Book Description
The daily news gives you events but rarely context. So what do al-Qaeda, North Korea, and Iran really want? Which faction is which in Iraq and who’s arming whom? What’s the deal with Somalia, Darfur, and Kashmir? Fatah, Hamas, and Hezbollah?

Finally, here’s Who Hates Whom—a handy, often stunning guide to the world’s recent conflicts, from the large and important to the completely absurd.

•Which countries are fighting over an uninhabitable glacier with no real strategic value—at an annual cost of half a billion dollars?
•Which underreported war has been the deadliest since World War II—worse even than Vietnam—with a continuing aftermath worse than most current conflicts combined?
•Which royal family members were respected as gods—until the crown prince machine-gunned the king and queen?
•Which country’s high school students think the Nazis had a “good side”? Which nation’s readers recently put Mein Kampf on the bestseller list? And which other country watches itself with four million security cameras? (Hint: All three are U.S. allies.)

Detailed with more than fifty original maps, photographs, and illustrations, Who Hates Whom summarizes more than thirty global hotspots with concise essays, eye-catching diagrams, and (where possible) glimmers of kindness and hope.

In which bodies of water can you find most of the world’s active pirates? Which dictatorship is bulldozing its own villages? Where exactly are Waziristan, Bangsamoro, Kurdistan, Ituri, Baluchistan, and Jubaland—and how will they affect your life and security? Find out in Who Hates Whom, a seriously amusing look at global humanity—and the lack thereof. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Unbelievably readable.
I think it is something of a miracle that Mr. Harris made this book so accessible.I picked up this book because I enjoyed other material that Bob Harris produced, but I was a little wary about this book.After all, he's writing about many of the "b-side" wars in countries that don't make the 7 o'clock news.The sources of these conflicts range from leftover Cold War proxy wars to colonization to ancient struggles when men in bearskins beat each other with femurs.That is a lot of material to cover in a tiny book and simplifying or omitting the histories can prevent readers from gaining any real knowledge of what is going on.Mr. Harris avoided this problem by avoiding lengthy histories and, while acknowledging the roots of the conflicts he describes, largely focusing on the contemporary "things blowing up."There are usually short blurbs about the history of the conflict and then a look at the modern state of the conflict and the parties involved.Generally, these are pretty good.In the interest of not getting himself killed Mr. Harris seems to play a fairly neutral party when examining the various size wars. The sole except is when he gave into his personal rage about the invasion of Iraq.I took the review down to 4 stars just because he left out the Armenia-Azerbaijan/Nagorno-Karabakh war.Sure, things have settled down there, Mr. Harris, but no peace agreement has been reached.And how can you overlook the history of that war - at one point both sides paid the Russians to fight for them and a Russian Air wing ended up fighting a Russian Tank column.That's comedy gold, in a really dark way.

You Can't Tell the Players without a Scorecard!
Bob Harris manages to educate and entertain in this guide to the myriad of wars, conflicts, arguments, rivalries, and turf battles around the world.As advertised, he tells you who hates whom around the globe. We actually keep this book on the coffee table as a quick reference source for those times the news mentions an unfamiliarregional fracas or historical bone of contention in a far away land.The book does manage to educate the reader on history while providing some laugh out loud observations about the absurdity of all the strife.And, somehow, Harris manages to make one feel somewhat optimistic about the future of us all.

Indispensable if you're interested in world events.
If you believe most news outlets, celebrities' parenting styles are some of the most important issues impacting our lives today-- not ethnic conflict in Africa, religious wars in Asia, or drugs and warlords in South America.There is now a book for those know better or want to know better.

Who Hates Whom actually explains, clearly, concisely, and respectfully, what the hot-button issues are in many different parts of the world.Bob Harris's style makes it surprisingly easy and entertaining to read, as a reference or cover-to-cover, while giving the reader an honest account of what they need to know.Not only great for those who follow the news but for anyone interested in learning the roots of many conflicts and making the world around them a bit more peaceful.

A quick read and solid book
Harris offers a great primer for the geopolitically aspiring wonk. I love his writing style, and the rock heavy content material is lightened a touch by his humorous tone. I knew a bit about some of the conflicts Harris discusses, but he provided more information about issues with which I was already familiar and introduced me to many I was not. Great book. Great Price. Highly recommended.

Humorous, informative, and very well-written.
I bought Bob Harris's previous book, Prisoner of Trebekistan, because I'm a big fan of "Jeopardy," but he showed both a knack for self-deprecation of Dangerfield-esque levels and insight into America's favorite quiz show. Now, Bob takes a completely different tack, hoping to give America a glimpse into wars that most Americans were completely unaware of, or failed to care about. If you want to get informed about world events and learn not only who hates whom, but why, I strongly recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description
When Susan Hill first introduced us to the city of Lafferton, to its meticulously crafted cast of characters, and to its chief police inspector Simon Serrailler, readers went wild. When it was released in hardcover, The Various Haunts of Men was named a BookSense Pick and was immediately on the must-read list of every mystery fan. Now out in paperback, Hill's intricate and pulse-pounding novel will reach an even wider audience.

As the story begins, a lonely woman vanishes while out on her morning run. Then a 22-year-old girl never returns from a walk. An old man disappears too. When fresh-faced policewoman Freya Graffham is assigned to the case, she runs the risk of getting too invested--too involved--in the action. Alongside the enigmatic detective Chief Inspector Simon Serrallier, she must unravel the mystery before events turn too gruesome.

Written with intelligence, compassion, and a knowing eye--in the tradition of the fabulous mysteries of Ruth Rendell and P.D. James--The Various Haunts of Men is an enthralling journey into the heart of a wonderfully developed town, and into the very mind of a killer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Thrillingly Creepy
Even though I did guess who did it early on, the story is still very interesting and the surprise ending definitly caught me off guard. I like that..
This was a Christmas gift from my writer hubby, so I should have known it would be great. Not my normal mystery thriller and the british slang was a tad difficult to follow but overall it was a great read.

"Ninety-nine out of a hundred of missing persons are a waste of police time."
Susan Hill's "The Various Haunts of Men" is a powerful British police procedural in which a serial killer targets victims for twisted reasons of his own. As the novel opens, he is talking to his dead mother, telling her of the demons that torment him and the secrets that he has kept for so long. He will return time and again to continue his confession to his despised parent.

The protagonist of "The Various Haunts of Men" is DCI Simon Serraillier, whose relatives are almost all physicians. Simon has always been "the odd one out"; he is an artist who draws in pencil, pen, and charcoal. Twice a year, he travels abroad to pursue his avocation and his work has been exhibited to great acclaim. Simon's sister, thirty-four year old Dr. Cat Deerborn, is closer to him than anyone. She respects his privacy and understands his need to march to his own drummer. Although he is handsome and can be very charming, Simon has never married and avoids long term romantic commitments.

Hill's mystery focuses on lonely people, including a fifty-three year old woman named Angela Randall who has few friends and "no parents, siblings, aunts or cousins." She works at a care home for the elderly and owns a small house in the cathedral town of Lafferton. For the first time in her life she dares to be optimistic, for she has fallen in love. Angela allows herself to imagine that her isolation will soon give way to a shared and fulfilling life with the man she idolizes. Others whose lives are less than satisfying are seventy-one year old Iris Chater, who is brokenhearted after the death of her beloved husband, Harry; twenty-year old Debbie Parker, an overweight, acne-ridden, and unemployed young woman who suffers from depression and low self-esteem; and forty-four year old Karin McCafferty, who has an aggressive form of breast cancer that has invaded her lymph glands. Hill depicts each of these characters with extraordinary compassion and detail.The reader quickly becomes invested in each woman's destiny.

When Angela Randall suddenly goes missing, her boss files a report with Detective Sergeant Freya Graffham, a bright and attractive police officer who works under Serrallier. Since Randall's body has not been found, there is little that anyone can do. However, when two more women vanish, Freya and the amiable Detective Constable Nathan Coates decide to do a bit of digging, and they begin to suspect foul play. Unfortunately, without eyewitnesses and little forensic evidence, the investigation progresses slowly. Adding to Freya's woes, she finds herself falling in love with the elusive and enigmatic Simon. Although he is attracted to her and respects her ability, Simon is reluctant to reveal his feelings.

A key theme in this novel is the power of alternative medicine to attract desperate men and women. It seems that a large group of "New Age Airheads," as Cat's husbands calls them, have set up shop in a place called Starly Tor.These people make an excellent living preying on their anxious and gullible clients. There is a medium named Sheila Innis, a spiritualist who calls himself Dava (he promotes well-being through meditation, diet, and exercise), and a "psychic healer" who claims that a nineteenth century physician guides, teaches, and even performs operations through him. Iris visits Innis to help her connect with her dead husband and Debbie attends several high-priced sessions with Dava. Is there a connection between the missing women and these off-beat practitioners? As the story proceeds to its shocking climax, the suspense mounts to an excruciating degree. The book's bleak conclusion is both disturbing and unexpected.

"The Various Haunts of Men" is one of those rare mysteries that rises above the conventions of the genre. Susan Hill deserves to be included in the ranks of James, Robinson, and Rendell at their best. Hill's realistic and poignant dialogue, well-constructed and textured plot, skillful use of foreshadowing, and carefully delineated characters all combine to make this a standout in a very crowded field.

First In A Series ofLiterate Mysteries BySkilled British Author Susan Hill
Susan Hill is a well regarded British author and several of her books including the ghost story THE WOMAN IN BLACK have become modern classics. Hill's ability to create memorable characters and atmospheric settings are highly evident in her mystery THE VARIOUS HAUNTS OF MEN. The story is set in the small cathedral city of "Lafferton" and the surrounding villages. Police detective Freya Graffham is new to this city after choosing to leave London following a divorce and we see many of the characters through her observations. The mystery centers on several people who have suddenly disappeared in the community and the victims as well as their friends and other witnesses are all well developed characters. Freya becomes involved in the case and also develops an immediate crush on the intriguing Chief Inspector Simon Serrailler and his triplet sister (the other of this sibling trio is offstage in Australia) and parents play supporting parts in the story.The sensitive Serrailler (not the typical policeman as he loves sketching and has some resemblance to P. D. James' poetic detective Adam Dalgliesh)remains a bit of a mystery.However THE VARIOUS HAUNTS OF MEN is subtitled "A Simon Serrailler mystery" and two other books featuring him have been published in Great Britain and will be published in the US so readers can learn more about this attractive policeman soon.

At 438 pages this is not a quick read but a literate and worthy one. The characters' personalities and struggles as well as the portrayal of average British life are of more interest than the actual mystery itself since most will spot the villain long before the book's climax.In fact in short chapters throughout the book we actually hear from the kidnapper/murderer as he addresses someone (apparently his hated mother) via tape recorder and explains his motives and the background that led to the criminal activity.Alternative healers, traditional religion and spiritualists all have a place in this novel's plot and Susan Hill has done her research to convey these elements in such a realistic manner.This is an all around well rendered book and I look forward to reading the rest of the series as the books becomes available.

Not My Cup of Tea
This is an interesting but uneven crime novel whose greatest strength is its atmosphere.If you enjoy "Little English Village" mysteries, you'll rapidly consume The Various Haunts of Men.A few citizens have disappeared from a small village over the course of several months.Ms. Hill introduces us to many charming characters who live in this picturesque "cathedral" village--at times punctuating descriptions of quaint country life with the slow-moving police investigation into the missing people.

This book just wasn't my style, but I can see how it would appeal to other people.Meandering paragraphs about daffodils, elderly people and their problems, and the exciting doings of the village choir really s-l-o-w downthe pace of an otherwise interesting story.Ms. Hill spends entire chapters talking about minor characters and their moribund lives.These could and should have been edited out of this book.

I admit to being annoyed with "Cat" and her reflections on religion as well.On p. 358, when asked by her friend if she believes in ghosts, "Cat laughed. `No.No, I don't think I do....I suppose I think they're unnecessary.An there's so often a rational explanation of so-called ghostly sightings.'"And yet, when this same friend asks her if she believes in God, Cat replies "I have to [believe in God].I've seen too much to let me believe otherwise, and I couldn't do my job if I didn't."So when an infant dies--is this one of the things that confirms to Cat that God exists?It's scary to think that a qualified doctor really thinks she couldn't do her job without this belief--does God rank right up there with amoxicillin or insulin in treating disease?Then, Cat ironically chastises those who follow unproven "treatments"--"Cat kept silent, wondering at the credulity of otherwise cautious and intelligent people..." [p. 393-4].Ms. Hill needs to think these things through instead of indulging in silly superstition.As anyone can see, goblins, ghosts, and gods are all the same thing.

This book ends with a religious fest!There are hymns sung; the hero of the book reads a lesson from the Old Testament, scriptures are quoted--and all the while the reader wonders if Ms. Hill has bumped her head and forgotten what the heck she was doing at the computer.

A young and impressionable female detective takes one look at our hero (DCI Serrailler) and is smitten and hopelessly in love.Huh?Isn't this a police procedural involving a serial killer?The book is disjointed and makes you think it was written by a sweet spinster living in the English countryside.Serial killers--then daffodils--then old men smoking their pipes in the village square--then the female detective trying to think of which cute linen pantsuit she should wear...Really quite strange.It may appeal to some people and their particular tastes, but when examined in the light of day, this novel is a bit embarrassing.

A real winner!
I thought this book was fantastic! The characters are so strong and well-developed, while the plot follows its own course and doesn't adhere to typical mystery format - a definite plus. I was engrossed in the story the whole way through and loved all the twists and surprises. I really look forward to more in this series. Another recent release that I just read, Ladykiller by Lawrence Light and Meredith Anthony, is similar in format in that it gives away a lot (including the killer) early on, but still manages to hold the reader's attention and remain a mystery novel. I highly recommend them both! ... Read more

Book Description
A fascinating and vivid portrait of the lives and habits of people in the American coloniesthe sixth volume in the Everyday Life in America series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great for Genealogists
We all know about the Revolutionary War, and George Washington, Ben Franklin, Paul Revere, et al. But what about Enoch Shrigley or Jonathan Heacock? Martha Pearson, maybe? Susannah Morgan? Who, you may ask, are these people? Enoch, Jonathan, Martha, and Susannah were no one that you have read about in your American History lessons in school. They were my ancestors, my multiple Great Grandparents who lived in Pennsylvania in the 1700's, and, except for a few small facts and stories here and there, I know very little about their lives, especially the women. But, they all lived during the time period covered in "As Various As Their Land," a book that I highly recommend. And learning about the lives of my above listed ancestors is why I truly love these 'you are there' everyday life books. I have copies of the many different books of this ilk that are available and, being heavily into my family history (and genealogy in general), I use them extensively to put 'flesh on the bones' of my long dead ancestors. They help one to understand how the War For Independence or how the politicians of the day affected the mass of 'unknowns.' Stephanie Grauman Wolf has done a very good job in her representation of what the 'plain ordinary folk' of the 18th century were like. Because of her book, I now can tell you pretty much the way a typical person of 1770 may have dressed, cooked, what they may have eaten, did for fun, how they were schooled, etc. In another Every Day Life type book that I reviewed (Daily Life In Victorian England), I began my review with something like "If history books in school were written like this, perhaps more school children would be interested in the subject of history." That statement holds true for this book by Ms. Wolf as well.
Why four stars instead of five? Just a couple of small things that I felt should have been included. For example, a larger piece on the language of the period - how they spoke to each other. Did they speak properly (as you see on tv or in the movies), or were they more like our present day persons, using slang in their speech? More on cleanliness, as well as music of the times would have been a nice addition. And the over done subject of racism kept creeping in. Otherwise, for the most part, I have found this book to be invaluable to the genealogist or the student of history, or even the remotely curious. Four stars is still very good!

The Everyday Lives of Eighteenth-Century Americans
This work is part of The Everyday Life in America Series through which the reader learns about the mundane yet more important contributions of the "regular" colonists who populated this land. Most history books focus on great men - and only rarely, great women - major wars, and grand schemes and innovations. Wolf's book and the others in the series offer a picture of the early "humanscape" with a better understanding of the colonist's everyday lives.As the author states, "For every Cotton Mather, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, or George Washington there were hundreds of assemblymen, clergymen, and judges; thousands of people who made up mobs, polls, and armies; and tens of thousands of farmers, artisans, laborers, women, children, servants and slaves."(11) I am now convinced that no history is complete without consideration of the lives of these "everyday" individuals.The sheer numbers, as well as the scholar's aspiration to understand the past more completely, demand it.

When a person reads about the past, they tend to romanticize it.Therefore, the hearts of most twenty-first century Americans are warmed by the commonly held image of early settlers working together as a new people in a new land, achieving seemingly impossible goals, massaging unrealistic dreams into reality.However, as Wolf's title suggests, the overriding theme of her book is diversity rather than the believed commonality. Wolf addresses this theme of diversity with regard to national origin, race, religion, social status, gender, settlement region, and more.The degree of complexity is increased by those variables.Though we have been made aware through more traditional histories that America was - and is - something of a "melting pot," Wolf delves beyond and beneath the usual focus on country of origin to uncover the depth of diversity in the eighteenth century.Given the complex human mosaic that was America, George Washington stated that it was "little short of a miracle" (10) that any sort of union was achieved. For the author, major events essentially provide a context that might enhance the reader's understanding of the "voices" of eighteenth-century Americans.For that reason, Wolf suggests that slavery and the Revolutionary War are important "backdrops" to consider as one listens to these "voices."The everyday lives of inhabitants might certainly have been affected by these historical events, though not to the degree one might believe.Using the Revolutionary War as an example, the author points out that: "...while history is written backward, it is lived forward, and for the people who experienced it, the War of Independence was really just one more interruption of their daily routines similar to many that had gone before." (9) Such statements challenge the reader to consider the everyday lives of people as the focus, rather than the events that make great chapter headings in textbooks. Another central message in Wolf's book, is that time is just one component of the history of the eighteenth century - and perhaps a relatively unimpressive one at that.Consideration of the diversity of American experiences at this "single point in time" allows greater understanding of our early nation.Therefore, on February 17, 1775, settlers in Pennsylvania lived one day of life while people in the Carolinas experienced something radically different. The organizational strategy of As Various as Their Land involves three separate sections labeled "The Home Front, "The Workaday World," and "The Public Domain" (Wolf 15, 139, 213 respectively).As the section titles suggest, they each deal with everyday home, work, and community experiences in the eighteenth century.I could not help but think of the Venn diagrams used in an algebra class, as Wolf describes these three overlapping circles of everyday life.The concept of overlap is essential to any accurate depiction of life - past or present.Such"intersections of sets," as they might be described in algebra terminology, create the understanding of life as it was lived in early America. The purpose and focus of Stephanie Grauman Wolf's book were very thought provoking.The purpose requires the reader to adjust their concept of history and the people who lived it day by day. The author used an impressive array of sources in presenting the "voices" of individuals through letters, diaries, and various other documents.However, the conclusions drawn from such a small "sample" of subjects seemed rather broad- and sometimes overly emphatic.Though Wolf makes a great effort to include information from the situations, I was completely aware that each "voice" provided just a glimpse at a moment of history. Just as the more "traditional" histories focus on certain prominent people, then, As Various as Their Land has comparable limitations by focusing on the "voices" of available and select individuals.And to be fair, any depiction of human events - whether created then or now-is almost always incomplete. This difficulty, however, should not be overemphasized.Wolf's book successfully fills in considerable gaps and connects the dots of traditional renderings with real human beings who lived history forward in eighteenth-century America. ... Read more

Book Description
1885. With illustrations. A volume by Darwin the British naturalist who became famous for his theories of evolution and natural selection. In 1861, Darwin took a break from writing his book on animal domestication and went on holiday with his daughter, Henrietta, to Torquay on the Devon coast. While there he spent many an hour examining the way insects pollinate orchids in the fields around the town. He noticed that only certain insects pollinate one particular orchid variety. When he returned to Down House he immediately switched from breeding pigeons to raising orchids. During the Victorian era, orchids were all the rage, and as soon as word got out that Darwin was raising them he found himself being flooded with specimens from all over the country. What he set out to do was study how orchids used intricate petal designs to attract bees and moths to their pollen. How did such a relationship evolve? The subject fascinated him and the results are to be found in this work. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A *Distinction* Between a Good and Bad Book is...
Aside from Thomas Aquinas, Francis Suarez was probably the most important and influential thinker in the scholastic period. His school of thought reigned for some time; you'll see people from the modern period like Hume interacting with him (in fact, Hume wrote his Treatise of Human Nature at Suarez's school). Prior to Suarez, you see many attempts at solving the "one and the many problem." That is what Suarez's project is here. He wants to find unity without simplicity. You'll see that two of his greater influences are Aquinas and Aristotle.

Suarez believes that he can classify things into three types of distinctions: real, mental (reasoning reason, reasoned reason), and modal. He interacts with others, such as Scotus, to show that there are no other types of distinctions. This work is not an easy read. Though the words are not enormous (for the most part), the subject matter is difficult. I provided this book with a four star because it would have been helpful for the translator or someone else, like an editor, to provide extended notes throughout to help guide the reader along. Suarez, on the other hand, is awesome!

His work is very applicable, for instance, in trying to do groundwork on the problem of individuals, or the problem of substances, and so forth. So, if you are interested in medieval philosophy, or want to start learning about it, or if you want to start learning how to be extremely precise, then this Suarez text is a good (and for beginners in philosophy: difficult) read - but definitely well worth it. ... Read more

Book Description

From reviews of the hardcover edition:

"[Various Positions is] more a literary than a rock bio—quiet of tone, serious without being worshipful. Drawing on Cohen's own archives, Nadel plots aspects of Cohen's life—Zen, love affairs, drug use—against the evolution of his writing. He fashions a biography that is revealing but also mindful of its subject at his best."

—Booklist

"An excellent biography, one that manages to be both thoroughly scholarly and genuinely entertaining at the same time."

—Montreal Gazette

"An honest and sympathetic biography."

—New York Times Book Review

"The most authoritative work yet on the 'poet laureate of pessimism.'"

—Library Journal

Known as the "Prince of Bummers," Leonard Cohen is a multi-talented poet, singer-songwriter, novelist, and Zen Buddhist whose career has spanned more than forty years and inspired countless other artists. In this critically acclaimed biography originally published in 1996 by Pantheon Books, Ira Nadel draws on extensive interviews with Cohen, as well as excerpts from his unpublished letters, journals, notebooks, songs, and other writings, to offer a full portrait of this enigmatic man and his artistic career. A new concluding chapter brings Cohen's story up-to-date, including the release of the albums Dear Heather, Ten New Songs, The Essential Leonard Cohen, and Blue Alert, as well as the publication of Book of Longing and the screening of the documentary film Leonard Cohen, I'm Your Man.

Customer Reviews (3)

A Leonard Cohen-style biography of Leonard Cohen
This is a fascinating book. However, it is not a conventional biography, in that the author (Ira Nadel) does not fully succeed in weaving the events of Cohen's life into a flowing narrative. The story proceeds disjointedly,and the reader follows it with a feeling of uneven coverage and missingpieces. Ira Nadel is clearly in personal awe of Leonard Cohen (as any of uswould be, I suppose), such that he shies away from offering much analysis(psychoanalysis?) of his work and conduct of his life, beyond what the workand facts of his life suggest readily. For example, Cohen's long, torturedrelationship with his wife Suzanne is described by a series of vignettes,as cold as news reports, spiced only with relevant-seeming quotations fromCohen's work. Nadel doesn't do the interpretive work of suggesting wasgoing on in Cohen's mind, and what was causing that, which is whatbiographers usually do for us (and we judge them on whether they do thatwell or badly). There are ocassional Freudian interpretations, as whenNadel compares Cohen's relationship with his lovers to that with hismother. But we don't get a feel for how the relationship developed andbegan to sour. In fact, we barely get any feel of "development"in Cohen's life at all, which makes it seem like disconnected reportagerather than a biographical narrative. This quality could be seen as a plus,as it gives the book a cryptic feel, rather like the work of Leonard Cohenitself. I learned a lot, and enjoyed the distant quality of Nadel's writingfor what it was, but I was left wanting to know more. Perhaps Cohen, whosework often veers into playful impenetrability, perfers it that way.

no work of art
I much prefer autobiographies to other biographies. Biographies tend to be clumsily assembled or stitched or thrown together and filled out with plodding prose. And so this biography. Well, at least you get some kind ofoverview of Leonard Cohen's life and here and there some fragments ofLeonard Cohen's incisive wit. Two samples:

Author: My publisher wants toknow if this can be considered an authorized biography.

L.C.: It can beconsidered a tolerated biography, benignly tolerated.

Leonard Cohen isinterviewing his famous actress girlfriend Rebecca De Mornay:

Rebecca:The great advantage to having you interview me is that I won't have tofield questions about Leonard Cohen.

L.C.: Yes, let's talk about LeonardCohen. What's he really like?

Recommended: PENTATONIC SCALES FOR THEJAZZ-ROCK KEYBOARDIST by Jeff Burns.

A detailed look at one of our greatest contemporary poets
While Leonard Cohen's music, writing, and intreaguing life are enough to satisfy any romantic, this book manages to give a clear and accurate depiction of Cohen's motivations, influences, and understanding of life. From his innovative novels to his influencial and engrossing music andpoetry, Cohen's life is portrayed as a constant exploration into the souland the true meaning of love, sacrifice, and isolation.However, it isimpossible to convey the passion and emotion that Cohen transmits in albumssuch as "Death of a Lady's Man" and "Songs of Love andHate."In only this aspect does "Various Positions: A Life ofLeanord Cohen" fall short of possible expectations.But perhapsCohen's emotion is something that prose writing simply cannot capture.Leonard Cohen's life is certainly something worth reading about. ... Read more

Product Description
Originally self-published as an elegant hand-drawn and hand-written journal, we are re-releasing this book in full color, while still retaining its unique style. With ordinary skills and standard woodworking tools, Betts shows how you too can build durable strip-built fly rods from native and exotic hard and soft woods on a lathe. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Labor of love.
A fascinating and highly detailed account of the author's approach to making fly rods. The book was originally hand lettered and self-published. This edition, published by a commercial publisher, retains the hand lettering and author's hand drawn illustrations. The amount of time that went into just preparing the book--never mind all the research into technique for rod building--is staggering. I found the level of detail to be almost overwhelming for just a read-through. I'll look forward to moving the book into my work shop where all the author's attention to detail will be truly appreciated.

I will offer one word of caution. The title of the book was just a little misleading. I am a woodturner, and in part looked forward to figuring out how to use traditional turning tools and a lathe to craft a flyrod. In fact, the lathe is used to support and rotate the rod blank so that the builder can use sanding blocks to achieve the correct taper. Not quite as elegant as turning tools, but probably a lot more practical on such thin stock.

All in all an excellent and interesting book. ... Read more

Amazon.com
The idea of a race of little people (fairies) living secretly among us has had a powerful hold on the imaginations of writers from Shakespeare to Terry Pratchett and Eoin Colfer. In The Various, Steve Augarde has used this fascination brilliantly to craft the first novel of a trilogy full of breathless action and wonder. When twelve-year-old Midge is sent by her concert-violinist mother to spend the summer at the farm of her sweet but bungling Uncle Brian, her initial resentment gives way to delight in the freedom of exploring the countryside. When she discovers a tiny winged horse lying wounded in an outbuilding, she is awestruck to find out that he comes from a civilization of five various tribes of little people living in a nearby wood—-something readers will have already learned from alternate chapters set in the fairy world. Disaster threatens when Uncle Brian plans to sell the wood to a developer, and Midge and her cousins find (to their own peril), that some of the little people are not as helpless as they seem. Steve Augarde draws on his visual and auditory skills as a BBC animator and picture book author/illustrator for vividly realized detail—-the dumpy and addled fairy queen, the smells and moods of the English summer, the sharply differentiated accents and personalities of each of the five tribes—-in an entrancing debut fantasy. (Ages 10 to 14) --Patty CampbellBook Description
The first novel in a gripping trilogy about 11-year-old Midge and her discovery of the Various, a tribe of fairies whose livelihood and existence is becoming increasingly threatened.

A gritty and captivating story of courage and strength against terrible odds, this is the story of Midge, left to stay with her eccentric uncle during the holidays, and her adventures with the Various, a band of fairies. The existence of the Various, who are strange, wild, and sometimes even deadly, has been kept secret since the beginning of time. But when their world begins to clash with the human world, they are threatened with extinction.

This wonderfully imaginative story of love and loyalty is the first in a powerful trilogy that readers won’t be able to put down.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

An enchanting tale for young and old
I first found this book in my daughter's room as we were preparing to take a stack of books back to the library.It looked interesting so I kept it and shared it with my wife, who read it with vigor first then passed it on to me.We both found it to be an enchanting and engaging fantasy that adults and young adults can enjoy equally.We're no starting on the sequel.

Cornwall, NY Sixth Grader
I am a sixth grader. The book is about a girl of age twelve named Midge. Midge is not too happy with her mom. She has to go live with her uncle while her mom goes to a concert. When Midge arrives she decides she likes the place, it feels like home. She also has a strange feeling, like she has been there before. Not long after she arrives she discovers a tiny, wounded, winged horse trapped under a machine in an old shed on her uncle's property. She helps the horse in every way she can and it grows better. The Horse soon asks to be brought to the forest that is surrounded by impenetrable thorns that her uncle says he is going to sell. The horse brings her before the Various to tell them they are in grave danger because there home is going to be cut down by the people her uncle sells the house to.Midge is confused and afraid and cannot believe her eyes when she sees the tiny thing called the Various. When she tries to warn them of the coming danger some of them turn on her and Midge is now faced with real danger. She is frightened and has no idea what to do. This book was one of the best I've ever read! I liked this book because I love books about the "little people". This book was well written and was very descriptive which made it all the better.

Fabulous First in a Trilogy
A previous reviewer commented that the ending of this book was flat, but had he/she done research it would've been clear that The Various will be a trilogy series, the next installment coming out in November. I found the story engaging and hard to put down. I constantly wanted to know what would happen to Midge and her enchanting friends and enemies. The plot was suspenseful, gripping, and action packed. I think that this would be a great read for junior high and high school students. I highly recommend this book and cannot wait for Celandine to be released in the U.S.

Potential for greatness
Almost perfect!The book rolls merrily along from the beginning, with a cast of sympathetic characters, a nice spin on faeries, and tangible environments.

This was an interesting story that held me in its enchanting grip...until I ran smack into the ending.

As a previous review has mentioned, there is an air of contrivance in the story's resolution.I would add that it's just plain disappointing for a reader.It felt too easy, as if the author grew tired of the writing and just wanted to wrap things up quickly while leaving room for a possible sequel.Or, the author had the entire thing written and lopped it into three parts at convenient intervals--without spending much time working out how to make the break seamless and as embellished like the bulk of the story.

Everything was wonderful until the last few chapters.Then, all the efforts of the characters turn out to be unnecessary, personalities with great potential turn out to be given flat conclusions, and the main character takes a confusing jaunt into another time.It's like an artist signing a wonderful painting with a puce-colored crayon--it just detracts from the whole effect and is confusing to boot.It was really too bad, because there were numerous possibilities for an ending that was as excellent as the rest of the story.

Something to be aware as well are a couple of gruesome/violent sections in the story.They were short and the author didn't dwell on them, but it surprised me to find them in a story like this.But then again, some children like scary/gory stories nowadays.Maybe I'm just old-fashioned.

All of that said, perhaps this was just a tantalizing lead to a sequel.Maybe the author will redeem his characters by allowing them fruition in another story.I sincerely hope so.

I recommend the book, but with some reservations as noted above.Judge for yourself.

-------
*Addendum* A later reviewer criticized me for not doing a "little research" to determine that this was the first in a trilogy.I would respond by suggesting that I shouldn't have to do any research on a book prior to reading it.A good book should stand on its own, without any explanation or apologies.

Besides, I still enjoyed the book...I gave it four out of five stars because it was a good book.I just didn't think the ending the author chose to use as a marker for the trilogy was up to par.

My original review still stands--the ending is rushed and disappointing, while everything prior to that is excellent.A trilogy book can be suggestive of a sequel, but shouldn't leave you hanging out on a creaking limb at the end.All the characters had their personalities lopped off to conclude things quickly--it felt rushed and was disappointing after such good initial writing.For a good trilogy marker, check out the "His Dark Materials" trilogy by Pullman.The pacing is excellent and each book stands on its own whilst still suggestive of its sequel.

All of this said, I have bought the second in the trilogy (Celandine) and look forward to reading it.

From The New York Tims. July 11. 2004
FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES. July 11 2004
THE VARIOUS
Written and illustrated by Steve Augarde.
David Fickling Books, $16.95. (Ages 10 and up)
In this rousing addition to the durable genre of British fairy lit, a 12-year-old girl named Midge is packed off by her violinist mother for an extended summer vacation at her uncle's ramshackle farm in the West Country. Grumpy about being left alone with the family eccentric, Midge discovers he is actually quite kind, if a bit dotty, and begins to feel at home as she explores her rural surroundings.
One day she discovers a tiny winged horse wounded by an old piece of farm machinery. When she nurses it back to health she learns -- telepathically -- about the realm of the ''Various,'' five tribes of ''little people'' confined by human encroachment to a dense, bristle-protected patch of woods known as the Royal Forest. With the tribes' resources drying up and extinction looming, the horse was sent to scout for new frontiers, unaware, until Midge tells him, that the forest had already been put up for sale by her Gorji (human) uncle.
Before long, Midge and the winged horse are making their case before a full muster of the knee-high Various, presided over by the comically addled Queen Ba-betts. From there, the story swings back and forth between the Royal Forest -- where we learn of the ancient ways of the Troggles, Tinklers, Irckri, Wisps and Naiads -- and the farm, where Midge is soon joined by her two cousins and where the two worlds inevitably collide.
Steve Augarde, an illustrator and author who has worked on two animated BBC television series, sprinkles a few black-and-white line drawings into the narrative, but is careful to leave his characters' appearance to the imagination.
The first instalment in a planned trilogy, ''The Various'' is long on atmospherics and rolls along at an unhurried pace that might test the patience of more jaded young readers. But there's also plenty of action -- including a gripping showdown between some little people and the hulking, remorseless barn cat Tojo the Assassin (''the scourge of all living things that dared cross his path'') and enough foreshadowing of mysterious secrets and future culture clashes to lock in an audience for the next two volumes.
SCOTT VEALE ... Read more

Book Description
WE whose Names are under-written, do assure the World, that the POEMS specified in the following Page, were (as we verily believe) written by Phillis, a young Negro Girl, who was but a few Years since, brought an uncultivated Barbarian from Africa... -from the publisher's affidavitProbably the first Black American writer, Phillis Wheatley had to travel to England to see her work published in this 1773 volume, the first collection of poetry by an African America to see print. Her work, considered even at the time sentimental and derivative, was harshly criticized by many, including Thomas Jefferson, and the novelty of its author soon waned to the point that the emancipated Wheatley died in poverty and obscurity. But as one of the earliest firsthand accounts of the slavery in America, it is an important document of life in the colonial era:Some view our sable race with scornful eye, "Their colour is a diabolic die." Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain, May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train. (from " On being brought from Africa to America")PHILLIS WHEATLEY (c.1753-1784) was captured at the age of around seven and brought to America in 1761, where she became a house slave-and near adopted daughter-of Boston merchant John Wheatley. Demonstrating a talent for languages, she was educated alongside the Wheatley children. After being granted her freedom, she married John Peters, a free Black Bostonian. ... Read more

Book Description
This is an excellent study guide for the:

* National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork

* National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage

* This is also an excellent source for class studies and state exams.

This test preparation study guide consists of the following chapters: Integumentary Pathology, Pathology of the Skeletal System, Pathology of the Muscular System, Pathology of the Nervous System, Endocrine Pathology, Pathology of the Cardiovascular System, Pathology of the Lymphatic and Immune Systems, Pathology of the Respiratory System, Pathology of the Digestive System, Urinary Pathology, and Pathology of the Reproductive System.

This is Volume 2 of a three volume series. Volume 1 covers Human Anatomy, Physiology and Kinesiology (Western and Non-Western). Volume 3 covers Massage Therapy and Bodywork: Theory, Assessment and Application. Volume 3 also includes Professional Standards, Ethics and Business Practices. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great Review Guide
If you want a comprehensive book for the NCETM, this is it..expensive
but worth it, It is strictly a Q AND A but every question you can think
of is listed here..I got this for the muscle section and went over the
other body systems as well and feel prepared for the exam,,

An excellent practical guide for MCQ.But don't be scared
If you can answer the questions from this book with confidence, you can pass almost any clinical part of massage therapy exam.On the other hand, simply by knowing the clinical pathology, you may not be able to pass either the NY State Board or the National Certificate exam.

I don't think you need to understand every single detail in this book in order to pass either the NY State Board or the National one.(See my other comments on selecting study material if you are interested).

The knowledge provided from this book is far more than as a licensed massage therapist require to know.It's good to know more.But don't be scared if you do not do well on those questions in this book.From my limited experience, I think the exam authorities want to prepare us (massage therapists and body workers) to provide SAFE and effective massage therapy to the public.We are not trained to be a MD.Please don't blame yourself if you are not so good as the nervous system, for example.But you have no excuse for not knowing soft tissue. Massage therapists should be the expert of soft tissue.

Grasp a solid knowledge on muscle insertion and origin, action and related diseases.You will do well!Good luck

Everything you ever wanted to know...
This volume was extremely interesting.It contains information that every massage therapist should know.Some of the NCBTMB test questions were straight from this book.I found it extremely helpful in my passing the test the first time.

Very Helpful in Memorizing Pathology
This guide was an excellent resource in getting me to understand and remember various diseases a massage therapist needs to be aware of.I passed the NCBTMB exam yesterday with HIGH in each category and these guides helped A LOT in preparation! ... Read more

Amazon.com
If you're craving to learn all about soy and how to incorporate soyfoods into your diet, you will find The Whole Soy Cookbook truly satisfying. Beginning with a thorough explanation of the different types of soy foods and how to use them, this comprehensive guide boasts more than 175 innovative (and flavorful!) recipes using soy. All are meat- and dairy-free. Every recipe includes a nutritional analysis (including calories, protein, carbohydrate, fat, cholesterol, fiber, and sodium). For those of you who want more than recipes from a cookbook, author Patricia Greenberg provides suggestions for getting the optimum nutrition from soy following today's accepted standards for a healthy diet. Interesting (and possibly surprising) charts compare the nutritional statistics of meat and dairy products to their soy analogs.

The Whole Soy Cookbook is packed with instructions on how to use soy in everyday cooking. Handy side bars are peppered thoughout, offering suggestions for entertaining, variations to the recipes, as well as tips that will inspire you to get creative. The recipes range from simple to exotic: Enjoy comfort foods such as Soy Caesar Salad, Tofu Pot Pie, and Cream of Tomato Soup, or have some fun in the kitchen with Wild Mushroom Crepes, Soy Olive Bread, Tofu with Mexican Mole Sauce, Kung Pao Tempeh, and Tofu Chocolate Mousse. Greenberg also incorporates the use of meat and dairy substitutes in many of the recipes such as Soy Sausage Rolls, Soy Sausage Tortilla Pizzas, Soy Sloppy Joes, Country Soy Sausage Stew, and Soy Meatloaf. It's easy to appreciate the versatility and potential for flavorful, healthy food using soy with The Whole Soy Cookbook. Mail order sources and a conversion chart are also included. --Gretel HakansonBook Description
Now that medical research has confirmed that soy really can lower your cholesterol, slow bone loss, fight heart disease and cancer, and even moderate the symptoms of menopause, here are 175 delicious ways to incorporate soy products into your diet.

These mouthwatering recipes--from potatoes au gratin, pizza, meat loaf, brownies, cheesecake, and ice cream to tiramisu, fajitas, and Cajun red-hot jambalaya--are inspired by old favorites and classic dishes from the world's best cuisines.  All of the recipes are meat- and dairy-free, making them perfect for every health-conscious cook as well as eaters with special needs.

In The Whole Soy Cookbook, you'll learn how to buy and cook all soy products, including soy milk and flour, tofu, miso paste, textured soy protein, and tempeh.  You'll even learn how easy it is to add or substitute healthy soy products for the meat protein in any favorite recipes.  (You'll never miss the meat.)

Whether you are a vegetarian, vegan, diabetic, are lactose-intolerant, or just want to cook healthful meals, you'll love The Whole Soy Cookbook's selection of easy-to-prepare, protein-packed, naturally low-in-fat, and cholesterol-free recipes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Misguided claims
This book makes some pretty false assumptions based on hyped, unscientific claims. Go to the reviews for "The Whole Soy Story," by Kaayla T. Daniel, and you will get previews of a book that alarmingly shows soy products to be a danger to health.Evidence is mounting that soy is an anti-nutrient, that in fact it is an extremely unhealthy substance.The way soy is manufactured, processed, and chemically altered, it has no remaining "food" value to speak of.

Not as good as I hoped
Far too many of the tofu recipes in this book consist of taking a block of tofu, slicing it, frying the slices and then covering them with sauce. (Tofu with Mole Sauce, I'm looking at you!)

Other recipes fail because they simply try to replace meat with tofu or tempeh, rather than trying to be completely new recipes in which the soy product can shine on its own, rather than as a substitute.

So far, there are only 2 recipes that I would recommend - the Spinach Burgers and the Brown Rice Pilaf. The rest? Meh. I'm still looking for a really good tofu cookbook.

Healthy cooking with great flavor
I purchased this book shortly after switching to a vegetarian diet.What a life saver, especially to the novice vegetarian!

Most vegetarian cookbooks I had found relied upon excess cheese for protien.Or worse yet, many books that claim to be vegetarian use such things as chicken broth, fish, shellfish, and other products which contain animal products (which in my book is NOT vegetarian).

This book is different from the others.It shows many ways to use soy products; not relying just upon tofu, but introducing tempeh, soy milk, and soy cheese.Yes!There is more to a vegetarian diet that just tofu (which is quite good when prepared correctly). And the variety of recipes are quite nice.The recipes cover salads, main dishes, and even some desserts.You can prepare an entire meal just from this book.

The instructions are easy to follow and the resulting food is quite tasty!

Whole Soy Joy
What a pleasure! -- a creative, easy-to-follow, healthy cookbook with recipes that TASTE GREAT! Greenberg leaves no soy question unanswered, from Soy Split Pea Soup to Tofu Tiramisu. The recipes are clear and very innovative, covering ethnic foods from all over the world, like Pumpkin Tofu Cheesecake and Soy Potstickers. Every recipe also provides nutrition information on calories, carbs, cholesterol, fiber, sodium, etc. As a food historian, I appreciate the intelligence and attention to detail in this book and what must have been years coming up with and testing all these creative recipes. An appendix on where to get soy products and information is also very helpful, as are the comparisons between soy products and dairy, other beans, etc. It's a great book for when you want to eat healthy but don't want to compromise on flavor.Mangia!

Lots of neat ideas
I bought this cookbook a few years ago when I had just decided to eliminate eating meat/fish etc from my diet.At the time I wasn't "ready" for all the tofu etc but I gradually grew to love it and I'm so glad I keptthis cookbook around.It has so many tasty recipes - there are nice bean salads, hearty stews, a paella, desserts etc.Each recipe has nutritional contents too.One thing that turns some people off is that many of the recipes that are take-offs on previously meat-laden recipes are called by their meat names (e.g. Soy Sausage Potato Chowder or the Soy Meat Loaf). It doesn't phase me though and sometimes helps me to get my husband to try it.Lots of interesting recipes for tempeh.Some recipes (like the curried eggplant) use soy yogurt too.Its a fun cookbook and so far so good in terms of being tasty.Definitely recommend this one! ... Read more

Book Description
Rolling in the Aisles, "King of Giggle Poetry" Bruce Lansky's fourth hardcover anthology of humorous poems for children, contains funny poems selected by a panel of more than 1,000 elementary- and middle-school students. Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, Bruce Lansky, Kenn Nesbitt, Ted Scheu, Robert Pottle and Dave Crawley all made the cut for this giggle-packed anthology of rhymes!

... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

GREAT FUN!
I have used this in my classroom, both for reading to the students, and for having them read aloud!It has been great fun!

Whimsical, cute and funny!
Bruce Lansky asked almost six thousand children and teachers to choose their favorite funny poems. The results: Rolling in the Aisles, a collection of fun, witty and whimsical poems for children.

I'm always looking for funny little songs and poems to sing and read to my grandchildren, and this book will go a long way in satisfying my continuing search. The poems are whimsical, cute, funny and at times so wise. The illustrations are in black and white but will interest children of all ages.

... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Big Hit
I bought this for my husband for christmas and he loves it.He is having so much fun reading it and telling me everything that is in the book.This was a recommendation from Amazon and it was a BIG HIT.I love how Amazon recommends items that are related to things you have purchased in the past.You find all sorts of things you never knew were out there.This book is GREAT for any music lover.

Beautifully compiled
If you are a music lover and researcher like I am, you will enjoy this book.It is beautifully compiled with great art direction, photos, and well written text. It is well researched and the choices cover both the expected (Nirvana's "Nevermind", The Beatles "Revolver") to the unexpected (Johnny Mathis "Greatest Hits").

Definitely recommended for both the serious and casual music fan.

Great Book for Music Lovers!
This book is truly beautiful to look at, and is great to browse through while you're listening to a new album.I like the colorful and important treatment it gives to classics and unsung masterworks from many different eras. ... Read more

Book Description
Everything was of interest to Georg Wilhelm Steller, who the Russian Academy of Sciences appointed as naturalist to Vitus Bering's second Kamchatka expedition. Steller arrived in Kamchatka in 1740, sailed with Bering to discover Alaska in 1741, and composed his handwritten manuscript on Kamchatka in 1743 and 1744. That manuscript was finally published in German thirty years after his death, and this first-ever English translation of that German edition is most valuable for its descriptions of the natural and human worlds that Steller found in the mid-eighteenth century.

Steller's extensive natural history includes special contributions to the study of fish, in which he described over thirty new species and two new genera, and to ornithology, which also includes the first descriptions of numerous species. His careful observations of Kamchatka's Native peoples add to the small and invaluable collection of ethnographic and linguistic descriptions made during the initial acculturation process and the growth of a new economy based on the fur trade, which changed their lives forever. Steller's observations of the economy of Kamchatka and the role of the Cossacks is refreshingly frank. He was the first scientist to suggest, based on direct observation, similarities between the ethnography and natural history of the Russian Far East and that of the newly discovered Alaska.

Steller's breadth and depth in recording the natural and human world of eighteenth-century Alaska make this new translation an important reference for readers interested in all aspects of North Pacific and Russian American history. ... Read more

Book Description
Thoroughly revised, updated, and expanded, The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock combines 600 powerful photographs with half a million words to create the ultimate popular music reference.

Distilled from the eight million-word, continually updated database of The Encyclopedia of Popular Music, all entries, from A through Z, provide essential facts and honest opinion about songwriters, musicians, and producers, including recommended recordings. Whether icons or bygones, influential or infamous, this informed, intelligent guide includes over 1,700 artists - more than 200 appearing for the first time in this edition.

Joining such great artists as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Who, Joni Mitchell, Madonna, and Tina Turner come today's superstars like Alicia Keys, Shakira, Britney Spears, Kid Rock Eminem, and White Stripes.

Authoritative and informative, colorful and compelling, The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock is one reference guide no fan of popular music will want to be without. ... Read more