Brian Lamb would be a national treasure if he had only shepherded C-SPAN into existence. But he also brings us Booknotes -- a wonderful and distinctly understated tour through the inner workings of the most fascinating authors of our time -- and this book admirably captures the tenor and content of the cable program on which it is based.

Each author is covered (only once as a rule) in two to three pages which may touch upon influences, motives, work style and the writing experience. Each chapter begins with an introductory paragraph by Mr. Lamb, but otherwise the show's creator and moderator is not injected into the material, which is presented as straight text rather than in an interview format.

The short chapters make it a wonderful read in all circumstances, the material is engrossing, and one finds many suggestions for further reading here. Well done.

OK, upfront I'll own up to my prejudice. I love the way Brian Lamb does his program, Booknotes, on C-Span. He is at the top of my "people I want to have lunch with" list. If you, too, enjoy Booknotes and Lamb's interviewing style, then I'm quite sure you will enjoy this book. If you are not familiar with Booknotes, then you need to get with the program. You're missing out.

Th book is a compilation of summaries of Lamb's interviews with some 130 prominent and not so prominent authors. Each summary is tightly edited, and written like a statement from the author rather than a Q and A seesion. The result is excellent. The summaries are short enough to maintain reader interest, and the titles of the authors' books is great fodder for reading lists.

If Brian Lamb asked me in his understated manner, " So,what's your recommendation" My answer would be " Unqualified 5 stars "

Full of fascinating stories, quotes and people, this collection held me enthralled from beginning to end. Not only useful as a glimpse into the writers themselves, most of the interviews also give you a taste of the subject they've written about -- more often than not, I wanted to read the transcript of the full Booknotes interview (available online)as well as seek out the books they'd written! Highly recommended.

As a former columnist, I thought I knew all there was to know about the breadth and depth of waste, fraud and abuse in federal subsidy programs. I was sadly mistaken. The author has sucessfully revealed the monumental proportions of our "government by subsidy", complete with ample footnotes.

In the process, he lampoons Democrats, Republicans, conservatives and liberals, asking no quarter from any faction and giving none in return (with each group no doubt feeling they have been ridiculed more than the other). This culminates in the final chapter where he refers to Democrats and Republicans as the left and right wings, respectively, of a single "Subsidy Party". By refusing to ascribe to the views of Democrats or Republicans, the author creates a truly original and objective piece of work that commands the respect it deserves. Without a doubt, this book is required reading for anyone who wants to effect substantive change in Washington, DC.

The author's remedy for "The Federal Subsidy Beast" is a State Based Subsidy Plan (SBSP) which, at the risk of oversimplifying a complex proposal, involves transferring full authority for subsidy programs to the States, where 50 competitive entities will eventually create the most cost-effective system possible.

To be sure, the book contains some flaws. The author mistakenly asserts that his SBSP initiative would require a Constitutional amendment, which of course it would not since he only proposes taking those subsidy programs away from the federal government for which they have no authority according to the original intent of the Constitution in the first place. The author also pushes a consumption tax without seeming to realize that consumption taxes derive a majority of their tax dollars from the poor whereas a flat tax derives the majority of tax dollars from corporations and the rich.

Even with its few flaws, however, the book leads us down an intellectual path that few have trod, and it inspires fresh thinking along the way. At the conclusion of the book, readers will very easily be able to develop their own ideas about how best to grapple with "The Federal Subsidy Beast", and for this, we all owe the author a debt of gratitude.

I cannot improve upon what has already been said by the first two reader-reviewers. What I find truly astonishing is how this fine work is being championed by conservatives, so-called "libertarians," and their associated think tanks and websites, when in fact they embrace and defend subsidization whith great zeal when it suits their own narrow interests. So too am I mystified by how the Left seems to have ignored this work entirely, as it is a tremendous source of ammunition in the argument about the role of corporate welfare in this alledged free market system of ours. There is no chance for meaningful dialogue about any element of American life without accessing the material in this book.

Brian J. Finegan reveals all the deep-seated subsidies that define today's Federal Government. Long-term politicians should hide their heads in shame. Younger generations, in particular, have good cause to study and act on the information contained in this extensively researched book. For those who are interested in the facts behind the political rhetoric, arm yourself for the next political discussion with your neighbor. Better yet, refuse to discuss politics with anyone who has not read the book!

While continuing the Powers series with good art and writing, this is a somewhat uneventful edition. It doesn't really extend the characters, and once again involves the mysterious death of a superhero, however this time it really doesn't lend any great revelation. A large part of the book is taken up by a humerous but lightweight childrens coloring book. Really not as much bang for your buck as the prior volumes, but still a decent read.

The third volume of the Powers saga continues the high quality story from the first two, and ends with a cliffhanger that will leave you dying for volume 4. While the main story is pretty short, there are a lot of fun extras. If you have not read Powers, you should.

This book is really useful if you want to script and are
(1) a developer (2) an administrator (3) a curious soul.
The title however can be misleading since "under the hood"
means that you will discover the hidden "architecture" of XP.
Nobody wants such an horrible thing, so the book is more intended to
say ( I guess):" how to be effective with the scripting capabilities
of Win XP and 2000".
The author not only gives the basics of the Windows Scripting
Host, but also some oldies like "batch commands" which can be pretty
useful when you work in a multi OS environment.
The style is clear and to the point: what I expect from a
developer. Go also for the errata on the author Web Site to correct
4 or 5 bugs and you will script on your XP system from chapter 2 ,
understanding some new possibilities of VB SCRIPT. You will realize also WHY Win 95 really
becomes obsolete and how to send mail with CDO technology.
For Active Directory addicts, you also have a chapter on ADSI.
I will say that this kind of book will have a great impact on
UNIX colleagues, always keen to criticize the "mouse" productivity
of Windows IT people. You can shell WinXP and this book shows you
great productivity tools that come with the Microsoft OS.
Good book indeed !

I read "Windows XP Under the Hood" (WXPUTH) because I wanted to know more about Windows scripting. I sought a modern book that covered Windows XP and its server counterpart (where possible), and went beyond the batch files of the 1990's. Ignoring some issues which can be addressed by an updated errata, WXPUTH will not disappoint. It's even useful to those running Windows 2000 and NT shops.

Let WXPUTH be your guide to a world where graphical user interfaces (GUIs) are optional! Author Brian Knittel introduces the reader to the full range of Windows' command-line capabilities. Through examples, tables, explanations, and humor, WXPUTH doesn't teach everything, but instead concentrates on the most useful features of the Windows command line.

If you've never done any scripting before, WXPUTH begins with a helpful tutorial on VBScript. Next are discussions of object-based scripting, which allow for greater flexibility and power than simple batch files. The Windows Script Host (WSH), Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), and Active Directory Scripting Interface (ADSI) provide deeper access to core Windows functions. WXPUTH even teaches how to create custom objects, which I found fascinating. (This is truly getting "under the hood," but in an accessible manner.)

Where necessary, WXPUTH reveals details of Windows' innards. Topics like X.500 and LDAP appear in ch. 8, while hidden tools like "iexpress" and how to start various control panel applets are discussed elsewhere. The author isn't afraid to point out where Microsoft documentation or implementation is confusing or broken, which shows he isn't a Redmond drone.

While the dozens of sample scripts in WXPUTH are very helpful, and offer great opportunities for customization, they sometimes seem confusing. I think some of them need adjustment to work properly, although tinkering with scripts is a learning method. The author also made a few questionable comments, such as not being able to use 'runas' to start "Windows Explorer or any of its derivative programs" (p. 560). I am logged into Windows XP as a user right now, and have one instance of Explorer running as a user and another running as "administrator," started with 'runas'. Perhaps better technical editing might have caught similar issues?

Regardless, WXPUTH is "the" book I will recommend as a resource for Windows scripting. The first time you send an email via the command line you'll begin to appreciate the gift Brian Knittel has given the Windows admin community!

The perfect book for coming up to speed on Windows scripting.

This book is like a personal add in the paper, it promises far more then it delivers. I was looking for a bit more on the real scary and scandalous side, 50% of pilots drunk etc. a kind of Kitty Kelly on the airline industry. It did not give me this type of scandal sheet reading, but it did offer an excellent detailed account of how the airline industry operates. This detail was very interesting and if you fly, will make you understand some of the things we have to do just to get to that meeting. The writing was ok, more like a casual conversation which given the subject matter made for an enjoyable book. If you are interested in this industry then I would suggest this book.

This is an excellent book that describes in great detail how the airline industry operates. This book was published in 1989 and is still quite up to date. My only gripe about it was that there was nothing that talked about dispatchers, gate agants or any of the many others that are behind the scenes of an airline flight. However, the book will still give the traveler a more thorough understanding of the "ins" and "outs" of airline flying.

I read this book years ago on the recommendation of an airline pilot who thinks he knew the author who remains annonymous! I rate this book a "must read" for it's timeless insight into all areas of the air traffic business. Read this and your air travels will be on your terms and with certainty. Exposes loopholes and pitfalls, and explains how the savvy flier can avoid them.

This book is the second in the series of books that Brian Weiss has written on reincarnation. His first "Many Lives, Many Masters" chronicals his discovery of the potential for regression therapy, to allow patients to explore past lives, not just earlier times in this life.

In Many Lives, Many Masters, he has one patient Catherine, that regression therapy aids with some of her psychological problems. This discovery challenges some of Dr. Weiss' previously held beliefs and leads him to using the technique further to test the validity of this apparent past life memory. In Many Lives, Many masters this is done annecdotally and not very scientifically. However, the story flows and glues you to the page. He explores Catherine's lives as well as his own reactions to this information.

With Through Time into Healing, Dr. Weiss's light treatment of his new found cure gets even lighter. The book tells of case after case (his and his colleagues) where patients have been healed using regression therapy. The connection as to why they are healed is mere supposition. Many facts are very light. I would say this book has over 100 (if not more) cases being recounted. The are categorizes by the type of healing needed. This makes for tedious reading after the 25th believe me.

The table of Contents is below:

The beginning

Hypnosis and Regression

Through experience into Understanding

Healing the body by healing the mind

Healing Troubled Relationships

Healing the Inner Child and the Abused Child

Healing the need to Protect: Uncovering the sources of Obesity and Substance Abuse

Healing the Grieving

Opening the Mind to the Power of Mystical Experiences

Enriching your life

The Techniques of Regression

Finally in the last chapter he discussed the technique and provides the dialogue that you can record to put your self in a hypnotic trance and attempt to regress. There are many caveats and suggestions why you may not succeed or find other than what you anticipated. It is a start. I have not yet tried the regression technique yet, but I will. If it works I will write another review.

I was very disappointed in this book, in the sense that as a trained therapist, he brought little science or technique to the various stories being told. As Many Lives, Many Masters enthused me, this book disappointed me. I expected more from a man trained in the field of psychiatry. He many be a believer in past lives now, but he seems to have ditched his previous scientific leanings which would have offered so much more credence to this concept.

Having read "Only Love Is Real: A Story of Soulmates Reunited" first, I already knew I would love this book before I picked it up. Dr. Weiss' experiences with regression therapy, and the amazing stories of his patients, have given me a whole new interpretation on everything from my own views on death and the afterlife and the meaning and purpose of our lives, to a deeper understanding of my soulmate and I, who had only just ourselves rediscovered each other in this lifetime, and were seeking answers to the powerful, otherwise inexplicable connection we have. I would recommend this book, and any of Dr. Weiss' books, to anyone who has wondered what the real purpose of our lives is, or who wants to know more about soulmates, soul families, and healing life's pain and loneliness.

Dr. Weiss really gives people permission to take the handcuffs off that society and even organizied religion has placed on us about reincarnation. This book may challenge the comfort zone of some people because of the very open, honest and matter of fact way Dr. Weiss has written this book. I truly like the freedom I have received in my life, and the awareness that I am not the only one who has been visited by people who have come to say "Good-Bye" as they leave their home here on Earth. I have always believed since I was a child that this is not all there is to life, this is not a one time shot to get it all right the first time through. I now feel because of this book and the wisdom of Dr. Weiss that I will be a student as well as a teacher of life for as long as I am here this time. And since I have had dreams about things that at the time didn't make sense. I now understand that somehow I was remembering something of my past that came up to help me in my present. If you read this book with an open mind and spirit, you will be freed from any fear that might get in your way of being the best you can be this time. When I hear of a major tragedy on the news, even if I don't know the people personally I feel somehow the world has changed a little that day because those souls are no longer here to brighten our world. But because of this book and my own experiences I know they are safe and loved where they are and will return again to go on learning their next lesson, just as I will someday. Thank you Dr. Weiss

Powers scores major points for providing a fesh look to the super-hero genre. Brian Michael Bendis' sharp dialogue, coupled with a healthy dose of hip-cleverness, gives readers insight into what it would like to walk the beat in a town filled with super-heroes. The only thing that keeps this book from being rated higher is that one story thread - the one involving the young girl - doesn't quite reach the dramatic pay-off it was intended to reach. Nevertheless, Powers is a book worth looking at if you got the time. Not a classic but a notable contribution to the genre.

I recently read a Superman comic from 1991 which was a typical action-based story, exactly the type of tale that most non-comic readers probably imagine all comics to be like. Ten years on, although the traditional super-hero genre is still alive and well, there are other mainstream comics that break new ground, presenting accessible stories in a fresh and innovative style. Powers is one such comic. It's ironic, given my earlier reference to Superman as an example of the traditional style of hero, that Powers' inspiration seems to partly come from the Man of Steel himself....with a heavy dose of Hawaii 5-0's Steve McGarrett. Writer Brian Michael Bendis has transformed well-known titles including Spider-Man and Daredevil, in addition to penning his own original publications such as Alias and Jinx. Here he expertly tells the story of a former super-hero turned cop, Christian Walker, who specialises in cases involving the super-hero fraternity with the help of his fiesty sidekick Deena Pilgrim. Walker is an imposing figure, tall, square-jawed and dedicated. The artwork by Michael Avon Oeming is suitably untraditional - very cartoonish, much more so than the majority of comic books, and very distinctive. I would rank Powers alongside the Preacher series as a good example of slightly left-field but still highly readable comic book writing. Read it alongside the latest Superman while watching those 5-0 re-runs and you'll soon get the point.

Brian Bendis has a great grasp of pacing and character development inhis storyteling, and they shine through here. Powers is the story ofthe police officers charged with investigating crimes related tosuperpowered individuals; in this book, the death of one of the city'smost beloved heroines sets off massive amounts of mourning and anintense search for the killer. The dialogue is superb, parcelling outinfo in just the right amount, and Michael Avon Oeming's art is verygood as well, setting the mood and tone of the story. Plus, the tradepaperback includes sketches, a copy of the script to issue one, andsome other goodies. (At the moment,... this book listed as achildren's book. That is decidedly not accurate.)

Neville Wran remains icon of the Australian Labour Party. This book written by Wran's press secretary covers all the important moments and events of Wrans political career, especially his election campaigns and his ability/talent to capture the mood and sentiments of the New SOuth Wales electorate and maximise that for the benefit of his premeiership.

This is a well-done, profusely illustrated,introduction to mining and mineral resources

Don't get me wrong, I would had rated this book with 5 stars, If only wouldn't have that many printing foes. (read mistakes). Many excercises and graphics contain mis-leading information. Author is fully aware of most of them I believe. It tricks your mind with erronous information, traps, i.e. when reading logic equations, circuits layouts, labels, etc. Makes you hesitate about what you think should be the right idea, or about what you had just read lines above. It will be an excellent reference tool, and great in covering design methodolgies (Logic, PLc, Electropneumatics, pneumatic control, etc.), once all those flaws are corrected.