...."When the Brain Dies First" does not shy awayfrom difficult and controversial topics. Rather the book presents abalanced view of euthanasia, brain death, gene therapy, and caring for those with dementia. The last chapter of the book deals with keeping the brain healthy and the serach for cures to neurological disorders. ... will serve as a useful book for students and for anyone else who is interested in what happens when the brain dies efore the body. SEE FULL REVIEW at Neuroscience for Kids Newsletter, June 2000, Eric Chudler, Editor...

The Playboy review was on the money: "Choppy, intense and stings just a bit." I like Zanetti's collections -- they are always supercool and down and dirty, but with a strong literary flavor. This book charts an incredible journey from when coke was perceived to be a 19th century cure all (see Freud) to the dark nose candy it is today. The book covers most bases -- COlumbia, Hollywood, NY in the 80s, crack, Miles Davis --but there's some surprises too: the piece was spooky old Aleister Crowley is new to me and the selections from RObert Louis Stevenson, Conan Doyle and Steve Earle are imaginative. And there are some gold standards from Stephen King, Terry Southern, Burroughs, and Ballard.

Unfortunately, when I picked up this book at a local bookstore, I did not have the money to buy the charming autobiography of this small, yet wise, cat. However, while my mother shopped elsewhere, I began reading it. Although I only got twenty-some pages in the book, I would be willing to fork over the value of this book just for that much. Delightfully, retold, I extremely enjoyed the first part of this book, although I do not particularly care for cats. Such books as "A Dog's Life" by Peter Mayle, and this one, interest me for its peculiar point of view. A must-read. I can't wait to finish it.

If you own a cat or love cats, you'll love this book. It's extremely well-written and draws you into the life of Foudini M. Cat from page one. The characterization of Foudini, Sam and Grace are convincing, humorous and touching. The most poignant scene between Sam and Foudini reminds me of The Velveteen Rabbit, and was just as heart-warming. This is a great book for any adult cat-lover, and would also make a great book to read to young children.

I loved this book as much as the creatures in this story love one another. I think this is a remarkable book, immensely touching, extremely funny, and in the end, conveys a deep understanding of human attachment and the way everything--people or cat--cope with loss. I didn't think about these things while I was reading; I was swept up by the story. It's not a good book to read when you want to go to sleep because you stay up trying to finish. I said, "I'll read just one more chapter," and then I only had forty more pages, so I finished reading at three in the morning. This story about a cat and his dog manage to capture the very strange way in which the minds of human beings become interwoven with their animals. The author makes this possible because she has carefully observed the behavior and meaning of both dogs and cats and the animals in this volume have such depth and meaning that when a tragedy finally strikes, it is almost impossible to read about it without crying, so be prepared.

The writing is beautiful and so is the story. This would be a perfect book for any adult (who doesn't hate cats, although reading this might convert him) and a marvelous book for intelligent children who don't have enough really good books published for them.

I bought the hardcover because I intend to read it again and again and I don't want it to ever fall apart.

I took my puppy to obedience class as recommended by my veterinarian because she was said to be aggressive and dominant. After 8 weeks of puppy class our dog Soma was worse than when we started. She was biting more and not listening at all. I started looking on the internet for information about aggressive dogs and what to do. Thankfully I found Dr. Meisterfelds website (...). After I read his book on Psychological dog training I faxed him a letter and explained what we were up against. HE CALLED ME AT MY HOME. He cares that much. He also faxed my fax to a trainer in our area and she contacted me thru email. We have a dog named Kira/Soma now after 6 days of training who is on her way to being the wonderful, affectionate pup that we love. We still have 7 weeks of more training that I am doing at home with her. I am positive that at the end of those weeks we will be even more thankful to Dr. Meisterfeld for all his kindnesses to humans and animals. Please, if you love your children and your pets read this book and visit his website.
If I had not read JELLY BEAN VS DR JEKYL AND MR HYDE I would not have known there was hope for our dog. She was very similar to Doc. Her history and Doc's co-inside with each other. Forced to obey by trainers using the alpha method of being dominant and if the dog doesn't do it he is forced to do it. In his book Dr. Meisterfeld explains how he rehabilitated Doc without using any kind of force. There are several other case histories also. I flew through the book and couldn't wait to read Dog Whisper.
A totally satisfied customer who is going to get the rest of his books.

I came across this book about five years ago, and finally, after having read so much literature on dogs, this was something that made sense, that was palatable, and that dispelled prevalent and dangerous beleif systems about how dogs need be physically forced, intimidated, and abused in the name of dog training, and the tragic consequences as a result.
This book reveals so much about the true unique, and willing nature of dogs, and includes a tremendous amount regarding dog psychology, and the impact we as owners have on their behavior.
Thank you Dr. Meisterfeld, for your wisdom, your intuitive depth, and insight, and your unwavering respect for dogs.
Man's Best Friend has a true friend indeed. His name is Dr. Meisterfeld.

Thanks

Alexandra Weynerowski
Victoria, BC

I thank C.W. Meisterfeld for explaining dog behavior to me. I've loved animals my whole life, have had many dogs, even have 2 now BUT I have never, ever been able to understand them enough to train them properly. This book explains why my dogs are sweet and loving but hate other dogs (with a fighting passion). Must mention that when I first purchased this book, I thought it contained training techniques; however, other than a few comments on the last few pages, it is only a book on behavior. I then bought Meisterfeld's book "PHYSOCOLOGICAL DOG TRAINING: Behavior Conditioning with Respect and Trust" and with the information the two books have given me, I've seen beautiful and amazing transformation in both our dogs in just 3 days of training. So I definately reccomend this book BEFORE you ever put the leash on your dog. Knowledge truly is freedom. I'll review his dog training book in eight weeks (after I complete the training course with my dogs). So if you're interested in the final outcome, take a look, see ya in 8!

I traveled to Costa Rica for a study abroad program with my college, and I found The New Key to Costa Rica to be the perfect guide book. I loved all of the recomendations the book offered while I was in Costa Rica: places to visit, places to eat, places to stay, etc. So, when I planned to return to Costa Rica I consulted the book again. However, I do not suggest using Americas Tours and Travel to buy tickets to Costa Rica, as the book suggested. I did, and I regret it. This is my only complaint about the book. Otherwise, it is the best that can be offered.

I used a previous edition of this book as a guide when I was an exchange student in Costa Rica. This book contained everything that I needed. I spoke little Spanish in the beginning of my stay, and this book helped me to travel the country with easy. It contains information about everything from restaurants to travel to ecological information. Prior to using the New Key, I had never used a travel book. After using it, I wanted to buy a travel guide for every trip. Though I have now used several travel books, unfortunately, I have never found another book that is so comprehensive and useful as the New Key. This book explains a lot of inside information that one needs to know and hotel and restaurant tips. I highly recommend it. I only wish the makers of the New Key would do New Key books for other places,especially other Central American countries. I would buy any New Key book even if it were over my own home city so that I could let my visitors use it. I would buy the full set without hesitation. My few words can hardly do justice to this excellent book. If there were a nobel prize for travel books, this book would have won it. If you are taking a trip to Costa Rica, buy it!

Also newly updated is Beatrice Blake and Anne Becher's New Key To Costa Rica, which promotes eco travel and outdoor adventures. Opinionated reviews cover both historic sites and outdoor adventure journeys, making for an absorbing and revealing guide.

Christopher Hyde has drawn an amazing fictional plot against a background of real-life characters and actual events. This marriage provides a novel that holds the reader in thrall from beginning to end. It is fascinating to see the story unfold through the eyes of its unlikely hero - and to suddenly realize that you are meeting actual characters from the London of World War Two throughout the pages! The historical detail is accurate and a delight to read, giving added depth to this intricate tale. I would recommend it to anyone interested in WWII, or psychological thrillers, or spy stories ...... as it combines a little of each within its covers.

I love historical thrillers, especially those that take place during World War II. There's something about spy novels that take place during this time period, as well as books that have to do with Special Forces missions.

This book is about a serial killer who is doing his killings during the London Blitz of 1940. This has security as well as strategic implications when it's figured out that the killer is doing the killing in areas the night the murder location is bombed by the Germans. Because of this, both a German and an American spy get involved along with Morris Black, a Scotland Yard inspector who gets in over his head.

I really liked this book, and found it very hard to put down. The descriptions of London during the Blitz are really well done, so much so that even if you've never been to Britain, you can still picture where the action is happening. Hyde really makes you understand the horror of living under this intense bombing.

His descriptions of the more personal horrors sometimes go a little over the top, but it isn't that much of a problem. There were a couple of times that i skipped over a passage when he went on and on describing the condition of a dead body. That doesn't happen too often, however.

The characters are well-portrayed as well. You really get a sense of the conflicting loyalties that some of them face. Black is an Inspector who doesn't want anything to do with politics and international intrigue, but he's drawn in anyway. It's very interesting to see how he reacts to it all. Katherine's dilemma is also intriguing. None of the characters are typical: they all have their own motivations that are well-portrayed.

I did object a bit to the way one of the characters is written out rather arbitrarily. It seemed to me that the character was leading somewhere, and then *boom* the character is dead. Not quite what I was expecting, which can often be a good thing. However, in this case, it seemed to be a waste.

All in all, though, it's a great book. If you like this sort of book (historical suspense novel, spies, etc), you will love this one. (...)

A stunning historical thriller filled with fascinating details, rich, vibrant characters, and a plot which defines "page-turner". As a professional writer, I can fully appreciate the tremendous amount of research Mr. Hyde undertook to bring the story to life. As a reader who is constantly disappointed by over-hyped novels this was a delightful discovery. Not once did the plotting disappoint (nor did I deduce certain elements ahead of time, one of my biggest frustrations with most thrillers these days), nor did I find the characters cliched. Scotland Yard Detective Morris Black is a great protagonist, as complex and dimensional as his disturbing antagonist, the sick, twisted "Queer Jack". As villains go, he's up there with Deaver's "The Bone Collector" and Hannibal Lecter. This is a terrific read which is unlikely to disappoint. However, as some of the other readers have mentioned, if you are disturbed by graphic depictions of the aftermath of violence or post mortem procedures there are passages in the book you may want to speed-read. But that warning aside, there's no reason to avoid this superb spellbinder. I couldn't have wished for a more entertaining Christmas present!

Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is an extremely well-written horror/mystery. While a relatively short novel, the intricately woven plot offers all the right details at different points. And at the end of the book, the characters all seem to make sense, with all of the given clues fitting very well.
This story of the nice, mellow Dr. Jekyll and his hidden mad-man persona, Mr. Hyde, is a classic clash of good and evil. The author does a wonderful job of keeping the reader wondering about each one's true identity. From Hyde's first trampling, to his murder, to the bitter end, he is portrayed as the exact opposite of Dr. Jekyll, despite an odd, hidden relationship. Only at the very end is the mystery compltely solved.
What makes the novel most unique is the inclusion of numerous other developed characters besides Jekyll and Hyde, such as Utterson, Lanyon, and Enfield. All in all, this is a timeless tale, a true stoy of inner conflict. What this novel lacks in length, it makes up for in well-developed characters, and a superb plot. A must-read.

Henry Jekyll is a renowned scientist and a respected man. But lately, his behavior has become strange, reclusive and mysterious. So his friend Utterson tries to find out what he's up to. In the meantime, terrible and strange things are happening by night in the streets of London. As the tale unfolds, we discover Jekyll's dangerous games with his own psyche. He discovers a drug that reveals his evil side, without any moral restraint, and gradually loses control of the drug. The narrative technique of Stevenson in this short masterpiece is simply perfect; its philosophical stand is frightening; its moral implications are relevant; and the construction of the story superb.

The onion-layer style serves very well its mission to reveal every event in a semi-slow but tense pace. The environment is insuperable: the dark, wet and gas-lighted streets of London, where Mr. Hyde's steps resonate frighteningly. The ending is horrifying and very well written and, overall, this is a gem of a book. It should be best read in loneliness, in the dark. It is much more than a simple horror novel, because it says something very real and very terrible: without moral restraints, our deeper self can be unbearably evil. It's true.

Ah, the classical dark tale of Dr. Jekyll and his mysterious, vicous, murderous counterpart, Mr Hyde. One of my favourite books, one that combienes science fiction and horror like few have others have done so well.

A book of suspense and mystery, it is foremost a book about psychology, exploring the sweet duality of Good and Evil. And though Hyde may be Evil, i have doubts about Jekyill being Good itself. No, the doctor is merely a troubled soul longing for freedom, and that's what Hyde gives. Freedon without consequences, a theme of debate even nowadys.

Stevenson's work is simply grounbreaking. It explores so many things: ethics in science; the limits of science and knowledge; how science may affect people. Like The Invisible Man, it talks about the tribulations of scientists and what are their limitations. It's also a dark view of science, for it makes it as something without benefits in the end.

But besides this, its still a horror story, a classical one, with all the old ingredients: dark nights; the london fog; a murderer walking about the streets after the next victims. And he does find a couple of them. In my chilliest moments, i like to think Jack the Ripper himself reed this book and decided to make it true.

Having read a lot of werewolf books I don't know how people can call this one the best.
McCammon's The Wolf's Hour
Strieber's The Wild
Somtow's Moon Dance
Cadnum's Saint Peter's Wolf
I am sure I am leaving a few off but those are real good werewolf books.

This was just another typical decent guy turns into werewolf, has no control over his wolf form, and kills bunches of people book. If thats the style you like then this book probably isn't that bad. The only thing that really sticks out that bugged me was the cops just letting the reporters walk all over the crimes scenes. Even if the cops were done collecting evidence I just don't see them letting a bunch of people tramp all over the place when there is blood and body parts scattered everywhere.

It was a alright way to [spend] time but in a couple weeks I doubt I will be able to remember much of it.

The Hyde Effect is the best werewolf book I have ever read. It has plenty of action and good characters. The climax is superb. If done right, it would make an excellent film.

I'm not surprised by the overwhelming acclaim for this little known author. I first read "HYDE" over 12 years ago, and it remains the most horrifying and enthrawling tale I've ever read. From the opening pages of the prologue, the suspense builds thru the cycles of the moon, climaxing first on an unforgettable Halloween that haunts me even today at any roadstop. Yet that is only the beginning. What follows defines terror, as Vance captures the essence of fear -- helplessness -- the thing nightmares are made of, when the indiscriminate violence unleashes its fury in Part Two. This book is stand alone, although it's sequel "Shapes" provides more insight into the characters. Film prospects have been discussed, but no movie could possibly do these 400 pages justice. Vance sets himself apart, proving himself amongst the best of Koontz and King.

Catherine Ryan Hyde has written the best book of the year and maybe several years. Right from the start I felt my heart touched by her words and the wonderful characters she created. Except for Trevor, the characters are all damaged people. Rubin, the teacher, was in Viet Nam and suffered the loss of half his face, and the use of one arm. Despite his appearance he is a really good man, and a wonderful teacher, the kind we wish we all had. He becomes a surrogate father to Trevor.

Arlene is Trevor's mom. Despite her alcholism which she is fighting, her love for Trevor is important. She works two jobs to keep up her home. Trevor adores his mother and wants to make her happy. His father Rick, is not married to Arlene, but is an unfaithful husband. He disappears in the beginning of the story.

It starts with a social studies project initiated by Rubin. What can you do to change the world? Several children choose projects. Trevor comes up with a plan he calls pay if forward. He will help three people. Instead of them repaying him, they have to pay it forward to three other people. This is to continue and continue until the whole world is changed and blessed by these good deeds. It is a concept I believe in.

Well, it doesn't seem to work for Trevor at first. He doesn't realize what is happening with his plan. Even his efforts to get his mother and his teacher together seem to fail after a time. Trevor is not really discouraged. Even after the class is over he continues to work towards setting up his pay forward plan.

Meanwhile the movement is going on quietly and is reaching from their small town to L.A. A reporter wants to find out who really started this movement. He digs and digs until he uncovers Trevor.

This is a beautifull written book with many poignant and heart warming moments. I absolutely loved the character of Rubin and Trevor as well as Arlene. The love which develops between these three people is one we wish we all had.

If you have time to read only one book read this one. It will change your life for the better.

I loved this book, but was not going to take the time to review it--but the last review about it being "overly utopian" ticked me off. In the movie, the teacher tells Trevor that the class thinks he's come up with an overly utopian idea. He says, "So?"

I'm on his side.

Also, I wish people wouldn't review books unless they have read them carefully. In the movie Trevor is 11. In the book, when he makes that comment about Chelsea Clinton being "a major babe" he is just a day or two shy of his 14th birthday. And it never says the world is perfect and there is no greed. Also the book starts with the gift of a 2-year-old Acura, where in the movie it's a brand-new Jaguar. In the book the boy helps an old lady with her garden. How can anyone say the favors in the book are outrageous and unbelievable compared to the movie? I don't know what book "Overly Utopian" read, but it wasn't the Pay It Forward I read.

Please, people, it's okay not to like a book but be fair and get your facts right.

Maybe I think too many books are good, but this book has to be up there with my favorites. I started reading it at work, just wondering what it was about because the movie looked so good. I ended up taking it home and reading a majority of it until early last night, fighting with the allergy pills that were trying to make me go to bed. It is such a great book. It warms your heart in such a big way... you finish it hoping that it is a true story. I can't wait to see the movie and see how the Movement is passed throughout the world. This book can definately change your life.

It is about a little boy named Trevor who, for a social science extra credit project, invents a concept called "Paying it Forward." He does good deeds for three people... selfless deeds... and instead of having them pay him back, he tells them to pay it forward-- he makes them return the good deed to three other people. His dream is to make random acts of kindess an every day thing. Although he thinks he fails, he does end up reaching his dream.

So read it! Read it before the movie comes out! Read it because the movie is coming out! Learn the wonders of paying it forward... maybe it isn't just a dream.

I have trouble reading classic literature. I am an avid reader and I want to enjoy the classics, but just find it difficult to understand the meaning in some of the writing.

This, however, was a pleasant surprise. Although written in the early 1700s, the story itself was fairly easy to follow. Even towards the end, I began to see the underlying theme of the satire that Swift has been praised for in this work.

Being someone who reads primarily science fiction and fantasy novels, I thought this might be an opportunity to culture myself while also enjoying a good story. I was correct in my thinking. Even if you can't pick up on the satire, there is still a good classic fantasy story.

Essentially, the book details the travels of Lemuel Gulliver, who by several misfortunes, visits remote and unheard of lands. In each, Gulliver spends enough time to understand the language and culture of each of these land's inhabitants. He also details the difference in culture of his native England to the highest rulers of the visted nations. In his writing of these differences, he is able to show his dislike with the system of government of England. He does this by simply stating how things are in England and then uses the reaction of the strangers as outsiders looking in, showing their lack of respect for what Gulliver describes.

I found it very interesting to see that even as early as the 1700s there was a general dislike of government as well as lawyers.

I would recommend this book to anyone who reads the fantasy genre. Obviously, it's not an epic saga like so many most fantasy readers enjoy, but it's a nice break. I would also recommend this to high school students who are asked to pick a classic piece for a book report. It reads relatively quick and isn't as difficult to read as some of the others that I've tried to read.

Lemuel Gulliver is a surgeon/ship¨ˆs captain who embarks on several intriguing adventures. His first endeavor takes him to Lilliput, where all inhabitants are six inches tall, but resemble normal humans in every other respect. His next voyage lands him on Brobdingnag, where a grown man is sixty feet tall, and even the shortest dwarf stands thirty feet tall. On his third trip, he travels to several locations, including a floating island. During Gulliver¨ˆs final voyage, he is abandoned by his mutinous crew on the island of the Houyhnhnms, which are extremely intelligent horses. No evil or concept of lying exists among these creatures. The island is also inhabited by Yahoos, savage, irrational human-like creatures who are kept as pets by the Houyhnhnms. Gulliver wishes to spend the rest of his life on this peaceful island, but he is banished and forced to return to England.
I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to people 14 or older. Since the novel was written in the 1700¡¯s, the words, grammar and usage are a little confusing. The reader also must have prior knowledge of 18th-century politics to get a full image of what Swift is trying to convey. At some points, the author goes into detail about nautical terms and happenings, and that tends to drag. Overall, the book is well-written, slightly humorous, if not a little confusing.

It's amazing how our perspective changes as we age. What we thought was important as children may now seem completely insignificant, replaced by entirely new priorities, priorities children wouldn't even understand. At the same time, things we used to take for granted, like having dinner on the table, being taken care of when we're ill, or getting toys fixed when they are broken, have become items on adult worry lists.

Your perspective on literature can change, too. Reading a story for a second time can give you a completely different view of it. "Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain, which I enjoyed as a sort of an adventure story when I was a kid, now reads as a harsh criticism of society in general and the institution of slavery in particular.

The same thing is true of "Gulliver's Travels" by Jonathan Swift. The first thing I realized upon opening the cover of this book as a college student was that I probably had never really read it before.

I knew the basic plot of Lemuel Gulliver's first two voyages to Lilliput and Brobdingnag, home of the tiny and giant people, respectively, but he had two other voyages of which I was not even aware: to a land of philosophers who are so lost in thought they can't see the simplest practical details, Laputa, and to a land ruled by wise and gentle horses or Houyhnhnms and peopled by wild, beastly human-like creatures called Yahoos.

While this book has become famous and even beloved by children, Jonathan Swift was certainly not trying to write a children's book.

Swift was well known for his sharp, biting wit, and his bitter criticism of 18th century England and all her ills. This is the man who, to point out how ridiculous English prejudices had become, wrote "A Modest Proposal" which suggested that the Irish raise their children as cattle, to be eaten as meat, and thereby solve the problems of poverty and starvation faced in that country. As horrible as that proposal is, it was only an extension of the kinds of solutions being proposed at the time.

So, although "Gulliver's Travels" is entertaining, entertainment was not Swift's primary purpose. Swift used this tale of a guillable traveler exploring strange lands to point out some of the inane and ridiculous elements of his own society.

For example, in describing the government of Lilliput, Swift explains that officials are selected based on how well they can play two games, Rope-Dancing and Leaping and Creeping. These two games required great skill in balance, entertained the watching public, and placed the politicians in rather ridiculous positions, perhaps not so differently from elections of leaders in the 18th century and even in modern times.

Give this book a look again, or for the first time. Even in cases in which the exact object of Swift's satire has been forgotten, his sweeping social commentary still rings true. Sometimes it really does seem that we are all a bunch of Yahoos.