Book Description
Kiko Denzer and Hannah Field, maker and baker, invite you into the artisan tradition. First, build a masonry oven out of mud. Then mix flour and water for real bread “better than anything you can buy.” Total cost? Hardly more than a baking stone – and it can cook everything else, from 2-minute pizza to holiday fowl, or a week’s meals.
Clear, abundant drawings and photos clarify every step of the process, from making “oven mud,” to fire, and to bread. Informative text puts it all into context with artisan traditions of many ages & cultures. Beautifully sculpted ovens (by the author and readers) will inspire the artist in anyone. And the simple, 4 step recipe (based on professional and homestead experience) promises authentic hearth loaves for anyone, on any schedule.
From weekend gardeners to "simple living," back-to-the-landers; Peace Corps volunteers to neighborhood community-builders; third-graders to earth-artists of all ages, this book feeds many hungers!
• updated, expanded, re-written, & revised.
• foreword by Alan Scott, the grandfather of wood-fired ovens and artisan bread.
• super-insulated design holds heat longer with less wood burned.
• 8 pages of color photos.
• Plus: mobile ovens, rocket mass heaters for the home, hay-box cookers, and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Build Your Own Earth Oven, 3rd Edition: A Low-Cost Wood-Fired Mud Oven; Simple Sourdough Bread; Perfect Loaves
Great book and easy to read and follow. I built my first 22" over a couple days after reading the book. I'll make my bread for Thanksgiving in the oven!

Practical and well conceived
This is a well written book, nicely illustrated and with a well thought out structure. It covers everything you should need to know on how to build an earth oven. The writing is clear and concise, while still conveying the obvious joy of someone who is genuinely inspired by their subject. I especially liked it because it contains a lot of technical detail illustrated with many examples and not much of the boring, preachy philosophical rambling that you find in so many books on hand building from natural materials. Not that there is anything wrong with philiosophising in its place, but I just wanted a book on how to build an earth oven and this is exactly what I got. I would also recommend, as a companion book, 'The Bread Builders: Hearth Loaves and Masonry Ovens' which is a more general and comprehensive book on masonry stoves and baking of bread.

Earth Oven, how to build and outdoor oven.
This book is perfect for someone wanting to build an outdoor oven. It address every issue that you may encounter and provides many examples of the various styles and techniques. There are pages that tell you what kinds of materials are best for different applications, how to mix your mud, the various methods for insulating and how to use the completed oven.

wood fired ovens
I went to a major bookstore looking for information on wood fired ovens and got nothing......the book I bought at Amazon was just what I needed. Maybe next year we will have a wood fired oven in our back yard. Service was good and promt.

Detailed and Complete
If you are looking to build an outdoors oven, you must read this book.Even if your goal is not an earth oven.Besides detailed information about the techniques to build an earth oven, Kiko describes very clearly the process of baking with wood and goes thru all the alternatives.His insight in using different types of materials is very valuable and his opinions are explained thoroughly.

The book is also very well written and engages you from the beginning. ... Read more

Book Description
Second in the captivating Three Sisters Island trilogy.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts returns to the haunting shores of New England--and to the lives of three passionate, powerful women.Download Description
"#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts has enchanted millions of readers with her moving, intimate tales of friendships made and hearts lost, of legends, lovers and longing. Now, in the second book in her bewitching Three Sisters Island trilogy, she returns to the haunting shores of New England-and to the lives of three passionate, powerful women.Ripley Todd just wants to live a quiet, peaceful kind of life. Her job as a sheriff's deputy keeps her busy and happy, and she has no trouble finding men when she wants them-which, lately, isn't all that often. She's perfectly content, except for one thing: she has special powers that both frighten and confuse her-and though she tries hard to hide them, she can't get them under control.Distraction soon arrives in the handsome form of MacAllister Booke-a researcher who's come to investigate the rumors of witchcraft that haunt Three Sisters Island. Right from the start, he knows there's something extraordinary about Ripley Todd. It's not just her blazing green eyes and her sultry smile. There's something else. Something he can detect, but she'll never admit. Fascinated by her struggle with her amazing abilities, he becomes determined to help her accept who she is-and find the courage to open her heart.But before Ripley and Mac can dream of what lies in the future, they must confront the pain of the past. For Three Sisters shelters centuries of secrets-and a legacy of danger that plagues them still." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (130)

Heaven and Earth
Ripley Todd is a deputy on Three Sisters, and also a reluctant witch.Nell, Ripley, and Mia are witches that descended from the original three sisters on the island.Eager for some independence and privacy, she plans to rent Mia's cottage, but is upset to learn it is already rented to MacAllister Booke.Ripley is further irritated to find out he is there to do research about witchcraft.

While Ripley is attracted to Mac, she will have to let go of some of her hostilities and past hurt to let him in.With the visions, dreams, and paranormal events that happen when they are together, it is evident they are connected.Ripley will need the help of her sisters to survive the threat that awaits her.

This is Ripley's story of the three and while she is integral, I wasn't very fond of her character.She is abrasive and harsh to everyone.She did grow on me as the story went on.

ahhhh.. smart and hot.. MAC is all that and a bag of chips
i can't believe how fast i read this book.. did not want it to end. but i guess i'll have to go and buy the last of the trilogy!! mac and ripley are opposites who do attract and fall in love and are ooh so perfect for each other.i didn't think as some other reviewers thought that she was too whiny or bitchy.. she is my kind of girl.. although her anger gets the best of her at times, she admits when she is completely in the wrong, and faces the music .. and OH MAC, MAC, MACjust understands her in a way that too many men of the real world never do!!!!!sigh.. i'm half in love with both ZACK and MAC!!!

fast read, with fun characters and magic intertwined to make a pretty enjoyable read.this is definitely a keeper..

Not quite enough magic to make me believe
While I loved the first and the last trilogy book in the series, this one ran cold to me. Ripley could have been created as a character who, although, had grown up independent, tough, and with ambivalence about her powers, revealed some redeeming soft side which would have given her more "believe-ability" with her story line and the readers. she did nothing but B**ch at Mac, showng no civility, let alone warmth. The men I talked to said they would never had been tempted to pursue Ripley even if she was a super hot thing, which in reading did not indicate she was that far over the top to cause a man to lose his brain power anyway (sorry, but that was the consensus: Mia was drop dead, cannot help but stare gorgeous, and Nell was the adorable sweet girl -next-door, everyone loved her). I never saw Mac falling for Ripley. Her character, while moral in seeking justice, did so with a blindness of anger over personal issues. I would have found her more balanced and believable if she had been written with more depth, and more of a history of what happened,(introduced earlier in the story) and why the ambivalence remained with her as an adult. As another reader also mentioned, 10 years of holding a fighting grudge, on such a small island in a tight knit community, is too much to believe (and no one in the community ever noticed it?, or commented on this to Nell,Mac,and Logan? That was hard to believe as well.). In the next installment, she still has her hard edges, and lack of like-ability. when she announced she was pregnant, it was still with a tough tom boy seague. Tough to warm up to...I am glad the other two books carried it through to the conclusion.

Island Getaway
As usual, Nora Roberts delivers another excellent series.This series was one of the first Nora Roberts books I discovered.

Since then, and yeah, I'm a guy, and I lift weights, and I'm a straight macho guy, ad nauseum, but I love Nora Robert's writings, I have read thirty five of her books in the last three months.

The ladies at my favorite restaurant enjoy talking to me about Nora Roberts.I have a couple of them reading Nora Roberts and one lady and I are exchanging different copies of her books.

Enjoy this series.It is one of her best.It has the best blend of magic, romance, good plot twists, and strong characterization.Her series creates a desire in you to pick up the atlas and start hunting down the island and it's inhabitants.

And guys...with Nora Roberts you just might gather a little insight into the minds of these amazing female creatures.One hint...bring lots of chocolate and never forget what outfit and scent she wore the first time you met her.

Nora...I'm about to figure you out!

Wasn't as good as the first...
I liked it, but there was less substance to the storyline. The story focuses this time on Ripley. The strong willed deputy. Living with her brother and Nell, Ripley still struggles with coming to terms with the gift she was given and her relationship with Mia. A whole new can of worms is opened. How does Ripley handle threats upon those who she loves? How does she handle something evil brewing inside her? Read it.. its quick! ... Read more

Amazon.com
If you're already familiar with Finn and Sawyer, perhaps this collection of fragments, short stories, and essays--assembled posthumously some few decades ago now, but still fresh--will enhance your sense of Twain's true range. A particular favorite: his essay "The Damned Human Race," wherein he proves, rather convincingly, that an anaconda snake is a higher form of life than an English Earl.Book Description
Winner of the Kennedy Center's Mark Twain Prize in Humor 2001 Grammy Nominaton

Carl Reiner is a comedy legend and one of TV and films' most creative minds.He has earned 12 Emmys, authored three bestsellers and co-created teh wildly successful 2000 Year Old Man.Mr. Reiner just co-starred in the theatrical remake of Oceans Eleven.His biting wit and comedic knowledge bring life to Twain's biting Letters From the Earth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (38)

Outstanding Book--A Definate Must Read!
This book has sincerely changed my life in a very positive way.It is an intraspective look into basic beliefs and conceptions (often misconceptions) about religion and discusses the big questions like "If God is all powerful and all good then why does he allow innocent children to contract unspeakable malodies and horrific diseases?".Growing up I always had questions about religion and why beliefs and teachings were held to be true--now I realize that I'm not alone in my thoughts and feelings.This book breaks down the bible and seeks to make the reader think logically about its teachings.Whether you are an ordained minister or simply curious like I was, this book will impact your life forever and improve your critical thinking skills--I promise you will not be disappointed!

Hard to find item, easy to find on Amazon!
This book was a gift and we had it sent to another address.No fault of Amazon's but the book delivery is very slow.The recipient assured us it is in fine shape and she is very happy with it.She says it's a very interesting perspective on the topic and is good for anyone trying to expand their knowledge.

I'm picturing Mark Twain saying, "Hot young blossoms"
I picked this up solely for the first story, Letters from the Earth, but I ended up reading through the entire book and find I have a new appreciation for Twain's humor and satire. Letters was very entertaining, although the religiously inclined may not find it funny at all. However, I'm not, and I did! Some other portions worth a read include Eve's autobiography (revealing!), an amusing critique of James Fenimore Cooper's writing style, a parody of an etiquette manual, and The Damned Human Race, which demonstrates the 'descent' of man. Twain died in 1910, and this collection of essays and short stories was not published until 1962.

Oh, and Mark Twain referring to "hot young blossoms" amused me to no end. :)

Hilarious
I haven't enjoyed a book this much, or laughed this much in a long time.

A Christian endorses "Letters from Earth"
I am a person who goes to church every Sunday; I like to think that I take my Christian faith seriously; so it may seem ironic that I would give five stars to a book that Mark Twain wrote as a humorous defense of athiesm. "Letters from Earth" is, after all, an attack on Christianity.

Actually, Twain brings out a lot a lot of good points as to some hypocrisies that most Christians and Christian organizations would like to ignore. While reading this book, did not convert me to athiesm. it did open my mind to a more ecumenical and balanced approach.

Of course, the book is also very well written. Mark Twain was one of our greatest American writers and thinkers.

Also see :"How to Talk Dirty and Influence People" by Lenny Bruce. ... Read more

Amazon.com
"Do you feel lucky? Well do ya?" asked Dirty Harry. Paleontologist Peter Ward and astronomer Donald Brownlee think all of us should feel lucky. Their rare Earth hypothesis predicts that while simple, microbial life will be very widespread in the universe, complex animal or plant life will be extremely rare.Ward and Brownlee admit that "It is very difficult to do statistics with an N of 1. But in our defense, we have staked out a position rarely articulated but increasingly accepted by many astrobiologists."

Their new science

is the field of biology ratcheted up to encompass not just life on Earth but also life beyond Earth. It forces us to reconsider the life of our planet as but a single example of how life might work, rather than as the only example.

The revolution in astrobiology during the 1990s was twofold. First, scientists grew to appreciate how incredibly robust microbial life can be, found in the superheated water of deep-sea vents, pools of acid, or even within the crust of the Earth itself.The chance of finding such simple life on other bodies in our solar system has never seemed more realistic.But second, scientists have begun to appreciate how many unusual factors have cooperated to make Earth a congenial home for animal life: Jupiter's stable orbit, the presence of the Moon, plate tectonics, just the right amount of water, the right position in the right sort of galaxy.Ward and Brownlee make a convincing if depressing case for their hypothesis, undermining the principle of mediocrity (or, "Earth isn't all that special") that has ruled astronomy since Copernicus. --Mary Ellen Curtin Book Description
The sweeping diversity of complex life on Earth, Ward and Brownlee argue, evolved out of an extraordinary set of physical conditions and chance events that would be extremely hard to duplicatethough not impossible. Many planets throughout the vastness of the Universe may be teeming with microbial life, but advancement beyond this stage is very rare. Everyone with an interest in the possible extent of life in the Universe and the nature of life's evolution on our own planet will be fascinated by Rare Earth. "...likely to cause a revolution in thinking..." The New York Times "...[the book] has hit the world of astrobiologists like a killer asteroid..." Newsday (New York) "...a sobering and valuable perspective..." Science "...a startling new hypothesis..." Library Journal "...Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee offer a powerful argument..." The Economist "...provocative, significant, and sweeping..." Northwest Science & Technology "...a stellar example of clear writing..." American Scientist ... Read more

Customer Reviews (103)

Detailed
For a layman's book this is incredibly dense which is a good thing. I agree mostly with the arguments presented but the jury's still out on tidally locked planets located in the habitable zones of their stars. The authors' contend that the tidal locking excludes any evolution of complex metazoans but the Gliese 581 system may present more definitive answers in the coming decades. To me that's the most dynamic issue raised by this book and I'm very excited about the outcome. For instance: Can any of these planets hold an atmosphere? Do any of them have liquid water and if any how much? From my own research 581C may be more like Venus than Earth but 581D which is on the outer periphery may host microbial life and in time as the planet warms, more complex life. It could be another earth in the making. I find myself picking this book up quite often. It's well written and well argued. It would make an excellent coffee table book for the more intelligent set.

Tectonic plates balance Greenhouse gases
Earth is the only planet with tectonic plates. Earth possesses water, the universal solvent and indispensable for life.Earth's mountains occur in chains.The giant mountains are Mars were created by volcanos.There is no equivalent to the Rockies, the Andes, the Himalyas, or the score of linear mountain chains.The process, the movement of planetary crust across the surface of the planet, is found in our solar system only on Earth.

Tectonic plates provide a wide range of biodiversity.The defense against mass extinction is diversity.Second, the tectonic plates provide our global thermostat by recycling chemical crucial to keeping the volume of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere relatively uniform.Third, plate tectonics is the dominate force that cause changes in sea levels, which in turn, are vital to the formation of minerals that keep the level of global carbon dioxide in check.Fourth, plate tectonics create continents on the earth.And finally, plate tectonics make possible the earth's magnetic field, the protection against cosmic radiation.

All the continents are masses of relatively low-density rock embedded in ground mass of more dense material.The low density rock have the average composition of granites, whereas, the higher density rocks that make up the ocean crust are basaltic in composition.Because granite is less dense than basalt, the granite rich continents float on a thin bed of basalt.The earth inner core is radioactive and generates heat deep inside the earth.As this heat rise toward the surface, it creates gigantic cells of hot, liquid rock in the mantle.The mantle rises, moves parallel with the surface for great distance, and then, cooled, settles back down into the depths.The upper mantle has a convection behavior.The mantle convects in the manner of liquid because the movement is so slow, and the temperatures so high, that the individual crystals have time to deform in response to stress.

Volcanos occur along subduction zones.The total are of the oceanic plates have decreased over time and the area of the continental plates has grown.The ocean crust can sink and be remelted back to magma.Whereas, the lighter continental crust remains afloat like a cork on the sea.

Plate tectonics promote environmental complexity and thus increase biodiversity. "Changes in continental position would affect ocean currents, temperature, seasonal rainfall patterns and fluctuations, the distribution of nutrients, and patterns of biological productivity."2/3 of all animal species live on land.There are between 3 and 30 million plant and animal species alive today.

Volcanos recycle CO2 into the atmosphere.CO2 is stored in Limestone at the bottom of the ocean.The Limestone moves into subduction channels and is recycle through volcanic activity into the atmosphere.A temperature of 4-40 C is suitable for life and must be maintained.Greenhouse gases include: H20, O3, CO2, CH4 and are capable of capturing infrared energy from the earth's surface, in so doing, warm the planet.Oxygen and Nitrogen do not capture energy. However, suppose the oceans froze, this would cause an insufficient amount of CO2 generated for life to exist.CO2 constitutes on 0.035% of the atmosphere.Plate tectonics play an important role in maintaining levels of greenhouse gases.The water on the earth is .05% by weight.The maintenance of liquid water is controlled by global temperatures.The temperature of the earth is controlled by the amount of energy coming from the sun and how much energy is absorbed by the planet and how fast the greenhouse gases are replenished. If the green house gases are not replenished the earth will grow colder."On a planet with volcanism there is usually an abundance of greenhouse gases, too much in some cases" - from both active and dormant volcanos.

Yes, but....
Good book.Good recap of history of the planet and of our knowledge of the development of life on it.

Nice to read a work in which the pragmatism of the geologist tempers for theory of the astronomer.Good to read that there remain many things the authors don't or cannot know.That's life.Much better, so much better, than reading the nonsense posing as science that astrophysicists churn out when THEY don't know something.

From that maelstrom of 200 + IQs we get such nonsense as string theory and the big bang......but I don't recall once reading in this book how everything we observe out billions of light years all started as an infintesimal point .

I stopped reading astronomy books twenty years ago when I learned that those more intelligent than I had concluded that galaxies were held in place by strings of matter unimaginablystrong etc.None of that bull in this book.Very pragmatic.

good show guys.I think we are alone in this little slice of time.

history of earth is fine, but left out the present and future
I gave this book 3 stars because it did not continue to go anywhere. Apparently the authors haven't spent as much time studying and keeping up with the subject of Extraterrstrials/UFOs. There is a wealth of information on the subject as a whold and they seemed to ignore it. I have a hard time beleiving that we are the only ones in the universe. We don't know how much is out there, and probably never will. But the UFO question is real and cannot dismiss it with it's available history.

Dodges the real issues
The authors theorize that because primitive life apparently (based on scientific evidence) began early in the earth's history that it is likely universal (and may have bounced around from Mars to earth). Once they accept this as a given the rest of the book is about how many factors are uniquely involved to accomodate complex life.

This approach glosses over two critical issues.

(1) All life on earth is based on the genetic code right down to 'simple' (structurally)viruses (from this point of view it is 'universal'; i.e. all life as we know it). The DNA and RNA processes of the genome are far too complex to arise spontaneously, whether here or from Mars. Modern science suggests that there must be a prebiotic evolution with a DNA precursor. The authors mention a number of theories including the popular "RNA World" theory where the RNA performed all of the necessary functions. However no one has successfully modeled this so it is only a hypothesis bordering on pure speculation. RNA specialist Gerald Joyce has gone so far as to say "The most reasonable assumption is that life did not start with RNA...The transition to an RNA world, like the origins of life in general, is fraught with uncertainty and is plagued by a lack of experimental data." The authors' distinction between 'simple' and 'complex' life from a scientific viewpoint is misguided. The critical first step or 'prebiotic phase' is so far unexplainable and applies to all life. As the authors of a recent unpublished paper (available on the web like many articles) state "The information crisis in prebiotic or chemical evolution stems essentially from two observations: (i) the length of a replicating polymer (i.e. RNA-like template) is limited by the replication accuracy per nucleotide, and (ii) templates that differ significantly from each other cannot coexist in a purely competitive setup. Realistic estimates of the error rate of primitive replication mechanisms predict too scanty information content per template - less than 100 nucleotides - to permit the complete codification of the mechanism in just one template."

(2) The earth clearly evolved over time from an original molten mass so one might well expect that as it cooled and water formed that more structurally complex life evolved with it (even if the prebiotic phase is universal). For those interested in the evolution they would be better educated by a book on Evolutionary Dynamics that does not, by a bunch of 'hand waving', spend time speculating about the qualitative effects of the moon on tides and Jupitor on asteroids. There is lots of science on the evolution of complexity and how it can work as opposed to not work.This is not to deny that life in the universe maybe very rare, but this is apparent from our telescopes and the very complexity of the much misunderstood first prebiotic steps. However the inference that these first steps can be taken for granted is not science. ... Read more

Book Description
G. Tyler Miller's worldwide bestsellers have evolved right along with the changing needs of your diverse student population. Focused specifically on energizing and engaging all your students, Miller and new contributor Scott Spoolman have been at work scrutinizing every line--enhancing, clarifying, and streamlining to reduce word density as well as updating with the very latest environmental news and research. The resulting texts are shorter, clearer, and so engaging that your students will actually want to read their assignments.About half the price of other environmental science texts, this 14-chapter, one-color core text offers an integrated approach that emphasizes how environmental and resource problems and solutions are related.New to this edition for instructors is PowerLecture, a one-stop shop for lecture prep that includes everything you need to create dynamic lectures all in one place. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Well written and thoughtful
I am a college student taking an Enviromental Science class that uses this text book.All the things you will need or want to know about the Earth's sustainable enviroment and how it shapes our lives is not enough to learn in one semester or quarter, but the author G. Tyler Miller JR. does a great job of condensing a LOT of important information into this text.

One of the great things is that the author invites the students who read his text to send him comments or ask him questions.Miller openly admits in the text that he thinks enviromental science is the most important thing you will learn in your lifetime.It dictates your health; the kind of water you drink and how your food is grown and what is in the air you are breathing right this moment.From how hazardous waste, soil management all the way to the path of sustainability this book has pretty much everything you want to know about the enviromental sciences (albiet condensed).It's even printed on recycled paper.

Has some accuracies...
Just another text book that promotes evolution as fact rather then (unproven) theory.I personally wouldn't mind a text book including evolution if it were presenting truly and accurately and allowed other theories to be considered rather than promote one theory which any expert would admit there is no hard core proof of at all.No more lies in schools! ... Read more

Book Description

An earth-sheltered, earth-roofed home has the least impact upon the land of all housing styles, leaving almost zero footprint on the planet.

Earth-Sheltered Houses is a practical guide for those who want to build their own underground home at moderate cost. It describes the benefits of sheltering a home with earth, including the added comfort and energy efficiency from the moderating influence of the earth on the home's temperature - keeping it warm in the winter and cool in the summer - low maintenance, and the protection against fire, sound, earthquake and storm afforded by the earth. Extra benefits from adding an earth or other living roof option include greater longevity of the roof substrate, fine aesthetics, and environmental harmony.

The book covers all of the various construction techniques involved including details on planning, excavation, footings, floor, walls, framing, roofing, waterproofing, insulation and drainage. Specific methods appropriate for the inexperienced owner-builder are a particular focus and include:

• pouring one's own footings and/or floor
• the use of dry-stacked (surface-bonded) concrete block walls
• post-and-beam framing
• plank-and-beam roofing, and
• drainage methods and self-adhesive waterproofing membranes.

The time-tested, easy-to-learn construction techniques described in Earth-Sheltered Houses will enable readers to embark upon their own building projects with confidence, backed up by a comprehensive resources section that lists all the latest products such as waterproofing membranes, types of rigid insulation and drainage products that will protect the building against water damage and heat loss.

Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series

Customer Reviews (10)

Good for cement lovers
This is where I started when I began exploring of building my house underground. What bothers me is so much cement. I like Mike Oehler better. Check him out too and decide for yourself.

Earth Sheltered housing
This is the so called "holy book" for building an earth sheltered home. Definitely should have started 20 years ago but it isneeded for today's building needs. Energy efficient - low cost( pretty labor intensive )Awesome to build. Have a five year plan.

Geat book
I thought the book was a very informative and practical account as well as very well produced and edited.

Thanks!

Location, location, location
This is a great book!If you really wanted to build your own earth-sheltered home you could certainly do it using the information presented here (though a wiser course would be to pick up more sources).Thanks to this book and "The New Ecological Home", building our own home with environmentally conscious materials and possibly earth bermed or sheltered is high on our list of priorities.There is only one complaint I have about many books of this variety.They tend to cover difficulties with things like building code and location very lightly.

Building code and location are going to be huge factors in building an earth sheltered structure, especially one made with fewer traditional modern building materials.Difficulties with local regulations or inflexible inspectors/building comissions may prevent you from being able to build in the area you want.This may drive an individual to build in locations further away from urban centers where they might work.Commuting is no fun; and if you wanted to look at it from an environmental standpoint commuting a greater distance to work, grocery market or schools has just raised your carbon footprint and negated some of the savings your earth sheltered home has created.

I would highly recommend that individuals check local code thoroughly and choose a location suitable to their daily needs such as work or other social necessities before building.One need not build out of logs and plaster to have an earth sheltered home, though I understand that the point of this book is to have an affordable home and avoiding expensive modern materials.Take a bigger picture of what you are trying to accomplish; if you are purchasing this book it is somewhat safe to assume you are concerned about the environment.Please also consider materials used.Rob Roy's excellent use of modern materials such as rubber membranes and concrete block are high in initial cost to produce, environmentally speaking, but last longer and provide more benefit to long term savings such as insulative qualities and maintenance costs than lesser materials might.A lot of other earth-sheltered builders advocate natural materials to a fault, they have people using composting toilets and straw-bale homes.While effective in an environmental sense, they are not attractive to the average person.Rob Roy's book moves in a positive direction by using modern materials with environmentally conscious construction to create a home that just about anybody would like to live in.

View of things to come.
Rob as always has the answers to the environmental problems that we all are facing.Building youself will not only save a lot of money but give you the satisfaction of knowing what you are getting.Building underground or semi underground has made sence for eternety but we as a civilization forgot the lesons learned so long ago.Great book. ... Read more

Book Description
A comprehensive look at natural treatments and healing methods that work.

Jonny Bowden takes his practical, knowledgeable, and open-minded approach -- the same approach that made his previous book, The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, so successful -- and focuses it on natural cures, revealing the best of alternative medicine for a mainstream audience. Through his personal use, extensive research, and wide-ranging expertise in nutrition and health, Jonny sorts through the myriad home remedies from every discipline and tradition to show which work and how best to use these proven healing techniques. He also explains through approachable and articulate descriptions why they work and on what basis he selected these cures -- whether it is patient testimonials or the latest scientific studies to give you peace of mind and the information you need about each treatment.

The book explores more than 75 common conditions, including allergies, cancer, high cholesterol, depression, diabetes, hypertension, menopause, and stress. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Natural Cures
I read the book at the recommendation of a co-worker and, to my delight, found it incredibly readable (Bowden has a humorous, conversational style) and useful.I liked it so much that I gave the book to my mother, who struggles with high blood pressure.She tried a number of Bowden's suggestions for high BP, and they absolutely worked.She now consistently has blood pressure in the normal range (which she checks daily), without using drugs.The most effective supplements for her BP were Taurine, Curcumine, and L-Carnitine, which she supplements with celery and garlic.The info from this book is likely to extend my mother's life - that's pretty powerful.

A Doctor's Review
Jonny Bowden's new book, The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth, is another great achievement by one of alternative medicine's best authors. It's accessible, well researched and will have a profound impact on your health and your future. Every household should have at least one copy.

The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth is a fantastic reference for doctors but I recommend it to my patients as well. Whether you're looking for insights into a particular supplement, a strategy for treating a specific illness or expert advice for staying young, active and healthy, his book will exceed your expectations every time you open it.

Jonny's writing style is warm and entertaining, and the benefits of his wisdom are readily available. Turn to any page and you'll find a great idea that's easy to understand and easy to apply right away. What's more, Jonny demystifies the science of nutrition and puts the power of healing in your own hands. And for this, he's done you a great service. I highly recommend this book.

The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth
All of Jonny Bowdens books that I've purchased are well written, easy to understand, with lots of research. You do not have to be a rocket scientist to "get it" the very first time you read his books. I'm starting my third reading of this book and it's amazing how much more you learn each time you read the book. I would purchase without hesitation, any book that Jonny wrote, regardless of the subject.
Nevin Stoltzfus

A book everyone should have
Jonny Bowden has done it again with "The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth". Together with "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth", Jonny has created a series of healthy living reference manuals that is fast becoming a contemporary treasury of reliable, practical and powerfully potent health information for our time. Written in a remarkably clear and accessible way, this book gives you the tools you need to reclaim (or protect) your health with a broad range of safe, thoroughly researched natural treatments. The "cures" range from the physical, such as exercise, to the mental, relaxation, to the edible, including whole foods, herbs, natural supplements and more. Addressing ailments ranging from the everyday (jet lag and acne) to much more serious illnesses and disorders such as cancer and autism, this is a book that all of us would benefit from having on our shelves. Thanks and kudos to Jonny for continuing to empower us to make healthy living an attainable goal.

Accurate, reliable, practical, and a core addition
"The Most Effective Natural Cures On Earth: The Surprising, Unbiased Truth About What Treatments Work And Why" by board-certified nutritionist and weight loss authority Jonny Bowden is a superbly informative reference for non-specialist general readers with an interest in the use of vitamins, foods, supplements, and treatments applicable for more than seventy-five common illnesses and ailments. Incorporating analogies, humor, and solid research science, the text is particularly well organized and accessible. Offering a wealth of information from the use of cinnamon to moderate blood sugar, to the use of vitamin C to protect against cancer, to eating celery in order to lower blood pressure, to using acupuncture for treating infertility, this illustrated compendium of 'cures' and curatives is accurate, reliable, practical, and a core addition to personal, family, and community library Alternative Medicine reference collections and supplemental reading lists. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
In the best-selling tradition of Smithsonian Animal, this extraordinary survey of our planet provides unrivaled insight into the forces and processes that formed our environment and which continue to influence its evolution. With thousands of breathtaking photographs and unique visual catalogues of the features and phenomena that take place on Earth -- such as rocks, minerals, and mountains to tropical rain forests and the different types of clouds -- Earth contains the most up-to-date ideas on how our world works, a compelling review on the health of the planet, and unbelievable images of the world's most stunning features. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

AWESOME
THIS IS GREAT BOOK WITH A LOT OF INFO. MY TEENAGER LOVES IT AND SO DOES MY HUSBAND

Coffee Table Reference
This book was a Christmas request from my 6th grader who is very curious about earth sciences.He was genuinely excited to see it when he opened it.In some ways it is more like a coffee table picture book than a reference book.It is lavishly illustrated with detail-captioned photos and charts.This is not the kind of book you're going to sit down and read cover to cover, but instead are going to use like a good encyclopedia of earth science. My older child, who is interested in astronomy, received the companion book "Universe" and the two make a beautiful pair of additions to the reference library.

Best all rounder
A great book with a nice balance of pictures (including some full page) and informative text about, well...about nature!

Excellent book with minor flaws
The book is chock full of pictures and explains many concepts in a very easy to understand fashion. However, it has many typos and factual errors that should have been remedied before it went to press. Overall, I highly recommend it as a reference book and as an introduction to geology and various aspects of earth science.

not exhaustive, but close
a wealth of information in a well-designed and proper package. a gorgeous book. maybe too good for the coffee table.... ... Read more

Book Description

Little Critter is on a mission! After watching a film about climate changes at school, Little Critter decides to do his part to slow down global warming. With the help of his family and friends, Little Critter begins to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Together they learn about the importance of not wasting water or energy. Join Little Critter as he plants a tree, makes a climate control machine, and helps the polar bears.

Book Description

To understand timely issues such as natural disasters and environmental challenges—and to evaluate solutions to related problems—the average citizen needs a basic awareness of the scientific principles that influence our planet. This trusted book makes an often-complex subject accessible to readers with a strong focus on readability and illustrations. Offers a meaningful,non-technical survey that is informative and up to date for learning basic principles and concepts. Includes a revised and expanded GEODe Earth CD-ROM. Updates and revises art and illustrations to include dozens of new high-quality, photographs carefully selected to aid understanding and add realism. Provides a wealth of new special-interest boxes, including "Earth as a System," "People and the Environment," and "Understanding Earth." A useful reference for anyone interested in learning more about Earth's geology.

Book Description
To understand timely issues such as natural disasters and environmental challenges–and to evaluate solutions to related problems–the average citizen needs a basic awareness of the scientific principles that influence our planet. This trusted book makes an often-complex subject accessible to readers with a strong focus on readability and illustrations. Offers a meaningful, non-technical survey that is informative and up to date for learning basic principles and concepts. Includes a revised and expanded GEODe Earth CD-ROM. Updates and revises art and illustrations to include dozens of new high-quality, photographs carefully selected to aid understanding and add realism. Provides a wealth of new special-interest boxes, including "Earth as a System," "People and the Environment," and "Understanding Earth." A useful reference for anyone interested in learning more about Earth's geology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good Condition
I bought the book for my sis who is in college, so I cant speak for the content of the book, but the service and condition in which it arrived was excellent.

A very enjoyable text for the general reader as well as the student - with a nicely done CD
I have found reading this text to be an awful lot of fun.Does that sound strange?Learning how the physical features and materials of the Earth came to be has always been fascinating to me.Part of it is because of the vast amounts of time involved, but also because how the descriptions of what has been observed connects so well with what we have come to know.Certainly, there is a lot left to explain, but many things are pretty welldocumented.

While the concept of Continental Drift has been around for many decades, I remember some of the descriptions of Plate Tectonics when I was a kid in the 60s and the hoopla the idea of floating continents caused.Adults debated back and forth what they heard in the news without much real information about the ideas.Here we are four decades further on and a great deal of confirming discoveries have been made.

The authors write with a lively style what could have been a dry as dust textbook.I love the way it is organized, the wonderful illustrations, and the "Students Sometimes Ask" feature.Each chapter is summarized well with the main concepts in bullet points.There are review questions so you see if you have internalized the material enough to formulate a proper answer.A list of key terms is also provided (with the page numbers so you can pop back into the chapter to dig into those words that haven't quite stuck in your brain).

The authors also list web sources for materials they provide on their Prentice Hall website.A particularly nice CD comes with the text that not only presents animated slides of the material for each chapter, but it is also narrated.There is also a chapter quiz for the material presented on the CD.This disk is a very nice feature for our more visually oriented age.Sure, I prefer the text, but I bet I could sell studying the CD to young people quite easily.

The physical geology of the Earth is covered very well in the book's (and CD's) twenty-four chapters.After the introduction we dive into plate tectonics, minerals, igneous rocks weathering & soil, sedimentary rocks, metamorphism and a lot more.And like all science texts, the concept of climate change is presented.

I think general readers like myself can enjoy this book and get a great deal from it.

... Read more

Amazon.com
Ecology, a science scarcely a century old, aims to give its practitioners an approach to understanding how whole natural systems--for example, watersheds, deserts, and estuaries--work. Few books translate this aim as well as Earth from Above, a stunning collection of photographs that affords its viewers a window into the world's workings. It is something of a commonplace, for instance, that the large-scale logging now being visited on the world's rainforests is causing untold damage to tropical ecosystems. In French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand's hands, this problem is translated from arid fact to alarming image, giving immediate meaning to the statistics that underlie today's environmental headlines; his photographs of the ruins of rural Madagascar, where forests are being cleared at a rate of 1,500 square kilometers (580 square miles) annually, are a sad case in point.

Arthus-Bertrand, working with the support of UNESCO, has wandered the globe to gather this collection of more than 200 photographs, presented in a folio format. The images are uniformly striking, whether of stalagmite-like fans of algae spreading into the Mediterranean Sea, farmers working their fields in northern India, or destroyed Iraqi tanks littering the deserts of Kuwait. The accompanying text, captions, and short essays by some of France's leading scientists and social critics lend specific depth to the images, which will cheer few readers--but that will shock, and educate, and, with luck, inspire closer attention to the world around us. --Gregory McNameeBook Description
Three years ago Yann Arthus-Bertrand's Earth FromAbove-the result of a five-year airborne odyssey across five continents-was published around the world to critical and popular acclaim.Now, Arthus-Bertrand's monumental achievement is available in a revised and expanded edition: Here are all the astonishing original photographs together with 17 new images and authoritative new texts by world-renowned environmentalist Lester Brown and other well-known ecologists-all at the new low price of $45.00!

Arthus-Bertrand's remarkable aerial photographs offer the most revealing and spectacular portrait of our world ever created. Produced under the sponsorship of UNESCO, the book is also a unique documentary record of the state of the world's fragile environment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (69)

Super...
Wonderful book not only with stunning photos but deals with global conflicts of earth and humans.

Love the TV series on the same by Yann and I wanted a companion book for the same. Excellent...

Book arrived from amazon in time.

Earth from Above
A book of wonderful aerial vistas.I first saw many of these pictures in The Luxembourg Gardens in Paris.This book allows me to continuously look at them.One never gets tired of the images. This book provides a feast for your eyes and shows clearly the wonders of nature.The only shortcoming is that many of the pictures are two pages in breath and are broken up by the book's mid- seam.

Earth From Above is a marvel!
I have enjoyed this book for about three years and have given it to 10 of my friends as a gift.Just fabulous!Worth its weight in gold ... and it is very heavy!!

Very nice, but....
When I received the book, the pages were almost loose from the cover, so I did send it back to Amazon. However, the contents are really nice. I do understand the comment from the people about the problem with the photo's on 2 pages, but they still remain very impressive photo's.

I also would like to add here that I only have compliments about the way Amazon has handled the problem with the (almost) loose cover. They came very quick with very good solutions.

Great Pictures - Interesting Information
I purchased this book as a house warming gift and later purchased one for myself I liked it so well. It's a great coffee table book, with wonderful visuals, but also with interesting and environmental information. ... Read more

Book Description
The Bible has much to tell about the imminent future and this blockbuster reveals all the signs, seen in today's society, that foreshadow the return of Jesus Christ. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (78)

Excellent Read
I read The Late Great Planet Earth when it first came out so many years ago.I read and thought about all the prophecies pronounced throughout the ages and followed them through to the end - which talks about prophecies spoken by Old Testament Prophets that refer to our time now.

Those prophecies are warnings and are worth a second look and much prayer because these prophecies talk of the coming again of the Messiah.

I purchased this book again in early Dec. 2007 to re-read and pray about what I believe to be very accurate prophecies concerning the Middle East, Russia and the United States. . .what Mr.Lindsay wrote in 1970 seems to be describing the events of today - this book is well worth the read.

A Life Saver!
This book saved my life in 1973 and I have shared it with others by buying them a copy when the opportunity presented itself by a comment that they make regarding their faith or lack thereof. I would recommend any of Hal Lindsey's books.

He who wins souls is wise
In the 70's, 80's and 90's in Melbourne Australia God used this book as a mighty tool for evengelism.Many, many people were led to a saving faith in Christ after either reading this book or seeing the movie. Melbourne is rife with testimony of how God used this book to awaken many a soul. I am not saying that the ends justifies the means in relation to theological error; However it did awaken people to spiritual realities and the possibility that there might even BE a God out there who would one day return and judge the Earth. Often people who had no such a concept. I beleive that even the most learned among us will get a 5 out of 8 for theology.Jesus said you will know them by thier fruits, I have only seen good fruits come from this book, and, "He who wins souls is wise".Thank you for your work Hal.

Illegitimate Interpretation
A bestseller in the '70s, this is biblical interpretation at its worst.For an antidote, read "End-Times" by James M. Efird.

Rapture cult at its finest
This book was written when the "rapture cult" was at its height.(It should be noted that the book suggests the rapture will occur in the 1980s....which explains why it sold so well in the 1970s).

The "rapture cult" maintains that, yes, Christ is coming back....but guess what?He's coming back two more times (if not more).That whole coming back for Judgment day and the elements melting with a fervent heat and all that?Sure.But before then, the rapturists say, he's gonna come down and secretly spirit his "church" away and then much later he'll come back for real.None of this is found in the Bible.

This cult was started in Britain in the early 19th-century and found its voice with proponents like Lindsay, Jim Bakker, Jerry Falwell, Tim LaHaye, Ted Haggard, Bob Jones University and the like.It proclaims that the "Great Commission" given by Jesus is a fool's errand and that Christ was lying when he said, "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."As a result, a lot of churches have become anemic and powerless as they wait for their escapist rapture--ala Heaven's Gate.(After all, why bother playing to win if your coach is going to forfeit the game before it ends).

I feel sorry for anyone who bought this book hoping for true biblical insight.Buy it as a historical curiosity or if you need a good laugh once in a while.And remember, the rapture is coming!....in 1988. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Greatest book on Earth!!!
I lovedthis great book on caring about the environment. It gave me facts and how I could help save the planet by not using my car, recycling and reusing. You Must read this book!

IT'S NOT ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL POLITICS
I like this little book because it's realistic and doesn't try to use scare tactics. It's not put out by radicals and it isn't trying to get us to take on too much, too fast. Those who politicize the ecology bug me to death. As if taking care of this planet that we fleetingly occupy is about whether you're on the right or the left, where you stand on gun control, taxes, what defines marriage, or whether the school board should remove Huck Finn from the high school shelves. Making the earth's environment better is selfish, because we stand to benefit from it. It's a planet we share, folks, and we're not doing all we could to leave it in good shape for those who are here now or will live on it when our time is done.

Let's get this straight once and for all: being environmentally conscious does not mean you're a tree-hugging liberal! What it means is, you like a planet that doesn't make you, your children, your grandma and your pet golden retriever sick. The Soviets were a leftist nation and they destroyed their ecology past the point of no return. On the flip side, the right-wing American President Theodore Roosevelt, as Republican as can be, has as one of his legacies the establishment of the National Parks System. "Saving" the planet is not the exclusive domain of leftists, nor-saying it again here--does it equate you with "tree huggers" if you try to do something that benefits the environment. I personally like clean air, clean water, a place to take a walk in nature without stepping ina nice glowing barrel of toxic sludge, don't you? I don't care if you're farther right than Sister Attila the Fourth-Grade Nun you can't honestly say you don't want there to be forests for you to go hunting in, or unpolluted rivers left for you to take your grandkids trout fishing in, am I right? And, yes, we ALL can recoil at the well-intended but self-defeating environmental fanatics who alienate the mainstream society of America by being too extreme and dogmatic. This book is not written for those who chain themselves to an endangered species of mollusk and go on hunger strikes to protest a TV show on global warming. This excellent little book is not like that at all. It presents what I think are really worthy ideas for cleaning up around the neighborhood where you live. It sets some nice projects out for kids (and grown ups) to get done and that is surely better than not educating our young people in environmental responsibility.

Okay, let me put it this way: would you rather have a child dear to you outside some weekend picking up litter, planting a tree in the side yard and sorting recyclable materials, or would you rather have that child sitting in front of the TV with a PS2, becoming another statistic in the epidemic of pre-teen obesity? This book is a small step in the right direction, and if it does nothing more than makes someone, whatever the age, think about the connection between personal behavior and the state of the earth's environment, then it's a nice investment of time and money.

Practical, realistic, easy.
I first read this book years ago as a child. Perhaps the few reviewers on here who do not like the book (and use this review as an outlet for their own personal politics) on here do not realize that parents, teachers, community leaders and religious leaders hardly shelter kids from the outside world as it is, and this book will not upset children, ruin their happiness or waste their childhood at all. As a kid, my friends and I readily accepted this book and were happy to carry out many of the suggestions. Adults seem to look down on kids a lot and think that they just want to play all day and have little care for anything but themselves. The things kids love, such as animals and the outdoors, are in danger, and this book lets kids contribute to help saving them. There are plenty of little tips in this book that do not advocate huge, drastic lifestyle changes. This book also does not come across as preachy or arrogant. Overall it is practical and enjoyable to read.

WOW!
This book is totally awesome. I am interested in the environment and since this book includes quotes by kids my age, I feel I am really connected. It makes me feel really cool, like I can really make a difference in the world. And it helps. It tells you ways to help the earth- simple ways. And I learned a lot from it. It has a lot of good, interesting facts in it too.

Wonderful: informative and fun to read !
I checked this book out from the library and we enjoyed it so much we had to buy one.This book contains simple eco-friendly ideas anyone can try, such as making a bird house out of a milk carton, planting a garden to attract butterflies and other creatures, how to avoid overuse of styrofoam and other non-recyclable materials.It does not suggest major lifestyle changes, just small changes that can add up over time.And it is fun to read!It contains mini-quizes for kids on each topic, such as: which of the following will a worm not eat- vegetables, dirt, or steak?(answer= worms don't eat meat). Each idea includes a question & answer, a description of the concept (such as recycling), a few projects to try at home (such giving old toys to charity or having a yard sale instead of throwing them out), and addresses to write to for more information (such as the National Wildlife Federation, which can help you plan a custom made wildlife-friendly yard).Great, simple projects for kids - a grown-ups too.I am going to buy the sequel as well and look forward to reading it cover-to-cover. ... Read more

Book Description
Using two themes, earth systems and environmental issues, EARTH SCIENCE AND THE ENVIRONMENT provides a rich overview of all Earth-related disciplines, including geology, meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, and astronomy. The authors provide a sense of how Earth functions as a single system composed of interacting subsystems and integrates coverage of enviromental issues in both the authoritative narrative and stunning multi-part visuals that emphasize the beauty of Earth science.To further enrich your experience, this earth science textbook is fully integratedwith the CengageNOW online tutorial system. Web-based, assessment-driven, and completely flexible, the system provides you with a personalized learning plan based on a diagnostic pre-test to maximize your study time by focusing your attention where it is needed most. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An OK textbook, but oddly organized.
As far as geology textbooks go, this one is pretty middle of the road.Most topics are covered in a reasonable amount of detail for an introductory class, but not too much.Many of the concepts are "re-presented" in later chapters as needed (the interior of the earth, for example), but in varying amounts of detail depending on the topic (so the interior of the Earth is described is less detail in the discussion of the geosphere and in more detail in the earthquakes chapter).

My problem is mostly with the organization:I find that many of the topics are not covered in the chapters I would expect (for example: hotspot volcano "traces" appear not in the plate tectonics chapter, but in the volcanoes and deep sea chapters instead).I don't really follow the logical flow of the text, and it's made teaching a course with the book much more difficult.I don't plan to use this particular textbook again.

Earth Science Teacher reviews a Good Book
I have used this book once for a course I teach for K-8 pre-service teachers called: Earth Science for Teachers. It is only 1 hour so I can't use all the content in the book, but, it is an excellent content referencefor people who are expected to know and teach more and more content everyyear. Read this book for your own fun, or, use it as a reader friendlyresource with excellent pictures and friendly assignments. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

Plight of DMZ Vietnamese during war
Recommended by my Vietnamese tour guide in October 2007, this book describes the dreadful plight of those Vietnamese families living on the border between North and South Vietnam in what the Vietnamese term the "American War".During the day, the villagers had to demonstrate allegiance to the South and at night the VC demanded their loyalty.The families would not leave their land as their ancestors are buried there.The authors, Le Ly Hayslip and her son James, describe her experiences in surviving the hell imposed upon her family by the opposing forces and her eventual emigration to the USA.The sequel, "Child of War, Woman of Peace", describes the difficulties she experienced as a Vietnamese in the USA.

thought provoking
An honestly told story by an author able to see both sides. This is a also a story of forgiveness. Her story is a heroic journey and the author gives the reader a perspective into the many ways the Vietnam War has affected Americans and Vietnamese Americans.

a great coming up memoir.
Le Ly Hayslip has gone through one of the worst wars in American history. And she has lived. Past the rape, past the sexual inequality, past the emotional destruction of her family, past the threats and brushes with death. Le Ly Hayslip now is an accomplished author and owns several real estates throughout California.

This is a powerful memoir and I will not rob it of that. However, the only reason I gave it 3 stars (an "It was OK" rating) instead of 4 is because I feel that Hayslip could have cut out about... maybe 1/6th of the book out and nothing will have been missed. Not that it didn't relate to the story, but Hayslip does occasionally go off about this or that, her re-arrival back to Vietnam as an adult also heads towards the digressing end of the spectrum a lot of time and sometimes she goes from reporting her troubles and potential sympathy to just plain whining. Perfect for the college kid looking to dig as much quotes and intangibles to write an essay (as was I) but as a reader I felt it was too much.

Overall, still an excellent read.

I get it now, Le Ly. Thank you.
Not having lived a very memorable life, my own writing has leaned toward fiction. Nevertheless, I tend to judge memoirs--and this is a good one--by the same standards I use for great literary fiction. One of those standards is the opener, or first line, in this case, "SUFFOCATE HER!" the midwife told my mother when I came into the world.

This is what we in the business call a 'zinger,' the equal of Camus' "Mother died today." or Melville's "Call me Ishmael." What a beginning! On trial for her life right from the git-go. This opener effectively signalled the continuous trials and potential consequences Le Ly would face for the rest of her life. She would have to come from stern stock if she were to survive, and her mother held her genetic end up with her smokin' response to the midwife, "I will bury her when she stops breathing. Now get out of here."

I have been a student of the Vietnam War since I first joined the Army as a chopper pilot in 1967--ironic because I've never set foot in that unfortunate land. I suppose I'm motivated by survivor's guilt. Anyway, Le Ly's fine memoir anchors a good bit of my newly won understanding of that longest and strangest of American wars. Coming from a Republi