Frank Hollon has masterfully joined the life of a prisoner, the life of hopelessness, with the source of hope, our creator. What better place to search out hope than serving life in prison for a crime you didn't commit? As I read this book I couldn't help but think of the many prisoners who might actually find hope in their hopeless situations.
On another surprise note, now I know what happen to the mouse game at the fair. All these years I've wondered why they took the gambling away, now I know. Thanks Frank!

I had been waiting for this title to appear used on Amazon before purchasing it. I am sorry that I waited that long! This book is an excellent read for people who believe in God outside of organized religion. (It's a great read for people who read, period.)

If you were just to read Frank Turner Hollon's biography, you might think that he was a Grisham copy-cat, but this book is far from the overdone lawyer conquers all plot.

It is a raw, sometimes harsh, look at life inside a prison and one man's journey to find meaning in any of it. Mr. Hollon's writing is simple, poetic, and profound. My favorite chapter, by far, was "history". It is a great piece for people who believe in God AND science.

I am an avid, but terribly slow reader, and I finished this book in three hours! I couldn't put it down, and I would wager that you will not be able to either. If you are looking for something outside of the Oprah Book Club fiction, give "The God File" a shot!

The God File is a very good book. The read was very quick. It shook my comfortable life. The book made me forget about the flying time from San Francisco to Memphis. I had to control my emotions by pausing the read - so not to wear my emotions on my sleeve. Frank Hollon has a very interesting mind. The main character makes one think deeply. The book makes one think about how important decisions are in ones life. Its nice to see one examine the good, especially when all is not well.

Remembering Woolworth's is full of history, photos and memories of the old stores. It is a particularly readable book, and I especially enjoyed reading about the Woolworth store's overseas, as well as about Frank Woolworth's early years as a struggling merchant. I recommend this book for anyone who ever stepped foot inside a Woolworth's, or for those interested in how one man's ideas changed the world of retailing.

This book brought back so many memories - and I'm only 41! It's
fun to read, with a layout that mixes photos, anecdotes, drawings, and personal reminscences - almost like a magazine. Reading this book makes you realize that Woolworth's was everything Kmart and Wal-Mart are not - charming, inviting, and much more than a place to get a bargain. Author Karen Plunkett-Powell captures the Americana, the nostalgia, and the details that make us all smile when we remember Woolworth's. For me, it was about recalling the malted milks my aunt used to buy me at the counter when I was small, and the quick gifts I used to pick up for friends and my children from the Woolworth's that used to be located downstairs from an office building where I worked for many years. So many of our everyday experiences nowadays are empty -- do yourself a favor and travel back to a simpler yet more meaningful time by reading this book or buying it for a friend. It's not a typical boring history book -- and it makes a GREAT gift for the senior citizen in your life who you never know what to get for a present -grandma, a relative in a nursing home, a neighbor who signs for your packages or whatever - even if that person is not the type to sit down and read a book, they'll have so much fun leafing through it.

Ms. Karen Plunkett-Powell's book is a joy to read, with great pictures. It follows the rise and fall of Woolworth's; sharing behind-the-scenes history that most people wouldn't know. BUT MOST IMPORTANT -- it brought back more memories than I realized I had forgotten of my child and teenage years and reminded me of just how many important things my family (and probably yours!) purchased from Woolworth's. My Woolworth's was in downtown Bradenton Florida, but reading the book I realized that people all over the USA and some foreign countries have many of the same memories that I do of Woolworth's -- parakeets, goldfish and hamsters, coke-floats and grilled cheese sandwiches, the 25-cent photo booth, parfume and cosmetics, the candy counter, comic books, my first watch, my first musical jewelry box, seasonal clothing, hula-hoops and batons, tennis shoes and flip-flop sandals, portable typewriters, play guns and dolls -- but most of all, Woolworth's was our Christmas Store. As the daughter of a 29-year Woolworth's saleslady, Woolworth's was where I wandered as a child, searching out all the things I hoped Santa would bring. Revive your memories -- this book sure is a trip down memory lane! Highly Recommended!

First off let me point out that this book leaves out most biographical information about Sinatra -- it focusses on the recordings themselves. It examines Sinatra's approach and technique to recording and singing. That makes the book extremely interesting and is its greatest strength.

Unfortunately, that is also where its weakness comes in. The book is quite clincial and could use a few more anecdotes and stories -- more "colour" if you will. I'd like to hear more interviews with musicians who worked with Sinatra and from Sinatra himself to get a better idea of the people making the music, because I feel that that the force of Sinatra's personality counts for something in his performance. I personally think that "chemistry" counts as much as technique in music and would like more of that brought out in the book.

This is not enough of a flaw to stop you enjoying the book, it is very engaging and will appeal to anyone who loves Sinatra's records. I still highly recommend the book.

I hestitate to add one more criticism -- Obviously one can not go into exhaustive detail about every single Sinatra recording, but I found it odd that Sinatra's greatest album "Songs For Swingin' Lovers" is barely mentioned while an entire chapter is devoted to the out of print (in US) "Close To You". I realise this is a personal preference, but I found it disappointing.

No book has ever captured the experience of a recording session and the recording experience like Charles Granata. Long known as an authority of Frank Sinatra's work, this book actually conveys why Sinatra's recordings are classic and still speak to us. Granata's viewpoints are fair and, in the case of the controversial Mitch Miller recordings, as balanced as a writer can be in presenting all sides of the story. His interviews with such under-appreciated musicians such as arranger George Siravo ( who contributed far more to the canon of Frank Sinatra than most people realize) are particularly valuable. I am delighted that he has quoted extensively from Nelson Riddle's arranging book (which I edited for publication), which has much valuable information about how Nelson worked with Sinatra. The history of the recording field, rare photos and even reproductions of score pages simply make this a must-have volume.

Granata does a great job taking us behind the scenes for the technology and people who brought us the best popular music of the century. The photos, which focus on the studio instead of the amply documented night life theme, are probably worth the price of the book, but the author is an expert in recording technology and provides anecdotes and discussion as to how and why Sinatra had such an impact and continues to make his mark.

Because we take it for granted today, it is easy to forget that the way in which recordings were created had much to do with the kind of music that was recorded. Granata notes one occasion on which a perfect take had to be remade because a three-and-a-half minute song was too long for Columbia's equipment at the time. What stands out, though, is that for all the bad press Sinatra gets for his impatience on movie sets, he clearly managed the recording process down to the minutest details during the Columbia and Capitol years, resulting in a degree of musical excellence that was not exceeded even during the technologically more advanced 1960s Reprise era. Granata gets high marks for explaining all of this in a way that is highly readable for those of us who love music and have limited understanding of engineering concepts.

The most fascinating chapter may well be the one dealing with a nadir of Sinatra's career, the Duets project of 1992/3. Throughout, we learn that Phil Ramone was constantly selling the project to the singer, while FS (to his credit) continually called the whole purpose of the project into question. If you think Duets sounds like a mistake, you should read this account of how Sinatra was pushed into making these pale remakes from his legendary songbook.

Also worthwhile is Granata's recommended recording list in the appendix. If you are a new Frankophile, this is a great place to start and will lend additional meaning to the text, because you can HEAR how FS works the voice and lyrics in Ol' Man River and other classics.

Highly recommended, even if you already have Friedwald's excellent 'The Song is You.'

In January of 1968, helicopter pilot Warrant Officer Frank Anton was shot down in Southern Vietnam and spent 5 years in captivity. Many prominent books have been written of U.S. POW's in Hanoi's prisons but this story is a riveting look at POW's held in prison camps in Southern Vietnam which may have been worse.

Frank Anton has written a very detailed and graphic account of severly brutal conditions and treatments he and others suffered at the hands of the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong. For 3 of his 5 years in confinement in the south (he spent time in 4 different camps), he weaves a harrowing tale of torture, starvation, non-existent medical treatment, disease, and barbarity suffered by prisoners. He further adds that during his confinement, he was witness to many Americans dying in the camps and also of betrayal and enemy collaboration by one of their own.

After 3 years of confinement in the south, Anton and the surviving members of his camp, in an incredible display of courage, strength, and determination, are forced to march on foot for an astonishing 6 months to one of Hanoi's prison camps known as the Plantation. For an additional 2 years, this was Anton's new home before being released from captivity in 1973.

Upon arriving home, Frank Anton was debriefed by the military and he eventually found out, to his dismay and horror, that our government know exactly where he was the entire time he was being held and that no serious attempts were considered to rescue him or his fellow soldiers.

In the last chapter of this book, which is absolutely astonishing, you will find out why no attempts were made to rescue many POW's. Additionally, you will learn the current fate of large numbers of POW's that were left behind and are currently unaccounted for in Vietnam. This information is highly disturbing and tragic and paints a very callous and unscrupulous portrait of our government with their regard to our missing servicemen.

This book is exceptionally good and comes highly recommended. As a side note, Pfc Robert Garwood (possibly the most notorious U.S. POW collaborator of the Vietnam war) is featured prominently in parts of this book. For those interested in the complete story of Robert Garwood, you would be well rewarded by reading "Conversations With The Enemy: The Story of Pfc Robert Garwood" by Winston Groom and Duncan Spencer.

Frank Anton's story of captivity in unique among Vietnam POW tales. Most previous Vietnam POW stories have been written by Air Force or Navy pilots shot down over North Vietnam and held captive in Hanoi jail cells. Anton was captured and held in South Vietnamese and Laotion jungle prison camps for 3 years. He then made the long march north to Hanoi where he was captive for another 2 years. His experiences with other American prisoners held in jungle camps (average group of 17), many of who did not survive, is heart rendering and obsorbing. In spite of the title the book is not a political essay on the conduct of the war, or a bitter tirade about not being rescued. This is a warm story about the human suffering of a small group of US soldiers who spent a part of their life in hell. Paul J. Kratz, US Army (retired) Vietnam '66-67, & '70-71.

There is no way I can summerize what Frank Anton went through. To say it was hell would be a gross understatement. A must read not only for Frank's story but for the truth about Bobby Garwood (traitor without a doubt), and how our government knew where Frank was being held in South Vietnam for three years and did nothing about it. Frank recalls one particularly poignant moment; "The day before Thanksgiving, as Kushner cradled him (Grissett) in his arms as he had the other three (prisoners who recently died), he looked up at Doc and said, 'Tell my mom that I love her.' Then, with his dying breath, he whispered his last words, the words I will never, ever forget: 'Wake me when it's over.'" Grissett became the forth man to die in 1968. Not since reading Dieter Dengler's "Escape from Laos" have I read about such barbaric treatment. You will be brought to tears while reading this book and there are too many startling revelations to recount here. This book is priceless!

I read this book when I was eleven or so and have spent the rest of my reading life in search of something that fascinated me more. Tolkien's was the only fiction that may have done so, but it is, of course, nothing like Wasp.

WASP is a short, simply written book, but it has some quality that makes people mad for it. I think it is the sardonic omniscient voice that adds so much to the flavor of WASP: the voice of the Author himself.

A new edition was published not long ago that was completely unabridged. I felt the slightly abridged version read better (It's always good to cut out the fancy talk.). But I may just be used to the same slightly shorter edition most people have read.

If you want a guaranteed fascinating read (and be swept away on wings of reading enjoyment!), buy this book now. Be forewarned, however, that some might say it kind of glorifies terrorism.

Since I first read it (and Russell's other brilliant books such as Men, Martians and Machines and Three to Conquer) in my early teens, I have regarded Wasp as one of the true SF classics. It ranks with Bester's The Demolished Man and Tiger! Tiger!, as well as the best of Clarke and Heinlein, although its sardonic tone has more in common with Robert Sheckley.

Although set in a future a few centuries ahead, when Earth is at war with the Sirian Combine, Wasp is directly transplanted from conventional warfare of the Second World War era. Indeed, I don't know why it took so long to dawn on me that the Sirians are analogues of the Japanese, while the noble Earthmen are essentially 1950s Americans. Oh sure, the Sirians are purple instead of yellow - but they are short, bandy-legged, and fanatical. To clinch it, their dreaded secret police is called the Kaitempi: compare the actual Japanese Kampeitei.

The Sirians have a great advantage in numbers, but the Earthmen are smarter. How to make the most of their quicker wits and superior technology? One way is to drop secret agents behind enemy lines to sow confusion, dissension and destruction. The result is dramatic, convincing and (in parts) riotously funny.

As a teenaged devotee of Sci-Fi in the late 50's, this was one of the first of a select list of books of any genre that impacted my life. I didn't fully understand why this was so then; I only knew it was special, even tremendously relevant at some fundamental level. At the time, yes, it completely entertained me with its action and its sardonic and irreverent narrative. Beyond that, the precepts of this novel created an unease in my mind that remained with me over the years. Full comprehension followed with a little more life experience and a better understanding of humanity and our history. Now this book not only entertains and intrigues, but frightens as well

"Wasp" is a portrayal of how devastating a single, well-equipped terrorist can be to a society (especially a technology-based one). Though the society targeted in this novel is (humanoid) alien and the terrorist a human patriot (albeit not entirely willing) passing as an alien with the help of some surgical modifications, it is entirely believable that the author drew upon human social conditions, especially our foibles and weaknesses, as the basis for this alien society.

Using an insidious "monkey wrench" approach, one individual (suborning marginal elements of the enemy society for use as unwitting accomplices) spreads dissention and disinformation and fear, and so distracts the enemy police and military that the result is the creation of an environment in which the society can be more easily subdued with an overt military invasion. Hence, the precept of this novel as presented at the beginning of the narrative: A wasp buzzing around threateningly in the close, closed quarters of a car traveling a high-speed can cause the driver to lose control, resulting in the death and destruction of relative giants and their huge machine.

"Wasp" is frighteningly close to a workable blueprint for effective terrorism today in most any society on this planet -- especially if there are certain fundamental social conditions at work and certain enabling technologies, chiefly communications-related, in place that can be meaningfully exploited (in addition to being feared by the novel's protagonist).

About the only "criticism" I have relates to the novel's presentation of technology. The author mostly avoided technological traps by simply not going into "the details," and the story suffers nothing for that since the book is mostly about people and governments, and the exploitation of their foibles and fears.

The most technologically "off" element in this novel relates to electronics, particularly communications and, to a lesser degree, computers and "recognition" technology, or the lack thereof. The alien space-faring society's police and military seems pretty much stuck in a 1950's human communications environment where the kind of personal radio communication common with today's police and military is far advanced from that in the novel. I don't really find this deficiency distracting, just amusing. If you read the book and find its technological deficiencies truly distracting, then you have surely missed the essence and relevance of this great novel.

If you're at all interested in architecture, this is really one of the unanimously acknowledged essential books to have and to study through. Ching covers every imaginable basic idea of architecture in a very clear, accessible, and readable manner, all using his own excellent hand-drawn sketches and diagrams and hand-lettered text. In fact, the presentation alone is like a case study in how to do it right; taken together, the book is an invaluable learning resource and guidebook.

This book is not just for reading, but for studying. Each page uses excellent graphics to demostrate and teach the principles of architectural design. Each page teaches a principle and the following pages build on that principle.

This book is a text book and a study guide all in one book. I would recommend this book for student & practicing architects and interior designers.

This book lays the best foundation for architectural study and design of any book ever published. It should be required reading at every university and would make a great primer for high school students with enlightened teachers.

This book follows the Gilbreth family's adventures from just after their dad has died until all the children are grown and married. The mishaps are humorous, the children are realistic and funny, and the plot is inspiring. However, this book lacks the one element that made its predecessor so incredibly wonderful: Dad.

Dad was the one who had the hilarious techniques, the atrocious standards, the crazy ideas. He was the one with the impossible ideals, superb gifts, and vibrant personality. Dad was the one who insisted that his home become a model of motion study and a picture of order. Incidently, Dad was the one that gave Cheaper by the Dozen its laughs, its suspense, and its plotline. Without him, Belles on Their Toes is funny, but feels lifeless because there is no Dad there to knock someone's elbow on the table.

I did enjoy reading this book and some parts had me laughing out loud. But if you're looking for another gripping story like Cheaper and the Dozen, look elsewhere. The main conflict of this book is Mother's struggle to send all of her children through college. It is a story about learning, maturing, and accomplishing goals.

I loved this book. I read it after I had read "Cheaper By the Dozen" which is a book of the events before the events in this book. This is like a sequal to that. I loved them both and I wish there were a ton more books about this family. I think it would be a dream come true to meet some of them. It is so neat to read a whole families life story and it is even more fun to have such an interesting family as the Gilbreths. Sometimes I don't know how they lived. They are really neat people and they inspired me in the weirdest ways. I would recomend this book to everyone of any age. But first you should read "Cheaper By the Dozen" it is up to you but it is more fun to read it in order. I think you should give at least one of these books a try, they are great I think and they would make great gifts if you need a good gift, also. I hope you take my advise and read these books.

For those of you who have read Cheaper by the Dozen, you know that the antics of the Gilbreth children make even the saddest person attempt to hide their smiles. Well, Belles on Their Toes continues the legacy of laughs and just getting through life.

This book begins three days after Cheaper by the Dozen leaves off, three days after the death of Dad. Belles on Their Toes talks about the struggles of a family trying to get back on their feet after such a terrible loss. Mother has to go away to Europe for 5 weeks, to make a name for herself, so Anne, the oldest of the children at age 18, is left in charge. Through chicken pox and hte cook being arrested, the family manages to stick together.

In an inspiring story about self sacrifices, and stepping up to fill the shoes of Dad, the Gilbreths pinch pennies to keep the family from splitting up. A rare mix of inspiration and humor, Belles on Their Toes is a must-read for everyone!

This book is a quick read about a man who has lived most of his life playing a fictional role and how it has affected his everyday life. Clayton Moore was certainly not a great actor as attested by his lack of meaningful movie roles. When he became the Lone Ranger everything changed as he became that fictional character in real life. I enjoyed some of the tidbits of making the tv series and of course there could have been many more. Moore mentions alot of movie/tv actors in the book and never has a bad word for any of them. His replacement John Hart in Lone Ranger from 1952-53 is also reported favorably. Mr. Moore says he was fired from the series and given no reason. I would think there is more to the story. All and all this book is for nostalgia fans and Clayton Moore seems truly to be a "nice guy". There should be more people like him in the world.

Massive doses of nostalgia are guaranteed upon reading this book. Clayton Moore takes us on a ride to the thrilling days of yesteryear in a very pleasant account of his days as The Lone Ranger with many anecdotes and behind the scenes stuff. The book not only covers the TV series, but life after the series making personal appearances and continuing with the tradition of living up to the high standards set by Moore's masked alter ego. Of special interest is the part where Moore talks about his feelings with the movie The Legend of The Lone Ranger and the period of time when he was forbidden to wear his mask in public. Highly recommended to all fans of The Lone Ranger.

Whether you are a fan of Clayton Moore or the Lone Ranger or not, this book is extremely interesting. The book is full of unknown facts and trivia and has many pictures of the screen image of The Lone Ranger and of the real life hero, Clayton Moore. By reading this book, even someone born after the 1950's can begin to understand why this gentleman has affected so many people in such a positive way. All of Mr. Moore's film and t.v. credits are listed and show why he is even more than the beloved Lone Ranger. The book should be in every library and home in the country.

is just awesome! I went from being a 1.0-1.5 player to being a 4.0 just using Frank's book. Before I could hardly hit solid groundstrokes and now I'm doing it with ease. Great job, Frank!

If you want improve your game whith no complications, by this book right now! It's approach to solve the tennis strokes problems is incredible. You will feel your game step up as you read it.

A good representation of what is common to all good tennis strokes. Emphasis is on common denominators that can be applied quickly and effectively. A very effective book.

The Waste Land, published in 1922 and considered one of the major works associated with modernism. This poem deals despairingly with the state of post-World War I society, which Eliot saw as sterile and decadent. Numerous references to religious imagery, mythology and literature of the past are used ironically to point out the comparative emptiness of Eliot's time.

The Waste Land is sometimes considered to be the greatest poem of the twentieth century. This collection from Dover (at an amazing price) includes this and several other of Eliot's poems. The Waste Land, however, is considered to be his masterpiece, his 'epic,' in a sense. In fact, it is interesting to compare Eliot's bleak vision of a land of waste to other, earlier epics.

The poem is in some sense a warning, in another sense a cry of despair. The image of the wasted land, of the spiritually degenerate human race, is depressing, yet the poem ends with a glimmer (albeit faint) of hope--salvation is possible, however unlikely. I am no expert on this poem, and like most people understand only fragments of it, but what I have gained from the poem I have found to be very enlightening, and very stirring.

Eliot draws many references from the old legend of the Fisher-King, and an idea of what this legend is about (in all its many forms) is useful in interpreting the poem. This is undoubtedly one of the classics in both English literature and modernist writings, and very worthwhile for anyone who is willing to take the time to study it.

T.S. Eliot wrote "The Waste Land" against the backdrop of a world gone mad-- searching for reason inside chaos, and striving to build an ark of words by which future generations could learn what had gone before, T.S. Eliot explores that greatest of human melancholy-- disillusionment. This is a difficult poem, but one well-worth exploring to its fullest. The inherent rhythms of Eliot's speech, the delightful, though sometimes obscure, allusions, and intricate word-craft, create an atmosphere of civilization on the edge-- in danger of forgetting its past, and therefore repeating it. In the end, only the poet is left, to admonish the world to peace, to preserve the ruins of the old life, and to ensure that future generations benefit from the disillusions of the past.

"Prufrock" is perhaps the best "mid-life crisis" poem ever written. In witty, though self-deprecating and often downright bitter, tones, Eliot goes on a madcap but infinitely somber romp through the human mind. This is a poem of contradictions, of repression, of human fear, and human self-defeat. Technically, "Prufrock" is brilliant, with a varied and intricate style suited to the themes of madness, love, and self-doubt.

Buy this. You won't regret it. If you're an Eliot fan, you probably have it anyway. If you're not, you will be when you put it down.