I first saw Tomas Kinkades work at a gallery in Port Jefferson Long Island. They were set in special rooms with typical individual lights for each piece. There were dimmer switches in the room that we were able to control the lighting, enhancing the effects. The paintings actually came alive with light as I dimmed the house lights. I'm not in the position to afford his work but with this book I'm at least able to enjoy the experience. The book is so good you can see the brush strokes and even the bumps in the canvas It's not as good as the real thing although it dose tease your senses. So sit back. Put on some soothing music and live the experience.

At the college I work at I teach classes on personal development and stress management through hardiness training. Recently, in class, we were discussing whether it is possible to experience joy when in the midst of challenges and trials. Through beautiful artwork and inspired narrative in "Simpler Times," Mr. Kinkade demonstrates how one can experience peace and joy in a hectic world. The book was like food for my soul. Thank you.

I bought this book 2 years ago, as a reward for myself. It's so beautiful and tranquil that reminded me of the simpler time is really what I want.

It's fun reading this collection of digressive informal anecdotes about famous (and some obscure) Englishmen. If you enjoyed "An Instance of the Fingerpost" (where some of thc characters appear) you'd like this. As a primary source for information it gets less reliable the further back it goes. Aubrey was born in 1626 so his accounts of Shakespeare and Elizathans are a generation removed, but he had met Harvey and Penn and had been through the Civil War and the rule of Cromwell.

Because its author never completed most of the entries for this biographical work, and never published it, what he did set down about his varied noble and ignoble subjects is uncensored, gossipy, perhaps unsubstantiated, and delightful. If you like browsing in Pepys' diary, or are fascinated by English life in the 17th century, this is the book to leave about for the occasional free moment.

Even as the Clinton presidency draws to a close, Arkansas remains the undiscovered state. Fishes of Arkansas is a visual treat--a species by species documentation of the incredible diversity of freshwater fish found in that state's streams and waterways. Arkansas is an inland state, so one might imagine that a fish survey would document only a narrow array of green and brown game fish, of little interest to those outside the bait and hook hobbies. Fishes of Arkansas demonstrates instead the incredible biodiversity found in the numerous fish species located in Arkansas. Here are pictures of gorgeous fish, large and small, including many of intense beauty and tremendous color. The darter section of the book, featuring many species endemic not only to Arkansas but in many cases to a single river in Arkansas, shows the reader spectacular, unforgettable fish. The narrative is simple and straightforward--each entry is a separate species, usually with a picture. The grouping is organized by family, and the authors provide judicious use of light explanatory and summation material to tie the individual entries together. If you need something on your coffee table or shelves which is light, pleasant picture-filled reading but not fluff, try Fishes of Arkansas.

Evans is a fascinating man to listen to. He is a decorated veteran, but shuns the recognition he rightly deserves. He admits that some of his actions during the heat of combat "might have been foolhardy." Evans was not interested in medals, only in trying to keep his men alive. As Evans' Third Army Com mander, General George S. Patton remarked, "No one ever won a war by dying for his country. He won by making the other poor bastard die for his country."

Evans met several truly historical figures. First and foremost was Patton. After the first day of the Battle of Arracourt, Patton visited Evans' command post to commend him on a job well done. That was just the first of many encounters with General Patton. After hostilities ceased in 1945, Evans was assigned to a Prisoner of War camp near Landshut, Germany. There, while interrogating prisoners, he briefly met General Vlasov, another larger-than-life individual. Vlasov was a former White Russian officer who was convinced (some say coerced) to help the Nazis against the Soviet Union on the Eastern Front. Later, in Switzerland, Evans was able to get a glimpse of a compound full of Nazi war criminals, most notable of whom was Herman Goering.

Evans was also fortunate to have been able to participate in the design, testing and eventual combat deployment of the M18 "Hellcat" tank destroyer. The United States Army found that its antitank capabilities were woefully inadequate against the masses of German armor, so a new tank destroyer was desired. Evans, along with a handful of other armor officers from various posts around the US, was invited to Detroit to the Buick Division of General Motors, to offer suggestions for the design of this new vehicle. There are precious few times in a soldier's career that he is given the opportunity to impact upon the equipment he will use in the performance of his duty. Evans and these other officers seized the moment and helped to design one of the most effective combat vehicles ever. In ju! st a few short months the M18 went from the drawing board to the maneuver field and then the European Theater of Opera tions.

Anyone not aware of Thomas Kinkade's artwork hasn't been paying attention in stores for the last five years or so. With his old-fashioned images of a romantic yesteryear that probably never existed, Kinkade has become America's most-published artist. In "I'll Be Home for Christmas," he specializes in snowy landscapes, glowing cottages with smoke coming from rock chimneys and horse-drawn sleighs bringing visitors for Yule festivities. Text for the book comes from seasonal writings by Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott, Washington Irving, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Kenneth Grahame, Isaac Watts and, of course, the Gospel of Luke. The artwork is the most notable feature: Large scenes are mixed with close-up details that reveal Kinkade's brushstrokes. People familiar with Kinkade's work know that he hides little letter 'N's throughout his paintings (the number that appears under his signature indicates how many are in that particular painting) in honor of his wife, Nanette. The printing in "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is so good that they are visible on almost every page. This isn't a thick book, nor heavy Christmas reading, but it certainly sheds some beautiful light on the spirit of the season.

The book has beautiful illustrations and very touching and inspirational messages, quotes, etc. on each page. It was given to me as a gift and I love it! It will be something I treasure through my life.

The author's ideas are simple and rather obvious for living a joyful life, e.g. simplifying, filtering too much information, volunteering, etc. but they're also inspirational. In these cynical and selfish times, it's refreshing to read about a celebrity who practices what he preaches, i.e. family values. Also, he explains that he mass produces his uplifting artwork so it's affordable to the general public. In fact, I used one of his bookmarks while reading this positive and encouraging book.

Thomas Kinkade, is a great Painter, a gift from God..He seems to have spent quality time alone with God.. an in doing so he has shared from his heart on how we can live a Joyful life in this sometimes busy an hecket world...He has reminded us of how beautiful this world really is if we will just take the time to stop an look at it... not only the world it self but the people who live in it...We should thank God every day for people like Thomas Kinkade who has the ability to remind us about these things..an for his gift of painting God's great creation..this wonderful world we live in... Keep up the great work you are doing Thomas..God bless you an your Family

When something is beautiful and lovely and full of Americana at its best, there are bound to be detractors. They scoff at this work, call it names, and talk in intellectually superior tones about the qualities this type of art supposedly lacks. But there is something in the sensitive soul that resonates to the words and pictures of this wonderful artist. Whether it is the beautiful simplicity of his paintings or his suggestions for a more beautiful and meaningful life, this book will touch a place inside of you that always knows that our true nature longs for the type of life that this book encourages.

Sure, some folks will dismiss the sentiments and ideals in this book because they have allowed jaded and negative views to dominate their minds and finally their souls and then called it "intellectualism." If your mind is open; better yet your heart, you will find in this book nourishment for your soul. Very highly reccomended!

This book should be read by anyone who still believes in the conclusions of the Warren Commission. This long essay was first published in the Paris weekly "L' Express" in 1964. It lacks an index and chapter headings, but applies common sense to the reported stories to refute the "lone gunman" theory. A few hours after JFK's death, a suspect was arrested although there were no witnesses and no confessions! We were told Oswald was a fanatical Communist who hated America. Was this too good to be true? The fact that Oswald was never a member of the Communist party, or the "Fair Play for Cuba" group was omitted from the news reports. Never has such an intricate murder been so swiftly settled, without a confession of eyewitnesses!

Buchanan explains why neither Soviet Russia or Cuba could benefit from JFK's death (pp. 17-21). The first people to claim JFK was murdered by a Communist were just earlier attacking JFK as pro-Communist! Who was pulling their strings? Buchanan states that Oswald could only have been convicted if he was innocent (p.24)! But if he knew how the crime had happened, he would be silenced (p.26). Oswald's assassination by Jack Ruby proclaims that Oswald was not a lone gunman, and powerful forces were threatened by Oswald's existence and talking. Nothing over the last forty years has disproved this.

Buchanan recalls the political circumstances of the assassinations of Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley. You'll find a description of these crimes, and their history, that is skipped in scholastic history books. The important point is that all were done for political reasons, and not of the assassins were crazy. Anything else is just a cover-up (see 'Time' of 11-29-1963). Page 72 explains why Oswald was not insane: he tried to escape, and plead 'not guilty' when arrested. The premeditation says it was not temporary insanity (p.73). Page 91 says the official conclusion was based on the Bethesda autopsy. (Decades later we learned that this 'best evidence' was based on the body of JFK's double, sacrificed to provide proof of a lone gunman firing from the rear. See "High Treason 2" for these pictures.) Pages 93-97 discuss the number of shots, and the impossibility of three shots in less than 6 seconds from a bolt-action rifle. A bullet that struck JFK at that angle could not have struck Governor Connally's back only a few inches lower, and remained intact.

Page 148 mentions Senator Kefauver's 1951 probe into criminal activities in New York, where the police, judges, politicians, and gangsters shared the loot. In the 1930s Senator LaFollette had a similar investigation that showed underworld forces were used by corporations against labor unions. Organized crime is often used to carry out tasks that can't be handled by legal means. The first Gallup poll had 52% believing Oswald represented an extreme right-wing group, gangsters, or some "unknown" force (p.152).

Pages 155-6 note the strange behavior of Oswald in the Marine Corps, which implies he was being trained as a secret agent. I believe it is routine to take a smart and talented recruit from the lower classes to use as a secret agent; they are expendable! While they denied Oswald worked for the FBI or CIA, nobody mentioned the obvious: Naval Intelligence. Page 178 tells of the Dallas ruling class, the how the oil business controls them.