When I saw this cookbook I said,"Great, now I can enjoy Black Dog food without enduring the famously long wait and arrogant attitude." Boy, was I wrong.The authors seem to be so involved in self promotion that it's a wonder they have any time to cook!The recipes are not what I eat at the Black Dog on the Vineyard. There is not even any mention of the brand of pancake mix I see the breakfast chefs mixing up on Sunday mornings through the open doorway of the busy,filthy kitchen. The recipes changed a lot in translation from high volume to home sized. I would probably like this book better if it were what is presents itself as, Black Dog Recipes.The restaraunt on the Vineyard prides itself in it's "daily changing menu" This book contains some excellent recipes hidden in the fluff and almost unbearable ramblings of its overly self aware authors.

My friend Carl and I first ate at the Black Dog Tavern several times in 1973. It had only been open for a couple of years. The food was very good and the restaurant was very unspoiled by huge crowds. If it had not been for Amizon, I probably would not have been aware that this, their first cookbook, was now available.

I have tried several of the receipes and my favorites are the Cruncy Pecan Chicken, Blueberry Banana Pancakes and several of the delicious deserts. However, I must say that the majority of the recipes would be enjoyed more if you lived in a seashore area where a lot of the fresh seafood was readily available. The chowders and seafood recipes are very good. This is probably not a cookbook you would use for your everyday cooking. What I enjoyed most about this cookbook was the commentary and the beautiful photos and a reminder of my many enjoyable times on the Vineyard.

I have friends who recently dined at the Black Dog and they said they enjoyed the food but did not enjoy the long wait to be seated. However, they did come back with yet another T-shirt and mug with the Black Dog.

I so badly wanted to dislike this cookbook. I went to Martha's Vineyard once, and I was nauseated by all the look-at-how-upwardly-mobile-I-am people that abounded. The most reprehensible are the people who wear Black Dog t-shirts-- nobody cares that you went to Martha's Vineyard. I still doubt that you're Old Money.

Anyway, contemptuous of the restaurant as I am, I sneered when my friend came home from college with this cookbook. Even the recipes sound snotty-- lots of heavy sauces, and expensive, obscure ingredients. But I agreed to make the clam chowder in the book just as the recipe called for, and it was amazing. We made a few others, and they were all at least very good. There are lots of neat ideas for omlettes.

My advice is to consider getting the cookbook, but avoid Martha's Vineyard at all costs.

It isn't easy to write a series that remains entertaining even after the protagonists get married and have children. Where do you go when the couple settles down and has children? Robert Tanenbaum continues to deliver laughs and excitement even though Butch Karp and Marlene Ciampi are an "old married couple" with a sixteen-year-old daughter and seven-year-old twin boys. As usual, Tanenbaum's dialogue is crisp and street-smart, with lots of amusing repartee. In this novel, Tanenbaum explores the moral dilemma of prosecuting women who are guilty of infanticide. Should the state prosecute these women to the full extent of the law? Karp and company struggle with moral and legal dilemmas, and they must find a way to win cases and live with themselves at the same time. Marlene is back in the courtroom and Lucy is learning how to deal with the agony of being spiritual in an imperfect world. Unfortunately, some of the plotting is contrived and unbelievable, especially at the end. In spite of this flaw, Tanenbaum's knowledge of the law and his talent for creating memorable characters make "True Justice" an engrossing and entertaining novel.

Don't worry if, like me, you have not read any previous books in this series. The author catches you up on the characters' lives soap-opera-style and the principal players themselves cheerfully acknowledge the unlikelihood of their history. Once you suspend your disbelief, you are in for an entertaining time with some very appealing characters: Butch Karp, the tough, conscientious Chief Assistant District Attorney; wife Marlene Ciampri, an attorney struggling to extricate herself from her violent career as a bodyguard; and teenage daughter Lucy, a spiritually gifted language prodigy. The three become involved in an interlocking set of crimes - two infanticides and the murder of Lucy's friend's parents. The action moves along briskly but the heart of the novel is the characters' grappling with what would consitute "true" justice in each of these tragic cases - and how best to achieve it within an imperfect legal system. The philosophizing is leavened with an ample dose of humor. I'm looking forward to reading other books in this series.

I haven't missed a Tanenbaum book yet and cannot wait for the next one. Marlene, Butch, Lucy, Zik and Zak, Harry-- all of em are my favorite characters. oops--missed Sweety and Tran.I've enjoyed following them from the beginning, and especially like the development of Lucy, as the adventures continue. Wonder when the twins will start solving crimes? It is after I finish a new book that I go back to previous Karp adventures and re-read. My husband thinks re-reading is silly , so please Mr. Tanenbaum, start on a new one soon! An insatiable reader in NWFla

Steve Hamilton's "Cold Day in Paradise" was an excellent first novel, introducing us to the unusual hero, Alex McKnight.

However, this follow-up seems thrown together haphazardly. Although I hate to be picky, there is one disturbing error in this book. In the first novel, one of the main characters was EDWIN Fulton. In this book, the character's name mysteriously changes to EDMUND. Is this an author's faux pas or an editors? In any case, it is a shoddy booboo!

Also, in this book, Alex doesn't really do much of the private investigating at all, leaving it up to Leon Prudell, who emerges as more of an interesting character than McKnight. McKnight seems to be a whiny, pessimistic, self-pitying failure in this book, and his "devotion" to finding the missing Dorothy is rather tiresome and unmotivated.

The inclusion of the Russian Molinov and the scene in the ice cabin is way over board. The resolution, likewise, is too pat and contrived. Seems like McKnight should consider his choice of friends in the future, since in both books, they certainly aren't what they seem.

I do agree that Hamilton's descriptions of the frigid Michigan weather is stunning and evocative; unfortunately, the story and pacing in this one is tepid.

I also have a problem with Hamilton continuing to toy with us on McKnight's plans for revenge on his foes from the first book. Get with it, Hamilton. Stop manipulating and use your extraordinary writing abilities to deliver good reading.

This 2nd book by Steve Hamilton, with the return of ex-cop turned sometime p.i., Alex McKnight, was surprisingly good...since this was Hamilton's 2nd book I was not expecting alot (thought he might live on his laurels since he won the 1999 Edgar, well..you all know how it goes)However, you need not have read A Cold Day in Paradise to quickly become absorbed in this novel.. Quick plot, frantic at times,his descriptive tones of winters in the upper peninsula make you want to grab a blanket. I eagerly look forward to the next Alex McKnight tome, however I wish his books were better edited: spelling errors

Steve Hamilton returns with another of Alex McKnight's "adventures" in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. McKnight is abrasive and arrogant at times but has the most endearing quality about him -- he's a real good friend. The thing that sets Hamilton's books apart from all the other mystery/thrillers out there is the setting. His descriptions of the cold weather are unparelleled. In this book, Alex takes a ride on a snowmobile and "he isn't exactly the driver." He ends up in the hospital a few times but readers of this series know that you can't keep Alex McKnight down. In the first book, A Cold Day in Paradise, we learn of Alex' expertise in the field of baseball. In this book, he's a hockey goalie. Maybe he'll be a downhill skier in the next book. This is a quick read and a rewarding one. Hamilton is a terrific writer and doesn't lose you for one minute. He doesn't disappoint his fans with this second book.

I first read this book in 6th grade. I have read it several times in the intervening years, the most recent time being within the past one year.

Helen Keller, blind and deaf since the age of 1 1/2 has offered, in her own words an accounting of her life experience. It is incredible to imagine how this woman, unable to see or hear can give such a strong voice to descriptions of nature. The book is replete with beautiful, articulate metaphors that draw the reader into the world as Helen knew it. One wonders how a person with no language can "think," and Helen provides some clues. During these "dark days," prior to the arrival of her "Teacher," Annie Sullivan, Helen's life was a series of desires and impressions. She could commnicate by a series of crude signs she and her parents had created. She demonstrated early on that she could learn.

I like the way Helen herself takes her readers past that water pump when she learned that "all things have a name." Instead of getting stuck there, Helen takes her readers on the journey of her life to that point.

In addition to having a good linguistic base, Helen also demonstrates having a phenomenal memory. When she was twelve, she wrote a story she believed to be her own. Entitled "The Frost King," it bore a strong resemblance to one written by a Ms. Canby called "The Frost Fairies." Many of the sentences are identical and a good number of the descriptions are paraphrased. In relating this devasting incident, Helen and Annie recall that Annie had exposed Helen to the story some three years earlier and Helen had somehow retained that information. This plainly shows intelligence.

Both the "Frost" stories are reprinted in full, thus giving the reader a chance to see just how amazing being able to remember such a work really was.

Helen describes her work raising money for other deaf-blind children to attend the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston and in so doing, embarks upon her lifelong mission as a crusader for multiply challenged individuals.

The Story of My Life by Helen Keller is an autobiography illustrating her insistent desire in learning how to write and read and defeating her deafness and blindness at the same time. This book records her life back from when she was as young as 4. Due to the loss of sight and hearing at the age of 19 months, Helen lived her life in frustration and pain in her early life. She couldn't understand her family because she didn't yet learn how to communicate. To solve that, her parents hired Ms. Anne Sullivan who influenced her the most. Even througt special education with Ms. Sullivan, Helen coulsn't communicate with her family without Ms. Sullivan's translations. Yet, Helen didn't give up. Her passion for learning how to read and write overcame the obstacles. Her improvements on reading, writing, and arithmetic amazed her teachers and family. She has succeeded in many many areas which helped her to get in college. On her way, there were events that made her learn that deafness can be conquered, such as the blind institution, etc. The students in blind institution were one of Helen's inspiration in learning. Since they lived states away, Helen must contact her friends by mail. That motivated Helen's will to write more. The attached letters in the book shows how much she's improved since she first started to write. This book has taught us lessons that we would never learn in everyday life. Helen Keller defeated her disabilities and lived went to college as a result of her hardworks. Her courage and insistence should be admired. Teenagers nowadays worry much more on appearance or etc rather than their future. This book shows the lesson of working hard, and anything would be possible.

Helen Keller (1880-1968) is a revered figure in American popular culture. Struck deaf and blind by illness at the age of 19 months, she still managed to get an education and become a writer and activist. Her story was further popularized by William Gibson's play "The Miracle Worker," which was also adapted for both film and television.

Keller's autobiography, "The Story of My Life," first appeared in installments in "Ladies' Home Journal" in 1902. This book is truly one of the great American autobiographies: an inspiring story of a courageous individual who overcame tremendous odds.

Keller writes about many things: her childhood in Alabama; her relationship with her beloved teacher, Anne Sullivan; her attendance at the Wright-Humason School for the Deaf in New York City; and meeting such eminent figures as Mark Twain. She especially stresses her love of literature, which she describes as "my Utopia."

Along the way are some fascinating details and profoundly moving passages. Her tribute to the Homer, the blind poet of ancient Greece, is particularly powerful. I also loved her interpretation of the biblical Book of Ruth: a story of "love which can rise above conflicting creeds and deep-seated racial prejudices."

I think that many will regard Keller's autobiography as a mere historical or sociological document. But I think the book deserves a place as a great work of literature, and moreover as a work of literature in the great American tradition. Keller's poetic, often sensuous words about the natural world are comparable to the work of Emily Dickinson. And her stirring account of her revelatory awareness of language reminds me of Frederick Douglass' account of his first awareness of the power of literacy. The book as a whole is enhanced by Keller's charming, likeable literary style.

"The Story of My Life" is a wonderful book by an amazing individual. Helen Keller still has, I believe, much to say to contemporary audiences.

The first 200 pages of this book had me on the "edge of my seat". The combination of mystery and almost-horror genre was excellent and the pace was just right. Diana's struggles and relationships with both the "hunt" and the others were actually easy to relate to. Unfortunately, the story fell apart in the latter pages with a very weak ending. The reliance on the "power" and the mystical strength of both Diana and the antagonist were just a bit much for me. The book moved from a credible human suspense with believable characters and action to a superhuman or supernatural non-thriller by the end. By the time the climax occurred, I cared little about who won or whether I read the rest of the book. Sullivan also spent very little time on characterization of other players in the book...only the painfully long descriptions of Diana's past. This book reminded much of Congo...great start...poor finish.

I picked up this book on a whim, and I'm glad I did. This is a fast, engrossing read. The mystery was fairly easy to figure out early on, but it was interesting to see the characters process the clues and find the answers. A very strong female main character didn't overwhelm the story but pulled it all together. A fair amount of violence is involved, so if that bothers you, you might want to skip this one.

I picked this book up because it had a great cover (hard cover). I bought it because it sounded interesting and fun. You know what I was right. This is a wonderful book. I do not feel that this is a "guy" book. The main character is female, just different from most females. Diana is a strong and powerful female lead. The kind that you have to have in a book like this to make it work. I think that Mr. Sullivan did a great job in working out the plot. I was totally engrossed in this fine piece of work from the beginning. OK the author did mess up with the scalp thing. But some times that is a part of the fun. Finding a mistake that everyone missed and they get paid the big bucks! (No pun intended.) This did not take away from the story and was not important to the plot. So you are forgiven Mr. Sullivan for one little bitty mistake. I'm looking forward to more by this wonderful author. Keep them coming, Mr. Sullivan. I highly recommend "The Purification Ceremony.

Was Chuck Barris an agent for the CIA? Maybe. Its impossible to tell for sure. And from the standpoint of the entertainment value of this book, it really doesnt matter. Chuck Barris does a great job of detailing his rise as one of the most prolific creators of game shows in our nations History. Barris, despite his reputation on "the Gong Show" is a highly literate, intelligent, Ivy League educated man. I read this book taking the train from New York to Washington, and I couldnt stop turning the pages. This read is fast, entertaining, and insightful. I cant wait for the movie to come out

I didn't much like "The Dating Game", thought "The Newlywed Game" was okay, and have never seen "The Gong Show" so my impressions of Chuck Barris weren't very vivid. However, after discovering he wrote the song "Palisades Park" and reading CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND: AN UNAUTHORIZED AUTOBIOGRAPHY, I have to admit that Chuck Barris is a genius, even if he is the "King of Schlock".

I thought this book would be silly, uninteresting, and perhaps a little quirky. Well, it is quirky, but it's also quite entertaining and interesting. It's hard to say whether the events described in the book or fact or fiction. Barris writes about everything in his life in a very self-defacing, humorous manner (including the events we know are fact) so it's impossible to figure out if the events described are all true, partly true, or just a total yarn. I mean it wouldn't surprise me because the book reads like a cop-off of some of the best mystery/cloak-and-dagger writings around much in the same way that "The Gong Show" was a parody of popular talent search shows. Yet, at the same time, the events are so bizarre and fit so well into known facts, everything really could be true.

Anyway. The book is full of sex, violence, and foul language; but other than the language, none of it is very graphic. I mean, it seems early contestants on "The Dating Game" could describe their sexual exploits more graphically than Barris. Nevertheless, the book is thoroughly entertaining and difficult to put down.

The book is a well-written, fast-paced narrative of Chuck Barris' bizarro, manic depressive alternative universe.

Barris was a television game show producer and he relates the history of his most successful programs -- The Dating Game, The Newlywed Game, and The Gong Show. He also, briefly, mentions his less successful programs, like The Mother-In-Law Game.

What gives the book its punch is Barris's claim that while he was a TV producer, he was also an assassin for the CIA. He relates that he murdered people, bad guys, all over the world at the behest of the U.S. Government. Fact or fiction? Who cares! It makes for a great read.

The humor-challanged should skip this book.

I was given a early copy of this book when I was 8 years old by my mother, a registered nurse. She read the book before she gave it to me, cover to cover, and though it was very striaght forward, was not biased by politcs or religion, and told facts, straight up. So she gave it to me. I am now 22 and I thank my mother *so* much for having the insight to provide me with this book (when my brother was the same age she got him the "boys" book). That book helped me thru my pre-teen and teenage years so very much. I never has to ask the kids at school about stuff, I already knew it! Mom's gesture of giving it to me also let me know that, if I had a question the book didnt answer, I could just ask her cause she was not afraid to talk about it. That helped quell the nervousness that a kid feels on this topic.

I highly suggest this book to all parents of girls and the boys book to the boys. It was a great addition for easing the transition for me.

My mother bought this book for me when I was ten. Her mother had never explained any aspect of puberty or menstruation to her and she was afraid of giving me confusing or incorrect information. I remember reading this book cover to cover at least five times and going through it again as I was a teenager and had questions. I developed earlier than most girls and this book was a reassuring source of information. It not only taught me a lot about my body and what was happening, but was a boost to my self-esteem because it talked about differences as being o.k. I haven't read the new edition, mine is 15 years old, but I can't imagine anything better for a mother to give her daughter as she enters puberty. It opened a line of communication between my mom and me about a topic that is not always easy to discuss with your parents at that age. I would recommend this book to ANY parent for his/her daughter.

My mother gave me this book when I was 10. I am now 14 and STILL refer to it for information every day. It gives girls a positive attitude about their changing bodies and other taboo subjects. While alot of moms have said it was too graphic and talked to much about sex, you have to look at a girl's point of view! At 10, I was very curious about sex, and this book was a lot more reliable than some sources I could have gone to...such as my friends. As I chat on girl to girl advice message boards today, I'm amazed and proud of how much more I know than other girls. I highly recommend this book to any contemporary mom who wants to open her pre-teen or teen's eyes to a whole new world of information. The book is very up-beat and easy to read and includes real girl's thoughts. The book is to a pre-teen or teen girl what a thesarus is to a writer...a necsesity!

"A Cold Day in Paradise", Hamilton's first novel, was outstanding! For some reason I lost track of him, and just by chance picked this paperback up when I was in book withdrawal. Although not as interesting, plot-wise, as A Cold Day...this third instalment has a lot to recommend it.

The star of Hamilton's books is the setting....Michigan's Upper Peninsula; a region with so little charm that one wonders what keeps the natives there (yes, I've lived in northern Minnesota,
North Dakota, and some dreary areas in upstate New York, and all of us natives know that feeling of charm: the lack thereof!).
Hamilton captures it perfectly, and surrounds an interesting hero with a lot of small-town sidekicks you want to come to know.

In this novel, Alex doesn't spend much time at home, but traipses around Michigan with a very old friend, Randy Wilkins, who he played minor-league ball with. Randy is a character that MUST return, because he is such a well-drawn good time Charlie.

There's a lot of fits and starts....and probably too much complication in the quest for Maria, Randy's lost love. In particular, both Randy and Maria turning out to be low-lifes is just a little too much unwelcome plot. But, the story comes to a satisfactory close, with Alex eagerly returning to Paradise, and his favorite Canadian beer.

Not as good as his earlier work, but still much to enjoy in this novel!

Steven Hamilton's newest book, THE HUNTING WIND, is another home run straight out of the park. He brings back Alex McKnight (A COLD DAY IN PARADISE & WINTER OF THE WOLF MOON) for a third outing that takes a hard look at the meaning of friendship and what it entails. McKnight is in the Glasgow Inn one cold night, drinking his favorite Canadian beer, when Randy Wilkins suddenly walks in to ask for his help in locating Maria Valenescu, a woman he once loved and whom he hasn't seen in thirty years. Normally, McKnight would say no to a case like this, but Wilkins was a close friend of his when they played together in the minor leagues over three decades ago, plus he's a hard man to refuse. Together, they begin to slowly track down Maria, using information on the Internet, birth records, and knocking on doors in the old neighborhoods around Detroit. Something, however, isn't quite right. When they finally locate Maria's family, both men are beaten up and almost killed by the woman's brother. It seems that Maria has been hiding from an individual named Charles Hardwood for several years. Hardwood used to be business partners with her husband, Arthur Zambelli. When Maria's husband was mysteriously murdered, she suspected that Hardwood was the one behind it so that he could take over their real estate business and marry her after everything quieted down. Maria didn't wait around. Out of fear for herself and her daughter, she took off, moving from place to place, barely managing to stay ahead of Hardwood and his private detectives. McKnight quickly realizes that he and Wilkins have gotten caught in the middle of something very deadly. It isn't until his friend is nearly killed, however, that our Michigan detective begins to understand that nothing is quite as it seems. Everyone appears to be lying and more people are definitely about to die. McKnight puts his life on the line in order to get through the tangled web of deceit, trusting no one, not even the man who was once his best friend, fighting the temptation to run as he seeks to learn the truth of who Maria really is. THE HUNTING WIND explores the bond of friendship and what it means. Through the character of Alex McKnight, we are able to learn that the image we have of someone close to us is often only a partial glimpse into the actual person. People change, people wear masks to hide their true nature, and people lie to either protect themselves or to get what they want. How good do we actually know our friends, and how far are we willing to go for the sake of friendship? These are questions posed by the author that every man must answer sooner or later. As with his first two novels, Mr. Hamilton once again weaves an intriguing tale with underlying subplots and riveting suspense, carrying the reader on a meandering path, whose final destination is unknown. The characters are vivid and true to life, making us care, hate, desire, mistrust, and ultimately to believe in them. I especially liked Maria, feeling the intense desire for her that McKnight experiences, knowing that it would be easy for any man to succumb to her seductive manipulations. The prose is taut with not a word wasted, and it grabs the reader by the shirttails in the first couple of paragraphs, demonstrating what good writing is all about. With just three novels, Steve Hamilton has managed to take his place amongst the top authors in the field of "mystery" writing. If you're an individual who likes the "Matthew Scudder" series by Lawrence Block or the "Dave Robicheaux" books by James Lee Burke, then give the novels by Steve Hamilton a shot. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

The Hunting Wind was my introduction to Steve Hamilton and, wow, what a wonderful introduction! Here is a man who writes with humor, with assurance, and with plotting skills that are right up there with the best of the best; certainly a fine, convoluted, narrative Ross Macdonald would have been proud to have written. Alex McKnight is a weary, highly believable (and very human) former cop who once had a brief-lived baseball career. It is this former career that brings Randy Wilkins, the left-handed one-time pitcher, back into his life after thirty years. Randy is a charming chatterbox who, in many ways, is still the very young man who had a shot at the big time and blew it in the first inning of his one and only major league game. And it is Randy's desire to track down Maria, the love of his young life, that takes the two men on a journey so labyrinthine that much of the state of Michigan is traversed in pursuit of the woman. Along the way the two men encounter some of the most intriguing and eccentric characters ever to appear in print--most notably the exquisitely drawn Maria and the strangely touching Chief Rudiger.

Before writing this review I ordered Hamilton's two previous books, and I will certainly buy anything else he writes. Here is an author with enormous talent who deserves all the kudos and a wide audience.

It is an interesting tale and a common one I am sure. There are portions that resonate with all gay men but the writing itself is at times, cliched and sloppy. None of that would matter, though, if I were not so offended by John Reid's (aka Andrew Tobias') rampant egomania. Even within his constricting closet, he passes judgement on those he deems too gay, not macho enough, not as attractive as he is. It's difficult to sympathize with his struggle. He yearns for freedom and acceptance while blindly condemning the "less blessed" around him. I find it repugnant and after reading about Mr. Tobias' "young stud pool parties" in New York Magazine a few years back, it seems that not much has changed. He's older now but still fit and tan and, oh yeah, very rich. God Bless America. The sequel is called "The Best Little Boy In The World Grows Up". I have not read it but I am doubtful. For me, this book in some way celebrates the elitism that is so overwhelming in the gay community. That is what is truly hurtful and awful about the subculture and what it's teaching young gay men.

I found this book to be one of the most insightful and helpful books I have ever read. Although Mr. Tobias (aka John Reid) came out in the 70's, when it was far less safe or politically correct to do so, many of his emotions and internal struggles remain true to young people who are today struggling with their identies. Although at times Mr. Tobias has a tendancy to ramble in his writing, this only adds to the book's charm. It is a must read for gay and straight people alike. For the former it teaches that they are not alone in their sturggles, for the latter it teaches acceptance and understanding. It is truly a modern classic about a subject much too rarely discussed.

When I first read this book, the author was listed as John Reid. Originally written in 1973, it is understandable that, at that time, anyone who wanted to have a 'real career' couldn't risk exposure to the general public as being gay, even when trying to make the point that being gay is not the deplorable plight it is sometimes (even today) commonly held to be.

The book has since been revised, both with a supplemental volume entitled 'The Best Little Boy in the World Grows Up', as well as being reissued in its original form (with minor modifications), as being authored by Andrew Tobias. Twenty-five years had passed, and Tobias had a career that was secure enough, and society had changed enough, that he felt he could lend his true name to the cover of the text.

This book is a coming out tale. Slowly but surely, while taking great pains to conceal the truth, Tobias lived the model life. Raised in an upper-middle class family that met all the criteria for statistical happiness, Tobias was himself an all-American, boy-next-door type who was good at school, good at sports, respectful of elders, always fulfilling expectations. What better closet in which to hide save that of being successfully normal, and a normal success?

Tobias confides his agonising attempts to masquerade as 'normal' - his time at Yale, with roommates who expected him to be as interested in girlfriends as they and any other 'normal' 20 year old male should be. Sometimes humourous but somewhat painful to read, his unrequited love for one of his roommates while having to pretend at carrying on relationships with women, made for strange bedfellows indeed (if you'll forgive the pun).

As he grew older, he grew bolder, perhaps out of desperation, perhaps out of frustration. Perhaps it was just being tired of being alone in the universe, which is often how he felt - alone with his feeling, unable to share anything truthful.

Finally, Tobias began revealing himself to ever-wider circles of friends, and generally fell 'into a bad crowd', considering the Best Little Boy in the World (for which he uses the acronym BLBITW in mocking self-reference) had never even smoked a cigarette. Drugs, alcohol, all fueled by a high-paying job that helped him keep his cover.

Tobias was in the process of running from society and running from himself, i.e., the image he had constructed for himself of who he thought he should be, based on societal norms. He hurt a lot of people along the way, which is unfortunate, but perhaps no more in reality than any of us do in our various ways without being aware of the consequences of our actions?

Tobias was better known (until his revelation of authorship of this volume) as an author of financial self-help books, investment and insurance texts, and other such professional writings. Thankfully he is able to be honest enough (not the least of which, with himself) that he can claim authorship of 'The Best Little Boy in the World' -- in a world where conformity is encouraged by adults and enforced by peers, this book stands as a revelation of the turmoil that one may go through for a 'difference', even when all outward appearances speak to the contrary.

I found the book itself alright to read. It's general enough so that you HAVE to use the software and I think that important if you really want to learn something. Furthermore, there are a lot of labs and critical thinking problems which are meant to really challenge your knowledge of the IEAK5. If you want to just pass the test get the EXAM CRAM book. If you want to learn how it really work get this book.

On the other hand, I have to agree with previous reviewers that the Beachfront Quizzer should be renamed as a BeachedWhale. It's absolutely horrible. In Study Mode there is a series of 10 consecutive questions where the diagrams are obviously mis-referenced. DID ANYBODY TEST THIS THING? IDG should take heed of who they partner with. Furthermore, after sending an email about the aforementioned problem to their tech support, I have not yet received an answer.

Beachfront says that it'll reimburse you if you don't pass the test. I just wonder how much faith I would put into that statement since they don't seem to care much about the people who most need it and want to improve it. A simple is all it takes.

IDG should take better heed of who they partner with. Afterall, a company of it's size and reputation should do a little quality control from time to time.

I enjoyed the book, very thorough review coverage. I disagree with the unfavorable review, I read the book with the labs and passed the exam without any difficulty. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the test engine, it wasn't as good as some of the commercial prep exams, but, the book itself was great it my opinion.

I took the IE4 exam before using the sybex book. I saw this book for IE5 and thought I would try it for the new test. I really liked the book, the author speaks to the subject well, good, thorough information. As a trainer, I read a lot of material, this is one of the best I have read yet. The beachfront quizzer needs a lot of help, but, the book is well worth the money I think, Thanks !