i own four other temari books. for me, margaret ludlow's has the best instructions and anna diamond's some wonderful pattern ideas. but for variety and inspiration, this is the best.

instructions are given for the most basic form of each design. the photos, which are very good, give examples of more elaborate variations of each design, of combinations of designs, and of possible filler stitches. patterns are shown in more than one color scheme, which nicely illustrates the difference color can make.

i have two minor complaints about the instructions. i think the author should have shown more pins used for some of the designs. i am an experienced stitcher, but i can't trust my eye to find the right spot to stitch on a curved object without a marker, and accuracy is essential for these designs. and i would have liked to have seen a bit more instruction on the herringbone stitch for beginners, as well as pointers for keeping the thread flat and even in the spindle design.

those minor issues aside, this is an excellent book for design ideas.

I'm new at Temari and found this book very helpful. The diagrams and pictures are great. Everyone should buy it if they have an interest in Temari.

Beginner or more experienced, this is by far the most useful and inspirational English language Temari book. Rather than teaching a pattern as a titled project, Wood teaches the basic pattern and presents several pages of photos using the pattern... you are limited only by your imagination. Perhaps the only caveat is that American beginners may be a bit confused by her proper English style of writing, as it does differ slightly from what one will find in most other non-Japanese books, but it's not hard to overcome and well worth the effort. If you can only afford one Temari book, this is the one to get.

Darwin fanatics and Jane Austen fans will gobble up this delicious dessert. Written by Darwin's grandaughter (Raverat was George's daughter born too late to know her illustrious grandfather personally)PERIOD PIECE contains both a wealth of Family Stories that helps humanize the usual image of the Great Victorian Sage and some real (although often tongue-in-cheek) insights into Late-Victorian/Edwardian Society. As Raverat says in the Preface, the book doesn't really have a beginning or an end, it is easily dipped-in-to at any point & you will have to be totally lacking in a sense of humor not to come away both charmed & informed.

An absolute masterpiece of comic writing. Ms. Raverat drawings mesh perfectly with her loving, but not pious, treatment of her eccentric aunts and uncles. A deft ironist, a great memoir of late 19th century Cambridge. I promise you will force this book on everyone you love and they will thank you for it.

This is a really lovely book, perfect for reading at bedtime or in the garden under the apple tree on a summer's afternoon. Gwen Raverat writes vividly with chapters by theme rather than chronologically and and gives a rounded view of her childhood experiences and the Darwin family of uncles and aunts.

I have been teaching graduate social work for fifteen years and have yet to discover a text about psychosocial casework that surpasses this revised classic in its clarity, depth, thouroughness, and wisdom. The basic psychosocial orientation and typology of casework procedures defined by Florence Hollis remains intact, yet the text, as a whole, is substantially updated by Mary Woods, whose fluid prose is rich in clinical detail, articulate, and aimed at what the practitioner yearns to know and needs to know. As an experienced clinician, I still turn frequently to the chapters on couple and family treatment where protocols for navigating these exceptionally tricky modalities are clearly presented. In chapter 16, for example, Mary Woods develops a typology of "relationships and problems" detailing 12 patterns of couple conflict that, in itself, serves as a primer for the novice practitioner. Approaches to nontraditional couples (premarital couples, unmarried pairs, cross-cultural relationships, and gay and lesbian couples) are amply discussed as well with sensitive consideration of social differentials in power experienced by men and women and by couples of color. The text consistently partializes assessment and techniques of intervention so that one can read and assimilate complex clinical procedures in bite size pieces. Heuristics are laced throughout the text, giving one a feeling of personal guidance. The fifth edition of Casework is a treasure chest for students and teachers of social work and the helping professions to dig into time and time again.

Casework: A Psychosocial Therapy, 5th edition

by Mary Woods and Florence Hollis

For many years the classic Woods and Hollis text has been required reading for graduate students of social work at the Hunter College School of Social Work. The updated Fifth Edition is even more useful than previous editions in its in-depth and detailed explanations of modern social work practice. This book addresses clients' concrete practice needs, environmental deficits and pressures, and personal and relationship dilemmas. Seldom in the literature is the field of social work firmly grounded in its own special knowledge and traditions, described so fully that the reader can clearly distinguish it from other helping professions. Recently, when asked about which of many professional writings they found most helpful, eight-five percent of a class of first year social work graduate students consistently identified Casework as particularly valuable in illuminating knowledge essential to their education for social work; they noted the text's clear explications of the unique history, values, missions and rick accumulation of practice experience-and the complexity of the interactions among these-that must be mastered to train for a career in this profession. Students have further indicated that the book is extremely helpful in identifying the theories underlying social work practice and how these theories can be specifically applied in work with a broad range of clients, presenting a vast array of quandaries and difficulties, seen in many settings.

Clear explanations of techniques (the "how-tos" of practice)aid new social workers in developing skills of listening and intervening. The importance of "mutuality" between clients and workers in emphasized. The text explains how clients-individuals, couples and families-can be helped to claim their own strengths and become empowered to resolve dilemmas, make decisions and choose changes. From the outset, the reader learns about social work's dual focus: on people and their environments and on the interactions and "fit" between them. The book describes and illustrates how people's lives affect and are affected by external conditions. Straightfoward discussions and a wide variety of case examples demonstrate how inner and outer phenomena are in constant interaction and inseparably intertwined, and how social work interventions have to be tailored to focus on those systems most accessible to change.

The four chapters on family and couple treatment introduce beginning students to multi-person interviewing and are often studied intensively by second year and post-graduate students who are preparing to gain further understanding and skill in these modalities.

Dr. Florence Vigilante, Professor, The Hunter College School of Social Work, of the City University of New York Dr. Martha Haffey, Associate Professor and Chair of Casework, The Hunter College School of Social Work of the City University of New York

As a graduate social work clinician of 15 years, I turn to Casework: A Psychosocial Therapy to renew my understanding, hone my skills, and refresh myself on the particulars of treatment techniques and procedures involved in individual, family, and couple work. There are few books that blend theory and the "how-to" of clinical practice in the ways that this book does. It is an exceptionally clear text. This book reminds the clinician of the importance of listening closely to what is important to clients as opposed to imposing upon them what we think should be important to them. Respect for the client is foremost, and this book underlines this and other values which represent the best our profession offers. It is the definitive test in psychosocial casework, and I heartily recommend it to others.

THIS BOOK IS AWSOME

I loved it. Mary and Michal Woods did a bomb job. I loved learning about ancient machines. How the pully,wedge,lever came from as late as the stone age. Ancient people are not as primitave as I thoght.

This is a perfect and fascinating book for children and their parents too. My grandchildren will be getting this for Christmas.

Life Space Crisis Intervention is one of the best kept secrets in the field of working with troubled and troubling children and adolescents. Drs. Long and Wood offer the wisdom of many years of successful teaching and doing. This book provides the framework for the most effective training program available for professionals in social services, education, juvenile justice, and mental health. The book is best used as a supplement to a five-day certification training in Life Space Crisis Intervention. To learn more about this training contact the Life Space Crisis Intervention Institute @ 301-733-2751 or email GROWING EDGE Training Associates: gredge@netset.co

Wood and Long describe a time-tested technique for helping troubled and troubling children and youth who are in crisis in their homes, schools, and communities. Life Space Crisis Intervention is a refreshing alternative to traditional techniques and provides effective alternatives to punishment. The authors describe how to use LSCI to use crisis as an opportunity for insight and behavior change. The book is most effective in combination with the five-day training program available through the Institute of Psychoeducational Training in Hagerstown, MD. Information is available through fecser@pepcleve.com

I have used every edition of the Analytical Reading Inventory, but this one is the best yet. Since I am a teacher educator, I find the accompanying audiotapes quite helpful--both to me and to my students. The content of the graded passages has always been real children's literature, and thus, more like real reading. There are both narrative and expository passages with different forms for pre-and post-assessments, or for comparing silent reading comprehension to oral reading comprehension. The directions for use are very reader-friendly. And, for this latest edition, the reader passages come in a separate booklet for easy use in the testing situation. I think anyone using this inventory would be well satisfied.

Now out of print and available only as a series of audiotapes, « Basic American Government » was initially published as a massive 480-page volume, not counting the notes, glossary, index, and the 60 pages of firsthand documents such as the Declaration of Independence, The Federalist N°10 or the Constitution itself. Its author, Clarence Carson, is the author of more than 500 articles and about 15 fifteen books, including a six-volume history of the United States.

The book is divided into four sections : - Section 1 (35p) deals with the basic principles of the American system of government. It starts by reminding the reader that the United States, contrary to the platitudes that are mouthed by today's journalists and politicians, « is not a democracy. It is a Constitutional Federated Republic. » Carson then goes on to explain what these concepts of « constitution », « republic » and « federalism » mean exactly, thus presenting the « sum and substance » of American govenment. - Section 2 (150p) delves into the intellectual background of the American political system, from authorities such as Aristotle to the English heritage of the 17th and 18th century, including 12 pages on John Locke, Trenchard and Gordon, William Blackstone and Adam Smith alone. The American colonial experience, the American Revolution and the Constitutional Convention are then summarized, but of course with much less detail than in Carson's « Basic History of the United States » or his « Rebirth of Liberty ». - Section 3 (130p) traces the evolution of the American system of government in the 19th century, from the establishment of the Federal Government after the ratification of the Constitution through the major decisions of the Supreme Court and the upheaval of the Civil War and Recontruction. - Section 4 (135p) deals with the 20th century and the advent of Leviathan (or big government), examining how socialism, by deliberately refusing to call itself by that name, entered the American mainstream ; and how Franklin D. Roosevelt « broke the constitutional dam » with his New Deal and the Court Packing Plan of 1937- a process culminating in a government that has become « out of control ».

First published in 1993, Clarence Carson's masterful volume « Basic American Government » ranks among his best, and is to my knowledge the most profound, principled and systematic treatment of the subject ever printed- far better than R.V. Denenberg's « Understanding American Politics », and incomparably superior to David Cushman Coyle's pitiful « The United States Political System and How it Works».

True to the founding principles of the Founding Fathers, enlightened by a genuine understanding of economic principles (Carson is well-read in both the classical economists and the Austrians, and is the author of a helpful treatise on « Basic Economics »), it opens with what I consider to be the most powerful statement ever printed on the current condition of the US government : « It would be considerable fraud to do a book on American government which talked as if the Constitution were still being substantially observed, that pretended that when Presidents took the oath of office they intended to observe the bounds set by the Constitution, that Congressmen recited their pledges with the same intent, and that Federal judges were still construing the Constitution as it was written. In sum, any book on American government worthy of the name ought to make clear how remote from the Constitution the government has become. »

Carson's own suggestions as to how to restore the integrity of the US political system are extremely simple. As he says, the text of the Constitution itself is still intact, so what is necessary is merely to make US government officials obey it. Did you know for instance that, in the Constitution, « there is no authority granted to levy taxes or to contract debts to provide for any foreign country » and that « the United States is specified alone as the beneficiary for all tax collections » ? (p445) More specifically, Carson suggests repealing the 17th Amendment (which undermined the federal system by reducing the power of the states to check the central government) and making it a treason for any US government official to betray the Constitution.

In other words, the way for Americans to bring the government back to its function of protecting their rights to « life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness » is simply to make their servants obey the charter which was initially adopted to limit their powers.

From all the books I've picked out of a bookshelf either on random or after having had them recomender to me, this is one of the best. This book was so inspiring. It outlined in a simple way the life and trials of blessed Mary MacKillop, and this Norwegian fell in love at once. If you want to learn more about this wonderful Aussie rolemodel, this is a great book to start with.

This book is a must have for todays business managers in the ever changing world of sales. I am amazed at the insight and accuracy depicted in the book. It assisted me in the re-engineering of a tired sales force. Two thumbs up!

The Thorn Birds, written by Colleen McCullough, in my opinion is the greatest romance novel of all time. The character of Meggie Cleary is my favorite character in all of literature. Her strength, beauty, passion and love makes her a timeless heroine. Meggie and Father Ralph share a love story that spans many years and many heartbreaks. Even though they are not together, the book always has a undercurrent where you can feel their longing and endless love for each other, even though they are not together. In their hearts, they will be together forever.Meggie and Ralph are the Romeo and Juliet of the Australian outback- just as tortured and tragic. The miniseries was also fabulous--Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward make me speechless every time I see it. It is spectacular. Read The Thorn Birds and watch the series, if you are lucky enough to have the chance. You will never be the same--it's not just a book or a movie, it's an experience. Thank you Colleen McCullough, for such a wonderful story.

The Thorn Birds, by Colleen McCullough, begins in 1915 and spans three generations long. It is a complex story about the Cleary family that leave their home in New Zealand to live and work on a relative's extensive, Australian sheep ranch. At the ranch, the family experiences many tragedies and hardships including fires, floods, droughts, and devastating deaths of loved ones. The main character, Meggie, falls madly in love with a handsome man named Ralph. Unfortunately, Meggie is not able to marry Ralph because he is a priest. Ralph loves Meggie dearly, but has devoted his entire life to God. Throughout the novel, they experience great love and sorrow together. Meggie has children who become the third generation of the novel. The children bring her much happiness, but she still has a deep passion for Ralph in her heart. This forbidden love for Ralph will stay burning inside her soul throughout her entire life.

I truly enjoyed how the author used a lot of description and detail in the novel. This description enabled me to paint vivid pictures of the beautiful, Australian land in my mind, as well as clear pictures of the many different characters' inner and outer appearances.

This extraordinary love story was like an emotional rollercoaster. It twisted and turned leaving me feeling many different emotions including love, humor, sadness, anger, hate, and malice. I often found myself crying as well as laughing while I eagerly devoured every word on the page. It kept me reading and reading until the very interesting ending. I would recommend this captivating novel to anyone who is looking for a great story about life and love! I'm sure you will enjoy it just as much as I did!

"The Thorn Birds" by Colleen McCullough is my favorite novel. It is in a category by itself and deserves more than five stars. I saw ten minutes of the miniseries on television and knew I had to read the book. I was twelve, and the story of Meggie and Ralph moved me to hysterical tears. I am now 18, and I have read the book so many times I have lost count. Set in the Australian Outback in the years surrounding WWII, it is the story of a girl growing up, learning that "The best is only bought at the cost of great pain...Or so says the legend." The courage and strength of Meggie despite the tremendous hardships of her life inspires me. I must admit I fell in love with Ralph de Bricassart; first with his name, then with the man. (I can only hope to find such a person!) All of the other characters--Fee, Paddy, Frank, Dane, Justine, Rain--are developed clearly throughout the story. McCullough is a genius for combining three generations of the Cleary family into one novel! I still cry when I read the story, for the love, and for the pain. The introductory story of the thornbird is a lesson for life: all sadness will pass, and one day something beautiful will come from that pain. A highly emotional book, "The Thorn Birds" is the best work of this century. It is worth reading to anyone who enjoys drama and romance, as well as suspense, action, and sadness! The movie based on the novel starring Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward is an excellent interpretation.