This book is insightful, yet it proves to be difficult reading for a survivor dealing with the immediate loss of a loved one. The statistics come across cold and sometimes uncaring. It may be more suitable for a student of suicidology, than someone in pain seeking solace and validation.

This book is truly different from the usual books written about suicide. It not a book about statistics nor a book about the religious issues surrounding the suicide of a loved one.

Dr. Williams provides insight for the surviving loved ones to understand the "Cry of Pain" our loved ones felt. It is the only book that brought me some TRUE understanding about my own husband's suicide. This book is helpful in dealing with the full range of emotions families are left to cope with for years to come. I still re-read it regularly and receive new benefits as I pass through different stages of coping.

Last May (1999) I finished my fifth year of Spanish. For two and a half years my class used Destinos. After the AP exam, of the 7 Students who took this years exam, 4 non-native "4's" and one non-native "5". I myself and a much stonger speaker now that I am in college. Destinos promoted speaking from day one and it gave real results. I am exceling in my cuture classes and also with different Spanishes (mex, castilano, argentinian) Destinos gives a well rounded look on the Hispanic Culture. I enjoyed following the charaters through their journeys (video series). I highly recommend this text/video series too all.

After having taught the Destinos series for the past several years, I can honestly say that it is one of the best, if not the best, programs available to learn Spanish. However, it does require absolute time commitment on the part of the student. The materials are well integrated and provide an excellent tool for learning language and culture. I definitely recommend it.

But not that good either. This book contains writings that were all attempted after Mark Twain was over 70 years old and after his daughter had died. The majority of the book is composed of incomplete manuscripts, some of which are highly amusing. Most of the stories here start out the same way . . . he tries to get a story going which is gloomy, defeatest, and which ends in disaster. But Twain's natural sense of vigour always gets in the way and st a critical point, the stories tend to take a different turn than he had intended, thus he abaondons them. There are some interesting stories here. One of them includes the story of a slave who, through craft, turns the tables on his white master (named George Harrison, oddly enough!) and enslaves him, which is a rather interesting thought for those modern critics who continually chastise Twain as a racist. A few polemical pieces are included which are bound to irritate the Christians -- not all of these are gloomy, however, as the editor seems to think Twain intended them -- he obviously enjoys his heretical antics a great deal. Although this collection did not really impress me that much, there are several pices of writing here in which Twain shines like he has in few other works. A social statement on the Natie Americans and on growing old are also included. Although not for everybody, fans of Samuel Clemens will find this book a rare treat.

As a lazy philosopher in search of a belief system, I found this book exceptionally provocative, if occaisionally irritating. I'm generally not a fan of compilations, particularly when many of the pieces are unfinished manuscripts. However, it was wonderful to see so many of my own half-formed questions given an eloquent voice. The beauty of these writings is that though Twain/Clemmens pokes fun at or denounces the futility of the human struggle and our attempts to understand, he never gives in to his own dark thoughts. Throughout it all there is an undercurrent of hope. Contradictory, yes, but well worth look.

This was a nice, fast read on life on the Senior PGA tour, but I didn't overpay for it ($2.50 in a bookstore bargain bin). All of the various stars are profiled so quickly, for the most part, that you don't really get a good sense of life on the tour or what many of them are like. I think the author liked his research a little too much, and was determined to use it. This isn't completely without merit, but I think only good-sized golf fans will want to get it.

Arnie,Jack, Lee, Johnny, Chi Chi - this book brings them all to life. Shaw is a good storyteller and I felt like I was right there on the course with my idols.

Good, but a lot of reading with some material not useful.

I have read half a dozen books on Estate Planning and this one makes more sense than all of them. This is more of a "why to" book rather than a "how to" book but if you want to avoid: probate, contested wills, arbitrary waiting periods, expensive trusts and siblings who squabble over who is to get what upon your death then read this book.

I don't agree with everything the author proposes but the concept of giving away assets now while you are alive beats anything that the "death industry" offers.

The first chapter of this book "Mosaic on Walking" is great for people who live in NYC. After that, don't bother. Rudman meanders through various subjects with a voice that not only alienates the reader with pretentious language and a snobbish attitude but manages to take up 200+ pages and yet not say anything of significance. Robert Pinsky is better.

A stellar book by a stellar mind. Mandatory reading for anyone who thinks...Be sure to read the Duncan and Rilke essays. A triumph.

I have read many detective, mystery, and police procedurals from classics to trash. This is in the middle of the spectrum. It's OK, mildly entertaining, contains no real procedural suspense. The subject is the death of a male model and focuses on the fashion world. The only detail concerns what everyone is wearing. Makes a point of being blase at a raft of gay characters. I bought it because of past success from St. Martin's press. They should have left this one for the trade/genre paperbacks. I would have liked it better [on a] ... sale table.

I live in Europe but grew up in the States and go back from time to time to visit family. In Chicago, I always stop by Unabridged Books to pick up some gay literature, and this time "Drop Dead" dropped into my hands. It won't be a cat's whisker of a minute before I pick up the other Paul Turner mysteries, 'cause this one was great. The relationship between gay Paul Turner and his distinctly not gay partner Buck Fenwick is drawn hilariously, the relationship between gay Paul Turner and his two children from a previous relationship is touching, the story is interesting, the fashion world is drawn perfectly ... in other words, this was what for me passes as a "couldn't put it down" (I can put books down because I spend most of my time working at the computer, but when I'm free for a bit, I keep on reading). Even if you're not gay, pick this one up ... it's a hoot.

My father told me that most of the old Sam Spade-type of books were of the same ilk as this one. They're certainly not bad, but they leave something to be desired. "Death" seems to be written with great care and attention as the murder happens and the mystery begins, but then it just ends. It seems to me that the author was given a page limit and once he reached it, he simply "solved" the crime. The criminal isn't necessarily someone we've ever met before, it isn't someone integral to the plot, it doesn't make sense - it just is.

Zubro made me feel cheated. I was teased with an engaging read, only to be left unfulfilled by the outcome. When you read a mystery there should at least be enough clues for the reader to make some viable guesses at who the murderer is: that just isn't the case here.

This is my favorite in the Tom and Scott series. For one thing the picture perfect (think Monette not Monet) couple actually QUARREL. Not just once, but intermittently. There are hints of jealousy, problems with communication--they almost seem human.

For another thing, the action never stops, the pace never flags. True, the gun battle with Mexican drug lords is a bit much, but it's entertaining. Imagination is not Zubro's weak point. He shows plenty of invention in the fifth excursion of his very own Hardy Boys.

But familiar problems weigh down this novel. Tom and Scott still do not have strong, distinct personalities (Adam Niklewicz's cover says it all), and their relationship continues to seem shallow and unreal. Although they frequently have sex they rarely exchange meaningful dialogue or simple gestures of tenderness. In his effort to stress the manly-man aspects of Tom and Scott, Zubro robs them of personality. They have no interesting flaws or weaknesses. They have no distinguishing marks or characteristics. But to be fair, in ECHO OF DEATH Tom and Scott are their most real. They cry, they bleed, they argue--and I don't remember them working out once. I could get to like these guys

The book in and of itself isn't as good as the general Serrated Edge series, IMO, but I have to admit, the ideas presented inside ... some of them are too funny. If you're a fan of the series, you should definitely read it -- and if not, it's a good bit of humor!

Mark Shepherd's Elvendude introduces the Lackey/Shepherd readership to a new, exciting family of elves. A spin-off from the SERRAted Edge series, we meet the "elvendude," Adam McDaris, a teenaged kid in Dallas who doesn't know he's an elf. Good take on the trauma of adolescence, and of drug addiction, which he deals with here with sensitivity and (maybe?) from experience. Despite the dark aspects of the subject matter, Shepherd brings humor and life to the story, and handles the characterization and plotting like a champ. I believe this is his first solo book, but it reads like the fruits of an experienced, seasoned novelist. I look forward to more from him; he shows tremendous potential.

Perhaps this book is aimed more at the gourmet cook with LOTS of space for storing all kinds of gadgets and tools! But I have been cooking from scratch for almost 25 years now, and I have not found a need for many of the tools this book claims are basic and necessary.

I did enjoy, however, looking through this book with its beautiful pictures. I also enjoyed learning about tools that I have never seen before! There are no doubt people who use tools such as the tomato press, nutmeg mill, bean slicer, and cheese dome, frequently and couldn't cook without them! Which gadgets a cook treasures is a very individual thing.

As for me, my favorite cooking gadgets are Kitchen Aid mixer (see my review of this on Amazon), garlic press, and a rotary grater for grating fresh parmesan cheese. My advice is to check out reviews of particular brands of cooking tools here on Amazon and on other cooking websites.

This book has many fold-out pages with pictures of MARVELOUS looking food! There are quite a few recipes and many have photos showing the various steps. Most of the recipes are on the gourmet-cooking end of the scale, rather than ones that would be easy to make and family-friendly.

My advice is to decide which tools you will need for YOUR style of cooking and then buy a quality product that will serve you well and will last a long time!

Please check out my other reviews - I've reviewed a number of cookbooks here on Amazon. Happy cooking!

I don't know how appropriate the title is (or how "essential" many of these items are) but I had a lot of fun reading through this book--which I did in one seating, and read almost the entire contents--quite a rare feat for what is essentially a kitchen gadget guide/cookbook I would think! Now I find myself coveting pricey mandolins and Indian woks. And no longer a complete kitchen gadget neophyte, I'm able to identify the most obscure tools at, say, the well-stocked shelves of haughty culinary kitchen shops like Sur La Table. The design of this book is intriguing as well--I like how some pages unfold to reveal a double-sized page...and if you're one to appreciate lustrous thick paper and engaging text layout (you know who you are, DK/Eyewitness guidebook fans), this book will probably catch your fancy. The content is interesting as well, it is sort of like reading "Cook's" magazine. The only drawback to the book is that although there are some recipes included, they don't seem to have any theme to them, and furthermore, there isn't an index...so while you're casually browsing the book, you might happen upon a potential recipe, but then when you try to go back and find it later, you have to flip through each and every page to find it again! Overall though, a fun book to go back to as a reference and inspiration.