There are a number of guides to the zone system and many have something to offer. The Zone System Craftbook (paperback) by J.C. Woods is one of the best. Much of the book is relatively elementary in the sense that people who know the zone system will find it light (but still worthwhile) reading - e.g. zones, zone relationships, placing gray tones, moving them, expansion, contraction, contrast, etc., etc.. The discussion of expansion and contraction is particularly picturesque and transparent. People who are learning the system will find very few books that are clearer. Wood's book has a modest number of illustrations, but they are entirely adequate to support the presentation. What this book does very well is cover the subject in extremely practical terms that can be immediately put into practice. Much of the presentation is not technical and it is unencumbered by elaborate details of testing or sensitometry. But, for those who wish to refine their technique, later chapters are devoted to a detailed approach to testing and calibration, with and without the use of a densitometer. The books will be very useful to people who are refining their use of the zone system as well as to folks who elect not to delve into a high level of perfection with technique. All in all, if you are interested in learning about the zone system, this is a book you will be very glad you decided to buy. There are others, of course. The Ansel Adams Guides (books 1 and 2) by John Schaefer are also well-written and really loaded with illustrations and useful information. They are much bigger than the book by Woods. Out of print now but also excellent is Schaefer's earlier (paperback) book, How to Use the Zone System for Black and White Photography.

It's the best zone system book that has been written so far. It is interesting and very easy to read. It doesn't get bogged down in useless information that fills up so many other books. It's concise and accurate. If you're serious about photography in the least, it's a required reading. It's a must for anybody who cares about his/her photography, unless you're Ansel Adams.

I have read the book "The Advanced Hitter" and I feel that the author(s) did a splendid job conveying their ideas in an easy to understand fashion while tackling the not so easy job of explaining how to approach the most difficult feat in all sports, hitting a baseball/softball.

In addition to the detailed description there are pictures depicting the various approaches so the reader can get a clearer understanding of the authors intent.

"The Advanced Hitter" is a book I would recommend to an adult or a child (12 & above) as a book to keep handy while learning the art of hitting.

A review from Wild West Magazine, June 2000:

The two largest movements of vigilantism in the American West occurred in 1851 and 1856 San Francisco during the California Gold Rush, and right in the middle of both of them--but not on the vigilantes' side--was one Charles P. ("Dutch Charley") Duane. In '51, the Committee of Vigilance banished Dutch Charley from San Francisco, saying he would face a penalty of death if he returned. Seems he had been involved in at least seven brawls, including the beating and shooting of a French actor named Amedee Fayolle. But the vigilantes disbanded that fall, and Duane was soon back in town and making trouble again. During the next several years, he was involved in at least half a dozen violent incidents. When the San Francisco Committee of Vigilance formed in 1856, it targeted Dutch Charley and once again warned him to leave and never to return under penalty of death.

There were two sides to Dutch Charley, though. He was also a fearless fireman. He played a courageous role in saving much of the St. Francis Hotel from a fiery fate in October 1853 and, less than two months after that, was elected chief engineer of the fire department. When the heat died down after his 1856 banishment from San Francisco, Duane quietly returned to town early in 1860 and, within weeks, was honored during a fire department meeting. Dutch Charley would stay put, become involved in politics again (he had once been a chief henchman for the politically powerful David C. Broderick), and outlast most of his drinking buddies.

John Boessenecker does justice to Dutch Charley's colorful story in 50 pages, which constitutes the "Introduction." It has to be one of the longest and best introductions you'll find in a Western history book and serves as more than a warm up for Duane's own memoirs, originally published in the San Francisco Examiner in 1881 and now published for the first time in book form. Duane's 100-page account, as Boessenecker describes it, "provides a firsthand viewpoint of one of the most outspoken opponents of vigilance in San Francisco." Highpoints include getting Duane's take on a double hanging by the vigilantes on May 22, 1856, and on his own capture soon afterward for refusing to "go and bow down to the Vigilance Committee." Boessenecker also provides detailed explanatory notes that help complete this fascinating look at one man's violent life and one boom city's most violent era.

Louis Hart

As a college student I am impressed with this textbook. The explanations are clear, the exercises make sense and the text refers to resources on the Internet and on video. I have never had a word of praise for a math textbook before I read this book.

I found this book was able to shed some much needed light on America's first master painters. I found Flexner's writing to be beautiful and the result of reading this book has been several trips to view the works of the artists featured within. I heartily recommend this title to all who are interested in this period of American/art history, or to those who would likee to be!

If you liked the CD, then you will love this book. It has some of the best music that I have ever played. I really enjoyed it!

The figures of this book are very useful for details in professional drawings. On the other hand, it gives simple ideas to solve common problems on construction.

This book is one of the best reference books an architect will ever use. It contains the necessary information for the beginning and advanced architect. Inside the 568 pages in this book one will find from the most basic to the highly complex architectural graphics. The book provides reference for the various arcchitectural plans such as the floor plan, elevation and perspective drawings. No other reference material can surpass the amount of information provided in this excellent book.

"Brief Lives" has always been a delight, but it was Oliver Lawson Dick's scholarly editing that revealed Aubrey's genius. And Lawson Dick's Introduction, "The Life and Times of John Aubrey", is a miracle of synthesis and compression: certainly one of the finest biographical essays ever written. This Nonpareil Books edition is sumptuous - a joy to read in these days cheap, quickly produced paperbacks.

This is truly a wonderful book for young children. JC Ryle has a wonderful way of speaking to children and reaching their heart for Christ. I wish I could find more books of this caliber for my children.

I would recommend this book for all children up to about 11 years old.