Related Subjects: Author Index Reviews Page 1 2 3 4
Book reviews for "Vail,_Robert_William" sorted by average review score:

The Book of Houses: An Astrological Guide to the Harvest Cycle in Human Life
Published in Paperback by Entwhistle Books (1999)
Authors: Robert Cole and Paul Williams
Amazon base price: $12.00
Average review score:

Understanding & Using your Natal Chart
Robert Cole's "The Book of Houses" provides a unique and personalized system to really understand your natal chart. Out of print until recently, I have used Cole's book for years to help focus and manifest my personal goals, by utilizing the natural solar progression through my natal houses over the course of a year.

Cole provides an easy-to-use chart to calculate the dates of your natal houses. For instance, my "rising sign": occurs at 25 degrees Libra. According to Cole, this is equated with the day which occurs 25 degrees (or days) into the sign of Libra - or October 18th. Every year, this is the day when the Sun crosses into my 1st house & spends approximately 30 days there. Working with the solar progression as a process of "bringing to light", I would spend this time focused on "1st house issues".

Assigning 365 days on the 360-degree circle of a natal chart is easy, when Cole provides you with the key. His system allows you to spend approximately one month per year in each of the 12 houses, working to bring to fruition a set of goals you chose on the appropriate day.

Actually, I have blended Cole's system with the annual choosing of a tarot card to create an integrated and personalized magickal pattern of self-actualization, which I have taught to others.

Cole's book is fun to work with and each individual's house-seed system is unique unto themselves. You do, however, need to have an accurate natal chart to use the book since it does not provide you with one.

On a desert island!
If I were stranded on a desert island and could only have one astrology book - this is it! Have been using this cycle of houses in my life for over 15 years - it's amazing!


Clotel or the President's Daughter: A Narrative of Slave Life in the United States (Bedford Cultural Edition)
Published in Hardcover by Palgrave Macmillan (1900)
Authors: William Wells Brown, Robert Levine, and J. Paul Hunter
Amazon base price: $45.00
Average review score:

rediscovered classic, gets the treatment it deserves
This, reader, is an unvarnished narrative of one doomed by the laws of the Southern States to be a slave. It tells not only its own story of grief, but speaks of a thousand wrongs and woes beside, which never see the light; all the more bitter and dreadful, because no help can relieve, no sympathy can mitigate, and no hope can cheer. -William Wells Brown, Clotel, or The President's Daughter

Clotel would have historic interest simply by virtue of the fact that William Wells Brown appears to have been the first African American to write a novel. But it's not merely a literary curiosity; it is also an eminently readable and emotionally powerful, if forgivably melodramatic, portrait of the dehumanizing horrors of slave life in the Ante-bellum South. Brown, himself an escaped slave, tells the story of the slave Currer and her daughters, Clotel and Althesa, and of their attempts to escape from slavery. The central conceit of the story is that the unacknowledged father of the girls is Thomas Jefferson himself.

There is an immediacy to the stories here--of slave auctions, of families being torn apart, of card games where humans are wagered and lost, of sickly slaves being purchased for the express purpose of resale for medical experimentation upon their imminent deaths, of suicides and of many more indignities and brutalities--which no textbook can adequately convey. Though the characters tend too much to the archetypal, Brown does put a human face on this most repellent of American tragedies. He also makes extensive use (so extensive that he has been accused, it seems unfairly, of plagiarism) of actual sermons, lectures, political pamphlets, newspaper advertisements, and the like, to give the book something of a docudrama effect.

The Bedford Cultural Edition of the book, edited by Robert S. Levine, has extensive footnotes and a number of helpful essays on Brown and on the sources, even reproducing some of them verbatim. Overall, it gives the novel the kind of serious presentation and treatment which it deserves, but for obvious reasons has not received in the past. Brown's style is naturally a little bit dated and his passions are too distant for us to feel them immediately, but as you read the horrifying scenes of blacks being treated like chattel, you quickly come to share his moral outrage at this most shameful chapter in our history.

GRADE : B

The Reality Hits Us ALL
This is a exemplary novel that also deals with the harsh realities of slavery. This novel distinctly tells a true story, which is relevant to ALL Americans (believe it or not. This is a must reader for ALL.


Five Miles High: The Story of an Attack on the Second Highest Mountain in the World by the Members of the First American Karakoram Expedition
Published in Paperback by The Lyons Press (2000)
Authors: Richard L./ House, William P./ Houston, Charles S./ Petzoldt, Paul K./ Streatfield, Norman R. American Karakoram Expedition 1938)/ Burdsall, Charles Houston, and Robert Bates
Amazon base price: $11.87
List price: $16.95 (that's 30% off!)
Average review score:

A certain style of expedition...
Well written and with occasional engaging flashes of humor, Five Miles High gives a well-drawn picture of the large Himalayan expeditions of the past. At the same time as expedition members are having their food cooked for them and having their gear carried by numerous "coolies", they are walking a much greater distance, and in some ways subsisting in harsher conditions, than climbers do today. The contrasts with the present day are perhaps the most interesting thing about this book. "Boy's First Adventure Book"-ish illustrations at the chapter headings add a charming retro touch.

1938 American Expedition to K2
Five Miles high is an extremely interesting and very readable firsthand account of the 1938 American Expedition to climb K2, the second highest peak in the world. The book is a reissue of the original book describing the expedition and is authored by two team leaders with additional contributions by the other four team members. Of particular interest is their description of their trek through the Karakoram just to reach the mountain in the days when the primary hauling of supplies was done by ponies and porters. The contrast between the preparations and efforts involved in this expediton and the efforts described in all of the current Mt. Everest books is amazing. All in all, you'll find this a very enjoyable book to read. The same authors also wrote a second book describing their 1953 expedition - K2, The Savage Mountain. This one also has been recently reissued.


Internet Security: Professional Reference
Published in Paperback by New Riders Publishing (1997)
Authors: Derek Atkins, Paul Buis, Chris Hare, Robert Kelley, Carey Nachenberg, Anthony B. Nelson, Paul Phillips, Tim Ritchey, William Steen, and New Riders Development Group
Amazon base price: $60.00
Average review score:

Good. Does not provide a "how to" way to protect a Business.
This book provides very good advice on how security works, and some way hackers had invaded systems.

Includes, Java, CGI, SATAN, Kerberos but lacks an step by step advice to protect networks. The book is all about Unix...

Excellent books for make penetration testing...
This book cover a width range of themes, include security for winnt, unix. Also cover security with CGI, Java.. Excellent !!!


Killdozer!: The Complete Stories of Theodore Sturgeon
Published in Hardcover by North Atlantic Books (1996)
Authors: Theodore Sturgeon, Paul Williams, Robert Silverberg, and Theodore Sturgeon
Amazon base price: $25.00
Average review score:

A once famous author slowly vanishing.
Stories by Sturgeon inspired movies, episodes of Star Trek, & even the New Twilight Zone. I'm not a Sturgeon fan, but I'm baffled by how an award winning author (indeed an author with an award named for him) who had links to the media is disappearing. Talking about the author is Very relevant since this & other such collections are about keeping his work in print. Anyway this a mixture of fantasy, SF, horror & Mainstream. The standouts are said to be the title peace (Killdozer! is mentioned a lot in MST 3K's early seasons) "Abreaction", "The Chromium Helmet", & "Mewhu's Jet". This collection gives you a good feel of this stage of Sturgeon's career. If you like Sturgeon or just have an interest in older science fiction & fantasy this is worth trying out

The streak continues
This is the third volume of the serieis and I'm reading the fourth now and I have to say that if you have ANY passing interest in science-fiction, literature, basically anything related to writing and the art of the short story, you owe it to yourself to hunt down these volumes, they're about the best service the publishing industry has done for one of its writers in years. You won't get genius each time but each volume has its own gems to treasure. This one has of course the masterful Killdozer among other things, the stories are branching out more here, most are touching in some way but all are at the very least entertaining, my favorite might just be the unpublished "August Sixth, 1945" which distills brilliantly the thoughts of a generation realizing the power they had with atomic energy and coming to grips with just what it meant. You can see a shift in his stories at that point and especially with the later "Thunder and Roses", as with most science fiction writers, the future was now and it wasn't all rosy and they felt they had a duty to show that it could be good that the shining stuff they showed in their stories could come true. Sturgeon believed that because he believed in people and he loved everyone and nothing shows that better than his stories. Read them and you come to know the man. And he's worth knowing.


The Whiz Kids and the 1950 Pennant (Baseball in America Series)
Published in Paperback by Temple Univ Press (2000)
Authors: Robin Roberts, C. Paul Rogers III, and Pat Williams
Amazon base price: $13.27
List price: $18.95 (that's 30% off!)
Average review score:

Great Material for Phils fans
"The Whiz Kids" met my expectations. It is great material for Phillies fans. Having grown up hearing the names of Ennis, Ashburn, Konstanty, Roberts and the rest, I wanted to read a good account of the first Phils pennant since 1915.

The ever humble Roberts (with the help of a professional writer) recounts his rise to the major leagues as well as the futile history of Phillies baseball. It's a nice, easy to read story that follows a tried formula: the team has a long history of losing, young players come aboard and develop into a close team, they exceed expectations and go to the World Series. There are plenty of scenes that flesh out the personalities and struggles of the team mates. Plenty of train trips and hotel stays. Tough game situations yeilding exciting victories or close defeats. Those looking for deep insights into the era should look elsewhere. In fact, I see this book aimed primarily at us Phils fans. Our banners are few, so we need to raise them high. These aren't Duke Snyder, Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese and the other "Boys of Summer." The Phillies of this era had one great year surrounded by several decent years. Only a couple of the names stand out these years later.

I give the book four stars because it served its purpose for me. If you are looking for light reading material about a cinderalla team, this could be for you as well.

WHIZ KIDS A WINNER
This is a very well written account about a team that captured the hearts of an entire city. This is a great account of the surprising achievment of the 1950 Phillies. The excellent interviews of the players involved and the rehashing of the author is great. A very nostalgic and fact filled retelling of an exciting and fun filled year in baseball. A must read for all Phillie and historical baseball buffs.

This Book Fills A Historical Void
Authors Paul Rogers and former Whiz Kid pitcher Robin Roberts have done a great job in bringing a memorable team back to life. Baseball books on teams usually involve New York teams and it is refreshing to read a book about a team that will always be remembered, not just by Phillies' fans, but by baseball fans across the country. Many of the names I came across in this book were merely pictures on baseball cards I started buying in the early '50's and this book provided me with some insight into their accomplishments on the ball diamond. There is a story behind each of those players' names I have in my mind, and the authors brought them to life in this book. If there was one drawback, if I may call it that, I found an excessive amount of play-by-play among the pages. However, I can live with that. The names of Robin Roberts, Curt Simmons, and Richie Ashburn are household baseball names, but I was also happy to read about lesser lights like Bubba Church, Mike Goliat, and Stan Lopata who were only pictures on baseball cards to me. Phillies' fan or not, if you like baseball history, you will enjoy this book.


Novell Intranetware Professional Reference
Published in Hardcover by New Riders Publishing (1997)
Authors: Karanjit Siyan, Joshua Ball, Jason Ehrhart, Jim Henderson, Blaine Homer, Brian L. Miller, Thomas Oldroyd, Cynthia M. Parker, Danny Partain, and Tim Petru
Amazon base price: $69.99
Average review score:

Gives valuable information in one complete reference
Having previously read "Netware Professional Reference" by Karanjit Siyan, I hoped this edition would follow in the same light. This book is a real help for network administrators as it gives good examples and solutions of day to day problems.

This book is designed as a reference not a study guide.This is one of the best Intranetware books I have read to date.

I've used this book as a desk reference and it's great.
I have all of my "favorite places" marked for quick reference. The book is not organized to study for CNE exams. However, it has the information for Intranetware Network Administrators need for managing their networks. It contains a great index for quick look-ups.


Principles of Pharmacology: Basic Concepts & Clinical Applications
Published in Hardcover by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Publishers (1995)
Authors: Paul L. Munson, Robert A. Mueller, George Breese, and William O. Berndt
Amazon base price: $99.95
Average review score:

USE-RESTRICTIONS, BUT STILL A TOP-GUN
The attached use-restriction strings notwithstanding, there is much to cheer about this CD-ROM version of "Principles of Pharmacology". Anybody that is interested in this book will benefit from its extensive coverage of all aspects of pharmacology, including cogent information on pharmacognosy, pharmacokinetics, pharmacotherapeutics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicology.
The authors did their job well: they had taken care in establishing this masterpiece into a reference top-gun. Worth pointing out is the comprehensive coverage given to Maternal/Foetal Medicine, Neuro-diseases' Therapy, as well as general pharmacology as it concerns Intensive Care.


The Space Telescope : A Study of NASA, Science, Technology and Politics
Published in Hardcover by Cambridge University Press (1989)
Authors: Robert William Smith, Paul A. Hanle, Robert H. Kargon, and Joseph N. Tatarewicz
Amazon base price: $26.95
Average review score:

What a big project got to go through
If you thought they just build the Hubble Space Telescope and launched it, you're wrong. This book let you see what all such projects got to go through from the first bright idea and to the actual launch of an earth orbiting space vehicle. Sander Elvik, aerospace engineering student


In Search of the Birth of Jesus: The Real Jouney of the Magi
Published in Hardcover by Putnam Pub Group (1995)
Author: Paul William Roberts
Amazon base price: $24.95
Average review score:

Great light-hearted read
Paul W. Roberts has written a thoroughly engaging book about the Magi's quest for the infant Jesus. The ill tempered Iranian guide was all too real. Having actually traveled this route myself, I have to say Roberts has captured the mood and atmosphere very accurately. The other book that I recently read which also captured the accuracy of this time and place is the wonderful and controversial "The Autobiography of Jesus of Nazareth and the Missing Years" by Richard G. Patton. Both these books evoke a forgotten and magical route. If your taste is present commentary on historic times, your choice should be "In the search of Jesus". If you want a riveting and original account of the man, choose "The Autobiography of Jesus of Nazareth and the Missing Years". For the best of all worlds, buy both these remarkable books.

A well written book, that makes for a very intriguing read.
Just finished "In Search of the Birth of Jesus". I'm a layman with a casual interest in the subject, and I was intrigued by the book. Paul is an excellent writer, but boy oh boy, his editor didn't help any. Major shortcomings: the book desperately needs a map, or maps, showing Paul's route (deduct 1 mark); also, how about a bibliography or list of references, 'cause Paul quotes numerous sources (deduct 1/2 mark); and pictures-you know, a picture's worth a thousand words, and in spite of Paul's admirable descriptive passages, hey, it's the 20th century, soon to be the 21st (deduct 1/2 mark); and finally, a glossary would have been useful, e.g., some background on Zoroaster, and the myriad of other historical figures mentioned throughout the book. So much for constructive criticism. So what's good about the book? Paul's a good story teller, and has done his research. For the amateur religious historian there is lots of new perspective provided on old questions. As a travelogue there are many amusing passages, as well as interesting revelations, particularly about Iran. A good read in spite of the book's shortcomings.

Great light hearted read
Paul W. Roberts has written a thoroughly engaging book about the Magi's quest for the infant Jesus. The ill tempered Iranian guide was all too real. Having actually traveled this route myself, I have to say Roberts has captured the mood and atmosphere very accurately. The other book that I recently read which also captured the accuracy of this time and place is the wonderful and controversial "The Autobiography of Jesus of Nazareth and the Missing Years" by Richard G. Patton. Both these books evoke a forgotten and magical route. If your taste is present commentary on historic times, your choice should be "In the search of Jesus". If you want a riveting and original account of the man, choose "The Autobiography of Jesus of Nazareth and the Missing Years". For the best of all worlds, buy both these remarkable books.


Related Subjects: Author Index Reviews Page 1 2 3 4

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