I have to admit, this book contains an impressive overview of all the Windows DNA technologies. As a reminder, DNA has been there for years and was working under NT4. It has been revamped with trumpets with a new name, .Net, with all those new services. The authors do have this in mind and they will tell you where .Net will be improving features.

I would recommend this book to anybody that wants to know what is Windows DNA/.Net (beside thinking it's everything that Microsoft is providing for developers!). Of course, you cannot have all those technologies into one book and expect the best coverage on all of them. Having that in mind, the authors create an incredible reference for developers that wants to upgrade to a more scalable & distributed environment as well as to take leverage of the new technologies that came with Windows 2000 (for developers that is).

The only thing that I have to mention (and I did to Wrox) was that I personnaly believe that this book, though the readers needs to have professional knowledge of development, would be better inside the Beginning series since this book serves as an overview reference of all those technologies. Wrox will undoubtfully then release multiple Professional books that will go further in those new technologies (such as doing COM+ events or asynchronous components, having XML Business Objects, etc.).

As a bottom line, most of the authors wrote in a confident programming style and it is a very interesting book to go through. ... But I can't wait for the .Net one!

This book comes in handy as a great reference for utilizing these technologies in the real world. If you're looking for a book that you can sit down and read cover to cover to understand the basics, this is not it. If you're an experienced developer who wants to dive into the guts of the technologies, then this is for you.

I recommend this book a chapter at a time (after reading the first 2 review chapters), in order to learn how to implement a technology (like MTS, MSMQ, etc) in the real world.

Windows DNA is an platform and methodology for Enterprise development. It is taking all of what Microsoft offers for industry : server software (SQL Server, Biztalk), development software (Visual Studio) and productivity software (Office, Viso) and making them tightly inter operatable to produce scaleable solutions that can be development very rapidly.

This book covers Microsoft DNA and does so very well. If you have been following the evolution of Microsoft's Enterprise development methodology and related technologies (MTS, COM, etc..) then you should flip though this one before buying to make sure it offers enough new information for your investment. Do this especially if you already have the Wrox title: Professional MTS/MSMQ and you have a good book on ASP or Visual Basic.

If however you are a beginner/intermediate level Visual Basic, ASP or VC++ developer and you want to expand you knowledge from how to build small-to mid-sized client-server or desktop applications to building scalable Enterprise solutions then this book is for you.

I think the BBC television shows of Reggie are the funniest TV shows ever, so when I learned that the show was adapted from a book I had to read it. Sometimes a movie is better than the book or vice versa; in this case, I think that both book and TV show are wonderful, each playing to their particular medium's strengths. After my many years working in business, I find Reggie's life to be hauntingly familiar. The humor can be very subtle at times and some people may not get it. I didn't get where I am today without knowing that this is one of the funniest books I've ever read.

The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin is the funniest book I have read in a long time. After getting used to the British slang and unusual mood of the book, I was hooked. It takes a while to realize what is going on, and when you do - that is when the situations are funny. The humor is slight and you have to pay attention to get the jokes; especially the insults he gives to his family and co-workers. The ending is hard to accept, untill you realize it is the perfect mix-up to this mans mid-life crisis.

It is significant to be aware of the subtitle of this little "kid's" book... "A Fable of Faith, Love and Family." And perhaps important to know just a bit about the author, M. Scott Peck... bestselling author of the near-legendary "The Road Less Travelled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth."
This is the only children's book that Mr. Peck has written to date, and after reading it, I hope it will not be his last. It was cute, uplifting, and inspirational. However, these last two adjectives may describe the very kind of thing that parents feel wary about from time to time... "So, what is this guy preaching in here?" they may rightfully ask.
Well, this little book does touch on some rather serious questions.
Things like "What's reincarnation?" and "How do you know that our souls live on after we die?" Both questions are asked by the protagonist, the young girl Jenny.
The first question is answered matter-of-factly, but the second question is answered in the typical respectful and non-sectarian way that Peck approaches spiritual issues in all of his works. Jenny's dad answers her... "That's a very big question. In fact, it's so big I'm not going to answer it. You see, some questions are so big you shouldn't take anyone else's answer for them. It's better if you figure out your own. Often, I think that's why we're put here: to find some solutions for ourselves. I tell you what though, I'd be delighted to listen to any answer you come up with." (with "you" in italics).
In my opinion... this is a good answer to the question. You may have a different opinion on that, and you should let that be your guide as to whether this is the type of book you want to read to your children. (Or not)! Because really, this is the tone of the story, in a nutshell.
It is framed around the event of Jenny having a single snowflake land on her nose and promptly melt. This simple experience causes her to begin wondering about randomness, and consequently, her own special place in the world. She comes to the point of concluding that she is, in fact... special, and unique. As unique as a snowflake, and more specifically her own friendly snowflake, the snowflake that found her nose.
In the Foreword, Peck says "Being who I am, this is naturally a spiritual sort of story. It is meant to be read in such a way by young people with old souls and older people with young souls."
I, being one of these latter type, truly enjoyed it. As soon as I meet one of these former type of person, I am going to give them this book as a gift.

i gave this book as a christmas gift to many of my friends; they absolutely love this inspirational little story! it's very charming! the story is roughly about reicarnation, and believing that we are all connected in life. i love this little book, and the cover design is excellent. the book cover is a thick parchment paper like material with embossed lettering. this is the type of book you can read to your kids at bedtime, or read in the bathtub by yourself for a quick picker upper!

"Americas Best Beers" is a decent book to start with for the novice craft beer drinker. It is sufficient as a reference guide. But there are many flaws, most notably with the incompleteness of the reviews. There are several beers that only one of the two guys has bothered to rate. Even worse, there are several beers and breweries that are mentioned, but then there are no ratings at all! Why even list the brewery if you are not going to rate the beer? This only frustrates the reader. When you read a book on beer ratings, you want to see ratings. And you want to get the perspective from both authors, not just one of them.

A little more completeness and consistency would have made this a better book.

Here in a paperback book that you can carry to the local retail beer emporium or when looking for a microbrew pub are the descriptions of 350 microbreweries in the U.S. Authors Chris Finch and Scott Griffiths not only describe these unique pubs but also rate hundreds of beers made by these breweries. If you enjoy great beer in the European tradition, this guide is the best I've seen on the subject. I look foward to d finding some of their highly recommended beers in the near future. If great beer is your thing make sure someone puts this great little book under your Xmas tree. Also visit some of the microbrewery sites on the Web.

The recent agreement reached [or should I say achieved?] by the Episcopal and Lutheran Churches in the United States has resulted in much less commentary that one would have thought for such an historic moment. One of the reasons for this relative silence is perhaps found in this slim volume. While both of these mainstream Protestant denominations were of great influence in the development of the American moral sense [yes, there really is such a thing], clergy of the post-Vietnam, post-civil rights movement seem to be "prophets" in search of a message or, more often than not, pastors in search of a flock. Behind the secular political ideology and the therapeutic terminology and syntax of this book lies an inescapable truth: These folks are just plain dull.

Whatever spark was once there, whatever propelled these two fine traditions forward into this conflicting new century seems to have been lost. Perhaps I am expecting too much from the authors, though. This was, after all, written by the pastors of two small, pre-dominantly Caucasian, middle-class congregations in rural Connecticut. They hardly represent the "cutting edge" of American Christianity. Also, this work was the result of a joint Lenten study program, which is hardly the hotbed of new and insightful commentary.

Take this book for what it is, then. The good news is that both of these men think and write simply. Cady, to his credit, is more accessible than Webber, who is sometimes pedantic. However, what I and many wait for in great and hopeful longing is that pure voice that will grow from these times and these traditions to once again inform and inspire all of us who seek the truth that is beyond all other. Until then, I guess we have to relish the prosaic.

In Lutherans And Episcopalians Together: A Guide To Understanding, Scott Cady and Christopher Webber effectively collaborate to reveal the common Protestant Reformation heritage shared by Episcopalians and Lutherans. Relevant issues are thoroughly examined including what the two churches believe, how they worship, what leadership roles lay and ordained members have in each church, how bishops exercise their ministry in each church, and what the future holds respecting the newly emerging relationship between the two churches. The informative, "reader friendly" text is enhanced with "reflection questions" for each chapter, along with a "Resources for Further Study" section. Lutherans And Episcopalians Together is very highly recommended reading for Lutherans, Episcopalians, and anyone with an interest in contemporary efforts at reconciliation and cooperation within the modern Christian community.

Okay, so how can Christopher Radko do anything wrong?? Well, he probably can't - but his publishers sure can. You may ask, what good is a picture full of detail that is only 2" by 1.5"?? PUHLEASE make those pictures bigger - the magnifying glass works, but not as well as a bigger picture.

And the text....goes on....and on....and on.....with very humdrum items. How to pick a Christmas tree, how to light it. This information has been included in every Christmas book through the ages. We don't need to have it over and over again. Take away some of those words and put in more OR JUST BIGGER PICTURES!!

This guy is special - make him a special book!!

I'm a huge Christopher Radko ornament fan and collector ... His past books are just basically about ornaments only and I thought it was great to see this book about decorating and ~how~ to use his ornaments (among others) and, along with more elaborate decorating ideas it also includes the "basics" of Christmas decorating - such as how many lights to put on a tree, etc ... If you're not a CR fan, you may not appreciate the book as much however.

Beautiful photography of Christmas displays from country home settings to mansions. Not just for the Radko ornament collector, Heart of Christmas provides all lovers of Christmas with a wealth if information about traditions of the holiday.

What a waste of money! After sending about 160 letters to the various recruiters listed in this book, about 90 were returned as undeliverable due to firms out of business and people moving to different firms. The headhunter business is extremely fluid and recruiters apparently do not remain with a firm for any length of time. The book also advises people not to call a recruiter on the telephone. This must be an attempt to alleviate the recruiters from having to actually speak to a person without having a sure shot position open for them. The authors must be former recruiters because they seem to write from a recruiter's point of view and not a job seeker's. The book's advice and how-to sections are common sense; anyone with half a brain uses the steps outlined in the book already without having to be told to do so. All that this book accomplishes is to line the pockets of the authors at the expense of people who are looking for valid resources that can assist them in a job search. Ask your Uncle Ralph if he knows of anyone who is hiring and don't give these two useless people,(Christopher Hunt and Scott Scanlon) any of your hard earned money, especially if you're currently unemployed. P.S. the only reason my review has one star is because I wasn't offered the option of no stars.

Try Vault.com for more up-to-date, 2003 info than is contained the this 1998 book.

This book is not a how-to manual for landing a job on Wall Street. Just as the title says, it is simply a guide to the recruiters. Scanlon and Hunt have broken the book into three parts for your reference.

First, the introduction and chapters 1 through 3 are not quite part of the book. If you look at the page numbers, roman numerals still greet you. This should show you that it is not the primary focus of the book. The introduction tells you about recruiters and job searching in this field. In the first three chapters, some good information from the authors explain resumes, cover letters, and interviews. Knowing how the recruiters think is always a leg up on the competition.

The meat of the book is the "directory." This lets you know the name, title, firm, and address of Wall Street recruiters. Remember that people change jobs and titles fairly often. This information is merely a starting point. Just knowing the companies out there allows me to do some research to make my application that much more appealing. It also allows me to be more knowledgeable in the interview. Use the information to find the current recruiter. Don't assume the listed name is still in charge of recruiting.

The last part is not as helpful. It breaks down the field into four parts (generalist, financial services, insurance, and venture capital). Here, the authors index names with company for the recruiter with a more specialized function. This will allow you to finetune your search, but given that people change jobs, the information here is less helpful than the addresses.

This book is a good starting point for your quest for a job on Wall Street, but alone, it will not be of use. It is merely a solid starting point to find out who is out there recruiting.

Beau's grandfather was fit as a fiddle until his unexpected death, so why did he have a nanny on staff? When Beau arrives and finds that Nanny Maggie Stowe is a beautiful young woman he wonders what it is nannies do these days. He thinks he has the answer to that question when he discovers that the old man has left Maggie a small fortune. Maggie is outraged to find that Beau believes she and her employer were lovers and quickly sets him straight. But why is his opinion so important to Maggie? She's emotionally scarred by painful childhood circumstances that she keeps secret, and she's afraid of the feelings blossoming between Beau and her. Committment seems frighteningly like confinement to her, and confinement is her worst nightmare. What's a guy to do when the woman he loves starts running and doesn't want to be chased? Good job of weaving the childhood trauma into the plot.

This book has an answer to most questions you could have regarding web site maintenance, although it is heavily biased towards configuring UNIX servers. Windows NT, for example, doesn't get much of a mention. Also, many of the examples are written in Perl which was a shame as I was more interested in CGI written with shell scripts.

Some topics do not go into enough detail. For example, the section on how to install two servers on a single machine, each responding to different domain names, tells you "what" to do but not "how" to do it.

Where the book does excel, however, is in describing the concepts of how the internet works.

Lighten up critics. This is not a book about golf. Just a book about using the GAME of golf as part of your life journey. You may not learn how to play golf, but let Peck teach you something else.

While not ground breaking I enjoyed Golf and the Spirit by M. Scott Peck. The audio was both witty and insightful. The author takes us through a imaginary round of golf on the fictional course Exotica. Like many courses, Exotica has roughs, sand traps and water hazzards to sufficiently challenge golfers of all levels. Dr. Peck's audio however has less to do with the physical hazzards of golf. The book delves more into the spiritual and inner aspects of the game of golf. The book uses golf as a methphor for life. Golf like life has many challenges and success in both requires introspection.

I listened (more than once) to the very well read audio tapes while traveling. You must pay attention the detail is superb.

As a golfer for 46 years and earning three letters at Indiana University, I can attest that golf can teach a great deal about life, pursuing happiness, developing patience and spiritual growth if you go beyond your score. Especially as you take the competition out of golf can you realize what this game has to offer and how you can grow as a person from it.

Peck designs a wonderful exotic golf course with all the hazards and obstacles similar to which you find in life. He provides great analogies, excellent knowledge of the game which can help someone unfamiliar with the sport, and makes it all very interesting. The tapes are excellent because you can go back again and again, each time gaining new insights to golf and yourself.

A great companion reader to Golf and the Spirit tapes is Pecks book, "The Road Less Traveled." Happy reading and Spiritual growth.