One of the best math books around. It has a good story, clear explanations, and great subject matter.

This book presents an outstanding understanding of the personality types including psychosocial development. It correlates Jungian personality types (and Meyers-Briggs Type Indicators) to a spiritual and biblical context to help us in our journey toward wholeness. This is an excellent resource for personal growth as well as retreat material. I am a psychotherapist and a spiritual director. I have used it for many years with my directees to help them better understand themselves in relationship to God, scripture, and their spiritual growth.

You can be the first in YOUR neighborhood to jump on the Tiki revival with this mouthwatering slim-jim book packed with delicious sounding (and looking) Tiki drinks and nibbly go-withs. The beauty of the recipes is that they are somewhat adapted to modern taste-- not too sweet and using ingredients (like lemongrass) that our Tiki forbears probably never heard of. There are recipes for quick sour mixes, an easy and inteteresting rum glossary, tiki lore (answers just what IS tiki anyways?), great graphics and photos. Also an excellent source list for All Things Tiki. The book is fun without being condescending. Well worth the affordable ticket.

Tommy Thompson was a truly gifted writer and his death is a keen loss. His books have always been outstanding and this one is no exception.

During the summer of 1973, a young married couple and a friend go for a sail that results in disaster. Bob and Linda Tininenko are an intact unit and they travel with their friend James Fisher depart from the West Coast to sail around the world.

Days after their departure, the boat "turtles," that is, turns upside down. The trio are forced to spend the next few weeks at sea, trying to survive. Bob and Linda have each other. Jim is clearly the odd member of this trio. A religious zealot, he insists they all limit their conversations to Bible-themed topics; he lies about misplacing the supply kit; he lies about ever having the cheese balls that Bob threw to him to save from water destruction. Jim becomes increasingly erratic and irrational. Linda's health deteriorates to the point of death. Bob's account of burying Linda at sea is heart wrenching and devastating. Linda was pregnant when she died. Her death was the death of two.

Jim and Bob end up squaring off for survival. Impatient with the man's religious ramblings, Bob more often than not leaves Bob to his own devices. The trip results in even more tragedy when Jim, too, dies at sea.

Bob, as sole survivor is left to heal with the muliple wounds of Linda's death, the death of their unborn child and with Jim's loss. Battered and emaciated, Bob regains his physical strength in a hospital where his amazing account of his sea disaster is recounted. Bob is a likable, credible reporter and one cannot help but share his pain as he recounts the ordeal of 1973.

I read this book years ago and just reread it. The issues are always important. The author does a great job presenting a non bias view of the tragedy of a father killing a son because he can't cope with the son's drug use. The problem is here years later I want to know how the survivors have moved on with their lives and generally what has happened to them.

This textbook reads like a novel. Very insightful, interesting, thought provoking comments. To bad it's out of print!

Summary: This 5th edition of The World Atlas of Golf belongs in the library of every golfer who wants to appreciate more of the game's rich history . . . and have a Walter Mittyish look at courses that will probably never be seen in person. Over 70 courses get the deluxe treatment of looking at the course layout, the score card, and an in-depth evaluation of the most famous holes. Thorough essays recount the history of the course, including the most memorable golf moments there. Beautiful color photographs capture the holes, and famous historic shots share the winning and losing. Afficionados will appreciate the pin-point descriptions of how to play the world's most demanding holes. The book also boasts a brief gazetteer of over 100 courses providing a one-third page thumbnail sketch of their layout and history. The book also boasts excellent, brief essays on the development of golf course design.

Review: This book will appeal to those who have played these wonderful courses and want to relive the experience, those who wish to know more about the rich history of the world's most challenging holes, and those who are curious about why golfers everywhere rave about certain holes and courses. The material is so rich and detailed that any golf fan could happily spend days with this book and just scratch its surface. A fan could easily extend enjoyment of the book by getting videos of famous championships to see the live action that is captured here in photographs and essays.

The courses are selected from around the world, but are primarily from Europe and the United States. Reflecting the game's heritage, the courses examined start with those in Scotland and proceed from there throughout the British Isles and Eire. From there, you transfer to the European mainland. Next, you go the North America. Asia, Africa, and South America are your final stops.

Naturally, the courses include such standards as St. Andrews's Old Course, Royal Troon, Carnoustie, Royal Dornoch, Muirfield, Turnberry, Loch Lomond, Royal Liverpool, Royal Birkdale, Ballybunion, Valderrama, Shinnecock Hills, Augusta National, Cypress Point, Pebble Beach, Oakmont, Baltusrol, The Country Club, Olympic, Winged Foot, Pinehurst No. 2, Seminole, Merion, Pine Valley, Medinah, Oakland Hills, Dorado Beach and the Mid Ocean in Bermuda. But you will also get exposed to courses that you may not know as well like Sotogrande in Spain and Banff in Canada.

As an example of the hole-by-hole analysis, the book early on looks at the famous 17th on the Old Course at St. Andrews. A hotel cuts off the right side of the hole of this tough par four, also referred to as the Road Hole. In 1995, John Daly won the British Open there in part by hitting a tremendous drive around the hotel and into the fairway. He was able to hit onto the green from there with a 7 iron. The book shows the outline of the hotel, where Daly's ball went, and where most players shoot. Naturally, this looks easy on paper. When I tried the same thing with my drive, my ball went just a bit too far right and disappeared into an area near the foundation of the hotel, out of bounds. I came away much more impressed with Daly's feat.

With the knowledge this atlas can give you, you will find yourself able to take on challenges that great golfers have lived up to before you. You may not match them (and probably won't), but you will enjoy the feeling of trying on the challenging swings of the greats. It'll be a great thrill when you do!

After you finish enjoying this book a few times, think about where else in life you would enjoy reliving great moments of those who have gone before. How can you use those experiences to inspire you to try more, accomplish more, and have more fulfillment in everything you do?

"Take dead aim."

Thomas Thompson does a fantastic job of re-telling the events surrounding the mysterious death of a Houston socialite, the investigation into the death, the trial of her prominent surgeon husband, and the circumstances surrounding his murder a few years after hers. This is without a doubt the most gripping story I have ever read. Thompson's research on this project was extensive, and I would imagine exhaustive. It is written as if he were a witness to all the events which took place in this story. It is a story so bizarre, it would have to be fiction, but sadly was a very true story of adultery, greed, and vengeance. If you can find the book I highly recommend you buy it. You will have a hard time putting it down.

This book was given to me when I was a 13 year old living outside of Houston TX. It was the book that launched my fascination with true crime books of high quality (i.e. Darcy O'Brien,Vincent Bugliosi). I am still fascinated by the case and have heard many rumors in the last 20 years about the actual cause of death. Amazing - that this story still haunts me all these years later. It is out of print and I own a copy I have never lent out for fear of never seeing it again! Also interesting was Ann Kurth's Prescription:Murder which is her side of the case. Not even close to the same caliber as Blood & Money but still interesting. I cannot recommend this book highly enough - find it at the library or a used book store immediately!

I saw the mini-series starring Farrah Fawcett before I read the book. I was intrigued by the movie. I had never heard of Joan Olive Robinson Hill before and after seeing the movie I wondered about her and her life and if it were possible that her husband did in fact kill her. There were a lot of questions that needed answering. I read the book and was amazed at the attention Thomas Thompson gave to even the smallest detail and how he was able to draw you into the story, you almost felt like you were there when these events happened. The book did not absolutely say that John Hill had killed Joan Hill, but it certainly provided ample motive and opportunity. And the scenario that describes the way he might have done it seems plausible. Who knows? This does not take away at all from the drama of this story and as John Hill himself is dead as well, there are some things we will never know. Thomas Thompson makes you feel empathy for Joan and her situation. He also makes you feel sympathy, compassion and scorn; why didn't she just leave the bum and find someone who really wanted her. I loved this story.

I am a lover of true crime books. From the slick little "penny dreadfuls" to Roughead and other Victorian favorites. This book started this fascination lo these twenty years ago. The story of Charles Sobrajh (one of his many names) is interesting. Starting with the beginnings of a youth psychopath and the various attempts to alternately save and destroy him, to his compelling life of crime. The exotic locales and subsequent happenings speak to an earlier age, when people and international borders were much more free. However, this also caused them to become victimized; in many cases duped, drugged robbed murdered by this charming criminal. But I didn't dislike Sobrajh, is a strange way I found myself thinking that he would be able to get away with his crimes. I wonder about his whereabouts even today. the story of this true life Tom Ripley is a must for the serious true crime reader.

I'm not a big fan of the "true crime" genre. I did love Vincent Bugliosi's Helter Skelter, but don't care for Ann Rule's books or their ilk. Serpentine is an exception. Like other reviewers here, I came across this book about 20 years ago and I still have vivid recollections of it. Sobhraj is a kind of Ted Bundy with a bit more style and class. Thompson does a fine job in conveying Sobhraj's seductive qualities. He also is adept in his description of settings. Sobhraj may be thought of as the only jet-setter mass-murderer. I didn't realize until reading over these reviews that he had been released from prison already. That really is diconcerting, for he is about as amoral as Hannibal Lecter. I can't believe he was allowed back into society. I would recommend this book to those who like true crime stories and to those who just like an engaging, easy read. The book moves along at great pace. If you bring it along on a vacation to Sri Lanka or Thailand or Paris, etc., you may want to keep an eye out for Sobhraj. I wouldn't get too chummy if I were you.

This is my favorite true crime book ever. The author brings cohesion to the dizzying array of events of the book's subject. So amazing it reads like fiction.

An overly romanticized biography of the "world's greatest hustler". The book is fun and often quite humorous, but ultimately lets Thompson off the hook. The author glorifies Thompson's fun-loving, harmless nature, but chooses to side-step the naked truth - that he was really a liar, cheat, and a swindler who got what he deserved when he died in destitution.

I loved the stories and I was captivated by the man. A must read for golf enthusiasts and bio fans alike.

Some of the things that Thompson did are unbelieveable. You can never put it down because you always want to see what he did next.