This book was totally absorbing. I didn't want to put it down. Who would have thought that such a terrible disease would have its origin in the Medievel church, as women starved themselves for their beliefs and to become (as they believed) holy. But, like most things under the sun, it's all been done before, so there really shouldn't be any surprise that self-starvation has a very long history.

I really enjoyed the histories of the individual "fasting girls." And Ms. Brumberg's description of the Victorian middle class was priceless and eye opening, considering how that era is so romantizied by a lot of us today.

The book revealed so much about how culture (present and past) shapes our opinions of ourselves, especially us women. Reading the book brought out my anger that society and culture expect women to have "perfect" bodies..."perfect" everything, and the pressure that is on us, both as teenagers and adults.

I recommend this book to anyone who would like to know more about anorexia nervosa and its history. There is a great deal of fascinating information. Just keep your dictionary handy to look up all the medical terms Brumberg quotes (and for some of her own words as well). My only disappointment in the book was that it ended too abruptly. Her book had me hooked, and then, finally, it had to end. I think there is a great deal more to be said about this disease, and I hope that she keeps up with the history and maybe writes another volume. Kudos to you, Ms. Brumberg. Very well done.

I've become an avid reader of medical history. When in medical school for my degree in neuroscience, my favorite class was one that dealt with the neurological basis of psychiatric disorders. The professor had MDs come in with a patient with a particular problem (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, anorexia) and we would have the opportunity to listen to them tell their own story and their frustrations with their illness.

When they brought in a girl who was probably 5'8" and weight 78 pounds, it was fascinating to see the guys in the class who were normally very vocal and aggressive, totally shut up! From behind she looked like someone from a Nazi concentration camp, yet she continued to consider herself 'fat'. When she left, the MD had the nerve to turn around and tell the boys, that basically...anorexia was the fault of men. All of us were stunned. He put up an obviously much used power point slide showing the weights of women in both Playboy magazines and in the Miss USA pageant from the beginning to that year (1997). The line was steep and steady from the upper left-hand corner of the slide to the bottom right corner of the slide. This was the change in weight of the women who were participating in these 'endeavors' that the MD said were run by men (it was a male MD). Then he went further and said...most women's magazines are still mainly male bastions, as is the fashion industry both here and in Europe. The men in the class were absolutely horrified (and the women were thrilled that someone had the nerve to say this to them!)

This outstanding book is a must read for anyone going into psychology, neuroscience, working with adolescents, education, public health, etc. I've read few books with such deep understanding as to the history and ramifications of social mores on young women and girls. Since I am a mother and a grandmother of girls, I have been truly horrified at picking up Bazaar magazine in the doctor's office and seeing what they are promoting as being beautiful. I told them to remove that magazine, because the models in it were way beyond Twiggy-skinny. When society promotes models whose bones are showing through their pelvic in whatever they wear, then something has gone desparately wrong in our society.

I am not a feminist per se, but I do believe in equal rights for all. Yet, viewing this particular disorder is a feminist need, and Brumberg does that magnificently, without overdoing it or carping on feminist thinking. I wish more 'feminists' would express deep concern and become activists to change our society from it's obviously deep-seated biases towards what constitutes beauty, for the sake of our girls. This is definitely more important in controlling and curtailing than almost any other societal gender-related bias...because it is literally killing our young women.

Brumberg's ability to write medical history is phenomenal. This is definitely one of the finest books I've read in this genre. Her research is meticulous; I was surprised and impressed with the sheer amount of information she provides concerning this problem during the 19th century. Many in the medical profession still believe that this disorder is something brought on by our society in the 20th century, but she shows that anorexia has been with us for a long time. I highly recommend this book!
Karen SAdler,
Science Education,
University of Pittsburgh

This book brings up the issue of a modern subject, and takes it all the way back through the pages of history. It is a stunning account of the history of anorexia as it was once considered to be miraculous fasting: the utter paradox of a living being existing without food. Anorexic girls seem to transcend into a new evolution from symbolizing spiritual exaultment to the modern beauty ideal. A very interesting read, a must read for anyone interested in an in depth look at the disorder, and frankly for anyone with a daughter- to better understand her world and how it came to be.

It's a "Keeper" and you should just leave it in your kitchen so you won't have to go to and from the book shelf. The "Teachers Tips are amazing! It's like she is in the kitchen with you and can read your mind. Try the Mussel Soup aith Aioli and Saffron. Wonderful!

"Feastivals Cooks at Home" is packed with great recipes offered with a simple directness that is a real blessing for those of us who are technically challenged in the kitchen. The book offers an admirable range of formal and informal (try the orange chicken wings!), complicated and simple. And every dish that I've tried has turned out great. Good design, and very good writing make this cookbook a "must have" for any kitchen.

LOVE Chef June Jacobs' new cookbook! The recipes are delicious, the Teachers' Tips are invaluable, and the Wine Tips are exactly what I have wished for. The book is a compact 7 x 9 inches, spiral-bound, perfect for propping up on the kitchen counter while in use, and perfect for wrapping and mailing. The range of recipes in 192 pages is outstanding, everything you could possibly want to prepare--appetizers, soups, main dishes, desserts (GLORIOUS desserts), THE WORKS. And this book has CHARM. One of its most delightful features is the anecdotal material that Chef June shares about family and friends who inspired these recipes. This is a cookbook you can curl up with OUTSIDE the kitchen and read for FUN. I felt as if I were meeting the best of Charles Dickens' characters in this wonderful cookbook. In sum, the recipes are to SWOON over, Chef June's enthusiasm for the art of cooking and for these great recipes is contagious, I am thoroughly enjoying trying these recipes and sharing them with my friends and family. And I know you will, too!

I'm a longtime fan of Ms. Jacobs and hope that
"Flashpoint" is the start of a new series.
This novel is just the right blend of mystery,
suspense, and social commentary.

Be sure to read Ms. Jacobs' other recent novels,
"Star Struck" and "Double or Nothing".

in this fast-paced page turner. Ms. Jacobs manages to make every word count in Flash Point, her latest mystery entry. Thanks to the author's keen eye for detail, the reader sees the characters come to life on the page. And what charming characters they are---it's a pleasure spending time with Susan Kim Delancey as she tracks down the serial arsonist. Well researched, the author sets the scene so realistically I have a new-found respect for the men and women who fight fires daily.

Susan Kim Delancey is the Governor's Special Assistant for Arson Investigations, a political appointment that has her serve as liaison with all the counties in California. Right now she is investigating a series of arson homicides that have taken place in Sausalito, San Francisco, Daily City and San Vincente. She is trying to find out if the same person is responsible for the four incidents.

In each case the victim was a single mother who recently gave birth to a baby girl. No trace of the babies is found leading the press to dub the crimes the "Baby Snatcher Murders". Susan and her understaffed overworked team find a common thread even as the killer targets someone Susan loves more than life itself.

Nancy Baker Jacobs has a winning new series if FLASH POINT is any indication. The heroine is impossible not to like as she races from one horrific crime scene to another to find some answers that will stop a killer before he strikes again. There are enough twists and turns to keep the reader turning the pages until they find out who the perp is and why he is doing such terrible things.

Harriet Klausner

A very clear, very entertaining textbook for a high-school course on geometry.

This book introduces logical proofs right at the beginning; you may have some difficulty convincing your kids or yourself that you need to work out all these silly logic puzzles in order to begin studying geometry, but you do.

From there on, the book is a sheer joy to read, full of interesting and tricky problems, clear explanations, and of course those famous B.C. and Peanuts clips.

I have no experience with other geometry books--although I did use the Schaum book and other "outline" help books early in the school year as a reference. Actually Jacobs was easier to use than the "outline" help books. Many problems skate close to calculus (limits are introduced) and analytic geometry. Some problems are quite nearly elegant. Highly recommended.

A good geometry book for high school students. It teaches everything one needs to know about basic euclidean geometry with intuitive lessons and clear explinations of all the content. One thing to note though is that you need a strong understanding of the algerbraic principals of equality, and the fact that the teachers edition is very hard to come by.

Hey, thanks Matt, for another hilarious episode in the life of the now-well-off, but still neurotic Jacob Burns . This book was much funnier than the first and well worth the long wait.

The plot runs fast and straight forward. All the characters, whether you hate them or love them, are colorful and interesting. The rapport between Jacob and Tony is great. Can't wait to see them in November.

A funny, fast paced mystery. This book is even better than the first, which was great. It is a very engaging read and quick to finish. Perfect for the beach or a long airplane ride. The story moves along quickly which makes it a challenge to second guess the main character and fun to not have to wait too long to find out who done it!

Witten's huge talent for storytelling makes this a one-sitting read. He reveals information at just the right time in just the right order to keep us reading... and guessing. Filled with memorable and original characters. A great second installment in what I hope will be a long-running series.

I've always loved fairy tales, and I've never found a better version of Grimm's Tales. Why? The translation! Other versions tend to gloss over the details, taking away from the richness (and occasionally, gruesomeness) of the original. Manheim stays true to the spirit of the work in his translation, and the character of the original really shines through.

The best example I can give is one of the stories -- "The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers." Other versions translate this as "The Boy who left home to find out what fear was." Why is this wrong? Well, the story is really about the physical effects of fear -- shivering. He didn't actually leave home to find out about fear itself. The gist of the story is that the main character never understood why his brother would "get the shivers" when he heard a scary story, so (among other reasons) he leaves home to seek his fortune. No matter what scary things he encounters, he never gets the shivers. Finally, at the end, the princess he married gets fed up with his whining about the shivers, and while he's sleeping, dumps a bucket of cold water full of minnows on him. He wakes up happy, saying "I'm shivering, I'm shivering!"

To this day, I use this story as a test of any translation of the Brothers Grimm.

What a great read! As an adult reading this to myself I am enjoying these tales! Contrary to what most people think these tales truly are meant for adult ears and are of interest to all ages.

Manheim explains that in early translations these were incorrectly labeled fairy tales and mistakenly assumed they were stories for children only. Over and over I am shocked by the gruesome content and punishments. Punishment by entrapping someone inside a barrel lined with the nail heads and then rolling them down a hill, father cutting off his daughters hands to avoid harm to himself, etc.

The reason I began reading these was to get a purist idea of what the Grimms' tales were: having grown up on the Disney version I was curious about the real thing. I was surprised at what I found, and happy! I was hoping to retell these stories to my 3 year-old but I have yet to find one that is tame enough to retell to him, but that is okay.

The storytelling nature of this is truly captured and I am entranced by these tales. The translator explains in his preface that this was the first time that the tales were translated from German to English by one person who was reading the original Grimms' manuscripts. This was first published in 1977. Manheim explains how earlier translations by other translators were muddled and errors made which changed some words, and at worst enough of the content was erroneous that the reader was really missing out on the true flavor and intent of the story. Manheim claims his edition is the most pure English translation. I compared this with my copy of the Pantheon edition edited by James Stern, as I was reading both copies at the same time. I found that the Manheim edition made more sense, that is, that some words were correctly translated to English while the other book had some words that I had just never heard of and could not understand. What fun to read these tales! Reading this book has been more fun than reading some recent fictional works. I have a renewed interest in reading about the old folk tales and fables now. Indulge yourself and read this book!

This book contains the stories and fairy tales presented by the Brothers Grimm in their original form (translated from German). There are 210 tales in this book, and some of the more well known of these stories include: Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel & Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin, Rapunzel.... And the list goes on.

These original stories contain undertones that are lost with Disney-like euphemisms and euphemistic adaptations. This also means there are some ghastly contents to children, so be attentive. As well, it is unillustrated, and may be more difficult to relay to children, but any effort will be well worth it, in my opinion. At any rate, it could be good reading for adults who wish to discover the original version of some of the fairy tales they might have heard as a child.

Having been a classroom teacher, a department chair, an academy lead teacher, and a gifted and talented program coordinator during my over twenty-year career in public education, I absolutely love Matt Witten's latest Jacob Burns Mystery--THE KILLING BEE. Jacob is the upstate New Yorker who has finally struck it rich as a writer by peddling an embarrassing script to Hollywood that was made into an even more embarrassing movie. He'd spent decades writing artistic works before his sudden wealth, yet now he doesn't even mind having writer's block. He keeps himself busy solving murders.

Jacob, fortunately, has many homicidal friends. In this fourth series book, Jacob and some fellow parents are attempting to convince the principal of their local elementary school to establish a gifted and talented program. The principal ends up dead, and Jacob realizes he must solve the crime. He is the individual most thoroughly acquainted with this dead principal's society.

Mr. Witten achieves an ideal tone in this light-hearted mystery. I enjoyed the way he handled his various suspects, especially the single-mother initially arrested for the crime. Mr. Witten has spent some time around public education, and he knows the school environment well. He skewers the education bureaucracy with expertise, and his repeated comments about America's obsession with standardized tests are perfectly accurate. Every teacher I know who has read THE KILLING BEE agrees with those views. The various teacher-types and parent-types were fun to watch, as was the odd school board member who had more than his share of hidden secrets.

All in all, I believe THE KILLING BEE is Matt Witten's finest book yet. His plot is first-rate, and his recurring characters are enjoyable as Jacob juggles crime solving with family responsibilities involving a wife and two children. This book could not have been a more enjoyable read.

Witten's latest is another thoroughly enjoyable, intelligently written read. It's a seamless continuation of the series, taking us back to the familiar setting of Saratoga Springs, but with fresh characters and an ever-savvier protagonist. First rate!

Parents will do anything for their kids.

This is what Jacob Burns comes to believe after he and a group of parents attempt to protest the principal's refusal to create a gifted and talented class for their bored children. Upon arriving at the principal's office Jacob finds the principal with his head bashed in by a spelling bee trophy and his wife's friend Laura standing over him.

Not entirely convinced of Laura's innocence but willing to investigate, Jacob and his wife discover that more than one parent and teacher had motives to hate the principal. Risking the wrath of a police chief who hates him, overprotective parents, and a concussion or two, Jacob pursues an investigation to help his wife's friend.

Witten continues his enjoyable Jacob Burns series that features a father who has to balance his investigation with his sons' playtimes. The pace of the mystery moves quickly, and the wit and humor of the story make this an entertaining read. Pick up this mystery whether or not you have kids, as it will not fail to interest and entertain you.

Building a secure Internet infrastructure is akin to building a house. There are a lot of different entities involved, that all must work together to ensure that the edifice is properly constructed. If the building is not properly constructed, even a small wind can topple it.

While a house needs an architect, contractors, plumbers, electricians and much more; networks require similar sets of skills if it is to be deployed in a secure manner. The problem with designing secure Internet sites is that the dynamics of information systems means that the foundation is constantly changing. Just as companies are finishing their migrations, there are new updates to deal with. The threats and vulnerabilities are for the most part increasing quicker than most organizations are able to deal with

For those looking to design their Internet information security infrastructure, Internet Site Security is an excellent title to use as their guide. It is like an architects guide to building secure networks.

The book is quite comprehensive in its coverage of all critical areas of security. It details how to build a secure infrastructure and how to deploy policies to protect it. It covers various technologies such as intrusion detections systems and firewalls, and shows how they are to be effectively deployed.

Then advantage of the book is that it has just the right combination of breath and depth. Topics are covered effectively, and the authors do not waste the reader's time by going into obscure security minutiae or academic threats.

Readers looking for an effective guide to fundamental issues involved with information security and Internet security are well advised to read Internet Site Security. Don't design you Internet site without it.

Collaboratively written by Erik Schetina (CTO for TrustWave Corporation), and TrustWave Corporation senior security engineers Ken Green and Jacob Carlson, Internet Site Security is a much-needed and completely "user friendly" instructional guide to implementing solid and reliable security measures for a personal or professional internet site. Individual chapters provide an informationally useful overview of basic types of security, and address specific issues such as network and application protocols (TCP/IP), operating system and server software issues from Windows NT and 2000 to Linux and Unix, Intrusion-Detection Systems, common security mistakes in internet applications, and much, much more. Internet Site Security is a very highly recommended (if not downright indispensable) resource for surviving in today's era of cyber-crime.

This really is a superb book. The evidence that the authors are hands on types who have implemented what they describe is very apparent, and take it from someone who has been doing security for years, the problems they describe are what you experience in real life. It's a refreshing change from other books which describe the products/technologies as if they were reading a feature list - it's hard to find a book packed with real life experience.

I'd describe it as a 'mid level' book, i.e. if you need detailed knowledge of x509 etc you need a seperate tome - but if you want a fairly detailed overview of the majority of risks affecting your web site, this is the book to choose.

Jacob is a former cafe owner who now works for a railroad station under rule of the Gestapo. He was put in a Jewish ghetto 3 years beforehand, where they may not walk outside after 8 pm, have to wear stars on their clothes, and may not have several items, including a radio. At one point, outside a police station, Jacob hears news that the Russians are in Bezanika, a town 120 km away, and are sure to free their ghetto soon. Rumors fly that Jacob has a contraband radio, and he is asked daily for updates. Realizing that news reports of impending freedom, no matter how shaky the source, is giving his community enough hope to hang on and survive, Jacob manufactures ways to tell plausible lies, even though he is uncomfortable.

The author spent his youth in a ghetto and concentration camp, and his depiction of life in the ghetto, where people starve to death in the streets if they are not shot for some transgression under Nazi rule, is horrifying. Yet he plays the interactions between community members, particularly between Jacob and Kowalski, his oafish friend of 40 years, and Lena, a 9-year-old orphan he adopted after her parents are taken to a camp. It is a touching display of people struggling to form a life when others are trying to beat it, if not kill it, out of them.

"JACOB THE LIAR," by Jurek Becker is a good example of how humane a person can be despite the place and situation that he/she is found. In this case is inside the ghetto, where Jacob Heym, a jew prisoner of the Germans accidentally overheard the news of a German radio saying, "troops succeeded in halting the Bolshevist attack 12 miles from Bezenika." He spread the news with the good intention of bringing hope and faith to the abandoned people there. And to stop the suicides that were committed due to the desperation of no help. Unfortunately, time past and nothing happened until one day someone betrayed them and went with the Germans, who immediately responded to this in search of the imaginary radio. The book is great as the movie, except that imagination plays a big role here so stop wasting time and check it out.

Umm...... How do I find out how many pages it has?!?!?!?!?

Using this book and a good map of Ireland, I found and explored the two possible sights of the tomb of Jeremiah. I had a great time in the effort.

macfaith

This book is very educational. I am not a student of the Bible, but I really love the history and the theories that are written about this time period.

An excellent and insightful work. Capt's invaluable work on the history of the British Monarchy and its connection to King David and the Biblical Tribe of Judah is not only fascinating but probes one's mind and forces people to reconsider what they've been traditionally taught from scripture. I would recommend this wonderful work to any serious Bible student. As a good compliment to reading this book, one should read II Samuel chapter 7 and Psalms chapter 89 (and view how those scriptures are fulfilled in today's Monarchial Throne). It's amazing!!