The power and skill of Waterhouse's works are displayed in a calendar created with a craftmanship that is rare to find today. A beautiful item to display in the home or office.

Thank you for making such a wonderful collection of the masterpieces of John William Waterhouse. As a Language Arts teacher, I put this calendar on my school shopping list for September. The collection of paintings will serve as a timekeeper, a visual aid for group discussions and journals, and a thoughtful present for co-workers. Recent emphasis on interdisciplinary projects will make it a great instructional tool in combining English, Arts, and History.

I own this calendar and plan to buy more because the quality of the pictures and paper cannot compare with any other. This is a great present for co-workers during the holiday season and a thoughtful thank you gift.

Over the past 15 years I have read numerous works by many libertarian writers. Walter Williams, Thomas Sowell, Ayn Rand, Charles Murray, P.J. O'Rourke, Dave Barry, Henry Hazlitt, F.A. Hayek, Ludwig Von Mises, Milton Friedman, Murray Rothbard, Julian Simon, and many others. Walter Williams is my definite favorite libertarian writer. He tells the plain, simple truth in a way that is very easy to understand. He presents the facts in such a way that only a fool could read him and then walk away without becoming a libertarian. This book is pretty much on par with his others. Which is to say, it is excellent. Mr Williams is a true supporter of individual liberty, freedom, private property rights, and strict limits on the size of government. Good for him!

This book is a compilation of columns by America's strongest voice of liberty, Dr. Walter E. Williams. In this book Dr. Williams offers his common sense, freedom-loving take on the vital issues of the day. He fearlessly confronts the many liberal fallacies responsible for eroding our precious liberties. A must read for anyone wanting to expand their base of knowledge and unafraid to confront stark truths. A great antidote to the toxic political propaganda many of our universities dispense. And, a great book for Blacks brave enough to challenge the ethnic grievance industry (Jackson-Sharpton).

This is a collection of Prof. Walter Williams's newspaper columns. It's in his usual plainspoken, tough minded style. A must for the Prof. Williams fan.

This easy-to-read book makes libertarian ideas accessible to any interested high-school or even junior high student. The concepts are simple, but not simplified. Buy it for your kid, or for the neighbor's kid, or for yourself. See other "Uncle Eric" books.

I cannot recommend Maybury's books highly enough. I once convinced a lawyer to read his books; he told me he learned things not taught in law school. Maybury is clear, concise and to the point. He writes not only for adults and teenagers, but also children. I explained the concepts in this book to two children less than ten years old and found later than they understood! "Do all that you have agreed to do" (the basis of contract law) and "Do not encroach on persons or their property" (the basis of tort and some criminal law). These laws have existed in every society that has been. Societies that have ceased to obey these laws have invariably failed.

This is one of the very best books I have ever read,one of those that have actually shaped my thinking and that of many others! A book to be put in the not to be missed category! It deals with common law and politics and economy, all unavoidable aspects of our daily life, but most of all it deals with the hidden aspects of two laws, the ramifications of which politicians do not want us to know so we stay under their power. His thinking is so razor edged, one can only be thankful for having been woken from ones slumber.

Another exceptional historical from Elizabeth Chadwick! The writing paints a picture of medieval England in the time of William the Conqueror that makes you feel as if you are truly there. The story starts out with Ailith, a Saxon wife who suddenly finds herself a widow after her husband attends William's coronation. Her two beloved brothers have already been slain in the Battle of Hastings defending their country and King Harold. Additionally, to make matters worse, she has lost her feeble baby son to the grave.

With sweeping descriptions of the battlefield to domestic life in medieval England, relationships ebb and flow, with Ailith finding herself alone except for the newly met Norman neighbors. She reluctantly agrees to nurse their son as the Norman Felice is too weakened by childbirth. She then becomes Norman Rolf de Brize's chatelaine at his English estate, after having met him previously, and eventually becomes his mistress and bears him a daughter. Meanwhile, Rolf already has a wife and daughter in Normandy. Their love endures many twists and turns but cannot survive what Ailith considers the ultimate betrayal. Their child Julitta, after having been a cherished and indulged daughter, is taken away from it all and her love for Benedict, her mother's Norman friend's son, is fraught with many trials and barely endured hardships.

All in all, this book is a page turner that I found difficult, at best, to put down. It grabs your attention and holds it throughout the entire story. If you haven't read anything by Elizabeth Chadwick you are missing out on some great medieval historical reading! Do yourself a favor and read this and all of Elizabeth Chadwick's books! You won't be sorry!

When a comet appears in the sky over Englad in the year of 1066, most poeple see it as a bad omen. In October of that year, the Normans invade led by William and things are never the same again.

For young Saxon wife, Ailith, who is newly pregnant she wonders what the future will hold for her and her child. She has developed a friendship with her neighbour, Felice, also pregnant.

When Ailith's husband is killed in the Battle of Hastings, she is persuaded to become nursemaid to Felice's new son, Benedict. But her heart is heavy and she cannot reconcile her friendship with the fact that Felice's countrymen killed her husband.

This is an epic romantic tale, which just sweeps you away into the sights, sounds and smells of eleventh century England, where tensions are high and danger lurks around every corner.

I've been to Battle Abbey and the field where it took place, and it was amazing to see everything brought so vividly to life in the book. Ms. Chadwick has the gift of making history come to life.

Not to be missed.

Reviewed by Annette Gisby, author of Shadows of the Rose.

Ms. Chadwick writes a beautiful, romantic story with the Anglo-Saxon-Norman era as the backdrop. She has done an excellent job of historical research... from the vivid, graphic battle scenes at Hastings to the societal culture of the period. The love stories of Ailith & Rolf, and Julitta & Benedict would stand alone regardless of the time period. However, the setting of 11th century Britain makes these & all the characters that much more intriguing.

I couldn't put False Positive down. The authors really have a knack for clear, page-turning writing. Characterization was great, and I appreciated the humanness of the characters as well as the real struggles that people face in the abortion arena. It was dealt with sensitively, and with candor and reality.

A morality play...disguised as a medical mystery...with the requisite dash of romance? Hmm, was this worth my time?

Although I believe in the sanctity of life, the subject matter of this book almost kept me from reading it. I feared a thinly veiled anti-abortion discourse--and one thing I don't handle well is agenda-heavy fiction. If you want to make a point, make sure to entertain and tell a good story at the same time. That's why Grisham's legal thrillers continue to sell even while taking on the tobacco industry, the homeless crisis, etc.

Cutrer and Glahn dispelled my fears quickly. The medical details, the unflinching looks at difficult subjects, and the likeable characters drew me in. ...

Although "False Positive" doesn't have the immediate hook of a Grisham-type thriller, it does have the very human motivations, readable dialogue, and ethical dilemmas that Grisham has used to such marvelous effect. The authors handle this medical mystery with maturity, surprises, and grace. As the story draws a growing number of characters together, the action accelerates and the emotional impact rises. While never veering from their spiritual beliefs, the authors (and publisher) demonstrate open minds and open hearts. Beware: stanch advocates of either side of the abortion debate will cry foul, but this book rises above the mudslinging. Cutrer and Glahn raise questions not easily answered by either side. They write about real people who don't always agree. And I liked that.

In fact, I liked this book. A lot! Although "False Positive" was my first read by these authors, it will not be my last.

False Positive is a fast-paced novel that handles the volatile subject of abortion in a tender and compassionate way. So often the debate between the pro-life and pro-choice camps deteriorate into name calling and vicious attacks. This book does NOT do that, but gently probes the deep questions without bogging down in theory or theology. The characters in the book present a variety of views and circumstances drawn from the real world are incorporated. (One of the authors is an OB-BYN physician.)

The characters are real and it should be required reading for those who have strong opinions on either side of the abortion question. All but the staunchest defenders of abortion, under ANY circumstances, will find this book worthwhile. This book is especially timely for women contemplating abortion as well as comforting to those who may struggle after having an abortion.

The heroes of the book (and the real world) are the tireless volunteers who give of themselves to help women facing unwanted pregnancies. Thumbs up to the authors.

If you have a question about English or American literature, chances are you'll find the answer here. William Harmon, professor of English at the University of North Carolina has revised and updated this handbook, long popular in academia. He's added more than 100 entries which reflect current trends in literature and criticism.

If you don't have a student at home, get this book anyway. Read it. Just the outline of English and American literary history in the back of the book is worth the price. You undoubtedly will find books here you never knew existed. I thought I'd read all of Eudora Welty, for instance, but I found a "new" title listed here -- new to me, at least. I also discovered a James Gould Cozzens book I'd never heard of.

The handbook is actually an encyclopedia of words and phrases pertaining to the study of literature. Listings are defined, explained and often illustrated. There are cross references. Appendices include complete lists of Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize winners for fiction, poetry and drama. The index of proper names in the back lists over 2,300 authors and prominent literary figures.

This book is a must for the home library. Also, it's entertaining as well as informative reading. You may well find yourself curled up with it, unwilling to tear yourself away.

I love this book because it has complete, concise definitions of every literary facet you can think of. I have used it as a study tool for my certification tests, as a quick look up tool before tests, and as a way to explain difficult literary terminology to my students. I cannot stress how badly English teachers (and anyone else who loves literature) needs this book!

With the possible exception of my Roget's Thesaurus, this was the most useful reference in my pursuit of a BA in English Lit and Art History. This was recommended by one of my professors and it served me very well.

Easy-to-use alphabetical format allows reader to look up terms essential to the analysis of literature, and is highly useful to students of other humanities. The definitions are easy to digest but are quite thorough and supply sufficient context. Take this to college and use it often. An excellent tool for your research and writing.

"Yorkie Doodle Dandy," is a heartwarming book that moves the reader from laughter to tears as the author recalls his World War II - and beyond - experiences with Smoky, a remarkable little Yorkshire Terrier. The four pound, four-legged angel was an award-winning mascot, as well as a war dog who strung telephone lines through an eight-inch drainage pipe under an airstrip in a combat area, saving several days' worth of work, and a much-loved companion. Following the War, she and Wynne entertained countless people doing a remarkable array of tricks. Readers will be grateful that Bill Wynne has chosen to share the story of his life with Smoky. Their adventures are to be savored. This highly entertaining book is one you'll want to read again and again.

"Yorkie Doodle Dandy" is a great story, obviously written with a deep love. It offers a different dimension to typical war stories. The story's heroine, a 4 pound Yorkshire Terrier named Smoky, is absolutely incredible, as is her master, Bill Wynne. They are proof positive of the deep and enduring relationship that can exist between a human being and a pet.

When you read this fantastic story, you'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll rejoice in the human/pet connection. This is a first person account of a wonderful relationship. I highly recommend it!

Smoky a little 4lb Yorkshire Terrier was one of the most celebrated dogs from World War II. It is very heartwarming to read about how she became a true hero. From the time she was found in New Guinea to her being sneaked back to the United States. I thought the story in whole will make you smile and cry when she dies. Only Bill Wynne could tell this beautiful story of a soldier and his pal in such a great book. I would recommend this book, to those who love dogs and a little bit of history

William Hill's "California Ghosting" is a well-rounded mix of mystery, suspense and fantasy, filled with interesting individuals. Even if I wasn't pulled along nicely by the plot (and I certainly was), I would have kept turning pages just to see what the people (and ghosts) in the story would do next. I particularly liked some of the subtler elements, like the interactions between some of the "fully-fleshed" ghost characters and various two-dimensional, "real" minor characters . . .

Have already read the book twice and recommend it for readers of all ages. Mr. Hill has a command of the English language and has an exciting writing style.

A visit to Ghostal Shores is worth the price of admission. My favorite aspect was the characters. They were realistic and full of life, even the ghosts. California Ghosting is a nice twist on the haunted house theme, blending action, suspense, mystery and romance at a fluid pace that keeps moving faster and faster. I could clearly see the characters and the resort. This would make a great movie!

This is a very interesting book in explaining how to initiate communities of practice, their lifecycle and their role in the sharing and development of knowledge. Over the last ten or twenty years there has been much written about new organizational structures and the emerging importance of developing and retaining knowledge within corporations. Wenger, McDermott and Snyder approach this topic from a social perspective and apply some standard community building concepts to "communities of practice". This contrasts much of the popular thinking on these topics that tend to overemphasize the role of technology in helping to build communities or address knowledge management issues.

Cultivating Communities of Practice is and excellent handbook for anyone involved in the setup, participation or stewardship of "communities of practice" within a corporation. I would though suggest that the emphasis is on "corporation", which in some cases implies individuals having some predetermined alignment (presumably with the interests of the corporation). There is some very good discussion at the end of the book covering communities of practice outside of the corporation with and some review of supply chains and 3rd sector examples, although very limited coverage. It was noted that the focus has been on corporations as this is where there are solid examples of these practices. Hopefully a future book will address this area in more depth.

This book is identified as "A Guide to Managing Knowledge", and it does fit this description well. If you still believe that technology can be the primary component of a knowledge management strategy, then you need this book to better understand the nature of knowledge management in terms of communities of practice.

Writing a good book on the topic of communities of practice must a difficult task. The research challenge arises from the difficulty of finding hard data in a soft subject. The complexity of human interactions in groups defies neat categorizations and explanations. The authors of this highly readable volume do better than you might expect. Combining their deep knowledge in the subject with examples from a range of large companies (Shell Oil, Hewlett-Packard, Ben & Jerry's), they explain how this promising aspect of knowledge management and organizational culture can work. Along with stories about communities of practice at various stages of development, the authors succeed in providing a fairly well-developed scheme for these communities and their care and feeding.

A community of practice (CoP) is a group of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing basis. This book explains the potential value of CoPs, their structural elements, principles for crafting CoPs, analyzes their stages of growth, explores their downsides, investigates how to measure the value they create, and what role they play in community-based knowledge initiatives. It seems unfair to criticize this book, but more detail on how to implement CoPs would have been welcome. The authors have developed a helpful framework for understanding CoPs, illustrated by examples, but the reader will still need to think hard to implement them in a new setting.

This book, just published by "the three musketeers of Communities of Practice", is a practical guide to managing knowledge. What makes this book special is that it goes far beyond the simple explanation and advocacy for communities of practice, which we have all been reading about for the last five years. Through in-depth cases from firms such as DaimlerChrysler, McKinsey & Company, Shell, and the World Bank, the authors expand on many practical aspects one should have in mind when engaging in a community development: The "seven principles", the "five development steps" are presented in practical terms and with great details so that they can be used as a framework for all practitioners.

The approach to "cultivating" and nurturing communities, as opposed to "managing" them, is also explained so that managers will hopefully resist the urge to try and control them using mechanistic mental models. At last, the question of measuring value creation for organizations is addressed in convincing and, again, practical ways.

There is also some wisdom in this book. The "dark side" of communities of practice is also addressed. If unproperly managed, communities of practice can indeed create isolation, collusion, or tensions, which can be quite destructive for community members and sponsoring organizations.

This book is an essential reading for any leader in today's knowledge economy. It will undoubtedly remain as a reference for all of us practitioners who want to develop communities of practice for the benefit and long-term success of organizations and their employees.

One of the best books among the many about infantry combat. That it is fictional detracts not one iota. The author quite obviously writes from experience and makes use of the freedom fiction provides to paint a powerful and realistic picture of ground warfare, particularly the randomness through which men live and die. As one who fought in the infantry during the Battle of the Bulge, the setting for Mr. Boyd's novel, and produced three highly researched chapters about it in a memoir, I am proud to recommend "The Gentle Infantryman" as an authentic account of the way it was. Fiction can indeed be more true than fact. This honest little book is a primary example.

This is the best book about the WW2 combat soldier I've ever read. The information is historically accurate and exacting in detail, told with a true storyteller's memory and eye for a good yarn. The fact that the author experienced WW2 in Europe gives you the feeling that he is writing his own life story. The story is neither sentimental nor maudlin, nor is it gritty; it is realistic. Easy to read, it makes you proud to be an American and will leave you with immense respect for the "Greatest Generation." A must for every WW2 historian.

A Vet I met at the Bloomsburg PA county fair told me about this book. He said that the author was in his unit and that the stories were very well retold in the book. You as the reader can get a real feeling of what Bill Boyd and the men in unit went through. When you finish the story you are left with an feeling that it just incredible that anyone survived those final months of the war as the Germans fought to save there homeland and sadness for those who didn't make it. You will thoroughly enjoy reading this book.