Professor Carter's presentation on the theory of reinsurance is nothing less than superb. If you are interested in getting a firm grasp of the subject you cannot do better.

The only reason that I have not given the book five stars is that while the theory is covered in depth, the book's coverage of reinsurance markets and how they operate is a bit sketchy; presumably it simply was not Professor Carter's intent to cover that.

Many examples of Christians working, such as in Eastern Germany just after the wall came down. Very surprising. These are instances not reported by the press of actions for which the Christians sought to avoid media attention.

This book is based on a Special Studies Seminar on Patanjali yoga held at Colgate University in January, 1976, "an act of sharing a religious undertaking ...now appearing in printed form [vi]." The subtitle aptly summarizes the contents: "Lectures on Theory and Practice" of yoga. In it, the author presents many important facets of the yoga teachings of his father, Sri Krishnamacharya. There is no perfect asana form. We all start where we are. Since the goal is internal and personal rather than external spectatorship, he uses simple drawing of human figures rather than photos of attractive and athletic young people modeling "perfect" asana form. The book is strong on beginning poses, counterposes and the use of vinyasa krama, a sequence of postures building toward an individualized goal [Figs. 19-20b]. The 18 chapters alternate between theory and practice and give an excellent overview of the 8 limbs of classical yoga, including interesting and useful chapters on Samkhya/Yoga philosophy and on overcoming obstacles. The chapters on bandhas and pranayama are very complicated and advanced. Despite appropriate warnings ("Coming to learn of yoga only through reading leaves much to be desired" [ix] and "If you were to study pranayama with me, I would not mention any of those practices for a long time" [176]), advanced practices can still be misused by readers not ready for them and who may thereby harm themselves. Diagrams are used to good effect throughout (for example, Figures 73a-c depict the progression from dharana to dhyana to samadhi). Desikachar's presentation is mostly from the Samkhyan perspective of personal effort; consequently, religiousness in yoga is deemphasized. We are always working to improve ourselves; Ishwara is mainly an effective way to overcome obstacles. Yet yoga differs from Samkhya by the introduction of the chosen deity, Ishwara. Sankara devoted 17 pages of his commentary on the Yoga Sutras to Ishwara. Desikachar explains passage I.23, "Or devotion to the deity," not as love and devotion toward one's deity but as a Samkhyan emphasis on excellence in action. This may be a deferral to those who, like the author, originally came to yoga unwilling to acknowledge a spiritual force higher than one's own ego. (I also suspect the sponsoring Department of Philosophy & Religion needed something tangibly "religious" in the title.) All in all, this is an excellent overview of yoga theory with many keen insights on practice. For beginning a yoga practice, one might better turn to a work by another of Sri Krishnamachaya's students, A.G. Mohan, whose fine "Yoga for Body, Breath and Mind" presents these teachings in clear, coherent and gentle form.

An illuminating miniature on a legendary house that was almost destroyed by the New England hurricane of 1938 and succumbed to fire in 1973. It was NeutraÕs grandestÑand most unlikelyÑcommission: a summer house for a famous Rhode Island family on Fishers Island. John Nicholas Brown picked Neutra after seeing the MoMA exhibition on modern architecture that included the Lovell Health House. Neumann, a professor of architecture at Brown University, recently curated an exhibition on the house that may eventually be shown in LA. Meanwhile we can enjoy his entertaining account of how the patrician client and progressive architect corresponded and faced off, and the camel that resulted from the collaboration of this odd couple. (Michael Webb is the book reviewer for LA Architect magazine.)

This slim volume is one of a series of six "Sourcebooks on the Civil War," all edited by Smith, all illustrations from the Library of Congress, all bargains. Captions are adequately detailed and an additional commentary is given relating the events pictured to the progress of the war. But in some cases the picture selection is curious almost to the point of being perverse. While all the images provide windows on the war, they vary enormously in authenticity. For action scenes, there are some incomparable on-the-spot drawings by the greatly talented Arthur Waud and Edwin Forbes. The book also contains fine period photographs: portraits, forts, ruined cities. But there are far too many lithographs by Currier & Ives, Prang & Co., and the like. Many of these extravagant panoramas are perennially popular, it's true, but they're eternally inaccurate. In these an other instances, text is needed to correct their errors, when an authentic illustration wouldn't require a caveat. In "Battles and Leaders," there's a splendid painting (in black and white) of Grant and Lee at the signing of the surrender, seated at separate tables, as they were in actuality. Instead, this Sourcebook gives us a painfully awkward, primitive, crudely tinted C&I drawing of the two leaders ignoring each other at the same table -- presumably for the sole reason that it's among the Library's holdings. This is one of several similar shortcomings in an otherwise excellent graphics presentation.

Relying on extensive original documents, Morton constructs a highly readable portrait of life in 18th-century Virginia.

Robert Carter was a leading planter and businessman, one of a long line of Carters that held significant influence in pre-Revolutionary Virginia. By highlighting his significant operations, Morton provides a fascinating glimpse of this early American business leader.

Along the way, the reader is also introduced to a cast of characters whose lives intersected with Carter including tenants, slaves, businessmen and family members. Most interesting are the insights of Phillip Fithian, a tutor to the Carter children who kept a journal while employed by the family.

The book does not hide its age, as its passages relating to Carter's slaves portray him as the archetypal "benevolent master," yet it is highly worthwhile to anyone with an interest in Virginia, the Carter family or 18th-century America.

American history does not need to be mundane. Fanatics of the past will drool over this collection of historical tales, told from non-traditional perspectives. Each of these short pieces of fiction retells classic stories in a intoxicatingly funny, yet authentic way. Carter is audacious in her plain yet twisted manner of story-telling. She contorts the stories of Lizzy Borden and Edgar Allen Poe in such a way that the reader will find herself somewhat befuddled. This is not to say that "Saints and Strangers" is not a well crafted collection of short stories. This book is indicative of Carter's mastery of putting a feminist spin on traditional folk tales.

This book grabbed my attention within the first few pages. Although the stage appears to be set for a novel about a young woman trying to survive in a deteriorating neighborhood, an unexpected element arises. This book has it all - crime, murder, friendship, and love, but it also has "something" more. Read it to find out.

Don't overlook this rather obscure work! Written by Former President Jimmy Carter's nephew-- the son of his brother Billy, this book is quite a find! This story is of one of the most dysfunctional Southern families since Conroy's Prince of Tides. The big difference is that this family never made it to the "big city" long enough to get lost in its anonymity.

Savin' Sam is a former used car salesman who now travels around South Georgia with a bus full of terminally ill men and women who are spending their last days "witnessing" at revivals in an attempt to pass on bits of wisdom acquired during their life. All is fine until a well-known and cold-hearted former Senator becomes terminally ill and takes up with Savin' Sam much to his family's dismay. What ensues is a son's journey through South Georgia in search of his father, in hopes of making amends for years of separation and general distain for each other. On the way, the son finds the true nature of himself and ultimately finds his true father.

This is a must for those who really love wacky southern fiction. The characters are rather Faulknerian-- full of eccentricities on the surface, but all have substantial depth. Having grown up in the South, I could identify with the odd characters and the plot seemed remotely plausible. I laughed at the realism, but ended up a little tearful at the end.

Twenty-five years ago her father deserted her mother and her when she was a little girl. For years she has prayed he would come see her, but nary a word came from him. That hope ended when her mother was put away in a psycho ward. Chicago business executive Tess Wheaton obtains what she wished for as a child, but not the way she wanted to hear from him. A Boulder lawyer has informed her that her dad and his second wife died in a car crash, leaving their two children, thirteen-year old Nick and six-year-old Molly temporary wards of Colorado. She wants nothing to do with her half siblings or her father's estate.

Nick and Molly arrive at Tess' office as she is on the phone with Boulder social worker Alec Malone. Tess demands Alec come pick up his two charges immediately. He agrees to arrive tomorrow. As Tess comes to know her siblings and more about the father who left her behind, she soon wants to raise the two youngsters, but with Alec at her side because she loves the three new people in her life.

Though the ease in which Tess "forgives" her father's desertion seems off kilter after two plus decades of hurt, anger, and accusations, fans will enjoy this substantial engaging relationship drama. The theme focuses on how the four prime characters evolve from individuals with their own needs (except Nick's efforts to nurture his younger sister) into a cohesive loving family. Readers will appreciate watching Tess struggle between a growing love for the three newcomers in her life vs. her animosity towards her father.

Harriet Klausner