I ordered this book after reading other peoples reviews. Something in particular I was looking for was information about clouds (types/formations, significance).

This book has exactly the information I was looking for (and more); detailed information about clouds - including hunderds of pictures - allow me to identify and name the different cloud types. It also explains very well how this all relates to the overall weather situation.

Although the book is targetted towards North American weather, I did not find this a major disadvantage. Weather situations in the US and Canada are mostly used as examples, and knowing the general European situation, information is easily put into context.

When ordering I was a little bit worried this was one more popular weather book with the standard stuff. No sir! This book definitely also serves the more serious weather observer.

Recommended!

I bought this book to prepare for a Meteorology course in college. It prepared me well giving great detail that even a beginner could understand. Contains Stunningly Beautiful pictures.

A wonderful guide to weather and climate. Stunning photographs with an easy to use reference section. If you're interested in weather phenomena, you really should own this book

I came into this book with some interest in learning to identify birds around the yard to a greater extent. This is the first book that I've seen to go beyond the basics of shape and color. It's actually a virtual biology lesson on birds with fine details about feathers, and molting among other topics. Very detailed materials that help the reader understand how to see the parts of the bird beyond quick impressions in order to make identifications. But I also gained a new insight into an animal that I took for granted just seeing every day. Sibley is an incredible artist and liberally demonstrates his concepts with sketches and drawings of a wide variety of birds. The combination of beautiful art, and clear, educational writing makes one of the best introductions I've ever seen to birds, and how to know and appreciate them. Highly recommended for the casual as well as serious bird enthusiast.

Perfect for the aspiring or beginning birder, veterans will wonder how they got started without it. Sibley begins with the simplest, logical advice - equipment, where to go to find birds (did you know Central Park, NY, rates with Cape May and the Monterey Peninsula for sighting migrating birds - it's the largest patch of green for miles), keeping records and avoiding mistakes. The bulk of this slim book is devoted to identifying, from behavior and voice to body configuration, feather arrangements, color patterns, structure of tail and wings, molt and more. Clear color illustrations provide plentiful examples throughout. Sibley teaches how to see and what to look for, depending on time of year, weather and habitat, and provides lots of useful information about common and unusual birds by way of illustrative examples.

I was fortunate enough to attend a talk by David Allen Sibley at the Princeton University Bookstore a couple of weeks ago. He's a shy person, but once he starts talking about his favorite subject (birds, of course), he's as talkative as the most garrulous of people. Even in person, then, his knowledge of all minutiae of the avian world is staggering. That doesn't mean he doesn't understand the common pitfalls of the struggling, novice birder who wants so much to identify that giant bird with the colors of a goldfinch or the raptor as small as a songbird. He told us a couple of amusing stories about bird misidentification, one of which involved a mistake he made years ago... which just goes to show that if Mr. Sibley can make a birding mistake, there's hope for the rest of us.

Anyway, "Sibley's Birding Basics" does, indeed, serve as the introduction to his bestselling field guide that he'd originally hoped to include in the field guide. He covers all the essential bird identification topics in a clearly, if scholarly, written manner, from the importance, structure and groupings of feathers; to the bird's outer anatomy; to birdsong; to clues to bird identification (behavior, molt patterns, feather wear-and-tear) that aren't covered at all in other field guides. And the illustrations, a talent for which Mr. Sibley is justifiably famous, are the most meticulous you'll find anywhere, whether the drawing shows a comparison between a summer tanager and a northern cardinal or simply of feather types.

Finally, "Birding Basics" includes a brief but to-the-point admonition to birders who might venture too close or too noisily to the objects of their fascination. For example, you read about the usefulness of "pishing" in other books and hear about it from other expert birders, but Mr. Sibley believes this technique is overused and has the potential to harm many birds' ability to go about their difficult daily existence.

In conclusion, run, don't walk, to the nearest computer and order this book from amazon.com!

These emotional tales of ordinary people becoming heros bring fantasy to an all new level. Children learning to love after being treated horribly... Fear of death being faced with courage... Mental Instability and many other ordinary circumstances of life become the basis of salvation for many of the characters in this book. However, the depth of topic is not so harsh when told in this fantasy setting and actually encourage hope and faith in the reader.

Children and adults alike well revel in the amazing characters and loyalty the followers of the King inspire among each other. It's a true tale of what kind of kingdom love, loyalty and faith can build. Also, it weaves scriptural parables into eloquent fables that make wonderful bedtime stories for all ages. Emotionally, this book touches the depths of souls that few can. A truly magical experience, Tales of the Resistance makes a complimentary companion piece to its prequel Tales of the Kingdom.

After searching for years for a copy of this book, I finally found one in a local outlet bookstore. I was absolutely thrilled. I own the other two books in the Kingdom Tales Series, and couldn't leave the collection incomplete. These stories are wonderful for lovers of fairy tales and moral tales alike. While the basis for the series is Scriptural, the books themselves have an appeal that overreaches religious barriers. I would definitely reccommend this series to anyone with children or who loves fantasy. Particularly nice about Resistance are the stories of everyday people becoming extraordinary, and the art of Jack Stockton -- breathtaking.

The "fairy tales" in this set of books delineate specific spiritual principles, and thus work wonderfully in small group topical studies. The stories are therapeutic, bringing the reader to recognition of one's own spiritual state. It is especially helpful to read Tales of the Kingdom first.

This is the book that won me to Anglican Catholicism...and the book my parish worships with. The beauty of the language throughout, along with the solid collection of services, prayers, and othersuch, provides the user with a wonderous worship resource. I don't know when this book will be available again for purchase, but if you are Anglo-Catholic, and you are looking for an excellent devotional resource...pick this one up!

-j

For those of us who aren't super happy with the "modern" language portion of the 1979 BCP, this book will make you glad! The services that aren't available in traditional language in the 79 BCP comprise most of that book's content. This book corrects that oversight and more. ALL the services of the 79 BCP are included in this book plus several others, mostly leaning to the Anglo-Catholic side of things. Since I tend to lean that way that's a very good thing as far as I'm concerned! The Psalter is from the 1928 BCP. All in all it's an improved version of the 1979 BCP. Highly recommend it.

This book is excellent. It is attractively presented, and masterfully done. The entire 1979 book (except for the ordination of bishops) is offered in traditional English in a thoughtful and careful translation. This is not simply a case of changing "you's" to "thee's and thou's." Also included is a nice selection of other devotional material, and ancient liturgical rites of Western Christianity. This volume is really the "best of both worlds" as it takes into account the excellent liturgical scholarship found in the 1979 American BCP, and the beautiful and rythmic English of the 1928 book. In addition to the 1928 Eucharistic Prayer, this book also includes Eucharistic Prayer II, and Eucharistic Prayers A,B, and D, all in "Rite I" English. In addition, a traditional English translation of the Gregorian Canon, and the Canon of the 1549 prayer book are included. ... With the wealth of material in The Anglican Service Book, you can be as "high" or "low" as you like, and still use classical English!

There is certainly no shortage of books about reading. Perhaps it's inevitable in this self-referential era, that we end up reading about reading. Most of these works, however, fail to express the joy that their authors feel on reading great works.

Pennac's book succeeds where many fail because it is entirely devoid of sanctimony. His thoughts on reading are presented as an answer to the question "How do we get a child to love reading." His thoughts are clear, well-reasoned, and passionately held, in a way that makes the reader think, "Me, too!"

If you love reading and want to pass on the feeling, this is a great book for a starter.

To those who know Daniel Pennac, it's only fitting ! He's the best contemporary french novelist. And "better than life" is another great great book, highly funny and witty... and also highly moving. To those who love genius, cleverness and emotion... this book is for you !!!

Thank goodness this book has been reprinted. My copy of the original, then entitled 'Reads Like a Novel', has been through so many pairs of hands that it's falling apart. But I suppose that would be a suitable state for a book that's all about the gift of reading. And re-reading. Which is fortunate, because this is very much a book to return to with relish.

I'm usually jaded enough not to use the word 'inspiring', but this book is inspiring in the most benign and down-to-earth way. Amazon should show its legendary business sense and give a copy of this book away with every order. 'Better Than Life' so ignites, or re-ignites, the thirst for the printed word that every copy read would account for ten more novels bought.

Not least of the book's strengths is its ability to speak to all audiences, to the experienced or to the child, and hold them spellbound with stories from the past, stories about stories, and stories about how we use and absorb stories. But it's a remarkably tolerant book, more about curiosoty than commentary, written with flair, simplicity and a contagious good spirit.

The original title was far more suitable because, aside from everything else, the book also does 'read like a novel'. It's funny too. I haven't gone into the specifics of the book because I wouldn't want to spoil the effects of its charm, but I can't recommended it enough; I've foisted this book on friends and now I'm trying to do the same to strangers.

I love this book! Why?

Well for starters there is the logical way in which the authors have approached this daunting task. They give you a list of "50 of the most common" verbs en Espanol, then they list all 550 verbs in alphabetical order. On the page in which a "common verb" appears, there is a notation that this is a "TOP 50 VERB!"

I am also impressed by the way they have conjugated each verb in an understandable manner, and the examples of usage they offer for each of the 550 verbs.

This book has gone along way toward taking my Spanish "to the next level," and I am quite certain it will do the same for you.

As cliche' as it sounds, this book is a "must read" for the serious student of Espanol.

This is truly an engaging piece of reference. Imagine walking into spanish class with all the essence of the romance language, flowing naturally off the end of your tongue without a missed beat. Use the subjunctive like it was a violin and you are a violinist. This book was all used as a self-teaching guide. Now I live in Spain as a diplomat. All from this book. I love it.

This book is a great helper in my Spanish III class. I would not recommend this book for anyone that is not going beyond Spanish II because if you are stopping there then you really won't need it. But if you ARE going past Spanish II to, say...AP Spanish 5 you will NEED it. It has a handy reference in the back in which you can look up the irregular forms of verbs and it tells you what the infinitive is. This is a must buy for any intermidiate Spanish student.

I bought this book out of respect and deep admiration for Martin Scorsese. What I got was keen insight into a creative genius. The numerous interviews reveal a side to Scorsese that not many people see outside the camera. It's a lot more personal than that. When he talks about his movies, he ultimately parallels them to what his life was like at that time. So it's a fine blend of his personal life mixed with his professional life. There's also the obvious vibe that this man always was and always will be a student of film; his passion is infinite. Perhaps that's what makes him as influential and well-respected as he is.
You're the best there is, Marty!!

This reader felt almost privileged to read these interviews, lectures, and conversations with Martin Scorsese. He simply shares everything, and indeed he is, if nothing else, a true fan of movies!

The insightful words of Scorsese, arranged to parallel his filmography up through New York Stories, are annotated by the redoubtable editors Thompson and Christie. Scorsese is arguably the greatest postmodern artist, (and I would have to say the only postmodernist I unhesitatingly adore -with possible exception of Matt Groening), and the reader really gets to see how Scorsese constructs a film. His inspirations are as predictable as directors Pasolini and Powell, yet as diverse as Mahatma Ghandi and Little Richard. He loves all with equanimity and enthusiasm.

That's the joy of this book... the guy loves movies, loves making them, and all that energy just shines through.

Extremely valuable resource for the student of film, but good fun for the humble film buff, too. Bonus: interesting black and white photos you won't find elsewhere. Excellent (though naturally out-of-date) filmography appendix.

I absolutely devoured this book, essentially reading in two sittings a day apart. A rare and privledged look into the mind of Scorsese in his own words, followers of his work will be thrilled with the insights and anecdotes. Anyone half-aware of the man's work can recognize the thought that goes into it, but these interviews reveal the incredible depth and passion for film and its history that underlies his craft.

An essential read for anyone that considers her- or himself a film buff.

Scratching the Woodchuck is quite simply the best piece of natural history writing I have read in decades. David Kline is a keen observer, a competent naturalist, and an eloquent writer. We need more books like this in our all too technology-based, human-centered society.

This book takes the reader back to humanity's roots, and to our essential relationships with other species that inhabit this planet with us. Something beautiful and important is found here that has been lost to many of us for a long, long time.

Scratching the Woodchuck, Nature on an Amish Farm by David Kline sits on my credenza at work. I reach for it when I need an antidote for institutionalized schizophrenia.

Scratching the Woodchuck is a collection of about 60 short essays. They are organized into four catagories: The Farmstead, The Fields, The Woods, Creeks and Sky and The Community. The essays are rich in adjectives and read at a slow and leisurely pace.

For example:

"I was startled the other day to see a meadow vole (one of those fat little short-tailed mice that abound in meadows and fields) come charging out of the grass-covered ditch and dash across the road as fast as its stumpy legs could carry it. Before the sprinting vole had reached the safety of the opposite ditch, it was followed by two more of its kin. These, however, instead of racing across the road, made large half-circles and then ran back into the same ditch twenty feet down the road.

I stopped and watched the spot where the meadow voles had emerged. Soon a small pointed nose poked through the grasses and two obsidian eyes glared at me--a weasel. No wonder the voles were scared silly. Of all their enemies, nothing alarms the mouse family as much as the weasel, because there is no place to hide from the long, slender killer." Page 42.

Plusses:

*The essays are short. You can pick up the book and regain sanity in about 2.76 minutes.

*The essays are consistently high quality writing. There is none of the unevenness that results when a book is banged out in a hurry.

Minuses:

*The book does not come back quickly when loaned out. "Oh, I was going to bring it back today but my wife started reading it." kind of thing.

*Ultimately, you finish the book and you want more.

Scratching the Woodchuck is a good book to pick up if you feel like the pea-in-a-whistle. Mr. Kline's prose will slow your heart rate and reduce your blood pressure. Mr. Kline assures us that life only appears to be fragmented. The patient observer can find the connections.

Scratching the Woodchuck is probably *not* a good choice if your preference for escapism-liturature tends toward verb-packed, staccato writing (like Tom Clancy). You will find Scratching the Woodchuck maddeningly slow and boring.

This story was a wonderful, lighthearted portrayal of nature on Kline's farm. The stories were short and a quick read. I found myself reading one story, every night before bed. I was not looking forward to the end of what became a daily companion. Kline is able to paint with words. He excels at describing life's simple, natural pleasures. This book could be compared to a more recent Sand County Almanac, but I didn't find that book as interesting. A good read!

A wonderfully-written story of spiritual and romantic love.

this book is the greatest book ive ever read. it is a powerfull love story set against the exotic background of seventeenth century poland. the slave has such a strong, compelling story to tell that its appeal is both contemporary and universal.... "it's a beautiful story"

The Slave by Nobel prize winner Isaac Bashevis Singer is probably one of the most profound books I ever read. Yep, no kidding.

The Slave is basically the story of a Jew man stranded somewhere in 18th century Poland by the diaspora. On his own living in a Christian village, our protagonist desperately tries to hold on to his religion by reciting psalms and performing all the rituals to the letter so as to not forget them and offend god. He says that the only way someone could tell he was a Jew was his circumcision - he had none of the garments, scriptures and objects that could point that out. He even would engrave on a stone all that he could remember from the Holy books.

He eventually leaves the village and runs across a number of people of different backgrounds and meets and falls in love with a gentile women. He takes her with him in search of his people and eventually runs into a very "proper" Jewish community. They did everything "by the book", showing immense respect and doing all the right things to be "good". But he soon realizes that so many people were filled with hypocrisy, spite, and deception that you wouldn't expect from such "quality" folk. Of course, he must hide the true former religion (she converts for him) of his wife for it was nearly impossible to convert in those days. And while she is the kindest person, she is soon despised by the community... So even though these people looked perfect on the outside were not nearly as good to the higher being that they supposedly worshipped while the woman that had nothing to do with the community was the kindest person.

Singer, who writes in Yiddish and then supervises the translation, writes a very powerful book that really transcends religion. One might think that this is very "Jewish". Sure it is, but that's not the point. It will make many people look at themselves and make them realize that doing everything "by the book", whether it be religion or just life, doesn't mean that you are inherently a good person. The Slave is a fantastic novel that is fantastically written that I highly recommend.

J. David Pincus and J. Nicholas DeBonis have written a most inventive book. A fictional story about a CEO in crisis is told between chapters of this non-fiction assessment of CEOs and advice regarding how they can meet the needs of our changing corporate times. Based on ten years of research and interviews with CEOs in the Fortune 500, this book is very detailed, but written in an engaging conversational style. With a focus on communication as the key to effective leadership, the book humanizes its strategies so they come to life on each page. We... recommend this book not only for top corporate management and "top dogs," but also for anyone working in the corporate world.

I found myself looking forward to the switches between fiction and non-fiction equally. Top Dog entices the reader on both levels. I definitely got two books for the price of one. In terms of the non-fiction -- I'm not in management, I'm in managee, and I found this book to be an excellent insight to what upper management has to deal with on a daily basis. The fictional portion was as good as any of the novels that I've read from the New York Times Bestseller lists. It left me wanting more...

Top Dog: an instructive and entertaining blend of management text, fiction, case experience and leadership commentary. Pincus and DeBonis weave a well researched and reported account (fictional, or at least fictionalized) of a "cooking the books" crisis at a major hotel chain into discussion and presentation of the leadership and communication issues raised in the story. All this is supported by interviews with CEOs and reviews of current research and practice, and illustrated by many anecdotes and other cases. The alternating format is at first unsettling and then highly effective. It offers a much more appealing and enjoyable learning process than conventional management texts.