Hammett was the best writer ever to take to crime fiction. All his writing is lean and elegant.

The Dain Curse (his first novel) is not very good, but the other 4 are superb. The Maltese Falcon is even better than the Bogart film. Hammett's feeling for mood and atmosphere shows in that these books have inspired great movies: The Maltese Falcon, The Thin Man series, Yojimbo (from Red Harvest).

I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of this book. If you're a Hammett fan, it's worth investing in. Red Harvest, The Dain Curse, The Maltese Falcon, The Glass Key and The Thin Man are gathered in this real cloth-bound book. The book stays open, flat. It even has a satin ribbon bound in to hold your place. It sounds a bit strange to gush over the bookmaking, but I think this volume is a worthy container for the classic content inside.

I have reviewed each of these books separately. Having them all together in one volume is invaluable. And reading these consecutively is hardly boring, because there's a world of difference between them.

RED HARVEST featuring the Continental Op is a real romp through a completely corrupt town which gets what's coming to it because a corrupt police official makes the middle aged fat man protagonist mad. There's an underlying theme of corruption as a true poison.

THE DAIN CURSE is again the Continental Op, and here you see glimpses of a tender side to a character who is basically completely self controlled. And in this, you see the very weak female character turn into an admirably strong woman.

THE MALTESE FALCON is of course the true classic, a study of greed and deception. Sam Spade's story of a character named Flitcraft gives the reader the author's perspective on the randomness of life.

THE GLASS KEY gives a sleazy view of politics and makes a couple of points about friendship.

THE THIN MAN appears lightweight after the first four, but a second reading reveals a portrait of a very able person who allowed passion to leave his life, and is slowly going down the drain.

Crime fans will especially love this collection, but there is a whole lot of value concerning human nature and the framework of society here.

Bledsoe does an incredible job detailing the history and background of this media fiasco, including the toll it took on one seemingly honorable man. This is the true story of Jack Purdue, an amatuer civil war historian tapped to teach a community outreach course at a North Carolina community college, and his encounter with an ambitious young newspaper reporter. Bledsoe gives us a great feel for Jack's personal character and how that character was called into question by the reporter, who apparently fabricated much of his news story to further his career. This book should be required reading for every journalism student, not just for the specific lessons on how not to write a story, but to give that student a feel for the power he or she wields because of the public's trust in mainstream media. In the end this reporter's seeming misdeeds may very well have cost Jack Purdue his life. The only reason this book didnt get five stars is that at times it was a bit of chore to get through, and did get bogged down in details. This is not Bledsoe's fault though, as the nature of the subject matter doesn't really lend itself to a page turner of a suspenseful book and some people may really enjoy knowing every detail about this event. One last issue is that there were apparently videotapes of the class that were never released by Purdue, which could have conclusively exonerated him and his class. The fact those tapes were not released to the public (even when Purdue's character was being trashed in the media for something he apparently did not say), nor has Bledsoe seemed to have reviewed them, leaves the reader wondering whether he is getting the full story even from Bledsoe.

Jerry Bledsoe shows what happens when journalists misuse their vast power, sometimes by hitting too hard and then other times failing to act at all - - including failing to admit horrible mistakes and not doing much to offset the damage. Every reporter in the world should read this book and have it be a guide to prudent journalism.

Rhonda Winters was the director of a satellite campus for a North Carolina community college who offered an adult community-outreach course on the Civil War, a course of studies organized by regional historian and preservationist Jack Perdue. The course was almost finished (and the students were both learning the material and enjoying experience) when a reporter wrote an article falsely claiming that Winters was teaching the slaves in the South were happy with their condition. Originally published in a local paper, the defamatory article was picked up by the Associated Press and reprinted worldwide, bring Winters a barrage of vituperative news coverage defaming both her and the college, and resulted in an investigation by the U.S. Commission on Civile Rights, as well as the cancellation of the course. Even when students, instructors, and college officials clearly proclaimed the article to be false, the newspaper's editors backed the reporter. In the end, the newspaper's deceptive view prevailed, despite a wealth of evidence laid out in the pages of Death By Journalism? Here is a focused spotlight on one of journalism's most irresponsible episodes, a scenario that did real harm to real people and discredited the profession to all who knew where the truth really lay. Put very simply, Death By Journalism? should be required reading for every journalism student in every college and university in this country.

This book was published in 1967. Reading it today gives the reader an opportunity to contrast the perspective of the mid-'60s with current information. The subject matter is treated with great reverence. At times, objectivity suffers. The book is very close to fawning in its treatment of Jackie Kennedy, for example. It is also very apparent that one who admired John Kennedy wrote the book. Again, there is that perspective thing. The ravages of time have taken its toll on the martyred president. More of the unsavory details of JFK's personal life are now a matter of public information. Jackie Kennedy stepped down from her pedestal and became "Jackie O" in the late '60s. The Kennedy aura in general has suffered.

Equal to the book's admiration of John Kennedy is its utter contempt for Lee Harvey Oswald. Great effort is made to disparage Oswald as the most contemptible of losers. Oswald is portrayed as arguably history's greatest mediocrity. A nonentity who forced his way into the history books by a despicable and cowardly act. The book openly regrets that Oswald's memory will be forever enmeshed with JFK's.

William Manchester takes the reader through the bleak events of that long November weekend in 1963. The trip to Dallas, the motorcade, the assassination, the hospital, the plane trip back to Washington, the funeral, the inside details of the friction between the Kennedy and Johnson factions, the worldwide reaction, and Oswald's unplanned televised execution by Jack Ruby are all discussed in meticulous detail. This book is a grim portrait of a turning point in American history. Regardless of one's politics, this single event marked the death of innocence and naivete that was typical of much of post WWII America, even as late as 1963. After President Kennedy's murder, the country was caught in an escalation of violence and death for much of the rest of the 1960s, typified in that dreadful year, 1968.

This is an exhaustive book on a grim topic. The adoring treatment of JFK and the Kennedy family is quaint. In some ways, the book is an antique, illustrating the temper of a bygone era. Reading this book is not an uplifitng experience, but it is a very effective memoir of this major event in American history. The book can be especially recommended for those too young to remember. Just a warning to other readers: reading this book can add to one's reflective midlife melancholy as one considers where we have been, and also the road left before us. The cadence of the muffled drums that escorted the funeral procession to Arlington remains in the mind for days after finishing this book.

I was continually left in wonder at the depth of Manchester's attention to detail. For a book that basically only chronicles 6 days in the history of the U.S., the 700+ pages almost seems insufficient given the level of information the author gives the reader. Early in the book Manchester states that he personally visited many of the key sites described in the book, and that dedication is rewarded in almost every situation that can benefit from a precise description. I really wouldn't recommend this book to anyone bent upon proving some "conspiracy theory" because the author does a sound job of debunking many of the sources of the myths that the current conspiracy fans hold dear. If I could have asked for anything more from this book, it would be that a second reflection could have been written after the end of the Johnson presidency and the assassination of RFK. So much more has been learned and revealed in the years after this book was finished (in 1967), that I think even more material on those 6 days could be written. And I suppose that is the best testimonial I can give.

I cannot tell you where I was when Kennedy was shot because I wasn't yet alive. By the time I became interested in the world around me, Kennedy's aura had dimmed somewhat, with tales of his infidelities in specific and society's increasing disillusionment with government and politics in general. So I was quite unprepared for the depths emotions that I would experience while reading this book. I felt the power of the Kennedy charisma, awe of Jackie's strength in the aftermath of her very public grief, horror at the power of an assassin to make himself permanently associated with the Kennedy legend. Manchester is a powerful writer, and he weaves together this narrative into a beautiful yet devastating read. His admiration of the Kennedy family is obvious, yet appropriate. I have heard that the Kennedy family was upset about the book after its publication. That is a shame. It is the perfect testament to the death of a great man and leader, who affected the world far more than most Americans (especially those of us in the "slacker" generation) knew. All of the Kennedy's are treated with great respect in relation to their importance to their brother and their grief at his early loss.

There are some disconcerting elements in the book that the writer could not have foreseen. The book was published in 1967, so no one knew yet that RFK would not survive the decade. No one knew that Jacqueline Kennedy would marry Aristotle Onasis (although he does make an appearance in the narrative) and later die young of cancer. No one knew that the little boy who finally gave a perfect salute to his father's coffin would die a very premature death three decades later. This knowledge only made it more poignant for me as I read the book.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is highly readable and very literate. And it certainly helped fill in holes in my knowledge.

This encyclopedia gives thoughtful, complete portrayals of every Disney character, from the shorts to the movies to the TV series. From the 9-page essay on Donald Duck to the paragraph or two on a minor character, it all makes for great reading. It is wonderful reference material and even as a good book; John Grant treats the characters like real people! It is very well reasearched, too. It's also got great animation stills of almost every character, too. Wonderful to read, browse through or look up stuff!

First, while the title of this book is accurate, it is also misleading. This is no fluffy, flimsy book containing some fun descriptions of Disney characters from the latest popular films. This is an intense, in-depth look at EVERY Disney animated character since Walt began his career. The book is divided into two parts, "Shorts" and "Feature Films". The shorts have the usual gang, Donald, Mickey, Goofy, Pluto, and so on. After each characters bio is a list of every Disney short they've appeared in. Don't be worried or fooled by by this truly encyclopedic book - it is not a boring A to Z book. Color photos pop off of every page, including some from rarely seen Disney shorts. The feature films section not only includes detailed character bios, but plot summaries and "making of" details, cast and crew credits, and more. You buy this book, you will have a list of EVERY Disney short ever made (including the early "Alice" shorts and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit), every feature film in chronological order, and enough information about each one to be the champ of any Disney trivia game!

This is a definite must-have for any Disney fan. The book is divided into three basic sections: Characters in shorts, characters in television shows, and characters in features. Each category has a mention of every Disney character created until 1997 including interesting articles about them. This is also a great place to find information on lesser-known or forgotten Disney characters such as Spike the bee from a number of Donald Duck cartoons and Little Hans, a star of his own wartime propaganda film. Combine this with hundreds of pictures from the films and you have a book that is sure to be a favorite of any Disney fan.

I found this book to be full of usefull and helpful information! I think that Mr. Guterson did a wonderful job of informing parents of today's schools and how important family is in making education work. I would recommend this book to any parent wether they plan on homeschooling their children or not. Since the auther is both a public school teacher and a homeschooler he can see clearly both sides of the homeschooling "debate", (for lack of a better word.) He makes it abundantly apparent that all parents everywhere need to make a decision to be a major part of their children's educational experience whether that means teaching them in the home or choosing to send them to public school. No matter what you decide is best for your child(ren) this is a book that I would suggest any parent read!

I found David Guterson's book several years ago, before he wrote Snow Falling on Cedars and it was so well-written and interesting, I was anxious for him to write more. I wasn't expecting it to be fiction, but it was and only proved my point that he is an excellent writer. Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense shows clearly both sides of the educational choice issue. It gives readers the option of thinking through the choices they make regarding the education of their children, without sounding preachy. Guterson is not homeschooling for religious reasons, he is a *public school teacher* who has decided that what is offered is not optimal for his children. And he is clear that this is not the best choice for everyone. Many homeschooling books pay lip service to this idea, but Guterson spells it out and even plays "Devil's advocate". This is not a book that preaches to the choir. It is fresh, clear and beautifully written. Even if you don't plan to homeschool your own children, read it so you can understand why others choose to do so.

After reading many, many homeschooling books, I can honestly say this is the one that is well marked, underlined and has it's own place on the shelf. David Guterson is a masterful writer who describes both sides of the education coin - public verse home education. His chapter on socialization is thoughtful and interesting. I appreciate his non-emotional writing style that is educated and well balanced. If I had read this book before my eldest entered kindergarten, we would have started homeschooling years ago. The Family DOES Matter - and that is why education at home makes sense. I wish more politicians would read this book and stop giving lip service to the family - and help Americans educate their children with more ease - be it in public schools, homeschools or a mixture of both. Well written!!

Kathryn , thanks for writing the 2nd Edition of the Federal Resume Guidebook. It is helping me greatly in my resume writing for federal jobs. I never knew it could be so simple! Thank you for such an informative book.

I LOVE YOUR BOOK (Federal Resume Guidebook)!!! It is helping me so much. I was totally dumfounded as to how to do these mysterious KSAs and your book helped me tremendously. Also, I was doing my resume all wrong and after reading your book feel much more confident that I will catch the attention of the federal agencies where I want to work.

-Jacques ...

Hi, Kathryn I have great news for you, feel free to post it on your website. I took your resume writing class in March, within a couple of weeks I had my resume ready. I applied for a couple of positions and guess what, I just got a promotion, outside of my area of expertise, just like that, and only within two months. I'm so happy! Thanks to your training, books, PC disks, tips, etc. I cannot thank you enough! The Resume Place, is the BEST! Maria

Celia Morris is a well-known feminist and political activist who grew up in Houston, attended the University of Texas in the 1950s, and was drawn to the women's revolution as an adult. This fascinating memoire vividly describes her gradually developed understanding of women's thralldom in a sexist society, and her ultimately successful efforts to achieve freedom. Her story, however, is not simply an account of one woman's liberation. It is an extremely well-written, humane, and balanced account of her marriages to the writer Willie Morris and the Texas politician Bob Eckhardt, of her intense friendships with mentors--male and female--and of her complicated relations with her family as she broke free of the traditional constraints of woman's role as it was defined in the 1950s. There is much to be learned from Morris's autobiography. Not least is the long and difficult road many women her age have traveled to gain autonomy, and the special satisfactions that autonomy brings. I recommend it highly.

I loved this book and couldn't put it down once I started. The story is an autobiography of a girl who grew up in Texas in the 40s and 50s and her surprising life's journey. What interested me in the book was that Celia begins her life as the "perfect girl"- A "University Sweetheart" from the Theta sorority at the University of Texas. With her background and accomplishments, most would have predicted that she would have ended up in the suburbs with 2.5 children doing nonprofit work, etc., but she truly chose "the road less taken." Pulling her in a different direction was her intellectual ability and curiosity-she was a Phi Beta Kappa at Texas-which eventually led her to New York and the upper reaches of the literary world there. Part of the book is devoted to her marriage to William Morris, on paper the "perfect man"--Rhodes Scholar, noted editor--but in reality less than perfect. She is brutally honest about their marriage, their life and his and her infidelities. This book will be of particular interest to those women who came of age in the 50s and did end up in the suburbs for this glimpse of life "on the other side." This book would also be of interest to those who would be interested in how an ambitious and talented woman in the 50s attempted to break out of the norm and the difficulties that faced her. Her keen observations refreshed my childhood and youthful memories and her life's story provoked deep thought on the meaning of a successful life. It is a fabulous book.

Celia Morris' memoir should be a permanent fixture on the syllabus of any Women's Studies course - or American History, for that matter. Morris' wrenching account of a woman struggling to keep up appearances at the same time that she is developing intellectually, emotionally, and psychologically throws into high relief the relative comfort in which the daughters of her generation (like me)are able to move through life. Were it not for the faith - and occasional lapses of it - and courage of women like Celia Morris, women of my generation would have no hope but to fall victim to the same myths of femininity and womanly duty.

American women of all ages owe Celia Morris a debt of gratitude for giving us her story.

This is one of the best written books I have ever read about the American Revolution. Ketchum is a very accomplished writer. Though at times his prose is slightly confusing, overall he does a good job of conveying to his readers the desperate situation the American rebels were in. Ketchum also does a good job of placing the Battle of Bunker Hill in context of the entire war. He picks up the story about 3 weeks before the battle, and fills in the back story of Lexington and Concord. His description of the events leading up to the battle, especially the description of the night march and entrenchment of American troops is fascinating, and keeps you turning the pages. The actual battle only fills one chapter, simply because it was a very straightforward affair. Amazingly, out of about 3000 men engaged on both sides, 1500 were casualties! However, Ketchum makes it very clear that the Americans gave worse then they got, and shows how Bunker Hill would become a confidence booster for the American Cause.

My only complaint about the book is the lack of a good map of the area. Ketchum uses contemporary drawings of Boston to show the places he is describing, but these are not very accurrate and you never really get a picture of where the battle took place in relation to other landmarks. However, this does not detract from the narrative, and I strongly reccommend reading this book, for anyone of any level of interest in the era.

This is the first Revolutionary War book that I have read, so I consider myself a novice in this field. Having said that, I have a fair amount of military history and really enjoyed this book. Ketcham's account of this famous battle is detailed, well researched, well written, and easy to follow. He does an excellent job of telling the story of what happened during this dramatic battle from both the American and British perspective. Addtionally, he gives extensive background information about the key events, and players that are involved in this "high stakes" battle without boring you.

I learned a lot about the battle, and feel that I have a much better understanding, and appreciation for what took place on that fateful afternoon. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the battle, or learning more about the men who fought the Revolution, and the odds they faced.

This is a beautifully written book, the first of three written so far by Richard Ketchum, on famous Revolutionary War battles. It tells the story of the first major military engagement of the American Revolution as does no other book I've ever read on the same subject.

The author brings to life the main characters and events of the story. He briefly introduces the major figures - British Generals Thomas Gage and William Howe, and American leaders Joseph Warren, General Israel Putnam, Colonel William Prescott, and Henry Knox - and traces the story of the conflict in the Boston area in the spring of 1775. Ketchum then sets the scene of the battle by describing how the Americans, chronically short of munitions, supplies and manpower, successfully avoided British detection and entrenched themselves on Breed's Hill (mistaking it for the higher Bunker Hill), and how the British reacted once they discovered the fortifications. Drawing on letters and other first-person accounts of the battle's participants and observers, both the American and British, Ketchum vividly describes the military action of June 17, 1775; I found myself almost able to hear the firing of guns, and smell the smoke of battle, as I read the final chapters of the book.

As an avid reader of American History, I thought I knew everything about battle of Bunker Hill; however, Ketchum's powerfully written narrative introduced me to many new facts about the people and events of this, the first major battle in America's war for independence. It is a book of outstanding scholarship, and "must read" for anyone interested in American history.

I have been diving out of this book for about three years. I have found that several of the springs mentioned in the "panhandle" area have been closed. I fell in love with the Florida springs system from the first moment and was somewhat dismayed that all of the entries in the book were not available for diving. I have spent countless hours and a lot of money on long distance phone calls trying to determine what was open and "diveable". Anyone wanting to avoid the same pitfalls may contact me for information on specific springs in that area. I have not, by any means, been through them all, but the ones I have called on, I will share with you. Happy diving, Frogman at (palmers68@aol.com.)

If you dive and live in florida YOU MUST OWN THIS BOOK. There is no better diving guide around. Hundreds of sites, most with GPS coordinates. Inside this book you'll find the hidden spots some of the locals don't even know about.

Deloach's book is an excellent diving resource. His sections on the Florida Keys served as reference material for us building our website. They are informative, accurate and helpful. We use his book when we dive other parts of Florida, and have always found it helpful to look up the divesite in his book prior to hitting the water. Strongly Recommended.

Erik Estrada's book is the best Hollywood bio I have ever read. He holds nothing back and is very honest about rough times and regrets in his life (i.e. failed marriages, his shaky relationship with Larry Wilcox). He seems like such a terrific person and great friend, too. God bless him, Nanette, and his two boys.

Also, wasn't Mr. Estrada so much fun to watch in "CHiPS '99:? :)

I bought this book because I consider myself a big fan of "TV Trash." I loved CHiPs because it was goofy, overblown, and representative of lame 70's TV. I must say that I was stunned by the quality of this book. From the first page, this biography is interesting, insightfull, and honest. Erik is very up-front about his home and family life, and his career ups and downs. He acknowledges his mistakes with an honesty and openness that is truly refreshing. It was also obvious from the beginning of the book that Erik Estrada is a very intelligent man, not at all the disco boy we saw weekly on the small screen.

I came away with the impression that Erik Estrada is not so much the kind of guy I would enjoy poking fun at, but rather a good and decent man that I would be proud to call a friend. I wish him and his family the best. I also highly recommend this book.

This book is extremely good. If you are a fan of 70's TV and CHIPS, you will want to read this deeply honest portrayal of the trials and tribulations of Erik Estrada. With so much working against him, he was (and still is) perhaps one of the most principled, sincere and honest actors in Hollywood today. With this book, he is a role model to many and I wish we would hear and see more of him today. Wherever he is, my family and I wish him the best. Erik, thanks for many years of entertainment and a really good book full of values, morals and lessons.