Library Journal's review of this guide: "Combining encyclopedic coverage of destinations with loads of practical information and atlas-type maps, the series illuminates the wonders of nature but emphasizes the peculiarity of a place's people and their folklore."

Elisabeth's writing style makes it easy and fun to get started using Netscape Communicator. I contributed a few chapters about networking and servers, and Elisabeth turned the technical stuff into clear, helpful direction anyone can use in their day-to-day surfing. In fact, she turned me on to some capabilities that I didn't even know were there!

Don't get the wrong idea, though. This book is comprehensive and explores every nook and cranny of Communicator, even the servers associated with it. Elisabeth's style makes it fun instead of dry, that's all. This book makes a great gift for novices to power-users.

Excellent book. It is easy to read with just enough narrative from the author. A must-have to add to your Mexican cookbook collection. It makes for great reading; I just received it so haven't tried any recipes yet, but have many bookmarked to try.

Otero and Rhyne have done an admirable job of documenting recent advances in the field of microfinance. They combine a succinct and accessible writing style with lively case studies to (a) challenge pre-existing economic notions regarding microfinance, (b) present a model for evaluating microfinance programs, (c) discuss the legal environment for microfinance programs, and, (d) elaborate on alternative program design and delivery mechanisms to effectively reach poor clients. I found the case studies very helpful. Both laymen and specialists will benefit from the balanced, informed and painstaking research that has gone into writing this book. A must-read for development enthusiasts in general and microfinance fanatics in particular!

This book is an awesome representation of missionary life. A young, unmarried, woman named Margarat is working as a Bible translator to the Quicha Indians in the mountains of Ecuador. Most of the action takes place in her mind, where she tells you about her previous ideas of missionary work. The end is astonishing and will leave you with a new view on how God works. This book makes you search your soul for what you believe and why. It draws you into the story line, as if you were actually in the mountains of Ecuador with her! I highly recommend it for anyone planning to go into missions or just with an interest in missions.

This collection contains at least a sampling of virtually every text available regarding the medieval Normans. I used it inn a classroom at university this spring to wonderful reviews from advanced-level undergraduates. This author is perhaps THE best person working in the field of medieval Normandy today, no one is better qualified to put a sourcebook like this together! Thanks to Elisabeth Van Houts for this marvelous read and marvelous tool!

Rita Haywood And The Shawshank's Redemption is a very stereotyped book. But that is good, because when you read it you think you can guess the ending. It is true in some way. The ending is as many experienced readers may guess. But it displays it in such an amazing twist, that you are overwhelmed. It surprises you. But let's focus in the history: Andy Dufresne Is a banker who is thrown to jail for murdering his wife and her lover. But he didn't do it. Or at least that's what he says. There, he witnesses corruption and violence, not only in teh con's, but also in the Warden and guards. But in his heart, he raises hope, as the best thing of good things. I personally felt identified with the main character, imprisioned in a world i don't belogn to. It is a great book, everyone shoulde take a glance at it.

This is not just a book about Walter Legge, it covers the history of the Renaissance of Recorded Music as well. Each chapter deals with another of the great artists he worked with. He gives his detailed impressions of the person and the artist. A must is the one on Maria Callas, La Divina. Elisabeth Schwarzkopf as editor puts everything in perspective with a preface to each chapter. A wonderful book.

It's one of the most interesting and readable account of the stalinist era. The book was written by the wife of a famous soviet spy (Ignace Reiss). He was operating in Europe in the thirties (friend of Richard Sorge, Walter Krivitsky...)his amazing history as fighter for comunism and internationalism and his break with Stalin on account of the great purges.
A cosmovision of this part of the european history starting before of the WWI and ending in 1937. A personal and very interesting account.

Manuel Vasquez Montalban is probably best known for his Pepe Carvalho books and his biographies (Franco, Ernesto "Che" Guevara) but this is, to me, his best book. A bittersweet story of love, politics and music stretching through the modern history of Spain. The rivalry between two men and their diverging stories as a mean of reflection on dignity and personal honesty.A book about winners and loosers and abot how easy it can be to mix the two.