It's very funny to read the other readers' comments and the rumors that Mike Kun is dead. Where did that ever come from? The guy's not dead. We just met him and his girlfriend when they were in Hawaii on vacation a couple months ago, and he certainly appeared to be alive. He was breathing, talking, eating, moving -- all things which stongly suggest he is still alive! Not only that, but he said he's got a new book that he's trying to get published called "The Lockman Letters," which sounded like it might be funny. If it's as funny as parts of "Benjamins" were, then I'll definitely be recommending it to our book club. On a personal note, in case he reads this: Mike, my husband and I thank you for dinner and thought your girlfriend was adorable.

I was just checking on amazon and saw that Mike Kun has a new book coming out in June called "The Locklear Letters." I've been smiling since the moment I saw that, and I imagine I'll be smiling until the book comes out! I can't pretend to be unbiased: I knew Mike back in college, have always thought that he was a PHENOMENAL writer, and, to my husband's dismay, I've had a mad crush on him for almost 20 years. Mike is probably the most talented person I've ever had the pleasure of meeting, and people who have only had the opportunity to read "A Thousand Benjamins" are missing out on a lot. The same guy who wrote that sweet and tender book is also the hands-down funniest writer ever to walk on this planet. Anyone who's ever read his short stories knows that he has an impeccable sense of comic timing. God only knows whether "The Locklear Letters" will be one of his sweet books, or one of his funny ones (or both), but I have no doubt that it'll be terrific.

I enjoyed "A Thousand Benjamins," but it's been so long that I can barely remember it anymore. What I do recall about it was that it included some of the funniest scenes in any novel I've ever read. Last summer, a friend e-mailed me a copy of a book called "The Locklear Letters" with a note that said, "You must read this. I defy you not to laugh out loud." It was, simply, the funniest thing I've ever read (including David Sedaris), but at the same time it was a very complex and touching story. For some reason, it took me several months to connect the dots and realize that it was the same author as "A Thousand Benjamins." In the last few months, I've told so many people about "The Locklear Letters," and I was always surprised when it didn't show up on amazon.com. Until today. Apparently, it'll be out in June. And, apparently, I'm not the only one who will be standing in line to get a copy. It is a comic masterpiece, pure and simple. Now, I only wish I could figure out if the author is still alive or not. These customer reviews are terribly confusing on that subject. Surely someone knows if he's still alive, right?

I Read this book when I was sixteen and unafraid, now at thirty two I still visualize the murkiness of the setting and feel the mist upon my skin as I remember the terror even now, from half my life ago...a must on the top ten list of pure horror! Proof that even the fears of a teenager still exist within the soul of a man.

Like most of the other reviewers I read this book as a youngster and it scared the hell out of me. The reader does not know until the very last sentence whether the murderous lead character is actually haunted by ghosts or is driven insane by his guilt. And what happened to Michael McDowell? He started writing scripts for movies (Beetle Juice being the most famous) and television shows (i.e. Tales from the Darkside et al).

Michael McDowell is possibly the most under appreciated author in the horror genre, and this is, in my opinion, his best book. It is both suspenseful and eerie throughout. If you can find this out of print book, buy it and read it!

An excellent, rich book to use for devotion/meditation. I am going to use it as a tool with a spiritual growth group in my church. One time through is not enough, you will want to use it again and again. This is a book that invites you to tarry, to hear God's soft whisper.

I first read this book on a professor's recommendation in 1985. Disciplines uses a weekly format, including a 2-part reading schedule (1 part for use, and 1 for reading through the Bible in a year), and writings from classic Christian writers through the centuries. Like others, I have started reading many authors after reading their words in Disciplines. The heart is grabbed, the brain is engaged, and God speaks to you every day. My only negative is that there is no sequel, although it is similar to a Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants, an excellent book from the Upper Room.

This book has really helped me in my daily walk. The book is divided into 52 topical sections like silence, meditation, fasting, distractions, etc. with scriptures to read for each day of the week. There are also hymns, meditations by Christian authors and prayers for each week that relate to the topic. It's something you can do in 10 minutes a day if you're just starting and need to develop the discpline or you could spend 20-30 minutes each day if you want more time in prayer or to meditate on the readings. I highly recommend it and am about to buy a second copy for a friend.

Michael Bunker has written a strong and passionate discourse on the merits of what he calls (and I believe aptly so) the Doctrines of Grace. Chapters 6-9 are particularly potent and clear. These for me were the most valuable part of Mr. Bunker's book, although his historically oriented chapters at the beginning are quite fascinating and worthwhile in themselves. For those who desire an accessible and throrough examination of the Doctrines of Grace, a topic central to authentic Christianity, Mr. Bunker's book is very well done.

To his credit, Mr. Bunker upholds the authority of scripture as the final word on the matters discussed and serves up generous and frequent portions of Biblical reference to support his views. For any biblically abiding Christian, this is indispensible.

His 'expose' of Dave Hunt as a Jesuit Coagitator I found generally less convincing, although Mr. Bunker certainly avails his readers to the many ways Mr. Hunt contradicts himself and the Bible.

Likewise, Mr. Bunker's assessment of Homeland Security being a Jesuit fascist machination falls short of being bullet proof. This isn't to say that it isn't so, just that Mr. Bunker doesn't "prove" it as any thorough investigator would like to see it proven (I offer this opinion as someone who staunchly opposes Homeland Security).

All in all, "Swarms" is an excellent work, deserving of a careful read and prayerful consideration - whether one be a 'Calvinist' an Arminian or simply foggy on the concepts altogether.

I have a bit of a testimony for you about this book which I would like to share with you. I had been praying to the Lord for close to a year asking him to show me the true Gospel as I did not have a peace about what I was telling people when trying to Lead them to the Lord, it just did'nt sit right.
Well the Lord answered my prayers in a big way, as I began to understand how the Jesuits have attacked the true Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, I now understand why the Lord did not give me a peace about what I was telling people, I was telling them a false gospel and presenting another Jesus which was not the Jesus Christ of the Bible.
I repented when the Lord opened my eyes to this truth and he instantly gave me a peace about His True Gospel which I had been seeking Him on. I thank the Lord for the truth that is in this book and I pray that the Lord send it to the four corners of the Globe.

Michael Bunker has done a superb job exposing Satan's plan of the ages to perpetuate war on the Saints. Satan's diabolical strategy has always been to work through his ministers of evil, those loyal warriors skilled in the use of deceit, lies, manipulation, control and/or murder. This book should be read by every discerning Believer who hungers and thirst for a right understanding of GOD's truth, and desires to know who it is the Enemy will use to try and subvert GOD's truth.

My main objections to this field guide were the illustrations. Artistic renderings are often beautiful, but fail to portray the animal in question with accuracy. Cuvier's beaked whale (Ziphius)is a case in point. Although I have not observed this animal at sea myself, I spoke with a number of fellow fishery biologists who have spent time at sea as marine mammal observers and no one has ever observed a bright yellow Ziphius in the field. All observed a base color of grey with this genus, at least in the northeastern Pacific. The Tasmacetus rendering is most likely based on the J. Mammalogy (1976) paper by Watkins wherein an unidentified ziphiid whale (probable Tasmacetus) was observed from a bluff overlooking the sea in New Zealand. Useful plates were those showing all similar cetaceans together; eg. all oceanic dolphins without prominent beaks, all oceanic dolphins WITH prominent beaks etc. The ziphidae plates show male Mesoplodon characteristics, but that is to be expected since solitary female ziphiid whales, especially Mesoplodon sp., could be virtually impossible to identify. My own field guide preferences use photographs rather than artistic renderings. Other problems: The distribution maps to not reflect the full distribution (extralimital observations/strandings) of many species. An example: Psuedorca is shown as a species with a distribution much further south than observations/stranding records indicate. The text does suggest that 'numerous records' exist outside of the more tropical distribution shown in the map. Note also that many of the dolphin renderings are positioned so that the dorsal fin is right where the pages meet. We did get a chuckle over the photograph showing what you should wear when watching whales, but that can be explained by our 'silly scientist' bias. One note for potential whale-watchers: do not allow your binocular strap to lie right on the skin of your neck while at sea as you can wear painful wounds into your neck through a day of whale-watching. Make sure your shirt collar or other clothing lies under that silly strap! Voice of experience!

This is a great book if you want just a field guide with information on the different species of cetaceans. This would be a great book to take "whale watching".

This Eyewitness Handbook on whales, dolphins, and porpoises was extremely valuable during my recent trip to Baja Mexico to whale watch in the Sea of Cortez. The book provides a wealth of information on each species with specific descriptions and illustrations that are right on. We had two naturalists on board and they love the book too, so it's worthwhile no matter what your level of cetacean knowledge.

Michael Whelan's style is gorgeously captured in this state-of-the art book. If you are a fan of Michael Whelan's airbrush art or his private collection, you will find something in this book for you. It includes most of the passages paintings, the more famous covers (even the loathsome fuzzies), and many of Michael Whelan's unpublished work. The latter is what makes the book worth buy - I wish the book contained more of it and less of the cover art. I recommend this book for any fantasy art collector.

This book is truly a work of art!

The eminently talented Michael Whelan showcases his treasures in this large-size, full-color coffee table book.

With his superb attention to detail and boundless imagination, MW has created fantastic worlds. Here, he catalogues his numerous book covers (all genres of Science Fiction, and all genres of Fantasy, and other areas), paintings, and assorted works (he paints not just for a living but for his own enjoyment, evident in the many small sketches included throughout the book).

MW himself describes each piece. He isn't an artist who simply creates a cover when commissioned; he reads the text of the book he will be making a cover for. This is what makes his book cover art so wonderful. In my mind, his cover art for "Catspaw" and "The Snow Queen" are every bit as memorable as the stories they were made for. He details everything minutely: the curling edges of a drying leaf, the dust stain in a fold of clothing, a nick on the blade of a warrior's battle-ax, a snarl in a lock of hair, the markings on a spaceship lifting off from a background launch pad, the clearing sky reflected in a dangling pane of broken glass, the frayed edges of a worn rope attached to a forgotten bell. And that's just the little stuff in the background.

What sets this book aside from other art books is the fact that this book is made for people who like to LOOK at the art. Nearly half of the pieces featured here are full-page size, with the text/description and sketches, studies, details, alternative concepts on the facing page. Too many art books tend to squeeze pictures into small squares on a page. None of that here. The colors are sharp and vivid. The edges are sharp and crisp. The paper used is heavy glossy paper. There are three chapters (interviews, introduction, technical aspects) printed on heavy parchment-like paper. The book itself is clothbound in matte midnight black, embossed in gold. The publishers spared no expense in making this book.

And here's something I haven't seen in other art books: the 85+ full page plates are indexed in a back section of the book. Shrunk down to B&W postage-stamp size, you can glance through to quickly find your favorite picture.

The work represented here covers everything from dragons, winged lions, medieval castles, futuristic alien castles, strange aliens, bustling spaceports, nature settings, warriors of every type, humans and much more. Each picture is worth a thousand words indeed.

The paper cover/dustjacket features "Passage: The Avatar" (the breathtaking blue ruins) on the front and "The Summer Queen" on the back, both are featured inside the book. This is a plus, as many times the dustjacket art is counted among the represented work.

Very highly recommended.

I agree with the message below: this is an absolute -must have- to the Micheal Whelan fan. If you collect fantasy artwork, you will not be disappointed with this collection. Micheal is by far the best fantasy illistrator / coverartist that I have ever discovered. His paintings have the ability to free even the most devoted of non-escapists. (my father ;) Most of the artwork included in this book is posted on Michael's office web site: www.glassonion.com (if you have never seen his work before, and must have a preview before buying..

What do you do with a small bear from Darkest Peru who shows up lost and alone in the busiest train station in England? If you take him home, watch out! Because trouble sticks to Paddington like marmalade on toast. Like all good families, the Browns love Paddington no matter how much trouble he gets into. This endearingly silly book is the first of many hilarious Paddington adventures

He is so clumsy, that anyone will laugh. I read all of the Paddington books I could find as a kid, and I read them again as I got older. And I would read them again, and again and again. This is a very good reason to have kids, so you can buy this book. Too bad he has become some sort of commercial bear, he is much greater as a little clumsy bear trying to please all the people.

This is one of the most delightful children's books ever. I listened to my mom (Ann)read the Paddington books to my younger brother and was hooked. When I was younger, I remember my mom telling me about the bear on tv who liked marmalade but was never interested in him until I heard the stories. The stories often ended in tears- we would laugh so much. Well, I guess this is less of a review than it is a recommendation. With all of the worthless children's literature out there, this one stands out.

The author, Micheal Hughes, does an admirable job weaving a tale of triumph over fear and self doubt in a setting where young men are restrained in a system of endless rules and oppression by their charges. Underlying the main character's passage from boy to man is a story of a corporate good deed gone haywire. Hughes does a fine job of intertwining the two into a light and funny story about life at Hershey Home for Boys. Anyone who has unwrapped the foil from a Hershey's Kiss will enjoy unwrapping the wit and humor in this book. I highly recommend it to young and old alike. It will inspire the young and cause those of an older age to reflect on their own passages into adulthood. The author has done a fine job on this, his first novel. I will look forward to his future works.

I'm an avid reader and thoroughly enjoyed reading cocoa beans. It chronicles Dave Purenut's senior year of high school at an all boys school in a small, but well known town in PA. It's a coming of age book filled with humor,tenderness and even some tears. I'd recommend it for readers of all ages!

Mike Hughes has written a great story for anyone who enjoys fiction. While reading Cocoa Beans I found myself making comparisons to another great story about a young man's coming of age in The Catcher in the Rye. J.D. Salinger gave us Holden Caulfield in 1951 and Michael J. Hughes gave us Dave Purenut in the year 2000. Thanks to both of them. I won't summarize the story here but will tell you that while I was reading the book late into the night, I found myself laughing out loud at situations the main character Dave, a.k.a. Crazy, got himself into. My spouse didn't enjoy my outbursts, but I'm encouraging her to give Cocoa Beans a read and am sure she will have the last laugh. I also did not want the book to end. The author tells this story using what I think are a great combination of qualities in a work of fiction -- a great sense of humor, given to some genuinely unique and interesting characters, and uses his good storytelling ability. Mike Hughes may be a new author, but all great authors start somewhere. Try Cocoa Beans. I enjoyed it tremendously and think you will too.

Do you have an open mind -- and are you ready to explore one of the most interesting collections of scientific evidence for paranormal phenomena ever assembled between the covers of a book?

If so, you're in luck! Michael Schmicker's book BEST EVIDENCE presents a comprehensive overview of a wide range of "psi" phenomena including: extra-sensory perception, psychokinesis (PK), dowsing, mental and faith healing, death bed visions, near death experience, out of body experiences, ghosts and poltergeists, mediums and channelers, and reincarnation.

What makes BEST EVIDENCE such a gem is that it not only clearly describes each kind of psi phenomena along with the facts supporting its existence and references to the original studies and sources, but it also includes some intriguing insights about why people sometimes avoid investigating the evidence surrounding paranormal phenomena. For example, Schmicker cites the work of researchers like Kenneth Batcheldor, who has identified two blocks to PK production (ownership resistance and witness inhibition). I find it just as interesting to examine the reasons why people find the subject of the paranormal disquieting as it is to see such a thorough review of the evidence showing how psi is a real phenomena which simply won't go away.

If you've ever wanted to tell your friends, colleagues and family that there is an ever-increasing body of scientific evidence proving that the paranormal is part of everyday life, this is the book for you!

If you want a book that has details and specific studies and bunches and bunches of references on Psi phenomena, this is it.

MICHAEL SCHMICKER gives the casual skeptic and the believer all the details and information anyone could want on a multitude of topics. From the table of contents this is what is covered:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Part I: PSIentific Facts
Chapter 1: Nobody Really Believes This Stuff, Right?
Chapter 2: Yeah, But I Bet They're All Wierdos and Nut Cases
Chapter 3: OK, But Do Any Scientists take This Stuff Seriously?
Chapter 4: But Science Says...
Chapter 5: The Times They Are A-Changing

Part II: Best Evidence
Chapter 6: Extra-Sensory Perception (ESP)
Chapter 7: Psychokinesis (PK)
Chapter 8: Dowsing
Chapter 9: The Mind-Body Connection: Mental And Faith Healing
Chapter 10: Death Bed Visions
Chapter 11: Near Death and Out-Of-Body Experiences
Chapter 12: Ghosts and Poltergeists
Chapter 13: Mediums and Channelers
Chapter 14: Reincarnation
Chapter 15: The Future of Science

FIRST HE GIVES US INFO ON ALL THE BELIEVERS OUT THERE. This list is sprinkled with many of the top scientists and world renown people of the last 2 centuries. So much for being a minority of odd balls.

THEN HE GIVES US NUTS AND BOLTS FACTS ON STUDIES DONE ON EACH TYPE OF PHENOMENA. Here is a fact-finders dream. This book references hundreds of sources of information on this phenomena. From the fringes to highly regarded institutions. When you read this, you will be astounded at the level of information provided. You could spend a lifetime reviewing all the references here. This book is a keeper once read for just this alone.

IF YOU ARE OF THE SCIENTIFIC MIND, this book gives you enough information to launch your own investigation into these recorded documentations of this phenomena. Let's face it, if we can use statistics to prove quality levels, prove scientific theorems we can also use it in Psi phenomena. This books points you to studies where scientists did just that. Excellent book. I'm going to dog-ear it for the references for sure.

Michael Schmicker has produced an excellent book for all interested in the study of psi phenomena. Not only does he provide interesting descriptions of evidence supporting these events, he lists the reference that may be used to obtain more veridical data.

The first section addresses important issues about belief systems as they relate to phenomena. You may be surprised at the famous scientists who have explored these areas. You may also be surprised at pronouncements made by other scientists deriding advances only to be proven wrong. After all, Lord Kelvin thought X-rays were a hoax. My favorite quote attributed to a chief skeptic was "An open mind is an empty mind."

I recommend this to all who are wondering if there is a scientific data to support unusual claims. Actually, there's a lot more than you might think and this book will give it to you.

If you want to finally get behind the curtain of what a management buyout is,how it works, and more importantly how you can profit from it, read BUYOUT. This well researched and well conceived book, written by two of the most credible professionals in the business, will help investment professionals, entrepreneurs, and managers with the financial engineering and operational exigencies that will create shareholder value. A must read!

This is a book from the real world that business students should read. I found this book tremendously readable. The lessons that Rick has learned are enjoyable and entertaining--while teaching the reader valuable lessons about business and buyouts.

BUYOUT will become the 'bible' of buyouts for managers and investment bankers/advisors. One of the first good books on buyouts. The book covers all aspects of the buyout considerations/process/tactics/contracts etc, is an easy read, but above all the joy of which it is clearly written with(and the convincing arguments) must inspire managers to pursue a buyout. I think no manager will be imune to this great book. BUYOUT is a guide, a motivator, a sales pitch and fun book to read at the same time. Also a recommended read to sellers of businesses to show that a buyout is nothing to be scared of. A must read for everyone unknown and known with the buyout business. Just read the book and find out why I am so enthusiastic about it.