In college I went to a used book store to buy Shute's "On the Beach". They didn't have it, so I bought "Pied Piper" as a consolation. I've read it three times since. Tremendous novel. An aeronautical engineer by training, Shute was a gifted storyteller and writer. Piper is well paced, has many stories within the story of bringing the children back to England - a man coping with old age, feelings of uselessness, the loss of a son; the formation of a deep friendship with the woman his son left behind, and so forth. Shute hits on the timeless themes of courage, fortitude, self-sacrifice, forgiveness etc. without ever coming close to being maudlin. There are no unnecessary speeches from men standing on a hilltop talking about "what it's all for". As John Howard says, while in custody, to the German officer who tells him he must be a very brave man, "No, not a brave man. Just a very old one."

For the record, I think it was made into a movie twice. Once with Monty Wooley playing Howard and then again for television - mid eighties, perhaps - with Peter O'Toole playing the role. Still, as the story is so marvelous, it should be done again for the big screen. Considering Anthony Hopkins's performance in "The Remains of the Day" (which was superior to the entertaining but far less nuanced Hannibal Lecter), I think he would be perfect to play Howard, putting the perfect cap on his career.

"The Pied Piper" is a gripping and human story of evacuation of lost children during WW II. I am surprised that Amazon.com does not have more Neville Shut books. There are a number in print in Europe. He is of course famous for "On the Beach" (book and movie) and "Town Like Alice" (book and TV Movie). These books led me to Pied Piper and many other Neville Shute Norway books in the last few years. I believe they would sell very well today. If no one else re-publishes them, I will when I get a chance. Other NS fans please let me hear your opinions, Yours truly, Thomas B. Reed

G'day - Pied Piper, or any other book written by Neville Shue would make it into my top 10! Neville Shute would have to be one of the most influential Australian writers during the fourties and fifties. Works such as "On The Beach", a great story of the end of the world which was later made in a Hollywood film starring Ava Gardiner. Pied Piper, Trustee From The Tool Room, In The Wet, A Town Like Alice, Marazan, So Distained, Requiem For A WREN and Beyond The Black Stump are but some examples of Shute's superior and refreshingly simple story telling technique - Cheers, Dave Aikman

I ordered this 2-volume dictionary after purchasing, and subsequently returning, the latest edition of the Compact Oxford Dictionary. The Shorter Oxford Dictionary is very easy on the eyes and quite a good browsing dictionary. The micrographic Compact Oxford Dictionary is certainly more exhaustive but is a real pain in the gluteus maximus to use (e.g., the eyestrain it inflicts, even with the big magnifying glass, etc). Oxford Publishing made a big, big mistake in going from a two-volume set with four OED pages reproduced onto each page to a one-volume tome with nine OED pages reproduced onto each page when they published the second edition of the Compact Oxford Dictionary.

Anyhow, the Shorter Oxford is a happy compromise if you haven't the shelf space or the budget for the 20-volume OED. However, I somehow feel that a bit too much page space is wasted in this latest edition. I realize they allowed for a lot of space between entries, margin area, etc in order for the book to be more eye-friendly, but I'd rather they'd used more of the available space to include more of the contents of the OED.

Nevertheless, this is an excellent reference, and certainly better than any ordinary dictionary for home, school, or office.

(However, I must admit I'd someday like to own the full 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary(OED))

This two-volume dictionary is a perfect choice for most people. Single volume dictionaries, such as the American Heritage and New Oxford American English, pale in comparison.

There are no pictures and very few biographical entries. I find this a plus as it allows for more headwords.

The layout is very clean and easy on the eyes. Judicious spacing makes the bold headwords easy to find.

It should be noted that this edition replaces the fourth edition New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary.

The clarity of the typeface and page design of this, the 2002 edition, is beyond compare. It is by far the most enjoyable dictionary to view, in my experience at least, and a great improvement over the previous edition.
*
Prior to purchase, I borrowed a friend's Compact Oxford English Dictionary with magnifying glass, thinking this might be preferable. While incredibly entertaining, with its extensive historical quotations, the format ultimately defeated me. In natural light, I could read the microtype with the nude eye, however this was a strain. This made it difficult to search within an entry for the particular sub-definition pertinent to my needs, and it discouraged incidental exploration of surrounding words (one of the great joys of a dictionary, for me) - the magnifier, with its limited field, does not rectify these problems - if anything it exacerbates them.
*
In contrast, this edition of the Shorter Oxford makes it a pleasure to browse adjacent words - the main words, in startlingly clear bold type, leap off the page and tickle one's interest; and within an entry orientation is easy.
*
This is a very comprehensive dictionary in its own right. Initially I was concerned that it comes billed as featuring only a third of the entries of the full (or Compact) OED. The concerns were unwarranted - the Shorter contains every word used by Shakespeare, the standard version of the Bible, and a host of arcane usages - with this on the bookshelf, one can read Cormac McCarthy and feel safe.
*
All in all, if the aesthetics of using a dictionary matter to you, as they do for me, then this must come close to being the perfect edition.

Mind provokeing book, with insight to behind the life and family history of one of the countrys greatest Malcolm X, A must do read.F.

a memoir on Malcolm x long over due, a tribute to the man and the Little family. a must read book.

my first book about the subject,found it very interesting and relevent to the time.his philosophy resonates from the pages thru his sisters words.her love for her family is apparent throughout the book.his words continue to speak to the masses and his intelligence shines through .love the book. will pick up the autobiography .malcolm x words still very relevant to race relations in america

For me this book crystalized a new mantra I use with my sons when they are exhibiting undesirable behavior: "tell them what you want to see." So instead of yelling, "STOP HITTING THIS INSTANT," I might say, "David your hands should be in your lap, John, keep working on your blocks." This springs from one of the author's "7 powers for self control," which says that what you focus on, you get more of. These 7 powers beget the "7 basic discipline skills." So, I got a new mantra out of it. Otherwise much of the book is familiar advice offered by other authors/child experts I consider much more readable, knowledgeable (Stanley Greenspan, Nancy Samalin for a start) and who, importantly, are parents themselves. This author offered many vignettes of herself interacting with parents at their wit's end and appearing like a magic fairy with just the right approach for their child, while the hapless parent looked on in disbelief. I simply couldn't help thinking how she would approach this material if she had had the incomparable life experience of having children herself.

I am thrilled to have found this book - it is absolutely the best advice I've ever come across on the subject of discipline.
If you are a sensitive parent (as I am), this is the book for you! If you are one of those parents who deep down feel that time-outs and punishments (and also rewards) do no good and are instead emotionally harmful but you had no other alternatives to try, then get this book. By following its advice you will understand that the problem originates with you -- how you react to your child when conflicts occur. The basic premise is that a child who misbehaves is not inherently bad but instead, does not know the appropriate behavior for the situation. If you use conflict as a teaching experience and also model appropriate behavior yourself during the conflict, then conflicts will gradually lessen as the child learns appropriate behavior in a non-threatening environment. An example the author gives is that of a employee who fills out a form incorrectly and the supervisor reprimands the employee and sends him to the employee lounge for an hour. The next day he is asked to fill out the same form -- of course he will get it wrong again.
This is a readable, contemporary book packed with sound advice. Well worth the money to have your children love and trust you when they grow older, not hate you as they will after a lifetime of time out and punishments. My daughter and I thank you, (author) Becky Baily Ph.d, for your wonderful book.

I have read quite a few parenting books, and until recently I considered Faber & Mazlisch's books (including How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids will Talk) to be the absolute pinnacle. But if Faber & Mazlisch are like a college course in parenting, Becky Bailey's book is graduate school. I am deeply grateful to her for writing this book, and to the friend who told me, "You have to read this book! I want to load up an airplane with copies and drop them all over America!"

Unlike many parenting books which just offer tips and tricks for gaining children's compliance, Bailey's book is aimed at helping parents achieve self-control and self-discipline, so that they can then teach these skills to their children. When my friend first told me about the themes of the book, I thought, "Oh great. Just what I need--a book to make me feel bad about how out-of-control I am, how angry I feel towards my kids, how much I yell, etc." But it wasn't that way at all. Reading the chapter on "Assertiveness," for example, I realized that I do not need to feel guilty about my anger; I just needed to make a switch from saying to the children, "YOU are MAKING me furious" to saying "I feel furious when you yell in my ear. You can talk to me in a quiet voice, and I will listen." The first expression implies that children are responsible for their mother's feelings. The second lets me express my feelings, set boundaries, and give the children the information they need to make better choices.

Since reading the book, I feel better about myself and my children. It has strengthened my feelings of self-respect as well as helping me treat me children with respect. I look forward to applying my new skills in my adult relationships as well!

I used this to plan my recreational activities but not hotel reservations on my vacation to France and found it to be very helpful. I especially appreciated the historical tidbits on different areas. My complaint is that the hotel recommendations are severely limited and the ones that were recommended were quite pricey...not what I would recommend for a traveller on a budget. The other complaint I have is that the book is heavy and for someone who is doing much walking, especially in Paris, this is too much to lug around. It's small but weighs a little over two pounds.

.
Summary:
Every Dorling Kindersley Guide has been a great and interesting book... and delightful to have and use, even if you are not traveling to that location, but are only interested in learning more!

The Guides are well organized in a logical and easy to follow manner. They are beautifully illustrated, well developed with accurate information (it is unusual for hotel and restaurant information to be that accurate), have enough history to help the reader understand the people and cultural background, and have a lot of useful travel information and useable maps in the appendixes.

But, the really great attraction to this book is several fold; it is:
............Very complete
............Easy to read
............Beautifully and artistically completed
............Good shopping, safety and other tips
............Gorgeous photographs too numerous to list.

Summary Negative:

The country books are too general to really satisfy all your needs in any given location. So, if your entire trip is spent in Champagne, or Brittany, for example, you will also want to get the specific guide for that city (but, the Paris Section is fairly good)

Guide Specifics:

The guides are organized as follows:

How to use this guide
Introduction to France
............Intro. to France
............Portrait of France
............France Through the Year
............History of France

Paris and Ile de France, Area by Area
............Intro. Paris and Ile de France

............River View of Paris
............Ile de La Cite, Marais, Beaubourg
............Tuileries and Opera
............Champs-Elysees, Invalides
............The Left Bank
............Farther Afield
............Shops and Markets
............Entertainment in Paris
............Paris Street Finder
............Ile de France

France by Region
............Northeast France
........................Specific Cities / Towns
............Western France
........................Specific Cities / Towns
............Central France and the Alps
........................Specific Cities / Towns
............Southwest France
........................Specific Cities / Towns
............South France
........................Specific Cities / Towns

Travelers Needs
............Hotels
............Restaurants
Survival Information
............Practical Info.
........................Police, safety, buses, trains, etc.
............Travel Info.
........................Maps, tours, currency, etc.
............General Index
............Phrase Book

Discussion:
The book begins with "A Portrait of France", including a complete map, a review of France, it's history, and France thought the Year - including events, etc., and France's History (very interesting).

The Paris section is very good supports this book for those on a general tour of France (see Negatives below). But, one should get the alternative "Eyewitness Guide to Paris" if you wish better information on that city.

Region with an "At a glance" overview, then has subsections of Cities / Towns, then specific locations, churches, historical monuments, bridges, galleries, etc.

Architectural reviews include various views, and cutaways; given greater understanding and better perspective. They are all attractive, if not works of art - honestly.

The travelers' Info. offers good and valid info. on prices, currencies, customs, important words, etc. I used the reviews on resorts, hotel's restaurants and nightclubs, etc. and found they were useful and accurate, and helpful with my touring and site decisions

The books are so well thought out that it has multiple maps, with various lookup tables, and the book's flaps are designed to be used as bookmarks for map pages.

Negative:
The country-wide guides are by definition more general than the specific city guides. So, if you are going to Brittany, get a specific "Brittany" guide for better local specifics. If you decide to get the "France" guide for your 3, or 4 city tour of France, understand that this guide may be a little to general for all your local travel needs.

Conclusion:
As the President, CEO of an International Meeting Planning Corporation we have many resources and techniques to learn about places we have meetings / groups at as well as the cities and sights. But, as a traveler, this book really is top notch and I would recommend it to anyone going on a personal trip, or wanting to learn about a city, or location.

This book is certainly comprehensive, and was a fine companion through many parts of France, some not receiving very much coverage in some other guidebooks. The glossy paper and high quality colour reproductions are the usual Eyewitness standard.

I have used a variety of guidebooks in France - let's Go, The Rough Guide, Baedeker's, michelin, and this combines the best of them all.

To contrast one place, two books: Chartres. The Baedeker's includes a photo of the cathedral, and a smallish diagram showing the main structures internally and descriptions of the Royal Doorway and stained glass. There is some brief locational and historical material about the city of Chartres and mentions the well-regarded Museum of Fine Arts. Eyewitness, by contrast, gives the address, phone no and opening times of the museum (might or might not be helpful, depending on accuracy!) as well as its main attractions, as well as some brief info about Chartres. Then follow two double pages on the cathedral - one containing a 3-D type photo with cut-away, discussing all the important features (with some pictured), and a double-page spread on the stained glasses, including a colour diagram and key to all the windows. Eyewitness wins hands down. It is the same story with the general Michelin Guide to France, which also tends to be quite dry. Nevertheless, the regional Michelin guides are good if you are going to spend a lengthy time in one region. The cutaways, diagrams and maps in Eyewitness make it really special.

Eyewitness also includes great information about aspects of French culture and history, listings on where to stay and eat. If you want budget accommodation, it's a good idea to carry a Let's Go , Rough Guide or Lonely Planet type guide as well. The Practical information section is really a treat in Eyewitness guides, and this one does not disappoint : pictures of money, a pic of a standard French electrical plug even, how to operate one of the automatic, self-cleaning toilets (don't allow children under 10 to use them alone!), using phone card telephone, or a coin-operated one, and really useful for the driving tourist, typical road signs etc.

It' easy to rave about Eyewitness, with good cause. I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed with it (as long as you aren't using it as a prime source for accommodation, unless you have money to spare).

I read this book and found it very informational, especially where the owner learns to become the head of the pack. A gentle and loving way to teach your dog how to be obedient and learn fun tricks! I would absolutely recommend reading "The Perfect Puppy".

I found this book extremely helpful after just a few minutes of reading (learning that some of my methods were wrong and improving the ones that were right). The author's experience with puppies is clear once you implement some of their techniques and receive positive results.

The book gives you simple training ideas (such as using a pen in combination with a create). It also helps you get inside the head of your puppy (Alfa role's etc.). Understanding your puppy's reasons for their behavior makes training fun (as I'm sure you know by now).

I'm giving this book a five star rating due to its simplicity and the results I received. I would recommend to anyone with a puppy or planing on a puppy to also buy more than one book and watch animal planet for other helpful tips (I also found the videos by Matthew Margolis informative and entertaining).

I am a professional dog trainer, and this is the puppy book that I reccommend to my clients as well as on my website. Clearly written, positive instructions guide you through the process of raising the perfect puppy.

An excellent book with very practical resources for taking charge of your own life. The title is a bit misleading in that the principles discussed can be applied to many problem areas, e.g., depression, anger, communication, relationships, not just stress or anxiety as the title implies. Another odd thing about the book is that the principles described are, for the most part, lifted straight out of Buddhist teachings, but the words Buddha or Buddhism are never mentioned, nor is much other specific information as to the "school" or "philosophy" of the book's ideas. So, if you'd like to learn about the psychology/philosophy of Buddhism without wading through the dogma, rituals, and other religious trappings, this book is a wonderful and practical place to start!

This book is a must-read for all! The authors provide clear, easy to understand examples and processes for "slowing down to the speed of life" - reducing stress, experiencing more enjoyment, eliminating procrastination - simply getting more out of every moment! This is a book you will be tempted to pass around to the people in your life you really care about!

This book should be read by every person. The world would be a better and happier place to live. Happines is now the rule, not the exception in my life since I read this book. They make it very easy to understand and put into practice the power of thought. I actually had stress withdraw for 2 weeks I was so stressed before I read this book and adopted their philosophy. I am discussing this book with as many small groups as possible. I am looking for a study guide. Please let me know if one is available. I would also like to contact Richard Carlson to thank him. Read This Book!

"Sparkling Cyanide" has all the elements of Christie's best books: well-drawn characters which are introduced in a clever, unusual way (each relates his or her memories of the dead Rosemary in a separate chapter), a strong plot, and more motive than usual. Unfortunately the mystery's solution is so completely contrived and unrealistic that it ruins the rest of the book. Definitely a must-read for the Christie style, but don't be surprised at the hokey solution.

Also known as REMEMBERED DEATH, this 1943 Christie novel is not among the author's most memorable work, nor is it among her most celebrated--but it is a solid piece of work all the same, and one that shows Christie toying with a favorite theme: a curious death in the past arouses suspicion that erupts into the present tense. A year previously London beauty Rosemary Barton unexpectedly dropped dead at dinner in an exclusive London restaurant--and when cyanide was found in both her champagne glass and in her evening bag, her death is ruled a suicide. But with the passage of time her surviving husband becomes suspicious and determines to restage the dinner party with an eye toward uncovering the truth. The result is yet another death--and once more cyanide is in the champagne glass.

As in many of her novels, Christie carefully limits the field of suspects to those actually at the table, and it soon transpires that virtually every one present had a motive for Rosemary's murder--and would have a motive to kill again. Is it Rosemary's sister Iris, who inherited a fortune upon her older sister's death? Rosemary's illicit lover, whose career could be ruined by scandal? Or perhaps his wife, who might have killed to save her marriage? Or is there a darker criminal element at work?

Although this novel reached the screen with David Suchet playing Hercule Poriot, fans of Suchet's performances should not be misled: Poriot does not appear in this particular novel, and the detective of note is Col. Race, who pursues the killer through an emotional interest in Rosemary's sister Iris. And indeed, this is one of Christie's more romantically-laced tales, with the story hinging on the various romantic and sexual entanglements of the various characters. The writing is solid and unexpectedly moody for a Christie novel, and while a few hardcore Christie fans may be able to spot the killer before the book's conclusion, most readers will be taken considerably by surprise. A fun, enjoyable read.

--GFT (Amazon Reviewer)--

This was such a great book, this was my first time reading Christie's books and it's an all time favorite. It is so clever and not a typical murder mystery you will often read. Get it, read it, you'll love it

I bought the 1996 version of this book in June of 2000 and within one month I was signed up for cosmetology school. Then I got to school and they used the 2000 edition so I was already prepared. For those who think this book doesn't go into detail please realize that this is a textbook and it is part of a series of books for teaching. There are 2 workbooks that go along with this book. One for Theory and one for Practical. I was given a 1990 edition of this book as well by a friend of mine. The most noticable change between the 3 editions is that the 2000 edition has more actual photographs and fewer illustrations. If you are using this book for school study then I do recommend you buy the state board exam review booklet. Then when you have free time you can quiz yourself. Just remember that this book is meant to be used along with an instructor. If you are looking for a haircutting book only then I don't think you want this one. It only has about 12 pictures.

I bought the 1996 version of this book in June of 2000 and within one month I was signed up for cosmetology school. Then I got to school and they used the 2000 edition so I was already prepared. For those who think this book doesn't go into detail please realize that this is a textbook and it is part of a series of books for teaching. There are 2 workbooks that go along with this book. One for Theory and one for Practical. I was given a 1990 edition of this book as well by a friend of mine. The most noticable change between the 3 editions is that the 2000 edition has more actual photographs and fewer illustrations. If you are using this book for school study then I do recommend you buy the state board exam review booklet. Then when you have free time you can quiz yourself. Just remember that this book is meant to be used along with an instructor. If you are looking for a haircutting book only then I don't think you want this one. It only has a few pages on haircutting and about 12 pictures of haircut instructions.

When I was taking Cosmetology back in the 2000-01 school year, they recommended to purchase this version of Milady's Standard Textbook of Cosmetology. They were only available new in Canada and cost [money], and came with the theory book as well. Our teacher also had the old 1996 version of this textbook for sale, used. However, this is a better purchase. There are more pictures and colors, its not as drab as the previous version. I have to disagree with reviewers who said this is not a detailed book, I found it to be quite detailed and informative in its information. The book meant to be used in a classroom setting, where an instructor teachers and elaborates from this book. You cannot read this book and automatically cut hair, that is where the practical aspect of cosmetology comes in, when you are doing it hands on instead of reading. But this is a helpful tool for aspiring apprentices or students in cosmetology, whether you want to learn about Coloring, Perms, whatever the case, this is definately a worthwhile tool to have.

This book was great! when or if you decide to be natural , Or if you already are, you will learn something new.Great info about SEVERAL natural hair styles, braids, with or with out extensions,afros,twists,Locs/Dreadlocks.The pics were Great!,Fabulous info on essential oils,great recipes,this book is great for someone who is going to school for natural hair or someone who just wants to learn. It is a TEACHING book, healthy hair begins from the inside out.What I liked about the Loc section is that it is straight up and to the point,REAL locs will NOT happen over night. Page 245 sums it ALL up, I like how she saved the best for last!I'm partial though cause I have locs:)This book will teach you how to be natural and stay natural.

When I first received this book I only skimmed it and stuck it on the shelf because it didn't really focus on locked hair styles as much as I would have liked. But once I began to lock I went to review this other books I own (both Britten Bonner's, Kinard's, Ferrell's) and let me tell you this book has more of the essential natural hair care information than any of those other books combined. Although it's a definite to include a history of African hair, especially how it's been demonized, for those of us who realize that & want just some INFORMATION on how we can care for it ourselves this book definitely came through. For example, she provides an extensive chapter on definitions and the different uses of oils and herbs, recipes for nourishing hair, and descriptions (with clear pictures) that I could definitely follow. This book is geared toward the cosmetologist set but she shares information that we ALL should know. I even took this book with me to my local oil shop and made my own hair brew for more than half what it had been costing (and her recommendations are RIGHT ON). At first I thought the book was pricey, but for all the info (minus the speechmaking of other books) it's the only book I need. I also recommend Let's Talk Hair by Pamela Ferrell, although the locks chapter was not as informative as I'd hoped it could be. This is an empowering book in that I can learn to care for my hair myself; I can know care for my own hair between monthly locktician visits (and I'm talking past just swabbing my scalp with Sea Breeze)& am now a more active player in the locking process.

This is the definitive book on styling and caring for natural hair. The book is large and has loads of information.
It had everything from sanitation,consultations, essential oils to the how tos of braiding, locking and styling an afro. I have had this book a while and I still have not finished reading it. I have already tried a couple of styles on my daughter and the book was really helpful. As I get deeper into the natural care business I will use this book more and more. I have not gotten into essential oils and herbs yet but it is good to know that there is a whole chapter on that.
The only thing that is missing is there isn't anything written about Sisterlocks (tm). This system has been around since 1994 but is relatively new in some areas. Sisterlocks (tm) are showcased in No Lye and Let's Talk Hair, my other favorites.