Wagner has written three profiles of schools in the process of change. What I found helpful about this book is that he recognizes that this process will take time and will encounter set backs but it is still very much worth doing.

He presents three goals that need to be at the front of any kind of school reform--legislators? are you listening? First, there need to be clear goals identified by the staff; setting clear goals will help measure the progress and clarify just what it is to be called educated in our culture. Second, he states that the staff needs to have core values of compassion and integrous commitment to educational aims. That sounds like election-year mumbo-jumbo, yet, read for what it is worth, it really needs to be addressed. Third, he stresses the collaboration required amonst staff at all levels; each needs the other if it is going to be done well.

Implicit in all of these three steps of school reform, Wagner writes, is this, "Some of the better corporations have been practicing for a decade what many public schol are just beginning ot understand: the people who are closest to the problem should be the ones to make decisions and have the responsibility for solving it. Elected officials cannot be expected to run school systems with any degree of competence. They know too little about educational issues in most cases, are too far removed from the problems, and are too subject to pressures from various constituent groups" p. 228. That sure shoots down State Testing and Vouchers.

For the most part, I found his fourth and final chapter the most beneficial, but take the time to encounter the entire book. He is a clear writer and sets forth a balanced perspective.

Looks closely at how reforms play out in different kinds of schools. It is nice to see a book that backs its agenda with open-eyed, practical review of obstacles to true change. Underlying this is Wagner's evident scholarship and experience as a school reform leader. As a student, I think we, our teachers, and everyone else who cares about education reform need to pay this kind of close attention to what actually happens in real schools when reform is attempted.

This is an excellent book on how a former anti-charismatic/pentecostal person, who believed that the gifts of the Holy Spirit went away with the apostles, discovered that The Holy Spirit still performs supernaturally through Christians today. After sharing his testimony and evidences of the gifts of the Spirit today, C. Peter Wagner then tells how the Holy Spirit can perform healing and deliverance miracles through you and your congregation.

C. Peter Wagner has written many books concerning the concepts of church growth and the movement of the Holy Spirit today, which I enjoyed reading so much that I have a mini-library of his works. Surely this book should not be underestimated since I have come to see after reading this book the proper place and role of the ministry of healing in the church. Though I am a Catholic Charismatic, this book enabled me to open my eyes to a fresh perspective regarding the immense importance of the ministry of healing, that to avoid having it or at the least suppressing it is tantamount to rejecting the biblical basis and pattern the Lord Jesus has set for us to follow. Indeed, the area of this ministry is sadly not given emphasis and importance to mainline churches, that I do believe contributes to the decline and weakening of the whole church as it should be. Such neglect will be detrimental to the whole Body of Christ. This book clearly speaks out not only the importance of the healing ministry, but also in developing and having one. The gifts of healing I believe is one of the greatest gifts that God could ever give humankind. But why is it that we who profess to believe in Christ as Divine Healer tend to refuse in believing in the existence of the ministry of healing for today? This book will surely destroy these false presuppositions that God is no longer in the healing business. I highly recommend this book as a clear, plain speaking and user-friendly guide about the vital role of the ministry of healing for today's social, physical and spiritual ills!

This really is an extraordinary book - it is the most comprehensive, insightful, and consistent study of Wagner's Ring des Niblungen. It offers some musical analysis of the leitmotivs, and is one of the first books to begin a revision of von Wolzogen's grossly erroneous analysis of the leitmotivs; it provides a plethora of highly organized information about the stages of Wagner's sketches and librettos and the original myths/legends/sagas from which he drew; and a scene by scene analysis of Rheingold and Walkure.

This book actually makes sense of Der Ring des Niblungen - no easy task, as anyone familiar with the opera tetralogy is well aware. If you are interested in the tetralogy and want to know more about it, this is THE book. There are, however, two tragedies associated with this book: the first is that the author's untimely death prevented him from finishing the book (though the material printed is itself finished). The whole book should have been about three times the length of the printed material. The second tragedy is that it is OUT OF PRINT - this is absolutely disgraceful...hopefully this title will come in to print again.

Get a hold of a copy of this book if you can.

This book was to have been the first of a two-volume set, but sadly Deryck Cooke passed away before his monumental exposition could be fully realized. It is a great tragedy that this work was left unfinished, but we should at least be thankful for what we have. Rather than take a theological, political or sociological position and try to make the Ring fit, as many authors did, Cooke chose instead to focus on the actual construction of the libretto and orchestral score. Although there is insightful analysis on all 4 operas, this volume is devoted mostly to the realization of Das Rheingold and Die Walkure. The author presents a very convincing thesis that far from being a disjointed, poorly conceived work, Rheingold, by comparison to the extremely disparate and incoherent nature of the source material, is in fact a very compact and concentrated story. When one looks at the Nibelungenlied, the Eddic poems, and the various pieces of Norse mythology, Cooke unequivocally demonstrates that Wagner had enough material to compose a stage work requiring much longer than 4 evenings to perform. The process of refining, editing, compressing, and modifying (within reason) to adapt the writings for the stage is explained in thorough and exhaustive detail. Somehow Cooke accomplished this without the narrative dragging on or becoming too difficult, a masterly effort in exposition. He then goes on to explain how the leitmotives were conceived and transformed from one character and/or event to another. The depth of analysis is worthy of the subject matter. Anyone who reads this book should have a much greater appreciation of Das Rheingold than before.

This work offers many rewards to the serious Wagner enthusiast and also to the casual music lover, and cannot be too strongly recommended. Let us hope it comes back into circulation.

For me, theres not much to say about Wagner, except I wish he was still with us, writing. He really had a way of getting inside my head with his work

Karl Edward Wagner's intelligent, clearly written tales of terror are among the genre's best, and it is sad that this book is out of print. The story "Sticks," which I first read nearly ten years ago, is still as haunting to me today as it was the day I read it. This story seem like an inspiration (or at least a precursor) for the use of stick bundles in the (far inferior) movie "The Blair Witch Project." "The River of Nights Dreaming," a pull-out-all-the-stops tale of a desperate female prison escapee who stumbles into the midst of some extremely strange and kinky goings-on, is also hard to forget. In fact, there is not a boring or forgettable story in this collection. Most of Wagner's stories aren't excessively subtle, but they are well-crafted, satisfying horror yarns. If you are interested in short horror fiction, you cannot do better than to read Karl Edward Wagner, in my opinion.

I really love these books for their variety, I want to make everything I see in these Leisure Arts books. I would recommend them to anyone, especially if you want to get addicted to crochet books.

In Love With Crochet edited by Anne Childs contains the usual assortment of afghans, includin grannies, mile-a-minute, lacy, quick, one piece, baby and embroidered.There is also a nicely done baby section that has a christening gown and a hooded towel. You can find novelties done in both thread, yarn and fabric strips.Check out the clown faces, pink pig and tic-tac-toe game. The fashion corner brings you hats,sweaters and a baby bikini. A few holiday patterns like a scarecrow doll and a turkey round out the patterns.But, what gives this book it's charm is the inclusion of a delightful set of birthday fairies! Made with small amounts of yarn and crocheted from head to toe, you'll create all 12 darlings in no time. I have one dangling in front of me! There are projects for all levels of skill here. This is a book you'll cme back to again and again.

This is a very tender book, with love and understanding children and adults can relate to. Ideal for ages 2 and up.

John Brown is a large shaggy dog living contentedly with Rose. When a cat arrives needing food and love, Rose is ready to open her heart and home to the new arrival, but John Brown has a very hard time sharing Rose, and watching Rose take care for someone else. By the book's end, John Brown has changed. In simple words and marvelous pictures, this book helps children - and the adults reading to them - consider a difficult and complicated emotion: jealousy. The perfect book to help children get ready for a baby brother or sister, it's too bad it isn't easier to find.

If you have yet to read any of the Silver John stories then here is the place to start, since the short stories collected in this volume are perhaps the finest writings Wellman did about this wonderful character. "John The Balladeer" is really an expanded and updated version of "Who Fears The Devil?" but does suffer slightly from having the small vignettes from that collection grouped together, which rather lessens their impact. Although the tales of John are out of print they can easily be found on the second-hand market, with the exception of the final volume "The Voice of the Mountain" which is harder to locate. All are well worth the effort of looking.

...is that it will whet your appetite for other stories about Silver John and they're all out of print. Wellman, who lived in the Appalachians and knew their people, uses these stories to illustrate the kind of people who lived up in the 'hollers', their lore (told correctly, I suspect) and their music (correct, I know). There are some hints of something transcendent, that John may be more than just a man who 'bears some of the goodness of others of that name', and there is history woven into these accounts, but both only add depth to some well-told stories worth the reading.

This potent little book provides much wisdom for these scary times. Becoming a Daymaker is as simple as tying your shoes. David Wagner shares with us the multitude of ways we can make the world we live in happier and more fulfilling by choosing to make each others day. The simplest acts of kindness, done with love, is all that is needed to be a Daymaker. Start now, be creative and then imagine what the world would look like if we all decided to become Daymakers! Buy this book today for yourself, your children, your friends and then send one to Washington, D.C. so that America can lead the world into a new era of kindess.

I broke into tears many times as I read "Life as a Daymaker". Pregnant with my first child, I know that David Wagner's simple message about compassion in the here and now can improve the quality of my child's world if we all take heed. The stories and simple wisdom of this book have profoundly changed me. By becoming a "Daymaker" myself, I instantly forget my own troubles and find joy in making someone else's day,whether it's my husband's, my family's, my coworkers', or a complete stranger's.

This book will create a revolution of kindness.

I discovered "New Beauty: The Acupressure Facelift" about five months ago and have practiced Lindsay's acupressure methods nearly every day since. I have noticed great results! I love this book and wish it would be re-printed. She provides a wonderful alternative to surgical facelifts--something plastic surgeons certainly wouldn't like! Still, I think all women should be able to learn about the benefits of facial massaging and exercises and decide for themselves if this method is right for them. It IS right for me.

I found this book several years ago at the public library. It delivers just what it promises, a useful method for improving circulation, health and thereby skin tone and color. Using this method provides a viable alternative to surgery. It's longer lasting, relaxing, non-invasive and cost-effective. A valuable book for anyone committed to self-responsible self-maintenance.

Because it's out of print, I've borrowed this book again several times since. I've also looked for something simliar to purchase, but nothing comes close. Alas!

The 1990 edition has been superceded by the 1999 edition. Be sure to get the current one.

Comprehensive, beautifully illustrated with botanical drawings. A stunning work of scholarship, it is the ultimate reference for Hawaiian flora. Two large volumes. Intended for professionals, but amateurs like myself who persist (and use the glossary at the end of volume two) find it fascinating. Be sure to get the 1999 edition rather than the one from a decade earlier.