This is one of the most intense and empirical studies of how people relate to television (not focusing on television's content), nothing judgmental here folks, the data is presented in text and charts. We get to see the surveys, the responses, we are informed of the study methods used...

Various psychological traits are measured before, during, and after television viewing in the subjects homes. Things like concentration, cheerfulness, challenge, memory, and other traits are measured at various times using a self-reporting mechanism. The merits and faults of the methods used to study the subjects are also discussed. The book is intense.

I'm sorry I can't encapsulate it better than this. The authors (Mihaly and Robert) do an extremely admirable job of presenting the information in a readable and complete format.

Again, it should be stressed that this study was empirical. No judgements are made. Content of television was not part of the study, content of the subject's psyches was.

A landmark work.

Take steps towards enhancing the quality of your life - explore FlowNet and exchange ideas and experiences associated with Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's Flow theory @ http://www.flownetwork.com

A Theatergoer's Guide To Shakespeare provides a companion to the plots, characters and themes of Shakespeare's plays, and will delight both beginning theater buffs and those studying Shakespeare. Fallon's treatment avoids the usual jargon and presents a clear picture of the play's events and characters, providing lively commentary on the plots and history. A recommended picks for a wide range of audiences, from students to drama fans.

In this fine introduction to Shakespeare, Prof. Robert Fallon had more sense than to try to "dumb down" Shakespeare. It can't be done--however, you CAN approach Shakespeare simply and cleanly, as the "Dummies" guides absolutely fail to do. The appropriate approach is to present the basics that are required to appreciate Shakespeare's plays, and that is exactly what Fallon has done in an enjoyable, highly readable text with no frills, distracting unfunny cartoons and trivia quizzes. To put my cards on the table, I worked in the recent past in a publishing company where I was not permitted to publish this excellent introductory guide myself, because it did not take a "for dummies" approach. I greatly regretted the stupidity of this decision (ever have a stupid boss?) and I salute Fallon for filling a need on the theater shelves of the bookstores. And bravo to his intelligent publisher Ivan R. Dee for putting out a well-designed volume. So take it from me, a theater lover for ages: This is the guide to choose if you want to begin to feel comfortable with Shakespeare or just want a solid guide to complement your experience of the plays.

And Patrick is never faint of heart. Witty, wise, deeply moving - usually all in the same 1 act play. And you get 7 plays here. My ex still hasn't given this volume back, and I hardly have the heart to ask for it, as I wish hir all the best, and this is the best... OK, I've changed my mind, either put out or give me one of my favorite books back you cur!

So concludes a wisecracking AIDS recluse in the last of these hilarious and heartbreaking one-act plays. Each one covers a decade in the lives of American gay men, from the sophisticated closets of the 1920's through our grimmest hour in the 1980's. Patrick may see little progress toward liberation, whether political or personal. But each decade is etched specifically and urgently, by a master playwright. You'll shed many a tear over this one, half of them from laughter.

I have bought several different training books but this is the only one that really explains in detail everything you need to know. I live in Europe and there is no way I'll find a western trainer in my area, so I really needed advice, and this book gives it. Very helpful, from what you need in bits, bridles, saddles, spurs, and why, and how to best select it all for you and your horses. Then light handed horsemanship from the very beginning, from the first the minutes of meeting a colt at birth, all the way to how to teaching him to side step, it is all in there. Excellent!

The book was created from class notes from a college professor and lifetime horseman. An authentic horse whisperer. Behavior information was researched and documented. Offers step by step directions on how to break and train a horse from a colt to a trained horse. All is based on horse behavior. I am the daughter of the author and have broken many horses under his methods!

FOUR SCIENCE FICTION CLASSICS is an exceptional compilation of the absolute best the genre had to offer in the 1940s and 1950s. It is composed of six powerful stories which transcend the decades in which they were written, stirring the heart and mind as powerfully now as when they were first published.

While these stories would shine under any conditions, the narrations of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy actually serve to further energize the prose. I was especially moved by the performance of William Shatner. Despite having been a fan of Star Trek for decades, I was completely unprepared for the depth and the brilliance of his vocal talents. Shatner's clear insight into the stories and their characters radiates with every word and intonation.

I could not more strongly recommend either an audio book or a science fiction collection.

I only wanted "Mimsy Were the Borogoves" and it did come separate on tape and even on vinyl at one time. It did not hurt to get the rest of the tapes. Foundation: The Psychohistorians is what the Foundation trilogy is all about and the newer foundation books you can read the separate reviews. The Martian Chronicles is ok but I do not want to spend time reviewing this section, as better reviews will be under the book description.

However Mimsy is a different animal. So I will say something about this. It is a small sci-fi story about a formula that allows you into an alternate universe that everyone used to have access to. The problem with getting there is that it requires a different paradigm and a formula. The paradigm requires a mindset that diapers as we get older and the formula is in front of us if we know where to look. An added plus is that it is read to us enthusiastically by William Shatner

William O'Brien believed in the British Parliament's capacity to give good government in 19th Century Ireland. His attempts to secure liberal reform were largely unsuccessfully, and he entered the 1840s with a growing conviction that the Irish Members were wasting their time at Westminister. In 1843, his political campaign for "justice" in Ireland prefigured the tactics of Parnell, but the effort ended in disappointment and O'Brien joining the Repeal Association in October of 1843. For the next five years he was a major political figure, and finally, a leader in the 1848 Irish rebellion. In William Smith O'brien And The Young Ireland Rebellion Of 1848, Robert Sloan provides the reader with a remarkable and informative political biography, as well as a "window in time" to the events that led up to Ireland's doomed rebellion against an unresponsive and exploitative British rule. Scholarly, informative, and highly recommended.

OK, slight admission - I've never read the book. Frankly, failed Irish rebellions (of which there seem many) are not really my interest. However, the author is my history teacher at school, and a really good bloke. He deserves to do well out of this book, so even if you don't like the subject, buy it and give him a nice supplement to his teacher's salary!

This is not only an excellent soldiers account of small unit action in WW1 but is also a very entertaining story. Best book on WW1 I have read. My grandfather was in the 139th (Triplet was in the 140th) and this book lets you feel what it was really like to be in the AEF in France in 1918. Excellent book by an excellent author.

I am the grandson of colonel Triplet. I remember these stories first hand . Beind a vet myself it amazes me how much the army has changed in the last 70 years . Its great reading and I can tell you it is all facts. I read the original unedited memoirs.

I forced myself to read this book because I needed to figure out my insurance situation. I actually enjoyed reading it and it gave me some very useful tips. This book makes buying insurance much easier for the small business that can't afford the time or money to mess around.

who made accounting. way he made accounting. wear he made accounting. when he made accounting. how he made accounting.

I speak from my own experience with the 3rd edition of Accounting Principles: this text comes from masters of teaching. Rather than begin with definitions, the authors first submerse you into the course of thought by describing a business problem, then deploy accounting concepts designed to solve it. They grudge no efforts making sure that you understand them correctly-and you do, because the partition between the teacher and the student is removed. Highly recommended.