MSXML4 is the fastest XML parser in the world and this book gives you needed details to take advantage of it. Some of these chapters are a gold mine. Some have obviously been sitting around from a couple years ago.
Please Wrox, stop it! I'll pay the same price to have the gold mine chapters alone.
Micheal Corning's chapter is filled with truly worthwhile stuff about the parser, coming as it does from Redmond. Danny Ayer's chapter on implement a XLink system is really brilliant and well written. Corning and Ayer show that you can be thoughtful and literate when writing about the specifics of a new technology.

The chapter on XPath is really incomplete to the point of not being an unusable reference. For the concat function we are given the example of concat('sku','562','B'). Now exactly why would anyone do this? Pointless examples do not help anyone. The concat function is almost always used for placing XML data with literal text. I use concat is creating URLs like this

.

With the contains function we are not told what happens if the second string is zero length. It always returns true, which seems pretty odd to me, which, in turn, makes it something worthwhile to mention.
Also, I don't see any mention of one of XPath's weirdest quirks. Namely, if a item in a filter evaluation is a nodelist, that XPath has uses an ANY semantics. That is too say

//product[@price>$Specials/@price]
gives us products that are more expensive than any of the specials.
The fault here is with the Wrox editors, not the authors. Chapters 9 10 and 11 are also great.
A very worthwhile, nay, essential book for Microsoft technology.

Alas, the book is already slightly out of date as MS has released MSXML4 SP1.
You will need to add
oXMLResp.setProperty("NewParser", True) to various places in the code

The book is very readable; I read half the book in one sitting and found that the flow from one topic to the next was very natural.

To start with this book covers pretty much all versions of MSXML, including older non standard features such as WD-xsl. Naturally there is more focus on the new standards, but examples and recommendations are given for all. One feature I very much appreciated was a list of versions that shipped various OS / Browser / Major Applications.

This book also scores highly as a lot of examples are giving in Jscript, but also includes examples in VB COM and VBScript.

I was very disappointed- don't waste your money- there are no "tricks here!

Don't let the title mislead you. There's nothing ... about it (except for the price.) This gem contains some very valuable information. I normally read mostly history, so I'm not into "fluff." Dr. Buffington combines the science of psychology with practical lessons one will find useful whether one is currently in a relationship or still looking. Dr. Buff's delightfully witty and concise writing style make this book loads of fun to read. You'll breeze right through it and then want to keep it nearby for reference. I've bought extra copies as gifts for friends who also loved it.

I saw Dr. Buff on "The Other Half" for the Valentine's episode and immediately went to Amazon.com to buy the book. It is amusing but factual and helpful. It won't replace counseling, but it is guaranteed to spice up your love life - if you dare! I highly recommend it if you're looking to add a new perspective to your relationship or if you're looking to get into one. Reading this book will make you more attractive to the opposite sex :))

This book would have been better if it had been written by people who had the ability to be a bit more objective about these technologies. (The authors work for Sun, of course.) There is a large portion of the book devoted to repeated explanations about why the J2EE platform is the best available. There are a number of plugs for client-side Java programs (applets, etc.), which is a marginal technology in practical terms, despite its theoretical advantages. I just wanted more objective information and less marketing hype. That being said, the book does have some useful information. A better and more dispassionate look at the J2EE platform spec is "Java for the Web with Servlets, JSP, and EJB" published by New Riders.

The book is a high level overview of the application design with the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition. It may be helpful for someone who wants to know how different architectural choices and technologies fit together in an enterprise application.

It starts with an introduction to different enterprise application scenarios (Stand-Alone, Web-Centric, EJB-Centric, B2B, etc.), and then goes on discussing each of the architectural tiers in detail. In addition, in separate chapters it covers important issues like security, transaction management, internationalization, and localization.

As a rule, each chapter gives an overview of the involved technologies, considers most important issues, and provides some tips on design and proper usage. Available tools are also discussed. Each chapter is followed by a list of references and resources. Many resources have URLs.

The last chapter presents an architecture of the sample application. Unfortunately, quite a bit of space in this chapter is wasted reiterating general pros and cons of distributed and local architectures. My impression is that the author of this particular chapter (each chapter in the book is written by a different author or group of authors) assumes that the reader does not have any prior knowledge about the subject and have not read preceding chapters.

A few code samples in the entire book illustrate some points in the discussion; the code snippets are neither complete nor complex, and obviously are not written for reuse.

A must read for seasoned professionals and those new to the subject. Invaluable insights and guidelines are detailed at every tier of architecting a J2EE enterprise application. I found myself frequently relating to the examples and wishing I had read this book to help with earlier projects. This would have saved hours of re-factoring because the authors have already detailed solutions to common design problems.

If you are looking for code examples, don't look here. Code examples throughout the book are minimal; however this book is not about code examples, the purpose is to provide proven principles for architecting and developing J2EE applications. Instead, one chapter describes the design of the sample Java Pet Store application in regards to the books principles.

I now have a better understanding of the J2EE platform and how to apply its technologies. I will be referring back to this book often!

What the Body Remembers falls into the genre known among my friends and I as "awful/wonderful." "Awful/wonderful" books tell painful truths in such a compelling manner that the reader greedily ingests them, even aches for more. This book, with its no-holds-barred tale of the treatment of women in India, whether Muslim, Hindu or Sikh, can be painful to read--but it's impossible not to. Of all the novels I've read by and about Indian women's lives, What the Body Remembers was by far the most disturbing. And yet I was sorry to close it after reading the last page--it was throughly engrossing, and as fascinating in its way as Memoirs of a Geisha. I highly recommend it.

There many novels around that cover the same territory as this book: the bloodshed that surrounded Partition and the devastation wrought by the British upon India. There are many other books as well which discuss the experience of Indian women.

This book is interesting because it deals with both of these subjects and from the perspective of two Sikh women. I have many Indian friends and know a little of Hindu and Moslem culture but of Sikhism I was ignorant and this novel has been a ssuperb introduction. The story focuses to a large extent upon the experiences of Satya and Roop, married to the same man. Both of their lives and their happiness are dependent on his and it is interesting to see how the two women manage to carve their own niches within this restriction.

Major themes of this book are jealousy and fear. The fear of men, the fear of one's own body, the fear of strangers and of other religions. Jealousy and avarice too. The opening scene embodies all of these emotions as Satya inspects the young Roop, newly arrived at her husband's home wearing Satya's jewellry. It is a fantastically written introduction. However, despite his insensitivity and self-centredness, one of the wonderful things about this novel is observing the gradual transformation of Sardiji, a traditional and dominant male figure at the beginning of the novel into a thoughtful and generous one at the end. His political and personal journey is directly attributable to the influence, and destinies, of his wives.

This book is not at all formulaic and is a worthy addition to the canon of modern Indian literature. I have read many of these books and, as recommended by another reviewer, this is the best novel about India I have read since A Suitable Boy.

I am lucky enough to be part of the ongoing novel writing workshop where Shauna worked on developing "What the Body Remembers." It's been an amazing experience watching her bring this novel to life. The first time I heard her read the opening sequence, I was knocked out by its emotional power. Shauna is an extraordinarily vivid storyteller. Her words make you feel as if you are standing on a dusty road in India, the sun burning down on you, even when you're sitting in a drafty, slightly musty classroom in a former convent school in the middle of a frigid Milwaukee winter. As someone who's had the honor of getting a sneak peak at this novel - and as a friend and colleague of Shauna's - I highly recommend this powerful, beautifully written novel.

This book is taken from a series of Dharma talks given around Christmas at Plum Village in France. At first I couldn't understand what Thich was trying to get across. Since these talks were given years apart, the book is somewhat disjointed. The major theme seems to be acceptance and understanding of the two religions for each other. Thich is not trying to win any converts here, quite the opposite, he is trying to discourage westerners from adopting Buddhism. His premise is that our cultural heritage and our spiritual heritage are intertwined and so cannot be easily separated.

He goes on to suggest that mixed marriages between Buddhists and Christians can work since the best parts of each can be blended. These statements seem meant more to appease Christians than to actual deal with the real issues. In fact, Buddhism and Christianity can be blended, but on a very superficial level. Any deeper than that and you'd be inventing a new religion. Which is what some people are attempting to do. And where's your heritage then?

If you are a Christian who wants a non-threatening view of Buddhism, this book works well. If you are looking for more depth on Buddhist practice, you will have to find another book.

In this short book, Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh continues the ecumenical mission he started in the late 1990s. The work developed from teachings he gave at Plum Village, his retreat center located in France. In an inter-faith modality, Hanh does not argue for conversion but instead the cultivation of a mindfulness of their own religious traditions -- or as he calls him in this book - roots. Speaking of roots, Hanh, sought his vocation as a Buddhist monk in Vietnam at the young age of 16. His unrelenting strivings for peace in his war-destroyed country only resulted in his expulsion but moreover a more developed relationships with Christians. Some notable colleagues include Thomas Merton and Martin Luther King Jr. (who later nominated Hanh for a Nobel Peace Price), a both were also opposed to war. From the start, Hanh developed a working feel for both Buddhism and Christianity -- both have much to gain from interaction between each other. This Going Home is a spiritual offering the honored great teacher's dharma teachings, presented to Christian and Buddhist alike. For the curious, like myself, it offers interesting insight into the Buddha mind.

Hanh has been known to Americans as a champion for peace and justice and a conduit for the West to the labyrinth of Vietnamese Buddhism and culture. From Plum Village he travels around the globe, leading retreats on mindfulness. It could be argued that after His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Hanh is probably the world's most visible spokesperson for Buddhism. This book Going Home is an ongoing talk with Jesus himself and includes several Christian perspectives. Hanh cites Paul Tillich's approach to God as the ground of being. Hanh reads Tillich's approach as comparable to the Buddhist comprehension of Nirvana. Nirvana bears the same association to the phenomenal world as water bears to waves -- a metaphor that he uses throughout the book. Unfortunately, there is no human concept that can capture the full reality of the of God. In this light, Hanh argues for the necessity of transcending concepts and notions through mindfulness -- the careful attention to the present moment.

Hanh embraces Jesus as a brother on the journey. Hanh, moreover, tells us that he is not interested in the body of Jesus, but only in Jesus's teachings. Hanh is sure that Jesus engaged in walking and sitting meditation during his time of temptation in the wilderness. Hanh draws a parallel between the Holy Spirit with the practice of mindfulness in concrete ways in the Five Mindfulness Techniques. Hanh find a contradiction regarding Jesus' oneness with the Father through his explanation that within the metaphor of the wave, Jesus is not other than the water, the ultimate. The utterances during Jesus's crucifixion that he has been abandoned by God, recorded in Mark and Matthew, seems irreconcilable to Hanh, since it is impossible that the wave could be separated from or abandoned by the water. Despite the simplicity of the metaphor, I have to admit that it is indeed thought provoking. Lastly, interestingly enough, Hanh never encounters Jesus as outside of his Buddhist purview. Harmony comes at the price of difference. Jesus and the Buddha might be brothers, but they are not identical twins. Hanh, despite the very risky task of joining the two very different ontological frameworks seem to fall short. The effort, however, is noble in and of itself but it never really hits a home run.

Unfortunately, Hanh often seems to suggest that Buddhists and Christians can talk to one another, they must first soft-pedal or ignore those beliefs that make them discrete in the first place. I agree with Hanh -- the differences are inconsequential -- they seem to matter most to those who feel threatened. So in a real world application, human beings being what they are will inevitably sabotage the effort. Hanh sees it as a waste of time to dwell on "whether God is a person or not a person," unfortunately this question significant in Christianity; Hanh also posits that "nothing can come from nothing," be cognizant that creatio ex nihilo is a key Christian belief. Understanding Buddhism better is understood in these pages, but other Buddhist beliefs can also pose an impediment to ecumenical efforts. Hanh says: individuals can become too attached to their own ideas of nirvana, forgetting that "nirvana means extinction of all notions." Hanh's does have tendency to push aside significant (only to purists) differences between Buddhism and Christianity. Going Home speaks softly about the need for tolerance in overcoming those differences. Going Home is an interesting first step towards a greater understanding between two ontology's that have to date have been separated by mutual fear and ignorance. For the effort and the courage to write I give Going Home the 5 stars and Hanh props -- the man is necessary.

Miguel Llora

Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the most well known Buddhist teachers in the world and most assuredly the one man most responsible for bringing Buddha and his teachings to the West. The lectures contained within this book will make any who follow their path a better human being. They show the way to more mindful Buddhism as well as the way to more mindful Christianity. To follow in such a way that you become Christ-like is the point of Christianity and the path to such a lifestyle is laid out within this book. True faith is explained better than I have ever seen it explained anywhere. Thây, as Hanh is casually known to his disciples, enlightens the Buddhist and Christian alike as well as any who would listen. The life laid out within this book is a life worth living by all human accounts, filled with joy and happiness for both one who follows this path as well as those whose lives are touched by any who live this path. Whether read for leisure or as serious study, this book will change the lives of any and all who read it for what it is, suggested living. This book is taken from lectures given at Plum Village, Thây's retreat in France. You feel as though you are receiving the lectures in person, they are invigorating. I recommend this book to all those who suffer in the smallest amount.

Sandhu writes like a Singh, full of rich, over-exuberant prose. His novel really sags when he tries to write about human relationships, but has some funny parts when he talks about science and physics. It is more a Punjabi man of science rambling and fantasising in his twilight years, which isn't harmful but doesn't really compel you either. There's so much better writing out there. For example, if I wanted to read about a libidinous Sikh man's fantasies, I'd look at Khushwant Singh's work, an established Indian writer. But Sandhu's book does have its moments, between the crotch grabs and the philophysical musing.
A note - it is a little bit fishy that the previous three reviewers gave five stars, so to be fair I am bringing my review down to one star although i believe sandhu deserves two, maybe two and a half.
finally, my hat off to you Sandhu for sharing your thoughts with the world.

Although I am a nonfiction writer who seldom reads a novel, "Wayward Brahmin" got my attention and held it until I read the last page in the book. The reader need not be overwhelmed by the vastness of the title of this book because every descriptive word in it is a germane facet of this story.
Mo, the protagonist as well as the wayward Brahmin, was born in rural India, a Brahmin, the highest caste of India's stratification of society, where he lived until he came to America to study for his doctorate. Later he became a physics professor at an American university. However, it is not his work in academia that is of primary interest in this book but rather his obsession with sex that engaged campus coeds but extended beyond that turf. Apart from Mo's colorful sexual escapades involving an ethnic female mix that included statuesque blondes, his favorites, but Chinese, African-American and Spanish "femmes fateles", he engaged frequently in Socratic-like lunchtime discourses in the faculty cafeteria with a colleague called Artist where they discussed philosophy and science. Their topics consisted of the structure of the universe, its origin, time and space, the Big Bang, missing matter, reincarnation, after-life, Cosmic Consciousness and sexual freedom. The Artist was the ideal person to engage and challenge Mo who left little doubt in his mind that he, not the Artist, possessed Brahmin's superior knowledge during their discourses on the fuzzy frontiers of science and Mo's wayward views of sexual morality. The Artist referred to their approach as "TOE- Theory of Everything."
Mo's sexual adventures took him to Europe during his sabbaticals and at the time he was a University Scholar at Oxford University. It was during his visit to a Scandinavian university city when a Spanish woman who had seen him at a restaurant sometime earlier said to him, "I have imagined having a fling with the dark stranger since I first saw you in the coffee shop." Later he would learn that she was the lonely wife of a military officer who was engaged in a secret operation in Sweden that he could not talk about. It would be only a short time after they first engaged in sexual intercourse before the woman he called Spanish Eye would come to that coffee shop and abruptly and startlingly warn him that he should leave the city immediately and suddenly she disappeared. Mo never returned to the university where he was staying at the time or to the American university where he taught. He was never heard of since.
This is the fascinating story Punjabi, a friend and compatriot of Mo, told the Listener who never ceased to be all-ears as he listened. Like Mo, Punjabi was born in rural India, although not as a Brahmin. Also like Mo he earned his doctorate at an American unviersity and became a university physics professor. Like the Listener, I was fascinated by the story of Mo's adventures, his willingness to dare, to risk, and break with the traditions of India and disregard American taboos in his search for meaning.
This book aroused my "eros" and allowed me to embrace my shadow while simultaneously offering me nourishment for my intellect. Fortunately for me, the mundaneness often characterizing sex novels is conspicuously absent in this book. Although I hesitate to suggest that this is a must read book, I strongly recommend it as a good read book. It did something more for me than titilate my senses. It pricked my consciousness, deepened my insight, and gave me a fresh awakening.

An interesting journey of a Brahmin boy Mo who was raised in a conservative society in India but on arrival in USA for higher
learning he was exposed to an open and liberal society.He really jumps into various sexual relationships in the years ahead and thoroughly masters the art of erotic bliss. He has great intellect which he displays while discussing cosmos and other astronomical phenomenon with his Artist friend.
Has a lucid narration and is an absorbing book.

The book is interesting but a little biased due to the political affiliations of the writer.

Good read.

Jaswant Singh has been on the forefront of Indian politics recently due to the Pokharan tests. He and Strobe Talbott periodically engage in discussions to improve Indo-US ties, etc.

This book is extremely interesting because of his position and background.

CAREFULL, IT COULD CHANGE YOU. IT MIGHT BE WHAT YOUR ARE LOOKING FOR.

Kirpal Singh (1894-1974) offers, in this little known book, clear criteria for determining the authenticity of a spiritual master. In the l960's the Western world was first exposed to, and then flooded by, the teachings and teachers of the East. Often disillusionment was the least damaging consequence for many of those who became involved with them. Critical analysis of these teachings and teachers was either unknown, or discouraged by the sources themselves. Here, however, a lucid exposition of the criteria which determine whether such a one is "commisioned" by the Almighty, or whether the teacher has themselves even attained that lofty goal, are clearly laid out, and one is encouraged to apply them. The author was widely resected by religious and spiritual contemporaries as a living exponent of true spirituality.

A very satisfying conclusion to what we got treated to in Volume 1...however, this book suffers from being somewhat more predictable than its predecessor, mainly because the author is stuck having to work towards a predestined finale, that must set things up cleanly for Star Trek: TOS's "Space Seed" story. Any problems inherent in Volume 2 are an extension of this basic difficulty. Gary Seven, to my disappointment, only appears sporadically in this installment, and his main purpose here is to concoct a last-ditch plan to curb Khan without executing him (Seven does not like to kill), and, of course, this plan leads to "Space Seed". Meanwhile, Roberta Lincoln takes center stage--she's got guts, this fine lady, taking all the tough jobs when it comes to foiling Khan and his super-troopers whenever she can. This is terrific when it comes to showing Roberta at her finest, in endless dangerous and unpredictable situations, but taken as a whole, her decades-spanning exploits come off as a bit helter-skelter. I would like, in future, to see Roberta Lincoln in an adventure that doesn't require as much jumping around--something with unity of time, place and action.

Then there's Khan. Because The Eugenics Wars novels take the daring approach of trying to "fit" Khan into what we know to be our own history, while at the same time having him live out a scenario that sees him become "a prince, with power over millions", the Eugenics Wars are really a prolonged Secret War. And yet Khan does gain power over millions, so no, he's not a liar in the film Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan. Frankly, I would not have minded if these books had abandoned the secret-war approach the farther along Khan's bid for power went; I would have liked to see him become more of a world-ruler, overtly grabbing up power before his great fall. Anyway, no worries, concerning the ultimate melding of truth and fiction, with an emphasis on trying to depict Eugenics Wars that come close to being something that could have actually happened in the mid-90s we really experienced. My one extra quibble is that in Volume 2, Khan is perhaps not cruel enough--in two different instances he backs down from certain aggressive activity, showing him as surprisingly marshmallowy when it comes to getting talked out of his vilest plans, and also a bit too sympathetic towards the general population, considering how bitter he appears to be. Again, Khan is at the mercy of pre-established continuity, plus any strictures automatically placed on him by these books' stubbornness over inserting him into 1996 as it really occurred.

Despite my negative remarks, I heartily encourage anyone seeking dazzling, action-packed SF to check out the rise and fall of Khan Noonien Singh. Delightful reading.

Greg Cox has never been my favorite Trek author. I found his Q Continuum trilogy to be entertaining at first, only to fizzle out at the end and Assigment: Eternity to be just a pretty decent read, but nothing to write home about.

So, I must admit that while I looked forward to the Eugenics War, I was a bit hesistant going into it.

All I've got to say is--so far, so good.

The Eugenics War, Book 1 is an enjoyable read. Cox takes the subject of giving us Khan's backstory set against the background of recent history and does a nice job of weaving them together. There's just enough real world, actual events in the story and reference through the actions of Khan, Gary Seven, Robert and Isis to give the book a "alternate history" feel without feeling like it's stretching the truth too much to fit the fiction Cox is trying to tell. Cox's novel gives us the first few years of Khan's life--from his creation as a genetically enhanced child to his early teens. The story is told as a flashback of sorts--Kirk is sorting out a colony that wants to use genetic manipulation and looks to Khan's story to find out the strengths and weaknesses inherent in such research. The framing story of Kirk and company is well told, though it's not too intrustive in this book. It's enough to keep interesting and neither plotline feels like it's taking away from the other in any way.

And Cox has a good grasp of the orignal series crew in the limited time that we encounter them.

But the real success of this books rests on Cox's recreation of Khan, Gary Seven and Robert Lincoln. Cox's Seven is intriguingly developed and we really get to see the payoff on some of the promise of Assignment: Earth. (Admittedly it's not one of my favorite Trek episodes, but Cox takes the characters and really runs with them.) Of course, there are references to the entire continuity of the first four Trek shows. I caught many of them, but I am sure that others just flew over my head. That's another strength of this book--if you get the references, it adds to your enjoyement. If you don't get them, you don't feel like you've missed anything.

The book is a real page-turner, though I will admit it took about 50 pages for me to get into it. Once I managed past those, the other 250 pages flew by and left me anxious for more when part 2 arrives in April.

All in all, the Eugenics War, Book 1 is a nice start and shows strong promise to this series.

This book starts where the series episode "Space Seed" and movie "The Wrath of Khan" only briefly referenced, namely the origins of the figure Khan Noonien Singh and the historical context in which he rose to power. The book is fun to read, and the author brings in some characters from the series and movies, and also real characters from history. Tainting a Star Trek episode, movie, or novel with real history can cause problems with accuracy issues, but the author does it only sparingly and so the story is believable.

The presence of Gary Seven in the story was a surprising move, and one which I found a little troubling. One would like to believe the future was brought about solely by human action, with no assistance from extra-terrestrial agents who take it upon themselves to guide humanity to the "correct" destination. Much time is spent in the book on how Seven and his delightful female assistant are working to prevent a certain high-tech eugenics project from carrying out its plans.

As with most Star Trek stories, this one has a strange admixture of optimism and cynicism. And, despite the enormous statistical evidence to the contrary, the Star Trek view of history paints the human being as a brutal, inconsiderate savage, who only occasionally exhibits compassion and reason. Indeed, this is exemplified by the character Seven, who has no confidence in the efficacy of the human mind to be able to resolve social, economic, and political problems. In addition, the view of intelligence in the Star Trek series is quite narrow. The reader is supposed to believe that Khan has superior intelligence, in spite of his zeal to use violence to achieve his ends. But the initiation of force by any individual is never a sign of intelligence, but rather of stupidity. The character of Spock, who is quoted in the book as saying that "superior intelligence breeds superior ambition", to warn against the use of genetic engineering to create Khan-like monsters, is also another example of the restricted view of human intelligence in the Star Trek series. Emotions are thought of as having a disruptive, irrational effect on the human ability to reason effectively, instead of a set of natural processes that assist in the estimation and mental concentration of the human mind.

The book also reflects some of the current anxiety about genetics as a science and its application in genetic engineering. There is valid reasons for concern about the use of genetic engineering, but like all human problems, we can solve them by employing more science and technology, not less. Minds capable of creating a human clone can indeed find solutions to the concerns thus generated.

The optimistic view of the future though is one that makes the Star Trek series such a pleasure to participate in. It uses the medium of art and fantasy very effectively, and allows one to take part in an era, not very far distant, that is populated by beings (human and otherwise) who hold as an axiom that reason and mutual respect are the keys to a successful life. The characters of Star Trek have their faults and personal conflicts, but with their optimisim and their sense of adventure, they are worthy of contemplation.

It's both amazing and pathetic how many rucksack travelers to India follow every word of this book as if it were some holy scripture. So many travelers spend their all of their time with their noses in this book, trying to fill every last moment following each and every step recommended by the book. In the meantime, all too often, they fail to experience India itself. Such devotion to a travel guide is a bizarre phenomenon. Without a doubt, this book is an indispensible guide for those who truly need assistance in knowing on which Bombay street corner they should tie their shoe laces. There's too much chit chat and lame humour in this book (although, granted, it evidently appeals to some). To the book's credit, there are some nice city layouts and state maps. However, for travelers who prefer information without all of the weak attempts at humor and for those who prefer to make their own opinions rather than to blindly follow someone else's words, I would wholeheartedly recommend Robert Bradnock's India Handbook. I've traveled India with both books, and clearly Bradnock's is, in my opinion, the superior of the two.

This is the second time to visit India.Both time I took the same Lonely Planet. Always I choose hotel from it and felt not bad. In some small city, hight rank hotel means good servie and the price was not so high as you image it. First all the price listed in the book is as same as in the hotel, so try to cut off nearly 30% off is the very important thing to do during the trip.
Also I visited Jaisalmer on May, but if you following the book you will never go there in such cray summer. In fact, the summer was high enough, but still interesting. No more tourist means you can enjoy alone, and only myself in the hotel you can get nearly 50% discountdown for low season. If you read you can find a lot of things from the book, but on the trip everything is changed, you never image the book can guide you everything. Try to ask person around you, and get the most reasonable price.
I will plan to go to india again, by the guide of Lonely Planet, but I think I need a new version.

When Lonely Planet India first appeared in 1981, it raised the standard for all India guidebooks in the comprehensiveness of locations covered and the detailed information useful to independent travelers, especially those on lower budgets. Twenty years later, it remains the guidebook I personally rely upon most, despite my familiarity with India from extensive travels since 1980 researching my historical novels such as India Treasures. I first learned about that wonderful nonprofit home-stay organization Servas from a Lonely Planet guide, which led to many of our best experiences in India, including lasting friendships. Although my wife and I aren't backpackers, and we're probably mid-range in terms of the amount we spend on accommodations and food, the book is extremely helpful. It's the most up to date and highly detailed regarding such information as transportation options within India, the scams travelers can encounter, and a wealth of other tips too numerous to get into in a brief review.

Given the India guidebook's thickness and weight, I've found it convenient to cut it into sections and only take the parts with me for the regions I plan to visit. It's still desirable to get supplemental maps for any city or region one plans to spend much time in, as the maps in the book are usually pretty minimal in terms of detail. And other guidebooks do indeed have useful information this one doesn't (browse the travel shelves in your favorite bookstore to find the additional guides most suitable for your own interests and style of travel). I also advocate reading the better novels set in India, to experience insights into daily life that guidebooks can only hint at.

No single guidebook on India can be all things to all persons for all occasions, but this one surely comes the closest, especially for travelers who don't have their arrangements taken care of on organized tours.