Even though I was born and raised in Detroit, I found this book to be very enlightening. The trials and tribulations of Grayson Starks and his friend, Paul Proudberry, on the streets of Detroit were very real and true. Many Black people lived and still live in this manner.

When the author described the characters' experiences in the inner city, their exposure to the political system (both good and bad) and the riots in 1967, I relived every moment. Never have I read a book that has kept me so riveted.

I found this novel to be an intriguing and extraordinary engrossing read with a compelling powerful story, not only of Black and White relationships, but of other ethnic groups' dynamics in the United States. It keeps the reader looking forward to the next page, hoping it will not be the last. It is a page turner. The author is truly on his way. I can't wait for his next book. In the mean time, I will reread this one.

This author knows what he is writing about and he does it with an engaging and graphic style.

The book is about two young Blacks who migrate to Detroit Michigan from the South of the 1920's. Combatting racism from every side, each one takes a different style in dealing with their environment. The authors tracks the lives of the two different men and their families in such fashion as to reveal in colorful detail the intricacies and difficulties involved in life for Black Americans through the 1920's and into the 1980's. One son and grandson become Mayors of Detroit. The other's son, Paul, in a strange twist, becomes a mayoral assistant, setting off a remarkable turn of events.

The author, having observed and written about Black and White relationships then proceeds to introduce other ethnic groups into the plot and shows how each, while facing fomidable obstacles, either beats them down, or is beaten down. An unusually heart breaking part of the triology is the description of the incarceration of the Japanese-American during World War II, and the impact of their internment, specifically on two Nises (Japanese-American born) children.

Through out the trilogy, the reader will think that the author can do nothing more to shock or panic the reader --- then enter the characters of - Judge Hammond, C-square, Lemon, J.J. and Mr. Well-Hung. In my mind, these are five of the best characterizations to be read in American literature todate. The interaction of these five characters makes me feel that the author OWES the readers a sequel -- so as not to leave us hanging! This is a task he should find fairly simple, after having written such an extra-ordinary book!

Oh my God. Where is Oprah? Tell her that this is the novel that will raise the bar in American Literature for the next Millennium.

The author has written a first-rate book that provokes as well as educates the reader. It is written simply, and you know the author made it up, but you also know it to be real.

I grew-up in a small New England town, that had more chickens than people. It wasn't until I attended college, that I had real contact with minorities. In short, I was unaware of racial injustices and prejudices, such as the Starks family endured while living in the poor, black ghetto of Detroit, Michigan.

'A Peek Through The Curtain: A trilogy', provides an educational adventure, no, an odyssey for those less, or not at all, acquainted with the sub-culture in America, I mean Black-America, whose citizens have suffered under the terrible yoke of discrimination, in a land of great beauty but with even greater prejudices.

This novel is unlike any I've ever read. The author takes the reader step by step, year by year from the 1920's to the 1980's, tracing two Blacks, Grayson Starks and Paul Proudberry who start out poor as dirt and dumber than dumb, and emerge, years later, rich and powerful. One corrupted by the system, the other unsullied. Sounds familiar? Well, that's just the beginning. Not content with depicting the hopes and fears of one generation, he builds on that to show us the complexities confronting the next two generations, all the time redirecting our focus on the plight of the Japanese-Amrican and Cuban-American and weaves them into a nightmare of a plot.

An excellent book for all to read.

This is an excellent resource for those interested in the development of modern Mission theory. The book is produced in a concise dictionary format, with articles on over 70 prominent figures from a variety of traditions. Each article provides a biographical overview of the subject personality, a summary of their main contributions to Mission, and a discussion of their central writings. Articles conclude with a select bibliography of foundational sources that provides the reader with an excellent starting point for further reading and research.

Because the book focuses upon those in Mission who have left a literary record, there are few women who are examined in these pages. Women missionaries (generally) tended not to write treatises on mission theory and practice. So, even though they were central to Christian Mission during the time period covered, they are virtually absent from this volume. This should not be counted as a fault, however. Rather, the reader should keep in mind the limits of what the book covers.

This book should be in the library of anyone interested in Christian Mission. Excellent.

Mission Legacies is an attractive, durable hardback book of missionary biographical articles published by the American Society of Missiology through Orbis Books. It is divided into several major divisions: "Promoters and Interpreters," "Theologians and Historians,""Theorists and Strategists," and "Administrators." The chapters of this book first appeared as articles in the "International Bulletin of Missionary Research" beginning in 1977. Chapter assignments were made in a "serendipitous fashion over a period of about twenty years", as editors chose well-known contemporary church historians to write the biographical profiles.

Some of the famous 75 names are from the late 1700's, but most are from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. They were chosen without regard for disciplinary, national, or denominational backgrounds, though there are only six women and six representatives of the two-thirds world among them. This will no doubt be different if a later edition is published.

Though the articles are scholarly, they are very readable and interesting. This will serve primarily as a reference book, but lovers of world missions and biography will find themselves often dipping into it for information and inspiration. I was pleased to find such diversity as Pius XI and William Carey, such educators and promoters as A.J. Gordon, John R. Mott and W.O. Carver, and such famous missionaries as David Livingstone, Hudson Taylor and Lottie Moon. I was glad to see historians like Kenneth Scott Latoureette and Stephen Neill, such innovative missionaries as Frank Laubach and E. Stanley Jones and such missions strategists as John Nevius, Roland Allen, D.T. Niles and Donald McGavran. In these pages, students of world Christianity "can gain insight into the spiritual and human dynamics that produced the modern Christian missionary movement". This book, now in its fourth printing, should be of interest to all students of World Christianity and Mission.

This book helps us solve the age old puzzle of love. It arranges those puzzle pieces in a way that make us say, aha! Of course these guys are on to something, because as you read it you will see that the described techniques help both the pursuer and the pursued. Love Tactics has been like a bible to me. And More Love Tactics is a very necessary addendum to the original. I truly hope this convinces you, as I feel these guys are right on.

I've read quite a few books on relationships, seduction, and charisma. Some are poor, some are average, and some are outstanding. More Love Tactics belongs to the latter group. And the reason why is, simply put, that when before you are through reading it you already think "My god, where was this book? Why didn't I find it sooner? It would have made all the difference to me. I don't like the hype I usually see in other readers when they comment on the books they read, but if you really want to dramatically improve your skills at conquering someone, read this, and I guarantee you that if you apply some of the strategies described in the text, you'll understand why I consider this book to be brilliant. And, by the way, read Love Tactics first, it is also outstanding.

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.

Excellent book if you care to maintain a good relationship. The chapter on Communication is especially good and suggestion to improve how to talk with your mate helped me a lot.

I found that this book to be a very realistic explanation of both positive and negative instinctual behaviors people exhibit in relationships. It not only helps you identify the weaknesses in your relationship, but it helps you identify the your own personal hangups to facilitate you in your own self discovery if you are serious about changing your own behaviors to have a healthy, loving, and fulfilling realtionship.

This book caught my attention! Find out if you are controlling or dependant. Are you trying to chase your partner? Are you wondering why he/she is pushing you away? If so, then the problem could be YOU! You need to be happy w/yourself before you can get love from someone else! This book covers all the bases. My mate wanted more freedom. Well, I tried to control my mate. Saying "I love you" too soon can scare anyone away! I had to give my partner space! But, you can only give your partner space if, and only if, you feel confident in yourself! If you need balance in your relationship, then this book is for you!

After being diagnosed and in denial for awhile about the disease, this was the 3rd book i began reading to help myself understand my body and what was happening to it. This book put a lot of things into perspective and began to shed some light on the disease and what I needed to do get control of it. This is the book that my friends need to read so that they can also understand what I am going thru.

I was diagnosed with Endometriosis in 2001 & had my first surgery that year. Toward the latter part of 2002, I started to be in chronic pain for this disease. I'll make a long story short. (If you want to see the long story, go to my review about Jennifer Lewis' book that I think is medically inaccurate). This book is compelling, thorough and most of all, helpful. It was a book I *SHOULD* have had in 2001. Since dealing with my pain, this book has opened my eyes to therapies I can use, how I can deal with ALL the aspects of this disease, and how it affects my loved ones. This is a great book because it talks to you through a whole person concept--- not just dealing with the reproductive Endometriosis, but it deals with all of the areas surrounding it, too, like emotions, finances, and so on. It doesn't talk down to you, and won't make you feel like you're in a pity party, but gives you tools to try to cope and even recover. Check this book out. You'll be glad you did.

I was diagnosed with endometriosis when I was 15. At this age I did not even come close to understanding what this disease was, or how it was going to effect my future. After reading this book, not only did I understand the health aspect of this disease, but I also learned how to cope with the emotional part of it as well. I would recommend this book to anyone who truly wants to understand this disease.

introduction to cost control and what is a cost control

This is just what I needed to get started on my breakdown sheet for costs of job site work. Thank you.

I have worked in the field of opthalmology for about 8 years as an assistant and there is no such thing as color blindness only color deficency..if you were color blind you would be unable to see anything....make sure that you don't mislead the public..but it is a very informative book for the general public. Written with the patient in mind.

To my knowledge there are only two books on the subject of color blindness. This is an excellent account of the subject and I look forward to further editions of this book. I would suggest that future editions include a physiologist or neurophysiologist to beef up the sections dealing with the way the eyes work and the way in which they perceive colors. Treatment of the different types of color blindness could be improved by dealing with each type as a separate condition - and by specifying the mode of inheritance of each type. A chapter on legal aspects would also be welcome. Is colorblindness a qualified disability as defined by the americans with disabilities act? Is the school district legally required to accomodate (make adjustments for) color blind students? Unfortunately, there are still people out there who refuse to accomodate people with color blindness and other disabilities! The color blind community should insist on the installation of traffic signals that are visible to color blind people, and the flashing red light must go! It is a pity that the 23 million people with color blindness have been so quiet for so long. It is a pity that President Clinton, who is colorblind, did nothing to improve conditions for color blind people. This is an excellent account of a condition that is poorly understood and which is rarely accomodated either at school or in society.

I have a 5 year old just diagnosed and this book was amazing to read. So many things came to light. His teachers and parents are now much better informed and my son's future is much brighter now that we understand his problem. Please have your child tested, and get this book if he is. You will be glad you did. I even bought extras for the school.

Well, my perception of love changes completely & I have changed my attitude towards love & life more positively becoz what the book says is absolutely very true! I really regretted not having read it eariler when I was going though the rocks of my relationship which seemed to have many senarios described in the book & the possible solutions for it rather than to be helplessly waiting for the relationship to end so tragically...when I could have saved it actually. Now, I have realised my emotional insecurities & better ways to cope with it, I began to understand myself better. I'm certainly looking forward to my next relationship with much more confidence & hope!

If it seems that Love is a game where everyone knows the rules except you - this book will enlighten you!

If you've been stuck in a pattern of less than happy relationships - this book will show you how to break the pattern!

Many people are put off by the idea of using tactics to win love, but that is no different than using the tactic of combing your hair before going out on a date: there are simply things you can do to improve your chances of making a love connection, and this book will show you how.

I practically memorised Love Tactics and the sequel five years ago, and almost immediately met a wonderful woman from Australia. We have been living together here now for almost 3 years and will be marrying soon.

Change your love life - read this book!

I have not read this book for almost ten years, but I recently referred it to an internet friend having trouble in her relationship. I too wanted to marry my boyfriend who was not of the same mind. We broke up and he was with another woman for about six weeks.

I swore I would never resort to such games, but, I thought... one last shot. I really loved him. I followed the book. I guess he really loved me too, but, he just didn't know it at the time. We have been happily married for nine years this September. This love has survived despite all odds ( financial problems and the Brady Bunch (combined family). The passion is still there and we have a really good bond. We were honest with each other. I also prayed to God to do what would make him happy and I didn't want him if it wasn't right for him as well. I dont remember the first one or two chapters being particularly useful for me but the majority of the book was right on target.So, to the person who thought it was only for lust not love...you were wrong. I am as crazy about him to day as I was then. One of our children is getting married this year and I hope that they will be as close and committed as us. BUY THE BOOK

The person with lupus must struggle with strong and conflicting emotions while trying to maintain as normal a life as possible despite pain, disability, and changes in personal relationships. This book attempts to offer ideas for dealing with these problems.

Unfortunately, this book sometimes glosses over the difficulties the person with lupus faces. There are some helpful hints in it; but often, the author spends far more space describing a problem than offering solutions for solving it. For example, here is the complete advice for people worried about no longer being able to work: "Talk to people. Speak to others with lupus who cannot work. Find out what they are doing to cope. Maybe you'll get some ideas that will help you conquer this fear."

When the author does provide hints for coping, he often doesn't go into much detail. For example, the section on using relaxation techniques to combat pain contains just four sentences. It mentions meditation, autogenic training, hypnosis, and deep breathing, but it does not even define them, let alone give instructions for any of them or tell you where to find out more information.

There are no easy answers for the obstacles people with lupus face each day; still, the reader would have been better served if the author had spent less time "feeling the reader's pain" and more time helping her solve it.

I read this book and found it to contain lots of very imortant infromation. . It was well researched.

For those of you interseted in a little different approach you might read Stolen Moments by Barbara Fisher. This beautiful love stroy is fiction but based on the authors own life with lupus. ..It makes readers aware that life and love are precious and never to be taken for granted. This was edited by Ms Fisher's own lupus specialist and it is called the love story of the 90's.

This book was very informative to me.I have read many books about lupus,butI still learned some things from thisbook. Doesn't explain much about thetests, but all in all was a prettygood book.