Short, sweet and a great reminder to exercise more, reduce fat calories and consume carbohydrates with a low glycemic index rating. Clearly explained, my choices of carbos will change because of the information in this book. Unfortunately, their A-Z table of low GI foods is very limited, which puts a damper on really using this information to the fullest extent. I enjoyed the suggestions for meals and do believe I can lose weight by following the recommendations in this little, but impactful book.

Finally, after many years of not being able to lose weight on low calorie, low fat diets, I have succeeded. Who knew that rice cakes and no fat pretzels were part of the problem. The book is extremely informative and has a wonderful selection of low G.I.meals.

"The Holy Sinner," on a literal level is a story about a multi-generational incestuous family, and their reconcilliation of their sins. Read as such, "The Holy Sinner" is a disturbing account with a semi-satirical take on the religious rituals of redemption, incest, nepotism and penance.

On a deeper level, "The Holy Sinner" comes forth as a contemporary myth. There is a definite straining in this book for a sense of redemption, forgiveness, and the search for meaning. Ripe with symbolism, and exploring a kind of "less-violent" Oedipal storyline, you can feel Mann's struggle over the contemporary situation in Germany in the late 40s and early 50s.

Though not what I would call a "sequel" to "Doctor Faustus," in the allegorical way you can catch a glimpse of Germany in the pages of "The Holy Sinner," I would nevertheless point out that the theme of "penance and change instead of murder and vengeance" seems very contemporarily bound.

However, the story itself hinges on one coincidence too many, and there are passages that nearly grind to a halt in speed and direction. I did come away from the novel with a new respect for Thomas Mann, but this was not an easy read, and, at times, not even enjoyable. The alliteration and sometimes near-poetry of the writing was in some passages immaculate, and then a few pages later almost clumsy and awkward.

I would consider this book one meant more for study than outright enjoyment, though I did enjoy it more often than I didn't. It was work to finish it, however, and more work to digest and attempt to understand it. If you are in the mood for something serious and allegorical, pick up "The Holy Sinner." But if you're looking for something lighter or entertaining, I'd suggest you pass this one by.

Thomas Mann (1875-1955), winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, is one of the great German writers of the 20th century. His best works rely on an exquisite sense of irony, erudition and multiple layers of meaning to explore some of the burning moral issues of our time. "The Holy Sinner" is one of his last works and was written immediately after what many consider his masterpiece, "Doctor Faustus".

In "The Holy Sinner" Mann retells a medieval legend about the life of Pope Gregory in plush,tongue-in-cheek, bejewelled language reminiscent of knightly chronicles. The translator, H. T. Lowe-Porter, has done an excellent job in translating the romance-like pastiches spoken or written by the different characters --in particular if you have a smattering of French, Latin, Spanish, Catalan, Middle English or Provenzal, you will enjoy these light-hearted and occasional romps. However, as is usual with Mann, the glittering surface-story is not the most interesting one. This book is also a Christianized version of Sophocles' Oedipus tragedies and an optimistic commentary on the possibilties of European reconstruction in the aftermath of the second world war.

Unfortunately I feel the three levels do not resonate with the power you find in his masterpieces ("The Magical Mountain", "Doctor Faustus"). Russell Berman, who wrote the introduction to the book does not agree: "In the Holy Sinner, Thomas Mann unfolds an ornate depiction of the Middle Ages, replete with courtly love and jousting knights, illiterate peasants and papal magnificence. This fascinating setting, which the author embellishes with all his linguistic and confabulatory powers, is equally a backdrop for weighty matters of the mind: religious questions of sin and grace, psychoanalytical inquiries into incestous desire, political investigations into the distribution of power."

If you have never read Thomas Mann, I would recommend you start with his novelette "Death in Venice&quo! t; and then go on to "Doctor Faustus" and "The Magic Mountain". If you have read his masterpieces be warned: this is, in Graham Greene's nomenclature, more of an entertainment than a novel.

You don't have to plow through monster works like "The Magic Mountain" or "Buddenbrooks" to gain an appreciation for the art of Thomas Mann. "The Holy Sinner" is a short novel (for Mann) about the medieval legend of St. Gregory. This is a story of sin and redemption, with the horrors of the sins, incest and unbridled lust, making the redemption all the more spectacular.

The style is elegant, stylishly mocking the medieval archaic German which is well-rendered into a stylized antique English by the talented Mrs. Lowe. The story is as gripping as any soap opera but the artistry with which it is told is exquisite. As usual, Mann blends his story-telling ability with his genius as a writer of ideas. I can hardly think of another writer who comes close to being able to combine a good yarn with incredible style and deep concepts (maybe Melville and Nabokov, perhaps.)

This is a good preparatory book for "Joseph and his Brothers"--a monumental book about the biblical story of Joseph in Egypt.

I thought that this book was very interesting. I always thought that Thomas Jefferson was a great man but I didnt know how great until I read this book. I liked how the other not only went in depth with his adulthood but childhood as well. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for information about U.S. history.

I thought it was very interesting. I knew that Thomas Jefferson was a great person but I didn't know how great until I read this book. I thought it was great how the author explained his childhood in depth along with his adulthood. I learned a lot from this book and I recommend this book to anyone looking to become more familiar with the history of the U.S.

Four Quartets is unarguably Eliot's masterpiece, one of the last things he wrote. It is a notoriously difficult work to read, but Helen Gardner is the authority on the matter.

Although I don't find her writing style to be as accessible as Reibetanz's book on the Four Quartets, she will help anyone to a deeper understanding of these beautiful, philosophical poems. Unfortunately such books tend to be out of print, but if you can find a copy somewhere and you want to come to a better understanding of Eliot's poems, grab it! Otherwise check your library.

The book describes life in frontier Alabama (as a Westerner, I always find the notion of "frontier" Alabama as strange...), generally from a 12-year old's viewpoint. The historical atmosphere is excellent, and the portrayal of historical events is accurate and realistic. The writing is not Pulitzer-Prize level, but it is more than adequate. There is some rough realism here (mentions of scalping, babies being killed, etc.) but no excessive descriptions of flowing blood.

This guide picks up very well where the original Glucose Revolution end. It covers how the glycemic index can be used in enhancing sports performance by discussing when to eat foods with different GI's. The books begins with an overview of the glycemic index (good enough that you may not need to read the original book) and then moves into discussing it's impacts on sports nutrition. It closes by presenting several case studies that give examples of how the GI can be intergrated with various sports programs.

For general athletic events this is a good book. It is well written and is a quick and easy read -- you can get the main points out of it in about 30 minutes. The material in it can be useful to anyone that engages in physical activity, not just athletes.

However, it doesn't cover how the glycemic index and carbohydrate consumption can be used to increase lean body mass and decrease body fat. Weight control is dicussed, but there isn't much emphasis on the difference between body fat and muscle. I was looking to understand how I could use the glycemic index to help increase lean body muscle and decrease body fat. The book didn't answer this question for me, but it was enjoyable read regardless.

Serious students of long-term growth investing will find this book a good guide. Co-authored by the Chairman of the National Association of Investors Corp. (NAIC), Taking Control of Your Financial Future details the approach to the market that organization recommends for investment clubs to follow, using NAIC's tools (the Stock Selection Guide, Comparison Guide and others). A chapter of the book is devoted to starting a club, but the majority of its chapters are focused detailing NAIC's stock investing methodology. I wouldn't call this title "beach reading," but it is an excellent textbook, offering a more complete picture of the same approach to the market offered by the Beardstown Ladies in their own book.

This book, by the editors of the Washington Post, does a good job of describing the events which led to the deadlocked 2000 Presidential election. In addition to detailing the paths which led to the deadlock, the book discusses all the post-election issues in a very readable format. Surprisingly, the books editors seem only slightly tilted towards Gore (especially considering it is the Washington Post, which is noted for its liberal bias), so no matter who you voted for, there is much to be found here for anyone with an interest in contemporary politics.

Two things struck me while reading this book, the first is that I doubt there is a book out there that is truly balanced and not somewhat biased. The second thing was that Gore really got the shaft, not so much by the recount wars, but by the election official that came up with the Butterfly Ballot. In the history of the USA this decision ranks up there with new Coke and the XFL, what a mistake. As far as the reporting in the book it was not bad for a review of all the articles they had in the paper, but it did not really dig into the particular issues very deeply. I wanted more detail and behind the scenes with both the candidates. I also wanted more details on the court cases; I felt like the sky-high overview of the issues of the cases did not do such an important issue justice.

In reading the book I think a little bit of a democratic bias comes out, just a little, but enough to notice. I also thought it interesting that they had far more details of the Gore group then the Bush camp, it follows the perception that the Post is somewhat liberal in its views. The book is an overview that came out almost 10 minutes after Gore hung up the phone on the second concession call so there are a few more details out now that they did not get in the book. Overall it is a good effort and a readable book, but not the end all be all on the subject.

This book recounts the nation's closest election with fascinating detail. The authors' genuine style of storyweaving lends the impression that the fly on the wall must have had a Washington Post tape-recorder implanted in it's wing. Deadlock was not at all like re-reading the same old newspaper articles again; this book casts a fresh look at the dramatic strategy game that took place in Florida. I enjoyed it as a self-professed political junkie and my husband found it equally readable as a historical account of remarkable events.

you have so much to offer yet you recoil when i think you will strike. yes, you have spent your life covering some of the most fascinating people in the world. and yes, you have great stories to tell. but you fail in opening your personal self to the reader when relating your incredible experiences. it seems like you give us the tip of the iceberg about your experiences and leave the rest to the imagination. we get a glimpse of your views as a reporter, but what about helen thomas the person? how did you PERSONALLY feel about the people and incidents that occurred during your tenure? what was your gut instinct as a woman about international crises and happenings during your career? you give us a nibble when we have prepared for a buffett. this book reads like a history book when it should read as a memoir. i leared quite a lot about dozens of issues and people that i was not aware of prior to this publication. unfortunately, i feel that i didn't learn as much about helen thomas, the person, as i wanted to as well.

As the first (and perhaps last) woman to "beat up" no fewer than eight US presidents in succession - figuratively speaking, of course -Helen Thomas certainly could not be accused of pulling any punches. Her book gives us a fascinating insight into the relationship between the elite White House press corps and the President, which comes across as rather like that between prison guard and prisoner: a certain affection develops, but at the end of the day it's still very much adversarial. Helen Thomas comes across as someone with very strong values of truth, honesty and public service, who has not shied away from asking the awkward questions of errant Presidents over many years. Indeed, you might even get the impression she enjoys being perceived as unrelenting and at times blunt in her attempts to present the truth to the public. Her book is a little disjointed in the early chapters, but soon settles into a (perhaps better-edited) chronological pattern, giving excellent insight into the Presidents, their wives, and the various White House staffers whose job it is to manage the news, but who rarely - if ever - manage to control people like Helen Thomas. This book is an excellent read, not too self-centred, but creating a strong impression of a dedicated reporter with a determination to get to the heart of the truth.

The hours that I spent reading Helen Thomas' book have been a joy. If Helen has been re-reading her book, she must have filled in many more stories that have not been told. What a life Helen has had! As I was reading the book, I felt like going into the press room doing the routine of a White House correspondent every day and I could imagine the closeness that the correspondents had with the Presidents in the early years. "Don't lie" - her advice to any President. I hope journalists of today would follow her example of trying to be factual and objective, a quality that has been lost in the quest for circulation. The book has aroused my interest in the life of White House correspondents so much so that I have made a lot of efforts trying to track down "Thank You, Mr President" written in 1946 by Helen's colleague Merriman Smith. I have just started reading "some of the things that were overlooked in the big news of the day" as told by Smitty.

The current "WWJD" (What Would Jesus Do") phenomenon is not the Biblical understanding of how we are to determine right and wrong. While this book did not start that pop phenomenon, some may read this mistakenly. What Jesus would do would be different that you or I because He was fully man AND fully God, second Person of the Trinity. He was sinless, and although tempted in every way as we are, He did not sin. His purpose was to fulfill the Law in order to be the spotless sacrificial lamb of God, the atonement and substitute for our sins. He was the omniscient God incarnate, so He knew what was in each heart and what was the perfectly appropriate thing to say and do in each situation in order to accomplish His mission. In that sense, what He would do in a situation as God is a hypothetical we cannot know as finite creatures. What He might have done is a speculation. We are, however, TOLD in Scripture what we are to do, how as Christians we are to act and live.

I'd recommend reading Charles Sheldon's "In His Steps" before reading this. Then you decide who is the better writer and has a real handle on the concept.

I read this book with alot of hesitancy, being that it was loaned to me from one of our deacons, but I read it and once I got started, I couldn't stop! This book changed my outlook on life and how I should treat others. I loved this book and it's message so much that I bought 8 of them and gave them out to my co-workers. It has truely been an eye opener! Every Christian should read this book! If you didn't fully understand Jesus before, you will once you read this book.