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Book reviews for "Allen,_William" sorted by average review score:

Grilling (Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Library)
Published in Hardcover by Time Life (June, 1993)
Authors: Chuck Williams, Allen Rosenberg, and John Phillip Carroll
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Great for a used book!
I have not had the opportunity to put any of the recipes to use. But I am a fan of Williams-Sonoma products and own many of his easy to follow and tasty recipes. The book is in good condition and free of foul mildewy smells! Such was not the case with another used book Chuck Williams Thanksgiving and Christmas. The recipes and pictures look attractive but the smell keeps me from using it.

Great so far........
I've made a few recipes ou tof this cookbook and so far my family has loved them all (and some of them are fussy eaters that never like to try anything new). The marinades are so simple to make and from there the meat just needs to sit and marinate before throwing it on the grill - very easy!! At my fourth of July BBQ I was able to very easily assemble three of these recipes in a very short period of time in the morning for an afternoon celebration while still having time to prepare a bunch of other things. So far I've tried: Teriyaki Chicken, Lemon Chicken Breasts, Curried Pork Sate, Scallop and Mushroom Brochettes - all very good!!

Absolutely Wonderful
This cook book has to be one of the best. I have made several dishes and everyone has been a hit by my family and friends. The recipes are easy to follow and alot of the prep work can be done ahead of time. I definetly would recommend this book to others and I have...enjoy.


A Guide to Bird-Finding in New Jersey
Published in Paperback by Rutgers University Press (June, 1986)
Authors: William J., Jr. Boyle, University Rutgers, and David Allen Sibley
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Be sure to get the newest edition
There are now two editions of Boyle, the older version with an orange cover and the Barred Owl, and a newer version with a photo of a Hooded Warbler on the front. You'll want to make sure you get the latter, since many things have changed over the years.

The New Boyle
It is one of the milder species of blasphemy, I suppose, to call any book one's "bible"; but since its appearance 17 years ago (!), Bill Boyle's NJBFG has served thousands of the birding faithful as ritual object and authoritative companion alike. My own copy of the first printing, with its ugly laminated binding in shreds and the bookblock bulging from tipped-in notes, photocopies, and clippings, is probably the single most used volume in my birding library: field guides come and go, but for nearly two decades now, Boyle has come and gone wherever I have.
Just how intensive my use of the book has been came clear to me with the arrival--"long-awaited," in the reviewer's cliche--of the second edition. As I read through the new treatments of areas long familiar to me, I discovered that (like many NJ birders) I'd actually memorized verbatim great chunks of the first edition, and that I noticed every new word and every new turn of phrase in the revised accounts. If it is true that every obsession is at its base religious, then this book truly is the birder's bible.
The birder's bible: divine in inspiration, certainly, but here and there the mortal nature of its human author peeks through. As anyone who has ever written anything knows, it is even more difficult to revise than to write, and this revised edition has some flaws that were not apparent in the first. There are far more copy-editing errors this time around, and the index--more important than ever, given the new book's rather breathless layout--is not an infallible help (just try to find the main entry for Merrill Creek!). Compared to the enjoyably expansive style of the first edition, the new entries strike me as occasionally a bit too concise, a problem that might have been eased by simply eliminating even more of the old sections treating sites that, like the Institute Woods, now offer (in Boyle's words) "the mere shadow" of their former glory; valuable space is also sacrificed to a number of new full-page illustrations.
These things having been said, the book is still an outstanding example of the bird-finding guide. The maps seem to be largely up to date and accurate (Sussex County birders: are Rockport and Blackdirt marshes really the same place?), the annotated species list is even more useful than in the first edition, and the binding isn't likely to crackle and peel. It will take only weeks, I am sure, for New Jersey birders to start quoting this new Boyle, chapter and verse.

Great for all skill levels
This book is just as useful for seasoned birders as it is for the beginner, or the person new to New Jersey. Beginners will appreciate its review of New Jersey's best birding destinations; seasoned pros will enjoy the depth of the information and the amount of detail on nesting species and accounts of rarities.

For us locals, "Bird Finding" is great for those days when you want to hop in the car and travel to somewhere a little different, or if you want to explore a familiar destination a little more closely. The book offers detailed directions (although some of the exit numbers and streets have changed since its publication date), including which trail to follow, which tree to investigate, etc. Its accuracy is remarkable. It's clear Bill Boyle knows each location intimately and visits them often.

This is a must-have for any birder living in the state (and there are lots), and any vacationer planning to spend more than a weekend in New Jersey.


John Bogle on Investing: The First 50 Years
Published in Digital by McGraw-Hill ()
Authors: John C. Bogle, William T. Allen, and Paul A. Volcker
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A Great Collection from One of Investing's Great Minds
Bogle is brilliant on so many of the investment issues that matter most to individual investors -- investing intelligently, the fallacy of active management, how the investment-management industry screws its customers and gets away with it, etc. But as good as he is as an investment "guru," he is even better as a writer.

His writing combines a deft mastery of mathematics with the ability to lay it out on the page so carefully that you'll wonder how you didn't think of the idea. His prose is simple, concise, and often, funny. Bogle is best in speeches and essays, this book combines a very well selected combination of both.

I read other investment literature, and I frequently see the articles and speeches in this book cited. Any interested observer of financial markets, investor wanting to keep from losing his shirt, or professional in the investment management industry would benefit from reading this book. I heartily recommend it!

Changed my investment outlook
The first two sections of this book changed my investment outlook. I now intend for the majority of my investments to be invested passively using index funds.

His arguments that most mutual funds underperform their respective index is convincing. This coupled with the difficulty of picking the managers that will outperform the index over the long term in advance, has convinced me that only by investing in the index can you guarantee that you will be investing in one of the leading funds.

The other 3 sections while interesting are more ruminations from Bogle about life, business and the stock markets. Interesting but not world changing. In fact I suspect that most people would be better off buying "Common Sense on Mutual Funds" by Bogle.

I would heartily recommned this book to anyone who wishes to be convinced that they can maximise their return, while avoiding the risk of underperformance by investing in index funds.

Interesting Perspectives on Markets, Business, and Life
In this 443-page compilation of 25 of his speeches over the last 25 years, John Bogle effectively addresses topics of interest to both investors and those in business. Fans of earlier books, including his Common Sense on Mutual Funds, and devotees of passive stock and bond index strategies, will enjoy this book.

It is especially interesting to read John Bogle's speeches delivered from 1-25 years ago and compare his predictions of the future to what has actually occurred. Comparisons to the market of today can then be made.

For example, in a speech given a year following the "great stock market crash of October 19, 1987", John Bogle on p.68 related his analysis of why the market downturn occurred, including these two reasons: (1) stock prices too high (p/e ratios hitting 23 for the S&P 500 index in 1987); (2) some deterioration in the economic outlook, with no progress being made to reduce the Federal buget defict and a whiff of inflation. Sound anything like 2000 and 2001?

A more recent speech included in the book, from January 2000, predicting that the market's heady optimism will depart and leave stock market returns of 5.2% or so over the next decade. As John Bogle readily admits, however, anything can happen in the stock market.

There are many sections which detail the evolution of, and triumph of, passive indexing over active management. Other speeches provide a historical overview of the founding of Vanguard and its rise over the last 25 years.

Business leaders will find inspiration from several speeches delivered with a more personal note, in which he provides perspectives on the need for persistence, the need for lifelong learning, and the desire to build meaning into life through devotion to commitments to others. Very moving is his speech following his receipt of a transplanted heart.

More recent speeches by John Bogle, which give you a sense of what can be found in this book (but not the added value of looking at speeches from years past and comparing predictions made to what has actually occurred), can be found at the Vanguard website. Look for the Bogle Financial Markets Research Center.

This is not the first book a reader interested in investing should tackle. That honor belongs to John Bogle's 2nd book, "Common Sense on Mutual Funds." Other books should follow, including, perhaps, those by Larry Swedroe, Burton Malkiel, and Bruce Temkin.

For those who have already read several books on investing, the speeches in this book provide added perspective and reinforcement regarding the role of passive indexing, the folly of trying to outperform the market over the long term, and the philosophical ideal of service to others through truth and fairness. For these readers I wholeheartedly recommend adding this book to your investment library.


Aransas: The Life of a Texas Coastal County
Published in Paperback by Eakin Publications (June, 1997)
Authors: William Allen and Sue Hastings Taylor
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Most underrated county in Texas
Growing up in San Antonio, my family frequently traveled to Rockport for the weekend. We would fish at night and go sightseeing by day. As a child I was always fascinated by the area and I grew so did this curiosity.
Four years ago I read in the Rockport Pilot's Visitor Guide that this book existed. That very day I was dragging my wife around looking for it, finally found it at the Art Museum by the beach. The entire weekend was spent skimming and reading this wonderful book. Since I have got the book I have read and re-read it many many times.
Today I enjoy visiting Rockport as often as I can. While driving around I try to picture what it was like at the turn of the century when the Aransas Hotel was still stood and the Baily Pavillion was THE place to be. Who would have thought that the little towns of Rockport and Fulton would have such a deep history?

A Californian's perspective
I have been visiting the Gulf Coast/Aransas Pass area for 9 years now. Every time I go I am intrigued by everything I see. The history that resides there is amazing. I stay at a house on Fulton Beach Road that is filled with history. It has been in my friends family for over one hundred years. The house is actually mentioned in the book. This book is an amazing look at an amazing time in an amazing place. If you are interested in the history of the Texas Coastal Bend then this the book for you.

Thanks, John Conner San Jose, CA

Historical adventure tale of a Texas Gulf Coast County.
As a resident of Rockport, in Aransas Co., Texas, but not a native, I was interested in the history of this part of the state. When Sue Taylor and Bill Allen's book, ARANSAS, A Tale of a Texas Coastal County, was published, I was among many who lined up for Sue's signature on my copy.

It was a thick book, I put it aside until I had time to go through it. I've just had 10 days off, and that was among my reading activities.

I assumed it would be historical; so I did not anticipate reading it as I do some novels. But I started. To my surprise, it caught my attention and imagination right away.

Also, to my surprise, I lingered over the words because they painted pictures I wanted to enjoy. I took much longer to read this book, because I was captivated by the words themselves.

The story moved along like an adventure tale, which the history of Texas actually is. It was dangerous, scary, wild, and took courageous and foolhardy men and women to survive. Texas had citizens with those characteristics on both sides of the Rio Grande.

The saga of many real families unfolded. Reading ARANSAS was like looking at a photograph album of one's grandparents--or great-grandparents. You never met them, but through this book you do know them. They became real people, with real personalities.

I did not know of the participation of Aransas County in both the Texas Revolution and the Civil War. It was a port to be conquered by the "other" side in both wars--a strategic military outpost. Other history books refer to the importance of Copano Bay.

Throughout the book the authors give geographic locations of homes or stores or hotels or fishing or cattle wharfs. In the back the references are detailed. We can still visit these places. That's my next goal--to find where history happened, and is still going on.

Frances Mayo


Christenberry Reconstruction: The Art of William Christenberry
Published in Hardcover by Univ Pr of Mississippi (April, 1996)
Authors: Trudy Wilner Stack, William Christenberry, Allen Tullos, University of Arizona Center for Creative Photography, and University of Arizona Museum of Art
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Splendid Introduction to Christenberry's Work
This book was published as the monograph to a traveling national exhibition on William Christenberry which was curated by the Center for Creative Photography's curator of photography, Trudy Wilner Stack, back in 1996. It is a splendid introduction to Christenberry's work. Through his photography, sculpture and painting, Christenberry has explored the South's rural manmade landscape and its tortured psychological landscape, focusing in on the Ku Klux Klan. Working in color, Christenberry comes across as a latter day Walker Evans, showing much empathy and respect for the culture he depicts in his photographs, with, of course, a notable exception for the Ku Klux Klan. Anyone interested in seeing a fine introduction to Christenberry's work should look no further.

Excellent homage to a superlative artist
As unique and genuine an artist as America has produced, Christenberry receives admirable attention in this work. The depth and breadth of his talent is showcased, with attention paid to all of the mediums he employs: painting, sculpture, and photography. Southerners will especially appreciate the evocative quality that rings through these pieces, but their appeal is not limited to art enthusiasts from that region alone. The gravity of the work has a wide appeal.

A visual treat!
A visual treat. The artist has captured the look and feel of rural Alabama. Whether it is a photograph, assemblage, painting or drawing, there is a basic truth and honesty to these works.They evoke the time from the depression to the present in a haunting and beautiful way. Mr, Christenberry is indeed a poet.


Exchange and Production (Study Guide)
Published in Paperback by Wadsworth Publishing (January, 1999)
Authors: Armen A. Alchain, William R. Allen, and Armen Alchian
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It's the best economics book in history
What has happened to Armen's new edition? I can't believe that it's ALREADY out of print. For Lord's sake: there's no better way to learn price theory than listening to Alchian. GET IT BACK IN PRINT!!!

The greatest text book in economic analysis.
It is a sad commentary that the greatest text book in intorductory economics is now out of print. This book goes beyond the economics of carrots and parsinps. It has witty and stimulating discussions of property rights, contracts, trade markets, copy rights, etc. In sum, the market does not always recognize quality.

An excellent introductory microeconomics book
It is a very good book on microeconomics. I strongly recommend it to students who study economics.


The 500 Home Run Club: From Aaron to Williams
Published in Hardcover by Sports Publishing, Inc. (15 March, 1999)
Authors: Bob Allen and Bill Gilbert
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A VERY EXCLUSIVE BOOK FOR AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB
THIS IS A VERY GOOD ACCOUNT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE 500 CLUB. EACH PLAYER IS PROFILED BRILLIANTLY. THEIR CARRERS ARE WELL TOLD AND A READER GETS AN APPRECIATION FOR EACH MEMBER. THE AUTHOR DOES A GOOD JOB ON THIS BOOK. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TO ANY FAN WHO WANTS A LOT INFO ABOUT EACH MEMBER OF THE 500 CLUB.

A book for the baeball purest!
In baseball every pitcher dreams of winning 300 games in a career for power hitters it is the mark of 500 home runs that drives them to excel. This book, The 500 Home Run Club, takes you inside baseball's exclusive fraternity that only has 15 members.

Watch baseball history come alive as you read about the power of Harmon Killebrew of the grace of Henry Aaron. Watch baseball's magical wizardry in the story of Babe Ruth, or the trials faced by Jimmie Foxx. See how Ted Williams missed 5 years and still hit 521 home runs.

The game covers some many different eras, from early baseball with Mel Ott, to the 50's with Yankee great Mickey Mantle to the 80's with the raw power of Mike Schmidt of the Phillies. So many of the true legends of this game are here in this book.

You'll also read what other players had to say about these 15 great hitters, all of which are in Baseball's Hall of Fame. For the serious and true baseball fan in your life grab copy of this book, you won't be disappointed.

The Forgotten Great Hitters
I think that this book by Bob Allen and Bill Gilbert is an excellent book to read and see the many and the few(which ever way you want to see it)great hitters who have been lost in all the Babe Ruth and the Hank Aaron Home Run Derby. This book goes into detail about the life and careers of all of the 500 home run hitters. Do you remember the name Eddie Matthews or Mel Ott because they both hit 500 home runs. And how about Harmon Killebrew, second only to Babe Ruth in American League home runs. I don't think that Willie McCovey gets the credit that he deserves for hitting as many home runs as Ted Williams. I for one am glad that these two guys wrote this book to let you know how great of hitters these guys really were.In conclusion I feel that any real baseball fan should go out and get this book to remiss about the old times of baseball.


Are You Dumb Enough to Be Rich? The Amazingly Simple Way to Make Millions in Real Estate
Published in Paperback by AMACOM (May, 2003)
Authors: G. William Barnett II and Robert G. Allen
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A great read AND a great roadmap to wealth
Have no illusions about this book -- Bill Barnett delivers on his promise! We tend to make life more complicated than necessary! Bill strips away all the fluff and gets to the point on what works in the real estate investing business. This book is
truly a manual to get you on the road to wealth.

Are You SMART Enough To USE This Book!
Are You Dumb Enough To Be Rich is a clear, concise, funny, easy to follow road map to get a beginning real estate investor up and running.
Mr. Barnett takes the fear and uncertainty of the business away by giving the reader a great "pitfalls" and "summary" section at the end of each chapter. Without overwhelming the reader, Are You Dumb Enough To Be Rich gives you true "soup to nuts" techniques on how to get into real estate investing without trying to sell you another seminar or a sequel to the book. If after reading some of the other "How To" books you are still looking for a resource to get you going, read this book, It will put money in your pocket!

Are You Dumb Enough to Be Rich?
Best Real Estate Book I've Ever Read.
Two Thumbs Up, a must read for any Real Estate Investor.
Thanks Bill
Sam


The Velveteen Rabbit
Published in Hardcover by Knopf (April, 1983)
Authors: Margery Williams Bianco and Allen Atkinson
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I still love this book...I always will
These are the days of Sony Playstation 2 and Harry Potter, activites that do not really ever try to tell a great story that also gives a lesson without being preachy.

The Velveteen Rabbit is heartwrenchingly beautiful. The Rabbit who yearns to be Real and whose love for the boy was unconditional is both imaginative and sad. I cannot read this book without a lump coming to my throat and being transported to simpler days when the love of a toy was the greatest thing in the whole world.

This is a book with an ending that is mixed, that touches on the ambiguity of life and loss. But there is also hope of a new beginning. And I think children can understand that and grow from it.

I cherish this book deeply.

A True Classic!
A great book on love! I really loved this book as a kid and still remember when my Gramps used to read it to me when we would visit him in the province. He gifted me the book on my 7th birthday and became a real sentimental favorite. My original book got lost when my family vacationed in Milan when I was 12, too bad. I could recall how depressed I became when I discovered that I left the book in the hotel. I missed that book terribly and eversince I was on the look out for another copy, until 16 years later, my beautiful girlfriend gifted me one on our anniversary when she returned home from Munich. I was so happy as I lifted the copy out of the box and I couldn't help but shed a tear out of happiness! Since then, it remains on my bedside table. It is very enlightening, heart warming and full of love. I really love toys up to now and this book really manifests unconditonal love. I will surely treasure this book and in time gift it to my future kids. It's a real classic , something to be treasured forever!

An extremely touching book
This book is a simple work of art. Its beauty in itself is virtually indescribable. When I was little, it was my favorite book. In fact, I've had it ever since I was born. It is about a boy who owns a stuffed rabbit, and longs for it to be real. Eventually, because he loved the rabbit so much, his wish was granted. The book is so well written that it brings tears to my eyes almost every time I read it. It is definitely one of my all-time favorites.


Mango Summers
Published in Paperback by Key West Author's Coop (21 December, 2001)
Authors: Risa Kaparo, Theresa Foley, Bob Mayo, Allen Meece, J. T. Eggers, David Kaufelt, Rosalind Brackenbury, Margit Bisztray, William Williamson, and Robin Orlandi
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For Those Who Have Fallen in Love with Key West
For those who love Key West, this book will confirm that affection. It will also offer insight into what it's like for those who arrive, fall in love with Key West, and decide to stay. The twenty delicious stories include one called "Leaf Woman," by Margit Bisztray, a revealing oblique peep into the interior life of a woman who typifies one of the many young people who swarm to Key West to find the only work available is low-end drone jobs. The cover with the Key West row house with the rooster perched on the railing of the porch is quintessential Key West.

man go man go read mango summers
I have read this book , and once again the authors from key west have brought me back to the Island that I long to call home. Especially Bruce Weiss's piece " Chicken Wars " was fabulous In my opinion Bruce is one of the best new authors of our time , and I can't wait to see what his next novel to read. Also David Kauflet piece was also excellent. Once again proving that he still has a great depth of talent to pull from. Definitely a book worth reading.

Another hit!!
The third and latest short-story collection by a diverse and dedicated group of Key West resident-writers continues to keep a finger on the pulse of this tiny, delightfully deranged island. Their latest offering is whimsical, entertaining and right on target.


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