This book was...interesting. I didn't really think this was a great book, but it's an easy read. Take a day or less to read it. The book itself didn't really strike me as a good. I think this story is more for kids from kindergarten to around 3rd grade [at most]. I got bored with it quickly [I mean, I don't see why people would want to read about ther adventures of a stick with an nut head!]. This is just my opinion though.

This was one of my favorite books as a child! I read this many times in the attic of our summer home, looking out the window at our apple tree. I was recounting the story to my children the other day and we stopped in at Borders and I ordered the book. I'm so glad it's still in print. It's truly a great family-oriented read-aloud story - perfect for the younger set! My emergent-reader 1st Grader was able to read this with me!

Most dolls live a comfortable but unadventurous life. This was true of Miss Hickory, a little New England twig doll until the fall day that her owner, Ann, moved from her New Hampshire home to attend school in Boston - leaving poor Miss Hickory behind! For a doll who's body is an apple wood twig and whose head is a hickory nut the prospect of spending the winter alone is frightening indeed...The story has no true plot, but rather moves though the winter and onto the spring through a series of vinegettes, involving Miss Hickory and the problems her (literal!) hardheadedness can get her into, or of the animals of the woods and farmyard. All the stories are told with warm humor and an appreciation of the countryside and the seasons. Miss Hickory and the various animal characters are all appealing characters, and the illustrations are beautiful!

This wonderful book contains summaries of fifty of the greatest love stories ever -- and they're all true! Included in this little gem of a book are the stories of how John Lennon and Yoko Ono first met and fell in love, as well as stories about Antony & Cleopatra, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard, Grace Kelly and Princess Ranier, and Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow. These stories are as inspiring as they are entertaining, and are sure to delight you!

This book is guaranted to warm your heart and give you lots of great ideas for loved ones (or those whom you wish to be loved ones). It's a quick sweet read that makes a great birthday, Valentine's Day, or house-warming gift.

I read The 50 most romantic things ever done in one sitting! Each and every "thing" is heartwarming, surprising and completely original from the others. SO THERE! to all true-love's nay-sayers.....I'm going to give it to all of you for Valentine's Day.

This book has been the BANE of my existence since I started A.P. History. I'll let some typically horrendous qoutes speak for me. "The Russian bear, having lumbered across Asia, was seeking to bathe its frostbitten paws in the ice-free ports of China's Manchuria..."; "...looted and polluted...w/ speed and greed.."; "fearing that a new generation of Germans would follow in their father's goose steps..." and so on. There's an entire chapter with section names such as "Unhorsing Knights of Labor" and "Gvt. Bridles the Iron Horse" and shameful use of alliteration such as "Wrongdoing in Railroading" and "Miracles in Mechanization". Bailey even throws in one that rhymes. It may seem funny to an outsider, but it's not--the entire book is written exactly like that. Bailey amazes me anew w/ every chapter. Just when you think it can't get any worse, it does, big time. My theory is that his 1st ambition was to be a grocery-store romance novelist, but his writing was too bad, even for that--so he turned to textbooks to pay the bills. It's not even close to being objective, as a text should be; he constantly passes judgement on events, policies, even people. My hatred is impossible to fully express. I used to LOVE history, but this thing makes reading a chore. I plan to complain to the proper authorities in my school, to try to improve the lot of future generations of students.

Bailey made clear distinguishing characteristics between the roots of the early democratic and republican parties and carried their philosophies throughout the book.

I guess that the history of American politics and how it REALLY became what it is today bothers many who feel that capitalism is nothing but evil, that there were ever countries that threatened our nation once upon a time, and that REAGAN whooped communism by OUT-SPENDING them on arms...these truths are spelled out in this book whether you want to face them or not.

This book is the finest work of American history that I have ever read. It is high informative while tracing the historical currents in American politics, economics, and society. It provides superp preparation for the AP US History exam. It is a truly enjoyable book to read: a pleasant mix of wit and scholarship.

While there were some stories and information of interest, the book is very often dry to the point that it's unreadable. I skipped some sections.

There's also a tendency to self-aggrandize. Several time, the authors take a few moments to criticize other works, and then say "here for the first time" is the real story. While undoubtedly they do have some never before seen information, I think they spend a little too much time beating their chests.

Somewhat interesting, but certainly not spellbinding. Reads like a textbook.

The most interesting aspect of the book may be the insight it gives on the interworkings of the Soviet State. While some passages go into detail much beyond what the general reader will want to know, it is worth trudging through the slow passages.

This is the first time a thorough review of post war Berlin intelligence activities has been published. For the professional this is a good compilation of operations (collection, defection, analysis, etc.). For the novice the book is a difficult read - chock full of details but not written in captivating language. Students of history need to add this to their collection of books to keep and use as reference.

I gave this only one star because I had to give it something. This work is among many by Bailey whose aim was to bring about the New Aeon, or New Age, New World Order, One World Religion, and One World Government symbolized by the Beast and the Whore of Babylon from the book of Revelation. Bailey seems to be writing for the Harlot, who represents the false religion which the Apostle Paul called "the apostasy." She is a classic "new ager" who pretends to be out for the "good" of mankind. However, the aim of Bailey is no different than the aim of Adolf Hitler and his Nazis in World War II. That may seem like a strong statement, however, their influences are the same -- namely, the doctrine of Madame H.P. Blavatsky, and her "Secret Doctrine." This very doctrine is what deepened Hitler's hatred for Jews, and introduced him to his dreams of the Aryan race of Supermen, the lost civilization of Atlantis. Here is what Bailey says in other writings about what she called the Jewish "problem" :

"What I say here has no specific reference to any individual; I am considering the world problem, centering around the Jews as a whole ... Hence, my brothers, the beneficent nature of death." Her tone seems to suggest that the "benefit" of "death" would be killing the Jews. She wrote these words in 1939 in a chapter titled "The General World Picture."

Also, her words about the "world" surrounding the "Jews as a whole" is a perfect description of the battle of Armageddon, when all the nations of the world gather together against Israel under the leadership of the Beast (who many new agers call Lord Maitreya, Avatar, or Cosmic Christ), right before the return of Jesus Christ. This is what will happen, and Bailey's work supports it.

Bailey also goes on to say that "... the Jewish problem is definitely producing cleavage as a part of the divine plan ... When the mind aspect ... is more fully developed, then the focus of the effort of the Dark Forces will change and the problem of the Jews will disappear."

The "mind aspect" seems to be the awakening of "Christ consciousness" or the "opening of the Third Eye" so often spoken of in New Age writings, and in the occult. Note that she says the "problem of the Jews will disappear." This seems to fit in with Hitler's "Final Solution" (a phrase which he took from Wagner) to rid the world of the Jews entirely.

Bailey's writings might seem "good" and "helpful" but her work is part of the great deception designed to lead mankind into destruction here at the end of this present age. Her writings might be brilliant, but so is the source from which they come. Search her work and the works of those she admired -- namely H.P. Blavatsky -- and you will see that she is the oracle of Lucifer, who is Satan, the Devil himself.

If you keep searching, you will find such new age gurus as Alice Bailey and David Spangler are the forthright worshipers of darkness -- despite all their pretense about "the light." Satan transforms himself into an angel of light, and so it is no wonder that his ministers transform themselves in like manner. No kidding. Check it out.

Alice Bailey wrote this book (and most of her books) under the mental dictation from the master Djwhal Khul (the Tibetan). He is a senior Master of the spiritual "Hierarchy", headed by "Christ".

These books comprise advanced teachings about discipleship and initiation all spiritually advanced people (and eventually all humanity itself) will undergo through initiation. Spiritual advancement can be expedited by these teachings and training to all those willing to learn and grow spiritually.

Most of what we know and have been taught about spirituality, the after life, God, angels, souls, and spiritual evolution is basically erroneous information. This has further been distorted by misguided zealots of all faiths who accept as dogma the distorted and biased teachings of institutionalised religions.

The spiritual truth and reality has been kept alive (besides the "Hierarchy" of the ageless wisdom contained in these books)by the mystics and secret esoteric schools throughout the ages. However, even they only have portions of the whole spiritual truth.

Those willing and able to seek the real truth about spirituality and esoteric reality, and have the discipline to follow the training needed will be amply rewarded with the knowledge attained and spiritual advancement achieved.

When you read the Alice Bailey books, and are advanced enough spirtually to comprehend the teachings of all the books, you will understand the worlds as they really are. Only spiritually advanced masters in possesion of the "Ageless Wisdom" could have conveyed all this spiritual knowledge in all comprehensive detail and splendour.

These two volumes are the writings of a Master to his pupils, giving them individual advice for spiritual development. Anyone can apply this same advise to themself, if you know the rays of your personality, astral body, mental body and soul. The best source I've found on the Rays is Douglas Baker's works, particularly The Seven Rays and Esoteric Astrology Part I.

Let's get the caveat out of the way first. This is NOT a How to book on Improvising! In fact...I'm not sure there can be a How To book on improvising...there are no tricks and written examples really defeat the purpose. The only way to learn to improvise, at least in a contemporary setting, or a free setting, is to do it and do it and do it. At first it won't sound good...that's where so many people get lost. They think that if their improvisation isn't brilliant off the bat, then somehow they haven't got the "trick" yet. But perserverence is what leads to mastery. (For example, when I was 16, I got sick of my jazz harmony in my piano's left hand. I spent an entire weekend at the piano, practicing chords that I'd discovered on Bill Evans albums. Changed my jazz playing forever!) So if you are looking for a How To book...give it up. Reading won't help, only playing will. (Like the Nike commercial says, just do it!)

Now on to the book at hand...Derek Bailey's book on Improvisation is really a classic. Bailey's interest here is wide ranging. Using a combination of interviews and essay, he looks at improvisation, or the lack of it, in Indian, Flamenco, Baroque, contemporary concert, rock, jazz and freely improvised music with the purpose of exploring improvisation in all it's forms from the inside. The act of improvisation is basically conceptual. How you think about your material has a deep effect on the material itself. So the book examines mostly the attitudes of improvising musicians toward improvisational issues: structure, composition/improvisation, rules and stylistic issues, recording, the relationship to the audience, and even the attitude toward innovation. It is interesting that there is such diversity, even in the improvising community, in outlook. Indian music is based on rather limiting sets of rules, and innovation doesn't even come into play. It's how you express the raga, not how innovative you are that determines your artistry...at the other end of the spectrum, in freely improvised music, the players are at great pains to always remain sponteneous...not to reuse tricks over and over again. In both cases, I think the stated positions are ideals...invariably there is innovation in Indian music and there are "licks" in free improvisation, but the differences in basic stance are fascinating.

On the whole, I think Bailey does an admirable job of discussing improv in the various fields. The one exception that I would make is in the classical field. Bailey is correct, classical instrumental education has totally banished improvisation, with the exception of liturgical organ music. It has created a dicotomy in which composers (usually dead) create music which performers lovingly try to recreate. However, this is a modern development. Improvisation was alive and well, deep into the 19th century. Most instrumentalists looked on pieces of music as a fairly detailed blueprint which they added to in the form of improvisation. And most composers were also instrumental soloists of note and improvisation was a key part of their repertoire. Chopin was notable for improvising the virtuoso figures of his piano pieces in the salons of Paris, and actually resisted writing down pieces, partly because he didn't want to commit any one version to paper. Beethoven and Mozart were of course known for their improvisation...Beethoven actually made his greatest showing as a young pianist in the improvisations he played. Many of Brahms late piano works started as improvisations, and some of the Intermezzi were carried around by Brahms in his head for 2 years before he finally wrote them down. Of course, cadenzas in concerti were supposed to be improvised by the performer, though, as the art was lost, more and more performers relied on prewritten cadenzas, either by the composer of the piece or by famous 19th century virtuosi. And there is a charming reocrding from an original Edison cylinder of Camille Saint-Saens improvising on the piano. (At the end of the disc you can hear Saint-Saens say in French, "are we done yet?") Bailey doesn't address any of this, and tends to make the classical tradition sound like the enemy of improvisation...seems actually to be a bit hostile to the entire notion of classical music. I find this a blemish on an otherwise excellent account of improvisation.

If you are an improvising musician in any discipline, you should read this book. If you want to understand the thought processes of improvising musicians, read this book. If you want to expand your understanding of the creative possibilities in music, read this book.

If you want a How to book, go somewhere else.

I'm a great lover of outside music, but
not a musician, and I found this book
very accessible and sharply written.
Helps one find things to say about
music that so often 'scares' people
you know!

The low ranking of the previous reviewer, who was apparently expecting this to be a introductory how-to manual, should be disregarded, as he's missed the point and direction of this classic work. Rather than being a instructional primer, it is instead a larger examination and explanation of improvisational music from the unique perspective of an extremely talented and thoughtful insider. The topics covered are diverse and wide-ranging, touching on the myriad of styles and genres listed above. Bailey addresses issues of composition, "anti-instrument" approaches, recording issues and more in the form of essays and excerpts of conversations with Steve Lacy, Earl Brown, Viram Jasani, John Zorn and many others.

I'd like to give this item 4.5 stars, as it's not perfectly written - the flow from topic to topic is abrupt at times, and I think it could have been a stronger work had Bailey explored some of the tangents touched upon in greater depth. I'll err on the positive side, however, and go with 5 stars.. It's just that important of a work for anyone interested in listening to or making improvised music. I'm not even much of a fan of Bailey's recorded work (though I wouldn't argue about his role historically), but will recommend this book without hesitation.

What will you learn from this book?

A lot of financial concepts, instruments and products.
If you do not know anything about financial markets, this is the book!!!!

Is it enough? NO, it is not enough even for a beginner. Why? Because it does not tell you how to think in financial terms, and mainly how to make up your portfolio.

Yes, lots of graphs, figures, nice words, you think you are learning finance, but suddenly you realize that actually you know nothing and that you read a lot of vain pages. Unfortunately, you will be in the end of the book.

If want to know how to implement the models presented in the book, or even if you want a book that says the same thing that Sharpe's but in less pages, consider:

- Modern Investment Theory by Robert A. Haugen; or
- Modern Portfolio Theory and Investment Analysis by Edwin J. Elton, Martin J. Gruber.

I had the opportunity to take a course at the University of Minnesota from Jeff Bailey while he was preparing this book. He provided an excellent mixture of pratical examples in addition to the theory involved.

In addition, he was very approachable.

Anyone seriously interested in investing should consider this book!

This is one of the handful of classic texts in economics and finance - it ranks with Samuelson's "Economics," Alpha C. Chiang's "Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics" and Hull's "Options and Other Derivative Securities" as one of the cornerstones of a financial education. Designed as a college textbook but also used in first-year MBA programmes, the authors begin right at the bottom with basic microeconomics and moves on through spot rates and yield curves, simple probability, expected returns and standard deviations. Once this basic toolkit has been establised, the reader is introduced to the efficient frontier and the Capital Asset Pricing Model, followed by arbitrage pricing theory. Further topics include fundamental securities analysis and a quick journey through option pricing. After a look at some institutional aspects of financial markets, the authors conclude with that holy grail of finance - portfolio management. Throughout, the pace is reasonable and the reader is provided with plenty of practice examples. For a one-stop introduction to finance, you cannot do better than this book.

Lots of information, but not all specific to what I wanted to learn or what I needed more detail to better understand.

The best reference guide for fish. It has listings by symptom and by disease. I have used it to diagnose fish illnesses without a problem. It has a lot of principles useful for setting up an aquarium. Using these principles, I have been able to improve the water quality of my fish tank, resulting in minimal fish loss. One thing that it does lack (that I have been unable to find in any book) is a comprehensive guide to fish breeds and varieties.

The information in this book is slightly hard to read, due to technical language, however, the content is thorough and very useful for the new aquarist. Covers only the essentials for tank set-up, but gives thoroughly detailed information about the different aspects of fish keeping. The authors have a genuine care for fish, and this is reflected in their writing of fish keeping standards. Very professional/practical advice.

ORDEAL BY INNOCENCE is a good example of Christie's tendency to tweak and twist earlier plot devices and then combine them with different themes to create something new, and here she renders the sort of situation seen in CROOKED HOUSE with an unexpected most-likely/least-likely solution and combines it with her oft-repeated theme of an old, previously solved crime that reopens to affect present lives.

The Argles are an unusual family, composed of wealthy parents and five adopted children--all of whom were drawn from underprivledged backgrounds that continued to affect them well into adulthood. One of these children, Jocko, grew up into a singularly undesirable man; constantly involved in legal scrapes, he is the obvious suspect when his adoptive mother is found with her head bashed in by a poker, and he soon convicted. But two years after his death, a man who could have given Jocko an iron-clad alibi suddenly resurfaces, and the family is suddenly thrown into disarray as the case is reopened.

Christie is, as always, extremely expert in her writing, but ORDEAL BY INNOCENCE proves an extremely mechanical effort without more than one or two memorable characters--still, it offers a typically surprising and memorable Christie solution, and that is saying a great deal indeed. While it does not rank among her finer efforts, both fans and newcomers should enjoy it quite a bit.

Jack Argyle was convicted of the brutal murder of his mother and sentenced to prison where he died six months later. He had always maintained his innocence and said he had been hitchhiking at the time of the murder. The man who had given him a ride had never been found.

Two years later, Dr. Arthur Calgary, the man who had given him the ride, returns from an Arctic expedition. Calgary had been struck by a lorry the morning after giving Jack a ride, suffered a severe case of amnesia, and left immediately to join the expedition without knowing of the murder or of the fact that he alone could provide an alibi.

Although it is too late to change things, Calgary feels it necessary to tell the family his story. The family is less than receptive because this new revelation means the real murderer is still at large and could be one of them. This novel is filled with maladjusted personalities and one more murder plus an attempted murder will occur before the truth is revealed.

This is my personal favourite of all Agatha Christie's books. For no good reason, though. It doesn't stand out particularly, but it is nonetheless a thouroughly brilliany mystery. I have long been of the opinion that Christie really came into her own when she ditched Poirot and marple. The books in which they do not feature are definitely some of her best. ("Towards Zero", "Death Comes As the End" "And Then there Were None" "Murder Is Easy" "The Pale Horse", to name but a few.)

Arthur Calgary is a really likeable character, as are several characters in this book. Which makes it even harder to read about what this opening up of an old wound is doing to them. It is hard to imagine how you would feel if, after several years of security, a stranger comes along and reveals that the killer of your friend/relative was not indeed the one imprisoned, but someone else. Someone who has been walking amongst you all these years, talked to you, eaten with you. And now all of you are under suspicion again. This book demonstrates that wonderfully, and it is a brilliant study of what the hunt for a kilelr can do to the people involved, the assumed guilt, the intrusion, the harassing of the innocent. All trying to find that one person who is guilty.

This book shines becuase it is actually rather realistic. It is full of human emotion and feeling, and some wonderful characters. they are not all of them incredibly likeable, but they are recognisable human, and you can empathise with all of them.

The story is told brilliantly, and the solution is typically unguessable and shocking. The climax is great. Fear permeates the atmosphere almost all through the book, leading to a great resolution.

One of her very very best books, if not her very best. Explores wonderfully issues of innocence and guilt, which raises it above the norm.

Ruth Rendell's "Murder Being Once Done," which was written in the seventies, is a flawed mystery with a few nice touches that redeem it slightly.

Inspector Wexford has not been feeling well, and he has been farmed out to his nephew's house to rest, eat right, and exercise. Wexford is supposed to avoid thinking about police work. However, there are two problems. One, Wexford is bored out of his mind. Two, his nephew is a police superintendent investigating a juicy murder. How can Wexford fail to get involved in the case?

The victim is a young woman who was found murdered in Kenbourne Vale Cemetery. Who is she and why was she killed? This woman, it turns out, was living quietly in poverty under a false name. No one knows where she came from. Wexford starts informally investigating on his own, interviewing anyone who may know something about the identity of the dead woman.

The investigation turns out to be a puzzle that challenges even Wexford's experienced and incisive mind, and he makes several wrong turns before reaching the correct conclusion. He experiences a period of self-doubt and shame when he realizes that his powers of detection may be waning somewhat. He even considers the possibility that it may be time to step aside and let the younger generation take over. Wexford is a wonderful character--intelligent, charming and compassionate. It is always a pleasure to be in his company.

Unfortunately, the mystery turns out to be less involving. While looking into the case, Wexford meets a variety of people, all of whom contribute to his understanding of what happened to the dead woman. Unfortunately, the characters are not fleshed out very well and the mystery itself turns out to be too convoluted and far-fetched to be completely satisfying. On the plus side, Rendell's description of settings is detailed and vivid and she beautifully captures Wexford's torment as he tries to deal with his mortality and his imperfections. "Murder Being Once Done" is not a great mystery, but it is a good study of an policeman who is desperately trying to prove that he still has what it takes to break a case.

Rendell in her Wexford series seems to be operating from a definite formula. Wexford and others follow red herrings and goose chases and then well towards the end the real solution is hurriedly put on the table and consumed by the hapless reader before you really know what you have eaten. This novel has quotes from Thomas Moore's Utopia before every chapter and this theme is nicely worked into the novel by Rendell. She does
write intelligently. Her red herrings are more fleshed out than the actual solution and thats not my cup of tea.

As always, Reg Wexford, an older police Chief Inspector from rural England, will manage to take your breath away through his amazing ability to overcome weakness and always come out on top of the case at hand. Ruth Rendell is brilliant, introducing her readers to new characters while intertwining the old, steady ones. Inspector Wexford, one of Rendell's regulars, is visiting his nephew Howard, a Detective Superintendent in London, when a tragic murder case arises. While exploring the dark, dirty streets of London and avoiding the prestigious flower arrangements of his niece, Reg manages to overcome his illness. In the course of helping his nephew solve this murder mystery, Reg must contend with Howard's other inspectors and struggle to prove his knowledge and expertise in the field of character analysis. Filled with unwed mothers, poverty, and adoption, this novel is constantly twisting and turning through Reg's inner thoughts. Through all this, he is pulled between two opposing forces. His wife, Dora, pleads with him to rest, in accordance with the doctor's wishes. On the other hand is his burning desire to solve the young girl's murder. In the end, he manages to stay on top of the case but ignores his doctor's wishes for him to eat only bread and water. By the end of his stay in London, though, Reg is back to his beef. Once I picked this book up, I was unable to put it down. It is full of intriguing surprises and, mingled with the unpredictable new characters, comes the story of a cult with a long, uncertain past of family deceit and runaway brides. All in all, this book tickled me into giving it the rating of 4 out of 5 stars.