This book is a confusing set of devices and instructions for players and storytellers alike. It is hard to read and equally hard to understand--i found my High School government textbook easier to read than this. However, if you do want to give you Tremere scorcer/witch a bit more depth i would recomend this book, and its companion book.

I will rarely say in these reviews on Amazon.com that that "only X type of person should read this" but this review is one exception. I think this book has so much information, so many great ideas and guidelines, and clan background that it is really only useful for storytellers and maybe wouldbe writers who like the "world of darkness". I think a player would get a lot of ideas, many of which would not be compatible with a story from this book so the best way to combat that and still allow Tremere and other magic using Kindred to develop would be for storyteller and player to look at this book together. I think it does a good job of detailing how to design paths and rituals, a sample worksheet might help in this regard, but also in talking about the limitations of the practice of bloodmagic.

A book detailing the complex discipline of Thaumaturgy has been long needed. This is a really good one and while it doesn't solve all the problems created by the past handling of Thaumaturgy in VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE, it goes a long way toward clarifying and further developing the discipline.

The book discussed the history and theory of vampiric blood magic. We learn that it predates the Tremere, for example, and hear about basic principles of magical workings. There is discussion about the difference between a Tremere vampire and a True Mage (metaphysical, mostly, and assumes familiarity with MAGE- for more practical instructions on vampires and mages, see VAMPIRE: STORYTELLERS HANDBOOK), how non-Tremere might learn Thaumaturgy and some examples of arcane tomes. Most of it is clearly explained (with few exceptions like the unnecessarily ambiguous section about the difference between spirits and demons).

There are welcome sections outlining the Koldunic sorcery of the Tzimisce (finally!) and voodoo-derived traditions of Necromancy. Both the Assamites and the Setites have their own traditions of blood magic, detailed here. There are paths derived from Alchemy and Kaballah. Biothaumatugy is recycled from SECRETS OF THE BLACK HAND.

Unfortunately, while the material introduced here is superb, the book doesn't pull together the various little bits of Thaumaturgy scattered between VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE and VAMPIRE: DARK AGES. It just once again gives us more and better. It would have been nice, for example, to have an appendix showing which previously introduced paths and rituals are in which books. Furthermore, some storytellers seem intimidated about Thaumaturgy and disallow it as "too complicated". Step by step instructions (and a pep talk) might have been good, too. I should mention also that this book is about vampiric blood magic ONLY- no numinas or hedge magic more appropriate to allies like ghouls.

In The Death of Competition, James Moore asks us to reconsider the way we think about business at the most basic level. In this thought provoking analysis, Moore takes us from the Hawaiian Islands to the jungles of Costa Rica, and from war torn Mogadishu to the boardrooms of Wal-Mart and Intel. Clearly this is a book that goes far beyond the standard boundaries of a "business" book.

Moore tells us that we need to consider our business as being part of an "ecosystem". Whereas the value chain would encompass suppliers and distributors, the ecosystem is much broader. Members of the ecosystem may sell complimentary products, after sales services, or other products and services that are vital to the overall customer experience. Even when considering the members of the value chain, Moore tells us to think in terms of the ecosystem, and look for ways of making the connections deeper, stronger, and more to our advantage. Among other examples, Moore shows us how Wal-Mart, by forging relationships with suppliers that are much closer than the classic manufacturer-retailer relationship, has positioned itself at the center of an ecosystem that is stable and strong. In another section, he compares the way that Intel fostered an ecosystem around the Pentium line of microprocessors, and how the diversity and strength of this ecosystem kept other "ecosystems" such as Apple and Next, from encroaching. He also showed how Apple made it more difficult for other members of its ecosystem to co-evolve, making the entire Apple centered ecosystem weaker.

The central theme of the book is that business ecosystems, like biological ecosystems, evolve. Each of these evolutionary stages brings both opportunities and threats, and the businesses within ecosystems need to understand both the status of the ecosystem they are in, and their role in it, or they risk extinction.

First, Moore compares ecosystems in Hawaii and Costa Rica, showing how an isolated and protected ecosystem, such as Hawaii, can give rise to a rich and diverse ecosystem, but one that is fragile and easily overwhelmed by invading species. By comparison, the ecosystem of the Costa Rican jungle, on the bridge between North and South America, gives rise to species that have had to protect their niches from invaders on a regular basis, the result is a hardier, more robust ecosystem.

Having established the metaphor, Moore takes us through the four stages of ecosystem evolution: pioneering, growth, maturation, and renewal or death. First, he traces the history of the automotive industry ecosystems through all four stages, then he presents an in depth case study for each stage. The case studies are rich, diverse, and fascinating, ranging from the creation of a telephone system in Mogadishu to the prospects for health care in the U.S. Throughout the case studies Moore shows how decisions are made, and the effects of those decisions. In some of the most interesting analyses of the book, Moore examines the 7 "dimensions" of the ecosystem (customers, market, offers, processes, organizations, stakeholders, and values and policy) and shows how each of the dimensions evolve as the ecosystem evolves. He also shows us how to tell which stage of ecosystem evolution we are in, and what the critical success factors for each stage.

One of the most interesting, and surprising aspects of the book was Moore's emphasis on social responsibility, particularly for leading companies. An example of this emphasis is seen in the chapter on Wal-Mart. Moore notes that in many communities, Wal-Mart has completely displaced other retailers, and has done so in such an effective manner that there is no room for alternatives to enter the space. This strategy of "space packing" behind secure boundaries, has allowed Wal-Mart to grow into a huge organization and stable ecosystem. At the same time, Moore notes that this strategy leaves communities vulnerable to Wal-Mart, and hence opens Wal-Mart to a greater level of scrutiny than most other businesses. "In short, Wal-Mart is not just another business within its environment, and it should not expect to be treated as one. Perhaps the largest managerial challenge facing Wal-Mart today is how to invest in the relationship building, the public campaigning, and the substantive policy studies to assume its role as a leader of communities." Wow! Not just a business, but a leader of communities.

Moore carries this idea further in the final chapter, as he asks us first to think about our personal "ecosystems", and then to put the business ecosystem into a wider context. Moore states "As you invest in your own personal learning system and begin to experience problems more holistically,... a shift occurs in your perspective." First, he asks us to consider how "business is totally dependent on society", and how the "changing tides in a society" create the environment in which business operates. Next, he asks us to consider economic systems as subsystems of biological systems. After all, if all economic systems were eliminated, biological systems would still exist, but if the biological system were eliminated, the economic systems would not last very long. The upshot of this line of thought is that business needs to consider the impact it has as a business ecosystem interacts with and sometimes clashes with societal and biological ecosystems.

And it was here, in these final thoughts that Moore impressed me the most, and showed how this book is broader in scope, and more important than most other business books. No, this book won't tell you how to get new customers tomorrow, how to beat your competition or squeeze more productivity out of your employees. All this book will do is ask you to reconsider everything you thought about business and its place in society. That, I would say makes this book one of the most important books you could read.

The ecosystem approach to analyzing industries described by Moore is powerful. My friends managing high tech companies have used Moore's concepts and approachs to great success, particularly in changing and converging environments. Companies must learn to co-evolve and cooperate. This book tells you how.

Moore uses the metaphor of a "business ecosystem" to make sense of our complex and chaotic business landscape. He demonstrates how managers who think about "coevolving" with customers and suppliers can shape and capitalize on the rich opportunities that fluid business environments afford. Complete with analytical tools, illustrative case studies, and inspiring sections on leadership, this book could push the idea of alliance-based competition into widespread practice

This book is loads of fun, But is a little sketchy on charter creation.

Even if you don't play a Nuwisha, I recomend this book for pure entertainment value.

These are the ultimate Ragabash of the Changing Breeds. Everything you possibly need to know about them is in this book, including ideas on how to sneak them into a werewolf pack.

It's a little skinny, and could use an update.

If nothing else, ask your GM to borrow Nuwisha gifts and traits for use with your Ragabash werewolf; they should mesh well.

White-Wolf really did justice to every ones most loved and hated shape-shifters, the nuwisha. I really loved the art and information presented in whole! This book is a must for any white-Wolf RPer who enjoys to play a wild character!

This is really a good book for Java Developers who wish to develop XML based applications. Couple of chapters have good examples and explains concepts in a very clear format. Also the book is upto date with all the latest concepts in XML world.

I have been working with XML for a while now, and this book offered a great coverage of most aspects of what XML application developers need to know. I am not able to keep up with everything happening in this very broad part of the industry - and this book provided enough coverage of the areas I'm not able to focus on on a regular basis to help me stay current. I'd recommend it for anyone who's working with specific areas within XML and want to stay current with the broader scope of what is going on. I'd also recommend it for anyone who is new to XML and wants to know the various Java APIs out there.

This is surely one of the Best Books availale in Market for Java Developers. I have been waiting to read a Book which covers all the latest XML API and how use them using latest Java Tools. Thanks to Wrox Publications for bringing this book to us. It covers how to do XML programming using all the latest Java API line I/O Sockets, Developing Presentation Logic, Developing Configuration and Deployment logic, Using XML in B2B applications. In short no other book in Market provides such a clear understanding of how to develop Java Based XML Applications.

Also it clearly explains how to use the latest Java Based XML Parsers like Xerces, Xalan and more. Friends if you need to get upto date with all the latest Java Based Parsers and different XML API, then this Book is really the Best one.

This storyteller's screen is suitably moody, and the "Buried Secrets" book is useful, but neither is 100% essential for a good game of Wraith: The Oblivion. If you have a few bucks to spare, the elegantly dark screen will definitely contribute to the mood of the atmosphere (it looks great by candlelight), the nicely organized reference tables will be a great convenience, and the "Buried Secrets" book will give you a few good ideas.

I consider this screen to be the best White Wolf has made. It has the normal wraith/chains artwork, and spans an extra page from the other Stroyteller's Screens (4 pages total). Beyond that, it has similar information. I just feel it looks much better than the others, and I use it most of the time when I run my games. The book, Buried Secrets, has many little-known facts that are quite interesting. It has the most secrets about what's really going on in Wraith excluding, of course, Ends of Empire. While it is not incredibly useful from a gaming aspect, the book is a great tool to help design role-playing scenarios, as it gives enough information to better flesh out certain adventures that the main rulebook is vague on. I would recommend this book at least for storytellers, and for anyone who wishes to know more about the secrets of Wraith.

Wraith - The Oblivion is a great book. I just read it and I couldn't stop reading it. It adds a whole new dimension to WOD. I use to love playing Vampire the Masquerade but now my frineds and I play wraith. Charon plays a role similar to Caine, but he has his own accomplishments. Try to figure out who is Able (he is not under that name in the book). The Hierarchy is what I believe the Camarilla should have been created like. There is the Rebels for the rebels out there and theres the Heritics for you True Faith Players. The Shadowlands is a whole new world to roleplay.

I was hoping for something to read to a child. Instead I found Santa mixed up with the NRA and toting a Confederate flag. Adults may find this an amusing rendition of St. Nick's visit with clever illustrations - but I'd never read this to a child.

If you or someone you know is a genuine redneck--then buy this book! Davis crammed his book full of great lingo, authentic redneck details, and hilarious parody. Just don't try to drink an RC cola while you read, or you'll end up laughing and spewing it all over the book. Take it from one who knows!

Amusing and very creative in content. Sure to hold attention. Very good for Christmas. Adults will appreciate the book as well as children. Very colorful! Worth the money!

I've read all of the stories in this Batman TPB, and while the Bat-Mite and Poison Ivy tales are OK, the first tale, "Blades" by Robinson and Sale, is spectacular. If you're a fan of "Starman" or anything else by Robinson, buy this quick. If you like great storytelling and great art by Sale, buy this quick!

I especially liked the story with Bat-Mite! HE is so cute and funny. "Hothouse" is a little confusing though, but I think I pretty mush got it down.

Not to put the previous reviewer down, but which culture hasn't studied the constelations ("fixed stars") & plenets ("wandering stars") for centuries?

This is a great book. The wording is very practical and down to earth. The subject matter in most of these chapters is formidable (given the limited space), and allows dialog between the reader & writer. What I enjoyed the most was not the diversity that was braught to the book, but the depth of knowledge that was braught to it. The chapter written about Chinese "Five-Element" Astroloy was my favorite. For more info about "this stuff"; I recomend anything written by DEREK WALTERS.

Now if you'll me let complane (which is what most of the critiques on Amazon.com do), I'll share with you what I don't like about most practicing astrologers. Most people (including Fagan) try to dispute the validity of using one Zodiac over another (sidereal vs. tropical). But the fact is that some Zodiacs don't even use the ecliptic! Incuding Chinese astrology. Or the Nakshatras, which most western astrologers "throw in"! And this is my point, that these Zodiacs are a cration. Our creation! And that's what makes astrology valid! Remember Arroyo. Don't forget Arroyo. He said, "If astrology is in fact an emination of universal mind or 'Collective Unconscious' or anything like that, then instead of imposing foreign dogma on astrology, I would say, let us open our eyes to what astrology already is! Let's acknowledge its inherent, extremely sophisticated, psychological [soulful] dimentions. It's all there. It's a tremendous tool, a language of consciousness and inner experience... This is one reason why traditional astrology has become quite meaningless to many of us; the astrology has not for the most part evolved to keep pace with our growth [in] consciousness. And it's why every culture has it's own astrology-the consciousness of that culture determines what level of understanding they can have of astrology."

I really need to emphisise this feeling I have about these truths! It seems as though all we need to do is look up and astrology becomes valid, alive because we are!

For another "good read" try The Origin of The Zodiac by Rupert Gleadow.

This is a book about astrology from China, India and Tibet. I do not know of any other book in which there are so many different astrological techniques from the East. Everything is clearly explained. In this book, you will find the wisdom of the sages of the East who have spotted the stars and planets for centuries. Now you can learn about their insights.

I have not cooked anything from this book yet, so I cannot comment on the recipes. However, I was disappointed that there are very few photographs or pictures and the recipe font size is very small.

I received this as a gift and have really enjoyed it. I've tried a dozen or so recipes and they all been delicious. It's true that it does not have the number of photos McNair devotees are used to, but I would say that every recipe is a winner- perhaps not true of some of McNair's single subject books. The directions are very clearly written and easy to follow. Many easy enough for weekday, after work dinners; others require more prep either in cooking or shopping (although good guidance is provided on more hard-to-find ingredients). The best part is the a great range of recipes- a one-stop source for inspiration.

Math Bridge 5th Grade is in its second printing. DO NOT WASTE your money on this $10.00 book. You go to the first page of problems (page 5) and look at problem #14.

"Choose the decimal for 91/2 (Nine and a half)." ANSWER: 9.12 WRONG! Answer should be 9.5. This is an example of the book. Poor review and editing. Should have been caught in the first printing and corrected in the second.

I am a middle school math teacher who found these books to be very helpful. I am always on the lookout for workbooks that provide extra help on basic skills. These books fit the bill. Some answers are incorrect, but the majority can be checked with a calculator. These books provide good reteaching concepts as well as a good variety of sample problems. If you are looking to help your child in math, I would suggest these books.

I LOVE this series. It has been useful as reteach pages as well as make-up work assignments for absent students. The top of the page teaches the skill and there are plenty of practice problems without overwhelming the student.