Ms.Wise starts out by saying, "Thai's practise a form of Buddhism known as Theravada, also called Hinanyana". Hinanyana is a derogatory term meaning: lesser, despicable... The rest of the book is a mish-mash of Asian cultural mores that do not necessarily have anything to do with Thailand. If you need a tax write off for your business, by all means buy this book.

I have visited Thailand many times for both business and pleasure. I didn't read this book until I my fourth visit. It is very important to understand the do's and dont's in Thailand, which many Westerners tend to ignore. It opens the door of understanding for those new to the Thai mentality and way of life. It also has a very small section but good section explaining the influence of Buddism on daily life in Thailand. Definately buy this book if going there. If you are more business oriented I would suggest also reading "Doing Business With Thailand" (Global Business Series).

She writes as if she's full of love and warmth, when in fact she's suffused with hatred and bigotry. She's the biggest phony in poetry. The real purpose of this book is to turn you against jews.

I got this book from a penpal with a personal dedication of Naomi Shihab Nye herself. My friend wrote me, that the author was quite excited, that a guy from Germany will read her poetry. Well, the guy from Germany did read it for several times now and this book becomes better and better the more you read it. I hoped to meet Naomi Nye at Madhatter's Tea House in her home town San Antonio, Texas in October 1996. Unfortunately I didn't meet her there, so now I hope, she'll read these words of Kai from Germany!

Adapted from the Disney animated film of Hercules. I can't help but be amused by it. I know, I know - it's pap, pulp and historically bunk. But then I don't have a huge issues with modern interpretations, or even inspiration from the classics (legends anyway). After all, I love Xena on the tube!

If you've ever seen a Disney adaptation, you get the idea. Cheaply produced, and dirt cheap to buy. These books are found in supermarket check-out queues. And why not! If they encourage adult/child closeness in the act of reading, that's a good thing. If they encourage the independent emerging reader to "have a go", then why not?

Oh, dear, now I might as well admit I even like the PlayStation game based on Disney's barrel-chested muscleman in the cute pleated skirt! END

This book is a prologue to more in-depth study of Gehry's work. It's small page format and brief text is ideally suited to a quick brouse and whets the appetite for more substantial critique.

Do not expect an encyclopaedic tomb - you can fully digest the entire text in half an hour. It is beautifully presented with full colour photos of most of the significant works. A useful starting point for students of architecture it will provoke interest in the reader but not satisfy those who know Gehry's work well.

I read this book while on vacation and I returned home with a renewed sense of direction and committment to what is important in my life. I was able to let go of some situations what were not working for me and actually receieved several new clients shortly thereafter. I like Naomi's light-hearted approach and optimism. She drives home the point that we each have a gift and it's our job to share it.

If you grew up on the original "Poky Little Puppy" books like I did, you may be very disappointed with this recent revision.

The Poky Little Puppy gets separated from his family once again. This time he ends up on Sesame Street and his adventures overlap with the characters there. He takes a nap in Big Bird's nest, meets Bert and Ernie, and finally finds the smell that separated him from his family (let's just say that someone has to bake those cookies that Cookie Monster loves so well).

The book is actually fairly well written, and the artwork is recognizable. I suspect those of you with kids will find that they like the "cross-over" and seeing their favorite Sesame Street characters with that loveable little puppy (my child isn't old enough to recognize either). However, the purest in me just finds it a little disheartening

From a young-insiping point of view, author naomi zack intertwines the dominating themses in modern sociological studies to try to shed light on issues that besiege us. Enlightened by past and present authors and thinkers, Zack develops a mindset of her own, through heavy ctitisisms and contradictory support

This Easter, Rabbit has to tend to his garden & can't play the easter bunny. Some of Pooh's friend's try on Rabbit's bunny suit to see if they could do it. Many pages go on to describe the ordeal. Pooh & friends decide to help Rabbit out in his garden so that he can play the easter bunny.

I have found that Winnie the Pooh stories usually, if not always, have some sort of life lesson tucked away in the pages. This one is on teamwork.

The Archbishop Desmond Tutu has been one of the foremost spokesmen for political religion in our times (whatever Pat Robertson may think). This collection of various speeches he gave brings his personality into focus - that of a deeply spiritual man interesting in his country and his people. None of the selections are overly long though some I thought got a bit repetitive (sp?). Divided into several sections, this book is probably of use to those interested in the political-religious intersection as well as those who like to read books of quotes. I am not one of the latter, but the fact that this book appealed to me speaks well of it.

I like poetry, but the poems in this book are all written in the same style. There is no creativity shown, and no real variation. I have yet to find a person who liked this book. "Jump city", the poem from which the title was drawn, is the second worst poem I have ever read.

I suppose the reason I really didn't like this book was because I am not a fan of peotry. I prefer fiction novels, mysteries, adventures, etc. I did however appreciate the whole background of why the book was put together.

I enjoyed this books unique theme of giving two sides on the same topic. There is a male and a female speaker in a poem inspired about the same thing. The most interesting part of the book was to see how two people can thing of things in such a different way. At times when I couldn't identify with one, I could identify with the other. The great thing was when I could understand both and think, hey that is a great way to look at it. I felt that this book really caused me to open my mind and not to expect things so much. I also like the great emotions that were pulled out of me while reading the book. There were topics such as death, fathers, hospitals, relaxation, childhood, beliefs, common day existance, and objects commonly thought of as irrevelent. The fact the the book is made up of poetry also gave it chances to be open and the reader to find their own meanings. I felt that I could understand this poetry and that it is current. It was published in 1996, that is probally why. The poems also flow smoothly in general and have come sort of conclusive meaning. Other poetry is harder for me to read because it is too whimsical and I guess and comtemplate the meaning too much and never figure it out. The two views on the same subject seems to set this book apart from others. I think that it is great that it gives two ways for a person to look at something. When I write, I write as a matter of factly and a this is the only way solution. I enjoyed the legnth of the poems in this book because they were catchy and descriptive, yet not overbearing. One of my favorite poems in there is titled Conversation With A Fireman From Brooklyn. It envoked so many emotions from me. A part in it says, "Already he's telling me he dosen't mind women firefighters, but what/they look like after fighting a fire, well/they loose all respect." The male speaker goes on to act as if the only thing good about a women is how they look with a stay in the kitchen attitude. As a female I was disturbed by it. There are also great looks back at childhood. In the poem Dark Song a great part says, "Don't be scared of the dark:/ all night is the biggest shadow/ little kid in the biggest shadow. The book also includes interesting titles that made we wonder and keep reading. Such titles are Black Patent Leather Shoes, The Locker Room, and The Pyramid of Khufu. The whole idea behind the book I feel A little Jumpy Around You is a great example to readers and writers everywhere. Again, I would like to stress how much I enjoyed the different speakers in the poems, the giving of more than one view on the same subject, messages that are clear to understand, but you can interpert them in your own way, creative similies and metaphors that even youth can pick up on, modern subject matter, and poems that are a nice legnth to keep me motivated. The only dissappointment was that all the poems seemed to include a few choppy lines and I feel that there should have been different rhythms and structures used.