The very first story in the collection by Leon Driskell was delicious and perfect. As I read on I could not believe that, one after another, the choices that make this book are equal to the first one. As a regular reader of the Houghton-Mifflin Best American Short Stories annual, I have come to accept that what makes a great collection is a great editor. If you want to see what I mean, look at Anne Beattie's volume, or John Updike's, or John Gardner's; these editors know what makes a story great. The same is true of Anne Tyler, and in each of these stories we see what makes her writing remarkable: development of engaging characters. The primary focus in all of these stories is on character, but you will also find that these stories appeal to us on a human interest level and as lovers of writing. If you are interested in reading and/or writing good fiction, this is a book to read.

This is the best collection of short stories I've read in recent memory. Two favorites are "The Birds for Christmas," by Mark Richard and "The Rain of Terror" by Frank Manley, but almost all typify the finest in short story writing today.

I love this book and I find myself dipping back into it over and over for some favorites ("Charlotte" by Tony Earley is a classic). I took the book on my honeymoon and it is part of the reason why I remember that as such a wonderful time. There really is something here for everybody: memorable characters, quiet and not-so-quiet human drama, and -- that gorgeous language! A must-have for fans of Southern fiction.

I have the original 1894 version of this book and have enjoyed it for many years. The perspective of battles is fresh in comparison to the history books of today.There is so much more in this book, the engravings and pictures are wonderful. I would highly recommend even a copy.

This review comes from a reading of the original 1894 edition. Filled with many obscure and forgotten details, this book is a treasure for Civil War historians. Songs, complete with full lyrics, as well as specific orders of battle give this reading a timely presence. Written in the traditional language of the era, the events have a kind of realism that brings you face to face with history. Originally this volume was sold by subscription only @ N.Y. BY KNIGHT AND BROWN. After having this book in my possession for many years it is very exciting to see that it has been reprinted at long last.

The Civil War was the most important conflict the U.S. has ever been involved in, bar none. The military, ethical, and governmental consequences have been enormous. Campfire & Battlefield gives us a unique perspective of this great event.

This is a book that works on many levels making it a great introduction to the history, art, and craft of cowboy bootmaking. It quotes Jack Reed, the only owner of a one-man boot shop left in Texas, saying it takes 372 steps to make cowboy boots, but is not detailed enough to list them all. Until I read this book, I had no idea that there was a market in vintage cowboy boots. I found out that original ornate tops can be fitted with a replaced foot to bring old boots back to life. Jim Arndt's photographs of boots, bootmakers, and boot collectors are outstanding throughout and really bring the book to life. The beginning of the book does an admirable job tracing the history of cowboy boots back to the old Texas-to-Kansas cattle drives of the post-Civil War era. This is followed by a great A - Z directory of the various skins that have been used to make the boots including characteristics, care, and current availability. The next section is a great history of the major boot making factories and the people behind them with chapters on Justin, Nocona, Tony Lama, Lucchese, and Rocketbuster. The rest of the book covers the rest of the cowboy boot business and personalities. Included are descriptions of individual bootmakers and cowboy boot collectors. Each is lavishly illustrated with pictures of them and their boots. The author and photographer are avid collectors and their collections are covered in this section of the book. The book ends with an outline of the retail side of the industry. Major sellers of new and vintage boots are described and a state-by-state Store Guide is included. Of course, not every state has a custom bootmaker or a vintage cowboy boot store, but you can still find the nearest one if this book has convinced you that you are ready for the next step above looking in the Yellow Pages under Western Apparel. The only place where I felt this book went too far is when they say in the caption to a photograph: "the details of this pair of boots could be compared to a fine oil painting." But if you want a basic knowledge of cowboy boots, or love to look at cowboy boots either in a store or on other people's feet this is the book for you.

Yep, I'm a boot wearin' Jewish cowboy! (A doctor, in fact!) I started Country & Western line dancing a couple years ago, and from there I got into boots. Been wearin' 'em ever since!

That said, I was totally blown away by the unbelievable hand-made boots in this book. Spectacularly photographed, they appear as works of art. (I see that the same authors are publishing a book later this year called "The Art of the Boot". You know I'll be buying a copy!). I personally have a couple pairs of wonderful Tony Lama boots that fit like a glove, but the boots in this book are in a different class entirely - we're talking ten times more expensive than anything you might find on the shelf at a western wear store.

It'll be a while before I can afford any of the boots in this book, but it's nice to admire them, and appreciate the craftsmanship and dedication that went into making them.

Filled with great photographs and lots of info, this book is a visual kick in the butt as well as an interesting look at wearers and makers of boots. (Surprise inside - Imelda wasn't the only one with a problem.) The author's interest in the fancy, short boots of the 40's is apparent in the book; after all, they are fascinating to look at. On the other hand, there is not a lot of history associated with the development of the cowboy boot as an article of working clothing, or how it became a touchstone of American culture. In a nutshell, the book is a magnificent coffee table work that is much too informative to leave in the living room. There is nothing else quite like it in print and it is a must have for anyone into things Western.

.Excellent ...

Over twenty years ago, Roger Fisher and William Ury published a thin volume entitled Getting to YES and immediately and fundamentally changed the field of negotiations. They called their new approach "principled negotiations" and its central tenets are taught and practiced throughout the world, often labeled as "interest-based," "win-win" or "collaborative" negotiations.

In their work, Fisher and Ury recognized that one of the greatest weaknesses in the traditional positional approach to negotiations was that it operated on "... the assumption of a fixed pie" (Getting to YES, p. 58). Negotiators in this setting spent their resources on dividing it.

Fisher and Ury then postulated that if negotiators turned from positions to focusing on the interests of the parties and then worked together to seek creative options to satisfy those interests, negotiations offered an unlimited potential for adding value for all the parties. It was a true break through.

"How you negotiate may determine," Fisher and Ury wrote, "whether the pie is expanded or merely divided" (Getting to YES, p.177). Their approach offered the promise of changing negotiations from a zero-sum game to a collaborative effort to create new value.

When Fisher and Ury published Getting to YES in 1981, it was far more than a theoretical treatise. Their work provided multiple examples of negotiating situations and interactions to illustrate their approach.

In the two decades that have passed since their book appeared, however, author after author has written a primer on how to do collaborative negotiations. Training programs have abounded on the subject.

Why, then, the reader might ask, is yet another book on how to achieve the promise of the collaborative approach important. It is vital because negotiators continue to struggle with practicing the concept.

Expand the Pie uses the experiences of its three authors in consulting, training and coaching to teach the reader "what to say and do" on order to successfully practice collaborative negotiations (Expand, p.2). Two of the authors of this companion piece to Getting to YES, Grande Lum and Irma Tyler-Wood, were students of Professor Fisher. Fisher calls Expand the Pie "...perhaps the most useful book you will find"(Expand the Pie, p.i). This reviewer fully concurs.

At it's core, collaborative negotiating requires careful and thorough preparation, an orchestrated process towards clearly defined objectives during the negotiations and the patience and skill to keep the participants focused on creating value. Expand the Pie provides a tested, clear and easily understandable step-by-step guide to the process. I am convinced you can become truly a successful collaborative negotiating leader by using this complementary volume to Getting to YES.

The key to collaborative negotiating is clear in the Getting to YES and reinforced by the authors of Expand the Pie. "Prepare, then prepare some more, and finally, prepare again" (Expand the Pie, p.185). This said, what do we need to know?

The writers begin by focusing on the key elements of the negotiation and introduce a preparation model they call ICON, standing for Interests, Criteria, Options, and No agreement alternatives. It is these elements that the negotiator must explore in detail to ready themselves for negotiations.

Using their model, the authors clearly define and discuss the importance of each of the elements and offer solid suggestions on how to prepare fully. We follow real negotiating cases, use simple negotiating worksheets and encounter quick summations and review questions at the end of each chapter as we move along. It is a brilliantly constructed self-learning approach.

When the first section is completed, the reader will have identified the interests of all the stakeholders, prioritized them and tagged complementary and opposing interest clusters. Also, the reader will have searched for potential options, identified criteria that might be used to evaluate various options and analyzed their position and alternatives in the event that no agreement is concluded.

Having planned the basic elements of the negotiation, the reader moves to the next section on formulating a strategy for conducting the negotiation in a collaborative manner. The authors present another organizing device for this phase that they call the 4D Process: Design, Dig, Develop and Decide. At this stage, the reader is setting goals for the negotiations, devising methods to probe for interests and brainstorm for creative options and learning to develop decisions through a variety of interim steps.

Once again, the reader examines accounts of actual negotiations, explores clear expositions of the essential steps in each process and employs negotiating worksheets and review questions to reinforce the learning process. It is practical and clear direction that the reader will find absolutely on target.

Finally, recognizing that even the most carefully planned negotiation may go astray, the authors address a litany of "difficult tactics" the negotiator may encounter and offer a strategy for dealing with each of these ploys and tricks. Additionally and importantly, they focus their strategies beyond merely countering these tactics and give the reader some solid ways to redirect the negotiation back to a collaborative format. The redirection advice is particularly valuable.

You will find much more in this book including some valuable observations on the nature of negotiations in general. The authors correctly point out, for example, that "the reality of negotiating is that the parties involved are advocates for their interests or the interests of their organization" (Expand the Pie, p. 142). As advocates, negotiators, of course, owe it to themselves and their organizations to "aim for the best possible agreement" (Expand the Pie, p. 139). Implicit in that need are the two key messages of this book:
"Until you create value, any price is too high," that is, expanding the pie (Expand the Pie, p.64)
"Prepare, then prepare ... (Expand the Pie, p.185).

Expand The Pie will show you how to negotiate, guide you as you do it and pay-off in creating more value in your negotiations. It is not just a follow-on book, but a true companion piece to its intellectual wellspring.

I strongly recommend it.

John D. Baker, Editor
The Negotiator Magazine

Collaboratively written by professional business negotiators Grande Lum, Irma Tyler-Wood and Anthony Wanis-St. John, Expand the Pie: How To Create More Value In Any Negotiation is a straightforward and "user friendly" guide to improving one's skill at negotiation and bargaining. Individual chapters cogently address the importance of abandoning preconceptions and readying oneself before approaching the negotiation table; the 4D process (Design, Dig, Develop and Decide) to see discussion through to closure; using objective standards; and much more. An excellent self-help guide useful in both business and daily life, Expand The Pie is especially recommended for those new to negotiating business contracts.

Collaboratively written by professional business negotiators Grande Lum, Irma Tyler-Wood and Anthony Wanis-St. John, Expand The Pie: How To Create More Value In Any Negotiation is a straightforward and "user friendly" guide to improving one's skill at negotiation and bargaining. Individual chapters cogently address the importance of abandoning preconceptions and readying oneself before approaching the negotiation table; the 4D process (Design, Dig, Develop and Decide) to see discussion through to closure; using objective standards; and much more. An excellent self-help guide useful in both business and daily life, Expand The Pie is especially recommended for those new to negotiating business contracts.

This book is a great combination of creativity and information. Kids are smart and this book does not insult their intelligence. The activities are varied and utilize a number of different skills. There really are exciting activities for each and every child out there. Additionally, the activities are fact-based, so while a child is connecting the dots, he/she is also learning a little piece of history. It's a great addition to your child's collection.

As an early childhood educator, I find this book to be a wonderful resource for a geography curriculum.

I absolutely loved the Felix Activity Book. I shared it with family members both young and old and with my third and fourth grade students. It exposed children to wordly things that they may not normally have been exposed to until adult age. My students felt like they were actually traveling around the world. They were taking in sites, learning about currency, customs, cutlures... My students got so excited each time I took the activity book out of my closest. They would ask me...Where are we going today???? We can't wait for another edition!!!

this is with no doubt the best book i have ever read , it is filled with so many mixed emotions and the way it is seen through the eyes of a dog makes it ever more interesting . the feelings that you feel when you read it are a mixture of sadness , joy and wonder . you will never know what is comeing next and that just makes you want to read it even more . belive me when i say this is the best book you could ever get

Branford has crafted a powerful piece of historical fiction about fourteenth century England and has done so in a manner that honors the Young Adult audience's often ignored right to realistic, unromantic history. Her narrator, a wise, nameless hound is endearing but never cute. Through her eyes we witness the brutality and social upheaval of the late Middle Ages. This sage old dog, so unlike the traditional, overwrought animal narrator, provides a sense of detachment from events like the Wat Taylor rebellion that allows us to feel the peasant's righteousness as well as to cringe at their senseless mob violence. Above all, get ready to breath this one in. Fire, Bed & Bone is so splendidly redolent with the real, visceral scents of the age that you will inhale it as much as you read it.

What a brilliant book! This is set at the time of the 1381 Peasants' Revolt in England, and it shows the causes and events and results of that social upheaval in a way that is quite sympathetic to the peasants' side of the story without glossing over the mob violence that was involved. The book manages to be dense with factual information without being boring or preachy. However, the narrator is a dog -- a dog accustomed to a life of good care, with the comfort of the fire, a bed, and an occasional bone shared from the meager resources of its owners. And the dog tells us not only about the impact of social unrest on the people but also on their animals. The reading level is suitable for average fifth graders, but the issues are powerful and complex enough to interest older students of any reading level. This is a wonderful narrative of human events from an animal's perspective and should be placed along the classics of this genre.

John Tyler is an excellent personality. I met him today and his way of interaction and honesty was excellent. And this book was excellent. Hats off John.

I have this book. I also loaned it to my girl friend, and she read the whole book in about 2.5 hours. She loved it, too. It's a book for anyone really. We enjoyed reading the book because we could look back over our lives (we're in our 70s), and reflect on things we could have done to improve our relationships with others. Our children should read this book to enhance their marriages, and their kids should read it before they plan to marry. They could take the tests after reading the book to see if they are compatible - for the long haul.

I am the Author. Some friends have read the book, and have learned how to become "aware" of and appreciative of good relationships. Some have had to recognize bad relationships, and have come to the realization that it may be time to "cut the cord" because "love in the relationship is dead." Others have improved their relationships by taking the two relationship tests in the book, and have been willing to work on the areas that need attention. Overall, some 304 people (web statistics) have read the book since its publication, and have enjoyed it - including Barney Frank, U.S. Congressman - who endorsed the rear cover.

What first drew me to this collection of poems is the book's cover--a pale lavendar background with a black and white photograph of the author as a young girl. It's not surprising that this defiant and strong child grew up to be someone with much to say about both the big and the small things in life. The author writes about the many facets of her life with sensitivity and feeling, both as an observer and as an active participant. I enjoyed learning more about Appalachian culture through these poems and especially liked "Lime Green Arms and Bold Independence" and "My Mom on the Crescent Moon". I recommend this book to all readers of fine poetry.

The collected works within the pages of this book definately makes the reader realize they are not alone in their feelings. It brings comfort to all. Ms. Frisk's writings will have you exploring all of your emotions. I applaud Ms. Frisk's ability to so honestly share and put into words such true emotions.

I THINK THE POEMS IN THIS BOOK ARE VERY DOWN TO EARTH. YOU GET THE FEELING THAT THE AUTHOR DID NOT JUST WRITE THE BOOK YET PUT REAL FEELING IN TO IT. SOME OF THE POEMS IN THERE MAY VERY WELL RELATE TO YOUR LIFE AND PAST EXPERIENCES. IN SHORT YOU SHOULD NOT JUDGE THIS BOOK BY ITS COVER.

Tyler is known as an authority on Japanese Literature and this volume serves an excellent introduction to No drama which is quite philosophical and religious in background. Tyler includes several plays which are interesting from both an academic and asthetic viewpoint. I would like to make the suggestion to readers to look up some of Tyler's academic papers in titles such as "The Noh play Matsukaze as a transformation of Genji Monogatari" in Monumenta Nipponica. You can search in Jstor.com at your university library for his articles by author. His work in academic journals is top-notch.

In college I picked up a copy of no dramas and started thumbing through. The plays really caught my attention. The plays are mostly short, and have an emotional impact. The funny thing is, in my opinon, even though these plays are ancient an canonized in Japan, to me, they seemed really off the wall and funky. These plays are easy to read and sympathetic. Not what you might be expecting if you have any prejudgements...

The significance and effect of Noh drama is roughly equivalent to that of the plays of the great tragedians of ancient Greece. Noh combines the spiritual influences of the Buddhist and Shinto religions and the Japanese flair for densely woven, yet elegantly simple, verse in haunting allegories of enlightenment. Every detail, from set construction to the ritual motions of the actors on stage, heightens the poignancy of the plots. While the text of many of the plays are only a few pages long; a performance of a Noh play can last several hours. These plays are not only touching and intensely spiritual, but also provide a valuable resource for westerners who want to understand the roots of Japanese culture.

I will keep this short and sweet, everything that I have baked from this book has been outstanding, it is one of my favorite cookie books.

My copy is spattered with ingredients from front to back. There is not a loser recipe in the bunch. Illustrations scattered throughout inspire you to try new and old favorites. The recipe format is easy to read and directions are clear and simple. I especially like that there are international recipes included. The Italian wine cookies, the cinnamon bars and Kentucky bourbon bars are always on my Christmas cookie platter. I have many cookbooks and Christmas magazines with recipes but I could chuck them all in favor of this one little gem of a cookbook.

Sharon Tyler Herbst's Joy of Cookies has just about everything that I look for in a cookbook. The introduction gives a brief history of the cookie and then a detailed description of cookie baking basics, equipment, ingredients, techniques, all accompanied by simple yet clear line drawings. The recipe section itself is organized according to cookie type: bar cookies, drop cookies, etc. The recipes, complete with country of origin and the cookie's name in that language are clear and easy to follow. The book is full of full page color photographs that are clearly labeled. The book is an odd shape and gives the impression that a previous edition may have been larger overall, but that doesn't take away from the book's usefulness. This would make a fine present for a budding baker.