This book points out an all too often ignored point: that arguments over sprawl and transportation are really arguments about race and class, because when government provides roads to accelerate suburban sprawl but does not create transit to reach highway-created suburbs, it essentially freezes the carless poor, elderly and disabled out of employment and civic life.

Some of the essays in this book are a bit dull and bureaucratic--but the best make it worth reading. I especially recommend David Oedel's essay on Macon, where after desegregation the city wrecked its small bus system by investing heavily in suburban areas without bus service. The result: in a city where 14% of the households (mostly African-Americans) don't have cars, bus service stops running at 6ish. After reading this I couldn't help wondering: "have they [the governing elites in places like Macon] no shame?"

This book contains tuitar tablature and music for every song by the legendary bluesman Robert Johnson, who has inspired many blues greats (Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton are two I can think of. "Eric Clapton Unplugged" has two or three Johnson tunes on it!) It covers every detail, including special tunings and capo placements. If you want to play Robert Johnson tunes like they were played by the man himself, you want this book!

Zimbardo and Weber present an up-to-date and well laid out text for the first time psychology student. Introductory Psychology is an incredibly difficult course for both the instructor and the student. The scope of material can be overwhelming to absorb in a single course. Dr.Zimbardo gleans the most important (and pertinent) material and presents it in a well thought out manner. As those of us in the field know, each chapter of an introductory text is a course in itself. How do we impart the most important points in an 18 week semester? Zimbardo facilitates easy reading for the student, allowing the instructor to focus on the "hot-points" in lecture material. A highly recommended text.

A series of short stories that will leave you hungering for more. Top name authors who you never knew could even understand a train, let alone wirte about them - but they all rode them. I only read one of these stories before. The superb surprise, an O. Henry without a surprise ending.

Think of Zen poetry of immediate experience, place it in a northern climate and austere living conditions and you have the poems of Olav Hauge - absolute gems. This should be a must read book for anyone with any interest in international poetry.

I guess I'm one of the little old ladies, but I could not finish this book. All the scatology would appeal to 8-year-old boys, but they are too young for the sexual scenes. I just found this book too stupid to waste my time reading it. It is too bad this review system does not allow for negative stars.

Although the LJB "Cat Who.." books are PG and for children, this parody is not for kids. Besides the detailed pornographic actions of the main character, the way she was murdered is pretty gross.

However, the parody is terrific. The writing is funny. And every aspect of the LJB books are made fun of. For example:
Instead of country town it's in NJ. Wholesome characters are far from that. And the cats are irrelevant when it comes to solving this case. Also, I found a great pun of LJB's style of using common items as murder weapons. Instead of butter knives or fireplace pokers, we have a shaver and dildo!

It's creatively cleaver and fast-paced reading. But it can be disrespectful to serioius LJB fans and even perhaps her family?
To repeat: NOT FOR CHILDREN!!!

My mystery reading group recently chose this title for our discussion. About half the people loathed it; the other half absolutely loved it. I was one of the second group, one who definitely was able to "read and roar." I think the readers who were alarmed by the novel found it "too risqué" and "not enough about LJB", but as the people on my side of the room kept insisting, that was the very point. Kaplow's book takes the polite little world of LJB and completely turns it on its head. Instead of a cute little eccentrics in white-washed little towns, we're given a book-length Eric Bogosian-like screed against the fraudulence of novelists like LJB, but, more specifically, we're given a smart literary parody that begins even before the novel starts. There's a "By the Same Author" page that includes such gems as "The Cat Who Mistook His Wife for a Litterbox." Then, on the copyright page, amid all the tiny legalese, we find: "All of the jokes in this novel were originally rejected by The New Yorker." This is really what the book is about: a sly send-up of books, authors, literary prizes, popular culture, and sexual mores. It's done at high volume and high intensity. It made me cry with laughter. If you're looking for a tame little tasteful send-up of LJB, then be prepared to drop your bifocals and your dentures in alarm. But if you've got a taste for something madder and wilder and smarter, this book is for you. (I particularly recommend you reread "The Maltese Falcon" as the last quarter of this book is a delicious send-up of that novel.)

Having to read this book for a Mysticism class I was appalled at the irresponsible and totally inacurate information slanderously thrown together. This book pastes Dionisus into any form utilizing kindergarden techniques. The author claims to have spoken with Dr. C. G. Jung, but his lack of knowledge suggests strongly that he has only glanced at Jung's collected works. Ecstacy is an insult to any educated person in the ways of psychology, religion, pagan philosophies, inner spirituality and growth. Personally, it should be removed from all bookstores and book outlets as it is a pathetic excuse for writing. In short, do not read this book.

An Essential guide to understanding why our culture is constantly obssessed with seeking fulfillment that we never achieve.Robert A. Johnson makes us aware of why the esctasy we crave is unattainable in the ways we are seeking it and how to attain it. I have reread this book so many times and always am finding new meaning in it. Johnson is an eloquent and thorough. This book will make you think differently about life.

this is a book to be experienced, to be savored, and read,in between the lines, so that you may recognize the god of joy within. i tried to make the book last as long as i could. johnson has a wonderful way of informing the reader of his/her heritage and gently waking them. all his books are excellant.

The first thing you notice is the avant-garde wannabe type setting which distracts from the message. Then you notice there is a ton of "fluff" in the book. Quotes from books written in the 1940s that are supposed to convey what fashion was like back then and stuff like that; I didn't buy this book to find out about the history work fashion through this century.

The book does have some useful information when it starts talking about fitting clothes and finding quality. However, Josh Karlen's "The Indispensable Guide to Classic Men's Clothing" does a superior and more comprehensive job in this department.

The best part of this book is when it starts talking specifics about ensembles. Unfortunately the captions that go along with the pictures often lack details that are necessary for a clueless shopper. If I had a clue I probably wouldn't be looking in this book. What kinds of slacks are those? What color are they? What fabric are they made of? I know that I need to find my own what suits my own style and tastes but give me something to at least start with!

The downside is that this kind of information -- displays of men's clothing ensembles -- can be found in magazines like GQ for a fraction of the cost of this book. If you want to learn more about some of the "theory" of fashion look to another book. If you want more "concrete" examples then leaf through this book at the bookstore...and get a subscription to GQ.

This book boasts the catchy, elegant chic simple layout, with fully accessorized outfits laid out against a white background. The focus is on classic (and expensive), quality clothing (cashmere twin sets, Chanel flats, $300 Hermes scarves)-- but you could copy the ideas using less expensive basics. The idea is to pare down your wardrobe to the essentials, accessorizing the essentials to look polished & perfectly put together. The text is interesting, filled with quotes from movie stars and other famous people, with witty comments about the clothes, what one leans in business school, etc. However, you'll probably be drawn to the photographs and captions the first time through. Only about a third of the book is devoted to female attire, so if you're a woman, looking for advice about women's wardrobe concerns, you might be better served looking elsewhere.

I really like how the Chic Simple books have no models. Looking at super trim men and women could have taken away from the real purpose in these books. While I can't exactly duplicate each outfit at Walmart, I can use these pictures as guides. Each outfit may not be your "style," but you can pick and choose which clothing and colors will make you look your best, and go from there. One day I'll be brave enough to carry the Chic Simple books around with me when I'm shopping!

Dalleck is a third rate historian who has produced a poorly-written, pro-LBJ screed that provides almost new information. Read Robert Caro and learn the truth.

Unlike some other reviewers, I was not disappointed by this sequel to Lone Star Rising. LBJ was so complex, and so was his Presidency. I've read many books on him and often get the impression given by the parable of the elephant and the three blind men: each writer gives a part of the description of the 'elephant' that was Johnson, but no real complete picture. Mr. Dallek comes closer, in my opinion, to representing the complete picture of Johnson and his Presidency, than others. I've always viewed Johnson in the same mold as FDR, in terms of scope of personality and ability to place a personal stamp on his Presidency. Both mean had such great assets and achievements, and both had great shortcomings. The difference that comes to mind immediately is Johnson's lack of confidence in many judgments and life-long lack of self-confidence; this is well-illustrated in this book. Unlike Roosevelt, Johnson lacked the ability to disguise his motives and emotions in an ongoing manner.

Like other reviewers, I only wish there had been greater coverage of Johnson's Vice-Presidential years. I've never read any detailed history of this period in Johnson's life, other than the feuding with the Kennedy clan. There's probably a book here for someone willing to spend the time and effort.

Dallek's writing is much more balanced than the books by Caro, and I think history will prove them of greater value.

Robert Dallek's concluding volume on Lyndon Johnson completes what is to date the definitive biographical account of Johnson's life. Flawed Giant primarily deals with Johnson's Presidential years and is a bit more sober in tone than the lyrical Lone Stare Rising. But Dallek provides a fresh look at the difficult decisions facing a conflicted man with absorbing detail. This is no small feat, as the events of Johnson's life from 1961 to 1973 have been picked apart by biographers, historians and journalist again and again. It is unfortunate that the middlebrow, popular accounts of Johnson's life by Robert Caro have received so much attention. The result has been that serious biography on this subject has not been given it's day in the sun. I should note that Robert Dallek's comments about Mr. Caro have been much kinder to the popular writer than mine. Flawed Giant is a must read for those interested in American history and politics.

It is to bad that someone so capable of telling a good tale could take a dive with such vivid subject matter at his disposal. It is extremely over priced for such a dismal read. Anyone who has purchased the Box set has read pretty much the same info given in this minute pamplet of wash. We need a vision of this man not a paint by numbers acount of times,places and song verses. Then again If you do not know the tale of johnson then this is the book for you. let me also highly recomend Robert palmers book Deep Blues. Also the finest attempt to give an acurate portrayal of such a god is the book LOVE in VAIN by Alan Greenberg...

The recent packaging of the Complete Recordings of Robert Johnson has shown this bluesman to be one of the most influential musicians in American history. He is more popular now than he ever was in his lifetime. It is his life, rather than his legacy, that is the subject of music historian Peter Guralnick's book. Little is know about Johnson's life, but Guralnick brings what little there is to light in a fascinating work that is more like a ghost story than a biography.

The 96 pages of this book are pack full of information about legendary bluesman Robert Johnson. Virtually everything that is known about Mr. Johnson is vividly detailed in this work. Makes for excellent reading.