Williams has put together a visceral, haunting, beautiful stream of consciousness aria here. This little tiny book has become one of my very favorite works over the past few years I have owned a copy of it. It is one of those books that tends to find itself hidden on my bookshelf, and when I rediscover it I am in for a real treat. This is the story of a woman who is so aware of her soul that it is almost ethereal. Walking the slot canyons of Utah and Arizona has always brought out powerful emotions within me, but after reading this book a few times I literally lose myself in the earth when hiking there now. Yes, this is a tale of love and love-making, but on such a spiritual level that it is easy to fall asleep and drift into a dreamy, watery place of serenity after reading it. What more can a book offer than that???? Save yourself the money usually spent on a "relaxing vacation" to a crowded get-away and set a fire in the fireplace, put on some Loreena McKennit and lose yourself in this treasure of a book. Mary Frank's sketches and watercolors set the stage and Terry Tempest Williams provides the magic carpet.

This book is short: 62 pages is an exaggeration, since many of those pages are filled with sketches and since the book itself is only about the size of a CD case. But what it lacks in length it more than makes up for in beauty. Terry Tempest Williams is an incredible, widely respected writer, and this book was released to much critical acclaim. Her book details a woman hiking in the canyons of southern Utah, and the thoughts that flash through her mind as she walks, and the freedom she feels in nature: the kinds of thoughts we all have when we go hiking, but aren't able to put down on paper as well as she.

The thoughts the author has are the reason those of us who love the outdoors love them so much. The solitary, beautiful, amazing feeling of being alone - literally or figuratively - with the earth (or God - your pick) in its magnificent splendor, and of the thrill of being alive.

This is the book to get if you're into ocean liners! It contains loads of great information about the ocean liners of the past and present, and whets the appetite for more!

I think the "Fifty Famous Liners" series (books 1-3) are the most concise and informational descriptions of the worlds most famous liners a terrific buy for Liner enthusiasts! Andrew Oliva (aoliva@odin.cbu.edu)

I just want to begin this review by saying that this book is a need for any architect's library. The book Frank Gehry, Architect, provides a wealth of knowledge about the architect as well as the structures that he has created over time. Most pages in this book (and there are many) contain full color pictures, sketches, or descriptions about the structure and the architect. This book spans from Gehry's earliest projects to project underdevelopment. Projects range from structures to furniture, and even to art (sculpture like stuff). An aspect that I like most about this book is seeing Gehry develop his ideas and hone his craft. I should also add that this book also contains several models that were created for structures. I think this is essential because it allows beginning architects a chance to see effective model building techniques as well as different ways to convey a feeling which is essential for effective communication with a client. Overall, I would highly recommend this book for all architects and students.

a very interesting look into the life and times of Frank Gehry. Anyone ineterested in architecture or interested in increasing their knowledge of architecture and architecture's past must read this.

I abhorred History when I was at school. When I've matured and grown more realist I've started to consider the importance of history to try understand what happens around me. I started with The Penguin History of the World" by J.M. Roberts; I don't recommend that book for beginners though it's a good book (I actually hadn't courage enough to finish it, it exists in audiobook too). This book is written by five american scholars which I think gives it a more general scope than others written by a single author. It includes a CD-ROM with the whole book plus a multimedia summary of human history read by a beautiful voice, photographs, Questionnaires, Quizzes, maps and the Complete Webster's New World Dictionary. There's an exclusive webpage for the book with quizzes, add-on reports and links to other history websites, there you can have your questions answered and your exercises corrected (I haven't used it yet though). Sincerely I didn't expect this book to be so good. The CD-ROM is the same for each of the separate books or for the complete version, so, buying the first or second part alone you have the full CD-ROM encompassing all world history.

No book captures the authentity of world civilizations as this one does. A masterpiece

Meyer was a former Communist, but he atoned for this by the many contributions he made to the anti-communist cause and to the conservative movement. The latter, I believe, owes an incalculable debt to him. Before 1960, Meyer, who was at the time a senior editor of National Review, began arguing that there was no inherent contradiction between the two major streams of the Right in America, free-market principles and traditional values.

        He further argued that if the conservative movement was going to succeed, adherents of both lines of thought, natural allies on most issues, must be fused together. Supporters of a conservative economic policy, he taught, couldn't expect their policies to be enacted without the backing of social-issue conservatives. And it was equally true, he continued, that social-issue conservatives couldn't expect their policies to be enacted unless they allied with economic conservatives.

         The presidential elections of 1980, 1984 and 1988, as well as the congressional elections of 1994 and 1996, were manifestations of the wisdom of Frank Meyer.

In this book, Frank Meyer attempts to consolidate two threads of conservative tradition (later referred to as fusionism) - that of libertarian conservatism (stressing individual rights and economic freedom); and that of natural or traditional conservatism (stressing virtue and order). Meyer makes the case (persuasively I believe) that while many in the conservative movement tend to stress one tradition over the other, there is no inherent mutual exclusion between them. In short, there ought not to be a rift between those that focus on different elements of the conservative tradition. Essentially, Meyer presents the individual (not community, not "society", and not the state) as the atomic unit. And from that unit radiates out all other constituent beliefs about the individual - the right to life, liberty, and property - including the freedom to pursue virtue as well as vice. Yet despite this valiant effort made by Meyer, the tension between the two traditions of conservatism still exist to this day. Those wishing to understand that tension in a historical context would certainly do well by reading this book. In any case, whether one agrees with Meyer's attempted fusion, In Defense of Freedom is a wonderful read in conservative expression.

This is an outstanding compilation of thoughtful and provocative essays offered by Judge Frank J. Williams. Anyone with an interest in Lincoln should add this volume to their library. Well written and lucid, Williams provides a highly balanced look at the motivations and actions of the 16th President, with a keen eye to historical accuracy, historiography, historical memory, and balance. Williams, like all good authors and historians recognizes that there will never be a definative word on his subject, but is unafraid to weigh in with his own venture into the fray. As a history teacher, with an abiding interest in Lincoln, I grade this effort a solid A!

As much as the title of this book states that people may be judging Lincoln it hardly gives that negative feel. Frank Williams has put together a very well written book which explores Lincoln's motivations, desires, thoughts and how he managed people. Williams brings us interesting insight into the man where myth sometimes tells the wrong story. Viewpoints on how Lincoln managed Union commanders, political opponents, slavery issues and people is really what this book covers. Williams treats his subject quite fairly showing both sides of the stories in which controvercy over Lincoln's actions have resided. This book was a quick read although very enjoyable. If you are a Civil War fan, you should consider this book as much is written. How Lincoln handled popular generals such as McClellan, Meade, Hooker, Burnside and others was very interesting!

For more than 20 years, I relied on Schickel for guidance when determining which films to see; also, for gaining a better understanding of the films I had seen. In this volume, he provides interviews with eight great directors: Hitchcock, Capra, Minimill, Cukor, Hawks, Wellman, Vidor, and Walsh. In recent weeks, I have also read Robert J. Emery's two The Directors (Take One and Take Two) and Bogdanovich's Who the Devil Made It which also offer interviews and conversations with various great directors. Don't worry about duplications; that is, what Cukor, Hawks, Hitchcock, Walsh, and Wellman have to say. Bogdanovich, Emery, and Schickel have different questions to ask, different nuances of film making to explore, and approach the directors from quite different perspectives. The responses they obtain from the same directors differ. For that reason, I strongly urge fellow film buffs to purchase all of these volumes. The order in which they are read is unimportant.

What differentiates Schickel from Bogdanovich and Emery is the fact that, for many years, he wrote film reviews for Time magazine and thus had an immense audience with which to share his opinions about more than a thousand films. Also, he is the author of more than 20 books about film making which include biographies of Marlon Brando, Cary Brando, and James Cagney. Over the years, he has earned and richly deserves his reputation as one of the most thoughtful and knowledgeable of film authorities. In this volume, he interacts with eight of the greatest film directors. At no time does he seem intimidated by them nor does he ever disrupt the flow of information exchanged with self-serving observations. He guides each director into subject areas which are probably of great interest to most film buffs but he also allows each director to ramble, digress, etc. when reminiscing or when sharing specific opinions about films and actors with whom they were associated. Sure, there is some delicious gossip. And yes, some insights not otherwise available. However, for the most part, Schickel sets up various subjects and then allows each director (many of them a personal friend) to proceed wherever he may wish, at whatever pace he may prefer. His brilliant orchestration of responses ensures their scope and depth. That is to say, he did not merely turn on the recorder and then let each of the eight take it from there. On his reader's behalf, Schickel remains actively involved, indeed engaged in the exchange of information but at no time is intrusive. Within its genre, this is indeed a "classic."

This film critic's survey of eight of Hollywood's finest directors and their works uses the interview process to explore the work of American filmmakers over the last decades. Hitchcock, Capra, Cuckor and others share their achievements in a revealing set of interviews covering special challenges and observations.

Beautiful book full of poignant and wonderful photographs of Nicaragua. Unforgettable, shows the country from everyday like to after ravages of war and weather.

William F. Gentile has created a masterpiece with his collection of photographs from Nicaragua. Gentile shows the viewer tender and emotionally driven pictures of a people in an impoverished country trying to survive through the Sandanista and Contra war the United States helped to create. Amid shattered dreams and pain brought on, we also see aspirations of hope and happiness. Examples include wounded and dead soldiers being brought home, a housewife cooking dinner while the jungle behind her burns, and a young boy witnessing a dead soldier. There is also a baseball team carrying guns instead of bats, the affects of a town destroyed by a hurricane, and a Sandanista policeman kissing his family goodbye before he heads to work. As a hopeful photojournalist, I believe this book should not only be used as a reference to all photographers and journalists but shown for historical purposes.

This book deals with the vices as well as the virtues of alienation. The massacre at Colombine High School in Littleton, Colorado, would seem be a manifestation of the vices of alienation, resistance, or disaffection. The author says, without imaginative strategies that shape the motives of alienation in healthy ways, we are doomed to see them manifested in pathological ways. Alienistic literature is still in the public domain, a gesture of respect (for the audience), not of violence. The author sees such works as antidotes to the violent or otherwise pathological impulses of civilization's "discontents."

This book deals with the vices as well as the virtues of alienation. The massacre at Colombine High School in Littleton, Colorado, would seem be a manifestation of the vices of alienation, resistance, or disaffection. The author says, without imaginative strategies that shape the motives of alienation in healthy ways, we are doomed to see them manifested in pathological ways. Alienistic literature is still in the public domain, a gesture of respect (for the audience), not of violence. The author sees such works as antidotes to the violent or otherwise pathological impulses of civilization's "discontents."

Pastor Frank Honeycutt is courageous, honest, and sincere in telling us what it might be like to occupy a pulpit on a regular basis. We need more church leaders to be this open with us. This book gives the reader a fresh look at the task of living out a life of faith and sharing it with others. Although the book is aimed at preachers and church leaders, I found it to be a challenging and thought provoking boost to my own life as a lay member of a church. At times we all experience skeptical thoughts about God and go searching for answers. Pastor Honeycutt embraces questions, doubts,fears, and even ridicule, and is able to offer insight that is rare and helpful in a world filled with many pat answers to difficult questions. More churches need to offer opportunities for dialogs like those found and written about in this book.

Howard in State College, PA

First of all the disclaimers...the author is my pastor & I was a member of one of the groups...Having said that it's a nifty thought provoking book...it relates the author's attempts to minister to two groups of people,skeptics ( Honeycutt gathered an extrodinary crosssection of skeptics/nonbelievers etc. who for as brief time attended,ahem,faithfully ) & also gathered a group of seekers to listen to the included sermons & then provide feedback. The sermons are above average & the insights gleaned are thought provoking to say the least. If you think it may be too dry,think again. Afterall the man quotes from KINKY FRIEDMAN for God's sake (& ours)...Try it.