This book truly is the very best introduction to Haiti I can possibly think of. If you want to learn about Haiti, start here. Each entry is short, carefully chosen, and typicaly riveting. SIX STARS on this work, and my thanks to Arthur and Dash.

"Libete" is a comprehensive and concise anthology of writings on a wide spectrum of topics, including the history, religion, art, and politics of the country. It is a good introduction for those new to Haiti, and shows those wanting to deepen their understanding where to look.

Read Libete. It is comprehensive, both in sampling the most important writing on Haiti, and in surveying a wide spectrum of subjects. The selections are edited well enough for it to make excellent breakfast table reading- it took me as long to get through a selection as it did to finish a bowl of cereal.

I'm a Japanese reader and living in Log Cabin. This book provides me with many decoration ideas. I wish to reccomend this book to my friend who are living in Log cabins.

Hands-on Log Homes is our third, full-color, idea design book on the subject of log home architecture. As such, it was also my third opportunity to loop America - cameras in hand - seeking out unique log homes and meeting the people who build them. In this case, those people happened to be mostly involved owner-builders. That is, creative, resourceful people who used sweat equity to help build their dream. Similar to our second book, "The Log Home Book", there is a virtual photo-feast inside. The only difference is that the scale of these homes tends to be more moderate, and the owners themselves share their own unique and entertaining building stories along with practical bits of advice gleaned along the way.

Along with built-from-scratch homes, there are those abodes built largely with recycled materials - old logs, old doors, old fixtures! Perfect examples of turning one man's junk into veritable treasure while often saving money along the way.

Next comes a marvelous chapter on historic restorations. Often "rebuilt" with the help of skilled craftsman, we include these handmade originals as true examples of once upon a time, do-it-yourself ingenuity.

While this is not a "how-to-build" book, Art wrote a final chapter that leads the reader through the practical steps and considerations of building a small log building. Of course, there is also a resource guide in back with plenty of leads for designing, building and decorating the home you plan to build, remodel or buy.

Check it out, and let us know what you think by emailing thiede@sunvalley.net.

Cindy Thiede

I feel I know this book as well as anyone; I designed the book! It is a great book to glean ideas to plan, create and decorate your own log home. The photos are breath-taking. I enjoy the authors' clear but amusing style of writing, and I bet you will, too.

There isn't anything else on the market like this book. This is the book Naomi Drew was born to write, and she pours her whole life experience into it as a mother, a teacher, and an expert on conflict resolution. What Naomi has done is written a book that tells parents how to keep peace at home, step by easy step, while also raising compassionate kids to help make peace possible in the world at large. That's an amazing combination, and Naomi pulls it off. Readers will learn exercises to calm sibling battles, as well as how to teach kids to become peacemakers at school and work through organizations to foster global peace.

As a mother of young children, I have been working to create peace within my family (and myself) for many years, and your book truly inspired me to take the next step: to expand from peace in my family, to working actively to make peace in the world. You remind us that the personal is global, to be the change you want to see in others, and most of all, that one person who cares really can make a difference--not only as a parent, but also as a human being in the world, the world which we are creating for our children's future. Thank you, Naomi Drew.

Highly Recommended! I don't think there's a more timely book out there.
Filled with concrete information, practical suggestions, and timely advice
for anyone who cares about creating more peaceful homes and a more peaceful
world.

I have always been hoping that there are more modern textbooks on the undergraduate math that are written by great mathematicians. This one is one of the first to appear on the market. Thanks for Professor Mattuck! I love you, and love your book more!!! Hehe....Oh, by the way, one day if you see a movie called A Wonderful Mind, then you'll find a guy featured in it whose name is Abel Maple. The future greatest mathematician of the 22 century. Just kidding!

The book is slow to begin but it does a great job in explaining all the concepts. The author explains the proofs and theorems and it introduces some intermediate ideas to understand the theorems and definitions. The book contains a lot of exercise of different nature and difficulty. It covers a great range of subjects but not enough on the Rn. The book is basic in it contain, it is not difficult to read and follow. It can serve as an introduction to analysis. I would recommend it if you want an introduction to analysis.

This is an unusual and beautifully written introduction to real analysis. The presentation is carefully crafted and extremely lucid, with wonderfully creative examples and proofs, and a generous sprinkle of subtle humor. The layout of the pages is exceptionally attractive. The author has clearly put a great deal of thought and effort into producing an analysis text of the highest quality.

Most of the book concentrates on real-valued functions of a single (real) variable. There is a gradual and careful development of the ideas, with helpful explanations of elementary matters that are often skipped in other books. For instance, prior to the chapter on limits of sequences, the book has a chapter on estimation and approximation, discussing algebraic laws governing inequalities, giving examples of how to use these laws, and developing techniques for bounding sequences and for approximating numbers. Proofs involving "epsilons" and "arbitrarily large n" make their first appearance here.

The overall presentation of the book is carefully thought out. Each chapter is broken up into small sections, and each section emphasizes one principle idea or theorem. The proofs of the main theorems are lovely, and give both intuitive explanations and rigorous details. Genuinely interesting examples and problems illuminate the key ideas. Each chapter contains a mix of problems: "questions" that help students test their grasp of the main points of each section, "exercises" that are intermediate in scope, and more difficult "problems". (A solutions manual is available for instructors from the publisher.)

The careful explanations, even of "elementary" matters, and two appendices on sets, numbers, logic, and methods of argumentation, make the book suitable for a first analysis course in which students have had no prior exposure to proofs. There is ample material for a one-semester, or in some cases a one-year, course.

In summary, I believe that this is the best introductory real analysis book on the market. Students and instructors alike will find it a joy to read.

As a reporter for a weekly newspaper in Hudson County, I was able to interview Sid twice -- once for a profile in anticipation of his visit to the Beatlefest in Secaucus and later when he worked with a local promoter for a benefit. For both stories, this book helped bring out details of his life and his passions I would have missed, and helped me ask the right questions. It is a fun book about a special man, and for me, the book enlightened me about the details behind some of the more historic events of my life, such as what really happened when the Beatles came to America in 1964. This was a trip down memory lane. Thank you Sid.

Sid Bernstein is nobody who would be called shy. His bold and confident approach to the music industry made him one of the most successful and historical legends among characters whose sheer presence could eclispe even superstars. Naturally, the book reads like Bernstein's personality: it's straightforward, New York-brassy, and honest. His personal, behind-the-scene accounts of the English invasion and its two major acts -- The Beatles and The Rolling Stones -- are worth the price of the book alone. But there's more to be learned about the evolution of the music biz from first-person advice than almost anywhere else. Best of all, it's a very quick read.

This book is a MUST read! The impact of the Beatles on our society is immeasurable.

Sid Bernstein promoted the biggest stars in show biz to the heights of their careers. But is was Sid who put his own career on the line and brought the Beatles to America. Sid Bernstein changed the course of society!

An amazing story! "It's Sid Bernstein Calling!" is the book you should be reading right now!

Well, if two points determine a line then Mike Venezia is making an effort to include more works by the artists he is writing about this year for his Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists series. This volume on Johannes Vermeer includes sixteen works by the artist, who only produced about 40 paintings in his life, along with almost a dozen other works by his contemporaries. Apparently there is less known about the life of Vermeer than any other artist in this series, so this particular volume is precluded from providing a decent biography. This works out fine because Venezia makes more of an effort to explain how Vermeer's paintings work and I always like it when the books in this series can provide some substantive "art appreciation" lessons along with the cartoons. It is interesting that Vermeer's works were mistaken for those of Rembrandt and Pieter de Hooch because when you compare their paintings it is clear Vermeer's work is unqiuely different. In fact, given the senese of quiet and stillness he creates in his works, you may well end up thinking that Vermeer was the best of the bunch from the Golden Age of Art that reigned in Holland during the 17th century. Rembrandt is a great first name (or last name for that matter), but I sure am surprised to discover I think Vermeer was a better painter.

I was fortunate enough to have seen the now-legendary Vermeer exhibition at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. during the winter of 1995-96. 21 out of the 35 (or 36) extant paintings by Vermeer were included in the show, offering a unique opportunity to see the bulk of Vermeer's amazing works in a single space, something that no one has experienced since 1696, when @20 of his paintings were auctioned in Delft. Given the rarity and fragility of Vermeer's works, it is unlikely that such an event will ever be repeated. All who were unable to make it to the show, however, have this splendid book as a document of this unique event. This book will remain the standard work on Vermeer for many decades, and represents the fruit of several years' labor by art historians on two continents. Because so little is in fact known about Vermeer the man (in truth, we have no idea at all what Vermeer's education, interests, and personality were like), the catalogue essays fill this gap by contextualizing Vermeer's work within the history of Dutch painting, the development of perspective, and the fascinating tale of Vermeer's "rediscovery" in the 19th century and his richly-deserved rise to worldwide fame. The essays and catalogue entries may be too technical for some readers, as the authors have expended a lot of effort to reconstruct Vermeer's exact technique, something which can only be gleaned from careful study of the paintings themselves (no drawings by Vermeer have survived, nor have any statements he may have made about painting). This extensive scholarly apparatus, while illuminating and occasionally even riveting (the essay dealing with Vermeer's rediscovery is a great detective narrative!), tends to obscure the strange, even uncanny emotional charge that his images are suffused with. Vermeer's personal world - so limited in content yet unforgettably haunting and evocative - is one of stillness and peace suffused with tension. Each image contains remarkable spatial and temporal ambiguities that make simple scenes like a lady writing a letter while her maid looks away or two people standing near a piano (The Music Lesson) vibrate with dramatic tension. Sadly, the somewhat passionless writing encases the pictures (all of which are superbly reproduced) in a rhetoric that does not address the fundamental issue: What is it about these paintings that is so powerful that their maker was rescued from total obscurity and has inspired poetry, novels and countless studies? I was hoping to find some discussion of the psychological meaning of these images, but the traditional (overly scholarly and dry) art history within did nothing to help me understand my passion for the "Sphinx of Delft." That said, the book is a masterpiece of empirical research on the artist (barring some new discovery, it is unlikely that we will ever have any more facts about Vermeer and his world than can be read here), exquisitely designed, and distinguished with beautiful reproductions. The volume is certainly one of the few bestsellers in the field of the art book - when I attended the show, the paperback print of the book was totally sold out and the hardcover was flying off the shelves (it is odd that the book has not been reprinted in paperback). Johannes Vermeer is THE text to have on this artist and is unlikely to be superseded anytime soon. Immerse yourself in Vermeer's world and you will be transformed. Seeing this exhibition changed my life, and I treasure this book as a means of recapturing the awe and joy that overwhelmed me at the time. I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I have.

This book contained crucial information aboout the Dutch genre painter Johannes Vermeer. It would be helpful for both a reseach paper or report,as well as for educational purposes. It ranged from biographical information to his professional work. The book was well done and nicely written as well. This one source provides vast information. Included are paintings done by the artist. I think most readers would be able to handle the vocabulary of this book. When finished with this book you will definetly be informed about the artist Jan Vermeer.

I really liked the first book in the series, Dancing with the Devil(read this one first), but this one, Hearts in Darkness, the second in the series, I loved. Michael is back. Michael and Nikki have to go undercover as a married couple at a resort, to find two missing teenagers, and find out what's been going on with the disappearances of previous guests. You learn a little more about Michael's past, and Nikki's powers, and more supernatural things. And of course, Michael and Nikki get closer. :) I can't wait for the 3rd book.

Michael has been gone for six months now, Nikki has all but given up on him and is deep in another case. While following a teenager, she is attacked by several vampires, who kidnap the teen. Just as she is about to follow to Wyoming, Michael reappears, having been assigned a related case by the Circle. Apparently a number of rich men have disappeared from an exclusive resort there and when they return, they stay out of the sun and only come out at night, but aren't obviously vampires. There is something odd about them that the Circle needs clarified and eliminated.

I enjoyed this addition to the series. Michael and Nikki are very appealing characters. The villians are evil enough, and there are several twists in vampire lore to be found. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

For those who have not yet had the joy of reading a Keri Arthur novel, all I can say is that you are truly missing out. Although her first book only came out just over a year ago, she is already an award-winning author and she deserves every kudos that goes her way. HEARTS IN DARKNESS is the second book in the Nikki and Michael series. Although it can be read as a stand alone, for the best reading enjoyment, I truly think that DANCING WITH THE DEVIL should be read first.

In HEARTS IN DARKNESS, Michael and Nikki have been apart for six months. Michael believes that the only way he can overcome his bloodlust is by staying away from the one woman who brings it out in him. But when he learns from the leader of the Circle that Nikki's death is imminent unless he goes to her, he of course can't stay away.

Nikki is overjoyed to have Michael in her life again, for she knows that she will never love anyone else but Michael. She just has to convince Michael that they are better together than apart. The case they are working on has them posing as newlyweds to find out who is kidnapping wealthy men from a resort. Dark magic and a woman from Michael's past are involved in the disappearances. Nikki also has to deal with the dangers of new psychic powers emerging-when she doesn't understand how or where they are coming from. They are in for the fight of their lives.

Nikki and Michael's continuing love story is fantastic. Paranormal romance lovers shouldn't hesitate to purchase this new series. I can't wait to read CHASING THE SHADOWS, the third book in the series, which should be out later this year. Keri Arthur's books are true keepers!

Arthur Quinn treats with respect both perspcetives of one the Modoc War. The extreme brutality of both the American Government and the Modoc Warriors is reflected in a suprisingly unbiased manner.

This book is very, very good for anybody interested in 1870 era American Indian conflicts, especially in Northern California. Story easy to follow, no unecessary words, facts etc., unless they're relevant to the story.
Reads as if it were a movie, but is all true, as judged on what I know of California frontier history.
Book is worth getting.

During the height of the Indian conflicts on the plains a smaller,but no less deadly campaign was being waged against the Modocs of the Northwest. Like the Cheyenne after them, the Modocs were a small band whose numbers had already been reduced by warfare and desease. They were willing to live peacefully, only they wanted to live in their own homeland. And as with the Cheyenne, the military wasted much time money, and worst of all lives in order to bring these people to their knees. This is a concise and well-written account of that war.

Quinn is one of those historians who makes broad use of dialogue in his work. While many scholars take a scant view of this method, I think it works well, if done carefully. Certainly we can question how Quinn could possibly know exactly what was said, when there was no one there to record it. However, memoirs and journals often paraphrase, and if the writer has researched the characters and the times well enough, I think it is fair to allow him to make certain assumptions, especially as it brings such dimension to the characters.

Quinn's depiction of events is very exciting without crossing over into sensationalism. And though any story of Americans' treatment of the Indians invites a certain amount of moralizing, he does not go overboard, nor does he portray the Modocs as saints. He also does an excellent job of incorprating the landscape into the story. Quinn's depiction of the lava beds the Modocs called home makes it even more wondrous that the Americans found it so important for them to leave.

This was definitely a story that deserved to be told, and Quinn does a very good job of it.

As someone who has majored in religion, and a long time seeker, this book has been sooo incedibly wonderful. This book, as well as Volume 2, explains what you can and can not do, what you should and should not do. For example, when it is respectful leave a ceremony, what you should wear, is photography permitted. It even briefly explains the ceremony. I found a few errors, however. The Hindu customs for an infant are a little mixed up, but 98% of the book is fabulous!

. . .of every member of the clergy in America. (As well as on a lot of other desks and bookshelves).

In the America of the 21st century, all of us have friends, relatives, etc. who practice their faith in different manners. Most of us will have occasion to attend services in houses of worship other than our own. This book is a guide on proper behavior under these circumstances.

As a Christian clergyman, I have personally have had occasion to attend service in almost every major American Christian denomination, as well as Jewish temple services. Most members of the clergy that I know are in similar positions. All of us are passionate about our own faith -- but none of us want to be accidentally offensive to others.

Some might ask, "Why should I be concerned about how to behave at someone else's religious service? I never expect to go. They don't worship the way I do. They don't believe in the same God that I believe in, etc." For persons with these attitudes, here are some points to consider:

1) You may be surprised at the type of service you find yourself. A wedding. A funeral. A christening. A Bar-Mitzpah. The list goes on.

2) There are certain situations in which NOT attending can cause MORE offense.

3) Put yourself in the shoes of another. Would you want your Jewish or Muslim co-worker to support YOU if YOU lost a loved one?

4) Showing respect to another, WITHOUT compromising your own beliefs is an excellent way to share your own faith.

The list goes on.

This book does not suggest in any way that anyone compromise their own beliefs. It does not attempt to convert or sway anyone to a different way of thinking. What it DOES do, and does very well, is provide, to an increasingly discourteous society, the minimal rules of courtesy that persons today are no longer routinely taught.

Courtesy is the oil that lubricates all social interactions. This book helps provide this service.

I am purchasing this book after making use of it first as a library choice.It is a book I would suggest srongly to all age groups (8 to 80) for information which makes it possible to be respectful of relgious services other than the ones we ourselves know best and to do so in a relaxed and comfortable manner.

This book is a must read, not only for boxing fans seeking more information about the first black heavyweight champion, but also for students of American history and specifically race relations in the U.S. Johnson's writing is insightful, eloquent and scholarly. He refused to allow the abysmal prejudice of whites to deter him from his goals, and enjoyed his life to the fullest. He maintained his dignity and judgement despite the efforts to break him. His book shows him to be a man of immense intellect, who could have excelled in any field of his choice. His views on the pace of 'modern' life, diet, physical fitness and race relations are as relevant today as they were in 1927. This book was a great surprise to me as I picked it up as a boxing fan, but the scope of Jack Johnson as a man goes far beyond the squared circle. His life was epic and his words timeless. This is a book for all times, by a passionate, inspired and inspiring man.

This autobiography is a much-needed corrective to playwright Howard Sackler's artistically over-licensed opus "The Great White Hope", dramatized on stage and in film in the late 1960's. As a self-portrait of a Black man living in a particular time and place, it is not only a record of Mr. Johnson's matchless skill as a boxer, but more importantly, it is a journey into an all-encompassing Black mind, an intellect as well as a striking physical specimen, who broke out a new mold for the image of the athelete as someone capable of possessing as much "brains" as they had "brawn." Johnson was so clearly head and shoulders above his peers and detractors that it is no wonder why he was hated and feared by many whites. When enough people of color have read this book, it is likely that Mr. Johnson may be put under the same sun that shines on the likes of Paul Robeson and Jackie Robinson: Black "Renaissance" men whose lives outside of their sport(s) have been obscured because of their insight, outspokeness, and general refusal to be limited by their "race." Don't let "Black History" month slip by without attempting to get onto, and into this priceless autobiography by a true "giant" of a man.

Jack Johnson was a true Rebel.in another time&place he would have been more respected.this book does a good job reflecting on him.it's one of the few times that he gets actual repesct.a must read and he shouldn't be forgotten.