This is my second copy having bought the first edition in the 80's. Finally I have a copy with the color plates! Anyway, if you're a fan of the guitar you have to have this book. If there's anything "wrong" with it, it is that it is now ten years old and I hope Tom Wheeler has plans for a new, 2002, update. I'd buy that one too! I also hope he gets around to mentioning Kustom guitars from the late sixties ( he hasn't so far) and I thought they looked cool back then.

This book has got to be one of the top 10 guitar books on the market today. It covers all the major and lesser known U.S. guitar makers from A to Z, including history, models, specs, biographical info, and more. The sections on such well-known brands as Epiphone, Fender, Gibson, Gretsch and Rickenbacker are particularly interesting. With hundreds of great photos throughout, this book is one of the most comprehensive and well-written books available--a must for all guitar lovers.

This book was given to me as a gift. I have referred to it often to answer questions for others, and just to learn about various guitars that I've had interest in. It's like taking a trip to a great guitar store to look at a huge stock of new and vintage guitars. If only I could reach into the pages and actually play each guitar...I would be in heaven.

Indispensible tool for all guitar collectors or hobbyists.

A book of incredible detail and beauty. I first saw this book in my local library and decided I simply must have it. There are print art, furniture and jewellry, arcitecture examples and more. Worth the purchase price to the last penny!

this book is one of the most valuable in my personal library -- not only are the pictures gorgeous, but the text provides historical context and thus enriches the entire presentation. i enthusiastically looked at every page, and was flabbergasted by some of the objets d'art. the things people can dream of! the things they can make from raw materials... it's simply amazing, especially lalique's jewelry. one of the aspects of this book that i most admire is it's equal treatment of different forms: architecture, graphic design, jewelry, furniture, visual media, sculpture, and urban planning are all addressed. i wish it had spoken more about the music, poetry, and dance of the time, but that's not a complaint. the book is huge, but well organized into regional sections (france, spain, usa, etc) and gives biographical info about the artists as well. i am going to go back to europe again when i can, specifically to see the homes photographed in this amazing anthology. given the size and the amount of info, as well as the quality of the photographs, the price for this book is unbeatable. buy this collection -- you won't regret it at all! note: this book would be particularly useful to those interested in art history, nature in art, photography, and movement in art (note that loie fuller is a heavy influence on the form in france, and thus students of choreography/dance history should be familiar with this period in art)

This book is comprehensive and wonderful. You travel through the time and places where the style was taking shape. I was fortunate to see the fabulous exhibit (to which the book is the companion) at the National Museum in Washington, D.C. I was so pleased to find that the book was so exquistly done. It captures a vast array of pieces from the exhibit and dipicts them beautifully (I noticed one Lalique piece that is stunningly captured in this book yet is fuzzy in a Lalique book). There was no question I was going to purchase this tome despite having to lug it around while I explored the rest of the D.C. sites.

Little did I know that when Garry and I attended a Wings concert in college that he was composing this book in his head. Excellant read, interesting, complete and full of fun information. If you love Paul, then you will love this book. Congrats, Garry on a great book. Can't wait for your next book to get published!

if your a fan of wings and paul mccartney this is the one book you must have. garry has done his research well and has got the whole story behind the scenes. it tells the fans why wings was so successful and of all the problems withen the band. the book tells all the sides and has not sugar coated them. the book also contains many rare wings promo material, a complete discography and a interview with former guitarist henry mccullough.

Band On The Run: A History Of Paul Mccartney And Wings by Garry McGee (who spend more than twenty years in collecting materials and interviews for this book) is the informative biography of the famous former Beatles member that concentrates exclusively on the music Paul McCartney made after he left the Beatles and strived to refine his music with a personally chosen group of studio musicians. Based on twenty years' worth of research and interviews, Band On The Run successfully strives to present an accurate portrait of Paul McCartney, the Wings band, and their musical contribution to popular culture in the twentieth century.

"Banvard's Folly" is a wonderful book, thanks to the talents of author Paul Collins. As you have probably gathered by now from other write-ups, this book tells the story of 13 people, once prominent, and now largely forgotten. They each earned inclusion in this book because of a grand failure of some sort. In other hands, this material could have been a tool for ridicule; but Collins strikes just the right tone here. While not forgiving his subjects' excesses or blind spots, he manages to tell their stories with a real sense of empathy. It's obvious that a lot of research went into this volume, but Collins never overpowers the reader with it; each chapter just seems to glide along. If history's lesser lights are of interest to you, you should enjoy this.

BanvardÕs Folly is a lovingly-researched tribute to the forgotten, the mistaken, and the discredited. The book profiles 13 historical figures, many of whom were among the most well-known figures of their day. Each, however, pursued his or her genius to a historical dead end, and their reputations and achievements have long since vanished into obscurity. Although each of these profiles is ultimately a study in failure, these ill-fated individuals demonstrate a brilliance, eccentricity, or audacity that is often breathtaking. CollinsÕ subjects may be failures, but they are spectacular failures, visionaries and dreamers who failed with an astounding degree of ambition, style, and verve. Exceptional.

This is a great book. A current trend in popular history is to write histories of great people who achieved success but who are not household names (consider the book "Longitude"); Paul Collins turns this idea on its head by writing the stories of 13 people whose ideas, frankly, did not have a lot of merit, but who were famous in their day.

The title story, Banvard's Folly, tells the tale of the artist John Banvard -- world famous in the 1850s, but utterly forgotten today, whose great moving panorama of the Mississippi River made him rich, but who ultimately was destroyed competing with P.T. Barnum.

Other stories include "The Man With N-Ray Eyes", which relates how a French scientist believes erroneously that he has found a new source of radiation; "A.J. Pleasonton's Blue Light Special", which discusses the 1870s fad concerning the healing properties of light reflected through blue glass, and numerous others, including the story of a Shakepeare forger, a woman's quest to prove Shakespeare's works were written by Francis Bacon and others, and the development of the pneumatic train.

The book is a little sad, because each of the characters really believes in their ideas, even though they are rejected by society. But instead of a happy ending, these stories all end badly for the protagonists -- they end up mocked and forgotten.

The book is remarkable for its scholarship -- researching the forgotten intellectual and cultural history of a previous century is no easy task; but Mr. Collins brings the reader back into the culture of the times easily. The stories are entertaining and very amusing.

Please note that the descriptions in the Editorial Reviews ("Synopsis" and "From the Back Cover") are in error and are from the book "Harmonic Marterials in Tonal Music" Part I by the same authors/publishers and is often used following "Basic Materials in Music Theory". The content included in "Basic Materials in Music Theory" is nicely annotated and correctly listed by the customer reviewer, johnlski from May 13, 2003. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn the basics in music. As a college professor, I use "Basic Materials in Music Theory" with incoming freshman music majors who have failed their diagnostic exam and need remedial work before entering Theory I. If you are thinking of majoring in music in college, or just want a good basic undertanding of music theory, this is an excellent book to start with. The thorough explanations, along with the immediate feed-back to questions, make it so everyone can use this book on their own. This should be the minimum understanding of music theory that a student has as they enter through the doors of the ivy halls.

I first heard about this book from the Ball State University School of Music. They were explaining the audition process and highly recommended this book for their theory exam. I had already been looking for a music theory book so I decided to get it. It was amazing!
It was so easy to learn by myself using this book. Each chapter consists of two columns of 'frames'. On the right is questions and information. After completing the question, you simply uncover the left column to see the answer. Each chapter consists of these frames that slowly build on what you have learned in previous frames until you complete the chapter. It is very simply yet VERY effective. Also at the end of each chapter are 'Mastery Frames' similar to a test. If you get a question wrong it tells you what frames to review in the chapter. Also included at the end of each chapter is an increasingly challenging ear training activity.
For those interested here are all the chapters to show what the book covers:
1)The Basic Materials of Music: Time and Sound
2)The Notation of Pitch
3)Time Classification
4)Note and Rest Values
5)Time Signatures
6)Intervals
7)The Basic Scales
8)The Major Scale
9)The Minor Scales
10)Key Signatures
11)Triads
Also included in the back are two appendixes on Piano Styles and an Orchestration Chart along with a complete Glossary of Musical Terms. One very useful addition is an extensive bibliography for further study.
I can play an instrument proficiently and new basic music theory pertaining to my instrument. After reading this book I have brushed up on all the stuff I thought I completely knew and learned many more things I never knew in regards to basic music theory. I am now at a level where I can begin to start basic compositions- one goal I was aiming for.
I would recommend this book without hesitation to anyone interested in Music.

FYI: This is the music theory text that is recommended for study for those who wish to audition for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. So I highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to increase their aptitude and skill in regards to their sight-singing and musical aspirations.

Ever since we got our dogs ... we have been reading and reading dog related books ... mostly out of interest and sometimes because we needed advice with particular issues we're encountering with our canine family members ...

Some books were far too general, a few (fortunately very few) actually contained bad or poor advice ... most were reasonably good & useful ...

But by far ... this is the best we have come across ...

The author makes no pretence at offering quick or instant solutions ... in the first few chapters and without emotional tangents (we all think our dogs understand us *laughs*) he takes the reader through the psychology and mindset of a dog, ... it becomes very clear that the author believes a dog cannot be effectively trained simply by rote, punishment or treats ... but through a process of learning to understand their true nature and positive healthy reinforcement ...

But what makes the most difference is that ... the author is prepared, without fear of alienating his readers, to require dog owners to delve into their own psychology and inner nature ...

This approach makes the book all the more useful ... it made me realise the futility of trying to train our dogs, without first considering how I might be affecting them, with my behaviour and reactions (conscious & subconscious) ... I was asked to consider how my own understanding or lack ... might be causing or contributing to the dogs' good as well as bad behaviour ... The book also provides useful case studies and plenty of practical advice.

It does require a little more concentration than one would normally devote to the reading of a pet training book ... but the effort is well worth it ... any dog owner, new and experienced will benefit ...

... This is a very good read ... this book offers much more than the usual approach of 'tell the dog to sit, and reward it with a treat' ... the author approaches the problem of bad dog behaviour from the owner's perspective, as well as from the dog's perspective ... a holistic approach that avoids harsh punishment ... The author tells us that in order to correct a dog, oftentimes we must first as owners correct ourselves, our approach ... our whole attitude ... we are encouraged to try and learn the nature of dogs, their instincts and propensities ... the numerous case studies are also extremely useful ... All in all, a very good book, informative, sensible and effective.

When faced with problem behaviors in a rough collie back in the 70's, I read every dog behavior book on the shelves at the time. William Campbell's book was the only reference which addressed the issues I needed to understand. Campbell's description of 'active defense reflex' vs 'passive defense reflex' dogs made all the difference in my understanding of Shasta's behavior. He gave me all the advice I needed to turn this behavior around with very specific instructions which worked to perfection. We went on, after reading this book, to earn a CD in obedience whereas before I could not even touch his body without being bitten ('active defense reflex'). I recommend this book to anyone I contact who is dealing with dog behavior problems and I'm very interested to see how this new edition compares to the one I purchased in the 1970's!

Paul Breiter's wonderful and timely translation of the teachings of the late Thai Dharma master Ajahn Cha provides western dharma students access to a straight path toward the gate of Dzogchenpo. Are we westerners culturally pre-disposed to dispense with preliminaries in hopes of vanquishing suffering through rapid apprehension of the ultimate? Living Dzogchen masters have begun reminding students that Samatha concentration is the door to the spaciousness of Vipassana, and that Vipassana is the entryway to unexecelled Dzogchen/ Mahamudra view. Ajahn Cha communicates this in the simplest terms. He provides guidance for students seeking to progress toward the jettison of conceptualization and grasping. Terms such as "accumulation of merit," sometimes difficult for western students to fully comprehend, are de-mystified. Ajahn Cha's instructions enable readers to disentagle from complexity and superstitious beliefs, and to practice Dharma purely, easily and confidently. Great teachers remind us that the Dharma Essence is so simple, it is difficult to apprehend. Luang Paw (Venerable Father) Cha provides down-to-earth advice for how to accomplish the results of merit and wisdom through everyday life/practice. Here in Laos, it seems fair to suggest that Laotian people remain among the "simplest", kindest and most down-to-earth. Suffused with his own Laotian heritage, Ajahn Cha provides lucid, compassionate and accesssible explanations of the mystical Path of Dharma. Western Dharma students are fortunate to have access to many of the great Dharma texts and treatises. "Being Dharma" is among the best now available. Its instructions for how to "live Dharma", ease the mind, and help attenuate further elaboration of confusion in our troubled world. To the translator, could you provide us please with more of Ajahn Cha's Dharma Nectar?

The Dharma teachings in this book are taken from recordings of the Thai Forest Monk Ajahn Chah. As such they are folksy and often humorous. But, they represent one of the clearest representations of the Theravada path of Buhhism you are likely to find. The Theravada path is, at least until recently in the West, the lesser known of the two major divisions of Buddhism. In recent years the interest in this path, which places emphasis on the Monastic life and strict meditation, has grown. But, for the most part, those interested have not had the wealth of printed material that is available on Zen or Tibetan paths.

Ajahn Chah often uses examples from Zen and other Buddhist paths. While at one time the Theravada path was most common path, it has, over the centuries, had less influence in the West. This book, along with the works of Jack Kornfield and Joseph Goldstein, gives us a powerful view into that approach to Buddhism and its relevance to the development of spirituality in the West.

... but this book may be the next-best thing. A wonderful, charming, finger-wagging introduction to a man who I think was a living Buddha. No-nonsense, to say the least. And who doesn't love Jack Kornfeld with his wise and down-to-Earth understanding of the dhamma? Buy this book, then buy another and give it to a friend. You won't regret it.

What an entertaining book! I bought it for my 4-year-old nephew and thoroughly enjoyed reading it myself. (I have to confess that it was fun to find the "quirks" on each page!) Mr. Zeltwanger has skillfully written text appealing to kids but with a message to adults as well. He emphasizes more than simply building athletic skills, touching on the need for practice and perseverance. He even encourages both kids and adults to work on only the fundamentals the child is physically capable of and to hold off on others until the child grows. It certainly is refreshing to find a source that highlights the importance of having fun when playing a sport.

Wow! Mr. Zeltwanger has really done an excellent job of communicating basic fundamentals in a very fun way. I read the book to my daughter once and she now brings it back to me time and time again. I have hopes for my daughter to play basketball, but I want it to be fun and not forced. This book gave me a great way to keep that balance. As a former Pete Maravich award winner (National Christian College Player of the year) I know that the book is teaching solid fundamentals, but it does this in such a fun way that any child will enjoy it. I highly recommend this book for any child wanting to learn how to play basketball.

Great way to get kids started with basketball and good habits. Easy enough for a Mom to use, but detailed enough for a coach! It also makes a fun reading classroom project because it combines reading this book with sports practice.

Paul Stillwell's "Battleship Arizona" is a fine work devoted to the "life and death" of the ship which became the icon of Pearl Harbor.

The volume is particularly impressive and valuable for its extensive photo documentation and its stories of life and duty aboard the Arizona from keel-laying to partial scrapping and memorial construction. For those interested in the "human side" of the story, these tales are right up their alley. For those interested in the ship's configuration the photographs are remarkable. Some are also extraordinarily artistic, such as one showing a sortie under the incomplete Golden Gate Bridge.

The details provided regarding the ship's loss are also particularly good. Especially impressive are De Virgilio's elevation of the wreck immediately post attack and his overhead plot of the bomb hits and misses upon the Arizona and the Vestal.

The only real disappointment is the lack of a detailed "anatomy" of the ship in the form of deck plans, level by level within the ship, as completed and as modernized in the early 1930s. Provision of such drawings, and an accompanying discussion using them might have shed useful light on some of the theories regarding exactly how Arizona's magazines were detonated by the bomb hit forward.

The technical details offered in the text, and recorded in the appendices are superb, and I was particularly impressed by the references to and correction of minor errors in another respected publication recorded therein.

As a reader who could generally care less for the "human" side of the story with respect to warship histories, being far more concerned with design, construction and operation, I am nonetheless considering purchasing this volume for my own collection. It's that good.

To many of us, our knowledge of the Arizona begins and ends at Pearl Harbor. The book not only brings alive the rich history of the ship during her 25 years of service, but provides a wealth of information about Navy life between the world wars. The rare pictures of the ship and her crew also bring one closer to the Arizona experience as no other single source can.

Very good book, gives you insight as to life on the Arizona from the time of her beginning until its ultimate demise. A must for any Naval Historian

This book covers what should be the most important Issue to all people in the human-rat race. It's an attempt to make people realize how fast we are using up our natural resourses.
I can only hope that this book makes it to the top 10 best sellers list, so that it gets read by a large segment of the population. It's a vary important message and it's easy to read in a short amount of time, and once you read it it would be wise to give it to a friend and have them read it and pass it on to someone else.
Why can't an American president stand up, and run on smaller population and less consumption? Humans will gain less and less with over-population.

"Beyond Earth Day" gives an amazingly thorough look at the state of our planet, then and now. Discussions of issues are well-referenced and Gaylord Nelson courageously presents honest solutions to problems that many people take pains to ignore. He offers history, wisdom, and guidance in an age when "environment" is an important issue to Americans, yet many are unaware of the seriousness of the issues our water, air, soils and biodiversity face. An America united by the knowledge offered by Senator Nelson has the capability to change the course of catastrophic events involving the very elements needed for life. Share the intelligence of this important book with everyone you know.

Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson holds no punches in this book. He brings the question of the ability of the planet to sustain today's consumption-driven American lifestyle into clear focus in "Beyond Earth Day". His report card on the planet is dire but believable.

The book provides a strong case that more dire consequences are up ahead for all of us, unless the current political leadership in Washington abandons its "business as usual" mentality regarding the environment and begins to recognize the urgency and gravity of the situation we are getting into with regard to air, water, land and climate.

"It is time for the president and Congress to reach an agreement that sustainability is the challenge of our time and design a plan of action for the future... There is no room, nor time, for partisanship. The president and Congress should face this issue in a unified and cooperative way and should persist until we reach the goal", laments Nelson.

Nelson recommends that the president of the United States deliver a "State of the Environment" speech to the American public and the world which outlines environmental challenges meriting the nation and the world's immediate attention, and the challenges that lay on the horizon. Such an address, Nelson says, is what is needed "to start public dialogue on the serious environmental problems facing the country and world today". People everywhere need to realize that maintaining the environmental sustainability of the planet is the most important responsibility we all have, because all life on Earth is interrelated, and because our economy is inherently dependent on the environment's "underlying resource base of forests, water, air, soil, and minerals".