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Book reviews for "Friedeberg-Seeley,_Frank_J._B." sorted by average review score:

Idaho Discovered
Published in Hardcover by Stoecklein Pub (2000)
Authors: Kirk Anderson, Clarence Stilwill, Frank Roulard, Frank Rowland, and Clarence Stilwell
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A truly remarkable photographic compendium
Idaho is a state of geological extremes that range from a desert moonscape to towering mountain peaks, to urban city landscapes. Photographer Kirk Anderson fully and vividly documents the diversity and beauty of this diverse and sometimes surprising state through a spectrum of color photography that presents memorable (and often artistic) portraits in its celebration. Idaho Discovered is a volume of spectacular, informative, entertaining, and highly recommended images that work wonderfully well to showcase the diverse landscapes. The accompanying texts by Frank Rowland and Clarence Stilwill are excellent frameworks supporting a truly remarkable photographic compendium.

Spectacular Idaho!!
This is a spectacular collection of photographs of one of the most beautiful places you can imagine...Truly "God's Country ", Idaho's diversity has been captured by Kirk Anderson in a magnificant volume showing the mountains, waters, and deserts of this special part of America. He has truly "discovered" Idaho!!

A great book at a great price.
Idaho Discovered is a beautifully executed coffee table book with an affordable price tag. It showcases the work of one of Idaho's most talented photographers. Kirk Anderson has explored all areas of this awesome state from the forests and lakes of the North, to the wheat fields of the center, to the austerely beautiful high deserts of the South. He avoids the trite image, seeking out the unusual or waiting for unique light or atmospheric effects to transform a scene. The color reproductions are of very high quality and have a natural look.


When the Air Hits Your Brain
Published in Mass Market Paperback by Fawcett Books (1997)
Authors: Frank, Jr Vertosick and Frank T., Jr. Vertosick
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A shocking look at reality, but I loved it!
I had brain surgery for epileptic seizures and was cured. But as a result of this experience, I've continued to be fascinated with medicine and surgery.

This book gave me the chance to see what it may feel like to be on the other side. Dr. Vertosick takes the reader through his medical residency and through the long hours of being yelled at and belittled while trying to make people well. I think anyone who wants to go into medicine needs to read this book.

It's scary, but exciting at the same time! It's like you are going through this experience with the author and you want to finish reading the book so you can know you survived the journey and accomplished your goal.

If you are not interested in medicine or the operating room, you can probably live without this information. But for everyone else, it's a must read!

A nice book for anyone, a must book for neurosurgeons.
Although I have made my Neurosurgical Residency thousands of miles from Dr. Vertosick's (and a couple of years after him I guess), his recollections reminded me vividly of this nice time of my life. Dr. Vertosick writes surprisingly well for a neurosurgeon and catches your attention from cover to cover (I have read it in 2 days).

Note for the squeamish: There is some fine black humor inside that may shock you.

Tells it like it is. The Real thing
This is a true story of what it's really like... no padding or anything. Dr Vertosick has a tremendous writing skill that almost puts you right in the operating room with him. As a 2 time brain surgery patient I found this book absolutly gripping and I couldn't put it down !


Endurance: An Epic of Polar Adventure
Published in Paperback by W.W. Norton & Company (2000)
Authors: F.A. Worsley, Frank Arthur Worsley, A. F. Jellicoe, and Patrick O'Brian
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An almost unbelievable story of courage and perseverance!
You'll be embarassed to read this fantastic story of tremendous hardship and longsuffering hope as you sit in the comfort of your favorite chair or curled up under the covers in your bed. What a great accomplishment for these adventurers! How tough these men were! What a different era that was not so long ago!

I cannot imagine how they made it through the mess they were in. How is it possible to survive in perpetual cold and wet? The length of time they lived in the various components of this adventure, the amazing visual perspective and the power of nature at her worst which they experienced, and the strength of character and courage all these men exhibited combines to make a most inspiring tale --and it is all true!

I have always been attraced to artworks from that time that depict the frozen parts of the earth. Specifically, Frederick Church's painting of "The Icebergs", "The Aurora Borealis", and many other paintings of ships, ice, and wrecks by a variety of artists, as well as stories of exploration which have influenced me since my youth. Worsley's account of the Endurance has been a remarkable journey for me as well.

Skip the preface and foreward which give too much away --but read this book if you have any spirit of adventure within you! Prepare to be astounded at what we can do, at least what some of us can do when the need arises.

Jack Anglin

Excellent Chapter on Survival and Will
I read this book because I had a passing interest in the story of the doomed ship. What I found was a great tale of will and courage in the face of overwhelming odds. This book sparked my interest in polar exploration and the explorers. Shackleton's story is a great one that should be read by anyone with an interest in Man's triumph over nature.

Note, the reader should have some prior background of the Endurance, since the book starts with the ships destruction.

6 Stars - Incredible strory, A Great Book
An absolutely unbelievable expedition and survival story. Cleary the greatest exploration of all times. Fantastic and gripping description of the hardship that the Endurance crew of 28 men had to face for one year in the harshest terrian in the world.

There are many books written on the epic voyage of Edurance. This one written by F A Worsley, the captain of the ship, who was constantly by Shackelton's side is definitely a thorough description of the entire journey, their troubles, their struggle, their joys and hope thru the voyage.

A must read for everyone. especially those interested in adventure travel, exploration and expeditions.

Also a great book on leadership lessons.


Wasp
Published in Paperback by Orion Publishing Group (2000)
Author: Eric Frank Russell
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Amazingly gripping and interesting
I read this book when I was eleven or so and have spent the rest of my reading life in search of something that fascinated me more. Tolkien's was the only fiction that may have done so, but it is, of course, nothing like Wasp.

WASP is a short, simply written book, but it has some quality that makes people mad for it. I think it is the sardonic omniscient voice that adds so much to the flavor of WASP: the voice of the Author himself.

A new edition was published not long ago that was completely unabridged. I felt the slightly abridged version read better (It's always good to cut out the fancy talk.). But I may just be used to the same slightly shorter edition most people have read.

If you want a guaranteed fascinating read (and be swept away on wings of reading enjoyment!), buy this book now. Be forewarned, however, that some might say it kind of glorifies terrorism.

" A great read, should never go out of print"
I first read this book in early 60s and have reread it a few times since. It is a timeless story of how one man, with some essential supplies, can disrupt a whole world. More importantly to me was that soon after reading it for the first time, I read a review of it in Astoundin magazine. There the reviewer mentioned THE GOOD SOLDIER SCHWEIK and THE REVOLT OF GUNNER ASCH. I found Scweik heavy going but the Revolt of Gunner Asch introduced me to Hans helmuth Kirst. I have been reading Kirst ever since. Apparently, somebody in Germany has recently come out with a trilogy of videos "08/15 Trilogy" which comprises the first three (of four total) Gunner Asch novels: The Revolt of Gunner Asch Forward Gunner Asch The Return Of Gunner Asch. and all this became available to me because Eric Frank Russell wrote the WASP.

A wonderful book
Eric Frank Russell is absolutely the master of showing the possibilities of humanity at its best. Using a metaphor whereby a wasp in a car causes the driver to have an accident, killing four grown men, a man is convinced to go in alone and take down the government of a hostile alien planet. It's truly inspring to see this man, using nothing more than his brain and some supplies sent with him, torment and annoy the government, thereby aiding Terran forces.


Belles on Their Toes
Published in Paperback by Yearling Books (2003)
Authors: Frank B., Jr. Gilbreth, Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, and Donald McKay
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Lots of laughs, but something is missing
This book follows the Gilbreth family's adventures from just after their dad has died until all the children are grown and married. The mishaps are humorous, the children are realistic and funny, and the plot is inspiring. However, this book lacks the one element that made its predecessor so incredibly wonderful: Dad.

Dad was the one who had the hilarious techniques, the atrocious standards, the crazy ideas. He was the one with the impossible ideals, superb gifts, and vibrant personality. Dad was the one who insisted that his home become a model of motion study and a picture of order. Incidently, Dad was the one that gave Cheaper by the Dozen its laughs, its suspense, and its plotline. Without him, Belles on Their Toes is funny, but feels lifeless because there is no Dad there to knock someone's elbow on the table.

I did enjoy reading this book and some parts had me laughing out loud. But if you're looking for another gripping story like Cheaper and the Dozen, look elsewhere. The main conflict of this book is Mother's struggle to send all of her children through college. It is a story about learning, maturing, and accomplishing goals.

Caution! This made me want to have 12 kids!
I found this book in my cousin's room and did not emerge until, bleary-eyed, I had read it cover to cover. Since then, I've re-read it dozens of times, along with the prequel, Cheaper by the Dozen. Gilbreth family fans will want to know Frank Gilbreth wrote another, adult book, about his father. Also, the University of Texas at Austin has the Gilbreth motion-study film collection.

This book is funnier (if possible) than its prequel!
If you enjoyed Cheaper by the Dozen, reading this book is a must! After Father Gilbreth dies, Mother is left to carry on with her dozen children. The hilarious (and sometimes ridiculous) escapades in this book range from Tom, (the cook) having trouble dosing the Gilbreth clan with castor oil, to first dates and general instruction for the girls by their brothers on how NOT to get kissed! This book is HILARIOUS! Trust me - this is one you DON'T want to miss! Settle yourself down in your favorite easy chair and laugh yourself silly with the amusing escapades of the Gilbreth Clan!


Architecture: Form, Space, and Order
Published in Paperback by John Wiley & Sons (1996)
Authors: Frank D.K. Ching and Francis D. Ching
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If you only have one book on Architecture, this must be it.
This book lays the best foundation for architectural study and design of any book ever published. It should be required reading at every university and would make a great primer for high school students with enlightened teachers.

For students of architecture, one of those "must-haves".
If you're at all interested in architecture, this is really one of the unanimously acknowledged essential books to have and to study through. Ching covers every imaginable basic idea of architecture in a very clear, accessible, and readable manner, all using his own excellent hand-drawn sketches and diagrams and hand-lettered text. In fact, the presentation alone is like a case study in how to do it right; taken together, the book is an invaluable learning resource and guidebook.

This is a great book
After seeing this book on the shelf of a friend's architecture office, I bought it for my homeschooled children who are genuinely interested in architecture and building...Their dad (who teaches drafting and construction) and I could not put it down! The drawings are clear and so comprehensive. The book covers so much...Architectural styles, drawing types, etc. Mostly in drawings with very little text. So many architecture books are filled with heavy text, that you are lost in it, rather than learning the ideas and concepts. That is not a problem here. It is not to say that in any way this is a simplistic, elementary book...I'm sure it is used at the post-graduate and professional levels. The drawings and captions/info just say so much more than all those words! We are all learning a lot from this book, and are looking forward to buying more of this man's work.


The Shawshank Redemption: The Shooting Script (A Newmarket Screenplay)
Published in Paperback by Newmarket Press (1996)
Authors: Frank Darabont and Stephen King
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I hope... I'm free.
I really liked the book and the movie itself. Stephen King, for sure, didn't intend when he wrote Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption to emphasize a lot on the character of Andy. I think the basic character is the Morgan Freeman one. Frank Darabont, emphasized on both characters, Andy and Red. I have to ask myself, it's the redemption of who and of what? Is it the redemption of Andy, of Red, of Warren...? I think it's the redemption of all the characters in the book. At the end each one of them took what he deserved. Warren Suicide, Andy Freedom, and Red Hope. The brilliant thing about Shawshank Redemption script and movie is that the reader can't know what will happen and can estimate nothing untill the end of the story, there's no meaning of hope yet. What's hope in that movie? Is it something that we usually loose when we grow older under certain TERRIBLE conditions? Red lost all hope of getting outside Shawshank, at a certain time he wasn't willing to go out, he can never face the outside. Shawshank made him a machine man with machine heart and machine mind. Andy remind him back of his humanity, and hope is what deferenciates humans from other living species. I realized at the end that Hope is Freedom and it's not the opposite. When you have hope you can be free and when you don't you can never be free. The difference between Red and Andy is that Andy always believed in hope and that thing made him free, Red got out of Shawshank after 40 years and he was not free. Red started to feel freedom ("I think it's the excitement only a freemam can feel, a freeman at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain") when he regain hope and broke all rules and went to see his friend Andy. Hope is like dreams, when you lose it you lose your existence and therefore your humanity.

Wow! Adds depth to an already excellent cinematic experience
The shooting script contains forewards (by Stephen King by Frank Darabont), the screenplay, changes from the screenplay to the movie, some final thoughts by Darabont, and the credits.

It's fascinating reading the screenplay after seeing the movie, then reading the changes made in to the screenplay and why. For example, in scene 36, Andy approaches Red to buy a rock hammer and they agree on ten dollars. In the movie, it just happens and we overlook the question on how Andy would have gotten the money in the first place.

In the screen play, we find out in scenes 40 and 41 where he got the money (brought in with him ... internally). However, later, the book explains how the scene read well, but didn't work well on the screen. In retrospect, we don't really *care* that he had money anyway, so the scene is easily dropped without sacrificing clarity.

The book adds some interesting "inside" information. For example, when we first see Red meeting with the parole board, the file has a picture of him when he was younger. This photo is actually a cameo by Morgan Freeman's son, Alfonso, who also provided some of the background voices during the "Fresh Fish" taunting in the early part of the movie.

Overall, the book adds depth to an already excellent cinematic experience.

The Ultimate Screenplay
Wow. This is the first word that came to my mind after finishing reading this screenplay. Now, everyone knows how good the movie is, but reading this takes it to a whole different level. Included in this screenplay is extra scenes not seen in the final cut of the movie, a scene-by-scene analysis of the film, storyboards of important sequences, character photos, and last but not least, 2 forewords - one by Stephen King and the other by Frank Darabont, both giving insightful comments on the making of the movie and the novella 'Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption'. All in all, this is one of the most worthy purchases i've made as far as screenplays are concerned, and I recommend it to one and all - especially those interested in film analysis and movie making.


Bold Card Play: Best Strategies for Caribbean Stud, Let It Ride & Three Card Poker
Published in Paperback by Bonus Books (1998)
Author: Frank Scoblete
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Great Information About New Games
The casinos are inventing new games all the time with the purpose in mind of getting a bigger share of our money. What I like about Frank Scoblete's book is how he manages to develop strategies that cut the house edge to the lowest they can be AND he shows how to play these strategies in a way that really saves you money and gives you a shot at winning. This book is a very good book to read. It is also fun and Scoblete's insights are worth the price of the cost alone. I recommend it to anyone interested in these three new games. It has helped me a lot!

Don't Play These New Games Until You Read Scoblete's Books
Then Amazon is offering you the best bargain you can get. I just finished reading both of Scoblete's books, BOLD CARD PLAY and THE ARMADA STRATEGIES and they were incredible. They give the best strategies for these often casino-friendly games. Scoblete shows you how to reduce the house edge and to take advantage of the casino comping system. This is a great tandem of books for gamblers interested in reading about the "other" casino games.

Great Strategies for Tough Games
These new games can be murder on your bankroll but Scoblete shows how to use the proper strategies to reduce the house edge to the minimum. He then explains how to slow the pace to get more in comps than your action actually entails. The book is a fast read and you can photocopy his strategies and take them to the casino. This is very helpful if, like me, you have a poor memory. Definitely a worthwhile book to have. Also a fun book to read.


The Annotated Wizard of Oz: A Centennial Edition
Published in Hardcover by W.W. Norton & Company (16 October, 2000)
Authors: L. Frank Baum, Michael Patrick Hearn, and W.W. Denslow
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A true delight for Oz fans!
This beautiful, oversize, lavishly illustrated Centennial Edition of L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is a cornucopia of enjoyment for Oz fans. Edited by Oz expert Michael Patrick Hearn, it's annotated in a manner similar to Martin Gardner's "Annotated Alice" (Gardner contributes a preface outlining the history of the "The Annotated Wizard of Oz").

There's a hundred-page introduction, with lots of photos and color illustrations, covering Baum's life, his family, his non-Oz books, and the history of the Oz phenomenon (books, plays, musicals, movies, other Oz authors, and much more).

The story itself is reproduced from the 1900 edition. W.W. Denslow's original illustrations, including all 24 color plates, are here too. Hearn's notes are entertaining, informative and very extensive. For example, there are three double-columned pages dealing with Baum's brief one-page introduction alone!

Anyone who loves the Oz books will find countless hours of pleasure in this delightful book. It's well worth the price!

We're off to Believe in the Wizard
Michael Patrick Hearn really has done a grand service to the American literary world. While the book Wizard of Oz in itself will be a classic of all time, Hearn's annotations breathes life into this book like nothing else I've ever read.

His exhaustive, extensive research illuminates this classic, and brings us into the life of L. Frank Baum in connection with his writing of this story. I also loved the reproductions of the the original color plates from the first printing, which Baum painstakingly wanted.

As a true devotee of the film, and a casual devotee of the book, I now considered myself converted and find joy equally in both, due to the reading of this new classic.

Take advantage of this low price while you can still get it!

Wowie!
I don't need to tell you about the Wizard of Oz - you already know the story.

What is amazing about this edition is that the original story is completely reprinted in it's original form. That means that all of the illustrations are included with the text arranged exactly as it should be, something that almost no edition has done correctly.

Believe it or not, it makes a difference. The text makes a bit more sense, as the illustrations are integral to the text. The illustrations actually flow INTO the text! It's hard to describe, really, but there is an interaction. This book was a collaborative effort between Baum and Denslow, who split the profits evenly.

Okay, so that's it for the actual story.

The forward gives a brief but very readable biography of Baum, and the annotations are also quite good. There are a number of color pictures of rare Oz Ephemera, and many good black and white pictures of film and stage productions as well.

The type is clearly set, making this book very easy to read.

The only faults with this book are that it's a bit heavy for casual reading, and the annotation sometimes severely impact the flow of the story. These faults are easily overlooked when the material is so good!

If you've ever read this story and thought that it was merely okay, you really should read a good version such as this, it will change your preception radically!

Enjoy!


Tilly: A Novel
Published in Audio Cassette by Crossroad/Herder & Herder (1996)
Author: Frank E. Peretti
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I really enjoyed this book and will definitely pass it on.
This was a really neat book. Gives a special view of abortion.There is no way that I would let my children read it until the were much older.( The recommended age group for this book is 9-12 years old.) Truly, I thought that was a misprint. This material takes a certain amount of maturity to understand. I myself am 31 years old and I cried through an awful lot of it. Overall, it was great reading from a great author. I will definitely continue to read and recommend Mr. Peretti's word.

Excellent. A deeply moving story
The book will change you - you won't get away with simply reading it and moving on. Peretti's skills are unusual, and I believe will probably be reckoned so for some time to come.

The story is about a woman coming to terms with an incident in her life from the past - doubtlessly repeated in many peoples lives, and one might be tempted to view the book as a somewhat polarised account of such a life. But this isn't true for this novel. The story stops way short of allowing such petty evaluations, and in a remarkable series of episodes shows a glimpse of heaven itself, and the depth of God's love in such a way that the mere issue of abortion is transcended altogether in a illustration of the vastness and glory of God, and of the tremendous significance of his love directed towards men, women, and children.

I should warn any potential readers that the book will almost certainly move you to tears regardless of your circumstances; the depiction of heaven is quite astonishing and will probably stay with you for some time.

Not only is the issue of abortion touched on, but many aress close to the problems of pain and the death of children are addressed. The answers it gives are remarkable and satisfying...

This book is not so much about abortion, as about the compassion and wisdom of God. This definitely deserves reading.

If You Must Read One Book, Read This
The poignancy of this beautiful book is immeasurable. Though it is fairly pro-life, it has many pro-choice undertones and people from every end of the political spectrum would love it. However, this book was reccommended for ages 9 - 12, something I strongly disagree with. The deep, powerful meaning in each word is difficult to understand if you're nine years old. Perhaps a precocious 12 year old who knows about abortion would enjoy it, but for the most part I strongly reccommend this book for young adults and adults. It is powerful, beautiful, and the work of a genius. It also triggers tears at many points.


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