Stuart L. Schneider's dynamic Halloween In America: A Collector's Guide With Prices spectacularly captures the spirit of the classic years of the American Halloween tradition: the period from the turn of the century through the end of the nineteen-fifties. Though the book includes more recent material, Schneider wisely focuses on what he recognizes to be the holiday's glory days in this country, when its spirit hadn't moved too far from its agricultural roots and American culture was predominantly positive, forward-looking, and uncynical--and its Halloween decorations charming and vividly imaginative.

The book opens with three short, loosely-composed essays, "A Brief History Of Halloween," "The Colors And Images Of Halloween," and "Halloween In America." Schneider, who provides no source material, is often broadly correct but specifically wrong. He suggests, for instance, that the Druids may have built Stonehenge when it has been long established that they did not, and that 'Dryad' is another word for 'Druid.' The author also writes a paragraph about witches and "witch conventions" during the Celtic reign of the British Isles as if this were an established historical fact, embellishing his account with images of witches stirring cauldrons, speaking in tongues, dancing around bon fires, and sacrificing animals; if Schneider knows this to be historically factual, then he has access to information the rest of the world doesn't. He also discusses 'Samhain' as a god of the Celtic people who "controlled the dead or non-growing season," when whether or not 'Samhain' was a Celtic deity or even an entity, rather than a season or holiday, is something currently hotly debated among historians, scholars, and Wiccans.

Schneider is to be commended for his honesty in addressing some of the more unpleasant aspects of the holiday and its associations head-on, as well as for the wonderful historical scope he provides in placing Halloween origins in a wide, multi-cultural context. Readers will find a rich phantasmagoria of topics discussed in the essays, including the custom of sin eating, All Saints' and All Souls' Days, the belief in the 'veil between worlds' and the return of the dead to their families one the night of the harvest feast, the story of 'Jack of the Lantern,' Snap-Apple and Crack-Nut Nights, apple bobbing, fortune-telling, the Scottish influence on American Halloween traditions, Cabbage and Mischief Nights, the various theories surrounding the origin of trick-or-treating, the meaning of the literal 'scapegoat' and its influence of the appearance of the Christian Devil, the Mexican Day of the Dead, and even mention of the elves, gnomes, boogies, and goblins with which agrarian societies peopled the forests and fields.

The gorgeous main portion of the book is dedicated to collectible items and includes sections on Postcards, Decorations, Lanterns, Costumes, Hats and Masks, Noisemakers, Invitations, Games and Toys, Trick Or Treat Bags, and Vegetable People, Figurines and Candy Containers.

Halloween In America is by far the best of the books on Halloween collectibles available, and also the best of the Schiffer books on the subject. Many readers will remember these items from their childhood homes, classroom bulletin boards, Five & Dime store shelves and windows, and neighborhood parties. Readers will also be astonished at how the painters, artisans, and creators of these crepe paper, cardboard, composition, glass, and celluloid items were able to envision and capture what we remember and still think of as the very essence of holiday, and in a wide variety of forms: lonely, barren, orange-skied landscapes with setting suns ablaze or yellow rising moons, black cats and owls lurking in pumpkin patches with an anthropomorphic moon overhead, witches flying on broomsticks in formation over dark, isolated houses, skeletons parading in graveyards, etc.

Folklorists, sociologists, academics, and artists may have special appreciation for the visionary and sometimes surreal paintings, illustrations, and three-dimensional designs revealed here. One 1908 German postcard portrays a witch, a black cat and a vegetable spirit riding in a car made of a partially hollowed-out watermelon with squash-slice tires; another portrays a red-caped witch riding a immense cob of husked corn like a phallus-conquering Amazon through the stratosphere, with an astonished moon and planet Jupiter looking on; and a third, from 1911, shows children happily bobbing for apples in their warm, cozy home, while a tall, red-skirted, stone-faced witch, accompanied by an owl and a black cat, looks in at the window like the ultimate outsider and a disenfranchised, but still proud and powerful, loner. An entire page is devoted to 1910 postcards of anthropomorphic vegetables riding cars, dancing with or chasing fairies, and joyfully imitating human family practices. Others display Rockwell-like scenes of boys and girls carving pumpkins or trick-or-treating, or elderly women in dimly-lit Victorian mansions being frightened by children's pranks and high jinks.

Throughout the book, visionary landscapes and distant horizons beckon; curly-toed elves spring from hollow trees and slide gleefully down rooftops; lone witches warm their hands at their cauldrons under brilliant, star-filled skies; beautiful young ladies sleep fitfully on ruffled pillows while fairies circle their heads; peaked-hat shadows stretch in threateningly at midnight doorways; black cats screech to their own banjo, accordion, violin, and horn playing; and scarecrows extend their arms heavenwards to frighten off their circling opponents.

Readers will run for their magnifying and/or reading glasses so that none of the often minute detail will escape their gaze and inspection. Halloween In America is a huge treat, will make collectors and seekers out of most, and hopefully inspire generations to come to celebrate and pass on the traditions recorded here. Highly recommended to holiday lovers, educators, folklorists, Scout leaders, and all lovers of Americana.

This is much more than a book for collectors of Halloween.This is the best book on the subject. I've read all the others and this is the bible of Halloween. If you have only one book on Halloween, this has to be the one. It brings back childhood. This book is really a look at what Halloween means. Ghosts and goblins, fall colors, adventure and childhood fears. I've read mine over and over and over again.

ellen zieselman is a brilliant writer. a magical piece. i hope she goes on to write others.

This is a delightful representation of the artist and his work, beautifully and clearly written and magically photographed. It will make an enthusiast of the casual observer!

I've always been an avid journal-keeper, but I know many people have a hard time getting started on the process. I have suggested many books, web sites, etc., to a friend, but she always had a hard time just begining. I gave her this book, and she just took off! What a gift it is to be able to help someone begin this wonderful process.

This terrific little book is as good as you make it! The suggested journal entries really help walk you through, step-by-step, in getting to understand yourself better. It helped me realize what made me tick -- and see some things I can change.

This is the book that started me on a path of Anne Stuart addiction. Once I read it in 1992 when it was first released, I went in search of all Anne's titles. When reading this book, I feel the sultry heat of the bayou, see Caleb's bad-boy face and become Jassy. What a wonderful read!

When I first received this book in the mail, I was disappointed because it was a Harlequin Romance, but Anne Stuart proved once again that you can't tell a book by it's publisher. Excellent reading! Caleb Spencer has the perfect amount of bad boy in him to make him interesting. I only wish I knew when the tv movie was playing on Romance Classics so I could tune in.

If you ever wanted to know about the history of one of the most popular restaurant chains in the U.S., this book is a must read! Not only does it provide a very interesting history about the Stuart Anderson's chain, but also has recipes and tips on selling beef. If you love the restaurant, you'll love the book! Stuart Anderson did an incredible job with this book.

"Here's The Beef" is a fascinating glimpse into the mysterious other side of the restaurant business. As I turned the pages I gained new understanding as to all the preparations that go into presenting the delicious meals to the customers.

Stuart Anderson's rise to the top in the restaurant business is a story of success over adversity. This book is a must read for anyone who enjoys steak, likes to cook steak and most of all buys steak. The recipies are mouth-watering!!!

If your idea of Western wear is John Wayne in chaps and creased 10 gallon hat - forget it. Rolling Stone Press Editor Holly George-Warren and clothing designer Michelle Freedman have produced a luxe look at Western garb that is more Las Vegas than Laredo.

The iconic American cowboy typifies our country's spirit to many, from New York City sidewalk stompers who have no saddles but don boots to diamond encrusted Grammy award winners who twang with the best of them.

So, for those attracted by the lore and lure of ranching days, here is a photographed filled bow to all garb Western. It begins with the practical clothing needed by scours, traders, and ranch workers, then details how early movie stars such as Tom Mix, Gene Autry, Dale Evans and Roy Rogers spurred a popular trend in cowboy wear.

That vogue was to later influence British rock musicians and high end fashion designers such as Ralph Lauren.
"There's a little bit of cowboy in everybody," the foreword states and that would be seem to be true as the pages of How The West Was Worn reveal glimpses of tastefully displayed silver buckles, jauntily worn Stetsons, and rhinestone embellished rigs that never saw a range.

- Gail Cooke

A colorful and comprehensive examination of American style at it's most iconic - the authors have done a wonderful job telling the story of how cowboy duds came to symbolize America the world over. A must have for anyone interested in the West, design, decorative arts, fashion, pop culture or Americana/American History. The book is gorgeously presented, expertly written and endlessly entertaining, the photography is beautiful, and the interviews are rare and revealing. From the plains and frontiers, to Buffalo Bill to the Hollywood Cowboy, Country & Western, Rock & Roll, the current fashion craze, the authors leave no cowpie unturned as they reveal how the cowboy hat became our collective unconscious. The most complete record of the lives and work of N. Turk, Rodeo Ben, and Nudie to date. How did the famed North Hollywood rodeo tailor get men in the 20th century to wear fanciful embroidered and rhinestoned creations, that became more and more elaborate in a competitive fervor to outshine each other?(And how did Keith Richards cause him to draw the line?) Find out. From the fanatical to the casual observer, and especially anyone who has ever bedazzled denim or worn a pair of cowboy boots, all will treasure this book.

The perfect first book on analog electronics for students and practitioners of electro-physiology. A hands-on book. Presents just enough basic theory to accomplish design goals without bogging down in complete analysis. Full of practical advice on lab electronics, grounding problems, etc. Emphasizes op amp circuits and their use. I wish this book were reprinted... the type of advice it gives is still useful in today's digital world.

If you'd like to build simple yet effective circuits, this is the book to get. It assumes you don't know much about electrical engineering and steers you through the principles of designing with op amps. It teaches by presenting "recipe" circuits and discussing why they are put together the way they are, how they can be adjusted and modified, and what pitfalls to expect. The author expects you to read the book, soldering iron in hand.

Table of Contents:

1. A Little Circuit Theory and an Instrument or Two

2. The Op-Amp and How to Make It Work for You

3. Op-Amp Applications for Fun and Profit

4. Biomedical Applications of Op-Amp Circuits

5. The Op-Amp as Analog Computer

6. Op-Amp Problems and How to Fix Them

7. Discrete Devices (If You Must Use Them)

8. Conclusions

Example projects include band-pass filters, phase-shift oscillators, function generators, rigs for measuring skin resistance, radio telemetry and a setup for recording to a cassette recorder. The chapter on biomedical applications includes information on EEG and EKG systems. It considers the use of isolation amplifiers.

The book is sprinkled with cartoons. They're not quite John Callahan, but they produce a chuckle or two. Page 1 is the only published source I've ever seen for the resistor color code mneumonic "Bad Boys Rape Our Young Girls But Violet Gives Willingly."

This book was a great help in understanding the business of commercial acting and modeling. It gives you a well rounded understanding of what to do in any given situation in this industry.

I truley enjoyed the book, " How to Enter the business of Commercial Modeling & Acting...Without Getting Ripped Off!"! I have learned how to act in college, but never how to make great money acting in the business! I never realized how simple it was for someone to get started in commercial modeling and acting! This book is great because it holds your hand throughout the book and makes it so simple to get started. I have already loaned it to a few freinds and a stage mom or two! It was also great to read the interviews from actors, models and the folks who hire talent. The book covered the entire spectrum of the business. I would advise that not only "new" talent read this but experienced as well. I think it is awesome that the author took the time to write this book because anyone reading it CAN NOT GET SCAMMED IN THE INDUSTRY! Like Morgan Creek Productions quoted on the back of the book, "Shark repellent for the sertious actor" it couldn't have been said better! So many people think that they have to be beautiful to model...WRONG! The Author made a great point..He said that "real" people target the"real" consumer. As a matter of fact, when I watched TV after reading the book, it was about 80% real people in the tv commercials. Even radio commercials lately have the everyday type of voice as opposed to the radio announcer type of voice. I never realized there was such a demand for people like me in the commercial industry.

This is the only book for HTML 4.01 needed. Written and arranged so that information is easily found and understood. An excellent, comprehensive resource for both novice and experienced alike as it touches on everything one would need to know, forms-tables-style sheets-deprecated's, etc.

Honestly, I just got the book today. But guess what, I've been glued to my desk for 5 hours by now... First of all, if you know what it feels like to have ALL of your questions answered regarding the webpage you're working on then you know how I feel right now. This book is every bit competent as it was written to be - an html "reference." I am no newbie in html but still, I like how the book organize and explain the syntax and methodology of this language. My favorite section of the book was on style sheets, not only did I learn quite a few new tricks (or maybe they were simply not listed in my other reference) but I also found the cross-browser reference very useful. This is a fantastic reference that's full of examples and thoughtful materials. Just so you know, my other reference is the well-know "html 4 for the world wide web" by Elizabeth Castro. I must say it is well deserved the praise and hypes because nothing I've seen can topper this champ for for it's purpose -- it'll get you started in no time. But trust me, after you start programming in html for a while, you'll need a more in-depth reference. well, look no further, this is IT. At first I was hesitated to buy this book because there's no review on it......now I'm just a happy reader.

This book is fascinating. I was delighted that - although I am not a psychoanalyst - the book is written with such clarity that I could easily understand its complex psychological concepts.

I was attracted to the book because I am a writer and it contains a section about creativity and addiction which I found extraordinarily insightful.

This book makes excellent reading and is also a useful tool for self-examination.

Hungers and Compulsions, co-edited by Jean Petrucelli, Ph.D. and Catherine Stuart, Ph.D. is an ambitious, thought-provoking and perhaps even life-altering, collection of scholarly writings by various experts on "addiction" in the broadest sense of the term.

While the book is targeted primarily at professionals in the fields of psychology/psychiatry, etc., as a lay person, I find myself reading it "compulsively" (if you'll excuse the pun), since it offers fascinating insights into areas which may touch our lives or the lives of those we know -- hunger disorders, cigarette smoking, alcoholism and drug addiction, etc.

The book also explores the patient-therapist relationship, from unique vantage points: often that of the therapist and his or her own needs or the analysis of a literary character's behavior.

If you are looking for substantive summer reading, I think you'll find it dulce et utile. After reading the first few chapters, I was shocked to find myself in the exercise room for the first time in my life! Perhaps it was the image of the coughing cigarette smoker or the patient who yanked and ate her hair. Hopefully, it will inspire others towards positive change, as well.