This is a weighty book...literally...I'm actually afraid the binding is going to break at some point. I think that several of the essays could have been a bit tighter (and shorter), but the sheer volume of this volume is a testament to the fact that so little work has been done on this subject. Aside from its physical problems, it is a very interesting collection of writings. The essays included explore the ideas of how women made important and thus far ignored contributions to the Dada movement. There is also thoughtful analysis of other related issues such as representation of women in the work of Man Ray. Especially notable are Maud Levin's study of Hannah Hoch and Rudolf Kuenzli's character study (and she is quiet a character) of Baroness Elsa Von Freytag-Loringhoven.

If you read one book on feminism, read this: Fire With Fire clearly explains how women today are in a battle for equality-- and what women can do to help themselves succeed. Naomi Wolf's style is direct and straightforward, and hits the nail on the head; she rejects the ivory-tower academics and the poor-me victims in favor of concrete examples of real problems, the damage caused to women (and to men) and specific suggestions of what could improve the situations. I recommend Fire With Fire most highly.

I have read all of Naomi Wolf's books and feel this is one of her best. Her knowledge and insight is truly astounding. She makes you wonder why we don't question or challenge the way women are perceived in modern society. She raises valid points that give credibility to the title, Fire with Fire. Great book ... I highly recommend it.

If women read this and apply the information, the results will be absolutely astounding. An embrace of logic, analysis, and an unflinching look at how to fight a battle, win, and have a lot of fun doing it! This book is a rarity, pick it up today!!

I enjoyed this book in the sense of learning about Saxon England. The authors clearly did hours of research into their subject matter, and the excellent background stories and descriptions are proof of their hard work. Unfortunately, what would otherwise be a really good book is marred by a really annoying love story. The outcome of the triangle formed by Aldyth, Gandulf, and Bedwyn is entirely too predictable. Also, there is way too much [explicitness] in the romance for my tastes; this one is not for the kids, folks. If it were a movie, it would probably be rated PG-13 for all of the [explicit] talk. The happy-ever-after situation at the end is sickeningly sweet; everything is just a little TOO perfect, even the children. I tried very hard to care about the main characters in this book, but it just didn't happen for me; I was much more interested in the secondary characters like Mother Rowena, Sirona, and Brother Ansgar. The book tries, it really does...it just doesn't make it.

I don't usually care far fantasy - I'm more into history and historical fiction. This book gives a picture of everyday people and everyday life in the time of the Norman conquest, with just a little fantasy thrown in to sweeten the pot. I could not put it down and read until the wee hours each night till I finished it, then wished I hadn't finished! I loved the details about healing with herbs and how the people managed to live thro the winter. It didn't dwell on just the wealthy. This is the kind of "history" that grabs my imagination.

...This story is the tale of Aldyth, goddaughter to the local healer/seeress, Sorina, and who has versed Aldyth well in the knowledge of herb lore and caring for the sick. There are many ills in the village, many caused by the vindictive and tyrannical ways of Lord Ralf, who runs the surrounding villages and even the nuns in the Abbey like slaves in the boondocks rather than peasants in a village.

Aldyth, like many villagers, puts up with Ralf's ways, in short because of their small band of Saxon resistence to the Norman invasion. The "Starlit Path", as it is known, is something of an Underground Railroad of second century Britain; helping fugitives from the Saxon/Norman battles to saftey overseas or in south England. Aldyth and Sirona are two helpers of this Path, as is the outlaw/rogue/dashing Bedwyn, a childhood friend of Aldyth's, who desperately pursues her in madness of love/lust, it is hard to tell some of the time.

Of course, a twist is thrown in the story as King William cracks down on outlaws and "runners", as the Saxon fugitives are known, causing holes in the Path and spies trying to collapse the last stronghold of Saxon resistence.

In the village, though, there is a new face, as the son of Lord Ralf- Gandulf- returns from France. Of course, this man- who is quiet, steady, and intense compared to the passionate, risk-taking, adventurous Bedwyn- falls head over heels in love with Aldyth. The brawling that takes place between Bedwy and Gandulf on May Eve is not so much idiotic as just plain amusing.

There are some lewd actions in the book, and, like me, you may not feel obliged to read them. I skipped over those pages, and the story picked up beautifully where it had before the...exchanges.

This book is a very satisfying read. The authors have most of their facts right, and even if you feel that in the first part of the book it is predictable, please, for the sake of a story well written, keep reading. Better the predictable book take an unpredictable turn then the unpredictable turn predictable.

A job well done, Naomi and Deborah Baltuck.

I remember a time when poems were supposed to be intelligent and well-written and creative. What has happened, that this lazy, self-indulgent, unimaginative writer has received even the lukewarm acclaim that she has?

It is quite difficult to get through the work of many contemporary poets. So many write of themselves only, and have a tendency to go on and on...writing from the heart is one thing, but to rant incessantly is quite another. As a children's poet, I teach the importance of observing, valuing, cherishing the world around, to see it with "new eyes", and to feel free to share what you discover. It was always apparent to me that the poet's job is to "make new" what is usually thought of as ordinary, to help us to reconnect with the world and each other. This may sound idealistic, but these are the poets/the poetry I find to be most effective (effective in stirring emotion). And Ms. Nye's poetry is so effective...she finds the sublime, the painful, the curious in everything and everyone around her. THAT is poetry! I am so happy that she is around to remind us of it!! We need more poets/teachers like her...

Naomi Shihab Nye is still able to find greatness in the small things. Her new book of poems, "Fuel,"reminds the reader that there poetry is all around us, on our street, in our children and even in a garden of beans. Nye's poetry is a work of surprising images and deceptive simplicity. In "Alphabet" we watch as older residents of her neighborhood who are "going up/into the air." Her writing is poignant and clears the air of stuffy, undecipherable, ego poetry. It is obvious with poems like "Messenger" and "Hidden" is that Nye's goal is to write accessible and enjoyable poetry for her readers. Nye mixes humor with clarity and subtle observations to create a grounded book of poems about life and living. "Fuel" shows us that Nye still has many stories left to tell and she has done so exquisitely in this collection.

If your expecting beautiful wooden architecture like Greene & Greene's or Val Agnoli's, look elsewhere. Most of the buildings in this book look cold and lifeless. I don't even think a Termite could stomach this book!

This book is not a very good guide for people interested in what its title claims to cover.
The project selection is pretty poor with the exemption of a couple housed and Ando's projects.
To put it simply the book lacks a larger gradient on the possibilities this material has to offer. The majority of the projects, which have practically no drawings to accompany them, are an aesthetic use of wood, and most of them do a poor job at this. Even so the book has great pictures and the projects are visually entertaining. They just don't sum up the new directions and design wood has taken in architecture.

This book is a must-read for architects and architecture students who are designing with wood. These well-chosen projects from around the world highlight the varying qualities which can be achieved through the use of wood. The designs reveal a close attention to the inherent properties of the material, and showcase many of the ways in which they can be exploited by a designer. The photographs nearly allow the reader to touch the material and feel the texture. This book is a great one to keep on the shelf and leaf through to ignite the imagination before beginning a new design. The book was previously published under the title "The New Wood Architecture."

Naomi Wolf has written a passionate, involved book, that analyses the 'Beauty Myth' from a perspective that is first a woman's, and second a sociologist. While parts of this book are a bit extreme and political, on the whole it provides a new framework for thought, and many fascinating angles to consider in any discussion of beauty, culture or women's media.

It is ironic that some of the criticism this book has received in these reviews ('Let her be ugly, or even average before she writes a book' , 'the way she throws her beautiful hair around') only goes to prove much of what Ms Wolf says - that her views as an author and a human being must be so inseperable from her looks, and that there is some quality of 'ugliness' that is absolute and which women should constantly strive to get out of.

Feeling attractive is certainly every woman's right, but it is a feeling, not an absolute state. Anyone who has travelled out of America, and experienced diverse cultures, will testify to this.

Makeovers are such an inherent part of growing up female that the ritual goes largely unquestioned by many young women. Naomi Wolf, from a decidedly Marxist angle, proposes that women should re-examine the purpose of "beautification" rituals; advertising; and magazine images in "The Beauty Myth." The essence of her book is that economy always determines what a society's beauty ideal is, and that this myth of ideal, objective beauty works politically to keep women striving for less freedom and choice. This myth encourages women to loathe themselves, through a quest for perfection in never-ending transformation. If there's one point that Wolf stresses, it is that women need to stop blaming themselves for negative self-worth. This is not about individual women, this is about a whole society of women. This is an epidemic, Wolf argues. She encourages women to see that a social atmosphere is what is really responsible, and she shows this through a sizeable amount of detailed examples and scholarly sources. Her prose is always sophisticated and at times, genius. Her use of metaphor, anectdote, and extensive analogy make her book a fascinating read as she ties aspects of female culture into the larger society (her analogies are especially effective in the "Work" chapter). In writing "The Beauty Myth", Wolf took the job upon herself to research and assemble facts about such things as marketing tactics and cosmetic surgery economics for women who don't have the time or resources to do so. True, she does seem to push an agenda--encouraging a third wave of feminism--but her ideas are sound, not radical. In tying all the facts together so cohesively, it is inevitable that she would have a grand theory. She does not detail a set plan for change--her overall intention seems to be to give women, and especially young women, a different way to see themselves. She shows how they have the ability to both propel or dispel the beauty myth. "The Beauty Myth" is a dossier of information, and Wolf leaves this self-empowerment mission up to us, should we choose to accept it.

The cover quote calls this a must-read for all women. I would include men in that, as well. Or, at least all men who care about gaining greater understanding of women. I found that Wolf gets a bit heavy-handed at times, especially toward the beginning of the book, but she more than makes up for it with compelling arguments and plenty of supporting evidence. She opened my eyes to the reality of the ubiquitous, yet almost invisible, beauty myth, and I have been able to see many more examples on my own since reading the book. I feel the urge to give a copy to every woman I see who appears on the verge of collapse from self-starvation, or who seems ashamed of her natural self, unable to face the world without a mask of makeup.

Promiscuities: The Secret Struggle for Womanhood by Naomi Wolf. Not recommended.
Female coming of age. Female desire and sexuality. Feminism. Promiscuities: The Secret Struggle for Womanhood attempts to address these issues in the context of Naomi Wolf's own coming of age in the 1970s. The problem with this approach is that it is too personal (a weakness Wolf admits early on) to offer either much insight or value. The best it can do is provoke clearer thinking in the reader than Wolf is capable of.
The stories are provided by Wolf and her circle of friends, who are for the most part middle-class, urban, and Caucasian. Much of Wolf's discussion focuses on her childhood/adolescence in San Francisco and her exposure to that city's counterculture ideas and sex industry-something that may resonate with women of similar backgrounds, but not with this lower middle-class, East Coast, small-town girl whose exposure to the sex industry came at the end of adolescence, not during childhood. (Unlike Wolf, I and my peers didn't walk past strip clubs every day, see genital fetishes sold in local stores, or know about "sex workers" before hitting double digits.)
Wolf describes in detail such things as her procurement of birth control in preparation for the planned loss of her virginity to a "sweet guy." She would have you believe she was thinking about when a girl becomes a woman, what makes a girl a woman, the ritual of becoming a woman, and the adult attitude toward teenage sex at this tender age while making this well-thought-out decision. According to her description of the event, which feels meaningless to her because of the way society disregards it, there is no teenage impulsiveness or passion involved-again, something that does not resonate.
Wolf's primary point is that we were taught to believe, falsely, that females control sexual relations because males have uncontrollable desires, while we do not. Her exception to this teaching is, of course, valid. She hypothesizes that not only do females have tremendous desire, but that we are capable of a higher level of more prolonged desire and that we are nothing short of sexual deities. She illustrates this with a "history of the clitoris" (in which it is forgotten and rediscovered over the millennia) and of the extensiveness and sensitivity of the female sexual skin. She cites ancient wisdom that is no longer in practice or understood about male/female sexuality and relations; they understood sexual relations in a way we do not. Along the way, she occasionally makes valid points, for example, that all too often, parents of the 1960s and '70s abdicated their adult roles to pursue their own pleasures and that there is no real transition from girlhood to womanhood.
In the end, however, her points rely too much on the personal anecdotes and on selected sources, that is, sources skewed toward her viewpoint. This is not an objective analysis of legitimate issues and theories, but an agenda that has little substance behind it. Wolf does manage to successfully illustrate the muddiness of sexual attitudes with the muddiness of her own thought. She is a barely adequate writer because she is neither a clear nor a deep thinker. Promiscuities is no more than pop feminism that adds little to what has already been written upon the subject other than Wolf's own narrow perspective and need to be more sexually charged than men-a need that her passionless relationships and anecdotes belie.
If you really want insight into female desire and sexuality and what it means to become a woman, there are surely much more universal, fundamental, and emotionally and intellectually integral truths available than the weak mental ramblings offered here.
Diane L. Schirf, 6 September 2001.

This book, by such a 'noted' feminist researcher, has recieved an undue amount of criticism for several reasons. The first being that there is always an over emphasis on the context Wolf chooses, which is her own. There is an overwhelming failure to notice how this creates a story, and a background for the reader. Elsewise, we would just be meandering through some misplaced memories. It also serves to show that these stories are not meant as an all inclusive look at what it means to have sex as a teenage girl.

The second undue criticism comes from the nature of the book - as a collection of stories. There are complaints that, unlike The Beauty Myth, there is not a lot of factual research - which Wolf readily admits in the introduction. The reason for this is often revealed in interviews with Wolf. She often notes that she wrote it because she realized her daughter would be going through the same things in a number of years. The lack of theory and jargon in this book make it accessible for young women who many not even really understand what the word "feminist" means.

I write this because I read this book as a young girl, and later as a university student. As a pre highschool student, this book gave me guidance and reference not available to me from my family, friends or school. The fact that someone was telling these stories served to make my own experiences normal and gave me realistic expectations in the world of "high school romance". I don't hesitate to say it probably saved me a lot of heart ache, as I was exposed to the stories of "women who have gone before"

As a university student, I feel that the true stories of women are generally not heard in the forum of mainstream culture. Although I have come to disagree with some portrayals and sections of this book, I also realize it's value and recognize it's impact on my life. It is a must read for young women, and should be available in health and family life classes everywhere.

Naomi Wolf strikes home here with a book that will resonate with a lot of people, especially those born between 1960 and 1970 and raised on one of the coasts. Unlike her past works, Promiscuities is a very personal story; she has a lot to say about her own experiences and those of the girls and women she grew up with. The earlier parts of the book are stronger than the finish, but it's worth getting to the end anyway.

One problem: the tagline used for the paperback edition ("The Secret Struggle for Womanhood") might lead the reader to expect a book with answers rather than questions, more like Ms. Wolf's previous books. The tagline of the hardcover edition ("An Ordinary American Girlhood") is better, though it perhaps misleads the reader about the universality of her experiences.

I am just a beginner in the study of buddhism.After reading "Buddha For Beginners"( a book in this series),I thought this book would be a good next choice. I was wrong! Although the historical text was informative, the text about theory and teachings was mostly quite confusing. The art work was not good.The illustrations' humor was witless and sometimes in poor taste. Had this been the first book I read about buddism it may have been my last

This work by Blackstone and Josipovic is an adequate introduction to Zen Buddhism with some nice history. When it gets into practice and study is where I stumbled. In the discussion of the koan, the authors read off a few that I am familiar with, but then this one, which I found strange they would include it:

"One day he [Choa-chou] fell down in the snow and cried out "Help me up, help me up!" A monk ran over and lay down beside him. Choa-chou got up and walked away. (If you can guess who learned what in the above situation, you are doing better than the authors). pg 100

I felt the authors should have left that out, for it made me suspicious of the rest of the book. A fun book otherwise and good for someone who knows a little more about Zen than just a beginner, for they will have a more refined view.

If you like your religion serious and grim, this probably isn't the book for you. But if you are drawn to Zen Buddhism in part because of its warmth, humor, and apparent contradiction, it's an excellent place to start.

The authors make it clear from the start that although they have studied Zen for many years, they are students, not enlightened masters. For some writers, this would be a liability; their humility transforms it into an asset: their willingness to admit their imperfect knowledge make this much more approachable than other Zen books I have read. They impart a fair bit of basic information, while also conveying the flavor of something that "cannot be described in words [...] an experience more basic than the level of conceptual thinking."

The book, like other books in this series, is a quick but broad introduction to a complex topic. If you are looking for a serious, detailed reference book, look elsewhere. But out of the dozen books on Buddhism on my shelf, this is the one I first loan to friends who are curious about Zen.

Mediocre writing, recycled plot. Told in the first person, a difficult voice that this author has not mastered.

I hoped that this second book would build on the first, but it seems more hastily written. The weaknesses of the first--the male protagonists sounding all alike; choppiness of plot; characters talking like nineties people interspersed with Renaissance religious talk--are emphasized. Though there was plenty of action, I didn't feel as a reader that I experienced it. The style was more journalistic than previous. I found, despite the bloodshed and pain, that my attention wandered, especially as it seemed that no one but the bad guys had any clear motivation for what they were doing.

I did like Eliana's strength, and her liking women is a breath of fresh air after far too many books by women authors in which cute men fall for other cute men and gush like thirteen year old girls. The use of Italy and Italian is a good change after far too much repasteurized Celtishness.

In short, I think this author shows plenty of talent, but needs to take time to smooth the plotting and prose. I will look for a third book, but I will probably read a chapter or two before buying.

Some of the other reviewers explained how this book differed from the first in the writing style. Overall the book was good but it seemed rushed and their was a twisted ending that left probably the largest dissapointment. It put in a protaganist that didn't need to be there to make a simple plot more intriguing. Instead it rushed over interesting character devolopment, into more of a battlefield who's who.
I enjoyed the books, but they overall are less then steller.

I bought TaxCut software, then read this book, I end up with a tax professional to do my 2001 tax. I am glad I read this book though, I avoided making mistakes and I followed carefully to my tax attorney's advice. This book is informative and insightful.

Now available in a revised and updated eighth edition, What The IRS Doesn't Want You To Know: A CPA Reveals The Tricks Of The Trade is a compendium of solid, up-to-date tax advice for 2002. Chapters survey such topics as what the latest IRS targets are; ten ground rules one must never break to win with the IRS; the thirty-four greatest taxpayer misconceptions; commonly overlooked credits and deductions; what forms should never be filled out; new tax laws enabling an innocent spouse to get out of debt; how to plan IRA and pension plans; the latest taxpayer rights; and what IRS people are really like and how to work with them. What The IRS Doesn't Want You To Know is a highly practical book and strongly recommended reading for every taxpayer!

My annual salary grew steadily each year since graduating from college in 1994. However, there was hardly any money to pay off my credit card bills and forget about nice vacations or investing! I'd had enough. I heard of IT jobs that paid $50/hr. (or more). One day I had a conversation with an IT contractor with 7 years experience. This man had incorporated his own business and suggested that I did for the tax benefits. However, he was not very articulate as to EXACTLY what benefits there were to incorporating. I had to know. So I purchased Marty Kaplan's 3rd edition in late 1997. On May 20, 1998 I paid a law firm $300 to formally incorporate my very own company. I was instanly a President!(I still get a kick out of my title!) I have been contracting ever since. I think that I would have been contracting whether I purchased this book or not. However, Marty Kaplan's book provided a detailed comparsion between the different types of businesses. (i.e. sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company, C-Corporations, & S-Corporations) Marty explained the financial realities, that precious few people understand. These truths showed me the pros and cons to each business model. All the financial decisions that I made were based on the information I gleened from this book. I assure you that I am infintely better off today than I would be if I were still at my 1998 job. But, what's more is that I'm better off today than I would be if I had contracted as a "W2 employee." (which is much easier in the beginning!) It was Marty's text that enlightened me! Also, Marty speaks plainly about being audited - "...it may happen and don't panic." Marty is completely ethical. His text simply shows readers how to prevent raising red flags. (i.e. certain IRS forms have been found to be guaranteed red flags and Marty advises how to legitamately report those same expenses on the "right" forms) Marty provides excellent anecdotes that will help readers predict the IRS's behavior and steer clear of its wrath. Marty spends the remainder of the book showing you how to maximize your legitimate deductions while minimizing your tax liabity. This book paid for itself in a split second. Thank you Marty!