It's Thrilling, a must to read!.

The Ghost and the Darkness is a wonderful book filled with adventure and terror. It is also a great character study to see how the main character of the book deals with the problem and confronts his fears.

I FOUND THIS BOOK EXTREMELY ENTERTAINING. IT COMBINES NEVERENDING INTENSE ACTION WITH A SHREWD TOUCH OF A PAGE TURNING CLASSIC! READ IT

(!! This comment is based on the 7th edition !!)
If you know your way around organisational theory, and if you were surprised by the straightforwardness of 'The One Minute Manager', than this may be your next best buy.
The authors not only bring together several theories, but they also explore how they are linked, and what they mean in practice (after all, they are behaviorists).

If you are looking for a more theoretical underpinning of 'why the story of The One Minute Manager is so true!', you may find the answers in this book.

This book is one of my favorites! It leads you first through a complete review of management and leadership theories, then introduces the authors' famous SITUATIONAL LEADERSHIP model and theory. This book goes into great depth about the sit-lead model and theory, and is a great read. Want to be a better leader??? Read the book by the experts! ...

I was first introduced to Situational Leadership in the military quite a few years ago. This book did a great job of dusting off the cobwebs in the memory and proving that Situational Leadership is still a viable means of leading your people.

The book provides an overview of various management and human behavior theories, such as Maslow, Herzberg, Schein, Argyris, and McGregor. Then, fits them into a nice model deemed Situational Leadership. I must say that I've read the majority of the theories already and they do fit. Plus, if followed, the model is very effective in helping a leader in real world situations.

If you buy this book, you receive a host of valuable information. I think, besides involving you with the Situational Leadership model, the best attributes are the extensive lists of additional reading that are provided to you at the end of each chapter, and at the end of the book. If you're on a journey to better yourself as a manager and leader, the exhaustive list is well worth the price of the book. It saves you from buying the duds and "fadish" management/leadership books on-line without the ability to have them in your hands prior to purchase. Plus, the book gives you a good preview to the information contained in a book before you buy it.

All in all, if you're going to invest some time and money in a management/leadership book, definitely buy this book. You need to know this information and have it at your fingertips if you're going to survive in the organizational human behavior world as a leader.

I have a confession to make. Mark was probably my least favorite of the Gospels. It seemed so disjointed at times. The author seemed to race from one event to the other, with seemingly little connection between events or tales. His descriptions and details seemed scant, with the other Gospels filling in the blanks. And there lies part of my problem in trying to figure the book of Mark out - my reliance on the other Gospels to help me interpret it, instead of reading Mark as though I was hearing everything about the life, death, and resurrection of the Messiah for the first time.

The authors of "Mark as Story" try to impress upon the reader the importance of understanding Mark on its own terms as a narrative. They offer four guidelines in this approach: (1) read Mark as a story rather than history, (2) read Mark independently from the other Gospels, (3) avoid reading modern cultural assumptions into the story, and (4) avoid reading modern theologies about Jesus back into Mark's story. With these guidelines in mind, the authors discuss the various elements of Mark, known in biblical studies as "narrative criticism" where tone, style, setting, plot, characters, etc. are analyzed. Sound like a college course in Literature? Perhaps. And thus this particular book may not be to everyone's liking. As for me, I can truly say that I have a much greater appreciation for the Gospel of Mark having read it as a work of literature in its own right. - Ronni

This fairly brief book provides a fresh and exciting approach to the Gospel of Mark. By respecting the integrity of Mark and encouraging the reader to attend to the details and style of this Gospel, the reader is allowed to experience anew the Gospel and find within its story the astounding character of Jesus.

Most churches teach "the gospels" as if they were one story told by someone named Matthew Mark Luke John. So it's very hard to read any one gospel as if for the first time. They all wind up sounding like random collections of sayings and miracles by Jesus leading up to Good Friday and Easter. What Rhoads and Michie do is to treat the Gospel of Mark as a work of literature in its own right, apart from anything else we know or think we know about Jesus. They examine Mark's rhetoric, settings, plot, and characters to see how he tells the story. In the process, they enable us to experience Mark's gospel in a completely fresh way. Now I'm waiting for them to do the same thing for Matthew, Luke, and John--especially John.

Beautiful drawings of Africian animals.A wonderful and sweet story of animals in Africia. Children of all ages will love this book.

Rhino and his East African animal pals, huggably drawn, are playing hide and seek. On one page, animals are hiding, camoflauged in their native habitat; on the next page, they jump out and run away from the rhino. The book follows this pattern through desert, plains, swamp, etc. Older kids can learn about camoflauge, the East African environment, and the names of 60+ different species (there's a guide on the endpapers). But the book is also appropriate for preschoolers, as it's very colorful and light on text. My two-year-old loves hunting for the hidden animals on every page.

Rhino is playing hide and seek with his huggably-drawn East African animal pals. One page shows animals camoflauged in a specific habitat; the next shows the animals bounding away. The book continues like this through desert, swamp, plains, etc. My two-year-old has a great time hunting for the hidden animals. This book is very light on text and suitable for preschoolers, but also seems appropriate for older children. The endpapers contain an illustrated guide to the many species depicted throughout the book, so kids can learn the difference between a vulturine fish eagle and a lesser swamp warbler!

"Bamboo and Butterflies" is a biography and an oral history. In a series of vignettes written in "first person" format, it tells the story of the daughters and extended family of Ean Bun, and their fleeing from Cambodia to America. Part one of the story begins in 1979 with 11 year old Tevi. She tells of her memories about the flight out of Cambodia to California with her mother, Mearadey Ngak, her father, Keang (Ken) Ngak, and her two younger sisters, Sampwa Moni (Sam) and Chenda Peach.Tevi relates that "Everything seemed alien: unfamiliar surroundings, weird noises, peculiar smells." The narrative frequently switches back and forth between these first family members to arrive in The States.The narrative also frequently changes the frame of reference back and forth from the present to the past. There is some repetition from story story, but the format works well. All of the family share their relief at finally being safe after several years of slave labor under the Khmer Rouge regime. Sampwa/Sam relates "...I learned fear. Being forced from our home and from the city was a shock...then the Khmer Rouge took my grandfather away." They all tell of the problems involved in being forced to take refuge in a country without knowing the language. There are humorous tales of the misconceptions they have about American culture and society. When Chenda Poong first arrives in the States she can't figure out how to stand on an American toilet to "perform her duty." After several days of doing the best she can, she mentions it to her cousin, who explains the "American way" to her. "My opinion of American bathrooms improvedmarkedly after that" she said! There are many stories of triumphs small and large. As new family members are brought over from Southeast Asia their stories are added.We eventually meet all of Ean Bun's daughters and Son-in-Laws and grandchildren. The courage and tenacity with which all the members of this exceptional extended family work is told with a humble "matter-of fact-ness."! They are not bitter at the past, they are grateful to be alive and have a second chance! Forced to clean houses to make ends meet, A task they had servants for in Cambodia, the women confront the "fantasy versus the reality" of their new lives. "That cleaning business proved to be a valuable experience. It taught me that in America your worth is measured by the person you are, not the work you do." "The gap you perceive between your experience and ours (refugees) is not a gap - it's the Grand Canyon," Teeda Mam says at one point. But they are not hopelessly distressed about the gap they must cross to fit in in America, they are motivated! This families' experiences are extreme by our standards; and so is the courage and goodwill with which they chose to cope.

I teach English to immigrants and their stories of immigration always fascinate me. The extended family in this biography is from Cambodia, and they were desperate to leave, as families such as this one were especially at risk of persecution and death for having been part of the more Ã'privilegedÃ" middle class.

It took a massive effort on the part of Ean BunÕs family to escape, but it also required great effort and commitment on the part of the American sponsors who persevered in not only getting them here, but in nurturing them once they arrived. Without the sponsors, these immigrants wouldnÕt have adapted to the culture and reached their dreams, at least not as quickly or as well. The sponsors provided housing, furniture, clothes. They helped them sign up for classes and find jobs, and counseled them on taxes, education, jobs, and even in dealing with problems in relationships. The sponsors played a critical role in Americanizing these immigrants, and serve as a model for those who wonder how they can help.

This is a fascinating account of Ã'east meets westÃ", with humorous and poignant stories of how members of the family interpreted our western holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and Halloween, their misundersandings of our idioms, and encountering contraptions such as toilets and toilet paper so soft it should not be used for its intended purpose. When the American sponsors spent time instructing the family in Christianity, they assumed the familyÕs conversion was real, based on an understanding of the doctrine, but much later discovered that the Cambodians attended church to please their sponsors, and to mingle with people who spoke English. The Cambodians considered themselves both Christians and Buddhists at the same time, and after years of acquiring English and cultural understanding, they realized they didnÕt understand either religion very well.

This book also makes us see a little of what we take for granted in the U.S., our ability to speak freely, to live comfortably and without fear, and to be surrounded by a wealth of possessions. One Cambodian is shocked and outraged, when attending school, she sees the students talking loudly, throwing a football across the room, and the worst horror... sitting on a stack of books and treating them like trash. She had owned one book in Cambodia, and protected it as a special treasure. She saw how American students didnÕt seem to want to learn as much as they wanted the school day to end, whereas she wanted to devour her education, learning as much as she could.

Yet there are ways that our culture shines in the CambodiansÕ eyes, and if we take some time to look at our culture from their perspective, it can make us more thoughtful, more appreciative, and more productive citizens.

This excellent book mirrors the teachings of the author, that one must understand the biology of the honey bee in order to comprehend its behavior. This book not only encompasses facts but also provides topics for further discussion, thus leading to further inquiry into the fascinating world of honey bees.

This is one of the best books on the subject of bees and beekeeping that I have found. It's coverage of honey bee history, biology and management has made it part of my short collection. Thanks

A good story but in my opinion ther's nothing special about the pictures.

My mom bought a copy of this book...about 20 years ago. She got it because it reminded me of a sampler she had made depicting chicks in front of a blazing sun. It was one of my top fives as a kid. When I found it again here, I was beside myself. It arrived speedily, and in perfect shape at that. This virtual thrift shopping is a good substitue for the real thing!

Planning to cut loose from poor Phoebe with a cash settlement, Lewrie finds that is easier said than done. So off they go, with a surprising collection of her recent acquisitions, to find her accomodations in Corsica, Phoebe's homeland and Lewrie's next naval assignment. Once again Lambdin has done excellent research to cover a segment of the early Napoleonic Wars that has been neglected by most authors. The book develops as an excellent historical novel, mixing realistic accounts of well known historical figures with Lambdin's fictional characters. And what of poor Phoebe? The Contessa Aretino, a sharp businesswoman with a knack for turning a profit and a Corsican nationalist to boot? Well, now... And Le Hideux, an enemy from Lewrie's past reappearing to match wits and guns, will this be his end as Lewrie hunts him down? As with the other Lambdin books about Lewrie, the plot stands well by itself but, in this case, the previous book, H.M.S. Cockerel, should prob! ably be read first as a King's Commander is an obvious continuation of a tale. The ending of the tale is a little unfinished and leads into a necessary sequel.

Lewrie has almost more action this time in bed than in command of his ship. This is a great series that takes you back to the days of Wooden Ships and Iron Men but adds a fair blend of humor and lechery as well. The scene where Lewrie gets his uniform chewed off (figuratively) by a angered Nelson is very well done. Someday some clever producer will realize that with computer advancements you could film any of the Hornblower, Bolitho, Ramage or Lewrie series and make some splendid movies. If you like Hornblower you'll probably enjoy this series and check out the hard to find Dudley Pope series and the Alexander Kent series as well. I was greatly relieved to see that the story I'd heard that the series was over was false and am looking forward to the next one

Mr. Lambdin has done it again. "Our hero" as Mr. Lambdin sometimes refers to his primary character continues the maintenance and, yes, love of his engaging Corsican mistress (Phoebe) while remaining wholly in love with his wife, Caroline. He concludes that it is possible to love them both, but is consumed (from time to time) by a horrendous and heavy guilt and self -loathing at the fact. This does not stop him from admiring and entertaining lascivious thoughts of other women who cross his path. When not feeling guilty, he is Commander of HMS Sloop Jester, which he manages with much success. The people he encounters (Captain Horatio Nelson) and others, are people you come to know and care for because of Mr. Lambdin's remarkable ability to create and develop characters that jump off the page at you. His storytelling is first class, his plots are fascinating without being contrived, and his sense of humor sets him apart from others of the genre. It is clear that he is at pains to be accurate in the slang and colloquialisms of the time, and he is equally accurate in the technicalities of sailing, without letting those technicalities overwhelm the reader. His sense of the historical is made clear by his notes at the end of the book noting where he deviated slightly from what is possible, historically speaking, or elaborating on an historical character in the story by explaining why he attributed the personality to them that he did. This is altogether a superb book, written by a master storyteller, who clearly commands his craft. This is great stuff.

Overall, I consider this a good book with easy to follow recipes. However, I feel that she didn't include all the information that she should have.

She uses essential oils in many of the recipes, but she never mentions any safety data. For instance, she includes many citrus oils without mentioning that they are phototoxic.

She gives a brief description of each of the ingredients that she uses throughout the book. However, although she uses a number of different emulsifiers, she doesn't bother to explain why one may be better than another in a specific recipe, or how to substitute one emulsifier for another in a recipe. Since some of the ingredients are hard to find, this would be nice to know. In addition, one emulsifier she uses is an alpha hydroxy acid which she includes in most of her lotion and cream recipes. I choose not to use alpha hydroxy acids and would love to know how to make the recipes without that ingredient.

There are not as many recipes in this book as it first appears. Many recipes are, "take the basic recipe from chapter 3 and add the following essential oils..."

While I'm glad I bought this book, I do feel that it's going to take some additional research and experimentation before I'm able to use the recipes for my own personal use.

A gorgeous book written by a dedicated professional. Although some of the luxury-class packaging shown is unaffordable for most people, the products themselves are impeccable. They're neither inexpensive nor quickie/craft-style projects. If you want to make high-end natural skincare items, this book is essential.

I was lucky enough to obtain a copy of this beautiful book. Having always been interested in aromatherapy, I was pleased to see so many wonderful recipes for using the oils that I have come to love. The layout of the book is beautiful with great photos and easy to follow directions and recipes. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in making natural cosmetics and just generally wanting to make their environments more healthful.

I almost ordered this book thinking it was a companion book to "Natural Bodycare: Creating Aromatherapy Cosmetics for Health & Beauty" by Julia Meadows. It is not. It is just the paperback version of that book.

Beautiful book, well written, but doesn't supply all the pertinent information.

I have been so inspired after reading this book to make my own cosmetic products! Infact, I have already made quite a few products for family and friends (after owning the book for not more than a couple of weeks) and they all love them. There are so many different recipies covering a broad range of therapuetic beauty products, from milk baths and nourishing face creams, to foot lotions and body scrubs! Plus there is also the flexibility to alter the recipes to suit your own preference, for examlple choosing the carrier material for a paticular skin type when making facial exfoliaters. It is nothing less than rewarding to make your own beauty product which are as good quality ( if not better ), and less costly than professional products on the market. And the only negative comment I can say about this book is because I live in Australia it's very difficult to get some of the cosmetic ingredients in small quantities (but I'm working on it ).

In addition to the incredible photographs, this book has a well-written, readable introduction to the various ingredients needed to make natural bodycare items. On the downside, certain types of pure essential oils and other items may be difficult to find for those who live in small towns (like me). However, with a little patience, I have been able to find most of what I need in local health food stores. There is also a wonderful section at the end of the book on how to package your creations, should you wish to give them as gifts. All in all, a beautiful, readable book.