Systems for Cytogenetic Analysis in Vicia Faba L. (Advances in Agricultural Biotechnology)

Book Description

INTRODUCTION

Mention Malta and the images that spring to mind - the Knights of St John, the Maltese Falcon, the George Cross - evoke dignity and glory, chivalry and endurance. Malta, Gozo and Comino together comprise 316 square kilometres of land, barely half the size of London, and this cluster of tiny islands, strategically located in the central Mediterranean some 96km south of Sicily, 353km north of Libya, and equidistant from Gibraltar and Alexandria, have taken on an importance completely out of proportion to their size. They have stood up to the might of the Ottoman Empire during the Great Siege of 1565, cradled the core of Europe's aristocracy for 268 years under the Knights of St John, and endured more bombing than any other country during World War II. From the Phoenicians to the British, all the great powers have fought over these dusty, windswept rocks, and courted the proud and defiant citizens, as laid-back and irreverent a people as they are industrious and adaptable.

Since attaining independence from Britain less than forty years ago (the only time the islands have not been ruled by an outside power), Malta has developed into a wealthy, modern democracy with a burgeoning tourism industry, now the mainstay of the economy both in the mainland and on Gozo and Comino. Over one million visitors descend each year, most drawn by the two-week sun-and-sea packages for which the islands have come to be known. The north coasts of Malta and Gozo are peppered with fully fledged resorts, which hold all categories of accommodation as well as a wealth of restaurants and cafés serving up Maltese, Italian and French delicacies, hordes of lively bars and the odd nightclub. In terms of beaches, you can choose between some gorgeous sandy swaths - some with unusual orange sand - or the rocky stretches of coastline, equipped with ladders for easy access to the water, which are equally popular spots from which to dive into the sparkling Med. Most of the popular! beaches hold watersports outlets during the summer, and the calm seas that surround the island are ideal for anything from jet-skis and banana boats to snorkelling and scuba; Maltese waters are said to offer the best diving in the Mediterranean. However, if you're after some seclusion by the sea, there are dozens of undeveloped, less easily accessible coves and rocky shorelines which you'll often have all to yourself.

There's far more to Malta than beachlife, though, and you'd be missing out if you didn't take time to explore the islands' extensive historical sights, most of which are located in the fortified capital of Valletta, now designated a World Heritage City. The magnificent Neolithic temples scattered over Malta and Gozo - the oldest human-built structures in the world - are second to none: there are more major complexes here than in the whole of the rest of Europe, and they're an absolute must-see. The Catholic church remains hugely influential in the Maltese islands: 99 percent of the populace are affiliated to the faith, as attested by the 350-plus churches that pierce the skyline (more than one for every square kilometre). Ranging from tiny rural chapels thronged by pilgrims to grandiose parish churches and ornate cathedrals, these shrines showcase some invaluable works of art as well as superlative Baroque architecture.

Customer Reviews:

Pocket sized.......2003-10-05

This pocket sized 400 page guide to Malta & surrounding islands is full of facts, details, and helpful hints. This is a British made publication, which means: 1) you have great detail on after hour clubs, bars, and entertainment; 2), there will be practically no attempt to help you with the local language (which for the most part the natives can understand & speak English, even if they are heavily accented); 3) there will be no hesitation to give opinions along with the facts; 4) there will be good information on bus routes and transportation options.
There are only 4 pages of photographs out of the 400, so it helps to team this book up with one like the AAA Spiral Guide which is chock full of photos, but this Rough guide is the one to stick in your pocket when you head out into the street.

The best guide to Malta.......2002-11-06

Having lived in Malta for about five months, I can vouch for the quality of this book. It definitely beats all the other guides out there.

The author had the advantage of writing about a small country, which might explain why this book is so good. Alas, smallness is often next to greatness, as anybody who knows anything about Malta will tell you. Situated smack dab in the middle of the Mediterranean, it has been a cultural crossroads for thousands of years, from the time of the Phoenecians right down to British colonial days (Malta became an independent country only in 1964 and the British influence is still strong). Its famous siege by the Turks in 1565 was only a part of its rich and exciting history. This book includes a thorough section on Maltese history and culture, plus a list of other books if you want to learn more.

As for the travel sections, it's replete with useful information, including details about admission costs, opening hours, bus routes, places to stay and eat, how to get there (not always easy), and where to go have fun in the sun. The maps are great, and it's also got a lot of useful information about Gozo and Comino, the beautiful neighboring islands 30 minutes by boat from Malta itself.

This book was written with budget travelers in mind, but anybody will find it useful. And don't be turned away by the title: the only thing "rough" about Malta is the bus network, which is absolutely prehistoric and will beat even the most hard-core travelers down to an ichthyous, jelly-like pulp. Watch out. --- Five stars.

Customer Reviews:

This vanity farce sucks...........2004-07-05

This could have been a good book, but it is nothing but a farce where Franzese would have the reader believe that he was some poor misunderstood victim, harassed by law enforcement until he was put in the position of "well, if they are gonna accuse me of it, I am just gonna do it!", which is obviously so much baloney. Then, he does admit to "white collar crime", but strangely every time the government hauls him into court, Franzese would again have us believe that he was wholly innocent of all of the charges. He sets himself only in the very best light, like some sort of misunderstood, valiant and progressive J.P. Morgan, a modern day Robin Hood, and it is to the point of sheer unbelieveability. Franzese is still the same scammer as he always was, and he carries it on as usual in this book with the complicity of Matera. I can't believe Matera wasted his obvious talent producing this drivel. It's Franzese vanity press, plain and simple. And, as far as Franzese being a "changed man", a reborn straight arrow? PFFFFFTTT!!! Search thesmokinggun.com for Franzese and read about his post conversion shenanigans if you'd like to see the "new man"....meet the new boss, same as the old boss. Yep, these guys took what could have been a great story and turned it into the same stuff you find on the floor of a hog pen, and they expended the same amount of energy doing it that they would have had to in doing it right! Maybe, with a little luck, the real story will come out, and I bet it'll be a good one. Until then, take my word for it, this book is irredeemable from page one through the end....don't even waste your time. I regret that I have to give it a one star rating, because it sure doesn't even deserve that.

Awesome Book.......2004-06-25

I am not a huge reader, but i finished this book really quickly. In a rare instance, you are shown the inside reports on how the mafia works and how some of the stereotypes are just that, stereotypes. If you have any interest in true crime books or books that can show that people can change, this is the book for you! Trust me, I don't like reading too much but found myself looking forward to reading this book.

One of my favorit books of all time.......2001-11-25

In Quitting the Mob Michael Franzesetells his story with the help of Dary Matera.Of his love for his father who brought him into the family after seeing his son not being scared of going a little out side of the law to make money.How he was raised to the rank of capo in his mafia family making millions of dollars for his bosses.And left it all for the love of a woman.

Great Book!.......2000-07-04

I knew Michael after the whole thing finished, he was indeed a changed man. Great book, good job Michael & Dary.

Great book!! I have read it three times........1998-07-13

Each time I have read the book, I see something else that I did not see. Michael's father Sonny, was as dedicated as they came. It's amazing that someone could have led the life that he had lived and still live to tell about it. I would imagine it would be fun just to sit down and talk with Michael Franzese about all the things that he had expierienced. If anyone knows how to reach Michael Franzese please drop me a line.

Quitting The Mob How the "Yuppie Don" left the Mafia and lived to tell his story

Average customer rating:

Quitting The Mob How the "Yuppie Don" left the Mafia and lived to tell his story
Michael (Dary Matera) Franzese
Manufacturer: Harper Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J1M9TU

Book Description

Stuart A. Altmann presents the results of one of the most intensive investigations ever carried out on foraging behavior and its consequences for survival and reproduction.

"This book is destined to become a classic in primate feeding behavior. It is exhaustive and a pleasure to read, and it sets the standard for amalgamation of modeling theory and ecological observation."—Joanna E. Lambert, American Scientist

"The gold standard for research on naturalistic behavior and ecology of primates."—Peter S. Rodman, American Journal of Primatology

Customer Reviews:

This is a great book intended to ecology specialists.......1999-06-22

A review of this book has been published in the following journal:

Houle, A. (1999). Book-Review: Foraging for survival: Yearling baboons in Africa. Behavioural Processes. (in press)

This book is destined to become a classic in primatology........1999-06-15

This is a story of how eleven juvenile baboons feed themselves. The setting: Amboseli National Park, Kenya. This is, however, much more than a simple story. Throughout, Altmann engages the reader with his elegant analysis - rich with ecological detail - of the costs and benefits primates must negotiate in their daily pursuit of requisite nutrients and energy. Baboons are exemplary eclectic omnivores; still, as Altmann quotes, "there is no such thing as a free lunch." Bearing this in mind, he sets out to evaluate the balancing act baboons must achieve in maximizing nutrient intake, while at the same time minimizing toxic accumulation of plant secondary metabolites.

At the outset, Altmann describes what the baboons ate, how they ate it, and what foods they avoided altogether during the study period (1975-1976). He then identifies what baboons should eat. A foraging strategy is an ultimate endpoint, achieved via an array of potential tactical routes. Altmann evaluates both the feeding tactics and the eclectic foraging strategy of his young baboons by identifying the degree to which they deviate from an optimum model of adaptive feeding traits. The baboons' actual dietary intake is compared to the specifications of adequate and optimal diets; this is done for both an average yearling's diet, as well as on individual variance from the predicted diets.

Deviations from the optimum are viewed as indicators of potential differences in reproductive fitness. Although the feeding data stem from research undertaken in the mid-1970s, Altmann takes advantage of the two succeeding decades to relate differences in juvenile diets to longevity and fitness outcomes later in life. This historical depth is particularly valuable because it tests the model by evaluating whether those baboons that come closer to the optimum as juveniles have higher fitness as adults.

Altmann expands on the extreme selectivity exhibited by baboons, providing details on the toxic load, protein, carbohydrate, water content, and load of various plant species and the manner in which baboons maximize (or minimize) their intake of these food components. Finally, he assesses the anatomical and behavioral attributes that may contribute to making baboons one of the most successful and broadly distributed primate species. To complement the main body of the text, Altmann includes a series of appendices and tables in which he evaluates various methodological and definitional issues relating to calculating feeding bouts and dietary intake. Here, he presents additional detail on diet composition and the nutritional and toxic attributes of plant foods.

The work's emphasis on juvenile feeding behavior is an unusual yet valuable feature. This developmental stage is often overlooked in studies of non-human primate behavior and ecology, despite the fact that this period, and the transition from a milk diet to an adult diet, are undoubtedly critical to our understanding of adult fitness and life history patterns.

However, some caution is warranted: This book was not intended for the casual student of animal feeding behavior, nor for those new to optimal foraging theory. Altmann's models, food intake calculations, and feeding bout formulae are exacting, and quite abstracted from the experience of observing feeding behavior. Before embarking into this volume, non-modelers will have to review the technical terminology that necessarily accompanies Optimization Theory. In addition, I do not view the generalizations (outlined in Chapter Two) based on the relationships among body size, patch size, and dietary selectivity to be particularly illuminating. Too many exceptions to his proposed relationships can be found for such generalizations to be of much explanatory utility.

Book Description

Foraging for Survival: Yearling Baboons in Africa.(Review): An article from: American Scientist

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Foraging for Survival: Yearling Baboons in Africa.(Review): An article from: American Scientist

Manufacturer: Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Foraging for Survival : Yearling Baboons in Africa

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Foraging for Survival : Yearling Baboons in Africa
Stuart A. Altmann
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OOT2VK

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a Knitter's Dozen Bags

Experienced Knitter and I loved the variety

Great bags to knit

Not bad

Well, maybe not a dozen.

Bags: A Knitter's Dozen (A Knitter's Dozen series)

Manufacturer: Xrx Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Pursenalities: 20 Great Knitted And Felted Bags

Pursenality Plus: 20 New Felted Bags

Vogue Knitting on the Go: Felting (Vogue Knitting On The Go)

Knit One, Felt Too: Discover the magic of knitted felt with 25 easy patterns

Felted Knits

ASIN: 1893762203

Book Description

The best ideas for making handbags and tote bags from Knitter's Magazine are included in this project book for knitters of all skills. Whether classic or innovative, these 13 small projects provide an opportunity to experiment with luxury yarns and to explore exotic stitches. Detailed, fully illustrated instructions highlight the more complicated techniques. Ideas for creative finishing options are provided to customize and personalize the projects.

Customer Reviews:

a Knitter's Dozen Bags .......2007-01-09

In this book you recieve complete instructions for making several different types of bags. There are bags for evening, weddings, carry-alls, and backpacks. I made 4 bags for Christmas gifts and since I came back from visiting I have plans to make at least 6 more bags from this book for gifts. The instructions are mostly clear and easy to follow, however one needs to pay attention to measurements as one mistake I made on my first attempt at a backpack was I misread the length of an icord and made it 4 foot instead of 4 yards. This resulted in my having to order an additional skein of yarn to complete the project. I have yet to complete the project I got the book for as I don't have the yarn for it. It is the fulled entrelac bag that I plan to use as a knitting bag.
One other problem I encountered is that there is not a listing of places to purchase the various miscellaneous hardware items needed to finish the bags. For instance, some of the bags require a magnetic clasp and gormets, and there is no listing of places to purchase these types of items. This book has provided me with several hours of knitting pleasure.

Experienced Knitter and I loved the variety.......2006-12-31

I am 51 and have been knitting, smocking, sewing, you name it since I was a child. I can't just sit in front of the telly and not do something productive (guess it's the ADHD!) I'm eccentric in some ways and love the offbeat styles a bit. This book provided me with a lot of variety and I was able to make 5 different bags for my family and friends for Christmas (yikes, a lot of knitting between Thanksgiving and Christmas). I could have used more instructions on the pitfalls of felting cable knits. I had to make one bag twice as I felted it too long in the machine and the cables/patterns were simply washed away. When I made it the second time, I felted it for a shorted period of time and then lined the bag. Now that I've made so many of the bags in here I'm looking for more challenges.

Great bags to knit.......2006-11-05

An excellent book with good photos to inspire creativity. Patterns are easy to follow. A wide variety of bags to knit for different purposes and skill ability. Excellent descriptions of stitches, techniques and explanations of needles and wool in the glossary section. Extra information is available on the Internet at the publisher's site. Some of the wool is not available to buy in Australia but Ebay helps with most of the purchases.

Not bad.......2006-03-04

I enjoyed this book, more for the ideas it gave me than for the actual designs themselves. There are several examples of totes, purses, and packs and with a little imagination, I think an average knitter looking for a challenge would find the information useful. One can latch onto the basics and develop some interesting original work. Felting seems to be the technique of choice lately; one sees it everywhere. I have yet to try it, so I look forward to learning the technique. This seems a good place to start.

Well, maybe not a dozen........2005-11-06

There are some really great and I mean GREAT bags in this book. The entrelac square bag, for example, gets an ooh-ahh reponse from everyone who sees this bag when done. There's a 'small notions' cosmetic bag which knits quickly, is very versatile, and makes a terrific last-minute gift. There's a tube-shaped bag called 'Soho sling' which everyone should try once and another unusual shape (Three for the road) which is so cool, so fun, and so quick that I've made several in variations. A section on needle felting is very welcome to add some pizazz to those all-look-alike felted totes and a section on zippers takes into account (thanks goodness) that many knitters do NOT sew! The basic bag shapes are well-covered: tote, backback, clutch, market bag, evening bag, beads on a bag.

Still, as a collection, is this the one book or the best book you would recommend for someone who is looking for a bag book? No - to me this is way down on the list. For one thing, of all the bags there are to knit, there are four cabled-aran choices. The tote shape occurs too often and two of the patterns could go away and no one would remember. There are way too many cool techniques out there to put in this much repetition. The one beaded bag (a very dressy bag) is quite complex and only a very experienced bead knitter could do this pattern.

Some 'basics' are missing. There is no coverage of lining a bag or adding bases to make it sturdier. The I-cord instructions are too sparse - and in fact cords and straps are not as well explained as they should be.

Pardon the pun - the book ends up being a mixed bag - I would put it on my 'like to have' rather than 'must have' list.

Average customer rating:

Bags A Knitter's Dozen
n/a
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OYGEQQ

Amazon.com

What spring is to your garden, autumn is to your conservatory: it's time to plan and plant, tidy and till, and bring your green thumb indoors. Ann Bonar's guide includes an A to Z listing of more than 700 conservatory plants, with more than 130 color illustrations. From Abutilon to Zantedeschia, Bonar describes the particulars of flower and fragrance, climbing tendencies and hardiness, and requirements for light, temperature, moisture, and feeding. For the winter gardener, the plant directory is reason enough to add it to your garden shelf, but the other features (how to display the plants, advice on managing the environment and maintaining healthy plants, and an appendix of plant and equipment suppliers) will be greatly appreciated as well.

Customer Reviews:

Very thorough.......2000-03-29

This book is very good. It is a great reference book for indoor gardening. The details of planting, organizing, and choosing the plants were very helpful.

Conservatories, a Complete Guide: Planning, Managing and Completing Your Conservatory

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Conservatories, a Complete Guide: Planning, Managing and Completing Your Conservatory
Julian Owen
Manufacturer: Crowood Press, Limited, The
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1861267266

Kingfisher Complete Guide to Indoor and Conservatory Plants (Complete Guides)

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Kingfisher Complete Guide to Indoor and Conservatory Plants (Complete Guides)
Ken March , and Jill Thomas
Manufacturer: Kingfisher Books Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0862728975

(The Pleasure of Gardening) Conservatory Gardening : A Complete Practical Guide

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(The Pleasure of Gardening) Conservatory Gardening : A Complete Practical Guide
Lynn Bryan
Manufacturer: Lansdowne Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Complete Book of the Greenhouse: A Complete Guide to the Construction And Maintenance of Greenhouses, to the Modern AIDS Available in Running Th (Complete Book Of....)

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The Complete Book of the Greenhouse: A Complete Guide to the Construction And Maintenance of Greenhouses, to the Modern AIDS Available in Running Th (Complete Book Of....)
Ian G. Walls
Manufacturer: Ward Lock Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Average customer rating:

Excellent application of the MBTI to relationship dynamics

Just Your Type: Create the Relationship You've Always Wanted Using the Secrets of Personality Type

Helps you understand all relationships, not just romantic

Matches Every Type w/Every Other Type - Unique & Well Done!

The best dating guide, divorce prevention, self-help book!

Just Your Type: Create the Relationship You've Always Wanted Using the Secrets of Personality Type
Paul D. Tieger , and Barbara Barron-Tieger
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Art of Speed Reading People: How to Size People Up and Speak Their Language

Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type

Nurture by Nature: How to Raise Happy, Healthy, Responsible Children Through the Insights of Personality Type

Please Understand Me II: Temperament, Character, Intelligence

Type Talk: The 16 Personality Types That Determine How We Live, Love, and Work

Accessories:

Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer

ASIN: 0316845698

Book Description

Are men and women from different planets, or is it Personality Type, not gender, that rules the way they relate? The foremost experts in Personality Type, Paul D. Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger provide fresh insight into the mysteries of love. Drawing from years of experience as well as groundbreaking research, the authors offer an individualized approach to improving your love life: they help you figure out which of the 16 personality types best describes you and your partner; reveal the rewards and frustrations of your type combination; identify the essential aspects of a good relationship for each type; provide the best advice about communicating with your mate, and much more.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent application of the MBTI to relationship dynamics.......2006-06-06

Despite its somewhat maudlin title and front cover, this book is very interesting. It based on Jungian MBTI theory which in my view is a very powerful tool for understanding people's personality. The book itself is not theoretical: it gives a brief description of the 16 types and then there is a couple of pages for each of the 136 possible combinations. Much has been printed about the MBTI, but this one has a very interesting practical approach. For each combination, you find a paragraph on the strengths, a paragraph on the weaknesses, and a short list of key recommendations for each partner. Even if you know everything about Jungian psychology you can still discover some new insights on personality relationships. For the anecdote, my INTJ recommendation list (with my ESFJ wife) is a pretty goood summary of everything I do wrong at home !

Just Your Type: Create the Relationship You've Always Wanted Using the Secrets of Personality Type.......2005-07-12

This is a very easy to read book that is broken down into logical and useful sections. It is also a lot of fun.

Helps you understand all relationships, not just romantic.......2003-02-27

If you are into understanding yourself and your relationships with others, you will love this guide.

After decoding myself (ISTP), I decoded everyone I know well, and it helped me to understand how and why each of my relationships differ. I shared the book with my ESTP boyfriend and we laughed so hard we nearly cried, because the book described our relationship SO EXACTLY it was scary.

We all communicate and make decisions differently. This book explains how YOUR type and THEIR type interact, and how to avoid common pitfalls. It's not only helpful, but very eye-opening and fun.

Matches Every Type w/Every Other Type - Unique & Well Done!.......2003-02-08

I'm a huge MBTI nut, and I've read about MBTI book out there, including those from Britain, etc! This book is truly unique b/c it matches every type w/every other type, to show you the joys, pitfalls, and helpful suggestions. What should an ENTJ know about his/her INFP spouse? This book has very specific and personalized answers.

The best thing is, this isn't just a gimmick. It's VERY well done. The insights are superb and will tell you something new about not only your romantic relationships, but other important relationships as well.

My spouse & I have a wonderful relationship - over 10 years of wedded bliss - and we've also done a ton of Myers-Briggs analysis together. So I was shocked and delighted when my spouse read the piece comparing our types - and said, Hey, there are several things in here I want you to read! There were indeed "hints" that I needed to take to heart, things I never would have guessed but that did truly come from our type interaction.

The best dating guide, divorce prevention, self-help book!.......2002-10-31

First, it's important to know I have been a believer in the validity of the personality test upon which this book is based ... from my own experience in the 15 years since I first took the test as required for one of my science major classes in college, and because the test has a good reputation among professionals. The more people I persuade to take this test, the more impressed I am with the accuracy and validity of the test and the accuracy of several other books based upon the test. That's important information because this book can be no more accurate than the personality test upon which it is based. Secondly, the authors are internationally recognized experts in the application of the test results.

Having established that, in my opinion this particular book is more valuable than any of the other books I own based on that personality test because it presents the various personaly types in a more practical manner: exactly how each of the other types is compatible or incompatible with you, and specifically how to interact with each of the other types in order to minimize conflicts. I'm well into my second marriage now and am astounded by how accurately the good aspects and areas of conflict for both marriages were pinpointed in this book ...same goes for every other intimate relationship in my life where I knew the others' type .... it's like the book was written about me, for me! This book is priceless for those of you in the dating scene screening for Mr or Ms "Right for you" and not wanting to waste any time getting to the altar. Or if you think you're in love but are afraid it won't last, wondering what marriage to them would be like since 50% of marriages these days end in divorce. Or for those already married who want to strengthen their relationship and reduce conflicts .... it couldn't be spelled out more clearly and concisely exactly how to go about it for your individual relationship. This book helped me to get the clearest perspective on how others see me...to see the truth of how each relationship is more than just the sum of it's parts or partners, but that two individuals each effect how the other is in the relationship,... and taught me specifically how I can adapt for each of the various individuals in my life that I'd like to get along with better. More than any other book I've read about relationships, (and that's LOTS of books)this book gives pertinent advice tailored specifically for you and each one of your individual relationships. Other books speak generically to the masses based on "the majority" of people researched. My personality type is less than 1% of the population, yet this book still has a lot of accurate information and specific advice relevant to my individual needs. I think this book is the best money I ever spent and my praise doesn't get any better than that! I can see why the authors are internationally recognized experts in the application of this personality test.

Average customer rating:

A fun read, but so are comics

Couldn't put it down

Uses religion as a justification for criminal activity

A sad state of affairs

A somewhat misleading title

My Jihad: One American's Journey Through the World of Usama Bin Laden--as a Covert Operative for the American Government
Aukai Collins
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Three Worlds Gone Mad: Dangerous Journeys through the War Zones of Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific

In the Shadow of the Prophet: The Struggle for the Soul of Islam

The Hunter, The Hammer, and Heaven: Journeys to Three Worlds Gone Mad

Jew Vs Jew : The Struggle For The Soul Of American Jewry

The Adventurist: My Life in Dangerous Places

ASIN: 0743470591

Book Description

He was a brawny, blue-eyed, Irish-American religious convert who became a holy warrior in the name of Islam -- until the holy war began to change.

Aukai Collins grew up hard: abandoned, surviving in the streets and running with thugs. While serving time, he converted to Islam, and went to fight with the Muslims who were targeted for genocide in Chechnya and Bosnia. This led him to Usama bin Laden's training camps in Afghanistan. As terrorist attacks on civilians around the world intensified, Aukai was asked to lead a mission that included hostage taking and the killing of civilians -- something he would not do.

Disillusioned by those who used Islam for their own ends or to attack innocents, Aukai offered his services to the FBI and CIA as a counter-terrorist operative, even getting close to one of the leaders of the September 11 attacks. Yet his greatest strength -- providing insight into the problems surrounding the U.S. government's fight against something it doesn't understand -- was ignored by inept members of the American intelligence community.

My Jihad is an insider's story about the greatest threat to world peace and stability in modern times, told by an unforgettable true-life warrior who has walked the walk, fought the fights, and lived to tell about it.

Customer Reviews:

A fun read, but so are comics.......2007-06-10

My perspective is probably biased by my many years of military service, but here goes. The book reads like a good adventure novel and perhaps gives some insight into the loosely and even chaotically organized management style of many jihadists and their tendency to degenerate from religious warriors into common gangsters. However, it is hard to take the collection of stories seriously, sometimes they read like comics with Collins as a jihadist version of Captain America, minus the cool uniform. The nice thing about comics is that they have distinctive artwork and are not presented as having historical, political and religious significance and the writers are not self righteous.

At any rate, if any of these stories were being spun at the local tavern, the storyteller would definitely earn some free drinks.

Couldn't put it down.......2007-06-01

You will not be able to put this book down! He nearly gets killed in several instances, finds himself in the home of enemy combatants, gets caught crossing the border where he's rescued by a mobster, takes a few bullets to his legs, and still decides to return to the front lines! Whatever your feelings about Collins, he is clearly a hero: Most people wouldn't consider dying for their own country, yet this guy goes off to a foreign land to defend its people against the powerful Russian army. The book will also help readers understand what Jihad really is. You'll come to find that the current "jihadist movement" is in fact un-islamic, founded by groups of corrupt people, some of whom Collins describes as not being remotely religious. The book is a bit out of order: Section 2 should have come first. The book also ends on an incomplete note. Nevertheless, you'll get a first-hand account of a war that seems very distant. You'll also come to understand and appreciate the Mujahideen who dropped everything in their own lives to defend people in a foreign land when nobody, including their government, came to their rescue. After reading this book, I couldn't stop thinking about the atrocities that were committed. If anything, we need to make sure this doesn't happen again.

Uses religion as a justification for criminal activity.......2006-10-25

After reading this book, I am left with the impression that Collins was nothing more than yet another troubled youth that attempted to use a loophole in a religious ideology to justify his blatant criminal behavior. It also leaves me to wonder that had the scenario been a few years different, if he would not be over there right now in Iraq or Afghanistan trying to kill Americans instead of Russians?
I am skeptical with the title of this book, "An amazing journey from Usama Bin Laden's training camps to counter terrorism with the FBI and CIA." True it does tell of the author's travels from custody in the California Youth Authority, to training camps in Afghanistan and culminating with the siege of Grozny in Chechnya, but that is about it, a story and not a very amazing one at that. Collins never goes into detail about why he decided to convert to Islam, he just starts out one day while walking the streets of San Diego, enters a Mosque and decides to convert.
However, in part two of the book, he gives some insight as to why he may have decided to "convert," but never mentions if this is the actual reason or not. He comes from a broken home where his father eventually rejects him at the insistence of a drug addicted step mom and his biological mother is murdered over a drug deal gone bad. He winds up like most troubled youth living on the street and started out with committing petty crimes. He then progresses to armed robbery and an ensuing "shootout." When the police come to arrest him he proudly boasts about the 13 police cars outside and states to the arresting officers "all this just for me?" It seems to me this is the typical ranting of a juvenile delinquent, not a holy warrior. My interpretation is that he uses the religion of Islam and his distorted interpretation of it, to rationalize and justify his delinquent behavior.
He uses the concept of Jihad to further rationalize his desire to pursue his inherent criminal behavior by wanting to fight the Russians who are occupying Chechnya. My belief is that the same situation could have played out in any part of the world, he just wants to fight, wherever that may take him. When he finally gets to go out on an operation, "the others" have it all wrong, only he sees the impending ambush and he single handedly saves the others by attacking first and winds up getting shot in the leg. Then to top it all off, he becomes a pedophile by having sex with a sixteen year old at the hospital where he is recovering.
Again, without much of an explanation, he decides that he wants to work as an informant for the FBI against the same individuals he had just recently been fighting with. My assumption on this is that he had become disenchanted with his situation after being shot and he uses it as a ploy to have the government pay for his trip back to the United States. He returns to his wife and daughter back home, but never mentions whether his wife in the States knew anything about his illegitimate "child bride" and subsequent daughter in Chechnya.
He then continues his boasting about how he is intimately familiar with and easily associates himself with the Jihadist elements in the States and how although he is informing on them, at the same time, he works as their "muscle" on the side for some extra money. Again, he falls on back on what he knows, being a criminal. Lastly, and there is probably some element of truth about having to deal with government bureaucracy, but he never mentions how any of his work with the FBI or the CIA lead to anything productive or any meaningful outcome, just how much money he was making off the taxpayers. Oh, and he does get his troublesome leg amputated, also on the taxpayer dime. It concludes with him having a falling out with the CIA, who he then accuses of trying to have him killed during his last trip to Chechnya.
He concludes with a smattering of truth that on his final trip into Grozny, as he is actually faced with a true combat situation, he admits to being scared out of his mind. He attempts to save face by telling the reader that he was ordered to return to the States by his commander to obtain "critical" medical supplies. When he returns, his stateside wife leaves him and he is faced with the harsh reality of raising a son and daughter on his own. His illegitimate wife and daughter, whom he left in Chechnya, are never mentioned again.

A sad state of affairs.......2006-09-15

Firstly, I'd like to state that I loved this book. It was humorous, well written and thoroughly exciting book. The pacing was fast, the language is strong, and peppered with both American slang and Islamic references. For nothing else, it is a fun read.
I noticed though that many of the other reviewers called Aukai a "terrorist" or a "criminal" in their reviews though. This is not only incorrect, but also shows how jaded these people are. The fact that Aukai, irregardless of religious convictions, was willing to sacrifice his life in numerous countries to simply protect people that he had never met should be indication enough of the bravery and selfless nature of this man.
Is Aukai a flawless man? Hardly. But this does not make him a terrorist, or a criminal. Being that warfare still exists (Shockingly enough!), Aukai's killing of Russian soldiers is not a crime (At least not any more of a crime that any other soldier has ever commited during a war). I know that it may be a revelation to some of you, but a Moslem can be a fighter without being a terrorist too.

A somewhat misleading title.......2006-09-04

This book was recommended to me by my boyfriend, who has a vested interest in all things military (or even paramilitary), being in the Irish army. Having read the synopsis on the back, it certainly seemed like an interesting read, so in I dove.

The first thing any prospective reader of this book should know is that Aukai Collins has never once in his life been in contact with Osama Bin Laden, nor has he ever attended one of his training camps. Rather I think that aspect of the book was wilfully overstated in order to increase sales. Call me a cynic, but if you've read the book, you'll know what I mean. The second thing potential readers should be aware of is that Collins is an unabashed egotist - and it gets very tired early on in the novel.

The novel, in my opinion, is laid out rather back-to-front, in that it begins with his attempts to make jihad in various trouble-spots around the world, and we are only given any insight into his youth and why he converted to Islam in the second part of the book. And even this section, such as it is, is pitifully lacking. We are treated to a few short chapters on his childhood, but given no real insights into why he chose to convert to Islam. One rather gets the impression that it came about simply because he was bored in prison, and also because it gave him an excuse to indulge his inherently violent personality.

For all his posturing, Collins actually sees very little real "action". He seems to spend more time trying to get into the countries where he wishes to fight, and playing war games with his mujahideen friends in various camps. Even the manner in which he purportedly loses his leg is misleading - we are told he "left it behind" in Chechnya, when in reality he suffered an injury to it there, and later had it voluntarily amputated in America.

Depsite his supposedly altruistic side (he did, after all, want to help the FBI fight terrorists), Collins is a very hard person to like. He leaves a pregnant wife in America, then proceeds to marry a 16 year old girl in Chechnya. He then leaves her (also pregnant) to return to the States, where he impregnantes the first wife again. This third child is a son, and this is the only one of his children that Collins seems to care a whit about. I find it very hard to empathise with a man with such seeming disregard for his female children.

While parts of this book do undoubtedly give some insights into the world of the mujahideen, the one overwhelming feeling you are left with on finishing the book is "Why?".

Book Description

Jack B. Yeats is probably the greatest painter Ireland has ever produced, although he is often overshadowed somewhat by his more famous brother, the poet W. B. Yeats. First published to great acclaim in 1993, this is one of very few popular books on Yeat's work. With more than 100 colour plates and 175 black and white illustrations, it is an authoritative and glorious appreciation of Yeats's vast and varied output.

Customer Reviews:

Very disappointing illustrations.......2000-12-12

The majority of the illustrations in this book are in black and white, and those in color are consistently very muddy reproductions. Therefore, if you are tempted to buy this book because you are interested in the looking at Yeats's painting rather than in the extensive biographical and critical text, this book is quite likely to disappoint - and particularly at the price. If you are familar with the catalog that was part of the Centenary Exhibition of his paintings and drawings you will know that they can be reproduced with stunning effect.

Average customer rating:

Jack B. Yeats
Hilary Pyle
Manufacturer: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Painting | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Irish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Travels In Wicklow, West Kerry And Connemara

Average customer rating:

An excellent social history guide of early 1900s Ireland

Travels In Wicklow, West Kerry And Connemara
John Millington Synge
Manufacturer: Interlink Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Travel | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

Essays & Travelogues | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

The Aran Islands (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics)

ASIN: 1897959451

Book Description

This book is an overlooked masterpiece by one of Ireland's best-loved writers. In it Synge captured the idiosyncracies of everyday speech better, perhaps, than any other Irish writer, while his eye caught the details of a way of life that has long since disappeared. First published in 1910, it is now available as a paperback for the first time, complete with the evocative illustrations by Jack B. Yeats-universally regarded as twentieth-century Ireland's greatest painter.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent social history guide of early 1900s Ireland.......2006-07-28

This is a well-balanced and interesting book on the state of life in rural Ireland in the early 1900s. Mr. Synge and his illustrator, Mr. Jack B. Yeats travel through 3 counties, living off the hospitality of local residents. Mr. Synge seems to be great at eliciting views from everyone he meets. He has much knowledge of the governmental agencies that attempt to alleviate some of the worst hardships of the poorest counties in Ireland. He presents a very balanced view of the results of these efforts. In the process, he relates some great stories given him by his hosts. You can get a glimpse of some of the archaic speech patterns of the the times. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in social history. The artwork is also great.

Ah Well a Romance in Perpetuity 1ST Edition

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Ah Well a Romance in Perpetuity 1ST Edition
Jack B Yeats
Manufacturer: ROUTLEDGE
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000Q5YR6W

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Ah Well: A Romance in Perpetuity, 1st Edition
Jack B Yeats
Manufacturer: ROUTLEDGE
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000TSOYD2

Average customer rating:

The Charmed Life
Jack B. Yeats
Manufacturer: Routledge/Thoemms Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Charmed Life
Jack B. Yeats
Manufacturer: Routledge & Kegan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Collected Plays
Jack B. Yeats
Manufacturer: Secker & Warburg
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0436468204

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The Collected Plays of Jack B. Yeats
Robin, ed and intro Skelton
Manufacturer: Bobbs-Merrill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Collected Plays of Jack B. Yeats.
Jack B. YEATS
Manufacturer: See notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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