This guide's major advantage is its size. The guide highlights all of the major New Zealand attractions with a terse, yet comprehensive, style. It may not have all of the information you need in New Zealand, but it will certainly help!

Whether or not I agree with its top ten list, I cross-checked it over and over in planning my upcoming trip. Compact, well-written and informative -- it may be the only guide I put in my suitcase.

Okay, so, I used to be kinda leery of the way the recommendation software seems like it's trying hard to be your friend...I was like, hey, I'll find my own way around, thanks. But then, in a moment of weakness, I followed the link to Paul McAuley's "Eternal Light" when it was recommended to me after I had looked up some other space-opera-like titles. And even though it's currently out of print (which i agree is a shame), i lucked up on a used copy, and now i have to say, the recommendation software seems to know me pretty well by now, 'cause i really liked this book a lot, even though i had never heard of McAuley before. What I liked so much about "Eternal Light" were the strong characterizations, the ins-and-outs of the intriguing plot, and the extra-groovy settings, especially the colorful city of Urbis on Titan. The story did throw me just a little toward the end, when it seemed to roll right on past the climax into a long decline...but, that's not really a complaint, 'cause it was a fun ride the whole way, and i didn't mind spending extra time with the protagonists. Oh, and the aliens were interesting, the mind-blowing hyper-whatsits totally mind-blowing in just the right way, and the echoes of space operas past felt nice...all in all, a fine read for a long spell of midwinter cabin fever. So I guess what I'm saying is, hey Mr. or Ms. Book Publisher, you all oughta print up a few more of this title, to let other folks in on the magic of Mr. McAuley's wild imagination.

Criminally out of print, this was the book that catapulted McAuley into the science fiction spotlight, I believe this was preceded by two books (making this the third of a trilogy) that were entertaining but mediocre genre SF and indeed there are several references to events that I can only assume happened in previous books but you really don't notice. Just start reading and dive in. Attempting to describe the plot is probably pointless because there are so many threads and details, needless to say it deals with the center of the galaxy and god-like intelligences and the people who want to use that sort of stuff for their own benefits. And science. Lots of it. These people all do weird things that seem to defy science and McAuley has no problem making it all seem probable. Heck his science seems to make sense so I guess he knows what he's talking about. Go figure. Basically you just let yourself get carried along, the characters are fairly memorable (if a tad flat at points) and frankly he drags out the ending just a little bit, the book should have ended about fifty pages before it actually does but he needs to wrap it up somehow I guess. Alas, it's close to the peaks already set by hypercomplicated science freaks Dan Simmons (read Hyperion! Now!) and Peter Hamilton but their books hang together a little better and don't depend as much on the visceral rush of reading the book. Nevertheless this was a major leap for McAuley and one of the best SF books of the decade easily. You won't be sorry for tracking this one down.

Buy the book! The Index of Excellent Congregations contained in the book is worth the price. It provides an excellent beginning point for discovering mentoring congregations throughout the United States.

Beg congregational leaders to study the best practices represented by these congregations. Urge congregational leaders to at least visit the web sites of some of the congregations. Organize a journey to visit one or more of these congregations.

Paul Wilkes, with the sponsorship of a Lilly Endowment grant, has been looking for excellent Catholic and Protestant congregations in the United States. He found 300 Catholic parishes and 300 Protestant congregations. A book entitled, Excellent Catholic Parishes, profiles eight parishes, and this book profiles nine congregations.

The research team was looking for Protestant churches that impact the lives of people and make a difference in their communities. These congregations are beacons of hope and guidance and examples of what it really means to be a practicing Christian today.

Another key point is that they were looking for reproducible models of excellence that would act as a travel guide for the spiritual strategic journey of other congregations. They found many of them!

As a member of the Lutheran Church of the Incarnation, I must admit that I have been anxiously awaiting this book since January. The Lilly Endowment funded Paul Wilkes, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, to study the attributes of Protestant congregations or Roman Catholic Parishes that lead to excellence. One result was this guidebook to 300 Protestant congregations. His criteria does seem to define what I couldn't have put into words myself. As I have moved around the country, I have noted that some congregations cause the Holy Spirit to stir within you as soon as you meet your first member. This book describes what these unique congregations do to reach out to others and share this knowledge of the Lord. He describes the joy the members experience as they live out their Christian lives as members of these dynamic communities. This would be a great resource for anyone looking to either find a congregation to call home or to get ideas for their current congregation.

There is a Steven Seagal movie "based on" this book about to arrive in theaters. The previews show explosions, car crashes, Matrix-like battles...the book does not. However, the book is a powerhouse in its own right. Wambaugh-like writing, sometimes a little disjointed, is richly textured and obviously has a source in the real life experiences of the author or his friends. I will gladly pick up another work by the author, you should too.

A cop novel by a Long Island cop, the first of two in the series, so far as I know. The sequel is The Honor Farm. Very funny, yet dark, and quite moving. A movie based on EXIT WOUNDS is coming, and crime fans who might have missed this book get one more chance to meet Police Officer Orin Boyd (Steven Seagal)up close and personal. They should take it.

In his thoughtful and reflective poems, Paul Aponte challenges the role of the Latino poet in society. Whether he's speaking of his wife and children, or about IBM, his voice is fresh, and transcends the stereotypcal role many expect from a Latino poet today. Despite this newness, Aponte retains a clear and indignant connection to his culture that transcends the material, and seeks to create spiritual and emotional space for his true self. Aponte does this while retaining a voice that is very clearly his own, one which he commands with sincerity and a truthful, even wise sense of humor, and of self.

You wrote this with the feelings of your heart and allowed the world to view the smallest glimps of your thoughts. For some of us you opened our memories of what we lived and for others, they wandered the paths of your life through your words. Can we have more? Dare we ask for more?

Gilbert Shelton, who started out drawing 'Wonder Warthog' for Harvey Kurtzman's "Help!" magazine, went on to create the quintessential '60's comic-book characters, the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers. Struggling with the classic issues of hippiedom the Freaks evaded law and order, survived bouts of money and drug shortages, and managed to keep their funky s--t together until the late '70's.

In this ludicrous misadventure the Freaks attempt to take a flight abroad in a time of airline deregulation. Accidentally split up they become embroiled in a military/terrorist plot to take over the world. Fat Freddy winds up with an atom bomb, Phineas becomes head of his own cash religion and in the end the trio save the world in spite of themselves! A wonderful finale to a great comic.

The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers have long been idols of the so-called underground comix movement. This is totally deserved, but I think that classification has obscured the fact that Shelton and his collaborators have turned out some of the best and funniest cartoons of any kind, period. This full-color opus was six or seven years in the making, and is so entertaining that it took me quite a while to notice that it contains almost no drug humor at all. If you care about comix as art, or comix as countercultural icons, this is one for the bookshelf. If you just want to read a really really funny clever comic, this is also one for your bookshelf.

When I was talked into refereeing soccer to support my children's soccer teams, I started looking around for a book to help me understand both the laws of soccer and how to use the as a referee. I looked at everything I could find on the subject, and this is head and shoulders the best. It covers everything from preparation, game control, interpretation of the Laws, to how to dress. After just about wearing out the library's copy, I'm buying my own now.

This is the optimal book for soccer referees. I covers everything a beginning referee must know, an intermediate referee should know and everything an advanced referee could know. This book helps with the debates that occur with interpreting the laws of the game. I learned something new everytime I read it, including the 5th time. Here's the answer to your questions.

This is a typical Dale Brown book - lots of high tech gadgets and lots of action. Not one of his better reads, but if you like Dale, you'll like this one.

In his third installment in the NUMA Files series, Clive Cussler delivers another exciting adventure packed with action, intrigue, and dangerous exploits.

Emanating from the Soviet Union, a mining and shipping tycoon has designs on overthrowing the current Soviet government believing himself to be the Tsar of Russia. To avoid the interference of the United States, he orchestrates a plan to create a massive disaster that would affect a large part of the U.S. eastern seaboard. On the continental shelf are pockets of a highly combustible compound known as methane hydrate or Fire Ice. Detonating this material would cause tidal waves sufficient enough to destroy major cities. Unbeknownst to NUMA officials and the American government alike, an even more insidious plan is in the works and time is fading fast to avert a catastrophic event that could have global implications.

Fire Ice is a fast paced and very entertaining read that will be sure to please Clive Cussler fans and anyone who enjoys a solid, well written adventure tale.

The authors have immense experience consulting with accounting firms. Every accountant in the United States should read this book and apply its concepts. Then, and only then, will accountants redeem themselves from the scandals that the "Final Four" and "Andersen androids" delivered to us. Accounting has dealt with irrelevant matters for decades now. How telling it was when the authors point out that the last service innovation promulgated by the accounting professional body, the AICPA, occurred back in 1974-29 years and ticking.

So, what's the problem with accounting firms anyway? The list is endless. I can summarize the problem with a simple statement-no guts. An old joke describes accountants as insurance actuaries without the sense of humor. It goes deeper than that. Too many prefer to review the game and announce the winners rather than actually roll up their sleeves and help their selected clients win. Sure, that's sort of messy but that is where true professional satisfaction lies. Also, it involves making real judgments too, helping clients who deserve our help because we really care about them and want to help make them more successful. Sure, that requires making choices. If you don't like a client, why in the heck are you working for them anyway?

Too many accounting firms operate on this principle. An old joke says that accountants are the sort of people who after the battle, bayonet the wounded. I can add another corollary to this. Not only do accountants bayonet the wounded, they also strip the corpses naked with fees not tied to real value but to a rate per hour tied to what they want to make, rather than what the client really got. If you believe you deserve to be paid no matter what you really did to help, this book isn't for you. But, if you believe your fees should relate to what you've really done to help somebody, these folks not only support your point of view, they prove it beyond all doubt.

I didn't give this book five stars because the author's really don't make their case as well for project based professionals like certain lawyers. Should lawyers be more upfront about their charges? Absolutely. But, I sympathize with the struggles they face pricing services without adequate experience with a particular client. Lawyers will find Baker's prior works on value pricing more applicable to their practice situations than this work.

Expanding on the principles discussed in Value Pricing, Ron Baker has teamed up with Paul Dunn to share their theories, insights and ideas on how professionals (in particular CPAs) view and price their services. The Firm of the Future is written around major themes and includes individual commentary from Ron and Paul.

Are you creating value for your clients and charging for the value you provide, or are you charging your clients based on the time you spend? If you are not thinking about the value you are creating for your clients, watch out! Every professional who reads this book will be thinking about the value they can add not only to their clients, but yours. What about fees? Do you think that you can match or beat my price? "Any firm can compete on price; it is truly a fool's game. In contrast, competing based on Total Quality Service, positive customer experiences, and transformations requires more thought, creativity and investment." This book could be your first investment in achieving Total Quality Service and differentiating yourself from the competition.

Well written and with occasional engaging flashes of humor, Five Miles High gives a well-drawn picture of the large Himalayan expeditions of the past. At the same time as expedition members are having their food cooked for them and having their gear carried by numerous "coolies", they are walking a much greater distance, and in some ways subsisting in harsher conditions, than climbers do today. The contrasts with the present day are perhaps the most interesting thing about this book. "Boy's First Adventure Book"-ish illustrations at the chapter headings add a charming retro touch.

Five Miles high is an extremely interesting and very readable firsthand account of the 1938 American Expedition to climb K2, the second highest peak in the world. The book is a reissue of the original book describing the expedition and is authored by two team leaders with additional contributions by the other four team members. Of particular interest is their description of their trek through the Karakoram just to reach the mountain in the days when the primary hauling of supplies was done by ponies and porters. The contrast between the preparations and efforts involved in this expediton and the efforts described in all of the current Mt. Everest books is amazing. All in all, you'll find this a very enjoyable book to read. The same authors also wrote a second book describing their 1953 expedition - K2, The Savage Mountain. This one also has been recently reissued.