This is a wonderful revisionary view of a bunch of authors who put me to sleep in high school. Peyser pulls the pants down on the "old grey ladies" of American literature. Someone had to do it (I guess) and I'm glad it was him and not me, but I'm also glad to have this rather strange and wondrous book.

Up until now, Peyser has been known mostly for his uproarious commentaries on NPR, and for his notorious flipping off of Cokie Roberts on the old David Brinkley show. (He has never been invited back.) I have to admit that when I first saw this book I just assumed it was another of his spoofs, but it turns out that Peyser is a bona fide literary critic. There is some very funny stuff about the vastly overrated Charlotte Perkins Gilman--Peyser cuts the old trog down to size--but mostly this is very smart and very down-to-earth cultural criticism. We have to be grateful for this book, but I for one cannot help but feel a little sad, too, since it would seem that with its publication P. has shed his youthful guise of hilarity, and that he has now stepped into full manhood, revealing what most of us have always suspected underlay the shimmering surface of his speech: knowledge of what Matt Arnold named "the eternal note of sadness."

You know, this is not the sort of book I would normally read. But there it was, suddenly, on the coffee table one night. How it got there I have no idea. Just curious, I began to leaf through the pages, and the words began to resonate with me. Unable to sleep, I read it through in one sitting by candlelight. The next morning, I began to look at things around me differently. First, I removed several unessential appliances from the house in an effort to simplify my existence. Then it became time to de-clutter and I threw out several items I realized I had no more use for. Then, and this all seemed so logical in light of the things I'd read, I divorced the wife and sent her on her why. Sure, she cried a bit, but I knew I was doing the right thing. And I've never regretted it. This is, indeed, one of the best books I've read all year.

I have talked to pro-choice women who condemn this book sight unseen. Their hypocrisy is amusing, since only a few years ago, when "Miss Norma" revealed herself to be the "Roe" of "Roe vs. Wade," they couldn't get enough of her "charming simplicity" and "homespun sincerity." They even got Holly Hunt to play her in a movie! But now that "Miss Norma" has had a change of mind and heart, she is persona non grata - that "homespun sincerity" is now patronizingly referred to as "childlike naivete" by some reviewers. Well, well. I suggest anyone, pro- or anti-abortion, will do well to read this book and see what "Jane Roe" really went through. Even if you disagree with her, you gotta respect her. She's REAL.

Let me just say this: this book managed to reduce this 23-year old male college senior to tears. I came to know more about God's love in this 240 or so page book which I was able to read in two evenings than I have in volumes of systematic thoelogy...

In what is perhaps one of the most encouraging books I've ever read, Norma McCorvey (Jane Roe of Roe vs. Wade) shares with us the story of her upbringing, her involvement in the (in)famous Supreme Court case, and how she was used both by the men who caused her to desire an abortion, and ironically(!), the people who she turned to for help.

In the end, it was the love of Christ expressed through a group of Christian pro-life activists who moved their office next to her abortion clinic who started to soften her heart. Building on a friendship with a young girl named Emily, Norma befriended her former arch-enemy, and in one culminating moment, decided to give her life to Christ.

The later parts of the book are concerned with the reaction she received from her former cohorts and the liberal media, and exposes the double standards employed when people don't tow the liberal line during interviews and such.

Needless to say, Norma is now a pro-life activist herself, who has founded her own ministry, Roe No More (http://www.roenomore.org/).

If you only have the time to read one book this year - or have one to recommend to someone, this should be it.

I was intrigued, angered, touched, and mystified by the experiences Norma went through to get to the spiritual life she now enjoys. She was painstakingly honest, despite the lies she felt she had to tell as a young lady to help get Roe passed. My heart goes out to her. She is a champion, a fighter, a human being. She is you, she is me. Her scars are healing, yet her memories will never leave-- being caught up in a difficult ethical issue which tested her at every turn. You will never forget what you read in this book, it pierces you that deep! It takes an objective reader with an open mind and heart to appreciate what she went through on both sides of the abortion controversy.

So much of the history of Monticello has been swept under the rug for generations and generations. As a Virginian living in such close proximity to Monticello, I, as the majority of people who have made the requisite trip through Mr. Jefferson's estate had literally no grasp on its actual history. Mr. Leepson's watershed book is eminently readable, even for those of us who are not students of historical preservation and brings to light the actual gritty past of this now pristine national monument. The fact that the Jefferson family or the Jefferson Foundation has not exclusively owned Monticello is often downplayed by many persons associated with it in its current condition. Perhaps the greatest merit of Saving Monticello is that it reveals the fact that this estate has a much deeper and more complex history than many Americans realize or may be willing to believe.

Mr. Leepson has masterfully peeled back the onion skin of history and shows the reader that Monticello's historical significance is not restricted to early American or Architectural history alone, but can actually stand as a microcosm of American History in its full form. From the birth of the nation to civil war to anti-Semitism- Monticello has seen it all. Mr. Leepson's book artfully reveals Monticello's sometimes colorful, often tragic history in a text that marries the all too frequently opposing qualities of being both informative and entertaining.

This book is worth every minute spent reading it and may even entice its readers to delve further into Monticello's family tree. We truly owe the Levy family a debt of gratitude for preserving Monticello for future generations. Without their intervention, this estate would not be in existence today for us to enjoy and appreciate. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, and I thank Mr. Leepson for finally giving us, the reader, access to the story behind this historical treasure.

I am a big Thomas Jefferson fan and I love Monticello. I've visited there many times. And yet I didn't know the story of what happened to that amazing place after Thomas Jefferson's death on July 4, 1826. Now I know thanks to this fascinating, fact-filled book. Mr. Leepson tells a fascinating story and he tells it very well. I learned about an amazing cast of characters, the post-Jefferson owners of Monticello: James Barclay, Uriah Levy, Benjamin Ficklin and Jefferson Levy. And I learned that all of us who admire Jefferson and Monticello owe a large debt to both Levys for saving the house when it was close to ruin twice. I strongly recommend it.

Thank you Mr. Leepson for "Saving Monticello". I found it a very enjoyable read and very interesting. As a Virginian, we are proud of all our historic sites and heritage and the story of the Levy family is one of the best that I have read in a long time. Anyone who reads this book will discover that Uriah and Jefferson Levy deserve a lot credit for "Saving Monticello". Preserving Monticello was the Levy's way of keeping the memory of Thomas Jefferson alive. If it wasn't for the resources of the Levys, the many treasures of Monticello would have been lost to future generations.

This is not your ordinary professional textbook. I normally use these type of books to help me sleep at night, but I find myself reading the chapter after chapter of this Advanced Water Distribution Book. It is more than a reference textbook with it's history timelines, cartoons, practical problem sets, interesting tidbits of info, and so forth. I especially enjoyed the chapters on transients, GIS, and Water Quality.

Hastead Method's new book entitled Advanced Water Distribution System Modeling and Management is an excellent expansion and extension of its previous book, Water Distribution Modeling. I found the previous book extremely helpful and utilized it many times in my work. The new voulme has been expanded to inculde such important topics as: model skeletonization, demand allocation using GIS, water quality sampling and calibration, integration of modeling and SCADA systems, Genetic-algorithm-based calibration and design, modeling of variable-speed pumps,water system security and hydraulic transients, use of flow emitters and the integration 0f GIS with hydraulic modelng. I expect to use this new text extensively and stongly reccomend it to both beginning and experienced engineers.

This is definitely a must-have for any civil engineer involved in hydraulics, especially water modelers. I had been surprised by the quality of the previous Water Distribution Modeling book, but the Advanced edition succeeded my expectations. Its writing is very understandable and it is full of creative illustrations. The chapter about Geographic Information Systems is very well written, and after realizing who were involved in its review (ESRI's staff), I don't wonder about its content anymore.

Highly recommended.

This book traces the history of the modern Conservative and Liberal "visions" from their beginnings about 200 years ago to the present day. Both views are treated in an apparently even handed maner, with any conclusions left to the reader. The results, however, may come as a revelation to many readers, since the differences explain many of the reasons for the seeming decline of morals and values in America today, and the apparent corruption of our political system. In particular, the book answers questions such as why are Conservatives judged by higher (or at least different) standards than their Liberal counterparts; why do some politicians feel free to lie to their constituents if it serves their ends; why has our Constitution been ignored by our lawmakers, and why does it continue to be ignored; what is the difference between Communism and Socialism; and why do some politicians consider themselves to be the so-called "elite" who know what is best for their fellow Americans. In short, this book is a MUST READ for anyone desiring to understand today's America and what makes it tick.

Probably the book that best captures the core of Sowell's thought, this will help crystallize the understanding of anyone who has invested a lot of time in observing the back-and-forth, Crossfire-style, argumentation that usually passes for rational political discussion. The underlying assumptions that promulgate the world-views of our pundits and politicians can be seen here, making for a clearer understanding of how political figures, past and present, have arrived at the choices they have made. While reading on the affirmative action debate, say, or the history of Europe between the World Wars, one can see the opposing visions at work. Sowell is careful - as always, but here more than usual - not to take sides, but merely to present the characteristic behaviors and thought processes of the two "visions." As someone who agrees with Sowell most, but not all of the time, I was pleased with the way he stayed on message. A more opinionated book of his is "The Vision of the Anointed" which I also recommend.

Thomas Sowell's "A Conflict of Visions" is a remarkable book. The author's objective portrayal of the two conflicting visions, their premises, their history and their wide ranging implications and ramifications is an excellent education for all who have a serious interest in social and economic policies, as well as politics.

Like Dr. Sowell's other books, "A Conflict of Visions" was the product of meticulous research, objective analysis and much original thought. In my opinion, few people in the public arena today are as brilliant and as well informed as Dr. Sowell.

If you ever wondered why the same two camps of voices combat each other on issue after issue, in politics, in law, in economics and in social policies, if you ever wondered why no unequivocal truth emerged from the conflicting premises through more than 200 years of war and peace, and if you ever wondered (this is the kicker!) why one side's vitriolic portrayal of the other side met with a generally benevolent counter portrayal, you will find the answers in Dr. Sowell's theory of conflicting visions. Reading this book is like discovering Newtonian mechanics.

"A Conflict of Visions" is not an easy read. However, you won't soon forget its ideas.

Paul Thomas Anderson shows us, yet again, how he can bring together many different characters, involved us in their different circling stories, and not let us lose touch with any one of them.

The shooting script is brilliantly written -- Anderson has developed a wonderful way of describing things and writing dialogue, which can, at times, sound shockingly realistic.

It's a delight for fans of the film, like myself, to read scenes that were deleted from the film, most notably, Stanley Spector meeting the mysterious character "Worm". After reading this part, you understand how it fits into this film.

This is a really well-crafted work of a story, which complements Paul Thomas Anderson's creative talent, and showcases everyday problems like regret, love, fear, and loneliness and shows how touching they can really be.

The pictures at the end of the book are very colorful and gorgeous to look at it, because the capture the feeling of the movie so well.

But, I'm a little dissappointed with the interview with Anderson, which comes after the screenplay. It's interesting to hear him talk about the inspiration for the story and characters. But, it doesn't feel very satisfying, because it feels severely edited, leaving you wanting to know more.

But, that's okay. The screenplay explains it all, giving you a wonderful, heartfelt story about real people struggling with the problems and unusual circumstances in their lives.

If you enjoyed the movie, this book will only make you love it more.

MAGNOLIA is the brilliant 3-hour intimate epic of Paul Thomas Anderson, writer-director-genius-walking God-auteur-idol.

It's the story of redemption, loss, lonliness and apocalyptic cataclysm over the course of one day but you can't begin to describe in words anything about what it's truly about even after seeing it.

MAGNOLIA was a brilliant film. At 3 hours and 8 minutes, MAGNOLIA is a vast film of such brilliant and breathtaking vision, it makes you wish they gave an OSCAR for BEST SCOPE.

I've read the screenplay by ANDERSON and bought the book and it too is brilliant, just like the film. But I suspect because of the publicized editing in the film, ANDERSON'S SHOOTING SCRIPT that is the book is actually more in depth in the nature of certain characters and scenes. The film neglects to explain fully some of the plot threads and the script scoops them up and cradles them in light.

It's a self-affirming jolt of a movie that is sure to be unpredictable by everyone. I do recommend both to everyone who can understand the pain of the characters.

A compelling, in depth look at the lives of eight people in suburbia, "Magnolia-the shooting script" is one not to be missed by anyone who considers themselves a true "Magnolia" fan. It has often been stated that Paul Thomas Anderson lacks as a screenwriter but exells as a director. I finished reading "Magnolia" within 90 minutes, and I did not see how anyone could say that. The script pulled me in and kept me reading just like I was watching it on screen. We are offered director's insight into how he wants to see everything on film, and, this being the shooting script (meaning "original"), we are meant to see everything just how it was originally invisioned. We are offered the complete rules on "Seduce and Destroy". We meet the character of "The Worm" who is mentioned and seen only briefly in the film. Reading this script will immediately make anyone feel like he or she is reading a piece of classical American fiction, as well as assure them that they are in the presence of a the greatest natural born film maker since Alfred Hitchcock.

I like this book because its one of the books that was read to me as a child. I also liked this book because its funny and it keeps you reading. I recommend this book to all ages. This is one of my favorite books I hope you like it to.

This is one of my all-time favorite books. Amelia Bedelia's unique way of interpreting instructions from Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers will always make me laugh. When someone tells you to "draw the drapes," you don't think of actually drawing them with a pencil, but Amelia Bedelia interprets each word at a literal level. This book is perfect for ages 6-9 because they will understand the housekeeper's witticisms. The text is a little longer than a lot of "An I Can Read Book," but illustrator Fritz Siebel backs up each page of text with a colorful picture of Amelia Bedelia's adventures. Author Peggy Parish has developed a character who will persevere in the world of children's literature because of her wit and irresistable charm.

"Amelia Bedelia" has entertained children, and even adults, for many years. Its silliness and humor are as fresh now as it was back when first published.

In this first book, which spurned numerous other "Amelia Bedelia" stories, we see that Amelia is a maid who goes to work for an upper class family. And no ordinary maid, mind you. She is a peculair and singular maid. She is given a list of chores to do while the homeonwers, Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, go out.

One chore she must do is "Put the lights out" when she is finished in the living room. To most other maids, perhaps, they would understand this chore to mean "turn off the lights". But not Amelia. She thinks the Rogers' want her take all the light bulbs out of the house to "air out".

As a child, "Amelia Bedelia" continuously entertained me. And if it had not been for her lemon meringue pie, the Rogers' would have fired her for her incompetence. But with one bite, Mr. and Mrs. Rogers forgot about her mistakes, and kept her on permantently as their maid, leading to other delightful "Amelia bedelia" stories, and more silly mishaps and misunderstandings.

As a bellydancer, I picked up this book out of curiosity, mostly just to see what the author had written about the dance and how accurate it was. I was surprised to find the book both well-written, compelling, and absolutely dead-on about the world of American bellydance. Even though I learned to dance some twenty years and 3,000 miles away from where Anna Soffee first took lessons and even though my personal life is nowhere as turbulent as hers, I found myself repeatedly nodding my head and saying "Sister, I have been there and done that." The first performance at the country fair, the sleazy come-ons from men that assume that because you're a belly dancer you are also stripper/hooker, the terrible audience that is ABSOLUTELY not interested in you, the lack of understanding from family and friends, the in-fighting between dancers and troupes--it was like the author was writing about my own life.
My advice? Even if you aren't interested in belly dance, buy this book and read it any way. The style is edgy, hip, and funny and the moral of the book--that you have to accept yourself the way you are before you can achieve any sort of personal fulfillment--is ultimately very uplifting. I came away with a lot of respect for Ms. Soffee as both a dancer, a writer and a survivor.

Being a beginning belly dancer it was fun (and almost a relief) to read that someone shared the same obsessions that I have in regards to the dance. How it completely took over her thoughts, her time and her outlook ~ I was sure that she was writing about me. We share the same insecurities when it comes to dancing and we share the same joys and freedoms that it offers.
On top of that, this is a wonderful story that deals with so much more! Even if I didn't dance, I would have still enjoyed this book and still have given it 5 stars.
Thank you Anne for sharing your very funny, very honest and very entertaining story.

I have been Belly Dancing for 5 years and know people excactly like Ms. Soffee describes. I haven't laughed so hard reading a book in a very long time. I was so enthralled with this book that I am going to sell it at the North Texas Middlle Eastern Dance Association's annual dinner show event! Even if you don't Belly Dance you will appreciate the sarcasm of Ms. Soffee and the events in the book.

Whether you are a man or a woman, if you're in the corporate world or work in an office, this is an essential book to own. It will revolutionize your earning potential. It covers all aspects of the work experience from interviewing to getting a raise to leaving successfully. His advice about how often you should switch jobs is wroth the price of the book, easily.

R. Don Steele's blunt language is a rare find in today's world, and his straightforwardness helps convey his messages. If you read this book carefully, you'll realize he truly cares about telling you everything he knows about the subject. He is clearly passionate about educating his readers, and his language and thoroughness show that.

I truly wish I had read this book before I had graduated college. I'm lucky I found it during my second job.

How many books tell the (and sometimes disgusting) truth about how the world really works? Well, at least one does, Office Politics by R Don Steele.
Expect no encouraging words or quick fixes, but a lot of work and thinking on YOUR side. Steele guides you in the process of becoming successful at the corporation (and even at life, too) through his well organized and entertaining book. His style is direct and harsh, and besides it's directed to women it works for men too (at least a 90%).

The book is about americans corporations, so readers from other cultures might find that some parts doesn't apply to their own situation (even in case of working for american companies located outside US), but anyway, a large part still holds.
As a plus, you can call the author regarding these matters to his own web radio show at live 365.

The book describes precisely how to improve your job survival skills and much more. Don Steele's style is direct and straightforward. He wants the reader to know the bigger picture of how it works: "Principles and facts that lead to understanding are presented before techniques and methods. (...) You can't take full advantage of what you are going to learn about the what, how and when of office politics unless you understand the why". The author wants women to know the score: "Men, beginning with daddy, then boyfriends, then fiancés, then husbands and ending with corporate bosses, never tell women the plain simple truth about us men. The truth about how we think, what drives us, why we behave as we do and what we want from women at work and everywhere else. The truth shall make you free". It takes a lot of thinking before you can utilize all the information contained in Office politics. A brilliant book.

This new book by Davenport and Prusak, two old pros in the Knowledge Management business, is the most definitive book written on the subject. The writing is clear and concise and discusses a variety of issues in KM and Intellectual Capital. This is an ideal book on several levels. It will provide those unfamilar with this subject a good basis for understanding this emerging management discipline. For those who are up-to-date on the latest innovations within this field, the book provides a great example of the difficulty faced when trying to institute a Knowledge Management culture within an organization. Finally, as KM grows into a critical mgmt. function, this book can serve as a guideline on how to avoid the usual pitfalls as well as taking advantage of the strategies that will assist with the successful implementation of a KM System.

I have to say that the only frustrating thing about reading this book was the fact that I had not done it before. In addition to addressing important, acute issues, Davenport and Prusaks are good writers and base their approach on practice and solid cases (including examples from 39 organisations) instead of abstract theories. The point is, most of existing knowledge management literature has its head in the clouds, forgetting the actual work environment, where the knowledge managed is born and used.

The one thing that may feel alien from a Scandinavian perspective is the weight the authors' put on the so called "knowledge markets". That is, their approach to knowledge management is a strict application of market economy. While this opens some interesting perspectives and offers an applicable framework, it is, in my view, too simplistic. The authors do mention altruism as one of the possible motivations of knowledge sharers and exclaim: "Such people do exist ... We all know individuals who simply like helping" but the authors seem to have difficulties understanding such individuals. I have to give them credit, though, as they note that attitude to altruism is at least partly a question of national culture.

If you are like most people, you are a victim of "stalled" thinking about how to make knowledge transfer work better in your organization. As the authors point out, many people believe things that will not work in practice, such as "build it and they will come" from a technology resource sharing perspective that all one needs to do is have the resource available. Unlike the theory about knowledge management, Davenport and Prusak have investigated many organizations to learn what does and does not work. Unlike some books that are no more than a few case histories strung together, the authors concisely use examples to examplify the key points of what they have learned. In their parlance, this book is full of "knowledge" rather than just "information" or "data." They are also astute observers, and notice things that many might miss. A key example of their astuteness is the observation that those who are expected to share must be given some meaningful incentive to do so. In these days of downsizing, rightsizing, etc., those with knowledge often see that knowledge as a security blanket for an economic livelihood. You have to provide some incentive to share that matches or exceeds the incentive to hoard knowledge. You need to read and understand the lessons of this book if you want to get further along in using the knowledge that is available (both in and outside of your company) to achieve greater results. A terrific book on the related subject of how to create new knowledge and use that knowledge to then create much greater results is "The 2,000 Percent Solution."