This book about Richard Ramirez, the so-called Night Stalker, is simply one of the best, most painstakingly researched books I have ever read in the true crime genre. Philip Carlo takes you through every single facet of the Night Stalker case, from the victims and thier families, to the life story of Richard Ramirez and his family, through the trials and the evidence and even the groupies that gathered around Ramirez during his lentghy trial.

Carlo takes you down slowly, down into the mind of Richard Ramirez. By the time you realize where you are, its almost too late; you understand the Night Stalker. The groupies make sense. You feel the bewilderment of the victims. You understand the drive of the dectectives and see flaws in the system. And maybe, just maybe, you understand why someone like Doreen Ramirez would be so obsessed with a killer that she would make it her life's mission to marry him on San Quentin's death row.

Unlike many true crime novels, where the "shocking photos" are nothing more than pictures of the places and the peripheral people, Carlo has photos of crime scenes, Ramirez in various stages of his life, the women who were obsessed with him, the outrageous trial behavior. One tiny dissapointment: couldn't the photo of Laura Kendall (undeniably gorgeous but unmentioned in the book) be replaced by a shot of his supporters from the Church of Satan in court?

All in all though, this is a work to rival Graysmith's in depth coverage of the Zodiac killer. I highly reccomend it to fans of good true crime writing.

This book was one of the best written true crime books i have ever read. I read all 559 pages in 2 days, unable to put it down. It got into my dreams at night, and I'd awaken petrified that Richard Ramirez was at my window. It's THAT good!

The book starts off with very detailed descriptions of the crimes, from the killers point of view, goes on to the investigation (which is in no way boring as in other true crime novels), and then leads into Richards family life. It finishes up with the trial and the sickening marrige of Richard to Doreen. Yes, as it turns out, someone wanted to marry him.

It's a very well written book, that will keep you up at night and keep you reading. I recommend highly!!!

Absolutely the best-written and researched book about a serial killer I have ever read. Philip Carlo turns in a stellar performance detailing every aspect on the psychotic rampage of America's most deadly, viscous and sadistic serial killer. The extensive research was evident in the way Philip narrates the actual crimes themselves. A cold blooded, spine chilling account of Ramirez's unreal invasions of his innocent victim's homes while they slept had me checking my doors and windows at night. Fast reading exciting recounts of Ramirez's bloody spree and the LAPD's urgent chase to bring him down. The in-depth look into the Night Stalker's family history and upbringing helps explain what turned a little boy into a monster. The coverage of the court trial is very comprehensive and gives us a close up look at the inner workings of a major criminal case. Carlo regales us with a well-written, colorful and detailed look in to the mind and crimes of the Night Stalker. A must read for true crime aficionados.

Danny, the Champion of the World
By Roald Dahl

Are two heads better than one? Find out in Danny, the Champion of the World.

Danny and his father live in a small caravan next to his father's business, the filling station. Mr. Hazzel is rude, greedy and rich; he owns all the property except one little piece. One night Danny and his father go out to take all the pheasants from Mr. Hazzel's property before Mr. Hazzel's shooting party can begin. Will Danny and his father catch all the pheasants in time? Find out in Danny, the Champion of the World.

I like this book because it shows caring between Danny and his father. Danny and his father stick together like true friends. The pictures I see are in my mind; they're black and white but very detailed.

The author tries to teach you that by sticking together, anything is possible. You should really read this book.

Danny, the champion of the world is an awesome book. The book leaves you hanging at the end of chapters. It is full of suspense. It's about a boy whose mother died, and lives with his dad in a old gypsy wagon. His dad is a nice guy. He and Danny do lots of things together. Danny lives a good life until school comes and worst of all he finds out his dads deep dark secret. Then comes Hazels woods. Danny gets an ides that is very good. Then his father and him go on an adventure. Read the book to find out if his dads secret is good or bad? I really enjoyed the book. I've read it 8 times. I think you should read it because it has a little bit of humor a little bit of sadness and a little bit of action. So READ THE BOOK!!!!!!!

The book Danny Champion of the World is written by Roald Dahl. Danny and his dad live in the country of England. When Danny was a baby his mother died, so he lived with his dad in an old gypsy caravan. Danny's dad owns and works at the filling station on the only piece of land that his dad owns. Everything else, Mr. Victor Hazel owns. Watch out! Danny's dad has a secret that Danny will soon find out. Danny and his dad have a really good relationship. One night, Danny found out about his dad's secret. Danny's dad had been poaching pheasants at night over in Mr. Victor Hazel's woods. Danny didn't know how to react to this phenomenon. Danny found out about the secret in the caravan. They both live in the caravan. The land, which they live on, is a small piece of land that is surrounded by Mr. Victor Hazel's land. Mr. Victor Hazel is the owner of the brewery. He is the one who owns all the pheasants.

The book Danny Champion of the World is a great book to read. The book is not too much of a mystery. I don't like mysteries too much. This book is very surprising. The book is also not too boring at all. Once you think it's going to be boring something fantastic always happens. I think you might really like this book.

The ANSI/ISO C++ Professional Programmer's Handbook is a highly readable alternative to the standard C++ text (The C++ Programming Language, Stroustrup, AW). This book is shorter and sharper than Stroustrup and has better focus. It's able to achieve this because it assumes a working knowledge of the C++ language and is focused around the standard. It's well written and provides a valuable reference for C++ terms. It also contains practical advice on language usage, memory management, programming style, optimization.

Highly Recommended.

A comprehensive and in-depth treatment of ANSI C++ concepts, constructs, and features. Kalev is readable, competent, and detailed with plenty of practical, easy examples. I would recommend this book to anyone with prior knowledge of C++ who would like to learn the new and improved C++.

This is definately a 5-star book. Before finding this book, I'd looked high and low for a real *advanced* C++ book. Most C++ books are not worth the price for someone who's already an expert in C++. This book covers everything--all the details and nuances of RTTI, templates, namespaces--not just what can be done with the language, but the how and why. Even a seasoned C++ guru will be able to learn a thing or two from Kalev. But the book's format is easy an accessible, even for an intermediate user. Overall, it's great! I can't recommend this one enough!

Sugarman is a brilliant, matter-of-fact-writer, who does not pull any punches. You don't have to spend a lot of time wondering, "Geez, I wonder what message he is trying to convey in this scene?" You KNOW what Sugarman is telling you about. He is talking about passion, love and desire for The Doors, for Rock N' Roll and most of all, for life. Sugarman breaks all the rules, just to see what happens. He isn't interestesd in the 'James Dean Glory' of Rebelion, He wants to learn, to experience, to grab a hold of life on HIS terms, no one else's. Wonderland Ave. is a detailed account of his experiences. Sugaman has written about the underworld of Rock before and after reading Wonderland Ave., you will understand why he is authority on the subject. Wonderland Ave. will show what it's like to live life in the fast lane and also warn you could end up like a smashed-up car in a demoltion derby. Break the rules, crash and burn, grow up. live. Excellent tale, Danny. Jim would be proud. Dave Flanigan Poor Speller in Philly flan424@aol.com

Perhaps the myths of glamour and never ending hapiness in the music industry will soon be dispelled by reading Sugermans tale. Although we envy the glamorous life style, the theme so often touched on in this book, we realize the downfall and the end results when diregarding the future. Danny's story should be required reading for young people experementing with drugs. It also happens to be one of the most well written pieces I have read in a long while.

This book kept me captivated from the first page through the end. The most real and gripping account of excess and the music industry that I've ever read. As a book publicist I found myself wishing that I had the chance to work on this book. Sugerman definitely has a career ahead of him as a writer.

When I was about eight years old, I had the pleasure of meeting Syd Hoff at my elementary school. He autographed my copy of "Danny and the Dinosaur" and I was so very happy! About fourteen years later, I still remember this book fondly. As I shop for a gift for an expecting friend, I feel confidant purchasing this book and knowing it will be loved by both mother and child.

I absolutely adored this book as a child and am so thrilled tobe able to purchase it for my 3 year old son. I am sure that it willbecome a bedtime favorite of his just as it was mine so many years ago! I have never forgotten the name of this book and have looked forward to reading it to my children for as long as I can remember.

I am a 28 year old mother of one. I remember reading Danny and the Dinosour when I was a child. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed this book so much, that as a child, I memorized it, word for word, and then I would recite it back, without missing a word. I can't wait for my daughter to read this book, and I plan on purchasing it for her now, even though she is only 8 months old.

While this book may be a bit intimidating for first-time web authors, it is an incredibly useful manual for those who know the basics of HTML and need a reference to newer features and standards.

The first section is an extremely well-written overview of modern HTML: the history and philosophies behind CSS, javascript, the Document Object Model, and the designs of the two major browsers, as well as some excellent examples of writing portable code to access these features from different platforms and browsers. The clarity of the writing here is a very pleasant surprise from what is really just a reference manual and simply doesn't need to be this good. This section alone is probably enough to bring most "tag-only" authors up to date on the newer dynamic technologies.

It is the reference sections, however, for which most readers will buy this book, and they are excellent. There are comprehensive listings of HTML tags (including rendering behavior as well as scriptable attributes), javascript primitives, and DOM structures. Most importantly, every entry in the reference section is labelled very clearly with which browser and/or standards versions support it, a crucial piece of information to cross-platform authors which is left out of many similar books.

All in all, this book may be the only reference a developer really needs on his bookshelf for writing dynamic HTML. The only major complaint I have is that the author is (understandably) very script-centric, and never sufficiently discusses the down side of using heavily scripted pages when static pages or server-side scripts may suffice.

Though not the place you should go to learn DHTML outright, any web developer with an idea of how HTML, CSS, and JavaScript work will greatly benefit from this book.

The first pages contain a decent overview of how to use each aspect of DHTML featured in the book, so even if you're not familiar with something, you can get a good basis from where to start.

The book's main function is in its role as a reference. I absolutely LOVE this book. Every time I run across something I don't understand, a quick peek in the index and a complete explanation, including examples, is there to guide me.

Obviously this isn't a book to read cover-to-cover (unless you really wanted to), look at it as a DHTML encyclopedia, bearing a wealth of information. It is indexed very intelligently with both tabbed sections for HTML, DOM, CSS, and JavaScript, as well as a full alphabetical index in the back.

Whether you are new or old to web development, this book will definitely benefit you. Get it for your bookshelf, you'll find yourself flipping through it all the time. Not to mention there's a cute flamingo on the cover, who can resist a flamingo? :)

This book has it all. Opening with some excellent general tips on web design and the Internet and various browsers as a whole, Danny Goodman moves swiftly into an overview of the features of Cascading Style Sheets and DHTML before taking them on in more detail. The second half of the book is an exhaustive reference of the Document Object Models used by the fourth generation browsers. The authors style is informative and thorough whilst remaining informal and eminently readable. This book does make a remarkable effort to provide solutions to the problem dogging most web page developers today - namely "How can I use these new technologies without catering for a specific browser?" Here Goodman's experience clearly shines through as he demonstrates some exceptional methods for coping with this cross browser problem. As most of the other books on DHTML (or JavaScript for that matter) tend to aim at one particular browser, this book gives todays professional web designer exactly what they need. This is the Dynamic HTML book we have all been waiting for!!

As a performance technologist, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the complexity of problems we are asked to solve and the tools available to help solve them. I really appreciate the user-friendly way The Intervention Resource Guide is organized and the powerful simplicity and clarity of its writings. Specifically, I found the "back to the basics" information in the introductory chapters on selecting and implementing interventions helped me re-focus on the important fundamentals of our work. The short, yet content dense section on "How to Build Your Own Repertoire of Interventions" is filled with concrete, practical suggestions to deepen expertise, which challenged me to re-consider the degree to which I personally have contributed to the field of human performance technology. I really liked how the tools were dual-classified in the Matrix of Interventions; both factors, "the kind of performance change" and "level of audience," are a highly effective and useful way of organizing the interventions. The consistent presentation of information on each tool makes it easy to zero in on the content.

My suggestions to the editors for their next edition is threefold: explicitly define the criteria for including a tool, use this criteria to choose tools that are consistent with each other in scope, and include in an introductory chapter a conceptual model and practical information on the relationship of related professional fields to Human Performance Technology and the tools.

This book is a worthwhile investment. I plan to keep it within easy reach in my office.

As a manager of a large organization, I am constantly faced with situations where I want to implement new interventions to meet my ever-changing business needs. This is an excellent resource for helping me to identify the possible interventions needed and trigger my thinking about options to achieve my objectives. In the past I have had to use an HR professional or do a lot of digging to find what I can now find in one convenient book. In addition it gives me case studies that help me to see if the application will meet my need. I appreciate this one stop resource with linkages to other references.

I am an operations officer for a large military technical maintenance organization.

If you are reading this review you are probably a leader and manager with some familiarity of organizational and human performance. You may also be looking for ways to increase your value to your team. If so, this book should be a tremendous help you.

The Intervention Resource Guide (IRG) is a work that should sit not on your bookshelf, but on your desk top as a ready reference. I will not attempt to evaluate each intervention, as valuable as they are (of the ones I have used), but choose to focus on the heart of the book, "Part One, Intervention Selection and Implementation" which includes the "Matrix of Interventions".

The editors have efficiently and credibly provided the leader-manager with the ability to make use of the proper intervention given the goal of: "Establishing, Improving, Maintaining or Extinguishing" performance in the "Business unit, Process, Work group, or Individual". All 50 interventions are evaluated for relevency against the above eight factors. By using their intervention selection model, any leader and manager should be able to select a proven intervention leading to a high probability of performance improvement. Conversely the avoidance of selecting the wrong intervention is just as valuable, and through use of the matrix, the leader should be able to avoid costly damage to the organization she serves.

The Intervention Resource Guide provides an elegant solution to the workplace manager that wants to make the best use of systematic performance improvement tools.

This is the perfect guide for anyone who wants to equip their home for the 21st century. The focus is on networking the home for audio/video entertainment, telephone, computer & security systems, & making it all work together.

Planning for the new home and remodeling options are covered. Practical tips tell you exactly what components are needed for various levels of automation, including what it will cost and how to stretch your budget.

There are enticing hints about technology to come, how to prepare for it now and what is worth waiting for. Specific brand name products now on the market are analyzed with warnings about conflicting standards.

For more in depth study of specific topics there are lists of web resources and print publications. This book will help you understand what is available in home automation and how to make it a reality in your own home.

If you work in a multimedia company or a high tech multimedia laboratory, you probably have a systems administrator and lots of eager students of engineering that can help you design a media and data network infrastructure. However, most of us users who would like to design a network for security, multimedia and computing in a home or small business do not have a systems administrator. Brier and Hurley give an enlightened short course on media, data and electrical networking of your home and small business in Smart Homes for Dummies.

The big vision outlined in this book is simplicity afforded by thinking ahead. Save money and space by designing a network which accesses one main computer server; one digital TV; one VCR; one CD player; one radio; one internet or cable service line for multiple users within the home or business. All these media sources are routed via cables, modulators, preamplifiers and switch panels to each room so that users can choose what they want to play on their computer, speakers and video screens. They inform the reader about 'multi-zone' or multiple channel receiving and transmitting devices needed to to push your wired house to full capacity now and in the future. Costs, esthetics, and how to anticipate future technologies are considered. This book is a pleasant read and a fast way to get up to speed on how to 'Get to Wired'. Think of it like an adventure tour of networking wonderland by Bill and Ted. At the same time this is a most excellent (easy to use) source of reference tables for those of us who prefer to bypass the 'Bill sheet' and get something done.

I read all of these reviews, and I think that it's important to know what the book is and is not. The authors say it above -- it's not a "here's where you put this wire" type of book. It's a design guide and something that you need to read before you read the "here's where you put this wire" types of books. I found it to be extremely helpful in providing the big picture. I think the example provided in one of the reviews about pages 42-43 were unfair -- I looked them up -- they're from the overview sections at the front of the book. Check out the later parts of the book and it gives you more detail than you want -- the part on which modulators to buy for instance. If you are looking for a wiring guide for your audio or stereo system -- this is not for you; if you are looking to figure out an overall approach towards wiring audio, video, security, home control, home automation, etc. -- which I personally would urge you do before you plunk down money on this all -- then I think this book is perfect. There's only so much anyone can do in 300 pages, and I think the authors did a great job in doing what they set out to do -- to introduce me to all my options and what I need to be thinking about when putting together a smart home. The wiring diagrams I can find elsewhere.

Nelson Mandela's autobiography, "Long Walk To Freedom", has often been dubbed "Long Crawl to Freedom" by fellow classmates. Mr. Mandelawas, and is, a strong political figure in South Africa, insturmental is South African leadership. However, any man who can write 625 pages about himself is overdoing it a bit.

The autobiography has a detailed history of the ANC, pre-dating even Nelson Mandela's life. Yet, the novel seems to be Nelson's "name-dropping" biography, constantly describing the famous (and infamous) people he's encountered. Perhaps to a native South African, or a historian, the names could be infomational. For a 16-year old student, the names simply became confusing and complicated. We understand Nelson Mandela is a great man, but how much do we really need to know about his life?

Perhaps the most disapointing part of the entire novel is the ending. Though Mr. Mandela did aide in somewhat acheiving political equality for all South Africans, he sumarizes his entire 600 page novel in the last 20 pages of the book. It makes you wonder why you read all the details to begin with. The novel was informative, and fairly easy to understand, but the length is a major deturrent in ever reading this novel again.

Nelson Mandela brought his life and the history of South Africa for the past century alive in his vivid autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. This is the first autobiography I have ever read, and I must say that Nelson Mandela can write with extraordinary talent. The imagery and vivid accounts Mandela uses to display 100 years of history in apartheid ridden South Africa show the reader the true horrors that blacks went trough day to day.
Mandela takes the reader through his childhood in the Transkei, and then his troubled adulthood in Johannesburg. In Johannesburg, Nelson starts the first black law firm and begins to start a political life. He shows his development from an ignorant citizen to a fierce opponent to segregated society. Mandela also shows his life underground, in prison, and the prevail of good over evil. In addition, this book shows the development of the African National Congress, and other influential organizations that still strive to create racial harmony to this day. This book is the sacrifice 27 years of a man's life for the betterment of society.
The book is not only a good historical count, but also a great read. Nelson uses excellent literary techniques, colorful metaphors, imagery and personification to write a life story, which proves to be successful.
Every high school student should read this book to lessen racial prejudice in the United States and to preserve a tranquil society. I salute Nelson Mandela for his accomplishments and thank him for sharing his story with the world.
If you are interested in the triumph of good over evil, the end of a racially prejudice society or just a good read, pick up Long Walk to Freedom and let Nelson Mandela teach you about a culture and the changes he helped to make.

This book deserves a 10 star rating.

Nelson Mandela is not only a hero of mine, he also symbolizes human rights and the struggle for equality. Long Walk to Freedom is a remarkable story of a hero's journey.

I am a white man who grew up in a sheltered, white, middle class neighborhood. I have been enlightened after reading this book. In the past, I heard minor stories of Apartheid (from the white perspective), but I never knew about the horrifying human rights violations that were an everyday occurance for black and other non-white South Africans.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding Mandela's heroic life and the great antiapartheid movement. I would also recommend that this story be read by all future generations in all learning institutions.

This is the story of a hero, one of the greatest heroes of all time.

I bought my first (and only) copy of this book at a used bookstore. It was the only JDM bio there. Now I see why. I did not like this book.

This book chronicles Jim Douglas Morrison's life from childhood to his early death, of his meteoric rise to fame and nationwide adoration. The problem is that it gives us little of Jim Morrison below stereotypes and surface.

Jim is portrayed primarily as a drunk and a jerk who did drugs and used people and so forth. A more disturbing detail is that the more positive aspects of his life are covered in as little time as possible. We are given plenty of detail as to the nasty breakups with his high-school girlfriend, his argument with Patricia Kennealy-Morrison prior to her abortion, any semi-obscene gesture or word, and his brutal treatment of a one-night stand. Yet we are given virtually no information on his poetry and feelings about that, any brighter shades to his romantic relationships with aforementioned Kennealy-Morrison or Pamela Courson, or indeed of any friends he truly had.

Yet, despite the constant coverage of rockstar-badboy antics, Hopkins and Sugarman give him an embarrassing level of adulation. (I could easily psychoanalyze here, but I think I shall not) Had Morrison truly been as they wrote him here, I couldn't imagine anyone being devoted to him.

Adding bad to "verse," the writing style is so choppy and bloated at times that I found this book painful to read. It is also uneven: There is a pretty high level of detail throughout much of the book, and then three quarters through it speeds up and dumps the detail. (Did the editor die?)

Like "Wild Child," I cannot recommend this book. I advise you to read "Break On Through," which is a far more fluid and balanced account of Jim Morrison's life and death.

No one Here Gets Out Alive is the compelling biography of Jim Morrison, told through the perspective of Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman. Through their unique experiences with Jim Morrison, Hopkins and Sugerman relive his life and philosophical legacy. The story is told through the poetic eye's of Jim Morrison, yet contains many outside analytical references to his behavior and persona. Morrison's essence is brought to life as his magnetic personality is captured through abstract dialog and inspiring stories. Morrison's tragic life is traced back from his childhood to the deeply spiritual awakenings that shaped his monumental life. One of Morrison's early memories was of a graphically depicted car accident in the dessert of New Mexico. Morrison portrays a prophetic Native American entering his soul, thus changing him forever. As Jim Morrison continued discovering himself through college, he became influenced by the new revolution in modern authors like Jack Kerouac and poetry from the Beat generation. However, Jim's ultimate inspiration came from within. The freestyle tone of the book is to the far extreme of non-conventional literature. The imagery provided within Morrison's tales paints an eclectic picture containing the memories Jim created. One who reads this book must step outside mediocrity and become open to a bold perception of the world. No One Here Gets Out Alive is a pivotal view at one of America's great modern poets and is recommended to those who appreciate great minds.

I first read "No One Here Gets Out Alive", in 1984, when I was 19 years old. I thought 'Wow, what a way to live! The quintessential live fast, die young, leave a good looking corpse story.' The first time I read it I read in it straight through in a near 24 hour marathon..., I was completely enthralled. I have re-read this book at least 40 times now, and am on my third copy. However the more often I read it (and granted as my perspective on life changes as I 'mature') I see that a lot of what is written (particularly the parts written by Daniel Sugerman...thinly disguised as the adolescent character Denny Sullivan in the book) definitely glorifies the self destructive, out of control lifestyle that Jim lead. While he may have been a musical genius, I can see now that if even 3/4 of what is written in this book is true, he was also a self centered, thoughtless, callous a**hole much of the time. (Most alcoholics are.) Don't get me wrong however. Doesn't mean he wasn't interesting as hell. It is a great read (otherwise would I have purchased three copies?), just keep in mind that Jim Morrison was as human as the next person. He was not a 'god', or even a 'lord' as Sugerman refers to him in the foreword of the book, he was human. Good points, bad points, and all points in between. Definitely one of the best ones out there though. Try "Riders On The Storm", written by Jim's Doors bandmate John Densmore, for a different perspective, or David Crosby's autobiography 'Long Time Gone' for a glimpse in to what spending an evening with Jim Morrison was like. Another suggestion would be "Break On Through; The Life & Death Of Jim Morrison" by James Riordan and Jerry Prochnicky, for a less 'worshipy', more analytical look at Jim's life (and death). I would like to hear personally from others who have read 'No One Here Gets Out Alive', to see what they think of it.