Product Description
"Traditional Irish Fairy Tales" by James Stephens features ten time-honored classics which are notable retellings of traditional favorites.Brimming with enchantment, whimsy and sly humor, Stephen's work does far more than many fairy tale compilations. In "Traditional Irish Fairy Tales" Stephens presents a voice, a carefully chosen, well modulated voice, to present the web of tales which comprise the Irish tradition. As in "Crock of Gold," he does this with beautiful natural imagery, and references to the bays and rivers and isles of Ireland. Moreover, unlike much of literature considered adolescent fare, he encompasses adult virtues and vices including lust, envy and pride. "Traditional Irish Fairy Tales" is written with a compelling sense of humor, aimed not at the cute, but at the failings which each of us possess.For many, it ranks as a favorite book if Irish fairy tales and a book worthy of reading by a person of any age.A great read for anyone interested in Irish folklore, or a set of beautifully written, wonderful stories. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A Solid Find
These stories are calmly told, and universal. Very beautifully written, and the illustrations are very charming. It's a good price too. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in folklore in general. Easy to read print and layout, and wonderful stories!

This is the BEST!
This is a wonderful book of fairy tales! I have read my earlier copy over
so many times that it is falling apart. I sent these out for Christmas
presents last year.

Wonderful and Enteraining!
This is my favorite collection of Irish Fairy Tales and a wonderful introduction to the the genre for people unfamiliar with it. I frequently give this book as a gift tochildren who also enjoy Harry Potter books but like the reviewer above it's a wonderful read for all ages.

James Stephen's collection is special because every tale contained in it is a gem and the language, while modern, retains the wit and spirit of these oral tales.

Stephens as a poetic voice of ireland
to limit, as you do, your review of Stephens irish fairy Tales to adolescent readers is a disservice to the book. While it is eminently readable, it does far more than many fairy tale compilations. Stephens presents a voice, a carefully chosen, well modulated voice, to present the web of tales which comprise the Irish tradition. As in Crock of Gold, he does this with beautiful natural imagery, and references to the bays and rivers and isles of Ireland. Moreover, unlike much of literature considered adolescent fare,he encompasses adult virtues and vices including lust, envy and pride. This book is written with a compelling sense of humor, aimed not at the cute, but at the failings which each of us possess. it is a book worthy of reading by a person of any age. ... Read more

Product Description
Stephen O'Meara's new and exciting observing guide spotlights an original selection of 109 deep-sky objects that will appeal to sky-watchers worldwide. His 'hidden treasures' include a wonderful assortment of galaxies, open clusters, planetary nebulae and more, all of which have been carefully chosen based on their popularity and ease of observing.None of these objects are included in either the Messier or the Caldwell catalogs, and all are visible in a 4-inch telescope under dark skies. Stunning photographs and beautiful drawings accompany detailed visual descriptions of the objects, which include their rich histories and astrophysical significance. The author's original finder charts are designed to help observers get to their targets fast and efficiently. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Bigger but not quite better
As an amateur astronomer with 4 on-and-off decades of dark sky observing, i can appreciate a cloudy-night reference like the rest of you. I have all three of the Deep-Sky Companions series, and have read through them, though for reference i use other sources: Luginbuhl and Skiff's Observing Handbook and Catalog if you can find it, and Burnham's 3 volume Celestial Handbook is still full of information, if somewhat dated now. I bought, one after another, the Deep Sky Companion series because i respect the observational skills, draughting ability and elegant writing style of Mr. O'Meara, as i had seen in Sky and Telescope magazine.

Each book in the series has its strengths; the first Messier volume surpassing the previous comparable standard (Mallas & Kreimer's Messier Album) with the only exception of a lack of complete original catalog facsimiles. In each, the combination of visual descriptions and bxw sketches achieved with the author's voluntary self-restraint using a small (albeit excellent) telescope as seen by a trained observer (with excellent visual acuity, from an excellent observing site) will be useful for comparison by readers with their own specific equipment and viewing considerations.The author's choice of objects seems on the whole balanced, and with few exceptions, explained both in the introduction as a process and in an appendix as a comparative source study. Perhaps understandably, some of the extra objects in the previous books have been folded into this volume. All of the three books in the series have a historical biographic appendix of high quality (written by others) which put these generally bright objects in context.

Besides the odd typo, I am critical of some editorial decisions that were made with this book. First noted, it includes no overall starcharts or index of objects inside the covers as in the previous two volumes in the Deep-Sky Companions series (Caldwell does this in the most thorough manner of the three). Hidden Treasures has simply left blank pages. In addition there are several blank pages at the end of the book, ostensibly for the readers' observing notes (tho' any serious observer will write his/her observations in a log). Several photographs (eg: HT 46, 62) were either reproduced or chosen poorly. The finder starcharts aresparce ( for reasons explained in a generally apologetic preface) They use an "x marks the spot" for the Hidden treasures which are much less informationally useful than the standard deep-sky object-specific symbols used by both previous books. Here, despite different publishers, continuation of a good tradition would have been in order. The finder charts and some photos also use archaic and hard-to-read fonts for star mag.'s and compass roses. They are copyrighted by the author but an editor should take responsibility for a writer's misjudgement. This is not intended as a field handbook, so the general thickness of it is not practically relevant, but perhaps indicates a less elegant use of language in this volume, as contrasted to the previous two. It would have been nice if the Bedford Catalog / Willmann Bell) had been also cited as a bibliographic reference, since that 1840 source was quoted, and the conversational style of both are arguably comparable. My title page was printed wrinkled, but i don't care.

The writing in this book is of generally high quality, as in the previous two. However, in this one, Mr.OMeara has taken a whimsical metaphor of 109 hidden pirate's treasures to lure the (younger?) reader to tackthrough the Sargasso Sea of skyhunting. J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan is cited twice. Given the sketches, information and historical background included, for me this type of material is not necessary to maintain my interest in the book. There is a certain amount of redundancy in the intro and through the book, self-promoting the completion of a trilogy of essential references. In Hidden Treasures (following earlier precedent in Caldwell and , to a lesser extent, in Messier), several of the sketches have fanciful cloudlike patterns or connections between stars, especially star clusters, which are intended to assist the viewer to identify the shapes the author imagines the object to have. As an observer and sketcher of nebulae as well as clusters, i find this unnecessary and intrusive. Finally, altho' i am in the opposing camp concerning the "missing M102" controversy, i appreciate Mr. O'Meara's magnanimous citation of Frommert's work, which presents a compelling argument for the opposing view.

All in all, given my huge respect for the author, bigger but not quite better

Hidden Treasures -Very Nice!
Although this book is less usefull to me (because about 20 objects are too far south for me to see from my latitude),it is still a very good book.
I think the writting and illistrations are better than O'Mearas Messier book. I like the maps with the "x" marks the spot on it. The biography of Carolyn Herchel is very interesting. A good guide book ,and an even better read.

A somewhat self-indulgent O'Meara, but an O'Meara nonetheless
Let's begin with the goodies.

After 2 similar books, Deep Sky Companions: The Messier Objects (Deep-Sky Companions) and Deep-Sky Companions: The Caldwell Objects (Deep-Sky Companions), O'Meara has done it again by giving us a list, this time its own, of 110 objects that aren't included in the Messier or Caldwell catalogs. As always, each object is lavishly illustrated and described in the text and you will know everything there is to know about them. The selection of objects is very good and as such the book gives us amateurs 110 more objects to study. So far, five stars.

But obviously O'Meara seems to be as enthralled by piracy history than by his subject, and boy does it show: every object is compared to one or another pirate's story, up to the title (hidden treasures?) - if you're not into that, it becomes quickly rather irritating. I would have preferred O'Meara staying on track and talking about astronomy, like he did in his two first essays: after all, that's what this book is supposed to be about. Another disappointment concerns the finder maps - they certainly aren't as good, by a wide margin, than they were in the two preceding books. You will need better maps than that to locate objects at the telescope.

In all, well, mixed feelings: an O'Meara allright, a very good and beautiful selection of object for us all to see and seek by one of the best visual observers alive - but one that has seemingly grown a tad too pleased with himself for this reviewer to be completely comfortable.

Hidden Treasurers
As A lecturer in Astronomy it is not always easy to find books that will lead the beginner in the subject onward without frightening them. Hidden Treasures should be on every lecturer's book list as it guides student to the beauties if the heavens in and easy manner uncluttered with technical jargon.

Stephen James O'Meara's style of writing is easy to understand and if the student follows the instructions the splendors of the heavens will be revealed to them.

Prior to Hidden Treasures the only book of similar type that came even near to it is Turn Right at Orion by Guy Consolmagno and Dan M. Davis.If there is any criticism that could be leveled against this tome it is Why have we waited so long for such a book?

Pep
Muy bien, además clasificado por estaciones, meses y noches. De gran ayuda para planificar sesiones de observación, en mi caso astro-fotografía. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (9)

Both Jerks
Being a fan of both Fahey and James, which seems to be the main topic to argue about in this novel, i must say they both seemed to be pretty wacked. James was a bitter jerk who had an ignorant distaste for other artists of his time, while Fahey was just enraptured in his own world. They were both drunks, and men with distinctive styles that could arguably come from their obnoxious larger than life egos. Reguardless, in the end, they leave their virtuoso work for others to learn from, frankly i couldn't care less about the theories that Fahey tried to profit off James. Fahey certainly was not a good publicist, which is a factor in James's lack luster revival but Skip's own lack of motivation to refine his music in his older years was definitely just as critical to his lack of success. You can't make an artist succeed if the artist acts like he couldn't care less. Skip and Fahey simply did not like each other, both were to arrogant. Fahey was a brilliant artist just as James was and was simply not the kind of person who should have been directing Skip's career. Fahey died poor, James did too, both were forgotten and now amongst younger listeners they are being revived. Both are important to the other in that their information on the internet link the two artists. This book is great, but all that matters is the music we have to listen to today.

Five star story, two star delivery
No other comprehensive biographies of Skip James exist as of today, so Stephen Calt is your only choice if you want to learn about the man.The detail can be exhaustive at points and the information itself is well presented, but this book is a complete failure as a biography.For whatever reason, Calt adopts an extremely negative and nihilistic tone as narrator for the entire book and is unremittingly condescending to James and southern black culture in general.Calt regularly speaks in hyperbole and presents his own opinion or perception of a given incident as fact.Calt also loves to project himself into the story; this is permissible in first-person situations where he was actually present, but more often than not he wasn't and is merely guessing at what he thinks happened.This is fine practice in a story, but not in a book touting itself a biography.

One other HUGE issue is Calt's complete disregard for ethnocentric language.In one particularly heinous incident, on page 325, Calt asserts that an adult James "...was too much the plantation darkey..." to encourage white musicians to explore black music.This term should only be acceptable in a vignette recalling the roots of southern black culture and music; used in this context, it's simply a racist and condescending judgment of a man for whom Calt seems to harbor a strange Freudian jealousy.

Weird book; weird author; weird musician.I guess it all fits.At least there are tabs for "Devil Got My Woman" in the appendix.

What A Read!
It would certainly be wise to take everything Calt says about James with a grain of salt. He seems to have very bitter memories of the Country Blues revival in general, and all of the so-called "white guitar nerds" who befriended and, as Calt states, cheated many of the original Blues musicians whose careers had been brought back to life. I don't know for a fact if James killed one man or many men, or robbed a bank, or hated all women; all I know is that this is what Calt alleges. The book is still great to read, though, because of its vividness. Calt also puts forth a theory that the beginnings of the Blues lie in a hymn that was taught to slaves. This is also considered quite a questionable theory in the Blues world. In addition to this, Calt has also said some negative things about the great Dick Waterman, who did and is doing a great deal to help the original Country Bluesmen and their living family members, respectively. One thing Calt is well aware of is that James was a genius, at least at his 1931 sessions, and that he never got the fame nor the recognition that he rightfully deserved, with John Hurt being favored by Country Blues fans. This is an excellent read, though the accuracy of the material is questionable, and is really in stark contrast with Elijah Wald's "Society Blues", a biography on Josh White, which paints its main character as a wonderful, heroic, gentle human being.

A real biography
It's a crying shame this is out of print and so expensive. It's one of the best books of any kind I've ever read. It made me feel uncomfortable at times, challenging as it does so many predisposed ideas about the blues, treatment of black people and the music business. Calt has strong opinions and obviously his own axe to grind. But his musical analysis of James' work is masterly and incisive. It's a timely reminder that a great musician does not necessarily a good person make. If you like your myths about the blues kept intact, avoid. If you are open-minded and crave a good read, seek this book out. But listen to the music first.

An in-depth study, but watch for biases...
For those interested in James and his music this is probably the most thorough biography available.Stephen Calt tends to be vitriolic and is often none to kind in stating his opinions about James' behavior or those of other blues musicians discussed in the book.That's fine, such bluntness is refreshing from the candy-coated, politically correct "criticisms" often present in biographies.
However, Calt does have one habit that is, in my opinion, a reprehensible practice for a biographer.He tends too much towards conjecture.Instead of stating events, he often extrapolates what people are feeling, thinking, or might have done in a given situation.This kind of "completion" can get in the way of allowing the reader to draw his own conclusions.
All in all though, if you are interested in Skip James you would do well to read this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Originally published in 1879.This volume from the Cornell University Library's print collections was scanned on an APT BookScan and converted to JPG 2000 format by Kirtas Technologies.All titles scanned cover to cover and pages may include marks notations and other marginalia present in the original volume. ... Read more

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This text provides a first course in numerical methods and programming taught through the medium of MATLAB. It is designed to give readers their first exposure to any kind of programming. The first three chapters introduce readers to the power of MATLAB without overwhelming them with its advanced features; the text then covers all the elementary material associated with numerical methods, and helps students develop skills in algorithm design. Examples of code are provided to debug, hence accentuating the need for precision, and developing readers? skills in finding errors in their own work. At the end of each chapter, tasks are provided to reinforce the ideas introduced, with full solutions at the back of the book. A glossary of terms is provided, with each term supported by an example of the syntaxes commonly encountered.

Customer Reviews (1)

fast way to implement the algorithms
Otto certainly gives you a good exposure to Matlab. The many examples and problems will greatly help you acquire the expertise, if you can knuckle down and tackle them.

The other utility of the book is in learning the various numerical methods, independent of the specific language of Matlab that they are implemented in. There is a possible advantage to doing so with Matlab, as contrasted to coding the methods in a general purpose language like C or Java. Since Matlab is already optimised [in some sense] for handling such methods. And especially with easily accessible and powerful graphing routines readily at hand. In other languages, a lot of your effort will inevitably be focused on writing this routines, as opposed to actually dealing with the numerical methods themselves. ... Read more

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Monsters Within is a comprehensive episode guide to Series Four of the new Doctor Who. following the ongoing adventures of the Doctor (David Tennant) as he travels through space and time accompanied by his new companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and rejoined by old friends including Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen).

The full build-up and background are revealed, from the aftermath of Series Three and the apparent death of the Master (John Simm) right up to date, detailing all the major news stories, press releases, casting announcements and critical response.

The spotlight is then focused on each of the 13 episodes in turn, plus the Christmas Special 'Voyage of the Damned', with in-depth coverage, including all the facts and figures, behind-the-scenes details, press and fan reaction and detailed and insightful analysis.

The perfect way to relive the Time Lord's encounters with the cute Adipose, the fiery Pyroviles, the terrifying Ood, the warlike Sontarans, famed crime novelist Agatha Christie - and even 'The Doctor's Daughter' - plus the Earth-shattering series finale with the Daleks.

Monsters Within is an essential read for all fans of the show, and continues Telos's unrivalled coverage of Doctor Who.

... Read more

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What guy doesn't need some pointers on how to be the man he wants to be? And we know that being a man is so much more than building a successful career and mastering the mechanics of daily life (like oil changes), those functional things are really important too. By addressing the basic, primal, and archetypal moments that all men experience, this book helps men become more invested in their passions, their families, their lives, and God. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Read
The authors have succinctly articulated the essence of Christian masculinity, and have shared experiences about their marriages and parenting that largely "ring true" to me personally.Their thoughts about work and the responsibility of providing for one's own correctly captures the dichotomy of responsibility vs. personal fulfillment, and the integral part personal sacrifice and service to others play in being a "real man".While they don't get it 100% right (why should they?--the rest of us have been struggling with these issues for years and don't have it right either), they bring voice to feelings and truths most men need to confront in their lives.I wish I'd read this book 30 years ago.

Tackling countless little tidbits of conventional male wisdom
What is a man? What is expected of an adult male in today's society? "How to Hit a Curve Ball, Grill the Perfect Steak, and Become a Real Man: Learning What Our Fathers Never Taught Us" is a handbook acknowledging that no father is a perfect father, just as no human is a perfect human. Tackling countless little tidbits of conventional male wisdom such as campfire building, fixing the toilet, and more, "How to Hit a Curve Ball, Grill the Perfect Steak, and Become a Real Man" is charming in its writing. A great pick for any man, and for community library self-help collections.

Another great book!
This book is a great read for men who are defining their masculinity and are looking to understand their lives as men! ... Read more

Product Description
This hour-by-hour account of the Easter Rising as seen by a non-participant writer and poet is absolutely fascinating. Helps one think straighter about 1916 than all the recent revisionist and anti-revisionist scribblings...a marvellously vivid account"" - Books Ireland. ""A classic...A fascinating portrait of a city at war. It is graphic, colorful and brings you right into the thick of the battle"" - Irish Echo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Awesome eyewitness account --not a history
An excellent book for those who want to know the effect of the 1916 Easter rising on the average Dubliner.Walking out one morning the author narrates how he saw small groups of people gathered on each corner.They all seemed to be looking in the same direction.He finally stops to inquire what is going on and hears that the Sinn Fein have taken over parts of the city.From there the book recounts his spectator's view of the uprising.

The book is not a military or political history so it doesn't cover the planning of the uprising or the responses of the British.Instead the author narrates his observations and the reactions of the people around him as the uprising continues.At first people are in shock and even angry at the insurrectionists.But then, as the days pass and the uprising continues Stephans is puzzled.More and more he notices people smiling. It is only later that he realizes that they are smiling out of pride.If the uprising had been immediately quashed they would have been depressed.However as the fighting dragged on the author recounts the growing feeling of pride that the people began to have for those involved in the futile uprising.All in all a great book for those who want insight into stirrings of nationalism in a people. ... Read more

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Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free.This is an OCR edition with typos.Excerpt from book:A DlSCOURSE UPON THE HOLINESS OF GOD.Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods 1 who is like ihee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders.—Exod. XV. 11.This verso is one of the loftiest descriptions of the majesty and excellency of God in the whole Scripture. It is a part of Moses's '???'?/?v, or triumphant song, after a great, and real, and a typical victory, in the womb of which all the deliverances of the church were couched. It is the first song upon holy record, and it consists of gratulatory and prophetic matter. It casts a look backward to what God did for them in their deliverance from Egypt ; and a look forward, to what God shall do for the church in future ages. That deliverance was but a rough draught of something more excellent to be wrought towards the closing up of the world ; when his plagues shall be poured out upon the antichristian powers, which should revive the same song of Moses in the church, as fitted so many ages before for such a scene of affairs, Rev. xv. 2, 8. It is observed therefore, that many words in this song are put in the future tense, noting a time to come ; and the very first word, ver. 1, ' Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song ;' "?1? shall sing ; implying, that it was composed and calculated for the celebrating some greater action of God's, which was to be wrought in the world. Upon this account some of the Jewish rabbins, from the consideration of this remark, asserted the doctrine of the resurrection to be meant in this place ;f that Moses and those Israelites should rise again to sing the same song, for some greater miracles God should work, and greater triumphs he should bring forth, exceeding those wonders at their deliverance from Egypt.It consists of,J 1. A preface ; ver. 1, ' I will sing... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

ENLIGHTENING!
I find Stephen Charnock's discourses bring new insight to familiar scriptures.I have not completed all the discourses in this book,but each one so far has enriched my study and has truly brought newenlightenment.I have never been disappointed with any ofCharnock'sbooks.A very learned 16th Century Divine, he stays true to scripture andhis applications are difinitive and complete.A blessing! ... Read more

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If there were a canon for viewing the night sky, Charles Messier would be its author. The galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae cataloged by the famous comet hunter in the late 1700s are still the most widely observed celestial wonders in the heavens. They are the favorite targets of amateur astronomers, with such rich variety and detail that they never cease to fascinate. This book provides new and experienced observers with a fresh perspective on the Messier objects. Stephen James O'Meara has prepared a visual feast for the observer. Using the finest optical telescopes available for amateur work, he describes and sketches the view from the telescope as never before. There are new drawings, improved finder charts, and new astronomical data on each object, including findings from the Hubble Space Telescope. Expand your universe and test your viewing acumen with this truly modern Messier Guide. It is a must for budding night watchers.Stephen James O'Meara is a contributing editor to Sky and Telescope.Amazon.com Review
Steve O'Meara has been called "the best visual planetary observer of modern times." The first to spot Comet Halley on its return in 1985, the first to determine the rotation period of Uranus, he now turns his amazing visual skills to the deep sky.

Charles Messier was one of the best comet hunters of the 1700s, with 12 comet discoveries to his credit. He was frustrated because he kept wasting time looking at fuzzy objects that turned out not to be comets. The list he kept and published of "things that aren't comets" turned out to be his ticket to immortality.

Amateur astronomers of all ages enjoy tackling the Messier catalogue members, because they represent a good sampling of what's "out there," and because finding them helps to hone observing skills. In a sense, the Messier objects are the testing grounds for budding skywatchers.

O'Meara's guide is unique in conveying his approach to observing: "It's an approach based on creative perception and on using the imagination to see patterns and shapes in the subjects seen through the eyepiece. It involves using not just your eye but also your mind's eye to associate those patterns and shapes with things that are familiar with you, to create pictures and even stories." With O'Meara as your docent, you will truly appreciate the art of the universe. --Mary Ellen Curtin ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

A real companion for Messier objects observers.
[Please be reminded that I have yet finished the book, most of my review comes from quick skimming]

This book might look daunting at first, it reminds me of academic textbooks, especially when you take off the cover, but the contents are quite easy to follow and written with easy-to-read style. The author doesn't only teach you how to observe them but also tell the interesting history, mistakes, and some thoughts on Messier's works which fulfill the richness of Messier objects gazing. But for people who love to see brilliant, Hubble-like and colorful pictures of Messier objects, this book is not for you because the author intentionally wants to show what you can truly see with your very own eyes in eyepieces and for people who use GO-TO, GPS or press-the-button telescopes, don't bother to buy this book since it is more suitable for star-hopping type telescope but you can still enjoy other contents of the book.

Thank you!

the durable sieur messier
it's fascinating that, after more than two centuries and enormous leaps in astronomical knowledge, charles messier's 18th century catalog of 108 deep sky objects (and a quintet of faint stars) is still current among deep sky astronomers from amateurs to pros. enter NGC 6205 in the computerized goto function of most modern telescopes, and it will reply that you're looking for M 13; talk about NGC 5194 and many amateur astronomers will frown uncertainly; say M 51 and they will instantly recognize the galaxy you have in mind. so there are messier guides aplenty ... and even messier marathons (the deep sky equivalent of a hotdog eating contest).

i liked o'meara's basic approach. there's a two or three page chapter to each messier object, with lots of historical, observational, astronomical, cosmological and sentimental or human interest details. the chapters include a characteristic b&w photo of each structure (chosen to suggest its appearance in an amateur telescope, not as seen by hubble or keck), its NGC number, constellation, celestial coordinates, visual magnitude (here o'meara dissents from some standard estimates), type of object, visual size, distance, discoverer and date of discovery. he quotes the antiquated description from messier's catalog, and the pithier comments from the NGC catalog. there's a schematic star map of the sky area in which the object is found (you'll need a good star atlas as a supplement), and a pencil sketch by o'meara of the object's appearance in a telescope. (sketching is part of o'meara's attention to the secret tricks of visual observing, which are imparted here and there throughout the text and even as a sequence of drawings that demonstrate how your eye for detail improves through sustained and repeated observations.)

i very much liked the introductory chapter, "charles messier and his catalog" and the back matter reference appendices. but i have some qualms. the book is entirely in black, and all the messier chapter pages are trimmed at the top by a fat band of black: it would have been simple, eye pleasing and not much expensive, to print these bands in different colors, keyed to the type of object in that chapter. some of o'meara's drawings turn to the weirdly fanciful -- the butterfly cluster as a butterfly, the black swan cluster as a swan ... we even get a bat and a ufo. these were flat out unhelpful. and the photos are not reproduced with an angular scale, as they are in o'meara's "herschel 400" book, so you can't tell how large the object will appear at a given magnification. but these are minor points in comparison to the expertise, scholarship and attention to detail otherwise evident on every page.

Excellent service !Excellent book !
I received my order in a perfect condition and well in advance of the promised delivery date .

Fun But Not Practical
First off, I am a visual observer and sketcher of deepsky objects with 10 years of 'serious' experience. Like some other reviewers, I agree that this book is not very practical. Especially when you are trying to make a positive identification of a Messier Object.

O'Meara takes great artistic license in his sketches of the Messier catalog, and sees thing no other humans could. He is known for his visual acuity, and skill. (as a teenager he had the keys to Harvard's Observatory!)

However, if you are looking for a book for a cloudy night, it will fit the bill. It's very engaging, and O'Meara writes in a very friendly style. He is a very talented observer and writer. The book is laid out very nicely with a great format presenting each object very clearly.

The book is a fun read, but not very practical as an observing guide.

Deep Sky Companions: The Messier Objects
Add this reference book to your collection and be ready to observe. Along with this addition Deep-Sky Companions: The Caldwell Objects (Deep-Sky Companions) and you can't miss. ... Read more

Product Description
Together, these authors have more first-hand experience in leadership development and succession planning than you're likely to find anywhere else. And here, they show companies how to create a pipeline of talent that will continuously fill their leadership needs-needs they may not even yet realize. The Leadership Pipeline delivers a proven framework for priming future leaders by planning for their development, coaching them, and measuring the results of those efforts. Moreover, the book presents a combination leadership-development/succession-planning program that ensures a steady line-up of leaders for every critical position within the company. It's an approach that bolsters the retention of intellectual capital as it eliminates the need to go outside for expensive "stars," who will probably jump ship before they reach their full potential anyway.Amazon.com Review
For every organization that's ever reached beyond its own borders for top leadership only to have those high-profile, high-salary top leaders bungle and exit as abruptly as they appeared, this smart, substantive, and clear-eyed book is a godsend.

Written by three genuine experts in management development (one of them helped design GE's deservedly famous succession-development process), The Leadership Pipeline: How to Build the Leadership Powered Company finally shows organizations how to undo the knots and clogs in their in-house "leadership pipeline" so they can constantly groom the best people at every level to move up to the next rung of leadership. Not only do the authors identify the six transition phases, or "turns," of the pipeline--from self-manager (individual worker), first-line manager, and managers' manager to function manager, business manager, group manager and enterprise manager (the last essentially being a CEO)--they describe each with remarkable insight; these six levels of leadership growth, for example, exist at the base of every midsize or large organization regardless of how each structures its individual hierarchy. With each, they take care to point out both the new skills and values (there is a difference) one must acquire before making a turn, as well as how to measure whether someone has them before moving them along. They also show how to determine whether candidates are embodying those skills and values once they've made the transition, and how to groom them for the next level right from day one.

The result? Not just one potentially qualified in-house candidate for a top leadership position (the kind of dearth that forces companies to look outward for expensive and often short-lived leadership "stars"), but a whole generation of them, not to mention younger generations to succeed them.

The book includes sample scenarios (from both fictional and real-life organizations), definitions, checklists and charts that break down and illustrate its main points in every chapter. Though shrewd and straightforward on every page, The Leadership Pipeline isn't for anyone looking an easy, step-by-step, worksheet-guided quick fix to management development and succession planning. The authors stress that it takes some hard thinking for companies to determine what they really need from leaders at each level (and to figure out which individuals have the potential and desire to scale those levels). It requires serious homework to translate this book's excellent guidance into a plan for your own organization's pipeline.

That's a small price to pay, however, for a book with such uncommonly clear insight into what it takes to nurture and navigate the best leadership from right inside your own house. --Timothy Murphy ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

Never received product
I purchased the product on 5/27 and it is 7/6. I never received the product.

Poor leadership can cripple your organization
The books is thorough if nota bit repetitive.Basically, there are (one too many) stages of leadership, each with it's own unique skill set and value system.When a manager moves up without recognizing the shifts in skills or values needed, misery ensues.This is all very true and it hurts a little to read how things can go wrong at every level.

It may be best to keep the book around during your professional life and check in every once in a while to make sure you are leveraging the right skills and valuing the right work.I would recommend this book but since only one section is relevant at a time, I would say buy and keep for the long term or borrow from a friend.

Well written road map for leadership development
I would recommend reading this book to anyone who is responsible for developing leaders within an organization as well as anyone trying to move up the corporate ladder.The "Leadership Pipeline" process for measuring and developing people is clearly explained and the timely charts and graphs give the reader a visual explanation which really helps to clearly understand the concepts being explained.The ideas in this book have been tested and found to be effective in some of the largest and most successful corporations in the world.I do plan to take what I have learned from this book and implement the thoughts and processes spelled out by the authors into my own process for developing leaders.

A must read for every leader!
As an executive coach I work with new managers, midline managers, business owners and executives. The Leadership Pipeline clearly outlines the differences in attitudes, responsibilities and influence each type of leader holds.
Author of Blueprint for Success co-authored with Stephen R. Covey and Ken Blanchard and Roadmap for Career Success and the forthcoming Personal Power of Influence.

This book is awesome -not just theory!
I really enjoyed this book - I was able to apply it to my own career and validate what it takes to move as well as use it with my teams to help them figure it out. It's clearly written and easy to apply in any large corporate setting.

I wish they provided a table (Skills, Time Application and Values) for all the passages - not just the first one from an Individual Contributor to a first line manager. I had to construct those myself...

Highly recommended!

Ravi ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An Outstanding Resource
This represents the third editorial compilation of the team made up of the Lutheran James Scherer and Roman Catholic Stephen Bevans. The focus of this volume is to bring together the best and most trend-setting thinking in the area of contextualization, or, the encounter of faith and culture.Thethirteen page introduction to the volume traces the historical developmentof this missiological concern from 1970 to the present.This, in itself,warrants the purchase of the book, as it is the best survey of the trendsand literature to date.The remainder of the book is divided into twoparts.The first twelve chapters are general articles on contextualizationor incarnation, while the last three chapters consist of documentation ofofficial church statements on the encounter of Faith and Culture.One is astatement by the Lutheran World Federation and the other two are from theWorld Council of Churches. The articles in the first section arewritten from a wide spectrum of church traditions as well as geographicalregions (half of them are written by non-westerners). One of the fewweaknesses of the book is that only one of the authors is female and her(Kwok Pui-lan) article is about the oral hermeneutics of Asian Women.The editors have compiled an excellent index at the end, with all the majorsubtopics, conferences and people referenced, for easy access.Becausethis volume reprints some of the best current reading on the issue, Ihighly recommend it as a primary text for a course on Gospel and Culture oras a secondary text for a course on Issues in Missiology. ... Read more

Product Description
James Stephens (1882-1950) was an Irish writer/poet. Many of his works were based upon Irish folklore, and this tale is no exception. Written in 1912, this timeless classic still stands the test of time. ... Read more

Product Description
Playing off the themes in the Caldecott Medal-winning children's book Where the Wild Things Are, this informative, practical, and encouraging guide will help parents guide boys down the path to healthy and authentic manhood. Wild Things addresses the physical, emotional, and spiritual parts of a boy, written by two therapists who are currently engaged in clinical work with boys and their parents and who are also fathers raising five sons. Contains chapters such as “Sit Still! Pay Attention!” “Deficits and Disappointments,” and “Rituals, Ceremonies, and Rites of Passage.” ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

religious perspective
I am always interested in books about raising children and this one sounded good.I didn't notice that the book offers a "Christian perspective" on raising boys.This may or may not interest a reader, but the potential reader should be aware of this before purchasing.

For me, this is not what I wanted and I returned the book without reading it so I can't comment on the actual contents.

I gave it only two stars because I have no interest in a religious perspective on raising children.For someone who does, the book might be wonderful and I would not hesitate to purchase it as the authors seem to have a lot to offer someone interested in that point of view.

Best book I've found
Great book by good, Conservative Christian Psychologists. Practical and logical. Even funny. Great read, and good book to keep in the archives for reference.

I Wish I Found This Book Sooner
My only regret is that I didnt find/read this book earlier. Having two boys, I've been looking for a book that explains what is going on with their lives now and what will be happening soon. This books provides really good information on the different stages and some general suggestions on dealing with the experiences they go through. Highly recommended for anyone who has boys.

As the father of 3 boys...
I think this is my ever review of a book on Amazon.com.This book is worthy of my praise.The authors are practical and wise in their knowledge of boys and how parents can relate to boys.The insights are amazing and God-given.Next to the Bible, this is the best book that I have ever read.I thought I was just going to learn about parenting my sons, which I did.But I also discovered things about me as an adult boy who is still incomplete in many areas.Men of all ages, in the midst of parenting or not started or just finished, need to read this book.Very well done.

Wild Things...
I first purchased this book for my son for Christmas not having read it myself.He read it, he read it with his wife and it changed how they relate to their boys.They told me how they switched their thinking and the whole family was better because of it.So next opportunity, I purchased another one and gave it to that family.I have just continued to do that.It's one of those books that really helps in frustrating times at the same time it brings honor to the boys, teen boys, and to young men because they are affirmed and given permission to become who they really are rather than wear a label put upon them by others that doesn't help them in anything. Let's face it, if you're perfectly parenting you don't need this book, but I don't know anyone like that. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Worthy of Very Careful Consideration
This book is comprised of four independent studies based on four lecture series presented by the author. Each is concerned with a different strand of early non-Pauline Christianity.These traditions are associated with the apostle Peter, Stephen and the Hellenists, the Johannine community, and James, the relative of Jesus.This book first appeared in nineteen eighty late in the distinguished career of Frederick Fyvie Bruce.As with all of this author's scholarship, a keen grasp of the history of the early Church and the Roman world of the time are displayed.Equally apparent is his familiarity with the ancient languages involved and his insightful exegesis of the scriptures considered.While this book is a relatively easy read accessible to any literate adult, a reasonable knowledge of early Church history is a prerequisite to the fullest appreciation of its contents.Also, the prose flow of this book is so smooth that concerted effort and concentration on the reader's part are necessary to avoid missing much of interest.Both in the finer points and global analysis there is much here that is original, and quite a bit of it might well be considered adventurous even today.As with many books stemming from lectures, a bibliography is lacking although footnotes are quite copious throughout.A composite index of subjects and modern authors is provided which is helpful.

The author suggests three very early Jewish Christian communities at Jerusalem centered around Peter, Stephen, and James.Bruce's portrait of Peter owes much to the work of James D. G. Dunn which is graciously acknowledged. Peter, the early leader of the apostles, is seen as increasingly estranged from the Jerusalem center for a variety of reasons. With his conversion of Cornelius, an uncircumcised gentile, Peter's acceptance by law observant Jewish Christians is questioned.Thereafter, his imprisonment, escape, and absence from Jerusalem cements the ascendancy of Jacobian influence.It also inaugurates Peter's vaguely attested to evangelism elsewhere in the Roman Empire.The dubious conflation of James and Peter so common in other scholarship on early Church history is subjected to a well supported negation by Bruce's reconstruction of history.Contributing further to Jamesian primacy was the earlier execution of Stephen and the exit of the Hellenistic Jewish Christians from Jerusalem.The author insightfully points out that Stephen's attack on the Temple is unique in the New Testament for its virulence and content.Elsewhere, in the Lukan corpus, the Temple is treated quite differently.On reflection, Bruce contends that this attests to the historicity of the speech.This point is amply reinforced by the later work of Daniel R. Schwartz in his study of Herod Agrippa.And, with the exit of the Hellenists to Antioch and possibly as well to Alexandria, so began the first great expansion of Christianity beyond Roman Palestine.

The consideration of the Johannine community is perhaps the most conservative of these studies.Yet much evidence is weighed back and forth. Bruce locates the community at Ephesus.References to heretical thought in the Gospel of John are reflective of a Roman Asia location.Also, the early Church traditions of the John at Ephesus are strong and extend through Papias, Polycarp, and beyond.While aware of the adventurous work of J. Louis Martyn and Robert E. Brown in "The Community of the Beloved Disciple," Bruce leaves the question of the number of significant persons within the community open and sees a strong possibility of the apostle John at Ephesus and/or Patmos.The Pauline foundation in Roman Asia is seen to be eclipsed, and the ongoing Church there becomes a reflection of Johannine thought.Conversely, the material on James provides a well developed portrait.Usefully, Bruce proposes a progressive narrowing of the Jerusalem community down to a core of zealous law abiding believers prior to the execution of James.James the law abiding Jew who brokered and signed off on the Apostolic Decree did not change. The Church around him changed.By the time of Paul's last visit, much of the Jerusalem Christian community was hostile to him and his gentile mission.However, James and the elders did welcome Paul reservedly.We can not be certain how they handled the gifts Paul and his gentile converts brought.But, James did not betray Paul in his arrest at the temple.The evidence Bruce adduces militates against this strongly.

There is a great deal of depth in these studies that I have only been able to describe most selectively. The student of early Church history will find this work as vital today as when it was first published.Much of later scholarship would have been well served by taking the measure of Bruce's superb scholarship in this slight but significant work.For example, discussion of James as being of the lower Jewish priestly order is succinctly disposed of.He was not of the tribe of Levi.And while not a unique insight, the Christianity of Peter is convincingly portrayed as being far closer to that of Paul than that of James.There are a few minor problems.The discussion of the origin of the Hellenistic epistle to the Hebrews is problematic, but so is every other scholarly consideration of this matter in my opinion.The Johannine study is tentative in the extreme but does provide a wealth of somewhat undigested information.When Bruce was operating as a historian as he is in this book, he was a scholar of the first rank.To dismiss him only as a pious evangelical Christian apologist is a mistake.As to the conclusions and insights provided herein, a great deal of it has not been engaged in any serious fashion by later scholarship.This too is a mistake.Ultimately, this book is a most enjoyable read that given careful consideration is still quite challenging and very rewarding.

... Read more

Product Description
James Merrill himself once called his body of work “chronicles of love and loss,” and in twenty books written over four decades he used the details of his own life—comic and haunting, exotic and domestic—to shape a portrait that in turn mirrored the image of our world and our moment. This volume rings together the best of Merrill—from the domestic rupture of “The Broken Home” to the universal connections of “Lost in Translation”; from the American storyteller of “The Summer People” to the ecologically motivated satirist of “Self-Portrait in a TyvekTM Windbreaker.” Merrill dazzles at every turn, and this balanced and compact selection will be an ideal introduction to the work for both students and general readers, and an instant favorite among his familiars.

Log
Then when the flame forked like a sudden path
I gasped and stumbled, and was less.
Density pulsing upward, gauze of ash,
Dear light along the way to nothingness,
What could be made of you but light, and this? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Generous with His Curiosity and Delight
I'm reading the complete/selected/collected of many late 20th century poets these days and was extremely gratified with the work of James Merrill. I think the most outstanding quality of his work, when compared to that of most of the others, is the fact that he maintains a sense of humor and delight from the first poems published in 1951 to the last, written in 1995. I don't think Merrill is out to impress anyone; to please them, perhaps, but not to dazzle with erudition or intellect. Meanwhile, he's a very clever manipulator of rhyme and meter, and I particularly enjoyed the poems that alternated ballad stanzas with terza rima to keep the narrative from grinding down into the predictable rhythm of either. He's smart, well read, and well traveled and has obvious fun juggling all three in these performances. Nothing seems to have escaped his voracious curiosity, or the generosity with which he shares it with his readers.

I think some of these are new
I'm not entirely sure but I have an awful lot of James Merrill poetry books(he's kind of a favorite)
and some of these early poems I think may have been previously unreleased.
Someone I know who is an expert thinks they may be just collected differently, but it's nice to discover
that his youthful poems were asamazing, in a different way, as his more mature ones!
Some of the ones I read chronicle the life of a young gay man. I love his smile on the cover, too!
Disclaimer: Have not finished the entire book yet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

one thing leads to another
this really is an amusing and delightful tale...
dear lovers of Faery literature and Irish tales,
... which starts with a simple incident that leads to another and another in a rather convoluted fashion, leading eventually to the Great God Pan himself and the ancient Gods of Eire. It had, for these elves at least, a wonderful and surprising ending that we hope in due time will come to pass.
kyela,
the silver elves ... Read more

Product Description
The Tao Te Ching is the world's oldest leadership manual, written, according to legend, by the sage Lao-tzu in the sixth century B.C.E. In this book, premier business consultant James A. Autry and bestselling author and translator Stephen Mitchell present a modern-day guide to business leadership drawing on the age-old lessons of the Tao Te Ching.With simple, evocative essays, commenting on a selection from the Tao Te Ching, they show how its elegant wisdom can transform the workplace from a source of stress into a source of creativity and joy--and make work, at any level of the corporate ladder, more fulfilling than ever before.Amazon.com Review
In recent years, visionaries and profiteers alike haveattempted to apply the 81 simple but profound poems of the Tao TeChing to everything from sports training to pet breeding. JamesAutry, an award-winning author and respected former CEO, and StephenMitchell, whose previous work includes the New York Timesbestseller Tao TeChing: A New English Version, have applied these poems in ameaningful way to the world of business. Real Power: BusinessLessons from the Tao Te Ching is a stimulating interpretation ofthis ancient classic that will provide the guidance and inspirationmissing from most modern management texts. Addressing contemporarybusiness situations with the wise paradoxes that are the hallmark ofLao-Tzu's 6th-century work (such as "fill your bowl to the brimand it will spill; keep sharpening your knife and it willblunt"), the two propose an ageless approach to the workplacethat deals uniquely with various issues of our time like compensation,competition, training, and downsizing. --Howard Rothman END ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Real Power from Real Wisdom
I've studied many spiritual worldviews over the years and Taoism is the one that resonates most with me.It's therefore natural that Taoism has come to deeply shape my approach to leadership and management in recent years, and I've found that Taoist principles do indeed "work": I and my staff are more effective and more content, and our clients benefit as a result.

Having "applied" Taoism to business before reading this book, I'm pleased to report that the book accords with my understanding and experiences, and I believe Autry has done an excellent job as an interpreter of the Tao Te Ching.The book has been very helpful in validating and reinforcing my understanding, even if I didn't learning anything completely new.

I highly recommended this book to all leaders and managers.Even if the book doesn't click with you at first, I suggest keeping an open mind, continuing to dwell on it, and trying out its principles in practice.Adopting a Taoist outlook involves fundamental personal transformation (not gimmicks), so the process needs time to unfold, perhaps even years, but the journey is well worth it.

Tao Te Ching made simple
Of course everyone has heard of Tao Te Ching.But applying ancient wisdom has never been made more simple than in this book. Lessons are highlighted by parts from Tao Te Ching and then applied to various business situations.Leader or not, this book will help anyone in all aspects of live: letting go, making piece with everyone - even one's enemy, achieving harmony thru non-competition, knowing when to step back.Lessons seem to be very simple but their wisdom goes beyond words.This a is management book that should be mandatory for anyone and everyone wanting to learn about business and best means or running sucessful, strong and harmonious group or organization.

This is the best management book I have ever read
I could see some that might dismiss it as just a collection of catchy phrases, trendy euphemisms, and anecdotal and unscientific blathering. But I felt that this book described the kind of management style I will try to emulate in my life. Instead of `creating' the environment through sheer force of will and a desire for control and domination, it focuses on letting order create itself organically. I loved the detached but focused approach the book describes. Short little passages made this book something I picked up from time to time and really thought about the different passages. While the Taoism is not something I accept completely, learning to appreciate the gentle, detached, and innate wisdom of things was something I enjoyed thinking about. The many descriptions of how NOT to do things were the so close to experiences I have had in with bad management that I found myself totally engrossed in this book. The solutions given were so logically and eloquently presented that I could not help but take the words in with a deep sense of satisfaction. This book was a source of confirmation for me. For so long I have had so many bad managers, and seen so many bad practices in organizations, that I was wondering if I was just a complainer. But this book was right with my experiences. It described things so purely for me that I felt justified and inspired to continue in my path as I head off to business school and enter the world of management more on the other side of things. In any event, as I wrote above, this book captured the kind of management style I want to cultivate more than any of all the management books and articles I've read and I recommend it highly. I will keep this book on my desk for as long as it holds together.

This is the best management book I have ever read
I could see some that might dismiss it as just a collection of catchy phrases, trendy euphemisms, and anecdotal and unscientific blathering. But I felt that this book described the kind of management style I will try to emulate in my life. Instead of `creating' the environment through sheer force of will and a desire for control and domination, it focuses on letting order create itself organically. I loved the detached but focused approach the book describes. Short little passages made this book something I picked up from time to time and really thought about the different passages. While the Taoism is not something I accept completely, learning to appreciate the gentle, detached, and innate wisdom of things was something I enjoyed thinking about. The many descriptions of how NOT to do things were the so close to experiences I have had in with bad management that I found myself totally engrossed in this book. The solutions given were so logically and eloquently presented that I could not help but take the words in with a deep sense of satisfaction. This book was a source of confirmation for me. For so long I have had so many bad managers, and seen so many bad practices in organizations, that I was wondering if I was just a complainer. But this book was right with my experiences. It described things so purely for me that I felt justified and inspired to continue in my path as I head off to business school and enter the world of management more on the other side of things. In any event, as I wrote above, this book captured the kind of management style I want to cultivate more than any of all the management books and articles I've read and I recommend it highly. I will keep this book on my desk for as long as it holds together.

5 stars or 1 star, depends on who you are and what you want
I should be the eighth person who wrote a review for this book. The seven reviewers before me had really extreme opinion on it. Five 5 stars and two 1 star. You seldom find that on Amazon. Anyway, I read and found all of them honest andpersonal/subjective account of the reviewers' perception/experience.

As a Chinese, I assure you that Tao Te Ching would be voted as one of the ten greatest books of our culture. It touches every part of our daily life and so the application of its principles on business/life/love is popular in the eastern world (similar to Sun Tzu's Art of War). Mitchell's translation is the best I read so far (though so little). Autry's intrepretation of it matches those of the mainstream Chinese and Japanese scholars.

So, if you buy in TQM, Theory Y/Z and self actualization kind of stuff, read this book and you will gain something. Otherwise, spend your money and time elsewhere. ... Read more

Product Description
The Psalms of DavidJames S. Freemantle
Foreword by Stephen Freemantle

Back in print, The Psalms of David is a unique, beautifully illustrated edition of the revered religious work, also known as the Book of Psalms.

The lifework of a little known genius, this facsimile edition of a magnificent hand-painted illumination of the Psalms of David is a stunning tribute to love and spiritual devotion.

Born in India, James Freemantle traveled through the Middle East during his years in the British Army. Shortly after his second marriage, he began this hand-lettered, illustrated volume for his beloved bride, Clara. For the next thirty years, he periodically worked to transfer the psalms into a book that would physically match the lyrical beauty of the poetry.

Throughout the book one finds the brilliantly colored blooms of India: the jacaranda, the flame-of-the-forest, huge yellow laburnums, brilliant poinsettias, and highly scented mimosa. The pages are alive with kingfishers and larks, drummers and hoppie butterflies, storks and pheasants. There are pictures of the lake near Freemantle's home, the nearby Brahmin temple, and the view from the train as he went up to school in the hills. Scenes from his travels in the army, Middle Eastern harbors and villages, and copies of illustrations from Victorian travel books reveal his draftsman's training in the accuracy of every detail.

A labor of love, a work of art, a volume to treasure, this illuminated edition of the King James version of the Psalms of David is the perfect gift for all seasons.

Customer Reviews (32)

Best money I ever spent!
Thank you so much for this book it's my favorite book ever, it's gorgeous! I'm thinking of purchasing 1 for each guest at our wedding! Unfortunatly I can't find very many copies at .83$ to make it cost effective for us, so if anyone reading this for some reason has several copies of this book and is willing to part with them for .83$, please let me know!
Anyways great purchase, fast service!!!!!! Thank you!

The Psalms of David
This is a visually beautiful book. I gave it to an art/design student who had just graduated hoping that she would appreciate the work that Freemantle had put into it as he "drew" it for his wife. The Psalms are God's work but Freemantle beautifully illustrates them.

A Night at the Symphony
I struggled to read plays for one of my high school English Lit classes.For whatever reason, I couldn't watch the dialogue play in my mind like I could watch a good piece of fiction roll through my imagination.I felt the same about reading the Psalms from a Bible as I felt about my English Lit plays: I couldn't see the emotional content of the words.

The beauty and success of James Freemantle's work is that, for me, it projects a story.And it projects that story in full color Kodachrome!The words - I'm not exaggerating - literally dance on the page and rise and fall like Beethoven's Fifth.JF transformed the Psalms into a symphony.Just as music moves the soul, the artistry of the text moves mine.I'll tell you, it's stunning.

The background knowledge that it was a gift of love for his wife is absolutely compelling.Like a nested egg, the book is a gift within a gift within a gift.

As a rather personal comment, one of the universal challenges we face in life is finding role models.We look for examples of success so that we may walk the same path.Hard work, humility, reverence, sacrifice, and so on.I find that being able to appreciate the Psalms helps me appreciate the Psalmist, who in turn serves as a Role Model for Prayer.And not to editorialize, but I don't think I'm overstepping the bounds of a review to say that praying well is certainly a skill that would help us all succeed.

My only (2) critical comments are that some of the text can be difficult to read because the lettering is not dark enough, and some of the lettering can be a challenge to decipher.Neither comment is a problem, but it can break my concentration so that I need to reread the text.

The Psalms of David
This beautifully illustrated book is a wonderful gift as well as a joy to simply sit and read.

Expressions of Love
This is a beautiful book - art work and printing which took 30 years tocomplete.He did this for his wife.I am so glad that a friend told me about her copy and I found it on Amazon.com.I am sorry others felt it necessary to sell their copies, but that's the way I found mine.I also wrote a book years back and one day I found it on Amazon and others.They were asking an outlandish price for it, yet I bought two of them because I wanted to see who had sold my gifts to them.I did.Anyway, THE PSALMS OF DAVID is the most beautifully printed and illustrated book I have except some of my Bibles.Thank you. Wanda Parrish Blair(Look me up and see if I am still on Amazon.com)I had a good book, too. Title:BLAIR Published 1997 ... Read more

Product Description

"This is a compelling and important book... [that] makes a significant contribution not only to studies of Bond and Ian Fleming but also to studies of popular culture in general." -- Michael Bérubé

The Cold War agent of pulp fiction and the hero of more than a dozen movies, James Bond, also known as 007, is one of pop culture's most recognizable icons. Doubtless better known from film than from Ian Fleming's novels, the character has become a lightning rod for criticism from all camps. And yet somehow his popularity remains intact.

But who is James Bond? Ian Fleming and James Bond: The Cultural Politics of 007 is an entertaining and revealing examination of the many facets of Bond. Before Bond became a cinematic icon, he was the protagonist of a series of thrillers that appeared during the time of Britain's decline as a major power and the heating up of the Cold War. Fleming's character gave expression to biases and anxieties that continue to shape our political worldview in ways both obvious and covert.

Fifteen spirited and engaging essays -- all new to this volume -- cover topics including Bond's Britishness, James Bond and JFK, homosexual panic and lesbian Bond-age, the James Bond lifestyle, and Bond's brands.

The contributors are Alexis Albion, Dennis W. Allen, James Chapman, Edward P. Comentale, Vivian Halloran, Jaime Hovey, Aaron Jaffe, Christoph Lindner, Andrew Lycett, Patrick O'Donnell, Craig N. Owens, Brian Patton, Judith Roof, Stephen Watt, and Skip Willman.

Customer Reviews (2)

only a silly academic person could appreciate this book
This is another one of those books that seems to be about an interesting and very popular subject, yet when you begin to read, you find that it is a collection of dry, overly wordy essays written by stuffy academic-types.Each one attempts to analyse the subject matter from a different intellectual viewpoint and bores the reader to tears.Yawn.Each writer seems to be out-doing the previous one with more pretentious language.I don't want to have to consult my thesaurus every 2 sentences to look up a word that nobody uses in normal speech.

This book--in a nutshell--consists of academic literary analyses on how the James Bond novels affected society.Each chapter is awordy essay that could have done with serious editing by the publisher.As is, the book is mind-numbing and is probably used as a substitute for water-boarding by the CIA to extract information from terrorists.Either that or they play Britney Spears songs over and over again until they talk.Anyway, with editing the book could have been cleaner and more succinct.Perhaps there are some grains of useful information inside but it is lost in all the wordiness.

If you are an Ian Flemming fan, go rent a movie or visit your library.The material in this book is more dry than the dust on the moon.Avoid it like Odd Job's hat.

Academic Conference or Hunting Lodge for Smart Weirdos?
James Bond is one of the few pop culture references that writer (and portrayer of Riff Raff) Richard O'Brien didn't throw into his masterpiece, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. (At least I don't remember any.) But there's a line in Rocky Horror that applies to the book Ian Fleming & James Bond: The Cultural Politics of 007.

In Rocky Horror, the "sweet transvestite" and mad scientist Frank N. Furter shows innocent young Janet Weiss his Charles Atlas-like creation, Rocky. Janet touches Rocky's firm oiled flesh but says she doesn't like a man with too many muscles.

"I DIDN'T MAKE HIM FOR YOU!!!" Frank answers.

This book was written for academics, not for me.

It's a collection of papers written for an academic conference at Indiana University in 2003. The first half of the book especially is full of the jargony prose that academics use too often. Or, as the introduction states, "This grouping of essays explores Fleming's work as it responds to post-World War II transformations - - theoretical or otherwise - - of subjectivity and intersubjective relations." (My spellchecker doesn't even want to call "intersubjective" a word, but it flagged "jargony" too and I like that one.)

The acknowledgments page thanks the "faculty and graduate students" who attended the conference - - didn't they even let undergraduate students past security? I imagine some freshman with one of Q's hi-tech iris-scanning gizmos sneaking in, just like Bond.

Again quoting the introduction, "In fact, the secret service and academia are linked by this mode: the success of both depends on an ability to cross and confound rigid oppositions, . . ." Come on, guys. I had a Man from UNCLE camera-gun too, when I was ten, but I don't still shoot THRUSH agents with it.

But the second half of the book (the essays tying the Bond books and movies to their moment in history) is more interesting. How Bond went from British pulp hero to transatlantic (in other words American) superspy-savior. How Bond (who we always think of as very modern, whatever decade he's in) is really a conservative reaction against the "angry young men" of fifties Britain ("Shoot Back in Anger"). What are the literary and real-life connections between JFK, RFK, Fleming, Bond, and Castro? (And who among those are real people, who are fictional characters, and who are both?)

If you liked Peter Biskind's Seeing is Believing: How Hollywood Taught Us to Stop Worrying and Love the Fifties, and J. Hoberman's The Dream Life: Movies, Media, and the Mythology of the Sixties, you'll find enough in this book to make it worth reading several of the essays. It's definitely worth the Amazon paperback price.


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