It's a very simple and clear framework to keep in mind, with VERY practical results in day-to-day activities of product management (specially for those, like me, come from "techies" backgrounds). It's reccommended to read the other 5 books of Chasm Group to fully understand the concepts, but to start using as product manager, this is THE guide.

Paul Wiefels has given a gift to marketing and technology executives by doing an extraordinarily difficult thing: adding yet more value to some of the most valuable marketing strategy books ever written (Geoffrey Moore's). For both readers and non-readers of Moore's books (Crossing the Chasm, Inside the Tornado, and others), The Chasm Companion is an immensely useful how-to guide to successfully marketing technology products and services. It provides thoughtful and provocative connective tissue between Moore's books for those who are already Chasm devotees, but doesn't rely on the reader already having familiarity with Moore for this book to be completely understandable and immediately actionable. The author's intimate experience with difficult technology marketing decisions saturates each chapter with a pragmatic perspective often missing from consultant-authored books. The "field guide" format insures that theory consistently supports rather than trumps practice and execution. As a strategy consultant and former Fortune 100 marketing executive, I highly recommend reading The Chasm Companion before your competitors do.

I have been a keen student of the Chasm Group publications for a number of years and this book starts to bridge the gap between the theory of visionaries, tornados, gorillas etc and the application of the concepts in practice. The style is very readable and filled with good "common sense". I have already started using it in earnest

This cookbook has to be one of my favorite to date. To have so many diverese foods at your finger tips that are truly easy to prepare, as well as fun is great. Not to mention that they taste as good as they look in the illustrations. My family and I enjoyed cooking these resipes, but enjoyed sharing them with friends even more. Great food!

The recipies in the cookbook are great the kids whom wrote the series are great thinkers god must of blessed them with alot of inginuity.

We loved this book. The recipes are from various regions around the world on their "Chocolate covered adventures" series, and are truly a breeze to make. If you like Egyptian, Persian, Traditional English, Asian, Ethiopian, Italian,Chinese, etc. you'll love this small efficently refreshing book. The "Temptuous Truffles", and the "Chocolate and fruit Filled Sambusas" along with the "Vegetarian Sambusas" have to be my children and my favorite recipes in this ingenous cookbook. The cute illustrations of Tyco-the changito (monkey)making his famous "Chocolate Covered Bananas" is truly my husbands favorite recipe. He says even an old goat like him can learn to cook. This book bring sfamilies together in a fun, non-threatening manner. There is something for everyone's taste buds, from sweet, to salty to spicy. Our family loves it. This is a must for every kitchen.We also applaud the authors fo donating 10% of sales to various charities, as they have with all their books.

This is the best guidebook EVER! My wife and I recently moved to Portland and this book is what guided us into a great apartment, cool neighborhoods, fun shops, beautiful parks, and awesome restaurants. We've now lived here for 6 months and still use the book often. The authors definitely know the city. Whether you're moving here or just visiting, getting this book is crucial.

When you browse through the US Travel books for something on Oregon or Portland, this is the one book that you can find that goes beyond the cool places, the neat restaurants and the best deals in hotels. It's comprehensive in terms of including information that a person considering the move to the city will find extremely useful! Thanks, City Smart!

I loved it. It was funny and witty and interesting. For the person moving to Portland, this book is for you. It outlines the areas where one should and should not live. It give detailed and interesting reviews of everything from children's parks to gay bars. It illustrated the history of Portland perfectly and was a hoot to boot. Five stars!

A fabulous collection by one of the better fiction writers from this century. If you are new to Bowles, this is an excellent way to dig in and see and what he is about. East/West cultural differences, bizarre mysticism and brutality are some of the main ideas explored here with his characteristic almost dead-pan descriptions that are both beautiful and brutal in their honesty. Learn why he has been cited as one of the best writers by everyone from the Beats to Raymond Carver. Set apart from them all in Africa, he still managed to influence all of them in major ways. Open it and enjoy.

At his best, Bowles is rarely matched as a short story writer (A Distant Episode, The Frozen Fields, Pastor Dowe at Tacate, The Time of Friendship, The Delicate Prey, etc.). Precise, detached prose which often sustains a terrifying and revealing intensity of atmosphere. Any fans of "horror" would love this, though much of the terror is implied, psychological. There's also a few 4-5 pg. hallucinogenic (sp?) pieces which don't do much for me. Well worth reading. And reading (have read A Distant Episode three times).

I love the stories of Paul Bowles. One of the few writers which spins a web of magic around his short stories without overdosing in adjectives. The worlds of bowles are often drawn in pure, brutal, indegenious colours, which you can nearly smell and taste when you read them. Many stories of him play in morocco (or south america), and if you want to learn something of these exciting countries and the culture, this is one of the best sources. It shows how much we can try to feel at home at foreign places and yet seldom succeed. Always in our head,ethoncentristic with friendship as the only real link to the other world. Bowles stories often leave me breathless at the end. They build up so much hope, so much plasticity and leave you nothing when you turn the last page. But even if the aftertaste seems to be a bitter one, you get enchanted, you read the next story, you want more. Then something after ten or fifteen books you can't wait to take the next plane to Africa... In some sense Bowles can be related to the Beat literature. The only thing is that Bowles didn't move on. He stayed in Tanger and his view of the world got much sharper than the one of the other beats. His protagonists still like to travel, they are searching for something, but what they find is beyond their dreams. It is naked realism and so strong that the mind begins to spin... (Look for P.B - Let it come down) LIGHT A CANDLE, READ A SHORT STORY OF THIS MARVELOUS COLLECTION AND WATCH FOR RESULTS...

If the short story "garden" will not enchanten you you probably are in desperate need of some of that moroccon majoun.

D.Mehring

My schedule doesn't permit a lot of free time for reading so I randomly picked up Theroux's collected stories from the local library and I must say that the storylines are intriguing and the characters are so believable, you may very well find yourself empathizing with them.

This is a fantastic collection of stories if you have a long commute and need a break from the rubbish on the airwaves.

This is one of the best short story collections I've ever read. Paul Theroux is expert at making the reader actually feel "there". The landscape descriptions and characterizations are first rate, and I enjoyed the "plot twists." Theroux excels in creating difficult and often unlikeable but always memorable characters ( read The Mosquito Coast, Millroy The Magician or The Black House if you want further proof. ) These stories are frightening, sad and funny. Highly recommended.

Paul Theroux is the kind of writer who is not afraid to go out on a limb. His literary output over the last twenty-five years or so is as diverse and inspired as any other American writer working today. And I'm pleased to say that in this handsome paperback re-issue he seldom disappoints. Take, for example, the almost hallucinogenic vigor of "Dengue Fever". I challenge anyone to read this story once through in a quiet setting and not be haunted by its shadowy, sinuous images a week, a month, or even a year after the initial experience. It is Theroux's turgid depictions of fever, deftly mixed with the not implausible elements of the supernatural, that make this tale a breath-taking excursion into the horrific realm of the subconscious.

Then there is the creepy, nocturnal brilliance of "World's End," in which the narrator of the story becomes the not so subtle victim of his own vanity. The suspense never lets up while steadily building toward a sat! isfying, even shocking ending. Is his wife having an affair while the narrator smugly entertains yet another road trip? The narrator's son, shrewd and tight-lipped, is a wonderfully nuanced portrait of silent anguish and controlled fear, while the timorous image of a kite and the ironic metaphor of "play" are cleverly juxtaposed by Theroux who knows well the value of a ripe Joycean symbol.

A text truly deserving the designation "classic"; bravo to Springer for reprinting this book! This seminal text provides a clear exposition of the topic, along with numerous jumping-off points for exploring interesting outgrowths and tangents. A must-have text for anyone interested in the subject.

A "must read" for everybody who is interested in combinatorial aspects of algebra. You can read whole book or some chapters (free groups, free constructions, diagrams, 1-relator, ...). I don't think it's for absolute beginners, but if you want, you understand it. It would be great if this book were reprinted with some complements (which could be written by Ol'shanskii, Gersten, Sapir, Shupp, Stallings, Guba, S.Ivanov, Baumslag, Lysyonok ...)

It's an absolute pity that this book is out of print, since it's one of the few good recent textbooks about combinatorial group theory. One can only hope it will be reprinted soon...

This book is an excellent resource to those trying to grasp
a rather difficult subject in history (especially for those
who didn't major in economics). It is sure to spark interest
in the subject and interest readers to further research this
period in history.

This book is a great overview of The Great Depression, one of the bleakest eras in this contry's history. It is well-written and the illustrations are great. Even in its darkest hour, there was much greatness that was displayed by the populace of our nation.

This is a must-have book for those who are deficient in modern day history. It is a precise, well-written synopsis of The Great Depression written in a non textbook fashion (ie not boring). It includes really interesting snapshots of life during this era.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

Paul Doherty uses quite a few pseudonyms, but regardless of which nom de
plume he chooses, or which series he presents, readers always get a good,
well-reseached, convincing historical mystery.

In 'Corpse Candle,' Doherty gives us Sir Hugh Corbett, King Edward I's
special envoy and close confidant, the 12th such episode in this popular series.
It is 1303 and Abbot Stephen (singular!), a close personal friend of Edward's, is found
dead in his locked chambers at the Abbey of St. Martin-in-the-Marsh. As the king's
envoy, Corbett quickly finds that there is more to the story than the death of the
abbot. As Lady Macbeth says, 'False face must hide false heart,' and to continue
the Shakespearean allusion, 'Corpse Candle' ends up with far more bodies scattered
about the place than Hamlet's Act V!

With his trusted aide Ranulf and newly acquired groom Chanson, Sir Hugh
finds his intellect and common sense broadside by the incessant deaths of members
of the Abbey. Of course, as he investigates, all these deaths are related and using his
famed logic and ability to re-construct, he is able to bring the murderer to justice.
Of course, all in good time, as the killer wreaks vengeance upon those whom he feels
are complicit in the greater crime, one that began years ago and, sadly, now plays to
its tragic, deceitful, and explosive end.

Of all the Corbett books, this one is the best researched and most carefully
laid out and presented. From its opening pages, 'Corpse Candle' holds the reader's
attention and the plot unfolds in a timely manner and pace. Few loose ends are left
and the conclusion logical and noteworthy. (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

Doherty is possibly the most prolific author i've come across (in roughly 15 years since his first book was published, he's penned about 50 other novels), and while at times his books can lack that special something which sets some fiction apart from the rest, his books are undoubtedly entertaining, this one in particular, which is a novel that factor which some of his others lack.

When Abbot Stephen is found murdered, locked in his quarters from the inside, a puzzling mystery is indeed presented. Sir Hugh Corbett, keepers of the king's peace, is called in to investigate, and finds himself immersed in an investigation with far-reaching effects, and tentacles that spread many years into the past, to the Abbots old life, to tales of robber baron Sir Geofrey Mandeville's ghost galloping through the fens with a troop of spectrely horsemen, to rumours of the origins of the corpse candles, said to foretell the deaths of men, which hover and flicker at night above the marshes...

The characters in this book are very well characterised, the plot is tight and complex, and always puzzling. The writing style is invigorating. The solution is surprising and clever, and much blood is spilled before it arrives. This is without a doubt one of Doherty's very best novels, full of historical falvour, great characters, with a cracking plot. I reccomend this highly to any fan of crime fiction, not jsut historical fiction.

Due to its modern leader, Abbot Stephens, the St. Martin's-in-the-Marsh Monastery is a prosperous business center. In fact the Bendictine monks who reside at the abbey have a standard of living that is the envy of most non-residents in the year of our lord 1303. As the good time roll, the monks heatedly debate expanding their business or renewing their vows to God. The argument changes when Abbot Stephens is found dead inside his locked chamber with some of the monks thinking otherworldly forces from either heaven or hell punished their leader. Many of the local peasants agree believing that the ghost of a robber baron committed the crime.

Stephens' friend King Edward I wants secular answers so he sends his loyal Royal Clerk Hugh Corbett to investigate the homicide. Hugh and his able assistants begin to uncover secrets about Abbot Stephens that expands the list of suspects even as the killer murders more brothers leaving the calling card of the Devil's Mark behind.

Perhaps the leading medieval mystery writer of today (besides Corbett, there are Brother Athelstan and Canterbury Tales), P.C. Doherty provides a tremendous lock door fourteenth century who-done-it. The key to a Doherty tale are all here in CORPSE CANDLE. The characters are deep, believable, and enhance the feel for the era that is vividly described yet interwoven into the plot. The hero is a courageous intelligent person whom readers will respect. With all that inside a strong investigation with myriad of suspects, but complex so that the audience struggles with deciding whom is leaving behind the Devil's Mark.

Harriet Klausner

Like Arne Saknussemm's fictional manuscript pointing to his journey to the mythical center of the Earth, the Eckankar Lexicon reads like a guidebook to the very real inner worlds of Spirit by the Master guide (the Mahanta). Along the path there are Wayshowers (Eck Masters), Guideposts (planes) and Way Stations(Temples of Golden Wisdom).

The material ranges from the familiar (Soul, God, detachment)to the esoteric (Atma, Sugmad, vairag). There are often numerous cross-references for each entry, leading one who follows the trail on to deeper and deeper layers.

It makes an excellent companion to the Shariyat (the Eck Scriptures) or as an ongoing journey of its own. Also recommended the Shariyat-Ki-Sugmad Bk. I, the Rosetta Stone of God and Stranger by the River.

This is a spiritual dictionary providing an easy quick reference source of esoteric sacred words and concepts. A beautiful presentation of timeless, ageless wisdom. Simply written. Hauntingly familiar, yet unique and new. Sing some of the words aloud? Contemplate or meditate on a few?A spiritual knowledge enhancer. An illuminating way to begin or end a day. I am intrigued by the description of Temples of Golden Wisdom, pg 207.

This lexicon, among other things, is a tremendous guide to the people and places we find when we travel within ourselves. So very few religious texts describe the higher heavens in very much detail. This book offers specifics about each level of Soul's existence, and a plethora of words you can chant in contemplation to see what you can see for yourself!

Not only would I highly recommend this novel to all Fantastic Four fans, I would also strongly recommend it to those who are fans of Mr. Fantastic. This book proved how he could pull off having his own solo limited or ongoing comic series. Also worth mentioning was how the characterizations of all members of the F4 were done right, unlike in their current comic series. If you have only to buy one Fantastic Four novel in your lifetime, make this one it.

I think for the last several years now, the Fantastic Four novels have been better written then the comic. Case in point is this novel by Pierce Askegren. This writer makes good use of many leading FF characters that first appeared in the Stan Lee/Jack Kirby FF issues. The mad thinker is a complex villain here, Black Bolt and the Inhumans play important roles in the story, and the Fantastic Four are presented as the human heroes that they are. No fancy gimmicks here. It's a straight forward story from start to finish, and I'm very grateful for that.

Michael Jan Friedman's _Redemption of the Silver Surfer_ has been getting all the attention, but I think Pierce Askegren's _Countdown to Chaos_ is even better. The characterizations are all perfect, especially the Thing, and the plot is _much_ more interesting (and complicated!) than the usual villain-takes-over-the-world kind of stuff. Plus, it's much better than the comic book has been in about fifteen years. Don't let this great book pass you by!