After keeping this book for the six weeks the library allows, my four year old was so sad to let it go that we are buying it. It is one of those rare books that a parent won't mind reading over and over again. I thought maybe it was a little advanced for a four year old when we checked it out, but it is so rich in detail that a wide range of ages will enjoy it. Even the adults. The pictures are excellent and the thumb tabs make it easy to find the sections to review again. I think this will be a favorite for years to come. I have reserved Nicolas Harris' other books from the library and we may be back to buy those, too.

This book was way ahead of its time. Long before Allende was being brought down, right when Diem was being raised up, Monsarrat was writing about how nations get destabilized. It doesn't take much: a couple of well-timed rumors, a few outrages, and before you know it, you've got a nation going down the tubes. At some point you begin to realize that the destablization and violence have taken on a life of their own, and that the only sensible option is to get out until they've run their course.

Nick Hobbs' last book, published in 1982, is a summary of the first 20 years of Re-ED. This book explains the principles and strategies that allowed Re-ED to outlive it's origins as a NIMH grant project and become the foundation for more that 20 organizations serving children and families throughout America. Those organizations and the American Re-EDucation Association continue to reinvent Re-ED everyday through continuing innovation in services.

The Opera Journeys Mini Guide Series is just wonderful; it's like a "Cliff Note" of the opera, and extremely informative and educational. I particularly like the size; these guides are not cumbersome and fit right into my shirt pocket. The ladies will find sufficient room in their pocketbooks.

The story narrative with the music examples is excellent. I prefer it to a libretto; indeed, it's a much easier way to follow the essence of the story. The essay is magnificent; very well written, not pedantic, and extremely insightful and comprehensible. I congratulate Burton Fisher for a job very well done and Amazon for making these handy, information-laden booklets available. The Opera Journeys Mini Guide Series is a wonderful contribution to opera education and opera appreciation.

My tip: acquire the entire collection because you will be in easy reach of superbly presented opera guides consisting of story analysis, principal characters in the opera, story narrative with music highlights, background, analysis, and commentary.

Heinz Dinter, Ph.D.

This is a wonderful book compiled from the papers of Tsar Nicholas II's children's English teacher. It was also published under the title "The House of Special Purpose".

"A simple guide to calculating and interpreting birth charts for effective application in daily life", is what is says on the cover of this book. I found that this statement, in my opinion, is true.

Nicholas Campion is a well-respected astrologer who has written several other astrology titles - Mundane Astrology: the astrology of nations and organisations (with Michael Baigent and Charles Harvey), The Book of World Horoscopes, The New Astrology: the art and science of the stars (with Steve Eddy), and Zodiac: enhance your life through astrology. He is also an award winning, internationally authority on astrology as well as past President of the Astrological Association of Great Britain and the Astrological Lodge of London.

The Ultimate Astrologer is divided into 17 Chapters covering everything from the planets to becoming a professional astrologer. Also included are the necessary tables for calculating a birth chart so that you don't need to go and buy extra books if you want to have a go at working out your own birth chart. The tables provided are aimed for the reader in the UK and USA and include the tables of houses, ephemeris (from 1960 - 2010) and daylight savings times.

From the beginner to the more experienced astrologer, this title has something to offer readers with a wide variety of knowledge. The chapters start off with the basics, such as the meaning of the planets, zodiac signs and houses. There is a comprehensive chapter devoted to calculating a birth chart as well.

For the more experienced reader there are several chapters introducing prediction, relationship charts, horary, electional and financial astrology as well as several other branches of specialised topics that come under astrology

Overall, this is a worthwhile investment for the student of astrology that includes nearly everything you need to draw up a birth chart. While you are exploring astrology this is a perfect book because it will save you from having to buy an ephemeris, book of tables and daylight savings book - in a sense The Ultimate Astrologer pays for itself. That in itself is an achievement! I would recommend this title for the beginner/intermediate astrology student.

This was a great book, and gave the truth about the pros and cons of gene therapy and the progress that has been achieved. This book is appropriate for undergrads with a strong science background, medical students, science graduate students, and physicians and researchers and would be very important reading on this quickly emerging field. Included are some nice diagrams and some up-to-date key references in the field that will encompass the future of medicine.

When you think about someone being diagnosed with depression, teenagers might not come first to mind. But teenagers are not exempt from things that can make adults experience an extreme feeling of being overwhelmed and saddened. They are just as vulnerable as adults when it comes to having fights and disagreements with friends or family, and problems at school could intensify their negative emotions. With all the problems teenagers encounter these days, how can you determine whether a teenager's depression is serious enough to warrant treatment?

The book "Understanding Teenage Depression: A Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management," addresses this information. Readers will become more familiar with depression -- how common it actually is; who is likely to be at risk; how to determine if a teenager is depressed; and what treatments are available. Other important information in the book discusses life events that could lead to teenage depression; various therapies; and other disorders that may afflict teenagers.

My ParenTime recommends the book, "Understanding Teenage Depression" by Maureen Empfield, M.D., and Nicholas Bakalar -- it is well-organized, eye-opening, and informs readers about a problem that is much more common today than parents realize.

If you are familiar with the Usbourne books, you'll know the format of this book without ever seeing it. It has 21 two page chapters. Each chapter has 3 to 6 women in it, with two or three paragraphs on each woman and lots of photos and illustrations. Perfect for the short attention span of middle schoolers and even appropriate for upper elementary children although they may have some trouble with the vocabulary. (Strong readers will do fine.) Exasperating to adults who would like more information on each person and who would like to see longer chapters on scientists, reformers and leaders instead of the chapters on notorious women and robbers and rogues. Lots of good information at an unbeatable price.

Finally someone has produced a quality Uzbek dictionary/phrasebook! This one is not plagued by numerous spelling errors and Turkisms, as is Khakimov's lexicon. Neither does it feature literary Uzbek language, such as one finds in Ismatulla's works, but rather conversational Uzbek. If you want to be able to speak with Uzbeks, this is the one book to buy!

The book features a few pages on the history of Uzbekistan and a basic grammar/pronunciation guide at the beginning. The first half of the book is comprised of an Uzbek-English/English-Uzbek dictionary. This is followed by a phrase book organized around 32 different topics, many with helpful cultural notes. All of the Uzbek is transliterated into Latin script.

This book is a must-have for English speakers headed to Uzbekistan or northern Afghanistan. I highly recommend it.