The Austrian School is the most consistently free enterprise school of economic thought. Its most outstanding representative was Ludwig von Mises and its leading thinker in recent memory was Murray Rothbard. Both von Mises and Rothbard wrote substantial treatises on economics. However, there haven't been many introductory works. (Hazlitt's Economics in One Lesson focuses more on government intervention than prices, the evenly rotating economy and capital theory.)

Gene Callahan has remedied that situation with this excellent introductory work. Written in the style of Rothbard, Callahan provides a primer on methodology, economic theory, and a critique of government intervention. The examples are always vivid and at times humorous.

After finishing this book, the reader should tackle Rothbard's Man, Economy and State. Then he should try von Mises's Human Action. Human Action isn't easy, but it will present the reader with the acedmic and theoretical rigor of the Austrian school's greatest exponent. For an introductory work that is more basic that Callahan's, David Gordon's An Introduction to Economic Reasoning is excellent.

Callahan (and the Austrian school in general) explain economics in terms of human action rather than the abstract and sometimes obtuse models of classical economists. Beginning with the simplest possible scenario, a single human acting in isolation, Callahan builds a hypothetical society and uses it to explain the crucial concepts of economics in a style and language that should be accessible to anyone who has completed high school.

He explains the concept of subjective valuation with his individual on the island, then begins adding people and concepts. He quickly takes us through direct exchange, a refutation of the labor theory of value, the introduction of money (including the explanation of the criteria that make something a good choice to use as money), time preference (and how the interest rate serves as the "price" of a time preference), and so on. In the second half of the book he explains concepts that are a bit more abstract - how do central banking and fiat money work? What causes the business cycle? How does a free market system handle externals (benefits or consequences imposed upon those not party to an exchange -e.g. water pollution).

Throughout it all, Callahan cogently makes the case for a truly free market as the only means of efficiently satisfying the desires of a society's members.

There are things I would have liked Callahan to cover better, for instance, a greater discussion of how the neo-classical economists work, and how their theories influence media reporting of economic issues (think about all the indicators that we are bombarded with in the business section of the paper). However, I don't see how he could have covered that material while keeping the book small and readable. He does give an extensive bibliography for those wishing to further investigate particular points.

A handy appendix gives the five page version of the history of the Austrian movement. It seems foolish to say this with it only being April, but I expect this will be the best book I read this year. I would give it more than 5 stars if I could.

This is a great book. Although I would recommend it to neophytes, it is also useful for people who already have a grasp of economics generally and the Austrian school particularly.
The chapter explaining Austrian business cycle theory would make this book worth the money even if the rest of it were ghost-written by John Kenneth Galbraith.

My grandaughter loves your book and we would like to purchase more by Thomas Hood. Did he write anymore or is he about to??!!?? She's just two years old and is fascinated with all the little tricks and picture plays within the pictures. Please write more!! Deb Weber

Realistic, detailed pictures. Modern in the way of letting kids know they can be anything they want to be, and fun because it takes you many places, it's adventurous.

My 3 1/2 year old has loved this book since he was very little. The poem captivates his imagination and the pictures are wonderful to look at. He loves to show me which animal the boy is imagining and loves to find as many things from the poem in the picture on the last page. It's funny and sweet and kids discover new things every time they read it.

I am quite sure it was the film "Gandhi" that had me thinking Margaret Bourke-White (1904-1971) was essentially a portrait photographer, but this impressive collection of her life's work amply proves otherwise. Bourke-White was originally an industrial photographer, who was hired by Henry Robinson Luce to do assignments for his new magazine "Fortune," for which she did extensive photographic essays on everything from meat packing plants in Chicago and glass blowers in upstate New York to workers in Indiana quarries and the steel industry in Germany's Ruhr valley.

On her first trip to Russia in 1930 she photographed not only the industrial expansion of the Soviet Union but the lifestyle of the people and it is from this point in her career that she made the clear shift to being a photo journalist. During the Great Depression she documented the plight of migrant farm workers and sharecroppers. When Luce launched "Life" in 1936 Bourke-White formed the magazine's original photographic staff (along with Alfred Eisenstaedt, Peter Stackpole, and Thomas McAvoy) and her photo of the construction of Fort Peck Dam in Montana was the cover and lead article in the first issue. During World War II Bourke-White covered everything from the German attack on Moscow to Patton's push into Germany to the horrors of Buchenwald.

Bourke-White's work represents the height of the era in which photography was a recognized art form, by which I mean a time when photographs were hung on walls in the same manner as paintings. Her work, like the best of that period by her contemporaries, has a poster-like design. It is fascinating to read how her use of multiple flashbulbs helped her create a more realistic effect. "Margaret Bourke-White, Photographer" lays out her career in clear stages, telling us not only about what she was doing but the hows and whys as well. Whether you consider yourself an aspiring photographic artist or are simply an interested neophyte such as myself, you will have a greater appreciation for both the artist and her art after devouring this book, which contains 160 pages of superb reproductions of her best and most famous monochrome images (some of which are from her personal archives).

I did not buy this book because MBW was an inspirational female or other, but because her photos are simply superb. They capture a feeling, a time and space with a clarity that is both sparse and yet detailed. This is a book to savour and reflect on.

This book illustrates why Margaret Bourke-White should be recognized as one of the 20th century's top photographers. Her ability to capture a moment during war and destruction or an enternity in marble and stone, is awe inspiring. She was not limited by her feminity. She moved easily into the world of machines and factories, capturing molten metal and shiny blades. Again and again, I return to the book and study all aspects of her photographs. The depth of field, the rhythm, the harmony and the life seen in all her photos takes my breath away. Within a few days of purchasing the book, I had the joy of visiting the National Art Gallery of Canada in Ottawa where there are two Margaret Bourke-White photos in their collection. The soft creamy paper used in these pictures counters the hard metal of the image itself. These are the third and fourth Margaret Bourke-White's I have had the pleasure to see in person. The other two was a copy of the original cover for LIFE magazine and a single rose bud. Both of these photos are owned by Margaret Bourke-White's sorority and are featured in their archival collection. The photographic reproductions in this book, although lacking the soft creams of the Art Gallery's copies, do capture the integrity of her photos. I will treasure this book.

Being an avid reader and a resident of Tombstone, I read anything I can get my hands on about the area. This is, without a doubt, the best "history" book of Tombstone I have read to date. I highly recommend it to anyone who is searching for their past!

The most captivatingly written book I have ever read. It has brought Tombstone to life for those of us who want to know the other stories that didn't make the history books.

I highly recommend it to everyone.

Tombstone, Earp brothers, soiled dove girls, shootings, cowboys, Indians, mining, gambling, the 1880's in the wild, wild west...what else can be more interesting to read? The Bird Cage Saloon was only opened for 8 years, but what stories those walls can tell. Well written, and spellbinding, this large book goes by very quickly and is easy reading, planning to reread it many times. Have visited the Bird Cage in person many times in the past and recently, I have updates since the book was written if interested after reading this book. Enjoy your step back in time to the 1880's!

I've become somewhat of a Callahan Garrity junkie, and only wish that Kathy Hogan Trocheck would write more, more, more, and much faster. Come on, Grafton is up to her her sixteenth in her series, and I'd much prefer Trocheck to have written that many. This installment in enjoyable House Mouse land is the best yet, funny, suspenseful and well-rounded.

It's Christmas time in Candler Park, and Callahan and her goofy mother Edna are gearing up for the holidays. Out of the blue, Callahan's long lost brother Brian shows up, with an unexpected holiday package: his 3 year old daughter Maura. Edna is overjoyed with her new found granddaughter, but when Brian confesses that he has practically stolen her from his unreliable, trashy ex-wife, then vanishes for days leaving little Maura with Edna and the not-so-motherly Callahan, things start getting messy very fast. When the ex-wife is found murdered in her apartment, Brian is the main suspect, and Callahan is up to her ears in a new case, more personal than ever this time.

Trocheck never fails to mix in humor and suspense, and it abounds in Midnight Clear. Adding in more Atlanta history and new settings in the southern suburbs and the abandoned, long-ago Funtown, Callahan fights to clear her brother's name and to keep Maura safe. A delightful read, with twists and turns, and an unlikable new character in Brian, Midnight Clear is Trocheck's best to date.

I deliberately waited over a year to purchase and read Midnight Clear by my favorite mystery author, Kathy Hogan Trocheck. I've always paced myself with her books because there aren't that many to begin with plus it's been over 3 years since KHT last wrote one. I hope that she is working on something new, because all of us Callahan Garrity fans are anxiously awaiting the next mystery featuring Callahan, Edna & the rest of the House Mouse cleaning crew! As for Midnight Clear-it just doesn't get any better than this. Kid brother Brian, who had been in absentia for 10 years suddenly shows up at Edna's doorstep with a surprise in his truck-a 3 year old girl named Maura. There is a major murder mystery for Callahan to solve, but it looks like Brian is the prime suspect-his ex-wife is found murdered in her bed. You'll find yourself rapidly turning the pages until you reach the surprise ending, KHT pulls out all the stops with this one. Once you reach the very end, however, you realize you want more books to come out featuring Callahan Garrity & co. As the previous reviewer mentioned, if only Ms. Trocheck would write as often as Sue Grafton does! Very highly recommended-along with all of her other books. Enjoy!

In Atlanta, Callahan Garrity is looking forward to Christmas, which is only a few days away when disaster strikes. Her brother Brian, who she has not seen in over a decade, arrives, accompanied by his two-year old daughter. However, there are universal truths including that the life of Brian means trouble for Callahan. Her sibling kidnapped his child from his former spouse, who will use the law to get her daughter back and her ex-husband in jail.

However, instead of a kidnapping rap, the police arrive to arrest Brian for killing his ex-wife. Brian has vanished, leaving his child and his hopes for freedom with Callahan, who he expects to clear his name.

MIDNIGHT CLEAR, the seventh Callahan Garrity mystery, is the best novel in a very well written series. The who-done-it is a true puzzler filled with intriguing twists and the characters remain fun to read about, especially the hilarious Edna (Callahan's mom) and her cohorts. However, the insight into the star's brother adds depth to the interesting, but strange brew. Kathy Hogan Trocheck has become one of the leading authors of amateur sleuths, living in Dixie.

Harriet Klausner

These were the stories that kick-started Robinson's writing career. Originally appearing in Analog, they met such a warm reception and requests for more that Spider was almost forced to oblige, even though these stories have only a bare minimum of that 'hard science' feel that is the normal requisite for stories in that magazine.

The reason these stories got that kind of reception is simply that they deserved it. All happen within the confines of Callahan's bar, a most congenial place that people seem to find just when they need it, for the patrons of this bar are always willing to listen to and help anyone who truly needs it. Fully loaded with humanity even when dealing with aliens out to destroy our world or turn us into their own private feed cattle, these stories are tightly plotted, filled with recognizable people from just down the street, and just wacky enough to engage both your interest and your funny bone. Just to add icing to the cake, most of these stories are also loaded with puns (most especially in those stories that occur on Tuesday night, officially designated PunDay), some of them quite good and original, and guaranteed to raise a groan or two. And then there is Tall Tales Night, where some really, really tall ones get told just as sidelights to the main story.

The stories I liked the best in this collection were "The Time Traveler" which is science fiction only by courtesy, but is a riveting story that may have you reaching for your handkerchief, and "The Law of Conservation of Pain" where science fiction mixes with the world of music in a most painful and joyous manner. These are two of the longest stories here, and Robinson does seem to do better at this length. Some of the shorter length stories, such as "The Centipede Dilemma", depend too much on a single gimmick or idea to be fully satisfying, but the overall level of this collection is very high. And once you have tasted the flavor of Callahan's bar, you'll more than likely wish you had one just like it around your neighborhood. Alas, the supply of Callahans is very limited, but at least you can read more about this fascinating place in all the other Callahan books Spider has published over the years.

"Callahan's Crosstime Saloon," by Spider Robinson, is a collection of 9 linked short stories. All are set at the saloon of the title. Callahan's has a colorful collection of regulars and is often visited by aliens, time travelers, and humans with paranormal gifts. The book contains a fascinating introduction by Ben Bova entitled "Spider Robinson: The SF Writer as Empath."

This book is a great blend of humor and science fiction. Robinson puts inventive spins on classic sci-fi themes. He also deals effectively with such down-to-earth issues as war, motherhood, and personal loss. The book is also full of puns--the Callahan's regulars observe a Punday contest.

Along the way Robinson invokes Isaac Asimov and Charles Fort. The book as a whole is grounded by a real compassion for the human (and nonhuman!) condition--this is sci-fi with both brains and heart.

Yippee! I love this great Not-so-SciFi series, and I just started to read it a week ago! The second book rocks too! A great blend of humor, SciFi, and fiction. :-)

Callahan is simply incredible. Never before could such a man who so obviously has so many faults be considered a hero. At my high school, Callahan has become a cult hero on level with South Park. But Callahan's story is more than his sick and demented humor. He overcame a lot to just be himself. This isn't a self-help book nor is it a typical autobiography of a noted comedian. Callahan is something special. He overcame adversity so deep and so self-inflicted that at times it seems like John himself is the only one who could overcome it. In this book, he shows his glaring weaknesses and for it endears himself to his readers. This book is not only Callahan's finest, but it is also a triumph of humanity. Callahan proves over and over again through the book that sometimes the best thing you can do is forgive him for being himself. Just like you need to forgive everyone for being themselves.

John Callahan has written a fabulous book for almost any audience, mature mid-teens and older. One could call it irreverent and funny, morbidly funny in places. But it's much more than that.

The opener sets the tone: "On the last day I walked, I woke up without a hangover. I was still loaded from the night before." On one level it's the story of his life. We watch as he becomes addicted to chemicals at a very early age, starting with alcohol at twelve. We watch him cruising through his teen years, experimenting with other drugs. We learn about his adoptive family dynamics, his Catholic upbringing, his alienation from his father, how he was with friends, and his resentment towards his birth mother, who he feels abandoned him.

The last day he walked he was twenty-one. He and his buddy, also drunk and the driver, left a topless bar and drove into a utility pole at ninety. Callahan takes the reader through the most vivid description I've ever read of what it is like to become paralyzed in all four limbs, have sex as a person with quadriplegia, what the rehabilitation process entails, and how difficult re-entry is. For the first time I began to understand how critical a personal care assistant is for a person with quadriplegia, and how dealing with the vagaries of a state welfare program can virtually make or break one's ability to function.

He shares unusually open insights into his involvement with Alcoholics Anonymous, and his successful struggle to control his addiction, his triumph over self-pity. We follow his intense and persistent search for his birth mother, and his reconciliation with old friends and his adoptive family.

And finally, we see a gifted cartoonist and writer hone his skills, submit his work, and be rejected. Callahan shows us the real meaning of tenacity as he continues his craft, mostly at night, "his time." Eventually he becomes recognized and his sometimes infamous work is widely published, from Penthouse to the New Yorker. He relishes the thrill of creating.

In short, this is a sobering, instructive, yet humorous book about his life, and life in general, by a gifted man. On another level, it's a book about sheer guts, tenacity, and believing in oneself. Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far On Foot is a very easy read, and although first published ten years ago, its appeal is timeless. I strongly recommend it and thank my friend Dennis for introducing me to it.

Whether you are an alcoholic yourself or only know of one, this is the best book you can get your hands on to help you understand the life of anyone with a drinking problem.

It would be easy to dismiss this as a humor book, or a self-help book, or as just another biography of someone who has overcome adversity, but in truth it is a book about a man who could be anyone of us. It is not a matter of "There but for the grace of God..." but that we are all, like him, just people trying to find our way in this world. Some of us eat too much, some work to hard, some drink.

It's John's story of his recovery which makes me recommend this book so highly. He takes the reader through his worst crashes and every painful moment of his time in AA so that we truly feel and understand what it means to have a bottle in charge of your life.

If you have a drinking problem yourself, or know someone who does, I would, to paraphrase John, take them by the fastest transportation available to the nearest copy of this book. It is definately worth the read.

I've raised a family and have enjoyed countless children's books, but John Callahan's "The King of Things and the Cranberry Clown" is by far the most inspiring and uplifting children's book I have ever had the pleasure to encounter. It brought tears to my eyes. I found it to be deeply satisfying emotionally and spiritually. The metaphor is universal, appropriate (even crucial) for children of all ages. The pictures are funny, sad and beautiful, the colors uplifting as a spring day. The story ultimately brings you "home" where you belong, to that special place where you know the truth, and the truth is always present.

Such a charming book. Funny illustrations- with "The King of Things" pushing & pulling on strings connected to all he attempts to control --all the while a look of frantic determination on his face. The child will like the rhymes and simple illustrations, the adult will sense the deeper meaning. A marvelous book.

Bring all of John Callahan's book back into to print. I bought this book when it was first published and rarely do I re-read my books, but this one has drawn me several times to pick it up and re-read it. Unfortunately the message of the book is freedom from "things" and there is no way I can relinquish this book. Read.....and.....ENJOY

I started reading this book because I wanted a great adventure story. This is not an adventure story. This is on the edge of death pure human suffering. Callahan is a very skilled seaman and very lucky man. His story is riveting and told very well. His story is so interesting, his writing skill, though quite good, really isn't necessary to read the book cover to cover. This book has many places where you want to sit down and cry with the man. I'm really tempted to give five stars, but I really wanted more information about his readjustment when he got back to land, but it ended fairly abruptly. Still, I feel I know Callahan's Dorado fish, his raft, and his feelings pretty well. He did a great job.

Steven Callahan is a blessed man. This true story is one of the most harrowing accounts of survival in a truly hopeless situation. He capsizes in minutes in the middle of the night with a raft and not much more. Nobody knows he's missing. No one is looking for him.

Told with desperation and some much needed occasional humor, Callahan paints a story so real and frought with fear that you can read it in one sitting. It is difficult to imagine what one would do in a similiar situation and the very thought of it is spine tingling.

This is a tale for every person who ever took to the water and every adventurer who feels safe in thier environment. You will never take the ocean for granted again after reading this book.

This is an excellent,totally engrossing account of the author's quest to survive alone on the open seas for 76 days with a minimum of equipment and supplies. This is a real page-turner and is difficult to put down. Callahan faced his plight with a lot of courage, inventiveness and even humor. The parts dealing with him fighting off his shark companions are often quite funy. An excellent book for any fan of true-life adventures. Highly recommended

I was introduced to Spider Robinson stories by a waitress at Beth's Cafe in Seattle back in 1989, I've been hooked ever since. This is a reprint of some of the "Callahan" Books. If you like Brin, Bujold, Dickson, Frankowski, Heinlein, Hogan, McCaffrey, Modesitt Jr, Rosenberg, or Rowley you will like Spider Robinson. He's unique, but his flavor compliments each of them.

This book includes the previously released books titled: Callahan's Crosstime Saloon, Time Traveler's Strictly Cash, and Callahan's Secret.

Callahan's is a mythical pub in Halifax where people are healed. Callahan doesn't believe in drinking in the dark, sitting on stools, recorded music, or snoopy questions. Patrons pay $1 for any drink served. After receiving their drink they can exercise their option. They can toe the chalk line, make a toast, and pitch the glass into the fire place OR they can collect their change from the cigar box by the door. It's a place where people learn that pain shared is halved, but joy shared is squared. It's not like A.A. or group therapy, it's more like a place where you celibrate being human. Since it came out I've offered friends and aquantences a money back guarantee; if they don't like it, I'll buy it back at their cost. In the 4 years it's been out I haven't had one taker.

Entropy is an omnipotent force. It erodes and degrades just about every facet of our lives. But not at Callahan's. Spider Robinson paints a picture of a place where people are genuinely interested in each other. It isn't a utopic scene where nothing ever goes wrong. In fact just the opposite, if it can go wrong, it will go wrong first at Callahan's. Fortunately, the patrons of this wonderful place are capable of dealing with these problems. The characters range from the (forgive me) mundane to the utterly outrageous. The puns are some of the best (worst?) ever put on paper. Spider's characters are real. Spider has a way of grasping someone out of every walk of life and putting them together in this place on Route 25a Long Island. The lively characters show the qualities that, over time, we may all learn to embrace. To quote a line from the book, only because it fits so well, "Shared joy is increased; shared pain is lessened."

I first read "The Guy with the Eyes" 25 years ago, when it came out in Analog. It is the definitive story to illustrate Survivor Guilt, and is well worth the price of the book alone. If you are trying to understand a friend suffering from PTSD, read this story. It will teach you more than a dozen textbooks on the subject...and that's just the first story. There's 20 or more stories in this book, each one is eminently enjoyable, and each one has a valuable point to teach you about life. I have passed the Callahan's books to all of my friends, and even people that don't like SF, will enjoy Callahan's. A friend of mine has only read five non-fiction books in the last 10 years - all of them were in the Callahan's Universe. Put it another way - I rarely buy hardcover books - they're too expensive and bulky. But if I see Spider Robinson as the author, I'll gladly fork over the cash, because I can't stand to wait the 6-8 months for it to come out in paperback. And I'll probably buy it in paperback, because when I'm on the road, re-reading a Spider Robinson story is often better than picking up some of the over-priced schlock populating Airport Bookshelves.