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Book reviews for "Albaugh,_Ralph_M." sorted by average review score:

The Big Bands
Published in Paperback by Schirmer Books (December, 1900)
Authors: George T. Simon, Ralph J. Gleason, and Frank Sinatra
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Cool but too self-congratulatory
This is, as they say, the definitive work on classic big band and swing music, full of profiles of bands and band leaders large and small, from the Artie Shaws and Glenn Millers to the Will Bradleys and Hal Kemps. The scope of the book is very well-rounded, including information on often-neglected "sweet" band musicians such as Isham Jones, along with pre-big band acts like Ted Lewis. The downside is that Simon -- a jazz music critic for "Metronome" magazine during the big band years -- wears his insider credentials on his sleeves, and is a bit of an insufferable name-dropper. Nonetheless, this is a great reference work, and a nice look back at the glory days of swing.

Comprehensive and enlightening view of this music
This book occupied a prime spot on my fathers bookshelf while I was growing up. I frequently heard this music as a kid, and was intrigued by its swing and feel. I had the pleasure of befriending George Simon, and found him to be a first class gentleman. I visited him at his home, and we would discuss the music and his experiences. It gave me tremendous insight into the times, and was always interesting. George was about fifty yeasr older than I ( I have lost touch with him after his move to Florida) but due to his involvement with the Grammys he could go from Harry James to Bob Dylan to Jimi Hendrix with ease. An interesting and insightful book by someone who loved the music and all it stood for.

The names, the faces, the places: they're all here!
George Simon was an intimate part of the big band scene. He was there when it was born and he was there when it atrophied during Word War Two. He was an original member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra (he played drums) and one of the first writers for Metronome Magazine, the trade mag for the music industry in that time. I have a hardcover copy of the 9th printing. The original copyright is indicated as 1967. I also have an accompanying three record set that is unique in that it was a cooperative effort by three competing companies: RCA, Decca and Columbia. It's a shame that this isn't available too! Over 400 bands are mentioned, some extensively. It is full of first-hand accounts, anecdotes and many photos. I felt as if I was there! George Simon gave us a true window into this piece of music history. If I had an extra thumb, I would give it three thumbs up!


Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life With Infotrac
Published in Hardcover by Brooks Cole (June, 1999)
Authors: Cecie Starr, Ralph Taggart, and Taggart Starr
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I Loved this Text!
Hey, check out the Infotrac, it's way cool...

Great book, great service!
I received my textbook so quickly and it is great shape!! I am very pleased with my purchase and the quality of service I received.

A Most Excellent Book for Pre-College Learning!!!
The Unity and Diversity of Life, 8th edition, is one of the best Biology books I've ever set eyes on. Although there are many other books that have more information about Biology, this is a great book for those students who want to learn the prerequisites to advanced General Biology before or during college. The one aspect of this book that fascinated me more than any other was its improvement over the previous editions on teaching the material. The innovations of one to two page topics, easy to read helpful graphics, CD-ROM quizes, and more all raised the bar of how to teach effectively a Biology class. I would basically recommend this book to just about anyone in conjuction to one's advanced placement or college level book to help them get a better understanding of "what's going on here?" Buy this book and have fun as I always do in my joyful readings of this most excellent and invigorating book!


Deep in the Heart of Tuva: Cowboy Music from the Wild East
Published in Unknown Binding by Ellipsis Arts (August, 1996)
Author: Ralph Leighton
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good insight into Tuvan music, both traditional and modern
Although I prefer The Orphan's Lament by Huun Huur Tu, Deep in the Heart of Tuva provides much more information on Tuvan culture and the background of Tuvan music than does any other Tuvan CD. The accompanying book is very nicely done but the section on how throat-singing is accomplished could be better executed (although currently I know of nothing better). This CD is not traditional although it features several traditional numbers--it also has several numbers which show clearly how Tuvans (and non-Tuvans as well) are blending traditional elements with western influences to create results that can appeal to both cultures. If you want to hear true mastery get The Orphan's Lament; if you want a good overview and are not familiar with Tuvan music this is the CD for you.

The best available intro to Tuvan music - if you can find it
I've got several CDs of Tuvan music, and this one is the best introduction for someone new to the subject. Tuva is a small region in Russian Asia, nestled in the mountains between Siberia and Mongolia. Herders who got bored spending their days in the countryside on horseback developed throat-singing, in which a singer can sing two notes at once, a low drone and a higher melody. The high part is produced from the overtones of the low note. The style began with a cappella singing, then was extended to include music on banjo- and violin-like instruments, with a rhythm like American cowboy music. This CD includes plenty of songs by Kongar-ool Ondar and Kaigal-ool Khovalyg, two of the first Tuvans to tour America. There are several examples of various styles of hoomei (the Tuvan word for throat-singing--the English spelling of this and ALL Tuvan words varies from album to album), including by an 11-year-old student of Ondar's. There are examples of modern variations on Tuvan music, including the title track from the "Fly, Fly My Sadness" collaboration album between Tuvan group Huun-Huur-Tu and the Bulgarian women's choir Angelite. And there is Paul Pena, the blind American blues singer (and writer of Steve Miller's "Jet Airliner") who learned throat-singing on his own and won an award at a Tuvan throat-singing festival, as chronicled in the Oscar-nominated documentary "Genghis Blues". (The CD suggests that it includes a live version of Pena's award-winning performance, but doesn't explain how he could be playing two guitars at once.) My only complaint with the CD is that there is too much of Mikhail Alperin's Tuvan-Russian hybrid projects (4 tracks), and not enough traditional Tuvan songs done with instruments, especially the banjo-like doshpuluur. A perfect Tuvan compilation would include the caravan-drivers' song ("Tying Siirtuktiilerining Iri") and "Ches Bulungum"; for those, look for the CD "Tuva: Voices from the Land of the Eagles".

What makes this CD a better choice than "Land of the Eagles" is the 64-page book on Tuva that is included in the "Deep in the Heart" package. It provides an introduction to Tuvan history and culture, important notes on cuisine (like a recipe for blood sausage, and how to prepare and serve the honored dish "Fat of Lamb's Tail"), and simple explanations of how to throat-sing. For example, to perform the whistling sound of the sygyt style of hoomei, put your mouth in the position to make the sound "ur" as in "urn", tighten your throat, and do a Kermit the Frog impersonation as you sing "ur-ee, ur-ee". Now go practice.

You have to hear it to believe it.
After reading the Feynman/Leighton books, especially Tuva or Bust, this CD/book is a must. Tuvan throat singing has to be heard to be believed. It's actually beautiful when you become used to it. It is a wonderful companion to the Ralph Leighton's Tuva or Bust book. Reading the book first helps you appreciate this CD/book. I play it for my students. In 5 years, I have never heard a negative comment about the Feynman/Leighton books being required reading in my courses. (My courses are in finance)


Dog Years
Published in Library Binding by Bt Bound (May, 2000)
Authors: Gunter Grass and Ralph Manheim
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Hate it and love it, love it and hate it
Grass uses wonderful, dense, invented words and peppers his novel with wonderful, dense, twisted imagery. Which is why I admire the work and why I was determined to finish the book although it was as intellectually heavy as a brick and occassionally tried my patience. This is not a book for an MTV-hyperactive attention span. More than a reflection of German mentality, it is a journey into the German mind, because so many times it follows a stream-of-consciousness approach. Sometimes it feels as if you're on a rollercoaster ride through the tunnels of a character's mind. Which is why I hated it too. I felt that many times the book became self-indulgent... that is, Grass wasn't writing for the reader but for himself or as a catharsis for his characters.

I only realized Dog Years was part of a trilogy after I bought it, and I enjoyed The Tin Drum much more because I read it after seeing the movie (it relieved the mind from loads of exertion). Although I am immensely relieved to have finally finished Dog Years, I still can't wait to read the other book of the trilogy, Cat and Mouse. Love to hate Grass.

The amazing conclusion to the Danzig Trilogy
First: If you decide to tackle the Danzig Trilogy, Reddick's critical analysis is indispensable. I suggest tackling it the same way I did: read The Tin Drum, start Reddick's book at the same time you start Cat and Mouse (Reddick reads faster than Grass, and you'll get through a lot of Reddick while tackling Grass), and when you've caught up, read Reddick's section on Dog Years and the actual novel concurrently.

Those of you who feel the revelation of anything having to do with a book before you get to that part in the book is a spoiler should probably avoid this technique; Reddick revelas the major "mystery" in Dog Years towards the end of his section on Cat and Mouse. However, one cannot really consider Dog Years a mystery, despite the various things that happen within it; while there are some elements to it that keep the reader guessing, Dog Years is, more than anything, a savage satire on Germany during the WW2 years. And as such, finding out the main mystery-that's-not-a-mystery should not detract at all from one's appreciation of the book itself.

Dog Years can also stand on its own, without being read as a part of the Danzig Trilogy, but the reader's appreciation of many facets of this novel-- most notably Edouard Amsel's character and the satire itself-- are more easily appreciated when you have The Tin Drum and Cat and Mouse under your belt as comparisons. Amsel, the main protagonist of Dog Years, stands as a direct comparison to both Oskar and Mahlke, and his character is more easily understood when those two have already been assimilated by the reader.

The plot of Dog Years is a simple enough one; it charts, through the use of three narrators, the frindship of Edouard Amsel and Walter Matern from grade school through their early thirties. Amsel, the intellectual one, is picked on constantly by his classmates (including Matern) until one day, for no apparent reason, Matern befriends Amsel and chases away the others. It's a typical buddy-relationship in that Amsel is the brains and Matern is the brawn, but we don't get the bonding we've come to expect from seeing too many Hollywood buddy films. The relationship between Matern and Amsel is far more complex than that, and Reddick has done a passable job of interpreting it, one which I won't attempt to recreate here (it would be ludicrous to attempt something that complex in such a forum as a review). In an odd lapse, though-- especially given how much emphasis Reddick has put on Grass' enmity and stire of the Roman Catholic Church in the previous two books-- Reddick seems to have overlooked one of the most obvious interpretations of Amsel's character (and also that of the more minor protagonist Jenny Brunies), as a christ figure. In the novel's central scene, both Amsel and Brunies (who are both made out, in the first half of the novel, to be almost comically fat) undergo a transformation that transforms Brunies into a ballet sensation and Amsel into another character entirely, the omnipotent Goldmouth; while there is no physical crucifixion here, the path taken by Amsel's character through the rest of the novel certainly implies the path of christ after the resurrection, until his assumption into, in this case, Berlin. For the next hundred or so pages, Goldmouth is never actually seen, only referred to in the good deeds he does for others, and he achieves an almost legendary status among the rank and file for his goodness, his power (in postwar germany, his power is in his connections; who he knows), and the fact that no one really sees him much, but everyone is aware of his presence and his acts. However, Reddick, in his attempt to (successfully) parallel Amsel's character with that of Grass himself, never examines this aspect of Amsel.

This lack also leads to Reddick drawing the conclusion that Dog Years is the weakest of the three books, while still proclaiming that as a whole they rank as the finest piece of modern German literature extant today. I feel Reddick is giving Dog Years short shrift here; while the book does, in fact, have its faults, they are faults shared by the other two novels as well, and I came away from Dog Years thinking that, to the contrary, it was the strongest and most absorbing of the three. While it was more difficult than the other two, it was also more rewarding and more absorbing; it's not often I'll put in three months on one novel, but at no time did I feel that it ever stopped moving me along, and at no time did I ever feel that it was time to put the book down for good.

Keeping this seeming oversight of Reddick's in mind, I still have to recommend his book as a perfect accompaniment to Grass' most famous three novels, and all four of them deserve the attention of every serious student of literature.

His masterpiece
As good as 'Tin Drum' but far more accessible and direct in its impact on the darkness and light in the German psyche. The only author from Germany to honestly address the issues of what led to WWII and its aftermath. There is a hilarious and brilliant passage towards the end of the second part of the book which takes a savage poke at Heidegger and German love for abstraction. A gem of a book.


The Dragons of Archenfield: A Novel (Marston, Edward. Domesday Books.)
Published in Hardcover by St. Martin's Press (September, 1995)
Author: Edward Marston
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A thoroughly engaging book.
Two civil servants ride into 11th-century Wales on routine business and find themselves confronted with a diabolical murder. In a country chafing under Norman domination, murder turns out to be the least of their worries.

This skillful blend of mystery and action (and romance) held my attention so thoroughly that I finished it in one sitting. Fans of Peters' Brother Cadfael should find themselves at home with Marston's Delchard and Gervase

mystery, action and romance in a historical setting
Edward Marston pens enthralling mysteries during an exciting and intersting time of history, the Norman Conquest of England and the ensuing "Domesday Book" I am only sorry to discover him when all his books are not readily available.

He provides incites regarding the relationships of Normans, Saxsons and Welsh for the history buff. For those who love mysteries he provides an interesting group of detectives a knight - Ralph, a lawyer Gervase, Canon Hubert and Brother Simon. Marston deftly combines mystery, action and romance in a historical setting.

Great historical whodunit. Ellis Peters heir apparent
Best of the series so far. Ralph and Gervase are two of the most full bodied dectives since Leaphorn and Chee. Red Herrings abound as they try to find out who killed a Saxon with claims to contested land. Golde adds a much needed twist to the foursome trying to settle land claims for King William.


Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court in California
Published in Hardcover by Nolo Press (November, 2003)
Author: Ralph E. Warner
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Win in Small Claims Court!
If you have a claim involving $5,000 or less, you can easily and inexpensively bring an action in Small Claims Court. But even though Small Claims Court is designed for non-attorneys (in fact, attorneys are not allowed) you still must have a basic understanding of the rules of evidence and know how to put on your case. Invest a little time to read this book, and you will stand a much better chance of winning.

START WITH THIS BOOK FIRST
If you want to make less mistakes, save time and money, it's best to start with this book so you can get the correct service, venue, and evidence organized to file and win. I found the chapter on how to write a demand letter and settle your claim before it gets to court very helpful. They even offer sample letters you use to settle your case. Nolo Press seems to put together the best legal self help books.

Used it in real dispute.
I have used it and it works. It is straight to the point no nonsense approach. I won the case and did get my money back. It instructed my step by step, how to make a demand, file a claim, and serve the papers, how to prepare and act in court. Than how to collect a judgement, how to put the lien. What to do and when not to. Also commons sense advise when not to file. Power to the people, justice for all, without an attorney taking half of what is yours


Amazing Mazes
Published in Paperback by Doubleday (June, 1990)
Authors: Ralph Heimann and Rolf Heimann
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great book for kids!
This is a fun book for kids. My own little ones love the eye-appealing pictures, the not-so-hard puzzles, the extra find on every page, and the great variety of mazes. I'm currently looking for more of the same, by request!

A good book
I think that this is a great book for all young kids and their parents.I reccomend it to all young kids!

good memories
Three of the mazes in this book gave me great comforting dreams when I was sick as a child. It is 10 years later now, and those pages still make me feel good. Also, the mazes range from extremely easy to extremely difficult ... I still have not been able to solve #3 without looking at the answer page.


The Book of the Crossbow
Published in Paperback by Dover Pubns (October, 1995)
Authors: Ralph Payne-Gallwey and Ralph Payne Gallwey
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Excellent resource for crossbow builders
This book is an interesting look at crossbows and siege engines, with lots of useful info for the DIY armourer. It's weakness is that it's written at the beginning of the century, and a little dated, both in writing style and content. I.e. modern materials are quite naturally not covered. It's strong points are the excellent drawings and illustrations. Highly recomennded overall.

Lavishly illustrated introduction to Crossbows.
The all-time bestseller with a first edition as far back as 1903, later to appear with the 1907 appendix, was written by an amateur (in the true sense of the word) of archery who apparently had an unlimited source of money and time, but only modest background in physics. Along with the history of the crossbow, detailed accounts of the construction and maintenance of various crossbows designed for bolts and bullets are given. Related and/or relevant medieval weapon, like longbow, ballista and arquebus, are also treated in some detail, and the 1907 appendix on turkish bows serves to give a most interesting contrast to european archery of the epoch. When it comes to performance and comparison of the variety of weapon described, maximum range and -sometimes- draw force is the only information given, whereas obvious ballistic terms like exit velocity, time-of-flight and air resistance are conspicuously absent. Some self-evident details of construction or handling, clearly vi! sualized by the illustrations, are too often spelled out in full, while more obscure mechanisms of elaborate trigger systems, which would benefit from a whole lot more detailed explanation, are treated casually. This said, it must be stressed that on the whole it IS a very fine piece of work, made by a historian rather than an engineer, a book without a match for almost a century, and certainly well worth recommending.

For all who are curious, the definitive guide.
This book is, quite frankly, the one-stop place to look for information not only about all aspects of crossbows, but related subjects such as the Chinese chu-ko-nu, or "repeater crossbow," seige engines, and other related topics. The author apparently had enough money and spare time to actually experiment, and living in pre-World-War-I Britain, had access to actual original examples of a lot of the weapons he wished to study. Building copies to test them, he came up with definite figures on how they worked and how well they worked, or didn't.


The Cancer Industry: The Classic Expose on the Cancer Establishment
Published in Paperback by Equinox Pr (June, 1996)
Author: Ralph W. Moss
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Prepare To Be Less Trusting After Reading This Expose
Moss has written a provocative book about how various factions in the cancer industry have become corrupted by the old, familiar struggle for money and power.
One of the more interesting chapters deals with the battle between a brilliant researcher in Houston named Stanislaw Burzynski and the cancer industry establishment. Members of the establishment are portrayed as favoring the use of patentable chemicals or synthetic drugs over any natural methods of treatment , such as that pioneered by Burzynski.
In discussing the cancer establishment Moss explains the make-up and activities of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, The American Cancer Society, The National Cancer Institute and The Food and Drug Administration.
My experience in reading this book has left me with even less trust in the people and organizations responsible for waging this country's war on cancer.

Great book on alternative threapies
This book by an ex cancer insider at the Sloan Kettering institute details all of the alternative therapies which have been railroaded by the cancer establishment. An interesting read for anyone who has the nagging feeling that the cancer war is being lost because pharmaceutical companies are avoiding possible natural, non patentable cures,

Brilliant Brilliant Brilliant
If you have ever wondered about the Cancer Industry and wondered how it developed or who is who in the Cancer Industry or if you ever just had a feeling that all is not well where cancer treatments are concerned, then this book by Ralph Moss outlines in great detail the development of the Cancer Industry. It is absolutely fascinating. I highly recommend it as excellent reading for anyone with any serious interest in cancer, health or if you like fascinating books


Emerald Aisle (Thorndike Press Large Print Basic Series)
Published in Hardcover by Thorndike Pr (Largeprint) (July, 2002)
Author: Ralph M. McInerny
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More excitement at Notre Dame University
Joseph Primero, wealthy Catholic book collector, discovers that some of his most valuable works have been stolen and hires detectives (and Notre Dame professor) Roger and Philip Knight to find the thief. The obvious suspect, Primero's estranged wife Bianca, admits to hating Primero's books, but Primero won't believe the Knight's evidence. When Bianca is discovered dead, the Knights feel compelled to add this to the list of crimes to be investigated.

The problem is not a lack of motives. Bianca's lover is a lawyer recently engaged to a Notre Dame alumnae. Either the lawyer or his fiancee Dolores would have reason to take steps to eliminate the grasping and vindictive woman. Dolores's former love interest is strangely compelled to protect her from the lawyer--setting him up as the fall guy might win back his former love. Primero loved his wife, but could he have been pushed too far. Primero's favorite candidate is his archivist who cannot deny both a fascination and an aversion to the victim.

Moving among familiar landmarks on the Notre Dame campus, and mixing detection with Catholic thought, the Knight brothers uncover plenty of facts about the case. But facts, themselves, can be interpreted in multiple ways.

As with the previous mysteries in this series, author Ralph McInerny provides a smooth and fast-moving mystery. The selection of two dissimilar brothers, one a career detective and the other an overweight Catholic intellectual makes for interesting contrasts and the opportunity to approach the mystery from intellectual and ethical points of view rather than as a simple fact-finding mission.

McInerny's women seem less well crafted than the male characters, allmost all of whom wrestle with moral dilemnas (in contrast, the women hurry to throw off their careers to get married and plan weddings). Still, this doesn't prevent EMERALD AISLE from being an enjoyable fast read.

A good mystery
Six years ago, two freshmen, Larry Morton and Dolores Torre, met in a Notre Dame University philosophy class in which they debated Socrates' death. They began seeing one another, fell in love, and planned to marry. Larry and Dolores reserve Notre Dame's Basilica of the Sacred Heart for a June 17, 2002 wedding. However, the couple goes their separate ways after obtaining their undergraduate degrees. Larry goes on to Notre Dame Law School and Dolores becomes a personal assistant to attorney Dudley Fyte in Minneapolis.

Dudley and Dolores decide to marry and use the June reservation, but so do Larry and his fiancee Nancy Beatty. Larry goes to Minneapolis to talk with Dolores. Meanwhile, Professor Roger Knight and his brother Private Investigator Philip work on a case of valuable documents stolen from Joseph Primero's Cardinal Newman collection that one day will go to Notre Dame. Coincidentally, Joseph's estranged wife Bianca has had an affair with Dudley and is soon murdered. The Knight siblings try to catch a killer, learn who purloined the valuable books, and straighten out affairs of the heart.

EMERALD AISLE is an engaging who-done-it that employs too much coincidence, but still retains a fun to read plot. The story line entices the audience because the reader understands the motives of the key secondary cast. This novel and its four predecessors provide enlightenment on the university including the reference to the championship women's basketball team. Ralph McInerny provides a pleasant academic mystery starring two likable chaps.

Perhaps the best of the "Notre Dame" mysteries
There's nothing for me to add to Booklist's editorial review concerning the setting or plot. Suffice it to say that the plot thickens agreeably, one of the motives is singularly original, and there are plenty of the brief philosophical observations we have come to associate with McInerny's writings. Highly recommended (though of course you might want to at least sample the earlier volumes in the series first).


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