The fastest way to learn English or any foreign language is thru TOTAL INMERSION, which means that at the class NOBODY CAN SPEAK a single word in any language different from English.

That is difficult to attain, but it is possible by using smart teachers, and a book like this one, so students learn English without reference to their native language.

The only alternative I know, is using Kindergarten books, but the vocabulary is limited, and the students resent using "baby" books.

The pronuntation guides and exercises, have permitted me to learn French, ina similar book, after learning English when I was 14 up in the Sierra, between Los Gatos and Santa Cruz, CA.

This is no dried scholarly book. It seethes with humour and provides insight into an area little covered because of the immense amount of research it requires. One particularly fascinating aspect is Gibson's research into the correspondence columns in the periodicals of Victorian England. He uncovered a phemonemon of immense interest to social historians: the sub-pornographic letters which appeared in the genteel women's magazines. I agree with Dr. Ridding, I return again and again to Gibson's book because here are facts so difficult to find and so illuminating of a sub-culture.

The ongoing detection of the mysterious author of the huge erotic classic _My Secret Life_ has advanced a step further (although the sources of information are only slightly better) by Ian Gibson, in _The Erotomaniac: The Secret Life of Henry Spencer Ashbee_ (Da Capo Press). Ashbee had a Jekyll-and-Hyde existence as a successful London businessman, travel writer, and paterfamilias. He also tended his huge collection of pornography. It was so large a collection that he rented rooms in Gray's Inn especially to contain it (and perhaps to keep it from being a family concern). Ashbee was no supporter of the suffragettes, but he liked the idea that women took pleasure in sex and could actively participate in it, ideas that were unfashionable or obscene at the time. In his own writing, Ashbee railed that "the English nation possesses an ultra-squeamishness and hyper-prudery peculiar to itself." He was furious that missionaries were trying to intrude this morality into societies where sexuality was more open.

It is clear that Ashbee's books ridicule these notions, even when Ashbee made it seem that he was supporting them. He is the author of three books, magnificently produced private editions cataloging his own books and those he was interested in. The titles give away his game: _Index Librorum Prohibitorum_ ("Index of Books Worthy of Being Prohibited," mocking the Vatican's own catalogue, 1877), _Centuria Librorum Absconditorum_ ("A Hundred Books Worthy of Being Hidden Away," 1879) and _Catena Librorum Tacendorum_ ("String of Books Worthy of Being Silenced," 1885). Ashbee produced his volumes under his scatological penname Pisanus Fraxi; he seems to have enjoyed rebuses of his name, and Pisanus Fraxi is an anagram of the Latin words for "ash" and "bee."

When it is known that Gibson has produced this biography after being allowed the first glance at Ashbee's diary, one might expect that there would be many personal revelations. Sadly, with some exceptions which Gibson quotes, the diary is discontinuous, and mostly dull. Ashbee was too busy reading and buying books to spend much time on a diary. If Gibson is to be believed, he spent a good deal of time writing _My Secret Life_, too. The final third of _The Erotomaniac_ is an amusing list of correspondences of style, phraseology, and philosophy between the writings of Pisanus Fraxi and those of the "Walter" who wrote _My Secret Life_. Gibson allows that someday electronic scansion of the texts may make the identification more positive (and perhaps someone will pay literary sleuth Don Foster, of _Author Unknown_, to take the case). To me, the most compelling evidence is that Ashbee's volumes all have an obsessively inclusive index, just as "Walter's" book hilariously does. Under the gerund form of the most shocking verb in English, Walter has seven columns of entries, including: in masks / wheelbarrow fashion / modesty hinders complete pleasure / is the great humanizer / in a grotto / in cabs / in a church / in a calf shed / in a cow shed / against trees. On and on the list goes, a tribute to someone obsessed with sex, with lists, and with compilations. As Gibson says, if Ashbee didn't write it, who on Earth did? Gibson's own book, meticulously researched and genially entertaining, has just about as much of Ashbee as we will ever know, as well as genuine insights into Victorian times and morals.

ExLibris is a fascinating work of art. Gibson's sublime eye, previously dedicated to such wonderful subjects as the female form (see INFANTA or WOMEN) here turn to photographs of books, both ancient and modern. The photographs have almost a tactile, three dimensional feel... Gibson captures a hand touching an ancient copy of the Koran and you can literally feel the connection through time. Pages juxtapose images of faces and pages... Sculptures, coins, cybercafes, the Internet, strange faces, hieroglyphics, all find a way into this mysterious book. The only thing that might have been nice is some words of explanation regarding the subject of the photos (there is a very brief description of sources and images). This book will fascinate any bibliophile as well as lovers of fine photography.

So many programs out there, so many books on healing the broken hearted! This book "cuts to the chase"!! Scripturally correct to set the captives free.... free from past hurts, wounds and REJECTION! The Son of God has set His people free and this book is excellent at exposing the root cause of so many of our problems! Those looking for "thee" answer know that there is only one source for wholeness and soundness of mind... the Word of God. This book clearly lays it out there that the rejection we've been carrying has been PAID IN FULL! Why carry the load another day? Expose the lies! Apply the scriptural principals and be free indeed!

The daughter of a Hungarian-born father and Milwaukee-native mother, Edna Ferber spent much of her childhood years in small midwestern towns. Her family, while not observant, always closed their store for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, never missing a Passover seder. Ferber felt that being Jewish was to be subjected to anti-Semitism. In 1917 she wrote Fanny Herself, based largely on the experiences she had while growing up in Appleton, Wisconsin and later in Chicago, Illinois. Her's is a tale of a young Jewish girl trying to become a successful businesswoman in early twentieth century America without denying her Jewish roots or subverting her social conscience. This newly abridged, four cassette, six hour audiobook edition (wonderfully narrated by Suzanne Toren) will introduce a whole new generation of listeners to a remarkable literary talent and an engaging, personal, affirming biography.

I recommend this book for anyone who is tired of reading through numerous theology books about the creation of earth and only coming up with more questions. Not only does this wonderfully written book explain every aspect of Genesis in clear, precise detail, but it leaves out the ridiculous theories and suppositions that so many "Christian" authors are prone to include in their work. Chapter highlights and quizzes only further enhance your grasp on the wonderfully intriguing book of Genesis. A must read for Christians and theology students alike!

In 1975 Ensign Berg became the first Naval Officer to challenge the Navy's ban on homosexuality. He is a Naval Academy Graduate who placed in the top 10% of his class. The trial took two weeks during which each side presented expert testimony. Dr. John Money came from Johns Hopkins University Medical School, and Vice Admiral William P. Mack the Suprintendent of the Naval Academy testified that he thought that Ensign Berg should be retained despite what the policy was.The most compelling testimony came from his father a Presbyterian Minister and career Navy Chaplain who won a bronze star while serving in Viet Nam. He testified of knowing undetected homosexual officers in the ranks of Commander, Captain and Rear Admiral. He also testified that he knew openly gay combat marines serving in Viet Nam. For his testimony Chaplain Berg was forced to retire from the Navy and later died of a horrible cancer having been sprayed by agent orange in Viet Nam. The Berg case was settled in 1981 with an agreement made between the Jimmy Carter White House and the Pentagon to give only fully honorable discharges to all gay men and women discharged from the military. They also made this policy retroactive so that all persons who had ever been discharged could apply and have their discharges up graded to fully honorable. This is a great book. Compelling, sad, infuriating, and informative. I cry every time that I read the passages of testimony by his father. The father's love for his son is so strong that he willingly gives up his carrer by testifying for his son and against the present Pentagon policies. It's also a great love story between Berg and his lover who is the author of this book

I'm not the foremost expert on vintage guitars as I currently own only two pre 1965 Gibson Archtops but this book is outstanding. I have been searching for a source to identify my current guitars and Mr. Duchossoir has provided me so much more. Mr. John Sprung's photos are outstanding as well. They cover the different variants from year to year as well as what hardware, from pickguards to volume knobs, tuners, bridges etc. The most complete book I've ever found with history and personal accounts of each Gibson model. A definite must for any player/collector of vintage Gibson guitars.

This is a great book for anyone who likes the fashons of the late 1800's, Gibson girl, or just well drawn pictures! Gibson was a great artist, and you can tell from his captions he had a sense of humor. Every page in the book is filled with beautiful, clear, large sized drawings of Gibson Girl and her friends. I was delighted with my copy!! It even includes Gibson's "comic" book, "The Education of Mr. Pipp", and a brief but interesting biography of Mr. Gibson.