I'm considering setting up as a childrens entertainer, so I purchased a good few books. This is without doubt the best of the bunch.

The book covers lots of aspects of clowning, gives great ideas, and is an easy read.

The only downside is that it does not have space to go as in depth in some areas as I would of liked - but there are plenty of speciality books to do so.

Every hobby has one or two definative books. This is it for clowning. Everything I wanted to find out and more. Like any good reference book it started me down the path and I have read several books recommended.

If you are going to get into clowning you need this book.

Having read four customer reviews of this book, I might have had high expectations. Maybe I didn't realize it's true value at first, but after learning various skills, you may want to try others, which didn't catch your interest at first. Then you realize how powerful a tool this book is.

Until now I've focused on juggling and unicycling. The book not only teaches you how to ride a unicycle, -it also provides a lot of amusing variations. Though I knew how to ride before buying this book, it taught me how to ride in a very ridiculous way, seemingly out of control. I've experienced a tremendous effect when acting upon these hints in front of an audience. ...

Just recently I grew interested in the stiltwalking sections and made a pair of wooden tie-on stilts. I'm not exactly an engineer, but following the instructions, all I needed was a saw, some wood, a drill, some glue, some bolts and screws.

Reading the ingenious instructions given sometimes make me laugh out loud, thinking of how it would work in real life. The illustrations are really amusing, and I do enjoy all the hints on starting a clowning business. Lots of detailed information.

Also, the book is packed with numerous jokes and material that can be used for shows. The next stage for me will be learning how to twist balloons into different animal shapes.

I was actually looking for a book on how to put on clowns' make-up for my unicycling. This book is all you need to know about various types of make-up for various clown types, plus so much more. If you're thinking about clowning, either for fun or for money, I highly recommend this book!

This book is my best buy on ASP.NET. Don't be deceived by the "Moving to" in the title: it is not a book aimed at VB6 programmers. It is a book for those beginning with ASP.NET. It only assumes you know VB.NET (you should) and have at least a basic understanding of object oriented programming and web technologies.

About it's style:
The authors have the (so much rare) gift of getting in their readers shoes and give you a clear picture of things.

It has strikingly clear explanations even when it goes in-depth. Everything seems to be in the right place: they provide the right detail, the right moment, focusing only on the topic at hand. And all this while being very gentle and friendly, enjoyable I'd say.

About it's content:
So many books out there weight too much and offer to little because their authors think they write a novel. This book has absolutely no fluff (not even about how great .NET is), no cross-reference, no code repetition. It has precisely what you need to get a solid understanding, and the precious little details which help you get a good grasp. Above all: covers both theory and practice.

The explanations built-up from the basics to the more in-depth, and take you from the beginner level to the confident one. Even if you know some ASP.NET (like me) but have some uncertainties this book will put your thoughts in order.

In the bottom line: once you finish the book you 'll be able to start programming with confidence.

If you are looking for your first book on ASP.NET or are dissapointed by some other (like I was) go for this one.

As a Visual C++ programmer, I don't do web development for a living. When I do have to work on our company sites, I typically have a specific task to accomplish and no time to fool with it. I moved to .NET for one reason - productivity. I was delighted to find that this is exactly what Steve and Rob offer in "Moving to ASP.NET". They dive right into the practical tasks that I need to accomplish, giving background where needed but otherwise keeping their focus on getting the job done. Even with no VB experience, my database work was up and running in 4 hours. If you want to get up to speed on ASP.NET as quickly as possible, this book will make you productive your first day. I even had time left over for pizza.

Thanks, guys!

I have been looking for a good ASP.NET book and happened upon this one. I'm glad I did. I had previously purchased ASP.NET Unleashed which is also perfectly fine book except that is make the assumption that you are going to use notepad to write your web sites. (Who's going to do that anyway??) I was looking for a book that teaches ASP.NET concepts IN ADDITION to teach how to use VB.NET as your development tool. This book has been just the ticket.

I am not finished working through the entire book but I have this to say about what I have seen:
1) The appendices are outstanding. The appendices give the best (thorough but simple) summary of .NET strategy and concepts that I have read bar-none. Although I had read a fair amount about .NET previously, I nevertheless had many "light-bulb" experiences as I read the appendices. They cover everything from philosophy to technique in a way that is simple, engaging, and enlightening.
2) I have read the first 4 chapters of the book and they are very good. The chapters strike a good balance between concept/theory and application which is what I always look for in a computer book. It seems to lay foundations and then leads you through several simple examples that illustrate the concepts.

The only negative is that I have noticed a few minor typos already but I have determined that that is par for the course with computer books these days.

Seth B Spearman

I bought the book because I needed to startup a software engineering group within our established PS organization. The book provided very good insight in how a PS organization should run within a Product Company. It provide good food for thought in understanding the difference between a standalone PS organization and one attached to a Product Company. The content opened some eyes within our organization and reset some expectations. The book also validated some of the processes and focus of the existing PS organization. If you are starting up a PS organization from the ground up I recommend this book. If you have a PS organization already in place, within a product company, I also recommend this book to validate your current focus.

This book can be a key for entire IT organizations whose goals and objectives are to shift the rules from failure to victory. With carefully expressed views and guidelines this book will simulate return on investment and continuous profit. I will recommend this book to every organization that ambitious to achieve their goals and who have a desire to claim the ladder to sucess.

This is a book that fills a sorely needed gap in the computer consulting industry, and is especially valuable for start-up consulting companies, established companies that want to achieve higher profitability, and for internal IT organizations that are seeking a way to move from a cost center to a profit center.

Regardless of your goals or motivations, the first two chapters helps you to clarify your objectives, decide on the appropriate business model and mission statement, and introduces key concepts that will be used throughout the book. One of the most effective techniques in this section of the book is the way the authors lead you through framing your mission and goals and employing a service alignment risk factor to test the clarity of your mission and how it aligns to other business processes. This is especially important if technical services is not your core business.

Chapters 3 and 4 are, in my opinion, the heart of the book because they address revenue and profitability, and organizational structure - two areas with which many companies struggle. The information in these chapters will show you what you need to do to become and remain profitable, as well as how to best organize your resources to deliver in accordance with your chosen business model. For start-ups Chapter 3 provides an excellent framework for business plan pro formas. Chapter 5, Selling, thoroughly covers the critical success factors and metrics for selling services.

In chapters 6 through 8 services delivery, productizing and promotion are given the same thorough and insightful treatment. Of particular value is the customer engagement workflow that is provided in Chapter 11, and the four phases of professional services given in chapter 12. The phases provide a path by establishing basic implementation services as a service offering, then building upon these to provide integration services, consulting services and productized services - each phase represents an increase in what you offer customers (external or internal). For each of the phases the authors address the following factors: value proposition, profitability triangle focus, critical skills, required operational infrastructure, target mix, revenue growth rate, target gross margin and target operating profit.

I like the way that these (and all of the chapters) end with sample budgets and issues to watch, and the key financial models provided in Appendix D.

While this book is, in my opinion, the best starting point for anyone who is involved in establishing and managing technical services or starting a consulting company, "PSA: Professional Services Automation" by Rudolf Melik, et al is the second book you should read. That book complements this one, and also covers automating the professional services organization after it has been established.

Home sweet home: a place of love, refuge, and memories. For Helen Martin's it was also her life, her work and her Mecca. In the play "The Road to Mecca" Athol Fugard explores the question: Should we leave our Mecca, our spiritual fountainhead, when we can no longer take care of ourselves? The conflict between the three strong willed characters Helen, Elsa and Pastor Marius explores the question in the light of different religions, cultures, genders, ages and environments. Fugard said the play was suggested by the life and work of Helen Martins of New Bathesda, South Africa. The real Helen from age 50 to 75 transformed her house into a personal universe that enters the realm of archetype, symbol and metaphor. The house, furniture, windows and walls became a kaleidoscope of colored glass. In her garden she constructed over 200 figures: owls, Biblical figures, Buddhas, and ancient gods and goddesses. One South African scholar described her work as one of the most stirring experiences of his life and another called her one of South Africa's artistic geniuses. Fugard in his play shows Helen's creations as a glorious, makeshift oasis of creativity and life force and Elsa, his character, sees Helen as an example of freedom and transcendence. One powerful scene is when Helen, seated in her Mecca with dozens of candles playing off glittered walls and mirrors, tells Pastor Marius "I can't reduce my world to a few ornaments in a small room in an old-age home." The effect is stunning. The play is thought provoking and gives few answers. Helen is alive when it ends. Sadly, in 1975, the real Helen committed suicide. She drank caustic soda and died after three days I solitary agony. Her will included complex instructions listing in detail the ritual disposal of each of her sculptures. But today her home, known as "The Owl House" has been proclaimed a national monument and is a mecca for artists and tourists.

A reclusive elderly widow (based on the late Helen Martins, whose South African home is now a museum) has created her own "Mecca" by decorating the inside of her home with candles and mirrors and by surrounding the house with an assortment of personally-sculpted mermaids, wisemen, peacocks and pyramids. Although her neighbors view Miss Helen as a crazy old woman, she has made friends with Elsa Barlow, a young teacher who has returned for a surprise visit. On that same day, clergyman Marius Byleveld has come to help Helen apply to a nursing home. Marius is fond of Helen and fears for her safety. Elsa is in opposition to a move as it would take Helen away from her art.

I was originally concerned that a drama focusing on an old woman's artwork would not translate well to a listening experience. How could I care as deeply about Miss Helen if I was not able to see the oddball sculptures she had created? Surely the vision of "a city of light and color more splendid than anything I had ever imagined" could not be adequately transmitted through the speakers of my tape player. I need not have worried. One of my favorite parts of the entirely wonderful listen remains the moment when Helen lights her room with candles -- music comes up and there is absolutely no problem seeing a room aglow in a growing light of imagination and art. Adding to the experience is a superb cast performing a well-written examination of what it means to be an artist, what it means to be older, and what it means to be shunned. Fabulous!

Excellent recording quality, an interesting listen.

The authors use metaphor and symbology well and without being the least bit condescending in this remarkable tale of a group of grieving children traveling through the forest. This is an excellent book for young readers but also a wonderful book for parents to read aloud to children. The wise old woman who shepherds the children on their journey has a beautiful way of asking the children about their experiences and the ensuing conversations describe and normalize the wide variety of feelings, reactions, and responses that children have to major losses.

This is an amazing and unusual book! When children have lost a family member, a friend, or even a pet...this book teaches about grief in a way that the whole family will benefit. I am so, so glad I read it to my kids!

This hands-on book turns the highly theoretical world of qualitative inquiry into a doable approach to research in all areas of social science. I have found its methods to be extremely useful and easy to implement.

This book is a must read for all hockey fans, not just Red Wings or Yzerman fans. It follows one of the NHL's greatest captain throughout his NHL career, from the beginning to his 16 years as a Red Wing to his back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in 1997 and 1998. It's not just filled with stories to put a smile on your face, though. There's amazing full-colour photos of Steve at his best and quotes from many NHL players and coaches about Steve. I think the most interesting part of the book is Steve's game-day routine . I've always wondered what a player like Steve does on game-day, now I know! Paul Harris has put together a great book that all hockey fans can enjoy. I recommend it to everyone who likes hockey. From little kids to adults, anyone can enjoy this book.

This issue of Ascent is superior to some of the others. More professional and less flaky, it contains gripping trip reports and hilarious satire. The poetry is overall good, though very focused on the work of one author. The photography is beautiful but too much of it is in black and white. I found the reproduced paintings to be luridly colored and uninteresting. Overall, though, this book is well worth reading, with highlights including excellent work by Kelsey and Viola.

The scope, quality and depth of the prose in this issue of Ascent are of astoundingly high quality. Each one of the essays and stories in this collection provokes thought, and the sheer variety of the material, from farce through introspection to commentary, makes this a trove for climbers who love to read.

Alas, I cannot comment on the poetry, as I skipped all of it without reading a line.

The images in this issue are of more varied quality than the prose. While the colour photgraphs are crisp and rich, the monochrome photos are genreally poorly-reproduced, being flat and lacking in contrast. I was not impressed with much of the non-photographic art, as little of it has any quality that might draw attention to itself other than its subject matter.

Overall, I think that the 1999 issue of Ascent easily justifies its purchase price for the wonderful prose alone. If you are looking specifically for photography or artwork that pertains to climbing, though, you would do well to look elsewhere.

I purchased this book in order to plan a 6 week trip to New Mexico and Arizona. If you want a book that will clearly and intelligently tell you about everything in these two states, this is a good option. Unfortunately, this book isn't very helpful in prioritizing sites. For example, I'm sure every single indian pueblo is listed, but it's difficult to tell which ones are worth allocating time to. Don't get me wrong, this is an excellent book, but, if this is your first visit to the area, you will need a more opinionated book to help you sift though the many, many sightseeing options.

I had earlier editions of this book and just loved them. We found the best places to stay, motels and bed and breakfasts that are really special, at a great price. I used this book for planning many trips to the Southwest, for myself and friends, and it was always a great experience. It is the best reference books on places to eat and to stay, phone numbers of attractions etc. You can find every place in the Southwest. However, I would still use another travel guide for more detailed information about e.g. national parks and monuments or specific hiking tips.

I find it one of the best books avaiable on AS 400 systems.