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Frittered Away and Soon Forgotten
John Stuart Gladwell
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Biographies & Memoirs
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Military & Spies
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All Amazon Upgrade
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ASIN: 1412022770
Release Date: 2006-07-06 |
Product Description
An Englishman and a Virginian grow to earn for their heirs the great respect of their colleagues and good names that could not be easily frittered away and soon forgotten.
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James Nasmyth Engineer An Autobiography
James Nasmyth
Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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| Biographies & Memoirs
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Scientists
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ASIN: 1419127160 |
Book Description
On the following day I was taken a round of the ironworks, and inspected their machinery, as well as that of the collieries, in the details of which Mr. Hartop had introduced many common-sense and most effective improvements. All of these interested me, and gave me much pleasure. In the evening we resumed our "cracks" on many subjects of mutual interest. The daughter joined in our conversation with the most intelligent remarks; for, although only in her twenty-first year, she had evidently made good use of her time, aided by her clear natural faculties of shrewd observation. Mr. Hartop having met with some serious reverse of fortune, owing to the very unsatisfactory conduct of a partner, had in a manner to begin business life again on his own account.
Download Description
On the following day I was taken a round of the ironworks, and inspected their machinery, as well as that of the collieries, in the details of which Mr. Hartop had introduced many common-sense and most effective improvements. All of these interested me, and gave me much pleasure. In the evening we resumed our "cracks" on many subjects of mutual interest. The daughter joined in our conversation with the most intelligent remarks; for, although only in her twenty-first year, she had evidently made good use of her time, aided by her clear natural faculties of shrewd observation. Mr. Hartop having met with some serious reverse of fortune, owing to the very unsatisfactory conduct of a partner, had in a manner to begin business life again on his own account.
Book Description
The Healing Blade is a true story. The narrative spans a period of years as the author spends hundreds of days and nights following the neurosurgeons and residents at one of the world's leading neurological institutes as they struggle to save lives, to compete in an ever more difficult medical world, and to learn the innermost secrets of the brain.
Customer Reviews:
Not as interesting or well-written as I had hoped.......2005-09-20
The book's subject matter is intrinsically interesting, but the writing is a bit clumsy and the organisation of the chapters seems chaotic. Also, there is a lot of repetition (ie explanations of certain neurosurgical procedures, and all of the stories pertain to a certain type of innovation in neurosugrey--which is interesting but doesn't vary much from case to case) and any suspense in the stories is very muted. Also, the book fawns its neurosurgical "heroes." It begins to feel like you are reading a mash note.
If you are interested in reading about true neurosurgical case studies, I recommend "When the Air Hits Your Brain," which is much better-written and covers a greater variety of material. If you are interested in excellent essays by a general (not brain) surgeon, read "Complications," by Atul Gawande, which is better than the vast majority of true-medical books. If you are interested in neurologic syndromes (not surgery), read almost anything by Oliver Sacks, who is (along with Gawande) a fairly brillliant writer.
I would not really recommend "The Healing Blade."
Unravelling the mystery of brain surgery.......2005-09-10
Jerry, our 42 yr. old son-in-law had a burst brain aneurysm 2 yrs ago and was operated on by Dr. Zabranski. He is continuing to recover, but his short-term memory is still not dependable. This book gave us so much information about the "work" that these docs do. How they go through each procedure, step by step, before beginning. When our kids went back for a return visit 1 yr later. Dr. Z kept them for about 45 min. We know that these recoveries are not common, and he has no physical deficits from it. We feel the doc, since stats are not common because of low survival rates, wanted to question Jerry as carefully and completely as he could. Jerry's is a success story, as is Dr. Zabranski's. Thank you for giving Jerry his life back, Dr. Z.
neurosurgery spotlighting.......2005-03-27
It is always good to read about the way discoveries are put into use. This book lets us into the most minute of details of trying to "fix" a person in that most secretive of places: the brain.
I have had a number of neurosurgeries and know the results but this book helps one to learn the intricasies.
An interesting contrast is A Pained Life, by Carol Jay Levy, ISBN: 1-4134-0609-2, written by a patient who has undergone many neurosurgical procedures.
An Excellent Overview.......2004-11-15
This work grabs you immediately with its description of the "standstill" procedure. A patient is placed into a coma, the blood and body chilled and then the heart actually stopped while the surgeon skillfully digs around in the grey matter. Fascinating stuff.
The author is a journalist obviously awed by Dr. Spetzler and all that he (and others) have accomplished at the Barrow Institute in Phoenix--the book is primarily a story of Dr. Spetzler's career and secondarily the developing science of neurosurgery. The reader is treated to descriptions of the daily life of residents--rounds, M&M conferences, surgical procedures, etc. There are the obligatory descriptions of the hideously expensive gadgetry and imaging technology that has made modern neurosurgery possible. But something was missing.
In attempting to simultaneously cover the entire field of neurosurgery (as well as a curious diversion into the history of Phoenix) this book lost some of its punch. This could easily have been an incredibly interesting biography of Dr. Spetzler (and if anyone writes one--I'm buying it), or a surgical techno-thriller about standstill procedures curing otherwise hopeless cases . Better yet, a treatise on the cost/benefit tradeoffs presented by modern medicine with its increasing dependence upon pricey machines. Not to mention the peculiar danger of saving a patient from a horrible aneurysm only to find that his or her personality is irrevocably changed--and not for the better. Unfortunately, the work was somewhat diluted by its lack of focus. Nevertheless, highly recommended.
Former patient of Dr. Spetzler and Barrow.......2002-08-21
This book gives a compelling and realistic look into Barrow Neurological Institute and its leader, Dr. Robert Spetzler. And I should know.
I was on Dr. Spetzler's operating room table less than two years ago and am yet another of his miracles.
Anyone considering any kind of neurological surgery should read this book before doing anything.
Book Description
Internationally renowned as the founder of Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne, Anne Willan has published many best-selling cookbooks. Her La Varenne Pratique has become an indispensable text for professional chefs, while the Look and Cook series and subsequent public television program brought European cuisine to a mainstream American audience. Here, the award-winning author offers her expertise to a new market, outlining 70-plus techniques and hundreds of accompanying recipes for the kitchen novice.
The quick and easy dishes will appeal to both beginner and seasoned cooks. Categorized by main ingredient, the ten chapters address every subject of import to home cooks, including essential flavors and sauces; fish, meat, and poultry; vegetables and eggs; pasta and pastry. Step-by-step photographs illustrate the techniques, which are followed by recipes that utilize them. Readers will learn, for example, the best way to chop and chiffonade herbs, dice an onion, and peel a tomato, then apply these skills to the preparation of Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad; Real French Onion Soup; and other dishes. How to open oysters, roll and tie a roast, combine milk, butter, and eggs to create a classic white sauce: All the techniques a home cook could ever need are covered. Perfect for everyday use, this richly illustrated volume will be to amateurs what La Varenne Pratique is to pros-the last word, a book they'll turn to again and again. AUTHOR BIO: ANNE WILLAN has 40 years of culinary experience as an author, columnist, and teacher. She has written widely praised, authoritative books on food, whether about techniques, ingredients, culinary history, home entertaining, or the country cooking of France. After studying and teaching cooking in London and Paris, she made her name in the United States as a food editor and writer. She founded Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne in Paris in 1975 and since 1991 has directed its programs at the Château du Feÿ in Burgundy and at The Greenbrier in West Virginia. Willan has served as President of the IACP and is a trustee of COPIA (The American Center for Food, Wine & the Arts) in Napa, California.
ALISON HARRIS is the photographer of The New Provencal Cuisine, Enchanted Liguria, and Cooking the Roman Way.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Textbook for Learning New Techniques. Buy it.......2004-12-17
`The Good Cook' by leading culinary educator, Anne Willan is one of a very rare breed of books that can act as a good textbook of cooking methods. While I am sure there are some like yours truly who actually open `The Joy of Cooking' or `Mastering the Art of French Cooking' or `Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking' and read it from front to back, but around 99% of all cookbooks are, after an initial scan to get a sense of what's in them, meant to be consulted on a recipe by recipe basis.
Some books such as `Cookwise' and Alton Brown's three books are meant to be read from cover to cover and you can do this by skipping all the recipes and get a good foundation in the science of cooking. But, cooking is not really about Science, it's about learning basic recipes and mastering a fairly wide variety of techniques. Thousands of professional cooks do exceptionally well by following the kind of advice given by Daniel Boulud without ever cracking the covers of Harold McGee's `On Food and Cooking'.
The leading volumes in this important field of culinary textbook aside from Willan's works are the Culinary Institute of America's `The New Professional Chef' and Madeleine Kamman's `The New Making of a Cook'. As the titles of these works indicate, they are especially valuable works in that they have been around for a long time and have gone through major revisions as a result of actually using them in culinary classrooms. To further distinguish these select volumes, I will point out that they are different from the excellent books of techniques by Jacques Pepin and James Peterson, in that these works are reference books of techniques rather than the far more common reference books of recipes.
Willan's book is a careful blend of both recipes and techniques illustrated by excellent supporting photography which could easily be both read and cooked from cover to cover. In fact, while the techniques are excellently presented, this book may not be as good a reference as Pepin's classic, but it is far better than virtually every other work I have seen as a TEXTBOOK! And, my reason for saying this is based on more than Willan's skill as a teacher and the quality of her material. It is also based on the fact that the book is easy to read. It's presentation is not too different from taking lessons in cooking from a very wise and experienced aunt who has a grown and married daughter who is also an accomplished cook. References to recipes contributed from Willan's daughter, Emma, are often used as clever devices for introducing shortcuts and modernization of classics as when Willan presents Emma's take on Coq au Vin which can be done in a single day rather than in the traditional three days. For any who are unfamiliar with Willan's credentials, I will point out that she is the founder and one of the principle instructors at a highly respected cooking school based in France which also gives sessions at the Greenbriar Hotel in West Virginia.
The book's contents are organized in a very friendly way which ease you into useful techniques very quickly, unlike the CIA text which starts off with a seemingly endless chapter on the details of making excellent classic French stocks. While this follows the CIA course schedule, it is not suited to maintaining your interest when you need to get a meal on the table tonight.
The principle chapters are:
Essential Flavors which deals with basic pantry recipes such as Persillade, vinaigrettes, gremolata, and garlic bread, with techniques on using a chef's knife and a mandoline, plus recipes for basic salads such as potato salad and cole slaw. After a good deal of such immediately useful recipes and techniques is the obligatory section on stocks that is less fussy than the CIA, but quite correct, thank you.
Tips From the Pros is a grab bag of tips on modern mixing equipment, marinates, brines, and frying.
Saucery will cover just about all your everyday needs with more vinaigrettes, mayonnaise, hollandaise, béarnaise, butter sauces, gravies, and pestos.
Eggscetera covers boiled, deviled, curried, stuffed, scrambled, and coddled eggs as well as omelets, crepes, souffles and mousselines.
Fabulous Fish and Seafood is a bit short for a school based on the French coastline, but it does cover the basics for shrimp, mussels, scallops, and generic fin fish.
From the Farmyard covers poultry
Mastering Meats covers roasting, braising, stewing, steaking, grilling, and medallioning (sic).
Perfect Pasta and Rice covers basic dry pasta dishes plus making fresh pasta featuring daughter Emma. You could do much worse than to learn Risotto making from this chapter.
The Vegetable Story covers lots of new knife skills plus blanching, sautéing, salads and grilling.
Pastry Fundamentals covers exactly those things which the average home cook needs to know, such as a standard pastry crust (pate brisee), biscuits (baking powder and butter, not buttermilk) quiches, phyllo dough (how to work with it, not to make it) and savory pies.
This is just about as good a sophomore level textbook you are likely to find on cooking techniques and basic recipes. It not only teaches, it gives the reader a journeyman's lay of the land for French and Italian cuisine. There are no distractions for wine or name-dropping or storied suppliers or dish histories. This is `Just the Facts, Madam' with a wee bit of leavening with family stories, not too different from what you may hear among your favorite aunt's stories.
Not the least feature of the book is the fact that the author gives tips on the proper serving time for dishes, as when she compares a roast (serve immediately) with a braise (improves with age).
If you know everything there is to know about cooking, this book may bore you. For all the rest of us, I strongly recommend this book for everyone interested in improving their cooking.
Help for new cooks.......2004-11-26
If you've cooked from Anne Willan's books, as I have for some 30 years, you get to recognize her culiary voice as spirited, firm but encouraging, and always food-friendly. Her latest, "The Good Cook" (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, comes to the rescue of the beginner in the kitchen.
Text and the 250 useful photos show 70 essential techniques to produce 350 easy and delicious recipes. One is her Last Minute Cheese Souffle. The first souffle I ever made was from her old recipe, which called for a roux of potato flour. She has rethought things, omitting any flour, but retaining the short cooking time at high heat, or only 12 minutes at 400F. The beauty of this is a souffle that doesn't make the guests wait and the host fret. Simply bake it while people are congregating at table.
"Food friendly" means she always cooks so that recipes don't overwhelm the natural taste of the ingredients. No fad fashions for her, no "Texas Tuscan," but her chosen-few herbs applied lightly to taste like themselves and no meats or fish made mysterious by "concept" cooking. From Italy, she got the idea to dress a salad of cooked beets and red onion rings with mint. I had not thought to grill radicchio, nor to season it with ground spices like coriander, cumin and chile pepper.
There are dozen of great tips. A cone of tender artichoke leaves inserted into the tougher globe can be filled with sauce. The milk in scalloped potatoes won't curdle durng baking if the spuds are simmered first in milk and then baked in cream. Like her old friend Julia Child, she believes there's a place for cream and butter. Also from a knowledge of food chemisty comes salvation for root vegetables that make a "damp puree" when baked bythemselves. So, to celery root or turnips or parsnips, add potato for its transforming starch. Be creative with tools, such as using needle-nosed pliers to pluck salmon bones. Pork roasted with milk whitens the meat -- and makes gravy the color of caffe latte. No need for make phyllo when she herself uses the store-bought. One recipe calls for 12 phyllo sheets, each laid at a slight angle to the first "like the hours on a clock." I wish I'd thought of the graphic simplicty of that description.
Submitted by Margo Miller, Boston, Massachusetts.
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The Fox Terrier: Smooth and Wire
Anna Katherine Nicholas , and
Marcia A. Foy
Manufacturer: TFH Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Dogs
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
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General
| Animal Care & Pets
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General
| Veterinary Medicine
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Animal Husbandry
| Agricultural Sciences
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ASIN: 0866229310 |
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Complete fox terrier: (smooth & wire)
Evelyn L Silvernail
Manufacturer: Howell Book House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General
| Dogs
| Animal Care & Pets
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Training
| Dogs
| Animal Care & Pets
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ASIN: B0007GVFBU |
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The fox terrier (wire and smooth)
Elsie Williams
Manufacturer: Arco Pub. Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General
| Veterinary Medicine
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Animal Husbandry
| Agricultural Sciences
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ASIN: 0668023295 |
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New Complete Fox Terrier, Smooth and Wire
Evelyn L Silvernail
Manufacturer: Hungry Minds Inc,U.S.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
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| Baking
| Canning & Preserving
| Cooking by Ingredient
| Culinary Arts & Techniques
| Drinks & Beverages
| Gastronomy
| General
| Meals
| Natural Foods
| Organic Cooking
| Outdoor Cooking
| Professional Cooking
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Animal Husbandry
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ASIN: 0876051204 |
Book Description
THE POPULAR FOX TERRIER By the Rev. A.J. Skinner. A VINTAGE DOG BOOKS CLASSIC REPRINT. This scarce early work on the Fox Terrier was first published in 1926 and is now extremely hard to find in its first edition. VINTAGE DOG BOOKS have republished it, using the original text and illustrations as part of their CLASSIC BREED BOOKS series. The author was founder of the Borlase Fox Terrier Kennels, and contributed much of interest to Fox Terrier literature. His terriers won many championship shows and were much sought after as breeding stock. The book consists of one hundred and forty pages containing eleven detailed chapters: The Fox Terrier as a Hobby and as a Pal. - Standard and Requirements. - Principles of Breeding. Mendels Law, Pedigrees, Out Crossing etc. - Pertinacity in Breeding. - Preparing for Show. - The Working Fox Terrier. - As an Earth Dog. - Feeding. - Ailments. - Management. - Present Day Champions and their Pedigrees. - Trimming a Wire Fox Terrier. - Breeders, Exhibitors and Judges. Etc. The contents are well illustrated with line drawings and vintage black and white photographs of champions and their pedigrees. The publishers have also retained several pages of original advertisements for Fox Terrier kennels etc. This is a fascinating read for any Fox Terrier enthusiast or historian of the breed, but also contains much information that is still practical and useful today. Many of the earliest dog breed books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. VINTAGE DOG BOOKS are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.
Customer Reviews:
nice antique.......2007-08-23
Nice to have as an antique book, but without usefull information to nowdays. For fox terrier lovers would be fun.
Product Description
This best-selling book by sign industry legend, Mike Stevens, covers the fundamental principles of layout for signs. It teaches how to see, organize and manipulate graphic elements for unified, legible and visually appealing results. More than 80 illustrations demonstrate before-and-after results of applying the principles. Includes a troubleshooting checklist for isolating, analyzing and correcting layout weaknesses in your own designs.
Customer Reviews:
A must.......2007-08-30
This book you have to read it slowly. It has lots of theory and the principles of designing signs. Lots of information in its paragraphs. There are no color pictures. Just some basic sketches showing you signs with design errors, but it is very good. I strongly recommend it if you are starting a sign business or if you want to increase your knowledge.
The Definite Article..........2006-06-30
When Frank Atkinson wrote "Signpainting" in the early 1900's, he never thought it would become the 'bible' of the signwriting community. The same can be said about Mike Stevens' "Mastering Layout".
Stevens clearly explains the proper use of such elements as negative space, color, and fonts in designing signage that has impact. Many of his own alphabets are included, along with dozens of layout drawings as examples to the text. Much of what makes a sign layout stand apart from others is laid out in an easy-to-understand, equational form.
Mike Stevens may have died in 1989, but his thoughts on sign layout and execution are timeless.
A must-read, a must-have.
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Growing and cooking potatoes
Mary W Cornog
Manufacturer: Yankee
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Baking
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Gardening & Horticulture
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0911658157 |
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Pictorial practical potato growing;: A concise guide dealing with fertilisation, propagation, forcing, manuring, general culture, storing, exhibiting, selections of varieties, cooking, and diseases
Walter Page Wright
Manufacturer: Cassell and Company, Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00087IWP0 |
From the Publisher
This book is different from other books on sports training and fitness for children. Its most important contribution is in the explanation of "sensitive ages" for development of movement abilities (endurance, coordination, speed, strength, flexibility) and what exercises you should use for developing these abilities at any given age. The existence of sensitive ages is related to sex differences and the need to develop separate programs of exercises for girls and boys from the onset of puberty. The exercises that fully develop the potential of a 12-year-old girl will harm a 12-year-old boy. Exercises that are good for the boy are less challenging for the girl and thus hold her back. The consequence of not doing just the right kind of exercises at just the right age is reduced fitness and athletic potential lost forever. In the case of girls it is easier to inflict lasting damage because their sensitive ages are shorter than boys'. Another unique feature in this work is a set of physical education lessons and workout examples that show how to teach skills while maintaining a high level of activity and effort intensity.
Customer Reviews:
Do not hesitate to buy this book.......2005-05-21
Excellent book, very well written. It's progressively written in that it establishes the foundational theory and then elaborates greatly on the subject matter. I would also encourage Dr. Drabik to come to the US and do a seminar.
Sensitive, Caring, Very Thorough.......2000-08-12
... Dr. Drabik has put together a masterpiece on children's development. This excellent book has practical wisdom as well as excellent drills that are easy to follow. I would encourage the author to include photos in the next publication -- this would give the book an even more effective educational appearance. I have found that the cover of the book was honest in terms of it's content -- very warm and caring.
As a parent as well as a coach of children's sports I found this book to contain excellent information that I can pass on to my clients in my fitness training business. May I encourage Dr. Drabik to come to the United States and do seminars with his excellent material that's contained in this book.
Book Description
Newsday called it "the most authoritative and candid look yet at the personal lives...of the oft-scrutinized group." In The Love You Make, Peter Brown, a close friend and business manager of the band-and the best man at John and Yoko's wedding-looks at the four lads from Liverpool who established the greatest music phenomenon of the twentieth century. Written with the full cooperation of each of the group's members and their intimates, this book goes beyond the glitter to tell the inside story of the music, the marriages, the drugs, disagreements, and divorces-everything that made the Fab Four the phenomenon they are.
Customer Reviews:
The love you make .......2007-05-14
This was the most amazing journey through the lives of the young Beatles, their experiences and their growth. Also a great social commentary on the sub culture, politics and fashion that the Beatles inspired. Even if you're not a great fan of the Beatles, this is a fantastic read! Best book I've read in ages!
GET IT, IT'S GOOD.......2007-02-27
There are some very bitter reviews of this book out there. But consider this if you will: All of the people described in this book are - or were - very wealthy. If any of them were libeled, there would have been a lawsuit. Particularly with Paul McCartney! In fact, this book does NOT paint Paul in a negative light at all. No way. If anything, the author gives Paul the benefit of the doubt. This book also does NOT paint Yoko Ono as being evil. He describes the primary reason for the Beatles' breakup as having been John's heroin addiction. And the way he goes about it makes complete sense. I have heard George Harrison's report that this book is "utter rubbish." Well, I can understand why he said that. It was always part of the Beatles' agreement to keep things quiet, and George was "the quiet Beatle." More importantly, this book reveals some incriminating things about George's divorce from his first wife, about Eric Clapton's involvement, etc. Rather than confirm that he screamed at his wife, pushed her in a car and roared off, rather than confirm that only his first solo album was a creative success, why not call the whole book "rubbish?" If George had been libeled he would have sued. The book sold quite well, and George could have claimed quite a few pounds for himself. He did not. THE DOWN SIDE to this book is quite small, actually. The author DOES NOT DESCRIBE THE MAKING OF THE MUSIC. He does not describe George Martin in great detail, does not describe how Martin brought the best out of the group, how he liked THIS song the best, encouraged them to use horns on THAT song, etc. George Martin was considered the "fifth beatle." But here Peter Brown calls somebody named Neil Aspinall the fifth Beatle, says Aspinall "was just as much a Beatle as any of them." Well, why? The author mentions Aspinall many times, but never in great detail. That disappointed me, and together with the exclusion of George Martin's role in the music making cost this rating one star. Otherwise the book is fantastic.
Great Beatles biography.......2007-01-21
I used this biography in my senior term paper in high school. I found it to be an interesting and easy read. A plus is that it was written by Peter Brown a close associate to the Beatles(he's even mentioned in the Ballad of John and Yoko).
A loveless take........2006-12-05
This book is thick with opinion.
the author clearly has a very negative perspective, the book is full of obvious misinformation.
bitter and two dimensional.
A great biography of John Lennon.......2006-04-09
WARNING: don't let this be the first Beatle book you read.
Although the book is said to be about the Beatles, it's really about John, John and his first wife Cynthia, John and his second wife Yoko, Brian Epstein, more John, some Paul, Cynthia after her divorce, a little more John, and then those other two Beatles, George and what's-his-name. John is a drug-addicted maniac, but even while trashed on heroin he's still a better person than Paul, who is an ego-centric sap whose every song is "saccarine," and George, who's boring and bitter. Oh, and Ringo...all I remember about him from the book is that he was incredibly spendthrift and really in the end was just lucky to be there. There is also a significant amount of the book dedicated to John's first wife, Cynthia, and their supremely awful relationship. Much of it was painful to read.
I don't think a biography has an obligation to make the protagonists look better than they are, but this book seems to go out of its way to villianize people and make them look awful. Ironically, of course, the two people who come out of the book looking the best are John and Yoko, who just about everyone agrees were incredibly destructive individuals. I don't think it's a coincidence that Peter Brown was name-checked in a John Lennon song, and not a Paul or George song.
On a positive note, the insight into Brian's life is the most complete of all the Beatle books I have read; some people complain the book makes him look awful, but in reality he did the best he could with his limited knowledge of how to manage a band. And there are plenty of fun stories about the boys...to have been mentioned by name in a Beatles song means that he was definitely in the right places at the right times.
Although my guess is that because the original edition of this book was released very soon after John's death, the editors wanted more John content to appeal to the renewed interest in his life. However, decades later, the book is uneven and unfairly dismissive of Paul, Ringo and George. Paul really gets the shaft in this book...Lord knows he's not perfect but this book makes him look worse than Allan Klein, who is regarded by just about everyone as the devil himself. And Ringo and George don't really look bad...or good...it's hard to look like anything when you're given about a paragraph in every chapter, if that. Cynthia Lennon gets mentioned more than they do.
And what about the music? Obviously Peter Brown wasn't involved in the music production side of things, but to only rarely MENTION their songs or anything about them seemed a little ridiculous. I don't want Billboard charts or technical breakdowns of the song structures, but some insight into the songwriting, their personal feelings about the songs, or the guest artists they brought in (Eric Clapton's guest stint on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is given a one-sentence mention; Billy Preston's guest appearance on the "Let It Be" album is totally ignored) would have been nice.
While this book did have a lot of secrets and stories and other content unknown before it was published, that was years ago, and there are newer books on the Beatles that have all the information from this book, as well as more inside stories and more factual information about the music, and are more pleasant reads and are fairer to the boys. "A Day in the Life" by Mark Hertsgaard provides information about the boys and will fill you in on the musical side of things as well. And my favorite Beatle book so far has been "Magical Mystery Tours" by Tony Bramwell, a friend of the boys and eventual Apple employee, gives generous insight into the lives of the boys, while being honest and fair.
Book Description
From the strong-arm heroics of Heracles, to the trickery of the Trojan Horse, from the seductions of Circe the sorceress, to the terrors of the Cyclops and Minotaur...
First published in 1934, Gods, Heroes and Men of Ancient Greece has become one of the most popular, enduring-and captivating-retellings of the ancient myths for modern readers. Recognizing the sheer entertainment value of these timeless adventures, world renowned classical scholar W.H.D. Rouse delighted his students at the Perse School in Cambridge, England, with a conversational style and childlike wonder that made the legends come alive-a rare storytelling gift that continues to engage young and old alike.
Customer Reviews:
Very Good.......2005-07-30
I found this book to be very thorough and descriptive. It goes into elaborate detail about each event discussed. It was not particularly easy to read; the author depends on your memory quite a bit because all of the stories are linked to each other. I found that the book was written more to inform than entertain, but considering that's what i was looking for, i enjoyed it.
Enjoyable.......2003-11-09
I have always been interested in Greek mythology and this book
was very entertaining. I loved the way the author wrote the book, it's easy to read and understand.
This is a great book........2002-06-05
The book Gods, Heroes, and Men of Ancient Greece was fairly good. This book has a numerous amount of short myths. It also has stories of Greek heroes and their adventures. The stories that are contained in this novel are exciting and entertaining. Some of the Gods mentioned in the book are Zeus, Hermes, Apollo, and Artemis. Some of the Greek heroes are Jason and Medeia. If you are into books about mythology, this is the kind of book for you.
Very enjoyable.......1999-03-12
This arrangement and translation of the classic Græco-Roman myths is enjoyable, absorbing, and unique. The translator has the rare gift of preserving the poetryof the original but still making the translation adapt to English vernacular. Also, the book is written in the style of a verbal storyteller, and reflects on the riseof Christianity and the subsequent death of the Olympians.
Average customer rating:
- Famous Fire Service Stories
|
Medal of Valor Firefighters : Gripping Tales of Bravery from America's Decorated Heroes
Michael L. Middleton
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
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Similar Items:
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The Greatest Firefighter Stories Never Told
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Firefighters: Their Lives in Their Own Words
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Fire Fighters: Stories of Survival from the Front Lines of Firefighting (Adrenaline)
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The Fire Inside: Firefighters Talk About Their Lives
ASIN: 0071410287 |
Customer Reviews:
Famous Fire Service Stories.......2006-11-25
I originally bought this book used for something like two bucks, expecting very little from it. Just another one of my fire-guy books that I like to read.
I was quite pleasantly surprised when I realized that many of the stories were ones I knew or had heard told and re-told in the fire academy and in the firehouse. They were well-researched and well-told versions of stories that I only ever knew the "gist" of. Famous rescues made by firefighters famous in the fire service: The woman they cut out of the collapse of a building also on fire during the 1989 San Francisco quake. Atlanta FF Matt Mosely rescuing a worker off a crane while dangling from a helicopter. The Worcester 6 in 1999. The double rope rescues made by Paddy Brown, Paddy Barr, and Kevin Shea in NYC in 1991 that was the inspiration for the rope rescue in the movie Ladder 49.
This is not a throw-away book, it's a must for anyone serious about the lore and legend of the fire service.
Average customer rating:
- Something for any Civil War buff
- short but interesting
|
Courage in Blue and Gray: Tales of Valor from the Civil War
Ken Kryvoruka
Manufacturer: AuthorHouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1425942709 |
Book Description
The Civil War is the defining moment in our history. More than 620,000 Americans died in that conflict, a figure that far exceeds the number of dead in any other American war. Although military history occupies the popular imagination, battles and tactics do not exist apart from the larger context - the world inhabited by the people who lived during that unique time in our history. This is a rich sampling of Civil War stories - tales of courage and valor - culled from letters, diaries, newspapers, periodicals, battle reports and pamphlets, which feature some well known and not so well known people who faced danger and uncertainty and showed great courage throughout this difficult time in our nation's history. Collected in this volume is the story of how Walt Whitman was drawn to the Civil War; the tale of George Armstrong Custer's life-long friendship with a far less famous Confederate general; the drama of America's greatest amphibious assault prior to World War II; the contrast between the post-war fate of Confederate Generals James Longstreet and Turner Ashby; the excitement of the Battle of Mobile Bay; the hardships faced by the new Confederate Post Office; the chronicle of a neurosurgeon's pioneering techniques that were later used in World War I; the adventure of a Prussian nobleman who fought with JEB Stuart; and the mystery of how a copy of the Bill of Rights stolen during Sherman's march to the sea was finally recovered by the FBI nearly one hundred and forty years after the Civil War. Here, in vivid detail and with a dramatic flare, are the voices of soldiers and sailors, friends and enemies, doctors, correspondents, generals and politicians, all told in a way that only history from the heart can tell. These tales convey the vitality, the humor, the courage and the valor of a people and their volatile era. These colorful stories offer a glimpse into the personalities, attitudes and events that at once enhance our understanding of the Ci
Customer Reviews:
Something for any Civil War buff.......2007-01-22
Courage in Blue and Grey is a good read and a worthwhile addition to any collection of Civil War literature. This collection of essays introduces the reader to behind-the-scenes personal perspectives on real people who lived and died during this painful chapter of American history. The author is concise, expressive and articulate in bringing to life Civil War experiences that will captivate readers of all ages. Of particular interest is the exceptional selection of pictures and reproductions culled from the Library of Congress and other archives. It is a rare book, indeed, that can hold the interest of adult history enthusiasts as well as adolescents still developing their predilections. The wide-ranging appeal of these diverse stories offers something to any Civil War buff.
short but interesting.......2007-01-17
Ken has written a short but fascinating account of Civil War characters and events that should be of interest to anyone who follows this intense time in US history. He goes deeply behind the scenes to uncover some of the lesser known lore of this volatile time. Highly recommended.
Average customer rating:
|
Classic Legendary Hero Stories: Extraordinary Tales of Honor, Courage, and Valor (Classic)
Stephen Vincent Brennan
Manufacturer: The Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1592288723 |
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|
Der Goldfaden (1557): The Golden Thread: An Agreeable and Entertaining Tale of Lionel, Son of a Poor Shepherd, Who, By Diligance, Kindness, and Knightly Valor, Won the Hand of a Nobleman's Daughter: A Most Useful Narrative for All Who Love Virtue; Written Down for Publication by Jorg Wickram, of Colmar.
Jorg. Pierre Kaufke, ed. Ronald Salter, intro. Wickram
Manufacturer: University of West Florida Press,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WW76V2 |
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|
Tale of Valor
Vardis Fisher
Manufacturer: Amereon Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 089190834X |
Books:
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- From Stem to Stern -- A Fletcher's Story
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- "From the Streets of Chicago, to the Jungles of Vietnam"
- Georgio Italiano
- Getting to Heaven: And Other Homilies
- Granny and the Eskimo: Angels in Vietnam
- HARDSHIPS AND JOYS OF AN EXILED CANCER RESEARCHER: The Life of A Political Refugee in America and England
- Howard Stern: King of All Media : The Unauthorized Biography
- I Gave My Life for My Country
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