Jonie B. Jones is one of the best books, You could read, because she shows lots of details, And shes really young, but shes really funny, Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake , For me it is one of my favorite books there are of the Jonie B. Jones books, She also says things like I did a huffy breath at that guy , But her books are the best. (...)

Jonie B. Jones is one of the best books, You could read, because she shows lots of details, And shes really young, but shes really funny, Junie B. Jones and the Yucky Blucky Fruitcake , For me it is one of my favorite books there are of the Jonie B. Jones books, She also says things like I did a huffy breath at that guy , But her books are the best.

Junie B Jones is one of the books I have read, she so funny and she speaks her mind. and shes really young. this book is a very good book if you read this book you would know that its a good book.so read Junie B Jones. Jamie Smith,

Great book for true Friends fans. Trivia for everyone in this one. It's loads of fun and great to share with your friends. Any fan of Friends NEEDS to own a copy of this!!!!

If you love watching "Friends" you will LOVE this book! There are TONS of funny questions on all episodes of the show that really challenge you & make you want to watch the reruns late at night!

My favorite parts of the book are the "Bits of Trivia" and the Lists (Star Sightings, "What's in a Name", etc.) sprinkled throughout the book. Interesting things I didn't know about the show, the characters, the actors, etc. And the Episode guide in the back is wonderful.

Can't wait to go back to my dorm next year for late night study breaks! This book would also be great for family car trips.

Loved It!! It is fun to read the trivia and/or episode synopsis and watch the show to see it, especially if it is something you can't recall. A MUST for any true Friends fan.

This is a comprehensive account of the contentious genesis of the Los Angeles Class attack sub, a warship normally described as one of the most advanced in the world, but under suspicion here. Though this story will most likely appeal to those familiar with the terminology and technology of military submarines, it also has much to offer for those studying the military acquisitions process.

The Los Angeles class attack sub was borne of attempts to combat two implacable enemies - the Soviet Navy and America's own Hyman Rickover, the so-called father of the nuclear navy. Facing the combined soviet threats of submarine launched anti-ship missiles (previous Russian subs could only fire their missiles only after an elaborate process while on the surface where they were visible and vulnerable) and faster submarines equipped with more powerful reactors, American planners now find themselves desperate to reclaim an edge on speed. (Though setting the benchmark with the Skipjack class, progressive gains in the size and weight of latter subs using the same powerplant eroded this advantage). The switch to a newer reactor (actually one redesigned after use on the USS Long Beach, one of the world's first nuclear-powered surface ships) wasn't enough, and submarine vets had no choice but to make compromises, like reducing hull thickness and conseuqently reducing maximum safe operating depth. Conflict with the headstrong Admiral Rickover occurs when the winning design for the new sub is chosen by a firm other than General Dynamics, the established industry leader. Also complicating things is Takis Veliotis, a wily genius who is the only man who can stand up to greedy corporate reps eager to cut any corner and Rickover himself. Veliotis, unfortunately, has some of his own secrets to hide, resulting in his flight to Greece to avoid charges stemming from millions of dollars in kickbacks. What nearly dooms the program are the extensive compromises made to the construction schedules - resulting in ships being launched half-finished only to be quietly returned to the factory for completion. Millions of dollars in overruns are quietly overlooked, with the hope that a government bailout will convert these losses into profits. When that prospect begins to look unlikely, the corporate heads of GD begin turning on each other, while unskilled and unreliable labor, low morale and impossible construction schedules mix to spell the likely doom of the US submarine force.

This book tackled an unlikely subject - the LA Class is the backbone of America's submarine navy, not something you've heard described as essentially "Unsafe at any depth". However, the book is marred for two reasons - the author spends much more time concentrating on each specific transaction or exchange between characters (like Veliotis and either the head of GD or Rickover) without connecting these exchanges into a cohesive picture of a collapsing defense program. A more glaring flaw is the book being incomplete. "When it was over, there were just the submarines" but the submarines managed to operate at much higher safety standards than the Russian boats they confronted - the author never connecting these boats to the seeming time-bombs produced by GD. What had happened? Who can take credit for the success of the LA Class - or is even that perceived success an illusion? Even the supreme irony of speedy submarines is never addressed adequately, though the information was probably unavailable. Though developments in sub-launched missiles and their submarines themselves did substantiate the need for faster US subs, the threat of high-speed Russian subs was a cold war mirage. The Russians never gave much production priority to their high-powered reactors. Those installed in experimental versions of the November and Papa classes, and regularly in the Alfa class proved more trouble prone than realized. Though more compact than comparable western designs, these reactors were at least as loud, and, using molten metal as a coolant, had to be operated around the clock, even while in port, lest the coolant be allowed to "freeze" into solid metal and ruin the piping. Either of these two ommissions (the post-construction history of the LA class and the real threat posed by the Russians) is fatal to the subject. Nevertheless, I found it important reading. I'm hoping the author will revisit the subject again using the information he had no access to at first.

One of the best books on the 688 program and how it influenced the 726-class. The best part is the back of the book with transcripts of telephone conversations between Takis Veliotis (GM for GD/EB) and Rickover. Also a good summary of the engineering and operations analysis that led to the 688 design. Portions on the "holy grail" of speed, depth and stealth are great, particularly on how/why the hull wound up getting shaved to meet speed, but sacrificing depth. Overall, a great book, as good or better than Dalguish and Schwickert's (sp?) book, Trident.

Probrably the definitve book on the origin of the 688 submarine program and the corruption involved in the overspending by General Dynamics(Electric Boat). Some really good insights on Adm. Rickover not seen in other books. Very technically accurate. I believe at the time this book was written the government tried to ban the book. The first third of the book about the advent of Soviet fast subs and and the history of modern submarine design is a must read for anyone interested in submarine history. Cronicles some of the classic story's such as the USS Philidelphia being launched for the Congressmen and then pulled back into shipyard for another year to finish since it was so far behind schedule.

I've completed many of the hikes in this book and in many cases have found the descriptions skimpy at best, and in many cases just plain inaccurate. The maps are weak and, like the descriptions in the book, look as if they were put together in 5 minutes. It looks like the author simply couldn't be bothered to spend the time to put together a quality product.

The good part of the book, is that some nice locations are described that you might not learn about otherwise. Unfortunately there are a number of rather lousy hikes not worth doing mixed in (i.e. Bill Williams River - nice, if you like raw sewage maybe) & the author provides no way to differentiate between the two.

Worth [the money]?? .... maybe, but it could have been so much better.

Fishing and exploring Tonto Creek - I was planning a major canyoneering trip early Summer 2001.

I met a couple who had just finished Tonto Creek and had a copy of the book in there packs! They had hidden there bikes in the desert shrubs and planned on doing a little biking and hitchhiking 30 miles where they left there vehicle at the start of there journey. I was interested in the trip and how it went and the dangers and all the inside info!!! so I gave them a ride in my 4x4 30 miles to there car near Bear Flats .

They gave me a copy of the book as a thank you!! The middle age guy and gal were from Telluride, Colorado!! They told me they ran out of food on the trip - yikes! They know the gal in the photo on the cover of the book too!

WOW!! I have since have done two journeys in the book in and out. The book was a good reference and an indication what I was getting into and the dangers and difficulty. The author has written enough detail for the trips and then lets you discover the canyon first hand when you hike it!

Oh let me give you a tip!! Buy a canyoneering helmet for your head! I personally slipped on a rock and hit my head. No serious damage - I quickly bought a helmet and use it. I witnessed dry blood on rocks in a canyon (my private guide told me the person hit there head on a rock and my guide gave first aid to the victim )

Good Luck!!

P.S. I have not yet done Tonto Creek 22 mile trip!

When you pick up this book, don't worry that it'll be just another dry guidebook. The author shares his love of Arizona in his attention to detail, enthusiastic descriptions, history and geology synopses, and sprinkled opinions on wilderness preservation. All the practical advice is there: how to get to a hike, time estimates, and equipment recommendations; but on top of that, you get the sense of why it's worthwhile to explore these places and treasure them. And the photos are great!

As far as beach reading goes, this book is the ultimate beach read. I would have loved to have had this book around 15 years ago when I needed it. Now, I just see it as 4 paint by the number stories that portray gay life as shallow, unsatisying and sadly hollow. Many of these stories end up with the same plot twists (which any astute reader can see coming a mile away)and cookie cutter characters who seem to think only of sex, liquor and men (not always in that order.) The worst offender is Ben Tyler, who wraps up the collection. Tyler has a lot to learn about writing, with his junior high-level style writing and jaw droppingly bad similes. The other three stories fare a bit better ... but not much. Characters fall in love in minutes, hearts are broken, men are cast aside like Kleenex, and the reader is supposed to think "Oh, what romance!" The two middle stories, "A Perfect Husband" and "The Outline of a Torso" fare somewhat better since the writing style is a bit more professional, but the stories themselves are a bit weak and suffer, as the other two stories do, from protagonists who are so self involved and shallow that they left me cold.

This leads to the question as to why I bothered to even give it 2 and a half stars? The reason being is that while this book is not something I liked or go for, why CAN'T we have such books? After being fed a steady diet of similar stories in our lifetime from a heterosexual point of view, the gay community should also have a variety of nice, frothy reads, even if I realized I don't like this style book. As I said, had this book been around 15 years ago when i needed it, I'd have loved it. No doubt there are guys out there who need this book now ... and it's important that it's here, whether I like it or not.

4 simple stories of finding and rediscovering love, gay-style... I find that in 3 of them, they fall in love way too fast and the resolutions are way too pat and too perky. BUt who wants to read a party-pooper of a book in the bright, sunny days of summer anyway. But they are all charming in their own way.

But I gave this book 5 stars just because of 1 story - Andy Schell's The Outline of a Torso. It is light, unassuming and sweet at the start but suddenly, you willingly allow yourself to get swept up in the story in order to discover the tangled relationship between Rusty and Ethan. Schell sets up situations and uses other supporting characters to pave that way for a happy ending, but he does it so cleverly that I wished that he could have turned this short story into a novel. I would have loved to delve deeper into this rediscovery of first love.

I didn't know what to expect when I purchased Summer Share. The only reason I bought the book was because I wanted to read more gay authors and figured that I could hit 4 birds with one stone. It was the ultimate surprise!

I immediately became engulfed in the worlds that each author created. In this world, true love was paramount and although each protagonist had his share of heartbreaks, each man never gave up hope that one day they would find what they were searching for.

I would recommend this work to anyone, and will probably make my friends read it. If you enjoy reading love stories or are weary of every falling inlove again, this is the book for you! It will change your perspectives and give you hope!

I knew Deb so many years ago! Never really knew what she had gone through with her personal life. But I knew that she loved country music, especially Geroge Jones, George Strait, and Gene Watson. She is a genuine horse lover! She never let any of us know that she had a darker side. She hid behind a mask of a clown-always telling jokes. I now understand a lot about her that was always unaccessable. She always drank with us and rode with us but never revealed even her middle name. If I had known the torment that she endured as a military child maybe I would have tried to be closer to a friend that was always aloof but never one to forget to be a perfect hostess and a giving friend. One with a secret-she was unhappy! We always felt that she was in control of her life. i just wish that Deb would do a sequel.

There were a lot of songs inspired by Deb! She always had a great joke and a great attitude. I know that several song writers were insppired to write songs about her love of horses and her illusive attitude. I'll always remember that "cowboys don't get lucky all the time." Great book! Never knew that she had had such a hard childhood. Please get in touch with me!

Weknew Deb when she worked at the finance and accounting office for the military records sections. She was a super worker! But we partied with her and felt we knew her, but after reading "Tyler" we feel that she never let us close enough to really know the real Deb! I know that she always liked Irish whiskey and horses. But I never knew that her childhood was so tormented from being a military child. I was a close friend to her and I know that she enjoyed a fast horse, a good drink, a funny joke and always music. She hang out with a lot of country music writers and she was always so positive! Wish i could get in touch with Deb! What happened was not her fault. We all still love her and miss her.

Excellent book!!!! The stories will really get you going and you will be dying for more!!!! I could barely put it down!!!

This is a sweet collection of 30 different fantasies. I've never read a book exactly like this because the two authors put the reader "into" each story. There is definitely something for almost everyone in this collection. All of the stories are well written and push the barriers on naughty fiction. A perfect addition to any erotic collection.

This is the perfect fantasy book -- 30 sexy stories that get right into your head. You can't help but get hotter as you read them... I've bought copies for 2 girlfriends as bachelorette gifts and kept one for myself. So sexy -- Whew!

It's like broccoli. Good for you, but you don't enjoy eating it. Rico has some great ideas for tapping the creative power of your "right" brain, but you need to be fairly "left" brained to read the book without dozing. I think her ideas and techniques ARE effective, but the book reads like a college text. Also, the book is clearly written with the poet in mind. Most of her examples and exercises center on poetry. Other writers will probably walk away from the book feeling a little left out and wondering exactly how to apply her techniques to longer forms of writing (i.e., short stories and novels). Still, if you've ever had trouble writing because your left brain overpowers your right and forces you to hit the DELETE key after every other sentence, then this book will help you establish balance -- if you stay awake long enough to finish it!

Here's the scientific way to becoming a writer -- that is, by using right brain techniques to release your expressive powers: clustering, recurrence, revision (meaning re-seeing), image and metaphor, creative tension, trial web and language rhythm.

Rico begins by teaching the reader how to release the "inner writer." Her method is one of brainstorming, but she calls it clustering. It's free association designed to call the subconcious into creative action. It works. It's the modern and scientific adaptation of a technique Dorothea Brande wrote about in the 1930s in BECOMING A WRITER.

Most writers like to watch their words appear on paper -- or on the computer screen. Then we read them to see what we think. I call it writing from the heart; Rico calls it right brain activity. Whatever you call it, it works, it's useful and learning to use it can change your writing -- for the better -- forever.

No serious writer should be without this book, no matter what he/she writes. Don't just read it, do the exercises. They're fun, they'll surprise and enlighten you and whether you're a novice or a pro, they'll make you a better writer.

This book inspired me to write, and it offered great practical advice with the technique of clustering and writing with my Design mind. Rico helped me to realize that anything I wanted to write was already inside, waiting to be tapped. Using Rico's techniques, I am able to write in ways that continue to astound me. I have used her techniques to write papers as a student in classes, as well as to write on my own. I am now a published writer of fiction and non-fiction, and I continue to use her ideas and inspiration.

This book is essential reading for every member of the adoption triad, most particularly adoptive (or prospective adoptive parents)like myself. Many parents who seek to adopt are told literally hundreds of times that if they are lucky enough to adopt, it may take them many years to do so. Sometimes we hear this so often it becomes almost a tired mantra.

What Wake Up Little Suzie offers is the explanation for why adoption was so prevalent in the 1950's and 1960's and why it disappearing in recent times. Ricki Sollinger recounts the many pressures on women pregnant out-of-wedlock to relinquish children for adoption in years gone by. One story that has stayed with me, is the account of a father who rather than admit his daughter was away from home in a home for unwed mothers, instead chose to tell his friends and neighbors she was dead.

Ricki than describes birthmother homes which functioned as mechanisms to pry babies out of the reluctant arms of their mothers and into the hands of the adoption industry. Most of these homes have long since shut down, but they were a fixture of the fifties and the sixties.

One of the more shameful (and sickening) aspects of the whole process was the way that non-white and their children were treated. Unlike white women, they were discouraged from trying to place their children for adoption because they were told that "no one will want your baby". Adoption agencies had little use for children other than healthy white infants.

Finally, Ricki describes how the sexual revolution of the sixties is what ended the pro-adoption climate.

My major criticism of the book is that I think, at times, Ricki offers an incomplete picture. She talks about how the system coerced women into relinquishing, but fails to deal adequately with the fact that even in these times, fewer than 50% of all women pregnant out of wedlock placed children for adoption. Despite, the stigma that existed, more women than not ended up keeping their children. She places too much blame on the adoption industry. It sometimes seems as though the adoption industry created the entire problem. In fact, the adoption industry arose because social mores in white middle class America were very much against single white women keeping babies and raising them. The industry offered an alternative, rather than being part of a conspiracy.

Ricki deals little with the role that religion and moral values played in the whole adoption scenario. Morality and the shame of being pregnant out of wedlock (whether there should have been such shame or not)drove the whole process.

I recommend the book because its scathing and accurate portrayal of how the adoption industry functioned in the 1950's and the 1960's is history that no one involved in adoption should ever be allowed to forget. For adoptive parents like myself, its often painful, but necessary reading.

Markg91359@aol.com

I am a reunited Mom and as I was reading this book I felt the shame begin to lift from my soul. I have been asking myself why I didn't fight harder to keep my baby and after reading "Wake up Little Susie" I see there was a conserted agenda of our government, religious institutions,and those of the adoption industry to separate our children from us in the name of what others deemed was for the best.In truth it was both a punishment for female sexuality and also we were used to provide children for couples unable to procreate. The problem is those same people did not have to live with the wounds of us Moms and our children when they decided that unmarried woman were not worthy to parent their own flesh and blood in the marketting of our children.I am freeing my shame and I am now putting it where it belongs on those that profited off of the hearts of woman and children. Shame on them! And thank you Rickie Solinger for your honest account on what was done to us . Linda Webber

This book helped me understand my mother's surrender of her right to raise me. It has helped tremendously in the reunion between my mom and me. I was especially interested to find that giving away the rights to raise one's child was more of a European-American phenomenon than an African-American one. I remember taking a class once with an African-American woman who was trying to research her family tree. I felt a great kinship with her because my own roots were severed, by adoption rather than slavery. How cruel for society and the adoption industry to coerce mothers into making their babies commodities. I would like to believe that practice has stopped, but even though the maternity homes are no longer there, the coercion still is. Reading Solinger's book made me think and do even more research into the adoption industry. I'm so thankful to Solinger for writing it!

A prime example of non-science. The author should read Popper and learn what it is to propose an hypothesis that can be tested, and thus add to the body of scientific knowledge rather than simply making up stories about his own pseudoscientific beliefs. For the New Age Fairies.

If you believe Science is unnecessarily baffling,...if you believe our Earth is suffering because of an unexamined drive for "progress",...if you enjoy masterful writing,...READ "GAIA'S BODY: Toward a Physiology of Earth..!" Dr. Tyler Volk has worked as a principle researcher for NASA on how a global system supports life. He is not only at the top of his field, Atmospheric Chemistry, but he writes with humility, warmth and immediacy. Even if you don't understand ALL of the "hard Science", you will be delighted at what Tyler Volk DOES render easily understood. If you, like Karl Popper(rest his soul), would like hierarchies to remain as they are, and prefer a harsh, thwarting sort of Science, proceed at your own discomfort. If you love learning, and believe it should be a pleasure, proceed happily!

Tyler Volk created a thoughtful and well written book that clearly defines the biogeochemical mechanisms that govern the biosphere. Reading this book is like reading a gripping who-dunit - you don't want to put it down.

The "Gaia in Time" chapter captivated me with its analogy of viewing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels as an integral of a complex web of biogeochemical cycles. How this proxy was shifted by cryptogamic microbial crusts, photosynthetic organisms, nitrogen fixers, non-photosynthetic sulfide oxidizers, land plants, and calcareous plankton fascinated me.

If you read one book on the Gaia hypothesis, this should be it.