Whodunit and Music Box Lovers will enjoy this mystery. It's brimming with Collector information.

Dr. Thomas Prude thinks he made a fabulous deal on a rare music box. What he really gets is trouble when he learns he has a dead collector's stolen music box. After a visit to the widow of the late collector, Dr. Thomas is given some pictures... racy pictures. These will lead him into a mystery full of intrigue, sex and murder. When you read this book you will follow Dr. Thomas from Manhattan to London and through a mystery you won't forget.

I had to laugh sometimes at Dr. Thomas's humor - he sounds like a guy who could get a way with crowning a lady with a ball peen hammer. I also enjoyed following his relationship with his wife, especially in the last chapter....

I stumbled upon the Thomas Purdue mysteries quite by accident. I'm a collector of music boxes myself and when I found a novel based on a collector, I jumped at the chance.

Larry has a unique talent. He has collected musical boxes long before it was fashionable, and he'll be still collecting them long after they are out of fashion. He also is an excellent writer and flows his story smoothly, dripping out clues together with his love for music boxes.

The hero of the story, Thomas Purdue is a loveable rogue. The kind of guy that you'd love to have as a friend, but who constantly sticks his nose where it doesn't belong.

Sometimes a first book is so truly marvelous, succeeding in every way possible, the reader wants to jump up and down for joy! Such was my feeling after reading this marvelous book. There is music in it, on nearly every page, but yet it isn't really about music. Rather it is the world of collectibles: usually antique, they're mostly musical, mechanical, automatons, etc.

Dr. Thomas Purdue, a neurosurgeon in Manhattan, not only collects such things, he appreciates their existence, even if in the collection of someone not necessarily his friend. The day after a party at the home of a wealthy fellow-collector, Purdue is awakened by a phone call advising him that the fellow-collector was murdered shortly after the party's break-up. Soon thereafter, he receives another phone call, alerting him to the existence of a music box for which he has been longing. The box is at an antique shop in Manhattan, and it doesn't take long to for him to realize that it was the property of the dead millionaire.

Thus begins this lively, fast-paced, wonderfully well-written story, peopled with an unusual cast of primary and secondary characters, and that travels easily from the various boroughs of New York City to London and back again.

The author has deservedly won an award from the Musical Box Society for other writings about the field of mechanical music. His knowledge of these unique and esoteric creations is apparent on every page, as is his knowledge of Manhattan (especially) and people in general. Many of the characters in this book are reminiscent of those in the pages of works by Damon Runyon. For an unusual visit to a world many of us will never experience, this book is most satisfactory. I loved it, and am impatient for the next one.

At first glance, The Long Fuse, by Laurence Lafore, may seem dated. Originally written in 1971 with a second edition printed in 1997, it retains enough of the first edition to make the reader wonder if modern scholarship may have passed it by. True there is no indication of what has been updated in the newer edition, and the author in the early chapters does little to challenge long standing conclusions on World War One's origins. But Lafore ultimately shows why his original work warranted a second edition.

This book does not examine economic, social, or military causes of the war in any great detail. In part this is what makes the book appealing. Lafore instead follows traditional diplomatic arguments upon which his conclusions are based. He does seem to favor conservative viewpoints by stating the fringe areas of Europe (the Balkans, Ireland, and frontier provincial areas such as Alsace-Lorraine) did much to thwart the ambitions of the great powers. He also reluctantly includes Austria-Hungary with the great powers though it was comprised of the very fringe areas he is critical of.

Lafore does avoid one traditional Anglo-French opinion, that Germany bore sole responsibility for the war. This he flatly denies. Instead, he shows how each great power was in part responsible for its own actions, and how their actions subsequently crossed the frontiers and affected their neighbor's or allies'.

The title is somewhat a misnomer as he seems to brush on the period of 1871-1913 though in insufficient detail to connect it to the outbreak of war in 1914. In fact the first half of the book is a bit meandering. However, the real merit of the study covers the period 1913/4 and this is where Lafore exhibits his understanding of the wars' origins. But this does not mean the reader should merely skim the early chapters. There are ample euphemisms, witticisms, arcane words, and indeed humor ("No one quite agreed on where Macedonia was-but wherever it was, it was a problem.") to keep ones interest.

But it remains the last chapters, and especially the final pages that demonstrates the books' value, and for this reason it should be considered by anyone with an interest in the Great Wars' origins.

This is absolutely the clearest, most concise, and yet complete book you can find on the origins of WW1. Not a waste of money like many. Most important is the detailed annalysis of how the internal conditions of the European powers influenced foreign policy decision making. The book is a clear warning about the difficulties and dangers in the conduct of foreign affairs inherent to multinational states.

Lafore's work is not only the most readable account of the Great War's origins, it puts the emphasis where in should be: not on the naval rivalry between Germany and England, or on the ruling classes fear of revolution, but on the corrosive consequences of nationalism for domestic (and consequently) international stability. The focus of the work, moreover, is on Eastern, not Western Europe--where it belongs. A wonderful balance of background and foreground, the work builds to an exciting climax. I love it--and everyone I know who has read it says the same!

Outstanding and concise information. Cuts to the chase in simple and powerful writing. Information without putting it into practice is useless. Read and do.

Advanced and practical information on magick, the occult, metaphysics and
visualization. Very well written and easy to do for either the novice or
the advanced student. The author put much effort and caring into writing
this wonderful book. Highly recommended.

I think that the utility of this book went "over the head" of the previous reviewer. Yes, the methodology in this book is simple; but not everyone has been practicing magick for 20 years as I have, and even I am not averse to simplicity. However, this book does present something unique to any skill level in its scheme of transcending duality through the Triangle of Manifestation. The Triangle is used to balance a concept with its inherent contradiction or antithesis and move through that conflict into a synthesis that expresses desire more purely. I question whether the previous reviewer actually read the book properly. Perhaps their idea of transcending dualities is to deny them. I recommend this book to all practitioners.

When I discovered that a book existed on this topic, I was skeptical as to the book's value. Although this book is short in length with less than 200 pages, it is full of wisdom.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is given various passages from each of the four Gospels and is asked to evaluate them. His Holiness only evaluates the meaning of the passages while avoiding criticizing Christianity. Because he believes there is no right answer, the Dalai Lama the value in having multiple religious faiths over one dominant religion. His Holiness give a new and valuable perspective to important passages of the Gospels. Christians seeking new meaning for their faith will find value in these evaluations. Similarly, Buddhists will be enlightened by the Dalai Lama's thoughts on the life of Jesus Christ. As a whole, this is a valuable read for all.

One need not be a Buddhist to gain wisdom from any of the Dalai Lamas book, and personally I believe any thinking Christian whose life isn't ruled by fear, but by a quest to better understand what unites believers of Buddhism and Christianity, should love this book.

The Dalai Lama is one of the gentle men of the world, ripe with leaders who see and even follow thru with acts of violence against those who disagree with their political and yes, sadly, their religious views/beliefs.

I happen to be somewhat odd in that I love and often find value in books that have gems of wisdom that similar to mine, but from different religions. This book also might remind readers of another gem Zen Way Jesus Way.

G~d bless the Dalai Lama and all men and women who seek peace,and who well understand the meaning of what I have read Jesus as saying "What you do to the least of them you do to me" Because this is also what I believe is the well known Golden Rule, do unto others etc.

I tend to follow the precepts of buddhism and my wife is a religious catholic. The Dalai Lama makes a great and successful effort at bridging whatever gaps he finds in the two philosophies. The anecdotes and points he made in this book allowed my wife and I to really communicate on an otherwise sensitive topic.

The pictures and overall quality of the book are excellent. If you used to own one and are tempted to surprise your loved-ones with a nostalgic impulse buy - this book will put you over the edge! Laurence Merideth is unparalled in approach to writing and knowledge regarding VW's. You will not be disappointed!

Being a vw bus person--especially 1967 and older--i would recommend this book to anyone--several of my VW Bus friends are in this book!! hopefully someday i will have a VW Bus of my own in a VW book. Vintage VW??--Drive-um!!

Its the quality of the photography that makes this book stand out. Rowan Isaac is famous for his outstanding photographs of cars. Look out for his other Bayview Books on Jaguar XK 120/140/150 and the Porsche 356. He has also done Landrovers!

"Social capital consists of the stock of active connections among people, the trust, mutual understanding, and shared values and behaviors that bind the members of human networks and communities and make cooperative action possible." What is new about this book is that it applies this sociological concept to business enterprises.

As the authors point out, having more social capital inside an organization is good, but it is not sufficient to create a successful enterprise. Digital Equipment is used as an example of this point. Also, organizations can have social capital and be serving harmful ends (the Nazis are used as an example).

The authors feel that there are important limits to what free agency, telecommuting, virtual organizations, and hoteling offices can accomplish because their basis in social capital will be weaker.

On the positive side, they argue for hiring and encouraging people who fit the values and culture of the organization, and creating an environment in which social capital will build. To do this, companies should actively take steps that build trust, networks and communication through making appropriate spaces and time available, and help people learn through effective story telling.

The benefits of this approach will be better knowledge sharing, lower transaction costs, lower turnover of key employees, better coherence of action due to organizational stability and more shared understanding. You may also see more creativity if people are allowed to experience the intrinsic pleasures of making the future.

I thought that the best part of this book was in the detailed look at the various kinds of stories that organizations tell and what their purposes are. This book extended my understanding of that subject, which is an important one for communications.

The main drawback of the book is that it does not address social capital in terms of the connections between the individuals in the organization and most stakeholders (like customers, suppliers, partners, owners, lenders, and the communities the company serves). These connections are more important in those dimensions discussed in the book than the equivalent connections within the company. So this omission is a pretty significant limitation of the book.

The major secondary drawback of the book is that those who work in organizations like the ones described here with lots of social capital (UPS, SAS Institute, and J & J) will probably find little that is new. For those who are insensitive to the importance of social connections, this book will seem too amorphous and nonquantitative to change minds. If the target is to make those with low emotional intelligence become more effective and supportive, this book won't make the grade. It's preaching to the choir, without enough discipline in defining its prescriptions. For example, the book argues that cubicles with lots of sight lines are great for improving communications. But those who need quiet time and places to work for extended periods will tell you that cubicles drive them up the wall and reduce certain kinds of productivity. What's the best way to encourage both more communications and quiet thinking time when it's needed?

If you are interested in seeing lots of case histories on these subjects, you would probably enjoy the parts of The Dance of Change that focus on improving communication, trust, and connection.

After you finish this book, think about where your organization needs more trust, where you need more connections within and without the company, and how you can create a more cohesive creativity on the significant opportunities that face you.

Be open to the positive potential of the new, and help others to see it also!

This is a good and helpful read. While Cohen and Prusak do tend to say a lot of things that one has a gut feeling of but has never read or heard someone say aloud about working relationships, some of it was really fascinating. They have a particularly interesting chapter on chat and storytelling and the functions those activities serve at work. The theme of the book is that organizations should invest in social capital the way they invest in other kinds of capital, but that such investments can't be faked. Workers know when the love is real, so to speak.

The writers address particularly cogent trends of telecommuting and volatile industries and how those can cause stress in organizations because they lower social capital. They had some interesting points. One thing I particularly responded to was the chapter on trust. They wrote that when someone says their organization is particularly political, what they are saying is
that there is very low trust. Another thing they wrote that really interested me is that the virtual office isn't going to succeed - and hasn't as predicted - because work is an inherently social activity. That's one of the reasons people like it and are dedicated to it. Not that many people are ever going to want to work at home in their pajamas - every single day. They also suggest that money isn't the only effective lure for new talent or retainer of current employees. They write that if talent can just be bought, it will be, but if you create high social capital in your organizations, money alone won't be able to suck the talented people from your offices.

[The book made me want to read more by Chris Argyris, who is an organizational pyschologist at Harvard, and the book "The Social Life of Information."]

Why do new CEOs staff the company with their men?
Why are women under-represented un the business world?
Why could some succeed in launching and establishing new enterprises while other couldn¡¯t manage do so?
Why are the MBA degree craved, while there is no link between MBA results and future salary?
Social capital is supposed to be the answer to these questions. Social capital is widely exploited to emphasize the social nature of work: the work is the social process. Previously, corporate culture is used to point out such a nature. Organization¡¯s culture means the set of rites and rituals that give it its unique character. Culture is the ¡®way things are done around here.¡¯ The HP way, for example, the open-plan, walkabout management style laid down in the 1950s, by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard, a style that still imbues the company today. But culture is a elusive concept. It¡¯s too soft to be managed. One executive asserted that ¡®the only culture round here is in the yoghurts in the canteen.¡¯ Nevertheless, though too soft to grasp, it¡¯s very real one. So many M&As have been botched for clashes between corporate cultures. It¡¯s real but too elusive to manage and grasp. Social capital is introduced to ground it on tangible material base. Then what is social capital? Social capital refers attributes like trust, commitment, attachment and so forth which belongs to active connections among people, in other word, network and community.
When the God decided to put a stop to human-being¡¯s first great collective enterprise, he confused their language so they could no longer understand one another, and could not carry out the joint project, Tower of Babel. Carry a heavy stone could be done without words. The real problem was the loss of understanding that cannot be mimed or diagrammed. Without common speech, the tower¡¯s planners could not have inspired others to join the project, workers could not have learned to trust each other¡¯s judgment, resolve unexpected problems together, or count on each other¡¯s help in dangerous situations. In other words, what they lost was not just common language, but the social capital which was probably more critical than the failure of information exchange.
Some schools in economics of organization characterized the firm as the flow of information. It¡¯s hard to deny. In this regard, however, corporate culture is no more than each company¡¯s idiosyncratic frame to each processing info: the firm is no more than a cybernetic system. But the firm is a social process built on community and network. Culture is what resides in community and network within personnel.
Moreover, organization¡¯s knowledge and capabilities lies not in official hierarchy but in unofficial community of practice. Most job training occurs after workers join a firm. They learn by dong on the shop floor. There is always a manual that describes how to operate a particular machine or conduct a job. As times passes, however, workers are apt to devise better ways to do the job and surpass the manual. And this is the collective process. As they work together, knowledge slowly moves from person to person. Network and community are not only the repository of corporate knowledge and capacities, but also the incubator of collaboration, especially voluntary collaboration that does not rely on external incentives. They help create and sustain our personal identities, the intrinsic satisfactions of praise, respect, and gratitude from fellow members. Those have more meaning and power than little prizes or even monetary rewards.
Now, I think, you¡¯ve got what is social capital. Above, I followed the style of the book which does not burden the reader with abstract concepts, but illustrate the picture of social capital with real world examples, to enlighten readers to the practical meaning of social capital in their own workplace. With closing the last page. I bet you get the crux and import of social capital.

This is a great stroy for young children. It gives good insight into the life of VanGogh at a child's reading and interest level. The illustrations are great. It is a great lead into an art lesson.

This is the second year I've shared this book with elementary school students as part of their art appreciation curriculum, and we've all enjoyed it immensely. A touching story children can relate to, excellent for introducing the life and work of Vincent VanGogh.

I think this story demonstrates a very sensitive handling of a small part of the story of Vincent van Gogh, in terms which a child would find very easy to understand. My only worry is that when my children are old enough for me to read it to them, I will have trouble choking back the tears.

Brandon Brown

HIROSHIMA
by Laurence Yep

From the author of Dragonwings (1975) a new book is here called Hiroshima, taking place in 1945 during World War 2. Laurence Yep takes you through Hiroshima and the life of a girl named Sachi who lives there. Suddenly someone from the town yells "B-29 B-29." After that day will 12 year old Sachi ever see her family again in the smoke and radiation filled air.
The war genre takes your mind deep into the war setting. The explosions ring in your head. Closing the book is not an option.
"When the bomb's uranium breaks up, bits of atoms zip away. They go right through peoples skin and hurt the bodies inside." illustrates the horror experienced throughout that time.
Twelve year old Sachi and her friends from school tear down houses to contribute to the war effort. Suddenly a blinding light like the sun and a boom like a base drum. The bomber called the "Enola Gay" dropped an atom bomb on Hiroshima.
To find out if Sachi ever sees her family again and if her father comes home from the war. You will have to read Hiroshima!
The major theme of Yelp's epic masterpiece is "When things get tough bounce back and rebuild!"You have to find out if they do.
Laurence Yep (the wonderful author of Hiroshima) was born and raised in San Francisco, California. In addition to his novels Laurence Yep has also written plays. Now he lives in Grove, California with his wife, fellow author Joanne Rider.His parents are Thomas Gim Yep and Franche Lee Yep.

Ground Zero is a phrase that was coined long before that ill-fated day in September. The thousands that perished or survived that hell of August 6, 1945 in the city of Hiroshima are testaments to the horrors of war.

Yep's brief story is the perfect catalyst to spark discussion about war and how lives and countries are forever altered. It is indeed worthy of inclusion in every American classroom, especially in light of the turbulent times of today.

This is an excellent companion to Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr. The details of the day's events during the attack on Hiroshima and the years after bring the reader closer to understanding the surprise of the attack, and the devastation that followed for years. My sixth graders read this book in conjunction with their Social Studies class and the study of World Cultures. They love it. This is truely a book to be added to any classroom library!

In what turned out to be a colossal tease, Laurence Gardner, in his second major work, Genesis of the Grail Kings, gave us a brief description of a curious white powder produced in ancient Egypt that had phenomenal gravitational, transformational and inspirational powers. The substance was the result of a secret process whereby gold and platinum group metals were transformed into a white powder which the Egyptians called MFKZT (pronounced muf-kutz). The powder, though derived from heavy metals, had a negative weight (less than zero), and transmitted the same weightlessness to its container. When ingested, the powder brought heightened spiritual awareness to its user, and it supposedly could transport itself or its user into a different time/space dimension, called the Field of MFKZT, or the Plane of Shar-on. The inference was made that MFKZT provided the technical ability to lift all of the millions of multi-ton blocks into place in the Giza Pyramids, and that the Field of MFKZT was the final destination of the Pharaohs after their earthly existence.

Partly due to the reaction by his reading public, Gardner promised a whole book on the subject, but, in the meantime, came out with another book (Realm of the Ring Lords), which, while very interesting, didn't add to the information about MFKZT he had given us in his previous book. At long last, Gardner has kept his word, and has published Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark.

Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark is Gardner's account of the famous Ark of the Covenant. In relating the fascinating information about the Ark, Gardner gives us a comprehensive explanation of the whole concept of MFKZT, its role in the powers of the Ark, and its history through the ages, including up to the present day. Gardner's theory is that MFKZT is actually the mysterious and elusive Philosophers' Stone. We have heard so much about alchemists throughout history attempting to turn lead into gold, when all the while the real transformational process so closely guarded over the past five millennia has been that of turning gold into this astonishing substance.

If you only read one of Gardner's four major works, I suggest that it be this one. However, you should do yourself the favor of reading all four (the others being Bloodline of the Holy Grail, Realm of the Ring Lords, and Genesis of the Grail Kings), as they separately and collectively have brought us compelling, important, and groundbreaking insights to the understanding of our ancient history and our religious belief systems and institutions.

FANTASTIC! Put this book at the top of your Summer reading list folks!

Laurence Gardner's credentials are impeccable, and his latest work will further enhance his reputation as the top scholar in his field. "Lost Secret of the Sacred Ark" came about by popular demand from readers who were intrigued by his references in previous books to such terms as shewbread, highward fire stone and even the Philosopher's Stone. Gardner has uncovered a different purpose for the Ark of the Covenant than that we have been led to believe by benighted clerics. The real use for the Ark was that of a scientific nature, a gold-laden capacitor with an "arc" able to manufacture a mysterious substance. This substance was not the transmutation of baser metal into gold but of gold being turned into a miracle medicine, with the ability also to manipulate space-time and prized above all else in antiquity. Beginning at an Egyptian temple in the Sinai Peninsula, the author takes us on a tour of ancient civilizations who so long ago practiced hyperdimensional physics that we are just now realizing. Our journey takes us from ancient temples to modern laboratories today, and we learn that temples then were not for the worship of gods but were the workshops for the gods. Gardner's writing affords us a new perspective on events in biblical times as well as an understanding of quantum mechanics. The book contains credible and impressive source citations, a comprehensive bibliography, and appendices ranging from ancient genealogies to current gold standards. I believe this book is the most meaningful revelation since the splitting of the atom because this secret can not only heal disease but it can literally move mountains. Highly recommended.

Dr. Larry Karp certainly can write! In his Thomas Purdue series he manages to keep you entertained and guessing to the end and at the same time manages to introduce you to the highly competetive world of antique collecting.

I'm a fairly advanced collector myself but I've always got more that I can learn in this subject and I'm amazed but I always find something new in this series. It's a definate keeper.

Scamming the Birdman is a wonderful book. It's funny, it's well-written, and it's truely creative in its plot and structure.

Dr. Larry Purdue is the scam artist. The novel opens with his scam of his friend Hugh Curtis...and the joke includes us as readers. The gun doesn't fire, the bad guy isn't killed, and none of us watch the well-deserved revenge we all so badly wanted.

But Dr. Purdue is gonna get him! He is gonna make the Birdman twist in the wind. He sets an elaborate plot into motion, and it works! Throughout the novel the Birdman sinks deeper and deeper into punishment, and the good guys win and win and win.

So where's the suspense, you ask? Well, for one thing we learn to have faith in Purdue's ability to anticipate the problems. For another, his partnership with his wife Sarah saves the whole intricate design from disaster, despite their unconventional marriage arrangements.

And for the third, we find that the villan, who is indeed a villan, is not the REAL murderer...this whole giant concoction is designed to bring to justice the true 'bad guy', and in the last few pages, we open our eyes in surprise and shock. We were scammed!

For whatever reason, all kinds of wonderful explanatory words kept running through my mind while reading this book. Rowdy, raucous, rascally. Rambunctious. Romp. Revenge. Even romance. Oh, there were a few others, most notably 'politically incorrect'. Or should that be 'uncorrect'? Whichever, it most certainly is that, too. However, it is also one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time.

Some of the people we encounter in our daily lives are so not-at-all-nice, it's truly enjoyable to see them brought down a few pegs. One could almost--almost, but not quite--feel sorry for Vincent LoPriore when he lands in the exceptional world of Thomas Purdue. Of course, had not Vinny (known as the Birdman because of his fondness for collecting musical automata featuring birds) perpetrated a gigantic fraud against one of Purdue's fellow collectors and long-time friends, Hugh Curtis, Vinny would not have placed himself in jeopardy. Trust me, this is not the tv version of jeopardy, either. (Aside here: this would make a WONDERFUL movie, however, being a very visual book. It virtually screens itself in the mind's eye of the reader.)

Another 'R' word is Runyon, as in the great Damon and his truly unforgettable characters. One might think that Larry Karp studied at the feet of Runyon, given his ability to create the same kind of memorable personages to tramp so blithely through the pages of his novels. Just the names alone go trippingly off the tongue, creating a smile on the reader's face: Broadway Schwartz, Big Al, Frank the Crank, Cleveland Gackle (his real name!), Mick the Dick and Soapy Sandy, plus Nozey Espinoza and Fenton Dassidario (another real moniker). And not least, two extraordinary women with ordinary names: Edna Reynolds and Sarah Purdue.

This is a rare adventure caper, sometimes raw, sometimes rollicking, and always realistic. At least I think it is that latter, for I certainly have no exposure whatever to the world of Thomas Purdue, but I'm grateful to Larry Karp for letting me visit it occasionally.

Scamming the Birdman is a rara avis, indeed. You won't be sorry if it comes into your sights, unless of course, you don't focus in on it. Enjoy!