This is a truly fascinating book about Finland and her high-wire act guarding her independence in the shadow of the Soviet Union.

The author spent several years in the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki during the seventies and eighties, and experienced many of the crises first hand, and had access to the main players in the Finnish government and media. This made it possible for him to research the previous crises, prior to his arrival in Helsinki around 1976.

The most important example was the "Note Crisis" around 1961-62, when the Soviet Union appeared to turn the screws on Finland quite a few turns. Living in Sweden at the time, I felt the fear emating from this incident, and seeing it described and analyzed by an insider was fascinating. The author is fluent in Finnish, unlike most diplomats posted to Finland (except, of course, the Russians, who made a career out of managing the Finland relationship).

The only problem is that the book sometimes presupposes more knowledge than that which the average reader is likely to possess. I would recommend the book, but also that the reader arm himself with a map of the area, and a pencil, and that he make a list of the many abbreviations as they occur.

nils@codeart.com

"This book is a big piece of me," says ex-U. S. Consul General James Ford Cooper, referring to ON THE FINLAND WATCH, which happens to contain deeply penetrating insights about the Cold War.

Cooper examines in detail Cold War policies, which he feels succeeded in balancing many delicate vital interests, in particular Finland's success in maintaining its independence from the Soviet Union. He puts into historical perspective the difficult relationship between two such neighboring states, while introducing colorful statesmen, such as the long-time uncanny Finnish President Urho Kekkonen, who "tried to shape publc opinion 180 degrees."

Cooper reveals how U. S. diplomatic missions fared during his two Helsinki tours, always mindful of the characters he knew personally. He and his wife Magda participated in Nordic society, enrolled their children in Finnish schools and partook in recreational activities, including Cooper's memorable finish in the 13th annual Finlandia ski race.

Such ongoing support and understanding on the part of such a keen career officer may allow the U. S. and its allies to maneuver all the more successfully in the world's ever-changing political landscape.

Ford Cooper's book provides great insight into the Cold War era when tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union were at their peak. He provides an interesting--and mostly sympathetic --perspective on Finland's delicate balancing act between these super powers.

Although not enough commentary on the pictures abundant in this book, the rare collections themselves are stunning and spoke directly to you of a once mighty Utsmani Devlet. You have to focus hard and connect the scattered pieces of facts in order to make some arguments from this remarkable work.

To get the best out of this book you'll need to read a few introductory works on the Utsmani period of modern navy, plus some history on the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea, Western Mediterranean, and the Indian Ocean. Yes, surprisingly, they actually controlled much of those waters then.

This book is an absolute delight, opening up a vista into a long-gone world when Turkey hovered on the brink of embracing modernity but, in those pre-Ataturk days, never gathered the courage for the final plunge. The numerous high-quality photographs are as valuable for the picture they give of a vanished society as for the technical content. Grave moustachioed and befezzed officers and smart-looking seamen look at the camera across immaculately holystoned decks, obviously proud of their custodianship of the products of British, German and French shipyards and armaments workshops - images which are in many cases at sharp variance with the actuality of venality, corruption and inefficiency that governed their daily lives (The story in the text of Ottoman seamen stranded at a German shipyard, and practically destitute, as the funds do not become available to pay for the refurbishment of their ship, is especially pathetic). Those who love Turkey and the Turks will enjoy these photographs even if they have little interest in naval history - the views of ports, shipyards and the Golden Horn are quite splendid. The book is in fact in three main sections - an introductory text, a superb collection of photographs and a technical appendix that provides not just specifications and brief histories of every ship to serve in the Ottoman navy in the period covered, but also excellent general arrangement drawings and hull lines for many of them. This book is one that is to be treasured by anybody with an interest in naval matters of the ironclad and pre-World War 1 age. I have enjoyed it since I have purchased it and will regard it as a source of valuable reference and entertainment for years to come. Buy it!

I have pruchased this book in 1996 and have enjoyed every single page. If you are a seaman and are fond of old steam ships, which are becoming rare museum pieces, this is the perfect book to have alook at them. Especially the Imperial Yachts of the Sultans, their graceful lines and splendor are noteworthy. I have met the authors and thanked them personally for their outstanding work and I would like to repeat my thanks to them here once again.

I chose to read this series in chronological order and not the order in which they were written. This being the third to be written but last in order, I read this one last. I must say that I was surprised at how enjoyable a read it was seeing that the last two I read (The Pathfinder and The Pioneers) were pretty disappointing. This novel has excellent descriptions of the prairie setting and the characters involved without weighing the reader down with page upon page of needless descriptions or rhetoric. The story line was very well-conceived, plausable, and coherent; qualities which not many books can boast. Of course, this being the last book in the series, I was concerned about how the author would conclude the saga of Natty Bumpo. Not wanting to spoil anything, I must say that I was very impressed with the way Natty's character was handled. There is nothing worse than reading five or so books and having the author ruin them all by messing up the character at the end. No need to worry here. This novel pretty much has all the ingredients which make The Deerslayer and The Last of the Mohicans exceptional: indian warfare, revenge, some romance, the differences and similarities between Natty's and the American Indian's religious views and philosophy on life, and of course just some good ol' action. I would recommend reading this series in chronological order, but if you do have to skip one of them, The Pioneers can be that one and you would not really miss a beat.

Third in the Leatherstocking Tales series, The Prairie finds Nathaniel Bumppo beyond the Mississippi as the encroachment of civilization pushes him further and further afield. There are five books to the Leatherstocking Tales. Cooper did not write them in chronological order. Accordingly, The Prairie relates the close of Bumppo's career among the Pawnee and Sioux of the Great Plains. As with The Pioneers, The Prairie starts slow and takes time to develop. Additional concessions must be made for a least one plot twist that tickles the limits of plausibility. It should be remembered, however, that the age and the romantic style of writing then in vogue permitted latitude today's novelists are not afforded. Be that as it may, once past this questionable plot development, it matters little for the book is that grand.

Sioux and Pawnee, contesting the plains, find Bumppo, a wagon train of shifty settlers, and a bee-hunting suitor caught between them. What follows is a historical novel which includes every ingredient required for a masterful yarn. Bumppo, in this case "the trapper", represents the ultimate antiestablishmentarian as he longs only for freedom and the space to enjoy it, despising the restrictions of polite society. It is a message that has not lost it's power. Indeed, James Fenimore Cooper, through the Leatherstocking Tales, exquisitely captures a period and place in a manner so evocative that the reader longs to range beside "the trapper" through thick and thin , through the length and breadth of the fledgling American frontier. Having read more than my share of historical fiction, The Leatherstocking Tales rate as one of the finest examples. The Prairie is no exception.

Fare thee well, Natty Bumppo.

This large, very elaborately written book is the first of the Leatherstocking tales Cooper wrote. It is, however, about Natty Bumppo's (aka Deerslayer, Leatherstocking, Hawkeye) final days. In this novel, he's more of a peripheral character, witnessing at least 2 other, very intriguing adventures.

The story is integrated in fantastic descriptions of the prairie; reading it you can almost feel the beauty and power of the unenslaved American wilderness.

This book was very entertaining and it provided me with hours of fun. Everybody I know who has seen the book has loved it and it is a great conversation starter.

Like the reviewer ahead of me, I LOVE this book (actually there are several others also in this format). Great flubs and it also makes a great gift for your favorite editor or writer!

I bought 4 copies of this book prior to it going out of print because I kept giving it away. I wish I could buy one now because it "disappeared" out of my collection.

Some of this material has turned up on the Internet ("best headlines of 1999" 12 years after they were published in here!), but it's no substitute for having the book with its portrayals of unintentional picture-caption combinations.

A silly parody of The Night Before Christmas for the young at heart. I especially recommend this book to all bovine enthusiasts. Santa Claus..........Mo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ve over!

I'm 19 with two kids of my own and have had this book since I was little! I loved it then & my kids love it now! My oldest daughter loves it so much she makes daddy read it EVERY NIGHT before bed!! It's a fun & silly twist on a classic!

If you want to read an excellent Christmas Book, the book Santa Cows is the book for you. This amazing book was created by an wonderful author Cooper Edens. It is an exciting and adventurous picture book. I strongly suggest you read it.

The setting in this story is on Christmas Eve. The children were watching television and eating crackers chips etc. Outside there is a noise and you might have guessed it, it wasd the Santa Cows. The cows come through the chimney with a surprise. After the surprise is discovered the cows go outside with the people and play a well known sport.

I was very excited the first time I read this amazing book. I enjoyed it very much. I really think you should read it. It has many wonderful features, features such as rhymes and similies. The sound of Twas The Night Before Christmas kicks it up a knoch. It really has beautiful illustrations. I strongly encourage you to read this fantastic book.

My daughter (6) found this to be a fairly easy to understand book (I did most of the reading). Although published for slightly older readers, my daughter understood the concepts (and she has all the Magic Attic dolls, so she acted out some of the scenes). Anyway, the book stimulated her imagination, it was a well-done introduction to the four girls and Ellie.

this book is awsome it is fun and has a good adventure in the story if you haven't read this yet, i asume you should get to read it.it is so good

This book was a very good way to reaveal the girls feelings. For example I read the book to find I knew exactly how they felt being transferd through the mirror,falling through the lake during an ice-skating party or just being different. I would reccomend this book to all eight year olds and older.

Children might be tempted to believe that there are Wish Granters floating about, if one can just find them! This fanciful tale is set in Victorian England--an era of gas jets, scullery maids and coal hobs. Four children (as in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE) discover a special fire egg which hatches in their nursery fireplace. Then their mother purchases a Persian carpet, which provides the vehicle for Space (if not Time) Travel. It even responds to written commands and obeys instructions without a human pilot.

All this magical flying about in response to wishes reminds me of the cloak in THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE and Mary Norton's THE MAGIC BEDKNOB. Nesbit's style also reminds me of Beatrix Potter, with many asides, advice or explanations directed to the reader. The setting returns us to the ingenuous nursery days of AA Milne's stuffed animal world.

The story takes place around Christmas and the children wrestle with their consciences over moral issues concerning the unexplained acquisition of wealth, curios, toys and pets. How much to reveal to skeptical parents and how ethical it is to whisk unsuspecting adults away to a remote island or to allow rational people to assume they are insane or just dreaming. How can the siblings plus their baby brother (called the Lamb) ever return to the status quo, since they can only enjoy their carpet rides and conversations with the Phoenix in secret?

This book is too naive for the elementary kids of the 90's, but it would be a good selection to read aloud, one chapter a night before bedtime to younger children. The more you have read of Children's Literature, the more you will recognize from other books. This one may have been the inspiration for the others...!

"The Phoenix and the Carpet" is about four children who find a carpet and then a phoenix shows up and tells them it's a magic carpet. The children have many adventures with the phoenix and the carpet including many in other continents and a place where there can be no whooping coughs. At the end, the phoenix has to part from the children. I thought this was a great book not only because it had magic and it was JK Rowlings' favorite author; but also because it was a fun well-written book.

The phoenix in an ancient animal, or to be more exact - bird. It falls into the hands of five cute children, who takes a real good care of it. It also brings along a magic carpet, just like everyone would like to have at home. The phoenix, is very bright, and its presence sure makes things much more interesting and fun. Its one of the books I liked the best.

While probably not the worst book I've had to learn from, it seems like the people who wrote this book subscribe to the same philosophy of teaching that my professor uses, which is namely to keep closely to theory and not use too many examples. At least not any fully worked out examples, and hardly any with actual numbers. As a result, it's difficult to learn and easy to get lost.

At the same time, I've looked in some other books and they're not much better. Woe is the student who has to learn solely from such an obtuse book (woe is me)

I read this book several times and I can say that it is the best statistical&probability book for engineers or for computer scientist. My major is Image Processing (DSP, DIP, DVP) and reading this book helps me to increase my professional knowlege and rise my skills. I sincerelly recommend this book for any non-math major person. Now this book becomes desktop book for me like "Numercal Recipes in C" for any algorithm developer.

As a professor in Electrical Engineering, I highly rate this book, describing it as the best text for an introductory course on prabability theory, statistics, random signals, and the analysis of systems with random signals as inputs. If you teach from this book, you can't go wrong!

Cooper is the guy if you are into development - from idea to delivery of the goods - be it a product (widget), software or services. He is a portfolio management guy that will help you wrap your thinking around making investments into ideas that are yearning to make a debut in reality.

This is a very good book for managers of new service development processes. It offers a framework for designing and implementing a new service development process and there are many good advice and techniques in the book that I believe will prove invaluable to these managers. I expect this is the result of the 1,500 case studies that the authors have conducted.

I especially liked the sections that the authors have entitled "Points for Management to Ponder". These short bits, interspersed throughout the book, forces a reader to link the theories to actual situations in a company. I found such exercises beneficial to the learning process.

However, I found that the authors tend to repeat themselves throughout the book. For example, Chapter 4 and 5 are essentially the same. Chapter 4 walks through the framework fairly quickly with a real case example while Chapter 5 examines the general framework in detail. I believe the 2 chapters could have been combined without much loss to content.

I recommend this book to practitioners, as this is a very practical book. For readers who just want to know more about service development but are currently not involved in any development work, this book is not for you. Like me, you may find some of the framework difficult to understand without a real case to relate to.

Well written and full of understandings... Bob, as with all his books, has made many key points. An excellent read for anyone who's business is dependent on new services and believes that luck is not a sustainable advantage. If you believe that the event or experience marketing is the key to most sales, then becoming excellent in launching new services is a must.

Good horror books on audio are hard to come by so when I came across this title I bought it right away. The stories in this collection are scary, and some will down right give you the creeps but as you listen on, you start to notice that each story is more or less like the last just altered a bit and given a new title. Simply put there are too many "the dead come back" stories in this anthology for my liking. Horror stories can be so much more. How about a Psycho or haunted song or haunted music store even. there was none of that. There were a lot of dead rockers coming back to kill or avenge and again some of the stories were truly frightening. My rating is actually 3.5 stars but it would have easily gotten 5 if there was more variety to it. It is read by various readers including Joan Jett which in my personal opinion should stick to singing. Her flat delivery does nothing for me. I'm glad the stories weren't sugar coated and that there were swear words abound. Drugs and sex of course were mentioned often though all were heterocentric, more variety there would have been nice as well. Overall, a good audio production I would recommended and it does come with a bonus cassette filled with rock songs.

This is an excellent book combining the best of rock and horror fiction. See my review of Shock Rock 2, a continuation of this fine anthology.

As a connoisseur of horror in general and horror fiction anthologies in specific, I have to say that this collection is one of the finest available. The intro by the father of shock rock himself, Alice Cooper, gets the book off to a roaring start. The stories that follow do not disappoint, ( a hallmark of editor Jeff Gelb's other anthology work), and makes this a must have for anyone who enjoys rock n' roll, and horror. Mr. Gelb, a second volume please?