I have an entire shelf of MMPI/MMPI-2 books. While I can't give up my Roger Greene volume, nor Caldwell, Butcher, and others, this little book wins the prize for practicality. Dr. Nichols has integrated manifestations of psychopathology and real world behaviors that are commonly seen in various MMPI-2 score elevations or depressions at a level that exceeds that of other available handbooks. This is not just a book for the beginning student -- while it will give novices a real jump start, it is a book which advanced practitioners including forensic psychologists will find exceptionally useful. This book is worth every penny and then some. I only wish that Wiley would put this book into e-book format so that I could have it in my computer for ready access wherever I go.

David Nichols provides detailed, easy-to-understand guidance for assessing psychopathology and personality using the MMPI-2. As a graduate student in clinical psychology, I found this book extremely helpful in evaluating MMPI-2 profiles. The book we are using in my Assessment of Personality course - Newmarks' Major Psychological Assessment Instruments, was simply too dry and academic. I purchased Essentials to help me understand the powerful MMPI-2. It worked! In class, when called upon to provide my own assessment of MMPI-2 profiles, I was able to quickly make sound judgments. Other students were amazed. In fact, the professor asked: "How did you know that?" When I shared I was using Nichols' book, he exclaimed; "That explains it. That book is excellent."

Essentials includes far greater detail on potential 2, 3, and 4 code profiles. In addition, it includes insight into the history, treatment and prognosis of individuals with various clinical scale, validity scale, and profile code scores. It also includes detailed information on the clinical and normal groups and validation stragy used for each scale. Many tables also provide quick references for later use.

This is a well-written and hard to put down history of the Bayreuth Festival. Thanks are due to Mr. Spotts for sifting through many works in German that are hard to find. However, there are a couple of curious statements that make me wonder about the veracity of the book as a whole. In his discussion of the 1951 reopening, he refers to Karajan as an up and coming young conductor from Aachen. Well, in 1942 Karajan left Aachen to assume directorship of the Berlin State Opera, and by 1951 his associations with the Vienna Philharmonic and the Philharmonia Orchestra had made him an internationally known recording artist. Hardly a young upstart from the sticks!

In the same chapter, he refers to a society that was organized around Hans Pfitzner to protest the radicalism of Wieland Wagner's productions. However, Pfitzner died in 1949, presumably without seeing the first of Wieland's stagings in 1951. No explanation is given for this statement.

In general, this is a book written by a well-informed and insightful fan, but perhaps one without a strong musical background.

I consider this book to be very informative, on a topic that may not interest everyone, but anyone who is interested in Wagner and his music should read this book. The links the author makes between the Bayreuth festival and Hitler help explain why Wagner's music was considered central to the National Socialist ideology. Another book which I have read and which I highly recommend for people who do not know much on Wagner but would like to know more is "Wagner without Fear" by William Berger. It mentions the Bayreuth festival, but also summarizes all of Wagner's operas (except "Rienzi"), something which is not found in "Bayreuth: A History of the Wagner Festival."

I will never forget the excitement of seeing this book on the shelf. Admittedly, the heavy emphasis on outstanding photography made me hesitant. But, having been to the Festival a couple of times (and having cut through many a book related to Wagner), I had to go with it. I was not disappointed. Indeed, I would be hard pressed to suggest a better written book on the festival, its relationship to Nazi Germany, the conflict of schools of interpretation, Wagnerism, or ... Wagner! This book sails and you are sorry when the trip is over. It also provides a serious, well-organized discussion of the development of Wagner's music and the characters who desired the association of the Wagner household. The musician, performer, historian, critic, biographer, and disciple will all be entertained.

If I could use decimals, I would have given this a 3.5.

This is a great book for a bride who has never given a moment's thought to planning a wedding. This book covers the super-duper basics of venue selection, clothing, invitations, pre-wedding parties, etc. If you fall into this category, this book will be very useful starting point and, as such, a good investment.

If, however, you are a bride who has already purchased a few wedding books or are a regular on wedding Web sites, this book will likely repeat a lot of information you have already read, without adding any new insights.

Here are a few notes:

- The section on gown selection is quite good. It has easy-to-understand descriptions and line drawings. (If you ever wondered what the heck a "basque waist" is, you'll find it here.)

- Many of the vendors listed in this book are located in California. This can be helpful to California brides.

- The book is very aesthetically pleasing. (The translucent book jacket is an elegant touch.)

- The information on pre-wedding parties (e.g. showers, engagement parties) is pretty simplistic. If you are planning a pre-wedding event, I would suggest looking elsewhere for information.

- This is geared to a bride who would like to have a *very traditional* wedding. If this is not your style, this book will likely not be helpful to you.