James H. Turner has done it! He is up there with Ludlum and the others! I enjoyed turning each page to see what Turner would do next with his characters! This book is a must read for those who enjoy this genre! Kudos! to Jim!

[The author's....] The Second Thirteen is an action-packed book that you can't put down! The characters draw you in and you feel as though you are one with them experiencing all the drama through which they go! I look forward to reading more of Jim's books. This book is well done and well written. END

This book is right up there with it's ability to keep you turning the page wanting to know what happens next. With this genre books start to get a little predictable. This one keeps delivering the surprises - the plot is full of twists and turns. I loved it and look forward to reading more Houston Turner books!

I just got done reading this book and it was great. I thought he did a good job writing the book, everything was in detail it felt like my own family and I was in it. I hope he keeps on writing books. He is an excellent writer.

A believeable fiction that captures your curiosity and bonds you emotionally to the characters. You won't want to put it down!

This is a great read for anyone with a family who has kept secrets, and who's hasn't. The author is very good at building suspense and creating characters who are as real as your own family. While reading this book, I felt as though the characters could have been friends, they were so real! Hope this author continues to write more books - this one was very good!

Being the parent of a child with PDD, I have been procuring a lot of books and materials on autism. Many of them turned out to be highly specialized and some downright negative. This book turned out to be one of the best buys which gives practical solutions to all sorts of problems faced by an autistic parent and the solutions are suggested by a child who was autistic. Also, the book is highly positive, as the child it seems, has now been fully mainstreamed and therefore this is another success story like that of Catherine Maurice which gives us parents a lot to learn and practise.
PS. The books was bought in the US and sent to me by a friend.

A lot of adults have written about their experiences with autism, but very few children have enough language to do so. This book shows you that even kids have insights into themselves.

I wish every parent of an autistic (or AS or PDD or SID or ADHD) child would read this book. I find myself constantly trying to explain to people how/why my son behaves the way he does. I've understood to some degree right from the beginning (having shadow AS dx myself), but this just brings it all into unbelievable focus. Especially for all those parents who pointlessly physically punish their children for behaviors that are neurologically-based, not attitude-based, this book is/would be a real eye-opener.

As a person interested in expanding my horizons and one who enjoys reading not only what educates but also what fascinates, I found this book to be real mental tickler. It makes one stop to think after many of its passages to ponder some of the subjects to which only cursory thought had been applied previously. Choose for yourself to agree or disagree with some of the theories and concepts analyzed in the book, but take the time to read this one!

'Sensitive By Nature' takes the reader on an enthralling, informative exploration, presenting a critique of intelligence in a highly engrossing and diverting manner. Eloquently formulated, the text offers an intelligible elucidation of an otherwise abstruse subject matter. Through the scrutinization of the mechanisms of the mind, the author unlocks the secrets of life from an evolutionary standpoint, while creatively infusing the text with humor. Moreover, the manuscript is ingeniously written in a progressive manner, permitting the reader gradual access to the subject matter and culminating with the discussion of the future of intelligence. James Luisi's brilliantly executed book proffers an extremely enjoyable, thought-provoking explication of a very interesting and controversial topic, and invites the reader to reconsider previously held convictions. 'Sensitive By Nature' is a fun, exciting adventure which both satisfies and enlightens, and those willing to embark on the journey will emerge richer and fuller.

"Sensitive By Nature"

After seeing James V. Luisi's book and hearing about it the time seemed right to purchase a signed copy or two and embark on a leisurely book adventure.

What this book has done is to put into words so eloquently what I have experienced in my life.

James V. Luisi has nailed the basic principal of the challenges AI imposed both morally and empirically. I can see this book being brought into the use of Universities, think tanks as well as individuals wanting to digest a cohesive start to finish understanding of the very world that we live in and the people who have and are manipulating it.
The intellectual level that one must posses to fully comprehend and truly utilize this book is staggering. If the individual possesses the basic knowledge needed to comprehend the book they will enjoy a masterful work. If however they are deficient and read chapter by chapter and take the time to reason and comprehend each chapter then they will have read "SBN" the way it should be read.
One chapter at a time is how the reader learns and like a puzzle starts putting the parts together each at their own pace. The object I believe is to comprehend in total all the esoteric as well as the obvious statements and facts and that's where the love of knowledge comes in. If someone loves honest knowledge and the subject of life not just AI then he or she will have found a winner in "Sensitive by Nature" as I did.

John D. Zuccarino

In "The Service Profit Chain," the author uses extensive case studies and empirical data to demonstrate how successful companies can achieve customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and at the same time, profit and customer growth. Too many companies are focused on the next quarterly earnings release that they don't ever see the lifetime value of their customers. Finally, managers at service industries won't have to keep trading off employee satisfaction in order to achieve customer sastisfaction, and customer satisfaction won't be viewed as a cost factor and a drag on profit growth. Service companies that just don't understand these concepts won't be around for long! As we embark into the e-commerce age, service and technology companies that can quickly apply these concepts within their business models (where there is no direct, face-to-face, contact with the customers) will build a truely competitive advantage. Let's review the successful ecommerce companies in 5 years, and see how many have adopted the principles in "The Service Profit Chain."

I think the authors provide a powerful and empirical approach to designing and analyzing a service organization for success. The recommendations are not always intuitive nor easy to implement, but, based on my experience in several industries, I think they are nearly always correct. With a partner, I am starting a own company and have read this book twice very carefully, with lots of notes in the margins, to make sure we do the important things well.

This is the type of book that can change an entire corporate vision. The authors are meticulous in presenting their philosophy, and back every word with carefully researched examples from best practice companies. Unlike many of the "quick read" publications that present a superficial view of service (particularly from a marketing perspective), this book is clearly the result of several years work in the field. Every corporate manager who is serious about customer value management needs to take some time out to study the Service Profit Chain.

SHADOW OF THE SERPENT is a thrill-packed and emotionally-charged epic adventure which beckons those of us on the "war path" to follow a better Way. I had a sense of being irresistably drawn through misty woods into mysterious caverns, only to hear the whisperings of shamans sharing the wonders of ancient Truth: Go back and live in the Light. Henceforth, whenever I see patterns of yellow and black, I will be unable to ignore the metaphorical warning. Read this important mystical work. --Dan Gallagher

If someone asked me to review this book with just one word, I think "great" wouldn't be enough. It was an enthralling experience to learn more about the Native American ways and wisdom through such a fantastic story. Also, the narrative is quite elegant and detailed and the story never loses its pace. In the story, we are introduced to the Mineccou clan, a peaceful, yet strong tribe that are pushed into war when a powerful enemy nearly wipes out all the other clans in the area and enslaves the survivors. Sequannah, a young Mineccou warrior is also captured and enslaved, but soon he finds that he will play a very important role in his tribe's struggle. For he will have to fight not only for his own freedom, but also for the freedom of his clan's ways. A story full of wisdom that makes us think about our own ways.

Imagine for a moment you are a young warrior captured by an enemy tribe. You are enslaved, tortured and humiliated by your captors, then offered an opportunity to escape; which would mean personal freedom, but could also lead to the annihilation of your people and the desecration of the earth. What would you choose? This is the dilemma faced by Sequannah, the youthful protagonist of this action-packed fantasy/adventure Shadow of the Serpent A Coyote Moon Story. James Joseph weaves together a poignant coming-of-age story with the earth-centered teachings of Native American spirituality into an engaging and entertaining first novel. --Patricia A. Burke, editor, The Hungry Soul: An Online Literary Magazine

I was fortunate enough to have recorded the movie, The Shiralee, when it was on Masterpiece Theater all those years ago. Actually, my grandparents taped, it as I about 10 years old. This film moved me in a way, even then, that I can only describe as profound. When I watch it today, it brings me something different each time. I only wish I could get my hands on the book!

I loved the book. My husband saw it on Masterpiece Theatre the same 10 years ago as other readers. I would like to know if the video is available to purchase or if it will air again soon. I've tried desparately in the past 5 years to locate the right people that might air it again-No luck. please help. Thanks

I saw The Shiralee on Masterpiece Theatre about nine years ago and fell in love with it. The story of a father who struggles to come to terms with the feelings that he has for his daughter while maintaining his tough exterior is excellent. Both Macaulay and Buster are wonderful characters and all the secondary characters that you meet along their journey are easy to picture in your mind because of the wonderful writing that D'arcy Niland has done. I had been looking for this book since I saw the mini series and am very glad that I finally found it.

Aside from the Bible, this is, hands down, the best book on the challenges of personal godliness. Owen, who is a Puritan theologian, brings forth the issue of sin, why it is indwelling in every individual, how it causes enmity between us and God and why we will, in this life, continue to deal with it.

This book is a must for those who are struggling with temptations of any kind (which pretty much includes everyone universally). Owen discusses how we battle sin, ways in which we can overcome temptations, how we allow sin to fester and build in our lives to an unhealthy point, and what we can do to avoid these types of problems. But let me warn you, this is not a "self help" book. Rather, this text is one which has the glory of God as its ultimate end, the awe we should all have for God, where our focus should constantly be, namely on God. This is, ultimately, how sin is conquered, according to Owen. Since too many of us are focused on everything else but God, sin is able to creep in easier and take hold of our lives.

What is more, Owen discusses the grace of God and how God's grace and mercy covers our sins. Finally, mortification of sin is covered in great detail. What do we need to do to mortify sin? Why is mortification needed? How do we practice mortification? All these are covered and more. Another nice feature of this book is that it is formatted in such a way that it can be used as a study book for Bible studies, Sunday Schools, or any other type of group study setting since it includes a very nice Scripture index, and margin topic indicators, as well as a study guide for group discussions with very user friendly questions.

I highly recommend this book for everyone no matter where you are in your Christian walk. This is the most detailed, heart wrenching work on sin and temptation that I have ever read. It can never be read too many times.

I read it cover to cover three times in row and bought copies for several others. It helps open your eyes to how Satan's forces infiltrate our lives, what his strategies are and how to combat it. I love the reverent classical language. It got me craving all the classic early christian works. Many modern christian books are fluffy and light. This is reverent and satisfying, yet you will crave more like it.

This is much more than a deep theological treatise. The editors have distilled three short wirtings of the great Puritan thinker and preacher, John Owen: The Nature, Power, Deceit, and Prevalency of Indwelling Sin; Of Temptation; and Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers, and made them accessible to the modern reader. Because the doctrine of indwelling sin has been mostly forgotten or ignored by even conservative and evangelical preachers and writers, this book serves as a much needed slap on the face, reminding Christians that we NEVER, in this life, "get out of Romans 7 and into Romans 8". Using his comprehensive knowledge of Scriptures, he relentlessly pounds home the message that sin is a constant inhabitant in every human heart, and that, although (in believers) it is weakened and irreparably damaged in its ultimate goals, it nevertheless continues to harass and frustrate and cause great damage all our days. He proposes that the only antidote is to acknowledge sin's constant presence, noting from Rom. 7:21 that it is a "LAW present in our members, that WHEN WE WOULD DO GOOD, evil is present in us". In other words, it is especially at times when we want to do good and have every intention of being obedient and feel the desire to honor God that sin reveals itself as not an intruder, but a natural inhabitant of our heart, and sallies forth to sabotage and mar our best performance. In the section on mortification of sin, he addresses an issue mostly relegated to the Catholics of previous centuries.

This book is without doubt essential reading for any Christian who wishes to live a holy life and please God. I have made significant practical changes in how I live my life as a result of reading it. Initially, it is shocking and painful to realize the truth of the extent of sin's presence and power in our lives- but it is the only way to learn the vigilance required to fight it.

While yearning for more Tony Hillerman after reading his last book, I accidently came across The Shaman's Bones. I absolutely loved it. I could easily imagine neighbors from my childhood that could easily play some of the characters in this book. The only problem I had with this novel were the few dream sequences, which I thought tended to be unnecessarily long and disruptive to the flow of the the plot. Regardless, I intend to read the other 'Shaman' novels.

Mr. Doss writes in a style that gives the reader vivid mental pictures of what is happening with each of his characters. I have not enjoyed any murder mystery this much before. The Shaman's Bones integrates humor, murder, and mystery with emotion and Ute mysticism and lore.

Anyone who likes Tony Hillerman's books will LOVE the Shaman series by James D. Doss. I recommend that anyone who wants to step into Mr. Doss' world, begin with the first book in the series (The Shaman Sings) and work their way through the series. Warning: If you read one, you'll have to read them all!

Always enjoyable reading and a good yarn. Great characters.

This is one of my favorite historical-fiction novels with masterful story-telling on a grand scale. J.G. Farrell has succeeded in creating a realistic impression of colonial Singapore and the effects of the war on the "Gibraltar of the East." My favorite part is the one chapter that takes palce on the night of Dec. 7, 1941, the night before the invasion. Here we see Brooke-Popham, trying to reach a decision whether to launch Operation Matador or not, Sir Thomas, the Governor of Singapore, sleeping quietly before the phone would shriek with news of the invasion, LT. Gen. A.E. Percival, asleep too, trying to wrestle with his inner self, Lt. Sinclair watching the events in the Operations Room at GHQ, Maj. Gen. Gordon Bennett sitting quietly in his room in the Strand Hotel in Rangoon, a Private Kikuchi on one of the Japanese landing crafts heading for the Malay shores, and, ending the chapter, a young Malay fisherman starts to hear the drone of aircraft, heading south...
A fine story with Farrell at his best, he writes in his usual style with which many have become familiar with, it is sure not to disappoint fans of "The Siege of Krishnapur." A classic that should be on every book shelf in every home.

If you were to select a subject for a droll and howlingly funny novel, it is doubtful that the fall of Singapore would be high on your list. Nevertheless, that's what you have here! The action centers on the British expat community who, intent on their usual trivial rounds of partying and copulating, are completely oblivious to the fact that the Japs are inexorably creeping down the Malay Peninsula. The novel properly darkens in tone as the city's situation becomes obviously desperate, but it maintains its ironic tone throughout. The result is an absolute masterpiece, and I don't use that term lightly.

An excellent novel about the plight of the British and Chinese before and during the fall of Sinapore. Meticulously researched, it fits under the genre of a non-fiction novel. Comparable in quality to Gore Vidal's "Lincoln" and Mailer's "The Executioner's Song." Simply brilliant.