This is a beautifully written book, in which the author recounts memories of his childhood in West Country England at the end of World War One. Laurie Lee's mother struggled to bring up a large family on her own, as they were abandoned by her husband, who chose to live his life away from them in London.

Lee paints an evocative picture of rural life as seen through a child's eyes: the everyday trials, the local characters, humerous and moving incidents, even the colours and smells are conveyed to the reader.

This type of writing is part of a powerful and enduring image in English popular culture - one of a pre-modern rural "ideal" England, now forever lost. I suppose you could read "Cider with Rosie" with that kind of romantic eye, but in truth this is a far more honest work: Lee states that "our village was no pagan paradise, neither were we conscious of showing tolerance". Crime, and other social problems, did exist. Infant mortality was high by modern standards (Lee's early life was punctuated by serious illnesses and one of his sisters died in early childhood). Education was barely minimal. Living conditions were often poor (I doubt that many people would think that finding a dead mouse inside their loaf of bread was a quaint event).

A very good read, not only for the delightful prose and insight into a child's life, but for the realities it reveals.

I happen to live in the Cotswolds, the setting for this beautiful book, this Monet of literature. And, complying with the below reviews, I have to say that Stroud has become a concrete river, choked with litter, sidelined with Burger Stars, neon lights; a MacDonalds is in the blue print stages. Hills are lined with new developments. It's like, and I quote my mother, "A disease is spreading."

Yet there are places untouched by Americanisms, consumerism, electricity (and here I apologise, as this becomes less of a review, more an account of personal experience). But there are still rivers afloat with leaves, valleys deep that welcome sunsets. They frost the sky in winter, burn it by summer.

"There's beauty in decay," as someone said. Haven't got a clue who. But there you go. Although dying of shallow needs and commercial interests, snippets of the old way can be found. And in all their glory, too.

This book was required reading during my childhood and, of course, I couldn't have dragged myself more slowly through it. How wise we become with age. This is an astonishing book. Lee is such a master of description that, after only a few pages, you slowly start to smell the fresh country air and hear the languid sounds of summer as you are inescabably drawn into the world of his childhood - a world that you realize has already faded into the mists of history. But this special time has not been lost - it has been captured forever in this irreplacable series of pictures. The people in these stories become more real than seems possible with only pen and ink: his characterizations are as clever as anything by Dickens or Dostoevski, and he catches the very essence of the sights, sounds and people around him with a charm unmatched by any other English writer. But this is not a story-book universe: the people in his young life have all the frailty, vanity, delight and tragedy that you would expect in any small community - but what other has been crystallized with such talent and wisdom. A wonderful work of art.

This little booklet is the easiest overview of simple parliamentary procedure I have found. I use it in my public speaking class for the students to have a handbook and reference guide for class meetings and discussions. Recently, our administrator put this to use for teaching all student body officers to use in their class and organizational meetings. It is so easy to use--you just can't lose.

This book has been used in American schools since 1953. It explains HOW to conduct meetings and answers questions usually asked about proper procedure. It is just as popular today as it was when first written in 1953 for high school clubs. Revised 2000

THIS BOOK IS NOT OUT OF PRINT. IT IS AVAILABLE FROM INTERSTATE PRINTERS IN DANVILLE, ILLINOIS PEASE CORRECT YOUR RECORDS.

I AM THE AUTHOR KENNETH L RUSSELL

This book is a classic in the field of research in negotiations and conflict resolution. This book is a must have for any serious researcher or student of negotiations, conflict resolution, game theory, behavioral research, economics, psychology, and law. Too bad it is unavailable as of the time of writing. Hopefully, it will be available again very soon.

When you stumble and choke on all those construction terms, codes,and get stressed, just read this and everything becomes crystal clear.

In 1997 the United States accepts more legal immigrants than all the other countries in the world combined. This large influx of newcomers (further swollen by legions of illegal immigrants) has become politically controversial and touches upon such controversial regional and national issues as multiculturalism, bilingualism, unemployment, crime, welfare subsidy, national and public security, etc. In Huddled Masses, Muddle Laws: Why Contemporary Immigration Policy Fails To Reflect Public Opinion, author and researcher Kenneth Lee explains why recent immigration policy has failed to reflect outraged and alarmed public opinion by approaching the question from both a broad, historical perspective and a focused, contemporary analysis. He traces several political movements such as the rise of conservative economics and racial liberalism in the 1970s, examines immigration policy on a micro-level detailing the intense lobbying that went on for the 1990 and 1996 immigration bills, and shows how such unlikely players as the Christian Coalition's Ralph Reed helped defeat the immigration restrictionist bill in 1996. Huddled Masses, Muddle Laws is highly recommended reading for students of American political science, immigration issues, multiculturalism, bilingualism and the "English Only" movements, economics, and social/legal issues related to immigrant assimilation and services.

Kenneth Graham achieved a masterpiece with The Wind in the Willows. Please don't judge it on the basis of Disney's "Mr. Toad" cartoon; the book itself is lyrical and engaging, with fun characters in wonderful settings facing a number of thrilling adventures. Some scenes are purely down to earth, such as Mr. Toad's escapades with his beloved automobiles, and some are sheer magic, as the Piper at the Gates of Dawn chapter. Reading the musical Christmas chapter has become a holiday tradition in my family.

This is truly a book that anyone can enjoy, a claim that is often made on the front covers of teen-market books but which rarely stands up to the promise. In this case I could read this book to my youngest and oldest child, and all three of us would be entranced.

This childhood favorite is as fresh and charming as when it was first published--and when my father read it to us with obvious . delight when we were kids. The animal protagonists--Ratty, Mole, Badger and Toad--remind us of folks we know, which endears them to us with their all-too-human dreams and foibles. For both People and Creatures struggle to survive in the forests and streams of life.

Exhausted from his strenuous spring cleaning, Mole sets out into the world Aboveground, where he discovers the joys and challenges of riverbank life with his new friend and host, the water rat. But beware the perils lurking in the adjacent Wild Wood!

Kenneth Grahame weaves a gentle tale with willow strands of friendship, dedication to ideals and personal sacrifice for others. Come ride the roads with Toady, and scull down the river with Ratty; savor the sentimental whisperings of Home with Mole. Then join the ranks of Badger's Avengers to honor ancestral memories. This beloved classic combines humor and pathos with lively adventure in an animal realm which closely parallels human endeavor. This book is a true gem, to be rediscovered by successive generations and treasured by children of all ages!

Kenneth Grahame's classic children's tale can be enjoyed by people of all ages. As we follow the rural adventures of Ratty, Mole, Toad, and Badger, we encounter moments of earnest emotion, and intense moments that brush the depths of what it is to be human. For Grahame's characters, taken from amongst the familiar animals that inhabit the English countryside, have all the vulnerability and sensitivity of real human beings, and we genuinely warm to them as together they learn life's lessons.

The early scenes of Ratty and Mole's boat trip and picnic are a delight, and the story progresses into absolute hilarity as we meet Toad and are introduced to his crazy adventures and ill-fated escapades, as well as his incorrigible, over-inflated sense of self-importance. The most humourous episodes involve the wise and avuncular Badger's attempts to thwart Toad's hairbrained schemes and his seemingly endless conceitedness. Toad never seems to learn his lesson, and he remains a tremendously loveable rogue, though a rogue nevertheless.

Ernest Shepard's brilliant illustrations will only add to what is an incredibly touching, joyful, and involving experience.

This book is good for beginners, but I've already tried EVERYTHING Dr. Condrell said before ever buying this book (WITHOUT reading it in a book, or magazine, or getting advice from my pediatrician), and it STILL doesn't work! I guess maybe I have an extra stubborn 3 year old, but nothing in his book is news to me. Was a waste of my money!

This book has a lot of good information in it about how to deal with bratty behavior both at the toddler and the teen level. I didn't agree with everything in the book and I thought some of the proposed punishments were a bit harsh, like if a kid does not clean his room, he is grounded to his room after school and if not finished cleaning by dinner time does not get to eat with the family. I also could have done without the sarcasm, such as the list on "How to Have a Troubled Family". But there is a lot of good advice in the book. I especially liked "behavior that is rewarded will be repeated" and the analogy that dolphins in a show don't do the tricks because they were screamed at or spanked, they do it because they were rewarded when they got it right.

The greatest part about this book is how easy it is to read and how directly applicable it is. No long-winded stuffy professors. This book shows you exactaly what to do, and not do, and tells it with humor. An easy read that will make you feel much more sane!

This is an excellent Godzilla reference guide. The stats on the monsters alone are worth the cover price. You can find out height, weight, what films various monsters have been in (Godzilla & non-Godzilla films are included), win/loss records, and other great little tidbits that really help in enjoying these movies. Many reviewers commented that nothing negative is said about any of the movies, but what can we expect from a guide released by Toho? I don't need anybody to tell me that Godzilla vs Megalon was terrible anyway! Another nice aspect is that every Godzilla movie has a synopsis, and they are very helpful in explaining what is happening when the plot is a bit hazey (I admit it, sometimes the plots are paper thin and a little clarification is necessary). Besides all the great info on the monsters, this book contains the release dates of the movies, alternate titles,pictures of the original movie posters, and lots more. The guest essays are entertaining, except for the "Godzilla as a Parenting Tool" section, which could probably be viewed as child abuse in some areas. That part alone is why I'll only give the book 4 stars. If you want a comprehensive Godzilla reference guide and don't mind that it is totally biased, give The Official Godzilla Compendium a try.

This fairly slim book certainly lives up to the description of what a compendium is supposed to be: 'a brief, complete summary, or abstract'. Glossy stills, plot line summaries, brief reviews [favorable of course], color plates, and the great poster art for each film are presented in this Godzilla overview. With the recent release of some of the Heisei [second] series on DVD I've been indulging this guilty pleasure and started getting back into Gojira after having seen his films and being a fan through my childhood. It was such a pleasure to visit the Heisei series after the American version debacle. This books gave me a nice update on what to expect from the updated series. The guest essays appear to be filler, but they're humourous; Godzilla as a dinosaur, and parenting techniques via Godzilla [honey, you blow smoke rings, you'll get your tail stepped on]. Next up is the more in depth study, 'Monsters are Attacking Tokyo', and the Best of Godzilla soundtracks. How many books can you read that bring a nostalgic smile to your face, remembering these films from your childhood, and allow you to look forward to seeing ones that still haven't been released on DVD or in the US originally. Recommended to new and old fans.

This fairly slim book certainly lives up to the description of what a compendium is supposed to be: 'a brief, complete summary, or abstract'. Glossy stills, plot line summaries, brief reviews [favorable of course], color plates, and the great poster art for each film are presented in this Godzilla overview. With the recent release of some of the Heisei [second] series on DVD I've been indulging this guilty pleasure and started getting back into Gojira after having seen his films and being a fan through my childhood. It was such a pleasure to visit the Heisei series after the American version debacle. This books gave me a nice update on what to expect from the updated series. The guest essays appear to be filler, but they're humourous; Godzilla as a dinosaur, and parenting techniques via Godzilla [honey, you blow smoke rings, you'll get your tail stepped on]. Next up is the more in depth study, 'Monsters are Attacking Tokyo', and the Best of Godzilla soundtracks. How many books can you read that bring a nostalgic smile to your face, remembering these films from your childhood, and allow you to look forward to seeing ones that still haven't been released on DVD or in the US originally. Recommended to new and old fans.

The 1990's have brought a striking popularity in books that promise outsize returns based on simple formulas. The most obvious example of the genre is the Dow Dogs strategy. Made popular by Michael O'Higgins and Jim O'Shaughnessy, among others, underperformance in recent years has done little to dampen investor enthusiasm.

Kenneth Lee's Trouncing The Dow offers a new twist on betting the undervalued Dow stocks theory. Employing a methodology he dubs benchmark investing, Lee seeks to establish price ranges using historical return on equity and price/book value figures. Once established these price ranges are used to establish concrete reference points the investor can use to consistently focus on undervalued stocks. The book has tables of the calculations from 1973-96, allowing those so inclined to compare current valuations with past Dow results under most market conditions. The process also forces the reader to dig into a company's fundamentals and get a feel for how it has been priced in the past.

The appeal here is obvious. A concise method for divining value on a select group of non-volatile stocks where information is readily available. (Lee suggests using The Value Line Investment Survey). The mechanical process eliminates emotion from the equation, allowing the reader to use history as a guide when uncertainty has gripped the market. The fact that Lee stresses low turnover, eschews market timing, and adheres to popular value tenets puts the ideas here on the same wavelength as studies produced recently in books by Jeremy Siegel and Jim O'Shaughnessy. Personally however, when I see strategies based on Dow stocks I tend to want to see computer studies based on similar stocks. I want to see large samples. They give the picture texture and background, they help point out any possible flaws or reasons for concern. Back testing has its limitations. Early on Lee states he originally developed the formula employing the Value Line universe on a computer. In fact, the current configuration of Value Line's electronic product makes Lee's process relatively easy to implement on a broad scale. To include summaries of the results of that data would have added considerable weight to his argument.

It seems to me that the real question here is whether anomalies pointed out here and popularized by O'Higgins and others will continue to outperform. Indeed, many of the ideas here overlap with popular titles of the last few years. Is the Wall Street establishment so short-term focused that long-term value plays based on simple rules offer an easy short cut? Though many would like to deny it, there is enough efficiency in the United States equity markets to make outperformance a relatively difficult task. Though the idea of "beating the experts" without complex strategies makes a cute media story, it continues to be a tall order.

In Trouncing The Dow, Lee makes the case it can be done. The book is a quick read and offers a formula that anyone can employ to make up his or her own mind.

Ken's book is a quick read and discloses a fairly simple mechanical stock valuation method that appears to have significantly outperformed the DJIA over the years. The in depth discussion of the history of each Dow stock is useful although somewhat boring to anyone but a real blue chip fanatic. There are two irritating limitations to the method in the book, namely there is no guidance on when to sell, i.e. when a stock becomes too overvalued and should be rotated into a new stock. The other flaw is that the 10-year average price/book is calculated incorrectly. However the method is the method and if it works, it works! Calculating the average P/B correctly merely has the effect of giving lower (more conservative) target buy prices for high growth stocks. Using this method as a screening tool for large cap value stocks is a useful investment tool to have, and keeping the above limitations in mind, the book is well worth having.

Kenneth Lee's new book, "Trouncing the Dow" is an easy to read, new, conservative investing strategy based on purchasing only those stocks that are trading below their downside target prices. I found this book to be refreshing and practical. Mr. Lee takes readers through his "Benchmark Investing Formula", a seven step process, to arrive at a stock's historical average return on equity for the past ten years. The idea is to purchase stocks trading near or below their past ten year average. In a market that many analysts and investors consider overvalued, Mr. Lee shows readers how to avoid the overvalued stocks and select stocks where the downside risk is low. Mr. Lee goes through his formula with detailed examples, talks about exceptions to the rules and gives a lot of historical data to support his strategy. Mr. Lee's stock picking strategy appears to be sound and logical and is supported by solid data. It's a conservative approach which should be appealing to long term investors trying to increase returns while minimizing risk. I highly recommend this book to serious investors.

Yes, I know I just gave this book 3 stars, but despite the rating, I like this book and I enjoyed reading it. It's not a personal book, though, so don't expect a biography or memoir.

This book is set up in a "did you know?" fashion. Let me explain. This book is 90% a compilation of quotes and commentary from the people who know Jewel personally. The other 10% comprises of responses from Jewel to various questions (i.e., "What were your worst performance experiences?") This is why I say it's more of a "Did you know?" foundation under this book. It's full of insights and facts we never knew about her. This is a book about what the people who surround Jewel think and know of her.

You really have to have an interest in not just Jewel's music, but Jewel herself to appreciate this book. That's why I rated this item 4 stars instead of 5 because of its limited appeal. I am a long-time Jewel fan, so I loved this book. It's too bad, though, that non-Jewel fans probably won't be attracted to this book, because it reveals so much about her character that fans have known for a while, but the public is oblivious to. For instance, Moby talks about how she has the most twisted, blackest sense of humor, and how contrary to popular belief, she'd fit in with the kids in South Park perfectly. He also mentions that Jewel's told him the most disgusting jokes he's ever heard and has the mouth of a sailor that "would make Eminem blush." (I have to admit that I was giggling all throughout Moby's commentary.) Another bandmate admits that "[he has] sarcasm coming out of [his] pores, but she's worse." Another roadie comments, "Jewel hawks the biggest loogies."

Plenty of attention is given to the side of Jewel's personality the public is familiar with, though, such as her honesty, integrity, and kindness.

What impressed me the most about this book is how more attention was given to her "boyishness." After reading this, you see that she's definitely NOT the simpering, wilting flower so many people believe her to be. In fact, most her friends are amazed that she hasn't been butchered by the media for her jokes (which can easily come across as offensive by those easily offended by direct sarcasm, and many, many people are).

I'm not going to say non-fans are going to be interested in this book, because that really depends on how they feel about Jewel. If you're a fan or just someone wanting to understand the woman who is Jewel better, then this is the book for you.

I think, also, that this book is a wonderful addition to anybody interesting in learning about a very modern and complex woman. Jewel is sexy, smart, kind, and possesses a very sharp wit. She's a paradox in that she's an honest individual who is uncomplicated, yet very complex at the same time. She's feminine yet is definitely "one of the boys" and can stand her own with men. She's definitely kind, yet she's probably the most sarcastic person I've ever read of. On top of that, she's optomistic yet her humor can be very dry. This book covers all of these facets and has been an absolutely delightful read for me.

This book gives a very fresh and surprising view of who Jewel really is and the many fascinating aspects of a very complicated yet simple person. By that, I mean she has many complicated ways about her but she needs the basic things to make her happy in life (This book will explain what I mean by that and more!) The book has little trivia tidbits,interviews with people who know jewel, and many new pictures. Did you know that Jewel has a dark and twisted sense of humor or that she was friends with Moby? Find out this and lots more in this excellent, in depth book! A+ Plus don't forget to check out Jewel's newest album 0304! It's great!