This book was pure fun! Peter Stark who has written on winter sports for Outside magazine, has penned some interesting and informative essays on his lifelong fascination with snow, the Arctic and winter sports. The author packed up a 1974 Volkswagon minibus and set out to drive to Greenland. Full of fun escapades and musings on that wonderful fluffy, white stuff-snow.

Peter Stark speaks warmly of the 'carnivorous' North in his introductory essay, "A Life Built on Snow." The 'life' he refers to is his own. His grandfather was a skater and iceboater, he and his mother and father were (and are) skiers. His whole family belonged to the winter. All the way through this book, wintery thrills overtake fear--the thrill flying four hundred feet down a ski jump; the thrill of stomping a ski into the snow at the top of a slope, then watching the resulting avalanche take out the whole hill; the thrill of hunting narwhal off Greenland's icy shore.

The author drives to Greenland in the sense that he arrives in a two-engine Cessna Skymaster after puddle-jumping across the bleak terrain of Baffin Island, dodging through flocks of lesser auks along the way.

First though, his essays take us ski jumping in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, sliding for glory down Lake Placid's Olympic luge course, through a run down Aspen's World Cub downhill course, and down Mount Hood. There's a sense that the author only really comes alive during these icy adventures, when all his senses are focused on the moment.

Luckily for us, he is able to share that aliveness with his readers. He puts us in touch with something beyond our immediate selves--I'll call it the spirit of the North for lack of a better term.

Between adventures, there are long, interesting riffs on different types of ice and snow, a short history of Iceland, and a discussion on building the perfect sea kayak (among other Northerly subjects).

Peter Stark is a contributor to "Outside," "Smithsonian," and "New Yorker" magazines. His latest book is "Last Breath: Cautionary Tales from the Limits of Human Endurance." He is also the editor of an anthology of writing about the Arctic, "Ring of Ice." He typifies a rugged new breed of 'hands-on' journalists, and "Driving to Greenland" should appeal to both armchair adventurers and to those few among us who actually long to live in the heart of winter.

The publisher's blurb refers to Peter Stark's "infatuation with snow." Obsession may be a better choice! Stark has written on winter sports and winter adventures for Outside Magazine and other periodicals. This is an exceedingly fine description of his recent journey from Montana through Canada to the icy reaches of Greenland. A "must read" for anyone interested in modern arctic and northern travel.

Lynette Stark's Escape from Heart is a breath of fresh air. It is surely a book many middle school students will enjoy. Young women especially, will connect to many of Sarah Ruth Heart's struggles as a young woman. I-N-D-I-V-I-D-U-A-L-I-S-M is Sarah's theme. The quest for it defined her and set a wonderful example for teens. I also found that reading into the Mennonite way of life is an interesting peek into other cultures and beliefs. I am anxious to read Lynette Stark's future books.
Mrs. Jones, Eastview Middle School, Illinois

I am more than touched by this drama of the spirit that surpasses its simplistic setting. Stark delicately weaves into her characters the vibrant colors that would not otherwise be found in the somewhat bleak landscape of the Mennonite colony. I applaud her role as storyteller and educator as I have spent many years studying various facets of American culture and find the task of presenting a studied people in mere words and paragraphs a near impossible task. This classic tale is one for all ages as the search for our own freedom, and the strength to use it, grows with age.

What a delight! For the young reader, the story is poignant, yet purposeful; for the sophisticated reader, the novel abounds in literary technique, most heavily in symbolism. Because of the subtle nature of the symbolism, it is not distracting to the younger reader--true marks of a literary craftsman.

I listened to the Author's daughter explain about the making of this book and about some of the details in the paintings. It was remarkable! Ken Stark did a fabulous job researching the history and painting accurate pictures to go with the story. After listening to the speaker my Grandma and Mom talked for an hour easy about what it was like growing up in Illinois.
Great read for young and old alike!

Normally I do not read many children's books but the cover ofGrowing Seasons caught my eye as Susan unpacked [the] book...

Leafing through the book caused me to feel very nostalgic, reliving the time when I was a young boy on a small Pennsylvania farm in the late 1930's. Detailed artwork and attention to detail in all the illustrations make a person feel part of the activity being described.

Elsie Lee Splear must be congratulated on her factual portrayal of farm life in the 1900's and her choosing an outstanding artist who's attention to detail produced outstanding illustrations of family farm life in the 1900's.

This book should be read by people of all ages to better understanding what farm life was like in the 1900's.

Can anyone imagine not having an inside toilet and must use the little house out back many times referred to as the "outhouse" with only remnants of an old Sears catalogs which served the need at hand and also provided the patron some reading. Can one believe a life without Charmin?

I highly recommend the younger generations to buy this book, study the wonderful detailed paintings and enjoy reading the descriptions of how it used to be before television. I will always cherish this book and when I need a pick-me-up, I will browse through Growing Seasons and reminisce about the times that were.

GROWING SEASONS lets the reader in on farm life nearly 100 years ago: chores before dawn, life without electricity,refrigeration,or running water,and raising almost everything needed by the family. It also shows the simple joys to be found in rural life: picnics, Christmas services, Fourth of July celebrations,and reading while tending the cows. Ken Stark's realistic illustrations help the reader step back in time to more richly savor the various aspects of being a tenant farmer a century ago.

The story numerous everyday events: homework by the kitchen stove, homemade dresses for Christmas, perserving meat before refrigeration, cooking for days to feed a threshing crew, and hiding from tornadoes. This is an excellent children's book for learning about farm life in the early 1900's.

I just moved to the Cleveland area and read the book as a way to get to know the city. Very fun reading but not very detailed.

"Maniac in the Bushes" is brought to life with the inclusion of street addresses and references to existing landmarks. As native Clevelanders, my Dad and I have enjoyed discussing the cases on which the author focused, many of which my Dad remembers. If you live in Cleveland, you gotta read this!

What a new perspective this gives on my adopted city! I live near where the Collinwood School inferno happened (and pass its replacement nearly every day) and live in a neighbourhood where many of the older residents remember being told to 'watch out, or the Phantom of Kingsbury Run will chop you up' when they were kids. Fascinating subject, and I can't get enough!!! (Got me drinking Eliot Ness Lager, too, but I digress). Fast-paced and well-written, even if you've never been to Cleveland, you should check out this darker side of American history, North-Coast Style.

I was a little depressed when I sent this to my niece who is brilliant and yet found it a little bit intimidating. To quote her younger sister (by only 9 months), {I don't know Beck, but it looks like a fairly adult hand there>?) I feel that you should maybe have provided an age range? (10-12)? I am hoping that she will put it on her bookshelf and eventually "get into it" I am now wishing I had got it for myself!!!
Auntie Laurie

This book help me to understand anatomy and physiology like I was a three year old and learning like it was easy as drinking water.It Is a very good book to have as a reference in the future. It also help me to get back into the swing of things since I spent the last 6 years in the Army doing a job that had nothing to do with my Degree field which is sports medicine.

I was advised by a homeschooling guide to buy this book for my science classes some time ago. I am pleased to say that I did not regret the decision I made to purchase it, as this is an excellent book! At first, I was surprised that a coloring book would be recommended as an educational tool for a first year high school student, but it was actually very helpful to me. Once I was finished completing it, I was delighted to see how vivid and realistic the illustrations became. So delighted that I bought a copy for my younger siblings to try (aged 7-10). Unfortunately they found it a little too daunting, so I'd have to say that it's not the best book for a ten year old or younger. However, if you're looking for a challenging, educational book for a student aged eleven or up, then you should try this one. You might even find yourself picking up a marker and coloring with him.

A very worthwhile glimpse into mid-20th Century Baghdad - this series of essays paints intriguing pictures of the streets, the culture and the decline of Colonialism in a country that used to be our Middle-Eastern ally. Much better than her later books.

This book tells you something about the Baghdad of the half of the 20th Century, before the western powers first and then the Muslim fundamentalists mucked things up. But it tells you more about the period when a few women dared to travel to exotic places and who created books and travel sketches about them. Interesting also is that Freya wrote letters of support for the Anna of "Anna and the King of Siam". But that's another story.

An excellent book with timeless insight into humanity across cultures. Gives context to attitudes still prevalent today, demonstrated by long historic traditions. The writing has gems of phrases interspersed with diary like accounts of travels. Ms. Stark was definitely a woman ahead of her time.

Beyond the Bar is not only for lawyers, but for everyone interested in how the legal profession works - the dealings, the courtroom procedures, the events behind the scences.

Some of the cases in the book appear at first glance to be non-cases - not open and shut. Through solid detective work and interpretation they are brought to an unexpected success. There is a sense of suspense. The conversations and real people make for lively reading.

John Mortimer, a British author and barrister created Rupole of the Bailey. The reader will find the intriguing plots of similar quality in the stories and cases in Beyond the Bar.

In an era of unparalleled greed and an apparently insatiable taste for law suits, Stark's memoir of a young lawyer's efforts to maintain his compassion and his unwavering desire to help ordinary people who are hurt is not only refreshing, but a joy to read. Told simply and with feeling, Stark traces his life from his earliest days as a public defender in Trenton, New Jersey, his sometimes hilarious friendships with a cast of Shakespearean characters, to his fortieth birthday, and his success as a PI attorney specializing in victims of brain injury. A candid examination of his victories and defeats, his determination and his fears, his disillusionment and his doggedness, Stark goes a long way toward restoring my faith in lawyers. The Law may be against him, but a caring, creative, and stubborn lawyer can "change . . . the life of a person whose fate has been changed by someone else's carelessness." Fast-paced, humorous, reads like a novel. All lawyers should read this book!

Vibrant, empathetic, thoughtful. That is how I would describe Beyond the Bar. I picked it up, thinking it was going to be another law management book. To my surprise, I found that the book read like a novel with each story full of suspense and twists and turns. As a young lawyer, six years out, I could relate to Stark's experiences. I think that because of the book I will be less reluctant to seek advice from experienced lawyers. In fact, I gave the book to my mentor to read.

As an all-inclusive reference on Drafting theory and practice, this is as good a book as any. However: Having used it as a teaching text, I found an inexcusable number of mistakes in the end-of-chapter exercises. The dimensions simply don't stack up! My advice: Go over them yourself first, time permitting, before assigning them to your classes. Perhaps (hopefully) this has been/will be corrected in later editions. Also: Board drafting is a dying art. Thus, while opening chapters on theory and sketching methods should be retained, more emphasis must now be placed on CAD (not "CADD"); specifically, 3D CAD and downstream processes.

This is not a review. I am the author. Your catalog lists Engineering Drawing and Design by David A. Madsen (Editor). I am not the editor. I am the author. Can you please remove the work (Editor) from this listing?

Thank you.

This book describes it all, gives the rules of the road for the changes that have occured in the last number of years in ANSI callouts, Geometric Tolerancing, ASME, and ISO practices. I've been in this business since '76 on the drafting board, and since '86 with CADD (Computer Aided Drafting & Design) and have watched the skills of knowing how to draft (a distinct language of its own) and the elements of design and engineering fall by the wayside in general as the focus now by our educators and companies is more about learning to and running a CADD program, making a picture than following the skills and practices of drafting, design, and engineering. Students today need to get back to "walking" (learning drafting) before they "run" with a CADD program. This book addresses what is necessary to create drawings and design the parts as they should be. I highly recommend it to anyone conscientiously wanting to really learn to do the job right and/or to hone their skills.

This book is complete, but the illustrations are rather hokey. Some of the sections get bogged down in unnecessary detail, and other leave stuff out. This is obviously something that was written a while ago, and partially updated without going through the trouble of making the illustrations better.

At the same time I bought this book, I also bought The Live Sound Manual: Getting Great Sound at Every Gig but Ben Duncan, #0879306998. This was a much more readable book, although lacking in illustrations, and geared slightly more to the professional. The only thing in Live Sound Reinforcement that wasn't in The Live Sound manual that I found useful was the one page on 'ringing out the room' to address feedback before it happens.

Both books gave good step-by-step instructions for setup and good explanations of theory, but the latter just did a better job.

This book is great for anyone interested in sound reinforcement, or sound in general. Stark starts off with the basics of sound, then covers microphones, smaller scale PA systems, then concert touring systems. His language is easy to understand, and his book provides information on all aspects of live sound, from miking to processing. The use of diagrams are very helpful, and he breaks the book into sections which make it easy to use as a reference guide. However, this book is not for the professional, or someone who is very knowledgable about sound or sound reinforcement. I would recomend this to a beginner or an intermediate level sound person who wants to learn more about how to reinforce sound. In short, if you have taken courses on sound, or are very knowledgable this book isnt for you, but if you want know how to wire a full concert PA system will all the works, this book is for you... He starts you off slow, and dives in.

I am not a very technical oriented person but this books talks to you in plain english not "techie" like most books do. It also doen't assume you know everything so it starts off at the beginnig basics of sound and it builds from there to more complex ideas and concepts. If you have never run live sound or run sound at chuch or for a band this is the book for you. You will not be disappointed.