Complete with fine remarks and introductory tutorials, Norman Solomon exerted accurate perceptions in this pamphlet.
"Judaism: A Very Short Introduction" gave a run-through of every aspect of (ancient and modern) judaism. Its time-saving structure is neat: without omitting any of the vital issues which concerned the religion and its followers. This book is well-blended. It maintained proportionate dispositions towards religious practices, cultural heritage, and evolutionary anthropology. There is hardly any weakness in its presentations.
Anybody who needs an insight into the 'dos' and 'don'ts' of judaism would find it useful. Its summarized contents included all the transformations, which the ancient religion has undergone.

Christians tend to believe they know all they need to know about Judaism because their Old Testament consists of the Hebrew Scriptures. This book does an excellent job of showing Christians (and others) that Judaism today is more than Abraham, Moses and David. With the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE, Judaism was forced to adapt and in many ways redefine itself. This easily read book explains the development of Rabbinic Judaism as opposed to Biblical Judaism. Anyone who claims to be a student of world religions should read it. Any Christian who wants to develop a better understanding of what was happening to Judaism in the early days of Christianity should also read it.

I picked up this book at the library as reading material for my 17-month-old son. He (and I) loved the illustrations. I appreciated it being a real Bible story, and a history lesson--marvelously illustrated in 48 pages; but this books goes where most authors and illustrators don't. You won't see this version of the story in movie theatres. I did additional research to verify the accuracy of its' contents and I discoverd everything to be valid. This book should be read by all African-American children (and adults). They won't read about their kings and queens in textbooks as others are portrayed--which is a dis-service to their culture. I purchased three copies for myself and will be purchasing more as gifts.

This beautifully illustrated book provides children and their parents with a wonderful story that also has a powerful message. It teaches all of us that we can learn from each other and, more importantly, that every culture can learn from another. The book should be used in schools.

While this book is an excellent aid to the memory for those who desire to be proficient in the Masonic ritual work as practiced in Texas, please be aware that possession or use of this cypher is a violation of the Laws of the Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. & A.M. (1999 edition):

"Art. 506. Certain Other Offenses. It shall also be a Masonic offense for a Lodge, a committee or any combination of Masons, or an individual Mason:

21. To use cypher work relating to the esoteric work of any of the three degrees, or to have and retain in his possession such cypher work, or to sell, give, barter or exchange, any code book or other publication, the use of which is prohibited by the laws of the Grand Lodge, or to be employed in the business of anyone doing so."

I am not here to judge my brother Masons who may purchase this book for their own reference or to refresh their memory in the Work. Eventually, the laws of the Grand Lodge may change to allow the use of cyphers, but until that time comes, please exercise the strictest discretion in using this 'valuable aid to the memory'.

If you are a Texas Freemason, you need this book. I use it frequently when I am trying to remember a particlar verse and mentally "get stuck." This book ranks second in my home only to the Holy Bible. It is an indispensible aid to the memory, particularly if you can't regularly attend meetings to freshen your recollection of these very important lessons.

This wry 1965 collection of 14 Helm stories returns readers to that delightful fantasy town in Eastern Europe. You know, that place all the world's fools dropped when an angel flying over it accidentally tore the sack in which he was transporting them? From that day to this, we have heard of their foolishness, um, excuse me, their wisdom.

It's hard to say which of the 14 stories is the funniest. I like "The enchanted goat" (don't worry, he isn't really) and "Because of a blintz" in which Yossel and his silly wife Sossie run into some trouble over little rolled pancakes filled with sour cream.

But my favorite (and I think my children agree) is "The holes in the bagels." Mayor Gimpel, his grandson Abba and another Helm worthy travel from Helm to Vilna, the capital of Lithuania. After a night in a fine hotel, the three men assemble to discuss the fools in this city. (Now remember, this is in the Jerusalem of Lithuania, famed for its scholars and rabbis.)

"One is more stupid than the other," says Abba. "Worst of all, they have no sense of humor. As I wandered through the city, all I found was noise, hurry and bustle. There is not a shred of reason or logic in their behavior."

Needless to say, the wise men of Helm prove themselves foolish several times over. But the funniest idiocy in this tale follows their first encounter with bagels.

"Look at them," said Shloime. "Did you ever see baked goods like this? It is shaped like a millstone, with a hole in the middle and a ring of dough around the hole. But never mind the shape. Taste it!"

The next day, all three Helmites went back to the bakery and ate a dozen bagels each. When they could eat no more, they asked the baker to teach them how to make them. Rueben turned to Shloime and asked, "I'd like the baker to go over it again from the beginning. Especially, I'd like to know how he gets the hole in the middle."

Well those holes cause more fun before the tale is done. But to find out how, and a lot more besides, read a story a night. They'll last for two weeks. Then, like a good man of Helm, you can start over again. Alyssa A. Lappen

My grandfather wrote this book-I was raised on these stories, and loved them as a child. I now read them to my children and love to share all the morsels of a distant jewish culture, my roots, and theirs. I encourage all who wish to infuse a flavor of the world of the shtetl and the lives of Eastern European jews of past to read thos and his others, including my favorites, The wise Men of Helm, and the Wandering Beggar.

This is a great book for anyone interested in mushrooms. It entails ancient and ritualistic use of Psilocybin mushrooms as well as the Amantia species all the way up to the 90s. The book also breaks down the basic knowlege you must know if you intend to have any voice on mushrooms in general. This was the first book I ever got on mushrooms. I find some of the 90s information inaccurate based on ignorance but regardless you must have this book.

this book tells you all about mushrooms and thier effects. i can not stress how important it is to have a book like this so you dont kill yourself. this is fully illustrated and come in handy at all times. do yourself a favor: buy this book, turn on, tune in, and drop out.

A sensitive exploration of the anguish and sometimes guarded hope that spring from loss. Elegantly, movingly written, without artifice or fashionable tropes. The finest book of contemporary poetry I have read in years.

This award-winning volume by the gifted Sandy Solomon is a stunning collection of gems. Ms. Solomon directs her clear vision on a variety of subjects and the results reflect her graceful use of language and unflinching attachment to truth. I eagerly await her next volume.

I purchased this book as a gift to myself and it is super. Pictures are very nice and the reading is easy to deal with.
Even my 5 year old loves it.
If you are into trains, this book is worth the money.

A small yet thorough book concerning the history fo the PRR from start to finish. Well written and very informative.

Polyominoes is an entire sub-domain of geometrical puzzles and
this book is the epitomie of the subject. Packed full of
results and puzzles old and new. An extensive bibliography
is provided. Another one for the bookshelf of all mathematical puzzlers.

One of the most eagerly anticipated second editions in the history of mathematics, the wait was worth it. Literally defining a whole new area of recreational mathematics, the problems and proof techniques introduced in the first edition have kept an entire generation of mathematical thinkers busy. Although easily understood, some of the problems have defied solution for decades after the publication of the first edition in 1965. It now appears that all of the problems listed as unsolved in the first edition have been resolved, the last succumbing in 1993. As befits the enormous interest in these problems, three people announced solutions simultaneously, this reviewer being one of them.
While there is not a lot of material that was not part of the first book, it still stirs the mathematical heart. For these problems and proofs are timeless things of beauty. Even a child can understand how to put polyominoes together - my two-year-old daughter is an existence proof of that. And the proofs are sometimes so clever in their simplicity that one is tempted to use the phrase attributed to Paul Erdos, "That one is from God's little book." Who among us fails to appreciate some of the proofs of placing pentominoes on a checkerboard that relies on nothing more than the number of spaces colored black versus red. Even the proofs of the problems that took decades to resolve can be understood by those with only a rudimentary knowledge of mathematics. Sometimes, if you can count to 60, you can understand the proof.
Truly a jewel in the crown of mathematical royalty, this book deserves to be a runaway bestseller.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission

I've read all three issues of The Reading Room, and Issue Three continues the inspiring path set by One and Two. Barbara Probst Solomon, the editor, in her own essay included in each issue, has a way of exploring an author as if she's in deep with them. In the case of Saul Bellow, in this issue, she is actually an old friend - she'd befriended his first wife in Europe, and then Bellow, too. (Probst Solomon was also friends with John Updike, with whom she has a lavish conversation in the first issue). With Bellow, it's a conversation that starts with the memoir material of their friendship and moves onto the influences of Don Quixote and Ulysses on his work, and his argument with intellectuals ("We like to celebrate our nihilism....The fact is that in the morning, factory gates open, and people go to work"). It's a jaunty, enlightening read.

For those interested in things '70's, which seems to be everyone these days, check out the piece on a primal scream therapy cult, written by one of its recuperating daughters, Judith Kellem. For people who are nostalgic for disco duck and bell bottoms, it's a little shock-treatment to be inside the walls of one of the more dodgy components of the decade.

A special element of The Reading Room is its embrace of writers from Europe and other countries. Theme headings help you navigate through the many offerings of each issue, and one such theme in this issue is "Sex and the Ultimate French Novel." Here is a work that will help satisfy the literary scene's new hunger for sex workers' stories. It's a new translation of Charles-Louis Philippe's novel, based on the author's real-life failed attempts to "save" a teenage prostitute, at the turn of the last century.

Aside from being international in flavor, this journal is on the eclectic tilt, with artwork that follows suit (William Anthony and Spanish artist Gonzalo Torne in this volume). At a full 300 some pages, The Reading Room is large enough (and expansive enough) to invite not only writers of national and international renown but a few new kids on the block, too. The mix makes this "room" energetic, a place where you want to hang out for a while and see what happens next.

What a pleasure to come upon literary review of real quality. This is a wonderful collection of writers -- comfortable, funny, edgy, and stimulating. They have been brought together in a plain chunky book that smells good and is handsomely (and cleverly) printed. I sipped this morning's coffee as slowly as possible, ignored the phone, and read (into mid-morning) Juan Goytisolo, Daphne Merkin, Madison Smartt Bell, and Julian Rios. The best part is that when it's over, it's not over. There'll be more "Reading Rooms". The new year is looking pretty nice after all!

This was my first exposure to a book by this author, and I was very pleased. The story covers a period of time interesting to me and in an area near my home. The heroes are good people with normal character flaws, and the villians are the kind of people you can easily hate. The story is tied in to real times and real events. The author is obviously very familiar with the Cheyenne Indians and the frontier during the latter 1800's. A spellbinding book.

In 1879, Brad Randall, the Commissioner for Indian Affairs feels ineffectual in his post because he knows how the Indians are being treated and is in no position to help them. When he finds out his wife is cheating on him with his assistant, he leaves her and journeys out west, hoping to help the Native-Americans. He also wants to find Eden Murdoch who he has not seen or heard from in ten years to tell her the son she thought died is very much alive.

When the two ex-lovers meet, Eden is in jail protecting the fact that the Indians are no longer allowed near Solomon Spring, a sacred site to many tribes. He gets her out of jail and takes her to see her son who is not pleased to see her because her husband, Lawrence Murdoch has found him first and fed him lies about her. When Lawrence is found dead, Brad confesses to his murder but the only one who doesn't believe him is Eden who intends to find the real killer before her lover hangs.

SOLOMON SPRING is a great work of historical fiction and an equally good historical mystery. Through the characters eyes we are able to see the plight of the Indians and their courage in the face of adversity. The romance between the two protagonists is quite good but takes a back seat to the who-done it. Michelle Black is a talented writer who will appeal to readers of mystery, romance and history.

Harriet Klausner