This is one of the best books I have read.

This book was written from a series of sermons brought by the author on Matthew 5-7. This man, Martin LLoyd-Jones, was truly anointed by God in his delivery and writing on the Beatitudes. The book should be read by all in the modern Charismatic/Pentecostal Church in order to truly understand what God's anointing on a person really is, and not the unmitigated rubbish emanating today from that quarter. It is absolutely brilliant, even after a second or third reading!

What a book! Pick up your Bible and read Matthew chapters 5 through 7, then pick up this book and let God change your life! After reading this book if your life is not changed, you are not listening to that Still Small Voice; you are not hearing the Quiet Knocking on your life's door! Lloyd-Jones fully explains in simple yet complete detail the Beattitudes in particular, and the full body of Jesus' sermon in general (as he does in all his books compiled so far). Read this book, and your spirit will become poor; you will mourn sin, and will feel comfort; you will know how to be meek; you will hunger and thirst for righteousness, and know how to be filled with more; you will know how and why to be merciful, and mercy will come your way; your heart will be purified, and you will see God working in the here and now; you will understand how to make peace; and, because you're "doing the righteousness," persecution WILL come your way!

Read this book, and you just might begin living the life you were called to live when you first became a Christian!

The primary appeal in this book is the photo collection. While the accompanying text throughout is quite interesting, I think most people will buy it for the pictures. And excellent pictures they are.

For buildings that still exist, the authors/editors took brand new photographs specifically for this book. You would be hard pressed to find similar quality photographs anywhere else.

However, if you are interested in an introductory reading on Wright's work, you won't be disappointed. The reading level seems to be geared towards someone who already knows who Wright is, but is not familiar with his lesser known works, or with the details of his life and of architecture. The authors did a splendid job of placing Wright's work in the context of the time and place, and highlighting that which is fundamentally American about both. From the insight on Wrights life and works, you will learn not only about some of the foremost icons of American architecture, but also about American culture itself. The passion the authors have for Wrights work really shows through in every page, both through photographs and text.

I read every single word and closely examined every single photo. I can promise that if you're honestly interested in learning about Wright's work, as well as his place in history and culture, you will not be sorry you bought this book.

I have been a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture for over 30 years, and have seen many of his finest buildings. No book that I have seen in those years is as good as this one for explaining his life, the development of his architectural style, providing the details of his best work, and showing stunning photographs of exteriors, interiors, and views. If you only buy one book about Mr. Wright, I suggest this one. I have it with me tonight as I begin a one week pilgrimage to his finest work in the midwest. Each night, I will reread the sections about the works that I will be seeing the next day.

The book would be worth buying, just for the photography alone. For those buildings that still exist, brand new color images were made. These are so magnificently reproduced that they actually exceed the appearances of the originals! I don't know of another book of architectural photography where I could make the same statement. It is as though you are seeing the scenes in Wright's eye, as the pure forms that he was seeking to reproduce. Also, you get lots of images. For example, the home and studio in Oak Park, Illinois section displays 10 large color photographs. Naturally, for the buildings that do not still exist, you have only historical photographs, some in black and white. But these are very fine, as well.

Most books with wonderful photographs usually have limited essays. Masterworks is the happy exception. The essays are clear, thoughtful, and extensive. Yet they tie together to tell the story of Mr. Wright's development. So, they are more like chapters in a book rather than stand-alone essays that such books usually inspire. I was particularly pleased with the information about the materials and building methods that Mr. Wright experimented with and used at various stages of his career.

As wonderful as the photographs and essays are, what made the book special for me were the many draft sketches and conceptual diagrams in Mr. Wright's own hand. To see the transition from first sketch to final details was wonderful.

If you know Mr. Wright's work, you will be aware that he often designed his own furniture and sculptures for the buildings, and had craftsmen execute them. You will see many fine examples in the book of these details presented in their most dramatic ways.

The book also has good balance. Many books about Mr. Wright favor his homes, or his famous works, or his public buildings. This one creates a balance over his entire career of all his work. So you get a decent amount about his Usonia period as well as his Prairie years.

Here are the works that are covered in the book: Home and studio in Oak Park, Illinois; William H. Winslow House, River Forest, Illinois; Susan Lawrence Dana House, Springfield, Illinois; Arthur Heurtley House, Oak Park, Illinois; Ward W. Willits House, Highland Park, Illinois; Larkin Company Administrative Buidling, Buffalo, New York; Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois; E.E. Boynton House, Rochester, New York; Avery Coonley House, Riverside, Illinois; Meyer May House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Frederick C. Robie House, Chicago, Illinois; Midway Gardens, Chicago, Illinois; Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, Japan; F.C. Bogk House, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Aline Barnsdall House, Los Angeles, California; John Storer House, Hollywood, California; Paul R. and Jean S. Hanna House, Stanford, California; Fallingwater, Mill Run, Pennsylvania; Herbert Jacobs House, Madison, Wisconsin; S.C. Johnson & Son Administrative Building, Racine, Wisconsin; Herbert F. Johnson House, Wind Point, Wisconsin; C. Leigh Stevens House, Yemassee, South Carolina; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York City; Arnold Friedman House, Pecos, New Mexico; Herman T. Mossberg House, South Bend, Indiana; Kenneth Laurent House, Rockford, Illinois; Unitarian Church, Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin; David Wright House, Phoenix, Arizona; William Palmer House, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Isadore J. Zimmerman House, Manchester, New Hampshire; H.C. Price Company Tower, Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Harold Price, Sr. House, Paradise Valley, Arizona; Gerald B. Tonkens House, Amberley Village, Ohio; Beth Sholom Synagogue, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania; Don M. Stromquist House, Bountiful, Utah; Marin County Civic Center, San Rafael, California; Taliesin III, Spring Green, Wisconsin; and Taliesin West, Scottsdale, Arizona.

After you finish enjoying this book the first time, ask yourself what has been Mr. Wright's lasting impact on America. How has his work affected your life? How will it affect your grandchildren's lives?

Turn an optimistic view of people living in natural harmony into reality!

A great reference and must have for anyone interested in Wright. Detailed pictures and text.

My son and I have enjoyed reading this book together since he was born. He loves finding Freckles on the page. The illustrations are great with bright colors that hold his attention. The story is classic and softly teaches an important lesson. It is the perfect book to share together.

What a great book. The message is very good for kids and adults- to be principle-centered! Freckles the puppy gets lost and then takes up company with some wild and mean dogs. Freckles hangs out with them and has a sense of belonging to the group until he realizes the mean and unjust things the dogs are doing to the other forest animals. He then must choose between remaining with the wild dog "family" (thereby ignoring his conscience) or take a stand for just principles, risking being cast out of the pack to be alone in the woods again. Freckles ends up listening to his conscience and doing the right thing, but is cast out of the pack. Although he has been rejected by his own species for standing up for what is right, Freckles is embraced by the other forest animals and ends up with more friends than he could ever imagine.

The illustration by David Stanley is totally amazing. I can stare at the pictures all day. The old rusty pickup truck riding down the country road with all the puppies bouncing in it is a rich and dynamic scene. When I stare at it, as when I stare at the other frames, I feel more like I am watching an IMAX movie than simply looking at a 2-dimensional page. The expressions and personalities of all the characters in the book are magnificently represented with clarity and color. It is a visual feast. I enjoy reading it to my two-year-old daughter but find myself lost in staring at each page far too long to keep her attention.

My son and I both have fun reading Freckles. Although at 14 months he doesn't understand the lessons (and there are numerous lessons to be learned), he really enjoys the illustrations and trying to pick out the different Wild Dog characters. We both enjoy trying to make the sounds associated with all the different characters. The author hints at subsequent stories, and we are anxiously awaiting Freckles' future adventures.

Since losing David Angell in the September 11th tragedy, I am so happy to have a copy of this book. Dave was a great guy, and I miss him.

This book is great because it is an original! You have the original storylines and no additions from other authors. You learn how such a series is made and how important the actors are to bring the action to live.

This book is a perfect mechanism for catching up on the early years of Frasier or to relive those wonderful moments. I started watching Frasier in season 6 and this book has been a constant companion to fill the gaps and relive the moments I loved from the episodes I have caught up on. Having this book WILL lift your IQ!!

The Doctor at his best! This is a warm and encouraging book for preachers. Dr. Lloyd-Jones delivered these lectures at Westminister Seminary in the sixties (I think), but they are still relelvant today for the preacher that is serious about his calling. Lloyd-Jones defends the primacy of preaching, showing that there is not any substitute for it. He delves into the preparation, shape, and form of the sermon and hits on such issues as humor, invitations, and the congregation. Best of all is the last chapter on "Demonstration of the Spirit and of the Power" which deals with the sacred anointing of the Holy Spirit in preaching. I am a preacher and if I could have only one book on preaching, this would probably be the one!

I have been a pastor of a Presbyterian churches for 25 years and weekly preaching is my life's work. Others may tell you more about the 'how' of constructing a sermon from a Bible text. However, no one will tell you more about what the task of preaching really is than Lloyd-Jones, the finest English language preacher of the 20th century, without a doubt. Yes, he is 'old school'; but it is his kind of preaching that brings the power of the gospel to bear on people to truly change them -- not all the dramatic sideshow tricks of today's 'entertainment' churches. When we hear preaching again from hundreds of pulpits like that of Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the church will leap forward by the grace of God, into a new reformation! I tell younger pastors to read this once a year, until it becomes part of them.

Covers the topic of preaching in a systematic and comprehensive manner. The author sets up his arguments on solid biblical reasonings and illustrates them with appropriate real-life examples. Fervent love for God and long experience are stamped on every page. Never fails to convince - the only danger being it might be too convincing. Keep in mind that other viewpoints might be valid as the author also admits at the beginning of the book.

After twice reading this second volume of Murray's wonderful biography on Martyn Lloyd-Jones, words still fail to describe how much it has meant to me. Lloyd-Jones was perhaps the greatest preacher of the 20th century, leaving a legacy worthy of the eight hundred pages in this book! He restored expository preaching to the modern pulpit, recovered the theology of the Reformation for a new generation, fostered a hunger for the reviving work of the Holy Spirit, revived an interest in historical Evangelical literature, and labored for true unity among Evangelicals. All of this and more is documented in this very readable and instructive book. Pure delight!

I bought this book (together with vol 1)almost 8 years ago & I remembered that I literally devoured the book. He was one the Christian who made greatest contribution in my spiritual life.

Murray portrays him as the great man of God he was & the many contributions he has made to Christendom. No one can read this biography without gaining some benefit. Although the book is bulky, it never seem the case to those who are acquainted with the subject.

Now I am going for round 2 of this book which should attest to the value I have with regard to this book.

A giant of our times such as Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones surely merits a two-volume appreciation as magnificent as that which Iain Murray has penned. The factual details recounted in this biography are not only of the most crucial significance in understanding evangelicalism in the twentieth century; but they make compelling reading. At the same time, the character of the man shines through in every page. Reading the account of the final few days of his life, I almst felt as though I were losing a dearly-beloved grandfather. But the pages of this book do not speak so much of the activity of man as of the activity of God, who raises up leaders in every generation. Those who sense a true spiritual calling into the ministry should most certainly read and reread this account of a preacher who should be reckoned as a worthy successor to George Whitefield and Charles Haddon Spurgeon; the greatest British preacher of the twentieth century.

The book is very well written, and explains the concepts very carefully.

A very important characteristic is that the authors strive not only for rigor, but also for interpretation. Most topics are very well connected with a very clear style.

Excellent book on the subject. A must have.

The chapters on numerical stability of algorithms and conditioning of numerical problems are excellent. While the focus is of course linear algebra, these principles can be readily extended to all computational mathematics. If you regularly use computational methods and have not yet studied elementary error analysis, this book may revolutionize how you perceive numerical problems.

This book should be required reading for anyone interested in computational numerics, especially those who are starting in the field. The authors concentrate on the few fundamental topics that underlie and unite the subject. The presentation, while rigorous, is simple, clear and friendly. The authors follow a logical thread and eliminate unnecessary and disorienting aspects that plague other books on the subject. It is easy to pick up the book, read several chapters at a stretch without looking up, and come away with new insights. Unquestionably the most valuable book I have read to date on the subject.

Every one of the twenty-one chapters of this work contains solid, biblical teaching on finding fulfillment in God. His purpose for our lives is not to be downcast and depressed, but to experience joy in Him. I can't tell you how much I have gained from reading this book. Lloyd-Jones very capably describes the freedoms that are ours in the Christian life when we think and act biblically. Don't miss this one.

In this book based on the sermons of Martyn Lloyd-Jones, depression is analyzed with sensitivity and insight into the sins and attitudes that cause it. Without completely throwing aside modern psychology, the author delves into human nature and why Christians in particular struggle with depression. He discusses the role of faith, spiritual disciplines, guilt, bitterness, and more.

Pastors should read this book in order to understand and counsel their congregants, and all Christians should read it in order to counsel themselves and edify others.

About the only thing I don't like about this book is the title. Perhaps the rise of counseling and psychoanalysis has given "depression" an overly narrow meaning. The book is really about living the Christian life and what obstacles get in the way of experiencing the joy of a relationship with God that historical Christianity supposedly promotes. Like most of Lloyd-Jones's books this is a collection of sermons and his expository preaching is second to none. Lloyd-Jones developes a theme, finds pertinent biblical passages to support his doctrine, developes them with a careful reading of the text and shows how the central passages is supported by other Biblical examples. A great gift for new Christians or resource for maturing Christians who feel themselves falling into the rut of stale religion instead of dynamic faith, this book captures the power and authority of great preaching at its very best

For those of you who have the Are You Being Served? book by Adrian Rigelsford--are you free? For those of you who don't, are you also free? Well, gather around everybody, and that also includes special Grace Brothers board members.

This 25th anniversary book by Richard Webber with the two co-creators of the show, Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft, is basically an update of the previous book, but in a slightly different format. The story-by-story synopses are there, but instead of the * to **** ratings, there are memorable dialogue bits, that are always good for a laugh or two.

New material: familiar BBC performers who made guest appearances (mostly as hapless customers) on the show, with a short bio on each one. However, why was Gorden Kaye, who later starred in Lloyd and Croft's French Resistance comedy, 'Allo 'Allo, excluded from this section? Also, an episode-by-episode list of guest appearances.

What really perks me are younger photographs of the stars. They are recognizable but it's interesting to see how they looked before they joined Grace Brothers. And Lloyd and Croft's personal observations on the stars are filled with the fondest and highest respect.

There are bios on some of the minor but regular performers, such as Vivienne Johnson (Mr. Grace's nurse), Milo Sperber (Mr. Grossman) and Benny Lee (Mr. Klein), as well as those in Grace And Favour.

There are some updates. Inbetween books, Arthur English, who played Mr. Harman the packing department head, died in 1995, as did Billy Burden (Mr. Moulterd), in 1994.
However, the icing on the cake is the list of hot dolly bird secretaries who appeared throughout the season. My favorites: Penny Irving, the luscious redhead who appeared during the show's peak era, Louise Burton, and the Barbie Doll Candy Davis, who now got a Master's degree and is teaching. Wow, brain and beauty! How rare! Another hottie, Debbie Linden, sadly died in 1997.

My recommendation: get this AFTER the Adrian Rigelsford book to get the optimal enjoying effect. You'll be right as rain then.

This lovely and indeed comprehensive tribute book commences with an introduction by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft (co-writers of the series) and a foreword by Lloyd's ex-wife (and two-time guest), Joanna Lumley, and it is sure to be treasured by fans of this entertaining British comedy.

What makes this book so enjoyable is the amount of participation author Richard Webber has received from everyone involved in the production (from writers, directors, costume designers, etc., to the actors themselves), and the book is filled with their many anecdotes. In the case of deceased actors Harold Bennett (Young Mr. Grace) and Arthur Brough (Mr. Grainger), assistance has been provided by their son and daughter, respectively.

The book includes a detailed history of the series--how it came about, how the actors were chosen, why certain actors left the show, how certain effects were achieved, and so on. Also included are chapters on the stage show, the movie, the 90's sequel (Grace and Favour also known as Are You Being Served? Again!) and a look at the success of the show (and its US and Aussie spinoffs) abroad.

My favourite parts are the four-page bios of the original cast, which includes b/w and sepia photos of the actors at various ages and stages in their careers. (A priceless inclusion are the childhood photos of most of these actors). This is followed by one-half- to one-page bios of "other memorable characters"--the maintenance men, the replacements for Mr. Grainger and Mr. Lucas, Old Mr. Grace, the nurse, and the canteen manageress. There are separate chapters for the secretaries and the lift girls with brief quarter-page bios and tiny b/w photos of each. Finally, there is a chapter devoted to "familiar faces" which contains brief quarter-page bios & tiny b/w photos of every actor to have appeared as a guest on the show.

The book also includes a complete episode guide, often with a particularly memorable snippet of dialogue from the episode being summarized or a "memory" from one of the cast of crew. An episode guide and brief quarter-page bios are also provided for Grace and Favour. Finally, there is a detailed index.

The book is a 10" x 7 3/4" 176-page hardcover printed on thick, good-quality paper with a matte finish, and it contains many b/w and colour photos throughout.

In conclusion, this is an attractive, well-researched, well-written, comprehensive and thoroughly enjoyable look back at one of Britain's most popular comedies and at the cast and crew who made it so memorable. Very highly recommended!

This is a wonderful book with great insight and very rare photos of one of the best shows on PBS!

"Hack Proofing Your Wireless Network" (HPYWN) weighs in at 512 pages, but it could easily be half that size. While the book contains good information, its internal redundancy and inclusion of security advice not specific to wireless adds unnecessary pages. I recommend security professionals skim HPYWN for the material they need, and skip the generic network protection advice.

Unlike the attack-minded "Hack Proofing Your Network, 2nd Ed", HPYWN is indeed a defensive-oriented book. It offers strong overviews of widely deployed wireless technologies. These include modern cellular networks and wireless area networks created by 802.11, Bluetooth, and HomeRF. HPYWN offers sound advice on making the best use of available wireless defensive mechanisms, despite acknowledging that Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) is "broken." An overview of popular wireless assessment tools like Netstumbler is helpful although not especially thorough...

Of the book's nine chapters, chapters 2 (A Security Primer, 50 pages) and 8 (Auditing, 43 pages) don't add anything original to the current body of published security books. Furthermore, many wireless security topics are discussed repeatedly. For example, I didn't need to read in chapters 1, 4, 5, and 6 that WEP's insecurities stem from weak Initialization Vectors. Other recommendations on changing default configurations, enabling logging, and so on also appear in multiple sections. The editor should have consolidated this information to avoid wasting the reader's time.

Overall, Syngress should be credited for getting into the wireless game with this book. I would have preferred to see protocol decodes, thorough documentation and usage examples for wireless assessment tools, and in-depth VPN deployment guidance. Should the second edition of HPYWN contain this information, it will justify its current page count.

Obviously, with WLANs the big issue now is security. If you are looking for a good introduction to the topic or work with WLANs already and need to learn about security, then this is a good place to start. This book lays a good foundation of knowledge and then is an interesting an easy read on the topic. The authors certainly demonstrate that they know their business. In a total of nine chapters they will take you through the majority of what you would need to know to keep your WLAN safe from the wardrivers. In addition to this, if you are thinking of going for any of the WLAN security certifications, this book will take you a long way down that road as well. Once again, another good publication from Syngress!

A good book to keep in reach whether you're looking for a refresher, or to learn new processes, techniques, etc. I've got some experience with wireless (although not a guru), and I learned some new stuff... A good book written by authors with obvious wireless experience.