This is the long awaited basic textbook for osteopathic medicine. It is surprisingly complete, covering philosophy, history, research, and manipulative techniques. The beginning osteopathic student may find it most useful for its practical discussion on the techniques--high velocity, myofascial release, etc. I believe it is also helpful in standardizing our terminology, which will make it easier when taking board exams or talking with colleagues from other osteopathic schools. It includes contributors well known within the osteopathic community, including Michael and William Kuchera, Melicien Tettambel, Eileen DiGiovanna, and many others. As a family practice resident I frequently turn to this textbook first when I want to know more about how to treat a patient or when preparing lectures for students and housestaff.

This text is actually required reading for most if not all osteopathic medical students. It is a 'textbook', however, and hence completely (sometimes exhaustively!) comprehensive. But it is easy to read so that anyone with an interest in OMT will get a methodic how-to for myriad techniques, also a thorough history of osteopathic medicine to boot! One of my OMT professors at the University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine wrote or co-wrote a few of the chapters so of course, I think those are the best! If you are looking for an educational approach to learning manipulation and the reasons behind it, this is a valuable resouce.

While evolving around the potential for psychopathic violence and paranoia, Büchner's psycho-medical text not only guarantees human anxiety and hopelessness, but the phenomenological abolition of ontological hierachies. The fragmental composition mirrors a world of poverty, submission and alienation, where the "object" Woyzeck faces a materialistic fatality.

"You can hardly breathe....You are sitting in a meeting...and so they talk, and every word they say seems to diminish the supply of fresh air, and fresh ideas....Your brain begins to go numb...the corporate institution encourages this insane situation."

I was looking for a book on public relations and stumbled across Michael Gill and Sheila Patterson's introduction to becoming an entrepreneur in Fired Up! Before I left the parking lot, I had already done the one thing every reader never admits to-I read the last two chapters first and took "The Ultimate Test." Sigh...I passed the test. I was ready to leave my executive position of 15 years and go out on my own. I had had enough of being told to do those things that I felt inside were headed in an unexciting, unrewarding, and basically wrong direction.

Having discussed this with my beau, we decided the time was now. We would do this together. Following the guidelines on writing a business plan, we painstakingly conducted the required market research and found that our idea was indeed unique. Next step-we rented office space, away from both our homes, and moved in there together. We interviewed several corporate attorneys and chose one, and did the same for an accountant and a banker. Next, we tested our idea and it worked.

Like a cookbook, we pursued each suggestion as if we were on the path to the holy grail. Not one failed us. Having developed our unique selling proposition, we gleefully learned that we had become the front-runners. That's not to say that we didn't suffer through some of the "Detours to Disaster" described, such as saying out loud "We can do that" when we really didn't want to and should not have...and such a project took us off-course for a while, but we returned to our road plan, a bit more weary and a bit more hardened to the life of an entrepreneur.

As Gill and Patterson stress, there is nothing like working for yourself. Read this book and glean the lessons of successes and failures, and accept the fact that you will be telling your own stories of both. Follow each step included in this guide and you will have no reason to fail. I've purchased several copies of this book and gave them to my friends, with express direction to read during their corporate meetings.

Before you decide that working for yourself is the next step, please read the appendix ("Eleven Steps You Can Take Right Now Before You Leave Your Job")-it will save you the heartache of emotional and financial destitude if this lifestyle is not for you. And you will have made your own decision to move from fearful employee to fired up entrepreneur!

As for the joy of sex-well, better saved for another book review!

This book flies. I had just read a couple of books that I thought were pretty lame and needed something fast and exciting. A woman I work with recommended James Patterson to me. I did a little research and found that this book is the first in a series for fictional detective Alex Cross. (I hate to read a series out of order, even if the stories are independent and don't continue from book to book.) Along Came A Spider is a perfect "fun" read. It moves at a very rapid pace. (The chapters are usually just a few pages.) It has pretty well developed characters considering its quick pace and more plot twists than you'll ever anticipate. Just when the romance element in the book started to bore me Patterson turns it on its ear. Another thing that makes this book so good is that despite the surprising plot twists everything is fairly believable within the context of the story. I read a lot of mystery/suspense and one of my biggest complaints is that I'll get really into a book and the climax will be totally ridiculous. You know, the killer will turn out to be the sister of the girl that was accidentally drown in the rich family's pool the night of the prom thirty-five years before but nobody recognizes her because she's a master of disguise or whatever! Along Came A Spider has none of that. It's consistent, quick and exciting! Read it!

At first, watching the brutality and tragery happened in NY, and reading the crimes in this book, I wish those should disapper.

1. Which is first, chicken or egg?
The part descibing on possibility of multiple character in Gary Murphy/Sonjei, reminded me of the movie, Primal fear in which Edward Norton deceived Richard Gear so amazingly. So many books recenly are published aiming for Hollywood movie, or many mystery novels and movies look like relatives. Where is the creativity? Among books and movies, I just found only 'Sixth sense' to prove the author's creativty.

2. The detailed and long desciption on the romance made me lost in following the kidnapping case. I think this targeted for the reversal in relationship, but which is a little boring.

Although, I gave this book 4 stars.
Because the character of Alex Cross, which is now confused with that of Morgan Freeman (He's too COOL though old), is so realistic and appealing to attract and deserve many people's affection. And one more, I cannot put aside the book and read the last 20-30 pages holding breath.

James Patterson is one of the best mystery novelists in US.

Of all the James Patterson novels, this one is definitely at the top of the list. In this and subsequent novels, kidnapper, Gary Soneji is to Alex Cross as Hannibal is to FBI Agent Clarice Starling.

Without going into the specifics of the book, all of which have been provided for you in the editorial reviews, this book is one of my all time favourites of James Patterson. It is packed with suspense, drama, a super A-1 plot and great characters. Be prepared for a long night ahead because it is a book you will not want to put down from start to finish. Also, at the top of the list is "Kiss the Girls" and "Cat and Mouse."

If you have read Patterson's later novels,"When the Wind Blows" and "Cradle and All," and are disappointed with what you have read, do not be discouraged. This book has all the punch and power of a real super thriller! You will not want to miss this book or the movie of the same name.

Michael Patterson's "The Family Man" starts out with a very interesting premise. Ellen and Eric Sommers are a young professional couple who have finally managed to conceive a child. Even as they are receiving these tidings, Frank Mallory is preparing to put into action a scheme to create a family by kidnapping a pregnant woman and taking her up to his cabin in the Canadian wilderness. Frank's planning is superb. Not only does he abduct Ellen; he also leaves manufactured evidence that points to Eric as Ellen's murderer. As the demonic Mallory makes good his escape to Canada, Eric is accused and brought to trial for a crime that did not happen.

The remainder of the novel actually is three connected stories. Ellen and Frank act out a serial killer suspense story, while Eric tale becomes a courtroom drama. Connecting these two stories is the efforts of Cheryl, Ellen's sister, Ralph Bartlett, a private investigator and David Dreizler, one of Eric's attorneys to track down Ellen's whereabouts. Ellen finds herself trapped in the wilderness with a man who is never more than seconds from fearsome violence. Eric, confronted with a hostile legal system finds he is standing trial for his life. Mallory has left only the scantiest of clues, and Ellen has little luck in her efforts to get help.

Despite the unusual plot, "The Family Man" left me somewhat unsatisfied. One of the reasons is an excessive number of context shifts. There are 88 chapters in a 341 page book, and many of these chapters switch from one narrative to another. I believe this is a narrative style that is intended to give the impression of a flurry of action, but I found it distracting. It took much longer than usual for me to get the plot straight in my mind and begin to be absorbed into the story. This style also leaves little time for the niceties of narrative description that help to make a book believable.

Characterization also suffers. I felt very little connection with either of the protagonists. Indeed, the most vivid characters are Cheryl and the sheriff of the Canadian town nearest to Mallory's cabin - Roger Peck. One could argue that the minor characters in the book received too much attention and the main characters to little. It is half way through the book before what lies behind Frank's fantasy of family life is revealed. Even knowing that, Frank is monochromatic and predictable, lacking in the depth that could have made him a compelling character.

Eventually, the plot begins to gel and pique the reader's interest. The last half of the novel moves with some pace, and gradually picks up as the end approaches. So "The Family Man" is not a bad novel, just one that fails to meet its ambitions. It is almost as if an editor decided to cut what was once a 700 page novel down to just a minimalist plot. This would be a perfect book for readers who are often interrupted. For those who prefer long silences filled with imagination, Michael Patterson would need to add more flesh to its bare bones.

Marc Ruby - for The Mystery Reader

This is a review of "The Family Man" by Michael S. Patterson. I read a short synopsis of the book, the author's first novel, so as someone who likes suspense and mystery novels, I knew I would enjoy it. This book grabs you from the first line and holds onto you until the last word! It's the story of a couple excited about expecting their first baby, when a madman kidnaps the expectant mother with plans to make her and her baby his new family. Her husband is then accused and convicted of killing her because of purely circumstantial evidence - even though there has been no trace of her or her dead body. Through the kindness and resourcefulness of a little girl, proof begins to arrive that not only tells authorities that the woman is alive, but where she might be held. The suspense-filled story takes you chapter-by-chapter between events occurring simultaneously to the woman and her husband. You feel that time is running out for both of them. You worry the rescuers won't arrive in time or understand the urgency for rescuing the woman from her captor, who is becoming even more dangerous as he senses his plan for the future is unraveling. The situation feels real and as though it could happen to your own family! Really scary! I'm glad I found this author and hope he plans to write many more books.

I picked the book up on a Thursday and finished it by the weekend. I would have finished it sooner, but I was savoring every word. Seriously! I don't generally like suspense thrillers, but I was bowled over by how well Patterson crafted the plot lines. Incredible attention to detail. His real places and settings really draws the reader in... as if the author had visited every site in the book. His own knowledge as a trial lawyer adds even more realism to the plot.

A definite contender to become a feature film.

The only flaw is the cover. It does nothing to capture the passion and intrigue in the book. It definitely pays to read the inside pages.

It's a very satisfying, unpredictable ending.
Can't wait to see the next book from this author!!

this was truely a great book and i enjoyed reading it, however i desired more interpretation on "the secret sayings of the living Jesus." i thought the authors would elaborate in depth the sayings they've discovered, but rather they were just presented. I'd recommend buying the book, that is for sure, but you should research the gospel of Thomas deeply before you undertake the reading.

This is my second non Alex Cross book that I've read and I'm slowly beginning to feel as if I shouldn't waste anymore time on a book that doesn't feature this character. With that said, I found this book VERY slow moving. The plot moved along very slowly but I kept reading it hoping that it would improve. I must say that I absolutely LOVED the ending which at least made me want to give it 3 stars but I'm sure that lots of people will be so bored that they won't stick around that long!

New York police detective John Stefanovitch is pursuing Alexandre St.Germaine, a leader of the Midnight Club, an elite, international group of criminals. When Stefanovitch gets too close, St. Germaine strikes back. He murders Stefanovitch's wife and barely misses killing Stefanovitch, but wounds him so badly that the detective is confined to a wheelchair. This does not stop the detective's relentless pursuit, even while fellow detective's are murdered. Finally, police and FBI undertake all-out war against the Midnight Club. The story is not up to Patterson's Alex Cross tales, but it is entertaining reading through the long battle between police and the Midnight Club.

This book is just as good as the Alex Cross series and has one of the best villains ever created. The basic plot is that there is one organisation that every mafia, crime and drug organisation is controlled by. The killer in this book is the head of this organisation.

The detective in The Midnight Club is also an interesting character being that he is confined to a wheel chair.

A lot of reviews seem to dislike this book but I think it is sensational. For those who have never read a Patterson novel it is also great as you do not have to be familiar with any other books to fully appreciate the characters. For those who have read them this is a different detective to follow other than Alex Cross and the Women's Club.

I am a definite fan of the Alex Cross series and have been a Patterson fan for some time. I read THE JESTER and FOUR BLIND MICE over the same weekend and hands down, THE JESTER is the better storyline (actually, JESTER was a wonderful read). Perhaps the creative juices for the Cross novels has waned after so many but regardless, something is just not clicking like it used to. "ROSES" and "VIOLETS" were marginal books while 1ST TO DIE and 2ND TO DIE were just a notch above. It is my hope that Patterson will find the juices again...and soon.

FOUR BLIND MICE opens with Cross' long-time partner and friend, John Sampson, requesting Alex's help to investigate the murder conviction of one of Sampson's Army buddies. Ellis Cooper, Sampson's buddy, has been accused, tried and convicted of the murder of three women along with the bizarre arrangement and paintng of the bodies. Cooper has been sentenced to die by lethal injection; the execution is set to be administered in three short weeks and Sampson believes only his friend and supersleuth Cross can unravel the injustice befalling Cooper. As Cross begins his investigation, he runs into one stone wall after another but hasn't quite determined if those are Army walls (i.e. "we take care of our own") or something quite different. Although doggedly determined, Alex cannot crack the case and Ellis Cooper is executed. The one and only piece of evidence Cross has is the eyewitness account of a teenage boy who indicated he saw three men outside the home of the murder victims that night. However, Alex was never able to corroborate this statement.

As the story continues, Patterson introduces the reader to three very skillful and very sick assassins. Even before Cooper's execution, the reader knows these "THREE BLIND MICE" are responsible for the triple homicide. As time passes, the Mice continue their spree but it is definitely not for kicks. It appears there is a puppetmaster; one who has given the Mice their marching orders albeit mercenary orders at that. This portion of the story winds throughout the book until the end where it fizzles without much surprise or intrigue. The climax is satisfying but certainly not surprising.

Two very poignant subplots revolve around the love lives of Cross and Sampson, nothing really new for Alex but quite unconventional for Sampson. True to VIOLETS, Jamilla Hughes returns as Alex's love interest. And, as always and timeless, Alex still has Nana Mama to care for his three children including his infant son, Alex.

All-in-all, a decent book but I find myself waiting for the next great Cross book. Something in the spirit of KISS THE GIRLS. I haven't given up on Patterson and I certainly will continue to check out his newer "off-Cross" books. As I mentioned, I found the JESTER to be a fabulous read, a storyline and subject matter totally different to Patterson's norm. It's proof that Patterson has the skill yet it seems he has turned his efforts more into a Stephen King-like machine, pumping out one book after another. While this satisfies the volume requirement for fans, it is obvious that quality has taken a fairly staunch hit.

Worth the read but not his best.

James Patterson's popular protagonist Dr. Alex Cross returns in yet another slick entertaining thriller when his best friend John Sampson enlists his assistance after his army comrade Sgt. Ellis Cooper gets incarcerated in Central Prison, North Carolina and charged with the murder of three women. The trio of scot-free perpetrators acting upon the orders of a mysterious mastermind, meanwhile commit serial killings across the States, leaving clues that pinpoint to a Vietnam War operation. The red-tapes of army bureaucracy and the nightmarish revival of Kyle Craig as well as Cross's love-path and family offers interesting diversions to the fast-paced, punchy mystery with twists and turns. As always the tone of this Patterson's story is dark with themes of vendetta and even terrorism but what is new and improved here is more solid character development from Patterson. With his usual style of relentless suspense, this is a harrowing cat-and mouse game with not three but four mice on the loose.

The elite assassination team, The Three Blind Mice, knew they were the best, but realized while operating in the An Lao Valley that they also loved to kill. When they left the army, they hired themselves out as mercenaries and are now killing innocent people and framing people who served in Vietnam as the killers. They don't know who hired them or why the men were targeted but the money is too good to ask any questions.

Washington DC police detective Alex Cross becomes involved with the Three Blind Mice when his friend John Sampson asks him to help prove the innocence of Ellis Cooper who is waiting on death Row because he was convicted of the wanton slaughter of three women. Both Alex and Sampson are convinced after talking to Ellis and examining the evidence that he is innocent but no one will listen to them. Ellis dies and his two friends vow to find his killers and bring them to justice. As similar deaths occur across the country, The Three Blind Mice come to the attention of Alex and Sampson and when the two sides finally meet, only one will walk away.

James Patterson always delivers a fascinating, action-packed thriller and FOUR BLIND MICE is no exception. Readers familiar with the hero will find he has to use all his considerable skills to counter the deadly precision of his enemies. The plot is well constructed and the action holds up to scrutiny though some of the best scenes in the book occur in the protagonist's personal life. Anyone reading an Alex Cross novel can't help but want more of him.

Harriet Klausner

After Patterson's last disaster, When The Wind Blows,he has redeemed himself with his newest book, Pop Goes The Weasel. This story is very exciting but light in terms of character develoment, narrative style and basically most other literary elements which make for a well-written novel. However, these are not elements I, and I think many other readers', seek in a James Patterson book.With this said, I think you will enjoy Pop Goes The Weasel very much and find it a very, very fast read. The one minor flaw that I've found in this and other Alex Cross books is the totally unrealistic maturity level and dialogue voiced by Cross's seven year old daughter, Jannie. I'd suggest that in doing research for future books, Patterson should spend a little time finding out what real seven year olds are like.

Another Alex Cross adventure comes with another super villain and non stop thrills. This time Cross is investigating a series of "Jane Doe" murders in the impoverished sections of Washington D.C. The problem is that he is doing so unofficially and he is one of the few that sees the crimes as being related.

The killer is a well respected foreign dignitary who also has a passion for role playing games. He, along with three others throughout the world are members of an exclusive game called the four horsemen. How Cross comes to his identity and possible capture is a series of non stop chills. The ending may not be as topsy turvy and dramatic as other Patterson books, but some surprises do change the complexion of future Cross novels.

Patterson sticks to his format here. The positive aspect is that his fans know the characters and enjoy their continuing saga. Sampson has developed into the type of figure that would be extraordinary in his own book. The negative aspect is that some of Cross's statements and the details of his family life are a bit worn on the faithful Patterson fan. As a result, the Alex Cross novels could use an injection of freshness. Therefore the novel was a bit shy of the better Cross chapters.

Overall the book has a quick flow and only sputters in some of the chapters that surround Alex's relationship with Christine. The villain is devious but also falls short of a Gary Soneji or Jack and Jill. The plot is better than average and I am still left wanting more Alex Cross. A no brainer four star piece of fiction.

James Patterson has created Alex Cross so well, that he can be hard to distinguish from reality. He is a wonderful father, an upstanding citizen, an excelent cop, and a brilliant psychologist.

Pop Goes The Weasle, the latest installment of Alex Cross, gives his fans almost everything they could ask for and some they don't want!.

Just when Alex is the happiest he has ever been, the events surrounding the latest psychokiller threaten to make this the worst time of his life (even worse than when his wife was killed).

Will Alex pop the question to Christine? Will Alex prove to be a "bad cop", or worse yet a murderer? Will Alex lose what he holds dearest to his heart?

Read this book, and these questions and more will reel you in and keep you hooked until the very last page.

One caution! Don't read this book if you want a long read. I read this book in about 12 hours with no trouble!

Being an avid reader and a huge J.P fan I didn't like this book at all, just too weird for me. I didn't finish it so don't know how it ended, except to take a peek to check on the mastermind.
The first of these two, which is Roses Are Red, was GREAT, Very Scary in a usual Patterson way. There was a bit to much gore in this book. I do think that together Gross and Patterson are a good team, I liked the beach house and kiss the girls, they were both excellent. I can't wait for their next collaboration.

I have read all of the Alex Cross novels and I must say that "Violets are Blue" is frustrating to read and not up to par with the other Cross novels. The biggest frustration centers around the Mastermind. I was disappointed with the way "Roses are Red" ended and was looking forward to having the matter resolved quickly with Violets are Blue. Instead, the reader is lead through several anti-climatic scenes with the Mastermind getting close to dealing with Cross, but then deciding the "time wasn't right." Gimme a break! Each chapter seems to rehash the same type of suspense that goes nowhere and leaves the reader plowing through another endless chapter of mayhem, gore and another budding romance between Cross and another female. Read it, seen it, tired of it! I love Cross' character, but Patterson does him a disservice with this storyline. What else could happen to this man! I for one will continue to look forward to more novels, but I am leary and disappointed that Mr. Patterson has gone into the mass market, cookie cutter manner of writing. Take a break Mr. Patterson and write the next Cross novel with better care and respect for the character and your many readers.

This is the terrifying sequel to "Roses Are Red", the Mastermind continues to torment Alex, and some new serial killers are introduced. The killers are vampires (not the kind that turn into bats, just crazy men who suck their victims' blood). It comes pretty close to horror-novel territory. This may come as a disappointed surprise to those Patterson fans who want to stick with the more believable villains, but, in my opinion, it was very intriguing to read about the vampires. After figuring out who the Mastermind is, Alex is horrified. The Mastermind is probably the most interesting and one of the most sadistic of the villains in Alex Cross novels, and I hope that he makes lots more appearances in the future. This book is very good. Not quite "Roses Are Red", but still a very interesting and incredibly scary read.