This book is awesome! If you love hummingbirds, you'll love this book!!! Hi gloss pages are *extra* nice. You'll like it.

I have been looking for a copy of this book for a very long time...its a wonderful book and very well illustrated. Would like information on how I may find a copy.

As many may know, John Gould(with the help of many) produced 418 hand coloured stone lithograph plates for his Monograph of the Hummingbirds which took 12 years to produce(1849-61). An original set sold recently for 1/4million dollars! At approx $100, this book gives a great deal of art bang for the buck! Albeit, the format is smaller and the exquisite hand coloring is lost to modern printing reproduction, it's a joy to own. Individual original plates are available at antique print shops($700-$2000 ea) and this book is your excellent reference for an contemplated purchase.

This collection brings together the best images of this photographer. His work stands out from his contemporaries with thier unique, groundbreaking style. You can tell he inspired people like Avedon. His work is timeless, not date at all. If you like fashion photography from the mid-twentieth century, you'll love this book!

Before commenting on this book, you should be aware that it contains many nude images that would be "R" rated if they were contained in a motion picture.

John Rawlings took fashion photography in a whole new direction. In the 1930s when he began, the predominate style used lots of shadow and darkness to present a sense of haunting mystery. That style was also great for covering up flaws in the subject. Around 1940, John Rawlings began creating fascinating modern fashion shots that look like they might have been made just yesterday. In these images, he makes light, reflections, and color even more interesting than the darkness and shadow ever were in black-and-white. In doing so, he is remarkably effective in "keeping the photographer out of the picture."

His career was a most distinguished and prolific one. Mr. Rawlings was responsible for over 200 covers of Vogue and Glamour. These images captured a unique "chic sophistication" that you will recognize and appreciate seeing again. He also produced a series of famous Clairol ads, and published two books of nudes (some of which are reproduced here). He is one of the rare photographers from that period who was top-notch in both black-and-white and color.

Some of his best work involved making cigarette smoking by women seem more glamorous. It was hard for me not to wince which I saw those photographs.

The book opens with a poem that reflects the work published here:

"At just that crux of time when she is made

So beautiful that she or time must fade."

In the case of many of these works, it is hard to avoid feeling that time faded rather than the images of the women. The photography moves beyond the styles of the day into a timeless sense of beauty and culture.

The images are well chosen to be appealing to an audience today. The quality of paper and reproduction are both superb. The essays and background material are excellent.

....

After you have enjoyed these images, think about the meaning you attribute to the poses these women assume. What are they thinking? How much of a role do you think they played in selecting the poses? What is sophistication in fashion? Mr. Rawlings's impressive work will undoubtedly give you new dimensions for answering these questions.

Let the light show you the way!

I was very impressed by the high quality of this book. It is very well edited and the choice of pictures is just right! You can tell that the author did a lot of research and was able to come up with interesting facts about John Rawlings the man and the photographer. I also enjoyed very much reading about the innovative photographic techniques that Rawlings used. This book is certainly a lesson to all photographers and anyone who is sensitive to beauty.

Few books have ever captured the essence of a place so perfectly as Marilu Suarez' "Magic of Puerto Vallarta". The stunning photographs truly relate the "magic" of daily life here, and the text is well-researched, informative and extremely readable -- inticing you to turn page after page... As the co-author of Frommer's Mexico, and long-time resident of Puerto Vallarta, I highly recommend this book for anyone who has even been --or has dreamed of visiting -- Puerto Vallarta. TIme after time, you will find memories come to life as you revist familiar places through its pages...or discover them for the first time. I never knew a book could transmit so precisely the warmth and wonder --- and the magic! -- of this seaside paradise.

This is an unusual book about an even more unusual place. Lyrically written by someone who clearly knows and loves the uniqueness of Puerto Vallarta, it is filled with magnificent, one-of-a-kind photographs. More than just another coffee-table book, "The Magic of Puerto Vallarta" really does capture the "magic," in its sensitive portraits of people, visions of scenic places, and creative descriptions of things that make this seaside haven so special. It is a wonderful vacation souvenir.

This book IS magic. I've never seen a more gorgeous representation of Mexico's most beautiful city. The photos are stunning and the writing is superb. Highly recommended...

This is a book that anyone can read and feel a sense of understanding about. Mr. Kelly hits the nail on the head w/ regards to self esteem and its relationship to the addictive process. I also like how he gives examples throughout the book as identifiers.

As a therapist in the addictions/eap field I have suggested this book on more that one occasion to individuals coming in to discuss the concerns for their children. It speaks to the lay person in common sense language and guides them on a path that can be difficult but will pay benefits in healthier family relations and children who will have improved skills to navigate the many obstacles to becoming productive individuals.

John Kelly makes key points when he reminds his readers that adolescents have not fully matured emotionally. Parents need to help their children through their emotional growth. Parents are helping their children when they keep a close watch on them and also when they provide behavioral boundaries such as strict curfews, appropriate activities and guidance in selecting friends.

The book is well written, with many case studies. It is a quick but important read.

Warning Signs by John Kelly and Brian J. Karem is a must- read for parents in this demanding and fast paced world where nurture and love are essential for developing a healthy value system for childhood development.

Easy to read and chocked full of common sense based on years of counseling troubled children and their parents, Kelly gives practical advice and sets priorities where they should be. Those of us who have children intrinsically know we should spend time with them and that building self esteem pays untold dividends in the future. Our actions as well as our words convey messages that our children pick up on and listening to what they say is vital.

When something cataclysmic happens most of us turn to see if our loved ones are unharmed. As parents time invested with our children ought to be our first priority rather than the more superficial goals we chase each day. Thanks, John for the advice.

Frank Adamson Retired Chief of Criminal Investigations King County Sheriffs Department
Seattle, Washington.

If caught in time, curing skin cancer is simple. If not caught soon enough, skin cancer is usually fatal. At the same time, skin cancer's prevalence is rapidly increasing. Within our lifetimes, it may well be the major source of deaths from cancer . . . unless we all become more vigilant.

This book will take you to the level of understanding of skin cancer that dermatologists have, but in a way that a nonscientific person can understand. You will benefit from many diagrams and color plates that will help you decide if a mole or abnormality on the skin needs a biopsy to test for cancer. You can use this information to check yourself, your loved ones, and people you see more casually. You may well save a life in the process! This is like learning CPR.

Most skin cancer is thought to be caused by occasional overexposure to the sun before age 19. So even if you have been careful since 19, you may still get it. Those who have skin cancer once also have an increased likelihood of a recurrence.

There are many misunderstandings about what is needed to be done now, including the thought that using sun block will solve the problem of future risk. That's not true. Most sun blocks only stop the UV B rays. UV A rays (which are found in tanning salons) are also considered a probable cause of DNA mutations in the skin that cause skin cancer. In addition, the damage you experienced with a bad sunburn when you were 16 cannot be undone by care now. 80 percent of lifetime exposure to the sun occurs before age 19 for most people. Some people have a genetic predisposition, and that is explained as well.

You will find out a lot about treatments, and the prognosis for recovery, as well as the latest research.

I picked up this book because weird growths started appearing on my skin around age 50. I became a frequent visitor to my dermatologist, who happily burned off most of these. But I felt a lot of anxiety until the biopsies told me they were benign. I think this information will help me feel more comfortable with my growths, and better inform me about when I need to go see my outstanding dermatologist, Dr. Peter Bendetson.

One of the things you will learn is that the flat moles near the surface are the ones most likely to turn into cancer. So when they start changing in asymmetric, and colorful ways, get thee to the dermatologist. I emphasize that because the book is filled with stories about general practitioners pooh-poohing the significance of skin abnormalities that turned out to be cancer. You cannot tell what a discoloration or growth is for sure without a biopsy. A busy general practitioner may often be unlikely to want to take one and treat you until after you have been shown to have skin cancer. By the way, the problem with skin cancer is that it spreads throughout the body when too deeply established. Once it is past the skin, it becomes hard to stop. Take precautions, watch out, and get early treatment!

After you read and apply this outstanding book, I suggest that you think about what other areas of your mental and physical health you need to be monitor and attend to more consistently. Do you eat a healthy diet? Do you drink enough water? Do you get enough exercise? Do you feel good around other people? Do you have loving relationships in your life? Do you have an annual physical examination?

Have the quality of life you deserve!

A comprehensive and up-to-date resource that covers what to expect from initial diagnosis to long term care. Also recommended by the Melanoma Clinic at University of Michigan Hospital.

Dr. Jill Schofield and Dr. William Robinson's What You Really Need To Know About Moles And Melanoma points out that sunscreen isn't enough prevention: the latest facts about moles and cancers from prevention through treatment is detailed in a guide which discusses risks, therapies, and what to watch for. Color photos provide clear guidelines on cancerous versus noncancerous possibilities.

John Pielmeier's play "Agnes of God" opened on Broadway in 1982 with a cast that included Elizabeth Ashley, Geraldine Page, and Amanda Plummer. It tells the tale of a young novice who has been sheltered from the world all her life. One night, she is found unconscious in her convent room after having given birth to a baby, which is found dead in a wastebasket. This shocking incident gives rise to a whole set of questions: Who was the father? Why did no one know about Agnes' pregnancy? Is she really as simple and naive as she seems? And, most importantly, who killed the baby?

The play features three terrific roles for actresses: Agnes, the Mother Superior, and the court-appointed psychiatrist, Dr. Livingstone. The script is not without its flaws: the science vs. faith conceit is played out a little too simply, and some of the symbolism is heavy-handed to say the least (the doctor trades her obsessive chain-smoking for an obsessive fixation on Agnes). The play was also made into a rather tepid movie which unwisely opened up the claustrophobic office/convent interview scenario and added superfluous characters and subplots. Meg Tilly and Anne Bancroft both earned much-deserved Oscar nominations for their excellent performances, but Jane Fonda is miscast and less than obsessive in the role of Dr. Livingstone.

This audio recording, however, makes one forget any flaws in the script and completely erases any sour memory of the misjudged film version. It is gripping in every way. Harriet Harris carries the show in a bravura performance as Dr. Livingstone ("X-files" fans will remember her from the terrific "Eve" episode). She is not afraid to be curt and unlikable, and she carries a chip on her shoulder the size of a Buick. Every shifting emotion is immediately audible in her highly expressive voice: wry condescenion, bitter regret, volcanic rage, and aching sorrow all come into play. Her final, gut-wrenching monologue is absolutely harrowing. With a performance like Harris', visuals become unnecessary.

Harris' force-of-nature portrayal could easily overwhelm less accomplished co-stars, but Barbara Bain and Emily Bergl more than hold their own. Bain is sympathetic and likable as the Mother Superior, a welcome contrast to Harris' caustic doctor. She matches Harris step for step in their emotional confrontations and gives equal weight to the Mother's deep sense of spirituality and the earthier, more secular side of the character. This is no caricature, but a flesh-and-blood human being.

Emily Bergl (who was the one bright spot in the otherwise limp "The Rage: Carrie 2") makes a perfect Agnes: childlike, eager to please, and slightly otherworldly. She gives her ludicrous answers to the doctor's questions in such a matter-of-fact manner that one simply can't write her off as insane. Because of her utter conviction in everything she says, we as listeners must at least consider the fact that the visions and voices she sees and hears might be real. Bergl also fully commits to her emotional moments with the doctor. Harris is often so brutal with the psychologically fragile Bergl that one almost wishes Child Protective Services would come in and whisk Agnes away. Bergl's singing voice -- an important aspect of Agnes' character -- is childlike and unspoilt, adding to the sense of Agnes' purity.

Sound effects are used sparingly but judiciously, such as the flick of a lighter letting the audience know that the doctor has lighted a cigarette. Credit must be given to director Nancy Malone, who has shaped the rhythm and pace of the piece with the expert skill of an orchestral conductor. Under her guidance, the three actresses sound like a finely-tuned ensemble, with Bain's earthy alto, Harris' reedy mezzo, and Bergl's soft-grained soprano playing together as exquisitely as virtuoso instruments. Audio theatre doesn't come any better than this.

Those who have seen the movie Agnes of God be warned - it can not compare to the actual play. Reading the play is just as fulfilling as seeing it performed. Three characters - a shrink, a mother superior, and an innocent nun. Throughout the play, roles are examined, discarded, built upon and interchanged between the three characters. The author gives the characters real depth. Readers can see themselves in any of the three roles without any trouble.

John Pielmeier's Agnes Of God is a contemporary murder mystery set within the confines of a modern Catholic convent. Agnes is a devout, innocent young nun accused of infanticide. As a psychiatrist (herself a lapsed Catholic) and the Mother Superior struggle over Agnes' fate, the play plunges deeply into the mystery of faith and the consequence of truth. This superb audio play production features Barbara Bain as the Mother Superior, Emily Bergl as Agnes, and Harriet Harris as Dr. Martha Livingstone. Under the accomplished direction of Nancy Malone, Pielmeier's compelling tale is wonderfully underscored with the choral music of Kathryn Skatula, Ali Olmo and Teri Bibb. The recording techniques are flawless and present a true "theatre of the mind" experience that is both memorable and commanding.

M. John Fayhee tells the story of his trip along the Arizona Trail. Jerry Sieve captures the beauty of the trail in stunning photography. Fayhee does a great job of keeping the reader excited. My favorite area the Four Peaks Wilderness is not very well represented. Nevertheless I highly recommend this book!

The photography in this book is unbelievable, and were it not for the requirement to note when photos are retouched in the computer, I would have believed they were "illustrations." I can never look at enough photographs of Arizona, but this unique stretch of trail which runs 750 miles from Mexico to Utah is a never ending string of contrasts, diversity and astounding beauty.

Jerry Sieve, the author, must be a book designers dream. He writes in strings of 20 word "pull quotes" and has done a great job of describing the trials and tribulations of hiking the unfinished Arizona Trail with a wonderful sense of humor. With the exception of a few stinging criticisms - the filthy air of Phoenix, road warriors in popular camp grounds, outdated topographic maps, etc. - he is as enthusiastic as those of us in Arizona about this monumental project and the opportunity for long distance non-motorized trail use that it provides.

You may have to purchase a new coffee table for this book!

The photography in this book is unbelievable, and were it not for the requirement to note when photos are retouched in the computer, I would have believed they were "illustrations." I can never look at enough photographs of Arizona, but this unique stretch of trail which runs 750 miles from Mexico to Utah is a never ending string of contrasts, diversity and astounding beauty.

Jerry Sieve, the author, must be a book designers dream. He writes in strings of 20 word "pull quotes" and has done a great job of describing the trials and tribulations of hiking the unfinished Arizona Trail with a wonderful sense of humor. With the exception of a few stinging criticisms - the filthy air of Phoenix, road warriors in popular camp grounds, outdated topographic maps, etc. - he is as enthusiastic as those of us in Arizona about this monumental project and the opportunity for long distance non-motorized trail use that it provides.

You may have to purchase a new coffee table for this book!

For those of you who wish to get acquainted with Pliny, learn more of ancient customs and practices, or if you just look for something different and enlightening to read for a change this book is highly recommended.

As the title rightly suggests this Penguin Classic consists of eclectic samples taken from the 37 books that comprise the Natural History. It is based on an updated, accurate and easy to read translation by John Healy and includes a 32 page introduction, the official section numbering, a key to ancient places mentioned in the text and an index. At 400 pages it is substantial enough to offer many pleasurable hours of thought provoking reading, although, to be honest, I had expected considerably more material to be included. This selection also reflects the translators interest in mineralogy and metallurgy (22 pages are for example devoted to a treatise on gold and silver while no selections have been made from book XIX on vegetable gardening). A curiosity which deserves a note here is book XIV (pp. 182-193 in this edition) in which Pliny gives an eminent account of the art of wine and viticulture. It is an absolute must read for all connoisseurs of good drink.

Considering that the complete works are both very expensive and bulky this is a good introductory option. But this is only an appetiser. Those who wish to indulge in more serious reading, or look to read Pliny in a more scholarly manner for the possibility of making good and well informed quotes, will undoubtedly do better by consulting the separate volumes which contain the whole unabridged text (eg. H. Rackham's authoritative translation with parallel Latin-English text published in 10 volumes by Harvard University Press). Had this Penguin edition covered more material I would have rated it at 5 stars.

// J. Silvennoinen

This book was pretty good although I had to constantly check most of Pliny's 'facts' with a natural science textbook nearby. I was shocked to find how wrong he was and on so many things. Its like he was just guessing and not performing the necessary experiments. I don't know where this guy got his degree, but that place probably wants to rethink their ciriculum. Quite frankly, with Scientists has ill-informed as Pliny was, its amazing that the Roman Empire lasted so long. What else can you really say?

This book has many of the best parts from the full version of Naturlis Historia, and is much easier to read than the 1000+ pages in the many volumes. Great if you don't the time for all of the volumes, or to find them all. This is a book well worth reading.

Never having had any experience or knowledge on the basis of this disease, I got the book to help me understand my father's disease. I have gotten a fuller understanding of the causes of the disease, the symptoms, the treatments (and making decisions regarding the selections of the treatments), and the progression of the disease. I feel much better informed and feel I can support my father better because of it. It was definitely written to help support the patient and family supporting that patient.

The author of this book did a great job in explaining what Parkinson's Disease is and giving information for the patient and the caregiver. I am a dental hygienist and I learned just an overview of the disease in school. After having my first patient with the disease I decided to learn more about it. I learned alot from this book that I should of already known for my patient. The book tells you the symptoms and the side effects of the disease and advice on drug therapy, diet, and exercise. Some people don't even know that they have the disease for a couple of months or even years. They think it is just old age or arthritis. The book also states what kind of medical advice to seek.
I have never met a patient with Parkinson's Disease until a couple of months ago. I didn't know what to expect. When the patient walked in I was shocked. She looked normal and wasn't shaking. She was the sweetest patient I had met. She explained to me her life and how she lives with the disease. She said that she sometimes gets embarrased to be seen in public when she has her tremors because she thinks that everyone is staring at her. But she said she is the same person as all of us. She just has to take medication and she gets tired alot more than you and me. When I was cleaning her teeth she only had mild tremors so it wasn't that difficult to work on her. But one day I will probably get a patient who has severe tremors but I am ready thanks to this book in guiding me with the knowledge of what I needed to know. I think that if you know someone who has Parkinson's disease or if you would like to learn more about the disease buy this book and you will be filled with all the information you need to know about Parkinson's disease.

Very informative. This books explains in PLAIN ENGLISH what the Dr's look for when making a diagnosis. Also it explains what the average PD. patient goes through in stages. I give it 5 stars!

How many people know that America's first great poet was a woman? Reading this collection of her works leaves one in little doubt about her greatness. The consummate artistry with which she expresses her inmost feelings pulls her to us, across the divide of three and a half centuries. Bradstreet's poetry shows that those Puritans, with their funny clothes, intolerant religion, and witch hunts experienced love, longing, and loss with much the same emotions that we do. Very highly recommended.

Three hundred and fifty years later, Anne Bradstreet still touches the heart and soul of her readers. On the Burning of My House still reminds us of where our priorities need to be, and on the importance of family. As a 10th great granddaughter, I realize that her works were written not only for herself and for her peers, but for the thousands of descendants in the world today. That is what makes truly great literature.

As an English major, I studied Anne Bradstreet in college and enjoyed her. I was thrilled to find out several years later she is my 9th great-grandmother! I love the spirituality and honesty of her writings. My favorite is "As Weary Pilgrim," as it captures the fatigue we sometimes feel in battling the adversities of life, and the hope of rest in a glorious afterlife. I love the cadence of the poem; it gives me a restful feeling. Reading colonial writings such as these, I'm remined of the foundation upon which our nation was built and the admirable character of some of these early Americans. It has become popular to "trash" the early Puritans. I am grateful for Anne Bradstreet's legacy of faith and courage, and the legacy of others who lived in her day.