The world-famous volunteer organization Habitat for Humanity now offers its best nuts-and-bolts expertise in an easy-to-follow home construction handbook. Whether the reader contemplates building his or her own house or plans on volunteering to build for others, Habitat for Humanity: How to Build a House delivers on the promise of its title. Step-by-step instructions by author and veteran crew supervisor Larry Haun are provided in plain, simple English, with lots of encouragement and no condescension to beginners. Practically every page contains an extra "helping hand" tip on materials, tools, building codes, or safety precautions. In hundreds of color photographs and black-and-white line drawings, the book follows the construction of a single house--from choosing its location to the final step of installing its exterior door locks. Reassuring personal stories from Habitat volunteers are scattered throughout, along with confidence-inspiring promises from the author such as "building a simple house is not a mystery."

Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat, has written a foreword to this book, and a percentage of the book's proceeds will be donated to the organization to help build more homes. Habitat for Humanity, founded in 1976, has built more than 100,000 affordable houses throughout the world. --Judy Fireman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Can you build your own house? Read this book to find out.
I have a basic knowlege of framing and what goes into building a house, but I was very concerned about getting the steps right and I wanted to make sure I knew how things went together. After reading this book I feel I am ready to get started. It takes you step by step through the building process. Everything was very easy to follow and the pictures and drawings were great. After reading it you will know if you have the ability to do this on your own. If you are confused or scared about framing a house after reading this, you really shouldn't try it on your own.

DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK if you want to learn about plumbing or electrical, or if you are building a really complex custom home. This doesn't even really cover two story homes, and barely covers basements. What I found it very useful for is foundations and framing. It is the best one I have seen so far on these subjects. The book goes beyond framing and covers subjects like roofing and sheetrock also. A ton of great info for a small price.

One of the best book I found on the subject
This book is one of the best yet simple books I found on the subject. The book contains numerous pictures and step-by-step explanations of every single aspect of building simple homes. For someone new trying to get into the subject this would be a superb choice to start out with.

Absolutely superb, well detailed walkthrough
This is easily the best book I've read on this subject. Written by a carpenter with many decades of practical home building experience to share, and profusely illustrated with hundreds of high resolution color photographs, the book is an absolute goldmine of practical information. What I particularly enjoyed was the clarification of carpenters terms - I had always thought that a keel was part of a boat; I now know that the term is also used to refer to a carpenters crayon. The same clarification takes place in hundreds of areas throughout the book, and never in a condescending manner. Cripples, studs, shims, faceplates, heels... all are explained, clearly and intelligently. Also included are innumerable time saving tips, examples of small jigs and tools you can build for yourself that will save you time and effort, and instructions on how to do simple things like check a foundation for squareness, or use a water level properly.

The book is also a wonderful ambassador for Habitat for Humanity. What better way to develop your homebuilding skills, than to volunteer your time helping someone to realize their dreams? They get a home; you get an education; everyone wins.

About the only things I would add to this book would be a couple of pages of sample blueprints to better illustrate the Habitat for Humanity concept of small, sensible homes. (Habitat for Humanity apparently has a wide variety of plans available, but they are not in this book.) I would also have liked a chapter on landscaping; but to be fair, landscaping really does fall beyond the scope of the book.

The general philosophy of the book is to build a sensible home, rather than an ostentateous one; to make it warm, comfortable and functional, rather than glitzy and faddy. This frequently means small, well built, well thought out, and well insulated. The book promotes standard carpentry techniques - there are no rammed earth walls, or straw bale construction - but the philosophy of sensible and practical construction is always in the background.

I'm not a professional homebuilder, so I cannot tell you what this book lacks. I can tell you that it gave me exactly what I was looking for - an in depth, step by step, blow by blow account of how to build a home, right from dirt to shingles. There's an awful lot to like in this book, and I recommend it highly. I cannot think of any other single book out there that covers so much ground, and does so in such a clear and well illustrated manner. When you have finished reading it, you'll be much wiser - and much more confident.

If you're thinking of building your own home, put this book on your 'must have' list. It's a fantastic resource. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals   2. Construction - General   3. Do-It-Yourself   4. Do-It-Yourself - General   5. Habitat for Humanity, inc   6. Home Improvement / Construction   7. House & Home   8. House construction   9. Philanthropy & Charity   

Customer Reviews (16)

A good book to be used with caution
This is good, single source maps and general narrative to the Napoleonic wars. It is NOT a detailed battle narrative, an aspect of Napoleonic history which has NEVER been Elting's strength. While the maps are excellent for reference of WHERE formations were, readers should be aware that Elting's combat details and troop strengths must be used with caution, and should therefore refer to more detailed, carefully researched books on the respective campaign/battles for such accuracy. Finally, Elting's annotated recommended reading list at the back of the book should be read with the understanding of the political landscape on which Elting writes. Elting's annotations give generous "cover" (i.e.- no criticisms) to loyal friends and fellow army authors, while holding writers who are NOT part of that circle in to far different standard. In summary, use this book for what it was intended to be---a general reference. But do not let Elting's errors in battle narratives, troop strengths, or his opinionated annonated reviews be a substitution for one's own investigation and conclusions.

Superb, with some exceptions
The design of this book is that every major campaign is introduced by one page of text and a graphic, followed by text on the left page and a map on the right page. It is a tremendous collection of maps, which are of great help to understand the campaigns especially as many books cover only specific battles. In the appendix one can find a good section with short-biographies of French and other military leaders and a fine list of books recommended to read. The fine impression of this book is a bit overshadowed by the completely insufficient coverage of the Peninsular campaign. Only 20 pages (10 text, one painting and nine maps of which only four are different, the other five a just repetitions). Only one page text and one map with no movements just markers where all important battles took place from 1808-1814 is absolutely unacceptable for this battle-rich period in the Peninsular campaign. It can be noted that less attention was given to battles in which Napoleon himself was not present.

Must have book in any Napoleonic library
Probably one of the easiest to read books on Napoleonic campaigns, its also one of the easiest to understand the campaigns as well. Unlike one of the earlier reviewers, I don't think this book is superior to David Chandler's Campaigns of Napoleon which is still the standard work but this book might proves to be a great supplement. John Elting's writing flow very nicely and he says a lot in a limited space. His opinions are always reflective of the true measure of the situation and he make difficult scenes easy. This book must be a standard issue in anyone's Napoleonic library. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Atlases - Historical   2. History   3. History - Military / War   4. Military   5. Military - General   6. Military - Napoleonic Wars   7. Military - Strategy   8. Military History - Modern   9. Reference   10. Maps   11. Military leadership   12. Napoleon   

Customer Reviews (20)

Buddy Cianci... what a character. A good Book.
The book is accurate and well researched. Buddy loved Providence. Buddy was a loveable scoundrel. The author doesn't take sides with the issue, but tells the story of corruption, graft, payoffs, bribery, and the like. That's the way things work in Providence. There is almost no other way of doing business in Rhode Island, and it's been that way for as long as anybody can remember. Many believe that Abe Lincoln himself would have been dragged down the same way if he had lived in Providence long enough.
The book doesn't give too much credit for the many things Mayor Cianci did for the City, and its residents. Buddy just got caught up in it all, and this book tells why, and how. An absolute must read for anybody who has anything to do with the political spectrum, or Rhode Island.

Mayor Buddy Cianci: Without a Doubt, One-of-a-Kind
The reviewer, formerly from Providence, actually witnessed first-hand some of the goings-on described in this book and that occurred during the early part of the period defined by the author as Buddy I.

Mike Stanton does a journalistically very thorough job of chronologically revealing the true essence of one of the most fascinating and colorful persons to have ever treaded the modern American political landscape. Whether or not you know Providence or Rhode Island, the tale of Buddy Cianci will keep you turning the pages of Stanton's The Prince of Providence until the very end. While the writing and the flow of information could have been a little tighter in places, the Pulitzer Price-winning investigative reporter from The Providence Journal does a phenomenal job of telling the story of Providence (Ex-) Mayor Buddy Cianci, an immensely dichotomous personality who reflected to a tee the history and character of the city-state he ruled for a quarter century, but who now resides in a federal prison in New Jersey. Stanton's incorporation of the history of Rhode Island and its capital city is both fascinating and crucial to understanding just how this surrealistic juxtaposition of corruption and charismatic vision came to be and why it flourished for so long.

Rhode Island, which was founded in 1636 as an eccentric assembly of maverick outcasts, boasts on one hand a long and proud history of independence, rebellion, and milestones of progress. At the same time it has quietly nurtured a deep-seated tradition of pervasive, brutal and often murderous corruption. After all, where else could governors, mayors, and state Supreme Court justices all end up behind bars in the same decade? Its capital city was once a national player, a proud and wealthy economic powerhouse that had fallen into desperate straits by the time Buddy was first sworn in as mayor in January 1975. Although there is much debate today about the long-range prospects of the much-ballyhooed Providence Renaissance, no one can deny that this man Buddy almost single-handedly willed into existence the modern transformation of his city. The critics and skeptics of the renaissance openly wonder how much further the city would have gone had the 'Providence For Sale' signs not been posted all over City Hall during the long reign of Buddy. Nonetheless, as you read the pages of Stanton's book, you will find yourself utterly astonished at how the man they called Buddy, the man who substantially reshaped his city's fortunes, was brutal, vindictive, and corrupt, all the while being a seductive charmer who was (and remains) beloved by thousands. You will laugh, as this reviewer did, at the endless stories and antics of Buddy and at the quips and one-liners that were the product of a brilliant intellect. Sadly, you will also understand why the citizens of this historically mob-connected city did not until recently resolve to clean it up. One of the ironies that will certainly strike you is how the man called Buddy would publicly fulminate at the mere mention of HBO's The Sopranos - he maintained it was bad for the image of Italian-Americans and, therefore, bad for the image of Providence. Can one really be so blinded by the reflection in the mirror?

On a much broader level, Stanton's The Prince of Providence presents us with one of the most interesting political case studies of character and the human personality. One is left asking why the few who are as brilliantly and uniquely gifted as Buddy was usually end up self destructing by virtue of ruinous flaws of personality and character. This mystery is not answered in Stanton's The Prince of Providence - it is not meant to be a social study - but you will nonetheless find in the book one of the most interesting case studies from which to ponder that question and perhaps arrive at your own conclusion.

A Must Read if You Are from RI
I don't think the overall subject of the book will be surprising to anyone from Providence, or elsewhere in RI for that fact, but some of the stories and details in the book will shock you! I lived 1/2 my life in Providence and the other 1/2 in or near Miami. As bad as the banana republic of Miami has demonstrated it can be (Elian!), it cannot compare to the corruption found in Providence and throughout Rhode Island politics. I could not put the book down for 3 days.

The only reason I knocked off 1 star on my rating is that the writing quality could have been a bit better. The author rambles in some sections and then seems to repeat himself from time-to-time. The same is noted in some other reviews, so I don't think it was my reading. Nevertheless, it is a minor issue and the book is well worth reading and owning, particularly if you ever lived in Rhode Island. Just remember, it isn't fiction like the Godfather - it really happened. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1941-   2. Biography   3. Biography & Autobiography   4. Biography / Autobiography   5. Biography/Autobiography   6. Cianci, Vincent Albert,   7. Criminals & Outlaws   8. Mayors   9. Political   10. Political corruption   11. Providence   12. Rhode Island   13. United States - State & Local - New England   14. Biography & Autobiography / Political   

Customer Reviews (7)

Great.
Madame Curie is a touching and honest biography. It tells the perserving story of Marie Curie, a native Pole who would seem out of place in France and--being a woman in a more prejudice timeframe--in the scientific community in general. Although this was the case, it did not stop her from becoming one of the most prolific and important scientists in the realm of physics and chemistry.

Within this book is held the tale of a woman who worked almost every single minute of her life in either the laboratory, the classroom, or her own home. But she never faltered under pressure and endured inhospitable laboratory conditions (she was originally working in a shed to help discover radium, the element that created the field of radiation cancer treatment and spurred the field of nuclear science.

As a biographer, Eve Curie remains factual in content, allowing the reader to form an unbiased opinion of her mother. She buttresses the book with personally letters to and from Marie Curie, which add a first hand account of certain aspects of her mother's life.

A must read for anyone looking for a heartwarming story.

Marie Curie - An Inspiration for All
The book is a reprint of the biography written by Marie Curie's daughter, Eve Curie in 1937. It is a book which should be read by all - especially aspiring scientists. Marie Curie was the first woman to receive a Ph.D. in France, the first woman to receive a Nobel Prize and the first person to receive two Nobel prizes. The work she accomplished under the most difficult situations for a scientist is truly inspiring. When asked why she and her husband, Pierre Curie did not patent the procedure for extraction and purification of radium, something which would have made them very wealthy, she said "No, It would be contrary to the scientific spirit." How refreshing, since in today's world the first thought of scientists is patenting their discoveries.

Its awesome
My mother gave me this book when I was about twelve years old. And, still now this book serves as a constant inspiration ... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography   2. Biography & Autobiography   3. Biography / Autobiography   4. Biography/Autobiography   5. Chemistry - General   6. Chemists   7. Poland   8. Scientists - General   9. Women   10. Memoir   11. Science   12. Women's Studies   

Customer Reviews (12)

The best cookbook I've seen yet!!!
This is not the first publication it was in 1964 or 1965 I know from watching A&E's Biography on Vincent Price. The cookbook is a wonderful way to show a history of the great places to eat in those days. The recipes are great for the food consieur.Llike my father he was a chef, he met Vincent Price and they talked at some kind of gathering. Price said I'll send you a copy when it comes out. And that basically is the story of how I got the the some of the worlds best recipes from the best restaurants. oh ya the book is also sign by Vincent Price. Thanks John

Absolutely outstanding!
I have used this book since 1965 and it is wonderful. The recipes, comments on restaurants, glimpses of the Price home and life (even if they divorced later), are entertaining and insightful. I'm surprised Buccaneer Bks doesn't reprint again like they did in 95!! Worth $75.00 in library binding!! It is listed as in print in the new Books in Print but obviously is sold out, if Amazon.com can't find it, nobody can!

A Real Treasure
I've had my copy of this book since the 1970's. Its recipes are superb and not beyond the capabilities of a good cook. My favorite is the Fetuccine alla Buranella on page 103-104, an absolutely decadent exploration of pasta and seafood. This is one book emminently worth the price.

And along with stupendous recipes are fun descriptions of the restaurants that originated the dishes as well as menus, complete with prices. At Sardi's you could get a steak for $4.85! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Not bad, but not the final word, either
This is a decent book for an introduction to the wards, but is certainly not the be all and end all for step 2. It should be targeted much more for second year students getting their first exposure to bedside medicine, and presents a nice and digestible look at approaches to various common conditions.

Use it for what it is and don't expect it to save your life, either on the wards or the USMLE, and it'll do just fine by you. Not bad, but again, not complete enough or in depth enough to make it a must-have resource.

read this and flunk the step 2
seriously, its a nice read....but it totally lacks the detail you need for the step 2
i found it off the point totally. after reading it twice, i thought "i know nothing".....and that was probably true. i aced the step 2, but thats not cos of this book. it may be a great book for whatever purpose......but not for the step 2 exam. try adam brochert's secrets or crush series. they are like 100 times better. i mean it. trust me on this one.
if you are looking for blue prints books for the step 2....i highly recommend the OBGYN and pediatrics ones.

Excellent for STEP 2
This book and the whole collection of blueprints are the best sources for the USMLE step 2, they are a killing combination with Crush the boards, they are easy-to-read and they cover the most high yield stuff, also you got to use a good source of questions and practice a LOT, this is the secret to acing the USMLE.If you want to practice clinical vignettes, the Underground clinical vignettes are great . I got an amazing score in the step 2 thank to these books. Good luck ! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Examination Questions   2. Internal Medicine   3. Medical   4. Outlines, syllabi, etc   5. Pharmacy   6. Professional - General   7. Study Guides   8. Test Preparation & Review   

Customer Reviews (2)

I DO LOOK BETTER AND FEEL YOUNGER ALREADY!
This book is the "real" deal. It offers a very simple plan for reversing the negative effects of aging. I especially like the information on nutrition and DNA repair. I've starting using the recommendations for supplementing my genes and already feel younger and like I have more energy. I'm in my late 30's and people think I'm in my late 20's. Buy this book! Read it and then read it again this information will change your life--it did and continues to change mine for the better.

The Anti-Ageing Solution
Finally---an anti-ageing book that really gets down to basics. The Anti-Ageing Solution explains what and why things are happening to us as we age. It is not just another "try this book" but a clear roadmap of the ageing process and how we can repair our own roads, as well as resources to to make the repairs. There are a lot of books out there on this subject and believe me I own quite a few. "5 simple steps" is what this book proclaims. I have put these five steps into play in my life and have simplified everything. My health has improved.An added bonus- my weight has dropped yet I no longer diet. It has allowed me to take a fresh look at "old age" and realize age is just a number. It is the quality of life that counts. At 58 I feel like a kid again. I am glad I had the good fortune to discover The Anti-Ageing Solution. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aging   2. Beauty, Personal   3. DNA repair   4. Diet / Health / Fitness   5. Diet/Nutrition   6. General   7. Health & Fitness   8. Healthy Living   9. Longevity   10. Personal Health   11. Popular works   12. Family & Health   13. Health & Fitness / General   

Customer Reviews (17)

Best verb conjurgator on the market.
This book has everything you're looking for regarding Italian verbs. All tenses are defined and examples are given as well. Molto bene!!!

NO ACCENTS!
Although this book covers in a thorough manner the various tenses and moods of most Italian verbs, it suffers from a serious flaw. Unlike Spanish, which has definite rules for marking the accent when it doesn't fall on the penult (the second to the last syllable), Italian has no such rules. In the case of the antipenult (third from the last) or the fourth from the last syllable, there is no way for the user of this book to know if these syllables are stressed. I recommend that in the next edition of this work that the authors indicate the stressed vowel using a bolded vowel. Consider the indicative present tense of the verb: abitare (to live, to dwell).

abito abitiamo
abiti abitate
abita abitano

Since I don't have the capability to bold the vowels for this review, I can only point out that for the following three forms, abito, abiti, and abita, the accent is found on the antipenult. In the case of the form, abitano, the accent is found on the fourth from the last syllable.

This accent distribution holds for several other verbs as well, e.g., desiderare, indicare, etc.

There is absolutely no way for the user of this book to have a clue where the accent falls.

P.S. If anyone is interested in this, I just completed a grammar of the Sicilian language entitled Introduction to Sicilian Grammar. Since Sicilian verbs also share the problem of determining on which syllable the accent falls, I bolded the accented vowel to indicate proper pronunciation.

Best for Beginners
This guide got me through my first year of Italian studies, with almost all of the verbs (and definitely all the tenses) I needed for basic composition and conversation. Certain verbs are missing, and the names of the tenses are in English (all students I know learn the names of the tenses in Italian; I had to read the guide in the beginning of the book to figure out what I wanted). This book worked through Beginning Italian I & II, but a more comprehensive guide is needed for Intermediate levels. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books   2. Grammar   3. Italian   4. Italian language   5. Language   6. Language Arts & Disciplines   7. Verb   

Customer Reviews (16)

Can't put down
Coffee With Nonna was a very interesting book to read. I couldn't put the book down because I had to find out what happened next. I felt as though I was there with Vincent as Nonna was telling her wonderful stories.I highly recommend this book to all ages.

excellent
Love this book! It is warm, loving, funny, innocent and family. It tells of respect and how to live love. Highly recommend for
family. Great gift for all people who like to remember and love to feel involved. Hoping to see more from the author. Excellent!

wow!
WOW! Where did this precious book come from -- it's just GREAT
and just plain lovely. Highly HIGHLY recommend for all families ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Catholic authors   2. Christian life   3. Inspirational   4. Inspirational - Catholic   5. Inspirational - General   6. Religion   

Customer Reviews (3)

A Whole Lot in a Small Package
Dr. Peale's ability to put a lot of valid, life-changing material in a small book is demonstrated eloquently in this work. He wastes no words in getting straight to the point of how to improve your life. The first attitude he addresses is to approach problems from the proper persepctive, i.e., not from the mindset of a victim, but of an overcomer! Problems are temporary. They help mold character.

We're reminded of ultimate reality as Dr. Peale writes, "in the last analysis, only the God-directed life can attain true and basic success." The work ethic is stressed also. These truths are doable, time-tested, and not bound by any culture. They work if you work them.

I have bought 4 of these books!
This book is truly packed with so much helpful information. Don't let the size of the book fool you. Although it is pocket size, it is jampacked with so many lessons for all to lead their life by. I often refer to this book when lost or confused. I just can't seem to keep a copy for myself!

Excellent for everyone
This tiny little book contains more wisdom than you might think. Revealing more about yourself and how to tap into your God given gifts to become a winner. From daily life circumstances, business, work, how not to worry, how to deal with loneliness, inferiority complex, sorrow, to personal development and happy family life. I would recommended it even for teenagers as a required reading for their school book lists. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Christian Life - General   2. Inspirational   3. Inspirational - General   4. Psychology   

Customer Reviews (12)

Useful textbook; Popular with students
I have been using Mr. Ruggiero's text, The Art of Thinking, in college writing classes for several years. It has been very useful in introducing ideas about thinking and organization to my students. I use the text and provide several exercises based on readings and real life situations. Many students have told me at the end of the semester that this book is a "keeper." In other words they were not going to sell the book back to the bookstore, but instead were going to keep it for further use in their lives. They particularly liked the section on the creative process as an organizational process, and the section on habits that hinder thinking. They said they found these sections helpful both in their college tasks and in their own personal lives. I plan to continue using this fine book.

The Best Critical Thinking Book Ever Written
I first read this marvelous book while doing the research for my book "Why Didn't I Think of That? - Think the Unthinkable and Achieve Creative Greatness." Anyone serious about improving their thinking capacities simply must read Ruggiero's book. Used as the primary text in many college level critical and creative thinking courses, "The Art of Thinking" covers both basic and advanced concepts using well designed examples and artfully crafted exercises helping readers to learn both easily and completely. At signing events, and after speaking engagements, when readers of my book ask me to recommend other related works, I always place Ruggiero's book at the top of the list.

Great Insights on How "Thinking" Works
This title was the first text book I used in my first ever philosophy class at college some 20 years ago. It really inspired me to start "thinking" about how people think. The flow of the topics and the content successfully aroused my mind and the book actually helped me a lot on ways of thinking even until now. I just want to let everyone know that this title is an excellent read for teenagers to adults alike. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cognitive Psychology   2. Composition & Creative Writing - General   3. Creative thinking   4. Critical thinking   5. Language   6. Language Arts & Disciplines   7. Problems, exercises, etc   8. Psychology   9. Thought and thinking   10. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing   

Customer Reviews (132)

a thundering good read
This is the definitive account of the longest trial in American legal history wherein four persons: Charles Manson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten, were sentenced to death for the murders of Sharon Tate, Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Voytek Frykowski, Stephen Parent, Leno La Bianca and Rosemary La Bianca. The crimes, collectively known as the Tate/La Bianca murders took place in Los Angeles in August 1969. Vincent Bugliosi's work is both focussed and orderly and he scores highly in bringing a convoluted and at times incompetent enquiry to the reader in a totally believable account. Stretching to 664 pages, some might consider the work too long winded but the story certainly licks along at a good pace. The lion's share of the time is given over to a day by day, blow by blow account detailing the court proceedings. These accounts are so good that in places you can believe yourself to be in the public gallery and can feel the tension and horror as this macabre tale unfolds.
The crimes, which rocked America in the late 60's and early 70's, are truly horrific. Bugliosi does not shy away from revealing the cold, callous and detached nature of each defendant; none of whom show the slightest remorse for their barbaric actions. Neither too are we sheltered from the abundant stabbings, shootings, hangings, and mutilations. There are ample official statements, legal examinations, cross-examinations and personal conversations to satisfy even the most curious. The reader's inclusion 'in the court' so to speak, might for some readers prove too much, but by a combination of thoroughness, attention to detail and style the author takes us into the bizarre world of Charles Manson.
He is a 'wannabe' but unsuccessful musician, drug user and, for more than half of his life, a frequenter of numerous penitentiaries. He is the self-styled guru of 'The Family' where most of the members are young, impressionable runaways. Lost, lonely and anti-establishment they, by numerous avenues end up at Manson's door. Most are female, most claim to be in love with Manson, most claim he possesses special power or is the embodiment of Christ or Satan (terms Manson uses of himself). The late 60's mix of sex, free love and drugs are used to full effect and, more often than not, the girls are used to attract new recruits. In turn, through a dangerous cocktail of charisma, fear and violence, added to delusionary interpretations brought on by 'hidden' meaning in a number of the Beatles songs, Manson creates a dependency upon himself and his words. In short - he controls their thoughts, actions and lives. He, Manson, plays the pipe, they dance in time until they kill to order, but as Bugliosi shows they too are willing participants in this 'game'.
Crucial to the prosecution's case is the motive for the murders - Helter Skelter. Bugliosi shows that through his interpretation of the Beatles lyrics, his predisposition to violence, his anti-establishment and racism, Manson attempts to kick-start a race war in America. BR>If the book has a down side it would be that the real comparisons between Charles Manson and Adolf Hitler are pretty tenuous; Bugliosi's frequent portrayal of himself in the, 'I'm always right' camp when comparing himself to his opponents in defence counsel, gets a bit irritating and the use of aliases with some of the main players in the 'Family' can get confusing at times. That said, for any true crime buffs out there who like their reading material to be a real mix of the gruesome and the legal, this book is a must.
This review covers the 1974 paperback edition.

====A TRULY STARTLING, AMAZING, WELL-WRITTEN MASTERPIECE====
I highly suggest that everybody read this book. It is, without hesitation, a genuine masterpiece in real life horror.

The first page on the book reads: "The Story in Which You Are About to Read Will Scare the Hell Out of You". That is not an understatement. This book literally kept me up at night fearing that someone could just simply walk into my living room at any minute. It was so vividly described that it put the fear of God in me when I could literally picture the entire array of murders accurately inside my head. It is such a horrifying aspect, a sea of thoughts that will forever remain inside your subconsciousness. I guarantee that when you read the passages describing the horrendous Tate/LaBianca murders, you will gradually build the entire picture inside your brain, to the point where you will feel like you are there, looking down on an excruciating scene of human barbarity. Not ONE detail is left to the imagination.

You will feel like you are inside the investigation, working with Bugliosi to pinpoint these motives, journeying with the killers step by step as they act out there darkest fantasies. You will begin to second guess "The White Album" and be disturbed by Manson's seemingly psychotic interpretation of it. (Make a point to listen to this album afterwards, and you will feel transported back to the Spahn Ranch where the madness soon ensued) You will feel yourself singing crazy ballads with the Family, you will become ancy inside Susan Atkins' jail cell. You will be scared alongside Linda Kasabian on the long night ride to the Tate house. All these feelings and more will incorporate your senses whilst reading this horrifying story.

All I can do to recommend this book enough to you is to say that it stayed with me and disturbed me for years to come. Every time I read this novel, I become obsessed with the events, haunted when I'm lounging around "in the dead of night". Trust me, reading this book is like surviving the events yourself. With its graphic detail and play by play analyzation of every possible occurence, "Helter Skelter" is one of the best true crime novels ever written. I can't suggest a better title for you to read. Be warned, however: Only immerse yourself in this world if you have a desire to be constantly frightened and possess a strong tolerance for graphic descriptions of violence. Not a book for the kiddies!

Reviewed by J.C. Hoyt

Only the absolute BEST pieces of art recieve the highest rating on the universal scale of stars. Hint, hint.

One of the most harrowing crime stories ever...
I first read "Helter Skelter" the same summer I read "In Cold Blood." Both books left indelible images in my psyche and ensured I would never look at the world of crime and investigation the same again.

I've never read a book quite like HS since. Bugliosi and Gentry have written a taught and gripping blow-by-blow account of the two seemingly unconnected streams of events, the Tate/La Bianca murders and Manson's cult, how they horribly intersected and the breathtaking resolution.

Bugliosi's reminiscences provide both the personal anguish that the investigation caused him and his family and the urgent immediacy that gripped him and the community to see that justice was finally done.

Unforgettable and unflinching, "Helter Skelter" forces us to look into the eyes of evil and learn more about ourselves.

See also my reviews of the "Helter Skelter" TV movie and the audio book version. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Infamous Crimes And Criminals   2. Murder - General   3. Nonfiction - True Crime / Espionage   4. True Crime   

Customer Reviews (4)

Packed with Inspiration!
Dr Norman Vincent Peale's gifts continue working, long after he has gone to receive his reward. My life is enriched every time I am privileged to pick up one of his books. This well-edited volume will give you a "vitamin" dose of positive thinking for every day of the year. If you're like me, you'll just go ahead and read through the entire thing at once. In a world where the negative occurs by default, programming one's mind with a positive antidote is necessary on a regular basis. Books such as this will help you obtain that needed mental nourishment.

Consider his powerful conclusion to this book, the December 31st reading and as you think about this message, remember he is, in a way, speaking from the "other side," as he is (present tense)a follower of Jesus Christ:

"Know that there is no death; that all life is indivisible, that the here and hereafter are one, that time and eternity are inseparable, that this is one unobstructed universe. We are citizens of eternity."

A daily boost of encouragement and personal power
I look at this GREAT little book every single day. Why? Each page has date. And below each date there is a short, highly meaningful quotation from Norman Vincent Peale that helps me keep my perspective. When things are going well, I look at this quote and think about it. And when things are looking bleak (which they do at times) I look at the quote and think about it, and even go back and review the previous day's quote. These short but potent quotes are like a shot of psychological and spiritual Vitamin C. Do you like to simply take mental stock? The quotes are for you. Or are you into prayer? Then these quotes are for you. Or are you into meditation? Then these quotes are for you. And if you're into all three of these things (to each his/her/it own) they're also for you. The great thing about this book is that you can keep it by your bedside and take it along with you when you travel. Just a minute or two a day, reading and (if you can make the time) pondering the quote can do wonders.

Compact Inspiration..
that keeps you charged about life one day at a time. I particularly liked the layout and though some of the passages are not very long in length, they are quite large in their meaning. Quite simply this little book can change your life no matter who you are or what you have gone through. This little book can keep you focused and directed when you need it the most.

Also reccomended: "The Power of Positive Thinking" and "The Amazing Results of Positive Thinking". ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Devotional   2. Inspirational   3. Inspirational - General   4. Meditation   5. Motivation (Psychology)   6. Optimism   7. Quotations, maxims, etc   8. Self-actualization (Psychology   9. Self-actualization (Psychology)   10. Self-realization   11. Self-Help / Affirmations   

Subjects:  1. 1938-   2. American - General   3. Art   4. Art & Art Instruction   5. Catalogs   6. Fish, Janet,   7. Individual Artist   8. Techniques - Painting   9. Art / Individual Artist   10. Fish, Janet   

This is a tremendous reference for serious students and fans of music. It's really an irreplaceable resource. Within its 800-plus pages are descriptions of musical dictionaries and encyclopedias of all kinds, by national origin and by genre, biographical dictionaries and dictionaries of quotations, compositional devices and handbooks. Then there are the books devoted to musical histories and chronologies, guides to musicology, bibliographies of musical literature, and bibliographies of music. There are catalogs of music libraries and musical instruments, electronic information resources, and yearbooks, directories, and guides. Anyone with a yen for music research will save hours, if not months, of time and find the best resources available by making the Annotated Bibliography their first stop. --Stephanie Gold ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bibliographies & Indexes   2. Bibliography   3. Bibliography of bibliographies   4. History and criticism   5. Music   6. Music (General)   7. Reference   8. Music / General   

Customer Reviews (1)

An intriguing and thoughtful account
Mavericks of black literature are the focus of these essays, considering such under-mentioned writers as J.A. Rogers, an early member of the Harlem Renaissance and pioneering journalist; and Vincent Carter, who lived as a voluntary expatriate writer in Europe. Out There is an intriguing and thoughtful account of a very unusual set of black writers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century   2. African American authors   3. African Americans   4. African Americans in literature   5. American - African American & Black   6. American prose literature   7. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General   8. History and criticism   9. Intellectual life   10. Literature - Classics / Criticism   11. Social Science   12. Sociology   13. Carter, Vincent O   14. Criticism and interpretation   15. Phillips, Caryl   16. Rogers, J. A   17. Literature   18. African American Studies   19. Biography/Memoir   

Features

• Bargain Pric

Customer Reviews (10)

Written as an antidote to gossip
Scott Ventrella's The Power Of Positive Thinking In Business: 10 Traits For Maximum Results was written as an antidote to the gossip, griping, and negative impediments to team effort that undermines productivity and costs U.S. companies about three billion dollars a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. When the bottom line suffers from negative thinking, so do all the countless individuals who depend upon the business in question. The Power Of Positive Thinking In Business is a careful, easy to understand guide to adopting a healthy, optimistic attitude for positive action, as well as successful payoffs. From stimulating creativity to fostering an environment of trust, The Power Of Positive Thinking In Business is an excellent reference for increasing workplace productivity, and ultimately, saving a great deal of money.

A Helpful Update and Application of Dr. Peale to Business
The Power of Positive Thinking is one of the best selling volumes of all time. In this book, Professor Ventrella has taken Norman Vincent Peale's work and applied it successfully to business. The principles are consistent wih Dr. Peale's original, the examples will be meaningful to most business people, and the book can readily be applied to diagnose the reader's key issues and improve. I found the book easy to read, even easier to use, and insightful. Anyone who wants to apply the principles of positive thinking to business should read and use the material in this book.

Undoubtedly, one of the reasons the book is successful is because it had the support of the Peale Center. In fact, the foreword is an endorsement of the book from Ms. Ruth Stafford Peale.

The book puts the concept of positive thinking very effectively in context. "[Over] 95 percent of the time, people list internal factors as . . . why people fail to reach their full [business] potential . . . ." These are "attitude" issues like "fear," "low self-esteem," "lack of confidence," and having "no clear goals." Also external factors like "lack," "loss," and "limitations" are also controlled by internal perceptions.

The line that really hit me was that "most people start their jobs with a positive, hopeful outlook." This means the "challenge for managers is to create an environment that constantly reinforces and nurtures positive attitudes."

The book provides a road map for applying its concepts to any situation. You start with (1) define the situation (both in terms of business issue and the emotional gravity), (2) then determine what you are telling yourself, (3) determine your desired outcome (goals, affirmation, and visualization), (4) access your positive traits, (5) rehearse the situation mentally, (6) take action, and (7) assess the results of your actions. This is nicely summarized in the end as a Professional Challenge Worksheet.

The book has a very involved definition of what positive thinking is. I won't try to paraphrase or quote it. The main point is that positive thinking is much more than optimism, and is practially tied to a process for producing results.

The book is well grounded in psychological studies of human behavior. In this section, I was particularly impressed with the list of self-limiting beliefs that almost everyone has. These are tied to self-denigration, intolerance, frustration, and blaming others.

The ten traits are as follows: optimism, enthusiasm, belief, integrity, courage, confidence, determination, patience, calmness, and focus. There is a quiz to help you determine where you are strong and where you need work. Each trait then gets detailed treatment, along with suggestions for how to strengthen yourself appropriately in each area. I found the quiz to be helpful and perceptive.

The book is also well grounded in sports metaphors and stories that will be meaningful to many.

I should share that despite having read many books about affirmations and taken many courses in them, I fail to find them to be very useful when I practice them. Research shows that affirmations can be powerful motivators of the subconscious mind if said with emotional conviction. Maybe that's my problem, because I certainly find it hard to locate affirmations that excite me. I hope you find affirmations more helpful than I do.

You can also take the lessons of this book and simplify them into the perspective of the fiction character, Captain James Tiberius Kirk of the U.S.S. Enterprise. He believed that there was always a solution, and always found one. If you treat your business that way, it can be an adventure rather than an overwhelming burden. Difficulties and setbacks then just become the setting in which to allow you to be more heroic and achieve more.

After you read this book, you should take five business problems that hold the full potential for helping you make breakthrough gains and use this process on them. You have nothing to lose except your pessimism!

Prepare for and live in hopeful expectation of your next business success! Then you will be irresistible!

Positive Thinking AND Action Oriented Approach to Success.
In less than 200 pages, Scott W. Ventrella tries to incoporate the principles behind the Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale into the business world. This original work (Power of Positive Thinking) was translated into forty-two languages and sold over 22 million copies. So, it was inevitable that someone was going to leverage the popularity of this concept and ressurect it. Sure enough, the author Scott W. Ventrella has written this new book as it applies to the business world in cooperation with the Peale Center.

The old concept had come under massive attack in the last decade or so by more recent self-help gurus for its undue amount of focus on positive thinking and not enough on taking action (or how and what kind of action to take). The current book as applicable to modern day business world doesn't make that mistake. There is heavy focus on taking action. This book isn't something you just read through and put away, it is a book that you have to work through and probably refer to several times over the next few years.

The title caught my attention because my very first self-help book was the original 'Power of Positive Thinking' by Norman Vincent Peale. It had given me a lot of motivation to overcome obstacles and achieve a lot of success in life. Of course, even then I recognized that it wasn't enough to think positively. Hence I continued my search for a good self-help book and found 'The Ultimate Secrets of Total Self-Confidence' by Robert Anthony. In that book, the author explores deep into why we are where we are today. It traces everything back to your belief system embedded in your sub-conscious brain and how it manifests itself in your conscious actions during everyday life. These principles of how your belief systems ultimately affect your position in life are absolutely true and will never change. Ventrella combines these two and makes both sets of principles very action oriented. The book gives you a lot of things to do by yourself that will result in success.

This book in combination with other good self-help books (for both business and personal life) should drastically set your path in life towards that of success in business. But one has to really WORK through this book. It is not like the original book by Norman Vincent Peale where you got motivated by just reading the book.

Overall, I felt it was a book worthy of being in my business library collection. It does not provide any paradigm shifting ideas, but instead repackages old theories for today's audience. It does so very effectively and hence it is worthwhile to read and re-read this book till you are satisfied with the business results you are getting. I have already started taking massive action based on these ideas and I am confident that I will see the results. I hope you do too. Good luck! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business   2. Business   3. Religious aspects   4. Christianity   5. Success in business   6. Success   7. Executive Management   8. Business / Economics / Finance   9. Business & Economics   10. Motivational   11. Bargain   12. Religious aspects   

Customer Reviews (4)

Cumbersome organization
Although the Devita text is a good resource, it has important drawbacks. In every edition, including the latest one, too much information has been out of date even at the first day of publication. Several other major oncology texts somehow manage to avoid this problem much better. Also, since the text comes out every two years, information in the current edition is already at least 3 years old or older. Beyond this, the index is detailed but it still is hard to find specific information, i.e., the book is clumsily organized. Finally, the CD version has the worst search program that I have ever used. You can enter information with any degree of specificity and the search will retrieve (at best) a list of chapters and major chapter sections in which to look. You then have to read through miles of text to find the information that you wanted. Searchability is one of the main reasons for buying a CD and I consider the Devita CD virtually worthless.

Simply THE source.
As a resident, I use this book as a first resource for almost all Oncology reading. By your second year of residency you should be getting a lot of your data from the literature rather than texts, but it is still very useful to have a text summery to start from. Take prostate cancer as an example. You can read the DeVita chapter in a (long) afternoon and have an excellent base to expand from. Furthermore, the hundreds of references for each chapter are essentially a list of every landmark article on that topic. If you are an intern or MS4 and you are going to go Rad-Onc, Internal then Med-Onc, OB-Gyn Onc, or even Surgery or Dermatology then you simply need this book. There is nothing else that comes close. To be honest, if you are building any type of medical library whatsoever, you need this book. By the way, mine came with the CD-Rom version on the inside of the back cover for free! Check with your retailer to see if yours will, too. Best of luck, study hard- CURE CANCER!

quit enough source
this book is considered one of the text...that make the specialest so much satisfied by the quality and quantity of the information it contain and the it is discussed. but for us in middle east it is very [pricey]. you will understand that when you know that my monthly salary as an assesstent lecturer inradiation oncology dept.; Alazhar university, Cairo, Egypt;... a low price edition will be much helpful and very wise to prevent illegal copying of the book. thanks a lote ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Carcinogenesis   2. Medical   3. Medical / Nursing   4. Oncology   

Customer Reviews (5)

You Can If You Think You Can
Everybody wants to either change or improve something in their life. This is the book that will help you to suceed in doing so.
I have read many of Dr. Peale books. This one especially will drive you to where you want to go in life whether it be to your personality, that little push toward a degree, you name it, it'll take you there. My advise "read, apply, and GO!!!

Good material, mediocre presentation..needs a rewrite.
Vincent Peale has written some 42 books...and his message is good. But given this book was first written in the 1970's, it is sometimes difficult to digest. What is said in 320 pages could have been said in 30 (quite wordy), the examples are far outdated (see below) and far too much attention is paid to supressing your emotions (therapists will tell you this is not good, feelings have to be dealt with). Example: Peale upholds Henry Ford as a shining beacon of a good person....Henry Ford was a great business leader but he was also a strong anit-semantic and was against employing people of color. The reader should also beware that Peale is a Christian minister.

The book could use a re-write.

The overall message however is still valuable today..Peale was one of the first to point out the Mind-Body connection and the Self-Prophesy theory..what you expect is what you get. You dont have to read the whole book to get the point though.

One of three must read books
In 1990, this was just one of three great books that turned my life from a tradgedy to success. Back in 1990, I had a huge business that came crashing down. I was jobless and pennyless. Dr Peale's excellent book and a book that I had read many years before turned my life around. Within weeks, I had found a brand new opportunity and within months my income was at a all time personal high. The other two books? They were "Think and Grow Rich" by Napolean Hill and More Wealth without Risk" by Charles Givens. I obviously highly endorse all three. The priciples work. Please don't make the same mistake I did--read it and pack it away! Read the books, take good notes, apply and reread at once a year. It's very true that what you don't use, you'll lose. I know it happened to me. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General   2. Personal Growth - General   3. Psychology   4. Self-Help   5. Success   

Customer Reviews (1)

Great book for the marine aquarium hobbyist
I have positively oodles of books on fish behavior, diversity and ecology. When I brought this book home the wife asked "why do you need another fish book?" I will tell you like I told her.

This is the best book I have seen on the fishes commonly found in the aquarium industry. The fishes are arranged according to systematic (evolutionary) relationships, so it is in a format that is familiar to me, and more useful to people that are not already familiar with fish groups. Organization, however, is a minor part of a book. But the information in this book is also top notch. There is important information on hundreds of species referencing, feeding, care, availability and compatibility that is important when considering an addition to your salt water aquarium. There are also excellent sections on general aquarium keeping and reef inverts. This makes this a must have for any hobbyist. Lastly this is also a VERY attractive book, it now gets to be in the living room (near the aquarium where it should be) instead of in my library.

I didn't use those exact words with the wife, but you get the picture. If you're looking for a book on salt water aquarium fishes this is a great choice. Hopefully amazon will begin carrying it soon. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fish & Aquariums   2. General   3. Marine aquarium fishes   4. Marine aquariums   5. Nature / Field Guide Books   6. Reference