Some quirky calculus seems to rule the story of Anne Frank and her diary. The further time recedes from the pivotal events of the diary's origins, the more people seem interested in Anne as a person, Anne as a Holocaust statement, Anne as a publishing phenomenon, or just Anne as a long-lost tragic friend.

I was just thirteen when I read her book, the same age that she started scribbling her thoughts in that famous checked binder with the little metal clasp. Thirteen is an age when childhood lies like freshly cut grass in recent memory, with puberty and adulthood new temptations soon to be savoured. Her original diary seems to kindle some inner furnace in our souls. The magic of the story is that we want to know more, more about Anne, her life, her family, her silent footsteps after the Annex.

Ruud van der Rol and Rian Verhoeven's photographic remembrance of Anne - Beyond the Diary - is a touching and fitting tribute to the Dutch schoolgirl's legacy. Anna's Quindlen's poignant introduction strikes the right emotional notes for what follows. She says Anne's diary has a kind mystical quality for the adolescents who first encounter it and for the adults left with its spiritual aftertaste. The power is so strong that Quindlen refers to the shiver that took hold of her has she saw pictures of the original diary in the van der Rol and Verhoeven book. She speaks for all of us when she says Anne was not just a victim, a fugitive, and a metaphor but an ordinary girl with blemishes, worried about boys, parents, clothes and a post-war future.

The authors should be congratulated for their presentation of rarely seen photographs of Anne Frank and her family. There is Anne's mother, Edith, with baby Anne seemingly a few hours old, in a Frankfurt hospital. There is Mum and Dad on their honeymoon; Anne and Margot as toddlers sitting on Dad's knee; the young girls dressed beautifully out shopping with Mum in downtown Frankfurt. These are happy times: family, friends, movies, a day at the beach. But a sombre bell tolls...

Like melancholy drapes blocking the sunlight, the remainder of the book catalogues the Frank family in hiding as Nazism throws its fetid shadow. There are photographs of That List - not Schindler's - but Anne's. Her name appears on the passenger manifest for the last transport from Westerbork to Auschiwitz and then, sadly, on the final Red Cross declaration. The photographs, accompanied by the simple text, are a revelation. This book comes as close as any to capturing Anne's allure. But Anne in "Beyond the Diary" is still somehow beyond reach. We love her diary because we seem to share so much with her. Her last footprints show, in fact, that we probably share very little...

This book is an excellent one I recently chose for our Lutheran church library. The story follows the lives of the Franks during the prewar era. It describes how, little by little, lives of the Jews became compartmentalized and restricted and how it affected Anne's family specifically. This explanation helps children understand why people were trapped---it all happened so slowly in such smalll increments that before they knew it there was no escape. This book also contains numerous maps and timelines about the concentration camps, their proximity and how people were sent from one to the other. The book then goes on the describe how Anne's diary was saved. For kids who have read her diary, perhaps in the classroom, or for those who just want to know more about Anne and see her in photographs, this book is an excellent learning tool and leaves you feeling both sad at her premature death and triumphant that her diary was saved.

An absolutely wonderful book. If you ever want to find out how Anne Frank lived, and what sort of world she lived in, this is the book to read. Hundreds of photographs of Anne, her family and friends, her neighborhood, Holocaust victims, Hitler, ration stamps, starving people, other people in hiding...all told in a riveting style. One of the books you will read over and over.

I read the Diary of Anne Frank when I was nine or ten years old. I liked it then, but I understood little of what was happening, and what she was saying. When I was fourteen, I went to Holland, and saw the house where she, her family, and the Van Daans had been in hiding. I bought the Diary there, and read it before the remainder of my trip was out. (I was in Europe for ten days) I was amazed at how she often felt the same things I did. I was also amazed at how well she could write. As an aspiring writer, I was enthralled with her devotion to detail, and reality, but at the same time I loved how she poured out her soul to the diary. Now, at the ripe old age of sixteen, I hold Anne Frank up as a writer to be respected and admired. I also wonder sometimes why it is that I am allowed to live to sixteen, and she was not. But I don't think her diary would have affected the world as much had she survived the camps. I think all of us after reading this diary will carry a little piece of the girl we know as Anne Frank with us forever.

I love this book, because it make me understand that all three versions of the diary that know Anne wrote her original diaries,two notebooks and 324 loose sheet while she was hiding.

Anne did write alot about her friends, sexual feeelings, and fighting between her and her mother. The second one is missing,so she did finish the rewrite on loose sheet which is version B that the dated from December 7, 1942 to December 22, 1943. The last page of the rewrite on loose sheet on March 29,1994 about listening the radio broadcasting the Duth Exile from london that collected the daries and letters that people want to read then after the war. Anne did all the rewrite, but she never finished sadly, on August 4, 1944 the day of the arrest the nazi interupted her. She is a great writer of all times. I'm very obessed Anne Frank, because she is so smart!.

Anyone want to know about Anne's life was Melissa Muller's Biography "Anne Frank" This is a great book!

...

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I am going to tell you about the best book I have ever read. The best book I have read is
The Diary of Anne Frank. It is about a little girl that is Jewish. It takes place in 1945 during
World War II. It talks about them being scared of hearing a knock at the door. It talks about them getting sent to concentration camps and how the people get tortured there like in gas chambers that is were they stick you in a room air tight and fill the room with deadly gas fumes. They wood also cut all your hair off and tattoo a number on you. Most of the people would die because they would freeze to death because it was so cold. They were fed very little food and their beds had flies all around them and they would make you have a job like cleaning the bathrooms. So you can see people there were treated very badly. And all this happened because one man named Hitler wanted to do this all because the people where Jewish. These are just a few things why this is my favorite book. And I think that you should read this book too.

Oy, Joy! Reading this book, you will see just how a thirteen year old girl's life works. Joy, a normal girl who goes to a normal school in New York, has just the things any thirteen your old has...or wants---friends, talent, and a personal life. Joy lives in a world that seems to her complicated and detailed. With an annoying and obnoxious little brother, a best friend who is not allowed to do much because of her strict mother, an uncle who tries to go into other people's business, and many other interesting and unique people, life is like a roller coaster for her. Somehow, without losing friends or hope, she must find her way through a life full of challenges, danger, disappointment, and excitement. In my opinion, this book was good, having plenty of detail and a great plot. I'd recommend this book to anyone in between the age of ten years to teenagers, that is, if they're willing to drop everything and be sucked into the amazing story. Oy, Joy! I can't wait to read this book again.

"Oh, Joy!" is a whimsical novel told through the eyes of Joy, the protagonist of this third novel by Lucy Frank. Joy is a fourteen year old entering high school. The freshman would like to find a boyfriend. She finds it difficult to focus on the school's Match Quiz because she has to give up her room to her great-uncle Max who has moved into her family's cramped New York City apartment with his old, super terrier after he had a stroke. Now Joy and her younger brother Nathan have to share his room along with his pet mice.
This all adds to the tensions as one might imagine. Joy has a problem with her life long girlfriend, Maple, when she finds her love interest in Wade. Enter Max, Joy's age, who become close. As Uncle Max said, "A boy named Max couldn't be bad."
The story is a quick read. It is probably suited best for teens who can relate to the young characters in the story.

The book that I am reading is called Oy, Joy and I really liked it. This book is by Lucy Frank, a writer whom I have never heard of until this book, but a very good and talented writer. This book is definitely a book that all teens should read. It talks about Joy's life and all the troubles she has been going through. Her friend Maple makes her take a dumb Match-Quiz to find the perfect boy for Joy. Now that her eighty-year-old great-uncle named Uncle Max moves in, her life starts getting annoying and she just wants to run away. In the end, Uncle Max was really doing the right thing for her and teaching her to get out of her comfort zone and to try some new things.

I liked this book because I just learned about stress, and even though no one thought of reading as a way to combat stress, this book helped me. It can really refer to me because she is a teenager and just trying to organize her life. Her Uncle Max seems like he's messing things up for her, but everything turns out better on the other side. My parents seem like the Uncle Max that Joy has to deal with, but I will always remember that they are doing the right things for me. She also has a little brother and has to share a room with him when Uncle Max moves in. ¡°Why did Nathan's life seem so much simpler? Give him some little thing to fiddle-diddle with and he was happy.¡± As you can see, Joy has some stress, but this book taught me that all teenagers have stress, not just me.

Another reason I liked this book was because of the Match-Quiz. It was two dollars at Joy's school to help with the dances and everything, while it gave you the names of guys or girls who matches you the most. Joy thought it was stupid, but ended up going along with it, and met the perfect guy for her. It taught her and also me that if you keep going and trying things, you'll always get somewhere. ¡°It wasn't that I didn't want to meet a boy. I thought about it every time I saw a couple who really liked each other.¡± Joy has a lot of problems with guys, just like I do. This book also taught me to be confident in myself and take action.

My favorite part of the book was when Joy got to remodel her half of the room in Nathan's room. Since Uncle Max was moving in, she had to move into her brother¡¯s room. My mom would have told me to just move my room, but Joy's mom bought her lots of things to remodel with. Joy even got space in a closet to put her desk and computer in, which I think is very cool. ¡°¡±We'll get you some new curtains, too, and a new bedspread, maybe a new rug. Come on. Let's measure everything. We'll get some bookcases at one of those unpainted furniture places on Broadway and use them as a divider. I think we can make this work.¡±¡± I really liked this book because whenever I had to stop reading, I couldn't wait until I could read some more until the end of the book.

Balling the Jack is a great story and a real page-turner. The characters, especially the main character Tom Reasons and his loyal and fun-loving buddies, are people you wish were your friends. Tom's adventures as a dart-playing gambler with a conscience make for a great read. Highly recommended

Balling The Jack
BTJ is what some would call a coming of age story. Tom, the teller of the story as well as it's focus, is a gambler. He gambles with his paycheck, his women, and his life. He comes across as a young guy playing around with his life to try to have fun.

At first I was impressed just by the quality of the writing. Reading this book is like seeing a movie in your head.

After a little bit I got rather discouraged. I kept thinking that it was a wonderfully written book but not for me. That is because I just plain didn't like Tom. I thought him an idiot for some of what he was doing and trying to do. But as the story progressed I understood the point. You are meant to take a journey with Tom. You go along with him and in the end you want to shout hurray. I won't say more. But I will say that as I closed this book I had a huge smile lighting up m

Balling The Jack is the most energetic novel I've read in a long, long time. Baldwin writes in a hip, edgy style that propels the reader forward, making it a fast, fun read. However, its quick pacing doesn't mean that Baldwin doesn't have some important things to say. Balling The Jack (which is slang for risking everything all at once) shows a guy who finds life too safe today and has to go out looking for thrills. He finds it in gambling, and this -- of course -- leads to trouble. There's a definite theme of risk and renewal (Risk and reward, baby. Risk and reward.) that shows there is more to Baldwin's writing than showing a guy night on the town. It's about finding something to believe in during an age of cash machines and less and less human contact. All in all, Balling The Jack is a book for everyone. Men will identify with Tom, and women will find him charming -- even if they don't admit it.

Robinson is able to weave such an amazingly intricate character study into the backdrop of an interstellar ship that's been voyaging for thousands of years. Extremely readable, gripping, and enjoyable.

This is a beautifully-told, fascinating story that begins in a fairly straightforward, but enjoyable, direction and takes several 180-degree turns--moments that make you say, "Yes! That's exactly how it has to happen! And yet I had no idea that *that* was going on!" I love it when authors can do that. The best advice that my old creative writing professor gave us was that the ending of a story should be "surprising yet inevitable." Robinson does an incredible job of accomplishing that very thing, not once but *twice*.

One caveat: Do not read this book just because it is a Lambda Literary Award winner, and do not pay attention to the note on the back that claims it is "a powerful epic of interstellar travel, alternate sexuality, and overpowering obsession." The so-called "alternate sexuality" is a *very* minor aspect of the book, and it is really closer to what I would call "normal" (i.e. people are generally bisexual--although even in this case, there are conspicuously few gay pairs). Nevertheless, it is a beautiful, enthralling story that I couldn't put down, and I urge everyone to get their hands on a copy.

I read "The Dark Beyond the Stars" shortly after its original publication in 1991 and was blown away by it at the time. I lost track of both the name and the author, but the plot stayed with me. Thanks to Google, I've rediscovered the bibliographic details and plan to reread the book in the near future.

This book is an engrossing piece of SF that blends many disparate elements into a coherent whole. It takes place on a decaying generations ship whose mission has been to search for sentient life. Robinson ably depicts the necessities of life in such a closed environment, but he also uses them as a backdrop against which to spin out other themes--the protagonist's search for identity, the captain's obsession with the mission and his endangerment of the crew, plus portrayals of love, friendship, rivalry, competition, and above all, loneliness.

The many plot twists and reversals make "The Dark Beyond the Stars" an exciting read, but what lingers afterwards is the humanity of its characters and their sense of aloneness in a big, dark universe.

ADAM BEDE is a thrilling read, though it may seem hard to believe given the unpromising setting and the stilted way Eliot introduces her story. But after the first few starchy chapters, abruptly, something wonderful happens: she gets wise to herself. It's as if you can see her realize that the upright characters she *thought* she was pinning her story on, dull Dinah and Mr Irwine, aren't really the stuff of which fiction is made -- so she shoves them aside and takes up the flawed characters of her triangle, who resonate with possibility at every turn. Suddenly, miraculously, with almost no warning, all Eliot's amazing gifts as a writer take center stage: Her psychological insight. Her phenomenal wit. The dramatizing genius that allows her, effortlessly, to plot the most intimate narrative developments against the gigantic backdrop of a county-wide feast or funeral. Her fearlessness and surefootedness in picking her way (and ours) through the tangle of social and class relationships of an entire village. In this embarrassment of riches, maybe most rewarding for a reader like me is Eliot's unerring ability to pay off her plots: here, ladies and gentlemen, is a writer who knows how to write the hell out of a climax -- George Eliot's big confrontation scenes never, ever disappoint.

Too, some wizardry seems to keep her narrative touch both incomparably delicate and completely unflinching at the same time. At the heart of ADAM BEDE is a story so sordid I wonder whether it could be broadcast on network TV today, and Eliot tells it without vulgarity but without ever shying away from its ugliness. My most serious criticism of the book is that Eliot didn't quite trust herself enough not to tack an unconvincing (and, worse, uninteresting) happy ending onto her story. But the hair-raising drive of the middle two-thirds of the book is something you'll never forget.

Highly recommended for those who loves classic literature. George Elliot beautifully captured the lives of the people in rural English country in the late 18th century and early 19th century. I guarantee you'll fall in love with all the 4 main characters ie. Adam Bede, Hetty Sorrel, Lord Arthur and Dinah Morris before you finish the book. The courting scenes involving Adam Bede and Dinah are both very romantic and honest. George Elliot had a great understanding of human nature which makes the story very believable although it's fiction. ADAM BEDE's a hero in my heart, and this book's a must read for all literature fans.

George Eliot weaves a simple story of love, suffering, and goodness. While the plot is hardly complex (boy loves girl, another boy gets girl, unhappiness abounds - also reused in Mill on the Floss), the manner in which Eliot develops her characters and their emotions and actions ring as true and resoundingly as a bell. It's so clear, so obvious, but also moving and textured. You feel Adam's absolute love for vain little Hetty, Dinah's calming grace, Arthur's good intentions, Lisbeth's fretting nature. Eliot draws you in with her honest observations of life in a country town, without the background becoming a dominant factor. The near idyllic life the characters lead is a healthy contrast to the town's emotional upheaval.

Adam is an upright, genuine character, and not as perfect as he seems. If his love for Hetty seems unfounded at times, it only serves to highlight how dangerous delusions can be. All the "sinners" are ultimately redeemed by truth - true love, true friends, true promises, and true acceptance. Religion plays a significant part in the novel, but don't let that deter you. It's so much more than that - Adam Bede is truly one of the few works that encompass a world of humanity between two covers.

AB reminded me of Tess of the D'Ubervilles a bit, but there is no villain here, just flawed, honest people in search of unattainable dreams. In the process of trying to get a bit of happiness, they stumble and bleed, but ultimately find something truly worth having. Bittersweetness is Eliot's trademark for good reason.

George Eliot's first full novel is obviously a bit less polished than her later works, but you see the wonderful command she has over language and expression. The book, the people, the story all come alive with her touch. A rare read that has something to say and says it beautifully.

Frank Scoblete's book is well written and really explores the dimensions of what on the surface appears to be a rather simple game. Scoblete shows us how to get a monetary edge at baccarat in a very clever way. This book is enjoyable to read because the author is very knowledgeable.

I had never been interested in baccarat before but I am a Frank Scoblete fan so I bought this book. It was worth it. First of all, like all Scoblete's books that I have read, it is first rate. It is fun to read and just analyzes the game thoroughly. Scoblete shows why the traditional game of baccarat is much better than the mini version. He also explains how to really reduce what the house wins by maximizing comps and by using an ingenious strategy for reducing the commission on the Bank bet from 5 percent to 4 percent. I hve tried this strategy in five casinos and had success in two of them. Scoblete also analyzes over 40,000 decisions at baccarat and explains why these are very lose to the probability of what happens in the math. I wish I had better powers of writing because I know I am not doing this book justice. It turned me on to baccarat and I am loving every minute of it!

Scoblete does a very interesting experiment in this book. He copmpares 40,000 hands of baccarat betting bank or player on each and shows how the casino edge manifests iself in this run. He explains how to reduce the edge by betting select amounts on bank hands that the casino will pay off at a 4 percent commission instead of 5. Very ingenious. As with all Scoblete's books, it is excellently written and shows why he is the top gambling writer in the world. I learned many important things from this book and one was to stay away from mini-baccarat! I highly recommend this to casino players.

While I agree with others that this book is comprehensive in scope, and while it is beautifully illustrated, it is lacking in the details. Our Building Construction class used it as a primary text, and nowhere does it tell you basics. For example, the drawings have few if any dimensions, which are pretty critical to one's understanding of basic construction (e.g., studs spaced 16" on center). Like all of Ching's books, they at first appear chock full of helpful information, but more often than not, I find them beautifully illustrated and light on content.

I teach construction technology to future General contractors and Interior Designers...and this is the best reference book I have found for beginners. When they ask me the size of a door or height of a kitchen cabinet I tell them to look it up...and I have the utmost confidence that it is both in this book and so well illustrated that the students can easily understand it. I call this book the Beginners Graphic STandards. And at about 1/3 the cost. I also reccomend KaffeeKang' book called Graphic Guide to Frame Construction for residential framing.

This book is jam packed with almost everything you could need to know about construction. When I say that, I mean it covers all of the major components. It does not walk you through tiling a floor, but as an example it does show the different methods of framing and provide clear illustration of how each method is done. I only wanted information on residential construction, but this book covers commercial building as well. The drawings are excellent. I found it tough to put the book down and found myself re-reading several sections because of all the information contained in them. It will serve as an excellent reference guide for all of my future projects. I have already changed many of the details for my upcoming project as a result of this book.

First a bit about myself. I'm 30 and I've had a dabbling interest in comics my whole life. I've travelled the world a bit and everytime that I find a comic store I enter it with one thing on my mind. Do they have a copy of Elektra Assassin? You see I used to own a copy. I made the mistake of lending it to someone who did not return it and I was staggered to learn that it is now out of print. The story line was one of the darkest that I'd read at the time, absolutely compelling. Sienkiewicz manages to draw Elektra in an, at the same time, erotic yet ugly perspective that I've yet to see equalled. His artwork complements Miller's story perfectly, a true marraige of styles. It is suprerior to Dark Knight Returns in this respect and that is saying a lot. So, I'm overjoyed that this work is being re-released, it's way overdue. For those of you that are about to read this for the first time, you have my envy. As for me and others like me who have read it before, I'll snap up a copy as soon as it becomes available and not lend it to anybody. When that happens, I guess I'll have to find another excuse to go into comic shops ;)

Over the past 3 years or so, Marvel seems have remembered that it has older fans who remember its glory days, when all of their characters got a fair shake. If the racks are going to be flooded with a hundred copies of the "Age of X-ecution X-Tinction" trade paperback, the least Marvel could do is reprint something that appeals to more discriminating readers. This book is a prime example.

ELEKTRA: ASSASSIN is one of those wonderful moments in comics where the writer and artist, each being at the top of their game, are also completely in tune with each other. Miller's story is by no means straightforward, and if you can read this once and feel that you "got it", you probably really didn't "get it". With every read, I see new messages hidden in the story, and that, to me, means a worthwhile purchase. His definition of the characters is great, from a boorish Agent Garret to a faker-than-fake presidential candidate. The story features many aspects and abilities of Elektra that hadn't been previously covered in other comics.

Sienkiewicz's artwork for this story is amazing. He can render some beautiful and technically accurate human forms, but to do that throughout the whole book wouldn't be any fun. Here, he uses a mixed media showcase, incorporating a variety of styles for his interpretations of characters and their moods: some characters are sharply defined, others are photo or paper paste-ups, some just smears of paint. Seeing as this series was originally released in the mid-80s, it can be seen how this work might have influenced such diverse artists as Dave McKean, Simon Bisley, and yes, even Rob Liefield (check out Nick Fury and his big gun).

This story fits in well with the Elektra stories of the past. Ignore her recent revival in Daredevil, and you'll be okay.

I'm not going to pretend this is a seminal work in Comics History. I'm not even convinced it was the best work of either of the primary creators.

But it's a blast to read.

I've read it probably half-a-dozen times in the years since it came out, and I enjoy the stylish art and the crisp storytelling every time.

My complaints are few: despite the appearance of a few mainstream Marvel characters, this isn't a Marvel continuity book--Marvel has always used the real President in its series--and someone should have caught Miller's misspelling of "cirrhosis."

But the storytelling is unparalleled, the plot creatively bizarre, and the art style changed the way creators look at mainstream comics (David Mack's recent "Parts of a Hole" arc in Daredevil owes an enormous debt to this book).

It's a blast, it's a rollicking romp, it makes very little sense, and if you just let go of preconceptions and roll with the storyline, you should be laughing and shaking your head in amazement when you turn the last page and close the book.

If you're trying to choose between this one and Miller's ELEKTRA LIVES AGAIN, go with ELEKTRA: ASSASSIN, hands down.

Although this book is entertaining, Shostak's arguments for intelligent life in the universe suffer from the same shortcomings as Percival Lowell's speculations about Martian canals and their builders. To paraphrase from his own criticism of Lowell's work, small features glimpsed indistinctly through theoretical musings become connected in Shostak's brain.

The book is intended to promote the soundness of the SETI endeavor, yet the careful reader will note inconsistencies in the arguments presented which have the opposite effect. For example, it is mentioned on page 171 that: "[I]n the unlikely circumstance that extraterrestrials are exceptionally nearby [within 25 light-years], we [on Earth] might provoke a signal [if the ETs detect our early FM and TV broadcasts]. Yet, as admitted on page 170, "present SETI equipment [which includes the 1000-ft, 18-acre Arecibo radio telescope] couldn't detect Earth's most common transmissions--either television or radar--from a distance any farther than one light-year." On page 172, it is further argued that extraterrestrials "hundreds or possibly thousands of light-years distant...may have constructed a beacon to signal such civilizations [as Earth's], just in case." Yet, on page 147, Shostak has already admitted that on Earth itself: "Most astronomers, including those who actively search for aliens have not favored an active effort to get the attention of the extraterrestrials with a radio inquiry."

The truth of the matter is that the most conservative approach to do SETI would be to seek incidental signals generated by civilizations with Earth-like levels of development (the only case we are certain is attainable). However, as Shostak notes (pg. 146), at a distance of 50 light-years, a 3000-acre antenna (12,900-ft in diameter) would be needed in order just to detect the signal from a typical big-city TV broadcast from Earth. Even the prospective next-generation One Kilometer (3300-ft) Telescope which Shostak touts as "enormously large" (with an area of 196 acres) would fall far short of the mark.

In summary, for those able to read between the lines, the information in this book provides some sobering perspectives on the relative merits and likelihood of success of the SETI endeavor.

It is difficult to comprehend just how big our universe is.And can this vast universe of ours be here just for US? I don't thinkso. And after reading Dr. Shostak's book, I'm more convinced than ever that there is intelligent life out there.

Whether you are an astronomer, an avid enthusiast of estraterrestrial (E.T.) life, a skeptic, or just curious about the subject; there is something here for you.

This is not a super technical book; it's one the average person can understand, appreciate, and learn from. Besides the basics, I leaned about what is possible reagarding the search for E.T.s - (the approach and why)- and more interstingly, what is NOT possible. Shostak takes a clean, scientific, and logical approach, maybe even to the point of destroying the myths that we have come to know and love through science fiction, and at the same time providing a wealth of new possibilities.

Shostak has an interesting writing style. He starts out most sections with a question. Then he proceeds to discuss and argue all sides of the question, and often it appears he has even answered the question. But then he leaves you with another question - a great transition to the next section. I felt drawn through this book.

This book will certainly appeal to the history buff and the avid science fiction fan. Shostak cleverly weaves history, and television and Hollywood fantasy into his explanations.

Some of the excitement from this books comes from the fact that there is no end. It hasn't happened yet; we haven't found E.T.; in fact, it has only just begun. Shostak shows just what a long and tedious process this really is.

For me, what sets this book apart from others, is that although extremely informative, it is also full of wit and humor. Shostak takes the possibilities and provides scenarios, and explains them completely with all the above backup data. And the wit and humor assist in the understanding of what he is saying.

I was particularly interested to read about the birth of the SETI Institute by Frank Drake, and to learn of the SETI's struggle to survive - to break through the cocoon and finally spread its wings. It definitely seems to be an entity on its own and on its way.

At the end of the book, Shostak gives the scenario of what would happen if a signal comes in. It leaves you wondering . . .

Review of Sharing the Universe by Seth Shostak Copyright (c) 1998 by Larry Klaes (lklaes@learningco.com) In our current cultural fascination with the idea of alien beings from other worlds, most of it hokey at best and just plain wrong at worst, there is a definite need for some popular-level literature which helps to sort the rational wheat from the pseudoscience and Hollywood chaff. Seth Shostak, Public Program Scientist at The SETI Institute in Mountain View, California -- where they conduct Project Phoenix -- has created such a book. Titled Sharing the Universe, Shostak gives a comprehensive and most readable survey of what we do (and especially do NOT) know about life beyond the planet Earth, and how we are going about searching for our fellow inhabitants of the Universe. Whether realized or not, most of the general public gets its "education" on science, history, and foreign cultures from the films and television programs they watch. This is why physicists such as Lawrence M. Krauss write popular books using the series Star Trek and other science fiction programs to explain why most of the "science" and technology they present is either physically impossible or unobtainable for the foreseeable future. Many people do come away from science fictions films thinking that evil alien monsters are waiting to pounce on Earth or that starships equipped with "warp" drives will be zipping us around the Milky Way galaxy in the next few centuries. As for the latter, I do hope we are exploring the interstellar realm by the era Star Trek is set in. However, unless there is some major breakthrough in physics and technology, I do not think Scotty will be fixing the mythical dilithium crystals on the Enterprise to give us Warp 8 to Alpha Centauri any time soon. In each chapter of Sharing the Universe, Shostak usually starts off by presenting some relevant aspect of a popular science fiction film or series and then showing why it probably would not happen that way in reality. I was pleased to see that Shostak did his homework when describing his representative science fiction. While some scientists may prefer that these forms of entertainment were not interwoven with serious science, Shostak realized that the public generally does not discriminate between what Hollywood puts on the screen and what biological evolution could actually produce on worlds circling distant suns. For those who are concerned that Sharing the Universe is little more than knocking down bad Hollywood aliens and science, put those fears aside. Shostak gives clear and interesting explanations on the latest data we have about astrobiology in all its forms. He starts off with our current understanding about possible life havens in our own solar system, then works his way into the galaxy with the new planets being discovered around other stars. Current thinking is that since we developed on a planet circling a sun, then other life forms may have done the same. Finding other solar systems (though so far none quite like ours) is a hopeful step in the right direction. The next chapters explore how alien life forms, especially the intelligent ones, might be created and evolve, and their possible behaviors. Shostak focuses on the public's major fascination with aliens who want to find and interact with us. The author deftly shows how most of the aliens portrayed in our entertainment are far more mundane and human than they may first appear to be, no matter how many tentacles or other appendages they might have. Real ETI may be very different from us in almost every way. Evolution does not always role the same dice twice, especially on worlds in distant star systems. The aliens from Hollywood and abduction reports also show just how socially egocentric humans can be, probably because we have been isolated on just one planet for most of our existence with no other intelligent species to compare ourselves to. They assume that every star-faring race in the galaxy thinks that Earth is the hottest spot to visit in the heavens, either to save humanity from its primitive ways or to knock us out of the competition for survival of the galactic fittest. More than likely, if ETI do exist, they are completely unaware of humanity and Earth, as the Milky Way galaxy is so vast and abundant with billions of stars, planets, nebulae, and other celestial objects. Even if they do know about us, why would they want to expend so much of the time, energy, and resources necessary to mount a long and dangerous interstellar expedition to gather information and materials from Earth? They can probably find almost anything they want in major abundance throughout the rest of our vast galaxy, much of it likely without any current inhabitants. Of course if ETI want to find and learn about humanity through interstellar means of communication, that is another matter. Sending messages through the galaxy is a practical and inexpensive endeavor. Best of all, we can actually search for these signals right from our own planet with current technology! The final chapters discuss how real SETI programs are conducted, what we may expect if ETI are trying to signal us, how humanity might react to the discovery, and what kind of responses we should send. Though the main focus is on Microwave (radio) SETI, other methods, such as Optical SETI (detecting laser and infrared transmission beams) are discussed. Since we do not know how ETI might communicate with each other or us, it is only prudent to utilize all the practical detection means at our disposal to ensure success. Shostak answers the people who think that The Government or various SETI programs have already found that ETI exist and are hiding evidence of these aliens from the public to avoid a cultural shock and panic. Shostak relates the story of how one perceived detection incident with Project Phoenix in June of 1997 -- which turned out to be the signal from the SOHO solar satellite -- was unintentionally leaked to the press within twelve hours after the signal was first found. People just could not keep their mouths shut about what might have been the most important event in human history. If a genuine ETI message had been discovered, no doubt by now human nature would have spread the word across our planet, regardless of any restriction attempts. And considering how a real first find would boost the professional and personal lives of the folks who found it, why would they want to sit on such a gold mine once its authenticity had been determined? In summation, I highly recommend Shostak's Sharing the Universe to anyone who wants the clear and exciting scientific picture of our long search for other minds in the Cosmos. I also recommend this book for those who are familiar with the subject, as it can serve as both a refresher and a guide when someone asks about the latest UFO report or if a particular alien species on Star Trek could really exist. My only recommendation for the next edition (and I will presume this event, as new knowledge in the field keeps growing by leaps and bounds), is the addition of more photographs and diagrams to accompany the text, especially in color. Perhaps by the next edition of Sharing the Universe, Seth Shostak won't have to fall back on explaining why aliens probably will not want to steal Earth's water or try to stop us from destroying the rain forests. Because if the public reads this book, they will be ready to explore the real possibilities of extraterrestrial life through science, our best tool and hope if we are ever to learn the answers to all our questions about who and what is "out there".