An "Insiders Guide to Understanding Your Hospital Bill" ought to be on your bookshelf if you sincerely want to reduce your hospital bill. You may not need it now, but odds are you or a family member will need it in the future. It's easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to use. The authors know their business. In fact, the title of the book IS their business. The easy-to-read, non-technical style makes the book work for anybody who wants to have some control over their own hospital costs. If I sold medical insurance, I'd see that every policyholder had a copy of this book. If I administered a hospital, I'd give one to every single patient who came there. At last somebody has given us a weapon with which we can fight high medical costs. It's terrific!

This book warns you to check your hospital bill because it often contains billing errors -- and, since most of us have to pay something (after the insurance pays), it's good to know where to look for the errors to save money! The book is filled with detailed examples and suggests you keep a diary of your hospital stay so you can compare your entries to the final bill. Some are human errors, but most are not -- and this book lists the common areas where hospitals overcharge. More importantly, Chapter 6 tells you how to go about getting the hospital to correct your bill. And, if you don't want to do it yourself (or are too ill to do it yourself), the authors will (for a small fee). Overall, this is an excellent "How to..." book that gives you the option of letting the authors help you... when was the last time you had an author use their expertise for you? Most "How to..." books tell you what to do, but leave you hanging when you get in trouble. Not these authors!

The authors of this book simplify and explain how the complexities and frustrations of medical billing can be easily prevented and/or corrected. It is an easy read that can used by the everyday consumer. I highly recommend it. We all have or will have medical bills to pay and the book addresses some interesting points that need to be known and remembered before and after medical care is received.

I ended up buying this book for Redhat 7.1 because it was quicker than buying from Redhat directly and the same store was till carrying RH 6.2!! However, this book was too vague on most of the more advanced topics that I ended up spending hours reading the "man" pages to figure things out.

Example, this book is for Linux 7, but it discussed inetd rather that xinetd that comes with RH Linux 7. I also kept going to the store to look at the new book by SAMS by Bill Ball on Redhat 7 Unleased (many other versions out there).

Bottom line, buy the latest Redhat distribution from the company, lets help them out to survive against the Seattle Giant, and buy a book focused purely on Redhat rather than generic Linux.

The book by same company Hungry Minds on RH Linux is good but not as good as SAMS publishing.

I had been trying to install Linux just so I could fool around with it for several months. After getting fed up with Redhat, Suse, Corel, and Caldera's FTP sites, I decided to buy this book - simply because it included RH 7.1.... The version that came with mine already had the ver 2.4 kernel... USB support has been excellent and I now know what the difference between an RPM and a TAR is... I wish there was a bit more on installing hardware, as I have not yet figured out how to use a "makefile" thus rendering my network card useless. If for nothing else, pick up this book just for the version of Linux that it comes with. The book is useful, but plan on buying others if you want to consider yourself versed on the topic.

Well I ended up hitting the bookstore last night looking for a book I heard things about and unfortunately it was not there. I I ended up just taking a stab at it and picked up the Linux Bible as I did not want something that would be based on a certain Linux distribution (like Redhat or Slackware ...). As of picking this book up I new very basic knowledge with Linux. I could get around but I mainly wanted to know the real heavy details as well as why things occurred. This book answered all those questions for me and more. I ended up finishing the book in just 2 days because of the fact that it hits different topics and covers them very well so that you can understand them and immediately jumps to the next so you will always be learning something new.

I would suggest this book to any beginner or intermediate user. As for it being a bible ... well you will probably keep other books at your side for troubleshooting problems but this book is a must especially if you want to get in the field. I purchased this book and it came bundled with Red Hat Linux 7.1 and that may turn people away from it if they are interested in another distribution but do NOT be afraid! In the book whenever it goes over something in Redhat 7.1 it will give you notes on the difference with earlier Redhat versions as well as other popular distributions (slackware, debian, mandrake, and caldera to be exact). I had a friend come up to me who is in a similar field and could easily explain a lot of what I have read and sounded like a true "Linux Techie" which proves a lot for 2 days of reading and made me feel as though I have made a very wise investment. Get this book and just read it through and you will fall in love with all that linux has to offer.

this author is a sorry, sad pathetic thief of George Carlin's work. an utterly disgusting and blatant thievery of Carlin's trademark material, attitude and tone. enough to make one vomit, oddly enough, his 2nd book's title. if you are looking for an uninspired, unoriginal lump of literary fecal matter to blow 12 bucks on, be my guest :)

...Philosophical Moments is a great book!! I've read it at least three times, and I'm still laughing when I read it. In no way is Eric Collins a rip-off of George Carlin. If anything, he's gone further with his comedy than Carlin ever did. If you want a great book with wonderfully intelligent humor,... buy this book!! You'll be glad you did!!!

I couldn't get enough of this book!! Eric is one of the most talented comedians to come to light in many years. I loved his new products. I loved his takes on religion. And the piece on World War II was absolutely classic!! I can't wait for his next book to come out. Buy this book immediately!!

I recently saw the movie "Basil" with Christian Slator and thought it was quite a compelling story and the book must be great. What a shock. It turns out that the movie is, at best, only "inspired" by the book. If you see the movie first it will ruin this book, as there is very little other than the names of characters that are the same. Otherwise, the book is a fairly interesting story of how lust can really complicate your life when you are young and stupid, set in Victorian England.

Wilkie Collins came to fame with 'The Woman in White', followed by a succession of 'suspense' novels which are his trademark. 'Basil' is an earlier yet surprisingly mature work, and it is not a suspense novel. 'Basil' chronicles the life of a young, foolish man who falls in love (literally) at first sight with a young woman. He then discovers, too late, that this 'sweet young thing' is not as she first appeared. The author captures Basil's anguish perfectly. While some people might find the entire story to be a bit contrived, I found the emotional element of writing to greatly outweigh this 'love at first' kitsch.

So in conclusion, 'Basil' should have a wider appeal beyond the Wilkie Collins fan club. Folks who love mid-Victorian writing will find much to enjoy with 'Basil'.

After reading The Woman in White, A Rogue's Life, and attemting The Moonstone, I picked up Basil. Basil's story was more absorbing than any of the other books and my sympathies were entirely with him. I felt his betrayal and utter dejection. If only I could have been his friend!

T. Ryle Dwyer's joint biography on Michael Collins and Eamon De Valera is a striking comparison and contrast of the two most important figures in twentieth-century Irish history. Dwyer's examination of the influence of Collins and De Valera on the events leading to the recognition of the Irish Free State, and subsequently the Irish Republic, highlights the dramatically different leadership styles, personalities, and crisis strategies of the Big Fellow and Long Fellow.
This book is well researched, well written, and well organized. Many joint biographies fail in their efforts to flawlessly intertwine the lives of two radically different individuals. Dwyer moves back and forth from Collins to De Valera with skill and grace, and in a manner that demarcates their differences clearly to the reader. Dwyer's work also gives ample background of Irish and global events that led to the treaty with Britain, providing a context for readers unfamiliar with Irish history.
The chapters on the early childhood of both De Valera and Collins are particularly well researched and effectively presented. Dwyer draws lines between several influential childhood events and the leadership style and personality that both leaders assumed later in life. Additionally, Dwyer's examination of Collins' role in the partitioning of Northern Ireland is exceptional. Overall, this book serves as a definitive study of the two most prominent figures in modern Irish history.

An informative and interesting account of the lives and times of the two most famous leaders of the Irish fight for independence from Britain. While not as detailed or as exhaustively researched as other books on the two men, it is of particular interest because it presents them together and explores the contrasts between them which ultimately led to their split and the devastating civil war in Ireland, which was more tragic by far than the war against Britain. The theory of the book is that the difference in the background and upbringing of the two accounts for the eventual animosity between them--DeValera, the cold, reserved, patriotic and manipulative product of a dislocated and not very secure childhood, and Collins, the much-loved youngest child in a large, cohesive family, whose volatile, intelligent, charismatic personality created both enemies and almost fanatically loyal adherents. The contrasts are engrossing and illuminating, and the book is well worth reading to understand the dynamics behind the Irish War of Independence.

Picking this up by cahnce I was surprised by the details T. Ryle Dwyer went into. Such intimate looks into the personality's and the main hops, skips and jumps that went along with these two great men's lives. Highly enjoyable and hard to leave at home! Easy to read and sometimes fairly amusing.

my older brother was alwas picking fights with me, and he'd win becaus ehe is 2 time bigger than me, well i secretly ordered this book and readed it and praticed the moves, when he started hitting me, the next thing he knows is he is on the ground and he has a black eye, and i have had him hit me again.

This book starts by giving you information on showing your confidence when out and about. It then has a very basic keep fit chapter. Next it tells you where you stand within the law if you have to defend yourself.

It then shows the weak areas of the body and explains how to attack those areas and how you should stand. The book has numerous illustrations to reinforce the self-defence techniques; there is also a section on defending yourself with everyday objects.

I love the simplicity of some of the moves they show you, these are things you would probably never think about in a confrontation. The undertone of the book is obviously to avoid confrontations when possible, but it will teach you the basics of how to defend yourself if you have no other option.

There are also chapters on protecting your home, protecting yourself whilst travelling around the world and protecting yourself against animals and insects. There is also a basic first aid section.

All in all I liked this book but bear in mind that a book this size only covers the basics, in many respects I think that could be enough for most of us.

Most people are unwilling or unable to devote three to five hours a week studying a classical martial art like karate or judo.

This book is aimed at the reader who has an interest in gaining information which would be useful in self-protection, who is willing to spend a spare hour or two thumbing through a tiny book (the book is only about 3 inches by 5 inches).

Notwithstanding its size, the book is well illustrated with drawings and photographs which are surprisingly easy to see (even with my middle-aged eyes), and the text is also large enough to be legible.

Rather than set out five hundred specialized techniques requiring substantial amounts of practice, the author elects to protect his reader by 1) discussing the circumstances which may give rise to a need to exercise self-defense, and how to avoid them, 2) discussing the law with an emphasis on English Law concerning self defense, 3) discussing general principles and examples of self defense techniques, with appropriate illustrations.

In a sort of bonus, the author also briefly discusses securing the home against entry, self defense against environmental hazards (dogs, snakes, scorpions, and other sometimes troublesome visitors), and dealing with the aftermath of violent crime.

While the book is emphatically not written with the experienced or trained martial artist in mind, it is exactly what it purports to be: a basic self defense book with practical advice on how to avoid confrontation and techniques to deal with it if it can't be avoided.

Meda Ryan attempts to tackle a very difficult task: determining who shot Michael Collins on that ill-fated day in 1922. In the book's preface, Ryan shares her reasons for wanting to examine the topic and her research methods in compiling the book. In Part I of the introduction, Ryan provides a short biography of Collins's life from his birth to June 1922. In Part II, she covers the last two months of Collins's life and the marrow of the book begins. Ryan supplies several great pictures and several maps of Béal na mBláth. Her evidence consists of eye-witness accounts, letters, telephone conversations and newspaper clippings.

Ryan takes us on a rollercoaster of facts and emotions as the story progresses. The basic theories she tackles are: Collins was hit from behind by IRA members headed to Kerry, Collins was hit by a member of his own party by a close range bullet from the armoured car, Collins was hit by a ricocheted bullet, and Collins was hit by a bullet fired by an IRA member. After dissecting the response of the medical examiners, the embalmer, the men who supposedly buried the cap Collins was wearing on the day he was killed, and the testimony of Emmet Dalton, Collins's friend and comrade who was with him that day, Ryan does give a firm conclusion as to who the shooter was. She dispels the theories that Collins was shot by a bullet from a Mauser pistol and that Collins was killed by a ricocheted bullet. So who shot Michael Collins according to Ryan's studies? Read this engrossing book to find out!

After reading a number of books on Michael Collins I found this book to be one of the most interesting on the shelves. The author gives a brief background of Collins life, what influenced his views and why he signed the Treaty. As the title suggests this book concentrates mainly on the last days of Michael Collin's life. There is an in-depth look at how he was killed and who fired the fatal shot. Interviews included are with those who took part in the Beal na mBlath ambush. I would highly recommed this book, even to anyone who has a slight interest in Michael Collins.

This book is a quick read that provides good detail of the last days of MIchael Collins' life and the months leading up to his assassination. If you are interested in what he did before he was shot and a theory of his death then you should read this book. The book focuses on the assassination of Collins and the politics surrounding it. It gives great detail of the final day and the attack itself so if that interests you it would be a good book.

This is very good book and excellent too as you can find the exact things what you want along with some additional gifts

I would've given this 5 stars if it weren't for the fact that the abbreviations key is difficult to read. The key is printed on deep blue endpapers. The abbreviations are in white text and that's OK, but their meanings are printed in black and therefore nearly impossible to read without a strong light and a magnifier. Otherwise, an excellent dictionary.

I stood in a bookstore reference section and compared 4 different Spanish/English dictionaries for about 15 minutes before buying this one. It is easy to use, updated with current words, has very good information on what they call Language Building Supplements, such as how to do correspondence, using the telephone, translation tips, conjugating verbs, etc.. This dictionary would be good for a college freshman, senior, or someone like me who is just working on trying to learn the language.

There are 8 sides of tape. Yet there is no Table of Contents and the tapes are not organized by topic. You need to listen to them as though they comprised a novel. It is so difficult to navigate to the topics you wish to listen that these tapes are a waste of time and money.

Comprehensive review of business and management practices. I enjoyed listening to it.

Best preparation for your first year and great over view of the core subjects by the top professors. A must have for MBA candidates and a great referesher for MBA's.

A contemporary horror novel set in Chicago and Los Angeles. Like so many other aging baby-boomers, Joyce Lackey hadn't given much thought to her future; it looked rosy and that was enough. So when she's forced into an early retirement and her life goes to pieces, the future begins to look grim...until the X-Gen Agency calls her with an offer that seems too good to be true. Not only do they offer her a new life, they offer her the one thing she thought she couldn't ever have again: her youth.

Most horror relies upon some external agent - ghosts, vampires, psychotic killers - but Regeneration takes a different approach. While the X-Gen Agency and its plans are pretty scary, the true horror of the novel lies in the choices Joyce makes about the way she is going to live her life. To be fair, which of us wouldn't think longingly of renewed youth if it was offered to us? And which of us, in Joyce's position, wouldn't jump at the chance to make a new start at life, particularly when the only other option seems to be suicide? It's not easy to fault Joyce for choosing the paths she takes, and not easy to divorce ourselves from her wholly, even at the end of the novel when most intelligent readers will be shrieking at her to stop and think before she destroys the rest of her life. She's a strong woman with fatal weaknesses, a smart woman who can be willfully foolish and, in the end, a woman who finds it easier to become someone new than to give up all the material considerations she's held so dear: her youth, her job, her image and her lifestyle.

Regeneration is compellingly crafted and highly readable, but if you're not prepared for a story about a group of people who aren't particularly admirable, then don't even bother. There's no happily-ever-after to the romance and, by the end, there's not even a glimmer of hope for Joyce's future. This isn't an uplifting book by any stretch. However if you like well-written horror, and you can find it in something other than raging blood beasts, then Regeneration may well be exactly what you need. Well worth the time.

I picked up the book on a whim and started thumbing through it. After the first page I was hooked! I am in my late 20s and don't believe that either Gen-Xers or Boomers will find that this book stereotypes or demeans anyone. It is pure suspenseful entertainment tied together with lots of nostalgia and great musical references. A terrific book to begin the new century with.

I would recommend this book to everyone I know. I have read it and I am 56. My Daughter read it age 28. Gave the book to my Aunt age 78 and she also loved it. We are avid readers and all of us enjoyed the plot of the book. We all agree it should be made into a TV Movie of the week. This book will grab you from page one till the end. You will want more.