I gave up on the study of the Tarot in the early 1980s because I couldn't find a book which was not written in archaic, stilted English. I found "Tarot Plain and Simple" several months ago and will say that it has changed my life. I find it the perfect tool (now that I can understand, in depth, the meaning of the cards and their relationships) for focusing my intuitive abilities. Regardless of where you are personally in your Tarot study, this book cannot but help you in so many ways to develop your innate perception of the human condition. And if you are a Tarot beginner, as I was, you will be amazed at the ease with which you can progress in your pursuit of understanding. I wish I had had this book twenty years ago! Enjoy.

Picking up a deck of Tarot Cards is like jumping feet first into a cold lake. It may be exhilerating, but it's pretty intimidating as well, especially to a seeker who has no idea what he or she is about to get into. This book offers hope, practical advice, and common-sense answers to the beginner, the intermediate student, and the advanced adept alike.

Lavishly illustrated with the lovely Robin Wood cards, but applicable to any deck, Louis' remarkable observations and essays on each card are on the mark, easily understood, and readily remembered to any serious student of the Tarot.

Louis seeks more than "how to read," and instead teaches the meaning of each card as a tool of self inspection. If the reader cannot read his or herself, she or he cannot read another. Instead, Louis looks to the symbolism, the richness, and the history of each card as pertains to the reader. "Know thyself" was the inscription of the Oracle of Delphi, and Louis has tried to apply that knowledge to his interpretaion of the cards.

The result is a splendid text for beginner or experienced practitioner alike. A wonderful read, a glorious illustrated guide, and a charming introduction to an art too long held too arcane for the layman. "Tarot: Plain and Simple" is the best addition to the field in thrity years!

I'm serious. This book is incredible. I have bought a ton of books on tarot that claimed to be for beginers and plain and simple. They ALWAYS left me confused. But not this one. It is really plain, I mean really easy to understand. I love the section on the use of numerology and astrology in the book as well. Truely opened my eyes, and a lot of the time I could be heard stting in the corner reading it going,"Oh, okkkk now I understand." I must say a million praises to the author for the clarity and ease in which in this book reads. If you a beginer- GET THIS BOOK AND SAVE YOURSELF A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY AND TIME.

While only a slim volume of about 100 pages, Jorge Luis Borges' FICCIONES is one of the 20th century's most original and influential works. A set of two collections of short stories, ''The Garden of Forking Paths" and ''Artifices", FICCIONES was the world's first exposure to the Argentinian writer and Borges' all-around best work.

The nature of the stories which Borges crafted is so unique and subtle that it defies description. He portrayed unusual occurrences, and peppered his stories, narrated in a faux-scholastic style, with references to colourful sources that, while sounding plausible, are of Borges' own invention and can be found in no library. In the first story of FICCIONES, ''Tlon, Uqbar, Orbius Tertius," he imagines an encyclopedia mysteriously containing a entry for a country that is not to be found - at least not in our reality. ''The Approach to Al-Mutasim" is a review of a book which doesn't exist; here, in a reversal of the usual order, the review brings the book into being. ''The Babylon Lottery" and ''The Library of Babel" are both clever metaphors for the human world. In the first, Borges describes an ancient society which lets all things be decided by chance. In the second, which introduced the concept of the infinite library, the story's setting is an unimaginably vast archive whose librarians from birth to death care for books whose meanings cannot be deciphered.

Jorge Luis Borges often used several key motifs in his books, such as mirrors and labyrinths, and it is this reuse of symbols which has created the ''Borgesian" genre. These symbols and the offbeat constructions which Borges almost singlehandedly invented went on to inspire legions of writers, including Gene Wolfe and Salman Rushdie.

The translation of FICCIONES has long been a divisive issue. While some, such as myself, believe that this versions of FICCIONES follows the original Spanish closely and, in any event, Borges' genius is found not as much in his language as in his concepts, others detest this 1962 version. Andrew Hurley has recently translated all of Borges fictional stories, including FICCIONES, in COLLECTED FICTIONS published by Penguin, but even his translation has sparked new battles. Should one wish to read FICCIONES in English, however, I'd suggest getting this translation. It is less expensive than COLLECTED FICTIONS and contains only Borges' finest work. For those who can read Spanish decently, I'd recommend even obtaining the original language, as Borges' stories do not use vocabulary much outside what one gets after four-years of high school Spanish.

While some readers may not "get" Borges (he can be compared to H.P. Lovecraft in possessing great influence on some but total obscurity to others), I'd certainly recommend trying FICCIONES.

After years of running into this name, "Borges," I felt as though I were falling short of my expectations as a reader to ignore this man and his colossal reputation. Ficciones seemed to be his most widely read and critically acclaimed book, and so I inevitably found myself reading it.

To try to capture the essence of Borges in a handful of words is like trying to capture the Lochness Monster on film: impossible, but frequently attempted. With that understanding in mind, here's my assessment:

All of Borges's stories are very different, and yet they all share a common sensibility, one of understated but very deeply felt anguish. This is not the anguish of an ordinary writer feeling sorry for himself and his fate. This anguish is deep, metaphysical. You get the sense that Borges views life and his fellow human beings at a distance, and yet is able to see more and understand more from this distance. He does not attempt to explain; he simply wants to impart his sense of awe, wonder, and inevitability.

The subject matter varies widely: an infinite library, a scholarly review of the life's work of a fictional writer, a boy with a perfect memory. Some of his stories are Kafka-esqe in a nightmarish sense, while others have the intellectual playfulness of an M.C. Escher drawing: what you thought was 'up' is really 'down,' and yet once you see the big picture you realize that this is the only way it can be. The endings are as inevitable as death, and yet you rarely see them coming.

I'm not so sure that Borges wrote his stories with a specific point or message, although many of them seem to have one. I believe that most of these stories are simply meant to inspire thought and contemplation of the very issues that Borges had been thinking of when he wrote them. One could do a lot worse than to see things through the eyes of this great thinker.

My only complaint is that his stories are not as accessible as they could be, and his scholarly manner may be problematical for some. But the most effective pills are often the hardest to swallow...

Es un consuelo y, sin embargo, un profundo alivio manantial de pensar que el hombre es solamente una nueva invencion, una figura sin haber cumplido todovia dos siglos en existencia, una nueva arruga en nuestro conocimiento, y volvera ha desaparecer una vez que nuestro conocimiento haya sido discubierto." Foucault, en The Order of Things.

Ademas del obvio, esta claro que Foucault haya leido Borges poco mas o menos completamentecomensando The Order of Things con: "Este libro primeramente provino de pasajes de Borges, sale de la risa que desmenuza mientras leiya el pasaje, todos los mojones familiares de mi pensamiento - nuestro pensar, el pensamiento que lleva la stampa de nuestra edad y nuestra geografia - destrosando toda orden superficial y todo los planos con que acostumbramos a domar la profusion salvaje de cosas que existen y continuan mucho despues para estorbar y amenazar el colapso de la eterna diferencia entre el Mismo y el Otro." Foucault se referia al "The Analytical Language of John Wilkins" por Jorge Luis Borges. Sin embargo hubiese estado mejor leyendo fuera de las paginas de Ficciones. Borges nos advierte no leer tanto sobre las cosas pero simplemente gozar o sentir gusto y alegria. En su intempestivo clasico de diez y siete piezas, se manifesta Borges a su mejor. En esta seleccion y precisamente en "The Library of Babel", Borges juega con el mundo en realidad y en vano y nos enseÔa la naturaleza precaria de esa

distincion. El dirige su obra a una epistemologia que queda fuera del centro enseÔandonos la naturalesa tentativa del mundo en realidad. No tiene clasificacion del universo que es arbitrario o conjectural. Aqui es donde empiesa el enlaze con Foucault ..... Semejante a Kafka en ciertos pasajes, el llama attencion a estas zonas imaginarias y vemos que toda sabiduria, seÔas y simbolos tanto como conocimiento interior, es solo ficcion o fabricacion - fundado en construciones de palabra a palabra sea o no sea ficcion. El labirinto que es el "Library of Babel" con su forma repettitiva y topografica, y la entretexualidad que es el hex«gono carnesÍ.

"I have squandered and consumed my years in adventures of this type. To me, it does not seem unlikely that on some shelf of the universe lies a total book." Borges, "The Library of Babel".

Yo pienso que lo hemos allado aqui, en Ficciones. Todas cosas desde "Tlon, Uqbar, Orbis, Tertius" a "The South", nos obsequian a una mezcla de surrealismo mundial y semillas de la desmantelacion Francesa. Si Foucault ha leido Borges, el ha reconocido la contribucion de Borges en su estudio de poder y la edficada naturaleza de "The Order of Things". Ficciones no es facil leer pero es muy recompensable. A mi me impresiono la extension de los temas y propuse hacer muchas investigaciones para alcansar lo que you sentia, a mi parecer, un trabajo poco mas o menos impenetrable. Sin embargo, a pesar de la naturalesa de un trabajocompareciente a un laberinto, como Kafka, con un poco de exfuerso llegamos a ver el humor y realizamos que ambos no quedan infinitamente incomprendible.

Miguel Llora y Barrios

I will not repeat what other reviewers have said about this classic learner's dictionary. It has been a valuable reference for ESL students for many decades. I own several learner's dictionaries published recently (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 4th Edition, Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary, and Collins Cobuild 3rd edition) and some of them have features this one does not have. But I still use this dictionary a lot and will continue to use it. I hope a new edition of it will come out soon.

No other book on my bookshelf is more worn out. I use it all the time. When I started to study English I used to use an English / Portuguese (my first language) dictionary but I could only actually improve my English when I started using the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

The dictionary has lots of pictures (over 1700) for words that can be explained but for which a picture is much more effective like "hinge". The words have a pronunciation guide with a mark (') showing the main stress. There are many useful appendixes like irregular verbs conjugation, usage of numbers, punctuation, family relationships and a few colorful maps.

Over 220 usage notes clarify the subtle differences among words such as dealer trader and merchant. Although it's mainly a British English dictionary the differences in spelling, use or pronunciation between American English and British English are stressed.

By far the most interesting feature is the extremely reduced defining vocabulary constituted of 3500 words. The great majority of definitions are written using that reduced defining vocabulary. This simplifies the definitions and it's a great starting vocabulary for the beginners. The use of such a small defining vocabulary rules out the use of this dictionary as a thesaurus but the advantages compensate this drawback.

My copy is a paper back that has been reinforced with adhesive tape. This makes the dictionary lighter and handy. I used to put it on my back pack and take it to all my classes when I started college in USA.

The drawbacks are the need of an additional thesaurus and the fact that the entries are not syllabified. Nevertheless I would give it 10 stars if I could.

Leonardo Alves - December 2000

I have recently bought the millenium edition (hardbound) of this book. In my scientific studies (I study Scientology which uses a precise study technology that demands a good dictionary to look up misunderstood words) a good dictionary is vital.
This one has been very helpful to me as it gives precise yet comprehensible definitions. This is maybe the most important point of all.
I found it very easy to look up a word i did not understand and gain a conceptual understanding of that word after a short period of time. The definitions just make sense and are not too complicated and confusing.
It also includes example sentences and idioms and information for the further usage of a particular word.
It also has a section with colored pictures (maps, categories such as clothing, food, animals etc.) that provide a picture of the real thing that the word represents - a quite useful tool for foreigners and non native speakers like me.

If you are currently studying english, reading english texts (but have a limited vocabulary) or just don't want to run into too many complexities when using a dictionary and don't want to be too confused but you just want to know the meaning of a word and understand it, then this is the right dictionary for you.

As it is a dictionary for "learners" it does not include things like etymology and syllables (the only negative points), technical definitions (although it includes some where their appearance is reasonable) etc.

But it includes phonetic symbols at the bottom of each page and has, as all dictionaries, a section wich explains each symbol and abbreviation that can appear in an entry.
If there would appear some symbol or abbreviation in the entry that you wouldn't understand, you would find it easy to find its meaning as everything in this dictionary is exactly where you would consider it to be.
So you don't fool around loosing time and getting frustrated. I think the editors of some dictionaries assume that you already know all these symbols but include their definitions anyway in a very complicated way.

Not with this one.
I highly recommend this dictionary. You can buy it without reservations.
But...you should have a second one with etymologies at hand.

I've read this book several times, as well as the rest of the Incarnation of Immortality series. This book is awesome. I've always admired Piers Anthony for the way he is so imaginative when it comes to his writing, and this book is no exception. I first read it when I was in High School, and the magic of the book has not left even to now, ten years later. Without giving too much away, the book is about a normal guy living on the verge of poverty who one day, has a close encounter with Death, the personification of the black hooded skeletal figure with scythe, and pale horse. Magic and science are interwoven in this world, they exist side by side. I see that other people have given this book various other kinds of reviews, but trust me, you'll like this book.

I enjoyed reading this book. It deals with DEATH in a humerous, but human way. On the surface, this book is simply a fantasy book about a man who has to assume the job of death and his problems in dealing with that task. I especially like the mixture of science and magic that appears in this book. If you are very religious do not read this book, it can be extremely thought provoking regarding religion. I especially like the phrase "God created the world, but the Devil evolved it." I also recommend the other books in this series.

This was the first Piers Anthony book I had ever read and I read it in one night. It was absolutely amazing! The storyline itself was imaginative and entertaining and kept you interested all along. But beneath the storyline there are deep values and beliefs being explored. It makes you rethink your views of life and death, good and evil, and really makes you question what your religion and beliefs. And I can say exactly the same thing for all five Incarnations of Immmortality books (Yes, I know there are seven. I haven't read the last two yet, but am looking forward to it). Each book builds on the previous and draws on the next, for an overall effect that leaves you wishing for more at the end of each book, only because you want to read more about the adventures of each of these very original and very different characters. If you've never tried Piers Anthony, I recommend starting it off with this book. And even though everyone says the books are good on their own, they are so much more together in a series. Read them in order from Death to Nature (and Satan and God too) to get the full effect Piers Anthony intended.

The very BEST of the regin of Caspian X (King of Narnia, etc.)'s regin as King. A very detialed account of the voyage of the Dawn Treader, the ship that upon are Caspian, Lucy, Edmud, and somewhat revolting cousin, Eustence Scrubb.

First written as the third CHRONICLE OF NARNIA, I believe it is better read as the fifth, because of the timewise order. But the account can be read anyway wished, and the reader will still get much out of it. But I'm getting ahead of myself, so I shall slow my pace and begin where it is proper to begin--at the begining.

In PRINCE CASPIAN (Book #4 new order, Book #2 old order) a false king holds Narnia's throne, and while he held it, he sent seven Narnian Lords looking for land beyond the eastern Lone Islands. To the false king Miraz's intent, none of them returned.

When the true king, Caspian X, took the throne, he took an oath to set out for a year and a day to find the seven lords and bring them back to their homeland of Narnia if they are alive, or, upon finding them dead, avenging them if possibble. And this story is that story, of the voyage to find the Seven Lost Lords of Narnia, during whitch the crew encounter dragons, water that can turn anything to pure gold, merpeople, magicians, and the whole assortment of magical creatures out there in the utter east, where they not only search for the Lords, but also for Aslan's country because "where the water grows sweet, that is the utter east."

This is the best of the Narnia series. C.S. Lewis allows the plot to get away occasionally from his strict form of Christian allegory. Moreover, the book is funny and episodic and exciting. And it's about getting to know yourself and changing what you don't like.

Unexplored waters and unknown lands create a magic of their own in which Lucy and Edmund and, especially, Eustace -- having magically found themselves on board the Dawn Treader --can come to terms with their weakness and strength. The Dark Island, where all dreams (not just good ones!) come true, Deathwater Island -- the place of greed, Dragon Island, where Eustace turns into a dragon (which, of course, he was on the inside all along), Ramandu's island, the sea people's land, the house of the Retired Star, and more, reveal what stuff these children are made on. What their mettle is may not always exemplary, but in this book at least, characters can change. Eustace can be un-dragoned and become a changed child (having dragon skin a foot deep ripped off by a lion would, I think, inevitably result in change). This is a book of deep, miraculous possibility. As a child, I read *The Voyage of the Dawn Treader* until it fell apart, and I've gone through another copy since.

My only criticism is this: C. S. Lewis, having loosened his strangle-hold on his constricting Christian allegory, occasionally seems to feel obliged to bring in something really ham-handed. It's most annoying. The most egregious intrusion occurs when the children encounter, in the middle of nowhere, a milky white lamb frying fish on the open grass. How the heck does a lamb fry fish? Where does he get fish? Where does he get the frying pan? Why do we *need* this for the plot? The Lamb of God (Christ), communion, fish. Cringe. It's all tossed into the pot and left somehow to be digested. There are fabulous Christian allegories; this is not one of them. I would to say that this is the only place in the entire series where C.S. Lewis' allegory truly and absolutely and utterly crashes and burns. But one Lamb doesn't stop this from being a great book. *The Voyage of the Dawn Treader* provides delight, wonder, and best of all, a promise of a second chance for every one of us.

Third in the series (as they were originally written), "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" is one of my favorite books in the Narnia series. Edmund and Lucy return to Narnia (Peter and Susan are now too old to come back) and they bring an unwelcome (and unwilling) guest. Eustace, their cousin, plays a bratty child who can't think of anything but leaving Narnia, until he undergoes a remarkable change (you'll have to read to find out!). The three children join King Caspian at the beginning of an ocean voyage to explore the seas to the East of Narnia, and experience an exciting series of dangers and marvels. This book has many similarities to the adventures of Ulysses in "The Odyssey" by Homer, under different circumstances. And once again, Reepicheep proves to be the fearlessly brave mouse whose actions give him much greater credit than his size.

This book is very informative without being boring. It takes an often complicated businessBRand makes it easy to understand. PRobert Rodriguez is truly an inspiration to up and coming filmakers like myself,his ten-minute film school is almost shockingly easy to learn from,and his exploits at the research hospital to raise the money for the making of EL MARIACHI is very funny and almost sureal.Speaking of which I am still trying to decide if i'm willing to go to the lengths that Robert did to get the moneyBRfor my first feature.Becoming a leatural lab experiment is not something that appeals to BRme...at least not at this time.

Robert Rodriguez, Texas-born filmmaker tells us how his attempt at honing his filmmaking skills jettisioned him straight into the big time.

This diary book tells us of the frustrations and nightmares of making his debut feature film "El Mariachi". He also tells us of his interesting and amusing stories of entry into Hollywood: like getting representation from a major Hollywood agent at one International Creative Management (the biggest talent agency in the world). And he tells of his adventures and misadventures in a such a friendly style, you'd swear you were speaking to your best friend.

This is the only book I've ever read that can genuinely constitute as inspiring. I'm dead serious. I'm 17 years old and an aspiring filmmaker. Before I read his book, I was trying to make movies and was more than a little discouraged at how things turned out. But, that all changed when I heard what this book was about. I requested it for Christmas and couldn't believe my eyes. If Rodriguez, for some reason, decides that he doesn't want to make movies anymore, he should seriously consider being a motivational speaker. In this book, he tells of his filmmaking experience -- all the trials and tribulations and encourages and inspires people by telling them how easy and straightforward the filmmaking process, always known to be daunting, really is.

And as an added incentive -- frosting on the cake, really -- Rodriguez includes his "10 Minute Film School", telling how you can make a movie in a few easy steps. Again, this guy speaks to you on an equal level -- he doesn't patronize, which is what makes the book even better.

Robert Rodriguez does an excellent job of entertaining and inspiring us in this book on how easy, sometimes challenging, and rewarding the filmmaking process can be.

Take a bow, Mr. Rodriguez.

I was doing my laundry in Santa Monica depressed as hell one day when I started to read this book. The next thing you know, I got a call from my agent that I had two auditions the next day.

Why do I tell you this? I'm not sure exactly. But this book inspired me in a way that got me to make my first film.

If you're looking to learn how technical aspects of film making forget it.

In short why this book kicks a#$ is for two reasons: (Both of which I now subscribe to). 1)In his own words; "I can't believe more people aren't doing this". What he's saying is that ANYBODY CAN DO THIS. Which is soooooo true. The second great thing I got out of this book is the motivation factor. (This would be #2). If some punk kid from Texas can make a movie why can't I?

Get this book people. It's the Tony Robbins of film making!!!

The setting is London, England. The police said Ian Rider died in a car collision, but when his 14-year-old nephew Alex Rider looks at the car, it's full of bullet holes. He knows that his uncle didn't die in a car collision. He finds out that he was murdered. Alex finds out that his uncle was an international spy and then is blackmailed into taking his place. It's up to Alex to finish his uncle's mission. He needs to find the information that his uncle left behind and use it to find out why Sayle Enterprises is giving away millions of free top quality computers. When he finds out what will happen if he fails to stop Herod Sayle and his Stormbreaker computers equipped with biochemical warfare, designed to kill every one in England, he knows that he has to finish and be successful with the mission.
Overall I thought the book was pretty good. I found this book dull in the first few chapters, but it picks up pace when Alex starts his mission. The book ends with a fast finish, full of wild events. I think Anthony Horowitz created very interesting characters. One of his characters is Mr. Grin, a former circus knife thrower. Mr. Grin changed his name after he did his grand finale act and got his face very badly cut up, leaving a scar that resembles a grin.
I would have given it a 5 star rating but because of the first few chapters' start slow, I rated it down a star. This book is great for 4th and 5th graders. You must not skip the beginning chapters because even though they are slow they contain information that helps you understand the middle and the end of the book. Read Anthony Horowitz's Stormbreaker. Look for Alex Riders next adventure Point Blank.

MLE,Ms.Kasila's class

Alex Rider has been living with his uncle Ian Rider ever since the death of his parents. When his uncle dies in a car wreck Alex suddenly finds out that his quiet uncle didn't work in a bank after all ' Ian Rider was a spy! Blackmailed into joining the M16, Alex is put through a crash course of SAS training before being sent off on his first mission - a mission that could very well be his last. Alex has been sent in to complete his uncles mission, except he doesn't have Ian's experience or weaponry. Can Alex survive this adventure?

This is one of the best action/adventure books that I have read in a long timeAlex is a great character and he has to deal with the bad guys AND the good guys because the good guys think he is too young to have a gun!!!! I read this book in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down. This is an adventure full of danger and narrow escapes as Alex figures out who the bad guy is and how to stop him.

This is a must read book - as is the sequel Point Blanc. If you enjoyed this book you should also try Malcolm Rose. If youo want to read a book that you will not forget in a hurry then this is it.

Two thumbs up for Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz. This is an exciting,action-packed book. I recently read Stormbreaker and could not put it down. Stormbreaker is the story of a boy named Alex who finds out that his uncle is killed by a contract killer because he knows too much. M16, the spy network, sends Alex to spy camp where he learns to be a spy. As he tries to find his uncle's killer and stop an evil plan, the fate of England rests in his hands. I recommend this book to people who like mysteries and plenty of action. If you haven't already read this book, make it your next! You won't regret it.

Awesome. DeMello was recently censured by the Roman Catholic Church for dabbling too much in Eastern spirituality, but this book is as valuable to me as the Bible. It just contains so much spiritual wisdom. I have read it several times over and have loaned it to so many people that I finally bought a second copy just to let others read it. Despite what the Church says, if you are the least bit interested in spirituality(Christian or otherwise) this is a must read.

This is a sweet and funny and profound book which warmed up my heart and consistently made me laugh. De Mello was a universally respected Jesuit priest who managed to go far beyond the orthodox catholic dogma and into the very heart of spiritual alivennes and connectedness. Several centuries earlier a similar attempt was made by Loyola, another Jesuit troublemaker; however, in A., DeMello dispenses with the extraneous mumbo jumbo and goes straight to the heart of the matter. God is presence itself and through awareness we are simultaneously connected to who we truly are and to the sacredness of all life. De Mello reminds us time and again of this simple yet profound truth; i especially admire his skilfull use of anecdote and parable, which reminds me of another great spiritual teacher... Perhaps it is not coincidental that De Mello lived and worked in Goa, that syncretic ex-Portuguese colony known for its eccentric inhabitants and practices. What impresses me the most about this book is that DeMello manages to weave into his teachings the best elements of Buddhist and Hindu traditions (their emphasis on awareness, mindfulness) and combines them with what is best in Christianity (the emphasis on love, openness of the heart). In addition to that, he is consistently funny (no mean feat for a work on spiritual matters)... and even manages to be cranky in a way that makes me laugh. Perhaps as importantly, the book shows that Christianity may not be all about biblethumping -in the right hands it is a vibrant, contemporary, compassionate, and profound spiritual practice. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about mindfulness from a master teacher.

De Mello's "Awareness" is one of the most profound books on spirituality that I have ever read. Breathtaking, stunning, life changing - these are some of the adjectives that come to mind. Sell your house, your car, and your television set, whatever it takes to own a copy of this book. You will feel like Oedipus when he discovered the horrible truth about his own life, except that the discovery will not be one of tragedy but exhilaration. What makes "Awareness" unique is that although it is a short book that is easy to read, it provokes a revolution in outlook and attitude that can only be pondered over a lifetime.

Simply put, this book is the standard that any other art history book is measured by. It's long, thorough, and extremely good. Well-illustrated, it covers every major (and most minor) periods of Western art starting from primitive cave sketches in France to modern-day. Beware, however; though the title doesn't say it, this book is a history of WESTERN art. Don't expect to see much in the way of art from other cultures, except in a comparison with a piece of western art.

As the editors suggest, Janson does not assume any level of knowledge on the part of his reader. This does, in fact, make this book fabulously easy to understand, even while he fills your head with a near-exhausting level of information. Janson is THE name in art history, and unfortunately, he knows it. He has a tendency to talk down to his readers, and his arrogance comes across clearly in nearly every paragraph. If it weren't for this exception and the fact that it only covers western art, it would have been an easy 5-star. You still can't get a better guide to western art-- no matter your level of familiarity.

As an art history major, I found the fourth edition of History of Art an invaluable tool in learning and understanding the evolution of the history of art. The fifth edition, however, is sublime! The fifth edition has several additions that put History of Art ahead of the other surveys (Stokstad and Gardner) on the market. The first and best inclusion in the updated version of History of Art is that of primary sources at the end of the sections. Abrams (the publisher) solicited some of the finest art historians (including Dale Kinney, an exceptional medievalist) to choose and edit texts from the time period of the section. This addition is incredibly beneficial for an art history instructor or TA (almost all the work is already done in terms of supplemental readings). Further, for the amateur reading for pleasure, the texts are an invaluable addition. Not only do the Jansons provide their own stellar modern view, but the book also provides a more historically acurate way to understand and view the art. It is phenomenally beneficial to be able to read texts written at the same time as the art. It helps to moderate an inevitable anachronistic interpretation/viewing of the art. This inclusion of primary texts is what allows this edition of Janson to trump the Stokstad survey. While Stokstad's Art History includes some fantastic charts and iconographical aides, History of Art's inclusion of primary texts is of greater value. The amateur art historian could create a chart comparing the art historical developments in different countries, but would not necessarily be able to pick helpful primary texts. The second major difference in this latest edition of History of Art is the modernization of the subject matter included. The fifth edition is markedly different from the fourth by including more women artists and more non-western art. While this is a fantastic improvement on early editions, it does not necessarily make History of Art distinguishable. In keeping with current trends in academia, almost all recently published surveys contain these types of updates. In sum, the fabulous and myriad colour plates, the wonderful modern text, the inclusion of traditionally under-represented art and artists, and the inclusion of fantastic primary texts makes this art historical survey the best on the market.

I was first exposed to this remarkable work in a high school art history class; we used a different text but our teacher showed us this book as the standard undergraduate art history textbook. I managed to secure an earlier edition (I think the second, but I'm not sure) in order to prepare for the Advanced Placement test in Art History. I read through the entire book in just under a week. It's that good. Each chapter flows seamlessly into the next, making reading a breeze. I was fortunate enough to receive this edition (the fifth) as a graduation gift this June and, remarkably, it has improved upon the nearly perfect earlier edition. So what makes the Janson so good? First of all, the images in the book are amazing. Almost every single page has a high quality (usually color) image. The images correspond very well with the text, so you don't have to search around to find what the author is talking about. As other reviewers have mentioned, no previous knowledge of art is assumed. It is exceedingly easy just to open to a random page and understand what is being described. One could learn a great deal merely by reading a few random pages each day. But the beauty of Janson is how unified it is. If someone were to read from start to finish (quite a task), a complete picture of the history of Western Art would be planted firmly in his/her mind with no large gaps or leaps in knowledge. Janson has it all; clearly it is not an exhaustive list of every artist ever to make a contribution. But, a thorough acquaintance with Janson will allow you to expand your knowledge of art history with ease. You cannot go wrong with this book.

Coming from a person that reads a lot of novels, I feel that I am in a position to rate EJD's lastest novel five stars plus. The thought, and effort entered into the writing of this book, comes through loud and clear. Others should keep in mind, it's only a novel to be enjoyed, and not taken seriously,or equated with anyone's personal situation. The love for another's talent should be met with gratitude. It's stated in other reviews that the author belittles black women. It's just a story born in the author's head, and not necessarily his personal views. How about for entertainment purposes only? That's is why we have choices in what we choose to read. I appreciate good literature, and an author with an imagination. One that can make the reader laugh, cry and feel all of the emotions that are written within the pages. An author that allows his characters to have an imaginable life, would prove to be, in my opinion, talented.

Cheaters is one of the best novels that I have read recently. It focuses on today's dating game and the twists and turns as it relates to relationships - be it one on one or more than one. The content of this novel deals with the aspects that many other writers opt not to deal with. It explores love, truth, honesty, sex, sexuality, pain, suffering and emotional turmoil. It really opens up an avenue that shows the side of African American males that they want to keep hidden. It addresses the sensitive side that men try to hide and opens a woman's eye to that side of men. It's a great book and I have recommended it to all of my friends and fellow readers. If you're just beginning to read or if you're a member of a book club I highly recommend Cheaters for your enjoyment. I've have enjoyed all of his novels to this date and I can't wait for his new novel.

Cheaters, a novel by Eric Jerome Dickey, is not only wonderfully written, witty, and entertaining, but is also realistic and enlightening as well. Each character has his or her own unique voice. Cheater's, Dickey's sexy and sassy novel, takes readers into the Los Angeles singles scene. Dickey explores all the hassels of everyday life and paints a realistc view of life in general. Dickey takes us on an adventure in betrayal, seduction, heartbreak, and true love. Readers will fall in love with Chante, who is so unlucky when it comes to love; that is until she meets the right man- Stephan. Her emotions are so honest, and she is the epitome of the single woman looking for Mr. Right, only to discover that Mr. right wasn't so right after all. This insightful novel also shows relationships from both the male and female perspective. Chante and her best friends Karen and Tammy are soul sisters, and have stayed close throughout each trial and tribulation each has ungergone. They have been together when each has found love, lost love, gone looking for love, and gave up on love. From the male perspective there's Stephan and his best friends Jake and Darnell, who are living well with good jobs and promising futures. Stephan and Jake attract numerous beautiful women and believe the more the merrier. Darnell is married and stayed faithful, despite rough times until he meets a woman who truly understands him. The characters discover just how far they can push each other, and how in the end, cheaters will get caught, and so the game will end. You will love Cheaters, and will not want to put it down.