I can't believe, I REFUSE to believe, that this book is not in print. Out of all the Doors rehashed drunken Jim tales and bad poetry insights (with a few notable exceptions), this was the best Doors book around. This is where Jim's poetry, prose, attitude and expression developed, improved and kicked rear in the whole world: HIS MUSIC. The lyrics are the best writing of Morrison hands down. I'll take Moonlight Drive or The End or Indian Summer or End Of The Night over anything in that Lords and the New Creatures book anyday! Bring this one back, publishers! NOW!

When I first got this book I wasn't sure what to think. It was cheap, easy to read, and it came with a CD. I thought it was to good to be true. I took it home and started using it. The book covers everthing you could want to know. Like reading sheet music, getting ryhtm, playing fast, and even how to write your own music. On top of that they make jokes that are funny. Even if you don't have drums you can learn because they have a section for teaching air drummers. This is a really great book. No drummer should be without it.

Engines Afloat: From Early Days to D-Day, Volume 1: The Gasoline Era by Stan Grayson (Marblehead, MA: Devereux Books, 1999.)

Reviewed by Scott M. Peters, Collections Historian, Michigan Historical Museum, Lansing, Michigan

Stan Grayson's book Engines Afloat, Volume 1, is a great example of industrial history at its finest. The story of the marine engine manufacturers has usually been treated somewhat as a sidelight to the automobile industry, and now they get their due in fine form. Grayson presents wonderfully complete stories of the early pioneers of the engines such as Clark Sintz, the ingenious inventor with unfortunately minimal business sense, for what they really were.

Capturing quotations from retrospective views from industry giants adds immeasurably to the starting dates, model introductions and other data. One from C. B. McCuaig of the Buffalo Gasolene Motor Company written in 1917 about the maturation of the industry could easily be adapted to the computer industry today. "He likened the industry in 1910 to a 'noisy, bumptious, self-opinionated' youngster who, by 1917, had become 'mature, quiet, self-reliant and inclined to take both the present and future seriously.'"

What Grayson excels at is establishing the context for the manufacturers, one example being the importance of standardization of parts. Joe van Blerck, one of the important builders with a gift for mechanical excellence, virtually built each of his early engines different from the previous one. The result became a service nightmare for repairing and replacing parts.

Among the engine manufacturers is a great geographic diversity that Grayson captures. While most manufacturers were located in the Midwest and East Coast, he covers in detail manufacturers such as Hall-Scott of California, which was perhaps best known for their aviation work but certainly had a large impact on motorboating.

Grayson devotes an entire chapter to Gray Motor Company of Detroit, led in its early years by the marketing genius Ora J. Mulford. Mulford, with his passion for motor boats, carried on the business of building excellent marine engines during the roughest years for the industry. Mulford made each race won with a Gray motor an opportunity for the boating press to mention the firm, and advertised the company so intensively to the point that it was recognized as one of the factors in establishing the pleasure boat market. Coverage reflective of the later years of the era emphasizes the constant improvement in speeds achieved and engine durability. The designs become virtually totally enclosed, and the power-to-weight ratios improve dramatically.

Grayson's book might be a disappointment to people looking for specific information on how to restore a particular engine, but the importance of the contextual stories he records about the formation and maturing of this most significant industry far outweigh the negatives. The book has a large number of illustrations derived from catalog cuts and charts that can help with identification of the age and possibly the manufacturer of engines.

Engines Afloat should find a place on any marine historian's bookshelf.

Scott M. Peters January 6, 2001

The Epic Of Gilgamesh: A Myth Revisited is the oldest work of literature in recorded history and an epic poem which is aptly translated into English by Danny P. Jackson, and into Hebrew by Saul Tchernichovsky. Color illustrations in an impressive mosaic style mark this hardbound, bilingual rendition, and three informative essays about Gilgamesh round out this most impressive volume. An evocative and powerful presentation, The Epic Of Gilgamesh is an enthusiastically recommended addition to any personal, academic or public library collection.

This book is a fascinating, disciplined, and relatively sympathetic study of the esoteric subculture during the 1970s in the U.S., which includes an in-depth report on Tarot and Tarotists from a sociocultural viewpoint.

Jorgensen observed and experienced the world of Tarot as an "insider" and describes it in terms used by Tarotists. His findings are based on field research which he conducted during the 1970s when he worked as a professional card reader in a community in southern California (which he calls "the Valley").

He views the world of Tarot as located in a "social scene" which he describes as an esoteric, occult, and cultic milieu, which "consists of common themes (esoteric and occult knowledge) and means (social networks, study groups, cults, sects, movement organizations, confederations, published literature) whereby participants structure and organize their experiences and activities."

The author views Tarot as an organized system of socially created knowledge which is subject to human interpretation and serves as the basis of such human practices as divination. On the other hand, he is unsure that the Tarot can predict specific events in a scientifically observable way or, more generally, that magic "works".

I recommend this book to readers who want to learn about the sociocultural aspects of the esoteric scene from the point of view of an "insider". I also recommend it for those who want to understand better how sociocultural theories may help to explain the popularity and effectiveness of Tarot and how it is used by readers and querents to structure their worlds and give their lives meanings.

This book is about learning how to do skating moves. This book will show you how to do hand plants, tail grabs, and a lot of other tricks one by one. I would recommend this book to any skating lovers.

Don't be misled by the apparently narrow title of this book - it is actually a very comprehensive text which addresses many pertinent areas to Facilities Management.

The material is excellent and up to date, offering useful case studies.

I shall be adopting this excellent book for my intermediate level and final level undergraduates.

This book, I found truly remarkable. It shows that prison can reform some people. Mr.Hamilton shows that there is the possibility of rehablilitation in the prison system. The sad part is the death of his mother, and the violent death of his younger brother, that sends him into a life committing crime. His come back however, is remarkable. What he has done for himself and for other immates around the world is good. Helping incarcerated fathers to remain fathers to their children even behind bars. I recommend this book to all those that think the system spends too much of their tax money on people who will never change. It will change your way of thinking.

While out of print, you may be able to find a copy of this excellent book if you look for it. As a musician, I especially love the book with its detailed photographs of Ferrington's custom guitars. You can really appreciate the finer details because many of the photographs are up close. Even the non-musician or non-luthier could appreciate this volume of brilliant color photographs. I've leafed through mine so many times that it's starting to get dog-eared.

After reading this book so many times, I've developed a new way to enjoy concerts: looking out for Ferrington guitars on stage. For example, at a recent Richard Thompson concert, the artist played two different Ferrington gutiars, one of which is featured in this book. I was almost as excited to see the guitar up close as I was to see the performer playing it.

I received this book from my mom as a christmas present in 1993. I could not believe the guitars that Mr. Ferrington has created. For instance, a single-neck guitar that is both regular electric and a baritone. Or the beautiful mini accoustics built for Linda Rondstadt and Crystal Gayle. There are pictures of his accoustic basses as well as classical string instruments that show quite clearly the he is a master of his arts. If you are musician or just enjoy instruments as art, you will definitely like this book.