Yes, this book is very dense and technical, I am not a musician and was a bit lost at times, however, the author structures the book in such a way that you can skim or skip what is over your head (a lot for me) and still get something out of this book.

For me, one of the most important and rare things about this book is the way the author does not fall into the John vs. Paul biases like so many others who have written on this topic. He gives both men the written ananlysis and technical break down of their work they deserve and does not short change Paul in favor of John. This is appreciated as I believe it gives the best description of how the songwriting evolved through the talents of both men.

He also gives the same critical analysis of George Harrison's songs, this is rare indeed.

For these reasons I highly recommend the book for serious Beatle fans.

I am already burning through the second book.

First, let me make it clear that I really like this book (and its companion volume.) It's pretty difficult to write anything about the Beatles anymore that hasn't been written about ad nauseum already, but both of these books contain a great deal of fresh and intelligent information and insight on the Beatles's music. That said, I have a feeling that a lot of folks looking for new Beatles literature just aren't going to particularly enjoy The Beatles As Musicians. I'm a musician, but at times as I was reading this material I felt as though I might as well have been reading Latin simply because Mr. Everett is often very technical and rather esoteric in his discussions. In some ways (and Mr. Everett admittedly touches on this issue) these books seem somehow to fly in the face of what makes rock music so great in the first place...emotion, borderline chaos, an underlying sense of danger and rebellion, limited musicianship that somehow leads to innovation, chance, improvisation, etc etc. Still, as I noted, I enjoyed these books a great deal even when I didn't have the slightest idea what the author was writing about. But if you're not a musician or you are one who is largely self-taught and as technically stupid as I am, I wonder how much you'll like The Beatles As Musicians. Regardless, in appreciation of the freshness and intelligence of his work, I have to give Mr. Everett's books both five stars.

I like the way this author compliments his readers' intelligence by writing about musical theory with clear detail. He describes how the Beatles achieved some of the sounds they did and gives good, in-depth analyses of many of their songs.

This book is truly a must-have for inveterate Beatles fans; musicians and lay people as well will certainly come away enriched after having read this. I can't recommend this one highly enough.

Having just been laid off, I can tell you a book like this offers hope and solultions to immediate problems. Worth every penny.

Someone once said that every job is a two-week contract, because every two weeks they give you a paycheck and decide if they are going to keep you for two more weeks. In today's economy, that is truer than it ever was.

Don't wait for a layoff to claim you before you get Sherry Everett's great guide to making money between jobs. Get it and put it to work for you NOW! More than a list of ways to make money, this book has valuable tips for making the most out of each method. I consider myself an expert on creative ways to make money, and I found surprises in this book.

You also get a lot of helpful suggestions about dealing with stress, what a spouse can do to help, and how to prepare yourself for the possibility of getting laid off. Anyone who is employed, unemployed or self-employed should read (and use!) this book.

I spiraled into serious depression when I was laid off during a company merger nine months ago. My brother sent me a copy of 75 Proven Ways to Make Money Between Jobs and my hope grew with each page I read. This book has shown me great insights on how I can take control of my financial security.

Thanks to my brother's gift and to the author of this helpful book, I'm now making money and my depression is gone.

Perhaps the phrase, be careful what you ask for, should have been coined for this early story. In the books of Samuel, the nation of Israel essentially 'comes of age', and enters the arena of other nations by forming a central hierarchical structure.

The politics of Israel was interesting at this point. From the time of the Exodus (after Moses and Joshua) to the time of Samuel (some 400+ years later, if the Biblical account of years can be trusted -- the exact meaning of some time phrasings is still in doubt), Israel had no central authority, no hierarchy. The people lived in a mostly agrarian culture, with small farming, flocks and herds as the norm. Cities were rare, and generally despised. For instance, the Philistines and the Egyptians were both known primarily as city-dwellers, and both were considered enemies in many respects.

Israel was guided by judges, who recognised God as King. This, however, was unsatisfactory to the people of Israel. The other nations had kings, to lead the battles and to rule and adjudicate. Samuel (and God, through Samuel) warned against having kings, but (interestingly) did not forbid the institution of a kingly dynasty to the people of Israel. Samuel selected Saul to be king. Of course, his kingship was a rocky one, and ended badly, not least of which because David was a challenger to the throne through most of Saul's reign, presumably based upon Samuel's (and God's) decision to take legitimacy away from Saul.

Finally, David succeeds to the kingship, and has a rather stormy reign himself, made however into the glorious reign that is still considered the model of God-sanctioned kingship under God by many Jews and Christians.

Everet Fox, who did a remarkable job at translating 'The Five Books of Moses' a few years ago (please see my review of that), turned next to the stories in the books of Samuel, and retranslated them as part of the new Schocken Bible Series, which his book entitled 'Give Us A King! Samuel, Saul, and David'. Fox had as one of his intentions in the retranslation of the Torah, which carries forward as a theme in this work, the adherence to the oral and aural aspects of the original Hebrew, sacrificing the scholarly-clarity issues that guide translations such as the New Revised Standard Version and others that are meant to be read, for this that is meant to be read aloud. One gets a greater sense of the way in which the Hebrew stories would have been conveyed.

Now David sand-dirge (with) this dirge
over Sha'ul and over Yehonatan his son,
he said:
To teach the Children of Judah the Bow,
here, it is written in the Book of the Upright:
O beauty of Israel, on your heights are the slain:
how have the mighty fallen!
Tell it not in Gat,
spread not the news in Ashkelon's streets,
lest they rejoice, the daughters of the Philistines,
lest they exult, the daughters of the foreskinned-ones!
Ohills of Gilbo'a, let there be no dew, no rain upon you,
or surging of the (watery) deeps,
for there lies-soiled the shield of the mighty, the shield of Sha'ul,
no more anointed with oil.

Fox accompanies his new translation with an interesting introductory essay setting context and meanings in place, as well as notes that explain both translation textual issues as well as interpretive issues in the text.

Included in this volume are drawings, paintings and etchings by the artist Schwebel. While these works are intriguing and inspired works of modern art with an influence from various historical patterns and themes, I found some of the art work, having modern settings in high streets with cars, shop signs, etc., hard to merge thematically with the ancient texts sometimes.

This is a fascinating text, a wonderful new translation, which gives new insight and fresh meaning to an ancient story.

I am not a Hebrew Scholar; I do not even qualify as a Hebrew Student. Yet this Biblical translation infuses new life into the Old Testament books of I and II Samuel. The meter, the poetry, the nuisances lost in other English translations have been magically restored by Everett Fox.

Mix in an insightful commentary and you have what is rapidly becoming the translation I reach for when I read or study the stories of Saul, Samuel and David. Hopefully Fox is fast at work on a translation of David's poetry - The Psalms.

You have NEVER read the old testament till you read Everett Fox's translations of it. It is a veritable revelation to see whole new meanings in the words, phraseology, and syntax. Now, Mr. Fox, how 'bout the rest of the OT. After teasing us with the Pentateuch and 1 & 2 Samuel, I am ITCHING to read the Psalms this way, as well as Isaiah, Ezra-Nehemiah, etc.

Tailey is a little whale with a big problem. While it is true that his tail is rather large and gives him the ability to soar over the waves, as well as through them, his problem is with a group of other whale kids who are mean and rude. The pod he and his mother Kailey live with has a lot to learn about being fair and friendly.

Kailey and Tailey leave the group and learn to live on their own. Tailey grows bigger and amazingly kind. One day the two hear shouts for help and being the whale that he is, Tailey ends up saving the very whales that had teased him to tears, from a ship of hunters. He is a true friend and offers to teach the others how to be too.

Charles Boyle has written a fun tale that gently guides the youngest of readers to be kind and compassionate. It isn't often that a children's book can pull off a lesson in morality and still be lively and entertaining but Charles has done it. The illustrations of Everett Davidson are warm and inviting and ultimately friendly in their own right. Tailey Whaley IS indeed, a whale of a tale.

I share a lot of books with my preschool classes and this is one of the year's biggest hits. It's on top of the book pile and my kids grab for it all the time. I like its message and the kids identify well with the storyline - a cross between Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and Dumbo. The moral is subtly conveyed and a good one for these times. I highly recommend it.

Tailey Whaley is an inspiring book. Out of all the books my 5 year old neice can choose for a bedtime story, she picks Tailey....all the time. The illustrations are exploding and the story line exciting and suspenseful. She especially enjoys the fish commentaries which help her to understand the lesson the book has to teach.

Although J. Futrelle is still no match of Doyle or Christie, or even Freeman, he is certainly the best American detective story writer. Queen is undoubtedly a very dedicated scholar in detective stories, but his skill in writing is limited. If Futrelle had not died too young, I believe he would be as good as his British colleagues.

Most Futrelle's books are out of print today, probably nowadays only the bookworms like us still know his name. I was lucky to find this book, printed in 1973, from a university library. "Problem of Cell 13", which I also read more than 10 years ago in Chinese translation, is probably the best of Futrelle's story. Among the stories in this book (unfortunately I don't remember their exact titles), the one about someone sending Moores code from a typewriter, and the one about faking ghost with a sliding mirrow are also very good. As a young writer, Futrelle's ingeniousness is really amazing.

But not all his stories are good. In my vague memory, there is one about a phantom racing car turning out to be some motorcycles (probably not collected in this book), which is hardly convincing.

For Futrelle fans, there is another Thinking Machine story titled "Tragedy on A Life Raft" collected in an anthology titled "detection by gas light", which is a bargin book and still available. This story was written shortly before the Titanic accident, and was never published in his lifetime, but not a very good one.

It is always difficult to get out-of-print books. Because of that I should like to point on the only available book about Futrelle: „The Thinking Machine : Jacques Futrelle by Freddie Seymour, Bettina Kyper (Introduction)". You will find it in Amazon.com under „Title Word = Futrelle."

Of all the anthologies of my great-grandfather's work, this is the best. It contains the classic "Problem of Cell 13" as well as some more experimental stories. The introduction is also nicely written to provide context for this little-known author.

Only with this book at hand, should you dare to study German. The ultimate reference guide, especially for those using textbooks for German classes that seem more concerned about German culture and glossy pages than thorough explanation of grammar. Forget if a preposition is dative or accusative ? ... EGG is here to help. Thank you Guy Stern and E.F> Bleiler.

I bought this book with little knowledge of the German language. It's very organized and well thought out. It is for the beginner with a limited amount of time. These 120 some pages contain EVERY BASIC thing you would need to learn about German grammar. I wouldnt recommend using this book alone. I use language tapes with this book. A downfall is it doesnt show how to pronounce the words. But otherwise, there is no other book for a beginner to use to grasp a basic understanding of the German language than "Essential German Grammar" --Peace Out

Clearly written, compact and concise. This book explains all the essentials of German grammar in easy to understand terms. This is a great refresher for those who already have learned some German.

yeah, that's right. if i only knew about this before i Voted things woulda been different. i wouldn't have Voted. i would have stayed home and read this Damn Book. it's good, man. tell the people at the Voting place not to miss me next time, cuz i'll probably reading anudder one of these Books. because i like them. word to the factions of readers who dig the everett. word to them. word indeed.

This novel convinces me, were I in need of convincing, that Percival Everett is the most devious, unscrupulpous, and altogether brilliant writer of comedy in America. Hell, he'sprobably the best writer of anything.

This is an immensely enjoyable read. Once I cut it open, I could not put it down. Everett's main character, Rhino Tanner, is so detestable, you end up actually accepting him simply because he revels in his own distorted and destructive ideas. 'Comedy with fangs'? I totally agree.

Everett Alvarez was shot down almost immediately after the Tonkin Gulf "incident." Immediately captured, he endured the next 7 and a half years of captivity while being beaten, brutalized, humiliated, and tortured both physically and mentally. While captured, he had to endure sporadic communication with his family back home, including a marriage that broke apart, and the treatment of fellow POWs who were friends, and family, to him.

Accompanying illustrations help to show how dramatic the story is. Since it is not written in a complex manner, it can fairly retell the story of what he went through before, during and after his ordeal as a POW to any audience.

I recommend this book to my students who want to learn about this painful chapter in American history, and am very impressed that any human being can absorb that which men like Alvarez and John McCain were forced to do.

On August 5th, 1964, Lieutenant j.g. Everett Alvarez Jr. was shot down over North Vietnam and became the first U.S. aviator to be taken captive in the Vietnam conflict. Held in confinement for eight and a half years, he would be recorded as the longest held POW second only to Army Captain Jim Thompson.

Spending the entire Vietnam war as a POW, Alvarez was held at different times in the Hanoi Hilton, Briarpatch, and Zoo prison compounds. It would be a year until he finally had contact with other American POW's and much of that first year was in solitary confinement.

Approaching 2 years of captivity, Alvarez and his fellow servicemen were subjected to brutal and sadistic tortures amidst inhumane living conditions for the duration of their stay. Forced to eat vermin infested food and given negligible medical care, he suffered frequently from Dysentery, Beri-Beri, Hepatitis, and other afflictions.

Far along into captivity, Alvarez finally received mail from his family concerning events at home. Sadly, he was to learn that one of his sisters had become an anti-war activist and in what must have seemed like one of the worst examples of betrayal and cruelty, his wife divorced him and then remarried.

During the worst of times, Alvarez never wavered in his beliefs of pride, patriotism, and self-determination to survive and continually assisted his fellow POW's as they assisted him. Upon a joyous and welcome return home, he diligently and proudly re-entered society with his honor and integrity intact culminating with his second marriage to a wonderful woman that made his life complete.

Chained Eagle is an exceptionally good book of one man's heroic struggle and endurance in the face of complete despair and hopelessness. Vividly poignant, inspirational, and heartfelt, this book is deserving of much more than five stars and is very highly recommended to everyone.

This was a great story about an American POW who was captured in the Vietnam War (A POW is a prisoner of war). I would recommend this book to every one of all ages. It is a great and moving book about a man who goes through many trials.

The book starts with the main character and author of the book on his ship the U.S.S. Constellation. The author is commander Everett Alvarez Jr. lieutenant junior grade. He starts his story with his squadron going out to help to other ships who where being attacked by PT boats. Later they went and bombed them at a bay farther inland and Everett or Ev for short was shot down by flak. North Vietnamese civilians captured him and turned him into the military. He was interrogated, but would not answer their questions. A man the POWs nicknamed Owl took him to a jail for a time and continued to interrogate him. At the jail he met two men he called Mr. Sea who spoke English and Mr. Blue who didn't. Shortly after arriving there he was moved yet again to a farmhouse and locked in solitary confinement. A few days later they put him in a jeep and drove to Hanoi a large city in Vietnam. There they brought him to a jail that the POWs called the Hanoi Hilton. For several months he stayed there in a room with the numbers twenty-four on it. The Vietnamese fed him a soup with some kind of animal or animal part in it. This caused him to vomit and have horrible diarrhea. He was interrogated often and would always lie. He was able to walk around in an area behind his cell and made a small sanctuary. Ev carved a cross and wrote out all the important dates and a quote to lift his spirits. The food improved later, the Vietnamese were just testing his limits. Owl would tell him they had shot down eight of his planes, but in reality they only shot down two. He tried to prove this to Ev they had eight piles of plane parts, but Ev noticed they were all from two planes. Later Ev was moved to a smaller prison and met Crazy Man. He also started to hear other POWs. Cray Man was a prisoner who went insane he never talked, but would mime everything. Later Ev was moved again they blindfolded him and put him in a truck. In the truck he met three other POWs. They went to a place they nicknamed the Briar Patch and Ev learned a code that allowed them to talk through tapping on the wall they continued to use and teach this to the new POWs. At the Briar Patch the people were meaner and they tortured the people to get what they wanted. They moved again to another place nicknamed the Zoo and were later sent to Hanoi. At Hanoi they had to walk down a street. People crowded around and hit them and beat them as they passed. Ev and the other people kept getting moved around and after eight and one-half years later they were set free. Ev was reunited with his family, but his wife had deserted him. He was soon famous as the first POW of the Vietnam War and did many speeches and such. It was on his way home from Washington that he met Tammy, whom he later married. This was a wonderful book and quite sad.

My favorite part was when Everett got home safely. It is a very happy and funny part and great end. When they arrive at the Philippians and their way home (the POWs I mean) Ev says he has worms and the doctor says to bland foods. However since he had been in captivity he hadn't had good for almost nine years so he grabbed whatever he wanted and told them to go away when they said he couldn't eat it. When he was in his bed nurses came to take his temperature, but when they tried to take his neighbors temperature he bit her on the [behind]. That is my favorite part.

This book is life changing. I first met Bob through his son, my schoolmate Chris, in Malaysia, and thought he was Just another friend's dad(don't take it personally Bob, you were all like that:). After more than ten years, I arranged to visit Bob, his wife Judy, and my old school mate Chris. I was advised by Chris to read the book as a precursor to meeting Bob, so as not to "shock" me when I met him again. HOW WRONG COULD CHRIS BE!!! Bob's vitality, energy, and will to live life to it's fullest, regardless of the obstacles, should be a lesson to all so called able-bodied-people. I used to think that being put in a wheelchair would destroy my life. I now know I was wrong. Bob, you are a hero to me.

This book was impossible to put down. Mr. Horn's determination, will to live, outlook on life, and his achievements are something we all could take a lesson from. He seems so happy and vibrant you almost forget that he typed the whole book with his foot! His descriptions of his family and friends support is enough to make the happiest person in the world jealous. This book is a tribute to the human spirit and to Mr. Horn and his family

As a person with the same disease, I found myself saying "ME too!" to all of the stories and feelings. This book is uplifting and presents ALS as a condition that happens to our bodies but never to our minds and souls. Final piece of advice: Ignore the title. It's the worst part of the book.

Author Tim Everett incorporates mythology, religion, folklore, and science fiction into his novel HAM AND ABRA IN THE SEED. Everett draws readers into the world of Ham and Abra, two young lovers on a quest to discover the mystery of the seed. In order to marry, they must uncover the truth, and to do so, they enter the past to answer many questions. What answers do they discover in their quest? Will the answers solve the mystery, thus opening the doors to their marriage?

Although Everett offers a story with many plot twists and turns, my only criticism was that I felt a lack of clarity in the story's message. While the story is one that is very unique, it left me with many unanswered questions. Despite this, Everett has presented a commendable literary effort and readers of science fiction and mythology will find HAM AND ABRA to be an insightful read.

Reviewed by Kanika A. Wade
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Mr. Everett prefaces "Ham and Abra in the Seed: A Spiritual Quest" by stating that his book will change you. We must know and understand our past in order to embrace our future. That is the message that Tim Everett effectively conveys in simple terms that readers can fully comprehend and appreciate throughout his book.

Mr. Everett successfully draws readers into a world dripping of mythology, history and an age old romance to create a powerful, unforgettable love story.

Tim Everett, this author is deep. Open your mind, discover the mysteries and take in this refreshing read by an exciting new author.

This is such a good book. I am glad you wrote this, Tim. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good well written story. I actually felt like I was on this mystery journey with Ham and Abra. The wisdom and knowledge that they got from their experiences were something I was looking for and trying to understand with my own spiritual walk. You made it all so easy to understand in a simple love story. Your writing style is a unique and easy to follow. I liked the way you mixed fantasy, religion and science fiction to get your point across. The plot was excellent, but the many subplots were just as equally brilliant. I can't wait for the sequel, and I hope you are planning one. Keep on writing, and stay spiritual!