This book is a real treat for readers who wish to obtain an intimate glimpse into the customs, society, manners, and life of an upper middle class English family of the 15th Century.

The book presents a series of letters between various members of three generations of the Paston family, residents of the East Anglica area of England, principally Norfolk. The editor (Roger Virgoe) does a masterful job of weaving explanatory material, diagrams, and art work among the letters to make their contents
more meaningful to the modern reader.

The letters are presented in more or less chronological order and their contents reveal clearly the joys and trials of this family as they dealt with marriages, lawsuits, disease, and other relationships and concerns in many cases not unlike those we encounter in our own lives today.

The letters vividly convey an impression of the diversity of peoples and customs of Eastern England in Late Medieval times. The book is eminently readable and can be thoroughly enjoyed by either the casual layman reader or medieval historian.

My husband and I received this book as a wedding present six years ago. There isn't a week that goes by without one of us pulling it off the shelf to look for help with clothing and furniture stains, pests, repairs around the house, food storage, plants, pet grooming and anything else you can think of! I am constantly trying to find more copies of this book to give to others. It sounds corny, but it's the gift that keeps on giving.

This book was really enjoyable. I love stories about dogs, and Roger Caras was able to find many new and unique dog stories that I had never read or even heard of, and I have quite a few old out of print books with dog stories. Very enjoyable. Very nice variety. Of course, included a story by "the master" of dog stories- Albert Payson Terhune. If you love dog stories and have never heard of Terhune, you're missing out! Terhune wrote about 100 years ago and most of his books are out of print. However, there are a few of his books, such as Lad, a Dog and Lad of Sunnybank still in print. Lad, A Dog has never been OUT of print. Great book, very enjoyable. Also check out his "sequel"- "The New Roger Caras Treasury of Great Dog Stories" with many new dog stories

This book gives you the juice to go out there and sell!

This book is great because it offers readers a different way of approaching sales. Instead of looking at how you sell, and what your product is, you look at your customers' behavioral style/personality and adapt your style and approach to fit your customers' needs. This book offers a different approach to the very popular Myers-Briggs personality profiles. I recommend this book for all salespeople!!

Caras is so into animals. He has studied and researched them, but more importantly, he has lived with and loved them. Here he pours forth on what one must consider one of his favorites, cats. He's had much personal experience, and has investigated the subject thoroughly, and thus has much to offer.

One can learn much about cats from this read. For example, I never knew that kittens were atricocious at birth, their eyes and ears are shut. Also, Caras' theory about cats and dogs finding their way home by sensing magnetic fields is utterly fascinating, and could be true.

Curiosity and the cat is intriguing. Sensing the info a cat must accumulate and act upon instantly for safety and survival seems relevant. Caras shares the size ratio issue as basis for this. Made me think about the first time our 8 lb. cat saw our 120 lb. Great Pyrenees. Ran and hid for days, only later to become the dog's best and trusted friend. The ratio here is 15 times greater for the dog. Consider how the cat then sees me; 22 times bigger, similar to my viewing a creature that was 22 times heavier than me, or around two tons! What a creature to watch and observe, to know when to scramble for my life so the thing wouldn't crush me, and know its moods thoroughly.

A great read for cat lovers.

This is a great follow up to Roger Caras' A CELEBRATION OF CATS which I have also reviewed. In the first book, he gives an overview of the history, geneology, and psychology of the cat and of the cat's relationship with humans. In this book, he zeroes in on understanding of the cat and on seeking the cat's perspective.

The first few chapters deal with the biological makeup of the cat and with the cat's basic five senses. Much of this we already must realize. Some senses including that of smell and that of hearing are superior to our own, and much of the cat's behavior can be understood by realizing how their senses present our world to them. From that foundation, Caras' goes into cat psychology and discusses a number of issues such as how cats tell time, how many know how to get home if lost, and much more. Such topics as how cats respond to music, their thinking abilities, and even their emotions such as love and hate are examined. For those who have read A CELEBRATION OF CATS, there is little repetition, just what is necessary for those who haven't read it as a basis for the thrust of this volume.

Not all questions that are discussed are answered. Caras presents possibilities and leaves it to us to decide.

Also, Caras tends to demystify many of the "mysteries" surrounding cats, but this demystification tends to heighten one's respect for the cat's uncanny abilities. Certain aspects, such as whether or not cats have ESP, are left for the reader to decide.

The book is profusely illustrated with drawings, reproductions of artwork, and photographs, and as in the previous book, there is humor. Caras draws on many authorities and on personal experience in presenting us with an entertaining, educational, and thought provoking work.

As much as I enjoyed the previous book, A CELEBRATION OF CATS, I found this to be even better. Any person with one or more cats in her or his life should gain a lot from this, and I quite recommend your reading it.

This is a great book for anyone who has or had or doesn't have a cat. If you want to know anything about a cat get this book. It tells you why they act the way they act and explains the mystery of the cat. It is full of interesting stories you will love. I can't put the book down

An extremely extensive cookbook in pocket book form that is terrific. The "Joy of Cooking" for mexican food. Only drawback is the lack of pictures - but then it is a pocket book... Have to buy one for my sister-in-law who wanted to keep the copy she borrowed in perpetuity. She will get her own copy for her birthday

Excellent recipes from all over Mexico. Easy to follow directions and explanations .

In the book she describes how she not speaking any Spanish married a UN diplomat and moved was transferred with her husband to Mexico city and how she learned to love the food and the people and explored Mexico both from cultural and regional food basis. The recipes represent the best from all the states in Mexico.

If only had one Mexican cookbook this would be the one to have. I've had my copy since the late 60's and it's almost worn out. If you buy the book take a look at one of my favorite recipes. It's Mancha Manteles de cerdo or in English Pork tablecloth stainer. It's on page 190 of my copy but the newer edition may have a different page number

Please reprint I need a new one! My book is falling apart because it is used so much! Every recipe I have tried has been a success. Try the stuffed turkey the next time you cook one, what a filling

Since the age of 12 (I'm in my 30's now), I have tried to absorb everything Shakespeare. Even though I have trepidations about film adaptations of the Bard's work, I had to see this film based on the prodigious talent of Emma Thompson. I'm glad I gave into my gut instinct, for her portrayal of Beatrice is so natural and glorious, you will actually get swept away with her performance and believe that she actually IS Beatrice!

Most of the supporting cast is also wonderful. Hats off to the performances by Denzel Washington (Don Pedro), Richard Briers (Seigneur Leonato), Brian Blessed (Seigneur Antonio), Michael Keaton (Constable Dogberry), and a absolutely stunning performance by Kate Beckinsale (Hero). The exceptions in the casting are Keanu Reeves (Don John), Robert Sean Leonard (Claudio) and...yes...Kenneth Brannagh (Benedick). Fortunately Reeves' role is small. Leonard's performance seems too contrived, to the point of distraction. And even though this is Brannagh's baby, Brannagh himself portrays the role of Benedick with a smugness that is a bit nauseating. If you read the play, Benedick is not smug at all. Though I enjoy Brannagh's other work, he seems to use Shakespeare as a way to show superiority. I have seen this in other actors, and find such action reprehensible. Shakespeare wrote plays for people to enjoy and to indugle in escapism...not to give people an excuse to be a snob.

Having said that, this film is very enjoyable, and I've actually had friends become Shakespeare addicts after seeing this particular film. I, personally, particularly love the Tuscan locations, and the costuming is wonderful! No over-the-top lacey outfits in this film, but rather those that would be suited to the climate. This adds another depth of reality that pulls you into the story.

If you are a fan of Shakespeare, or any of the aforementioned actors, this movie is a must-see. It's actually one of the very few film versions of a Shakespeare play that I own. This particular interpretation allows the viewer to become comfortable with Shakespeare's style, thus creating an interest in his other work. Well worth the purchase. And yes, it's VERY funny!

"Much Ado About Nothing" is a beautifully made, performed, and directed film by the incomparable Kenneth Branaugh. This film includes an all-star cast that give wonderful performances and draw you into the lives of the characters. The plot is somewhat complicated, so I'll give a general version. The film is basically about love, misunderstanding, scandal, revenge, virtue, and bravery. That's a lot for one film, but believe me, it's all in there!

Kenneth Branaugh, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, and Michael Keaton give excellent performances in this film that you wouldn't want to miss. Although the film is a period piece and the Shakespearean language is used, you will have no difficulty understanding it perfectly.

The scenery and landscape in this film are exquisite as well. I never thought there could be such a beautiful, untouched place like that on earth. I would suggest watching the film just for the beautiful landscape, but it's the performances and the story that you should really pay attention to.

Anyone who loves Shakespeare would absolutely love this film! Anyone who loves Kenneth Branaugh and what he has done for Shakespeare in the past 10 or 15 years will appreciate this film as well! There isn't one bad thing I can say about this film. Definitely watch it, you won't be disappointed!!!

One of the problems with Shakespeare's comedies, an English professor once told me, is that they are not funny. Now, this is not to say that Shakespeare was a bad comedy writer, or that this professor had no sense of humour. In fact, quite the opposite--he had turned his sense of humour and love of humour into an academic career in pursuit of humour.

What he meant by the comment was, humour is most often a culture-specific thing. It is of a time, place, people, and situation--there is very little by way of universal humour in any language construction. Perhaps a pie in the face (or some variant thereof) does have some degree of cross-cultural appeal, but even that has less universality than we would often suppose.

Thus, when I suggested to him that we go see this film when it came out, he was not enthusiastic. He confessed to me afterward that he only did it because he had picked the last film, and intended to require the next two selections when this film turned out to be a bore. He also then confessed that he was wrong.

Brannagh managed in his way to carry much of the humour of this play into the twentieth century in an accessible way -- true, the audience was often silent at word-plays that might have had the Elizabethan audiences roaring, but there was enough in the action, the acting, the nuance and building up of situations to convey the same amount of humour to today's audience that Shakespeare most likely intended for his groups in the balconies and the pit.

The film stars Kenneth Brannagh (who also adapted the play for screen) and Emma Thompson as Benedict and Beatrice, the two central characters. They did their usual good job, with occasional flashes of excellence. Alas, I'll never see Michael Keaton as a Shakespearean actor, but he did a servicable job in the role of the constable (and I shall always remember that 'he is an ass') -- the use of his sidekick as the 'horse' who clomps around has to be a recollection of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, where their 'horses' are sidekicks clapping coconut shells together.

I'll also not see Keanu Reeves as a Shakespearean, yet he was perhaps too well known (type-cast, perhaps) in other ways to pull off the brief-appearing villian in this film.

Lavish sets and costumes accentuate the Italianate-yet-very-English feel of this play. This film succeeds in presenting an excellent but lesser-known Shakespeare work to the public in a way that the public can enjoy.

Peppers, Rogers, and Dorf arm companies with a comprehensive toolkit not only in hardcopy but in an ingenious fieldbook web site (www.1to1fieldbook.com) exclusively created for readers of their latest book. These resources combined promise to help any enterprise design, build, and manage 1to1 programs successfully.

This fieldbook offers practical tips and tricks to management teams trying to make the most use of customer information in the Interactive Age. Additionally, these 1to1 thought leaders have culled a tremendous resource of recommended reads at the end of each chapter. When you visit the Web-site, these summaries also include a link to online merchants where you can purchase a copy!

Be sure not to miss the section dedicated to supplemental reads at the fieldbook web site, where specific chapters from seminal books by Peppers and Rogers are available electronically. Now you can quickly access key 1to1 content areas anytime, anywhere.

You'll also find all sorts of other resources - from the Gap Analysis Tool to numerous spreadsheets - that will help you create strategies to compete in the Interactive Age.

Anyone who wants to know how to strengthen customer relationship programs should buy this book. Actually, buy a book for each of your managers. You'll want all of them to have access to the fieldbook web site!

If you're looking for ways to start your 1 to 1 marketing or CRM program, this is where you should begin. This book is a practical guide on how to start and implement a 1 to 1 program.

Every chapter includes lists and meeting notes for what to do at every step in the process. I wish I had this book when I began developing relationship marketing programs. With this book you are not alone in developing a 1 to 1 program. In addition, the book has a very valuable accompanying web site where you can print off the check lists and other helpful interactive tools. Before you buy the book you may want to look through their web site at 1to1.com. There you'll find more information on 1 to 1 marketing and CRM than anywhere else on the web. Martha Rogers and Don Peppers have truely shown that they are the masters of CRM in this book and their other titles.

All too often, the customer gets lost within the intricacies of customer relationship management. Don Peppers and Martha Rogers bring the customer back into the equation in this fieldbook designed to help companies implement their one-to-one marketing strategies. The book addresses the very questions that bring companies to CRM in the first place: How do I know who my best customers are? How can I customize my service for my best customers? How do I get my customers to stay loyal? For its clearheaded answers to these difficult questions, we from getAbstract recommend this book to all readers