Editor Peter L. Rudnytsky has put together a very useful and (for the most part) readable collection of 16 essays for students of literature, psychotherapy, theology, or the intersection of all those disciplines. As a former student of English literature, a current preacher, and a doctoral candidate in psychology and religion interested in the therapeutic uses of popular culture, I have found this volume extremely helpful.

Rudnytsky's Introduction begins by noting that Winnicott has been largely overlooked by literary scholars -- a neglect which is "all the more surprising since Independent object relations theory can claim to offer the first satisfactory psychoanalytic account of aesthetics." (p. xii) He then proceeds to provide a definition of that "aesthetics" utilizing three of Winnicott's best-known concepts: transitional objects, potential spaces, and the use of an object. Since the editor goes on to describe the particular contributions of each of the essays which follow (not all of which are as readily accessible as Winnicott's own writing), a careful reading of this Introduction will be amply rewarded.

The first section, "The Analytic Frame", begins with Winnicott's own reflections on "The Location of Cultural Experience" (from PLAYING & REALITY) and includes a particularly useful (to my areas of interest) essay by Christopher Bollas on "The Aesthetic Moment and the Search for Transformation." Part II, "Literary Objects", focuses on six interpretations of particular authors or works, and Part III concludes with four essays applying Winnicott to various "Cultural Fields" (including Brooke Hopkins' "Jesus and Object-Use"). At least two of the essays (by John Turner and Claire Kahane) critique Winnicott's theory for lack of attention to the social, economic, and political relations which shape subjectivity and perpetuate injustice, or the ways in which culture's prevailing symbolic network of representations are constructed according to the norms of a masculine subject. These more critical voices contribute to a well-balanced collection. Whether you've read a lot of Winnicott, or have only begun to study his theories, this book is well worth having and reading.

Renowned, revered, kind-hearted D.W. Winnicott (1896-1971) was a pediatrician and then a child analyst whose contributions to theories of child development and psychology (mothering, love, language, attachment, dependency, anxiety and many other topics) were enormous. Phillips' book illuminates Winnicott's body of work and includes a chronology. The tone is respectful and insightful and Phillips' knack for skillful explanation and analysis is here. But he knows Winnicott's work -- and life -- by heart, and has written extensively on him elsewhere, and occasionally in this work he meshes the two -- biography and work -- so seamlessly that I wished for more. As an intro to Winnicott's ideas, this is first-rate.

Anybody who still thinks fairy tales are mere bedtime stories for kids has to check out Amanda Craig's new In a Dark Wood, which uses their mythic, roadmap qualities to illuminate a life and in the process create a fascinating, intelligent, page-turner of a novel. Grounded in a fictional fairy tale created by the protagonist's author-illustrator mother, In a Dark Wood takes off, in a smartly multi-layered way, into explorations of family history, failure, loss, survival and breakdown. Amazingly Craig (whose work is finally crossing the ocean from England to North America, thank heavens,) manages this with a miraculous dark wit - a kind of authorial magic flashing through her dark wood.

IN A DARK WOOD is unlike any other book I've read - and I loved it! Topics include England, America, divorce, fairy tales, and skeletons in the family closet.

A man nearing 40 is getting a divorce from his wife and has to re-evaluate his life. He discovers a dark fairy tale book written by his mother, who killed herself when he was 6, and he has very little recollection of her. Tracking down his mother's friends and reading the stories help him learn about his past, his family and himself.

The writing style is very smart. The dark fairy stories within the book are killer and they neatly parallel what happened in the mother's past as well as the protagonist's present. The story starts off right in the middle of his moving out of his house, and then continues on a steady pace, building and spiraling until the end.

This book was right up my alley. I look forward to reading more works by Amanda Craig.

Although the words "a real page-turner...couldn't put it down" are as over-used in reviews as an ATM in Vegas, no other words more accurately describe this book. From page one, Craig carries the reader through a delightful roller-coaster ride of emotions. Combining our hero's search for the truth (about his deceased mother) with the fairy tales (his Mother wrote) he can not escape, IN A DARK WOOD makes for an intriguing novel, sure to be on every critics "ten best" list come December. Please, more from Amanda Craig (she has a number of novels available in England, but not America)- and soon!

This is much more than a simple biography of Steve Biko, the leader of the Black Consciousness movement in South Africa and one of the seminal figures in the anti-apartheid movement, it is an insider's look and condemnation of the System. Though Biko died young and apartheid has faded into memories for most people who had the misfortune of living in it, his is an excellent example of the horroific prejudices to which people, even in these enlightened times, can be subjected. This book uses incredible detail and many essential sources to tell a lively, powerful, and important story. I watched Cry Freedom several years ago and was inspired tolearn more about the subject, and I would recommend the same path, because the movie really brings the characters and issues to life. I would caution people who only want to learn the basics about the history of apartheid or Biko, that this is a very indepth and detailed book, that can be difficult to follow if you are not familiar with the subjects, so I might recommend a slightly more elementary book for a first experience.

...Its one thing to pump the masses with political ideology, changing the way people think is another story altogether - and for that he (Biko) paid with his life, at the hands of the ruthlessly prescient architects of apartheid.

Defining black consciousness in the South African context and working towards reversing centuries of social engineering this is Biko's story and his life - ably demonstrated by Donald Woods, his friend and confidante.

If there's just one book you read on the legacy of apartheid in South Africa, make it this one... Biko was to black consciousness what Muhammed was to Islam. Enough said.

I first learned about Biko in the movie "Cry Freedom." It was a great movie. After I saw the movie I wanted to learn about him so i read this book. It is a great book that i think everybody should read.

This book was loaded with B/W pictures of Fire Apparatus from the early part of the century, right thru the publication of the book. Many of the pictures were from Manufacturers own archives, which gives a unique idea of what the equipment looked like pre-service. A great many of the pictures were from WI, and Western US states, with not enough from the Northeastern US.

Color pictures of some of the more noteworthy trucks would have been nice, to set off distinct eras in equipment manufacture.

I am a serious toy fire engine collecter (over 100 and counting).
This book is an invaluable guide in dating the fire engines and support vehicles that come my way. This book contains the pictures and descriptions of fire engines used by volunteer fire departments over a 150 year span (1850-2000). One note of concern, it virtually ignores the American Lafrance company which made the cadillac of fire engines during virtually the same span of the book.

In his book, 'Asking For Trouble: The Autobiography of a Banned Journalist', Donald Woods gives the reader a fascinating first person view of the tumultuous era of Apartheid in South Africa. The book takes the form of an autobiographical narrative, rich with anecdotes both humorous and poignant, which details his experiences in a highly readable way. The earlier parts of the book describe his childhood, spent on a Xhosa homeland with his father, a white trader, and his strong identification with the Xhosa people. He then turns to his early days as a journalist on London's famed Fleet Street. Returning to South Africa, Woods began a succesful and controversial career as the editor of the East London Daily Dispatch, in which capacity he openly criticized the Afrikaaner government's racial policies. This later brought him to the attention of the famous activist Steven Biko, with whom Woods became close friends. The death of Biko, the subsequent investigation and cover-up, and Woods' own persecution at the hands of the government occupy the latter portions of the book.

The most intriguing aspects of the book are Woods' own irreverent outlook on society and remarkable breadth of experience. Fluent in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa, Woods was at home with all the peoples of South Africa, and his biography is replete with cultural insights and fascinating personalities shedding light on a continent where the streets are dark with people. There are many hilarious anecdotes; this is one major difference between this book and his earlier effort 'Biko'. Where 'Biko' is serious and impassioned, this book is nostalgic and personal, without being overly self-important. All in all, an extremely rewarding book which I commend to anyone interested in South Africa.

brilliant book, it was the first book i have actually read from cover to cover. from his childhood to his escape from the troubled country of south africa it kept me in the book and was very interesting

A fantastic collection of old photographs with well done text remarks. Noteworthy are the "one offs", that is the special construction rigs. This book could have been better if some articles of historic text filled in the gaps.

Ever since I was a little kid, I loved car carriers for some reason. Every day, I would go to the busiest road I knew and watch for them. I still watch and love them today, but now that I have this awesome picture book, I don't have to go to the highway all the time to watch these cool trucks go by. You can only rely on Inconografix to bring you the best picture books on your favorite kinds of vehicles

If you buy this book, you should know what you are getting. The examples are good, the problems are solid and challenging, and the building code (the UBC) is integrated seamlessly into the course of the text. For timber design, this book is essential.

This book was helpful once I went onto a design lab, but sometimes the examples were so involved that I got lost in all the numbers.

After studying the book for six months, I think the material in the book is very good. I am disappointed, and surprised, that the binding is coming apart.

This is a great book and i think many people should read it.It has alot of meaning to it and it also has a lot of the past of South Africa. Steve Biko was a great hero, and him going on a hunger strike was okay because if he didn't he would've been beaten to death by the police and i'm sure a lot of people are proud of him for sticking up to his country like!!

it's a good n educational book...i think it's really worth reading it.... at 1st...actually i felt boring reading it....but...when the story really reach the excited part, whick biko was dead...it's quite touching... go 4 it....

So what's the difference between Steve Biko and the rest of the Black activists? For most people they'll probably think that Biko was one of the activists that support the arm struggle against the Nationalist's government in old South Africa; That he went up to the stage, using a strong word to fight against injustice and condemn the Apartheid policy and the gross violation of human rights ( the law empowers the security police to arrest any "communists" that harm the republic without trial ). Though there are some true in it but most importantly, Steve Biko, unlike most of the black activists; was one of the few people that was able to see the impacts behind the Apartheid and that the system has seriously damaged the self-esteem of the black people. Especially the younger ones, whom their daily lives was living under grave poverty and discriminations. And the worst of all is that the blacks were never have the opportunities equal to the white so it creates a general atmosphere that the blacks are destined to work for whites people while the whites were enjoying all the luxury that the black ever dreamed of...It is unfortunate but that is exactly what the Apartheid's government up to... racial segregation as a disguise of psychological torture in order to ensure the forever white-rule in South Africa. But because of Steve Biko, a lot of young black people come to realise that they are not inferior to the whites or to anyone, that they are as beautiful as their own country.

A reasonable book for bus fans to start with. It covers makes from 1900 to 1989 and author Donald Wood has done his research and crams in plenty of facts for the introductions to each decade. This is primarily a photo guidebook though and as another reviewer has commented, it is a pity some of the photos are not in color.

The three hundred black and white photos are mostly good quality. To bulk out the pages the definition of a bus is stretched, for example, on page 76 a photo of some Chrysler limos and on page 80 a Mack truck that just happens to have seats added. There is an index and bibliography.

I was disappointed by the dull layout (why is it that these fan orientated titles always look so bland?) because most of the photos are to predetermined widths there are plenty of large empty spaces and it is a shame that the publishers did not care to put a bit more creative effort into the layout.

Still, this book will be good start to your bus library.

Greatly recommended. Good nostalgia book for anyone who travelled extensively by bus or for anyone who works in the bus industry.

Over 300 black & white photos of every conceivable type of bus. It would have been nicer if the later pictures had been in color. I think it would have add zip to the book.

Each decade has 2 to 3 pages of text, giving the highlights of the industry at that time, followed by pictures of each type of bus in use at the time.

Interesting tidbits and little known facts are also given. I learned that the official color of school buses is "national school bus chrome".

The quality of the books is good. The pictures are nice and sharp. Every bus aficionado should have this book.