Pleurocarpous Mosses of the West Indies (Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden, V. 82)

Customer Reviews:

Best dive guide for Micronesia.......2007-03-10

I went back and bought 2 more for my travel companions! We just came back from Truk & Yap and I never saw my book, it was traveling around our group so much! We are planning to return to Palau, so I bought extra copies as self defense! The best dive guide I have found to the islands.

Great info, Maps, & Pics.......2005-09-18

Wasn't sure what to expect when ordering, but am very happy with the purchase. The maps are great! I have lived in Guam & find that the info in the book is very helpful. I'm still learning my way around the dive world here & now know where some of these places are that people are talking about. It has also helped plan our next dive trip to other islands. Great info on Palau, Chuuk, & Yap. So much to see & so little time!!!

Excellent Book.......2005-07-28

One of the most informative books about diving in the Pacific , next to Tim Rocks lonely planet guides for diving and snorkelling in Micronesia this is the best , only this one accomodates all the islands in one book meanwhile lonely planet is done over three books .
I definately recommend it !

the best dive book ever.......2002-07-31

I don't know that I've ever read a better dive book or travel guide. The author covers every minute detail, and somehow, it still reads well--a fascinating and well-treated subject. David Leonard shows great wit and a solid knowledge of his subject.

The photographs are amazing, too.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from American Review of Canadian Studies, published by Association for Canadian Studies in the United States on June 22, 2004. The length of the article is 6457 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Book review essay: ministers at mid-century: Canadian politics and politicians of the 1940s, '50s, and '60s.(Walter Gordon and the Rise of Canadian Nationalism)(Pearson: The Unlikely Gladiator)(Memoirs of a Very Civil Servant: Mackenzie King to Pierre Trudeau)(Book Review)
Author: Kevin J. Christiano
Publication: American Review of Canadian Studies (Refereed)
Date: June 22, 2004
Publisher: Association for Canadian Studies in the United States
Volume: 34 Issue: 2 Page: 349(14)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

Adding more new material for his Complete History of Jack the Ripper, crime writer and historian Philip Sugden already has painstakingly uncovered much new and hitherto neglected material, including a new Ripper sighting, a possible earlier assault, and a potential American connection. As noted Ripperologist Dan Farson observes, “This is indeed the ‘definitive account’,” for armchair sleuths of the White Chapel Horrors and all true crime aficionados. “A meticulous and reasoned profile for readers and future detectives.”—Kirkus Reviews “The charm of well written history about a character of almost mythical standing.”—Daily Telegraph (London)

Customer Reviews:

The best book on the subject yet written........2007-06-09

Unlike most "Ripperologists," Philip Sugden does not have any pet theories to prove. Therefore, like a good historian, Sugden concentrates only on all the facts of the case as they can be cooberated by the primary sources. Very well written and thoroughly researched, The Complete History of Jack the Ripper not only covers each of the known murders in detail, the book also looks at several other unsolved murders that may have been part of the series of "Jack's" crimes. Furthermore, Sugden follows the police investigation and examines the suspects developed by the police at the time. While Sugden does evaluate the likelihood of these suspects' guilt, he makes no attempt to positively identify the killer. If you read only one book on the 1888 murders in Whitechaple, read this one.

maggiemu.......2007-05-12

I found this book to be a bit boring and quite wordy for my personal taste. There were alot of facts that seemed to lead nowhere. I wasn't impressed!

Exhaustive and detailed.......2007-03-13

Jack the Ripper is perhaps the best-known figure in history whose real identity is obscured. He killed (as far as we know) something between 4 and 9 women in London between 1887 and 1891. He was never caught, and there's no convincing proof anyone ever saw him clearly, let alone came upon him in the act of killing and tried to stop him. He became the subject of rumor and speculation while the killings were going on, and has since been a subject of much speculation and theorizing. "Solutions" to the crimes he committed range from various suspects to a conspiracy of the British Royal Family in some fashion all the way around to anti-Semitic conspiracies.

Author Philip Sugden decided to write this book, and work from as many original sources as he could, recounting only that information he was able to confirm from contemporary records. He generally dismisses newspapers of the era, and tries to rely on police files as much as possible. What emerges is a different picture of the killer and the murders than has been presented in the past, because many previous books have repeated the errors of others while recounting what they believe happened. Sugden does his best to avoid this.

The result is a well-written, detailed, exhaustive study of the killings themselves. Sugden recounts each of the killings in detail, and then spends considerable time telling of the police response to the crimes, their attempts to counter the killings, and especially their interrogations of witnesses. One point he makes clear is how primitive their forensic thinking was at the time: fingerprints were about a decade off yet, and it wasn't even possible to analyze bloodstains to tell if they were human or animal in origin. The police, as a result, depended to a great deal on witnesses and confessions. In crimes of passion or crimes of greed, those things worked reasonably well, but with a "stranger crime" where the killer and the witnesses probably didn't know the criminal, and he probably also didn't associate with other criminals, the chances of catching him were frankly minimal. That's what happened...they didn't catch him.

I really enjoyed Sugden's book. It contains a great deal of information. The author, in the latter part of the book, leans towards one of the suspects (George Chapman) but doesn't insist that he must have done it. He does think it unlikely that Druitt, Kosminski, or Ostrog were the killer, but in each case his evidence is, like everything else at this remove, pretty much speculation. At least his speculation makes sense, however. Regardless, anyone who's interested in Jack the Ripper needs this book, definitely.

Exhaustive, Factual, and Unbiased.......2007-01-12

Beginning and Elite Ripperologists alike MUST read this book. A best way to explain the quality of this book is to explain Sugden's handling of the facts. Unlike the mast majority of Ripperologists, Sugden's goal is not to create theories to fill in the gaps, nor to hold onto common myths of the Ripper. Any ideas he does suggest in the book are only those most "probable" and based on the facts that are available. Like any good researched book dealing with a topic with various controversies, Sugden is quick to point out flaws in common misconceptions and how their origins were spawned from incorrect historical data.

He does a fantastic job on truly capturing the "complete history" of the Ripper case while maintaining an enjoyable read for the elite and curious passerby alike. After reading the book I finally realized why this is declared THE book to have on the Ripper case. I strongly suggest this to be the starting point and foundation for all newly interested and all who have long loved the infamous murderer of almost mythical standing.

Great account of an oft complicated topic.......2006-11-24

Let me give a little anecdote first - when in London over five years ago, I was sincerely honored to see the admiration and respect that its citizens gave Polly Nichols, Annie Chapman, Liz Stride, Kate Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly. I am a massive reader and barely saw a thing by Patricia Cornwell in all of England, especially her book in which she claimed that the Ripper was Walter Sickert. You know why? I was basically told that people were so angered that she went on TV afterwards and admitted a lot of the book was invented scenarios told merely because "I thought it would make a good story" that they refused to endorse it. That, London, is respect, and I honor you for it.
Now said, mr. Sugden gives a great account of the murders of each of those women, portraying them as real people and not "Jack the Ripper's # victim." Although it is lacking severely in new topics such as Francis Tumblety and the like, anything previous is well researched and expertly presented with no bias. This is a worthwhile book, and if you want to see those involved portrayed fairly and as real people without a number, then try it.

Average customer rating:

Don't Buy It Yet!
Best Book by Subject Matter Expert
Very Informative And Accurate Portrait Of The Ripper Murders
Not complete, but good.
an excellent review by a Scotland Yard Detective

The Complete Jack the Ripper
Donald Rumbelow
Manufacturer: Little Brown & Co (T)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Criminology | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0821206613

Customer Reviews:

Don't Buy It Yet!.......2004-05-26

I just returned from London and attended Donald Rumbelow's "Ripper Walk" (on 20 May 04) and Donald has just revised his book. He did not have any copies available at the end of the walk because they are sitting at the publishers (Penguin) but will be available anytime now. As everyone has stated, this gentleman knows his subject. It was one of the highlights of my trip to London!

Best Book by Subject Matter Expert.......2003-08-05

This book is the best I have read on this subject. On my last trip to London I actually went on a tour with the author Donald Rumbelow. I bought the book from Donald at the end of the tour and he autographed it for me. Donald leads a London "Jack the Ripper" walk that far surpasses any other guided tour of any sort that I have ever been on. He knows his stuff, as you can see by reading the book. Donald is the Curator of the Police Crime Museum and a former Scotland Yard Detective. Anytime I go to London, which is about every couple of years, I have to go on a "Ripper" tour with Donald. Travel guides like Fodor's, Frommers, Eyewitness etc recommend the expert walking tour and his crime book. Donald's walking company site is "london.walks.com".

Very Informative And Accurate Portrait Of The Ripper Murders.......2003-06-24

I actually got to meet and discuss the murders with Mr. Rumbelow on a trip to London last summer, and it's not hard to see why he is considered by many well-thought-of historians and many of Hollywood's elite as the Official Jack The Ripper Historical Expert. For instance, he not only has an amazing amount of knowledge regarding details of the Ripper Case, but he was also a historical consultant for the 2002 film "From Hell", the most accurate Ripper film, to date. In this book, he paints a bleak yet comprehensive portrait of the case that has baffled historians and case-solvers, alike, for the past century. Highly recommended!

Not complete, but good........2002-12-10

Donald Rumbelow has an excellent writing style and this is an easy to read and understand book. In particular, he does a great job of helping the reader understand the conditions in London's east end during this time of the old city's history. He also gives the reader a complete understanding of the limitations faced by police in the late 1800's. If no one saw the killer commit the crime, it was almost impossible to make an arrest.

This is a fairly short book as compared to other ripper books but there is a wealth of information. This would be an excellent book for someone just getting interested in the ripper for it is more of an introduction to the case than anything else. Rumbelow never really makes any attempt to solve the case. Instead he spends a lot of time showing the faults in other ripper writer's theroies. I think it was Sherlock Holmes who said that if you get rid of all the things that were impossible, what was left was the answer, no matter how improbable. I think that may be what Rumbelow is up to.

Truth be known, the section I enjoyed most was the chapter called "Beyond the Grave", which deals with ripper like killers who followed Jack. The Yorkshire and Dusseldorf rippers and Jack the Stripper for example. Their cases are not only highly interesting but also prove that the shadow of Jack the Ripper will be hanging over us for a long time.

an excellent review by a Scotland Yard Detective.......2002-10-16

Donald Rumbelow, as a Scotland Yard Detective, provides a grim, realistic study of the Ripper Case, even down to studying such vague connections as Ellery Queen fictional work concerning it.
He was permitted access to records that are still sealed, and was shocked to find how little of the records survived. He was also able to put back the death bed picture of Mary Kelly.

The only fault I find is in his analysis of the suspects. He seemed to rigid and not willing to look into this with any real depth.

Customer Reviews:

Intense Investigation of Infamous case.......2003-10-22

Rumbelow's Casebook is indeed very complete.
The opening chapters set the context of Whitechapel in East end of London at the time of the killings. The statistics of lifestyles at the end of the nineteenth century provided by Rumbelow is evidence A that he "did his homework" and researched his subject matter fully.
I am not usually a fan of true crime novels but had to get this book as Jack is such an infamous personage and wasn't disappointed. Rumbelow writes about the murders with passion without sensationalism that the book may have elicited in hands of another and describes the setting the lives of the victims, theories and letters from the Ripper and parrallel cases. This is probably the most complete book on Jack The Ripper and wholly lives up to its name as being the Complete Casebook so for anyone with at least passing interest in the Infamous Ripper I suggest they read this book to better understand the murders.

Best Book by Subject Matter Expert.......2003-08-05

Tells a good story.......2003-04-02

This was the first book I read on Jack the Ripper. It was well written, and I will have to agree with the other reviewer, the first part is the best. Rumbelow did a wonderful and skillful job in setting the mood for the things to come. He also does a great job in going into detail about the murders. However, as later writers have pointed out, he uses a lot of secondary sources, like made up newspaper accounts, and fiction from some of the early writers of Jack the Ripper. It's a good book to begin with, but don't believe everything in the book as being pure fact. The fact is, some of the sources he used were bad, or he only viewed them and then they vanished. It is still a very good book. However, I would suggest Jack the Ripper the complete history by Philip Sugden, over this one.

One of the best books on the subject.......2002-08-22

This is easily the best book on Jack the Ripper I have read yet. Rumbelow adds a lot of background to the case study, including an early chapter on just how horrible the London slums were in Victorian times (far worse than anything out of Dickens). He also covers what the press and the police departments were doing as the case unfolded, which form interesting subplots of their own. The last half of the book is not quite as good as it wanders over a slew of suspects, a handful of later serial killers, and comments on a few media versions of the case. Still Rumbleow is thorough and objective and easily proves to be one of the leading Ripperologists working today.

Comprehensive Book By Leading Ripperologist.......2002-08-02

I've had the distinct pleasure of taking Rumbelow's "Jack the Ripper" walking tour and of meeting him at the "2002 Jack the Ripper Conference." He is indeed the leading expert on the Ripper. His book covers all factual aspects of the crimes in depth. He espouses no theory or suspect, believing that the Ripper was someone in the neighborhood who wasn't famous and who will never be discovered. I highly recommend this book as the very best on Jack the Ripper.

Average customer rating:

COMPLETE HISTORY OF JACK THE RIPPER
PHILIP SUGDEN
Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NY6Y5I

The Complete History of Jack the Ripper (ISBN:0786701242)

Average customer rating:

The Complete History of Jack the Ripper (ISBN:0786701242)
Philip Sugden
Manufacturer: Carroll & Graf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NQKE9S

Book Description

You will enjoy treasures galore in this enlightening collection of 48 articles and stories taken from the Tool Shed of the Collectors of Rare and Familiar Tools Society. Everyone involved with old tools will find something to interest him here: On Identifying 18th Century Wooden PlanesILadylegsIBig Tree LoggingIThe Topic is TrammelsISpeed Indicators, Revolution Counters & TachometersIAn Uncommon CooperUs PlaneIEarly Tools of the Sheep and Wool IndustryIThe PatternmakerUs RuleIEuropean Hinge ChiselsIBirmingham (England) Carpenter Rules with Unit and Price TablesITools of the American IndianIPennsylvania Goosewing AxesICollecting LevelsIBritish ToolsIItUs a WrenchIForeign Wooden PlanesIKing of the Adjuvant ToolsIA Rare New Jersey AnvilITool WoodsIThe Ice AgeIand, of course, many more. This book would make a wonderful giftQitUs easy to pick up and browse through. Some of the material is light and anecdotal, some is informational; the facts are all there. 176 pages. 6" x 9". Fully illustrated. Soft cover.

Average customer rating:

Everday Blessings

Not as helpful as I had hoped

Tepid

Never too early!!

Once the realization is accepted...

Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting
Myla Kabat-zinn , and Jon Kabat-zinn
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Meditation | Alternative Medicine | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Child Care | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Kabat-Zinn, Jon | ( K ) | Authors, A-Z | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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Accessories:

Airborne Effervescent Health Formula, Original Orange, 10 Tablets (Pack of 3)

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ASIN: 0786883146
Release Date: 1998-04-15

Amazon.com

In the rush, rush, rush of too-much-to-do-and-no-time-to-do-it, the all-important, nurturing aspects of parenthood can easily disappear. Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Wherever You Go, There You Are and Myla Kabat-Zinn have collaborated on Everyday Blessings, a book that approaches parenting from the Zen Buddhist position of moment-to-moment awareness. It's a beautiful presentation and a thoughtful approach to mindful meditation that will help you slow down, enrich your life as a parent, and nourish the internal life of your children.

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Everday Blessings.......2007-05-29

Worthwhile reading for time-strapped parents who want to be more present in their everday interaction with their children.

Not as helpful as I had hoped.......2007-04-05

I was hoping this book would help me learn to be a calmer, more patient, and contented parent. While there were lots of examples, I felt this book was rambling and didn't really give me practical help.

Tepid.......2007-03-07

The Kabat-Zinns have written a unique book in as much as it is one of the very few that apply mindfulness to parenting. Those portions of the book, where this application is described, are very good. Afterall, Jon Kabat-Zinn has done a fair bit towards popularizing this form of meditative practice. However, the book falters when the authors advise about bringing up children and disciplinary issues. They fail to distinguish, in any practical way, between utter laissez faire and much-needed corrective action. The reader is left to his/her own devices to figure out a path that should be followed. Well, one really does not need a book to tell us that the path is unique and must be forged by each parent. The manner in which mindfulness can help in charting this path is poorly described.
Overall, I recommend this book only for a few chapters (approx. 75 pages) that are very good. The rest does nothing to improve parenting skills.

Never too early!!.......2007-01-06

I read this book when I was 2 months pregnant with my first child. Now at 11 months old, I plan on rereading it. I'm a practicing Buddhist, so this fit with my belief. However, everyone can benefit from reading this book. People of all faiths can certainly relate. I passed it on to my sister, who is a Christian, and she had the same praise. Read it.

Once the realization is accepted..........2006-11-10

I found this book very useful. A friend recommended it, and emailed me an opening quote, from Rainer Maria Rilke, which I thought a lot about:

"Once the realization is accepted that even between the closest human beings infinite distances continue to exist, a wonderful living side by side can grow up, if they succeed in loving the distance between them which makes it possible for each to see eachother whole against the sky."

I have twin girls, and a lot of the what the authors write about do not particularly resonate with me, but there are pieces of the book I really enjoyed, and reading it has helped me be more attentive to choices I make that will allow me see past the reactivity of my own mind, and helped me cultivate the greater calmness and insight that I need to bring to my parenting.

Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting

Average customer rating:

Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting
Jon Kabat-Zinn; Myla Kabat-Zinn
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000QYDVSI

Customer Reviews:

Turn Left at the Black Cow.......2005-11-16

I have read this book several times and recently got on Amazon to order several copies for Christmas presents. This book, while it discusses Fred Astaire, is actually the love story of his daughter and her husband, their journey to leave Hollywood behind by buying a cottage in Ireland and the many joyous and wonderful stories that come from that move. This is not a Fred Astaire biography by any means--but rather a touching, often hilarious story of one family, their adventures in setting up house in a culture different from their own and their personal journey with each other. It remains one of our family favorites and I would highly recommend it to anyone with their own sense of adventure.

Disappointing.......2003-05-15

Turn Left at the Black Cow offers Fred Astaire fans some wonderful anecdotes, as the legendary dancer visits his daughter and her husband in Ireland. However, author McKenzie's constant name dropping and continuous negative comments about Fred's second wife wear thin. Worth a look, but feel free to skim.

Disappointing.......2003-04-28

If you read this for tidbits about Fred Astaire, that's all you get are tidbits. If you read it seeking the feeling of Ireland, there are some nice descriptive moments in the book. Mostly it focuses on the author whose life and celebrity contacts did not make up for my disappointment in the skimpiness on Astaire and Ireland.
I recommend instead titles by Niall Williams or reread Frank McCourt.

Treat yourself to this book.......2002-01-26

I stumbled upon this book searching for books about Fred Astaire and was so glad that I found it. Richard McKenzie has such a good eye for people. I loved the stories about his neighbors in Ireland as well as the unique insight into Fred Astaire. I highly recommend this book.

A family to cherish.......2001-12-01

There are many remarkable qualities to this book, chief among them the wonderful people that inhabit it. With an engaging, almost poetic style, we are invited into a world of personal impressions and happenings that are both deft and trenchant. This is a universe that contains the likes of David Niven, Barbara Stanwyck, Hermes Pan along with the likes of Kevin O'Mahoney and countless neighbors and un-famous friends--all remembered with a discerning wit and a loving appreciation. You have to love a book that shares insights about Hollywood royalty AND the personalities of cats and cows and other assorted creatures dear to the author and his family. It is full of grace, as you might imagine, humor that might not, and a heart that will always envelope you. For my money, it's a family I'd love to be a part of--if only to meet a woman who dries her garden-fresh lettuce in the spin-cycle of her washing machine! There are many such gifts along this singular journey.

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