This is an excellent book for parents of children (especially elementary age and pre-school) contemplating or committed to a trip to Holland. The information is detailed and comprehensive. Based on our research and a prior trip to the Netherlands that we took with our kids, this book is great source for places to stay and go with kids. It includes tons of ueful information about Amsterdam, but I wish it had a lot more detail on the rest of Holland. (I suppose it is truthfully titled!). Another nit to pick is the inadequate maps. Overall, however, a great read and a treasure-trove of information for the parent planning a trip to Holland with younger children.... Guidebooks that are focused on parent-kid trips are a tremendous value--- worth a lot more than you pay for them!

Some guide books are good guide books for adults, and some are helpful to parents. What I like most about this one is that it is probably good enough to stand on its own as your only guide book, assisting both parents-- and parents with their kids-- in having a nice visit to Amsterdam.

Another thing I like (and I'll confess something of a prejudice over this) is that the book is arranged primarily by geography. I hate guidebooks with chapters on restaurants, chapters on museums and so forth. After all, after all that wrestling smack down with a baby stroller, diaper bag big enough for a body and two kids on a jaunty tram, we like to take advantage of all the stuff to do in each location we visit. We're not coming back tomorrow, baby.

You get separate sections on the Old Side of town, the New Side, the Canals, Jodenbuurt and the Old Port and a nice chapter on day trips outside the city. To be fair, there is one non-geographic section organizing Amsterdam's many museums for you, but otherwise things are handily arranged for walking, strolling and cruising the interesting parts of each area you visit. There are also colorful maps, showing the sites, key streets and canals. You won't get too lost.

Each site/attraction includes info on which tram to take to get there, any admission fees, opening days/hours, phone numbers and, if applicable, web sites and email addresses. There's a capsule statement for each along the lines of "Suitable for children aged 7 and over".

The real meat is in the descriptions, which allow you both to decide what to see and, as parents, get a sense for what is inside so you can match places to your kiddies' ages, attention spans and interests. Here are two examples:

Rembrandt's home has been restored to look like it was when he lived there. In addition to the basics, this guide book also mentions that the painter liked to work images of himself in crowd scenes in his paintings. Can you think of a better way to interest a younger kid in boring, old art than to set them on a mission to find all the Rembrandt's in a particular image?

A second example is Anne Frank's house. The description challenges you and your kids to imagine Anne's life in hiding, as revealed in her diary. Older kids can read the book in advance, while younger kids can have key passages read to them just before or even during a visit to the house. Looking out a window, maybe you see a street scene as Anne did; what must it have been like to face the fear of capture and death each day, every night, at an age when our own children's worries may be no more complex than when Rugrats is on?

Another parentally cool feature in the guide book is little boxed text blurbs labeled "Can you spot?" These challenge kids to look for interesting details (a tilted roof gable, a brass plaque, a strange doorway) near famous sights. Older kids will learn things, younger kids will likely enjoy the game as a diversion near things they may otherwise find boring, or over their head.

The book also includes a similar feature throughout, asking questions that can be answered by visiting certain sites. For example, when listing restaurants, the question is "If an Amsterdammer asks for 'hagelslaag' ('hailstones') on his bread for breakfast, what does he want?"

(If I was mean, I'd make you not only buy the book, but also go to the Pancake Bakery on Prinsengracht Street for your morning meal to learn that 'hagelslaag' are tiny bits of chocolate sprinkled on buttered bread. And yes, that sounds very tasty to me too.)

For those who stay up for "Top 10" lists on late night shows in the U.S., the book includes a "Best of Kids' Amsterdam" section, with lists of things like "Best Museum", "Best Family Hotel", "Best Ice Cream", "Best Windmill" and the like. Each "Best of..." place listed includes the page number in the guide book where you can track down its particulars.

Note for some Dads: the helpful phrases in Dutch section includes the important phrase "Ein pils, alstublieft" (a beer please), followed by the helpful phrase "Waar is het toilet?"

Some other excellent stuff for parents:

A list of toy stores in Amsterdam, with annotations telling what stuff they have;

Restaurants good for lunch (and not dinner with kids), including info on which serve "spicy" food;

Tips on finding a short-term apartment or a bed and breakfast;

A note that most big hotels have Cartoon Network available on cable;

A spill-proof, coated paper, tram map on the inside cover;

A way to take a canal boat taxi to popular museums;

A sober description of Amsterdam's Red Light district that will allow you to decide if your kids should or should not pass through one of Amsterdam's infamously best-known locations;

How to ask for applesauce in a restaurant.

This most recent Transmetropolitan collection takes a distinctly darker turn as Spider and his 'filthy assistants' go underground and Spider's health begins to suffer. More than ever before, Ellis' social commentary on his dystopian City hits close to home. Previous collections have satirized the decadence and sloth of modern American life by exaggerating it in daringly hilarious ways, but _Spider's Thrash_ descends to address modern-day social problems more directly. Although the issue on child prostitution presents a still more corrupt and degraded world than the one we live in now, the issue on the deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill and their subsequent homelessness is not exaggerated at all. Ellis' demonic president, The Smiler, also seems creepily relevant to the post-9/11 attack on civil liberties, particularly when Spider quotes the newsfeeds as saying, 'The President is officially 'studying the constitution to protect the people from outmoded language and ideas therein.''

If it sounds like this collection gets a bit preachy, it does, and plot continuity suffers as a result. But those of us who have come to know and love Spider and his mad quest for the truth aren't likely to stop reading. As director Darren Aronofsky (_Pi,_ _Requiem for a Dream_) says in his introduction, 'Profanity + anger + revolution + cynicism + drugs + cigarettes + truth + justice - fair = Spider Jerusalem. . . . A true original.'

Your friendly neighborhood outlaw journalist is back. Warren Ellis combined the humor of Palahniuk, the prose of Hunter S. Thompson, and the anarchic sensibilities of British punk rock into the greatest comic book character of all time: Spider Jerusalem. The comic is consistently funny, satirical, and eye-opening. Ellis uses the medium for his trademark brand of cynical social criticism...and it shows more than ever in this collection. Spider gives the big F-YOU to the government, and corporate America in this trade. He branches out on his own, publishing his column illegally for no money. This time neither the president nor the paper can censor him. God help us all. I definately recomend this trade to any fans. You must read this, it's Ellis and Robertson at their best.

An excellent well-written defense of the infamous police who beat Rodney King. Koon, of course, was the Sgt. in charge at the scene, so he can hardly be considered to be an unbiased source. He makes his case with some skill, and he is able to present himself successfully as a sympathetic character. He points out that most of those who condemn him out of hand really have no idea what went on that night. He lays his defense out carefully and goes point by point explaining his own thinking and his perception of what happened. Koon emphasizes his belief that King was on PCP and his contention that if the police had been able to employ a chokehold the whole incident would never have occurred. He also takes a few well aimed shots at his old boss, the controversial Police Chief Darrel Gates... He also makes a deft attack on the media's evident bias against him, and ruefully points out that the media's 'public person' defense of their actions was self created since they made Koon a 'public person'. He also rightly points out that the Federal Case was double jeopardy. One need not be convinced by the argument to appreciate the importance of the book. The picture on the back with Koon looking sorrowful and sheepish though, is a bit much.

The crux of this account is Stacey Koon's observation that when ALL of the evidence (and not just a few seconds of videotape, punctuated by activist oratory) was lawfully presented to a trial jury, and explained in a reasonable fashion, the jury determined that the officers were not guilty of the primary crime with which they had been charged. Everything after that was society's emotional reaction based upon irresponsible media inflammatory over-dosage.

It is a shame this book is out of print and that is wasn't given much publicity. It is a fast read and eyeopening to the side of the story that the media kept from the public. I recommend it highly.

I like the gentle nature of this story: a conversation between a mother and her daughter. The illustrations are very nicely done although they are not as detailed or done in color as on the cover (just so you know what to expect).

All the important issues are discussed in a non-frightening yet serious manner and without providing too much detail about what can happen during a sexual abuse encounter. My goal is to educate my male children about prevention of sexual abuse without enlightening them with details about what actually can and does happen during a sexual abuse encounter; there is an element of innocence I wish to protect at their young ages of two and five.

This is the sequence of the content of this story:
Privacy is defined and several examples are given, and private body parts are described as those covered by a bathing suit. The body parts for both girls and boys are named here using the proper terminology for both male and female genitals and the term "bottom" for the buttocks and anal area. The girl states she already knows that no one can touch her in any way she doesn't like, whether it involves her private parts or any other part of her body, such as not wanting to sit on her uncle's lap. Examples of touching that are enjoyed are given such as cuddling with a dog and dancing with Dad. Tickling is described as fun but that sometimes it can go too far and no longer be fun. The girl is encouraged to say "no" to anyone at any time if she doesn't want them touching her (in sexual or non-sexual ways without using the term "sexual"). The mother explains that it is the feelings of the girl that are most important, not the person who she is asking to stop or saying no to, because the girl worried that if she said no she would hurt the feelings of the other person. The mother warns the girl not to allow anyone to touch her private parts or take photos of them, and she should not touch the private parts of another person. The offending person is said to possibly be a stranger or someone she knows such as a friend or relative. The girl is told to shout "no" and to run the other way, then to tell the parent or caregiver or teacher what happened.

The only thing that I think would make this a more perfect book would be if the parent were talking to a brother and sister at the same time and if the example of touching that the child didn't like was not the stereotypical and common example of adult male with young girl. I'd prefer more examples to illustrate that a boy can be abused as well as a girl. I am amazed that children's books about prevention of sexual abuse never give the example that a boy can be a victim, or that both males and females can be an abuser. Lastly, the mother warns against older children inappropriately touching her and I think it should simply say "other children" as abuse can happen with both younger and same-aged peers. Despite these few issues, this is the best book that I have found to read aloud to my children and I do highly recommend it. Regarding my complaints, I realize that I can address these issues in conversations with my boys.

I ordered 5 sexual abuse prevention books. Among them, this was my favorite. It 1st introduces the topics of privacy, personal space, and saying "no," before delving into more serious topics. Children are most often victimized by a family member, neighbor, or family friend and the book addresses this fact by simply stating that these people in addition to strangers are not allowed to pull your pants down, take nude photos,etc. These scenarios are very real and children need to learn what exactly they're supposed to object to. Other books of the same topic were too general and in essence equate to the familiar theme of "never talk to strangers" without going into more depth. I also think this book is a good length and ends on a positive note. The illustrations are black/white, but the text and drawings definitely make up for this. Finally, I recommend it for ages 3-9.

This is a wonderful book designed to help prevent child molestation. The author explains the topic of bodily privacy in a clear, yet thorough manner. The story is told from the point of view of an adolescent girl who describes appropriate boundaries for physical contact. This book is written in such a natural and easy style that it precludes any discomfort a parent might feel in raising this topic with his/her child. This book is also well-suited to a wide age range and is an excellent starting point for more discussion. As a parent, I intend to read it periodically to my children -- making sure to introduce it again and again as they progress through the developmental stages

This book is written in a grotesque and literary manner. Johan Huizinga, the Great Dutch pre-War historian, possesses large cultural acknowledge and a huge historical skill. Comparisons can be made with Burckhardt's book about the Renaissance. If you want to know something about the later Middle Ages, especially in France and the Burgundian Countries (Low Countries), you must read this book for fully understanding the cultural-historical aspects of human medieval life and thought.

My problem with this book is the same that has been expressed by a couple other reviewers: to wit, does Huizinga really know what was going through the hearts and minds of the people in the particular era and region with which the book deals, as the author and his proselytes claim? My answer is, in a word,-No. No book can. History is an elusive subject under the best of circumstances.

Let me cut to the chase. Huizinga is really not so much interested in demarking the Middle Ages from the Renaissance. After one gets into the thick of things, it becomes quite obvious that what he's actually about is contrasting the Middle Ages (as he understands or imagines them) from his own historical milieu. I won't belabor the point: one citation will suffice. On page 235, Huizinga asseverates that, "There was no great truth of which the medieval mind was more certain than those words from the Corinthians, 'For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face.' They never forgot that everything would be absurd if it exhausted its meaning in its immediate function and form of manifestation, and that all things extend in an mportant way to the world beyond." How does he know? Did he conduct extensive interviews with illiterate serfs whose life expectancy was a fraction of ours and spent almost all their waking hours trying to put food in their bellies? - No, the worldview Huizinga describes above is one common to mystics and poets of all eras and climes. His very citation of the Corinthians subverts any notion that it was exclusive to the Netherlands in the Middle Ages.

Huizinga was essentially an artistic and poetic writer, and the insights one comes away with from his book are such as one might expect from one so gifted: textured and fascinating portraits of a time now lost. But they are just that, verbal pictures, calling to mind not so much Breughel or any of the other artists whose works are Plated in the middle of the book, but that of the Pre-Raphaelites.

This is an enchanting book and well worth the read. It's just that you may have to hang your critic's hat upon a medieval peg before sitting down to enjoy it. I trust you have one...a medieval peg that is.

This book is original at least in one sense: it is a historic book without battles, thus a relief.
Huizinga evocates masterfully the change in the mentality and the way of life at the end of the Middle Ages.
The Roman Church becomes corrupt from head to foot: simony, selling of indulgences. She even excommunicates the Franciscan lifestyle.
The knighthood organizes tournaments.
Justice becomes a showdown: cities buy condemned persons in order to organize their public execution as a big show for their inhabitants.
Painting becomes naturalistic. Agnes Sorel, the mistress of the king, is a model for the Blessed Virgin.
Music becomes an imitation of natural sounds, e.g. yapping dogs.
Literature becomes playing with words or excessively romantic (Les Cent Nouvelles Nouvelles).
In one word, varnish.
Protestantism and the Renaissance will provoke a new revival.
I recommend this book to everyone interested in perceptive historical analysis.

As a baby boomer, the only personal connection I had with WWII, was that my father worked as a chemist on the Manhattan Project in Washington State.

So when a friend sent me a copy of Brandy: Our Man in Acapulco: The Life and Times of Colonel Frank M. Brandstetter, I thought what does this book have to do with my life?

The answer is everything. The authors of this compelling historical memoir, Dominic Monetta and Rodney Carlisle, brought WWII and the Cold War to life for me.

Colonel Brandstetter's life reads like a Hollywood screenplay. this book has everything fiction has: espionage, movie stars, strong American values, heroic rescues and escapes. It is refreshing to know, in a world where sports figures are amongst the few heroes our young people admire, that there is a living war hero who saved hundreds and hundreds of lives as a human intelligence officer - a humble man with the courage and passion to make a difference.

I would urge teachers to request Brandy: Our Man in Acapulco as required reading in high schools around the country.

Brandy, Our Man in Acapulco; The Life and Times of Frank M. Brandstetter, is a fascinating account of the never-dull life of Brandy, a colorful WWII hero, intelligence officer, and hotelier. The co-authors, Professor Carlisle and Dr. Monetta, engage the reader with tales from the interesting life of a Hungarian immigrant who was at the center of some of the century's most memorable and important events. The authors recount Brandy's heroic escapades, from D-Day and helping to foil a massive breakout of German POW's from England during WWII, to ensuring the safety and rescue of hundreds of Americans from Cuba after Castro's rise to power. Following his retirement from active military duty and his "semi" retirement from intelligence work, Brandy went on to create and manage Las Brisas, the number one resort in the world during the 1970's. Many of his innovative management and motivational techniques are predecessors of current day employee motivation and hospitality management principles. The book's enticing Foreword is written by Astronaut Jim Lovell, of Apollo 13 fame. An excellent choice for history buffs and WWII enthusiasts, "Brandy" is quite a story and one that I highly recommend.

I had never thought about how difficult it is to define a person clearly. Most biographies seem to concentrate on a dominant theme in a person's life. The life of a statesman, businessman, or military leader each provide the reader with a focus, that is the kind of story they are about to hear. This book has a devil of a time with this man Brandy because he is so hard to define. Frank Brandstetter has been an American success story of the type romanticized more than a century ago-but he is very much a real person! The book could easily have focused on a single aspect of his life. His WWII, pursuits which in part helped define the modern role of airborne forces or the fact that he was perhaps the best hotelier in the world thirty years later-each story would have made a respectable biography. It must have been hard to define a man who excelled at so many things in a life of intertwining interests and pursuits. Several months ago I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Brandy. In the hours of talk we enjoyed I was struck by the fact that though he appreciated the full complexity of the world (and was very much up to date on current affairs),he was able to distill and express the simple principles at work. Whether in a scientist or statesman this elegance is the mark of genius. The energy and electricity that surrounds him is coupled with a kindness and generosity that is remarkable. In this day of systems and focus on the group, it is inspiring to see what an individual can accomplish. Brandy's story should be read by everyone, students and adults, to remind us that committment to principles, hard work, and never ending creative forces can make a difference in our lives and those of others.

Another frost mystery. Not so well done. This series may develop into a caricature of itself if the author is not careful about exaggerating the faults and pettiness of the commanding officers. Frost is investigating a local junkie's death, unpopular Detective Inspector Jack Frost watches things go from bad to worse as he stalks a runaway teenager, a burglar, a hit-and-run driver, and a tabloid criminal known as the Hooded Terror.

Detective Inspector "Jack" Frost is the subject of a popular television series in the UK. The character was awarded a medal for bravery (due to a foolish mistake) and dominates the TV series. Although RD Wingfield has written only four books, the many plots contained in them have been cannibalised for many episodes of the TV series.

This is the first Frost book I have read. Beginning with Frost attempting to attend a retirement party and failing as he is required to attend a number of crime scenes, it sets up a number of interlinking (and sometimes not) plots (the investigation of the death of a tramp, the disappearance of a girl, a rape inquiry). The different plots give a misleading depth to the novel, though Wingfield handles the plots reasonably (although without the mastery of James Ellroy, Ian Rankin, or Reginald Hill). However, at times there is too much happening

Wingfield, as one would expect from a former script writer for British comedian Kenneth Williams, is also a funny writer, although sometimes the jokes teeter into offensiveness.

The novel is strong on the tedium of much police procedural work, and perceptive on police politics (similar to office politics in most jobs).

However, the novel is heavily dependent on the character of Frost. Other characters fit neat stereotypes, or are too poorly drawn to give credibility, and the depth given to Frost with some subtle nuances (notably in the conclusion) merely emphasise, how two dimensional other characters are.

This is an enjoyable novel, but not gripping. It is not, to this reviewer, in the first level of modern British genre fiction.

Having seen the tv show from the UK, I was intrigued (but not surprised) to learn there is a book series behind the program. The book keeps you guessing not only about "whodunit," but also about whether or not the crimes are inter-related. Frost's character is amusing, as is his co-workers' reactions to him. I think there is more than a little shock value in Wingfield's humor. All in all, an entertaining read! I can't wait to get started on the rest of the novels!

The story (which, of course, was true) is very engaging; however, the book had several flaws that hindered my enjoyment:
- There was an excessive amount of typos--all were the kind spell checkers don't catch (e.g. "peels of laughter").
- Details were left out that caused confusion (e.g. how did the Department of Justice report become part of the record on appeal?).
- The law school scenes stretched credibility--all the students' answers were close to perfect analysis, which is not the norm. Clearly class dialogue was edited for the book, but it gave an erroneous impression of the law school class environment.
- The end of the book should have left out the "apology" for making money on the case, which came across sounding somewhat disingenuous. It appeared the author considered the apology obligatory; but if so, why did he throughout the book bring up how impecunious he was? The whole topic could have been left out with no loss, and some gain in focus. Or, the author could actually have been honest and admitted that of course he's human and the possibility of a large payout was a motivating factor. Even altruistic law professors-turned-plaintiff's-lawyers must eat, and it's nothing to be ashamed of (and comports with American values) to risk your time and effort on the possibility of a large reward.

A publishing house turns a tidy profit on a "how to" book--about how to be a contract killer, that is. A man hires somebody to kill his wife and handicapped son for insurance. The murder is committed using the "how to" book as a blueprint. What is a First Amendment free speech absolutist to do?

That is the burden of this book and its author, Rod Smolla, a professor of law at William and Mary's law school. With every fiber of his being, Smolla believes in the First Amendment and unfettered free expression. Then, he takes on the case of the victims' next of kin against the publisher...and winds up doing battle against the assembled might of the First Amendment bar in federal court.

It's all here. Smolla is a good story teller and he has put together a good narrative of the thrust and parry, point and edge of the case. His character sketches of the lawyers involved and the defendant publisher are wickedly funny. He spares no one, friend or foe (at one point, he says that his co-counsel on the case suffers from "narcistic fibrosis.") The writing style is crisp and fluid. Smolla weaves into the book meditations on the clash of rights with obligations, the different schools of jurisprudential thought from the Natural Law to Legal Realism, the vicissitudes of judges and judging, and the tension-filled process of creating a legal theory and the record to back it up. I was so engrossed in the story I had no idea I was actually learning something!

As an aside to lawyers and law students, this could be the best basic book on legal process and legal practice since the "Buffalo Creek Disaster." If you like this book, check out Patrick Cleary's book on the R.A.V. cross-burning case before the Supreme Court.

This is a well written and structured book which takes what most people would consider a dull subject and makes it interesting and entertaining for any reader. The subject is the book Hit Man and whether it was protected by the First Amendment.

The author develops the case from beginning to end in a very readable way and uses his teaching class examples to educate non legal readers in the issues of law being debated.

I am a non lawyer and am not American but I have much better understanding of the issues and the First Amendment. The author wrote the book in such a way that I gained this understanding in an entertaining and very readable way.

The use of character development for each of the lawyers involved also gave the book life and relevance to non lawyers.

This is one of those few books that can be considered 5 star.

Overall this book is boring , it is mostly for people that's probaly over the age of 30 or who has been out of the club scene.He tend to state some of the same stuff through this various chapters.

O.k. people, here is the breakdown. This guy reminds me of all of my friends who were good with women when I was in college. He knows his stage (nightclubs) and he knows his women (younger, wary, and yet excitable) but the universality of it is questionable.

His points are well put, and have some interesting factoids; however, I didn't buy this book for factoids but instead for, hopefully, serious breakthrough info on the subject. The latter I definitely didn't get.

For those of you 30 or over it will serve as a refresher course, but for those of you under 25 who have spent a good deal of time in nightclubs and bars, stay away. If you haven't learned most of this stuff by simple observation then shame on you (mind you that, again, it does have some interesting tid-bits).

I personally wish I wouldn't have wasted my hard earned money on this book. He offers the farm, and yet all you end up with are some fences (dress well, buy interesting drinks, etc.). Sure they're better than nothing, but not worth the money. Now, at least he has the guts to try and address the male-female dynamic from a guy's viewpoint but personally I find his perspective is a little worn.

If you are a diesant looking guy with some good stuff (confidence, creativity, healthy, etc.) already going for you I'd recommend you up the ante a bit and look into some more down to earth reading on the subject. There is new stuff popping up every day. Most of these "relationship expert" guys publish articles on the web, and a good first step would be to read them.

A good good book to start with though is "The Art of Seduction," long, but full of interesting stuff. Although I don't by anymeans use the thing religiously, it sure does bring a lot to light that you normally wouldn't think about.

I've been seeing this hot number Zelda in the bar for what seems like an eternity but never had the nerve to ask her out. Bought this book and invited her up to my apartment. To my amazement she said yes, although it could have been the martinis I was feeding her. Now she won't return phone calls. I better read chapter 2. .... Still trying to find the answers to life's persistent questions.

This book was very hard to get through simply because of the editing errors. The test questions are useless because the answer keys are mismatched. Lammle has written some good books, and his teaching style is very effective. However, I have to recommend anyone looking to cram for the Workstation exam skip this book.

I found this book very helpful in passing the NT Workstation exam. The practice questions were good, and many of the exam questions appeared on my actual test. Be sure to visit the Sybex Web site for errata, though. There were more errors than I like to see, but the errata covered the major ones. All things said, I recommend this book.

I found this book easy to read and liked the test questions. I did find several errors that could mislead someone with no experience with the product. Overall, I would give it a good rating.