I must admit that I used to take the whole idea of mediums with a grain of salt, until I saw George Anderson on tv. He was able to tell people all about their departed loved ones without requesting information or input of any kind. I was so impressed I bought the book.

This book is written by a highly sceptical radio personality, who has used every means at his disposal to debunk the whole medium idea. George Anderson cooperated with the book and the testing.

I was particularly interested to read some of the case studies, understand some of the rationale behind after death communications. It helped to understand in depth the passing of my brother, and by being able to get this perspective to deal with it better. I was also very interested in what he said about the nature of the afterlife. There is no hell per se, there are just different levels based on how spiritually advanced people were in life.

This is the kind of book to read when you need to read it, when the time is right. I passed my copy along to my sister who was also very impressed and she in turn passed it along to someone who found it to be a great comfort. This book could be helpful to someone you know.

In grief, the one piece of knowledge that might help you get the perspective that helps you to deal with the loss can be so elusive. This book can help you. I would also recommend Lessons from the Light, which focuses more on the afterlife.

I have read two of George Anderson's books now. The first being OUR CHILDREN FOREVER. I have just finished WE DON'T DIE. The premise is the same in both books. After reading them it only confirms my strong belief that there is an afterlife. I am not religious and have little belief in God but I know our engergy lives on. George Anderson is a gifted Medium. He has used his spiritual powers well. I enjoyed both books but WE DON'T DIE was a bit dull in parts where the authors go on & on with tales of people trying to debunk Mr. Andersons gift. I found myself skimming thru parts. However, It's a fact filled book worth anyones time to learn of life after death.

I have been a big fan of George Andersons for years. This is the best of all three of his books. I loved every page of it. I have a very sick father and I have read several books about the afterlife and I feel that these books have provided me with a much more positive outlook on life and what happens to us after we have passed on. I am thankful for mediums like George Anderson and James Van Praagh because I believe that they possess a wonderful gift. I recommend this book to anyone that has lost a dear friend or relative because I feel that it has tremendous healing power. After I read this book I saw life through different eyes and I think I am changed forever. Thank you George, for being you.

Yes, you read right--George R. R. Martin's A Song of Fire and Ice is BETTER than Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Why is everyone afraid to admit this? Yes, Tolkien is a genius--the fantasy genre wouldn't exist without him, and no doubt, A Song of Fire of Ice couldn't have been written. But ... each of Martin's books are more entertaining than Tolkien's trilogy. I get bored at times reading The Lord of the Rings; I barely sleep when I read each of the 700+ page Martin books. Am I alone?

Looking for a host of beautiful and invincible heroes and heroines? A rollicking, straightforward Good vs. Evil epic? Look elsewhere in the Fantasy section, then, because George R.R. Martin offers something rather unusual for his genre: a somewhat more (if you discount the black magic, etc.) realistic yarn that still manages to be a very, very good story. Be prepared to cringe, squirm, and genuinely fear (often with good cause) for a character's life. Also prepare for more of the major changes that have marked the previous books in A Song of Fire and Ice. And finally, prepare to set aside a chunk of time when you will not want your reading to be interrupted--and for the anticipation with which you will join those awaiting the next book in this incredible "fantastorical," as Anne McCaffrey appropriately termed it.

GRRM has set THE NEW BENCHMARK by which any and all other fantasy books must strive to attain. After reading these books, no longer will the consumate fantasy reader have to endure another "downtrodden boy discovers magic powers and must go north to defeat the evil lord" (aka Shannara) or "downtrodden boy discovers magic power and becomes near-godlike, but must still travel north and defeat evil lord" (aka Wheel of Time and Sword of Truth). Fantasy authors will now HAVE to change that tried and true formula that Tolkien began oh so many years ago. GRRM has breathed total and absolute new life into our stagnant genre. NOTHING I have read before has even come close in terms of character development, intricate storytelling, and ultimately, grand scope and plotting of his mythical world. Just by reading the first book, you KNOW that GRRM has every detail of his story planned out waaaay ahead of time - things vaguely mentioned in Book 1, become suddenly clear in Book 3. Unlike the pitiful Wheel of Time series where you can tell jordan has absolutely NO idea where he is going (at least, that's the impression I still get reading the reviews. I personally quit WoT at book 5 - reading 1000 page tomes where nothing happens annoys me.) But jordan is content to keep on rambling as long as maroons keep putting his books at #1. Why people? But believe me, it really won't be long before GRRM usurps and takes his rightful place at the TOP where he truly belongs! I treasure these books - I just ordered A Game of Thrones in hardback from the man himself, (signing included) and have also ordered Books 2 & 3 in hardback as well. AND these books are so good, I am now reading Book 1 out loud every evening to my wife during our newly discovered "storytime" - she loves for me to read it to her, and I love reading it again so I can soak up all the minute details and apply them to my better understanding of this unspeakably intricate plot. I can't wait for us to get to Book 3 and read "The Red Wedding" scene. Anybody who has read these books should understand my utter reverance for them, and if you haven't read them, soak your jordan & goodkind books in lighter fluid, start a big bonfire in the dark of night, and dance around it naked while you revel in the ectasy that is A Song of Ice & Fire.

I usually don't buy hardcover books, but I couldn't wait for this to come out in paperback.

Kudos to Martin for creating believable characters and a plot that will keep you guessing. I've read quite a bit in this genre and these things stick out: 1. He takes extra special care to describe (with detail) the clothing and people of his novels. 2. He's also in the habit of using italics to let the reader know what the character is thinking when in conversations with other characters. Very interesting, as it reveals some of that character's schemes. 4. A lot of gratuitous sex and violence. If I were a 13-year-old kid reading this book I'd be gleefully hiding the book under my mattress.

Nonetheless, it's hard to put down. I haven't been too impressed with a lot of the fantasy I've read lately. Maybe I'm getting too old for it. But George R.R. Martin is worth checking out!

Following "A Game of Thrones", George Martin provided us with another oeuvre of epic fantasy, the sequel "A Clash of Kings". Unlike, for example, Robert Jordan, George Martin keeps a tight grip on his brilliant plot and amazingly real characters.

"A Clash of Kings" has everything a good fantasy book needs: Romance, court intruiges, treason, war. But it has more. George Martin displays characters that just slip into your very soul. You hate them and you love them as passionately as if they were a part of your real life.

This makes "A Song of Ice and Fire" not only a masterpiece of fantasy, but of Literature. Martin refuses to play the usual good-and-evil games, he refuses to give the reader the sugar-coated heroic-fantasy he probably expects. His characters have amazing depth, they just steal your heart, no matter if they are good or bad.

This, combined with a sensible treatment of magic and a natural feeling for suspense and climax make "A Clash of Kings", as well as "A Game of thrones" a book you simply fall in love with. And George Martin one of the most remarkable authors of our decade.

When I read the first book, "Game of Thrones" it made many of my previous favourites look shallow. Then to have to wait for the second installment! Now that I've read "Clash of KIngs" I guess I'll have to wait some more for the next book - but as the adage goes - the best things in life are worth waiting for - well something like that. I like the style of writing where several narratives are strung together. I've always liked Julian May's Many Coloured Land series for that reason. The characters all have depth and are quite believable. No goody two shoes here! Even outright thugs like the Cleganes have depth to their character. Other characters are complex - such as Catelyn, yearning for a return to days gone by. The whole world is gritty and beliveably medieval - you can almost smell the pervasive stench of raw sewage, sweat and death in Kings Landing during the siege. The plot hangs together quite well and is gripping in a way that many other fantasy books are not. The one minor irritation is the time scales quoted - for example the 'wall' is allegedly 8,000 years old! This use of immense scales seems inappropriate especially when one thinks of what has happened in the last few thousand years in our own time. This was one book I found hard to put down and not because of any publishers tricks with velcro either!

...What is so great about the book isn't just the character development, but that each chapter is seen through different characters' eyes, many children (who learn fast). Not only is this interesting from a psychological perspective, but it also throws the black-and-white/good-and-bad thing out the window. Everyone has their own motive. It's very insightful into human nature.
As a guy very skeptical of fantasy books..., I think this is really good. I can't put it down; I've already plowed halfway through the second book, a Clash of Kings.

"A Game of Thrones" is a rich saga with splendid characters and an intricate plot. This book is EXCELLENT. A must read for anyone who likes character-driven stories and rich world with well developed political and historical structures. Very highly recommended!

Remember how you thought the first three volumes of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series were so extraordinary? Well, Martin's Song of Ice and Fire saga is at least one order of magnitude greater.

I read a lot of epic fantasy....and this series is head and shoulders above anything else in the genre.

Highly recommended for those who loves classic literature. George Elliot beautifully captured the lives of the people in rural English country in the late 18th century and early 19th century. I guarantee you'll fall in love with all the 4 main characters ie. Adam Bede, Hetty Sorrel, Lord Arthur and Dinah Morris before you finish the book. The courting scenes involving Adam Bede and Dinah are both very romantic and honest. George Elliot had a great understanding of human nature which makes the story very believable although it's fiction. ADAM BEDE's a hero in my heart, and this book's a must read for all literature fans.

I just finished reading this book for my Victorian Lit class, and I am incredibly inpressed with it. In the book, George Eliot tells about the lives of the residence of Hayslope, a farming community around 1800. The book has a riveting plot that includes romance, betrayal, and murder. More importantly, however, the book has a strong moral; it is sure to leave an impression in the mind of even the most cynical reader. Eliot, herself, summed the book up best in asking, "Shall I ever write another book as true as 'Adam Bede'?"

George Eliot weaves a simple story of love, suffering, and goodness. While the plot is hardly complex (boy loves girl, another boy gets girl, unhappiness abounds - also reused in Mill on the Floss), the manner in which Eliot develops her characters and their emotions and actions ring as true and resoundingly as a bell. It's so clear, so obvious, but also moving and textured. You feel Adam's absolute love for vain little Hetty, Dinah's calming grace, Arthur's good intentions, Lisbeth's fretting nature. Eliot draws you in with her honest observations of life in a country town, without the background becoming a dominant factor. The near idyllic life the characters lead is a healthy contrast to the town's emotional upheaval.

Adam is an upright, genuine character, and not as perfect as he seems. If his love for Hetty seems unfounded at times, it only serves to highlight how dangerous delusions can be. All the "sinners" are ultimately redeemed by truth - true love, true friends, true promises, and true acceptance. Religion plays a significant part in the novel, but don't let that deter you. It's so much more than that - Adam Bede is truly one of the few works that encompass a world of humanity between two covers.

AB reminded me of Tess of the D'Ubervilles a bit, but there is no villain here, just flawed, honest people in search of unattainable dreams. In the process of trying to get a bit of happiness, they stumble and bleed, but ultimately find something truly worth having. Bittersweetness is Eliot's trademark for good reason.

George Eliot's first full novel is obviously a bit less polished than her later works, but you see the wonderful command she has over language and expression. The book, the people, the story all come alive with her touch. A rare read that has something to say and says it beautifully.

It has material SELECTED in order that we, the future students of history,not have a clue as to what really happened during that historical period. The "Selectivity"just accidently left out the period 1940-45. Can't let that information get out! Others may begin suspecting censureship elsewhere!

Not a big history buff, but I had to read this for a class.
Very interesting! Blumenson actually served with Patton in the Third Army HQ in Europe and also in Korea.

But don't stop at this volume - The Patton Papers 1940-1945 finishes Patton's unique story. These years weren't forgotten as another reviewer said, just in another book.

Blumenson lets Patton speak for himself though a huge number of personal letters, lectures, papers and other materials. You can watch the young Patton grow through trial (being held back after his first year at West Point), and triumph (his heroic actions combat during WWI), into the famous fighting general of WWII. Don't let the long length of the book put you off. I found it to be absolutely absorbing. By the end of the book you feel that you know Patton, his family and his friends and that you have some idea of what made him who he was.

Blumenson obviously has deep respect for Patton but he also does not shy away from Patton's serious flaws in character and behavior. Even before the well known incidents of WWII, some of the things Patton wrote, did and said were really mean, crude and / or embarrassing. He was an accomplished brown noser and jealous of his peers to the point of paranoia at times. Its all here to see.

Of course, I also highly recommend the second half of the story in the Patton Papers 1940 - 1945 by the same author.

1/3 of this book - the starhopping section - is excellent. Just the right amount of commentary and detail for intermediate observational astronomy. The maps are also very good. Here's the problem: Only 1/2 of the sky is covered in the starhopping section! Why go halfway? A good number of interesting regions aren't covered at all. Instead, they clutter up the first 2/3 of the book with the usual info about types of telescope, stars, pictures of planets, etc. We've read and seen this before. Any library book tells you the same stuff. Use the pages to cover ALL regions of the sky. It's really a shame.

Another problem is the hardcover format, which makes the book difficult for field use. It's thin and tall, which doesn't help it to stay open. A spiral bound version would be better.

Time was, the Nature Store was everywhere in Canada, and you could depend on them for just the right Xmas gift or whatever. That's gone now, but they left the excellent Nature Company Guides behind.

This is the book of those who have gone beyond "the stars are up there" stage but aren't at the Hawking level yet. I loved the crispy photos and the straight from the shoulder directions (not pretentious or dumb). I recommend it highly if you want something with a little more meat to it.

This book is very helpful, even if you are just an amiture astronomer like me. This book tells you how to navigate through the Heavens. It tells you what stars you can see, the dates that you can see them, even the times that you cansee them. This book tells you what to look for when buying a telescope, how to spot a trash scope, and what types are good to purchase for your needs. This book tells about anything that you need to know, from nebulas and double stars, to planets and black holes. Advanced Skywatching tells you almost anything you want to know. This is a book that no astronomer, begining, advanced, or professional, should be without.

There are those who have complained that the stories in this book aren't complete, but seem like they're just beginning. This complaint is valid, but the reasoning is inaccurate. Look at the Wild Cards series as comics books told in narrative rather than picture form. A regular comic book series doesn't usually have a complete tale, without clues to the future, and neither does this book. Some of these stories are setups to larger stories, and believe me, that ain't bad. I have read all sixteen books, and in my opinion, while some of the stories ARE weaker than others, the whole is much bigger than the sum of its parts.

The fact is that I grew to care about these characters. I wanted to know more about them, and that need to know drew me deeper and deeper as the series progressed. Now that the series is being re-released, I can honestly say that if you are comic book fan in search of more serious fare, where even the so-called "good guys" can have some unpalatable personality traits, than the wild cards series is for you. If you don't want to blow the bucks for a brand spanking new one, than get one used. I will say that if you dismiss this series without at least trying ONE book, you are missing out on the next level of superheroics.

Try Vol.1 out. If you don't end up loving Croyd (the Sleeper), I'll eat my hat!

This is a reprint of the first book in the Wild Cards series. When I first read the original many, many years ago, I became absolutely enthralled with the characters and the unique style of storytelling. The Wild Cards series is made up of predominantly "Mosaic Novels", meaning that each novel is comprised of short stories written by different writers, each from the point of view of their own characters in the Wild Cards universe, but all the short stories taken together comprise one whole META-story, if you will. When I finished this first book, I began a frantic search to find the rest of the series (they were out of print before I had even read the first book) that took me several years. And, to my surprise, I found that this book, as amazing as it was, wasn't even one of the best in the series! But, it's very important, as it portrays the events that seperate the Wild Cards universe from our own reality, and therefore is ALMOST essential to fully experience the Wild Cards. Most of the series I had ended up borrowing and have never been able to find for sale, so I was overjoyed when I found out they were reprinting it. The reprints contain some really nice art to illustrate the tale as you go along (the best art I have seen of the Wild Cards so far), and they make this book worth the purchase, even if you already own the original printing.

As a huge fan of Martin's SONG OF ICE AND FIRE series, I too picked up some of his older work. The WILD CARDS series was a pleasant surprise. The series has an interesting concept, and good writers participating (esp Roger Zelazny, who's Sleeper-character stole my heart).

The WILD CARDS stories are all different, dealing with different times and storylines, but they are without failing interesting and original. Some of the stories had me secretly wiping away some tears (the Turtle, Golden Boy), others had me chuckling (the Sleeper)or reading with my heart in my throat (Fortunato).

In retrospect, the first two books were a setup for the grand happenings of Book 3, when all hell bursts loose on Wild Card Day. I loved the way the stories were weaved together in JOKERS WILD, where everything seemed to come together. It had a superb story/tension arc, and the characterization was without failing very well done.

I have only read the first three books so far, but I'm definitely keeping an eye out for other installments of this series.

I give the authors involved a big thumbs up for an original project like this!

While reading this book, Eudora Welty's words come to mind: "The events in our lives happen in a sequence in time, but in their significance to ourselves they find their own order - the continuous thread of revelation." The intellectual breath of President Reagan's prodigious views on politics, arms control, communism, and societal concerns is an astonishing revelation.

This book is a compilation of Ronald Reagan's original manuscripts (with his own editorial markings) from the high school years to his Alzheimer's goodbye note to America in November 1994. The majority of the speeches and commentaries are written from between the years 1975 and 1980, the time between his California governorship and presidency.

"Reagan In His Own Hand" is divided into four parts:

I. Reagan's Philosophy
II. Foreign Policy
III. Domestic and Economic Policy
IV. Other Writings Nov. 6, 1925 - Nov, 5, 1994

The writings as preserved and presented in this book, have revealed Ronald Reagan as a gifted writer and speaker. In the crucible of the Great Depression, these abilities of his started to hone and condition. A story he's written in college offers an early glimpse of his true grits.

SQUALL (a short story written in 1930 at age 19)

"...A massive gray wall towers ahead of you. Up goes the prow --up--it hangs, then heels over-- you have lost! The canoe is off that absolute hairline of wind heading... Quickly the wind dies, the waves smooth out and you must wait for another squall to renew the feud." (excerpt)

This is a ponderous book to read. The materials are dated and might not have relevance to our fragmented society today. If one were to read some of the commentaries aloud and listens to what is read, one will understand Reagan is politically astute and his arguments persuasive. One will also marvel these original scripts have relatively few revisions.

In his own hand, this living former president has refuted the myth and mantra that he is an amiable dunce who neither reads nor writes. He, Ronald Reagan, has not left the building.

This is a wonderful book that cuts across so many axes: autobiography, poli sci, US history-
1980's, US history-1970's, the Soviet Union, the Carter Administration, the Reagan
Administration, Reagan the man, Reagan the leader, Regan the economist, and so forth.

So--where to begin?

The lion's share of this book is devoted to Reagan's radio roar, growl and comment on the state of the Union in the late 1970's. It is not just politics and policies, but general cultural issues as well. You are given a view into the Reaganite philosophy as he deals with economics, the Federal relationship, welfare reform, inflation (remember it was double-digit in the 1970's), and, of course, the Soviet Union.

What you read are the rough drafts of the radio commentaries, so don't expect a neat and tidy book. If you are looking for a "Reagan Bible" so to speak, then get a copy of "Speaking My Mind." A good quote book was compiled by his son, Michael, in "The Common Sense of an Uncommon Man." It would nice to se a cleaned up version of this book, which would appeal to a broader audience.

This book whets my appetite for a better collection of Reagan speeches, say even a total corpus of
Ronald Regan's Papers. Face it: be he hero or villain, Ronald Reagan deserves due credit for his rightly-called "Reagan Revolution." He deserves study and emulation. He even deserves a place on Mount Rushmore, if it were possible.

The index of speeches is tops! It is both readable and useful, and gives us the heads of the speeches to see where his mind was going. After all, the most important thing about a man is not his sex, skin color, place of birth, or party affiliation, but his mind. And as Reagan's mind is slowly being wasted by Alzheimer's, we are all worse off.

In addition to his speeches, this book has some of Regan's early fiction from his teen and college years, and a wonderful poem! Then ends on his farewell Alzheimer's announcement.

The drawback of the book is that is NOT a complete collection of his comments and it is not in chronological order, so when Reagan alludes to a previous speech, we have to hunt and peck for something we may never find. I realize life can be like this, but the book should not be.

One last note: the cover really captures something about Reagan. As the introductory essay indicates, Reagan wrote these himself. He was not only well read and well spoken, but well thought. He used no speech writer for these commentaries. The "ivory-tower" intelligencia despised him. Probably because he did so well without them. And that should inspire each of us!

This is a must read for both avid admirers of Ronald Reagan (disclaimer: that's me), and his would-be detractors in the liberal arena. Far from being an "amiable dunce", this collection of radio broadcasts and essays, mostly written in the 1974-1980 period, shows Reagan's keen intellect and focus on his areas of greatest interest, such as the superiority of capitalism over communism, and the cause of freedom throughout the world. His radio broadcasts were short, only about 5 minutes, but they show that he was well-read and informed on any number of topics. Probably the most fascinating aspect was his ability to not only write a compelling, concise story, but to edit his own material. The compilers of this material wisely chose to include the words and phrases that were lined out in favor of the final, broadcast version. This gave me some real insights to Mr. Reagan's line of thought as the essays were composed. The final essay in this book is Reagan's farewell to the American people upon his learning of that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and is one of the most tender and touching messages I have ever read. God bless you, Ronald and Nancy Reagan.

Although there is no doubt in my mind that Patton is one of the most brilliant generals of 20th century USA, Blumenson seems to be a bit biased towards this controversial figure. He rationalizes all of the various controversies that surrounded Patton to put Patton in the best light. There is no controversy, or 'dirt' dug up on Patton here. Otherwise a fairly quick and very interesting examination of the life of Patton.

For readers who want a top-notch biography of Patton without committing to an 800-page or 1000-page tome, this is the book. Blumenson makes excellent use of Patton's personal letters, especially those to Patton's wife, to reveal the human side of his tough-as-nails persona. Patton with nervous indigestion? Patton feeling worthless and inferior? Who would have guessed! Highly recommended for those interested in historic figures and military history, but who don't want to get bogged down in minutae such as detailed battlefield tactics. This book focuses on the man, as it should, and not so much on the wars that made his career. That being said, my only complaint is that for the chapters about actual warfare the book could have used some basic large-scale maps of North Africa and Western Europe, especially France, showing the route of Patton's advances and major battles. I sometimes felt lost as Patton rolled through one village after another to attack the enemy.

I saw the movie with George C Scott, and was inspired to learn more about Patton, and this was the first book I picked up. It turns out that this was the right one, as it is fast reading, relatively short, and gives a good overview of the man behind the legend. I feel that the author is objective, and is not biased, which must be hard. He talks about Patton's weaknesses as well as his strengths. He even discussess Patton's later years when he became delusional and described the Jewish people as "lower than animals". I particularly liked the end, where it states that if Patton had lived, he would not be the legend that he is today. I have since read "The last days of Patton", an entire novel, which is only covered here in one short chapter. Of course, this is not a bad thing if you have not read a Patton book before. I HIGHLY recommend this one as a first Patton book to read or give as a gift to a friend.