Robert Fisk's "Pity The Nation" is the most comprehensive, unbiased book ever written about the Lebanon's tragic civil war. Whereas most authors about this subject have written these books relying on newpaper clippings and rumours, and based on a very biased perspective, Fisk gets down and dirty from the beginning to the end. He has spent almost the entire period from 1975 until the war's conclusion in Lebanon, traveling from Beirut to Sidon to the Bekaa valley to the ignored villages of the south which were under occupation to Damascus, living out the war with the various militia's and the civilians, who took the brunt of the fighting. His detailed description of the rise and quick fall of the Phalangists and their leader, Bashir Gamayel America's ignorance towards what would bring peace to Lebanon, the links between the Shias' inspirational resurrection and Khomenei's revolution, Israel's bruatality, Syria's involvment and the misery of the Palestinian refugees is unparalleled in its depth and coverage. Fisk, through facing the realities of the situation, has a real understanding of the situation. The way he goes about describing the dire situation of the Lebanese and the Palestinians as well as the uncertainties he and his collegues feel about their safety in Lebanon, and the eventual kidnapping of Terry Anderson, makes this book read somewhat like a novel. Even if you know nothing about the Middle East, pick up this book.

The author provides a first hand account on the civil war that ravaged Lebanon for more than 15 years. Having been a journalist for the British Times and now the Independent in London, he lived and reported from the part of the country that suffered most, West Beirut. Robert Fisk provides detailed analysis of the war, the politics, and describes the gruesome attacks and massacres on civilians by the Israelis and their allies. He witnesses the kidnapping of his fellow journalists and narrowly escapes it himself. He discusses both the Syrian and Israeli invasions of Lebanon. The author maintains, as humanly possible, objectivism as he reports on this war with no winners. Excellent reading. Cynical writing. Good history book for non-lebanese and for those with little knowledge on the war.

Robert Fisk has produced the most accurate book that describes Lebanon between 1975 and 1990. This is the most factual book that you will ever read about Lebanon.

No doubt the book is a little draggy and you can glean a lot of what Musil wants to say in his earlier more tightly written work. But, read this work (I've read this work twice) with the unpublished posthumous papers and you will get a feel of the vast scale of this masterpiece. If Musil had lived to complete this masterwork the way it would have inveitably turned out, it would have been the greatest novel of the century. It would have been the consummation of European thought of several centuries placed in context of both the first and second world wars...now that's something to think about.

Of all the great European novelists of the first third of the century -- Marcel Proust, James Joyce, Franz Kafka, Thomas Mann, Knut Hamsun, Herman Hesse -- Robert Musil is far and away the least read; and yet he's as shapely as Gibbon, as mordant as Voltaire, as witty as Oscar Wilde and as indecent as Arthur Schnitzler, a fellow Viennese writer who gets more attention. "The Man Without Qualities" is an extraordinary amalgam of the formidable, the delicious and the unfinished; and no doubt each of these attributes is in some measure dissuasive.

If we take it that the characteristics of 20th-century life are fatuity, doubt and confusion; the "barbaric fragmentation" of the self, where "impersonal matters . . . go into the making of personal happenings in a way that for the present eludes description"; a crisis of individual identity and collective purpose -- then it is Musil's astonishing achievement to make a comedy of all this.

The book begins with a baroque meteorological description; its first action is a car accident; the hero is first seen looking out of a window, stopwatch in hand, conducting a statistical survey of passing traffic. Can there be any doubt that it is a prophetic book about our world? Musil is us. The world of "global Austria" in 1913 and "the Parallel Action" -- the plan, in the novel, to claim 1918 for the jubilee celebrating the 70th year of the reign of the Emperor Francis Joseph before the Germans get it for Kaiser Wilhelm's 30th, made nonsense of by the intervention of World War I -- is our world of the United Nations International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction and other fatuous schemes. While Musil's contemporaries Proust and Joyce chose interiority and the private world of memory, Musil is uncannily prescient about modern life, where sportsmen and criminals are indifferently idolized, where quantity sits in judgment on quality, so that an author, as Musil puts it, "must have an awful lot of like-minded readers before he can pass for an impressive thinker," where we sit and stew among "bobsled championships, tennis cups and luxury hotels along great highways, with golf course scenery and music on tap in every room." So "The Man Without Qualities" is satire; as one character says, "The man of genius is duty bound to attack." However, it is not harsh satire, nor is it sour. There is something loving about it. Musil's tone is unlike anyone else's. Partly it is the Austrian melancholy that underlies the book, the melancholy of a defunct empire, of a closed conditional: what was to happen did not. WHAT if, the novel implies, instead of expressing itself in the carnage of World War I, human folly had chosen another form? Partly it is the equable irony that plays over every character, institution and group in the book that makes reading Musil such an exquisitely flattering experience. No characters in the book escape mockery -- especially for taking themselves so seriously. All of them are skewed and partial, but none are caricatures; perhaps the book's almost complete lack of physical description plays a part here -- and yet, in spite of that, you feel you could pick them out in a lineup. They are Musil's puppets.

In his early career he wrote stories, plays and novels that had a certain popularity. But none of those prepare a reader for the expanse of "The Man Without Qualities". It took up the last two decades of his life, before he died in self-imposed exile in Switzerland in 1942, at the age of 61. It is a quite overwhelming novel, quite indeed...

I've only gotten through volume l and part of volume ll (so far). I agree that I find it incredible that Musil is not as well known as Proust...he's his equal as a writer and in my opinion a much finer thinker. The brilliance of the book is in the extended introspections rather than the events...the multi-page musings on the human condition illustrate the timeless aspects of what we conceitedly think of as our "post-modern" psychic quandry. In common with Proust we are inside the protagonist's head, but in the third rather than first person, which gives the experience a different feel...we're a little outside at the same time. It's a ghostlier sort of connection, but I think equally as immediate. We walk the streets of Vienna as vividly as Chambray, but, perhaps Ullrich's less romantic nature, I find him a better correspondent. His perceptions are intellectual rather than the sensual, and yet, experiencing that intellect is a sensual experience for the reader (at least for this one!)

A note: I do not think the recent translation compares to the original English one...it may read more breezily, but my brief comparison suggests that it loses a LOT of subtlety in trying to achieve a more colloquial, effortless, less dated narrative voice. For instance, a passage in the original English translation reading "knowledge was beginning to become unfashionable" is translated in the new as "science became outdated". Two totally different meanings, and the first is clearly closer, given the context..(in which Musil is waxing sarcastic about a silly but dangerous bourgeois "believing" fad - spookily portentious of the Hitler era). An incredibly absorbing psychological novel...if your reading time is precious...nothing will reward more deeply or stay with you longer.

My North Carolina grandmother, born in 1888, read the 12 Miss Minerva series books to me when I was a young child in the 50's. She brought the antics of William Green Hill, Jimmy Garner, Frances, Lina, Wilkes Booth Lincoln, Aunt Cindy, Pilljerk Peter, Aunt Peruny Pearline to life, and I can still hear the words ringing in my ears as she read this book in the dialect of the southern Negro. Some feel that these aren't politically correct books for today's youth, but I feel that there are some innocent truths to be learned from reading these books, that come from the mouths of the children in them. They show how easily children of all races get along when the prejudices of their elders aren't present. The real life character upon which these books are based is William Green Hill who died at 64, the son of a prominent Tennessee physician Dr. Lafayette Hill. His sister, Mrs. S. A. Hamilton had not seen her brother in 15 years when he died of a heart attack alone and penniless in an empty railroad coal car on the outskirts of Pueblo, Colorado. My grandmother clipped the small article from the newspaper about Mr. Hill, which I have kept in my copy of the first of the books which were written about his life. The first book, Miss Minerva and William Green Hill, was originally written by Frances Boyd Calhoun who died, and was continued by Emma Speed Sampson, who wrote the sequel Billy and the Major, Miss Minerva's Baby, Miss Minerva on the Old Plantation, Miss Minerva Broadcasts Billy, Miss Minerva's Scallywags, Miss Minerva's Problem, Miss Minerva's Vacation, Miss Minerva's Neighbors, Miss Minerva's Mystery, Miss Minerva Goin' Places, and one other title. There also is a book named Miss Minerva's Cookbook which was so rare that a copy of this book is going for $1,000 at rare out of print used book stores. I certainly love to see that the University of Tennessee has brought back the first of this series, and I would love to see them bring back to print the rest of the series for a new generation of children to enjoy and understand the happiness and delicate, intricate balance that exists in childhood play between children of all races.

I read this book as a very young child and, as I collect old children's books, ran across it in my searches. Of course, I read it again and enjoyed it even more this time. I suppose it is"politically incorrect" now, but that's the way things were then--right or wrong. I still find the book both funny and sweet. I had no idea that someone had created a series after Mrs. Calhoun's death. I would love to find some of them.

I read all 9 books in this series and enjoyed the humor of Billy's exploits with his Aunt Minerva and the neighborhood children. The children of this era made their own entertainment, played "pretend" and spent a lot of time outdoors-life was rather pastoral. However, Billy managed to keep everyone hopping. I'd describe the book as an early "Little Rascals" of the South. Well written, humorous and filled with the innocence of the era. Billy and his friends seem to have to learn everything the hard way!! Historically, it occurs in an era of segregation; however, it also demonstrates that children accept each other far more easily than adults do.

Owls in the Family is a good book. This book is good because it has action and adventure. Owl lovers should read this book. It takes place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It is all the way in Canada. A boy named Billy wanted an owl and his dream came true. He got an owl. You should get this book now. You should get this book at your nearest bookstore!!

This warm, poignant, funny book is a wonderful demonstration of how even ONE person can help wildlife in trouble. Even better to think that little boy grew up to be a world-class advocate of animal and eskimo rights. Farley Mowat is a treasure. Thank heaven the grade school teacher at a school in Temple, Texas assigned Owls as a class project. Thank heaven the only book left in the library was "Owls in the Family." Farley Mowat has brought great laughter and poignancy to my family and is spoken of as a friend. We always say -- "Want to read a wonderful book (author) read "Owls in the Family" (Farley Mowat) !!

Owls in the Family is wonderfully funny nonfiction book about A boy and his two owls. Many times I laughed out loud. A wonderful read !

Written by a medical doctor, a naturopath and a pediatric nurse, this comprehensive A-to-Z quick reference guide gives you what you need, when you need it, without having to waste any time wading through all the fluff.

At-a-glance options for the most common childhood ailments are provided, along with a guide to common symptoms, dosage guidelines for herbs and nutritional supplements and of course the huge yet easy to navigate A-to-Z listing. Excellent suggestions for each illness are provided in 9 different categories of healthcare:

Conventional Treatment
Dietary Guidelines
Nutritional Supplements
Herbal Treatment
Homeopathy
Acupressure
Bach Flower Remedies
General Recommendations
Prevention

I pass by all the others on my bookshelves and never fail to find just what I need in this wonderfully written and thorough compilation. Between my conservative, conventional husband and my own more holistic instincts, Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child greatly pleases and helps BOTH of us.

With 470 oversized pages, this tome is HUGE and a great bargain even at the full ... retail price. I can't tell you how thrilled I was when this book arrived in the mail! In addition to the main meat of the book, the authors thoughtfully provide a plethora of other helpful information to assist you in caring for your child, divided into three separate and neatly organized chapters.

Part One: The Elements of Healthcare
You'll get the basics (and then some) on all of the above listed 9 categories of healthcare ' history of each method, how and why they work, common treatments and how to administer them properly. There is even a ten-page section on pregnancy and your newborn as well as a helpful checklist for assembling a comprehensive home health kit.

Part Two: Common Childhood Health Problems
The nitty gritty of this book which features the A-to-Z listing and suggestions.

Part Three: Therapies and Procedures
So you might possibly be interested in using acupressure to help your child who keeps wetting the bed, but have no idea how to properly do this. This section of the book will give you brief instructions along with an illustrated chart of common acupressure points on a child's body. You'll also find other helpful information such as CPR procedures and illustrations for infants and children, first aid for choking, how to prepare herbal treatments (baths, teas, ointments, tinctures, etc.), relaxation techniques for your child, and more. The small section at the end of this chapter, on 'time outs', is the only part of the book that I do not fully agree with or recommend. The rest of the book is so incredibly valuable that it is easy for me to simply overlook these one and a half pages.

At the end of the book you will find a helpful glossary, a chart of common medical abbreviations, a guide to recommended suppliers, a listing of resource organizations and even a listing of toll-free hotlines on a number of parenting issues.

An excellent companion to this book is 'A Parent's Guide to Medical Emergencies: A quick and easy-to-use handbook to the most common childhood accidents', written by the same trio of authors/experts and presented in the same easy A-to-Z format. Between these two books, my husband and I have become deeply educated about our son's health and have never felt more confident about the choices we are making on his behalf. If you are an involved parent, Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child is one of the best resources you will ever get your hands on!

Smart Medicine does a wonderful job listing multiple approaches to common childhood ailments. The authors list conventional methods of treatment as well as natural and homeopathic methods. It has been helpful in my household in the decision-making process of what to do when one of our children show symptoms of distressed health. I recommend it to all parents who are sick of giving others control over their child's health.

I appreciate the range of health care options in this book, from allopathy through osteopathy through herbs and nutrition, even venturing into quackery with homeopathy. :-) Sometimes I take immediate action after consulting this book, such as when my daughter's symptoms were accurately described as scarlet fever, and sometimes I continue with palliative care, as when breastfeeding a vomiting child.

The authors encourage you to examine your options, when appropriate, and when to seek immediate care such as with poisoning, shock or polio. I have never had the impression they push any method of health care over any other, but rather want the parent to have all the options. Read the introductory sections on all of the modalities they offer so you fully understand the rationale behind them. Read the home safety tips too; most are pretty obvious to parents, but there may be something you overlook; don't we all?

I'm lucky to have very healthy children so I don't need the specifics a lot, but this book is well written enough just to have on hand and read out of curiousity such as when the neighbor's child has roseola or just to tell your child what it really looks like when someone breaks a bone.

Since we frequent Perini's Steakhouse, we know Tom's award-winning cuisine first-hand! His cookbook is a "no-holds barred" approach... giving ALL of his famous recipes from his unbeatable steak rub to green chile hominy to his signature bread pudding with whiskey sauce!

In addition to fabulous recipes, the book also showcases wonderful photography depecting life in West Texas. Sidelines feature insights into several famous Texas ranches.

Your cookbook collection shouldn't be without this book! It is one you will be sure to use often!

The book would be a welcome addition to any cookbook library, but we don't think you will be content looking at this book on a shelf. Our guess is the purchaser will find the book being used over and over. There is a wonderful variety of recipes from which to choose, whether preparing a meal for family or friends from the neighboring ranches or, shoot, if you happen to live in a city then this type of cooking is sure to please. Over the years we have been fortunate to enjoy many pounds of prime rib cooked the Perini way with the flavor of the beef drawn out with his Texas Herb Rub found on page 85, cooked over mesquite coals and served with some of the delicous recipes that can be found in the side dishes section, followed by Tom's bread pudding with whiskey sauce found on page 173, leaves me hoping others will be so fortunate. In additon to recipes, the book is filled with ranch photographs taken by a well-known rancher/photographer and the food photography is stunning. Also the information about historic ranches, ranch cooking and the old photographs will be fascinating to anyone with an interest in real Texas food told by a man who is now sharing great food ideas with you.

Texas Cowboy Cooking by Tom Perini arrived yesterday. It is a cookbook that makes you want to jump up and make the recipes as you are turning the pages of the book. We have already tried the Cowboy Bloody Mary, Lisa's Favorite Caesar Salad, the seasoned olive oil for the Sourdough Bread Chips to use as croutons for the salad and are in the process of making the Sourdough Starter for the Sourdough Bread. It's the best Caesar Dressing that we've tried and the croutons are very good.

The historical information is good and has added color to this cookbook. It is not Texas boastful--simply well done. We plan on giving it as Christmas gifts to family members who have visited us here in Abilene, Texas.

The words "compelling" and "accounting" are seldom used in tandem, but there is no other way to describe this call to arms written by former Harvard Business School professor and three accountants at PricewaterhouseCoopers. The book, which is framed as a manifesto for change in the world of corporate reporting, is written in un-accountant-like language bordering on the subversive. It's main message: Traditional corporate reporting practices are inadequate and downright dangerous in the New Economy. They are inadequate because they don't capture the non-financial measures and intangible assets that now drive value. They are dangerous because they force investors to rely too heavily on short-term financial results, thereby contributing to unprecedented volatility in global equity markets. The authors' remedy? Disclosure of more and better information. This new model is presented in such detail that executives could use it as a blueprint in building new corporate reporting regimens. But you needn't be a corporate leader to appreciate the far-reaching implications of this book, which we at getAbstract.com recommend to all professionals as a - yes - compelling analysis of the current practice and evolving future of corporate reporting and its standards, pivotal benchmarks in the global economy.

The ValueReporting Revolution is one of the best, if not THE best, financial book that I have read in the last few years. Thought provoking and compelling, this book provides a sharp analysis of how and why current corporate reporting systems need to evolve. A must read for both the investing community, who need to understand a company's true value, and the financial community, who report on and create a company's value.

The Value Reporting Revolution offers a much needed attack on the status quo of financial reporting and, even more importantly, suggests some remedies. Weaving cases and data from original research, academic papers, and the business press, Eccles et al. have written an accessible guide with minimal accounting jargon and even touches of humor.

After thorough analysis of the shortcomings of today's "earnings game," the authors map out a comprehensive approach to determining and sharing key financial and nonfinancial data that will help all business stakeholders assess a company's value. By using internal performance measurement tools such as the Balanced Scorecard for external reporting, companies can focus more clearly on creating value rather than face a quarterly scramble to burnish their earnings picture. Nonfinancial disclosure would also improve decision making for investors by providing a more complete picture of company operations and strategy.

In addition to promoting a commitment to improved ongoing communications, the authors note that the Internet and recent financial disclosure regulation have enabled new entrants to develop and distribute a range of economic information and services that compete directly with traditional Big-5 and Wall Street firms. This could signify the end of the "double-secret, uber-whisper" the earnings rumors that reach (and reward) only a subset of a subset of people in the know.

As an organizational consultant, this book was very helpful in clarifying the network of relationships among companies, analysts, regulators, accountants, and investors - and showing how they misestimate value and often move markets based on limited, asymmetric information. ValueReporting suggests an alternative way for companies to account for themselves that is aligned with sound management and sound investing.

Being a big fan of the show and former military member I looked forward to reading this book and was not dissapointed. The plot was well thought out and the continuous action kept the pace up. It read a lot like a script for the show and would probably make a good episode. I liked the idea of the Davy Jones Locker Club. However for a book I thought there could have been a little more depth to the characters,a little more of their thought processes revealed and a little more description. This would have slowed the reading some but would have fleshed-out a fairly simplistic book. Also I found the editor's proof-reading(or whoever proof-reads) could have been better. At one point early on it seems an entire sentence or two are left out and there are several misspellings throughout the novel. I think it helps to be a fan of the show when you read this book. I'm not sure I would be as enthusiastic if I didn't enjoy JAG on CBS. It was very easy reading, almost too easy.This is no Tom Clancy novel. But like I said it would be a good episode for the series.

Being a fan of JAG I was surprised and excited when I found out there was a TV Tie-In book for the series. I promptly ordered the book and wasn't quite sure what to expect, having read a fair amount of Tie-Ins that were nothing like the series they portrayed. Happily, I was well pleased with my choice! I feel that Robert Tine really captured the feel of an episode of JAG. The characters were well drawn and right on par with the ones I've grown to love through the show. The dialogue and thought processes of the characters were spot-on except for Harm's penchant to revert to heavy cursing -- something I felt was completely out of character for someone who is so good at expressing himself. The action was fast paced and exciting, I was kept guessing and completely immersed until the very end. This story line would certainly make a wonderful episode of JAG -- one I'd love to see. There was just enough humor thrown in -- namely Harm being shifted from one place to another -- to lighten the mood while still advancing the plot. Mr. Tine also captured the chemistry of Harm and Mac perfectly -- right down to the way they play so well off one another. And as a bonus -- Harm even gets to fly! That, in my opinion, is always a plus! There were a few disappointments such as one quite confusing place where some sentences seemed to have been left out of a pretty important scene and there were a few typos spattered throughout that could have been caught through tighter proofreading. I was sad to note the absence of a picture section toward the middle as I've seen in other TV Tie-Ins -- it would have made a nice addition to the book. All that aside, I still rate this book 5 stars because it kept my attention as well as the actual program does and the fact that I will read this book again. Mr. Tine certainly did his research, I could actually see the actors who play these parts in my head as I read. Despite the few errors and the brief slip-up on Harm's character it was a good, solid read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm completely looking forward to the next JAG novel by Robert Tine -- Clean Steel -- and hope that there are plans for other Tie-In novels for this spectacular television program.

I found this book to be very fun to read. I am a JAG lover and felt that Mr. Tine, expressed the characters true to how they are shown on TV. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good read or lover of JAG.

NOT VERY OFTEN DOES A BOOK ABOUT A TRUE HAUNTING GIVE YOU A TOTAL FEELING OF BEING THERE. "THE HAUNTED" GIVES MANY DETAILS OF THE ACCOUNTS THAT EACH FAMILY MEMBER GOES THROUGH. THIS BOOK IS SURE TO GIVE YOU GOOSEBUMBS, NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT IS SCARY, BUT BECAUSE YOU WILL BELIEVE EVERY HORRIFYING WORD OF IT IS TRUE. YOUR ATTENTION WILL BE CAPTURED AS ED AND LORRAINE WARREN ASSIST THE THE SMURL FAMILY IN RIDDING THE HOUSE OF THE MANY GOHSTS AND DEMONS THAT INHABIT THEIR DWELLING. READ FOR YOURSELF TO FIND OUT THE OUTCOME OF THIS TERRIFYING TRUE ACCOUNT OF A HAUNTING

Evil is everywhere. This story is about a family that moves into a duplex in PA, which is haunted by ghosts, and even a demon. These presences immediatly latch onto the family and terrorize them to no end. There are rappings on the wall at all hours, some of the family members are levitated and thrown around, they are followed even when they go camping, there are noises, smells, and cold spots. Noone would help them, not even their own church. Then a team of demonologist come to help but do they??? This is not a book to read alone...

This is an excellent book,very well written. Anyone who has seriously studied demomology, or the paranormal, will know this book is true to the facts, from the bangings in the walls, to the terrible odors, to the physical and mental abuse that inhuman spirits put upon their human victems, to horrible manifestations. This family suffered greatly under the hand of a true inhuman spirit, but yet survived it toegether as a family because their faith in God did not falter. If you have followed Ed and Lorraine Warrens teachings, this book is a must read...

I have always been greatly impacted by the words and works of Roberts Liardon and this book is no exception. I've actually heard him preach on this series before, but reading it straight from the book is a definite different experience. He makes each unique individual come alive with fire and passion. This book will open the eyes of many to catch a glimpse of the awe-inspiring lives of men and women who once lived so very closely to the Most High God!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a blessing to me and I learned a lot from it. I especially enjoyed reading about: Smith Wigglesworth, Jack Coe, Amy Mchperson, A.A. Allen, Kathryn Kuhlman and others. Roberts is an anointed man of God and it shows in his writing. I love to read his books and watch his videos. They are very inspirational! If you haven't read this book, READ IT! It will help change your life!

(I've already reviewed this on October 16,1999, but since then I've changed my email address) First off, I'd like to say that Pastor Roberts Liardon is a man of God. With these men and women that God has called him to write about, he explains their lives, and helps us to look at ourselves more in deph with the spirit realm. Are we walking according to God's standards? Are we operating in the great gifts of the Holy Spirit? Are we showing compassion and love and taking care of our bodies which are the temples of the Holy Ghost? These questions may arrouse you when you read this book, or watch the video series. I encourage any baptized believer in Christ who wants to grow spiritually to read this book! It will help change you life!