A must for any serious player. Good advice on every aspect of reevaluating your hand as the bidding proceeds by one of the most readable of all bridge authors.

This book is superb; the author's thoughts flow through my mind during every auction, competitive or not. He discusses in detail, for example, when a holding of xxx in a suit opened by opponents is terrible, neutral, or mildly positive. The studious reader will understand why a hand which opened 1 Spade with xxxxxx in spades improves vastly more than a hand which opened 1 Spade with KQJTx when partner raises Spades vigorously (in Lawrence's words, "Beware the short stubby suit.") Attention to the principles carefully explained and extensively illustrated (sometimes the same hand is given with half a dozen different auctions to explain evaluation niceties) by Lawrence will vastly reduce your phantom sacrifices, -800s when dummy hit with "all the wrong cards," and +1370s which delight your teammates, who were -630 defending 3NT at the other table when their opponents never looked for a minor-suit slam.

Many players think there's little more to hand evaluation than counting points. This suits me fine when those players are my opponents. But when one of them is my partner, I wish he or she had read this book.

Mike Lawrence has written quite a few bridge books, and most are quite good. This is one of the best. It's clear, concise, and replete with stuff that makes sense when you see it, but that you may not have thought of yet. What more could you ask for?

CONVERSION TO JUDAISM, A GUIDEBOOK is an absolute must-read!! This book touches on just about every subject that is important to me. I wish that the author would have went into more detail with the history of the Jews. Oh well, have to read about that in another book anyhow! :)

The author gives his heart to explain the what and why's of conversion. It covers all grounds you should know about basic judaism without drowning the reader with too much detail. It is very informative and full of insights that will guide you in the process of conversion. I highly recommend this book to those who like me is contemplating to be "a jew by choice".

When I was nearing the final stages of my conversion process, I found this book and wished I had found it sooner. Contained therein is the clearest, most comprehensive collection of blessings, observances, and laws the ger will need to begin their life as a Jew. Although there is a significant portion dedicated to the ceremony itself, it does not provide for merely light reading. This book serves to calm the fears converts may have about circumcision, the mikveh, etc. and offers them a brief historical framework for them to begin to develop a certain sense of past for their new faith. I contacted Lawrence Epstein via email regarding issues in his book I wasn't completely clear on, and I received a detailed, very warm and reassuring response the next day. For those considering conversion, or for those Jews by birth who might want to brush up on what exactly a Jew is, I completely, whole-heartedly recommend this book. Shalom and mazel tov on your journey!

Good overall technical writting,
lots of fully worked mathematical
examples. Only book like it available
in print today.

Well written, using language easily understood by the average technical reader with an interest in the field ( unlike many engineering tomes in my experience ). Also unlike many texts, proofreading and editing are skilled and thorough. Shapiro ackowledges in the preface to the first edition the roles of his co-author sons as "militant proponents of the clearly expressed thought". The success of that effort is obvious.

A very balanced presentation with generous references to actual experience, practical examples, some theory, and lots of photos and illustrations. The authors' subtle humor makes the normally dry genre very readable.

I was disappointed learning it is currently out of print and am hopeful of a future reprinting so I won't have to keep borrowing my boss' copy !

I found this book most informative towards my work on heavy lift planning. It discusses in depth various aspects of lift planning and crane selection. However, a more detailed discussion on planning on congested sites would have been useful

Books on creativity are often interesting to read but almost impossible to translate into practice. Not so with this book.

This book broadened my personal definition of creativity; it challenged me to consider creativity as a core competency in more than just innovation. Distinguishing it from other books that I have read, it focuses more on the specific outcomes of creativity instead of the sometimes mysterious process of creativity. It makes the often implicit skills involved in creativity much more explicit.

On a practical note, it serves as a toolkit with an array of different assessment tools, exercises, and suggestions for generative work that can be tailored to different organizational needs at different times. We're currently using these tools in a healthcare setting, but I think they could be equally well applied to a myriad of other settings.

This book has been a great addition to my business bookshelf - accessible, easy to read, and full of useful suggestions - I think of it as a user's guide to fostering and tailoring creativity in the work place.

If you thought creativity was an elusive and muse-driven quality ascribed to only artistic types of people, this book will set you straight. Here is a tangible approach to making creativity work for you and your organization. It will help you assess your needs, select the most effective practices for your situation and identify the people you need for successful implementation. The straightforward format and accessible language makes this a practical handbook for any level of manager or consultant in organizations large and small.

Creativity at Work is a must read for anybody who wants their job to be more than just work. It surveys all of the elements of an organization and then clearly supports the reader on his/her professional journey with the necessary tools to attain results. It's well-written, easy to read and tells all of the stories one needs to stimulate their creativity and own ideas. It is the only book that I have read and finished believing that I could now add value to the folks I work with in innovative and concrete ways.

This a delightful book. David Muench's ability to use light and contrast to capture the varied landscapes of Arizona is unsurpassed. He truly has a gift.

This is a wonderful coffee table book packed with a wide variety of spectacular photos of Arizona. It is a stunning display of the tremendous variety found in Arizona's natural habitat. Muench focuses on different aspects of the landscape including light, form, life and ecology. Captions tell where the photograph was taken with some brief commentary. A short essay by the photographer leads off each section with some of his personal thoughts and insights.

You will find an awesome view looking up through the trees to the sky, and the beautiful azure color of the Colorado River contrasting against white and rust colored rocks. Views of waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, autumn leaves and desert sands will take your breath away. Natural rock formations and cactus plants are seen in a new light as they become elegant sculptures. Endless, brilliant blue skies are captured against fields, mountains and red rock formations. Close-up of photos vibrant pink cactus flowers and sunny yellow poppies will brighten your day. You also get an occasional glimpse of lush green trees and plants.

As with all of Muench's books this one is printed on quality glossy paper with the highest of production values doing justice to the photography. As a Muench fan this is a treasured addition to my library.

David Muench's photographs show the incredible beauty and variety of Arizona's scenery. The book is a wonderful gift for anyone who loves Arizona or color photography. We received it as a gift and have purchased two more copies since then to give to others.

You may have heard of Lechuguilla cave. Located in Carlbad Caverns National Park, it is one of the world's most spectacular underground treasures, boasting extensive passages and impressive formations. It has been featured in a National Geographic special, and it received a great deal of national media coverage when an explorer was injured there several years back. While many people have heard of this incredibly beautiful cave, few know the story of its discovery and exploration, and of the intense struggles that ensued as various people vied for control of this underground treasure.

In "Deep Secrets" (Cave Books 1999) Stephen Reams, Lawrence Fish, Paul Burger and Patricia Kambesis give us a true insider's view of the biggest discoveries, the dramatic episodes, and the political battles surrounding Lechuguilla.

The story begins with a small group of Colorado cavers who have a passion for digging open new cave passages. Spurred on by success at home, the group decides to attempt a promising project in the Guadeloupe mountains of New Mexico, at a small, uninteresting cave by the name of Lechuguilla. As we toil with the diggers, the authors paint a picture of the rocky political landscape upon which the entire story takes place. And as the explorers break through into the "find of the century", the political tensions break loose into an all out battle for control of the cave.

As the story unfolds, we are witness to the most sensational discoveries and the thrill of exploration as Lechuguilla becomes longer, deeper and more spectacular. We come to know the explorers themselves, sharing in their triumphs and frustrations. And we hold our breaths in suspense at the dramatic rescue of an injured caver miles underground. All of this is played out on the backdrop of an intense political struggle.

"Deep Secrets" gives us a unique behind the scenes glimpse into the life of a Lechuguilla explorer. The authors have done a wonderful job highlighting the biggest discoveries and most exciting stories, encompassing a cast of over fifty characters, while maintaining a coherent and compelling story line.

Far from being a book just for cave explorers, "Deep Secrets" has universal appeal. This is not a collection of expidition reports, it's a true life story of adventure, drama and intrigue. And wrapped around the amazing discoveries, the stunningly beautiful passages, and the thrill of exploration is the timeless theme of a community torn apart by greed and power struggles, yet united by the need to rescue one of its own.

"Deep Secrets" is thoroughly enjoyable reading for nature aficionados, adventure enthusiasts or anyone who just likes a good story.

Anyone who claims to be a caver and does not read this book isobviously a fake. This is a much need chapter in the history ofAmerican caving. Lechuguillia Cave is the crown jewel of the caving world. This is as close as you can get without being there. READ THIS BOOK!!!

As a caver, and cave owner, one of my fantasies is to visit Lechuguilla Cave. Since the opportunities to do so are rare, the next best thing is to read this book. It's well-written and a tremendous amount of time and research went into putting the history and stories together. The photos are great too.

Awesome awesome awesome I can't belive that the an author cood right so well and make it a med-evil one I recomend that you read this book really read this book it is awsome......

wow! awsome book I can't beleve the adventures and the action if I get hold of another of his books I'd go crazy he is an awesome wrighter! I really suggest that you read this or buy it and then read it....

awesome though it took me some time to read this big bok but it was so cool all the battles the adventures awesom I suggest u read this book

This is the sort of book that you can keep by your bedside and dip into when you need to read a little before sleep. Not that it is soporific, but it is doled out in little bite-sized pieces. Or read on the train on the way to work in order to enjoy an otherwise mundane trip. Or take on holidays and read on the beach.

It is not trying to be profound or make massive statements about the deeper issues of travel at every turn. It is, however, fun and interesting.

No doubt about it, Millman is a consummate travel writer. We see him in the South Seas, in the Far North, in the Eduadorian jungle--it's amazing, the places he gets to. Millman doesn't just hang around the fun spots, either--he has a compulsion to get to the out of the way places, to see the unusual things. And he also has a knack for finding people, guides usually, and having telling experiences and interactions with them. These interactions become the vehicle for the story. It may be with an Eskimo in Larador, or with scientists studying headshrinkers in Eduacor--Millman sees them perceptively and tells about them with humor. Beyond the brilliant travel writing and storytelling, it's the humor that makes these essays and this book so very entertaining. Millman is one of the funniest writers I've ever read, and should be placed among the great humorists as well as the best travel writers.

What's it like to actually go somewhere remote like Banda (part of Indonesia)? Or to Gwaii Haanas, the ancient home of the Haida Indians (near British Columbia's Queen Charlotte Islands)? Or Sark, which claims to be Britain's last stronghold of feudalism?

Ask Larry Millman. He loves the world's remote places, and he searches them out, the way a wine lover might search for a particular vintage, or a mycologist might look for a rare mushroom. His accounts of his travels give you the feeling that you're been there at his good-natured side the whole time, seeing what he sees and enjoying it all. And lucky you: He, as the writer, had to endure the freezings, the drenchings, the fearful climbs, the tumbles into rocky ravines, the difficulties of eating local foods, while you, the reader, get away with merely a vicarious shudder or two.

Because of the unusual places he goes, Millman could be called an adventure-travel writer, but he offers none of the usual macho bravado that so often accompanies these kinds of dispatches. His travels don't lack for physical challenges, but it is the place he visits - however difficult it might be - and not his ability to conquer it that interests him. Nor does he promote a site as a place for others to visit, except, of course, by reading his books. As a result, he can write about remote locations while avoiding the Outside Magazine Curse, which is that simply writing about a remote spot can trigger the horde of visitors that will destroy its beauty and uniqueness.

Buy this well-written book. You'll be glad you did.

Unless you are an avid viewer of the "History Channel", the average person would think that World War Two, was Pearl Harbor,
Normandy, Gasoline Rationing, the Atom Bomb and it was over.
For America, the war started with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Then there were grueling days that turned into months. There were invasions in the cold and the snow. Invasions of islands, that if you were not paying attention, you could sail right by. Invasions involving thousands of men, thousands of pieces of equipment, mountains of munitions. The list of invasions in World War Two, numbers in the thousands.
But we are familiar with only a few. What we get in reading
"Gemini Ship" is a chance to experience, every invasion
involved "Real Guys". Guys that bitched about everything, were
anxious about getting the job done and doing a good job, wishing the days would go by faster, hoping the mail would keep up with them. Hoping the entire War would be over the next time they heard Revellie. They were the "Greatest Generation" earning their stripes on the Pacific Ocean. In the 3 years and 10 months
America was fighting, we have been told 40 percent of the stories
about the prosecution of the war. This book tells us about the men who were there. You will enjoy yourself reading this book.

I was a member of the Massachesetts Maritme Academy that took the USS Doyen APA-1 out of the moth ball fleet to prepare it for a training ship. Reading Larry Marsden's book made the ship and its accomplishments in WW11 a real person. It truly had a dual purpose in life. The men that served during the war and the cadets that trained in later years joined spiritual forces and lived in those passageways and on those decks in a strange symbietic way. A great tribute to the Amphibious Fleet and a great linkage to a nautical educational experience.

Board the U.S.S. Doyen with the author. Sail into the cool, misty waters off Kiska. Carouse with your shipmates during the journey of a lifetime. Engage the enemy at Iwo Jima. Reflect on how it all affected you. A must read for WWII scholars, all Armed Servicemen, and anyone interested in the human side of the last great war.

Gobo won the Best Book in Education Award this year from Independent Publisher.

I am not a neutral reviewer. I am Lawrence Baines' brother. I am also not a teacher, though education has long been an intense passion of mine. For ten years now I have been a member and officer of SEAL (Society for Effective and Affective Learning). I have always admired Lawrence's many creative pursuits in music and art, and have long wondered just why he had decided to lend his great passion and enthusiasm to traditional education. The answer is that the field of education in which he works is a long way from traditional education. He is a revolutionary who continually seeks to bring that, perhaps, childish delight and joy of learning back into the classroom. Going Bohemian is a delightful collaboration of a group of very competent and passionate people who are all committed to empowering education and to making it more efficient, effective and fun for all concerned. There is no dry education theory in this book. It is a collection of very compelling ideas to fire and hold the attention of student and teacher alike. As I read it, I got excited as I turned page after page which I could vividly see transforming the boring thing which I have long considered traditional education to be. You can't go wrong. Buy, read, and use this book. Robert Baines

Going Bohemian is an excellent resource for the classroom teacher. Its innovative suggestions for enhancing the writing assignments in English class are state-of-the-art and will excite both students and teachers. I have tried several of the writing projects with my students, and I enjoy the enthusiasm with which they have been met. The variety, freshness, and appeal to adolescent interests of Bohemian's writing assignments should make it a staple in language arts classrooms.