i'm a friend of their's, and in addition to being great architects, they're great people too.. what up alf

It is rare to find such a great devotion and perseverance towards city issues, urban design concepts and developments in one book. It is the compilation of years of partnership of work at KK Associates: a professional focus on strategies and plausible design scenarios for contemporary cities. A must in the library of seriously contextual architects and developers.

A real page-turned for the under-2 set! My 16-month-old son has liked this book for several months --- he even giggles at the pictures. I've also seen kids at the library interact well with this book.

We bought this book for my then ten-month-old daughter when she all she wanted to do was play "peek-a-boo." She absolutely loved it! She laughed every time Preston or Mr. Wolf said "Boo." We still read this book every day and it still makes her laugh. It's an absolutely fantastic read with wonderful illustrations.

The Lonely Planet guides are excellent for any locale..but this edition (covering Italy, Spain, Greece, France, Portugal and even Morocco) is a must-read for the quintessential backpacker jumping on a plane for Europa. These guides excel at recommending lodging of many price ranges (from youth hostels to 5-star hotels) and meal choices of the same range (excellent recommendation for outdoor markets.."buy a loaf of bread, a block of cheese and a bottle of wine here"..which is a plus as many guides catering to this area focus on only older travels with large budgets..or persons seeking to spend only a dollar a day or some insanity..it's always good to have the most information possible..and it's included here. Entertainments ideas from free plaza and park visiting to museums, discotechqes, architecture, boat rides etc. etc. are included..good for young and old. It even lists culture-sensitve information such as appropriate dress for visiting churches and monasteries as well as travel-safe tips for women. Book your Eurorail pass and get going.

Lonely Planet has great books and this one certainly was. It's very thorough and tells alot about things that interest travellers. They are up to date and tell you the pros and cons of the different countries. I liked it alot and I know that other people will too.

If you are panicking over an imminent assignment, or if you have a lecture to deliver tomorrow on the intricacies of World War I, pick up this book. This mine of information on all aspects of the First World War and its origins contains thousands of facts which are easily found, placed in context, and cross-referenced to provide a coherent overview of the military, economic and social history of the period. The book is a masterpiece of compression and succinct analysis. The scope and breadth of its treatment of this vast subject are very impressive. One would need to wade through dozens of dense monographs to find this information. If you need further guidance, Nicolson provides a detailed and up-to-date critical bibliography to help you through the reference maze.

The sheer range of subjects covered is extraordinary: What does the first performance of Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring' tell us about the pre-war mindset? What was going on in Bosnia or Macedonia before the war? What were the terms of the Franco-Russian Alliance, and the Austrian ultimatum to Serbia? Who was the Austrian ambassador to Russia during the July Crisis of 1914? Why was the German Kaiser cruising on his yacht while Europe descended into chaos? What were the "Willy-Nicky' conversations? Were Russia or Austria-Hungary prepared for war? HOw were the Serbs able to defeat Austria? Why was the German war effort so disorganized? In which country did women, factory workers of the press fare best? How did Turkey, Italy, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece become involved? Who shot the editor of Le Figaro in the eve of the war? What did Winston Churchill do after he resigned in 1915? Who was Bolo Pasha? What was a 'woolly bear'? Why did the French turn to a 76-year-old journalist to lead them to victory? The answers are all here in this remarkable and comprehensive volume.

If you have a lecture to deliver tomorrow morning, or are stressed out over an imminent wartime assignment, this is the book you want. A mine of information on all aspects of World War I and its origins, Colin Nicolson's compendium contains thousands of facts about the war which are easily accessed, placed in context, and cross-referenced to provide a coherent overview of the military, economic, and social history of the period. The book is a masterpiece of compression and succinct analysis. The scope and breadth of its treatment of this vast subject are very impressive. One would need to wade through dozens of dense monographs to access the information presented here, but if you need guidance for further reading, Nicolson provides a detailed and up-to-date critical bibliography to guide you through the maze.

The sheer range of subjects covered is extraordinary: What does the first performance of Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring' tell us about the pre-war mindset? What was going on in Bosnia or Macedonia before the war? What were the terms of the Franco-Russian Alliance, and the Austrian Ultimatum to Serbia? Who was the Austrian ambassador to Russia during the July Crisis of 1914? Why was the German Kaiser cruising on his yacht while Europe descended into chaos? What were the 'Willy-Nicky' conversations? Were Russia or Austria-Hungary prepared for war? How were the Serbs able to defeat Austria? Why was the German war effort so disorganized? In which country did women, factory workers or the press fare best? How did Turkey, Italy, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece become involved. Did attempts to end the war amount to anything? Who shot the editor of Le Figaro in the eve of the war? What did Winston Churchill do after he resigned in 1915? Who was Bolo Pasha? What was a 'woolly bear'? Why did the French turn to a 76-year-old journalist to lead them to victory? The answers to all these questions and many more can be found in this remarkable and comprehensive volume.

I just spent a week at the beach with my two grandsons, ages 4 and 5. We read this book over and over and over and over again. Searching for objects and moving through tiny doors to each new magical page, their interest never waned. I recommend it very highly!

I am giving this book 5 stars for the benefit of my two sons, ages 10 and 6. Both of them have enjoyed this book so much, it can't be rated any less than 5 stars. The pictures are mesmorizing and add to the magic of the storyline which teaches children to use their imagination. It also teaches them that, with their imagination, anything is possible!

Collaboratively written and presented by Colin Amery (Directory of the World Monuments Fund in Britain) and Brian Curran, Jr. (West Coast Consultant for the World Monuments Fund), and enhanced by the photography of Chris Caldicott, The Lost World Of Pompeii is a lavishly illustrated history, filled from cover to cover with full-color photographs, showcasing what history and archaeology can tell us of the ancient Roman seaside community and culture of Pompeii that suffered sudden oblivion from the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. An erudite text combines with revealing artworks and the results of archaeological excavation to make The Lost World Of Pompeii a truly immersive, informative, and enthusiastically recommended reading experience.

Of all the fascinating sites in the world few have continued to draw as much interest or conjecture as Pompeii. It was on August 24, AD 79 that this well-to-do Roman city located in central Italy fell victim to one of the worst natural disasters ever recorded. Some 20,000 people lost their lives when the volcano Vesuvius erupted and spread hot ash and rock over the city. Pompeii was so buried for centuries to come.

Archaeologists did not begin excavating until 1748 as is revealed in this beautifully illustrated volume, which details the ancient city's history from its beginnings to its fatal ending. An extremely well researched text reveals not only the city's politics and commerce but also everyday life.

Also discussed is the great meaning the discoveries at Pompeii have for art, archaeology and interior design. And, we learn that this work is not over as restoration continues to take place today.

Generously illustrated the volume holds 100 color and 50 black and white illustrations. Those who have an interest in ancient history will find "The Lost World of Pompeii" indispensable.

- Gail Cooke

If you are looking for a gift book that someone will remember, this is it. This is the kind of book that imparts information in a clever and entertaining way. Readers learn about mail delivery to the Great Lakes freighters, while enjoying the heartwarming story of a little girl sending her Dad a birthday card while he is working on the freighters. The illustrations are beautiful, and really add to the story. This book should be in every school's library.

This is a beautiful book, it is well written and extremely accurate. The book tells a story about a young girl who wants to send her father a birthday card. Her father works as a sailor aboard a Great Lakes freighter and she is happy to learn that a boat in Detroit, Michigan delivers U.S. Mail to all ships passing Detroit. She sends his card and he receives it a few days later when his ship passes Detroit. The illustrations are also wonderfully done and very accurate. What I liked best about the story is that it is educational and emphasizes a strong family bond. I rated this book five stars and have bought several copies as Christmas presents and have donated a copy to my daughters school library.

While there is no shortage of mind-stimulating poetry and literature for young kids these days, I still can't help but stand up and cheer for collections such as these. I think that helping kids learn the entertainment and enjoyment side of reading is so crucial at this age, and this book fills that need perfectly. McNaughton has a talent for giving you both the creeps and the giggles at the same time with his icky prose and imaginative illustrations.

Are all these Silverstein-esque poems about monster's? No, but they pretty much all appeal to the young readers sense of humor. "Call a doctor/Call the vet!/I've just been bitten/By teacher's pet!" The grossest one to read aloud would probably be "Ogre My Dead Body! (The Ogre's Song" which goes a little something like this, "An wen I needs a midnite snack,/Heer them hewmin bones go CRACK!/CRACK, CRACK, midnite snack,/Heer them hewmin bones go CRACK!" OK, this might not make the best bed-time reading. Better save it for day-light.

I thought that the book was funny, and kind of gross. My favorite poem was "Georgie Porgie" because it was hilarious. I also like "Teacher's Pet" and "Heartless" because they were also hilarious. I would recommend this book to people who like poems, like me.

My brother-in-law handed me this book one day and said it was worth reading. I had no idea who Colin Fletcher was or what the book was about. I learned a lot about Colin Fletcher, the guru of walking, but even more about a remarkable man who's life would have passed unnoticed had Mr. Fletcher not stumbled on a very remote cave south of Las Vegas Nevada in the late 1960s. This man had come to live in the cave for part of a year and Mr. Fletcher decided to find out who and why a person would choose to live there. Through tough detective work the author develops some leads about when the habitation of the cave occurred and what sort of person lived there. The man in question turns out to be a very colorful prospector and through amazing luck and perseverance Fletcher uncovers his life story. He finds this man to be much like himself. Mr. Fletcher portrays him as both saint and sinner at times, but always makes him human. Quite a good read.

In my opinion, this is one of the more fascinating of Colin Fletcher's very enjoyable writings. While pursuing an on-going project of walking the length of the Colorado River, Fletcher discovered a lonely cave in Nevada with evidence that a remarkable individual had called it home sometime in the early part of the century. Fletcher wondered who this could have been, and what had led him to this very out-of-the-way location (as Colin Fletcher himself had been led there). Years of research and discovery, aided by a not inconsequential amount of dumb luck, led Fletcher to the most probable identity of the cave dweller, and he also learned much about American history along the way. This book is a real-life mystery; it is a biography of "Chuckawalla Bill" Simmons and of Colin Fletcher himself; and like all of Colin Fletcher's books, it is also a work of philosopy. Not surprisingly, the "Man From the Cave" proves to be a man very much like Colin Fletcher himself.

Market-driven politics - part two of review
There is a great wood and trees problem in understanding the politics of this process. Unlike the textbook models of markets, every single real market has its own unique features. Individual cases then enable us to see some of the common features of this process. Leys does not make the case that each of the four conditions have a distinctive politics. Instead he shows the roles of lobbies, of personal networks of influence, of political funding, of the infiltration of political parties, the state and institutions of global regulation, of the resourcing of partisan research and think tanks, of the interested peopling of advisory councils and public boards. Their purposes, in a spectacular denial of conflicts of interest, are to weaken public regulation in relentless cycles of pressures for incremental change, to weaken enforcement and/or quality standards (but to apply them selectively to disadvantage public services), to weaken sources of resistance and stoke support, to restrict public capital and current expenditure, to re-structure the sources of public revenue, to claim risk-minimising contracts with residual state providers, to present the transformations of service into commodities, supply and demand as a 'technology' transfer and abolish the concepts of public service. In both broadcasting and health conglomerates diversified, concentrated and differentiated; pay became spectacularly more unequal, product quality was shaped by commercial interests and residual services deteriorated and were rationed. New labour politicians, whose party is increasingly funded by corporate interests, operate in centralised and 'depoliticised' ways which take them away from the electorate, unions and activists and enable them to naturalise markets and audit and to de-democratise the state..

At a time when Tony Blair has called public service unions 'wreckers', Colin Leys shows just who the real wreckers are. He argues that public services are a key aspect of a democratic society; they express such a society's collective interests and they help shape it at the same time. There is never no alternative. Public services can be provided in many ways, from voluntary work, through non-profit trusts to state provision. These can be more efficient - not simply in costs but also in the quality of outcomes - than are firms dominated by short-term shareholder interests. Leys indicates what is to be done: public services need a clear philosophy that is publicised, celebrated and funded through taxation. They need practical policy, encouraging innovation and dynamism where it can be justified on public service grounds. They need active political protection and defence from the constant attempts to invade which 'markets', aka capital, are bound to make.

This is a richly researched, well structured, beautifully written and compellingly argued book, and one which offers an original analysis of the hegemonic politics of markets. It could not be more relevant to our times. Buy this book, but do not add it to the gently groaning shelf. Keep it much closer to hand; read, reflect and act on it.

Market-driven politics

Followers of the debates on globalisation will be well aware of a surge of recent books associated with the anti-globalisation movement which explore corporate brands have reshaped consumption and culture (Naomi Klein's No Logo) have infiltrated the state (Noreena Hertz Silent Takeover: Global Capitalism and the Death of Democracy)and have also consumed political parties and refashioned them in their own image (George Monbiot's Captive State).

Colin Leys, the reputed scholar of third world development and of British politics, has entered the fray on behalf of a socialist alternative with an investigation of the response of national politics to global economic forces. He uses the experience of Britain for this project, but his story spans the world and is of world-wide relevance. The book moves its lens systematically from the global system towards the detail of rapidly proliferating real markets. Leys peers through two key holes to see the politics involved in the penetration by markets of areas of society formerly ring-fenced for non-market forms of provision and values. The two cases are public service broadcasting and health care; both regulated in distinctively British ways but now being privatised and commercialised in ways only too familiar worldwide.

Leys starts where most critics of globalisation leave off. The economy is replacing society as the subject of politics. In low intensity democracies (the phrase is Samir Amin's) ruling parties find it increasingly difficult to direct the terms on which governments regulate the economy, though there are conditions under which some do it better than others. Their politics is driven by corporates which operate not nationally but globally. Leys has a wealth of evidence with which he fleshes out this profoundly political process (globally in chapter 2 and in Britain in chapter 3).He asks: how do states get voters to endorse policies which meet the demands of capital? How do states pull off the theft of sovereignty from their citizens? How are markets to be naturalised and democratic politics to be insulated from demos? This book answers such questions.

There is a general logic to the process: capital must expand. 'Accumulate, accumulate, accumulate! That is Moses and the prophets'! proclaimed Karl Marx. Capital expands in many ways, some primitive (resources are seized by force, peasants shoved off the land) others are sophisticated and carefully planned (the seething life cycles of products and their substitutes). Markets appear to slither into households (domestic service) and out again ('DIY', but read the book, for DIY is not what it seems..). Markets proliferate (markets for derivatives, markets for advertising, for management consultancy, legal advice, repairs..).

Leys follows markets expanding into the non-market public sphere. This is the arena for public goods, for national culture and for democratic expressions of citizenship. The novel insight powering Leys' analysis of market-driven politics is as follows. For markets to take over, four political conditions have to be achieved. First, public services have to be broken down into sets of private commodities (hip replacements, laundering, current affairs programmes popular with advertisers....) each of which can be supplied at (more or less) known prices. Second, needs and delights have to be reworked into effective demand expressed through purchasing power alone. Third, workers with collective values and a public service vocation have to be transformed into profit-makers and on less secure terms. Lastly, business requires and usually gets the risks of this transformation to be underwritten by the state. Those remnants of public services that cannot be completely abolished will be left as services of the last resort.

After this first phase looks like being successful, the general dynamic starts to grind; the costs of labour can be reduced; less specialised labour may be shed, components may be subcontracted to cheap sites. Products will be standardised for scale economies and a mass market. 'Flexible production' usually masks a standardised technological core. All other labour, all other costs, will be transferred to consumers. (And the buck stops with women.)

Private contractors do not have to be efficient to notch up rates of profit attractive to shareholders. Public resources will be transferred to retain poorly functioning private firms up to the point where the costs of maintaining an inefficient status quo exceed those of exposing deficiency or delinquence, together with the transactions costs of replacing the contract.
- to be continued - in part two of review