What I wouldn't do to get this book published again. One of my ongoing personal tasks is visiting used book stores and grabbing every copy of this book I can find and loaning them out - I first read it 5 years ago, found it at some youth hostel in europe and couldn't put it down in my travels - I kept looking forward to train rides where I could just read non-stop!

If you're stateside - write down the author's name and keep it in your wallet - start searching used bookstores near you - good luck, and keep on sharing books!

Ever have that opprotunity to take a long read along on a vacation... The Green King is a story of a man and his dream, a dream to build a nation where there once was none. In his quest he faces Nazis and beuraucrats, two great evils and defies the first but not the latter. A reclusive Multi-millionaire/billionaire it brings to mind Howard Hughes eccentric legacy and crosses it with Broffman ambition. A book strikingly similar to a Archer or Clancy in it's ability to make the character and the idea come to life. If you see this book snatch it up. It may be a long read, but one of the most enjoyable and enticing of any I have ever had. A true treasure.

Rescued from a concentration camp, the young survivor Reb Michael Klimrod works his way to America, where along the way, he takes vengeance on his former Nazi persecutors, and continues his education of survival in the brutal conditions of the Amazon.

His rise from rags to riches is a credible panorama of sense, perseverance and courage. While Sulitzer too commonly weighs his books with sexual content, its appearance here finds perfect harmony in the physical and spiritual power of wealth among its several characters, as a vital component of Klimrod's sheer will.

A human book as well, with Klimrod's struggle with his emotions, his ambitions, his beliefs and his dreams, all are quite human in their embrace.

This book satisfies on a number of levels. An excellent read, a great translation, and a considerable testimonial of human effort. 5 stars is only an understatement - a wonderful book.

As My two good friends Cimabue and Giotto would agree this is one of the greatest books ever on European coinage. Louis XIV would be pleased with this awesome display of knowledge by the Doctor. Even Industrial people such as Thomas Sadler enjoy this book. Here are some sample reviews from many of the great figures of history.

"Two Thumbs Up!"- Mahandis Ghandi
"A Masterpiece"- Bernini
"Just like back in da trecento"- Cimabue
"My fingers hurt"- Thomas Sadler
"Le Wow!"- Mazarin
"Zis is a good book"- Otto V(o,a)n Bismarck
"Es un libro fabuloso"- Juana of Spain
"Now That's a spicy meataball- and a good book"- Fra Angelico

As you can see the reviews are pouring in, so stop right now and buy this book! You will not be sorry.

the jingle of coins that is...

Dr. Van Wie's historical masterpiece on the evolution of European coinage is nothing short of a relevation to the modern world. Within these few 224 pages, Dr. Paul Van Wie enlightens us to how the symbolism on coins can represent the beliefs and socio-economic trends of a particular civilization.

Furthermore, I truly believe that Dr. Van Wie is the reincarnated Johann Tetzel, our beloved sacrilegious friend. Just the way he sings the line "as the gold in the basin rings, so the soul in heaven sings". It makes me tingle all over. But more than that, it is full evidence that Dr Van Wie is Johann Tetzel. Not only that, but he posesses special powers. Dr. Van Wie has an uncanny ability to harness the forces of transubstansiation. With a wiggle of his ears he can transform an A.P. European history lesson into magical mystery tour. Dr. Van Wie also has mastered the translation of Swiss proverbs into English. Now all Americans can learn that "As they say in Switzerland, your finished, baby."

Dr. Van Wie has transcended into a god-like figure among Americans. In fact, Paul Van Wie now has a cult following on the Eastern coast of the United States. FBI reports have recently shown a sharp increase in the number of snowball attacks against old ladies.

So, as Doc would say during his translation of swiss proverbs...

"As they say in Switzerland, see ya."

If only such a man with his minute knowledge of modern coinage as Dr. Paul D. Van Wie existed during the time of Louis XIV's reign in France, then maybe The French Revolution could have been outright avoided! This brilliant author's book on modern coinage was a delight to read and a real page turner! After having read this novel, I feel prepared to answer any question on modern coinage should it show up on the show Who Wants to be a Millionaire, which I plan to enter soon. Maybe I'll give this fine, young author a piece of my profits. You never know!

Jean Giono's inspiring story of the "man who planted trees" reached me some days ago as a birthday gift from my two sons.They thought it an appropriate gift for me probably because I am now engaged in an effort to grow trees in some land which I bought as a barren waste land. I found the book extremely inspiring.The interesting thing is that there indeed are unsung heroes and heroines in many parts of the world who do do such inspiring work without thought of reward.Some months back I read in Indian newspapers about a poor couple in the Karnatak state of India who decided to plant trees to assuage their sorrow in being childless.As they had no land of their own they decided to plant trees on the roadside.And ended up with magnificent avenue trees on miles and miles of the road near their village. There still seems to be hope for mankind!

This is a wonderful read. It makes a great bedtime story and it is also beautiful (the wood carvings) and inspiring. This is good for people tired of reading what is wrong with the environment. The Man Who Planted Trees is kind of like a sophisticated Lorax book. Anyway, buy this book and enjoy it!

"The Man Who Planted Trees" is a wonderful short story about the fictional life of a man who singlehandedly restores a valley to life by becoming the Johnny Appleseed of Trees. More importantly, its about a man who, having suffered the loss of his wwife and only child, chooses to live a simple life in anonymous service with little but his own resources and his love for trees. The short-term effect is almost unnoticeable; long-term its staggering.

The wood engravings that accompany the text stand out and mirror the book's theme of asutere simplicity quite beautifully. Its a wonderful book for children, nature enthusiasts, gardeners and those looking for hope that follwoing one's heart and living out of love, rather than fear, can ultimately make a difference.

Janeway's Immunobiology is probably the best immunology book that someone really interested in immunology should take to the mythical desert island. One can enjoy it by its clarity from the basic graduate courses, and then keep reading it when doing research and pursuing hypothesis on the most advanced immunological topics. Many times I have found better organized and complete information on this book (even the old editions!) than on the latest reviews on specialized journals. The intense and careful work displayed to promote the real understanding on the concepts and the relations between immune components is impressive. Even more, the success in explanation is such that the authour takes the risk to have his book neglected as "too easy" by first time readers. However, immunology researchers in contact with the often chaotic and contradictory immunological literature can really appreciate the incredible amount of critical work invested and the intellectual gift of the author (authors) to abstract complex immune phenomena into nicely designed and biologically precise "cartoons". The focus on the evolutionary and functional consequences/origins of the immune mechanisms and structures makes Janeway's book one of the most refreshing and valuable voices in a sometimes too-technically oriented discipline. An impressive accomplishment never praised enough.

I really recommend this as an essential book for anyone studying immunology
in detail.- Its also a very useful reference for anyone studying medicine and wanting to
go into more depth.
.
Immunology at the best of times can be a difficult subject to grasp, both in terms of concepts
and details. Thank heavens for Janeway and Travers 5e which explains this challenging subject
in a simple way, without compromising on accuracy. What brings this book apart from the field is
its emphasis on fundamental principles: It defines these at the beginning of each chapter before delving into detail later on. Another great feature of its organisation is they way it draws parallels and connections between different aspects of the subject, helping the reader to gain an integrated and wider understanding of the subject. For example consider the unique way in which it compares and contrasts B and T cell development and functioning.

Information is also very accessible, since there are small subheadings for each topic, combined with
a very useful cross-referencing, though index and glossary. Plus its packed to the brim with useful colour diagrams which help to reinforce and add to points made in the text. Since it is written by recognised experts in the field, information is up to date and accurate, and it clearly differentiates between accepted 'facts' and theories.

In summary; after leaving many lectures bemused, bored and confused it's comforting to know that I can always turn to this book for guidance.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. I'm a graduate student in Microbiology and Immunology, but my undergraduate major was in biochemistry. Having had NO immunology classes before, I felt myself beginning to drown in my first graduate immunology class... I knew I needed help (there was no textbook for this lecture-only class), and went searching. This is the book I eventually bought.

It saved me, big time! In plain language, and with easy-to-follow pictures throughout, this book literally taught me all about immunology--it is the reason I passed my classes; NOT sitting stunned in some lecture hall listening to some guy drone. It took some work, and I had to read the book almost front-to-back, but it is a WONDERFUL text.

This book is not really a graduate caliber text, however. For specific and more technical aspects, books like the one by Paul are going to be the ticket. But even now, when looking to brush up on my basics, design pictures for a lecture, etc. I refer back to this book first. Only 3 years old, my copy is dog-eared, worn, and well-used. I often end up with classmates and professors asking to use it, too.

If you find yourself desperate and failing in an immunology class, BUY THIS BOOK AND READ IT. If you are taking any immunology text, and your prof has chosen a really cruddy book you are having difficulty understanding, do the same. If you're a professor trying to teach an immunology class, USE THIS BOOK. Make life a whole lot easier on your students--and you, when grading and evaluations time comes around!

I'd been looking forward to reading this book for almost three years and bought it the first day it was offered here on Amazon. It was a true pleasure to read this narrative of the life and times of the Jefferson Airplane and the fascinating musicians that banded together to make something magical happen to the music landscape.

Jeff Tamarkin tells this story with true affection for the music, the band and the cultural revolution that frames this tale. The book could have taken many forms. Thankfully it wasn't told in the muckraking style of Bob Woodward's "Wired: The Short Life and Fast Times of John Belushi". Sure, Jeff deals with the tough issues of sex, drugs and rock-and-roll, but his handling of these topics doesn't obfuscate the deeper story of how this San Francisco band informed and shaped the minds of my generation.

I was fortunate to be living in Mountain View, CA (on the San Francisco peninsula) from 1965 through 1967 and was able to experience the excitement of the creation of the Jefferson Airplane's music as it started pouring out of the radio before sweeping around the globe. It was fascinating to read Jeff's book and to realize that the musicians were playing coffee shops and bars all around where I'd lived. Jeff really does a great job detailing how the band members met, and how they interacted with other San Francisco musicians, and describing the nascent music scene that lead up to the formation of the Airplane. I wish I'd been old enough to go have a beer and join in the fun, but alas, I was but a young teenager.

Jeff's writing style is a pleasure. If I may make another comparison, Jeff does not descend to the mind-numbing detail that can make a book like this a chore to read. For example, Timothy White's book "Catch A Fire: The Life of Bob Marley" details every recording session with painstaking detail, and while this is good information, it makes for a dry read at times. Jeff keeps the tale moving in "Got A Revolution" so people that are just curious about the band, the culture, or just want a good book for the beach can buy and enjoy this tome.

Of course, as an unabashed Jefferson Airplane fan, I'd also buy the unabridged version, but of interest, Jeff is making additional information from his research available at the official website for this book.... Many of us are enjoying this added benefit.

I suppose no review would be complete without a comment on what might have been done better. In this book, Jeff takes a good amount of time to talk about the scene in Haight Ashbury, but I would have enjoyed more of a peak into the giddy hilarity and psychedelic and philosophical insights that obviously informed the music. Having just complimented Jeff on brevity, I suppose I must acknowledge other authors have covered this aspect of the tale. I'm thinking of books like Jay Stevens' "LSD And The American Dream", which appropriately starts with a prologue titled "An Afternoon In The Sixties" and of course, Tom Wolfe's "Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test". Jeff does create the magic of these times, but stays more focused on the band and the music, which considering what this book is about, probably isn't such a bad thing.

Let me conclude by saying that I enjoyed the way Jeff includes the formation of the Jefferson Starship and Hot Tuna from the ashes of the Airplane, the Jefferson Airplane reunion of 1989, and the final chapter, which brings the us into the 21st century. For those that don't know, both the Jefferson Starship and Hot Tuna are still writing and putting out new music here in 2003 so after you read Jeff's excellent book, you can still go out and see these fine musicians.

It's about time! This book- a labor of love by journalist, editor and librettist Jeff Tamarkin- goes a long way to rectify the cultural revision that has marginalized the Jefferson Airplane! Which band is the basis for almost everything cool! And it, and its progeny, continue to be extremely vital and relevant today. ...

It's not the typical scenario addressing the known issues, attributes and impact of Rock Royalty from music's Golden Era, i.e., circa 1967-1977 but more an affinity to the internal maladies of the first great band of The Psychedelic years. Jeff Tamarkin captures the myriad of personalities, power struggles, the bi-product bands such as Hot Tuna, SVT, Jefferson Starship, Kantner, Balin & Casady. Perhaps a mirrored report such as the Dennis McNally book on The Grateful Dead and the various escapades outside the parameters of the music genre. The road less traveled leads from Washington, DC, Chicago, and other demographic licals to the ever popular and notorious 2400 Fulton Street mansion and Grunt Records. This is a more chronicled report on the various personalities, liasons, recreational drug use of the day and the insight of someone who has spent years in researching the facts of a living legendary band.
As they continue to expand the parameters of their chosen genre, the book is an enlightening text that unravels the complications of five gifted musicians, the addition of the first diva in Rock n Roll, and how all ahve evolved into the 21st century. Kudos and plaudits to Jeff for avoiding the tedious, useles rhetoric of most parables of those most emulated and admired as the youth of America in the sixties and seventies and his uncanny knack in showing that even our selected Gods of choice are not as atypical as we might like to invision.
As they live and breath, we also do the same and the demise of one is as pain staking and demoralizing as any death within our own family sturcture.
The affinity to counter culture and those who helped construct it, the music that lealed a generation and the survivors of the day are all the culmination of one of the great books of the genre in the last twenty years......as the syntax of the day would imply..."This book rocks"...

More than anything, this book struck me as being a love story. Paul and Roger share a really warm, comfortable life...the kind most people hope to find with a partner. This makes the fact that Roger dies so young, of such a devestating illness, doubly tragic, because of all we know he is leaving behind. Paul Monette was a gifted writer, who showed a great deal of courage when he shared so personal a piece of his life with the world.

Paul Monette is a hero for so manny people and this book, Borrowed Time is an ever lasting monument for love and relief. It's written with so much love, why does so less people know Paul Monette. It's a shame! I love him and his books, they are all great altough I'm a girl from the Netherlands! more good books? read Adam Mars-Jones. He is also a grat writer, But Paul is the best!

Like its prequel "Becoming a Man", Paul Monette's Borrowed Time is exceptionally well-written, and together they form one of the most important autobiographies our times. Borrowed Time, the story of Paul Monette's and his partner Roger Horowitz's struggle with AIDS, is sometimes emotionally too hard to go on reading, but at the same time too engaging to put down. While reading it I literaly had those feelings. If Becoming a Man is the ultimate growing up/coming out story, then Borrowed Time is the ultimate AIDS story. Together they tell the story of gay life in our times better than any other book I read.

This book covers everything. As a brand new cat owner, it answered all my questions and made me feel informed before adopting my kittens. If you're looking for a great one-stop book on cats, this is for you.

This book is recommended to anyone who is already a cat owner or is thinking about adopting a cat. The book is easy to read and follow. In this book, some of the things discussed about cats includes: deciding between a kitten and a cat, considering sources where you can adopt a cat such as at a shelter, looking for signs of good health in kittens and adult cats, making your house safe for your cat, introducing a new cat to other pets, understanding your cat's five senses, choosing and using grooming tools, discovering your cat's nutritional requirememnts, choosing and working with the right veterinarian, visiting your vet for an annual exam and vaccinations, giving pills & medication and caring for your cat's teeth. A chapter is devoted is to solving behavior problems, getting your cat to have good litter box behavior. Find out if your cat needs a companion or easing your cat if you need to move to a different location. A chapter is devoted to 10 cat related attractions on the infomation superhighway, 10 common household dangers to your cat(gives a list of toxic plants), 10 ways to make your indoor cat happier and 10 of the best things ever said about cats. In the appendix, it includes addresses and websites of breed registeries & show governing, organizations, veterinary groups, magazines & newsletters, pet supply sources and animal charaties.

I just received this book yesturday and i've already read half of it. Cats for dummies, 2nd ed., has helped me in choosing a cat companion and has many tips on health care, litter box problems, breeding, and more. If you have a cat or are considering a cat this is the book for you.

What motivates a person to give up their comfortable life in America to go to war torn Vietnam and care for the orphaned children? The answer to that question and lots of others are found in this amazing book. Cherie Clark is well known in the world of international adoption for all her humanitarian work. This book gives a glimpse into who she is as a person. From her childhood to her last minute departure from Vietnam, you can't put this book down. Page after page of remarkable accomplishments are mixed with the desperation of the people being cared for. There are many amazing people in this book, from Rosemary Taylor to Cherie's own family members. The adoption world has benefited greatly from those who sacrified during those days of war and desperation. Anyone who as adopted from Vietnam should really read this book! It is also a great story in human courage and compassion that anyone will appreciate. It is obvious that Cherie will continue her work for a long time to come. The two books to follow will recount her work in India and then back in Vietnam. The only downside to this book is that you want to know more, to find out what happened to all the people mentioned and to walk those streets of Vietnam yourself! The book really brings the people, places and events to life. I highly recommend this book!

After Sorrow Comes Joy is the riveting autobiographical story of Cherie Clark's entry into the world of international adoption. It culminates in her dramatic, humanitarian efforts to aid the babies and children left disolute by the aftermath of the Vietnamese American War. Inspired by her own adoptions and a meeting with Mother Teresa in India, Cherie responded to the call of her heart to journey to Vietnam where she founded the International Mission of Hope. After Sorrow Comes Joy documents the story of how Cherie found a home in Vietnam caring for the sick and abandoned babies and children trapped in a frightened and poor war-torn country.

Following the end of the Vietnamese-American war, Vietnam was still torn in two by fighting between the North and South Vietnamese armies. Americans, Europeans and thousands of Vietnamese people were rapidly fleeing the country as city after city fell to Communist rule. This stirring account describes how Cherie Clark cared for the babies and children of Vietnam during this period of chaos, uniting them with families and medical care and food that they needed to survive. It is also an account of bureaucracy gone amoke. Normal channels failed as families and even basic government services were caught in the a war crashing down upon them. During this upheaval the heroism of the Vietnamese and Americans who cared for the orphans and abandoned children is heart wrenching. After Sorrow Comes Joy brings this tulmultuous time back to life with clarity and intimacy.

Readers will find themselves captivated by many of the scenes in this book - including Cherie Clark's heartfelt return to Vietnam 20 years after the war, her children's escape from a collapsing Vietnam, her first visits to the orphanages that many continue to adopt from today, and several kidnapping attempts including that of her own daughter.

After Sorrow Comes Joy is informative and engrossing on many levels. It is an historical account of the beginning of adoption in Vietnam. It is a personal account of a family's growth through adoption. It is a stirring documentary of a period of history that for years has remained best forgotten, but which still startles in its immediacy. Hundreds of pictures flesh out the dramatic stories. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of Vietnam, in the antecedents of Vietnamese adoption or in the International Mission of Hope. Rarely do adoptive parents get such a personal glimpse into the lives of those who will be assisting them as they find their own forever families.

I've just finished After Sorrow Comes Joy and I still haven't caught my breath. I'm crying and gasping for air!

For most of us whose lives were, in a large part, dictated by events in Vietnam during the late 60's and early 70's, the Vietnam war remains a mystery. We didn't understand it then; all these years later, we still don't understand it.

This book does NOT de-mystify the war. It simply gives a day-to-day, blow-by-blow account of how it affected the smallest victims of that war--the children, and the least of these--the orphans.

Cherie Clark, a normal, middle-class housewife caught up in a decision to adopt a child from the war zone, lived this story and has written, not a political treatise, but a heart-wrenching, heart-stopping diary of what happened as the government and the very fabric of Vietnamese society unraveled in those last awful days. How she has managed to write this with such honesty and detail without seeming to sensationalize any of it, or appear as if she's nominating herself for sainthood, is an amazing accomplishment.

I can hardly wait to read the rest of the story, the next two in the trilogy, about her work in India and her return to Vietnam.

This is by far my favorite barbecue sauce book on my cookbook shelf! Paul Kirk knows barbecue and how to make delicious sauce. I love his Sweet Kansas City Barbecue Sauce recipe. It has a sweet, robust flavor and a nice spicy kick. I have a favorite bottled barbecue sauce that I've bought for years, but this sauce made it seem bland in comparison! I also love his Chicken Rub recipe. I always have a batch of this ready for grilling. It's designed to season poultry, but it's great on beef and pork too! I am eager to try more of the great recipes in this book. He has recipes for rubs, mops, marinades and sauces and explains how and when to use them to create a flavor sensation every time. If you love barbecue like me, this is one book you won't want to be without.

"Paul Kirk's Championship Barbecue Sauces" is a must-have for anyone who's serious about creating great barbecue. The book contains much of the same information that Chef Paul teaches in his Pitmaster BBQ classes all over the U.S. Lots of flavorful recipes for sauces, rubs, and marinades that are easy to make, plus tips on creating your own signature sauce or rub. Your barbecue book library is not complete without this book!

When I purcharsed this book I didn't have great expectations for its contents. However, with the credentials that Paul Kirk has I thought it might be interesting reading. I also expected it to contain 175 recipes with little or no explanation of how or why they work, oh and of course the first three chapters would be on how to start my smoker.

I admit, I was wrong! It starts with the basics and teaches you how to build from there. If you are a mustard lover this is definately a must buy. Every ingredient listed serves a purpose and he tells you why. Paul Kirk may not give you his secret recipe, but he sets you up to make your own. Oh, only the introduction covers the cooking methods so the whole book is dedicated to Barbecue Sauces. My only problem with the book is the pages should be laminated It's already getting stained. I love BBQ and this book.

This book offers a nice tie-in of characters from the Bannerman books, Haven, and Whistler's Angel. Certainly a different and fun premise from other espionage books out there. However not quite up to Able, Baker, Charley or Shadowbox as far as quality. I think this book would be a difficult read for a first-time Maxim reader.

Hey, if you're going to steal, at least steal from the old masters...they're not around to complain. That opening does, however, demand a list, so here it is:

(1) The characters - John R. Maxim's characters are as real as any in popular fiction. You finish one of his books with the feeling that you really know these people, or at least would like to know them. (I personally would love to meet 'Uncle' Billy McHugh, the man formerly known as Bannerman's Monster who has now evolved into a personable, chatty bartender who just happens to be capable of incredible mayhem!) In this book Maxim brings together his popular Bannerman people, adds in the cast of his book 'Haven,' and then seasons it with the main characters from 'Whistler's Angel.' It's like going to a great reunion, meeting up with people you really liked and catching up with their lives and activities. The updates on the lives of Bannerman's people (including homes, businesses, hobbies, spouses and children) are worth the price of the book by themselves!

(2) The plot - Maxim's books in general, and his Bannermans in particular, feature enough twists and changes of direction to hold your complete attention without lapsing into 'complication for its own sake.' He also frequently has a theme for a book. In 'The Shadowbox' it was counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and the eerily prescient 'Haven' (in 1997) presented a plot where Islamic terrorists tried to mount an attack on American soil with a dirty bomb. His plot here involves bio-terrorism in a way that can make you lose sleep. As usual, Maxim presents enough realistic detail that you know he did his homework long before he started writing.

(3) The timeline - While Maxim has introduced characters from one book into another previously, here he's even dovetailing his plots. We last saw Elizabeth Stride (from 'Haven') settling into a peaceful life on Hilton Head Island. 'Whistler's Angel' came to its dramatic (and noisy and smoky) conclusion on Hilton Head Island. So how could a pro like Stride have missed such brouhaha so close to home? She couldn't. The main portion of the 'Bannerman's Ghosts' story picks up literally on the day 'Whistler's Angel' ends!

(4) The humor - For a serious book with a serious plot about very serious people, Maxim sprinkles in a healthy dose of laughs along the way. It's impossible to quote anything here, since establishing a context would take way too long. Trust me on this: you'll have a lot of fun reading this book.

This list could go on and on, but here's the bottom line: 'Bannerman's Ghosts' is great reading.

It feels like forever between one Bannerman book and the next, but they're well worth the wait! Once again, John Maxim has done a superb job of bringing these characters to life in Bannerman's Ghosts. It kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next! The subject (bio terrorism) is timely -- and scarey -- but leaves the reader with a sense of hope for tomorrow. Mr. Maxim never disappoints!