a large book,with excellent,informative text about new zealands unique bird life,pre and post man.the paintings by ching are extremely life like, with great detail given even to the background.some 40 colored plates,and 50 black and white sketches,plates on the australian magpie and the house sparrow were unnessary, but the plate of the huia and the takahe are superb.all in all a beautifull book.

This is probably the best collection of interviews with a filmmaker ever published. It is not some retread to "My Last Sigh" but a great read full of insight, intelligence, that typical Buñuel style and of course, a study of great cinema. It's a fascinating book, where Buñuel discusses his life and works and how he came to be inspired to make some of his greatest films like "Un Chien Andalou," "Viridiana" and "That Obscure Object Of Desire." And it's also great to read as Buñuel discusses his philosophies of life and surrealism. The interviewers create a great conversation with a genius and take us into his mind. Some of the classic works of the cinema are dissected here in intricate detail and Buñuel offers some sly humor to the discussions. A surprise is that you realize that Buñuel's personal life is as interesting, fascinating and incredibile as his movies. Some people may not want to take a look at this book after reading "My Last Sigh," thinking it's basically the same stuff, well, it's not. Luis Buñuel was a very complex man in his thinking and this book gives us a good tour of the man. A must for lovers of great cinema and fans of surrealism and Buñuel. Lorca, Dalí, and the surrealists are all discussed here, even the gruesome, fatal fates of the two actors of "Un Chien Andalou." Great book.

This little guide is the best choice for beginners and children. Book gives the reader an idea about what rocks and minerals are, where and how they can be found, and some information about major minerals and rocks. All the pictures are hand drawn illustrations, so that they are not very detailed but still OK for kids and beginners. (I liked it when I was young!)

Raymond Paul, as far as I know, wrote three books. I have read two: The Tragedy at Tiverton and The Thomas Street Horror. Both are based on true crimes which took place in New York in the early/mid 19th century and both, unfortunately, are out of print though you should be able to find them in most libraries.

I recently reread The Thomas Street Horror because I had finally finished a book about the crime that this novel was based on: The Murder of Helen Jewett by Patricia Cohen. Helen Jewett (AKA Dorcas Doyen and many other pseudonyms) was a young popular prostitute working in New York City. Early on the morning of April 10, 1836 she was discovered murdered in her smouldering bed. Suspicion fell on one of her clients, a young clerk, who was eventually tried for the murder. Cohen's book deals not just with the crime and trial but also the attitudes toward prostitution, tabloid journalism (the murder became a nationwide sensation) and the criminal justice system. While the book is very interesting, it is also hard going at times because the author would pause the narrative to delve into the fine points of various aspects of life during the period-- for instance I learned a lot more about the state of Maine than I would normally be interested in. I actually put it down for several months before I finished it.

The Thomas Street Horror is a much livelier, if fictionalized, account of the murder. The veiwpoint character is a young reporter who has just arrived in New York City in November 1835 with a letter of introduction to the proprieter of the journal, the Sun, Benjamin Day. New York journalism at the time was not concerned as much with reporting the news as garnering readers by any method available including elaborate hoaxes and pandering to mob mentality. And the competition between the papers becomes red hot, as they choose up sides as to whether or not Helen Jewett was a wronged woman driven into her way of life or a degraded harpy who preyed on her young clients and was the young clerk accused of her murder guilty or not? David Cordor (the journalist) is caught up in the center of events, both reporting on and participating in what was happening. The fictional investigation into the events surrounding the murder is lead by Lon Quincannon, Paul's Irish attorney-detective who first made his appearance in The Tragedy at Tiverton. Quincannon finds himself not just defending his client against the state, whose minions have no qualms about manufacturing evidence to support their case, but also against public opinion.

If you enjoy 19th century mayhem then I would definitely urge you to try this book.

Founded in late 1960 in France, at a colloquium on the work of Raymond Queneau, in order to research new writing by combining mathematics and literature (and also to just horse around) the Oulipo (The Ouvrior de LittÈrature Potentielle or Oulipo (The Workshop of Potential Literature)) expanded to include all writing using self-imposed restrictive systems.

Potential Literature, to me, seems an extension of Surrealism, which used the methods of literary production to critique modernism's obsession with the literary artifact; instead of the myth of the artist alone in some garret painstakingly crafting a Work of Art, literature is automatically generated by timed writing, or mechanically generated by multiple authors with games like the Exquisite Corpse or pieced together in a collage of found text. The Oulipo extends this the critique of modernism by exploring ways that literature can be produced as a result of mathematical formulas, or by building complex rules that limit writer's potential choices, or by the construction of new literary forms.

This book serves as a short introduction to the methods of potential literature several reprints from the groups pamphlet series, including François Le Lionnais's Manifestos and Italo Calvino's essay "How I Wrote One of My Books," which served as the blue print for If On a Winter's Nigh a Traveler.

Oulipo is a body of generative ideas rather than a critical or analytical method. It does away with philosophical underpinning in favor of just generating writing. Raymond Queneau regretted that writer's didn't use tools like other craftsmen. With word-processors, they do and this text supplies a range of techniques for extending mechanical writing beyond spell check. The muse has had her hard drive reformatted.

This book is a riot! I highly recommend it. All of the texts are funny but Fornel's Suburbia is the funniest produced yet by the Oulipians. In addition, this book is a good introduction to the aesthetics of Oulipo, a group of writers who are underappreciated by the American audience.

The author contradicts himself in the first chapter. He writes about how incredibly wonderful it is on the 'other side' and how people who have NDE's very often become extremely angry and hostile when they are resusitated and brought back to this world.

Yet, a few lines on, he tells the story of a woman who asks the Being of Light if she can come back to Earth because she wants to go dancing! It can't be all that bloody great through the ruddy tunnel if dancing in this world is better. I have come across authors who have contradicted themselves, but never before in the same chapter!

Another thing that annoys me about this book is that the author is very selective when quoting research results to back up his theories. For example, in the chapter 'Explanations' he quotes from research by a Carl Becker who explains why the tunnel effect experienced by NDEers can not be explained away as a leftover memory from the experience of birth, as has been suggested by other scientists. However, he could just as easily have quoted from books by Brian L. Weiss M.D. who has regressed many patients who very clearly indeed recall their birth experiences, and in the greatest detail, all of which were proved to be true.

Other than the above, I enjoyed 'The Light Beyond' and would recommend it.

This work seems to be more complete and better thought out than Life after Life (which I rated high). Dr Moody has a way of presenting the information of NDE in way that allows the reader to come to his or her own conclusions. He does offer his own response to the phenomena and explains that he has been moved by the direct contact with NDE people. Dr Ring also stated a similar emotional transit by association (how could one not?). As suggested, the idea of spirituality being important as opposed to religion, to me appeals to the average intellect. To live ones life with the virtues of good and love being foremost because it is the right thing to do for yourself and the world around you, seems like a grand idea. I believe this book helps us in that direction. The opinion that there was not a wealth of new data or ideas does not seem important. What seemed significant was the maturing of the concepts and the slight contrast to the first books personality. You could feel a certain security from the author that he was now presenting us all with a great truth, rather than a new cult curiosity. In all-- well worth reading.

One of the best books EVER written, along with Dr. Moodys Life After LIfe and Reunions

Former Mayor of Boston and U S Ambassador to the Vatican, Raymond Flynn draws a very personal and intimate portrait of Pope John Paul II. Through the various events, incidents and celebrations narrated with meticulous detail and color, the personality of the Pope comes alive to the reader. The impact the Pope has had on the average American public is truthfully brought out. This book will be of interest to an American Catholic who would be able to identify the personalities from American politics and Catholic religion, at the same time can feel along with Flynn in his admiration for this man of God. Indeed it's a smooth and delightful reading worthy of the Pope as well as of the Ambassador.

I have read many books about His Holiness Pope John Paul II, and this is by far the BEST book I have read about the Pope. It is very easy to read. Infact, once I started to read I could not stop until I finished the book. When I was done...I could not stop crying. Former Ambassador Flynn did an outstanding job in giving his reader a rare and personal glimpse of the Pope, that other authors who have written biographies about His Holiness simply cannot convey. I especially found the stories of the mother who lost her son, and when the Pope offered Flynn money stating it was not church money, but the Pope's own money to help pay for the medical bills of Flynn's oldest son very moving and touching. For those who have never met the Pope...after reading this book you will feel as if you not only met him, but have known the Pope as an intimate friend for years.

Ray Flynn has taken from his many experiences with Pope John Paul II and put together a highly interesting read. This is not your typical biography, although each stage of the Holy Father's storied life is mentioned. This book gives you the Pope up close and personal, in both his public and private dealings. What an absolutely incredible man this Karol Wojtyla is!!

I just finished reading this book, and I must say that it was extremely interesting. The author, Dannion Brinkley, gets struck by lightning while talking on the telephone and is clinically dead for 28 minutes! His account of what follows his "death" is absolutely amazing. It is the most detailed near death experience account that I have read, and even Dr. Raymond Moody, a Ph.D & M.D. and authority on the subject, says the same.

This book is very insightful if you are interested in studying accounts of near death experiences (NDEs). Brinkley's vivid retelling of what he witnessed is astounding -- detailed "interactions" with "beings of light" (as detailed as I've read, anyway), a visit to a crystal city of light, revelations he received about the future that really occurred (Gulf War, fall of USSR...), and much more...He even tells of "psychic powers" he had upon his return, which are very interesting. I'm not into psychics and all, but this stuff he can do is supposedly documented and "verifiable". Nevertheless, what he claims is very interesting and he seems to be truthful.

All in all, a very interesting, detailed, and compelling account of a NDE. Brinkley's relationship with Dr. Moody lends a great deal of credence to a fantastic, almost unbelieveable story.

Definitely worth reading, but for those of you who have not read about NDEs prior to stumbling upon this book, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING DR. RAYMOND MOODY'S STUDIES FIRST, which are very scientific and objective studies of NDEs (esp. "Life After Life" and "Reflections on Life After Life", etc). This book makes a good case study after you have read Moody's works...

I had received this book from my Physics teacher. It had taken me 2 years to actually start reading this book. I had no idea what impact it would have made on me then.

I am currently 18 years of age as I am writing this, and this book has changed the way I approach life and think about others. Subjects such as death, hope, and forgivness give this book a nice mood throughout its journey.

It begins with Dannion, the author, talking on the telephone with one of his business parnters. He gets struck by lighting and enters a mysterious spirtual realm. At first, he does not know where he is, or whether the lightning bolt has killed him. The fact finally comes to him when he his hovering over his fried body, that he is in another place. He embarks on a colorful journey to better his not-so-good past life. The spiritual worlds that he travels about are very visually descriptive and delightful. He finally gets sent back to earth, telling everyone about his near death experience and begins his mission.

I think is an excellent book for all ages. It will change you for the better, and you will appreciate it.

This is one of the most intelligently written NDE (near death experience) books I've ever read. (And I've read a few...) Dannion's story was an amazing one and he told it very well.

It is a compelling book - I found myself devouring the book cover to cover and then perusing it a second time.

One of the most interesting things I picked up on in this book is his experience of returning to this life.

He had been sent down to the morgue, with a sheet draped over his body, when he came back to life.

And he talked about the moment of decision - whether to go back or to remain in the next life - and once that decision was made, his body stirred and he was alive again.

This (to me) was a wonderful proof that there is no power in the body. It is not the body that makes decisions about life. Dannion's body was dead but once he decided to return to (this) life, the body was restored.

The human scene shifted to correspond with the spiritual reality and the spiritual decisions.

Read the book and draw your own inspirations, revelations and education. It was a great read and a book with much depth.

I agree with many of the reviewers below that this book was helpful and often interesting. It gives a readable orientation to one of the most important movements in the software industry today, and the editors have been fortunate to gather together so many contributors who obviously know whereof they speak. In particular, the editors' Introduction, Eric Raymond's "Brief History of Hackerdom," Richard Stallman's account of GNU and FSF, Bruce Perens's discussion of Open Source, and Tim O'Reilly's essay on "Infoware" were informative and thought-provoking.

That said, it should be noted that the Amazon reviewer above gets it wrong when she writes that the book gives a "fascinating look at the raging debate." In fact, *nothing* about Open Source is debated in this book, which is a major disappointment. As the reviewer from Princeton below notes, the goodness of everything Open Source and the badness of everything Microsoft seems to be a given for many of the writers. At the risk of criticizing the book for not being something its creators didn't intend, I think it would be greatly improved with the addition of a wider range of viewpoints and even a dissenting voice or two. (There are a number of essays that could give place to some alternate content: Eric Raymond's second essay, "The Revenge of the Hackers," leans heavily toward the self-congratulatory, as does the Netscape cheerleaders' "Story of Mozilla." And Larry Wall's "Diligence, Patience, and Humility" seems to have been included not on its own merits but on the author's reputation as the Perl Deity.)

A final wish is for the book to address a broader range of readers. As a longtime computer user but a relatively new programmer, with no formal business training, I found many of the essays to rely heavily on the jargon of hackers and MBAs. More editorial control here, in addition to a broader range of content, would make this book seem less like preaching to the choir and more effective at spreading the Open Source gospel.

This is a good idea on O'Reilly's part to try to document the history and goals of the Open Source movement, which had roots in several college campuses and research labs in the '70s and '80s, and became news in the late '90s with the popularity of Linux, Apache, and the decision of Netscape to open its browser source. The best introductory piece, however, is probably Eric Raymond's "Cathedral and the Bazaar" which is not in this book(O'Reilly publishes it separately, but it's available free on the Web and short enough to be read in one sitting). As for this collection, I liked Robert Young's business case for distributing open source - his story of how Red Hat was launched reminds me of the Compaq tale of "three guys in a restaurant". The Apache article is also quite good, and Linus Torvalds offers a brief but interesting (and characteristically opinionated) article about how Linux evolved technically. There's also a good article discussing the various open source licenses (BSD, GPL, Netscape, etc) and what they do and don't restrict.

Others I was less impressed with. Stallman's article is predictable and self-serving. He explains how he evolved his software-as-gift philosophy but doesn't come close to terms with how the software industry can support substantial employment if all source is given away. There's yet another history of the different branches of BSD Unix. There's a breathtaking inside account of the launch of Mozilla which ends with the fancy Silicon Valley party when development has finally gotten underway. The low point is Larry Wall's "essay", which is a frankly ridiculous waste of time and print.

Although this is a mixed bag, there's enough reference material and interesting points of view to keep the book around.

Open Sources is a collection of essays by people who have been involved in a prominent way in what is being called "the open source revolution." The authors are all very bright people with good intentions and diverse viewpoints; this makes for interesting reading. However, I had a problem with the introduction. In fact, I hated it. It attempts to couch the issue of free vs. non-free software in religious terms: in the bad old days, free software only came from universities or other government-funded research. Then, a few companies saw the light and began to open-source their software; currently the industry is divided between these companies (the saved) and the rest of the companies (the damned) who will spiral into oblivion due to their proprietary selfishness. I thought the presence of this sort of rhetoric in the introduction, which sets the tone for the rest of the book, was particularly unfortunate.

The essays in Open Sources are a mixed bag. Kirk McKusick's history of Berkeley UNIX is great, as is Michael Tiemann's history of Cygnus Solutions, RMS's article about the GNU project, and Bruce Perens' article about licensing issues. Also, I really enjoyed the transcript of the infamous 1992 flame war between Linus and Andy Tanenbaum about the merits of Linux vs. Minix. On the other hand, Paul Vixie's article about software engineering is pretty random, Larry Wall's article does not seem to have a point at all, and Eric Raymond's

second article and Tom Paquin's account of the open-sourcing of Netscape are too self-serving to be useful.

Overall, I enjoyed this book quite a bit. However, the year that has passed since its publication has exposed some of the more outlandish predictions made by its contributors (Eric Raymond said that Windows 2000 would either be canceled or be a complete disaster). My guess is that Open Sources is not destined to become a classic. Rather, in a few years it will be viewed as an interesting but somewhat naive period piece.

I read this book hoping to really examine what made Edison tick and how was he so successful. I was largely disappointed. Whereas I do not expect an author to give a one sided story, Mr. Israel seems like he almost wants to break Edison down and tell the reader Edison wasn't so great after all. There was no insight into his genius or inspiration. The book seems to get caught up in timelines and specifics about inventions - the when and where - and little about Edison himself. While I am sure Edison was human and had his faults, it seems that Mr. Israel wanted to focus on his faults, failures and shortcomings. It was almost as if he took the approach "You thought Edison was so great, well let me tell you a thing or two about him that you didn't know." Even when he compliments Edison, he does it in a backhanded way.

I am probably being a little skewed, and therefore unfair, myself. The book certainly has some excellent attributes to it - the photos and Edison's own sketches were interesting. The amount of research that was done, specifically the detailed research into his notes, letters and other documentation must have been enormous. The bottom line is that I was looking for an inspirational book on a true American genius and hero and I didn't get it. Perhaps if you are really looking for a historical analysis after reading a few other books on Edison this book will serve your purpose well. I will probably read another book on Edison hoping to get some inspiration.

I did not know a great deal about Edison before reading this book and this served as a fascinating introduction. After visiting Edison's lab in West Orange, N.J. I became intrigued with him and wanted to learn more. Israel's book served as the perfect introduction to this complex and fascinating genius.

I emjoyed the fact that Israel divided the biography between Edison's professional scientific life and his complicated and sometimes bizarre private life, with strained relationships with his children and two marriages. Despite the fact Edison left much to be desired as a father, one almost feels sorry for him. Apparently his towering intellect made it difficult for him to connect emotionally with the more "plebian" sorts of people (which was everyone else on the planet). His sons struggled under the mighty shadow their father cast.

I highly recommend this book for anyone with a casual or serious insterest in the Wizard of Menlo Park.

Mr. Israel has done an excellent job in capturing the human and scientific sides of Edison. After reading the book the reader has the feeling of actually knowing or having talked with the Inventor. Edison's entrepeneurship is an inspriation to all practicing engineers and scientists. The discussion of Mr Edison as a scientist or inventor in the epilogue is a lofty philosophical tratment(academic rhetoric) of an entrepreneuring individual that didn't add much. With this discussion all of the practicing engineers today are not scientist but inventors. The moving from this entrepreneurship in the educational institutions has been the disservice to the US industry, as shown by the ability of other nations taking over the industries such as electronics, autos and mechanical devices.The book is a must for anyone interested in innovantion history.