Sherlock Holmes has been an obsession of mine since adolescence. When I came across this relatively expensive set of books in junior high school, I ran home and did every chore in the world in my entire neighborhood for three straight days --and added up the dimes and quarters people would give me until I had enough to buy these two volumes. They have been with me ever since. For the first time, I understood what all those words were that I couldn't find in a dictionary, with illustrations and explanations. Even more amazing, I learned that Sherlock Holmes was a real person -- or at least, the editors of these books believed so! The product of a great generation of Holmes fanatics, this collection is full of the arguments over what each story means, what has been included by Dr. Watson, and what must have been left out to protect the innocent. The one truly indispensable volume for Holmes fans, "The Annotated Sherlock Holmes" is an unadulterated joy!

If you ever wanted to read the entire Sherlock Holmes canon, this is the best book to buy. Also, if you are one of those Sherlock fans, you will certainly appreciate this book. Apart from Conan Doyle's original text, this book presents lots of interesting information about Victorian England, linking it with the text. If Holmes spends a crown on something, Baring-Gould will not only calculate its value today but will also show you a picture of the coins at that time. If Holmes and Dr. Watson have to take a transportation to go somewhere, Baring-Gould will show a picture and description of the exact transportation they used. Finally, if the two inseparable friends have to investigate something in a specific address, the book shows a map or picture of the site. However, the book most interesting quality is an extensive research the editor made in order to sort the stories chronologically, not in the order Conan Doyle wrote them but in the order they in fact happened. All those details make the book so real that after you finish this book, you will get a strange feeling that the most famous fictitious detective in the world really lived at 221b Baker Street or a strange feeling that Holmes was not simply a delusion of Dr. Watson, himself the alter ego of Conan Doyle.

the knowledge of when to stop." Thus remarks Holmes to Lestrade about the villainous Jonas Oldacre

( By the bye giving an excellent piece of advice to all artists, villainous or not. Truly the stage, as Watson keeps reminding us, lost a great actor when Holmes embarked upon the profession of consulting detective )

It would appear that Jonas, in his attempt to send the innocent John Hector Mc Farlane to the gallows, could not resist adding a final touch which brought his nefarious plans crashing down---he planted a stain of blood on the wall upon which Mc Farlane's fingerprint would be found!

Lestrade: "You are aware that no two thumb-marks are alike ? "
Holmes: "I have heard something of the kind. "

Whereupon Wiliaim S Baring-Gould, greatest of Holmseian addict/scholars treats us to a footnote on the margin regarding Galton's method of fingerprining, given to the British Association in 1899 and concludes that--

By my gold amethyst encrusted snuff-box, this is fun!

It's the best rendering of Conan Doyle's canon, complete with maps of London, illustrations from Collier's, vintage 1903; coats of arms, photographs, drawings--in brief, the world of S.H. made explicable, and vivid.

Naturally you knew that when Watson informs us that their long suffering landlady, Mrs.Hudson, lived on the first floor flat, he's using it in the English sense: what we Americans would call 'the second floor.' Or that a 'life preserver' was a short bludgeon, usually of flexible cane, whalebone, or the like loaded with lead at one end. Or that---

Hmm...now what was that about the supreme gift of the artist?

Sometimes the line is blurred between being a genius and being a mad man. Rimbaud is such a case. While I am not convinced by Robb's thesis that Rimbaud is a poet-genius who has been grossly overlooked, one cannot help but being at awe to read about his extremely outrageous behaviour and his unconventional life style. His relationship with Verlain is one of the highlight of this book. But his later life in search of his identity in various exotic locale, is much more interesting.

Robb has done a great job in telling this unusual life. But somehow his story telling is not as fluid as his "Victor Hugo" book which I admire very much. Compared to his work on Victor Hugo, one can't help but feel that this Rimbaud's book has been put too hastily.

As Robb did in stellar biographies of Balzac and Victor Hugo, he paints a vivid picture of the immediate environment in which the genius in question grows, rebels, creates and explodes. Much has been written about Rimbaud and his short period of productivity as a brilliant poet and prose-poet, but too much until this biography repeated the same facts, the same received opinions and the same conclusions. Robb digs deeper to provide the fascinating and detailed world of Rimbaud's family, his provincial origins and his rage to create new forms. With that detail, Rimbaud comes spectacularly alive in context. And what a context! Most famously, poet Paul Verlaine stepped into Rimbaud's line of fire and literary history was made, with the young man/boy wreaking havoc in every direction. As Robb shows, Verlaine, Rimbaud's mentor, lover and punching bag, was merely one of those the wild child went after. Robb's prodigious knowledge of the poet, his time and his place in literary history makes this the definitive biography of Arthur Rimbaud. And although hard work, thoroughness and engaged insights are three of Robb's supreme qualities as a biographer, his glorious writing style, which provides every paragraph with exploding epiphanies that illuminate and delight in equal measure, remains a rare treasure among contemporary biographers.

I cannot vouch claim to having read every other biography of Arthur Rimbaud; some people who are reviewing this book obviously can. I am familiar somewhat with his poems and his letters and knew the story of his life-- at least until he abandoned what most of the world has defined as his productive period-- as well as I could....

This is a poweful work of autobiography though one written by a man who seemed at time alternatively enamoured by and abhorrant of his subject. That the biographer doesn't like Rimbaud vouches for his judgement: Rimbaud, by most accounts-- was not the kind of guy that one would like. He was precocious but a total nightmare and menace to all of those around him. Fortunately, he redeemed himself in what he wrote.

This is a well-researched, well-referenced biography that is also an easy read and tells a good story. I highly recommend this to anyone who has stumbled across and been enamoured by the poet who wrote Une Saison d'Enfer, Les Illuminations, and Le Bateau Ivre. This is a fine book and worth all of your money-- it may be among the better literary biographies that I have read that are composed outside of the native tounge of the subject author.

Someone should make movies about Rimbaud. Now that Quills showed a little of de Sade to the world, isn't little Arthur the next most fitting subject? Smuggling and gun running, c'mon!

The author doesnt waste words. He explains all his points well, with good examples, and is always to the point. You have to read the book carefully, and not just skim it, because while its short, its compact with a lot of great information conveyed in just a few paragraphs. He covered almost every OO subject I could think of, and in depth.

The book is outstanding and I couldn't put it down. (How many heavy tech books can you say that about?)

If you are new to OO programming and starting with Java I'd start with Beginning Java Objects. Then after a little experience I read this one. Don't read it too early in your career because a lot of it will just wash over you. It will be more beneficial if you have some experience before reading. You will learn and retain more. But its not a hard book to read, its very accessaible. The author is talented.

If you do OO development, please read this book! This book, along with the GoF Design Patterns book are in my OO development hall of fame. Riel does a great job of presenting good design approaches and rules of thumb that help to improve object-oriented designs. Each heuristic is backed up with examples rather than just being presented for you to accept verbatim. Riel also does a great job of pointing out some of the problem areas in OO -- areas that cause consternation for all OO developers. Being a perfectionist is tough in this industry, and Riel's coverage of sticky topics helped me to accept that sometimes there just isn't a "right" answer. A helpful touch: In a fashion similar to GoF, Riel lists his heuristics in the front and back covers of the book, with page references to the supporting material.

Buy this book NOW

Object Oriented programming gives the developer a great many choices when designing. This book describes 68 heuristics that help you make optimal design decisions at every step of the way. The explanations are easy to understand and the focus on practical design considerations rather than theory make this book very easy to get through. If it's your job to do OO designs then this book is a must! It does the same thing for OO that Scott Meyer's excellent "Effective C++" books do for C++. The recent popularity of "Design Pattern" books should not distract you from books like this - buy this one first!

I'm under the impression that most of us read the Bible in short spurts, perhaps a few verses along with a devotional or a set portion designed to usher us through the Bible in one year. We're encouraged by some of it and confused or bored by the rest. Certainly, we aren't taught most of our beliefs by these brief readings. That comes from our Bible teachers. So, if that's true, what good was the Reformation and all the work that's gone into translating the Scripture in English? Not much, if we don't read it so as to understand it.

You and I could improve our understanding of God's Word and It's impact in our lives by doing two things. First, we could read a whole book of the Bible at a time and re-read it soon afterwards. Second, we could buy this Study Bible in order to learn how to deeply study Scripture for ourselves.

This Study Bible comes with an valuable introduction to the inductive study method so that you know what to do with the liner notes. To boil the method down to a sentence: Read a whole book carefully, ask questions, and take notes. The introduction explains how you may want to mark keywords, make lists of subjects, and outline a book. (I highly recommmend outlining a book chapter by chapter! It's one of the best ways to remember the subjects taught in it.)

The rest of this oversized Bible contains margin space for your notes, background information on each book, and recommended topics to pursue in your study. It avoids doctrinal teaching, like what you'll find in other Study Bibles, in order to focus your attention on understand specific verses in light of their context.

This Bible and the inductive study method are strong resources for every Christian, and through the teaching of the Holy Spirit and Godly teachers throughout the church, you and I can understand and love God more and more everyday.

I have many different translations of the Bible, from the King James Version to the NIV, and none of my study Bibles compare to the New Inductive Study Bible. The way this Bible is laid out just increased my zeal to study. Now, I consider myself a die-hard King James Version student. However, the NASB was so easy to read, and made my study easier. I highly recommend this Bible to anyone who is seriously interested in getting a deeper understanding of God's word.

This is the absolute best study Bible I have ever come across! I've used many, from the Open Bible, Life Application Bible, Thompson Chain Reference Bible, Ryrie Study Bible and Hebrew Greek Key Bible. There comes a time where you want to dig out what the Word says to you. Not commentators, Not translators. Just you and God. That's what this does. A small introduction is given at the beginning of each book, and you are given things to look out for or notice in each book. You have pages to record your notes on, and wide margins to write personal notes and applications right next to the text. There are also blank pages for notes in the back of the Bible. Also included at the end of each book of the Bible is a "Chapter Theme" Chart where you record the Theme of each chapter. It makes a wonderful quick reference! There is also a space for you to record the theme at the beginning of each chapter. I never realized how helpful it is to do it yourself! The more you make notes in this Bible and discover truths, the more irreplaceable it becomes. The text is a nice print and easy to read. It is single column text. The references are wonderful, and there anre many. I highly recommend it. It may be the last study Bible you ever need!

UPDATE: After using this Bible intensively for 6 months I have to add this: the cross references are plentiful and are some of the best I've seen and very, very helpful. Along with the cross references are translators notes that are included are invaluble. Like a study Bible in themselves. For example Rom 3:3 reads "What then? If some did not believe, thier unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God will it?"
The translator note to the side tells you that "did not believe" could also be rendered "or were unfaithful" and unbelief could be rendered "unfaithfulness" It is really enlightning to me, because although I have Heb/Greek dictionaries, I am not fluent in the original languages.

I used this in my 3rd grade class as a teacher read-aloud and the students loved it. It had characters that all students could relate to --whether it was the sense of humor and crazy antics of Murray,the bat,the heroic deeds of Kona,the labrador retreiver,the straight talk from Gwendolyn,the hermit crab or the motherly sweetness of Stumpy,the squirrel--all children of various learning abilities could enjoy the story. When Stumpy lost her children in an ice storm that toppled her tree, the children were interested in how she would get back to them. When Murray was caring for the babies in the basement, the students would laugh at the bat's appetite for junk food and television. They were delighted and so was I. A real pleasure to read.

I loved Gooseberry Park because it has a lot of adventure. I'd recommend this book to people who love animals because it has a lot of animals in it. Will Kona the dog make it to Gooseberry Park to save her friends in the blizzard in time? Read Gooseberry Park and find out.

Will this ice ever stop? Will Kona ever get to Stumpy? Gooseberry Park by Cynthia Rylant is about Stumpy a squirrel who is expecting babies. But soon after the babies are born an ice storm hits covering Gooseberry Park. Her best friend, Kona the dog, will risk the treacherous journey to save Stumpy and her babies. But is he too late or is Stumpy still alive.

Stumpy is a squirrel who likes to collect things. Stumpy is nice and is not very clean. She also is funny and a little bit of a smart alek. In the book she changes because she starts off as a collecting mother soon to be, at the end she is a mother with a curiosity about Gwendolyn and other Hermit Crabs. I think Stumpy is really cool because she really cares for Kona, Gwendolyn a hermit crab, Murray a bat, and her three babies Top, Bottom, and Sparrow.

I have read McDonald, Shaw, Wolfe, Lepp, etc. They are great, but when it comes to bird photogrpahy this guy is the man. I have read 30+ books on nature photography, and Morris still can show me tips I didn't know. An excellent book!

If you only ever read one book about bird photography, then let it be this one.

I have many wildlife photography books in my library, but this is the one that I refer to time and time again.

Arthur Morris covers everything from equipment, lighting and composition to exposure.

Highly recommended. Please visit his website at [URL] for a wealth of information. Arthur Morris also now provides a 'pocket guide to exposure', details of which are on the website. It is a real gem.

Bird photographers of all skill levels will benefit from reading The Art of Bird Photography. As a beginner, it is the first photography book that I ever purchased. Today it remains, by far, the most valuable. In the book, Mr. Morris covers everything from the fundamentals of making technically perfect photographs, to how he creates his stunning compositions, complete with the crisp, clean "Birds as Art" backgrounds for which he is famous. After purchasing and devouring the technical sections of this book, my photography was transformed nearly overnight. It is a must read for anyone interested in improving their photography whether they specialize in birds or bears.

King Arthur's Flour 200th Anniversary Cookbook sits on my pantry shelf with Beard On Bread, Amy's Bread and other venerable baking books. Often though, it is KA that helps me out, as it did a couple of days ago when I was looking for a way to approximate a bread I sampled at a restaurant. KA appears rather quaint and rural New Englandish, especially with recipes like Monster Pie (not a bad thing), but don't underestimate it. It provides a lucid, nonthreatening approach to the basics, also explains theory so you can build your own recipes. The only thing that dates this ten-year-old volume is the fact that it is not up to date on some of the spiffier ingredients KA has added to its Baker's Catalogue, like SAF yeast and special bread flours. It was compiled before bread machines caught fire, too, so for those who only do bread that way, it may not offer everything.

I went to a large (un-named) bookstore determined to find a book on baking that would be significantly different. I have been baking for fifty years, since I was a little girl. I wanted easy recipes for my grandchildren, and healthy ones. This is it! I wish there was someway to emphasize how much better this cookbook is than any other on the market. This is my first on-line review, so I am trying to spread the word. I am also buying two more copies. Hopefully it will never go out of print, because I intend to keep on giving them as gifts!

King Arthur Flour is most closely associated with the newest cooking trend -- home-made bread ala bread machine! Best flours, great recipes, but this cookbook is SO MUCH MORE!

In actuality, there isn't a single bread machine recipe in the book. There's lots of old-fashioned recipes -- right down to making your own Baking Soda! The kids and I adore this book because it gives you more than recipes, it teaches you HOW TO COOK creatively and keep disasters to a minimum. Everyone in my family loves this book and we really enjoy creating our own versions of our favorite recipes.

This book vividly explains how empathy can have a profound effect on your relationships. These can be business, personal, marriage, or any relationship. Getting to understand and appreciate the perspective and background of the "other side" can lead to a more productive means of communication. Most relationships break down because of a lack of communication. The Power of Empathy gives one a road map on how to direct your thoughts, actions, and emotions in dealing with anyone that matters. The implications of this approach are enormous. If spouses can learn to truly empathize with each other, their bond will strenghten. Business people can use empathy to learn how to better serve their clients. Politicians can use empathy to effectively provide for the needs of their constituents. Teachers can be more effective; doctors more responsive to patients needs. Even lawyers would be more in tune with their client's needs. The Power of Empathy is very readable. You don't have to have a background in psychology to understand and appreciate this book. Dr. Ciaramicoli gives examples of the uses of empathy with references to the literature. His message is documented by many authoritative sources in science and the arts. Everyone- and I mean everyone- can profit from this masterwork. It is highly recommended! The gospel of The Power of Empathy must be spread throughout the world.

Dr. Ciaramicoli has accomplished the very difficult task of sharing himself and his clinical wisdom in an extraordinarily well written and usefull book. The Power of Empathy provides clear insights into how to better understand one's self and one's relationships. I have found the book valuable to me both personally and professionally and have recommended it both to family/friends and patients. The information is so clearly stated and helpful that I hope The Power of Empathy will be read by many. It is one of the best books of its kind that I have come across.

The Power of Empathy is a marvelous and comforting book about a topic that many people experience on a day-to-day basis, yet unaware that they are doing so. In others, empathy is an aspect of human nature that actually needs to be developed, whether from scratch or through enhancement. Whichever category you belong to, Dr. Arthur Ciaramicoli's book will help bring you to a point of understanding the concept of empathy, which, in turn will help you help yourself and others. I found myself constantly nodding my head as I read, reacting to stories and explanations in the book of things that I seemingly experienced in my own life in one way or another. It is fascinating to see how empathy is an ongoing part of our lives, yet most of us remain non-cognizant to it, however satisfied that a result was achieved. But it is important to comprehend the means for reaching our goals of understanding, feeling, and sympathizing. The Power of Empathy is the benchmark tool for guiding one in accomplishing this. Dr. Ciaramicoli's personal love, understanding, and empathy are poured out in these pages, as he sensitively yet passionately supplies the readers with the wisdom and knowledge needed for developing love, understanding, and empathy for ourselves and others.

This is one of my favorite Barbara Tuchman works. It is the story of the Zimmermann Telegram, a message sent by the German Foreign Minister to the Mexican Government in early 1917. In essence the Telegram was an attempt to make Mexico a German ally in the event of the US entering World War I on the Allied side, with the bait being the possibility of Mexico reclaiming the states of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. When British Intelligence intercepted and decoded the Telegram they made certain that the US government and public heard about it quickly in the hopes of bringing the US into the war.

The book is more than just the story of the Telegram itself. It includes a run through of the various German espionage efforts in the US before and during World War I and a good description of the unease felt by the US at the mysterious German machinations, including possibly collusion with Japan and an attempt to take control of the Panama Canal.

Like all of Tuchman's works, The Zimmermann Telegram is scholarly without being dull, and a real delight.

The story of the Zimmermann Telegram is a gem of history that literally is a ripping good yarn.

The nutshell: In the middle of WWI, German foreign minister Zimmermann -- worried about how to keep America occupied on our side of the Atlantic and out of the Allied camp -- sent a telegram instructing his Mexican envoy to propose an alliance between Mexico, Japan and Germany. The payoff for our southern neighbor: the restoration of Texas, Arizona and New Mexico to the country of Mexico.

This very fine book is many facets tightly woven in 200 pages: British code breakers. German diplomatic efforts. President Wilson's unshakable will for neutrality. Mexican and Japanese intrigue. Submarine warfare. Mexican revolution and America's chase for Pancho Villa.

The story has drama (the fight to persuade Wilson that US interests lay with the Allies and not in being a neutral broker of peace), excitement (British code breaking efforts and the intrigue to get the telegram published / into American hands), and near comedy (German bungling with codes, diplomatic missions and high strategy)written by the masterful Barbara Tuchman.

The author takes all these elements -- which are almost Shakespearean in their complexity and interplay -- and crafts a terrifically exciting history. A very fine read.

While the Zimmerman Telegram is one of the most important documents in history, and is perhaps the greatest result of code breaking in history, it is nonetheless frequently overlooked. Most people have at least heard "Remember the Lusitania" which had essentially nothing to do with the U.S. entering WWI. Few, however, are familiar with this short telegram that is truly a hinge on which history turned.

One cannot blame Barbara Tuchman for this, however, as this work brings alive the intrigue of the time like no other. Reading like a spy novel, and yet all the more chilling because it's true, Tuchman navigates the reader through the murky waters of WWI intrigue. We learn how, in a misguided effort to distract the U.S. from Europe, Germany sought to foment trouble on the U.S./Mexican border. We learn how the British scrambled to inform the Americans of this, without comprimising their sources. And we learn how a tortured President Wilson was forced to take the steps towards war.

"The Zimmerman Telegram" is history as it should be written; loaded with primary sources, and with the breathless pace that events really unfolded. While better known for "The Guns of August", it is this work that makes me rank Barabara Tuchman as one of the best historians of the 20th Century. Enjoy!