I have this book as part of my chess library. Chernev and Reinfeld have collaborated on a marvelously instructive book on tactical wepons that can be used by any player of any strength. I consider it my tactician's bible and I take it with me to tournaments. In many years of chess play I have never seen another book on tactics to compare with this one. It is indeed a classic. Get a copy. I know you won't let it go

Just a casual, occasional player, so take my opinion as you will...but this book probably taught me more than every other book I have consulted on chess, _combined_. It is utterly invaluable for teaching the application of the critical chess tactics: from pins and forks to double check. I can't believe it's listed as out of print--a great loss to beginning players everywhere. Find this book!

Winning Chess is the best introduction to tactics I've ever read. I feel so fortunate to have run across this classic at the local library. Most chess books are rather dull and are difficult for the average player to follow without a chessboard. This book you can read anywhere and still follow the logic. It has sparked a renewed interest in chess for me, as I picked up the concepts in the book and began using them in my games. Someone please reprint this book so that everyone can enjoy Chernev's wonderful classic.

I have read this book twice cover to cover and refer to it almost everyday. If I could have given this book 6 stars I would have done it without reservation.

I have ordered and read at least 4 different books on copywriting and advertising in the last year. Most of the books have good ideas, but none of them describe the methods of writing headlines the way Caples does. He spends 4 chapters on it and let me tell you when he is finished you will know it cold! Personally that would have been enough to sell me on the book, but he doesn't stop there. He talks about scientific advertising to make sure you are writing ads that sell and not waste money. In addition, he talks through how to write the first paragraph and how to structure the copy. Finally, he spends time to talking about how to improve the selling power of copy.

Since I have read this book my ability to write copy has reached a whole new level. If you are in this field or responsible for writing copy I would advise you that this is a book you MUST own.

And when they saw the RESULTS of my advertisement, the other guys simply said "Where do you get your ideas?" But, truth be told, my ideas are not all that original, but they do work, and I get my source from Tested Advertising Methods.

And that's the premise of this book--ads that are going to work; ads that will bring in customer response; ads that will produce sales. Sometimes you see advertisements with clever copy. But this book shows you how to write headlines, use effective copy, and properly use graphics that will help you SELL a service or product.

In most advertising books, you get clever ideas on ads. Some of those ads may have worked, and some may have flopped. If you want tested advertising methods, then get the book "Tested Advertising Methods". If you want one book that will show you how to sell a product or service, then get this book.

There's a reason why David Olgilvy calls this the most useful advertsing book he's ever read! I hold a Ph.D in Sales/Marketing and they simply DO NOT teach this money producing stuff enough at our colleges and universities! Instead, most of them opt for creative mush that's clever and makes for good awards and 5 minute speeches....but doesn't sell anything! If you want simple, brass tacks, powerful advertising advice, this book will be the most delapidated marketing resource in your library!
Is you're serious, RUN, don't walk to the checkout and pickup this incredible book. You'll pay guys like Dan Kennedy hundreds and even thousands of dollars for this advice...but it's all right here! Good stuff!

As a hobbyist, most woodworking books aren't written in a style that is intuitive to me. I'm happy to say that this book is the exception.

This book is a joy to read. It's written in a style that is exceptionally straightforward and sensible. Unlike other titles in this genre, this text is exceptionally complete - I think beginners and advanced router enthusiasts will find it equally insightful.

Although I have to admit that I am a beginner, I can't imagine there is anything you would find lacking in this book's content.

The diagrams are superb, and the content is comprehensive.

Kudos to the authors for writing an excellent book that has helped demystify this topic so painlessly!

Not only does this book explain/show what you need to get started using that expensive router you just bought, they do so in a casual very readable style with good humor. Useful reccommendations on bits, their use and their care. Lots of plans like a good bit storage box, a great free-hand router table and useful jigs to handle many router problems. I even found directions on how to dado a 1/32" layer off a desktop - now try that with your table saw! These guys have lots of experience with routers and it shows in this thoughtful book. IMHO this is the best general router book of the several others I've read (Let's hear it for Good Local Library's and for volume purchasing) and is well worth the low price.

I am an absolute beginner having just bought my router and table this week. I knew I could make nice edges on wood projects but I never new of all the other great effects I could do with the router until I read this book. It covers all the basics, as well as some advanced techniques, and has all the necessary jig designs a beginning woodworker needs to become very effective with the router in a short amount of time. I would call this the "Routers Bible" and recommend it 110%. If you only get one book on routers, then it better be this one.

It doesn't get much better than this. And I've read most of the top books in this field. If you have an interest in Baseball -- and want to read about the sport when it was really a "game" try this book. The book is truly told by the men who played the game in the early 1900's -- as transcribed in oral history fashion -- one chapter devoted to each player. Ritter brings to life players that most of us have always read about (Ruth, Cobb and Walter Johnson) and many more greats from that era -- Harry Hooper, Paul Waner, Rube Marquard, and Goose Goslin. (And yes, the author is my Uncle, but the book is STILL a great one!)

I'll be blunt. This is the single greatest baseball book I've ever read. I wouldn't be surprised if it were the best baseball book ever written. This book conveys the tone of baseball's early days. The players tell their stories in their own voice, oft-times a considerably different manner of speaking than we use currently.

I greatly enjoyed the slang words the old ballplayers used. They taunted rookies by calling them 'bushers'. One player warned another (speaking of Nap Lajoie) 'Watch out for the Frenchman.' Priceless!

Outside of the words, the stories themselves paint a glorious picture of baseball at the beginning of the century. The lesser ballplayers, the Hans Loberts and Chief Meyers', give their impression of the all-time greats; Wagner, Lajoie, Mathewson, Cobb, Jophnson, Bender, Waddell, and Shoeless Joe. Much of what we now know about these legends came directly from the recollections in this book. This is a baseball treasure and belongs in every serious fan's library.

I have heard so many stories about Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb, I can't tell fact from fiction. Lawrence Ritter and undertaken an extremely long journey to bring you a true record of the early days of baseball.

Packed with stories from legends Goose Goslin, Harry Hooper, Joe Wood, Hank Greenberg, Sam Crawford and others the spirit of baseball past comes to life. Ritter's ability to bring baseball alive is nothing short of spectacular.

Probably the best baseball book I have ever read, The Glory of Their Times, is more than a amazing collection of stories. You'll read about how baseball has transformed from a love of the game to love of money.

Each story has so much packed into it that I found myself re-reading each chapter just to make sure I got everything. I am so very proud that I have had the opportunity to read and review this extraordinary work on baseball. Thank you so very much Lawrence Ritter!

As a golf coach of over 20 years, I was eager to read Fred and Pete Shoemaker's, "Extraordinary Golf". For the most part, I would like to report that the book contains a great deal of constructive advice (mostly of the self-help variety) for the average golfer. The Shoemakers (and especially former PGA pro, Fred) seem to relate well to the problems that plague the average golfer, i.e. fear of embarrassment, lack of concentration, and the mental demons of uncertainty.

If you're looking for a book to help you with the physical part of the game, then this book is probably not for you. "EG" deals primarily with the cerebral aspects of the game and gives the golfer mental keys to follow. Especially helpful was the last section of the book which describes a number of exercises that can help the average golfer. I particularily enjoyed the section where the Shoemakers compare the ideal golf swing to the "act of club throwing". What other instructional book can you think of that has ever encouraged club throwing? You'll have the read it to believe it!

I'm sure some golf "purists" will shake their heads in amazement at some of the information in this book, but if the book is read with an open mind, then I think some benefits can be achieved.

I was originally given this book by a friend and told to approach it with a completely open mind. This book will help you explore your true inner self and how it relates to golf. I now have the ability to forget all my 32 years of golf mumbo-jumbo and "correct-swing" theories, and focus on experiencing and truly enjoying golf. I recently had the opportunity to take an all day seminar / golf experience from Fred and it changed my whole life and thoughts about the game. I am now re-reading the book again!!! Don't let this one pass you by...get the book and forget all the technical theories...the game and swing are in you, Fred simply helps you bring it out.

How many golf lessons have you taken where the (well intended) pro has filled your head with adjustments to your hands, feet, head, arms, back, chin, ball, brain, fingers and or grip? And, like a responsible adult, you respond to their instructions, strike the ball well while you're there only to revert back to your old ways a couple of days later? THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU! Fred Shoemaker is the first golf instructor I've ever read that has the courage to NOT try to tell you everything you need to do to change your swing. Instead, he gives you a simple, easy to understand APPROACH to the game of golf that enables you to really understand what's right and what's wrong. As a result of reading Fred's book, I now know my swing well enough to KNOW what I'm doing right and what I'm doing wrong -- so I can make my own correction. Whether your an "8" or "28" you should read this book now!

This book does an excellent job of explaining color management from the theoretical level to how it pertains to the various elements in digital editing and printing. The goal is to get what you see before you to appear on screen or in print. Real World Color Management provides a clearly outlined path to achieving it.

The explanations are clear, the advice practical. A good balance is struck between necessary detail and non-technical information. Other books cover the topic in greater detail, but they are all aimed at color geeks rather than working photographers and printers.

Real World Color Management addresses the all too familiar lament: "My inkjet prints photos that do not reflect what's on my screen."

Color management always seemed like an arcane science. While Colorsync is in its 4th iteration, we have yet to see some sort of a definitive manual from Apple.

Real World Color Management puts all these to rest. It's not a color book for color scientists. This is a book for people who are interested in how color interacts between what they see through their digital cameras, what they on their screens, what comes out of their printers.

There are sections that cover profiling devices, the software and hardware used to profile, how color management is implemented in the Macintosh and in Windows systems, and in the most popular graphics applications (Adobe, Macromedia, Corel). There has been a gaping silence from Apple, from Microsoft, from Epson (and other printer manufacturers) on how to use color management, on how to get good color from input device to output device. This book addresses that.

This book answers most of the questions I had on color management. Color management is no longer a mysterious black box in which you see the input and output but in which you have practically no idea what happens in between.

This is the definitive book on color management.

The real color gurus give us great information on the many aspects of color management (If you are new to digital imaging, color management is the means by which you try to get consistent color results -- for instance, what you see on your monitor matches your printed output.) Color theory, metamerism, callibration and profiles, specifics on various applications such as Photoshop, Quark, etc., and more.

Right off the bat I found the section on callibrating your monitor and evaluating the resulting callibration and profile very useful. Included tips for getting the callibration "right" that I have never seen elsewhere and were very helpful. There are similar discussions on input devices (scanners, cameras) and output devices (printers). And there is much more. Well worth the price.

Having never seen the anime, my perspective on the book is probably different from the average reader. Upon first reading, I found Volume 1 to have a relatively simple plot hiding behind the complex scenes and characterizations. Perhaps this is the beauty of Evangelion: it seems so difficult to understand, but at the most basic level it's just another case of humanity trying to preserve itself. And yet this series presents the classic dilemma with such a unique twist.

Shinji obviously has some major issues, and with a father like Gendo Ikari, it's understandable. The tension between father and son is so strong; in fact the interactions/conflicts between all the human characters provide a quiet turbulence throughout the story.

One complaint, however: Evangelion is Sadamoto's first full-length manga, and it shows. Although most of the artwork is certainly up to par, the fight scenes between the evangelion and the angel in Vol. 1 were difficult to follow. Perhaps for someone who had seen the anime, this would be not so much of a problem, but since I'm not too familiar with the Who's-Who of Big Honkin' Robots, I couldn't always figure out who was hitting who. Otherwise, Neon Genesis Evangelion is an excellent story and highly recommended for those who like something that's stretch their minds.

Neon Genesis Evangelion:
If you like sadness, comedy, really cool robots, high-quality drawings and very good characters, this is the series for you!
The story: Shinji Ikari is summoned to NERV headquarters, a research organization. When he arrives, he finds out he has to run one of the robots, Unit- 01, to protect the city from monsters they call "Angels".
The main reason I liked this series is because the characters are really great. When I read a book, and the characters stink, I really don't get much out of it. When, like in Neon Genesis Evangelion, the characters are great, it really makes the story better.
There are 6 volumes in this series, so far. It isn't finished yet. I want the next to come out so badly!
This is a series that you should definitely consider buying.

What do you do with to one othe the best anime series of the decade? Turn it into manga! I don't care if you like anime and manga or not...READ it! The art throughout the book is excelent, and the EVA/Angel battles are riveting. Shinji is less a whiny wimp in the 1st volumn of the manga than he is in the first episode of the anime. A definite plus. So go out into the world, and buy the book, and then the second, and so on until you spend all your money until you realize that you're flat broke, without out a home, and all you have left is your Evangelion tapes and books. Then go to your friend's house and watch 'em all again and read your manga.

This book is a must for any history buff or anyone interested in seeing WWII through enemy eyes. This work chronicles the career of Saburo Sakai and his many air battles through World War II. His words debunk many myths about Japanese pilots (he admits of even turning back from a suicide mission) and gives one a personal feel to the historical events that unfolded around him. One can also plot the technological climb of aircraft as Sakai describes how his adversaries' aircraft steadily got better and better. This book is also a must read for those who think the development of new aircraft and weapons are a waste of money. They will see through Sakai's words how one superior aircraft (the Zero) was able to command the skies in the war in the Pacific for quite some time until better aircraft finally were developed by the US. In the future the US may not have the luxury of time and should plan ahead.

This is a superior book and one of the best written about World War II.

I first read this book in in the eighth grade. It was so good in fact, that I literally did not put it down. I have read it three times since, and it has not lost its freshness nor its impact.

The highest scoring Japanese ace to survive World War II, Sakai's book was the first of its kind--a first hand account from the "enemy's" persepective. It was astoundingly popular and Sakai became somewhat of a hero in the United States (to this day he receives countless letters, all of which he answers). [Note: Sakai died of a heart attack in October of 2000.]

His story chronicles the rise and fall of not only the Japanese Naval Air Forces, but Japan itself. The thrill of victory and the bitterness of defeat are crystal clear. It is amazing that a story translated from one language to another can be so vivid and engrossing.

For a brilliant history lesson about the Pacific War during World War II that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this is the one. Through it all, you are there with Sakai be it in the cockpit or on the operating table. The "Classics of Naval Literature Series" version is superior to all others (for reasons explained in its FOREWORD). Highly recommended.

This book is a must for any history buff or anyone interested in what the "other side" of World War II was like. This work chronicles the career of Saburo Sakai and his many air battles throughout World War II. His words debunk many myths about Japanese pilots (he even admits to turning back from a suicide mission) and gives one a personal feel to the historical events that unfolded around him. One can also plot the technological climb of aircraft as Sakai describes how adversaries steadily got better and better. This book would even be good reading for "peaceniks" who think development of new aircraft and weapons are a waste of money. They will see through Sakai's work how one superior fighter plane (the Zero) was able to command the skies in the Pacific war for several years until better aircraft were turned out by the U.S. In the future, the U.S. may not be so lucky. This is a superior book and is one of the best written about World War II.

The 7th Edition of Joel Whitburn's The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits is every bit as good as the previous six editions. If you are interested in how songs fared on the charts, this book is a must for you as it lists the chart positions of every song that has made the Top 40 from 1955 to 1999. There are some good pictures of 45 sleeves and newer singles covers with a bit of info on the song and artist. The book is easy to follow and under most every artist, there is a snippet of info about them as well as gold and platinum certifications for the songs. This book is one of the best reference books around.

There are certain books that are sure fire bets if you have to buy a gift for someone and don't know what to get. This is such a book!! Every artist who had a top 40 hit single since 1955 is listed and all of the artist's top 40 hits are listed. If you remember a song years ago and remember who recorded it, if it made the top 40, it is in this book. What a great way to rediscover nearly forgotten recordings you once liked. I highly recommend this book.

I have purchased each new edition of this book and have never been disappointed. The 7th edition chronicles every Top 40 hit through the end of the millenium. I'm not in the music business, but love seeing what hits each artist has had and how how they went on the chart. This book does a great job of cross-referencing songs, so if a song is officially credited to Puff Daddy featuring Mase, then it is listed in this book under both artists. This is incredibly helpful given the recent proliferation of guest artists on chart singles. Whenever I hear an unknown oldies hit on the radio, I can't help but look it up in this book and find out the artist. A must for every fan of music.

Sorry to disappoint the previous reviewer, but when Dumas wrote this book, the ideas and plot were not new, not fresh, and certainly not original. Robert Wilson clearly outlines the history in his introduction to the book. "In 1838 a police archivist named Jacques Peuchet published six volumes of crime stories taken from the files of the Paris police. In one file was the story of a young shoemaker from Nimes who in 1807 became engaged to marry a rich and beautiful orphan, but because of a despicable practical joke played by four jealous friends was falsely arrested as a spy for the English against Napoleon and imprisoned until the empire fell in 1814. While in prison he had met a dying Italian priest who told him where a great treasure was buried. Upon his release he found the treasure and, using various disguises, cold-bloodedly wreaked his vengeance on those responsible for his misfortune, one of whom had married his fiancee. When Dumas read the story, he knew he wanted to retell it. That real-life melodrama is, pretty nearly, The Count of Monte Cristo in outline." There is also an island named Montecristo that Dumas found enchanting, so very little of this novel is "original" or "creative" material. On the other hand, this should not deter anyone from reading the book because the story itself is fascinating, easily holding the reader's attention. A movie of this tale was made several years ago, starring Richard Chamberlain, and complements the book nicely. I enjoyed both the book and the movie and happily recommend both.

It would be a futile effort to try to express in words just how excellent this story is. Stories that have been called "classics" have been labeled as such for a very good reason. I think anybody who has read and liked Tolstoy, Renault, Shakespeare, Leroux, Homer and R.L. Stevenson will enjoy this outstanding tale.

I highly recommend that the reader keep a couple of sticky notes and a pencil handy. Be sure to compile a list of names and a brief description for EVERY character introduced...you'll need this reference as events unfold.

The book cover/binding itself is rugged and can take a serious beating. For any story that's this compelling and 1400+ pages, the quality of the book itself becomes important since you don't finish such a long story overnight. My book survived the London subways, streets of Paris, German autobahn and my luggage to/from Ukraine--all without any problems. The font is larger than any paperback (or hardcover for that matter) and is easy on the eyes. As with any Modern Library production, the quality of this book is exceptionally top notch.

After watching the movie and then finding myself compelled to read the book, I wrote a review for the DVD version of this great classic by Alexandre Dumas. I did give the adulterated movie 3 stars, even with its deviation from the far superior storyline of the novel (this story does not lend itself to being told in a 2-hour movie). But rather than 3 stars, the book is well deserving of 5, and then some. The tale of the Count is one of heavy, dark intrigue. This is not light reading, and the story will tax your patience and demand of you significant time and concentration if you are to mine its riches. Those with an attention span of a six-year-old need not apply, although any person, young or old, who yields to the lessons being lived out will come away from this book with impressive knowledge regarding the pitfalls of willful ignorance, deceit, and pride; and hopefully a better appreciation for justice, compassion, and love. As for the story itself, Edmond Dantes, a young man of considerable good character, finds himself wrongly imprisoned under dreadful circumstances. He eventually is tutored in prison by a man with extraordinary wisdom-just as the reader is tutored without realizing it as he reads the unfolding chapters. Edmond loses all, gains eternal wisdom and insight, and then begins his true journey into lands where friends and foes experience his heavy influence. The story is one of desperation and deliverance, defeat and despair, and ultimately of triumph at an awful cost. Spiritual applications abound throughout as learned from within dungeons to palaces, and our notions of justice and mercy are sorely tested as a wronged man loses all and then begins to execute what he considers to be, and may well be, God's judgment. If you dedicate the time and attention that this book deserves, you will not be disappointed. If you want to speed-read and add another title to your library card, save your efforts and do not insult the worthwhile messages that this book can bring to the soul. I say soul, but for those with spiritual understanding, the better term is spirit, for this is above all a spiritual book if you have that kind of understanding. The movie alludes to it; the book embodies it. Having now read the book and carefully endured the more tedious portions to ensure that I missed little, I can only say that we do ourselves much disservice by not committing the time to study works such as this. Love, hate, revenge, mercy, justice, and forgiveness are explored in detail in the lives of Edmond Dantes (the Count) and his friends and foes. This complicated novel is unbelievably rich in its timeless spiritual lessons.