If you have a conservative, moral or Christian bone in your body, this book will sicken you beyond your wildest imagination. If you fall into any of the above described categories, then this book will classify you as a "European male," or of "European Ancestory". This book preaches strongly a so called "diversity" but if you are a white male the "diversity" of opinions stops. (unless of course you decide to agree with the author.) And if you are a Catholic, you have even more to digest, as the book reaks of anti-Catholicism.

Beginnings and Beyond is still the best Early Childhood Education text out there.

A great book! Is very helpful for create a developmentally appropriate enviroment in early childhood classroom. The information is very easy to understand and apply in real world.

Contrary to other readers I found the author erred by concentrating on one of the participants at Lang Vei, namely, Lt. Longgrear, who had come so lately to the camp and knew nothing of the background or of the Green Berets involved in the history of the camp.

Parts of the author's descriptions of certain events contrast sharply with those of the Team Sargeant, William T. Craig, who was not trapped in the Command Bunker but was on the run outside the Bunker, along with several other Green Berets.

The author digresses repeatedly without making the effort to complete the subject matter thoroughly.

The book gives the reader only part of the story, however, as so many years have passed, it is no doubt impossible to ascertain what and why this particular event is still such a mystery.

I didn't care for this book. Although I have read many account of the Vietnam War, this one just didn't hold my interest. I was barley able to finish it. My opinion is certainly no reflection on the bravery and sacrifice of the men involved. I am talking literally style only. To the pure war enthusiast this book has genuine merit. It tells the story of brave men in combat and honors their memory with respect. We owe them a lot.

This book fortells of the horrors to come of the Marines at Khe Sanh and the courage of the Green Beret detachment stationed Lang Vei to defend their small outpost against overwhelming odds against the first armored assult against Americans in the war. My outlook on not just the guys in spec ops but for all the grunts in the field is that they didnt fight for honor or country they fought for friendship and survival and that is one thing that truly speaks itself in this book. This is one of the best written books on small unit action of the war and will be in my collection forever!!!!

There is greater awareness because of the magnitude of this book and
its message. And I'll wager that there are few Americans today, Black
or White, who know about the incredible life of Cathy Williams. This
remarkable story now has a voice.

Once a slave in Independence, Missouri, Cathy Williams lived and
worked in the 'big house' as a servant to its mistress. And though
being a house servant carried greater privilege and status than
that of the field hand, Cathy began to resent the menial tasks she
performed as much as she resented her masters.

After the death of her owner, and having the good fortune of not
being sold to pay debts, Cathy realized that the fundamental premise
of slavery was a lie and this life was not her chosen destiny. So in
November 1866 she disguised herself as a man, used the name William
Cathay, and enlisted in Company A, 38th U.S. Infantry and became a
Buffalo Soldier. As the first and only African American woman to
serve in one of the six black units formed following the Civil War.
Interestingly enough, Williams was able to become a member of the
Army without detection of her sex, and it was imperative that she
keep her true identity unknown. Her adventures took her from Missouri
to the Mexican border where she served for nearly two years. After
her military career Cathy did not envision returning to her roots in
Missouri, plus her heart was now in the West. So she married and
created a life for herself on the Western frontier, as a business-
woman in Trinidad, CO.

There is much contention surrounding the validity of Cathy's story.
Historians claim Tucker's only source about Williams' alleged service
as a Buffalo soldier is based on a newspaper account published in
1876 and that there are no official records in existence to
authenticate her Civil War service. Some believe it was easy for
Williams to get discharge certificates from the 'real' William
Cathay and pass it off as her own. And that 'Far too many of the
speculations about Williams are colored by a 21st century
"politically correct" perspective'.

Yet others offer a more positive analogy, "Phillip Thomas Tucker the
prize-winning author of The Confederacy's Fighting Chaplain tells
this remarkable tale of Pvt. William Cathay of Company A, 38th U.S.
Infantry, who in fact was a big-boned, 5' 7" black woman named Cathy
Williams. This is a unique story of gender and race, time and place.

Tucker's work is a recommended read that reaches across categories,
from American, African American, and military history to Western and
women's history." -- Thomas J. Davis, Arizona State Univ.

Regardless of the controversy, this was a fascinating story presented
more in the vein of a documentary than a novel and it allows readers
to experience a non-traditional, non-typical life for a 'Colored'
woman in the 1800's. Tucker uses this storyline to captivate and
educate, and he introduces a believable character who unknowingly and
unintentionally charted a course for the role of today's women in all
branches of the military. This story vividly brings to life another
chapter of our colorful history.

Reviewed by aNN Brown
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I found this book to be interesting and very enjoyable. It is an example of how one woman turned adversity into her triumph. I would recommend it highly.

I just finished this wonderful book....enjoyed it very much..One can see all the truly great research that went into this book...This Missouri Author Phillip Tucker has written about 25 Civil War Books..All have best good sellers...I would recommend everyone reading his books....Dr. AJ & Janet Canpbell

While there is some good information in this book, I was expecting more photos, especially of the various Wildcat and Invicta models and the various engine options offered in those vehicles. For instance, not one mention is made of the fact that "445" on a Wildcat engine was not only used in other vehicles, it also stood for the amount of torque the engine put out (and was *not* the cubic-inch displacement). The word "complete" used to describe this book was something of a misnomer...I found some information quite lacking here. Also, the writer(s) seemed a bit befuddled at times, and there are a few instances of incorrect information that have crept into the book. It's also hard to take it seriously where one Buick model is spelled incorrectly throughout the entire book (it's "Centurion," not "Centurian"...plainly visible on the first Centurion photo in the book). In all, there was little, if anything, I didn't already know about Buicks, and I'm far from an expert. For the price, I didn't feel it was worth the money. This one's "almost there," but a small disappointment to a fan of older "big engine" Buicks like myself.

Buick Muscle Cars is a must have for the Buick 'Muscle Car' Enthusiast! and, actually for the Buick Enthusiast in general! From the first Buick Muscle cars like the Century, the Centurian, the Wildcat, and the Riviera...to the Gran Sport Stage 1 and GSX, the Turbo Regal Grand National and GNX...and even a few 'modern day' Buick muscle cars like the late 90's Supercharged Riviera...They are all in this book! Full color pictures and descriptions. There's even special sections on Buick Race Cars, Special Buick Engines, Proto-type Buicks, and Buick Concept Cars!

I just received this book today. It is full of mistakes and misinformation. And I've only begun to read it! So far, I've just read a few paragraphs and all the photo captions. I really like the color photos. But I won't rely on any of the technical information. The Camaro history may be correct. I haven't read it, yet. I don't consider this book a good buy.

another of the few books that gives a great photo shoot and history of the camaro. i personally own a camaro and feel it does a nice job

This is an incomplete book that covers only the basics of "forming" a LLC. Not "maintaining"! I bought this book hoping to learn how to protect my business from lawsuits when litigants try to "pierce the corporate veil". Unfortunately there's NO talk about the formalities of maintaining the LLC. No talk about NOT commingling personal expenses with LLC expenses. No talk about setting up a separate LLC bank account. No talk about having a separate business phone line. No talk about having your web site registered in the name of the LLC. And where's the talk about sufficiently capitalizing the LLC relative to the level of business it generates? Failure to start the LLC with enough capital can make you personally liable to lawsuits. A dime a dozen are agents, lawyers and authors that try to make a buck off of you by getting you incorporated "before the ink dries". Just once I'd like to see someone who goes the whole nine yards by telling the WHOLE story about incorporating. The body of this book is 92 pages long followed by some forms...

I found this book helpful and time-saving. In general, it provides an overview of the limited liability company format, making entity comparisons between LLCs, corporations, and partnerships. It also focuses on specific California issues, such as California (as well as federal) tax angles. The appendices furnish an array of useful forms, some not directly related to LLC formation, but important in the larger business context. Included are state of California Articles of Organization for LLC formation, a model operating agreement, sample minutes of the members' first organizational meeting, an application for reservation of name, a preorganization subscription agreement, a bill of sale agreement, and a medical and dental reimbursement plan. Finally, membership certificates are appended as well and will do the job, but since these are photocopies, most people will want to order fancy custom-printed membership certificates from one of the companies supplying them. Almost all of these items can be tracked down by the persistent but prove especially handy in this one-stop format. One exception is the detailed operating agreement provided, which is invaluable and worth the price of the book alone. I could not have created this essential document on my own without this model. The step-by-step instructions, with filled-in forms as examples, and the appended form archives considerably speeded up the process of formation of my California LLC, if not "before the ink dries!" as the title asserts.

The basic premise (cf. Len Sperry) stated in the first few pages of this book is not the premise or ethic held by myself or my peer executive coaches: "coaching does not require a deep level of self-disclosure on the part of the executive nor is there a need for a close personal bond coupled with confidentiality."

Confidentiality is the primary ethic to which we subscribe and is what allows the necessary self-disclosure.

Another flaw of this book is that it wavers between coaching as a peer relationship and a professional (external professional) one. No doubt one peer could provide support and expert advice to another, but that is not the essence of executive coaching.

This book also uses and renames models developed by others without credit to those others. eg. the Johari window and Situational Leadership.

On the positive side, Appreciative Inquiry is a valid way to approach coaching, and not utilized often enough. We coaches have traditionally tended toward assessments which seek to identify flaws and deficits.

I would be concerned if this book were seen as a guide to executive coaching, especially for executive coach wannabes (and they are numerous these days). It is, at best, a very abridged primer or collection of readings for OD (Organization Development). OD skills are prerequisite to executive coaching, but only part of the skill equation. Psychological training and business experience are the others.

There is much controversy among coaching professionals today about executive coaching, and numerous "certification" programs that have none of the above prerequisites.

For another view of executive coaching ethics and practices, email me for our (Executive Coaching Forum of Boston) handbook available electronically at no cost. Given the concerns about qualifications, ethics, and practices of executive coaches, our group wrote and distributes this handbook as a service for executive coaches and clients alike. judyotto@mindspring.com

Whether you are an executive with a Fortune 500 company, a Human Resource manager, or an entrepreneur, you have become aware of executive coaching. It is nearly impossible to go to a conference or any business meeting and not come across some discussion of coaching. Many consider coaching as the helping relationship for management in the postmodern corporate and business world.

Executive Coaching: An Appreciative Approach, is more than a book about the methodology of coaching with executives. Although it is that, too, it is about being a coach almost as a way of being. It is not quite the Zen of coaching that John Whitmore speaks of in his book, Coaching for Performance, but, note the less, it is a philosophy about how to approach the coaching experience with executives. Even though it is basically written for the "want-to-be" executive coach, its depth will add important new material for experienced coaches as well. Most importantly it provides for coaches, leaders, managers, or supervisors, a way of relating to their colleagues and clients who want a coaching relationship.

The authors look at how adults learn and emphasize that coaching focuses on developing awareness through questioning. Questions compel attention for an answer and focus attention for reflection and feedback. Instruction does none of these. The coaches' use of questions are to raise awareness and responsibility for transformational change. Coaching becomes one of the more formal ways that learning can take place along with counseling and consulting. The authors differentiate between coaching, consulting, and counseling in providing learning experiences for the executive. Although there is a great deal in common between the three disciplines, the key differences are made explicit, one of which is that in coaching you can easily switch places the your colleague or client whereas in counseling and consulting that role shift cannot take place.

In difference from other books on coaching (Whitmore, 1997; Stowell and Starcevich, 1998) they emphasize that an "appreciative perspective" must undergird any executive coaching program. They state that in essence an "appreciative perspective" concerns a willingness to engage in dialogue with another person from an assumption of mutual respect and the mutual search for the discovery of distinctive competencies and strengths. This becomes the theme of the entire book and is imbedded in their three models for coaching. A manager who has not become familiar with Appreciative Inquiry, or has not developed an appreciative approach my find their models too non-directive. Traditional models of management, where confrontation and feedback directed at deficits are the basis of learning, would be antithetical to this approach. The quote David Cooperider's suggestion, "People and organizations do not need to be fixed. They need constant reaffirmation." In this approach, compassion and real caring for a colleague are expressed within the appreciation of their values, goals and intentions. This does not imply a loss of discipline nor a loss of boundaries between one's own problems and perspectives and those of another. Every counselor is familiar with the dangers of over identification and enabling the avoidance of responsibility, and every coach needs to be aware of this as well.

In this book readers will not only learn about three models of coaching but also about a model for viewing executives and organizations. The writers present four executive styles and organizational cultures that provide the coach with a frame of reference from which to examine executive functioning. These four styles of executive functioning (assertive, inspiring, thoughtful and participating) are said to "...represent quite different notions about the purposes, functions and values associated with executive functioning in today's organizations." These are based on assumptions about ways in which executives can be effective in leading an organization. They suggest that each can be effective in certain situations and ineffective in others. Their illustrations suggest that for a style to be effective the executive must have the ability to relinquish his "home base" or preferred style and assume a less comfortable style in order to succeed. A preferred style might be considered a strength but if exaggerated it becomes a weakness. It is clear that no one style fits all situations and it behooves the coach to be aware and assist the executive in developing the options and choices necessary for effectiveness. The appreciative approach again comes to the rescue as the coach uses inquiry to assist the executive toward increased awareness through self-reflection and responsibility. The book provides some "preliminary guidelines" for helping the executive discover his/her "preferred style." Strengths in each of the non-preferred styles are needed for the multiple contexts that the executive might find himself or herself dealing with. The reader will find explanations of appropriate and inappropriate uses of the strengths of each style. It is important that the coach be as nimble and flexible as the "coachee" in order to move from one style to another, and be willing and able to engage another colleague who has the appropriate style needed for change.

The formulation of the executive styles and the offering of models for coaching is unique to this work and offers the "budding coach" as well as the experienced one a new and exciting perspectives on executive coaching. Within the context of their three models, Reflective Coaching, Instrumental Coaching, and Observational Coaching, the work guides the reader through basic skills and the obstacles that block the process. There is a great deal more to this book than the outlining of skills and methods because it offers a way of being a coach and a philosophy of leadership. Even though their discussion of the models contained familiar material, some of which can be found in other books on coaching, much of the material is new and will enlighten the most experienced coach. This work is a must read for anyone entering the field and equally so for the experienced coach.

The pictures are excellent, but they are not plentiful, particularly in the case of the '69 and '70 Chevelles. Of course, much attention is paid to Yenko and Baldwin-Motion, as in other similar publications. The text (also in short supply) is well-written. Overall, should be titled "Chevelle-Light".

"Data About Us: Statistics" is one of the Connected Mathematics Project units, a set of units designated for grades 6-8. "Data About Us: Statistics" explores 4 different types of graphs- line plots, bar graphs, stem-and-leaf plots, and coordinate graphs, along with the 3 averages- mode, median, and mean. Instead of chapters, the book has investigations, and has 5 of them. Each investigation explores a different concept. In each investigation, there a certain number of sections. Each investigation has up to 5 sections. In each section, there is a problem. The problems are named according to what the investigation and section is. For example, if the problem is in Investigation 1, Section 1.2, the problem is called Problem 1.2. Following each investigation is a lengthy set of ACE (Applications-Connections-Extensions) questions. They are mostly reasoning and critical thinking but also include drawing graphs. At the end of the unit, there is a unit project in which you conduct a survey regarding typical characteristics of a middle schooler, make graphs, analyze the data, and conclude what the typical characteristics are. So, all in all, I would give this text 3 out of 5 stars because some of the questions are quite repetitive and moronic (e.g. How do you find the mean?) and require sentences and sentences of reasoning.