Simply, it was one of the most exciting and interresting books I have read in quite some time. From the time I got it I could not put it down. The pictures were great as they were in colour. A book I have read over and over and still learn. For books on the Andrea Doria it is quite simply the best. I wish there was a follow up to it.

A quick and excellent read on the dive history of the Doria. Scuba divers will appreciate Gentile's focus of dive information. Not loaded down with much pre-wreck history. But Great detail on the problems facing technical diving on the Doria.

Andreas Gursky: Photographs From 1984 To The Present offers a grand, hugely diverse collection of larger than life images which taken as a whole conveys a gently ironic commentary of modernity in all its disparate manifestations. Although profoundly concerned with the role (and fate!) of man in the dis-articulated social tableau created by late-stage hyper-capitalism, Gursky is not making judgments about what he observes. To Quote from one of three introductory essays, this one written by Marie Luise Syring, "Gursky's work...reflects both the art forms and the everyday aesthetics of 20th-century society without resorting to open polemics-his images display too much indifference and beauty."

I was initially drawn to this series of photographs by the dust jacket illustration which is a somewhat unusual composition for Gursky, it turns out. I was touched immediately by the sparse, geometrically pleasing landscape running on endlessly in a striated banner of perfectly matched colour. There are several other 'naturalistic' studies included in this portfolio of 76 plates but most of the work examines the controlled chaos of urban settings, often featuring countless humans perambulating pointlessly in endless motion. "Being modern can also involve the danger of losing one's individuality and right to self-determination," Marie Luise Syring reminds us.

Gursky works on the boundary between painting and art photography. He tests and retests the critical distinctions seemingly inherent to these two representational domains. Thus many, but not all, of Gursky's photographs seem to have an explicitly clinical orientation. He is probing a fragile boundary and we know it. The cold truth which emanates from a stark objectification of the subject matter which compels Gursky is however always balanced by the way in which he floods his overrun visual fields with light and riotous colour. That I might personally prefer the warmer emotional tones of his naturalistic work to the harsher elements of the cityscapes is of course hardly the point. All of his work makes you think! And sometimes gasp at the sheer excess of talent and technique which propels the creation of such intensely intelligent, beautiful art.

I saw this exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts in NY recently and it was incredible. I'm usually not a fan of giant color photo exhibits, but this one really struck me. The complexity and beauty in his photographs will hit on something that you have most likely never seen. He has a gift of bringing common scenes like the supermarket into view in a way that makes you doubt you have ever shopped at one. If so, you would say, how did I miss that which is shown in this photograph? Looking at his photographs will bring on that same sense of smallness as pondering your little place on this little, common blue/green planet, around this one star that is the norm among billions upon billions.

The book is an excellent reference for anyone interested in the role of antioxidants in both food and biological systems. The contributors are leaders in their respective fields of research with many years of experience and outstanding credentials. I found the book to be a most valuable resource for personal enlightnment and for guidance in my quest for new and improved nutritional supplements for the industry.

This book is an example of a multidimensional book. It succeeded well in integrating topics of wide and current interest dealing with antioxidant status, nutrition, health and disease. The result is a book that is very readable and can benefit a broad spectrum of audiences. In addition to nutritionists, dietitians and health professionals, specialists from other disciplines such as chemistry, biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, pharmacy, and pharmaceutical sciences can benefit from this book.

Of particular interest is the extensive discussion of the role of diet and nutritional supplements in health and disease. These topics have attracted wide public interest and have been making national headlines in recent years. World class experts from academia, government and industry discuss these topics applying the same rules of scientific and clinical evidence used in the discovery and evaluation of new drugs. The high caliber of this discussion is representative of the overall quality of this book.

THE REASON I READ THE BOOK IN THE FIRST PLACE WAS BECAUSE I HAVE A DAUGHTER NAMED ANDREA BATES IT WAS A GOOD BOOK L.

This is the best of the hydrotherapy books that I was able to find at the National Institute of Health Library in Washington, DC.

Very good, informative book. Any gardener, expert or beginner, will find this book a great reference.

Happy gardening.

A comprehensive review for how-to. Vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, composting, organic growing, greenhouses, etc. Well illustrated.

An Unbelievable book! Having biked parts of this trail myself, The attention to detail that Ms. Lankford has supplied is astouding! I have read many guidebooks covering many topics, and this is one of the best, from the mileage markers, to the detailed maps, to the great photos. Additionally, the book doubles as a great adventure story of two slightly crazy, but totally ambitious girls! I reccomend this book without hesitation.

I just got Andrea Lankford's guide and getting my hands on it is bittersweet: I love the book... but really could have used this guide a couple of months ago. In November and December of 2002 I became the first solo thru biker of the Arizona Trail (AZT) and the third thru biker ever. During my journey I relied on photocopied maps, second hand advice, and a crumpled road map-certainly not the thorough guidebook that is available today. Lankford supplies us long distance adventurers with a guide complete with accurate trail descriptions, exact mileage, humor, an easily readable text, maps, and photos. Lankford is truly adept at writing a guide after thru biking the AZT, thru hiking the 2160-mile Appalachian National Scenic Trail, and serving as a National Park Service EMT/Forest Ranger. They said Andrea Lankford and her partner Beth Overton could'nt hack this 800-mile mountain, canyon, plateau, and desert route, but they were wrong. And if anyone ever said that a great guide could not come out of their expedition, they were clearly incorrect as well. As being the only other person to bike this gorgeous and challenging trail besides Andrea Lankford's friend Beth, I can tell ya one thing for sure: this baby gets 5 stars.

Book Review:

Capital Campaigns: Strategies That Work
By: Andrea Kihlstedt and Catherine P. Schwartz
Edited by: James P. Gelatt
Aspen Publishers, Inc. Gaithersburg, Maryland 1997

Reviewed by: Norman Olshansky: President
NFP Consulting Resources, Inc.
...

What a surprise! With over 30 years of non profit fundraising, leadership and capital campaign consulting experience, I expected to gain little from this "how to" book which I was given to review. Boy, was I wrong.

Step by step, the authors outline and expand upon the key elements of a capital campaign; from determining whether or not your organization is ready for a campaign, to the best ways to celebrate and evaluate its conclusion.

I appreciated the amount of detail the authors included and their emphasis on organization, planning, leadership involvement and communications. They explore the basic process and then give in depth coverage of each step. In addition to sharing their own personal knowledge and expertise, they gathered much of their material by interviewing friends and clients who also had extensive capital campaign experience. They made the book more interesting, and dramatized the points they wanted to make, by the inclusion of short vignettes and quotes by volunteer and professionals, from actual campaign experiences.

Among the important subjects covered by the book are: how to select and use consultants, building the case for support, conducting a feasibility study, creating a campaign management plan, prospecting and prospect research, team building and leadership development, techniques of solicitation, campaign materials and public relations, events, thank yous, recognition, and much more. They even have a trouble shooting guide which focuses on what to do when things go wrong.

I highly recommend this handbook for volunteer leadership and staff alike (whatever their level of previous experience) who are considering a capital campaign. It is a book that should also be part of the libraries of campaign consultants. I have to admit that I picked up several great new ideas and techniques from reading the book.

Keep in mind that this is a "how to" book and will continue to be of value as a reference tool. The table of contents and index are complete and excellent in their detail.

I felt the authors could have put more emphasis on and expand the section on feasibility studies, or as I like to call them, pre-campaign assessments. Too many organizations try to avoid this important process thinking that they already know they need to know. They feel the pre-campaign study will take unnecessary time and resources. A good study not only sets the stage for a successful capital campaign and determines a realistic goal, but also provides invaluable information about the way the organization is perceived in the community, potential for major support, and extent to which leadership and staff are ready or capable to do what is necessary for success.

Organizational culture, leadership styles, personality management and what is often referred to as organizational politics are other areas which I felt deserved expanded coverage by the authors. Human factors, organizational history, and communication styles are all addressed in the book but are not given as extensive or in depth presentation as is warranted.

In summary, this book not only meets, but exceeds its very appropriate title: Capital Campaigns-Strategies that Work.

What a surprise! With over 30 years of non profit fundraising, leadership and capital campaign consulting experience, I expected to gain little from this how to book which I was given to review. Boy, was I wrong.

Step by step, the authors outline and expand upon the key elements of a capital campaign; from determining whether or not your organization is ready for a campaign, to the best ways to celebrate and evaluate its conclusion.

I appreciated the amount of detail the authors included and their emphasis on organization, planning, leadership involvement and communications. They explore the basic process and then give in depth coverage of each step. In addition to sharing their own personal knowledge and expertise, they gathered much of their material by interviewing friends and clients who also had extensive capital campaign experience. They made the book more interesting, and dramatized the points they wanted to make, by the inclusion of short vignettes and quotes by volunteer and professionals, from actual campaign experiences.

Among the important subjects covered by the book are: how to select and use consultants, building the case for support, conducting a feasibility study, creating a campaign management plan, prospecting and prospect research, team building and leadership development, techniques of solicitation, campaign materials and public relations, events, thank yous, recognition, and much more. They even have a trouble shooting guide which focuses on what to do when things go wrong.

I highly recommend this handbook for volunteer leadership and staff alike (whatever their level of previous experience) who are considering a capital campaign. It is a book that should also be part of the libraries of campaign consultants. I have to admit that I picked up several great new ideas and techniques from reading the book.

Keep in mind that this is a how to book and will continue to be of value as a reference tool. The table of contents and index are complete and excellent in their detail.

I felt the authors could have put more emphasis on and expand the section on feasibility studies, or as I like to call them, pre-campaign assessments. Too many organizations try to avoid this important process thinking that they already know they need to know. They feel the pre-campaign study will take unnecessary time and resources. A good study not only sets the stage for a successful capital campaign and determines a realistic goal, but also provides invaluable information about the way the organization is perceived in the community, potential for major support, and extent to which leadership and staff are ready or capable to do what is necessary for success.

Organizational culture, leadership styles, personality management and what is often referred to as organizational politics are other areas which I felt deserved expanded coverage by the authors. Human factors, organizational history, and communication styles are all addressed in the book but are not given as extensive or in depth presentation as is warranted.

In summary, this book not only meets, but exceeds its very appropriate title: Capital Campaigns-Strategies that Work.

"...a must have book for any health science library." (AIDS Book Review Journal, Vol. 69, September-December 2002)

Cellular Aspects of HIV Infection highlights many of the important aspects of HIV interaction with host cells and with the immune system. Notably, several chapters cover the most recent observations on both innate and adaptive immune responses and approaches for reconstituting the immune system by a variety of procedures. This edited book provides a ready reference for valuable background and current information on many aspects of HIV pathogenesis.-- Jay A. Levy, M.D., University of California San Francisco

This book is too late for me but I would give anything if I'd had
availble to me, at the time, a book as sensitive as this one.
The insights are straightforward and revealing of both sides of the issue. Written from the Christian perspective it offers a
lot of tools for the possibility of change.
I would recomend it highly to the young wife confronted with
what seems to be an insurmountable problem.
Even without a mother-in-law today, I am reminded that in any
troubling relationship, there are two sides to be considered.
These three authors have done a masterful job with
the subject. It will make a good 8 week study course.

This book is perfect for anyone who wants to improve their relationship with their mother-in-law or daughter-in-law, and would also work well as a small group study. I found the personality test useful in helping me to understand my strengths and weaknesses. This information also shed light on the differences in temperament and personality between me and my mother-in-law. The story portrayed in the journal helped by giving examples I could relate to, and the Bible Study was great. I highly recommend this book!

What will computers do to our minds? Will they make us smarter or will they, instead, reduce us to mindless button clickers? Is there anything we can do to influence the outcome? These are the questions motivating Andy DiSessa's thoughts in Changing Minds. The basic premise is simple. The invention of written language led eventually to wide-spread literacy and to a large advance in the capabilities of the human mind. Similarly the invention of computer-based communication tools could create a giant leap in human mental capacity. But that leap will only come about if we develop appropriate tools and establish a culture that encourages their widespread use. Current trends are not encouraging. Few suitable tools are being developed and there is no culture encouraging widespread use. In Changing Minds DiSessa describes the kinds of software we would need to develop if we were to reach for the next level in human mental capability. He describes efforts that have been made to create such software and provides examples of the exciting results that can be obtained when children are given access to such tools. But he also warns of the many obstacles blocking the path to this better future. In the end he is unsure that we will have the will to reach it. If Changing Minds were only about the future of the human mind it would be an important book, but it is much more. It is an opportunity to experience a particularly exciting mind of the present. Reading Changing Minds is rather like spending an intensive weekend with a new friend. Through this book you come to know Andy. You see how he thinks, discover what motivates him and learn many fascinating details about his life. Few authors have ever been able to bring a character to life as effectively as Andy brings forth himself. So pack your bags, bring a little calculus and physics if you can and prepare to enjoy an exciting new friendship.

An absolutely amazing book! Stimulating and engaging material is addressed in a totally approachable way. Truly new and complicated ideas are described with expressive and informal language making it greatly appealing to a reader at any level. The subject matter is extremely interesting and far broader than the book's focus on computers and education; it ranges from children, to product design, to the internet, to human/machine interface, to driving a car, and to the role computers will play in society in the future. All this fascinating material revolves around the author's ideas of a Computational Medium and Computational Literacy (which is very different from computer literacy as we usually use the term).

The ideas are powerful and, whether or not you agree with all the conclusions drawn, will likely change the way you think about computers. I work in a completely unrelated field, but the focus on education was still very engrossing and enlightening. Especially the many stories and anecdotes about actual children, and what they had done using the Boxer computational medium. The author points out that any high school algebra student can now easily perform the proofs on relative motion for which, had it been offered then, Galileo would have surely won the Nobel Prize, and proves unarguably that we must continue to modify and update our educational system to progress as a whole, and to take advantage of the new developments and efficiencies (such as algebra) of a society that is constantly evolving.

Changing Minds potentially offers invaluable insight, and at a minimum entertaining intellectual exercises, about computers and education. From web or software designers, to system builders, to CEOs, to technophiles, and to the teachers, administrators, parents, and students in our schools, everyone will take something away from this book. For anyone involved in (or interested in) either computers or education, this book is a must read!