Have you ever read a book that actually inspired you to contribute to the world..........to make a change? This book will do that. The authors have put together a tool for transformation..........helping others brings more love to everyone.

Sheltered by the walls of academia, I had forgotten that the writing process itself is a mantra of social change, that our awakenings lead to a more united world. Reading the poignant and inspirational stories submitted to Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul reminded me of the many people who give selflessly of themselves, who teach us that heroes are everywhere we cast our eyes.

Janet I. Buck, Ph.D.

Think of your image of "volunteer." Now disregard it and check out "Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul." Volunteer authors describe their experiences volunteering, and the variety and creativity of their work is truly amazing and inspiring. I loved the variety of volunteer stories in this book. It made me realize that if I don't have a lot of time or there's no big disaster around at the moment, there are zillions of ways that I can contribute to my community and the world, so I'm dumping my guilt and getting creative. . . . A big thank you to this great crew of authors and editors!!

Fun, interesting, and insightful read. Provides clear explanation of the financial transactions utilized to help Malone build his cable empire.

Mark Robichaux captures the excitement, headaches, heartaches and drama of the growth of TCI under John Malone's brilliant watch. Much more than a compilation of facts and figures (which are generously provided), the book thoughtfully combines both chronology and subject narrative to provide a clear picture of Dr. Malone's thought processes, motives, decisions, and even his emotions at each step during the tumultuous growth of the cable business. As a Denver resident who has watched this evolution, I found the inside story adds great perspective to the history as I remember it. Beautifully written, truly capturing the brilliance behind each play.

Cable Cowboy is without question the best biography I have ever read.

The Brothers Bieter have written a very important chapter in American immigrant history. It boggles the mind to comprehend the forces that brought young men to America from a primarily maritime economy and succesfully transplanted them in the high deserts of Idaho and Nevada as sheepherders. How a network of friends and relatives immigrating over four generations were able to bring their culture's music, dance, games, gastronomy and traditions, adapt them to new circumstances and see the pride exhibited by their children and grandchildren is truly inspiring. The evolution of immigrant Basques into Basque-Americans is a worthy study for any anthropologist, linguist or sociologist.

I just finished reading this book. It is a relatively quick read, something I was able to finish in a day. It is a very good read, though, something all decendants of the Basque immigrants to the Western US should read. It gives, in my opinion, a very good idea of what it was like for a young Basque to come to this country and try to make a living. It also describes well the choices the decendants of these immigrants have made to continue the Basque culture. It does so in a very direct way, making me think about my choices and the convenience of the aspects of Basque culture I have chosen to keep alive for myself. In some areas, I wish there was more depth (for example, the discussion of Anaiak Denok, a group I hadn't heard of before), but, overall, it is a very good introduction to what it means to be Basque-American and why some of us choose to identify with both the Basque and American culture. I strongly recommend this book, not only to Americans of Basque decent, but anyone who is interested in the issues of ethnicity in America and why some would choose to be both American and ethnic at the same time.

As an amature student of both history and Basque culture I am very impressed with the quality of this work. Both Misters Bieter should be praised for what is both a most interesting and informative book. There is a professional blend of historical theory about the roles of various generations and historical facts and manifested by the various stories, all held together by the ongoing saga of the Bilbao family. This is good history writing. I don't know if this kind of book can win prizes or awards, but if so this one deserves to do so.

For me, a recreational sailor of over twenty years, this book has been like the bible. I've used it for voyage preparation, to teach new sailors and, when I wrote my sailing mystery novel, Inner Passages, this book was my first and primary resource!

Sometimes, late at night, nostalgic for the sensation of a sailboat deck underfoot once more, I pull it off the shelf and just dip inside. It evokes memories, reminds me of trips gone by, and I cam almost smell the sea air. This latest edition, replete with fine illustrations, should be a primary addition to any sailor's library.

John Rousmaniere has created a comprehensive text on the sport of sailing and seamanship which is enjoyable to read and very authoritative. By their nature, sailors have strongly held opinions on most subjects, but virtually every sailor I know of who has read John's book holds it in very high regard. The illustrations are clear and not too busy to get in the way of showing the frequently complicated topics which are inherent in the sport. I also find that Seamanship is not just a repeat of tired old sailing methods of 30 years ago, but rather integrates the classic techniques (storm tactics, navigation) with the modern (Crew Overboard Recovery, modern anchors and electronics).

I highly recommend this book, and encourage anyone to buy it if they want to improve their sailing skills.

This updated (1999) version of The Annapolis Book of Seamanship is a wonderful volume for both the new and more experienced sailor. With clear, lucid text and wonderful illustrations, Mr. Rousmaniere and Mr. Smith have created a truly useful guide. In particular, I found the section dealing with the "physics" of the boat to be very enlightening. I also was pleased with the strong emphasis on safety throughout the book. All around, one of the best books available on the topic, and highly recommended.

Richard Garfield is the creator of Magic The Gathering card game. This book gives the reader an in-depth look into the game and shows the beautiful illustration that each card contains. This is a must have for all players and collectors of the card game.

If you are currently collecting or playing Magic cards, I suggest buying this book if you dont have it NOW! It is filled w/ information, fully illustrated cards, interesting facts, playing tips, etc. Also, buy the Magic Encyclopedia Volume 1.

Great book of pictures of Mirage, Visions, 5th Edition, Weatherlight & Portal. Helps alot with viewing the cards for collecting.

At 2 a.m. this morning I finished reading this book, two days after starting it. Its detailed layout explained the facts and how they played out by the characters that were involved.

I had previously read Lane's book "Rush To Justice", many years ago, and because of it, I began to collect everything I could find regarding the JFK assassination. But somehow, I had missed "Plausible Denial" until I picked it up at a library.

Lane's presentation is phenomenally convincing. The incredibly, meticulous manner in which he explains how he legally exposed the roles that the key people played in the murder plot is astounding.

As he tells the story, the reader is able to analyze the characteristics of many persons who were in the background of E. Howard Hunt's involvement in arranging JFK's assassination for the CIA and higherups in this country.

The shocking reality that the book presents is that we have a government that is invisibly run by wealthy industrial and financial persons, who control the intelligence agencies for their benefit and order them to illegally and clandestinely remove leaders, worldwide, who try to free their people from U.S. control.

If it were not for courageous work by men like Mark Lane, who risk their lives to expose the secrets and tell the truth, life for Americans and others would be hopeless, especially for the young. This book should be in every school and home. It is a must read!!

For years, we have heard the reasons why JFK was assassinated by a faction or factions of the government. Influential people have posed questions about the plot or plots to cover up the truth about his death. Mark Lane's riviting explanation of the only trial linked to the JFK murder and it's subsequent subplots is a must read for any assassination buff. One of the base literatures for the Oliver Stone movie "JFK," the book footnotes the investigation by New Orlean's District Attorney Jim Garrison into the alledged conspiracy by tycoon Clay Shaw along with David Ferry, Lee Harvey Oswald and others. It also details the depositions of key government secret operatives, many of which play a later roll in United States history. Men like George Bush, G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down, and it made me wonder would another anti-big government/anti-establishment leader in this country meet with the same fate?

On the one hand it is truly surprising this book by Mark Lane did not receive greater coverage. On the other hand, given the fact that official Washington has never deviated from its view that President Kennedy was murdered by Lee Harvey Oswald, the dearth of coverage was to be expected.

What makes this book special is that Mark Lane uses federal trial transcripts and deposition testimony to prove his point. That point is: the Central Intellligence Agency was complicit in the murder of President Kennedy.

I was unaware that Mark Lane is an experienced litigator who had criminal trial experience prior to JFK's murder in November 1963. In December 1963 he wrote an article which set forth a lawyer's defense for Lee Harvey Oswald. By that time Oswald was dead, having been murdered in the Dallas jailhouse two days after Kennedy was murdered. Lane pointed out one month after the assassination that a jury most likely would not have found Oswald guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Warren Commission and its 26 volumes went to greath length to show that Oswald was the lone assassin. Mark Lane's 1966 'Rush to Judgment' became the seminal work in disputing the lone assassin finding.

Perhaps 'Plausible Denial', coming almost 30 years after JFK's murder was old news. Whatever the reason this work has been sadly ignored. Mark Lane was defending a publication which had been sued by E. Howard Hunt for defamation. The publication maintained that E. Howard Hunt, veteran CIA operative and convicted Watergate burglar, was in Dallas on November 22, 1963.

Lane's book lays the groundwork to show that Hunt's contention he was in Washington, DC that is unprovable. Instead, Lane uses E. Howard Hunt's contradictory testimony under oath to show that nobody can say he was there.

Instead, Lane brings forth witnesses who cannot say he was in Washington DC and a witness who says she met him in Dallas just prior to Kennedy's murder.

Natually, there is much more to all this than E. Howard Hunt. What Lane shows the reader is that the whole matter of President Kennedy's murder is an issue which will never be truly resolved.

Probably the most penetratingly satirical look at the nature of systems, how they fail to operate and how "systems people" are still inevitably attracted to them. Any Dilbert fan will love this.

Discovering John Gall's book a view of life. Gall spells out the failings of, largely, cultural assumptions in the realms of education, food production, corporate culture and so on, in ways that are easy to understand despite complexities. Systemantics represents a collection rules and laws that characterize and define systems (from corporations, organizations, religions to families and other social groups), and Gall cites notable examples that have graced the headlines (from the mid-80s, in my edition). With humor and wit, Gall outlines potential and obvious pitfalls. Despite its age, this book is even more relevant today since much of what Gall elucidates is even more rampant than ever. Fans of Daniel Quinn (author of Ishmael, The Story of B, etc.) may find this appropriate to augment their interests.

I read the previous reviews -- the most of them came from people with engineering bend. But this book is not only for engineers, it is for everyone - managers, politicians, lawyers, programmers, urban planners -- you name it. As the matter of fact, you will never read a newspaper the same way after being familiarized with Dr. Gall's book. The Diberterque environment of your office will not feel like something extraordinary after you realize that there are natural reasons why it has become Dilbertesque.

This book is similar to the Art of Monsters Inc. However, this time you get more than just images but you also get small introductions and quotes from the artists/animators. The book starts off with an introduction from John Lasseter and Andrew Staton, both Disney veteran animator and Pixar founder. Then the book goes off with a frenzy of incredible concept art, drawings, sketches, character sketches, color definition, and storyboard. It is amazing of how much effort they put into the film. Prepare and be dazzled with Ralph Eggleston's pastel storyboards (director of FOR THE BIRDS)! You also get a full throttle of hilarious character sketches by such famous modern illustrators - Peter DeSeve, John Sohn, etc. Pages of incredible studies on sea life and color concept for the film.

This book is a perfect inspiration for any animator or film/animation student.

Beautiful work!

If you are an animator or cartoon designer who wants to know what is going on. Or if you just love beautiful work that is fun and aspiring then this is the book for you!!
There are a ton of styles that are very fun with an array of different media.

Pixar has the absolute best creativity in the character designs!! Truly awesome book!

This book is a gem. Reading it, you get an appreciation for all the WORK that was put into this excellent film! The amount of effort these people exerted to create the characters, backgrounds, computer-generated "water," and every other aspect of the movie, is incredible. Flipping through these pages, you really get a feel for that.

The pictures are beautiful and make you realize things you don't think about while watching the movie. You don't realize that the story wasn't always going to play out the same way. You don't realize that the characters may have looked different had the animators chosen to go in another direction. Looking at these early sketches, step by step pastel drawings, and much more, you see what it's really like to make one of these fantastic films.

The quotes throughout are humorous and enlightening. (I particularly like the descriptions of the sharks and the fishtank.) They even reveal a secret I didn't catch after seeing the movie twice; the man in the dentist's office with the skull on his shirt is supposed to be a grown-up Sid from "Toy Story!" That kid needed a trip to the dentist! Overall, "The Art of Finding Nemo" is an unbeatable coffee table book.

The Mark of Zorro is an outstanding book about the masked rogue helping the poor and oppressed. It tells the first, the original story of Zorro. Fighting for justice and for a love of a girl, Zorro has to prove his toughness against the corrupt governor, Captain Ramon and a fat landlord, called Sergeant Pedro Gonzales. The story takes place in a California of former times.

The love for Lolita Pulido is the essence of the book. Besides Zorro, there is Don Diego Vega, a lifeless caballero with a rich and influential father, Don Alejandro Vega, who asks Señorita Pulido to become his wife. The third man fighting for Señorita's love is Captain Ramon. As a high ranked military captain, he, too, has influence in the country of Old California. The reader will soon realize, that Senorita's heart speaks only to Zorro, the Curse of Capistrano. But Lolita's father, Don Carlos Pulido, a mistreated caballero of good blood, needs his daughter to marry Don Diego Vega or Captain Ramon, as it is his desire to become rich and influential again. In fact, Don Carlos is not informed about his daughter's love to the highwayman.

Zorro's job in the pueblo of Reina de Los Angeles is not done, after he gained the Señorita's love. The Curse of Capistrano helps the oppressed and mistreated natives against the corrupt governor and his army. Zorro fights several times with the governor's soldiers, Captain Ramon and Sergeant Pedro Gonzales. Although the highwayman seems to be an undefeatable enemy, the soldiers, led by Gonzales, always make fun of Zorro, by telling untruths about embarrassing defeats. The showdown, of course, will be in the end, after the Pulido's rescue from the jail, which keeps the reader on the edge.

Johnston McCulley shows an awesome skill for introducing new characters. He plays with the traditional image of good and evil. Zorro, the heroic figure, fights for peace and justice. Although considered a highwayman, he acts gentleman-like and charms the beautiful Senorita Lolita Pulido. On the other side, there are the soldiers and servants of a corrupt governor. Sergeant Gonzales, for sure, is the best example of the evil. Described as a fat landlord the reader often sees him drinking wine excessively in the pueblo's tavern. He does not even get close to capture the Curse of Capistrano. The most interesting character besides Zorro, is Don Diego Vega the lifeless caballero. He seems to struggle for the Senorita's love not with love by himself but with his money. Don Diego, also is a friend of the landlord and because of his name, the Don is highly respected by the governor. The lifeless caballero will show some great surprises throughout the story.

Overall, the Mark of Zorro is an exciting book, which keeps the reader interested from the sword-clashing intro to the dramatic showdown. The story of a heroic rogue, the love between Zorro and the Lolita and the soldiers' unsuccessful chase for the reward produces an awesome literary opus.

EN ESPAÑOL

Spanish paragraph de Cristobal

The Mark of Zorro es un libro muy emocionante. Sucede en California Vieja. El carácter principal es Zorro, Un caballero que lucha para la justicia. Él lucha para el amor de Señorita Lolita Pulido. Pero Zorro o La Maldición de Capistrano es cazada por el ejército de gobernador. Esta situación produce un cuento impresionante. El libro es magnífico y usted lo debe leer también.

Who could resist giving this book five stars? (Obviously, not many!) Johnston McCulley presents the first appearance of Zorro throughout the world in this classic novel of old Spanish California. Originally published in 1919 and entitled "The Curse of Capistrano", this novel is one of the most adventure-packed stories you're probably ever going to find! If you haven't read this book, you should!!!

Many people have seen "The Mask of Zorro" starring Antonio Banderas. Even more are familiar with Guy Williams' 1957-59 portrayal of the legendary hero, or even Duncan Regehr's series in the early 1990s. But very few have, unfortunately, ever read the book that started it all, "The Mark of Zorro", originally entitled "The Curse of Capistrano" in its initial 1919 release. This is such a shame. Few Zorro stories of today -- excepting some fan fiction -- can rival the genius in Johnston McCulley's work(s). His Zorro is the ultimate adventurer.

Zorro's best-kept secret is the fact that there wasn't *one* Zorro story written by Johnston McCulley -- there were sixty! A wonderful new company is currently in production of republishing every one of these classic stories. I've read some of them; they're every bit as good as "Mark". Truly "must-reads". Miss them at your own expense.

If you want to know how old-time sailors did things, this book can tell you in impressive detail. For a sailor on a tall ship from the last century and a half, however, most of this book is irrelevant, and could better be replaced by Eagle Seamanship (at a fraction of the cost).

'SEAMANSHIP IN THE AGE OF SAIL: An Account of the Shiphandling of the Sailing Man-Of-War 1600-1860, Based on Contemporary Sources'(c.1984) by John Harland, is probably one of the most informative and valuable collections of useful knowledge on sailship handling in the late 20th century!

A major value of this work is its ability to answer the questions developed during today's contemporary square rig sailing. It fully explained why sailboats are pulled by the wind and not pushed (Bernouilli's Principle); the advantages and disadvantages of square rig sailing over fore & aft sailing (downwinds & length of luff); why large square rig ships don't need a center board (a shifting of CLR, CG, & G); or why all sails were never set on a square rig when simply cruising (courses don't draw in a well).

The book is punctuated with pen & ink drawings as well as period photographs and deguerrotypes of ships in the act of a sail evolution or other shipboard activity. And in a time period where photography was not yet invented, the author used contemporary paintings of vessels to demonstrate an aspect of ship handling. Going further back into history, the author delved into the archeological record to demonstrate the origin or existance of a ship component pertinent to his ship handling argument.

SEAMANSHIP IN THE AGE OF SAIL further provided continuity answers as to why sails are shaped the way they are; or why the steeve of the bowsprit was lessened over time. The book gave valuable points on how to rig a ship while underway; how to rig the stun'sls; how to rig the braces, lifts, tacks, sheets, clews, and bunts; how to raise and lower heavy sails; how to bend sails to the spars; how to box haul or club haul the ship; and why the main topsail halyard is a heart attack waiting to happen.

Just as the serious and ambitious mate or deckhand in the 1700s was caught with a copy of Bowditch ('Practical Navigator') in his seachest; in the 2000s you can watch a mate or an ambitious O.S. walk up the brow to his sailship with a copy of SEAMANSHIP IN THE AGE OF SAIL tucked under his arm. Despite its large size and bulk, this book is well worth taking along into the cramped crews quarters for an informed reading at night.

SEAMANSHIP IN THE AGE OF SAIL is a wonderful archive of esoteric sailship handling maneuvers, equipment, gear, and nautical science. The author has done a wonderful job in his research and has provided a great resource to all sailing ship captains and mates.

If you came here deliberately looking for this type of book, look no further. This is THE one you want. Now I know how to fish an anchor! I just wish the publisher had put the book into a size that more easily fits a backpack or a tote instead of making it coffee-table size.