So you didn't play much baseball as a kid. Or, maybe you played so much baseball that you know too much to work with your inexperienced kids without loosing your patience.

This handbook has it all. How do you get a 4 year old to throw a ball effectively? Not an easy task for someone with a short attention span an no idea what you are talking about. Swing a bat level? Why bother when you can hack at the ball like a woodsman? Tips, techniques, and pictures either teach a parent what is important, or remind him or her what they have known for so long they have forgetten to pass it along.

These are just a couple of examples of the problems I faced in teaching baseball to my kids and areas the handbook was helpful. From catching, throwing and hitting for the youngest of players, all the way through to strategy, baserunning and conditioning for older players. This book will help you get them started on the right track and help them help themselves when they are old enough to read on their own.

Talk yourself into coaching your kid's team so you can be sure they get quality instruction - only to find that the parents are the ones who drive you to give it up? This handbook can help you lay the groundwork up front that will turn your parents into assets.

I could go on and on. This book may not have everything you will ever need, but it does have something useful about everything. A great read and a great resource.

I have used exam cram series to prepare for Microsoft exams and found all of them to be the most concise and to the point exam preparation references available. I have passed 8 of the 9 exams that I used these guides for. The ninth I was not properly prepared for, failing by only 1 question, and attempting the exam on too short notice (only 2 days of studying).

These exam cram guides point you most directly at the Microsoft thought process justifying most questions. This book is no different. But you must understand the overall Microsoft thought process for these guides to assist you to be successful. They don't necessarily give you the answers (and they shouldn't anyway), but they do give the correct pointers so that you know what Microsoft is thinking in their exam questions, which is the most important thing anyway.

If you know the subject matter and what Microsoft is thinking in their exam questions, you will pass the exam. This guide is an excellent assistant toward these goals.

I actually wanted to rate this a 4.5/5 stars, but a 4 seems too low.

I took the desktop exam (70-176) a few weeks before this and then for this exam I studied with only this and the transcenders. It doesn't mention a couple of areas specifically mentioned on the Microsoft site that you'll need (such as listview/treeview), so you may want to look elsewhere for those. Also my exam had a couple of questions on RDO that this book didn't cover (I guessed them right I think!).

Overall though this is an effective way to pass the exam in a fairly short amount of study time. Ideally a person would use the transcender practice questions to supplement this book.

Taken together with the examcram desktop this and that make for a close to perfect fit for the MS VB exams; ie, if you study for both at the same time and take them both within the same couple of days since each book complements the other on certain areas that are on the other one's exam you'll do great.

I just passed the VB Distributed test with an 885. I must say that there were many questions on my test that were exactly the same(or close enough) to the questions at the end of the chapters and at the end of the book. I would go so far as to say that the authors of this book had some how got a hold of the actually test and published it in their book. Actually, the questions in the book were harder than the actual test. I have seen almost all the books on the market for this exam and none of them have even come close to this one. It is precise, straight to the point(no fluff), and easy to understand. I must note, however, that this book is not for beginners. The only gripe I have is there were a couple of typos, but it is still well worth it. Now for the Desktop Exam.. Good Luck to all..

Demian, as described by Hesse in the original title, is the "story of a youth." The book relates the experiences of Emil Sinclair, a boy at the beginning of the 20th century whose model childhood is tranformed through his encounter with Max Demian.

The novel reflects Hesse's fascination with mythology and religion. An extensive symbolism drawing on both Christianity and the theories of C. G. Jung permeate the work. The central message of the novel is a powerfully affirming one: that amidst chaos, amidst disintegration, one can remain loyal to a value system that has existed since the first human being.

I have read Hesse's works for many years, and this novel remains my favorite. It has some remarkable scenes, including Sinclair's conversations with the organist Pistorius and the fantastic conclusion on a World War I battlefield in Flanders.

Hermann Hesse is without a doubt one of the most intriguing writers I have ever read. However, when reading reviews and hearing other people's opinions, I usually feel that peopl misunderstood what he is like and what his character represents. This is particularly the case with Demian. This book is often described as a great insight into what it is like going from child to teenager and then entering the adult world. However, I believe that Sinclair, the main character, is not entering the normal world on any level. In fact he is leaving it. The first time he meets Demian, both know there is something different about him. As their friendship/relationship grows, it become smore and more clear that they should not be part of the normal world, where people to choose to be part of a group, to share a religion, to accept the truth as it is told to them. Demian shows sinclair a new world, where people of a higher intelligence, and by that I am referring to more than simply an academic intelligence, will find each other. Those who are different, who choose to be individuals instead of be part of the the main stream mass meet, are Hesse's version of the ubermensch. Where Nietzsche claims that all men can let go of the standards and morals of our society, their religion, their need to be part of a group, can focus on themselves and become better, become the ubermensch, someone who is above all others, someone who is not alone in his existence, but who is alone in his own life, Hesse contradicts this with an ubermensch who is born different, someone who will find others like him, someone who will has a clear vision of what people are like and who he is, an individual, an ubermensch. Hermann Hesse's Demian is not at all about growing up, or understanding "how the world works", Hesse is not for the average reader, but he will only be understood by those who understand themselves and can see themselves as individuals instead of part of the mass. On a more personal note: The very strong homosexual tendencies in this book intensify the emotional appeal of the book and are also simply satisfying.

If the text is to speak to me sans the authorial function surrounding Hesse, "Demian" speak one thing loudly to me - Nietzsche, the Overman is in the flesh.

Apollo and Dionysis are doing battle in Emil Sinclair - specially when he meets Max Demian - an individual in touch with his "natures" and uses them to produce personal greatness, strength and Emil Sinclair. We are all, in a sense, all in a state of becoming - just like Emil, just like Max.

When Max introduces Abraxas the whole texture of the book changes - it really becomes liberating. We are reminded that we are raw stuff - stuck in an existential scenario and the limitlessness of our lives. Max embodies the qualities I would imagine Nietzsche's beloved overman to be - strong and sensitive and not allowed to pity. Demian is wonderful introduction to the complex psyche of Hesse, Demian allows readers to ease their way into his Oeuvre. Part surreal, part mystical, Demian has to be read several times to appreciate its many layers. This volume is one I plan to revisit, and soon.

Miguel Llora

The third installment in Michael Stackpole's "X-Wing" series details the aftermath of the taking of Coruscant by the rebels. Anyone who's been following this series will want to pick this one up - it's consistent in tone with the earlier novels, and the plot is both fast-moving and believable.

Unlike other authors of new Star Wars material, Stackpole has drawn directly from contemporary issues. Readers will recognize the similarity of physical symptoms of the Krytos virus to Ebola, and takes the opportunity to draw a parallel between human/non-human relations in the Star Wars universe to racial tensions in our own world.

Despite this, the tone of the novel is anything but grim. The primary focus here is entertainment, and in this Stackpole succeeds - my lunch hour extended to two hours from reading this book! It's a real page-turner, something that is necessary for anything bearing the Star Wars name, but which few Star Wars novels have managed to achieve.

The interesting thing is that the character I found myself most interested in is Kirtan Loor, Corran Horn's nemesis. Loor's struggle to extricate himself from Iceheart's clutches, and only managing to ensnare himself further, makes for some of the most compelling reading in the book. In fact, the fate reserved for him is a little disappointing; I was not left with a sense of closure in Loor's case.

The trial of Tycho Celchu is clearly the trial of the century in the Star Wars universe, and provides Stackpole with the opportunity to level a criticism or two at the media. The effect of the trial on the fledgling New Republic government is one influence that is clearly felt throughout the book.

One criticism I do have - I just wasn't as interested in Corran in this book as I was in previous books. It seemed pretty evident from the outset that he would survive with his sanity intact. After reading such novels as C.J. Cherryh's stunning "Cyteen," I may have an unusually high standard for stories dealing with this topic, but these sections of the novel weren't as effective as I felt they could be. It's true what they say - a reader won't believe it if the character has good luck, but we'll believe in bad luck readily enough - and the more of it the better! Corran just doesn't seem touched as deeply as he should be by his experience; this is one aspect of the novel that I really felt could have been better done.

Overall, though, the X-Wing series still outshines most of the other Star Wars books that have been recently released. It's fun, as the original films were fun, and while no novel can come close to matching the films, the same tone and cinematic breadth are absolutely necessary. Stackpole is one of the few who has managed this.

When I first heard of the X-wing series of Star Wars books, I wasn't sure I wanted to read it. It was mostly about the pilots from Rogues Squadron, with some cameo appearances by Han, Leia, and Luke. I thought the books might be dull do to the lack of my favorite heroes. Boy, was I ever wrong!! These books are fast-paced and exciting from cover to cover!
In this excitng installment, Corran Horn is believed dead and Tycho Celchu has been arrested for his murder. Celchu faces a treason and murder trial, with all the evidence working against him, despite all of the heroic work he's done for the Republic. The Alliance is struggling to become the New Republic. The dreams of setting up the main government at Coruscant are beginning to collapse as the deadly Krytos virus begins to attack non-human members. Bacta, the only known cure, is scarce and the prices are climbing. To make matters worse, a terrorist group on the planet of Coruscant is threatening to tear the government apart before it even begins. As Rogue Squadron deals with the loss of its top fighters, Corran struggles to stay alive in the horrific Lusankya prison, run by the evil Ysanne Isard.
The best of the series so far, this book is packed with action and suspense. And the dogfights - WHOA! This book has something for every type of Star Wars fan: action, intrigue, suspense, mystery, you name it!

Set after X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble. The virus is loose on Coruscant. Isard (IceHeart) has captured Corran Horn. Tycho Celchu is on trial for spying. It's a mess, but exciting. This is one of the best books ever! All *stuff* breaks loose and it is very riveting. If you want to read a good book, this is it. (assuming you've read the previous two, they might help you grasp some of the basic concepts at hand)

This series starts off in a rather subdued, moody tone and gathers momentum as it goes. Very little in Moorcock is unexplained and apparent loose ends often get tied up in a different series altogether! His trick is always to leave you with a new set of mysteries, rather like the best detective story writers. It's one of the reasons you keep turning the pages and, indeed, keep reading the series! Exploration with Moorcock promises a great journey, some interesting discoveries and some mighty mysteries, just like space exploration, really, or 19th century exploration. This is what maintains the sense of wonder, even through his non-fantasy books like the great MOTHER LONDON or the Pyat series. As Angela Carter says in her introduction to Moorcock's book on writing technique DEATH IS NO OBSTACLE, he is a writer driven by a generous talent and an enormous curiosity. It is that curiosity which constantly drives him to explore new ideas, new ways of story telling and new ways of looking at the world! His influence has been immeasurable on the science fiction field alone. His ideas infuse the field. I read this first when I was a teenager. It led me to some of America and France's greatest modern writers, several of whom have already acknowledged Moorcock as a contemporary master! In England and France he is known as an important literary talent. This is a great introduction to the Eternal Champion series, but it is only a fraction of the mighty multiverse that is Michael Moorcock (as one of his own music hall characters might proclaim)! If you want wit and farce and Elric, try Elric at the End of Time. If you want dark melodrama and moody characters, Elric of Melnibone is the guy for you!

"Elric of Melnibone," by Michael Moorcock, is a sword-and-sorcery tale whose hero, Elric, is the albino king of an ancient island nation. Elric lives in a world of magic and warfare; it's a place where humans have dealings with powerful supernatural beings.

This is a decidedly adult fantasy story; Elric's is a world of drugs and slavery, and this story is dark, violent, and full of political intrigue. Moorcock succeeds in giving the story an evocative, mythic feel. The author has created, in addition to Elric, some really memorable characters (such as Doctor Jest, the master torturer). The book is full of wonderfully cinematic scenes and skillfully realized fantasy concepts. And the melancholy Elric makes for an interestingly offbeat hero.

Ultimately, "Elric" is about such resonant issues as love, ambition, responsibilty, and the seeming pull of destiny. For a compelling companion text, try Ursula K. LeGuin's "A Wizard of Earthsea."

I cannot recommend this book highly enough to any writer or reader seeking the consumate fantasy hero novel. Its construction and wording are exquisite, and it follows all of the classic elements Robert Campbell mentions in "The Warrior's Journey." Elric is such a rich, fascinating character that it is impossible not to identify with his struggles. The war between Chaos and Law is our own internal struggle, the warring conscience of Mankind, ever at odds, striving for balance, yet rarely acheiving it. Like Elric, we find only small solace, even in Tanelorn, for struggle is what drives us--the fire in the brain, the quest for the unattainable. We are all Warriors At The Edge of Time, and Moorcock uses his magnificent style to convey this ongoing war we call "life" with elegent prose that truly makes "Elric of Melnibone" one of the pivotal fantasy novels of our century. A must read! A perfect 10!

This book started the X-Wing series, based off of Wedge Antilles and the X-Wing game, made by LucasArts. While books 5,6,7 and 9 in the X-Wing series were the best Star Wars books ever, the others, featuring Ropgue Squadron, left much to be desired. The main character is a bland jerk, with no concept of trusting in friends, or sticking with one woman he loves. The book seems to be 90% focused on him, and the few interesting characters are given hardly any time in the spotlight. Also, a large portion of the book is taken up by badly-written X-Wing fight scenes, which are hard to follow and leave no room for any substantial character developement. The only reeason why I give this two stars is that it started the series. But if you want my advice, skip to Wraith Squadron (#5)and read something that's actually entertaining.

Fans have long said there were 3 great writers of Star Wars: Zahn, Anderson & Stackpole. While I wasn't sure about the X-Wing books, I now have to concur with them.

This was immediately an enjoyable book & if the others are as good I'll be happy for a few weeks. The action's as fast as the hot-shot pilots & the relationship between them is equally enjoyable. The characters fit right in the SW galaxy especially Corran Horn. If you're a Wedge fan this book's a must have.

Stackpole's writing style is very readable, the chapter average about 10 pages each. You'll have 6 chapters read before you know it. The next 3 books are by him as well, almost guaranting more enjoyable reading.

I was never much for the technical part of science fiction. Robots and spaceships never really grabbed my interest. To put it bluntly, I'm not a science fiction fan and I only enjoyed Star Wars as much as I did because of the fantasy element so heavily played. Needless to say I wasn't prepared to be impressed by the Rogue Squadron series. It was mechanics and not lightsabers, but I figured I'd slog my way through them for the sake of saying I'd read them. Thankfully for me, and thanks to very good writing by Stackpole, I can say that I didn't slog through anything, I thoroughly enjoyed every chapter of the book.

Main plot is that Wedge Antilles has rebuilt Rogue Squadron to intimidate Imperial forces. What happens afterward is several different dogfights that all manage to actually LOOK different. It's never replays of one fight over and over only in different locations.

Character wise, there are a lot, so development takes place over the series instead of just this book. Wedge has always sort of been a favorite of mine, just because he was a normal everyday soldier. Tycho is a genuinely nice XO who no one except Wedge trusts. Corran Horn is by far the most developed character and really has become one of my favorites right behind Kyp Durron and Obi-Wan. He's cocky, respectful and dedicated.

Now here are the reasons for the missing star on my review. Number one, the female characters are basically love interests for the male pilots. Number two, the villain did nothing to inspire terror. She just glowers a lot and executes her own people. Her main agent in the book is an idiot.

Those problems aside, this is a great book. Shall I say Top Gun in space?

This is one of the best books I have read in a while. The book is structured as a series of (loosely) related essays, which are written with sensitivity, outrage, whimsy and insight. It is an extremely good read. NON-GAY READERS SHOULD NOT BE PUT OFF BY THE TITLE. This book is not a gay-o-rama, though it deals with the subject where appropriate. If you like this, read its brother _Alec Baldwin Doesn't Love Me_.

Ford moves beyond the Dark Curtain that seems to have descended sometime in the late `Eighties and early `Nineties into a joyous celebration of life as it is and always has been among us. He examines the world we live in not through any perceived or special angle but through us as "Beings-in-the-World." Certainly, he makes concessions for our unique perspectives, and, particularly, our fears, but what sentiment comes across more than any in this collection is our realization that we all - gay, straight, whatever - make our own unique way in this world, while at the same time proving that we are all human, that we all share the same laughter, the same disappointments and the same ability to look upon one another with a cynical and still-loving eye. This book is a joy. Read it, laugh, be wry, and weep. Ford is a master of the well-chosen word, and he provides his essays with a geography of irony few can match. The only reason I gave his book a four instead of a five is because in this milieu we cannot afford to even joke about violence towards others, even towards those who are violent towards us. Let's take the high road.

My best friend and roommate told me that he is gay about a year ago. Recently he bought this book and I read it to see what someone would have to say about being gay that would take a whole book. It turns out a lot and so much of it made me think about how normal both my friend and every other gay person I have ever met are. This book had me rolling on the floor tears of laughter making it hard to read. My friend read it after I did and we sat and laughed for hours over the humor and truism that MTF has brought to print. I strongly recomend this book for straight people who want to understand, for gay people who need to laugh and for the lot of us who are still drifting trying to find out who we are.

I haven't been to the Canyon yet, but it's on my list of destinations to make in my lifetime. After reading "Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon" I'll know to be careful when I get there. I was unaware that the place is so hazardous--other than the obvious, that a fall off the edge is likely fatal. I read the book for the reason I assume the authors (and certainly the publisher) expect people to read it: morbid curiosity. And I suspected that was going to be the intellectual depth of their work. I was wrong.

The book is not highbrow literature by any stretch, but there is more research invested than I expected. The writers, Michael Ghiglieri and Thomas Myers, both experienced canyoneers, exert maximum effort to dissect the statistics and draw conclusions about the causes of death and what steps individuals and/or regulatory agencies might do to prevent more. This level of detail may be a turnoff to some readers, but I found it interesting and useful.

The authors can rest assured they've written an entertaining book that, through its popularity, might even help prevent an unnecessary death someday. ...

I loved this book! I found it exciting, gripping, fascinating and a book I just couldn't put down. Even though I have a busy life with a full-time job, I read it cover to cover in just a few days! I also have to say I loved the authors' sly humorous comments, and funny way of expressing themselves. Their relaxed, rather conversational style of writing made it that much more enjoyable.

Further, this book is very detailed, obviously shows careful research on the many tragedies, and is a great reference source.

Although I'm an avid reader, I don't read a lot of true adventure type books, but this is definitely one of the best I've read! It has even inspired me to go on the Internet and learn more about the Grand Canyon, and some of the true adventures.

I loved their comparison to Disneyland...so very true, that people assume since it's such a great tourist attraction, that nothing "bad" could ever happen! This book is not only a very exciting read, but as they state in the introduction, it's a good cautionary book on the very real dangers of being ill-prepared and/or overconfident in dealing with the Canyon! Hopefully people can read this and learn to use better sense whenever visiting the outdoors, anywhere.

I recommend it highly!

This is a MUST-READ for anyone attempting to hike Grand Canyon. So much has been written about its grandeur and beauty. It surely is all of that, but we needed to have a book describing, in vivid detail, the "wrongs" that occur there every year because people just can't comprehend that NATURE is in control if you don't heed the warnings posted by the park service. It is so easy to think that the warnings won't affect you. I have hiked through the Canyon several times knowing about its dangers, and I have seen people suffer on route of well-marked, common trails, but you truly are on your own out there and must do the most necessary to assure a safe and fun hike. You must know your limits. This book is not meant to "scare" people because Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular places in the world to visit and surely should be experienced from below the rim, but it is vital that people know about its potential dangers. This book illustrates that many people who suffered and died had the same attitudes that many of us have when we don't know what we're getting into. "Oh, I think I have enough water", or "Let me just step out on this rock for the perfect photo", or "I'm a good swimmer, I just want to wet my body in the Colorado", and so much more!! Grand Canyon is NOT a casual "walk in the park". It remains as nature designed it, and you will surely have a rewarding experience IF you take precautions. This book is well organized and has a good summary of all the mishaps at the end of each section. So interesting to read. You'll find yourself wanting to read it at every free moment. It could, however, have used photos where they were available to really drive the message home. Still, this is a serious and gripping book, and I like the amount of detail utilized in describing each situation. This book is necessary in a world that's become a place where we depend on others to think for us and to be at our every bek and call. This book brings the message home that "nature will always win if you let it".

Coupled with a person that has a life of aviation much like my own, Nelson Demille has pleased me with another book again! Thomas Block, the second author to Mayday, grew up around aviation. He started to fly airplanes when he was fourteen years old. At age seventeen he obtained his pilot's license and later joined the Air Force. The book Mayday is a book that I bought on my way to Dallas. I was waiting in the airport terminal and I wanted something to read. After browsing through magazine rack, this book caught my eye. Knowing that Nelson Demille writes about airplane and army related issues and predicaments and reading books of his before, I had to give this one a try.
The Straton, a large Trans united passenger jumbo jet, is flying just above Hawaii when it is struck by a drone missile. At sixty thousand feet above the earth this is a problem. Afflicting oxygen deprivation to most of the passengers and all of the flight crew, only a few lucky passengers are now faced with landing this airplane. This is a very suspenseful type of situation. Put yourself there, not knowing what any of the hundreds of flashing buttons and switches are meant to do while you are landing and flying this large aluminum bird. Now, the United States Army is wanting to just brush this asinine situation under the rug. How are they going to do that?. Things gone wrong thousands of feet off the ground tend to attracted attention.
If you like this book, or the writing style of Nelson Demille, you will definitely like the book CHARM SCHOOL. It follows a very different plot and has a bit of different pace as well. None the less, it is another master piece by one of my favorite authors.

This was a very good read in the typical "movie for your mind" style of DeMille. It had a solid plot, and didn't stray from it. The crippling of this airliner has major effects on the lives of several characters in this book, and DeMille does a wonderful job of getting into the different mindsets of each of those characters.

The dialogue is flawless and the plot is very solid. I thought the characters could have been a little more detailed. It is still a very good read, and I'd recommend it to anyone that likes a fast paced action/adventure book. It's one that leaves you wondering how the protagonist is going to get out of this situation.

The only reason I gave it a 4 is because, as a huge DeMille fan, I didn't think it was a good (detailed) as his later works. The aviation expertise that Block added to the book are a huge plus though.

Enjoy this one, then read Plum Island, The Lion's Game, and Cathedral.

I was coerced into buying this book because of an interest in flying and action/adventure novels. But once I started reading it I didn't remember why I needed coersion. It simply a terrific read from begginning to end. I thought that it would be similar to books like Arthur Hailey's 'Airport' which I had read years ago and quite enjoyed but I wondered how DeMille was going to do anything new with the genre. Although a big fan of the 'X-Files' and the like I was just about "conspiracied" out. But DeMille makes the missile tragedy and cover-up very believable. The attention to detail (as he acknowledged, Thomas Block's aeronautical knowledge was vital)is excellent but he never lets the technicalities (either the problems experienced at the altitude or the militaria) bog the story down. You find yourself in the cockpit right next to John Berry with your heart pounding.

Interestingly the romantic sub plot was barely touched on and was refreshing in this age of sex/sexual tension influencing everything. Rightly, the protaganists put this to one side to concentrate on the more important issues at hand. This leads to the sexual tension being there, just in the periphery. 'Mayday' is brilliantly written and while originally published in the late 1970s, the version that I bought was updated for the 1990s (in much the same way the Stephen King updated 'The Stand') and I can honestly say it's an excellent book. I bought 'Mayday' about 3 months ago and quickly got my hands on and read 'Spencerville' and 'The General's Daughter' by DeMille (both of which are excellent) and we also now have 'Gold Coast', 'Plum Island' 'Word of Honour', 'The Talbot Odyssey' and 'By the Rivers of Babylon' in our bookcase.

For fans of the action side of the story, I can also recommend Clive Cussler, whose earlier books resemble 'Mayday', including coincidentally one called 'Mayday', although I think its American title was 'The Mediterranean Caper'.

Alec Baldwin Doesn't Love Me, is one of the funniest books that I have ever read. When I first started reading the book in the bookstore I found myself laughing out loud. I think I read the first three essays before I even made it to the cashier. Michael Thomas Ford's humorous attmept at exposing gay life is a great success.

Perhaps I should preface this by stating that I've always considered myself to be someone who, if nothing else, is a man whose politics tend to lean definitely to the 'left'. On more than one occassion I've been accused of being ( gasp! ) Liberal so I now, throwing caution to the wind, wear the badge proudly....so to speak. It must be my Irish/Democrat upbringing! Nevertheless, although my sexual orientation may be considered 'straight' ( Gwynneth Paltrow please call me! ) I one day found myself in Lambda Rising, a gay bookstore here in Wash.D.C., browsing the racks ( and only the racks, thank-you! ). Being the odd man out has never truly bothered me.... plus where there are books, so there am I!

Without going into detail of the experiences of a 'straight' man finding himself in a gay bookstore ( a book in itself! ) I spied Michael Ford's novel and finding the title so engaging, and with my curiosity piqued, I started to read....and I read and read, all the while laughing, so hard that I thought they were going to physically throw me out of the store for vagrancy! Well, I succumbed and purchased a copy ( with little self-respect intact after embarrasing myself to no end! ) of "Alec Baldwin Doesn't Love Me...." and still after owning my copy for a little over a year I find myself still chuckling.

I won't pretend to truly understand anyone's else's lifestyle ( alternative? ) other than my own ( and who really understand's the opposite sex? ) but I must say that Mr. Ford's book of essay's not only left a smile on my face but perhaps gave me a little more of an understanding into the life of the average ( average? ) Gay individual. Can straight people say Queer...I'm really not sure what is PC here. Just curious! Anyway, upon hearing that even in humour some truth's abound I find Michael's book a compelling read, and not just for other's of the same sexual proclivity, but for other so called 'straight' guys as well, if nothing else than to help us all better understand each other. Granted some of the book does seem rather like a cliche at times but that's a small point indeed. Michael makes some valid points about these little crisis that each of us face in our everday lives. Plus, I guess I was pleasantly surprised ( why I don't know ) to learn that after all is said and done that we all , to one degree or another, want basically the same thing.... love , security, a little happiness and secure in the knowledge that each of us, in some small way, is helping make the world perhaps just a little better than we found it. Fortunately, Michael finds humour in these everyday complexities and thank-goodness for that! Yes, I did laugh at Michael's book but I also found someone who was perhaps searching....and, like many of us, still is.

So whether you're gay, straight or 'somewhere in between' (I'm not sure what THAT means! ) pick up a copy, call up a friend, hopefully one of a diffrent sexual orientation, and laugh and learn at the same time. It's a start. I'm certainly glad I did! Now if I could only get Gwynneth's phone number!

I came across this book while visiting Washington, D.C. at Dupont Circle's "Books & Books". I wanted something to read for the boring flight back to Miami Beach. My boyfriend and I had a very nice experience sharing stories, reading to each other and laughing like idiots. I think his work helps us to look at our many problems objectively in a digestable way, he is rediscovering the plain gay life. Now I have to buy every book Michael Thomas Ford puts on the market and even reccomend them to our friends. Having recently moved to Boston, I hope I can attend a lecture by the Author.