Complete is the best way to describe this guidebook. I wasn't planning on visiting the Marin side but was forced to when the fog in San Francisco made it too cold and wet to enjoy the parks and trails. Marin was in complete sunshine everyday.

This book stands apart from all the rest because it was written by hometown authors who definitely know their turf and didn't mince on destinations, more than any other book on the subject. It mades a good companion with the Lonely Planet San Francisco book. If you like to explore the outdoors on your vacation buy this book. It will keep you entertained as well as busy.

We mountain biked in Marin and along the coast line of San Francisco using this book as our guide. We began our morning ride with misty views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the Presidio, then crossed the span and discovered all sorts of cool trails that connected to sunny Mount Tamalpais. This book has very good access information to all the open space area trails and even includes a two page list of places to take my retriever. Packing alot of sports into one volume makes this book very valuable to me.

I have reviewed lots of travel-related guidebooks over the years, so I can say with some authority that the Golden Gate Trailblazer--the third title in the popular Trailblazer series--is a real find. Although I lived for a number of years in the San Francisco/Marin area, I was simply overwhelmed by the amount of new information I learned about this most wonderful place. The choices of hikes, walks, jogs, and off-road (and sometimes on-road) cycling options are simply overwhelming. The "Best of San Francisco and Marin" section thankfully helps to break down all these choices into dozens of useful categories to help you get to where you want to go faster (for example: Short Walks to High Places; Wildflowers; and Raptors and Woodland Birds; Family Rides; Beach Runs; etc.). The "Free Advise and Opinion" section near the back, while only three pages in length, is nothing short of fabulous in dispensing loads of cryptically written, helpful information and side-splitting humor in equal proportions. And the black-and-white photography throughout the book are stunning in creating a visual sense of place (In my view, the quality of the photos sometimes reaches award-winning status--I would certainly love to see enlargements of some of my favorites!). Including hundreds of trail descriptions, jogging paths, and so forth in a book less than 300 pages long is no mean trick. The Sprouts accomplish this by using a consistent, well-organized, yet compact format, well-selected abbreviations, and carefully crafted yet succinct directions. One important note: This is one book where reading the "How to Use This Book" section will be time well spent. The organization of the book works and works well. But the reader will benefit by taking a moment to orient him or herself. And buying a good street map of the area is another essential, as the authors themselves so indicate. Map drawing, especially in the backcountry of Marin County, is a major challenge and the authors were wise to leave that job to the cartographers. With a copy of the Golden Gate Trailblazer and a good street map in hand you will be ready to explore places you may have never even heard of in a lifetime of living in the Bay Area. And if you are first-time visitors you will be thrilled to have so much well-informed guidance in selecting the activity that is just right for you. And, oh yes, a final tip of the hat to the authors for taking the time to include dozens of good ideas for outdoor exploration for those in wheelchairs and parents who opt to push the little one(s) in a baby stroller.

After years of all sorts of therapies ranging from medication, play, family, attachment and you name it, we FINALLY found something that has worked in the long term for our two Russian adopted children. We were told by the agency that "time will heal", and by all the therapists that it is "RAD/ODD/ADHD" which we later found out is the "classic combination" that all these therapists diagnosis. Dr. Federici's book gave us hope and a solid "treatment plan" which was missing after all these years. It was a tough one, but so were our kids as we adopted them older (told they were "healthy and fine"). We put everything into effect and even consulted with him and he added to our hope and gave even more guidelines. After six months, we feel we have our family back in order but will continue to work the program outlined. This book is a "must buy" for the struggling family needing direction. It looked tough at first, almost beyond our ability, then turned out to be very practical and systematic.

After reading countless books on attachment, behavior problems, treatment, etc, we stumbled across this book and it was just what we needed when we about to give up. We tried all the traditional therapies ranging from play, family, medication and even "holding therapy" which made matters worse and ran up our bill even higher by giving us false hope (our children were smarter than the therapist). We worked Dr. Federici's "program" to the letter (with some e-mail guidance from him, and a therapist he trained), and saw more improvement in 3 months than in 3 years of all the other costly and ineffective treatments. This book was great for the average family struggling, who could devote the time and energy. Practical, common sense, safe, professional and well-written for families. After being broke from all these useless therapies, especially the thousands we spent on attachment therapists trained at Evergreen (who did some real strange and worthless interventions), we were happy that we have found an approach that REALLY works if you are committed completely to helping get things right with your family/kids. A MUST BUY for the family in crisis.

This book by Dr. Federici is so long overdue that we bought several copies for all the therapists we had seen over the past four years who tried to help us with our two very difficult and disturbed Romanian children.. This book is not the "hand-holding" type as it got us to mobilize and deal with all the problems that all the other so-called "experts" had missed. It also made us realize how easy it is to get in denial of the problem and how easy it is to waste money and valuable time on non-productive therapies like holding time, attachment centers, people/therapists who tell us to "just wait and it will be fine".We even went to the "Internet" for advice and became frustrated as there were only hundreds of others who were equally confused with no real solutions offered. We went around the country seeking out all of the named experts who gave us bits and pieces but no real direction or plan. Well, it was not fine as we were told many times and our family was almost destroyed until we read this book and utilized it to the letter. It was VERY TOUGH for us to do what was asked, but six months later we are back in control and have a family again. We hope that this Author will continue to challenge families and write more books which give us "Hope" in the face of hopelessness. It is recommended for anyone wanting to just "give up".

The struggles we find ourselves in while becoming men are numerous. The struggles we find in being a man and being gay are even more numerous. Add to this growing up in a broken home. The odds are surely stacked against us.This book covers the life of a man that could be any one of us or are best friend.Randy had all odds stacked against him. A abusive and alcoholic father, a mother that could only protect him by taking the abuse herself. Coming to terms with his own sexuality Randy overcomes and gives hope to all who struggle with being gay.This is his life story filled with sorrow, lovers, friends and finally hope and strenght and success. I will read it again. OH yea!

Few books can be so rewarding as IN THE ARMS OF ADAM. Mr. Chumbley shares with us a journey of his life in a truely sincere and honest story. His examination of this journey is thought provoking, heart warming and beautiful. His poetic writing style is exquisite, as we follow a young man from chilhood horror to adult self satisfaction. Any person who has lived with abuse, and questions their own lifestyle and choices, needs to read IN THE ARMS OF ADAM. Gay men should Thank Mr. Chumbley for a true representation of our society towards gay men during this timeframe in our history. I really cannot say enough about this book, and the rewards it has given me after reading it. I will definitely read it again.

No matter what your experiences, gay or straight, one cannot help but be moved by this young man's coming of age. This is not another politically correct maifesto of the gay political agenda, rather, it is a poignant, touching account of the author's transformation from boy to man. The work is a statement of who he is at his core, and how the events of his life brought him to know his true self.

The writing is as complex as the subject matter -- at one moment simple, joyful and innocent; the next moment contemplative and brutally honest.

Although the author and I had radically different upbringings, I cannot deny the similarities between our respective journeys into manhood. The book offers a very personal look at one man's experience yet the reader cannot help but reflect on his or her own.

This is a touching, wonderful book.

I have just finished reading Barbara Leigh's book for the second time. As the other reviews stated, it is hard to put down once you start reading, it is just so absorbing. One of the comments I would like to add to the other fine reviews is the fact that I, as a woman who has had many struggle in life, found great triumph in Barbara's story. Here is a woman from a sad childhood who made it through modeling, Hollywood, movies and powerful men without ever turning to crutches like Alcohol or drugs, much like many of her peers. This is a true story of a women's survival in a preliminary mans world. And I would like to point out, that while Barbara is still strikingly beautiful and still has a successful career...Elvis, Jim Aubrey and Steve McQueen are gone...two from either drugs or alcohol, and McQueen sadly from cancer. So here's to you Barbara. A life of beauty, fame, fun and sorrow all exquisitely told and elegantly lived...

As an avid reader of autobiographies & biographies of all things Hollywood, I found this book to be one of the best ever written by a Hollywood actress. Barbara Leigh is not only a physically beautiful woman, but she is also one heck of a classy lady for candidly speaking about her relationships with Elvis Presley, Steve McQueen and Jim Aubrey, without maliciously destroying their reputations as powerful men & in Elvis and Steve's cases Hollywood Icons. Ms. Leigh has a delicious sense of class for "dishing the dirt" in such a "clean" way! How lucky these men have been to have had her in their lives and to see her respect their memories together. She writes with a knack for vivid details and in such an honest, real way. You just can't put the book down. I read this one in about a day and a half turning each page with enthusiasm. The only bad thing about this book is that it came to an end! Give us another one Barbara! Somewhere in the heavens Elvis & McQueen are smiling, pleased that their paths crossed with hers! This book is a keeper and a definite must read! Buy it, sit back & Enjoy!

This book is a smooth reading, fast paced, energetic romance adventure leaving female readers green with envy and male readers "champing at the bit" to trade places with one of Ms. Leigh's three love interests showcased. A majority of the book's content is devoted to the "on-again", "off-again", mostly "on-again" love affairs of the young and beautiful actress/model Barbara Leigh as she delicately balances the advances of three of Hollywoods most powerful, influential and desirable men---all at the same time!

Ms. Leigh gives the reader a rare and honest glimpse of her heart and heartaches as she strives to strike a balance between her magnetic attraction to each of these dynamic personalities as well as groom and advance her own professional and personal growth.

Barbara describes, with remarkable recall, some of the high points with each lover. Through her eyes we see aspects of these men otherwise hidden from the public. But alas, not all was "fun and games". Ms. Leigh, just as clearly, recalls some of the stresses and strains associated with each relationship, documenting tragic circumstances that eventually brought each to an end.

A portion of her writing is dedicated to her childhood. We see fragmented relationships, abandonment and a lack of stability that leaves the reader believing that miracles do happen...for out of this turbulent childhood emerged a lady who holds few ill feelings, loves people and has carved her own distinctive niche, achieving the well-earned status of celebrity.

I ordered a copy of Plantation Princess from Another Planet recently. It arrived at my office, and I tore into the package. I immediately started reading it, and began laughing outloud until I was crying. I then read passages to my coworkers, and soon had everyone in stitches! I went home that night and did a "reading" for my wife. She soon was doubled over, too. With "Princess", Louise G. Mann has captured the essence of growing up in the South in a delightful and very amusing way. You'll find yourself unable to put it down as you read about the escapades of life in Shumard, Arkansas. This very affordable little book makes the perfect gift for any occasion from birthdays to bridal showers; graduation to get well wishes. Read Plantation Princess from Another Planet with a box of tissues nearby. You'll need to mop up all those tears of laughter!

Since moving to the South from NYC 10 years ago, I have been discovering wonderful storytellers like Fannie Flag and Rebecca Wells. I have just discovered another in Louise G. Mann. This "little" book of vignettes is a BIG book in humour and poignant stories. With her book Miss Mann was able to make me laugh while telling very touching stories about growing up in the Delta. I read the book in December and recommended it to my Book Club for January. Here are some of the comments from the Book Club's January meeting: "funny, laughed out loud", "story of herself with self-confidence, ddin't follow rules, author willing to reveal things about her childhood that were not accepted in her society", "astounded when someone is in the forest and can see the trees, can recognize was universal when it is not in your world "neighbors borrow breast implants the way they borrow cake pans"", "a slice of southern americana, we are storytellers in the South".

Congratulations to Miss Mann on an excellent FIRST. I hope she is busy working on a second book, I can't hardly wait!

I ordered a copy of Plantation Princess from Another Planet recently. It arrived at my office, and I tore into the package. I immediately started reading it, and began laughing outloud until I was crying! I read passages to my coworkers, and soon had everyone in stitches. I went home that night and did a "reading" for my wife. She soon was doubled over, too. With "Princess", Louise G. Mann has captured the essence of growing up in the South in a delightful and very amusing way. You'll find yourself unable to put it down as you read about the escapades of life in Shumard, Arkansas. This very affordable little book makes the perfect gift for any occasion from birthdays to bridal showers; graduation to get well wishes. Read Plantation Princess from Another Planet with a box of tissues nearby. You'll need to mop up all those tears of laughter!

Having been a space program buff since my childhood, I've been drawn by books like Martin Caidin's Marooned, Stephen Baxter's Voyage, and even political writer Allen Drury's The Throne of Saturn (that one dates me, I realize). Red Moon caught my attention while I was browsing Amazon, and after only a few pages I was pleased to see I had spent my money very, very well.

Simply, this is an amazing book. Unlike a lot of books that try to achieve a cinematic effect by cutting quickly between scenes and situations, Michaels' book, with its full chapters and fully realized sequences paints clear heartfelt scenes more effectively than most of today's films. His characters of astronaut Janet Luckman, planetary geologist Milo Jefferson, and central character, Cosmonaut Grigor Belinsky are living and breathing people with needs and flaws and conflicts. People I thought about long after I had finished Red Moon.

The premise is that a lunar mission set during the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing discovers the Soviet craft Luna 15, launched days before Apollo 11 but landing at nearly the same time, was not an unmanned probe, but in fact a last-ditch attempt to land a man on the Moon before the Americans. As an adolescent in 1969, I followed the flight of Apollo 11 completely entranced, and the looming presence of Luna 15 was felt deeply by me. I had wondered about the intentions of the mysterious craft, and it is fascinating to me to see this captured the imagination of this writer as well.

This is a huge book, not only in size, but scope, and Michaels pulls it off admirably, even more so considering this is his first novel. He takes us along three parallel storylines, two set in 2019 -- one on a lunar landing mission marking the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11's landing, the second in the upper echelons of NASA -- and one set in the Soviet Union of 1968-69. The first Macguffin of the story, finding rare Helium 3 on the Moon, is the same as Homer Hickam's disappointing Back to the Moon, but is handled far more dramatically, and is in turn upstaged by the quest for finding the answer to the mystery surrounding Luna 15 and Grigor Belinsky, her pilot. Michaels skillfully plays the three storylines off of each other, teasing and rewarding us, involving us deeply into these people's lives. There are moments of great passion and feeling in this story, so much so it brought me to tears no less than three times.

I genuinely wished the book had been longer, and if there is a sequel I'll be the first to snatch it up. Red Moon is simply a wonderful read. I recommend it highly.

Red Moon is an exceptional thriller as well as a novel of speculative fiction. It is actually three interwoven and inter-related stories all tied to the US-Soviet Space Race. The insights into the history of what happened and why it happened back in the sixties would be worth the price of admission alone-- but Dave Michaels has gone far beyond that to craft a gripping, page-turning novel about a future moon expedition and how the discovery of water on the moon will affect life on earth. I am not a huge fan of science fiction novels that are "the black and white hat fighting for territory in the sky" type. I prefer novels of more characterological depth that leave me with something to think about and have a real emotional impact as well. Red Moon is a great novel because it accomplishes just that. There are characters we really care about from Belinsky the tragic Russian cosmonaut to Janet Luckman an American Astronaut stranded on the moon with someone who is trying to murder her (and she has no idea who on her team it could be). This is a book to warm the heart, fascinate the mind and feed the soul. I can hardly recommend it enough for a first novel.

RED MOON is an exceptional novel of speculative fiction. The author has done a tremendous job in intertwining three related plots to generate an oeuvre of hefty proportions and considerable creativity. And it is such a pleasure to read a book that is written for the reader, not in anticipation of a screenplay.

RED MOON not only uses the backdrop of the US-USSR space race as one point of departure, but also creates tension through the ongoing philosophical differences that remain between the two nations. The historical references to the program of the late 1960's are insightful, accurate and compelling. The plots are uncompromisingly driven by a "what-if?" factor that is added by speculations that the world was not aware of certain flights and missions by the Soviets. Revealing these cover-ups and conspiracies through the future lunar exploration timelines is a remarkably effective literary device, well handled by the author.

The characters of astronaut Janet Luckman, planetary geologist Milo Jefferson, and central character, Cosmonaut Grigor Belinsky are well drawn and believable. The future setting of lunar exploration in search of Helium-3 is portrayed admirably, and the historical elements incorporated are enlightening and without extraneous embellishment.

A gripping and passionate tale that is sure to please. Highly Recommended.

Written for the average investor (those with IRA, 401K, and perhaps some free cash for individual stocks), this is by far the best book I've ever read on investing. It is not only very entertaining, but is full of practical information. This book was published in 1999 and accurately foretold the stock market crash. (Those who followed his advice saved a lot of money).

After reading this book, you'll realize that most of the "experts" that you see on tv or read about in the paper are just shills for Wall Street. Their interest is in getting you to buy and sell stocks so that THEY can make money.

From a practical point, the author argues convincingly against the "buy and hold" approach, demonstrating with simple graphs and language how devastating this can be to your wealth. For example, the Nasdaq was at 5000 in March of 2000. It's now at 1500. While it may recover to 5000 one day, do you want to wait another 10 or 15 years merely to get back to even?

Finally, and most importantly, his research shows the average investor how to triple the returns of the S&P 500 by following the "seasonal" tendency of the stock market to rise strongly in the November to late April period and then to fall in the May through October period. The data is very, very convincing.

In a word, if you want a clear, simple, and straightforward understanding of the stock market and how to use that information to dramatically increase your returns while lowering your risk, this is the book for you. Those who read the book and follow his advice can look forward to a very comfortable retirement. Those who don't, well, good luck to you.

I have read many books on investing and would have to say Sy has covered many topics that you don't see in most. Sy gives you a good look at how the securities industry works and a system for investing that is easy to implement. He addresses the fact that there is risk in the market, something most investors don't seem to respect. It is written very clearly making it an easy read. If you are looking too learn more about investing, do yourself a favor and read this book. Not only could it make you money, it could save you money as well.

After finding this book in a second hand book shop, I decided to buy and read it. I noticed it predicted the bear market to come and it was actually written in 1999, two years BEFORE the bear market actually started. It seemed to make such good sense and I decided I would try the seasonal strategy. Like many, I had gained and lost spectacularly over the past seven years. Im a really good stock picker, but I just had no guiding strategy. This book appeared to actually made some sense out of what I could do, with its seasonal strategy approach. The result: In 2002, a year when the average mutual fund lost -23%, I gained +17% on my portfolio. And I sold and BOOKED the 17% profit in May. Then, as Sy advises, I bought back in again, in November. My stocks are up +55% for the last six months----and---I am getting ready to SELL! What a far cry from before! True, I made some great picks this year. But I now have a strategy,learned from this book, that will allow me to KEEP my profits by knowing WHEN TO SELL!!

Sy, your book is a true revelation. You are a born teacher and a real spirit. And you are someone the word TRUST, such a rarity in the financial professions, can be bestowed upon without any reservation. Thanks for your gift and sharing it with us. In deepest appreciation.

And to any skeptics, buy this book. It IS amazing and simple and makes so much sense. IT will change your investment ability forever.

My grandson, who is six, especially enjoyed the arithmetic lesson in this book, as Henry's friend adds up his earnings steadily. He was also interested in seeing which bear got to Fitchburg first. The illustrations are charming, and the story wears well for repeated reading. As for the references to the Alcotts and Emerson and Henry the Bear's likemindedness with Henry David Thoreau, that's just an extra for adults.

I read this book based on Javagirl 23's reveiew, and I must give her kudos. Great pick! Henry (a bear) and his friend decide to visit Fitchburg. Henry plans to walk, but his friend decides to work enough to afford train fare, since walking will take forever. While Henry's friend slaves away at different jobs (pick up on the last names of the employers!), Henry leisurely strolls towards Fitchburg, collecting flowers to press, berries, and enjoying himself thouroughly. Henry's friend finally gets his train fare, and they both end up in Fitchburg at the same time. "The train was a lot faster!", says his friend. Henry merely replies, "Yes...but I got us some berries to eat". What's the lesson? Sometimes the fastest way isn't necessarily the best way...take time to stop and smell the roses...or any other cliche you prefer. This is a great lesson for adults- stop rushing around so much and take the slower way of doing something; there may be more enjoyment along the way if you do.

There's a lot to love in this book by D. B. Johnson. There is the priceless story-lesson concerning two bears traveling to the same destination by widely divergent paths, one enjoying the pleasures of nature along the way while the other works to earn fare to travel by more modern means. There are the beautifully memorable illustrations, one after another, of the bears as they make their way to Fitchburg. And there is the message, to stop and smell the roses, take in a little nature, just walk. Or maybe just sit in the woods and read Thoreau.

One of my earliest memories as a child is of Mom and Dad taking the whole darn family to the only McDonald's in our area at that time (mid-60's) in Belmont, California - it was still the old fashioned McD's with giant golden arches and outdoor seating (why they decided to tear all of those down, I have no idea - they were wonderful!). A week after my 16th birthday, I started my first real (non-babysitting) job at the local McD's in Foster City. Although I seldom dine there now (waiting for veggie burgers!), the impact and history of McDonald's has always fascinated me. Before picking up "Behind the Arches" the only book I had read about the subject was "Big Mac - the Unauthorized Story of McDonalds" which in fact is not really the story of McDonalds at all, but rather one of franchising in general with a bit more of a focus on McDonalds.

Mr. Love's book, however, focuses more on the genius of Ray Kroc and Fred Turner; how the corporation relies on its owner/operators and suppliers for new ideas (Filet-O-Fish, Big Mac, apple pies, McMuffin, etc.). The chapters on the development of the perfect frozen french fry and Chicken McNuggets were especially interesting...as well as how McDonald's moved into Japan and Europe. Even if you detest McDonald's food, read this book - HIGHLY recommended.

The story behind the ubiquitous golden arches, and the man who expanded them coast to coast, (and today they reach the edges of the Earth). This book provides a reader friendly, detailed synopsis of McDonald's through decades of the original brothers, to Ray Kroc's entry and exit of what would become one of the most recognized oranizations of the world. (Whether this fact has positive or negative implications is another matter entirely). This is a good book about Mickey-D's and sheds light on many other aspects of American history, diet, culture, business and advertising.

Two brothers named McDonald went west to California from the north-east. They came with about about $8 dollars in their pockets (according to them) and got jobs moving props on movie sets in Hollywood (sound familiar?) After some initial business ventures the brothers opened their own small restaurant in San Bernadino.

Meanwhile, in the Midwest Ray Kroc left school at 16, and like almost all other achievers that reached his level of success, he had a strong work ethic and a hard-driving tenacity to succeed. Expecially at concepts that intially proved successful (hence SOP procedures). How ya build opon something that has a good and successful foundation. A gifted, successful salesman from an early age, he got a job selling paper cups and sold them for 17 years as one of the top salesman of his company. Some of his clients for example, were Wrigley field's vendors, among other Chicago establishments. In his late thirties, he started selling shake mixers. McDonald's comes into the picture when Kroc noticed that two brothers who owned a drive-in hamburger restaurant in Southern California, kept ordering lots of shake mixing machines, when Kroc's mixer business was dying out everywhere else in the country. He met the McDonald brothers and was greatly impressed by their practices. Ray implored them to expand and they replied "who'd want to do it, we don't," and Kroc became the seller of their franchises in the Midwest. He was very successful at establishing McD's in that part of the country (hint).

For his work he didn't earn a lot because of the deal he made with the brothers (an inkling of what was to come). So he added a creative and logical way to profit from his diligent work in spreading the franchises. He formed a separate corporation, and when setting up franchises he'd purchase the property where a new McDonald's was to be built, from his own original corporation he created. (Read Robert Kiyosaki's "Loophoes of the Rich" for details). So, with his corporations being the owner of the property, Kroc would either collect the rent, or a percentage of the restaurant's profits, whichever was greater, by contract structure. This allowed him to be compensated more fully in addition to his original deal with the McDonald brothers, which wasn't the most favorable.

Kroc was selling the franchises and focusing on keeping the model and SOPs identical for every franchise. Perhaps an analogy to the assembly line of the Ford. Kroc had a methodology. If a winning method was not altered or diluted by individualistic owner operators or franchise restaurants here and there across the country, the sales, expansion, and growth would continue. McDonald's had tapped into what a large part of the American public wanted in post WWII America. Ray later bought McDonald's from the McDonald brothers for $2.7 million cash. When he discovered after the deal was finished that the original McD restaurant in San Bernadino was not included, and was to be kept by the brothers, Kroc had forced them to change their restaurant's name on legal grounds, and then and built a franchise across the street to put them out of business. The brothers asked for this, and likely didn't understand 3 major things: 1. ethical business practices 2. the law 3. common sense.

Advertising: to help solidify more growth and consumer loyalty, Kroc knew the value of kids. He hired top advertising people: enter Ronald McDonald. After some marketing tests in some particular regions, came the major nationwide promotion to get the kiddies pleading with their parents that they wanted to go to Mickey-Ds. Have you heard kids clamour their parents to do this? I have. And today, McDonald's has continued the kid-concept by investing large amounts into the Playgrounds added onto many of its' stores.

McDonald's represents many things about American culture. To Americans, and today throughout the world. No matter what you think of Mickey D's it's quite an interesting story of how it started, evolved and came to it's ubiquity today. It's a fact that those golden arches are more recognized than the Christian cross. Again, whether we think that's good or not leads to several other issues involving, chemicals and food science, general health, obesity, globalization, homogenization, marketing to children, and corporatization.

For additional insights into the McDonald's phenomenon read, Jennifer Talwar's "Fast Food, Fast Track" and Eric Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal," and Fumento's "Fatland."

This book is as fascinating as any of the best Ludlum novels I have read. It put to rest many misconceptions of McDonald's as a "cheap hamburger joint". One cannot help but leave with great admiration for Ray Kroc and others surrounding McDonald's for their perseverance in bringing to the world an affordable, quality food product in spite of a barrage of barriers placed in their way.

This is one of the best books to read among all the 'tell-all' novels about airlines and their managers. Unfortunately, Petzinger zig zags around characters and events that become confusing and annoying. Many of the significant facts are lost as a result and the reader must go back to truly understand particular concepts and processes of airline management.

Another problem is that the author does a tremendous job explaining the history and ramifications of what the airlines and their managers did, but only takes one small chapter at the end to explain the future of the airline industry and its new leaders.

For the size and comprehensiveness of the book, a few more pages devoted to his best estimates for the future would have only made it perfect.

As an airline professional with one of the carriers covered extensively in the book, I was skeptical as to whether any author could present a clear picture of the industry's inner workings. "Complex" is somehow an inadequate word when applied to the airline industry, especially since Deregulation. Mr. Petzinger, however, has succeeded not only in telling the story; he has done so in an entertaining style which makes for a fascinating and highly informative trip through all of the turmoil wrought by deregulation. The reader comes away with an understanding of the cause and effect of every relevant force affecting the airline business over the last few decades. This, combined with a comprehensive overview of the industry's formative years, makes this book a treasure. The book would be a 10 except for a couple of minor research errors. The content, however, is outstanding and compels me to use an overused cliche: this really is a must-read for everyone in the industry and anyone with even a passing interest in the airline business.

because I would love to go through the experience of reading it for the first time again.
I work in the Airline Industry in Australia in an operational role that has aspects of Industrial Relations associated with it. To read a book that relates so many interesting and insightful stories into the trials and tribulations of De-reg in the US and the power plays between the various airlines and the Unions was nothing but fascinating.
Well researched, well written and very enjoyable. I recomend it to anyone employed or aspiring to airline management