An absolutely amazing read: probably the best book ever written. Travel with Ivan to Reno, NY and Yugoslavia and meet some of the scariest successful failures imaginable, and try to remember that it isn't fiction! These are portraits of our fallen heroes illuminated with Diogenes' halogen pen - yes, that really was ex-NY Jet superstar Mark Gastineau hoisting his teenage girlfriend's mom onto an exercise bike; yes, that really was the Godfather of Soul contrite before a local judge; and yes, it really was a bearded Bobby Fischer leading his circus into the war zone. Ivan has finally demonstrated his mastery of the craft, but God! I wish it were fiction. The Yankee stadium scene, with all of the unbelievable but utterly commonplace losers, hit home a little too hard. He has made a strong argument about neo-nihilist America, and it, ironically, is only his success as an author that counters it effectively.

I couldn't put this book down. My husband was reading it at the same time, and we actually bickered over whose turn it was to have the book. The author's insightful style of writing rendered the people he covered memorable and all too human. In the end, in was hard to decide which sketch was best--they were each unique and touching. I ended up ordering the book for friends. Some sketches were dark and disturbing, others hilarious and poignant, and all were thought-provoking. There seemed to be something in this book for everyone--and it's the type of book you wish would never end.

The history of how the concept of number has evolved over the centuries is an amazing example of necessity being the mother of invention. Each new advancement was in response to a need for new numbers to solve or extend the valid solutions of mathematical equations. Sometimes, as in the circumstances for negative integers, there was an immediate practical necessity. In other cases, the need was a theoretical one so that equations could be solved. What makes the evolution of numbers most interesting is that in each case, the additions defined a superset, and all of the operation rules used on the previous set still applied. This is a fact that is much under-appreciated, even among mathematicians. In this book, Niven steps through the development of the expanding supersets of numbers, starting at the positive integers and ending with the complex.
His explanations of the "new" sets of numbers are clear, and one can see the logical consistency that is interwoven into the definitions of all types of numbers. Problem sets are given at the end of the sections with solutions to many of the problems placed in an appendix. As an undergraduate, I worked through all of the required problems in my courses, but never really appreciated how clean and unencumbered the consistencies between sets of numbers are. It took many years of teaching before I really understood the intrinsic beauty of how all the numbers are defined. Had I read this book, I would have achieved this level of joy in the time it took me to read it. Which was about two and a half hours.

In this concise [only 140 pages] presentation of the number system, Professor Niven parallels its historical development from ancient origins in counting to twentieth-century theorems on transcendental numbers, always with clear explanations, and without belaboring the history. A glance at the book's Table of Contents serves to illustrate:

Ch.1 - Natural Numbers and Integers
Ch.2 - Rational Numbers
Ch.3 - Real Numbers
Ch.4 - Irrational Numbers
Ch.5 - Trigonometric and Logarithmic Numbers

Ch.6 - The Approximation of Irrationals by Rationals
Ch.7 - The Existence of Transcendental Numbers
Ap.A - Proof That There Are Infinitely Many Prime Numbers
Ap.B - Proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic
Ap.C - Cantor's Proof of the Existence of Transcendentals
Ap.D - Trigonometric Numbers

Following the four appendices is the chapter, "Answers and Suggestions to Selected Problems", addressing the book's problem sets; and a very useful Index. Proofs are very clear, thorough, and understandable; the proofs and explanations gradually increase in complexity from the beginning chapters to the appendices, as the cover notes state:

> Most readers will find the early chapters well within
> their grasp, while ambitious readers will profit by
> the more advanced material to be found in later chapters.

"Old Devil Wind" will get very young children in the mood for Halloween night by telling them what happened "One dark and stormy night" when a Ghost began to wail. One by one other things in the house, from the stool and the broom to the door and the floor, as well as the owl and the witch outside, begin to add their own spooky sounds to the dark and stormy night. You can think of this story by Bill Martin, Jr. (author of "Brown, Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" and "Happy Hippopotami") as sort of a creepy Halloween version of "Old MacDonald." Barry Root ("Pumpkins") provides the suitably eerie illustrations chronicling the growling cacophony of eerie sounds that builds to the arrival of the Old Devil Wind at the climax. "Old Devil Wind" should work well for youngsters who can still count the number of times they have gone trick or treated on the fingers of one hand (without using the thumb).

Wonderful book for story time. Easy to involve children in the excitement of the book. Lots of opportunities to involve sounds while reading at a Halloween party.

On the Eve deals with the friendships and love affairs between a twenty-year old provincial Russian woman named Elena and a number of men in her social circle: the young artist Shubin; the intellectual Berzeniev; and, ultimately, Berzeniev's friend, the Bulgarian revolutionary Insarov. Though Berzeniev is in love with Elena, he introduces her to Insarov (who Berzeniev describes as the only interesting man he's met at the university), and Insarov and Elena rather quickly fall in love and secretly marry. Elena's parents, particularly her father, don't care much for the impoverished foreigner that their daughter loves, especially since they've recently found her a nice Russian man for a fiance. Worse still, the start of the Crimean War ("on the eve" of which the novel is set) will force Elena to leave her parents and join Insarov in Bulgaria if she is to stay with him.

In addition to being an interesting love story in its own right, On the Eve develops a couple of themes often seen elsewhere in Turgenev's work (and also that of some other Russian authors around the same time). In the conflict between Elena and her parents, we see shades of the generational conflict that Turgenev would develop very well two years later in Fathers and Sons. The fact that the only man who can thoroughly win Elena's heart is a Bulgarian (as well as comment by Berzeniev about Insarov mentioned above) reflects the aimlessness and superfluity that so often shows up among Russian men in the literature of this time period (e.g., Turgenev's Rudin). While Shubin has his art and Berzeniev his historical studies, Insarov is driven by a cause (the freedom of the Bulgarian people) that is deeper than anything that Russian men were pursuing at the time and accordingly makes him a more intriguing character.

The novel did read, for me at least, a little slowly at first, and I found that some of the characters (Shubin in particular) weren't much more than cliched archetypes when they could have been fleshed out a little better. However, On the Eve is definitely one of Turgenev's better works and was all in all a worthwhile read.

Though its' a very old book still worth reading. It was interesting to read gradual building-up of character - Insarov. The end of Insarov was a melancholy. I think Turgenev had tried to shape his own views in the form of Insarov.How Insarov becomes so soft in front of Elena is also beautiful. This book depicts the frustrations, struggle,revolution,parents' dilemma and love all together in the form of this great story of Insarov & Elena. You can't stop your tears while reading the helplessness of Elena on gradual ending of Insarov. Really a legendary work ! Worth reading many times !

I have played golf in Ireland for sixteen years and many rounds with the author. His passion for golf is overwhelming. He knows the game from every point of view. He will entertain, educate and introduce you to some of the greatest courses in the world. The stories of some of Irelands golfers are the best part for me. They are his own experiences, not second hand. He has the Irish gift with words plus a major in journalism; a father newspaperman who could entertain you for hours with Irish stories and owns and operates a printing company. With that background he can't miss. This is his first book and I can guarentee it's only the begining. It reads easy. Just remember the Irish have the gift of blarney.

Ivan Morris's book, Only Golf Spoken Here, will entertain more than just passionate golfers. It is witty and thoughtful and gives even non-golfers a glimpse into what makes him so passionate about the game. I was charmed and hope to see more from Mr. Morris.

The Penguin Guide to Bargain Compact CDs, 2nd Ed. is a helpful and valued tool. I have used it alone in checking CDs and also together with the more comprehensive 1997 Penguin Guide and the Gramophone CD books. If there had to be a choice I would probably opt for the new 1999 Penguin Guide to CDs that just came out. For those seeking low price quality CDs, this guide is excellent although some of the more contemporary and obscure (lesser known)composers are scarely covered.

This is a keeper but should be supplemented by a comprehensive guide as well for those really into classical CDs. Now, if Penguin only had an Index, like Gramophone? But, Penguin justifies each of its choices rather than just reviewing one and listing others as does Gramophone.

For this alone, pushed I opt for Penguin over Gramophone. Incidentally look up almost any work and seldom is there agreement on the best works. Are music critics like economists, too? Mgmtdr@hotmail.com

This volume of the Penguin Guide focuses on mid-range, budget and super budget CDs only. It is a complement to the 1996 guide as well as the 1998 update. It is particularly interesting because it reviews many older yet famous recordings that I was not familiar with and makes collecting easier and less risk taking as it rates sound quality. It's nice to know that many great recordings are available for a fraction of the cost of their full price editions . Highly recommended.

This book is truly beautiful...something wonderful to display on a coffee table or bookshelf to fondly remember your travels by or simply as a feast for the eyes of those who have yet to experience the wonderful old city of Prague. The photographs are beautiful and the text has been kept to a minimum so it's more of a photographic journal than a picture every once in awhile used to describe a paragraph of words. Only one problem...the book is entirely in German so unless you're fluent, keep looking for an English edition. The cover says "PRAG" so you'll be able to tell right away that it's not English.

I just purchased this book. I was in Prague in June and had dinner in the Municipal House - Obecni Dum - and tea in the Grand Hotel Europa. The store where I purchased the book had it in German but also in English. I bought the English edition. The photos are exquisite. Anyone who has been in Prague would treasure this book. It is so much better than the tourist books that were on sale in Prague when I was there. Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed reading this book. For me Prague is an amazing and beautiful place. Reading this book makes me feel like I'm right back in the city again. I also like the fact that the book is fairly upbeat and easy to read. I definitely recommend reading this book over a Pivo in a Pivovar in Mala Stana.

I am a great fan of Czech literature, and eagerly awaited the arrival of my copy of Prague Tales (just six months after returning from Prague myself).

When I got my copy, there were eight blank pages in the range of 140-155. That is to say, eight pages of text were omitted, not that my book had extra blank pages thrown in.

The publisher should be notified. Check your copy carefully. It is a real pity, as this is considered one of the best books to come out of the Czech Republic. I'll get my next copy in a book store where I can Czech it out (sorry, couldn't resist!).

If you want to know where business is going in our upside-down world, read this book. It's a short read that will jump-start your thinking.

Leaders of organizations know, and less often act on, the principles in this book. For example, it is crucial to align people to care about the valuable mission of the company. This book offers some ideas on how to do that. Really great companies get clear on position descriptions and style profiles that work in each job. This book also tells how to do this.

We've all been in situations where it all flowed, where the energy was positive and powerful. This book, more than others I've seen, captures the concept and spirit of what business needs to be -- especially in light of recent challenges to our whole economic way of life. The ideas in this book hold the kernel of strategies that will help us rebuild -- as human beings who have businesses and personal lives. There is no way to separate the two.

On the downside: The book could be both more organized and more readable. But the same could be said for the Celestine Prophecy and that book was not to be missed, if you are a conscious, developing human being. Perhaps this book will be the Celestine Prophecy for leaders of companies.

AFTER A TOUGH SUMMER, THIS BOOK HELPED ME TO GET RE-"ENERGIZED". IT'S INSIGHTFUL AND MOTIVATING MESSAGE REALLY HELPED ME EXAMINE MY LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND METHODS. I APPROACH EACH DAY AT HOME AND AT MY BUSINESS WITH A NEW OUTLOOK AND ENTHUSIASM! JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED!

Andres Bello strode like a giant across 19th century Latin America. A poet, educator, linguist, political leader, and skilled prose writer, he possessed a truly vast intellect. In these "Selected Writings," editor Ivan Jaksic and translator Frances M. Lopez-Morillas have made a small sample of his legacy--his collected works in Spanish fill 26 volumes--available to English-speaking readers.

Bello's prose and poetry in this anthology focus mainly on the topics of language, literature, education, history, and political science. Some of his more technical writings are a bit dry, and will, I imagine, appeal more to specialists in some of these fields than to the general reader. But to the discriminating general reader, this volume offers a wealth of intellectual delights and insights.

Among the book's many fine highlights are Bello's long poem "Allocution to Poetry," which captures a sweeping vison of Latin America, and an address delivered at the University of Chile in which he prophetically envisions the great Chilean authors who would follow him. His call for universal literacy in "On the Aims of Education" is evidence of a mind truly ahead of its time.

Although this is an excellent edition--it includes superb introductory materials, among them a fascinating chronology--there is room for improvement. Some of Bello's more reference-laden writings would, I believe, be more meaningful to a broader audience if they had been accompanied by more extensive annotations. Nevertheless, this is an outstanding book, and an excellent tribute to a man of truly towering intellect.

Dr. Ivan Jaksic's scholarly edition of Andres Bello's works constitutes an excellent anthology of the great humanist who was Bello. Translator Lopez-Morillas' rendering into English of Bello's nineteenth century Spanish denies validity to the old italian axiom "traduttore, tradittore" (translator equals traitor). It is impossible to summarize Andres Bello's numerous volumes on themes as varied as constitutional law, Spanish grammar, and the creation of the University in Chile: Jaksic's Selected Writings of Andres Bello gives the reader the most practical alternative. Gonzalo Palacios, Ph.D