As are most people who read this type of book, I am looking for answers about brain chemistry and mood enhancement. I suffer from depression, but have never tried a prescription drug since a brief bout with tricyclics about 15 years ago. This is a great alternative. Nicely written review of the neurological action, and what the substance does. I take 5HTP, and it works somewhat for me. I have had to take it during the daytime, as it causes extremely vivid dreams if I take it at night. I have had no other side effects yet...though I haven't been taking it long. I am always interested when a Doctor puts out a book promoting an alternative method of achieving well-being.

As are most people who read this type of book, I am looking for answers about brain chemistry and mood enhancement. I suffer from depression, but have never tried a prescription drug since a brief bout with tricyclics about 15 years ago. This is a great alternative. Nicely written review of the neurological action, and what the substance does. I take 5HTP, and it works somewhat for me. I have had to take it during the daytime, as it causes extremely vivid dreams if I take it at night. I have had no other side effects yet...though I haven't been taking it long. I am always interested when a Doctor puts out a book promoting an alternative method of achieving well-being.

I had such a hard time falling asleep, accompanied by debilitating anxiety, until I read this book and started taking 5-HTP. My problem was so serious that I found I was sleeping with my eyes open (Ouch!) The very first night I took it, I slept like a baby. I was unable to take prescription sleep aids and anxiety drugs because of depression and other medical problems. I felt immediate relief with 5-HTP.

The scientific studies referenced in this book made be feel very comfortable in taking 5-HTP. They were written in an easily understandable format. The author basically drew a map of the path 5-HTP takes throughout the body. Well done Dr. Murray!

After finishing 'The First Man in Rome,' I knew that I would continue to read this series. So I picked up TGC and read it. I must say that Colleen is a fantastic imagist. She throws you right into Rome with all its brutality and glory, with no holds barred, teeth bared and mystical significance combined into one. I just know that Sulla is going to play a HUGE role when he comes back from the war in Africa. I must say that the death of Gauis Marius should have taken on a deeper meaning, especially for all the Romans that must have still loved him, even after he'd gone completely mad. But still, his life was only a snapshot of what is to come. If you liked reading 'The First Man in Rome' you won't be disappointed here. She continues on in the same manner, right where she left off. All in all, WELL DONE. Bravio!

This sequel continues the story of Marius, one of the greatest generals that Rome had ever known, and his student and rival, Sulla. Julius Caesar is also a child prodigy in it and the familiar cast of characters from the first volume are back as well. As far as new characters go, there are the brutal "oriental" despot Mithradates, Ciciero, and the ambitious Pompey family. They are all believable and very interesting as well as embodiments of possible roman futures in a way that most history books do not explore. The characters also evolve, which adds a depth that makes it all the more believable.

It is about a very sad era in Rome, with the republican institutions in precipitous decline as powerful generals rise, whose troops are more loyal to them than to the Roman Republic. The descent into barbarism is horrific and brilliantly delineated by McCullough, who has done a superb job of historical research. Just as Marius' star is waning - and his decline from the great and far-thinking man he was makes for depressing reading - so Sulla's time has arrived.

I do not know of a better way to live in a different era than historical novels. This series is so masterly, so fascinating in detail, and so fast-moving in plot and action that it is one of the best that I have ever read. Warmly recommended.

You'll change that opinion once you're immersed in "The Grass Crown". Better yet, start with "The First Man in Rome" in order to fully appreciate the grandure of Colleen McCullough's series. I've been reading historical novels all my life, and been disappointed by many. But for sheer quantity of details, I've never seen the like. It truly feels like Ms. McCullough was there. It reads like an eye witness account. I especially liked her description of Caesar's mother, and the world she created and inhabited. But the story deals primarily with Sulla. His progress through life reminded me of "The Picture of Dorian Gray". His deeds and misdeeds are etched on his face and body. What a warning we receive from this description of a dictator who gained power due to the apathy of his fellow citizens. They let him have too much power and died regretting it. Think about that the next time you're tempted not to vote. These are long novels, but I couldn't get enough. Some have compared this to "I, Claudius". Not a good comparison. As much as I enjoyed "The Grass Crown", it can't compare to Robert Graveses wit and lyrical style. Still, it has charms aplenty of its own. Read it, you'll be glad you did.

I enjoyed reading this book, which is a bit off-putting due to its size and breadth. As long as one has a bit of time on his or her hands, this is a useful and entertaining way to spend some quality time with yourself in the company of two excellent history writers. The book has an amazing scope, and like Gerhard Weinberg's "A World At Arms" has a mammoth and daunting job at hand to describe the total scope and kaleidoscope of activities contained under the rubric of the second world war.

The authors here are much more forthcoming than was Weinhard in discussing specific battlefield details of particular engagements, and this adds to the book's considerable value and readability to history buffs like myself. I enjoy their liberal employment of relevant economic, technological, geographical and other factors in describing the whos, hows, whens, wheres and whys of specific struggles as well as in describing the nature of the overall socio-political aspects of the war. So, when they subsequently launch into discussing their uniquely constructed "standards of military effectiveness", they add to its value by buttressing their findings with a wealth of different kinds of supporting data, information, and background that makes the total overview of the war much more understandable than it would be otherwise.

The book does suffer from some minor drawbacks, such as the authors' obvious quarrel with the contributions and strategies of Douglas MacArthur, yet they are also suitably fastidious in pointing out his many contributions and effective tactics as well. This drawback is counterbalanced by an outstanding treatment covering the Nazi campaign against Russia, and the day to day details crammed into describing the ill-fated and terribly over-extended German occupation and troubles in Operation Barbarossa and in the subsequent crushing defeats at the hands of the Russian armies is worth the price of the book alone.

In summary, I also believe their well-argued and documented take on the importance and lasting influence of the second world war is crucial in understanding all that followed in the balance of the 20th century to be well taken, and to be beyond reasonable dispute. In some respects (Such as level of detail regarding specific engagements) this is a better book than Weinberg's, and on other levels it falls short of his monumental work. Combined, the two books offer one an astounding and quite rich look at a war that we are just starting to appreciate in all of its amazing scope, ferocity, and consequence. This book should be required reading for anyone considering a career in 20th century history, or for all of us history nuts who just can't get enough of a great thing. Enjoy!

This excellent book continues the approach to warfare taken by the authors in their outstanding three-volume edited series: "Military Effectiveness" published about a decade ago. That book looked at the First World War and the Second World War (including the interwar period) from the standpoint of each participating nation. It set up the standard of "military effectiveness", taken at the levels of grand strategy/national policy (to include industrial and economic preparation) strategy (operational war plans) and battlefield performance (operational or theater level of war and tactics of divisions to brigades). They have applied this thorough and enlightening analysis to the present volume. This focus makes for an excellent "operational history" of the war. The emphasis is on the work of armies, corps and divisions in theater-level operations, as opposed to the tales of derring-do at the company or platoon level. However, one gets a good sense of the plight of the men at the point of contact. The field commanders are thoroughly and fairly assessed. Montgomery, for example, is given his due as a great planner and a great leader of men, but a testy martinet when it came to inter-allied coordination. I would say that our British cousins would not find any Monty-bashing here. Rommel likewise is fairly handled. Guderian's halo is removed;his role as a "good Nazi" does not detract from his reputation as a hard-charger, but his brashness in dealing with his colleagues in other units is brought out.

Throughout, there is a constant interplay between the pre-war plans and preparations with the results of each operation. National temperament and command styles are neatly summarized.

There is no waste of words. The text is gripping, concise and lively. There are no anecdotal asides --- one gets the impression that these two are writing from accumulated expertise over a long period rather than from note cards with colorful "filler" spliced in-- a fault of too many World War II books of late.

Appendices on military organization, weapons systems, the art of war and the documentary sources are mini-encyclopedia in themselves.

This book is indeed the definitive book on how the "war to be won" was, in fact, won by the allies and lost by the Axis.

Highly recommended for both the knowledgeable buff and the novice.

I've always thought that a single-volume history of WWII was an impossibility, but these gentlemen have carried it off. They move from theater to theater with the skill of novelists; they eschew the weasel word "Nazi" unless they're actually talking about the German political system; and they deride the conventional wisdom about the ineffectiveness of the Anglo-American bombing campaign. (Germany had 10,000 flak cannon targeted against Allied bombers, compared to 8,200 against Russian tanks. How different the war in the east would have been, if those 10,000 guns and 500,000 Luftwaffe gunners and support personnel had been freed for the eastern front!)

The commanders fare rather badly. The authors detest MacArthur (no surprise there) but are equally harsh on Bradley, Clark, and King. Montgomery gets mixed reviews, as does Rommell and the German high command, most of whom were thorough-going Nazis with little grasp of strategy. Indeed, the only place where the German military gets unreserved praise is for its mastery of "combined arms" on the battlefield. Time and again, Allied armies fight isolated battles against a weaker German force that prevails (or at least escapes) by virtue of the fact that air, armor, infantry, and artillery worked together, and this across the entire front.

Japanese commanders get off more lightly--they accomplished so much with so little--but the brutality of the Japanese military still sickens after all these years. The same of course is true of the German military, and not just in the east. (Americans who get bent out of shape over the execution of Private Slovik should know that between 13,000 and 15,000 German soldiers were executed for subversion, desertion, or disobedience in the front lines--not to mention tens of thousands sent to near-certain death in penal battalions.) The difference really comes down to numbers: the Japanese murdered their captives by the hundreds of thousands, while the Germans murdered them by the millions. They were rogue nations, and God protect us from seeing their like again.

"A War To Be Won" has errors and omissions, of course--no two men can get everything right with respect to the greatest catastrophe of the 20th century, if not all human history. But what a great try!

Though it's rather slow to get going in the initial chapters, Oscar Wilde's "Picture of Dorian Gray" builds up into a splendidly effective piece, written in highly polished prose. Dorian Gray, who is suggestively described as "charming" and "beautiful" ... is painted by his friend and admirer, Basil Hallward. Dorian, a self-centered social luminary whose character is reminiscent of Narcissus, makes a bizarre sub-Faustian wish which tragically comes true: that his beautiful portrait may age, while he retains his youthful looks. The conclusion is disastrous, the culmination of a narrative containing elements of murder, suicide, blackmail, a confrontation in a grimy alley and an episode in an opium den. The characters are very well sketched out, particularly the triad of Dorian, Basil and the intellectual cynic, Lord Henry, Dorian's mentor and the mouthpiece of some of Wilde's most cutting amoral opinions. The style is, typically, marvellous, characterised by brilliant exchanges and aphoristic gaiety. Wilde lacerates English bourgeois culture, the conceptions of sin and virtue and the attitudes towards art of his time with tremendous aplomb. Some of his quips are patently snide, sometimes mysogynistic, as in: "Woman represents the triumph of matter over mind, while man represents the triumph of mind over morals." Oh, isn't that just despicable?! I love it!

This sophisticated but crude novel is the story of man's eternal desire for perennial youth, of our vanity and frivolity, of the dangers of messing with the laws of life. Just like "Faust" and "The immortal" by Borges.

Dorian Gray is beautiful and irresistible. He is a socialité with a high ego and superficial thinking. When his friend Basil Hallward paints his portrait, Gray expresses his wish that he could stay forever as young and charming as the portrait. The wish comes true.

Allured by his depraved friend Henry Wotton, perhaps the best character of the book, Gray jumps into a life of utter pervertion and sin. But, every time he sins, the portrait gets older, while Gray stays young and healthy. His life turns into a maelstrom of sex, lies, murder and crime. Some day he will want to cancel the deal and be normal again. But Fate has other plans.

Wilde, a man of the world who vaguely resembles Gray, wrote this masterpiece with a great but dark sense of humor, saying every thing he has to say. It is an ironic view of vanity, of superflous desires. Gray is a man destroyed by his very beauty, to whom an unknown magical power gave the chance to contemplate in his own portrait all the vices that his looks and the world put in his hands. Love becomes carnal lust; passion becomes crime. The characters and the scenes are perfect. Wilde's wit and sarcasm come in full splendor to tell us that the world is dangerous for the soul, when its rules are not followed. But, and it's a big but, it is not a moralizing story. Wilde was not the man to do that. It is a fierce and unrepressed exposition of all the ugly side of us humans, when unchecked by nature. To be rich, beautiful and eternally young is a sure way to hell. And the writing makes it a classical novel. Come go with Wotton and Wilde to the theater, and then to an orgy. You'll wish you age peacefully.

_The Picture of Dorian Gray_, a story of morals, psychology and poetic justice, has furnished Oscar Wilde with the status of a great writer. It takes place in 19th-century England, and tells of a man in the bloom of his youth who will remain forever young.

Basil Hallward is a merely average painter until he meets Dorian Gray and becomes his friend. But Dorian, who is blessed with an angelic beauty, inspires Hallward to create his ultimate masterpiece. Awed by the perfection of this rendering, he utters the wish to be able to retain the good looks of his youth while the picture were the one to deteriorate with age. But when Dorian discovers the painting cruelly altered and realizes that his wish has been fulfilled, he ponders changing his hedonistic approach.

_Dorian Gray_'s sharp social criticism has provoked audible controversy and protest upon the book's 1890 publication, and only years later was it to rise to classic status. Reminiscent of a Greek tragedy, it is popularly interpreted as an analogy to Wilde's own tragic life. Despite this, the book is laced with the right amounts of the author's perpetual jaunty wit.

Dreamweaver MX Templates is the first great "how to" book for utilizing the power of library items and templates. Of all the mysteries not well understood about DW features, Templates is certainly high on the list.

Mystery solved!

Brad and Murry have covered the territory well with a book that starts at the beginning (section 1) and builds (section 2) so that anyone reading the book can walk away confident in the uses of templates, new template features in DWMX and the awesome timesaver available in library items.

Instructional and easy to read material, complimented by easy to understand exercises reveal the power in templates, library items and snippets.

A great book for those new to the power in DWMX and a good reference guide for those who understand DWMX but just haven't gotten the hang of templates and library items.

If you are an avid Dreamweaver MX user and rely heavily on templates for your site design, Dreamweaver MX Templates is for you. You may already be using templates to save time in web site design, as you may have done in previous versions of Dreamweaver. However, you may not be getting the most usage our of your templates as you could be. This book shows you a side of templates within Dreamweaver MX that you may never have known to exist previously.

Dreamweaver MX Templates thoroughly covers not only basic template usage, but also the programmability features of templates. It shows you how to manipulate the template programming language to create extensive template pages with a handful of code.

All in all, the book is very well laid out and easy to understand. There's tons of information packed into the book with plenty to "wow" the reader with a lot of "I didn't know Dreamweaver templates could do that". If you're serious about tapping deeper into Dreamweaver MX templates, this is the book to buy.

Templates in Dreamweaver MX are far more advanced than previous versions of Dreamweaver. There are five new regions to enhance and extend Dreamweaver templates.

The templates have become mini-programs in a way which allow the designer a vast amount of control - control that I didn't even realize was possible. I bought this book to learn about Editable Tag Attributes and was amazed at what can be done with the new templates.

In the first section of the book, the authors cover new template features -explaining them in depth. The second section of the book walks you through the development of a template-based web site. The authors also explain pitfalls so that you can avoid making mistakes in your design.

This is a great book and I highly recommend it. The template snippet extension that they provide is fantastic too. To learn more about his book, visit the author site...

I loved the new Neal Karlen book "Slouching Toward Fargo". It captured what life is like in the unique Northern League of Baseball. I should know, I was a memeber of the 1996 St. Paul Saints - I was the infielder born without legs - Dave Stevens, and it was a dream of a lifetime to play alongside Darryl Strawberry and Jack Morris - Please read this book for an incredible unprecidented inside look at the oddball life and times of the rennegade league and why that team in St. Paul can outdraw it's ugly step sister - the Twins - just two miles away - on any given summer night

I love baseball and minor league baseball especially, and I love Bill Murray, who is one of the owners of the wacky team the St. Paul Saints this book is about. So when I heard this book when the Casey award for best baseball book of the year I got it. This team is nuts, but there's a point to all the nuttiness. They have a pig that delivers balls to the umpires! It was kind of amazing to read about the 3 foot tall second basemen with no legs, and really sad about Darryl Strawberry, especially when you know what happened to him. And all the women in the story seemed to fit in too. The writer kind of bugged me for the first 50 pages, but when I figured out he was looking for something in his own life as much as the players, I thought he was pretty cool and brave to be so upfront about his life. I'd rather see a game then read about it usually, but this really isn't even about baseball in a ton of ways. I gave it to some friends who don't even like baseball and they really liked it too.

I learned A LOT more than I bargained for when I purchased this book. What started out as a hatchet job on Bill Murray by a writer employed by a vindictive Jann Wenner turned into a beautiful story about how the lives of people can still be positively affected by the power of sport. One couldn't ask for a more unusual cast of characters or a better person to tell their story. Mr. Karlen, as a result of this book's publication, I truly hope that you'll no longer need to drive your "Northern League" car. And as for Mr. Wenner and his all-too-cool publication? I will certainly have doubts about the objectivity of any article, profile, or review printed in "Rolling Stone" from now on.

I'm a great fan of Dummies books--but not this one.

There are too many holes in the book: the authors only give superficial treatment to such important issues as preconception health, work-related issues (e.g. how to tell your boss you're pregnant), the implications of taking various types of drugs during pregnancy, and the role that doulas and midwives can play in prenatal care and labor support. Worst of all, the chapter on pregnancy loss failed to address the important physical and psychological issues involved: how to cope with your grief, the physical aftermath of pregnancy loss, when it's safe to start trying to conceive again, and how to cope with the stress of a subsequent pregnancy.

The tone was also pretty heavy--even a little dry--as compared to your average Dummies book. I was hoping for a book with a bit more personality.

If you're looking for a comprehensive pregnancy book that's strong on content, pick up The Unofficial Guide to Having A Baby by John Sussman and Ann Douglas. If you're looking for a book with lots of style, pick up The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy. Unfortunately, this book doesn't have much to offer in terms of content or style.

I have purchased a lot of Dummies Books over the years and rely on a few titles (e.g. fitness, nutrition) time and time again because they always answer all my biggest questions about the topics they address. Unfortunately, the pregnancy book doesn't seem to be quite as comprehensive as the other Dummies Books I've read. I found it lacking in specifics on the things I was worried about the most like whether the spotting I was experiencing was likely to lead to miscarriage, whether it was normal to feel depressed early in pregnancy when I was hit with a severe case of morning sickness, and what labor would be really like. What the book does do a good job of, however, is in talking about pregnancy complications like premature labor, placenta previa, and so on. I'd suggest you pair this book with a more compehensive book like What to Expect When You're Expecting or The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby.

I purchased or was given three pregnancy books and this was by far the best. The others were written by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (my husband is an OB/GYN) and What to Expect . . . I did not like the organization or content of What to Expect . . . and the ACOG book was a little skimpy on the practical questions I had. Pregnancy for Dummies was funny and answered all my questions with medically appropriate advice, according to my husband whose medical opinion I highly respect. It is light-hearted at times, which I liked a lot, but still provided serious and complete advice - not for those without a sense of humor though! All in all, a very good choice, especially for first time mothers.

Coming at the people through trees is a compelling idea. Since reading this book, I've noticed more the trees around me, and could those on the corner really be eucalypts here in eastern France? But poor Ellen was way too passive for this reader, so I can't give it more than 3 stars. I wanted her to DO something, to ACT, to be the maker of her own destiny, instead she reacts to the men around her then nearly succumbs to her own passivity. Overall though this is a compelling read full of striking language and nice touches like the nail in the maiden tree and what the men do there... I would have liked more mention of Australia's wonderful and diverse wildlife. No koalas in those gum trees, Mr. Bail? No kookaburra cries haunting the forest? Also the Knight in Shining Armour is only metal-plated! Too bad! Rather an ephemeral specter, isn't he? And he cheated, the way he named the trees doesn't count, but I'm happy for Ellen. Who would want grim old Mr. Cave when you could listen to stories all your life?

On many levels this story fascinated me. As a budding writer I was envious of the amazing story which unfolded as I read. As a gardener and naturalist I was fascinated by the details of Australia's trademark trees and the way they were woven into the story to explain life and people's relationships with one another. I admired the "simplicity" of the writing style and the brevity of words. However, one thing puzzled me. I couldn't really get into the heads of the characters and feel what they were feeling. I only experienced their feelings through a kind of misty gauze. Something - a vital link - was missing between reader and characters to complete our understanding, to make our experience of this wonderful story complete. To me, the characters did not fully come to life. However, I have no regrets having read the story. I'm glad I did and have recommended it to others. I am honoured to somehow share the same landscape which had inspired Murray Bail, because like the obsessed characters of this book I too love the many forms the eucalyptus takes across this huge island. And I love his writing style. In a funny way, the flatness of the characters did not spoil my reading of the story, but gave me something to ponder when my reading was complete. What really were their feelings like? How would I have felt if I had been one of them? I can only imagine....and the story will continue to haunt me for years to come. Thanks Murray!

Eucalyptus is the story of a man who possesses the largest collection of Eucalypt trees and a beautiful daughter, Ellen. As Ellen begins to attract the attention of the men in this tiny town in the New South Wales outback, her father Holland issues a national challenge. The man who can name all the Eucalypts on his property will be awarded Ellen's hand in marriage. And so, the prospective suitors flock, as Ellen becomes more and more apprehensive...And meanwhile within this fairytale, Ellen has met a storyteller of her own.

Eucalyptus is beautifully written novel with a twist and a lyrical style that makes it unique. It captures the essence of the Australian landscape and its quirky inhabitants. Murray Bail's Eucalyptus shows what writing, at its best, is capable of.

J. J. Murray has thoroughly "schooled" both black and white America on loving with the heart and not the eyes. Reading the first chapter of Renee and Jay, which is off the roof, was just like having a conversation with myself.

This is a hot new romance that'll sho nuf melt all of that ice in Roanoke's winter storm. You're on the playing field with Tyree and Dickey and Terry McMillan. Renee's got the black girl attitude! You write the black woman's role pretty well; that you have in common with Dickey. I was amazed at how well he does that, and you're doing it too!

Renee and Jay is a real Romeo and Juliet set in small time Black America! It's a soap opera in the palm of your hands . . . and there's no waiting for tomorrow's episode.

I laughed. I cried. I hoped and I prayed and rejoiced in the beauty of the book's ending. I absolutely loved this book as much as I've ever loved Morrison, McMillan or McElroy Ansa. You have arrived and I cannot wait to read Something Real. Talk about bridging gaps and bringing people from all walks of life together . . . you've done it with Renee and Jay. People often wonder about the dynamics of interracial relationships (what comes up, what to say and what not to say). I hope that others will read it and walk away with a refreshing spirit and a more peaceful outlook on life and race relations. I certainly have. It's one thing to say what we believe, but Renee & Jay walks miles in the shoes. I commend you; the book is so well-planned, thought out and pieced together: the jig-saw puzzle of the century has been pieced together gracefully with this beautiful love story! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you JJ Murray!

If you're a lover who loves romance, Renee & Jay has a place on your reading list. Get it today!

J. J. Murray's debut novel, RENEE AND JAY is the interracial Romeo & Juliet for the new millennium. A snowstorm leaves Renee stranded out front of Luchesi's restaurant, where she meets the owner's son, Giovanni, aka Jay. Though Renee professes herself to be strictly into black men, she finds herself very intrigued by Jay, and by the next morning Renee and Jay are wistfully thinking of love and a relationship with each other. Renee's own pessimism plays a key role in defining her could-be relationship with Jay, but her mother and Jay's father...as well as their small-minded community questions the "colorful" relationship. If that's not enough, the surprise of a baby drives everyone, including Renee into even more confusion, but Jay is steadfast in his love for Renee and is determined to prove to her that the two make a perfect pair.

Renee and Jay is a great read, and I really could not stop reading it until I got to the last page. The characters were outrageous and funny, the humor in the novel was obvious. I will admit; however, that the story is heavy with the "my people" comments presented by Renee, the main character, and oftentimes, I found myself saying, okay, we get it, you're black, it was that thick at times. Aside from that, the story was funny and well written, and I think Murray did an excellent job with this debut novel and the subject matter, and I look forward to reading more books by him.

Reviewed by Shonie

This book made me smile.:-)It was nice to finally read a book that was not all bitterness, anger, depravity, etc. The relationship between Renee and Giovanni was refreshing, real and very touching. Renee is a young African-American woman, who like most women today, are looking for "Mr. Right". She just doesn't expect her soul mate will be a white, pale, Italian. What both Renee and Jay learn is that you can't choose whom you love. The heart knows no racial barriers. Mr. Murrays' characters are well developed. Giovanni is an honest, caring, hardworking, young man who is not afraid to express his emotions. Renee reminds me of friends I've known through the years, beautiful, fun-loving, intelligient and faithful to family and loved ones. It was also good to see the acceptance of the relationship by Renee's mother and Giovanni's father. Everyone knows that the relationship will have extra burdens because it is an interracial one, but it was nice not to have that thrown in your face throughout the whole book. It was basically a funny, down-to-earth love story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would like to see more of these characters. (Maybe a sequel). Can't wait to read more from this author.

This text is a outstanding example of James Gleick's work, much like 'Chaos'. It offers a more in depth perspective of Feynman's accomplishments than any other single book on him. It is a great complement to 'Surely You're Joking Mr. Feynman', By Richard Feynman himself. Synopsis? A great author and a great subject.

Definitely one of the best books I have ever read. It is a biography of Richard Feynman, a person with magician calibre talents as a physicist and a performer. Gleick writes with clarity and excitement, giving the reader an intimate feel of how a "genius" of the 20th century lived and felt. I doubt anyone can read this book without feeling a sense of awe and wonder at the mind and soul of Richard Feynman. I am SURE you will feel SMARTER just by reading this book!

A man as brilliantly lucid as Richard Feynman deserves a biography equally brilliant and lucid. James Gleick achieves this. And though Richard Feynman is painted in human tones, the reader still experiences the mystique which surrounded this legend of science.

Some of the most enjoyable sections of this book deal not with physics or biography, but Feynman's philosophy and refreshingly rational worldview.

This book is a testament to the power and beauty of a great intellect, in its all its humanity.

My only reservation with this otherwise astounding book is that it was, at times, a bit too glowing and not critical enough. Feynman is presented as a scientific hero, but as we all know too well, even heros are not without their faults. As for these, as Feynman himself said, "it does no harm to the mystery to know a little about it."