very long time ago, and even though it was somewhat dated, I liked all of the info and learned about how the world gets it's energy. The book talked about the history of oil tankers and talked about the evolution all the way to Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCCs).

While I read this book years ago, it still sticks in my mind as one of the most interesting treatises on supertankers, the giant oil ships that keep us supplied with the mainstay of our technological lifestyle. It explores every aspect, inside and out, of what these ships are like, what they do, and where they go. An unseeming topic for general readers, yet well worth looking into.

This is a real master piece, a very well wrotten Materia Medica that has the newest points of most common remedies. We find on it's pages the most real "TAO" of the homoeopathic remedy( in the NUCLEOUS), and we find on it the most common used remedies for every day practice. I am a M.D., Orthopaedical Surgeon and practicing the homoeopathy since 1983, and this books became my bedside vademecum. Many Materias Medicas have been on my study days and nights but this is so simple and very up to date. I recomennded it to every homoeopathist, medical doctor or layman...is simple a dream.

Frans Vermeulen has done more than his best to present us one of the best materia medica available. The layout is superb. Every remedy is listed with it's modalities, leading symptoms (subdivided into Mind - Generalities and physical symptoms), a short repertory, food aversions or desires and, - very interesting and useful - a nucleus. The nucleus is in fact the summary of the most important symptoms of the remedy. This is one of the only materia medica you should buy (I find it better than Roger Morrison's desktop Guide). One minor point though, I miss an index.

An extraodinary and compelling work. Dunphy has outdone herself this time.

This book provides useful exercises to try and perfect examples that readers can relate to. It is a new, insightful approach to the subject.

If you are a beginning gardener and don't know the difference between a shovel and a spade, or what to use them for, this book is immensely useful. It is certainly worth the price and the time it takes to browse through it to find and understand the exact tools you will need for your individual garden before you go out shopping. In addition to pages of full color pictures of each tool, it contains historic accounts regarding the tools and some nice quotes about gardening. After reading this book I felt like I understood garden tools, whereas prior to reading it, I just used tools in a haphazard way without understanding their purpose and how they could help me in the garden.

A piece of art, fits the coffee table and yet is packed with valuable information