In college days, a friend gave me a copy of this book for my birthday. In it was a picture of a hog, its face painted like a clown, a ruffled clown collar and a conical clown hat. I stared at that picture off and on for quite awhile vowing, I want to train "circus pigs" for a career. Eventually I went on to train hogs for movies, television and live performances. Keep this book away from your children and young impressionable college students unless you want to condemn them to a life of loving hogs ... and people too, because after reading this holy scripture, you will realize, we too are hog.

William Hedgepeth's The Hog Book keeps you alert. Reading along, you pause and ask yourself, "Wait, was that list of animals written in verse?" It was. You read more and wonder, "Did he really interview that farmer or did he make it up?" It doesn't matter. Hedgepeth's talent is to compel the reader then punctuate his yarn with a delightfully palatable, "Gotcha!" Just when you've fallen under the Hedgepeth spell of silliness, he tugs at your heart with an in-your-face look at the slaughter of these animals he's just caused you to fall in love with. Why should you read a book about hogs? Because Hedgepeth is a gifted writer, and it's a pleasure to read his words. Because Hedgepeth's instruction about hogs goes down as if with sugar. Because Hedgepeth borrowed from Cinderella and Pygmalion to reveal beauty in creatures frequently ridiculed and dismissed. Perhaps each of us sees a little of our insecure selves in Hedgepeth's recognition of the value and beauty of the oft-maligned hog.

William Hedgepeth has written one of the most unique books imaginable on the life of hogs. This dry and witty look at porcines is no quick compendium on the subject. It is a thorough and informative account of everything you could want to know about these creatures. And it's funny.

An early Ally McBeal Show featured a case where Michael, a pig, gave up his life in order to donate his liver (or some organ) to the crass & orca fat Mrs. Goldstein. Instead of thanking the Doctor for life, she sued because she felt it beneath her to share an organ with a pig. Had Goldstein read The Hog Book, she might have requested Michael's heart as well. This animal's existential ability to accept itself and experience joy in living is a tall order that most humans cannot fill.

I see a sequel to this book - The Tao of Being a Hog, Living in the Now. In any case, I wish this author would turn his journalist's eye and writer's wit onto another subject quick. He's a pleasure to read.

As a Southerner exiled to the frozen tundra of Wisconsin, John Egerton's SOUTHERN FOOD has been food for the soul. And no matter where you are from, this book offers fascinating historical and cultural information about Southern food and many, many wonderful recipes. I have learned as much about Southern cooking in Wisconsin as I did in all my years back home, all because of this wonderful book. It's charming and often lyrical, immensely well-informed, and points the way to both restaurants and recipes. The barbecue instructions have been a lifesaver. I have bought five or six copies of this book--one because I wore out the first copy, and the others because it makes a great gift for practically anyone.

This is a wonderful book about eating in the South, eating out and eating in, about a whole host of things like family and fellowship that gather around any groaning board in the south, and what you want to eat where and what the people who live there eat, how to cook it and where you're likely to find it at a reasonable price made by food-loving hands. John Egerton clearly ate his way across the south to write this book, and he was careful to stay well off the beaten path. It's anthropology, sociology, recipes, culture and good humor, from the North Carolina mountains to the swamps of Cajun country. This book will make your mouth water and your belly growl, but most of all it's a fine read.

When Arcady Mystikos comes to town, everyone is bowled over by his psychic powers -- except for 6th grader Alexander Fox.

Fox asks legitimate questions and looks for a more practical explanation of Arcady's feats.

This book is an outstanding introduction to using one's brain.

I am buying additional copies to send to my friends who follow and believe in the popular "psychics" of our day. Mr. Mystikos's name could very easily be replaced with any of those psychic's names.

This book isn't just about barns and shed; it's about proper building and framing practices for any type building. Sure, you can use what you learn here to build barns and shed-- and there are very complete plans for some lovely projects in the back of the book-- but you could just as easily use this book as a guide to building an addition on your house, or for framing a roof. The illustrations are fantastic; clear, concise, with good captions. The writing overall is very clear and understandable. I recommend this book highly to anyone doing any type of building.

Public participation in public decisions has been an enduring theme promoted by both public administration scholars and practitioners, behind of which has been a fix belief in its positive impact on the quality and responsiveness of public decisions, implementation efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and its potential to unchain the power of public ideas and to develop a strong sense of civic engagement-a subsistence for broader and intense practice of democracy. Beginning with the Great Society legislations of the 1960s that required maximum feasible participation of communities in development projects, the sensibility in favor of a broader public participation has turned to be a mandate. Unorthodox public administration currents, including New Public Administration of the 1970s and 1980s, and New Public Management of the 1990s, have consistently called for broader and engaged public participation in the hope that broader public involvement would bring about wide-ranging benefits, some of which have been mentioned in the preceding lines.

Though fed by a religious-like persuasion, most of the early scholars in the trench of public participation neglected or failed in developing a contingency model of public participation that would help public managers to analyze the context of public participation so that a productive, engaged and distortion-free dialogue process accompanied by public participation could be planned and achieved. Deprived of a fully understanding of a productive public participation process, first public participation initiatives taken by public managers proved to be frustrating for both undertaking public agencies and aspiring community participants.

The book I am reviewing is really such one that comes up with a contingency framework for public participation that thoroughly inquires into "when and how" questions of public participation, with having a number of productive, well-crafted, and context-dependent strategies and recommendations.

Public Participation in Public Decisions is organized around ten major chapters. In the first three chapters of the book, Thomas (1995) gets readers to three points. First, the author criticizes the orthodox public administration theory due to its lack of enthusiasm for public participation; second, justifies the necessity for public participation with numerous reasons; and finally, points to the importance of finding a "practical" approach to public involvement for making it really work rather than keeping it as "rhetoric". From the fourth to the eight chapters, Thomas (1995) explains the important parameters in public participation process. The parameters point out the critical decision points as to when and how public administrators should involve citizens in public decisions. In the ninth chapter, Thomas (1995) pays attention to the new forms of public involvement including ombudspersons and action centers, co-production and volunteerism. The tenth chapter includes a summary view and concludes with some recommendations to the public administrators for them to be effective in the age of public participation and involvement.

The Effective Decision Model Thomas (1995) advances throughout the book rests on the organizational participation process developed by Vroom and Yetton (1973). Thomas (1995) proposes five options for decision making: (1) autocratic or autonomous decision-making, with no public involvement or influence; (2) modified autonomous public decision making in which the manager seeks information from segments of the public, but decides alone in a manner that may or may not reflect the group influence; (3) consultative decision making, with a limited but significant public role; (4) segmented public consultation in which the manager shares the problem separately with segments of the public, getting ideas and suggestions, then makes a decision that reflects group influence, and; (5) public decision making, with the extensive influence of a decision made jointly by the manager and the public (p. 39). To make the long shorter, two points are important. First, public participation does not suggest, all the time, direct and bodily involvement of public. Second, the influence of public increases as the public manager moves on from the first to the fifth option.

For the question of which decision-making option public managers should opt, Thomas (1995) develops mainly two parameters: the need for quality and the need for acceptability of a decision. In cases when the technical standards and requirements (quality) outweigh the acceptability of public decision by community, Thomas (1995) recommends some degree of public participation, otherwise, an increasing degree of public participation. In cases where the need for decision quality and decision acceptability are equally important, the author recommends a number of decision options to be used in combination. In addition to the two main parameters, there are a number of other questions that would help public managers to analyze the context, for example, such as the structure of the problem, composition of the relevant public, and conflict or agreement within the relevant public. Thomas (1995) draws so meticulously a framework out of his assessments contingent on the combination of different contextual circumstances that appear in the book as configurations.

I do not take all the "configurations" to the letter to presume the book as a cook-recipe, however, in the book's entirety, I sense them to be really helpful and thought provoking. I recommend patience before turning theoretical understandings into normative roadmaps. This book should encourage the reader to re-configure and re-interpret the parameters and contextual specifics in creative ways, and to add new ones.

Robert Denhardt, in his praise for Public Participation in Public Decisions, remarks that this book "sets the stage for a revitalization of democracy at the local level", and I agree with him. I believe only lamenting for democracy is not enough for making it work. Democracy needs not just a set of normative propositions and institutions but also a number of well-crafted strategies that address the context (see, i.e., Barber, 1984; Forester, 1989; Flyvbjerg, 1998) that would push democracy along. From this angle, Thomas' book is surely a treasure, not only for it demonstrates the challenges ahead but also for it comes with something that can be helpful for "helping" to decide what to do next.

I would highly recommend.

Give me fifty Marines not afraid to die is a book written from the guts of a modern warrior. Obviously Lt. Wells is not a writer, he is a Soldier. He has been a Soldier and he always will be one, no matter what he do to earn his life.
We are presented with the shocking story of Iwo Jima battle seen with the eyes (the soul I'll better say) of a front line combat Marine. Wells let us share his feelings from the time he is still a college student, how he decide to be a Marine in the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, his life at Boots Camp, Paratroop training, Guadalcanal experience, more training at the States and finally through all the rugged strife of Iwo Jima.
This book is a very straightforward account of a teenager evolving into hardened young soldier ready to give his life for his Country. At the same time gives the reader an inkling of the historical period, its values, ideals and expectations. Also pictures the life style of the Marines Corp, its written and unwritten codes, language, ethics, training, etc.
Every word in this book sounds true and without ornament. A must read for any WWII buff.

I have known the author for over thirty years. He is man of integrity and courage. This book took several years for him to complete due to its personal nature. His dedication to the Corps, his men and his mission are obvious in every chapter. I am proud to have him as a friend. Read this book!!!

This is one of the best memoirs I've read about the battle for Iwo Jima and ranks right up there with the best from the Pacific War. It's style is akin to Eugene Sledge's "With the Old Breed", only from an officer's perspective. As with Sledge's book, Wells' book is very readable. In fact, I was fascinated and found it very hard to put down. Wells starts off with a taste of his experiences of the battle to wet our appetites and then shifts to the early years of his preparations and various trainings that led him to that place. These are the sections in many other memoirs that I find somewhat ho-hum or lackluster. I usually find myself wanting to get on to the 'action' and combat experience. Not so with Wells' book! His story telling ability held my attention and his vivid descriptions of the personalities in his unit made the battle scenes (where you find out what happened to each of these young men) more poignant. Even though his time in battle was limited (due to wounds) there is still a wealth of information rich in detail pertaining to this campaign. Taken along with Richard Wheeler's "The Bloody Battle for Suribachi", Wells' book provides a fascinating insider's view of the experiences of his unit (Wheeler was a corporal under Wells). This book is a must-read for students of this campaign!

War Birds: Diary of an Unknown Aviator is a fascinating portrait of training and combat for a WWI aviator. It is unclear to me whether the book consists of an actual diary, or is a dramatization written by a friend based on letters written by the aviator main character (see http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/springs.html). The aviator was a real person with real faults (he makes some racist statements), and this makes the story all the more personal. The story reminded me of Catch-22, but is more touching because the triumphs and deaths actually occurred.

It was obvious from the wealth of information of those who served with the author that the identity is known. Why not disclose who wrote the diary? We share the experiences. We watch the aviator transform from a fun loving barn stormer to a machine that can only function when airborne. The end comes and you know it is coming, the author is crumbling, his attitude has changed, he operates by reflex and his judgement is impaired. (not by booze but battle fatigue has taken over} This is too real . . .

Although little is written of the truth to the Air War in WWI, it is often offered to history as a time of chivalry amoungst the "Upper Class Gentleman" of WWI. Most sucessful pilots, that being anymore that 5 kills, were showered with metals and given the highest honors from their fatherlands. Deeming them, The Knights of The Skies. The truth is far from reality. This book of one young man's personal, daily recolection in it's original, unaltered text, depicts the Air War as it really was. Not only can you feel the excitement and astonishment in his mind as he earns his wings in flight school, you also experience the sadness and despair as he watches his squadmates perish and learns the veracity of war and death. Illustrated by Clayton Knight, whose sketches and paintings went on to become famous after the war, this book is a must for anyone who is interested in the true reality of The Air War of WWI.

For the busy orthopaedic surgery and ER residents, this pocket "text" provides pertinent information regarding common fractures with focus on surgical options and relevant anatomy. Though not as detailed as other texts (i.e. Skeletal Trauma by Browner et al., and Hoppenfeld's Surgical Exposures...), the handbook comes close to providing the necessary information for appropriate evaluation and treatment of the patient with an orthopaedic injury. The second edition is a significant improvement over the first and would highly recommend this even for non-surgical physicians in private practice.

This is a good book for everyday use. The format is brief yet helpful. It is a good book for residents,physician assistants and students in the early stages. I use it also to refresh my memory when I encounter something I have not seen in awhile.

Excellent text! I reviewed a friends copy and had to have one for myself. The text is well organized into the various musculoskeletal regions with thorough explinations of common and not so common injuries, including the recommended treatment. The illustrations are easily understood and add a great deal to the effectivness of this book. It is designed to fit into a lab coat pocket, and will make a handy reference.

Small Town Bound holds itself out to be a cultural guide to small towns and succeeds fairly well. Author John Clayton starts out by helping the future emigrant analyze his or her stirrings about leaving a metropolis, and describes life in small towns attribute by attribute. The next two chapters discuss factors to consider in evaluating a locale and how to earn a living in a small-town economy. Clayton then asserts that "the hardest part of moving to a small town comes after you get there." He is referring to the crucial element of social adaptation--meeting new people and gaining acceptance--because without this, a move is likely to fail. Here the author shares his knowledge of small-town culture and mentality, and makes insightful suggestions as to how to fit in and, thus, succeed. John Clayton's background as a technical writer shows through in the organization of his book according to a traditional outline format, although he is repetitious at times. There are sidebars containing illustrative interviews, anecdotes, reports from the media, and groups of "20 Questions" for the reader's self-test. There are also numerous cautionary tales illustrating pitfalls of small-town life, which help convey a sense of reality and balance. Although there is some overlapping, this book and William Seavey's Moving to Small-Town America are complementary. Clayton emphasizes social adaptation in a new community as the most important criterion of prosperity. Seavey, while not neglecting this aspect, focuses more on the practical details of the migration--how to disengage from the old place, the actual moving, and the settling in in the new place. Both books have appendices listing many useful resources.

I am acquainted with the author, so I expected a good book. What I found was a superb book. This is a very thoughtful work about the essence of small-town living. It has helped me greatly in thinking about my own proposed move to a small town in the West. Although the book offers a great many practical suggestions, there is much more than "how to make friends" or "how to find a job." This book has helped me think about whether my character, personality, and values are suited for small-town life. With frank comments about all aspects of small-town life, it has helped me understand, for example, that gossip is the other side of neighborliness. It has helped make my expectations more realistic--and that in turn will lead to greater satisfaction with the move. The writing is friendly and conversational, and the organization is very helpful. Without hesitation, I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in small-town life. Susan Bury, Washington, DC

I am sorry to see a few reviews where I think the readers missed the point of John Claytons Book. I would highly recommend attending one of his Seminars on the subject which are given throughout the U.S. This book is not trying to solve all the mysteries of God. What it is doing is showing that it takes tremendous faith to belief in science without God and that our faith in God can be supported by what we know and see in creation. Romans 1:20 "For since the creation of the world God's invisible quailites-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made." Yes, faith is the most important part of the equation in our belief of God but we do not have to be afraid to look at ways science can support that faith. This book is very helpful for the Christian and Non-Christian in understanding that faith in God is not just blind but includes logical, scientic thinking. Great gift for a college student.

The description of the author and book say it all. A second generation atheist and scientist who approached the topic from "the opposite direction". Some have criticized this book with the admonition that potential readers should simply "stop doubting and believe"--an absurd proposition when reaching out to atheists. The OT and NT spend little time on the creation of the universe, and rightfully so. The message is the word of God, not an complete explanation of what we know of his entire creation. This book starts from the mindset of a curious nonbeliever and provides compelling evidence of God's eternal design and forces the reader to re-examine their nonbelief. He also details his own study into the religions of the world and how his study led him to become a Christian.

This book is an excellent compilation of the evidence for a divine creator in the scientific record. My husband and I read it together and found it to be easy to understand. We also found it read quickly despite the complicated material. I highly recommend this if you are interested in the subject of our earth's origins and the basis for God.