It's a great book that teaches you about God. It is good for use of group or individual work. It is a great tool to have for youth group.

For many years there has been a subtle subtext to the birthday and Christmas gifts my sister-in-law Phyllis has given me - a DVD of "The Wizard of Oz", Donna Summer's Greatest Hits, a calendar featuring airbrushed photographs of muscular firefighters etc etc. Now it seems she has come straight out with it (that much was clear from what she wrote on the dust jacket), and I am at a loss as to why. That said, this is a well-written psycholgical study of gay men in heterosexual marriages, which, while it has absolutely no resonances whatsoever with my own circumstances, was a pleasure to read.

This book is amazing for kids 5-105. Insightfully charming, and very humorous, it captures the reader's attention from page one. It may be a simple book, but it sure is charming. And it's great for people with high goals - 'cos if Michael can do it - you know that your dreams isn't necessarily that tough to achieve.

This was the first book I had read by this author as well as the first Harlequinn Romance I had read. I was pleasantly surprised. I couldn't put the book down. As a fan of Sandra Brown and Nora Roberts, I was looking for another author who wrote with a hint of mystery and intrigue as well as with sexy scenes! I would definately recommend this book!

Nature Art with Chiura Obata describes not only the life of a contemporary Japanese artist, but also depicts a man who maintained his spirit and dignity when he was interned with fellow Japanese Americans during World War II.

Chiura Obata was born in Japan in 1885. His older brother and wife were unable to bear children of their own, so they adopted Obata when he was five years old. Obata showed a talent for art at any early age, and his rigorous training began immediately in his new home.

Most interesting to Obata was the nature around him. He studied plants, birds and animals. He learned to make his mind calm and to use all his senses, not just his eyesight, when he was observing his subject.

In 1903, at the age of 17, Obata set sail for California, where he fell in love with the Pacific Ocean, the mountains, the redwood trees and Yosemite National Park. He also encountered prejudice and survived the earthquake of 1906. Through it all, Obata ultimately became a teacher at the University of California in Berkeley.

This book is filled with fascinating old photographs, reproductions of Obata's beautiful sketches and paintings, along with art exercises for budding artists who want to try out some of Obata's techniques. The exercises encourage readers to follow their feelings and draw nature as they see it. I found this book perfect for a presentation on Japanese Art to a second grade class.

When Obata and his family became internees in 1942, he recorded the story of their imprisonment through art. Even though their accommodations were dirty and depressing, Obata encouraged his people to see the beauty of nature in order to survive. He organized an art school and students would carve sculpture from tree stumps and build lamps from old car parts.

Obata became an American citizen in 1952 and lived to a ripe old age.

Ross describes early Chinese achievements in astronomy, medicine, mathematics, and technology and shows how these ancient scientists anticipated by hundreds, even thousands, of years the discoveries of their counterparts in the West.

Resource life cycle analysis is an interesting technique that has changed my view of both project management and strategic planning. The essence of this approach is the integration of resources, value chains, and precedence as key factors in information systems planning. Although this book is described as an IS modeling technique, the basic concepts can be used outside of IS, making the approach more universal than I believe the authors intended.

The key elements of the approach are (1) Resources - the view taken by the authors is businesses are a collection of resources. This differs from most approaches that view businesses as a inter-related processes and functions. Because the unit of composition for businesses is a resource (or asset), each are viewed within the context of a life cycle. This is a natural way of looking at assets, and this view fosters systematic management of business resources. Resources can be human, software, time, money, etc. (2) Value chains - this is the element that does address business processes and functions because it treats them as value chains. This is not an uncommon way of viewing processes and functions, but combining this view with the resource view is. (3) Precedence - this element adds sequence to the functions in *support* of resources.

From the foregoing there is a clear connection between resource life cycle analysis and project management, especially with respect to resource and precedence elements. From a strategic planning point of view, there is also a direct connection between value chains and processes, both of which are determining factors for systems to be implemented in support of business processes. These connections highlight the value of resource life cycle analysis as a methodology, and underscore its value as a tool that can be "bolted on" to your existing project management and/or planning methodologies.

I have been deeply influenced by this approach and have incorporated it into the way I approach requirements analysis and project planning. If you are a consultant, IT professional or operational manager of a business unit this book will provide you with some deep skills and a new way of approaching analysis.

General description
'Russia after the Cold War' is a detailed yet accessible overview of the modern day Russia in search for its new identity, and the social, economic and political dilemmas it faces in its pursuit.

Positive aspects
'Russia after the Cold War' has an excellent introductory chapter as a general background to the subject. The book covers a wide range of relevant issues ranging form from political culture and public opinion to Russia's relations with China and Japan, covering political, economic, social and cultural aspects of life in Soviet and present day Russia. The authors look into complex subjects and debates such models of transition and democratisation. The text is written by a number of distinguished academics in various fields discussed, such as Richard Sawka (on Russian nationalism and democratisation) and Mark Galeotti (on crime, corruption and the law). Each chapter is very well written and has a definite structure: 'Introduction' provides a good background, 'Conclusion' sums up ideas. Each chapter is full of facts, data, statistics, charts and tables, while good use of maps, boxes and bullet points illustrating ideas, reviewing main concepts and key personalities enhance its reader-friendliness. Although each chapter is written by a different author, it is easy for the reader to read on from one chapter to the next. The balance between issues discussed is impressive. Many viewpoints are put forward in a critical, yet objective way.

Negative aspects
While 'Russia after the Cold War' does a good job both describing and explaining events with a view from the top, and almost totally ignores a perspective from the bottom of the social ladder. More individual case studies could have been included - individuals, small enterprises. The book lacks illustrations, so a beginner in the subject (who the book is primarily intended for) may finish reading without being familiar with any of the faces in the life of Russia. The text also lacks a comparative perspective. Like many other texts in the field it needs to be updated more regularly to take into account more often to take into account recent developments in Russia and Former Soviet Union, such as Putin's presidency.

Conclusion
'Russia after the Cold War' is ideal for anybody interested in the subject of modern day Russia. While providing a comprehensive coverage of main issues and debates, it does so in accessible and lively style requiring no prior knowledge in the topic, though the text could benefit from more perspectives and illustrations.

Prior to entering law school, I began searching for a layperson's primer on the law. I specifically wanted a comprehensive and complete overview of the American legal system devoid of legalese. Two weeks of effort yielded less than spectacular results so I contacted Professor Fowler (B.A. Dartmouth, M.A. University of Virginia, J.D. Harvard Law School). He assured me "With Justice for All?" fit the bill.

It is indeed a thorough work. Written primarily as an introduction to the law for undergraduates, Professor Fowler's approach seamlessly blends the various aspects of the legal system with practical examples, personal experiences, and common sense application. Topics include civil procedure, criminal procedure, the jury, attorneys, the police, the judiciary, and other subjects of immediate relevance. Of particular interest is the glossary which provides plain english definitions for a wide range of legal terminology.

I highly recommend "With Justice for All?" to all pre-law undergraduates, prospective law school students, and all laypersons wishing to develop a deeper knowledge of our legal system. Professor Fowler provides a solid foundation for understanding both the complexities of the law and the application of its precepts.

Meditation Express is a great resource for novice and experienced meditators alike. The authors have many creative ideas that teach meditation techniques for people who really want to meditate but always somehow find a way to not have the time. The book is great because you can pick it up when you have only a few minutes and get a useful exercise in just a short time, and even have time leftover to do the meditation. I gave copies to several of my friends and family who I know are stressed out with too much to do, and need ways to decompress. It makes a sweet gift!!
Nancy and Michael have a great career ahead of them as teachers and writers. Thanks for the book!

This is the first book on meditation that I have found applicable in my daily life. The authors don't require that I wear special robes, decorate a room or designate hours of my day to reach a calmer, more focused state. Instead, they provide a recipe for confidence and success with their simple meditations in my daily life, sprinkled well with humor and topped with lightness. It's charming reading in addition to being so useful.

As a fan of both Michael's Key West newspaper column, as well as Nancy Butler-Ross's meditation teaching, I anxiously awaited this book, and was not disappointed! A great read: entertaining, humorous, witty, and best of all-- helpful. The meditations are are enlightening, fun, and brief enough not to be overwhelming like many meditation books I have read. I very highly recommend this book to everyone!!!!