I love this book, and loved it as a child, for the writing, the stories, and for the pictures which I could pore over again and again, looking for new details I missed previously. I have remembered and talked about many of the stories throughout my life, particularly The Cat Who Walks by Himself, and The Elephant's Child. I also like . . . oh, well, there are just too many to talk about. Read them for youself, and to your kids.

The stories are complex and mysterious and, though I can't say much for Kipling's politics, I find them delightful. I think most children will, too. As an adult, I couldn't get my mother to part with my childhood copy so I went out and bought one of my own.

A classic!

Kipling's classic volume of stories concerns the great questions of history; How the Whale got his Throat, How the Camel got his Hump, How the Alphabet was Made and many other thorny dilemmas. The language is sophisticated yet often whimsical and children love to hear the words read aloud. It is tempting to scan ahead and change things, substitute more contemporary phrases for the old but, if you can, resist the urge. Kipling was a master of the language. His writing is balanced and fluid and while it may seem dated when taken piece by piece, its sum is far greater than its parts. Read The Cat that Walked by Himself and you will never look at your own pet in quite the same way again.

My grandmother bought this book for my three year old. We read the stories together at bedtime and enjoy them immensely. Rudyard Kipling wrote these stories for his young best beloved...don't wait to read them to yours!!!

College football is emotional, loud, spirited, passionate, rewarding and a lot of fun. CATHEDRALS OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL captured it all. Reading it made me want to go to games at some of these places I'd never been before. The book is a lot of fun. Get it before the bowl games start.

College football appeals to millions of people who go to the games...not just to see a game but to be part of it. I know because I'm one of them. There are enough books out there about great games but nothing has been written about the traditions, interesting people, pageantry, and the unique aspects of a cross-section of schools. Until now. CATHEDRALS OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL pulls it all together in a way that makes even the most bitter rivals interesting. It's a fantastic book. If you like college football, you'll enjoy CATHEDRALS OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL.

An exciting recap of the fun of college football. They didn't review my school but I'm hoping they will next time.

Good book for college football fans. Great reference for information about the programs and good stories about the traditions at those schools this book is a keeper

This was one of my favorite textbooks from design school. It's the one I refer back to most often, because I know what I want will be there, and will be presented clearly. It is the most complete reference I have in my library for flat-patternmaking, and covers everything from making basic slopers from measurements (the book provides measurements for standard sizes, or substitute a real client's), through all sorts of bodices, sleeves, collars, skirts, pants, and other details. Also included are sections on knitwear, including swimwear, and a good portion of the book is devoted to children's clothing. Highly recommended and well worth the price.

After receiving this textbook for my third level patternmaking course in design school, I managed to read through after the term was over and realized how much we had skipped over - this book is packed with how-to information on developing not only the basic block (bodice F/B, skirt F/B, fitted sleeve) but variations of all sorts. I think a reader with good skills at visualizing a fashion design could, with this text, learn to pattern and build almost anything. First, every single exercise she covers is more than adequately illustrated, with fashion figures (or portions thereof) modelling the particular neckline, sleeve, skirt silhouette, etc so you can accurately see, not guess, what the style line in question looks like on a body. And technical drawings are clear and plentiful, so one can easily understand whether she's overlapping the skirt panels to compare hip curves or pivoting the bodice back to transfer a dart from waist to side seam. No confusion here, which is quite an accomplishment given the complexity of the subject. Second, the accompanying text is abbreviated to make the read easier but not so much that you will get lost in following from step a to step b. And at the beginning of each section the author given a little introduction which compares the efficiency and difficulty of the given method, outlines its uses and end results, and possible further adaptations. In the first 2 chapters, author covers the workroom (incl. list of tools, photos from manufacturing, completed sample cost sheet/pattern chart/design specification sheet, basic fabric and pattern terminology used in later chapters, and summaries of computerized patternmaking and development processes) and model form measurement. Chapter 3 covers drafting the basic pattern set. Chapters 4-9 cover the three main principles of flat patternmaking: dart manipulation, added fullness, and contouring. Author then devotes a chapter to each of: collars, built-up necklines, cowls, skirts/circles/cascades, sleeves, kimono/raglan/dropped/exaggerated armholes, buttons/buttonholes/facings, plackets/pockets, dresses without waistline seams, strapless foundations/interconstruction, bias-cut dresses, shirt foundations, jackets/coats, capes/hoods, knockoff methods, pants, knits, knit foundations, actionwear/dancewear/exercisewear, and swimwear. Then follows this with 7 chapters covering various aspects of childrenswear. Yep, REALLY comprehensive. This text will function quite well as a reference volume, because it's logically organized, well indexed, tells and shows WHY the principles in question are true, and addresses problems to be solved in addition to just explaining basic elements. In addition to patternmaking instructions, the author includes lots of useful reference material, for example: names of different types of pleats, standard sizing for childrens' wear, definition of a peplum (with illustrations), recommended methods & materials for knocking off (copying) a ready-made garment, whole page of button size technical drawings, definition of parts of a classic blazer, and blank pattern charts and cost sheets (useful for manufacturing, not really for home sewing). With 821 pages nose to tail, this isn't a light read, nor will you find any color photos of designer name work. Don't buy it for your coffee table or plan to tuck it into your purse for reading in waiting rooms. But do buy it to add depth to your understanding of patterns and to expand your skillset at pattern alteration and development. If your goal is to leave behind commercial patterns and flesh out your own fashion concepts or to really figure out how mere measurements can gel into a working pattern, this text will help you do it. Since the author is an instructor of fashion design at LA's Trade Technical College, she knows how to teach and what information will really be needed. So stock up on large sheets of pattern paper, clear off a table, and dig in and enjoy!

I was introduced to this book through a pattern making class, and though I have not read this book page-by-page, I found to be very useful. I have a sloper of my own measurements that I use for my own designs, but this book provides a copy of various half-scale slopers you can use to practice with. There is also a chapter on making your own sloper, but I just skimmed over it.

This book teaches you the basic principles behind pattern manipulation. You can use the principles in this book to make original designs of your own. There is so much information in this book that I cannot touch on everything and keep this review short, so it's a bit long. Once you have your own sloper made, and understand the principles that this book teaches you, you will never need to buy a store bought pattern.

There are 36 chapters in this book; and just to give you an idea of how broad a scope of pattern manipulation this book touches on I'll list the chapters:
1. The work room, 2. Model Form and Measurements, 3. Drafting the Basic Pattern Set, 4. Dart Manipulation (Principle #1), 5. Designing with Darts (Tuck-darts, Pleats, Flares, and Gathers), 6. Stylelines, 7. Added Fullness (Principle #2), 8. Yokes, Flanges, Pin Tucks, and Pleat Tucks, 9. Contouring (Principle #3), 10. Collars, 11. Built-up Necklines, 12. Cowls, 13. Skirts/Circles and Cascades, 14. Sleeves, 15. Kimono, Raglan, Drop, Shoulder, and Exaggerated Armholes, 16. Buttons, Buttonholes, and Facings, 17. Plackets and Pockets, 18. Dresses without Waistline Seams (Based on Torso foundation), 19. Strapless Foundations, 20. Patternmaking for Bias-cut Dresses, 21. Shirts, 22. Jackets and Coats, 23. Capes and Hoods, 24. Knock-Off-Copying Ready-Made Designs, 25. Pants, 26. Knits-Stretch and Shrinkage Factors, 27. Knit Foundaiton, 28. Actionwear for Dance and Exercise, 29. Swimwear, 30. Introduction to Childreswear, 31. Drafting the Basic Pattern Set Measurement taking Standard Measurement Charts, 32. Collars, Sleeves, and Skirts, 33. Dresses and Jumpers, 34. Tops, 35. Pant and Jump Suits, 36. Bodysuits, Leotards, Maillots, and Swimwear,

The master of Soviet scholarship and research, Robert Conquest, lightens up on his usual dense methodology for a slightly more easygoing character sketch on Stalin here. Conquest mentions in his prologue that the point of this biography is not to delve into extreme detail about the history of the USSR during Stalin's lifetime or all the political maneuvers and intrigue that took place. Therefore many historical details are intentionally left out, and more of a high-level view is given. That makes this book a much easier read than Conquest's other works, and it's significantly shorter too. On the other hand, you may be perplexed by the missing historical background if you have not already read Conquest's definitive works on the USSR, especially "The Great Terror" and possibly "Harvest of Sorrow." One criticism is that with Conquest's lighter intellectual mood, he sometimes loses the distinction between biography and political history, neglecting Stalin the man as a focus for the book at some points. Conquest also occasionally lapses into personal opinions, which is not a problem in his other works. This includes his criticisms of Franklin Roosevelt and British diplomat Anthony Eden, and the use of words like "useless," "crackpot," or "charlatan" for many Soviet theorists and scientists, such as the biologist Lysenko. Here all Conquest has to do is let the facts speak for themselves.

With that aside, here Conquest dives as deeply into Stalin's life and personality as possible, though some readers who are trying to understand the extreme depths of his evil may be disappointed. Of course, such deeply psychological info is impossible to obtain, and only the man himself could know what he was thinking, even though Stalin was probably quite unhinged mentally. What we see is a man possessed by such extreme paranoia, not to mention a severe persecution complex, that he became one of history's worst monsters, mostly because he deeply needed to validate himself. Not much different from a typical schoolyard bully by the way, except this bully was at least indirectly responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of people. Stalin also wrecked the idea of socialism once and for all, which may have once been genuinely concerned about "the people" and equality, although it was always doomed to failure as an economic impossibility. Instead the world was inflicted with Stalinism, the doctrine in which tyrants consolidate personal power by eliminating opponents, suppressing any vestige of independent thought, crushing the population, and ruining one's country for decades (if not centuries) to come. Robert Conquest sums up Stalin succinctly at the end of the book - "...hope that no one like him will ever appear again."

Robert Conquest is one of the better known authors on Russian history, specifically on the rule of Stalin and the Communist era. The beginning of this book lists over fifteen books written by Conquest on these subjects, along with books of poetry. There is even a fictional book listed, written in conjunction with Kingsley Amis. Conquest's sources are vast and are included at the back of the book, although a lack of footnotes is bothersome.

Conquest starts out his book where it all began, in the country of Georgia at the birth of Stalin. We learn there is some confusion over Stalin's birth date and his birth father. Life is hard for young Iosif; his home life is abusive and the family moves around a bit. Stalin ends up enrolled in a seminary school, where he spends five years studying Russian and reading banned Western books. School discipline is strict, and this discipline and arbitrary rules radicalizes young Stalin. Stalin falls in with Marxist revolutionaries and begins his long march to infamy. Conquest's account of Stalin's revolutionary years is a long litany of arrest and internal exile. Stalin repeatedly escapes from Siberian exile only to be rearrested. Stalin does manage to move up in the ranks, becoming known to both Lenin and Trotsky. When the revolution breaks out, Stalin ends up on the front lines, where he takes part in a few unimportant actions (which are elevated to godlike military exploits once Stalin is in charge). Iosif defies many orders and tends to take matters into his own hands, a trait that others will die for when Stalin assumes control.

The rest of the book is the monster. After the death of Lenin, Stalin begins his climb to power by systematically eradicating his fellow Politburo members. Conquest succinctly covers the internal power struggles, the show trials, the war against the peasantry, the treaties and war with Hitler, and the post-war era of lies and murder. Along the way untold millions die of famine, executions, and imprisonment in the gulag system. The most interesting information in these sections is the rise of the personality cult, where Stalin is elevated to the status of a god. Conquest reveals the ridiculousness of this cult. When one of Stalin's speeches is released on records, one side of an album is devoted entirely to applause. A picture in the book, from a celebration of Stalin's 70th birthday, shows Stalin's head in the sky emitting beams of light over the lowly masses, like some bizarre sun. This is sick, sick stuff.

Conquest attempts to account for Stalin's behavior by showing that Stalin has no links to humanity (his wives died and he has few friends). Some of his attributes reek of sociopathy: his emotional expressions always seem to be forced, as though he is acting a part and not really feeling anything, and his natural state is one of cruelty. Conquest also shows how Stalin is really, well, nothing. The guy is a vacuum; he is not Russian, and he doesn't really share the traits of a typical Georgian. It is as though Stalin rose up out of the ground from nowhere. Isn't that how Damien appeared in "The Omen"? Maybe they should check his mother's grave and see if a jackal's skeleton is in there.

This book should be required reading. I did have some problem with Conquest's writing style, which I thought was a little obtuse. This may be my own fault, as I have been reading literature for the past month and I'm out of practice with textbook language. This book gets five stars for its subject. Let's never forget about this monster.

Joseph Stalin was worse than Adolf Hitler. He ruled more territory (one-sixth of the globe, plus satellites), killed more people(estimates start at 20 million) and lasted longer (1925-1953). Yet unlike Hitler, he charmed politicians and intellectuals the world over, enjoyed an enthusiastic world press and inspired apologetic histories. Vladimir Putin, upon becoming the ruler of Russia, raised a toast to Stalin. Stalin's native country, Georgia, is restoring his name and monuments.

The one man who labored the longest to document Stalin's crimes in the West is Robert Conquest. Decade after decade he turned out volume after volume on the purges, the labor camps, the mass deportations and other horrors of the Stalin regime, all written in a calm, understated tone in defiance of "progressive" politicians and professors. These volumes, together with the quite different works of first-hand witnesses, such as Victor Kravchenko and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, kept the public record
straight and allowed inquiring readers to evaluate the propaganda of the Soviet state and its foreign sympathizers.

Curiously, Conquest did not write a biography of Stalin until now. STALIN: BREAKER OF NATIONS is quite unlike his previous works--more relaxed, less academic, not specialized. It truly distills the work of those heavier tomes and enjoys the luxury of not having to argue the case already made. Ideal for the non-specialist, it will inform the specialist as well, since Conquest likes to pick little gems from his treasure-trove of knowledge.

One example. A famous propaganda picture of Stalin holding up a smiling little Central Asian girl with black bangs. She hugs his neck as he grasps a big bouquet of flowers that she had just presented him at a state-organized ceremony. Conquest writes: "Stalin as children-lover (he later shot her father)."

A few months ago I decided to teach myself Java. I purchased a few books, and I am happy with my purchase of this book, "Teach Yourself Java".

After reading more heavy, definition type programmer to programmer java books, this book has been very helpful to return to for a less 'wham to the head' over-view and tie-together.

On the other hand, this book certainly won't cover it all. To learn java, you are going to need to simultaneusly read multiple books.

For someone looking to learn java, with little java experience, this book is not a bad purchase.

If you are a beginner, this is the book you need to have to in order to learn java. It's very simple to follow,excellent examples, and most important one line of thought. I really enjoyed reading and applying this book. I will definetely buy the updated version of Mr. O'neil or other of his books... great job!!! job well done....

This book deserves a much higher profile. People usually associate the Teach Yourself series with SAMS, but this is from OSBORNE so be careful and get this one. I browsed through about a dozen titles before finding this one, and can honestly say that it gives the clearest, most lucid and understandable instruction in the Java language of any tutorial out there. I also liked the fact that it covers the java.net package which is one of the primary reasons for using java in the first place. This isn't a huge book, it's just big enough with a complete index and you get more for $23.99 than books costing more. Full of thoughtful examples and useful quizzes with well-explained answers.

I was pleased to see the other very positive reviews on this and hope that Mr. O'Neil is working hard on the second edition, and possibly even an intermediate book on Java. This needs to be your choice if you are looking for a solid intro to Java.

A morally based book on leadership. For people looking to understand leadership from the human side, "Leadership Is An Art" is one of the required readings I would suggest that you start with. It is based on the ethics/morals and philosopy of most types of leadership. I have used this book in teaching leadership courses at the university level as it is based on inquiry and insights while requiring the reader to form his/her own conclusions. This book applies to all types of leadership - from business to social and family settings.

I thought that Leadership is an Art was an excellent book. It was concise and a very easy read. Through his example of the Herman Miller Co. DePree showed how an employer can, by sharing in potential and utilizing employee creativity, benefit the company as a whole. It is leadership that can help individuals reach their potential. DePree brought up and interesting type of leadership called roving leadership. These are the leaders that are there when we need them. This book reminds us that as a leader, it is important to be an enabler of others. After all, if those you lead are not successful and do not reach their potential, you as a leader are not successful either. Read this book and you will seriously consider sending your resume to the Herman Miller Co.

This book was absolutely fantastic! As someone who is just getting into project management, I found this a most helpful and inspiring read! A must for everyone headed for a management or supervisory position. Don't wait for the movie!

I am currently using the Third Edition in my AP US History class. The book gives a lot of information but it can be too wordy to study from. I recommend United States History: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination, an Amsco publication as a good supplemental reading that is easy to study from and has practice test questions.

I have read reviews from different students in regard to this book. It was really never designed for a high school text and yes it is difficult reading, but it contains more facts and information than any college level or high school level history text. I was so impressed that I ordered the cd-rom edition to use for my student teaching experience. I have found this book even difficult can be of great importance to the student and yes in College and as in high school if the instructor uses the book improperly it can be hell. It is best used by the chunking method a little bit at a time. I wish I could find a replacement cd-rom for the cd-rom version of this book it was most helpfull in teaching history with videos, pictures, and speeches. I kind of wish the book was not out of print though.

Lets face it a lot of history texts are prozaic and they do not have to be. Boyer and the other contributers deliver a text that is well written in the sense that it is somewhat enjoyable. The most important aspect of a text book is the information and The Enduring Vision does not fall short here either. I have used this book for background information in American history as a serious history student. It is a great source for quickly refreshing your mind on seldom visited topics. This would also make an excellent high school history text, but was really written for introductry college courses in American history from the colonial era to the present.

I've been playing hearts online for a few months now, and have been horrified to learn how bad I am at this game. I take everyone's advice, pass a low heart, void a suit if possible, etc etc etc, but still I eat her highness four out of five hands. So I bought this book. Well, with the exception of a few helpful thoughts in the very beginning of the book, there is emphatic attention paid throughout 75% of the book to preventing Moon, and achieving it. Let me tell you something, MOST of the people in online hearts are not thinking moon usually. That's why I said that this book is not for beginners, in my review title. I am sure it's great for people who have a good grip of the strategies best practiced in this game. But if you are looking to LEARN those strategies, I don't believe this book is good. It's very limited in teaching those things, although it is not totally silent.

I also found the writing style extremely cumbersome. A hand is diagrammed, then its play-through is described in prose, and this is a lesson. NOT. I wanted much more in the way of "black letter law" -- strategies that are time-tested, and then a demonstration of the applications of these strategies.

To my knowledge, this is the only book on Hearts strategy currently available. It's written in an exceptionally readable, conversational style. It's as though "Uncle Joe" was sitting across the table from you, commenting on the game in progress. You can just read the chapters that interest you (defensive strategy, psychological tricks, etc.) or jump straight to page 99 ("ten winning Hearts tips"). The entire book can easily be read in 2-3 hours. It's an excellent book if you're interested in improving your Hearts game. Strategies that you may have been following subconsciously are explained and demonstrated. New strategies that you may not have considered are developed. In addition to an explanation of basic Hearts rules and variations, there is a quite extensive section (which I haven't seen in print anywhere else) on how handle exceptional situations (such as playing illegal cards, playing out of turn etc.). All in all, a most useful book. At barely a buck per "Hearts tip", well worth the expense to get a leg up on your Hearts-playing friends (or enemies).

Just finished reading "Win At Hearts". I found this book to be very informative and I consider it my bible for the game of Hearts! There is great instruction that covers all aspects of the game including the basics, the passing of three (3) cards, spade suit management, how to plan and play difficult hands, various strategies and defensive play. These sections include intermediate and advanced hand analysis. The instruction that I got out of this book has greatly helped me improve my skills in playing this great game. Since reading this book, I know play at a much higher level and feel like I've got an advantage over good players! I'd like to thank the author (Joseph Andrews) for writing this book and sharing his great knowledge of this fun game with all of us! I highly recommend this book to both social and competitive players at all levels. Good luck and good Hearts to all.

I am regular Spades player in MSN's Gaming Zone, primarily in Aces, a competitive room. I am a relatively new player (having played less than a year), and although through trial and error and observation of other players I had already learned many of the strategies in this book, I have found it very helpful to my game. I have seen a significant improvement in my play since reading the book.

Of course, a reader who considers himself or herself to be an expert player may also be arrogant enough to deny that this is a book worth a player's time. Joe Andrews assumes nothing about the reader's expertise or level of play; instead, he includes basic information about the game as well as more advanced strategies. His examples of hands are instructive, and allowed me to compare my own play strategies with those he suggests. In some cases, I learned that I am on the right track, and in others, I discovered that my play could be more effective. I definitely found a gold mine in his tips on bids, finessing, conventions and signals.

Mr. Andrews covers the various stages and strategies, working through the subject and into advanced and sophisticated play of the game. His references to Bridge are obviously provided to help make his point to those who are familiar with Bridge; those who are not still get a thorough explanation of Spades. His writing style expresses both his love and enthusiasm for the game as well as his sincere desire to help others achieve a higher level of play. Win at Spades enriched my play and is certainly worth its price.

Just finished reading "Win At Spades". I found this book to be very informative. There is great instruction that covers all aspects of the game. The instruction that I got out of this book has greatly helped me improve my skills in playing this great game. Since reading this book, I know play at a much higher level and feel like I've got an advantage over good players! I'd like to thank the author (Joseph Andrews) for writing this book and sharing his great knowledge of this fun game with all of us! I highly recommend this book to both social and competitive players at all levels.

I'm an avid reader and card player,I was fortunate enough to have much experience in the game of spades and found myself fairly confident.Alot was luck, but after reading Joe Andrews book on Win at Spades,advanced play and strategy I realized I had alot to learn. Now I feel like a knowledgeable player and luck does not play such a big part of my game.I am finding I can challenge the best of players and see what their skill consists of and play accordingly. I do know after reading his book I have lost very few games. I feel this book is a must for reading as it will take you from luck to knowledge and far more confident.As I read other reviews I noticed some negative comments, but saw also that they were kept anonymous, how sad that one cannot stand behind their opinions.

_Nightmare's Disciple_ is a delightful piece of suspense building off the premise that the Cthulhu Mythos is real and its cultists are active here and now. That being the case, how might the creatures of the Mythos manifest themselves in the modern world?

Like with many of Lovecraft's own stories, we are left unsure how much of this nightmare is a product of the characters' own madness and how much is "really" there. Especially striking are the characters who own the horror shop, who gradually come to realize that their hobby is more than just fun and games.

I don't want to say too much more, lest I give any spoilers. Mr. Pulver's novel doesn't perhaps have the *cosmic* feel of Lovecraft's best mythos stories, but it is an admirable (and I think successful) attempt to suggest how near terror may be to what we naively think of as our everyday life.

This book is well written and is very entertaining. It can also give you goosebumps, so try not to read it lae a night when the lights are low. It is loaded with atnosphere. Recommended

Joseph Pulver manages to pull off a fine bit of alchemy in interweaving what seems a this-worldly serial murderer crime novel with the cosmic-scope Lovecraftian epic. So deftly does he balance focal characters and their very different frames of reference that the reader is kept off balance: is the strong, apparent supernaturalism just part of the killer's delusion? Or is it real, and much more terrible than the killer himself? I have never seen anyone maintain the narrative tension of such a juggling act so well. Those familiar with the horror fandom scene will find that this book's many references to it ring true. They will readily see themselves in it. And yet the book never becomes self-indulgent fan-fiction, an excuse for in-jokes. Also noteworthy is Pulver's near-multiple personality syndrome when it comes to literary voices appropriate to a variety of moods and characters. How can he sound like Dashiell Hammett on one page and Thomas Ligotti on the next, and you don't even notice any transition? Pulver is a wonderful writer, and one can only look forward to more of his excellent fiction! (By the way, he is of course not the editor but the author, despite the listing.)