Gill approaches her task with a thoroughly sincere, perhaps even reverent respect for her subject. As if to illustrate why such respect is both deserved and overdue, Gill notes in her Preface that Mary Baker Eddy is not even mentioned in the 1993 essay of feminist historian Gerda Lerner, "One Thousand Years of Feminist Bible Criticism." Even the casual observer will recognize the absurdity of omitting, from such an essay, a woman who founded an international religious movement based on reinterpretation of the Bible. Lerner's essay notwithstanding, feminism, as a philosophical ally of liberalism, has routinely given religion short shrift, and Gill's Eddy biography thus helps to fill this gaping void in feminist scholarship.

Gill's feminist perspective is an occasional distraction, but she more than compensates with her paramount emphasis on careful scholarship, and a fluid prose that leaves one almost unaware of the reading. The mix of feminism and the viewpoint of a non-Christian Scientist is frequently evident. Usually, but not always, the mix produces entirely appropriate results. Thus, when Gill describes the original 1894 Church she speaks of a "womblike structure" that "seems to gather [her] in." It strikes her as "a deeply female space." These are perceptive observations which it seems unlikely would occur one whose intellectual moorings were in traditional culture rather than in feminist theory.

On the other hand, when Gill speaks of widowhood, not Mary Glover's widowhood but widowhood in general terms, her concern is solely that it leaves women "uncomfortably dependent on the goodwill of [their] family," and she notes that Mary Baker Eddy was fortunate to have received an important "lesson in survival" from her grandmother's many years of widowhood. Gill's feminist inclinations apparently blind her to a broader context of widowhood: although in some cases it leaves a woman "uncomfortably dependent," in all cases it leaves a man dead. Unless one is prepared to argue that death is preferable to uncomfortable dependence as a state of being, one would have to acknowledge that it was the men of the 19th century, moreso than the women, who needed but were denied "lessons in survival." While much more in a similar vein could be cited, the obviously careful scholarship behind this book, and its admirably readable prose, more than compensate for minor distractions.

One of the more interesting and informative aspects of Gill's work is the careful attention given to other Eddy biographers and commentators. Gill is forthright and thorough in discussing them, and pulls no punches in disagreements with them, especially those who are hostile to Mary Baker Eddy. From Milmine/Cather to Clemens to Peel, all come under Gill's careful and unflinching scrutiny. Gill herself is not uniformly kind to Eddy; however, from all appearances she does strive to be true to the historical record. She is completely justified in suggesting one cannot say that in good conscience about several other Eddy biographers.

Beginning, as one would expect, with the birth of Mary Baker in Bow, New Hampshire, Gill ends her story describing the view from the site of Mrs. Eddy's New Hampshire home, Pleasant View, looking toward the Bow hills. She thus encloses and gathers in her subject in a distinctly maternal way, perhaps not unlike what she experienced on visiting the Mother Church. Just as the product of Mary Baker Eddy's work, coming down through the years, had enveloped Gill, the product of Gill's work similarly envlopes Eddy. It may be saying too much to suggest that this mutuality, a seeming flow of respect and esteem coursing between the author and her historical subject, is an important dynamic of the book. Such mutuality is consistent, however, with a central theme of equity-feminist scholarship: paying homage to female historical figures who, in their time and through their work, similarly paid homage to the generations of women who would come after them.

Between the beginning and end, Gill is no less a nurturing and caring mother to her historical subject, protective, proud and understanding, and in the end willing to acknowledge its faults as she sees them, and yet grant it unconditional acceptance. These are among the qualities that make this a biography well worth reading, and then rereading.

Most well-researched biographies are dry and factual. Ms. Gill has managed to organize an unusual life into chapters that are more than chronological slices. Step by step, she takes the reader through the development of Ms. Eddy's thought and philosophy. At the same time, we learn a huge amount of Ms. Eddy as a literary, spiritual, and political leader.

If you buy this book, please don't neglect to read the footnotes. Ms. Gill has packed them with tons of interesting trivia that otherwise would have cluttered up her well-turned prose. This is a rare and valuable work--one that should become the standard starting place for any serious student of either the Christian Science movement or of women's role in the late 19th century. I hope that Ms. Gill will receive the time and resources to complete other projects, such as this one.

I write NT drivers and kernel extensions for a living so I have already been baptised so to speak. Even so, because Microsoft has been so tight lipped about NT's internals, there is much I have to learn. And, indeed I did by reading Art's book.

I just finished Art's book and I must say that I am impressed with his choice of subjects, his clear style and his light humor throughout. Moreover, his examples teach in fact what his narative imaginatively presents. If you are buying this book to teach you about writing a certain kind of driver, say NDIS 4.0, then don't. It's very short on specifics of that kind. But, if you want to learn the "basics" about writing NT drivers, this will get it done. The gift that Art brings through his book is more than dry facts about NT driver lore and technique. Unlike the DDK Guide, Art has placed the process into perspective by presenting the material in a logically progressive manner. Further, we benefit from Art's long experience at teaching the subject as well as, I suspect, his hobknobbing with the MS development folks and having had many a question answered. I would not be surprised to learn that he has "even" seen NT's sources since he formerly worked for DEC with their intimate association with Uncle Bill's Belleview Works. I know that I have come to understand some things that, frankly, I thought were in the realm of accepting on faith.

To sum up, though experienced, I learned alot, and, I am convinced I will continue to do so every time I pick it up in the future. I do have one caution to offer. Art's book is no substitute for the DDK Guide -- I think after reading Art's book, you should then skim through the Guide. It's in the neighborhood of 1000 screen pages of if you want to print it out, it's much shorter. Since the Guide was written as an online reference, it tends to repeat a lot of information. This can be tedious reading but, hey, that's how I learned -- I only wish that I had had Art's book as a primer

The book is also very hands-on. It describes an example device drive in full source and develops it through each chapter. You can actually build the driver as you go and the driver is developed as you would develop your own driver.

This book is also not wordy and quick-reading. I would suggest is, if you are trying to grasp NT device drivers.

The best part of the book is the introduction which gives an author a good overview of the functions and services that an agent provides. Several parts of the introduction would have served as separate chapters of their ownand then the interviews of the agents could have followed.

I would caution new writers in purchasing this book if they want to know about agents and their role in electronic publishing. Not much if anything is said on the topic. Another danger is timeliness. By the time this book was published the addresses and phone numbers changed for the agents listed. I would highly recommend another book which would give you a more in depth look at literary agents. Even as an introductory level reference work this book doesn't do it. Purchase it if you like to know the stories and backgrounds of agents that have made it big over two or three decades but for current up to date information try another book.

This is not a child's book, perhaps for young readers in Junior High, but not for young children. This is a book about adults and how a remarkably charismatic canine changed their lives. This is not a fairly tale, it includes the realities of very trying circumstances and the people who pioneer the way in this extremely difficult environment. When it gets hot in the USA warnings suggest certain groups stay indoors. When it gets hot down under, warnings are issued for gas tanks that are prone to explode when exposed to the sun!

I think it is great that an author who has established himself as an accomplished literary writer would have the courage to step well away from what has worked for him repeatedly. I was reminded of some of John Steinbeck's work that centered around animals, both his own and fictional. If John Steinbeck can make the change I believe it is safe for other accomplished authors to explore unfamiliar genres, and they do not deserve to be punished for doing so. This is especially the case when the results are so worthwhile. I was going to give this 4 stars but I stepped it up to 5. The book was punished and I wanted to even out what is a brief but entering read.

Worth mentioning is the fact that Moore avoids the typical flaws of the superhero genre with his use of accurate characterisation, fantastic settings, cunning villains and even a plot twist or two, which in the end make reading this book a truly fun experience.

With Tom Strong Alan Moore evokes the energy of the classic Jack Kirby run on Fantastic Four. This work truly helps revitalize the comic book medium.

It is my opinion that Roy Masters is one of the greatest psychologists alive today, and ranks with the greatest thinkers on the nature of man who have ever existed. I have found that his books, tapes, and radio program contain some of the most practical and effective information available anywhere, and I strongly urge anyone who yearns for deeper meaning and happiness to listen to what he has to say.

This may sound overly dramatic or full of exaggeration. Yet, for better or worse the modern world is saturated with a flood of self-help gurus, psychological theories, life-improvement systems, methods of enlightenment and so forth, which can be extremely confusing to say the least, overwhelming, disillusioning and dangerous at worst.

Finding Roy Masters was a huge, incredible sigh of relief. Finally - a scientific, practical, and common-sense message that stands out like a beacon of light, with clear and obvious sanity in a confusing world.

I began studying his books and tapes over about eighteen months ago, and have been practicing his meditation exercise for almost as long. Since that time my own life has been transformed. And I am not the only one by far - hundreds of thousands, some of whom I have met personally, have been helped by this message, the teaching, and simple method - heroin addicts who have been cured, alcoholics who have become dry, survivors of severe childhood traumas who have become healthy again, all the way to people who for some unknown reason just feel vaguely unsatisfied with their lives.

Having explored more teachers and systems than I would like to admit, I know for a fact that this system "works," that the results are real, and the changes are permanent. I know many teachers get endorsements, but I have thoroughly investigated many of these teachers and moved on.

At the same time, Mr. Masters is one of the most misunderstood thinkers on the planet - and in all fairness, the message is easily misunderstood. He is a thinker, not a writer, and his books tend to be rambling, stream-of-consciousness, and a lot to swallow. His speaking style (from his audio tapes and radio shows), while extremely eloquent and articulate, pulls no punches - he speaks plainly and really "tells it like it is." So of course, many are offended by his message - he has been called everything from a "woman-hater" to a "racist" to a "Bible-thumper," all of which, I know, are simply not true. He gives no respect to sacred cows, and sacred cows are numerous.

I do not have space here to explain Mr. Masters' system to any degree of justice, but here is a thumbnail sketch:

Normal Freudian/psychoanalytic and modern psychological systems are designed to "cure" people of mental afflictions; it takes people who are "sick" and makes them "normal" again.

The system of Masters does this, but also more: it does not stop with the goal of "normal," or ordinary psychological health - it aims higher, to a state of clear, objective awareness, (dare I say "self-actualization"?) a state of being which is free of anxiety, guilt, fear, confusion, tension, and so forth. This is no "mystical" state of consciousness in the ordinary sense, but more a state of deep confidence, honest joy and love, and clear common sense. It is nothing far removed or exotic - this is our natural state - the state that children have until their parents and societal influences drum it out of them.

So, how is this state "attained?" Well, if you were to pursue psychoanalysis, teachings of Jung and the individuation process, or even traditional therapy, it would cost hundreds and thousands of dollars to see a therapist, which depending on the therapist (and the client), may or may not be effective.

The system of Masters is one of self-knowledge. The "technique" he recommends requires a total investment of a few minutes a day and around twenty dollars. That's all. No other person - Masters himself or any kind of doctor or psychologist - needs to get involved or provide additional instruction - but if elaboration is desired, he is personally available through his talk-radio program for FREE (what other psychologist that you know will do this?) or through additional tapes and books.

I would recommend starting with "How Your Mind Can Keep You Well," and the accompanying tape "The Classic," which outlines the basics of his system. These are really all you need to know. His additional books go into more detail still: "How To Conquer Negative motions" and "Understanding Sexuality" are more in-depth aspects of his teaching; there is also "The Hypnosis Of Life"for coping with everyday stress and pressure; "Eat No Evil" foreating disorders, their causes and cure; "The Adam and Eve Sindrome" for probably the most incisive exposition of the male/female relationship I have ever read; "How To Conquer Suffering Without Doctors" for emotional roots of physical illnesses - and several other books as well.

Again, if you really want to get his message, don't get put off by the writing style or dismiss him as a ranting moralist, traditional preacher, etc. It will take some open-mindedness and a sincere desire to understand in order to hear what he is saying. His teachings are wholly original and self-generated; although it is rooted in spiritual traditions they are unlike any other body of thought I have come across at all. Which is strange to say, because in retrospect it all seems like common sense.