It is a tragedy that this book did not have the success it deserved. However, it remains an esoteric pleasure for those who are aware of it. With some of the most beautiful illustrations of any book I've ever seen, and a fully imagined landscape of a past America, Michael Flanagan creates a fictional world that crosses tracks with our own. In addition to the narrative, which is fine, one can enjoy the story just by flipping through the many pictures -- bent and torn "photographs" of decaying and dying old towns along a railroad line. This book works on several levels and is unlike any other book I've encountered.

"Stations" is a work of art that is an intense, exquisite expression of longing. It evokes a sense of place and time that is half remembered, close by yet out of reach, and infused with sweet loss.

For Model Railroaders, especially, this is a meaningful book that conveys a lot of what the hobby is about: the desire to hold fast to that which must dissipate. (Of course, the hobby is about other things, too, such as: Fun!) A character in "Stations", Virgil Ross, is modeled after the Eminent Model Railroader John Allen. What a beautiful irony - a character that is a model of a Master Modeler.

The support of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the development of "Stations" provides another special aspect to this book that adds to its allure. It is engaging to contemplate the interest of our suave, cosmopolitan, precious Jackie in the expression of longing embodied within the likes of a Virgil Ross, and captured so beautifully by this book. Yet another example of how we hardly knew her.

I keep going back to this book, to re-read random paragraphs, to gaze longingly at its illustrations, to re-capture the emotions, the sadness and joy, it summons. When I hold this book, I want to somehow caress it.

Flanagan doesn't just tell a story in this marvelous book. He creates a rich, vivid world--layered with multiple generations, multiple cultures, multiple landscapes--and he does it in fewer pages than lesser novelists would use for throat-clearing. Along with being a writer, Flanagan is a painter who has illustrated his story with dazzling paintings that focus on the train stations of rural Virginia. More than mere illustrations, however, these pictures play the role of recently-discovered heirlooms. As illustrations, they beautifully depict the sad, vanishing life of the people that inhabit this bittersweet world. As palimpsests, they also tell a story of their own. Flanagan has done far more than write a magnificent novel. He's merged written story and visual artwork into a powerful new medium. Truly a tour de force

Yes, this book is a must have. It is also (a reprint of) perhaps the most important publication of Wright's early career. But it certainly has not been virtually ignored. It has been praised by many, including rival architects, and reprinted numerous times before this.

Wright printed this book in Germany to show the European architecture world what the future of architecture could be. Though virtually ignored in both Europe and the United States, this collection of both built and unbuilt plans and drawings gives a through insight and understanding of the architect's genius.

This book is the only complete and accurate reproduction of Wright's 1910 treatise "Ausgefurte Bauten und Entwurfe von Frank LLoyd Wright" (the Wasmuth Portfolio.) Although it is reduced in size, all plates are listed by their original roman numerals with the German text. It is the only useful refernece when researching the wasmuth portfolio. Neither the Dover edition nor the Horizon Press edition reproduced the plates without renumbering them in some fashion. This book is a must for any dealer or collector interested in acquiring the Wasmuth Portfolio.

I have read a lot of Jill Frank's opinions and advice in her book, "Surviving in the Jungle of Office Politics," and it was really wonderful. She first hand accounts reflects that she has certainly "been there and done that"! It's people like her who are most qualified to give advice on this topic. Jill is certainly a role-model for the rest of us.

I have read self-help and managerial books consisting of hundreds of pages. After each chapter, I can sum up that chapter in a sentence. Jill Frank makes her points succinctly and , in only 64 pages. This is appreciated after some other books I have waded through, containing less insight. This book was definitely worth reading.

This is the first book spoken from an employees point of view. I was tired of hearing it from a PHD, who may understand human personality, but has never worked in an office for others, and Jill's book tells it like it is. From winning an argument, to taking a stand for what you believe in, Jill's book really drives it home. I really enjoyed it and have recommended it to many of my friends trying to make it in this world with some dignity.

There's an enormous amount of reading material on teams and teamwork and this book is one of the best. Its highly rational approach condenses studies of high performing teams. The authors found eight common characteristics and explain in enough detail why they are important. They include excerpts from the leaders and teams they have studied. They also state that the two most common reasons for team failure are politics and personal agendas. They include a quote from Duke Drake: "The minute the politicians take over and start worrying about what's in it for me, you're dead in the water."

Teams are the only way to address our increasingly interrelated and complex problems. In practice teamwork is rare and the reason may be that many managers advance due to their political ability. I doubt that upper managers will ever be able to truly give up the skills that brought them there.

These authors studied all different sorts of teams (everything from a Mount Everest expedition and a Notre Dame championship football teams to the group that invented Chicken McNuggets) in order to determine what they had in common. The book is highly readable and describes eight common principles that could be implemented to improve the function of any team. It is also full of interesting comments and stories from the study. I highly recommend the book for any team member (not only managers) since the book also clearly describes how the individal can influence the success of the entire team.

Larson and LaFasto put their outstanding research into easy-to-understand language. The book is foundation reading for executives and team members who want to understand the key variables that spell success for teams. And it's an easy-reading 138 pages presented so anyone (5th grade reading level!) can understand their findings. I know the authors, and have the utmost respect for their scientific methodology and experience. We use the matching team/ leadership assessment and training program to help client organizations plan, build, and fix their teams. Really an excellent reader, and a foundation of our consulting practice.

For those of us who love the desert Southwest, it captures the sense of place. The odd mix of characters inherent in Nevada, each multi-dimensional. Compelling story and central characters - I was glued to it. Interesting thoughts on a monk's spiritual pursuits and, of course, temptations. I hoped at times for it to soar even higher into the abstract, but then remembered how grounded in material reality is this setting, and how palpable is the balance between inner peace (the open land) and corruption (the people) there. Felt the ending a little awkward, but still I praise. Read it!

Blunt, no-nonsense prose conveys a dark vision of the modern struggle to maintain religious commitment in this novel set outside Las Vegas. After finalizing plans to use nearby Shoshone land as a nuclear waste disposal site, the Department of Energy has begun efforts to drive out local residents, including the two eponymous monks who live at a Cistercian hermitage in the area. St. Ed, troubled by the monastery's failure to attract postulants and by his bishop's orders to give into the DOE without a fight, wants to make his order more responsive to contemporary society. Brother S, attracted to Bureau of Land Management employee Amy Chavez, finds his vows tested when St. Ed abandons the Cistercian rules and allows Amy to enter the hermitage as a postulant. As the deadline to vacate approaches, the ensuing chaos leads to a tragic act of violence, simultaneously pointless and inspirational, that infuses a note of hope into the novel's bleak tone. Bergon (Shoshone Mike) mixes non-preachy spiritual meditations with an all-too-believable plot; while he's fair to all characters, he leaves no doubt whose side he is on. A solid read that treats faith seriously and doesn't offer easy answers about its place in today's world.

St. Ed is the crusty, foulmouthed founder of a Trappist hermitage in the Nevada desert; Brother S (for Simon) is the one monk in fifteen years who has stuck it out. He has found the monastic peace he sought, keeping bees, irrigating the vegetable garden, and studying church texts. Brother S is disturbed when Ed more or less advertises the hermitage by appearing on a Vegas talk show; he is disturbed in a different way when he rescues a stranded female ranger from the Bureau of Land Management. But everyone - the ranger, Ed, Brother S, local desert rats, and the nearby Shoshone Indians - is more than disturbed when the United States Department of Energy swoops down upon the desert, intending to run its inhabitants off and install a nuclear-waste repository. The author beautifully captures the self-congratulatory hypocrisy of government officials who call themselves "environmentalists" while plotting the destruction of the environment, and worse. And he dwells upon the attractions of the contemplative life so seductively that, for once, you hope the guy will not get the girl.

I jest! I cannot remember the name of this recipe because I have lost touch with my age old Ten Talents Cookbook, but it was the best sesame, peanut butter cookie recipe. We lovingly nicknamed it the birdseed bar, and it was the most requested cookie recipe in my repertoire. For wondrous bread-making and great tips, nothing could beat it. Now I want it back!!

This was my first "healthy" coobook, purchased in 1973. I have used it so much the pages are torn and discolored. There is a dictionary of food, helpful for those who are unfamiliar with such things as "agar-agar, arrowroot flour, carob, gum karaya" etc. Charts of daily intake requirements, wonderful recipies, herb information, food combining rules, and more. The authors were way ahead of their time.

I love this cookbook! Way back in 1968, when the average American was eating white bread, Twinkies and the occasional canned vegetable, the Hurds set down a huge collection of easy, healthful, inexpensive, delicious vegetarian recipes. This book is inspiring on every level, and it is too bad it is out of print. But I know for a fact that at one time it was very popular, so there must be abundant used copies out there. Get one! You will not regret it!

I would highly recommend Dr. McCluskey's book "Thoughts on Fire". Through his compelling stories and sincerity, Dr. Frank opens the door to a secret world of intrigue, smoke filled rooms and others in need. Through his many years as a volunteer Firefighter and Professor of Philosophy, he's able to show the insight of the common firefighter thorough philosophical means. His poignancy and descriptive accounts are the same as those found in every fire house across America. Through his abilities, he puts into words feelings and emotions that most are unable to describe. He enlightens his readers through his education and consumes them through his desires.
Dr. Frank is a talented writer and has passion for others in his community. Through his involvement with his local volunteer Fire Department he shares the story of his life. A touching portrayal of both the good and the bad encountered on and off the scene. His story turns a community of ordinary men and women into a story of extraordinary heroes.
"Thoughts on Fire" should be required reading material for any and all Volunteer Fire Departments across the nation and a great read for anyone searching for inner peace and a heart felt motivational story.

I would highly recommend Dr. McCluskey's book "Thoughts on Fire". Through his compelling stories and sincerity, Dr. Frank opens the door to a secret world of intrigue, smoke filled rooms and others in need. Through his many years as a volunteer Firefighter and Professor of Philosophy, he's able to show the insight of the common firefighter thorough philosophical means. His poignancy and descriptive accounts are the same as those found in every fire house across America. Through his abilities, he puts into words feelings and emotions that most are unable to describe. He enlightens his readers through his education and consumes them through his desires.
Dr. Frank is a talented writer and has passion for others in his community. Through his involvement with his local volunteer Fire Department he shares the story of his life. A touching portrayal of both the good and the bad encountered on and off the scene. His story turns a community of ordinary men and women into a story of extraordinary heroes.
"Thoughts on Fire" should be required reading material for any and all Volunteer Fire Departments across the nation and a great read for anyone searching for inner peace and a heart felt motivational story.

Thoughts on Fire gives us a glimpse into the mind of a philosophy professor turned firefighter. At the start of each chapter "Dr. Frank" relates the ideas of classic philosophy to our modern lives. Then suddenly, the fire bells sound and we're whisked off with sirens screaming, down rural highways and small-town streets, to the scene of a deadly blaze. But it's not until we get inside the steamy furnace that was once a neighbor's home and come face-to-face with the flames that can take away life that we begin to understand the secrets the author is trying to reveal. This book is thought provoking, moving and often funny. It's an uplifting story about friendship and trust, as well as community and courage. And in the end I think we learn that maybe the greatest teacher about life is life itself.

This is my first DCI Paget mystery novel, and I will definitely be backtracking to read previous books in this series. What a tremendous find! Frank Smith has done an excellent job of mixing the exciting aspects of police work with the more back breaking and mundane ones, so that you really get a more complete picture of what police detecting is.

There are three subplots in "Threads of Evidence." This would have been unwieldily in someone else's hands, Frank Smith however capably fuses these subplots together so that they juxtapose seamlessly. At the heart of this mystery is the Bolen family, with all their secrets and private vendettas. Jim Bolen, a building contractor, is determined to bid for a particular job that could bankrupt him and his family, and all because he wants to destroy a rival contractor, Keith Lambert. His brother, Harry, and Jim's wife, Laura, have both tried to talk him out of this chancy act, but Jim stubbornly refuses to budge much to Harry's anger. The novel then cuts to the other subplot involving a very vulnerable teenage prostitute, Vicki Lane. A man hires her off the street to go to the hotel room that Jim Bolen is in. Vicki goes to the hotel room and is knocked out. And when she comes to, she finds that she has been badly beaten up, and that there is the dead body of a man next to her. Vicki has no idea what took place in the room, but afraid that she'll be accused of the murder, she takes to her heels.

And that's when Paget and his team come into the picture: to investigate the murder of Jim Bolen. The room looks as if a tornado hit it: obviously some kind of altercation took place -- there's blood everywhere, and some articles of woman's clothing are found around the bed. Could this be a case of a prostitute killing a violent client? But preliminary forensic evidence as well as interviews with a few witnesses seems to throw some doubt onto this scenario. And this leads to the third subplot -- the private thoughts of the murderer. Who cannot understand where all his careful planning went wrong, and why the prostitute he especially chose to take the fall has not been arrested. It doesn't take long for both Padget and the murderer to come to the conclusion that this girl must be identified and found, for she alone knows what happened that night in the hotel room. But who will find her first?

"Thread of Evidence" pays special care to forensic evidence, more so than most other police procedurals, but not in an overly technical way so that you can't really follow what the detectives are saying, and this adds to the interest quota in this mystery novel. The mystery unfolds at an orderly pace, and all the characters are very well developed, from DCI Padget, to the members of his investigative team and to the members of the Bolen family. But what I found especially brilliant was the manner in which Frank Smith was able to move from one subplot to the other without losing steam or confusing the reader. This is indeed a very well crafted and executed mystery novel.

Although not the best or worst book I have ever read, "Thread of Evidence" is worth the time and effort that goes into writing a review. Why? Because it is a perfect example of how enjoyable a good old fashioned British police procedural can be.

Frank Smith's DCI Neil Paget is not an Inspector Morse or a DCI Lynley, but he does deliver the goods if you want to spend some time in the English countryside trying to solve a murder or two. Take a couple of corpses, a horde of suspects, clues, red herrings and a little romantic side story and you have the makings of an "afternoon delight."

When you have finished reading this book, you may not give it a second thought. In fact, it is very probable that you will have determined who the killer is long before the book is over. What you will do, however, is walk away feeling relaxed....as if you had just spent the day at a spa.

Upon immediately entering the crime scene, a hotel room in Broadminster, the amateur sleuth (apart from a cozy) would react by saying a hooker killed the victim. However, the police believe otherwise. They feel the killer hastily set the room up to appear as if a prostitute stabbed building contractor James Brolin to death during a rough sex exchange.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Paget heads up the investigation team looking into who had the motive to kill James. He starts with family members such as the victim's sibling who had a nasty public argument over a business deal. A second murder of a prostitute follows that complicates an already difficult case to solve as Neil and his team have found several other family members and professional colleagues with motives to murder James.

THREAD OF EVIDENCE provides undisputed proof that the Neil Paget British police procedurals are consistently some of the best sub-genre entries. The latest tale is a cleverly designed, very enjoyable story line starring a likable lead character that is the epitome of a British police officer. Anyone who relishes a well written, complex mystery with a solid cast will derive joy from this novel. For that matter, readers will also gain pleasure from the previous three Paget books (see CANDLES FOR THE DEAD) and Mr. Smith's other stories also.

Harriet Klausner

Don't think this is a book for Arkansas Razorback fans alone. This story walks way beyond the Arkansas border and outside the sports arena into the worlds of mass appeal. Sports lovers, not known for being your more veracious readers, will be surprised when the book's end comes easily and quickly. Young people will be inspired by the story of hard work and dedication. Mothers and grandmothers will be touched by the family relationships portrayed so well. No one will close the final chapter without a box of kleenex handy.
Read this book. As you see life through the eyes of a champion, life will never look the same again!

This book is a very touching story of a young man who showed that anything can be acheived with hard work and determination, even for those who dont necessarily "fit-in" with the popular crowd. And it also shows how fragile and how quickly life can be taken away from us. Also, for anyone who is familiar with Arkansas Razorback football, it would be an especially good read.

Brandon Burlsworth came from humble beginnings, born and raised by his mother in the small town of Harrison, Arkansas. A shy, quirky, kid who wasn't the most coordinated nor the most popular boy in school, Brandon relied on his faith and determination to prove everyone wrong. He worked his way into becoming an All-State high-school football player. Wanting to become a Razorback all his life but not getting a scholarship, Brandon refused other offers and walked-on at the University of Arkansas, later earning himself a starting role for 3 years. At the end of his collegiate carrer, Brandon became an All-American lineman and the only football player in Arkansas history to earn a Bachelors and Masters degrees before they finished playing football. Being drafted by the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL, Brandon was tragically killed in an auto accident on his way to church, just a few days after being drafted.

It does have many Christian references and messages as well.

I am fortunate to have gone to school with Brandon Burlsworth for 4 years. Although, I was never a close friend, I watched all the Razorback football games his senior year, just to see him. We were all fascinated watching him play. I wanted to ask him for an autograph, but always thought he might think it was stupid for a classmate to ask for one. After reading this wonderfully written book about his life, I realize, it was me who lost out never going up to talk to him. I cannot say enough good things about this book and how it just grabbed my heart and kept me reading. After reading this, it may change your life and your thoughts.. Brandon was so well loved around here in Harrison, and around the world. We know he is in Heaven looking down on us. Everyone should have this book to read when they are down. Brandon brought meaning to life... and you will see that in this book.

Holt does an excellent job of updating the Beginnings of the Hellenistic Bactrian kingdom. His book is a much needed repair of the misinformation spread in the beginning of Tarn's otherwise enjoyable book The Greeks in Bactria and India. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Frank Holt continues his assault on the deity of Alexander in this well-researched followup to "Alexander the Great and Bactria." Holt looks at the foundation and early history of Hellenistic Bactria, starting with the Diadochi. His analysis of the data - including a careful reappraisal of the oft misleading numistics - is fairly convincing. A good book for anyone interested in Central Asia in antiquity, ancient India, and modern historiography of Alexander of Macedon.

A full effort employing a variety of source materials, good methodology, and inviting prose.