This book is an excellent resource for non medical people who are interested in using herbs. Although it does not discuss many herbs, it is very thorough with the ones that are covered.

Side effects are addressed in every case.

All of the herbs in this book have been studied and tested and are known to have some medical effectiveness. There is a matrix of the herbs in the books and various medical conditions that is very useful.

I have a nice little library of herb books and this is the one I always check first.

For [money] a year, you get:

- access to all the zagat cities
- listings of new restaurants that obviously don't make the book until the following year
- ability to search using different criteria. I've used this feature in Chicago quite extensively (i.e. show me all of the Italian restaurants less than [money] with at least 15 rating, etc.)

This book is extremely useful but in a different way - we leave the book in the car so when we are out and get the urge to eat out, we can easily look up restaurants.

when can I order the 2000 edition?

Nora Roberts can write romance as can no one else. She is a master at describing people, places and things and has a way of making you feel you are right there, living alongside her characters. In Tears of the Moon, Brenna O'Toole is the perfect example of the proud Irish woman and the development of her love story with Shawn Gallagher is as fiery and magicical as any romance reader could want. Nora Roberts has that magic touch that brings the story alive for her readers. She's definitely a great romance writer, but her extraordinary storytelling ability really shines through when she writes about Ireland. I just ordered Heart of the Sea, the last book in her current Irish trilogy and can't wait for it to arrive. My dearest wish is that she write more books about Ireland and it's mystical faerie people. She does it so well.

Normally I'm somewhat leery of romance stories that implement some kind of supernatural aspect, but Nora Roberts manages to put in a magic and faeries without it seeming out of place, or at least not too much out of place. The legend of Carrick is a romantic theme for the series, the titles of the trilogy coming from the gifts he brought for his Gwen.

This second book is a continuation of the Ardmore trilogy, and is a great standalone as well. It follows the story of Shawn Gallagher, the dreamy, artistic sibling of the Gallagher family. Shawn is sooo oblivious - to Brenna's attraction and also to her little sister's attraction as well. And isn't it just so true to life? In any case, Brenna O'Toole is tired of being seen in his eyes as just the handy fix-it-all girl, the friendly, innocuous girl next door. She's always had a little something something for the poetic and amazingly handsome Shawn, and she figures it's time that he found out about it.

It's great how Roberts details the way Shawn's thoughts about Brenna turn from friendly to something deeper and more serious. It seems so natural and realistic the way that he learns to realize and take Brenna as a woman instead of just a friend. The gradual realization of Brenna's feelings for him and his own feelings for her is well written and thought out. Another conflict that they have to deal with is about Shawn's music, which Brenna stubbornly believes should be published and which Shawn is somewhat more insecure about. The intervention and exasperation of Carrick, the Fairy Prince, is both amusing and touching. All in all, this book was a great read.

Tears of the Moon

Tears of the moon is the second in another one of nora roberts irish trilogies...this series has to do with the Gallagher siblings:Aidan,Shawn, and Darcy.The first as well as the second revolve around the prince of faeries Carrick and his lady love Gwen.When Gwen refuses jewels as the profession of carricks love wanting words from his heart instead carrick curses them in a lovelorn spell that only can be broken when three pure of heart fall in love. with jewels of theSun you were introduced to the siblings and future hopefuls to break the spell.Aidan the oldest fell in love and married Jude Frances Murray who resided on fairy hill were gwens ghost is haunting.The second book Tear of the moon focuses more on character develpoment with Shawn Gallagher cook and talented musician now residing in the cottage on fairy hill passing his time writing beautiful lyrics that should be published but willing to sit back and go with the flow not making ripples of his own and firey tomeboy Mary Brenna O'Toole.It seems Brenna as the folks call her, has a special "yen " for shawn and after debating whether or not to act on it and tell confess her feelings she decides to tell all.Shawn at first is shocked and spurns her, and to make matters worse Brenna's younger sister Mary Kate has decided that Shawn should be hers...Throwing ole Carrick and Gwen into some very magical ways.Jude and Aidan i enjoyed more in this book and the subplot with the pub and the land around it being engaged into some profit making deal makes it all the more interesting...will Shawn get tired of playing the same cards, and see his songs are his real talent and Brenna is the girl he needs or will mary kate be the surprise and end up being the girl shawn wants.....read it and see.....

This is absolutely the most important book I ever read in my life. "Travels" by Michael Crichton comes close in some ways, but basically this story is one of the most gripping I've ever encountered. It has been a short story, a novel, a movie, a Broadway play, and (I think) forms the basis for the 70s song "What's it all about... Char-liiieeeeeee..." Daniel Keyes drew upon Plato's cave allegory for a lot of the basic structure of the tale. ..

Keep a box of kleenex beside you as you read this. Charlie Gordon is a retarded man in his 30s, who is selected to be the subject of a new, highly experimental technique which will triple his "intelligence". What he does with the intelligence, and how he deals with it, are up to him, and he certainly runs into a lot of problems. I think in some ways, Keyes is not only writing about the relationship of the individual to capital-K "knowledge", but also about how we can get along with each other when we are all at different levels. Charlie's newfound, firey compassion for others in his old position, e.g. a retarded boy working in a restaurant who gets mocked, is compelling. You will want to meet Charlie Gordon, you can't help but respect hm as he grapples with major human issues... I first read this as a child, I would guess I was 9 or 10, and at that age I was most impressed with the "coolness" of the idea -- you can watch Charlie's intelligence climb steadily as he improves his spelling with each successive "progris riport" he writes. As an adult, I appreciate the different models of Mind that Keyes was playing with here, and how Charlie comes face to face with one human problem after another. The story also has a lot to say about the basic human drive to understand the universe and his place in it. I think this book could be quite inspiring to people with learning disabilities -- the image of Charlie totally flunking out of school, but then years later sitting still in a library, flipping pages of books at one page/second as he reads about the etymology of ancient languages, Hindu history, calculus, etc... It's just so inspiring. Good things happen to him because of his will to keep pushing himself, but also because he is naturally thoughtful, even when retarded, and likes to be reflective.... The ending will make you cry, I guarantee it. I was sort of reminded of the servant that Caesar used to take through the streets with him, when on parade, whose job it was to keep whispering in Caesar's ear "remember that you are mortal". Charlie is mortal too, and as his newfound brilliance wanes, and breaks down in the end, the reader is left feeling bewildered at the magnitude of the loss, and confused as to what to do with all the energy this book stirs up. I'm not sure what Keyes wanted us to do with that energy -- maybe turn it inwards, maybe use it to reach out to others... probably a little of each. Please read this story, and just mull it over a little. You won't regret it.

I saw this book at the store and picked it up so I mite be smart in reeding it. It looked nice. I reed it when I was littel but didnt remember. So I picked it agin.

The storie unfoles like a flower. Witch mite be how it got the titel. I'm still not sure on that. I know that Charlie Gordon isn't to smart in the begining but later he starts to get smarter. I liked that part. It was after some sort of operashun to his brane.

And then Charlie's knowledge base begins to expand and things start to become clearer. But with this improved clarity comes a realization that previously held friends may not have been so friendly. And growing up as a moron wasn't necessarily such a bad thing. Does he have friends now that he's getting smarter?

Charlie begins his ascent into genius level as his IQ passes 150. But the accumulated knowledge that he soon possesses can't prepare him for the retarded emotional state that he still finds himself in. The barriers he must break down are monumental and seemingly insurmountable. Can he do it? Does he want to do it now that he knows more about the world around him?

Is the operation a success? Or a failure? Will Charlie remain at genius level or slide back into idiocy?

Reed the book to find out more. Its a good book to. I like it a lot. I think Ill reed it agin sumtime. Now I just have to remember were I put it...

This is a very moving novel, but I found it rather unfair. People often ask why God lets bad things happen to good people. I wonder why novelists do the same thing. After one gut-wrenching scene after another (Charlie visits his father, then his mother, Charlie re-lives many painful experiences from his past, et al), I thought that he had earned a happy ending. Unfortunately, instead of anything positive, the author gives us the bleakest conclusion imagineable. I mean, I felt for Charlie so much, it killed me to read that ending. Still, it's a great piece of writing, and totally recommended.

This was one of the best Steele books I have read in a while. I was interested from cover to cover and it did indeed touch my heart. ! If you want to read a book that goes straight to your heart, read Stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. . .It is a beautiful story of unrequited love. . .for certain the love story of the nineties. I intended to give the book a quick read, but I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't put the book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in the heart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter's battle with lupus and her growing love for Don Lipton. This love, in the face of Julie's impending death, makes for a story that covers the range of human emotions. The touches of humor are great, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bit when emotions are running high. I've never read a book more deserving of being published. It has rare depth. Julie's story will remind your readers that life and love are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has had an impact on me, and for that I'm grateful. Stolen Moments is written with so much sensitivity that it made me want to cry. It is a spellbinder. What terrific writing. Barbara does have an exceptional gift! This book was edited by Lupus specialist Dr. Matt Morrow too, and has the latest information on that disease. ..A perfect gift for someone who started college late in life, fell in love too late in life, is living with any illness, or trying to understand a loved one who is. . .A gift to be cherished forever.

The Long Road Home,was an outstanding book to read. I didn't understand how the parents of this little girl could not love her. It showed me that not all people are made out to be parents. I thought the little girl was a strong person for putting up with her parents. When she was sent to live at the church with the nuns,it was good for her to get out of the situation she was in. She was still very quite and was into writing her novels. I thought what she did when she got pregnant by the priest, was an excuise for somebody to love her.When she had lost the baby,she found hope in finding her parents.She found out her mother had died and her father was living only a block away.I think this book is a great book for almost everyone to read.

The Long Road Home is a wonderful book. All of DS books are good with the exception of one or two, but this one was one of my favorites. Gabriella is a beautiful child who is beaten repeatedly by her mother while her father watches. He father leaves her mother, and her mother decides to remarry. She sends Gabrielle to a convent to be taken care of. Gabrielle decides that being a nun is her calling until a young priest captures her heart. This book is so good. Make sure you have a lot of time to read when you start it, because you'll never put it down. DS deserves a ten for this one and also The Ranch.

Animal Farm is the story of a revolution gone sour. Animalism, Orwell's take on Communism, is an illusion used by the pigs as a means of satisfying their lust for power. At the beginning of the book, Mr. Jones, the master of the farm, is irresponsible toward his animals, so old Major, a white boar, informs the other animals of the need to form a rebellion against Mr. Jones and the human race. The other animals embrace the idea of a revolution and develop a scheme to overthrow Mr. Jones. After the revolution is complete, the animals feel an immediate freedom, a set of commandments is developed for the new "Animal Farm," and they all begin working together for a common good. However, it does not take long for the new society to begin to corrupt. The satisfaction of removing Mr. Jones from the farm prevents the animals from noticing the politics still going on within the farm. The animals are convinced by those in power that their memory of the original utopia and commandments are false. So long as the animals cannot remember the past, because it is being continually altered, they will have no control over the present and future. George Orwell is making a great political statement in Animal Farm with specific emphasis on mass rebellion. It personifies Karl Marx's ideas for communism and illustrates what can happen after a revolution with specific attention to the fact that every society is political and contains "pigs" who will always grab for power. This satirical fable leaves the reader with a better understanding of communism and the anatomy of political revolution in any culture.

The story Animal Farm is something that every person in the entire world should read. This simple tale of a group of animals, neglected, abused, enslaved, and put down, rising up against their hateful masters with the hopes of creating an egalitarian society was meant as a commentary on the state of the Soviet Union. The depiction created of a Communist society from its conception to its death is one of tyranny, deceit, distrust, and rivalry that destroys the pure intentions of the original revolutionaries. Though the depth of the underlying political commentary may be lost on people with no interest in the operation of the economy or the government, Animal Farm is a very accessible story with easy to understand lessons in morality, fairness, and honesty.

One note on the additional "filler" information added to this edition, it is both poorly written and uninteresting. While the life of George Orwell is interesting and something worth learning about, especially if you have aspirations towards being a socialist, the author of this section does such a poor job that reading tax codes in IRS publications is more interesting.

In summary, buy this book, read it, lend it to someone else, read it again, lend it to more people, read it again, and dream of a world of egalitarian communism. Or you can just read the story, enjoy the struggles and triumphs of the heroic animals, despise the greedy pigs, and share the experience with someone else.

George Orwell's Animal Farm is a superb animation of the Russian Revolutioon. The book is amusing and interesting; it includes a comic element as it synonymously demonstrates the evolution from the proletariat revolution to a totalitarian government led by the swine of the society. Orwell successfully simplified the not-so-simple theory of class stratification and Karl Marx's proposed solution of communism. Orwell's method of conveyance is incredibly inventive. He uses satire in the form of a fairy tale to share his indignation for ideological doctrines that would, if allowed, lead to the eventual destruction of a society. Each character in the story is representative of someone who was involved in the Russian Revolution. Old Major is Marx, and inspires the proletariat revolution by motivating the over-worked animals and educating them on the ways of the human beings, who represent the bourgeoisie. Orwell's creativity convinces the reader that the animals on the farm are intellectual beings, revolting against the tyranny of the humans. Animal Farm offers itself as an example of a responsible criticism of Marxism. The story gives us a peek at the Utopian vision, and then offers a long look at what results from using a Marxist approach at achieving it. I strongly reccomend this book, as it is entertaining and educational. Orwell succeeded in creating a fairy tale that evokes both sadness and laughter, while causing us to feel sympathy and even empathy for the working class animals. The book escapes complexity, but its message does not.

I found this book to be very interesting - at times quite fantastical. Its an inspirational book that left me wondering what to make of the story, and which aspects of it were fictional and which were fantasy.

In the end, it emphasized some very important life lessons for a conscious spiritual path - lessons that are not unlike those offered in most books of this nature on the market today. The story is intriguing, but no deep revelations are offered up by this work. I would therefore prefer to give it 3 1/2 stars instead of the 4 that I have given to it. However, I believe that it is better than a 3-star rating although barely making it to 4 stars. Hence, my decision to rate it four stars.

An earlier reviewer described this as Millman's best work. I hope not, because I am sufficiently motivated by this book to read some of his other books - I would not want them to be any less inspirational than this one.

The first time I read this I was at a point in my life when I was searching for the truth. I "accidentally" found this book and it changed my life. Once I began reading it, I couldn't put it down. It made everythign so clear. I cannot thank Dan enough for sharing his experiences with that crazy old man at the gas station.

Recently I was cleaning my bookshelves and again "accidentally" stumbled upon it. Ten years later and the teachings ring as true today as they did the first time. I had forgotten many of the teachings and again, it was just what I needed to get me back on the path. Amazing how it keeps surfacing at the right times? For those of you on The Path, it's a must. For those of you who have read it, read it again. Don't stop here, follow Dan through the Sacred Journey as well. It's worth the time, if you're willing to open your heart.

The subtitle of this magnificent book is "A Book That Changes Lives". Believe it! Dan Millman, a gymnastics student at the University of California, Berkeley, finds himself at a crucial point in his life, poised on the verge of manhood, and at the jumping off point of his own success. But somehow his life feels flat and empty. Without real meaning. That's when he meets Socrates at a gas station one day. The meeting is seemingly random, and Dan thinks that Socrates might not be playing with all of his marbles in the bag. He soon learns differently. "When you are ready, a teacher will be presented to you." This is one of the first lessons that Dan learns from Socrates, and only one of many. His initial impression of Socrates is changed forever when he realizes that Socrates is the answer to all of the questions in Dans life...or rather, Dan finds out that he had all of the answers all along, just like Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz". I owned a total of 14 copies of this book since it was published, and found that I couldn't hold on to even one of them. They were all given to friends who I knew would benefit from the parables and life lessons that Dan learns. I met Dan Millman a few years later, and found that he wholeheartedly believes every word in that book, and that first book was the impetus for all of the following "help" books that he later wrote. Don't pass up a chance to read this...it just might change your life!

No surprises here, folks. Nora has hit the literary nail squarely on the head once again with the first installment of a new trilogy. Anyone who has read Nora's "Born in..." or "Dream" trilogies can appreciate the fact that these books are SO worth waiting for. Romance, laughter, witt and humor mix together seamlessly in "Jewels of the Sun". Set against the simple rustic beauty of Ireland, Nora begins spinning her newest web with the Gallagher family. Aidan, owner of the local pub, falls hard and fast for 'Yank' want-to-be writer Jude Murray, whose come to Ireland to trace her roots, escape the husband who discarded her, and find her place in the world. The secondary characters we know we'll get to catch up with in the coming two novels will make you howl with laughter and the legends of the ghosts that inhabit Ireland's "Fairie Hill" searching endlessly for lost love will touch your heart. Nora Roberts is the best. This book is proof positive.

I swear Nora Roberts must get kickbacks from the Irish Tourism board. Who WOULDN'T want to go try and find a village like Ardmore, and the wonderful people in it? Some readers have complained of Jude's "weak" character, and if I had tossed the book away halfway through I might have agreed. But the point is that people do develop and grow, and we got to see Jude get over her insecurities. People who don't think she's a realistic character have clearly never been on the insecure side. And Aidan -- well, who wouldn't want to spend hours in his company? Charming, a captivating storyteller, a romantic, a man who knows himself and his home. I am so looking forward to reading about Shawn and Brenna, and then of course Darcy and ... whomever. I'm not normally into books where ghosts and faeries are spoken of matter-of-factly, but even that aspect of the story was enchanting. I read the book to my husband in 2 days of driving on the way back from vacation, and even he (a Stephen King fan) enjoyed it!

Jude F. Murray decides she needs a break. She quites her job and flies to Ireland to stay at her grandmother's cousin cottage for 6 months. Being a sensible and analytical woman, Jude doesn't expect to find herself living in a haunted house or believing in myth stories behind it. But Jude finally steps over the line of Aidan Gallagher, the oldest of the Gallaghers who own a bar near the cottage, who seems able to move her heart in a strange kind a way. Now, surrounded by the beautiful scene of Ireland, Jude and Aidan are ready to make their own love story.

I always love Nora Roberts and her Ireland story. Not to mention I always love Ireland too since to me that country is magic. This romance gives you the best spirit of Ireland. The myths, the scenery, the hospitality, the tradition and of course the love. I couldn't wait to read the next sequel: Tears of the Moon, and finds out what happen to Shawn Gallagher.

Based upon Michiavelli's first hand experience as an emissary of the Florentine Republic to the courts of Europe The Prince analyzes the often violent means by which political power is seized and retained, and the circumstance in which it is lost. Because The Prince is a political commentary, and not a work of fiction, Michiavelli does not use "characters" in the sense of a novel or a short story. Instead he draws his examples from the current political and social events, as well as from history. His characters are the political leaders of his time. The book is a declaration in plain language the conduct of great men and the principles of princely governments. The book can be divided into four sections.

1. The types of principalities. Michiavelli lists four types of principalities.

* Hereditary principalities, which are inherited by the ruler.

* Mixed principalities, territories that are annexed to the rulers existing territories.

* New principalities which may be acquired by several methods: by own power, by the power of others by criminal acts or extreme cruelty, or by the will of the people

* Ecclesiastical principalities, namely the papal states belonging to the catholic churches.

2. The character and behavior of the prince. Michiavelli recommends the following character and behavior for princes:

* It is better to be miserly than generous.

* It is better to be cruel than merciful.

* It is better to break promises if keeping than would be against ones interest.

* Princes must avoid making them hated and despised; the goodwill of the people is a better defense than any fortress.

* Princes should undertake great projects to enhance their reputation.

* Princes should choose wise advisors to confide and consult with

3. The types of armies A prince must always pay close attention to military affairs if he wants to remain in power. A prince must lay good foundation and those foundations include good laws and good armies. There cannot be good laws without good armies, and where there are good laws there must be good armies. The study of war should be a prince's main goal, for war is a rulers only art.If princes become too refined to study this art they loose their state. The types of armies are:

* Mercenaries or Auxiliaries (loaned to you by another ruler) are both dangerous and unreliable, as they will maintain their interests preceding yours.

* Native troops composed of ones own citizens or subjects are by far the most desirable kind.

4. Italy's political situation Michiavelli outlines and recommends the following

* The rulers of Italy have lost their states by ignoring the political and military principles.

* Fortune controls half of human affairs, but free will controls the rest, leaving the prince free to act. However, the few princes can adopt their actions to times

I just had an interesting discussion with a young man who was convinced that Machiavelli was evil. I found out he'd never even tried to read "The Prince", which is the quintessential guide to Machiavelli's political mind. This young man's preconception is a very common one, alas.

In this book, presented in short chapters, one finds a guidebook to taking power and ruling a small country. Nowhere does it suggest using excessive force, nor does it suggest gratuitous violence. It is straightforward and pragmatic. Machiavelli suggests keeping one's goal, political power, in mind all the time, and is not afraid to discuss unpleasant ways of getting and keeping that power. It is the essence of ruthlessness, but what politician doesn't do this every day? In every competitive, demanding occupation, participants must keep goals in mind constantly and work completely toward those goals. Machiavelli was just one of the first to codify how to do it. And codify he does -- the book is filled with suggestions on how to handle everything from whether to hire mercenary troops to how to make the commoners love you.

Though Machiavelli's writing is somewhat archaic and definitely rich in idea density, it is worth the read. I think everybody, from students to politicos to housekeepers to entrepreneurs, would benefit from the information contained herein. I do suggest getting a decent grounding in Italian history before the attempt.

This small yet informative book is the heart of power politics. It was Machiavelli's resume, written to help save both his country and his reputation. The book is often said to present a plan of leadership that is calculating and heartless. That is precisely the point; Machiavelli is a true historian who sets down the hard realities of what it is to be a leader and ignores lofty political ideals (making it obvious how few world leaders have actually studied it). As well as giving the modern reader a much needed history lesson, Machiavelli has a nearly prophetic knack for summing up the root causes of events from the 1st World War to Vietnam in a few sentences. It never fails to amaze me that leaders today would rather look at world events through hindsight than act on them by foresight.

In addition to Donno's excellent translation, this particular edition includes key points from The Discourses, which are guaranteed to astonish the reader with their obvious truth. After reading this numerous times, I found myself highlighting Machiavelli's major points throughout the book. It is not only political instruction but words of wisdom to live by.