Cape Hatteras: America's Lighthouse is a treasure to all of us who love what is arguably the most famous lighthouse in the world. The authors should be commended for writing not only a fascinating look into the past and future of this great beacon, but also a damn fine tale of passion, perseverance, intrigue, romance, grand schemes, utter calamities, and vast heroism.

This is an important bit of American history but it is not a dry text. This book is a real page-turner, one that will illuminate your mind as surely as the Hatteras lighthouse on a frightening, dark sea. Like the mariners which once depended on the light to skirt a dangerous coast, after you finish reading this book, you will be grateful for the experience.

Cranford is a town that has maintained that small town feeling over one hundred years after its founding. This book, and its predecessor, shows how Cranford has changed, and how in many ways it has remained unchanged. The Rahway River continues to define much of the town's character. The Victorian downtown looks little different in pictures from the 1920s. Fridlington and Fuhro have captured Cranford through the photos selected in these books. Both old time and new residents will appreciate both collections.

This is a very informative collection of articles covering many aspects of South Asian music. It includes articles about North and South Indian classical traditions, folk traditions, dance, and popular music. There are also many articles about the role of music in society, women in music in South Asia, and South Asian music worldwide. Each region of South Asia is also covered with individual chapters. Many of the musical concepts and structures are exemplified in the accompanying CD; the relevant CD tracks are clearly noted in the text.

Living in Dubai, I have found myself immersed in South Asian culture, and recently started studying carnatic music on the veena, simply because it was here. Lacking all knowledge of the contexts in which the veena is played, I found myself floundering in my studies. The first teachers I worked with here either haven't had enough English or enough music theory studies to explain the music. I searched on the Net for information about carnatic music, but found that most of the information was written by Indians for Indians, using terms that I don't understand or can't make sense of. What makes this book different is that it is written for Western audiences, and the Indian terms are fully explained. As a result, this book has been a tremendous resource for me in explaining the music theory that I was struggling with, as well as the context of the music in Indian society. I've never read an encyclopedia cover to cover before, but once I got started reading this one, I couldn't stop.

With this book Lawrence Grobel has compiled some of his best work. Each interview is insightful, well researched, and above all entertaining. He is never afraid to ask the difficult or controversial questions and his manner seems to elicit honest and revealing answers. For anyone interested in the men and women behind some the 20th century's most prestigious writers, this book is a must.

This book is a treasure; it is a rare sight to see an art book that faithfully reproduces works, some of which I have personally seen. Gary is a consummate watercolor artist, respectful of his medium and subjects; this is beautifully captured by the incredible color photography and the intelligent, inspired comments by Judith Gordon, This book is a treat for anyone who loves flowers and admires artistic talent...I wish I could find the words...

Having had the privilege of studying the course behind this publication first-hand at Exeter, I would recommend the book to any student who seeks a thorough and well-rounded survey of the contemporary debate between science and religion.

Or is it a debate? The authors posit several models of dialogue between these two - usually separated - spheres, and this forms a core feature of this textbook: the opportunity to explore ways in which the two complement and enrich one another.

Therefore as well as being competently yet simply introduced to complex scientific questions (the Big Bang, the origin of life, quantum theory - to name a few), the author allows scope for the reader to see - for himself, and through the eyes of great thinkers, more and less famous - how it is possible to construct a working hypothesis of the inter-relation between God, humanity and the cosmos.

In the later chapters, which are a particularly unique and enjoyable section, we are introduced to the scientifically-influenced theologies of Jay McDaniel's "pelican heaven", Sallie McFague's "embodied God" and Ruth Page's "Web of Life". The reader can enjoy these models, whilst exercising a critical eye, sensitive to the scientific perceptions and phenomena so effectively outlined towards the beginning of the book.

On top of this, other views are outlined, including a section on Islamic theology and creation.

This is a great book for students and all those interested in understanding more of the world about them. It is refreshing to find a theology book which is so world-affirming, without resorting to religious dogmatism: not just a dry textbook, but a competent handbook AND a "choose you own adventure!"

Our new house is nearly complete and we used the book to guide us through the entire process. The book is laid out logically and very well mirrored our experience. The most helpful information came from the chapters informing us of the missteps that can be made before construction even begins, especially from a legal standpoint. Even though we used a reputable builder, we still had several occasions where our sales person and the construction supervisor tried to pull "fast ones" on us.

You can tell the author knows his stuff. The real life examples of other people's mistakes clearly reinforce the reasoning behind the advice he offers.

The only thing lacking was illustrations, but they weren't really necessary. I thought the book served its purpose well and kept our builder honest.

With the excellent blending of original and classic characters Dr. Schichler's American oddity is by all means a masterpiece. The reader will discover actual historical facts about the Erie Canal and One-Cane Topiltzin, while at the same time encountering brilliantly created original characters such as One-Tongue Licking and Two-Feet Walking. The story is further aided by the author's photographs of the Erie Canal and it's surrounding areas. These pictures and the creativity of Dr. Schichler generates a magical kingdom of both fantasy and reality, which causes the story to materialize into a waking dream atmosphere. The deceptive and humoris narrative will keep readers turning pages and marveling at the author's imagination.

Illinois Issues, devoted to Illinois politics, has published its second edition of this collection of sketches of Illinois governors. A colorful and sometimes idealistic lot.

If you have seen the silent film, Nanook of the North, you might recall that moment when the protagonist arrives in his splendid kayak (also the name of George Hitchcock's near legendary literary journal from 1964-1984), he gets out of the boat and then, from within the boat emerge his wife, two or three children and possibly a husky or two -- on that my memory is not clear. And Story Line Press' masterful collection (edited by Robert McDowell, Joseph Bednarik, & Mark Jarmon, with introduction by Phil Levine, "One-Man Boat: The George Hitchcock Reader" accomplishes a similar effect -- out of this collection emerges George the poet, the playright, the actor, the editor, the novelist, the short story stylist, the witness before the HUAC, and on the cover, George, the painter. This selection from a significant body of work should serve as ample introduction to the work of a man, extraordinary by anyone's standards. This collection stands as testimony to a life lived in dedication to ideas about art and the full expression of art as a daily enterprise rather than some caged rarefied entity. I would hope this book becomes required reading for any serious student of late 20th century literature from the West Coast. I'll close with a paraphrase of one of my favorite poems, "Lying Now in the New Grass" -- the poem is an invocation of rest -- it is sensual and surreal. In its final image the "plow of night" passes over the world. I can think of no other way to spend a restful afternoon/early evening than to sit quietly with the magic of this book, a cup or glass of a favorite beverage, resting in the kayak of this book, with the capable hands of a master at the oars, be he Nanook, be he George -- don't let anyone fool you, it only looks like a one man boat -- it is filled with multitudes.