I have searched for a good method of learning vocabulary for years. I've spent lots of $$ on the latest word building tapes, CDs and books that taught long lists of words to memorize. The problem is that those words were forgotten only weeks after memorizing them. Recently while cramming for the GRE test, I discovered the "Discover It" method described in Danner and Noel's book. It uses a different approach which teaches word clusters instead of individual words, based on the learning the Latin roots of words. This approach saved an enormous amount of study time. The approach allowed me to be able to accurately determine the meaning of a word, even if I had never seen it before. This is a fantastic book. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to build his/her vocabulary, or take a entrance exam for which he wants to be well prepared.

I felt "Discover it!" was an effective and efficient way to build my vocabulary. One of the hypotheses of the book is that words are best learned in context. This concept, learning in context, motivated me to buy "Discover it!." "Discover it!" presents word in a natural context. As a graduate student in Speech & Language Pathology I have had to learn and apply knowledge about vocabulary developement. Again and again it was stressed that vocabulary, and language in general, flourishes best when learned in a natural context and with repetition. "Discover it!" does this well. Before each section there is a "word cluster" and "word builder" test. This test is not like the ones in school. It is clever strategy to help you conjure up the concept of the word-root(s) that will be presented in the following section. So, before you "know" what the word-stem is you already have a strong feeling for the what you are about to learn and your brain is "primed" for storing what you are about to study. In addition to the books clever organization, it present the cognates of words presented. For example, the common element bases "bene and bono", which mean "well" or "good", have roots with similar meanings (cognates)in a language other than Latin, such as French, Romanian, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. All of the similar word-roots are presented. By providing this information I found it easier to identify word-roots that were spelled differently in the words I learned from the book and when I encountered new words. Overall, this book made learning vocabulary words easy and effective. I did not have to work hard to remember the information presented because it gave words a context. Having a context made recalling the vocabulary words easier than if I were to just study the vocabulary words from flash-cards. Having spent many hours making flash-cards and not getting very much out of them, I am thankful that Dr. Danner assembled an easy to use book that facilitated effective learning.

For years I've searched for a good method of learning vocabulary. I've spent lots of $$ buying the lastest CDs, books, and gimicks to build an extensive vocabulary. Unfortunately, because most of these resources stressed memorizing words, I would memorize the recommended long word lists, only to forget them a few weeks later. It was so frustrating. I desparately needed help, because I had to score high on the GRE test to get into the grad school of my choice. I really sweated the verbal section because of my limited vocabulary. Then I found the "Discover It" book. Discover It takes a new approach. It stresses learning the latin roots of words which, once learned, makes it possible to learn clusters of words from the same root. With "Discover It", it was possible for me to quickly learn new words and decipher the meanings of words, even if I had never seen them before. This was a real time saver, and it helped me to do well on the GRE! I would highly recommend this book for anybody trying to ace a standardized test with a verbal section or for anyone simply wanting to improve their vocabulary!!

Other reviews here have explained the content and value of this book very well. I would add only that this work is important to the practicing astrologer because it does show how to focus on key elements of tension within the chart when a client seeks a consultation. Most people seeking astrological counseling for the first time are in some sort of crisis and need affirmation of and help with their experience. Using many examples that are clearly explained, Mr. Tyl does a superb job of showing how to be as effective as possible without wasting time. This work should be in every astrologer's library.

This book can be said to be a very useful book for astrological practitioners who want to make the best of limited time for consultation. The title of the book says the "creative" astrologer, since Mr. Tyl believes that neither therapists' credentials (i.e., Ph.D., M.A., and so on) nor experience are not relevant to the effectiveness of therapy.

The aim of this book is to instruct how to conduct an effective counseling and provide numbers of applicable examples. If possible, I recommend you to read Basil Fearrington's "The New Way to Learn Astrology" before reading this book. The author of "The New Way-" is a Mr. Tyl's student, who explains Mr. Tyl's theory very clearly. If you read this book first, you can understand easily theoretical background of "The Creative Astrologer~."

In his creative counseling, Mr. Tyl emphasizes the importance of thinking deeper into parental influences and persistent tendencies that one have been continuing from childhood. In this sense, he takes much of the effects of transiting Saturn's aspects to Angles and to Saturn (7,14,28-30, 35, 42-45, 60 years old) in the natal chart. Also, he put weight on Moon due to its importance in developmental stage. In the late chapter is like a cookbook filled with his "creative" connections among planets and houses.

Although I am not so much interested in the main parts of this book, i.e., case studies of a siingle session and his advice, this book can be of great use for practical use of astrology.

More than any other living astrologer, Noel Tyl has wholeheartedly dedicated himself to the comprehensive blending of the very best that psychotherapy and astrology have to offer. His studies with the psychologists Henry A. Murray and Gordon Allport, the sociologist George Homans, the anthropologist Clyde Kluckhohn, and the theologian Paul Tillich have informed and enriched his perspective. His own vast individual experiences as a businessman, as a global traveller, as an artist and performer, and as the facilitator in thousands of therapeutic sessions with his astrological clients bring overwhelming clarity and credibility to everything he does. He never ceases adding value to the discipline of astrology, steadfastly helping it keep pace with the most sophisticated advances in modern humanistic studies. His influence is truly enormous-- it's fair to say that everyone who connects with a competent, knowledgable astrologer today owes Noel Tyl a debt of gratitude, directly or indirectly.

Best of all, Noel Tyl never stops learning and growing, and he has shared the fruits of that ongoing growth in the nearly two dozen books he has authored or edited. In his newest book, The Creative Astrologer, he has expanded his vision of relevant personal astrology to a new, incredibly fulfilling level-- astrology, in his eyes, can immeasurably enrich people's lives as a single-session counseling approach that provides "insight study for self-help assistance," provided that the astrologer approaches this important work with consciousness, compassion, and creativity.

In The Creative Astrologer, Tyl not only presents a convincing case for his view of astrology as a therapeutic tool for personal empowerment; he also provides detailed, step-by-step insights into the counseling process, dramatically illustrating his writing with case studies that make the theory a living reality on the page. There's much in this book on the nuances of communication in an astrological counseling session, with specific guidance on questioning techniques, presentation skills, objectification, creative listening, disclosure, and the like. There are solid, sensible tips on relating to client expressions of anger and depression; on discerning needs, feelings, and coping mechanisms; and on doing the necessary astrological preparation prior to meeting the client.

Above all, this book is a call for astrologers to make creative connections (hence its title!) with clients and their horoscopes. Tyl notes that "the creative astrologer feels good about life, feels that there is a purpose for developmental tension" and can "relate the horoscope to the life being lived by the client." He admonishes astrologers "to look beyond the obvious; to play astro-detective." And throughout his book, he encourages astrologers to be sensitive in paying attention to their clients, to be competent and ethical, and above all, to think. "Together," Tyl says, "astrologer and client achieve insight, rebalance judgment and values, and affect change. And it feels good."

The Creative Astrologer is an important book. It brings clarity, insight, and life-supporting energy to the practice of person-centered astrology. It's a book with a lot of heart. If you're an astrologer, you certainly don't want to pass this one up.

But even if you're not an astrologer yourself, if you personally know or work with an astrologer, don't waste any time. Buy a copy of The Creative Astrologer immediately and then give it to the astrologer of your acquaintance. Your gift will benefit both of you immeasurably!

I love this book. I got it as a Christmas gift and I use it all the time. The photographs are gorgeous and each recipe is illustrated. I like that the recipes are relatively simple and require few ingredients. I also enjoy the descriptions and definitions of terms and regions in Italy.

I have a lot of Italian-Cooking-Books but this is by far the BEST ! The recipe are easy to follow, no fency ingredients (the most I have in my Pantry) and the fotos make you cook them all at once ! When I still lived in Germany I traveled a lot to Italy, this are all very authentic Recipes. A good Glas of Wine with this Dishes and you feel like in Italy ! ENJOY !!!

This book is simply gorgeous. It's recipes are simple but elegant. I recently purchased it and have made several recipes including the panzella (incredible), and only takes 25 min. to do and the prosuitto wrapped asparagus with mozzerella, (amazing) don't forget to sprinkle with paprikah. Most recipes use fresh ingredients, a mainstay of italian cooking, and they are easy yet impressive. This book is a must for all who enjoy cooking and for those who do not, it has wonderful descriptions of the regional origination of each recipe and beautiful accompanying pictures. You can travel to italy without even leaving your kitchen.

Along with "Dancing Shoes" and "Ballet Shoes", this is one of my three favorite "Shoes" books.

I loved the little girls. Lalla, the highly privileged daughter of two figure skating champions, whose aunt is so determined that Lalla, too, will be a champion that she sent the poor girl to daily lessons at the age of three, is valued only for her skating ability. She is not allowed to have a personality outside skating. Through her friendship with Harriet, she begins to learn about the world outside of competition. Harriet, for her part, has been largely overshadowed by her family, and skating gives her a chance to develop a passion and a talent of her own.

It's a sweet story. I loved it when I was little.

The original title of this book is "White Boots" and it's about two little girls, Lalla and Harriet. Lalla has been trained all her life to be a skating champion, and has been told so many times that it's her destiny, she can't imagine being anything else. Harriet took up skating to improve her legs after a long illness, but discovers how much she truly loves the sport, and that she has a talent for it. Harriet is allowed to share Lalla's classes, and to be her companion, because Lalla's pushy Aunt Claudia thinks it will help Lalla to become a champion. Through the girls' friendship, Lalla's perspective of the world changes, & she finds that there is more to life than skating. There is quite a surprising and satisfying ending to the story. I've read this book many times, and I love it. Noel Streatfield writes in an intelligent and engrossing manner, and her books are a pleasure to read for both young people and adults.

Noel Streatfield is an enchanting author, and I love all of her books, but this one is my absolute favorite, probably because I love skating. Her books are excellently written, and if you are looking for copies, I order all of mine off of Amazon UK. She is a British author, so a lot of her books are still in print in England, which is where I bought this one with a different title, it was called White Boots there. Well, this is a very very good book and I highly reccomend it.

This book is one of the best books explaining ANSI C. It starts from the newbie level and delivers the knowledge needed for any good C programmer to survive.

The writing style is very nice, the author has done some fine efforts in keeping his threads of thought clear and easy to follow.

For people who already know C, this is also good as a quick reference and is something concise to quickly refer to, in small issues. They could also just use it to quickly refresh their knowledge of C every once in a while.

It doesn't cover any advanced topics, but it does what it promises to do, so there's nothing serious to put this book down.

This book could have helped me greatly when I was just starting to learn C programming, but it didn't... Just because I only bought it too late, at the end of my C programming days!

-Mokhtar M. Khorshid

At first glance you may easily dismiss this book; featuring a rather dull cover; size that is dwarfed by the more "popular" C books - do not be fooled! This is an excellent text for learning about the C language.

Admittedly, if you're new to programming in general, then this book may seem a little difficult. For instance the first chapter launches straight into a discussion of C idioms: keywords, variables, operators etc. If these are foreign to you I would recommend you also buy an introductory programming text, then return to this book when you understand these concepts.

These assumptions aside, Kalicharan clearly and concisely discusses control structures and arrays, functions, character handling, data types, input/output and more. The concepts of each chapter are thoroughly explained and incorporated into numerous programming examples.

Indeed this is one of the strongest points of the book. In particular I liked the way Kalicharan introduces the three programming constructs; conditional execution, looping and iteration first, BEFORE discussing for example, the printf statement like most other C books do - which can be highly confusing to the novice C programmer. (Kalicharan leaves it until chapter 9). Thus a strong grounding in the fundamentals of programming is emphasised from the very start and is a consistent theme revisted throughout the book.

Unlike other C books, Kalicharan gives a brilliant discussion of pointers. What is dismissed as "too hard" in other texts is covered with ease and again, numerous examples to illustrate. For this chapter alone, one should buy this book.

Following the chapter on pointers is a good introduction to "advanced" data structures, linked lists and binary trees. These are left out of most other C books, bar those dealing with data structures specifically (university texts etc) but it is here that the power of the C language becomes apparent.

Topping off the book is a chapter in file handling. Text and binary files are discussed.

The range of topics, clarity of expression and *working* examples (I compiled every program in the book without error...) makes this book an essential addition to any C programmer's library. I hope another book from this talented author is on the way soon! (How about Java or C++?)

A fantastic book! Its simple, clear and systematic presentation and explaination of concepts along with the abundance of examples make learning to program in C an easy task. And all the scary stuff you may have heard about pointers in C become mere rumours after reading the relevant chapters! An excellent book for learning and teaching.

These short stories have aged quite well, and are still enjoyable even as they approach being one hundred years old! My personal favorite: "The Interlopers" --- one of the greatest short stories ever written! Saki captures life in late Victorian England exceptionally well, and his humor is evident in nearly everything he writes. I love this book!

"Never," said Reginald, "be a pioneer. It's the early Christian that gets the fattest lion."

Saki, in his own way, was a pioneer.

I heard these stories while I was growing up, as one parent or the other was reading them. You keep finding delightful lines that you want to read out to anyone in the same room.

Like one of his characters, Saki can "say horrible things in a matter-of-fact way, and matter-of-fact things in a horrible way." His descriptions of Edwardian England are hilarious, and he is at his best when describing a child or young man who sees through, and punctures all the stuffiness with wit:

"After all," said the Duchess, "there are certain things you can't get away from. Right and wrong, good conduct and moral rectitude, have certain well-defined limits." "So, for the matter of that," replied Reginald, "has the Russian Empire. The trouble is that the limits are not always in the same place."

"Of course," she resumed combatively, "it's the prevailing fashion to believe in perpetual change and mutability, and all that sort of thing, and to say that we are all merely an improved form of primeval ape -- of course you subscribe to that doctrine?" "I think it decidedly premature; in most people I know the process is far from complete."

In "The Secret Sin of Septimus Brope", the gossipers are hilariously mistaken about his secret - which you will not guess. When Laura defends her husband, she is told, "That's different -- you've sworn to love, honour, and endure him. I haven't." The predicament of the Lost Sanjak, once it's pointed out to you, will seem dreadfully possible.

You will laugh out loud; you will re-read your favorite lines, and you will wear out this book. I'm on my third copy.

Saki has more twists in his tales, and injects his stories with more wickedness and biting satire than any short story writer before or since him and is truly the master of succinct, and highly descriptive writing.

He used a couple of wickedly engaging and attractive main characters for a couple of his collections - these were Clovis and Reginald. To illustrate their essential characters take this quote from 'The Innocence of the Reginald' the following discussion takes place when talking of a painting;

"Youth," said the other, "Should suggest innocence."

"But never act on the suggestion..." [replied Reginald]

The stories are marvellously un-PC - written before the First World War and probably indictive of a lost age when the British roamed country houses for most the year visiting one another and being grand. Saki, with his wicked pen and sharp wit dissects them beautifully. As there are no stories much longer than a few pages you don't have to commit yourself to a great deal of reading, but once you start reading he is very hard to put down again.

If you have ever lived (or wanted to live) on a South Pacific Island (and I have lived on several), you will love this book! Written by a simple man in simple words of his simple life on a deserted tropical island in the Cook Islands group. I never met Tom Neale (but I wished I had) and I never had the fortune (nor the personal fortitude) to follow his example but through his book he has made a life-changing impression on me. If you only ever read one book about living on a tropical island, read this one!

Like other reviewers, reading this book made me envious of Tom Neale's fulfilled fantasy of living and surviving alone on a beautiful tropical island. Actually, it took him an incredible amount of hard work to get to that point, and even more work, determination, and creativity to provide for all his needs from the limited stores he brought with him and what the island itself offered. He ingeniously found ways to build, cook, raise animals, hunt, and eat. Tom enjoyed the challenge of survival, yet his physical toughness was sometimes severely tested in battling the elements. I lived every beautiful and frustrating moment with him (in my imagination, of course). One reviewer mentioned that Tom must have married and had two kids because the reviewer had just ordered one of his books about his sailing adventures, but that is a different Tom Neale that is currently living. The Tom Neale of An Island to Myself passed away quite a few years ago, and I'm pretty sure he remained a bachelor. Fun book!

Embarassingly, I am not a person who reads books often. This book reminds me of the enjoyment and fun there is in reading. I first read (An Island To Myself) in the early 70's, again in 1981, and recently again at 51 years old. I couldn't put it down and felt I was living another life for 2 1/2 days. Tom Neale went to the uninhabited island of SUVAROV at 51, believe me, he's made me fanticise.... anyone else interested? His experiences and how a (normal) human being can exist 200 miles from civilization is extrodiarily depited. Read this book, it may become a favorite! To answer a few questions in previous reviews herein: Tom Neale died in 1977, he must have married and wrote two more books, one about cruising with his wife and two children which I ordered today.

I admit that I have never quite outgrown children's books, of which this is definitely one. It is set in England in 1942-43 and is about three children named Sorrel, Mark and Holly. Their mother is dead and their father missing when the grandfather that they were living with dies. They are sent to live with their maternal grandmother, about whom they know nothing because their mother eloped and was never forgiven. It turns out that their mother was a member of a very famous stage family; so they are sent to the Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training so that they can carry on the tradition. This book serves as a sequel to Ballet Shoes but it manages to be more successful than most sequels in that it doesn't follow the original characters' lives after they have resolved their primary drama, but it keeps them as peripheral to the main plot. This way, the reader knows what happened to them but is not disappointed by the fact that they have become so much less interesting. There really isn't too much commentary that can be given on this book. It's very nice if you like this sort of thing but probably be very annoying if you don't

Noel Streatleild wrote Theater Shoes fantastically. There are so many things going on there is no time for a boring part. It is about three children named Sorrel, Mark and Holly. Their mother died when they were very young and their father is missing in Word War two. They lived in there grandfather's house,(On their Father's side.)When their Grandfather died they had to go live with their Grandmother, a retired actress.(On their Mothers side.) Sorrel, Mark and Holly have many obstacles to overcome while they are there. At the end everything turns out wonderfully! If you don't like books with sad endings and love books with happy endings then this book is for you!

Theatre Shoes was the first of Noel Streatfield's 'shoe' book that I read. After I finished it, I went straight to the library to get more. I love reading about how normal kids [poor and orphaned] can become great at something. In this particular one Sorrel, Mark, and Holly are living with their grandmother, who has almost nothing, in London. This 'shoe' book [along with the other ones that I have read] talks about their troubles and how hard they work to earn money by preforming [even though they do not want to] and how each one of them finds their own special talent. You get to know the charecters so well that you feel like you are one of them. The events in the book seem so real. I just wish Noel Streatfield had written more than just 10 of them.

I think this book is really great and is one of my favorite books. Ten year olds Rachel and Hillary Lennox have to go live with their Aunt Cora in London after their Rachel's mother dies. Rachel is a worry rat who is always worrying about Hillary. Hillary is an oraphan whom Rachel's father adopts when Rachel was 6. Before their mother died, Hillary was doing ballet with Madame Raine. Madame Raine thought Hillary should go to the Royal Ballet School. Aunt Cora to Hillary's luck teaches a dancing school but Aunt Cora doesn't want Hillary because they had no realation. When Aunt Cora sees Hillary doing ballet on the front lawn she imeditley changes her mind and wants to take both of them. Rachel has a cousin named Dulcie. Dulcie is a spoiled brat and always gets her way. Her father Uncle Tom doesn't like that though. Uncle Tom was Rachel's mom's brother. A few days after their arrival Aunt Cora starts traing them to be Mrs. Wintle's Little Wonders. (Aunt Cora is also known as Mrs. Wintle) Read the book! you'll probably enjoy it!

This changed my life! It got me interested in dancing. The story is about Rachel and Hillary Lennox who after their mother died went to live with their Aunt Cora who owns a dancing shcool. Poor Rachel who has no dancing talent finds a stage oriented life very difficult. To make matters worse they have a bratty cousin named Dulcie who everyone knows is very talented including Dulcie herself. A terrific book for all people of all ages especially those interested in life in World War Two or dance. You simply must read this book! If you enjoy it I suggest reading the other "Shoes" book (Ballet Shoes, Movie Shoes, Circus Shoes, Traveling Shoes, Family Shoes, New Shoes, Tennis Shoes, Skating Shoes (or White Boots), and Party Shoes).

Dancing Shoes, By Noel Streatfeild, is a story about Rachel, and her adopted sister, Hilary. After Rachel and Hilary's mother dies, they two sisters are sent to live with their strict Aunt Cora, their quite uncle Tom, and their spoiled daughter Dulcie. Hilary, whos real mother had been a dancer on broadway, had a real talent for ballet, but was forced to quite her training, and miss her opportunity to attend the Royal Ballet School, when she went to live with her aunt. Aunt Cora owns a dance school, where many dance troupes are trained, known as Wintle's Little Wonders. Aunt Cora give the two sisters but no choice to attend dance classes, and is determined to make them into Wonders. Hilary quickly catches on to this different from of dance, which is very different from ballet, while Rachel does not. Rachel strongly believes that Hilary should continue with her ballet, but Hilary would rather be doing the tap dancing and acrobatics with the troupe dancers. Dancing Shoes is all about the two girls struggle with dancing, their aunt, and finding what they enjoy most.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in dance. Once I began reading this story, I was hooked. Its a very cute story and very entertaining.

Among all the Oracle reference books, I found this one to be the most useful and practical book. This book is very well written and has an easy to read format. The detailed step-by-step instructions in Q&A section helped me solve problems quickly. This saved me much time and effort than going through piles of other reference books and trying to pull pieces of information here and there together to get a complete picture. I highly recommend this book to Oracle DBA's in all levels.

I found this book to be very useful for DBA related tasks. It has covered topics such as Tablespace administration, Parallel execution very well. It uses a FAQ approach, where a question is answered using scripts and examples. Also I liked the Standby Database topic, it has step-by-step implementation, including how to recover upto the last commited transaction! I also found the topic on Advanced Oracle Replication to be very useful and practical. I would highly recommend it to any DBA. It has quite a few scripts and examples that makes it interesting to read. Also I have so far not found any script errors, the author has really done a good job.

Covers what you need to know (rather than obscure features that you will hardly ever use) in a question and answer format with practical examples for every question. Very readable. Useful for new and experienced Oracle DBAs.