dang. I dunno what else to say about this book. This is the most amazing, beautiful thing I've ever read. The book was written for children, but it is certainly something anyone can appreciate. It has a simple, charming, beautiful story, illustrated with some of the most amazing artwork I've seen in a book. A 1800's professor wishes to prove to his colleagues that mythology and imaginary things are important. So he and his two daughters set off for this fantasy land aboard the ship "Basset" who's motto is "Credendo Vives" by believing, one sees. As the story unfolds, the reader learns an unforgettable lesson about faith.

James Christensen is my favorite artist, and Voyage of the Basset does a wonderful job of showcasing his art. He does the best fantasy art I have seen, especially faries and mermaids. The story is not captivating, but it is an easy, enjoyable read. I think it is perfect to read to young children. Actually, it is a priceless book for a child to have, it would be completely magical. However, for adults, it is still an amazing book, one that you can proudly keep on your table top to show off to guests. Every single painting in this book is filled with wonderful detail, color, imagination, and life. For anyone who loves fairy tales and mythical creatures, do not pass up this treasure. You will love it from cover to cover. It is pure magic!

If you are like me and enjoy fantasy books, you will love "The Voyage of the Basset" by James C. Christensen, Renwich St. James and Alan Dean Foster. This book will capture your imagination and make you believe you are in the story. This is one of my favorite books because of the adventures it holds.
Imagine you and your family are taking a walk and a little boat with six dwarfs and who-knows-how-many Gremlins on it, is docked right in front of you. The dwarfs invite you aboard and take you on a magical journey of incredible adventures. This is what happened to Professor Asiling and his two daughters Miranda and Cassandra.
I think that "The Voyage of the Basset" is an incredible story. In my opinion, this book takes the best qualities of fiction, which are mythology, fantasy, adventure and imagination and then combines them into the best book I have ever read! And I have read at least 1,000 books. I believe that "The Voyage of the Basset" will capture the hearts and imaginations of children everywhere.

Are you a mama's girl or daddy's boy who wonders how others get along with THEIR parents? Do you ever wonder how kids could be so close to their parents when you can't stand yours? All of these questions could be answered by reading the book, "Ramona and Her Mother", by Beverly Cleary. The book is about a young girl named Ramona who has two very hard working parents. Although Ramona knows her parents work hard to support their family, there are times where she feels left out. She sometimes thinks that her parents pay more attention to her sister Beezus and ramona feels she should get the most attention because she's the baby in the family. Ramona wishes that one day her mom could just stay home from work and spend time with her. She also wishes peopple would tell her she's a mama's girl just like they tell her friend. Cleary has written many books including, "Ramona the Brave," "Ramona Quimby, Age 8," "Socks," and other books that young readers have been attracted to. her writing, though, can be for anybody to read. it is very easy to make connections with this book, but you have to think each scene out throughly and think about its actual meaning or purpose. Beverly clery's books remind me of Ann M. Martin, a populare author of "The Babysitters Club" series. they both show great meaning when conducting a scene. So, if you ever wonder about things that relate to you and your parents, this is the book for you

...If you like humorous but affectionate books you'll be sure to enjoy Ramona and her Mother by Beverly Cleary. This fun packed story is about a eight year old girl named Ramona Quimbly who is having some problems with her family. Ramona is starting to feel left out between her mother and older sister Beezus since they've been spending a lot of time together. Everyone is ignoring her including her best friend and her mother. This book is terrific it makes you laugh and makes you think about life this book has a nice touch. This book has a great message it tells you that your parents will always love you and don't ever think that they don't. At the end Ramona is packing for a trip to run away. She thinks that her family won't care if she goes away. But,it is up to you to find out what happens in the end...Have fun reading the book!

I think Beverly Cleary is a great author. I think Ramona and Her Mother is one of her best books yet! This book is about a little girl who is a challenge to her mother because she does silly and meaningless things when she doesn't get her way. She learns how to get things she needs on her own. If you like to laugh a lot, you'll love this book! Ramona is very weird and annoying. She has temper tantrums when she doesn't get her way. Ramona reminds me of my little brother because they're both really weird and annoying! My favorite parts are when Ramona squirts out a whole tube of toothpaste and when Howie and Ramona get covered in ink! I love this book!

Because I enjoy medical thrillers, I decided to see what newcomer Stuart Rice had to offer. I was blown away by the intricate plot and the depth of the characters. Molly could be any person at any time facing the great monolith of managed care. At a time when our nation is considering moving toward more managed care in health care, this book gives the reader an inside look at the mechanisms of managed care.

I love to read and discover new authors. I wasn't disappointed by Stuart Rice's first novel. In fact, his is a career I expect to follow and enjoy for many years to come. I can't wait to read his next one--Covenant with Eternity.

A Three Five-StaR-rating....ER Riveting, OR Ratcheting, doctoR Reviving, HMO Racketing, gReed Retching, health-caRe Revolting, blood Rushing, action Rousing, lawyeR Rivaling, couRtRoom Rattling, tRuth Riddling, stoRyline Raving, attention Reeling, ReadeR Reveling and finally....FRagile X syndRome Refuting! A humbling lesson for legal and medical ethics. Dr. Rice, I presume? Or perhaps, CEO Rice? Or possibly, Atty. Rice?....ah yes, the writer portrays a young woman victimized and nearly devoured by a health maintenance organization we normally trust today, yet so sinister and profound to conspire a wave of future "cleansings" targeted at the care dependent. With the support of a small troupe of various skills, this story gives the famous chronicle in the Old Testament a new angle of significance. It's not the pebble....it's the sling!

I think Fragile X is an awesome piece of work. The description of the "business" of managed care is very enlightening. The frightening practices of denying claims, accumulating market share, physician incentives and cutbacks to improve profit margins are presented candidly. The plot thickens with an adequate mixture of religion, politics and relationships as the story unravels amid the legal consequence. The characters are realistic and identifiable. Molly is the perfect "Plain Jane" heroine. The computer whiz (Reggie) seems like the next door neighbor's rambunctious teenager. We all wish for a few more humanitarian, rebellious Dr. Colder's in this world. The novelist, Mr. Rice, writes with the medical insightfullness of Robin Cook, the riveting suspense of John Grisham and the Midwestern flair of Tami Hoag. I predict for him a bright future in the literary world.

I was hooked from the introduction! I knew right away that Alan Weiss is a no-nonsense, let's get down to business, kind of guy. Everything from establishing your value to the client, to distinguishing between your client and your buyer - perhaps one of the biggest factors leading to my current level of success - to simply figuring out what type of speaker you already are. Alan has made sure that we - I'm a Corporate Entertainer / Speaker - rememebr that Professional Speaking is first and fore most, a business. This book can be valuable to anyone who is self employed or at least thinks that way. If it's not on your shelf it should be in your hands!

Alan Weiss tells it like it is. If you want to learn from one of the best...read EVERYTHING Alan Weiss writes! Alan's insights and experience are second to none. I personally own just about every book Alan Weiss has written. He is not only a consultant's consultant, but he is also a gifted writer as well.

Alan Weiss's advice, insights and knowledge will take years off your learning curve. This book is a must for your library.

Lenny Laskowski, Author of:
"10 Days to More Confident Public Speaking" (Warner Books)

I've been a professional speaker for 18 years and I am often asked for advice by new speakers. From now on, I will simply say "Read Alan Weiss". But it's not just for beginners. This is without question the best book I've ever seen on the topic of professional speaking.

This is a nice addition to the currently available literature on the Apollo program. For those who are unfamiliar with Alan Bean's work, it is more impressionistic, rather than focusing on complete, detailed accuracy. Those who watched "From the Earth to the Moon" and expect the same kind of art may be disappointed. However, Bean's work adds another layer to the basic photographs we've already seen, incorporating the sense of grandeur and "magnificent desolation" that the astronauts were able to experience. Chaikin's text does not add anything that was not already covered in his book, so don't purchase this text to find out new facts about Apollo. DO purchase this book for the paintings. It makes you want to own a Bean original!

I have read all of the Apollo astronauts' accounts of their journeys, and this book adds something different. Alan Bean gives a unique view of the United States' greatest adventure. His paintings renewed my excitement for our space program. The narratives that go with the paintings are genuine and speak to every American. This book will inspire young people to be proud of our space achievements--a quality that both the news media and our politicians sorely lack these days. Bean's love of the space program is displayed by the colors and settings of his works. Many times, Bean reminds us that Apollo was an act of all of America, not just the astronauts. From a space enthusiast's point of view, we need more books like this!

With the descent of the lunar lander Intrepid, Apollo 12 astronaut Bean became the fourth man to walk on the moon. Since his retirement from NASA in 1981, Bean has devoted himself to his realist paintings; this handsome volume allows him to display both his artistic skills and his orbital experience, reproducing dozens of Bean's paintings of lunar surfaces, moonwalks, astronaut gear and so on, alongside a blow-by-blow narrative of Apollo 12, which Chaikin (The National Air and Space Museum Book of Aviation and Space Flight) has written very much from Bean's perspective. Chaikin and Bean describe the thrills and setbacks on the latter's path from naval aviator to astronaut, his first view of the blue-and-white Earth from 293,000 miles and the technical problems of making sure an American flag stays up on the moon. Final chapters track Bean's adventures with the paint and canvas he took up in 1974 ("Flying skills are so much like painting skills, it's amazing"), the exploits and close calls of other astronauts and Bean's hopes for his art and for space exploration. Short paragraphs in which Bean explains his pictures' subjects and techniques alternate with the longer segments of narrative; this format can make the whole book seem scattered, though the images, and the anecdotes, retain undeniable power. The meticulously detailed paintings themselves add warmth and a mid-19th-century softness to the photos and equipment on which many of them are based.

I read this book in spanish years ago when I was a bachelor... I laughed soooo much my family thought I was crazy... If I was going to recommend one book for out loud laughter this is the one. I've haven't found a book this much fun in years .... READ IT you will love it.

This book is absolutely hilarious! I'm a big fan of PJ's, so how did I miss this little gem until now? Anyway, this book had me literally LOL (Laughing Out Loud) as I read it in my own bachelor apartment. PJ has captured the essence of bachelordom, namely, we are all basically mischievous boys at heart who love chaos and disorder. PJ on cooking - "If you think of it as setting fire to things and making a mess, it's fun". His recipes alone will leave you in stitches. And he provides all sorts of ready excuses for putting off anything related to cleaning or keeping up one's residence. This especially rang true as I surveyed my own humble abode and thought "You know, I kinda LIKE having all that clutter on the floor, it makes the place looked lived in." This book is simply required reading for anyone who's experienced the joys of sharing an off campus apartment with two other complete slobs, where beer cans and empty pizza boxes are the primary forms of interior decoration. Let's just say it's a pleasant trip down memory lane for any healthy, red blooded American male, and should get 6 out of 5 stars if such a thing were possible!

I've been on a tear of P.J. O'Rourke's books lately, starting with Republican Party Reptile and so forth. This is by far one of P.J.'s best. I'm on the other side of the coin politically (fairly liberal) myself, but P.J. usually spares no one, and I admire that (Rush and his wacko friends could learn a thing or two).

This book is just about how to get by if you're a bachelor. It's incredibly funny for the most part (the cooking sections should not be read if you've just ate!). This is a fantastic little book, very helpful if you plan to live like a slob or like a typical college freshman.

This book covers all major areas of modern food preparation and practice, albeit from an American perspective. One of the strengths of "Techniques from Expert Chefs" is why you do things, as well as how. The recipes form practical illustrations of each key technique and provide inspiration for other dishes. The descriptions of ingredients and typical usage are one of the most complete that I have seen in a book of this size.

As a collector of culinary texts, I can say that this is one of the better books that I have seen. Labensky and Hause are to be commended.

This is a wonderful book. It's well illustrated and full of helpful information. If you are looking for a recipe filled cookbook I wouldn't suggest this title. If you're looking for a book that will improve your cooking skills this is one of the best I've seen.

I cook to relax and I love food. There is nothing I prefer more than making stock and smelling it through the house. I like to experiment, but I stick to the classics. This book was not written for me. It is a textbook for American professionals, and has quantities to match. I am an Australian amateur. But I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone who already loves to cook. It is not for beginners. But if you are sick of endless recipes and cookbooks which concentrate on graphics and photography, this is for you. This book is incredibly detailed, and wonderful to read. You will never cook everything in this book. But you will learn from everything that you read in it.

For most of the past century, there have been two schools of thought about Hitler and Stalin. One states that Stalin wasn't really so bad, because he fought the Fascists; the other insists that Hitler wasn't really so bad, because he fought the Communists. Alan Bullock leaves both viewpoints in the dustheap of history, where they belong. Both Hitler and Stalin came as close to pure evil as human beings ever get; both stood for the utter repression of the human spirit and the annihilation of anyone who might possibly be suspected of standing in their way. Bullock demonstrates this in exhaustive, but never exhausting, detail. More people should read this book, if only to be cured forever of any temptation to support any form of totalitarianism, any time, anywhere.

What is most fascinating about this novel dual biographical approach toward understanding both Hitler and Stalin is the startling degree to which such an unorthodox approach illuminates one's understanding not only of their remarkable similarities, but also their philosophical, tactical, and personal differences. This truly is a fascinating and absorbing book, and it is well enough written that the narrative seems to spin along on its own strength, and we find ourselves captivated by the degree to which these two seem star-crossed in terms of their destinies. As Bullock deftly illustrates, the main differences between the two dictators were found in their personalities. Yet, even after all these crucial differences in both personal style and substance are considered, the degree to which they were similar is both remarkable and frightening to comprehend.

Stalin was a creature of bureaucracy, the ultimate insider, someone who knew how to use the organization bonding the Communist Party together for his own rise to prominence and power, an increasingly clever, adroit, and masterful practitioner of power politics. He was nothing if not careful, cautious, deliberate, and shrewd. Hitler, on the other hand, was a gambler, a masterful politician, a bold, easily bored, and endlessly distracted dreamer whose natural ability to charm, captivate, and enchant helped him to rise by extraordinary means. In many ways, these men came to prominence in quite different ways; Stalin, by mastering the art of bureaucratic manipulation and quietly assuming key roles within the organization that gave him friendships, alliances, and information that he used masterfully to rise through the ranks of the faithful, and Hitler, the manic-depressive natural leader whose charismatic popular appeal and desperate, authoritarian, and often violent measures were used to gain political power through extraordinary means.

Yet Bullock shows how similar both men were in terms of the way they used their power once established to execute their national responsibilities, and in the way they ruthlessly pursued their goals without mercy, remorse or any concern for others who suffered for their sake. Both used extralegal means to maintain position, both cruelly purged potential rivals through purges or political overthrows. Both bordered on being psychotic; Hitler coming close to being declared certifiably insane, and Stalin by having all the symptoms of classic paranoia. Certainly both had personal histories that can most kindly be described as bizarre in terms of the ways in which they treated those close to them as well as the populace in general. Both also seemed convinced of their own central and unique role in terms of their country's destiny, and indeed each identified his own importance in terms of succeeding in accomplishing that historical mission. Also, both were guilty of massive crimes against humanity, both against the opposing forces they captured and their own subjects. Hitler persecuted German citizens who were Jewish, Gypsies, or otherwise "undesirables", while Stalin persecuted Ukrainians in general and peasant farmers in particular, not to mention the systematic purges of thousands of Army, Navy, and Air Force officers he or his cronies suspected of potential disloyalty.

This is a wonderful book in terms of its insights, unusual research sources, and provocative speculations regarding each of these two quite unique historical figures. The narrative carries itself in an entertaining, edifying, and comprehensible fashion, and his use of photographs and maps serves the text well. All in all, I would have to describe this book as a must-read for anyone seriously interested in how the personalities and characteristics of these two key leaders in 20th century history figured into the unholy calculus of madness and mayhem, otherwise referred to as World War Two. I highly recommend it. Enjoy!

It is difficult to describe Alan Bullock's fantastic dual-biography of Hitler and Stalin, and others have done much better here than I could. Allow me to add their voices to theirs in praise of this work. Bullock not only manages to convey the terrible sweep of history of the first half of the 20th Century and the impact of these two monsters of history, but does so in a very readable style. I marvel that a book of nearly 1000 pages, many of them filled with either terrible stories of oppression and horror, or else mindnumbing (but critical) economic statistics, can hold one's interest enough from start to finish. Highly recommended.

"Winnie the Pooh" and "House on Pooh Corner" were two of my favorite books growing up. When I came across this 75th boxed anniversary edition, I just had the get it. Keep in mind, this is just the same great stories in new packages. "Winnie the Pooh" has gold trimmed pages and "House on Pooh Corner" is trimmed with silver. I recommend this to anyone who hopes to pass on the love of the original Winnie the Pooh characters to any young ones in their lives. I know I definitely will.

I think this book suitable for everyone not only for child but adult also can read it. My friend and I love this book and try to collect the whole of Pooh's series. But I think .. The house at the Pooh corner also lovely while The Tao of Pooh was very difficult to understand for child. However, I love it!!

I recieved this book (and its companion, the color edition of "The House At Pooh Corner") as a gift. I cannot speak more highly of them both. Unlike the editor at Horn, who found that the colorization detracted from the illustrations, I find exactly the opposite -- that the color lends depth and detail to the drawings, which are completely untouched otherwise.

The paper is crisp, semi-glossy, and brilliant white; the cover and page edges are guilded; the typeface is sharp and crystal-clear; and the full-color endpapers are truly magnificent.

In all and every way this is a truly magnificent and sumptuous edition -- with perhaps the single exception of price. And even then, with such a marvelous work, that is to be expected!

Neander-thin makes sense. Most other books and theories on nutrition take a more high-tech approach and get really bogged down with "scientific" details, making them extremely tedious and boring. This book is a pleasure to read. I especially like the excellant narrative at the beginning about the history of dieting and how we have come to wrongly believe that complex carbohydrates are healthy. Since first reading this book over a year ago, I have never been sick. Not once. I've had no colds, no flu, virtually no allergy symptoms and no more arthritis. I believe that if everyone read this book, there would be a lot of doctors out of work.

I decided to check out the Neanderthin book after a long plateau while following the Protein Power diet. I had lost 64 lbs, but then stalled and seemed unable to lose any more although I still had a long way to go. I read about Neanderthin and decided to buy the book (via Amazon) and give it a try. I started just a week ago and have quickly lost 6 lbs - a miracle after my long plateau on PP. Plus I feel good, and full of energy. My son has also decided to go with the Neanderthin plan. I feel much healthier not eating all that processed junk most Americans eat.

Not just another weight-loss diet guide, NeanderThin presents a rational case for how humankind's digestive genetics have not caught up with the radical changes in diet since the start of the Neolithic era (10-20 thousand years ago). A clear, well-stated argument is made for elimination of modern foods that need to be cooked or processed to be edible, or which couldn't be obtained by a hunter-gatherer on the savanna, 'naked with only a sharp stick.' Well done, and totally workable recommendations without demanding too much in the way of dietary sacrifice or lifestyle change. It works!