"...a must for not only care-givers who are the focus of this book, but for aging people and their famililes who need to know the advantages and disadavantages of home-care before making a decision to provide a realistic alternative to nursing home care."

"The subject of this easy-to-read book covers an enormous range of information that might suggest an encyclopedic format. These professionals in the field of home-care present the various aspects of home-care with understanding and warmth for all the people involved in this program rather than in technical jargon. It is neighborly in tone with respect for the reality of the aging process."

"The guide covers all the essentials of home care from deciding if home care is appropriate to preparing and equipping the home, providing proper nutrition, managing daily living, dealing with emergencies, and handling finances.

The authors of the book, Maria Meyer and Paula Derr, draw from personal and professional experience, as well as consultations with professional caregivers, nurses, doctors, lawyers, architects, and a long list of other experts to ensure that the book contains the latest, most appropriate home care information."

Review by The Office of Rural Health, Volume 9, Number 1, Spring 1999

I am the Director of The Waud Patient and Family Resource Center based out of Rush Presbyterian St. Lukes Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. I am a nurse by career choice, and a caregiver by nature. I have provided home care and hospice care to a number of family members. I found this book useful to teach family members how to take care of someone at home. It has clear illustrations, step by step instructions for those tasks caregivers do every day, and a resource listing for those items that help make the job easier. It also has introductions to other areas of care which are very informative. This book empowers people without any healthcare education or experience to understand the mechanics of taking care of another person - no matter where they live. If you have family in a nursing home, this book will help you evaluate the care they receive. Both personally and professionally I would recommend this book to any person with a loved one who needs care.

Thoroughly researched and detailed, Mark Lewisohn's "Complete Beatles Chronicle" will satisfy even the most knowledgeable Beatle fan. This monster reference book provides the who, what, when, where and why of nearly every day in the life of the Beatles. Every concert, recording session, film and TV appearance is painstakingly noted and described. In many cases, Lewisohn provides exact times and lengths of recording sessions. This is great for those of us who just have to know exactly when and where our favorite Beatle songs were recorded! Only upon examining the Beatles' grueling schedule can one truly appreciate how diligently John, Paul, George and Ringo worked to attain their status as the world's premier rock band. Simply put, the Beatles' earned everything they got and Lewisohn, arguably the world's foremost Beatle authority, drives that point home in this remarkable document. In addition to the daily entries, the author also includes rare photos, notes, concert bills and recording session track sheets. The overall scope and magnitude of "Chronicle" is nothing short of staggering. No other book provides such an accurate and detailed account of the Beatles' daily routines. Hard-core fans have long respected the dedication of Mark Lewisohn and, once again, have been rewarded with a Beatle document unlike any other. Highly recommended.

this is the 3rd book on the beatles by mark lewisohn that i have gotten, & it is sort of a combination of the 1st 2, "the beatles live", & "the beatles recording sessions"(the 2nd book paul mccartney wrote the intro to because he admired the 1st book so much).i swear, i have been reading books on the beatles since they have been being written from 1964 on, & these books by mark lewisohn are really all you need - maybe include hunter davies "the beatles",1968. "the beatles live" was my favorite, it describes so well the early days of the group in liverpool & hamburg.
if you know a lot about the beatles but you havnt read any of lewisohns books yet, you will find SO much info you didnt know. he researched these books for years, was given access to everything at abbey road, every show they ever did from 1957 on that is possible to know anything about is chronicled. Lennon would have LOVED the "live" book, it brings to life so well those early days in hamburg that he loved to remember.I dont know what else to say, i cant recommend them enough. these books are the next best thing to having a new beatle album, which we know can never happen.

Why is this the "First Beatles Book One Should Read?" Simply put, Marc Lewisohn (an EMI records reseracher) volume is a true labor of love, but not a "tell-all" or a "I was John Lennon's mailman" rip off.

This is a true, scholarly effort. It is a day-by-day account of The Beatle's professional, not personal, affairs. More than just what they did where on an particular day, it shows how hectic their early days were, how incredibly frantic was the Beatlemania in Britian and the USA and their best work (from Revolver on) evolved in the studio.

The book is intelligently writtena nd produced. Each year is a separate chapter, starting first with an introduction which puts that year in perspective to the Beatle's career. What follows is a day by day retelling of every concert, recording sesson, Radio/TV appearance, etc. It's a great companion to Anthology (CDS and video) as you get an idea as to how certain events played how, how certain songs were recorded and again, how crazy the early 60's were for the Beatles.

If anyone wants to know the who, what, where and why (especially why the Beatles broke up as professional musicians) this book, which first appaeared in 1992 and is finally reprinted, is the one book to have. I've read it once and plan to go back again and again.

I have read many World War Two books...but none have been asinteresting as, "A Garden of Thorns." Having my father meetand associate with Mr. de Anfrasio, it made me like the book evenmore. It is touching and has a way of capturing you mind and it makesyou think a little more about life and what we take for granted.

Great book! A very descriptive story about a boy growing up during the war and facing hard times. I finished the book in two days and could not put it down. This book would make an excellent movie; It's a story that needs to be told. It's definitly a story for posterity.

Mr. de Anfrasio's memoirs throughout this book paint a vivid picture of what it was like for his family living through the war. The text of the book places and emphasis on his family's emotional and psychological state of mind during the war, rather than placing emphasis on the actual bombings and tragedy of the war....it gives the book a much more personal touch. This book should not be considered a book about the war...it should be considered a book about the strong family bonds that occur during a war.

This is the best book on jazz theory I've encountered; would be one of my five desert-island music books. He's formatted the book like this: each chapter begins with a short transcribed passage that demonstrates, say, a particular type of voicing or scale in context. The musical concept behind the example is then explained and expanded on. Mark's brevity makes for a book that's dense with information, and the style is not so much prescriptive -- "play this and this and you're playing JAZZ!" as it is descriptive -- "Here's what you're hearing when you hear, e.g., this characteristic Bill Evans sound". The result is a book that covers everything, but still relies on the reader to listen to lots of jazz music, experiment, and practice.

Which is exactly how it should be. For the serious student, this is by leaps and bounds the best study guide to mastering the vocabulary of jazz piano as played by the musicians who've helped shape it over the last half-century-plus, and a great stepping stone toward developing one's own style.

As a guitarist/percussionist who had piano lessons as a kid (and hated them) I have always been a little intimidated by the piano. Toward my goal of being able to comp and improvise over changes, I have purchased several jazz piano method books, including titles by Jerry Coker and Dan Haerle, and they have all been helpful.

Mark Levine's book, however, is exceptional. He introduces his concepts in perfect-sized chapters, with musical examples bracketed by coherent and engaging explanations. There are dozens of very musical exercises, and lists of suggested jazz standards for applying them. He conveys the essential elements of jazz theory in an easy-to-digest but highly intelligent anecdotal writing style.

The pacing of how material is presented in a method book is very important to the advancing musician. For example, I always knew that the melodic minor scale was important, but it only fully came together in my head when I worked through Mark's chapters on scale theory. Instead of being bombarded with chord voicing options, there are two or three. The emphasis is on getting you prepared enough to play music! Helpful hints seem to appear just as you need them, and Mark's enthusiasm for the piano provides subtle encouragement for the exhausting but rewarding process of learning jazz.

This is a book which stays on my music stand. It's large but spiral-bound. The font size is just right, and notes are professionally typeset (I hate books where you spend half your time deciphering notes from the author's scrawl). Bonus points for the great photos and the recommended discographies from all periods of jazz.

I would recommend this book to any intermediate to advanced player looking to expand and strengthen his or her abilities to comp and solo on piano. No one book can teach you everything, but this one is a hell of a start.

Before Mark Levine's Jazz Piano book came out, choosing a book on how to play piano was a lot like selecting a presidential candidate - - you may not have been crazy about the choices but... (blah blah blah) What makes this book different is that it walks a fine and brilliant line between theory, application and stylistics and it is never dry, and further it is contemporary. By chapter 10 and beyond he's getting into fourth chords, upper structures and "so what" chords. Most books sort of finish up just when Bud Powell is hitting the scene. This book however will take you up to McCoy Tyner and Kenny Barron. - - Unlike other books, his book also sites practical song examples and specific listening examples.

If you're entirely on your own, I think this book, along with a few Aebersold play-a-longs and Amadea's Harmonic Foundations for Jazz and Pop Music would really take you a long way. Your ultimate goal should be able to sit in at Jam sessions and with real players... that's where the real learning begins. Do what you have to do to get to the point that you can hang with a blues or Real Book standards.

(Regarding suitability for beginers vs. advanced players : This book is pretty good for players of all levels, though if you're starting from scratch another book to consider is Brain Waite's "Modern Jazz Piano : A Study in Harmony" or Amadea's book, then this.)

I have to say that Martha has put together an outstanding book. Her attention to detail (particularly the emphasis on the importance of understanding breed behaviors and functions - and temperament of dogs) and the realistic picture portrayed of hearing dog training or partnership makes the book not only a valued tool for those interested in hearing dog training or partnership -- but also a recommended read for those interested in any aspect of assistance dog dog work. Great job, Martha !

I've been training dogs (my own and other people's)for more than twenty years, and also for more than twenty years have been reading all the books I could find relating to dogs in general, different breeds, different types of training, and dog behavior. There are a lot of so so books out there many that are adequate and a few good ones.This is a good book written by a person who obviously has a vast experience with a great number of dogs. I had never before thought about what kind of temperament would be needed to make a hearing dog, but this book explains it beautifully, as well as explaining many other temperament types, and which breeds or mixes might manifest these attributes. This is a very thoughtful book and certainly would be useful for any trainer. The author has illustrated it with photos of actual shelter dogs, and their body language, etc. I felt I really got my money's worth with this purchase!

I read Lend Me An Ear specifically for its huge section that analyzes breed
types (as groups, not as individuals) when selecting a dog for service
(specifically hearing) work. I found the training tips to be very helpful,
as they address some of the more obnoxious personality traits found not only
in what the author termed "reactive" dogs but also occasionally in our own beloved
trained service dogs. The book is hilarious at times with many personal
examples of the trials and tribulations of training hearing dogs to alert
their partners to various sounds

Get Clark Smart is a great consumer reference book that will pay for itself in a short time by helping you make wise purchase decisions. Before signing any contracts or buying any major items you should check with Clark Howard, and his book makes that easy to do. This book would also make a great gift for newlyweds, children, or practically anyone.

A friend tipped me off to Clark's radio show which I listen to over the net since I live in a small town in California. I was a bit skeptical, but once I began listening I couldn't stop. The best thing about Clark Howard is his realistic view on money and purchasing. He understands "deals", but more importantly he understands "value". We all know those people who will do anything to find deals regardless of value. I'm buying two copies of this book, one for myself and one for the friend who told me about Clark Howard. I recommend you buy it, you'll feel better about every dollar you spend, and even better about every dollar you save.

... I could have saved myself a lot of money in the past 10 years. I highly recommend this book as a gift to those young men and women in your life who are just starting out, newlyweds, new parents--anyone who could use a quick course in savvy consumer education. I enjoy Clark's radio show, and his easy, friendly style translates very well into print. Clark, this was worth every penny!

I would classify this book as a extremly humorus, entertaining, and all around cool handbook with information about all kinds of hacking, bugging people, and just having all-around fun! Are YOU a happy mutant?

Because of the happy mutant handbook I know now that being weird is the best thing in the world!! It has made me look at the world in a whole new way. I carry it with me every were. you to sould check out this funky book on life. a must have for any one pussing reality.

Everything from prank calls, odd types of hacking, and Wham-o products to strange but simple foods, comix, and the Happy Mutant Hall of Fame, the Happy Mutant Handbook has most everything that the other 10% of the human population, who aren't Normals, could want to know. There are lots of fun little pranks that can always be used. One is standing in an elevator and giggling the entire time you're reading the phone book. It's quite entertaining and your able to read it again and again, each time knowing that there are actually other people like you out there. If there weren't this book wouldn't exist. So worship it and read it.

I was a student of Michael Blitz's a long time ago. I only wish I was one of the students whose work he and his co-writer quoted in this book. Even so, I felt proud when I read this book. Students want to feel like we matter to our teachers, and professors Blitz and Hurlbert definitely are two teachers who care about students, even students who are not always the best of people. This book is very moving. Like I said, I feel proud that I know one of the two authors. I would certainly recommend this book.

Too few academic books can hold an audience of non-academics. Blitz and Hurlbert have written a book that not only holds us, but rivets our attention from the first page to the last. The stories their students tell of violence combined with the stories--letters--Blitz and Hurlbert exchange throughtout the book, make for a narrative experience every bit as gripping as a fine novel. Parents of college students, fellow teachers, and students themselves should read this book. Somehow, we are all in this story, and Blitz and Hurlbert do a remarkable job in making us examine ourselves as makers of the society where violence has forced its way into everyday life.

How many books can you honestly say made you cry? I cried over these "letters" from young people trying to get a college education. They have seen such terrible violence and yet they find ways to write their hearts out for two splendid teachers, Michael Blitz and C. Mark Hurlbert. How do I know they are splendid teachers? I can only say you would have to read this book to understand. Michael and C. Mark write letters to each other, to their children, to themselves, too, I think. There is so much that is beautiful in this book that it's strange to say, also, that there is so much that is horrifying. I wanted a book about teaching that would offer something "different." This book offered me an experience that is unforgettable.

This is a fascinating book - but it IS NOT the book on which the movie 'The Exorcist' was based. That book - by William Peter Blatty - is currently out of print for unexplicable reasons, despite being one of the best-selling horror books of all time. I recommend this book to any fan of the movie, but I recommend the original book to anyone who can find it.

This is one of the most interesting books you can find on The Exorcist.If you love the move you'll definitly want to buy this book,it tells all about the movie. My favorite part of the book was when they told about how fredkin added scenes to the original trailer and movie that were subliminal,buy the book and find out how and what for.

This is a fantastic book about the Exorcist film. Anyone who loves the film (like I do) should buy this book. It tells about the actual possession case that inspired the book and the movie, the making of the movie and the plot, plus discusses deleted scenes and interesting anecdotes about the movie from the director and the actors. Also, if you like this you should definitely rent or buy the new video re-release. It contains a new documentary and the original trailers. It is even better seen in letterbox. Together, the movie and this book would make a great gift for someone who likes "The Exorcist."

The King of Billy Goat Hill By Mark Stanleigh

This wonderful story is about two boys growing up. The boys will make you laugh and make you cry, but never -- ever will they fail to entertain you.

Wade is nine and Luke is seven when the story opens in northern Los Angeles in the late 1950s. The boy's father has abandoned the family and their mother is out of touch with them, so they are very much on their own, especially in the summer.

Like most kids, boy or girls, they get into some sticky situations at times all through the book. Mac, their beloved dog, saves their hides more than once and is so smart, you'll be amazed. Then, when the boys befriend a Police Sargeant and his girfriend, they begin to find some direction to their lives.

An innocent mishap at "Three Ponds" leaves Wade frightened and consumed with guilt. On a chance meeting -- or is it really a chance meeting? -- the Sargeant slips the ball-bearing Wade used in his sling-shot that fateful day, into Wade's hand, and the boy is stunned. How did the Sargeant get it? Does he know the whole story? Can he help?

The young couple -- the Sergeant and Miss Cherry -- take the boys to their hearts, but it's obvious that Wade is the favorite for some reason. It looks like nothing will ever ruin the friendship between the four of them.

You will get to see "Eagle Rock" and "Cavendish Caverns" and "Three Ponds" among other places, in the story. All with the lovable Mac tagging along.

Finally, when Wade reaches 16, and after Mac is killed by a mysterious burgler, he leaves his mother and his brother. He sort of floats in an alcohol-haze for a few years, gets married, then sinks deeper into depression and drinks himself into jail.

The ending is poignant and as warm and loving as the entire book. True reading enjoyment. I can't wait for Mr. Stanleigh's next book. Review by Barbara A. Garrett.

I received this book as a surprise Christmas present from an old childhood friend. It turned out to be the best gift of the season. "The story embodies the essence of our own childhoods," my friend wrote. "If Wade and Luke don't transport you back to our humble beginnings, you've either lost your imagination, or we never knew each other!" Was she ever right. I could have been The "Queen" of Billy Goat Hill. This is a wonderful novel about life and how to survive it. One of the best, most satisfying, special reads of all time. I will always recommend this book and hope it stays in print forever.

Mark Stanleigh has written a wonderful novel, THE KING OF BILLY GOAT HILL, a story of growing up in Los Angeles. However, this poignant recounting of childhood challenges and adventure could take place in any city that has children, police, hills, gangs and siblings. Stanleigh has created a novel full of tension and dark places. The characters are packed with color and action. As you read, even in the early pages, it is easy to sense the ominous and sad overtones which certainly influence and surround the narrator. This is Wade, the older brother, only eight years old as the story opens with his poignant recollections. His younger brother, Luke, looks up to him, cries when Wade cries, follows and loves him. Wade and Luke, lacking a functional family in their lives depend not only on each other and their dog, Mac, but also on two fascinating people who are part of the local police force. A third police officer plays a role as well, but in a manner that will be a surprise as Wade reveals his story. This very young narrator needs to come to terms with a dreadful truth. He lives with the certainty that he is a ten year old murderer. This fear and dreadful belief colors the rest of his life and THE KING OF BILLY GOAT HILL chronicles his methods, activities, and strengths to cope with it. As a secondary theme, you baseball lovers will appreciate Wade's total devotion to and joy derived from Duke Snider, the famous Dodger baseball player. He is like a rainbow that brings a smile to Wade's face and peaceful dreams to his soul. In Stanleigh's clear and descriptive style, you'll find humor, tension, love and terror. THE KING OF BILLY GOAT HILL covers a life of a man upon whose childhood terror has made an indelible imprint. The closeness of the two brothers is warm, their lives become meaningful and creative, and trust and love do seem to win out!