Unfortunately, the author knows more than your average expert. When you correct someone and tell them it is a cramped joint not a dovetailed joint down the side of that pot, it's rough when he can site books considered tops in the field stating the contrary. Still the items shown are unique, the content informative and I am glad to have this book in my collection.

I was intimidated by the many wonderful appliqued quilts I'd see and wanted to learn, but didn't know where to begin. The Easy Art of Applique covers the basic directions for getting started and gives simple projects for each of the eight methods of applique showcased. The directions and diagrams are clear and concise and inspired confidence and a desire to jump right in to the first project. The full size patterns are included for tracing and the finished quilts are all showcased in a full color gallery. I like this book because it gives you the basic information without overwhelming a beginner and yet would help an appliquer with more experience to perfect the different techniques used. A must have for any quilter ready to start on applique.

As an elementary school teacher, I incorporate the whole language philosophy into my classroom. I spent an entire month linking the curriculum of my school district to Ms. Ann Whitford Paul's literature. My students learned about math, science, social studies and reading using "Quilts" as our theme. We created individual quilt squares to represent each of my 33 students and I lovingly sewed them together. Quality literature is at the core of my teaching. Eight Hands Round demonstrated such quality and brought joy to my classroom.

I have never been a science geek - I failed at college science classes. Just the picture alone on the cover of this book explained how to make a battery out of a lemon. For anyone wishing to learn more about electricty and how it works - this fun book of experiments includes colorful pictures that show exactly how to do it right. This book, and this Make It Work series is one of the best science books for kids on the market.

As a beginning spinner, I really devoured the info in this book. It covers everything I wantd to know and more. I borrowed it from a friend and am having a hard time returning it because two years later I'm still using it as a reference!

This book is wonderfully concise and complete. It is easy to use and contains all the information that beginning college students or ESL students could need. At the current price, this book is a steal. I wouldn't be without it.

This poetry is the art of understatement; it is not the rock crashing into the water, but the rings that rock gives off.

"Essays on Astrology" contains a wonderful collection of essays by Robert Hand that was published in 1982. The Table of Contents is as follows:

1. The Moon, The Four Phases of the Feminine
2. The Wave Theory of Astrology
3. Mercury, the Modulator
4. Handling the Malefics
5. Geocentric Latitude: Some Second Thoughts
6. On Creating a Science of Astrology
7. A New Approach to Transits
8. Crises of Human Growth
9. Astrology's Second Dimension: Declination and Latitude
10. Symbols of the Father Complex
11. Dodekatemoria: An Ancient Technique Reexamined
12. The Ascendant, Midheaven and Vertex in Extreme Latitudes
13. The Age and Constellation of Pisces

Although I enjoyed all the essays in this book, some real standout titles include: "The Moon, The Four Phases of the Feminine," which discusses a comprehensive schema for interpreting the moon in relation to mythological feminine archetypes; "Crises of Human Growth," which covers such themes as Saturn Returns and the Midlife Crises; and "Symbols of the Father Complex," which covers the father archetype signature (not the male parent). This book is very hard to find, and these essays are as thought provoking now as when they were first published over twenty years ago. The one drawback is that you will benefit more from this text if you have some fundamental understanding of astrology; since I would classify this text as advanced, yet easy to read. All in all, this is a great classic astrology text to add to your collection.

Stephen Hand has done us a favor in collecting many of his essays from his web magazine TCRnews.com. His is a powerful voice for Catholic orthodoxy that is completely loyal to all of the Church's official teachings. Moreover, he has a strong personal bond, like so many others, to the witness of John Paul II. His essays also show his strong attachment to the work of Cardinal Ratzinger. In fact, my favorite essay is his commentary on Ratzinger's Dominus Iesus concerning the unique salvific role of Christ (Ch. 15, pp. 84-88). For those tempted by right wing rejectionists of John Paul II, this book will help you avoid the dead end of such a posture. For those who have been unduly influenced by so-called "liberals" and "progressives," his essays will call you back to the genuine faith without abandoning your commitment to social justice. The hopeful tone of his approach can be seen in these words which resonate with so many of us in modern America: "When the consequences of wrong choices and dead ends come home to roost, the Church will be there to welcome all those who have strayed into the vortex; and she will recatechize from the beginning again" (Ch. 15, p. 88).
Hand's work on and off the internet is an encouraging sign of the resurgence of Catholic orthodoxy in post-modern America. Don't miss it.

For those who seek to attune themselves with the spiritual dimensions of nature, this little book provides the structure for daily practice. In this new age world, it is a breath of sensibility.