I typed "Karin Anckarsvard" into the Amazon[.com] search engine because I loved her books as a preteen and am now seeking them for my daughter. The "Mysterious Schoolmaster" was the first of her novels which I read, and I found the characters fun and believable. Of course, as a youngster I loved it that the children got to foil the plans of a schoolmaster (principal).

In a small coastal town in Sweden, school friends Cecilia and Michael band together to thwart a ring of spies who threaten their country's security. Full of humor and interesting glimpses into mid twentieth century small town Swedish life, this is a compelling mystery which has stood the test of time.

Paul Jeffers is a master of the popular biography, and he has produced another laudable work in this genre with this chronicle of Fiorello LaGuardia. I approached this book with only a cursory knowledge of LaGuardia, but came away with an enriched understanding of the Little Flower's far-reaching influence on New York City.

I was struck repeatedly by the parallels between LaGuardia and another successful, highly influential Mayor, Giuliani. Both wielded absolute power ("dictatorial," to their detractors), did not brook dissent easily, ran as anti-machine reformers (barely gaining office initially but subsequently amassing larger majorities), assailed corruption and malfeasance, and left New York City a markedly better place than they found it.

By his own admission, Jeffers's is NOT the definitive LaGuardia biography. He writes with broad brushstrokes, painting a colorful, big-picture portrait, and avoiding the pitfalls of needless minutae. Jeffers also has a talent for placing his subjects in the context of history. (To wit: LaGuardia spent his formative years in Prescott, Arizona, whose Mayor was the famous Bucky O'Neill of the "Rough Riders" lore. During the Spanish-American War, young LaGuardia was a stringer for a St. Louis newspaper, where he was in the company of such legendary war correspondents as Richard Harding Davis and Stephen Crane.)

As a result of this style, all of Jeffers's biographies are entertaining, easy to read, and provide a succinct overview to laypersons with a passion for history. If you fit that description, "The Napoleon of New York" is for you.

Fiorello LaGuardia was an amazing character. He was loved and hated depending on who you asked, but one thing is for sure- he did great things for the city of New York. This biography explores his immigrant roots, his rise to power, and his quest for revitalizing New York. A tough politician indeed, but one who brought greatness and glory to his city.

Where do I start ? This book is an amazingly detailed compilation of useful details, addresses, numbers and the like for a wide variety of adventures and yet somehow remains fun to read as well. This is probably in no small part due to the extraordinary color photographs that are found on just about every other page. Not only are many visually stunning, but most make you want to go there, right NOW !

The book is broken down in chapters, each covering a specific type of activity, e.g. safaris, trekking, ballooning, fishing, scuba, soaring, skydiving etc, providing general advice as to where to go and what to do and how, often with the basic technical knowledge to help one understand better what the adventures involve; and then it also manages to get down to the details necessary to help one finalize one's plans, with plenty of phone numbers, addresses, costs -and numerous web sites- etc, and all the advice and little nuggets that make the difference between a successful trip and the forgettable ones. The organization by type of activity is very attractive as it allows the reader to immediately focus on the adventure of choice without having to wade through countless listings of locations and activities of little personal interest, as in some other volumes. (Not that there is any adventure in this book that I would not be thrilled to engage in, but there is only so much vacation time -unfortunately- and one has to be selective.) Basically, you pick what you would like to do, and then the book gives you choices as to where to go and how to go about it. There are plenty of suggestions that will fire up your imagination too. This is a very comprehensive volume, with thousands of places and activities listed, and enough adventures to last one a lifetime, ranging from the (semi) sedate family adventure (like dude ranches) to the hair-raising experience one should not tell one's Mom about (like... well, I'll leave that one up to your imagination).

A useful feature is the objective reviews of outfitters and guide services that one may be hard-pressed to find in other places. A very comprehensive listing of outfitters and a good index help also to navigate through the mind-boggling amount of information the author has somehow managed to collect. (Where do I sign up to go and get some of the info first hand for the next edition ?) You want classic adventures ? They are here, from rafting the Grand Canyon to trekking the Annapurna. You want whimsy or downright exotic ? It's there too, and try the Miscellanous Madness chapter. And for those who think they have done it all, try the selected "extreme adventures" that pepper the book. (How does Shark Diving sound to you ?) All of the above with recommended guides, outfitters, and prices.

So, get the book, grab yourself a good chair, your favorite snack or drink, and enjoy ! Not only will you have wonderful dreams for many nights to come, but this little gem will help you make them become reality too. (And then -not to get too materialistic, but eh, I'm saving for a looong trip and anything helps- the book purchase will allow you to benefit from discounts from top outfitters that will more than pay for the book itself. How can you go wrong ?) Well, off to getting my equipment ready...

Did I say I liked this book ?

I just received this book and it is great. It covers many types of adventure travel - moutaineering, diving, rafting, safaris, trekking, cycling, skiing and many more. It lists outfitters with phone numbers and web addresses and gives you an idea what it will cost. There are also recommedations for books, magazines, and videos.

This is a great place to start to plan your next adventure.

This book is a must have for anyone interested in native trees of south florida.

This book is truly a classic and a must-have for anyone interested in identifying and enjoying the trees and shrubs of the Keys. This wonderful guide was written and photographed by a brilliant and engaging naturalist who first saw the Florida Keys in the early 1900's from the caboose of Henry Flagler's Overseas Railroad train. For more than 50 years Paul Scurlock studied the flora of the Keys and condensed his work into this colorful, easy-to-read and use field guide. Paul Scurlock was a classic old-school naturalist and this book is a fitting testament to his work.

both my 11 year old and myself have found this book to be a MUST for several reasons: It's clear, and covers the essential knots either a boater or knot-tying hobbiest could need. although the reader is sometimes subject to rely on what a photograph is indicating, the directions along with the photographs are fairly easy to follow. it's fabulous for a novice or if you need to review some forgotten "moves" - the authors make sure to briefly explain the usefulness and helpfulness of the knot. it's fun to work through this book with my daughter - so i recommend this as a unique parent/child activity we enjoy and can put to practical use. i recommend this if you are rusty on the correct way to tie trustworthy, safe nautical knots (in other words, your boat will still be at the dock in the morning.....)

Art and Paul Snyder have updated their excellent book on nautical knots, originally published over thirty years ago. The book is not meant to be exhaustive or comprehensive, but offers the right level of detail and a listing of the most useful knots the salty sailor needs to master. A step-by-step approach with clear instructions and photographs makes it easy to learn new knots and other aspects of marlinspike and general seamanship. A must to keep on board.

Excellent, I highly recommend this volume.

This is the best analysis of WWI naval warfare ever written. Mr Halpern has written a fascinating text describing the main guidelines of the naval aspects of this conflict. Do not expect shot by shot descriptions of the battles, this book deals with the reasons leading to the different battles and their consequences and should be considered essential reading for anybody interested in World War I or Naval History.

I have today received one of the most beautiful art books I have ever laid my hands on. Artist Paul Caponigro calls it "New England Days". This book contains 76 high quality reproductions of Paul's black and white work.

When I did my BFA in Chicago I found my heroes to be Edward Weston, Imogen Cunnigan, Siskind, Callahan. Over the last 15 years I have become considerably disenchanted with contemporary photography, namely the kind of images that graduate students at the so-called "top 5 schools" have been producing. The gate keepers (curators, professors, critics, writers, etc) seem to have forgotten simple beauty. Instead, they have favored "conceptual" work. Conceptual work has been mainstream for the last 50 years. It replaced talent and continues to do so since talent has always been scarce.

This book by Paul Caponigro belongs to the tradition of Edward Weston. It is the tradition of simple, beautiful things. Picasso once said that he never spent time looking for solutions, instead he simply found whatever he had to find. And he often found all he needed ... This quality of getting things to come to you without asking is patent in most of the work by Paul.

Take plate 34 (Stone Wall, 1960, Polaroid Print) for instance. The low grain, low contrast was the technique used to show something so simple and so beautiful. He is not concerned with volumes, shapes. He is showing us stone simply. The same technique was used to show us Irish megaliths. At the same time there is this calmness, this deep relationship with the subject matter. Plate 51 is perhaps more obvious in intention but no less capable of awakening the deepest sentiments of adoration, of contemplation.

Let this book be an example of beauty because it exemplifies the case of the talented artist who has mastered technique and finds a lot of stuff worth seeing ...

New England Days by Paul Caponigro (Godine, $35).

For more than 40 years Paul Caponigro has been making black-and-white photographs that teach us how to "hear with the eyes." These 76 prints-made between 1958 and 1999-portray stones, apples, trees, and the sea. They might have been taken 200 years ago. As we study them with quiet attention they take on the rich tones of a cello concerto. This is the most satisfying book of the year. -Michael More, CAMERA ARTS

Its a great book for Star Wars RPG, the only problem is the company went out of business...which is a very bad thing, for a star wars fan like me!

THis book was great it was informative and detaikled

The New Interpreter's Bible is a twelve-volume series, updating the popular Interpreter's Bible from a few decades ago. There are several key features common to all of the volumes of this series. First, each includes a two-column, double translation of the Biblical text (NIV - New International Version, and NRSV - New Revised Standard Version) arranged by topical unit or story. Then, they provide commentaries that look at the passages as a whole, as well as verse-by-verse. Third, interesting Reflection pieces that relate the passages to each other, to history, and to current concerns occur at the conclusion of each passage. Fourth, introductory articles for each book are provided that discuss transmission, historical background, cultural setting, literary concerns, and current scholarship. Finally, there are general articles about the Bible, each Testament, and various types of literature (Narrative, Gospel, Wisdom Literature, etc.) are provided to give general placement and knowledge about the text overall.

The list of contributors, editors, and consultants on the project is a veritable Who's Who of biblical and theological scholarship, representing all major traditions and schools of thought liberal and conservative. Leander Keck, of the Yale Divinity School, is the primary editor of the series.

The volumes were published individually, and can be purchased individually, which is a good thing, given that they are a bit expensive. But for any serious biblical scholar, preacher, student, or enthusiast, they are invaluable.

--Volume X--

The tenth volume of the New Interpreter's Bible continues the New Testament, containing the books of Acts, Romans and First Corinthians, including an introductory essay on Epistolary Literature (i.e., letters). This was the final volume to be published. The series is now complete.

Robert Wall of Seattle Pacific University provides both the commentary on Acts as well as the essay on Epistolary Literature. The introductory article on Acts includes maps and drawings of archaeological sites, and looks at Acts from the standpoint of composition and conversation. Thus, Acts can serve as a story, as theology, or as historical framework.

In the essay on Epistolary Literature, Wall looks at both the Pauline collection and the letters attributed to other apostles. He examines the issues of dating and sequencing, the controversies over authorship on some letters, and the literary issues and features of letters versus other types of literature.

N. Thomas Wright, theologian of the Church of England, examines the Letter to the Romans. Looking at the structures and the themes of Romans, Wright argues against the idea of pulling out a few verses here and there as representative of the whole. 'One might as well try to get the feel of a Beethoven symphony by humming over half a dozen bars from different movements.'

J. Paul Sampley of Boston University looks at First Corinthians. Sampley explores the city of Corinth, the church in the community there, Paul's relationship with the Corinthians, particular themes that appear in the letter as representative of early Christianity.

High praise goes to the general editorial staff for working with such strong authors/scholars, that their work fits together well as part of this set while retaining the individual characteristics (much like the writers of the Bible itself!).

--Other volumes available--

The following is a list of each volume in this twelve-volume set, and the contents of each.

Volume I: General Articles on the Bible; General Articles on the Old Testament; Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus

Volume II: Numbers; Deuteronomy; Introduction to Narrative Literature; Joshua; Judges; Ruth; I & II Samuel

Volume III: I & II Kings; I & II Chronicles; Ezra, Nehemiah; Esther; Additions to Esther; Tobit; Judith

Volume IV: I & II Maccabees; Introduction to Hebrew Poetry; Job; Psalms

Volume V: Introduction to Wisdom Literature; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; Song of Songs; Book of Wisdom; Sirach

Volume VI: Introduction to Prophetic Literature; Isaiah; Jeremiah; Baruch; Letter of Jeremiah; Lamentations; Ezekiel

Volume VII: Introduction to Apocalyptic Literature; Daniel; Additions to Daniel; Hosea; Joel; Amos; Obadiah; Johan; Micah; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Haggai; Zechariah; Malachi

Volume VIII: General Articles on the New Testament; Matthew; Mark

Volume IX: Luke; John

Volume X: Acts; Introduction to Epistolary Literature; Romans, I Corinthians

Volume XI: II Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; I & II Thessalonians; I & II Timothy; Titus; Philemon

Volume XII: Hebrews; James; I & II Peter; I, II & III John; Jude; Revelation

Published at least a year later than originally announced, this volume completes the 12-volume New Interpreter's Bible Commentary (Volume 1, Genesis-Leviticus, having been published in 1994). I've really come to enjoy and rely on the broad and balanced scholarship represented in this series (although I have to admit I haven't read any of the volumes from cover to cover). Volume X has the text and commentary for The Acts of the Apostles, Romans, and 1 Corinthians, plus an excellent "Introduction to Epistolary Literature" by Robert W. Wall.

Although the volumes are large and you'll need to dedicate 28 inches of shelf space if you intend to acquire the entire series (and you should), you'll appreciate the large, easy-to-read typeface and the inclusion of two English translations of every passage of the Bible (NRSV and NIV for the 66 books used by both Protestants and Roman Catholics; NRSV and NAB for the Deuterocanonical Books read primarily by Catholics). Besides verse-by-verse commentary, each book has a general introduction, "Overviews" to large sections within the books, and periodic "Reflections" (intended, I presume, to help kick-start many a pastor's sermon preparation). In addition, there are occasional Excursuses on a variety of fascinating topics (although there are none in Volume X, there are 4 in Volume VIII on the Gospel of Matthew). On the off chance that these commentaries won't answer every question you may have, the detailed footnotes and thorough bibliographies will direct you to all the right sources.

My only gripe is that the series does not cover ALL the books of the Apocrypha as represented in the NRSV translation. There is nothing, for instance, on 1 and 2 Esdras or 3 and 4 Maccabees. My copy of Volume X came with an announcement that in Spring 2003, Abingdon Press would be coming out with the New Interpreter's Study Bible. I plan to pre-order it as soon as I can. My only hope is that this Bible will include the Apocryphal books they neglected in the Commentary. The announcment also stated that an index volume would be issued in Fall 2003. Can a CD-ROM be far behind?

For someone who doesn't have an MS in anything, this book served as a good introduction to the current thinking in physics at the time of its publishing, and provided enough of a foundation to be able to make better sense of later discoveries and theories. While not delving in to a detailed and highly technical discussion of every single aspect for modern physics, it still provides enough information to allow one to start on more technical works. For anyone who is looking to get involved in today's physics this will be a good peek at what you'd be getting yourself in to. Otherwise, it gives glimpses at a world we are just begining to understand but already challenges our basic perceptions of every aspect of the universe.

I thoght this was one of the best books on physics that I had ever read. As an educated layman (MS in Elec Eng) I have experienced some frustration with most "popular" tours of science. This book balanced sufficient (mathematical) detail to make me feel I had grasped some of the fundamentals with enough wonderfully clear conceptual explanation to ensure that I understood the whole. A must-read for anyone who has felt short-changed by "simple" explanations of the latest developments in our understanding of the universe