Bought this book on tape for a 6 year old and fell in love with it ourselves. It's nice to have BOT that we can listen to along with kids. I wish he would write more Newberry stories

First published in Spain in 1996 it is now available here. "Candid painting" is a good way to describe the approach the artist takes to painting people. Some of the paintings have a very loose feel to them. Others are more tightly rendered. Interestingly, each chapter also displays artwork of painting masters such as Sargent, Delacroix, Picasso, Matisse and others. Every painting is examined to see how that artist approached painting people going about daily life.

The first few chapters give the obligatory information on types of watercolors, papers, brushes, surfaces available, etc. Then fundamentals of quick sketching, capturing gestures, combining different components to create original art and details are discussed. Several step-by-step demonstrations (usually 3 per section) follow with detailed descriptions of what the artist is doing and why. Other chapters discuss the solitary figure, use of backlighting, themes and motifs in paintings, the female nude, genre and immaginary world painting (these chapters in particular feature many paintings by famous artists) and even a special chapter on painting dancers.

Over all this is a good book with a lot of information with many paintings to examine from both Mr. Ballestar and famous historical painters. It would make a good addition to any artist's bookshelf.

Right! this is the 1st reference book for those who work as a claim administration or those of QS graduate.
This book introduces the basic principle of british construction contracts, in particular the JCT63, leading to the development of other JCT standard form of contracts nowsaday.
Recommended read sequence on:
Liquidated Damages
EOT clauses
Claims and
Sub-contract Claims...
Cheers,
RMC - Ricky Chan

This book gives an fairly impartial yet Western view of modern Iran. I can see how some Iranians would criticize it, but my wife who is Iranian and me (an American) spent 4 weeks traveling in Iran in March 2000 found this book to be useful before, during, and after the trip. We never encountered any anti-American or anti-West attitudes during our trip, in fact just the opposite. Sure there aren't the nightclubs or other forms of 'entertainment' that you find in the west, like Paul mentions but for us this became an opportunity to do other things. They don't roll up the streets at dark, far from it. The coffee shops, resturants, stores, and bazaars in many cities are open quite late with many people shopping, having a meal or a chat. My wife said it was much better there than her last trip in 1996. I had a great time! If you're planning a trip to Iran (even if you're Iranian) get this book (my wife enjoyed it too).

The one book I took with me everywhere on a 1 month family "vacation" to Iran summer of 2001. We spent 6 months planning it, getting all the paperwork in order, etc. We traveled to every region of Iran. It's a fascinating, wonderful country---worth the heat, aggravation, misogynist government, pollution, dangerous traffic, travel headaches, lack of western organizational tools (like telephone directories), etc. The people were wonderful, the food was fabulous and fresh. This guidebook captures all the hazards and headaches for the traveler and presents the solutions. In a country without good communication, this guidebook gave us very reliable info. I'm buying this guidebook for anyone I know that's going there. It's a gem.

I don't know what book some of these people were reading, as this book is in no way biased against Iran. It is quite the opposite. Covers main cities like Tehran and goes way off the beaten track to little villages near the Afghani border. Gives great info on Iranian culture and shows that Iran is really no where near as intimidating to westerners as many think.

...Primarily, the Map is wrong. Azad Kashmir is such a beautiful part of Pakistan, and they cokmpletely miss it. They go on to show that Entire Kashmir is a part of india.
The book is also missing insiders scoop. Perhaps just using this book aas a reference, and Using other guide would be better. The authors also give a fake image of Pakistans politics, and its intolerance, as a matter of fact its very tolerant...As long as you aren't calling for trouble, you're all right!

The book is written very well. Gives all the information a traveller could possibly use. The only thing wrong with is the map of Pakistan and Kashmir. Kashmir is shown to be a part of India which is totally wrong. One part of Kashmir - Azad Kashmir is independant whereas the other half is occupied by India. The map of Kashmir should be corrected to earn the fifth star.

Without bringing my political affiliations and leanings into this review (...), I can safely vouch for this travel guide to Pakistan. Informative, thorough, honest and highly enjoyable, Lonely Planet has come through again! I utilized their travel books throughout my recent trip to India and Pakistan and was never led wrong (infact they have saved my behind a few times, especially in Pak), but overall enhanced my experience as they encouraged me to try new and different things while there and also gave me some pointers on how to interact with the locals. One negative point to mention: Lonely Planet Pakistan doesn't stress and/or inform about the heckling, whistling, and unwanted male attention foreign girls (even those who are of Indian origin) have to suffer through, enough.

Yes, this is a most interesting, yet ultimately arcane and outdated work. Clinical Depression is a muddy area, wherein the biological and psychological often overlap. The fact is, a normally healthy and happy woman can descend into a severe postpartum depression, and depressive disorders often run in families. Something is genetically amiss, and to relegate the treatment of this illness to philosphers and psychoanalysts exclusively is a painful and unkind step back into the Dark Ages. Nevertheless, there is some value to this book, yet it needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

Dr. Hassoun is smart, compassionate, and well-read. He can keep lots of ideas going simultaneously. In this substantial slim book he draws from literature (Proust, Tsvetaeva, Dostoyevsky, Christa Wolf, Kafka, Primo Levi, etc.), history, psychoanalytic studies, especially the works of Jacques Lacan. His own clinical practice informs his observations. He is a French medical doctor, and a Lacanian psychoanalyst - and in this book you must wrap your mind around Lacanian standards such as the Other - defined in a footnote on p. 25 as "that who internally represents all the wealth of signifiers (yet who can nevertheless be imagined as relay for the first Other, the mother)." His thoughts on substance abuse, addiction, eating disorders as they relate to mourning and melancholy are presented well. A main point is that depression and melancholy can't be "cured" with anything quick or pharmaceutical. Dr. Hassoun ranges far and wide in the service of his treatise; he quotes (among others) Thomas Mann, Andre Breton, Cocteau, St. John of the Cross, and his interesting patients - fluidly and appropriately. Not for the lazy reader. The Lacanian linguistic acrobatics are hard for the uninitiated. This good book requires readerly effort, and is worth it.

As usual, Lonely Planet have attacked this project with vigour and research and produced a comprehensive guide to the Middle East. However, as is the problem with the "Shoestring" editions, a vast amount has to be left out, an enormous of amount of information must be precised in order to produce a managable, helpful guide for a region. Local knowledge of an area is vital to ensure that the correct points, places of interest and general information are included. Unfortunately, LP have hit slightly wide of the mark with this region. It is an area which is full of history and a culture that is very sensitive to the western ideals and my advice would be to purchase each country's book separately. Whilst this is a more expensive and even bulky alternative, simply sell, swap or send home the discarded books.

I understand that LP are in the process of producing further separate guides thus breaking down this region again, which will be excellent. The guide itself, however, is a good read though!

Really not worth reading. Poorly written but more than that the author never forms conclusions. Re: OJ he was a 'consultant' for the defense so his 'objectivity' is severely compromised. He suspects OJ is innocent but offers no other idea as to what happened. He suggests a UFO autopsy may or may not be real. He is inconclusive in suggesting Vince Foster killed himself. When it's not downright unbelievable it's downright boring. Further he fawns at everyone including Lee, Ito, and the Today Show hosts; he's nice enough too to put in a good word for his wife. Don't bother.

I found this book to be a waste of my time. The fist in many book that I have read about the O.J. Trial.
I found the first review from "Reader in Somerville, N.J." to be a waste of time also since they put the same review...word for word in every review they give. How can that help you with a book when a person just repeats thier views over & over for every book. Answer=It can't.

These chapters came from cases where his knowledge was crucial in exposing official mistakes of showing weaknesses by the prosecution. The accuracy and fairness of crime lab evidence are entirely dependent on proper identification, protection, and transfer of evidence from the crime scene. The Introduction explains how a seeming accident was found to be murder by analyzing the entrance wound and the position of the shotgun. Forensic pathology investigates sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths. 75% of all deaths are from natural causes, 75% of the rest are accidental. About 1.5% are suicides and homicides. Many of the most controversial cases on record have involved medical examiner systems, due to political influence (p.9).

Chapter 1 deals with the Trial of OJ Simpson, and the evidence for guilt or innocence. One of the biggest mistakes was to not get a forensic pathologist to the scene immediately; important evidence was lost forever (p.34). Nicole's stomach contents were discarded; if empty, then 3 or more hours elapsed since her last meal. Page 43 tells of the high error rate in laboratory testing of blood and other specimens. Nicole's uncorroborated diary wrote of being followed to a "Payless shoe store". Would a fan of fashion and style ever go there? Page 49 says there is NO regulation on DNA testing, or of the astronomical percentage estimates. Page 59 tells that two weeks after the murders there was no blood on those socks; weeks later there was! Page 67 says no cuts were seen on OJ's hands on the flight to Chicago. Page 70 tells of Cochran's wearing that knitted cap; to me, it looked like a child's cap.

Chapter 2 discusses the suicide of Vincent Foster, and how rumor mongers blew it up into a fantasy (p.81). Chapter 3 tells of his investigations into the aftermath of Waco. This was a tragedy that never should have occurred (p.100). Chapter 4 tells of a shoot-out in Cleveland; the coroner's staff was guilty of deliberate, willful, and clever deception (p.114). Chapter 5 tells of a shooting in Chicago where "this whole operation may have been nothing more than a political assassination" (p.131). The State Attorney and the police officers involved in the raid were charged, and found at fault (p.134). Chapter 6 deals with the 1989 Oakland earthquake. Many who died would be alive if state and local emergency management officials had done their jobs quickly and efficiently (p.142). The autopsy reports were done by the lowest bidder, and the reports had the lowest quality (p.146). Chapter 7 tells of the nightclub fire in 1977 Cincinnati. Many did not die of burns or smoke inhalation, but from invisible and odorless toxic fumes (p.162).

Chapter 8 explains why a fall from a high building was homicide and not suicide or an accident. Chapter 9 investigated the mysterious death of a government opponent; it was an accident. Chapter 10 tells of the unexpected death of a government official; it was a natural death. Chapter 11 tells of the execution of a maid that caused an international incident. Chapter 12 deals with the swine flu panic of 1976, a result from using "Legionnaires Disease" to allocate money and authority to the CDC and FDA (p.231). At least 52 people died after receiving swine flu vaccine. Chapter 13 tells of a man serving a life sentence for stabbing his wife and her parents. Fingerprints found at the scene did not match the suspect, the victims, or those who were in the house before the murders (p.247). After the State forced the defense lawyer off the case, he was convicted at the third trial (p.258)! Pages 259-60 tell why a jury will convict even if the evidence is unconvincing! Chapter 14 tells of his viewing of an 18 minute videotape of an autopsy on an unknown being. He could not say it was a hoax.