I find books about aliens and people in small towns pretty interesting. This story was not that good though. The main character is supposed to be a sweet, innocent, small town girl who you just never fall in love with. Her character isn't developed in a realistic way. As a matter of fact most of the town folks aren't real. This wouldn't be such a problem had the novel not been rounded enough to even keep you interested. The only reason I finished the book was to find out if there were really aliens or not. The alien story line was the only part of the novel that kept me interested. A disappointing read.

The ending was a bit... hasty. That's where the last half star went. It all made sense and the loose ends were tied up, but it seems like McCarten only had a certain number of pages to work in and was starting to run out at the end so he hurried up and finished it off. But other than that, it was a great book. The writing was witty, something that I truly admire in a book. It's hard to be witty all the time, but it comes through in the whole book. The first paragraph sucked me in and I was committed to the last, and I laughed the whole way through. Well, that's not entirely true. I was sucked in before the first paragraph--the cover of this book alone was enough for me to buy it. It's a lime green book with a cow on the cover. And it's about a girl who saw aliens! Cool! And it was.

I really enjoyed the way McCarten captured the gossip mill of the small town atmosphere. It really complimented and fueled the story--it was really the aspect that made the whole thing work. It was a good book. I definitely recommend this book--especially to those who like sharp, witty writing.

Feisty, unapologetic 16 year old Delia from a small New Zealand town claims she was taken up briefly in a space ship after she is found wandering in a daze by the town's newly arrived librarian. The plot unfolds as the effects Delia's ensuing pregnancy and subsequent events have on unlayering facets of the different townspeople's characters. It's a whodunit device that masterfully engages the reader. At the end, though we do get to see some resolution in Delia's character, the last chapter smacks of dragging everyone back on stage one last time to make sure all the loose ends get tied up somehow, if not neatly. I disliked the ending pace in comparison to the rest of the tantalizing, almost meandering course of character and event development. Still, probably the most entertaining and plausible story of alien intervention written. Definitely worth reading!

This book is another example of the African American community crying about the "racism" that occurs in society today. There is no doubt racism in our society. However, African Americans need to stop complaining and get off their lazy butts and try to get ahead. If people would spend half as much time doing something constructive rather than complaining about how hard they have it, they would actually get somewhere in life.

This book as whole provided a great thought provoking experience. It starts out by addressing some of the real issues that plague African American people today dealing with racism and oppression. The fact that the book speaks directly to African Americans takes into account the lingering affects that past oppression has had on black psychology. I liked that the authors acknowledged that these problems are still present, but enocouraged a greater focus on self-accountability. They effectively motivate the reader to visualize themself as an achiever rather than a failure. It encourages people to focus on achieving the outcomes of their desire. The overall value of the book lies in the fact that the authors provide a great strategy for action.

This is based on Robbins's classic UNLIMITED POWER, which McClendon has rewritten from his perspective as a Black man. He starts off by telling of some of his experiences - being beaten up one night by a racist gang, being asked by the police 'What were you doing in that neighbourhood?' when he reported the incident. He speaks of how this resulted in his developing a fear and mistrust of all white people - which also affected his relationships and interactions with Black people. McClendon's experiences, attitudes and feelings will echo those of many of us.

He then goes on to describe his first meeting with Robbins, and the workshop Robbins led which helped the author to turn his life around. McClendon describes and explains many techniques which Black people can use to improve our mental and emotional states in order to empower ourselves in any situation. This book is very inspiring, as it proves that we truly have the power over our own lives in our hands.

I bought in April this year this book, together with Nathaniel Branden's "How to raise your self-esteem". I did not know these two authors. I read about two pages of this book and then put it in an corner. Then I opened Branden's book; to date, I have read seven of his books; some of them, being out of print, were very hard to find. Read both authors and decide yourself.

Dr. Anthony does an excellent job of breaking down the spiritual and psychological makeup of humans into understandable delineations. Then he gives useful, doable, techniques that assist you in 'reprogramming' yourself into what you consciously choose, not what others may have chosen for you. His message is positive and exciting, short and simple. There is a strong underlying spiritual message that places a Higher Power at the center of all positive change. This book is not preachy, new agey, religious or zealous. It's very matter of fact, and I sense no ego from the author, which is usually the case with these types of books. My only complaint, is the 'packaging' of this book. Sort of like something you'd see on the shopping network. The cover reads like a screeching two-bit snake oil 'self help' salesman, so unlike the inside. The only reason I haven't bought copies for everyone I know. I guess you can't judge a book by it's cover, and hey, I picked one up the first time, didn't I?! My copy has been read and reread, dogeared and hightlighted. A wonderful book.

The message in this little gem seems so obvious, once you've read it. All change, positive and negative, begins with you. If you want to change some aspect of your life, start by changing yourself, first. That's quite an empowering belief! this is a wonderful book that's easy to read and striking in its scope.

The book discusses in great detail the Reichmann family's role both in Jewish culture over the last couple hundred years and in the real estate developement business over the last 40 or so years.

The part I liked the best was the descriptions of 18th and 19th century Jewish life in the "oberland"(sp?) of Hungary. A lost culture, thanks not only to the Nazis but also to Jewish Emancipation.

In a way, it is inspirational, as it shows how one family managed to integrate a healthy, traditional religious expression with philanthropy and business acumen. It also shows that you cannot understand what makes that family "tick" without understanding the rich culture and religion of orthodox jewishness.

The greatest strength of this book, in my opinion, is that it is a _history_ of the family and its business, religious, philanthropic, and cultural dealings. It isnt the hagiography that so many business biographies in the popular press tend to be.

As the Reichmanns anticipate another rush to the top of the heap we shall watch with amazed eyes as this family woos our imagination, yet again! As renowned as the Reichmanns have been there are still followers of scrappy success stories that do not know much about what this family, with brother and son Paul at the helm, contributed to New York City's skyline. The World Financial Center was a creation of their delicately named Olympia & York. Read this from beginning to end so that you can grasp the rise and fall and now, again, rise of this amazing family. As is usually indicative of most business minds through time, the children are not as capable as the original "originators" themselves.

For those interested in real estate development, I recommend skipping through the first half of the book and starting at page 256. From there on it is fascinating reading on the possibilities of development for those with seemingly infinite capital on hand. Paul Reichmann's passion, drive and high tolerance for risk makes for better reading than most novels.

Let me begin by saying that I'm no fan of the late J. Edgar Hoover. His refusal for many years to investigate both organized crime and civil rights violations amounted to pure dereliction of duty and his persecution of anyone whose political views differed from his own was tyrannical and downright un-American (a label that would have shocked Hoover). Still, I'll even give the devil his due and it must be admitted, as more balanced biographies, such as Gentry's and Powers', have observed, that Hoover did largely create the FBI, one of the greatest law enforcement agencies in the world, and also did much to professionalize law enforcement and bring it into the 20th Century. That's not the problem I have with this book. It's a cheap shot, designed mainly to prove that Hoover was a closet homosexual and transvestite being blackmailed into submission by the Mob. This may or may not be the case--I've long suspected Hoover was a fag but in the absence of proof have always been inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt--but Summers' "evidence," consisting mostly of gossip and hearsay, is unconvincing. It's also difficult to believe that Hoover, whatever his vices or other faults, could have been stupid enough to place himself in a compromising position. Summers' sources speak of photos showing Hoover and Clyde Tolson engaged in homosexual acts but no such pictures have ever turned up. The whole theory is spurious. If the Mob was blackmailing Hoover into submission, then how did the Kennedys force Hoover to finally move against organized crime in the early '60's? Moreover, while even the FBI admits that the momentum of its anti-Mob drive slowed down after JFK's assassination, it never really ended either. The writing style is unimpressive (especially the author's childish and annoying attempt to personalize the Director by referring to him throughout as "Edgar"), the source notes are inadequate, and the whole product leaves much to be desired. As to the quality of the alleged research, any author who takes Jay Robert Nash's silly and long disproven theory of Dillinger's survival seriously can't really be said to have done his homework. This is shoddy journalism at its absolute worst.

The 35 unlisted chapters tell of J.Edgar Hoover's secret life while ruling the FBI for 48 years. William Hitz, a relative, helped him to get a job with the Library of Congress after high school (his father was put into an asylum, his mother received no pension, and JEH became the sole support of the family). JEH attended George Washington University Las School at night. After graduation he joined the Dept. of Justice. GWU graduates and his Kappa Alpha fraternity were among his closest associates (p.61). (The author did not mention his Masonic Lodge or the connection with General Ralph Van Deman.) JEH attracted favorable notice by A. Bruce Bielaski, head of the Bureau of Investigation.

JEH's first action, after becoming Director, was to clean up the Bureau. During his reign corruption among FBI agents was unheard of - a rare achievement in any police force. But he also avoided policing drug traffic because of the risk of corruption (p.50). JEH also denied the existence of organized crime; Chpaters 21-23 explain why.

JEH benefited greatly under FDR, a fellow Mason. From the Civil War the Secret Service (as its name implies) handled counter-intelligence; FDR re-assigned this to the FBI for reasons of state and his own political benefit (p.105). The FBI soon began to conduct political intelligence: investigating striking mill workers (whose benefit?), the ACLU, the American Nazi movement, etc. These matters had nothing to do with law enforcement. (When the FBI was created in 1908, those who voted against it said it would become a Secret Police on the European model.) Spying on Americans would be pursued "with the utmost degree of secrecy"; there was no written official memorandum. JEH created a "Custodial Detention List" of people who would be jailed in time of war. It included Harrison Salisbury of the New York Times - as an alleged Nazi employee (p.108)! FDR also authorized uncontrolled wiretapping by the FBI (p.113). Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon also used his wiretaps (p.115).

Pages 122-129 retell the story of Dusan Popov and his 1941 interview with JEH. Popov was a Nazi spy and British double agent who was sent to Pearl Harbor to gather information for the Japanese attack. The failure to use this information is presented as a great mistake. But the publication of Robert B. Stinnett's "Day of Deceit" shows a reason for this seeming mistake.

Pages 145-147 tell about the surveillance on Joseph Lash. When FDR was informed of his alleged affair with Eleanor, he ordered the soldiers in the unit sent to fight in the front lines!

Chapter 20 tells how Hoover and Tolson were guilty of federal offenses: private use of government property, accepting gifts from lesser-paid employees. They could have been dismissed and given ten years.

Pages 270-273 tell how JFK chose LBJ as vice-president. Pages 290-294 discusses the rumors about JFK's first marriage. Page 335 quotes high-level officials who suggest JEH was senile in his late 60s; to justify the mandatory retirement at 70?

Page 365 discusses the evidence in Senator RF Kennedy's assassination: "twelve or more bullets were fired. Sirhan's gun was capable of firing only eight". Two gunmen were involved! The autopsy of RFK said he was killed by a bullet fired into the back of his head from a distance of 2.5 inches; all the eyewitnesses said Sirhan was firing from the front and never closer than 6 feet.

Chapter 34 tells of Nixon's attempts to fire JEH; Nixon couldn't. Nixon denied that it was due to blackmail, but Kissinger tells a different story (p.405). JEH was bugging Nixon in more ways that one (p.407).

This book gives the backstage view to people who only saw it from the audience.

The chief of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover, who normally should have been the moral conscience of the country, was a paedophile and a drag queen. Into the bargain, he was neutralized by the Mafia. He fiercely opposed Kennedy's anti-racial laws, although he himself had black blood in his veins.
He blackmailed all members of Congress and all the presidents he could, by letting them know that he possessed compromising documents about them. It must be said that some people were easy targets.

Anthony Summers did a formidable job. His book is based on a wealth of references.
It is a must read, because it describes a perfect example of how one single person through his organization could exercise nearly unlimited power in a democratic country.

This one was pretty good. After twenty years of no communication or anything between the frames of Phaze and Proton, Stile's son, Bane, makes contact with Blue's son, Mach, and they switch bodies so that they're both in each others frames in the other's body.

Then Bane falls in love with Agape from Proton and Mach falls in love with Fleta from Phaze and a bunch of problems arise.

I enjoyed this book.

This was my very first Science Fiction/Fantasy book. I picked this book up when I was 14 because the cover caught my attention, and I haven't stopped reading Science Fiction/Fantasy since. This is a really good book for someone new to the genre, or for younger people looking for a lighter Science Fiction/Fantasy read.

"Out of Phaze" is a great novel in the tradition of Piers Anthony, mixing technology with fantasy in two interesting parallel worlds. His constant references to sex is a welcome addition, challenging the terminally sheltered and adding more tolerance to the world of fiction. A great read!

This and the three that precede it are some of the worst books I have ever read. I am absolutely disgusted with myself for having read them. My only consolation is that I checked them out at the library and I did not buy them. I wouldn't give 2 cents for these unless I was desperate for kindling. I kept hoping they would improve, as the first three were entertaining.

... I won't even go into the completely implausible climax. I couldn't even believe it by suspending reality.

I'm sorry Piers for saying this but I advise any who consider reading the Adept series to ignore the last four books and keep it as a trilogy. The first three (Split Infinity, The Blue Adept, and Juxtaposition) are a wild ride through a very interesting world(or should I say two worlds?) which I recomend reading but the story, I feel was finnished with those. The last four(Out of Phaze, The Robot Adept, Unicorn Point, and Phaze Doubt), though with some interesting aspects, for the most part add needless complication to the story and are a testament to Mr. Anthony's greatest flaw, the ability to quit while he's ahead. These books only drag a good idea into the ground.

As this series winds up, veteran Sci-Fi/Fantasy writer Piers Anthony leaves his readers on the edge of a new dilemma, with so many possibilities. However, we are only left to wonder about the next few milennia on Phaze, and what is to happen on the magic side of the universe. What new challenges, and new threats, must these characters endure? For me, this book leaves more questions, and less answers, but allows the reader his own story line to follow in his own mind. Thank you, Mr. Anthony, for one last wild ride on the dual world of Proton/Phaze!

Although this book carries Piers Anthony's name, and starts out in a traditional style of his (nude female character), I found it lacking his touch. Which is acceptable after you read his thoughts about the collaboration. Unfortunately his thoughts are at the very end of the book. I dislike authors who use fancy words, like 'cubit', instaed of just saying 'foot'. There are many words used that are either made up or archaic, and it doesn't help the story at all. All in all the story is a nice twist on the fantasy theme, but it does drag on a bit. Which is why I give it 3 stars...wortrh reading once.

I've not read much fantasy since childhood, but this book has opened me up to a new world. I had a hard time putting "Quest" down, and traded plenty of my sleep time in for it. But, that suited me well since it was more fun than dreaming anyway! The authors do an incredible job of depicting the imaginary world and inhabitants of Infinitera. I'd recommend this book to anyone who appreciates imaginative creativity at its best!

Here you've got an engaging story on a distant world, one which has fought already one war to keep it from destruction, and now faces another such challenge. Good characters with good characterization. A very good read and one heck of a way to start a writing career (James Richey). Keep up the good work!

MR. HEILBUT'S BOOK IS AN EXERCISE IN ARDENT HOMOEROTIC ONEIRIC WISHFUL THINKING. MUCH LIKE KENNTH STARR WISHED PRESIDENT CLINTON WAS GUILTY OF SOMETHING MR. HEILBUT FAILS MUCH LIKJE STARR TO EVEN COME CLOSE TO PROVING MANN'S ALLEGED HOMOSEXUALITY WHICH HE IS TASKED WITH BY DINT OF HAVING THE TEMERITY TO MAKE THE CHARGE IN THIS DREARY TOME MORE MCCARTHYISM THAN RESPONSIBLE LITERATURE

Thomas Mann loved the beauty of young males. In old age, he belatedly realized that this love was apparent in EVERYTHING he had written, even though he had dutifully married and swived and fathered a family and the whole middle-class shtick.

"Death in Venice" is not my favorite tale. The best story of male love, in my opinion, is "Tonio Kroger." But they are both of them masterpieces of twentieth-century literature.

At nearly 600 pages, Heilbut has written a thorough inquiry into the life of Thomas Mann that is both informative and thought provoking. It is an important book for all Thomas Mann scholars and aficonados, especially since Mann's personal experiences played such a large role in the inspiration of his stories - even more so than most authors.

Heilbut takes us on a ride from Mann's childhood all the way to his death in 1955. Along the way, the biographer highlights Mann's estranged relationship with his brother, Heinrich, who was also an author in his own right (although not nearly the stature of Thomas). We also learn of his correspondence with such notable figures as Albert Einstein, Arnold Schoenberg, Herman Hesse, the poet W.H. Auden (who was actually his son-in-law) and the fierce (not to mention bitter) rivalry he had with the playwrite Bertolt Brecht.

One of the best features of this book is the detailed information we get on the various personalities in Manns life which formed the impetus of the characters in his novels; especially so for "Buddenbrooks", "The Magic Mountain" and "Dr.Faustus." Heilbut also elaborates on the well-known passion that the author had for the writings of Sigmund Freud, Arthur Schopenhaur and Friedrich Nietzsche as well as the music of Richard Wagner. There is also a nice discussion of how he (appropriately) utilized Goethe as the paragon of genius in his "Lotte In Weimer."

As is well known, the "centerpoint" of Mann's life was WWII and the years (actually decades) which preceded it. Heilbut details how Mann & his family somehow escaped the wrath of Hitler (Mann actually spread propoganda in Germany AGAINST Hitler and the Nazis) and his safe arrival at the intellectual haven of Princeton university. It was at this safe distance from the war that raged in Europe that Mann was compelled to write his masterpiece: "Dr. Faustus." We learn just how deeply moved he was by the destruction of his "Dresden China." The Nazis' deal with Hitler had indeed cost Germany her very soul.

Ultimately, Mann lived a very tragic life. The uncanny number of suicides of people close to him, the intellectual enemies he made (without any provocation on his part), the resentment that his homosexuality aroused in people, his physical ailments, the exile from his homeland and the destruction of his beloved Germany all contributed to what was a less than enjoyable life. However, the emotional torture and suffering he underwent furnished him with the tools to write some of the most powerful novels of this century. He is perhaps the epitome of Nietzsche's artist who "transforms" personal anguish into great art. In any case, the fervency and brilliance of his writings make him one of the most pivotal figures of the 20th century literary landscape. This is his story. Read it.

Let's be honest - the two most difficult issues when starting a business venture like this would be:
1. Getting your foot in the door (of a world that is so foreign to you that it may as well be OZ) and
2. Money negotiations (how does one actually sit down and talk money with people of this stature)?
Both of these extremely difficult issues are addressed along with so much more.
I found this guide to be an informative read as well as an honest straightforward peak into the world of celebrity fan clubs.

Your guide to starting a celebrity fan club is just the best! It is extremely informative, and the samples that are included were a much appreciated bonus. But, more than any of that -- what made this an incredible read was the motivational writing (the "pep talk if you will")! I really feel like this is something that I CAN do and who knows ... maybe I will get to run that "certain someone's" fan club after all! Thank you so much!!

I've been a member of fan clubs since I can remember being interested in music (quite a long time now)and have always fantasized about running my own club. But how in the world do you start something like that? Well, I recommend this book to guide you. I was so pleased to see examples of letters, contracts and member cards!!!! This truly is a dream come true.