This is one of the better books about Oscar Hammerstein, that luckily enough, is now back in print. Hugh Fordin writes a wonderful book that looks at the personal and the professional side of America's pre-eminent lyricist.
While fans of Richard Rodgers may be more inclined to enjoy the cynical wit of Larry Hart's lyrics, after reading this book, you can't help but be made into a Hammerstein convert. Here's a man with a sunny disposition, who believed in happy endings, and the best in people. One of the most telling stories Fordin recounts is how Hammerstein wrote "The Last Time I Saw Paris" (a pre-Rodgers song) because he was devastated by the fall of France in 1940. He would later point to that as the worst day of his life... not finding out his first wife had been cheating on him. That's the sort of guy Oscar Hammerstein comes across as in this book.
You'll also explore his early high-water mark of "Show Boat" and its important role in American Theater, followed by his pre-Rodgers drought.
If you read this book, you'll be glad you've Gotten to Know Him.

A wonderful, warm, authoritative biogrphaphy. It is obvious the Hammerstein family cooperatied fully with the author. The author is meticulous in his research. I advise next reading the autobiography of Richard Rodgers, and then reading the suburb biography of Stephen Soundheim, to whit, "Stephen Sondheim : A Life" by Meryle Secrest. Ockie was a great man...a man who never in his life visited a whore house and yet tried to write lyrics for a musical that was about a prostitute (i.e., the unsuccessful musical "PipeDream"). It fascinating how this book reprints some of the correspondance where John Steinbeck argues, in vein, for Oscar to stop sanitizing PipeDream to the point where the audience never knew the woman character was a lady of the evening. The book tells the story of every musical Hamerstein wrote lyrics for. I found myself buying CD cast albums as I encountered the story of each in the biography. The book is interesting and never boring, not even once.

This is one of the best theatrical biographies I've ever read. Hugh Fordin does a wonderful job of bringing Hammerstein, his family, and his times to life. Imagine a life that begins with Oscar's legendary grandfather, includes Jerome Kern and Richard Rodgers, then ends with Oscar's befriending young Stephen Sondheim. It's the history of the 20th Century American theatre reflected in one amazing lifetime. Every page is rich with interesting detail. Its one thing for a biographer to get all the research right (which Fordin certainly has); what's even more important is getting to know something the soul of the subject. This is that kind of book. I've re-read it with delight several times, and I could not recommend it more highly.

Hot Chicken, Hot Pasta, Hot BBQ- I own all 3 of these and have broken the bindings I use so often. If you like a little spice in your life and more in your meals- you can't go wrong. Great recipies and they tell you how to cook as well. I have about 25 cook books and these 3 are the only ones that are easy to reach.

A friend gave me one in the series and it is brilliant. The recipes are not the same old boring ingredients. These recipes are not hot, they are creative, exciting and a delight to serve. In all 4 books, we haven't found one we didn't like. In a kitchen with over 200 cookbooks, we use them all the time to please ourselves and dazzle our guests.

I have a lot of cookbooks, but I tend to fall back on the Hot Chicken cookbook regularly. For a while, I was making my way through the book with an event I called "Friends Thursday". I'd invite different friends over and make one of the dishes from the book. If they were the kind of friends who watched "Friends" we'd set up TV tables and cozy up to the show. If not, I'd socialize over dinner and then watch "Friends" on videotape afterward. I slowly made my way through every recipe in the book.

I am a solo female traveler who has just spent three months in East Africa. Every traveler I met had this guide. I agree that it is the 'bible' of east africa. Travelling to this area you don't have much of a choice of travel guides and this gives good information on all the little villages, how to get around, how to survive a matatu.... all the visa infomation, cultural information.... everything you need to have an awesome trip.

I also recommend getting the Trekking East Africa guide if you plan on doing any trekking. It goes more in depth then just the East Africa guide and if you find yourself on a mountain you will want a detailed map, which the East Africa guide lacks.

There are many places in the world you can travel to without a Lonly Planet. East Africa is not part of that. East Africa is no doubt one of the most beautiful parts of the world but travelling and getting around here is not easy at all and has many "dangers" one should be aware of.

There are many ways to do it. You can go on an all organised expensive safari in Kenya or Tanzania. Even then I would think you would like to see some of the places outside the parks like Nairobi or Arusha.

The best way to do it is to travel by yourself. I have done it a couple of times now and find that all the organization by travel agents does not make up for the flexibility you have when you do it yourself. I have been in bad weather conditions necessitating an immediate change of plans. I have been so overwhelmed by the beauty of the Serengeti that I decided on the spot to stay longer. I have been so disgusted by some hotels I prebooked that I decided instantly to look for another one.

This book gives excellent and absolutely necessary guidance to do so. The getting around sections are good and up to date and, believe me, without it you will not find your way out of, e.g.Arusha on a bus to Nairobi. Local assistance is difficult to find.

Booking hotels in countries like Tanzania is not like we are used in the rest of the world. In most of the parks you have one or two lodges and if they are full you are outside; not a nice pprospect when you are right in the middle of the animals. The pricing information is fair and, again, you have to do some planning given the huge differences in prices between hotels.If you plan to stay in the Rhino lodge in the Ngorogoro Crater and the only open one is the Sopa, it will set you back at least an additional $100.

All the "facts for visitors" in particular the medical sections are good and should be read carefully. They can keep you from very annoying situations.

The safari sections are good and provide an abundance of companies you can organise your own tours with. They can be checked out in advance. The best way to do it however, if you have time, is to spend a few days in Nairobi or Arusha and compare the offers of the various companies and talk to the owners to see what they provide. You will be amazed how good and cheap these local operators are. A further advantage is that they go off the beaten track, so that you are not having a situation where eleven Volkswagen busses are in a circle around a sleeping lion.

For those reallly into it, try out camping in the Serengeti or Arusha. You will find yourself one with nature and, allthough there are no fences and you should keep a good fire going, relatively safe.

For those less adventurous and on a more tight schedule, the Guide still contains such a wealth of information and little sections on 'nice to knows' that it is well worth the investment.

If I would be allowed to advise I would prefer the Tanzanian side to the Kenyan side for going on safari. It is definitely more beautiful ond not half as busy.

Finally, I will never forget the images I took away from this part of the world. Cheeta's running through the grasslands in chase of prey. Lion mothers tending their cubs, the vast herds of wildebeest, the zebra's, giraffes peeping curiously through the leaves at your car and the wonderful sunsets sitting at a campfire and reflecting and the beauty of creation.

I hope you will enjoy your trip.

I have lived and worked in Africa for 10 years. Loney Planet's East Africa book is "THE BIBLE" of travel in East Africa. You can throw away all the rest of the other travel books for East Africa...this is the one!

I am French and was born in Provence, so I have spent most of my days there, except when I travel and when I was modeling in the world of high fashion. I know every village, and I fly my plane over Provence many, many times. I bought this book because it is so beautiful and shows the many wonderful places in my part of France. I am not good at taking the pictures, like these men do, and besides, I always do the flying. My sister would have to do the picture making. If you buy this book, you will be able to see my beautiful Provence in the pictures whenever you want to. Provence is very old and very picturesque, that is why the photography is so good. If it was not a most beautiful place in the world, it could not be so beautiful of a book. I am French and so I know it is this beautiful. It is more beautiful in the real world, if you can even think that. We have lots of cobble streets. Everyone loves the flowers, so you will see most beautiful flowers everywhere you look in Provence. We have hidden waters that come out into our special fountains. Every village must have their fountains and some are very, very old and are more special than any place else in the world. We like things to be beautiful, so you never see anything ugly in Provence. The earth is very good to us. We have herbs growing everywhere in the countryside. Lavender, Rosemary, and Thyme, you can find just walking in our wonderful hills. We love colors in Provence. Blue, yellow, ochre,green, we like all of those colors. Marcel Pagnol lived in Provence, too. He made his films and his books because he loved Provence. He was French. If you want to see a beautiful book that will make you smile and smile, get this book, and then come see for yourself that I am lucky to be French and live in Provence most of the time...................... ................Presented to you by Summer

Provence is heaven to me.I love the hills, the variety of plant life, and the exquisite villages with their definitive shuttters and dove cotes. The fountains bubble with life. The cobbled streets lead to some of the most fetching homes and buildings in the world. The Provencal people dress their windows in lace and paint the exterior and interior of their homes in the colors found in the Provencal landscape: blue, yellow, ochre, greens. Terracotta roofs provide the most wonderful color and texture to the landscape. Somehow everything blends wonderfully! The creators of The Most Beautiful Villages in Provence capture the essence of this southern region of France. The photography vividly presents the viewer with a panorama of gorgeous scenes: fields of lavender, geraniums in pots leading to a beautiful door, roof top views that are breathtaking, undulating paths that take you to splendid spots, aerial views of villages, an old roman road and bridge. A friend of mine, who was born in Provence, gave me this incredibly beautiful book; the only thing better, she says, is to be there! I plan to take this book with me to Provence next summer!! After seeing this book, nothing can keep me away!

In my opinion (and in the opinion of my wife!), Provence is the most beautiful place on earth, and the most romantic! My wife and I spend two weeks every year just traveling through the little hill towns and villages with no agenda other than to just enjoy ourselves, eat wonderful meals and luxuriate in the landscape. Besides getting a firsthand view of the most gorgeous place on earth, we find there is no better place than Provence to renew the love and friendship between us. If your ready for romance, then buy this book and take off. If not, you'd better stay at home.

This beautiful and sensitive, wise and wonderful book has been my constant companion since it was first published in 1977. Prather's words have inspired me, comforted me, rebuked me, and more than anything, opened my heart to others and my need for people in my life. I particularly continue to be inspired by his passage, "Now is the time to take possession of my life. . ." In the darkest and most difficult times in my life, I have turned to NOL&C for that spark to keep me moving. Read it, underline it, dogear it, love it and use it, and keep your copy all your life--these are precious words of wisdom.

This introspective book quiets the soul and clears the mind. Prather's excerpts are practical, peaceful, and anchoring, reminding us all that we are human, in need of love and of courage. Buy it if you can.

I, too am looking for a couple of copies of this book but would be satisfied with one. I lent this book out and it was never returned. If anyone can tell me where I could find this please email me. I am saddened that this book is no longer being printed. Thank you.

One of Carpenter's best books (and all of them are good). He constructs interesting foods with varied flavors. None of them (at least so far) are difficult to put together. He's consistently the best cook book author that I know of.

I just finished taking an oriental cuisine class less than a year ago and our wonderfully experienced teacher recommended this cookbook for continued enjoyment in oriental cooking and eating at home. I have truly enjoyed using this book. I am quite young so cooking is new and I really like the art of it. Carpenter and Sanderson I think are at there best by exposing us to meals designed complete with the use of the most exciting and eccentric flavors. This is my favorite part about eating, besides company and presentation. At any rate, I am glad to have begun to collect cookbooks with this as one of the first ones. Thanks!

Out of +150 cookbooks we own, this is one of the top five. Hugh Carpenter isn't afraid to have you use spices to produce wonderful dishes. His method of separating the recipe into advance preparation and cooking is a great help in preparing something new. His serving sizes are very accurate and menu ideas useful. The photography is outstanding and an added plus in first time preparation. At a dinner party, we rarely dare to prepare a dish we haven't tried, but have done this on five occasions using "Pacific Flavors", all with compliments from everyone. This book is not only an excellent cookbook, but a beautiful coffee table piece also.

Hugh Corbett, bloodhound to King Edward I is back in business. Strange lights are being seen in the forest, people are becoming human fire balls and counterfeit money is showing up in the realm. Hugh is sent by the king from York to Framlingham to the temple of the Templar Order in order to search out rumours of Knights Templar trying to assassinate the king. Hugh has to keep his wits about him as he has become the assassins target as well.

P. C. Doherty writes about the 14th century as if he had been there. Hugh Corbett novels are wonderful, some of the best historical mysteries I have found.

I loved this book - Didn't want it to end! A definite must-read for fans of historical fiction and suspense.

A definte read, for "Medival Who dunnit" fans. P.C. Doherty weaves a fine tale within a tale.

This book is many books in one. It is a history of wine making throughout the world. It is a guide to selecting and using wine for it's many occasions. It is also a technical book that describes the making of the wine, and how and why certain soils, with their various compositions produce certain kinds of wine. It also explains how and why the climate in certain areas affects the production of the different types of wine. Every vintage and type of wine is slightly different from any other wine, even if it was grown and produced on the very same farm. The production of the wine is not even the same from year to year. The difference of the weather from year to year is not exactly the same. Despite this, the same farms, with the better soil, and climate consistently produce the better wines when compared with the type of wine. If you enjoy wine you must have this book, and keep it where you can read it when needed. Roger Dowiat.

Hugh Johnson is my kind of wine writer - he obviously possesses a great deal of knowledge about wine, how it is made, where it comes from, etc. But he also understands that the great majority of people who might drink a bottle of wine, or who might pick up his book, are not quite as knowledgable and familiar with various vinicultural terms. Accordingly, he has written a comprehensive, true "encyclopedia" of wine that has something for everyone.

If you are like me, you keep a book like this, and periodically pick it up after buying a few bottles at your local shop to read his tasting notes, or some information about the winery. The book is perfect for that, he included small profiles and/or tasting notes for thousands of wineries in virtually all major wine-producing countries. The list of California wineries alone, and Johnson's personal observations about their varietals, is staggering. He doesn't simply profile the big, million case producers but has notes about small, "boutique" wineries like Groth, etc. And aside from tasting notes, the book has a whole lot more to offer.

Johnson explains how various types of wine are made (port and champagne, for example), includes maps as well as biographical profiles of some leading personalities in the wine world (like Robert Mondavi), and explains in layman's terms which glasses to use, when some "experts" like to decant, etc. This is a book to have lingering around, not for a sit down, cover to cover reading but as a source of information, that can be supplemented every couple of years by purchasing Johnson's excellent annual pocket encyclopedias (with more up to date tasting and winery info). I find myself picking up the book to look up something specific, and unable to put it down for a half hour or more while I browse. Pick it up, for the price of a single bottle of Montrachet, you will enhance your knowledge and enjoyment of wine considerably.

It contains lots of helpful information about wine in genera

I had never even heard of Hugh Glass when i picked this book up. Wow, what a life he led! If even half of it is true its an amazing tale in the spirit of Jeremiah Johnson.

What this man goes through is unbelievable and makes for a heck of a page turner. Great historical/fiction mountain man story.

This is one particularly unique western set in a time when the Midwest was untamed; it's probably like no other western ever written. I have read maybe two-hundred westerns, but I was naive until I read Lord Grizzley.

Actually, this book should be about 4 1/2 stars, but I'll round up. It is a captivating book that is part history and part (probably the biggest part) fiction centered around an historic figure. I imagine old Hugh did go through very similar experiences during his time in hell. This book gives a great depiction of what life probably was like for a mountain man in the early 1800s. It reminds me of the sheer luxuries we all take for granted in every day life compared to those who lived before us. Hugh Glass is portrayed as a determined man who was about as tough as any creature on the planet could be. I imagine he was. For a glimpse of how the West was before white men poured in, what life consisted of then, and the inspirational feats of a colorful mountain man, read this book. It's hard to put down.

Based on A Course in Miricles, Dr. Jampolsky presents a general feel good book on spirituality. It does lack depth and has a simple pantheist view point.

I keep this book very close to my person and readily access it on the occasions when I succumb to life's frustrations. The illustrations alone are very meaningful reminders that bring me back to a peaceful, loving center.

I remember reading Jerry's book "Love Is Letting Go of Fear" many years ago, when my own life was in chaos and I literally didn't know where to turn. Its simplicity cut through my intellectual arguments very quickly, touching deeper truths that my own fears were masking at that time in my life. I believe that this newest of Jerry's books does the same thing, at a time when so many of us are cynical about our spiritual lives, yet are constantly searching for ways to reach deeper. Jerry makes it sound easy to move beyond our own fears, and when I am able to drop my intellectual pretenses and let these words in, something quite wonderful happens. I do move beyond my own blocks to see the larger truth. This isn't a book for people who want to ponder complex theological concepts but it is a book that will spark something important in your heart.