if your into melons this book is well worth the money,the pictures or beautiful and the information is very informative but
to the point.

The melons covered in the book range from the true cantaloupe to muskmelons (what Americans call cantaloupe) to casabas to Asian melons (not sweet like those to which Americans are accustomed) to those that aren't tasty (but are valued for other reasons) to every color flesh and seed, size and shape of watermelon under the sun!

How about a melon to scent a person or a room, a melon to stand in for a cucumber in a salad (bitterfree, crisper, and will set fruit all summer long), a melon that looks for all the world like a winter squash, a bi-colored-flesh watermelon, or a watermelon whose skin turns a bright yellow when it is ripe?

These are the Queen Anne's pocket melon or the D'Alger melon, the Snake melons, the Prescott Fond Blanc melon, the Colorado Striped Tarahumara watermelon, and the Golden Midget watermelon.

Don't have room to grow your own melons? Then the pages about how to select a melon, even at market, will be invaluable--already I have been able to improve my chances of coming home with a riper melon from the store.

I have one tiny complaint about the content of the book: there are several varieties that are listed with "Seed Source: None". I assume these melons that are not available from commercial seed sources are available among the Seed Savers Exchange organization members, but that is never mentioned.

My other complaint about the book is technical: it's not what most of us would consider a "hardback". It has a firm cover, but it's not a hardback in the traditional textbook sense.

All in all, a very lovely book, one that makes you wish you had 10 acres in which to just grow melons. It has been an engrossing read and re-read, an indispensable book in planning our future forays into melon-growing.

This is truly a lovely book! It's unusual to see so many various, gorgeous, beautiful, and downright weird melons. Although I'm not a grower, I appreciate this guide to melon varieties. This is not a cookbook, but a guide, and anyone who loves melon and fruit should have this book. In addition, whoever foraged for all these melons for the photographs and whoever designed this book did an amazing job.

Having little knowlegde of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, I failed to realize how drastically different the Disney version was from reality. The story does not focus on a loveable hunchback who finds happiness in the end, rather it is about the cathedral itself. The action and characters all feed off of Notre Dame and represent its values, but they are merely secondary aspects of the book. It is also a violent, depressing, and sometimes even erotic book, none of which of course comes through in a Disney movie.

Many things make this book an incredible read. The most obvious is the incredible prose. Hugo was a beautiful writer and his writing flows so smoothly. He also described with incredible detail the Paris of the late 15th century--the city's skyline, its culture, some of the notable people, and the issues of the day. He spent three years researching the book and he turned his noted into an historical epic. Finally, the action and characters of the book are well developed, exciting, and unique while still representing the values and controversies Hugo wanted to explore.

I originally picked this book up when I was in the 7th grade and was unable to make it more than 20 pages without giving up in frustration, but having more knowlegde of European history, a greater appreciation for literature, and more patience with a book that admittedly starts slowly, I am very glad I came back to it. I don't think this is a book that a young reader will find interesting--though the story itself is great so an abridged version would keep them reading--but any fan of great literature, beautiful prose, French history, architecture, or Victor Hugo will love this book if they give it a chance and do sit patiently while it revs up for 30-40 pages. I highly recommend it.

If you've only seen the film adaptations of this story, for heaven's sake read this jewel of a book! Hugo's ability to see into the hearts of people, especially those in states of degradation, is unequalled. His style, even in translation, is immensely powerful. The scene between Claude and Esmeralda in the dungeon is one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking bits of writing I have ever come across.

This is one of the greatest love stories ever written.

I absolutly LOVED this book. Honestly I wasn't paying attension when i just randomly pulled it off the book shelf. But I must say that I am glad that I did. I believe that this book is a sign of heroism, survival and hope. Throughout the whole thing, De Wijze expresses himself and his life so vividly that when i was done, I just sat there, still, glaring at the last three words: only my life. I reccomend this wonderful book to both adults and children. It is a great source of information, and also an exilerating experience to read just for fun.

This book is simply the truth. It is amazingly descriptive, and makes you feel as if you are experiencing the Holocaust. Mr. de Wijze tells of his struggle for survival in the treachorous conditions of concentration camps. It describes the favoring of one prisoner over another and the many horrible deaths during this time period. I reccommend it to anyone looking for a good read.

It defies logic and cynicism to believe that this story could be anything but fiction. Unfortunately, it could only be fiction if it were set in another galaxy amongst different forms of life. For here on Earth, this stark, skeletal narrative rings all too true. And yet this story of insane unrelenting brutality is woven together with so many episodes of hope, it is impossible to not love its main character, the narrator himself. Louis is a triumphant survivor, like Odysseus, only real. In a world rife with hyperbole and fraudulent heros, this is the agonizing path of a true survivor who will never leave you wondering what life is really all about. It's a quick read and completely necessary.

Read this book before you read "Rain of Gold". "Wild Steps of Heaven" is a short read and actually the paternal part of the family story. I wish Villasenor had included the info in Wild Steps of Heaven" in "Rain of Gold". Both books are a wonderful patchwork of history,and genuine family integrity. Excellent summer read!

This is a wonderful book. This book is about a family living during the Mexican Revolution.His writing just takes into this magical world and even though you know that he has made a little piece of history into this great big piece of fiction, he does it so as a matter-of -fact that you just can't believe that it's not true.

In times of hardship heroes are needed and none moreso than in Mexico as revolution rages. The Villasenor family patriarch, an exiled red-haired Spaniard, has married an Indian woman. The first ten years of the marriage are a time of great love and passion, and the children born first are fair and favor Don Juan Villasenor. Later children are dark like their mother. One of the dark ones, Jose, from age 12 must live in the barn because he defied his father and gentled a stallion to rescue his baby brother holding onto the leg rather than shoot the horse. In his exile and solitude a hero begins his training with Grandfather Don Pio Castro who knows Jose understands the power of love and gentleness. This will be the son who defends la familia during the revolution from the soldiers who time and again attach the village. The colonel commanding the troops more particularly desires Jose's true love Mariposa and destroys her. Ultimately, the younger brother Juan (author Villasenor's father) begins to show heroic tendencies himself and will be the one to defend his mother and the remaining family against the colonel. Villasenor moves the tale along with a powerful, songlike cadence. Notable characters are the giant cousins, Basilio and Agustin, who strip naked and race the lightning and then Halley's comet on January 17, 1910, a night of magic and love, the day before el colonel begins shooting up the home village, el paraiso de Los Altos de Jalisco. Each chapter begins with epigrams featuring "Great Father Sun" that provide a sense of power from above, as in "the heavens smile . . . as all around him the gods and serpents did battle." When the final epigram tells us "and out of these children of the earth and of the stars would now come a glorious new gente in all their wonder and fire," we realize that while we have been traveling through an exciting story with more twists and turns than fiction, we also have been participating in something approximating a creation myth. Highly recommended is Villasenor's first tale of the family Villasenor, Rain of Gold.

This is a text for Real Analysis at the Junior Level (American university level). It goes to extreme lengths to make analysis understandable to people who have no prior exposure. The organization is good. Completeness is introduced early as (the "piggy in the middle"). Proofs are written in detail with fill-in-the-blank spots to force the reader to follow the argument. It has good exercises making it an easy book to teach out of. Excellent for the absolute beginner. Good candidate for the classroom.

Bryant builds the basic concepts of a first course in mathematical analysis upon the notion of numerical sequences. This approach gives an unified vision and amazing insights. Infinite series, limits, derivatives, Riemann integral are studied in an integrated vision. Clear ideas, illustrations and humor are found across all its pages. Good and illuminating exercises, too. An excellent introduction to basic real analysis.

Mathematical analysis is a refinement of calculus, and a pathway into further branches of mathematics, including topology and advanced topics in algebra. Analysis, however, may not seem to be at all related to calculus at its initial stages. An introductory course on analysis can render an unprepared student, even with experience in other branches of mathematics, perplexed and challenged to an extreme. Only later in the analysis course are even the most basic topics of calculus introduced.

One of the most important considerations prior to taking an analysis course is the level of background and understanding of mathematical logic. Set theory, a branch of mathematical logic, is in fact the basis of calculus as well. Due to an emphasis upon computations, however, the highest grades in calculus are possible without understanding, or even knowing of, this underlying foundation.

This work is unique among those introducing analysis, in that it does not require a background in set theory. It in fact teaches numerous fundamental concepts of set theory, without stating that it is doing so. Examples provided are based on daily concrete experience, yet are altered for purposes of mathematical instruction. These descriptions are sufficiently general as to prepare the reader for when formal set theory is introduced in more rigorous textbooks.

In addition to being an extremely readable and accessible work, solutions and hints are provided for every review question for every section of the book. This is in stark contrast to textbooks on the subject, which, while costing several times more, are typically designed for a classroom setting, and so leave all questions unanswered. This self-testing of the understanding of each section is crucial for subject matter requiring such attention to detail and precision.

The numerous illustrations throughout the book are rendered clearly and with instructional purpose, yet are often drawn by hand, adding to the sense of familiarity with the author. All of the basic subject matter for a course on analysis is provided, yet has been specifically tailored for a reader in the stages of preparation, of review after completion, or one who is simply inquisitive as to what is required to comprehend analysis successfully.

The softcover edition is durable and portable, and the book remains in excellent condition through numerous readings, which it will almost certainly go through.

If you have been required to take an analysis class but left it with only a vague sense of its underpinnings, you may wish to go through this work when time permits. For the price of the book, the information and instruction provided is truly outstanding. This text receives the highest marks in all categories.

Another "BDSM" erotica classic! A must read for those who love submissive men or dream of dominant men -- like both then you'll be doubly pleased. The only problem is that the plot tends to drift off from the training to a police drama at the mid-point.

Mr. Benson kept me on my toes the entire time I was reading it. From start to finish, it kept my attention. It was full of mystery as well as physical action, which is a great combination. I've never read a more thrilling book!

There will be no "follow-ups" to Mr. Benson, because John Preston passed away. However, his works include several more excellent volumes of erotic work involving men and their passions for SM and each other. See also "Looking for Mr. Preston", a tribute anthology to the man and his writing

I don't think I need to explain how great the "Nelson's Textbook of Pediatrics" is, so I focus on the features as software.

This product is based on a java applet and for Windows and Macintosh. For each of the chapter, about 30 review questions are available in a multiple-choice format. The answer is not only with alphabetical one, but also with a concise explanation with a link to the textbook. I find this feature very helpful. I haven't checked "Nelson Review of Pediatrics, 2nd ed., Behrman,R.E.CW.B.Saunders , 2000 263p", but the publisher says that this feature is based on this book.

Update service is available. Every time when you launch the program, you are asked whether it checks the updates. Full access to NelsonPediatrics.com for further information is also available, after you sign up on the web site. After all, the support service is awesome.

However, there are some things you should know as windows users, which is why I put 4 stars. First, you are required to use Netscape or Internet Explorer as your default browser. The browser must be new enough, too. Second, you must insert the CD-ROM every time you use this program, since it doesn't install all the files to your hard disk unlike the previous edition. Third, if you are using localized Windows other than English, you may have to replace some files. The procedure is as follows, quoted from the mail I got immediately from the support center:

>The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) that we distribute with the Nelson
>product is not the internationalized version. It could be that one of
>the following may address the issue (FIRST BACKUP THE JRE DIRECTORY IN
>NELSON'S INSTALL DIRECTORY):
>1. Download and install the international version of the JRE 1.2.2 (the
>one we use for Nelson) from
>http://java.sun.com/products/jdk/1.2/jre/download-windows.html. Then
>copy the installed JRE directory and all contents to the Nelson
>directory, naming it JRE.
>
>2. Download and install the international version of the newer JRE 1.3.0
>from http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.3/jre/download-windows.html and do the
>same thing as above.

This textbook is the gold standard of pediatric books. I used mine all through medical school and still use it in my practice. I highly recommend this text to students, residents and physcians. The thought provoking text and excellent illustrations make this a must have book. I couldn't practice without mine.

No medical text can ever be comprehensive, or completely up to date. The science of medicine advances so quickly that books are outdated the day they are published.

Nonetheless, "Nelson's Textbook of Pediatrics" comes as close as possible. Along with another other classic pediatric text, "Rudolph's Pediatrics," Nelson's represents the best of pediatric medicine in America. Every pediatrician has a favorite, but Nelson's is the gold standard.

Nelson's is particularly strong in pediatric cardiology and immunology. For the latest in infectious disease, see the "Red Book" published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. For neonatology, developmental pediatrics, and the surgical sub-specialties, consult specialty books in those fields. For congenital malformations and syndromes, "Smiths's" (by Jones!) is a good place to start. For the latest in oncology, your best bet (after your local trusted oncologist) is to search Medline or the Web, but watch out for quackery.

I spent a week in Paris last year, and returned home wanting to know more about this Victor Hugo whom Parisians still revere as a God. And Robb's book did the trick! Since reading it I've tried to find an American to equate him with, but fall short: I must make do with a composite of Thomas Jefferson (for statesmanship in opposition to the crown), Henry David Thoreau (for drawing strength from nature for his writing) and William Jeferson Clinton (for his sexual appetite).

Graham Robb has done us all a great service with this admirable biography of Victor Hugo. Indeed, this volume is a shining example of how to write the story of a complex, and even amazing, life.

Victor Hugo is, and was, a figure of great importance, to the French nation and to the world. When he died, in the 1880's, over two million people came to his funeral; that's actually more than the population of Paris at that time! He was a man almost universally adored for his immense literary gifts; he was the prophetic soul who spoke for the entire French people and explained their own tumultuous history to them, especially in his huge,sprawling masterpiece, "Les Miserables," which Baudelaire dubbed "the legend of the 19th century."

Yet the man himself was quirky, and full of contradictions, which Graham Robb is at pains to explore in this lucid and compelling biography. Hugo was the son of a pro-Napoleonic father and an anti-Napoleonic mother, so Hugo's childhood was cleft by the immense chasm which divided the French nation (and Europe) during the nineteenth century. He was brought up by his mother, and, as the child of divorce, he came to value stability enormously. He began his literary life as a monarchist, and continued in that direction for a number of years. As a member of the French Assembly, he took it upon himself to attack (!) the barricades during a Parisian riot -- the very same barricades which he later made immortal in "Les Miserables!"

When Hugo finally came out on the side of freedom and liberty, and in opposition to that horrible, sneaking non-entity Louis Napoleon (whom he promptly dubbed "Napoleon The Little"), he found himself forced into exile from his beloved France. He lived on the islands of Guernsey and Jersey for many years, beginning an entirely new literary career there, and publishing many books which sold immensely well. When he finally returned to a free France,he was welcomed as a conquering hero. It is very difficult for us to understand how popular and revered he was: think of the Beatles during the Sixties and you are probably getting close.

In his youth, he was somewhat timid and full of middle-class fears; later in life he became an insatiable womanizer, whose secret diaries are full of references to appointments with famous actresses, courtesans, and ladies of the street. In his home on Jersey, he participated in spiritualistic seances, and had conversations with Jesus, Moses, the Sea, and Infinity. He is certainly one of the greatest French poets who ever lived; even those who grew to dislike him could never get away from his influence. (Gide was once asked who had been his greatest influence, and responded, "Hugo, alas!") To this day, he is one of the patron saints of the Cao Dai religion in Vietnam.

This book gets my highest recommendation!!!

This is the most enjoyable biography I've ever read, portraying someone who truly was larger than life. It's as complex, entertaining, and riveting as the man himself. Bravo! Now, how can we get Hugo's complete works translated into English?

It's a fresh and scholarly translation, but also potentially controversial, since a few sections of the text have been deleted (even from the Inner Chapters). The deletions are not noted in the main text (the general reader will be unaware of them) or clearly explained. They can be found in the "Deleted Passages" appendix at the end of the book. Some translations are unconventional, like "look after your parents" (Watson) in the beginnig of chapter 3, is translated by Victor Mair as "Nourish your inmost viscera"; it would be interesting to know why. I would look forward to another edition with notes.

One trusts this is probably the best English translation there is of the Chuang Tzu. The Chuang tzu has a unique place in the world of spiritual writings; it breathes the air of freedom like nothing else. Not knowing ancient Chinese, however, the only thing I can say is that I am very happy with this translation.

Though Burton Watson's translation comes a close second, this version is the absolute best English translation I have found. Mair includes the "rhyming prose" the poetry and lots of the zaniness that somehow gets passed over in other translations. For those wishing to have more notes Mair generously refers them to his writings in the Sino-Platonic Papers. Mair is second to none in his understanding of archaic Chinese and takes us back to the truly revolutionary collection of writings that Chuang Tzu really is.