Finally! A "coffee table" book that has top-quality photos and an excellent text.

MARK TWAIN: AN ILLUSTRATED BIOGRAPHY is a companion to a two-part, four-hour documentary film, directed by Ken Burns, on the life and work of Samuel Langhorne Clemens and his "famously, irrepressibly rambunctious alter ego Mark Twain."

Ernest Hemingway once said that Twain is "the headwater of American fiction" and called THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN "the best book we've ever had. There was nothing before. There's been nothing as good since."

George Bernard Shaw referred to Twain as "America's Voltaire."

William Dean Howells described Twain as "incomparable, the Lincoln of our literature."

Susy Clemens once wrote of her father: "He is known to the public as a humorist, but he has much more in him that is earnest than that is humorous. He is as much of a Philosopher as anything, I think."

In this reviewer's considered judgment, Twain is the greatest literary genius America has produced, a thinker of remarkable depth and substance.

Twain's life was filled with many travels, adventures ... and tragedies. Born in 1835, when Halley's comet made its appearance, he lived for 75 years, until 1910, when Halley's comet returned. He survived, and suffered, the death of his beloved wife "Livy" (Olivia Louise Langdon), and three of their children: Langdon, who died in infancy; Susy, who died of spinal meningitis at age 24; and Jean, who died of a heart attack evidently brought on by an epileptic seizure.

"The secret source of humor itself," wrote Twain, "is not joy, but sorrow. There is no humor in heaven. ... [Our] race, in its poverty, has unquestionably one really effective weapon--laughter. Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand."

Laughter and sorrow: Twain was well acquainted with both. Known superficially to many admirers as merely a humorist or funny man, Twain was essentially, as he described himself, "a moralist in disguise" who preached sermons to "the damned human race."

Twain's literary corpus abounds with excoriating criticisms of racism, anti-Semitism, religious hypocrisy, governmental arrogance and imperialism, petty tyrants, and Philistine culture. His often deadpan humor bristles with barbed satire and withering sarcasm.

In addition to its narrative text, this volume includes five bonus essays: "Hannibal's Sam Clemens," by Ron Powers; "Hartford's Mark Twain," by John Boyer; "The Six-Letter Word," by Jocelyn Chadwick; "Out at the Edges," by Russell Banks; and an interview with Hal Holbrook, "Aren't We Funny Animals?"

MARK TWAIN: AN ILLUSTRATED BIOGRAPHY is a rich and rewarding book.

This illustrated biography of one of America's most memorable and beloved authors holds quite a few surprises for the unsuspecting reader. Anticipating anecdotes from Mark Twain's life that would portray him as a kind, altruistic, and loving man, I was shocked to learn he was also an irrascible, guilt-ridden, tight-fisted lover of alcohol and cigars who was often looking for ways to get rich.

He was born in 19th century Missouri and raised during a time when major political, economic, social, and cultural issues were forging America's identity. The rugged 19th century also molded Twain into an outspoken critic of those forces, providing him with an unending stream of material for his cogent and waggish observations.

Amid a collection of excerpts from his novels and speeches, articles and essays, as well as numerous pictures and illustrations, the authors present an insightful analysis of the man best known for writing TOM SAWYER and HUCKLEBERRY FINN. What becomes obvious is the relevance, creativity and importance of all his work, not just the books we were assigned in high school.

This book is a treasure; the kind of book that can be referred to often. It can give food for thought for hours of reflection. It is Highly Recommended.

I wonder how many people could have led the life that Samuel Clemens did and kept their sanity. He went from riches to rags (even though it was his own fault...he spent money like it was going out of style and made some horrendous investments), which forced him, at the age of 60, into making a 10 month long physically and mentally draining around-the-world lecture tour. The tour enabled him to pay off his debts and regain his financial footing. Unfortunately, money was the least of his problems. The authors do not specifically state it, but it is clear (to me anyway) that Clemens suffered from manic-depression. At various times, and not coinciding with anything bad going on his life, he considered suicide. He had lifelong moodswings, as well as a volatile temper. (His daughters were afraid to be alone with him, as his behavior was so unpredictable. They made sure to visit him as a group.) The authors recount one incident where Clemens, angry over a missing button, opened an upstairs window and tossed all of his shirts out into the street. Saddest of all, Clemens outlived almost all of his loved ones. His beloved wife, Livy, who was almost 10 years younger than him, predeceased him, as did 3 of his 4 children. His one surviving child, his daughter Clara, suffered a nervous breakdown when Clemens was almost 70. A heavy load to bear, indeed, but somehow Clemens bore it and carried on. One thing that helped was his worldwide fame. Clemens was hungry for fame, even as a young man. He became well-known early in life, and remained famous and popular right up until he died. (He was a bit of a "ham." He would purposely time his walks for when people were emerging from church, and would then saunter past in his trademark- pun intended- white suits.) This book is an absolutely perfect blend of narrative by the authors, liberal excerpts from Clemens's many writings, "guest essays," and page after page of terrific period photographs. (The research done for the photographs, alone, must have been backbreaking.) The narrative and essays made this a good book. The addition of the excerpts and the photos turned it into a great book. The excerpts are not just from Clemens's well-known works, either. He was once asked to address an organization which consisted of descendants of the Puritans. The written text is reproduced in the book. Twain skewered the original Puritans for killing Native Americans and for kicking everyone who wasn't a Puritan out of Massachusetts, even though, as Clemens makes sure to emphasize, they left England under the banner of religious freedom. (You have to think that when the organization invited Clemens to speak, this wasn't quite what they had in mind.) One of the many interesting items included in the book is a list of the famous sayings "Mark Twain" supposedly uttered....but didn't. (He was so famous that it was assumed that anything clever originated with him.) Unfortunately, one of my all-time favorites was included in this list: "When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years." On the bright side, he DID say "The rumor of my death has been greatly exaggerated." One caution: the excerpts will make you want to read or re-read all of Twain. I've already ordered a copy of "The Innocents Abroad" as somehow, in my youth, I missed that one. Hats off to Geoffrey Ward, Dayton Duncan, and Ken Burns for this wonderful book!

As I'm struggling with office politics on a daily basis, this book really gives me a brand new perspective on how to deal with those "black art" experts and get ahead of the game without being acting like them. I would encourage anyone who is frustrated with office politics to read this book.

This book is both insightful and inspiring. It offers a new perspective on office politics - how to make it work for you! It is clear that the author has experience in the game of office politics, and provides some very real (and recognizable) examples. A good read and a highly recommended survival guide to all!

From chapter one, I practiced the advise of the author. I stated feeling better about myself and started getting ahead at work.
A must read.

This wonderfully erotic book of provactive pictures truely enhanced me and my partners boring sex life. It helped us to discover new things we never knew about each other. The pictures helped us to release our truely animalistic urges. It made us realize we were both truely dirty in the inside. And it was great. Perhaps, with this book, you too can experience the steamy pleasures of forbidden erotica. Happy reading and happy...... you know what else.

"Forbidden Erotica: The Rotenberg Collection, Tashen 2000, ISBN 3-8228-6413-7, is a collection of more than 1000 photographs and a few cartoons with an intense explicit sexual theme that transcends the true nature of erotic or nude imagery and for which I must coin a new term 'para-erotic' to describe these obscene, lewd, hard-core graphic and pornographic images, the majority of which were taken between the 1870's and the 1940's. This indicated pornography began to be popularized shortly after the photographic process was invented and popularized and photo duplication methods were devised.

An intimate and informative introduction is given by Laura Mirsky. Additionally she provides an interview with collector Mark Rotenberg who vividly contrasts vintage to that of modern-day pornography. Indeed, some of the photographs are obviously posed, sometimes humorous and if not vaunting then making mockery of present-day decency.

The title gives ample warning that The "Rotenberg Collection"0 in all likelihood contains lascivious, vulgar, smutty and barnyard images. So, knowing that, and given the Mirsky introduction, there is justification that such a book should serve some useful literary purpose - one which is not that of exemplary eroticism.

Does it belong in a collection of erotic? Well yes...and no. It is not for the coffee table but someplace less obvious, and better in the manner of "sotto voce."

This book is little more than a collection of pornographic photographs taken during the earliest years of photography. But that is the true charm of the volume. The demonstration of the fact that there is nothing new under the Sun in sexual matters may seem obvious, but the cultural context of such material adds a fascinating element to otherwise common subject matter. It also demonstrates that whenever a new graphic media is invented, one of the earliest subjects to be portrayed is sure to be sexual activity. The photography is generally of good quality technically, but the differences between these old photos and modern ones are many. First, the women are rarely as thin or muscular as today's standards demand, but may be more feminine for it. Odd as it may seem, the faces of the women are he most interesting part of many of the pictures. Some are feigning ecstacy, some are happily smiling, and others are either bored or annoyed. The backgrounds vary from the outdoors to staged sets that seem as laughable as an old silent film. This is the average person doing what comes naturally and expanding that concept dramatically. Let's face it, before radio and television, the only toys you could be sure everyone had were the ones they were born with. After a time, the reader becomes accustomed to the very different world that he is visiting, and eventually comes to wonder at the uniformity of modern work, and its arbitrary standards. This may not be the most titillating work you've ever seen, but it is fascinating, and deserves a place on your private bookshelf.

This is the best book on physical diagnosis. My professor strongly recommended it, and she was right! The new 2002 edition (Fourth Edition) is a beautifully illustrated book with a great CD-ROM which is really useful to watch the whole examination. Dr. Swartz is a great teacher; wish he could teach us personally! Buy this book!

This is the best book on physical diagnosis (4th edition). It is clearly written with great color photographs. All of my friends have used it and love it also. The new CD-ROM which is included with the text is a really nice feature. It is about 2 hours long and shows the complete physical examination of both the man and the woman. It is really cool since it also shows the internal parts of the exam (retina and tympanic membrane, for example). There are also clear graphics and picture-in-picture added to the CD-ROM for clarity of various aspects of the examination. The CD-ROM is easy to navigate, and you can jump from area to area easily. I have looked at all the other books, and none comes close to Swartz. Get it; you won't be sorry!

This book is an exceptional text for students of Physical Diagnosis as well as practitioners because of its thorough discussion of the patient-doctor interaction. Dr. Swartz's humanisism shines through each chapter as he reviews the appropriate methods for asking questions and carrying out the physical exam while maintaining the dignity and modesty of the patient at all times. The pictures are beautiful -- full color photographs of pathology and helpful diagrams that are useful for medical students. Chapters on Nutrition and Cultual Diversity are admirable and reflect the sensitivity of the author to these important but underappreciated topics. The CD is an unbelievable add-on! It is the most outstanding addition to any book I have ever seen -- with a thorough demonstration of the full physical exam, the CD is a stand-alone gem! No medical student should be educated without Dr. Swartz's lessons beautifully assembled on this CD. I watched it every time before I saw a patient for the first few weeks of seeing patients and I felt very prepared. Thank you, Dr. Swartz.

This story has the feel of a children's classic. Helprin's words bring forth such rich imagery that the superb illustrations by Van Allsburg are really the icing on the cake. Though it is technically geared to ages 9 and up, it is a wonderful read aloud and the perfect segue for a parent-led discussion on good vs. evil, everyday virtues, etc. Much of the book can be compared to current events without being preachy or overbearing.

In "Veil" Mark Helprin and Chris Van Allsburgh offer up a mythic tale which, while dark, will disturb and delight readers of all ages (though the elegant, sometimes labrynthine prose style will probably appeal more to older, more sophisticated readers). This book (as well as its predecessor, "A City In Winter,") is no doubt destined to become a classic, both to fans of fantasy and of children's literature for its moving story and its religious/philosophical themes.

Van Allsburgh's illustrations, while charming, are not essential to the understanding of the story, often interrupting the imaginitave "flow" of the prose itself. However, younger readers will still appreciate the bright, colorful images.

With this title, Mark Helprin has solidified his reputation as one of, if not the, premier American fantasists, a reputation which began with the mythic "Winter's Tale." It will remind Helprin fans why they are fans to begin with, and is no doubt destined to create some new ones.

I, too, found this book fascinating and couldn't put it down. The story is enhanced greatly by Van Allburg's ability to capture, enhance and crystalize the image of the text. This story is for adults or to be read out loud to older children who enjoy a good tale.

I first read this book when it was newly released, and I thought it was hysterical. One really has to be a Beatles fan to fully appreciate the way Shipper took the facts and deliciously twisted them. Now, in the light of Dec. 1980, it has a certain poignant and bittersweet irony, but it is still a delightful read. The footnotes are my favorite part! Mark, I hope you find someone to rerelease the book...and I hope I find a copy!

I read this book when I was around 14. It was new then. And I was new to the Beatles. Consequently, when I began reading it I took it as truth and was confused about why the details in it differed from other books I had read on the Beatles. However, I'm happy to say it didn't take me long to realize it was supposed to be humorous. I still laugh about the beatles not necassarily being bigger than Christ rather they were taller than Christ. And since no one could disprove that the controversy was dropped. Like the Anthology albums, a person has to be knowledgeable about the Beatles to fully appreciate this book as a satire. This is a book that should never have gone out of print and the author should have been set for life just for giving Beatles fans so much to laugh at.

This is a must read for any Beatles fan. In a word - terrific. Mark's wit is one-of-a-kind and worth the price of the book alone. He tells a great story. By the way, Shipper, where are you???

This is a book for those who want to know more about the nutrition of being a vegetarian or those who need some reinforcement. I have not read such a well written book on this topic. I think that everyone whether vegan, vegetarian or omnivore should read this book.

When I bought this book, I wasn't a vegetarian but I was curious about being one. The thing I liked most about the book is that for almost each fact, the authors provided a source for the information. The reader could actually go find the article that the info came from and read about the study. I highly recommend this book - it's interesting and easy to read, informative, and helpful for someone who wants to limit or eliminate meat from their diet.

This is THE BOOK on vegetarian nutrition, written by experts who are themselves vegetarian. I am a registered dietitian and this is the book I recommend to my clients--vegetarian or not. Great info on all nutrition topics from babies to seniors, from protein to B12. Carol M. Coughlin, RD

This book teaches a lot abou morals. Just becuase someone is alittle different from everyone else, doesn't mean they should be treated badly. Everyone is different in their own seperate way. Some people just show and others hide their feelings. People have differences, and no one is the same. Some of us just have to learn to accept it. And some have to realize we all are the same in some ways to.

The ugly duckling is a duck who is the same as everyone else, yet is also different. He just wants to be accepted. He doesn't know how to make people like him. People were not accepting him becuase he was not good enough. Everyone seems to be 'not good enough' at one time or another. Yet other people do not realize this.

I like this book because it explains how life goes. Some people aren't accepted because of their looks, other epople jsut need to learn to accept people for who they are. Not what they are not. You need to learn to look past the "bad" qualities and see the good qualities.

I just wanted to let everyone know that this CHILDREN'S book just won a Caldecott honor. As I scrolled down to read the reviews, I was shocked to hear of romance, mystery, etc. Then I realized that the reviews were intended for a different book entitled "The Ugly Duckling." I don't know why it happened, but don't let the reviews fool you! The new version of Hans Christian Anderson's The Ugly Duckling, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney is excellent and worthy of being a new Caldecott honor book!

Like most parents, you want your child's home library to include standard fairy tales. Jerry Pinkney's "The Ugly Duckling" combines incredibly detailed ilustrations with a nice balance of both strong and muted colors AND a wonderful re-telling of the generations-old standard tale. In this verson, however, people are woven into the story in a way that I haven't seen before, and I like that very much. It's easy to see why this book was selected as a 1999 Caldecott Honor Book. Pinkney's a very gifted illustrator, and he really has to be given credit for his well-constructed text as well as the gorgeous pictures. Authors who write and then illustrate their own stories are somewhat rare, and as an adult, I appreciate the incredible mix of talent and hard work this represents. My children, of course, just love the pictures; they'll grow to appreciate good writing as they get older.

Having read "Soldier of the Great War", I was disappointed in this novel. "Soldier" was superb! I found myself suspecting that this was an earlier work, perhaps his first novel (which it is). It is broad in scope and bold in vision, but too often the use of language is pretentious and obscure. There is some excellent writing, which previews what is to come in "Soldier". But "Refiner's Fire" lacks the control and the consistent elegance that I had expected and which one finds in his later work. This book is an interesting read for one who enjoys observing the development and maturation of a great writer.

I'm sorry for the guy disappointed by the book. I must have gone through six or seven copies of RF in my 20/30s - a good book to give to friends and, as some of the other part-time critics here have written, a very life affirming book.

It seems to combine the best of the wonderful chaotic rush that life in adolescence can give you, when you're doing everything for the first of times; with the other pleasures - of age, now - of looking back on the past and realising personal time then is now becoming part of history.

Helprin catches that cusp dead on, naturally without pretentious artifice.

I'm a Brit, Welsh by background, and RF has an age-spanning resonance for me with 'Oh Lucky Man', a film made in 1974, directed by Lindsay Anderson, a 'new realism' Brit, socialist/surrealist theatre director. He's also famous for 'This Sporting Life' and 'If' - which is about English public schoolboys rebelling (I've just remembered the recent US school massacre and made the connection)and taking the guns from the school OTC armoury and attacking the parents and teachers as they come out from a memorial ceremony.

That was made in 1970, so I don't think the lawyers can class it as an influential video nasty.

'Oh Lucky Man' is a modern equivalent of a Mystery Play. Young Man is tempted, learns, becomes wiser in different ways, and then is plucked from the crowd to star in 'Oh Lucky Man'.

A similar focus on the intensity of experience of life with Helprin, but of 'American' as both immigrant and explorer - but a stranger always in his adopted lands - the subtitle of the book is, I seem to remember: Marshall Pearl, The Adventures of a Foudling.

Which, when you think about it, is actually a fairly Dickensian/middle Victorian sort of subtitle ?

Some keys are maybe there ? In RF, Helprin has created a Dickensian kind of sprawl of characterisation - though not as caricatured as Dickens; a span of history and class; and a hero with a self-creating will and destiny who keeps getting caught up in history.

Read this book !

P.S. Also read Alan Garner's collection of Essays

If you do, you will deprive yourself of one of the joy's of reading this book. While endings typically conclude, surprise, or leave questions, Refiner's Fire does so much more: It affirms life. Read the book, page by page, and let the story carry you away. Then, as the pages remaining become thinner and thinner you will race to finish -- but you must not. Allow it to unfold and experience one of the most joyful and moving books ever. Just terrific

I have just written a couple of reviews on the Language Dynamics courses I have tried to date. Flash French, Speed Spanish 2, Easy Speedy French, and now, Speaking High Frequency Spanish. All of these course have the same great easy to learn method, the same speed of learning, the same interactive method. What most impressed me about 'Speaking High Frequency Spanish' is the completeness of the 8 tape course along with the learning manual which includes lots of goodies like a verb list, a tapescript, exercises, answer keys, and even idiomatic expressions which are fun to use. My guess is if these courses work for me here in Puerto Vallarta they will work for you too!!

In spite of the few bogus reviews I saw written about 'Speaking High Frequency Spanish' I decided from the good reviews that it was worth a try. I'm glad I bought it because this course is a gem.
Unlike Easy Speedy Spanish which I also bought, Speaking High Frequency Spanish goes into the practical basics of building the language from the bottom up. Simple sentences are learned first and then you learn to speak even complicated idiomatic expressions which are usuallly reserved for natives.

This is all done on the tapes (no reading is necessary since English is given right away for all Spanish). The learning guide and tapescript were also quite useful.
Buyer beware. Try this course first before to spend lots of money with some of the other 'junk' on the market.

I have been using Language Dynamics courses for years.
First I tried the Easy Speedy Spanish. Then I moved up to Speed Spanish. And now I have tried and enjoyed Speaking High Frequency Spanish which is by far the most complete.
All courses were different. One was a two cassette with a booklet. The other was a four cassette course with a different booklet. And Speaking High Frequency Spanish is an 8 tape course with a larger, more complete learning guide. Great course.